Guest Post: An Introduction to UK Nail Polish Brands

So the title says "Guest Post". That's right, Cydonian is away and I'm standing in for her! Awww, aren't I nice? :P She requested a blogpost on UK-based nail polish brands, and I obliged. Originally, I was supposed to do some swatches from my decent-sized UK nail polish brands stash, but due to unforeseen circumstances (bathroom overflowing - you can read about it in my own blog HERE, I swear it's beauty related!) and foreseen circumstances (like my thesis, which is due at the end of this week), I haven't been able to do swatches at all.

So, I've opted to go for the easy way out - do a compilation of some of my previous NOTDs by brand, with a quick low-down on each brand! So yes, the pictures all have my blog's watermark on them, but it's OK, because they're used with permission! :D

So here's to UK Nail Polish Brands 101! This might be followed by UK Nail Polish Brands 102, if there is time.

Brand #1: Barry M
Price: Low
Availability: High
Quality: Mostly Average
Colours To Try: Mushroom, Vivid Purple, Racing Green, Grey, Navy

Barry M's are one of the most talked-about UK brands outside of the UK, so they're a good brand to start with. They're cheap in the UK (around 3GBP if my memory doesn't fail me), and readily available at any Superdrug. They also have a wide range of colours, although a lot of the more exciting ones aren't carried online. They're also known for releasing on-trend colours every season, like their version of Chanel's Jade, Mint Green, and their version of Particuliere, Mushroom, which was surprisingly close to the actual thing. Other popular colours are Vivid Purple, Racing Green, Grey (this is a good grey that doesn't have much blue tones) and Navy.

Quality-wise, these I have found to be a little hit-and-miss. Some of the colours, like Mushroom and Vivid Purple, are good in quality - pigmented and smooth, but some of the others, like Mint Green, were total PITAs to apply. So do your research before buying, and you'll never end up with a dud.

Here's an NOTD of Barry M's Mushroom from my own blog:



If you're interested in trying out other Barry M products, they have awesome lipsticks (called Lip Paints) and loose eyeshadows (Dazzle Dusts). They're cheap, cheery and easily available and worth checking out.


Brand #2: Nails Inc
Price: High
Availability: Low
Quality: High
Colours to try: Jermyn Street, Victoria, Just about anything really!

For those of you who read my blog (not many, I'll bet), you'll KNOW I just HAD to include Nails Inc in there SOMEWHERE, because I love them so much. Although these are pricey, at 10GBP a pop (for a measly 10ml of polish), and are only available in select department stores like Debenhams (they also have their own bricks and mortar stores around Central London), the quality totally makes up for it. I've more than 30 colours (and counting) and I don't think I've had a dud yet. Well, maybe one. That's how awesome they are. They're better than my RBLs, and yes I did say that! They're better than RBLs! Okay, now I'm going to stop before I get stoned by the RBL fans.

So what colours should you try? Jermyn Street, the ever popular taupey-brown-grey mushroom colour, is always on bestseller lists in the UK. Victoria, a vampy purple jelly along the lines of OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark, is also another must-try. But personally, I love the brand so much, it's hard for me to recommend just one.

Here are some of my previous Nails Inc NOTDS:

Here's Basil Street:





Here's Jermyn Street, that ever-popular bestseller (man, I'm drooling just looking at my own pictures of this one):




This is Dover Street Market (with some bling):





Here is Belgravia:





Ok, I'm going to stop here before this post becomes picture-spam. These are some of my favourites. If you want to see more, you'll have to go over to my blog :P Also, here's a tip if you want to buy Nails Inc for less than the retail price - they often do sets on QVC UK that make them much cheaper per bottle, and every now and then they do come out with seasonal sets that are 20GBP and comprise of 4 limited edition bottles. That's half the price! :D Also, I really like their Kensington 45 Seconds Top Coat. I seriously doubt that it dries in 45 seconds, but it certainly dries fast, and doesn't cause shrinkage the way Seche Vite does.


Brand #3: Ciate
Price: Average
Availability: Low
Quality: Average
Colours to Try: ASOS Paints Pixie, Sharp Tailoring

Ciate is one of those brands that don't get much love, because they're pretty low profile. But they're mostly good, although you do have a couple of duds. The ones I've tried have been pretty good though, and worth buying. The sad thing is, I've never seen them sold in real life, and I got all of mine through ordering online, which is a major bummer. Ciate also makes the ASOS Paints by Ciate line...it's sort of like OPI for Sephora in the USA.

Here is Ciate Sharp Tailoring, konaded over with Velvet Tuxedo



And here is ASOS by Ciate Pixie:




Okay folks, that's it for today! I'll probably be back with more brands, but that's it for now! Hope you've enjoyed my cop-out of a guest post! In the meantime, if you'd like to check out more of my NOTDs (which I promise have improved in recent months), check out my own blog.

