Posts Tagged ‘Superdrug’
I realise nail polish reviews have been somewhat sparse on Just Nice Things and it’s because of two good reasons: the first was a major chop of the talons following a few splits and breakages, and the second was wearing a gel manicure for almost three weeks.
I apologise for the big hold-up but hopefully I can make up for the absence with not one but four different colours courtesy of my favourites MeMeMe, who have launched four new opulent shades for autumn and winter, which I was kindly sent to try.
These metallic polishes are on point with the current baroque and gothic luxe trends and are rich in formula but at affordable prices.
Inspiring, is an emerald green metallic. I have a weakness for green so this one jumped out at me straight away. (Click on the images to blow-up them up for a closer look.)
Seductive, as its name rightfully lives up to, is your classic wine colour.
The olive green Rebellious is another hot favourite of mine. I absolutely love this kind of shade too. You can see golden specks as it catches the light.
Finally Dignified is a frosty pink/lilac that looks much better out of the bottle.
The maxi brush ensures fool-proof application is neat, easy and quick but also keeps the polish looking rich without it dragging.
The formulas are very thick and opaque in one coat though Inspiring was slightly thin in comparison and needed two coats for full coverage. I didn’t paint a top coat as I prefer the finishing of the metallic polishes as they are. Overall I am impressed with how easy they are to apply and how superb they look. And they only cost £4.50 each.
Have you tried these polishes or any other shades by MeMeMe? If so, what do you think of them?
Available from www.mememecosmetics.co.uk and Superdrug stores.
*PR samples*
Once the idea of using a primer was unheard of. Now more brands have caught on it’s a staple part of wearing make-up and I am pleased to see the gap is closing tight.
Witch Anti-blemish Skin Clearing Primer works brilliantly for smooth make-up application and protects the skin from spots aggravated by some cosmetics with its witch hazel extract. As good as high-end primers it’s also gentle enough for sensitive skin and it’s super good value for money too.
How it works is it preps the skin by mattifying and absorbing excess oils, providing a smooth, silky base for foundation or powder to set and last for longer. It can also be worn on its own. The primer has a pump-action dispensor so you only need as much as you will use. You just need to leave it for a minute or until the primer has dried before applying your foundation.
Witch is a much loved brand and this addition to their range is very much welcomed. Normally priced at £6.99 for 30ml, it is currently half price on Superdrug’s website for £3.49. If you’ve never tried a primer, this one is an ideal introduction and it won’t break the bank.
*PR sample*
Back in March last year, Sheenie and I had the pleasure of having a tour around Windsor Castle. I love a bit of history and it was a really enjoyable afternoon. Considering that we both live relatively near to Windsor, it was a shame that we hadn’t visited the castle, and I urge you to go and have a look if you get the chance.
The point I am getting to with this information is that whilst taking in the tour of the 27 rather elaborate and phenomenal state rooms, one of the rooms was all decked out in gold and green decor. Quite outstanding, and a far cry from the generic and average Swedish-designed lounge. I was racking my brains for ages to try and remember what the green shade reminded me of, and then I got it! MUA 13! I feel a bit wrong about having part of our heritage
remind me of a cheapo nail varnish, but hey – it is what it is. Sadly, I dont have any photos of this room as we were good law-abiding citizens and didn’t take any photos of the inside of the castle.
This rather unassuming little bottle hails from Superdrug’s own MUA range. At only £1.00 an item, you can afford to take a bit of a risk. However, there’s no way that this kind of shade could be regarded as a risk – it is a staple nail polish lover’s type colour.
Application of this was really good. I had “the fear” going in that this might be fiddly or awkward, as the bottles are on the miniature side, but really it 
was absolutely great. Two coats and I had marvellous green nails with a gold hint. Very pretty indeed. Not a world of different away from the likes of Barry M Emerald Green except that the finish is ever so slightly frostier.
So there we have it. What do you think? Is this something you’d wear?
Good morning, everyone. I have some swatches for you today, from FashionistA, which is a new UK brand that is hitting Superdrug stores around the country as we speak. Isn’t it about time that we got some new polishes over here? Exciting times!
I don’t know how many polishes there are in the whole range but I have a little snap-shot for you. On first impression, the bottles look nice, not tacky or overdone. However, I did have a little issue with some of the lids – the bottles have a vanity cap on them that doesn’t seem to want to turn very well. I had more joy by pulling this off, and using the smaller, grooved handle.
On the whole, application was pretty good. They do smell a bit strongly of chemicals so aren’t perhaps the most organic of nail polishes but we’ll forgive them. And please forgive me for the fact that I had removed a particularly stubborn gold nail polish just prior to swatching these (or thought I had…)
Rhythm is a token mushroom shade. Nothing new here but the application was smooth and controlled and this is a really lovely version of an old favourite.
Nude is a pretty pink. Strange definition of nude, as it is shimmery and princess-y but yes, I like this a lot more than I originally thought I was going to. I think the hint of mauve makes it interesting. Not like any nude I’ve ever seen though, and makes my hands look a funny colour.
Winter’s Day is absolutely gorgeous. Given that I was taking these photos on a real winter’s day with very little light, it was practically impossible to get a real picture of just how fab this is. It is almost a duochrome – dark grey jelly with overtones of grey and pink. Gorgeous, and my favourite out of the lot.
In Love is a fairly standard berry purple shade. Nothing new here, but again, once I’d got the cap off, it applied really well and has a lovely shine to it.
Mystical Dragon is a nice inclusion. It’s so cool when high street brands offer a range of different finishes – especially unusual for a new launch. This is reminiscent of Zoya Charla or OPI Catch Me In Your Net. Blue and green foil with gold overtones.
Dead Red didn’t really do a lot for me, but I am super picky with red cremes. Its rare that I find one with enough pigment to cover my visible nail lime, and sadly, Dead Red is not the one. Nice colour, perhaps better for those with shorter nails.
Hidden Treasure is a stunning gold glitter. I could have done with another coat here, as I usually use glitters for layering over co-ordinating shades. I prefer my glitters to be champagne toned as the yellow golds don’t really work for me. A word of caution though – this absolutely hums. Reeks. Apply it outside if you can.
And finally, we have All Fired Up Red. Apparently there is a rather popular girl band out there called The Saturdays. Given that I stopped reading Heat about four years ago, and don’t really listen to any music that doesn’t contain loud guitars, I can’t really say that these ladies have been on my radar. But they’ve put their names to FashionistA’s range of magnetic nail polishes, so off we go.
All Fired Up Red is a maroon shade of red. Shame really as I would like to see a true red. Still, it applied like most magnetic polishes – thick yet smooth. Thje magnet, which is sold separately, doesn’t appear to be as strong as some of the others that I have tried, and it took me a while to get the pattern to show. Seeing as I was swatching rather than actually doing a full manicure, I did a little experiment with holding the magnet at different angles – some more successful than others, as you can see.
FashionistA polishes retail at £5.00 each, and will be appearing in a Superdrug near you any day now. What do you think? Are you tempted to sniff any of these out?
Helen
*PR samples*
