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

Mavala Vanilla and FlorMar

I knew it would be a streak-fest and I was right. After 3 coats of pastel (and what pastel doesn't behave badly?) shimmer I had to apply a coat of FlorMar to try to even things out.

Partly my own fault as I didn't prepare properly with ridge-filler so I'm going to give it 'huit points' anyway because I love the colour and finish and Mavala can generally do no wrong in my eyes. It doesn't even suit my skintone but what the hell!

Got my covetous eyes on the launch of Sleek Pout Paints. Bet my grotty little branch of Superdrug (no, my TWO grotty little Superdrugs) doesn't stock these until the seas run dry. Bah.

Day 4 of my 44 day holiday. That's a lot of blogging and tweeting.

Jenni

Flakies must always be mattified: IT'S THE LAW

Because, if you leave them glossy, reflections detract from the flakie goodness. I just thought I'd mention it.

This is Leighton Denny Provocative (lovely formula but the little beggar chipped on 3 nails in one day) with Nubar 2010. Then 17 matte top coat over that.

Took me a long time to see any merit in matte and I wouldn't buy a matte colour but top coat does have some value.

Jenni

Berlin in 2010

 

Mavala Berlin topped with a FlorMar and then Nubar 2010. Only ever so slightly washed-out by the flash. Really loving this Mavala grey.

Wish things weren't named after specific years though. Whatever happened to 1984? I could never reread the book now. And 2001? One of my favourite films but the actual 2001 was such a sore disappointment that even that is now somewhat spoiled.

You see, I was born in 1955 and when I was small I thought of 2000 as the science-fiction-future. After all, I'd be 45. Forty-whole-five! I really believed we'd all be time-travelling. I looked at Dr Who and Star Trek (and indeed 2001:Space Odyssey) as pretty firm predictions. I was thoroughly convinced I'd have a small aircraft/vehicle of my own - very much like Fifth Element.  We all know the rather pedestrian reality. 

How horribly off-topic I have strayed. What I really want to know is this. What flakies are available in the UK apart from the Nubar and GOSH Rainbow? I have Barielle Elle's Spell and a Kinetic with flakies but surely there have to be some others. It's driving me nuts!

Jenni

Mavala Berlin - hot from Smurf Central

The curse of blue nail polish. You can never get rid of it...

This was streaky after the 1st coat and I thought I'd be heading for a minimum of 3 but the 2nd was more than sufficient. Another excellent polish from Mavala.

Looks like me, Mavala and Leighton Denny are going to make a cosy threesome. Really want to support European brands. And UK polishes if possible. I checked and the LD are made here. This may account in part for their higher price in addition to their excellent quality but I'm happy to pay more to keep jobs in the UK. Don't want us to be seen just as a nation of bankers. Bankers. Is that the right word, I wonder? Hm.

Jenni

Leighton Denny Provocative

OMG, a perfect jelly red in 2 coats. So shiny. A beautiful blue-red shade. Mwah! How much do I now love LD polishes. They are truly fabulous. I am now on a mission to hunt them down at semi-bargain prices. Wish me luck.

I had to fiddle in iPhoto with temperature and tint because this was showing way too yellow-orange. Consequently my skin looks positively purple. Matters not.

Nothing more to say.

Jenni

I cracked it with Comments! Hurrah!

 See this? I had to paste my comments into Word and then repaste into the blog but it works! Brilliantly! My comments on your comments are in red.

