It is Friday again! I can’t actually believe how quick the weeks are going.
I grew up with a Mum and Sister who encouraged me to paint my nails every week. I occasionally slip up and leave my nails bare but a couple of years ago I discovered Essie in Boots and it has become my firm favourite for nail polish. I can’t remember a time that I looked for another brand.
Although I have stopped buying them weekly, my collection currently stands at sixteen so I thought I would share with you my favourites.
Cocktail Bling
- perfect for winter
This was the first one I bought and I have since repurchased within a Christmas set in the January Sales. It is such a lovely grey -ish colour and works particularly well when you start to put the berry colours of Autumn away and head into the cold crisp mornings. I love Summer but there is something special about the time of year when you can wear oversized thick jumpers and just curl up on the sofa. You’ll often find me in December/January with a warm coffee and Cocktail Bling on my nails. The formula of this polish is great, I only need one coat and it slides on the nails. I am currently using up my Nails Inc stock for the base and top coat and all in all it lasts around a week. .
Fifth Avenue
- perfect for spring
I know it is technically almost officially Summer here in the UK however, this is my current favourite and I think it works so well for the Spring and early Summer. It is bright without being overbearing and just adds that pop of colour. I can’t believe that I wasn’t even going to purchase this shade. I normally spend a week looking at a nail polish before I decide whether to purchase it. I don’t like not getting use out of them and with Essie at £7.99 per bottle, they are not cheap.
It was at the beginning of the year and I was wanting a black nail varnish so I settled on Licorice and headed to Boots with my Sister, who was visiting for the weekend. While at the Essie stand I noticed that they had an offer for buy one get another half price and I jumped with joy before suddenly realising that I didn’t actually have another shade chosen. Fifth Avenue did immediately jump out at me despite looking at others, I seemed to be drawn to this. I have worn this on my nails for the last few weeks and I think I will continue to do so for a while.
In Stitches
- perfect for work
This is also a red colour but not as bright as fifth avenue so it is more subtle and perfect for work. Not that I don’t wear Fifth Avenue for work. Sometimes, you do need to have a more professional appearance in my job and therefore, I often opt. for this. I wasn’t too keen the first time that I wore this, it didn’t seem to go on as well as Cocktail Bling and I just felt a bit deflated. I did however, give it another go and fell in love! It goes on much better now so I have a feeling that it may have just been because it is new. It also lasts for the best part of a week with minimal chipping.
Not Just a Pretty Face
- Perfect for every day
I did not use to be a fan of nude nail varnish, my nails were always in pretty good condition so if I wanted them to look bare, I would just leave them bare nice and tidy of course. It wasn’t long after I cut dairy from my diet that my nails became weak and would just flake away after a certain length. I hated having my nails bare for longer than a day but always made sure that I kept them bare for a least a day on the hope that they would get heathy again. It was during this time that I needed a good nude polish and discovered Not Just a Pretty Face which is so good. The polish goes on really well and the staying power is amazing. I haven’t gone for a nude polish in a while and my nails have improved since adding spinach, kale and almond milk to my diet on a daily basis but I am off to the races next week so I think it will be making a re-appearance.
Bahama Mama
- perfect for autumn
I get really excited for Autumn as I can start to get the big jumpers and thick PJ’s out. I have an excuse just to snuggle on the sofa and I adore the plum shades that are suddenly everywhere. A good plum nail is no exception and this shade is perfect, it is also very similar to Bordeaux which is also in my collection. I do try to wear it all year around as it matches many of my work dresses but it does work better in the Autumn months.
Candy Mint Apple
- perfect for summer
I actually purchased this prior to going to Crete for 2 weeks in Summer 2016. I had been looking at a summer nail polish for months before eventually buying this. I only like to take the colour that I am wearing to warm countries to ensure that I only potentially lose/ruin one in the heat. This seemed perfect, I thought that it wasn’t really appropriate for the office but would look great on the beach. I put it on a couple of days prior to the holiday as I had a wedding to attend and a family BBQ and I immediately fell in LOVE. It is such a gorgeous shade and definitely not too bright. It survived the holiday and I have even worn it to work, when it is warmer and I have minimal meetings.
What are your favourite nail varnishes?
Love, Minnie
Minnie VII 