NOTD - The quest for the perfect purple continues...

Hi all!

I can't get enough purple at the moment. Don't know why. It's always been one of my favourite colours, not just in nails, but I've really had a thirst for purple nails over the last few weeks. This is also another Accessorize polish, Purple Dream. I applied three coats, mattefied it, then shiniefied the tips (made up words FTW). It applied well, was less sheer than the other Accessorize polishes with the same formula but was a little bit draggy so you need to load your brush up well.

Close up to see pretty violet and blue micro glitters

I was happy with this manicure, and even slapped some glitter over to keep it going an extra day (post on that to come...). Until I took it off and found it had turned my nails GREEN! Green? From purple polish? Worst staining I've ever had too. I was considering naked nails for a few days because of the terrible peeling I'm getting (you can see some of it on the pic below, and that's not even the worst of it) so I think it was lifes way of telling me I can't go unpolished.

Bleaurgh!

What's the worst staining you've ever had? How do you solve it? And as for peeling, any remedies? I'm trying to moisturise as much as I can, and I'm using nail envy as my basecoat. I can't get any acetone free polish remover anywhere near me atm, but when I next go into town I'll try and get some. I've also chopped a few of my nails and I'm going to keep them shorter until the splits grow out. I know you should file a split out, but I can't if they're lower than the nail bed. LeSigh.

Hx

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NOTD - I don't wanna see your Peacock...

Hi!

Today I have a fail of a polish to show you. I swear it wasn't my fault, I wanted to love this polish, I love the colour but it wasn't to be. 17 Fast Finish Peacock is a pretty turquoise metallic. But that is where the "good" points end. Firstly, it was super sheer. 4 coats and there was still VNL under some lights. Secondly, the colour just didn't suit me, not the polishes fault I'll admit, but I think I was expecting more teal and less green. Thirdly, 17 weren't joking when they called it fast finish - it was too bloody fast! After the first coat the polish started drying on the brush before I even got it anywhere near my nail so it was draggy and streaky and a pig to apply. There were even a few lumps in there. Ew. But, I somehow managed to get sheet marks and wrinkles, even though I didn't go to bed until at least 2 hours after I finished painting. Finally, I got a duff brush. I was pretty unhappy with this mani from the word go, but I wore it for a day and didn't have time to change it last night, so to be able to bear it another day I did what I do best and shattered all over it.

A coat of MUA Nail Quake in Broken Arrow and order was restored. I even think it looks kind peacock feathery, doesn't it? And I got lots of positive comments on it at playgroup today. I swear all the other Mums think I'm bonkers. They might have a point...

Hx

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NOTD - Multi-tasking pigments

Hi!

If you're anything like me you have a ton of eyeshadows you'll never use up, especially loose pigments and powders. I came across this post by Beauty's Bad Habit and I knew I had to try it. I love it when I find an alternative use for a product. I have an entire crapload of loose shadows that are super old (I'm talking 10 years plus, Edit - actually closer to 15 fuuuuuu... from my first ever job as a Saturday girl in a pharmacy, the only make-up they carried was Miners and every Saurday I used to buy something with some of my wages, I can't bring myself to get rid of these!) so expect to see these on my nails a lot. For this mani I actually used a Models Own loose eyeshadow in Gold, over Essie Wicked (an ebay bargain).

It's a really simple and really effective mani, Beauty's Bad Habit has a picture tutorial, but here's a quick Helly-explanation for you. 1. Base coat. 2. 1st coat of your chosen polish. 2. Add the second (or third if it needs it) coat of your colour. As you do each nail (so it doesn't have a chance to dry) place a bit of your loose pigment at the base of your nail, I used an orange stick for this. 3. Tilt your nail downwards over something that wont get ruined (I used a plastic bag) and blow the powder across your nail. Repeat 2 and 3 on all nails. Once colour is dry blow again to remove any excess, then add top coat. Once all that is dry wash any left overs off your hands, or like me leave it to the morning and wake up with a sparkly face :) Done!

My favourite nail.

 And bonus pic, Ollie saw me taking pictured of my hands and wanted one of his taken too. Excuse the dirty nails, he's a boy, he attracts dirt like I attract the loonies on the bus (seriously, why do they always think it's ok to talk to me?), what can I say.

