Hello darlings,

So finally my first proper beauty related post is here.

Very excitingly, I'm reviewing the May 2015 Nailbox*. Haven't heard of Nailbox yet? Where have you been?!

Beauty boxes have become a natural way of life for those in the 'beauty-know' or those that are just plain obsessed with beauty. But the choice is incredible. But alas...there was a gap in the market...

No-one catered to those ladies that love doing their nails.  In to the spotlight steps Nailbox with their amazing selection of nail polishes.  So here we go!

What is inside?  
Orly's 'Fiery Orange Chunky Glitter', Essie's 'Status Symbol', Rimmel's in 'Lucky Lilac', Nicole by O.P.I.'s 'Alex by the Books' and Elegant Touch's Professional Cuticle Pusher and Nail Cleaner.

What is Nailbox? 
Nailbox is an affordable and practical way to keep on top of the latest nail trends and colours.  With their passion for nail polish and nail art, Nailbox have quite literally hit the nail on the head.  Pun intended. Their monthly selection of colours means you'll always have beautiful nails in on trend colours to cover any event from day-to-day, parties and even Christmas time.

How does it work?
Nailbox is a subscription based service so you will have to decide what term you'd like to subscribe for.
There are four available plans ranging in different prices:
1) Month to month will cost you £15 per month
2) 3 Month prepaid will cost you £14.50 per month
3) 6 Month prepaid will cost you £14 per month
4) 12 Monthly prepaid will cost you £13.50 per month

All these prices include free delivery! Bargain!  These prices will ensure you are sent three to four nail colours each month around the 21st of the month.  Parcels are sent with Royal Mail Tracked Postage.

Polishes in the box:

1.  Orly in 50007 - Fiery Orange Chunck Glitter 11mL retailing at £9.50
This is an orange tinted jelly base filled with different sized glitter particles, which can be worn over a solid colour or just by itself. The glitter is holographic and changes colour in light. Orly has an easy grip lid for ease of application and a standard applicator brush. Application is a breeze, the glitter spreads easily onto the nail and the polish dries very quickly. I applied one coat of Leighton Denny's 'Hanky-Panky' and afterwards applied the glitter coat. I love the results and would definitely wear this again and again.

2.  Essie in 26 - Status Symbol 13.5mL retailing for £7.99
This is a creamy, feisty hot pink nail polish from Essie's range of gorgeous polishes. This picture doesn't do the pink justice! It is a darker pink ranging close to coral colours, but is so unique. Wear this in the summer and you are sure to be showered with compliments galore. The Essie polishes have a wider application brush, which means you need fewer strokes to cover the nail. Two coats will give a completely opaque coverage but leave around 20 minutes for drying. This is my new favourite to replace my corals.

3.  Rimmel in 670 - Lucky Lilac 8mL retailing for £3.99
This is the prettiest pinky-purple offering from Rimmel. Obviously the colour explains it perfectly with 'lilac'. The 60-second nail polishes from Rimmel dry in 1 minute flat and is super shiny.  One coat is enough to cover the nail and give opaque coverage. The applicator brush is wider than average so one to two strokes will properly cover the nail. A bread-and-butter polish worth it's salt.

4.  Nicole by O.P.I. in NIF07 - Alex by the Books 15mL retailing at £7.99
Inspired by the TV series 'Modern Families', Alex by the Books is the prettiest mint seafoam green creme. This nail polish is on par with O.P.I. polishes and has the regular sized applicator brush. The colour will be opaque on the nail with two coats and is very easy to apply.

And finally....

Bonus:  Elegant Touch Cuticle Pusher & Nail Cleaner retailing at £9.50
This tool is literally amazing! There is a fair weight to it and this gives you more control on comfortably tidying the cuticles and underneath the nail. The body has excellent grib via gripped ridging. It is made from high quality stainless steel and coated in enamel. Best of all it is covered with a 5 year guarantee.

This box was unbelievable value for money.  The entire box has an RRP of £38.97 and would generally cost around £15. Well worth the fabulous nails and the time.

Definitely have a look at Nailbox immediately and subscribe if nails are your thing...or even if it is not.

