Avon Opal Top Coat - review + photos [Apologies for corrupted "4-in-1" image!]

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Nail polishes are probably my favorite beauty products to review, purely because I bloody love the stuff! Having a flash manicure has to be the ultimate accessory.
Today I'm reviewing one of my recent Avon purchases, the Avon Opal Top Coat. If you're looking for a fun, fashionable finish for your manicure then give this stuff a whirl. I love opals and things with an opalescent finish, so this was a must-have for me! The  the Opal is my birth stone, you know. ;)

Let's discuss it in a little more detail. This new Avon product is a nail top coat consisting of a clear polish with a high-shine finish, and infused with eye-catching opalescent "confetti" sparkles. It's bang on trend at the moment,
and, although I hate to say it as we're only in August, it's a winner for the Christmas party season.

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As always, I've added my own high-res images to this review so you can see how the stuff looks for yourself. Click on the photos to view larger versions in better quality!

Image - above-right: Avon Opal Top Coat over 5 shades of Avon Nailwear Pro+. Shade names from left - right (thumb nail first); Decadence, Inky Blue, Noir Emerald, Real Red, Orchid Splash.
Image - below-right: Avon Opal Top Coat worn alone photographed from various angles in different lighting.

© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
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Image - above: My manicure using No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in "Winter Tale" and a coat of Avon Opal Top Coat on my ring finger. Click here for my No7 "Winter Tale" review!

I tested this product over 5 shades of Avon Nailwear Pro+ (image - above-right), and I wore it over No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in "Winter Tale" (click here for my review!) on my ring finger to add some subtle sparkle to my manicure (image - above). I chose varied colours to show you what the Opal Top Coat looks like over a range of shades and finishes. Personally, I think it looks best when paired with "Inky Blue" (usually a very deep metallic blue, but my photo makes it look almost black, sorry!) and "Noir Emerald" (possibly my favorite Nailwear Pro+ shade). I also think it looks pretty good with "Decadence". I don't think the lighter shades, "Real Red" and "Orchid Splash", contrast as well with the opalescent sparkles. However, I do think it compliments No7's "Winter Tale" (click here for my review), it seems to complete the manicure, and it adds a touch of fun sparkle without looking cheap. What do you think? It's advertised as a top coat, but you can wear it alone for a more subtle look. I've added a "4-in-1" image to show you the polish in different lighting from various angles (image - below-right).

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The opal "confetti" comes out slightly uneven in various shapes and sizes, but I believe that to be part of it's charm. It certainly makes in more interesting, and you'll always get a unique finish!
A little polish goes a long way. I personally think 1 - 2 coats is plenty, any more and I think it would look tacky and peel easily.
Speaking of peeling, this stuff has fantastic wear. I wore 2 coats over 1 coat of Avon Gel Strength Base Coat (the stuff is a dream; click here to read my review), and it lasted 4 days before I noticed even the smallest signs of wear, which was a little pe
eling around the cuticles of some nails.

There's not much more to say really, so I'll keep this one short and sweet! I can't fault this polish at all. It's on-trend, it's eye-catching, it's a great way to add a unique finish to your usual manicure, and it's dirt cheap.

❄It's a Party Season must-have!❄ (Loving the snowflake symbols.)

Click here to purchase Avon Opal Top Coat from avonshop.co.uk.

© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
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By Tuesday T. Bryan.



Image - below: Just a recent snap of myself. :) Annoyed that my leopard-print hair clip is showing, but otherwise I feel it's a rather aesthetically pleasing photo, even if I do say so myself. ;)

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❄A photo shoot in the snow.❄Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick; Osmo Shaper Maker; reviews + photos

Modeling & editing; Tuesday T. Bryan.
Photographer; Dale.
© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
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If you live in England you'll remember all that snow we had in January 2013. It may have caused some chaos, here in Bristol it was total mayhem, but I personally loved it! My car wasn't working at the time, and living in the countryside there isn't a lot you can do if you're don't have transport, so we got productive and did a photo shoot in the snow. It was seriously cold (that's not blusher, that's redness caused by the wind), but we got some great results. I did the "modelling" and editing, and my assistant, Dale, took the photos. It's March now, and the photo to the left is still the only one I've got round to editing.


I wanted some neutral toned clothes, but I also wanted to contrast the snow (as well as stay relatively warm). So I chose my pale fawn coat with black skinny jeans, dark brown "hiker" heels and deep earthy make up.

Source: Google Image

There's not a lot I can do with my short hair cut, especially with my under-cut style (which I'm currently growing out). To slick back my hair I used Osmo Shaper Maker. It's great stuff. It has a creamy consistency rather than being sticky or waxy, and gives your hair flexible hold and a bit of shine! It also conditions your hair, and has a really nice apricot fragrance. An all-round winner! It's available for £8.05 from www.feelunique.com (click the link to view the product on feelunique a new window).

So, let's talk make up! As previously mentioned, I wanted deep earthy tones. Kind of a "natural but dramatic" look, I hope that makes sense. So I used dark browns for my eyes, light-coverage matte foundation, and matte bronzer on my cheeks (although the wind flushed them more of a red colour as soon as I left my house). I wanted my lips to be an eye-catching shade, but I didn't want to go for anything too bright, so I chose my most recently purchased lipstick - Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss in 107 (click here to view on the Rimmel website). I made the shade darker when editing this photo, so I'll attach some images of the true colour later in this review.

I knew this shade would be good. I'd been after it for some time, but every shop I tried was out of stock and I'm not a fan of buying make up online (much better to "try before you buy" in my opinion). When I finally got my hands on it I instantly fell in love! It has a velvety consistency and a totally matte finish. It lasts for hours without drying out your lips, however I do like to apply coats throughout the day to keep the colour vibrant. It does feather slightly over time, so I suggest using a dark red or plum liner prior to application.

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This is how I wear it mine...

• I begin with a lining my lips with a plum shade
• Then I apply a coat of the lipstick.
• Blot with tissue paper
• Apply a second coat of lipstick

Sometimes I wear it with the legendary Lipcoat, but sadly this seems to make my lips dry out when used with this particular lipstick which is amplified by the cold February weather!

As for the shade, it really is beautiful. It's shade number 107, and I've got to get my hands on more of them (I've got 110 and 111 on my shopping list)!
107 is a gorgeous deep berry red / plum colour with a velvety matte finish. It's the perfect autumn/winter shade. Remember, you can always add a slick of clear gloss over the top for a shiny finish if you fancy a change from the matte look. It goes perfectly with my pale skin tone (in the photo below I've teamed it with bronzer, my skin isn't really that sun-skissed). It's pretty versatile; you can wear it simply with a little mascara for simple daytime make up, or vamp up your eye make up for a dramatic look. A great all-rounder!

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss is available online and from drugstores for £5.49 RRP.

© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
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By Tuesday T. Bryan.

In the photo below I've teamed my Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss in 107 with Avon SuperShock Eye Liner in Blackened Metal (click link for review), Avon Bronzing Pearls in Deep, and Bourjois Pastel Joues Blusher in Santal 92.
My  beloved earrings are by the amazing Vivienne Westwood.

© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
DO NOT USE IMAGES WITHOUT PERMISSION. Copyrighted material