Vibrant Varnishes

Outgoing: Bare Naked

#200 Bare Naked

This nude polish did a great job. I paired it with a base and top coat and it didn't start to chip until five days in. Just look at the photo below. This is how it looked after nine days and while it clearly chipped, it held up very well overall. The fact that my thumb, index and ring fingers all escaped unscathed suggests that its claim to last for up to 10 days rings true. 

L-R: (After 9 days) No flash; Flash

I'm very careless with my nails. Especially when washing dishes! I can definitely see someone who's more careful with their hands and nails managing to get a full, 10 days wear out of this. 

Verdict?
Colour: Good. Wearable, flattering nude. Stays pretty shiny. However the range may be difficult to find since it's discontinued.
Lasting Power: Good. Five days with no chipping. Nine days with minimal chipping.  With a bit of care (and a topcoat), this should last the advertised 10 days.
Formula: Good. Great consistency, easy to apply, goes on smooth, and dries quickly. No problem with the product itself drying up either.
Packaging: Average. Shape is a bit bulky and hard to grip. Glass seems excessively thick. Good sized flat brush though. 
Final Thoughts: Great overall. It's not a 'wow' polish but it's a good, dependable nude that will go the distance. 8/10

Incoming: Wine to Five

#190 Wine to Five, 11ml/0.37 fl.oz. ($6.95*) 

It took a really long time for me to pick out a new colour. I couldn't decide and when I finally applied Wine to Five I immediately wanted to change my mind! It just looked too dark and I realised what I really wanted was a pastel to go with the gorgeous, sunny days we've been having.

It's rather frustrating but that's all on me and not the polish! Wine to Five is a gorgeous, deep wine red that changes appearance depending on the lighting. It's a very captivating shade of red! Like the rest of Covergirl's Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Polish range, the formula's also great and easy to apply. I did have to be extra careful to keep it strictly on my nails, since the deep colour does stain your skin, but it was nothing nail polish remover couldn't fix. Despite being not quite what I had in mind, it's still a beautiful and classy red. I'll definitely be pulling this out a lot in winter!

L-R: No flash; Flash

In the photo above I have a base coat, two layers of polish and a top coat. The camera really captures how the colour changes. I've got high hopes for this one so let's hope it doesn't disappoint!

*Currently $4.17 @ Priceline where there's a 40% off Covergirl sale until Monday, 28th April.

xoxo
Have a fabulous day!

Bargain Nail Polish Haul

Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Polish

L-R: Go-go Mango, Tickled Pink, Grapevine, Lav-endure, and Vio-last

These nail polishes are fantastic and I really love them. They're gorgeous colours, easy to apply and long lasting. Check out my earlier post on shade 285 Mint Mojito here. 

I was extremely excited when I saw a $5 off Covergirl sale in the latest K-Mart catologue. Considering that these normally retail for $6.75 there, they are an absolute steal after the discount!  I simply had to get more even though I still have a few of these that are unopened. I mean...I'll get to them eventually right??

I purchased #245 Go-Go Mango, #165 Tickled Pink, #310 Grapevine, #145 Lav-endure and #300 Vio-last. Please note that the colours are actually brighter than what the above photo is showing. Most of these are summery colours but that's mainly because I already own the darker shades. I'll still make these work this autumn/winter and at the very least they can be accent colours. 

In total, I saved $25 and bought these 5 babies for only $8.75. 

Definitely swing by your closest K-Mart asap to check these out. They may not have a sale tag on the display but if you scan them they will show up as $1.75 each. This sale ends on the 20th April 2014.

xoxo
Happy shopping!

Vibrant Varnishes

Outgoing: Pacific Blue

420 Pacific Blue ($6.95)

This was fantastic! With a topcoat, the colour stayed vibrant and it lasted a good 8 days before it started to chip. I think even without a topcoat, this would still do quite well on its own. I didn't end up adding a topcoat on my left hand until 2 days after and everything still stayed perfect. 

This is how it looks after 10 days. It has lost a bit of its glossiness but it's still a bright blue and the chipping only occurred at the tips.

L-R:  No flash, Flash

Verdict?
Colour: Good. Gorgeous shade of blue that's unique and very eye catching. Someone always comments on it! But use a base coat because it can stain your nails. 
Lasting Power: Good. Easily lasts 8 days when a topcoat's used. Colour doesn't fade.  
Formula: Good. Great consistency, easy to apply, goes on smooth, and dries quickly. No problem with the product itself drying up either.
Packaging: Good. Easy to grip shape, great flat brush, and gorgeous dark steel coloured lid. 
Final Thoughts: Love it! Ticks all the rights boxes and more! This not-so-typical blue is a definite must-have. 10/10

Incoming: Bare Naked

200 Bare Naked ($3.00)

I wanted something more understated and feminine this time around so here's Rimmel's Lasting Finish Pro in 200 Bare Naked. This line is discontinued in Australia but I found this in a $3 discount basket at Chemist Warehouse so keep an eye out! Bare Naked is a slightly shimmery, nude beige-pink that suits most skin tones. It's extremely easy to apply and wear. It wont show up if you accidentally stray from your nails and it will match any outfit. It has a good sized, flat brush and it goes on smoothly with no streaks. All in all I really like this. It's especially perfect for when I'm in a rush.

