Nails Inc Barnsbury Road

 

Not going to revolutionise the nail-polish world, is it? Plus it's suede finish (I'd say satin). Perfectly pleasant 2 coats with a top coat. Don't know why I bothered. No, I do. One of a cheap set of 4 from TK Maxx. That's why I bothered.

And this is Barnsbury Road, N1. For what it's worth.

Jenni

2true Fast Dry Shade 9

This is unfair in a way because the bubbling is due entirely to me using the wrong product as topcoat. It mucked up my other hand too which sports a different polish. Totally my fault.

Big sorry to 2true because this is another great polish - 2 coats and you're done. The accent nail is Pop Beauty Twinkle which is a bottle of liquid joy.

Is anyone else suffering dry skin at the moment? I think I may have been neglecting my hand-care regime but maybe it's... sunspots! Or...........something in the water? Any ideas?


Jenni

Boots 17 Supreme Shine Bared

 

Turns out you can see the sparkle on the nail. Hurrah! 2 coats. Maybe 3. I really like this. Not an awful lot you can say about it other than that. Hardly a head-turner....But a decent-enough polish. Admittedly I've now sellotaped it into oblivion but it's very likeable. If it were a person it would be...Princess Anne.

So, who's planning to feature any or all of the following?

A a bridal-type mani

B a patriotic mani

C a "Will you shut up about the bleedin' wedding?" mani

I'm thinking B or C. Not sure yet. Maybe both.

Jenni

Not quite an outright fail so much as a partial success.....

 

Not so good

• The tape-strips weren't of equal width because I was too lazy to be particular with the cutting thereof. What else is new?
• The silver crackle didn't crackle properly on 2 of the nails. Maybe I didn't apply enough?

Acceptable aspects

• Kinda messy and decaying vibe to it which fits with the Toxic Nature theme
• Not so bad IRL
• Can make the nails look more slender if you have pudgy paws as I do
• Oh, dead easy to do
• The BB Couture Top Rock topcoat is very shiny

How often do you use tape to mask off areas of the nail and do a bit of "art"?

1. Too fiddly
2. Don't like the effect
3. I've done this a lot and it works really well for me
4. It's just one of a huge range of techniques I use

Jenni

OCC Lip Tar Uber + how taupe is not just for nails

There's a little pink in there but that's because I don't clean my lipbrush after every application. Oh, and I can see my lips need exfoliation (for which read my olive oil/sugar mixture). Other than that and the smudgy foundation - perfetto! And the weird lip line isn't the best. But everything is done in such a hurry these days.

I'll just reiterate how much I love Lip Tars. Although the reaction of She Who Knows was "cyanotic" and, "You look like a dead person." Heck, I still like it.


I only work 3 days a week at the best of times with 13 weeks of holiday and I'm on half-term now but I still don't know which way is up. Mum is now in a hospital in the small town where she lives so that's good for her numerous neighbours and frequent visitors but even further away from me. Extra driving. But hey. She seems happy enough. She's talking fluently but it's like jamming the wrong pieces of a jigsaw together and doesn't make much sense overall even though it sounds pretty much like the old Mum superficially. Day at a time and all that jazz. As I say, she's merry enough so that's fine!

Jenni

Taupe/mauve/beige for lips? Or not?

Boots 17 Fast Finish in Tigers Eye

No apostrophe on the label. Tut.

And a very discreet layer of The Edge London on the index finger.

I really like this. 2 coats of what is colloquially known as gloop. But it's a quick-dry number and they do tend to be like that. Not that I ever trust that claim. I still don't use my hands for anything except typing for the next 2 hours. No matter what the optimistic statement on the label.

Only a titchy little 8ml bottle which makes it more expensive than you'd think but I had seen a couple of polishes and ordered online from Boots (spending £7) with free collection from the shop. They did not please me though when I removed them from the traditionally too-big box so I exchanged them for this and a small companion called Lunar Haze by Natural Collection.

