Halloween Nails: Six Perfect Shades

As I said over on twitter I am doing a Halloween series so today is the first in many posts to come this month. I was going to start with some nail art, but thought I would ease you in and so I picked my top six Halloween nail polish shades. These are great for everyday wear, and will get you in the spooky spirit of this month. 

Blood red nails

So I have picked two, a shocking bright red by Nailgirls London, and than a zombie dark reddish plum by Pixi. I love both these colours and they are great autumn shades, I think the bright red works with colours and the Deepest Dahlia is great to work with monochrome and add a little vamp. You may need two coats of this polish as it's a darker colour. I found I only needed one coat of the red for even coverage.

Always Pink

I know some of you love pink no matter what, so why don't try Topshop Paint it on. It's pink with a red hue to it, and is the perfect 'pink nail' for Halloween. A great tip for if you are useless at nail art or don't have the time, is to buy nail decals you can get these from most drugstores and online and they come in a massive range of designs. 

Witching hour

This gel nail polish from Claire's is one of my favourite black shades, the polish is semi matt and you do need a few coats but the results are so worth it. If black is a little much, why not try a dark purple, Barry M Indigo is shade a deep shade and has a blue hue to it. Or if you don't like black or a bold colour, than a foil like sliver can give your nails a ghostly edge. This polish from F&F Casino Nights, is not only cheap but hard wearing too this is also great for using on an accent nail to break up those darker nail shades.

So these are my picks, what is your favourite shade of Halloween inspired nail colour? Let me know. 

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Pop Art Nails

Primark Nails £1 per pack (pack includes 24 nails)

As usually my own nails are long I have not worn false nails in forever, but as mine all snapped and I saw these that I though what have I got to lose for one pound. The pack comes with a tube of nail glue, and 24 nails that are different sizes to get the perfect fit for your nail. I love that these are short, as I find the longer the false nail the more likely it is to fall off (usually when your shopping, it's never fun trying to track it down). So no having to cut and shape it and losing all the pretty print. 

The print itself is really cute, except there's a tiny little bit of white at the top. To be honest I don't really care, as these look and feel good on so I can handle a little flaw. I ended up buying some of the other designs and think they are well worth it. They also have nail wraps if you don't like false nails, and they are always added new designs. I think it's my bargain of 2014 for sure. 

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Halloween Nails: Simple Glam Look With Beauty UK & O.P.I

As easy as nail art can be (practice makes perfect) I know for some of you it's just a no no, so here's a simple glam look for Halloween nails to go with any outfit. In the past years I've shown D.I.Y guides on a cobweb look and  slime nails , and next week I will be showing you some simple nail art for Halloween if you prefer fun to glam. This look is so simple and quick, so if your off to a party after work this is the look for you. You could always shape your nails first, maybe go for a more pointed nail like the stiletto shape. Sadly mine are not long enough yet, but this shape is perfect for Halloween.

Base Coat: After applying a clear base coat,  apply two coats with a  dark shimmer purple ( I used OPI 52*, part of their core line) to get a really strong colour to make the glitter really stand out. 

Top Coat: Once the base coats are fully dry, apply two coats of a glitter polish you have (I used Beauty Uk Intergalactic*, which has a mix of coloured glitter both big and small) Than you can always finish with a clear top coat, so that it lasts longer. You could always add some 3D nail art, maybe some mini skull heads or bats just press them on the wet polish and they will stay in place. 

So I hope this helps, I know it's simple but it still makes for a really nice nail look for those that are in a rush or can't get the hang of nail art. 

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Nails, Nails, Nails- 25 Creative DIY Nail Art Projects By Madeline Poole (Chronicle Books): Book review

I'm not the best at nail art, I'm okay but I can't always get the look I'm after. So nail books are always on my must have list, you may have read my review already of my WAH book but one is never enough. Thank the nail gods that Madeline Poole's book Nails, Nails, Nails, has just been published. It has 25 ideas, and they are different to the WAH book, so   I was happy as you don't want a heap of nail books with the same designs.

Nails, Nails, Nails- 25 Creative DIY Nail Art Projects By Madeline Poole (Chronicle Books)*

I really love the nail anatomy section at the start, it gives a heap of handy tips and the nail art techniques is great for beginner as it gives tips on how long to keep nail polish and drying etc.. The book is very cleanly laid out and the instructions are simple, there is a step by step in photos too which is great. You can follow it easily and see where your going wrong, and how to really nail the look and became a natural at nail art. 

