On My Fingertips: Revlon Top Speed #010 Sheer Cotton

Revlon Top Speed #010 Sheer Cotton

High up on my (unofficial) beauty bucket list is finding the perfect nude nail polish. It seems so simple, as there are a ridiculous number of them available at beauty counters in every varying shade. But, perhaps the reason there are so many on offer is because it is so difficult to nail (zing!) the two C's: Colour and Coverage.

One type of nude I always favour when I am aiming for the understated, classic, elegant look on my paws is a bone/ivory nude. This kind of colour is quite neutral and lends itself well to fair skin. When on a recent Priceline visit, I came across Revlon's Top Speed nail polish in #010 Sheer Cotton, which fits the bill in terms of a bone/ivory nude. I am a big fan on the Top Speed formula - it is fast drying (obviously...) and seems to wear well.

Revlon Top Speed #010 Sheer Cotton - Three Coats + Topcoat.

I adore the colour and how it looks against my skin tone. I love the way nude colours tend to elongate the fingers and soften the look of my hands. The only pitfall of this polish, as with every other nude I have tried, is the coverage. Three coats is a standard for nudes to get the perfect matte finish, which means that the lasting power is not as great as it tends to wrinkle and chip because of the thickness of the polish. It is also difficult to touch up nudes because of the number of layers it requires to get a matte finish.

I will absolutely continue to wear this shade, but will continue searching for the perfect (two-coat-only) nude!

On My Fingertips: Dior Vernis #483 - Pink Kimono

Dior Vernis #483.

As much as I adore the range of colours and finishes of high-end nail polishes, I very rarely purchase them from department stores because I find it difficult to justify the price tag. So when a lovely friend returned from an overseas holiday with some duty-free Dior, I squealed with delight!

One of the treats I was so lucky to receive was this Dior Vernis in #483 (Pink Kimono). Despite believing I had every variation of pink under the sun in my collection, this colour proved to be a beautiful and unique shade of bright pink.

Dior Vernis # 463 - Pink Kimono

The formula of this polish is like all Dior polishes I have tried; it is smooth, light and has an intense pigment. You could easily get away with one shade without any streaking. I applied two with a top coat and the result was an even matte finish.

While I am certain there are many similar pinks out there that could be a dupe for this, there is just a little bit of luxury that comes with Dior polishes. They go on beautifully, come in such divine packaging and last for days without chipping.

Thanks to my lovely poodle who gave me this x

Pops of Pink

The same way that the looks on the runway change with each season, so should our make up selection. In summer, I tend towards light coverage and pops of bright colours to fit with the freshness of long, light-filled days and plenty of outdoor activities. In winter, it's lots of creamy, moisturising products and rich, warm tones to fit with the general mood.

But sometimes, there is nothing more refreshing than bucking the trend and mixing things up a little. Pink has such a fun flirtiness about it that says it should belong in the summer selection, but lately during this dreary cold weather, I have felt like a pop of pink will be just the reminder I need that summer will return again one day.

Keeping the rest of the face fresh and wearing only simple eye make up ensures pink lips speak volumes. I choose to combine MAC's Girl About Town lipstick and matching lip liner in Magenta for a bold pout, and to continue the fun on my fingers, I use OPIs Pink Flamenco.

And the visuals...

{a soft pink lip stain/gloss combination is complimented perfectly with simple black eyeliner}

{bold lips with a darker frock brings instant freshness and fun to the look}

* Images from Le Fashion, PRIMPED and Vogue Daily. 

Psssst...

{Dior Vernis: 997 Blue Label}

Have you been searching high and low, night and day for the perfect navy blue nail polish? A matte, almost-but-not-quite-black-blue? Are you always finding that almost-but-not-quite-right polishes are too bright? Too sparkly? Just rubbish in general? Well, I'll save you the heartache, stress and desperation and direct you right to it.

I'm in the midst of quite a navy phase and was looking for a very specific colour to add that extra polish (zing!) to the perfect autumn outfit. Dior's Blue Label (997) is the answer from the Nail Polish Gods to my prayers. It's dark enough to look almost black, but worn with navy it brings out a very deep blue. I have a feeling it will be featuring prominently on my paws this winter.