Nubar Knight's Armour

My red hands are due to the pressure exerted by trying to grasp 2 bottles of polish simultaneously in my teeny little paws.

Lazy woman that I am I slopped the Nubar over the 2true "Paradoxal". How much do I love that 2true! Do get it. 2 coats of Nubar btw.

Cor, I love this Nubar too. This is a great way to wear black which can otherwise be rather dull (ha!). I do feel rather bold and chivalrous wearing this! I realised it's pretty well identical in the bottle to Mavala Black Diamond. I'm developing a real "thing" for Mavala. Knight's Armour was the star of the Fortress collection which I derided at the time. I was unwise in the ways of lacquer then and thought a bunch of greys was a pointless waste of space. I know better now.

I love Nubar and I love Mavala. And on that positive note - adieu.

Jenni

Who's been a busy bee?

Not me, that's for sure.

I'm in a foul mood (work stress) so a wasp mani is appropriate at this time.

I thought  Mavala Black Diamond was black glitter in clear polish but it's not. Anyway I ended up with a single coat (could do with 2) over the Bourjois. NOT what I meant it to be - black glitter over yellow -  but I actually like it.

Nobody could say the Bourjois Jaune Trendy is flattering (to anyone?) but it's fun and this wasp/bee theme is even more appealing to my puerile fancy than the plain yellow.

Anybody else fed-up and grumpy?

Jenni

Huitres de la Garonne

Oysters. Apparently. According to the OH who lived for a year or so in Les Landes as a tot and has a better command of French than I and some local knowledge. I was thinking more lizard or snake but what do I know?

The serendipitous accident that arose from the meeting of Utopia, GOSH Rainbow, FlorMar 02, Barry M black crackle and then FlorMar again.

You can see the huge gap which gives the game away in terms of how long I have had this polish on my nails....

Quite like this one.

Jenni

Sort-of lacy effect...Barry M Nail Effects

Used tip guides and Barry M Nail Effects to spruce up the Rimmel Play Fast Camouflage and got this.
Just wait until I get hold of the new Models Own crackle polishes! Cue a gleeful rubbing of hands. All this from a woman who kinda resolved not to blog and sorta resolved not to buy any nail polish because it was taking time away from the nearest and dearest. I just can't help myself.

Keeping it short and sweet.

Jenni

If you blog, how much of a compulsion/therapy is it for you? Do you NEED it? Do you really NEEEEEEEEEEEEED it?

FAIL - FAIL - FAIL- black pearl

Black + pearl makes black pearl, non? Well yes, but not in a good way. Maybe applying this in artificial light didn't help matters. Look at Don't look at the tips.

It ought to work. I knew it would end up blue. I didn't want a Chanel-type Black Pearl because I don't like that but I did want something other than a streaky mess. Will try again with another black. I think this is a case of operator-error.

Misa Wishing on a Star + Illamasqua Prism are the culprits polishes used.

Pretty.

Would you or do you wear pearls? I'm wearing a Majorica pearl at the moment. I just wear it. I don't look at it and never noticed the green tinge before. Hm. So maybe Chanel DID get it right with this pearl business. Still don't like that shade though...

Jenni

Missguided Splash MissFit - free with Cosmo

Missguided 

Got this with the magazine - I am so not of the Cosmo demographic but the polish is GRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!

They only do 6 polishes but, if this is the typical standard, they promise to be fab.

This was 2 coats but 1 would be fine. I just wasn't expecting it to be so good so I wasn't careful enough first time so I had to do it properly the 2nd time. ONE COAT. I kid you not. It claims it's black with whatever bits. But it has a very brown/olive character to it. My nails look good. I am content.

This has impressed me so much I have used the COSMO20 code to buy all 6 polishes for a bit under £20 including P&P. The code gives you 20% discount. The quality of this is superb. The remaining 5 colours are not cutting edge chic (unless reds and pinks are the new mints, nudes and greiges and what do I know?) but I want to encourage this brand to stretch its wings. They do 2 themes - Love and Peace. Loving the bottle shape.

Enough with the gushing.

Blogger is playing me up something rotten today. Bullet points won't work. Cursor won't go where I want it. Enter key isn't taking me down....Or it takes me back to the start of the line. What's afoot?

So frustrating.

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

Sally Hansen Black Patent

It's black.
That's not why I posted it. Just to show a small haul really that I felt was a good price on ebay.

I forget how useful black nail polish is and how much I like it.


I like the Salon polishes and I got 6 for £7.45 including P&P.
Poppy Love has come out pink. It's actually a shimmery blue-red and I think I'll love it.
I've seen pix of Gilty (ha ha NOT) Pleasures on other blogs and this also is a keeper.
The black is a single-coater so that's good.

