Cracked Turquoise Nails - A Simple How To

I'm an admitted fiend when it comes to turquoise jewellery, I have several pieces that never fail to get compliments when worn so I thought it'd be the perfect look to replicate on nails.

I've put together a simple How To so that you can try the design with minimal effort should you be a turquoise fan too.

1. Gather your tools first. I used Bourjois 23 (Brown), Bourjois Bleu Model (Turquoise), Sally Hansen Gilty Pleasure, Hole Reinforcers & a fine tipped brush (I picked this one up in an Art store for €2.29/£2)

2. After one coat of Gilty Pleasure, place the hole reinforcers on the top of the nail bed.

3. Paint two coats of your turquoise colour onto the nail, be sure to start your strokes on the sticker to make the lines cleaner. 

4. While the polish is still tacky, carefully remove each sticker by gripping tightly, move your nail as you peel. 

5. & 6. Using your brown polish & a fine tipped brush draw the cracks onto your turquoise polish. This really doesn't have to be too precise as the cracks appear in turquoise so there really is no 'right' or 'wrong'. 

6.5 - Be sure to use a clear top coat to smooth out the half moon at the top of the nail and set the colours together.

The final result looks pretty close to the jewellery, don't you think? Judging by the compliments I had while rocking this manicure I'd have to say it was a winner. 

What do we think? Will it be a look you'll try?

Spooky Halloween Hair For Girls - A Simple How To

Who doesn’t love spending time looking at all the pretty things & genius ideas on Pinterest? I know I do. When I have the time that is. I love nothing more than looking at the photos & occasionally thinking to myself, I could give that a go. That’s where I got the idea of doing my daughters hair like spiders for Halloween. 

We shared the best places for Halloween breaks this morning and these would be ideal to pop into your bag to do your little one's hair for their kids clubs and Halloween shindigs. It’s so easy to do you won’t believe it.

New Cutex Ultra Cleansing - Promises to 'Remove Stubborn Glitter AND Care for Your Nails' - Does It?

I know a lot of people struggle with glitter polish removal, personally it doesn't bother me in the slightest. Chances are that's because I'm usually too excited about the next polish to care about the approximate 4 minutes it takes to remove the glitter with my go to Cutex Moisture Guard remover. So colour me intrigued when I saw this sign for Cutex Ultra Cleansing Nail Polish Remover in Boots for €2.60. 

I wasn't long in waiting for an opportunity to put this Cutex through its paces as I'd been sporting Barry M's new Majesty (STUNNER BTW) so sat down and prepared to be wowed. Then... then... nothin'. It irks me to say this but Cutex Ultra Cleansing takes zippo from the Cutex Moisture Guard removal time. 

I usually use Boots double sided cotton pads OR Plenty kitchen roll to remove glitters so I used the cotton pads and truthfully, this took pretty much exactly the same amount of time to remove the polish, if not slightly longer. 

Granted there's the addition of Multi-Fruit Extract, Geen Tea Extract & Vitamin E to help nourish nails but I've used this remover four times now and it's made no difference to the appearance or condition of my nails or cuticles. 

Don't get me wrong, it's a pleasant remover, doesn't smell too offensive and does remove glitters with a bit of scrubbage - all that and it has a purse friendly price but if you're looking for a miracle remover for your glitters, I'm afraid Cutex Ultra Cleansing isn't it. Boo and Urns. 

Elie Saab SS14 Haute Couture Nails Tutorial - AKA The Only Way I'll Ever Afford to Wear His Designs

I never claimed to be a Fashionista but if one designer makes me swoon every single time, it's Lebenese sartorial genius, Elie Saab. His wedding gowns (and pretty much everything else he puts his hands to) are quite literally breathtaking. When I saw his SS14 Haute Couture show (Linked here) I was agog. AGOG. Being realistic though, the only way I'll ever afford to wear one of these works of art is to paint it on myself. Elie Saab nails Howaya!

You know me and nail art by now, I try to find the simplest way to get the best effect, mostly because I want to be able to do my right hand too. I've come up with a tutorial so simple that it needs NO INSTRUCTIONS. Look at the pictures with your eyes, pick out your colours and go! 

What did I tell you? Simples. I love this look for Spring/Summer, of course you can mix and match what colours you'd like to use but once set against a stark white nail bed you really can't go wrong. 

I used all Essie for these but there's no need to be so precise. Just grab: 

• 1 White
• 4 Greens
• 1 Peach
• 1 Fuchsia
• 1 Black (for flowers)

These remind me of the Rihanna Marc Jacobs nails in how simple they are to create. 

What do we reckon? Will you give them a shot? 

Bourjois Adora-Bleu: Easy Breezy Nail of the Day

It's been a little while since I've done a Nail of the Day post but this periwinkle prettiness, Adora-bleu, from Bourjois just had to be shared. 

