Jelly glitter sandwich

With Jessica Aqua Tint and NYC Starry Silver Glitter

• Left the ring finger unsandwiched so it's weedy and thin but I wanted to see the NYC more clearly
• Am SO going to get smurf-fingers
• I would like it if I liked aqua on me
• I cut my nails back a little too far
• It is quite an easy thing to do and is fun in the sun (which we have again today) 

We can all get the NYC easily enough from Superdrug. Do you have it? Or did you think it was a bit too unsubtle and kiddie?

Jenni

Mavala Sparkling Red

Dontcha just love it when companies go to such trouble to name their polishes?
Hm...

Supposedly red holo glitter. This is over Glitter Gal Light as a Feather and Color Club mini Silver Glitter. Not sure if it looks as if I have a disease/fungal infection/shingles/bubonic plague. Hey, I was too lazy to do a fresh mani so what do I expect?

The Mavala is quite gritty and does need one layer of topcoat. Not two. One.

Jenni

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

2true Glossywear No 9 - the end of the affair?

 

I thought I'd be very clever and get a linear holo with 1 coat of Mavala Pure Diamond over 2 coats of 2true Glossywear no 9. My bright ideas rarely pan out...

The nine 2true FastDry shades are excellent. This Glossywear in the chubby bottle is merely OK/average. You'd need at least 3 coats for a good finish and it did feel thin. Only £1.99 though so ....6/10. I still do love 2true though.

And I got the Paradoxal dupe which I've seen on other blogs and looks substantially better than the original from what I can divine. Will try it sometime.

Got 2 Mavala shades and an eyeshadow for £7.95. Have you seen Mavala foundation prices? VERY steep. Going to collect some more Mavala methinks...

Any Mavala recommendations?

Jenni

Mavala Pure Diamond - and unapologetic feet...

 

Toes. The OH thinks polish on toes is irredeemably chavvy and I don't care enough about it to argue the point. I'm not having naked nails so it has to be subtle.

Mavala does some great shades but the teeny bottles.... They don't half put me off. I like a big, butch bottle!

I'm one of the few people who likes feet. I thought of becoming a podiatrist but teaching is more lucrative so I shan't be donning a white coat just yet.

Those ARE FitFlops. Some colleagues recommended them. I find toe-posts irritating so I was a little concerned but they are actually really comfortable. 

Feet - for or against? 

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

To tan or not to tan?

Nubar Tan Me

 

Over Models Own Nayla Nude.

The big pustule (or rhinestone, if you prefer) on the ring finger is from a pack of 2true Crystal Couture.

The OH gets kinda fed up with endless mani changes so I have to eke out my manis by adding stuff to existing manis that are quick to do and quick to dry. Then there's the blogging time and the taking of photos. I can't devote all the quiet time I might like to doing this.

Next thing I need is nail tape. That looks to satisfy my criteria for ease and speed. But I'm on a no-buy. How to reconcile the conflict? *sighs*

So I may easily have to make an initial coat of paint last 5-6 days without getting too massively bored of the whole farrago.

What's your boredom threshold?

Jenni

Breaking news - explosion in the Barry M glitter factory!

No time for anything elaborate today.

Had to

• work (what's that all about, eh?)
• go to the bank to produce some documents
• interrogate my mother to establish whether she really had pinched a sudoku book from Tesco (still working on that one)

Got to

• make dinner for my beloved
• tweet
• watch TV
• other stuff

Jenni

Color Club Silver Glitter and an impending blog sale...

This is a really dense glitter. Even a single coat covers really well. I actually wanted more of the Rock to show through but the glitter has good coverage and isn't as gritty as you might imagine.

Part of a Teeny Halloweenies mini-set I ebayed. Under a tenner for 4 minis.

Just can't help myself....Waiting for a Models Own trio I've asosed. Or should that be asossed? I'm not sure.

Just some of the polishes that will be on sale next week. Zoya, BB Couture, American Apparel etc...

Jenni

W7 Cosmic Purple - a V mani

First time I've done this. I think it's uneven because the glitter is lumpy bumpy and allows leakage beneath the sticky tape. So next time I'll do it over a smooth polish. I think that should work. And I didn't realise I had slapped it so comprehensively over the cuticles but I was so exhilarated by the sheer blingitude of the whole shebang that I snapped it straight off and didn't think to check the photos too closely.

The silver is Diamond Cosmetics Silver Brocade which covers the glitter very effectively.

Oh, and the cheapo W7 polish was much admired by the Illamasqua girl in Birmingham Selfridges!

I know it's not a Mad Hatter dupe but it can still give OPI glitters a run for their money. For £3.98 or less it ain't so shabby.

