a-england - Gloriana

Press Sample

Hello!

I have an absolutely gorgeous polish to show you today. The recently released Elizabeth & Mary collection from a-england landed at my house on the weekend and I had to try one straight away because every single polish in this collection is so beautiful. A lucky dip decided that a-england 'Gloriana' was going to be first, so here she is…

'Gloriana' is so eye-catching. We all know how I feel about red polish, so this was already a winner there, but it's the gold shimmer particles that really amp this polish up. In low light, it appears as though it is just a pretty red shimmery polish, but when the light hits it, you see a flame of gold flash through. 'Gloriana' has a foil finish, but for some reason it appears softer and more wearable than most foils. Love!


For the best part, this is a seriously opaque polish and one coat can give full coverage! Easy application,  with no dragging or anything.

a-england polishes can be purchased from a lot of places around the world. Unfortunately, you can only order direct from them if you are in the UK, but be sure to check out their list of worldwide distributors to find a place close to where you live. You can also follow a-england on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the latest news from them.

This product was provided for review. This is my personal, unbiased opinion.

For more information, see my disclosure policy.

Girly Bits - Into The Night

I have an oldie but a goodie to show you tonight. A polish that I've had for a long time now, I think this was one of my earlier indies, this is Girly Bits 'Into The Night'…

This is such a beauty. I have 2 coats of 'Into The Night' over top of a-england 'Perceval'. This polish is often put over various dark colours and it looks wonderful, but this is my most favourite combination. It makes the most beautiful blackened red, and then with those holographic particles… MMMMMmmmmm. Such a seductive combo - can I even say that about 2 nail polishes and have it make sense?


As I mentioned, I used this polish as a topper using 2 very thin coats which is how I like to use it. The blackened base is fairly sheer though just giving a black cast to whatever it is layered over if thin coats are used. It can be built up to full coverage with more coats. The holographic glitters are packed in to the polish and so apply really easily to the nail.


Girly Bits polishes are available through a number of websites so make sure you check out this list of distributors to see which ship to your location. You can follow Girly Bits on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to keep up with the latest news and swatches etc and of course the Girly Bits blog too. 'Into The Night' is currently in stock on the Girly Bits website at the time of writing this post so hop over there and grab it.

Little Red Corvette - Colors by Llarowe

Hello!

How are you all? I am still stupidly busy - but what's new? I have an absolutely GORGEOUS polish to show you. This is 'Little Red Corvette' from Colors by Llarowe. This is my first experience with Leah Ann's creations and I am so impressed.

HELLO pretty polish!! We all know how I feel about red and how I feel about holos… Put 'em together and we have a winner. This polish is very holographic - it is not shy. This is a really striking shade of red - just enough pink and with quite blue undertones - that I think is really flattering.


'Little Red Corvette' was beautifully opaque, so 2 easy coats was plenty. This polish was just ever so slightly thick, but not in a bad way. It dried fast and didn't pull at the cuticle.


Colors by Llarowe polishes are available from Llarowe (obviously), but it is also available on Harlow & Co. These babies sell out seriously fast though! Luckily Leah Ann does pre-orders reasonably often though. Keep an eye on Llarowe's Twitter and Facebook pages for details on restocks etc.

Polished by KPT - Don't Be Ranunculus & Camellia

Press Sample

Hey hey!!

So I'm just going to jump straight into this post because I have 2 of the most delicious polishes I own to show you today! These are the next 2 polishes in my Polished by KPT series. 'Don't Be Ranunculus' which is the last of the recent 'March Into Spring' collection, and 'Camellia'. Warning… this post is picture heavy!

'Don't Be Ranunculus'

Starting with the transition of 'Don't Be Ranunculus'.  LOOK AT THIS POLISH! I love how it almost looks as though there are 3 different colour changes. The perfect mix of colours in my opinion, the wine colour with the concrete grey and that shimmer…

Seriously, the shimmer. The iridescent micro flakes and shimmer catches the light and gives the most beautiful rainbow effect. They often shine gold which gives this polish a real elegance in my opinion. The gold plays perfectly against both the red and grey.

Here is 'Don't Be Ranunculus' when hot at the top, through to cold in the bottom photo. I should also note that this polish is very sensitive to temperature and changed readily throughout the day.

