Mani Madness! "OPI On Collins Ave"

Hey guys!

As you know, OPI is a brand of nail polish loved the world over, and surprise surprise, I love OPI polishes too! A favourite of mine this month has been a lovely orange based red OPI has named 'OPI On Collins Ave'.

This lovely polish is quite stunning. It has a cream finish, is really pigmented and is fully opaque in one layer! Less layers means more mani's from one bottle! And with a gorgeous colour like this, you'll want to use it all the time, and having such a great formula makes it all possible! This is what the polish looks like with a layer of Seche Vite top coat.

It's so lovely and shiny! Even without topcoat it has a nice shine, not gloss of course as it is a creamy finish polish, but a shine which looks lovely! Of course you can leave the finish as is without top coat, but if you want your mani to last, top coat is always recommended! To add to the polish awesomeness, I found a lipstick that matches it perfectly! None other than my favourite Rimmel Kate matte lipstick in shade 110 of course!

I am going to a birthday party tonight so I added a nice silver glitter gradient to my nails to spice them up! Nothing looks better under bright lights than sparkly glitter! To achieve the glitter gradient, I used a gorgeous glitter polish by Revlon called, Stunning (340). It truly is a stunning glitter polish! It has small and large glitter pieces (which hopefully you can tell from the photo) running through it, so you can create a variety of looks from the one polish!

I will post up pictures of my outfit, makeup and accessories which complement my lovely nails hopefully sometime tonight before the party or tomorrow!

If you love this polish, let me know in the comments below. If you have any recommendations of colours I should try from OPI let me know too. Anyway that's all for today! Ciao!

Love,

Nur xx

Review: Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color - Old Hollywood

Hello everyone!

Hope you've been well. Today I'll be reviewing a lipstick by Bobbi Brown, the Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color in shade 'Old Hollywood'. I am a sucker for all lipsticks bright red so I was immediately drawn to this one. This lipstick retails for $44 for 0.13oz or 3.8g. According to the Bobbi Brown website (http://www.bobbibrown.com.au/product/2342/22750/Makeup/Lips/Lip-Color/Rich-Lip-Color/FH12/index.tmpl#) the lipsticks are supposed to be creamy, very pigmented, full coverage and lightweight and the shade 'Old Hollywood' is supposed to be a bright cherry red. These lipsticks are also advertised as moisturising and to have sun protection through being SPF12.

Let me begin by saying that the description of the lipstick on the website is very true! This lipstick glides on so smoothly! It's super creamy, moisturising and is fully opaque in the first layer. The colour payoff is definitely fantastic and the formula gives this lipstick a nice sheen. It definitely is not matte and not glossy, it just has a satin look to it. When I use this lipstick, I only apply it onto the top half of my lip and spread it onto the bottom half, that is how pigmented it is! Doing it this way also means I save on product.

That said, there is still a lot of product wastage thanks to the formula. As the product is so moisturising, it rubs off easily. Don't get me wrong, the colour lasts a good 3-4 hours on me if I am not eating or touching it at all. Once I eat or if I touch it, the colour transfers and fades and disappears. I think that is the biggest con of this lipstick. I find myself constantly reapplying it! I do wish to mention that when this lipstick does fade it leaves a nice faint red stain on my lips which is even all over so it is definitely not offensive when the lipstick wears out.

I am definitely someone who prefers to use a long lasting lipstick that does not transfer easily and will last me all day so unfortunately I don't find myself reaching for this lipstick much at all. It is such a shame as it is quite an expensive lipstick, a lovely formula and a beautiful colour that I just don't want to use because it doesn't last. If you are someone that doesn't mind reapplying lipstick throughout the day then this lipstick is worth the investment as it wears so beautifully on the lips. To me, I did expect more for the price and more from Bobbi Brown so I rate this lipstick a 3/5. At the end of the day, it is exactly as the description stated and does feel and look lovely on the lips. I would like to believe the iconic brand will improve the formula in the future to make it feel and look the same way, just have longer lasting power. We shall have to wait and see! 

Have you tried the Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color before? Did you feel the same way or was it just me? Better yet have you tried any of their other lipsticks and are they any better? Let me know! :)

Love,

Nur xx

Autumn Edit: Monochrome Madness!

Hello my loves!

