FEEL: OPI natural nail base coat

Soooooooo following off my last blog, I’m a little nail inspired this weekend. P.s don’t do the gardening with long nails, dirt just gets under them so bad, it’s gross.

Last blog I talked about applying a base coat before you apply your nail polish, so following that I wanted to give you guys a little something something about OPI natural nail base coat.

OPI natural nail base coat

Ever since spending a bit too much money on nail polishes I kind of spent a little bit more before I stopped because I have so many colours, but if there’s a nice colour I see and don’t have I’ll probably get it. =) Nail polishes are like shoes to me, they look good, I want them, I get them. I’m sure most of you have done the same, I’m so not a loner on this one. I refuse to believe it.

My last nail polish purchase was something every nail lover needs. A base coat.

Base coats are great, since I’ve started using them, my nail polish lasts a couple of days longer before I have to take it off. Chipped nail polish, gross. It pretty much lasts me a good week, then I take it off anyways. If you read the last blog, nail polishes on your fingernails should be changed every week.

OPI natural base coat is great.

Why I love it…

-        It creates a barrier from my nails to the nail polish, this way I don’t have to worry about those unwanted stained nails

-        It’s a natural nail base coat. You know how you get your nails buffed and polished and it has that natural shine. Apply one coat of this and it gives your nails that natural shine without needing to buff and polish it.

-        It also helps nail polish stay on longer.

-        It goes on clear and blends into your nail even though it looks slightly pink in the bottle

The price..

OPI is known for long lasting polishes and I wouldn’t say expensive but it’s worth it for a base and top coat. You want something that will last you at least a week before changing it. I got mine for $12.95, just shop around.

Nail tips.. literally.

Alright so the week is over, weekend here we come, a lot of you probably have plans to go out and get all prettied up. (Wow I can’t believe prettied is a word I was expecting spell check to come in there.)

But one of the things I like to do when I’m out for the weekend, is to do my nails. Nail polish is that one product where you just can’t go wrong or regret like a bad haircut or a fake tan gone so wrong you look like an orange m&m. If you don’t like the colour you chose, just wipe it off and start again and what’s even better sometimes nail polishes are on sale. Chemist bargain bins anyone?

It’s so important and a lot of ladies out there don’t do it, even nail salons.

Stained finger nails is something we all do not want and it happens because you don’t apply a base coat to your fingernails, the pigment of the colour is too strong and penetrates through your nails if left on too long.

Just a tip for you all about your nails this weekend or whenever you’re wearing some nail polish,

-         Always put a base coat on, this will help prevent the colour staining your nails and it even helps your polish last a bit longer too.

-        Change the colour of your nail polish on your fingernails every week and every two weeks for your toenails.

-        Apply your top coat to the very tips of your fingernails to avoid them chipping. (Calling all compulsive texters like me, this works a treat!)

SEE: Inglot freedom system palette

I use this product everyday or when I go out and it hasn’t occurred to me to blog about this. Sometimes when you just see things that are in front of you every single day, you forget that they’re even there.

Okay so trip to LA last year for IMATS, I bought so much stuff from brands we don’t even have here in Australia unless you buy online and we all know by now I am so not an online shopper.

What I really love is eye makeup. You can get so creative with eye makeup, the different coloured eye shadows and designs you can do, it’s basically unlimited. I also think the reason why I love eye makeup so much is because the first thing you will notice when meeting somebody are their eyes. Looking someone straight in the eyes shows confidence and of course having amazing eye makeup helps too.

Inglot 40 freedom palette - matte shades

I purchased the Freedom system palette by Inglot when I was at IMATS and it was crazy just to tell the person what I wanted, there were so many people at the Inglot stand and honestly now I know why.

I had in my kit already so many vibrant colours that were matte and I also had a lot of shimmery shadows too and the one thing I needed was earthy matte colours from the nudes to the browns. I needed A LOT of that.

What is it?

So the Freedom system is where they provide you with an empty palette where you can choose the colours of the shadows that you want to put in, it’s basically like customizing your own palette. To be honest, with that many people there and with other stuff I wanted to see I just said get me all those colours in the matte shades that you have on offer and bag it for me.

The refills are magnetised and so is the palette, so refilling and
changing  your eye shadow colours around has never been easier.

I was able to get 40 different shades all on one palette which was really great for me, the only thing is it’s kind of heavy but whatever right?

·        So, maybe you don’t need THAT many eye shadows, that’s fine they have palettes with 20 spots, with 2, 3 ,4 or 5 and 10 and you can either get the square or rounded eyeshadows.

·        Maybe you just want a palette for yourself that you can put your blush, eyeshadow and some pressed powder into it, they have that too.

One of the great things about the Freedom System is what the name entitles, freedom. Freedom to choose the products that are most suited for you.

Why I love it..

I thought this was really practical, once you’ve finished with a shadow because it’s all magnetized you can simply replace it by getting the same colour or something else. (Think a Z palette but just designed for Inglot shadows) They were wrapped up individually so as you can place the colours the way you wanted to place them on your palette.

Like my set out of the colours?

Sort the colours out however you like, I put mine in like this.

Simply slide the lid off! BONUS TIP: Use the
magnets on the lid to help get the refills
out once they're finished

The lid is also magnetized so all you have to do is slide it off, which I thought was pretty nifty, it just makes makeup more fun.

The different size palettes they have and the variety and colours of the eye shadows, pretty much makes your choices unlimited.

Money, money, money!

Okay guys want to know the price I got this amazing palette for? Of course you do!

I got it for $137 US that is.  Umm bargain beyond belief! This included the palette and 40 different eye shadows.

