Well its been two whole months since I set about saving these hideous nails…

Nails on 9th June 2009

I’ve been continuing with the application of Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle Night and Day and we’re now at this stage….

Nails on the 11th of August 2009

I really can’t fault this stuff, the before and after pictures speak for themselves. What you can’t appreciate in photo though is just how strong my nails now are. There is very little flexibility in them, but enough to mean they are not susceptible to chipping.

A few people have been put off by the price of this product (approx £8 per bottle). I understand in this climate people are more careful about buying these type of treatment products, however I can honestly say I’d pay double that for it if I had to. That’s quite simply because it works.

Each bottle lasts almost 2 months as well (and thats using it twice daily) which I think is great value for money.

Most of all though I like my hands again, I don’t shove them into my pockets or feel ashamed of them, such as when handing money over at shops. My hands feel elegant, feminine and more representative of “me” which quite frankly rocks

xoxo

Exactly 4 weeks ago I embarked on a little tidy up nail campaign.

Nails on 9th June 2009

My main gripes were nail bed discolouration, manky cuticles and general length/strength. I have to be honest and say that I’m still abusing my nails with all manner of bright polishes.

However I have been applying my Sally Hansen Miracle Growth once a day and these are the results so far

Ok, so they still need work but there is a marked improvement, most notable in the fact that they are no longer peeling/ breaking and are maintaining length. I see beautiful long nails in my not too distant future

How’s everyone else getting on?

xoxo

Jet Set Blue, and I really really like it

I’m not the best at applying nail polish, so its far from perfect, however that said, this is the finished result with ONE coat??!!!! I think the coverage is bloomin’ amazing!!!

I needed a deep navy to pick out the colours of some flowers in the dress I’m going to be wearing this evening. I’m unlikely to wear the dress again (yes… a little oddity of mine, one wear Annie)… and therefore I didn’t want to spend £6+ on a polish in a colour I’d likely never wear again too.

So I rocked up to the Miss Sporty stand and lifted this little polish at £1.95! I didn’t have high hopes, simply thought it would serve a purpose…. didn’t even think that it might be FAB!

It covers opaque, its easy to work with, the colour is sumptious AND it dries to a high shine finish in around 60 seconds!

I can highly recommend these, anyone else tried them?? If so what colours do I need in my life??

xoxox

And the lucky winners of the “Tidy up time” Nail Competiton are:

1st Prize – C Beth Glitter

2nd Prize – Sarah

3rd Prize – Olga

4th Prize – Sassyele

Well done winners! Please email your postal adress to arlene@dressjunkie.com and I’ll get your goodies sent out to you asap!

Thank you to everyone else who entered but didn’t win this time, there will be plenty more chances to win fab prizes soon

xox

Today’s nails are Rimmel London’s Professional Finish Nail Polish in 317 Coral Romance.

This is my first foray with the Pro range. The Maxi brush promises a mistake free application and tbh in regards to my fingernails I’d have to say that was pretty accurate. Application was quick & hassle free.

However toenails was another matter. Apart from my big toe my toenails are relatively petite and narrow, the Maxi brush was actually to fat for my last 2 toes and I had to turn it on its side to avoid painting the skin around the nails.

Formulation gets a big thumbs up from me though, I used 2 coats although one would have been sufficient. Each coat dried in super quick time, a welcome change from the China Glaze Polishes I’ve been using lately. I really just don’t have the time or patience to be sitting about waiting for polish to dry so I love this.

I have quite a few coral colours now but none of this intensity.

Minus Flash

With Flash

This is very much an orange red, tomato like under flash. It also has a lovely high shine once dry.

I’d like to try other colours in the range. Any suggestions ladies? xoxo

The press on nails started to look a bit shabby by Monday/ Tuesday (I blame AM, she scudded me) and needed some re-glues, they lasted long enough to give my cuticles a chance to heal though so all good.
I’ve made myself another empty promise that I won’t chew them again…..

Nails of the day are OPI’s “Sheer” Your Toys (grey mauve) as a base, topped with Bourjois’ 1 Seconde in No 18 (sparkly lilac).

These Bourjois Polishes come with a “Fan Effect Brush”, supposed to make each nail a one second job, hence the name
I actually really like the brush so far but the colour I have is clear and therefore quite forgiving. I’ll have to pick it up in a more opaque colour and see how well it applies then.

What are your nail polishes have you been loving recently?
I fancy picking up some new colours when I get paid and need inspiration!

xox

I picked a China Glaze Nail Polish up in Sally’s a few weeks back and I’m honestly pretty disappointed with it.

It was hard to apply, would need at least 3 coats to get to looking anything like the bottle colour (Ravishing, Dahling), took an age to dry and has that horrible inconsistent colour under flash, see below…

Minus Flash

It does look a lot better without the flash but day to day I’d be under direct light and would hate for people to think my nails looked rubbish. Is it just me? Am I being too hard on China Glaze? xo

So here it is, my NYX haul

And what did I get….?

I picked up 4 of the Round lipsticks, there are over 150 shades in these, and although All Wellan Good had a lot it definitely didn’t have them all. Initial impressions in regards to the shimmer shades are good, feel moisturising and smooth. In regards to the only matt shade I purchased, Thalia, impressions aren’t quite so great, it looks lovely, but is extremely drying and definitely needs gloss on top to make it a comfortable wear for me.

From left Topaz, Thalia, Ceto, Hebe

I also picked up 2 Goddess Of The Night Lip Glosses in French Kiss & Sweet Heart, I already love these, really creamy and pigmented. Sweet Heart is a lush nude, gorgeous worn over Thalia. Would also be nice over Barry M’s 101 Lip Paint. They also taste and smell great, think Dip Dabs and all things sweet

Top French Kiss, Bottom Sweet Heart

Top row from left, Topaz, Thalia, Ceto, Hebe. Top lipgloss French Kiss, bottom Sweet Heart

For the eyes I got 2 of the Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencils in Pots & Pans and Baby Blue. I am so impressed with these, really soft and gorgeous to apply and the colour pay off is superb. A lot easier on the delicate eye area than MAC’s Shadesticks IMO.

I also lifted 2 of the single eye shadows in White & October Sky, I have a nice wintery ice queen idea in mind for these. Again I think these are great, very silky and pigmented. I have heard that the NYX trio shadows are much different in consistency and will be interested to find out if that is true. I am waiting for an order of them to arrive from the US as it was a lot cheaper to buy them in bulk so will let you know.

From top, Pots & Pans, Baby Blue, White, October Sky

Other miscellanous items I lifted were the Eyebrow Powder in Taupe/ Ash (yet to test), Nails in Colour Flash (a gorgeous candy pink, applies really well) and 3 shadow brushes which are soft and a lovely size in between travel and full. They also have a nice weight to the handle so I am looking forward to working with them.

Has anyone else tried NYX products and if so, what is your opinion of them?