Dior Nail Art at Harrods

This has to be the ultimate combination of nail art and high end fashion..! If you're a fan of pretty, graphic, bold or patterened nails  - of if you're a fan of Dior - you'll definitely appreciate the the nail 'menu' at Harrods, inspired by Dior's Spring/Summer 2013 collection.

Gorgeous, right? But which one to choose...

The nail patterns are directly inspired by different outfits and patterns that walked down the Dior catwalk, so you're not only buying into a beautiful manicure, but a really on-fashion look without the usual Dior price tag.

The nail art has been created by Sophie Harris Greenslade,  AKA 'The Illustrated Nail'. Sophie is an amazing nail technician, if you haven't checked her out already make sure you do - @TheIllustratedNail 

You can book in to receive on of these very special manicures up to 14th April at Harrods in London. Sophie herself will be carrying out Dior manicures on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays if you fancy a session with the woman herself. 

This is only available for a short while and is bound to be very booked-up so if you're after one of these get your booking in pronto!

xo

Foods for Healthy Hair

'You are what you eat' is a very true saying - I'm a strong advocate of eating a healthy, balanced diet because everything you put into your body has an impact on your outer self.

Many of us are guilty of buying into or overloading on expensive products in the never-ending search for perfect skin and hair, forgetting that focusing on what we're eating can help us achieve these goals naturally.

Now, I'm not saying that eating certain foods will give you great hair no matter what, and I definitely think there are many products out there which can improve your hair. If you mistreat your hair, overstyle it or use heated appliances all the time, eating well won't have the same effect because your hair is being neglected from the outside.

But, teaming a good diet with good haircare can help you achieve heavenly hair much quicker.

Below, I list some of the top foods for healthy hair....


1. Fruit and vegetables

I know, I know...This one is obvious! But it's also one of the most important food groups for your hair. Leafy, dark green veggies (think spinach and broccoli) are high in iron and calcium and fruits that are high in vitamins A and C are essential for the production of sebum - an oil which your hair follicle generates to keep your hair conditioned and shiny. Fruits which are high in these vitamins include strawberries, oranges and kiwis - and they're great for keeping a cold at bay too!

2. Nuts

Not only are nuts a great, easy snack for mid-afternoon hunger pangs, but they're really good for you and provide a big dose of zinc which keeps your hair strong and prevents shedding. Brazil nuts are especially good for scalp health, whilst walnuts, almonds, cashews and pecans all provide healthy hair minerals.

3. Omega 3 fatty acids

Omega 3 fatty acids are amazing at rejuvenating both hair and skin and help your hair get that enviable, mirror-like shine. The best source for these is fish - so stock up on salmon, mackerel and sardines for the best impact.

4. Low fat dairy

Your hair needs calcium if you want it to grow and the best source for this is low fat dairy products such as skimmed milk and yoghurt. Yoghurt in particular is not only a great source of calcium but also protein which helps your hair stay strong and resilient.

5. Eggs

Eggs are a great source of protein and are loaded with other hair heroes such as iron, zinc and sulfur which makes them a great all-rounder for a happy head.

6. Sweet potatoes

Swap out your normal potato for a sweet potato and you'll be helping yourself to a higher intake of vitamin A. Low vitamin A levels can lead to an unhealthy scalp which inhibits hair growth and makes your hair dull so filling up on sweet potatoes is a great way to ensure your scalp is in top condition.

7. Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the best fruits you can eat for your hair because they are loaded with Vitamin C which prevents hair breakage. Mix some blueberries into low fat greek yoghurt and you've got a yummy, hair friendly snack.

8. Poultry

White meat, such as chicken, contains high levels of protein as well as zinc, iron and B vitamins. Poultry is also rich in cysteine - an amino acid promotes hair growth by helping to increase the thickness of each strand of hair. Cysteine can also be found in eggs, garlic, broccoli and red peppers.

9. Grains

Great for a hit of iron and zinc. Whole what bread also provides essential B vitamins which help carry oxygen to your hair, increasing growth rate. 

10. Beans

A lot of people don't realise how good beans are for your hair and skin. Kidney beans and lentils contain high levels of protein to stimulate hair growth, and beans also contain lots of zinc and biotin - perfect for preventing breakage.

What are your top tips for healthy hair? Share your ideas in the comments box below.



xo

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

These polishes from Sally Hansen are really impressive. I've tried out one of the darker shades - called 'Midnight in NY', shown below - and I was really pleased with the consistency and lasting power.

