Beauty Blogger of the Week: Róisín C from Cuti-CLUE-les

Cuti-CLUE-les was set up by Róisín who needed an outlet to express her love of nail art. It all started about three years ago when she was online unsuccessfully trying to find polish swatches. It was then that she came across nail polish blogs and Cuti-CLUE-les was born: "The one thing I noticed is that Irish beauty blogs tend to be all about make-up but it was hard pressed to find a nail polish blog at that time and the main brands like OPI and China Glaze that most international bloggers talk about aren't readily available here."

SHEmazing! caught up with Róisín to get the lowdown on her tips, hints and nail polish secrets.

What is your best budget-friendly nail polish brand?

At the moment I would say Catrice. They update their collection every couple of months and they have a great selection of colours and finishes. They cost around €3 so are very affordable. Price aside, the formula on Catrice is pretty consistent. Rarely do I come across one that needs four coats, they dry fairly quickly and last a good amount of time without chipping. Price does not dictate quality for the most part when it comes to nail polish. 

What is your top nail polishing tip?
When you go to paint your nails, do one stroke on the middle of your nail, one to the left and one to the right. This will help to prevent any streaks and you will get a nice even layer of polish on your nail. I’ve found this method gives the best results and it really reduces the amount of mistakes you make, so less time spent cleaning up your nails.

What is your favourite nail polish brand and why?
My favourite brand has changed a lot over the few years I've been painting my nails. Based on the sheer amount that I own, I would have to say Catrice nail polishes are my favourite. When I first got into nail polish and doing nail art, Catrice was the only brand I would look at. It's fairly easy to find in Ireland and they have a huge variety of polishes. Some of my absolute favourite polishes come from Catrice including, "Have an Ice Day" which is a holographic topper that I just heard is being re-released. Catrice use a wide brush in their nail polishes and I find it makes painting my nails easier as I have fairly wide nail beds. 

What was your first nail polish?
I bought my first nail polish back in 2011. Before then I had no more interest in nail polish than I had in walking on the moon! It was around the time I first started reading nail polish blogs and it really fascinated me. The polish was Stargazer 105 and it is a shimmery navy blue. I still have it after all these years. I have to admit I don't wear it all that often but I still love it. 

What shade are you currently wearing?
At the moment I am wearing Nicole by OPI "Khloe had a little lam lam" from the Kardashian Kolors collection. This is the perfect teal nail polish. It applies beautifully and it's almost opaque in one coat. I know a lot of people don't have time for the Kardashian clan but they came out with some beautiful polishes. The polish was a present from Sharon at Behind Green Eyes who is one of my best blogger friends. It's one of the few polishes that I would wear for a week, take it off and re-apply it straight away. That’s pretty rare for me. I am in love with dark creme nail polishes at the moment. I think they make your nails look so elegant.

What are the three essentials for painting your nails
First off I need a good basecoat. This prevents the polish from further staining my nails. I paint my nails a lot so they are slightly stained although it's barely noticeable, thankfully. Next would be a good quick-dry topcoat. At the moment I'm using the Sally Hansen Insta-dri topcoat and it has really impressed me so far. Not only is it very affordable but it leaves your nails so glossy, like you've just came out of a salon. The last thing I would need when I paint my nails is a cheap concealer brush. This is an absolute must for cleaning up around your nail once you've painted them. Just dip it into nail polish remover and gently swipe away any mistakes. It gives you that nice clean curve around your cuticle and it makes your nails looks flawless. The Elf concealer brush is one of the best brushes for getting a nice clean edge.

Check out Róisín’s blog, Cuti-CLUE-les, and don’t forget to follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.