For the longest time, I've been a fan of Models Own nail polishes. They apply with ease, come in endless shades and last well both on the nails and in terms of product longevity. I love them that much I have around 50+ Model Own shades!
At normally £4.99 each they are pretty mid-price for nail polish and when a shade I like comes out I'm happy to pick it up. However, when browsing eBay last week I came across an amazing offer I just couldn't resist.
As Models Own have an amazing mix + match offer of 6 for £20 on at the moment here (ends Thursday 3rd June at midnight) I thought I'd share my own favourite top 6 nail polishes from the brand! I'm also maybe trying to resist the offer myself as I definitely don't need any new nail polishes!
Models Own are without a doubt one of my favourite nail polish brands. Aside from their affordable price tags and great nail polish formulas I find them to be such a creative brand and genuinely look forward to new launches. Below are my favourite six nail polishes from my extensive collection that I feel are real gems!
Models Own Gold Finger
Glitter Collection
Without a doubt my favourite gold glitter nail polish ever! This is a stunning packed gold glitter that reflects the light amazingly well. Unlike a lot of gold glitters I own this is easily opaque making it great to apply to the tips of the nails (seen above) or for a solid gold finish... though I prefer to just do this with an accent nail as like most glitters it's tough to remove! Also perfect for nail art especially at Christmas time.You can see just how pretty it looks worn opaque here.
Models Own Pink Punch
Ice Neon Collection
This is such a difficult nail polish to photograph as it's just so neon and can easily look more coral than it is. In real life this is such a perfect summer shade that suits all skin tones and brings out a tan so well. This shade has now been discontinued and brought out in the Ice Neon Collection which I don't love the finish of if I'm honest (a weird semi-matte) but a glossy topcoat does sort it out!
Models Own Flip Flop
Polish For Tans Collection
An unlikely love for me as I don't have anything else like this in my entire nail polish collection and I definitely don't have a tan to show it off. However this is just such a happy shade and the most neon nail polish I own I think. One for fingers and toes on holiday!
Models Own Magpie Green
Speckled Egg Collection
I loved the entire Speckled Egg Collection but the shade of Magpie Green for me was a perfect combination for the speckled effect. This really does remind me of a speckled duck egg and just looks so beautiful on the nails. One to go for if you like delicate and detailed looking nails.
Models Own Northern Lights
Wonderland Collection
Wonderland was another collection I thoroughly enjoyed with the jewel in the crown being Northern Lights. Before this 'Juicy Jules' was my absolutely favourite holographic nail polish but the unique pink tone to Northern Lights won me over. Both polishes have an amazing holographic finish that you won't be able to stop looking at!
Models Own Apple Pie
Fruit Pastel Collection
Last but not least my favourite pastel shade from Models Own. Models Own offer so many creamy pastel shades but Apple Pie is perfection to me, such a light creamy mint shade that looks smooth and glossy.
The mix + match offer is actually valid across most products on the Models Own website making it a pretty good deal. Aside from nail polishes I also love their Lip Stixs and modest range of blushers.
What are your favourite picks from Models Own?
Fee xo.
Models Own have recently launched a few new nail polishes just in time for summer. I personally love them all so thought I'd do a round-up style post and feature them all with nail swatches!
First up we have two new summer appropriate nail polishes in the Fruit Pastel collection, an amazing multi-coloured dotty top coat and a handy Top Coat in the HyperGel range.
HyperGel Top Coat
£8.00 - Models Own website here
First up an all new top coat from Models Own! I'm personally really pleased to see this as I've never got on with the original top coat from Models Own which seems to have a slight blue tone to it that alters the shade of any nail polish underneath (most noticeable with light nail polish shades). However so far with this new top coat I really can't fault it! As this is part of the HyperGel collection it is slightly thicker than a normal top coat but for that reason it reminds me of the consistency of Seche Vite. As you can see below with my nail swatch of MO Coconut Cream the top coat gives a lovely glossy finish and makes the polish appear thicker and gel-like.
My only negative would be the price tag as I feel it's slightly overpriced as you can actually purchase Seche Vite for around £6!
Peach Melba Fruit Pastel Collection
£5.00 (95p p&p) - Amazon here
Finally a creamy pastel tangerine shade. I've been after a shade like this for the longest time as is just such a lovely shade for summer on both the fingers and toes. This does have a peach scent but I do find it dwindles down to a more normal nail polish scent within a few hours of application. As for the formula this does take time to apply with 3 thin coats as if you just slap it on you can find yourself with gloopy nails that won't full dry! But as you can see if you stick to thin coats the finish is smooth and even. A great shade for summer especially against dark skin tones or if you have a tan!
