Ready To Get Your Shatter On?

Shatter polish has been on the shelves for a while now, I was never really that into it until I saw OPI Shatter in turquoise. It is such a pretty tranquil colour and I thought it would be great for summer in the sun, without thinking twice I purchased the cute little bottle.

Applying the shatter polish it self is fairly straight forward, although I did find the process quiet drawn out but, for the end results it is really worth the extra effort. Firstly,  you need to apply a base colour, I went for OPI’s Do You Think I’m Tex-y? from the Texas collection..duh. I applied 3 coats and made sure each one was completely dry before applying another.

After making sure your nails are definitely dry you can apply one coat of shatter polish over the top. It is really important that your nails are dry or else the shatter won’t work as well. The reason the shatter polish works is because the chemicals in the polish are not compatible, making it crack when it dries out. It is really amazing to see it actually happen on your nails and I love the randomness of the different cracks and patterns.

You can also apply a top coat over your shatter once it has dried.

What do you think of the whole shatter polish craze? Check out OPI Shatter collection HERE.

 RRP: OPI Do You Think I’m Tex-y $19.00 and OPI turquoise Shatter $19.00. Available from David Jones.

Sara Wong, Nail Artist Extraordinaire

The Makeup Case was thrilled to have the opportunity to ask Sara Wong, Nail Artist and Nail Competition Organiser at the Sydney International Spa & Beauty Expo, a few questions about the amazing world of nails.

What attracted you to a career in the nail/beauty industry?

When I was younger I used to admire my mothers beautiful nails, so I started doing nails as a bit of a hobby. The more I did it, the more I loved it, so I completed a course and got my first job as a nail artist shortly afterwards. Since then I haven’t looked back – I really enjoy the lifestyle, the work, and most importantly, the fantastic and interesting people who I get to meet everyday.

What is your can’t live without product of all time?

There are probably two products I cannot live without, the first would have to be my iPhone (it pretty much has my whole life organised on it), the second would have to be lip balm.

What is your best tip for a smooth running event/competition?

Ha – if you have any great tips then please let me know. It may seem like everything is smooth running to the public and the competitors, but behind the scenes it can be really hectic. In the end it all comes down to having a great team of people all working together to produce a great event.

What criteria were you looking for in entrants in the competition?

This competition attracts the best nail artists from Australia and Internationally, so in order to stand out from the crowd, not only do you need to have flawless technique, you also need to have a passion for pushing the boundaries and creating designs that are contemporary and innovative.

How did the competition designs compare or differ from last year?

The most obvious difference was that the technical standards are continuing to improve each year and that is a great thing to see – this competition is all about encouraging nail artists to keep improving each year. We also added a new competition category, “Fantasy Runway”, where we saw the competitors go above and beyond to create a whole look for their models based on their nail designs.

What is the most creative/interesting nail design you have seen?

To be honest, some of the most creative and interesting nail designs that I have seen were in this years Fantasy Runway competition – I was blown away by talent and execution of ideas by a number of the competitors.

What nail trends can we expect to see for the coming season?

Well I am from Melbourne so I am always hoping that black polish will be all the rage haha. Putting my serious fashion cap on for a moment…I think we will see more dusty metallic tones like dirty rose pinks and tarnished golds and browns for a while. However I think as the weather warms up, people will be back to bright yellows, pinks, corals and blues.

What do you think about the rise of gel polishes like Shellac and Bio Sculpture?

Each product has its benefits. Gel polishes are great for people who wear the same colour polish for extended periods of time and therefore require resistance against chipping – traditional polishes may not last as long but they can be applied quickly and changed just as fast. Personally, I think it is great to see alternative products to the traditional polishes come onto the market – the more choices we can give our clients the better!

As a nail artist, what is something that people do to their nails that really frustrates you?

I am a firm believer in wearing nails as a fashion accessory. All too often, people make the mistake of matching the colour of their nails with their lipstick and outfit – make your nails a fashion statement! And don’t get me started on unpolished toe nails…haha.

What are some basic nail care tips?

It may sound obvious, but the best thing that people can do for their nails is to eat a well-balanced diet – eating right can really help to build strong healthy nails. Also, make sure you give your nails a quick file at least once a week followed by the application of a good quality cuticle oil (like Handbag Holiday Cuticle Oil by Butter London), not only does this remove any chips, it also stimulates nail growth.

 

 

 

 

Revlon Top Speed @30 Days of Fashion & Beauty

So you already read about all the new Revlon Top Speed nail colour must haves for Spring and Summer that we saw at 30 Days of Fashion and Beauty a couple of weeks ago. Now check out some pics from the runway show and be inspired to add a burst of colour to this seasons wardrobe.

The hot new season trend is colour blocking, blue, yellow, orange, pinks and greens. Grab a Revlon Top Speed nail colour and wear it together with a contrasting top or pant. Any colour this season is good colour!

If you loved the new Revlon Top Speed colours, well you are in luck. Revlon are running Glam Vans all over Sydney city for the next two weeks! You can enjoy a free manicure, the hardest part will be choosing what Revlon Top Speed colour to wear, there are 32 shades you know.

You can find the Revlon Glam Vans at:
Customs House Forecourt, Alfred Street – Friday 16 September 4:00- 8:00pm
Bondi Pavilion Forecourt – Sunday 18 September, 12:00- 4:00pm
Cockle Bay Wharf – Friday 23 September, 5:00- 9:00pm
Cockle Bay Wharf – Friday 30 September, 5:00- 9:00pm

See you there Makeup Case beauties..
Check out 30 Days of Fashion and Beauty for more events

Clothes by Dotti and Seduce.

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Summer Must Haves

Revlon Top Speed 'Candy'

 

Revlon Top Speed, A Summer Must Have.

The Makeup Case was lucky enough to attend the Revlon Top Speed show as part of the 30 Days Of Fashion in Sydney over the weekend. I went into the show hoping for loads of bright pinks for my summer in the sun, I got all this and more. Bright blues, yellows, reds, oranges, greens, my eyes were high from all the colour blocking I could not keep up. If I learnt one thing from the collection, it is that brights and colour blocking is going to be massive this season, hoorah! A great time for us sun-loving girls (and boys out there). The Revlon Top Speed collection has 32 polishes, all boasting a new top drying formula ( 6O seconds for a completely dry mani?! Whatttt! Amazing!) and an inbuilt top coat that keeps your mani nice and glossy. We were thrilled to bits when the lovely ladies over at Revlon let us try a few of the new kids on the block, I still cannot decide what one is my favorite.

Revlon Top Speed 'Orchid'

‘Orchid’ is a very pretty purple / pink colour with a shimmer finish. It goes on smoothly and I found that I needed at least two coats to match the colour in the bottle. The consistency of the polish is a little runny, a small portion on the brush works best. I just loved this colour, so girly and flirty and the perfect fit for Sunday brunch with the girls. It was a little hard to remove due to the shimmer but, nothing that a good remover wouldn’t handle.

Revlon Top Speed ‘Electric’

I have been looking for the perfect yellow polish for a while now and I finally think I found it with ‘Electric’. The colour actually looks quite pastel in the bottle however, with two coats the colour seems more of a solid yellow. There is a touch of shimmer to the colour that is more evident in the bottle then when it is applied, I don’t mind this though as I think if it was to shimmery it would look a little too much. ‘Electric’ stayed bright on my nails without fading or chipping for around four days. I have to say I am really loving the inbuilt top coat, glossy nails without the extra time of applying a top coat.

Revlon Top Speed ‘Sheer Cotton’

‘Sheer Cotton’ I have to admit was a little tedious to apply, you really have to make sure you have the time to concentrate on your brush strokes to not make any streaks.  I really did love the end result though, it has a very fresh and innocent look which I love for summer. This polish needs at least three coats to achieve the opaque look, if you prefer a more washed look you can get away with applying two.

Revlon Top Speed 'Candy'

 Revlon ‘Candy’ polish just screams Malibu, a bright pink that pops on your nails and looks amazing. I have not yet applied this polish on my toes but I have a feeling it will look fantastic with all those shoes I am going to wear while drinking cocktails this party season.

Revlon Top Speed 'Royal'

Want to look as royal as Kate Middleton? Then you should definitely try ‘Royal’ from Revlon. This polish is so vibrant, I can’t get enough of it. Perfect for wearing during a day of shopping or while dancing the night away, I can guarantee you will receive many compliments. I don’t want to be bias against the other amazing Revlon Top Speed colours but I think this is one of my favorites, its bright, fun, and attention grabbing, what’s not to love? Two coats are enough to achieve the colour that you see in the bottle, and if I can offer any advise, it will be to wait until each coat dries completely before applying the next one. You gotta love this one, definitely a keeper.

Revlon Top Speed ‘Fire’

Sophistication central is my nick name for Revlon ‘Fire’ polish, a beautiful radiant red that shines on your nails. Perfect to match with that LBD or a fancy dinner, or if you are like me, every second week of the month. I love red nail polish, I have so many different shades in my own collection I could open a nail store. There is something about a good red polish that makes you feel great, ‘Fire’ is one of those polishes. Make sure you apply a base coat with this one (I mean you should all the time, but you know, with this one it is a must).  A good two coats of polish will create a sexy red and last for around 3 days without chipping.

Revlon Top Speed 'Bubble'

If you want to make Barbie jealous then you need to get ‘Bubble’ by Revlon! A delicious hot pink that glides over plain nails and makes them look happy and outgoing. This is such a great colour to wear when the world is getting you down and you just want a piece of ice cream cake. Trust me, whenever you look down and see this colour on your nails you are bound to smile, it will overcome you and you just wont be able to stop it. Who knew a nail polish could do so much, I tell you who, Revlon. Thats why they came up with such an outgoing colour for summer, and one that I am definaltey going to be sporting through the season.

RRP: $15.95 for 14.7ml. Available from Revlon Counters.

*These products were sent to The Makeup Case for editorial consideration. Please see our disclosure policy.

5 Questions with…Elise Phillips.

Elise is a Sydney blogger and fashionista with a passion for Nail polish. She writes two successful blogs that keep her busy, I am sure does not see much shut eye. The Makeup Case was lucky enough to steal some of this amazing ladies time and ask her a few questions about the art of nails.

You have been blogging for a while now, what do you enjoy most about it?

I love the great feedback I get via email, in comments and on twitter from readers. It still spins me out when I meet someone and they say they have read one or both of my blog – I write them for myself and to know that other people appreciate my words is a total gift.

What nail colors and trends should we expect to see coming into Spring?

I think the next IT colour will be blue. We’re moving away from purple now and into denim territory, so all sorts of shades of blue. Chanel usually has a hand in dictating the colour of the season, and their newest trio is Les Jeans de Chanel – three great blues. I also think, as much as people will hate it, we will see a lot of acid brights this spring/summer – electric lime, chartreuse and tangerine.

With over 550 polishes in your personal collection how do you decide what color to wear?

Because I’m always trying new polishes to review them, I usually go with whatever catches my eye that day. I change my polish A LOT, so I’ll paint to match my mood or my outfit. I have also been known, on more than one occasion, to try an entire collection in one go with a different colour on each finger. So fun!

What is your most favorite beauty product that you can’t live without right now?

That’s like asking me to choose between my unborn children (or my favourite polish, which are like children)! Right this very minute, my skin has been playing up recently and my new regime of md formulations cleansing gel, skin perfecting gel and antioxidant moisturiser has miraculously saved my skin. I’m also having a passionate affair with Benefit They’re Real mascara – sex-on-legs eyelashes.

Do you have any hints and tips for keeping our mani’s in perfect shape?

A picture is only as good as its frame – keep your cuticles looking healthy and your mani will look twice as good. Slap on lots of cuticle oil and moisturiser. You can also extend the life of your mani with an extra top coat every few days. And don’t ever, for the love of chicken and gravy, use nail polish without putting a base coat on first! If you skip this essential step, I’ll personally hunt you down.

Make sure you check out Elise work at Stuff That I Bought and The Nail File you will not be disappointed!

Guess who got Minxed…..at Beauty Expo

Nails, nails, nails! At least half of Beauty Expo was dedicated to nails. Gel, polish, acrylic, stick on, bling, heat, foil….. If it wasn’t there, it probably isn’t worth worrying about.

We had spent a full day browsing the stands so I thought I would get my nails done and have a well deserved sit down. The Nail Bar was my choice. For $15 you could have 1 finger done with Bio Sculpture Gel and a manicure for the other fingers or you could get a full set of Minx. I went for the full set in Pink Chrome.

First my nails were cleaned, filed and buffed. Then my finger was measured against what looks like a sheet of nail shaped stickers, the sticker is then held under a heat lamp for a few seconds and applied to the nail. The heat makes the sticker melt a little so it adheres to the nail. Once all the stickers were on, my nails were filed in a downward direction across the top to take off the excess.

 

The best bit…..I didn’t smudge or ruin the smooth finish when I picked up my bags! Oh and it looked great too, its all shiny and chrominsh and very pink. The manicurist said they will last 5-7 days on your hands and 3-4 weeks on your toes. I don’t have too many complaints about these nails but one thing that annoyed me was that the tips started to lift off before I even got home. Not too much of a hassle, I just heated it a little and stuck it back down, I expected it to last at least the day without having to mend though. 3 days on, they are fine and no signs of lifting and i think they look darn good!

To remove Minx all you need to do is heat them using a hairdryer or hot water and peel them off from side to side. Or, go back to the salon and get them taken off and get a new design put on. There are over 300 to choose from!

These would be great for special occasions, events, fancy dress or just because you want something different and you can get almost any design imaginable.

RRP: $18. Minx is available from salons only, to find a salon or read more check out the Minx website.

What are you shellacking about?!?

I will tell you what…Shellac! The new nail treatment that is taking us beauty-holics by storm. So what is Shellac you ask, I will tell you! It is a hybrid nail colour from CND that does not smudge, chip or wear for 2 weeks! What’s the catch I hear you shout? NOTHING. I have been wearing Shellac for a week now and it looks just as good as the day I got it done.

The whole process takes about 20 min and involves 2-3 cotes of colour, gel coating and setting your nails under a UV light for the colour and gel to set. Once you hands have come out from the UV there is absolutely no dry time. AMAZING and the hardest part of the entire process is picking what colour to wear. After two weeks you need to return to the salon and have Shellac professionally removed with acetone. I am definitely  going to be getting this done again. I’m thinking possibly a black coat next time. I will keep you all updated on the progress.

RRP: Most professional salons offer Shellac for around $30. A small price to pay for beautiful chip free nails for 2 weeks.