I forgot how much I love taupe. I'd rather call it mocha or something. Ironic as I only drink espresso and loathe any coffee with milk in it.

Jenni

OPI Barefoot in Barcelona

One of the polishes I got for £4 from the asos sale.
Yet another nude. But I love 'em. Who'd have thought?

2 coats. Easy as an easy-thing. (Did I say Katie Price? No, that's in YOUR head.)

Next, please.

Name that (those) polish(es).
I did actually pay pretty near RRP for these but I'm trying to call a halt to polish=purchasing. Hey, I gave up smoking and drinking. How hard can this be?
So, yeah, guess the names of the polishes.

The next trio is my penultimate score. I'm waiting for my Missguided haul and then that's it. Nada. Nothing. No. Put a lid on it. Enough already.

Purple Dream Illusion, Bronze Illusion and Pin-Up Rock Star.
I'm pretty sure the pink one didn't look like that on the website so let's hope it has hidden depths. Hmmm. And the Bronze looks a lot like Aztec and the PD looks remarkably like Ruby Sparkle. More hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Longer and louder and with great suspicion this time.

Jen

Catrice Clay-ton, My Hero

If this isn't a candidate for a stupid name (Stupid Nail Polish Names) then I don't know what is! It even gets a comma. That's how pretentious it is. I almost declined to feature it on grounds of appalling taste but my liking of the colour got the better of me.

I had to clip my nails. They grew quite fast in the Adriatic air and I don't like to feel my nails against my palm when I make a fist. Not that I'm a pugilist, you understand. Making fists.
2 coats in the sun after a day at work. Easy application. Very impressive for a cheapie.


Now look here. I know this next photo isn't in focus but it does show the gold shimmer. And I must add that this polish has grey, taupe, green AND gold aspects.  Hoping to go to Milan in October so I should be able to pick up some more Catrice then.

Lastly a holiday pic. 

The photo has no artistic merit but there is a tale to accompany it.

The chap in yellow is the boat-man from whom we hired a boat. You could never just hire a boat in the UK and be allowed to tootle off with it. Tedious bloody Health & Safety regs. Anyway, the daughter and the fiance thereof and I decided to take out a boat onto the sea. The fiance wanted me to steer out of the harbour because none of us had done this before and he didn't want to look an idiot. So I listened to the nice man (see above) and then he got out and I.....well, I tried to steer us out. Unfortunately I banged into every other craft in the place much to the amusement of onlookers. My OH ran off in acute embarrassment and the fiance had to take over. He had no trouble whatsoever in getting us onto the open sea and we had a fine old time. I don't think I caused major damage. In the end even my daughter was better at steering than me and her eyesight is really pretty poor but I am spatially-challenged at the best of times and can't understand why they don't have a steering wheel. If it's good enough for cars then it's good enough for me!

We sailed around this island.

Are you a good pilot/driver/captain? Can you use a tiller or a joystick?

Jenni

Barielle Belly Dance + Bourjois Beige Sophistique

Removing that Bourjois red made my hands all...red! Needed a lot of scrubbing. But the Bourjois did such a good job of ridge-filling that I had the inspired *modest? moi?* idea of using the beige one as a base coat. Then it took just 1 coat of Barielle and I was done. Here goes. 2 coats would've been better.

You can see the Beige beneath because I'm not exactly meticulous about these things but people don't habitually grab my hands and rate my nails. Although the woman at the check-out in the CoOp last week did say I had an interesting concept i.e. different colour nails on the 2 hands. So now I have conceptual nails. I'm almost Picasso.
Belly Dance. Ghastly name. Belly dancing is becoming popular though. You can even take lessons these days. It's not the most flattering colour on me and does make my hands look lobster but I still like it. It's sort-of pinky-purple although it also ISN'T. It was on a BOGOF so I don't mind that I don't love it. The Bourjois is now my default ridge-filler. It works better than anything else I've tried.