Coconut Cream Fruit Pastel Collection
£5.00 (95p p&p) - Amazon here
Coconut Cream is a slightly off-white with a punch of a scent! I love all white nails so was interested to try out a white nail polish that wasn't so bright however unless you compare the nails to a stark white piece of paper or a normal white nail polish you really can't notice a difference. So if you are after a white nail polish I'd suggest going for an opaque French Manicure White. However if you love scented nail polishes then this is the one to go for as oh my does this have a scent to it! This smells just like Malibu (which I love!) and is such a strong scent that you can really notice it throughout the day. Maybe not for everyone but this just makes me think of beach holidays!
Microdots Top Coat
£5.00 (95p p&p) - here
Rainbow polka dots for the nails! To try this out I applied it over Peach Melba but this definitely would suit a lighter pastel shade or even a black a lot more. As you can see two coats of the multi-coloured matte dots gives good coverage yet doesn't make the nails look thick - always important. I feel this is just such a unique top coat for the high street (if you can find it in Boots) and one that almost gives the nails a slightly retro look somehow. Also I've been seriously mesmerised by the thousands of dots in the bottle!
Models Own have been coming out with such great product this year.
What do you love the look of here?
Fee xo.
Today I thought I'd start off the day with some pretty floral nails I created yesterday with the new Models Own Nail Art Tool Kit!
The nail art brush set gave me a push in the right direction to stop being lazy with my nails and create something with a spring theme... and I will admit I was pleased with how my nails turned out, but more of that later!
The new Models Own Nail Art Tool Kit (£8.00 - Models Own website here) is yet another addition to their fast expanding nail art range with a set of 6 brushes, 2 of which are double ender. The set caters to most creative requirements when adorning the nails with nail art from essential dotting tools to a handy striping brush and even clear nail art tape to experiment with!
Nail Art Tool Kit includes:
- 2x Duo Dotting Tools – Use to create dots in various shapes and sizes
- Short Detailing Brush – Use to paint controlled small details, designs and shapes
- Fan Brush – Use to create feather effects, colour fade and ombre designs
- Flat/Wide Brush – Use for wider line drawing, detailing and filling in
- Striping Brush – Use to create intricate stripes and lines
- Nail Art Tape – Use for high precision lines, shapes, colour blocking and details
Floral Hydrangea Nail Art...
For my pretty floral nails I started with an opaque white base with Models Own HyperGel White Light and a coat of Seche Vite to harden it fully before applying nail art. Then taking the largest Models Own Dotting Tool I added large splodges to my nails using Models Own Cornflower Gleam to create the basic bloom shape. I then went back in with the smaller opposite end of the dotting tool and HyperGel Lilac Sheen almost denting and pulling up the coat of tacky nail polish underneath to add texture. I then left the flower nail art to dry and used the short detailing brush to carefully paint on the leaves with HyperGel Turquoise Gloss. Once my nails were fully dry I then went back over the flowe detail with a small clean dotting tool to add more texture! This process has never occurred to me before but it worked perfectly to add more texture and a 3D effect!
Overall thoughts...
This is a great all round nail art kit that offers everything you would need. However with a bit of searching on eBay I know I could find similar brushes for half the price... so at £8 the set is overpriced in my opinion. As for the quality the brushes have strong flexible tips which makes for precise nail art, though only time will tell... generally there is some wear after a few months with the use of acetone to clean them. The only brush I would ditch from this set would be the fan brush as it's doesn't give the nicest results and I feel it's just there as a bigger more substantial looking brush. All in all a nail art set I really can't fault!
Question of the day - What is your favourite Models Own nail polish? Mine has to be Pink Punch.
Fee xo.
Are white nails on trend this season? I can't say I know or care really! But I do know I looked at my nail polish wall today and felt like white nails should happen.
White nails aren't often seen but I love the effects all white nails can bring, from giving a healthy look to the hands/warming up your skin tone to looking clean and chic. There really is nothing to dislike about white nails!
From owning multiple white nail polishes I know how finding an opaque formula can be very hit and miss. So many look perfectly white in the bottle but require 4+ coats on the nails resulting in a gloopy non-drying mess. Which is why I decided to go with Models Own HyperGel Nail Polish in White Light (£5.00 - Models Own here or Boots). This super glossy polish is a trusty 2-coat wonder that is fairly easy to apply as white nail polishes go.
