Sephora Nail Patch Art

  These are easily the most simple nail stickers I have ever used. No jagged edges, no peeling at the sides and no awkward filing to remove the excess.

Simples.

Brought to me all the way from Sephora - La Rochelle, France, from Mummy dear.

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Personality Injection

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With the magnitude of reviews that I've been putting up lately, I seem to have lost the personality that used to be injected. Yes, there may be an attempt at a joke or some kind of Phoebe-ism thrown in, but I miss the little updates on my life on here and have come to realise that the personal updates on other blogs is what keeps me reading.

While my summer isn't shaping up to be the most exciting, I'm hoping I'll have enough to share, personal life wise, to bring the Phoebe back into Peluxe.

**In the name of the Lusciously Light movement, courtesy of Aussie. I have taken advantage of not having to pay for food shopping and stretching my boundaries in terms of my usual meals. Since being home I've created lamb and olive burgers (from scratch!) and stuffed peppers. Both surprisingly delicious.

Both recipes were taken from ancient magazine clippings, but I'll dig them out if your mouths are watering...


**I've finished my first year of Uni. Completely donezo. I now await mid July for my final results, but otherwise I'm free until September. Someone fill my time?

**I don't remember buying all that much since going to the US, but somewhere in the last month I have accumulated A LOT. So much so, that I have only just unpacked, managing to fit it all neatly away in my room, after being home for four days.

**A mini TV review;
I have watched and will probably continue to watch every episode of Made in Chelsea but I think it is truly awful television.
Geordie Shore is my new pleasure. No guilt needed. I send sympathies to all true Geordie's right now. As if the stereotypes of the North East weren't bad enough, they've just decreased in class tenfold.
All my American goodness has ended until at least Autumn. Bored of Gossip Girl, can't keep up with The Vampire Diaries, still obsessed with Hellcats and 90210 can do no wrong. Oh, and of the final two, the right one won America's Next Top Model.
Just waiting on the Kardashians' return now.


I just need to get the summer to pick up speed now, for all you students, doesn't time move slower when you're at home?

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Nair Ultra Precision Wax Roll On

There is such a feeling of accomplishment when you have perfectly groomed brows. At least for me anyway. I can rarely be bothered to do a thorough job at plucking them neatly and the 'hassle' of getting to the beauty salon always seems to out do the booking of an appointment.
When I was offered the new precision roll on wax from Nair, I agreed. Hoping, maybe, that I could cross off a necessary appointment.

It's supposed to bring salon waxing home, without the sticky ness (100% rinseable formula) or the mess of spatulas (roll on tube).

The pack comes with all necessary ingredients for the perfect wax;

I followed the steps precisely. Heat up the tube for three minutes in freshly boiled water then carefully remove and check the consistency. It was runny enough so I applied under the bulk of my eyebrow.

The roll on applicator made for easy and quick application and for the most part got only the area I wanted. Using the orange stick (their version of a spatula) I removed any 'main' hairs that had become stuck down. Covering with the white cloth, I smushed it down and ripped back.

The end result isn't quite what I had pictured and left the majority of my stray eyebrow hairs wondering why they had just been smothered with the substance.

Eyebrow straight after waxing. 

When tried on a friends upper lip the results were a lot more desirable, but for eyebrows, I don't think Nair has progressed that far yet.

Nair suggest cutting the strips to the shape of the eyebrow for a better removal, but even with that it doesn't give worthwhile results. I.E you will still be plucking afterwards.

The residue washed off easily and there was minimum redness unlike with wax strips I have tried before.

The reusable nature of the product makes it value for money and it's unlikely you'll run out of the 25 strips before the product runs out, especially if you're precise.

Nair Ultra Precision Face & Eyebrow Wax Roll-On is available now for £5.99.

**PR Sample

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The Difficulty of Yellow

With the colour blocking and yellow seemingly everywhere on the beauty trend pages, I decided I had to channel it somewhere. Not being able to track down a suitable pale yellow liner and not brave enough to have the flash of yellow across the lids, I opted for nails.