*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post by Nailbox. All opinions are my own and formulated by trying the products independently.

Autumn make up trend: Jewel tones

Yes, diamonds are still a girl's best friend (take note, gentlemen) but we're getting better acquainted with the deep, jewel tones that are so hot this season. Rich, luxurious make up shades such as amethyst, emerald and ruby are seriously catching my eye in my local Boots Store and are perfect for creating stunning smoky eyes and statement lips, this autumn and winter. I've selected a few of my favourites to share with you...



Eyes:
Use deep purple shades for a modern twist on the classic smoky eye - Bourjois Smoky Eyes Eye Shadow (£7.99) in Violet Romantic is perfect. Start by applying the medium shade across your whole eyelid before dabbing the lightest shade into the corners. Finish off the look by sweeping the darkest shade outwards, towards the temples and into crease of your eyelid.


Lips:
A strong red lip never goes out of style and I just can't get enough of the gorgeous claret shades that are currently sweeping the fashion nation. This season brings a vampish edge to the look, reminiscent of rubies and garnets - think vintage Hollywood meets gothic glam! Lancome Rouge Absolue 154 (£19.50) is bang on trend as well as being super-moisturising and long-lasting, for a decadent finish.


Nails:
I'm still loving magnetic nail polishes - a sleek, sophisticated nail art look that's easy to achieve? Yes please! Barry M have just added a new emerald shade to their magnetic polish range, it's flecked with sparkles for nails that are just like precious gems - perfect! (Available in store at £4.99).


So with all that said, maybe it is time to get gemmed up?

xoxo,
Angelique ;-)

Holographic nail polish from 17

I'm the first to admit that I'm not the most skilled at nail art and I always get a little wary about trying daring new polishes so when I heard about the latest 'holographic' nail polish from 17, I was a little unsure to say the least...

Holo Nail is the latest holographic effect polish to hit the high street and considering the insane popularity of others that have gone before, I'm almost certain this will be a sure-fire hit. With metallics a top trend for autumn/winter, Holo Nail appropriately comes in a shimmery silver shade.

 Now silver wouldn't normally be my colour of choice (it's a bit too school disco for my liking!) but I tried to keep an open mind and I was curious to check out the holographic effect.

17 recommend applying 2-3 coats for best results and I have to say the polish glides on easily and gives good coverage. The downside is that the drying time is a little bit long compared to other brands so I'd recommend waiting a few minutes between coats.

The end result though is pretty cool: there's an ultra-glossy, high-shine finish and depending on where the light catches your nail, you'll get a pretty 'rainbow' effect. This is great, but I must say the effect looks best in natural light and the brighter the sun, the better. It's just a shame this launched during autumn when there's no sun to show it off but then again we didn't much more this summer either!

All in all Holo Nail is a brilliantly priced (£3.99) product that delivers good results so make sure you get yours now before they're all gone!

xoxo,
Angelique

Fall Nail Polish Trends

I know it’s still warm out right now and the last thing you want to think about is cozy autumn layers, but…the upcoming season's lust-worthy polishes will not be ignored. Fall’s fingertip color palette of tough-meets-girly, dark romance, and not-so-neutral nudes has us panting, and it’s not just from the boiling temps.

Here, I’ve outlined my top 8 favorite polish trends, plus the new shades you need to snag to decorate your digits when cooler days descend. I won’t blame you if you want to rock these haute hues right this second, but I suggest holding off on the chunky knits and wool pants for now, or at least until we get out of doubled-digit territory, weather-wise. Heat stroke is so not a good look

Creamy teal hues combine sophistication and whimsy in one contradictory hue. Because the color is so deep and lush, it tones down the actual brightness of the shade and makes it feel luxurious, without being too safe or played-out.

Zoya Nail Polish in Frida, £8, available at Zoya; Essie Nail Polish in Stylenomics, £8, available in September at Essie; Orly Nail Lacquer in Decoded, £8.50, available at Orly; China Glaze Nail Polish in Exotic Encounters, £6.99, available at China Glaze.

 

 

 

 Purple is the party shade of the season, popping up in all kinds of fun and funky textures. The usually girly hue toughens up with chunky glitter, sleek metallic finishes, and a cool shredded effect.

Maybelline Color Show Nail Color in Purple Possibilities, £3.99, available at Boots.com; Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Let's Go Crazy, £18, available at Nordstrom; Nicole by OPI Nail Polish in Busta Mauve, £7.04, available in August at OPI; Sonia Kashuk Nail Colour in Hocus Pocus, £4.79, available in August at Nordstrom.

 

 

 

People make yearly pilgrimages to catch the changing leaves, but you'll need to look no further than your fingertips to get a great view of nature's most spectacular color show. Rusty red, goldenrod, and burnished orange hues are plentiful for autumn, and besides being seasonally appropriate, they're also unexpectedly chic, especially when paired with an earth-toned wardrobe.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Gilded Lily, £7.99, available in August at Sally Hansen; Butter London Nail Colour in Shag, £14, available in August at Butter London; China Glaze Nail Polish in Desert Sun, £6.99, available at China Glaze; OPI Nail Lacquer in Snapps Out Of It, £8.50, available in August at OPI.

Green is the nail shade that just won't go away — i've seen countless variations on the hue over the past three seasons. This fall, the color goes military with a twist, combining army-issue fatigues with a metallic sheen. The result is a golden-green shade that has a utilitarian undertone and also manages to look pretty damn glam.

Nicole by OPI Nail Polish in For Gold Times Sake, £7.04, available in August at OPI; Estée Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer Beyond Black Collection in Viper, £20, available in August at Estée Lauder; China Glaze Nail Polish in Unpredictable, £6.99, available in August at China Glaze.

  
My love of chocolate extends to my nails with a little help from this next trend, which features cozy shades of brown. Perfect for girls who aren't big on color, it's an ideal replacement for your usual taupe. Any of these dreamy browns should amp up your nail game without forcing you to resort to wearing Day-Glo digits.

Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer in Bengale, £23, available at Debenhams; Laura Mercier Nail Lacquer in Cocoa Suede, £18, available at Nordstrom; Essie Nail Polish in Gym Dandy, £8, available in August at Essie; SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in Slate, £10, available at SpaRitual.

 Traditional berry gets an edge with the addition of dark undercurrents. If you're usually into reds, switch out your signature scarlet shade for a blackened berry to up the sexiness and add a bit of dark romance to your look. These moody shades retain their femininity, but also have a hint of mystery that gives them a dark edge. Berries with bite, if you will.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color in Vertigo, £12, available at Chanel; Yves Saint Laurent La Laque Couture in Rouge Expressionniste, £12, available in September at Yves Saint Laurent; Zoya Nail Polish in Katherine, £8, available at Zoya; OPI Nail Lacquer in German-icure by OPI, £8.50, available in August at OPI.

  

The sidewalk won't be ending anytime soon, as least if I have anything to say about it. Concrete gray is my new favorite non-color — softer than black, but a whole lot more impactful than white. Try it in dark, stormy colors, or opt for a foggy iteration with a bit of bling in it. 

Sinful Colors Nail Polish in Smokin', £1.99, available at Superdrug; NARS Nail Polish in Storm Bird, £18, available at NARS; SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in Conglomerate, £10, available at SpaRituals; NCLA Nail Lacquer in Rock Solid, £16, available in September at Nordstrom.

 Look, I loved aqua just as much as you did, but the under-the-sea shade kind of clashes with fall's darker, more muted clothing color palette. So, instead, keep your marine theme going through the colder months by adding navy into your repertoire. It looks elegant, sophisticated, and all-around awesome once the temperature dips. Be sure to choose a vibrant version with lots of blue shot through it — muddied up or grayed-out shades won't pack quite the same punch.

Orly Nail Lacquer in Shockwave, £8.50, available at Orly; Estée Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer Beyond Black Collection in Blue Blood, £20, available in August at Estée Lauder; Avon Nailwear Pro+ in Inky Blue, £6, available in August at Avon; Nails Inc. Special Effects Mirror Metallic Nail Polish in Primrose Park, £9.50, available in September at Nails Inc.

Enjoy!

xoxo,
Angelique