Monday Nails | More From Fashion Weeks

Fashion Week usually inspires quite a few nail trends so I wanted to go back to the catwalk to pick up some more nail designs.
The following is on my "unsure" list, because well, I'm not fully decided on it. Is it even new, is it wearable,is it interesting?
I've seen this stripe thing on a couple of models and as much as I wanted to change it up, I did it just like they did it on the fashion show, on just 3 fingers.

                               
To be honest, I would have done it on all 5 fingers because then it would have had a higher potential of looking awesome. I might try it next time. Either way, I changed it up a bit since I used the W7 Cosmic Black for the stripe,which is a sand textured black glitter. Instead of some random monochrome line, I think this looks a bit more interesting. The base is my ever so favorite Essie Bikini so Teeny. 

What do you think? Fashion fail or something that could catch on? Because in terms of execution,it's definitely easy to do.


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Week In Pictures # 32

Happy Sunday everyone! I really like having a day where I think ahead and there's nothing I 'need' to do. Sure, I can do things if I want to, but I can also just sleep all day if the opportunity presents itself. And this is coming from someone who hasn't always been a fan of the Sunday.It really used to be my least favrite day of the week. But that's no longer the case, especially since Sunday means Week in Pictures!

                         

Last Sunday I went for a slightly longer run / The before and after of the cupcake/ Morning favorites - Ginger,Lemon and their lovechild,smoothie / Drove around with that leaf of the windscreen for quite a while because it was cute / My feet always look so tiny in those shoes! / Repotting the basil / Good views on a Saturday / Future posts! / You know it's bad when you go to Starbucks for a double espresso

How was everyone's week? Everyone enjoying autumn and most importantly, a Pumpkin Spice Latte?If you haven't tried it yet, you must! My absolute favorite autumn drink!

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Top Autumn Polishes Part 2

Remember Part One ? Well we're back with the second half of what I foresee on my nails this fall.
Two things I've noticed in the making of this post: 
1. I have no greens! And I mean I have a minute amount of green polishes ( one to be exact ). I don't think they look that magnificent on me but just one? Really?     
2. A lot of blue was included in this post. I'm realizing it as I look at the pictures, because I've never considered myself a huge user of blue polishes. The truth is, ever since I joined the Monday Blues project, I seem to have acquired a considerable amount of blues.

Can you tell I like Sally Hansen? Of course not, there would be no way of you noticing that.
Truth of the matter is, especially the Xtreme Wear polishes are extremely durable. I keep being impressed by how well they last.
Left to right:

Sally Hansen - Yellow Kitty

Sally Hansen - Gray by Gray
 Sally Hansen - Greige Gardens
 Sally Hansen - Gunmetal
Essie - Bobbing for Baubles

( the links will take you to the swatches I did of each polish)

Yellow Kitty is a pale enough yellow to get your attention but to not bother you too much. I find it really ideal for autumn when everything fades away a bit

Gray by Gray is a grayish blue that I really really like! I'm a big fan of all polishes with a gray undertone and this one is just cool enough.

Greige Gardens is, guess what? Yes, a mauve with a gray undertone. It gives it the proper coolness for the frosty months.

Gunmetal has got to be one of my alltime favorites. The shimmer makes it absolutely gorgeous to wear anytime but I'm prone to reaching for it when it's less than hot outside.

Bobbing for Baubles....ah Essie, you've managed to create something that I've become obsessed with. Seriously obsessed. It's dark enough to be dark but blue enough to not confuse it with black and it just looks regal. An incredible color  to be worn anywhere and anytime and you can probably tell I'm a fan by the many posts I've done on it like: here, here, one more here ,in polka dot version and in golden polka dot version which also happens to be my favorite.

Below, the swatches

               

Left to right: Bobbing for Baubles/Gunmetal/Greige Gardens/Gray By Gray/Yellow Kitty

Will you be sporting any of these colors? I'll also be doing one on my favorite metallics and glitters for fall so stay tuned!

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Top Autumn Nail Polishes Part 1

It's autumn and it's awesome! And like with everything, autumn colors set in, which means I'm going to show you my Top 10 picks for what to wear on thy nails. The first part, this one, will be with the more conventional colors, the ones you can actually envision quite easily for autumn. The next one will have the less obvious choices. That basically means the colors your grandmother will not be sporting. She might not even approve of them. But that's for next time.

                           
From left to right, as you do:

OPI - Hot and Spicy

Barry M - Mushroom

Barry M Gelly - Lychee

Mi Ny - Forever Young

Essie - Hip-Anema

Hot and Spicy  was the first coral polish I found after a VERY long search for the shade. And this was about 3 years ago when the color palette was scarce. It's still one of my favorites

Mushroom really gets me in autumn mood. It's clearly not something I'd wear in spring or summer because well, it's not a super jolly shade but it's perfect for fall and winter

Lychee is an all year favorite. Such a beautiful nude but with just a hint of gray that works anytime 

Forever Young was THE shade of last year's fall: oxblood. And I think it's a staple color for autumn

Hip-Anema is a more summer color, yes, but you really need a proper red in your collection once the season changes.

And below are the swatches

Left to right Hip-Anema/Forever Young/Lychee/Mushroom/ Hot and Spicy

What do you think? Do we agree on some of these colors? Or even on all of them?

But in any case, stay tuned for part two of my autumn shades because some of my favorites are in there!

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Did You Know There Were So Many Ways To Make Hummus?

I for one had no clue there was more then eh...one way to make hummus. And I'm a big fan of that one way. But this weekend I was spending my usual amount of way too much time on Pinterest when I came across this great piece of information that I really wanted to share with you because I can tell you know, it will come very much in handy for me!                                

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Fashion Week Nails

It's not a new thing that I really like the Framed Nails Look but have only been mixing the black base with metallic polishes. Yes, those look amazing, but looking at pictures from the NY Fashion week, I saw the black base being paired up with a really bright green and thought "Wait, that looks like my favorite mint!"     

How awesome possum is this combination? I'm totally and utterly in like with it! My nails could be a bit longer, but I've been keeping them short on purpose. The time will come when they will grow longer but I really prefer them short at this point, also because they are much easier to maintain and just give me that nice clean look I prefer.

What do you think? Do you like the combination? I think the black really makes the Barry M Greenberry color pop!                          




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Week In Pictures # 31

The past 7 days have been about two big things: the great outdoors and food .
Last Sunday we were in the mountains and woke up at 6am to see the sunrise. And even if it was pretty cloudy, it was definitely worth waking up at that hour and in that perfectly crisp and clean air. We even made a dog friend who ended up sleeping like the cutest baby next to the fire.

 1. Autumn's getting here... 2. Mint Oreos! 3. Many thanks to my sugary treats provider! 4. It still is super fascinating to come across mushrooms in the woods for me 5. Breakfast is looking good 6. THE crunchiest and most delicious cucumbers I have ever eaten! 7. Love walks through the woods 8. Watcha think about my sunset?                 

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Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Creme Brulee

Is there someone who has not heard about the Revlon Lip Butters ? I think not. I remember a year ago, when they came out in all those pretty shades of pink. Now, if you share my magnificent natural lip color and complexion, you will know that pink is not a color that will become your best friend.
You have no idea how happy I was when I finally saw a more earthy tone in their range!

I can absolutely understand all the praising this thing gets because it's not a color that is in your face, it is  a hydrating sheer lipstick. In this particular case, Creme Brulee is a beautiful nude color that just evens out your lip color and adds a gorgeous warm shimmer. AND it is hydrating! I have stopped using lip colors for a while because they had no hydrating qualities and did more bad than good but this is basically a gorgeously colored lip balm

The lesson to be learned here is: Try this thing out! Now there really is a color for everyone and it's not an overpowering color, which I personally like a lot, being the fan of a natural look that I am.
If it's flawless you're after, this is your friend!




                           
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Adding Maybelline Color Tattoos To The Collection

The day has come where I walked into a Boots and did not forget to buy the Maybelline Color Tattoos! You'd be surprised how easily I get distracted and end up getting something completely different that what was initially planned. But this time I made it my mission to try them out and get them if I liked what I saw.
What convinced me was the fact that I smeared them on my hand in the afternoon and at around 11 pm, after multiple cleansings of the hands, the color was still there. Visibly there!
Thank God the Boots at Piccadilly is open til midnight so I walked in and was even happier to see how they had a 3 for 2 offer happening.

I love me some shimmer and these three have that in plenty! If it's shimmer you're after I suggest you go for the Eternal Gold. It might look nice and innocent in this pot but once it hits the skin it explodes in pure golden glitter. Not the most wearable thing during the day but if you layer it with On and on Bronze you will get a gilded bronze on your eyes. So far I've really liked wearing On and on Bronze with a dash of Pink Gold on the outer parts of the lids.

I'll definitely come back with a post with not only swatches but also with my eye for show. I just really wanted to show you my new little beauties because I'm very impressed with their texture, color and durability. If you haven't tried them yet, I really suggest you do because they're magnificent!                               




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Autumn Lips

Lately, autumn has become a special kind of awesome for me. I have a new appreciation for the slightly frosty air, the single leafs floating in the wind and then landing on the damp ground. The colors, the sounds, the vibe. I truly like everything about it.
Now, summer was for neons and all sorts of "Kapow!" colors, but autumn brings back the flesh tones and the calmer shades that just make you go into a state of being blissfully content.

