Nail polish 101

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It has taken me a while to learn the best tips and tricks for making my nail polish stay put, without peeling and chipping after the first day.

But as our bodies are just about unique as our fingerprints, your nail bed and therefore the strength of your nails will vary from person to person.

BUT saying this, I am just about certain that using a base coat and top coat when painting your nails will improve the durability of your manicure!
A base coat prepares your nail bed for the polish, and will prevent your nails from yellowing (while increasing the durability of your polish). The top coat seals in your colour, helping to prevent the polish from chipping. I just love express dry drops from Essence, it contains {magical} powers which never fail to dry my polish in a flash!

These are my favourite polish basics at the moment:


You can get your hands on all of the above at selected Dischem and Clicks stores.  The TipTop base coat at time of sale was R39.99 and the Essence nail products ranged from R19.99 to about R39.99...very reasonable.

If you try these out, let me know if they have made you happy or not :)

xxx 

TipTop *Triple Putty*

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Yet another lovely colour to add to my collection of TipTop nail polishes. I loved the deep burgundy colour of Crushed Grapes (which lasted a whole 9 days on my nails before I finally had to part with it!) and so went off shopping for another wintery shade. Grey is definitely one of my favourite colours, and looks gorgeous when paired with anything (especially apricot and baby pink, which are our wedding colours! Click here to see whats happening on that front, with just over 4 months to go things are getting pretty stressful!). 

As always, TipTop polish goes on beautifully, and gives an even amount of colour in every stroke. I did find that I needed to do 2 coats of this colour, but that just added to the richness of it.

This is  #948, Triple Putty:





You can find TipTop at most Click's stores nationwide, for R39.99 (which is just as easy on the wallet as their colours are on the eyes!). Click here to join them on Twitter, and click here to join in their fun competitions and giveaways on Facebook!

TipTip *Crushed Grapes*

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Loving the new addition to my ever growing collection of TipTop Nail polishes. They always paint beautifullym dry quickly and last for ages. Plus, they are Formaldehyde, Dibutylphthalate, Camphor and Toluene free meaning they are better for your nails than most brands, ultimately resulting in healthier nails! 

This is 918, Crushed Grapes.
Dark colours can be tricky on long nails, which mine were until i broke one on my car door (*ouch!!*). What better way to disguise short nails that with a gorgeous shade, perfect for the cold winter ahead. 




You can get your hands on TipTop at most Clicks stores nationwide for R39.99. 


TipTop are always running awesome giveaways and competitions on Facebook, be sure to check out their page to join in on the fun!

TipTop *Creamy Orange*

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And yet another Tip Top polish from my ever growing collection. This one is a delightful coral/orange/passion red colour that looks best on short nails, which mine are now thanks to my horrible fridge door which aims to snap each and every one of my nails *sniff sniff* At least my nails make me smile now that they are painted :)

This is Creamy Orange...
TipTop is exclusive to Clicks. Get yours for just R39.99.

Click here to for the Facebook group where you can share your latest nail wear.

TipTop *Sherbet Angel*

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I have been loving this range of nail polish from Clicks since I spotted them a few months ago. They paint beautifully, don't bubble and are pretty good when it comes to being chip proof. I hadn't given them a second glance the first time my eyes brushed past them, as the snob in me thought that paying anything less than R80 for a nail polish = waste of time. But surprise surprise, these little guys have left me amazed. If you apply (like Rimmel's Stronger Double Duty), as well as (like Sally Hansen's Insta' Dry), you could get about a weeks wear.

What I also love about Tip Top is the huge range of colours, from neon pinks, to powder blues, and every shade in between. They have also recently launched a range called "You Crack Me Up" which gives a (you guessed it!) a cracked effect when applied...fun for summer :)

*I am wearing Sherbet Angel*
Tip Top is exclusive to Clicks stores, and at a price of R39.99 you really cant go wrong. 

Happy painting!

Monkey Bay Backpackers, Ballito

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As of late, Ballito has been buzzing with activity. What with the opening of the King Shaka Airport and rumors of a Virgin Gym there is so much more than just sun, sea and surf. Ballito has become one of the biggest places for Matric Rave (those few weeks around Nov/Dec when every second person strolling around town is on the hunt for a good party after finishing their final exams).

But, for all the other months of the year there is still lots happening in this growing coastal town.

So what does one need when planning a trip? Accommodation of course...and that's where Monkey Bay Backpackers comes in!

Only a short stroll from the main beach and with plenty of space for you to bring your own tents too!




For booking and more information, click here