As you can see I did try out a matte top coat but as soon as the matte finish developed I knew glossy white nails won hands down, so reversed the finish with a clear glossy top coat.
Like with all manicures I was tempted to add a glitter top coat or some kind of nail art but for once I resisted the urge as I think the beauty of these nails is that they are strikingly simple and bright. White nail polish also makes a great nail base for neon or bright shades intensifying the colour even more!
What do you think of all white nails?
Fee xo.
A very bright blog post for you today in the form of the new super neon Models Own Polish For Tans collection. Summer launches are coming thick and fast but this is definitely a collection to check out as it's more than perfect for summer.
The new collection consists of 5 neon pastel shades which show-off your complexion whether fair or tanned, warming up pale skin and showing off olive, tanned or dark skin perfectly.You can currently purchase the nail polishes from the Models Own website here or find them in Superdrug stores. They will also be launching in Boots April 16th.
As a super pale person I initially wasn't that excited by this launch - I don't tan (like never ever) and Models Own already offer quite a lot of neon shades that I love - Pink Punch, Toxic Apple & Bubblegum to name but a few. However on application of the Polish For Tan shades I discovered these actually warm up the palest of skin tones and look super bright... you may even be able to see from my fingers (below) that they actually have a warmed up look to them! So I can't imagine how perfect they will look against an actual tan - possibly the ultimate festival and summer holiday shades right here.
Rambling aside here is the full collection with swatches...
Sadly my camera wasn't able to pick up the full intensity of the shades (neons and blue shades are my camera nemesis for some peculiar reason) so you will have to imagine these at least 2 shades more neon! However you may be able to spot that these aren't as cool toned as neon shades go but that is the beauty of them which makes them wearable for all skin tone and also tan enhancing. Models Own have actually gone and created neon-pastel shades by taking neon shades and mixing them with a white base to balance out the intensity and therefore producing creamy looking neons!
My only criticism would be that they are quite thick and time does need to be taken to ensure a non-streaky finish that actually dries... try to whack these on before heading out the door and you may end up with not such apretty finish.
Speaking of the finish as you may be able to tell these are a semi matte finish which I think works really well (most visible in the below nail swatch of 'Flip Flop') it almost gives them a jelly plastic look. Though if you aren't keen a clear top coat will set that right.
Had to share with you my favourite shade of the collection first with 'Flip Flop'. Seriously how bright is this... I think this may just be the brightest nail polish I own now! Just so bright yet so wearable and if this is how bright it looks against my skin I can only imagine it looking super shockingly bright on dark or tanned skin tones! I can see this not leaving my fingers and toes on holiday next month.
Also I know this will make such a great base for nail art (I'm thinking aztec print and palm trees) and fun top coats.
Another favourite here with 'Beach Bag' that I feel I can wear right now as it's a lovely muted orange pastel with a neon glow. Sadly this swatch is a bit off and is looking slightly more peach toned than it should but trust me it's a beaut! This is definitely another matching fingers and toes shade that will really pop against a tan.
As for least favourite it would have to be 'Sun Hat' not because I don't like it but because I own a lot of barbie pinks and I feel this specific shade doesn't suit pale skin that well.
Overall this is an amazing range and possibly my favourite summer collection from Models Own EVER! If there was one shade I'd recommend it would be Flip Flop - so bold and perfect for super hot days!
Hands up if you are ready for summer now?!
Fee xo.
Just in time for Easter Models Own have gone and released a wonderful Speckled Egg Nail Collection. This lovely collection consists of 5 speckled pastel shades and has just launched today on the Models Own website (who are currently running a 6 for £20 deal!). You can also find these in Superdrug stores for £5 each as of today also.
Think ornate bird egg speckles on your nails and you are pretty close to the effect these beautiful nail polishes give. The collection consists of - Dove - a lovely dusky pink, Magpie - duck egg blue (seen in this post), Swan - a deep lilac, Goose - a soft mustard yellow and Duck a soft sky blue. Which as you can spot are all bird names... a lovely touch.
I will be making sure to swatch the full collection when the range fully launches into Boots stores next week but for now I thought I would share with you my favourite shade from the collection - Magpie.
For me this is the one to pick up from the collection as I know most people don't buy up the entire range! Magpie is the most perfect duck egg blue shade that I feel works best with the speckled matte glitter and is a spot on shade for spring/summer.
