08 is a pretty purple shimmer (aren't all purple shimmers pretty?!) with fine pink flecks and sparkles.
Ok, so it's not super unique but it's nice.
Application was good and swatches shown are 3 coats, no top coat.
Monday, 23 June 2014
Hema - 08
Purple shimmer
Another un-named polish from Hema, this one does at least have a number, 08.
08 is a pretty purple shimmer (aren't all purple shimmers pretty?!) with fine pink flecks and sparkles.
Ok, so it's not super unique but it's nice.
Application was good and swatches shown are 3 coats, no top coat.
08 is a pretty purple shimmer (aren't all purple shimmers pretty?!) with fine pink flecks and sparkles.
Ok, so it's not super unique but it's nice.
Application was good and swatches shown are 3 coats, no top coat.
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
Models Own - Top Turquoise
Muted turquoise creme
Top Turquoise is a mid, muted turquoise creme, which is slightly unshiny when dry.
For me this was opaque in 2 coats but nearly all the other swatches I saw were 3 coats - weird
This is another old one (2009ish) and doesn't seem to be available on the Models Own site anymore...
Top Turquoise is a mid, muted turquoise creme, which is slightly unshiny when dry.
For me this was opaque in 2 coats but nearly all the other swatches I saw were 3 coats - weird
This is another old one (2009ish) and doesn't seem to be available on the Models Own site anymore...
Saturday, 14 June 2014
Hema Brilliant with Diamond Powder - 11
Mottled gold foil
Another un-named Hema.
Hema Brilliant with Diamond Powder - 11 is a mottled gold foil, out of the sun it looks like a dappled mix of warm, cool and rose golds. In full sunlight it flashes back as a antique gold foil.
Application was good and swatches shown are 3 coats, no top coat.
This was a bargain €3 for a generous 11ml bottle.
Another un-named Hema.
Hema Brilliant with Diamond Powder - 11 is a mottled gold foil, out of the sun it looks like a dappled mix of warm, cool and rose golds. In full sunlight it flashes back as a antique gold foil.
Application was good and swatches shown are 3 coats, no top coat.
This was a bargain €3 for a generous 11ml bottle.
Thursday, 12 June 2014
Asda - 23 Aqua
Jade creme
Aqua is shiny, almost squishy looking dusky turquoise creme from Asda.
This is one of Asda's really cheap polishes at just £1 and it shows...
The colour is pretty but the application was horrible, streaky and difficult to work with. Swatches shown are 3 coats and could've really done with 4.
Ah well, sometimes you find a bargain, sometimes not...
Aqua is shiny, almost squishy looking dusky turquoise creme from Asda.
This is one of Asda's really cheap polishes at just £1 and it shows...
The colour is pretty but the application was horrible, streaky and difficult to work with. Swatches shown are 3 coats and could've really done with 4.
Ah well, sometimes you find a bargain, sometimes not...
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Essence - Rock it Baby
Purple shimmer
More old swatches as my nails are still growing out.. Not sure how this one sat unshown for so long...
This is Rock it Baby from Essence from back in 2009, maybe even 2008....
Rock it Baby is a gorgeous, stunning, if not totally unique purple shimmer. The shimmer in the sunlight is pink and blue and really glows.
Application was good and swatches shown are 3 coats, no top coat.
I'm a sucker for a great purple and I love this one, time to dig it out from whichever Helmer drawer it's hiding in!
More old swatches as my nails are still growing out.. Not sure how this one sat unshown for so long...
This is Rock it Baby from Essence from back in 2009, maybe even 2008....
Rock it Baby is a gorgeous, stunning, if not totally unique purple shimmer. The shimmer in the sunlight is pink and blue and really glows.
Application was good and swatches shown are 3 coats, no top coat.
I'm a sucker for a great purple and I love this one, time to dig it out from whichever Helmer drawer it's hiding in!
Wednesday, 4 June 2014
Black Up - Shade 08
Aubergine shimmer
I picked this polish up from Debenhams (UK department store) when I was on one of my 'must check out all unknown brands' kick - thankfully I've grown out of that now - mostly!
