Retro Nails

Hi Goddesses

I've had this sad little mani knocking round for a few weeks, too shy to bare her face to the public.  We started with such high hopes together, but got let down at the final hurdle :(

This starts with Models Own Beth's Blue, which I admit I only bought because it shares its name with my daughter, but - ooooh isn't it lovely?!   There is the softest teeniest hint of lavender going on, which just gives this a lushness which takes the breath away.  This is a pale blue unlike any others I have seen.  Gorgeous.

I had been itching to try this particular Red Angel stamp (RA105) and I decided it would look fab and groovy if I did the stamping in red.

And do you know what, it would have done, apart from 2 things.  Firstly, the red I used just wasn't intense enough.  I used CG Salsa, which stamped fine when I was making my stamping book, but which just didn't do the job here.   There's a lack of sharpness to the pattern which is really underwhelming.  The 2nd disappointment was the Out The Door Wet Look top coat I'd been lusting after, and which I used on this one - can you see how much it streaked the left hand ??

Well, actually, no, you may not be able to see that cos I did try not to photograph it lol, but it damn near broke my heart.  Then on the right hand, the Poshe streaked some of the red too, though not as bad as the OTD did.  Boooooo hoooooo.

I was gutted.  This could have looked sensational.    I'll probably try it again cos I do love its cool retro vibe, just a shame it didn't quite work :(

Enjoy !!  xx :)

China Glaze - Ring In The Red

Hi Goddesses

This is a mani left over from my Christmas red polish frenzy, and it was the one I had really high hopes for.  I kept seeing swatches of this that made me swooooooon so caved and ordered it.

China Glaze Ring In The Red is pure red sexiness in a bottle.  Glittery, sparkly, shimmery - it's boogilicious.   It really is a bottle of Marilyn's red dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - just pure amazingness.

And there's just one big problem - unlike Marilyn, this baby will only perform WITH underwear.

To see Ring In The Red at her astounding, thought-exploding, heart-pulsing best, she has to be worn over another colour.  Try to wear her on her own, and we're back to the spreading snot problems of Rockin Rubies and Downtown Rubies, and having gone through that pain twice already, I threw a paddy, took her off, and put some underwear on lol.

So this is 2 coats of Ring In The Red worn over CG Salsa and on the middle finger, 1 coat of black (an OPI one).  This gave the perfect balance - just enough depth to allow the glitter to shine, without needing to layer it on with a trowel.

You'll see how different she looks under bright light - doesn't she look amazing when the light is directly on her?  Magnificent, resplendent and glorious - she doesn't just sparkle; she dazzles.

In the flatter light, she's still gorgeous, but starts to remind me of Deborah Lippmann's Ruby Red Slippers, just without the bigger pieces.

This is a truly transfixing polish, and if you're looking for just 1 perfect festive red for Christmas 2012, snap this baby up while you can.

Enjoy xx :)