The formula of these isn't consistent with Model Own nail polishes, I found them slightly gloopy, however application is still easy and smooth enough, taking two coats for an opaque finish. These are also described as semi-matt but as you can see from my swatches they do have some shine to them but can of course be made extra shiny with a clear top coat - I personally didn't feel that was needed. Next one to try out on my nails will have to be Goose, I can't wait to see how the mustard yellow tone will look.
More swatches to come of this lovely collection!
Fee xo.
As today is Valentine's Day I thought instead of just showing you regular swatches of the new Models Own HyperGel collection I would incorporate some Valentine's Day nail art into the mix.
Firstly let me just express how excited I am for this range - 10 Gel-like nail polishes without the hassle/process of gel application but with the hi-shine and coverage and all at the normal price of £5 each! Models Own really have produced a quality collection here with spot on shades for Spring/Summer 2014.
Full swatches and details of where you can buy the HyperGel collection at the
bottom of the post.
bottom of the post.
Models Own Naked Glow Hypergel
£5.00 here
First up one of my favourite shades from the range! Naked Glow is a perfect soft beige that reminds me more of a paint shade than anything else. But as it's such a soft shade I knew it would look perfect alone but also as a base for all nail art... I actually cannot wait to wear it with gold nail art studs adorning each nail.
Unfortunately as most of the nail art covers the Hypergel nail polish you can't really see the shine from this but like all the shades in the collection this really doesn't need a topcoat. This is also a perfect two coat nail polish, though I did in fact get away with one coat here! A beautiful shade that has to be up there with Models Own 'Utopia' for being such a serene shade.
Model Own Pink Veneer
£5.00 - here
Another shade I was drawn to that I could instantly see working well with Red Lustre (the vivid red from the collection). Though not as opaque as some of the bright shades (taking 2-3 coats) this baby pink definitely makes up for it in the shine department giving such a hi-shine finish. I could see this looking amazing come spring/summer especially with pale skin tones.
Here I decided to create some very quick heart tipped nails by painting the top of a heart to each nail tip by sweeping the brush in an 'M' shape. I then decided to decorate each heart with dots using White Light (the white from the collection) and a dotting tool.
Swatches left to right - Coral Glaze, Blue Glint, Cerise Shine, Turquoise Gloss, Red Lustre, Cornflower Gleam, Lilac Sheen, Naked Glow and White Light.
Favourites - Without a doubt Naked Glow as I love soft nude shades and Lilac Sheen as it's such a perfect lavender shade for spring.
Least liked - This would have to be White Light as the 3 coat coverage was a bit underwhelming and I don't feel a white wasn't that needed in the collection.
If you could only buy two shades (2 for £8 at Boots) - Naked Glow, reasons above and Red Lustre as it's such a vivid red with a perfect hi-gloss formula.
Release Dates
The HyperGel collection is now available to purchase online from the Models Own website here or from the two UK Models Own Bottleshops. Boots will be starting to stock the collection from 19th February then Superdrug there after on March 12th. All priced at £5.00 each.
More nail swatches from the new collection to come next week!
Which shades do you like the look of?
Fee xo.
A bit of a strange collaboration for you today.... though a collaboration none the less and with the incentive of free nail polish!
Models Own and Ford Retail have partnered up for 'Glam It Up A Gear'. Creating three unique limited edition shades to match the new Ford Fiesta.
So how do you get your hands of the 3 Models Own shades? Well throughout September you can register your details on the Glam It Up A Gear website and then head to your nearest Ford Retail Dealership for a free test drive of the new Ford Fiesta. Once you are done the trio of nail polishes will be sent off to you.
I personally don't see the relation of a car with nail polishes.... but if you are after a new car it's a nice added extra and if you just want to get your hands on the nail polishes then it's not too much hard work... granted you are the right age and can drive!
The three shades from left to right are - Hot Magenta, Fashionista and Candy Blue.
Hot Magenta has to be my favourite as it's ideal for autumn/winter. This is a lovely Oxblood shade with a subtle pink tone to it and looks super glossy on the nails. Next up is Fashionista which I would describe as an 'old gold' shade, a dull metallic shade that does take 3 coats but is a lovely autumn shade and would make a great base for glitter top coats. Lastly we have Candy Blue, which is darker than the swatch above and contains micro shimmer to it. Not my favourite but still nice.
It is a shame that these shades aren't available though any other channels but if you fancy a test drive of the new Ford Fiesta then you can fill in your details and find your nearest Ford Dealership here.
