NEW BYS Velvet for Nails in Blue Suede Shoes

Textured nails have become increasingly popular since the Caviar Manicure hit the beauty-world by storm! BYS has thus far launched their 'Caviar for Nails', 'Sugar for Nails', 'Glitter for Nails' and now... they've welcomed 'Velvet for Nails'!! BYS Velvet for Nails come at an affordable price of A$7.95 per kit and there are 12 vibrant colours available. 

Today I will be giving you a simple step-by-step tutorial to apply BYS Velvet for Nails in Blue Suede Shoes!

Included in the BYS Velvet for Nails kit is a pot of coloured velvet powder, a brush and a bottle of nail polish. There was also a metallic square to be used as a mat to ensure you don't leave a mess from applying the velvet powder. I prefer to use an A4 sheet of paper, because I tend to make a huge mess when it comes to applying these.

Now, on to my Blue Suede Shoes!

Step 1. Apply 1-2 coats of nail polish to each nail.

Tip: Ensure that you apply a nice even layer of nail polish and try not to apply a thick layer. Applying a thick and uneven layer will lead to clustering of powder on your nails and it won't look neat at all. 
 

Step 2. While your nails are still wet, quickly dip each finger into the velvet pot and ensure each nail contains surplus powder. Wait for about 5 minutes for your nails to dry.

Tip: Instead of dipping your finger into the pot, you could pour some powder onto a plate. 

Step 3. Using the brush, gently sweep away any excess velvet powder around the cuticle.

Tip: If you have excess powder on the bed of your nails, gently tap your nails onto the sheet of paper.

Ta-da! My furry and fluffy BYS Velvet for Nails in Blue Suede Shoes are complete! The velvet feel adds a nice touch to the bed of my nails and I just can't stop caressing them! The Velvet Powder lasted a full day until it started to separate from the the surface of my nails. So, if you intend to go for the velvet look on your nails, it would be best to apply the powder earlier on the same day.

 

BYS Velvet for Nails are available in-store at K-Mart, Glassons, Cosmetics Plus, Bardot and The Reject Shop, or online at Fashion Addict and GLOSS.

Have you attempted the Velvet Manicure yet? 

What do you think of the new trend of textured nails?

xx Rose

 Product was provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with BYS Cosmetics and did not receive remuneration to post this review. 

Violet Box (September 2013)

It's that time of the month again and my Violet Box (A$22.95/month) has finally arrived! Much to my surprise, when I opened my Violet Box I was sadly left a tad underwhelmed. The thing about beauty subscription boxes is that they can be either fabulous, mediocre or just completely off my interests. My disappointment was primarily due to the fact that there were no eye, cheek nor lip products (my favourite categories!). However, I did end up developing a liking for this box because the products included were entirely new to me and I was quite keen to take them for a test-drive!

The Vintage Cosmetic Company Floral Slanted Tweezers (A$14.95, full size) and Emery Board (A$4.95, full size) were the stand-out products as I absolutely adore the gorgeous floral design of these beauty tools! It was a really nice surprise to receive these products, because they are from the UK and they do look cute sitting on my dressing table! The stainless steel slanted tweezers are well made and I was able to pluck my eyebrows finely and accurately with ease. The surface of this emery board isn't too harsh on the nails, which is a great thing, so this cutie will stay in my handbag for emergencies.

NS-5 Cuticle & Nail Complex (A$9.95/15g, full size received) is an Australian-made product that is formulated using natural emollients which helps to moisturise and treat damaged cuticles and nails. The slightly thick white opaque formula contains Silicea, Keratin, Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, and Vitamins E and B5 to help strengthen, restore, moisturise and protect the nails. Although the formula was quite thick in consistency, I found that the cream was fast-absorbing and didn't leave any distinct scents.

Sinful Nail Polish (A$4.95/15ml, full size received) is made in the USA and the shade I received (out of a possible 5 that were distributed by Violet Box) is called 'Gogo Girl'- a fire-engine red. The consistency is relatively thin, however, the pigmentation was pretty good. I applied two coats to achieve an opaque and glossy finish. The shade I received is quite dupable and I do actually have a few similar shades in my stash.

