Bourjois 19

This is Accessorize Molten Copper with Bourjois 19 and Barry M Instant Nail Effects.

I love Bourjois polishes. They are so underrated.
I was too lazy to remove the Molten Copper. I'm glad I didn't as it made a great base.

Btw the Accessorize polishes are fantabulous. Highly recommended.

I really like this blingy melange.

Jenni

Quirius Rainbow

From ages ago.

Over black. Looks nothing special on the nail but great in the bottle. Really for this kind of gubbins I go to China Glaze Fairy Dust and I have to admit I found the wear on Quirius not to be brilliant.
But I love their bottles and their customer service is great and they are cheap so I still champion them.

I was trying to do a tribute mani to my watch. And then I couldn't get a good pic of the pave diamonds on my watch so it was all a nonsense anyway. Pfff.

I read one blogger who says she hates the Quirius bottles. Weird. If you ask me. Which you didn't.

Which nail brand does the best bottles/packaging? Do you like square? Large or small?

Jenni

Accessorize Aztec

All I can is this.
It looks nothing like the photos but buy it anyway.
It's green and purple and grey and gunmetal and mauve and other colours there aren't even names for. Though never at one and the same time.

And the other piece of unbeatable advice is - look it up on someone else's blog because there are better shots out there. When I say better I mean by a factor of about a gigamillion. I tried though. I really did.

Accessorize Illusion Aztec Nail Polish NOTD | Lipglossiping

Have a shopping trip lined up and a film to see over the weekend. You?

Jenni

Accessorize Molten Copper

Oo, er.
The photo really doesn't do this justice.
IRL it's so blingy it's just a sparkly blur. So I didn't realise what a bl00dy mess I made until I took the pix. That's the trouble with MAGNIFICATION.

Now for an even WORSE pic. Hey, I never said I was David Bailey.

I love it. It's like one of my all-time faves - Butter London Rosie Lee.

• It's bright.
• It's made in the UK - oh, yes.
• I got free P&P.
• I like looking at it.

Back to school next week. Must think of something to do. I'm very good at switching off so I have no real clue what I do for a living when I'm not doing it.

Am just getting into The Apprentice so for fellow-fans a piece of advice.

'Maintain your professionality and be nice because the universe speaks louder than you do and you need to beware you won't be karmically retributed in the time to come.'

Jenni

More Accessorize tomorrow. No prizes for guessing.

Risque Cappuccino

Oo, this is really weird. You're going to think I'm mad posting 3 pix of this polish but I just love it.

• It's from Brazil so it's a rarity. Big tick.
• It's a lovely, delicate colour. Next big tick. Although I do know a lot of you still aren't persuaded by nudes.
• It goes on like a dreeeaaaaam accompanied by softly sighing violins. (It's probably quite chemically which is why it applies so well but the ingredients list needs a Borrower to read it).
• It lasts days and days.
• It didn't cost much on ebay.

I don't even like Cappuccino. I hate milk in coffee. Detest it. But this is what cappuccino would be like if  it didn't make me feel ill.

Got to pop off to the Post Office with 3 parcels from my blog sale.

Jenni

If you have £2.50 to spend then I can help you...

The pix simply don't do this justice.
It's from Marks & Spencer and priced at two fifty. Not so enterprisingly called 'Emerald'.
3 coats.
My adjectives have gone walkabout so trust me when I tell you that it's really good.

You can see from the bottle that it's a beauty. My cr@ptastic application doesn't do it any favours. Sorry about that.

BLOG SALE
I can confirm the following orders and will email you all later today with firm costings.
Liloo: Peridot and Proper Copper
Nikki: Force, Periwinkle and Carry on Camping
Karen: Amethyst, Skin Food, Succulent, Matte Smoke, Poppy Love and Rebel
Lucisek: the Zoya, Lasso and Russian Red

Sorry to Katie because Nikki got there first with Force.

Jenni

BLOG SALE

I really have got carried away recently *face of regret and shame* and I'm having a major clearout so here goes....
Plus I haven't got the time to be polishing and posting and posting and polishing and my blog started to take too much time. This way I have more time to read YOUR blogs!

