NOTD // Models Own Hyper Gel

Hello lovelies! For my latest nails of the day I have been trying out a recently purchased Models Own Hyper Gel gel effect polish in Lilac Sheen. As I was madly in love with my Hyper Gel Turquoise Gloss I bought a 10 piece set containing a gorgeous variety of colours (you'll see the rest in my haul). 

The first to try out from the set if this lovely pastel lilac shade, perfect for Spring time.

 Having high hopes after being so impressed with my last Hyper Gel I was extremely disappointed with this one! Surely you would think the formula would be the same across the range? Unfortunately apparently not! The consistency was nowhere near as thick and I had to apply 3 coats to achieve an opaque finish, which of course added to the application and the drying time. Managed to go for a few days without chipping, but nothing above average. Although I love the colour (and would wear the polish based on that) I was really hoping it would be easy to apply and have the anticipated shiny gel-like finish which it was kinda lacking. Nevertheless, I will work through the set and hope for the best.

Has anyone else found this problem with some of the shades from the Hyper Gel range?

NOTD // First look at Binky London

 

 

Hello lovelies! How has March crept around so fast? I'm so excited about Spring and digging out my pastel nail polish collection, starting with this little beauty from the Binky London range I picked up at the Clothes Show Live. Using the Rose Pink (the pale pink shade) and Pink Crystal (the glittery pink shade) for this NOTD ... here we are :)

 

 

Both polishes are of great quality, especially for the very purse friendly price tag. The glittery polish in particular lasted for several days without chipping (even with no base or top coat) but was also easy to remove (which I don't usually find with glitter polishes, especially long lasting ones). A fairly new range, the Binky London collection has a good variety of colours and finishes, and at £2.95 you can't go wrong! I would like to say I will definitely be purchasing some more Binky nail polishes, but I think I have a bit of a nail polish addiction so probably shouldn't be buying any more for a long while!

 

Have you tried any of the nail polishes from the Binky range?

 

 

 

NOTD: Glittery neutral nails - Rimmel VS SpaRitual

 

So I was initially going to do a post about a gorgeous SpaRitual polish in Ballet which I'd recently purchased, however as I went to put it with the rest of my nail polishes I realised I already have a very similar one! Turns out I'd had my Rimmel Space Dust nail polish in Aurora tucked away at the bottom of the draw, completely forgetting about it, even though I don't think I'd purchased it that long ago. As are very similar I thought I would show you them both. Rimmel is the more affordable brand of the two, with SpaRitual products are available at discount retailers such as TK Maxx.

 

So let's start with Rimmel. Great nail polish, great coverage after two coats, giving you an even coating of polish full of shimmer and sparkle.

 

 

 

 

 

The SpaRitual polish is also full of sparkle, goes on very evenly and the brush is slightly bigger, making the application process quicker. I also wore two coats of this polish, however if you're in a hurry and literally have 5 minutes to do your nails you could get away with just one coat - like I did the first time I used it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both are gorgeous colours and finishes and so in terms of appearance I like them equally. However if I had to choose my favourite I would probably be the SpaRitual polish as it seems easier to apply and last a day or so longer without chipping (cos that's always a pain when it comes to glittery polishes!)

 

Which of these do you prefer?

 

 

Christmas Day NOTD // Barry M and Nails inc.

Merry Christmas y'all! Hope you have had a great festival season eating lots of food and spending time with your family.

 

Christmas is one of my favourite times of your when it comes to experimenting with beauty products as there is glitter and sparkle everywhere, with a constant excuse to wear sparkly nail polish. For my Christmas day nails I used the Barry M Superdrug Xmas 2012 Limited Edition polish (a silvery blue shade) as my base colour with the Nails Inc Nail Jewellery polish in Piccadilly Arcade - which is a gorgeous glittery green. I have a feeling that the gorgeous Piccadilly Arcade is soon to become my favourite nail polish of the season.

 

 

 

 

 

I am now off to enjoy the boxing day sales - hope you are too!

 

 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

 

 

NOTD // Christmas Party nails with Jack Wills

 

In the run up to the New Year I like to sift through all of my make-up boxes, drawers, bags and any other random places to dig out forgotten treasures that tend to get saved for special occasions but  then seem to be hidden forever. In my recent find I discovered a 'Holiday Season' nail varnish set by Jack Wills, with 5 gorgeous colours to choose from. Purchased some time ago, I think I've only ever managed to use one of them, with 4 more autumnal/fall colours yet to play with. With my work Christmas party coming up next week I decided to go with a gorgeous glitter fuchsia combination in the shades Cerise and Pink Glitter, as a trial run.

 

Here is the finished product:

 

 

(It looks much shinier in person, I promise)

 

 

Glittery pinks and purples are perfect for the party season and now is the time to dig yours out! As much as I love this colour combo I was really not impressed with the quality of these polishes, especially Cerise. Not for writing negative reviews usually, but I think that nail varnishes are definitely not JW's strong point. The base polish tried with translucent finish, which in my opinion doesn't look nice at all with darker colour. Two coats later the covering still wasn't too my taste. The pink glitter disguised this so well and I was initially very happy the finished effect. unfortunately on the second day of wear I noticed some chipping! Quick chipping polish is a big issue for me and happens fairly quickly no matter which brand I use, but to only make it one day in perfect condition, was a bit much. I will keep rooting through my collection to find a similar shade to go with the pink dress I will be wearing to my Christmas party.

