Monday 31 January 2011

NOTD - Essie 2010 Summer Collection Swatches

Here are some NOTDs with 4 mini polishes from Essie's Summer Collection 2010. I'd got these as a Christmas present, and although its not quite the season for bright polishes, I really find the bright colours cheer me up on these dismal winter days. I'm still relatively new to Essie Polishes, but I am absolutely hooked, these colours apply brilliantly take 2/3 coats to reach opacity and are very hard wearing! :D The two neonesque colours (Knockout Pout and Haute As Hello) dry slightly matte, but that can be solved with a top coat :D. So here are some swatches :D

Demure Vixen
Demure Vixen is a gorgeous mauve/dusky pink shade with hints of pearlescent shimmer scattered throughout. The shimmer really makes this polish, it is quite a subtle effect, but absolutely gorgeous when it catches the light, this is 3 coats. 

Haute As Hello
Haute as Hello, is almost a neon pastel colour, it's quite a coral-like creme colour, would probably look amazing with a tan, this was 3 coats.

 Knockout Pout
Knockout Pout applies a lot darker than it looks initially in the bottle, similar to Haute as Hello, this one also has that neon pastel quality, and is a very summery pink creme. Opaque in 2/3 coats.

 Pretty Edgy
Pretty Edgy, was a nightmare to photograph, my camera kept making this one look a lot more grass green and not quite as "minty" as it really is, the last photo without the flash is probably the most true to colour shot. It is however a brilliant jade like green, with a hint of blue undertones giving it that minty edge, actually reminds me a little of Jade is The New Black by OPI, but I don't think it's an exact dupe.


As hard as it is to pick a fave, I think Demure Vixen just inches it into the lead from this collection, something about the unique shimmer embedded, in what would be a boring dusky pink/mauve shade, simply stunning :D

Well those colours have definitely made me feel a good deal more summery :D Can't wait to see all the summer collections coming this year!

Friday 28 January 2011

NOTD - Mischa with GOSH Rainbow and Attitude Aurora

Decided to spice up my last NOTD (Andrea Fulerton - Mischa) with a couple of my favourite glitter polishes: GOSH Rainbow and Attitude Aurora :D here's some pics:

Mischa with GOSH Rainbow



no flash

no flash
GOSH Rainbow, shows up a lot better without flash, it is almost identical to an Inglot Polish I have (202), here's a quick reminder how that one looks pictured here on top of OPI Sanguine:


Mischa with Attitude Aurora
no flash



The Aurora Glitter top coat, actually shows up a lot better in the pics with a flash, it really gives the polish an almost holographic look as the glitter particles are very small, definitely seems to work better with 1 coat :D

Wednesday 26 January 2011

NOTD - Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique - Mischa

Today's NOTD was a bit of a surprise find, I'd picked up a couple of GOSH polishes, and then discovered Superdrug were doing a buy 2 get 1 free deal, so this is the colour I spotted: Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique - Mischa. Initially, it just looked like a funky silver, but on a closer inspection when I applied to my nails I noticed how many different coloured flecks there are within this polish. It's actually pretty stunning (you prob have to click the pics to really see the effect)

OPI Chip Skip
Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy 1 coat
Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique - Mischa 3 coats (it was opaque at 2)
Top Coat: Seche Vite

This one applied really well, perfect consistency and the narrow brush was great for application. Once I applied the top coat, I noticed how much this colour sparkles, its the first polish I've bought from this range, I not seen it before, but I'm definitely going to have a look at what other colours are on offer.



This one has definitely made it into my favourite silver polishes! Simply gorgeous! 

Collection Wheel Update

Finally got around to adding some new wheels to the Collection Page (clicky) I'm trying to redo the ones that aren't on nail wheels, but need a few more polishes to finish some wheels :D all pics are click-able if you want to see them larger.

