Cadbury's creme egg

This shrieks creme egg colours to me! I didn't mean it to. The Barry M has been washed out by the flash but I'm sure you know what I mean. The lines were meant to be crisp but I had trouble again with the line guides. This time it was polish seeping underneath! But the mess doesn't offend me on this occasion. If I said I'd planned it that way there are many who would believe me. I think I'm not removing the guides fast enough.

Barry M Coral/Color Club Electronica/sundry glitters

Has to be the most sickly confection ever conceived! *shudders*

I loathe creme eggs. I don't like Cadbury's (sorry, KRAFT!) chocolate generally (did you know they've moved a lot of production to Poland?). I eat Lindt 90%. This is because I'm on the Harcombe diet. But diets are boring even when they do work so we won't pursue that.

That's better!

Favourite chocolate (if applicable)?
Lots of people find varnishes that are reminiscent of the Cadbury branding. Barry M Vivid Purple is a good candidate. D'you have one?

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

Old lady chair/pub banquette mani

 

Because the Barry M and Boots 17 Matte Top Coat on top of loads of other layered polishes reminds me of this.

 

You do see what I'm driving at, I hope.

Not saying it's attractive but I'd venture "interesting" or "distinctive".

I thought it was called moquette or cut velour or damask or brocade and I had to google all kinds of combinations until I found the picture that matched what was in my noddle. If anyone does know the proper term for this kind of fabric then do pray tell. 

Is this

A fairly cool

B you'd better stay behind after school

Jenni

"Put down the Barry M blusher 5 and step away from the counter."

"Put down the Barry M blusher 5 and step away from the counter," demanded the Superdrug shop-assistant in a tone loud enough to attract the attention of everyone in the small store.

I"m afraid I can't do that," replied the dainty (in my dreams!) broad demurely.

"Lady, you're making a helluva mistake here." There was a pause.

"Ma'am, I thank you for your concern but this is gonna look great with a tan."

"With a tan, you say? Then in that case what you need is bronzer." Joan has right on her side.

"I don't think so," was the equally determined response. The smile was glacial.

"This is just plain wrong, I'm tellin' ya. You can't do it."

"Watch me....." The plastic card is inserted smoothly and decisively into the slot. "Go ahead. Do it. Do it now."

The assistant opens her mouth as if to speak but then shrugs in resignation. She completes the transaction.

"Why, thank you and have a good day!" The words are heavy with sarcasm as Lauren Bacall sashays triumphantly out of the shop. Her bag swings gracefully at her hip. Joan Crawford slowly turns to the shelves of perfume.  She has nothing more to say. Her expression says it all.....

And "Joan" was absolutely right. This was far too strong a shade for me as a blusher. Very highly pigmented. So I used it as a matte lip colour with optional clear lip gloss.

Do you ever divert products from their original purpose? Blusher to lippie? Eye shadow to blusher? What works well?

Jenni

Magpie jewel-theft tendencies and how not to do a "Givenchy" half-moon

Reflection of a coupla bangles I picked up from my Mum's flat. She knows about it! Or she will when I ask her if it's OK.

There's the gold-plated one which isn't giving me a rash yet. And the other one which looks jolly flashy but is on elastic so I'm guessing it may not be worth quite a king's ransom. But it sparkles very prettily.

And the mani?

It was meant to be a ruffian only the curve on a ruffian goes the other way and I'd forgotten! And if it's a half-moon then the curve isn't sufficiently....curvy. I used tip guides too! Ah, well it comes off tomorrow. I got some beauty uk and some more 2true today so who knows what tomorrow may bring.

• Grown-up browny taupe
• Shrek-ish green
• Red shimmer
• Lilacs
• Vampy

OR my asos haul may arrive and it'll be holo. I can't even remember properly what I ordered.

Who's up for membership of a NO-BUY CLUB?

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

Barry M Nail Effects in Pink, Diamond Cosmetics Rubies & Diamonds + Bourjois Une Seconde

 

I got myself in 57 kinds of trouble with this. I tried to manufacture a stencil from a paper label. Nah. Ended up with red splodges on a couple of nails and had to stage a rescue operation.

Hey, it's bright. It's alright. 

 Jenni

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

Barry M 03 Lip Lacquer Crayon

Perhaps I was a satsuma or a tangerine in a former life. Everything on my list these days cosmetics-wise is orange/coral.

This lip lacquer is a lot more sheer than the 01. A little disappointing. But I kept at it until I was reasonably satisfied. 01 had raised my hopes perhaps a little too high. This is still pretty though. I am so unused to seeing this kind of colour on my lips. Takes some getting used to. Need to get some OCC Lip Tars in orange or coral. Believe me, I'm looking! 'Grandma' is a good colour.

Reincarnation. I desperately hope there is no such thing. I fear death far more when I contemplate the prospect of returning - in whatever guise. Some lives are seemingly so intolerable and I have been so blessed in this life that I have a terror of being reincarnated as ...well, I have to be one the most privileged people on the planet so virtually any other life would represent a fall from grace. And if it's dependent on karma then I'm by no means sure I've been as well-behaved as I should have been to ensure progress in subsequent lives. Gloomy. Sorry.

Reincarnation.
Do you discount it completely? What are your views?

Jenni

Barry M 01 Scarlet Red Lip Lacquer Crayon

In a rush when I applied it (hence the patchiness at the centre) so..

• Barry M therefore not expensive
• Flows on easily
• Thick 'point' and not scratchy
• Feels soft but not too squidgy (ever so slightly squidgy but I'm highly squidgy-averse)
• Bags of pigmentation
• Easily available even in the retail black hole that is my town
• I like the colour, I REALLY like the colour
• There are only 5 from which to choose - bummer - and no plummy or purple ones - double bummer

What's with that pathetic "Ballet Pink" one, huh? Too girlie. 01 is on the right. I have seen swatches of 02 Cherry Red and that's a stunner also.

I fancy the middle one too - Mandarin. 

Give me a good reason NOT to buy at least one of these. Go on, I dare you. A couple of bloggers say these lip lacquers are too glittery for their taste and there is a slightly sparkly quality to this one but I am definitely not put off.

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?

CND Effects Gold Sparkling + Barry M Hexograms

On top of the Champagne and Ghetto Fabulous. Getting in festive mood. And too idle to remove the previous manis. Mustn't forget that.

With the layering I now prefer the Misa Ghetto Fabulous to the Models Own Champagne.

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

Barry M Dusky Mauve

Good heavens to Murgatroyd!
What a polish!
A Very easy to apply. Goes exactly where you put it. And if I were better at putting it places it would look pretty well perfect.
B It needs light to reveal its secret. In the dim October daylight it could be vaguely, anonymously brown. With flash it's like this...... (See below).

I was very surprised when I looked at my pix to see the shimmer. This is the semi-dupe of Chanel Paradoxal. Now, I've a Chanel watch but I won't part with the pennies for a Chanel polish (a matter of priorities) so this is as close as I'm getting to Paradoxal which, in any case, isn't that special.

I recommend this polish as I reckon it would suit everyone. And it's relatively cheap.

Save or splurge? What are you prepared to spend real money on and what are you happy to compromise on?

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

Barry M Silver Cascade + Bourjois Paillettes Disco + Barry M Hexograms + Rebecca's giveaway from Nails Etc

Where do I start??

I know I was claiming yesterday to be sophisticated and un-Katie-Price but I do like me a bit of bling. The Nail Glam nails are going strong so there is only one thing to be done. Bling on bling layering.

Subtle or what?
I know I'll regret it come the removal day but that day may be a long time a-coming. Once you've got glitter you've GOT glitter.

Who would've thought that 3 seemingly innocuous polishes could result in such a glitz-fest?

They look fairly harmless, would you not say???

Now take a look at this. See below...

From Rebecca. It's NYC West Village. I took it out of the colossal box and thought - OK, black, yep...
Jumping Jehosophat, it jolly well isn't!!!!

http://nailsnailsetc.blogspot.com/

This is Rebecca whose giveaway I won.

Here she is. She looks frightfully posh and lovely, I think. I'm guessing classical concert. The interval? Something choral? Bach? She'll tell me if I'm wrong.

Also in the box? Another 15 polishes! 

I took pix of all 16 but thought I'd get into trouble posting loadsa photos. I'm lucky enough to have a Mac but when I log onto the blogs when at work (rubbish PCs probably a squillion years old) I realise how many decades you have to sit waiting for pix to load and how likely it is that the brain will spontaneously combust from sheer aggravation.

Still searching for that elusive easy-going yellow. Will this be the one? It's a bit shimmery so maybe....just maybe...

Favourite flavour ice-cream?
And what does Button Moon mean - if anything?

A demain
Jenn ee/bah/gum fur

The Edge Costa Rica and Barry M Navy

I have decided that brown and blue are good together. Like this....

Shiny, huh? Yes, there's top coat. I would say these are even shinier IRL. The brown with gold/bronze glitter is great in the sun. Both go on easily. 2 coats for the Navy and 3 for the brown.

And a bottle pic - not of the Barry M though because I couldn't get a good pic PLUS it looks nowhere near as good in bottle as on the nail anyway PLUS you all know what Barry M looks like PLUS you could find a pic in another blog or nailgal

I enhanced this so it looks a shade lighter than IRL but it is sunny here so it's fairly close to authenticity


The RH is doing something other (comme toujours) and will be shown tomorrow.


Jenni
I think good partners are:
pink and green
purple and green
pink and orange
blue and brown
red and grey
yellow and blue


What do you think?

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

Purple gradient mani - Barry M, Butter London, OPI, NYX, Milani

Pic 1
This was meant to graduate from light to dark according to the bottles. I used 3 untrieds so I didn't know what to expect. It didn't turn out as a seamless and measured transition along the spectrum as planned but I like it anyway. The pink and taupe was lovely but I needed a bit more oomph.

Little Milani Totally Cool 3 coats essential and it's still streaky now I look it over, it's inky but it is as described - totally COOL
Ring NYX Purple Dream 3 coats essential, lovely blue flash, sort-of duochrome, and still a bit streaky in some lights
Middle OPI A Grape Fit 3 coats but 2 would do
Index Butter London Scoundrel 2 coats - the pick of the bunch formula-wise, very like the OPI but more greyed-out, I do like Butter

Thumb Barry M Berry Ice-cream 3 coats but 2 might just be OK

All with base and top coats

I had to over-expose this to get anywhere near the actual colour

Sorry for my teeny child-hands. They are so small that I wear child's gloves. Pretty they are not.

This is called npUK, yes?

I do try to support local manufacturing wherever possible hence the name. Carbon footprint and work for local people. They can be Polish local people. They have kids and send their kids to school so they're local. And that keeps me in a job! Same goes for anyone else who wants to live and work here.

So..

Barry M is British - got this from the website

Butter London isn't as far as I know, I'm sure I read it somewhere - a brilliant bargain from ebay - 3 fullsize polishes for £15!!

The OPI - can't remember how I got this, I DO know I didn't close it correctly and it has begun to thicken, I love this so why did I DO that???

NYX - got this from fragrancedirect - they currently have loads of NYX £2.99

Milani - think that was cherryculture before they raised their postage costs

To readers not from the UK: An APOLOGY

It's election-time here so politics is preoccupying me. Hence my attempt to ensure I am not tarred with the filthy brush of racism etc.

To readers FROM here: No apology

You know the way it works even if you are throughly p1$$ed off with the whole thing...

I