Eleven Australia Miracle Hair Treatment (A$24.95/125ml, 6ml sample received) is a lightweight silky formula which delivers 11 benefits to hair. Just simply apply directly onto damp hair for healthier and nourished hair. I was able to get two uses from this hair serum and it did leave my looking softer and well hydrated. The scent of this formula reminds me of cocoa butter, which smells quite lovely, though the scent does disappear after a short while. 

Timeless Truth Stem Cell Extract Mask (A$5/mask) helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots. The cloth is made in Japan and contains Criste Marine Stem Cell Extract (repair and protect), Idebenone (skin rejuvenation), Palmitoyl Pentapiptide-3 (stimulates collagen production) and Vitamin A (antioxidant and moisturising ingredient). The very moist, soft and lightweight cloth was a delight to use and my skin felt incredibly relaxed and revitalised.

Have you subscribed to Violet Box? 

What do you think of the contents in this month's box?

xx Rose

*Products were provided for consideration only. These reviews are 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Violet Box and did not receive remuneration to post these product reviews. 

Dior GWP at Myer

This morning I received a promotional card in the mail from Dior at Myer and I just couldn't resist sharing images of this card on The Beauty of Red Roses! In the image below, Dior ambassador Natalie Portman is wearing a stunning strapless black dress with floral applique to promote the Miss Dior fragrance.

At the back of the card, there were details on the new and upcoming Dior GWP to be offered at Myer between 26 September until 6 October 2013, or while stocks last!

Enjoy!

xx Rose

Lancôme GWP at Myer

Image source: Lancôme Australia Facebook page.

Lancôme is currently offering a 9-piece GWP (valued at $239) at Myer when you spend A$75 or more on Lancôme products. The contents in this GWP include:

• Galateis Douceur Gentle Softening Cleansing Fluid for Face and Eyes 50ml
• Visionnaire Serum 5ml
• La vie est Belle EDP miniature 4ml
•  Dual-End Liner & Shadow Brush #18
• Color Design Eyeshadow Quad (travel size)
• Hypnose Star Mascara 2ml
• Classic red Lancôme cosmetic pouch

PLUS your choice of skincare duo from the either the Hydra Zen, Renergie Multi-Lift or Absolue range.

This Lancôme GWP offer is only available at Myer Department stores until 13 October 2013 or while stocks last.

Enjoy!

xx Rose

*CLOSED* TBRR Beauty GIVEAWAY!

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a great start to your weekend! Now that we are well into the spring season and that spring racing is just around the corner, I am excited to announce that I will be giving away one huge beauty prize on my blog! This beauty prize includes an amazing array of drugstore and high-end beauty products that will keep you looking great from head to toe!

Here's what you could win:

Manicare Glameyes (Kourtney lashes)

D&G Perfume Collection containing 5 x 1.5ml vials of perfume

Australis Double Decker Eyeshadow Duo in Greenhouse Effect

MOR Lychee Flower Hand Cream

Le Tan Fast Tan in Deep Bronze

Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in Fair to Light

Innoxa Ruby Red Anniversary Tin containing a limited edition Ruby red matte lipstick and In the Red nail polish

Fing'rs Flirt Nail Bling

Manicare Beginning to End Top & Base coat

Beauty Essentials Nail Shapers

Dior cosmetic pouch

Sisley Night Complex with botanical extracts (suitable for all skin types)

Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Gel Eyeliner in shade #07 Bold Cobalt

Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara

To enter this giveaway, please wait for the Rafflecoptor widget to load and fill out the form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is only open to Australian residents and closes on 21 October 2013. The winner will be chosen at random using the Rafflecopter widget and notified after the giveaway closes.

Good luck!!

xx Rose

MIMCO Nail Polish in Off White

MIMCO Nail Polish in Off White.

I am quite the indecisive type and when I become lost in choice when it comes to getting a manicure, I would usually opt for my MIMCO Nail Polish in Off White (A$15.95/13ml). Around a year ago, MIMCO launched a modest new range of beauty products, including bronzing powder, lipstick, lip gloss and of course nail polish! Most of these beauty products have sold out during recent sales and I was lucky enough to get my paws on the shade Off White for a measly $5!

