Autumn Colours: CND Vinylux Wild Earth Collection A/W 2018 - Review & Swatches

The nights are already getting darker, there's a chill in the air and the ground is covered in crunchy fallen leaves; Autumn is officially here and CND's Wild Earth Collection for A/W 2018 has all the on-trend shades that your nails are craving right now. 

Inspired by ‘Mother Earth’s endless array of textures, magnificent colour palette and breathtaking landscapes’, this shiny new collection from CND has colours to suit everyone's skin tone and there's enough variation in these six shades to keep things interesting all Autumn and Winter long. All of the below are available in the brand's Shellac and Vinylux formulas too, so let's jump into the swatches!

 CND Vinylux Nail Polish in Spear*

Spear is a beautiful muted terracotta peach that will instantly appeal to those who like to stick with more neutral/nude shades - in fact, this would be a stunning nail polish for a bride that's looking for something chic, but different. It's very elegant and applied smoothly in just two coats.

 CND Vinylux Polish in Element*

For something much louder, Element is a bright warmed toned red that looks amazing on both fingers and toes (I'm actually wearing it on my toes as I type!). I usually stick to these types of reds during Summer, but there's something very cheery about applying a fresh slick of bright red to the when it's cold and raining outside. Two coats is all you need. 

 CND Vinylux Polish in Brimstone*

Ooo now this is an unusual shade! I'm not quite sure what to call Brimstone - it's kinda like a pale beige with a hint of yellow and grey thrown into the mix. I didn't immediately fall in love with it, but the more I wear it, the more it grows on me. This took just two coats to reach full opacity.

 CND Vinylux Polish in Arrowhead*

Arrowhead is one of my favourites from this Wild Earth collection and it ticks all the right Autumnal boxes for me. It's a really beautiful rich and earthy, deep chocolatey mauve colour that applies so smoothly like all of the other polishes in this range. Simply stunning. I could have gotten away with two coats, but I did three thin coats to really seal the deal.

 CND Vinylux Polish in Dreamcatcher*

Despite purple being one of my favourite colours, I don't actually own many purple nail polishes so Dreamcatcher has quickly become a new obsession. It's such a pretty shade of light purple/plum and has a very youthful and fun element to it. Two easy coats again.

CND Vinylux Polish in Blue Moon*

I'm a sucker for a deep, glossy navy blue, especially during the colder months, and Blue Moon has totally stolen my heart. It is drop dead gorgeous in every way, from the silky smooth application to the high-shine, gel-like finish, I just can't enough of these inky blues! Excellent two coat coverage too.

Shop the full range at NailPolishDirect.co.uk where all of these polishes are currently on sale for £6.95 each (RRP £9.95)

What are you wearing on your nails today?

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New In Beauty: CND Vinylux Boho Spirit Summer 2018 Collection - Review & Swatches

One of my favourite things about the Summer months are all the new nail polish collections that come out, and CND's Vinylux Boho Spirit collection is giving me some serious holiday and festival vibes. Bring on the bright shades and try on some new pastel-esque hues while you're at it!

CND Vinylux is a specialist long-wearing nail polish range, and when used in conjunction with their Weekly Top Coat (which I've reviewed in the past here), you can usually get around 5-7 days worth of chip-free happiness on your talons. The brush is the perfect size for getting an easy level of coverage on in two quick coats and the shade range is vast and beautiful, with new collections being released all the time. 

Here are some swatches of CND's latest Boho Spirit Collection for Summer 2018:-

CND Vinylux - Gypsy

Most of the oranges in my nail polish stash are bright neons that often veer onto a matte-ish finish, so it's refreshing to come across a shade like this which still retains a summery brightness, but has a much more creamier and smoother finish to it. Gypsy is such a beauty and looks amazing on toes too.

CND Vinylux - Unihibited

If you're looking for something that's classically pretty and office-friendly, Unhibited ticks all the right boxes. It's a stunning peachy-nude pink that looks very flattering on and goes with pretty much any outfit. Applies easily in just two creme laden coats and although I was half-expecting a hint of golden shimmer with a shade like this, it's completely shimmer-free like all the colours in this particular collection.

CND Vinylux - Offbeat

I'm a sucker for a hot pink-red and Offbeat did not disappoint. It brings all those coveted bright summery vibes that will finish off your look in no time at all. I literally live in shades like this and it's going to be hard for me to want to wear anything else this Summer! Two easy coats gives you the shiny result above.

