How it all began..Fairy Dust (Sally Hansen Fairy Dust Pink)

I've painted my nails on and off since about 1969 but I haven't in recent times had a day of naked nails since August 2009. Had time and dollars to spare at Montreal airport in August 09 so I had a mani. Great Turkish-Canadian girl. Very friendly. The concession was OPI-fied so I had a coupla greens. That got me hooked again. (I think they may have been Electric Eel and Green-wich - something like that.)

That developed into buying more polish and reading blogs. Finally I got my own blog going.

One of the first polishes I ebay-ed in 09 or 10 was this Sally Hansen. I'd seen something similar on a blog and just took a punt on it. I checked the prices on ebay today and they are mega-silly. I'm sure I didn't spend more than a coupla quid though. So there's no point stimulating demand for these "magical" polishes. (That's what they're called by Sally Hansen btw.) Was minded to wear this because I just got £14.50 for GOSH Holographic on ebay so had holos in my head. This applies better than quite a lot of holos which I find almost invariably patchy. Pity SH don't do this range any longer. The prices demonstrate it was highly-regarded.

Ah, well. Just a pretty polish for a sunny day.

Jenni

Eyeko Liptastik Loudmouth + Baby Bonus/Bonus Baby

I failed with 2 of my 3 TK Maxx purchases. Nails Inc polishes not so good. Ditto OPI. The Eyeko however was another story....

All these for a fiver! Loudmouth is the one in the middle.

• Lasts for ages.
• Feels good.
• Not too sticky.
• Good value at 3 for a fiver.
• Very highly pigmented.
• So easy to apply. Foolproof actually. 
• Don't need a sharpener. Just twist the base (see pic).

(Oh, sharpeners for jumbo crayons! Do I have to buy a pen-knife and learn to whittle whilst humming "Ol' Man River" in order to sharpen my Barry M Lip Lacquers or is there a jumbo sharpener I can buy?)

UNfortunately made in China. I did not realise this because there was a label stuck over country of origin and I just tend to assume (bloody fool) that British companies get their stuff made in Britain. Or how about Europe even? Once I had broken the seal I couldn't return them.

My latest Illamasqua polishes are made in Australia! What's that all about?! I have to stop buying Illamasqua now. OK, the Australians aren't employing slave labour and beating people but the carbon-footprint implications are just plain intolerable to me.

I won't start on trade, the global economy and jobs for local people. But I SO COULD! And probably should.

On a lighter note, the next post will feature LIP WARS!

Plus a "baby bonus" pic. Granddaughter. 9 days.

Jenni

OPI pink-astrophe gradient

Pictures first.

 

• VNL? No problem with VNL in THIS house.
• 3 coats and still streaky? Now that IS cack.
• On goes plenty FlorMar to attempt to rectify matters. Hm, tolerable.
• But I shouldn't even have bought this mini-set. Seduced by cheapitude at Tk Maxx. Serves me right, huh?
• The colours (!) are Alpine White, Bubble Bath and something along the lines of Pink-ing or Pink-est (frankly I don't care) + a RapiDry
• I'm sure the box said 'Princess Rule' but I chucked the box and I'm not going through my recycling bin just for that!

Oh, yeah. Princesses. As the mother of two daughters and grandmother of very small grand-daughter plus I'm a woman myself (yeah!) I deplore the whole girlie-princess thing. Ladies, if your idea of success is marrying some ghastly chap and sponging off him then you're welcome but I don't share your ambition and never have. Girls don't need heels as much as the ability to run fast and deal a knockout blow if absolutely necessary. Girls don't need tiaras (leave that to Elton John) as much as brains and education. Girls don't need petticoats as much as they need gumption.

In short, pink polish is fine. Pink/fluffy attitudes and aspirations? No.

Jenni
Blog sale tomorrow. Best time?

Attitude Asteroid

For some reason I have become addicted to funky-French manis! So this one has foil tips. Then a clear-based glitter coat over the top. My index nail is especially yellow but ... what can ya do?

This British brand is Star Nails Attitude. Apparently it's mostly available in salons. Don't think I've ever seen it however. I bought mine online (usual suspects) and they manufacture some funky colours and I do recommend their polishes. The bottles are 14ml (whoever said that size isn't important simply lied) and you can always get them for two or three quid. Result.

Jenni

Mavala Romantic

Nowt special. Just a perfectly bog-standard coral-pink. 2 coats.
But still it's the excellent quality I now expect of Mavala. It gets me every time! I think, "This one's going to be a bit thin and weedy. It'll need more coats than a skinny girl in Saskatchewan." (Oh, and isn't Kate Middleton too THIN!)

Every time the polish turns out to be a thick (but not overly thick) 2-coater! How do they do that? Bizarre.

Where to get Mavala?

