Matte Magnetic

I bought a load of the magnetic polishes from 17 when they were released last year. I hardly wear the though because I find they chip really easily and I got tip wear quickly with them too. However, for a night out they are great.

I used the dark green magnetic polish and topped with Rimmel's Matte top coat:

The magnetic polishes dry fast and I find the 17 products easy to work with, I think this might be because of the cap. The cap comes away from the lid of the polish bottle which I find makes the whole process less fiddly. The cap has a nifty lip which you rest near the cuticle. This means there is less chance of the magnet touching the wet polish. 

Have you tried magnetic polishes? What are your thoughts? 

Nail Varnish Displays

I went into town with mum yesterday and noticed some pretty fully stacked nail polish displays in Boots, which, on a Saturday afternoon, is quite a surprise. I haven't bought or done any nail art in a while, I need to get back into it.

 

Onto the displays: Maxfactor, Revlon, Rimmel, Models Own.

 

 

Rimmel's Metal Rush polishes seem to be duochrome, once my nails have grown back to an acceptable length I must try them out.




 

Accessorize do 'pocket bacs'

If there is one thing I love when shopping, it's a bargain: I picked up a few things recently, most of which were on offer or in a sale.

Ever since Nicole at Noir Lacquer sent me some pocket bacs from Bath and Body Works a while ago I am never without one. I was in Accessorize over the weekend and saw cupcake hand sanitisers, complete with the rubber holder to attach to your bag or keys.

It cost £3 and is the same size as the American B&BW pocket bacs. This was the only scent in the shop, I don't know if they have others. I don't think it smells of cupcake though, for me, it smells more like sun tan lotion, mixed with coconut, which I really like, it reminds me of being on a summer holiday.

Midtown Magic from China Glaze for under £4 from Sally's.

Cooling head stick containing menthol to help sooth and calm, in clearance from Boots for 99p. I will try using this before bed to unwind.

High Impact Lash mascara from Famous (by Sue Moxley) at Superdrug. I admit, the packaging, which isn't obvious from the picture, is what caught my attention. It is a silver holographic. I think full price is about £6 but I think I paid £2.99. I haven't tried it out yet but will do a review soon.

Denim is a new polish by Barry M, £2.99 I believe. It is light blue with lots of silver shimmer in it. I have read from other bloggers they can get away with one coat of this polish, so we shall see.

Blistex Relief Cream, ok, not very exciting, but I find this is the best lip care. I only use it at night before bed and it soothes dry lips. I like the tingly sensation but some people might find it a bit too harsh. I guess the same sort of feeling you might get from a lip plumper gloss, takes a bit of getting used to if you haven't used it before.

Rimmel pressed powder in translucent: I always use a translucent powder, for work I can get away with a bit of concealer and some powder (as long as my skin is behaving itself!)

Alternating with crackle

I hope everyone is doing well? I haven't blogged in a few days, the longest since I first set up my blog a little over a year ago. Work has been hectic, I have been staying late, this coupled with a cold has meant I have felt a little run down. I am back now though and feeling better.

Here is a mani I wore recently.

Using Lemon Ice Cream from Barry M and essie's Geranium on alternating nails, and Barry M's black crackle as well as Rimmel's Matte finish top coat.

AHOY! SaGreena The Teenage Witch

Two coats of China Glaze AHOY! on my ring fingers and two coats of Wet n Wild's SaGreen The Teenage Witch followed by one coat of NYC glitter topcoat (Starry Silver Glitter) and finally one coat of Rimmel Matte Finish! Phewww, a bit of a list of polishes but I like how this manicure came out.

At first glance I think this is such a Christmassy manicure and not so spring appropriate but then again, this is exactly why I like it. I have never been one for wearing trends which are 'in' for certain seasons, I just reach for whatever polish I fancy at the time.

Block Orange with Matte Dots 2

Two coats of Block Orange from Barry M with diagonal dots using Andrea Fulerton's Dot and Flick pen finished with a matte topcoat by Rimmel.

I don't usually wear orange but this is one of the brightest ones I own and just fancied something a little different. I applied two coats, the nail line is still visible but because I knew I was dotting over the tips it didn't bother me too much.

Using Andrea Fulerton's Dot and Flick pen I dotted diagonally over the tips of every nail waited for it to dry then I applied one coat of Rimmel Pro matte finish. I found this did smudge the dots slightly but it isn't too obvious.

Some manicures just look better shiny and I think this is one of them.

Matte Flakies

Again playing around with my new bottle of Rimmel Matte topcoat I had to try it over a flakie. I have seen so many wonderful pictures where other people have put a matte topcoat over their flakie polishes, it seems to give the whole manicure a different look. This is what mine look like:

I applied one coat of Golden Plum by Famous by Sue Moxley, one coater deep plum with golden strands running through it! yes please!

I then applied one coat of Nubar's 2010 topcoat, gorgeous flakie polish. It is so similar to Gosh Rainbow but with the Nubar polish the flakes are much smaller.

Then finally Rimmel Matte top coat over:

I am not so sure about this, on other people's pictures the matte flakies look amazing, on me I am just not sure how I feel about it. What do you think? I guess if anything having them matte does create another manicure. I definitely prefer having my flakie polishes layered over a deep base. 

Playing around with Matte

Up until now I hadn't tried a matte top coat and was curious to give it a try, so I picked up Rimmel London Lycra Pro Matte Finish. I applied two coats of Rimmel London's Aqua Cool, a gorgeous lilac blue shade followed by a coat of Wet n Wild Party Of Five Glitters and I finished with the matte top coat. This is what I was left with.

I have found a new love, this Rimmel Aqua Cool, such a gorgeous blue...

Then with Party Of Five Glitters and matte top coat

Have you used many matte topcoats? What do you reckon?