This is another of the polishes I got in the Kiko sale in France (2.50 Euro per polish - I got loads!).
This is a nude cream polish that is almost grey (and regular readers will know how I feel about grey). I really like this barely-there polish, so classy without being boring.
This took two fairly thick coats to get full coverage, but Kiko polishes always apply very well so that wasn’t a problem. Topped with Seche Vite.
I found these photos on my computer and realised I’d never blogged them. This was just after a few breaks, hence the uneven nail lengths - I apologise!
Anyway - this is a rich aubergine coloured cream polish that is perfection in 2 coats. This is a glorious autumnal colour. As we are meant to be in summer but it’s freezing and raining I’m going to allow this colour now!
When I saw the name of this polish I knew I wanted it. It’s not a particularly unusual or stand-out shade but it’s still a very pretty burgundy, cream polish. This will probably become a favourite polish when it gets to autumn (although at the moment I’m starting to doubt we’ll get a summer…)
It had full coverage in two coats and was very shiny, even without Seche Vite.
I don’t have many Maybelline polishes but after trying this one I think I’ll be getting some more. This is a purple-y taupe creme polish. It is unusual as it’s quite a flat colour but still very shiny and interesting. This was two coats but the polish is quite thin so maybe try 3 if you want to get a more opaque finish.
This is one of the polishes I bought in Dubai and I’ve never heard of the brand. But the colour jumped out at me.
It’s a lovely indigo, glass flecked polish with pink, purple and blue particles that shine and sparkle in the light.
So pretty!
Essie’s do pink polishes so well and this is a firm favourite: a very pale pastel pink with a hint of lilac.
This is a very flattering shade and feels very fresh and modern.
This is two fairly generous coats, topped with Essie Good To Go topcoat (which I am desperately trying to like as much as Seche Vite… but I just don’t!)
This is only my second ever bottle of Sinful Colors polish and I’m glad I went for this striking red. ‘Ruby Ruby’ is a classic, pillar box red polish, with a great formula: this is two coats topped with Essie ‘Good To Go’ (Yes, I cheated on Seche Vite and I don’t like it as much!)
Half of this polish was gone but I don’t think I’ve ever swatched it which is surprising as it’s such a lovely colour PLUS it’s scented - and you know how I love a gimmick.
I think I may have got a dodgy bottle of this as it was really gloopy and thick which is unusual for Rimmel polishes. This was three coats and it took a lot of Seche Vite to get it to dry due to the gloopiness.
It is a good job it’s such a pretty colour - a peachy coral that is a great summer shade. And the smell is lovely!
This was unopened in my untried pile. What was I thinking? This is so beautiful! This is 3 coats of dense glitter that didn’t need placement. It is so shiny and sparkly and has attracted so many comments.
DOUBLE SWATCH: Essie ‘Head Mistress’ and L’Oreal ‘Confetti’
A double post for you today!
‘Head Mistress’ is a beautiful dark raspberry creme polish from the Stylenomics collection. It’s not unusual or different but I have really fallen in love with it.
This is topped with L’Oreal’s ‘Confetti’ top coat: a clear polish with a mixture of large, medium and small black and white hex glitter with tiny holographic particles mixed into it. I got this for my birthday, I had wanted it for ages but it was sold out in every Boots I went to. So glad that I finally have it - it is lovely! The only thing I don’t like about it is that it dries matte (which some people might like about it) - I have other glitter polishes like this and don’t find them a problems as I top everything with Seche Vite anyway. BUT this is SO top coat thirsty. The above photos show this polish with 2 coats of Seche Vite. Two!! And it still looks a bit matte. I can forgive it though, as it’s so pretty.
This is one of my birthday polishes and I absolutely adore it - it is like nothing else I own (which is hard work with so many polishes!). This is a clear base with large, matte, white, square glitter and small holographic square glitter. The four thumb photos show the colour changes in the holo glitter - so pretty!
This layered over Nails Inc ‘The Thames’: one of my favourite grey polishes.
Today’s manicure is Kiko’s yummy, squishy jelly polish, the exotically named ‘244’ (!). This is a dramatic, dark purple - almost black. I was pleasantly surprised that this applied perfectly in two coats, which is unusual for a jelly polish to be so pigmented and not to leave bald spots.
Kiko are rapidly becoming one of my favourite polishes, although I found out recently that they are a lot more expensive in the UK than elsewhere in Europe… who’s up for a trip to Italy to stock up??
This is a lovely grey polish that I didn’t even realise was matte until I got home. I love matte finishes on manicures, but prefer to paint a matte top coat over a regular polish so that I can do a layer of Seche Vite between. I have found the matte polishes tend to drag and leave a bumpy finish.
But this one was different. This is two, easy to apply, coats and as you can see the finish is perfect. I also like that it’s not as flat or dull as most matte polishes - it’s softer looking and almost rubbery.
Anyone else tried any Gabrini polishes? Every one I try makes me sure that I’m robbing them somehow by getting them for 99p!
This is a Turkish brand (it owns Gabrini as well - a brand I have raved about before). I have only seen these in one wholesale beauty shop that’s in North London and I now have to go get some more of these neons as this is just beautiful. And it was 99p. BRILLIANT.
I did a white undie to make the neon pop, and this was two coats of pink. I like that this is a bright neon without being too garish - it’s quite a pretty pink.