Showing posts with label black

Hello lovelies,

 

You've probably been wondering why I haven't been posting. Well, life has gotten crazy busy and overwhelming towards the end of last year and I needed a break from blogging and all the pressure that comes with it. This was the first blogging break in 7 years ad it was much needed. Do you ever feel so overwhelmed you just want to stop blogging? Well that's how I was feeling. Some would call it blogger burnout but the good news is, I'm back! I'll be posting as often as I can but I'll take it easy now, I'm sure you'll understand. I won't be reviewing new collections as I'd rather focus on nail art and beautiful polishes. There are plenty of talented swatchers out there you can see new collections on ;)

 

You know what I just realised? I've missed my 7th Bloggiversary! It was at the beginning of February and I missed it! Oh well, maybe next year! ;)

 

Today I finally want to share with you nail art that I wore to the Olympia Beauty Show 2016 in London last October. I wanted something intricate, abstract and kind of unique. I wasn't totally crazy about the result but it was still wearable so I kept it on. Let's check out those nails...

 

I'M BACK!...along with Abstract Handpainted Nail Art
I'M BACK!...along with Abstract Handpainted Nail Art
I'M BACK!...along with Abstract Handpainted Nail Art

 

It's very unlikely that any of you will ever re-create this monstrosity on your nails but just in case, I'll tell you roughly how I did these ;)

 

I painted my nails with a coat of pastel beige polish so that other colours would stand out. Then I've used small pieces of makeup sponge to add splashes of colour. I opted for mint green and pastel purple to create watercolour-ish background. For that I've sponged on one of the colours randomly and then went in with a small brush and bit of acetone. Once the subtle watercolour-style background was finished, I've added moss green and white dots using dotting tool. Then I've painted the brown rectangular shapes with a thin brush from the Winstonia Berry Wine set.

After that it still looked very plain so I've painted on some black and white line work. For that I've used another brush from the Winstonia Berry Wine set (the brushes are super  thin) and acrylic paint. Lastly, I've sealed the whole design with a coat of Seche Vite topcoat. All polishes I've used were from Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure.

 

I hope you enjoyed this kinda crazy abstract look and let me know what's new with you! What collections are your favourite right now?

 

Have a lovely day! Lucie x

 

Hello lovelies,

 

Have you spotted the latest A England collection yet? It's called TENNYSON'S ROMANCE, it features five beautiful holographic shades and I can't wait to show them to you!

 

Adina Bodana, the creator behind this collection says:
 
The inspiration comes from the beautiful poem by Tennyson: The Beggar Maid about a king who fell in love at first sight with a beggar maid and married her. The colours are inspired by the extraordinary, sumptuous painting by Burne-Jones: King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid. The common theme in both works is universal love and equality with humbleness in front of love and beauty.
 
The collection is composed of 5 holographic shades whose name are taken from the poem.
KING COPHETUA holographic blackened green delicately shimmering like a forest in the starlight
THE BEGGAR MAID complex hologram in medium warm grey with metallic sheen
ANGEL GRACE soft, delicate periwinkle hologram suffused  with lilac blush
IN ROBE AND CROWN dark lavish red garnet resplendent in its prismatic hologram light
SHALL BE MY QUEEN dazzling imperial red brimming with holographic particles
 
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches

 

Shall Be My Queen - rich raspberry red full of fine holographic particles. This beautiful red is the most feminine colour of the collection and my favourite. I'm a sucker for warm reds and purples and this one was like a dream. It applied beautifully and was opaque in two regular coats. It dried fast and glossy with minor streaks that disappeared after I applied a coat of topcoat. Absolutely love this shade!

A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches

 

Angel Grace - soft lilac purple full of fine holographic particles. Angel Grace is a bit cold for me but it's a very pretty and feminine shade nevertheless. The formula was nice to apply but little less pigmented than I'm used to with A England. It was opaque in two slightly thicker coats and I'm wearing topcoat as well. One thing I disliked about this polish was the smell. It has that little bit of the rotten eggs smell that some blue and purple polishes have sometimes. But I got over it, this pretty shade is worth it.

A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches

 

In Robe and Crown - warm eggplant purple full of fine holographic particles. I felt so chic when I wore this colour and almost wanted to say 'MEOW'! Such a cool and vampy colour! It looks very dark in the shade but you can clearly see it's purple if you look at the polish in the sun. The colour is lovely and warm but also dark and chic ♥ 

 

It was fully opaque in two thin coats, the pigmentation of this shade was excellent! It applied very easily and the finish was smooth but not completely glossy - a coat of topcoat solved that. In Robe and Crown is definitely my second favourite shade in this collection.

A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches

 

The Beggar Maid - dusty grey metallic with a hint of olive green and purple. This is a very complex shade that completely transforms when in direct sunlight. The holographic effect is quite subtle but visible in sunlight. The polish had good to apply formula opaque in two coats again. I'm wearing topcoat. 

A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches

 

King Cophetua - charcoal black base with a hint of forest green, packed with fine holographic particles. This colour is quite wearable because it's not a flat out black and it 'lights up' in the sun. It also had great and well-pigmented formula and I had no problems with this polish. I've applied topcoat to get super glossy finish and I love how this colour looked in the shade.

A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches
A England TENNYSON'S ROMANCE collection - Review & Swatches

 

I'm always looking forward to the next A England collection to see what new beautiful colours Adina will come up with. Tennyson's Romance collection gave me not one but two polishes that I absolutely adore - Shall Be My Queen and In Robe and Crown! I was impressed as always with the formula and gorgeous colours so it's thumbs up from me for this collection.

 

A England Tennyson's Romance collection is available at A England website for £11 each and at various international stocklists

 

Have a lovely day! Lucie x

 

*Collection was sent for review; all opinions expressed are my honest opinions