China Glaze Electric Beat

China Glaze Electic Beat is the only polish I purchased from their new Spring Electropop collection. The collection is a large selection of bright colours a great collection for those needing some new colours. I however, have similar colours that are in the set and this was the only one I couldn't resist or dupe!

A pastel cornflower colour, Electric Beat is a beautiful polish. A dream to apply with it's creamy consistency. Opaque and bright in two coats. 

It will look fab against a hot pink or bright coral or will blend beautifully with the candy coloured jeans that are everywhere this spring.

xoxo

NOTD - Neon Leopard

Woah!

I thought I'd freshen up my China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy with a spot of leopard. I first did this look on my cousin in France, she loved it and so did I! 

I don't really know how to describe my feelings about this look other than amazing, tacky, cool, trashy and glitzy all at the same time! It reminds me of something WAH nails might do on a trendy girl going to Ibiza for a posh clubbing holiday! I bloomin' love it!!

Of course my camera can't capture the brightness of the neon base colour or the sparklyness of Orly Luxe but what do you think? Too much or the perfect summer manicure?!

xoxo

NOTD - CG Cracked Concrete

China Glaze Cracked Concrete is a mid toned grey crackle. I used it over Essie Nice is Nice, I like the combo of the pastel with the grey and I bought this particular polish with the intention of using it over the pastel shades that are everywhere this summer. I'm not sure that I like the way it has cracked, I think I need to use a thinner coat, I still haven't quite got the hang of this yet! I think I would like the look more if I could see more of the lavender showing through, it's not a look I will wear for long, I imagine I'll get bored after a day or so. 

xoxo

Crackle-ing Up!

I'm sure you are all very aware of the recent trend for crackle and shatter top coats.

OPI were the first announce they were bringing back this look with their Black Shatter polish from the Katy Perry and Glam Slam collections. They were pipped to the post by Barry M who quickly produced their own black version. 

I really was not a fan when I first heard rumblings of the look however when I heard China Glaze were doing coloured crackles it piqued my interest. I also saw the Barry M version on a couple of real life friends and thought it actually looked better in reality than on the screen, although I still wasn't sure about the black colour.

The China Glaze Crackle collection has caused a bit of a stir and not wanting to miss out I bit the bullet and purchased two of the coloured crackles this week. I decided on Crushed Candy and Broken Hearted.

Crushed Candy is a Tiffany blue very similar to their most popular polish, For Audrey. I felt this would be the one I would use the most however I'm not sure how many colours I will wear this over. Pink shades are a match made in heaven but other than those I feel it's pretty limited. I thought about using it over First Mate which is a navy.

Broken Hearted has many more options. Pink compliments so many other colours and I have done my first manicure with a bright orange underneath, I used Eaton Square from Nails Inc. This colour combo is tipped to be big in the colour blocking fashion trend hitting the catwalks.

 As for the application, I was nervous. Having never used a polish like this before I cannot compare it to anything else. I found they were a little on the thicker side and dried very quickly, almost on the brush if you don't work quick enough. I like the way they crackle, not to chunky and I don't mind the irregularities of each nail, I thought this would be something I would hate as I like everything to be perfect and the same when I do any nail art. 

I have enjoyed wearing this manicure today, I've had a really casual day, a bit of shopping, coffee with a friend, I have worn a denim dress and felt really relaxed and my nail look has really fitted in. 

Although I feel I have got the colour combo right this time and I love it, I'm sure it will be very easy to get it wrong so experimenting before hand for me is a must!

I'm looking forward to trying different combinations and for new colours to be released. I hope this look isn't fleeting and becomes another acceptable nail style giving those that enjoy this look another stylish option when painting our nails.

I bought the polishes from BeautyChamber.co.uk, they were £8.99.

I know this is a love it or hate it look, what do you think? Have you bought any crackles?

xoxo

Spring Swatches

Alongside the clothing spring collections the make-up and nail varnishes are creeping into the shops to complete your spring wardrobe!