Fee xo.
Both the Models Own Fireworks & Velvet Goth nail polish collections are launching on the Models Own website today (Boots stores from 4th Sept) and since I have shown you the swatches of the Velvet Goth collection (here) I thought it was time to show you the Fireworks collection!
The new collection consists of 5 glitter top coats all with firework names - which I love! However I don't think I will be the only one thinking that this collection feels a bit too early... Bonfire night is November 5th, no? But Models Own's eagerness aside this is a wonderful collection for any nail lover.
The 5 nail polishes consist of different pieces of glitter from micro glitter, holographic strands and mini hexagons suspended in a clear base, meaning these can be worn over any nail polish. Right now I this will be wearing these over nude and pastel shades, then come winter darker shades such as deep aubergine and black. I'm also thinking these could also be quite festive if the silver, red or gold top coats were paired with a metallic gold or red base for a super Christmas-y manicure!
From top left to right - Roman Candle, Sparkler, Rocket, Banger, Catherine Wheel.
On nails - 2 coats Models Own 'Bare Beauty' as a base, 1 coat 'Rocket'.
Favourites from the Fireworks collection have to be Rocket (red glitter) and Banger (blue glitter) as I think these are the most full on glitters and will look as equally pretty with a light or dark base. However I feel Catherine Wheel is the most 'firework' like as it has a lovely mix of red and gold glitter... a perfect one for Halloween & Bonfire night. Sparkler is also a really lovely glitter with just holographic silver strands that could be worn over a base on its own, built up for a more opaque finish or with another glitter. The only one I'm not that in love with is Roman Candle as it just doesn't seem all that special and I don't seem to like purple glitters for some reason.
As for application these are very quick and easy to apply, though I would say sometimes the strands do hang over the tip of the nail but can be fixed by running your fingertip over the tip of the nail to push any glitter down.
I really think this whole collection will look pefect teamed with a black base especially for Bonfire Night so I will make sure to do swatches on a black nail polish base nearer the time.
Overall these are perfect autumn/winter glitter top coats and will cover you right from Bonfire night to Christmas and New Years Eve!
Which new collection do you prefer - Velvet Goth or Fireworks?
Fee xo.
Yet another new launch from Models Own - the Velvet Goth collection!
These beauties are matte yet sparkly glitter nail polishes in 5 jewel toned shades. The bottles also come with limited edition velvet tops that give them an extra luxe feel for only £5 each.
This new range is definitely one for Autumn/Winter and also textured nail polish fan. The collection launches tomorrow at the MO Bottleshop, online from 2nd September and Boots stores nationwide from 4th September.
As not such a huge fan of textured nail polishes I'm thankful to say these matte glitters aren't overly textured meaning these aren't gritty feeling on the nails and can be turned into glossy glitters with the use of a clear top coat! Below are the five nail polishes swatches* with the bottom swatch being a single coat, the middle swatch 2 coats and the top swatch 3 coats with a glossy top coat.
*Please note the shades will appear darker on the nails
Absinthe
I thought I would start with my favourite shade from the collection. This Emerald green is wonderful with two coats but comes to life with 3 coats and a top coat to give it a glossy finish. In fact it instantly reminded me of this dress from Motel which is equally amazing. An amazing deep emerald green that will look great come autumn and also at Christmas!
Amethyst
This has to be my least favourite shade from the new collection as it just isn't as impressive as it looks in the bottle sadly. If this was to be worn alone then 3 coats would be needed or else it just wouldn't be that deep or rich looking. However there is the option of applying a dark purple base coat to the nails and then applying a single coat of Amethyst to give a look more similar to the bottle. Not awful by any means but just not as grabbing or rich as the other 4 shades.
Obsidian
Oh my, what a pretty one Obsidian is! This is the one that I love the matte finish with - especially with two coats. The reason for this is the large multi-faceted sequin glitter that really stands out in the polish. I also like that it isn't just another black polish with glitter in it, but a more charcoal shade. I really feel this look more like a high end nail polish and is the most unique of the collection. This will be one I will be wearing from autumn through to winter.
Sardonyx
Is it possible to have another favourite? I'm loving Saradonyx as it looks great with a single coat, two coats and then 3 coats with a glossy top coat. I feel I could wear this with a pink base coat for girly raspberry nails, 2 coats with a matte finish for an interesting chic look in autumn and then glossy and glittery come Christmas (could this be better than China Glaze Ruby Slippers?!). I can't decide which swatch I like the most here in fact!
