Barry M Nail Polish - Mini Review 2

Hey all!

Last week I wrote a quick mini-review post on some recent Barry M purchases which you can read by clicking here. I've been buying a few different polishes with various finishes so I've got another few reviews for you today too.

First is a Coconut Infusion nail polish, this is called Paradise and is a typical nudey greige with a slight purple tone to it making it perfect for my super pale skin.

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Polish in Grapefruit

Hey there!

I've written a fair few posts about the Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paints recently having picked up multiple 3 for 2 deals - they are just that good!

Grapefruit is the latest colour that I've bought, I'm sure there will be more but I haven't picked up any yet.

Grapefruit is a super girly pink polish that should be in every girls collection - its perfect and will give the effect on your skin of having a tan which I would imagine that most people would want.
As I've mentioned before I'm super pale and barely see the sun however much I would love a real tan - this helps make me feel that my skin isn't too reflective and dazzling!



So application wise, the colour applies opaque in two coats and although I still wish the brush would be a bit wider to help a smoother application it hasn't stopped me from indulging in many more bottles!

You can see the super shiny finish that I love below:

For £3.99 you really can't go wrong with these polishes anyway but the colour range is what makes it. There's pretty much every colour you could hope for - I'm trying not to add to my collection but if I'm honest and I was starting out buying a few colours now I would steer clear of the more expensive ranges as Barry M have got you covered from all angles.

What's your favourite colour from the Gelly Hi Shine range?

Do you have a favourite finish from Barry M?

L xxx

NOTD: Barry M Speedy Quick Dry Nail Polish - Pit Stop

Hi there!

It has been a long time since I bought a nail polish - mostly I've bought so many that even with new colours coming out I've always got something similar. 

Lately though the '2 for £7' deal in Boots got me good, I've always wanted to try more of the Gelly Hi Shine range and the Speedy Quick Dry was another range that caught my eye.

I've been wearing lots of nudes the last few months and that doesn't seem set to change, it makes it so much easier at work and I think they look chic whatever you're wearing - also there's a massive range available!

This shade is called Pit Stop - it's a light grey colour that I don't have so far in my vast collection, surprisingly, and I couldn't leave it behind.

I love the Speedy Quick lids - the racing checkerboard lid is very clever and I love that they translated this into the names of the polishes too. There are others called Full Throttle and Lap of Honour, and Eat My Dust is a gorgeous coral (can never ignore the corals!)

So how does it look on?

This is with 2 coats applied plus top coat.

I can't decide if this polish was too thick, it is quite thick which i normally like - with my average application skills thicker polish is easier to control and as long as it's done slowly it can work fine.

However you can see from the picture above that on my index finger nail there is a little patch where it goes thinner. This may just be my shoddy techniques at application but it's a little annoying.

That said though, it is a great colour and perfect for me for work. I really like it.

It will definitely get a lot of use from me, particularly due to its fast drying capabilities.

This did dry a little bit faster than a normal polish, though i didn't think there was too much difference. Any decrease on drying time is extremely preferable though and I did seem to be able to get base, 2 coats and then top coat done in a quick pace.

Have you tried the Speedy Quick range? Do you live wearing nude polishes like me?

I saved metallics and pinks for the weekends!

L xxx

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint

Hi there!

I'm having a bit of a 'brights' moment now that the weather is finally starting to brighten up. now the clocks have turned back its definitely time to start playing with brights and I can't wait!

After purchasing Barry M's Rose quartz (finally) after a long time of lusting after it i also picked up this beauty; Gelly Hi Shine nail paint in Passion Fruit 407.

This is a gorgeous bright colour for spring and summer and great for nails and toes. It's one that seems to go with everything and any occasion, and I've had tonnes of compliments!

It's one of the good ones; requires 2 coats for opacity and is easily applied with the brush (although I do prefer Essie brushes as they are wider - I'm lazy).



Please excuse my messy application, I was in a massive rush on Sunday night painting them before I was out like a light ready for Monday morning! So they're definitely not my neatest but you can still appreciate the colour.
The photo above was taken without flash in natural light and the photo below was taken with a flash; you can see its a lot redder than the initial picture and it does change in different lights/





This has lasted pretty well considering the usual lab testing (chemicals and equipment normally means chips and cracks in polish). It's still on as I'm writing this late on Wednesday night and I'm only changing it now as I'm itching to try another polish! Fickle thing I am.

I've seen and heard so much about the Gelly Hi Shine range and I found it so hard to pick just one colour. I have a massive list of others I'd love to try particularly the nudes, pastels and other brights - basically the whole range!

Which colour is your favourite? Any recommendations?

I'm sure I'll be back to pick up more before the offer ends.....

L xxx

NOTD: Essie Stylenomics

Morning lovelies!

