Color Club Orange Revenge + accent swirl

I've read the phrase 'retina-searing' before. Now I know what it truly means. Took the dogs for a walk in the April sunshine and nearly blinded myself when I glimpsed my very own fingers. Crikey.

Coupla coats. Three? Not sure. But I can see some VNL. That bothers me not one jot.

The 'swirl' is where I was trying to add white and make a gradient but the consistency was thicker than an Irish bog in a relatively mild spring with added algae so I had to cut my losses and slop W7 Earthquake White over it. What a globby mess. But it turns out that is reminiscent of peach slices in syrup (you know those tins) with single cream spooned in. I hate it when people do that. Makes me feel a bit sick. But it isn't actually that bad. Impressionist brushwork? Explosion in paint factory?


Jenni

China Glaze First Mate gradient mani

Hm, First Mate au naturel on the little finger and then white added to attempt a gradient mani. But I got the balance wrong so, if the digits go 12345 where 1 is the thumb, digits 4 and 3 are either too close to call or even the 'wrong way round'. Look, I know what I mean!

I really don't wear a lot of blue but this polish is a nice, dirty shade. Looks a bit royal/French blue in my pic. This is my blending method (below) and I can't recommend it really. Just put drops of polish on a plastic lid and try to blend them...Nah. It's not as streaky IRL as it looks here btw.

Please give me any tips. I don't want to franken a whole bottle but I hope there's a better way than I've figured out.

The orange splodge is where I tried to do an orange gradient on the other hand but the consistency was dire so that is plain orange (almost) as you will see tomorrow.

Any advice on blending shades/frankening that doesn't involve sacrificing a whole bottle (and I only have a mini of First Mate in any case)? Thanks.

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

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

Revlon Rock + discount cosmetic websites

This was a great collection with 4 good creme colours and 4 glitter additions. This is 2 coats. 3 would be a tad better. It's VERY glossy IRL but I had oiled my hands so that dulled the finish. No, I don't have prosthetic hands - just dry skin.

 

Now, I rarely venture into the retail black hole that is plonked in the middle of my town because it simply isn't worth it. We have one poxy little Boots and one poxy little Superdrug (always want to call it Supadrug, dunno why). But I don't recall seeing this collection actually hit the shops. It was all over the nailiweb when it came out and I liked the swatches so HURRAH for me when I found it on my beloved discount sites for £1.50.

Those of you fortunate enough to reside in places where you can just go out and pick up Color Club and China Glaze and OPI and RBL and every damned brand you can think of as soon as they are released won't understand my delight at finding a few cheap Revlon. If you live in the UK you just may sympathise with my plight.

Here are a few sites (google and they'll be the first hits - my linking skills have deserted me):

raven cosmetics (free P&P)

cosmetics 4 less

half price perfumes

cheap smells

fragrance direct

cosmetic kingdom

You have to trawl through to find the gems but they are there. It's not as if every new collection doesn't contain some stinkers. I think Blue Iguana and Cha Cha Cha from the China Glaze Island Escape are pretty lame. Just because it's newly released doesn't make it good.

Just an example. Raven has China Glaze Sugar Plums for £3.95. That's a good buy IMO.

http://www.ravencosmetics.co.uk/epages/es114141.sf/en_AU/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es114141_shop/Products/CHINAG09POL2%5B38%5D

Just a thought for those of you who have got the time to search obsessively for bargains and/or refuse to pay list price for things!

Jenni

Illamasqua Bacterium

 

It's kinda dirty and odd and strange. Doesn't sound like an attractive cosmetic item, does it? But I love it. 2 coats and fairly thick but manageable. Looks much darker most of the time when there's no direct light source. It looks 'goldish' in the photos (almost Urban Decay Twisted) but I don't see that IRL. Complex polish. If you like Illamasqua (what d'you mean you don't?!), you should love this. I conjecture.

I look forward to 'sellotaping' it. What would make a good contrast colour? What would complement this colour well? Any ideas?

