Stamping Joy Layla Mirror Effect Metal Plum

 

This is another polish I just couldn't resist using from the latest delivery. I have never owned a Layla, and as I am a slave to my stamping I thought it was best to give the mirror effects a go. 

They have an excellent consistency and are smooth to use with the stamper. A little goes a heck of a long way and it applies evenly. Now you only have to convince me to keep my fingers off the rest of them blighters!

For anyone interested they are available here for £7.50 each.

Layla Ceramic's My New Love

Long time no see, and I am sorry, just life has been sooo busy its unbelievable. But, the Layla's arrived for the shop yesterday and unfortunately some of the bottles were broken. Boo Hoo, but I did manage to salvage some of the polishes and it would have been rude not to try them just once. Hence, my first Layla Ceramics post.

Never having used a Layla product in my life I was really impressed with them. The polish goes on smoothly, no brush strokes and they applied evenly and easily. The pink is called 'Hot Pink' and it borders on a magenta type colour. Its hard to display in these macro shots, but it varies from bright cerise pink to a purpely sheen. Too lovely.

For the tips I used Space Cowboy which is a gold glitter with sprinkles, tiny hexes and larger hexes. It again applies easily and the glitter was well mixed it, you didn't have to fish it out.

Hope you like the pics, just got to stop using the stock or there won't be anything left for anyone else!

Magnetism Gone Sparkly...Don't Mind If I Do

Way back when my obsession with polish was still in its infancy I invested in a couple of magnetic polishes from Fashionista ( named after the girl group the Saturdays) and they have been the best ones I have ever used. they were just a plain purple and red. I have used other magnetics since and to be honest they have never really lived up to those first ones. So I was dead chuffed to pop into Superdrug this weekend and see some new shades.

Its almost like Magnetic polish has got its vibe back with these polishes, they are all colours with glitter embedded in them. The first you see is Gold Glamour which is a rich gold polish with brighter gold sparkles. The magnet I have used isn't from the Fashionista a range as they only do a wave one, and I wanted something a bit different to that, so I used the star shaped one from the Barry M range.

This polish goes on well, and the thicker the top coat the better. It allows all the gold sprinkles to move with the iron and leave you with a plain shape from the magnet, but an ultra deep and glittery pattern. I left the magnet on for 12 seconds, which is longer than they normally say, but it gives a really good finish to me.

 The other two polishes in the set are Embellish on the left. Its a mid grey with red glitter throughout and Bit of Sparkle in the middle, which is a deeper grey with gold glitter through it. I have used the other two polishes below so you can see how they work out aswell.

 Next is 'A Bit of Sparkle' This was probably my least favourite when I picked them, but it looks quite special on. It has the same effect as Gold Glamour as the glitter is drawn into the pattern well and looks very understated but very pretty. If you want to see bigger pictures just click on the images below.

Finally we have Embellish. I fell in love with this polish and could easily wear it without the magnet work so it just looked lovely. It is a paler grey, but this allows the red to really sparkle and shine. This effect is muted a bit when the magnet is used which is a shame as you can't see the red flecks as much.

The consistency of the polish is lovely, and it goes on well. You can't really ask for more in a polish. 

I got these polishes from Superdrug in store. Although they are available on their website aswell. They are £6 each without a magnet, so a bit pricey, but I just use any magnet from any set, so you needn't go to that expense if you don't want to. As a bit of a bargain aswell the cosmetics in Superdrug are on offer at 3 for 2, so I only paid £12 for all three. Cheap as chips.

Happy Halloween

 

Shattered today, three days into a busy week at work and I feel I need more sleep than I am getting. Going to remedy that after posting this and diving straight into bed. 

Must admit Halloween isn't really my think. we weren't allowed pumpkins as kids as they were too expensive and my mum used to make us have swede's. They were evil to empty out as they were just solid, it used to take all day. Suppose I should add to this that my mum insists that pumpkins weren't available in shops when I was a kid. We also weren't allowed to trick or treat as this was 'begging'. Hmmm

I'm not bitter, honest. 

So, my Halloween mani. Its bright Barry M Gelly in Satsuma with stamps over two fingers with crackle on the others. I liked them, I liked them alot. Made me think about what stamps I could do like this in the future. 

Goodbye October, It Was Nice Knowing You

  

So today is the last day for pink manicures for Breast Cancer Awareness. Tomorrow is Halloween and I have a special mani for that one. 

This manicure was much nicer in the flesh than it looks in the picture. No17 Miami is something I have had fora  long time. It is a lovely colour and goes on well. Infact, its a one coater. On top I put a wonderful coat of Picture Polish Festival which is a mixture of beautiful pretty creamy sparkles which go multi coloured when they catch the light. One of those polishes that you have to look at all day long.

Suppose this reflects my mood aswell. I am happier, I feel more sorted and know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I am just looking for an overnight break for us somewhere amazing, somewhere in Europe. Travel makes the heart go boo boom.

Finding My Lemming - Nancy's Birthday, a Whimsical by Pam

 

I have lemmed over the Whimsical polishes by Pam for ages. Sadly she doesn't ship outside the USA, so it felt an impossible task to get one. But luckily for me one popped up in a blog sale last week and I managed to get my sticky little paws on it. All I can say is the wait was worth it. 

I try and be true to myself and I don't have a huge polish budget. Therefore indies are out of my price range and after the drama with some of them they are out of my interest range aswell. One sniff of drama and I am out of there. But Pam seems like a genuinely nice lady, so I am happy to participate.

All I can say is that this polish is wonderful. It is a pink jelly base, which looks lovely on my skintone, but has different size hexes in a myriad of colours. My explanation just cannot do justice to it. I hope the pictures say more than I am in words. 