Today's ad

• Plasteen - where are you now?
• 15 cents
• What a vast range of complex colours!
• Can anyone figure out what those brooches are, please? This is really bugging me.
• And for AggieP (should she be reading this) a redhead! Natural, I'd say.
• It's one of those photos where you start to wonder, "What is she thinking? Who's she talking to? What's going on?"

What polish do you wear that you believe doesn't really flatter you but you like it regardless?

Jen

Models Own haul - gang of 5

Less than 48 hours
Free P&P
You'd better hope Eng-er-land beat Germany on Sunday if you want 20% off a little bundle of beauties under the Models Own "Surely that sorry bunch'll never win anything so we can offer loads of discounts to punters safe in the knowledge that we won't have to make good on our promise" WE SUPPORT ENGLAND campaign.

Cr@ppy pic of:
Dusty Mauve
Nude Beige
Pink Lady
Champagne
Blue Moon

These look way better IRL.
I'm going to pick 2 now to do a mani with but won't post until tomorrow.
Short of time today, I fear.

KarenD of Frazzle and Aniploish (http://thekarend.blogspot.com/) me with one of these - for which I thank her.

I have to nominate 5 others and I'm going to devote some time to that before launching in. I also have to write about 5 other things but more of that anon.


OK, I can't leave you without a pic so for a LAUGH (a LAUGH) I am posting my beyond-feeble isn't-this-the-lamest-nailart-ever photo of my cherry blossom effort from February (?).

Actually that blue looks OK but the alleged flower (!) is beyond words cruddy.
Just shows I have more confidence now. I had about 2 followers when I did this and didn't dare expose it to public view but ........well, it's in the public domain. Oh, and the cuticles and.......

Bet Karen wouldn't have tagged me if she'd seen THAT!

Vow to self - must do better.

Onwards and upwards
Jenni-fur

A fail - Barielle - and a pass - Jessica

Context is all.

Yesterday I did the bling-thing on the LH so the RH had the much-anticipated Barielle Belly Dance. It was lovely - now my official fave taupe - but I couldn't see the pink iridescence as promised so I was frankly "meh" about it and (highly unusual for me because I hate waste) changed it after a couple of hours.

To this..

Jessica Violet Tint

I got 6 of these for £6.50 all inclusive. 

This is probably 4 coats but it goes on without any effort so who cares? I actually enjoy ladling it on with a trowel. 

These are true jellies. If you hate VNL then you'll loathe these.
I have always loved this kind of translucent finish so I am in 7th heaven with these.
I have emerald, aqua, pink, red and coral to try.
Because it isn't opaque it doesn't verge on that tedious "looks-like-black-all-the-bleedin'-time" territory. Looks black in the bottle to be sure but not on the nail.
Hurrah, say I. And at that price I've ordered another 6 as back-up. Now that is a rarity!

And here's the Belly Dance with Mavala Pink Diamond attempting to distract the eye from a c0ck-up. It's a lovely taupe but it simply didn't suit my mood.

"What larks, Pip!"
(In honour of elder daughter's 22nd birthday today - not that she reads this)

Happy Friday
Jenni

Barry M Mushroom and other taupes

Mushroom is new

I couldn't get any colour-accurate pix today

This looks too dark even after fiddling with exposure/saturation/blah de blah

2 coats of gorgeous chocolatey goodness (base and top coat too)

On nice nails this would be tremendous

I obviously have similar shades to the Mushroom but this is not a dupe of any of the following:

Miss Sporty 204, SH Pure Putty (I love this one), The Edge Prague (untried but looks greyer than Barry M), Barry M Mushroom (slightly warmer) and Nails Inc Mink (mink is lighter and pinker than Barry M but close-ish)

Barry M again, Avon Root Beer Float (has slight silver glass fleck), Bourjois Beige Glamour (quite pinky), Eyeko Posh (a tad darker and greyer than Mushroom) and a lousy pic of CG Channelesque which has that mauve cast to it

These all apply very easily. Well, the ones I've tried! I never thought I'd have time for this kind of shade but it is easy to wear, flattering and can take some zhoosshing up if you feel so inclined

The last 2 pix are far too dark and I couldn't fix them to save my life. Sorry.

