Kiko 238

I love a good red polish and 238 is definitely a good red polish; it's a bold, bright cherry red sort of shade perfect for a classic red nailed look.

 

 

As with most Kiko creams this polish is a total winner, it's pretty much a one-coater and applies so smoothly and evenly, I did two coats but you really could get away with one if you were in a rush.

 

And look at the shine on it!  You really can't beat a classic red nail polish manicure, I think it looks particularly cute on shorter nails too.

New Sparkles

 

While I was browsing nail blogs online the other day I came across a post about a gorgeous polish called Cosmic Purple by W7, I decided that I had to have it and my first port of call for W7 polishes is always Nail Polish Direct.  I found Cosmic Purple and also added Cosmic Green and Multi Dazzle to my order.

 

They arrived so quickly, it felt like less than 24 hours since I'd ordered, in fact they were so fast that they almost beat the email I received to tell me they had been dispatched.  Here they are:

 

 

 

Cosmic Purple is a sheer purple jelly base with blue, purple and silver glitter through it, Cosmic Green is a clear base with yellowy lime green and blue glitter and Multi Dazzle is a clear base with, surprise, surprise, multi coloured glitter through it, there are large pieces and small pieces.  This one looks very much like a dupe of Happy Birthday by Deborah Lippmann / OPI Rainbow Collection / Milani Gems which for £1.99 is no bad thing!

 

 

 

I can't wait to try these polishes out so keep your eyes open for some blog posts featuring them very soon!

Kiko 371

This polish is a gorgeous caramel shade, in photographs using flash you can see that it is shot through with a golden glitter, sadly this isn't quite so obvious under regular lighting.

 

 

However, even without the golden glitter peeking through this is a beautiful polish, it's a beautiful warm caramel shade.  Very sophisticated and a perfect neutral colour.  As with almost all Kiko polishes it applies like a dream.

I got a new phone this week, which means a new camera too, it definitely seems better for taking nail photos but I am a little shocked at how well it shows up my dry skin and horrid cuticles, rest assured I will be on serious skin care duty from now on to try and sort it out!  Now on to the pictures, the first too with flash are showing slightly more grey than the polish looks in reality.

 

 

Models Own - Hayley's Comet over Black

My first instinct when I saw Hayley's Comet, the newest addition to Models Own Beetlejuice Collection, was that it would look great over a darker base colour so rather than try it alone I decided to put it over black and see how that looked, first here's a couple of bottle shots for those who may not have seen it in person yet.

 

 

And a little swatch of the polish on it's own, as you can see it's a pinky sort of base chock full of turquoise blue shimmer particles which make it pretty duochrome in the bottle.  The formula is thin, this is not an opaque polish at all, I would guess you'd need a minimum of 3 coats to get good coverage on bare nails.  Unfortunately for me my nails are still so stained that 3 coats probably wouldn't have done it so I decided to go with the black base.

 

 

And here are the results (excuse the messy cuticles and splodges on my fingers I wanted to get pictures before the light went completely):

 

 

Over a dark base the turquoise and blue tones really show through, this is what you see on your nails the majority of the times.

 

 

However at certain angles you can really see the purple colours coming through too.

 

 

At other angles it's almost teal.

 

 

 

This polish reminds me quite a bit of Sally Hansen Turquoise Opal the colour shifts are not quite so varied or strong but there are definite similarities and since Turquoise Opal is so hard to track down it's definitely worth picking Hayley's Comet up if you like the look.

 

I have a feeling this could be a very versatile polish, the look you get over dark colours is totally different to wearing it alone and I already have ideas for other base shades to try it over, over black you lose all the pinky bronze tones so I'd like to try something that picks up on them a bit more too.  Overall another winner from Models Own, I think!

Kiko 391

Another gorgeous Kiko polish today.  This one was almost opaque in a single coat but I did two just to make sure.  391 is a lush grass green, it's very bright and probably more suited to spring but I couldn't resist trying it out.  I think it'll be a gorgeous base colour for some stamping over the weekend.

 

The photos are not great, I am really struggling at the moment to take photos since it's dark when I get up and dark when I get in from work, these two using flash really do show the polish's true colour though, even if they also highlight the horrible state of my cuticles!

 

 

 

Excuse my wet hands here, it is not a very nice day in Glasgow and the best light was on the train, where I had to manhandle by wet umbrella, this shot is in daylight and gives quite a good idea of the colour too, although the first two are probably more exact.

No7 Star Shower

I was in Boots the other day having a look at the new No7 counter, they've recently re-branded and re-packaged all of their products and changed round the counters, the majority of the products seem to be similar to what was there before but there are a few new products, including this nail polish shade which I picked up, Star Shower.

Star Shower is a strange sort of colour, on first glance it remind me of Urban Decay's Stash eyeliner pencil or a polish which wouldn't look out of place in the Orly Cosmic FX collection of a few years back.  A sort of murky grey, green, gold combination with the addition of bronze coloured flakies and very fine blue glitter particles too. 

