NOTD: Zoya "Richelle" Gradient Manicure

I saw the awesome key manicure from The Nailasurus, and I HAD to try a gold sparkly gradient over black! So here it is. Not as nice as the original idea but this is only the 2nd time I've done sponging gradient so I am sure I will get better at it.

This is 2 coats of the black Rimmel I Love Lasting Finish "Black Cab" with sponging of Zoya "Richelle". I love the result even though it's not perfect :) Now what will I wear with it?...

NOTD: Gradient Manicure

I was so impressed with The Nailasaurus gradient nails and her tutorial I had to try it myself. I kind of ended up doing it her way but then decided to just use one colour to sponge on in the end as I thought the gradient colours I'd picked blended together too much using her method. They just aren't contrasting enough :( Much-o disappointing with my lame choices - I think I will repeat this using the base colour here (see below) and Topshop "Airplane", that should give a nice, clear gradient.

The light blue is the free Nails Inc polish with this months UK InStyle magazine and it's called "Bluebell". I really like it - it's light and somewhere in between periwinkle and pastel blue! Nice opaque coverage and smooth formula too. The minty one is Rimmel LycraPRO "Peppermint". I had to put on 2 coats of MegaShine top coat, the sponging method makes the manicure 'bumpy' so 2 or more coats will be required to make it smooth. You will need to clean your fingertips with a cottonbud dipped in acetone after finishing, as this is a messy form of nail art...

And now an update on removing the glassfleck polish using Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover. I 'soaked' the nail in the sponge for about 20-30sec then wriggled it around in the sponge quite a lot. It was a bit more work than the cremes shall we say and some nails still came out with bits of glitter so I had to clean them up using cotton wool and nail polish remover. But still quicker and easier than using wool and acetone and grind it off :) All hail Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover!!

NOTD: Marks & Spencer Limited Collection "Slate Blue"

I went to Marks & Spencer hunting for a gorgeous polish that Emma from Imagination in colour showed on her blog called "Lilac" after work. Not only did I come out with "Lilac", I also came out with "Slate Blue"... It's a grey-blue with a slightly silver-ish glassfleck glitter. I don't own anything like it! This should be called something like "Storm-cloud with a silver lining" cause that's how it makes me feel - unexpectedly happy :D

This is 3 coats and MegaShine. It's a bit of work to get right; the formula is a bit thick with all the dense glassfleck. Therefor I put on 3 coats to even out some slightly bald bits. This is going to be hell to take off so perfect for putting the Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover to the ultimate test :D

I love how something so small can make you feel so happy :)

NOTD: Barry M "Dusky Mauve"

This is the infamous dupe for Chanel's "Paradoxal". But I actually don't like it. It doesn't really show off the purple shimmer on my nails, very disappointing :( I had to make the photo blurry to catch the shimmer. In most lights including daylight, it looks more like "Particuliere" than "Paradoxal" to me. This is 2 coats and MegaShine top coat.

And now an update on the Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover and the removal of the glassfleck polish! It's a breeze :D Just leave your finger to soak in the bottle for about 15sec or so then wiggle 'round a bit and it's off. I was dying to try this polish or I would have gone for a glitter today to see how that removes. I may just have to remove this tomorrow night and put a glitter on! :)

End-of-the-bottle: L'Oreal EverPure shampoo and conditioner

So I finished the EverPure Color Care and Moisture shampoo and conditioner. I love the product - but I HATE the bottles... I struggled with these twisted tubes for weeks trying to squeeze out the last of the contents!! And they fall all over the place in the shower. It's just not cool. Why can't they just use the normal plastic tubes??? Like John Frieda tubes; they are dead easy to get every last drop out of. And if you're paying £5.99 a bottle, that's what you'd like to be able to do. Since getting upset with the packaging of this stuff I've started getting annoyed with the packaging on other stuff :P Maybe I am turning into a packaging snob that only likes pump bottles for everything?..

Anyway, formula- and result-wise these products are proving excellent for my hair so despite the crappy packaging I have re-purchased!

NOTD: China Glaze "Orange Marmalade"

I got myself some tropical print leggings for keeping me sane at work tomorrow, and I needed a sparkling manicure to match so I chose "Orange Marmalade"! It's also a sneaky way to try out Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover on a glitter without going "full-glitter". Technically this is a glass fleck but can also be a bit trying to remove, just like glitter so it's a good starting point. If it's successful my next manicure will be Zoya Ultra-Glitter "Astra"!

This is 3 thinnish coats with a coat of MegaShine. It's quite sheer - you still have VNL after 3 coats. It's usually quite tacky for a while - I'll need to stay up for another 3 hrs to get it to harden sufficiently to avoid sheet marks... The other polishes from the Summer Days collection are the same for me, so I guess it must be something in the formula. But I don't care they are all so lovely and mega-sparkly :)

NOTD: Collection 2000 Hot Looks "Look At Me"

This is an ugly, dirty slime-mould green but I totally felt like something like this today :) My ankle is still really sore and swollen - I spent 3 hrs yesterday waiting in Accident & Emergency and was thankfully reassured it wasn't broken! I now have a support bandage and a walking stick, so not the most glamorous of gear... Back to my NOTD.

This is again from the spring collection from Collection 2000. It feels like this colour belong as wall paint or sofa fabric in a naff 70's sit-com living room set! In Britain there is a rather awful food called 'mushy peas' and this looks almost the colour of that... This is 2 coats, definitely could've used 3 but I feared it might go gummy and thick. And watch out - it's going to be streaky if you're not careful in applying it! But for £1.79 a pop you can't really go wrong :)

Lina-Elvira Loves It Thiiiis Much:
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