I've got a long awaited NOTD for you today. I asked my friend in America to send me these beauties in a Christmas present in November but unfortunately they didn't arrive until the end of February! 

But all the same they are beautiful colours and I still need to show you them :)

These two polishes are Leading Lady and Stylenomics:

I've previously posted about Leading Lady in the Winter 2012 Collection here. I absolutely loved it and have been using up the bottle over the last year. Sadly it was only a limited edition one for us Brits and I was panicking that one of my favourites would never be in my collection again......I was SO glad when I realised they still had it in the US so begged my friend to send it to me. Now I can rest assured I won't be running out any time soon now that I've got a full bottle :)

Stylenomics is a beautifully dark green, almost black colour. I love dark polishes on nails and this one has been raved about so I couldn't refuse another Essie could I?

The formula is the same as always, easy to apply and super shiny.

It was opaque in 2 coats and I couldn't stop staring at how lovely it was.







Although it SHOULD be spring time, I find myself wearing darker colours still as the weather has been so awful!

Have you tried Stylenomics? Are you still wearing darker colours?

What's your latest Essie purchase?

L xxx

Christmas Shopping.....For Myself

Let's all be honest here, it's pretty damn hard to go shopping at any time of year without picking something up for yourself let alone at Christmas time.

I'm a very big fan of the 'one for you, two for me' mantra and as I missed out on an advent calendar of any kind (not jealous at all....) I have seemingly bought myself a product for each day instead....now who's winning eh?!

Here's a quick photo montage of things I've picked up, what deals were on, whee you can get them and how much you need it!






The Latest in Beauty box - The Glamour Beauty Edit.

This was £14.95 from here (plus p&p) and worth every penny. With £65 of goodies in this box not only is it a bargain but a lovely gift and if I bought for friends I'd definitely get one as a Secret Santa gift!

They're limited number I think but still available when writing this post :)





Lancome mascara set from Boots was snapped up in a triple points offer as I'm yet to try a premium beauty mascara and thought a set was the perfect opportunity!

The Mane and Tail Conditioner for human and horse hair was a surprise find in Liberty when I went to London (see posts here and here). I've heard a lot and couldn't resist picking it up, it's a yellow colour and smells pretty good all for £7!







I went on a nail spree too....oops!
The Maybelline Color Show Brocades were a random buy but they're so glittery I couldn't resist them on 3 for 2 as well.

Essie are one of my favourite nail brands and their Luxeffects collection hasn't escaped my notice. The pink was bought individually but the blue and silver glitter were bought in a set. Guaranteed a post will be up soon!





Lastly I had a bit of a spree in Origins. The above 2 pictures show products bought at the same time; in John Lewis they had 15% off to match Debenhams prices and luckily for me still had a Morning to Midnight set of Ginzing related goodies for me to try out! At £34 I really couldn't leave it behind after one of the products retailing at £35 so it was super savvy to pick it up at 15% off.

I also picked up their Sensory Therapy in Peace of Mind because my mum uses it for her headaches and I've found it works amazing on me too. This is normally £13 but I got it for just over £10 which for me is much better than taking tablets for headache as I get them regularly with stress.

As I bought 2 products I also received a free goody set which was another reason for going there. They always seem to have deals on at Christmas where you can receive a few products in trial size to test out and this was so cute!





I picked the Best Brighteners as I really want to try the skin illuminating cleanser.

Not only that, my last item was also my final item in my Boots triple points internet order (along with the Lancome mascaras) and was the Merry Moisturisers set.

I'm a huge fan of the Make A Difference range and I know I will use all of the products in this bundle. For £29 from Boots (currently half price) where the moisturiser is normally around £34 you cannot go wrong!

I've definitely overspent this year.........my own present buying has been a little off the charts but let's be honest its only Christmas once a year!

I cannot resist the bargains and have gathered myself a whopping £15ish in Boots points from the triple points and 500 points vouchers. I didn't need most of the products but I'm now in the frame of mind where I will use everything up and I've been getting through my stash quite well recently so fingers crossed I haven't overindulged too much....


Only time and my bank balance/credit card bill will tell!


What have you been buying yourself recently? Have you been snapping up bargains in the Christmas sales?

I can't believe there's this many bargains BEFORE the Boxing Day sales, think I'll have to give my mum instructions to hold me back when that time comes......

L xxx

OPI Liquid Sands: Bond Girls - Honey Ryder and Jinx

Happy Friiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiday!!!!

I'm lucky enough to be spending my day in London today, and my current plan is to go to the Victoria and Albert museum so I'm really looking forward to it as I've never been and it's supposed to be amazing!

That said, I've been swooning over these polishes for a little while. I'm obsessed with James Bond and OPI which generally means that these polishes were a complete no brainer.



When OPI bought out the original collection I snapped it up, along with the Bond Girls Liquid Sands. I have previously posted about the mini set I bought but my friend in America sent me over 2 full size of my favourite one and a new one.

