Tuesday 31 January 2017

Allergy or Over Exposure -January

My Poor Swatching Hand

Hi guys, I was going to write one long post on my swatching hand recovery, but as it's gonna take a few months, I thought it easier to do a monthly update. About 2 weeks before Christmas I had a reaction on my swatching hand to what I first thought was using out of date cuticle oil. The main reason for me writing this, is because when I was looking for answers online, I couldn't find anything, and I wouldn't want anyone who loves painting their nails to go through the same as me. But if this was to happen, I'm hoping this post would be helpful. 
It started with these tiny blisters, that itched now and again. Then my finger tips and nails felt sensitive. As it was a holiday period I was unable to see a doctor as soon as I wanted, but when I did I was prescribed some steriod ointment, called Eumovate. I applied this twice a day for 7 days, the blisters went, but my skin was so red and felt so dry, basically like leather!!
I was debating whether to post some photos as my nails and skin looked disgusting! But here goes. 
What looked like bruising appeared and some nails started to lift, so I had no choice but to file them the shortest they've ever been in years! Although still slightly red, my skin looked smoother, and the bruising/ burning is more apparent. I will say though in no pain or itching and the sensitivity had gone. But as my skin was super dry, even though I was using E45, coconut oil and a new cuticle oil, then they started to peel.
The skin continued to peel under and around each finger. I was tempted to pick at it, but didnt and carefully cut it with cuticle clippers.
Still red and a bit puffy, no infection though and my skin is starting to feel softer and normal again, still a tiny bit of peeling but no where near as bad as before. For the last 5 days I have been using The Edge Nails Nail Oil Pen, with Avocado and Vitamin E.

Not an over powerful scent, but smells very refreshing. A nice oil that's not too greasy feeling and absorbed into my skin quickly leaving my nails looking nice. A handy twist pen oil that you can take anywhere you go.
So here's the photo collage (that I didn't want to post) of my nails through January.
You can see at one point just how bad they were. The bottom middle pic is how they look now. Some slow improvement that can only hopefully continue. I'll have another monthly update next month.
Hope you found this post eye opening and I also hope I never scared you with these photos!
Stay safe and much love...

Monday 30 January 2017

Cuccio Dipping System Starter Kit

French Tip Dipping

Happy Monday peeps! Hope you had a good weekend, mine was super busy as we have 2 new fur babies :) anyway today I'm here with my next review of the Cuccio Dipping System Starter Kit, this time using the dipping trays to do a French Manicure. For my first ever attempt at this, I'm pretty happy with the final look. It's very easy to do, and also something that will get easier to do with more practice. Check out my video tutorial.


You can see I filled the tray with the White dipping powder, and used French Pink. You paint your entire nail with the top and base, slide you nail into the tray tap off excess then straight into the pink. Do this twice, and the final dipping is in Clear. File to reduce thickness, buff smooth and add a top coat and cuticle oil. 


Then I added some white lace stamping, I love how delicate this mani looks.
You can find this starter kit on Cuccio UK 
and eBay. You can also find and follow Cuccio over on FacebookInstagram and
That's all for today, till next time stay safe and much love...

Saturday 28 January 2017

Moyou Nails Fashion

Square Stamping Plates 

Hi guys, I'm here with another square stamping plate review for Moyou Nails Fashion. This plate is perfect for Valentine's Day. 409 has some super pretty singular heart and wings that are great for stamping directly to your nails or making decals.
I have done 2 mani's, one with reversed stamped decals that is super cute and perfect for Valentine's. These pink and red hearts pop over the white base and looks perfect with a matte top coat.

Next up I made an orange and yellow splodge gradient and stamped the tiger animal print hearts in black. Left this one with a glossy topcoat and love it!

The possibilities with this plate are endless, so many beautiful designs to choose from.
You can find Moyou Nails Fashion over on
FacebookInstagram and Twitter.
And my discount code below will get you 20% off your order from their website
Till next time stay safe and much love....

Friday 27 January 2017

Charlies Nail Art Review

Chocolate and Donuts

Well hello there! I had so much fun doing today's review for Charlies Nail Art. I mean who doesn't like chocolate or donuts? These cute and detailed 3D Donuts are only 29p for 2 and look good enough to eat lol.
So to create a look that would compliment these chocolate dipped donuts, I started with a cream base that I matte top coated. With a very dark brown polish, I blobbed some on a piece of foil and waited till it was thick enough to string over my nails to represent melted chocolate. Applied the donut as an accent with matte top coat and added a chocolate heart.

The glossy Brown over the matte cream to me does look like I've put melted chocolate over my nails!  And I really like how this looks. Slowly becoming better using my non dominant hand to paint my nails.
Use my 15% discount code BNM15 when you place an order, and why not check out Charlies Nail Art on
FacebookInstagram  and Twitter.
Have a great weekend. Stay safe and much love....

