December 21, 2013

Christmas Gifts are lovely things!

Hello! I have received lots of surprise gifts this week. Two of them are in this post! 

Thank you to the Mad Hat wearing ladies... you know who you are, and to Soprano Sally. Lovely, lovely gifts from lovely, lovely ladies. I am so lucky to have you as friends.
The polishes are:
  • Chaos & Crocodiles, Squee! A mix of neon blue, purple and pink glitters. All sorts of shapes with a pink and blue micro shimmer. Some of the glitters are quite large and require some patience to retrieve from the bottle. I was after a particular star. If I was not so fussy on the glitter I wanted to place, it would have been easier.
  • Iconic Effect, Tweedle Dum. A rich blurple mega holo. Applies like butter cream! Just perfect. This shade is a one-off, made just for me. It has a twin sister, not an identical twin, and I will feature her another day! IE has recently won 'UK Indie of the year' with 2 of Kelly's polishes coming in the top 3! Well done Kelly. 
  • A England, Dancing with Nureyev. From the recent Ballerina collection, this is a dusty denim blue holo there is a pink and blue sheen to it. Again, applies perfectly. Just as we have come to expect from Adina.
Perfect!
the line up!
 
Iconic Effect has regular restocks on Etsy, here.
A England can be bought from various online stores including Llarowe and at the A-England store.
Chaos & Crocodiles can be bought from Mei Mei or Norway Nails. Both offer a great service!

 . . If you are reading, then I'd love your comments, feedback is always appreciated. I am not a nail technician or a photographer! I do not claim to have fantastic nails. I simply own some fabulous polishes!
all rights reserved - www.lacquerland.co.uk 

December 16, 2013

Liquid Sky Lacquer - Wish - Hugs - Love and Lex Nail Lacquer - Love me More

Hello! . .

A short post today! These are two exclusives to Mei Mei Signatures, both to raise money to fund a liver transplant for Mei Mei's niece.

Both polishes are beautiful. The Lex is a bright barbie pink with a blue/violet shimmer. It applies flawlessly. I am impressed. The Liquid Sky is a very pale pink, has gold sparkles and has a strong linear holo effect. Again, a perfect application.


These are available from Mei Mei Signatures. The Lex polish is $SD13 with $5 going to the fund. The Liquid Sky was $SD18 but only 28 were made and it has now sold out. The entire sale price has been donated. By my arithmetic this means over $500 has been raised plus whatever comes from Lex sales. Fab! What a brilliant way to raise funds for this life changing and life saving surgery.

If you are reading, then I'd love your comments, feedback is always appreciated. I am not a nail technician or a photographer! I do not claim to have fantastic nails. I simply own some fabulous polishes! all rights reserved - www.lacquerland.co.uk Follow my blog with Bloglovin

November 09, 2013

OPI DS Glamour v Ninja Glamorous and PMP Breakaway!

Hello!

This has been a good week. My husband had his birthday, and it was one that ended with a zero! I won 2 polish giveaway prizes and had a win on the Euro Lottery. £8.50 so no begging letters please!

My polishes today are a swift comparison of OPI DS Glamour and a near perfect dupe made by Ninja, cunningly called Glamorous. Both are a beautiful holo blue.

I have used my prize from the lovely 'Penny for Them' blog, written by Claire. This polish is a very limited exclusive shade from PMP (Pocket Money Polishes) made by Charlie, and is called Breakaway. See Claire's 'Penny for Them' blog here. The other prize this week is from Llarowe's giveaway. She had squillions of prizes and I have won Cult Mayhem and I understand it is a holo topcoat!

The first question I asked myself was how close are the two shades. The top one is Ninja and the bottom is the OPI. They are very close. They apply equally well and dry fast. I cannot tell which I prefer best. It might be the OPI but there isn't much in it. This colder weather has dried my cuticles again. Time to get the oil out!
Thumbs comparing OPI & Ninja



My ring finger features the under-rated OPI DS Classic. It has a fab scattered holo and is a lovely neutral shade. I have been searching high and low for a perfect nude holo polish and I had one all the time. Love it. I have topped it with my PMP prize from the giveaway.  I love the nudes from both Enchanted Polish (Afternoon Delight) and Liquid Sky Lacquer (Head to the Bahamas).

Close up bottle shot from PMP Breakaway 


 . . If you are reading, then I'd love your comments, feedback is always appreciated. I am not a nail technician or a photographer! I do not claim to have fantastic nails. I simply own some fabulous polishes!
 all rights reserved - www.lacquerland.co.uk Follow my blog with Bloglovin

October 06, 2013

Ciate and Lynnderella Lucky Numbers

 Hello!
I decided to used some untrieds today. I am feeling a bit glum so I chose two of the brightest in the drawer and although I am not sure if they are a textbook match, I like the effect!



Ciate applies so well and is opaque over a darker base with two coats. It dries quickly too. Not top coat has been applied to the polish before glitter. It is simply that glossy just on its own. Fab.

