Today I'm trying out some more full-nail water decals from Born Pretty Store. These are a tartan design (which BPS call "colourful grid pattern", lol!) in a red and black colour.
As you can see, you get one large sheet of water decal, which you can cut into any size or shape you want. The decals are available here for $2.18. My pattern is #14, which on the website looks pink and brown, but which is actually a much nicer red and black design.
I didn't think there would be enough decal to cover all ten nails, so I decided to do three nails on each hand and do something else on the other nails.
I started with a base of plain red on three nails, and painted the other two with Zoya Storm, a pretty sparkly black. I then put the decals over the red nails. This meant that the yellow/orange part of the design wasn't actually visible over the red, but I think I prefer the plain red and black that I ended up with.
Application is really easy - just cut to an approximate size, drop into a bowl of water, slide off the card and apply to the nail. Then dab dry with some paper towel, and add topcoat. The topcoat melts off any of the decal overhanging the nail, and adds a super shiny finish to the nail.
I do wish the sheet had been a bit bigger, as I would have liked to have done all ten nails. As it was, I did six easily, and possibly have enough for two small nails to use later. It would not have been possible to do all ten of my nails though. But at that price, it's no hardship to buy two packs!
If you want to try these decals, or similar ones from Born Pretty Store, you can get 10% off using my discount code.
These decals were provided for my honest review. See my Disclaimer section for more information.
I haven't used water decals in ages, and I've never tried full nail water decals before. I was a touch apprehensive about trying these decals from the Born Pretty Store as when I've used full nail foils or wraps in the past, they've been fiddly, awkward and ended up wrinkled or spoiled.
However, these are water decals, and it turns out they're very different to wraps!
This particular design is available here at the Born Pretty Store, for the bargain price of 99c! As you can see, this comes as two strips of pattern, which is just enough for 10 nails.
I started with a base of white polish (I used Essie Blanc) and then cut the pattern into nail-sized strips. I then dropped them in a bowl of water one by one. The decals slide off the card into the water, and they're easy to manoeuvre into position on the nail. I then pressed my nail into some kitchen roll to soak up the water and fix it in place. Then came the magic bit! I added a coat of Seche Vite, and the extra decal that was sticking out past my nail just melted away!
As you can see, the decals haven't stayed totally perfect - there is a tiny bit of messiness at some of the edges. However, this is only just visible in extreme closeup, and at arm's length, they look really fabulous!
I love bright colours and bold patterns, so this design is perfect for me. I really like it. Since I put these on this afternoon, my nails have held up well to cooking and washing up, and typing, so I have high hopes for the lasting quality of these.
If you want to try these decals, or similar ones from Born Pretty Store, you can get 10% off using my discount code.
These decals were provided for my honest review. See my Disclaimer section for more information.
Today I have some gorgeous water decals from the Born Pretty Store to show you! I am in LOVE with these decals, they're just so pretty!
These are item # 14777 on the Born Pretty Store (click here for details) and cost $2.86, which is a total bargain! As you can see, there are lots of different lines of lace patterns, in a bright yellow and a hot pink. I've worn these decals every day for the last week, in three different looks.
This was my first look - Barry M Sugar Apple (a lovely green from the new range of Gelly colours) with decals across the tips. I wasn't thrilled with how the yellow looked over the green in the end, and wished I'd used all pink, but I still like the look.
Sugar Apple is a lovely colour - it's very similar to China Glaze For Audrey actually, possibly a very tiny shade brighter.
This was the second look I wore - this is Models Own Sun Hat (the neon pink) and Models Own Bikini (the neon yellow) with more pink decals.
I loved Sun Hat and Bikini! They're such cheerful colours, and the decals just set them off really well. I added a rhinestone too, just for good measure.
And just look what the polishes do under UV light! You may notice that my middle finger nail isn't quite right, and you'd be right. It's not mine - my tear (see the teabag repair post the other day) ripped right off, so I had to use a false nail. I hate it!
Then this was my final look. This is Models Own Coconut Cream, one of the scented range. I can't say it smells of coconut, I think it smells of sunscreen! For me, it's a really nostalgic smell, as it vividly reminds me of the ski sunscreen I used the first time I went skiing, back in the mid 1980s! Anyway, it's a good colour - this is two coats, and it's a nice, even, opaque finish with lots of gloss.
