Cosmetic Cupcake

Earlier this year Deborah Lippmann created a custom polish for my fave female singer Kelly Clarkson to wear to the 2013 Grammy's - a gorgeous violet glittery concoction. It was absolutely stunning so I pretty much lost my sh*t when I found out it would actually be launching!!! Her polish is named after her hit song "Stronger" and it's a pretty perfect polish for NYE actually! I finally picked it up when I was in HK but I really really wish Deborah Lippmann was available in Aus!!


What they say:

"A shade fit for pop star royalty — Kelly Clarkson, to be exact—this high-impact violet sings off the nails with oversized flecks of holographic glitter. As Kelly commented, “I love the way Stronger sparkles and captures maximum light on stage. It’s like jewelry for the nails!”
Source


Stronger is filled with red, gold, silver hex and holo glitters in a violet jelly base. Isn't it freaking amazing?!!!!!!!! ♥♥♥♥ My pics don't even do it justice because it just shines in the sun. I couldn't stop staring at my nails when I wore it and I got sooooo many compliments. I layered it over a navy creme here because I like to conserve my Lippmann's so I didn't want to use too many coats but next time I'm just going to use it on its own so I can enjoy the pretty violet base.

The formula is quite thick and gloopy unfortunately so dry time was a little slow. The coverage is OK but it's best to use the dabbing method to place the glitter evenly. 2 coats is pictured over LAKA 81 and topped with 2 coats of Seche Vite.


Close up:



Details: Deborah Lippmann Stronger is available from www.deborahlippmann.com for $19US and from RevolveClothing.com for $21US. I purchased my bottle from Joyce Beauty in Hong Kong for (I think) $230HK.


Even if you aren't a Kelly Clarkson fan I highly recommend purchasing it because it's just gorgeous! Thanks for looking as always!

Happy Friday ladies!! I've been back at work for only 5 days and I feel like I need another holiday already haha! I've definitely got the post holiday blues but at least it's Christmas soon so there's public holidays (and presents!) to enjoy =D Today I have my haul from my latest trip to Hong Kong for you!!! I didn't actually buy much in comparison to my other trips which is a good thing for my wallet haha xp The exchange rate wasn't so great and I'm saving for a few things so I used a LOT of restraint! I did more eating to make up for it lol.


As soon as I saw the Deborah Lippmann Space Oddity set on her Instagram I knew I had to have it!!! They aren't your typical holiday shades but they look absolutely gorgeous by themselves and together too. I also picked up the Stronger which is the collaboration shade with Kelly Clarkson - it's been on my wishlist for months and I finally picked it up squeeeeeeeeee! I love Kelly Clarkson!


I let myself get talked into buying the OPI Mariah Carey Pure 18K White Gold & Silver Top Coat xp I missed out on The Man With the Golden Gun last year so couldn't miss out this year!


I hauled a few things from Etude House for myself and for pressies! I love their stuff because it's just so sweet - pink everything! I got some polishes and a foot mask for myself and scored the little tin as a freebie.


My niece had her birthday party while I was in HK and my sis in-law asked me to do a little nail bar for the girls. Of course I said yes and it was so much fun! I didn't bring any of my tools so I bought the Lucky Trendy Dot Artist set to use but didn't end up needing to use it so I'm keeping it for myself haha. The purple is really pretty! I came across a Korean brand called Ally's Ajell and they had dual nail art pens so I picked up one in white to try out. I also bought 2 gorgeous glitters from Tony Moly!


I adore Anna Sui and I couldn't resist this limited edition Nail Care Oil!!! Isn't it just gorgeous? You shake it up and then apply and works wonderfully.


I stocked up on my favourite Zoya Remove and also picked up my first Pixie Dust in Stevie. I wish I had got a few other shades too because I am loving Pixie Dust! They wear so well and the shades are so pretty.


I picked up one of the new Canmake creme blushes in 04 and also restocked my HG Dolly Wink mascara which came with a bonus eyeliner woot!


