Penney's "Foiling Around" Nail Foils

Heya. :) Hope ye all are keeping well and enjoying the sunshine. 

Well here in Athlone the weather has been amazing the last few days. I hope it stays like this for another few weeks. It's such feel good weather. We all need some Vitamin D to give us a spring in our step! 

Anywho, I was in Penney’s, (Primark in the U.K.), with my Mam last week and she picked me out some foils for my nails! I had seen this on  Xposé last summer but didn’t see them around much after that. But saying that they are really popular with celebs, such as Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. The first brand/company to bring them out were Minx, it's what most of celebs wear. But they are expensive. Now alot of high street places like Topshop and Penney's have brought out there own range.

The Minx foils vary in price, depending on the style and the salon. But they are usually around €30. The one I picked up in Penney's were only €3.50 which is a bargain. They only had one design though and they were black and white polka dots but I'm sure they’ll get more in over the next few weeks.

There are 18 foils in the pack and come with a set of instructions also.

What you will need for your application:

• Nail file.
• Nail buffer.
• Cuticle pusher.
• Scissors.
• Hair dryer.

Instructions:

1. Manicure your nails. Trim nails and push back cuticles.
2. Buff nails lightly to remove oily layer.
3. Remove any file dust with a damp cloth.
4. Remove the punch out piece from the backing film that covers all 9 nail foils.
5. Select the nail foil that is closest to the size of your nail and trim with a scissors to fit exactly.
6. Peel the nail foil backing film.
7. Grasping between the thumb and index finger, lay the rounded edge against the cuticle.
8. Once in place, rub all areas of the nail foil firmly with a cuticle pusher.
9. Rub all areas of the nail foil firmly.
10. For best results, (which I feel worked better), warm up nail foils with a hair dryer on LOW setting. Then crease the excess around the nail edge.
11. Then crease the excess around the nail edge. Stick over layer edge onto fingertip and file off the excess in a gentle downward motion using a fine nail file. And you're done! :)

To Remove:

1. Wash hands in warm soapy water.
2. Or for better results, warm nails using a hair dryer and gently peel the nail foils off. 

 The end result! What do you think? :)

I think they look pretty cool for my first try. I hope Penney's bring out more designs.

Chat soon,

Nadia. x

Iron Fist Spring / Summer 2011 Collection

Heya :) Time for another update. But first off I hope you all are having a great weekend. Now….onto the goodies. So Iron Fist have brought out there Spring / Summer 2011 Collection and I for one LOVE IT!
The shoes, clothes and accessories are amazing! Since my birthday is coming up in a few weeks I'm going to treat myself and get some new gear.

Here are some of my favourite pieces from the collection. 

Go check out the rest of the collection HERE

Some of the prices are in dollars, sterling and converted to euro.  
Each website will vary in price.

Ladies Barrio Muertos Extra Length Cardigan $70.00 / €50.10

Santeria Handbag £34.99 / €40.29

Santeria Wallet £24.99 / €28.78

Drop Dead Sandal Purple / Turquoise £24.95 / €17.85

 Drop Dead Sandal Purple / Black £24.95 / €17.85

Sugar Witch Platform $45.00 / €32.20

Here I Lie Wedges $50.00 / €35.78

NYC Survivor Platform $50.00 / €35.78

So theres some of my favourites from the S/S Collection, I'm definitely going to be ordering some soon. The euro prices are not accurate as I just converted them online, it will probably cost more here in Ireland, with taxes, shipping, etc.  

So yeah, if you like Iron Fist, have a look online and let me know what you think and what are some of your favourites pieces. :) 

And if anyone from Iron Fist happens to be reading this and would like me to rock some of the new collection here in Ireland I would be extremely happy to and I can be contacted at nadia.annaburke@gmail.com.

Chat soon, 

Nadia. x

Wonder Woman Collection

Hey again :) So onto another update. I still have quiet abit to talk about! As we all know were finally into March which means the WONDER WOMAN COLLECTION is now available in Ireland! ^_^ This makes me very happy! 
While I was in Dublin last week, I called into MAC in Brown Thomas to have a look and pick up some pieces of the collection. I would of liking to have bought more but lack of funds stopped me. But I did pick up 2 lip glasses and a lipstick!

The shades I bought are:
Lipstick- Shade: Spitfire - Bright creamy magenta (satin) (limited edition). €19.00

Lipglass- Shade: Emancipation - Pale neutral pink (limited edition). €21.50

Lipglass- Shade: Athena’s Kiss - Bright blue fuchsia (limited edition). €21.50

Swatch, without flash.

Same as above, with flash.

