My favourite products to give yourself the best home manicure ever!

ORLY Nailtrician and Cutique $19.95 each available from www.orlybeauty.com.au  Out the Door Top Coat $10.95 available from www.thenailshop.com.au Sally Hansen Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover $5.45 available from www.priceline.com.au Rational Anti-Aging Hand Cream available from www.rationale.com

Let's face it weekly nail salon visit are too costly and time consuming for most of us, but here are my fave products to give yourself the best home manicure ever, the only thing missing is the massage chair and foot spa.

ORLY NAILTRICIAN 

This is the only treatment base coat that has made any difference to my nails, the nail surface is smoother and they are definitely stronger. TIP: If you are only wearing this on your nails to strengthen them then sealing with a topcoat this helps the nailrician stay on your nails longer.

ORLY CUTIQUE

The best way to start any manicure is to clean up your cuticles, I mean really clean them up! It helps polish last longer and looks a lot neater. Cuticle removing gels are a great way to treat cuticles at home, simply apply to your nail beds leave on for 10mins or so and then push cuticles back with an orange stick. There will be little gross bits of skin that will come off when you do this, which is a good thing. 

OUT THE DOOR TOP COAT

Top Coats have become one of the most important steps in a manicure, they are the not-so-secret finishing stage which allows you to achieve high gloss gel like nails. It's very easy to distinguish between a good and bad top coat, for me the deciding factor is dry time if your nails aren't touch dry in 10mins then it is crap. Out the Door and Seche Veit are the two most popular in the professional nail game, but if you cannot get your hands on these then Revlon's Gel Top Coat is a great easy to find very comparable alternative.

SALLY HANSEN NAIL POLISH REMOVER

This is my go to remover, it isn't as potent smelling as other brands, I use a Non-Acetone remover on regular polish and straight up 100% Acetone to remove gel or shellac polish. 

RATIONAL ANTI-AGING HAND CREAM

This very extravagant hand cream is my new fave, it isn't too heavy on the fragrance and doesn't leave my hands feeling greasy. The best advice I can give you is to carry and hand cream with you in your hand bag or in your car that contains SPF, when driving your hands are always in direct sunlight and UVA rays go through glass ageing your hands with sun damage. To avoid horrible age spots on your hands apply your SPF hand cream every time you get in the car.

xx Nella

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DIY Gel Nails : Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish Feat. 'Cherry,Cherry, Bang, Bang'

Sick of spending $50 on a shellac or gel mani at the nail salon, me too! So when Priceline were having 20% Sally Hansen yesterday I decided to pick up a few colours as well as the base and top coats to try and DIY myself a salon quality gel mani at home.... 

Before the tutorial here are a few tips and tricks:

- If you cannot 'colour within the lines' (thank you Carrie Bradshaw SATC quote which i will not apologise for) and you are quite messy when painting your nails with regular polish then this is not for you.

- I did already had an LED Lamp of a different brand. After much google research, I found there are different LED lamps for gel and shellac. This lamp is for gel, it has a different watt to a shellac curing lamp. Just google it if you are using a different brand lamp to the gel polish you are applying.

- Pick a colour which is going to go with a weeks worth of outfits and occasions!

Sally Hansen Gel Base and Top Coat $19.95/4ml & Sally Hansen Gel Nail Colour $19.95/7ml available from www.priceline.com 

What you will need:

1. Nail clippers

2. Nail file

3. Orange Stick

4. Nail Buffer

5. Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish - Base Coat - Step 1

6. Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish - Nail Colour - Step 2

7. Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish - Top Coat - Step 3

8. LED curing light

Step 1:
The best way to make an at home gel mani to last is to give your nails a good prep; trim and dead skin, file, buff and push your cuticles back with an orange stick.

*Tip : It is easiest if you complete all steps to one hand at a time but only fingers, complete thumbs together (see photo below) this is the fastest method of at home gels and safest in terms of screwing up uncured nails.*

Step 2:
With clean prepped nails it is time for the gel base coat, paint a thin layer of the base coat and cure under the LED lamp for 30seconds.

Step 3.
Time for the colour, like a traditional nail polish this will 2 two coats. Paint on a thin layer for the first coat, then cure under the LED lamp for 30seconds. For the second coat, even out the opacity and also make sure to cover the tip of the nail completely, this will seal the nail then cure under the LED lamp for 30seconds again.....repetitive sorry.

Step 4.