Valerian
This shade reminds me of a night's sky reflecting on a deep blue sea - just so pretty. This deep rich effect can be achieved by applying a top coat to create a glossy finish that really highlights the lighter glitter particles. You can also see below how this looks on the nails with 3 coats with and without a top coat. I also don't mind this with 2 coats for a brighter finish.
My thoughts of the Velvet Goth Collection...
Without applying a glossy top coat I think I would have found this a bit of a hit and miss collection, but with the use of a top coat this really brings some of the shades to life especially Absinthe and Valerian.
This is a great collection for Winter and the added velvet tops really add something extra to the polishes, though I don't think you could get away with throwing these in your makeup bag and them staying nice for very long. Favourites from this collection - Absinthe and Sardonyx, but I do also love the glitter and finish of Obsidian.
What do you think of the Velvet Goth Collection? Would you keep the semi matte finish or wear them glossy with a top coat?
Fee xo.
As the new Models Own Elements Collection Artstixs have fully launched now I thought I would show you the swatches of the full collection today.
I personally feel only 4 Artstix duos is quite a small collection but I think they have the shades spot on for a summer to autumn transition.
As mentioned in my previous post on the new Elements collection (£6.00 each) the 8 shades are all exclusive new shades that can only be purchased in the Artstix duos and not full size nail polishes. I'm in two minds about this as I absolutely love the nude shade in the Cloud Drops Artstix and the glitter of Ember Red and would 100% purchase full sized nail polishes of them both... however each nail polish shade in the duo has a separate name so I have a feeling they may not all stay exclusive to the Artstixs in the future - fingers crossed!
Currently my favourite Artstix from the collection is Cloud Drops (you can find full nail swatches here) as I love both the base colour and the glitter so much but I cannot wait to wear Ember Red come Autumn - seriously a perfect duo! Also I'm sure I don't need to mention this but the formula and application of these are just great and cannot be faulted at all.
The swatches below are two coats of the solid nail colour and then a single thick coats of glitter nail polish. But there isn't anything stopping you just adding glitter to the tips of the nails, I personally think this would work well with Cloud Drops and Blue Spray.
As you can play around with these if you own few I am thinking the glitter from Ember Red would look amazing over the base nail colour of Cloud Drops and the glitter of Cloud Drops over the base nail colour of Blue Spray for some summer-y nails.
I really am in love with these Artstixs and cannot wait to be wearing the darker shades come Autumn now! Is it crazy I want it to be Autumn already? I may have even been looking at these cushions already for Christmas?!
Which duo do you like the most?
You can find the Elements Collection Artstixs along with the other 8 Artstixs in selected Boots stores for £6 each or from the Models Own website here where you can purchase two duos and save £2.
Fee xo.
Oh how excited I get when a new Models Own collection is launched! I seriously can't get enough of Models Own nail polishes and their new autumn/winter Elements collection £6 each (which launches in Boots stores and online from 7th August - tomorrow!) is serious to die for.
You can see the full collection below with a swatch of one of the shades... though more nail posts will be coming up soon enough to show the full range.
I'm already thinking of cosy nights in with my throw and better TV and rich autumnal colours, so this collection has come at just the right time for me. Yes, I know it's still summer but I do get bored of the seasons quite fast... so I'm already looking forward to autumn and even Halloween oddly enough!
The four new Elements Artstix Duo's join the eight existing Artstix duos (review post here), but the most exciting thing is these unique nail polish colours are NOT available as full sized Models Own nail polish shades... which is bitter sweet as I'm in love with two of the shades already and would without a doubt buy them as full sized bottles!
If you are totally new to the MO Artstix's the idea is simple. The stix consists of a opaque nail colour which you apply first as a base coat and then there is the glitter end which you apply over the entire nail or just on the tips or as an accent nail. Of course you can just wear the nail polish on it's own and use the glitter end over any nail polish, making it a very versatile nail product.
The new range consists of Terra Crystal (Terra Firma nail polish & Pink Crystal glitter), Blue Spray (Blue Maldives & Sea Spray), Ember Red (Hot Red & Ember Glow) and Cloud Drops (Cloud 9 and Dew Drops).
I personally feel this is a perfect transition collection from summer to autumn with shades Blue Spray and Cloud Drops being very wearable now and Terra Crystal and Ember Red being ideal for when the leaves turn orange and a scarf is needed!
