L'Oreal Paris Extravaganza nail polishes

Not so long ago I mentioned that I'm a leopard kind of girl so it shouldn't come as a surprise that I couldn't resist buying the two nail polishes of the L'Oreal Paris Extravaganza collection.  I mean, look at the packaging, how could I not buy them?

The color riche nail polishes are good quality nail polishes with a nice wide brush, just the way I like them.  The Extravaganza collection contained two nail polishes: L'Or Jungle (420), a golden color and Feline Sauvage (423), a dark green color.

L'Or Jungle (420)

L'Or Jungle (420) close-up

Now, we all know that golden polishes can be a bit tricky.  It's hard to get the formula just right and many brands struggle with it.  Even though the application was easy, the result is streaky.  And believe me I've tried, I've removed the polish and repainted my nails three times.  Something I can't remember doing over the last year because my nail polish application skills have improved over time and also because I want to be honest on my blog so I judge nail polishes by their first application.  But I really wanted this polish to work because of the packaging (a little biased, me?), I so wanted this polish to become my favorite gold so I could look at the packaging the whole time.  Truth be told, this will not become my favorite golden polish to paint my entire nail with but it would look great as an accent or for som nail art with the green polish of this collection.

Feline Sauvage (423)

Feline Sauvage, the dark green color, is a total hit for me.  It's just a gorgeous dark forest green with a bit of a shimmer/shine to it.   The color reminds me of a Christmas tree, it's great as a stand alone color but would also work great with a nice red or golden nail art.  

When I first noticed the collection in store I did some research on it and discovered that they launched a lipstick in France with the same print and the color looks just right for me.  Unfortunately I haven't been able to find it in Belgium, not in store nor online.  If you know where I can get it, please let me know in the comments below.

Nude Amazonia (141)

image from loreal-paris.fr

Where to buy:

You can buy the L'Oreal Paris color riche nail polishes at your local drugstore.  In Belgium they retail for €6,49.

Too Faced Pink Leopard blushing bronzer

I'm a leopard kind of girl and I think almost everyone around me knows.  I'm also a make up addict (duh) and my bestie found the perfect combination of those two for my birthday last month.  A leopard print blushing bronzer!!  How cool is this?

I'd seen it around the internet a few times but I always managed to control myself.  "It's bad enough that I buy makeup that has a New York print or reference and never use it because it would ruin the New York print, there's no need to start buying makeup with a leopard print just because it has a leopard print" I kept telling myself.  But of course, as usual, bestie always knows best and I can only imagine how she felt when she found this for me.  I know it was a search because apparently it sells out quite fast but she managed to get her hands on it and I will be forever grateful for it.  

I have to admit it was hard for me to swatch this and even to use it.  Every time I open it a little voice inside my head goes "don't ruin the print" but since it was a gift, I have to use it.  I can't tell my bestie I'm not using it because one, that would be rude and two, it's just too gorgeous not to use.

It is quite shimmery and for my skin tone I have to use it with a light hand in order to get it on in a subtle way but when it's on, it's gorgeous.  Not too cool of a pink because of the bronze that's added and with enough shimmer too make you look healthy and youthful.  Did I mention it was my 39th birthday? I know, don't get me started ... Needless to say that every product that gives me a youthful glow is a winner in my book.  

So here's a little message for my bestie: thank you so much for finding me the perfect gift!!!  I smile every time I open it and there's no better way to start the day than with a smile ...

Where to buy:

You can find the Too Faced Leopard Bronzer at Sephora.fr and because it's not polite to look into the price tag of presents you get, you'll have to go and look for the price yourself ;-)  

NOTD: Deborah Lippmann Cleopatra in New York

Glitterseason is here!!! Well, it should be anyway but the weather isn't really cooperating.  It's too warm for the time of the year and today the sun was shining.  I can't help it but I'm not in the Christmas/New Year mood.  The season is just off!!  I guess migrating to Australië would be a no-go for me ;-) 

But when a colleague asked if I could bring some glitters to the office so she could do her nails for Christmas I pulled out all my glitter, golden, silver and everything in between polishes and I rediscovered this one: Cleopatra in New York by Deborah Lippmann.

To me Deborah Lippmann equals glitter.  Sure, she has 'normal' polishes in her range but I'm not one to pay more than €20 for a 'normal' polish.  But for her glitters I gladly pay up!  Her glitter polishes are just gorgeous and now that I've pulled this one out, I'm dying to put on more (and maybe even buy some more).  

Cleopatra in New York is a black polish with golden glitters.  It took me 2 coats to get full coverage but the polish (and glitters) go on easy.  You just have to play around a bit to make sure the glitters are evenly spread.  It's just a gorgeous polish and perfect for the days to come.

As much as I love the glitters, removing this is a real pain in the a**.  The easiest way and the least aggressive way for your nails according to me is the aluminium foil method.  Take a cotton disk, drench it in nail polish remover, lay it on your nail and wrap the tip of your finger in aluminium foil.  Leave it on for at least 5 minutes and you should be able to wipe off the glitter polish quite easily.  For the Deborah Lippman polishes I usually wait for about 10 minutes.  It look ridiculous I know but it works!

Where to buy:

You can buy Cleopatra in New York at feelunique.com for €24,30.

Don't fear ... I'm still here

Well, it's been a while since my last post but life has been so hectic that I haven't had any time to write anything.  I've been on a much needed vacation to soak up some sun but since I've been back I feel like I'm on a roller coaster.  An overload of work at the job and not enough time at night and in the weekend to get the house work sorted out and write for the blog.  Also the weather hasn't been very cooperative, it's just so dark here all the time and this is very problematic for a blogger that takes pictures in the daylight.

But don't fear, I'm still here ... the good thing about not having much time?  I haven't spend much money on beauty, makeup or nail polishes.  The downside to this?  I miss it!! I really really really have missed buying me some makeup.  It doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive ... just something new to play around with.  Needless to say I feel a shopping spree coming on!!  

It's not like I need something new, I still have plenty of stuff to write about.  Like the gorgeous leopard blush my bestie gave me for my birthday, a new mac lippie that a friend gave me for my birthday and the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani palette that I gave myself for my birthday (oh yes I did!!!).

If all goes well, I'll post again this weekend and I'm hoping to find the time during the upcoming holidays to maybe try to write ahead so there won't be any more silent periods like this on the blog.