More Shellac Nails: French Manicure

After my last experience with Shellac (read here) I just couldn't wait to get my nails done again! Having perfectly manicured nails for two weeks is proving addictive already :)
This time I went for classic, elegant and timeless; a french manicure!

PS....can you guess what I am holding here???

I love the classic look of a french manicure and having this chip free for 2 weeks is just brilliant!

They used CND polishes in the shades 'beau' and 'studio white' for this manicure.

TADA......Yes I am indeed holding a little blue box from Tiffany & Co! LUCKY ME :)

Why? Well it's my birthday tomorrow and it is a bit of a yearly tradition to get some T&C goodness for my birthday. See previous presents here and here. This present is from my parents and I can't wait to open it tomorrow morning. I already know what it is but you will just have to wait until I show you later this week :) This item has been on my Tiffany's wish list for a while...what's on your list?

I hope you all have an amazing weekend!
I will be celebrating turning another year older with friends over lots of prosecco and cake ♥

LashAngel London mobile eyelash extensions

I got eyelash extensions last summer and loved it so much that I decided it was a must have for my summer holiday to Croatia! The beauty of having eyelash extensions for my holiday would mean not having to bother with waterproof mascara at all and being able to wake up (on a small sailing boat) and having beautiful dark curled lashes ready to go! Last year I got mine done by the lovely Kym from LashLab. You can read that review and more information on lash extensions here (link).

However before going on holiday I was so busy and I just couldn't seem to find the time to fit in an appointment to get my semi permanent lashes applied. Then I was saved by a friend of mine who recommended me to use Lash Angel, who offer a mobile service all over London! I got in contact with Vanessa who was available to come to my house at 8.30pm in Notting Hill to apply the extensions in the comfort of my own bedroom!

She applied a full set of lashes (which is about 70-90 lashes per eye) at a cost of £80. The whole procedure took about an hour and a half to complete but whilst lying on my own bed, music playing in the background.... I actually almost fell asleep, that's how comfortable I was! 

Here are some before and after pictures taken on the night.

I asked for long curled full lashes but specified that I didn't want them to look too fake so they wouldn't feel too over the top during the daytime on the beach or whilst sailing. I was very happy with the final look! 

Because each extension is applied to your own individual lashes I think it looks very natural.

All of the above photos are taken with ZERO makeup or mascara!

Some of the fantastic advantages of lash extensions are:

- They lengthen, thicken and give you a permanently curled lashed look

- They are waterproof and you don't need to fuss with wearing mascara

- Your extensions will last several weeks. At least 3-4 weeks depending on how well you look after them. 

- Lash extensions do not cause lash loss but they will fall out over time as you lose your own lashes.

- They can be worn for extended periods until your own lash completes it's life cycle

- When applied professionally lashes can last 3 months with one or two touch ups in between (normally about £50 for top-up treatments)

Here a photo of my eyes made up to show you how easily the lashes can look more dramatic and ready for a night out :) All I did was apply MAC Club eyeshadow to my eye lid, the lower lash line and added some (water based) mascara to my lower lashes to balance out and darken the look.

Tada smokey, smoldery eyes and fluttery lashes in just a matter of minutes! I love it :)
This picture was taken in week THREE of having the lashes and still going strong!

It has now been four weeks and my lashes are still looking pretty amazing! I am definitely using Vanessa again because the lashes have been great quality and getting them done at home was just ideal. I think in 1-2 weeks I will get some in-fills done so my lashes will last me for my next holiday to the USA at the end of August! 

Fore more details on lash extensions or contact details for Lash Angels visit www.lashangel.com 

Is lash extensions something you've ever had done or are you now perhaps curious to try it? xoxo

The ultimate long lasting manicure: Shellac Nails!

For ages now I have been meaning to try out the hype that is 'Shellac nails' and last night I finally went for my first CND Shellac manicure and I have to say I love it. Shellac offers a more nail-friendly solution by taking gels to the next level and it is the ultimate long lasting manicure! The special formulated polishes brush on just like regular nail polish. Nails are prepped in the same manner as a basic manicure but your polish will stay on, chip-free, for at least 14 days!

I got my nails done at Nails in London in EC4 London and the whole process only took about 30 minutes. The application process is simple. A clear base coat is applied, which is then ‘cured’ for 20 seconds in an ultraviolet light box. Two coats of coloured polish follow (I chose the CND shade Tropix), each of which needs two minutes under the UV lamp, then a high-gloss top-coat followed by a final 20-second blast of the UV light and, voila, your nails are all done!