Wednesday 25 January 2017

Dipping Powder Nails

Cuccio Dipping System Starter Kit 

Hello, hello and what an exciting post I have for you all today! The nail trend going around is all about dipping powder nails. It's basically as easy as gel with the strength of acrylic, and can be easily soaked off. Using a resin base and finely milled acrylic powders, you can easily create stunning full colour, gradient or French manicure nails in under 30 minutes, and they will last for 2 weeks. You get everything you need in this starter kit from Cuccio UK.
Cuccio Pro Dipping Powder starter kit comes in these cute packaging. With full step by step instructions.
The bottles are numbered to make this item super easy to use.
The Primer is fast drying and cleanes the nail plate making a perfect bond for the powder. The top and base gel leaves a super smooth finish. The Layering gel is super thin for multiple dipping. The Gel Activator creates a fast curing without the need of a LED or UV light. Great to have a brush cleaner to wipe off any powder residue after application. And finally the Milk and Honey cuticle oil is super lush.
You also get Clear, White, French Pink, Passionate Pink and Silver Glitter dipping powders. That come with a protective seal.
Once removed they look like this...
To make French Manicures easier you pour the dipping powder into these handy pots, you get 3, each come with lids.
I'll do another post showing a French manicure using these pots at a later date. But for now I have done a full nail colour using Passionate Pink and Silver Glitter.
I started with cleaning my nails and pushing back my cuticles. Then applied the primer. A careful thin coat of the top and base, then dipped into the Powder, tapping off the excess. Then a coat of the layering gel and dip into the colour again. A final coat of the layering gel and dip into the clear powder. Back to the top and base again, then the activator. Completely dry straight away! File and buff smooth, then wash your hands. A final topcoat of your choice and then some nourishing cuticle oil and your finished.


Check out my video below..



Now considering I was doing all this with my non dominant hand, I'm super pleased with how these came out. But this kit was really very easy to use. They don't feel overly thick, just like a normal polish, and with the range of different coloured dipping powders available, this is a great trend for this year.
You can find, follow and keep up to date with Cuccio on FacebookInstagram and
Twitter.
And be sure to come back soon to see another mani using this dip powder system.
Stay safe and much love....

Tuesday 24 January 2017

Milvart Review

Full Nail Water Decals

I'm super impressed with the full nail water decals from Milvart. They are so pretty and a unique mix of designs, both floral and even foil effects. You should really have a look at them. Some can only be used with a white base, but this is too make the decal look simply stunning on your nails. They adhere well, with enough slide for perfect placement. The clean up of any excess is easy with a clean up brush and acetone. 
So the 3 decals I have used for this post are all so different, yet all equally gorgeous. 
F94 is a super pretty arabesque gold foil decals. Any base colour would go well with this, but for a classy and elegant look I used a black polish.

The gold just looks striking, and just perfect. It didn't crinkle when I applied my glossy topcoat.
J107 is a mix of both gold foil and pretty flowers. Such an unusal looking water decal. These are shaped to fit the cuticle part of your nails.

Placement was easy, as the golden foil line helped me to place these straight on each nail. The glossy topcoat just make these look so special!
N857 is a design that reminds me of fine China, and you can't go wrong with a blue and white mani, and a matte top coat makes it look so realistic.

You can also find Milvart over on Facebook and Instagram. I'd recommend these water decals as they are the best full nail I've used, and a huge and stunning range of patterns.
Stay safe and much love....

Monday 23 January 2017

Born Pretty Store

Paisley Water Decals 

So I'm here with my favourite type of water decals. I think that these black design decals on a clear backing are just fab, as you can wear them in so many ways. 
BPY 14 has 2 very detailed and pretty arabesque paisley designs. I also like how with these you get 2 different decals, and you can cut them to the sizes you need.
For my first mani, I painted my nails with a delicate light pink polish. Like most full nail decals there was some excess to clean up, but this was easy with my clean up brush and acetone. So simple yet utterly stunning.
For my second, I coloured in the designs. I first removed the decals from their backing and placed in a clean stamper. Once dry I carefully filled the paisley images, and left to dry again. No need to topcoat, just gently peel from the stamper and place onto nails. I use foil glue to stick to my nails. Clean up excess and finished with a matte top coat.
Over a white base I really like how these look. 2 totally different looking mani's, yet both equally beautiful.
FacebookInstagram and Twitter are all the places you need to keep up to date with Born Pretty Store, and use my discount code to receive 10% from any order you make. 
As always, stay safe and much love...

Saturday 21 January 2017

Moyou Nails Fashion

Square Stamping Plates 

Hello my lovlies! Moyou Nails rebranded as Moyou Nails Fashion last year, with a new and great looking website. They also released some new square stamping plates. Over the next few weeks, I'll be showing you a selection of these, and first up is a Pop Art plate from the Urban Collection.
479 is completely filled with a lovely selection of Pop Art words.
Just awesome right? Perfect for stamping directly onto your nails, or making stamping decals which is what I did. With a white base, I added some random sizes black dots then applied my stamped decals. Finished with a matte top coat.

Such a fun plate for any time, and the possibilities are endless.
Use my 20% discount code below if this plate or any you like takes your fancy.

And don't forget you can keep up to date with Moyou Nails Fashion on Facebook,
Instagram and Twitter.
Thanks for stopping by and till next time, stay safe and much love...