2true Crystal, China Glaze CG in the City, Max Factor Fantasy Fire and a heart stencil mattified

Oo, nasty, nasty cuticles!
Nice, nice polish.

And Fantasy Fire ain't all that great.  #justSAYING
Also 2true is blindingly good quality and even better value. Hie thee hence to Superdrug.

 

Regards

A long absent (no problems or anything - just takin' a break) Jenni

China Glaze Pelican Grey

Grey is fearfully dull but does make a rather flattering nail polish shade. I am now madly researching shimmery and frosty greys. This has my trusty FlorMar over it just to even it out and just enhance the shimmer a jot and tittle.

This conspired to be both thick and watery. Nonetheless I award it 'neuf points' on the Eurovision nail-scoring scale.

Even more remarkable was the price. £2.10 plus VAT from Sally's. One does have to pop in and check out the sale shelves and brave the inevitable "D'you need any help?" from the predatory assistants when one is in town.

Favourite greys?

Jenni

China Glaze First Mate

Any decent blogger would be ashamed to post this. But I have no shame.

 

Honestly. The cuticle remover has completely knackered the skin round my nails. Hey ho.

2 coats of this gorgeous 'dirty' blue. Lovely quality.

Begs the perennial question. China Glaze or OPI? Ditch it or dig it? If one company had to bite the dust which should it be? I'd ditch OPI. They are loads more expensive and do too many boring colours. Plus they got into commercial bed with L'Oreal which isn't all it should be on the animal experimentation front.

Jenni

Not very seasonal as we head towards the solstice...

China Glaze named it 'Mistletoe Kisses'
And a truly superb nail-paint this is
I got it from Raven
And made quite a good savin'
It was even approved by the Missus!

CG Mistletoe Kisses. I applied this over the LD Diamond Diva as that was still perfect after ...oh, aeons.

This is great! It was just a makeweight in my Raven Cosmetics package to make up to £15 and thus generate a 20% discount. But I am so glad I chose it. It's really theoretically too 'blue' to please me/suit me but I love it! Pure class. £3.95.

CG glass fleck at its very best.

I need back-up of this.

Jenni

A classic - (in verse)

There's a polish I saw on the net
That I never thought that I'd get
I guess it's a classic
But I was boracic
And I haven't figured out a fifth line.....yet

CG Classic Camel. 2/3 coats. Quite thick but not horrendously so. Another fugly. I must show you my beloved fuglies some day. From Raven Cosmetics on a BOGOF. I got 3 CG and an OPI for £13.48 including P&P.

Any guesses as to which OPI? Clue: it's a green.

Jenni

China Glaze White Cap + blog sale reminder

Over CC Orange Revenge and over the First Mate gradient mani.
Weird that it's so white in the bottle but turns out golden on the nail. At this magnification it looks like tiny flakies. I suppose the eye don't lie...

I love how this works as a layering polish. I only have a mini bottle and I can see me getting a full-size. Unless someone can recommend a cheaper UK alternative? Any ideas?

I desperately wanted to reduce the orange to peach but the Color Club is powerful stuff. The force is strong in this one and I didn't soften it as much as I wanted but I am still loving the White Cap.

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

China Glaze Life Preserver + matte tips

I am trying to keep away from the same old, same old US brands but I had a voucher and I picked up the set of minis from the Anchors Away collection. This is my favourite. Fabulous CG quality. Took 2 coats but you could maybe get away with one if you have good nails. Very impressed with the 17 matte coat. Makes a good contrast because LP is a decidedly glossy polish so this is a simple way to tart up a mani.

IRL the tips look much neater. But I always say that. And likewise my cuticles are much less scruffy. Still, in my head I'm 17 so what do I know....Perhaps I removed the tip guides too soon. The OH wanted to know why I had bits of paper stuck to my fingers so I had to show her. My explanation clearly wasn't enough. Proof was required.

I'm going to invest in some more Boots 17 because I think they may be good quality. Pity the bottles are so small. Why can't we have big Texas-type bottles over here - generous bottles. Why are our bottles the size of a piddling English village with no pub, school or Post Office?

Best bottle?
OPI?
Or square ones like Misa and Color Club?
Models Own?
Revlon?

And advice needed on how long to leave tip guides or masking tape on the nail before removal, please.

Jenni

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

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?

China Glaze Ingrid

Not the worst pic.
It shows the gold shimmer/glimmer.
I am loving browns at the moment.

2 coats and 3 wouldn't harm or hinder.
Got Accessorize Bronze on the other hand and that's quite some polish. I need a healthy dose of daylight to capture that as it's a duochrome. Or maybe a DUOCHROME!!!