I tried the Barry M 'Lemon Ice Cream' shade and even have to three coats it was still sheer and streaky, so instead, I opted for the 17 'Go Go'.

Applied so much better. It was quite creamy in consistency. I went for two coats on the majority and had to touch up a few nails, leaving 3 coats.

Not entirely sure I'm loving the yellow trend. It was a lot more wearable than I thought, but it definitely isn't in the race for my favourite nail shade. Plus, even with my favourite base coat, my nails still held the yellow stain when I removed it.

Maybe I'll try and channel a different nail trend for this season!

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Easy Falsies Kiss Ever E Z Lashes

I've become a huge fan of false lashes in the past year, but it's rare that I will get a perfect application first time, if at all. Whether there isn't enough glue, the lash isn't straight or I've applied it too far from the lash line - it's never quite right.

The advert for Kiss eyelashes caught my eye. There are strings attached to the corners of each lashes to make positioning easy and precise. Then, once applied, just pull the strings out and they're done.

I thought this would be a brilliant product and had no hesitation in picking out my favourite set to play with.
However, for me it didn't follow through. The idea was great, but in practise it just didn't happen.

Firstly, applying the glue has it's obstacles as you try to avoid loading up the tiny red strings which are sat in two tiny loops on the track line. They also become an obstacle when sticking them down, as you need to avoid securing the strings or they become difficult to pull off. Both times I used these it ended up pulling up the corner of the lash despite me holding it down with a spare finger.
The glue provided was scrapped and I used my trusty Eyelure glue as it just didn't seem to stick at all.

When using the strings to place the lash, you need to ensure that they're not twisted and you pick them up flat (if that makes sense). I found that pulling the strings to straighten the lash meant that it got flung upside down and the whole process became a whole lot more fiddly than it usually is.

The plus side is that the strings can be re threaded through the loop. I initially thought they would be one use after being pulled out. But after threading through the tiny loop after use, they're set up for the next application.

Once applied and set, they looked great. Close to the line and blended in with my liner flawlessly, probably the neatest my lashes have been applied, but not without difficulty.
Maybe, just like it is with the first ever lash application, it's a case of practise makes perfect, but for now I've ditched the strings and I'm just applying free style.

I chose number 04, which is a relatively natural looking, at least compared to my usual sets. From what was available in my Boots, it seems there are seven different styles, with some natural ish and some extreme.

I'm going to keep practising as I really want this to work out, but as for my first few tries with them, the only plus side is that the lash is applied a lot straighter than normal.

Kiss Ever Easy lashes are exclusive to Boots stores and are priced at £6.50 each.

Have you tried the new easy lashes?

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Getting the Crackles

The hype around the first Barry M Nail Effects was colossal. I remember searching for almost a month to get my hands on it. When I heard Barry M were going to be bringing out three new crackle shades I thought I'd be suffering the same fate, but they have changed their usual 3 or 4 on display and rows upon rows of each shade were out in Boots.

Pink Fizz & Blue Print

There is also a fourth shade available, White Frost, but I passed on that. I love the range of looks that can be created as it's never the same with two strokes. 

The Boots I bought from had a range of falsies on display laden with various looks you could create. The mint with the Blue Print over top is what swayed me to more Nail Effect goodness.

This is what I created;

 Sephora by OPI 'Read My Palm' & Essie 'Lapis of Luxury'

Barry M 'Navy' and OPI 'Dulce de Leche' via iPhone...

I think the majority of us have found that the thinner coat you use, the better effect you get. Trying not to overlap in the middle of the name may be a bit of a task but it is definitely worth it to have tiny cracks spreading over your base.

The shatter trend is definitely in full force as Models Own have their 'Smash Up' version to compete. I for one am this trend, a bit of an edgy.. erm.. edge to your manicure.

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Sure MotionSense - Does it work?

