Going from the description on Lush, Lime Bounty consists of a lime and coconut mix that is the ultimate thirst quencher for skin. The dreamy notes of Persian lime and nut butters make up a majority of the scent. On top sits fresh coconut crumble.

Now it’s common for new Lush items to sell out immediately. Which is what I thought I’d see when I logged onto the website. You can bet I was more than excited to see it was still in stock online. I opted for the 100g box because I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or not. I have been stuck with the occasional scent that is too much for me. It happens, not every brand is perfect.

So first onto the smell. Have you ever had a delicious key lime pie that you can’t forget? That’s this scent. It’s light, it’s fresh, it’s an early morning in the summer before the heat sets in and makes you sticky. I’ve always had a huge love for citrus scents and flavors and this made me dream of heaven.

The texture of this body cream is thick and luxe. There’s almost a “whipped” quality to it. The coconut crumble, which is what I assume is shea butter with coconut extract, doesn’t take too long to absorb. It’s a bit annoying if you’re using this body butter as a hand cream. But it’s only on the top layer and not throughout.

I’m head over heels in love with this body butter. Lime Bounty is something a bit rare in Lush. It’s a delicate and juicy flavor, where most scents are sticky or musky. I appreciate the fruitiness of it and I can’t wait to use it all summer long. The extra bits of shea butter will go a long way into my dried out skin. I often forget to lather up with lotions after a shower, I’m super lazy. But with this beautiful scent and the promise of shorts and summer, I can’t wait until it’s all sun and fun!

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Eerie by Cadillacquer
This beautiful and deep eggplant purple entranced me… But what sold me was the stunning green color it changes into it’s warm. That’s right folks, this is a thermal nail polish. I’ve been hesitant to buy thermal polishes because they don’t last well over the 3 year mark. There’s something about this color that made me change my mind. And when I saw the picture that inspired it I caved 100%.

Can I Keep You by Lucky 13 Lacquer
This color was a complete surprise for me. I wasn’t expecting to buy it but once I saw it.. I had to. This color was inspired by Casper, the movie about a friendly little ghost that came out in 1995. I saw this movie in theaters with my mom and it’s had a place in my heart for years. I don’t watch it every Halloween and I want to change that… Back to the polish! It’s a beautiful white in unnatural light, a vibrant blue in UV light… and guys. It glows in the dark!

It’s unfortunate that these colors are a one time thing but I don’t regret buying them. The obsession is real! My nails have never been more festive than they are now.

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Halloween! It’s been a stressful year for us all but I hope that you’re able to have a few hours of fun and laughter. Please stay safe and stay smart!

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Rose Quartz Nail Set
I wrote about this set before in my Autumnal Nail Polish Picks and it’s still amazing today. I love nail art but I don’t have the patience for it. This set is so easy to use and the result is gorgeous. The process is simple. Two coats of Rose Jelly applied normally and topped off with gentle application of Chiffon. The great think about it is that you can apply Chiffon any way you want! You can also use both polishes alone for a different look. Ever since I allowed myself to love pink, I’ve search for a few ways to add it to my style. These two shades compliment so much of what I already own and it was a no brainer that I had to get them. No regrets so far!

Paradiso
I discovered vaporwave music early last year and have had a bit of an obsession over it. Geek.com describes vaporwave as “the muzak that plays in an elevator in a mall in a futuristic Japanese cyberpunk dystopia.” It’s chill, breezy, 80’s in sound and late night in feel. My favorite mix is on Youtube so you can get a feel for it! But back to the point, this polish screams vaporwave. It’s a soft mint-turquoise green nail polish with soft purple shimmer and holographic sparkle. Vaporwave color pallets typically feature neon cyan, magenta and purple and Paradiso captures those tones too well.

Beatnik
Oh boy I do love me a solid green shade! I’m adamant about my favorite color being chartreuse and that’s where Hustle comes into play. Right now Beatnik has been my go to green. It’s not as bright as Hustle and is perfect for those rainy spring days. It’s also been a great go to color when I’m not feeling as cheery. Hustle is a go get’em color and I get imposter syndrome if I try to wear a color to boost my mood. So for now I’m going to enjoy this creamy pickle green shade because Hustle feels like a true summer nail polish.