These polishes contain 'vita-care' technology which, in a nutshell, gives you the look and feel of a complete manicure in one step. Having tried it for myself, I can safely say that this polish gives you that manicured look in just one coat - even better with two coats.

In 1 bottle you get a base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, colour and top coat all in one.

This polish creates a really shiny, perfect looking nail with only one step and it lasts really well.

I wore the polish for about 5 days before I noticed a tiny chip. That's pretty good going for me - usually I end up with chips in my nails after one day!

There are some really gorgeous colours available in this collection, as well as 23 brand new shades which all look lovely. There are some pearlescent and glitter polishes too, if that's your thing.

These polishes come with a great rectangular brush which fans out as your apply the polish to your nail, so you can coat your entire nail really quickly and easily.

You can pick these up from various outlets or from the Sally Hansen website for £6.99.


xo

Guerlain Colour Lacquer Nail Polish

Following on from my previous post, I wanted to show you the new Guerlain colour polish range.

The very first thing I like about these is the packaging. In true Guerlain style these are very stylish.

There are 10 colours in total, and I've picked out my top 3 in the image above. The nude shade 'la petite robe noir' is a really nice grey-tinted nude, very muted and chic, easy to wear with any outfit.

I have a real soft spot for the dark wine colour 'Vega' - it's one of my favourite shades of polish in general and this one is a really deep, rich shade that I think will look beautful next Autumn/Winter!

 'A la parisienne' is a bright, bold pink - it's almost neon but has a really lovely richness to the colour that makes it much more wearable.

The collection is largely based around pinks/reds and there are some really gorgeous shades which are definitely worth checking out.

Just like Guerlain's Gel Top Coat, these are high shine and come with the unique brush allowing you to apply one coat to the whole nail in just one sweep - very easy, chic, manicured nails.

You can pick these up now for £18 each.



xo

Guerlain Gel Top Coat

A few brands are bringing out gel effect top coats, including this new release from Guerlain.

It's designed to work with their own colour polishes, but in reality it works over any polish.

The gel top coat gives the nail a thick, transparent coating which is ultra high shine - all key to achieving the look of gel nails.

This top coat protects your colour just like any other top coat would, but maybe a bit better because it's a little extra thick. 

The best thing about this offering from Guerlain is that the brush has been custom-designed for the prupose. It is extra wide and flat, designed to fit the shape of the nail perfectly so you can sweep on just the right amount in one go. This actually really helps with the gel effect because you get one, uniform coat which looks quite superficial (just like gel polish)!


This is available now for £18.

Do you like real gel nails or will you be trying this out?


xo

Tuesday 10: Nail care Tips

Your nails are an important part of your every day look, whether you keep them polished, patterned or just beautifully bare. Below I share some of my tips for easy, every day nail care to ensure your talons are always in shape.

Let your nails breathe: As much as I love a well-manicured and polished nail, it’s important to let your nails breathe sometimes with no polish on them. Whilst nail polish shouldn’t actually stop your nails growing, nail polish remover is quite drying for the nail and can cause nails to flake. Constant polish can also stain your nails a nasty yellow/orange shade, so it’s best to leave the nail bare for a week every now and then. If you really can’t go without a polish, try a clear top coat for some high shine.

Banish stains:  If you wear dark colours, you’re more likely to suffer with stains, although constant use of any colour can eventually give your nails a yellow tinge.  Combat this by wearing a base coat beneath your nail polish and periodically allow your nails to ‘breathe’ with nothing on them. If you have already got that tell-tale yellow tinge, fear not – a great tip is to apply some whitening toothpaste to each nail and leave it on for 5-10 minutes and voila - no more stains!

One direction: Using a nail file in a ‘sawing’ back and forth motion can cause your nails to weaken and split. File in one direction only to keep the tips smooth and prevent breakage.

Get buff!: Buffing your nails is a great way to add natural shine and help polish stay in place. A really good buffer that I’ve tried is the Revlon Crazy Shine Buffer, which allows you to achieve super shiny nails in a flash.

 

You are what you eat: If you find that not matter what you do to your nails, they never seem to grow past a certain length, you might need to change your diet. Nails and hair are dead tissue, so they are the last part of your body to receive nutrients if you’re eating a poor diet. Load up on protein for the best impact (white meat, eggs, fish, dairy products) and avoid any extreme or fad diets which can deplete your body of much needed nutrients such as iron, zinc and biotin.

