My Top 5 Summer Nail Polishes

In Europe, summer seems to come out for a few days every now and then which can be quite annoying, but hey, at least we get some sun and hot temperatures after all, eh?
During the summer time, I don't feel like wearing dark or generally dull polishes at all and so as soon as the first UV rays hit my face, I crack out the brightest bottles of varnish I can find in my collection. The ones above are my top favorites which means that one of those is likely going to adorn my nails when I give myself a mani next time.

The Daily Nail: Fuchsia Madness

essence Eclipse LE "Don't bite me - kiss me"

So I know that Tangerine Tango actually was chosen color of the year by the guys from Pantone, but let's be clear: for a pale and cool skin-toned lady orange is not really the preferred color when it comes to buying clothes, lipsticks or nail polishes. In my opinion, there are way better colors for ladies like me and fuschia is one of them.

Shown above is essence "Don't bite me, kiss me" from the Eclipse LE (Summer 2010). I've obviously had this varnish forever and when I was going through my collection, this caught my eye again. I'm not going to rave about this color too much because as much as I love it, it's not sold anymore. What I would like to point out though is that it does have a fine blue-ish purple shimmer to it which is quite unusual and makes the polish even more pretty.

So for those of you who are interested in a similar color, here you have some other polishes that I think are at least equally beautiful:

Photo is from here

Essie "Big Spender"

Photo is from here

OPI "Miami Beet"

Are you going to try this color on your nails?

Love,

Nathalie xx

Ombré Nails

I actually like my manicure to be easily done and my nails to look polished and flawless. But every once in a while, I'm in the mood for a change and I guess you can never resist a good trend manicure, right?

The trend I'm talking about this time is called Ombré Nails. This means that you start with a light color all over your nail and then you gradiently sponge darker colors on top. The important factor is to stay within the same color family. I searched the web before to learn about different methods to apply the polish and on my research I stumbled across this version by The Beauty Department (click here).
I have to admit I have found this to be rather difficult and so I just decided to create this mani off the top of my head. I used three purple colors, but you could also use blues or reds instead.

What you need:

• base coat
• 3 different nail polishes: a light color, a dark color and one color in between the two.
• an old makeup sponge (or a new one, doesn't matter)
• a quick-dry top coat
• cotton swaps and nail polish remover to clean up the mess you may have created (I did!)

Step-by-Step Tutorial:

#1: Apply one coat of your favorite base coat to your nails.

#2: Apply two thin coats of the lightest color on to your nails.

#3: Take the sponge and apply the mid color on to one edge; then sponge the color on to two thirds of your nail.

#4: Apply the dark color on to another clean edge of your sponge and sponge that on the first third of your nails.

#5: Apply some more dark color on to your sponge, but only apply it to the very ends of your nail.

#6: Check your nail and make sure it's a proper color gradient.

#7: Apply one coat of your top coat to smooth out the surface, add shine and prevent chipping.

#8: Dip a cotton swap into nail polish remover to remove the mess around your nails.


If you created this, please send me a picture! I hope you liked this!

Lots of love,
Nathalie xx

The Daily Nail: essence "Walk On Air"

Shown: 1x base coat, 2x essence colour & go, 1x top coat

essence Colour & Go Walk On Air

I haven't done a Daily Nail post for ages, but as I'm in a hurry right now, this is going to be a very quick post. I found this nail polish on my last shopping trip: essence recently added some new colors to their collection and this royal, electric blue totally got me that I just had to buy it.
Colour & Go nail polishes go on quite sheer, so they absolutely require a second coat as well as a good top coat to protect them from chipping (which they LOVE doing!).

What are you wearing on your nails right now?

Love,
Nathalie x

The Daily Nail: 2 Holiday Nail Ideas (+ Tutorials!)

1.) Golden-Red Half-Moon Nails

I love the combination of red and golden nail polish: so festive! Especially when worn as half-moon nails which are -really- super easy to do!

