Cirque Live It Up Collection Swatches and Review

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Hi! Today, I'm featuring a new-to-the-blog brand, Cirque Colors! I'm really excited to have them on my blog, I've admired their creations for a while (so you can imagine my glee when Cirque founder Annie asked if I would like to try some polishes!) Live It Up is Cirque's Holiday 2014 collection, made up of 5 dazzling glitter toppers inspired by holiday celebrations and classic dance hits!

Gold Glitter Stripes #nailit4charity

Hi! The Body Shop UK are running a charity campaign on Instagram for War Child - for every Christmas inspired nail design they receive with the hashtag #nailit4charity, they will make a contribution to enable a child affected by war to have a school lesson. It's running until the 31st of December, and this is what I'll be posting!

Christmas Gift Ideas For The Nail Polish Enthusiast

There's still plenty of shopping days left until Christmas (or so I keep telling myself) and I've compiled a list of gift ideas for lovers of nail polish and nail art! If you're lacking in inspiration for a Secret Santa or a stocking filler, you might just find something here. Please note there are no affiliate links on this post, just things I think would make genuinely nice gifts, and they're in no particular order.

The Lacquer Lab Festive Trio Swatches and Review

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Hi! I've finally started feeling Christmassy (although my decorations are not up yet...it's still too early for that!) and today I've got the limited edition festive trio from The Lacquer Lab to show you, so cosy up and read on!

Nailvengers Assemble!: Christmas

Hi! It's the end of the month, which means it's nearly time for December already (I swear it was only Christmas 10 minutes ago, and no, of course I haven't started my Christmas shopping!) and also time for another Nailvengers challenge with my friends Sammy, Alice and Lucie. I've gone for something simple and sparkly!

Barry M Moonlight and Starlight Swatches and Review - Exclusive to Boots

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I have the last of the Barry M Christmas Limited Edition glitters to show you today. I've previously showed you the Superdrug and Tesco ones, and I'm finishing with the Boots duo - Moonlight and Starlight (distinguishable by their pretty red metallic lids!)

Barry M Jingle Bells and Christmas Tree Swatches and Review - Exclusive To Superdrug

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Hi! I have some more Barry M Christmas glitters to show you today - this time Christmas Tree and Jingle Bells, which are exclusive to Superdrug and contain STAR glitter! Which, I'm pretty sure, we've never seen in a Barry M polish before (correct me if I'm wrong) This post feels far too festive to have at the beginning of November, but I wanted to show you them ASAP because they're perfect for instant Christmas party nails!

Merry Christmas!

And so to my final Christmas manicure of this year! Something simple and classic in my favourite Christmas colour combination, red and gold...also Gryffindor colours. ;)

Christmas Gradient

When it comes to Christmas decorations I'm kind of a traditionalist. I don't like pink/purple/blue etc, especially not on my tree! I always stick to red, gold and green (maybe a bit of silver!) and I thought together they'd make a super christmassy gradient.

Christmas Jumper Nail Art

I LOVE Christmas jumpers and I can't get enough of Fair Isle print! This particular manicure was inspired by my favourite Christmas PJ pants :P 

A Bit 'O Glitter

Unfortunately this is one of THOSE manicures that looked absolutely lovely on my nails, but failed to translate to camera, which made me sad :( I'm posting it anyway though because this is one of my all time favourite polishes!

Golden Snowflakes

And so to my first Christmas manicure of this year! I've waited until December as it would have felt wrong before. Kind of like Christmas songs in November...not right!!

Blue Glitter Snowflakes

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days, I've been busy moving around and my computer wasn't set up. I can't believe it's Christmas tomorrow! Is it wrong that the thing I look forward to above all is the Christmas dinner? 

Here's my take on a Snowflake mani. In hindsight, I should have used a thinner brush for more detailed snowflakes! I used Barry M Blue Glitter, and Essie Blanc to paint the snowflakes. I put a little sequin in the middle of the flakes for sparkle.

I absolutely love Barry M Blue Glitter! 

 I've got a giveaway coming soon, and I need to choose posts for a 2012 favourites thing, which is easier said than done! I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and thank you for following me. And remember, Christmas is a waste if you don't eat your weight in chocolate. :)

Green and Gold Gradient

Hi! I'm miserable today because I've pulled a muscle in my back and it's agony. I've been wailing like a banshee all day and the house stinks of deep heat. Took me about 10 minutes to get upstairs to the computer...that's dedication, that. 

I love gradients so decided to do a Christmassy one. Kinda reminds me of a dragon or something.

I used China Glaze Glittering Garland, then sponged on some H&M Golden Treasure. 

I love the colours I used, Golden Treasure is my favourite gold and Glittering Garland is ridiculously festive. I might re-create these for Christmas day!

Oh Christmas Tree!

Here's my second set of Christmas nails! These really didn't photograph well, which I'm dissapointed about. They're SO sparkly in real life but the camera has made them a bit dull :( why are cameras so anti-glitter sometimes? They just don't appreciate the finer things in life.

My base colour is Models Own Snow White, with a coat of China Glaze White Cap on top. 

For the oh-so-cute little trees, I used China Glaze Holly Day, painted over with Models Own Emerald City glitter. The tinsel is Barry M Silver Foil Effects.

The stars are studs from Born Pretty Store, as are the little glequins. (Use code LGL91 for 10% off at Born Pretty, with free worldwide shipping!)

I love how these turned out! I just wish you could see the sparkle!

Barry M Superdrug Limited Edition Christmas Glitter - Swatches and Review

Barry M recently released some Limited Edition nail paints for Christmas. There are two available at Superdrug, and two available at Boots, and you get one free when you spend £6. I picked this one up yesterday in Superdrug, my eyes immediately went to it on the stand! 

It contains different sized red, green and blue hexagonal glitter in a clear base. The glitter isn't densely packed, so it's best used as a top coat over another colour. 

Here's two coats of glitter over one coat of Barry M Cyan Blue (with top coat to smooth out the glitter)

It's so festive, I really like it!

I also tried it over two coats of Barry M Blackberry Gelly

Glitters like this can be prone to leaving air bubbles on your nails, but I encountered very few with this one. If you're having trouble with placement of the glitter, try dabbing it on, and don't forget to smooth out with top coat when you're done! May I also recommend using PVA glue as a base coat when using glitter polishes...more details can be found here. No more scrubbing!

Candy Canes

Hi! Well, my light box started falling apart already, so I gave up with it and just bought a little light tent from eBay. It was only £10 and came with different coloured backgrounds, so I'm trying out black for a while. It's nice not having to wait for decent daylight to take pictures anymore, but it still frustrates the hell out of me trying to get consistent pictures! I'm a god awful photographer!

Anyway, today I have the first of my Christmas themed nails. I wanted to do a candy cane pattern, but didn't want just plain red and white stripes, so I tried to make it a bit different.

I used Essie Blanc for the base colour, and China Glaze Ruby Pumps on my middle finger. I painted on the stripes (China Glaze Winter Berry) and the candy cane with a small paint brush. I added some silver glequins for sparkle!

It feels really odd having a black background!

Red & Gold Christmas Konading

Well, I haven't updated in a while due to various reasons, the mains ones being a busted laptop and my old camera driving me insane. I was lucky enough to get a brand new camera for Christmas! :) no more desperately trying to make it focus! I love love love it. 

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Christmas. This is how I had my nails, as red and gold are my absolute favourite Christmas colours (also the colours of Gryffindor...HP nerd alert).

The base colour is OPI - The One That Got Away, and the stamping colour is Barry M Gold Foil Effects. I finished with NYC top coat. The stamping plate is Konad M60.

This is only the second full mani I've done using a Konad plate...I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. The Barry M foils make great stamping polishes.

Quick haul picture before I go...I was given these Calvin Klein polishes for Christmas. There's some really pretty colours that I can't wait to swatch!