Top Summer Nail Polishes

Hey Lovelies,

I hope your week so far has been fab. Mine has been okay but I can envisage it being even busier towards the end of the week. With our intermittent summer here in the UK, I have still managed to keep my love for nail polishes ongoing because it is a constant reminder of how lovely summer is(or was).

I never used to be a nail polish girl because I could not paint my right hand nails properly with my left but now I want to believe I am turning into a Nail Polish Bawse (Boss); nah I am kidding, I am just getting there. I love bright colours for Spring/Summer because they remind me of nature and all the beautiful things you can find in nature such as flowers, shrubs, herbs, the sea, etc. Everything natural, fresh, organic and pleasant. 

As you will see in a bit, I am very partial to Lancome Vernis in Love collection which I already dedicated a full blog post to here. Asides that, I absolutely love Sally Hansen Nail Polish range because they are so affordable and they are high quality and I am not sure why I have not dedicated a whole post on them. Maybe soon. Other Nail Polishes featured here include some random ones such as Avon, Nail Inc and ELF. Let's get started.

The Soft Pinks, Peaches and Corals
This has to be my favourite of the lot of my summer collection because they are all so feminine, soft, delicate and of course, playful.

L-R: Nail Inc You're Peachy, Sally Hansen Sheer Lilac Gloss, Sally Hansen Jewel Frost, Lancome Corail in Love, Sally Hansen Coral Creme and Lancome Rouge in Love

From Left to Right is Nail Inc You're Peachy which is a soft light peach colour which is so adorable and delicate. It reminds me of a slightly ripened Peach. It could be a little tricky to apply because you need at least two coats to get this nice peach shade.

L-R: Lancome Rouge in Love(112B), Lancome Corail in Love(105M) and Nail Inc You're Peachy

Next to it is the Sally Hansen Sheer Lilac Gloss which is such a light sheer pink color although I know the name suggests Lilac but it is more like a soft pink. It is truly sheer and glossy which is why I love it for those days when you are not sure what nail polish to wear but you still want to have something light on your nails. 

Right beside it is the Sally Hansen Jewel Frost which is a rich dark Lilac Pinkish shade. I know that's a weird description but that's the only one I can think of. It is is a dream to apply and the formula feels light to apply but it appears as rich jewel toned shade on the nails which I love wearing for girlie summer lunches. 

For some bizarre reason, I could not find this when I was photographing so it has its own special spot here

Next to it is the Sally Hansen Weathered Mauve Frost which is a light mauve shade with a slight frosted gleam to it. I wear this nail polish when I want a sophisticated but summery nail colour. It applies really well and is true to colour; you need only one coat or maybe two if you need a deeper colour.

L-R Lancome Rouge in Love 112B and Corail in Love 105M

Right beside it is the Lancome Corail in Love which I have talked about earlier here but it remains one of my favourite Spring/Summer nail polish. It is everything summer for me; light, delicate, feminine and demure. An all time classic :-). Next to it is the Sally Hansen Coral Creme which is a true deep coral with slight shimmer to it. I love this because it can be mistaken for a bright red which lends it its playful nature. I love how it stands out against my skin tone and compliments almost anything I wear especially when I am dressed in muted or toned down clothing. Last but not least in this category is the award winning and best selling Lancome Rouge in Love which I have also raved about here. 

It reminds me strongly of the Sally Hansen Coral Creme although it is more of a brighter "out there in your face" kinda coral. I love this and it complements many skin tones so you don't have to be afraid to try it especially of you are not a fan of red nail polishes. Lancome's Rouge in Love is a perfect starting point which can launch you to more daring shades.

The Sky Blues, Mint Blues, Pastel Blues and Navy Blues
Although these lot seem like darker colours, they are perfect for Summer because they mimic some goodies in nature such as the blue sky in summer, the bluish green sea and summer flowers such as Iris and Orchids. 

L-R: Sally Hansen Barely Blue Bell, Avon Nail Expert Color 38, Sally Hansen Flash 04, Lancome Bleu de Flore and Sally Hansen Gray by Gray.

The first of the lot (From L-R) is the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Barely Blue Bell which is soft pastel shade blue, more like a mint blue if there is a colour like that. I love this and it is so easy to apply because it has a nice wide brush which is the unique feature I love in the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Range.

Clockwise: Sally Hansen Barely Blue Bell, Avon Nail Experts Color 38, Sally Hansen Flash 04, Lancome Bleu de Flore and Sally Hansen Gray by Gray

Next to it is the Avon Nail Experts in Color 38 which looks more like a green but when you apply it , it is more of an aquamarine shade which reminds me of the sea. I love how light the formula is although it could be subject to chipping but it is such a lovely shade. 

Next to it is the Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine in Flash 04 which I totally heart because it is a true blue and reminds me of the sky on a bright summer day. It is easy to apply and the formula is light which means it dries pretty  quickly with a nice shine to it as the name suggests. Right beside it is the Lancome Fleur de Bleu which I have raved about here but it is a rich dark blue which reminds me of a summer midnight sky. 

