Christmas Party Nails 2014

I have a few Christmas nights out over the next few weeks that range from casual drinks to full on work parties. I also have one on a Wednesday night (:o) so I need a simple Christmas party nail that isn't garish for the office, goes with all of my outfits and has the smallest hint of Christmas fun. I've opted for my favourite nude 'nyla nude' from Models Own. This is one maybe 3 nail polishes I have ever finished a bottle of I'm on my 3rd and I couldn't love or recommend it more. It's a gorgeous warm toned nude that really suits my skin tone and is one of the only ones I've found that doesn't verge on grey and too cool it's so gorgeous and warm. I've topped my ring finger with Models Own 'catherine wheel'. I used Essie Ridge Filler as a base to hopefully make this nail last a good few parties without chipping. I need to find some nail glue though as I have lots of cute gems but nothing to stick them on with. I'm thinking full on gold bling for Christmas Day. 

Georgina x.

Spring Nail Picks

The rain definitely hasn't stopped but every now and then the sun is coming up so surely spring is on it's way. Pastel colours are out - finally! My favourite nail polishes for this season are: Essie - Bikini so Teeny, Barry M Gelly - Papaya, Models Own - Utopia, L'Oreal - Wasabi Hint & Models Own - Lemon Meringue. 

Mini Models Own Haul & Hyper Gel

Utopia, Snowflakes - Wonderland, Catherine Wheel - Fireworks, Naked Glow Hypergel, Lilac Sheen Hypergel 

Models Own are my favourite nail brand - over half of my nail varnishes are by the brand so when they have a half price sale I can't resist making a little order. When they did this offer a while ago it took ages to arrive and most of the good shades were out of stock. They obviously learnt a lot from that attempt at high demand as this sale was the complete opposite. I went on the site the day after the sale started and pretty much all shades were in stock. It was a few days before payday so I only picked up 5 shades but I'm so happy with all of them. I repurchased utopia as I somehow lost my last bottle - it's my favourite polish ever I love the almost white lilac shade so I'm very happy to have this back in my life. 

Snowflake has small to very large speckles of glitter and pearlescent long pieces. It's gorgeous over utopia and other pastel shades. I also got catherine wheel from the fireworks range which is gorgeous it has red, gold and green glitter in it - I adore this glitter it's perfect to go over light and dark polish and I know it will be much used over bright corals this summer. 

Finally I picked up 2 shades from the new Models Own range - hypergel. I think all of the nail brands have a 'gel' range out at the moment. I've tried quite a few of them and the models own version has definitely impressed me the most. I picked the two lightest shades in the range and they are so opaque they could be used with just one coat easily. The swatches above are just one coat and that's probably their main selling point for me. I don't find these as overly shiny and gel like in sheen as much as perhaps the Barry M gelly formula but that's fine for me. It's a beautiful range and I'm sure I'll pick up some more brights as summer gets nearer. I love that there's a colour swatch on each lid too it makes finding them so much easier amongst all of the other white lids I own. 

Christmas Obsessions: Nails

Glitter: Models Own Pink Fizz, Models Own Silver Fox, Deborah Lippman & Gold Glitter Nail Art Pen 

 

 Nude: Base Barry M Gelly in Lychee, Nails Ink Uptown Glamour, Models Own Champagne, Stripe and dots with bronze from nail art pen kit 

 

 Red: Base - Nails Inc Victoria & Albert, all designs done with nail art pens (eBay) 

 

White: Base George for Asda Manicure in Natural White all glitters mentioned above or from nail art pen kit

Painting my nails is one of my favorite things to do - painting them at Christmas time is even better. You can adorn your nails with copious amounts of glitter and it's completely acceptable even on the mot mundane of office days when  December always seems fun because your nails are covered in sparkles. I loved playing around with polishes for this Christmas nail wheel and I'm so happy that advent has started so bright red nails covered in glitter has become completely acceptable. If you've done any Christmas nail art posts please pop the link in my comments I'd love more inspiration :) 

Models Own - Autumn Nail Polish Picks

Left to right: Gold Digger, Vintage Pink, Slate Grey, Red Red Wine, Nyla Nude

Boots £5 Models Own £5

Models Own - Neon Ice - Pink Punch

Models Own Neon Ice Nail Varnish £5 Boots Models Own

I love Models Own Nail Varnish and it makes up pretty much all of my nail varnish collection. I bought this a few months ago as I was looking for a hot summer time neon. I love the packaging on this range the matte finish makes it look lovely and a little different to all the others in my collection. I was a little disappointed in the coverage of this polish above is 3 coats and for me it needed a forth for a completely opaque and punchy finish. It's fine if you have the time to sit there and let your nails dry. I do love the colour though it's a really bright pink with orange tones making it super neon. Once dried properly it does have decent wear like all models own varnishes. I haven't really worn this as much as I thought I would this summer as it literally takes so long to apply and dry 4 coats for a decent finish I do still love it though and it will definitely be coming to Turkey with me next month when I have a little more time to let my nails fully dry before dinner. 

