My Top 5 Barry M Polishes For Autumn

When September hits it's not only my lip colours that get darker. My nails join the party as well and I say goodbye to bright colours and welcome in the dark shades and more interesting neutral shades.

Gelly Hi Shine Polish in Almond: This is my ultimate neutral favourite. It has a bit of brown in it, a bit of grey and even a bit of blue. It is a brilliant dupe for Nails Inc's polish in Porchester Square. It's Gelly formula means it slightly thicker than other polishes but it means that it's opaque in one coat and has a high shine finish when it dries. One coat would work well but I'd advise two coats just to make sure there aren't any streaky patches.

Gelly Hi Shine Polish in Paprika: This is one of the more interesting shades I like to bring out during the autumn. It's almost a burnt orange colour which reminds me a lot of pumpkins. It's the same formula as Almond but needs two coats as it can be streaky. It has the same high shine finish and is harder to chip than some of the other Barry M formula's.

Speedy Quick Dry Polish in Pit Stop: This is more a blue toned grey shade which is thinner in formula than the others. Two coats is definitely needed to make this pop on the nails and appear opaque. This part of their Speedy Quick Dry range which comes with a square flat brush and rapid drying formula. It makes doing your nails so quick and because it's a rapid dry polish you don't have to worry too much about smudging whilst you wait for it to dry.

Sunset Daylight Curing Polish in Dark Side of The Shroom: This a play on the normal neutral nail. It's a grey toned purple shade that does have a brown undertone running through it. It has a thick formula which means you can get away with one coat. It comes with it's very own top coat which will cure the polish and make it harder, so essentially making it harder to chip. Plus once this is introduced to natural or artificial light it sticks to the nail better and bends with the nail as well.

Sunset Daylight Curing Polish in Vengenance is Wine: This is the darkest shade I'll pull out for Autumn. It's a deep red wine shade that can look purple in lights and even brown in others. It's another one that needs to be paired with it's special top coat and won't chip as easily as others. Two coats are definitely needed as this can be a little patchy or streaky after one coat. It makes a great alternative to black polish.

My Top 5 Barry M Polishes: Spring Edition

Now this post was originally going to be called my Spring Nail Edit but when I was looking for the polishes to put in this post I realised that I was only choosing Barry M polishes. And as I only use Barry M polishes I thought I'd change it to my Top 5 Barry M Polishes for Spring. I will probably do this for each season from now on as I very rarely use anything but Barry M on my nails.

My first choice is the latest addition to my collection. It's their Speedy Quick Dry polish in the shade Freestyle. It's a muted pink shade that doesn't look to pale or to bright on the nail. You know you're wearing it but it doesn't stand out like some of the other pink shades. As it's part of the Speedy Quick Dry Range it means it's the quickest to dry out of the four of them. One coat takes only seconds to dry and it makes it perfect for people who like me can get quite impatient waiting for their nails to dry. Plus it has a flat square brush that covers the entire nail in one sweep. Definitely my favourite out of Barry M's Spring Releases this year.

Up next is an older favourite of mine. This is the Gelly Hi Shine polish in Prickly Pear. It's that perfect lavendery purple shade that's not too cool in tone and not too warm either. This is slightly thinner in formula than some of the other shades but two coats of this give the colour a pop and you'll be certain people will compliment you on your nails. The brush isn't the greatest on this polish but it's still something you can work with. Angle it just right and you'll get that same effect you'd get if you were using a flatter brush.

Another Gelly Hi Shine polish I like during Spring is the shade Blueberry. It's a stunning cornflower blue shade that again isn't too cool in tone nor too warm. It makes a nice choice on nails after months of wearing the darker, more winter appropriate colours. As with the shade Prickly Pear it has one of the thinner brushes but I'm sure if you pick a bottle up now then they will have the newer flatter brush. Two coats of this is all you need to get a bright pop of colour, that you're bound to be complimented on.

