Fresh Therapies Eden Natural Nail Polish Remover

Last year I went to the HPM Social blogging conference where I picked up some useful newbie blogger tips. I also picked up a goodie bag containing a sample vial of a completely natural nail varnish remover, which I promptly put in a drawer for safekeeping and forgot about. Like Alice In Wonderland, BB's curious mind seems to think that minature bottles of unidentifiable liquid are for his consumption. Imagined conversation as he prepares to tip it down the hatch: 'Ooh, look mummy!! A tiny baby boc-boc of water. Can I drink it?' NOOOOOooooooo!!!!

Smells like clean spirit: a new, natural
take on nail varnish remover

Visions of my overactive imagination aside, I've been meaning to put Fresh Therapies to the test. So this morning I dug the vial out of the drawer. And you know what? It really, actually works. Moreover, it's a pleasure to use. Pleasure and nail polish remover being four words that rarely sit in the same sentence together.

I've never previously questioned if nail varnish could be shifted with something less chemically abrasive and nostril affronting than highstreet formulas. Heck, I've even bought huge bottles of acetone-laden remover for £1. I just took it as read that the tough stuff was what was needed when actually, Eden fares almost as well on performance using vegetable derived solvents and conditioning citrus oils.

2 1/2 passes per nail removed all trace of
Illamasqua nail varnish in strike.
middle nail shows one swipe

I say almost, because it did take me two and a half swipes - to be precise - of each nail barring the little fingernails, to completely remove all traces of varnish. BUT, the lovely (yes, lovely), fresh lime and lemongrass scent and the fact that my bare nails looked shiny and moisturised - rather than brittle and scuffed - definitely made the extra couple of minutes work worth it.

£9.95 for 50ml of nail polish remover (no matter how stylish and appealing the packaging), is a price-point I've never considered paying for a product I tend to view as a basic essential. Then, there's the fact that a natural, water-clear liquid that effectively removes nail varnish sounds almost too good to be true. But here's the thing. It is good and it is true and you don't have to take my word for it. To try for yourself, visit www.freshtherapies.com click on 'products' and you'll see the link to order a free sample. I'd love to hear what you think x

Spring Nailed!

Have you noticed that Spring is trying its best to shoot into life despite the winter chill? In the park, BB and I recently inspected clusters of stoic buds braving the icy breeze. If I were them I would've stayed bedded-down in the warm ground a while longer. Catch a lie-in while you can, and all that.

Yesterday, more signs of spring emerged in my over-crowded inbox. Aren't these stunning Max Factor nail shades enough to make you want to dig out fresher, crisper clothes and accessories?

Spring 2012: new creamy pastel 'nudes' - 
brooklyn collection

I hands-up-have-to-say I've yet to get my mitts on the above but I wanted to bring you a sneaky peek because, sure as day turns into night, these will sell out - mark my words. There are 18 hues in the new collection, inspired by the mood of the four fashion week cities. Brooklyn (New York) is my favourite comprising of milky on-trend pastels whilst Dalston (London), has a neon-vibe that I hear will continue to be a hot! hot! hot! nail look for spring/summer 2012. I'm trying very hard to find the love for Neon as a trend, really I am. On paper it's fierce and fabulous but on my middle-aged fingertips? - undecided. Apart from Cool Jade (pale aqua green), I'd probably chicken-out and wear these electric brights on my toes instead.

Brighter than bright: neon continues as a
strong colour theme - dalston collection

The remaining collections are Via Tortona (Milan) and Marais (Paris), transitional winter/spring shades which would be an excellent choice if it feels too early to be blooming.

* Max Factor Colour Effect Mini Nail Polishes are on sale now at Superdrug priced £3.99 each and will be available at Boots from January the 18th. 

Accessorize Nail Polish - £4 (err, wow!)

Oh how I covet glitter nail polish. I fall hook, line and sinker for owt that sparkles (can't lie) but, in all honesty, blingin' nails appeal to my slummier side. A couple of coats of razzle-dazzle hides a multitude of sins and usually stays on for *whispers* weeks - perfect. I also like the fact that glitter gives a slightly rounded, built-up effect (a bit like gels), which makes short, stubby nails look a whole lot chicer. I picked up this beauty - called Molton Copper - in Accessorize for £4, with another nail colour and a blusher which I will post on soon. 

Hot stuff: Accessorise nail polish in molton copper

I can't say I was expecting much. Initial impressions were decidedly cheap and cheerful but I impulse-bought purely for the colour; a gorgeous copper with a rose gold undertone. On the nails, however, it sings with a dense super-sparkly effect that reminds me of glitter encrusted party shoes. To get the best result you do need to use a slightly different application technique. On my first attempt I brushed it on in strokes which deposited the barest smidge of glitter - wrong, wrong, wrong. Trying again, I realised you need to dab the polish on in tiny blobs (technical term), and then buff it around with the end of the brush to achieve the intensity. If your kids use glitter glue you'll know what I mean. I'm making it sound like hard work when in fact it was very, very easy.

After two layers I sealed with a top coat and ta-da! SHOWTIME. Aztec, the second shade pictured above, was 'nice' enough. It has the blue bottle wing effect (sort-of), that everyone's been going mad for but fell flat as a pancake compared to the stellar Molton Copper. 

What do you think. Would you wear grown-up glitter? x

Trick O Treat - Jessica Nails Halloween Collection

Pumpkin Patch

And now for a bit of freaky fun - MWAH HA HA HA!  Generally there's so much tat in the shops come Halloween - lacerated plastic finger anyone? - that I just can't be bothered to buy into it. Last year poor, deprived BB wore a t-shirt depicting a shrouded illustration with the slogan 'I love my mummy.' This year I'm going to make more of an effort. I may shred up a sheet and draw eyes on it...

Even spookier, I'm almost - shock and very real horror - tempted to embrace the spirit of all things spectral myself with this limited edition Halloween nail collection from Jessica. I haven't seen these varnishes in the flesh, so to speak, but I do own a frightening amount of Jessica nail polishes and the quality and depth of colour is always super-duper. Pumpkin Patch, a punchy orange, would be the obvious choice to pay homage to the tradition of Trick or Treat but for a manicure you can wear beyond the witching hour Batty, a black with flecks of multi-toned glitter (above right), would probably be your safest bet. Whatever ghoulish goings-on you've got planned for Halloween be sure to have a horrid time. When the phone rings, just don't answer it... 


*Also shown from left are: Witches Brew and Ghostess With The Mostess. Jessica 'Trick O Treat' Halloween nail shades (15ml) are available priced £7.95 from www.feelunique.com and approved salons nationwide. 

Trying It On - Citrine Nails

Deco-dence: matchy-matchy nails and my 1920's evening bag

Despite the fact that I have to keep my nails boy-short for reflexology (spearing the spleen reflex with a talon-tip wouldn't be considered good practice), I am seriously getting into blinging' shades. Today's nail industry is an exciting place to be - for sure. Instead of the limited shades of yester-year, we now have textures, tones and techniques that turn common-all-garden nails into something rather extraordinary. I plan to post more on this at a later date since it's worthy of a bit more waffle (have you noticed I like to waffle?) but, in the meantime, I'd like to share this colour 'cocktail' courtesy of Leighton Denny nails.

Word on Beauty Street (my neighbours are so glamorous), is that Autumn/Winter has a strong theme of jewel. Nothing new there then you may say. But these are retro-jewel tones - OK. A richer, more tarnished take that bears no resemblance to gaudy 80's gemstones. This particular combo perfectly works the look - if I do say so myself. 

Here, beauty therapist Emma, from Spoilt At Home, applied Leighton Denny Graycious followed by Golden Girl - £11 each, from John Lewis. The deep gray cuts some of the warmth from the gold creating the most stunning citrine hue. 

Graycious

Golden Girl

Worn individually each shade looks great but together are a match made in heaven. If you haven't used Leighton before I can attest that the finish is exceptional; glossy, plush, salon-fresh. Definately worth a try. 

Voila!