Jen

A kinda twist on Illamasqua quills...

Humour me here, OK?

 

I would SO love those quills. But at £35? What am I? Stupid? Unfortunately I got the colours the wrong way round with my mani but you live and learn. Next time. Plus I don't have long talons. Other than that it's a total success. Ahem.

OK, let's say you got the Illamasqua quills as a gift. Would you be:

thrilled - your hints were duly noted
puzzled 
appalled - why would anyone think you wanted THESE!? Do they not know you?
indifferent - waste of money. Now who do you know who'd want them? Can you sell them?

Jenni

Illamasqua Purity + Barielle Blossom

(Ever so slightly washed out by the flash.)

How thick is Purity? Thicker than a very thick thing with added thickitude. But it covers in 2 coats which is remarkable for a chalky pastel so no complaints really....

The Barielle has a reputation for being thick and possibly unworkable but actually it behaved quite nicely. Also 2 coats. And when, pray, is Barielle going to introduce some new polishes? Hm? Well? Come along, come along. We're waiting.

Recommend me some peachy shades, please!

Jenni

Nails Inc Drury Lane

I'm growing ever fonder of Nails Inc. This is 2 coats and could maybe have used another. Index finger mattified.

And for why do I like Nails Inc?

• They are usually good quality.
• You can get bargains on ebay, discount cosmetics sites (ravencosmetics, for example) or just wait for the official website deals. A lot of people qvc them and I imagine that is also reasonable.
• Don't pay the silly RRP they quote though. Please. You'll give them delusions of grandeur.

Negatives?

• The cap is not easy to manage with small hands.
• They do way too many pinks and reds.

I have become a complete coral-queen recently. Used to loathe the colour!

Your views on Nails Inc?
Are you a convert to any particular colour or brand you used once to detest?

Jenni

PS

Interior of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane c.1808. And, as I'm sure you remember, the muffin man resides in Drury Lane. Wonder if he frequents the theatre much...

And as a bonus -a muffin in pre-toasted condition. So generous I am today!

The Franklin Mint - my 'royal wedding tat' series + DISCLAIMER

Sorry but this is ridiculous. Funny but ridiculous. I was researching my royal wedding series and I got entranced by the Franklin Mint. Benjamin Franklin (I looked this up) was a founding father and polymath, an author and scientist. He was not a merchant of cheap rubbish. But his name has been taken (in vain, if you ask me) by purveyors of tat.

BTW - this is just my opinion. Opinion and not stating any of this as FACT. As long as we're clear on this.... ;o)

$195. I kid you not. Who buys this stuff? This made me curious about the further wares of the Franklin Mint.

Next up.

 

The price for this? Guess. You won't get it.

$995. Yes, let me spell it out - nine hundred and ninety-five dollars.



Next, please.

Some outfit Kate Winslet wore in 'Titanic'. $99.95. Sorry and everything. I really love that film. But would you buy this? Seriously. Who buys this? I don't know how big this is. Dressing-table size or life-size? Who cares? $99.95.

And for only $99 a coin from the Republic of Palau with a face value of $5. Now, are Palau dollars worth 20 US$???? I confess to being confused.....They want you to pay a hundred bucks for a five dollar coin? Hmm. I HAVE to be misunderstanding this whole enterprise bigtime, no??

Finally this.

That's right. A Bridal Princess Vinyl Doll. $295.
This is wrong on SOOOOOOO many levels.
1 looks nothing like her
2 her marriage was a marriage in name only
3 she divorced acrimoniously
4 she allegedly had doubts about her intended even on the wedding day itself

Look, it's just sheer and unadulterated crap. Sorry if you work for these people. Hey, you have to eat. But don't buy this stuff.

And on that note (having potentially caused massive international offence - look, I do know every country produces rubbish including the UK, OK?) I shall hie me hence.

Jenni
Tomorrow Illamasqua.

PS What's the shoddiest, tackiest stuff YOU have a penchant for? Confess all....