Cuticle care: Your cuticles are a vital part of your nail. They sit on top of your nails’ growth matrix and protect this part of the nail to ensure that they grow long and strong. It’s important to take care of your cuticles if you want healthy nails. Never cut them – not only can this easily cause infection but it can also cause ridges, white spots and hamper the growth of your nails. Keep cuticles moisturised with a good quality cuticle oil and if you must touch them, only use a gentle wooden orange stick. 

Keep your polish fresh: Nail polishes last longer, apply easier and dry quicker if you keep them in a cool place. If you have space, put some in your fridge, or just keep the ones your use regularly in there. If you are revisiting an old polish and find that it’s turned gloopy since you last used it, don’t throw it out – a good tip is to place the entire bottle into some freshly boiled water for a few minutes. The polish will be good as new again!

Seal the tips : When painting your nails, run the brush along the tip of the nail. This will coat the ends of the nail and ‘seal’ your nail polish, making it less likely to chip and keeping your polish in place for longer.

Keep ‘em clean!: It sounds obvious, but keeping your nails clean (particularly if you are wearing no polish or a clear top coat) is a vital step to ensuring your nails look good. Looking at someone’s dirty nails is so off putting, and it’s the easiest thing to correct. Regularly clean underneath your nails either with a manicure stick, file or a nail brush – this is something the men out there should do too!

Take care: The most beautiful nail look can be quickly spoilt by dry, cracked hands or feet. Keep a handcream in your bag to ensure your can moisturise your hands whenever they need it and regularly exfoliate and moisturise both your hands and feet to keep them in great condition.
What are your top tips for nail care?


xo

OPI The Top 10

I'm lusting after this OPI set  - there isn't one colour I wouldn't wear in this collection.

The set consists of some of OPI's best-selling shades, and it takes care of every colour spectrum from natural, nudes, reds, pinks and darks.

The polishes in this set are all mini versions and the set costs £28.50. You can pick this up now and it's actually on offer at Debenhams with 10% off if you're quick!

xo

Essie Resort 2013

This collection is only available in the US at the moment but is expected to be released in the UK in the run up to Summer this year.

Essie Resort 2013 collection. From left: Come Here!, First Timer, In The Cab-ana, Under Where?

Essie are always on the ball when it comes to nail colours. All 4 of these polishes are bold, pretty Summer shades. With the Summer collection from Dior already available, we'll soon be spoilt for choice.

I think bright nails are a great way to perk up a Summer outfit and add a fun flash of colour.

My favourite is Come Here, although I am also liking the look of Under Where - a very girly, orchid shade.




Liz
xo

Dior Nail Glow Polish Review

I posted about this new product from Dior last week and over the weekend I managed to try it out.

To  give this a proper test, I applied normal clear top coat to one nail, Dior Nail Glow Polish to another and left the rest bare so I could compare them.

I applied two coats of this polish, and at first I did think the nail I had applied it to looked slightly better than the rest. Because it has a very tiny touch of pink to it, it slightly changes the colour of the nail once applied. It's completely transparent and very shiny, and the light touch of colour just makes your nail look a little bit different - it's hard to describe unless you have seen it in person, but the overall effect is really quite minimal. 

The difference between the nail with this on, and the one with a normal top coat on, was barely noticeable.

This polish claims to whiten the tips of your nails too - I left it on for a couple of days but there was no difference to the whiteness of my nail compared with my other nails.

After just one day of wear this polish started to chip and peel all over the nail. Having read a few reviews of this online, it seems like a common problem. It wasn't just at the end of the nail either, it was peeling off in little bits all over the nail. Because the polish is transparent, it's hard to notice this but looking up close, at least half had chipped off in the course of 1-2 days.

When I first heard about this product, I was intrigued as it seemed to improve the natural appearance of your nails and claimed to give them a french manicure look. It sounded like something that would make your nails much easier to manage - just one coat of this and you're done! 

But in reality, it peeled off so quickly that you'd be constantly repainting it, and the difference between this and any old top coat was so minimal that I doubt anyone else would notice your nails looked any different.

I was disappointed with this - especially as I am a big fan of Dior products. I'll be ditching this and trying out their new colour collections instead!


Liz
xo

Dior Vernis Sparkling Shine

Fans of Dior polishes (or just polishes in general!) will love the newest offering from Dior - Vernis Sparkling Shine.

These have been released alongside the most recent Dior Addict Gloss and both are supposed to compliment each other when worn together.

These are so different to the Dior Cruise Collection polishes I blogged about recently but both collections are perfect for Summer. 

These are really gorgeous - you need to see them in person to appreciate how pretty they are. They're ultra shiny and have a really fine shimmer in them that reflects the light and really draws attention to your nails.

