NOTD : Bourjois 1 Seconde Prune Stellaire (n°9)

Hey everyone ! Long time no nail polish post, huh ? Well, here's one !

 

Today I have Prune Stellaire (or number 9) from the Bourjois 1 Seconde line. This is an oldie (sorta). I bought this in 2011 (I think ? Or early 2012) at a discount store, and I'm about 80% sure that this was one of the first colors Bourjois released from the 1 Seconde line.

Prune Stellaire is a beautiful deep plum with pink glitters that shows more in the sunlight. It was hard to capture it on camera. I applied 2 coats and removed the polish 6 days later, and only had some tip wear. Yay for long lasting polishes !

 

But what exactly is the 1 Seconde line ? Well, the back of the polish says 1 nail = 1 stroke = 1 second, with 50 seconds of drying time. Do I agree ? Definitely. Now obviously application time also depends on the size of your nails, but with a brush that size, 1 stroke = 1 nail for me, for sure. The brush is wide and flat, and I don't have any problem with it polishing my cuticles at the same time as I'm doing my nails. It might look a little scary but it's honestly one of the easiest brush I've used, and the shape of the handle really helps.

I took a picture of the 1 Seconde brush next to OPI's brush (this is Gouga Gouda Two Shoes), so you can compare.

Have you ever tried a Bourjois 1 Seconde polish ? What's your favorite nail polish brush ?

September 2014 Reads

I definitely didn't read as much this month as I did in August, but I did manage to read a couple books. Here they are :

Vanity, Vengeance and a Weekend in Vegas, Kyra Davis : This is the 6th book in the Sophie Katz series by Kyra Davis. I read the first five back in February/March, and really loved them. They're chick lit mixed with mystery and I couldn't put them down. But for this one, I had a harder time getting into the story. I don't know if it's because I read the other books in French and this one in its original version, but it took me longer to finish it. I didn't have that "oh God what's happening I have to read the next chapter" from the start, like I did with the other. I did read the last few chapters in one go, though, and I'd definitely read the next one if there's one.

You're The One That I Want, Giovanna Fletcher : Because I loved Billy and Me so much, I figured I'd read YTOTIW. Like with Billy and Me, I'd only seen positive feedback for this one, and was worried I'd be disappointed. Well... I was a little. I did like it, but I didn't love it. It took me a while to get into the story and finish the book. I was also a bit disappointed by the ending because SPOILER I felt like Maddie stayed with Rob because she had to, not because she loved him. I honestly thought that the kid in the epilogue would Ben and Maddie's, not Ben and some random girl's child. /SPOILER. It's definitely a good read, I love the writing style, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

What did you read this month ? Do you have any book recommendations for me ?

August 2014 Reads

Okay, I know that when I say I'll try and do a monthly [insert word here], I never do it. I don't even have any excuses for forgetting about it. Buuut, because I'm stubborn, I thought I'd try something different. How about a books-I've-read-this-month type post ? Are you in ? Yes ? Okay !

I mentionned that I went on holiday in August, and I always always read a lot on holiday (which is why I'm very glad to now have a Kindle. So much room left in my suitcase ! Not having to worry about running out of books !)
Here are the books I've read in August !

The Boy Next Door (Melissa et Son Voisin), Meg Cabot : I read this a long time ago, while on holiday with a friend who'd bought the book. I wanted to re-read it, as I love Meg Cabot's books. It's a very easy and fast read, and it's really fun. The text consists of emails between the characters, which means there are no long chapters  you might have to worry about finishing because you have to do something else (I absolutely hate putting a book down in the middle of a chapter).

Billy and Me, Giovanna Fletcher : I'd heard such great things about this book that I put off reading it, as I was worried I'd be disappointed. I finally decided to read it, and I loved it ! I think I read it in 3 days, and I was very glad to have sunglasses on as I read the ending !

Good in Bed (Alors, Heureuse ?) & Certain Girls (La Fille de sa Mère), Jennifer Weiner  : I read both books back to back, so I guess I did kind of like them. I did have a hard time really getting into the story for the first one (mostly because I didn't understand why the character would still be hung up on her boyfriend) but I enjoyed the second one a lot more. Again, prepare to tear up at the ending.

Eleanor and Park, Rainbow Rowell : This book ! Aah ! I read it in a day ! It rained all day that day so we didn't do a lot, and I couldn't put the book down. I absolutely LOVED it ! Although I wish we could have known a little more at the end, it's still a very great read.

Wedding Night (Nuit de Noces à Ikonos), Sophie Kinsella : I really enjoy Sophie Kinsella's books and chose to read this one. And I have to say that although I liked it (I managed to get through it, although it took longer than the other books) I was a little... disappointed, I guess. I felt like nothing really happened, and there was no "Oh my, I can't put this book down" going on. Maybe I expected it to be something else, I don't know. It's still worth checking out, though !

