Orly - Foil FX comes to Australia

I know this collection will be old news for my Northern Hemisphere lovelies, but it's just been released here in Australia. So I figured I would give it another try for those Aussies considering buying it.

In short, a glorious collection with one clear and utterly unique standout.  This collection may be coming later to Australia but it's perfect timing as we lead up to Christmas parties.

 Jump to see more!

Christian Dior - #999

A quickie today because I'm taking Chuff and Boo shopping.  Both have saved an inordinate amount of cash in their money boxes by doing chores around the house, and it's time for a Lego-palooza!

This is a classic red.  Would suit any skintone.  Two coats and you're done.  Just superb.

Have a great Saturday everyone!

butter LONDON - Victoriana

Oooh, butter LONDON's Victoriana does not need me to advertise its virtues, when all of those virtues are sitting there in plain sight.

This is EXQUISITE. Imagine heavy brocade and this is its equivalent in lacquer form.  Utterly opulent. Beautiful to work with.  Totally original (at least for me it's unique).

I have a few issues with butter LONDON's PR (I think they have drastically under promoted this amazing brand) but the lacquers are sublime and worth the kudos.  I'm back in a butter LONDON frame of mind.

Christian Dior - #987

Another Christian Dior for you today.  My mum actually bought me a whole stack when she was at Changi Airport, so I have a few more coming up over the next few weeks for you.

This is a very strange lacquer. In the bottle it looks like a deep burgundy plum.  On the nail, it looks brown.  Go figure.

Not that I'm complaining because I think it's a gorgeous colour.  It glides on beautifully and dries to the most wonderful shine.  Snaps for Christian Dior!

Oh and will you look at that top photo.  I can see myself in the reflection.  Rest assured that my nose is NOT a foot long.  The mirror in the bottle has gone all House of Mirrors on me.  But I do like the fact that I appear to be concentrating really hard!

Kazemlu - Pretty in (Random) Pink Collection - Part I

Today I have something really super duper special for you guys.  Today I'm premiering a collection that has not been seen in its entirety ever.  Yep, a You've Got Nail World Exclusive.

Ok, not quite.  When I visited Sydney a few weeks ago, I met up with the foxy Kaz and the equally delicious Em. We laughed, I got into a fight with a gay guy over a table at the Lindt Cafe (resulting in him spending a full hour giving me the side eye), and we pashed.  I may have made that last bit up, but I totally got the side eye.

And they gifted me.  They gifted me good.  A case FULL, and I mean FULL of beautiful lacquers.  I wanted to cry at their generosity but that would have meant messing up my Illamasqua makeover.  Suffice to say, I was genuinely touched.

I have named this the Kazemlu (see how I totally Brangelina'd their names) Pretty in (Random) Pink Collection.  For a few reasons.  Firstly, all the lacquers are from random brands. Secondly they're all pink (capitalising on my obsession with pinks).  And finally, Kaz' site is called Pretty Random.  Nifty, huh?

Thank you to my beautiful friends for these lacquers.  I love you more than I love the Sydney train system.

kit - Island Hopping - Take II

I hate for you guys to think I'm neglecting you but I'm a little frantic at the moment. It's Chuffy's birthday party today and there's party bags to pack, cake to be picked up from the bakery, and outfits to be selected (mostly mine, one has to look fine at one's son's birthday).  All to be done in the next 1.5 hours.

So it's another quick and dirty post from me. I promise you will get more smack talk next week once things calm down around here. Never fear, I have an endless supply of stupid sitting in my brain, so you're not missing anything.

Enjoy the beauty of Island Hopping, which is a kit online exclusive.  I don't think this is available anymore so I'm glad I snapped it up when I did!

OPI - Summer Flutter 2010

I was so excited when I saw OPI's Summer Flutter 2010 Collection.  I immediately snapped up all four without a moment's hesitation.