The Nude Tones:

You can't have autumn without flesh colors.It's the epitome of the season. That's why clear picks for this are the Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee and Rimmel Apocalips in Nude Eclipse. Let's face it, I'm a big fan of the nude all year round, and autumn just gives me an extra seasonal excuse to use and overuse them.
The Apocalips is more on the lipstick side of things and has much more coverage, but the Revlon Lip Butter is well... a  lip butter and that means it may be a bit more sheer but it hydrates your lips much much more. They're basically the two extremes of the tone. 
I must admit, I did see an even more extreme sheer today tho, in the shape of a Maybelline lip butter dupe (I'd suppose that's what it was, I don't remember the description). And when I say sheer, I do mean sheer. You could only see something shining because no color was appearing. More on that if I ever give it a go in any case.

The Corals:

I find coral tones to look so beautiful in autumn! For the matte fans, we have the Topshop Lip Crayon in Coy which I've done a full review of Here. And again, for the more sheer version, Topshop is happy to oblige too with its Lip Bullet in There She Goes. That one also feels really hydrating on the lips and it has a summer nostalgic shimmer to it. It's really one of my favorite shades and I'll review it for you soon.

Those were my top picks for lip beautification this autumn, what are yours?                         





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Week In Pictures #30

Actually we're a bit more far along than week 30, because last week I did the London Edition which was documenting my trip to London Town and numbering wise, I didn't count that, but we're back on track.   
And I'm sorry for the later hour in the day at which I'm posting this but I just climbed down a beautiful mountain. More on that piece of heaven soon!

1. The only cloud in the sky that day 2. Yogi tea has the best quotes 3. My little spice window pane

4. Breakfast with ginger tea is a pure joy 5. The new favorites

6. I may have gotten Loki'd.... 7. How to successfully tan with socks 8. I am the maker of fire!

9. Tomato love all the way 10. Speck and fire and the great outdoors make for a perfect Sunday

                       



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Lip Lovin' | Topshop Lip Crayons

I'm usually not a big fan of matte lip...anythings. It's because we all know how they like to dry out lips but I have to say I'm beyond impressed with these crayons!

I'm definitely a big fan of nudes and corals,but to find a coral that I'm content with is a whole other story. You can imagine my surprise when this one turned out to be the exception to my searches. I was just randomly walking around Selfridges ( yes,not even Topshop...) when these cute things caught my attention. Would like to point out that I find the general black and white Topshop packaging immensely cute and I tend to direct my eyes towards them instinctively. And this was the case with the Lip Crayon in Coy.

In any case, what I was incredibly impressed with the lasting power. They're basically the Maybelline Color Tattoos of lips. Just like the eyeshadow, 5 hours into applying it, it was still sitting proudly on my lips. After eating and drinking mind you. And even more surprising, it did no damage to my lips in terms of drying them out. Even if it is a matte crayon, you don't get that "oh Lord they're becoming the Sahara!" feeling. Sure, it's not like wearing a moisturizer , but no matte product ever is.

They're also very friendly in re-applying. It really just takes a stroke and you're as good as new.That's mainly because not much color gets lost along the way to begin with.

                               

Not being a fan of lip crayons or mattes, this one really changed my mind and I really want to try more out! I'd just wish they'd make a nude,peachy and/or a pastel pink one. So far I've only seen burgundy and fuchsia.Correct me if I'm wrong though.
But stay tuned because I have some more Topshop lip lovin to show!



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Essie's Bikini So Teeny

I give up, I can't say Essie isn't awesome because they make some of the coolest colors! Me and blue are not necessarily something you'd instinctively pair up and we know this. Both me and blue. Essie seemed to be dead set on proving that wrong because last year I discovered their Bobbing for Baubles shade which pretty instantly became what I obsessively wore. Then I tried Mint Candy Apple , true, also mint but remarkably blue. Got obsessed with that also, and staring at the newest of the bunch on my nails just makes me go "Dammit Essie! How do you always pull this off?"
In terms of shades, they're definitely brilliant. Sometimes the lasting power is questionable (because some polishes seem to hang on for dear life, others appear to be giving up as soon as we start), but when they get it right, they really get it right!

                     


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Week In Pictures - London Edition

As you might know, I've been on the island again and loved it...again! Well, now I'm back with photographic evidence, as you do.

