OPI Lincoln Park After Dark

From one of my oldest polishes, Maui Mango, to one of my newest, Lincoln Park After Dark. It's been on my list for a while- I love the idea of a polish so purple it's black!

The polish was slightly disappointing. I didn't realise it would be so black. Even in daylight, it looks black. In fact, it only looks vaguely purple if a very bright white light is shone on it, or when the pigment is revealed when using nail varnish remover. I had done my homework and looked at swatches online, but my bottle seems so much darker. Is mine a dud? I do not have a true black polish and I think I could get away with using this.

My other niggle is the new brush. It appears to be wider and flattens out to allow the nail to be coated in fewer brush strokes. This is all very well, but I have tiny nails! This brush is too wide!

In daylight:

Indoors, with flash:

See what I mean? Black Tie Optional is a black polish, but has different coloured shimmers which make it interesting, a black plus. Lincoln Park After Dark is so black that it appears to be nothing more than a black polish. I may try to wear the polish in the height of summer and see if the bright sunlight helps the purple base shine through.

OPI Maui Mango

I decided to have a look through my ancient polishes and give them a shake, checking to make sure they've not gone claggy. I came across OPI's Maui Mango, a polish which has been in my collection for over 10 years.

It's a red-brown berry creme, and comes with the older, smaller brushes. It still paints and wears well, as I'm sure you'll agree:

Nails Inc Magnetic Polish Trafalgar Square

Okay, so I couldn't wait!

I decided to test out Trafalgar Square, the gunmetal grey of the trio.

The first coat was not easy to apply- if the brush is not loaded the polish will streak. I didn't see this as too much of a problem, it's just that the brush and consistency of the polish is different to the usual bottles of Nails Inc. I suppose this is to be expected as the polish is load with iron filings...

I have a picture of just one coat of Trafalgar Square. You can see on my little finger the problem of a thin coat.

The for the fun bit: the second coat and magnet! The second coat applied beautifully and gave excellent coverage. I was concerned that the magnet would be fiddly, especially when doing my right hand. I needn't have worried. Each nail only takes a few seconds to magnetise, and I only caught two nails on the magnet.

I have one piece of advice when using magnetic polishes: when applying the top coat, make sure the brush is loaded and use a nice thin lacquer. If you use a slightly claggy top coat you will need to use more brush strokes to achieve an even finish. This can start to erode the design formed by the magnet. As few strokes as possible is the key. You can see where I started to erase the stripes on my index finger:

Overall I am very pleased with the results. I know that next time I will do a better job by applying generous coats of polish. I think the 3D-metallic look is stunning, and I am already planning which colours I can put beneath the magnetised coat in the hope it peaks through!

Exciting news- New Followers and Nails Inc Magnetic Polishes

Exciting times- I now have three followers! Welcome to Deez Nails, Bethereen and Vettel!

Even more exciting- my Nails Inc Magnetic Polish has arrived. I have all three: Trafalgar Square (gunmetal grey), Houses of Parliament (purple/brown) and Big Ben (antique gold).

I have not been this excited since my Nfu Oh flakies turned up. Hmm, I'm in a quandary. My last mani is still looking fab, but I want to swatch my new haul.

What's a girl to do?

OPI Sugarplum Yum

I've been revisiting a few old favourites recently, particularly the duochrome polishes. I love the fact that the colour is never static, that as I move my hands my nails will flash different colours.

One such colour is OPI's Sugarplum Yum. Like all duochrome colours it is hard to describe, but here goes. It's a light blue-grey shimmer with a pink-champagne shine. I hope that's clear, but I doubt it is. Look at the pics and see for yourself:

The blue base is easy to see from an oblique angle.

Face on, the pink hue can be seen.

OPI Black Tie Optional

Aah, Black Tie Optional: a polish I have a love/hate relationship with. Why? Firstly, I think I may have a dud bottle. I have seen on other blogs a beautiful beetle-carapace black that shines pink and green depending on the angle of the light. Mine does not do this. The green-gold colour is only visible when washing my hands. Having said it, it is still a very nice polish. It is black, but with tiny pink and green-gold glitter. The effect is an 'interesting black'. People say, "Oh, you've got black polish, no wait, it's not really..." It looks like black, deep purple, deep brown or deep green- it's very difficult to decide. It's very disconcerting to find a colour the brain cannot adequately define.

