Essence Pastel Ombré Topcoat

I have a confession, this post was suppose to go up yesterday (Monday) so I'm sorry that it didn't. However when I swatched this particular polish,

 I was so cross that I just couldn't think of anything positive to write. It would have be a horrid post to read, so I decided to enjoy my evening watching Game of Thrones, sleep on it and come back to it today. I can't promise it'll be any nicer, but it will contain less swear words.

Essence Pastel Ombre Topcoat and Flashy Pumpkin

I went out and bought Essence's Ombré Topcoat at the weekend for 2 reasons

1. I saw a press release on it (ages ago) and immediately added it to my to buy list.

2. I then saw the lovely Dahlia Nails review it and I was even more sure that I needed it.

Their blue ombré mani was beautiful, what I have to show you today is not.

Firstly I used 2 coats of Flashy Pumpkin. I love this Essence polish, it's pigmented, smooth to apply and fast drying (I reviewed it here with other Essence colours last year). For £1.79 you can't ask for anything more from a polish. The Ombré Topcoat directions suggests you need to use a dark colour as the effect is more noticeable, so I thought this orange would be perfect.

Essence Flashy Pumpkin Colour & Go

I added one coat to all my nails and this is where the problems began. I found that these tiny little black stands appeared on my nail (bits of brush I think) which needed removing and then disrupted the topcoat. I also found the bristles of the brush were too hard and so left streaky marks when I applied the topcoat.

It has a very thick consistency and dries quickly so if you have large nails (like I do) and need to go back on any areas, it's already dried and then smudges.

Because of the thickness of the polish and the fast drying time, it's hard to cover all areas properly on each additional coat, so by the time you do 4 coats, it's impossible to get a good finish.

I added some Glossy Glam topcoat to the finished mani, which usually covers all manner of polish sins, but it couldn't fix this. This was doomed and nothing could save it. My index finger has 4 coats and then each additional finger has 1 less coat.

Essence Pastel Ombre Topcoat over Flashy Pumpkin

I think I can probably utilise this as a sheer white polish (I don't have one) and ignore its intended purpose. I certainly won't be using it again as a ombré topcoat and if it doesn't work out as a sheer white topcoat it's headed for the bin.

The idea is great, but the product isn't, so good try Essence but not good enough.

Should you wish you buy this it's available from Wilkinson Stores for £2.

What do you think of this product? Do you like wearing ombré manis and would you have used this?

Essence Bloom Me Up Nail Polish Collection - Review & Giveaway!

Essence are a European brand that we UK nail girls can now get on home soil (can I get a hallelujah!). However there are still a huge amount of Essence products we do not get a sniff at, namely the capsule collections which of course are the most appealing. Their Cinderella collection did not hit UK shores and no matter where I looked I couldn't find a company online willing to send it to the UK (thanks Royal Mail).

Luckily by chance I came across the Bloom Me Up collection while I was browsing around and picked up 2 complete nail collections, 1 for me and 1 for you to try and win. This was a spring release last year but it is still beautiful and goes a way toward making up for the fact I couldn't get the Cinderella collection.

Back to the collection, it contains 4 polishes; 2 cremes / 2 shimmers and some nail lace tip stickers.

Essence Bloom Me Up Nail Collection

Blow My Mint is a gorgeous bright pastel mint green creme with a hint of sage. I used 3 coats and topcoat for the swatches below.

Essence Bloom Me Up Blow My Mint

Essence Bloom Me Up Blow My Mint

Lovely Lavender is just as the name suggest, a soft lavender with a silver shimmer. I used 3 coats and topcoat for the swatches.

Essence Bloom Me Up Lovely Lavendar

Essence Bloom Me Up Lovely Lavendar

Blooming Tender is a gentle orange polish with a silver shimmer. I used 3 coats with topcoat.

Essence Bloom Me Up Blooming Tender

Essence Bloom Me Up Blooming Tender

Chaising Lacy is a watermelony-strawberry pink (does that make sense?). I used 2 coats with topcoat for the pictures.