And the amazing thing is they are dry – like ROCK HARD dry, no risk of smudging or scratching. It’s the weirdest feeling walking out and not having to be careful touching things; I kept thinking I was going to damage my manicure! But it didn’t :) I am super happy with the finished result and will be curious to see how long I can remain chip-free for!

Do you like the shade Tropix I got? I love Coral and thought it would be perfect for my holiday :)

My shellac manicure cost £35 which I think is pretty good value for money when you think how long lasting it is compared to a standard manicure! When the time comes to take the Shellac polish off your nail, you can easily get this done at the salon when you go for your next treatment and the best part is that it doesn’t actually damage the nail itself. Even though salons don’t recommend it I have seen a few tutorials on how you can remove shellac nails at home; read a good tutorial here (link).

Btw like my new iPhone cover? I picked it up yesterday for only £3.99 at H&M. It was one of those items that's in the baskets by the counter and I just couldn't resist taking it home!

So the verdict on Shellac Nails? I am hooked and will definitely get it done again. I think next time I will try a shellac french manicure. Have you ever had Shellac nails or are now intrigued to give this new revolution in manicures a go? Let me know your thoughts. xoxo

Wimp to WOW with lash extensions by Lash Lab

Hey my lovelies,
After reading so many raving reviews and having my mini experience with lash extensions a few weeks back…I decided to go for it; to get myself a full set amazing fluttery lashes! So I booked an appointment with the lovely Kym from Lash Lab who is an expert in the field of lash extensions.

Lash Lab is based in the heart of Brick Lane London in Shoreditch, near Old Street which makes it very convenient for people based in the city plus central & east London. They specialise exclusively in semi-permanent extensions for your eyelashes. At Lash Lab, your lashes will be tailored to suit your eyes, face shape and, of course, your personal preference!

Kym offers only full lash sets (priced at £85) and no half or “demi” sets, or “just a few in the corners” because she feels that more lashes add more definition, fullness and longevity to your set. Natural sets look more luscious and fluffy, and bolder sets more sumptuous and dramatic. Incomplete sets are often difficult to blend in with your natural lashes since there are so few lashes to go around, resulting in a look that appears unfinished.

So just in case you are new to all of this, let me explain what eye lash extensions actually are!

Semi-permanent eyelash extensions are the latest beauty craze to take over the world. Wimpey, thin, light lashes are transformed – one lash at a time – into a long, thick, luxurious set. The process involves attaching single strands of high quality synthetic eyelashes, one by one, onto your own natural lashes to mimic, enhance, and “extend” your own natural lashes. A variety of extensions are applied to add volume, length and curl. Styling of lashes will be tailored to suit your eyes, face shape and, of course, your personal preference.

How long do eyelash extensions last? Lash extensions when looked after properly should last 4 to 6 weeks. Over time you will shed your extensions as you lose your natural lashes, and through every day wear and tear. Your lash extensions will become sparse over time, and in-fills can be applied to replace the extensions that have fallen off.

 Lash extensions are really delicate and you do need to take care of them and be gentle to avoid them falling out prematurely.  Exposure to steam, very hot temperatures or water, touching, picking, or rubbing your lashes can weaken the adhesive bond on your extensions and cause them to fall off.

So two weeks ago I went to Lash Lab to get my new fluttery lashes applied by Kym. On arrival she talked me through the process and consulted me on what kind of look I was hoping for. I didn't want a 'Jordan' or very over the top fake lashes look so I asked for natural looking fluttery lashes - basically me but better! The idea would be that they will look the same (or maybe a little bit better) than they normally do when I curl them and wear mascara. After the consultation I was told to lie down on a comfortable massage couch and after about 1 1/2 hours (which was spend chatting to the lovely Kym and OK maybe a little snooze) the procedure was done!

Did it hurt? No, a propert application of lash extensions should not hurt. The extensions are attached to your natural lashes and not the skin and therefore clients do not feel a thing.