Oh, and it's impossible to photograph well! My first picture shows the green-gold hue:

The second shows the pink/purple shimmer, along with a very black thumb nail!

Green nails:

Brown nails:

Purple nails:

See what I mean?

Nailene Hard & Healthy French Manicure Review

Long time no see!

So where have a been? Nowhere. About a month ago my nails all went bleurgh. And snapped. So I couldn't be bothered posting pictures of them on my blog. That's all. They've not regrown fully, but are no longer a complete embarassment.

Ah, the french manicure. I've never been a fan of it myself. It was big in the 1990s, so I bought some cheapo polishes and tried it. I couldn't do it, made a big mess and then gave up. Towards the end of the decade we had the double whammy of fake tan with fake french-manicured nails. Ick. The tanned skin didn't look good against the pale nail, especially when the tip was painted Tippex-white. It all looked a bit synthetic.

So why the change of heart? I was at someone's house when I spotted that they had left out their Rimmel french manicure polishes. I swatched my little fingernail. It looked good; it seems I am more dextrous as I've aged. Figuring it was rude to do the whole lot using someone else's polishes, I made a mental note to rummage around and find any suitable polishes from my own collection.

Later that evening, I came across two french mani sets, complete with the stickers you'd use for the tips. I didn't actually want these kits, they were just part of some bundles I bought off Ebay. One kit is Nailene, the other is Kiss Colors, a US brand I've never heard of. I decided to go with the Nailene, as it's a brand I know!

I did my usual preparation of OPI Chip Skip, followed by a base coat, and then got going with the tips. The white polish didn't give great coverage, so I had to do two coats. I was surprised how easy I found it, even painting with my left hand! I didn't use the stickers- yup, I did it all freehand! My tips looked a bit ropey, but the nude coat hid all my mistakes:

Not bad, eh? I quite like how it make my pale and pasty complexion look a little warmed up.

Then an odd thing happened. My partner was looking on the camera and saw these pictures. He doesn't know I'm doing this blog. He said,

"Why do you have pictures of hands on the camera?"
"For my blog."
"Oh, they look nice for your hands!"

Is that a compliment? I will take it as one! The manicure has lasted 4 days so far, without retouching. I was concerned that the thick white polish on the tips would have smudged by now, but it hasn't! I think I should give this 'tips' manicure another go.

OPI & Apple Pie and Nfu Oh # 49 Layered Manicure

After the success of my last layered manicure, I've decided to try another.

I have had my bottle of OPI & Apple Pie for about 7 years. It's a caramel brown creme, but feel it's a bit too orange to be chic, so I wondered if a Nfu Oh flakie could work its magic.

I thought the bronze flakes in Nfo Oh 49 would work well over the brown lacquer.

For reference, I post two pictures, one with flash, one in sunlight, of the OPI &Apple Pie before it is pimped with the flakie.

I was surprised how well this polish applies. Besides its advancing years, it has a teeny brush. I think that OPI have redesigned their brushed since thie was made. Still, it levelled well and gives a high shine. And after the transformation...

As with most of my pictures, they really need to be enlarged to see the flakes properly. I could not capture the flakies well- when lit from an oblique angle they dazzle green. This is my best picture:

I think that the Nfu Oh flakies are a very simple way of reviving an old polish!

Nails Inc Belgrave Place and Nfu Oh 44 layered manicure

I think the pics of this one speak for themselves...

Belgrave Place by Nails Inc is one of my favourite polishes. It is a perfect indigo creme, managing to be dark and vibrant at the same time. Nfu Oh is a brand that I have recently found, and this is my first manicure using their products. I think they are a perfect marriage.

