Becca Pasa Doble nail polish

I love this nail polish from Becca's Balearic Love collection. It's so unusual to see such a dark shade feature in a summer collection - and yet it is surprisingly summer-appropriate (just look at the promo pics - though obviously being a bronzed goddess and having the beautiful face of an equally bronzed god to show it off against helps!). It's a gorgeous shade. Really, it's almost black, but if you look very closely or sheer the polish out a bit (see third pic with one coat) it's deep plum.

This is the first Becca polish I've tried. They're very reasonably priced at £12 (this was even more of a bargain with a 25% VIP discount). The formula was good - fairly thick but easy to apply. The lasting power wasn't great, though I did do the manicure in a bit of a hurry and was using quite old Nails Inc base and top coats so I don't want to blame that entirely on the polish.

I'm looking forward to wearing this when our own weather turns a bit more Balearic!

More Becca goodies...

I couldn't resist when Becca had another discount offer a few weeks ago - it is probably up there in my top three make up brands (along with Nars and one other that is more interchangeable!), so I took the opportunity to add a few more products to my collection. Here's what I bought... I hope to add some more detailed reviews of the individual products soon.

Luminous Skin Colour - Nude
I had wanted to try this legendary tinted moisturiser for a while. Having no idea what colour to go for I plumped for Nude which seemed like the safest option. It's... interesting. I'll review it in detail when I've used it a few more times - still getting to grips with it at the moment. What I would say is that it is incredibly sheer so not great coverage but it does give good glow. I'm just not sure yet whether it's too glowy for my combination (read 'shiny'!) skin and also whether this shade is quite right for me.

Eye Tint - Pewter
I read a few good reviews of this online and having two other Eye Tints (Vicuna and Baroque) which I love, I thought I'd give this darker, more dramatic looking shade a go. I have to admit that the first time I applied it I made a complete hash of it - it definitely requires a more careful application than the lighter shades. So I need to practice with this a bit more before I make up my mind on it.It is lovely swatched though.

Sheer Tint Lip Colour - Leticia
I am an absolute sucker for corals and peach so this 2010 addition to Becca's (fairly limited) lipstick range was a no brainer. I have to say it does not disappoint - I am in love with this lipstick. More pics soon!

Beach Tint - Guava
Another coral colour calling my name. At first swatch this seems slightly more liquidy than the other Beach Tints I own (Grapefruit and Fig) but the colour is everything I hoped it would be. It's a very soft shade and I think it could work well on fairer skins. It's the perfect compliment to Leticia lipstick.

Nail Colour - Pasa Doble
This blackish-plum polish was a bit of an impulse buy - I'd never tried a Becca nail colour before and I like the idea of darker shades in summer - plus I love anything Spanish. A quick swatch with two coats is below. Very dramatic!

Butter Lip Balm Spf 25
Another impulse buy - I was intrigued to see what a lip balm with a high spf would be like as usually when I go on holiday I buy one of the specialist lip products that protect your lips by leaving a thick white coat on them! This is lovely - it makes the lips look soft and plumped and somehow manages to have the spf without being white and opaque. A couple of reservations; I like vanilla but I find the vanilla scent of this a bit strong. And the consistency is such (it is indeed quite buttery) that I can image it melting quite easily in warmer weather... time will tell.

And lastly, a couple of brushes.

Small Polishing Make up Brush #56

I saw this being used on one of the Zuneta videos to buff cream blusher under the cheekbones, and was interested to try this method of application, as normally I apply cream blusher on the apples or on the cheekbones and (lightly) around the temples. I was surprised that the bristles were a lot less stiff than I thought they'd be so actually I found application of cream blush with this quite difficult. Again, I just need to practice a bit with this and would be interested to hear from anyone else who has this and how they use it. Although its recommended for buffing cream blush to the apples of the cheeks, at the minute I am preferring to pat on my cream blush with the Becca Cream Blush / Bronzer Brush (truly a great brush!).

Eye Colour Blender Brush #35
This was a gift with purchase. I haven't tried it yet and will be interested to see how it compares with my only other eyeshadow blending brush the MAC 217.

So there we have it. Some lovely products to try out over the next few weeks and having done a quick face of the day with the Guava Beach Tint and Leticia Sheer Tint Lip Colour this morning I am loving them already. Will report on my other purchases in due course! Next on my Becca hit list is the Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector - I have and love the Pearl shade but think I need something warmer for the summer months.

Essie California Coral

Wow, this is a really vibrant shade (almost neon) and it seems to be a different colour every time I look at it on my fingertips. Yesterday, in sunlight, it was an orange-leaning coral. In artificial light, it looks more pinky. But on this fantastically dull and grey Sunday in London it looks like a coral-red.

Whatever, I really like it, though I have to say it's quite thin. This was two coats and nail tip is still visible as you can see on a couple of the shots.

If you're wondering what I'm clutching in place of a nail polish bottle, it's the head of my beloved Anglepoise lamp - empty hand shots look too weird!

I picked this colour for a manicure at Spa Nails, Whitecross Street (near Old Street in London). The manicure cost £12 and I think they did a decent job, though there is a bit of day 3 chippage (I should have sealed the ends with topcoat myself I think). Although I don't own this colour myself, I would certainly pick California Coral again as manicure and definitely a pedicure colour when the weather is a bit sunnier.

Essie Topless and Barefoot nail polish

I must apologise for the awful application in these pictures. Unfortunately these creamy opaques are probably the least forgiving on the nail if not applied perfectly, and I found the consistency of this one hard to work with (gloopy, thick, reminds me of some of the older Essie's I own which almost put me off this brand for good..). So not one of my better manicures, but as I'd done it I thought I'd share as I don't think I'll be in a hurry to return to this shade.

Topless and Barefoot looks very pretty in the bottle - a creamy nude with a hint of pink shimmer. I'm not sure how I like it on my nails - perhaps with a better application (and some nice summery weather!) I'd view it a bit more favourably. In some lights, it looks like a good nude match for my skin. Outdoors however, I can see more of the pink and a hint of mink that seems to clash with my yellow skin.

I think the only time I'd wear this would be in the summer, as a pedicure shade, applied by a professional, with a tanned foot. And any nail polish that has to come with four caveats is in my opinion more trouble than it's worth.

Nars Galion nail polish

I don't own many, in fact any greys (just greiges!), but for some reason Galion from the Nars autumn 2011 collection really spoke to me.

I love the simplicity of this colour. It's a really rich, dark grey. In some lights, it seems to have a hint of petrol blue in it. Sometimes it looks like black. But it somehow manages to be dark and striking without being too gothic or wintry. I wore it at Christmas and it felt surprisingly festive.

I think this colour complements just about any make up look except perhaps pastels - especially peaches, strong pinks and reds,  and would be fab with a bright lip.

I have to say thought that the first time I applied this I loved the formula but the second time (when I took these pictures) the application was dreadful! The polish was watery, patchy and streaky. Not sure if its because I moved my nail polish collection to inside my wardrobe where it is perhaps a bit warm - I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, but it was quite disappointing.

Galion and Rebel Yell are the only nail colours I own from Nars - none of the others particularly appeal. What do you think of Nars polishes?

£13.50 for 15ml.

Essie Russian Roulette

This is one of those 'I never need to try another red polish' reds. I don't have a picture of the bottle unfortunately as this was a spur of the moment manicure choice. It's bright and bold and definitely a warmer shade - I think its one of the best reds I've tried for my skintone. 

Can imagine this would be great as a pedicure colour too.

What's your favourite red polish?

Nars Rebel Yell nail polish

Another of the many dark reds that seem to dominate my collection, I really can't make up my mind how I feel about this nail polish. When I first saw Rebel Yell* at the Nars Counter it was love at first sight. It then languished untried in my collection for several months until I tried it a few days ago, interested to see how it compared to the similar-looking-in-the-bottle Rouge Fatal from Chanel (though on the nails Rouge Fatal is much darker and more opaque).

I think I prefer this one in the bottle. It's kind of a tricky colour - it looks a straightforward medium to dark red - kind of like the nail polish version of Dolce Vita lipstick. But on the nails it leans almost brick like. It's pretty, and I do love the shiny formula (quite thin but easy to work with), but it is, dare I say it, a little boring? It's certainly not making my heart beat any faster. 

                                     

I'm going to have a break from reds for a while I think - my next mani will be NARS Galion, a dark, stormy grey.

What nail colours are you loving for winter?


*The rebel yell was, according to Wikipedia, a battle-cry used by Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. So now you know!

Chanel Le Vernis - Rouge Fatal

I had wanted this polish for a very long time and finally caved in and purchased it a couple of weeks ago. I have to say, I have been slightly disappointed:

a) The colour is nice, but not as wow as I'd thought it would be.

b) I'm pretty sure I have a couple of polishes like this already in my collection - I'm thinking OPI's I'm Suzi and I'm a Chocoholic (comparison below), Nars Rebel Yell (not yet tested) and Essie Downtown brown. Will post comparison pics of all three when I get round to trying them.

c) Application was difficult - and chippage after a day. Very poor show Chanel. In fact while I'm at it I am really not keen on those spindly Chanel polish applicators.

no flash

flash

OPI I'm Suzi and I'm a chocoholic 

I actually prefer it in these pictures to how it looks on my fingertips! Overall, I'm kind of regretting splashing out £17.50 on this - I'll probably get a bit of wear out of it over the autumn / winter, but unlikely to repurchase.

Mavala - Khaki Vintage

New favourite alert! I'm so glad I decided to splash out (all of £3.95 it was I think!) and buy this. I was hesitant as I've been seduced by pretty Mavala colours before then been underwhelmed when I've applied them. But I have been very pleasantly surprised by Vintage Khaki - in fact I'd say this is straight in my top ten shades of all time. I can see this working all times of year too.

How to describe the colour - Khaki doesn't spring to mind immediately. But there is something vintage about it. It's elegant and delicate.... it makes me think of vintage china teacups and lace, and has a very pretty, subtle shimmer running through this. I'd say this would suit many skintones - it doesn't feel too warm or cold.

What do you think?

Khaki Vintage is part of the Mavala Select range of six soft catwalk-inspired colours that was released earlier this year. I have to say the others look equally dreamy - Moon Grey and Rose Dust in particular.

Application was okay - think I just need to get used to this formula. Staying power not fantastic but at this price, I don't care. *EDIT: Staying power is actually pretty damn good - I think I had a bit of a wobble on day 1 but three days later it's still looking pretty good! * I have to say I do appreciate the smaller pots - I don't think i have ever used up a full sized bottle of polish before having to throw it out.

£3.95 for 5ml. Available widely online and in department stores, Boots etc.