My next choice is another Gelly finish polish. This one is in the shade Rose Hip, a gorgeous off white shade that has a hint of pink through it. If you're scared of trying white nails or you don't like the look of them, then this polish is perfect for you. If you like the look of Essie's Fiji then this is pretty much an exact dupe except it has more of a white undertone than Fiji. My bottles of the Gelly Hi Shine polishes mainly come with a thinner, more rounded brush but if you pick them up these days I'm sure you will get a flatter square brush. This is a polish that can go wrong if you apply too many coats but if you only do two or three thin coats you should be okay, it's when you do thicker coats you run into problems.

And the last choice for this Top 5 is another newer addition to the collection. This is the shade Cream Soda, Barry M's Spring Release in the Gelly Hi Shine Range. Now this another nod towards the white nail trend that comes and goes every summer. Yet this is a slightly off white, almost cream colour that will work the same as Rose Hip if you're not entirely convinced by white nails. My favourite thing about these Gelly polishes is the finish. You get such a stunning shine to the nail after using these polishes and that shine doesn't disappear the longer you wear it. Now you may think that means you don't need a top coat for these but you still do. The top coat will not only prolong the shine these polishes give but will also lengthen the life of your manicure.

So that's it for my new Spring Nail Edit. What are your go to Spring Polishes? Are any of them the same as mine? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Barry M Speedy Quick Dry Spring Releases

At the beginning of the year, Barry M released not one, not two but four new ranges of nail polishes. The majority of them are new seasonal releases for their most popular formulas and that's what I'm going to show you today.

As they did with the Gelly Hi Shine Polishes, Barry M have released four new Springtime shades. And now having compared the two, both releases are quite simple. Both have several muted shades and one bright shade that stands out from the rest.

The four shades in the range are called Winning Streak, a light beige. In A Flash, a stunning bright peach shade. Personal Best, a brightish purple and Freestyle a dusky mauvey pink. Usually with Barry M Collections, I only like one or two of the shades but with this collection I like the entire range. I do of course have some I wear more than others and in this case it's Freestyle and In A Flash. In A Flash is the perfect transition shade from Winter to Spring as well as Spring to Summer and Freestyle is just the perfect non beige neutral shade.

You do need two coats of this polish to really get the true colour and it also means they don't look patchy or streaky. The formula of these is really nice but you do have to work quickly with them as they really do dry as quickly as you expect them to. However it's easy to work with them as they have a thick square ended brush that covers the nail in one stroke. It makes application so much easier and you don't have to worry about removing any polish like you would with a smaller brush.

I do find though that out of all Barry M's Nail Ranges, these are the quickest to chip. As most of their shades are pastels you do need to add coats to get the colour in the bottle and sometimes it can mean a good two or three coats. And on my nails it means that my nail colour is slightly more raised than normal which unfortunately means I catch them easily and chip them. I've tried several top coats with these polishes and it still doesn't work. That however is my only peeve with these polishes and the Speedy Quick Dry Range.

Overall these polishes are just as good as any other I've tried but I don't think you need these if you have Barry M's Gelly Hi Shine Spring Releases. However if you like the look of the colours but you're not the most patient of people when it comes to doing your nails, then these polishes are right up your street.

Have any of you tried these polishes? Did you like them? Or did you prefer the Gelly Hi Shine instead? Let me know in the comments.

New In At The Drugstore

It's that time of the year where all of us beauty junkies are broke from Christmas. So what does every high street make up brand do? Of course they release tons of new products which if you're a make up junkie like me then you just have to add to your collection.

Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation 
First up is this new foundation from Maybelline. It's the first of it's kind from Maybelline and as soon as I heard about this I knew I wanted to try it. It's matte finish foundation but in a hydrating gel formula that you can build up to a medium/full coverage. And the best thing about this is that it suits every kind of skin tone. I've been wearing it for a fortnight now and I love it. A full review will be coming soon though.