Top coat time, when applying the top coat make sure you go all the way to the edges of the nail, if you go onto the skin use the orange stick to scrape it off before curing and for the final time cure under the LED lamp for 30seconds.

Step 5.

Nails will feel sticky, they are not wet it is residue from the process, on a cotton round soaked with rubbing alcohol wipe the nails till they feel glossy and smooth!

Final thoughts:
My Sally Hansen Gel Polish mani lasted for approximately 1 week, with 2 nails completely peeling off which I thought was a fair amount of time even though on the box it claims to last for 2 weeks. Having tried a few other at home gel polish brands and they have been rubbish compared to the Sally Hansen Gel Polishes, the consistency was thicker and felt tacky when trying to apply more than one layer, they were also far more expensive. The colour selection of the Sally Hansen Gel polishes is quite limited at the moment but I'm hoping in time the shade range will be increased as this is now my go-to at home gel mani brand of choice.

The colour is bangin'! It is a grown up grape with a muted pastel cherry vibe in some lights, perfect for the cooler weather.

xxx Nella

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'Pink Ladies' - Rimmel Salon Pro '701 Jazz Funk

Rimmel Salon Pro in '701 Jazz Funk' $8.85 available from www.priceline.com.au

Sometimes you just need to paint your nails pink and feel like a lady, preferably whilst listing to love power ballads and in a silk dressing gown. This is what I did yesterday.
Pink polish has been pushed to the back of my collection (yes, I own a LOT of nail polish that it is a 'collection') favouring neutrals, glitters and that 6 months that Rouge Noir ruled every girls nails. My love for pink polishes is back and first stop was Rimmel's Salon Pro by Kate Moss polish in '701 Jazz Funk'. Shit name, amazing polish! This range of polishes has my favourite type of brush, wide and flat which evenly coats the nail with polish. The polish applies smoothly and does not well in your cuticles which gives you that salon manicure look. It is opaque in two coats and dries fairly quickly. 'Jazz Funk' is dulled down fuchsia, it is more a flamingo pink and is totally girly!

Sally Hansen Diamond Flash Top Coat $13.95 available from www.priceline.com.au

I had to mention that I have been trying out a new top coat Sally Hansen's Diamond Flash Top Coat, it is amazing! The dry time is under 5 minutes, sealing in your coloured polish and making it dry too. The shine factor is beyond sparkling and gives the look of gel nails. Try it out if you are as inpatient as I am and need to get on with your life ASAP after painting your nails.

xxx Nella

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MANICURE MONDAY: Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure in 'Barracuda'

Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure in 'Barracuda' $14.95 available from www.priceline.com.au

Manicure Monday is officially my new favourite day of the week, it has become a little ritual that preps me for my week ahead. Some people iron their clothes for work, I paint my nails!

This week I have a bazillion things to do, but the most exciting thing in my diary is seeing the new Diana film starring 'our' Naomi Watts. To say I have a Princess Diana obsession would be an understatement, have been absolutely desperate to see this film - now I know how those obsessed crazed Harry Potter Fans felt every time a new Potter film came out. When selecting my polish for the week it had to be a blue, obviously to reference Diana's love of sapphires.

'Barracuda' is one of the new limited edition Spring shades from Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure line and its goddamn beautiful! Pastels polishes are known for applying with streaks and can take 3 or more layers to become even but 'Barracuda' is beyond flawless in application opaque and streak free in two coats without welling in your cuticles. The brush is a dream to use with a rounded flat end which fits into the curve of your nail bed giving a very neat finish. If you feel like you are just one of those people who cannot paint your own nails because you turn into a clumsy mess, then I would highly recommend trying out the Complete Salon Manicure line of polishes. 'Barracuda' is a white based pastel baby blue and is a total dupe for Chanel's 'Riva' polish without all the premature chipping. 

xxx Nella

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MANICURE MONDAY! Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat in Tweedy

Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat in Tweedy $9.95 available from www.priceline.com.au

Sick of glitter nails? And plain jane flat colour doesn't make you giddy with excitement either? Well Sally Hansen has upped the ante with their new Fuzzy Coat Collection. Coloured streamers suspended in a glossy clear polish, Tweedy jumped out at me because I have been having a monochrome moment this week, the black and white streamers look like TV static fuzz on your nails which sounds weird but it is totally the coolest thing ever.
I applied two coats, leaving the first to completely dry before applying the second so not to make it too clumpy. The polish applies quite thinly compare to a glitter polish because the streamers are so small and light. I did find the finish had a bit too much texture so I applied a thick glossy topcoat after the Fuzzy Coat was completely dried.