CND Vinylux - Vagabond

I'm not gonna lie - the first time that I set eyes on Vagabond, I simply thought it was going to be one of those colours that I really dislike because these creamy, pale, mustardy yellows can be super tricky to pull off. Surprisingly though, it's been growing on me, so if you're looking for something new, different and on-trend to wear, definitely check it out.

CND Vinylux Polishes* (15ml, £9.95 each) are available from various stockists including NailPolishDirect.co.uk

Which one is your favourite shade?

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April Beauty Favourites

Has another month really just passed us by?! The year is going so fast and as we now head into May, I wanted to do a recap of some of my favourite beauty products from April, many of which you may recognise from my Instagram Stories.

CND Vinylux Nail Polishes in Candied and Taffy* (15ml, £9.95 each, link)

I've been loving all of the traditional pastel colours that have been coming out again for the new season, and these two are from CND's latest Chic Shock Collection 2018. They're also from the Vinylux range which is the brand's popular long-wearing polish line, and whilst I wouldn't exactly agree that they last for a whole week without chipping, I can usually get at least 5 days in which is pretty damn good in my opinion! On the left is Candied, a beautiful pale pastel pink, and on the right is Taffy, a stunning on-trend pastel mint shade. Both of these apply easily and smoothly in just two coats.

Forest & Shore Hallelujah Hair Oil* (100ml, £14, link)

A new discovery for me, Forest & Shore are an English, cruelty-free, organic and natural brand who are famous for their bestselling Hallelujah Hair Oil. Designed for dry and/or damaged hair (which sums mine up perfectly), this 100% organic (certified by the Soil Association) treatment features an interesting blend of Olive, Sesame and Coconut Oils, mixed with Arnica, Rosemary and Lavender Essential Oils. As you'd expect from a product like this, you only need to use a few drops per application and less if you have fine hair like I do. I love using this as an overnight/pre-shampoo treatment to intensely condition my dry hair, and it's also perfect to use as a final styling aid to banish frizz and flyaways. The price point is also fantastic for an all-natural and certified organic product! 

B. Vitalised Vitamin Facial Spritz* (75ml, £7.99, link)

During the recent mini heatwave, I put this new release from Superdrug's B. skincare range to the test and it was a lifesaver for helping to keep my skin refreshed and happy. Suitable for all skin types, there's Vitamin C, Cucumber extract and Caffeine in this vegan-friendly Vitalised Vitamin Facial Spritz formula, to give your complexion a hydrating and brightening boost whenever you need it. The bottle is a great size for throwing in your handbag and it would be perfect for travelling and holidays. 

NAYA Everyday Face Oil* (30ml, £40, link)

Last month, I was introduced to one of the newest additions to the rapidly growing world of luxury green beauty - NAYA. Made in Germany using the latest developments in Green Technology, NAYA prides itself on having strong ethics and high environmental standards which sees the brand using only responsibly sourced ingredients and absolutely no synthetic chemicals. Their first product launch is the Everyday Face Oil which is made from pure bioactive ingredients that boast a high concentration of essential fatty acids that help to keep the skin's natural barrier healthy and hydrated. Two key ingredients are Cacay Oil, known for its rich antioxidants, and naturally derived Retinol A to fight the signs of ageing, whilst Patchouli, Orange, Juniper Berry and Lemon essential oils give it a beautiful scent.

This is a very luxurious oil and although it's incredibly rich and nourishing, it absorbs easily during a facial massage, so it doesn't leave my skin greasy or sticky. I love using this as part of my evening skincare routine and it really helps to give you a glow come the morning!

B. Powder Blusher in Make Me Blush* (6g, £7.99, link)

I've been mainly sticking to my usual foundations and base products, but I have been reaching for this lovely powder blusher from B. since the weather started to brighten up. This shade is called Make Me Blush and it's one of those super easy to wear peachy pink colours that just seems to go with everything. Lasts well throughout the day and this range is often on offer in Superdrug if you fancy picking up some new makeup bits.

INIKA Certified Organic Vegan Lipstick in Pink Poppy* (4.2g, £19.50, link)

For lips, I've been loving this particular shade from INIKA which is called Pink Poppy, and I feel that the name perfectly reflects the colour as it's a stunning 'pinky-red' for when you want a bolder, but still not too bright, look for Spring. I own a couple of INIKA lipsticks and they all have a great moisturising formula, and this one is no exception. It's not the longest wearing as it's got a natural formula, but given how beautiful the colour is, I really don't mind touching it up when necessary!