I used the stoopidly simple paperclip technique to add some white and yellow daisies to Summer it up a little and am thrilled with the results. 

Bright breezy blues like this are great complemented by silver polishes too but be sure to use a top coat as the lasting power on Adora-bleu isn't as fabulous as most of the 

Bourjois polishes I've used. 

You'll find Adora-bleu here on Littlewoods, though I managed to pick it up in Boots on the Buy One Get One Half Price deal so if you can visit the shops be sure to do that instead.  

Are you a fan of the blue nail look? 

Simple Sunburn Saviours: How to Treat Sunburned Skin

We’ve all done it, watched the internet furore about the upcoming heat wave, rolled our eyes at the gazillion screen grabs of the weather app on both Twitter and Facebook and still, STILL, we’ve found ourselves out in the blistering sun with not so much as a single SPF between us. 

Cue Lobster Mania as we sizzle, scorch and swear we’ll know better next time. For now though, to ease that sting, I’ve put together a little collection of products that will help cool, treat and repair your poor, frazzled bod so you can say goodbye to that sunburn.

There’s not a lot Thermal Spring Water can’t do when it comes to cooling you down, store your tin in the fridge for instant refreshment and a light mist of heaven whenever and wherever needed. The minerals in the water work to reduce redness and irritation immediately.

Aloe Vera truly is one of nature’s miracle workers when it comes to burns and scalds. The juice directly from the plant is ideal (gotten from simply snapping off a sprig) but tubes and bottles of prepared balms and creams are easily available from both health food shops and chemists. Again, store this in the fridge for instant soothing of the affected area. The gel will form a protective barrier on your skin and will reduce your chances of peeling. (The Reptar look is so not Spring Summer 2013)

Cicaplast Baume B5 is a staple wonder balm in many Irish homes and it isn’t my HG skin saviour for nothing. Instantly soothing and healing, a handbag sized tube really is a manna for frazzled flesh to aid recovery and take the pain away.

Finally, there’s nothing quite as soothing as a cool shower when you feel like you’ve rolled on hot coals, L’Occitane’s Almond Shower Oil is beautifully soft on the skin and because it’s an oil wash, it works to seal in your skins natural moisture and form a beautifully scented barrier to prevent dehydration. It also means you don’t have to go through the pain of slathering on after shower moisturiser. WIN!

And that's them, four products that really will take the sting from your skin and help restore its natural balance and pasty white hue. 

Tell me, have you been roasted yet? What do you recommend as a fail safe saviour? 

The José Eber 25mm Curling Wand: Before and After Pics with Video Demo

While trying VERY hard to resist the lure of the Babyliss Perfect Curl as demoed by the hilarious LovelyGirlyBits sisters here  I've been on the search for a cheaper alternative that could turn me into a Curly Sue without emptying my pócas. Cue chance encounter with the José Eber 25mm curling wand this weekend. 

You'll only find José in Arnott's and BTs

The very lovely Lilian, José Ebers shop assistant offered to demonstrate how quickly this curling wand could turn my naturally straight grúaig into a curly wonder (she said 10 minutes max) and the blogger in me leapt at the chance. (Yisser welcome) 

Ehm excuse the spaced out state, ja? 

The Official Low Down on the 25mm Curling Iron:

Ceramic heating elements designed for quick heat recovery without sudden increase of heat

Hair is heated softly and evenly from inside out, safe curling in a fraction of the time

Ceramic technology produces negative ions to seal the cuticles and repel humidity

Provides raw infrared rays for superior protection to hair, reducing frizz and making hair soft, shinny and healthier

Teflon coated, wipe clean aluminium barrel eliminates residue build-up

Teflon also provides a protective barrier between the hair and heated iron, giving more damage control

Hair glides easily over Teflon surface, reducing friction and tangling

I think I was most impressed with how quickly the hair was curled without any product - no muss, no fuss. Lilian gave me the chance to try a couple of curls myself and as a novice (wearing the heat resistant glove), they still only took me 5 seconds each!

Don't believe me? Check out this snippet of Lilian working her magic and featuring MY EYE! 

And the finished result? 

The final result! 

I was absolutely chuffed with the results, my hair had more bounce, more volume and seemed brighter without using any product or holding spray to finish. 

The curls lasted right the way through the evening and I still had a bouncy wave well into the next day AFTER a night on the tiles. 

Trés impressive. 

The José Eber 25mm curling iron retails for €160 but is regularly on special for the price of €100 WITH complimentary gifts. 

Appointments can be made to have your hair done in store before purchase for €25 and can be booked through Arnott's directly on 01 805 0400. 

Are you a fan of the curly look?