e.l.f French Manicure set Review

Get party perfect nails with this french manicure set. It includes all the colors you need to create that beautiful french manicure.

Our formula is FREE of: Toluene, Formaldehyde, and Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) by e.l.f

I got this e.l.f French Manicure Set from eyeslipsface.co.uk click here it will bring you straight to the page.  There are 2 different sets available on the UK site.  The sets are in "Nude" & "Pink" as you can see i got the "Nude" they cost £4/$3/€4.50 each.  On the US site there are 6 Sets available 2 of those are the French Manicures the rest are Coloured sets.........

I was in 2 minds either to buy or not to buy but as i got this one when e.l.f had the 50% off i just had to try them out.........Im Glad I Did!!!!!!!!!

In this set you are getting:

• A clear polish - top coat 
• A White Polish - for tips 
• A Nude Polish -  apply first over clear base 

I find these polishes very easy to use, they are not too thick and not watery like some polishes can be........with these you get the stickers to put on your nail to get an even white tip which is useful but i find that if you dont have the time to wait for each of your polishes to dry and use the stickers, the stickers can make a mess when taking them back off.....

I found the polishes fairly quick to dry...... i also found that after a few days of applying this manicure on my nails the tip stayed as white as the day i applied it....which was surprising because i have bought more expensive french manicures before that the tip ends up cracking or crease or going off white......e.l.fs white tips stays white until the day you take it off.......I have put this set to the ultimate ultimate test this week :) been a mother of 5 i am constantly washing and cleaning always near water and drying my hands alot not only that using cleaning products can damage your nails and polish imagine the manicure never budged it only started chipping after day 5 which in my eyes is incredible 

So thats its from me everyone as you can guess....i will be purchasing this again in the future for the price is absolutely worth every penny/cent and more 

thanks for reading my review and i hope it was helpful to you.....if you have any questions please ask i will be more than happy to answer you 

Have a great day where ever you are 

cya soon 

Irish hugs and Kisses 

Nina C xoxoxoxoxox

e.l.f Duo Powder eyeshadow Review

If you’d like to add depth & dimension to your eyes… compliment your natural eye color… or just draw more attention to your eyes, then you’ll love our Essentials Duo Eyeshadow. With 2 beautiful powder eyeshadows in 1 convenient component, our Two-in-One Makeup lets you wear each gorgeous shade alone or together for a dramatic effect. by e.l.f

Starting from the top Left "Black Licorice,  Berry Mix,  Blueberry,  Mocha Swirl,  Butter Pecan & Olive"

There are 6 shades available on both the US  & UK site for £1.50/$1/€1.70 each.........They look very similar to the Duo Cream Eyeshadows, in fact the names are the exact same.......these are perfect for over the duo cream eyeshadows.......

Starting from the top Left "Black Licorice,  Berry Mix,  Blueberry,  Mocha Swirl,  Butter Pecan & Olive"

All though i have all of the Brightening eye color quads is just had to see were these roughly the same........I know that they way the are presented is different but to see the pigmentation and how much i get for them they are the same value as the quads so there wasnt much to lose...


Now about the shades :
Black Licorice:  This is the perfect smoky eye duo:) The light shade is a lovely sparkly silver and the dark shade exactly black is more charcoal with silver sparkle.  Every girl who loves dark shadow have to have this in their collection....they are extremely pigmented, a little goes a long long way.   to really intensify the smokey look i use the duo cream eyeshadow  which has the same name from e.l.f. 


Berry Mix:  This is a beautiful every day duo.....the lightest shade is a very pale pink and the dark shade is a purply/brown.....these two are extremely pigmented i even find its very easy to take too much out of this duo its very powdery but once you get used to it you will find a little goes a long way :) 


Blueberry:  This is yet a very pigmented duo.....The lightest shade is a very pale baby blue and the darker shade is a bluey/grey shade with a little silver sparkley bits.......this too is a perfect smokey eye duo i love how you only need a small amount to get the perfect look......


Mocha Swirl:  This is such a pretty everyday duo i love this one its one of my favourites and i find myself reaching for this one the most especially for during the day ............the lighter shade is a fab ivory with a little shimmer the darker shade is a medium brown with a gold shimmer .......


Butter Pecan:  This is another beautiful everyday duo the lighter shade is a lovely peachy shade the darker shade is a medium brown with a little shimmer very familial to the cream duo.  only thing i found with is was it started getting a little lumpy in the pallet after a few uses but its still usable yet you have to be more careful as you will end up with alot of fallout otherwise.


Olive:  I love this duo its perfect for me as i have hazel eyes and this duo really brings out the shade of my eyes.....i actually prefer this duo to the cream duo in olive........  The lighter side is a fab lime green and the darker side is a is a much darker green with a goldy shimmer to it.....this is very pigmented and again a little goes along way.

Pictures and Swatches of all the eyeshadows Please click on the image for a closer look :)

Taken with Flash 

My Overall Opinion :) 

I was pleasantly surprised with these and its such a pity there isnt more shade to choose from.  If i was to choose which is more value for money between these and the quads i would pick these due to pigmentation and easiness on using them..........these shadows are easy to blend......i find these shadow have a creamy consistency......i find these last up to 6 hours without primer....with primer these last until your take them off...... 

I promise if you buy these you are not going to be disappointed you are going to be more disappointed with the fact there isnt more than 6 shades to choose from......

so thats it from me for now 

let me know what you think 

please click follow 

lots of Irish hugs and Kisses 

Nina xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

e.l.f Studio Blush Review Part 1

The soft sheer texture blends into the skin for a silky finish. Designed to be worn alone or layered for more depth. Highlight your complexion with a subtle healthy glow! by e.l.f

I heard so so much great reviews about these e.l.f Studio Blushes and of course i had to try for myself.  At the start i had picked just 2 of the blushes to try which was the most popular "Peachy Keen"& "Candid coral".  I got these off the UK site www.eyeslipsface.co.uk for £3.50/$3/€4 each.  They come in 9 different shades and are Net weight: 0.168oz (4.75g)...

Starting From the Top Left "Peachy keen,  Candid Coral, Tickled Pink. Pink Passion & Blushing Rose"

About the Packaging :)

As you can see if you are familar to Nars Blushes you will notice that e.l.f packaging for their blush is almost identical to Nars Packaging only few differences between Nars and e.l.f is that e.l.f has a little window in the front so you can see the blush, also when you open the package you have a little mirror in it and a plastic covering over the blush so that the blush is nice a secure from dust etc and also keeps your little mirror clean.  Also with Nars blush package even tho it looks nearly like e.l.f when you touch the Nars package you can literally see every finger print and blush mark on it whereas with e.l.f package you cant i love that love it.  I hate carrying around make up that looks messy inside and out......I feel like with e.l.f blushes the packaging makes it look like you have paid alot more for it than £3.50 lol sssshhhhhhh dont tell anyone :) :) 

Starting From the Top Left "Peachy keen,  Candid Coral, Tickled Pink. Pink Passion & Blushing Rose"

About the Blushes 

Peachy Keen:  This is a Fantastic shade one of my top favourites......its a kind of dark peachy with little gold sparkles you can really only see in the package....when applied you dont notice the gold shimmer just the beautiful glow it pays off on your skin absolutely fab!!!!!!!! This is so natural and can be used everyday.  I actually use this to contour my cheek bones a little this is a perfect everyday bronzer too :)

Candid Coral: This sort of reminds me of Peachy Keen only this is more of a peachy pink with gold shimmer again the gold shimmer is not noticable on your cheeks it just gives you that fab glow you want!!!!! this is my 2nd favourite!!!!!!! This too is a perfect everyday wear blush i use this with Peachy Keen 

Tickled Pink:   This is the Suitable pink blush for those who are a wee bit on the shy side of any bright pink blushes. Its not so highly pigmented that when you apply you look like a clown lol but its buildable i love that! this gives you the natural flushed look that make you look super healthy. so if your a gal like me who doesnt normal have a flushed look you will love this shade

Pink Passion: I thought at first wow this is not going to work for me!!!! But i was Wrong Dont let the shade put you out girls.....This is a Matte blush a beautiful shade of pink when lightly applied.

Blushing Rose:   This is a Beautiful Blush i Love this one i would only use this going out as it is quite on the strong side.  This is a fab pinky/mauve shade with gold shimmer which again does not show on the cheeks. i really like this :)

Swatches 

 "Peachy keen,  Candid Coral, Tickled Pink. Pink Passion & Blushing Rose" in Normal Light 

 "Peachy keen,  Candid Coral, Tickled Pink. Pink Passion & Blushing Rose" in Sunlight 

My Overall Opinion 

If you are looking for light to sheer blushes these are your answer.  The best thing about these is your can build up the colour YOU want.  You get alot of product for your money and these are going to last you a while.. They are not powdery, not too much fall out & finely milled.  They dont fade at all which is excellent as i have bought quite a few drug store brand blushes that wear off and you would need to top up all the time.  Each shade is incredibly wearable and they are not to shimmery so each one could also be used during the day........ I couldnt recommend these enough your simply cant bypass these and i promise you, you wont be disappointed......

well thats it ladies oh and also check out my part 2 e.l.f Studio Blush review & Swatches and of course if you have any questions please please ask 

until next time 

smile & be happy 

lots of Irish hugs & Kisses 

Slan 

nina xoxoxoxoxox

Tarte Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder Review

Tarte says:   
These finely-milled powders are infused with Amazonian clay, nature's most perfect ingredient, and can be applied to cheeks, brow bones and décolletage for a completely customizable glow - add a little for a soft, subtle sheen or add more for lavishly enhanced radiance. Nutrient rich and intuitive Amazonian clay universally benefits all skin types. Oily skin? Amazonian clay minimizes oil in and around pores to balance skin and keep product in place. Dry skin? This nourishing clay hydrates skin naturally to restore moisture. Combination skin? Amazonian clay will intuitively identify your skin concerns and deliver benefits to restore harmony. The result is makeup that wears better, longer and truer!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder in "Rose" 

I have to admit everyone i never ever tried anything from Tarte before....simply because been a mum of 5 on little to no cash its hard to buy expensive top branded make-up actually top branded anything........But thanks to Brands Direct lately i have been able to experience buying the higher branded make-up i have only ever dreamed about buying :) so a Big Thumbs Up to your guys :) 

Anyway rambling as usual i will go on with my Review 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder is available online also at Tartecosmetics.com retailing @ $30 but you can purchase it at Brands Direct for only €20/£17.80 which is great value.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder is not just some same old shimmering powder this is more than that and heres why........... This powder is a finely-milled powder infused with Amazonian clay, "nature's most perfect ingredient." These new highlighters were introduced for Spring 2011.  

Tarte claims that Amazonian Clay is rich in nutrients, with benefits for all skin types.  If you have Oily Skin amazonian minimises the oils around pore to balance out your skin.... If your skin is Dry the clay will hydrate your skin naturally all day......& if you have combination skin the clay will intuitively identify your skin type and condition and deliver benefits to restore harmony.

So in all this product is beneficial to everyone :) :) now how often can you say that eh???

Taken in Normal light

Taken in Sunlight 

 What i love about Tarte is all the information you get about each product for example the ingredients and what each does for you ..........

Ingredients

Amazonian Clay: nature’s most perfect ingredient providing total skin balance

vitamin A: beneficial antioxidant that helps remove free radicals, promotes collagen production and retain moisture, which plumps fine lines and wrinkles to give the appearance of younger skin

vitamin C: antioxidant that fights free radical damage and prevents oxidative stress and premature signs of aging, while brightening skin

vitamin E: natural preservative that also acts as an anti-inflammatory emollient and protects against free radical damage

skinvigorating benefits

• formulated without paraben
• formulated without phthalates
• cruelty free
• formulated without sodium lauryl sulfate
• formulated without synthetic fragrance

Now applying this to my skin is a pleasure every time i mean the softness of it is incredible.....I have tried a good few highlighters now and have noticed alot of them settle into my pores but not this one.  As i said there is too shades available i got the one in Rose.

Rose is a metallic rose/bronze and is ideal for all-over use for those with tanned skin, or even as a blush for those with fair skin .  This has a considerable amount of pigment and a finish that’s more sheen than shimmer.

I have this in my dont touch or else kit lol i love it......Its one of my best buys a little goes a long way and the glow you get is incredible and your guarenteed it will last all day on your skin........I use this on top of my cheek bones, brow bone down the bridge of my nose, a little on my cupids bow and on my collar bones to make them really stand out naturally. This is really great for bringing out your bone structure without making it obvious you have used anything.......

This is a swatch of it on my arm 

This swatch is on my lovely tanned hand lol 

Swatch in the Sunlight 

I have a new found love and i highly recommend this to you all. You will be more than impressed with this if you buy it thats for sure......Its amazing and i feel its not talked about enough all i can say is try it you wont regret it not only is it giving you an incredible look without making it obvious but its also doing great things to you skin
well thats all from me everyone if you have any questions please ask away.
Click Here to bring you straight to the product in Brands Direct Shop....


Take care of yourself and always look after no 1
lots of Irish hugs & Kisses
Love Nina xoxoxoxox

e.l.f Liquid Eyeshadow Review

The pigment rich Liquid Eyeshadow dries to a water tight finish to give endless staying power so you can take your look from day to night without looking faded. The colors won't crease or smear, and they won't budge until you take them off. An alternative to traditional eye shadows, these lightweight colors are exceptionally gentle for a silky smooth finish. The quick dry formula allows for fast and easy application. By e.l.f 

This is 6/9 shades that are available 

Now let me start off my saying that i was 110% sceptic about these shadows.....every time i came across them i would bypass purchasing them simply because i didnt hear too many people talking about them and i read a couple of reviews about them which werent really reassuring.......but anyway i went against my negative thoughts and purchased 6 of them as they were part of my 50% off collection i didnt mind getting them.....not only that they usually only cost £1.50/€1.70/$1 each anyway so what can you lose ok back to the review lol here i am rambling on again....

Starting from the top in shades "Sultry Satin, Coco Loco, Misty Mauve, Mocha Madness, Berrylicious & Cream Dream"

Sultry Satin:  This is very thin liquid, Its a light taupy champagne.....this is a perfect highlight for the brow and sometime i even use it on my cheek bone :) it reminds me a little of benefits high beam,  its very light on the eye.


Coco Loco:  This shade is a metallic bronze very pigmented and has a gold shimmer to it.  


Misty Mauve :  This shade is a lilac pink.....very light almost like a highlight too 


Mocha Madness:  This shade is the darkest of darkest liquid eyeshadow......its a dark brown with bronzy gold going through it 


Berrylicious:  This is a really pretty pink shade 


Cream Dream:  This too would pass for a highlight color its more of an ivory/white shade 

In Natural Light 

In Sunlight 

Oh Where do i start maybe i should put pros and cons on this but unfortunitly i would have more cons :( :( 
I will start with the pros:

• Prices of these are really good 
• The dome brush on this makes it easy to apply 
• The colours are fabulous 
• eh the highlight shades are really pretty 

The cons
Im not going to put pointers on this one because i want to explain each con.  Starting off with applying these oh my god its a race against time when applying these you literally apply and rush to blend before it dries or you are going to have one messy eye.......
You can not use these as a base no way if you do expect your eyeshadow to crease within an hour even with primer they are no good for that!!!!!!!!!
I dont know i just really cant warm to these which is a complete shame as they are fantastic shades and the metallic payoff from these is incredible.   
I found the minute they are dry my eyelid felt heavy when i blinked my eyelid felt sort of like cardboard its hard to explain but the eyeshadow just hardened up....and when i rubbed my finger along the shadow it began to flake..... 
Even before i ran my finger along my eyelid i noticed the shadow all blotchy.  Even after waiting a good 5 minutes for it to dry and putting another layer on it still made no difference.  


anyway i think you all get the picture about what i think of these haha..i think i will be passing these down to my daughter :) but one thing i will say is the darker shades are good for eyeliner i just use a eyeliner brush and use it on my top lash line its got good staying power and doesnt smudge.  

Picture of "Berrylicious" on my eyelid see how its all blotchy just 5 minutes after applying this is what all of them look like 

This is a picture of  5 of the shadows i swatched, left dry and rubbed on my hand.....do you see the flakes 

Well thats my option out there everyone and as i said before this is just my opinion and experiences of this product and i just wanted to share what i experienced with these..
I hope this was helpful to you all and if you have any questions please ask away 


Until next time 
cya soon 
lots of Irish hugs and Kisses 
Nina xxxxx

My 50% Off e.l.f Haul

Hey Hey Everyone :) yesterday i finally got my big box of joy from e.l.f and here is what i got:

I knew something big was coming up when e.l.f facebook page reached 200,000 but didnt think we would get 50% off so i had saved for a good while for this day and was delighted that i was able to get so much for so little......even tho the there was alot of items out of stock i still managed to buy hehehehehe so anyway here is the list of what i got:

Click on the picture for a closer look  

When i got the box i didnt know where to start lol anyway thats my order girls so keep any eye out for Reviews on all of these items :) :)


take care
and let me know if you got anything 
lots of Irish hugs & kisses 
Nina xoxoxxoxox

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio Review

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio comes in three coordinating shades for the perfect eye look. Wet n Wild eyeshadow palette is designed for convenience application on brow bone, crease and eyelid. Highlight, define and accentuate your eyes with this Wet n Wild eyeshadow trio.

I bought mine @ http://www.nonpareilboutique.com/ for $3/£1.90/€2.10 each on this site there are 12 available shades you can also purchase the 8 color pallets in which i got a couple and will be reviewing soon.  At the time when i purchased these the postage was reasonable enough to Ireland but now its so expensive which is unfortunate as there is some great deals on it for all sorts of brand that you cant get.  Wet n Wild is not available in ireland or you can purchase off their own sites i think it is available in the UK and of course to the US as its a US Brand........they are available on ebay click here to have a look.....

From the Left the shades are in "Im Feeling Retro, Silent Treatment, Spoiled Brat &  Sweet as Candy"

Full View in natural light 

Ok your getting a three colour pallet with a shade to suit the brow bone, crease and eyelid but you can mix and match :) :) firstly i will start with:

Im Feeling Retro:  The colours on this pallet is fabulous i love the brightness of these and they are perfect for the summer but i have found these shade very sheer.......The Brow Colour is a Frosty white which i love to use as a highlight for the brow and inner eyelid.  The crease shade is a aqua blue with a slight silver shimmer to it and the Lid shade is a purple/pink colour seemingly the dupe of Mac's stars n rockets eyeshadow.  I love this shade its highly pigmented which means a little goes a long way.

Silent Treatment:  This is a beautiful pallet i love it.....the brow colour is a peachy/pink this is a bit frosty but not as much as the first pallet....the crease shade is a deep, dark brown with a tint of gold shimmer in which you bearly see when applied its perfect for the outter v and crease perfect for a smokey look.  This is highly highly pigment...........the eyelid shade is a nice taupy shade with shimmer you can use this on its own for an everyday look......

Here is a look I created using "Silent Treatment" 

Spoiled Brat:  Oh where do i start with this pallet the picture tells it all isnt it fabbbbbb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is especially perfect for a woman of colour :) :) for my skin tone its a little on the harsh side but works will toned down......Brow shade is a metallic silver i love this :) only its a bit on the strong side for a highlight but using it very sparingly and you can make it work........The Crease shade is a matte black with a tint of silver shimmer i love this as you can use this whatever way you please for the outer V, the crease, eyeliner etc... and the Lid is a fantastic fuchsia pink as i said for my skin tone i have to use it sparingly but works well.....but with a woman of colour this would look FANTASTIC 

Sweet as Candy:  Again this is a pallet i love :) :) just look at the swatches........dont they look fab in the pan.......they look super creamy .....The colours are frost all 3 of them i like that but some people dont, the highlight is a lovely but i dont use it on my brow its a little too shimmery but its perfect for the lid and inner corner......the Crease shade is fantastic in the pan it looks like chocolate mmmmmmm chocolate mmmmmm anyhow the shade is almost matte but with a tad of shimmer in it perfect i love it..........the lid shade is a fantastic baby pink not as pigmented as i thought but still applys well :)  This pallet is perfect for someone with brown or hazel eyes 
Here is a look I created using "Sweet as Candy" 

***I have 3 more of these palettes reviewed here*** 


MY OVERALL OPINION:
With these pallets yes you will have to build them up to get the look you want but they are more pigmented than some drugstore brands........i love them and for the value of these you are certainly getting more for your money.....these are perfect for anyone who wants to build up their own collection or for people who want to experiment with different colours.   Or for people who are on a budget limit.  


ok thats all for now everyone i hope you enjoyed my review and watch out for more on Wet n Wild 
bye for now 
lots of Irish hugs & Kisses 
Nina xoxoxoxox

One of Irelands Talented Make-up Artists

Hi all i just want to tell you all a little about this very talented Make-up Artist as i feel she deserves to be broad-casted more for her incredible work.   

First of all Sarah is orginally from Portrush and is married with two beautiful boys so you can imagine how busy her life is without mentioning her been self employed :)  She moved to Kells Co Meath where she secided early this year to open up her own Make-up Studio in the town of Kells.  I say fair play to her as anyone opening up a business is taking a risk these days with the tough recession happening.    She has over 10 years experience and boy does it show. 


Her new studio which is called Enhanced Beauty is a beautifully decorated little studio, when you walk in you feel nothing but warmth and a sense of peace.  You are automatically greeted with a huge smile and you feel like you have known this woman all your life.  You feel so comfortable talking to her and she always has something to talk about (which is a great thing) of course.  You literally feel you have only entered when your make-up is finished and your walking out the door.  She is fantastic.  Here is just some of her own work 

Before and After Photo

Sarah Butcher herself busy doing what she loves 

She is also doing Make-up Lessons for such a great deal here is what your getting :

Learn new tricks, tips and techniques for applying everyday Make-Up.                                                            

Bring along your Make-Up bag and brushes so you can be advised on which of your existing products really work for you.

You will learn how to create a professional look with your Make-Up to enhance your natural features.

Lesson covers the following;

1. Skin routine

2. Discuss concerns about your own skin type

3. Demo on cleanse tone and moisturise

4. Brow Shaping

5. Make-Up demo

6. Tea break and chat with the group

7. Recreate demo on yourselves

3hr lesson €30

YOU MUST PHONE SARAH TO CONFIRM A SPACE 0857104987

LOCATION- KELLS PEOPLES RESOURCE CENTRE

DATES: FRI 15TH JULY, FRI 5TH AUGUST

TIME: 7-10PM

For the price your are getting alot.....She also takes part in alot of charity work which i highly respect her for....she does various competitions in which one of them i won a whole make over for absolutely nothing and all i had to do was enter and sit and wait lol.  This is my make-over by Sarah butcher......

The before and after make over some difference eh? 

She also does Wedding Make-up which is incredible and at amazing prices she surely takes pride in her work....she makes sure every bride does not have to worry about her Makeup on the day !!!!

As you can tell yourself Sarah is extremely Talented so down to earth, so generous, kind and caring also extremely selfless in doing what she loves and i feel she deserves this posting in my opinion ...she has no idea im doing this and im super excited to show her when im finished i can imagine her sitting reading this and not knowing what to say but Sarah your an inspiration to me the fact your are a wife and mother and still going out there showing us mothers that IT CAN BE DONE THAT WE CAN STILL ACHIEVE ARE DREAMS AND AMBITIONS IN LIFE NO MATTER WHAT....Thanks Sarah You have certainly shown me and all i have in life is dreams and I KNOW I CAN ACHIEVE THEM :) 

So girls Thats only a little about Sarah butcher on who and what she is to see more of her fab work click here or on the right hand side of my blog.....

hope you all enjoyed this write up and let me know what you think 

until next time girls 

cya soon lots of Irish kisses 

Nina xoxoxoxoxox