Maybelline Dream Blender
And to coincide with the release of the Dream Velvet Foundation, Maybelline has released a Dream Blender. The Dream Blender is a foundation blending sponge with a handle that looks like it will just get in the way but actually comes in handy for precision. If you want a mini review, then all I'm going to say is it's the top half of a beauty blender on a handle that whilst good isn't something I'd rush out and buy. A full review of this will go up alongside my Dream Velvet Foundation Review.

Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara 
Maybelline have released another mascara. With their Lash Sensational still riding high, Maybelline really had to raise their game to make another mascara that beats it. In a way they have and they haven't. The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara has cup shaped bristles to catch and coat each and every lash whilst pushing them up to give amazing volume. A wet formula that is easily transferable, this mascara is nice but not one I would run out to buy straight away. A full review will be coming soon.

Maybelline Blushed Nudes Nail Polish
Late last year, Maybelline released their Blushed Nudes Eyeshadow palette which was filled with lots of golds and pinks and this year they've released a nail polish and lipstick collection to go with it. I didn't like the look of any of the lipsticks but the nail polishes did catch my eye. I picked up the shade Crimflush, a dark dusky pink shade. I love these kinds of shades for the transistion from Winter to Spring. So far I like this polish but there have been other nail releases that have really caught my eye.

Revlon Volume and Length Magnified Mascara 
Revlon are another brand that have released a mascara this month and by golly is their a lot of choice. Unlike most brands that just release one, Revlon have released five new types of mascara, each coming in black, black brown and waterproof. I was torn between which one to get as each offers a different benefit to lashes. In the end I went for the Volume and Length Magnified. And lets just say I'm not that keen on it. But as with everthing else a full review will be coming soon.

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Spring Releases 
And now it's on to not one but three collection that Barry M have recently released. And of course as a Barry M junkie I had to get them all. First up we have the Spring Releases of the Gelly Hi Shine Polishes. And of course all of the releases are aimed towards Springtime and the transitions of seasons. I love all four colours in this range but I'm really looking forward to wearing the bottom two Acai Smoothie and Cream Soda. I already know the formula of these well so I know that I'm going to love, yet there will be a full review coming soon.

Barry M Speedy Quick Dry Spring Releases 
And the next collection Barry M have released is their Spring polishes in their speedy quick dry formula. All four of this colours are right up my street and the speedy quick dry formula is one of my favourites. If you haven't tried them before they dry quicker than any other nail polish I've tried. They come with a flat square brush that makes application a dream and whilst you have to work to get the colour on the pastel shades, it's worth it for the finish they give. Keep your eyes on the blog for a full review.

Barry M Nail Care Treatment Range. 
Then the final range from Barry M is not brand spanking new but it's new to places like Superdrug and Boots. Originally released in Marks and Spencers, this collection of four nail polishes is aimed at treating and nourishing the nails. Two base coat treaments which work well if you don't have bare nails all the time and two masks that help gives nails that little something whilst nourishing them at the same time. So far I'm really enjoying Iron Mani as a base coat as it helps keep my polish on longer and has so far strengthened my nails quite well. A review will be coming soon.

So that's it for my New In At the Drugstore. Have any of you tried any of these? If so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Barry M Speedy Quick Dry Autumn Nail Polishes

Every year I find myself counting down til September 1st when I can break out all my dark Autumnal nail polishes. Don't get me wrong I love pastels and brights and the majority of my collection is varying shades of greige but I do love a good dark nail. And that's where Barry M's latest Autumn Releases step in.

I already love the Speedy Quick Dry Nail Polishes, the wide brush making application a dream and the drying time satisfying the impatient side of me. And these four colours were right up my street.

There are four polishes in this range which is small launch for Barry M, usually they launch six to nine shades. There is Sprint Finish, a stunning berry toned shade that has hints of raspberry. Slip Stream, a bright purple shade which is quite similar to one of their summer launches. Dragster, a dark grey that looks black in some lights. And Dead Heat a bright pillar box red, which to me just screams Christmas.

