Essie: Jamaica Me Crazy

Hello again!

I've not been changing my polish all that often lately - and have even taken a short break from wearing it for an entire week! - so my recent choices have been a bit more deliberate I suppose as I try to mix things up around the colour wheel, while still keeping things seasonally appropriate.  Are you with me? Okay, so let's get onto today's little nail polish post!

I received Essie's Jamaica Me Crazy as part of an unexpected gift of three Essie polishes from a cubicle buddy at work who obviously knows me all too well!  I used to be crazy over magenta back in the day so Jamaica Me Crazy called out to me first - this shimmering magenta is something I hadn't worn in a long time.  This polish wears like a shimmery raspberry jelly on the nails and is a little bit retro but I still enjoyed it.  It applied nicely in a couple of coats but even with a top coat did take a while to dry properly and unfortunately I managed to do some damage after taking these pictures.   Also, please excuse the nubbies!

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That's it for now - and my next post will be the long overdue Autumn empties...

Island Girl Nail Color: Island Paradise

I'm way behind in my nail swatch posts so here's another summer swatch although we're well into autumn down here!

 

Island Paradise from US brand Island Girl is a magenta purple cream and just so damn pretty without being cutesy. I was pretty much obsessed with it over summer so it made it onto my toes as well as fingertips and I look forward to wearing it again when spring comes around.  In terms of application this was average - in all fairness this is an inexpensive polish - and care is needed for even coverage.  Still the result is worth it for the colour alone! This is two coats with top coat.

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This makes me dream of another trip to Hawaii...

Until next time!


Ulta3: Gossip

I never feel guilty about buying Ulta3 polishes because they're only $2AUD a pop and come in a rainbow of colours and a multitude of finishes.  To put it into context (and repeat what everyone else around here says) these polishes literally cost less than a cup of coffee - actually I think I might get just over half a small coffee for that piddly amount of change!

 

With that minor expenditure in mind I bought the pretty magenta glitter Gossip - plus four others - from Ulta3's Glitterati collection.  The Glitterati collection was released back in July but I'm still seeing it around so Aussie girls can still snap up bottles of shimmer and sparkle if that's your thing.  Gossip is a standard mix of magenta round glitter and micro-glitter in a clear base and the coverage is sparse to medium so it needs to be used as a top coat for best effect.  I chose to layer two coats of this little drugstore polish over Chanel Taboo of all things - as far away as you can get from a drugstore brand  -  but I was really pleased with this combination!  Taboo makes its presence felt adding a subtle blue sparkle shimmering beneath the glitter so I think this mani looks pretty special.

 

 All pictures taken in cloudy conditions

Perfect partners:

What do you think?
 

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer: African Violet

There's no need for any big introductory spiel this time so I'll get right into it. 

African Violet is the second of my Tom Ford lacquer swatches and I see it as a pretty straightforward magenta-purple, violet cream.  Does it remind me of actual African Violets? Sure it does - yes my mum used to have a collection of potted African Violets so, umm, yes - that's all I have to say about that.  What else can I say about this polish? Unlike Bordeaux Lust this one is more of a true opaque cream formula and a two-coater. 

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And just for the obviously corny comparison a real African Violet!

[Source]

Until next time.

OPI: You Only Live Twice

I still have a few unworn shades from OPI's Skyfall collection and I finally had the opportunity to wear this glass-flecked beauty not so long ago.

You Only Live Twice does live up to its name as it has a multi-faceted appeal about it with its flashes of pink glass fleck lifting the magenta base.  I think this is a very pretty but still sophisticated jewel-like shade and will be perfect to wear when the Autumn weather (and wardrobe) finally takes hold.  In terms of application I got great coverage in two coats and added top coat for extra shine. I know I'm a little late to the party with my swatches but better late than never, right?

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 What are your picks from the Skyfall collection?

Until next time.

BYS Magnetic: Fuschia-ristic

Fuschia-ristic is the first of the BYS Magnetics range I've tried - and the first magnetic polish I've EVER tried. So, how did this magnetic polish novice go???

To be totally honest this was my second attempt.  My first was a comedy of errors as I either:

1.  held the magnet too close and it stuck! or
2.  didn't get it close enough and got no result

 Alrighty then, after some online research (See Scrangie's awesome post on magnetic polish instructions and troubleshooting here) I felt a lot more confident going in for my second try - as in I had some idea what I was doing - and the results were pretty darn presentable!

Fuschia-ristic is a deep magenta with the barest hint of shimmer and is a flattering enough colour to wear without any added special effects.  It's a brighter hue than a lot of the magnetic polishes currently out there, which tend to be vampier reds, plums and blues so this shade is pretty unique.  With the magnetic pattern the result is a cheerful, almost candy stripe effect and it comes across as a great spring/summer interpretation of the magnetic polish trend.  The finish without top coat is a semi-matte, almost rubber look and I decided I liked it left it as is. 

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There are 9 shades in the BYS Magnetic nail enamel range.  BYS polishes are available from discount stores nationally or may be purchased online from FashionAddict.

Until next time.

 

Vita :)

 (These products have been provided for my consideration.  All comments and opinions are my own.)

China Glaze: Fly

A China Glaze haul is on the horizon for me soon.  In the meantime I went stash diving into my still small China Glaze collection and dug out this totally non-wintery shade to wear last weekend.

I bought my bottle of Fly from a local manicure salon late last year.  This subtly shimmery magenta is from an old Summer 2009 collection - Kicks.  The colour is totally beautiful IRL but it was somehow painful to photograph, and my camera struggled to focus properly on the pink shimmer residing in the finish.  This is two coats with top coat and thankfully I had some natural sunlight to work with...

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On a general note here are a few facts I just discovered about China Glaze while surfing the web tonight:  The polish formula is enriched with China Clay, said to strengthen nails and promote healthy nail growth.  Also, China Glaze is 3 Free and doesn't contain DBP, Toluene or Formaldehyde.

Until next time.

Vita :)

An old OPI: Jewel of India

Happy Friday everyone! 

This week I've been sporting an old black label OPI on my nails.  Jewel of India is from a collection called the Far East released way back in 2000.  Now, I know I've had this one a while but I'm pretty sure I haven't owned it quite that long!  I was looking for something in my polish stash along the line of plums and autumn berries to wear and this lovely satiny magenta-plum was it.  The coverage was lovely and even in two coats and the colour just glows.  This one's a classic glam shade - reference to jewels fits it beautifully.  If I have to complain it's about my own shoddy application.  I'm so used to the Pro-wide brush I have trouble controlling the old skinny brushes so there's bit of cuticle flooding here.  Forgive me...

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This finish does remind me of glowy satin fabric!

That's all for now.

Vita :)