Tuesday T. Bryan: varnish

Showing posts with label varnish. Show all posts

Monday, 25 November 2013

❄Perfect Party Season Polish... Barry M Textured Glitter Nail Paint; Shade "Lady" (White Pearl TNP8); Review + photos❄

Today's review is all about a Barry M Nail Polish shade that I believe is perfect for the fast-approaching Christmas Party Season! The shade is called "Lady" (White Pearl, TNP8), and it's from The Royal Textured Glitter Collection. About halfway down this page I have included an image of all 5 shades from the collection, and I've written the shade names next to it.

"The new Royal Glitter inspired collection from Barry M will make you feel like a glittering, glistening Princess. With 5 shades in the range, these Textured Glitter Nail Paints will get your nails noticed in an instant." - Barry M (source: www.barrym.com)

I'm not usually a fan of textured shades, I much prefer a smooth and polished finish to my manicure, but this shade has shed a new light on the textured nail look for me. The texture it gives the nails feels just like hardened sand! It's an interesting look, and I don't think textured polishes in darker hues would float my boat, but the "gritty" look and feel just seems to work with this glittery shade. I love the contrast between the soft colour and the coarse texture.

Image - above-right: Barry M Textured Glitter Nail Paint in "Lady" (TNP8) from The Royal Textured Glitter Collection.

It also has fantastic wear. Glitter polishes do tend to have better wear than non-glittery ones, but the addition of textured particles in these seems to make the polish set like cement! I didn't see any signs of wear for 5 days, none what-so-ever! When signs did begin to show they were minimal, just a few minor chips here and there. In fact, this stuff has such serious staying power that it's a bit of a nightmare to remove! Someone should really invent a nail polish remover specifically for glitter polishes and other stubborn shades (if it already exists can someone please tell me?!).

Source: Google Images

The textured finish also seems to have some effect on the way a topcoat will look. I added a shiny topcoat to add durability and a glossy finish, but it didn't add any shine at all, no matter which brand of topcoat I tried. I have no idea why this happens, but the matte finish is all part of the look. It's still a good idea to add a topcoat to extend wear, though.

Image - left: The Royal Textured Glitter Collection from Barry M. Shades (L-R): Purple Countess (TNP9), Gold Majesty (TNP6), Nude Duchess (TNP7), Lady (TNP8), Pink Princess (TNP5).

Another thing good glitter and textured shades seem to have are accelerated drying times. This stuff set solid in seconds for me. Always opt for a shade with a near-instantaneous drying time when you're in a hurry! Remember to touch-up mistakes with some nail polish remover after painting each nail, as this textured stuff is a nightmare to adjust once it's dry.

Now, let's discuss the shade itself. This shade's main colour may be white, but it's far from boring! Barry M describe "Lady" as being a white pearl colour, which is bang on the money, really. The snowy white pearlescent hue is flecked with iridescent glitter and has a sandy textured finish. As I said earlier, the combination of the soft shade and gritty texture is an interesting contrast that creates a fabulous and unique polish! It seems to marry with our snowy English Winter landscapes perfectly (which appear to be occurring more and more frequently!).
If you're looking for this shade on the Barry M website, look in The Royal Textured Glitter Collection in the Nail Effects section, and click on shade TNP8 - it just says TNP8 on the website, not "Lady" as it does on the bottle, bare this in mind when browsing.

❄So, why not make a change from the usual seductive dark burgundy and plum hues in AW13 and opt for something light, innocent and snowy instead?❄

Click here to purchase Barry M Textured Glitter Nail Paint in "Lady" (White Pearl TNP8) from the Barry M website.

Click here to view Barry M Textured Glitter Nail Paint on boots.com.

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Friday, 1 November 2013

Revlon Nail Enamel - 230 Popular; Review + photos

My review today is about a much-loved nail enamel from Revlon, which is suitably named "Popular"! I'll try to keep this one short and sweet.