High Society
This beautiful neon green with copper shimmer was inspired by their 4/20 nail polish from last year. Now I’m not a 4/20 user but I couldn’t stop thinking about this beautiful shade of green. It’s loud, shiny, and a statement all in one. It took a few months for it to be stocked at Hypnotic Polish (where I get my polish). It’s a limited edition color and I didn’t expect to own it. This polish is also one of those where I have to be in the mood for it. I need to find the perfect time to wear it but it sits on my desk for now! Just looking at the color in the bottle makes me happy! I have a feeling this is going to be another great summer nail polish choice.

Succulent Garden
This shade is the only one I don’t own because it’s not available in The Netherlands yet. But you can bet that I will pounce when it is! It’s a gentle shade of khaki green with a fierce red shimmer. To top it off it’s also a bit holographic! Talk about shiny on top of shiny! It’s perfect for a sweet spring morning or a summer garden party. I saw this shade on Instagram and feel head over heels for it!

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Go Natural
Sometimes facemasks can be expensive. There are tons of tutorials for natural face masks out there. My mom used to put egg white on my face when I was young. A look in your pantry can open a new world of DIY facial masks! Bananas, yogurt, honey and even cinnamon can be used for a quick at home remedy. Be sure to look into what ingredient does what though! You wouldn’t want to apply something too harsh to your skin.

Treat yourself
Many facial masks can be used once or twice a week so put a reminder in your calendar for a treatment day. Taking care of yourself is a huge way to boost confidence and self esteem. By nurturing your skin and your body you’re nurturing your soul as well! We all have this one life to live, so live it up!

Layer it on
I love to spend late evenings in a few different types of masks. First I cleanse my skin and put down a clarifying mask to pull out the dirt from my pores. After that I’ll use an exfoliator to remove dead skin cells and expose the fresh ones under that. Then I slather on a layer of Aloe to calm down any irritated areas. Don’t be afraid to put on a good movie and pause it for a few different mask treatments. Sometimes the best things in life are just being at rest and mindful of what your body needs.

Spot treatments
It’s normal to have patches of skin that have different issues. I have some areas that are dry while others are prone to breakouts. Using several different masks as a spot treatment can have many benefits. You’re able to target the needs of your skin and save more product by using less. In this way you can get more bang for your buck because you’ll have to buy less of what you love!

Don’t forget to moisturize!
After you’ve put your face through an intense workout, don’t forget to protect it! If you strip your face from the oils and the moisture that it needs, then it will produce more. For years I thought I had to keep my face oil free but boy was I wrong! My skincare routine has changed so much! I now put in a few drops of Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil in with my Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre so that my face is hydrated and plump.

Note this post was not sponsored by Lush! I thought it would just be something to talk about. Happy National Face Mask Day!

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I like to mix my Ordinary High-Spreadability Fluid Primer in with my lotion so that it can sink in . I find that mixing the two provides an equal application for my whole face. This way I won’t have patchy places where my foundation won’t sit evenly.

My dark circles are very dark and I inherited them from my mother. There’s nothing I can do to fix them. So I need a peach toned concealer to combat the purples of my undereyes. The NYX Dark Circle Concealer is a good enough shade and formula to cover my tired looking eyes. This is the only concealer I can find in the right shade so I use it for now. The unfortunate thing is that they tend to crease as the day goes on so I have to do a few touch ups.

Next I apply my Make Up Forever Ultra HD Foundation with a Beauty Blender. The application is flawless and lasts all day. I enjoy wearing a foundation that doesn’t need a lot of attention. I’ve been using Make Up Forever for years now and I still think it’s worth every cent.

If I’m feeling particularly excited about going out then I apply some Amazonian clay 12-hour blush. I have a few of these so the color varies on the type of look I’m going for. To add the cherry on top I also apply a thin layer of ohii True Matte Lip in Supreme. I actually stumbled into this color from watching Hana Lee’s Sultry Fall Makeup Tutorial. It was the right shade I was looking for and I got so excited when I saw it. I’ve been searching for that perfect dark lip to rock during the cold months and here it is!

To finish off the look I apply a few spritzes of L.A. Girl Pro Setting Spray. The finish is a beautiful matte that doesn’t look too dry. I still have oily skin so this helps to take away from that “too oily” look. What oils do come out end up looking dewy and not too gross!

