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A 2 Z: U is for Unusual

April 2, 2015, 5:52 am
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Hello peeps! Today's A 2 Z prompt is "U is for Unusual". I knew immediately what I wanted to do for this - use one of my many beloved "unusual" shades, but when it came to choosing which one, I just couldn't - I love them all! So I picked my favourites and created a skittle manicure, which is also fairly unusual for me as it's not a look I usually go for!

Names of polishes will be after the pictures!





Bonus unusual prop - baby glow in the dark dragon! :D



Polishes used:
Thumb: China Glaze "Mahogany Magic";
Index: China Glaze "Westside Warrior";
Middle: China Glaze "Trendsetter";
Ring: Nails Inc "Fenchurch Street";
Little: Nails Inc "Hampstead Gardens".

Please check out our lovely new A 2 Z Hub Page where you will see everybody else's contributions, and don't forget to check back next week for another installment!

Thanks for reading :) x
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A 2 Z: V is for Valuable

April 9, 2015, 6:53 am
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I'm gonna keep this week's A 2 Z blog post short today, it's too lovely outside to be sitting here typing.

For "V is for Valuable", I chose a polish with a valuable sounding name: F.U.N Lacquer "Million Dollar Dream", of which I applied two coats over a gold base for maximum coverage and impact. Enjoy!









And mama Bean has also gone gold, using Barry M "Gold Foil Effects" and "Treasure Chest" :)




As always, check the A 2 Z Hub Page for everybody else's interpretations, and come back again next week for another installment.

Thanks for reading :) x




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A 2 Z: W is for Wild

April 16, 2015, 5:01 am
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Hey internet! Today's A 2 Z theme is "W for Wild". My two initial thoughts for this theme were "animals" and "wild colours". With that in mind, I started planning a zebra print stamped manicure using neon colours on a white base. However, I decided I wasn't happy with this idea and went off in another direction instead, so today's A 2 Z: W is for Wild manicure is inspired by wild flowers, namely dendelions! If you follow me on Instagram you will probably have realised by now I have an addiction to photographing wild flowers, especially macro shots of dandelion seed heads, so this manicure was destiny really :)

Pictures first, product info after!






Products used: Orly Bonder; Models Own "Beth's Blue"; No.7 "In The Stars"; MoYou London Pro XL plate 06; Sally Hansen French Tip White; Seche Vite.

And a bonus collage of some of my recent photographs of dandelions :)


No mama Bean today sadly, she had a wonderful idea which I was really looking forward to seeing, but I think she ran out of time.

Don't forget to check out the new A 2 Z Blog Series Hub Page, and come back again next week for another installment!

Thanks for reading :) x




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A 2 Z: X is for eXtra Special

April 23, 2015, 6:34 am
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Hey friends. Today's post is going to be an emotional one for me to write, so bear with me. I apologise if it brings you down or upsets you, but I have to do this.


Today's A 2 Z theme is "X is for eXtra Special". I wasn't sure what to do at first, I was thinking along the lines of using a polish which is special to me, but I couldn't pick just one. Then it hit me. There is one thing more special, more precious to me than anything else, and that is my beloved, sadly departed dog Scrappy. Scrappy was born in August 2008. He was the most amazing, happy, joyful dog you could ever imagine, and we spent two of the most wonderful years of my life together. Until, in October 2010, Scrappy became unwell. We had to watch him suffer greatly, see the life drain away from him as he became paralysed from his waist down. It wasn't until almost two ago months later that the vets were able to finally diagnose his problem, by which time it was far too late to be able to help him: he had an inoperable, incurable tumor inside his spinal cord. He was by then far too weak to even contemplate surgery, that is if it would even have helped anyway - it was in a very high risk area and he had already totally lost control of the lower half of his body. So, to my utter despair, we had to do what was right in that situation, and end my little bean's suffering. He was put to sleep on December 6th 2010, and a part of me has been missing ever since. He was my soul mate, I loved him like I never though possible and for those two painfully short years, I was the happiest I have ever been. I rarely speak about Scrappy, but I think about him constantly, not a day goes by without me remembering his beautiful face and the endless joy he gave me. It still hurts me just as much and I am in floods of tears as I type this, I miss him so very very much.

So with that in mind, here is my "eXtra Special" manicure, inspired by Scrappy's beautiful angel white and black splodged coat, and his odd blue eye:




(This is Scrappy's Snoopy toy, he loved it treated it like a baby during his final weeks with us)

And here is a little collage of pictures of my Scrappy bean :)




Check the A 2 Z Blog Series Hub Page by clicking here, and come back next week for another installment.