Black Up, as you'd expect, is a range of cosmetics for women of colour and I think is only sold in Debenhams in the UK. Their branding says Black Up Paris.
Shade 08 is a lovely, if not unique, burgundy/aubergine/eggplant shimmer
This had a great formula, easy to apply, opaque and long wearing
Swatches shown are 2 coats with no top coat.
As this is another of my swatches from 2010 they've actually changed the bottles since I bought this but there's still a colour called 08 which looks similar on the online swatch.
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
Hema - Glitter topper
Raspberry pink sheer glitter topper
And here's yesterday's Catrice 'Vibrant Violet' topped with a pink toned silver glitter top coat I picked up in Hema
This unnamed, un-numbered polish is a sheer raspberry pink top coat with mixed size round and shattered silver glitter. Some of the glitter looks pink but I think that's just the colour of the suspension polish
Hema is a variety store in The Netherlands, selling homeware, clothing and various other items including a small cheap beauty range.
Although the bottle looks fairly glitter heavy, that didn't translate so well to the nail and my swatches show 3 coats over the Catrice.
And here's yesterday's Catrice 'Vibrant Violet' topped with a pink toned silver glitter top coat I picked up in Hema
This unnamed, un-numbered polish is a sheer raspberry pink top coat with mixed size round and shattered silver glitter. Some of the glitter looks pink but I think that's just the colour of the suspension polish
Hema is a variety store in The Netherlands, selling homeware, clothing and various other items including a small cheap beauty range.
Although the bottle looks fairly glitter heavy, that didn't translate so well to the nail and my swatches show 3 coats over the Catrice.
Monday, 2 June 2014
Catrice 60 Seconds - Vibrant Violet
Dark pink creme
Total fail on the polish name, how on earth is this violet??!
This is Catrice 60 Seconds Nail Couture in 200 Vibrant Violet. Except it's not violet at all, it's a deep pink creme, ah well.
Application was great, despite being a touted as a quick dry and it was nearly opaque in 1 coat
Swatch shown is 2 coats with no top coat. Lovely and shiny.
Again this is one from the archives, I picked this up in 2010 and it might've been released in 2009 - oddly there are a few available on ebay uk....
Total fail on the polish name, how on earth is this violet??!
This is Catrice 60 Seconds Nail Couture in 200 Vibrant Violet. Except it's not violet at all, it's a deep pink creme, ah well.
Application was great, despite being a touted as a quick dry and it was nearly opaque in 1 coat
Swatch shown is 2 coats with no top coat. Lovely and shiny.
Again this is one from the archives, I picked this up in 2010 and it might've been released in 2009 - oddly there are a few available on ebay uk....
Sunday, 1 June 2014
Essence Colour & Go - Pool Party
Bright blue with silver glass fleck
It's the first day of June and the sun is shining here in the UK so I thought I'd show you a bright summery polish from several years ago
Essence Colour & Go - Pool Party is a bright blue with a good amount of fine silver glass fleck shimmer, this is no hidden shimmer.
This is definitely an oldie but a goodie, I think this range came out in 2009
It is a smidge on the sheer side, my swatches are 3 coats with no top coat and in the direct sunlight pic there is a hint of visible nail line but given the amount of shimmer I'm sure this would work well layered too.
Colour & Go were also a complete bargain, selling for only $1 in the US and less than 2 Euros in Europe. They do have a slightly insane tagline of '1 second per nail' but I've ignored that for the nonsense it is!
The line still exists but they're now in stumpy, blobby bottles! I'm not sure if this colour still exists in the current line, if it doesn't it should do!
It's the first day of June and the sun is shining here in the UK so I thought I'd show you a bright summery polish from several years ago
Essence Colour & Go - Pool Party is a bright blue with a good amount of fine silver glass fleck shimmer, this is no hidden shimmer.
This is definitely an oldie but a goodie, I think this range came out in 2009
It is a smidge on the sheer side, my swatches are 3 coats with no top coat and in the direct sunlight pic there is a hint of visible nail line but given the amount of shimmer I'm sure this would work well layered too.