Coral Peach Orange - Nail Obsessions

Left to Right: Models Own Hed Kandi Hedonist (review) Barry M Gelly Satsuma (review) Essie Orange It's Obvious (review) Barry M Gelly Papaya (review) Models Own Peaches and Cream

Models Own Scented - Strawberry Tart

Another talked about product that I probably didn't need but obviously wanted. Models Own scented range is a gorgeous set of pastels that I mostly already own in unscented versions but thought what the hell who doesn't need another pale pink in their collection. I don't find nail varnish odour particularly offensive but then again it's nothing you'd want to tie up in a bottle so was intrigued to try the new offering from models own - scented nail polish. I found the coverage of this particular shade pretty poor above is three layers of the stuff and it still didn't cover as well as I really wanted. When applied there is a hint of nail polish but amongst a kind of fake strawberry odour. When dry this isn't as overpowering as I thought it might be and can only really be smelt if you go to purposefully smell it. 

It's fun but I don't think I'm really the target market. I can imagine my 13 year old self loving this stuff and having every shade to mix and match my spring nails with. However now at 23 the gimmick didn't really do anything for me and after wearing it for a while maybe made me realise I don't need smelly nail varnish. I like the concept and I love models own but I won't be buying any more scented polished any time soon. 

Spring Time Nail Favourites

 Barry M Gelly Hi Shine - Papaya, Barry M Mint Green. Models Own Lemon Meringue, Essie Bikini So Teeny,  Models Own Scented Strawberry Tart. 

The sun came out briefly and two things happened - my washing went on the line for a brief few hours and I dug out my spring pastels to adorn my nails with. These are my five favourites by far - I love pastels at this time of the year and I will be wearing these shades all season long probably way into the summer too. Essie Bikini So Teeny is probably my favourite as the formula is amazing and it's unlike any other shade I own.

Graduated Glitter Christmas Nails

I've been testing out Christmas nails for the last few weeks - some failed miserably (nail transfers I'm talking to you) some annoyed (nail wraps) and some were just more effort than they were worth (miniature Christmas stickers.) I've plumped with this graduated glitter look for the big day this year as it will go with whatever I chose to wear - obviously something red, gold or black and having such heavy glitter on the tips gives the look real durability and means I won't be chipped by boxing day. I used the same graduated glitter method I mentioned here and I used Models Own Gold Digger, Nails Inc Victoria and Albert and these eBay nail art pens. 

Models Own - Pinky Brown

Models Own - Pinky Brown £5

When Models Own launched the Beetlejuice collection quite a few months ago it didn't do anything for me at all. I normally lust after their new collections like some kind of mad nail varnish addict but for some reason the swatches of this collection didn't excite me.

However something about this pinky brown spoke to me in during a recent Models Own haul as it just screamed autumn to me. I really like this polish it's like a pink, purple and brown all in one. It's kind of odd polish as it's almost glittery but doesn't come with the horrible task of taking of a glitter polish. I do find this quite hard to wear all week as it's so multifaceted but I do love it for autumn and I'm sure I will be wearing it a lot. I don't think I'm won over by the Beetlejuice type effect on these nail varnishes however I think it's a nice addition to my nail varnishes and nothing like anything else I own.

Models Own - Naked Shimmer

Models Own Nail Varnish £5 Boots

I own far too many nude nail varnishes - Nyla Nude by Models Own is my clear favourite but I wanted to give this shade a go because it looked all pretty and shimmery online. It's a lovely pale nude shade which has a lovely creamy tone rather than the slightly pink tone of Nyla Nude. It's not really showing in the image but it has a slight gold sheen to it in certain lights. It's an ever so subtle sheen but a nice bit of glamour compared to the alternative plain nude shades I have in my collection. 

I kind of love it. I didn't need it but it's nothing like any of the nudes I have so it is completely acceptable ... 

Models Own - Fuzzy Peach

Models Own Fuzzy Peach £5

This is my all time favourite coral/ orangey toned nail varnish - my last pot was getting ever so gloopy and now it's back in my life and going on like a dream. I adore it - the swatch above is just two coats and it leaves a perfect glossy opaque finish. I'm glad I have a new version of this to use up again. It's easily in my top 5 polishes ever.