Australis - Ooh La La

First of all, I would like to wish every single one of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I sincerely hope that 2010 is a rocking year for all of you!!!

The colour I ended up wearing for NYE was Australis' Ooh La La.

I chose this colour because, at the resort we're staying at, there are trees everywhere with bright pink flowers, just like Ooh La La.  For days I've been marvelling at the flowers so, when it was time to choose a colour, it really was an easy pick.

This is a perfect colour for NYE in Fiji.  It's tropical, bright, cute and oh-so-ready-to-party.  I wore this last night at the party we went to and was constantly complimented on my 'gorgeous nails'.  So much so that one of the other guests here at the resort has begged me to do her nails in the same colour today.  She's buying me a lobster lunch in return!

How did you spend your NYE?  We booked at one of the restaurants here at the resort for a five course extravaganza of food (smoked salmon, consomme, lobsters, prawns and a molten chocolate cake), followed by fireworks and warrior dances.  It was a beautiful way to see out 2009 and welcome 2010.  I hope you, too, had a fantastic night.

Australis - Dark Opal

So the first of my New Years Eve lacquers is another great hue from Australian brand, Australis.

Dark Opal is an amazing, shimmery charcoal.

For some reason, in this photo, the colour is showing up with a reddish tinge (I'm still experimenting with the light umbrellas and sometimes I don't quite get the colour right).  Let me assure you, this is a soot-tinged charcoal.

As for all Australis lacquers, the formula is gorgeous.  You could possibly get away with one coat, but I did two for the swatch, just to make sure the shimmer came out.

This is a great colour for New Years.  It is sophisticated, glamorous and, because it is a dark hue, it will go with pretty much any outfit.  Whether you're wearing white, pink, red, blue - whatever - this will compliment your outfit perfectly.

So, what do you guys think?  Are any of you planning to wear a similar colour for New Years?

Australis - Clear Topaz

I have to say, I am seriously impressed with the Australis range of nail lacquers. I've tried three now, and every one of them has been a winner.

Clear Topaz is an absolutely stunning colour. It really does look like a glorious topaz stone.

This is a brown that would be flattering for every skin tone. I lent this to my friend who is - no fooling - like a walking corpse, she is so pale. It totally warmed her complexion and made her hands look fab. It works similar magic on my hands, bringing out the olive tone in my skin.

Application is great with this. The swatch on the right is two coats. The polish glides on easily thanks to the brush which just seems to know intuitively when I want more polish or less.

Do you ladies like browns and, if so, is this a frosty brown you might consider?

Australis - Emerald Star

Australis' Emerald Star is, straight up, the weirdest lacquer I think I've ever tried.

The first coat goes on as a teal. A streaky, dirty, hideous teal. I was sorely tempted to just clean it off. That's how foul the first coat was.

But I persisted. And, like the little ugly duckling, this lacquer turned into a bonafide swan. It literally changed colours between coats one and two. I have no idea why.

Like butter LONDON's British Racing Green, this is an unrepentant green. However, it's subtle enough that it can still be worn for work.

This is a two coat lacquer, although I used three in the swatch just because I desperately wanted to erase the image of that first coat.

Other than the foul first coat, application is easy with this. The brush glides along smoothly and the formula is neither too runny or too thick.

So, ladies, how do you like Emerald Star?

Casual Friday - For Leanne

I'm dedicating this little bit of nail art to the gorgeous, Leanne, of Do Not Refreeze. I only have a brother but, if I were able to have a sister, I'd want her to be like Leanne. She's just fab.

In my post of Eyeko's Pastel Polish, Leanne wondered how the Eyeko polishes would fare if they were used with the Konad Stamper. Well, Leanne, wonder no more, because here it is!

This is Australis Sapphire Blue as the base with Eyeko's Pastel Polish as the Konad stamp imprint. I chose the stars just because I wanted to create a crisp and cloudless autumn evening where you look up and all you can see are a plethora of milky stars that twinkle.

So, how did the Eyeko fare? Really well. Because Pastel Polish is not a one-coat and you're opaque colour, you can see the Australis colour come through the stars. For me, it takes this from being one colour stamped on another, to a creation that is perfectly melded together.

So what do you guys think? A success?

Please make sure you tune in to the site tomorrow when I announce the details of my very first giveaway. I know you guys will love it!

Australis - Sapphire Blue

You may be wondering why the heck would I include a blue in my Fall colours.

Well, for me, Fall isn't just about the browns and reds. It's also about cool nights, where the sky is clear and the stars are out.

Which is where Australis' Sapphire Blue comes in.

Let me tell you a story. The very first lipstick I bought was an Australis baby pink. Put simply, it looked hideous, like I'd been sucking on a bottle of Pepto Bismol.

So horrifying was the event that I have never, ever, bought another Australis product. Until now.

There is so much to love about this polish. To begin with, the colour is - in a word - dazzling. It looks like a deep pool blue, with just the hint of shimmer.

Application is super easy. The formula is runny on the first coat, but forgiving on the second. You can easily get away with two coats of this, although I would recommend three if you want it to be truly opaque.

It dries quickly to a high shine finish and - no fooling - it lasts for days before you start to get ever so minor tipwear. A week and a half into wearing this, I got my first chip. How outstanding is that?!

So, despite a less than illustrious start to using Australis products, I can say I am now a definite convert with regards to their lacquers. What do you guys think of Sapphire Blue?