"Revlon Nail Enamel delivers gorgeous smooth, chip-resistant colour to nails." - Revlon

(Source: http://www.revlon.co.uk)

This glitzy, girly polish is ideal for almost all year round. It's a pastel pink hue which is perfect for Spring and Summer, and it's packed with various sizes of sparkly silver glitter, which also makes it a winner for the party season! So, with Christmas approaching fast, now's a good time to share the shade with you. :)

"Revlon's exclusive silk-protein shield works to instantly help even out the surface of the nail while rising above colour to automatically smooth away bubbles, streaks and brush marks." - Revlon

(Source: http://www.revlon.co.uk)

***

Let's talk about the looks you can achieve by using different numbers of coats. I've attached photos of my nails after using one, two, and three layers of this polish...

One coat: Just a single coat gives a subtle, nude, pinky tone with a touch of glitter. The added sparkle makes this sheer, understated shade more interesting. It's has a slightly glossy finish. The result is perfectly even - no streaks in sight! (See image - right.)

Image - right: A single coat gives a subtle, nude, pinky tone with a touch of glitter.

Two coats: Adding a second coat of polish partially covers the first coats' glitter making it appear white-ish rather than silver - this creates an interesting mix of shades. The pastel pink hue is stronger, but still lightly sheer with a glossy finish. (See image - right.)

Image - right: The pastel pink hue is stronger, but still lightly sheer with a glossy finish. The mulit-layered glitter appears white and silver, which makes an interesting mix of colour.

Three coats: Three layers of polish results in a soft, delicate, "candy floss" pink, infused with lots of eye-catching glitter! The shade is no longer sheer, but completely solid and opaque. The result is an smooth, even, high-gloss, professional-looking manicure. Impressive! (See image - below-right.)

Image - right: Three layers of polish results in a soft, delicate, "candy floss" pink, infused with lots of eye-catching glitter!

***

Now let's discuss the drying time, consistency, and wear...

One coat of this enamel has an exceptionally fast drying time - it's touch-dry in seconds! However, as more layers were added, I found I needed to give each coat longer to dry. If you want to use this shade in a hurry, I'd advise that you opt for the understated look that one coat provides (see image - ). If you want to add more coats for a stronger result you'll need to set aside some me-time to get your nails looking salon-perfect.

The polish has quite a thin consistency, but not so thin that application becomes difficult - there's little worse that ultra-runny polish that gets everywhere and makes a mess of your manicure! The thickness also makes little mistakes easy to remove. When you want to remove the polish completely, you may find it takes a while. A lot of glittery nail shades can be difficult to remove, and this one is no different. The pink enamel is quick and easy to remove, but I found that the glitter was pretty stubborn! A good way to remove glitter polishes is to soak a cotton pad / cotton ball / some tissue in nail polish remover, wrap it around the nail, hold in place for about 30 seconds, then try to wipe away the glitter - repeat if necessary. I've previously used some super-stubborn glitter polishes that have needed to be scratched away with an orange stick, which is pretty unpleasant (thankfully, "Popular" isn't that bad) - I'm sure I'll get some complaining to me about how this can be bad for your nails, so I assure you I'm not advising people to remove polish in this way, it was simply a last result.

The wear of this shade is pretty impressive. I wore 2 coats for 4 days before any signs of wear appeared, and my hands do a lot of work! The light colouring of this shade makes it ideal for ladies who don't have time to keep touching-up or re-doing their nails, as small signs of wear are barely noticeable and it has decent staying-power.

That's all I have to say about Revlon Nail Enamel in "Popular". I hope you've found it helpful! If you want to know more about Revlon or purchase this polish or any other Revlon shade, use the links below.

Click here to view Revlon Nail Enamel on the Revlon website.
Click here to purchase Revlon Nail Enamel from the Boots website.
Click here to purchase Revlon Nail Enamel in "230 Popular" from Amazon.

