Lavender & Coral

By Sarah Redman

Lavander macaroon & coral nails

Our summer weather seems to be dwindling a bit so I thought I would share a bit of colour and a summer memory.

This arty food photo is obviously and instagram snap – my summer has been full of colour, sun and macaroons.

My nails are painted in Really Rio from Clinique’s A Different Nail Enamel range – retailing at £12.00 for 9ml.

The lovely lavander macaroon comes from a bakery in northern France and was part of a few sweet treats my parents bought back for my sister and I.

I hope you’re all enjoying the last of your summers!

As always doop us a comment here, Tweet us @thesarahsblog or post on our Facebook page.

NOTD

By Sarah Redman

This is my first Nail Of The Day post for a while now. I have been partially distracted with cuticle tattoos (Tattoo Trends) and also by exams, etc (Cheating on Blogging with Magazines) to paint my nails.

That hasn’t changed – right now I don’t think I have the patience to do a half decent job with my nails. So I’ve made things a bit easier on myself and gone back to an old favourite. Nail Wraps.

On my nails at the moment are Elegant Touch’s Envy Wraps Bling Candy Sprinkles. Retailing at £5.00, these textured nail wraps are modern and fun. You can add a splash of colour underneath these clear films or just keep with your base coat for a simple yet striking effect. This ice-cream coloured, gem-encrusted design mixes a combination of pink, purple, blue, green and silver multi-sized dots – and each dot is surrounded by a simple gold ring.

In the past I have found some of these things a tad fiddly and if there is a straight-line to be found then I may as well pack up and go home. But with these wraps being clear asides from the design, even I found it hard to get it wrong.

My first one took about three attempts, but I think that was purely down to my lack of practice because the rest were simple. Just peal off, press down, shape to size and you’re ready to go.

I love this easy way to get super jazzy nails and have gained a few compliments in the days since having them on. These beauties last up to ten days, I’m on my third day with them and mine are doing pretty well so far.

What do you think of my super speedy nails? Do you like nail wraps or would you rather just wait for you polish to dry? Let us know and leave a comment below, Tweet us @thesarahsblog or post on our Facebook page.

Tattoo trends

By Sarah Redman

Recently I have noticed there has been a small resurrection of the ‘Temporary Tattoo’ and this time they’re a bit different.

My first thought, I’m not going to lie, was oh please don’t be those annoying glittery transfer sticker things from way back when – as a 90’s kid I remember a few dodgy versions of the temporary tattoo which left you with a pealing mess after one wash. Not a fan.

My second thought was ohh awesome, I’m so awful with pain so to sit in the chair and actually get inked up sounds kinda like hell to me, no matter how lovely the outcome. This however has not stopped me doodling all over my wrists and hands the second I’m bored with a pen in my hand!

Earlier in the year I uploaded a small post concerning a new nail art trend. The cuticle tattoo. I have finally got my hands on some (as a small birthday treat to myself – £3.99 Bourjois Nail Tattoo Kit in Graphic from one of my favourites Asos.com – also available in Arty Tropics).

Forever unconventional, I decided cuticles were not enough for this product and got creative with a little pattern on my feet.

 

What do you think of this new trend and my unconventional approach? Let us know and leave a comment, Tweet us @thesarahsblog or post on our Facebook page.

Spring glamour

By Sarah Redman

I have been experimenting with nail polish skills again. Surprise, surprise.

This time I have gone with a subtle lilac hue from Ciate: Sugar Plum. I gave my usual manicure a little twist with glitter tips in Confetti, also from Ciate. I loved this look, its simple yet adds a bit of party glamour to your every day spring nails. The glitter also goes rather well with my ring. Bonus.

I am always looking for new ways to experiment with my nails and think I have found my next favourite thing…

I have seen Ciate’s cuticle tattoos floating around social media and various blogs recently and they popped up on my Instagram feed the other day. Elle magazine’s post is in agreement with me, now I just need to save up and buy them. Weirdly enough cuticle tattoos are not in my weekly budget!

What are your favourite new twists to your traditional manicure? Will you be trying either of these styles? Or do you think cuticle tattoos will be the next big thing? Let us know and leave a comment, Tweet us a pic of your nails @thesarahsblog or post on our Facebook page.

NOTD

By Sarah Redman

Not a classic OOTD (outfit of the day) but a NOTD (nail of the day).

Today I have gone with a nude look. This weather is playing havoc with my ability to decide on a nail colour. I’m done with winter now – I love a cuddly knit but I’m just so fed up of being cold – so I’m not sure on my dark polishes, my effects and my glitters. But then again, I’m not really ready for my bright summer styles. So I’m left with my muted pastels and after painting my nails I’m not complaining. It’s a nice in-between.

I have gone for a nude. My nail polish is by Ciate and came as part of my Mini Mani Month. It’s called Amazing Gracie and not only is it pretty, but it reminds me of my lovely little sister, Gracie, back home. My base coat is Ciate Underwear and my top coat Ciate’s Speed Coat. I have also used Essie‘s Apricot Cuticle Oil.

What’s your favourite nail colour of the moment? Let us know and leave a comment, Tweet us @thesarahsblog or post on our Facebook page.

‘Tis the season to party

By Sarah Redman

For this festive season and because I am receiving a nail polish a day from one of my advent calenders (post coming soon) I have gone all matchy matchy on my nail polish.

No gimmicks, no falsies, not even a teeny little bit of nail art. No this time I have gone old school and just painted my nails.

My colour of choice if from Ciate and is called ‘Fit for a Queen‘. Difficult not to paint your nails with it when your nail polish is called that! I love this colour is has all the sparkle a silver should have without verging into glitter territory yet it’s not a nail foil. This nail polish is part of Ciate’s ‘Shimmer’ collection and it does just that, shimmer and shine when it catches the light (even with no top coat). I actually haven’t worn a top coat with this polish yet and much to my surprise and delight is not chipping or flaking as I find more mettalic nail polishes can.

Ciate: ” Think liquid platinum, full of glamour and seduction.”

This polish retails at £9.00 for a standard pot. Its well worth the money for something that will last on your nails as well as in the bottle. I loved this look so much I went all matchy matchy and painted my toes too.

Are you a fan of silver polish or do you like Ciate’s collections? Leave a comment and let us know, Tweet us @thesarahsblog or leave a comment on our Facebook page.

On the tenth day of advent…

By Sarah Redman

On the tenth day of advent Ciate have a great nail polish tip for you all:

Keep your mani/pedi looking fresh by adding a new layer of topcoat every other day.

What you you think of their Christmas tip? Let us know and leave a comment or Tweet us @thesarahsblog

Pearly pink for busy bees

By Sarah Hugill

I decided it was time to update my pastel nail lacquers, but fancied a shade with a shimmer.

As a fellow fan of Rimmel products, for their reasonable yet much loved products, I opted for “210 Ethreal” for a pearly pretty pink colour. The shade showcases neutrality yet glamour, with its shiny finish.

I always seem to forget about my nails, until the last minute, leaving little time for them to dry before I have to shove my hand through my coat sleeves, smudging the polish. That’s why I chose this particular lacquer from their “60 seconds” range, so within a minute you fingertips are touchable, perfect when you don’t fancy turning up to your lecture with chipped nails, but don’t have the time to or energy to wait for them to be no longer tacky, which often feels like a lifetime.

Have you tried Rimmel’s 60 second polishes or a fan of this shade? Let us know @thesarahsblog

Pamper treat

By Sarah Redman

With essays done and a free evening I thought I would relax, catch up on a little bit of Made in Chelsea and paint my nails.
#FeelingPampered

I used Mavala Mexico and accessorized with gold sticker skull and cross bones from Elegant Touch.

Have you treated your self to some me time and painted your nails? Let us know and tweet us a picture @thesarahsblog or leave a comment below.

Winter nails

By Sarah Redman

During the winter my nails get quite brittle so nail polish chips easily, this can be really annoying especially if my nails are weak.

Recently I have discovered Rimmel London’s Salon Pro with Lycra (£4.49). I love this polish, i think it’s going to become my go to nail polish… I now own the three shades below!

The Lycra makes a noticeable difference to other nail polishes and whilst it has never lasted the whole ten days it claims it can last you up to, I still love it and the colour definitely doesn’t fade either. Even with one coat the coverage is great and it is really fast drying. The brush is another great factor to this polish, it is wide, flat and shaped, perfect for even nail coverage first time.

This product comes in a range of rather lovely colours, some designed by Kate Moss – I find they are a bit different to some more standard ranges, this includes more of a range on colour, going for the dusty pink (grape sorbet) above right and the powdery denim blue (navy seal) above centre. Personally i feel this product is great value for money.

I think for the optimum results from this polish two coats and a top coat are required, but then that works best for most polish’s. My only criticism is that the lid is quite chunky, which is fine – but if you are used to a smaller lid to hold it can seem a bit tricky to get the precision you are after on first use.

Have you tried Lyrca Pro? What did you think? Leave a comment and let us know or Tweet us @thesarahsblog