Thanks for reading x



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Violet Rose Nail Polish Swatches & Review

April 24, 2015, 8:49 am
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Hello everybody! Before I begin, I would just like to express my heartfelt thanks to those of you who responded to yesterday's blog post. I didn't write it for sympathy, I wrote it merely to let the world know how special Scrappy was and still is to me, but to know that so many of you read it and enjoyed it (if enjoyed is really the right word) really means so much to me, so thank you.


Now, on to a little more of an upbeat post today, in the shape of some swatches of new and existing Violet Rose nail polish shades! I have three to show you: one of which is already available; the other two of which will be available sometime next week. 

Shall we have a look? Purchase info after the pictures!



Violet Rose "Posies And Petals"








"Posies And Petals" is a clear based glitter topper, consisting of small hex glitters in an array of pastel shades. These particular glitters are the see-through glassy ones, so this polish will be best layered over a light colour. Formula was problem free, the base is nice and springy and the glitters are well suspended, and well dispersed, making it easy to apply. My pictures show one coat over a pale lilac, with top coat.


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Violet Rose "Polly's Passion"








"Polly's Passion" is a multichrome polish with a very strong shift, the predominant colour being a petrol blue, shifting right through purple, pink, and finally to gold, with scattered silver holographic glitter. It is a little bit on the sheer side so I chose to layer it over a black base for my swatches, which is how I would wear such a polish anyway as it maximises the duochrome effect, but you may achieve an opaque finish with two thick or three average coats of its own - it's entirely up to you. Formula wise it is just a teeny bit on the thick side, so you may wish to leave a little longer between coats in order to avoid any bubbling or drying issues. Otherwise, application was easy peasy. As stated, my swatches show two coats over a black base, with top coat. Fun fact: this polish was inspired by Emma (the creator of Violet Rose)'s chickens, and there is another shade available to accompany it named "Dolly's Delight"! 


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Violet Rose "Cupcake Sprinkles"






"Cupcake Sprinkles" is a crelly based polish with a variety of different shapes and sizes of glitter in pretty pastel shades. I can't tell if the base is white or very very very pale pink.... I think it is white though. Formula was typical of this kind of polish - the glitters can sometimes cling to one another, but they are easy to spread out, and required no fishing. The base is surprisingly well pigmented, while still allowing the glitters to show through. My swatches show two coats, with top coat. My apologies if the glitters look a little washed-out, this was a tricky one to photograph - they are more vibrant in reality. Fun fact: this polish was named by Emma's six year old daughter!


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As I mentioned at the start, one of these polishes - "Posies Of Petals" - is already available to buy; the other two will be available soon. You can buy Violet Rose nail polishes from their Etsy Store, and also keep up with all the news on their Facebook page.

Thanks for reading, and come back again soon :) x


**Products provided for honest, unbiased opinion**


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Rimmel Velvet Matte Purple Opulence & Stamping NOTD

April 28, 2015, 9:02 am
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Hey friends! Just a quick nail of the day post for you today!

Rimmel Velvet Matte "Purple Opulence" is a rich, vivid purple shade which dries to a matte finish. I applied two coats:



And then I stamped a lacy image from Born Pretty plate BP-02 in white, and finished with a layer of matte top coat to mattifiy the stamping:



Thanks for reading! :) x
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A 2 Z: Y is for You

April 30, 2015, 6:18 am
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Hey world wide webbers! Today is the penultimate A 2 Z Blog Series post and i can't quite believe that, can you?! It has flown by so quickly! 

Anyway, our prompt this week is "Y is for You". I don't suppose i'll be alone in interpreting that to mean "me", so of course i absolutely HAD to use the polish I designed in collaboration with Freckles Polish - "Anna Bean's Spring Greens"!

I chose today to apply one coat of Anna Bean's Spring Greens over a pale green creme, China Glaze "Re-Fresh Mint", which was actually the colour which inspired my Freckles Polish collaboration! :)





As always, the A 2 Z Hub Page is where you will find everybody else's contributions, and please come back next week for the final installment of this series, meep!!!

Thanks for reading :) x


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A 2 Z: Z is for Zigzags

May 7, 2015, 7:33 am
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Well this is it, friends. The final installment of this A 2 Z Blog Series, can you believe we started all the way back in October? It honestly feels like it was just a few weeks ago. 

Our final letter is obviously Z, and the theme of "Zigzags". I chose to create a neon splodgy manicure, by sponging different colours over a white base, and then stamped a zigzag pattern over the top in black. Product info after the pictures. Also, new nail shape, yay! And special 'thanks' to Nails Inc for their hideous flat, scrubby topcoat brush, which smudged my stamping :|






Bonus UV shot!