A lot of the looks are about blocking colours in different ways, which is perfect as you can just change up the colour scheme. Madeline always has included a Flame nail how to, which I've been dying to know how to do since seeing the movie Spun (she has flame nails and they look divine). 

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Pop Beauty Review: Raw Nail Polish

With Spring in the air, I felt that it was time I put a bit more beauty bit's on the blog. I have so many things I want to review, as I have purchased nail polishes, new skincare and  some new makeup bits. So first on the hit list to review is a polish from Pop Beauty. If you follow me on instagram, you would have seen that I've built a little collection I felt like treating myself. My current favourite is 'Raw', is a fresh green.

Nail Polish: Pop Beauty 'Raw' 

Applying: This applies really nicely, the brush is a good size it's thin but long so you end up with a fair but even coat. I only needed two coats, to get the full colour which is perfect. I'm not the best person at putting on nail polish as you can see, but apart from my messy edges this polish looks pretty on. It's very vivid and I think a perfect base for any nail art. I ended up doing a daisy print, by dotting yellow in the centre and white dots for the petals. Easy, simply but pretty.

Wear: I changed my nails frequently, as I get bored quickly but this had no chips and very little wear even after a few days. It was easy to remove and didn't stain my nails. All their nail polishes are toluene, formaldehyde and DBP free.

Price: These polishes are priced at £6.50 for 15ml, which is not bad. 

Overall: I love this colour and the packing is really cute, the lid with the brush stays on unlike some brands I have had. The bottles also stack well together so take up less space due to the square bottle design. 'Raw' is a fresh, happy colour and great for giving your nails a fresh spring feel. This gets a 8/10 from me, and it's perfect for my Spring polishes collection.

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Models Own Hed Kandi Disco Mix

So I'm sure you must have seen this nail polish by now, but if you haven't where have you been! When a new collection comes out, and there is mass hype, I usually think 'okay' so when I saw the Hed Kandi collection every where I got a little bored of it and thought how good could it actual be. Than Models Own did a 50% promo a while back, and so Disco Mix ended up in my basket. Well you have to try things for yourself.

When ever I had seen this nail polish it was always layered over black, which looks really pretty but I did think about how it would look over over colours. I used Rimmel's Misty Jade which is my favourite mint colour and used Disco Mix as a top coat. The result, I instantly fall in love it's so pretty and I really understand why everyone loves it.

Glitter- The glitter is mainly in gold but you have purple, copper and than tiny pieces of blue which makes for a lovely glitter mix. It's easy to layer and even in two coats, you get give coverage. I really adore how it looks in both natural light and in doors too, as some glitters can lose there effect without natural daylight. So it really is perfect for the disco!

Wear- I think Disco Mix like most of Models Own polishes latest a while and can get through the week with little to no chips. I think if you seal it with a top coat of clear vanish than it will stretch it even further. 


Over all- Really impressed and I can see why everyone was blogging, tweeting and going general crazy about this one. Great for if your after a top coat to spice up colours you already have, easy to apply and dries relatively fast. I think I would add Disco Mix into my top ten!

Suggestions on wear- 

• Great on a nude nail
• Layer over black for a classic look
• Mint and purple, to bring out the sparkle
• Gold on rusty colours for  Christmas party perfection

All nail polishes are £5.00 GBP and you get 14ml for Models Own, there are other colours in this range so have a look.

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Autumn Polishes - Berry Tones

I think everyone in the U.K has noticed that things have gone from mildly warm, to 'where is that jumper?' So we put away all the bright candy colours, and whip out all the warm berry tones. Here are six of my current favourites that are great for day wear, night wear, office wear and party time. I think these are perfect shades for all the fashion trends happening this season too, I think the darker polishes go best with the grunge trend. Also the colour berry in clothing is pretty huge this season, so these will finish the look.

  L-R Models Own :Pinky brown beetle juice

         Models Own : Vintage pink

Nails Inc:  Savile row

Barry M: Bright purple

Models Own : Magenta  divine

17:  High gloss Risky red

Models Own pinky brown beetle juice- I reviewed this polished not too long ago, and it's just amazing! It has a purple golden tone, and in the light it has a golden green undertone I love how it looks dramatically different from day to night. This polish is hard wearing and perfect for those who hate bitter but still like a little shimmer. These are priced at £5.00 GBP for 14ml from Models Own

Models Own vintage pink- Not really a nude as such, but if you prefer a more nature nail look this is going to be your shade. It's also perfect for work, or school nails, if you have to keep polish looking more professional than disco party time. I actual love to use this polish in a half moon design at the base of my nail, it looks great over darker tones and slivers.

