Hello lovelies,

Today I want to share with you review and swatches of SpaRitual Last Tango from the new GOLD Flexible Color™ System. GOLD range promises double the wear of regular manicure if used as a 2-step system (GOLD polish and Gold Flexible topcoat), to be dry in under 8 minutes and self-levelling and correcting formula. GOLD range offers 24 shades and improved mindful brush with over 600 bristles.

About:

"SpaRitual GOLD 2 Step Flexible Color™ System delivers technology that fuses Flexible Color with our Flexible Topcoat creating a long-wearing, smudge resistant, high-shine finish that doubles the wear of your manicure. No lamp drying needed. No intense removal needed -
just relaxing GOLD manicures. Re-apply GOLD Flexible Topcoat after 3 days for extended wear."

Last Tango is a bright red creme with strong orange undertones. I applied two coats which were enough for full coverage but I would recommend applying thicker second coat to avoid patching and bold spots. The polish was nicely pigmented and dried fast (hence the risk of patching).

I have used Last Tango together with the GOLD Flexible Topcoat. The topcoat applied nicely and it seems to have the promised self-levelling and correcting properties. I purposely 'dinged' the nail a bit with another nail and the polish bounced back and levelled again. I don't think it would work with major dents but it does work with minor ones. One thing I didn't like about the topcoat was the smell. I think it was supposed to be perfumed but it’s like a mix of smelly flowers and something chemical – weird!

The GOLD range promises double the wear of regular nail polish so I had to test it myself. Here's how my nails looked after 4 days:

As you can see, this system didn't work for me at all. I was expecting at least 5-6 days of wear without chipping and I was quite disappointed. I prepped my nails properly and wiped them with alcohol as per directions but it didn't seem to make a difference. Plus I didn't do any gardening, big housework etc. Not to be completely negative nelly, the polish itself was nice and with good formula but it just didn't last on me as it should have and topcoat smelled weird.

I have been thinking for a long time whether to post this review because I don't like to show products that I didn't like or didn't work for me. I usually rather not post them but I also hate wasting nice pictures and lot of work. And it still might be beneficial to those searching for reviews and whether the product is good or bad. I didn't hate this product but it didn't exactly work for me. I have read some reviews where ladies got really long wear out of them. I guess I'll just write this down to the individual body chemistry.

SpaRitual GOLD 2 Step Flexible Color™ System is available at SpaRitual US website and in selected salons for $18 per bottle. According to my information this range won't be available in the UK at this point but is available for example in Czech Republic and other countries.

Have you tried SpaRitual GOLD system? How well did it work for you? Lucie x

*Products sent for review

Hello lovelies,

I've just realised I haven't done 'monthly favourites' post for a while so I've gathered some of my recent favourite products/things to show you.

I haven't been doing much nail art lately because I'm just so busy with the wedding preparation (we're leaving in 9 days!!!) but when I do I use stamping. I've rediscovered my love for stamping and I can't get enough of all those beautiful new plates out there. The one I really like using right now is Pueen Lace Blossom plate (reviewed here), a huge plate full of different designs ranging from lace, florals to geometric. So that my first favourite, here's the rest...

Next up is my almost empty pot of Simply Satin by Bliss Kiss - a whipped body fluff with pearlescent particles. I've loved this product from the moment I first tried it. I have a dry skin and it left it nourished, moisturised and shimmery. It is so soft and fluffy it just melts on skin. It does leave oily film on skin but that didn't bother me because my skin loved it. It also smells very nice and sweet :) It is rarely available because it's a handmade product so if you want to try it, keep an eye on the website.

About (beacause the description says it better than I ever could):

Simply Satin™ Whipped Body Fluff soothes dry skin and helps re-balance your body’s natural moisture barrier. Over time your body will need less fluff to maintain its moisture. This all-natural, five ingredient, whipped body fluff is a non-greasy, fast absorbing, daily moisturizer that you will want to use from head to toe.

Simply Satin™ is a creamy colored, exquisitely light blend of Mango and Coconut butters, Jojoba Wax Ester, Olive Squalane, and Vitamin E. It’s perfect for sensitive skin since it’s free of gluten, parabens, and synthetic colors. The natural fragrance comes directly from blend of ingredients. We do not add any additional fragrance oils.

SpaRitual HandPrint hand serum is a serum I have been using for quite a while as well before applying hand cream and cuticle oil. It is very light and fast-absorbing and it doesn't leave any icky sticky layer. To me it smells like tangerines or those fizzy vitamin C tablets. It's a nice product with lovely packaging (matte glass bottle and a pump) but the price is a bit higher with £21.50/$40 per 30ml.

About: Handprint Hand Serum is formulated with Swiss Apple Stem Cells and infused with Ginger Root Extract to soften and smooth skin's texture, Pumpkin Fruit Extract to build collagen and promote elasticity, and Licorice Root to help treat discolouration.

And FINALLY, the nail art book of the year (for me)! The lovely Sophie Harris-Greenslade aka The Illustrated Nail has released a book called Nail It! full of nail art tutorials and nail care and nail art advice. I genuinely squeeled with joy when the book arrived and I spent good 10 minutes just flipping through and looking at the 100 nail art tutorials. There are simple and intricate designs and picture and worded step-by-step instructions so everyone can find something for them.

I've already recreated one design called Ditsy (in photo above) and will be doing a whole post on it later. Nail It! is available on Amazon UK for £13.48

So those are some of my recent favourites - which one do you like most and would like to try?

Have a lovely day! Lucie x

*Post contains products previously sent for consideration