Max Factor: Sheen Merlot

Oh, hi girls, don't mind me, I'll just have a drop of this Merlot.

...and by Merlot, I mean the new Max Factor - Sheen Merlot.

Last week was my birthday, and I did a little birthday haul, let's be honest, who doesn't get themselves a lot of nail polish and claim them as birthday presents. Haha.
I will use any excuse to get me some new babies.

When I saw this on the corner section of the Max Factor display in Boots, I knew I had to own it. 

This is one of their Gel Shine Lacquer, and I have to say the sheen of this is amazing, it's butter smooth, and it covered perfectly in two thin coats.

Max Factor - Sheen Merlot

Max Factor - Sheen Merlot

I can't stop looking at my nails, they are gorgeous. I couldn't get myself to stamp anything over it either. What would you have gone for?
 Let me know in the comments below.

Birthday Hauling!

Tomorrow is my birthday, and therefor I have been hauling some little gifts for myself.

I am one of those people who love their birthday, I plan my day weeks and week ahead, and this Saturday I am going to the park with my friends for a picnic. This is a tradition I have had ever since I turned 20. Except for that one year when it was raining...

Last year I got a Helmer for my birthday, and it looks like I need to expand this year with a third Helmer. My nail/office room is coming together nicely, but I am just lacking the space, and need to expand.

But enough about my birthday, wanna see what I got?

Lots of Barry M polishes!

I got:

Barry M - Silk - Pearl
Barry M - Gelly - Chai
Barry M - Gelly - Cardamom
Barry M - Matte - Mocha
Barry M - Gelly - Paprika
Barry M - Gelly - Chilli
Barry M - Matte - Copa Cabana

Barry M - Speedy - Pit Stop

Barry M - Matte - Vanilla
Barry M - Vintage Violet

Max Factor - Sheen Merlot

I got a 30£ giftcard from work, as the Top Agent Of The Month, so it meant I could get loads of nail polishes. This actually just about covered it for me, so a couple of pounds had to go out of my own pockets.

Rainbow Connection Haul

I bought myself the Creative Stamper, and I finally got my hands on Mallard by The PolishAholic, and my second Dollish Polish; Dollish Polish - Serendipity (Store Exclusive). I can't wait to try em all out.

I also ordered myself some clear nail art tips to swatch my entire collection. I am rapidy reaching 500 now, and felt that some order was in need.

Until next time, stay healthy and polish those tips. 

Aztec Sunset

I received this product of my choosing, free of charge for my honest, non-bias review from the Born Pretty Store.

Do you ever find yourself struggling to name a post? ...and then you have this epiphany moment where you feel like you hooked up to the Mother Server and you had a name for the post?
I had one of those days today, and this manicure started out with me wanting to show off how gorgeous Max Factor - Fantasy Fire is. I didn't have a Master Plan before I sat down to do my nails, I just did them.
When the name hit me, I had no idea where it came from, it just felt so right.

For this manicure I wanted to show off my gorgeous Max Fantasy - 45 - Fantasy Fire. This used to be "all the rage", a while back, and I must have been to the stores and picked up 15-20 of these the past few years. Everyone wanted one, back home in Norway, and I was gladly a mule for such a gorgeous polish. 

Taken on a polish-hunting trip in Londons outskirts.

The sun was shining bright, and the day called for a polish that could dance with the sun rays, and so it was that this manicure came together.
If you are a frequent reader of my blog you know that I received a parcel from BornPrettyStore for review, it was their plate BP L002 that I decided to use for this look.
This is not the first manicure I to using this plate, you can see the original review over here. 


I started out with one coat of Sally Hansen - 640 - Plum Luck, I really like how deep and rich this purple shade is, and I have enjoyed using it a lot lately. You might have noticed I used it for my Alice In Wonderland manicure as well. Then I followed up with two coats of Max Fantasy - 45 - Fantasy Fire I find that it gives the best result).

Sally Hansen - 640 - Plum Luck with Max Fantasy - 45 - Fantasy Fire layered on top.

Sally Hansen - 640 - Plum Luck with Max Fantasy - 45 - Fantasy Fire layered on top.

Sally Hansen - 640 - Plum Luck with Max Fantasy - 45 - Fantasy Fire layered on top.

Sally Hansen - 640 - Plum Luck with Max Fantasy - 45 - Fantasy Fire layered on top.

Then it was time for stamping. I wanted it to look like a sunset, as the colour shift in Max Fantasy - 45 - Fantasy Fire reminds me of the sky in sunset. Below you can see the section that I used from the BP L002 plate for this manicure. I used Essie - Little Brown Dress to stamp with.

The section of the BornPrettyStore BP L002 that I used for this manicure.

If you want to get hold of this plate, it is sold for 5.99 USD, BornPrettyStore offers free shipping worldwide, and if you use my code (RAMG10) you get 10% off your order.