L-R: No flash, Flash

In the photo above I have a base coat, two layers of polish and a top coat. It did well the last time I wore it but I don't think it survived the full 10 days like the bottle says. Let's see how it goes this time!

xoxo
Have a fabulous weekend!

Vibrant Varnishes

Outgoing: Diva Coral

09 Diva Coral ($5.95)

There's not much to say, the pictures below speak for themselves. The left image was taken on day two and the right image on day five. There is NO staying power. It will chip and keep on chipping. 

L-R: Diva Coral after 2 days, Diva Coral after 5 days

Verdict?
Colour: Average. Still slightly streaky with two
coats but it's a pretty, poppy colour and it doesn't stain.
Lasting Power: Poor. Chipped the very next day and just consistently got worse! Most damage was at the tips. 
Formula: Good. It's a good consistency (slightly on the thinner side), quick and easy to apply, goes on smooth and dries fairly quickly.
Packaging: Good. Cute. The brush is a bit small but it's perfectly understandable since it is a mini bottle. 
Final Thoughts: I can't recommend this. It just has no staying power whatsoever and the fact that you will need three coats for true opacity means you'll go through the bottle in no time. There are definitely better and cheaper coral polishes out there. 5/10

Incoming: Pacific Blue

420 Pacific Blue ($6.95)

And now I'm back to the blues! This is Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear polish in 420 Pacific Blue (0.4oz, 11.8ml). It's a gorgeous cobalt blue with a purple undertone. I've had a few misses from this range (usually the lighter or glittery/pearly colours) but this is a definite hit. It goes on extremely smoothly, can be opaque in one coat, dries quickly and I always get comments on it when I wear it. It's great for summer but I think you can definitely still wear it during winter because it's quite an intense shade of blue and it'll make a great contrast against any grey skies. 

L-R: Flash, No flash

In the photo above I have a base coat, two layers of polish and a top coat. From what I remember, it had good lasting power but this will be the first time I actually keep track of it so lets see how it actually goes! Fingers crossed because I've got high hopes!

xoxo
Thanks for reading!

Vibrant Varnishes

Outgoing: Mint Mojito

285 Mint Mojito ($6.95)

Covergirl's Outlast Stay Brilliant polish in 285 mint mojito (11ml) has been on my nails for the last few days. It's a gorgeous spring/summer colour that's actually a teensy bit more green than what the photos are showing.

This is what it looks like after about 8 days. While it's no longer as glossy and there's clearly chipping at the tips, I think it's lasted quite well especially since I didn't use a base or top coat.

Verdict?
Colour: Good. Fully opaque in 2 coats, no streaks but a bit of staining upon removal. Great shades in this range too!
Lasting Power: Good. Wore it for almost a week before it started to chip and that was with no base or top coat, however the glossiness did fade significantly. 
Formula: Good. It has the right consistency (not too thick), applies smoothly and dries fairly quickly.
Packaging: Good. Nice and classy. Reminds me of the Chanel polishes. Like the brush and bottle shape. If you find the lid too bulky you can actually pull that off to reveal a more standard cylindrical handle. 
Final Thoughts: This pretty much has everything you would want in a nail polish and it's great value to boot. Great product! 9/10

Incoming: Diva Coral

09 Diva Coral ($5.95)

So now its time for a change and I'm pretty much going to the opposite side of the colour wheel. This is Max Factor's Max Effect Mini Nail Polish in shade 09 Diva Coral (4.5ml). This range is kind of pricey for such small, drugstore polishes but they are very cute and come in some really pretty colours. You'll definitely finish these before they dry out but you may struggle with their tiny brushes. 

L-R: flash, no flash

Diva Coral is a warm red-coral that's great for spring/summer. Against my medium/dark skin tone it actually ends up looking pretty red. I still love the colour a lot but I think it'll look a lot better against lighter skin tones. In the photo above, I have a base coat and two layers of the polish on. I can still see some streaks but only if I look very closely. Two coats is definitely enough but I you want it to be truly opaque I'd go for three. Now lets hope it's durable!

xoxo
Bye lovelies, and I hope you give these a go!