Essence Bloom Me Up Chaising Lacy

Essence Bloom Me Up Chaising Lacy

The nail lace tips look beautiful, there are 28 pieces in 7 different sizes. You can of course use them as a tip if you have round or squoval nails, or you could use them to create a lacy half moon mani. I am sure there are loads of ways these could be used, I just can't think of any more right now.

So how do you win these 4 polishes and nail stickers ... read the rules and then enter through the rafflecopter widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow me on Bloglovin' here

On a last note - why do Essence insist on changing their bottle shape all the time? I love the uniformity of the same shape bottle per brand. So many brands are recognisable from their bottle shape (OPI, Butter London etc), not Essence, it likes to throw itself around and has a bit of action in all the bottle shapes.

Giveaway Rules

The closing date is Friday 16th April 2015 at 00:00.

One (1) winner will win the 4 Essence nail polishes and 1 pack of nail lace tips.

Open to UK residents aged 16 or over.

All entrances MUST be following The Polish List on Bloglovin.

Entrances can gain extra entries by following the other options offered through Rafflecopter.

The winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries and informed via email within 24 hours of the closing time.

The winner must respond within 72 hours to claim their prize. 

Do not post on competition sites or forums.

No competition accounts/profiles - these will be disqualified.

Prize not for resale.

My Top 8 Perfect Polishes For Easter

Happy Easter Saturday everyone, I know technically it's not Easter until tomorrow but I like to extend the chocolate eating over 2 days ... yes, I'm very greedy. I've had some mini eggs and milkybar eggs today and still have an awful lot of chocolate to get through.

I heard on the news that the average child would get £56 of Easter presents (mostly choc) and consume 8000 calories over the weekend, I mean bloody hell! I used to get about 3 eggs when I was younger and was made to melt most down to make rice crispy cakes.

Anyway, my present of choice these days (for any occasion) is polish. I didn't sew the seed early enough to get polish for Easter (I think my boyfriend only got my chocolate egg today) but I have already started my birthday polish list. Easter is synonymous with pastels and although I love them, I have tried to pick colours that aren't typically pastel and included some brighter shades. I have included past and present shades from the UK High Street only so that should there be something you like, you can go and buy it.

Rimmel always release stunning spring collections. The 2 Rimmel colours I have picked are from last years Sweetie Crush range (review post here). Fizzy Applelicious and Violet Swizzle are beautifully subtle and have a slightly textured finish which reminds me of the foil wrappers most eggs come wrapped in.

Rimmel Sweeti Crush Fizzy Applelicious

Rimmel Sweetie Crush Violet Swizzle

Models Own 2014 Speckled Eggs range (review post here) had to be one of my most fave spring collections  ... ever. It is so perfect for Easter that I had to include 2 of the polishes in this list. Magpie and Dove are both beautiful, I really wish we could buy normal eggs in these colours, it would really brighten up my baking. 

Models Own Speckled Eggs Magpie

Models Own Speckled Eggs Dove

Gosh's spring collection this year (review post here) contained this gem of a polish called Sunkissed. I know most people wouldn't consider it for Spring let alone Easter, but I love it.

Gosh Spring 2015 Sunkissed

Collection have a massive range of polish and although their Spring 2015 collection Field Day (review post here) is gorgeous, I had to include this stunning blue polish instead called Baby Blue. I urge you all to go and buy it, the formula on Collection polishes is brilliant and this one borders on perfect.

Collection Cosmetics Baby Blue

What polish list completed by me would be complete without the mention of at least 1 Barry M nail paint. I chose 2, the beautiful Kiss Me Quick from their 2015 Spring collection called Speedy (review post here) and Station Road from their 2013 Spring Textured collection (review post here). I love Kiss Me Quick, it's the most perfect soft pink shade which has a cool undertone rather than the warm one of most pinks. Station Road is a beautiful polish and the textured finish reminds me of little chick fur.

Barry M Speedy Quick Dry Kiss Me Quick

Barry M Spring Textured Station Road

Most of the polishes can be bought from Superdrug or Boots from £1.99 to £3.99 each.

So what are you fave polishes for Easter? I hope you all have a lovely day and eat loads of yummy food.