Nfu Oh are famous for their flakies- opalescent flakes of glitter that are simply stunning over a dark polish. I love the look of a layered manicure as it is an easy and gives a sophisticated look. Nails Inc polishes work perfectly in this manicure as they give such good coverage with one coat. I think this is essential as too many layers will chip easily. The Nfu Oh polish has plenty of flakes, one coat would suffice, but I was greedy! The manicure was achieved with a coat of base coat, then one of Belgrave Place, two of Nfu Oh 44, then a top coat.

The pics are of a three-day old manicure.

It was very difficult to capture the beauty of the polish indoors. This photo is best enlarged:

Outdoor pictures show the poliush at its best. Again, enlarged, this picture show that the flakies are orange and green, depending on the light.

Nfu Oh New Arrivals!

I am happy to announce that my 94th and 95th polishes have arrived...

Nfu Oh 44 and Nfu Oh 49! Yippee!

I have already put them on my toes, over OPI Sicillian Vermillion. As the Sicillian Vermillion is a bright orange colour, the flakies, being orange (#44) and bronze (#49) have a very subtle look. I have read on other blogs that people find the corset bottle a bit twee, but I think they're quite cute. Also, the bumps in the bottle highlight the duochrome aspects of the flakies; you can normally only spot duochrome effects on the base edge of plain bottles. Another advantage on these bottles is that they are big! 17ml is quite a generous size.

I will not scar the reader's retinas by posting a picture of my feet! Also, Nfu Oh would probably sue me for besmirching their products. I will allow the beauty of these polishes to speak for themselves!

Nfu Oh 44

Nfu Oh 49

Both polishes are far more beautiful in the flesh. In the future I will use these on my fingernails over a dark colour and I won't be too ashamed to post a picture!

Nails Inc George Yard

Yup, another Nails Inc. I was nude the last time we spoke, so I decided to go a bit bling. Nails Inc's George Yard fits the bill- it's a foil finish pale pink/gold polish. I've got a lot of boring housework to do, and find this polish to be almost indestructible. However, I have two slight grumbles with this polish: firstly, it is a pain in the neck to remove. The pink/gold pigment is very easy to remove, leaving the silver foil behind! Aagh! The price of beauty, eh? I find this a pretty standard complaint of glitter and foil polishes. My other peeve with these polishes is that they highlight any lump, bump or ridge on your nail. You can't scrimp on the preparation. Furthermore, if you smudge a coat, it cannot be remedied by slathering on a thick layer of top coat. Your nail may be smooth, but you will still see the smudge in the polish. On the flip side, besides the long wear, there is also the bonus of excellent coverage. The polishes are quite thick so one coat will easily suffice.

Oh, they're also impossible to capture well on camera. That's my excuse.

With flash

Outdoors, without flash. Dazzling, right?

Foils, you cruel mistress.

The nail polish inventory!

I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to have to make a great big list of all my polishes. Why? Well, I sometimes forget which polishes I own. If someone were to ask me if I own an obscure OPI polish from years ago, would I know? Probably not. It will also document evidence of my raging nail varnish addiction! If anyone would like me to swatch or compare any of the colours listed below, then they are quite welcome to leave a comment with their requests. I'll list all the necessities- top coats, removers, etc. before going on to the colours. This list is a work in progress...

(*** denotes this product is reviewed on this blog)

OPI Acetone-Free Polish Remover (the pink one)
OPI Lint Free Wipes
OPI Bond Aid (discontinued but now replaced with Chip Skip)
OPI Natural Nail Strengthener
OPI RapiDry Top Coat
OPI Top Coat
OPI Chip Skip
OPI Nail Envy
Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top Coat
Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Base Coat
Nails Inc glitter top coat
Leighton Denny Intense Manicure Oil
Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File
Leighton Denny Slick Tips Touch & Go Cuticle Oil
Leighton Denny Under Cover
Leighton Denny Crystal Finish
Leighton Denny Essential Remover
Leighton Denny Illuminating Hand Cream
CND Cuticle Eraser
Broadway Jet Dry Nail Glue

