Purple Mosaic

Hi Goddesses

So here we are, at the penultimate mosaic post.  There's just one more to go, the green, and let's just say - it's everything this is not.

To tell the truth, I really did not like this version.  It was the 2nd one I did, and I learnt a LOT from my mistakes.   First let's take a look at the polishes - 

* base - OPI Planks A Lot

* a-England - Lady of the Lake

* OPI DS Original

* Leighton Denny The Heiress

* Urban Decay AC/DC

* Sally Hansen Lacey Lilac

And of course ... a PURPLE striper.  This really was not a clever idea.  It might have worked better if the purple was blackcurrant-dark, but this insipid mediocre nastiness did not cut my mustard.  Learning of Lesson 1 - Black Striper Best.

Then there's the mix of polishes, or the congruence.  Purple is a VAST colour (I should know, I have oops 250 of them) and this led to real issues when making choices.  And I went wrong.  I tried to cover too many bases and it didn't work.  You will notice I managed to keep it all cool toned purples, but the metallic and the holo are just too similar AND they're darker than the striper.  Learning of Lesson 2 - Choose Wisely.

Then there's the holo overload.  Although vastly different, in this pattern, the polishes look too similar and totally over-dominate.   Then the metallic is similar too, meaning half the nail looks too tonally alike.  Learning of Lesson 3 - Less Is More.

After a while this mani did grow on me, and it's alikey mushiness gave it a camo style pattern. It also looked better from a distance - the closer you got, the more "meh" it became.   It totally lacks the POW WOW tho of the teal or the pink.   

I know!  Me, not liking a purple mani!  I will redo this at some point, and it will look waaaay cooler, but for now .... ack, who am I kidding - just WAIT til you see the green.

Enjoy xx :)

Amazing Combo - Celebrate The Heiress

LEIGHTON DENNY – The Heiress

Hi Goddesses

When I did my post about British nail polishes the other week, I missed out 1 quite important brand – Leighton Denny.  I don’t know how I forgot about it, but I did – oops!

So, here are some facts  -

·         They have the 2^nd best bottle ever, after Deborah Lippmann.  It’s a real heavy hunk of glass

·         They are quite a luxury brand, similar price point to Nails Inc

·         In the UK, they’re about £12 brand new (approx. USD18)

·         They do last quite well – the bottle quotes a “long lasting and chip resistant” formula.  On the couple of occasions I’ve worn them, I’d have to agree

·         For all you taupe and nude lovers out there, they do a very famous polish called Supermodel, which is lush – go Google it

And then this is The Heiress.  I am really struggling with what to call this colour.  It is so cold and haughty and aloof – and amazing!  It’s also been quite hard to photograph with the camera that hates purples so, you need to know –

·         It’s not as blue as the photos taken in the photo room / utility room (with the bright white light)

·         It’s tone is better captured by the photos with the golden background (the ones with glitter)

·         The golden backgrounded photos don’t capture enough of the blue in the polish

·         Aaaargh!  Lol

Basically this is an amazing blue – purple concoction with a big blob of white chucked in to pastel it down some.  Think Caitlin, think Planks A Lot, those sorts of colours.  I am very partial to them, and I think they deserve a colour of their own.  They are not lilac and not purple; not purple and not blue. They have voltage.  They are blurpilacs ??  Blurpi-lec-lacs??  Lipurplues ? lol.  The point is: electric blurple, pastelised. 

I have loved wearing this and all day I have been convinced it’s a dupe for another one of my many purplishes, but surprise surprise – no!

Left to right – Zoya Caitlin (paler, greyer), Zoya Mira (considerably more purple), CG No Name Yet (greyer), OPI Planks A Lot (less blue), OPI Parlez Vous OPI (considerably brown in comparison).

And here she is next to her closest colour compatriots – Caitlin, No Name Yet and Planks A Lot. 

Whilst The Heiress is distinctly, definitely and dazzlingly purple on the nail, these photos highlight her extremely blue base.  This is what gives her that electrical sizzle, as well as what confuses my camera!

I then played around with my new favourite glitter.  Being in the UK, I find it difficult to get hold of stuff by LA Girl and this is from their Glitter Addict range.  Goddesses, this is Celebrate.

Celebrate is just a whole vat of holy wowness.   This glitter was MADE for me!  A clear base and then micro and small particles in pink, blue, purple and silver.  Just GORGEOUS!

This weekend I discovered glitter tips whilst prepping one of my Christmas manis, and the instant The Heiress arrived I grabbed Celebrate.  Don’t they make a fabulous couple?  Essence nail art twins, eat your glittery heart out!!!

I am particularly pleased with the pattern skittle, varying how the glitter was applied.  This caused quite a few ooooo’s in the office today.

Me ?  Super happy with this.  Double combo winner!!!

Enjoy xx J

J

Top Tip – if you’re ever unsure what a nail colour looks like, go to Google images, which will give you plenty of contrasts and compares.