                              

1. Parliament Hill, incredible views! 2. The first meal 3. Chillin in the surprisingly hot british sun

4. I'm addicted to that thing and found a liter bottle! 5. The more northern the line, the higher the caffeine intake 6. Made up by having caffeine free breakfast next 

7. Primrose Hill, which fast became my absolute favorite place 8. Oh you know, just cocktails at the Tate with an AMAZING view! 9. Picnic on Primrose Hill at sunset

1. Soho time! 2. Basically, I got this because of the name 3. Random creativity with liquorice

4. One of my favorite views 5. Beautiful London 6. I might have overdosed on Starbucks,yes

7. Trying to cover up the Shard with my straw...yeah... 8. For the sake of it: the hotel where Lady Gaga was, that we accidentally bumped into 9. My last London sunrise

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Dirty Works Buff Your Stuff Body Scrub

I think the time has come for me to show you one of my favorite scrubs. You might be surprised what it is because it's so easily accessible and pretty easy on the wallet. Let's be serious,it's really easy on the wallet. I had discovered this scrub in a Marionnaud a while ago and wanted to give it a try because it looked so pretty. And I was VERY surprised the first time I used this. This is coming from someone who is a maniacal user of Burt's Bees scrubs and recently I've been preferring this one more.

For the refill, I was lucky enough that the lovely people of Dirty Works sent me one of these. But this is a definite repurchase, so regardless of how, I would have gotten my hands on it again anyway.

The main WHY is that unlike any other scrubs, it does what it's supposed to do and then leaves you with a total feeling of moisture on the skin! I mean, not even the oiliest of scrubs give you that feeling so effectively. It's basically the main reason I keep going back to this. 

The texture is creamy and has abrasive pearls as opposed to being sugar or salt based, which in itself is a great thing for sensitive and dry skin, because as much as sugar melts and is nice to you, it is still rougher than these beads.

Of course, as usual I'm a sucker for ingredients and this scrub a dub is right up my alley, keeping it nice and clean. 

Like I said, this scrub is available in Boots , I think also in Superdrug and Sainsbury's, but I'm not so sure about that one, and if you have a Marionnaud nearby, you'll also find it.
Definitely worth a try since it's just around 4£ or even less if you find the right offer and definitely worth a try since it's a pretty amazing scrub!
                 




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Beauty Bits I Picked Up In London

So here we are, showing off beauty bits once more! My last London trip consisted of a much less varied array of purchases. If I remember well it was a lipgloss I convinced myself into buying, and a lot ( I really mean A LOT) of nail polishes. Yeah, so much for diversity. 
Well this time, even if I had less time for shopping, I had a better idea of what can be found in London and where. And here's what I ended up with.

Last time I did a bit of sampling because even if I had heard a lot of great things about certain products, I wasn't going to buy them just like that, especially since they were skincare items. Such was the case with the REN  Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask. It was one of those "I need this!" things, but upon testing it, I wasn't that blown away. Basically it did nothing for me. My skin is usually pretty good so I suspect I just didn't need it. It was good to try before just buying and having it sit there unused.
The other thing I tried last time was the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask. Now that one really helped since my biggest issue is having dry skin. It really was the first thing I got when I arrived. First trip was to Selfridges and by evening I was happily smearing it on my face.
Something else I loved the sound of was the Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer. I already had the regular tinted moisturizer and still use it on days where I just look dead tired, by mixing it up with some of my BB cream. Well... I am sad to report that while it looked absolutely amazing it feels like dust. At least for me. It just cannot compare to the fresh feeling the Maybelline BB Cream, like having just splashed water on my face. Suppose I'm spoiled now.

Other things I got were the Batiste Dry Shampoo, basically just a refill because it's such a life saver! Then I really wanted to try the Maybelline Color Tattoo and since Boots had a 3 for 2 thing going on, I ended up picking up the golden one also. I can tell you know, I'm liking them a lot!
Also in Boots they had this cute mini Benefit package with the Sun Beam, Posie and Cha Cha Tint.To be honest, I didn't need any of them but they looked so cute! Must say, I really like what the Sun Beam can do.
And of course, the Revlon Lip Butters. It's been awhile I wanted to get one but my face is not made for wearing pink and this particular one, the Creme Brulee seemed to never be in stock. Until now.
And then, guys, I discovered the Top Shop lip section! Never a huge fan of matte things as they dried out my lips to destruction, but upon trying the Top Shop Lip Pencil I was in complete awe! It stays on for what seems forever and doesn't dry your lips out. The Lip Bullet is more hydrating to begin with as it has a shimmery finish but the color...wow! Big fan here. I wish they had a bigger array of lip pencils because a nude one like that would save my life.If you have any other lip pencil suggestions, throw them my way, please!
Last but not least, stocked up on the Eyeko Fat Mascara because you can't not know what a fan I am by now!

Now, is there any one of these you'd like me to review first?


                     


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Back From London

And we're back! I'm still on vacation for another day but I'm all up and running blog-wise again, after what was another magnificent week in London. Today I'll be writing up all the new posts, including the very diverse beauty purchases I've been doing this time round. Last time it was pretty much about stocking up on nail polish to be quite honest, but this time I've been trying out some really cool things. So, thanks for still reading and stay tuned for tomorrow!

                               


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