Gel Nails: the Lowdown

I'm pretty sure gel nails took the world by storm a long time ago.  But for me, they're a new phenomena and I have to say I am so in LOVE with them that I couldn't not share it with you all.  Don't get me wrong, sometimes I really do enjoy sitting down and painting my nails, but when things are busy, I don't really have the time to sit down for 20 minutes to paint them...then sit down for a further 40 minutes while they dry... then get really really sad when I try and do something (like go to the toilet) after and realise they're still not dry and have to deal with having one horribly deformed looking nail.

I also hate having chipped nail varnish - especially with my term time job, working at the Co-Op store we have on our uni campus, my nails get chipped and broken so quickly.  I tended to keep them short just because it wasn't worth the heartbreak/pain of constantly breaking nails at work while trying to rip my way into giant cardboard boxes with my bare hands (box cutters are few and far between at my work - retail workers will understand).  

BUT - gel nails have kept my nails so incredibly strong.  It's like having a little tortoiseshell on the back of each nail that saves it from all harm.  Since first getting gels, which must be about 6 or 7 weeks ago now, I haven't broken one nail - and both gel manicures I have had stayed entirely chip free and didn't peel either.  This means it can last, well, basically forever.  I left mine 3 and a bit weeks before getting them redone in the lovely nude you can see above, but I could've easily left it another week or two without the regrowth being too obvious.

Above is a pic taken on my phone when I first got this new set done exactly two weeks ago by my long-time pal Fleur who is also, conveniently, an incredibly talented nail technician.  Her Instagram is something else and definitely worth checking out if you're interested in nails - there's some pretty eye-goggling stuff on there @nailsbyfleur_.

And below... the same set two weeks on.

As you can see - still pretty as a picture, just that much longer.  Gel nails are something I would 100% recommend to anyone - they're so practical!

Has anyone else had gel nails before?  What do you guys think of them?

Ruby x

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Empties #1 - Products I've used up this month

If I actually manage to use up a product in its entireity, it means I'm on to a winner.  The amount of half-used, once worn, 4-times-sniffed stuff I've pawned off on my sisters, my mum, my housemates (etc.) over the years would probably fill a couple of wheelbarrows; it's quite ridiculous.  However, this month I've actually managed to gather together enough bits and pieces that have sadly reached their end of their life to write a post on it!  

This must've been the third or fourth bottle of No 7's Beautiful Skin cleansing lotion that I've managed to use up.  I'm in love with the stuff!  It usually lasts me around 6-8 months too, so for £9.50 I don't really think you can go wrong with this product.  It's really hydrating and leaves your skin silky-soft, but is equally great for removing makeup.  I tend to use this on my face, and a micellar water or eye-makeup remover for my eyes, brows and lips.  I was forever getting the No7 money off vouchers from Boots, and not really knowing what to spend them on, until I found this product... next time you find yourself staring confusedly at the No7 counters, voucher in hand, pick this up and give it a go!

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a bit of a lip balm addict.  My favourites are definitely the EOS ones - they're so dinky, come in loads of different flavours and are organic, darling.  Word of warning: as much as I love stores like Urban Outfitters and Topshop, don't buy them from there!  They're so much cheaper online (check out this 5 pack for £12.99), instead of being £7 a pop, plus, with Amazon Prime you can get them in a day anyway and order them from your bed - bliss.

I've loved using this Mac Prep+Prime 'Skin Enhancer' as a primer for what feels like forever!  It must've lasted me around 9 months or so, which I think is pretty great considering I wear makeup most days.  A little also goes a long way with this product, and I find the slight pink tint in this product really helps balance out any yellowy undertones in my skin and gives me a nice luminous base to apply my foundation onto.

I've found this Rimmel London Double Duty base coat to be a great, affordable nail product which does exactly what it says on the bottle.  It's got a very light pink tint, and dries with a rock hard, high shine finish.  Between colours I like to keep my nails topped up with this to help keep them strong... it's the perfect budget base coat, hence, I've used it all!

The Lancome Hydra Zen Nuit night cream is a product it's taken me quite a while to use up, as I don't tend to get particularly dry skin and prefer day creams to night anyway.  However, I really can't fault the hydrating power of this little pot.  It's a slightly heavier, but very silky cream, which sinks straight into your skin.  Whenever I use this I wake up feeling fresh as a daisy.  

Equally, I've loved using Clinique's Moisture Surge eye gel on mornings when I'm not feeling so fresh.   Not gonna lie, I think this shit is expensive and I don't actually remember purchasing it which probably means I got it as a free gift with something - I don't think I ever would've spent £35 on an eye gel, even in the days where I didn't have food to buy and bills to pay.  But, in spite of this, if you're going to splash out on an eye gel, this one is the bomb.  It visibly brightens your eyes, and is so refreshing, especially on hangover mornings.  This little baby has been the keystone of my morning routine for the past year or so, and I will miss it, dearly.

Thanks for reading, as always!  If you likey, don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin' via the link below.

Ruby x

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Rococo Nail Apparel Review

I've been using Rococo Nail Varnishes for a little while now, and having picked up not one, not two but seven new shades online in Space NK's January sale, I felt it'd be rude not to share the love that I have for these polishes.  Plus, they were £3 each, down from £12, so for a girl who can't resist a bargain, they make a very exciting find... read on and be prepared to keep your eyes PEELED next time you're browsing the site. 

  

I'm a sucker for a good pastel, so this appropriately titled 'Lady Lavender' muted lilac hue was quickly added to my shopping basket, along with a beigey nude 'Organza', and the gorgeous iridescent 'Jean Jeanie'.

I also got another couple of pinky shades; 'Powder Puff' (top left) and 'Doll Face', as well as more of a teal shade 'Kitsch' and a brighter one, 'O.T.T.' (which, at this point, was exactly what it said on the label - what can I say, exam stress well and truly got to me this year).   

I love Rococo nail varnishes for a few different reasons.  Number one would have to be the colours - there is a great range and I find the colours definitely appeal to my particular taste in polish.  I also really like that you can get different finishes, each of which is named - for example the 'Creme' polishes are creamy, opaque and highly pigmented polishes which I find only take 1-2 coats, even for nudes, depending on the look you're going for.  I got mainly Creme formulas this time, but also a couple of 'Luxe' shades (Organza and Jean Jeanie), which have a more shimmery finish - see below for Jean Jeanie in action.  I'm also a big, big fan of the brushes.  They're quite long, and also reasonably wide which for me makes it so much easier to do my nails (I should've taken a picture really, I didn't realise how hard it was to describe a nail brush! You'll have to trust me on this one...).  I find the polish lasts 2-3 days totally chip free for me (using top coat, too) which is generally a miracle considering I'm quite a busy bee with work and uni and life in general, and after around 5-6 days I'll need a fresh coat.  But for me, this is pretty optimum!  The finish is lovely, especially with a top coat and I love that they are also fairly quick drying considering they're quite opaque formulas. 

And last but not least, the packaging is beautiful.  I think we all secretly love a bit of luxury, and just look at this packaging, which is probably half the price of the polish.  Each bottle comes individually boxed, and the lid of each can also double as a nail varnish rack/makeshift jenga block if you're feeling creative.  Has anyone else tried Rococo Nail Varnishes?  What did you think?

Ruby x

 

 

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