The colours themselves are quite bright and very pigmented - one coat gives enough colour, two just tops it off nicely.

My favourite of the above is Delice which is a coral colour - the shimmer just goes so well with this colour and it's a really warm, Summer shade.

These are available now for £18 each and I would highly recommend you take a look at them in store - once you've seen them in person you will want to purchase the whole collection!


Liz
xo

Dior Nail Glow Nail Polish

I'm really intrigued by this nail polish by Dior. The principle behind it is that it's meant to look like you might not be wearing nail polish but just naturally have shiny, healthy, glowing nails. 

Dior even go so far as to say it brightens the nail tips so it looks like a natural french polish. As someone who gets impatient with chipped nails and definitely has no patience to do a french manicure on myself - this sounds like a dream come true.

I haven't tried this yet but I'm tempted to pick it up soon - have any of you tried this?

Doing some research online, it looks like it gives your nails a transparent light pink glow which looks really pretty and gives your nails a naturally healthy look. 

I'm a huge fan of nail polish but sometimes a natural nail just says 'chic'. A natural nail with whiter tips and a glowy base? Even better!


This costs £18 and is available to buy now.


Liz
xo

Dior Vernis Cruise Polishes

Dior recently added a trio of polishes to the Vernis Cruise collection which all look perfect for Summer...

Dior Vernis Cruise Nail polishes in (from left) Pasteque, Lime and Mango

My personal favourite is the pink shade, which is called 'Pasteque' (French for 'watermelon'), which is a really high shine, vibrant shade. 

Lime and Mango are really bold colours too and will look amazing worn on the beach when Summer eventually arrives.

These aren't available in the UK yet and there doesn't seem to be a launch date, but when I hear of one I will post it here.


Liz
xo

Ciate Creme Polishes

Ciate have just launched a handful of colours for Spring/Summer as part of their 'Fairground' collection, including these pastel beauties.

Candy Floss and Loop the Loop

If you're a fan of pastel nails, these will definitely hit the spot. They're really creamy and full of colour. If you aren't into pastel nails, give it a try when Spring (eventually) arrives and you may surprise yourself. Cute, fun candy nails are a great way to perk up a look.

Ferris Wheel and Hoopla

If you really can't get into the pastel thing, Ciate have also launched a range of glittery polishes alongside these which all look really pretty.

These are available now and are only £9 each. You can pick them up from Ciate online.


Will you be wearing pastel nails this Spring/Summer? What's your favourite nail trend for the season?


Liz
xo

Chanel Le Vernis 'Elixir'

If you're searching for the perfect pretty pink nail shade, then look no further.

At the Chanel show during Paris Fashion Week, the models were seen wearing the newest shade to the Chanel collection - Elixir.

Elixir is a beautiful pinkish red polish, the epitomy of the ladylike, pretty beauty trends we've been seeing on the catwalk over the last few weeks.

The Chanel Le Vernis nail polishes are priced at £18 in most stores and online.

 Elixir will be launched late-Summer as part of the Fall 2013 collection.


Liz
xo

L'Oreal Nail Polish Confetti

L'Oreal have recently released a range of top coats that give different effects when applied over your standard nail colour.

There are 4 polishes in the range at the moment, 3 of which are 'lurex' - a kind of semi-transparent, metallic effect, which you can get in blue, gold or diamond/white.

The fourth item in the range is the one that interested me most, so I decided to give it a try.

The Confetti top coat is a clear polish with black and white particles. They feel a bit like sequins cut up into tiny pieces and all different sizes. The effect is really different and unique - each nail looks slightly different too, as they are scattered randomly across each nail as you paint it.

It's important to apply a top coat over this to seal the nail, otherwise it can feel quite scratchy and you may (like me) be tempted to try to pick it off...

One other tip is to not apply this over very dark colours - I applied this over a dark blue nail polish and the black particles were barely visible. The look was OK but it's definitely improved when you see both the black and white particles - any colour that isn't too dark will work perfectly.

When I've tried this over a lighter colour I will do a swatch for you all.

These are available now and cost £4.99 each.

Have you tried this product or any others from the L'Oreal top coat range?


Liz
xo

Azature Black Diamond Nail Polish

Would you pay £160,000 for a nail polish?

This has to be the most extravagant beauty purchase you could find...

This is a 267 carat nail polish by Azature, which contains actual black diamonds and a bottle with a platinum sterling cap, topped off with 60 hand-set black diamonds.


The polish itself comes in a black silk bag, inside a big leather box which is much bigger than it needs to be. 