TUTORIAL:
• Apply a base coat on to your nails.
• Add one coat of an opaque golden nail polish (you may want to go over it in case it doesn't cover perfectly).
• Let COMPLETELY dry.
• Put one reinforcement ring on each of your nail, creating a half-moon shape.
• Use an opaque (bloody) red nail polish and paint the rest of your nails.
• Let dry properly.
• Carefully remove the reinforcement rings and apply a clear top coat.

2.) Easy Peasy Candy Cane Nails

These cute candy cane nails look very special, but are in fact easy to make (if you have a steady hand!).

TUTORIAL:
• Apply a base coat.
• Add one coat of an opaque, solid red nail polish on to your nails.
• Use a white striper or a french nails tip painter to create diagonal stripes on your nails. I painted 3 stripes on each of my fingers except for the thumbs: on those I added one more stripe. Do as many as you nail length lets you!
• Apply a glittery red nail polish on to your nails.

P.S.
- second look & tutorial borrowed from youtube.com/cutepolish, but tried and tested (and loved!) all by myself :)
- for the second look I used essence's nail polish duo in 'applause applause' from the Circus Circus LE


I hope that you liked this post!


HAPPY HOLIDAYS ♥

Love,
Nathalie x

New arrivals: L'Oréal, Maybelline, essence...

Last saturday was just perfect to hit the drugstore and pick up a few things, but I wasn't able to post this earlier, so here we go now:

MAKEUP

• Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine in 360 Plum Perfection

Had been staring at this color for weeks and finally manages to purchase it. I'm going through a dark-red lip phase right now, and this one absolutely satisfies my craving for a glamorous, plum color.

• L'Oréal Paris Super Liner [Lineur Intense] Carbon Gloss [Carbon Black]

As you can see, this liner is called differently in Germany, but it's just as awesome. As everyone loves his liner, I decided to give it a try and buy it. Well, what to say...I love it!

BEAUTY

• Balea Aqua Hydrating Sheet Mask

I love sheet masks because they're so easy to use. And in the fall, even my oily skin needs some moisture and these masks are just amazing.

• essence 24h hand protection balm (mini size)

My love for the 24h hand balm + my love for travel-size hand creams = happy me.

NAIL POLISH

• p2 Perfect Nail Hardener

My nails are kinda brittle right now and so I wanna strengthen them, but as I hate formaldehyde-containing nail hardener, I decided to pick up this one that is free of it. And I works well!

• Catrice In The Bronx

Last week's nail polish purchase. I don't want to write to much about it, if you wanna know more about this gorgeous color, check out my Daily Nail post here.

I hope you enjoyed this post!

x, Nathalie

The Daily Nail: Catrice In The Bronx

2 coats, natural daylight

I finally got around to start the nailpolish series that every serious beauty blog seems to have. So when I bought In the Bronx last weekend, I thought it was the perfect beginning.

In the Bronx is a very bronzy color with an olive undertone a lot of golden-olive shimmer to it. After applying it, it was so shiny that it looked like I had applied to nail polish strips because usually, they are very shiny. I think In the bronx is a beautiful color and so appropriate for fall!

The color kind of reminded me of butter London's Wallis, but when I saw the picture below, I noticed that In the bronx actually is a lot more brownish.

The picture is from Missbloggerazzi

I hope you enjoyed this post! Please feel free to leave a photo with your actual nail polish in the comments!

x, Nathalie

Review: SpaRitual Nail Lacquers

Hi guys!

Today, my SpaRitual package finally arrived (I feel like I had been waiting for this forever!) and it contained 4 super pretty nail lacquers:

It's a mini kit containing 4 bottles (each 0.17 fl.oz / 5 ml):
• Knowledge is power: a pretty barbie pink
• Enlightened Soul: super bright yellow, love!
• Eye of the beholder: really pretty apple green
• Face of destiny: really pretty orangey apricot color with the best coverage of these 4

I'm very excited about these nail lacquers because I had heard so many good things about them that I just wanted to try 'em out.

What makes these nail lacquers so special:

• The Bottle

It's made in Italy from reusable glass with up to 50% recycled materials. Plus, the bottles are recyclable.