All unused

Sinful Serena & Chloe - good for Halloween, I imagine £1

Illamasqua Force £3.00

Models Own Proper Copper £1.50

Topshop Carry On Camping - green creme £1.50

Diamond Cosmetics - Matte Smoke £1

Essie Bermuda Shorts - vivid pinky-purple £1.50

All unused

Quirius Violet Pink £1

Quirius Roose Flambe £1

Quirius Lucy Diamond £1

Maybelline Succulent 50p

Skin Food (these have no names) £1 - they are from Korea

Sally Hansen Salon Poppy Love £1.50

Used once

CG Lasso My Heart £2.50

CG Secret Peri-wink-le £2.50

Quirius Russian Red £1

Quirius Glittering Rainbow £1

CG Cowardly Lyin' £2.50

Used once

LA Girl Addict £1.50

Orly Peridot Courage £1.50

Precision Rebel Red In You £3 (think Lubu Heels)

Orly Amethyst Decadence £1.50

Zoya Casey £2 (used 3 times)

There'll be more to come. Many more.

• Payment is Paypal only. I give you my email address and you pay me. Simples.
• P&P - let me give you an e.g. - say you bought the 2 Orly polishes the cost would be £1.60 for 2nd class within the UK. But I'd do 1st class/international and give you a price. Just ask.
• If you want something then just leave your 'order' in the Comments box below with your email address and I'll get back to you to confirm. First come, first served basis.

Thanks, everyone!

Jenni

Illamasqua Harsh + Barry M Instant Nail Effects

Bear with me. I'm not going to tire of the Barry M for some time.
Wanted to see how it would apply over a glitter polish.

I didn't do enough coats of Harsh. It needs 3 or 4 but that's not hard to do.
The Barry M works better if you slop a lot on. I didn't put enough on my little finger. You live and learn. So forget all that business about not overlapping coats. You don't have to be precious with this.

That's about it really. Better go and apply a bit more Harsh and get out in the autumn sunshine with these here dogs.

Harsh occasionally flashes some other colours but it's hard to capture. Good polish but I'm glad I didn't pay full price.

Jenni

Barry M Dusky Mauve

Good heavens to Murgatroyd!
What a polish!
A Very easy to apply. Goes exactly where you put it. And if I were better at putting it places it would look pretty well perfect.
B It needs light to reveal its secret. In the dim October daylight it could be vaguely, anonymously brown. With flash it's like this...... (See below).

I was very surprised when I looked at my pix to see the shimmer. This is the semi-dupe of Chanel Paradoxal. Now, I've a Chanel watch but I won't part with the pennies for a Chanel polish (a matter of priorities) so this is as close as I'm getting to Paradoxal which, in any case, isn't that special.

I recommend this polish as I reckon it would suit everyone. And it's relatively cheap.

Save or splurge? What are you prepared to spend real money on and what are you happy to compromise on?

Jenni

Sally Hansen Gilty Pleasures + Barry M Nail Effects

Don't blame me for 'gilty'. I am not guilty as charged. You can put that one down to the Sally Hansen marketing department.

Now then, if you have as yet expressed zero interest in the Barry M I'd have to say you are bereft of taste and judgement. Get yourself on the website (let's face it, it won't be on the shelves of Superdrug or Boots because speedier women than you got there first) and order it. And while you're at it get Dusky Mauve and 1 other. That's 3 polishes plus £1.95 P&P which maximises the cost effectiveness. And Dusky Mauve ain't too shabby either. PLUS plus plus I ordered mine Tuesday afternoon - I kid you not - and it arrived before 10 on Wednesday morning. I have duly congratulated Barry M on their excellent service.

On to business. The Nail Effects. I didn't bother about all that "oh, don't overlap your brushstrokes" ballcocks. Slap it on. It'll be fine. Who needs an instruction leaflet to apply nail polish. C'mon!

I believe Barry M is considering bringing out this finish in other colours depending on the success of the black. So expect other colours soon.

Jumpin' Jehosophat, this is just what I needed to revive my flagging interest in polish. Thought I was going to have to witter on about politics or teaching or cough medicines or summat.

Do you ever run out of steam in your chosen field (mixed metaphor but you know what I mean)? Have you considered early blogging retirement?

Jen

OPI Pamplona Purple

Another one that's been on for a few days with a top-up coat to make it last longer.
Just yer standard purple.
Purple is quite dear to my heart as it was THE fashion colour in the early 70s when I was a lass. Purple velvet and purple corduroy. Those were the days...

Anyway...

Is there a fashion colour which speaks to you of youth? You have to be over 40 to answer this btw!