The design is very subtle in all the glory of Max Fantasy - 45 - Fantasy Fire, but I really like it that way. What do you think about subtle designs like this?

Aztec Sunset; Sally Hansen - 640 - Plum Luck with Max Fantasy - 45 - Fantasy Fire layered on top using BP L002 stamping plate from BornPrettyStore

Aztec Sunset; Sally Hansen - 640 - Plum Luck with Max Fantasy - 45 - Fantasy Fire layered on top using BP L002 stamping plate from BornPrettyStore

I am currently working on a blog post of my move, and how I transported my two Helmers full of nail polish by the power of a boat and my suitcases. Stay tuned for that. 

I received this product of my choosing, free of charge for my honest, non-bias review from the Born Pretty Store.

Hibiscus Flowers

This tri-polish challenge popped up on my screen here the other day, and I felt like doing something similar  so here is my take on the tri-polish challenge. 

For this manicure I used

Barry M - Berry I/C

Kiko - 331

Max Factor - Lilac Lace 

I stamped using Bundlemonster plate - BM 318

I really like how this turned out, the wallpaper background and the colours just goes so well together. Delicate, lady-like. 

Barry M - Berry I/C swatch

Add some lines...

Strawberry Daiquiri - Nail Art

By layering Strawberry Daiquiri from MakeupMekka, and Sunny Pink - Mac Factor I created this manicure, to lighten up my mood.
It's been a rough few days lately. Trying to find your roots in another country is not like a walk in the garden picking berries. It's hard. I don't know many people here, and a rather shy person. And the people I do know ... well, it seems like I have had a tendency to alienate people more than making new friends lately.
One step back, look at what I am doing. Up again, and let's try another approach.

It all starts with a manicure that will cheer you up.

Daddy you're Hot Stuff!

I am still in the mood for girly manicures, and pink is the girly-est thing I know, so that's the color I will use.
I have been eyeing Models Own - Hot Stuff for a while, and wanted to implement it in this.
Seeing the result, I am very pleased in how it turned out.

I did not do step by step pictures for this manicure. It was made on a whim, and I wasn't expecting it to turn out well, so didn't bother to stop and take pictures.

For this manicure I used:
ESSIE - Sugar Daddy
Max Factor - Sunny Pink
Models Own - Hot Stuff
2 pink 2-way striper/pens (no-name brand)

First I used a coat of Sugar Daddy all over the nail. I dabbed on Sunny Pink on the top of my nails to remove the VNL, and add some shine. I used the stripers to make random lines to make it all go together. I was trying to mimic the swirls seen on galaxy-nails, just with pinks.

Since I was going to watch Star Wars that day, I added some Hot Stuff from Models Own, as if I just blew Death Star to smithereens.

H is for Halloween

I know its a late post to make. Specially since Christmas is so close.
But, since I haven't made any Halloween manicures this year, this will be mine.

For this manicure I used Orly- Purple Pleather, and Max Factor Fantasy Fire.
Purple Pleather covers in two coats.

Playing catchup on my ABC challenge from Llama Nails.

Sunny Blue Sky

'ello girls.

Today I wanted to do some layering, and I have been looking at my Sunny Blue, from Max Factor, and wanted to add that over a light blue. So why not use the Angelica - Ice Queen, I bought in the UK?

Right?

Lets take a look at that.

I sat down with a cup of tea, and waited for it to dry. 

It totally looks light purple-ish on this picture, right? No sunlight, with flash.. Interesting..

UK haul Part 1

Hi everyone!

So I am back from my UK trip. I miss it already, and want to go back. I fell in love with the place.

Today I will show you the things I bought at my trip. As you know I had several shopping lists with me, both from the Norwegian nail-polish forum I`m at, and from Mishka (Lacquer or Leave Her!). To see what polishes Mishka got, keep an eye on her blog Lacquer of Leave Her! , it should arrive any day now.

UK Haul:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Max Factor

Fantasy Fire

Max Factor - Fantasy Fire

Models Own Haul

Models Own

Magenta Pearl

Red Red Wine

Purple Pearl

Models Own - Mirrorball Collection

Boogie Nights

Hot Stuff

Dancing Queen

Freak Out

Disco Inferno

Nail Polish Haul

Miss Sporty

452

453

160

Linda Johansen

Nail Candy Base Coat 

Nail Candy Aqua Rock

Sally Hansen

Ad. Hard As Nails (strengthener)

Double Duty Base- and Topcoat

Vacation Update

I am so sorry I have totally MIA here. I have O.D. on nail-polish-shopping.
I am still on vacation, the cord to my camera is missing, and I am trying to find a new one, seems like that isnt as easy as I thought, but don't worry beauties. I will find one.

I thought I should jump in here, and so a quick update to tell you all, that I am alright.
I have been to Models Own in Westfield London, I have been to 100s of Boots, Superdrugs etc in search for W7s, Barry Ms, and other polishes.

I had them all on my bed one day, looking over to see what I had found, and sort it out. Some of them are for Mishka, from Lacquer or Leave Her! . She gave me the most amazing shopping list, and there where so many beauties there. I bought some of the same.. I couldn't resist.

I dont have a complete list over all the things you see here, but I remember seeing:

Topshop

Eclipse

Hidden Treasure

Phenomena

Mercury Miasma

Hyperreal

Hypnotic

Cosmic Karma

Barry M

Croc Nail Effects

Chameleon Nail Effects: Blue

Vivid Purple

Silvery Lilac

Denim

Aqua Green

Black Multi-Glitter

Instant Nail Effects Magnetic: Dark Silver

Instant Nail Effects Magnetic: Burgundy

Instant Nail Effects Foil: Silver

Instant Nail Effects Foil: Gold

Instant Nail Effects Foil: Purple

Max Factor
Fantasy Fire

Models Own
Mirrorball Collection
Golden Green Beetlejuice

Kiko
Holographics Collection


Stay tuned for swatches by both me and Mishka in the following days :)

Max Factor - Sunny Pink

Hi, everyone!
I`m finally back, from my trip to my father. My father is sick, and that's why he has gone Vegan, as I told you in the Oh My, Vegan Polish -post. It makes him feel better, and I cant remember seeing him so up-and-going, since I was a young girl, and then only for a few hours. Now he has energy all the time. Makes a daughter very happy.

Did`nt you just LOVE Missy`s Mani (link to her blog) on Saturday? She is so good! It was so nice of her to do a guest post, while I was away.

NOTD is a shimmer-y pink, and very fitting, its called Sunny Pink.

It has golden shimmer in it, which I like. 

The only thing I`m not the greatest fan of, is that you need really thin layers of this, to build it. If you don't do thin layers it will become streaky. And no one likes that. You can see that on my ringfinger. One of the coats was a bit to thick, and you can clearly see that its streaky. 

I think I bought this shade a bit to late in the year. Golden pinks are great for spring and summer, but its been raining here non-stop for the last three weeks, making it look like fall. I have brought out my fall-shades. So you might be seeing a lot more darker manis from now on.

I did four coats here, I could have done easily five or six coats, like I had to do with my other Max Factor mini; Emerald. Think this would be good for layering over another polish? 

Bleu Majorelle, laced in lilac

Well, not really laced in it... but its Lilac Lace again, what can I say, I love it. Its the perfect purple.
I am sure you much get tired of it coming back all the time.

Today I am using it with a colour I haven`t showed you yet, 18 - Bleu Majorelle from YSL. You might ask why, and I cant come with a reasonable explanation. Maybe its because its insanely expensive. I bought it Norway, and had to pay the equivalent of  40,95 Dollar/ 33,61 Euro/ 26,51 Pound. Way to much for a polish, if you ask me. Even if its YSL.

So why did I buy it? Here is post Imperfectly Painted did on it. Its such a pretty cobalt blue.

Rant over, and lets get back to the manicure.

I did three coats of Bleu Majorelle, and then I stamped using Lilac Lace from Max Factor, with the BM 322 plate from the new collection.
Its really hard to see the stamp on this one, but it makes a very subtle manicure.

Posing with my Mana Potion Bottle with Energy Drink.

Bottleshot

Summer Challenge/MSMD Pink n Purple

Oh Its a Summer Challenge, no, its a MSMD!. WoW, its BOTH!

Todays MSMD is taken from Lucy`s Stash.  She did a striping tape nail art manicure with SpaRitual Imaginarium and Illume. Today is also Summer Challenge - Pink and purple, very fitting.

Lucy`s Stash - Striping tape nail art manicure with SpaRitual Imaginarium and Illume.

 I dont have any of those colours, so I had to be creative. I decided to use my new Tropicalia from WnW, and Lilac Lace from Max Factor.

My first time using striping tape like this, so its a bit muddied at the tips. But I had fun doing it.

Lilacism with Lilac Lace

Today I did another French. This time I used two of my purple shades.
ESSIE - Lilacism (ringfinger and tips), and Glossfinity from Max Factor - Lilac Lace.

This picture looks pretty spot on when it comes to colours.
Lilacism is a pastel, and even thou Lilac Lace looks matte in the bottle it tries glossy.
Since my ringfinger is shorter than the others ( I broke the tip, at work), I decided to make that finger an accent. Using silver teardrops rhinestones in the shape of a flower.

It was hard to capture it on the camera, I must have tried like a 100 times, but I did end up with a few pictures that would show of the colours to these two polishes.

Im thinking about stamping them, what do you think?

EDIT: