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OPI

    Review, Swatch

    OPI Fifty Shades of Grey Collection Swatches

    So you might have heard of this novel turned movie phenomenon, Fifty Shades of Grey? Even if you’re not a fan of E.L. James’ work, OPI have released a collection of shades for all the lacquer lovers out there to mark the release of the movie. I was very excited for this collection as I do love dark tones and I think grey is such a classy colour to mix in to any look. While I wasn’t blown away by the polishes here, one does stand out for me. Read on for my swatches and thoughts on the collection. Read more

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    Favourites, Nail Care, Review

    Nail Care Favourites: OPI Nail Envy Base Coat

    OPI Nail Envy: Strengthening Base Coat for Nails

    Shop UK: Boots / Amazon
    Shop US: Ulta / Amazon

    Nothing I can say about OPI Nail Envy will ever do this bottle of miracle juice real justice. I’ve never used another base coat because I’ve never had the need to stray.

    My first bottle came my way in a giveaway package I was lucky enough to win back in 2010 and I was quickly hooked. Within 2 weeks, my soft, breakage-prone nails were noticeably stronger and growing at triple speed. Before this eye-opener, I had never understood the need to invest in a base coat – probably because all the cheaper versions I’d tried up to then had never improved the condition of my nails. Turns out that it is in fact a very sound investment and one I’ve made time and again since that fateful encounter all those years ago. Read more

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    Glitter, Uncategorised

    Pastel Jelly Sandwich

    Jelly Sandwich with Maybelline Acid Wash Top Splatter
    Jelly Sandwich Nails Recipe - The Nailasaurus
    With the rise of indie glitter polishes over the last few years, I feel like jelly sandwiches are becoming a thing of the past. So many indies are described as a ‘jelly sandwich in a bottle’ and it’s true, they absolutely are! Soon enough, Jelly Sandwiches will be to nail polish what the Game Boy is to gaming – a nostalgic piece of the not-so-distant past. Don’t get me wrong, I love the innovations that indie brands have brought to the table in the nail industry and I hope they’ll be changing the game for many more years but sometimes you can’t beat a good classic.
    It’s been years since I last wore a jelly sandwich and I’ve been meaning to revisit them since I got hold of the OPI Muppets Most Wanted collection. The nude and pink polishes in that collection are very sheer and although they’re not true jellies, they fit the role okay in a jelly sandwich.
    I tried out a few combinations yesterday but couldn’t decide which to actually put on my nails so I put it to a vote on Facebook and this combination came up trumps. I had to switch out the base colour for something a bit closer in tone to the jelly topping but I think it works nicely.

    The Recipe

    2 coats of NYC Lavender Cupcake
    1 coat of Maybelline Acid Wash Top Splatter
    1 coat of OPI I Love Applause
    1 coat of Glisten & Glow HK Girl (Top Coat)
    Jelly Sandwich with OPI I Love Applause
    Jelly Sandwich with NYC Lavender Cupcake
    Jelly Sandwich with White Glitter
    Jelly Sandwich Nails
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    Freehand, Nail Art, Stamping, Uncategorised

    Beepbopboop

    When I was at a nail event a little while ago, this wi-fi design by Jessica Hoffman was on the nail art menu and I knew that I would have to try it for myself. I started this mani intending just to do the wi-fi all over but it swiftly turned in to a technologic mani!
    My base colour is Revlon Minted and I topped a few nails with Cirque Magic Hour.
    All the stamping is from Bundle Monster plate BM415 and I used OPI Suzi Says Feng Shui and BK Matte White for all the details.
    To draw on the wi-fi signal, I used two straight vinyl stencils to mark off a triangle at the base of my nail, then drew 3 curved lines stretching edge-to-edge with a nail art brush. I tried to follow the curve of my cuticle to get them all matching! I quickly removed the vinyls and used a dotting tool to add one dot at the base.
    It’s all topped off with a coat of Glisten & Glow HK Girl.
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    Uncategorised

    The Birds

    Sometimes (okay most of the time), I paint on my base colours with no idea what nail art I’m going to put on top. When I put these down, I thought they looked like very ‘mod’ colours and for some reason I thought of an old beach towel! This naturally led me to the seagulls and moddy dots!

    The base colours here are Barry M Elderberry and Olive with OPI Suzi Says Feng Shui thrown in for the nail art too.

    I topped it with a coat of Glisten & Glow HK Girl then one coat of Rimmel Matte Top Coat.

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    Uncategorised

    OPI Neons with Nailed Kit Totally Tribal Decals

    OPI Neons with Tribal Nail Art | The Nailasaurus | UK Nail Art Blog

    After what has felt like a nail art dry spell, I finally have a steady trickle of ideas coming in. I think it’s thanks to all the new summer releases that we’re seeing at the moment. I’ll start today with a few from OPI’s Neon collection and a preview of some upcoming Nailed Kit decals.

    I was lucky enough to find the Neon shades in my goody bag from Coty’s summer nail preview on Thursday. I made my way to London to meet up with Alice and Allie and we headed to the event together. I’m a bit of a country bumpkin so I normally avoid London at all costs but since it was solely a nails event and some of my favourite brands (can you say Sally Hansen and NYC) to boot, I thought it would be worth the adventure and it totally was! I had a great day talking to the ladies at Coty and met the bloggers behind Dahlia Nails too, so there was more than enough nail talk to go round.

    The Neon shades I used here are Life Gave me Lemons (Yellow, 2 coats), Juice Bar Hopping (Orange, 2 coats) and Hotter Than You Pink (Pink, 2 coats) with one coat of the Put a Coat On! white base coat underneath. I had a little bit of streaking with the neons on the first coat but that smoothed out with the second as long as I left plenty of drying time between layers.

    This is my first time trying Nailed Kit’s decals so I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, but it turned out to be a successful attempt. The instructions said to use them like temporary tattoos – place them where you want them on the nail and apply a wet piece of cotton/tissue to the back – but this way didn’t work for me. The decal came away from the backing perfectly but I just couldn’t get the decal right where I wanted it. I tried the traditional way of dipping them in to water and dislodging the decal from the paper, then placing them on to the nail which also worked and I much preferred doing it that way.

    This set is Totally Tribal and will be available on their website in June.

    OPI Neons with Tribal Nail Art | The Nailasaurus | UK Nail Art Blog

    OPI Neons with Tribal Nail Art | The Nailasaurus | UK Nail Art Blog
    OPI Neons with Tribal Nail Art | The Nailasaurus | UK Nail Art Blog

    OPI Neons with Tribal Nail Art | The Nailasaurus | UK Nail Art Blog

    OPI Neons with Tribal Nail Art | The Nailasaurus | UK Nail Art Blog

    Where to buy OPI Neon

    RRP £11.95. Available in department stores and salons.
    Currently £6.93 each at Beauty Bay with free delivery
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    Uncategorised

    Much More Muted

    OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts with Nail Art | The Nailasaurus | UK Nail Art Blog
    I’ve been in full on Summer mode this weekend – waking up with the sun, filling the freezer with ice cubes and, get this, wearing flip-flops! With one thing or another, it’s been almost a week since I painted my nails and when I finally sat down today, I had it in my head that I must use summery colours. I tried brights, I tried pastels but nothing stuck. In the end I opened up a drawer, pulled out the first two polishes that I fancied and it turns out that my heart was singing for much more muted tones. The resulting nail art is nothing special, just a strange mix and match but I’m happy with it for today!
    OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts with Nail Art | The Nailasaurus | UK Nail Art Blog
    The polishes here are OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts and Revlon Cloud
    I topped a few nails with Seventeen Off The Wall,  black and white glitter topper.
    The Anchor is from She Sells Seashells it’s all topped off with KBShimmer Clearly on Top.
    OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts with Nail Art | The Nailasaurus | UK Nail Art Blog
    OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts with Nail Art | The Nailasaurus | UK Nail Art Blog
    OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts with Nail Art | The Nailasaurus | UK Nail Art Blog
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