New to Me Nail Polishes for Fall

I have a love-hate relationship with nail polish. I really prefer to have my finger and toe nails polished at all times, but can't stand the chipping! My typical-for-New-York-City apartment has no dishwasher *gasp* which forces me to wash dishes by hand, and because I'm always on the subway/touching icky NYC things, I'm constantly washing my hands, all of which is murder on a manicure. I've tried every base and top coat, OPI Chip Skip, wearing gloves when doing the dishes and more, all to no avail. I can only get polish to last 2-3 days and so I've decided to forgo professional manicures (and pedicures) and do them myself! I've amassed quite a nail polish collection since I made that fateful decision, and here are two I picked up for fall.
The polish on the left is the Sephora by OPI nail polish ($9) created exclusively for the opening of the new Times Square Sephora and only sold in New York City stores and online. The shade is unique and right on-trend for the season. It's a deep charcoal black with multi-colored sparkles and copper shimmer. Two coats makes the polish totally opaque, the glitter keeps it from being goth and the copper shimmer adds a bit of sophistication that keeps the glitter from being teenybopper. I've never seen another color like this before and it's worth getting even if you'll only wear it on your toes! Click on the image for a close up of the color.

The polish on the left is Jan by Illamasqua ($14), the UK brand known for drama. Their nail polishes have developed a cult-like following for their fresh shades and different formula. The polish goes on quite thick and somewhat streaky, but it is almost self-leveling. You start doing the first coat and thick "this looks awful" and by the time you go back for a second the polish is even and looks great! Very neat! Jan is a grayed pink or light smoky lavender. It's not the typical buff pink, but not so outrageous that it would be unprofessional in an office. The lasting power was just average for me, but your mileage may vary as I've read others rave about how long-lasting the Illamasqua polishes are.

You Hussy!

I am of course talking about the blush by Illamasqua. I gave up tracking this down as my local counter didn’t have it in and I’d just about convinced myself I didn’t *need* it. Then what lands on my door step? A lovely ASOS package! Thanks hubby! Apparently I waffle on a lot about makeup to him... poor guy.

Anyway here is Hussy. Illamasqua describe it as a bright matte candy pink and boy is it bright. I’d go so far as to say you can see some almost neon peach in there. Try though I might I couldn't get it to show up properly in the pictures so I'd reccomend popping to a counter to see it if you can. I love that it is matte too. I have some shimmery blushes and I do like them however my favourites are always the mattes. This blush is so insanely pigmented that I apply it with a MAC188 and even then have to use a light hand. The formula is soft and easy to blend so if you do go overboard just pop a little setting powder on a kabuki and buff away until you get the desired intensity.

I’ve mentioned before how impressed I was with the staying power too. Basically when I first saw this at a counter the girl tried it on me. I was wearing no other makeup at all that day and fell asleep that night forgetting to remove it. 24 hours after application I woke up and it was still there! No other blushes that I own achieve that (not that I often fall asleep with my makeup on).

The powder blushes usually retail for £16 and you get 4.5g of product. The packaging is in Illamasqua’s signature pinched style with a clear window so you can see the colour which I love. For me the quality is worth the somewhat high price and I’d happily buy some more shades. Love it! Xxx

*I was given the above product as a gift. I always give my honest opinion of a product. For further info see my disclaimer in the menu on the left*

Illamasqua Sirens Palette

I’m a huge fan of the Illamasqua ethos. Makeup for your alter ego? Yes please. If your collection is getting pretty sizable and you are concerned other brands are offering you the same old stuff it’s worth a trip to Illamasqua to find things that are more than a little different. Ok enough gushing (no they didn’t send me it. I just like the brand). I popped into the Glasgow counter to buy Hussy blush the other day but they were out. I consoled myself with their Sirens eyeshadow palette. It’s not on the site anymore I don’t think but apparently a lot of counters still have stock so it’s worth checking.

For £29 you get four 1.5g shadows in their signature ‘pinched’ packaging. There is a good sized mirror. Clockwise from top left we have Morn, Luminescence, Fate and Spellbound. The two bronze/ neutral colours are shimmery and the blue/ teals are matte. The shimmery colours are easier to work with. The mattes require a good base but are still well pigmented. As a quad it’s unique in my collection and incredibly versatile. (My camera is washing them out for some reason. They are brighter and also my arm isn’t actually grey...)

The colours last well with no fading on me (I always use a primer mind). On a random note the girl at the counter (sorry can’t remember your name but thanks for being so helpful!) did apply the Hussy blush on me. I promptly passed out that night without taking my makeup off. Disgusting I know but bear with me. When I got up, 24 hours after the blush was applied, it was still there. As bright and vivid as it was when it was applied! I’m hoping some stock comes in soon!

On a random note, how many blushes to you folks think is too many? 10? 20? More? Is there such a thing as too much? xx

Some Summery Blushes

During the couple of weeks in April/ May that I actually had a tan I was thrilled to be able to pull some blushes out of my collection that I find a little trickier to wear when I’m at my pastiest. Yes with a light hand I can use them all year round but some things just look better when you’re bronzer. 

Clockwise from left we have NARS Orgasm, Illamasqua Hussy, Topshop cream blush in Pinch, The Balm Hot Mama, Sleek Scandalous. 

Swatched from top to bottom The Balm Hot Mama, Topshop Pinch, Illamasqua Hussy, NARS Orgasm and Sleek Scandalous. 

All of these are very pigmented and easy to overdo which can make them very unforgiving on pale skin. In fact I generally apply all of these with my MAC 188 stippling brush. 

Do you switch up your blush depending on the time of year? Let me know in the comments! x

Manicure of the Week

This is Illamasqua Viridian, a gorgeous blackened emerald with multidimensional shimmer. The lasting power is unimpressive, but the color is unique and divine!

Sephora Haul

Because I just can't stop shopping! Despite having just spent my $20 VIB gift card in-store, I placed a Sephora order the other night. The 500 point VIB gift was a full size Benefit Coralista and mini Bad Gal mascara and I was powerless to resist! I ended up with:

• Jurlique Lavender Hand Cream- very expensive at $25 for a mere 1.4 oz but my hands are a veritable mess from the cold!
• Illamsqua Nail Polish in Verdigris- an shimmery emerald that I can't wait to wear on my fingers and toes!
• Tarte MultiplEYE Lash Enhancing Primer- finally, a "healthy" eye lash primer
• Benefit High Beam- the $10 size

My order already shipped!

What I Bought This Weekend

I went to the Limelight Market in Chelsea to pick up the full sizes of the Om Aroma skincare products I've been using since Black Friday. I had plenty left in all but the toning mist, but the mini sizes I've been using will be perfect for travel and you receive a discount for purchasing the whole set of products. My products came in what must be the old packaging--jars instead of pumps. At first I was disappointed since I prefer pumps for hygienic reason, but there is something a little luxe about dipping your fingers into a a small jar of a precious unguent! The founder of the line was working the store and remembered my from last time. I'm really liking these products!

For those who haven't been, Limelight is an old church that was converted to a small, quaint shopping center. They have amazing food, beauty, accessory and jewelry shops. In addition to OM Aroma, there is also Face Stockholm, Sue Devitt, The Avery Perfumes and more.

I also had my Sephora VIB $20 off a $40 purchase gift card burning a hole in my pocket and despite needing no makeup whatsoever, I picked up a Lancome Artliner in Aubergine (which is limited for the holidays according to the Sephora display) and Sephora Collection Retractable Waterproof Lip Liner in Nude (a light pinky beige). The lip liner was $12 which I think is expensive for the Sephora brand. I really wanted Illamasqua Nail Polish in Viridian but unfortunately they were all sold out!