Models Own Ice Neon Collection with Swatches

You'll have seen Model's Own new Ice Neon collection doing the rounds over the past week or so. Because I'm a marketer's dream and a sucker for a good neon, I did too and they weren't going to go unowned once I had. All I can say is Thanks, Boots, your 3 for 2 or in my usual case 9 for 6 has helped me out once more.

There's five eye watering neons in this latest Model's Own collection, each housed in frosted glass bottles and the instructions to keep them refrigerated to keep the 'Fluoro flavour' really bright. While it's true polishes should be kept cool and dark, I'm not sure I'll be giving up my Flora's fridge spot for several polishes. Besides, I tried, it makes no odds at all. 

Bubble Gum is a bright neon pink, dries to a matte finish (as they all do) and is easily my pick of the bunch. This is two coats that went on beautifully. 

Absolute stunner. 

I wanted to love Luis Lemon, I really did. Unfortunately the formulation lets it down. Too streaky for two coats and too gloopy for three, you won't be able to wear this shade without using the white base coat trick. I'll still be sporting this come Summer because neon yellow is one of my favourite shades but it'll take more time for application. 

Toxic Apple is one of the brightest greens I've seen. Though the formulation is slightly better than Luis Lemon, the nail bed is still visible after two coats. Not my favourite look from a polish. Again, I'd advise a thin white base coat with this one. 

Reckon I'll be keeping this for my Summer time tootsies. 

Model's Own Ice Neon Collection are priced at €7.65 each in Boots and are on 3 for 2 at the minute or you could pick up the entire collection for £20 on the Model's Own website. 

Tell moi, which one's your fave? 

NOTD: Oz the Great & Powerful: Evanora Inspired How To

I did mention that a new camera has joined the familia here at Casa Cherry didn't I? One of the things that makes me happiest about this news is that I get to back into the swing of things with both make up reviews AND nail art! Admittedly I'm a leedle bit rusty by Evanora from Oz the Great and Powerful up there has done me a solid and sported one of the simplest nail art looks to be seen in the movies in donkeys. Wanna see how simple? 

1. For this look you're going to need a nude polish and a black and glitter striper. Of course you could use normal polish and a skinny brush but considering you can get 3 stripers for €7, I'm thinking make it easy on yo'self. 
2. Paint each nail with two coats of your nude (mine is the new Naked Ambition from the Sally Hansen Complete Manicure range)(It's a nude with silver microglitter stunner)
3. Using your black striper, start at the nail bed and draw two lines that meet at the tip, then colour in with the remainder of polish on the brush. You can use tape for this if you prefer but just placing the length of the brush on the nail will give you a almost straight line. 
4. Using your glitter striper run two lines inside your new black triangle, allow them to meet at the tip. 
5. Repeat for every pingy and finish with a high shine top coat i.e Seche Vite.
6. Admire your ridiculously simple manicure. 

As you can see from this fuzzy close up, lines don't have to be perfectly symmetrical to achieve the desired look. Not only that the pointed tip gives the illusion of much longer nails so this is a great look for short tipped ladies too. 

What do we think? Will you try 'em? And of course, if this look still isn't easy enough for you, you could always give Evanora's Sister's Theodora's talons a blast? 

NOTD and Some Handy Tips for Large Glitters

Nails today are a bright, blinging blue courtesy of Models Own Freak Out from the Mirrorball collection over a base coat of OPIs Unfor-Greta-Bly Blue.

While I didn’t much go in for the Mirrorball collection, finding large glitters a bit of a pain in the tuckus to work with, I couldn’t resist this blue/purple glitter fest.

Model's Own Freak Out: Mirrorbal Collection

I have a couple of handy hints to ensure large glitter polishes work well on your talons instead of looking like a haphazard mess should you want to do the same:

First: Choose Either a Complimentary OR a Contrasting Base Colour:

You’re going to want to show the glitter in its best light. Complementing colours tone down bright glitters somewhat, while contrasting polishes amp up the effect. To complement Freak Out I chose from the same colour palette and went with this stunning metallic royal blue, OPIs Unfor-Greta-Bly Blue from the Germany Collection.

Second: Remove Excess Polish from the Brush:

The problem with large glitter pieces in polish is that they can be very hard to control on application for an even finish. To counteract this, twirl your brush as you remove it from the bottle, this removes any excess of the clear suspension polish. That way you can place rather than paint the glitter onto the nail bed.

Third: Seal with a High Shine, Smoothing Top Coat:

Glitters, by their very nature, are coarse on the nail, that’s what makes them so sparkley. To prevent snags, smooth the nail bed and give your glitter an extra boost, seal your mani with a high shine top coat. I can’t recommend Seche Vite enough, not only will it heighten the shine but by bonding the layers of polish together, it makes removal a lot less of a headache.

And that’s it – go forth and have the eyes out of heads with your gorgeous glitter nails.

Have you tried any of the Mirrorball collection yet? Lemme know! 

Gold Finger - 3 Gorgeous Gold Polishes

I've seen several tweets over the past week or so looking for gold polish recommendations so I thought I'd show you three of my favourites. Sally Hansen's Gilty Pleasure, Models Own Gold Rush and Essie's Good as Gold. These are, by no stretch of the imagination, the only golds in my collection but they are the ones I reach for most often, so let's have a little look, shall we?

Sally Hansen's Gilty Pleasure (€8.50) is part of the seriously fabulous Complete Manicure range, meaning you need no base or top coat. It's a subtle champagne gold with just a hint of sparkle. It's buildable to a deeper gilt colour but this is how I wear it, two coats and out the door. Flattering and oh so easy to wear.

Models Own (€6 in Republic) is the blingingest in your faciest gold that I have in my possession (so far). This is perfect for bright night out nails or stunning in the sunshine on holidaying tootsies. You can be guaranteed that Gold Rush will get your nails noticed.

Essie's new Mirror Metallics range (€12.99) boasts 5 new silver based metal look polishes. With my love of TopShop bling though, I couldn't justify hoovering up the lot. At €12.99, they're pricey but I couldn't pass Good as Gold. It reminds me a lot of Barry M's 320 Foil but without the gold Tippex finish. This is a beautiful choice for a Wedding nail, be you the Bride or the tipsy guest.

Any of these polishes would suit the Bronze Goddess manicure perfectly, my go to manicure when I'm in a rush (a gold rush)(ho, ho, ho).

Do you have a grá for the goldiness? Got any recommendations for others that I might try?