January 2021 Favourites

Welcome to my first favourites post of 2021!  January has definitely gone way too quickly.  I really still feel like we have only just started 2021.  It's been quite an interesting start but hoping things start to settle down again.  I definitely would like more of a regular routine.  It has been great getting back into blogging again.  I have managed to be quite active (well definitely not as active as I was in 2017 - that was basically daily blogging) but definitely a lot more than in 2020.  Anyway, with more blogging means more favourites!  So let's take a look at all the things I have loved in January.

Nail Art

This month I took on the first nail art challenge that I have done since.... September 2018!  I had to look that up.  Wow!  I didn't realise it had been that long.  Anyway, I have failed my way through this one but I did manage to do four out of the five prompts so it's a good start.  These are the two manis that I have loved this month.

Nail Polish

Last year while I was taking a little time off blogging I was having fun re wearing some of my older polishes which partly inspired me to start a new series - Swatch My Stash.  I also took it as a bit of an opportunity to post some of the really old swatches I have had sitting on my computer for ages.  Because I have posted them this month I will include them in today's post but I will probably skip over them for the end of year favourites.

Mainstream Polishes

These mainstream polishes are all older polishes and have been in my collection for many years now.  But they were posted this month (and I haven't played with any new mainstream brands) so it's nice to include them in my favourites - especially seems these are polishes that I have worn quite a few times over the years.

A England Merlin

I'm not entirely sure if A England sit as a mainstream or as an indie.  They sit in that grey area like Picture Polish and Dance Legend.  Anyway, Merlin is such a simple yet stunning polish that I have worn a lot since I got it.  Mainly as an accent nail but I have worn it a couple of times as a full mani.

Color Club East Austin

This is by far one of my all time favourite polishes from Color Club.  I have both the regular formula and the "one coat" formula and have gone through multiple bottles over the years.  I want to say that this is one of my most worn polishes on my toes.  I love it!

Indie Polishes

Oh my indies - how I love them.  I love them so much that I have had to go and buy yet another Alex drawer unit to fit them in.  A little crazy - maybe but there are just so many good polishes and we all know that there will be more coming!

Emily de Molly Black Friday Polishes

This was a massive polish to write (and to swatch) and I love the polishes.  Could I narrow down the favourites a little?  Probably but I'm not going to do that today.  That can be Future Tracy's job.

Emily de Molly Insipid

I have no clue when this polish was actually released but I know that it was a few years ago now.  I also know that I have already used about a quarter of the bottle and kinda wished that I purchased a back up bottle.

Emily de Molly Valentine's Trio

Moving into some more recent polishes - LOVE this year's Valentine's trio.  They are all so pretty and sparkly!  Everyone needs sparkly nails!

Grace-full Nail Polish Crystal Shifts (Polish Pick Up January 2021)

I think this was the first purchase of mine for 2021 (and definitely not the last) and OMG!  I am obsessed!  This polish is seriously magical and so much better in person than in pictures.  

Powder Perfect Fog Is Rolling In

Powder Perfect is definitely the greatest loss to the polish world.  Their polish was amazing!  And still is.  I still love my drawer full of the pretties.  I mean look at how gorgeous Fog Is Rolling In is?  So in love.

That brings us to the end of my January favourites.  Next month there is quite a few new goodies coming out from the indie girls - so there will be some new posts coming.  I also plan on continuing on with the Hit The Bottle nail art challenge and I am kinda debating whether or not to do another nail art challenge.  I guess we will see what happens.

Let me know some of the things you have been loving this month.  I'm curious to know.

Hit The Bottle Nail Art Challenge - Monochrome

 

I think it is safe to say that I have failed this Hit The Bottle Nail Art Challenge after three weeks?  I had a pretty terrible mani a couple of weeks ago and then completely skipped last week's travel prompt...I wasn't really feeling the prompt plus I was busy swatching a bunch of things.  But I am back for the monochrome prompt.  I absolutely love black and white nails so there was zero chance of missing today.

    

For this mani I used Hit The Bottle Snowed In for my base and stamped using As Black As Night.  Image is from Uberchic Beauty Business Chic 01.

    

    

I quite like this mani but it's not a favourite of mine.  Speaking of favourites I will be back tomorrow with my monthly favourites post.  

Emily de Molly Valentine's Day Trio 2021 - Swatches & Review

 PRESS SAMPLE

Can you believe that Valentine's Day is fast approach?  I think 2021 is going to be an incredibly fast paced year.   Hopefully I can keep up.  Anyway, Hayley reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in swatching her Valentine's Day trio which of course I said yes to.  I was only just drooling over the 2017 Valentine's Trio the a few days earlier (you can see those polishes here in case you don't know what I am talking about) so you know that the 2021 trio is going to be amazing too.  

Cherry Waves is a dark red jelly base filled with gold micro holographic glitters.  Pictures really don't do this polish justice at all.  It's absolutely gorgeous and soooooo sparkly in person!  It's perfect for Valentine's Day and Christmas.... and every other day of the year too.  For my swatch I used two coats.  I should point out that this polish may benefit from two coats of top coat as I have noticed that one some of my nails it's not perfectly smooth.  I am not sure if I used slightly less top coat on these nails or if this polish just loves top coat!

