NAIL ART: PASTEL STRIPES

CUB Magazine Editor Anna Matheson shows us how to create pastel striped nails with ease:

What I used:

Now, I'm not an expert when it comes to nails, but just occasionally I attempt a little nail art here and there to spruce things up a bit. But as I'm not really one for intricate flowers and union jacks (aka the REALLY TRICKY stuff) and I don't have the bank balance of Blair Waldorf to get them done professionally, I've come up with a simple way of doing something a little different then a boring two coats of one colour. All you need is a couple of spring worthy pastel colours (I choose Barry M as the brush is nice and thick so minimal sweeps can be used- and when you've not got the most steady of hands that can only be a good thing) and a few bits of sellotape.

Step 1:

- Prep the nails by removing any old scraps of varnish with a good strengthening nail varnish remover, and a softening hand scrub. (I use cutex and Neil's Yard)

Step two:

- After shaping and buffing your nails, cut ten strips of Sellotape and place the straight edge in the middle of the nail - paint the uncovered section of the nail with a thick coat of your chosen cover and wait for it to dry, repeat with another coat.

Step 3: 

- Remove the strip and carefully fill in the other half of the nail with the other chosen colour, let it dry, and repeat.

Step 4:

- Add a clear top coat, leave to dry and finish off with a nourishing hand cream.

And that's it! An, albeit slightly rustic, beginners guide to a simple nail art that even the unsteadiest of hands can achieve. 

Tweet your nail art images, or your version of Anna's striped pastel nails to @cubmagazine

#1 WHAT'S IN MY MAKE-UP BAG?

Frankie Dakin from eventhoughimskint.blogspot.co.uk tells us about her make-up bag essentials:

Revlon Colourstay Foundation for combination/oily skin - £12.49

I don’t really stick with a foundation and tend to rotate/mix my way through a few but Revlon Colourstay has been working pretty well for me at the moment. I’ve got pretty oily skin so the fact that it doesn’t just slide off is amazing, and it doesn’t rub onto my pillows (i’m one of those lazy people who never bother to remove their makeup before bed). Coverage wise, this foundation is medium to full so I can manage not to look like I put my makeup on with a trowel. Best of all it’s only £12.49 and lasts ages.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush - £10.99

I got this brush after hearing rave reviews from loads of other bloggers and It is AMAZING! It says on the box it helps you achieve an airbrushed high definition result which it definitely does. This brush could possibly make anyone bar Tulisa stand up to the HD test.

Mac Blot Powder in Dark - £20

Don’t know why this comes in colours because it’s supposed to be translucent but hey ho. This is my saviour, I get so oily as the day progresses, and this recent purchase has changed that for good. Walked into Mac the other day to pretend I wanted to buy something to fix my shine (just wanted a retouch) and she put this on me. I felt guilty and bought it, but I’m so glad I did. I apply it once in the morning, won’t reapply all day and later when I look in the mirror I won’t look like someone’s taken a can of Mr Sheen to my nose.

Bourjois Poudre Clubbing Gold Bronzing powder - £6.99

If, like me, you have a pretty much spherical face contouring is your friend. I go through a shit-tonne of bronzer, despite being a woman of colour, trying to give myself the cheekbones of Jourdan Dunn. This bronzer (which I stole off my little sister I might add) does a good job and it has tiny gold bits which are pretty - also IT SMELLS LIKE CHOCOLATE! Can’t go wrong with that one.

Rimmel Eyebrow pencil - £2.99

Its true eyebrows do frame the face, and my older Facebook pictures are testament to how weird I looked before I pencilled them in. Sometimes I’m watching telly wondering what’s wrong with someone’s face, and yep they’ve got invisible eyebrows. Sort it out.

Benefit Big Beautiful eyes – eye contour kit - £24.50

Another thing I stole off my sister...woops. It includes concealer, base shadow, contour shadow and liner shadow and I love all of it. I always use the concealer under my eyes, and considering I’m pretty much an insomniac it does wonders. The best bit is the gorgeous taupe contour shadow. The only time I ever get complimented on my eye shadow is when I’m wearing this.

Sleek Ink Pot gel eyeliner in Dominatrix  - £5.49

If you don’t use gel liner you are missing out. It comes with a little brush to put it on and never comes off. Seriously. I have difficulty removing it in the shower in the morning, that’s how good it is.

Mac lipstick in Sin - £14

The name says it all. I saw Rihanna wearing this exact shade at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show at the end of last year and I had to have it. This lipstick is sexy as hell - really dark cool toned matte red. Wearing this, it’s impossible not to feel like the baddest bitch alive.

Want to show us what's in yours? Tweet us @CUBMagazine or email yours to cubbeauty@gmail.com