Friday 30 March 2012

Models Own Beetlejuice S/S 2012 - Tropical Sun


Peach shimmer with gold shimmer and silver glitter

The last of the Spring/Summer 2012 Beetlejuice colours is Tropical Sun








Tropical Sun is a peach with masses of gold micro shimmer and some slightly unexpected fine silver glitter, best seen in the 4th swatch pic.

Again the swatch is 3 coats with no top coat.

I think this one will look gorgeous on toes or with a bit of a tan (fake or otherwise!)

This one is definitely the least duochrome

Overall I'm very happy with these new colours.  They're suitably summery colours to reflect that it's a Spring/Summer collection.  They're still not massively opaque but they're pretty fast drying and for me all the colours are worth the time to do 3 coats.  I haven't done a wear test yet, will report back if the wear is extreme, bad or good!

What do you think of the collection, will you be making a home for them?

Thursday 29 March 2012

Models Own Beetlejuice 2012 - Copper Pot


Bronze shimmer with gold/green duochrome shimmer

The second of the three new colours in the Beetlejuice collection is Copper Pot









Copper Pot is a warm bronze with gold/green duochrome shimmer.  The duochrome is supplied by masses of sparkly shimmer and is reasonably strong. Again it looks wonderful in and out of sunlight.

Swatch show is 3 coats with no top coat.

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Models Own - Beetlejuice 2012 - Indian Ocean

Sheer blue/grey duochrome

Upfront warning, this is a sheer polish.  This is a duochrome/multichrome polish.  I took pictures both sheer and layered.  There are *lots* of pictures!

Last year Models Own launched a very successful collection of 5 polishes (which I haven't yet posted swatches of but I know you've all seen them already!)

This year, as a Spring/Summer 2012 Collection, they announced the addition of 3 new Beetlejuice polishes  Indian Ocean, Copper Pot and Tropical Summer

First up is Indian Ocean, in my view the prettiest and most duochrome of the three.  And the most sheer.

First up I tried it alone - these swatches are 3 coats with no top coat.  As you can see it's pretty sheer with loads of visible nail line.  And I think my delightfully stained nails may make it look greener than it is.  I've seen other blogs that went up to 5 coats, but it was not fully opaque.







Oooooh, but look at the pretties...

To me, Indian Ocean is a sheer grey toned blue with masses of pink/gold duochrome shimmer.  Models Own describe it as "a calming iridescent blue with soft pink undertones"

So then I thought I'd try layering it.  First over a mid blue, OPI What's With the Cattitude.  In hindsight this blue was a bit too bright and strong.




This is 2 coats over 3 coats of What's With the Cattitude.

Then I tried it over a more muted, but slightly too dark blue - Nails Inc Queensgate Terrace, a slighty dusky, mildy periwinkle mid blue creme


Again two coats over 2 coats of Queensgate Terrace.

Finally I thought I'd give it some underwear and try it over a nude base, Nails Inc Instyle Bare







Again 2 coats, over 2 coats of Bare.  I think this is close to the bottle colour but not quite there, perhaps a pale grey would work...?


But what can I say, it's gorgeous, if a little tricky!


The duochrome is fantastic, sparkly, foily with a strong colour change and it's looks gorgeous in sunlight and shade.

Make sure you pick this one up, just don't bother with it alone, layer it up!

What do you think of Indian Ocean?

Saturday 17 March 2012

George Quick Dry - Martian

Lime green creme

Here's my green for St Patrick's Day, the wonderfully named Martian from George (Asda)







Martian is a Quick Dry polish from George is a, not particularly flattering for me, light lime green creme.  I haven't compared them yet but it looks pretty similar to OPI's Who the Shrek are You?

Swatch is 2 coats with no top coat.  Formula and brush were good and the quick dry didn't cause a problem.

Are you wearing green, nails or otherwise for St Paddys?

Friday 16 March 2012

Butter London - Victoriana

Muted tealish blue with silver microshimmer

I'm slowly building up my Butter London collection, this is one of my latest acquisitions courtesy of ebay.




