Quick post: NOTD

MATTE + GLITTER

(Sorry for the slight mess on the middle + ring finger)

Polishes I used: Mavala Super Base*, OPI Alpine Snow [except on the ring finger], L'Oréal Matte Topcoat, Essie On A Silver Platter [only ring finger, no topcoat].

The Mavala Super Base is a recent purchase, and I'm in love with it! It's thin and makes the nail polish stick perfectly to the nails. Definitely recommend it!

<3

Latest additions (swatches soon!)

Models Own 'Pink Punch';
Nails Inc 'Henley Regatta' + 'Chelsea Flower Show';
Barry M 'Pink Flamingo', 'Strawberry Ice Cream' + 'Fuchsia';
OPI 'Just Spotted the Lizard'

My nail polish collection

In the past months, I've become a nail polish magpie. I kid you not if I tell you I have around 45 (give or take) nail polishes in my stash, and I have ordered 7 more that have to arrive soon.

Yes, I have a terrible addiction, and it's a problem.
My idea is that, (if I'm able to), I will give the polishes I don't use to my girl friends. But it's quite probable also that I won't be able to part with any of them. You know, "just in case" I might use them later.

So, if you have a problem with nail polish like I do, then maybe you'll like this post, where I will show you swatches and comparisons of every nail polish I own and group them together with those in the same colour family.

Hope you like <3

Teals, bright blues and green blues

L to R: MAC Mischievous Mint, KIKO 389, Essie Turquoise and Caicos, KIKO 352, KIKO 342, Butter London 'Slapper'

(LEFT) Pinky: Mischievous Mint; Ring: KIKO 389; Middle: Turquoise + Caicos; Index: KIKO 352; Thumb: KIKO 342

(LEFT) Pinky: Mischievous Mint; Ring: KIKO 389; Middle: Turquoise + Caicos; Index: KIKO 352; Thumb: KIKO 342

(RIGHT) Thumb: Butter London 'Slapper'

Yellows and Greens

L to R: KIKO 279, Illamasqua "Rare", H&M "I'm not a kiwi", KIKO 396

Index: KIKO 279; Middle: Illamasqua Rare; Ring: H&M I'm not a kiwi; Pinky: KIKO 396

Neutrals and Nudes

L to R: Sephora nº49; Astor 610 Satin Angel; Rimmel "018 Rose Orchid"; H&M duo "Lavender Frost"

Pinky: Sephora nº49; Ring: Astor 610 Satin Angel; Middle: Rimmel "018 Rose Orchid"; Index: H&M duo "Lavender Frost"

Pinky: Sephora nº49; Ring: Astor 610 Satin Angel; Middle: Rimmel "018 Rose Orchid"; Index: H&M duo "Lavender Frost"

Metallics

L to R: OPI "Rainbow Connection", KIKO 354; KIKO 274; KIKO 395; H&M duo "Golden Nails"

Pinky: OPI "Rainbow Connection"; Ring: KIKO 354; Middle: KIKO 274; Index: KIKO 395; Thumb: H&M duo "Golden Nails"

Pinky: OPI "Rainbow Connection"; Ring: KIKO 354; Middle: KIKO 274; Index: KIKO 395; Thumb: H&M duo "Golden Nails"

Pinky: OPI "Rainbow Connection"; Ring: KIKO 354; Middle: KIKO 274; Index: KIKO 395; Thumb: H&M duo "Golden Nails"

Oranges and Red-orange colours

L to R: Models Own "Tangerine Queen"; KIKO 280; Models Own "Fluro Orange"; KIKO 236; Models Own "Hedonist"

Thumb: Models Own "Tangerine Queen"; Index: KIKO 280; Middle: Models Own "Fluro Orange"; Ring: KIKO 236; Pinky: Models Own "Hedonist"

Thumb: Models Own "Tangerine Queen"; Index: KIKO 280; Middle: Models Own "Fluro Orange"; Ring: KIKO 236; Pinky: Models Own "Hedonist"

Pinks and Corals

L to R: KIKO 281; H&M "Check Me Out"; OPI "Kiss Me On My Tulips"; ASTOR 235 Insolence; Butter London "Disco Biscuit"; Models Own "Bubble gum" 

(LEFT) Pinky: KIKO 281; Ring: H&M "Check Me Out"; Middle: OPI "Kiss Me On My Tulips"; Index: ASTOR 235 Insolence; Thumb: Butter London "Disco Biscuit"

Pinky: KIKO 281; Ring: H&M "Check Me Out"; Middle: OPI "Kiss Me On My Tulips"; Index: ASTOR 235 Insolence; Thumb: Butter London "Disco Biscuit"

(RIGHT) Thumb: Models Own "Bubble gum"

Pure blues

L to R: KIKO 338, KIKO 299, KIKO 265, Nails Inc "Baker Street"

Index: KIKO 338, Middle: KIKO 299, Ring: KIKO 265, Pinky: Nails Inc "Baker Street"

Index: KIKO 338, Middle: KIKO 299, Ring: KIKO 265, Pinky: Nails Inc "Baker Street"

Index: KIKO 338, Middle: KIKO 299, Ring: KIKO 265, Pinky: Nails Inc "Baker Street"

Dark hues: purples, reds + black

L to R: H&M "Soaked in Purple", H&M duo "Lavender Frost"; NARS "Purple Rain"; H&M duo "Golden Nails"; KIKO 227; Maybelline 501 Cherry Sin; Astor 550 Red Lace; KIKO 275

(LEFT) Pinky: H&M "Soaked in Purple", Ring: H&M duo "Lavender Frost"; Middle: NARS "Purple Rain"; Index: H&M duo "Golden Nails"; Thumb: KIKO 227

Pinky: H&M "Soaked in Purple", Ring: H&M duo "Lavender Frost"; Middle: NARS "Purple Rain"; Index: H&M duo "Golden Nails"; Thumb: KIKO 227

(RIGHT) Thumb: Maybelline 501 Cherry Sin; Index: Astor 550 Red Lace; Middle: KIKO 275

(RIGHT) Thumb: Maybelline 501 Cherry Sin; Index: Astor 550 Red Lace; Middle: KIKO 275

Have you got a huge nail polish collection you're ashamed of but love at the same time too? 

Love,

Maria.

Candy nails :)

I wanted to quickly post a snippet on this little nail of the day (NOTD), that just came into my mind 20 minutes before an exam and I HAD to get it on my nails! 

This was created with MAC's Mischievous Mint (a colour I personally don't like too much on it's own, I don't think it goes well with my skin tone) as a base and OPI's Rainbow Connection on top. I did quite a light layer of Rainbow Connection because I didn't want to completely cover the nail with glitter, and as you can see, I did go a little overboard on my middle finger. 

I don't know why, but to me, this resembles candy colours, and pretty things! So that's why I named them like this!

Hope you like! 

Love,

Maria.

OPI Kiss Me On My Tulips: review

Hello everyone! :)

My OPI 'Kiss me on my tulips' nail polish finally got here! But I have to admit, it wasn't what I expected, and I wish I said it the good way. You know, what happens with swatches you see online, is that half of those pictures have been post-processed, and colors tend to look brighter and beautiful. That's the thing, I was fooled into believing this was the ultimate bright pinky fuchsia, and I'm afraid to say, it isn't.

And the worst part is, even though I don't own many pinks in my collection (2 out of 27 polishes in total), one of them was an EXACT DUPE! Can you believe my (bad) luck? 

Even so, it's a pretty color, I can't say it isn't, but I just expected a really bright and beautiful pink, and it didn't meet my expectations. Anyway, here you have the swatches, (and comparison to my Bourjois dupe, in case you want to check it out!)

This is it! It looks pretty right? It is actually, but I'm afraid it's not as bright as you might imagine. Actually, I think in this picture it looks a tad brighter.

This is the Bourjois dupe I was telling you about, and I'm really mad I spent like 13€ or so, on some color I ALREADY had! (Blame it on my compulsive need to buy polishes I've merely seen a couple of swatches of!)

I admit Bourjois' nail polish, isn't AS BRIGHT, but it doesn't differ too much, really (there's a swatch below so that you can see how much they really look alike!)

This Bourjois nail polish is called 'Rose Vamp'. This isn't the cheapest nail polish I own, I think Bourjois polishes retail for... around 8-10€? Definitely less than 10€, and I think I bought it when it was 4-5€ or so, but this is a rather old polish and Bourjois prices HAVE been going up lately!

(OPI Kiss me on my tulips; Bourjois Rose Vamp) 

 The only main difference I can see when looking at both of these swatches is that the OPI nail polish just applies like a dream, opaque in just ONE COAT, while the Bourjois polish is less opaque, but probably with two or three coats it would be perfectly fine!

Overall, this color has really deceived my expectations of it, since I really wanted it to be bright and beautiful, and it just ended being one of the only pink shades I already own (and that I don't wear very often FOR A REASON, it's just not the perfect pink!!)

So, guys, I know I normally LOVE everything I buy, but I'd advise you to stay well away from this nail polish if you can, and purchase the Bourjois one instead (and I'm sure there are CHEAPER brands out there that make this pink shade, for sure!) This color is not a must-have, or something that you aren't bound to have, believe me, if I have it, you must have a really similar dupe in your collection too! 

I'm sorry if I didn't have anything amazing to say about this polish :( 

Hopefully, my OPI Rainbow Connection was able to save my nails from total boredom, and it actually looks good with these accent nails (on my left ring finger, my right ring finger and my right thumb; a little random placing always works wonders!)

Do you own this polish? What do YOU think about it, and how do you make this work for you?

Love,

Maria.

On my wishlist... (part 2)

Hello everyone!

This is the second installment of my "On my wishlist..." post series! :) I've starting thinking lately about what kinds of products I really want to purchase, even if I don't have the money (ugh), or I might be willing to splurge on.

In this installment, I will show you a couple of nail polishes I've really wanted to buy for some time, and since it's the spring time, very spring appropriate too!
(I did say this second part would be about eyeshadows and eye-related products, but in the end I wasn't able to collect a big enough collection to show you, so the third installment will be about these, I promise!)