'Camellia'

This is the gorgeous jelly, 'Camellia', and I have to say I didn't expect to love this one as much as I do. The 2 polishes in this post are not only my favourite Polished by KPT polishes, but 2 of my overall favourites in my entire collection. These photos show 'Camellia' from hot at the top through to cold at the bottom. I didn't get a photo of the in between colour on its own, but often my nails would be entirely bright pink (like the bottom of my pinky in the middle photo).

This is the transition of 'Camellia'. I love how very different the colours are. From the very sheer, dainty wash of colour when hot, to the vivd red when cold. Again, this polish appears almost to have 3 different colours, rather than 2. This is also the most sensitive thermal I have tried. Every time I looked at my nails, they were different. Often each of my nails was different to the others, usually with some showing the most beautiful gradient.


Yes this is a gushy post, but I truly can't say enough good things about these 2 polishes! The quality absolutely matches the beauty of them, with each applying like a dream. Even though the hot colour of 'Camellia' is sheer, it is meant to be and I think that's part of the appeal. I used 2 coats for 'Don't Be Ranunculus' and these photos show 3 coats of 'Camellia' (though I wore it with only 2 coats on my left hand and that was plenty).


Polished By KPT polishes are available direct from Katherine's Big Cartel shop if you're in the USA. For those international people, check out this 'where to buy' tab. You can also keep an eye out for restocks etc by following on Facebook,Instagram, Tumblr or Pinterest.  All polishes are 3-free and not tested on animals.

These products were provided for review. This is my personal, unbiased opinion.

For more information, see my disclosure policy.

a-england Stamped Gradient

Hi!

Again, apologies. I have been good and sick and spending any time at home in bed. Anywho, I am on the mend and hopefully I have a bit more energy to paint my nails and to blog. So this is a mani I did a couple of weeks ago featuring a-england polishes…

For this look, I first did a gradient using all a-england polishes - 'Briarwood', 'Rose Bower' and 'Her Rose Adagio'. I then stamped using Konad Special White and LeaLaC XL-B plate. I love how this turned out and I ended up wearing this mani for quite a while. I really like doing gradients with holos like these, as they seem to blend much more easily.

a-england polishes are available from many places around the world. Have a look at a-england's website if you are in the UK, or have a look at their Where To Buy page for worldwide shipping options. The LeaLac stamping plate is from Llarowe.

What are your favourite polishes or colours to use for gradients?

Vodka & Caviar - OPI (Jelly Sammy)

Hi all!

Life is still crazy and busy and strange, but that's for another place, so instead let's just go straight to what's currently on my nails. I haven't done a jelly sandwich in a long time and it's just what I felt like doing recently…

This is OPI 'Vodka & Caviar' which was one of my earliest polishes (before I became crazy-polish-lady). I have always had a love for red polish, I think there are few things more wonderful than perfectly manicured red nails. I've been meaning to try this polish as a jelly sammy for a long time and I'm glad I finally did. I did 2 coats of 'Vodka & Caviar' followed by 1 coat of CrowsToes 'Maxxed Out' (aka my favourite glitter EVER!) and then 1 more coat of 'Vodka & Caviar'.


Both these polishes are easy to work with. 'Vodka & Caviar' is naturally a little sheer (being a jelly), but it builds really nicely and 3 coats was more than enough for full opacity (as seen on my ring and index fingers). 'Maxxed Out' is jam-packed with glitter so it is also easy to get the amount of coverage you want from it.


I love a jelly sandwich and I don't often think to do them. What are your favourite jelly sandwich combos?

Polished by KPT - Naughty & Nice, Blood As Thick As Gold, Harvest Moon

Press Sample

Hi Hi!!

I was so lucky to receive a parcel from Katherine, the brains behind Polished by KPT. I am a big fan of Katherine's polishes, in particular her thermal polishes that change colour with temperature. I have 3 thermal polishes to show you today - 2 from the Fall 2013 collection and 1 Holiday 2013 polish.
Note - Polished by KPT are restocking on the 1st of December at noon PST. All 3 of these polishes are included in the restock along with a few others. 'Naughty & Nice' is being sold as part of a collaboration trio that also includes a polish made by Serum No. 5 and one by Lacquer Lust.