The below before and after pictures were taken on the day, actually at the salon, directly after application. In the before pictures I am wearing NO make up and in the after shots it's just my new lashes without any mascara! Impressed? I am :)

How do the eyelash extensions look and feel after the procedure?
Eyelash extensions should look and feel like your natural lashes, and to the untrained eye no one can tell they are not your natural lashes. You should not feel any pain or discomfort in or around your eyes after the procedure. Lashes should be clean and well separated with no clumping or lumps of adhesive visible. Kym told me she has carried out numerous remedial work on clients who have had dangerous and poorly applied eyelash extensions elsewhere where the client has experienced clumping, pain, discomfort, or damage to their own natural lashes – this is not normal! I didn't feel a thing and I have had them for two weeks now and I don't feel any pain or discomfort. They feel soft and you don't really notice they are there (feel wise that is!)

There are numerous reports floating around that eyelash extensions will damage your own natural lashes which was a concern I had before doing the procedure. Kym assured me that properly applied eyelash extensions should not damage your natural lashes. Clients should not experience pain to their eyelids or premature shedding of their natural lashes. Lash extensions may be removed with professional gel remover, and once the extensions are taken off your natural lashes should remain intact and in its normal condition. If I experience otherwise after 3-6 weeks, I will report it here!

Top: Before
Middle and Bottom: After with no makeup! ♥

   

Overall, I have to say it was a brilliant experience and so far am still loving my lashes. It's so nice to wake up every morning and having dark, long and curly lashes. Doing my eye makeup these days is such a breeze with no curling or mascara required :)

Have you ever had or considered getting lash extensions? At £85 it is quite the luxury expense but I think it's great if say you are going on holiday, for your wedding or if you have a month where you have a few special occsaions on; then it's definitely worth the money!

Fore more information on how to transform your lashes from wimp to WOW visit the Lash Lab website or call on +447 807 421 345 to make a booking.

Getting Lash Perfect at new Lash Bar!

Last week I was invited to check out the brand new ‘Lash Bar’ in Soho, London. This amazing Lash Bar, which is pretty much a one-stop-shop for anything eyes, lashes and brows, is a new venture by UK’s leading Lash experts Lash Perfect.  Lash Perfect is a UK market leader within the semi-permanent eyelash extension sector, offering a wide range of innovative and high quality eyelash extensions. As an exciting extension to the Lash Perfect family, the stand-alone Lash Bar is a gorgeously styled salon based in the heart of Soho, right amongst the electric boutiques and coffee houses within the backstreets of Carnaby.

They have a huge list of treatments of offer, ranging from only £10 to £270 - so you can visit the Lash Bar for all your peepers’ needs! The treatments, all performed by skilled therapists in the four treatment boudoirs, include semi-permanent eyelash extensions, lasting 8-12 weeks, Lash Baylage eyelash tinting in colours from black to green, Paperself creatively cut elegant paper eyelashes in 13 different designs and a 5 step eyebrow treatment that will ensure that not a hair is out of place. Or for instant impact purchase some strip lashes by La La Lashes (starting from £7.50) and have them applied at the Strip Lash Bar over a cup of coffee with friends and then you are ready to hit the shops or bars in Soho afterwards ;)

For the more adventurous lash lover, Lash Perfect is the only place in the UK that stocks and applies the super creative Paperself Lashes.They pretty much turn your eyes into a work of art!

On my visit to the lash bar I was so lucky to get some semi-permanent lash flicks applied to my lashes in their stunning VIP treatment room! I’ve never had semi-permanent lashes before so it was a fun new experience. The therapist was lovely and explained everything very clearly and told me how to maintain and look after my new fluttery lashes once they had been applied.

See here the before & after shot of my lashes at taken at the salon (sorry the before one is a bit blurry!) 

I ♥ the effect of the flicks, giving my outer lashes some added ‘oomph’ whilst still remaining natural & pretty! Below is my lashes a few days later with mascara. At the salon they provided me with a black mascara by Lash Perfect that is oil-free and therefore specially formulated to be compatible with eyelash extensions.

I’m definitely loving the idea of lash extensions now. Can’t wait to experiment some more, maybe next time I will go for the full shebang ;)

The Lash Bar, 35 Marshall Street, London W1F 7EX
T: 020 7434 4554 W: www.lashbar.co.uk/

Celebrating the opening of their first ever Lash Bar, Lash Perfect have also launched this cool ‘Lash App’ for your iPhone. You can experiment with the look of different lash styles by taking a photo (or using an existing one) and see how the their wide range of semi -permanent or strip lashes suit your eyeshape before committing to any particular look! It’s FREE so fun stuff to play around with :)