Lovely Lacquers

OPI - I Have A Herring Problem

2012-02-27T21:29:00.000+10:00

I'm the first to admit I've been in a bit of a pink rut for awhile, so when I saw this blue in the OPI Holland collection I thought I'd try and live a little. I also love the name, and it suits me perfectly because I'm actually partially deaf in my right ear. That's a story for another day!

I Have A Herring Problem is a pretty, dusty blue with silver and gold shimmer. The glitter in the shimmer is actually quite large, and I didn't even notice the gold in it until I took photos. I really like this colour, it was one where I couldn't stop staring at my nails, and I haven't had that for awhile.

I found that the formula wasn't exactly up to OPI scratch. I Have A Herring Problem was a little runny, and took three coats. I don't mind, considering I'm usually a habitual three coater, but application wasn't as smooth as usual.

I know that I Don't Give A Rotterdam is very similar to this one, so I'd suggest if you're warm toned like me to go for I Have A Herring Problem, and cool to try Rotterdam.

OPI is available at David Jones for $19.95.

Nubar - Gem

2012-02-20T18:46:00.000+10:00

Who loves holos? I love holos! Nubar Gem is just that. I managed to get my hands on this gem (Ha! See what I did there?) through a blog sale, so I can't really tell you where to get your hands on Nubar in Australia, unfortunately. I would suggest doing a little online searching if you're as in love as I am!

Gem is really hard to describe, and also really hard to photograph. In the bottle it looks like a lilac/lavender holo, but it translates on the nail to a kind of lilac taupe with a flash of pink duochrome amidst all the holo glitter. I'm going to include a couple of photos at the end to try to show you! The holo in this is gorgeous, and visible both indoors and out, which I love. It looks more taupe when indoors and lilac when in brighter lighting.

I find the Nubar brush handle a little awkward, but the formula makes up for it. Glides on really smoothly and is very easy to work with. My only complaint would be that it is a little sheer for my taste. I applied three coats and can still see VNL in person.

Overall, I love this polish, it's understated but has pizazz, which makes it perfect for a more formal work environment in my opinion. Check out the other photos to get a better idea of what I mean. What do you think?

NYC New York Color - East Village

2012-02-13T22:08:00.001+10:00

My good friend Jill was lucky enough to tour the US over the summer, and she must have known I was green with envy when she brought this back as a little present for me.

This pretty polish is NYC New York Color's East Village. This polish is a pretty turquoise shimmer. Unfortunately it is extremely sheer. This was three coats and I still have VNL in real life. I'm not a fan of the formula at all. The bottle states that it's quick dry, but I didn't find this at all. I managed to dent the polish on my ring finger about half an hour after application, which to me isn't good enough when it is supposedly quick dry.

I have had a lot of compliments on it and I like the color, but unfortunately the formula means I won't be reaching for East Village again anytime soon.

OPI - Meet Me On The Star Ferry + easy nail art!

2012-02-11T18:48:00.000+10:00

Everyone loves easy nail art, right? Well I was wasting time on Pinterest and came across a picture of nails with glitter tips, and thought how easy it would be to create my own! Here's what I came up with!

First of all, let me talk about Meet Me On The Star Ferry. It's from the Hong Kong collection and is a red based purple with gold microglitter. I bought it and left it on the shelf for awhile, thinking not much of it, but when I pulled it out and used it I was surprised by how pretty it was. Certainly like nothing else I own! Application was a breeze too, two coats and I was done.

As for the tips, it's actually a really good way of freshening a manicure that's a few days old. I'd worn Meet Me On The Star Ferry for about three days and was beginning to get noticeable tip wear. All I did was use a little of Servin' Up Sparkle on them and it was like a new mani! You could use a sponge and apply it that way, but I just used the brush and it came up well.

OPI is available at David Jones for $19.95.

What do you think? Let me know!

Essie - Super Bossa Nova

2012-02-08T22:11:00.000+10:00

Ta daaaaa! Part 3 of 3 in my Essie Summer 2011/2012 collection set. Welcome to Super Bossa Nova. Ain't she purdy?!

Super Bossa Nova is a bright magenta pink with a gorgeous purple shimmer. I tilted the bottle in the second picture to make it easier to see, as I found it really hard to capture on camera. It's so pretty in person!

I found the formula similar to Braziliant with this one, and while I didn't have any bubbling issues, I did have to be careful not to let it drag. I found it easier to work quickly with the brush to spread it over the nail rather than take long slow strokes, because by the time I came back to the base of my nail to take my next stroke it would start to drag. Makes for speedy application and quick dry time though!

Colour blocking is huge at the moment, especially with this shade of pink, and I have my eye on a gorgeous pair of shoes to match Super Bossa Nova. Can't wait to take them out on the town!

Essie is available at Myer for $18.95.

*This product was provided for review. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Essie - Braziliant

2012-02-05T17:50:00.000+10:00

Before I even start, can I just say how awesome the name Braziliant is? I'm in love with it. I can think of so many uses for it in everyday life, that I may actually start using it. It'll be like the opposite of "fetch." That's so Braziliant!

Anyway, Essie's Braziliant is part of the 2011/2012 Summer collection and is described as an "outrageous, blazing orange." Yep, that pretty much sums it up. It also has a shimmer to it that is hard to pick up on the nail but you can notice it in the bottle.

I applied two coats for opaque coverage, but I did have issues with dragging and bubbling. You'll be able to notice the bubbling on my ring finger. It was quite humid when I applied it so that could be the reason, however I didn't have the same issue with Absolutely Shore. That being said, it won't put me off using it again.

Essie is available in Myer for $18.95.

*This product was provided for review. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Essie - Absolutely Shore

2012-02-04T10:30:00.001+10:00

I apologise for my long delays between posts! I've been so busy at work; waking at 5:15am, getting to school by 6:30am, leaving by 5:30pm, working until 9:00pm and then crashing. This teaching thing is tiring!

Today I have Essie's Absolutely Shore from the Summer 2011/2012 Collection. This is part one of three! I love this collection, the colours are so amazing. This collection was based on the "seductive beauty of Brazil." I've always wanted to go!

Absolutely Shore is described by Essie as a pale sea foam green, and I can't really think of any other way to describe it! It's not really green enough to be described as minty, but there is a definite green tinge to this pastel kind of colour. I'm a bit of a stickler for polishes matching my skin tone, and I feel Absolutely Shore would be gorgeous on those with cooler tones.

The formula was great. This is two coats, and as you can see, perfectly opaque! I've found Essie formulas to be thin but not runny, and this is no exception.

Essie is available in Myer for $18.95.

*This product was provided for review. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

OPI - Excuse Moi!

2012-01-29T21:40:00.000+10:00

Well Excuse Moi! This colour is gorgeous! I've mentioned in earlier posts that I managed to get my hands on the entire OPI Muppets collection, and this is definitely one of my favourites.

Excuse Moi! is a warm berry pink jelly with silver and pink microglitter as well as glitter in blue, pink, silver, yellow, red and orange. Just for something a bit different! I love this colour. I'm in a pink phase, and I'm always in the mood for glitter! I love anything that sparkles.

The formula is a lot better than some of the glitters I've been using lately *cough* Nicki Minaj *cough*, although it is still on the thick side. Nothing I can't handle though! Two coats and it was perfectly opaque, so I'm a happy lady.

The above photo was taken in artificial light, so I'll include one in natural, albeit overcast, light below. Excuse Moi is available in David Jones for $19.95.

OPI Holland Collection

2012-01-27T19:44:00.001+10:00

I was sent some information from OPI about the upcoming Holland collection, and I think I'm in love with a couple already! I wasn't sure whether to include info about collections, so I'd really love some feedback. Would you prefer to see only swatches and reviews, or news about upcoming collections? Let me know!

Anyway, check these babies out!

You might even consider A Roll in the Hague in this sun-lit orange.

Rumor has it…this sandy bisque is a work of art, Did You ’ear About Van Gogh?

All of Holland will be hollering for this crowd pleasing plum purple, Dutch ’Ya Just Love OPI?

We will all feel a little virtuous in this intriguing robust rose, Gouda Gouda Two Shoes.

This sassy blue means business, I Don’t Give a Rotterdam!

What can we say about this shimmery stormy blue-grey, I Have a Herring Problem.

Brighten up the room in this smooch-worthy shade of hot pink, Kiss Me on My Tulips.

Cycle the countryside and fall in love with this bubblegum pink lavender, Peddle Faster Suzi.

Give your fingers an experience in this red hot shade of coral-red, Red Lights Ahead…Where?

You will think you have died and gone to heaven in this barely-there sea kissed green, Thanks A WindMillion.

Everyone’s favourite, Vampsterdam, a seductive shade of deep grape purple.

Wooden Shoe Like To Know, a reddish shimmery chocolate brown.

So what do you think? I can tell you right now, I'm raring to get my hands on I Have A Herring Problem, Dutch'Ya Just Love OPI and Gouda Gouda Two Shoes. Whoever comes up with the names is a genius! Holland will be available at David Jones in early February.

OPI - Save Me

2012-01-27T19:09:00.000+10:00

OPI Save Me is the polish I was most lemming for when I saw the Nicki Minaj collection promos. Isn't it gorgeous?! I can't say I'm a fan of Nicki's music (except for Super Bass, but I credit that to one Miss Sophia Grace and her hype girl, Rosie), but I was excited for the collection.

Save Me is a silver glitter with holographic and blue bar glitter. I love love love the holo in this. It seriously sparkles in any kind of light. In fact, I love the whole thing. I wish OPI would do a holo bar glitter collection!

That is, if they fixed up the formula. I don't know whether it's me and my tendency to use these glitters by themselves instead of layering them as top coats, but I can't deal with how thick and difficult to manage this formula is. This was three layers, and you can see slight VNL in person. On top of that, the bar glitter isn't easy to manage. You can see on my index a tiny piece hanging off, and each one of my nails had this, even after I trimmed them. It was like they had scratchy fur!

So to break it down: love the colour, hate the formula. Next time I'll definitely be using it as a top coat, as well as adding a couple of drops of thinner. I'd love to hear feedback about how other people found Save Me, and whether it fared better as a top coat.

Save Me will be available in David Jones from January 28.

P.S. Don't forget about my Nicki Minaj minis giveaway! Ends January 31!

OPI - Metallic 4 Life

2012-01-26T11:31:00.000+10:00

Well hello, Nicki Minaj! This baby is from the OPI Nicki Minaj collection. I have been dying to get my hands on it!

OPI describes Metallic 4 Life as a charcoal sparkle. It contains silver glitter in both small and large hexagonal particles in a charcoal jelly base. OPI is loving the hex these days! I like it, but I don't love it. I guess I would've liked to see at least one other coloured glitter. I think it would have made it pop a little more.

As for the formula. Hmm. I know a lot of glitters are globby, thick and hard to apply. Unfortunately, this is no exception. It wasn't the worst I've ever used, but it is thick. I used three coats, and I will mention that I didn't have to push the glitter around to get an even amount on there. Metallic 4 Life is packed with it! This photo was taken two days after application and you can see the chip on my index finger, so don't expect long term wear out of it.

This polish would be great for a party or a night out. The Nicki Minaj collection is available at David Jones from the 28th of January, so look out for it!

OPI - Super Bass Shatter

2012-01-23T22:30:00.000+10:00

It finally arrived! I ordered three colours from the OPI Nicki Minaj collection a few weeks ago, and have been rushing home each afternoon to check if they've arrived since. My heart broke a little when I walked in the door of my building to see no little packages for me, but jumped for joy when I saw something waiting for me outside my door!

I thought Super Bass would work really well over what I was already wearing, DS Original. It's a purpley magenta that dries matte (as all shatters/crackles do), but has this subtle shimmer to it once a top coat is applied. I couldn't really pick it up with my camera, but you can see what I mean around the top rim of the bottle.

The formula for Super Bass is a lot thinner than the original Black Shatter, which makes it easier to work with, and actually still allows for a good crackle even with a thicker coat than you would use with the black version. You can see my notes on applying shatters in my Black Shatter post.

I don't think Super Bass is out in DJ's yet, but it should be soon. If you're super keen to get your hands on something from the Nicki Minaj collection then you need to go and enter my giveaway! Not long to go now!

OPI - DS Original

2012-01-23T21:06:00.000+10:00

Zomg, holographic amazingness!!!! I don't know how anyone could not love this polish. Please excuse the dodgy application, I broke a nail on my swatching hand and now my index finger is a nubbin. Wah!

Isn't this the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen? I'm a sucker for holos, and this is beautiful! DS Original is a soft lavender that would look pretty on its own, but the holo makes it really amazing. I don't have enough adjectives to describe it!

The formula was good, thin but not runny, and easy to apply. I was able to get even coverage in two coats, but there was a slight VNL, so if you're picky apply three.

I haven't seen DS Original (DS stands for Designer Series for those less obsessed than I) at David Jones, so it could be a case of limited edition, in which case you may have to turn to eBay. Otherwise, the DS collection is available for $24.95 at DJ's.

OPI - Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous

2012-01-21T19:57:00.000+10:00

Ahh Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous, you certainly do look marvelous! This baby is from the OPI Swiss Collection, and my, do I love it!

Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous is a gun metal foil finish metallic, with this crazy subtle microshimmer made up of green, pink, blue and purple. It took me completely by surprise when I applied the first coat. I'll include a blurred image of it at the end to show you exactly what I mean. It's not really noticeable unless you're looking up close, but it makes it kind of special next to your ordinary greys.

The formula was great, as usual. Applied evenly and was opaque in two coats.

Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous is available at David Jones for $19.95.

Oh, and there's 9 days left on the Nicki Minaj minis giveaway, so get your entry in now!

Giveaway! OPI Nicki Minaj Minis Set

2012-01-17T22:06:00.000+10:00

Ring-a-ding-ding! Welcome to my first giveaway! I'm so excited about this one, especially as it's not available in DJ's until early Feb for us Australians. I actually received this one before the other full sizes I ordered to swatch, so I can't even show you what they're like yet!

This mini set contains Did It On 'Em, an in-your-face lime; Fly, a gorgeous aqua; Pink Friday, your candy coloured friend, and Metallic 4 Life, a charcoal sparkle full of holo bar glitter! I am uber excited about Metallic 4 Life. Anyone else think it's going to start a bar glitter trend?

So the rules are pretty basic:

- open to international followers (if you're under 18, please get permission as I'll need your shipping info!)

- winner has 24hrs to respond to my email, or I'll pick another lacquer lover

- entries left in the comments won't be counted, please use the Rafflecopter widget

- giveaway closes 12:01am EST January 31st, 2012 (that's American time for you Australian lovers, so you get extra time!)

I've also included an entry for leaving a suggestion. I'm still new to this blogging game, so any suggestions or comments you may have would be greatly appreciated. I aim to please!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Essie - It's Genius

2012-01-16T22:28:00.000+10:00

My cousin took me to a salon supply store a couple of weeks ago and I managed to pick up a ton of stuff. Luckily for me, Essie was on sale!

It's Genius is a berryish purple with gold shimmer throughout. Essie's website describes it as "a violet quartz shimmer with beige undertones", but I'm not sure where they get the beige part from. The gold is what makes this polish, it really adds warmth and looks gorgeous. I think this is perfect for Autumn/Fall! In the meantime, I'm going to be wearing it on my toes.

The formula was great, thin but not runny. Essie is available at Myer for $18.95.

Deborah Lippmann - Bad Romance

2012-01-15T11:39:00.001+10:00

Ok, I have a confession to make. I am a huuuuggggeeee Lady Gaga fan. Massive. Mega. I even wore my hair in a bow to her concert in 2010 (which was totally cute by the way). So when I saw that Deborah Lippmann had created a polish named Bad Romance, I had to have it.

Bad Romance has purple glitter with both small and large hexagonal particles suspended in a black jelly base. Lippmann's website describes it as a "GaGa blackened fuchsia", but I don't really get the fuchsia part. The formula was great, it applied evenly it two coats, but I noticed that to get more glitter on the brush I needed to press down a little harder.

Overall, I like the polish, but the glitter isn't obvious enough for my liking. From a distance it just looks like a dark polish with a subtle shimmer. I was hoping it would turn out more like Nyx Frizz Spots. That being said, the name alone makes it a winner for me.

Deborah Lippmann's website advises that Bad Romance is available at The Modern Manicure in Sydney. I've never seen it in a store, so I unfortunately I can't tell you how much it retails for. I got mine on eBay.

Essie - Cute As A Button

2012-01-13T21:51:00.000+10:00

I've been on a bit of a coral spree for a while now, and I can't for the life of me find the right one. Unfortunately, Essie's Cute As A Button isn't it either. I love the name though!

Cute As A Button is a pinky, orangey coral creme. I say that because it sometimes appears really bright orange, sometimes a pink and others a coral. Essie describes it as "a juicy persimmon delight." I thought persimmons were more orange than anything else, but I've never eaten one, so I wouldn't know.

When I was applying this I was thinking about how I loved the formula - it was thin, but not runny. I've been on a bit of an OPI love affair for some time, and Cute As A Button made me think I should spread my wings a little more. I applied three coats to the hand I usually take photos with as I could still see a VNL with two, but it took far too long to set, even after a coat of Seche, so it ended up smudging. Therefore, please excuse the awful application and dry cuticles.

I think this colour would be better suited to those with cool skin tones, and I'm wary of how long it took to set. I am willing to give it another chance though, and besides, I love the name too much!

Essie is available from Myer for around $18.95.

OPI - Shorts Story

2012-01-08T13:35:00.003+10:00

I've been lemming this polish for ages! Meet OPI's Shorts Story from their 2009 Brights collection. It is the most gorgeous pink ever, and I can only describe it as the perfect shade for Barbie. Coincidentally, it's almost exactly the colour of the Barbie Fold 'n Fun house my sister got for Christmas one year, while I got a mini computer to practice typing on. It even had a street light that turned on. Not that I'm bitter or anything...

Shorts Story is actually pretty hard to capture on camera, so I'll include another at the end of this post. I'd describe it as a light hot pink. It can range from an almost neon pink to a baby pink depending on the light. I love it, but I can't rave about the formula. It was far too thick and made application difficult, as it had a tendency to drag. I used two coats for these swatches, and can still slightly see a visible nail line (VNL), although this doesn't show in pictures.

I usually use Seche Vite as a top coat, but on this occasion I tried out INM's Out the Door. I found a fantastic comparison post over on lacqueritis, which explained a lot about the difference between the two. Overall, I must admit I do prefer the Seche.

I'm going to have to add thinner to my bottle of Shorts Story, so I hope that makes application better for next time. I adore this colour too much to not use it again! I'll also give you a hot tip, this makes for a fantastic base coat to layer Teenage Dream on top of. I'm trying to get my cousin into glitter nails and sure enough, she loved the combination of the two!

Shorts Story is available at David Jones for $19.95.

Nails Inc - Trafalgar Square

2012-01-07T00:27:00.000+10:00

Check out this baby! I had a few compliments on my other Nails Inc post so I figured I'd review the other colour I had in my collection, Trafalgar Square.

I cannot rave about this magnetic polish enough. I actually prefer this to House of Parliament because the effect is so much more dramatic. Trafalgar Square goes on the nail a steely gun metal grey, and the magnet effect creates amazing black ripples through it. The ripples will also change depending on how you hold the magnet over the nail.

I talked in my last post about how to use the magnets, so I thought I'd take a picture to show you the ridge and how to hold it over the nail.

So easy! Make sure your nail isn't too close to the magnet. You want it close enough to get a ripple all over the nail, but not too close that the polish is drawn upwards towards it. As you can see, I've had that happen a couple of times, but you can just clean it off with polish remover and you're good to go again. Practice makes perfect!

OPI - Rainbow Connection

2012-01-04T23:36:00.000+10:00

Ahh, my must-have from the OPI Muppets collection, Rainbow Connection. I was really excited about the it, so much so that I actually bought the entire collection. Obsessed, much?

Rainbow Connection is a glitter polish made up of practically every colour in both small and large hexagonal glitter. Here I've layered it over OPI Your Royal Shine-ness in about three thick coats. I did have to push it around a little bit to get the coverage I wanted, but I'm fine with that. Bear in mind that if you aren't going to wear a base colour underneath you'll have visible nail. It is possible to layer it, but that takes about five coats and I'm not willing to waste this baby!

So for those who have been living under a rock or don't quite share the same passion for nail polish as I do, Rainbow Connection is basically a dupe for Deborah Lippmann's Happy Birthday. Not an exact dupe, mind you, I think the glitter is slightly larger in Rainbow Connection, but they're basically the same. I've never seen Deborah Lippmann stocked in Australia, so I just get mine from eBay, but that being said I haven't hunted for it.

I really love this colour, it's perfect for a party. Rainbow Connection is available in David Jones for $19.95.

OPI - Your Royal Shine-ness

2012-01-04T23:19:00.001+10:00

I'm getting better at the old photos, go me! Today I have one for you from the OPI Serena Williams Glam Slam! collections. This one is Your Royal Shine-ness from the England duo. I wasn't lemming this so much as Servin' Up Sparkle, and I thought buying it turned out to be redundant considering the sparkle also came with Grape...Set...Match, but it turns out having two bottles isn't such a bad thing after all! I've almost completely used one!

Back to Your Royal Shine-ness. I initially thought it was your basic silver foil, but there's a subtle hint of gold to it as well, which you can kind of see around the edges of my nails. The formula is really easy to work with, this was two coats! Please excuse my nubbin of a middle finger. I got a little snip happy with the nail scissors.

I don't know whether I'd lean for it to use by itself, I'm too much in love with glitters, but it makes for an awesome base for layering.

I bought my Glam Slam! packs on eBay, so have a look around if you're interested, but if you've already got a silver foil I wouldn't bother.

Nails Inc - House of Parliament

2012-01-03T23:01:00.004+10:00

Well this has just been embarrassing! What a giant fail last years attempt at a blog was. Here we go again I suppose? Fingers crossed it all works out this time. My nail polish collection has grown exponentially, thanks to my inability to stop spending, as well as plenty of gifts from lovely friends. I'm working towards getting a better camera and a lightbox, so hopefully I can promise you more accurate and detailed pictures soon, but these will have to do in the mean time.

Nails Inc's House of Parliament is part of their new magnetic polish range. How awesome is the effect?! The polish is like a dark grey purple with light purple streaks when you use the magnet. It is also super easy to use. The formula is fantastic. You just apply one thin coat of polish and wait for it to dry (which it does really quickly), then do a thicker coat on top, and hold the magnet over your finger for 15 seconds. The lid with the magnet has a little ridge on it that you just place over your cuticle to hold it there while it pulls the polish.

Put a top coat on and you're ready to go! Just remember to be careful to hold the magnet still, I've bumped it against the nail on a couple of occasions and had to redo that nail, but the polish dries so quickly it's not a hassle.

I got mine online from eBay, so if you're after it in Australia, I'd suggest looking there first.

OPI - Teenage Dream

2011-02-06T19:33:00.000+10:00

Ohh Teenage Dream, how I love thee. I initially wasn't taken with this colour. A friend of mine had bought it and worn it, and while I liked it, I wasn't about to go out and buy it. That was until I borrowed hers to try it out. I'll admit I've been a bit of a purple polish freak for awhile, but I can honestly say that Teenage Dream has ignited a little love affair of pretty pinks. Can I also just reiterate that I'm NOT a fan of Katy Perry, but I love OPI. (Seriously, who sings a song about wanting to see your peacock, cock, cock, cock, and then bags out Gaga for using "blasphemy as entertainment"? Don't get me started.)

Anyway, on with it. Teenage Dream is a sheer pink jelly with silver glitter as well as holographic glitter. The result is every pink and sparkle lover's dream polish. I used three coats for an opaque finish, although I could've gone four, but I've found with OPI's glitters if I use four the polish will usually chip or come off in sheets within a couple of days.

It lasted for about five days without any chips, which I was more than happy with. And yes, I liked it that much! I didn't want to take it off!

Teenage Dream is available at David Jones as part of the OPI Katy Perry collection. It retails for $19.95.

OPI - Take The Stage & Black Shatter

2011-01-11T23:01:00.000+10:00

HOORAY! It's finally here! I made the mistake of passing on an OPI Grand Slam pack containing Black Shatter and Simply Smashing from the Serena Williams collection back in December, and regretted it ever since, because I couldn't find Black Shatter anywhere.

Come last Sunday and I was meeting a friend at Toowong for lunch and while I was waiting for her I decided to wander into the David Jones to check to see if they had any. I didn't have high hopes, as every other store was sold out. Low and behold, I managed to nab the last bottle! I was a very happy girl. :)

Now, I have a few tips for you.

1. Use Black Shatter on a bright base. It makes the pattern stand out more. I did my initial trial run on Katy Perry's The One That Got Away and it was too dark to really notice.

2. Wait until the base colour is completely dry. I didn't wait long enough on my trial run and ended up with streaky nails and giant bald spots. Good one Erin, read the instructions next time!

3. Use only one coat. It depends how much polish you have on your brush as to how it will shatter. If you notice on the above photo, my index finger has a lot smaller crackles that my middle finger, due to using less polish on my index.

4. The polish dries really quickly once it hits air, so I'd suggest keeping a cotton tip or something handy to wipe the excess from the top of the bottle so you don't end up with chunks.

So that's Black Shatter for you. I am so excited to try it with other colours!

I also love Take The Stage from the Burlesque collection. Teaming it with Black Shatter makes my nails look like a leopard. It's a rich orange bronze foil, and I've had loads of compliments on it!

The application was fantastic, and I used two coats. In the photo below I used thin coats of Black Shatter for my index and middle fingers, and thicker ones for the ring and pinky. What do you think?!

L'Oreal Resist & Shine Titanium - 736

2011-01-11T22:36:00.000+10:00

Ahh, another unnamed Resist & Shine...

I found this one on sale at Myer for $6.70 down from $13.75. As with my last Resist & Shine, the formula and application were great. I still love the brush!

736 is a dark black gloss with a blue/green shimmer. Unfortunately, in most light it was too dark to notice the shimmer at all. I was surprised I managed to capture some in my photo! There's not much else I can really say about this one, as I mentioned everything I loved in the previous post. I probably wouldn't wear this again, it's just too dark and has no spice to make it interesting.

Oroton - Natural

2011-01-11T22:16:00.001+10:00

I went into Oroton last week to look for a gift for a friend, and was so excited to see they had a small range of nail polishes. I was even more excited to discover that they were on sale, at $10 down from $25.

I chose Natural because I don't really have any other colours like it in my collection. It's a pinky beige and if I'm honest, I hated it against my skin tone. So much so that I only wore it for about an hour. It make my hands look dead!

I don't actually have anything positive to say about the application either. The formula was far too runny and I ended up with a number of bald spots, even after three coats. You'll also notice I dinted my index finger, and that was about forty five minutes after application. The brush isn't exactly easy to use, either. The handle was too square and bulky and the brush too short and wide. While I like wide brushes, the fact that I couldn't see the brush when applying unless I tilted my head to see underneath the handle posed a problem.

I'm really disappointed in this polish, particularly because it's by a luxury design house. I'm certainly glad I didn't pay full price for it!

China Glaze - Jolly Holly

2011-01-08T18:14:00.000+10:00

Jolly Holly is a gorgeous emerald green with a lighter green shimmer from China Glaze's 2010 Tis The Season to be naughty and nice collection.

I have to apologise for the photos, I'm having serious trouble getting some good shots lately! It's been raining constantly in Brisbane, so I haven't had any really good natural light in ages. Very frustrating!

Anyway, back to the task at hand. I used two coats for opaque and even coverage and the wear has been about two days with no chips. Which is good for me, because I start to get antsy if I haven't changed my polish in about 48 hours!

I've gotten plenty of comments about this polish; it reminds me of a lush forest. Jolly Holly is available from www.head2toebeauty.com for $2.99US. If you know where to find it in Australia, please let me know!

I've also included a blurry photo just to show you how green this baby is! Enjoy! :)

OPI - Extra-Va-Vaganza!

2011-01-03T22:35:00.000+10:00

I got this polish as a present for Christmas, and I was really excited to try it. It's not something I would've initially picked for myself, but once I applied it, I can definitely say I loved it and will be wearing it again!

Extra-Va-Vaganza! is from OPI's Burlesque collection and is an orange glitter with yellow, green, pink, silver and blue glitter mixed in. I applied three coats for opaque coverage, and I really could have even done four if I wanted to. I used a thick coat of Essie's Good To Go! as a topcoat so I didn't have that scratchy glitter nail feeling.

The only thing I hate about glitters is that they chip so easily. Any tips to make it last longer?

Extra-Va-Vaganza! is available at David Jones for $19.95.

OPI - The One That Got Away

2010-12-30T16:31:00.001+10:00

I first have to apologise for the crappy quality pictures, the only way I could really capture the colour of this gorgeous polish was on my iPhone as my camera kept coming up too red.

The One That Got Away is from OPI's Katy Perry collection, and I have to say I love this colour. It's a deep berry purple with pink microglitter, and I'd say the glitter is what made it hard to photograph. I'm disappointed I haven't yet gotten my hands on Black Shatter, also from her collection, especially after I saw it in a Serena Williams Grand Slam pack at David Jones. I just didn't like the green/gold enough to justify buying the pack. Of course now they're sold out and I have to wait for the next shipment. Sadface!

Application was great, and became opaque in two coats. I've come to expect nothing less from OPI. I'm thinking about wearing this with a couple of coats of Show It And Glow It! from the Burlesque collection for New Years Eve. What do you think?

The One That Got Away is available now from David Jones for $19.95.

L'Oreal Resist & Shine Titanium - 720

2010-12-28T00:24:00.000+10:00

While I like this polish, the thing that disappoints me the most is that it doesn't have a name. What's up with that?

720 is a dark almost-black grey with silver microglitter. The formula is formaldehyde & toluene free, and is really easy to apply. I really loved the application of this polish. The gold lid comes off and the handle of the brush is easy to hold. The bristles are flat and firm and I found I could apply it with minimal mess and mistakes. Apparently this collection has added titanium for added resistance. How that helps or works, I don't know, but I've been pretty rough with my nails over the past couple of days and they're yet to chip. I might leave this on just to test it out, even though I hate wearing the same colour for more than 48 hours.

I bought 720 on sale from a chemist for $6.95. They're originally $13.95, and while I didn't love the rest of the colours in the collection, I'd recommend them purely for the brush and formula.

China Glaze - Mrs Claus

2010-12-24T18:05:00.000+10:00

How pretty is this colour?! I'm sorry I couldn't get a clearer picture, I really need to practise! Mrs Claus is a pink jelly with pink and silver glitter. When I bought it I thought it would be more red, but on the nail it actually looks like a deep pink. I got so many comments on it! I'm really loving China Glaze's Tis The Season To Be Naughty Or Nice Holiday 2010 Collection. I bought 7 colours online!

I used three coats of Mrs Claus for opaque coverage, and wore it for two days before any minor chipping. I really like the silver glitter, it picks up well in the polish.

I still can't figure out where I can find China Glaze in stores in Australia. I bought mine from www.head2toebeauty.com for $2.99US, and their shipping is very reasonable!

Hope you have some wonderful holidays!

OPI Tease-y Does It!

2010-12-24T17:55:00.000+10:00

I was given OPI's Tease-y Does It! is from their recent Burlesque collection, and was given to me by a coworker for Christmas along with Take The Stage and Extra-va-vaganza! Squee!

Tease-y Does It! is a rich burgundy brown with red and gold microglitter. I expected the gold to show up a little more in the actual application, but I couldn't really notice it on the nail. It really appears to be more burgundy with red glitter in natural light than anything. While I like this colour, I couldn't deal with how dark it was considering it's summer here, but I know I'll be cracking it out a lot come autumn and winter!

Application was great, the usual for OPI. Two coats were sufficient for the colour to become opaque, although I always do three with dark polishes, just to be sure.

Tease-y Does It! is available in David Jones for $19.95.

NYX - Frizz Spots

2010-12-14T22:24:00.000+10:00

I think this polish is so fun! Frizz Spots is a black jelly with holographic glitter and normal glitter scattered throughout. It took me ages to be able to figure out what the name of the polish was... black font on a bottle of black polish just really doesn't work. Because of that, I can't figure out whether it's called Frizz Spots, or Frizzy Spots. Google tells me Frizz, so let's stick with that.

I used three thick coats of Frizz Spots for it to become opaque, and then used Essie Good To Go! as a top coat. I was happy with the large/small glitter ratio, although I did have to push some of it around a bit to make sure it was on the nail properly. Next time I might try it over a black polish with one or two thin coats of Frizz Spots and see if I like it better. I'll let you know!

I bought Frizz Spots at Groove for $5. I'm really liking Groove's selection of colours at the moment, so I'll definitely be going back for more.

Sportsgirl - Bionic

2010-12-09T00:12:00.000+10:00

Finally! A Sportsgirl polish I can work with! I was really hoping that Bionic's formula wouldn't be like the last two colours I tried, and luckily for me, it wasn't.

Bionic is a silver foil with silver microglitter. I actually this this may be somewhat close to OPI's DS Radiance, but I haven't checked that out too closely yet. This formula is nowhere near as thick as Hello Sailor or Caribbean and therefore so much easier to work with! Two coats was more than enough for opaque coverage, and I'd suggest using a thin and a medium coat so it doesn't pool around the nail.

I'm hoping the other colour I bought from the Sportsgirl Nail It! range is also this consistency, but it's a pastel and I think it may be more like Caribbean. We'll wait and see, huh? It's available at Sportsgirl for $7.95.

Sportsgirl - Hello Sailor

2010-12-07T00:45:00.000+10:00

Apologies for the blurry photo friends, but after about 20 attempts I gave up and settled on this. Hello Sailor is a blue jelly from the Nail It! range at Sportsgirl. I tried to think of some other ways to describe the colour, but I can't say much except that it's blue! I think Hello Sailor's a pretty good name for it, suits the colour well.

Again, I wasn't too impressed with the application, which makes me think the Sportsgirl range is a bit fail. Mostly because the formula is a bit thick and therefore hard to work with. I need to get my hands on some thinner, stat. I used two coats for opaque coverage, and as hard as I tried, I couldn't get a thin coat. Which explains the messy nails.

I really like this colour, so I'm willing to put up with the so-so application, however it chipped pretty easily within 24 hours. I'm going to give it another go before I completely write it off though.

As I mentioned in the previous post, I bought these polishes from Sportsgirl on sale for $6.36 each, however they're regularly $7.95.

Sportsgirl - Caribbean

2010-12-04T17:02:00.000+10:00

Hands up who adores this colour? Me! It's actually the exact colour of my dining room table, as my housemate pointed out while I was painting my nails last night.

Caribbean is a gorgeous teal blue jelly with a really subtle hint of shimmer. Unfortunately for me, I don't really like this colour against my skin tone. The application wasn't great, but not the worst. I used three coats for the coverage to become opaque, and still had visible brushstrokes. The brush handle actually allows for steady application though.

I bought Caribbean along with three other colours I'm looking forward to swatching at Sportsgirl. They currently have a 20% off everything sale, so each came in at $6.36, but are otherwise $7.95. Check them out and let me know what you think!