Superdrug Two Tone Sequin Makeup Bag in Blue & Lilac* (£5.99, link)

Lastly, I have a new makeup bag favourite! It's another newbie from Superdrug (seriously they've been totally owning all of the new releases lately!) and I've been literally obsessed with it since it arrived. The outside of the bag features a cool two-tone sequin pattern which you can 'swipe' to reveal a different colour as it changes from a mermaid friendly aqua blue to a metallic lilac whenever you run your fingers across it. How neat is that?! It's very addictive and satisfying to play with, plus it's a pretty snazzy bag to keep your makeup essentials in. Practical and fun? Yes, please! If you're a monochrome fan, they also do the same design in a black and white colourway, and these are a total steal at just £5.99.

What have you been loving lately?

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New In Beauty: My Favourites from CND Vinylux Nightspell & Glacial Illusion 2017 Collections - Review & Swatches

If you hate nail polishes that just don't seem to last longer than two days before chipping, CND Vinylux Weekly Polish is the range for you! With a bold claim of lasting up to 7 days, I had to try some out for myself and was thrilled to see not one, but TWO, brand spanking new collections that they've launched recently.

Both of these new CND Vinylux collections are at the opposite ends of the colour spectrums, with the Glacial Illusion Collection being all delicate, creamy, icy cool tones and pale shimmers, and the Nightspell Collection comprising of mainly darker, moody and more intense, magical shimmers. Each collection boasts six shades each and I wanted to share some of my favourites because these are damn good nail polishes.  

CND Vinylux - Cashmere Wrap (Glacial Illusion Collection 2017)

I'm a sucker for a high-quality, creamy pale nude and Cashmere Wrap ticks all the right boxes. Perfect for a chic manicure that will see you through the Winter months and beyond. Applies smoothly in two easy coats (just ignore my messed up pinky nail - that'll teach me to try to rush taking photos when it starts to go dark at 4pm!).

CND Vinylux - Mystic Slate (Glacial Illusion Collection 2017)

My top pick from the Glacial Illusion Collection is this stunning shade called Mystic Slate. Even the name is cool, huh?! This cool toned grey-blue creme is absolutely beautiful and is neutral toned enough to go with lots of different outfits. Like Cashmere Wrap, this polish applied smoothly and evenly in just two coats.

CND Vinylux - Ice Bar (Glacial Illusion Collection 2017)

Glitter fans will love Ice Bar; a sheer pearlescent glitter with an interesting pink hue to it. It's impossible to photograph and looks a million times more mesmerizing in real life. This is one of those very sheer glitter polishes that definitely suits being a top coat glitter, rather than being built up and worn on its own (which isn't really achievable), so I've layered it here on top of Cashmere Wrap.

CND Vinylux - Eternal Midnight (Nightspell Collection)

Another tricky to photograph shade is Eternal Midnight from the Nightspell Collection, and this one really looks special when the light catches it from different angles. A midnight blue with deep purple undertones and a spectacular duo-chromatic fine shimmer swirling through it, this is a fantastic option if you're looking to wear something darker and different this Winter. 

CND Vinylux - Hypnotic Dreams (Nightspell Collection)

My favourite from both collections (and quite possibly my favourite new nail polish shade of the entire year!) is Hypnotic Dreams. My oh my! This rusty toned mega-shimmer has elements of bronze, purple, brown and a smidge of green. It applies sheer if you use two coats (see The Happy Sloths swatch here), but when layered over a brown or purple base, it really pops like you can see above where I've applied it over a dark brown shade. Hypnotic indeed!

Overall thoughts on the formula?

CND's Vinylux Weekly Polish have been specially formulated to be used with their Weekly Top Coat to provide up to 7 days of chip-resistant, vibrant colour. The Weekly Top Coat also delivers a glossy shine, and when your nails are exposed to natural light with this on it, help to ensure a longer-lasting manicure. So did it last 7 days? Not exactly as I saw some minor chipping start to happen around day 5, BUT I'm still impressed by this as many of my nail polishes only last 2-3 days max on me, so 5 days is definitely an achievement!

CND Vinylux Nightspell & Glacial Illusion Weekly Polishes* (15ml each) are currently on offer at Nail Polish Direct for £6.95 and £7.95 each. Shop the range here.  

What do you think of these new collections?

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