And while it’s not a makeup item, I need to include my perfume. It’s the Lush Ectoplasm Perfume from Halloween. It’s a beautiful and sweet citrus that makes me feel like I smell like a field of grapefruit. I love using it in the morning because the scent breathes life into my tired soul!

After a long day this entire look holds pretty damn well. I can wear it for hours without needing to worry about how it looks. And as the day goes on the look ages well. I love this simple routine. It’s not too much and it keeps me feeling good about what I see in the mirror!

At night I double cleanse with The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash and follow up with the end of my skincare routine.

The post Autumn Makeup Routine appeared first on A Daily Lee.

Not everyone needs toner in their life but I do. The first step of my Autumn skin routine beings with the cleanse. I use The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash. It’s gentle and smells fresh but not overwhelming. After my face is clean and dry I spritz with the Lush Tea Tree Water. I have sensitive and acne prone skin so the tea tree helps to soothe any irritations and redness. It also helps to tighten my pores which is helpful for makeup application. I’ll be doing an updated makeup routine soon so keep an eye out! After the toner dries down I apply Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré. This is a beautiful and thick cream that’s a dream to apply. My skin used to be oily but the Autumn weather makes my skin so dry. This helps to moisturize evenly without being heavy on my skin.

I then use The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% which helps to bring just a little bit more hydration to my skin. It also sets the base for makeup primer. It also contains Vitamin B5 to help keep that moisture boost. This insures that my skin doesn’t dry out throughout the day. There’s nothing more annoying than having a dry patch on your face!

I then pull out my Embryolisse Protective repair-stick to keep my lips from cracking. I was never a lip balm girl but this was before I moved to a colder climate. This one feels weightless. It’s ultra hydrating and also creates a good base for other lip products. I’m living for the matte lipstick trend (because it’s often windy outside) and the repair-stick is perfect.

At night I add a generous layer of The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. It’s help to soften my acne scarring and reduce redness at night. In the morning my skin looks clear and I’ve noticed my dark spots have begun to fade too. A big part of recovering from acne is helping to heal current blemishes and fading old scars. I’ve been seeing a lot of improvements in my skin since using this routine. I break out a lot less and since I have less to hide, I wear less makeup.

At the end of the day I take it all off with the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash and I cleanse twice. The first is to take off the makeup and the 2nd time is just for good measure! I feel a real difference in my skin and I don’t break out as much as I used to.

As I said before I need to post an update to my makeup routine. You’ll be able to see all my favorites from this year and what I’ve been wearing this season.

The post Autumn Skin Routine appeared first on A Daily Lee.

Ultra Violet
Colors by Llarowe: Connie, You Saucy Minx (I believe this is discontinued)
We all know that Pantone’s choice for this year is Ultra Violet. Connie, You Saucy Minx is a bold ultra violet with magenta flakes in it to deliver a high impact glow. It’s a striking color that looks rad on any skin tone. It’s high vibrancy means that’s a statement in itself. If you’re like me and have a monochromatic wardrobe, a color like this one will take everything to the next level. If you want to invest in this year’s color without changing up your wardrobe then a nail polish like this will help achieve the look with minimal effort and cash. It goes on opaque with two coats.

Metallic
Masura: Crisp
I used to dislike gold but with shades like this… I just can’t resist them. This is a beautiful and high sheen color that’s bold and glittery all at once. I’ve had gold polishes before but this one is very metallic compared to my other shades. It’s dull by any means and doesn’t need a top coat to fully shine. It goes on smooth is difficult to apply unevenly. If you’re looking for a bright shine with class then this is the shade to reach for! Goes on opaque with two coats.

Blue
Formula X for Sephora: Wunderkund (also discontinued)
Navy is such a common color for dark polish lovers so why not take it to the next level This deep prussian blue contains subtle shimmer embedded deep within the base. It’s clearly visible in sunlight but in the shade it looks like a solid color. It works perfect if you want a toned down look that can take it up a notch. It’s a very chic shade that I find is the perfect balance to any outfit. It’s like black without being so dramatic.

