Nail Update and Rebel Nails

It's been over a month since I posted about my self imposed nail polish ban. I've managed to stick to it, despite the horror of my bare nails! I purchased a crystal nail file too and have kept them short to minimise snagging. Unfortunately I haven't been as diligent as I had hoped to be with the other treatments. However, I have applied Nailactan regularly, I've kept my hands in good condition with regular application of moisturiser and in the last week or so I started taking some 'Hair and Nails' multi-vitamins.

So, has there been any improvement? Unfortunately not. My nails look almost exactly the same as they did 5 weeks ago. It does feel a bit demoralising. I do wish I had been better at using treatments to help repair them but I suspect that the multi-vitamins will give me the best results. I can't quite decide whether I should start wearing polish again. As my nails haven't improved in 5 weeks of no nail varnish, starting to wear it again might not actually make them any worse?

As I couldn't make a decision on the nail polish, I thought it would be a good moment to try the Rebel Nails that Oxford Jasmine kindly sent me to cheer me up. If you haven't come across them before, Rebel nails are nail wraps (a bit like nails shaped stickers) which you apply directly to the nail. You select the right sized sticker, peel it off from the backing, heat with a hair dryer and then place on the nail starting at the cuticle end then smoothing down. There are instructions on their website and as well as a helpful video. I won't deny that it's a little tricky on the first go. I found the hardest part was getting the wrap centred on the nail. Removing the excess was also a little difficult but I think that is probably because my nails are so short. I think this is the sort of thing that would get easier with practice. I was really pleased with the end result, the opaque sparkly silver is perfect after weeks of naked nails! I have found that they are prone to lifting up a bit at the tip but it isn't as noticeable as regular tip wear.

I will be leaving these on over the weekend whilst I make a decision regarding whether to continue the nail polish ban. As a final note I will leave you with a picture of the nail polishes that I have queuing up to try.

What would you do?

Oxford Jasmine in the Friday Confessional

This week Oxford Jasmine is paying a visit to the Friday Confessional. Jasmine is a very lovely lady and I can't possibly imagine she has any beauty sins to share. I suppose I better prepare myself!

Confession is good for the soul, go ahead and unburden yourself! I promise I won’t judge..


•   I like growing my eye brows for as long as I possibly can then marvelling at how neat they are when I thread them!

•   I bought three candles this week from Jonathan Ward Candles fully intending to give them as Christmas presents, now I am not so sure I want to part with them.

•   I haven’t brushed my hair in two days (I wear it back in a plait and work from home, no one needs to see my hair)

•   I have a week off work next week fully intending to blog and video, knowing full well that I will find myself shopping or eating out instead.

•   I have the biggest pile of paper shredding to do and I have done nothing but ignore it or glance at it forlornly all week.

•   My nails are flaking and I need to stop wearing nail varnish but I am practising new techniques on them every day.  Something is going to give soon and I will be saying I told you so to myself!

•   Driven to extremes, I considered buying an at home laser system costing £1500!  Facial threading anywhere other than eye brows and ahem tache causes me to break out in horrible cystic acne! I have come to my senses and am considering going back to a qualified professional!

•   I have not been wearing SPF30 Sunscreen as much as I should.



I hope you feel better now, five *Hail Mary Quants ought to do it. Let's hope you managed to be productive on your week off, though Aunty Brown knows you must have been out shopping at some point this week....

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If you would like to take a turn and unburden yourself in the Beauty Confessional you can email me at modestybrown@googlemail.com. It's open to everyone: if you have something to confess, I'm happy to hear it!

 *I can't take credit for this gem. Many thanks to WelshBeautyBlog for coining the phrase, Aunty Brown will have to all hailing Mary Quant in no time.

My Afternoon with Oxford Jasmine

If you follow me on twitter you probably already know that I was lucky enough to spend some of Sunday afternoon with the very lovely Oxford Jasmine. After a conversation which started on twitter, Jasmine invited me round for a makeover and of course I jumped at the chance. I'd seen the video of her studio so was more than happy to have opportunity for a nosy in those draws, as well as get a lesson from a makeup expert.

Jasmine asked in advance if I had any particular make up concerns or issues. Top of the list was the worry that with my new school run routine, I'd be going out bare faced unless I could learn a quick and easy face! On the day we looked at some images for inspiration and I picked out a photo that was a very subtle, almost nude make up look. Probably a little boring of me but the words of my Mother from my own school days still ring in my ears "It's school, not a fashion parade"! It also gave Jasmine opportunity to show me some placement tips and tricks to make the most of my features.

Here is the photo of the quick day look. I was really pleased with how it looked and I loved how Jasmine had done my eyes. She used a matte light brown/beige from the UD Naked palette as a natural crease colour. The colour was concentrated on the outer part of the crease and the inner corner to give more dimension to my eyes. As I was able to compare the difference with and without the crease colour, I was amazed at the effect. I've also taken away the trick of applying concealer in a V on the outer corner to sharpen up the outer edge of my eye. I was really pleased with how it lifted up my eyes which are a little hooded. I have my eye on an ELF pen liner after Jasmine used this to apply liner just at the lash line.

I was instantly taken with The Body Shop lipstick Jasmine picked for this look. It's a beautiful dark peachy nude. It's not a colour I would have typically chosen but I love how it looked. So much so that I went out and bought it today, I have it on as I type. For reference it's number 42. I really like the blusher too, from memory it was a mixture of a cream blush from a palette and a smidge of E.L.F. Natural Radiance blusher in Bronze.

Along with the defined brows this is a great "My Face but Better" look for me. It's been great for the school run too.

In complete contrast to the day look, Jasmine created a stunning smoky eye as an evening look. I really loved this. I can't give exact shade details as it was an amazing blend of three shadows from two different palettes. The basis of it was MAC Teddy eye kohl (one of my favourite liners) and this was applied to my lower lash line and crease and smudged out. I was really pleased with this as it's always great to find new ways with old favourites!

For a bit of fun, I added some false lashes later on. It is entirely normal to be be wearing false lashes at 5pm on a Sunday isn't it? My photos aren't great and please excuse the visible blob of glue but I thought it would be fun to share the pictures with you.

I had such a great time with Jasmine. I learned so much, I have a list as long as my arm of E.L.F. products and brushes I want to get after my rummaging and as well as all that, I enjoyed fabulous conversation and scrummy homemade cake! So, huge thanks to the talented and very stunning Oxford Jasmine for such a lovely afternoon. Believe me, her studio is make up nirvana!

You can read Oxford Jasmine's post about our get together here.