The lipglasses are abit more expensive in this collection because they are larger than the regular ones. I prefer these sized ones because not only do you get more product but the brushes/applicator is better. 
I love what I bought, the colours are so fresh and summery. That can be used both for day and night looks. I think I may have to take another trip to Dublin to buy more. Id like to get another lipstick in Marquis d’ and a powder blush duo in Mighty Aphrodite.
I'm such a make up junkie I know! But I love it! :D
While I was in MAC I also picked up a black eye kohl pencil €17.50 and some prep + prime, transparent finishing powder...
"A silky finishing powder that provides an invisible way to set makeup. Reduces shine while optically minimizing the look of pores, lines, imperfections. Available in one universal colour that suits all shades. Wear over makeup or on bare, moisturized skin." €24.50.

The goodies I bought! :)

Ive been using the prep + prime since I bought it and I love it. I cant fault it at all. I love the soft, matt finish it leaves on my skin. So that's it for now. 

Chat soon, 
Nadia. x

I'm Back!

Heya :) So I’ve been neglecting my blog lately, things have been busy but I'm going to get back on track now! I traveled a good bit back and forth to Dublin during the last month. My brother Tony threw a Super bowl Party as our team the Pittsburgh Steelers were playing. Only to get bet by the Green Bay Packers. Oh well! >:| I'll still wear my jersey with pride. :D
Even though the Steelers lost, we all had such a fun night and got to hang out with old and new friends.  (Hiiii Bronagh! x).

Then My Chemical Romance were back in town on February 16th and played a great show in the 02 Dublin. It was so good to see them again after a couple of years. They played a lot of stuff from there new album "Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys". And some really old stuff from "I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love". It was a class gig and I got to catch up with some close friends, which is always fun. :)

Mikey Way, My Chemical Romance. 

Picture taken my me. Not a great one, because I didn't fancy being in the Pitt.

RAG Week was upon us again in the A.I.T. I haven’t been out for rag week since I was a student here in town so I decided to head out one of the nights with the girlie's.
We went out on the Tuesday night as The Rubberbandits were playing in Karma Nightclub. It was a really fun night but wasn’t organized too well, sorry Karma! I'm not sure the exact amount the A.I.T. made but I know it was a great amount. 

 The Rubberbandits.

Picture taken by me.

Then my next gig was Bruno Mars, on March 9th. Bruno (real name, Peter Hernandez) played a sold out show in the Olympia Theater, Dublin. It was such a class gig. I personally love gigs in the Olympia, even though it is a fairly big venue the gigs there are intimate which gives the artist a chance to kind of interact properly with fans and the likes. Bruno plays with a 5 piece band, The Hooligans, Who were amazing.The day after the gig I was extremely lucky to receive a signed copy of "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" in the post from my brother. Happy days! ^_^

 Bruno Mars.

All pictures taken by me.

So while I was in Dublin I called into MAC in Brown Thomas to pick up some of the amazing Wonder Woman Collection. I’ll talk more about that in my next update.

As always, thank you for reading, feel free to follow my blog, leave comments, feedback, etc.

Chat soon,
Nadia. x

How To Clean Your MakeUp Brushes

Heya :)  So I get asked alot by clients and friends on how I clean my make up brushes, keep them in shape and how often should they be cleaned. So this update is simply going answer just that!

Sigma Professional Kit 

Which can he purchased here

I have 2 sets of brushes that I use. A set I use on myself and a set for using on my clients. 
After using my own brushes daily, I clean them down with a fresh baby wipe and wash out my foundation brush. But I give them a full clean each week or as often as needed.
With my other brush set I clean them thoroughly after each use as this is more hygienic and prevents cross contamination between clients. Sounds kinds disgusting to think about, but I prefer working with clean brushes!

Its really important to clean your brushes regularly as it will:
-Reduce the build up of make up residue.
-Minimize skin problems.
-Remove body oils and dead skin (nasty I know, but its true!!).
-Remove bacteria.
-Increase the life of your brushes.
-Help give you a flawless application to your make up.

What you need: 
-Baby wipes.
-Mild shampoo or anti-bacterial brush cleaner.
-Tea tree oil.
-Warm water.
-Sink or small bowl.
-Dry towel.


Ok so onto cleaning your brushes :) 

• Fill your sink or small bowl with a couple of inches of warm water, (depending on how many brushes you have to clean). Add a cap full of shampoo or brush cleaner, 3-4 drops of tea tree oil and work to a sludsy mixture.

• Place your brushes in the solution and gently rub the bristles between your fingers for at least 30 seconds for each brush. Try not get the ferrule (metal or plastic part, depending on the brush) wet as the water will soften the glue and the hairs may fall out of your brush.
• Rinse each brush thoroughly in clean warm water, making sure to get all the shampoo residue off.