 New Wheels (November 2010 - January 2011)
 1. China Glaze Awakening Halloween 2010 - Mummy May I
2. China Glaze Awakening Halloween 2010 - Zombie Zest
3. China Glaze Awakening Halloween 2010 - Ick-A-Body
4. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Midnight Kiss
5. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Jingle Bells
6. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Cheers to You
7. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Little Drummer Boy
8. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Party Hearty
9. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Jolly Holly
10. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Mistletoe Kisses
11. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Peace on Earth
12. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Naughty and Nice
13. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Sugar Plums
14. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Mommy Kissing Santa
15. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Ruby Deer
16. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Phat Santa
17. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Mrs. Claus
18. China Glaze Tis The Season To Be Naughty & Nice 2010 - Frosty

1. China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Ahz -The Ten Man
2. China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Ahz -Cowardly Lyin'
3. China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Ahz -Good Witch
4. China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Ahz - Ruby Pumps
5. China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Ahz - C-C-Courage
6. China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Ahz - Dorothy Who?
7. Orly Cosmic FX - It's Not Rocket Science
8. Orly Cosmic FX - Halley's Comet
9. Orly Cosmic FX - Lunar Eclipse
10. Orly Cosmic FX - Out of This World
11. Orly Cosmic FX - Galaxy Girl
12. Orly Cosmic FX - Space Cadet
13. Mac Venomous Villains - Bad Fairy
14. China Glaze - Liquid Leather
15. China Glaze - Up All Night
16. China Glaze - Frostbite
17. Claire's Mood Changing Polish - Calm/Wild
18. Claire's Mood Changing Polish - Bored/Excited

1. Essie - Lapis of Luxury
2. Essie - Demure Vixen
3. Essie - Pretty Edgy
4. Essie - Knockout Pout
5. Essie - Haute as Hello
6. OPI Designer Series - Reserve
7. No. 7 - Temptress
8. No. 7 - Rose Truffle
9. No. 7 - Crystal Lilac
10. No. 7 - Highland Mist
11. Andrea Fulerton - Mischa
12. Max Factor Max Effect - Silver
13. Max Factor Max Effect - Sunny Pink
14. Max Factor Max Effect - Dazzling Blue
15. GOSH - Golden Dragon
16. GOSH - Rainbow
17. Make Up Store - Asun
18. Claire's - 091 Glitter Stars

Have been purchasing the last few wheels from Nail Delights, now on sale for 45p :D and they delivery super quick! Also recently found a brilliant way to store these: a CD storage case, couldn't find a picture of the exact one I have, but its something like this, (only with two pockets a page not four) A great way to keep nail display wheels safe and organised :D

Monday 24 January 2011

NOTD - OPI Katy Perry Collection with Crackle Top Coat Skittle Swatches

Here's how the OPI Katy Perry Collection looks like topped with Barry M's Instant Effects Crackle Polish (am still waiting for my OPI Black Shatter to arrive, but from what I've seen Barry M's version is more or less identical in effect)

Index and Middle: Not Like The Moves, Ring and Pinkie: The One That Got Away

Pinkie and Ring: Last Friday Night, Middle and Index: Teenage Dream

Pinkie and Ring: Last Friday Night, Middle and Index: Teenage Dream

All of these have on finger with the original colour, and one with 1 thick coat of Barry M's Instant Nail Effects Crackle Polish:

OPI Katy Perry Collection: The One That Got Away

Definitely liking this combination, the contrast between the shimmery magenta/pink and the black crackle looks ace!

 OPI Katy Perry Collection: Not Like The Movies
I really like the crackle effect over duochromes, it certainly doesn't take anything away from the effect! Just gives an added depth.



 OPI Katy Perry Collection: Teenage Dream

This is definitely my favourite with or without crackle top coat, the sparkles are just stunning, and the way they peep out from the edges of the crackle is just beautiful, very girlie and very funky :D




 OPI Katy Perry Collection: Last Friday Night

The crackle top coat definitely helps with the sheerness of Last Friday Night, I still think I prefer it with a base colour though.