ILLAMASQUA VIRIDIAN

Well, I admit this isn't your usual spring color, but those peacock tones just won me over! I am JUST ABOUT to convince myself to click the "purchase" button on the Illamasqua site, but I just think: 

"Wow, they're so beautiful! But... two polishes for £13.50 is not an AMAZING bargain, and add the really high (£8.50) shipping costs, and that just adds up to £35.50, which comes up to 42,3€... and that is A LOT, for just TWO polishes. Don't you think?"

Yeah, that's what I think. And OMG, is it a beautiful color already, but will I spend 1/4 of my savings on polishes? I don't know yet (I probably will, clicking on a button seems to be such an easy way out of my dilemma!)

ILLAMASQUA COLLIDE

This bright pink neon polish is the sister of my beautiful "Rare", with all its neon beauty showing even from the bottle. I just can't resist bright colors, I'm afraid. This is the other nail polish I was going to buy, but... I mean, IT'S SO EXPENSIVE. :(

(Pictured by Temptalia)

OPI KISS ME ON MY TULIPS

It looks quite similar to Collide, right? Wrong, this is a very bright pink, but not a neon at all, I'm afraid.  And I think this color is on the bluer toned side of pinks, because compared to those pictures of "Collide" above, it looks way pinker!

The thing is, I have actually ordered this one already from BeautyBay, before I had started swooning over Collide and Viridian, but this one seemed to me to be the perfect spring color! If I hadn't ordered it, though, I don't know if I would have if I had thought about Collide a little before.

Even so, I am just really excited to see this nail polish arrive home. Come with mama! 

ILLAMASQUA LOAD

(Pictured by VampyVarnish)

This off-white with yellowish tinges has won my heart. In spring, I tend to do a lot of bright lips, and maybe even some bright eyes, and when I don't want my nails to compete for attention, I would totally put on a nude or a color like THIS ONE.


I really like this one, but it didn't make my Illamasqua basket because of my obvious problems with the price, and I really prefer Viridian and Collide to Load, I'm afraid to say. (I think I will be able to tone down my makeup for those beautiful colors. )


ILLAMASQUA LAMENT

(Pictured by VampyVarnish)

Oh you beautiful color!


I love corals. Really beautiful corals like this one, but I'm afraid I have a really nice KIKO nail polish which is similar (not a dupe, though), but taking into account Illamasqua's steep prices, I think KIKO will have to do for now!


ILLAMASQUA GAMMA

(Pictured by VampyVarnish)

If you know me even the slightest, or you have read a couple of posts on my blog, you'll know I love my nails BRIGHT. And neon is the brightest you can get, isn't it?

Well Gamma, is definitely that other sister, the third one in tow, after Rare and Collide, she's my third neon love. She still hasn't made THE BASKET (the legendary Illamasqua basket only few products are able to fit in!), because I'm not too much of an orange girl. I have a couple of cheapish (KIKO) orange polishes, which I love because they're great quality, but nothing like this neon, though!

Until I have a better financial situation, I think this beauty won't be able to come with me either! Oh, boo!

I hope you really liked my nail polish wishlist, because it has definitely given me a lot of ideas about what kinds of nail polishes I love, and what I am going to save up for! 

Are you eyeing any of these or other springy nail polishes? Tell me in the comments below!

Love,

Maria.

Glitter addiction!

Hello everyone! 
Maybe I didn't tell you (I don't remember actually if I did or not), but some weeks ago I ordered on eBay a nail polish by OPI called Rainbow Connection. And I'm still quite scared in case I've been given a fake, because I've heard all of these eBay stories! (I HOPE NOT.)

But even if it is, OH MY GOD. The glitter is so beautiful, and when you look at it under any kinds of light, it looks as if your nail has been embellished with all kind of little sparkly jewels. Now, I have never been a glitter lover, but maybe I didn't know the RIGHT POLISHES. It's just like what happens with guys, you never trust any until you know the right one!

The close-up picture is not very good, because I took these pictures with my phone, but my camera doesn't work right now, so while I fix it, my phone camera will have to do.

In the second picture you can really appreciate the multi-colored glitter specks, and their are different sizes, which makes this polish look like embellished jewels on the nails. AMAZING!

It was Vivianna, from ViviannaDoesMakeup, who introduced me to this nail polish and she made me want to have it. You know how this makeup world works: someone loves something and then you're sooooo tempted to try it! And since I didn't own many glitter polishes (or any, really) I decided this should be the start of my new addiction. (I actually don't know for sure I'll buy many more glitter polishes, but this is just enough for me!)

What do you think of it? Have you tried Rainbow Connection? 
Do you know or own any other MUST-HAVE glitter polishes?

Love,
Maria.


P.D. Please take into account that I put this directly over my navy-black nails, and I mean to use this nail polish on bare nails only! (It was the excitement of seeing it had finally arrived, I didn't even want to take my other nail polish off!)

P.P.D. I did some more coats and painted all of my left hand nails. Which means that... yes- my right hand nails are all navy, not glittery. I'm THAT creative.