I've heard a lot of good things about the nail brand Formula X, so of course when I was wondering around the mothership that is Sephora, I just had to try them out.
They do a starter set which comes with a nail cleanser, base coat and top coat, and in addition they were also doing a set where you could add a nail polish in for free, so of course I went for that one.

First things first, the nail cleanser. I don't feel like this is 100% necessary as it didn't do too much for my nails. However if I wasn't doing a colour and just leaving my nails natural, this may come in handy for maintaining their 'presentable' state. The one bad thing I have to say about this is that the brush seems smaller than the others, therefore it was hard to work with and meant you couldn't do your whole nail in a couple of strokes. I can already feel myself neglecting this step and going straight into the base coat.
I found the base coat to be a definite step up from the cleanser. The brush was bigger, if smoothed out my nails and overall did a better job at prepping them than most other base coats I've tried. The formula isn't too thick, nor too thin which is perfect for a nice, even coat.
As for the nail colour itself, I opted for the shade Radical which is a beautiful muted lilac shade. This is fairly comparable to Essie's Lilacism, however I find that one to be a bit on the pastel side whereas  Radical is more subtle on the nails. I really like the formula of these and the brush makes it really easy to do one nail quickly, but it's not too big so you still have control. Two coats of this and I was happy with the colour pay off, you could probably get away with one, but always opt for two to get a more opaque finish. The colour range was really lovely, they had a lot of muted colours and neutrals  which are perfect for transitioning into Autumn and for an everyday shade too, so there's definitely a colour for everyone.
Base coat and colour check. Now on to the top coat.
I find it hard to stray away from the Seche Vite top coat, but for the sake of todays post I put that for one side for a moment, and I have to say I'm happy I did. Although nothing seems to compare to my well loved Seche Vite, this one certainly gave it a run for its money. The formulation is quite thick, but I find that adds more shine and really helps to lock in the colour. Again, the brush is a lovely size too, making it very easy to apply. As far as the lasting power goes, I've only had it on for one day, but no chips yet! I'll definitely report back with a full verdict of the lasting power so check back for that.
Quick tip! A couple of days after you've painted your nails, reapply the top coat to help them last a lot longer and prevent chipping!
Have you tried Formula X before?

Formula X Mani


I've heard a lot of good things about the nail brand Formula X, so of course when I was wondering around the mothership that is Sephora, I just had to try them out.
They do a starter set which comes with a nail cleanser, base coat and top coat, and in addition they were also doing a set where you could add a nail polish in for free, so of course I went for that one.

First things first, the nail cleanser. I don't feel like this is 100% necessary as it didn't do too much for my nails. However if I wasn't doing a colour and just leaving my nails natural, this may come in handy for maintaining their 'presentable' state. The one bad thing I have to say about this is that the brush seems smaller than the others, therefore it was hard to work with and meant you couldn't do your whole nail in a couple of strokes. I can already feel myself neglecting this step and going straight into the base coat.
I found the base coat to be a definite step up from the cleanser. The brush was bigger, if smoothed out my nails and overall did a better job at prepping them than most other base coats I've tried. The formula isn't too thick, nor too thin which is perfect for a nice, even coat.
As for the nail colour itself, I opted for the shade Radical which is a beautiful muted lilac shade. This is fairly comparable to Essie's Lilacism, however I find that one to be a bit on the pastel side whereas  Radical is more subtle on the nails. I really like the formula of these and the brush makes it really easy to do one nail quickly, but it's not too big so you still have control. Two coats of this and I was happy with the colour pay off, you could probably get away with one, but always opt for two to get a more opaque finish. The colour range was really lovely, they had a lot of muted colours and neutrals  which are perfect for transitioning into Autumn and for an everyday shade too, so there's definitely a colour for everyone.
Base coat and colour check. Now on to the top coat.
I find it hard to stray away from the Seche Vite top coat, but for the sake of todays post I put that for one side for a moment, and I have to say I'm happy I did. Although nothing seems to compare to my well loved Seche Vite, this one certainly gave it a run for its money. The formulation is quite thick, but I find that adds more shine and really helps to lock in the colour. Again, the brush is a lovely size too, making it very easy to apply. As far as the lasting power goes, I've only had it on for one day, but no chips yet! I'll definitely report back with a full verdict of the lasting power so check back for that.
Quick tip! A couple of days after you've painted your nails, reapply the top coat to help them last a lot longer and prevent chipping!
Have you tried Formula X before?

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

I thought today I would share with you my makeup removal process and the products I find work the best for taking off all that crap at the end of that day!
Recently I've started taking my eye and face makeup off separately, not sure why, but I do find different products work well for different areas. For my eyes I simply squirt some of the L'Oreal Micellar Water on to a large cotton pad. This micellar water can make your skin feel a bit tacky after, but as I only focus it on my eye area I don't find that a problem. I love micellar waters for removing eye makeup, they're super gentle yet effective. However, if I'm sporting the waterproof mascara that day I may gravitate to something specifically tailored for removing eye makeup, such as The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Makeup Remover.
Sticking with The Body Shop Camomile range, the cleansing butter works a treat at melting off face makeup. So many brands have been bringing out cleansing butters and this one is a great, cheaper alternative to the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm. Although you get less product in The Body Shop one, the price makes it totally justifiable. The formula of this is very hydrating and leaves my skin so soft after. I scoop some out of the tin then rub it into my skin and it turns into an oil and literally melts your makeup off. I'll just rinse this off with a muslin cloth or flannel and bam, your face is ready for a good old cleanse.
What do you love to use to take your makeup off?


The Pre Cleanse


I thought today I would share with you my makeup removal process and the products I find work the best for taking off all that crap at the end of that day!
Recently I've started taking my eye and face makeup off separately, not sure why, but I do find different products work well for different areas. For my eyes I simply squirt some of the L'Oreal Micellar Water on to a large cotton pad. This micellar water can make your skin feel a bit tacky after, but as I only focus it on my eye area I don't find that a problem. I love micellar waters for removing eye makeup, they're super gentle yet effective. However, if I'm sporting the waterproof mascara that day I may gravitate to something specifically tailored for removing eye makeup, such as The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Makeup Remover.
Sticking with The Body Shop Camomile range, the cleansing butter works a treat at melting off face makeup. So many brands have been bringing out cleansing butters and this one is a great, cheaper alternative to the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm. Although you get less product in The Body Shop one, the price makes it totally justifiable. The formula of this is very hydrating and leaves my skin so soft after. I scoop some out of the tin then rub it into my skin and it turns into an oil and literally melts your makeup off. I'll just rinse this off with a muslin cloth or flannel and bam, your face is ready for a good old cleanse.
What do you love to use to take your makeup off?


Tuesday, September 16, 2014

NYC Days 3&4

Monday, September 15, 2014

NYC Day 2

Saturday, September 13, 2014

NYC Day 1

Wednesday, September 10, 2014