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Saturday, 19 October 2013

❄No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in 3 new winter shades + No7 "Perfect Lips Kit"; review + photos❄

Today's beauty review features 3 gorgeous new cool Winter nail shades from No7, plus some comments on the free gift I received, the No7 Perfect Lips Kit: click here to view the No7 offer on the Boots website!

❄I must warn you in advance; I may have gone a little overboard with the "snowflake symbols"...❄

I've always been a huge lover of No7 beauty products. It's brilliant quality. I find the results rival (and often beat) those of designer brands, without the expensive price tag! I was drawn to these beautiful new nail colours at my local No7 counter, and the free gift offer was impossible for me to refuse! So I bagged myself 3 nail polishes and was delighted with my free Perfect Lips Kit.

Let's discuss the nail colours first. I chose 3 light shades; Metallic Lilac, Winter Tale, and In The Stars. Dark, seductive shades are always a winter winner, but the lighter, icy shades shades I bought are sure to go down a storm, too! They're shades are great if you want to go against the flow while still looking fantastic. Shades like these are also ideal if you're not one for bold colours.

❄Image - right: These 3 cool new shades from No7 are sure to turn heads this winter.
Shade names (L-R); Metallic Lilac / Winter Tale / In The Stars.

As the name states, No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour is from the Stay Perfect range, which is formulated to deliver long lasting results. If you've read my previous No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour review (click here to view), you'll know I'm a huge fan of these polishes. They really do "stay perfect"! I always find myself removing the polish to change my manicure before any obvious signs of wear appear. Below you will see photos of Metallic Lilac when first applied, and again after 5 days of wear - it looks almost as good as the day it was applied! Click on the images to enlarge them.

❄Image - below-left: I took this photo straight after applying 2 coats of Metallic Lilac to my nails. I love the show-stopping metallic sheen!
❄Image - below-right: My nails in Metallic Lilac after 5 days of wear with no touch-ups. My manicure looks almost identical to when I first applied the polish! Now that's staying-power.

❄Metallic Lilac:❄This shade is an icy cold lilac with a cool metallic sheen. The gorgeous "frozen" finish looks breath-taking in every light! It's opaque in 2-3 coats and has a glossy, high-shine finish. Any lady can pull off this chic colour.

❄Winter Tale:❄A pale, pastel, purple-grey. It's shade (and the shade's name) is perfectly fitted to the icy temperatures, but pastels are a sure-hit in the Summer, too, so you can rock this beauty all year round! It's sleek, simple, and sophisticated. Non-metallic and non-glittery with a high-gloss and high-shine finish. Opaque in 2-3 coats.

❄In The Stars:❄Super-fine iridescent glitter encased in a clear high-shine polish with a super-glossy finish. Build up the coats to intensify the results. Wear alone for a subtle wintery look, or use as a top coat to add some snowflake sparkle to your usual manicure. Like many glitter polishes, this shade has fabulous staying-power, but, unlike many glitter polishes, this one is dead easy to remove!

❄Image - below: My nails after 1, 2, and 3 coats of (L-R) Metallic Lilac, Winter Tale, and In The Stars.

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

❄Image - below: My nails after 2 coats of "Winter Tale" and 1 coat of Avon Opal Top Coat on my ring finger. Click here for my Avon Opal Top Coat review!

Now let's discuss the free gift I received with my No7 purchases; the No7 Perfect Lips Kit. It includes 2 full-size lip cosmetics and a lip brush worth £25, all presented in stylish gift wrap.

Contents:
No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick - Classic Rose,
No7 High Shine Lip Gloss - Smile,
No7 Lip Brush.

❄Image - right: The No7 Perfect Lips Kit, which I received free with my purchases. The products are great, and I love the chic gift wrap it comes in, too!