• Pat the brushes dry with a clean towel. Lay them flat on the towel, reshaping the bristles. Keep them in a warm dry area. Do not dry your brushes with a hair dryer or heater as the heat will cause the glue to melt and your brush will fall apart! You may need to reshape the bristles again so that they reform their proper shape again. 

So that's it really, hope that update was of some help to ye. Let me know how ye get on. :)
Chat soon,
-Nadia x

Spring / Summer Make-Up Trends 2011

Heya :) As we are into a new year and saying goodbye to a cold winter its time to look forward to the Spring / Summer Trends for 2011. This season theres going to be LOTS of variety, from Neon's with Bold eye popping shades, to Pastel nude shades. This is the season to go wild and embrace your alter ego with some colour! :D

As we all are different and have different skin tones, etc. It is important to use the right products to compliment our skin tones. 

List of Skin Tones:
Warm - yellow undertone.
Cool - pink undertone.
Neutral - blend of both, or are more olive toned.

The looks for this season are very versatile as it can take you from your office desk to a night on the town in less than a couple of minutes.  


Natural Nudes:
Some people are huge fans for natural make up. While others, like me tend to like being more extravagant. Make up is for ENHANCING your beauty and not covering it. As I already said it can take you from a day look to a night look in minutes. Use a natural foundation to help create flawless looking skin, enhance your eyes using a few coats of mascara, then apply a small amount of blush on your cheekbones to emphasize them and optionally apply a clear lip gloss or slightly tinted lip balm on your lips to make them stand out. 

 

Jeanne Lanvin Spring / Summer Collection 2011.

 

Pastel Shades: 

Pastel shades can suits many people as it can be used in two ways. They can be used light or bold. Depending on your own personal preference and style you can apply the pastel coloured makeup as you wish to suit your own style as well as shape of your eyes.

Shades that are bang on trend this season are orange, red, pink, blue, green. Find the hue which suits your skin tone best, eye color and hair color best and apply the makeup whatever way you desire! :) To make the colour be more bold or vivid use an eyeshadow primer or dampen your brush to create the look you're going for. 

Christian Dior Spring / Summer Collection 2011.

Bold Eye Make-Up: 

So the bold/neon eye make-up look, I think it looks real 80's and Scene. But I love it. I think the more colour the better. But all in moderation. You don't want to be hitting the town looking like a clown. I personally wouldn't wear bold eye make up and lips as I think it would be too much. But as I say each to there own, if they feel confident enough to wear it and can pull it off well, I say go for it! :D You can use bold eyeshadow colors such as green, blue,  purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, etc, as they all rock. Mascara and liquid eyeliner are a big must for this type of makeup as it helps give a more defined finish to your look. If you're abit nervous and afraid to try out a bold look you can still use any colour you wish but turn it into a smokey eye, continue with liquid eyeliner and mascara and you're sorted! :) Also don't forget to tame those brows ladies!   

                                            Christian Dior Spring / Summer Collection 2011.

Bold Lips:                                                                              Another reason why I love make up so much, bold, vibrant lipstick. Don't get me wrong I like natural shades too. But prefer colourful lips. I remember trying on my Mam's red lipstick when I was younger and ended up looking like a lil drag queen with lipstick all over my lips and teeth....yeah not a good look! But anyway! :P When I'm wearing a strong colour on my lips I tend to just usually go for a natural eye with liquid eyeliner and flick with a few coats of mascara. You don't need to spend a small fortune on lipsticks for this season. Barry M have some great colours and are really affordable so you can be more daring and splash out on more colours. This season you don't really need to match your lipstick to your outfit. Its all about being bold and kinda outrageous. If it's a red, hot pink, orange, coral or even a blue lip color, keep it sleek and chic and you're ready to rock. Simple as that!

So there you have the main make up trends for Spring / Summer 2011.  

Hope ye have fun trying out some of these looks. And remember they don't have to be exactly as they are on the catwalks. Don't be afraid to give them your own twist, because remember make up isn't about doing it perfect and by the book. Its about being CREATIVE and enhancing that beauty that you already have!

Feel free to leave comments and feedback.

Chat soon,

-Nadia x

 

MAC Wonder Woman Collection Spring 2011

 Heya :) So as some of ye may have already heard MAC have been working with Warner Bros. and DC Comics to bring out the Wonder Woman Collection for Spring 2011!
I personally am so excited to get my hands on some of this collection as I'm a huge Wonder Woman fan. Here is what MAC has to say about the collection :

"Banish any thought of being a Plain Jane: M∙A∙C and Wonder Woman have joined forces! For Spring 2011, take a trip to Paradise Island with a legendary line up of super-sized MineralizeSkinfinish, bold Eye Shadow quads, Pigment, Opulash, Lipsticks and oversized Lipglass, jumbo-big Powder Blush and Penultimate Eye Liner, Nail Lacquer and Lash inspired by the larger-than-life Bold Babe. Dashing and dazzling, the iconic super heroine reminds us that inside every woman is a Mighty Aphrodite full of courage, confidence and charisma. Kaboom! Mission Accomplished!