Needless to say this is precious and will only come out on special occasions!

A Step Away From Pink for Ken

I come from quite a close family. I have a lovely Auntie, she is the most practical, down to earth caring person I know. As strong as an ox and as loyal as can be. She wasn't born into my family, but my Uncle was lucky enough to have her choose to be his wife.

Her Mum died earlier this year, and sadly she lost her Dad this month. As families do we support each other at times like these. Today was his funeral. I didn't know the man personally, so whilst it wasn't emotional for me, it was emotional to see people I care about going through the trauma.

My nails today couldn't be pink for obvious reasons, so I have chosen a deep grey. Catrice London's Weather Forecast. It seemed somehow appropriate for the tears that were going to be shed. I mattified it aswell as a funeral is no place for shiny sparkly nails in my eyes.

RIP Ken, you will be missed. 

Crackling Hell This Is Amazing

Still on Breast Cancer Awareness, so still pink, yay.

Sometimes you do your nails and they look okay. They even look quite pretty. Other times I find it so difficult to take the polish off because its just so damn pretty. This is one of those times.

The base is Ciate BonBon which is a pale dusty pink with hints of lilac. On top I used W7 Mauve Crackle, and now I have got crackles working I adore it. Its almost glittery crackle, but not quite.

I think the polish fairies are going to have to prize these two out of my fingers.

British Bloggers Roundup 14/10

Another roundup of what is happening in the British nail blogger world. If you want to join, we have a facebook group here . But onto the interesting bit, the nails.

Northern Nails is back on track this week with Pink Wednesdays Posts and More Adventures in stamping Posts and even a few surprises . Jo has also changed the look of Northern Nails Hope you like it !

Jazz is trying her hand at franken for the first time! Glitter Infatuation Enjoy!

PrettyKittyClaws has a extra special mani to show you this week, it's her Wedding Mani featuring Sally Hansen, Girly Bits and Lynnderella

Wendy from Wendy's Delights has been stamping for another week's challenge set by Adventures In Stamping this week's theme being Metallic Madness and while your over at Wendy's Delights check out her 200 Follower Giveaway and you could win some fab Nails Inc Polishes!

Very few posts from Emma as she has been away and also got the lurgy... but she did post this Autumnal mani with a little bit of rare stamping.

Whats this? Whats this? PishPosh and Polish has Nightmare Before Christmas Nails on the blog this week

Inbetween dyeing her hair, fingers, walls and face there was time for another awareness manicure on Enigmatic Rambles, this time for Hospice and Palliative Care Day.

Lyndsay from Pie's Eyes has had a No7 filled week this week comparing their top coats and trying out Star Shower one of their newly released polishes.

It's nearly Halloween and Steph has been flirting with the "Ghost with the Most" and swatching the new Hocus Pocus collection from 365 Days of Color.

Claire at nuthin' but a nail thing has been trying out gold beads and adding a bit of sparkle this week.

Dimpal at Crazy Polishes showing Born Pretty store stamping polishes stamping polishes and over light and dark base this week.

Ruth finally got her hands on some Barry M Gelly polishes and tasted the pomegranate and the watermelon this week!

Sally of Nail Pron has attended another funeral, received a right slating from her step daugher but cheered her week up by finding a dupe for Gosh Holographic which is cheaper, and easier to apply!

Jazz is trying her hand at franken for the first time! Glitter Infatuation Enjoy!

Kerry at JustTalkNails shares the new Nail Inc Fine Sprinkles this week starting with a nail gradient.

The Crumpet and the Digit-al Dozen have been arting it up for Halloween this week - spiders, witches and zombie blood - oh my!

Carlyn has a nail polish to go with her tan China Glaze Pink Plumeria and stamping using her new konad plate

Vic is well and truly into the Halloween spirit (swamp vodka jelly if you're wondering) - her Ghosts are simple enough that anyone can give them a try. In fact, she dares you to give them a go!

13 Days Of Breast Cancer Awareness

Can't believe that we are already half way through the month. The mornings are so dark at the moment, it isn't funny. Can't wait for the clocks falling back at the end of the month.

Today mani uses two Miss Sporty polishes. Discussed these in a blog recently, they are cheap as chips, apply well, and last well. These babies were £1.99 each.

The base coat is 322 Paparazzi and is a creme which applies well. It could be opaque in one coat if you applied it thickly, but I am a fan of two thin layers. On top I used their new Sparkly Touch top coat in pink. It is in a pink jelly, and it was only when I applied it I became aware of the different colours in the jelly, there is blue, green, red, gold and silver sparkles. Properly beautiful. Hope you like it as much as me and have had a happy Saturday.

Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Holo

 

I haven't been on the nail scene for that long. My obsession started last Novemberish and at that point I only had 9 polishes, all of them different shades of pink. So, please excuse the fact I never had a bottle of the original GOSH Holo. 

However, life is kind and they re-released GOSH holo and all my chicks came home to roost. Then, last week I popped into boots to have a peruse and No17 had its own holo on offer, and I couldn't resist but give it a go. 

In the picture at the top of the screen I have mixed the fingers I have put each polish on my Index finger we have GOSH Holographic, my Middle finger is sporting No17 Holo, my ring finger has the GOSH and my pinkie the NO17. 

There are some more pictures below. They are clickable if you want to see them larger.

For application I used a matt topcoat as a basecoat, Two coats of the polish, another coat of the matt topcoat and then a final application of the polish.

The results are startlingly similar. The bonus being the No17 I had applied much better. It was smoother and more opaque in its application. It was also less streaky. Oh, and its cheaper. £3.99 a bottle, but at the moment in boots its on 3 for 2 - bargain!