‘Frosted Purple’ is a simply beautiful colour, and is neutral enough to wear with just about anything.  It’s a dark silver tone with a lilac tinge, and consists of two sizes of glitter – a very fine micro glitter, with larger flecks throughout. The varnish dries matte, which is quite unusual for a glitter varnish in my experience, and is textured like ‘frosted sand’.  It feels slightly rough to the touch, but I’ve used far rougher glitters in the past.

Now, I know this is a bold statement to make, but I think this varnish is the best glitter varnish that I have ever owned/tried. It even beats my trusty favourite brands, Barry M and Models Own.  Most glitters need layers and layers for full coverage, but not this one. My swatches show the coverage after just one coat. That’s right, ONE COAT! And it really doesn’t need any more than that, as it’s completely opaque. The formula is lovely too – very smooth and not at all gloopy, so you can actually brush it on (the brush is nice and wide, yay) rather than dab it on, as is usually required with glitters. It also dries very quickly for a glitter.

In terms of hardiness, I’ve been wearing ‘Frosted Purple’ for three days now, and the tips of my nails are just starting to show signs of wear. There are no chips or anything though.  I can tell it’s going to be a pain to remove as it has the same texture as Models Own ‘Northern Lights’ and ‘Southern Lights’ which are really tough to get off, but it’s a small price to pay for such a high quality glitter.

EDIT: I was wrong!  The varnish was actually really easy to remove with a normal nail varnish remover, and it barely took any soaking or rubbing to get it to budge.  I’m very, very impressed.

I spotted four shades in the ‘Frosted Sand’ range, all of which are Toluene-free and Formaldehyde-free.  ‘Frosted Silver’, ‘Frosted Gold’, ‘Frosted Purple’, and ‘Frosted Plum’, which I think is a new addition, and is next on my nail varnish shopping list!  Will you be trying any?  If so, get on down to Superdrug quick to take advantage of the £1.99 offer!

Naomi x

Fragrance Direct very kindly sent me four Orly shades to review, and after trying all of them out I can now share my thoughts, so here they are…

Velvet Rope / Moonlit Madness / Charged Up / Liquid Vinyl

Despite their different finishes, all four varnishes have a very similar formula.  The consistency is smooth and, even though the brush is narrow, it applies easily, but the first coat always comes out slightly streaky.  No matter how careful I was when swatching these, I couldn’t get the first coat to look right, and it was nowhere near opaque.  Luckily, a slightly thicker second coat solved that issue, and the overall look was good.  They also dry fairly quickly which is always a positive.  They’re not quite 60 second varnishes, but they’re not far off.

When choosing the shades I wanted I struggled slightly as there are so many gorgeous colours in the range, but I’m really happy with the ones I settled for, and here they are…

Velvet Rope

As it’s my favourite colour, my nail varnish collection is overflowing with purples, but Velvet Rope is unlike any other I own.  It’s a lovely violet purple with a shimmer finish, which is studded with particles of silver micro glitter.  The overall effect isn’t quite ‘velvet’, but it’s really pretty, and despite the glitter is still easy to remove.

Moonlit Madness

I’m not always keen on red varnishes as a lot of them have an orange undertone which I really don’t like, but I love Moonlit Madness as it’s a bright cherry red, which I wore a lot over Christmas.  It also gives the classic red nail a bit of a twist with a subtle shimmer finish.

Charged Up

Charged Up is my favourite of all four shades as it’s so beautifully vibrant and eye-catching, and in the right light hints of both pink and blue come through, as seen above.  It also has a lovely creme finish.  This is a great shade for Spring and I know I’ll be getting a lot of wear out of this one in the coming months.

Liquid Vinyl

I currently have three black nail varnishes – one from Primark, one by Barry M and this one, and this is by far the best.  As the name suggests, Orly’s black is gorgeously fluid and looks stunning on.  It has an incredible shine to it as well, and its high quality is just so obvious.

If you want to grab yourself some bargain Orly shades, just visit Fragrance Direct.  Their standard delivery is only £1.99 too!

Naomi x

*These Orly Nail Lacquers were sent to me by Fragrance Direct for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*

Imperial Leather Foamburst, reviewed here / Bad Apple Nail Varnish in Anna / Relaxing evening with a good book and a mince pie / Friday night chocolate soufflé treat / Uno, Chocolate Orange and Miggley rat / My dad’s new, beautiful Leopard Gecko – Gex

If you’d like to follow me on Instagram and see more of my photos, my username is bewitchery_.  If you’re on Instagram too, please comment on this post with your username as I’m always looking for new accounts to follow, especially fashion and beauty ones!

Naomi x

I’m happy to announce that George’s varnish completely lives up to the rave reviews.  The brush is narrow, but it’s fairly long and the decently-sized lid makes it easy to control the application.  The varnish applies smoothly, and gives amazing coverage even in one coat, but as always I applied two coats for a flawless finish.  As you’d expect of a quick dry varnish, it dries incredibly quickly, and a day later it is still free of any smudges, dents, chips or scratches.  It looks like it’s going to last a lot longer, too!

Here’s how it looks on the nails…

‘Boom’ is a gorgeous, bold shade that really catches the eye.  The pigmentation of the varnish is incredible, and the colour has a real depth to it.  I’ve always liked blues, but seem to be lacking in blue varnishes, so this is a great addition to my collection.

For such a budget range the quality of George’s quick dry nail varnish is very high, and if you’re a fan of nail products I recommend you try them if you can, especially as they’re currently only £1.  I’ll definitely be going back to Asda to buy more!  I spotted a lovely pink shade that I’ll be picking up next time.

Have you ever tried any varnishes from this range?  What do you think of them?

Naomi x

Jacava are a 100% British brand who are vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and never test on animals.  They also boast the first 8-free polishes in the world (yes, that’s right, EIGHT-free), as they don’t contain Formaldehyde, Camphor, Toluene, DBP, Cellophane, Phthalates, Parabens or animal ingredients.  So, right from word go, they’re a brand I’m happy to support, and luckily their products match up to their good name!

Top Coat with UV Inhibitors and Blueberry Muffin

Jacava’s packaging is simple but sleek, and the long, slim lids that their polishes come with are easy to grip which makes application effortless.

The polish itself has a silky smooth formula which gives surprisingly opaque coverage in one coat, but I like to apply two coats for a bolder, more intense colour.  Perhaps the most stand-out aspect of Jacava’s polishes for me is how quickly it dries.  It’s literally dry to the touch within a minute, and after five minutes it’s good to go.  I even got my two pet rats out to play just after painting my nails, and they didn’t smudge at all.  Just one word of advice.  In my experience the top coat isn’t suitable as a base coat, and will make the polish peel off extremely easily.  It stays put for a long time without a base coat, though, and looks gorgeously glossy with the top coat for an all round perfect manicure.  Jacava’s website also states that the top coat’s UV Inhibitors keep white nail polish white for longer, which is a nice feature that I’ve never seen before, so worth investing in if you regularly wear pale shades.

Blueberry Muffin has a lovely creme finish, but is more of a pinky purple than a blue purple.  Sort of a soft and dusky dark lilac.  It’s an absolutely beautiful shade which reminds me of spring flowers and lightning skies all at once.  I love it.

Click image for a closer look!

Jacava’s range features eighteen beautiful shades and several different finishes, including creme, metallic, shimmer and glitter.  Every polish contains 22-carat gold for a nourishing, luxurious formula, and they cost just £14.50 each.  I personally have my eye on Blackberry Fool, Marrakesh Nights, Midnight’s Secrets and Chillax!  To view the full Jacava range click here, or find them on Feel Unique.

Which shade do you like best?

Naomi x

*These two nail polishes were sent to me by Jacava London for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*

Will you be attending your local Pride event this year?

Naomi x

The Ice Neon collection features five shades – Bubblegum, Toxic Apple, Luis Lemon, Pink Punch and, the shade I own, Pukka Purple.  Each shade is intensely fluorescent, and comes packaged in a frosted glass bottle which is intended to be stored in the fridge, in order to preserve the vibrancy of the varnish.

As with every other Models Own varnish that I’ve ever tried, Pukka Purple has a wonderful creamy consistency and applies effortlessly thanks to the easy grip lid and long brush.  The varnish is very opaque, and looks flawless after just one coat, but I still find it necessary to apply two coats in order to intensify the colour.  It also dries impressively quickly – within a few minutes of application I was able to go about my business without any worry of smudges or dents.

All of the Ice Neon varnishes have a matte finish (which may explain why it dries so quickly, as mattes tend to in my experience), but can be made shiny with a gloss top coat.  Unlike some matte varnishes, this one applies well over a base coat, so there’s no need to worry about staining.  Though I love the matte finish of Pukka Purple (which is still a little bit shiny, but not in a glossy way), I did find that it didn’t last too well without a top coat.  Within a day my nails were showing wear at the ends, and after two days the varnish was chipping.  Not ideal, but the amazing colour makes up for the poor lasting power.

Pukka Purple is an absolutely beautiful indigo purple, and is unlike any other purple varnish that I own (and I own a lot!)  I’m not usually a fan of neons as I think they can look quite tacky, but this has the bold brightness of a neon colour but manages to remain classy with its matte finish and blue undertone.  It’s definitely an attention grabber, and has brought me many compliments over the last few days!

Overall, despite its tendency to chip easily, Pukka Purple is a stunningly unusual varnish and boasts Models Own’s characteristic high quality formula.  A definite must if you’re looking for something a little bit different and on trend this season.  All of the Ice Neon collection is available online, individually or in a box set, and can be found in Boots stores around the country.  At £5 each (or £20 for the set) they are kind on the bank account too, and worth every penny.

Check back later this week for my review of Grape Juice from the scented Fruit Pastel collection.

Naomi x

Before entering the competition I had never heard of Bad Apple Cosmetics, but according to their Twitter account their products are all made in England and free from nasty chemicals, and they are apparently the first site in the world who will put any picture you send them onto nail wraps!

Since receiving my prize I have tried and tested all three varnishes, and I must say I am rather impressed.  When I first saw them I immediately liked the little apple-shaped bottles, and the Bad Apple logo is pretty cool too.  Each varnish comes with a wide brush which is easy to grip due to the large lid, which means it applies smoothly without any streaks.  The varnish itself has a creamy consistency, but it is fairly sheer so two or three coats are needed for a completely opaque look.  It also dries to the touch very quickly, within a minute or two, so you can create a beautiful smudge-free manicure in no time at all.

One of my favourite things about Bad Apple’s varnishes is that they last a very long time.  I didn’t apply a top coat over any of the shades, and I wore each one for around four days before removing it, and signs of wear were minimal.  At the worst I had a small chip on one or two nails, and that was all.

Here’s a closer look at each varnish… (Excuse the short nails – they were all breaking so I decided to cut them off and start again!)

Misty

Misty is a stunning dark slate grey which has an intense glossy shine.  It’s a very unusual grey due to its azure undertone, but it’s really versatile as it’s neutral enough to go with anything.

Anna

Anna is a bright bubblegum pink with a shiny creme finish.  This is my favourite of the three shades and the one I will wear the most, I imagine.  I love how pretty and girly it is.

Akane

True to its name, Akane is a brilliant red, which has a Gothic feel to it due to its deep colouring, and like the other two varnishes it also has a lovely shine.  This is a classic varnish which is perfect for a glamorous evening look.  Simply beautiful.

Bad Apple’s varnishes cost £9.95 each, which considering their quality is well worth it and I’d be happy to pay that for them.  In fact, I hope to add to my collection in the not too distant future!  You can view the full range of Bad Apple products here, and you can also follow the company on Twitter.

Which of these shades do you like best?

Naomi x

Barry M’s Gelly varnish has a thick but creamy consistency, which applies extremely smoothly with no streakiness.  However, if you have too much varnish on the brush it can apply a bit too thickly, so its best to apply as thin a coat as possible and build up from there.  I made the mistake of applying fairly thick coats at first so the coverage was instantly completely opaque, but I applied a thinner second coat over the top for good measure.  As with all Barry M Nail Paints, the Gelly dries to the touch rather quickly.  I put this on not long before I went to bed, but I didn’t wake up with fabric imprints on my nails, which is always a good sign with me!

Greenberry is an extremely beautiful greeny turquoise shade, and is delicately bright.  It’s almost a pastel neon if that makes sense!  It has a creme finish, and of course, an intense shine which you can almost see your reflection in.  In my experience, it’s quite rare for a creme varnish to have such a shiny appearance, so it definitely lives up to its name.  It doesn’t even need a top coat!

This Nail Paint lasts really well too.  I first applied Greenberry on Sunday, without a top coat, and didn’t remove it until yesterday, and after four days of wear chipping was minimal.  There were a few nicks at the ends of my nails on my right hand where I caught them on the zip of my bag, but other than that the varnish still looked as bright, shiny and smooth as it did when I first applied it – just like a gel manicure!

Overall, I am suitably impressed with Barry M’s Gelly Nail Paint as it looks great and lasts long, and to top it off Greenberry is a gorgeous colour.  The Gellies cost £3.99 each in Boots and Superdrug, which is £1.00 more than most Barry M’s varnishes, but its well worth it for that extra shine and staying power.

Have you ever tried a Barry M Gelly?  What did you think?

Naomi x

Before Beetle Wings I had never tried a Miss Sporty varnish before, and I must say I am very impressed with the formula.  It has a smooth, creamy consistency which applies evenly, and gives opaque coverage in two coats, and it dries quickly too.  In the time it takes to paint ten nails the varnish is dry to the touch and ready for the next coat, so there’s no waiting around for ages in between coats!  Also, the brush is lovely and wide and covers the nail in one sweep, which lessens streakiness, but I do find the lid a bit too small to grip easily, which can make application tricky.

Beetle Wings is a classic duochrome shade, combining gilded green and copper brown, and the colours alter fluidly according to the light.  The green is actually the more dominant colour in the mix, but for some reason the brown shows up more in pictures.  Though I haven’t used Chanel Peridot myself, Beetle Wings looks like quite a decent dupe from what I can tell.  It’s also reminiscent of Models Own Golden Green, which I do have, although Beetle Wings is slightly more tinged with orange.

The varnish has a stunning metallic shimmer finish which looks incredible in sunlight, and stops the colour ever looking dull, but unfortunately it does show up any imperfections quite a bit.

Here is how the varnish looks on the nail…  Excuse the messy edges!

Isn’t it pretty?

One of the best things about this varnish is how long it lasts.  After three days and no top coat, Beetle Wings still looks excellent on most of my nails, although it has chipped slightly on a couple.  I imagine it would last even longer with a top coat though, which is great is you want a manicure that lasts!

Overall, I really like this varnish.  The colour and finish are incredibly pretty, and the formula and lasting power exceed what I’d expect of a budget range.  If you like metallics, duochromes and affordable dupes then this is definitely for you.  Miss Sporty Metal Flip varnishes are available from Superdrug and come in three shades.  Look out for my review of Aurora Borealis, coming soon!

Naomi x