Avon Nailwear Pro Midnight Plum (purple creme)
*** Avon Nailwear Pro Inky Blue (blue-black with blue shimmer)
*** Avon Nailwear Pro Decadence (purple shimmer)
Avon Nailwear Pro Golden Vision (champagne metallic shimmer)
Avon Nailwear Pro Romance (dusky pink-lilac pearl)
*** Avon Nailwear Pro Lucky Penny (copper metallic)
*** Avon Speed Dry+ Lime Splatter (lime pastel creme)
Barry M Fabulous (red creme)
Claire's Cosmetics (purple glitter)
Claire's Cosmetics (purple creme)
Estee Lauder White Petal (nude creme)
Estee Lauder White Beige (beige creme)
Estee Lauder Black Wine (red creme)
Leighton Denny High Performance Nail Colour Keep it Light (baby pink with blue shimmer)
Leighton Denny High Performance Nail Colour Spring Fling (lilac shimmer)
Leighton Denny High Performance Nail Colour I Love Juicy (coral creme)
L'Oreal LaquiResist 194 (bronze frost)
Marks and Spencer Sparkle and Shine Collection (white pearl)
Marks and Spencer Sparkle and Shine Collection (pink creme)
Marks and Spencer Sparkle and Shine Collection (beige creme)
Marks and Spencer Sparkle and Shine Collection (peach duochrome)
Marks and Spencer Sparkle and Shine Collection (pink pearl with silver microglitter)
Max Factor Nail Mosaics Powerful Pink (magenta shatter)
Max Factor Nail Mosaics Paving Red (brick red shatter)
Nails Supreme Design Pens x6 (white, pink, silver, black, yellow, blue)
*** Nailene Hard & Healthy French Manicure (white)
*** Nailene Hard & Healthy French Manicure (pale pink)
*** Nails Inc Balmoral (beige creme)
Nails Inc Elizabeth St (nude shimmer)
*** Nails Inc George Yard (pale gold foil)
*** Nails Inc Belgrave Place (deep indigo creme) and here
*** Nails Inc Queen Victoria Street (green creme)
Nails Inc St Johns Wood (indigo creme)
Nails Inc Windsor (purple shimmer)
*** Nails Inc Haymarket (aqua creme)
*** Nails Inc Warwick Avenue (pink creme)
Nails Inc Westminster Abbey (gold foil)
Nails Inc Sandringham (red metallic)
Nails Inc Victoria (deep red creme)
Nails Inc London (beige creme)
Nails Inc Chesham Street (navy multichrome)
Nails Inc Knightsbridge (coral creme)
Nails Inc Swan Walk (pink creme with blue microglitter)
Nails Inc Thayer Street (mink creme)
Nails Inc Beaumont Street (magenta creme)
Nails Inc Portman Place (purple creme)
Nails Inc Emperors Gate (gun metal- blue frost)
Nails Inc Percy Street (liliac creme)
Nails Inc Aspen Glitter (red metallic with silver glitter)
Nails Inc Victoria Street (silver frost)
Nails Inc Leicester Square (metallic purple)
Nails Inc Portland Place (teal creme)
Nails Inc Montagu Place (coral creme)
Nails Inc South Molton Street Glitter (pink creme with silver glitter)
Nails Inc Rosebery Avenue (rose creme)
Nails Inc Jermyn Street Glitter (mink creme with silver microglitter)
Nails Inc Romilly Street (berry creme)
Nails Inc Berkeley Street (aqua creme)
Nails Inc Lancaster Gate (pink with blue shimmer)
Nails Inc Baker Street (coral creme)
Nails Inc England's Lane (lilac creme)
Nails Inc Paddington Street (deep red creme)
Nails Inc Camden Lock (metallic blue with blue microglitter)
Nails Inc Magnetic Polish Houses of Parliament (brown/purple)
*** Nails Inc Magnetic Polish Trafalgar Square (gunmetal grey)
Nails Inc Magnetic Polish Big Ben (antique gold)
*** Nfu Oh #44 (orange flakie)
*** Nfu Oh #49 (bronze/green flakie)
*** OPI Sicilian Vermillion (orange creme)
*** OPI Nice Hand... Great Nails (orange shimmer)
*** OPI La Paz-itively Hot (pink shimmer)
OPI Argenteeny Pinkini (pink shimmer)
*** OPI Sugarplum Yum (lilac duochrome)
OPI Affair in Times Square (mink creme)
OPI OPI Red (red creme)
OPI Mat-adore Red (red creme)
OPI Boot Hill-a Vanilla (white shimmer)
*** OPI Black Tie Optional (black duochrome)
*** OPI OPI & Apple Pie (brown creme)
OPI Back In The Saddle (bronze with gold shimmer)
OPI Burnt Sugarloaf (brown creme)
OPI Pistol Packin' Pink (pink shimmer)
OPI Howdy Honey (champagne shimmer)
OPI Cajun Shrimp (coral creme)
OPI Nantucket Mist (rose creme)
OPI Peru-B-Ruby (red with gold shimmer)
OPI You're a Pisa Work (cerise creme)
OPI Apricotcha Cheating (apricot creme)
*** OPI Maui Mango (rose creme)
OPI NYPD Beet (purple shimmer)
OPI Kyoto Pearl (white pearl)
OPI Chapel of Love (pink with gold shimmer)
OPI Mother Road Rose (rose shimmer)
OPI Balin' Hay in Santa Fe (cream frost)
*** OPI Lincoln Park After Dark (black purple)
*** OPI Gold Shatter
Revlon Street Wear Hologram (top coat with strips of holo glitter)
Revlon Street Wear Psychedelic (top coat with strips of holo glitter and bronze glitter)
Revlon Nail Enamel 74 (nude shimmer)
Revlon Nail Enamel 83 (nude creme)
Revlon Nail Enamel 09 (nude frosted)
Revlon Speed Shine Comet (black with silver glitter)
Revlon Speed Shine Strobe (pink shimmer)
Revlon Speed Shine Tidal Wave (teal shimmer)
Revlon Speed Shine Racy (plum creme)
Revlon Crushed Rubies (rose with gold shimmer)
Revlon Wrap Yourself In Rubies (red with gold shimmer)
Rimmel Fashion Finish Brilliant Pink (pink creme)
Rimmel Sun Shimmer 434 Sorbet (cream shimmer)
Special Fx Fickles (pink to peach)
Special Fx Chameleon (bronze/pink/gold shimmer)
Toma American Woman Mood Changing (pearl white to turquoise)
Toma American Woman Mood Changing (pink to light pink)
Toma American Woman Mood Changing (lilac to silver)