Pink
OPI: Bubble Bath
There’s nothing more traditional than this shade. I’ve seen it everywhere for years and it’s such a popular color. It’s a natural pink hue that’s flattering when a more natural look is desired. It’s also very popular for weddings so if you’re looking for a more feminine look then I would highly recommend it. It also looks fantastic sheer so you can’t go wrong either way. This polish is opaque with three coats.

Au naturale
Who doesn’t love an all nude nail? And by nude I mean sans polish. The best way to rock a polished look without the polish, is to care for your hands. Moisturize them and keep the nails filed or cut smoothly. If your nails look fab you don’t need to wear a polish to make them stand out. Just be confident in your look and that’s all that matters.

What colors will you be wearing this spring?

The post My spring 2018 nail polish picks appeared first on A Daily Lee.

Now that I’ve had plenty of time to see what works (and what doesn’t) I have my staple products. The weather here has made me change up my skin routine over and over again but at least with Lush, there’s some consistency in what I buy.

So once again, we have a Lush haul.

When it comes down to it, we get a few of the same items.

A staple
Tea Tree Water has very quickly become a favorite of mine. I’ve found this to be a very refreshing way to begin the day. After I wash my face I spray three pumps onto my face and let it dry. The tea tree helps me keep my skin clear too so that’s a big plus. The scent is mild as well so it’s not going to overwhelm you! We picked up a few hair care products up as well, but I’m working on a post about my hair routine so I’ll save those details for later.

Perfume
Twilight is another one from the perfume line of Lush. In America I used the Bath and Body Works’ Lavender scent (which they’ve changed since then to include cedarwood). Since we can’t get B&BW items in The Netherlands, this scent is a perfect replacement!

Soap
When it comes to soap we like to shop different scents to experience different aromas. As far as I know we haven’t bought the same soap twice. We are getting a list together of the scents we really enjoy but for now we’re exploring our options.

Lavender Vida Loca was the first one that we picked up. Since I was on a lavender kick (and it helps support a restful sleep) I decided to snag one of these beautiful bars. Those little seeds in there are lavender seeds so that as you wash, you can get a little burst of fragrance and a bit of natural exfoliation.

Respect Your Elders was just too pretty to pass up. The color of this year is called Ultra Violet so I’ve worn it quite frequently on my nails. So why not have it in the shower too? I love how the magenta swirls in the dark violet so that this bar has a multi-dimensional texture going on. The main component of this soap is elderberries so if you’re not a fan of the scent you might want to skip this one.

Lotion

As far as I’m conconcered, we’re still in the middle of winter here. That means extra creamy lotions for all exposed skin. I’ve actually had times where I forgot to put lotion on my hands and they cracked so painfully… Especially since with Haru, I’m always washing my hands. Sleepy is another lavender scented concoction that is sitting in our bedroom for nighttime use. It’s got a strong scent but it quickly dissipates so don’t worry about a lingering scent. It also seems to have a bit of pearl powder on the top although it’s not much at all. I read on another blog (which I can’t remember for the life of me…) that this scent is soothing because of that good old aroma theory idea about lavender. I always have a hard time sleeping (even if I’m up at 6am, I usually can’t sleep until around midnight) so anything helps!

A little something extra

Whoosh was actually free! I would suspect it’s because we bought so much stuff but the cashier didn’t have to give it to us! This is a shower jelly, which is a just like a super squishy bar of soap! What’s cool about them is they have the texture of Jello and can be frozen. So for now this little guy is hanging out in the freezer. From what I’ve seen, they last much longer in the shower if they’re frozen. Whoosh will make an appearance later in the summer when it’s super hot and the shower is best had cold.

What Lush items are you addicted to?

The post Spring Lush Haul appeared first on A Daily Lee.

While stamping plates are not new to the nail scene, I really felt these patterns speaking to me and jumped at the chance to get them.

What is a nail polish plate?
It’s an easy way to create fancy looking nail art without needed the skills. All that is needed is a stamper, a plate, and the right polish. By right polish, I mean a top coat that won’t smudge the art once it’s been laid on your nail. There are a large number of polishes that can be used to create the art but the topcoat must be either water based or made specifically for stamping.

