Now's the perfect time to break out of your plain nail polish routine and try something bright, bold, and fun

 

Electric Orange Tips 
Give a traditional French manicure a fun and summery twist by using a neon polish for your tips. Simply paint your nails any sheer nude shade, and once that is completely dry paint your tips in a bright orange, like Zoya in Paz, £8. For extra precision while drawing on the tips, use a thin paintbrush (you can buy one at any craft store). Finish with a clear topcoat.

Orange and Mint Triangles Don't have a steady hand but still want a complicated-looking nail art style? Try this scotch tape trick. Cut pieces of scotch tape into triangles and then paint them any bright color of your choice. A bright shade like Essie in Orange It's Obvious, £8, works really well. Let the painted tape pieces dry.

Next, paint your nails in color that contrasts well, like Essie in Mint Candy Apple. Wait five minutes for this to dry, and then carefully apply each triangle tape at the tips of your nails. For extra control, use a pair of tweezers to place the pieces of tape. Press down on the triangles firmly, and then apply a topcoat. 

 

 

 

Neon Stripes Stripes 

are one of the easiest, no-brainer nail art designs. The trick is to go for thicker stripes, because they're easier to paint on than delicate thin lines. To get this look, paint your nails in a bright pink shade like Ciate in Cupcake Queen, £12. Let this dry for five minutes, and then using a bright yellow like Ciate in Big Yellow Taxi, draw a slightly off-center vertical line down each nail. Let this dry and finish with a clear topcoat.  

Pastel Rainbow 

This pastel mixed-color mani requires absolutely zero nail art skills, but it still has a trendy, beachy vibe. You can use any five pastel shades of your choice -- one for each nail. Essie, £8 each, has some gorgeous pastel options like Mint Candy Apple, French Affair, Coat Azure, Tart Deco, and Pop Art Pink. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Grey Half Moons  

The half moon style is essentially an opposite French manicure. Instead of the tips, you are highlighting just above your cuticles, creating a half moon. First paint your nails in a neutral shade. A soft gray like Essie in Chinchilly, £8, works nicely. Let this dry completely.

Next, paint over your nails in a bright shade like Butter LONDON in Primrose Hill Picnic, £12. But do not paint your nails entirely. Instead, leave a gray crescent shape just above your cuticles. For more precision, you can use a thin paintbrush to create the half moon shape. Finish with a clear topcoat. 

 

 

 

Enjoy these amazing nail art ideas...

 

Sunshine and happiness...

 

Nail Polish Favourites

Good morning all!

I'm an absolute nail polish junkie!  It's a fact that I can't walk past Boots or a nail polish stand without inspecting or buying a colour or two.  I'd literally try anything - I'm not pretending like I'm very good, but I'm up for anything new and different.

So here are some picks of favourite nail polishes:

There's no guarantee that the sky will remain this shade of azure blue over the summer, but you can ensure a bright day with a slick of this colour-popping polish
POP Beauty nail polish in Pacific Hoot, £13 (part of a set of three), exclusive at ASOS.com

If you're a die-hard red polish kind of gal, opt for a warmer shade for the summer months - I love this tomato-y hue
B. Quick One-coat professional finish nail polish in Bang, £4.99, Superdrug

Pastel shades made for the prettiest fingernails - and what's more, this Models Own polish is scented with a fruity fragrance
Models Own scented nail polish in Banana Split, £5, ASOS.com

Chanel's new-for-summer Azuré nail polish has me longing to swim in the sea
Le Vernis nail polish in Azuré, £18, Chanel (available 31st May)

This gorgeous green nail varnish from Toppers is called Rad - and it's certainly that
Nail polish in Rad, £5, Topshop

Nails were pale and interesting on the runways at Marc Jacobs, Rag & Bone and Stella McCartney - get the look with celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann's white polish
Deborah Lippmann nail polish in Like A Virgin, £14, exclusively at House of Fraser

Forget nail art; the hottest trend in nails right now is feather-effect polish
Nails Inc. Feathers nail polish in Chester, £11, ASOS.com

Not only is Illamasqua's UV polish very pretty...

...it also glows in the dark! Too cool.
UV nail polish in Séance, £15, Illamasqua

Ciate's super-fun Caviar Manicure will make your nails look like they're covered in hundreds and thousands - sweet!
Caviar Manicure nail polish set in Tutti Frutti, £18, Ciate

Coral is a summer nail colour classic and looks particularly great against a tan - this new shade from M&S is the perfect hue
Limited Edition nail polish in Bright Coral, £3.50, Marks & Spencer

Add a slick of neon polish to your nails for an instant on-trend update
Models Own nail polish in Pink Punch, £5, Boots and modelsownit.com

Orange is having a moment right now, and a zesty nail varnish is the easiest way into the trend
NARS nail polish in Madness, £14.50, ASOS.com

High-shine metallics are big news this season thanks to the likes of Burberry Prorsum and Jonathan Saunders
Summer Party In A Bottle 3D glitter polish in Grosvenor Gardens, £11, Nails Inc














So these picks should take you through colder weather AND those lovely summer months when highly polished nails will make ALL the difference.