All the glitter and flakies give it a sort of duochrome look, changing through grey, gold and brown depending on how the light hits it.  It's a very interesting colour, very shimmery and glittery but still quite subtle.  It's the sort of glitter that's suitable for people who don't really wear glitter. 

Now on to some nail shots, ignore the fact I have had to crop out my index finger, I've had a mauled cuticle incident and nobody needs to see it in it's current state:

These pictures are 3 coats on bare nails but I'd be interested to try it as a top coat over a black or dark blue to see how that changed the look of the polish. 

 

I bought this polish with a Boots voucher, which gives £3 off any cosmetics purchase.  The nail polishes are now £5.50 so with a voucher the polish cost just £2.50.  More expensive than it used to be when using a £5 off voucher but still a pretty good deal.

 

Swatchicles

What are Swatchicles I hear you cry?  Well, this post should explain! 

 

As your nail polish collection grows it can be difficult (if you're like me!) to remember exactly what you have hidden away in drawers so for this reason I like to swatch all my polishes on my Nail Claws, also commonly known in the nail world as Swatchicles.

 

 

Swatchicles are colour swatches of each polish which are stuck onto lollipop (popsicle) sticks to help you keep track of your collection, colour match your polish and compare similar shades.  The nail comes from the combination of the words Swatch and Popsicle, because these are swatches of colour attached to popsicle (or lollipop if you are based in the UK like me) sticks.

 

For me they are the easiest and most practical way to keep track of exactly what I have in my stash.  Nail wheels are fine if you aren't planning on adding to your collection but as soon as you do you either have to start the whole wheel again to add the new shade into the right place or you have to live with your colours being out of order (something my slightly OCD attitude will not allow).

 

These swatch sticks are also very simple to make, and generally a lot cheaper than buying nail wheels or stands with ready made swatch sticks included.  Here's my speedy guide on how to make your own should you wish to:

 

 

All you need are lolly sticks, false nail tips and double sided sticky pads.  I buy my lolly pop sticks and nails from eBay or Amazon depending on who is cheapest but a craft shop, for the sticks, or beauty supply store, for the nails, would also work.

 

I buy the nails I use in a size 2, these are a good fit to the sticks and give a nice large area of colour once they're painted.  Some people use larger nails but I find this size is big enough and I like the fact they end up being in line with the lolly stick.

 

 

To create your Swatchicle simple double over a sticky pad, attach it to the top of your stick and then place your false tip over the top, give it a little squeeze and you're ready to paint.

 

 

On your stick you can then write any information you like to have handy about the swatch, generally I do Brand, Polish Name, Polish Number and number of coats I've done on each swatch.  This means when I choose a colour I know exactly which bottle type and drawer to look for to locate that polish.  Once they're all painted and labelled they're ready for matching and comparisons.

 

 

As you can see, I have quite a collection forming which I keep in Tupperware pots for easy access, they look nice and colourful sat on my mantelpiece, like little pots of nail shaped flowers. :)

 

 

Having all the colours I own easily accessible and beside each other means that I don't tend to over look colours just because they are older or hidden at the back of a drawer, it also means I can store my polishes by brand rather than colour family which makes it really simple to find the bottle I want as fast as possible.  It also means I can easily compare similar colours to see which best suits my needs (and outfit) that day.

 

 

I tend to save up my new buys and paint the sticks in bulk, that way I can get a little production line going and by the time I get back to the first stick it's ready for it's second coat.

 

 

So, there you have it, an introduction to Swatchicles!  Do you swatch all your polishes? How do you store your swatches?  If you don't swatch, how do you organise and keep track of your collection?

My Top Coat Heros

Choosing the right top coat can make a huge difference to how your nail painting experience goes.  Nobody wants to sit about for hours on end with wet nails trying to avoid chipping them only to put a huge obvious dent in one as soon as you feel brave enough to move.

 

For me, quick drying top coats totally changed how I felt about doing my nails.  There is no way I would change my polish as often as I do if I hadn't found a top coat (or three) which really make a difference to drying time while still giving my manicure great protection and an ultra shiny finish.

 

So, for today's post I thought I would introduce you to the top coats I use and love:

 

Sally Hansen Insta Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

Kiko Gel Look Ultra Glossy Effect Top Coat

Boots No7 Stay Perfect Top Coat Touch dry in 60 seconds

 

The first quick drying top coat I found was Sally Hansen Insta Dri, I was amazed when I tried it as it actually did dry really fast!  Previously 'quick dry' top coats I had tried were never really up to much and certainly weren't touch dry within a few minutes.  With Insta Dri your manicure really is touch dry within a few minutes, it also leaves a lovely glossy shine on your nails.  I find the wear time with this top coat really good, although it is prone to tip wear at times, especially if you type a lot like I do.  I would say this is my favourite top coat although it's not my most used, simply because it can be quite costly if you go through as many bottle as I do!

