Unlike so many of my peers I've never been a typical pink girl, and whilst I still don't own a lot of out and out, pink clothing pieces when it comes to make up and nails it's a completely different story. I love pink lipstick, I adore pink blusher and when it comes to summer, hot pink is one of my go to nail colours.
Although I've tried a few products from British cosmetic and makeover brand New CID Cosmetics, I wasn't that familiar with their nail polish line - Recently though Cosmopolitan magazine came with a free bottle so I couldn't resist picking up a copy and giving it a go.
New CID Cosmetics I-Polish in Pink Macaroon, is a bright almost neon, fuchsia pink, with a cream finish that's perfect for this time of year - My pictures really aren't doing this justice it's hot, hot, hot in real life.
Application was good, the long, thin brush was easy to use, and the formula is self levelling and quick drying,
Overall I'm pretty impressed with my first New CID Cosmetics nail experience but if you want to buy this shade I'm afraid you're out of luck! I've had a look online and I can't find this colour anywhere. I think that this must have either been a discontinued line or something that was produced especially for the magazine cover mount. New CID Cosmetics do still produce the I-Polish range, but the packaging is slightly different and the bottle contain the familiar lights that the brand is so famous for. The 3 free polishes come in a wide range of "safe", wearable shades and retail at £10 from the New CID Cosmetics website for a 15ml bottle. Not the cheapest of polished but I don't think it's bad for a salon branded, good quality polish. Have you tried any polishes from this brand before?
If you're a regular reader of my little place on the internet you'll know that I used post nails of the day posts quite regularly. Although I've never had the longest nails out there I love changing my polish and showcasing all of my different shades, brands and textures. Lately though my nails have been too rubbish to paint let alone photograph!
Never mind though after a few months of short, split, and peeling nails I eventually have some little stubs to paint again. My secret? Dr Lewinns Renunail, lots of cuticle oil (including something new which I've been loving) and lots and lots of hand cream. So to celebrate my now all be it short, but neater nails I've been buying some new polishes and some nail art bits.
Every time I do a haul at the moment I seem to buy something from Poundland and this one is no different. I'm a huge, huge fan of nail art and I seem to spend a lot of time lately looking at Instagram and Pintrest to pick up some ideas for when my nails grow back, so I decided to get a few nail art bits from Poundland's own Allura range.
The first thing that I got were some Nail Art Tools, these are basically 4 double ended dotting tools. Each tool comes with a swirled, plastic handle, and every rounded metal tip is a different size so you can make different sized dots. You can also use these for picking up gems, decals and crystals.
I also got a pack of 7 Nail Art Brushes. You get a wide variety of brushes that you can use for striping, freehand and detail work. You also get a fan brush to create a fanned or feather effect. I've seen a single nail, fan brush priced at £2 so this kit is great value.
As well as the tool the Allura range also includes a variety of fake nails, nails stickers and gem wheels. I've already got a gem wheel and a few tubs and packets of crystals and sequins but I couldn't resist this fruit decal wheel.
I've already got a few fruit decals that I got from Nail Rock, but these ones are a bit thinner which I actually prefer. You get a wide variety of thin slice of plastic fruit including dragon fruit, kiwis, apples, limes and oranges. You also a miniature nail file and an orange stick to help with application.
Sticking with nail art I also bought some gold nail foil from Avon. Years and years ago I was obsessed with nail foils. QVC used to features a brand called Special FX, that sold all different sorts of nail art kits including lots and lots of foils. The idea is pretty simple you paint your nails as normal, then you paint you nails with the special glue and when it goes clear you press the foil sheets against your nails. You can either cover the whole nail or you can draw designs or just place random splodges of glue to create different looks, I recently picked up some more foils and glue from Essence but with this one from Avon you just apply it on top of wet polish. I'll let you know how I get one with it x I'm planning on just using it for maybe an accent nail or for a bit of freehand work.
As well as the foil I also got a few nail polishes including another one of the Stardust colours from the sale brochure.
I love these polishes, these have an almost demi matte finish and they're packed full of sparkle. This shade is Cherry Dazzler and it's a lovely red packed full of gold glitter. These shades really are for people who like sparkle with a twist.
