Nails of The Week - Pink & Glitter

Today's nail of the week post is a little naughty I guess as I've decided to use one of my cheapy generic pink polishes from the brand Colour Co which may not ever be able to be found by anyone - Oooops! I think these polishes can actually be purchased in packs at Priceline. All I know is that I got a big variety pack of them for Christmas from the MIL (yes, she's a big spender all right!) and this colour stood out to me as one I might as well try.

Over the top of the pink polish I have used one coat of Ozotic in 530 which is a really pretty glitter that changes from pink to yellow to blue depending on the way the light hits.

I have done two coats of the Colour Co polish on top of a base coat.

Overall I think the look is actually quite striking. I'm not normally a pink person but the glitter seems to make me feel a bit better about wearing a colour such as this as it takes away the screaming "YES I'M A SUPER BRIGHT PINK" factor a little bit.

Here are some more photos:

It's ridiculously hard to fully capture the full colour spectrum of this glitter polish in a photo unfortunately.

At the time of typing this post I've had this polish on for 4 days and have only experienced very minimal chipping. This is amazing considering that I am in no way a delicate flower when it comes to protecting my finger nails.

There are so many combinations that I want to try with the Ozotic glitter polish. It's one of those glitters I think will go over almost anything.

I hope everyone is having a lovely week.

Michelle xx

Review - One Skin System Daily Hydrate

I received some of this a while back in one of the monthly sample boxes I subscribe to and kind of forgot to post a review. This is mainly because I have been practically using it every day and I guess it just became like part of the furniture so I completely overlooked writing about it.

Anyway, now I have discovered the error of my ways I am finally telling you all about this amazing cream.

The One Skin System Daily Hydrate contains Desert Orchid and Wild Hibiscus and is a luxurious cream designed for daily use to retain moisture balance, enrich and protect.

I have been using this every morning now for a good couple of months and it's such a nice cream to apply and makes my skin feel soft and silky. It absorbs super fast and doesn't leave any greasy feeling behind. I seem to totally forget to use a primer before my makeup these days because this cream makes my skin feel like the perfect base for makeup already once it sinks in.

I've noticed that after I use this my fine lines seem to smooth out a little bit too which definitely makes me one happy little vegemite.

The One Skin System is a combination of 5 products that are supposed to work in synergy together. The Daily Hydrate is Step 3 in the system if you were to use all the products together.

I also have the Renewal Cleanse and the Active C scrub but have been a bit naughty and haven't been using them all together. In hindsight, this probably would have been a sensible thing to do.+

I also love the fact that this is an Australian made and owned brand who do not test on animals and they're even vegan friendly if you tend to swing that way.

You can find out more about this brand here.

Has anyone else used any of these products before?

Review - Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips

Historically I have been a big fan of the facial wipe to remove any stubborn makeup. But, since I received a bottle of this as a gift with purchase from Clinique I must say I am a little converted.

Here's a little bit about the Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips (Phew, I get tired just typing that huge name...):

'A unique, two-way formula that loosens the grip, then speeds the departure of the most persistent, eye make-up, mascaras and lipsticks. Offers superior, fast acting cleansing and make-up removal for the delicate eye and lip areas. Removes eye make-up thoroughly, without pulling or tugging eye area skin, even waterproof formulations. Ophthalmologist tested. Suitable for contact lens wearers.'

I have been using this makeup remover for a while now and am amazed almost every time at how effective it really is. I am also a contact lens wearer sometimes and love the fact that I don't get any irritation or dryness at all from using this makeup remover.

This baby can remove practically anything. I have used it on the most stubborn waterproof mascaras and eye liners and it cuts through these with ease. You don't need to use too much either for it to work it's magic.

It's even one of the best products I have ever tried against removing all traces of OCC Lip Tars. As anyone who has tried these will know, they can stain the life out of your lips (or arms, fingers, chin, whatever they may come into contact with while you are strategically trying to apply them) and this stain is a real bugger to get off. This makeup remover totally eliminates any trace of Lip Tar stain which is just amazing.

One thing I must say though is that it needs to be shaken really well prior to use as the oil separates in the bottle.

It can also leave a bit of a greasy residue on the skin after use which some people may not be a big fan of but I much prefer this feeling than having a that tight dry feeling you can get sometimes with other products.

Once my bottle runs out I will definitely be hot-footing it back to Clinique to get some more. I can't imagine ever using any other makeup remover now.

Has anyone else ever tried this and have liked or disliked it?

Review - Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant

I must admit I was a bit skeptical at first when I got this exfoliant because I just couldn't get my head around the fact that it was going to work without any hard 'scrubby' bits. Well, I have now been converted over to the smooth side and am absolutely in love with this product.