 

The second top coat I tried was another I didn't really have high hopes for initially.  I first tried Boots No7 Stay Perfect Top Coat when I had a £5 voucher that needed using up and I had run out of nail colours to use it on.  With a voucher this top coat comes in at £2 which is a great price for a product which really does work.  The bottle says 'touch dry in 60 seconds' and it actually lives up to it's promise!  This is the top coat I use most often nowadays, simply because it's easy to get hold of, it's a great deal when the Boots vouchers are on and it really does work.  My nails dry fast, the polish lasts well and they look shiny and glossy just like you'd want.  Of the three this would be my top pick, for the money it just can't be beaten (although I wouldn't pay full price (£7) for it).

 

Finally, a recent edition to my collection, Kiko Gel Look Top Coat, this was sold to me as being the same finish as you'd get with a gel manicure cured under UV lights, never having had a gel manicure I can't really comment on how similar the finish is but what I can say is that this is another fast drying, ultra glossy look top coat which I really like.  The one issue I have had with it was that it tends to bubble slightly in the bottle meaning tiny bubbles can be carried onto your nails which then leave little holes and imperfections in the polish.  I've only had this issue when it's been a lot warmer, never at home in Scotland, so it's really only worth mentioning if you happen to live somewhere where heat may be an issue, not the UK then!  If you live in cooler climes then this one is definitely worth trying out.

 

I rarely experience shrinkage with any of these top coats, the worst offender is the Sally Hansen and even then it happens very, very rarely so it isn't something I would highlight as an issue at all with any of these top coats.  I also find they all work well over my stamping manicures and don't tend to drag the polish or smudge and smear my stampied images.  If I'm using them over stamping then I tend to apply a thicker layer and sort of float it over the whole nail rather than dragging the brush through the stamp too much, but even when I am less careful applying them I've never had much of an issue with them dragging or smearing my work.

 

With all of these top coats you can still dent or smear your polish, they aren't rock solid immediately but they dry fast enough that if you have to you can have 3 coats of polish and the top coat on and dry well within half an hour which for me is good enough.  I'm sure they are often dry sooner but 30 minutes is the minimum amount of time I tend to leave myself.

 

A good top coat will definitely make the difference but I still like to allow as long a time as possible to make sure my nails are properly set, for this reason I tend to paint my nails in the evening while watching TV so they get a good chance to set before I go to bed or have to go and do anything.

 

The major benefit for me with all these top coats is the shiny, glossy finish and the extended wear time of my polishes combined with knowing that if I did have to do my nails in a hurry I would have a good chance of getting out the door without them all being chipped within 5 minutes!

 

What top coats do you use?

Glow in the Dark Nail Polish!

I saw this polish on Lucy's Stash recently and decided to order a few from Born Pretty to try them out.  I also found a couple of great photos which led me to Ducky's blog, I love pretty colours and to a post on The Polished Perfectionist all showing the polish glowing pretty strongly.

 

 

I've wanted to try a glow in the dark polish for some time now and these ones seemed both decent quality and an alright price so I went ahead and ordered 3 of them.  Here's what I chose, 02 a pale green shade, 05 a neon orange and 12 a shocking pink.

 

 

 

I tired 02 last night and was really pleased with the results, the polish isn't great to apply, it's quite thick and takes ages to dry and it smells very strong, I would hazard a guess this is not a 3 free product!  However, with a little patience and a couple of coats over a base of Barry M white polish I managed to get a look I was quite happy with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, over a base coat the glow in the dark polish left my nails a very pale, mint green shade.  Nothing particularly special in itself but also not horrible and perfectly wearable.  The real test was when I turned out the lights, would the polish glow brightly?  The answer is YES!  I was really pleased with how bright and clear the glow from my nails was when I went to bed that evening and I couldn't wait to try taking a few pictures to show it off.

 

 

Unfortunately my phone does not take good dark pictures and these attempts are pathetic to say the least, you'll see now why I linked the three lovely blogs at the beginning who can take pictures properly!  Next time I'll have a go with my proper camera and a different shutter speed but for now these two grainy attempts are your lot:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although the pictures are awful I can assure you that this polish really does glow in the dark, even my partner commented on it and said how he was surprised at just how well it worked.  I can't wait to try out the other two and I will definitely be using one of these polishes at Halloween to create a spooky manicure effect.

 

 

Have you tried glow in the dark polish before?  What do you think?

My latest Kiko Haul!

If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know that every time I go to see my parents in Spain I pay a little visit to the nearest Kiko shop to stock up.

This time I was rather restrained and only bought a few polishes on my visit.  Partly as I was trying to be good and partly because I seem to own most of Kiko's selection by now due to my bad habits. :)

Here's what I picked up this time:

The last time I was in Spain I went a bit wild, they new summer colours for 2012 were just out so I grabbed quite a few of them as they were also reduced in price in store, unfortunately I went so wild that I couldn't bring all of my goodies home with me, so I had quite a stash to bring home this time.

Along with my purchases from this visit and last visit I also added 3 of the new Lavish Oriental Holographic polishes (which I've swatched two of here and here) to my collection, so all in there was quite an army to bring back with me.

I've included a picture with their numbers on too, so it's easy to identify them. 

Look out for lots of Kiko colours in the next few weeks as I try and work my way through all my new beauties!  You can see my first attempt to try some of them out doing a Rainbow Manicure here.