Sally Hansen Continuous Treatment Hardening

While I have a break from my university, I've decided it's high time to give my nails some rest they deserve. This semester was really hard not only for me but for them too: there wasn't a single day I left them without polish. I know that might be too hard for them to endure, but since my nails are really soft and easy to break or split, I wanted to feel... protected. 

As a result of extensive polishing and using bright colors my nails turned a little bit yellow - that is really disappointing because they look unhealthy. I even know what certain polishes stained my nails and I immediately put them away, but the problem need some kind of solution anyway. I've found some tips on the net - like trying to scrub the nails with soda or holding them in lemon juice. This seems to help a little, but I believe this awful yellow tone will not fade easily. Maybe it will be gone only with nail growth. It means I have to wait... and while I wait, I will give my nails extra attention. 

As I said, I decided not to use any polish at all for some time - but I'm still afraid to expose them to the aggressive environment (water, low temperature, etc.). To create some kind of protective file, I apply Sally Hansen Continuous Treatment Hardening Formula each day. Sally Hansen didn't prove to be effective before and I don't really think this particular thing will really harden my nails (I know only one treatment that solves the problem - I'll share the secret in the next post). It was bought ages ago and long-forgotten since I've found some other base-coats (this one doesn't work as a base-coat - you should just apply it every day over and over).

 

Game of Thrones: Westerosi fashion rocks

When there are almost 80 days left until HBO launches Season 3 of the epic fantasy series, I cannot think about anything else but the amazing work of the costume designers.

We know that the genre of fantasy is all about imagination. You are absolutely free to build the world of dreams where nothing binds your creativity, even the laws of the Universe . Still, this is where the dangerous path begins - this genre has a classic set of decorations which are used by many writers, over and over, ever since "The Lord of the Rings"was written (elves, castles, dungeons and dragons... that sort of things). Our mind is so much used to these cliches that now it is quite a challenge to imagine a fantasy world without the typical Medieval setting. Fortunately for us, there is a writer who brings fantasy to the whole new level.

G.R.R. Martin's series "A Song of Ice and Fire" also has dragons, castles and Medieval kingdoms, but there is something other fantasy books usually lack - credibility. There is no absolute good and evil - only Houses and clans waging an unholy war for power, which starts as a court intrigue and eventually falls into real carnage (sounds promising, huh?). 

If you read the original novels, you know that Martin provides many detailed descriptions of almost everything, from places the characters visit to costumes they wear. You know what the characters look like in almost every scene - by the way they dress we may find out their social status, profession or clan. But does it make a task easier for the HBO costume designers?

The answer is no. 

As the Emmy-nominated designer for the series Michele Clapton states, not all the costumes described in the books may be transported to the screen as they are. They obtain a new purpose in the TV adaptation: with such a complicated story to follow, the way a character is dressed should guide the viewers through the plot advancement. I believe that the mission was accomplished. Each fraction has its own distinctive style.

To my mind, the best example of a character whose appearance changes with the plot is Daenerys Targaryen. In this picture we see how her style evaluates from an exile princess on her wedding day; to a nomad Khaleesi on her way through the desert; and then to the Mother of Dragons, the real leader of the Dothraki. 

Every House wears its colours. The Lannisters seem to have an affection for red and gold: 

 Queen Cersei

 Tyrion Lannister

King Joffrey

For more information about the creative process read the following interviews:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/fash-track/game-thrones-michelle-clapton-costume-designer-emmy-335607

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/03/creative-minds-game-of-thrones-costume-designer-michele-clapton.html

http://onscreenfashion.com/2012/04/27/an-interview-with-game-of-thrones-costume-designer-michele-clapton/

http://fashionista.com/2012/06/game-of-thrones-hair-and-wardrobe-secrets-revealed/2/

My First Entry

Welcome to my blog!

This is the first entry of my personal blog which I am going to devote to everything about beauty - fashion trends, nail design, product reviews, etc. I hope you will enjoy your stay here.