Daisy Nail Art Tutorial

I'm so glad to see daisies making a comeback such as the popular Topshop daisy print dress as worn by Miranda Kerr. I think daisy nails look super cute and you can choose a statement nail or add daisies all over your nails for a really summery style.

1) After I used a base coat of polish I painted my nails with Models Own Bloo Bloo polish.

2) I then used gold nail polish to add a dot in the centre of my nail but you can use yellow too.

3) I used Models Own Nail Art polish in White to draw the petals. If you don't have a steady hand you could always draw the petals on first and add the middle of the flower last.

It's a simple nail design but adds a fun element to your look; hope you enjoy going daisy crazy!


XOXO

Holographic Hero

 I've been searching for an affordable holographic nail polish for a while and now I've found the perfect one! I discovered this amazing nail polish by Gosh (Holographic Hero) in Superdrug for under £5 and I love it but be warned- holographic nail polishes usually sell out pretty fast. It applies really well and adds a subtle rainbow shimmer to your nails. This is my new favourite nail polish.

XOXO

GlossyBox August 2012 'International Superstars' Box

August's GlossyBox is filled with products from around the world. I thought this would be a great chance to try some things that I wouldn't come across usually here in the UK!

 The UK added Lipcote, a well-known product that seals lipstick and prevents it from fading and smudging as you party the night away. You may think that it looks like nail polish and I have to say that when you apply Lipcote it smells like nail polish, the scent stung my nose anyway! It also caused a burning sensation when I used it which I was expecting as it does tell you but is was very unpleasant and I'm used to strong lip plumpers. I tried it twice and my lipstick came straight off; on the third try I had to seriously blot the lipstick off my lips and keep my mouth open for 3 minutes while it dried. It did keep my lipstick on but left a horribly bitter taste on my lips when I tried to get it off later. I would not recommend Lipcote at all. 

 As an extra 6th product GlossyBox gave me a lipstick in the shade Glossy Pink. The texture was very creamy and the colour was a lot brighter once I applied it. I prefer more moisturising lipsticks but I loved the cute packaging with the GlossyBox seal on the lid.

Here's the lipstick in more detail:

 Germany's product a Pro White nail polish by Alessandro sounds useful and I can't wait to try this out when nail polish in bright hues such as orange leaves my nails in need of some brightening.

 I've been intrigued by Broadway Nails' imPress Press-on Manicure from the USA; can a stick on nail be the solution to those last-minute panics before a party? I had bad memories of those free packs of nails I got in magazines when I was younger that were far too big and would not stick, and I fear these are not much better. I loved the cute nail polish bottle container but I was disappointed with the disgusting, vivid purple shade of the nails (it looks worse in reality) and it just does not suit me. The colour may suit somebody else but maybe GlossyBox could have sent everyone a neutral pack or at least a classic shade. I'll be sticking with my nail polish.

 Spain's Vera Valenti eyeshadow palette looked really cheap and came in a plastic container that ruined my nails when I eventually prised it open. Including a mirror is a great idea but when it's so small it becomes a waste of space! The bottom left khaki green is wearable and great for the military trend at the moment and the neutral colours will always be wearable, it's a shame the shades aren't very pigmented as I think you'd have to use a lot of product to really see the colour.

 Japan's DHC Deep Cleansing Oil that removes makeup sounds good as I have dry skin but I already have a favourite cleanser! I might leave it at my boyfriend's house so I can remove my makeup if I forget my usual cleanser as I don't think I'll be using it much.

 I enjoy having a box of mystery products every month and sometime there's a really good box but at over £12 a month I don't think it's worth it. I'm getting lots of products that I don't use or like and I can't afford to do that so I'll be saying goodbye to my GlossyBoxes soon; hopefully I'll get some awesome products in the next few boxes before I unsubscribe!

XOXO

Tropical Toe Nail Art Tutorial

 In preparation for summer and potential holidays to sunny places I decided to try out some tropical toe nail art. It's easy to do if you're not a pro at nail art like me, here's what you'll need: coral nail polish, pink nail polish, sand coloured nail polish, blue nail polish, glitter nail polish, top coat nail polish, a sponge, and a black nail art pen or black nail polish and a cocktail stick.

