Sunday Sneak Peak

I confess.  After having bought Essie's Matte About You, I'm now madly trying to mattify every lacquer that I have.  I'm not just a convert of the matte look.  I'm probably its biggest fan.

So, this week, I've got five great Australian lacquers from Bloom and kit Cosmetics for you.  I'm going to see if I can get 10 different looks out of the five lacquers using the Matte About You top coat. 

I'm sure some will work and some won't (I don't mind a good nail train wreck sometimes - it keeps me honest).  But they will all be interesting.  I hope.

As for the picture of the ice-cream.  Well, why have one flavour when you can have two.  Geddit?  One lacquer can have two looks?  Two Flavours?  Mmm, I might need to work on this analogy thing.

November Giveaway! We have winners

Thanks to everyone who entered my November Giveaway.  I love doing this blog and I love being able to give back to my readers who, and I hope this doesn't sound too corny, make me smile on a daily basis.  :-)

Just as a reminder, the winner of this giveaway will receive a new and unopened BYS Glam Glitter Mini Kit.  The runner up will receive three bottles of Glitter Gal's holographic lacquers which have been swatched by me here, here and here.

Congratulations C'est Moi, Cecilia, you win the BYS Glam Glitter Mini Kit.  I'm so glad these lacquers are going to such a lovely and sweet person!

And congratulations to the fabulous and wonderful, Lucy, who wins the Glitter Gal holos.  Lucy is one of the nicest people in the nail blog world.  Actually, one of the nicest people in the world, period.  As we say in Australia, 'I'm totally stoked' that you've won these.

Ladies, if you could please email me with your addresses, I will post these out for you in time for Christmas.

I enjoy doing these giveaways so stay tuned on December 12th 2009, when I launch my Christmas Giveaway.

Naily News #10

My November Giveaway closes TODAY! Click here to find out how you can win a BYS Glam Glitter Mini Kit or 3 Glitter Gal Holos.

Leanne tries her hand at marbling, amongst other things, with fantastic results.

If that isn't enough marbling for you, check out Thriszha's marbling magnificance.

Ginger totally kicks my butt with her konad-ing.

Kat has haulage.


Skye works some Hocus Pocus into her manicure.

Nixxy tributes Ben Barnes.  And does a lovely gold manicure in the process.

Nosaby does orange glitter - and it looks wonderful!

Pfft, Naive Nails does another fab Konadicure - are you girls determined to shame me into competence?!

Helen is making me want chocolate.

Amarena is fast becoming the Franken Queen.  Check out her amazing blue.

Kate is determined to ruin my bank account.  It's Dior.  It's Fabulous.

You know, I never really care what colour The Hungry Asian wears.  I just love looking at Kae's nails!

Jodie does a wonderful pink manicure.  It's just adorable!

Mary has an AMAZING Korres Giveaway.  You have to enter.  It's that simple.

Is it coral?  Is it orange?  You decide what colour Kellie Gonzo's manicure is!

Have a great weekend ladies.  I'm going to a friends house for lunch today and then will spend tonight watching movies.  What are you guys up to?

BYS - La Bamba

There's another song to get into your head, ladies.

La Bamba is a neon pink with a subtle hint of shimmer.

Like Sexy Samba, the application on this is great. The lacquer is creamy without being too gloopy, it glides on effortlessly, is opaque in two coats, and dries to a high shine.

Unfortunately, this never get to bottle colour.  This swatch is six coats.  Six!  Although it was opaque in two, I kept on adding coats in the hope that, eventually, bottle colour would come.  But it never did.  :-(

All up, though, the BYS Carnival Collection is a runaway success.  I will be using every colour regularly over the upcoming summer.  I'm an official BYS convert! 

In other news, I bought light umbrellas and light stands today on eBAY.  What does this mean?  Well it means an improvement in the quality of my photos.  I take my photos with an SLR camera in natural light, which works most of the time.  Except when there's no good natural light.  The umbrellas and light stands will ensure my lighting is more consistent, which means you guys get a more accurate view of the lacquers.  It's a win-win!

BYS - Sexy Samba

Firstly, I'd like to share some good (non nail related) news with you all.  I've been promoted at work!  This is really exciting news for me as I've worked really hard for the last 18 months since I joined the company.  I'm glad all that hard work has paid off.

Secondly, I'd like to wish all my American readers a lovely Thanksgiving.  I think this is a lovely holiday, if for no other reason than it's an excuse to eat a Turducken.  As we say in Australia, 'have a good one!'

Sexy Samba - I always thought a Samba was sexy by default, but clearly, it can be even more sexy - is a fantastic colour.

I can't quite describe Sexy Samba as an unapologetic coral, because there are definitely red and orange undertones running through it, but it's definitely from the coral family.

Out of all the colours I've trialled, this one has the best application.  It is creamy, easy to apply and is opaque in two coats.  And it requires no top coat.  The swatch here is sans top coat.  I just love it when I can see my reflection in my nails!

This is my favourite of the collection so far.  It's infinitely wearable and just looks fabulous on the nail.  What do you guys think?

BYS - Copacabana

Using Copacabana from BYS is like the story of the ugly duckling.

I'm not going to lie to you ladies.  The first coat?  It looks like cat sick.  No fooling.  Cat sick.  Bad cat sick.  Which isn't unusual for a yellow.  But this was spectacularly bad.

Second coat, however, and the wondrousness of this lacquer is revealed. This is an extraordinary primary yellow.  There's no shimmer, no glimmer, no glitter.  It's yellow.  Unapologetically so.

It takes four coats to get opaque but, once it's there, the result is quite amazing.   It's like liquid silk on the nails.  Super shiny.  Super glossy.  Super fab.

This is now the third lacquer I've tried by the BYS Carnival Range and I'm falling more in lust as the days go on.  Who knew something so cheap could be so amazing?

BYS - Ipanema

Ok, hands up how many of you have 'The Girl from Ipanema' in your head right about now?  If not, I'm sure I just sowed the seed that will result in you humming that song for the rest of the day.

Ipanema is a bright blue with a hint of yellow sparke through it.  The yellow is barely perceptible but it's there and it's like a little secret between you and your nails.

The formula on this is typical of blues.  It goes on streaky but, with enough coats (this one took four to get opaque), it dries to an shiny, glossy finish (this swatch is without top coat).

This is a colour that doesn't ever really look like the bottle.  The bottle looks like a solid creme.  This comes out looking more aqua and with a shimmer.  Go figure!

Regardless, I consider this another succsss.  BYS lacquers can be hit and miss - and, really, for $3 each, I don't mind - but this collection is proving itself to be the bargain buy of the century.

What do you guys think?  Is this a blue you would consider wearing?  Is that song out of your head as yet?