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

W7 silver

I can't honestly say I'm over crackle. I CAN honestly say I never much liked it in the first place except when used sparingly. Maybe an accent nail here or a tape mani there.

And a tape mani is what we have here. The W7 is pretty good. I'm not connoisseur enough to be able to distinguish between an OPI, Models Own or W7 silver crackle so I'll content myself with saying this is a perfectly good one and I definitely wouldn't buy another. In some lights it looks white or grey rather than silver if I'm going to quibble. No, I'm in no mood to quibble. Quibbling begone.

So what IS the next big thing????

Jenni

Leighton Denny Diamond Diva

Not too shabby.

Jenni

Charlotte's Web silver rings

Two new rings. Both silver as I'm hideously allergic to lots of other metals. Both adjustable because I couldn't be bothered to measure my index fingers and size them properly. With turquoise. But you knew that. I found this website by googling 'fair trade silver ring'. I try to buy fair trade whenever I can. Oh, and I love the book by EB White. I cried at the end and I'm hard, let me tell ya, hard as the proverbial nails. But I cried! Great service. Fast delivery.

Charlotte's Web

This female is sporting an enchantingly entitled 'cow bag'. The clothing is not very 'me' (but then what DOES suit a tubby little dwarf?) but I do like the jewellery. And the bag.

PAYPAL note/ BLOG SALE UPDATE
I now realise some of the blog sale purchasers may be worried about parting with their cash using the paypal Personal Gift method. If you've any doubts about me I have an ebay identity. It's jayannlay. I have 100% feedback for 200+ transactions. The 'gift' is to reduce my charges. Not for me to rip people off. I once sold some expensive shoes on ebay and they didn't arrive so I refunded the entire amount to the purchaser. They still haven't turned up after 18 months! But then I suppose that's what the con artists DO say. So check my feedback.

As of this moment I have gmailed all purchasers and received 2 payments. I'd like to post them all out tomorrow but no worries if I have to wait a wee while before payment. Thanks to everyone for their prompt responses and general efficiency.


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

Kinetics Yes! + W7 Earthquake Silver

Crackle polish? I'm SO over it. Ya think?

Except when it covers only a fraction of the nail. I've tried crackle tips and crackle diagonals (you try saying it) but crackle halves is definitely my favourite.

To crackle or not to crackle?

Favourite crackle colour and brand? Or are you a crackle-hatah?

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

W7 Earthquake Silver + Kinetics Divine

 

Google 'Xtras online' for the e-tailer. This is way worth having for £3.98. I kid you not.

No point hitting you with the verbiage today. That's all you need to know.

Except that some people (me) just don't know when to stop.....

Jenni

Sally Hansen Super Frost Platinum + more lacy tips

Keep looking for a shimmery white that covers in fewer than half a dozen coats. This could be it. Platinum thingummy by SH.

Creme polishes are no ruddy use on my nails any more. Can someone PLEASE recommend a ridge-filler? I'm getting desperate now.

Now, I realise this would be better with a black base and white or silver tips and I will do that when Models Own bring out their range of crackle polishes. I wasn't going to post the MO promo pic because who needs it all over again for the umpteenth time? BUT I decided I would because I could then refer to the actual shades and say I shall definitely get the silver and white. I'm not a fan of coloured crackles though. Maybe the yellow may prove alluring but I shall wait for swatches. The OPI and China Glaze are too expensive over here so they can take a running jump.

To conclude:

• Do you know of a heavy-duty ridge-filler?
• Will you get any of the above?
• Do you too find the Models Own caps wide and unwieldy and a s0d to work with?

Jen

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 Silver Bullet + general Topshop observations + many thanks for your tape-method assistance

A straightupanddown silver chrome.
Excellent quality. One coat would do (I did two though) and it went on very easily.
I didn't know it was a chrome as I bought it in a set for the sake of Gypsy Night. I tend not to go for chromes as they look a bit manky on ridged nails but this is a peach.

I have a few Topshop polishes and they are excellent quality and they do well-funky colours.

Topshop
1. Why is it one word and not two? Just marginally irritating.
2.  They are doing free P&P until Tuesday.
3.  I ordered this from the new collection. Plus 2 other things. Including one item for the next giveaway. Not telling btw.

4. This is the set I bought which includes Bullet and Gypsy. In general their photos are informative but this little set not so much. Luckily Gypsy Night is stonkingly fabulous, Bullet is really good and so is the third! But nul points for the picture which I magnified HUGELY.

5. I do Topshop buying online. I'm not sure if they existed when I was a teenager. Probably not as it was in the days of Methuselah. Naturally I wouldn't set foot in the actual shop for fear of frightening the youthful clientele. Just wanted to reassure you that although I have a mutton dressed as lamb natty way with my appearance I won't be lowering the tone in Topshop.

Are there any shops you avoid? Because you think they are too young or too OLD for you? Too exclusive/expensive or too down-market?

Jenni

Silver rings - 3

I do love rings. Mind you, I read one of these ludicrous psychology results ages ago that stated there's a strong correlation between a woman wearing a lot of rings and mental fragility! Although come to think of it....there may be something in that! I do look at women's hands and wonder about their stability. But these psychologists - what are they like!

The heart is rose quartz. The black is onyx. These are both Fair Trade silver rings from Traidcraft. You can get much cheaper rings but I am glad there are Peruvians who are a bit less poorer. After all, I'm a helluva lot richer than they are. Spread it around. These two are adjustable which I usually associate with cheapo rings made of base metals but these are very good quality. The onyx is faceted but the pic doesn't show that well.

The mother-of-pearl was an ebay buy.

My wedding ring is yellow gold, white gold and 5 diamonds. Had to find one that we both liked. Not so easy as I favour the flamboyant and the OH is much more (decidedly small c) conservative. I am definitely a silver rather than a gold. Too much of the Del-boy/Katie Price about gold jewellery in my head. *shudders*

I wear these day after day. Don't remove them ever. I keep one earring in permanently and take the others out at bedtime. I also wear a silver chain. Pearl at the moment. Plus my watch. I had a gorgeous 'silver' cuff but it irritated my skin. I'm looking for a real silver cuff a bit like the quartz ring with a hammered finish but I'm outta dosh at present.

Then there's piercings but that may be TMI!!!!!

Silver or gold?
How many earrings?
Any allergies?


Jenni

Nox Twilight Wine & Dine

So I still had the Sugar Plum/Prism disaster on my nails but decided that Wine & Dine would be a sorta glittery topcoat that would even the whole mess out.

Wrong. Oh, and a big thanks to Deez Nailz for her comment on my last post. I am but a poor, humble follower and I will do a decent mani one day!

W & D turned out to be virtually opaque with 1 coat! But it was messy so I decided to go with that vibe and put some more Nox Sugar Plum over the top in a vaguely vampiric way. They do get awfully messy, those vampires. Such sloppy eaters.

And I don't dislike it. So here it is. Wine & Dine will be going to my daughter too as it's a foily thing similar to many I already possess. I really like it but I'm trying to be generous. So far I'm keeping Sugar Plum and have high hopes of Crush. Was looking for some Twilight-ish jewellery for her and I do have a silver Fair Trade bracelet I bought at a craft fair. What she really needs is cash rather than bits'n'pieces but I have to give her something a tad personal. So.....

Enough of my Christmas dilemmas.

Jenni

Nails Inc Kingly Street

You see a Nails Inc you like and I can GUARANTEE you they have withdrawn it from sale. Crazy company! I think I've only even seen this on sale once. It's probably out there under a host of different names. They seem to do that. You'll see a polish under a new name that uncannily resembles something you thought you recognised as something else.

2 coats. Could have used a 3rd. Rather glittery without containing glitter as such. Or such fine glitter that it doesn't quite become a bona fide glitter polish.

Kim at Overall Beauty (have to google it, people, as my links aren't working) has got a BB Couture offer until the 10th. I am trying to resist. Every day is going to be the day I call a halt to my buying. Every day (well, too many days) proves to be the occasion for a lapse from grace. Oh, dear....

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

Marks and Spencer Rainbow

Long Wear Nail Lacquer

Well, well, well. It comes to something when I had to see this on an Australian blog You've Got Nail before I knew it existed. Marks? Marketing? Not in the same sentence, methinks.

Silver holo. 2 coats.
Sounds simple enough.
BUT I've had silver holo before. GOSH holo. Dragged like a draggy thing. Hopeless. It had to go.
This just goes one like a normal polish and you KNOW how awkward holo lacquers can be. So, simple is good. Better than good.

I actually painted this on the nails of both hands and I never do that.
I'm going to layer it with my Jessica jellies tomorrow to make (I hope) a pink holo, a blue etc etc. That's the plan.

Nul points for the choice of name. Rainbow should be banned as a polish name due to extensive overuse. Lamer than a 3-legged donkey.

Likewise red polishes called anything including the words Red Square.

Any cosmetic names you've had enough of?
Jenni

PS Does Ed Miliband have a cold or does he always sound that nasal? He's beginning to annoy me.

Quirius Black Coal

You look at this in the bottle and think, "Pleasant silver foil but black coal? Not so much..."

But it does manage to capture a dark quality on the nail. 2 coats. Or was it 3? Let's say 2.5.

It was worth $3 of your earth money. Not such a simple silver.  Actually it was 6 for $15 so even less than that. And when you consider the extra gift polish....Not that I'm counting or anything!

Nail polish is a bit of an indulgence. Do you keep track of your spending on this kind of thing or regard it (for you) as essential and therefore money-no-object?

Jenni

Silver and violet makes silvolet/vilver

Here it is...

This is like...loads better IRL.
Hence 2 more pix of it comin' up.
It's sundry silvers I've been wearing for days (aeons?) topped with (slopped with) a coat of Jessica Violet Tint. I have 6 of these and I am going to do every permutation of putting them over other stuff that I can think of. Thus giving me thousands (probably, you do the maths if you feel so inclined) of different looks.

And a shadier shot...

Layering is the way forward. Got to get my money's worth.

Aha! Listening to Radio 4.  Woman's Hour. They're doing a debate-thing that they seem to do every few months.

Don't you want kids? If not then why not?


It seems to be a question that fascinates women. Don't know quite why except that we're such a nosy bunch we have to pry into other people's lives.

So, in the spirit of poking my nose in, what's your view? To have or not to have?

Jenni