Talonted Lex

Essie Merino Cool Review

Essie Merino Cool

Essie Merino Cool

I love colours that are hard to describe. I’ve wanted essie Merino Cool for ages and remember trying to find it on a massive essie display in Dubai with Aaron helping me. “It’s kind of…purple-y…brown? Like a more purple taupe-y colour? No, more like a pastel-y plum? Like a mixture of grey and purple? It’s…ummm” *insert picture of Aaron looking confused and horrified*

And now I have it! I found it in TK Maxx in Kilburn for £4.99 (!!) and it has definitely lived up to my expectations. It’s such an unusual and pretty colour. It is somehow soft but also edgy – something that essie always do very well.

Essie polishes have a lovely formula: this needed 3 coats to get rid of any bald spots but Essie polishes are always quick drying so that isn’t a problem. I used to hate essie polish brushes as they were really thin and hard to use but they have made them a bit thicker now so I am now a full on fan girl.

I’m so pleased that this polish is now in my collection. What your favourite Essie polish? You can buy this stunning polish HERE.

Lex

Essie Merino Cool Essie Merino Cool Essie Merino Cool

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Halloween Nail Art Tutorial

Halloween Nail Art Tutorial

Halloween Nail Art Tutorial

Last week’s nail art tutorial seemed to go down well so I thought I would do another one. This week’s is a tutorial for dripping blood nails. These are quick, easy and look brilliant.

You will need: base coat; white nail varnish; red nail varnish; and top coat.

Step one: Apply base coat and two coats of white polish.

Step two: Decide where you want your drips to go and put drops of red nail varnish to mark the spots.

Step three: Join up the dots with red polish and add some further drips.

Step four: Add some lines of white polish to make the blood look wet. Put the lines wherever the light would catch it. Top coat away and you are done! Easy peasy!

What do you think of these gory nails? Will you try this manicure?

Lex

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Gold Gradient Nail Art

Gold Gradient Nail Art Gold Gradient Nail Art

Gold Gradient Nail Art

I missed Nail Art Sunday as I was absolutely shattered: I’ve been away at Creamfields (a music festival in the north of England) working so didn’t really get a weekend. But here we are, a day late!

I decided to do a gradient for this week’s nail art as I think gradients are a fairly simple way to make your nails stand out. I used a white base coat by Natural Collection. I find it hard to find a good white nail varnish but this one is pretty opaque and dries really quickly so it’s my go to white at the moment. I then sponged a glittery gold onto my tips: I used Collection ‘Shimmy Shake’.

I went against tradition and used Essie’s ‘Good To Go’ topcoat as my Seche Vite has run out. Now I remember why I never use it! It’s nowhere near as shiny, was really runny and didn’t dry quickly at all. Half an hour after I’d finished my nails I was still able to dent the polish with my nail: not good! I have already re-ordered Seche Vite so I don’t have to be without it. I will never forsake you again!

Lex

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Kiko 361 Raspberry Pink

Kiko 361 Raspberry Pink

Kiko 361 Raspberry Pink

I’ve raved about Kiko polishes in the past, so let’s just recap very quickly shall we? So reasonably priced, beautiful colours, great two-coaters, good brushes… what’s not to like?

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Kiko 275 Black Review

Kiko 275 Black

Kiko 275 Black

The hunt is over, call off the search: I have found the perfect black nail varnish. I have tried so many and they are either too thin, which means it takes ages to build to full opacity. Or they are thick and unwieldy to work with. This is just right.

Kiko 275 Black is a typical Kiko nail varnish: great coverage, high shine and quick to dry. The brushes are also some of my favourites with a fairly wide brush so they are very easy to apply. This polish gives a perfect, deep, dark black in two thin coats. It’s also very shiny but these photos are shown with Seche Vite.

You can buy this amazing polish HERE. No no no, you’re welcome!

Lex

Kiko 275 Black Kiko 275 Black Kiko 275 Black

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