No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick - Classic Rose: Some long-lasting lip products leave the lips feeling dry and uncomfortable, but not this one! This leaves the lips feeling hydrated and looking healthy, and the colour lasts for up to 8 hours. Classic Rose is a sophisticated earthy pink that's sure to flatter any woman's lips. I applied mine with the No7 Lip Brush (see below).
❄ Click here to read my review of No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in "Cherry", my all-time favorite shade!
❄ Click here to purchase No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick from the Boots website.

❄Image - above-right: No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in "Classic Rose".
❄Image - right: No7 High Shine Lip Gloss in "Smile".

No7 High Shine Lip Gloss - Smile: A collagen-boosting gloss that provides the lips with deep moisturisation, gorgeous colour, and a brilliant high-shine finish. The well-pigmented formula contains added vitamins to protect and care for the lips whilst giving fabulous colour. Smile is a subtle nude pink with the tiniest touch of shimmer, a great daytime lip shade for any girl!
❄ Click here to read my review of No7 High Shine Lip Gloss in "Coral Kiss", one of my favorite shades!
❄ Click here to view No7 High Shine Lip Gloss from the Boots website.

❄Image - right: Why not combine the 2 products for a dramatic, sultry, glossy look? First apply No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in "Classic Rose" using the No7 Lip Brush, then top with No7 High Shine Lip Gloss in "Smile". Gorgeous evening glamour!

No7 Lip Brush: This lip brush is perfect for helping with precise lip colour application. The dainty brush has super-soft bristles that hold a great amount of product and allow you to successfully colour all areas of the lips precisely. It's also useful for blending lip colours together. I love the sleek and stylish brush design. It's easy to clean, and the brush head protector keeps the bristles in good shape.
❄ Click here to purchase the No7 Lip Brush from the Boots website.

❄Image - below: No7 Lip Brush / No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in "Classic Rose".

If you haven't checked out No7 yet, click below to visit their website now! There's something for everyone and new shades and products released regularly. You won't be disappointed!
Click here to view No7 products on the Boots website: http://www.boots.com/en/No-7/

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Thursday, 8 August 2013

Per Una Long Wear Nail Polish by M&S - review + photos

This brief review is going to share my thoughts on Per Una Long Wear Nail Polish by M&S. I'm reviewing the shade "Bright Orange", but I also have it in "Champagne", which is my go-to nude nail polish for a classic French Manicure. I've heard it's no longer available through the Marks And Spencer website, but it's too good not to review, and you can still buy it elsewhere online. This stuff is an absolute dream!

First of all, let's discuss the shade, "Bright Orange". It was love at first sight when I saw this summery coral shade. It's an eye-catching metallic opalescent shade of orange, packed with hot pink sparkles, with a shimmering high-shine finish.
Image - right: Per Una Long Wear Nail Polish in "Bright Orange". My nail decals are from Claire's Accessories; I'm not a huge fan of stick-on nail decals as I find the edges are near impossible to disguise which can look tacky, but I wanted to jazz up my manicure so I used them for these photos.

The bottle claims 2 things about it's wear:
1. Up to 5 days wear.
2. Chip resistant.

I've added a photo of my nails after 5 days of wear without touch-ups to show just how long-lasting this stuff is. It has some serious staying-power! With signs of wear so minimal I'd be perfectly happy to continue wearing it. In retrospect, I really should have kept it on longer to further test it's wear, but I got bored of wearing the same colour and I was sick to death of those cheap decals. Anyway, it's hard-wearing qualities had me instantly hooked - it certainly beats it's own "5 days wear" claim. If you want to increase the wear of any polish I suggest using Avon Nail Experts Gel Strength Base Coat as your nail base (click here to read my review). I've had this Pera Una polish for about 3 years now, and the polish is still as perfect as the day I bought it.
Image - right: Per Una Long Wear Nail Polish after 5 days wear without touch-ups.

So, if you want hard-wearing long-lasting nail colour, defiantly give this stuff a try. It's got the best staying power of any nail polish I've ever used, without a doubt. I honestly can't fault it in any way!

Click here to view Per Una Long Wear Nail Polish on the Marks And Spencer website.

