Manicure Monday 5: Black Nails & Models Own Ibiza Mix

Black Nails & Models Own Ibiza Mix (£5)

This has to be one of my favourite nail art looks I’ve ever created.  I use a glossy black nail varnish (anyone will do but make sure you apply two coats) and Models Own Ibiza Mix glitter polish.  Ibiza Mix is my favourite glitter topcoat.  With hues of pink, turquoise, lilac and gold, the light reflects off every fleck of glitter making it look so pretty and sparkly.

I think the glitter works well against the black as it’s such a stark contrast.  It reminds me of fireworks on Bonfire night whizzing through an inky, dark, night sky.  As with most glitter polishes I find the best way to get this to show on your nails is to dab rather than paint it on.  I intensified the glitter towards the end of my nails creating a bit of an ombre effect, which I think works really well.  I’m eager to have a go at recreating this look with other colours.  Watch this space!

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Manicure Monday 3: Models Own Velvet Goth Absinthe

Models Own Velvet Goth (£5)

Every time Models Own announce a new collection I do a little squeal.  When I saw the press pictures for their Velvet Goth range I knew it would be right up my street.  With their luxurious velvet tops and their dark brooding colours, each polish simply oozes Christmas party sparkle.  

The immediate standout shade for me was Absinthe.  As a lover of all things green I knew this had to be the first polish I added to my collection.  Don’t get me wrong, I will probably end up with them all but I couldn’t wait for this one.  It complimented my birthday dress perfectly as that too was a velvet jewel-coloured number so I snapped it up as bday treat to myself.

What I really love about the Velvet Goth varnishes is that although they are essentially glitter polishes, they are opaque too so they don’t need a base coat.  Glitter polishes often look amazing the bottle but need at least three to four coats to build up the glitter.  Velevt Goth is different.  What you see is what you get.  Two quick coats of this and you have the perfect shade and a unique semi-matte texture that I rather liked so didn’t add a topcoat.  I think I’m going to opt for Sardonyx, a festive blood red, and Obsidan, a gothic-yet-glitzy black, from the collection next.  What do you think?  Have you tried the range?  What is your favourite?

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Models Own Grace Green

Models Own Grace Green (£5)*

Another Models Own polish from my ever-growing collection!  Don't you just love this brand?  I really don’t need another green nail varnish.  I think I have every colour from the green-scale well and truly covered by now so I should maybe mix it up a little.  It is my favourite colour however and I’m always so drawn to it.  I just can’t help it!

Grace Green is a sage/olive shade of green and the perfect colour to wear at this time of the year when you want to start adding a touch of Spring to your outfits.  Like most Models Own polishes this was fine after just one coat but looked loads better with two.  I think this polish looks fab worn alone but would also be a great base for nail art.  My friend Katie is a dab hand with a dotting tool so I think I’ll ask her to give me a mani with this polish.  Make sure you check out her blog here.  If you’re as gaga for green as I am then I would definitely recommend this polish as I haven’t seen a colour like it anywhere else.   

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Models Own Dancing Queen

Models Own Dancing Queen (£5)*

As soon as I saw the Models Own Glitterball Collection I knew I needed Dancing Queen in my life.  Green is my favourite colour so I was instantly attracted to this polish.  As with most glitter varnishes I found it best to dab this onto my nails rather than paint it on.  The chunks of glitter transfer onto the nail better that way and it's easier to build up the colour.  I layered this over OPI's Don't Mess With OPI and applied two coats and a top coat to get this look.  I think you could wear it alone but it would take around three to four coats to achieve anything near opaque.  I really like this polish and it was one of my faves for the festive season.  My only gripe is that it doesn't contain much green glitter - it's a lot more blue and golds.  Other than that, it's a must have for any fellow glitter lovers!

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