Quick NOTD

I've been trying to do interesting nail designs lately. Been into nakey nails with something eye catching on them.

Here's my NOTD... more like Nail of the Week (NOTW).

- Nail Magic
- Gelous Base Coat x2
- Art Deco Gold Glitter
- Rimmel w/ minerals black polish
- Seche Vite Top Coat x2

NOTD: Nude-esque with stickers!

I'm in love with this mani even though I did something horrible to my right hand (sooo out of practice)... I love the little heart stickers :)

Sorry for crappy pics. I'm at work so I had to use my cell phone camera. Yep. That bored.

Items Used:
- Nail Magic
- Gelous base coat
- 3 coats of China Glaze "Heaven"
- Seche Vite top coat





















































The first close up nail pic is a little heart shaped locked box thing...with a key next to it, and the bottom photo is a set of three varying sized hearts. The stickers are gold foiled edges with milky white centers.

"Heaven" is an interesting color. It's a bit sheer and finnicky for my liking... I'd like to find something with a better formula. But the color is gorgeous. It's a shimmery nude leaning towards peach.

Nail Magic Review

To start this off, my nails were in pretty sad shape about a month and a half ago. I had my hair professionally dyed purple (at the ends) and for whatever the reason, the color deposited itself heavily under my nails and all over the tops. So, after about a week, my nails were broken and fragile from all the chemicals.

So, I wandered into Sally's and asked for help... they had Nail Magic on special for $6.99 or so (about $6.50 with my Sally's card). The regular price is $8.49, $7.99 with your Sally's card.

According to the Sally's website, Nail Magic is a professional nail strengthener and conditioner designed to help your nails' overall look and strength, and also to help them grow. Unfortunately, I did not keep the box so I'm having to use a few different websites to get ingredients and the like. It does state that it contains natural ingredients, though I will admit that I do not think all of them are... it has quite a strong smell. More on that later.

I applied the product to clean, dry nails as recommended, using one thick coat. It provided a pretty gloss and shine. The next morning, I could feel that my nails were already thicker and less prone to bending. I continued to use the product nightly for about a week, and then I actually forgot to use it off and on and then returned to daily use. I'd say I've been using it steadily for three weeks, and off and on for two. Therefore, I got a good idea of whether or not the product is working.

Without a doubt, my nails are stronger. I love the look of them now, I have pretty, white, solid nails where before I had chipped, short, see through ones. As for growth, I definitely think it slightly enhances the speed at which the nails grow. I had a literal nub on my left pointer finger two weeks ago and it's now a decent short length (bit shorter than the sport cut fake nails, for reference). The nails on that same hand, when I had started using it unsteadily over a month ago, were all pretty short and now they are a nice length. I can see the improvements in them from this product, but I also have some major issues with Nail Magic as well.

1) Staining. The product states that you can use this as a base coat in place of your usual base coat -- I would not recommend this. I used this product for the first few weeks as a base coat under nail polish and removal was TERRIBLE. I can understand helping polish stick but this was ridiculous. It took me hours to remove. Even once I had removed the polish, I had disgusting stained, yellow nails. I used a mid-toned purple and my nails looked like I smeared grape jelly all over them.
Next, I used it under my usual base coat. This did admittedly seem to help. I normally use Gelous base coat and I think this is the way to go if you want to use this treatment under regular nail polish. To add to this, it states that it can be worn over nail polish, you just apply 2 thin coats (that way you don't have to go removing it every night before use). This is also a nice way to use it, as it refreshes the glossy look of the polish that sort of wears off after a day or so.

2) Absorbtion. To put it bluntly, my nails keep turning purple from my hair color. I bought this in order to prevent the staining... and while I can rub a cotton ball across my nail and remove it quicker than without the treatment on, looking like you have hypothermia is not cute. Also, if you don't remove it within a few hours, it starts to look really patchy and gross -- almost like you have bruises on your nails. Now, this could be my hair dye... I have half my hair dyed brown, the other half is purple, I only seem to get purple staining... not brown. (Purple is better, no? lol)

3) Smell. The smell is pretty strong... it's a general chemical smell mixed with a teeny tiny bit of garlic. Weird, I know. I use this at night so it's not an issue but if I keep using it while my boyfriend is here, I'm gonna have to find something to cover it with. That just isn't an attractive thing to get into bed smelling like. It does dissipate after an hour or so, and I found that using a scented hand soap helps to mask it.

4) Pain. It is very painful when applied the first few times you use it. It feels like your nail beds are swelling -- literally. It's hard to describe how it feels... it's a general burning/aching feeling. I did notice after a few weeks that my nails were desensitized and it definitely didn't hurt as badly. Also, do not get this product on your skin! It hurts horribly. If you do, I found that washing my hands gently in cold water and soap helped to calm it. I was usually okay by the following morning.