Fuzzy Coats from left to right : All Yarned Up, Peach Fuzz, Tight Knit, Fuzz-Sea, Fuzzy Fantasy, 
Wool Knot, Wool light and Tweedy.

I like the Fuzzy Coats, applied on their own onto bare nails but you could layer them onto a bright base for a more poppy effect.

Hope you are all enjoying Manicure Monday being back in full effect.....Sorry for the lack of other posts I have been busy over on Oyster doing Beauty Round Ups for the European Fashion weeks, check them out HERE!

xxx Nella

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What's in my make up bag? Feat. Prada Vela Wristlet, Jane Iredale Glow Time, Uriage, Rimmel, Mirenesse, Make up Store & Sally Hansen

My lack of posts is terrible....I am a terrible Beauty Blogger #badbblogger! There is a reason for this....I have taken over Oyster Beauty this month posting 90'S NAIL MONTH! Check Check Check it out
HERE! and HERE!
AND have been blogging away on Schwarzkopf's Style Studio blog HERE! Which is an exciting project to be part of and I can't believe that they chose me to blog alongside Christina from Hair Romance!

So as you can imagine it has been very busy at Beauté Gazette HQ with launches, shoot and fun times and my make up bag has taken a very minimal turn for the best:

Make up Bag: Prada Vela Clutch $395.54 available from www.saksfifthavenue.com
Posh out - I know! But this doubles as a clutch as well. It is nylon and so I have justified it as ok to keep my makeup in it.

Uriage Bariederm Smoothing Barrier Repair Lip Balm $19.95 available from www.adorebeauty.com
It is winter in Australia at the moment and my lips have been dry and chapped from the cold (it's actually not that cold 26 degrees - shout out to global warming!) but this Uriage barrier lip balm is incredible! I have been using it at the gym, whenever I'm outside and need to create a protective layer on my lips also it works well when applied overnight to soften lips.

Jane Iredale Glow Time Full Coverage BB Mineral Cream SPF 25 $61.20 available from www.adorebeauty.com 
This is not a BB cream in the traditional sense, this is a high coverage foundation with very luminizing properties. I love love love this product, it is an amazing hybrid base which covers without being to heavy on the skin, conceals and luminizes skin giving a 'glowy' effect. A little goes a long way with this product - I use the size of a peppercorn amount to do my whole face for medium coverage. Best sheered out with fingers, I use a setting powder down the middle of my T-Zone because that can become too glowy!

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Eyeliner in Bronze $9.95 available from www.priceline.com.au
Instead of carrying around eye shadows and brushes that equal too much effort, I am into soft blendable liners! During the day I apply a little to my water line and the base of my lashes which gives a pretty shimmery glitter lash illusion and at night I draw messily on top of my lash line and smudge it in with my finger! Hmmmmm this doesn't sound too professional or the right type of advice I should be giving out but what the heck! It looks great and is so easy and can be done in car on a bus or in the toilets at work.

Bare Minerals Stroke of Light Concealer $26.95 available from www.kitcosmetics.com
I haven't found another concealer that matches my skin like this does, I tried to buy the NARS creamy concealer over the weekend but my colour was sold out. This goes under my tired sleepy eyes to brighten and give the illusion of sleep, rest and relaxation.

Make Up Store Hi-Tech Lighter $32.00 available from www.makeupstore.se
I'm into really whorish slutty full on Victoria Secret Mariah Carey video clip highlighting. Because my skin is so damn glowy from the Jane Iredale BB Cream I can only use a cream highlighter. I loves this Make Up Store one it has a pretty pink pearlesent moonstone shine. It goes on my cheekbones, bridge of my nose, brow bones and cupids bow. Told you I am really into it!

Loreal Riche Shine Caress in 200 Princess - $23.00 available from www.priceline.com.au
These have had mixed reviews as far as being 'long wear' - I don't really give a shit about long wear. Does this look good on? YES! It looks damn good and glossy. It is a stain and a lipgloss all mixed up together and so it will become a bit patchy and you are going to have to keep an eye on it if eating and drinking but I love it rubbed in with  my finger and also layered up for a bold glossy lip.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure 'Mauve Along' $14.95 available from www.priceline.com.au
Tralling through tumblr I found a 70's Chloe ad, it would have been of the era when Karl Lagerfeld was designing and the girls had these mauve nude nails which were everything! They were heaven and so since I have been on the hunt for a mauve nude, last week I was sent this little babe from Sally Hansen and it hasn't been off my nails since. It is an update on foundation coloured nude nails which don't suit most white girl hands.