Did they live up to expectations?  You'll have to click on the jump to find out but, in one word, 'OMGHELLSYEAH'.

kit - Power Up - Take II

Continuing on my series of, 'wow that was an embarassing swatch', here is a resurrected Power Up by kit.

Diffused Light

Excuse the boo-boo on my index finger.  I seem to have issues with index finger application at the moment.  It's a rebel finger and, were it not for the fact that it is attached to my hand, I'd be giving it its marching orders.

Man, kit lacquers are good.  This is one coat and it's freaking awesomesauce of a thousand flavours.

I also managed to get a few shots of this in the sunlight (note the redone index finger - I warned it that a grounding was on offer if it did not behave).  This is strictly a black with silver shimmer so it doesn't reflect a huge amount of colours, but it's still delightful.

Jumpity jump!

OPI - Sweet Pink - **Japanese Exclusive**

Apologies for the banner picture being in Japanese but this is a Japanese collection, after all!  If any of my Japanese readers are able to translate, please paste the English in the comments.

Thanks to lovely YGN reader, Emma Joy, I was able to get my hands on OPI's Sweet Pink Collection which, from what I understand, is a Japanese exclusive. How exotic!

I had high hopes for this collection.  In the bottle, each one of these looks amazing.  Good enough to eat.

In reality, this collection is a mix of the good and not so good for me.  One lacquer just does not fulfill its potential (you'll see why after the jump).  One goes on completely differently to how it looks in the bottle.  And then there are two that are adorably squee.  All are sheer-ish and need around 3-4 coats.

Check them out after the jump!  All photos are taken in diffused light.

kit - Blue Surf

kit's Blue Surf is part of the Dulux Collection.

Yes, kit partnered with a paint company to come up with some pretty vibrant colours.  Forget about matching your handbag and shoes.  Clearly, this season is all about matching nails and walls!

Diffused Light

This is a lovely blue.  Although it appears quite light here, the colour in real life is more dusty, like distressed denim.

And it has the best formula of all the kit lacquers I've tried so far.  Big call but kit totally nailed the formula with this one.  Creamy without being thick.  Glides on easily and you only need two coats to get the above result.

I heart this like I heart blue cheese!  PS. That's alot.

kit - Poolside Party

  With flash.  I know this is bright but the picture is totally colour accurate. This is one super bright lacquer.

I don't know what the inspiration is behind kit naming this Poolside Party (a limited edition online-only lacquer).  If I went to a party where the pool looked like this, I'd be worried about fungal infections.  But if the name refers to Mojitos, or even Mint Juleps, then I'm totally behind that.

This is a Granny Smith Apple style green, which I rather like.  Unfortunately, the formula on this is.... well.... thick.  This is one of those frustrating lacquers where the formula is thick enough to be opaque in one coat, but where you end up doing three because the finish on the first and second coats are just streaky-city.  The brush also creates major cuticle drag.  Not a deal breaker but this is a lacquer that takes some work to get looking right.

Do you guys like this type of green?  And do you have  a lacquer that is a genuine one-coater but you end up doing more just to get a good finish?

Stay tuned as I'm announcing the winner of the March Giveaway this afternoon.  It's taken me a couple of days to go through all the entries but we have a winner. :-)

Illamasqua - Pastel Nails Collection

Love.... does not even begin to describe the Illamasqua Pastel Nails Collection.

There is just something wonderfully sexy and subtle about these.  Not to mention that they look like sorbet, which automatically appeals to my 'must eat ice-cream (or ice-cream related products) on a daily basis' fetish.

Before I go into the swatches (which I've hidden under the cut because the swatches are plentiful and large), I just wanted to address some concerns people have had with the large square Illamasqua lid.  Now, I don't want to tell you guys how to suck eggs, so just skip this bit if you already know.

The square lid does come off, leaving you with a much smaller and easier to deal with brush. When you're finished, just put the lid back on.  Too easy!

Hey There, Wait A Minute Mr Postman - OPI Sweet Pink Collection

I recently received an email from a lovely reader, Emmajoy, who was hoping I could get her some Bloom polishes.

