Updated Nail Polish Collection

I did a nail polish collection at some point during last summer but it's expanded quite a bit since then so I thought I would do an update on my collection. Just a little warning, this will turn into a really long post!

Pinks

I'll do them all left to right just so I don't have to keep writing it.

Top Row: Barry M - Bright Pink, Rimmel - Funtime Fuscia, OPI - That's Hot! Pink, China Glaze - Strawerry Fields, Revlon - posh pink.

Bottom Row: Nail Incs - Shoreditch, Nails Inc - Hollywood, Models Own - Pink Blush, No.7 - Milan, Ciate - Kniker Bocker Glory.

 Purples

 Top Row: Barry M - Vivid Purple, Barry M - Bright Purple, OPI - Purple With a Purpose, OPI - Done Out in Deco, Collection 2000 - Dynasty

Bottom Row: Ciate - Shaken Not Stirred, Ciate - Plastic Fantastic, Nails Inc - Melrose Avenue, Models Own - Lilac Dream

 Corals

Top Row: Orly - Cotton Candy, OPI -Shootout at the Coral OK, Revlon - Tropical Temptation, Barry M - Flamingo Pink, Rimmel - Rose Libertine.

Bottom Row: Nails Inc - Instyle Coral, Nails Inc - The Beach, Models Own - Coral Reef.

Reds

 

Nails Inc  - Beverly Hills, Nails Inc - Victoria & Albert, Barry M - Raspberry, Maybelline - Cerise Cherry, Revlon - Cherries in the Snow, China Glaze - Ruby Pumps

Blues/Greens

Top Row: Nails Inc - Rodeo Drive, OPI - Blue My Mind, OPI - Teal the Cows Come Home, China Glaze - Watermelon Rind, China Glaze - For Aubrey

Botton Row - Barry M - Navy, Barry M - Turquoise, Barry M - Mint Green, Collection 2000 - Button Moon

 Darks

Top Row: OPI - Black Onyx, OPI - Ink, OPI - Black Cherry Cutney, Tesco (it doesn't have a name on it sorry), No. 7 - Temptress.

Bottom Row: Mavala - Las Vegas, Barry M - Grey, Nails Inc - Victoria, No.7 - Betty Blues

Neutrals

  

Top Row - OPI - Got a Date to-knight, Models Own - Eutopia, Nails Inc - Elizabeth Street, L'oreal - 102, Barry M - Baby Pink, Rimmel - Beige Style, Models Own - Snow White, Mavala - Top Coat.

Middle Row - No.7 - Twinkle, Sally Hansen - Sheerly Opal, Orly - base coat, Seche Vite - Base, OPI - Nail Envy, Rimmel - Top Coat, Seche Vite - Top Coat

Bottom Row: OPI - Soft shades.

If you would like a swatch of any of my nail polishes just leave a comment and I'll post a picture.

What's your favourite nail polish??

Lots of Love, Laura xXx

NOTD - Orly Cotton Candy

I was looking for a pastel pinky peachy colour for a while and when i saw swatches of Orly - Cotton Candy I thought it looked lovely.

The colour doesn't dissapoint, it's a gorgeous pastel peachy colour which is perfect for the summer pastel trend. However the formulation of this polish isn't so fantastic. A opaque coverage after two coats is easily achieved but I had issues with this polish streaking. It looked slightly better after my seche vite top coat had been applied but the finish still wasn't perfect. I think it's worth the effort just for the colour though :)

What colours will you be wearing on your nails this summer?

Laura xXx

NOTD: Nails Inc - Rodeo Drive

I bought Nails Inc 'The Hills' Collection back in December, purely just because it was 'The Hills' collection. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were all unique to colours i already have in my collection.

This is rodeo drive, one of my personal favourites from the collection. It's a dark teal cream. I don't own anything else like this but i love it, i just think it's a really unique colour. The consistency of this is great aswell, it's completley opaque with one coat.

Did you give in to the hills collection?

Laura xXx

Recent Nail Polish Haul

One of my new year's resolutions for 2010 was to not buy anymore nail polish. I lasted three months and last week I caved in and ended up buying some. One thing I've learnt from this is that i definately have a problem when it comes to nail polish... I'm obsessed!

Models Own:

I've heard loads about models own nail polish's so i thought it would be rude not to try them out.

From left to right: Lilac Dream, Eutopia, Coral Reef, Pink Blush.

China Glaze and Orly:

From right to left: Orly - cotton candy and China Glaze - For Audrey

OPI mini collection - soft shades 2010:

This collection includes from left to right: Isn't that precious, pink-a-doodle, I think in pink and It's a girl.

I haven't had chance to try them all out yet but on first impressions, models own nail polishes seem really nice, I love the china glaze and orly polishes but I'm a little dissapointed with the OPI collection. Look out for reviews and NOTD's with these polishes soon.

