Get Gorgeous Nails with Micro Cell's Nail Range

Micro Cell is pretty new to the UK (they launched at the beginning of the year) but they're a very well established German brand. Micro Cell offer at home nail care and treatment products and I was really excited to try out a couple of products from their extensive range.

Micro Cell Nail Repair* | rrp £18.50

Micro Cell's Nail Repair looks like a clear nail polish when you apply it to your nails but it's actually a nail treatment designed to strengthen nails over two-three weeks. It does this by restoring protein levels in the corneal layer of your nails - and thus protecting your nails from flaking and tearing. You can wear Micro Cell's Nail Repair as a clear polish alone or underneath nail polish, and it's also available in a matte formula so that men (or women who don't want a noticeable shine to their nails) can also benefit from it's restorative properties. I've been using it for a few weeks now and my overall impression is that I like it, but that I haven't seen massive improvement. I definitely think it's a product that I'll have to keep using, but it's so easy and undetectable that I don't consider this a problem. 

Micro Cell Colour Repair (in Raspberry)* | rrp £14.95

If you like the idea of Micro Cell's Nail Repair but you prefer wearing colour on your nails, then you'll be happy to hear that they also make a colour nail treatment. It's advised that you use the clear Nail Repair formula to begin with but once your nails are in better condition you can graduate onto the coloured formula. I've tried out the shade Raspberry which is a really pretty and wearable dark-pink. I found that it didn't wear on my nails as long as I had hoped it would but I think the revolutionary concept of a nail colour and treatment in one bottle is enough to keep me using it. I think that if you're looking to reform unhappy nails then it would definitely be worth trying out Micro Cell's Nail Repair system - the original Nail Repair followed by coloured polishes once your nails are healthier. I think it's a great new range and I'm really happy that my nails are benefitting from it.

Micro Cell Cuticle Care Pen* | rrp £10.95

I think this might just be my favourite product out of the ones I was sent. I'm not generally "big" on manicures and pedicures - and more often than not I'm not wearing nail polish. However, I do like to do the little things that make me look neater and more professional that don't necessarily take up a lot of time - like nails oils and clear nail polish! Micro Cell's Cuticle Care Pen does a whole lot for the look of your nails in almost no time at all. It has a ergonomically designed, stiff-but-not-too-stuff applicator that allows you to gentle push your cuticles back whilst also delivering peach kernel, jojoba and rice oil onto the newly exposed area of your nail. This means that not only does it have an instant effect on the way your nail looks, but it also helps hydrate and care-for your nails. Like all of Micro Cell's range, it's designed with both short and long-term effects in mind - and this is something that I wish more brands would do.

Have you heard of Micro Cell before? What nail care products or brands do you normally use?

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My Winter Polish Picks

Do you sense a theme? I'm completely obsessed with what I've been calling the winter "neutrals" - I'm talking those browns, washed out metallics, greys and the pinky-purpley neutrals that are super pretty (especially when topped off with a sparkly topcoat). They're definitely not nude nail shades but they're all those sorts of shades that work with with any outfit and party makeup look. I am really not one of those girls who'll change her polish just to suit her lipstick, I'm all about the easy-to-wear, goes-with-anything shades that I can rock all week long. I've shared my top five picks (pictured left to right):

Seventeen's Glitter Polish in Gold*

OPI's Nail Lacquer in San-Tan Tonio*

Nails Inc Kate Spade Nail Polish in Uptown Glamour

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Polish in Almond

Barry M Nail Paint in Rose Quartz Glitter

What nail polishes are you loving at the moment?