The new one was Honey Ryder, a beautiful gold liquid sand polish.

It was love at first sight for me!

I keep trying to think of things to say but quite honestly I feel the pictures say it all.
It's such a beautiful polish and the texture is gorgeous.



The texture makes it look so glittery and adds another dimension. I like different kinds of polishes and techniques but I don't normally like them all that much, but these liquid sands I do love!

I particularly love wearing Honey Ryder on my toes, it's long lasting and is a great sparkly addition to my collection. I know if I wear it that it will go with every thing I might wear so it's a great easy option.

Below is Jinx, the other full size polish. I've mentioned in the previous post how much i love it, it's a coral liquid gold with a gold shimmer through it. It shimmers like a fire in the light which makes me love it even more!

Are you a fan of liquid sand polishes? Are you obsessed with collections of polishes like I am?

Sets are far too easy to get addicted to!

L xxx

NOTD: Avon Nailwear Pro+ Blue Water Lilies

I'm sure you'll be able to tell by now I'm a huge fan of Avon make up especially the lipsticks. You can see the Avon products I've reviewed so far here. Today I bring you on of their nail varnishes. 

The Nailwear Pro+ formulation is currently on offer for £3. What a bargain. That's what I love about Avon you can usually get great deals on the products. I think £3 is such good value. The normal price is £6 which I do also think this nail varnish is worth.

They Say

Nail enamel fortified with acrylic gel for strength and Dura-Plus Complex. 12 days of lasting colour, shine and nick-resistant finish. 

I find this formula to be really long lasting it also glides on easily and gives a gorgeous finish  in two coats. As for lasting 12 days. I can't comment on that as I never leave polish on that long but after 5 days it's still looking good.

I've got the shade blue water lilies which if you can find I suggest ordering (that's the only thing with Avon, due to campaign changes products aren't always availble). It's such a beautiful summer colour. It's a pastel periwinkle blue with a soft gold shimmer running through.

The gold through the blue looks stunning on. It adds a subtle shimmer without the colour looking glittery. 

I paired it with a gold statement nail (max factor Ivory) to highlight the gold in the polish. Ignore my shoddy topcoat. My beloved Seche Vite is going gloopy on me :(.

In sunlight you really notice the soft shimmer in it. This is a colour I've been reaching for lots lately. I love the shade and find it really flattering against my skin tone. It also looks great when I'm tanned. I love this shade of blue for nails and have been looking for it for ages. I have other light blues but none quite as pretty.

Are you a fan of blue nails? Have you tried the Nailwear Pro+ formulas?

Love M

xxx

Sinful Colors

Soooooooooooo. Sinful Colors.

I'm sure you've all heard the rage by now, these amazing nail polishes have hit the stands in Boots for an absolutely purse friendly, eye-catching and heart-attack-inducing £1.99.

I did initially think oh god what cheap nasty things do we have here. I was so wrong and I promise you I've hit myself many a time since for letting it cross my mind!

As I hadn't used this brand before I picked up 2 glitters as I didn't think you could go wrong with glitters even from a brand with a lower price.

The beautiful sparkly blue/green colour is called Nail Junkie so obviously I was drawn to that one, and the pink was a winner in my books, sugary sweetness and sparkle in a bottle, aptly named Pinky Glitter.

Here they are in different lights:

Lush!

So let's get on with seeing how they look on the nails.

Nail Junkie is up first and you can see in the first picture with one coat that it's a bit thin and definitely needs a few layers. You could layer this over another colour if you wanted a more subtle effect though, that's what this is all about!

The second coat (2nd picture) is a little better but I personally prefer the look of the super glittery triple coat:

Just look at these in natural light!! You cannot get any more mermaid than that. So basically what we have here is a £1.99 polish from a brand causing a huge storm in Boots that effortlessly gives you 2013's hottest look. Love. At. First. Sight.

I want to SWIM in that bottle.
It reminds me of beach holidays and cool lakes with summer magic. I do get carried away don't I?


Pinky Glitter is the second bottle I purchased.

A pink glitter is a staple in any girls nail wardrobe and I'm a firm fan, probed by owning about 10, different shades and styles obviously!

This polish was much the same when concerning the triple coats, and definitely looks better in the sun.

This one in particular looks awesome over another colour, the photo below shows it over Essie's Lovie Dovie and you can see it pretty much glows!

I'm sure you can tell by the comments above that I think the range is brilliant and well worth the money. £1.99 is such a good price for these polishes and it means you can afford to try out colours that you would otherwise leave on the shelf. Particularly fashiony shades or glitter polishes you won't use as much of.

What do you think of Sinful Colors? Have you seen their mahussive range of colours?
Which colours would you recommend if you've picked some up?

Let me know and I'll be there like a flash!

L xxx