Ombre Pedi for Summer!

I did an ombre pedicure for the first time, and I loved it so much/was so proud I actually found colours that seemed to work, that I had to share it with you...

...but of course I'm not going to show it to you on my feet!

Thumb to pinky (aka big toe to little toe):

OPI No Spain No Gain

OPI Dim Sum Plum

Essie Splash of Grenadine

OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender

OPI Panda-monium Pink

So loving this look on my tootsies! I wish I had enough greys with the same undertones to do a grey ombre on my tips...

Have you ever tried an ombre manicure or pedicure? What colours or colour family did you use?

kittytokaren

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OPI Skull and Glossbones vs. Essie Playa Del Platinum

Skull and Glossbones is the first polish I tried from my Pirates Haul. It was the one I was most looking forward to, having lusted after it since seeing Just Nice Things' swatches back in February. And after all that interminable wait, I'm (inevitably) a little disappointed.



Don't get me wrong, it's very nice. This is two coats, although it could probably have done with three. It's pleasant to apply. It's a pretty colour. It's just...well, grey. I was kind of expecting a grungy, warm undertone, a thick creamy finish (it's a little sheer), y'know, something a little edgy. This doesn't make me think of bones particularly. Moaning aside, I have no doubt I'll reach for it (as I did here) when I want a clean, simple, stop-gap mani; it just doesn't knock my socks off. I compared it to Essie Playa del Platinum and although they're close, they're not dupes. PDP (in the middle) is a hair darker and warmer.



Anyway! I mentioned in the last post that I was going on a no-buy. So I diligently counted up all my unworn polishes, counted again, gulped, and then concocted a plan.

• I have 70 unworn polishes of various brands (yikes) with the biggest offenders being illamasqua, OPI, and china glaze.
• I have to wear half - 35 - of these before going on another polish bender.
• I wear about two manicures a week, so this should take about 4 months.
• Minor get out clause (the 'china glaze metallic crackles' amendment): I can make purchases during the no-buy, but these must be worn before the no-buy ends PLUS one additional polish from the unworn stash, thereby extending the time of the challenge.

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Essie St. Lucia Lilac & Zoya Kelly

(2 coats)

I was expecting absolute shite formula from Essie but it is surprisingly reasonable. I ALMOST got it in 2 coats (see the bald spot on my index). Maybe the secret shimmer is helping it apply nicely.



(2 coats)

Zoya has been stepping up their formula game. I've been almost universally happy with their newer cremes. Really fantastic. And I report no drying issues! This color isn't really unique and doesn't exactly light my fire, but I'm still keeping it.

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Nude Pink Perfection - Essie Topless & Barefoot

Usually nude colours in any given collection are the least likely to be the most buzzed about. However, I think that the hands-down favourite for me (and many many others judging by how this was sold out everywhere!) of Essie's spring collection was Topless & Barefoot. It is, quite simply put, the perfect pink nude.

Here it is with my rose gold Fossil watch! (I am a total watch fiend, if you haven't noticed yet...) My mother and I both got rose gold Fossil watches - in different styles - to commemorate something big that happened recently.

And a regular shot! (I'm learning diffused flash...)

Just - perfection. To me this is the ultimate blend of beige, pink and white. Brava, Essie!

What's your perfect pink-tinged nude?

kittytokaren

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Nfu.Oh 497: so bright it broke my camera

Usually I try to show my photos as 'normally' as possible - I take off all my fancy pants custom camera settings (it's used more frequently for portraiture and suchlike), leave it on P, take off the colour tweaks, and off I go. This one? 60 shots later, I am still no-where near doing it justice. It's just SO. AWESOME. Seriously. This is straight into my top-ten polishes - I do not want to take it off.


First off, I should say, this polish was sent to me for review by Affiniti, who are Nfu.oh's UK stockist. They are about to open a non-trade sales website, which I am very happy about, having spent 8 months trying to track down the flakies. (You US ladies have it made). After trying this and No.56 (coming soon to a blog near you) and going bananas for them I now have a wishlist as long as my arm, so as soon as I can afford it - on which see below - I will be getting more (GS14, come to mama!). I don't think I would have chosen this colour if it wasn't sent to me, but I'm so glad it was because I adore it.


You see this? This is like, a quarter of how amazing this polish is in the flesh. It's very very bright, yet deep and oceanic. It's creamy, yet squishy and super shiny and vinyl-like without having any VNL. It's super blue, but has a slightly cyan undertone (which is probably overplayed here, because most of the shots made it look like a light turquoise). Most blues look purple on my skin but this is really flattering. It was a whizz to apply in two coats and I just love it to death. I think it's knocked Illamasqua force off my no.1 blue spot. I also have an extra special reason to love it...

It's the same colour as my new car.

I am now on a no-buy. For the rest of my life.

OK, I jest - the ilexicamobile does 60 miles per gallon, so it's not going to bankrupt me, but it seems a good opportunity to spend less money on non-car stuff since the insurance is a bit steep, what with being a newly qualified driver (I passed my test yesterday). I will be thinking up some rules for a shop my stash challenge for the next post, and hopefully the threat of public shame will keep me on the straight and narrow.

Having a car is going to make my life so much easier. I commute 160 miles to university (usually once a week, usually on a train) so being able to make it under my own steam if the weather's horrid or I'm due back late will be heaven. Hoo-rah!

Edit - the UK Nfu Oh retail site has now launched. It's at Nfuoh.co.uk. Enjoy!

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