In case any of you are interested i use two sellers on ebay to buy my nail polishes, Sally's Manicure Supplies and Nails Supply UK. I prefer to buy from UK sellers on ebay which both these sellers are and I've never had any problems with either of them.

Laura xXx

Ciate Paint Pots

I’ve wanted to try this brand of nail polish for ageeess so I was so happy when I was sent some to try! I was sent four of the ciate paint pots to try... isn’t the packaging just adorable!?

I was really impressed with these nail polishes, they are really easy to work with and have great coverage. You get the colour in the bottle with two coats and they are really long lasting. They have a long and pretty flat brush which I found made application really easy. They retail for £9 for 13.5ml and I think they are well worth the money.

Knickerbockerglory:

This is pretty much as hot pink as hot pink gets. I was super excited when I saw this colour and it didn’t disappoint when I got it on my nails. It’s a deep, rich, almost red hot pink and I absolutely love it. I have lots of hot pinks in my collection but this is totally unique to any of them. I couldn’t stop looking at this colour when it was on my nails.

Plastic Fantastic:

This colour is a purpely pink berry colour which looks gorgeous on the nails and I think it would suit any skin tone. It’s not too bright so I think it would be perfect to take you into the autumn/winter months.

Refresher:

This is a pastel, powder blue. I’m not usually a huge fan of blue’s on my nails but I like this because it’s so light it still looks really feminine and pretty. I was really impressed with the consistency of this one because I find sometimes light colours don’t provide opaque coverage but this was totally opaque in two coats.. brilliant!!

Shaken not stirred:

When I saw this colour in the bottle I thought it would be my least favourite. But it was a different story once I got it on my nails. It’s a purple with pink tones and blue running though it and it looks just gorgeous when the light hits it. It doesn’t look much in the bottle but it really comes to life once it’s on the nails. It’s totally unique to anything else I have in my collection and it’s gorgeous!

I will definitely be purchasing some more of the ciate paint pot range, I have my eye on a few colours already, I love that all the colours are really unique. Cookies and cream looks like a great colour and I need to have it just because of the name. Cookies and cream is my favourite ice cream flavour... yum!

Laura xXx

NOTD: French Manciure

I haven't done a french mancure in years because i usually prefer a bold colour on my nails and i just don't think i'm that good at it! I thought i would give it a go today and i'm quite pleased with the results :) Although my right hand is always a bit of a nightmare because i just can't keep a stready hand!!

Products used:

• 
  
  OPI nail envy as a base
• 
  
  Avon french manicure white
• 
  
  Sally Hansen sheerly opal
• 
  
  Seche Vite top coat

What are sporting on your nails this weekend?
Hope you're having a great saturday! Laura xXx

Favourite Three Nail Polishes

This is my entry for the nail buff's contest. If you havent already go check it out.. its a fab blog! :)

From left to right...

OPI - shootout at the ok coral - this is the first coral nail polish i bought when i began my 'obsession' and it continues to be my favourite. It's so vibrant and with the pinky/purple duochrome it just makes it that bit different to all the other corals out there.

OPI - done out on deco - it's just a simple cream lavender but i love it! It's not the type of colour i usually go for and when i first heard about it, i thought it wasn't for me. But since buying it i've fallen in love with it.

OPI - that's hot pink - hot pink nails have always and will always be my favorite nail colour. And hot pink nails don't get much better than this colour. It's a rich and vibrant shade of pink and i can't stop looking at whenever i wear it!

Laura xXx

My Nail Polish Collection

I have always been into nail polish from a very early age! My collection was quite big when i was younger but then i sort of got out of the habit of painting my nails through uni. But now i'm building my collection up again!

Here it is as it stands at the minute:

I just store them all in a plastic vanity box. Totally unorganised but it works for me :)



The pinks:

Top row (left to right)

• OPI - thats hot pink
• Barry M - 279 bright pink
• China Glaze - strawberry fields
• rimmel 60 seconds - funtime fuchsia
• rimmel 60 seconds - rose libertine

Botton row

• no 7 stay perfect - 25 twinkle
• revlon - 090 posh pink
• Sally hansen - sheerly opal
• Loreal resist and shine - 102
• OPI - got a date to-knight

The oranges/red:

• china glaze - ruby pumps
• nails inc - insytle coral
• OPI - shootout at the ok coral
• revlon - tropical temptation

The greens:

• Barry M - mint green
• China Glaze - watermelon rind

The blues:

• Barry M - cyan blue 294
• OPI - teal the cows come home
• OPI - blue my mind
• no 7 stay perfect - 110 betty blues

The purples:

• OPI - ink
• OPI - purple with a purpose
• OPI - done out in deco

The Plums/Blacks:

• OPI - black cherry chutney
• -OPI - black onyx
• -tesco nail polish (dont have the colour :( )

The Clears/whites:

top row

• avon lasting lengths laquer
• nails inc albert bridge top coat
• OPI nail envy
• seche vite top caot
• seche vite base coat

Botton row

• avon french manicre
• sally hansen french manicure

Pinks seem to be the most popular in my collection and they definately are my favourite colours to paint my nails!

