fashionCHICsta

Yep. It is the best designer topcoat.  Hardwear  dries quickly, provides high shine that lasts for days and does not craze or discolour. I appreciate the fact that I can use this on top of any brand of lacquer. The glass vessel is easy to hold as is the applicator and the bristles posses the right amount of firmness; they do not spread too far apart and provide a consistent application every time. I only need 1 coat of this awesome topcoat, I seal my edges and then top off my nails. I change my nail polish every 3 days so I use this often and I find that I am able to use about 3/4 of the product before I have to discard the rest. Ihighly recommend Hardwear and rate it a coveted 5 out of 5 stars.  xoxo •Nancy-Lee

I could not wait to get this lacquer on my nails. I was crazy for all of the glitter, it was very OH MY GOD.... SHINY! You know what I am talking about. Disneyland or Bust is a mix of neon glitter with black mouse heads and rainbow shimmer in a clear suspension base. I start with 3 coats of Fantom by LVX for pure opacity. I let it fully cure before I added Disneyland or Bust , I didn't want any pulling or sliding of the base colour. Click image to enlarge for detail. See my review of Fantom, here . I followed the instructions, roll the polish before use to distribute glitter, and I love the result. This is one of my favourite lacquers. 5-Free, vegan, gluten-free, cruelty free and hand made, Sweet Heart Polish is going to be my new go-to for lacquer bliss. Retailing for $9 on +Etsy by yours before it sells out. xoxo •Nancy-Lee

It's a touch lighter than my Fiat and just as amazing. Franci and I had the pleasure of purchasing a few different lacquers from the Butter London Lolly Brights collection ahead of the official launch. My second in this haul is Airy Fairy , a blue-lover's dream come true. While it is described as a bright turquoise flaring shimmers in gel-like base , it is really a true blue. This lacquer covers completely in 2 quick drying coats, I used 3 so it was the same opacity as the bottle. Click to enlarge for detail. Apply Airy Fairy thinly, too much product and your finished nail could cure with visible micro-bubbles. It levels easily and translates from bottle to nail perfectly. This shade is delicious and I am already thinking of 4th of July looks with this nail polish as the base. It was long lasting  - 4 days before it chipped - and easy to remove. Don't let the micro shimmer scare you off, you do not need to soak or foil-remove this formula. I rate Airy Fairy a c...

The most delicious Truffle I've ever.... worn! Earthy and neutral, it features brown and gray undertones . Bottom line: But this shade. It is not only right n trend, it will be a seasonless addition to your collection and I promise you will wear it more often then you think. This is that yummy shade you wear when you want a polished look but you don't want the polish to be the star of the show. It took only 2 coats for mochalicious perfection. This was a slightly thicker lacquer than other LVX varnishes that I have used. No worries, I was able to finish my manicure with no trouble. It applied evenly, leveled quickly and after 4 days, only 3 nails are chipped. I'll say that's pretty bad ass for a nail polish! Vegan, 5-Free and amazing, I rate Truffle a coveted 5 out of 5 stars. xoxo •Nancy-Lee

Image after freshly applied oil. I have found a new brand and I am in love with their products. GingerChi was running an amazing GWP during Valentines Day and I wanted to get my hands on the Nail Repair Serum so I pounced! Clear in colour, this light weight oil is made of hemp, sesame and vitamin E with essential oils of fresh ginger, lavender, grapefruit, tea tree and Rosemary. For an oil, it is non-greasy and absorbs very quickly. The vessel, constructed of brown glass, protects the integrity of the oils and you should store this is a cool dry place, not a steamy bathroom. The brush is very stiff allowing you to apply the oil directly to the cuticle. Lightly scented, the Repair Serum can be massaged into the skin around your fingers extending the moisturizing benefits. Apply to cuticles and bare nails or to cuticles after nails have been painted and lacquer has cured; do not apply to your nail underneath polish or the lacquer will not stick. Paraben, petroleum, mineral oil ...

I wish I had filmed my expression when I used the first one. It was INTENSE. The initial bitterness of baking soda was unbelievable and nearly unbearable but the very next use it was like nothing.  From the 2013 Christmas Kisses gift set, Chou Chou I Love You was included with cola flavoured Santa's Scrub. Click HERE to see my review and swatches. This is my first experience with Toothy Tabs by +LUSH Cosmetics   . I am addicted. With a taste of lemons and roses, Chou Chou I Love You tabs are quite refreshing but not in a minty covered kind of way . They're solid toothpaste tablets you break up between your front teeth. They quickly begin to foam in your mouth and then you brush as usual. After a full 2 minute cycle of my Sonicare , my mouth and teeth were very clean and refreshed but I want you to know, have to rinse WELL. VERY WELL. I work up after the first morning with a layer of Toothy Tabs residue on my lips. Being honest. Learned my lesson. I love these. I...