 

What colours are you wearing this party season?

 

 

 

 

NOTD: Essie Fear or Desire

 

In this instalment of NOTD, I've been clinging onto the last of the warmer months with this gorgeous bright and vibrant orange Essie nail polish in Fear or Desire.

 

This is definitely one of the better Essie formulas I have tried, as it gives you a good few solid days of wear before any chips start to appear.

My favourite thing about this polish is the wide brush which makes application incredibly easy with just one swoop! Two coats of this polish give great coverage and look super bright and cheerful, enough to brighten up anyone's day. This nail polish is easily one of my favourite Fragrance Direct purchases, and for just £2 (I think it's now at £2.50 I feel like you can't go wrong!

NOTD // Models Own Hyper Gel

 

This has been my absolute go to nail polish for the majority of the summer. Having mixed feelings about previous Models Own nail polishes, I was only too keen to try out this HyperGel gel effect formula hoping this would be the one to win me over. For a very modest price tag of £5 I was very impressed! An absolute sucker for a gorgeous pink polish I did my best to restrain myself and branch out to a lovely mint green shade in Turquoise Gloss.

 The formula was of a good consistency, much thicker than the Barry M Gelly polishes, which I much preferred. It was easy to apply and it gave great coverage after just one coat (I applied two coats). The polish lasted around 4/5 days before any chips appeared, which for me, seemed like magic! To top it off, the finish is gorgeous and shiny as though a high shine top coat has been applied (not very visible in the photo unfortunately). I would love to stock up on these and try out a few more, however the colour selection doesn't seem to be particularly amazing so I am not sure which of the others I would go for. Extremely happy with this product, in fact I would probably have to say it is one of the best polishes I've purchased in a long time!

 

Have you tried any of the Hyper Gel polishes? Would love to hear some recommendations on which one I should get next!

 

 

 

NOTD // Tanya Burr Nail Polish

 

Ahh I was so excited when the wonderful Tanya Burr brought out her Lips and Nails collection, jut couldn't wait to get my hands on a few bits! With so many gorgeous colours on offer it was hard to pick a favourite but I finally settled for the fantastic Be Bright, Be Happy, Be you.

 

 

 

 

Not sure what to expect, I was extremely pleased with how well this polish lasted! Even without top coat I can get around 3 days wear prior to the appearance of any chips. The colour is really bright with a lovely shiny finish. The only issue I found was the consistency of the formula. It was quite runny and difficult for me to work with, especially when applying the first coat. The second is usually easier to apply but still not a particularly easy process, but definitely worth it when you have this gorgeous shade as the finished effect!

 

Have you tried any of the Tanya Burr collection polishes? Which one's your favourite?

 

 

 

NOTD // Nails inc. with InStyle magazine

Not usually my go to magazine of choice, but this month's edition in InStyle Magazine, retailing for only £2.50 exclusively at Tesco included a bit bottle of Nails inc. polish, with 3 to choose from. I decided to go for a gorgeous Barbie pink called Sugarloaf Sunset.

The other polishes on offer were a deep coral (more on the red side rather than orange) and a greyish/nude shade, with the pink taking my fancy.

As your trusty Nails inc. polish, this lacquer did not disappoint. It is easy to apply and leaves a gorgeous glossy finish. Nails inc. are one of the best nail polish brands around in my opinion, just a shame about the price tag. All their polishes last really well, several days before chips appear and the colour range is absolutely gorgeous. Just a few days left to grab yours!

 

 

 

 

NOTD // Barry M Aquarium Collection Nails

 

After seeing so many snaps of various polishes from the Barry M Aquarium collection I knew I just had to get my hands on some! The colours are absolutely stunning so making a decision was difficult, but I decided to go for Pacific and Mermaid. Pacific is a gorgeous blue with a greeny hue when caught in the light, looks gorgeous by itself or with a top coat and Mermaid is a top coat with blue green and gold flecks.

 

 

 

(Pacific worn on its own)

 

Having had hit and miss experiences with other Barry M polishes I was unsure what to expect but these two were definitely a hit. Both formulas are easy to apply and last well for a good few days before any chips appear. I'm especially pleased with the top coat as the flecks actually come out even without the need to layer it up like crazy.

 

 

Pacific ^^

 

Mermaid ^^

 

Now I'll just have to refrain myself from getting all of the others in this collection.

 

 

 

NOTD // Topshop Nails

Having not done of these for a while, it was time to post a review of nail polish I have been absolutely loving the moment! This gorgeous Topshop Nails number in Queen of Green has been by far my most worn nail polish in the month of March.