Since I didn’t want to waste time looking for one locally, I just bought a whole set. This included the plate, a stamper (I have one already but it’s super small and doesn’t have a window to see where the art will go. This will make it ideal for other projects but not so much for precision art.) a copper polish, and a top coat.

I ended up messing around with a silver polish instead of the copper one since the MoYou bottle is pretty small. I didn’t want to waste any polish while I experimented.

The results?
I found that I like how the polish looks on a bare nail. This is similar to how the MoYou promotional image advertised a few of the stamp patterns. I’m still looking for a good gold to really replicate the design. Since they were sold out of the gold, silver will do for now.

What are the pros and cons of putting the design on a bare nail?

Pros
– A matte nail with metallic polish without having to use a matte coat
– The more the polish flakes off, the more of a distressed a pattern looks
– There is much less commitment to a particular style
– I can really rock the minimal nail art trend that I love so much

Cons
– Nails are entirely unprotected to chipping and peeling
– Nails can be prone to breaking (nail polish builds up the thickness of a nail and sort of protects it)

Verdict?
If you’re like me and want a simple and stubley flashy nail look, I would highly recommend these plates. It does take practice to learn how to use them properly but there are a ton of videos explaining the process and how to use the tools correctly.

The plates retail for about £5.99 and the polish varies. I suggest checking the site often for sales!

The post MoYou PRO 18 stamp plate appeared first on A Daily Lee.

However that does not mean I can give up what makes me happy. What am I talking about? I mean personal hobbies! Aside from reading and collecting my favorite books, I have one other hobby that I thoroughly enjoy. What is it? Doing my nails!

My collection is quite small now. I had previously collected around 200 bottles of polish over the span of several years. When I did a giant purge (before Sander and I had started dating), I ended up donating most of those bottles.

The last time I bought a few bottles were a few months ago and I was getting the itch to grab a few more bottles. I was very strict on my choices though. I kept to a theme that I wanted to maintain throughout the fall season and into winter. So how did I make my decisions?

I had two focuses, Halloween and Steven Universe.

Halloween

Colors by Llarowe – Kindred Spirits
This is a black jelly infused with intense green shimmer with flakes that shift from orange to red. I feel like the colors in this bottle contain everything about Halloween! It’s dark and a bit witchy in low lighting but in the sun, the colors really shine. It’s a magical color that really encompases the feel of Halloween.

Steven Universe

I’ve been hooked on this show and now that it’s on a hiatus, I’ve been wanting to bring out galaxies on my nails. I couldn’t decide between the colors I chose so I went for a ton of variation between the shades I ended up with.

Masura –  The Universe
Look at this color. You can’t tell me you don’t see a tiny galaxy in this! It’s a violet jelly with magnetic shifts (meaning you need a magnet to achieve this effect). This photo really does not give the shade justice, as with many colors… If you want a tiny, no effort galaxy effect, you need this polish.

F.U.N Lacquer – Believe
This polish is something else… If you use a magnet on this, just the right way, you can have a ready made multi-colored galaxy! It shifts from green to blue, to purple and even pink. It’s got a new effect each time I wear it!

Pretty Serious – Gluteus Equine
Holographic flakes and diamonds with lots of little flecks in between!

Bow Polish –  Good God
This was purchased to replace another polish I had that was very similar in color. I used it often for my green/purple galaxy nails and that polished finally dried up entirely. This is a good replacement because the effect is pretty close with just two coats.

Different Dimension – Counting Stars
Counting Stars is a unique holographic galaxy glitter topper. Super easy to create galaxy manis using our multi chromes and this galaxy in a bottle topper!

Femme Fatale Cosmetics – Lodestar
This is a Dusty pink with green shimmers that is absolutely stunning in person. If you want that delicate and yet striking look, this is the shade. It reminded me of a character from the series that’s strong, ruthless, but loving at the same time. That’s a lot of punch for just one character huh? Just like this color.

This was a pretty huge haul and I would probably not do this again. A few of the colors I had fallen in love with were limited editions (one is even sold out now, just a day after release!). I didn’t want to miss out them. I simply wanted to indulge a bit and that’s exactly what I got.

Once again, Hypnotic polish was fantastic, super fast and easy to use.

What colors are you going to be topping your nails with this fall season?

The post My fall nail polish picks appeared first on A Daily Lee.