Kiss LED Gel Lamp and Kiss Gel Polish review – 22/04/13

Top bought, skirt bought, jewellery matched, heels matched, nails… scruffy! So it was 24 hours until my boyfriend’s cousin’s wedding and my nails were looking somewhat limp. After a continuous few months of acrylics, my nails were defiantly due a well earned break – but how could I make them look professional, without breaking the bank (or a nail)?!

The Kiss LED gel lamp and Kiss Gel Polish colour gel kit gave me the perfect D.I.Y solution to my nail nightmare. This affordable kit was easy to use and was perfect for someone who does NOT have the steadiest of hands – I usually end up with more varnish on my arms, legs and face than I do on my nails!

So first of all you had to use the base coat from the gel set. This was easy to apply and it didn’t matter if it wasn’t as neat as you’d have liked as it is to be covered with two further layers. You applied this first layer and set it under the gel lamp. This had a pre-set 30 or 60 second timer which meant you knew you were leaving them under for exactly the right amount of time.

Next you add the colour gel layer, on this occasion I chose fuchsia because it matched my pink and lime outfit. Again you put this under the LED light to set it.

Finally you add the top coat, and set it for the last time under the gel lamp for 30 seconds.

The nails looked very professional and the colour was great – much better than normal nail varnish and I think that with practice they could look just like they were done at a salon.

If you like the sound of the Kiss gel nail kit, then you’re in luck – because this week I am giving away £100 worth of Kiss nail and eyelash products!

All you have to do log on to the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TagATrend?ref=hl

Like and share the picture, and like the Tag a Trend page!

The winner will be announced on Sunday April 28^th at 5pm. Good Luck!

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La Bella Boutique

I had just finished a stressful fortnight of University journalism exams and wanted to treat myself, but instead of reaching for the Ferrero Rochers,  I decided that getting my nails done would have less of a negative impact on my waist line!

After trying a few salons in Skipton in the past, I chose the new ‘La Bella Boutique’ hair and beauty salon – attached to Rendesvous Hotel.

Run by two of my secondary school friends, Amelia Pullano and Emily Taylor, the salon was modern and clean and the prices rivalled that of the town centre salons.

During January the salon offered a deal of £20 (usually £27) for a new set of acrylics, which was a dramatic difference to the £35 I had paid at other salons in Skipton.

This price included the choice of any colour or design, and also any gems, or extras that you might have liked.

I had chosen to have some strawberry acrylics (see photo) and Amelia, who is becoming known for her nail art skills, was happy to do them just how I wanted them.

In one salon I visited in the past, I had nails fall off on the same day I had them done but the extra attention to detail at La Bella Boutique means they should last for up to 3-4 weeks before needing infills.

As well as nails, the salon offers treatments such as teeth whitening, tanning and has a hair salon offering cuts and colours for both men and women.

Although the salon is not in the town centre, I would advise anyone thinking of treating themselves to a new hair cut or set of nails, to make the extra effort to try La Bella Boutique as you save yourself some money and get a much better service than I have had in some salons in the past.

I have been getting compliments about my new nails ever since and will definitely be going back for some more fruity nails in the future!

For more information, or to book an appointment, visit La Bella Boutique’s Facebook page.

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Review of Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick- shade 107

I don’t wear lipstick generally but was looking for a lipstick for the winter that was not too dark and not to bright and I came across this. Shade 107 is a deep crimson and is great for winter and Christmas.  The first thing you notice when you open the lid is the watermelon/cherry scent that reminds me of a childhood sweet that I cant put my finger on…

Although the colour is quite bold (a cross between bright pink and dark red) I found after blotting it was perfect for every daywear, especially if you are looking to create a dramatic look. Every couple of hours it fid need reapplying but this is the same with every lipstick I’ve used in the past.

I find it difficult to find a shade of lipstick that I am happy with and I can wear all day without getting annoyed with it and taking it off! I did however have to wear lip balm over the top of it to keep it moist but this is probably just because it’s so cold at the moment and the weather’s dried my lips out!

In terms of price, at £5.49 it’s not exactly cheap but paying that bit extra is worth it.

Not being a lipstick wearer I would say this is definitely beginning to convert me and I would rate it 4 out of 5- # # # #

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Review of NYC- In a New York Minute Nail Polish

To be honest I am pretty horrendous at doing my nails, and if after I’ve finished I actually have more polish on my nails than my fingers- then its been a good day! I tend to be reasonably okay at doing my left hand but then when I have to do my right hand- that’s when the problems start!

I was looking for a nail polish that would be good for Christmas so I chose this in gold. To be honest when I saw it was £1.99, I wasn’t expecting any miracles. When I actually used it however, I was really impressed.

Surprisingly it only needed one coat and the colour did not go blotchy. It also dried very quickly and lasted about 4 days before it would need either redoing or just retouching. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a gold polish that lasts.

I would rate this nail varnish 4 out of 5- ####.

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Review of Rimmel Scandal’Eyes Show Off Mascara

For a while I was under the impression that all mascaras were the same and you were just paying for the brand name. Until I tried 99p mascaras that clogged up my lashes so much they made me look as though I only had one eye lash on each eye! I was also never really sure if it was the brush or the actual liquid that made a good mascara.

After using a relatively rubbish mascara for the last few months I decided to try something different and that’s when I came across ‘Scandal Eyes Show Off Mascara’. Being a sucker for a pun ‘scandal eyes’ attracted me straight away and it was packaged different to many mascaras as a lot of them come in long thin tubes rather than rounder fatter ones.