Hope you enjoy and see a couple that takes your fancy.

 

MUA Nail Constellations

Girls, great news!

MUA or Makeup Academy has finally created a dupe for the Ciate Caviar Manicure...and boy does it look great!

They simply call their product Nail Constellation, saying:  "Be inspired by the stars and get creative with your nails! 3D nail-art system that'll leave your nails looking 'wow'!"

This product became available from your local Superdrug from 26 September, so you can grab it now!

Here are some of the Nail Constellations they were playing with at MUA Towers and check out their brand new How To video and an insight to behind the scenes at the Nail Constellation photoshoot... 

 

 

Pisces

Libra

 

Leo

 

Scorpio

 

Gemini

 

Creating looks with Shade 'Pisces'

These babies retail for a very nifty £3 and I'll be buying one of each shade. 







 What do you think of these?

xoxo,
Angelique

Things To Love In October

October has arrived ... along with a bunch of great new beauty products. From nail polish kits to entire cosmetic collections, the beauty world has a lot of great offerings this month, and they're all about making a statement. This month, you can turn your nails into a disco ball with a fun sequin manicure, paint your lips Marilyn Monroe red with one brand's newest venture, and perfect the cat eye without dealing with eyeliner. To see just what I'm talking about take a look inside.

Along with the regular batch of new products, October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every year beauty brands create limited edition products, and donate money to breast cancer research in exchange for your purchase. But with so many out there, how do you know which products to buy? You just check out my top two picks inside.

And who can forget Halloween! To get in the spooky spirit, I've gathered a few products that you'll need to have this holiday, like spider nail stencils and "Monster Mash" nail polishes. It might be only one day out of the month, but something tells me you'll love these products year round.

Ciate's Sequin Manicure

Ciate takes the cake when it comes to inventive manicures. After all, they did create the caviar and the velvet mani. This month, Ciate is back with a brand new nail kit. It's the sequin manicure, £15, and I am in love. Available in three different versions -- Harlequin (multi-colored), Tutu (pink, red, and champagne) and Super Duper (black, silver, and gold) -- these sequins have just the right amount of sparkle, making them perfect for the upcoming holiday season. The only problem will be deciding which version to choose.

The Colossal Cat Eye

Creating an amazing cat eye isn't the easiest skill to master. Besides a great eyeliner, you need a steady hand (and lots of patience) to get that iconic look. Luckily, it just got easier with The Colossal Cat Eyes Volum' Express Mascara, £7.99, from Maybelline New York. With a claw brush and a collagen-infused formula, it coats and separates your lashes while extending them outward. This means that next time you can skip the eyeliner and apply a few coats of this new mascara to recreate that feline vibe.

Sultra's Temptress Power Dryer

When it comes to great hair tools, Sultra knows a thing or two. I'm already a huge fan of their curved flat irons and rod curling irons, especially the Bombshell Cone, £100. This month signals Sultra's latest release, the Temptress Power Dryer, £150.

Just what makes this hair dryer so special? It uses an advanced drying system that produces tons of infrared rays and negative ions -- great for drying your hair in lightning speed while defending it against heat damage at the same time. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Revlon Sweetly Sinister Nail Art Stencils

Nail art is about to get a lot easier. Revlon has just released a line of Nail Art Stencils, £4.50 each, with designs perfect for Halloween. This Sweetly Sinister collection features spiders, skulls, stars, and even funny little moustaches. All you have to do is stick one of the stencils onto your nail (bare or with dry enamel), then paint over it with polish. Once dry, simply peel off the stencil, leaving behind your own tiny masterpiece. Now you have to decide: Sinister or sweet?

Nars Andy Warhol Collection

We're used to seeing Nars Cosmetics in its signature matte black packaging, but that's all about to change. This month marks the release of the Pop Art line from the Nars Andy Warhol Collection, and the makeup (along with the packaging) is as vibrant as the pop artist himself.

The Pop Art line includes eyeshadows, lip glosses, and nail polishes in fun, playful colors. (I'm in love with the purple "New York Dolls" nail polish shade!) Plus, the makeup comes in Warhol-inspired packaging, like a soup can container covered in the famous "Interview" lips. In November Nars will release the second half of the collection, called The Factory, which features a more subdued palette than the Pop Art line -- even more to look forward to.

Stila Courage and Beauty Travel Palette

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Stila Cosmetics are showing their support with a new beauty palette. The Stila Courage and Beauty Travel Palette, £12, may look tiny, but it comes with a wide variety of products, including five matching eyeshadows, a lip and cheek tint, and a small mirror. And if you're unsure about how to use them, the product comes with a face chart to help you out. But the best part is that for each palette purchased, £1 of the proceeds will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Shopping never felt so good.