Jenni

Kinetics Coral Sea + Bourjois Rose Corset

The accent finger is Bourjois. See below.
Both polishes are superb. This is the only Kinetics I have and the ebay-tailer is no longer listing them so I am stuffed. 2 coats over my worst (RH) nails.Like the proverbial butter.

Got Coral Sea because I'd seen it elsewhere.
http://shortnchic.blogspot.com/2011/03/coral-fixation-kinetics-nail-colors.html

In a massively coral-loving mood at the moment. The Bourjois has been sitting in a basket for months now. I anticipated a streaky multi-coated mess as it's pale and pastel but it built up beautifully after 3 coats with no drama whatsoever.

Today I am happy with my nails. If you know anywhere in the UK that I can get Kinetics for less than £5.50 a pop then please share. It was worth every penny and I would pay more but any bargains are welcome...

I am crazy for coral/peach at present whereas normally they are shades that really don't appeal. Do you have any current fads or fancies?

Jenni

W7 Cosmic Mauve and Nubar Vaso

I bought my first W7 polishes and I can report they are excellent. This is the least interesting. The other 2 are truly A MAY ZZING. Ebay W7 if you too live in the regions of shopping darkness and can't find it locally. My branch of Debs is charging £7.50 for these. Do they ever sell any? I hope not because that is a quite cynical rip-off.

The Nubar is also fab. It's the least popular of the Venetian Glass collection and the only one I have.  I am now desperate for the others. Everyone says Vaso is marketed as a glass-fleck but it's just (just?) a foil and therefore a disappointment. Well, I think it's both. So there. And not disappointing at all. Get your Nubar at  http://www.nubar-nailz.co.uk/      Very good service and fair prices.

One of my next posts is going to be about the ethics of spending. Not about getting a bargain or value for money or buying on credit (although that IS an ethical issue). But addressing my personal prejudices on purchasing and why they exist. And you may share them.  Or you may not.

Most of you weren't economically active during the apartheid South Africa years but here's a question.

If South Africa were still governed by the white elite would you be happy to buy South African fruit? There are/were all sorts of views on this. What's yours?

And one more as a poser - if you were offered fantastic and cheap goods (Manolos? Cartier?) you had reason to believe were stolen during a violent raid would you go ahead or turn away?


Happy thinking
Jenni

Silver comparisons

I surely have enough polish now to do comparisons - hundreds but not a thousand, I think. But curiously there are few outright dupes.

I do like silver. It ended up NOT a straight silver post but wanted to go glittery.

Little finger - new Topshop polish Wilderness - a poxy 6ml - it looks like a proper size polish on the website - swizz! metallic silver and a good polish
Ring - Topshop White Witch (goes pink on!) + Diamond Cosmetics Glitter Silver
Middle - Misa Dance Fever
Index - Hansen Dividends which is like the Misa only darker and leaves bald spots and never dries and wound me up no end + GOSH Silver Star (see Dividends for how it applies....boo)
Thumb - Diamond Cosmetics Silver Brocade - very like Wilderness but a hint of glitter

I conclude:

• Topshop sold me a pig in a poke with a teeny mini that didn't say it was a mini
• Don't bother with White Witch
• Misa is one of the best brands bar none - buy Misa
• Hansen Dividends not very good and neither is the GOSH - these are generally 2 brands I don't have much success with though
• Diamond Cosmetics - such a shame you can't get this in the UK any longer because it's another GREAT brand and it's crazy cheap
• My skin is unsually dry and it may be attributable to the Hansen Kwik Off polish remover that I am using but that people report to be tough on the skin

Jenni

2 questions

1. Straight silver OR silver glitter?
2. Are the LFW models too thin? When I say too thin I mean unattractively thin. Not unhealthily - that's another issue. Too thin to be attractive.

Topshop Gypsy Night

1 of a set of 3 x 6 ml bottles. But I must have immediate emergency back-up. Express delivery. US cavalry. Military outriders. Presidential escort. (Don't know why I've gone all gung-ho Bruce Willis meets John Wayne all of a sudden but this polish is HUGE.) The other 2 polishes are probably lovely too btw.

3 coats. Is it brown or black or olive-brown? Don't care. Is the glitter brilliantly integrated? Yes. Are there flakies in there? Could be.

A bit too much of the ol' flash but those look like flakies to me.

Women of Britain, buy this polish. Swatch it on your lovely nails. And get some blinding pictures posted. Thank you.

Jenni

Wet n Wild Sparked

I got this from Cheap Smells. I thought I was buying Starry Night. That's certainly what it said on the website and the invoice. I'm sure you can guess what that kind of polish 'should' look like. I actually got this fellow (do nail polishes have a gender?) and I'm not perturbed.