 

 

This green polish is sparkly but subtle, and although pastels are back in, it would also be perfect for Spring. Not having tried any Topshop nail polishes before, I was absolutely amazed at the staying power. Without a top coat I survived a whole 3 days absolutely chip free! If anything when worn with a topcoat chips started springing up on day 2. After trying this little one I am very keen to purchase more polishes from the Topshop collection, as the impressive quality was a very pleasant surprise.

 

Now to decide.. which Topshop nail polish should I purchase next? All suggestions welcome :)

NOTD // Mint London and Models Own Special Edition

 

In this edition of NOTD I have finally had a number of plays with nail polishes from the Clothes Show to write a balanced review. Featured in this post are the gorgeous Mint London in Hidden and Models Own Clothes Show Live Edition Show Stopper 2.

 

Here is the finished creation:

 

 

Firstly I applied two coats of the Mint London nail polish. Only having discovered this brand at the Clothes Show in December I was very excited to try out something new. The colour is lovely (perfect for the Spring) and applies really well. I usually wear it with glitter top coats to give it a bit more sparkle, however the general chip-free power is quite good. 

 

 

 

To finish off I applied a thick layer of the Models Own Show Stopper 2 nail polish. As the glitter bits were quite sparse, achieving an even coverage was quite difficult, however I was quite pleased with the final product. Acting as a thick top coat it really helped to seal the baby blue base colour. My only issue with polish however, was the very unexpected strong smell! I am unsure what it is best to compare it to, perhaps paint stripped or another heavy chemical of some sort. After painting my nails the scent seemed to take over the entire room, needed to be aired out significantly. I have used many Models Own polishes before and they were fine, so I have no idea why this polish smells so unbearably different.

 

Have you tried either of these polishes before? Let me know what you thought!

 

 

 

NOTD: Rich Red, Ready for Valentine’s Day

Today’s nails are a rich red colour by Urban Outfitters, perfect for Valentine’s Day. I purchased this as part of a set, a loooong time ago in America, so chances are, Urban Outfitters don’t make this one anymore. There doesn’t seem to be a colour or a number on the bottle, but I always refer to it as my sparkly rich red polish. I’ve searched high and low and don’t seem to be able to find the name! One of the other polished which came in the set is a glittery silver call After Hours. If anyone has any clue to which collection this may be from, I would really appreciate it if you let me know J.

 

I love this polish because the glitter is small but thick, making the polish not at all gloopy, but easy to apply evenly. The only downside is the crazy rate at which it chips! Every time I wear it, I can usually spot the tiniest chips of at least one nail, the next day. However when it comes to actually removing it, it’s impossible to shift without giving your nails a good scrub! It is such a pretty colour, so I think I can deal with the chips.

 

Here is a shot with  no filter.

 

 

 

 

NOTD: OPI Dutch' Ya Just Love OPI

Today's NOTD brings me back to good old OPI, one of my favourite nail polish brands around. This gorgeous deep purple is called Dutch' ya just love OPI from the Holland Collection.  This deep colour is perfect for clinging onto the last months of winter. The nail lacquer itself, last really well and remains chip free for a while even without a top cat. The finish is really smooth and shiny and easy to wear.

I'm always on the look out to try more OPI polishes, if there one is that you absolutely love then please do suggest it!

NOTD: Still Feeling Festive with L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Vernis Glitter

Although the Christmas party season is officially over I can't help but feel festive with this black and gold L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Vernis Glitter nail polish in 822 Bronze Parure (from a 2013 collection I believe).

 

 

This was a Fragrance Direct steal which I purchased some time in November for only £1.30!!! Imagine?? But did not have a chance to review it. This nail polish is absolutely gorgeous! I generally prefer lighter polishes but thought it would be nice to true something new. This polish has a thick-ish black base with bits of gold glitter and sparkles, of various sizes. I applied 2 coats and was very impressed with the product! I did feel it was a little more suited for evening wear, but it was nice to admire the gorgeous sparkles and brighten up my day at whilst at work. Lovely, lovely, lovely, would highly recommend it! Will definitely try t pick up some other colours in the Le Vernis Glitter range.
Enjoy!

 

Have you used any of the nail polishes in this range? Go ahead and try them!

NOTD: Barry M and Essie Lux Effects

 
Embracing winter and wishing for a white Christmas, these nails reminded me of snowy winter mornings and glistening snow flakes! After neglecting my nails for a while, this week's creation entailed a Barry M Nail Paint in 66 Matt White and an Essie Lux Effects Multi Dimensional Top Coat in Shine of the Times.

 

 

 

The matt white polish was a recent purchase, as I have so many glitter top coats and nothing to wear underneath them. I usually find Barry M polishes to be reasonably nice, unfortunately this one did not impress. I could do purely down to the colour, but I did not feel like the consistency of the polish was sufficient to stop it from being opaque after 2 coats. will stick with it though and attempt to improve my application methods!

The Essie Lux Effect polish on the other hand is absolutely AMAZING! It is gorgeous and so soo versatile! It can be worn over the top of any colour, and would look cute worn on its own if you wanted just a pinch of sparkle.

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy :)