Seche Vite Topcoat

Until just the other week, I had no idea what 'Seche Vite' was. When I discovered that it was allegedly the worlds best top coat, I knew I had to have it. I absolutely love wearing nail polish and I love taking care of my nails, but until now I had never given much thought into using a top coat. What attracted me to this was the claim that it dries pretty much instantly, which I think any nail polish lover would jump at because one of the worst things is waiting for them to dry, which can sometimes be ages. If your like me and find it hard to keep still, you will have to buy this. We've all been there were you apply the most perfect nail polish coating ever; no clumps, marks, mess whatsoever until bam, you go and touch it to see if its dry and mess it up completely. Or worse, start using your hands and get the entire set ruined. The worst for me was painting my nails perfectly late at night, waiting a bit, going to bed, and waking up with completely imprinted nails.. SO I had to have this top coat when it promised to dry instantly. 

It is acknowledged widely as the worlds finest top coat as its formula allows it to penetrate through the polish right through to the base coat, forming a single solid coating over the nail plate for a much more durable finish which is guaranteed not to yellow. It promises that your nails will absolutely not chip, feel silky and stronger, and create a high gloss shine that is longer lasting than any product on the market today. It also says you can use it straight away after putting nail varnish on without letting it dry which, If I'm honest, was quite skeptical about. 

I let my nail polish dry for a few seconds whilst moving onto the other hand, then came back instantly to apply the top coat. The nail varnish I'm wearing by the way if from No7 Stay Perfect Nail colour. It is a gorgeous rich purple pink colour which is an exact match to MAC Rebel lipstick. I applied a thick coat of Seche Vite over this colour and was surprised to see that it glided over the tacky nail without dragging or streaking the underneath coat. What's more, it instantly gave my nails a super glossy, professional finish which is still shining. As regards to chipping, It has certainly stopped them from chipping and kept my coat lasting a lot longer. What I think is best about this top coat is definitely the shine, it really does make a difference to enhance the quality of the finished manicure.

I purchased Seche Vite topcoat on Amazon for £6. It is also available on feel unique but it is £10 there so definitely check it out on Amazon if your looking for an incredible, long lasting and super glossy top coat; you can check it out here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seche-Vite-Professional-Coat-14ml/dp/B00150LT40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365869140&sr=8-1&keywords=seche+vite

Adding To The Collection: Lipsticks

(Wild Watermelon, Wild Rose, Cameo)

If there is one thing I cannot resist in terms of make-up, it has to be lipstick. I have so many lipsticks that they take up their own cosmetics bag, and yet I still continue to buy more! This week I brought 3 gorgeous shades that I would thought I'd share with you all; they are all perfect for spring, and surely everyone loves to rock an awesome spring lipstick?

1. Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in 063 Wild Watermelon: 

This is one of their brand new shades for their spring collection, and I was immediately drawn to the bright red colour with hints of orange. I absolutely adore the formulation of these lip butters as they are so moisturising, you don't need a balm on afterwards or even before which is great. What is especially love is the sheerness of colour which I think is ideal for the spring/summer period when you don't always want to wear thick, heavy matte lipstick. It is super light but the pigmentation in Wild Watermelon is really good, even though it is sheer. It therefore adds a fairly natural burst of colour whilst still keeping them soft and hydrated. This colour does look a little bold straight from the tube, but on the lips it is really soft, yet you can build it up if you want a stronger colour. These lip butters are available in four new spring shades if your looking to try something a little fresher for spring, priced at £7.99. 

2. Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Colour in 26 Wild Rose:

This shade from Bobbi Brown is my absolute perfect every day pink-toned lipstick. Although it shows up super vibrant and pink on the top picture (with flash), the swatch of it is a more accurate idea of the colour. It is a brown-toned pink shade which makes it flattering on all skin tones, and really strongly pigmented so you do get a strong burst of colour. Despite this high pigmentation  this formula is by no means drying on the lips and is incredibly long lasting. What I also love about Bobbi Brown lipstick is they all have SPF 12 which is crucial during the summer months. Although I picked this up at Cheshire Oaks outlet mall for around £12, the normal retail price of Bobbi Brown lipstick is £18. 

3. No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Cameo:

I constantly receive No7 make-up vouchers from Boots, so every time I normally pick out a new lipstick. I was drawn to Cameo because the blue-toned pink was something I don't actually own already, and it is packed with metallic shimmer which is so perfect for spring. This shade has hints of lilac which I think is really pretty, however if you have super pale skin I would probably stay clear of this because it would wash you out completely. I think this would look gorgeous with a tan which was one of the reasons I got it, I think it is perfect for summer. I love No7 lipsticks because they are incredibly moisturising; they don't dry my lips out at all and I don't even have to use balm afterwards. They are really pigmented but you can keep building it up for a really vivid colour that will also last for ages. No7 lipsticks are £9.50 from Boots.

What spring/summer lipsticks have you guys been loving recently?

xxx

March Beauty Favourites

1. Nivea Daily Essentials Express Hydration Primer: 

I'd never bought into the idea of using a primer as I just always presumed it was unnecessary and that a good moisturiser does the job fine, however when I tried a sample of this one from Nivea courtesy of Glamour magazine, I had to buy it. What I really love about it is its ultra-lightweight feel; it isn't heavy like a moisturiser and its almost transparent which makes it absorb onto the skin instantly, so you don't have to wait to apply your make-up. It acts as both a moisturiser and a primer so it nourishes your skin and also makes your make-up stay in place longer. For me personally I've noticed a huge difference in my make-up application since using this as my foundation stays in place all day, and it also manages to control the oil on my skin so I don't have a shine problem. It also smells lovely, and it's really inexpensive too; I got mine when there was an offer on but the normal retail price in Superdrug is £4.99. 

2. Nivea Lip Butter in Caramel Cream:

Also from Nivea is their lip butters which I've only just discovered. This one in caramel cream smells unbelievable, it is literally good enough to eat (it reminds me of cake mix!) which is ideal if your like me and go mad for anything that smells delicious. Besides the smell it is really great for moisturising your lips, I find it a lot better than Vaseline as due to its thick buttery texture, it nourishes your lips for a lot longer. It certainly rivals my much loved Korres lip butter, and is ridiculously inexpensive at just £1.50. They also have a raspberry flavor that I'm yet to try, and a  macadamia one that we don't get in the UK, sob. 

3. Barry M Nail Paint in Blue Moon:

Since spring is upon us, I have been wearing Blue Moon from Barry M pretty much throughout this month. I think It's the most perfect shade for spring as it is a pale pastel blue colour with a very slight metallic shimmer which is so subtle it is barely noticeable. I adore pastel nails this time of year, and this one is really fresh and cute. As always Barry M is amazing for the quality of nail paint, I find it lasts for ages without having to reapply and I love how cheap they are at just £2.99. 

4. Jimmy Choo Perfume:

I got this fragrance at Christmas but pretty much neglected it until now. It is such a pretty, feminine scent that is not heavy or overpowering at all. I started using it a lot this month because I think it really is great for this time of year as it is so subtle and fresh for spring. It's also something really different to anything else I have; usually I quite like scents that are quite heavy and bold but this makes a lovely change, I'd definitely go try it if you haven't yet. 

5. Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation:

I had heard so many good things about this foundation from Boujois that when there was a 3-for-2 in Boots I just had to grab it. First of all, this is the foundation and not the serum, they have slightly different packaging which got me real confused but this one is brand new so I thought I would give it a try. I had heard that this is similar to Chanel Vitalumiere foundation which had me sold, and also I loved the sound of opting for a slightly lighter, glowy foundation which is so much nicer for this time of year. I was a bit skeptical about the promise of a healthy glow; seen as I have oily skin I didn't want to be too glowy, however this foundation is really lovely. It does give me a slight radiant, dewy glow, but it is by no means shiny or oily looking. Another problem I thought I would have with this is the coverage, as as it promises a healthy glow I thought this would mean a compromise on coverage which isn't great news for me because I have a bit of hyper-pigmentation which always needs covering. This however still manages to provide full coverage which is great, but at the same time lets your natural skin shine through which I love. I'm not sure what the big difference is between this and the serum, but I think this might be heavier coverage which works better for me anyway. I really would recommend this foundation as it uniquely offers a flawless complexion which stays in place throughout the day, whilst still providing you with a healthy looking glow. You can pick this up at Boots for £10.99. 

6. Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer:

This is another product that I had heard so much about that I just had to give in and get it. Before this I had only ever used stick concealers so I didn't really know what to expect with this, however it did not disappoint. I got the lightest shade as it is really important that you go one or two shades lighter than your foundation as, especially under the eyes, it is good to highlight this area which is only possible if it is a bit lighter. I really love using this under my eyes, I just use the applicator to run right underneath the eye, and I also take it downwards slightly to create a V shape, which is a great technique if you want to brighten this area. This is such an amazing drugstore concealer as is ridiculously inexpensive at around £4 I think. It really makes you look more awake and is great for dark circles and also covers up scarring and blemishes which is great. The only negative thing about this is that the writing on the tube pretty much wiped off as soon as I put it in my make-up bag which was kind of annoying and a common issue, but obviously not a major issue as whats inside the tube is brilliant. I know a lot of people already use it and I can see why, so if you never have and your looking for a great drugstore concealer then this is your answer!

7. Bourjois Bronzing Powder: 

This is yet another product that I brought because of all the recommendations I heard about it on YouTube and on here (one of the reasons I love blogging so much!). I was in need of a bronzing powder as we are getting into spring now finally and especially for the summer, I like to look more tanned but in a natural looking way. First things first, it has to be said that this bronzer smells amazing! It is like chocolate but also like cocoa butter which is so delicious, I have to smell it every time I open it. The packaging is also really cut and reminds me of something Benefit would produce so I think it is really great for a drugstore product. I use this for contouring my cheekbones by just taking it from the top of my ear to the middle of the cheek. I also use this around my temples, hairline and around the jaw to give me that sun-kissed, bronzed glow look which I love because it makes me look so much healthier and radiant. It is also the most natural looking bronzer I have ever used; it is not orange toned at all, and it has a very slight amount of shimmer but it is still mainly matte which I prefer. You can pick this up for £6.99, or get down to Boots like I did whilst the 3-for-2 offer is on.

8. MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter: 

I picked this up from Superdrug on a whim because it was only £2! At that price I would have been stupid not too, and I absolutely adore highlighter, particularly at this time of year as I love that radiant skin appearance. I have been using a little of this just above the apple of my cheeks over my blusher and bronzer, and this highlighter seems to blend all three together into a gorgeous combination. It is surprisingly subtle therefore you don't need much of this at all and it creates such a beautiful radiant glow on the cheeks when it catches the light. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the smell; It smells of some sort of chemicals which isn't very nice, but it's not a major issue when you consider the ridiculously cheap price. 

9. Maybelline The Falsies Mascara:

This purchase was long overdue as I had heard so much about it, but I'd been waiting for my MAC one to run out before I could purchase it. This mascara is really unbelievable. It is by far the best mascara for volume I have ever tried. It really lives up to its name and is so volumising that I have been ditching my false lashes lately because I find that this is enough. I got the ultra-black drama one because I love really black lashes. What I love so much about this mascara is the curved brush which really helps to coat every lash, even the ones in the inner corners which is really quite difficult with a straight wand. It lengthens  thickens and holds a curl well, without looking too clumpy. You also don't need to build it up loads which can turn clumpy; it is enough with two coats max. Buy into the hype because this is really worth it! £7.99.

10. Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie:

I have had this lip butter from Revlon in my make-up bag for ages, but I have been using it all the time this month because it is such a beautiful colour for spring/summer. First of all, I'm pretty sure everyone is aware of how great Revlon lip butters are because they really are such a beautiful formulation. I wish all lipsticks were like this because they are so moisturising and creamy, but they still have amazing pigmentation. I know that some of the lighter shades just provide a sheer coverage, but this shade Raspberry Pie provides the same coverage as a lipstick. It is a gorgeous dark pink colour that almost verges on purple; it is actually quite similar to MAC's rebel, but more on the pink side. I think the formulation of these is also ideal for spring as I tend to prefer not so matte textures during warm weather. I really want to try more of these lip butters so If anyone recommends any shades, let me know in the comments below! 

11. Rimmel Kate Mosse Lasting Finish Lipstick in 107 Wine:

This is yet another product that I brought this month because I felt like I had heard so much about this particular shade that I had to own it myself. 107 is a gorgeous, rich dark red tone with slight purple undertones. It is probably not the most suitable spring shade, I think its actually quite perfect for autumn/winter, but I love this shade nonetheless and have actually worn it quite a few times this month already. The quality of these lipsticks are fantastic, the pigmentation is excellent and actually remind me of MAC lipsticks. The stain does last a long time, but the matte formulation can be a bit drying so its necessary to moisturize your lips beforehand. 

xxx