Nails Inc savile row- A dark chocolate colour, that reminds me of velvet. This is great for a vampy, classic autumn nail. I think if you wanted to jazz it up a little, I would glue on some gems in golden tones which has been big this year on the catwalks. This is £8.69 for 10ml from Beauty Bay 

Barry M bright purple- If you can't resist a brighter shade, than this is the one for you. It's still a berry shade, but has the perfect pop of colour I think this is such a rich shade. I adore Barry M nail polish, they rarely chip and have a huge range of colours to pick from. They are priced at £2.99, from Barry M online.

Models Own magenta divine- It's a disco in a bottle, if your using it on it's own you need three coats at least for the full glitter effect. You can use it as a top coat over other colours too, so you can wear a plain nail polish for day add a coat of this bad boy and your ready for party time.

17 High gloss Risky red- Red is always going to be a classic, this is a great tone as it's not too vampy and not to bright. This is part of the high gloss range from 17, so there is no need for a top coat. Great for party nails in a hurry, it's £2.99 for 8ml and can be purchased from Boots.

I hope you enjoyed this, and you feel inspired about autumn. 

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Models Own Mirror Ball Polish: Boogie Nights

To say I read about these mirror ball polishes every where is an understatement, they have all sold out now but I'm pretty sure Models Own will be re-stocking them again soon. So are they worth the hype? I decided to just get a couple, rather than the whole set as they are more of a top coat polish and I think they can all look a little similar. 

So first up to review Models Own Boogie Nights , I decided to layer it over Pink Punch as I love this polish.

Glitter- In the main Boogie nights sparkles are purple, there are also a little blue ones and pink with added sliver. There are different shape sparkles in this mix too, which gives it a very different finish they other glitter/sparkly as they cover a larger area. The plain nail shows one coat of the posh, I would say three coats gives a really great finish to get the full effect. 

Wear- I have had this on my own nails and found it's great for jazzing up dull looking polish. So if you have painted your nails and they have chipped or started to look dull, this is such a winner for putting on top when you need a fast 'going out' look. Getting it off can be a bit of a pain, but to me I'd rather that than a polish that chips off in a day.

Over all- I really like this polish, like I said it's great as a top coat it lasts and there are plenty of sparky bits and it's easy to apply. I think this is a great polish to go over bright or dark colours and I think it will be one of my favourite ones to use in the festive seasons a head. I give this a 8/10

Suggestions on wear- You can go wild with this, some that I love so far

• A light purple to bring out the shade
• Black as all sparkles look great over a dark base
• Shade of blue or sliver would also make this pop
• Use just at the tips of the nail, or at the base (just to mix it up a little)
• Layer over a nude polish for a more grown up day time look 

All nail polishes are £5.00 GBP and you get 14ml which I think is worth it. As mine have lasted ages from other Models Own polishes I've had. They are available in boots and they have a special Models Own bottle shop at Westfield Shepherds Bush

Models own bottle image from their site, a other images are my own.

Also here are the five winners from the Witch skincare BB cream giveaway, congrats and stay tuned for more giveaways very soon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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WAH Nails Book Review

Being a nail art addict (regardless of how lame some of mine is), when I saw this on a few blogs I knew I had to get it. So as a heap of you have been asking about it, I decided to write a mini review.

I ordered the book off amazon  (£6.59 free p&p) and could not wait for it to arrive, when it did the first thing I checked out was how many looks there were to try and also checking if I would need to buy a heap of art stuff to achieve the looks. So firstly there are 25 projects, saying this the book shows photo inspiration of the nails in different colour variations and also mixed together. So really learning these simple looks can open up a heap of other nail looks, which is great for people who are new to nail art. 

On the left of the page you see a hand and on each nail the steps are show, and in clear simple writing are the steps. I found you don't need to buy heaps of stuff to achieve these looks, I would say get some nail art pens as on some it says have striper but you could just do this free hand or even just use tape to achieve the line projects. So you can get all these bits and pieces, but for most of the projects I found you don't need them, it just takes practise.