MAC Marilyn Monroe Collection

Andy Warhol isn't the only pop culture icon to get a makeup collection. This month, MAC is releasing its limited edition Marilyn Monroe Collection. The collection contains 30 pieces and features eyeshadows, nail polishes, lipsticks, eyeliners and much more, each packaged in famous Marilyn imagery. (Products range from £10 to £30.) With these products, you can get Marilyn's famous red pout or recall her Hollywood glam vibe with shimmery pale eyeshadows. And with names like "Preferred Blonde," "Deeply Adored," and "Charmed I'm Sure," you'll have just as much fun memorizing all the shades.

Youngblood Crushed Mineral Blush in Sherbet

Missing summer's warm rays? This fall, reclaim your sun-kissed cheeks with Youngblood Crushed Mineral Blush in Sherbet, £18.12. This peachy-hued powder will add a nice shimmery glow to your cheeks, and can double as an eyeshadow if needed. And this is another purchase you can feel good about: For each blush sold, £2.20 will go to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Orly Spellbound Collection

Spider nail art isn't the only way to show your Halloween spirit. Orly has created the Spellbound Collection, £8.50 per polish, just in time for the holiday. The four polishes include "Liquid Vinyl" (a rich black), "Monster Mash" (glittery green), "Right Amount of Evil" (glittery orange), and "R.I.P" (a glittery red and black mix). You can wear the glitter polish alone for a sheer effect, or layer over the black polish for a darker vibe. I don't know about you, but these hues have me extra excited for Halloween.











These are nine reasons to absolutely love October and embrace the colder weather.  Sure, it gets darker sooner at night, and sure we're having to start switching on the heating...but what a fabulous collection of new beauty products to tittelate our tastebuds!

Have an absolutely stunning day.

xoxo,
Angelique

Three Polishes to Perk Up Your Pedicure

Ready for open-toe season? I've chosen three shades that are sure to put you—and your toes!—in party mode this spring. Whether it’s day or night, there’s a polish to match any occasion this season.

At a picnic

Keep it relaxed with a soft, muted lilac. The color will make your toes look dainty and feminine, but not too girly to hang out with the boys! These cute new polishes are from the UK, and we love the miniature bow adorning each bottle.
SexyatMidnight recommends: Ciaté Nail Varnish in Sugar Plum

Rocking out at a festival

Embrace your inner festival goddess and paint on the boldest color in your paintbox: Canary yellow! The tone will help you stand out from the crowd and looks fantastic with summer sandals.
SexyatMidnight recommends: Models Own Lemon Meringue

For evening cocktails

Your toes are missing out on the fun if you stick to red or baby pink shades, so amp up the twilight happy hour with a vibrant fuchsia lacquer! It looks just as gorgeous with a little black dress as it does with a white suit.
SexyatMidnight recommends: Revlon Colorstay Longwear Enamel in Wild Strawberry









Enjoy!

Ciaté Caviar Manicures

Nail products literally rock my boat from morning until noon.  I'd rather buy a nail polish than any other beauty product, which is saying something.  My love for all things beauty drives most of my family, friends and work colleagues insane! 

It's been a while since the nail world has seen something truly different and extraordinary.  Sure, a while back we had shatter polishes in a cornucopia of different colours and then suddenly they decided to even change the texture to 'crocodile' shatters, but suddenly everyone had had enough.  It was no longer the best thing since sliced bread.

Then we moved to Nail Wraps, and here, even I have to admit the idea was genius.  I'm in love with the idea of quickly popping a new design onto my nails easy peasy, but the cost is fairly expensive at £6.95 for one or maybe two applications of the wraps if you were lucky!

But now there is a new kid on the block.  This is exciting and deserves a drum roll:  Ciaté Caviar Nails.  The first time I saw this particular effect was on my friend Yolandie's blog, which you can access here.  Then I noticed that you can have a ready-made pack of nail polish and beads to easily achieve this look.  Haven't seen this yet?  Let me show you....

The inspiration behind the Caviar Manicure™ came about when Charlotte, Ciaté’s Creative Director, was looking to create 3-dimensional nails for a front cover magazine shoot and wanted to develop something feminine, indulgent yet delicately extravagant.

The finished effect gives nails an instant sophisticated look.

Very Ciaté!

 The pack comes with a beautiful Ciaté nail polish and a bottle filled with the beads.  The pack retails at £18.00 and has unfortunately been sold out.  If you are in the mood to get your hands on these beauties, then just click here to sign up to receive a notification as soon as they are back in stock.

I found a really great video tutorial showing you how to achieve this beautiful look.  So just click on the video if you'd like to have a sneak peak.

 

I hope you've enjoyed this post.  I've already joined the waiting list for the Rainbow and Black Pearl Caviar Mani's.  My husband will kill me if I spend too much, otherwise I'd buy them all *big grin*.  Have a fabulous wednesday, we are nearly done with this week!