REVIEW: Reverence De Bastien Unguent for Nails and Cuticles

If any of you read my post on January's Birchbox then you'll have had a glimpse of this nail unguent before. I'm not going to lie, the word 'unguent' still makes me cringe in an inexplicable sort of disgust but we mustn't confuse that with my feelings for the product itself! My hands need a lot of maintenance as I have incredibly dry and sensitive skin but usually I'm not one to pamper my nails. In fact, they go relatively unloved most of the time, which seems like a terrible shame when I think of how much time I spend on other aspects of my appearance. This nail unguent (did you shiver too?) is a perfect pampering product for your nails and cuticles. The product itself is insanely girly looking as it is an incredibly pearlescent pink and has a gorgeous rose scent. The applicator is very well suited to this product's use, the thin nozzle allows you to apply a small amount of product directly to you cuticles and when you massage it into your cutcles the unguent has a very oily  feel to it. It takes quite a while to sink into the cuticles which can be quite annoying but I've found that if you do give it the time it needs the effects are worthwhile. I've been using this once (sometimes twice) a week since I got it and I have definitely noticed an improvement in my cuticles. They've been in such better condition than normal. I haven't noticed a difference in my nails but I haven't been using it for that long (only a month) so there might be bonus effects on them that haven't yet become noticable. Overall, this has really stressed the importance of using a product on my cuticles and I'm really glad that I recieved this in a beauty box. However, as this product comes in at about 15 euros I don't think I would repurchase it as that seems quite pricey to me. It would make a lovely gift though, especially for someone who loves having a perfect manicure!

What do you use to pamper your hands?

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NOTD: Barry M. Textured Nail Paint in Atlantic Road

(left: two layers  right: one layer)

I picked this nail polish up last Friday and was really excited by the idea of a 'textured' finish. I didn't really know what to expect, I'd seen swatches of Nail Inc.'s 'Concrete' effect polishes and I think the Barry M finish is very, very similar. The finish is matte and it feels a bit like sand has been mixed in with the polish. I went through a little bit of a love-hate relationship with this at first but I've decided (mainly due to how well it's worn) that I really do like this textured effect. I applied this on Friday and I didn't see a single chip for four days. FOUR DAYS. On my nails this is good, and for a nail polish that costs £3.99 this is absolutely stand-out value. It's also worth noting that even after the initial chip (which I think was probably my fault) I only really saw reasonable tip wear, not much further chipping. The colour is also really gorgeous, very delicate and girly but doesn't wash me out. I'm really impressed and once I've had a chance to wear and review the two Gelly polishes I've picked up I'll definitely be going back to pick another one of these polishes up. They're great if you know you've got a busy week ahead and they're a lovely alternative to glossy nails. 

You can find Barry M.'s Textured Nail Polishes for £3.99 in Superdrug or Boots stores or online here.

Have you tried any of Barry M.'s new nail polishes?

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NOTD: Valentine's Day Nails ft. Barry M Nail Paint in Ruby Glitter

Last Friday I did a little bit of shopping and whilst I was in Superdrug I picked up this Barry M Nail Paint called Ruby Glitter. I loved the look of it but once I got home I initially didn't know how I was going to wear it so I tried it as a topcoat over navy, red and pink varnishes to see what looked best. You can see the swatches I did above, but in the end I settled on wearing it over Nail Inc's gorgeous red shade St. James. I think they look really nice together! So yeah, this is the combination I'll be rocking tomorrow. 

 What nail varnish are you loving right now?

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NOTD: Nails Inc 'Shoreditch'

This month I've doing a No-Foundation Challenge and the result has been that the make up I am wearing has been a lot brighter than normal (trying to compensate I suppose!) This nail polish from Nails Inc is an absolutely gorgeous pink shade, it's called 'Shoreditch' which is described on the Nails Inc website as a classic hot pink.

Applying it is really easy as the brush is quite thin so it lets you precisely apply the polish. Initially it is quite sheer but it layers up really well and is mainly opaque after 2 layers and completely opaque after 3. On the nail you could probably get away with 2 layers but 3 definitely looks better. The finish is really quite shiny too which I liked, the swatches below don't have any top-coat on them so you can see what I mean.

The formula of Nails Inc polishes always seems to be lovely and this one is no exception. The colour is gorgeous and I think it is something I will be wearing through Spring into Summer so to me that justifies the  £11 price tag! 

What shade of nail polish have you been loving this month?

Angelica

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BAD APPLE COSMETICS: Nail Polish in shades 001Q (Russet) and 001R

Last weekend I attended the BloggersXmas Event (which I really do need to do a post on!) and while I was there I had the pleasure of being introduced to Bad Apple Cosmetics and their range of amazing nail polishes and nail wraps. I was also lucky enough to take away two of their nail polishes from the event in two amazing shades, neither of which I own anything similar to so I was very excited to try them out.