5) Chipping. And my last issue with this product. It does noticeably help growth, however, my thumb nails kept chipping off in chunks. The product states that this is normal in the beginning, but mine never really stopped doing it. As we speak, I have a little divet in my middle finger nail. But they grow back quick... lol. I guess it can be a little frustrating to have your nails all nice and done, only to look down a few hours later and be missing half of your visible thumb nail. Then you have to file and reapply polish alllllll over again. Luckily, I never felt it when it chipped off.

Overall, this product did do what it stated it would. I didn't feel like I wasted my money or like I was painting useless water on every night. However, I still haven't decided if the positives outweigh the negatives. I do love my new longer nails, but at the cost of not being able to have them naked or with pale polish on as I will have massive staining, it is a bit of a pain. If you wear dark polish all the time, go for it! Just use a good base coat after applying it.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried it? Do you want to try it? I'd love to hear others' results.

Best $2 Nail Polish EVER

Items used:
- Gelous base coat
- 2 coats of Rimmel Black Satin
- 2 coats of Sinful Green Ocean
- 1 (thick) coat of Seche Vite

This is on my mom... she has such lovely, long fingernails that I thought it would be good on her. Her poor hands are dry from slaving away at the sink :(

This polish is sick. Seriously. I may sell all of my other polishes and keep a black, purple, and this to put over top of them. ALL THE TIME.










































































Last two were taken indoors, and the last one was blurred to show the glitteryness.

This polish is amazing... and only $1.99! Available at Walgreens. It was a bit hard to find as my local Walgreens' staff is lazy and it was on a tiny stand labeled "St. Patrick's Day" with a hideous solid green polish. This thing needs to be in a huge gold display saying "BUY ME NOW"

I also think Sinfuls are available at Rite Aid, but whether they have this color, I honestly don't know. Good luck finding it! It's worth the hunt. This is over black but I have it over Sinful's Let's Talk and it's pretty too.

China Glaze: Nova (aka ZOMGGlitterbomb)

I am in love.

Seriously.

(and with more than my fantastic English boyfriend)

Check it:

















































(Blurred for maximum glitterness)

Holy crap. This is fantastic. I can't wait to see this in the sunlight. It look 3 strong coats to get even coverage, and I did a spot 4th just to fill in gaps. It was reduced to $3.99 at Sally's! I am upset that I missed the rest of this collection.

Side note, I do think this would be best over black or a silver polish. Gonna try that after this begins to wear.

Go find this on eBay or at your local Sally's. Or somewhere else. Seriously. Like now.

And just for good measure, a video of awesome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cPmo-xIbyI

Overview: Sinful Nail Colors

"You know that I love you boy, hot like Mexico, rejoice..."
Sorry, listening to Lady Gaga.

Anyway! Today will be a quick overview/review of Sinful's nail colors. I've seen them at Walgreens and Target so far, and they usually retail for $1.99. Also, they go on sale for buy one, get one free quite often. I only have three colors at the moment: Frenzy, Nail Junkie and Show Me the Way. Please excuse the stock photos, my camera is on the fritz at the moment.

Frenzy is a gorgeous color of purple, dark blue, medium blue, and fuschia glitter. It has a clear base and does not really have a jellylike consistency. This is my favorite of the bunch: I did a cute mani the other day with just using this on the tips of my nails. Got a lot of compliments.









Nail Junkie is an absolutely stunning color. It's a teal/aqua jelly base with a load of what appears to be gold glitter, but upon closer inspection, it's actually multi colored (almost rainbow) and varying sizes of chunky glitter. I love this color! (Currently my mani color). It really is one of those statement colors.








Show Me the Way is the last color I have. I got this because I have no other greens like it... it's a semi metallic, glowing "pea soup" green. I didn't know if this would flatter my skin tone, but once I applied it, I loved it and got a lot of compliments. Definitely go for this if you want something different.








Now, to discuss the polishes overall. I love all 3 of these colors. First off, the formula is decent. The brush is a good size and I can coat my small nails in 2-3 slow swipes. I like that they are slightly angled, but I do find that they are sometimes hard to get into the sides of your nails without hitting skin (which is bad when you're doing glitter... it doesn't come off!).

My main issue with these is the dry time. I had no issues with Frenzy, I did my tips and by the time I was done painting all 5 fingers, the first finger was ready for a second coat. However, SMTW and Nail Junkie were AWFUL. I tried doing SMTW in a bit of a hurry and it looked awful. Even with my Seche Vite top coat (which dries super fast), those were still completely jelly and tacky over 5 minutes later. I know I am impatient with my nails, but when you're letting each coat dry for 2-3 minutes and the top layer is complete jelly? Not acceptable. However, for $1.99, they're pretty awesome. Professional? Not so much. Nail Junkie is stunning, but after I spent over 30 minutes last night trying to get my nails right (my left thumb and ring finger just were not drying), I can't see myself reaching for it all the time. Definitely fun to play with though!

Overall grade: B-