Mirenesse Skin Clone Mineral Veil Powder Bronzer $47.03 available from www.adorebeauty.com.au
Scared of bronzing? Me too! I'm new to this Mirenesse brand, but I like/love this bronzer. The powder is so fine and glides onto the skin. I apply lightly with a smaller blush brush NOT the traditional huge bronzer brush, and then build it up to a point which is verging on a bronzer/blush look. No one has said it looks weird yet so I'm just going with it.

xxx Nella

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Deborah Lippmann's 'Across The Universe' VERSUS Sally Hansen's 'Mermaids Tale'

The word 'dupe' is used quite a lot within the online beauty world and I don't really believe in dupes. If you want to buy a Chanel lipstick then there are many more reasons you are buying it rather than just for the colour i.e packaging, branding, prestige etc. So in this case if you want to splash out and order a Deborah Lippmann nail polish from the states and that's what your into then its totally cool but if you are more likely to pop into Priceline and pick up a bottle of Sally Hansen's 'Mermaids tale' then that's cool too. Both polishes give a very similar finish to your nails, but are quite different in application.
So I am just going to give you the facts:

Deborah Lippmann 'Across The Universe'
Availability: Only online for Australian consumers at www.revolveclothing.com
Price: $19.85each
Application and lasting time: The appearance of the polish in the bottle is deceiving, the glitter is suspended in a sheer jelly base. It takes about 3 and a half coats to become completely opaque on the nail making dry time a real pain, time to put on Benjamin Button or some other really long movie and not touch anything for about 2 and a half hours. Only apply a topcoat to your nails once the polish is dry, otherwise you will move the glitter pieces around and it will look a bit of a mess. Lasting time was ok, but because of how thickly you need to apply the polish it does chip in a 3 to 4 days. I like applying this polish over a navy blue base colour to avoid having to apply so many coats.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in 'Mermaids Tale' 
Availability: From Priceline stores and www.priceline.com.au
Price: $14.95each
Application and lasting time: Applying this polish is a dream, the Salon Manicure range has very wide brush which fits neatly into your nail bed and requires less stroke to cover your entire nail. It takes 2 coats to achieve an opaque finish on the nail with the glitter applying evenly and not clumping. It definitely needs a topcoat to give the surface an even and glossy look. 'Mermaids Tale' lasted 5 days with minimal chipping which is quite good considering the amount of washing up and champagne drinking I did on the week of wearing the polish.

xxx Nella

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DIY Textured Tips Mani featuring Kester Black Nail Polish!

Throughout summer I have been totally obsessed with ice-cream pastel polishes, my fingers painted in an assortment of sorbets thought the seasonal heat wave. Bored with the regular glossy mani I decided to switch it up trying out a matte topcoat and high gloss tip.

Products used:
Nail File, Orange Stick, Kester Black 'Mat Top Coat' $16.00, Kester Black Nail Polish in 'Bubblegum' $16.00, Sally Hansen Diamond Shine Top Coat $16.95, Fine craft paint brush.

1. File your nails into a squarish shape - this works best for a tip. Push cuticles back to elongate your nails. Apply polish as normal, Kester Black's 'Bubblegum' was opaque and perfect in 2 coats.

2. Apply Kester Black's 'Matt Top Coat' to your nails as you would a regular topcoat. It dries really quickly and doesn't have that weird velvet texture some matte coats have.

3. Pour a small amount of the Sally Hansen Diamond Shine Topcoat on to a scrap of paper, load up your paint brush with the topcoat, starting in the middle of the nail and working out to the corners of your nail paint your tips. Allow at least 30min dry time and voila Textured Tips.

Kester Black products available from www.kesterblack.com
Sally Hansen products available from www.priceline.com.au

xx Nella

If you haven't entered the amazing Parissa giveaway already in my previous post, do it! You could win 1 of 3 fantastic home waxing kits!

Runway Nails : Fall Couture 2012

Oh Karl! You won me over with this sequin ombré jumpsuit!  

Butter London 'Knackered'  $19.95 China Glaze 'Emotions' $10.95 Sally Hansen Gem Crush $18.70

Grab your best friend give each other french tip manicures in opposite colours, and bang out together in these matching Armani Privé outfits.

