PastelWoman: oktober 2014

Halloween Nail Art

HALLOWEEN PATCHWORK NAIL ART TUTORIAL

Here's a tutorial for yesterday's Halloween themed nail art. I mentioned that I freehanded the design but this time around I created the tutorial using scotch tape as I know straight lines can be hard to master with a brush.

You'll need:

Orange Nail Polish - Essie Fear and Desire

Purple Nail Polish - Models Own Pukka Purple

Green Nail Polish - Sally Hansen Grass Slipper

Black acrylic paint or nail polish

Scotch Tape

A nail art brush

Top coat - preferably fast drying

Start by painting on your base colour and topping it with a thin layer of your top coat. Wait 5-10 minutes, or until the polish is completely dry before moving on.

Place two strips of tape on your nail to mark off your first patch - it can be absolutely any shape but I've gone with a triangle.

Paint on your first colour and immediately remove the tape.

Add another thin top coat to make it dry quickly.

Once it's dry, section off your next patch using tape. This time I've gone for a strip straight across my nail.

Just like last time, paint straight over the tape and immediately remove the tape.

Now you've got your patches! If you're a whizz with a nail art brush, you could get to this point without using tape.

For the stitching detail, take a nail art brush and first, outline the patches.

Next, paint on the stitches.

To finish up use a top coat or two and then clean up any mess around your cuticles using a clean-up brush dipped in pure acetone.

And you're done!

Love you Guys! x

Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown: Amazing Long-Wear Gel Sparkle Shadow & Liner

I've always had a soft spot for Bobbi Brown. They produce products that perform, are a little different and frequently end up as makeup staples. Their latest launch is no exception, providing incredible colour that can be used as either an eyeshadow base or applied more densely for a slick of statement liner. The Long-Wear Gel Sparkle Shadow & Liner is available in five different sparkling shades, including a petrol grey, emerald green, sapphire blue, golden bronze and a smokey taupe. The little pots contain a formula that's incredibly soft and creamy, allowing it to be picked up using the specially designed double ended brush and buffed into the eye socket. You can easily use your finger to blend in the colour and build up the result, but I prefer to use the densely packed brush to layer the creamy gel and create a smokey finish.

Not only are all the colours almost to-die-for, but the texture lends itself to creating effortless looks - perfect for those of you that have always been unable to master the perfect subtle smoke. A lot of products like this are hard to work with, smudge or crease, but this lightweight cream is so easy to manipulate and really long-lasting. It's no wonder that the other bloggers and makeup artists that have also had a preview are going gaga for these shadow-liner combos. The finished result includes some serious shimmer, so if you're not a fan of sparkle these won't be for you; however, they're going to be great for the forthcoming Autumn season and will be perfect for Christmas. At £20.00 each they are a little investment, but there's so much in the pot that you'll still be reaching for it well into 2015. These are definitely one of the nicest launches I've seen in a while and are total must-haves for my weekend makeup looks. I just have to decide which colour I want to use first!

The Long-Wear Gel Sparkle Shadow & Liner is available exclusively from House of Fraser (as well as via their website,) priced £20.00 for each of the five colours.

L'oreal Mythic Oil

Mythic Oil: Fabulous Hair Care With Sparkle & Shine

As someone with fine, coarse and curly hair, I'm always on the hunt for products that help tame without weighing down my strands. Unsurprisingly this isn't an easy feat, but with the L'Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil range I seem to have found a professional finish that's effective and yet still affordable. The Souffle D'Or shampoo and conditioner are infused with precious Argan & Safflower Oils, as well as golden shimmering sparkles that catch the light and help to create a healthy shine. Their gel like texture is incredibly lightweight and works to cleanse and condition hair without stripping it or weighing it down; the conditioner in particular offers an unusual texture that is perfect for fine hair that still needs a little care and attention. Although these are definitely current favourites, the styling products are possibly a must-have for everyone wanting silky smooth locks.

The Mythic Oil Colour Glow Oil contains a blend of linseed and cranberry oil, to leave colour-treated hair feeling nourished and protected. You just need a couple of pumps applied to the mids and ends of hair, smoothed through to leave a glossy finish when dried and styled. It's instantly absorbed for a lightweight feel and finish, making it perfect for fine hair that needs taming. The Colour Glow Oil also contains UV filters to protect against sun damage, making it a must-have during the summer months and perfect for taking on holiday - it's a great serum alternative. Used in conjunction with the Mythic Oil Oil-In-Cream, hair is left looking and feeling pretty amazing.

The Oil-In-Cream is a protecting styling cream that deeply nourishes dry, damaged hair and creates a protective veil against heat styling up to 230°C; it even protects hair day after day, until you wash it away, making it a perfect 'lazy girl' product. Black cumin oil helps to leave hair manageable and full of shine, without leaving a noticeable finish or product feel. You need just a coin-sized amount applied to the mids and ends of hair, after the oil, for hair to be left protected and nourished in one step. After using these products my hair feels incredibly soft, smooth and bouncy - just like I've just stepped out of the hairdressers.

I use a lot of different products on my hair, but these are super easy to use and incredibly lightweight; I love the look and feel of my hair, as well as the fact these are actually pretty affordable. The whole range comes in under £15.00! Will you be hunting some Mythic Oil too?

The Mythic Oil range is available online and via professional salons, priced £11.90 to £15.00.

Essence Cream Blush & HIghlighter

Essence Cream Blush & Highlighter: Affordable Buys (And A Benefit Dupe!)

Since it arrived on UK shores for the first time earlier this year, Essence has fast been becoming one of my favourite budget brands. They not only push the boundaries, creating innovative and unique makeup collections and products, but their quality is outstanding for the price point - and this trio of cheek wonder is no exception. These cream-to-powder formulas are incredibly lightweight, providing a creamy texture that can be blended into the skin using a finger or brush. The pigment is pretty great, the texture non-greasy and the result beautiful; after only a few seconds on the skin all three turn to a powder that sticks in place and provides a fab look.

The blushers are great for those a little hessitant about applying bright bold colours to their cheeks, as the creamy formula can be built up and blended into the skin with ease. Although I love the richness of the pinky colour, the peach tone is a fab dupe (both in shade and finish) of the new Benefit Majorette that I've been loving so much for the past few weeks. Considering these are only £2.80 each, that's a comparison that will be music to your ears. The highlighter is great at adding light and shade to the face, helping to lighten the browbone and brighten the tops of cheeks as the formula catches the light; again, this is a great introduction to highlighting for novices as you can't possibly mess up with this dreamy formula.

I love a creamy blush and highlighter in the colder months, as they buff into skin so well to leave it looking incredibly fresh. As we start to wear heavier foundations, powder and lots of layers, cream-to-powder blushers work even better with our makeup looks than their basic powder counterparts - plus they stay in place for longer and can even be topped up with your index finger! If you're passing a Wilko store this weekend, why not grab all three and get your winter wardrobe sorted before the fluffy slippers and blankets come out? What do you think of this trio of cheek products?

The Essence 'Soo Blush' and 'Soo Glow' products are available via Wilko stores nationwide, as well as through their pop-up stores in Westfield shopping centres.