Multi Colour Leopard Nail art

This is the reason I love cream finish polishes, they are the best for nail art.  I was asked if these were transfers or nail stickers, always a sign of a mani well done!

This one was bases of Barry M Prickly Pear, Sally Hansen Courtesan, Green Tea, Himalayan Blue and Dorien Gray, for the leopard pattern I dotted with SH Commander in Chic and outlined with Barry M Black Nail Art Pen.

Kiko and Glequins

Trawling You Tube at the weekend I found MissJenFABULOUS' page with a number of nail art tutorals.  I decided to try one of the dotty patterns using glequins, but alas I buggered it up as I was doing it from memory and set off wrong with the glequins....  Here's what I ended up with.

This mani started with a base of Kiko 381 Purple Grey, the glequins used were some I bought from Born Pretty Store (my discount code for 10% off is on the right) and the dots I added were ButterLONDON Posh Bird.  This had two top coats so the glequins were totally smooth.

Nail Mail and stash update.

I've had something of an epic amount nail mail week this week,  between that and my trip to Boots and TK Maxx at the weekend, my stash has gone from 258 to 284 in a very short space of time!

The first of my nail mail to be posted was yesterday's new a-england polishes Fated Prince and Sleeping Castle in this post.

I have also had (but not swatched) the following from Sally Magpie store.  Since I ordered my first Cirque there have been some reductions, go and check them out!

These came from Fragrance Direct.

And finally Cosmetic's Fairy.  Not so impressed with these because of the Riteaid price labels and polish being all over one of the SH bottles.

My stash page has been updated.  I've now had to start using 4 drawers of my Helmer for polish!  Before they all fit easily (by brand) into 3 drawers, but since the influx of Sally Hansens, my "cheap" polish drawer is full and the SHs are now in drawer 4.

a-england Sleeping Palace and Fated Prince

Recently I spotted some photos of a new a-england collection on Facebook, so straight away I emailed the lovely Adina to request to buy three of the collection.  There are five new polishes in the Byrne-Jones collection, a pink called  Briar Rose, a red called Rose Bower, a deep coppery bronze called Briarwood, a mauve called Sleeping Palace and a charcoal grey called Fated Prince.    Two of the three I wanted were available, but the third - Briarwood - is not available for a few weeks.   I got Sleeping Palace and Fated Prince.

When I opened the envelope I couldn't help thinking Fated Prince was another Bridal Veil, but moving from the room to near the door I could see holos are amazing and really come to life in the sun!  As we had some rare sunshine I literally walked in from work and got them on my nails so I could share these straight away!!

My thumb is Jade Magia polish which I was wearing today.

First up is Fated Prince, the charcoal grey holo.  This colour pulls a lot of gold in from the holo and almost looks green in some lights.  When I had applied this holo then sun decided to hide behind a cloud, so the full  holo glory is not captured here.

Outdoor, Indirect light

Indoors, Direct Sun

Next up is Sleeping Palace, a purple / mauve holo which reminds me a lot of Layla Cloudy Violet.  The holo in this one appears stronger as the sun came back out!

 Outdoors, Direct Sun

Indoors, Indirect Light

Indoors, Direct Sunshine

Both polishes were two coats, no top coat.

They both applied great, no special bases needed, both have lively holo and really come to life in sunshine.  Can't wait to get Briarwood when it is available.  Currently these are available by emailed hello@a-england.co.uk

butterLONDON Posh Bird

butterLONDON Posh Bird is another I bought in my Boots mini haul.

This micro glitter polish is a silvery lilac with hints of brown.  Very work appropriate.  I think this polish will be one I will reach for when I'm in a hurry and need something forgiving for a quick paint job.

butterLONDON polishes have a fab brush which I love, long and thin with plenty of control. I love their formula, I just don't love the price: £12!  I think this may be one of the most expensive polishes I own.

Boots No 7 Paradise Love

Paradise Love is a polish I managed to get cheap with a £3 off voucher.

I'm pretty certain it's a dupe of Deborah Lippman's Mermaid's Dream.

This polish is being marketed by Boots as a gel finish, high shine polish.  I think it'd be fair to take Boots to trading standards over this as it is by no means high shine, if anything it's fairly flat and matte and would need a good thick top coat like Seche to get a high shine finish.

Maybelline Chalk Dust third and final post today! Pic Heavy!

Yes I really am up at 6.54am on a Sunday.... I am trying to convince myself to stay on bed at moment, though part of me wants to get up and peg washing out in the rare sunshine! Sorry to bombard with posts, I really wanted to share the Rimmel and Maybelline polishes, and figured rather than making one long picture heavy post, three would be better!

As I mentioned in my Boots haul post yesterday, I was so surprised to find myself wanting a Maybelline polish.  The last time I wanted to buy Maybelline was some 15 years ago when they first launched in the UK and I was desperate to try the Great Lash Mascara.  They also had a pearlised slightly duochrome pale baby blue nail polish which I bought after ooohing over it for ages.  I also got a petrol type shade.  They were awful and I never bought any more. 

Chalk Dust is part of the Polka Dots Collection, this is the only one which I wanted, I didn't like the colour bases on the others.

First up I tried it over Barry M Spring Green.

Next I tried it over China Glaze Sunday Funday.

Finally over Rimmel Barmy Blue.

I love this glitter!