1) Add a base coat and then paint your nail in the coral polish.

2) Put a small amount of the pink nail polish on a sponge and dab it across the top of your nail to create the sunset effect.

3) Use your sand coloured nail polish and sweep it across the bottom right corner of your nail.

4) Use your blue nail polish and sweep it across the bottom left corner of your nail.

5) Cover your nail in the glitter polish.

6) Use your black nail art pen and draw on a palm tree silhouette.

7) Finish your design with a clear topcoat.

 I used this design on my big toes and painted my other toe nails with the coral polish and glitter top coat. I hope you liked my nail art and let me know if you're going to try it out!


Lauren Loves ♥: Having sparkly toes.



XOXO

Candy Inspired Nails

 This nail design is really easy to accomplish. Just pick a bright candy colour and add white stripes! In case you need ideas for colours (or don't know what sweets look like...) here are some sweets:

                        

I used Missguided's orange/ coral polish in the shade Misstaken and Avon's Mosaic Effects Top Coat Nail Enamel in White. 

 Simply paint your nails in your chosen candy shade and once they're dry paint a white crackle polish over the top! 

Lauren Loves ♥: Easy nail designs

XOXO

Easy Spring Pastel Eye Makeup Tutorial

 This is a really easy 5 minute Spring eye makeup look.

All you need is: white eye shadow, purple eye shadow, green eye shadow, green eyeliner, and eyelash curlers.

 Step 1: Apply white eye shadow all over the lid and along the lower lash line.

 Step 2: Apply purple eye shadow over the lid and blend.

 Step 3: Apply green eye shadow close to your lower lash line.

 Step 4: Apply green eyeliner to your lower rim.

 Step 5: Use an eyelash curler on your lashes and leave them mascara free or use clear mascara for a softer Spring look.

 You can try this easy look with any two contrasting pastel shades and be ready for Spring in 5 minutes! If you're unsure about wearing pastel colours why not try some fun pastel toe nail art?

Lauren Loves ♥: The classic use of pastels during Spring.

XOXO

Zooey Deschanel inspired nails + makeup

 

 Zooey Deschanel is a style icon and always a little on the quirky side. I'm enjoying her series New Girl at the moment and unless you've been hiding under a rock I'm sure you will have heard about the Golden Globe Awards. Zooey had the cutest tuxedo design on her nails for the awards:

 I was inspired by the tuxedo nails and the red carpet glamour and had to paint my nails: 

 I thought you might like a Zooey inspired eye make up tutorial too so here it is:

 Step 1: Use a black liquid eye liner to create a rounded eye shape

 Step 2: Soften harsh edges with a black kohl eye liner, cover the lid with a natural eye shadow and add a highlighter to the inner corner of your eye.

 Step 3: Curl your eyelashes and add black mascara.

 Step 4: Zooey's eyes are always quite bold so apply lots of mascara or add false lashes like Zooey!

 If you want to go for the complete Zooey Deschanel look you can curl your hair/ add a pretty bow, and wear blusher with a bright lip in pink or red. Don't forget to use a quirky design on your nails too!

Lauren Loves ♥: The friendship between Zooey and Joseph Gordon-Levitt!

XOXO

GlossyBox December 2011 'Christmas: Part 2' Review

 This limited edition Glossybox came in festive, pillar box red packaging:

 I have to say I was really happy with the contents of this month's box and there were two full sized products which are worth over £20 together so I certainly got my money's worth.

 The Rituals Foaming Shower Gel I received was Indian Rose and Sweet Almond Oil. It smells amazing but it's a good job I opened it in the shower because it went everywhere when I broke the seal!

 At first I was disappointed that I got the Blink + Go Hi-Definition Mascara instead of one of their eye shadow and blusher palettes but I have so many eye shadows already and my mascara is running out so It's probably better that I got the mascara. 