Jenni

Barielle Cashmere Or Loose Me

Some polish names are whimsical, some are hideous puns and some are just plain STUPID.
Cashmere or loose me.....
You couldn't make it up. Except that some eejit DID!

I've been quite hard to please recently but this one hits the spot.
See that copper pearl in the bottle? It doesn't translate so much to the nail but what the heck. I really like this colour. This is day 3 or 4. Started off as 2 coats and then I refreshed it with a third coat as, even by my own lackadaisical standards, I hadn't done a very good job.
I'm not a great chocoholic but it's a very satisfying polish in a gourmandising sort of way.

Mind you, I've used my cold and sore throat as an excuse to guzzle 6 almond choc ices in about 24 hours. Oops.

How's your health these days? I can't seem to shift this dratted cough and cold.

Jenni

OPI Flower to Flower

Disappointed in this. Still streaky after 3 coats.
It's nice enough but all the other swatches I've seen on other blogs are way better. The flecky/glittery bits just don't show up. Bo-RING!

My fault - my expectations were too high. But an OPI shouldn't be thick and streaky. Not at those prices. Even if I got it right cheapo from the asos sale. Which I did.

Still, it's better than Essie Pink Parka so that's worth something.

The vampy shades are working for me at the moment so maybe I'll go back to something dark.

Jen

Rimmel Deliciously Dark

One I got from a bargain bin at TJ Hughes.
Very glossy. Plum/damson but does lean black. 2 coats.

I have others like this. Zoya Casey and Nails Inc Victoria. So the latter two will be getting the elbow. I haven't even tried the Nails Inc so that's unopened.

Got 2 more polishes in the post and then I'm telling myself to stop/halt/desist.

Knowing me though I'll just get a bee in my bonnet about something else. Charity shops probably - you know, trying to cultivate a certain individual style as inspired by Vintage Vixen and CALAMITY JEM'S VINTAGE VAUDEVILLE. Look, I can TRY!!!!!! Don't laugh.....Just because I'm a bit *ahem* less physically favoured than those ladies.

Enjoy the allegedly good weather we're supposed to be experiencing.

Jenni

A perfumed post....

If you want to know all the pretentious perfume cobblers (and I do) go to Basenotes - independent online guide to 13000+ fragrances, with ...

And if you want to try on a small scale by buying decants go to Perfume Samples, Perfume Decants and Vintage Perfumes - The ...

First up - L'Heure Bleue by Guerlain 1912

Neroli

Carnation and Iris 

Vanilla

The story: I was browsing in Brown's of Chester in about...oh, 1972??? and tested this. It has been my "signature" (see what I mean about pretentiousness) perfume since then. I don't even know if I much care for it any more but it is so evocative of that time that I must always have it. The memories overwhelm the olfactory element. Astonishing sense - the sense of smell.

Next, please.

Serge Lutens Muscs de Koublai Khan 1998

Animalic musk

The story: I was reading a lot about perfume a coupla years ago and this has quite a reputation. Some people find it utterly repellent and claim it smells of - shall I be forthright? - testicles/buttocks. I had to try it so I ordered a small phial from Perfumed Court and was immediately mesmerised. HAD to HAVE it in my life. Well, it's 125 Euros. The OH got it for me. I love my OH. Sorry about the blurry pic btw. It is pungent. It is compelling. It is wonderful. The OH thinks it smells of toilet-cleaner! If you object to bodily smells you won't enjoy this but if you are less fastidious and maybe even relish a whiff of sweat etc then it's essential. Have I put you off it?

Also (I have plenty more but 3 will do for today) and finally

Paul Smith London 2004

This has neroli

Also heliotrope and vanilla

Why this one: I love the bottle shape. Luckily I love the fragrance too. 

 

Do you have a fragrance or a kitchen or garden smell that instantly transports you to another place and time?

Jenni

Nails Inc haul

I have to admit I haven't been entirely fiscally responsible recently. I blame the sales.

Got a sale item from Nails Inc. This comprises the following items for less than £20 including P&P (pup? pop? pep? pip? pap?)

The Hurlingham, topcoat, Victoria and a metallic pink one...

Handcream (smells yummy), a nail file, a removal wipe (allegedly removes paint from 10 nails but WE SHALL SEE), a silver bag and the bacofoil thing in the background which is much classier than yer average bubble-wrap.

I'm now awaiting my last asos purchase and I'd better rein in my spending now.

How much do you like bubble wrap? I love popping it but am not allowed to do it when the OH is at home as it is deemed infuriating.