'Naughty & Nice'

'Naughty & Nice' transitions from a beautiful berry red/purple when cold, to a pale candy pink when hot. It is packed with irregular gold micro glitter pieces and there is iridescent blue shimmer in there too.

I love how the shimmer appears so different in the hot and cold looks of 'Naughty & Nice'. In the darker cold colour, the blue really pops and the gold shimmer is a bit more showy. In the hot colour though, the shimmer appears to give the pink colour a more delicate and ethereal look. Love it.

'Blood As Thick As Gold'

'Blood As Thick As Gold' changes from a gorgeous deep claret colour when cold to a nude when hot. It is full of gold flakes and also pink shimmer. The nude colour leans very yellow toned on me - in fact it is almost exactly my skin colour - truly nude.

The flakes in 'Blood As Thick As Gold' make it appear so luxurious to me. The look of it reminds me a lot of brocade. So gorgeous.

'Harvest Moon'

On to my favourite of all so far, 'Harvest Moon'. I absolutely love everything about this polish. The cold colour is so beautiful and autumnal, just slightly burnt, but still bright. The hot colour is what really makes this polish for me, a stunning icy nude. The holo is reasonably strong in this polish, but very fine.

This is 'Harvest Moon' transitioning - apparently this is the pattern that my fingers heat up in. These 2 colours are so complimentary. This is a real must-have polish in my opinion.


I am coming to learn that a good formula is the norm with Polished by KPT polishes. These 3 were all easy to work with, if slightly on the thick side (though not in a bad way at all). All were opaque in 2-3 coats depending on how thick I made the coats. These were all very sensitive to temperature change and changed colour fairly readily.


Polished By KPT polishes are available direct from Katherine's Big Cartel shop if you're in the USA. For those international people, check out this 'where to buy' tab. All polishes are 3-free and not tested on animals.

These products were provided for review. This is my personal, unbiased opinion.

For more information, see my disclosure policy.

Jinx - OPI

WOOOhooooo 3 exams down and one to go! Cannot wait to be free. So soon! Anyways, I have a super quick post today and it is OPI 'Jinx' from the Bond Girls Liquid Sand collection. This is the perfect exam polish. It wears like… something that stays on for a really long time. I've had this baby on since last Saturday and it still looks as good as new a week later.

So pretty! I know, I am so late to jump on the textured polish bandwagon. But oh-boy I want them all now. So pretty! Plus I keep just feeling my nails (I know you all do that too!).

'Jinx' was really really easy to use. I sometimes forget how much I love OPI brushes and then I use one again and it's just the right size. I used 2 coats for full opacity on my left hand, but as usual I popped another coat on my right hand to make everything even for the photos.

Which textured polishes are your favourites? I am keen to try more of the OPI Liquid Sands like this and also some Zoya's.

Perceval - a-england

Hi!

Apparently I'm making a bit of a habit of posting at stupid o'clock in the morning? It's a nice little wind-down, I find. Anywho, I am currently wearing one of my most favourite polishes in my entire collection (which is seriously saying something) and one that I always go back to over again. I can't believe it has taken me this long to give an entire post to this polish. You have seen this in various posts at Christmas time last year (here and here) and in some other water marbles, and most recently when I used it to stamp with, here, but it's about time I showed you a-england's 'Perceval', from 'The Mythicals' collection, all on its own.

BEAUTIFUL! Everything about this polish is perfect. Such a rich, saturated, ruby red. 'Perceval' is the most incredibly gorgeous jewel toned red. It's so elegant and makes me feel so good when I wear it. I don't even know if that makes sense. but it's just such a feel-good polish.

MMMmmmm look it! This is 'Perceval' in lower light. The blackened edges give this polish an extraordinary depth and mystery. This is the epitome of a glowing-from-within polish.


In true a-england style, 'Perceval' has a wonderful formula, just to top everything off. One coat gives perfect opacity and is all that is needed (though by now you know the drill - I did 2 coats because my first is never neat enough).


a-england polishes can be purchased from a lot of places around the world. Unfortunately, you can only order direct from them if you are in the UK, but be sure to check out their list of worldwide distributors to find a place close to where you live.