I can't think who would want to spent that much money on a nail polish - would anyone really notice whether it was a real diamond polish or not??

In fact, the same brand have their own imitation products with a range of 'diamond' nail polishes in a range of colours that you can purchase for £17.00 each - a bargain by comparison.

I am struggling to see the difference between the real diamond and fake diamond black polish in the bottle myself.... 

The other colours in the 'fake' range are actually quite pretty, so if you are looking for that sparkly nail effect without spending enough money to buy a house... I'd recommend checking them out.

The Azature range is available to buy from Selfridges online.


Liz
xo


 

Estee Lauder Mad Men Collection

I'm a huge fan of Mad Men - if you are too you'll be just as excited about this collection.

If you don't watch Mad Men (why not?!) it's a big American TV drama set in the Sixties. The beauty trends of the Sixties are among the most copied ever and this collection doesn't veer to far from the classic Sixties look.

Porcelain skin, nude lips and manicured, creamy cashmere nails were all the rage and this Estee Lauder collection nails that retro style perfectly.

There are only 3 pieces to this collection - I suppose that is a good thing for our purses, and because the 3 items are so spot-on Sixties, perhaps you don't need any more than 3..

Nail Lacquer in Pink Paisley

Rich, Rich Lipstick in Pinkadelic

See-Thru Blush in Light Snow

I am lusting after the blush big time - how adorable is that packaging?! The boxes that these products come in all match that blue and yellow print which gives everything a romantic, retro touch. I kind of want a top made in this print now too...

This collection is set to launch on 4th March to coincide with the sixth season of Mad Men in the UK.


Liz
xo

Ciate Very Colourfoil Manicure

Ciate always have their finger on the pulse when it comes to nail trends and their next offering is the Very Colourfoil range (see what they did there...?)

Photo courtesy of Ciate

Ciate claim this is really easy to apply, and the idea is to create a raw foil finish. This product gives you a lot of creativity - you can mix up different colours and layer them for a completely unique manicure.

Photo courtesy of Ciate

The way this works is that you use a Foil Fix Glue which you dot over the nail, then pick your chosen shade of foil from the sheets provided, press the whole sheet over the nail then pull it off so that it only stays where you have glued. Then you can apply different colours in different places, by putting the glue on other parts of the nail.

This set will be available in 3 different colours: Carnival Couture, Kaleidoscope Klash and Wonderland. All of these will be exclusive to certain retailers (Selfridges will be selling Carnival Couture).

These are going to be available in the UK in March and will cost £18 per set.

Will any of you be trying these out?


Liz
xo

MAC Archie's Girls - More previews

Hi everyone!

A lot of the Archie's Girls collection is available on the Selfridges website now and it should be live on the MAC website soon, so I thought I'd share a few more of my favourite items from the collection...

Betty Lipsticks in (from left): Girl Next Door, Betty Bright and Oh Oh Oh

 The Veronica lipsticks are much more in my colour range than these Betty ones, but they are growing on me each time I see them. The Betty shades in this collection are probably more everyday colours - very girly, peachy and pretty. Having seen swatches of these, my favourite of the above is Betty Bright which is a vibrant peach colour. 

Betty Polish in PepPepPep

Pearlmatte Face Powder in Veronica's Blush

 I am loving the look of this face powder - the cute design has reeled me in! This face powder combines pearlized and satin shades and can be used as a blush or highlighter also.

Veronica Powder Blush in Prom Princess

 This blush is a mid-tone pink berry with a satin finish. The pigment in these blushes is really good so you only need a tiny amount.

Veronica Polishes in (from left): Past Curfew and Double Trouble

If anyone has got anything from this collection already, let me know by leaving a comment - I'd love to know your thoughts.

Liz

xo

Estee Lauder French Nudes Collection

These polishes are heaven for any nude enthusiast. There's 5 different shades in this collection, so there should be something for everyone.

From left: Diabolique, Nudite, Bittersweet, So Vain, Ballerina Pink.

Estee Lauder claim these all have great pigment and leave a glossy finish even without a top coat - you can see them swatched over on one of my favourite blogs 'British Beauty Blogger' by clicking here.

 Inspired by Parisian fashion, these are all very elegant and easy to wear shades. I am particularly liking the look of So Vain, as well as Bittersweet for a darker spin on a nude nail.

Each shade is designed to compliment different skin tones so everyone will have their own favourite, but I don't doubt these will be very popular when they launch.

The collection is set for UK release in March and each bottle will cost £14.50 each.

Liz
xo