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?

Becca Fallen Angel palette

Well it's taken me a while to review this little beauty - I photographed it when it was shiny and new about 6 months ago and its in nowhere near as pristine a condition now. One of my favourite make up purchases ever I think.

I've been spurred on to finally write this review as I've just written a post on a peachy lipgloss and cheek colour from Laura Mercier's new Lingerie Collection (view here), and thought it would be interesting to compare the shades.

The palette contains a lip and cheek creme (Nectar), a lipgloss (Sunrise) and a highlighter (Narcissus). The shades are quite subdued and I would say they veer more orange / apricot in colour than peach or coral.

The palette makes it a breeze to create a pretty and polished five minute face. All the products can be applied with finger tips - i usually just add a tinted moisturiser, tidy my brows and curl my lashes and am good to go.

As I mentioned in the aforementioned LM post, the texture of Laura Mercier's creme cheek colours and Becca's lip and cheek cremes are quite similar - both apply really easily, are soft and smooth rather than sticky and blend well - and have similar lasting power (average). The lipgloss is lovely - its so soft (not at all sticky) and feels really moisturising on the lips, though as expected doesn't last very long. The colour is actually quite nude.

The highlighter is really nice too - similar to Nars multiples in consistency. I usually add it to the browbone, cupids bow and sometimes the cheekbones and bridge of nose.

Here are the shades swatched on the inner arm (from left, Narcissus, Sunrise and Nectar) with the more pinkish Innocent Peach creme blush and  Naked Apricot lip tint from Laura Mercier (right two), for comparison.

And here's a v quick look I did this morning, without the highlighter for some daft reason.

I purchased my Fallen Angel palette from Beauty Expert - I don't think its widely sold now but you should be able to pick it up on eBay or elsewhere online if you have a hunt around.

Laura Mercier Lingerie Collection - Naked Apricot lip shine and Innocent Peach creme cheek colour

The Lingerie Collection from Laura Mercier has totally switched me back on to this brand. I tend to love peachy cheek and lip colours so when I saw these vibrant summery shades in Space NK I was immediately sold.

Here's a swatch of the two shades side by side.

Both have quite pinkish / coral undertones, much more so than say the peach cream blush and lipgloss in Becca's Fallen Angels palette which are a bit darker and more orange-leaning (you can view that palette and a swatch comparison here).

I've never tried a Laura Mercier cream blush before and I really like the formula, quite comparable with the Becca lip and cheek creams, soft, easily blendable and with reasonable staying power (for a cream blush).

And despite not being a lipgloss fan at all, I really like the formula of the lip shines - they make my lips look subtle glossy and healthy with just a hint of colour (nowhere near as bright as the colour in the pot, which is fine with me), and aren't too sticky.

Here's a quick look using both products. Base is Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and on the eyes I'm wearing Bobbi Brown Rose Gold eyeshadow.

I'm already getting loads of wear out of these despite them being quite summery - I just find peach and apricot shades much more flattering on my skin than say pinks and berry shades (don't get me started on Nars Gina blush which I've just purchased - divine divine divine!).

Has anyone tried anything from the Lingerie Collection or have any LM 'must have' products? The eye and cheek palette from the spring collection also looks beautiful. I don't actually have a lot of LM in my collection - just the eyebrow pencil in taupe which is a good match for my brows, and the eyeshadow base which I find a bit drying. Would really like to try some more products though so would love to hear your recommendations...

Innocent peach creme cheek colour £18.50
Naked Apricot lip tint £18.50
Purchased from Space NK.

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.

Estée Lauder Pure Colour Nail Lacquer - Tempting Melon

I love the colour of this summery polish - tempting and indeed melony.

The application wasn't that great - had to load polish on the brush and couldn't get it to apply v evenly. However it was worth persevering as it has lasted me about three days so far without chipping - pretty good in my book.

Pictured below with Nails Inc top coat.

I don't think I've seen a prettier peach than this this summer - definitely a warm weather staple (we can but dream!)

Estée Lauder Nail Lacquers are £14 for 9ml.