The packaging of the bottle is quite simple and the applicator brush was reasonably sized and soft for smooth application. Off White is a piano white shade with subtle silver shimmers to give a lovely pearlescent finish. Although the consistency and texture is relatively sheer though not too thick nor thin, at least three coats are needed for a complete opaque finish. I really love this shade because it gives a gorgeous elegant look and it suits any occasion!

The formula is free from the big 3 (Toluene, Formaldehyde and Dibutyl Phthalate) and made in Australia! It's not often that I come across nail polishes that are made in Australia! The formula is of great quality and the longevity is just okay. I noticed that the nail polish started to chip after the second day and this was the result of applying the shade Off White three times without a top coat.

Which nail shades do you often wear?

Are you a fan of MIMCO nail polishes?

xx Rose

Sisley GWP at David Jones

Spring is in full swing and Sisley has got your beauty essentials covered, thanks to their current gift with purchase offer! Simply purchase two Sisley products (one being skincare) and you will receive a luxurious 8 piece GWP valued at A$234. This offer is available while stocks last.

Enjoy!

NEW ELES Masquerade Nail Enamel Collection

ELES Mineral Makeup is an Australian beauty brand which house a range of face, eye, lip and nail products. ELES products are formulated from micronised minerals and natural ingredients (e.g. Vitamin A, E and C, Aloe, Chamomile and Ginseng, just to name a few) to protect the skin and nails while they perform just as well as professional beauty products out in the market. I absolutely adore the mineral makeup line by ELES and when I received news about their exciting new product launch, I was just completely mesmerised! ELES recently launched their amazing Masquerade Collection which consists of 12 beautiful nail enamel shades (A$20/15ml), which were inspired by the shimmer, glamour and elegance of 'Costumed-Carnivals and 15th Century Masquerade Balls'.

ELES Masquerade Collection

ELES nail enamels are kind to the nails as they are free from the big nasty three: Toluene, Formaldehyde and DBP. The packaging of each nail enamel is square in shape, so you can align each shade side-by-side while saving space in your nail polish organiser/drawer. The labels are attached to the base of each bottle and as you can see, the labels don't seem to bind very well to the glass bottle. The list of ingredients are actually printed on the reverse side of each label, so I guess the labels were meant to be easily peeled away so that you could examine the list of ingredients. 

The nail enamel applicator was very soft and application was very smooth and easy. Each shade has their own unique feature in terms of opacity and finish.

ELES Masquerade Collection

ELES Colombina Gold

Colombina Gold is a stunning shimmery light gold. Leaving my nails under natural sunlight radiates the beautiful gold and silver shimmers of this nail colour!

ELES Casanova Red

 Casanova Red is a classic fire engine red with a high gloss finish. The formula of this red beauty was relatively thick and only 1 coat was required to achieve full opacity.

 

ELES Vivaldi Blue

Vivaldi Blue is a seafoam blue/green which reminds me of the luxurious Tiffany blue shade. After applying 2 coats, the finish appears slightly streaky with a subtle metallic sheen.

ELES Othello Orange

Othello Orange is a super vibrant orange which applies on relatively sheer. Two coats will suffice for good opacity.

ELES Phantom Black - Glossy coat before fully dried.

ELES Phantom Black - Matte finish after fully dried.

Phantom Black is one of my favourite shades! The formula appears glossy immediately after application, however, once the formula dries up, it leaves a gorgeous matte finish!

ELES Fuschia Fontana

Fuschia Fontana is a bright fuschia pink with a metallic lilac duochrome finish. The formula of Fuschia Fontana is quite sheer, so I ended up applying 2 coats.

ELES Nude Contessa

Nude Contessa is an elegant and classy nude shade. The formula of this shade was slightly more thick and creamy than the other shades, so only one coat was sufficient to give a smooth and even finish.

ELES Veronese Orchid

Veronese Orchid is a pretty lilac shade which would be perfect to wear during this spring season!

ELES Tintoretto Teal

Tintoretto Teal is a forrest green shade which requires two coats to achieve good opacity.

ELES Baroque Bronze

 Baroque Bronze is a light copper shade with a streaky metallic finish. The streaky finish gives a pretty good resemblance to the surface of ancient copper bowls and cups.

ELES Carnival Copper

 Carnival Copper is a vibrant dark orange, rather than copper.