	I love this polish... always have! By Charlie on China Glaze First Mate at 17:39
	thats a gorgeous colour and it looks really nice on you, i've never tried leighton denny but might get some now after reading this : ) By nail loopy on Leighton Denny Miss Behavin' at 11:05  Another funky French with Miss Behavin'.
	Ooo i love a good funky french mani. They remind me of mermaid nails! x WHAT A LOVELY THING TO SAY! By Clazzerati on Attitude Asteroid at 09:02
	I love that colour, I used to get a Revlon colour very similar called Ink off the market and was gutted when they discontinued it. x IT IS BETTER THAN IT LOOKS IN THE BOTTLE. AND THAT'S QUITE UNUSUAL. By Vix on Leighton Denny Miss Behavin' on 17/07/11
	Oh so pretty! It's all twinkly like stars :D By Lillian Funny Face on Leighton Denny Miss Behavin' on 17/07/11
	would love to find this in US =( ISN'T IT NICE THAT OLDER POSTS CAN STILL BE READ. By Anonymous on Topshop Gypsy Night on 16/07/11
	Loving the funky french! Foil + glitter looks great :) x By Gemx on Attitude Asteroid on 14/07/11
	Ooh that looks awesome! By Lillian Funny Face on Attitude Asteroid on 14/07/11
	I love this funky french! I have a few attitudes but not as lovely as this one :) By rmcandlelight (nailsbeautiqued) on Attitude Asteroid on 14/07/11
	That makes for a fascinating read. Men's nails must grow faster as Jon's forever cutting his talons. Love the Cutex ad even if the pointy nails are a bit scary. x POINTY NAILS WERE A VILE TREND. By Vix on Who knew? Fact or fiction. Truth or lies? on 13/07/11
	How interesting! These type of things just make me wonder 'why?' Why on earth is our body made this way, what is the point? :P I KNOW, I KNOW. By Lillian Funny Face on Who knew? Fact or fiction. Truth or lies? on 13/07/11
	Great post! Don't know if it's all true...THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THE INTERNET. ANYTHING PRINTED APPEARS TO BE TRUTHFUL....I CAN BE SO GULLIBLE AT THE BEST OF TIMES.... By rmcandlelight (nailsbeautiqued) on Who knew? Fact or fiction. Truth or lies? on 13/07/11
	I've never heard of Nina before. I actually like this colour for myself :-) By Karen on Nina Ultra Pro Hazelnut on 13/07/11
	Thats lovely, I want it on my toes. Hx By Helly on Nina Ultra Pro Hazelnut on 12/07/11
	Can't say I've heard of this brand before! Cool colour though.YOU GET IT FROM SALLY'S. THIS WAS ONLINE THOUGH. RAVEN COSMETICS. By The Student's Guide To Nail Polish on Nina Ultra Pro Hazelnut on 12/07/11
	Nina does tend to get ignored. Sometimes Sally stores here will have sales on them, and I've picked up a few on clearance from time to time. THE PACKAGING IS JUST "MEH" IMHO AND THAT COSTS THEM SALES....EVERYBODY GOES IN AND JUST LOOKS FOR THE OPI AND CHINA GLAZE. By KarenD on Nina Ultra Pro Hazelnut on 12/07/11
	What Sarah said--not to glam up the corpse but rather keep it from horrifying people any more than having a dead body on display already does. My immediate family leans toward the cremation followed by memorial service school of thought so we haven't had many open caskets, but they are pretty commonplace. Odd to go to visitation to support friends and see their parent for the first time, dead and laid out as if sleeping in their Sunday best. JUST DON'T DISPLAY THE BODY IS EASIEST. I JUST THINK IT'S WEIRD. CULTURALLY BRAINWASHED I AM. By KarenD on Twitter will be the death of me... on 12/07/11
	I never get along well with these corrector sticks, they always seems to make me spotty and I always gets the stuff everywhere when I twist the end for ages and then it all comes out at once :/ I love the pink grapefruit polish and knockout red is my favourite reds, especially for the price! :) xx THE PINK G SEEMS TO HAVE SLIGHT SHIMMER IN OTHER SWATCHES BUT NOT ON ME. I WAS SLIGHTLY DISAPPOINTED. By Gemx on Boots 17 Hide & Chic - not so much YSL Touche Ecla... on 11/07/11
	Despite having ridiculously red cheeks I've never actually liked green correctors, maybe it's because I'm so pale but I always just end up looking a bit green! I love the free nail art stickers, pink leopard print hearts? Yes please! YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY RUDDY TO WEAR THEM AND I AM. YOU ARE TOO PERFECT! By Lillian Funny Face on Boots 17 Hide & Chic - not so much YSL Touche Ecla... on 10/07/11
	Pretty. And yes she's is very thin, I'm most fascinated by her lack of hips (as someone who is overendowed in the hip department). It's obviously her natural body shape as Pippa is v. similar but how she's gonna do her sprogging duty?! By Cali369 on Mavala Romantic on 10/07/11 YEAH, POTENTIAL ROYALS HAVE TO BE CHECKED FOR FECUNDITY. GUESS THEY HAVE C-SECTIONS WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE?    Spam   |   Delete   |   Remove Content
	Ooh, this is a nice one! By ABOP (laquerlove on MUA) on Mavala Khaki Vintage on 10/07/11
	Painting the nails of prom goers? Where was my invitation??? Though technically I'm attending afterprom, not prom :P What I like to do is to paint the tips on with tape, and then create a nice smile line with a cotton bud in acetone. Thanks for the shoutout in your previous post! BELIEVE ME, OUR PROM WAS NOT A COOL PROM. By The Student's Guide To Nail Polish on French tips....a bad day in Bordeaux.. on 07/07/11
	Karen, thanks for the advice. Northern Lights is by The Edge. They are well cheap. Google 'em. By jaljen on French tips....a bad day in Bordeaux.. on 07/07/11
	Sorry Jenni is Northern Lights a BeautyUK or another brand? I can't find it on their website? By Karen on French tips....a bad day in Bordeaux.. on 07/07/11 NO, IT'S "THE EDGE". ALSO BRITISH. NEVER SEEN IT BLOGGED. WHICH IS A SHAME.
	Hi Jenni, I love this mani. I love glitter too! I'm definitely going to get myself Northern Lights for starters I don't have any BeautyUK polish but I'm going to go have a look tomorrow. One tip for Manis that I do is use a ring binder sticker to cover your cuticle that way you don't have nail polish too near your nail bed and cuticle, its a tip someone told me so feel free to share it. Karen THIS IS ME SHARING THE IDEA AND IT'S A DARNED GOOD ONE. By Karen on French tips....a bad day in Bordeaux.. on 07/07/11     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

Leighton Denny Miss Behavin'

 

I like blue least of all possible nail colours on me (except perhaps red which is such a cliche) but I am currently sporting blue polish on both hands. Not the SAME blue. Obviously.

2 coats of LD which is plenty, plenty. I think Leighton Denny is the best polish I have ever tried. I do wish it weren't so expensive. This colour has shimmer, depth and a jewel-like quality. Exquisite.

I have tried my very best to source LD more cheaply but they keep a very tight hold on their distribution. There isn't even a sale section on their own website! Grrr.

When they come up as a magazine freebie then BUY THE blahddy magazine. This is a mini that I got from TK Maxx. Four for eleven quid. 4.6 ml bottles but totally worth it. I tell you no lies.

Jenni

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