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I love nailvarnish! You will never catch me without it on, so I will be posting weekly my favourite, with swatches and a small review on each.

Today I'm reviewing two of my favourite pink nailvarnishes, one Barry M and one Stargazer! Both are so cheap but so beautiful and well worth it!

Stargazer, available in New Look and other small chemists £2.50


This is probably my favourite nailvarnish ever! The formula is really different to any other NVs I have tried. It glides on in the smallest layer ever (if that makes sense? Its quite a thin formula) yet it holds so much pigment. Because of the thiness of it, it dries in a matter of seconds. I've also worn this under UV light and because its a neon pink, it glows! It chips in a few days, but because it dries so quickly you can always just put another layer on. I definitley recommend stargazers make-up in general if you're after bright neon colours!


Barry M £2.95 - 279 Bright Pink


This colour as you can see is a gorgeous baby pink, its quite abit brighter than it is in these pictures but you get the drift! The formula is creamy and thick, like most Barry M nailvarnishes, and it takes a while for a layer to dry, but its worth the wait for the cute colour!

Whats you're favourite nail varnish colour? Have you tried any of Stargazers make-up before?

XXX

Tonight, I’m in a lipglossy kinda mood, so I decided to dig out some of my glosses to swatch for you!  I have four of the Body Shop’s Hi-shine lip-glosses, one full size and three minis!

01 – Pink Cream
(sunlight)
(flash)
This is one of my two favourite of the Hi-Shines.  Its a gorgeous pale nude brown in the tube, but applies as a clear almost nude lip-gloss. 
11 – Juicy Peach
   (flash)(sunlight)
My second favourite, Juicy Peach!  A gorgeous peachy pink in the tube, which sparkles pink and coral on the lip!  The gloss itself is pretty clear, but the pink sparkles look adorable and suit any complexion!
10 - Perfectly Pink
(flash) (sunlight)
I have never actually worn this out before, as I don’t usually tend to wear dark pink/purple on my lips, but looking at these pictures, I’ve fallen in love! This is probably the most pigmented out of all the Hi-Shines, it comes out as a purple/mauve pink, which sparkles like crazy under light, as you can see in the first picture. 
???
Now, I have no idea which shade this is by looking on TBS’s website, and as it doesn’t say the number of the shade on the mini I have, I really have no idea!  But I will name a few guesses which the name could be below
This is the colour in the package, just so you know.
(flash) (sunlight)
Okay, so I think this could be either 02 Mauve Dream or 03 Bronze Beam.  I will check the next time I go to TBS and update this blog when I find out, or if any one else knows, then let me know!
This again is a beautifully glittery shade, but with more pigmentation, and colour than the first.  It has the same purple pink sparkles but the base is more coloured red than being clear.
Conclusion – If you have ever tried a Hi-Shine Lip Treatment, you will know that they are super moisturizing, yet super sticky!  I wouldn’t wear these on a windy winter day, instead I’d save them for the summer when I know my hair won’t catch in the gloss.  As they are so sticky, they literally cover your lips in the most silky-smooth-feeling layer of gloss, which feels pretty incredible when you pucker your lips!  The colours are very pretty, and although they look very glittery, they haven’t got any chunky glittery chunks in, at all, they are all smooth and the glitter just sparkles, instead of sits on your lips, which is a bonus (it basically doesn’t feel cheap).  The smell of the gloss’s are very nice, quite fruity – maybe passion fruit?  The tubes are real handy to use and carry around and easy to apply from the tube.  The glosses have also never leaked in my bag, which is a plus as I know a few glosses have that tendency!  They retail at £9.50 for a full size 6ml tube which will last you forever as you don’t need a lot to get the gorgeously glossy look.
What’s your favourite glossy tube shade? Has anyone used them before?
P.S – I bought all of these hi-shines with my own money. All opinions are honest!

This is my favourite eye shadow palette that I own, and I own a few!  I first came across this gorgeous bunch of colours, when in work one day I served a woman who had the most beautiful brown, gold smoky eyes, that I’ve ever seen before.  I was stunned by how amazing her blue eyes looked with all the shimmering gold tones, so obviously I asked her what she was wearing, and she said it was a really cheap brand in Superdrug called something like Sleek.  Straight after work I went out and picked this palette up and its been my favourite since.
I will give you some swatches of the palette, not that you probably haven't seen millions of them before!