Products used:
White base - OPI "Alpine Snow;
Colours - Models Own "Flip Flop";
Models Own "Sun Hat";
Models Own "Bikini";
Barry M "Damson";
Nfu.Oh "FS16";
Black stamping - cheapie black polish from eBay;
Bundle Monster plate BM-202.


So there you have it, my dears, the 26th and final A 2 Z Blog Series manicure! I hoped you've enjoyed the journey. I can't say it's been all plain sailing for me, I struggled for motivation and inspiration for a fair bit, but I have enjoyed it on the whole and I am really very sad that it's come to and end. Sadly mama Bean couldn't join us for one final time, she is very poorly at the moment :'(

As always, check the hub page to see how everybody else has ended the series, thanks for reading, and come back again soon (there may or may not be another Blog Series on the horizon..... ;) ) x



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Ditsy Floral Stamping NOTD

May 9, 2015, 2:03 pm
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Hey friendlings! Just a quick little NOTD post today!

Nails Inc "Baker Street" Gel Effect, the iconic cobalt blue in Nails Inc's amazedicks gel effect formula, is how i started this manicure, two coats & top coat:



And then, using a white polish, i stamped this cute ditsy floral image from Cheeky plate CH16, and finished with top coat:


Thanks for reading! :) x
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Nails Inc Bruton Mews & ILNP Supernova NOTD

May 10, 2015, 9:29 am
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Hello everybody, how is your Sunday going? I am tired and have so far done chuff all, so i decided to try and be a bit productive and blog today's NOTD!

It started life as Nails Inc "Bruton Mews", a beautiful deep "countryside" green, two coats & top coat:



And then my itchy fingers got the better of me and i had to faff, with one coat of ILNP "Supernova", and top coat:







Thanks for reading! :) x

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Freckles Polish "Back To The 80s" Swatches & Review

May 25, 2015, 1:32 pm
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Hello friends. Firstly, my apologies for the lack of blogging lately, I have had a bit of stuff to deal with in my personal life, and life always comes first. Also, as I mentioned in my final A 2 Z blog post, there is a new challenge, which is already under way. However, due to the reasons for my lack of blogging, I have decided to pull out. I simply don't have the motivation at the moment, and I felt it was a step too far for me. I am going to try my best to continue blogging on a semi-regular basis, but don't be surprised if I disappear every now and then. You can always keep up to date with my daily nail posts on Facebook and Instagram though :)

Now, with that out of the way, let's get on to the good stuff! Freckles Polish will be releasing a new collection very soon, entitled "Back To The 80s", and I have four shades from that collection to show you. The collection in its entirety will consist of four neons and four holos; I have two of each. Shall we have a look?

**Before I start, I must mention that I swatched the first two shades - both neons - on a very, very humid day, which caused all sorts of problems: I couldn't even get my base coat to behave, let alone anything else. As a result, I did encounter some bubbling issues.**

Freckles Polish "Rockin' A Perm"




"Rockin' A Perm" is a neon yellow shade, far more neon and yellow in tone than my pictures show - I haven't found a neon yet which will allow itself to be photographed accurately! Think yellow highlighter pens or hi-vis jackets and you'll get the idea. The formula was very, very densely pigmented, which made it a little tricky to work with. It is fairly thick and a little streaky, as you may expect from a neon. I applied two coats, which covered well, but I would probably recommend three thin coats to eliminate any streakiness, and leave a little longer between them to avoid bubbles. Or if you prefer, you could apply a white base and apply this over the top. Dry time was good. Swatches show two coats with top coat.

Freckles Polish "Jelly Shoes"




"Jelly Shoes" is a hot pink neon, and I can confidently say that it is THE MOST NEONpolish I have ever seen, I can't even find the words to describe just how ludicrously bright this is, my pictures certainly don't show it, so if you like neons you will have to take a chance and trust me on my word! Formula was very well pigmented, nice and fluid, and easy to apply with just a little care required to avoid over-thick coats (and thus bubbling). Coverage was wonderful, I have had other neon pinks which were nothing without a white base, but not this. Dry time was good, and as with most neons it dries with a matte finish, which is counteracted with top coat. Swatches show two coats & top coat.

Freckles Polish "Scrunchies"




"Scrunchies" is a bright greeny yellow shade which I wouold describe as pineapple coloured, with the signature Freckles Polish scattered but vivid holographic finish. Formula was flawless: fluid, easy to apply, intensely pigmented, quick-drying. Swatches show two coats & top coat.