 The MeMeMe Seventh Heaven facebase is a primer and moisturiser and it smells like lemon mousse, so tempting I want to eat it. The full sized pot costs £15 though and I bet a decent moisturiser would be just as good as a facebase that you apply before makeup.

 Another makeup product I received was the Cargo Cosmetics Classic Lip Gloss in the shade Serengeti which is a gorgeous peach colour with a slight gold shimmer. As a sample sized product it's perfect to put in my handbag.

 Lastly I received a mini Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish in the shade Razzle Dazzle which is a glittery pinkish red, ideal for the Christmas party season, and a Nail Polish Remover Mitt which is useful to pack if you travel and don't want to take a big bottle of Polish Remover with you.

 This was my favourite Glossybox so far, if you subscribe too let me know what you got in your box! Now, how do I stop spending my Christmas money before I have it...

Lauren Loves ♥: Christmas glitter

XOXO  

Wizard of Oz Nail Art

 Need something to brighten your day? I did. With deadlines looming and the need to procrastinate increasing I thought why not jazz up my nails. I've just purchased a Wah & Models Own nail art tool so I'm not an expert at using it (or even just painting my nails) but I wanted to use it and the Wizard of Oz inspired my nail art, hopefully it will inspire you too!

 Left hand from left to right: Glinda the Good Witch, Emerald City, (Somewhere over the) Rainbow, Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy's Ruby Slippers.

Right hand from left to right: Dorothy's Ruby Slippers, Tin Man, Dorothy's dress, 'Oh My' lyrics (Lions and Tigers and Bears- Oh my!), and a Witch's hat (as worn by the Wicked Witch of the West).

 Let me know if you're thinking about doing some Wizard of Oz inspired nail art!


Lauren Loves ♥: The moment Dorothy opens the door and it's no longer black and white.



XOXO

GlossyBox November 2011 'Christmas Gift Guide: Part 1' Review

 Once again it's GlossyBox time, do you want to see what was in my November box? Of course you do! 

 I was so happy with this month's box, I think it's perfect for winter as your skin and hair can dry out and it is the party season so we all want things to make us feel special.

 GlossyBox has provided lots of perfume samples before but I think that Illamasqua's Freak Eau De Parfum is the best yet, I already enjoyed an Illamasqua Eye shadow previously and now I can't wait to see what they come up with next. I prefer sweeter scented perfumes and I think this one is sweet but has a musky edge, it is indeed 'bottled midnight'.

 Freak contains:

Top Notes: Black Davana, Opium Flower, and Belladonna

Heart Notes: Poison Hemlock, Datura, and Queen of the Night

Base Notes: Frankincense, Oud, and Myrrh.  

 Subscribers get 20% off with a code and I'm totally loving the fantasy elements of the packaging:

 So you're smelling wonderful, why not jazz up your nails too? I haven't used Nail Rock Nail Wraps before but they come with a useful guide and you can see the range of their designs:

  I got 'Black Lace on Red' in my pack, I'm sure they'll be a lot easier to use than creating the lace effect myself and I'll be sure to use them next time I want wow-the-crowd nails.

 The coldness of Winter usually causes everyone to turn their central heating up and BAM... dry hair and dry skin. Luckily I have some products to combat this problem:

 On the left there is Arbonne's Ultra Hydrating Hand Creme, it makes your hands soft and initially smells fresh and fruity as it is made with 'kiwi cell extracts'. Unfortunately I found that the scent faded after a short while and smelt a little bit too much like a citrusy cleaning product for my liking.

 In the middle is Dead Sea Spa Magik's Delicate Boosting Mask. I'm glad I got the one for Dry/ Sensitive skin and it does nourish your skin but it smells horrible, as a facial product this could do with a nicer scent.

 On the right is Phillip Kingsley's Elasticizer, a pre-shampoo treatment to add bounce and shine which I will no doubt need for my hair soon as it is exposed to the harsh elements, I'm keeping this on stand by!

 'We have a special surprise Christmas GlossyBox lined up for you'- okay the card in my box officially made me start being excited for Christmas. If you're struggling to find an xmas gift for a guy they are just launching GlossyBox for Men!