It is a rich colour which can be worn both in Summer and Autumn. Although it appears dark, you actually need two coats to achieve the shade. Last but not least is the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Gray by Gray 350. Yeah, I know it says grey but when it is applied it looks like a kind of blue, like a greyish blue, No? Hahha , maybe I am colour blind but I love it.

 It is a muted greyish blue without the associated dullness and I love it for summer especially when I am wearing white because it richly contrasts with it and gives you a classic and vintage air. Imagine this with a crisp white airy top(maybe linen) and some greyish blue jeans... Larve Larve Larve!!

The Rich Gold, Rose Gold and Mocha
These are the nail polishes i reserve for when I want to feel glam. It is perfect for summer parties, dinners and launch parties especially if there are done outdoors. Surprisingly, I don't have many in this category but these three are my absolute loves. 

L-R: Sally Hansen Gilty Pleasure, Maybelline MNY in Gemey Paris and Sally Hansen Boca Mocha.

First from the Left is the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Gilty(not guilty) Pleasure 310 which is true rich gold nail polish with shimmers and you do not need extra gloss on this because this is the business...oh yeah!! I love this nail polish because it applies just right; not too light or dark, it is perfect. 

L-R or Anti Clockwise: Sally Hansen Boca Mocha, Maybelline MNY in Gemey Paris and Sally Hansen Gilty Pleasure

Next to it is the Maybelline MNY in Gemey Paris which is a warm rose gold colour. I love this for sunset dinners because it reminds me of  sunset in summer which is beautiful here in London. This is one of my first Maybelline Nail polishes and I must say I am really impressed. 

Last of the lot is the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Boca Mocha which is rich dark mocha shade as the name suggests which is perfect for many skin tones especially of you have fairer skin. I love it because it is a simple shade with a rich formula just like all the Sally Hansen ranges.

The Leaf Greens and The Flower Greens
These two colors are the closest shade to nature: Greens. Green represents nature and freshness which is why I love it although it is not always flattering on my nails; don't ask me why :-) because I really don't know why. 

L-R: Sally Hansen Grass Slipper and Sally Hansen Glow 03

L-R: Sally Hansen Glow 05 and Sally Hansen Grass Slipper

The first Color is from the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Grass Slipper 430 which is true leaf colour but it has a gel like formula which kinda makes it look like a pastel shade. It is a lovely colour and is true to shade compared to some other green nail polishes. The other one is the Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine in Glow 03 and it is little darker than the previous one but with shimmers which look like gold shimmers in the sunlight. 

Gold and green definitely complement each other to produce the freshest shade ever. I love both greens and I wear them when I have little  make up on because they tend to take centre stage when I wear it.

That's it folks. My lovely Summer nail Polish collection which was mainly a good mix of different ranges of Sally Hansen and Lancome Nail polishes which are my favourite brands because I like their formulars and the nail brushes are superb for easy application. I hope you all enjoyed this post because I had a lot of fun writing this up and taking the photos as usual in the faux sunlight; in fact almost sunset. Catch you in my next post...xxx


Have you entered the Gamila Secret Cleansing Bar Giveaway Contest? It is Open now and International...Check it out here

Have an amazing week ahead...xx

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Lancome "Vernis in Love Collection" - Nail Polish Review

Hi Lovelies,
I am so happy to finally put this post up!! Today's post is about Lancome Vernis in Love Nail Collection. If you have been following my blog, you'd know by now how much I love Lancome products. I think they are all very good quality and they always have good deals especially free samples. In fact, I have got like 3 batches of  free skincare and make up products  worth at least £70 each with some of my purchases(usually any two products). I heart them and always keep my eyes peeled for their offers.


The Lancome Vernis in Love Collection was launched last year(with new additions to the collection in 2013) and the collection's muse was Emma Watson who is the perfect person to have been chosen. Before now, I was never a nail polish person because I found it really difficult to paint my right hand nails with my left hand so I just always ended up painting one hand. Hahahha!!


All I wanted was a nail polish that was easy to apply, glossy, quick to dry and slow to chip and crack. That sounds like a lot that I wanted from a nail polish but Lancome Vernis in Love nail polish collection delivers that and more. I did not buy all of them at once because they are quite pricey as expected from Lancome. I bought them over a period of 5 months. This is not the complete collection either; I have only 6 shades out of  27 shades in the complete collection. This collection is classified in a rather interesting way;  either "B" for Boudoir Time (Pop Shades), "N" for Tonight is my Night (Intense Shades) and "M" for Jolis Matins(Fresh Day Time shades) and each nail polish has a number prefixed before the accompanying letter.

Packaging:
I love how the nail polishes all come in its own individual packaging which has a metallic vibe to the outer packaging. The bottles are in clear glass with the tiny Lancome signature flower at the corner The polishes come in sturdy bottles which do not crack easily; I know this because one of them slipped off my hands, fell on a very hard floor and only had a small crack on the bottle. My heart was literary in my mouth the whole time it fell to the floor but thank God it did not get damaged.

Don't judge my nail painting skills hahha :-) I'm getting there!!

Formula and Application
The nail polish brush is very user-friendly especially for new nail painters like me. It is a flat wide brush which picks up a moderate amount of product for a nice coat. In fact, I think you can get away only one coat of polish because it is very pigmented. Its formulation is quite thick yet light on application and easy to dry. Just as it says on the bottle, it is a high gloss nail polish which is also fade resistant. All the times I have applied these nail polishes, they have lasted for so long which is rare with me because my nail polishes always chip before the end of the week.


Cons
Each of this nail polishes retails for £12.50 and you get 6 ml worth of products which I think is a bit too pricey for a nail polish. I would not mind paying that amount for at least 10 ml worth of products. For just 6 ml, I think it's quite a luxury but it is excellent quality so I guess we can forgive Lancome for this. Another downside is the stain some of the nail polishes may leave behind even when you take it off. I find that it is a bit more difficult to remove these polishes especially the darker shades(Madam Tulipe and Bleu de Flore) plus the stain they leave behind after you take it off is not very pleasant.Although, the stain goes off with more nail polish remover swipes but I guess it has to do with how pigmented the formulation is which works to your advantage when applying it and becomes a disadvantage on removal.

                                      Lancome Vernis in Love Midnight Rose 441N

Lancome Vernis in Love Midnight Rose

Lancome Vernis in Love Midnight Rose is a rich dark purple color shade which is very intense and pigmented as you can see. I love how velvety it looks when applied. I find that you may get a slightly different colour when you add additional coats. I think this will be perfect for nights out or during Autumn/Winter (definite staple). It was such a delight to photograph as well :-)

                            Lancome Vernis in Love Madam Tulipe 179M

Lancome Vernis in Love Madame Tulipe

This was the first Lancome nail polish I bought because I think red shades of nail polish always look elegant and classy. This has not disappointed me at all. Madam Tulipe is a deep warm red colour which I think is perfect for every day wear; it can work well both as a day time or night time look. I think it will be perfect for any skin tone because it looks so classy. In fact, if you are looking to invest in this collection, this is the perfect place to start.


                                              Lancome Vernis in Love Bleu de Flore 573B

Lancome Vernis in Love Bleu de Flore

This was my second nail polish I purchased because I never had a colour like this. Bleu de Flore is a deep navy blue colour which is quite edgy and cool at the same time. I find that for a rich intense colour, you definitely need two coats of this polish. Funny thing is, I kinda prefer just one coat but it looks a bit too thin. One coat definitely has a different colour; more like a light navy blue or edging towards an electric blue. I think this will be perfect for either warm or cool weather. This is one of  the difficult nail polishes to take off because it is very pigmented hence prone to leaving a stain. I still love it especially when I want an edgy nail polish.

                                       Lancome Vernis in Love Cristal Quartz 010M

Lancome Vernis in Love Cristal Quartz

I promise this is not the actual colour. It is actually crystal clear but I have used it so much especially with my Madam Tulipe and Bleu de Flore which are notorious for staining which is why it has a pinkish/blue tint to it. It kinda looks nice though so I am not too bothered. Cristal Quartz is the perfect nail polish top coat I absolutely adore. Although, all the other coloured nail polishes have high gloss and are fade resistant, this top coat adds an extra glossy finish to the colours and prevents the nail colour from chipping thus promoting longevity.

                                                     Lancome in Love Corail in Love 105M

Lancome Vernis in Love Corail in Love              

Corail in Love is the perfect shade for spring especially if you like delicate, feminine and fresh colours. It is a subtle light pinkish coral colour. It has more tints of light pink rather than orange so it is not very bright. My boyfriend loves this colour best on me and I love it as well because I think it is very much my every day style. It is true to shade; what you see on the bottle is what you get regardless of how many coats you have on. I think this has an accompanying Lipstick in the same collection.

                                    Lancome Vernis in Love Rouge in Love 112B

Lancome Vernis in Love Rouge in Love

This was the actual nail polish used in the campaign with Emma Watson and I understand why. It is a bright red cherry colour which really pops. It will definitely get you noticed because it is a bright nail shade. It is the most perfect shade for spring out of the lot I own. It also has a matching lipstick in the collection. It was quite a pain to photograph because I really tried my best to capture its true colour. Regardless, it is a beautiful colour which reminds me of being carefree and adventurous.

Rouge in Love and Corail in Love (My Spring/Summer Staples)

L-R; Bleu de Flore, Midnight Rose and Cristal Quartz (Perfect Autumn/Winter Combo)

Overall, I am in love with Vernis in Love( No pun/rhyme intended). It is the perfect nail polish for me and I have not tried many others ever since I got them. They have also helped my nails grow a little bit more; not by virtue of any nail strengthening attributes but simply because they look so good that I don't bite my nails any more :-)


Hope you enjoyed this post because I had too much fun taking these pictures on a beautiful sunny day      on a lovely terrace. xxx

*DISCLOSURE: I have no material relationship to any brand or person mentioned in this post. All Opinions are mine and the products were bought and paid for by me.