Will you be trying this? Even though I have at least 6 loose pigments I'm going to order a black one from Models Own (50% off on their website with the code FIFTYFIFTY. Good luck getting it to work though) so I can do red with black. Don't think I'll ever get bored of this :)

Hx

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NOTD - New Boots 17 Crackle Topcoat

Hullo!

Just a quick post tonight to show you this new crackle polish from 17 at Boots. They already had a mediocre gold crackle topcoat (which you can see here and here), and now they've released a purple and, most exciting for me, a black with gold glitter! Seriously I nearly wee'd a little bit when I saw it (ahem, I do have a life, kind of...) The purple is pretty, with a kind of golden shimmer to it by the looks of the bottle, so I don't have anything like it and I'm sure I'll be adding it to my extensive crackle collection shortly, but I had to have the black one. Here it is layered over China Glaze Peace on Earth, a yummy golden metalic olive green that I've had for ages and never worn. Shame on me, it's lovely. I left the ring finger plain, coz you know how I love me an accent nail.

Odd texture at the tip of my ring finger here...not visible IRL

I do like this combo, I think it looks kinda snakeskin-esque, and the topcoat crackles well, but I wish I'd put a more visible colour underneath. I bought No 7 Poolside blue (with my £5 off No 7 voucher which is Boots current promotion) and the OH said on the way home I should put the crackle over that. I didn't agree but I wish I had now. Oh well, you live and learn.

Talking of Boot's promotions, thought I'd just mention just some of the ones I saw while I was there. If you buy 2 things costing over £4 from Collection 2000 you get a third free, there's the No 7 £5 voucher when you spend a certain amount (£5 I think?) and with any two purchases of 17 products you get a free Summer Nudes palette, consisting of two eyeshadows, a lip colour and a cream blush. It's actually a nice sturdy little palette, I picked up my polish and a lipstick for £2.29 (also on offer - the original price is about £3) and got the palette free. Bargainous.

Picture credit - boots.com

So, I said this would be a short post but I've rambled on as usual. Happy Sunday everyone, I hope Monday treats you well!

Hx

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Stash Raiders!

This is a serious warning for fellow polish hoarders. There have been several reported sash raids in recent days. The suspects are said to be short, cute and very very cheeky. If you spot these stash raiders in your vicinity, hide your polish quick!

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Giveaway winner!

I'm very excited to announce the winner of my wee giveaway! Chosen by Random,org the winner is...

Lacquertopia!

Look out for an email heading your way :)

Thank you again everyone who entered, I really appreciate everyone who takes the time to read my ramblings. I wont be holding a giveaway at every milestone follower number, I would love to but funds simply wont allow, but I will be picking up bits and bobs every now and then so there are possible things on the horizon!

Hope you're having a nice day, and remember just by following my amazing blog and being graced by my presence you're a winner! Tee hee :)

Hx

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Pink Wednesday - I know, right? (O.P.I I Lily Love You funky french)

Bored of the Mean Girls quotes yet? Well, if you are, tough! :P

Teehee, sorry. Anywho, for Pink Wednesday this week I wanted to use I Lily Love You again, so I created a funky french manicure using MUA Shade 16 for the tips and accent nails. Shade 16 is a really pretty deep fuschia and has a great formula - I LOVE these products. I haven't found one yet that I don't love - they eyeshadows in the MUA range (regular and Pro) are exceptional, and I really want to try their new primer. Anyway, I digress. After my base coat I used tip guides to create a french tip using the pink polish on all but my ring finger and thumb on which I painted the whole nail, then once they were dry I added 2 coats of I Lily Love You.

I wore this all day feeling a bit "meh" about it. I think it's the pink tinge to the ILLY that was making me unsure. I think it was making my nails just look a bit stained. I did love it over the MUA polish though - such a great combination of high end and absolute bargain! In the end I decided to slap a layer of my trusty matte top coat by 17 over the top, and it was transformed from "meh" to "oooooh"...

 It softened the whole look down and gave the flakies in ILLY a kind of ethereal quality. Prettyful. If I were to do this again I think I'd do the tips over ILLY instead of under so that they were more prominent. And maybe wear a nude polish under the whole lot  - I'm not used to seeing "real" nail under my polish anymore!

Are you sitting with the plastics this week?

Hx

PS I am working through verifing all the entries for my giveaway and hopfully will announce the winner tomorrow, or certainly by the weekend. Thank you to everyone who entered, and hi to all my lovely new followers! There are now 181 of you, which is incredible!

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