Beach Bum Nails

Finally, at long last, I am able to share you a nail polish I've been wearing lots and lots lately. Let's get the annoying bit about it out of the way first: I don't remember how much it costs and I've lost the receipt. Asda George Polishes, usually around £1.50 if my memory is correct but I think I got this on a rollover deal where it was just a quid.







This is beach bum from George and to me, and I would like to think of it as a greenie gold or golden safari shade. Two coats gave me the lovely coverage you see on the photos. You can also clearly see the brushstrokes, my no.1 bugbear about a nail polish but despite that I just cannot stop from loving this polish. In fact, it's my favourite shade from the whole range. I just love, love and love it.









Don't call it bronze, Beach Bum is much more fun that a dull Olympic bronze and will wear out beautifully on your nails. After 3 days or so, it will start to gently fade and give a nice antique gold to your nails. Next time you're in Asda, say hello to the George makeup stand, there are so many to choose from and so much fun to be had :)

Read more ...

NailsInc BlueBell Nails courtesy of InStyle Magazine

Bluebell or wild hyacinth is the name of a flower, belonging to the lily family and which grows shed loads in Scotland. Also the name of a gorgeous creme finish nailsinc nail polish which came free in the June 2012 edition of the InStyle Magazine (full details of the operation and other free colours here) 





I vowed myself not to buy it, as I am not really into blue polishes to be honest (don't let me enumerate my exceptions because that would defeat the point that I've just made) but it was free with the magazine and Emma wanted to see what it looks like. That's it, I am just going to blame Emma for this acquisition.


NailsInc BlueBell was lovely to play with (applied very sloppily here though!) It does present the usual nailsinc quirk, i.e goes on a bit unevenly at first to dry to a smooth finish later, but I am cool with that. The coverage is exceptional. In one thick coat, it covered the not-so white of the white of my nails but you still want to apply a second coat to cover the ridges of the nail. The colour reminded me of a cross between Models Own Beth's Blue (what I actually wore on my nails the day I avatared myself) and Gosh Lavender Love. It is a beauty.








Do you need it in your collection?
If you are into purpley blue polishes, this is definitely one gorgeous limited edition item to own, wear with proud and enjoy. I am :)

Read more ...

Mavala Osaka: Your nails, just prettier

When was the last time you finished a nail polish? I don't remember either. Apart from when my bottles become very gunky and I don't think that the remaining contents are worth wasting drops of a precious expensive nail polish thinner, I really don't remember when I last finished a nail polish. If this is you, then Mavala nail polishes could be perfect for you. The little cute bottles contain 5ml of product and you don't feel so bad of buying some, even though your collection is pretty vast.

Before I properly got into nail polish, my favourite polish was the now discontinued Vanity from Miss Sporty, a very sheer polish which would make my nails so prime, proper, clean, elegant. 'Vanity' was of such poor quality, the bottle had to be thrown away, after a month of being opened. First glimpse of Osaka reminded me of Vanity but with an added delightful shimmer.





I might be totally barking the wrong tree here but I would like to think that Mavala inspired themselves from Japanese Cherry Blossoms when they created Osaka.
It must be. The Japanese city Osaka has a Cherry Blossom every Spring, and cherry blossoms are pink.





Doubts on origin of inspiration aside, Osaka is a truly gorgeous sheer pink with an amazing glow. If you can't bear seeing the white of your nails, you will want to avoid to stay Osaka, or use it as a top coat to add a little pink glow to your nails. My photos show 2 coats of Osaka and I like it that. For me Osaka just celebrates the beauty of your natural nail and let it shine through.





A few months ago, I wouldn't have been able to wear this polish as my nails suffered some dark yellow staining, due to some careless behaviour. Seeing the bare and  naturally distorted white line of my index finger doesn't me fill me with joy and confidence, but overall I just really feel elegant, delicate and feminine when I wear Osaka.





I find Osaka, apart from bad nail day moments, ultra wearable and I can see myself grabbing for it very often. If I haven't lost the teeny weeny blighter before then, that is.

Have you got a polish which you like to
wear on your 'good nail days'?

What? Mavala Osaka, mini polish, 5ml
How much? £4.10
Where? In many Boots nationwide

Read more ...

Cappuccinos, Moon Dust and Fantasy Fire Nails {notds}

I should really spread out my nail polish posts, add a bit of variety but I am  too excited a-gain and I am dying to tell you about my latest nail polish  acquisitions. I didn't plan to buy a nail polish for a long time. A giant tidy up  over Christmas made me come to terms with my nail polish collection and see the  madness of it all. I didn't plan even less to buy a Max Effect mini polishes from  Max Factor. My first experience with a mini polish from Max Factor was absolutely diabolical, and cloudy blue is probably the worst polish I have ever played with.






But when I saw the little firecracker of 'Fire Fantasy' on Benebelle.com, it was  love at first sight and I couldn't rest until I, too, get my hands on it. Both  Superdrug and Boots had a 3 for 2 offer on Max Factor products about 2 weeks ago,  so I decided to treat myself with 3 mini polishes. I'll spare you the details of  how tricky it was to find a shop which had at the same time the 3 shades I  wanted. In the manner of 3 for 2, I would like to show you three manicures today.






First of all, this is Cappuccino. No hint of creamy brown beige coffee shade here,  this polish, to me, looks like a dirty grey purple and I absolutely love it.  Application was to my biggest disbelief very easy and I achieved opacity in 2  coats.








Now, this is Moon Dust, a very sheer polish which reminded of 'Not like the  movies' from OPI but without the green drama. This is very much a layering polish  really, and it would be in your best interest to treat it as that, as you will  have completely emptied the contents of this teeny weeny bottle if you were  trying to achieve opacity with Moon Dust alone. So I layered it over just one  coat of Cappuccino and the result really impressed me.








And now, ladies and gentlemen, the object of my latest obsession, this is Fantasy  Fire. I have no idea when this polish was first released, probably ages ago, as  Helen Nice Things suggested that people have been trying to find dupes for that  colour for years. Fantasy Fire reminded me straight away of my first time with a  holographic nail polish (read my review here if you're bored), not for the result  but for the emotions it provoked in me. It basically took my heart and did what  it wanted with it. Let's have a look at the bottle: Yes, this is the same bottle. 





Now try to imagine having all these shades at once on your fingers as you move them in the light: absolutely out of this world. Could this polish qualify as a polychrome? I don't know but what I do know is that I've never experienced anything like it. The richness of the red inside the purple is a like a firework burning on my fingers. Even just looking at the bottle, it feels like it contains a firework ready to pop, like a jack-in-the- box. Absolutely mesmerising!     



      





Again, like Moon Dust, this polish is very much a layering polish. If you were trying to achieve full opacity with Fantasy Fire, you would need about 7 coats which, I am sure you would agree wouldn't be the best use of your time and money (£3.99 for such a tiny bottle). However what is a major drawback could also be an advantage. Think of the limitless colour combinations Fantasy Fire could give you. I have wished to layer my fantasy fire over Cappuccino but I can't wait to try it over other colours. If you haven't guessed it by now, I am absolutely head over the heels about Fantasy Fire and it has not become one of my most special polishes.




  


What: Max Factor Max Effect Mini Polishes
How much: £3.99 a bottle
Where: Anywhere around the world which sells Max Factor. Be warned as Fantasy  Fire has become quite a sought after shade.

Do you own any Max Effect mini polishes? Please let me know in the comments below. I’d love to see your photos, if you have posted some xx

Read more ...