• ebay
• Beauty Bay - this and the 2 greens were from BB but I should have got a bigger order as the P&P was a leeeeettle high
• Amazon
• Lloyds pharmacy locally

Jenni

Pop Beauty Pinkest

I googled this and I haven't seen an accurate photo anywhere so I'm suggesting this is an awkward customer. IRL it's more...er, (the clue's in the name) pink. 2 or 3 coats. I do love it. It dries satin-y so needs a topcoat IMO. Nubar 2010 conceals/distracts from a 'dink'.

Tip wear isn't great on this. I have slight wear on one nail after a day which I do not think acceptable.

It's both neon/fluorescent and jelly-like. Quite unusual. I'm very fond of this brand and am going to attribute the tipwear to ..to .. the weather or something.

You don't see this brand much. Any other brands you reckon are 'rare' but worth more attention? This is not HTF or anything. This was from asos but you can easily get it from Pop Beauty's own site.


Jenni

2true Crystal Lip Gloss 3

I don't even like lipgloss but Superdrug had 3 2true items for £4.99 plus any lipgloss FREE so I had to have one....

It's quite funky for a lipgloss (which, did I mention, is a product I've no time for).
Sticky? Yes.
Sweet, sickly smell? Yes.
But I kinda like it.

When I say I like it I don't mean on ME but I like it conceptually. As it's sparkly.

What products do absolutely nothing for you but you know everyone else raves about them/it?

Jenni

Grossly misleading IMO.....RMK

OK, I mattified it and added glitter to the middle finger and threw some GOSH Rainbow over a bunch of nails BUT BUT BUT BUT...see that word on the label? Yeah? Holographic.

Yes, and I'm the love child of Barbara Windsor and Stephen Hawking.

It is pink with blue shimmer is what it is. I got this from asos as it was much reduced and I like to have a representative polish from as many brands as I can. Good or bad. This isn't bad but it isn't effin' holographic. 

Any tales of products which you consider badly mis-described? Also your best most holo-y holo?

Jenni

Orly Galaxy Girl - OPI This Little Piggy

OK, so it isn't really anything like Galaxy Girl unless you're partially sighted or have imbibed far, far too freely of the juice of the vine. But it's nice.

The darkest 2true shade from the Fast Dry range plus an OPI topping after a coupla days of wear.

I'm having to layer to bring some variety into my life as I'm on a no-buy.

News tomorrow about:
a blog award
the identity of my mysterious Jessica benefactress

IF you were on a no-buy what would you currently be craving? Hell, what ARE you currently craving?

Jen

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

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

The polish Kate wore - Bourjois Rose Lounge (allegedly)

http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/GraziaDailyNails/archive/2011/04/29/win-kate-middletons-wedding-nail-polish.htm

"And...breath.  Finally we've seen the dress, the hair and the make-up but you know what GDN is reeeally interested in - her digits!  So we can exclusively reveal Marina Sandoval, manicurist extraordinaire, painted Kate Middleton's nails yesterday lunchtime in Bourjois' "Rose Lounge" no 28 (mixed with a little bit of Essie 423 Allure). The pale creamy pink shade is perfect for our future queen because, as we all know, Kate wanted to go neutral-classic for her bridal look. Of course, as William placed (actually, pushed and shoved) the wedding band on his new wife, we all cooed at the way Kate - sorry, Princess Catherine has stayed true to her classic style on the biggest day of her life." (From Grazia).

Sorry about my horrid yellow nails. This is 3 coats (above). The flash has bleached it a bit. I don't have Essie Allure and I can't say I regret it because I do have quite a few pale Essie polishes and they typically require a vatful on each nail before you'd notice you even had nail polish ON. What's the point of that then? Kate Whatserface I ain't! If I put polish on then I want POLISH, ya hear!

Ugh. Horrid yellow tips. I tried to paint opaque white underneath but there's not enough free edge so I just made a mess. It's a nice polish if you like that kind of thing and better than yer streaky old Essies.

So bring out the FlorMar. Phew. Better.

No disrespect to HRH btw. She's very lovely and all that. I'm only an envious old trout. I was always a bit on the rough side...

Jenni

Pink Wednesday - er, NOT - 2true Fast Dry Shade 1

 

I'm not a Pink Wednesday-er. Got nothing against it. Just hate committing to things. No way I could guarantee always to wear pink on a particular day.

2 coats of lusciousness. This is my 3rd 2true polish. OMG these are fabulous. So glossy and highly-pigmented. I never trust "quick dry" claims and put them to the test by prodding at my nails but I think it probably IS fairly quick to dry. These are lush!

There are 9 shades in this range. I now have 6 and even though the remaining 3 are not unusual colours I'm going to get them because the texture/finish is so good.