Bubble wrap

1. Can't get enough 
2. It's OK/mildly amusing
3. Never thought about it - it's a packing material, isn't it?
4. STOP POPPING NOW OR I WILL KILL YOU...

Jenni

China Glaze Red Stallion

Ooeeee!
I forgot how much I like red polish.

Feels like Christmas on my nails with Rampage on my LH (and how much better it looks with topcoat, may I add) and this on my RH.

I haven't used China Glaze for ages and had forgotten what good quality they are. Cor, I love this one. It's a bit too orange-red to be flattering but it is a hottie! 2 coats + TC.

Tesco has now mentioned the C-word in its advertising. I am emphatically not impressed.

At which date is it first permissible to utter the C-word? I'd say early November at the VERY EARLIEST!

Jenni

Illamasqua Rampage

They say the camera never lies. But I'm not so sure.....

This looks way worse in the picture than I think it does IRL.
But IRL I'm 5' 6" with flowing golden locks and the body of a minor divinity....So what do I know?
Forgot topcoat because I have a filthy cold. Stay back. Back. No, FURTHER!!!! You really don't need these germs. 2 coats. It's a jelly. At least jelly-ish.

Finally succumbed to greed and shelled out the £ahem required to secure this rather super polish. Irritatingly it was reduced to almost half-price only 2 days later in the bl00dy asos bl00dy sale! I'm nonetheless glad I got it. Lemmings rarely live up to expectations but this one did. Aha! Aha inDEED.

What kind of camera do you have?

• Fancy with all the gubbins and lights and lenses, you technoholic you
• Mid-range
• Rock bottom
• Hey, I've got a 'phone - who needs a camera!

Jenni

Get out the sunglasses - It's Essie Pink Parka

Crikey. This is bright and no mistake. A whole £2 from the asos sale. Not necessarily £2 well spent...
Makes my hands look very grubby and my already-short fingers look shorter still. Am I an Oompa Loompa or what?

I don't think this is the best polish I ever bought somehow.
3 coats. Still streaky. Neon so it needed a top coat. It actually had 2. Some Glitter Opal and Nails Inc Kensington.
And it's even brighter and more in-yer-face IRL. I think I am growing to hate it! Arghhhhh!

D'you know I shall have to question my mother about my paternity because I may be onto something with this Oompa Loompa notion! There are more than a few similarities....

Do you resemble anybody famous?

Jenni

Hunter and Rainbow + Diamond Cosmetics Glitter Silver

Got some tipwear on the Hunter (green not black) so glittered over it.
Decided to do it over the M&S Rainbow too. That Rainbow is positively indestructible!

Better do a fresh mani tomorrow.
Ordered at least 8 polishes over the weekend. Damned sales and bargains and reductions. Or rather silly me for not having any moral fibre. Just say NO.

What do you layer over a polish to make it last longer/conceal errors? Or d'you start from scratch?

Jen

ASOS - crazy sale!!

Lots of OPI polishes from £4 to £6 which, as you'll know, is a bargain.
Models Own for £1. Eyeko for £1.50.

I got 4 from the Espana collection (OPI).

And some Essie. And Nails Inc have a bit of  a sale too.

Oh, just check out ASOS. See what's left. And with the free P&P you just can't help yourself. Though maybe that's just me.......doh.

I didn't realise Espana was such a recent collection. But they come out with so much stuff it's hard to keep track.

How disciplined are you when it comes to reining in your spending/eating/drinking/compulsive hobbies?

Jenni

American Apparel Hunter

Persistence pays. Didn't want to pay full price for AA but you never see it on ebay. Until not so very long ago. A couple of AA polishes from a new seller (only 20 transactions but 100% feedback).

Fairly colour accurate. It's never black - I didn't want it to be. It looks even better IRL.

This pic shows too light due to the flash.

This was packaged tighter than a ....well, I hesitate to say what as it might be considered a trifle impolite. But really tightly with lots of paper and sellotape and card and all manner of packing materials. Kept those pesky bottles in check anyway. So congratulations to the seller. Very thorough.

Oh, and why does the postman always call during the brief period you nip out? And why doesn't he keep the same hours? He was way earlier than usual this a.m.

And while we're at it. Why isn't the milkman delivering Bonio any longer? He used to. He can deliver bread and washing-up liquid. Why no more Bonio? Bloomin' outrage!

What has got your goat recently?

Jenni