NotW: Essie Beyond Cozy

Are you an animal print fan? I wouldn´t consider myself to be one, but I like trying out new things even when they lie outside my comfort zone.

Instead of using a white nail polish I went for Essie “Beyond Cozy” which is a super sparkly silver one, giving this zebra look a bit of an edge and by using silver making the contrast with black less harsh o my nails. 

How to recreate this design:

1.    Apply two coats of Essie “Beyond Cozy”. 

2.    Once completely dry (and I always stress this out because if the nail polish is still wet you won´t be able to stamp on your nails), take your black stamping polish and your stamping plate (I used Konad m57) and carefully stamp the design on your nails. 

3.    To finish, add one coat of your favorite top coat and voila, there you have your zebra nails!

 Hope you enjoyed this design!

What animal print do you normally go for?

xoxo, 

Christina 

MAC "Antique Green" vs. Illamasqua "Conquer"

Illamasqua “Conquer” vs. MAC “Antique Green” 

Price: 16 Pounds vs. 17 pounds

Content: 1,3grams vs. 4,5 grams

Illamasqua says:

 "Made to be played with. A metallic, high-shine, pure-colour powder that highlights eyes, cheeks, lips and brows, or anywhere else you choose to accentuate. Mix with eye shadow, blusher, lipgloss or use it on its own to intense effect. Bring out your bold side. As well as creating a striking look when used on its own, Illamasqua Pure Pigment looks amazing when applied over any cream-based Illamasqua product. It can also be mixed with Sealing Gel to create an intense, metallic paste that can be used anywhere on the body. Try adding a small amount to foundation for an opalescent finish."

 MAC says:

"Pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. Pigment comes in an excellent range of colours. Use to create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. Pigment does not streak or cake, is easy to blend and long-lasting. Please note: Pigments are sold by weight not volume. Containers can appear to be less than full due to settling of the product."

I had wanted a forest green metallic eye shadow for a while now and finding these two made my day.

While I find both packaging’s to be visually appealing I believe the MAC one is more practical because I don´t have that much product flying around once I open the cap, hence product doesn’t get wasted. I have noticed that after  I open the Illamasqua one I find myself having to clean my vanity because there is green pigment pretty much everywhere.

The consistency of the Illamasqua one compared to MAC is finer milled. I don´t find that it makes much of a difference when applying the product but I do see a difference in the color payoff. If you have a closer look you will notice that the Illamasqua one is more vibrant than the MAC one. Both a really beautiful but if I had to pick one based on the color payoff it would definitely be Illasmasqua. If you like a more subtle one (well, not that any of these colors are truly subtle, but you get the picture) I would go with MAC.  

Which one do you like better, MAC or Illamsqua?

xoxo, 

Christina

Drugstore Haul #2

Have you ever walked into the drugstore and only left with the things on your shopping list? For me this is rarely the case, however on my latest trip I did exactly that. Whether all of them were truly necessary is another topic but they were definitely on my “have-to-try” list.

First I went to the nail polish remover aisle because I was running low on mine and I have been wanting to try different brands for a while now in order to see whether the differences (if any!) lie. I ended up picked the “Sally Hansen Moisturizing Nail Polish Remover”, the “Cutex Moisture Guard Nail Polish Remover” and the “Superdrug Acetone-free Nail Polish Remover”. I have a feeling I won´t be running low anytime soon now.

As I used up my “L´Oreal Micellar Solution” and wanted to try another brand one I ended up getting the “Garnier Micellar SCleansing Water”. I believe this one is relatively new on the market and with 400ml definitely a big bottle (I believe the L´Oreal one only has 200ml). I have tried it once or twice so far and I´m happy with the results. This might replace my L´Oreal one in the future as value for money seems to fit.

Last but not least I went ahead and got the “Original Source Skin Quench Blackcurrant and Moringa Shower Gel”. When I smelled this in store it reminded me of gummy bears. I am not quite sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing but now that spring is around the corner I wanted to have a fruity scented shower gel. I am quite picky with my soaps because I tend to have dry skin so fingers crossed for this one!

Have you gotten any products from the drugstore lately?

xoxo, 

Christina

"Confessions of a Nail Polish Addict" The numbers & goals

The numbers behind the passion

How many nail polishes do you own?

I get ask that question a lot and truth be told I don´t know the answer because I have never counted them. Well, not until today. I pulled every single nail polish I own and started counting. I say started because I had to start a couple of times over because I kept finding nail polishes everywhere. Double drum roll please...

 215 nail polishes.

Not included in that number are my top and base coats because they are constantly in use and thereof get replaced once empty.

I couldn´t really imagine what that raw number meant, so I did some calculations based on my personal experience. Ok, even writing this sounds dorky, but hey.. I love my nail polish so I want to know all about it!

If an average nail polish has 7ml I can paint my nails about ten times until I use up the entire bottle. Assuming that I paint my nails twice a week (which I do) then it would take me about 23 years to use up every single nail polish bottle I have! 23 years! Basically I could stop buying nail polishes until I am 47 years old and I would still be able to paint my nails! I´ll admit I was a little shocked when I first did the math. Ok, really shocked. 

So for 2015 I want to buy less and use up more. I love the shades I have I just feel that 215

is too much so I will allow myself to purchase 25 nail polishes (which if you remember is half of the amount I purchased last year). Likewise I want to use up the same amount of nail polishes so that at the end of the year my total stays the same. I know this doesn’t exactly help me minimize my collection but it keeps it from growing which to start with sounds great! If it turns out well I am planning on going on a no buy in 2016 and start bringing my total down to 200. Wish me luck, because something tells me I am going to need it!

Here is part 1 and  part 2  of my "Confessions of a Nail Polish Addict" series

How many nail polishes do you own?

Are you also considering doing a nail polish low buy this year?

xoxo, 

Christina 

NotW: Essie "Spagetthi Strap"

A classic pink manicure nail polish shade is a must in everyone’s collection because it’s an easy way to make your nails look elegant and sophisticated. I love it so much that I have like 20 of those milky/rose shades in my nail polish collection. My latest obsession is Essie “Spaghetti Strap”. Thanks to the wider brush (which I believe is a “European thing”) the application becomes super easy making it a pure joy to apply.

Naturally I wanted to share with you a nail polish design using this shade (and lots of rhinestones, because apparently I can´t have enough of those either). If you want to know how I did it, then keep reading.

How to recreate this design:

1. Apply two coats of Essie “Spaghetti Strap”.

2. Once the nail polish has dried, apply one coat of your favourite top coat and while it is still wet carefully place three rhinestones starting from the bottom upwards. I chose three different colours going from darker to lighter to achieve an ombre rhinestone effect.

3. To secure the rhinestones and make this design last longer, apply another coat of your favourite top coat and you´re done.

  

What is your nail polish must have?

 xoxo, 
Christina  

BUY or SKIP? MAC Dazzleglass Creme

QUICK FACTS

Price: ~ £17,50 // ~ €19,50 // ~ $20,00

Shade: “Soft Dazzle” Limited Edition

Content: 3ml

Available at: MAC counters or online

 

BUY or SKIP?

If you like sparkly lip glosses this is a definitive BUY!

After the lip gloss has worn off, you will see some golden glitter remaining on your lips if you don´t mind that, BUY! If you do, SKIP!

If you want to get a great value for money then you should SKIP this product. £5,83 // €6,50 // $6,60 for 1ml is ridiculous! As a reference you pay ~£2,90 // ~€3,60// ~ $3,00 per 1ml for a normal MAC tinted lip glass. A great (and cheaper) alternative are MAC Lipgelees they have 15ml! and are just as glittery, less expensive and leave no glitter residue on your lips.

If you want a smooth and easy application, SKIP. My brush applicator has hairs pointing in pretty much every direction. Furtermore as the texture is quite thick I have to be fairly careful when applying it.

Would you BUY or SKIP MAC Dazzleglass cremes?

xoxo, 

Christina