My absolute favourite has to be Cloud Drops, pictured above, as the base coat - Cloud 9 is just an amazing creamy nude shade and the gold glitter of Dew Drops catches the light perfectly. But come autumn I know I won't be able to get enough of Ember Red as the burnt orange glitter is amazing!
I absolutely love Models Own nail polishes but I love that they have brought out so many new shades in the form of the Artstix (meaning you get to try out two shades for only £6) and that the shades are perfectly autumnal.
Let me know which duo you like the look of the most and I will make sure to do a nail swatch post of the most liked Elements Artstix this week!
Fee xo.
Another new Models Own nail polish collection just in time for summer!
The Models Own Splash Collection consists of 5 different coloured flakie nail polishes which are suspended in varying degrees of pigmented nail polishes that give a wash of colour to the nails when worn without a base colour.
Models Own describe the Splash Collection as 'A completely unique glide-on glitter topcoat in gleaming jewel shades. Inspired by the sea and distant shores, this pretty collection will have you dreaming of summer haze and tropical sun - each polish contains 5 different chunky hand-cut glittery flakes that are guaranteed to glisten, sparkle and refract the light. Revitalise your entire polish collection - wear alone for a wash effect or over your favourite colour polish giving a glistening top coat!'
I personally feel this is the first collection were all the nail polishes are quite similar and would actually suggest that if you do like the look of the collection to only purchase one or two. You can find a detailed explanation of each shade below, along with my own thoughts of the Splash nail polishes...
Golden Shore
This nail polish contains golden flecks/flakes which looks best over an orange base coat (see nail swatch) or black base coat to really show off the flakes... which oddly have a slight green tone to them when applied over a black base. Worn alone the gelly orange can be seen quite well on the nails after 2 or 3 coats and is one of the more pigmented polishes in the collection.
Red Sea
The flakes in this are a mixture of red and purple which are most noticeable when worn over a black nail polish. This would be the one that could also be worn on naked nails as the red gelly polishes is the most pigmented in the collectio.
Mermaids Tears
I had the highest hopes for this shade as it looks so pretty in the bottle however sadly the purple gelly that the flakes are suspended in has very little colour pay off. So this would look best when paired with a dark base coat such as a purple or black. The flakes in this are a silvery blue shade.
Aqua Splash
This over a black base coat really does come to life with it's green/blue/silver flakes and over a white base coat it looks a bit like shards of snowflakes. However over naked nails this is pretty bland.
Pink Paradise
Pink Paradise is the only polishes out of the collection that also has a glitter running through it, which is a really nice touch and adds to the finish. This looks best over a pastel pink or neon pink but again can be worn over a black nail polish to how off the blue and pink toned flakes.
Why I'm not in love with this collection...
As I touched on above, this for me is the first collection that I have felt the nail polishes are all quite same-y and Models Own have used the different coloured bases to make them all look unique, were as in reality the only polish that could be used on bare nails would be Red Sea.
Also I feel the formula of these do let them down. As the flakes are quite large and the formula is quite thick the application isn't that great and it can be hard to place the flakes evenly over each nail. So they aren't quick paint-over-your-nails-and-go polishes and you may also struggle for them to dry if you applied more than two coats.
Favourite picks from the Splash Collection...
Having said all of that, these do look great over a black base coat and flakes really do look amazing, my personal favourite would be Aqua Splash for this. However the most interesting polish would be Pink Paradise as it does also contain glitter and Red Sea would be the most versatile as it can be worn on bare nails, over a red or pink and looks great over a black nail polish.
As you can see above when applied over similar base nail polish shades the flakes do blend in and all look fairly similar. Also the amount of flakes that you can get on the nails with one coat can be quite sparse as you can see with the blue and purple nail swatches. If you do love the look of flakie nail polishes I would suggest spending a tiny bit more and purchasing China Glaze Lush & Luxe (£6.95 - Beauty Bay here) which is just out of this world!
You can find the entire Splash collection on the Models Own website here, at the Models Own Westfield Bottleshop or in select Boots Stores for £5 each.
I sadly feel a lot of people will purchase these on how they look in the bottle and that really doesn't translate on to the nails which may lead to disappointment!
As I have mentioned countless times in this post how much better these look over a black nail polish base I think I will post up swatches of the collection over a black, soon.
Fee xo.
Some super girly nails for you today with Models Own fairly new Artstix Duo Nail Polish in Pink Stuff which is Models Own Pastel Pink with Hot Stuff glitter top coat over the top.