A little bit of info about the Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant:

"For brighter, younger looking skin, Alpha-H Gentle Daily Exfoliant exfoliates to help skin look younger. Contains crushed, water-activated fruit enzymes derived from green papaya and the skin and leaves of pineapple. The exfoliation, is not abrasive, but still effortlessly removes dead and damaged skin cells, sweeps out congested pores and blackheads, reduces inflammation and uneven pigmentation, boosts moisture retention and creates a soft light-reflecting sheen across the complexion to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage. The enzymes in the formula works to break down keratin protein, helping to reduce hair shaft diameter and density while weakening stubborn facial hair and reducing re-growth. Contains no synthetic or artificial ingredients and is packaged in a 50g bottle with a dispensing cap inside."

So, it's the fruit enzymes that do all the hard work instead of rubbing hard bits into your face. Makes more sense really.

I have been using this for a few weeks now and am amazed at how nice and smooth my skin is. I've never seen any redness, irritation or sensitive areas pop up and love the fact that it's not a race against time for me to get dry and get a moisturiser on my face after showering because I'm too scared my face will crack after using it (this is the problem I usually get with most exfoliators).

It's definitely kept my face feeling bright and less congested and is just an all-round pleasure to use.

It comes in powder form which needs to be dispensed onto wet hands and mixed until a paste forms. You then apply the paste to your face and exfoliate away. It's easy to spread around and rinses off completely without leaving any residue at all.

If you have sensitive skin like me I would definitely recommend trying this product out.

I'm very interested now in trying other products from Alpha-H as this is the first time I have used anything from them.

Has anyone else used Alpha-H products before? Are there any other gems I need to know about?

(This product was purchased by me and I am reviewing it because I just love to share!)

February Addiction - Lip Gloss

I have a tendency to go through stages with my makeup just like most people probably do. Sometimes it's out of laziness and sometimes it's just because I get a bit of an obsession with a certain product.

The month of February for me couldn't be called anything else other than 'Lip Gloss' month. For some reason I went a little bit off wearing lipstick and became a little obsessed with wearing lip gloss instead. I can't really put a solid reason to it other than I am in love with the fact that they are so buildable, can be a great subtle addition when I'm not really in the mood for a full face of make-up and are also a bit more pleasant on the lips in my opinion when the weather is hotter and my lips have a tendency to dry out.

The products that I found I reached for the most this month were the following:

1) Clavin Klein Delicious Pout Flavoured Lip Gloss in Breathless - I have never done a review on this gloss for some reason and I really don't know why because it's one of my favourite all time products. It's a gorgeous bright but sheer pink that shimmers without being over the top. I love this on it's own to just enhance my natural lip colour and give a nice shine to my lips but it's also great to apply over the top of a pink or nude lipstick for an added element of shine. It tastes like lollies too which is always a bonus.

2) Maybeline Colour Sensational Creme Gloss in Sugared Honey - I have had this gloss for what seems like forever and I never tire of using it. It's a great all round gloss that doesn't feel sticky and has great staying power for a gloss.

3) Clinique Long Last Glosswear in Sunset - I actually reviewed this gloss here a little while ago. This is still a favourite of mine as it's such a nice shimmery gold that looks great in it's own or when applied over nude or even red lipsticks. It's got an SPF 15 too which I really like.

4) Ecotints Lip Moisturiser in Plush Red - I have also managed to review this one here previously. It's technically a lip balm more than a gloss but I still love it because it adds a nice red tint to the lips without being too over-the-top red. It also keeps my lip feeling super moisturised.

5) Sheer Cover Lip Gloss in Pink Praline - I haven't review this gloss yet as I still haven't made my mind up about it even though I've actually been using it quite a bit lately. I find the colour is virtually non-existent when put on the lips and it's got a taste that almost borders on being unpleasant but I keep going back to it because it actually feels quite nice on and seems to stay on forever. If only they could improve the taste I'd probably buy more or these.

6) Mirenesse 3D Forever Lip Gloss in Hot Kiss - I have previously reviewed this one here  and am still a fan of this gloss. It's a terrifying colour if applied too thick as it's a super bright purple but I've now mastered how much to use and love the plum tint it gives my lips when I'm after a gloss with a bit more of a noticeable colour.

7) Mirenesse Velvet Lip Lift Moisture Shine - I have no idea what shade this one was as the label has worn off a bit but it looks like a pale glittery pink in the tube and applies almost as a clear gloss with a touch of shimmer. I've only got probably another one or two uses out of this before I have to sadly say goodbye and I think it will definitely be a repurchase quickly after that. It's quite a thick gloss that makes me feel almost like I'm wearing a really moisturising lip balm and I like that it's practically clear but with just a teeny hint of shimmer because it goes with absolutely anything.

And here are the swatches. For once the lighting was on my side, yay!

(From left to right - Sheer Cover in Pink Praline, Calvin Klein in Breathless, Maybeline in Sugared Honey, Mirenesse in Hot Kiss, Ecolips in Plush Red and Clinique in Sunset)

Sorry, but there wasn't any point in swatching the Mireness Velvet Lip Lift Moisture Shine because it just kept showing up as a wet patch on my arm and not much else. It's way too clear to really work in a photo.

Has anyone else had a product they've been using over and over lately and just can't get enough of it?