I have been getting more adventurous with my polish, adding toppers and layers of lacquer. This is actually the #NOTD that started it all. From the Jenna Hipp for +Costco Wholesale   collection, I applied 2 coats of Private Getaway a red/poppy creme and let fully harden. Then I applied Hollywood Reporter multi-sized silver iridescent glitter in a clear base to the thin edge of a makeup sponge and transferred the glitter particles to the top portion of my nail. Again, I let it fully dry before I added a high shine top coat - I did not want to lift and drag glitter down my nail. Having patience paid off. I LOVE this look! These 2 shades, together, were long lasting, making it 3 days before Private Getaway chipped. With true opacity, this long wear formula get extra points for not staining my nails, I rate them a coveted 5 out of 5 stars. Did you score this set from Costco , Kitten? Which shade(s) have you worn and what were your results? xoxo •Nancy-Lee

Santa's Lip Scrub by +LUSH Cosmetics   is the most amazing lip scrub I have EVER used. It's a blend of exfoliating Fair Trade sugar and jojoba oil with the most delicious flavour of cola, ever! And I don't even like soda!! I unscrewed the lid from the round glass jar, which was part of the Christmas Kisses gift set, and discovered there were little red hearts sprinkled on top! Check out my Instagram page for a picture, it's worth the look!

Scarlet is an intricate color; polish one coat for a gray finish with complex maroon undertones and two coats to achieve a full captivating maroon-gray. This mind-blowing color is a must try. How could I resist a description like that? Especially when it was 35% off during Black Friday?! With that savings I grabbed 3 bottles, regularly $16 each. Today I present Scarlet . One coat provides a unique sheer grey finish which dances with shades of maroon. I applied 3 coats for full opacity and rich shimmer. I waited 3 minutes and accented the moons of my nails with Alchemy , my favourite LVX shade of all time!! Once both shades had fully cured I added a top coat to lock in the shine. I waited a solid 10 minutes before completing this last step. I did not want the gold to lift and drag down my nail.

Tantalizing and feminine, Deco is a vibrant coral . I love this creamy shade. It applies cleanly and streak-free needing 2 coats for full opacity and has a quick dry-down. I accent this look with Alchemy , a flamboyant gold . I like it so much I won't buy any other gold as they could never top this one. Also covering opaquely with 2 coats, it dries shiny and amazing. Deco and Alchemy lasted 3 days before the first chips appeared. Simply delicious. I love these shades apart as much as I love them together. I rate Deco 4.5 out of 5 stars and Alchemy a coveted 5 stars. I'll get much more wear out of Alchemy . Comment below and tell me which LVX (pronunced Luxe) shades you own or have used and don't forget to +1 to share the swatches with your circles! xoxo •Nancy-Lee

This post is looooooooong overdue. My apologies to Amika. Several months ago I was asked if I would like to review a few Amika items on my blog and I jumped at the chance. Truth be told, I didn't believe that there was a difference between the less expensive hot hair tools I had purchased from Target and the more expensive tools I found on the Love Amika site. Now, I will be the first to say that I am very, very new at hair styling. You'll notice I never offer haircare tips on my blog because it is not my strength but this collection is going to change all of that! #StayTuned Click image to enlarge for detail. Intrigued with the product selection, my attention was instantly caught by the I <3 NY styler/flat iron. I love everything about this: from the box to the styler. In fact, the box is the screensaver on my iPhone which the Amika ladies at CosmoprofLV went crazy for!!

This alluring poppy red will stimulate and enliven your attitude for the summer season. This season's classic red, Modena is an essential shade that everyone should incorporate into their wardrobe. Pair this seductive red with white and neutrals. This is a dreamy red. Kissed with blue, it is not the pink poppy you might have been thinking of, it is more like the flower that represents Veterans day. Bright, delicious and daring. This is an amazing shade of red that offered an opaque, creamy finish with only 2 coats. I left this shade on for 6 days and was pretty impressed to discover there was zero staining on my nails which is unheard of when it comes to red. It lasted 3 days before it chipped and stayed bright and beautiful. Retailing for $16, I rate Modena a coveted 5 out of 5 stars. xoxo •Nancy-Lee

OMega Body Buff uses micro-ground pumice grains in a creamy Sweet Almond Oil moisturizing base. The micro-ground pumice grains are perfectly round and very plentiful, so you can quickly exfoliate on a weekly basis without it feeling like a drama or a drag. One of the creamiest exfoliators that I have ever used, Mama Mio 's OMega is the only body exfoliator that is gentle enough to use on moist facial skin, too! The OMega difference: You apply this product to dry skin and then rinse off. I have added it to my Freeman anti-stress dead sea mineral treatments: as I wait for the masque to dry I apply OMega , after about 10 minutes I step into the shower and rinse it all off, revealing the soft, smooth and bright skin. See my Freeman Anti-Stress Mask review, here ! OMega goes beyond simple exfoliation, it is serious about taking care of your skin. Packed full of Sweet Almond Oil, Aloe Vera, Chamomile and Vitamin E these ingredients increases cell regeneration, improves st...

The perks of following Whip Hand Cosmetics on Facebook? A 25% off discount to celebrate the launch of their latest series of Lip Hits. Well, you don't have to twist my arm... I am pretty much obsessed with Whip Hand so any chance to support them and score of some awesome new products and I'm in! I Ordered 2 Lip Hits, Frenzy and Itch , this review and swatch series is for Frenzy , described as a deep, almost blood red liquid lipstick with berry undertones and opaque coverage.

I LOVE bliss skincare. The at-home spa treatments are top notch in my book so imagine how excited I was to find the fabulous skin-reviving rubberizing mask at TJ Maxx for only $14.99!! This 6 treatment box retails for $38.00 and is the most requested facial upgrade in the bliss spas and I can feel and see why. Boost your skincare regimen with this straight-from-our-spa facial treatment, a weekly must for all skin types. The unique rubberizing mask is designed to envelop skin’s surface, allowing its key ingredients to be optimally absorbed by the skin. The brightening, skin-renewing formula is packed with powerful antioxidants and nourishing, detoxifying seaweed. So if you’re looking for a bright and healthy complexion , ‘mask’ and you shall receiv e.

I had no idea how coveted this lipstick was until I posted a swatch on Beautylish. Rouge Volupté #4 is known as Honey and is the ultimate nude lipstick. Super creamy , very pigmented and very glo ssy , t he Rouge Volupté collection is create d with Mango oil which giv es the li psticks a sweet scent and slick feel. The colour payoff is incredible. It only takes one swipe per lip for awesome coverage and *truth be told* this is my go-to base shade for my lip glosses. Especially YSL Golden Gloss in #2 . The shade is too much like my skin tone and I look unbelieveabl y washed out when I wear this alon e , so I don't. This lipstic k is very moisturizing and very lightweight. T he creamy finish is more oily th an buttery feeling, to me. And I find it does not last as long as it claims but it does not feather off of my lips nor does it oxidize to a different s hade: it is tube true throughout it's entire w ear. I can honestly say that my lips feel softer after w earing ...

Lips need a little hit of something special? Our full coverage lip veneers provide high shine, while staying put. These non-sticky formulas go on like lip gloss, but cover like lipstick. LIP HIT™ Lip Veneers come packaged in twist dispensers with flexible applicators shaped like little frosting spatulas. To use, twist once and place a drop on the center of the lip and spread it out for the perfect pout.  

I simply love when a company goes the distance to make your purchase special. Case in point, this Lipsi Cosmetics Aphrodite Powder . Carefully wrapped in tissue paper, they seal the purchase with a branded sticker and a delicate piece of ribbon.

I hate to admit that I actually forgot I had this shade. It happen s . I was cleaning out my beauty storage area in my home office and came across a miscellaneous bag of stuff. Inside was a full size bottle of Power Clutch , a striking deep grey-green, perfect for Winter. I start with 1 coat of Nailtiques Formula 2 followed by 2 coats of Power Clutch. The polish applies evenly, smoothly and streak-free. I top it with 1 coat of Butter LONDON Hardware quick dry topcoat.

"Leave your skin silky soft as you tone and hydrate with true rose water. 100% Natural. Moroccan rose water is great for tired eyes, moisturizing skin, cooling inflamed skin and much more." Toner, the often oh-so-forgotten step of our skincare regime is an import part of our arsenal and should not be cast aside so quickly. Toners balance the skin and remove debris left behind after using masks and soaps . Toners also prepare skin for the next steps: serums and moisturizers. Antioxidant rich Rose W ater is a byproduct of steam distillation, the process that's used to isolate the plant's essential oil.  One of the main benefits of rose water is that it acts as an anti-inflammatory, soothing irritated skin.