Oh, well. Off to work. Up the M5/M6 today for a course in Wolvo. Will stuff myself on the free lunch and then go to visit daughter and grandson on the way home. Thank goodness for satnav. Last time I got thoroughly lost in the wilds of Willenhall. Eek!

Jenni

China Glaze Red Stallion

Ooeeee!
I forgot how much I like red polish.

Feels like Christmas on my nails with Rampage on my LH (and how much better it looks with topcoat, may I add) and this on my RH.

I haven't used China Glaze for ages and had forgotten what good quality they are. Cor, I love this one. It's a bit too orange-red to be flattering but it is a hottie! 2 coats + TC.

Tesco has now mentioned the C-word in its advertising. I am emphatically not impressed.

At which date is it first permissible to utter the C-word? I'd say early November at the VERY EARLIEST!

Jenni

Nail art - In the Night Garden

Er, I used the gradient as a base for some nail                        (wait for it)       art.
Well, I tried.
Art insofar as an elephant or chimp produces art. Only not as effective. Or attractive.

I have a silver nail art pen. See the havoc I can wreak. This nail isn't bad. I quite liked this. The "flowers" were less successful. See below.

China Glaze Fairy Dust for the night sky.

I will get the hang of it one day if the arthritis doesn't get me first. I mustn't joke about that because I don't want arthritis in my hands. My knees are fairly dodgy and I can well do without creaky digits.

Gearing up for my last day at work until September. Then getting ready for my ebay sale. I thought of a blog sale but I feel awkward about selling to you guys. Don't know why. I like the impersonality of ebay for commercial transactions. Selling 100+ polishes will keep me busy for a couple of weeks. Walk the dogs. No cleaner in the hols so will have to do my own housework or simply let it go to hell in a handcart (preferred option). Go to see my Mum. Read even more books. Prepare for going away. Hard life.

;o)

Jenni

CG Lasso My Heart + my swap with Silver Diva + a d-o-g

CG Lasso My Heart

2 coats. Easy as a lady-of-easy-virtue.
Part of the Wagon Wheel collection. (Maybe that's not quite right.)

I needed to bulk up an order to make the P&P worthwhile because I was really after something else but I can't remember what my prime target was. Hm. This was one of my afterthoughts but I must say it's rather spiffingly good.

I think this looks great with the Pop Beauty Twinkle.
Typical CG. Great quality. Great value.

A dog was requested. A dog is provided.

The number 1 dog snapped in an act of verbal defiance.
I think she is telling me to stop sitting on the bench and get on with the walk. She can be very imperious. Downright impertinent actually.

From my Silver Diva (Nail-ing Life Online - check yesterday for details) swap. Thanks, Sam!!!!!

NOW THEN NOW THEN - these have figured in enough blogs for a lot of us to be able to hazard a guess as to their identity. So what do you think? What are these????? These 2 above.

What about these lovelies? My first Finger Paints!! SOOOO pretty. Their names are....?

And the OPI? It's not a good pic but any guesses?

No prizes this time. But any correct guesses can be used as entries in my next giveaway. Incorrect guesses that sound fun will also count! The giveaway will probably be a bunch of cremes. Cremes that may be once-used or are untried. I don't think cremes are for me. I just have to sort them out.

What are your guesses for these 5? Or just guess 1 or 2.

I never explain these things properly so don't stress about it. It's not worth it. 

Tum te tum.

Jen

Nightmare! Max Factor Blue Energy and Bourjois 1 Seconde 11

Honest to God. Today hasn't been a great day and this has put the icing on the bl00dy banana cake (I hate bananas)

I don't really bother about VNL but the Bourjois (3 coats) needed a topping of Mavala Gold Diamond to make it a bit less bland
The Max Factor (from a cheap etailer like the Bourjois) went on very nicely in 2 coats
But I'm trying not to leave such big gaps round the cuticle so I inevitably made a s0dding mess
The Bourjois goes on so easily. It has the fan-shaped brush that looks very odd but is perfect for my nails as my hands are somewhat small. Kiddie-paws.

Why blue and orange?

They are complementary colours on the colour wheel and should therefore make each other "sing".

IRL this looks a lot better - yes, I know, I WOULD say that...

So it does work and I have achieved my end to a certain extent.

To cheer me up, because even my camera wasn't cooperating and insisted on providing unnecessary amounts of flash, I now insert a pic of CG Sprinkles with GOSH Rainbow. Even this isn't true-to-life as it shows the pink rather cooler than as perceived by my (admittedly failing) eyes...

I hope there'll be something new in the post tomorrow that simply screams at me to be tried. Not very hopeful however as there is always a dearth of post on Monday. Does anyone else find this to be the case?