Carthane may suit me as I'm finding these warmer shades look quite good on me even though I don't adore them.
Dawn is so-so but I'll give it a go.
Moonstone? We'll see.

Oh, and don't miss the Barielle BOGOF.
This includes the autumn collection in addition to 2010 spring and summer.
I've ordered Aura Angora (or whatever), Cashmere or Loose Me (what the hell does that mean and what's wrong with plain old Cashmere?), Daring Dahlia and Blossom. Works out as just under a fiver per polish including the dreaded P&P (pup pip pop pep pap?) which is reasonably bargainous for Barielle.

Are you planning any sale purchases or waiting for reductions of a longed-for item? Or saving for something special?

Jenni

Black - Lancome and YSL and blackcurrants (a tenuous link)

In a rush.
Was nattering about the meerkat ad on a forum I visit when someone referred me to the Tango ad in the sidebar. I love those meerkats. Does anybody NOT? Watch the ad. Go on! If you live in a part of the world where you don't get the meerkats then I am very sorry for you.....Try youtube.

Anyway - I don't have any polishes with blackcurrant in the name and I can't find my Misa Wishing On A Star so...

YSL Black Tulip and Lancome Piha Black
Excuse the ghastly thumb nail. I decided the gorgeous Wet'n'Wild Tahiti and Bora Bora needed some China Glaze Cowardly Lyin' over the top. I was wrong. Utterly wrong.

Then I've Zoya Casey which might just as well be black. It doesn't look it in the pic but on the nail it's dark. Dark. Dark.

Nail Polish Ads again...

Think this is from the Thirties. Quite minimalist for a nail ad. The higher-end brands have ads that tend to be more pared-down and the cheaper ones typically feature a colour-chart and are a lot busier design-wise. This is on the chic side.

Do you wear black nail polish much? Or only at Halloween? D'you think it's just for teens? Does it make you feel edgy? Or is it "been there done that"?

Off I pop.

Jenni

Mavala Black Diamond + silvers + small haul

First up the Mavala

Only it started yesterday with this

I had 1 coat Maybelline Silver Speed and a coat of Misa Dance Fever
But I thought I'd done a lot of silver recently so decided I'd better sling something over the top
Was going to go dotty over the silver but realised that I'd have to paint the dots with my left hand - yeah, right...
Looked at my Mavala Diamonds collection (6) and chose Black
It's nothing special but the silver speckles do show through and it's pewtery in some lights so it's growing on me as it is a bit of layering that has produced a finish I don't otherwise have in a single bottle. It's black without being a saturated black.

Further shopping shenanigans

As well as the iron we were pursuing the OH had noticed a GAP sale and OH likes GAP.
Did I want some stuff from GAP? Oh, go on then. Twist my arm why don't you.....
It's only basic stuff, I know, but shopping is shopping at the end of the day.

I have no idea what the top thing is. It was in the sale. It could be a nightie. Or a dress for a young, thin, brave person. Or a long top. Or something one dons at the seaside over a bathing suit. Whatever. Looking at it now I do rather wonder if I'll ever put it on. Hm. Some kind of mania takes hold when we go shopping. We ended up with a huge salad bowl too.

Forgive the creased shorts. Two different prints! How bold. I wore these yesterday around the house and for dog-walking but was warned by OH that they are see-through and not to attempt to wear them for work. I'd describe my style as casual but even I wasn't going to wear these to work. Except maybe on a teacher-training day??? I love shorts and I shall be in these for the next three or four months. I didn't try them on but they fitted nicely with room to spare which is the kind of fit I prefer.

So - does anyone else HATE trying on clothes in shops? I do not want to see myself. I don't have a full-length mirror in the house. It's not just the body-image thing though. Out of clothes, in clothes, out of clothes, in clothes. Keys fall on the floor. Wallet falls on the floor. Hanger falls....Twirl, twist, turn. Yes? No? Too tight? Too loose? What do YOU think? Maybe a bit expensive? And then do it AGAIN in more shops.

NO.

Jenni

Eyeko Vampira - the lazy woman's guide to vampy nails

Loved the Bourjois but hadn't applied it well and had made a c0ck-up of the filing and hadn't the time to do a full revamp so slung 1 coat Vampira over the top
First time of asking for the Vampira and it needed no encouragement/went on easily and needed only the 1 coat
Now I know you'll protest that it went over a blackish base but I feel that you wouldn't need a lot of those for opacity even starting from scratch. So shoot me.

