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I received an invite card for Beauty UK with my Scratch Magazine subscription, I have never been to Birmingham, thought why not. I love daytrip, it also gives me an excuse to have dinner at Lasan as well! You can read my rest of the Birmingham daytrip on my personal blog.

Beauty UK, Hall 6, Birmingham NEC

This is my first tradeshow I've ever been to, upon arriving, it was a venue packed with ladies with big hair, Fanta coloured skin, falsies and super high-heels, I initially thought I have just walked into "The Only Way is Essex" audition – I was out of place, but at the right place.

NSI is one of the vendor and they're also Sparitual's UK Rep

There were lots of vendor for nails, tanning, some make-up, alternative therapy etc. Of course I was most interested in nails. Included UK rep for OPI, Essie, ChinaGlaze, Zoya, Orly, Sparitual, Konad and even fauxnad to name a few. I was especially excited to see Sparitual and Zoya since they are more difficult to track down in the UK. Of course this year's hottest vendors were amongst nail foils such as Kooky and Minx, Gels and Soak Offs and of course Crackle nail varnish! (Incidentally, Barry M has just released many crackle colours!)

Sparitual display at the show

Sparitual Mind Body Spirit Matte Collection

I would have gone wild at this show, but had to control and only pin down to buy the essentials or wish list items. From Sparitual, I bought a shimmer nude matte colour named Mind from the Mind, Body, Spirit collection, and also another cream one named Sage. I also picked up a bottle of Bearberry Smoothie Cuticle Remover and Red Berry Splash Hand Soak from Kaeso.

One of the more popular vendors, Kooky foil wrapped nails design

 Of course, one of this year's most hottest trend is foil wraps. Any vendors with these were heaving with customers. Then it's down to price war, there was one unique company that actually can print your designs but minimum order is 10 sheets. I haven't tried them before, so I was curious. There were a few demonstration on the applications. I bought a few plain ones to play: hologram and gold sheets. I wasn't keen on some of the designs as I preferred stamped or freehand designs but thought the foil metallics were worth buying and it's something one can't achieve with any varnish.

ChinaGlaze booth

Lots of falsies too!

There were also other new trends and services, one that left me bemused was "Tooth Fairy" – Bling for your teeth! It literally puts that sparkle on your tooth. It wasn't cheap. Why?! I don't get it. (Although, I can see Katie Price having one). They also sell other bling stickers for your hair and clothing etc.

Is this for real?!?

Essie!!!

Yes, Essie at trade prices! I bought four from my wishlist: Chinchilly, Sand Topez, Sew Psyched and Turquoise & Caicos. I know they're not from the latest collection but I've want these for ages! The vendor also gave me a Seche Viche bag.

Lots of Zoya too!

My first Zoya: Jules, Gemma and Envy. I can also scratch Envy off that wishlist.

I managed to find the ladies from Scratch and was lovely finally to meet Helena! I was telling her how crazy this show is, she said "wait til the Olympia show in September". Oh dear! I better start saving!

General shot at the show

There were also lots of unknown brands. I bought three of these Y.C.C.: white crackle, gold and a hologram glitter varnish. Other items I purchased: cuticle pusher, trimmer clip and scissors. Lots of nail art glitters!

My Tiny World – Ought to be one of my favourite vendors at this show

My Tiny World has got to be one of my favourite vendors at this show. They make the most amazing slices and the most glittering glitters! They are a family run business, all products are designed and made in England. I won't say more about them in this post, because this company definitely deserve a special feature. So watch this space!

Slices tasters kits, in case you're bad at slicing and wants variety

Ooo! Fruit slices! I predict a Stella McCartney fruit dress SS11 manicure coming on this blog in the VERY near future!!!!!

This show was nuts, it was endless. I had to skip through lots in the end as the purchases were getting heavy and I was getting tired. How naive was I to think I'll only stay at the show for 2 hours and spend the rest of the time checking out Birmingham? I ended up staying for a good 5 hours at the show and only managed a quick walk around the city centre on route to Lasan. At least I know now what to expect for Olympia in September!

Have you been to one of these trade show? What was your experience like? Worth going? Can't be bothered?

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Let's start my comeback post with a manicure inspired by this season's Prada collection! All varnishes used were from Barry M. The pink in person is much, much brighter than how the photo turned out. I especially did this manicure before I headed off to Beauty UK trade show in Birmingham last weekend. I will post more about the trade show in the next few posts.

Here's another look:


What do you think of this designer manicure? What's your favourite Spring/Summer manicure?

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Dear readers,

I apologise that I haven't been posting for a while – a long while – this was due to a whirlwind crazy few months in my life and a really bad neck/shoulder injury, I couldn't move nor type for a long time. I am on the road to recovery and I hope to be back posting next week. I also hope to get inspiration from up coming shows I'll be attending at London Fashion Week!!

Stay stylish & stay tuned,

Elsie x

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Woohoo! First of all, I would like to thank my readers and followers to make my first 50! To thank you all, I'll be hosting a giveaway! The official giveaway will be announced next week (give me the weekend to source what goodies I'll have for you! Lots of you commented that they can't find crackle polish, so at least ONE item of the giveaway will be the Barry M Instant Nail Effect! Will try to hunt one down for it, it's starting to sell out everywhere!) Okay, onto the manicure...

Angela is back for another guest manicure appearance. She will be a bridesmaid wearing a bright orange dress. The fascinator she's made for the occassion was Chocolate brown with greige accents. I instantly thought of using Butter London Fash Pack, and I thought the micro gold shimmer will be great for this occassion.

I decided to Fauxnad BM20 and BM21 a few random fingers with Sally Hansen Pat on The Back. But thought it was still missing something, then I clicked, "WE NEED MORE BLING!!!!" I quickly place a drop of my newly purchased Gold Glitter Nail Art Striper on a plastic card, then use a flat brush and graced on gradation on a few random fingers. Here's a closer look at her left hand:


This is her right:

Lacquer Used:

Base Colour:		Butter London	0035	Fash Pack	3 coats
Gradation Colour:		Nail Art Striper		Gold Glitter	2 coats
Stamp Plate:		Bundle Monster	BM20	Botanical Swirl
		Bundle Monster	BM21	Botanical Swirl
Stamp Colour:		Sally Hansen Salon	4120-57	Pat on the Back	1 coat
Topcoats:		Seche Vite	83005	Dry Fast Top Coat	1 coat

Fairly simple. Butter London Fash Pack as base colour for all fingers. Left hand, stamp BM21 Botanical Swirl on thumb and similar pattern from BM20 ring finger. Right hand, stamp BM21 on index and BM20 on pinky. With a flat brush create Gold Glitter gradation to left middle and pinky, and right thumb and ring finger. Topcoat. Done.

What do you think of this manicure? Have you been a bridesmaid? What outrageous colours do you have to endure? Any crazy bridesmaid stories?

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This is Barry M's latest Instant Nail Effect crackle varnish in Black Magic. It promises instant nail art with crackle effect on any nail varnish.

Here is a closer look:

Lacquer Used:

Thumb:		L.A. Colors	NP419	Shock	3 coats
Index Finger:		Misa	136	Too Much Gossip	2 coats
Middle Finger:		Revlon	093	Tropical Temptation	2 coats
Ring Finger:		Barry M	296	Coral	2 coats
Baby Finger:		Revlon	990	One Perfect Coral	2 coats
Crackle Colour:		Barry M	311	Black Magic	1 coat
Topcoat:		Seche Vite	83005	Dry Fast Top Coat	1 coat

For this manicure, I've selected a close range of analogous colours Orange-Yellow to Coral-Red sort of like a Gradation Manicure. Then paint each nail with selected colours. Somehow, my camera couldn't capture the colours well. I always find coral colours are always hard to photo to the true colour.

Application for L.A. Colors Shock was a bit disappointing despite its vibrant almost orange-yellow colour. It applied like a jelly and it dries semi-matte. It needed 3 coats to make opaque. Next time I would definitely build the colour with a yellow varnish first as a base colour.

For best result, let your nails dry first before you put on a thin layer of Barry M Black Magic Instant Nail Effect. If you put on too thick it might not crackle. The most fun of part of the manicure is watch the nails crackle before your eyes! It dries matte and apparently easily flake off if you don't put a topcoat on top.

Barry M Black Magic Instant Nail Effect available now for £3.95.

P.S. Beautyburg is having a first giveaway – Entire set of M.A.C. latest Venomous Villians! Click here to enter!

Do you own any crackle polish? What do you think of this come back? 

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My little sister, Ivy Lam (www.ivylammakeup.com), is a professional make-up artist from Toronto, Canada. She has just send me a photo of a nail set she is working on for an upcoming fashion photoshoot, the nails are just too brilliant not to share! I thought of just posting her photo, but wait, she has done some amazing manicures so I've decided to dedicate this blog post to her amazing and inspiring work.

Ivy is amazing at what she does, I'm not just saying this because she's my sister. Her client list includes Valentino, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, up and coming Canadian designer Lucian Matis, celebrities like Ellen Page, Steve Coogan, Leighton Meester and Canada's Next Top Model, just to name a few.

I remember there was one time when Ivy and I were getting mini-makeovers at Cargo Cosmetics by co-founder Barbara Alexander at Eaton Centre. Think it was around 1996,  I remember Ivy saying to Barbara, "I want to be a make-up artist." Years later, she went on to study Image Arts/New Media at Ryerson University but was not aspired to stay in the new media industry. She decided to follow her dream and became a make-up and hair artist.

This was the photo she sent to me. She didn't give me a list of varnish she has used. Black matte based with shiny French tips, embellished with silver metal studs and chains.


Below are some of her make-up and manicure work:


The below manicure was inspired by Christian Louboutin's signature shoe design with the red sole shoes. The back side of the nail is painted red, top with a shiny black. It's a shame that you can't see clearly from the magazine photo.


Yes, I'm a very proud sister. Ivy, you are amazing! x

What do you think of her work? What do you think of this new feature? Who would you like to see feature on here? What did you want to be when you grow up?

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I was flipping through my October issue of ELLE (UK Edition) and was mesmerised by this amazing Giuseppe Zanotti AW1011 advert modelled by the gorgeous Anja Rubik. Strong, sexy and dangerous – this designer advert has inspired this week's manicure. I wanted the slick sinful high-shine red against the gold glittering leopard. I also used red glitter to add more glam.

Here is my left hand:


And here is my right hand:

Lacquer Used:

Red Base Colour:		FitFlop	RED	Pantone® 200	2 coats
Red Glitter Colour:		BarryM	NP105	Red Glitter	2 coats
Leopard Base Colour:		Inglot	303	(Gold Shimmer)	5 coat
Leopard Stamp Plate:		Konad	M57	Leopard
Leopard Pattern Colour:		Sinful Colors	103	Black on Black	1 coat
Leopard Spots Colour:		L.A. Colors	410	Force	1 coat
Topcoat:		Seche Vite	83005	Dry Fast Top Coat	1 coat

I was very excited to use the FitFlop Pantone Red on myself for the first time. It's the PERFECT red and very fitting on this occassion. I really wanted that sinful devil shiny red. I painted my left middle and ring fingers and right index, middle and baby fingers with this. Application is smooth, pigmented, 2 coats was perfect. I did accidentally painted on the wrong finger with this colour, removal was a bit of a pain as this polish is so pigmented. So, watch out.

I initially bought the Inglot 303 (Gold Shimmer) as a gradation colour, a sheer colour that you can build on. Oh boy, on this occassion is it ever sheer. I needed a good 5 coats to get it completely opaque but the result was beautiful shade of gold with perfect micro shimmer. I painted this gold shimmer on left thumb, index and baby finger; right thumb and ring finger.

Then I use BarryM Red Glitter to add to the FitFlop red base to highlight left thumb, ring finger and right pinky. I also use this colour to highlight all the hearts.

I used Sinful Colors Black on Black and the Leopard Stamp from Konad M57 on the gold fingers and highlight some spots with L.A. Colors Force. I had to freehand the leopard pattern on the left thumb.

P.S. I'm 10 followers away to host my first giveaway!


What do you think of this designer inspired manicure? What inspires you?

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