I added the decals over the tips. I got one a bit wonky, oops! It doesn't look too obvious in real life.
I really love the range of decals in the Born Pretty Store. The range is huge, and always expanding - they add new ones all the time. There's something for everyone there; whether you want classy, elegant, cute, funny, bright, dark, floral, stripy... As always, you can get 10% off any order using my discount code - just enter AKJ61 at the checkout.
These decals were provided for review purposes. See my Disclaimer section for more details.
Being a nail varnish addict living in Derbyshire, I'm used to all the GOOD STUFF being concentrated in London (or worse, in the States!) but now there's something good that we've got up here! Models Own has opened a brand new Bottleshop in Meadowhall, to go with the ones down in the capital. I'm not a fan of shopping centres, especially Meadowhell, but I had to make a trip for this!
The Bottleshop looks fabulous! My nail polish radar senses went off, and even though I wasn't sure where it was, I made a beeline directly for it! It's cunningly located near Claire's Accessories, which means it has a steady stream of awestruck teenage girls. But I know exactly how they felt, because - well - LOOK HOW COOL IT IS!
It's a giant bottle of nail varnish, tipped over and spilling, right in the middle of a shopping centre!
Plus, it's SO neat! The displays are gorgeous - a massive graduated rainbow of colours, all neatly and evenly lined up with not a gap in sight! Which brings me to the staff (they're brilliant!) I commented on the neatness, and about how I felt bad buying things and leaving holes in the display, and the lovely, chatty girl joked that they're all OCD and keep filling up the gaps. But I see it as attention to detail, and hard work - they were constantly watching, and refilling the shelves, making sure the colours were in the right places and facing the right way. Maybe I'm OCD too (although I know it's nothing to joke about) but I really liked that the display was so perfect.
The staff are fab - as well as the constant attention to detail, they're friendly, helpful and enthusiastic. I was so impressed with the shop.
I have to say too - I went into Boots and Superdrug afterwards, and not only were the nail varnish sections EMPTY of shoppers, but the displays also looked really tired and messy and unattractive. It makes a difference!
The Bottleshop have a special offer on at the moment, where you can buy any 6 products for £20 (and they threw in a free eyeliner!), so I stocked up on my first Polish for Tans, another Ice Neon, Coconut Cream, and the new Microdots!
This is what I did with Bikini and Sunhat from the Polish for Tans collection - more on this tomorrow!
I loved the shop, and will definitely be going back. If you're anywhere near Meadowhall, I recommend a trip for sure. Another Bottleshop will be opening up in Leeds soon too, so good news for northern nail polish addicts!
Today I want to show you some really cool water decals I got from the Born Pretty Store - I love this set!
Look! This is a crazy set of decals - there are moustaches, top hats, glasses, bow ties, random shapes, playing card suits... all sorts!
For this first look, I used two coats of Dior Delice, a lovely shimmery orange polish. The decals are lovely and thin and easy to use, just like all the other BPS decals I've tried. I wore these nails for three days, and the rabbit made me smile every time.
For this second look, I've used two coats of Barry M Heather (the Silks range is really getting a lot of use!) and some of the bow tie decals and a heart. I added the bows to the nail tips to give a sort of French-mani look.
I love these decals! They're so quirky and random, and there's a huge range of looks you can do with them. I've got plans for a black and white and red playing card design, which I'll post soon I hope.
The decals are item number 10747 (click for details) which cost $3.39 - and as you can see, there are hundreds of decals here!
As always, you can get 10% off any Born Pretty Store orders using my discount code, and the shipping is free too!
These decals were provided for review purposes, but opinions are 100% honest. See my Disclaimer for further details.
This is the last of my latest Jacava polishes, Smooth Liquid Gold. I decided to pair this up with some water decals from the Born Pretty Store to make it a super pretty design for a dull day at work.
This is two coats of Smooth Liquid Gold.
This is a really pretty gold polish. As you may know, I'm a HUGE fan of gold nail varnish! This one isn't going to be one of my top favourite golds, but then I do have very high standards for gold! Having said that, it is a very pretty shade.
Application is a little trickier than most Jacava polishes that I've tried before, but that's due to the type of polish - it's a touch thicker than most creme polishes, and can easily look a bit brushstrokey. However, it's a lovely smooth, even consistency, and it really does glow in the right light.
The decals were ones I initially reviewed here. I love these roses, they're just so pretty!
This polish was provided for review. See my Disclaimer for more detail.
I had lots of exciting mail deliveries this weekend! Apart from the light tent, and a big package of samples (more on that in a couple of days!) I also got some more water decals from my favourite nail art supplier, Born Pretty Store. Today I have these gorgeous black and white rose decals to show you.
The pack is item #12687 - click here for details. The pack contains about 3/4 white roses to 1/4 black roses and costs $2.86
I used a base of Zoya Storm, a lovely black polish filled with sparkles, and Barry M Lady, a beautiful white textured glitter. I added a coat of Seche on top of Lady before adding the decals, to give a smooth base.
I really like this look! The decals, as usual, are really easy to use - just drop into a small bowl of water (I use warm water to make it both easier and pleasanter) and then slide off the card backing and onto the nail. Pat dry with kitchen roll, and topcoat, and you're done.
I'm a big fan of colourful nails, but every now and then I like something monochrome for a change.
You can use my discount code for 10% off at the Born Pretty Store at any time, and you can use it multiple times. I love their selection of water decals especially - it's huge, and there are new designs being introduced all the time.
I received these decals for review purposes, but words and opinions are entirely my own. I do not receive anything if you use my discount code, although when it's been used ten times, BPS will let me host a giveaway for my readers! See my Disclosure page for more details. I bought the polishes myself.
This weekend I've been playing with another set of Born Pretty Store decals, and unsurprisingly, I love these! I find that this time of year, I'm longing for spring, for the longer days and some sunshine, and I want my nails to reflect this. Sunflowers are my absolute favourite flower of all time anyway, and to have them on my nails makes me very happy!
These decals are item #9330 in the Born Pretty Store. They usually cost $2.83 per pack (or $4.33 for both designs) but they are currently on sale for $0.99 each! I don't know how long that price is going to last, but what a bargain! I have both different designs. One pack is predominantly sunflowers, the other also has lovely cheerful gerberas.
Aren't they HAPPY looking?
I first wore these yesterday over China Glaze Keep Calm, Paint On. KCPO is a lovely pastel green, with a pretty shimmer. I find the application a bit tricky, to be honest, as it's a bit streaky and runny and tends to flood the cuticles easily. It's so pretty though!
I love this look! The green and the flowers together look so springlike and pretty. I was going to leave these on for work on Monday, but then today - the sun came out!
It was bright sunshine, which I haven't seen in weeks. It immediately made me want to grab the Ferity sun-sensitive polish which has been sitting in my swatching pile for months quite some time, waiting for a sunny day.
This is two coats of Ferity Sizzling Peach, with topcoat. Application is a bit tricky, as the polish tends to lumpiness, but Seche Vite sorted that out. This first photo is indoors, away from any sunlight. I don't love this colour - I am a fan of orange, but not so much of this frosty peachy shade.
This photo is indoors, in the bright sunlight through a window. The colour hasn't changed hugely, but it is brighter and more orange, less peachy. The shimmer is a lot more evident too.
I then took this outside. The sun is so low that it doesn't reach my garden - the window photos are upstairs! But even though there was no direct sunlight on my nails, the colour change was quite obvious - it turned a much richer orangey peach colour, that I really like.
I then added the decals - and oh wow! I love this! It's more of a summer mani I suppose than a midwinter one, but I do so miss the warm weather and long daylight hours, so I don't care! When I wake up tomorrow on a grey, dark, miserable Monday, my nails will cheer me up!
I love these! The decals are really opaque so the colours are crisp and would show even over a darker base, and of course, they're so easy to use. I am a huge fan of water decals!
By the time I'd finished, the brief sunshine had gone, so the decal photos are indoors only. But fingers crossed, tomorrow will have at least some sunshine, so I'll be able to see the sunflowers over the changing polish.
You can buy these decals online at the Born Pretty Store, using my discount code for an even better price. I bought the Ferity Sizzling Peach polish on Amazon UK, for £2.50, and the China Glaze was bought at a local beauty shop.
I received these decals for review purposes, but words and opinions are entirely my own. I do not receive anything if you use my discount code, although when it's been used ten times, BPS will let me host a giveaway for my readers! See my Disclosure page for more details. I bought the polishes myself.