The only major gap i can see in my collection are nude polishes! I've never had one before so any recommendations would be very welcome!! :)

Hope you are all having a great saturday!

Laura xXx

NOTD

Barry M Nail Paint - Bright Pink (279)

This is only the second time i have tried a Barry M Nail Paint. I have the barry M mint green but i think the consistency of the bright pink is much better. I heard these nail paints differ is consistincency right? The bright pink is really creamy and goes on streak free and opaque in two coats!

The colour is i bit brighter than its coming up in this picture, it's looks a bit pale but it really is quite bright! But i like it :D And it compliments my dress for tonight perfectly!

10/10 for me on this nail paint! REALLY impressed!!

Laura xXx

REVIEW: Seche Vite Top Coat

I’ve been using the seche vite top coat for about three weeks now. And despite my good first impressions I’m not impressed...

Let me explain...

I bought this top coat to prevent my nail polish from chipping because my nail polish always chips soo quickly and it frustrates me. However, it just didn’t fulfil this purpose.

I painted my nails with OPI’s done out in deco on Monday evening at about 5pm, and this is what my nails looked like at about 4.30pm on Tuesday afternoon! That’s just under 24 hours!!

(There were more chips on my left hand but i just couldn't get a clear photo)

This isn’t the only time this has happened, I change my nail colour all the time (mainly because it chips quickly) and it’s never really lasted longer than 24 hours without chipping!

I have read some really good reviews about this product so I think my nails are just incapable of holding nail polish on for any length of time!! I know a lot of people swear by this product but I just wanted to give you all my honest opinion based on my experience.

In some ways it’s the best top coat I have ever used. It creates the most amazing shine which doesn’t fade after an hour! It also dries really quickly so it’s good for if you are in a rush when your painting your nails!
But unfortunately it doesn’t prevent my nails from chipping, therefore it I’m still on the search for my HG top coat!

If anyone has any tips on how to prevent chipping, where I might be going wrong or any recommendations for a good top and base coat they would be greatly appreciated!!

Laura xXx

Seche Vite

I have real problems making my nail polish last... no matter what brand i use! Sometime it doesn't just chip is just literally peels off my nail! It annoys the hell out of me.. and after trying a multitude of different top and base coats and having no luck... i purchases the seche vite range.

I purchased the fast dry top coat and the ridge filling base coat.

I painted my nails this morning and was really happy with the application of these products. You're supposed to apply the top coat when ur nails are still wet... the thought of this scared me! I'm pretty sure if i did this with any other top coat it would end in absolute disaster! You almost just have to drop it on your nail and it levels itself out and creates a flawless looking nail with a super high shine!

So far so good... i will keep you updated on how my nail polish lasts!

Has anyone else tried any of the seche vite range??

Laura xXx

Mini Haul

...I really have no self control!


The main reason i went to boots was to buy a hair dye! I used to have blonde sections in the bottom layers of my hair and they are showing through again and i hate it! Originally i bought a reddy brown colour but i decided it was a bad idea because i want it to fade out naturally as i want to try and get back to my natural colour. So instead i went with a really plain dark brown thats close to my natural colour...



And of course while i was there i had to pick up a few extra bits to make the 'most' of the double points!!


I got two barry m glossy tubes in number 4 (left) which is a gorgeous nudey colour and number (2) which is a irridescent light pink colour. These are the first barry m glosses i have purchased and i LOVE them. The colours, the consistency, the pigmentation! I think they are great! :) Has anyone tried any of the other colours??


I also got the loreal super liner in carbon gloss. At the minute i use maybelline liner express, which is fine but i'm still experimenting with liquid liners because i only started using them about 4 months ago! (I never though i would be capable of applying it in a straight line) The main reason i got this is for the applicator, which is the same as the maybelline one. Its like the spongey tip... i really can't get on with the ones with the really fine brushes... how anyone achieves a straight line with that i will never know!



And finally i went mad on nail polish! Barry M nail paints are two for £5 at the minute, so i thought i would add to my collection. And revlon nail polishes had £2 off... so i couldn't resist picking up tropical temptation and spotted the cute pink colour aswell! Nail polish is definately my biggest weakness!!

From left to right - barry m 294 cyan blue, barry m 279 bright pink, revlon 093 tropical tempation, 090 posh pink.

Oh by the way... can anyone recommend me a really good base coat/top coat... my nail polish never seems to last no matter which brand i use and it really frustrates me!

Hope you all had a great monday!

Laura xXx