What Was On My Nails: All Da Reds! (NARS & Barry M)

Hello you guys!

While I’m quite glad this week is a short week, it’s starting out to be quite a whirlwind of items to rush out / finish up! Amidst all the furious taping and typing away at work, I noticed that it’s been awhile since my nails have been painted and it’s been an even longer while since I’ve featured some nail entries up on here.

These days, after I started on New Job apparently, I just haven’t been able to find the time to paint my nails. Even with all the quick dry technology in the nail-realm, apparently time is still tough. Ha.

That aside, I’ve also been keeping my nails chopped short due to a rather bad eczema flare-up that I had faced quite recently. It’s much better now (don’t wanna jinx it saying this) but due to paranoia I still prefer keeping my nails short in the meanwhile so in the scenario I can’t resist the urge to scratch – and that happens a lot when I sleep – at least it isn’t so damaging.

So short and nekkid nails it is these days and frankly, I don’t mind but just for the blog’s sake here’s a look at some red talons I donned before this nail polish abstinence phase I’m going through right now.

 

Barry M – Pomegranite

The first of the reds would be this lovely gift that Mabel (Sheshopsmakeup) had got us from one of her trips.

I’ve not tried much from Barry M, muchless polishes, so this stunning red was definitely a very welcomed addition to the nail drawer.

I don’t have many red nail polishes but of the few that I do have, I think Barry M’s Pomegranite stands quite uniquely amongst them.

While red and bright, it’s got this soft creamy pink tone to it in certain lightings that prevent it from being a straight-out chilli-red and that option is nice sometimes when you want to take a break from the classic and text-book sort of red.

The formula of this is quite awesome as well, going on glossy and shiny without the need of a top-coat and lasting well through the many days I had it on. It’s definitely a color I’ll reach for again, and again, and again!

NARS – Dovima

Speaking of again, and again, and again, a red that I’ve donned for the longest period of time, continuously too might I add, would be NARS Dovima.

If Barry M Pomegranite isn’t classic enough for you then NARS Dovima is probably just what you need. I will say however that classic reds are quite commonplace in the beauty industry because everyone loves a good, rich, chilli-red nail polish but finding a good one with a nice shine, easy application and smooth quality may not prove as easy.

Dovima ticks all the right boxes and of course looks all sleek and chic in the NARS packaging.

Unfortunately I was gifted this gorgeous red by Mag (Makeupstash) so I’m not sure which collection it is from and if it is -le gasp- Limited Edition but eitherways if it happens to be I hope it gets repromoted really soon.

 

Dovima Feat. 3CE’s VL06

Another example of how obsessed I was with Dovima at one point is that even while painting another color (3CE’s VL06 which is stunning too and gifted by Eliza – all gifts in this post, I feel so loved, heh!) on, I actually felt inclined to add a pop of Dovima to spice up the combo.

 

So yes, long story short, here’s a look at the nail combos that I had cycled through before I arrived at the current nail abstinence phase.

I do miss the look of painted nails so I’m itching to get a fresh coat on soon but I guess until then it’s nekked nails to let them breathe and air and do whatever else naked nails do, ha!

On another note of red, I noticed Ciate has this stunning red, very appropriately called Red Hot Chilli! Go give the Ciate nail products a look if you’re looking for some quaint and chic pops of color (or even neutrals!)

 

Thanks for reading!

Till next time, whenever that is! I promise I’ll have my Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick mention up really soon. I’ve been working on that since forever!

On My Nails: A Grape (And Also Very Great) Affair – The Body Shop Color Crush™ Nails

Wow, just… wow!

I didn’t expect to feel this strongly and be this attracted to a polish from The Body Shop’s Color Crush series. No offense really, but remember my awry first impression? Which was subsequently salvaged… but still!

I cannot stop singing about how beautiful this purple is, in my books at least.

You see, where nail colors are concerned, purples are one of my absolute favorites. Be it a pastel purple, a dark moody one or even the loud and pink-toned magentas that wear well for a couple days before you get sick of how vibrant it is.

Of course I’m open to all sorts of other colors too as long as it isn’t orange but yes, purple would grab my attention first.

I assumed that I had seen (most of) it all when it came to this color that I always gravitate towards but this purple right here, is so familiar yet so new to me at the same time.

It’s vibrant, but pale, bright but pastel, so perfect!

It’s a creamy purple that is part bright, somewhat midtone yet a little pastel all at the same time. I really can’t get enough of it and I’ve had this on for quite a good period of time partly because it lasted really well, through almost 3 weeks of wear, and also because I really liked the shade and couldn’t bear to remove it.

It was only when the growth / new nail portion finally got to me that I figured enough is enough and moved on to other colors.

It’s beautiful, really.

Unlike the peachy shade earlier, I did bother to throw on a topcoat over this because it seemed like it needed a bit of that for a glossier shine.

It’s fine without and if you’re only wearing it for a couple of days at most it could probably live the wear but, why would you only wear a gorgeous shade like this for only a couple of days, right?

Oh yes, I believe in my excitement I may have forgotten to mention that this shade is called A Grape Affair (french name: Lilas Mauve). I feel that in the case of this polish, I prefer the French version of its name because A Grape Affair sounds very… OPI to me, somehow.

No?

I’m pretty sure they have a purple by that name actually (inner voice: Yes they do).

A couple of days into the wear of above-mentioned manicure, I received a press kit from MAC and it contained a lovely pale pink shimmery number (from their Holiday collection) and much as shimmers are pretty to wear, I know well enough the pain it ensues upon removal so I decided to layer it over A Grape Affair, on one nail to serve as an accent nail.

I think it’s quite pretty and lovely how the colors work together.

The MAC Nailpolish (Just Jewels) turned out more opaque than I had expected – I was thinking sparse glitter / shimmer in a largely transparent base – and I did think it was a beautiful color to wear. I was mildly tempted to do a full manicure with it but… as I had said, it was a bit of a pain to remove even on one nail so I’m glad I spared myself the pain.

 

Alrightey, I think I’ve rambled enough about my love for this beautiful purple and the incidentally lovely combination that I chanced upon thanks to a very timely press kit.

To turn things back to The Body Shop, I think their colored offerings are actually quite pretty both in tone and textures so should you be looking for a cream colored polish (say this purple, or teal, or perhaps a seafoam green), do check The Body Shop’s Color Crush Nail Polishes out!

To give MAC some mention, this polish is also now out at their counters and is Limited Edition so if a sweet and shimmery candy jewelled nail polish ‘topcoat’ is what you’re after, you had best head down!

 

Thanks for reading!

The Body Shop’s Color Crush Nail Polish retails at S$12.90 each.

On My Nails: A Little Attitude + Sephora’s Express Drying Oil

It’s been awhile since a nail post hasn’t it!

I’ve been pretty good about keeping my talons colored at all times, though not good enough to remove and swap out a color at the first signs of chipping but hey, good enough!

Compared to my almost 6 month long abstinence of nail color due to time constrains and eczema issues, I have to say that it’s nice to once again have color on my nails and get to change that up according to my mood. Bright and summery one day, moody and dark the next.

In this post, I’ll be showcasing the last of my piCture pOlish loots (featured here) and this color, Attitude, was not one that I purchased. It was one that Eliza had picked out for me and I can’t say how perfect a shade it is for me. This girl knows me so darn well, thank you love <3

 

Attitude is a mysterious purple that leans a little blue. It’s almost like a galaxy reflected in your nails – the blue tinted sort of cartooned galaxy instead of the dark starry space kind.

The shimmer within this is stunning, almost as if they each have a role to play – there are the prominent silver ones that glint and shine from the darkened base while the softer shimmers lend a subtle sheen, adding dimension to the nail color.

What’s more you’ll be glad to know that while the polish is strewn with shimmer (like, really packed), it wasn’t difficult to remove either.

How perfect is that?

So that’s how Attitude looks under sunlight, and it is actually rather true to what it appears like in person – soft sparkles on a dark base with a nice glowy sort of sheen to the base color.

Though for representation sake, here’s how Attitude looks under really bright and harsh lighting, just to show you the concentration of the shimmers within.

It’s gorgeous yes, but it is a little obnoxious if you ask me and we have a lot of glitter or shimmer polishes out there that can achieve this effect rather easily so I feel that what Attitude can achieve with it’s mix of prominent and subtle shimmer is really quite unique and gorgeous.

Aside from piCture pOlish’s Attitude, I also want to give a little mention to Sephora’s Express Drying Oil.

What this is, is basically an oil that you drip on the nails and it acts like a topcoat, as well as quickens the drying process of the nail color you have on.

It sounds incredibly interesting and to date I’ve never tried anything of the sort. The only quick dry thing I have tried would be top coats (like Seche Vite) and even those are painted on very much like nail polishes are, not dropper-ed on and surely not an oil.

So with that, I found this Sephora Express Drying Oil very fascinating and fancy-effects aside, I’m actually quite happy to report that this does work fairly well.

It is a little messy to use given the whole oil factor and dripping it on your nails and all but if you put a tissue, kitchen towel or cotton pad under your nails while you do it, it’s no big deal. What’s more given this is an oil of some sort, I would like to think that it actually helps to hydrate the skin around your fingers a little more. I’m not sure if they market this as being hydrating or nourishing to your cuticles but my dry cuticles seem to be facing better days after I’ve started incorporating this into my nail routine.

It could be a coincidence with a better skin cycle, who knows.

Though what I do know about this is that it in the inital period of wear (maybe the first day or so?) it gives you a mega glossy and pretty shine which is rather incredibly given you just had to drop one drop of oil over your polish. Though the plush shine does subside by day 2 and it becomes a pretty okay shiny finish.

Not mega wow but it’s decent enough on for someone who can’t stand muted nails, aka me.

I can’t feedback on the added wear time of this because piCture pOlish polishes wear really well on their own already so.. perhaps I’ll get back in future if I test this out with MAC polishes or something.

In short, I think this is a rather nifty product especially for those who don’t have a lot of time to sit around and paint a pristine top coat after you have already spent this long on your nail color. What’s more we all know topcoats, especially the awesome fast drying ones, get gunky real quick and become more of a pain than a help so having something like this would be great!

Daily use aside, I can see this being of help for photoshoots, considering it instantly gives you hi-shine, plush and glossy nails that are so picturesque.

I really should have made this a review entry of its own but… ah well, what the heck. Go check this out if you’re a nail fiend or if you know a nail fiend. I’m sure this would make a nice stocking stuffer now that the holiday period is around the corner!

 

Sephora’s Express Drying Oil is available at all Sephora outlets.

piCture pOlish’s Attitude is available on their website here.

Thanks for reading!

Nails: Bridging Spring and Summer (Lancôme Vernis in Love 343B)

Guess what! I am finally back with some nail polish!

I can’t even explain how amazing it feels to have colors painted on your nails after leaving them bare for so long.

For those who haven’t been following my skin rants, I had (and actually still sort of have) a pretty bad bout of eczema breakout on my hands and that caused me to stay off painting my nails because it was a total Bi— to remove.

Even an acetone-free nail polish remover (liessssss) would sting my wounds so I guess I would rather just do without all that fancy schmansy for a little while.

But it’s so good to be back to the land of painted talons and what better way than with a pop of pink – perfectly cheery but still so wearable!

I actually have a bag of Lancôme Vernis in Love sitting in a corner of the room, not receiving as much love as it should. I think I may have forgotten about them in the flurry of everything when I first got them but recently, while tidying the room, I uncovered these and fell (Vernis) in love with this beautiful pink.

Lancôme’s Vernis in Love in 343B Rose Pitimini is a perfect sort of brightening pink to wear that isn’t stark yet doesn’t go unnoticed.

You don’t need to prepare your heart to wear it since it isn’t a neon shade that could only work on some occasions, yet I did have some reservations before I thought ‘oh what the heck, I want me some color!’.

I love this color because of how cherubic it is, it just seems to put a smile on my face with how cheery, statement yet feminine it is.

For those who haven’t tried Lancôme’s Vernis in Love, these polishes are generally pretty good. They do not have as glossy a finish as Dior’s Gel Effet polishes but the creaminess and opacity of it is good and it paints on beautifully.

Not forgetting, the bottle is really dainty and feminine as well.

I had no issues working with the brush though for observation purposes I did find the bristles were a little softer than some so a steadier hand would be required.

Overall it shouldn’t be hard to grasp painting these on, here’s how the radiant Rose Pitimini looks on my currently chopped short nails.

I am currently embracing short chops because should I subconsciously or accidentally scratch a rash, it wouldn’t end up being that bad – because nails this short is fairly harmless.

That aside, somehow I feel a whole lot cleaner and lighter, almost like that feeling you get when you chop your long locks off. I am guessing it is mostly all in the mind but having shorter nails also mean lesser dirt and whatnot ‘trapped’ under them, yes?

Doesn’t this just look like Spring and Summer dancing about on your nails? So cheery, bright and fun, yet at the same time relatively work-friendly too (depends of course on your line of work…).

Lancôme Vernis in Love retails for S$30 at Lancôme counters island-wide
343B Rose Pitimini is a permanent color.

Thanks for reading!