These Stardust polishes do occasionally pop up in the sale catalogues and if I can I'll definitely be trying to pick up a few more shades. If you can't manage to get your hands on these though the new Avon Magic Effects Mineral Crush polishes are very similar -how do I know? Well I bought one and on the left of these pictures you can see Topaz, a pale, turquoise blue packed full of tonal and silver sparkle.
From the new range I also picked up one of the Magic Effects Fringe polishes in Jacquard Metal. These are basically topcoats that give a sort of feather effect. This one has a clear bases and is crammed full of thin strands of gold and teal blue glitter. I think that would look fab over a plain gold polish or even a paler blue or turquoise.
I have quite an addictive personality and I'm very addicted to buying nail polish, I just love looking at row upon row of pretty colours, and a month or so ago my dreams came true when Models Own opened their first North East bottle shop in the Metro Centre, near to where I live.
I love, love, love the look of these little nail polish bottle shaped stores, and I was like a child in a sweet shop when I popped into the shop on opening day. The polishes are organised by colour and you have the opportunity to swatch till your hearts content. Although I was tempted to buy everything I was good and only got two polishes.
On the left you can see one of their Scented Polishes in NP152 Grape Juice. This is a lovely pale, pastel lilac that has a subtle scent of grape bubblegum :) I also got one of their Colour Chrome Polishes in NP239 Chrome Silver. I'm a bit funny with foils and metallics and brush stokes, but when one of the lovely assistants swatched it, IT looked pretty good, so I thought I'd give it a go. Since it was their first day I also got a little branded, hand mirror as a gift with purchase x
The final polish that I've picked up lately was a magazine freebie. A month or so ago Cosmopolitan magazine had a free New CID Cosmetics I Polish on the cover. There was a couple to choose from but I went for a hot, summery pink perfect for toes, Pink Macaroon.
This issue isn't on sale any more but if your a fan of magazine freebies then you might want to check out the new issue of UK InStyle, which is on sale today and includes a free full sized Nails Inc polish. There are four shades to choose from and the shade names are all themed around 80's pop and rock anthems.
If you want to listen to my talking about this haul in more detail please have a little watch of my latest You Tube video, and if you subscribe don't forget your entitled to an extras entry in my NARS giveaway x
Thanks for reading and if you have any questions or any suggestions as to what to do with my nail art bits, then please let me know x
If you've been reading this blog for while now you'll know that I'm a bit of a QVC fan. I've been posting about my guilty pleasure since my blog first began in 2007 and I'm still talking about it nearly 8 years later. Yes I know it's a bit naff but as times progressed QVC has became one of the most trusted brands in the UK and one of the first places to go to for hard to find beauty brands.
I love their approach to beauty, not only do you find things that you can't get elsewhere, but due to their influence and buying power you can also pick up some great value products and sets. Quite a while ago now (I'm talking about 15 months or more!) I bought a bumper set of products from British brand New CID Cosmetics for less than £40. The trouble is though when you have as much make up as I do, you tend to forget about things and unfortunately that's what happened with this kit. Thanks to a recent blogger event with Paul Mitchell though and a Christmas gift from Mummy Lou , this brand is now firmly back on my agenda.
My current obsession is with blusher and the kit that I got came with an i-cheek Blusher Trio in Pink. Packaged in an almost pearlised, white rectangular compact with a mirrored insert, you get a full sized mirror, and 3, 2.5g powder blushers. The colours look a little bit washed out here but the first shade is a cool toned, bright almost Barbie Pink, the second shade is a very pale, white pink, highlighting shade, and the third shade is a softer, slightly warmer toned pink.
All of the blushers are soft to the touch, and the pigmentation is pretty good. Even though two of the shades are relatively matte they don't feel chalky or powdery in any way.
The two blush shades and the highlight shades blend nicely into the skin, and despite the brightness of the colours they all give quite a natural, flush to the skin. Thanks to the winter light you probably aren't going to see too much difference between these two sets of picture, but these ones show the first two shades in the compact
and these pictures show the second and third shades - the highlight and the warmer, more neutral pink.
This blusher compact contains 3 very wearable shades, with decent pigmentation and wear time, but whilst I'm happy to have it in my collection it's not something I would consider purchasing on it's own. Why? well unfortunately the price plays a big part - this palette currently retails at £24, which really puts the price of the kit that I ordered into perspective! Yes I know you can pay more than this for just the one blusher but in today's current climate, with such a wide variety of high quality, budget products on the market, the price seems to be just a bit high for what it is. It's a nice trio but it just doesn't seem that special or unusual enough to justify the price, and instead I'd rather put my money towards one of the brands fabulous i-glow powders. New CID Cosmetics i-cheek Blusher Trio comes in both Pink and Coral and retails at £24 from the New CID Cosmetics website. Have you ever tried anything from New CID Cosmetics? I'd love to hear your recommendations x
For my last post of 2014 I thought I'd reflect, not on the year gone by but on the magical day that seems to flash by in the blink of an eye - I'm talking of course about Christmas Day!.
I don't know about you but Christmas for me really starts on Christmas Eve. Muppets Christmas Carol, mince pie making, mulled wine and new PJ's really get me in the mood for the day to come. This years festive pj's from Mummy Lou weren't that festive but they were something that I'd been after a long while.
Minions of course, I think I've gone Despicable Me daft this year, it just makes me smile no matter what, it's just so silly. As much as I would have loved to lounge around in my PJ's all day Christmas Day, we have a sort of dressing for dinner thing going on in my family so I got my legs out and donned a frock.
What I Wore
Burgundy / Wine Tunic Dress With Puffed Sleeves - Primark
Gold Tone Chunky Crystal Necklace - Next
Gold Tone Chunky Crystal Stud Earrings - H&M
Black 100 Denier Tights - George At Asda
I'm sorry for the in the mirror selfies but Mummy Lou had more important things to attend to like the stuffing and the gravy. Since I was making lunch with her I had to be super quick getting ready so no pics I'm afraid but I used a bit of tinted moisturiser, and bit of blush, mascara, and a tiny touch of Beauty Marked and Cranberry eyeshadows by MAC which toned in with my dress. Thankfully I'd done my nails the night before so I wasn't in too much of a rush. I went for an oldie but a goodie, and again something that toned in with my dress.
From around 2003, OPI - Fee Fi Fo Plum, is still in perfect condition. It's a gorgeous slightly shimmery and metallic, wine / plum shade. This is two coats but you could even go to 3 to get a much deeper, richer finish.
Wear time wasn't amazing but that was more down to my lack of top coat and battling with sellotape rather than the age or the quality of the polish.
I have to say I did spend a lot of time ripping off sellotape on Christmas Day x I was a very, very lucky girl. I know I complain a lot about my life and my illness, but I do have an amazing family, and a small but precious group of friends and for that I am eternally grateful. They are there for me even on my darkest days and they make me who I am, my happiness is their happiness and as a result I was well and truly spoilt on Christmas Day. I know some of you aren't fans of gift hauls and view them in a negative, show off way so if that's how you feel please take your negativity elsewhere, don't read and don't comment,
Quite a few friends, and some family read my blog now and this is my way of expressing my gratitude. I'm not going to go into much detail the pictures should speak for themselves xx
As well as the presents from my friends and family I also got a little present from The Body Shop in my goodie bag from the recent bloggers event. I was a good girl and saved mine for the big day. Inside my pressie I was lucky enough to get a 50ml Strawberry Body Butter, a bright green bath lily, and a Glazed Apple 60ml Shower Gel
There are a few bits here including some permanent Make Up Revolution items, some New CID items and a Bare Minerals palette that I will review for you, and of course I will also be reviewing my Mad Millie Cheese Making Kit which I can't wait to try x I received so many lovely things and I'm fully aware of how grateful I am so I'd just like to say a huge thank you to all of my friends and family x
I also received two other very special, large presents from my amazing mummy which you may have already seen on my instagram, both of these things are related to tomorrows post, I'll show you them tomorrow x Till then thanks for reading and I hope that you all have an enjoyable and safe New Years Eve x