Will be working on publicising some giveaways tomorrow

Do Not Refreeze

Polishtopia

Frazzle and Aniploish

Ta ta!

Jenni

Barbara Daly Kiwi, Eyeko Purple, Barry M Mushroom

3 new polishes - 2 of which are shown in this pic

Mushroom is new
Eyeko Purple released a few months ago?
Kiwi is from Tesco

We did grafitti art at work yesterday and I thought neon green and electric purple worked well together
The Barbara Daly is a mini, easy to work with, very shiny, doesn't dry matte, there was a virtually empty display so it looks like the shades have been popular and I'll be back to see if they have restocked and what the colours actually are!!

The Eyeko came in a set with Nude and Vintage and some others - I am hugely impressed with Eyeko
This particular shade hasn't had good reviews but I found it very easy to apply, opaque in 2 coats - another criticism is drying-time and I can't yet comment on that

I like them all and think they work very well together
My RH is purely mushroom....

Barry M has a 30% discount going on for M Club members (you only have to register for it, simples!)

I'm going to give a nod to Polishtopia and Leanne of Do Not Refreeze tomorrow or Monday because of their great giveaways...

X
Jenni

InStyle Nails Inc Mink

A quick pic

What a bargain. £3.50 for the mag and the polish. Full-size too. 10ml.

Get one, get them all!

Looks darker IRL. 2 coats. Butter smooth and gorgeous. It does change a lot according to the light. You definitely think of milky hot-chocolate. Base and top coat obviously. Highly pigmented.

Mink is the shade the bloggers seem to be choosing. I have seen the coral/red in shops but not the baby-pink. I definitely recommend the mink.

A more true-to-life pic. The index had to have a coat of Edge London over it as I made a mess!

Above is the Eyeko freebie I got with my haul of 5. My thumb is Eyeko Posh with Edge London over it.

I am very late to the taupe-party. Is everyone else leaving????

Jenni

OPI and The Edge London

OK
I loved yesterday's muted Eyeko colours but I mean to do a post per day so I have to do something - for which see below.

So I put my unnamed OPI over Tea Rose and The Edge (London shade) over the Posh

I got the OPI from ebay. It has no label but I think it might be Blushingham Palace....I was so excited to buy something in this way - could be a pig-in-a-poke but this is lovely!
The Edge is a brand you don't see much. I just opened the parcel and I have only layered it, not used it as a stand-alone but I tell you what - it has some fierce sparkle in it. So here comes a blurry pic.

How about that? In the bottle it looks like a peachy shade with fine glitter. On the nail there is pronounced red and blue. I am going to get some more from this brand.


Putting a glitter layer over creme helps ridged nails but the Eyeko did a good job of smoothing out my canyons and gullied. The Posh is (I am guessing) some kind of YDKJ polish and really impresses me as does the muted pink.

And in the sun. My new short nails are so much more comfortable. My sense of touch is greatly improved. When nails grow much beyond the finger I think it reduces sensitivity. Certainly for me.


Do you buy polishes on the basis of nothing more than a blurry photo? Or for the sake of a name? Or do you need to hold it in your hand or have a number of testimonials?


Jenni

NEW EYEKO - POSH AND TEA ROSE

Part of a set of 5 for the price of 4.

Base coat + 2 coats + TC

Rather thick, some people may want to thin this, I like it, great pigmentation

Very pretty, quiet colours

I cut my nails - they bug the hell out of me when they get much longer, should have axed them ages ago.

More pix

Even though both polishes are a bit thick they level out by themselves if you don't mess with them.

So these cost me £2.80 each. I have now tried 4 Eyeko and I really like them. I am somewhat shocked at my willingness to wear such seemingly conservative colours but they are flattering for the older paw such as mine. I shall still sport wilder colours however just because I like them.