I love this kind of finish and thought at first glance it must be akin to my beloved Butter London Rosie Lee.

And there is indeed a resemblance but, even to my untutored eye, they could not in a month of dull and rainy Sundays be described as dupes.

Do you think you have a good eye for colour? Do your friends ask your advice for 'what goes with what'? Do you pick something thinking it will go well with an existing piece only to find that they clash disastrously? Or do you like clashes? Would you wear different shades of blue (for example) in coat, cardi, skirt, shirt, tights???

Jenni

Nubar Petunia Sparkle + Accessorize Pin-Up

First the pic.

Now. Does the accent nail colour closely resemble the remaining nails? No.

You can see why I thought they might be similar? Yes?

Accessorize PU
2 coats - opaque as the depths of Hades
Dark base with very fine added glitter
Easy to apply

Nubar PS
3, 4 coats and still not right
Streaky application - you seek it here, you seek it there, it's gone bloomin' everywhere and then it's nowhere
One of the messiest, least satisfying polishes I have used in a long while
Quite matte, quite uneven finish, needs plenty topcoat

However the OH noticed (!) and likes (!!) the Petunia. And it is undoubtedly a shamelessly fun colour. And would be an outright 10/10 were it not for its beastly application.

I also love petunias. Especially the dark purple ones which are the only ones to smell good.

Favourite flower fragrance? I've just ordered some cheapo Yardley Peony as I love peonies too.

Flower fragrance? I can think of dozens.

Jenni

Revlon Slipper

From a collection whose name I can't remember. Recent though.
AND ta-ta-ta-da-ta-ra available at £1.50 each from Fragrance  Direct.
You heard correctly.

Slipper goes with Ruby (but why would I buy a bog-standard red even at that low price) and is fabulous. I put it over the existing BB Couture Spellbound. I am so on a roll with my polish purchases at present! I have loads of glitter top-coats but this is unique as there's a lot of red in it. BONUS - it goes on smoothly and doesn't dry lumpy-bumpy. Tick. VG.

Oh, I forgot. I bought 3 Nails Inc in their sale and I only like one of them. So not such a roll after all. Maybe a slightly soggy oatmeal roll with some limp ham and a bit of faded lettuce. Filling but not as good as an aromatic duck wrap from the Co-Op.

If you like Slipper (Spellbound Slipper) check Fragrance Direct. Pop some more items in your basket to make the postage worthwhile and Bob's your uncle.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

 Jenni

BB Couture Eve

Is it brown or dark olive green? Not sure. With teal sparkle.
I love it. I love all BB polishes - even the ones (usually blue like Sea of Cortez) that don't suit me. There's something special about BB. Not just the fabulous customer service you get from Kim at Overall Beauty. Not just the funky colours. Not just the small-business ethos.  Somehow I love everything about BB.

Waxing lyrical over. Photo.

The next one, heavily flash-bleached as it is, does show the different glittery sparkles. One review says this polish dries quite bumpy but I didn't find this to be the case.

Trying to get my nails square as they tend to come out rounded but my patience is quickly exhausted with this kind of intricate enterprise. Hence the odd little finger. Heck, all my digits are probably odd. I really can't be faffed with nail shape/length accuracy.

Your polishes are arbitrarily restricted to only
A blues
B browns
C greens

Which would you opt for? I think I'll have to go with B but I'm getting ever fonder of C.

Jenni

BB Couture Poison Ivy + China Glaze Party Hearty

There is about 3 or 4 days of wear evident in this pic. Hence the particularly dodgy middle finger. Didn't put enough PH over the top either. And the nail growth.

Eek! But I've been busy with my cousin and her husband from Philly. Too busy to worry about nails.

Feeling more Christmassy today as it is now December and we had our Christmas fair at school. This can go either way and make me completely 'Bah humbug!' or cautiously festive. Today I'm leaning towards 'slightly seasonal'.

Jenni

The Christmas poll

Are you
A a droopy Christmas fairy
B an industrious Christmas elf
C the Grinch's evil twin
D a shiny bauble on a magic tree?

Barielle Coalest Day of the Year + ELF Metal Madness

The ELF is better. Not so dark and has more sparkle.

 

2 coats of each. The Barielle is on the index finger.

 

Top marks to ELF. It's a little thinner and doesn't disguise my ridges quite as well so the better option would be 1 coat of each with the ELF on top. Sorted.

ELF are getting some funkier colours up and running. Ha! Paint. Paint runs...Oh, never mind.

Jenni