• The Colors

In their opinion, colors can change what we feel. That's why they created more than 80 nail colors, arranged in four dynamic harmonies.

• The Formula

The nail lacquers vegan because they are 100% free of DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Resin.

• The Cap

The nail lacquers come in a bottle with a patented, rubberized cap which is super easy to open. It has a very short brush that makes it easy to apply the polish very precisely.

How they go on:

I applied 2 coats of the nail polish and I must say the coverage is really good! The cap makes it super easy to apply the nail polish properly. The colors are very vibrant.

This is their current collection:

Wilde Collection | Screenshot taken from sparitual.de

Really pretty, shimmery colors, I especially love Rhythm of Life and Spirit Child.

Make sure to check out the SpaRituals Website!

So.. are you interested in SpaRitual Nail Lacquers? Are you going to try these out?

xo, Nathalie

Nail Polish Trends F/W 2011

Hey guys,

I can't stop buying nail polish this fall (too many beautiful colors). Reading at your own risk!

MILITARY GREEN 

The picture is from here

In fall and winter, you generally wear darker colors that in summer. But the new dark green nail polishes are just to die for. Extremely shiny, extremely covering, extremely pretty. I'm sure you'll find your perfect shade very soon!

Colors to consider:

• Deborah Lippmann "Billionaire" (shown in the picture)

• Chanel "Péridot"

• Essie "Going Incognito"

DENIM BLUE

The picture is from here

Summer = turquoise. Fall = everything that's darker. This fall, there's a variety of beautiful blue nail polishes to choose from which makes it really hard to decide which one to buy.

Colors to consider:

• Dior Vernis "Blue Denim" (shown in the picture)

• Sephora by OPI "My Personal Serpent"

• OPI "Russian Navy"

• Essie "Midnight Cami"

• Chanel "Blue Satin"

PLUM

The picture is from here

Plum has always been a good choice for fall/winter, but this season, there are so many pretty shades coming up! No matter if you prefer a lighter purple or a darker one, you'll make a find!

Colors to consider:

• OPI "Lincoln Park at Midnight" (shown in the picture)
• Butter London 3-Free Nail Lacquer "Toff"

• MAC "Rain of Flowers"

• Sephora by OPI "Eve-y on the Eyes"

• Essie "Bahama Mama"

METALLICS

The picture is from here

This fall, our nails will be metallic, shimmery and rusty. Preferably all at once. Rusty colors are super cool as well as all kinds of silver or golden metallic shades (tried out gunmetal yet?). So many choices!

Colors to consider:

• Chanel "Graphite" (shown in the picture)

• Essie "Very Structured"

• Deborah Lippmann "Brick House"

• Zoya "Freja"

• China Glaze "Ruby Pumps"

What are your favorite nail polishes for fall/winter 2011?

xo, Nathalie

Nail Colors S/S 2011: Anything goes

This summer I'd love to spend my entire money on nail colors. You think I'm crazy? Well, I'm sure you agree after reading this.

RED

Red nails will always be great!

Why we love it:
Red always works. Always. It makes a woman looks strong and confident. And you can wear it with everything.

This summer, the coolest red is bright red (e.g. YSL Rouge Sublime). You don't really want to run around in dark red nails when the sun is shining, do you?

ORANGE

Fergie from BEP with orange nails

Why we love it:

Because the Neon trend never really dies and everyone is tired of pink. Red's little sister is so much cooler! (e.g. OPI In my Back Pocket)

BLUE

Why we love it:

Any shades work. No matter if a pastell turqouise or an electric blue, blue is the new red (well, almost). (e.g. Essie Greenport, OPI Lincoln Park at Midnight

VIOLET

Why we love it:
Violet is a very fashionable color. With sparkling particles, it looks even more great so that we absolutely wanna have it! (USLU Airlines, AIT -Aitutaki, Cook Islands)






TOFFEE

Why we love it: 
Pastell colors are as soft as you favorite ice cream from your favorite Gelateria. Especially toffee is a big trend this summer (as seen here at Valentino). (e.g. Nails Inc., Basil Street Pale)