I definitely know though here for my Australian viewers it’s not going to be that price at all, I’m pretty sure it’s about $50 for the 40 palette and $10 each for the refill eye shadow, don’t quote me on that but I definitely got a good deal at IMATS, LA that is.

Let’s do some swatches..

The reason though the Inglot stand was pretty crazy, even for the IMATS in Sydney, not as crazy as LA but, this is a really good brand for eye shadow.

The colours are so pigmented and it has that strong and bold colour we all love, and it’s better to have a pigmented shadow compared to one that is not, so it won’t take you forever trying to build up that colour. Don’t worry if you’ve gone overboard with an eye shadow that is high in pigment, simply soften it with some loose translucent powder.

Here are some swatches, keeping in mind I swiped my finger once over the shadow then onto my arm.

Left to right: Matte 391, Matte 326, Matte 324, Matte 368, Matte  319,  Matte  361 

THE ONE DOWNSIDE, sort of

 The only downside that annoys me about this is I can’t get the refill out sometimes. This might not even be a problem for you but for me trying to get it out and move it somewhere else when it’s still full, my biggest fear. I just don’t want to damage it. (found this out when I was trying to take it out and see what the refill was called for the swatches and then I just used my tweezers to get it out, sometimes I just surprise myself.)

FEEL: Shiseido bio performance super eye contour cream review and some quick tips

Let’s say you’ve had a really long day of doing whatever, be it housework, or work and if you’re anything like me, your eyes just get super tired after a long day.

I love the days where I can just stay at home and clean the house (it relaxes me for some reason, I like when things are clean, it makes everything feel fresh), it’s also the time where I don’t wear any makeup at all! I don’t know about the rest of you but sometimes I need that pop of mascara just to make me look awake and not like I’m about to fall asleep.

I discovered yesterday that sometimes when your eyes look tired and you feel that you need that bit of eye makeup, the skin around your eyes are just dry and they need some moisture to re energise them.

Shiseido bio performance super eye contour cream ,
sample size

I didn’t use my normal face cream but rather an eye contour cream by Shiseido. Shiseido bio-performance super eye contour cream to be exact.

I applied a little bit of this to my eyes as I received a sample after my mum bought a crazy amount of Shiseido products.

I was so surprised with this and how much it just re energized my eyes, the dullness around my eyes just disappeared and it really woke my eyes up.

The benefits of this eye contour cream is that it’s meant to help reduce wrinkles, dark circles and dullness and overall moisturize and re energise the skin.

Shiseido bio performance super eye contour cream 

There have been some reviews out there where people have said that it makes the eyes a lot puffier than before, however I do have naturally puffy eyes especially those bags under my eyes (hello concealer!) but for me personally it didn’t accentuate the puffiness, if anything it just looked healthier. Think of dry skin on your hands and when you apply moisturiser to that dry area, you see the benefits, there’s more moisture and therefore your skin looks healthier and smooth. That’s how it was for my eyes.

Still being a young girl, wrinkles, they haven’t happened just yet but I do have some little lines near the inner corner of my eyes where the bags are (most probably from stretching the skin in that area) and after applying this once at night and just then this morning, the lines have definitely made themselves less prominent and I’m still pretty amazed.

Alright so review over, I just wanted to share some quick tips on applying eye cream.

The way you apply face cream is completely different to applying eye cream. With eye cream, you should always use your ring finger. Place a small amount of eye cream to the tip of your ring finger and first apply to the top lids working from the inner corner out. Then going under the eye working from the outer corner of your eye in.

The reason for doing it this way is you’re less likely to stretch the skin around your eyes, remember skin around the eyes are delicate and the reason for using your ring finger to apply is you’ll find that there is less pressure being applied using your ring finger than any other finger you use. 

Some tips on kohl, liquid and gel eyeliners

Oh eyeliner, I mean come on who doesn’t love it. Eyeliner just puts that finishing touch to your eye makeup.

When I do my eyes, I like to put mascara on both the top and the bottom and with that I apply some eyeliner through the top lashes and the bottom lashes to fill in the tiny gaps and it gives your eyes that more defined look and that extra pop.

The downside, a kohl pencil eyeliner isn’t going to last you all day.

Kohl eyeliner, crayon kohl in the colour mousse

-        Kohl eyeliners, come in a variety of colours and they’re great for lining the bottom lash line with your favourite colour, try some blue on the lower lash line if you have brown eyes.

-        With kohl eyeliner, they are very easy to blend due to their creamy and smooth texture. Doing a smokey eye for the night, apply kohl liner first to the base of your lids and blend it out. Adding that kohl liner first before you apply the shadow, intensifies the colour.

-        Always apply concealer or foundation to your eyes when you’re working with kohl eyeliners and don’t forget to powder them lightly, it’s just easier to blend that way.

If you want some longer lasting eyeliner try:

-        Liquid liners, these are great for the top of your eyelids and drawing that little cat eye flick at the end.

Liquid eyeliner, by Missha The style in black

Never put liquid liner on the bottom lash line, they look best on top.

-        liquid liners as their name suggests, is wet and you need to allow that dry time before you open your eyes as it’ll smudge.

-        Can’t seem to get that exact straight line every time you apply liquid liner to the top, wait until the liner has dried and then use a cotton tip to buff away any mistakes.

-       

Gel eyeliners, these are one of my favourites at the moment. They just last that much longer and like liquid liners they’re quite smudge proof.

Gel eyeliner, by Lilan Vital extreme wear in black

-        Gels are very smooth in texture and glides on well.

-        It has more of a silkier feel to it compared to liquid liners

-        You can apply gel eyeliners to the top AND the bottom of your eyes as it has a softer finish.

With any eyeliner application especially on your top lids, make sure you lift the skin of your eyes so you can get the colour right to the base of your top lash line.