I'd seen Victoriana on several blogs and really liked it but for some reason I'm reluctant to pay full retail for Butter London so when it popped up on ebay I snapped it up if not for a bargain price then less than the RRP of £12.

Victoriana is a slightly dusty, muted teal leaning blue with masses of silver shimmer, so much so that it almost looks speckled.  And as you can see in the third pic it looks more teal in the sunlight.

Swatch shown is 2 coats, no top coat.  And application was great.   This has the new style bottle with the removable cap.

Victoriana was from the 2010 and I think was part of the Alexander McQueen collection

I'm really glad I picked this up, it's a gorgeous and unique polish.


Friday 9 March 2012

American Apparel - African Violet

Mid Purple Creme



I pulled this one out as I needed a fast drying opaque purple as the underwear for some layering of a Max Factor mini polish (coming soon).

I'm not going to comment too much on the politics of American Apparel, I know lots of folk are very uncomfortable about their owner and culture and some won't buy them,  but they do make mighty fine polishes, which is a bit shallow I know...

American Violet is a gorgeous mid purple creme.  Easily opaque in 2 coats and look how shiny it is...

Swatch shown is 2 coats, no top coat.


Saturday 3 March 2012

Boots.com are giving away 200 bottles of Max Factor's Fanstasy Fire!

200 bottles free with pre-order of 24 False Lash Effect Mascara on Weds 7th March

For all the UK folk who haven't been able to track down an elusive bottle of Max Factor's Fantasy Fire, there may be another way.

Get ready girls because Boots.com is giving away 200, yes 200 bottles, of Fantasy Fire!

And, as if free Fantasy Fire wasn't enough, one lucky person will win a fantastic trip to Ibiza

Here's the release from Max Factor's PR.


*FREE*







Max Colour Effect Mini Nail Polish in 
FANTASY FIRE

We’re excited to announce that Boots.com is set to give away
200 Max Colour Effect Mini Nail Polishes in Fantasy Fire!

At 10am on the 7th March, Boots.com is launching an exclusive pre-sale of 200 new 24 from False Lash Effect mascaras and is giving away a free Fantasy Fire with each purchase!


This new mascara innovation is the latest from False Lash Effect – as Max Factor’s No 1* mascara it is now available in a formula that lasts up to 24 hours!   The secret to its staying power is it’s built in primer which wraps each lash from root to tip.  Combined with the False Lash Effect formula and big bold bush, 24 from False Lash Effect mascara delivers volume that lasts up to 24 hours

Not only is this a chance to get your hands on this summer’s two must-have beauty products – 24 from False Lash Effect mascara and Max Colour Effect Mini Nail Polish in Fantasy Fire - one lucky person will also be able to win two tickets to the island that never sleeps – IBIZA!

Regarded as the world’s non-stop party island, the lucky winner can polish off her clubbing style with jewel lacquered nails and long-lasting super volumised lashes, thanks to 24 from False Lash Effect and Max Colour Effect Mini Nail polish.  The VIP prize includes flights, accommodation and a pair of tickets to a main stage event party at Ibiza Rocks, one of the most sought after and exciting summer stages and all with an additional £250 spending money!  Plus, a pair of the hottest tickets in town - a super cool DJ boat party with resident DJ sets, acoustic performances and very special guest appearances.

Hurry – as stocks are strictly limited to 200!

*False Lash Effect Mascara has won 10 awards in the UK since launch in 2008
** RRP £11.99

Friday 2 March 2012

George - Jester

Red sparkly jelly 



A lovely sparkly red quick dry jelly from supermarket brand George at Asda.

Jester (46) is a pinky red jelly which is packed with a fine microglitter in what looks like gold and pink.

As this is a jelly it never reaches opacity but it's still yummy.

Swatch shown is 3 coats, no top coat.

George Quick Dry polishes are pretty dinky at only 5ml but are also cheap at £2, from your local Asda of course.