L.A. Girls - Platforms

2010-11-29T21:58:00.000+10:00

I'm slowly getting better at taking pictures. Still a little blurry, but you get the idea! :)

Platforms is part of the Disco Brites range for L.A. Girls, which all apparently glow under black light. Unfortunately I don't frequent enough seedy clubs to test it out, but from the colour on my nails I can safely assume it would glow pretty bright.

Platforms is a hot pink creme. The application was ok, the first coat was pretty good and gave good coverage, but the second coat occasionally dragged through the polish. Next time I might try three thin coats and wait a little longer between and see how they go. Overall though, two coats gave even coverage and I've worn it a couple of days with only the usual tip wear.

I bought Platforms at Groove in a 2 for $10 deal. I might be going back to get more soon!

OPI - Catch Me In Your Net

2010-11-15T18:41:00.000+10:00

I seriously love this polish! It reminds me of a mermaid. I've caught myself staring at my nails so many times today, and have had loads of compliments. Catch Me In Your Net is a gorgeous blue-green foil metallic, and is part of OPI's Summer Flutter Collection. I think the second photo better captures the green in this polish, but I love the blue just as much.

Application was great; the usual for OPI. I used three coats for opaque coverage, and I'm finding that I'm becoming a habitual three-coater. I followed with my regular top coat - Essie's Good to Go!

I bought Catch Me In Your Net on eBay for around $6. I find that it's often so much easier to get the colours I want for a lot less than what you'd find them for in department stores. Of course, having to wait is a definite downside.

I've worn this for a couple of days with no signs of chipping and only normal tip wear, so I'll definitely be using it again.

M.A.C. - Bad Fairy

2010-11-13T18:28:00.001+10:00

I can't even tell you how excited I was to receive this polish in the mail! Bad Fairy is part of the limited edition M.A.C. Venomous Villains range. Of course by the time I got around to going to Myer and David Jones they had sold out across Brisbane, so I got mine on eBay. I spent $29 on it, which is expensive, but in my opinion worth every penny.

Bad Fairy is a gorgeous duochrome that changes between deep pink, red, copper and gold depending on how the light hits it. I used three coats to get an opaque application, after being initially worried because the first application was so sheer. I've been impressed with the wear too; these pictures were taken two days after application and I've only gotten a couple of tiny chips and normal tip wear, and I've been pretty rough with them!

The only thing I don't like about this polish is the brush handle, which I find too round and not long enough for me to get a really good grip on. Other than that I have no complaints whatsoever!

I've already had many compliments on the colour, so this one is soaring to the top of my faves list!

Ulta3 Black Plum

2010-11-11T18:15:00.000+10:00

Black Plum is a rich burgundy shimmer polish with red microglitter. I adore this colour, and I get compliments every time I wear it.

I picked this up at a chemist for $2.50, and for a cheap polish the application is wonderful. I got opaque coverage in two coats, and the brush is thin and spreads the polish across the nail easily. I definitely recommend wearing a good base coat with it though, because it will stain your nails.

I can't say enough how much I like this polish. I know it's more of a winter shade than summer, but I love it that much that I'll wear it anyway! Please also forgive my messy application!

OPI Show It and Glow It!

2010-11-07T13:53:00.001+10:00

This polish is from OPI's new limited edition Burlesque collection, in honour of the movie starring Cher and Christina Aguilera. I think the release date for the movie has been pushed back to January 13 in Australia, which sucks, but in the meantime I get to enjoy these gorgeous polishes.

Show It and Glow It is a fun pinkish/purple jelly with silver, green, gold, red and blue glitter. I used two thick coats for application the first time I tried it, but it chipped fairly quickly. This time I tried three thin coats, so I hope it lasts a little longer.

The thing I really love about this polish is that it can either look really silver with a pink tinge, or really pinky purple with a silver tinge. I'm really loving glitters at the moment, even though they suck to remove. Worth it in my opinion!

I bought this Show It and Glow It on eBay for around $5.90 plus postage, but I saw it available in David Jones for $24.95. If you love glitters, pick it up fast, because I have a feeling they'll be gone really quickly!

Revlon Scented Nail Enamel - Grape Icy

2010-11-02T19:05:00.001+10:00

Welcome to my first post! I should first start off by saying I am by no means a nail technician, therefore please excuse my sometimes messy application. I do my best. I'm also new to taking photos of my nails, so I'll make sure I get some practice in taking clearer pictures.

My nail polish collection is growing bigger each week, so I'll try to catalog most of the bottles I already own.

I'll first mention that I've used Orly Top 2 Bottom as a base coast, and Essie Good to Go! as a top coat.

I bought this polish in Myer for $13.95. I'm in a bit of a purple phase at the moment, and was going to surpass this colour until I saw that it was scented when dry. It's a berry purple with purple microglitter. I've used Grape Icy twice, once after using a non-acetone polish remover and once after using an acetone polish remover. I noticed it smelled like grape Hubba Bubba after using the non-acetone and more like a grape sherbert after the acetone, which I thought was interesting.

I used three coats to get this coverage, and I must warn you to be super careful, because it smudges really easily between coats. The Essie quick dry top coat was perfect for helping it to set after application, and didn't effect the scent at all.

I really like the colour of Grape Icy, and am happy with the result on my nails compared to the bottle. I'm still yet to decide whether I'm a fan of the scent; I have to wonder how I must look smelling my nails all the time!