What is your favourite blue? Shall I do a poll? Or a quiz? Do you want a giveaway? Anyone?

A decidedly grumpy

Jennifer

China Glaze - Sprinkles

It's pink
But it's not just pink - It has a really weird finish that I can't name but I hope one of YOU can, please.

It's much more obvious in the bottle than on the nail but it's a fascinating and intriguing finish. What is it?

2 coats in sun

\\

In sun - could take a 3rd coat but doesn't need it outright - the sun rather washes it out so...

In shade this time

I assume this is a retired polish

It hasn't had a lot of love on the blogs for, if you google it, there are very few swatches

Goes on smooth as silk

Many bloggers are somewhat averse to pink as was I until recently

Is this because it has negative associations with conservatism/lack of enterprise or individuality?

I just thought of it as a colour identified with middle age but pinks are not entirely banished from my nailiverse

So..

2 questions

Do you wear pink on the nail?

What is your favourite pink?

What finish is CG Sprinkles?

Ta ta

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

Day 2 - Colour vision and For Audrey - eyesight, cataracts and Monet

Here goes.


Why did all the pix end up at the top yesterday but not today? Oh, well. I'll work it out eventually...


On my RH CG For Audrey. My RH never has the same as my LH. Toes are different too.

Bottle comparison.

I got this and thought - blue, it's not blue! Isn't it meant to be Tiffany blue? So I assembled what I have that's closest.

L to R: BB Couture Bassins Bleu II 10/10, Barry M Mint Green 9/10, Eyeko Vintage UT, CG For Audrey 9/10 

I'm still not getting blue.

I like these a lot. The Eyeko is untried.

NB I'll also maybe improve the photography one day.

What about this eyesight thing? I give you Monet.

As many people know Monet's painting was affected by his cataracts and this led to his work becoming increasingly yellow (not very technical) because cataracts affect the ability to detect blue tones. He later had surgery and was not entirely happy with the result.

Now, I'm heading for cataracts (runs in the family) and I'm hopeless at matching colours or seeing what others seem to say. I've no eye for fine gradations. I'll read other blogs that compare polishes and the blogger will state: Clearly these are not dupes. And I'm thinking: They're bloomin' identical! It's frustrating.

Anyone else have similar problems? Colour differentiation. Colour is fascinating! I mean - when I see something and label it as blue what are you seeing? Rather existentialist. And colour therapy? And seasonal shades. And red stimulating appetite. Is that in all cultures? Can anyone provide any more colour facts/theories?

Have a good day, Jenni

For Leanne - Post 1

Picture Key:

1 On 2 nails but I decided it looked odd on just 2 so walked the dogs and then did the rest

2 Didn't clean up - naughty me, mustn't take pix until I clean up

3 The thumb worked quite well

4 Whole hand (well, duh)

I've been following nail blogs (mostly) for about 7 months now. Does the world need another one? Who cares! Here's yet another one.

So why this one?

• I need to stop spending time and money ebuying (ebaying) and require an outlet for all that saved time and mental energy to curb my expenditure so this is mostly for me
• There aren't as many blogs with a uniquely British perspective as I'd like to see

So the first post is a thank-you to all British bloggers (whether I have already found you or not), all inspirational bloggers out there everywhere and my second attempt at nail art. I used Leanne's tutorial.

http://www.donotrefreeze.com/2010/04/easy-peasy-nail-design-2-d.html#comments

This girl is 18! I admire creative people. Oh, especially creative people with a steady hand!

Tiger nails with:

Base coat Misa Bang

couple coats Attitude School Bus to begin

use the sponge applicator to apply a bit of Misa Ghetto Fabulous

then more sponge with Maybelline Mandarin Heat

Used a no. 1 paintbrush from a craft shop for black stripes (Miss Sporty black)

For silver stripes used Mercia nail art pen/brush in silver

Over the top is CG Fairy Dust

Lastly Misa Breakneck and CG Fast Freeze

Please note

• The Ghetto isn't obvious enough
• My cuticles etc are awful but I'm 54 and I had years of obsessive handwashing which doesn't do your hands a GREAT deal of good
• The black stripes are not fine enough but I hope to improve with that
• The Fairy Dust doesn't really work but it looks more subtle IRL

Where do I get my stuff?

I google a lot of brands and add UK to find an etailer (Venus Nail and Beauty is good)

I ebay

Sally's

Directly from websites e.g. Eyeko, Barry M, Overall Beauty (Kim is the BEST)

Boots and Superdrug

TJ Hughes has Bourjois very cheap at the moment

I've started to look at market stalls as well because I need to rein in this compulsion!

Love from Jenni