ELES Purple Royale

Purple Royale is an intense purple shade with hints of blue. The formula of this shade was probably the most sheer nail enamel from the Masquerade collection and hence requires at least three coats to obtain full opacity. 

The ELES Masquerade Collection has covered all four corners of the mysterious and extravagant masquerade theme. I love the fact that there were a variety of different shades in this collection and also a wide range of different finishes. I especially love the shades Phantom Black, Vivaldi Blue, Nude Contessa and Colombina Gold!

What do you think of ELES Masquerade Collection?

Which shades suit your fancy?

xx Rose

 Products were provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with ELES Mineral Makeup and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

NEW Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder

Foundation powder is a must have in my beauty stash! Due to my combination/oily skin type, foundation powder helps to reduce the amount of shine developed along my T-zone during the day, so I always have one in hand!

Laura Mercier will be launching their new Smooth Finish Foundation Powder (A$59/9.2g) on the 22nd of September in Australia and this powder aims to reduce the look of shine and smooth away the appearance of fine lines and pores. This foundation powder is suitable for all skin types and even those who have sensitive skin!

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder in shade #5 Medium Beige with Yellow Undertones.

There are 20 shades in total ranging from #1 to #20 and these shades cater for light beige to medium-beige to dark skin tones with either pink, yellow or neutral undertones. In Australia, there will only be 12 shades available on counter. I was kindly sent the shade #5 'medium beige with yellow undertones' (equivalent to MAC NC25) and have been using this foundation powder religiously for the last 3 weeks as a finishing powder to set my liquid foundation. 

The signature sleek brown Laura Mercier packaging of this foundation powder is quite bulky and fits just nicely in the palm of my hand. The large diameter of this compact is of course due to the large in-built mirror which allows me to see my full face profile. There is also a compartment underneath the powder pan which stores one sponge applicator. This perfectly portable foundation powder is hands down a great handbag companion!

This silky smooth, finely milled and long-wearing formula fuses foundation and powder, so you could use this multitasker as foundation applied over primer or even as a finishing powder to prolong the shine along the T-zone. The powder doesn't clog my pores and it worked well to conceal minor blemishes. The powder contains Vitamin E and Shea Butter to protect the skin from free-radical damage, while simultaneously hydrate and soothe the skin. However, the formula does not contain any sun protection factor, so wearing this over BB/CC cream, moisturiser or primer containing SPF is a must to shield your skin against the harmful sun rays.

What I love about this foundation powder is that when I use a large fluffy powder brush, only a small amount of product binds onto the bristles of the brush. Once the powder is gently applied to the face, my skin transforms instantly to reveal an impeccable natural and healthy-looking complexion that doesn't leave a powdery, matte nor cakey look to the skin. 

Although I prefer to use this powder after liquid foundation application, using this powder alone does subtly make my complexion appear awake and healthy. I never thought that a foundation powder alone could provide a soft-focus effect which looks very natural until I met Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder! I love using this foundation powder as it not only gives a beautiful natural look to my skin, but it also protects my skin while sufficiently hydrates my skin.

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Foundation Powder will launch on counter at selected Myer and David Jones stores nationally on the 22nd of September 2013. 

 Which foundation types do you use - mineral/liquid/powder?

Have you tried Laura Mercier foundation products in the past?

xx Rose 

Product was provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Laura Mercier and did not receive remuneration to post this product review. 

 

Monday Manicure: Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat in Tweedy and Chanel Le Vernis in Pink Mink

A combination of Chanel Le Vernis in Pink Mink and Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat in Tweedy* is what's on my nails right now! Chanel Le Vernis in Pink Mink is one of my luxe nail colours which is a sheer pink/beige shade with a smooth jelly finish. Under certain lighting, subtle shimmers of silver and pink can be seen. The formula applies on like a dream without any streaking and 3 coats is adequate to give an elegant and classy nail look. Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat in Tweedy (reviewed here) is such a versatile textured nail colour with white and black bar glitter that would compliment any shade of nail lacquer. I love the combination of pink, white and black hues on my nails that would suit my pastel pink blouse I'm going to wear to work today :) 

What's on your nails today?

xx Rose

*Product was provided for consideration only. This review is 100% based on my own thoughts and opinions. I am not affiliated with Sally Hansen and did not receive remuneration to post this product review.