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight 

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Entice With Charm is a neon pink base with copper/gold/green iridescent flakes.  Because of the gold/copper flakes this has an overall coral look to it.  I love this polish!  It really does look more coral on the nail than it does in the bottle but whatever colour you want to call it it is gorgeous!  The formula is also great and easy to use.  For my swatch I used two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight

For Keeps is a dark magenta jelly based filled with magenta holographic glitters.  Now if I had to pick (and luckily for me I don't) I would say that this is my favourite of the trio.  I love the colour and I love how sparkly it is.  Pictures really don't do it justice.  Again, the formula is great and easy to use.  For my swatch I used two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight

If you can't already tell I LOVE this trio!  I think they are all stunning shades with great formulas. 

The Valentine's Trio will be available from Monday 1st February at 10AEDT from Emily de Molly's Australian site and from the Sunday 31st January at 6pm EST from the international site.

Emily de Molly Black Friday 2020 Limited Edition Polishes - Swatches & Review

 

Last year Emily de Molly released a bunch of limited edition polishes on Black Friday.  Naturally I had to grab them all (I am such a sucker for Emily de Molly polishes - they are always amazing).  It's taken me quite some time to swatch them all but I have done it and have them all to share with you.  I'll keep the chatting to a minimum seems there are quite a few to get through.  Heads up - this post is very picture heavy!  But these things can't be helped.  There are a total of 15 polishes after all.  

LE241 is a very pale purple holo.  I love, love, love this one.  It's a gorgeous colour and has a pink kinda sheen to it.  The formula is great and applies evenly.  For my swatch I used two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight

LE242 is is a dark purple with a subtle holo.  This is another love of mine.  The colour is beautiful and the formula is amazing.  You can get away with one coat but I used two for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight

LE243 is a dark purple with blue/purple iridescent flakes and a lighter purple magnetic effect.  I really like this one but this is one of those polishes that I think looks better in person than it does in photos.  The formula is great and is opaque in two coats.

Picture taken in light box (without magnet)

Picture taken in light box (without magnet)

Picture taken in light box (with magnet)

Picture taken in light box (with magnet)

LE244 is a purple base with pink to orange shifting shimmer and silver holographic micro flakes.  Love this one!  The colour is gorgeous and the formula is awesome.  My swatch shows two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken outdoors in shade

Picture taken outdoors in shade

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight

LE245 is a really dusty purple with a gold overlay.  Love the colour and the gold overlay in this one.  The formula is also really easy to use.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight

LE246 is a dusty blue with subtle pink shimmer and gold flakes.  Love this one!  I really like that shimmer and that there is gold flakes instead of iridescent ones.  It gives it a slightly different look.  The formula is great and easy to use although I did find it to be a little on the sheer side (for me).  I used two coats for my swatch but I do question if I should have done a third coat.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in overcast lighting

Picture taken in overcast lighting

LE247 is a bright blue base with pink to green shifting iridescent flakes and silver holographic micro glitters.  I loooove this one too (sorry I am turning into a broken record at this point but I stand by what I say).  The colour is beautiful and so it the flakes and glitter and it is sooooo sparkly.  The formula is great and easy to use.  My swatch shows two coats.  I did note that one longer nails it may need a third coat.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken outside 

Picture taken outside

LE248 is a dark olive green holographic.  This is another great colour with a great formula.  My swatch shows two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box 

Picture taken in afternoon sunlight 

Picture taken in afternoon sunlight 

LE249 is a dark teal green base with metallic silver flakes and silver holographic micro glitters.  Another really pretty polish with a great formula.  For my swatch I used two coats.  On short nails you could get away with one coat.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in overcast lighting

Picture taken in overcast lighting

LE250 is a bright green crelly base with neon yellow and hot orange matte glitters.  This is a really fun polish.  It's a good base colour (although doesn't photograph accurately) and I am a big fan of the glitters.  The formula is great and doesn't require any fishing or placement of the glitter.  My swatch shows two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

LE251 is a very dark red base with red to orange shifting shimmer.  I love this one!  It's stunning!  I can see the shift in the bottle really easily but couldn't really see it on my nails.  The formula is awesome and you could get away with one coat but I used two coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight 

LE252 is a bright pink (hot) to dark mauve pink (cold) thermal with blue shimmer.  Big fan of this one.  It looks great when it warms (which is my favourite) and cold and transitions well.  Formula is good but it a little sheer in the warmer state.  I used three coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box (transitioning)

Picture taken in light box (cold)

Picture taken in light box (warm)

Picture taken in light box (warm)

LE253 is a subtle pink to green multichrome with silver holographic micro flakes.  LOVE, love, love this one.  It's gorgeous and so shifty.  Formula is great and easy to use.  For my swatch I used three coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken outdoors in overcast lighting

Picture taken in overcast lighting

Picture taken in overcast lighting

LE254 is a dusty mauve with iridescent flakes and green to pink shifting shimmer.  I am a little on the fence with this one.  I don't love the colour but I don't hate it either.  The formula is good and is opaque in two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

LE255 is a dark red base with olive gold foil type shimmer and a pinkish/silver magnetic effect.  This is a really nice colour with a great formula.  I personally prefer it without the magnetic effect.  For my swatch I used two coats.

Picture taken in light box (with magnet)

Picture taken in light box (with magnet)

Picture taken in light box (without magnet)

Picture taken in light box (without magnet)

Picture taken in overcast lighting

Picture taken in overcast lighting

Wow!  This has definitely been the biggest blog post I have done in a very long time.  But how awesome are these polishes?  There are sooooo many amazing ones.  Not entirely sure how I am going to fit them all in my polish drawers though.  I definitely need to buy another set and reorganise my collection.  

I'm not entirely sure which of these are still available or not but it's definitely worth checking out Emily de Molly's websites for them.