Choose one shop. Superdrug or Boots?

Jenni

Models Own Lili's Pink

Yuk. This colour is just awful on me. 2 coats. I'm the problem. Not the polish. I wore it 'as is' last night and all the women of my age were wearing plain pink nail polish. I felt so old. I'm not doing that again. So I tried to funk it up. Don't know which was worse. The original or the 'improvements'. Gloom. Gloom.

Just see where a hole punch and some sticky labels gets ya...

Upcoming will be some 2True polishes, Nubar Wildlife, Benefit Dr Feelgood and a trio of Models Own.

Your most shocking mani?

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

Kinetics Yes!

Another superlative polish from Kinetics. Find them on ebay. This is 2 coats (I put a 3rd coat on the index finger and, as you can see, it wasn't necessary) and dries satin but I added a TC. I have no idea what colour this is. Pink? Maybe a little lighter IRL than in my photo. It's another stunner. That makes 3 out of 3 by this brand. 100% satisfaction record with one polish to go and the next one looks very SPESHULLLL in the bottle!! I have my eye on plenty more.

This photo was taken in sun.

Know any dupes for this? Or anything like it?

Jenni

Kinetics Divine - an oustanding success!

The ebay-tailer for Kinetics is

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KINETICS-Nail-Polish-Varnish-15ml-Professionals-/110664861844?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Nails_Manicure_Pedicure_CA&hash=item19c423c894

Or just search for 'Kinetics nail' in ebay. £5.50 per polish including P&P. I got good comments about Coral Sea and Divine is even better. This is 2/3 coats and I made a complete mess of my index finger by splodging it against something but I just painted over and you simply cannot tell! Result.

Plus the customer service is superb. This brand is a great new find for me. I have two more to show you and I will be ordering others. 

I would say this is a glass-fleck. It is simply beautiful.

It reminds me of something - OPI/Zoya? - that is way more expensive and also less readily available. I don't need to do the research on any dupes because I have THIS!

Very happy bunny.

Jenni

Misa High Waist Hue + Nubar 2010

I love Misa and I love this particular nude.
My yukky cuticles I cannot love. Not even a mother could love my cuticles.
"Maybe I didn't love them quite as good as I should have....." (Pet Shop Boys version for me, please).

Nubar 2010 is just another of those GOSH Rainbow/Sally Hansen HT polishes that lengthen the lifespan of a mani when you don't have a lot of time. That would be me then...Ideal.

Cue the cute animal pic... Why? Why not?

Jenni


Elvis

• too cliched to be true
• great performer
• legend
• sad
• not my thaaaang

OCC Lip Tar Anime - £8 WELL spent - + a bloomin' good website

This is a Lip Tar tutorial - if I may be so bold. These are SO worth buying but they do need careful handling. These are from Love MakeUp and currently at £8. Put it like this - if you like lipstick with more than 2 atoms of your being you need these.

http://www.love-makeup.co.uk/

This is almost colour-accurate. It's probably a tad brighter IRL.

Now this is how it begins.

1.

See the little blob? That's too much. That was there when I removed the cap. Do not squeeze the tube. REPEAT. Do NOT! Don't just casually handle these. Take care.



2.

They sent me a free mixing palette! Cool. That's still too much product. I intended to mix the Anime with another Lip Tar but the blob was too big a blob so I felt I had to try to use it and it gives a 'pure' swatch anyway...Combining will come later.

3.

Apply from the centre. If you start with the outer line it will feather. Put the bulk of the product at the centre to prevent this.

4.

That's what is LEFT! Pity my brush is too big for the allocated area..So I will leave that on the assumption that it will remain tacky and workable and use it will another shade next time!

I have 5 others and I can't see me stopping there. I believe professionals use these and may invest in the full library. Worth every penny of the 800 pennies I paid.

Lip Tars?

• Don't float my boat not no how not no way
• I'll think about it maybe
• Yeah, but too expensive
• Definitely on my list
• You only have 6?! I have 16!!! Call yourself a fan?!

Jenni

Wet n Wild Sparked

I got this from Cheap Smells. I thought I was buying Starry Night. That's certainly what it said on the website and the invoice. I'm sure you can guess what that kind of polish 'should' look like. I actually got this fellow (do nail polishes have a gender?) and I'm not perturbed.

I love this kind of finish and thought at first glance it must be akin to my beloved Butter London Rosie Lee.

And there is indeed a resemblance but, even to my untutored eye, they could not in a month of dull and rainy Sundays be described as dupes.

Do you think you have a good eye for colour? Do your friends ask your advice for 'what goes with what'? Do you pick something thinking it will go well with an existing piece only to find that they clash disastrously? Or do you like clashes? Would you wear different shades of blue (for example) in coat, cardi, skirt, shirt, tights???

Jenni