.nails and caviar.

So here is one I have been itching to try since the moment I laid my eyes on it - Caviar Nails! I treat my nails like an accessory and yes it does get boring painting them colour after colour sometimes. That's why when trends like this come into play, I am all far giving it a go! I went out and got the Ciate Caviar Manicure Kit in Black from Mecca Cosmetics and loved the results I got. If you are wanting to try this at home, I would definitely recommend the kit. It is $36 for the kit, but for those that are wanting a cheaper alternative - you can buy micro beads in lots of exciting colours from any art store and do it yourself!

This was honestly A LOT easier to do than I expected. It is nowhere near as messy as I thought it would be either, which is always a plus. 

 The kit by Ciate includes the black nail polish, a pot of pearl beads, an instruction leaflet and a little funnel which you will use at the end.

First up, I started with fresh nails free of polish etc, then I applied just one coat of the black polish and let it dry. First coat of the nail polish is quite light, but don't worry the second coat goes on thick and dark.

I then applied a second coat of nail polish, and as it was wet I sprinkled the micro beads gently over the top. The reason why you use the tray underneath, is so that you can keep the beads instead of wasting them every time you do this manicure.

I applied a coat and a sprinkle on each nail individually and let it dry for 15-20 minutes as per the instructions.

The finished product! It is not as "over the top" as I expected and I really liked that. It is edgy and feminine at the same time!

They give you a little funnel in the kit so that you can pour the remainder of the beads back into the bottle - genius!

The Ciate Caviar Manicure kit comes in three different colours, pictured above. You can also be creative and use the beads over any colour nail polish so don't restrict yourself to just one base colour or one bead colour - mix and match and make it fun!

Hope I've inspired some of you to get out there and try this nail trend - it's so easy for such an awesome look!

Happy Weekend everyone.
xx

.the ten lash commandments.

There's no denying it - every girl wants a set of eyelashes that are going to blow people away. I for one, feel as though I have become somewhat of an "eyelash expert" through the years with all the trial and error! Although these little hairs are just there to protect our eyelids, many women enjoy using them as a tool to make themselves look even more beautiful. Here are my top 10 rules to live by when it comes to the perfect eyelashes. In order to make the most of what you naturally have:

1. Thou shalt not go to bed with makeup on. Any left over residue of mascara from the day will dry out your lashes and usually cause them to fall out.

2. Thou shalt not be addicted to extensions and curlers. These things are very damaging for your lashes. 

3. Thou shalt not search for the "perfect mascara". There are many factors to consider - the type of lashes you have, the brush, the composition of the formula itself etc. 

4. Thou shalt not be afraid to use two different mascaras. For example, I use one mascara to separate and define my lashes and another mascara to add depth and thickness. 

5. Thou shalt not only apply to the middle of the eye. There's no point just using mascara in the middle of your eye - the inner and outer corners make a big impact so make sure you show them attention too!

6. Thou shalt believe in the power of the extra coat. It's okay to apply a few coats, but not all at once. Give the mascara some time to set, switch over to your other eye and then come back to the other one. 

7. Thou shalt not use the same mascara forever. Mascara isn't meant to last you a lifetime so after 3 months or so, make sure you toss it! There does come a time when it stops working like it did when you first got it. 

8. Thou shalt not deny the wiggle. Make sure you wiggle the wand from the base of the lashes upward softly rather than just one big motion upwards. 

9. Thou shalt not be a serial "pump in and out" victim.  Please oh please, do not pump the wand in and out like a crazy person! You're not getting any more of the product on there, and you are drying out the formula quicker than you need to. 

10. Thou shalt not let the lashes be dry. Since wearing mascara daily can really dry out your lashes, you can pop a dab of Vaseline or Almond Oil to the base of your lashes before going to bed. 

So before I mentioned using two different mascaras for two different purposes. I change my mascaras all the time, but thought I'd share with you my two favourite products of the moment:

1. Flawless Definition Mascara by BareMinerals. Get it here!

2. Mesmer-eyes by Napolean. Get it here!

Here are some photos of the results I get from using the Flawless Definition first for separation and Mesmer-eyes for thickness and colour depth. 

Any questions, feel free to comment me and I'll be happy to answer. 

Love Parisa...xoxo