I did and, in return, Emmajoy sent me the OPI Sweet Pink Collection which, from my understanding, was a Japanese exclusive.

Definitely click on the picture because it's only up close that you can see the lovely subtle shimmer in the bottles.

All of these are lovely.  But it's Pink Caramel, which is the last lacquer on the right, which has really caught my eye.  It's a light brown with shimmer throughout.  It almost looks like a duochrome in the bottle.  Can't wait to try these!

kit - Speed Demon + Happy Birthday Boo!

kit's Speed Demon is dedicated to my younger son, Boo, who is 3 years old today!

Some of you already know this, but Boo (not his real name, just a nickname) has autism and a Global Developmental Delay.  Up until six months ago, he was non verbal, delayed in pretty much everything and possessed limited social skills.  Thanks to early intervention therapies, and the fact that he is like a trencherman in his stoic efforts to catch up, he is now speaking in full sentences and is only six months behind his peers in terms of his development and social skills.  If he keeps this up, he will be able to start school with his peers.  He's freaking awesome. 

And he has teeth like a dinosaur.

Speed Demon is a colour that, when I bring it out to wear, he goes crazy. 

I tried teaching him to say 'turqoise' but all I get is 'toy-keys'.  He talks like he's from Jersey. 

Speed Demon is a really lovely, shimmery turquoise.  Definitely click to see the larger picture.

The formula is a little runny and sheer with this.  It took four coats to get to opaque which, as you all know, is one more than I have the patience or inclination for.

But I can't argue with the colour and, ultimately, that's what it comes down to for me.  This is just a superb colour.  In some lights, it looks like a creme.  In others, a bright shimmer.  A true chameleon.

What do you guys think?  Is this a 'toy-keys' you could fall in love with?

Bloom - Mena

Behold, Bloom's Mena!  I feel like trumpets should be heralding the arrival of this truly spectacular lacquer.

I absoutely have not done justice to Mena in this photo.  This comes through in the photo as a black with silver glitter.  In reality, there are a billion different colours of glitter in this lacquer, from red to green to blue.

Definitely click to see the larger version (on the larger version, the glitter is clearer).

Formua wise, I think this is the best Bloom I've come across.  This is a true, one coat and it's opaque lacquer.  No kidding, the swatch on the right is one, glorious coat.

It's smooth, silky and bringing sexy back, one piece of micro-glitter at a time.  This is a clear star for Bloom.  If they ever choose to discontinue it, I will wage a one woman protest (I might be able to trick Nixxy into coming with me if I promise her hot men) outside Bloom HQ.

What do you guys think?  Do you like Bloom's Mena?

kit - Island Hopping

**This is the last photo taken with my old camera.  Check out that great hand position!  I just need to translate that to my new camera and we'll be set.**

All through the month of February, kit Cosmetics have had weekly online exclusive lacquers.  Each Monday, a new lacquer is released, and is only on sale for that week before it disappears forever.

Some of the lacquers I didn't like.  But Island Hopping was one I 'hopped on' (don't pardon the pun, it's intentional) straight away.

This is a magnificant, glorious, [insert superlative here], shimmering blue.  In some lights, it can look quite muted, whilst at others - like here - it is like a shimmering pool of water.

Formula wise, this is kit at its best.  Smooth, intuitive, two coats to opaque and dries quickly.  If you want a glassy finish, I'd recommend a coat of Seche, but it's not really that necessary.

Ladies, what do you think of Island Hopping?  Care to come away with me?!

Hey There, Wait A Minute Mr Postman - Essie Mesmerize

I paid a visit to Ottoman 3 Nail and Brow Bar on Monday and, whilst there, spotted Essie's Mesmerize.

My god, why was I not told there was a blue Essie.  I literally spotted it 50 metres away and practically sprinted to grab it.  I was like one of those crazed people you see at Christmas sales.