Nail Polish in 001Q* (left), Nail Polish in 001R* (right)

These nail polishes layer up gorgeously and although they take three layers to really look their best but they dry really quickly so there is no gloopiness or smudging and painting your nails won't take ages. I personally love the formula of these polishes as they're really easy to apply and the finished effect is really high quality with the colour catching the light beautifully. The grey shade (001R) is closer to a colour I might normally go for but the final pigmentation of it when it is layered up is a lot more attractive than any of the other grey nail polishes I own. I can see this shade in particular being a staple of mine- also in daylight it transforms into a lovely deep purple so its really lovely and versatile. As for the green-er shade (001Q) although this isn't something that I would normally pick up I really adore how it looks on the nail. It is a lovely take on a shade that I'd normally find a little daunting to wear. It is very multi-tonal in daylight and looks a lot more bottle green in the evening. 

All in all I would highly recommend these nail polishes for their quality and ease of application- I'm incredibly keen to try some of their more conventional shades (their bright reds and pinks look gorgeous)! The brand itself is really cool  and new and I love their logo which you can see on the bottle. These polishes retail for £9.95* and are available on the Bad Apple Cosmetics website  but at the moment there is currently 30% of nail polishes so you can nab yourself a bottle for just £6.95 which I think is incredibly good value for such a lovely nail polish.

Have you tried any of Bad Apple's nail polishes or nail wraps? 

Angelica

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NOTD: Model's Own 'Red n Black' and 'Thunder & Lightning'

I picked these two nail varnishes up ages ago during the Model's Own 50% off sale (how time flies!) and hadn't really gotten around to wearing them yet due to an excessive splurge on Essie polishes. However, over the last couple of weeks I've really been loving the two of these together so I thought I'd just quickly show you how they look.

So I've been wearing two layers of 'Red n Black' with one layer of 'Thunder & Lightening' over the top. 'Thunder & Lightening' is one of my favourite nail polishes at the moment as it really catches the light beautifully, but you definitely need to layer it over a polish as it is quite a sheer grey tone. It looks better over darker polishes (I've tried it over white and pastel pink and it didn't look great) and I love how it looks over 'Red n Black' although I will probably update this when I layer it over a grey/metallic to show you if it looks even better like that.

Anyway, the middle nail is how I've been wearing my nails lately- dark purple-y/black with a slight glitter. The photos doesn't really show how gorgeously the glitter catches the light but I would definitely recommend 'Thunder & Lightening'! It also looks equally nice over a navy blue (I tried it with the navy Nails Inc polish that was a magazine freebie last month). Both polishes (as with all the Model's Own polishes that I have tired) applied really easily and evenly and dried quite quickly, a lot quicker than the Barry M polish I just bought which has been driving me insane by drying so slowly! 

How have you been doing your nails lately? 

Angelica

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AWESOME FREEBIES #5: Glamour and Nails Inc polishes

This month's Glamour comes with one of four Nail's Inc polishes which have an RRP of £11! As the magazine is only £2 I thought I'd pick up three of the four colours (the shade I skipped is called Elizabeth Street and is a very pale light pink). The Nails Inc polishes swatched below are St. James, Motcomb Street and Glamour Glitter.

St. James, Motcomb Street, Glamour Glitter- one layer

St. James, Motcomb Street, Glamour Glitter- two layers

St. James and Motcomb Street under two layers of Glamour Glitter

As you can see all three of these polishes really need two layers in order to look their best. It's also worth noting that Glamour Glitter can be worn as a top coat as the glitter particles are for some reason incredibly smooth on the nail, you can barely feel them! St. James with Glamour Glitter over it is going to be the nail look that I rock this Christmas and I'd definitely recommend getting at least one of these polishes as they're great quality and great colours! (It's also worth noting that inside Glamour this month are two samples, one of Rimmel's BB cream and the other of Nivea's new hydrating primer.)

Have you picked Glamour up this month? If you did what shade did you choose and  what do you think of it?

Angelica

Nail Art

I'm not that adventurous when it comes to my nails so I have to place all the credit on my lovely flatmate, Josie, who is always experimenting with the cutest nail designs. She was very happy for me to let you all have a look at the photos she's taken of her nails over the last few weeks, I hope you like them! [This is going to be a picture heavy post]

NOTD: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Colour in Lively Lilac

This is just a short post to show you how I wore my nails this week.

NOTD: Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint

So this is the Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Watermelon. I only just got this little beauty in the post this morning but as soon as I saw it I knew that I loved with the colour, its a very dark teal / a dark green with a touch of blue.