Illamasqua - Obsess

Whooomp, there it is.....!

Illamasqua are never shy with their colours.  Obsess is proof positive of that.

This is a gorgeous neon pink.  Although, sometimes I swear I can see flashes of purple running through this.  Definitely click to see the larger version - the purple does emerge (kinda like those 3d pictures) eventually.

As with all Illamasqua polishes, application is too easy.  I love that I never have to work hard with Illamasqua.  The polish just seems to know where it needs to go.  It is a dream formula.

So, ladies, have you survived this bright pink assault on your retinas?  What do you think?  Love or loathe?

Hey There, Wait A Minute Mr Postman - Kit + A gift from the UK

Ladies, I've been shopping.

So, throughout this week, along with some killer Valentine's Day manicures, I'll be posting evidence of my terrible, terrible habit of buying lacquer on a near daily basis.

The first haul is from Kit Cosmetics.  From left to right, we have Blue Surf (from Kit's Dulux Nail Polish Collection), Pool Party (which is part of Kit's February promotion where, each Monday a new lacquer is made available online.  Each lacquer is only available for one week before it disappears forever), and Speed Demon (which is part of Kit's High Velocity Collection.

The second is a gift from my mother in law.  This came courtesy of a care package.

Mint is from Marks and Spencers. I had no idea these guys even made nail polishes.  This is such a beautiful, pale mint.  I don't think I have anything even close in my collection to this.  But, tell me, what is up with the dodgy off center label?  Quality Assurance Fail.

So, ladies, do you like any of these lacquers?

Oh, and can someone please check on green and blue loving Nea because I suspect her eyes have rolled into the back of her head right about now.

Stay tuned later today for a blisteringly bright manicure.  Ladies, I'm not your nagging mother, but you might want to wear new underwear and sunglasses for it.

Bloom - Audrey + Nail Art

The first of my Valentine's Day manicures uses Bloom's Audrey.

My friend N messaged me at work a couple of weeks ago and said 'I'm wearing this amazing Bloom colour called Audrey'. I immediately conjured up images of China Glaze's For Audrey so you can imagine my surprise when I found out that Bloom's Audrey is a classic raspberry creme.

This is a beautiful, timeless colour. It's the kind of colour you wear if you want to keep things elegant and, yet, don't want to stick to pinks or taupes.

Formula-wise, this is Bloom at its best (with one flaw which I'll go into later).  The formula is neither too runny nor too thick, making it infinitely workable on the nail.  It dries super quickly and to a high shine.  The swatch on the left is sans top coat.

I only have one problem with this.  The opacity.  The swatch here is three coats and I can still see a visible nail line on my ring and little finger.  Not badly, and I suspect no-one else but me would see this, but it still bothers me.  A little.

I suspect this isn't a unique colour by any stretch of the imagination so, for my international readers, if you have a dupe, post a link to it in the comments so that we may all 'ooooh', 'ahhhh'  and delight in raspberry creme goodness.

I also trialled some nail art with this manicure.  I bought some cute little stickers from a $2 shop and thought this was the perfect colour to use them with. 

Unfortunately, in this photo, the manicure looks a little nail wreck-alicious but, in person, this is such a cute little manicure.  It so reminds me of Fiji and the lovely flowers the waitresses in the resort restaurants would insist on putting in my hair.

Ladies, how do you like Bloom's Audrey.  Are you planning a special manicure for Valentine's Day?

Sunday Sneak Peak

Edited to add: yay for Blogger and the addition of pages!

A whole week of Valentine's Day manicures...

For me, Valentine's Day isn't a really big deal, except for the lovely manicures I get to indulge in.  Yes, this week will have plenty of pinks and reds.  But I've thrown in a blue which, when you see the name of it, you'll groan at the obvious reference (or be utterly offended).  And, in what could be the find of the century, I'll show you a fabby little lacquer that I found in a Korean supermarket.  I went shopping for BBQ Pork Buns (hands up who loves pork buns) and found nail polish instead!

Best of all, one of the lacquers this week will feature in February's Giveaway.  Stay tuned next Saturday 13th February to find out how you can win!

Have a lovely Valentine's Day week everyone!

Great Aussie Swatch Watch - Ulta3 - We Have A Winner!

Thank you to everyone who voted in the Ulta 3 Great Aussie Swatch Watch.

The response was absolutely terrific.  It's super that so many of you are hankering after Australian lacquers.

So, here are the results of the vote:

Plum Violet - 41.18%
Bottle Green - 20.59%
Silver Grey - 16.18%
Blue Glitter - 14.70%
Beesting - 7.35

You guys voted and, with a mammoth margin, Plum Violet has been declared the winner!

Now, for the winning voter.  Congratulations to......

Evil Angel

Congratulations to the gorgeous and talented Evil Angel, who wins a bottle of Ulta3's Plum Violet.

Thanks again to everyone who entered.  Stay tuned next week when I launch the February Giveaway.  I know you guys will love it.

Naily News #18

If I'm a mathematician, and I'm not so you probably shouldn't listen to me, you have about an hour left to vote in the Great Aussie Swatch Watch.  Vote now if you haven't already!

I was just thinking about Piggy Polish the other day, wondering if I should get any.  If Kaz's swatches are any indication, then I definitely should.

Leanne rocks a GOSH rainbow.

If a shimmering black on beautiful nails is your thing, check out Nail Juice.

I'm flyin' high with Nea's manicure.

Nixxy nails a cranberry pink.

Diana's (yet another nail art) masterpiece reminds me of beautiful seas and mermaids.

Is there anything Mecca Cosmetica's Celia can't do?  Gilded Angel shows yet another side to this super versatile lacquer.

If you're looking for hot stuff, Magic Maid is the place to be.  She also has a very nice manicure for you.

All You Desire layers it up, and it's super spectacular!

Kae has found the perfect hot pink.  It's truly glorious.

Stay tuned guys.  I'll be announcing the winner of the Great Aussie Swatch Watch later this afternoon!

Chanel - Vendetta

Can't.  Stop.  Hyperventilating.

Ladies, I present...... Chanel's Vendetta.

I have wanted this lacquer for so long but, living in Australia, it costs us a ridiculous $50 per bottle.  I can't justify spending that when I know I can get it overseas for a shedload less.

Thankfully, my mum lives in France, where Chanel is much more reasonably priced, so she brought this over for me for Christmas.  Yay for mum!

This is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful lacquers I own.  It's a deep purple with a blue shimmer running through it.  It's velvety, luscious and vamp-alicious.

It's classic Chanel at its best.  The formula is extraordinarily good.  It dries to a high shine.  And it lasts for days before it slowly starts to wear at the tip. 

So, ladies, do you not love this?  Do you have a favourite Chanel?  More importantly, do you know of anyone prepared to sell me Chanel Jade? That's one lacquer I would spend $50 on.   :-))