Now, the question arises, why precisely was I visiting Ottoman 3, considering it's on the opposite side of Melbourne to where I live?  Well, you'll see later this afternoon when I post today's quadruple squee-worthy manicure.

In the meantime, can any of you guess what manicure I got?  Let me know in the comments.

Bloom - Audrey + Nail Art

The first of my Valentine's Day manicures uses Bloom's Audrey.

My friend N messaged me at work a couple of weeks ago and said 'I'm wearing this amazing Bloom colour called Audrey'. I immediately conjured up images of China Glaze's For Audrey so you can imagine my surprise when I found out that Bloom's Audrey is a classic raspberry creme.

This is a beautiful, timeless colour. It's the kind of colour you wear if you want to keep things elegant and, yet, don't want to stick to pinks or taupes.

Formula-wise, this is Bloom at its best (with one flaw which I'll go into later).  The formula is neither too runny nor too thick, making it infinitely workable on the nail.  It dries super quickly and to a high shine.  The swatch on the left is sans top coat.

I only have one problem with this.  The opacity.  The swatch here is three coats and I can still see a visible nail line on my ring and little finger.  Not badly, and I suspect no-one else but me would see this, but it still bothers me.  A little.

I suspect this isn't a unique colour by any stretch of the imagination so, for my international readers, if you have a dupe, post a link to it in the comments so that we may all 'ooooh', 'ahhhh'  and delight in raspberry creme goodness.

I also trialled some nail art with this manicure.  I bought some cute little stickers from a $2 shop and thought this was the perfect colour to use them with. 

Unfortunately, in this photo, the manicure looks a little nail wreck-alicious but, in person, this is such a cute little manicure.  It so reminds me of Fiji and the lovely flowers the waitresses in the resort restaurants would insist on putting in my hair.

Ladies, how do you like Bloom's Audrey.  Are you planning a special manicure for Valentine's Day?

kit - Move Up

Last week, I trialled kit Cosmetics' Power Up, a magnificant black with fine silver particles strewn throughout. So I had high hopes for Move Up, which is described by kit as a 'chrome pewter'.

First off, the formula for this is entirely different than Power Up.

Where Power Up was like liquid silk and opaque and shiny in one coast, Move Up is typical of many shimmery chromes. This took two coats to get to bottle colour, and has a 'gritty' finish (which can be made glossy with a good top coat).

This has the potential to be streaky, as with all chromes. Thankfully, the shimmer does make it a little more forgiving. Marginally. I found that, if I wanted a perfect finish, it was better to wait until the first coat had dried before applying the second.

This is a colour that can be worn at work, but would also work for evening functions. Which I love because the idea of not having to change lacquers from day to night really appeals. I'm so lazy!

This is another success story from kit Cosmetics. I have another two left to try (a berry creme and a taupe creme) and I can't wait. Whilst these are a little on the pricey side, I can't fault the quality or colour pay off.

So, what do you think Ladies? I feel like I'm channeling Cleopatra with this colour!

kit - Power Up

kit Cosmetics is an Australian company whose credo is pretty simple: 'Dedicated to you looking good'.

Power Up is described as a patent black with metallic shimmer. For me, it's a little simpler than that. Think a black night sky with little stars - perfect for Halloween - and that is Power Up.

The glitter in this is super fine, which means you get a perfectly smooth finish. No chunky lumpies here! The glitter is a silver colour, which offsets beautifully against the black.

The formula is nothing short of exquisite. It is creamy and wonderfully easy to work with. Ladies, this stuff is up there with OPI and China Glaze in terms of ease of application.

The swatch here is.... wait for it..... you will be amazed..... I promise.... one coat. Yes, one coat gets you this perfectly opaque finish. Most blacks I wear always have a streaky first coat. Not this one. If you're a lazy manicurist like I am, you will love Power Up.

This was the first kit colour I've tried and I'm super impressed. The formula, the colour, the ease of application. This is a great Aussie polish that ticks all of the boxes for me.