Briar Rose - a-england

HI!

I have the final polish from a-england's Burne-Jones Dream collection. I said the other day on Twitter that this collection has made me remember what I love about nail polish and in particular a-england. Every single one has been absolutely stand-out and this last one is no different. Today's polish is 'Briar Rose - Sleeping Beauty'.

'Briar Rose' is such a beautiful cranberry-leaning rose colour. It has fairly purple undertones and in my opinion is just down-right flattering. The holo in 'Briar Rose' is not at all shy, but at the same time it's not totally outrageous. That good old scattered linear effect that I love.

When it catches the light, 'Briar Rose' gives off the most glorious glow. It is so beautiful and so elegant with the holo just giving it that little bit of edge!


As has been a running theme throughout this collection, the formula was spectacular. How does Adina do it? This was yet another 1 coater (though yes, you are seeing 2 coats entirely because I cannot do a neat first coat).

a-england polishes can be purchased from a lot of places around the world. Unfortunately, you can only order direct from them if you are in the UK, but be sure to check out their list of worldwide distributors to find a place close to where you live.

This product was provided for review. This is my personal, unbiased opinion.

For more information, see my disclosure policy.

Briarwood - a-england

Holy moly! I put this polish on last night and couldn't wait to post it, so I quickly cropped the photos tonight and it has jumped to the front of the post queue. This is a-england 'Briarwood' from the recent 'Burne-Jones Dream' collection.

I knew from the minute I saw the collection that this one would be my favourite and I was not wrong. This polish is simply beautiful, I cannot even begin to explain... So, just look at the pictures of this brooding beauty (which don't capture anywhere near the full glory by the way).

What I didn't expect was the beautiful rusty brown colour that predominates. In the bottle I thought it would be much redder most of the time, but add the curve of a nail and the red is what catches the light amongst the rich mahogany colour. As you can probably guess, I am also in love with the blackened edges that occur (I always love that) and the holo makes it even more beautiful, really bringing out this luxurious polish.


And the icing on the velvety chocolate mud cake... 1 coat for full opacity! ONE! I used a second coat to make my cuticle edge neater, but as far as opacity goes it was entirely redundant. Adina, you are a woman after my heart with this beauty!

a-england polishes can be purchased from a lot of places around the world. Unfortunately, you can only order direct from them if you are in the UK, but be sure to check out their list of worldwide distributors to find a place close to where you live.

This product was provided for review. This is my personal, unbiased opinion.

For more information, see my disclosure policy.

Rose Bower - a-england

I am so excited to show you this polish today, mainly because I was so very excited to wear it. The lovely Adina from a-england has done it again, making 5 holographic beauties in the Burnes-Jones Dream collection. I won't get in to the inspiration behind the collection, other than to say it is inspired by paintings by Sir Edward Burne-Jones - a series titled 'The Legend of Rose Bower' - depicting the fairy tale we all know and love, The Sleeping Beauty. My reason for not getting into it is simply that I could do it no justice. I really recommend popping over to Ommorphia Beauty Bar, Eugenia has such a beautiful way with words, so fitting for this sort of collection. Anyway, on to the first polish that I tried, this is 'Rose Bower'.

 

 

 'Rose Bower' is about as eye-catching as you can get in my opinion. Verging on my perfect, dream polish. Red and subtly holographic, let's just say I am one happy camper. I love how in slightly lower light she becomes almost moody and darkened around the edges. So elegant, yet with a slight edge.

'Rose Bower' is not a true red, but rather a jewel toned ruby, almost cranberry leaning colour. It is just plain gorgeous and incredibly flattering. It feels very sophisticated and classic, but with that edge of holographic sparkle. This polish has the most subtle holographic finish of the collection, but I think it is just right for the shade.

Formula was everything you expect from a-england and more. 1 coat would have been enough except that I always expect to do 2 and so my first coat wasn't very neat, hence a second thin coat was used for these photos. 'Rose Bower' applied like butter, so easy to apply!

a-england polishes can be purchased from a lot of places around the world. Unfortunately, you can only order direct from them if you are in the UK, but be sure to check out their list of worldwide distributors to find a place close to where you live.

This product was provided for review. This is my personal, unbiased opinion.

For more information, see my disclosure policy.