And just for fun I tried layering Last Friday Night over the nails with Not Like The Movies + crackle and The One That Got Away + crackle, (Teenage Dream didn't really work layered over these as its not quite as sheer as Last Friday Night)

L-Not Like The Moves + Barry M Instant Nail Effects Crackle + Last Friday Night
R - L-The One That Got Away + Barry M Instant Nail Effects Crackle + Last Friday Night



I do like the effect of these layered with Last Friday Night, it's sheer enough not to take away from the crackle effect, and glittery enough to make the manicure more interesting :D definitely one for layering!

OPI Katy Perry Collection Skittle Swatches

Finally got around to doing some skittle swatches of the OPI Katy Perry Collection, and although it's quite early in the year, this is definitely my fave new collection so far. There's four polishes in this collection and also the new OPI Black Shatter Polish (which also features in the Serena Williams pack). First up some bottle pics:

L-R The One That Got Away, Not Like The Movies, Teenage Dream and Last Friday Night
no flash

L-R The One That Got Away, Not Like The Movies, Teenage Dream and Last Friday Night
with flash

OPI Katy Perry Collection: The One That Got Away
This is 2 coats of The One That Got Away with Seche Vite Top Coat

The One That Got Away, may initially seem like the least remarkable of the collection, but it really is a lovely, albeit not unique, colour. A deep shimmery Magenta/Pink, with very small micro glitter that really makes this polish sparkle, it reminds me a little of Let Me Entertain You, from the Burlesque Collection. The One That Got Away is a slightly darker/more magenta version really. here's a pic: 

OPI Burlesque Collection - Let Me Entertain You
Perhaps it should have been called "The One That Got Away from The Burlesque Collection" lol. And here is one more pic without flash so you can see the micro glitter a little better :) definitely a great colour for lovers of shimmers and pinks!
no flash
 OPI Katy Perry Collection: Not Like The Movies
3 Coats of Not Like The Movies with Seche Vite Top Coat

As an avid duochrome lover, I must admit I was most excited about this polish, and boy does it deliver! A gorgeous duochrome silver shade, Not Like The Movies, reflects all kinds of colours at different angles, the 3 main colours you'll get are silver/green/pink depending on the angle, and as with all duochromes taking photographs that really show its glory is always going to be quite the struggle, but here's a few:


no flash
no flash
 If you love duochrome polishes, I'd definitely advise getting your hands on this one!

OPI Katy Perry Collection: Teenage Dream
3 Coats of Teenage Dream with Seche Vite Top Coat

Teenage Dream has become my favourite polish from this collection, its even more stunning on nails that it is in the bottle! It's a sheer light pink base packed with silver and pink holographic glitter, which reflects every colour. It takes a good 3 coats to get this one opaque, but the final effect is so gorgeous that it's absolutely worth it! I'm trying to find a suitable light pink base to layer this one over :D
no flash

 OPI Katy Perry Collection: Last Friday Night
3 Coats Last Friday Night with Seche Vite Top Coat

Last Friday Night is a sheer blue/turquoise polish with silver, blue and pink glitter flecks. Perhaps if I hadn't already tried layering Last Friday Night over China Glaze's Frostbite (see last post) this one would have been a bit of a disappointment, it's a lot sheerer than Teenage Dream, and even with 4 coats, there is still a good deal of VNL. It definitely makes your nails look like you've been exposed to ridiculously low temperatures, perhaps good if your going for that ice queen look :). But as I'm not entirely too fond of very sheer polishes I definitely prefer this one layered, here's a pic of how it looks layered:

Last Friday Night over ChG Frostbite
I think I'll definitely be using this one as a layering polish! The Glitter is far less remarkable on its own, adding a base layer really brings out the gorgeous shimmer, very icy!
no flash

As I said before I absolutely love this collection, I'm still waiting for my Serena Williams duo pack to arrive, which has the OPI Black Shatter Polish, but as I've been told the effect of Barry M Instant Nail Effects crackle polish is practically identical in effect to the OPI, I couldn't resist seeing how these colours look with the crackle layered on top :D photos will follow soon :D