Palm Tree (green) is cheerful and vivid but not screaming highlighter pen. Jelly Bean (pink) is a medium dark fuchsia with a crafty blue shimmer, again, knocking the shade down a notch or two from too bright.


 To break up the starkness of the two shades, I chose a Lynnderella glitter called Lucky Numbers. This, although I have had it for months, has not been used. I'm sure I saw someone use it the other day and I think that must have been at the back of my mind. What a surprise this polish is! Apart from the rather obvious red glitters, there is a spooky greeny red shimmer. Very subtle in some lights but when the right light hits it, wow! I think it is captured best in the macro in the bottom right segment of this picture. Seche Vite has been applied to the glittered nails.
See the shimmer? 


Ciate is available from their online store and they very occasionally have silly 50% off sales.

Lynnderella is available from her own eBay store or from Norway Nails. If you go there from here, there is a discount code to get you 10% off. The code is LAQUERLAND (sic) and to use it, you enter the code AFTER you have been transferred back from the PayPal pages. I found this a little confusing at first and missed out on using a code.

If you are reading, then I'd love your comments, feedback is always appreciated. I am not a nail technician or a photographer! I do not claim to have fantastic nails. I simply own some fabulous polishes and this is my way of capturing some of the polishes I love!

 all rights reserved - www.lacquerland.co.uk
Follow my blog with Bloglovin

August 24, 2013

Leighton Denny Statement Maker and Lynnderella The Best Present 12/24/12

Hello! 
Today I am wearing Leighton Denny Statement Maker and Lynnderella The Best Present 12/24/12.


Leighton Denny is a British celebrity nail tech who has his own brand of quality polishes and nail care products. This particular shade was in a recent set offered by QVC. I didn't want the set but my friend Sally offered me the green. She hates green polish on herself and she knows I am a green freak. Well, not literally. I am not green and I don't think I am a freak. I have red hair and pale skin; green just seems to suit me!

The green is a frosty sage colour with a silvery shimmer running through.

It applies well, no visible brush strokes and the brush is easy to control.

Dry time was reasonable. I used my new favourite topcoat, W7 Diamond Topcoat. It dries quickly and is really cheap! This was free with a purchase some time ago and it retails normally for around £2. Leighton does a range of topcoats and they are great. I just don't have any at the moment.   


Lynnderella The Best Present is the Christmas Eve polish from her limited edition Advent range.

It is a gold and silver glitter polish, crammed with stars, tiny stars, hearts, moons, diamonds and so on. Some of the glitters are insanely holographic.

In the top right third of this picture you can see a picture I took by mistake. I include it as it shows the comet like flashes of colour when this polish hits the light!

The lower right third shows the gold colour of some of the shapes. A slight shift of position and they sparkle like crazy as the light bounces on the holographic surface. You can just see a tiny silver star to the side of the gold diamond.



This picture shows the polish without the holographic elements taking control and pushing the lovely base colour out of the limelight. Two silver stars and various other shapes are visible. I love this combination! I used Seche Vite over the two nails with glitter. I find it performs better over glitter than most other topcoats.

Leighton Denny products are available at various UK locations, some online and some high street. Lynnderella Limited Editions are available from her eBay store.

If you are reading, then I'd love your comments; feedback is always appreciated. I am not a nail technician or a photographer! I do not claim to have fantastic nails. I simply own some fabulous polishes!

 all rights reserved - www.lacquerland.co.uk Follow my blog with Bloglovin

August 23, 2013

Nail oil Challenge - Five month update

Some time ago I purchased Pure Nail Oil. Ana, the creator of this wonderful oil, asked me to document my experience with the oil. Here is the case study she put together.

August 21, 2013

Enchanted Polish - A Little Fishy Told Me and Lynnderella - The Glittering Crowd

Hello! . .

Today I received A Little Fishy Told Me from Enchanted Polish. This polish was made to raise funds in the memory of a young lady called Talia Joy who died recently.
I paired it with an accent of Lynnderella's The Glittering Crowd. 

 A Little Fishy... is a minty green creamy sort of holographic polish. It is similar in some ways to EP's Ballerina Sprinkles. It has a pale blue shimmer in the mix. I have heard varying opinions on this polish; I have decided I like it very much. I cannot tell if it is a greeny-blue or a bluey-green.
I conclude that it is a lovely and unusual polish!

The Glittering Crowd is a Lynnderella classic. It has squillions of different glitters, mostly in rainbow colours and is garnished with holographic twinkly bits! Truly a glittering crowd!
 


Both polishes apply well. There are two coats of the EP, it applies smoothly and it dries quite quickly. Dabbing is, for me, the best way to apply this type of Lynnderella. No topcoat for the EP and one coat of Seche Vite for the Lynnderella. I think they work fabulously well together!




































Both polishes are no longer available to buy new.

If you are reading, then I'd love your comments, feedback is always appreciated. I am not a nail technician or a photographer! I do not claim to have fantastic nails. I simply own some fabulous polishes! all rights reserved - www.lacquerland.co.uk Follow my blog with Bloglovin

July 31, 2013

Enchanted Polish Green Peace on Earth & Lynnderella She Lived in a Swamp

Hello! . .

Two of my favourite brands today, Lynnderella and Enchanted Polish. Let's just say that between them, these two brands form 1/3 of my polish collection. 

The EP is a light green with a subtle holographic effect. I have seen stronger holo polishes (Nubar Reclaim for instance) but this subtle effect suits this EP just fine.

The Lynnderella is full of swampy green glitters, lots of different shades and types of glitter. There are holographic swampy greens and shiny swampy greens. Who knew they made so many swampy green glitters!
See EP on my little finger nail


Look at the holo effect!
All those swampy green glitters!
There is a fab giveaway running at http://wishesofablueeyedgirl.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/1-year-blogiversary-giveaway.html. There are some brilliant prizes, have a go!


If you are reading, then I'd love your comments, feedback is always appreciated. I am not a nail technician or a photographer! I do not claim to have fantastic nails. I simply own some fabulous polishes!

 all rights reserved - www.lacquerland.co.uk Follow my blog with Bloglovin

June 12, 2013

Enchanted Polish May 2013

 Hello! . .

The postman just called and handed me a little brown box - with the sender's name 'Chelsea Rose'. My heart fluttered...
May 2013 has arrived! When I ordered this I did think 'another purple holo'. Yet it is not just another purple holo. It is not pink but it isn't purple either. Magenta leaning purple? Perhaps. Purple leaning pink? Maybe.

It is a lovely colour even if I fail to describe it adequately. It is very holographic. I have noticed that the newer EP holos are more holo than ever before and that suits me fine.

The picture below is just one coat and applied quickly. It is slower to dry than usual and the formula is a little thicker than I am used to. It spread well and no pooling in the cuticle area. I am very happy with this!




Just one quick coat and no topcaot.



If you are reading, then I'd love your comments, feedback is always appreciated. I am not a nail technician or a photographer! I do not claim to have fantastic nails. I simply own some fabulous polishes!

all rights reserved - www.lacquerland.co.uk

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

May 30, 2013

Pure Nail Oil: is it worth it?

Hello! 

I have been using PURE nail oil for some time now and I am impressed with how my cuticles and nails have improved. I had to become a hand model for my daughter to pass her exam in acrylic nail enhancement and have subsequently had infills too so I cannot show the effect on the actual nail plate. I believe the effect on my cuticles speaks for itself. You can read my first commentary on PURE, done in January 2013, by clicking  the link to Lacquerland.co.uk

Ana, owner of Nail Care HQ gave me lots of advice regarding cuticle care. I had been guilty of constantly pushing back my cuticles. This had given them a bunched up appearance and some redness of the eponychium (cuticle line). I had been a biter in the past, not of my nails but of hangnails. Decades of abuse is probably impossible to repair completely but rigorous application and massage of PURE has improved the condition beyond doubt. 
You can find out more than you'll ever need to know at http://www.nailcarehq.com/

I have use one 15ml bottle completely and am part way through my second bottle now. I'd say the bottle lasted 3 months. I guess the only improvement I could suggest is to change the label to be greaseproof! Over time it has become blotched with oil.

Here are some recent pictures!

My nails during treatment with PURE






Pure is available from NailCareHQ.com


If you are reading, then I'd love your comments, feedback is always appreciated. I am not a nail technician or a photographer! I do not claim to have fantastic nails. I simply own some fabulous polishes! all rights reserved - www.lacquerland.co.uk Follow my blog with Bloglovin

May 16, 2013

Blue - Girly Bits Stormy Skies, SInful Colors Midnight Blue, Lynnderella Pentimento and OPI The Flowers are BlueMing


Hello! . .

I have a combination of colours today. A pale blue/grey (Girly Bits Stormy Skies) with a rich dark blue shimmer (Sinful Colours Midnight Blue), Lynnderella Pentimento and a scattered blue jelly (OPI The Flowers are BlueMing).

All polishes applied well and dried reasonably quickly. I used Seche Vite as a topcoat. It is interesting to see the effect of adding the OPI jelly over Lynnderella Pentimento. There are a selection of pictures below before and after adding the OPI over the darker blue nails. I left the pale blue nails without the jelly as I think the colours look amazing as they are. Two very different looks using Pentimento! For those who don't know Pentimento, it is a mix of a gazillion glitters in a slightly tinted transparent base. I'm unsure if the base is intended to be tinted or if the glitters have bled a little. Either way, it is one of my favourite Lynnderellas.

















Please excuse the dry bits! My nails are recovering from an attack of dry cuticle syndrome!

If you are reading, then I'd love your comments, feedback is always appreciated. I am not a nail technician or a photographer! I do not claim to have fantastic nails. I simply own some fabulous polishes!
 all rights reserved - www.lacquerland.co.uk