Bioderma is my HG makeup remover and so I had to pick up this new bottle with pump dispenser. You should have seen how excited I was then I saw it haha!


Some lovely gifts from Jen who blogs over at Life and Lens of Beauty! I met up with her as usual and did some shopping =D Thank you Jen and I can't wait to go shopping with you next year!! (Thanks for letting me use your Joyce Beauty member discount btw!!)


I picked up the new Roses de Chloe on an impulse but I haven't opened it yet because I'm not sure I'm going to keep it! I love the smell of it but I have so many perfumes already I'm not sure I really need another one.. I might end up gifting it to my sis but we'll see.


Some Forever 21 accessories! I love their accessories and always try to pick up a few each trip. Their accessories department takes up like an entire floor and it is always SO DAMN HARD deciding what to buy when on a budget!


My biggest splurge on my trip was a new 11" MacBook Air!! My beloved Air died a few months ago so I took advantage of duty free and bought a replacement. The 11" is the perfect size I think!


I hope you enjoyed seeing my Hong Kong haul! Thanks for looking as always and don't forget to enter my Face of Australia Carnivale giveaway!

A quick swatch for you today of Deborah Lippmann Mermaid's Dream which I picked up recently while I was in Hong Kong. I am a sucker for her polishes and it takes every ounce of my self control not to go crazy and just buy every single one of them!!


Mermaid's Dream is a shimmery pale green/blue foil with gold and blue glitter through it. It is just gorgeous and really reminds me of mermaids and the sea. It's pretty pigmented so you could get away with 1 thickish coat but I used 2 coats which is pictured here. It dries to a gritty finish so I suggest a thick topcoat.


Close up:



Bonus bottle shot:


I picked this up from Joyce Beauty in HK but you can purchase it from Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus or Kiss and Makeup NY.

Thanks for looking as always!

Aaaaaaaaaaaand I'm back from my trip! I hope you've all been fab =D 2 weeks seriously is not enough time for a decent holiday, it just went by way too quickly! I spent time with my grandparents and also doing wedding stuff (got so much stuff ordered and organised!) which didn't leave too much time for shopping so my wallet is happy haha. I went over with a specific wishlist as I'm on a tight budget so my haul this time is far less than my usual ones! I have way too many products and I still need to get off my butt and do a blog sale! I bought quite a bit of clothing though this time and also shoes but I can't be bothered taking pics of those oops. Here's my haul!


Polishes!! 3 of the Essie Mirror Metallics, China Glaze Wicked collection and one from the Bohemian collection, innisfree glitters, Deborah Lippmanns, a Jessica and a peripera.


I met up with the lovely Jen as always and she very very kindly gave me a $50 Make Up For Ever voucher! I was only going to get one polish from the Black Tango collection but they were buy 2 get 1 free so of course I couldn't resist and ended up with the whole collection! I also picked up a Aqua Eyes Liner. They are the BEST liners!


Some nail art stuff of course! Fauxnad plates, nail art brushes, nail decals and stickers, fimo, palette and some cabochons.


Yes I indeed did lug home a 1L bottle of Zoya Remove lol. It was on sale and it's so hard to get here! The downfall to polishing my nails all the time is staining so I let myself get talked into getting the Cuccio Sicilian nail whitening paste. Here's hoping it works!


The shu uemura eyelash curler is my HG and I was tossing up between getting the gold or the mon shu girl curler and ended up going with mon shu girl. Karl Lagerfield rocks and I'm a sucker for a charm.


A few misc items! A refill for my Clinique powder, YSL glossy stain, MAC Select Moisturecover concealer, Kiehl's Cryste Marine eye cream and one of the new Clinique Chubby Stick shades.


I've heard so much stuff about the Bioderma I had to try it out. It's so much cheaper in HK!


Of course I got some face masks! I'm kind of obsessed with them lol. I actually bought 4 more boxes but had to leave them behind because my luggage was too heavy. The darn Zoya Remove!


Kracie poppin' cookin' is the bomb so I got a few more kits. If you haven't heard of them I HIGHLY recommend you check out RRcherrypie's blog and YouTube channel! You will be addicted!


My sister got an iphone 4S a while back and nicked some of the cases I got last time so I had to restock my supply haha. The MJ and Kate Spades I got for a bargain at Ladies Market so they're obviously not real xp


So that's my haul! I haven't done a haul post in a while because I've been on no buys. I hope you enjoyed my post!

Thanks for looking as always =)

A quick NOTD for you today using Deborah Lippmann Forget You. My sis gave me the Get This Party Started set for Christmas last year and gosh I love the polishes so much!! Actually I love all my Lippmann's equally haha xp


Forget You contains the same amazing glitter that's in Happy Birthday but in a black base. I used 2 coats over 1 coat of Glitter Gal Serpent Black*. Utter perfection and party time on my nails! It's going to be fun (NOT) removing it but oh well.. well worth it!


Close up:



I am dying to get my hands on her new glitter Let's Go Crazy but alas the wallet says no =( Thanks for looking as always ladies! =)

* Product(s) provided to me for consideration but this in no way influenced my review in any way. As always, my reviews are my 100% honest opinion. My Disclosure Policy can be viewed here.

Hi ladies! I haven't had much time for nail art lately so I've been loving glitter or flakie sandwich manicures (here's a flakie sandwich I did a little while ago!). They're quick, look fab and last a very long time. Today I've done a purple glitter sandwich manicure with one of my favourite jelly polishes and glitters. I LOVE jelly polishes but I actually don't have that many.. must rectify this!


I used 2 coats of OPI Houston We Have a Purple from the Texas collection, followed by a coat of Essence time for romance, a coat of Deborah Lippmann Happy Birthday and another coat of OPI Houston We Have a Purple. Sealed it all with a coat of Color Club Vivid Color Intensifying topcoat.


Close up:


My pics don't do this mani justice - it looks a lot nicer in person! I was going to only use time for romance as the glitter but it wasn't dense enough so Happy Birthday added more glitter and colour to my mani.




Do you like jelly polishes? What are your favourites? Let me know in the comments below because I need to add more to my collection!

Thanks for looking as always =) Don't forget to enter my 2nd birthday giveaway here!

So today I am another year older! And hopefully wiser but I highly doubt it lol. Now I had intended this to be an ice-cream manicure however everyone said my mani reminded them of cupcakes and NOT ice-cream so I guess it's turned into a cupcake mani!


Here's what I used:


Pinky: I used 2 coats of Barry M Strawberry Ice-cream as my base and Canmake 101 for the chocolate icing. For the sprinkles I used OPI Alpine Snow.

Ring finger: I used 2 coats of Barry M Berry Ice-Cream and OPI Alpine Snow for the icing. For the sprinkles I used China Glaze Happy Go Lucky and Empowerment.

Middle finger: For the base I used China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint and Canmake 101 for the chocolate icing. For the sprinkles I used OPI Alpine Snow and China Glaze Sugar High.

Index finger: I used 2 coats of Color Club Who Are You Wearing? for the base and China Glaze Sugar High for the icing. Sprinkles were China Glaze Happy Go Lucky and Flyin' High.

Thumb: I used 1 coat of NYC Color snazzle and 2 coats of Deborah Lippmann Happy Birthday.


I had to break out Deborah Lippmann's Happy Birthday of course! It's so awesome x)




Gosh I am really loving rocking this mani! I need to practice my drips but oh well. Expect more drippy/ice-cream manis in every different colour in the future LOL.


My gifts from the family and D! The parents gave me an agnès b makeup set and a red packet (ie. cash woot!) and D and my sis gifted me a nail course from Nail Boutique Le M that I've been wanting to do for AGES!!!!!! Yay! D also gave me OPI DS Magic and Extravagance, yummy Adora truffles and a cute Rilakkuma =) My yummyt birthday cake is below!


I hope you all had a lovely day! Thanks for looking and don't forget to enter my 2nd birthday giveaway here!