Revlon Colour Stay 'Wild Strawberry' $8.00 Essie 'Liquorice' $11.60

The Maison Martin Margelia office parties must be wild, because they totally let a model wake up with a vodka watermelon on her face go down the runway. 

OPI 'Cajan Shrimp' $17.95 Rimmel 'Green with Envy 819' $4.95 Sally Hansen Nail Pen Black $11.00

Nail Trends: Border Nails

Nail Trends are coming and going really quickly with the influx of nail products available on the market at the moment. Matte and Shatter are soooo 5 minutes ago and Duo Chrome has almost had it, but I'm not ready to give it up just yet. 

Border Nails are the newest trends sweeping nail salons across the world, and I LOVE IT! The trend has been made easier with Nail Art Pens, these guys make the illusional border easy as pie. I have tried to re-create it at home but I don't have the steadiest of hands, my advice is to either invite a friend with a really neat hand writing over to help out or take a reference photo to your favorite nail salon and getting them to recreate it. The look seems to work better with a flat base colour, shimmery or glitter would be too much. A gem encrusted feature nail is however a very fancy touch, when the base colour is still tacky and wet press in your nail gems with tweezers in whatever design you like and then to secure to 2 layers of top coat and let dry.

1. Nail Art Pen $4.50

These come in a bazillion different colours and are quite inexpensive if you want to set up a an underground black market home nail salon.

2. Nail Gems $14.95 for 1500 gems!

Ebay is the greatest shop on earth! Especially for nail supplies, you can pretty much find anything on there from portable nail dryers to bulk packs of glow in the dark nail polish.

3. Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen $12.95

Priceline has been sold out of these every time I go in, but I am determined to get them. 

**NPAA: Nail Polish Addicts Anonymous is on TONIGHT from 6.30pm at The Cricketers in Surry Hills if anyone wants to come along and try out the new boarder nail or any other nail trend they have been obsessing over. 

Hands and Feet : 'Blow on them'

I am so excited that NPA is on this Thursday 28th 6.30pm at the Cricketers Arms.

Prior to any hand and feet out in the open event like showing off your new engagement ring, a barefoot wedding, a pool party or just getting about not looking like a talon monster you need to 'Check Yourself' and do some maintenance.

Here are my favorite products:

1. L'Occitane Hand Cream in Fleur Chérie $12.00

This smells like Polly Pockets you had when you were little. That synthetic perfume smell - Ohhhhhh I love it. This is a general cute mini hand cream for your bag or desk. L'Occitane's hand creams are all pretty good - this one just smells the best.

2. Soap & Glory Hand Food $11.95

Another hand cream -  because you can never have enough. This is quite thick and is great on your feet too its good for dry skin. It smells kind of like Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle which is lovely.

3. Maincare Crystal Nail File $19.95

I am one of those very annoying girls who cannot watch TV without having another side project on the go, usually it involves filing my nails. Sick of those flimsy harsh emery boards I invested in this 'crystal' (I don't think its real crystal - maybe just glass) nail file its really good and doesn't mow down my already short nails, gentle enough to be able to get a nice shape which is important.

4. Manicare Cuticle Trimmer and Cuticle Pusher $8.99

Usually I go to the Nail Salon once a month for a full on mani and pedi - they type where they take off so much dead skin it shocks you. In between this nifty tool is great to use to cut away an pointy little cuticles. Use the Cuticle Pusher with Number 6 : Sally Hansen Problem Cuticle remover.

5. Heel Balm GOLD $9.99

Don't know how this works, but it does. 

6 Sally Hansen Problem Cuticle Remover $13.90

We were talking at NPA about how the girls at nail salons tease us and call our nails 'Baby Nail' its so embarrassing. Here's a trick if you push down or remove cuticles with this your nails will look longer! TA-DA!

7. OPI Nail Envy $31.00

This stuff is genius! Its great as a base coat and really does help with making my nails grow stronger and not peel. 

8. OPI Ridge Filler $18.00

Some hussy up in the club stepped on the big toe on my left foot and completely broke the nail off about 4 months ago (I HATE HER - SHE DIDNT EVEN APOLOGIZE!). It was so painful and left me with a dented toe nail, the girls at my nail salon recommended this.

9. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme $14.95

This is a real cutie, I love the little tin. It smells really fresh and lemon-y, just a really thick consistency which is great for dry little fingers in winter.

Best nail maintenance in a Film here is Tara Reid painting her nails a sick acid green in the Big Lebowski: