Barry M Nail Effects

It's no secret I like a little bit of nail art. I was therefore intrigued by Barry M Nail Effects which is currently available in black. From what I could see it looks like it would provide a crackle kind of coat, a bit like something Carol Smillie would have oohed and aahed over in Changing Rooms circa 1998. Unlike the rest of the Barry M Nail Paint range this is priced at £3.95 which is still relatively cheap in my opinion.

First I tried it over the red from a couple of posts ago and it seemed to crack and dry very quickly. The colour difference wasn't too striking as the red is relatively dark. The black dries very quickly and almost to a dark charcoal rather than black and the finish is very matte. I thought it gave a nice touch of extra interest to my nails especially if you looked closely.

Next I tried it over a clear basecoat. It applied quite easily on the first nail (thumb) but I realised how fast you need to be to apply it to a nail as the rest dries out so quickly once it has touched the nail. The final result wasn't horrendous, but I would describe it as... patchy. Some brush strokes are visible and where it was applied more lightly the crackling didn't hide the brush stroke look. I think a wider brush might help make the application easier. After 2 quick applications I can see some of the paint getting clumpy in the bottle also as it seems to dry out so quickly which isn't great really...

From a distance they don't look too bad, maybe a bit of a lace effect almost?


All in all I'm a bit on the fence about this one. I love black nails but don't always have the patience to build up the colour and think this could be handy to add a last minute touch of intrigue to otherwise dull nails. I quite like the matte look for a bit of a change though I probably should use a top coat over it. For now though I don't think I'll be wearing it for for very long...

Have you tried it yet? Have I gone wrong with it somewhere?

LoubouLush x

NOTD Free Ciate Paint Pot with Marie Claire Magazine

I'm a sucker for a freebie and picked up Marie Claire magazine at the weekend (November 2010 edition with Lea Michele on the cover) for£3.50 and it had a choice of 2 free Ciate paint pots worth £9 included!

I don't own any of these polishes so was intrigued to have a go. I got the red "Dangerous Affair" pot which looks beautiful in the bottle - a real rich red which would I thought would be great for Halloween or Christmas (as if it needed a special occasion!!)

A clear base coat, and two coats of the Dangerous Affair later, I have lovely warm red nails. As the photo suggests I was in a bit of a rush but overall I'm really impressed. The colour is warm and it went on easily. A third coat might have helped but I think you could get away with two. The colour is a warm winter berry sort of offering and I really like it. The only down side is it seems to be wearing down a little at the tips already. I don't think I'd pay £9 for it if I'm honest though the shade is a welcome addition to my collection and for £3.50 I can't complain.

Have you got either of the freebie colours? Is it worth buying a second Marie Claire for the other one?

LoubouLush x

MAC Pressed Blot Powder

Hi lovelies, today I bring to you the wonder of blot powder. I love blotting paper but wanted a nice pressed powder I could use to blot as well as set my make up. I tried the Sleek Luminous Powder for setting my make up which I'll do a post about and found it uber shimmery so wanted something nice and matte that I could use for setting and blotting if possible.

I headed to the MAC counter and ended up with MAC Pressed Blot Powder. It costs £17 so isn't particularly cheap. The packaging is simple and the powder itself is very fine. The girl at the counter explained that the colour choice isn't too important and as it's so light and see through. I'm pale and was recommended the medium which I was a little dubious about but it turns out I have no problems with it. Also available is light, medium/dark, dark and deep dark.

According to the MAC website this powder is A unique pressed powder designed primarily to provide shine control without adding any noticeable colour or texture. Sets foundation, finishes faces. For use in professional situations and for frequent touch-ups. Blot Powder contains Mica and Silica to adsorb excess oils and reduce shine on the skin's surface. Can be applied with the puff that comes in the compact or with a powder brush like #129 Powder/Blush Brush. Perfect for touching up Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation throughout the day.

So far I have used with a large brush to set my make up and bring the compact with powder puff to blot with.

All in all I love it!

My one little gripe is I'm not sure how long it will last so I'm trying to restrict myself to only using it to blot on nights out.

Have you tried it or do you have any recommendations for something else cheaper? I don't think I'll ditch my cheapie blotting paper for it but I'm always on the look out for a cheaper matte setting powder alternative...


LoubouLush xx