Freckles Polish "Stilettos"




"Stilettos" is a hot pink shade with scattered holographic finish. The holo is slightly less vivid in this than in "Scrunchies", but it is still very evident. Formula again was perfect, so typical of Freckles Polish holographics. Swatches show two coats & top coat.


These shades and the rest of the "Back To The 80s" collection will be released on Saturday 30th May. You can buy from the Freckles Polish Etsy Store, and also keep up to date with all the news on Facebook,Instagram, and Twitter.

Thanks for reading, and come back again soon :) x

**Products provided for honest, unbiased review**
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Something New....

May 29, 2015, 7:00 am
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...... Hey everybody! As you may remember from my previous blog, i sadly had to withdraw from the next challenge set-up after the end of the A 2 Z. My reasons still stand, it was just a little too much to think about at the moment, but i do still want and need some kind of structure in order to keep my blog alive and give me something to look forward to each week. So with that in mind, mama Bean and i have decided to do our own little weekly challenge. It won't be elaborate or fancy, we will simply pick a different inspiration each week and paint our nails accordingly - our prompts so far range from simple nail art techniques to colours and finishes. We won't be breaking any new ground here, it is designed to be easy and fun, and we hope you will enjoy seeing what we come up with each week!

So for our first challenge we chose "dots" - a fun and easy look to ease us in gently!

I chose to create a red and white "Minnie Mouse"(or toadstool!) inspired design!





Products used:
Base coat - Orly Bonder;
Red - Rimmel "Ready, Aim, Paint!";
White - S.H.C. Nail Polish "28";
Top coat - Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top Coat.


And here is mama Bean's very cute take on "dots"!




Products used:
Base coat - Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat;
Pink - Collection "Candy Floss";
Dots - Rimmel "Pop Art Top Coat";
Top coat - Seche Vite.

And so we end our first mama & Anna Bean challenge, we both hope you have enjoyed it and that you will join us again next week!

Thanks for reading :) x
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Mid-Week NOTD with Freckles Polish

June 3, 2015, 8:45 am
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Hello dearlings! Here is a word-lite NOTD post featuring, among others, one of my favourite ever glitter toppers, Freckles Polish "Wild Flower Meadow". 

First things first, i started with a base of Models Own "Beth's Blue":


Then i added one coat of Freckles Polish "Wild Flower Meadow":


And to complete the look and create a really pretty, soft effect, i applied a somewhat generous coat of OPI "Don't Burst My Bubble" and finished with top coat:




Thanks for reading! :) x


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Sparkly Nails with Anna & Mama Bean

June 5, 2015, 2:57 pm
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Hewwo everybody! Time for another of my little "challenges" (but really, it's not challenging at all, and that's how we like it!) with mama Bean. This week our prompt is even easier than last week: we're doing sparkly nails! Let's go :D

I chose to do a simple one-polish manicure using Nails Inc "Elystan Street", a mix of silver and red microglitter.  I applied two coats and top coat:





And now for Mama Bean. I am terribly sorry but i forgot to find out which polishes she used! Safe to say though that they are gold and, most importantly, sparkly :D



Thanks for reading, and come back again soon :) x
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Green Nails with Anna & Mama Bean

June 12, 2015, 12:31 pm
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Hello friends, and happy Friday! As it is Friday, it is now time for another of my little themed posts with mama Bean! Today the prompt was simply "Green".

I had intended on doing some stamping for this manicure, but it is so disgustingly hot and humid today (I have honestly never known it to be so humid where I live before) that everything was drying too fast, so I had to rethink. Instead I went very simple with a beautiful green polish, AEngland "Saint George". I applied two coats & top coat.





And as for mama Bean, well she went for a green crackle look, which she has called her "jungle nails" (quite apt too, she was doing some gardening in our own little jungle, aka the garden, this morning!). She used S.H.C. Nail Polish Shade 141 rfor the base, and OPI "Shatter The Scales" for the crackle.



Thanks for reading, and come back again soon :) x

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Monochrome Nails with Anna & Mama Bean

June 19, 2015, 8:54 am
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Hi folks! Time for another Friday collaboration with ma Bean, this time our theme is "monochrome"! 

I chose to create this alternating black and white manicure with black and white glitter top coat! Details after the pics:




White: S.H.C. Nail Polish Shade 28;
Black: Kate Spade for Nails Inc "New York Noir";
Glitter: Maybelline Color Show Polka Dots "Chalk Dust".

And what did mama Bean create? This absolutely adorable dice manicure! :D



Both of us together:



I hopenyou all enjoy these as much as we do! 