Colour & Go were also a complete bargain, selling for only $1 in the US and less than 2 Euros in Europe. They do have a slightly insane tagline of '1 second per nail' but I've ignored that for the nonsense it is!
The line still exists but they're now in stumpy, blobby bottles! I'm not sure if this colour still exists in the current line, if it doesn't it should do!
Saturday, 31 May 2014
Nails Inc - Queenstown Road
Darkish red crelly
Sorry folk, life (and work) got in the way. I did pick up a small haul on my work trip to Germany (pics coming) but otherwise it's been a polish free time - more nail breaks, not sure what's going on there..
Queenstown Road is a darkish red creme with jelly tendancies aka a crelly.
Application was good, swatches shown are 2 coats without topcoat. Being a crelly it's super shiny.
I like this one, it has a classic, elegant feel.
I think this one might've been a QVC exclusive from a few years and sadly doesn't seem to be easily sourced today....
Sorry folk, life (and work) got in the way. I did pick up a small haul on my work trip to Germany (pics coming) but otherwise it's been a polish free time - more nail breaks, not sure what's going on there..
Queenstown Road is a darkish red creme with jelly tendancies aka a crelly.
Application was good, swatches shown are 2 coats without topcoat. Being a crelly it's super shiny.
I like this one, it has a classic, elegant feel.
I think this one might've been a QVC exclusive from a few years and sadly doesn't seem to be easily sourced today....
Monday, 12 May 2014
Miss Sporty - Clubbing Colours 311
Sheer silver foil
Another vintage Miss Sporty, again a Clubbing Colours Metal Shine polish.
This time it's 311 but this one wasn't such a success.
311 is a sheer silver, more of a foil finish than 208 but with one big downside.
This swatch is 4 coats and I still have VNL. That's a big fat fail in my book. It's pretty but not unique enough to warrant 4 coats...
Another vintage Miss Sporty, again a Clubbing Colours Metal Shine polish.
This time it's 311 but this one wasn't such a success.
311 is a sheer silver, more of a foil finish than 208 but with one big downside.
This swatch is 4 coats and I still have VNL. That's a big fat fail in my book. It's pretty but not unique enough to warrant 4 coats...
Friday, 9 May 2014
Nails Inc - Percy Street
Pink toned lilac creme
Percy Street is a pink toned lilac creme - I'd say the colour isn't far off the Pantone colour of the year, Radiant Orchid, though perhaps a little lighter/less saturated.
Application was fabulous, this is opaque in one coat.
Swatches shown are 1 coat, no top coat.
Percy Street isn't available from Nails inc any longer but if you stumble across it on ebay for a bargain price it's worth a punt.
Percy Street is a pink toned lilac creme - I'd say the colour isn't far off the Pantone colour of the year, Radiant Orchid, though perhaps a little lighter/less saturated.
Application was fabulous, this is opaque in one coat.
Swatches shown are 1 coat, no top coat.
Percy Street isn't available from Nails inc any longer but if you stumble across it on ebay for a bargain price it's worth a punt.
Thursday, 8 May 2014
Miss Sporty Clubbing Colours - 208
Blue foil/chrome
Some old swatches as I've broken my nails *again*.
This is the snappily named 208 from the Miss Sporty Clubbing Colours range. It's from the Metal Shine range which means it's a foil/chrome finish.
208 is a light blue foil, not too brushstrokey, probably as it's a bit pearly too...
Swatch shown is 2 coats, no top coat and apologies for the dints!
Miss Sporty are a budget range in the UK sold in Boots and Superdrug and the polishes retail for a cheap n' cheerful £1.99 and for that you get 7ml which isn't bad.
Some old swatches as I've broken my nails *again*.
This is the snappily named 208 from the Miss Sporty Clubbing Colours range. It's from the Metal Shine range which means it's a foil/chrome finish.
208 is a light blue foil, not too brushstrokey, probably as it's a bit pearly too...
Swatch shown is 2 coats, no top coat and apologies for the dints!
Miss Sporty are a budget range in the UK sold in Boots and Superdrug and the polishes retail for a cheap n' cheerful £1.99 and for that you get 7ml which isn't bad.
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