You can see my nail swatches of Snow Mix and Blibble here and find out more about the entire range of duo polishes.
I wasn't sure what I was expecting from Pink Stuff but I thought it would be my least favourite from the duo polishes but I actually really love this combination. I already own Hot Stuff nail polish but would have never of though to use it over a pastel pink but it really brings out both the raspberry coloured glitter and multi-faceted glitter.
I also added a clear top coat with my favourite NYC Quick Dry 'Grand Central Station' Top Coat to make the manicure super glossy which I think really finishes it off. Any nails like these remind me of Barbie or Nicki Minaj nails because of the bubblegum pink and how girly they are. A perfect combination for summer!
I really do think the Models Own Artstix Duos (£6 each from Boots, Westfield Bottle Shop or online) are a great idea and when I spot 'Freak Betty' at a Models Own stand in Boots it will be mine as I can see the a blue glitter top coat over dark blue nails being amazing.
So pleased with Models Own Pink Stuff that I may love it more than Snow Mix (NOTD here) now!
Fee xo.
Models Own are coming at us thick and fast with their new products at the moment!
Their newest additions are the Artstix Nail Beads which I'm sure many of you will be happy to hear are available to buy right now - you can find them online here, at the Westfield Bottleshop and in Boots stores from today.
The Artstix Nail Beads come in 5 different shades, all priced at £4.00 each and include a world first: neon nail beads, which really are amazing!
As you will see below there are so many ways to get creative with these beads. You can of course cover every single nail with the nail beads or go for an accent nail. You can also use them as singular micro beads for a polka dot look, you can even scatter them across the nails or you even mix different colours of beads together!
The new range consists of - Gold Fizz , Black Fizz , Orange Fizz , Green Fizz and Pink Fizz which come in smaller glass bottles than the Model Own Polishes. Each bottle has a screw top and a small opening so you can pour out the bead on to the nails.
The instructions for use on the packaging are very straight forward. You simply paint your nails and while they are still wet you pour or place the beads on the the nails and lightly press down. However I decided to paint my nails and then once they had dried apply a clear top coat. The reason for this is if I applied too much nail polish to my nails and then pressed the beads lightly on to my nails I knew there would be a chance of the beads sinking into the nail polish or smudging it. Also by using a clear top coat you can apply it to an area of the nail so they only stick to that part.
Once your nail polish has fully dried the nail beads really do stay in place which did impress me as I was expecting them to catch or fall off around the tips within an hour or so. However due to them being so lightweight they stayed put without the need of a top coat.
Here I have tried out two different nail looks. For my first attempt at using the Models Own Nail Beads I used Gold Fizz on my ring fingernail as as accent/statement nail and painted the rest of my nails with Models Own Jade Stone. I wasn't sure how well the beads would cover so I used a gold nail polish as the base (this totally wasn't need as I found out) and then I applied a clear top coat and poured on the nail beads. There were a few gaps, but using the side of a pair of tweezers I simply pushed the beads in to place to cover the spaces. I also used the tweezers to push the beads slightly around the edges so it gave a really neat finish.
For my second nail look I applied two coats of Models Own Snow White and a clear top coat and then simply scatters the Black Fizz Nail Beads onto each nail. This was super easy and of course you use less beads this way. I do however wish with this look I had mixed in a few different colours of nail beads in there with the black.
I also decided to try out a few ideas I had for the nail beads on a nail wheel instead of applying and then removing my nail polish constantly! As you can see I tried out 5 different looks with all of the beads in the collection.
I think my favourite idea has to be using the beads as singular beads (second in from right). It does take a steady hand but placing the beads spaced out gives a totally different use and look to the beads. I really cannot wait to try this out with the gold nail beads over light nude nails. Which nail look do you like the most?
So far I really am impressed with the quality and shades of the new nail beads and how they create such a different look on the nails. However as I am fair with all my reviews there is a down side to the beads, and that is how messy they are! Not really messy is the normal sense but even if you place a dish under your nails to catch the excess beads it is then impossible to place them back in the bottle. The packaging does show a miniature funnel being used to place the beads back into the bottle but this doesn't come with the nail beads so really what is there to use?! I did try to create a small funnel with a piece of paper however it just didn't work. So you can either attempt to place the excess beads back into the bottle and reate a bit of a mess or you just waste them by throwing them in the bin.
Overall I am really liking the new Artstix range (you can find my post on the Artstix Duo Polishes here).
What do you think of the new Artstix Nail Beads?
Fee xo.
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