I made an order with Transdesign for some polishes from the latest collections from OPI, Essie and China Glaze.

I really love colours that are coming out this season. Pastels, different shades of blues and greys and juicy bold colours.

First up, OPI's Texas collection! Inspired by the American state where I hear bigger is better! It's a mixed collection with some bold colours and a new sorbet formula in juicy colours.

San Tan-tonio.

A beautiful caramel tan colour. This colour really flatters my skin tone, it's not too yellow against my pinky skin. I loved wearing this one, I felt very grown up and sophisticated! I think it will look lovely with my new blue blouse I posted about previously!

Suzi Loves Cowboys.

A delicious chocolate brown! I guess the colour is similar to a horses saddle! You all know I love these shades! I did enjoy wearing this one but I felt it falls a little flat after a day or so, I still prefer Sephora Brownie for my chocolate fix!

Don't Mess With OPI.

Amazing! A fabulous shade of grassy green. I really love this yellow based green it will look amazing in the summer with a white top and gold accessories!

I am pleased with these three, they were the most obvious shades that I would be drawn to in the collection. I haven't seen many swatches around of the whole collection yet and I like the look of some of the sorbet finishes.

Next up Essie French Affair.

Nice is Nice.

A gentle lavender. Very pretty, not sure that it works with my skin tone. I'm not sure on this one yet! Application was lots better than its sister shade OPI's Rumple's Wiggin.

Coat Azure.

Oh my! I just adore this one! A shimmery pale blue that reminds me of the sun glistening off the ocean in the South of France! Such a romantic image! The iridescent glimmer in the polish is quite stunning and really makes this one stand out in the collection.

Essie are on a roll at the moment and have given us another beautiful collection. There are two more from this collection that I would like to get, Barefoot and Topless, a creamy nude and French Affair, a pastel pink.

Finally China Glaze Anchors Away a nautical inspired collection!

First Mate.

I am so into this shade right now! I love it! It's a dusky navy blue, and a true blue too! No black looking blues here! Can't wait to wear this with my new spring wardrobe!

Pelican Grey.

A light grey with shimmer. At first I was disappointed with this one as I felt I had other polishes in the same vain. However on closer inspection it contains a subtle shimmer that really stands out in sunlight and make this particular shade different from the rest.

Sea Spray.

I gambled on this one and it payed off, I love it! It's a blue based grey and at first look looks similar to Pelican Grey. As with the previous colour it is laced with a multicoloured shimmer that really sets this colour apart. Such an unusual colour too, I suppose it's getting more and more difficult to develop new shades. 

To show you that it is more blue than grey here are the two bottles together,

This is Sea Spray swatched on the nail holding the Pelican Grey bottle,

You can see here how blue Sea Spray is in comparison. 

Overall I am very happy with my choices, my favourites have to be, San Tan-tonio, Don't Mess With OPI, Coat Azure, First Mate and Sea Spray! Definite must haves!

Have you managed to get anything from these collections?

xoxo

Nail Polish Haul!

OPI have recently released their newest polishes with the Swiss collection.I loved this collection from when I first saw the promo pictures months ago!

Anyway, as soon as it went up on Transdesign I put my order in along with a couple of others I had my eye on! Here's what I bought!

My most anticipated colour, Ski Teal We Drop. I love it! Its a fairly dark colour but you know its teal, I hate it when they look black! 

I have a couple of polishes in my collection that are similar if you can't get hold of this. 

Not much difference in this picture, in person Nails Inc Portland Place is more green but No7 Totally Teal is almost identical apart from maybe being a teeny bit lighter and needing three coats instead of two.

In the bottle you can see more of a difference.

Diva Of Geneva. A colour I didn't expect to buy, but after seeing swatches on the big polish sites I loved the jewel colour of this. Seriously its stunning when its on. I would have passed it by if I had only seen it in the bottle you need to wear it to get the true colour. It's amazing outdoors in the sunlight too.

