Barbara Daly - Electric Blue + Layering Experiment

Another Monday, another gift from my mother in law, Kath.

This time, it is Barbara Daly's Electric Blue.

This is a dream to work with. Two coats to opaque. Deliciously creamy. Dries quickly. Looks glorious on the nail.

Colour wise, it can look bright - almost neon - in some lights and, in other lights, almost like a dusty denim / cornflower blue.  Fab, fab, fab.

But wait!  There's more!  I layered a cheapie lacquer, ID's Dancing Shoes, over the top of this to bling it up a little.

These photos do not do this manicure justice.  Let's just say that this manicure could be used to guide planes in deep fog.  That's how blinging and fierce it is, that it doubles as a safety device. How many manicures can do that, huh?  Well.... besides this one.

Entering Grandpa Simpson territory again so I'll sign off and see you guys tomorrow!

Barbara Daly - Wicked

After two days of romance inspired manicures, I decided that today needed to be a BAM POW BLAST shot to the veins.

Barbara Daly's Wicked is just that shot.

Often with darker lacquers, they look great in the bottle but either come out looking somewhat insipid and/or so dark that you can't really see the depth.

There is no such issue with Wicked.  It comes out exactly as it looks in the bottle - a beautiful, deep, velvety purple brown. The nail wreck you see above - entirely operator error.  I may or may not have been drinking when doing this manicure.

The formula is just perfection.  Glides on easily, opaque in two coats, high shine.  It doesn't get much better than this.

Barbara Daly - Sunset

With the other Barbara Daly I tried earlier this week, Salsa, I was left marginally underwhelmed by the formula.  This formula is no better (four coats, runnier than a 3 year old's nose), but at least I adore the colour.

A beautiful, sexy, blue-red that I would wear every day of the week.  I also think this is a great 'starter red' for those of you lacking the confidence to wear reds.  It's not subtle by any means but it's definitely not in your face like some reds.

On a side note, how am I going to survive without my falsies next week?!  I love them!





The nails in this review have been provided courtesy of Nailene. For more information on YGN's Disclosure Policy, please click here.

Barbara Daly - Salsa

I have a couple of new Barbara Daly lacquers for you this week (albeit the ones this week are mini-sized), as sent to me by my lovely mother in law.

Diffused Light 

(please excuse the flaky skin on my middle finger, it's a dry winter and my hands are feeling the effects)

This one is Salsa, a very unapologetic bright orange. 

Unlike the other Barbara Daly lacquers that I reviewed last week, this was most certainly not a one-coater.  Indeed, this took four coats.  Which is not an unusual occurrence, but I guess I was looking forward to his being as quick as the others.

It was also a runny formula which meant it quickly and uncontrollably seeped into the cuticles at the very first opportunity (which you can see in the closeup - yucko).

Having said that, the colour is truly gorgeous and the finish is.... well, look at that shine.  You can see my fat head in my nails - awesomesauce.

All things considered, this is a nice enough lacquer but there are better formulas out there which give the same result without the drama / trauma.  





The nails in this review have been provided courtesy of Nailene. For more information on YGN's Disclosure Policy, please click here.

Barbara Daly - Envy + Nubar Dupe

Diffused Light

So this is the second of the Barbara Daly lacquers sent by my mother in law. Can we get a round of applause for Kath who really has amazing taste **WILD APPLAUSE**.

This is another one coater that is truly stunning.  An amazing red with flecks of gold throughout.

Of course, I saw another dupe when I applied this in Nubar's Contempo.  So I lined them up to see if my hunch was right.

Errr no.  I mean, there are similarities, but I couldn't call this a dupe worthy moment. I think I need to get my eyes checked!

Barbara Daly - Velvet + Nubar Dupe

Barbara Daly Lacquers.  It sounds like something a granny would wear. 

If the granny you're talking about is one of those rocking ones dancing on the tables of a Honky Tonk Bar at 3 in the morning, that is.

 Diffused Light

This came in a care package from my darling mother in law, who apparently not only produced a beautiful son for me to marry, but who also has exquisite taste in nail polish.

This is a beautiful deep red with swathes of gold through it.  And it is one coat.  Yes, the above swatch is a stonkingly good one coat.  I am so seriously impressed with this lacquer.  Not only is it a gorgeous colour but the one coater makes it a sub 5 minute manicure from start to finish.

As I was cropping the photo, I thought that the gloss version of Nubar's Avant Garde (from the Modern Matte Collection) might be a potential dupe for this.  I didn't have time to go back and re-do the swatch so I've lined up the two swatches side by side.

Not quite, but pretty close.  Avant Garde is more red, whilst Velvet has a stronger rust undertone. But I suspect that, from afar, you wouldn't really be able to tell the difference.

So, my English ladies, have you tried Barbara Daly lacquers and what did you think of them.  It was the one coat application that got me.  No streaks.  No dragging.  It just glided on perfectly. I'm interested in your thoughts!