The brush itself is thin at one end and fatter at the other meaning you can get right into the corner of your eyes making you eyes look wider. The brush doesn’t get clogged as there is a stopper as you pull it out, meaning it is near impossible for clumps.

At £6.99 I would rate this product 4/5 ####

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Review of Rimmel Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Lip Tint- shade 130 (Don’t Stop Blushing)

When applying the pen side of the lip balm, the first thing you notice is the delicious fruity scent of strawberries and the packaging is of good quality.

I prefer this one to the number 17 lip tint pen as the colour seems to come out better onto the lips and also benefits by having glitter in the balm section unlike the number 17.

This shade gives colour but isn’t too bright so could be worn everyday. In terms of applying it it’s very easy and in my opinion is easier than lipstick as the precision pen allows a cleaner line.

The colour stayed on and when refreshed with the balm was ideal for a full day in the office.

At £5.99 this is more expensive than the Number 17 but I would say it is worth the extra £1!

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Number 17 Lipstain Review in Cherry Berry

Admittedly in my past I was one of those foundation-for-lipstick girls, a thought that on reminiscence sends a chilling shiver down my spine. For pink is the colour of lips and making them disappear (blending them into you skin tone by smearing them with concealer) is definitely not what nature intended!

So that is why I went to boots on a mission, a mission to find an every day lip colour that wasn’t too bright, too dry or expensive! And after spending 20 minutes trying to decide between brands (and a few disapproving looks from members of staff as they contemplated whether to charge me rent because I was there for so long) I came across this little beauty.

Although by this point my hand looked like a paint pallet from trying out so many different colours, I could justabout see that this was the best colour I’d come across so far.

With a felt tip like end on one side, and a lip balm on other this was in my opinion- 3 products in one; a lip stick, balm and a lip liner. This pen-like end allowed a clean line around the lip line meaning no lip liner was needed.

At £4.99 this is very reasonable and I have used it every day since I bought it. The only criticism I have is that the balm snapped off within days although this could be due to my repeated use!

Great value and great product- not sure it was worth missing my train for though!

I would rate this product 4/5 ####

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Review E.L.F blusher

When I first received some make-up from ELF (eyes lips face) from a friend for my 21^st birthday I wasn’t too familiar with the brand. But on trying the products I was extremely impressed. The products are only available online but are great value in comparison to many of the products you will typically find in the beauty stores on the high street. Today I will be reviewing the blusher in ‘candied coral’.

At £3.75 it is on-par with the other brands such as Rimmel in regards to price. The packaging however is of a higher quality to many of the other brands and this makes the product look more expensive. When flipping open the case, there is a handy mirror inside meaning you can top up your blusher on the go without fishing out a mirror from the bottom of your bag.

Often with cheaper blushers the colour can become blotchy by the end of the day however I found this withstands a whole day without needing to be re-applied. This particular colour gives a subtle natural glow to the cheeks rather than an obvious amount of colour which can sometimes look too much. The only improvement I could suggest would be a little blusher brush to be included but aside from that I would recommend to all that they check out the ELF website for great quality products at a great price.

I would rate this product 4/5 ####

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Review: Glam Republic eyeliner appliques

I’ve worn a variety of false eye lashes over the years, and have found that it is not necessarily the brand of lashes, but the quality of the glue that determines how good the overall effect of the lashes is.

I hadn’t however, come across eye liner appliques. These strips can be stuck onto your upper eye lid, just above your lash line, to create the illusion of a line of liquid eyeliner.

When I first saw the product, which is priced at £4.99 for two strips, the packaging did not really impress me. The strips were stuck to the card with obvious blobs of glue, and were not alligned properly which looked scruffy.

Appearances aside, I was willing to try this new product which comes complete with some adhesive, and claims the strips can be reused.

Immediately when removing the strips from the packaging, I could see they were not going to stick properly. Once peeling from the stiff cardboard the strips were made of a thick material, which meant sticking them across the curve of your eye difficult as once one end was stuck down, the other side would peel back off.

When the strips finally stuck, they did remain on my eye, however were not particularly comfortable and I found myself conscious that they would peel off.

All in all I would say that this product was not for me, as a quick line of liquid eyeliner does the job just as well, if not better, and for a fraction of the price.

I would rate this product 2/5. ##

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Beauty review- Garnier summer body lotion

As the rain closes in and the sun disappears- so do many of our tans. And although the memories of our summer holidays sipping sangria on a golden beach, under the beaming sun feels as though it was last millennium, that doesn’t mean we have to accept being pale! I’ve tried many fake tans in the past, some that develop, some instant. And it wasn’t until I came across this little beauty that all my tanning prayers were answered.

Although there are many amazing self-tanners out there such as St Tropez and Fake Bake, they also carry a hefty price tag and can sometimes cost up to £40 a bottle. These brands often focus on their instant tanners meaning that the tan only lasts a couple of days- before staining your sheets and infuriating your mother! Not to mention the smell of stale biscuits!

Garnier however have created a delicious apricot smelling moisturiser tan that builds up over a few days to leave you with an even tan- that lasts. I usually apply this tan every other night after a bath or shower. The days in between I fully moisturise my body as I’ve found that if you apply every day, the tan can start to build up too quickly and leave areas such as knees and elbows way darker than everywhere else.

I use the ‘deeper sun kissed look’ shade but the tan also comes in a lighter shade for a subtler glow. As far as price is concerned, this tan is a fraction of the cost of other tanners of the same quality. On average I’ve found myself paying around £3-£5 for a bottle which lasts for about 5 full-body applications but it is often on offer in Superdrug and Morrisons.

This is the best tan I’ve used and I will be sticking with it for the foreseeable future, my advice would be to try it for yourself!