These are the nails I cut when I got home from work. I wanted to get a better pic of Nails Inc Portland Place. It's a lovely jelly-ish green and it came over as very dark/blackish yesterday. Well, this is with flash and shows the colour but lighter than IRL. I love this polish. Pity I applied it so shoddily. The cheapo Miss Sporty (blue) was very jolly and lasted the day but my political mani was hideous and had to go.

However I might revive the theme and show you lots of greens. Just because I want to. But I'm in a very taupe/pink place at present so who knows????

Giveaways!!! to tempt you...

Lacquerista 

http://the-lacquerista.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-first-giveaway13-pc-collistar.html 

R3 Daily

http://r3daily.blogspot.com/2010/04/rescue-beauty-lounge-nail-polish-week.html 

Great giveaways! Go there...

Jenni

May I introduce your leaders..blue, red, neutral (think David Dimbleby), green, orange

4 polishes available in the UK - I thought that was important

Blue - Miss Sporty creme
Red - Revlon Frankly Scarlet slight shimmer
David...Bourjois So Laque Beige Glamour creme
Green - Nails Inc Portland Place (old shade) creme
Orange - Barry M Tangerine shimmer/frost

For fairness they are all 2 coats over Misa Bang
Topped by Misa Breakneck with CG Fast Freeze drops


Which would you vote for? They all went on easily.
I shall be introducing their fellow candidates during the countdown to May 6th. Which party has the greatest following? What about the independents in the purple and pink parties? 


In your stash which is your FPTP (first past the post) colour?


Jen x

Eyeko Nude

RH - applied this yesterday so this is 3 coats + base + top after a day
It went on beautifully and evened itself out over my ridges
Inspired me to log on to eyeko again and they have a new selection: pink, coral, red, taupe and vampy black/red
On the basis of this one I recommend them
I have seen plenty of less favourable reviews but I'm impressed
I have ordered 5 for £14 and will be delighted if they turn out as well as the Nude

However - another day and another hankering to muck about
So

This is a bit brighter than IRL

• index and little have Nude + Nubar Tan Me (lots of glitter in a brown/orange base)
• ring has Nude + Hard Candy Cosmic - Hard Candy are old now but you can still get them, I just bought 3 and have tried 2 and love them, Erogenous and Cosmic (very fine glitter)

I like the effect. I am really warming to paler nails. You? I used to be a hard-core weird and wacky fiend but the nudes don't have to be boring.

This is more difficult than I thought! Sally Hansen Pure Putty and thingy...

OK. 
Pic for the day.

1 The tiger fingers are day 3 and these are the fingers I did first and am happiest with
2 The wart on my ring finger has been there for about 6 years. My daughter developed a crop of them and kindly passed a couple on to me!
3 I cannot believe what the camera reveals! I thought I did my nails quite nicely and try to look after my ageing hands but they say the camera never lies! Do some bloggers airbrush their photos? How do some of you have such PERFECT nails? I'm not bitter though....*grits teeth*


The Facts

• Decided mannequin fingers were the only things that went with tigers without me making yet more mess
• Base coat + 2 coats Sally Hansen Pure Putty + 2ish coats of the bottle I got for a squid off the market - looks pretty in the bottle but the brush separated itself from the cap after a couple of minutes so perhaps my parsimony is being punished - I will fix it somehow
• Plenty of VNL (I don't care that much)

The RH is still For Audrey and that's bearing up really well. It really cools my skin colour down which I like. It went on a bit gloopily but more or less self-levelled so I can't really complain.

Still planning to do a cherry blossom and would do it over Audrey except that my LH is incapable of doing nail art. In fact, the RH isn't as dextrous (ha!) as I should like it to be. Planning it over a mid blue (Hard Candy Hick or Maybelline Aqua Electric) glitter.

Blue skies here and no volcanic ash visible. Wonder if my colleague will be able to get back from Spain in time for term on Monday! Actually a lot of them might have jetted off. Perhaps we'll have to close the school. We had a lot of snow closures earlier in the year. This would be a great new phenomenon to add to the archives!

Jenni