OPI - Oy-Another Polish Joke!

Sheerish shimmery gold  

Oy-Another Polish Joke! is a sheer(ish) shimmery gold.

I had read it was sheer so I tried one coat layered over yesterdays Can't Find My Czechbook

It turns out OAPJ is actually a bit too dense for layering but I did end up with this pretty almost verdigris look which I love.

OPI - Can't Find My Czechbook

Muted blue creme  

Can't Find My Czechbook (I do groan at some of these OPI polish names, perhaps that's the point?!) is a muted turquoise leaning blue creme.  IRL this was slightly more green than the pictures show.

Swatch shown is 2 coats with no top coat and you can see it's not super shiny.

Application was slightly streaky but it ended up ok.  And it's a mini bottle from the Euro Minis collection of four shades.

Nailgirls Purple #2 - Irredescent Purple

Plum/purple shimmer  

Described by the brand as "The ultimate in Burlesque, a high shine, silver irredescent (sic) purple nail varnish. Not really one for the shrinking violet."

Purple #2 (I can't bring myself to misspell iridescent again) is a pretty but not very unique purple/plum with a silvery shimmer.

Swatch shown is 2 coats with no top coat and application was good

Leighton Denny - Upgrade Me

Creamy yellow sheer with pale gold flakes  

After yesterday's Leighton Denny win I think I can safely say this one is not a win, on me at least.

Upgrade Me is a sheer pale yellow with loads of pale gold flaky shimmer.  The bottle close up looks so delicate and pretty, it's just didn't translate well on the nail for me

Upgrade Me is part of the Jet Setter collection, which I have as minis, which was 4 flight themed shades.

The collection blurb describes it as a 'cool cream shimmer' - I suppose you could call it cream but to me it's pale yellow.  Which is of course partly why it looks pretty awful with my skintone.

It's also very sheer.... I've lost my notes for this swatch but I think this was at least 3 coats.

I've also seen this layered, which over the right colour, might be a better use of it's prettiness.

Leighton Denny - Coconutty

Taupe with gold flaky shimmer  

Close up of the flaky shimmer...

Boy, I love this...

Leighton Denny Coconutty is a cool taupe with fine gold flaky shimmer, you'd think it might not work, taupe is primarily a cool toned colour so to mix gold in could jar, but it doesn't - it's fabulous.

I've seen other swatches where the base colour looks much warmer and chocolately, but on me it definitely leans cool taupe...

And such a cool name too, makes you think of a delicious dessert...

Swatch shown is 2 coats with no top coat, application & formula were great too.

Alessandro - 215 Lucky Violet

Plum/pink shimmer 

Alessandro 215, which I'm pretty sure is called Lucky Violet is a pinky purple with fine pink shimmer

Swatch shown is 2 coats with no top coat

I like this, it's a pretty purple and I like that the shimmer is nicely visible.

Alessandro - Dark Denim

Deep greyed blue creme  

Dark Denim is a very dark slightly greyed blue creme.

Formula and application are great and this is a one coat wonder if you're careful, swatches shown are 2 coats with no top coat.

But beware there is a downside to all this - total smurf nails on removal!  Definitely double up on the base coat.

Nails Inc - Special Effects 3D Glitter - Bedford Square

Full coverage gold holo glitter  

Oh dear, my post Nails Inc November hiatus lasted longer than expected.  Unfortunately December, Christmas and even the start of the New Year have been frantic and I just couldn't find the time for blogging.
So here's a very belated Happy New Year to all for 2014, I hope you all had a lovely, relaxing festive period and lets kick things off with some lovely glitter...

Bedford Square is a 3D Glitter from Nails Incs' Special Effects range.  Previous forays show these are usually near full coverage glitters and this is no exception.  

Bedford Square covered in 3 coats.  It dries with a matte, fairly gritty finish so I've shown pics both with and without top coat.

As for the colour, it's primarily a slightly muted gold with scattered holo glitter and a smattering of red glitter - best show in the close-up bottle shots.

Gold isn't usually too good with my skintone but I think because this isn't too yellow toned it works ok.

Nailgirls - Taupe #1

Metallic taupe  

So Taupe #1 - is it taupe?  It seems to be more of a beige/grey shade but I suppose the purple tones in taupe aren't always visible in lighter shades.

Nailgirls descibe it as metallic mushroom which kinda fits...

I like it despite it being a bit frosty and a bit brushstrokey

Swatch shown is 2 coats, no top coat as usual

Alessandro - Turquoise Ocean

Bright blue creme  

This always happens, I manage to up my blog post rate for a challenge, in this case Nails Inc November, and then it all goes to pot once the challenge is over!

So trying to get back in the swing of things even though it's December and I've hardly done any Christmas shopping....

Turquoise Ocean is a lovely, if not super unique or very turquoise blue creme from Alessandro.

Application was great and the swatch shown is 2 coats for full opacity.

This is a mini, 5ml bottle that I picked up from the internet sale site Vente-Privee

Nails Inc November Finale - Special Effects 3D Glitter - Hammersmith

Silver turquoise teal glitter bomb  

Last Nails Inc swatch of the month and so out with a bomb, a glitter bomb!

Hammersmith is one of the Nails Inc 3D Glitters which are totally *packed* with glitter.

The glitter is silver, turquoise and teal (to my eyes) and ranges from fine to chunky hexagons.

This was 3 coats for me and is shown without topcoat - it's gonna eat topcoat....

It's a pretty rough finish too.  But look at the pretties!