 If you're interested check out: www.glossybox.co.uk


Lauren Loves ♥: Illamasqua- Freak Eau De Parfum.



XOXO

Birds of a Feather

 This weekend my boyfriend was at home and I had a lovely few days with him before he went back to university. We went to see Breaking Dawn, if anyone has seen it, how gross is the birth scene and how comical was it when Jacob first saw Renesmee's CGI face? We also went shopping, the items I purchased will follow shortly, and when I got home I found the ring I won in a competition and a letter from Charlie whose blog is http://www.new--romantic.blogspot.com/ and should shortly be changing to www.charlestownvintage.com, so thank you for my prize I really do love the bird's nest ring!

 I went to Bank and found this cozy boyfriend cardigan from Blonde + Blonde which is perfect as the weather has just turned chilly:

 As you may already know I have an obsession with owls and on my shopping travels I found a cute owl-shaped ring from Primark, which goes nicely with my wing ring and my new bird's nest ring!

 The nail polish I'm wearing is Nails Inc: Basil Street, and Model's Own: Garnet.

 I used to love Vanilla Coca Cola before they stopped selling it in the UK and I was stupidly happy to find this lip balm for £1 when I went shopping:

 So that was my weekend, what have you been up to? Feel free to leave me a link to your blog if you have one!


Lauren Loves ♥: Being cozy when the weather is cold.



XOXO

Halloween Vampire Diaries Inspiration

 The Vampire Diaries has just appeared again on my TV screen and if you'd rather channel a more glam Halloween vibe than go for a totally gory costume, then hopefully this Elena/ Katherine inspired look will help!

 Original Photo Inspiration:

My Inspirational Collage:

 To recreate the look of Nina who plays Elena/ Catherine:
1) Wear a blood red dress
2) To elongate your legs and create the illusion of bare feet wear nude heels
3) Accessorize with a jeweled or antique style statement necklace
4) Go for dark smokey eyes and either black or dark red nail polish

 And here's something for the girls who like The Vampire Diaries:



( From: http://grou.ps/vampirediariesrp/people/drwynfmftxxibmwvr )


Lauren Loves ♥: Vampires!



XOXO

Glossybox October 2011 'Six Pack' Review

 Another month, another Glossybox. The 6th box had a 6th product but like they say, it's quality not quantity that counts! Here's the October box:

 I received some Dermalogica products, a MultiVitamin Thermafoliant (skin polisher), a MultiVitamin Power Recover Masque, a tiny Renewal Lip Complex (balm) and a beauty bag.

 While the products will surely be useful, the beauty bag is more practical than stylish and I don't think I'll be using it as It's not quite me.

I also got a selection of Robert Piguet perfume samples:

 The (green) perfume called Visa is a little musky but quite sweet, it initially reminded me of a garden center but I'm just weird. The (pink) perfume called Fracas was a bit Grandma-esque but I don't like the smell of lillies. The (red) perfume called Calypso was my favourite, it reminded me of Heat by Beyonce probably because of the amber base.

 I also received a couple of beauty products:

 I love the design of the Leighton Denny Nail polish bottle. Mine was in the shade 'Babydoll' which was unfortunately quite thick when I applied it and streaky. However, I think it looks okay after a second coat. I can't complain as it is priced at £11 and I had the whole box for £10 plus P&P, but I won't be buying that brand of nail polish in a hurry. (If you want to save 15% off this range of nail polishes enter the code GLOSSYBOX at www.lden.co.uk)

 I had a Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof eyeliner in the shade Moray which is a khaki green with a hint of shimmer. It's very similar to the Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in the shade Stash but it's a bit darker. I can confirm Glossybox's claim that it does 'glide on delivering intense, vibrant colour with staying power'. My favourite item in the Glossybox, it is a full sized product which would've cost £13! Here's a closer look:

 Hope you enjoyed my review, let me know if you subscribe to Glossybox too or if you're thinking about it!


Lauren Loves ♥: Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof eyeliner.



XOXO