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Friday, 26 July 2013

Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer; shades 265 / 341 / 186; review + photos

"Fashion Fix for your Fingertips." - Maybelline New York

After hearing all the hype for aaages about the Maybelline Color Show nail polishes, I've finally decided to buy some. I bought three shades from Boots - there's currently a "3 for 2" deal on selected Maybelline products. ;)
I'm not exactly sure how many shades there are in the Color Show range... It says on the Maybelline "Colorwheel" that there are 40 available, however I can't find two of my shades on there (265 and 341)... Still, there are plenty to choose from, so there's something for every girl out there!
I opted for a sassy red-ish shade called "265 Wine Shimmer", and two summer-brights called "341 Orange Attack" and "186 Fuchsia Fever".

☆CLICK HERE to read my review of three more gorgeous Maybelline ColorShow shades!☆

Images: The photos to the right show each shade after 1, 2, and 3 coats. Click the image to enlarge.

265 Wine Shimmer: This was the colour I was instantly drawn to. Classic with a twist, it's right up my street. ;) It's a timeless "red wine" shade, packed with glitzy iridescent sparkles - very glamorous! I want to see this shade on every lady's fingers and toes this Autumn/Winter. It has a thin consistency which gives a translucent finish, so you'll need at least 3 coats for a totally opaque look. However, just one coat gives your nails a subtle yet very pretty colour, which could be worn all year round!
Scroll down to the end of my review to see my nails painted in "Wine Shimmer", with a little nail glitter for extra glitzy glamour!

341 Orange Attack: An orange polish is a great way to get your nails summer-ready. I think this particular shade is bang-on for the summer - it went straight on my toes for a sunshine-perfect pedicure! It's a bright, block-colour orange i.e. it's just one colour, non-metallic, free from sparkles, etc etc. The coverage is fabulous. It's so good, in fact, that you could get away with wearing just one coat! (But I'm a bit OCD, so I have to wear at least two...) It also has a wicked, sunshine-reflecting, high-shine finish.
If you want a similar shades that's a little more glittery, then click here to check out the photos in one of my previous reviews - it contains my thoughts on Avon's "Apple of his Eye"; a sparkly summer shade of orange. :)
Scroll down to near the end of this review to see my nails painted in "Orange Attack".

186 Fuchsia Fever: This one is from the "Neons" collections of Color Show polishes - a range of shades that are perfect for a striking summer manicure. I was tied on which one to get, so my partner chose this vibrant purple for me as it's his favorite colour. :)
The first thing I noticed was how amazingly quickly it dried! It took well under a minute, for sure. ;) When it dries it has a matte finish, which I personally dislike. I've never found matte nails very feminine. But don't despair, a glossy top coat cures this in a flash! I was also hacked off with how many coats you need to achieve an opaque finish. The this consistency requires 3 to 4 coats to give an opaque result, and, unlike the two shades mentioned above, you can't pull it off with just one coat. You'll have to set some time aside if you want a magnificent manicure with this stuff!

As for the wear, I got about 5 days out of this stuff before noticing any chips, peeling or fading etc etc. Bare in mind that any polish's staying-power will be effected by the condition of your nails - mine used to break and peel horrendously when I had thin tips! Click here to check out the Avon Nail Experts Gel Strength Base Coat to strengthen your nails and prolong your colour - honestly, that stuff is my manicure miracle!

I'm definitely up for purchasing some more of the Color Show shades. With all the colours available I'm spoiled for choice!

☆CLICK HERE to read my review of three more gorgeous Maybelline ColorShow shades!☆

Click here to view the Maybelline Colorwheel, where you can view the Color Show Nail Lacquer shades, view suggested tips and ideas about what to wear with each polish, share your favorite polish via social media sites, and purchase the Color Show shades.

Image - below: My freshly-painted nails! Like my summery shade? It's "341 Orange Attack" by Maybelline Color Show.

Image - below: My nails in "265 Wine Shimmer". I've added some extra detail by apply Avon Colour Trend Glitter Glam Nail Glitter in "Black Bling" to my ring finger. Click here for my review!

Image - below: Here is a photo of my nails after 3 days wear. There are no noticeable signs of wear at all. This stuff is pretty hard wearing, and so is the Avon Colour Trend Nail Glitter! (Click here for my review.)

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Sunday, 21 July 2013

☆Avon Nail Experts Gel Strength Base Coat - Review + photos of my manicure miracle product!!!☆

Source:
http://avonshop.co.uk/

I've been saying for a while now that I'll publish a review of Avon Nail Experts Gel Strength Base Coat (a great product, but why did they have to give it such a long name?). When looking through my blog's private statistics I can see that a lot of people are searching for an honest review of this popular nail polish, so here it is!
From my experience of this product, I actually think Avon are understating this stuff's power. It has absolutely worked wonders on my nails. I can't stress how thankful I am from it!

Avon say...
"Treat your nails to an at-home manicure without the beauty parlour price! Sheer pink-toned gel makes nails 92.5% stronger and gives them a shiny finish." - http://avonshop.co.uk/

Let's jump back to 4 months ago... me and my partner spend a week in the freezing cold extra-long winter of 2012/13 "fixing" my car's body work and some stuff under the bonnet (you'll be surprised what you can achieve with WD40, Duct Tape, and industrial-strength super glue).

My nails were already in poor condition, and all the chemicals, hands-on work, cold weather, and extra hand washing made my nails deteriorate dramatically. Click the photo to the right to see how poor my nail condition was for yourself! It was impossible for my nails to grow - they were so weak that whenever the slightest length was achieved they would break almost instantly. Thin, brittle, dry and peeling, something had to be done!

Previously I would have donned the OPI Original Nail Envy or No7 So Strong, but I fancied something new, so I bought a bottle of Gel Strength Base Coat from Avon. Dramatic as it may sound, it turned out to be one of the best beauty-related decisions I've ever made.

When I first used this product I would apply 2 coats, then I would remove and re-apply it when I noticed signs of wear. While my nails were in such bad condition I wore Gel Strength alone, I didn't want to draw any unwanted attention to my nails while they looked so unhealthy! The photo to the right shows my nails after the first application of Gel Strength - just by giving them a good was and a glossy shine, they already look healthier! As my nail condition began to quickly improve, I would wear 1 coat rather than 2, and wear a nice shade of polish on top. :)
Personal tip: I always wash and dry my hands thoroughly after using nail polish remover - those chemicals can't be good for your nails, and polish won't apply or dry well on wet/damp nails!

Here are the great results I noticed...
1. Overall nail condition improved dramatically in a short time frame. Check out the photo to the right to see how my had improved after just 6 weeks - immaculate!
2. Nails have grown more rapidly and improved strength has prevented breaking.
3. The nail surface appears smoother - this product could benefit those with uneven nail surface problems.
4. Wear it alone for instantly improved nail condition and an attractive glossy shine.
5. Prolongs the wear of any nail polish applied on top; Before I started using Gel Strength, any polish I wore would chip and peel within days of application, particularly around the tips and cuticles. Sometimes I wouldn't even get a days' wear out of it! But when I'm wearing this product under my polish the wear is improved dramatically. Colour seems to form a stronger bond to the Gel Strength than it does to the bare nail surface or other to base coats I've used. It makes your polish ultra-hard-wearing! This strong "bond" also makes it an excellent glue for nail decors and gemstones.

Image - right: In this photo I have been wearing this polish for 6 days, yet there are barely any signs of wear. The polish shown is Avon Nailwear Pro+ in "Blue Water Lilies".

I literally have no complaints about this stuff whatsoever. I have worn this it daily since I first applied it. I use it on my toes to prolong my pedicure now, too! The results I got from this product rival that of OPI Original Nail Envy and No7 So Strong, yet it's only a fraction of the price, so it's definitely worth a whirl! Not only are my nails in fantastic condition, but due to this stuff's ability to make any colour extra-hard-wearing, I no longer have to worry about manicure touch ups! I couldn't be without it. Thank you, Avon, for saving my nails!

Avon Nail Experts Gel Strength Base Coat is available online at http://avonshop.co.uk/ or from your Avon Representative.

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Wednesday, 2 January 2013

Avon Nailwear Pro+; "Berry Shimmer" & "Orchid Splash"; reviews + photos

I hope you all had a killer New Year!

My first review of 2013 is of two nail polishes; Avon Nailwear Pro+ in "Berry Shimmer" & "Orchid Splash". I bought these shades a while back and I've been meaning to review them ever since...better late than never!

The images below show the polishes after one coat, and after two coats and a top coat. Click the images to see them in enlarged and in better quality; you will defiantly need to do this to see the opacity of the different shades!

Berry Shimmer;
I saw some photos of people sporting this shade and instantly wanted it. It's a dusky pink shade packed light-reflecting shimmer, resulting in a warm opalescent hue which I love. It's a beautiful colour for both day and night!
The consistency is quite thin; as I was applying the first coat I was worried that the colour would be spoiled by how translucent it was, but luckily it still became opaque after just two coats. This polish is fairly glossy anyway, but a clear top coat makes it look better still and really sets off that light-reflecting glitter.
The only thing that disappointed me with this product is how quickly it began to peel - I'd only had it on for two days when peeling began to show. I took it off on day three when the peeling got worse, but over those three days I did notice it didn't chip for me. So, good chip resistance and bad peeling resistance.
This isn't actually going to stop me wearing this colour as I usually change my nail polish every few days anyway, but the peeling will be really irritating for some!

Orchid Splash; This shade is a glitter-free, super glossy, pastel lilac colour; it really reminds me of the summer time! It's very pretty and "girly". It's quite bright, but not too bright for those a little shy of "loud colours".
Like "Berry Shimmer" this polish has quite a thin consistency, but unlike "Berry Shimmer", this shade is still very slightly patchy after two coats. This doesn't really bother me as it's barely noticeable, but if you're a complete perfectionist you'll probably want to give it that extra coat. Again, this polish has a glossy finish, but a top coat makes it better still.
Moving onto the wear, there wasn't any sign of peeling for the four days I wore this shade, however I did notice some minor chips around the cuticles and tips, especially on the thinner areas of my nails. Still, this shade is much more hard-wearing than "Berry Shimmer", great for those long summer days!

Avon Nailwear Pro+ is available for £6.00 from your Avon representative.

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Monday, 31 December 2012

2 True Nail Polish; shades 02, 5, 41; reviews + photos

I was doing some Christmas shopping in Bristol City Center a few weeks ago. Whenever I go shopping I buy a hell of a lot more for myself than for anyone else, and I know I'm not alone. Clothes, make up, food, drink - I'll have it all.
Anyway, one thing I was after was a gold glitter nail polish top coat. I'm pretty fussy when it comes to cosmetics; I looked in Debenhams, Harvey Nicks, Boots, Superdrug, etc etc, and couldn't find "the perfect polish". However, I did come see a shade in Superdrug from a dirt cheap brand called "2 True". I've actually never bought anything from them before (I don't really think I even knew they existed), but "Shade 5" from the Crystal Nail Polish collection caught my eye. The 2 True cosmetics were all in a 3 for £5 deal, so I bought "Shade No 02" and "Shade No 41" from the Glossy Wear collection, too.
The photo below on the left shows my nails after one, two and three coats, and at the bottom is a larger photo of my nails after three coats (no top coat).

Shade No 2: This one is from the Glossy Wear collection. In the bottle this shade looks pretty immaculate, it's a glittery opalescent pearly white colour, but on the nails it's really translucent which is disappointing. The photos to the right show my nails after one, two and three coats. Some of you will be happy with the results, but I still wasn't satisfied with it after three coats. I like really do like this iridescent shade, but it doesn't deliver enough impact for me. It would probably look great after a fourth coat, but four (or more) coats is too much hassle for me. I have only actually used this polish once (for the photo to the right), so I can't report how good the wear is, but the bottle says "up to 5 days wear" so I wouldn't expect anything too impressive!

Shade 5: This is the one that caught my eye in Superdrug. It's from the 2 True Crystal Nail Polish collection. It's such an immense colour. It's fully made up of gold, bronze and pink glitter, so as you can imagine it's quite translucent, but after a few coats it's stunning and almost completely opaque. It really is an epic party shade! It dries really quickly which is great. It's pretty hard wearing for a cheap polish, too - I was wearing three coats and two top coats, and it lasted 4 days before any chips or peeling appeared.
There are 6 shades in the Crystal collection, and I'm planning to get the red, purple and pink next, they look gorgeous.
If you're a lover of glittery polishes, you won't be disappointed.

Shade No 41: I'm a lover of red nail polish, so I thought I'd give this one a try. It's a bright glossy shimmery red, a very "girly" shade from the Glossy Wear collection. I like the colour, but it just isn't dramatic enough for me, it doesn't have enough depth. It takes three coats to get this polish opaque which isn't too bad, but it's a pain if you're in a hurry, and it's not very quick drying, either. Anyway, unlike "Shade No 02", I have given this one a chance to test out it's staying power. I didn't notice any major chipping for about three days, but it did start to peel quite quickly, which I suspect is mainly due to the amount of coats you have to apply to get it opaque - I was wearing a base coat, three coats of this polish, and two top coats (I imagine "Shade No 2" has similar wear).

2 True nail polishes are available for £1.99 from Superdrug.

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Monday, 24 December 2012

Avon Nailwear Pro+ in "Tweed" - review + photos

I bought quite a few new nail polishes from Avon recently, and this one needs a review for sure. It's from the Nailwear Pro+ collection, and the shade is called "Tweed".

First of all, the colour. It's a gorgeous deep shade of maroon, and is a nice addition to my collection of red polishes. It's incredibly glossy, and it doesn't lose that shine as it dries which I love.

Sadly, this stunning colour and shine is ruined by two things...
1. The consistency: It's very thin and runny, which makes it a pain to apply and almost impossible not to make a mess with (however this does make it easier to remove).
2. The opacity: I've added three images to this blog (one above, two at the bottom); the first one is of my finished nails after two coats and a top coat, the second image is of my nails after one coat of colour, and the third photo is of the colour chipping. As you can see, one coat is very unattractive. It's possibly the patchiest polish I own! I was hoping my nails would be saved by the second coat, but that was not the case. After two coats most of the polish is opaque, but it still looks patchy. Quite disappointing!

To be fair, my camera's flash does make the polish's opacity look a hell of a lot worse (but it also helps show off that gorgeous glossiness). After the second coat and a top coat the patchiness was barely visible without really focusing on the nails, they looked almost completely opaque, and personally I think that the killer shade and the mirror shine make up for it. I didn't give my nails a third coat, but I suspect it would make them at least 95% opaque. I'll have to try the extra coat next time I wear it.

The image to the right shows my nails after 2 - 3 days of wear. I always experience this sort of chipping with Avon's polishes among may others, so I was expecting this. However, try not to let this put you off; my nail polish usually chips very quickly on the tips of my nails as my tips are very thin, so if you have healthier nails than mine I expect you'd get much more life out of it!
Usually I'd touch up the chips, but I removed my polish after this as I fancied a change.

Clearly this polish has it's good points and bad points. Personally, even taking into account the consistency and opacity problems, I'm glad I bought this polish. As I said, the gloss and lovely maroon colour do it for me, and those good points just about make those two issues bearable! Maybe a third coat will do the trick...♥

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

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Tuesday T. Bryan