I tried out the Drippy project right away, and like I said was inspired to mix it up and make them into ice creams. The book has WAH's history and how Sharmadean Reid's (who is a super star, a new mum and she is running all this too! Legend) the founder of WAH, was feed up of the lack of creative nail art in salons and her journey to launch WAH. Also I love the added touch that all the nail projects, have a WAH girl showing you how to get the look. 

I love that WAH is almost like a club that all girls can be part of, just by painting your nails, I think most girls can spot the style of the WAH nail. They show you their 100 (yes I know crazy) nail looks, and there is a page in the back for you to brain storm your own and stickers. Overall this book is worth every penny and it's going to be my go to for when I need nail inspiration. From nail art addicts to begins, this is a must have. Sharmadean Reid has helped make nail art accessible and acceptable, once seen as ghetto, nail art is now a statement and is seen on catwalks etc ... I think it's such a instant feel good factor, and even better is you can get together with your mates and do each others nails, spread the nail love. This gets 10/10!

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Coke Cola Inspired Nails

The other day I was so bored, and my nails were looking a tad dull with what remained of my Barry M blue nail polish. As I can't get out much (if your new to my blog I'm hang my second child soon), so I though I would give treat myself by taking some time out from sorting the house and design some new nails. Lately I have felt really flat when it's come to nail ideas, everyone seems to be doing the same thing but than as I finished off my can of Coke I came up with these. 

Yes they are on the tacky side (just how I like em), but I love them they did not take long at all and I have had some emails to ask if I have a shop or will have a shop to sale my designs. I don't have time for this right now, but maybe later this year I might. Anyway there are heaps of wonderful nail shops on peoples blogs, and if you can't find them give me an email I'm happy to email you a list of my faves. So anyway what do you think? 

 Images: Mine (please ask if you want to use them)

Painted on red nails: Sliver nail art pen, black nail art pen ( all off Ebay)

Red glitter polish: Barry M

White polish: Barry M

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Navilicious What A Beauty ( A Thank You)

So the lovely Nav at Navilicious Beauty had a Christmas giveaway, she actual did 4! One for Nails, lips, eyes and face (I know so kind) may I add she paid for out of her own pocket. Anyway I was the lucky winner of the nails giveaway! I know lucky me right I was so happy, I am a tad nail mad as being 11 days away from giving birth to my second child there's not a lot I can do/wear. Anyway she not only sent me the nail giveaway prize, but a heap of nail polishes that she thought I would like. Also the sweetest email I have ever received from another blogger, that actual made me cry (in a good way). She said that she loved my blog and that she loved hearing about Corben (my two year old), as she hasn't got her mum. Nav I hope your reading this, I adore your strength my mum is bi polar and it's not been easy. At the moment she is well and very supportive, but when she's ill I feel lost so I have no idea how you cope hunni. I think and I hope that anyone reading this will think more, it's so easy to assume that everyone has their mum and dad. Thank you for your kind words about me, I can tell you I'm not a perfect mum that's for sure. 

I'm so glad I won your giveaway, (you are such a total sweetheart) not for the nail stuff but for what you said. Sometimes I'm harsh on my mum, were I had to care for her for 10 years our relationship really changed and I guess I took it for granted that I even had her. It's always been us and my grandparents, my dad has been in and out of my life but my mum has been my rock. Thank you for making me see that I'm lucky to have her ill or not, I hugged and gave my mum a kiss the next day after your email (actual crying now). I use to do that everyday, but I can't actual remember the last time I did that. It's sad that I never realised that I had been taking having her for granted, and that I needed reminding that she is a great mum one that I need to thankful for anyway .........

Here is what Nav sent me! I was gobsmacked! I can't wait to try the nail repair and the scented nail polish.

THANK YOU SO MUCH NAV, for your prize and the other nail polishes. Keep up the blog and thank you for your words, it makes blogging worth it. Sorry this was a bit heavy folks, but this is what you get here, I think far to much we all get wrapped up in things that don't matter. It's nice to be reminded that we are lucky in different ways, also that our blogs can connect  us on a deeper level. So again thank you Nav and also all of you my amazing readers! Thank you for reading my blog, and thank you for your comments, tweets and hitting the GFC button. You made my 2011, and I hope now in 2012 I can share my new life with you ......After all I will have a new baby and a new set of challenges.

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