W7 Cosmic Purple - a V mani

First time I've done this. I think it's uneven because the glitter is lumpy bumpy and allows leakage beneath the sticky tape. So next time I'll do it over a smooth polish. I think that should work. And I didn't realise I had slapped it so comprehensively over the cuticles but I was so exhilarated by the sheer blingitude of the whole shebang that I snapped it straight off and didn't think to check the photos too closely.

The silver is Diamond Cosmetics Silver Brocade which covers the glitter very effectively.

Oh, and the cheapo W7 polish was much admired by the Illamasqua girl in Birmingham Selfridges!

I know it's not a Mad Hatter dupe but it can still give OPI glitters a run for their money. For £3.98 or less it ain't so shabby.

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

W7 Earthquake Silver + Kinetics Divine

 

Google 'Xtras online' for the e-tailer. This is way worth having for £3.98. I kid you not.

No point hitting you with the verbiage today. That's all you need to know.

Except that some people (me) just don't know when to stop.....

Jenni

Nails Inc Captivating Selfridges + W7 Earthquake White

We have here a crackle polish costing £3.98 including the ol' P&P. I think this makes a pretty mani. Delicate, feminine, pretty. SOOOOOOOO not adjectives that apply to me!

http://www.xtras-online.co.uk/cosmetics/w7cra.html for the W7. I have turned up my nose at W7 for many a long year but now I've tried 'em I LOVE them. W7 do a crackle black and a silver. The silver will be making a guest appearance here tomorrow. Why was I so snooty about W7? They are cheap and they look like they are ripping-off OPI. I have now decided that's a good thing. Teaches me not to be so narrow-minded.

This shows the Nails Inc. Must be an ancient limited edition polish as I've only seen it on one website. This is seriously sweet. 'Captivating Selfridges'. What's that all about? IS Selfridges particularly captivating? If I could be bothered to troll down to the smoke I wouldn't be making Selfridges a must-see. That I DO know. Really like this polish. Shows a little warm in the picture - I'd say it's paler IRL. Beautiful consistency. I thought it would be a streaky mess but went on with ease. 3 coats for full opacity but it was so good to work with.

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

'Keep that mani going' challenge Day 2

Day 1 Kinetics Coral Sea + Bourjois Rose Corset
Day 2 Boots 17 Nail Xtras  Crackle Top Coat tips

I used tip guides but I should have positioned them diagonally across the nail. Need to think of a Day 3. Any ideas? For a cack-handed clumsykins?

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

Boots 17 Nail Xtras Crackle Top Coat

Sorry about the dry skin.
This is part of a 'challenge' I decided I was undertaking i.e. how many days can you go without removing your polish and starting again? Found this in Boots yesterday. £3.98. Put on a thick layer - too thick as I prefer more of the base polish to be visible but I know better for next time.

Day 1 CG Life Preserver
Day 2 mattify the tips
Day 3 add Nubar 2010
Day 4 add crackle top coat
Day 5 ? probably get rid...

I was very pleased with myself until I looked at the shots I took today.  Obviously blown up like this you can see that it's not so smart but normal-size it's perfectly acceptable. I don't always have the time or the inclination any longer to change my polish every day so I am doing this kind of thing more and more.

What do you think is the maximum time you can adapt a mani before having to ditch it?

Jenni

Kinetics Coral Sea + Bourjois Rose Corset

The accent finger is Bourjois. See below.
Both polishes are superb. This is the only Kinetics I have and the ebay-tailer is no longer listing them so I am stuffed. 2 coats over my worst (RH) nails.Like the proverbial butter.

Got Coral Sea because I'd seen it elsewhere.
http://shortnchic.blogspot.com/2011/03/coral-fixation-kinetics-nail-colors.html

In a massively coral-loving mood at the moment. The Bourjois has been sitting in a basket for months now. I anticipated a streaky multi-coated mess as it's pale and pastel but it built up beautifully after 3 coats with no drama whatsoever.

Today I am happy with my nails. If you know anywhere in the UK that I can get Kinetics for less than £5.50 a pop then please share. It was worth every penny and I would pay more but any bargains are welcome...

I am crazy for coral/peach at present whereas normally they are shades that really don't appeal. Do you have any current fads or fancies?

Jenni

Color Club Feel The Beat

My first Color Club. 2 coats. The index finger is mattified with another colour over half the nail but the other colour wasn't enough of a contrast so that was a fail. But this is one heck of a shiny, easy polish. Problems? Yes, tip shrinkage but I tried 2 new products under the CC so I may have to blame the chemical combination. And chipping after 2 days - may again be related to new Mavala ridge-filler (only one to be found in Boots).

Yes, I know it came out ages ago but I got this for £8.99 plus £2.49 P&P. Yes, that's right. Less than £11.50 all in!!! If you're in the US you can have NO IDEA what a bargain that is. Stuff generally is mega-expensive over here with nail polish no exception. I know Color Club is not a premium brand but it has a high reputation over here nonetheless and I have seen some great swatches. I couldn't pass this up at that price. Evidently I was not the only one. It's all sold out now (ebay) so no point giving you the link.

The Vitabase product (far right) is great too and makes a good base. I am now hunting for CC in a BIIIIIG way. Luckily they are now stocked by: http://www.venusnailsupplies.co.uk/ This is a company I can recommend. The P&P is a bit steep but the polish prices are low so make sure you order plenty.

What Color Club can you recommend? (international readers)
Does Color Club interest you sufficiently to seek it out? (UK readers)

Jenni