As you can probably tell from the images, # 1, 2, 4 & 7 are my all time favourite.  All together they create a stunning shimmery brown eye.  I much prefer shimmery eye shadows to matt, not sure why, I think they just are more stunning.  2 is the perfect base colour and brow bone highlighter.  I would ADORE for Sleek to make a few of these colours in their own compacts so I could carry the ones I’m wearing around individually, instead of carrying the whole palette as I’m scared I’ll drop it and it’ll brake! 
#12 is the blackest black eye shadow I have ever come across, seriously, you need the tiniest amount to get so much black.  #10 is the one that I find drops onto my cheeks the most when applying, its the most fall-out-y, but it is a very nice dark blue shade. I haven't used #5 & #6 much as I don’t think pinks suit me, but after swatching them I’m reminded to start wearing them more as they are super shimmery and attractive.  I also like #8 & #9 to add some colour into my black smoky eyes.
One reason I love these eye shadows, is that they are SO pigmented, you only need the tiniest amount to get the most gorgeous colours.  One of my pet peeves are shadows which look gorgeous, but are only achievable with lashings and coats of the product, well, this product serves me well in the pigmentation department.  I do think that Sleek should name each eye colour individually as well, just to make it easier when talking about each colour!
For £4.99, I assure you that this is one of the most best priced, good quality eye shadows sets you could ever get your hands on!
I also have the Original palette, which I will pop swatches up off within the next few weeks!  Who else adores Sleek?  Would any one like to see any looks which I create with this palette? XX
X

This evening I am reviewing The Body Shop’s new mascara – Big and Curvy!  It came out around two weeks ago and should be permanent in their collection.

The packaging is GORGEOUS.  I adore the bright vibrant pink tube – it makes it very easy to find in the depths of my make-up bag, TBS are really going to town with their new colours and packaging recently.  The wand is thin, long and quite bristly, allowing you to coat every lash with just one swipe of the product.
BEFORE -

ONE COAT -


I find that all Body Shop mascaras give me wonderfully long lashes.  This one really lengthens and separates them as well as giving my normally invisible lashes, some brilliant volume and intensity.  One coat really is enough for beautifully long, striking lashes.
TWO COATS -

Two coats obviously adds more length and volume to the lashes and makes the look more dramatic, which is great for transforming your look from day to evening.  It can verge on clumpy (which I find with every mascara I use – maybe I don’t apply it right?) if you pop too much on.  The colour of the black also intensifies with another coat.
Conclusion – This mascara is suitable for contact lens wearers (as are the other TBS mascaras) but the amazing thing about this one is – it does not budge!  This isn’t claimed to be a ‘waterproof’ mascara, but seriously, once you apply this, it will not smudge, bleed or flake ALL DAY LONG.  I can’t stress enough how tough this is, which is again why it would be great from day to evening wear.  The only slight problem with this is, it is a pain to remove at the end of the day.  I normally have to use a few pads of make-up remover and a wet wipe to completely remove every trace of this.  I haven't yet tried using a waterproof eye-make-up remover yet though so that may possibly work better.  This can be found for £10 at all Body Shop stores, so if you like the look of it, check it out! Also, TBS has a 3 for 2 offer on makeup, so you could pick it up with a few other bits if you needed too!!
What do you girlies think?  I adore the packaging and the look it gives, do you?
P.S – This product was given to me free of charge as a TBS customer consultant, but it was not intended for to be reviewed.  All opinions are honest and reliable! X

More Body Shop lipstick swatches!
54 – Pastel Rose

54 is a mega-frosted peach lipstick.  The colour is a nice peach nude, and the frost gives a beautiful shimmery dimension.

66 – Coral Splash

66 is a bright yet kinda dark coral orange.  I think this colour looks stunning on tanned and olive skin tones, a friend of mine wears it and just looks stunning. Coral oranges are very popular in lip and nail shades this spring. 

63 – Sunset Peach

Sunset peach is peachy pink lipstick which I think is very moisturizing.  The colour is beautiful, its almost a nude pink, but with more colour and pigmentation.  I think this is a lovely colour to wear day to day.