All Autumn, I have found myself reaching for all the black and white items of clothing in my wardrobe. You may have seen in previous posts quite a few of the items I have bought which fit the monochrome look, such as my black and white skater skirts from ASOS and my bag from The Iconic. Since those posts, I have obviously purchased many more items to add to my black and white collection! Here is a sneak peak at them and a look I was sporting today which caught the eyes of many a person.

I'll start off with the outfit I had on today. Shift dresses and monochrome clothing are the trends of the season, so what item of clothing the must have item for the season? A Monochrome Shift Dress! The dress I purchased is from 'Into'. At just $30 this dress is a great investment for this season. It's nice and simple enough to be dressed up for a dressy event and casual enough to be worn to the office or for lunch in the city.

I chose to dress the dress up today. I wore it wedge court shoes and my favourite watch this season, my white faced fossil watch. I used my new Olga Berg bag for this outfit, sticking to the monochrome theme (more on that later). A bold red lip brought some colour to the outfit. I used Rimmel's Kate Matte Lipstick in shade 110 today.

As much as I love the bag by Ezra I purchased on theiconic.com, it does run on the larger side of bags. When I'm heading into the city casually or for lunch at the boyfriend's, a smaller bag is more ideal. I was searching for days before I came across this gorgeous bag by Olga Berg. It is the Perforated Band Loaf Bag. I love how simple it is! When I purchase a bag with the intention to use it all the time, I stick to more simple and clean designs, nothing too crazy or over the top so it is easier to match it to different outfits. This bag is just that, it is simple and clean and has those little touches to it that only the owner can appreciate.

The bag is just perfect! Looks like real leather, I love the perforation detailing plus its big enough to fit my iPad in! I also love the floral print used for the lining. It makes me super happy every time I open the bag. Retailing for $99.95 this super cute bag is such a winner!

Now onto my new purchases. These are just photos of the new monochrome items I have bought. I will try post up some pictures on my Instagram or here of some looks I've created from these items as I progress in using them.

Chain Necklace with Jewel Embellishment by Angels Whisper Accessories. A lovely statement piece which matches many outfits including monochrome looks.

Sportsgirl Black Embossed Scuba Tee. I LOVE THIS!!! Its so beautiful and trendy and SOOO comfortable to wear! Retailing for $89.95 this sporty tee is such a must have this season.

The Princess Highway Maneater Mini Skirt is the perfect sexy leather skirt. Its a bodycon fit on me and doesn't run too short which is great! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

This Animal Print Cardigan by Ally Fashion is to die for! The cutest print is now on trend in gorgeous black and white. I bought this on sale for $25! Again such a steal!

This blouse by Pure Hype has an awesome monochrome Aztec print on it. Looks super cute with a skater skirt, coated jeans or leather leggings.

Missguided has created this lovely Flocked Velvet Skater Dress just for this season! talk about effortless chic!

This dress by Rosebullet is so classy I cannot wait until I get a chance to wear this out some place fancy! I really do love the flocked velvet in this dress too.

Yet another dress by Missguided! This houndstooth print dress is super cute and has a really flattering cut. It is also quite thick so its great to wear as we approach the cooler months.

I love this print! I purchased this Brocade Chiffon Blouse at a boutique (Peniwern) in Singapore whilst I was on holiday there. It has really come to use all season. 

This last top is by Hot Options which is from Target. I really think Target has stepped up their game in their fashion pieces. This monochrome striped cropped shirt is really nice and simple and also comfortable. It's also not too cropped, it has a really nice cropped cut which isn't too short so you're nicely covered from the cold but also on trend with the cropped styling.

Anyway that's my take on monochrome and the trends for Autumn. Tell me if you're into monochrome and what your statement piece is for this season.

Love,
Nur xx

Essence Colour & Go!

Hello my lovelies!

I think I'm in love! If you're after a nail polish that glides on, is opaque in 1-2 coats, is super glossy, looks like a gel polish and is REALLY INEXPENSIVE then this one is for you! Essence Colour & Go is such a lovely polish! I have to say I did not expect such quality from it, so I was pleasantly surprised. I don't know how to summarise it more than what I said above. It just has the most lovely creamy formula. I did not need a top coat on this! I applied two coats and was shocked at the glossy finish! It literally looked like a gel polish! Being me though, I was impatient and since I'm posting so late, you can guess that I'm about to get in bed soon, so to ensure my manicure was completely dry and wouldn't get destroyed in my sleep, I did end up using my beloved Seche Vite top coat.