Cuckoo For This Color. Again another I didn't expect to purchase. I'm not a huge fan of frosted metallic polishes, not sure why but I prefer creams. Like Diva Of Geneva it really comes into its own when you wear it. The shimmer in the polish is very noticeable and eye catching, I loved the shade of green it reminds me of a peacocks feather!

Color So Hot It Berns is a very bright tomato red. It's really bright! I love these colours but it is very, very similar to Comet Loves Cupid that OPI brought out at Christmas. You don't need both.

Really the same, to my eye Comet Loves Cupid is the tinyest bit darker.

The same I'm sure!

Not from the Swiss collection but a polish I had wanted for a long time, Over The Taupe. In my insatiable thirst for nude, browns and taupes I had to add it to my collection! I do love it but it is identical to Essie Mink Muffs.

I can hardly see a difference other than Mink Muffs, in person, is a fraction darker but no-one would ever notice if you wore both on one hand!

As with all from the collection and as standard with OPI flawless application and formula and I expect it to wear very well.

Finally not to be forgotten, China Glaze Recycle. I have eyed this colour up for a long time, I thought it would be a good one for this winter. I really like it on, it'll be lovely in the winter with red and I though it would look quite classy with black for work.

Well, those should see me through! 

Yeah right!!

xoxo

Nail Polish Haul!

I received a little parcel in the post this morning!

Some new nail varnish that I bought from http://www.transdesign.com/

Unfortunately I think this will be my last order from them as there is some major drama occurring. OPI have sued Transdesign for copyright infringement for using their images without permission, at least that's what I understand. Transdesign are liquidating their stock and will no longer be stocking the brand. Also it seems they are no longer able to us the USPS to ship the polishes thus really hiking the shipping costs to something beyond affordable. I'm not entirely sure what it will be as all that information seems to be missing from the site.

Annnyway onto the goods!

Can't wait to try them all! 

I did a little video too if you're interested!

There is bit of a rant at the start, I got a bit carried away, I have a horrible feeling I may get my first hater comment!

xoxo

Summer Nail Varnish

If you couldn't tell already I'm very much looking forward to the summer, don't get me wrong I love a bit of minus temperatures and snow but I hate the bit between freezing winter and hot summer!

I love that this years trends are for bright, happy colours. Not only in clothes and accessories but for cosmetics and nail varnish too. Pastels and Ice Cream shades will be everywhere, luckily I already have a few in my collection! That won't stop me feeding my addiction for more!!

These are the nail polishes that I will be reaching for this summer, although I wouldn't restrict myself to just wearing them during the warmer months they are all wonderful colours for all year round!

One of the biggest trends this summer will be for minty green and turquoise nails. Chanel are about the launch a polish in this shade for their summer cosmetics line, its bound to sell out and be a cult colour.

These are some of the colours from my collection. 

Cornflower blue is such a pretty colour and OPI's No Room For The Blues fits the bill perfectly. Orly have their own called Snowcone and will certainly be purchasing that one soon! 

Another hot colour will be peach and hot corals. We have already seen MAC's Ripe Peach blusher sell out and their Ever Hip lipstick is flying off the shelves.

Essie featured peach in one of their most recent collections with Tart Deco, as did China Glaze with Peachy Keen. I have already worn the latter and had many people ask me if I was ready for spring, its funny how colours conjure up an image in peoples minds!

Personally I am still a fan of the natural, taupey colours that were around this winter. I still Love OPI's YDKJ but I am favouring a lighter shade for the spring

Butter LONDON's Fash Pack will be on my nails this spring/summer, it has a beautiful gold shimmer in it which you can just see in the picture.

Who doesn't love a nice pink?! 

I am loving the creamy pastel pinks from Nails Inc, they remind me of English summer gardens with roses! Then the hot, holiday pink of OPI's Shorts Story all ways looks fab but particularly with a tan and pretty white skirt!

Wow! This picture makes me smile!

Do you have a favourite polish for the summer?

xoxo