All four polishes are opaque in one coat but as always I'd advise doing two coats to get the colour to pop. The wide squared ended brush makes applying these polishes a dream as the brush fits perfectly to the nail. The drying time is exactly what it says on the front, Speedy. By the time I've finished painting the last nail on my hand, the first nail is already dry and ready for a second coat. Once dried they have a brilliant shine that can only be enhanced by a top coat. Chipping time on these can depend, I found that they chipped very quickly when I was at work but my job is very hands on and nail polish never lasts but when I wasn't working they lasted a good four to five days before they chipped.

If you're looking for a new Autumnal Nail Polish I highly recommend you check these out. Quick drying, high shine finish and stunning opaque colour, these polishes are perfect for people who want a quick manicure. If I was to recommend two it would be Sprint Finish and Dragster as their both colours I don't have many of in my collection.

Exclusively available at Superdrug

Summer Nail Edit

Summer means getting your feet out and that means toes have to be prepped and painted to perfection. Today I thought I'd show you my Top 5 Summer Nail Polishes for both my tootsies and my fingers. I will point out one thing about this post, it is not an ode to Barry M or sponsored by Barry M, I just happen to love their polishes and the majority of my collection consists of them.

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Guava 
This is one of my favourite nail polishes to crack out in the summer. It's a stunning greeny blue shade that looks perfect on both fingers and toes. It is opaque in one coat but I always go in with a second to really get a depth to the colour. The Gelly Hi Shine Range really lives up to its name, it dries to leave a brilliant shine to the nail that only intensifies once a top coat is applied.

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Kiwi 
If there is a shade of nail polish I own as much as neutral greige tones it's green polishes. This is my favourite however a mixture between an emerald green and an apple green this is another polish that is perfect for both fingers and toes. It is opaque in one coat but as I do with Guava I go in with another coat to make sure and to give a pop to the colour. I like the fact that these polishes dry quite quickly making manicures and pedicures less of a dreaded task.

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Rosehip
If bright nails aren't your cup of tea then this next colour may be right up your street. Rosehip is very much a cheaper version of Essie's Fiji. A light pinky off white shade this is perfect if you're looking for a more neutral nail. This can be quite a hassle to apply but if you have the patience for it it will look stunning on the nail. It can take a good two to three coats to create a decent opaqueness and even then it can still look streaky on the nails. The only problem with having to apply so many coats to get the true colour is that it can cause it to chip quicker than other polishes.

 Barry M Speedy Quick Dry in Get Set Go 
This is one colour that only really works on my toes. A bright fuschia pink that is practically neon on the nails is too much for my fingers but perfect to brighten up any pair of sandals or flip flops. Two coats give a brilliant opaque pop of colour. It really does live up to it's quick dry name, both coats taking about five to ten minutes max. These don't have such a shine as the Gelly Hi Shine polishes so I do adviced popping a top coat over the top.

Barry M Sunset Daylight Curing in Do It Like A Nude
This is my most neutral pick for this Edit. As much as I love a good bright or pastel nail in the summer I do still like to bring out a neutral every now and again. This is one of the newer releases from Barry M and has quickly found it into the small stash of nail polishes I have on rotation. Do It Like A Nude is from their daylight curing range which is advertised as using the daylight to make the polish harder and longer lasting on the nail. This nude shade from the range is another product where you need a good two to three coats to get an opaque finish but when it's on and the top coat is applied it's a beautiful off white shade that gives a brilliant shine. The amount of coats along with the top coat means it can be prone to chipping before it should but that's just one problem that comes from formulas that are thin. It's still a stunning neutral shade though and if you have the patience will make a elegant nail look.

That's it for my Summer Nail Edit. Have you tried any of these? Do you have any recommendations? If so let me know in the comments.