This is how the Essence Colour & Go Nail Polish comes packaged.

This is the finished manicure! As you can see the Essence Colour & Go Nail Polish gives the most magnificent glossy finish! Lusting for this polish and this gorgeous colour, 146 That's What I Mint! I also used Maybelline's Color Show Nail Polish in the limited edition shade, 700 Avante Green. This is a metallic leaf green shade that I felt would be a nice contrast to the delicate mint green.

For 8ml I paid $2.75 which is really cheap considering the quality. There are a wide variety of colours available. I currently own two colours, the one used which is 146 That's What I Mint! and 137 Wanna Be Your Sunshine which is a gorgeous bright yellow shade. Both these polishes do have a slight shimmer or micro glitter in them which is barely visible once the polish is dry.

All in all, I love these polishes and highly recommend you give them a try if you haven't yet. If you have, let me know below which shade you tried and if you loved it or not. Wherever you are, hope you have a wonderful day!

Love,
Nur xx

My April Favourites!

Hello lovelies!

I have been enjoying quite a number of products this past month so I thought I'd share them with you!

Hope you enjoy the video! Again sorry about the quality! I'm working on getting a new camera and set up for you soon.

Love,
Nur xx

Review: Ecotools Pure Complexion Facial Sponge (Deep Cleansing)

Hello my lovelies!

Today I'm going to review for you the Ecotools Pure Complexion Facial Sponge. I have got to say, when I first saw this on iherb.com, I was instantly intrigued to what it was. It looked just like the Beauty Blender but it wasn't, it was a sponge used during the cleansing process. Being a beauty buff I had to try it out for myself, so I bought it! It costs $5.99 on iHerb which is equivalent to approximitely $6.45 AUD. It's not the cheapest product, especially since it should be replaced every 1-3 months, but I think its benefits justify the cost as you will find out below.

I purchased the 'Deep Cleansing' sponge as it contain 'exfoliating bamboo charcoal'. Charcoal is said to have great detoxifying properties which help control breakouts and oily skin! YAY!!! If I was going to purchase a sponge this had to be the one. They did have another sponge for sensitive skin but clearly the charcoal was a big seller for me. The sponge itself is made of Konjac Root which I know has been a big craze in Asia. It's a potato like plant which is harvested as it is beneficial both when consumed and when used in skincare. The Konjac root is infused with all sorts of things from charcoal to green tea to help combat skin ailments from blackheads to anti-ageing. I'm not too sure if Ecotools will bring out any other varieties, but I sure hope they do as I have a few I'm interested in trying.

Anyway, back to the sponge! When the parcel arrived I was shocked to see the sponge was ROCK HARD! Although I knew it would be I was still shocked. This was what it looked like.

As you can see it is quite porous and about the length of my fingers. The first time I put it under water I was in awe! This little baby expanded and its texture went from rock hard to super soft and smooth!

The Ecotools Pure Complexion Sponge saturated with water

The Ecotools Pure Complexion Sponge after squeezing out the excess water

When rubbed against the skin, the sponge does not tug at all, it just glides over. It is so soft and smooth, so I really enjoy using this at night either with a cleanser or after I have finished cleansing with no product in the sponge, just to massage my skin. It's a little luxury and a little treat after a long day. I'd also like to mention I don't use the sponge with any makeup on my skin, I always remove my makeup first to keep the sponge hygienic.

Now lets go into the pros of the product. I have to say that since using it, I have seen an improvement in my skin's texture. My skin feels much smoother and I believe it looks more radiant as well which is a bonus! I also like the shape of the sponge as, like the Beauty Blender, the curved and tapered shape of the sponge means it can get to all the nooks and crannies of my face (that sounds really gross but it's the only way I can describe it!). The only con I can see about this product also happens to be the shape of it. As it is quite thick when its wet form, it also means any cleansers used with it get absorbed right to the core! It doesn't interfere with the face cleansing process however, it does mean the sponge takes some time to clean thoroughly.

All that said, I highly recommend the Ecotools Pure Complexion Facial Sponge. I'll just make sure I take care of mine to make it last the 3 months it can be able to, just because $6.45 is quite expensive for a sponge! I can get my cleansers for that amount and they can last for longer than that!

Anyway that's all for today.

Love,
Nur xx