I first saw the jingle bell advert in the US and thought the UK would be missing out on the new technology as created by Sure. The new Motion Sense system claims to release 'microcapsules' throughout the day as you move. The jingle bell bracelets were worn to show just how much us ladies get through in the day.

I personally love getting a whiff of my deodorant throughout the day,  if only so it reassures me I'm still smelling fresh. I got sent this almost two weeks ago and have worn it every day since. 

I found that during active periods, for example a gym sesh or vigorous dancing on a night out, I picked up a scent every now and then but nothing over whelming. I liked that it wasn't the obvious deodorant scent trying to overpower my perfume. During the more active sessions, I found although I could smell it every now and then, it didn't give effective staying power and I needed to reapply if going out again.

During a regular day I didn't notice the scent very often, although if actively sniffed at it was still subtly scenting the skin at the end of the day, no need to re spritz.

The lock system of the spray is a must for travelling and I love the new design of the Sure bottles.

The slogan 'The more you move the more it works' is definitely true with the new Sure Motion Sense. It's now available in the entire Sure range, so is more than worth a try to see if you can get some freshness throughout the day.

Sure Motion Sense is available in aerosol, roll on and stick forms with prices beginning at £1.77. In stores now.

**PR Sample

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Back in the blue NOTD

It looks like it's going to be a May showers situation judging by the forecast for this weekend, so I've cracked the blue nail varnish out again. Apparently we're set for a scorching summer - let's just say I'll believe that when I see it. Anyway, I digress before I've begun...

I remember when I watched Jennifer's Body and became obsessed with the one nail a different colour as rocked by Megan Fox, then it just stopped. When I was in America there was so many people wearing this trend, so I've brought it back.

Essie 'Lapis of Luxury' and OPI 'Light My Sapphire'

After picking up a few Essie polishes across the pond, turns out I don't really like them. I find the brush way too thin and synthetic and the formula is way too thin for my liking. The light blue Essie colour is two coats, some needed three and it's still not completely opaque. What are you opinions on Essie?

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Written as a Brunette LIVE Salon Style

Ye that's right, the blonde is gone for good. Seriously. Admittedly I did use 'Dark Blonde' dye, but to me, I now have brown hair.
Although I liked my last home hair dye, I am so much more happier with this colour so would be happy to keep re upping this dye.

Check  out my full experience with LIVE Salon Style over on Superdrug's blog!

What do you think?

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Half Moon Nails

Onto the next nail trend then! I actually think this was more present during autumn/winter but I finally got around to trying it.
The half moon nails, literally just emphasising the lighter part around the cuticle of your nail. So here is the process. You'll need two nail varnishes (preferably a dark and a light shade) and the hole enforcers for documents.

Firstly you need to put the lightest colour at the bottom of each nail. I only put it at the bottom, but feel free to do the whole nail. I used two coats of OPI 'What's With the Cattitude?' from the Shrek collection, over the Nails Inc base coat.

Take the hole enforcers and cut each in half, I recommend using a different one for each nail. If you're reusing it takes forever and isn't going to get as sharp an edge.
Once the lighter shade is completely dry (I left mine a few hours), place the half circle to the bottom of your nail, I measured it by lining the peak of the inner semi circle with my cuticle.

Make sure they're firmly stuck down before you paint, especially at the edges, then paint over the nail and the tip of the hole enforcer with your darker shade. Go over the top of the sticker to create a line. I used two coats of Maybelline's 'Midnight Blue'.

Once again make sure that the darker shade is completley dry before removing the stickers, then gently peel each one off.

And ta da! The finished project;

As you can see the edges of my 'moons' aren't the neatest, simply because I didn't leave the top coat to dry long enough, a final clear top coat smoothed it out a little and I rocked it for just over a week.

Definitely want to give this a go with different shades, or with the patience, alternate the colours on each nail, I'm sure you'll hear if I decide to do something different with it!

What nail art should I try next?

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