And there are my August reads ! Have you read any from this list ? What books did you read this month ? Do share !

Some books were read in French (I added the French title for those) while some were read in their original versions. I thought I'd mention it, as I feel sometimes translation can make a difference whether I like a book or not.

NOTD : Maybelline Mini Colorama in Urban Lemon

Long time no see ! But I'm back with - yes, again - a nail polish post. Spring is definitely here and the need for bright colors on my nails is back too. This is Maybelline's Urban Lemon from their Mini Colorama range, a bright lemon yellow polish.

(I'm again very sorry for the poor state of my cuticles. I ran out of my holy 

grail cuticle cream and I keep forgetting to buy more.)

Urban Lemon stayed perfect on my nails for 5 days. After that, desert-like cracks start to show on the polish, and it starts to chip (following the cracks). Five days is still long for a polish, so I'm fine with it.

Application was streaky, but it's a yellow so that is to be expected. You just have to be light on the brush. I managed to get away with two coats and it was opaque (Although you can see some nail line on my index finger. I guess I had less polish on the brush for that finger than with the other ones.)

Do you have a yellow polish ? Or several yellow polishes ? What's your favorite one ?

NOTD : agnès b. mini b. in b. Rose Libellule

In an attempt to forget about HIMYM's horrible finale (well, at least those last 5 minutes or so) I thought today I'd show what I had on my nails last week.

Before I buy any more nail polish, I want to finish the ones I've had for years. It's hard, because there  are a lot of colors or finishes I'm just not a fan of anymore. I've only managed to part with two or three polishes that were past their prime (they were too thick and... stringy. You know, when you take the brush and there's a string of polish forming between the brush and the bottle ? Yikes.)

The one I'm wearing in the picture I've had for... at least 7 years ? I'm positive I had it in 2007, because I clearly remember picking at my polished nails in German class, in what would be 9th grade in the US. Oh how boring German was...

It's a polish from agnès b. bought from the CCB. It's a mini b. in b. Rose Libellule. Isn't the name just... ugh ? Back then I thought it was a bargain (it could have been 5€ or something) but now that I've tried better quality polishes for a lot less money and more quantity (this one's only 7 ml, half of a China Glaze polish), well, I'd say it's an expensive polish. Although I've seen worse. Nowadays this line is only 3,95€ (link here) but I still wouldn't repurchase.

Anyway, b. Rose Libellule is a sheer (those are 3 coats and bad cuticles, sorry) pearly white that shifts to purple. I tried to get the shift in the picture but I don't think you can really see it on my nails. I've apparently worn it a lot (bottle's half empty, which is a record for me), but I'm just not a fan anymore. I stay away from sheer polishes now, because I hate seeing my irregular nail lines #firstworldproblems. It was a cool polish back in 2006/2007, and it has held up pretty nicely (it's not thick or goopy) and it applied perfectly, but... it's an old polish. Rose Libellule, you remind me of German class and well... those aren't my best memories.

Do you have any polish that reminds you of a special time ? Are you trying to go through your stash before buying any more polish ? Do share !

OPI Gouda Gouda Two Shoes (Holland Collection) Nail Polish Swatch & Review

Let's all forget I said this would be posted yesterday. Let's also forget this should actually have been posted over a month ago. Like I mentionned in my last post, the first swatch pictures I took didn't turn out great, and I only realized it once the polish was off my nails. And yep, it took a month for me to finally get around to re-taking pictures. I'm so lazy.

Gouda Gouda Two Shoes had been on my nail polish wishlist (yes I have one of those) ever since it was released with OPI's Holland collection in the Spring 2012. I have a few other from that collection on my wishlist, and when it was time to buy last December and I could only pick one, well... I hesitated. I finally picked Gouda Gouda Two Shoes, because I figured it'd be a nice Winter to Spring transition polish.
Here's the swatch :

I love the color. It's an old rose with a subtle golden shimmer that was super hard to photograph. It is definitely there in the sunlight, unfortunately it was raining when I took the pictures so you can't really see it. But it is so pretty !

The polish applies perfectly. I used two coats, but I think three might be best, especially for staying power. I get some tip wear very easily with this polish (without base/top coat), even if I wrap my tips, but that's honestly the only bad thing I have to say. It didn't even chip when I washed my hair ! Am I the only one who judges a polish by that ?

Do you have a nail polish wishlist ? Is there that one polish you have to have ? Do share !

Kiko 389 (Mint Milk) Nail Polish Swatch & Review

Hi everyone ! Today I have the LAST polish from my May (!) Kiko haul. And yes I know that makes three nail polish posts in a row but who cares. Here is Mint Milk :

Do you know how long I've waited for a mint polish ? Long enough. Mint Milk had to be mine. Especially since it was only 2€50. It was a bit streaky, but again, it's a pastel polish and they tend to always be streaky. This was two coats. I could have applied a third one as I had some bald spots but I was too lazy to do so. It lasted about 2/3 days on my nails without chipping (again, without base or top coat). For some reason, Kiko polishes last almost a week on my sister's nails, without base or top coat.

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with all my Kiko polishes. With the exception of Melon, which stained my nails, I didn't have any problem with the polishes I ordered. Will I buy again ? Hell yeah. Wear time is great for me, as the chips on day 2 or 3 of the manicure are small and can easily be covered up with some polish. They have a great assortment of basic colors, whether you're looking for polish or lipstick, their prices are super low and you get quality. I've paid more for polishes that peeled right off my nails on the first day. Kiko, you've got a happy customer here.

What's your favorite mint polish ? Have you ever shopped at Kiko ? What's your favorite low-price makeup brand ?

Kiko 330 (Lilac) Nail Polish Swatch & Review

I have a lot of purple polishes, but I didn't have any soft/pastel one, so with my Kiko coupon, I bought ... Lilac. Please please please excuse the horrible cuticles and short nails.

It's a creme polish that could easily be opaque in one thick coat. I was actually surprised by this, as usually pastel polishes tend to be a bit streaky and need two coats to hide the mess. I did use two coats in the pictures below, because I'm not a one coat kinda polish addict. Lilac, like every other Kiko polishes I own, lasted about 2 to 3 days without chipping, without base or top coat.

Kiko 359 (Light Peach) Nail Polish Swatch & Review

Yes, I know, another Kiko polish. I promise I only have two (well, three if you count this one) left from my (May !) haul. I'd been wanting a soft pastel peach polish, so in the shopping cart Light Peach went. 

It's a creme polish that was a bit streaky on the first coat, but as it's a pastel, I expected it. The picture shows two coats (please excuse the bubbles on my pinky, I messed up and had to cover it up and then bam, bubbles. Ugh.) Like every other Kiko polishes I own, this lasted 2/3 days without chipping (without base or top coat).

Nivea (Labello) Lip Butter in Raspberry Rosé and Vanilla & Macadamia Review & Pictures

Hi everyone ! Today I have a small review for the Nivea Lip Butters, which are sold under the name Labello here in France (all Nivea lip products are sold under that name, I don't know why). 

From reviews I've read/watched, I feel like people either love them or hate them. I love them. I actually want to buy backups (Amazon France sells them in packs of 3) but I'm trying to save some money, so that'll have to wait *snif* 

We only have Vanilla & Macadamia and Raspberry Rosé here in France. I've never seen the other two (Caramel Kiss & the 'regular Nivea' smell) in stores. But, you know, France is already behind on releasing these, I guess I can wait for the other two. I saw an ad for them in a magazine maybe a year ago, and searched for them online and in stores, but no luck... I then completely forgot about them until I saw them at the store in October. 

Anyway, let's move on to the review, huh ? I use these lip butters at night, because yes, they do leave a white cast on the lips. For me, that's the only downside. They smell amazing, and my lips look really really nice and hydrated when I wake up. Some people don't like the fact that you have to scoop it out the tin with your finger, but because I use them before bed, my hands are clean, so I don't mind. Also, I've been using the Raspberry Rosé one every night (well, I might have missed a couple) since November, and I've still got a lot of product left. And I mean a lot. I paid about 3 or 4 euros for them, and that's a really reasonable price for the quality. 

So, here's my take on Nivea's Lip Butters. Do you have one of them ? All of them ? Do you love them as much as I do ? Or do you hate them and use another product ? If so, which one ?

NOTD : New Year's Nails

My first NOTD, ha ! Well, it's more of a "New Year's Eve/Day" NOTD, but my polish is still going strong, and it looked very pretty, so here it is :

Please excuse the tip wear (and my gross cuticles. Haven't been taking care of them as much as I should lately), this has been on my nails since Tuesday night and the picture was taken Saturday because I'm lazy like that (that makes it a 4 days old mani without any chips !). I used Maybelline Tenue & Strong Pro in Raspberry Crush/Cassis Frappé and I layered my Maybelline Mini Colorama in Honey Crystals on top (which I also used on top of Kiko's Martha Red for Christmas). Here they are :

Yes, that background paper says Merry Christmas. I planned on writing a post with nail polish suggestions for the holidays, but like I said, I ended up eating way too many cookies and fudge while watching movies, so that post didn't happen. Anyway. Look at this gorgeous polish : 

What did you have on your nails for Christmas and New Year's ?