Oops.

Nails Inc Balmoral

Nails Inc released a limited edition collection for the royal wedding. Now I'm no monarchist. Nor am I especially excited about the gold lids. But the colours in this collection are gorgeous! A metallic red, a gold foil, a regal purple shimmer and a creme beige. A saw them on Ebay at a good price, and I had to buy.

Balmoral is the nude beige creme. It may not look too good in the pics. This is because a) I am rubbish at taking pictures, but I am trying to get better and b) this manicure was done 5 days ago!

This is part of the reason I love Nails Inc. I have heard others say that they don't do any 'wow' colours, and to some extent I agree. The shatters, the suede and matte finishes are a distraction: they are gloss creme specialists. I can easily get a week's wear out of a Nails Inc polish, with a layer of top coat to freshen the manicure midweek. After that, I'm either bored with the colour or regrowth is an issue.

So here are the pictures:

This picture was taken in daylight with no flash.

Indoors with flash.

So what have we learned from the pictures, apart from the fact that I have manky cuticles? It's a beautiful, cool nude, beige. It's one coat of base coat, two coats of colour and one coat of Nails Inc Caviar Top Coat. Not bad after 5 days is it? The application was smooth and self levelling- there was no problem with streaking.

I'm pale and interesting, and this suits me. Why oh why does it have to be a limited edition?

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my new blog!

This is essentially a personal blog where I can post my pictures and musings on the important topic of nail varnish! I have squillions of bottles, and feel that a blog would be an excellent way to compare varnishes and organise some pictures. I'm essentially a Nails Inc and OPI gal, but I've got lots of others.
Enjoy!