Tara's Talons - my polish picks

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Recently I picked up two interesting polishes from Tara's Talons.

Tara's Talons is a UK based indie nail polish brand, run by the lovely Tara. ( I LOVE UK INDIES!)

I wanted to choose something different, because I find myself seeing repeats and similarities in so many polishes these days and I wasn't disappointed with my choices from this lovely shop.

First up I want to show you one of two polishes I purchased. This is Pick n Mix. Pick n Mix is a blue polish with light coloured glitters inside. It is very subtle, it only needed two coats and it is a nice neutral blue.

Application was very smooth with this polish, and it is so shiny - I am not wearing a top coat in these pictures

Next up I am going to show you Business Woman Special.I work in an office, that doesn't make me a "business woman" but I love the name of this polish and wearing something with a name like this makes you feel more business-y and confident!

This beautiful light grey polish is so neutral, but has something different - subtle glitters. This is perfect office polish, and it is not boring! It was my favourite of the two!

you can find out more at www.tarastalons.co.uk and if you use my code "irishnailaddict20" you will receive an exclusive 20% off offer :)

31 Day Challenge - Day 7 - French Manicure

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I am on a BIG holo buzz - so of course I had to chose two holos for my French Manicure challenge :)

These are beauties - GOSH Holographic Hero (Round 2) and Layla Misty Blush for the tip. I used striping tape to achieve an even line, and two coats of GOSH, and only one coat of Layla!

I really love this effect, and think that two different textured polishes might work even better, for this particular look!

Have a great weekend!

The Wonderful World of Jacava

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Recently, you may have seen my post about Chocolate Melts! I have two more beautiful Jacava polishes to show you today, another neutral; City Heights and Crimson Crush, a stunning raspberry colour.

JACAVA nail polish uses premium, high gloss, long-lasting and nourishing formulation helps your nails stay stronger and grow longer. 

I did use two coats for these swatches, but you may get away with one thick coat. This polish has the most amazing application, it makes you want to paint your nails. I have already mentioned how much I love the brush too - it's thin size allows you to paint your nails with precision. I did not use top coat, I did not need it! These polishes are so super shiny on their own.

To the pictures!

City Heights: A muted grey, I feel hints of lilac coming from this

Crimson Crush: The perfect reddish pink. A real go to polish!

JACAVA is availabe on their own website, FEELUNIQUE , and Amazon.co.uk for £14.50. They have a new collection being released this autumn too - so stay tuned to theirFacebook and Twitter page for competition details and information. Don't forget, you saw it here!!

JACAVA Chocolate Melts

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Happy Hump day to my lovely readers! 

Today I have a beautiful polish to show you from JACAVA!! Jacava is a UK based, and manufactured polish. Based in London, this company has brought to you, the world's very first "8-free" polish. JACAVA nail polish uses premium, high gloss, long-lasting and nourishing formulation helps your nails stay stronger and grow longer. 

I was so excited to receive from polishes from JACAVA to review for my blog, and today I am going to show you the beautiful "Chocolate Melts". On their website JACAVA describe this polish as follows:

"FOR ALL THOSE SECRET CHOCOHOLICS, THIS MELT-IN-THE-MOUTH MILK CHOCOLATE NAIL POLISH COLOUR IS AN INDULGENT MUST-HAVE!"

I love chocolate, but brown polishes I do not. This however, is creamy, and applies like butter. I have to comment on the wonderful formula of this polish. I used two coats, but may possibly have gotten away with one. The brush handle is lovely to hold, a nice length, and the brush itself enables me to apply the polish just the way I like it (I am not a fan of fat/big brushes!)

All in all, I am impressed, this healthy formulated polish brand knows where it's at. With formula and interesting colours, it really is worth having a few in your stash!

So here are the photos!

JACAVA is availabe on their own website, FEELUNIQUE , and Amazon.co.uk for £14.50. They have a new collection being released this autumn too - so stay tuned to their Facebook and Twitter page for competition details and information. Don't forget, you saw it here!!

Barry M Kiwi

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Hello to my lovely people out there!

Recently, I picked up the new Barry M Gelly polishes (they are so divine) and I've been wearing them to work on different occasions. I have had compliments on the brightness of these, and this time of year really is the time to get your bright on!

I am going to show you Kiwi in more detail.

To get started, here's a picture of an actual Kiwi - just to get in the mood! It's one of my favourite fruits.

I took these photos in natural (bad I might add) light. The colour is far brighter which you'll see further down.
I used two coats but I may have gotten away with one. They are wonderfully pigmented polishes.

These pictures were taken with flash - this gives a much more accurate depiction of the true colour of Kiwi. It's bright, and it's wonderfully green. I do love green personally and this one is a must-have in any collection!

You can get Barry M in Boots and Superdrug stores in the UK and Ireland. They are also available on Barry M's website here, on Nail Polish Direct here, and Littlewoods UK & Ireland. From the US you can get Barry M on Ninja Polish.

Iconic Effect

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It is so exciting when a brand new Indie brand pops up, and when it's UK based it is even more exciting.

Iconic Effect, a new UK Indie Brand which is owned by two lovely ladies; Kelly & Kerry has just begun a very exciting new venture supplying us addicts with even more handmade pretties.

I was so excited to receive two polishes from their first collection of six; Portfolio Pink and Purple Paradise.

Portofolio Pink is a pink creme with an almost shattered pink glitter effect. There are tiny tiny pink shatters that shimmer with a purple hue in the bottle.

On the nail it takes only two sheer coats to build up colour. I really adore this on my nails. With my pale skin tone, this shade of pink suits me perfectly. It is subtle.

And now, Purple Paradise. I layered this over Portfolio Pink as it seems an apt base :)
This is a packed-full purple and pink glitter top coat. Pink circles, Purple squares, smaller rose circles and a hint of holo; it's a really interesting topcoat. I used only one coat over the pink - it is jam packed!

Overall, I am so impressed with the quality of these new polishes. The pink has a really nice formula - it's not gloopy so no dragging on the nail! I cannot stand gloopy polish. The glitter is so full you only need one coat. Good job girls, I can't wait to try more!

Please keep up to date with Iconic Effect on their Facebook page; linked above.

Rimmel Salon Pro

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If you follow me on Facebook (If you don't, do it!) you'll have seen that I won 10 Rimmel Salon Pro polishes through a Facebook competition run by Rimmel Ireland .

I have seen these polishes in shops, and having never been a big Rimmel fan over the years I wasn't pushed on buying them. They are roughly €6.45 in Irish stores with a selection of 10 polishes to purchase here. There are 32 in the total collection.

The selection we get (why we don't get the option of the full 22 is very strange in my opinion) is varied from red to blue to dark grey, and a washed out peach.

I tried three of these polishes on for size; Reggae Splash (a peach) Hip Hop (a coral red) and Punk Rock (a dark grey with purple tone)

First up: Reggae Splash. I will comment on the brush used for this range- it's large (too large for my tiny fingers) and a strange shape, quite like the Catrice brush. I am not a fan but brush size is a personal opinion! This is a really washed out peach. It looks yellow in the photo above but it's not. It took four coats to get this opacity (which is far too many coats) and the colour just doesn't do it for me. It's bland, and has no real pop to it. I was quite disappointed with this one.

Next Up I have Hip Hop - in the bottle this looks quite coral- but maybe that's because it's sitting beside a deep red! On the nails, it has a coral/bright pink tone in it which I really like. I found it quite similar to Barry M Gelly Passion Fruit but with less of a pop to it. I liked it - and used two coats to reach this opacity. It's a good polish to own, as a go-to polish. It is that type of shade you will wear again and again.

Lastly, Punk Rock. This one is my favourite. This also took two coats and I would describe this as a dark grey with purple tones. It glided on and just looks amazing against pale skin! A must have dark neutral polish for anyone's collection!

New Barry M Gelly for summer

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Hot off the press!!

Barry M are releasing five amazing new Gelly polishes in June :)

Colours include (from left to right): Key Lime, Mango, Blue Grape, Passion Fruit & Guava

Do you own any of the Barry M Gelly polishes yet? They have an amazing formula!