10 – Soft Heather

10 is a stunning purple shade, I don’t think I can wear this personally as I’m too pale, but a girl at work wears this and it compliments her tanned bronze skin perfectly, it almost looks like a nude on her.  Purples are also very ‘in’ this spring in the world of make-up and fashion!

14 – Pink Ginger

Pink Ginger is a wearable dark pink which is so pigmented and easy to apply, I can’t help but love it.  I think its quite similar to the new ‘Rougue coco’ Chanel lipstick modelled by Vanessa Paradis!  This lipstick would look gorgeous with a natural eye look with lots of mascara!
You can see my first post with Body Shop swatches in here - http://mesluxes.blogspot.com/2010/03/body-shop-lipsticks.html .  All of these lipsticks are very pigmented and moisturizing with the community traded marula oil and they are also very wearable day to day.
What ones do you like the look of? Have you tried any of these colours before?
I have 4 more body shop lippie swatches coming up in the next week! X

I went on a little shopping trip to Bluewater (a shopping mall in Kent) last week as I wanted to pop into MAC to get my Liberty of London fix!  But I stopped off in Boots on the way and picked up two cute 17 nail polishes!
We have – Mint Choc Chip
 
A lovely milky minty green/blue varnish, I adore this colour and I think its very apt for spring/summer. 
And Orange Soda -
  
I wanted a coral varnish and I picked this polish up aswell.  It turns out its more orange than coral, but in the flesh its much a paler milkier colour than in these images.
Both of the polishes are VERY pigmented and apply really smoothly.  All the images here were wearing just two coats.  The varnish can apply quite streaky sometimes on the first coat, but the second coat should sort it out straight away.  What I love about this brand of varnish is how quickly it dries.  You’d think that a creamy varnish would take ages to dry (like the Barry M ones) but this dries very quickly, within two minutes.  These polishes had the sticker on ‘just in’, and came out with the ‘Candy Collection'’ range, and which also includes a cute lilac polish, as well as a milky yellow and candy floss pink.  I applied the orange one on Friday, and spent the whole weekend unpacking boxes in work so the ends chipped quickly which was expected, but other than that they lasted pretty well. 
I’m quite impressed with these polishes and will definitely pick more up (after my make-up shopping ban! not sure when it’ll end!).  They are also great value – under £3 a polish.
Has any one else tried out these new candy shades? What do you think!? XX

OKAY OKAY, I know I say this EVERY time I get a new nail varnish, but I have again found my perfect favourite nail polish from Barry M – Apart from Pink Flamingo, of course.
297 – Blue Glitter
(in sunlight)
This nail varnish is AMAZING!  It is so beautiful, I’ve only been wearing it for one day and I’ve already had numerous compliments on how pretty it is!  In real life it is a lot more stunning than in the pictures, I’d say it is more of a teal/blue/green in the flesh.  It sparkles whenever you move your hands and I’ve fallen in love with it.
In the pictures above I’m wearing two coats – so you don’t need too much product to get the gorgeous glittery effect.  It dries in quite gritty – you can see in the pictures, but I much prefer the gritty look rather than a flat effect, if you know what I mean? It just stands out a lot more.  The one thing that lets me down about this polish though, is the fact that it does take ages to dry.  You can probably tell in these pictures that the middle nail smudged so I had to apply more to cover it up – but this isn’t just a normal smudge, its a ‘if-i-smudge, half-the-varnish-comes-right-off-the-nail’ smudge, which sucks but I can live with it.
(with flash)
I also picked up 292 - Navy

This is a beautiful colour and the only one I have like it in my collection, but obviously I’m not as amazed by it as the previous one.  To the eye this looks more like a dark dark blue/black, but in the light it shines blue which is very pretty and quite elegant as well.

What does everyone think of my new favourite nail varnish? D’ya reckon you’ll pick some up when next out shopping?

I have two new favourite nail colours which I have both purchased in the last month… I guess I should really put these in my ‘March Favourites’, but I’ll do a separate post for that!
Firstly we have
Barry M – 305 Pink Flamingo

I ADORE this colour, I do admit I have too many pink nail varnishes, but this is my new favourite.  It is a bright pink but with a peachy undertone (I think), which I am obsessed with at the moment.  It’s darker than the Barry M baby pink swatched here, and I love wearing this shade.  I picked this up in Boots where it was part of a ‘Buy two Barry M nail varnishes for £5’ - (There is now a 3 for 2 offer on Barry M items – so go check it out!). ( I will swatch the other colour I bought in this deal soon!)  I applied three coats of this shade and it started chipping within two days.
Secondly, we have
No7 Speed Dry Nail Colour – Coral Kiss 39 –

I bought this with the Boots £5 off No7 voucher, so this only cost me £1.25.  At first I just bought this as it was a bargin and I didn’t want to waste the voucher – But I am SO glad I did pick this up.  It is my perfect red!  I am wearing it right now and I feel ‘adult?’ aha, and sophisticated wearing this.  Again, it is more of an orangey red which I love.  This also does dry relatively quickly which I was impressed at.  I applied this three days ago and only the tips of my nails have started chipping, so it has good lasting power!  Also, I only needed two coats of this polish, as it is very pigmented, which saves time and product!
What did you guys purchase with your Boots £5 off No7 & Ruby Millie vouchers?  Has anyone tried these shades before?XX

I’ll start off by saying, although I haven’t yet found my HG mascara, this is one of my favourites – I’m currently on my third tube of this!  I think I generally prefer mascaras with a comb like wand, as it helps me comb through my unruly yet invisible lashes.
I’ll show you the pictures and then tell you what I like/dislike about it.

No Mascara -
 
One Coat -



Its pretty obvious why I love this mascara, as using just one coat I get the most gorgeous, long, defined lashes that I could possibly achieve.  The colour is a perfect black, my lashes aren't clumpy, or spider like; the comb helps to reach every single lash and separate them.  One coat of this is usually enough for me – I’m not really a mascara girl to be honest – I used to always forget to put it on in the mornings before school, but I do rely on it to make my lashes look long and neat when using lots of eyeshadows.
Two Coats -



Firstly, don’t be put off with how clumpy they do look in these images – I will admit that I am due to buy a new one of these as the formula has become dry, making it looks extra clumpy.  So with two coats, you obviously get a more intense long lash effect.  If the tube was new, the second coat normally helps to comb through the lashes, but just adds an extra coating to volumize more. 
Conclusion – As I said at the beginning, this is one of my favourite mascaras.  I love how I can create long, defined lashes with just one coat of this stuff, I would recommend it to people who prefer comb–shaped mascara wands as its the best I’ve tried.  The packaging is pretty normal – a dark green tube with a silver top, making it nice and sleek to carry around with you.  This retails at £9.50 at all Body Shop stores.
Does anyone else use this mascara?  Are you impressed with the results of one coat?
X

All my close friends will know that I went NUTS when I first saw this nail polish on a few blogs because I adore and am obsessed with holographic-ness! I actually searched three different Superdrug stores to hunt this down and I finally found it.
549 - Holographic

Words can not describe how in love I am with this nail varnish. I’m so in love I bought two bottles at once as I didn’t want to ever not own this. I mean, come on, who can’t agree that this is just MAGICAL?
(with flash)
The formula, in my opinion, is perfect. Its applies in a really thin yet pigmented layer, which takes 30seconds max to dry, you can tell it is dry when its starts to shimmer amazingly in the light. I apply three coats when I use this product to build up the most beautiful colour ever. When you do use it however, do make sure that the coat before is dry before you pop another one on, as it does get very streaky otherwise. You also can’t really use a base coat with this as it streaks like crazy as well – its kind of hard to explain but if you’ve used it then you will know what I mean.

I took this picture two days after having put it on – as you can see it does chip really easily, which is a shame, but as it dries so quick you can always pop another coat on. This picture was taken when I was in the car on a sunny day – the sun just makes your nails goes crazy.
I’m not actually positive if this colour is still available? I haven't seen it around for a while, but I really hope it isn’t limited edition! If someone's in the know, please tell me if its still available or not!
I also have one of China Glaze’s holographic nail varnishes which I will swatch and review in comparison to this polish when I’m back at my other flat!
What does everyone think? Too much, or amazing?