2 points

Point 1 - I love all the Eyeko I have and I think they're a great brand
Point 2 - I had CG Lubu Heels and it was a massive disappointment and this is honestly stacks better
Point 3 - My nails/hands are so dry I had to anoint myself liberally with oil - I am such a slacker
Point 4 - The amount of retouching I do digitally to make my ring finger (warty witch that I am) tolerable does make it look rather freaky but that's probably a good thing for Vampira
Point 5 - The other hand is still silver and I think that makes for a good look
Point 6 - The assistant in Sally's liked my nails this week (but I can't remember what I was wearing)
Point 7 - A bloke at Worcester Racecourse was impressed too

What mani of yours has gained the most remarks (favourable or otherwise)?
Keep on truckin'

J

Bourjois 1 Seconde Greyish black or Blackish grey

This is my LH but the accent finger isn't subtle enough - dammit

The flash makes this look much lighter than it is
Lovely and creamy
2 coats but could have made do with 1

That's more like it. Shiny, happy nails. Much more colour-accurate.
Trouble is that one can see the ragged filing on 2 nails. FFS I have a Leighton Denny £10 file and I still make a pig's ear of it. How? Why? And why do I sometimes punctuate and fail to do so on other occasions? 43.

The accent has GOSH Rainbow

I love Bourjois polishes. I haven't had a single Bourjois polish I haven't really liked/admired/loved.
What do you think of Bourjois? Some say the colour range is a bit bland but what thinkest thou?

Jenni
Still too darned hot.

Eyeko Cosmic - black glitter

I ended up loving the coral but you have to move on.....In nails as in life...

Just noticed I messed up the clean-up on my little finger. Went too far. Story of my life.

This is great. 2 coats over my new Boots ridge-filler.

That's it. 2 coats. In ordinary light (think grey day) it's basically black.

But I decided to take pix under halogen in my bathroom as they seem to come out fairly well and - Crikey O'Reilly - we had lift off.

Now we get the glitter.

With glitters my camera behaves like a nuclear missile honing in on target. It swoops, it locks on, it wavers, it hovers, it gets a fix, it veers away, it wobbles. I'm thinking Top Gun here. You may be able to tell that's how close I've ever got to armaments. A seat at the cinema.

Anyway the blurry pic is good. In a way.

Great polish by Eyeko. Again. They don't pay me and have given me precisely nothing but I still love them. This isn't hype btw.

And while I'm at it.

I ordered an Eyeko mascara and eyeliner for £10 and they sent me a lippie too.

The mascara has pretty stones on. The lippie has a mirror and a light! You press the base and it lights up. You can sort-of see that above. Tee hee. Pretty things. Child in a sweet shop. The eyeliner is good too.

Happy with Eyeko. Not happy with my dry hands.

What is your favourite CHEAP brand/brands? Of anything really. Soap. Hand cream. Tights.

You know - amazingly cheap and surprisingly good.

Don't mention the match. Shhh!

Jenni-fur

For Leanne - Post 1

Picture Key:

1 On 2 nails but I decided it looked odd on just 2 so walked the dogs and then did the rest

2 Didn't clean up - naughty me, mustn't take pix until I clean up

3 The thumb worked quite well

4 Whole hand (well, duh)

I've been following nail blogs (mostly) for about 7 months now. Does the world need another one? Who cares! Here's yet another one.

So why this one?

• I need to stop spending time and money ebuying (ebaying) and require an outlet for all that saved time and mental energy to curb my expenditure so this is mostly for me
• There aren't as many blogs with a uniquely British perspective as I'd like to see

So the first post is a thank-you to all British bloggers (whether I have already found you or not), all inspirational bloggers out there everywhere and my second attempt at nail art. I used Leanne's tutorial.

http://www.donotrefreeze.com/2010/04/easy-peasy-nail-design-2-d.html#comments

This girl is 18! I admire creative people. Oh, especially creative people with a steady hand!

Tiger nails with:

Base coat Misa Bang

couple coats Attitude School Bus to begin

use the sponge applicator to apply a bit of Misa Ghetto Fabulous

then more sponge with Maybelline Mandarin Heat

Used a no. 1 paintbrush from a craft shop for black stripes (Miss Sporty black)

For silver stripes used Mercia nail art pen/brush in silver

Over the top is CG Fairy Dust

Lastly Misa Breakneck and CG Fast Freeze

Please note

• The Ghetto isn't obvious enough
• My cuticles etc are awful but I'm 54 and I had years of obsessive handwashing which doesn't do your hands a GREAT deal of good
• The black stripes are not fine enough but I hope to improve with that
• The Fairy Dust doesn't really work but it looks more subtle IRL

Where do I get my stuff?

I google a lot of brands and add UK to find an etailer (Venus Nail and Beauty is good)

I ebay

Sally's

Directly from websites e.g. Eyeko, Barry M, Overall Beauty (Kim is the BEST)

Boots and Superdrug

TJ Hughes has Bourjois very cheap at the moment

I've started to look at market stalls as well because I need to rein in this compulsion!

Love from Jenni