Wonder Woman has always known the importance of astounding accessories. For her collaboration with M∙A∙C, we’ve infused her sense and fantasy and wonder into a vivid collection of awe-inspiring accessories as fierce and feminine as the heroine herself. Bright, bold, superhuman designs in Makeup Bags – from radiant Red to Bulletproof Blue, Utility Belt Brush Sets, and exclusively online, the WW T-Shirt and Invincible Mirror. Shazam!"

The launch dates are:


U.S. / Canada - February 2011.
International - March 2011.


Prices range from $14.00 to $59.50 why the prices are so expensive for this collection is that some of the products are larger sizes than what they normally are. And also prices in Ireland will cost more.

So onto the good stuff! :D

Lipstick
Marquise d’ – Sandy cream peach (Lustre) - (Limited Edition). 
Russian Red – Intense bluish-red (Matte) - (Permanent).
Spitfire – Bright creamy magenta (Satin) - (Limited Edition).
Heroine – Brown bronze (Frost) - (Limited Edition).

Lipglass (These are larger in size than the regular lipglasses).
Emancipation – Pale neutral pink - (Limited Edition).
Wonder Woman – Bright red with soft pearl - (Limited Edition).
Athena’s Kiss – Bright blue fuchsia - (Limited Edition).
Secret Identity – Mid-tone copper with soft pearl - (Limited Edition).

Opulash Mascara
Victorious – Purple - (Limited Edition).
Army of Amazons – Green - (Limited Edition).
Themyscira – Blue - (Limited Edition).
Black – Black - (Limited Edition).

Penultimate Eye Liner

Rapid black – True black - (Permanent).

Nail Varnish
Obey Me – True red - (Limited Edition).
Spirit of Truth – Navy blue - (Limited Edition).

 False Eyelashes
#48 

Eye Quad – Defiance
Defiance – Iridescent white pink (Veluxe pearl) - (Limited Edition).
Paradise Island – Soft warm pink (Satin) - (Limited Edition).
Star Studded – Mid-tone violet pink (Satin) - (Limited Edition).
Real Drama – Dark burgundy with pink pearl (Satin) - (Limited Edition).

Eye Quad – Lady Justice

Lady Justice – Bright silver with white pearl (Frost) - (Limited Edition).

Insurmountable – Dirty blue grey (Veluxe Pearl) - (Limited Edition).

Bold Babe – Deep metal blue with white pearl (Frost) - (Limited Edition).

Deep Truth – True dark blue (Frost) - (Limited Edition).

Eye Quad – Valiant

Valiant – Light lime with yellow pearl (Frost) - (Limited Edition).
Spinning Transformation – Deep olive bronze with yellow pearl (Frost) - (Lim' Ed).
Diana Undercover – Dark forest green (Satin) - (Limited Edition).
Manila Paper – Pale frost white gold (Veluxe Pearl) - (Limited Edition).

Reflects Bronze

Reflects Pearl - White glitter with pearl sheen (Glitter) - (Permanent at MAC PRO).

Reflects Gold - Sparkling rich gold (Glitter) - (Permanent at MAC PRO).

Pigments

Bright Fuchsia – Bright magenta - (Permanent).

Marine Ultra – Vivid marine blue - (Permanent at MAC PRO).

Powder Blush Duo
Mighty Aphrodite – Warm peach coral with gold pearl/Bright coral pink with gold pearl (Satin/Frost) - (Limited Edition).
Amazon Princess – Bright yellow pink/Deep blue pink with gold pearl (Satin) - (Limited Edition).

Mineralize Skinfinish
Pink Power – Peachy rose with pink shimmer/Soft rosy bronze/Soft shell pink with fine shimmer - (Limited Edition).
Golden Lariat – True coral with fine gold shimmer/Soft suntanned bronze/Soft gold with fine shimmer - (Limited Edition).

Wonder Woman Make Up Bag

Wonder Woman Red (Limited Edition).
Bulletproof Blue (Limited Edition).

Utility Belt Eye Brush Set
224SE.
213SE.
194SE.

Utility Face Brush Set
129SE.
109SE.
190SE.

Invisible Mirror
Online Exclusive - (Limited Edition).

Wonder Woman Tee
Online Exclusive - (Limited Edition).

So that's all of the collection, what do you guys think of it? :D I can't wait until its available here in Ireland. As always feel free to leave feedback. :)

Chat soon,
-Nadia x