Striping tape criss cross mani's...and I have a new four-legged friend!

Hi guys!


Been a while since I posted (again!). I've recently been a bit obsessed with doing criss-crossy striping tape mani's. Get a serious amount of compliments with these! They aren't always perfect, a lot of the time I can't angle them correctly so they end up being a bit skew-whiff, but I still think they're pretty!




This first mani is using Azature's Blue Diamond and OPI's Tiffany Case:

Second is using Layla's Chrome Mirror Effect polish with OPI's Honey Ryder. I basically just kept wrapping a long string of tape around my nail on this one.

Third is using MAC's Please Me with OPI's Jinx. Pic was taken on my phone whilst I was out shopping, hence the trolley...

And the last mani is using Illamasqua's Swinger with OPI's Every Month Is Oktoberfest.

Whilst I'm here, I want to introduce my new friend. He's adorable. Seriously.

His name is Buddy (cos, he's my little buddy!) but he also gets called Budbud, Hammy, Hamham, Little Man and Bugger when he's being mischievous!

He reallllly loves broccoli...

Azature Blue Diamond Polish Swatches

I just had a re-look through my Azature posts and realised I hadn't posted up pics of the Blue Diamond polish!

 

I had originally swatched this many many many months ago, but must have completely forgotton. I've decided to re-swatch, because it really is a to-die-for polish.

This, next to the Green Diamond, are my favourite polishes from Azature. It's a little on the thick side but definitely manageable, has no major issues (pooling, bubbling etc) and is opaque in just one coat. Blue Diamond is a medium-dark vibrant blue packed out with blue and holographic shimmer. It really is an absolutely stunning colour!

Azature Lilac Diamonds Polish Swatches

Yay!!



Azature very recently released some new polishes - all of which are creme finishes. They can be found exclusively at Selfridges for £17 each.

I'll admit, part of me is very underwhelmed with these. After the first lot of Azature's, which I'm dubbing the "sparklies", these just seem a little...meh. I mean, there's nothing wrong with them, I love a good rich creme finish polish, but compared to what we've seen from Azature they just aren't hitting the same sweet spot. If they were packed out with pretty sparklies I'd be having constant orgasms over them, but these are just okay. £17 is a lot to pay for a creme finish polish. It does still have that pretty little black diamond in it though, and that will always suck me in.

Lilac Diamond is a medium blue based purple. I used two coats for this, and didn't have any issues. The formula flows really nicely on the nail, it's neither thick or thin.

If you have some extra cash or you really love diamonds, they could be worth a splurge. I'll complete my collection of these, but it will take me some time!

Azature Red Diamond Polish Swatches

Ahhh...more diamonds!


Red Diamond is the second to last polish I've picked up from Azature's sparkly polishes. The last one to grab is the Yellow Diamond, but I'm not too sure I'll be picking that one up. They've very recently released some more polishes - all creme's - one of which I do own (which will be up next).


I do absolutely adore Azature's Diamond polishes. They're so incredibly sparkly. Some have issues with pooling or being very thick (or some having horrific staining)...but I still love them. Anyway...

Red Diamond is a classic red polish with holographic shimmer. My camera refuses to pick this up correctly. It's a cross between a jelly and a creme. I used two coats for this polish and had no major issues with it (including staining - yay!)

Azature Green Diamond polish swatches

Men; keep your dogs. I'm quite happy with diamonds. Even better if those diamonds are in bottles of nail polish. And better still, if that polish happens to be the most incredible emerald green I have ever seen.


I honestly expected Azature's black diamond polishes to be a bit of a gimmick, and for the single black diamond that's in them to be the main selling point. I've been proven wrong. Yes, at £17, they're steep, but my god, I've never come across polish like this. This just glows.

Azature Pink Diamond Nail Polish swatches

A few weeks ago I noticed Selfridges had started carrying more of the gorgeous Azature polishes. I plan on getting them all, bit by bit, but the first of the "coloured" ones I picked up was Pink Diamond!

Azature Black Diamond Nail Polish swatches

A few months ago I read a blog post about Azature's $250,000/£160,000 bottle of nail polish containing 267 carats of black diamonds. Of course, I certainly can't afford that (believe me, if I was loaded enough I'd definitely have it) but I did cave and buy the cheaper version which contains a single black diamond.

Three coats