Thanks for reading, and come back again soon :) x
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Matchy Matchy with Anna & Mama Bean

June 26, 2015, 12:27 pm
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Yyyyeeeeeaaaahhhhhhhh matchy matchy!!!! :D  You know i love it. I know you love it (sure you do!). So let's do it!!

For my matchy matchy challenge manicure i chose to match my nails to..... My waterproof jacket! A strange choice, you might think, but not when you see it! Shall we look? Info after the pictures!





Base: Zoya "Lillian;
Dots: Nails Inc "Kensington Gate", Maybelline "Urban Turquoise", OPI "Suzi Loves Cowboys", S.H.C Shade 28;
Matte top coat: OPI Matte Top Coat.

And now for moomin mama's matchy matchy! She chose to match this thing that we have.... I don't know what to call it, I guess it's just a decorative ornament thing? Broken and glued back together, but very pretty! Have a look!



Didn't she create a fabulous match? I love it!!

I hope you have enjoyed this week's little challenge and will join us again next week! Thanks for reading :) x
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Matte Nails with Anna & Mama Bean

July 3, 2015, 9:12 am
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Hello again friends! Another Friday, another Anna & Mama Bean Collaboration! This week's theme is "matte", which i realise i actually did last week as part of my matchy matchy, but no matter! The more matte the merrier!

Let's go!

I had something planned  other than what i ended up with, but i went to town earlier and bought a couple of new 2True bargains in Superdrug, so i changed my plans to incorporate one of them! Details after the pics:




Purple (which is way more purple than my camera could capture): 2True Colour Quick "Shade 33";
Glitter: New Look Pure Colour "Multi";
Matte top coat: OPI.

Mama Bean's turn now! She created this chic and cute manicure using Pretty "Denim Effect" and some butterfly stickers (i don't know what brand these are):




Thanks for reading, and come back again soon :) x
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Glam Polish "Would You Believe?"& Gradient

July 7, 2015, 7:22 am
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Hello friends! I felt like doing something pretty and special in my nails today and it worked out well so i want to share it with you.

This manicure was inspired in part by a recent manicure by lovely Morven (check her blog post here). I really loved the dot glitter over a gradient, so i decided to create my own whilst at the same time giving me another chance to wear one of my favourite polishes - Glam Polish "Would You Believe?".

Full product list after the pics!




Base coat: Rimmel Nail Nurse;
Gradient: China Glaze "Tart-y For The Party"& "That's Shore Bright";
Glitter: "Glam Polish "Would You Belive?";
Top coat: Nails Inc Kensington Caviar.

What do you think? It's been a while since i've done a gradient manicure, and I am really pleased with how this one turned out, especially when finished with the glitter over the top. I love it!

Thanks for reading, and come back again soon :) x 


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Violet Rose Polish Swatches & Review

July 9, 2015, 8:52 am
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Hello there my little loves! I have three fabulous new shades from Violet Rose Polish to show you today, all with a fun, bright, summery theme! They are all glitter toppers and will be released very soon, so let's take a look and i will give you all the necessary info after the swatches!


Violet Rose Polish "Lolly Water"



"Lolly Water" is a clear-based glitter topper with small squares and hexes in various shades of pink and white. The base was nice and springy, meaning the glitters were very well suspended. No fishing as such was necessary, but i did give the brush a quick twizzle around in the polish first in order to get a decent amount of glitters. Application was easy breezy, and it dried quickly with no bubbling. Swatches show one coat over a pale pink, with top coat.

Violet Rose Polish "Heatwave"




"Heatwave" is a clear-based glitter topper with small and medium hexes in bright blue, red, green, and pink. Formula was exactly the same as "Pool Party" - springy, well suspended, barely any fishing required. Application was easy, dry time quick. Swatches show one coat over a sky blue with top coat.

Violet Rose Polish "Pool Party"




"Pool Party" is a clear-based glitter topper with multicoloured neon hexes and squares in varying sizes. Again, the formula was identical to the other two polishes. I did find it required a teeny bit of fishing to get the largest glitters out of the bottle, but nothing major, application was easy and dry time was good. Swatches show one coat over a lilac base with top coat.

Being a huge fan of brightly coloured glitter toppers, it may come as no surprise to you that i love all three of these polishes! They all have great formulas and i think they will work over many colours, making them very versatile.

These three shades will be available to buy from the Violet Rose Polish Etsy store very soon (hopefully as soon as this evening!), and you can keep up to date with all the news on the Violet Rose Facebook page.

Thanks for reading! :) x

**products provided for honest, unbiased review**
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