Review: Australis "Vampy".

Hey my Lovelies!

Today we are getting a little vampy! 

With Australis' "Vampy" of course! This polish is a stunning red jelly with a slight creaminess. It contains red micro glitters which gives the polish a slight texture (like 'Liquid Sand') once dried.

The formula is really pigmented and surprisingly it dries semi-matte. It is the traditional woman's red nail with a twist, it loves breaking the rules. "Vampy" becomes opaque in 2 coats and has an incredible drying time which is really convenient for the strong, successful and powerful woman that is in the heart of every woman.

I say that this polish should be one of the staple polishes in every woman's collection. So go out and grab it for yours...

xoxo
Queen Bee

Review: BYS "Temperamental"

Hello all of my lovelies!

Today I am reviewing the super-gorgeous "Temperamental" by BYS Cosmetics.

As you can see above, "Temperamental" is a summery neon pink that would look good on everyone and anyone. This polish not only consists of the Barbie-licious pink, but also a silver micro glitter that gives the colour a pearled glow that appears when the sun hits it.

The formula of the  polish was relatively easy to work with, it only needed 3 coats to be fully opaque (the 3rd was not necessary but was added to even out the look of the polish). It also dries semi-matte, which was unexpected result as it wasn't specified on the bottle. 

As a summary, this polish, like many of the BYS range is fantastic value for money at $4.00 a bottle. So if you get the chance to grab some of this rage, definitely grab a few.

xoxo
Queen Bee

Review: Australis "Rub - A - Dub - Dub"

Hello to all my Lovely People out there!

Today I am sharing with you the delightful "Rub-A-Dub-Dub" by Australis.

This creamy pastel yellow is truly a delight for the eyes, it brings me memories of daisies and pleasant summer and spring days. It is a warm and sunny colour that is strongly pigmented.

 

Unfortunately the formula is a bit runny but it goes on like a dream and is opaque in 4 coats, though the 4th coat was to ensure even coverage. I love pastels and this one was one of the first polishes that I bought when I was starting to seriously get into nail art and polish collecting.

This polish is seriously a must-have. It is available as a part of Australis' regular range so it can be purchased at most pharmacies and and department stores near you.

xoxo
Queen Bee

Review: Australis "Bombshell"

Hey all you lovely people!

Today I am reviewing one of my favourite polishes and one of my go-to colours for a quick manicure.

 

"Bombshell" by Australis intense Barbie pink polish is a highly pigmented, creamy dream. It is really easy to apply and looks beautiful against pretty much any skin tone. It also looks just as vibrant on both nubbins and long nails.

"Bombshell" can be found at pretty much any pharmacy or department store (I mainly purchase my Australis polishes from Target and Big W). It makes for an striking statement manicure and is opaque in 2 coats. One problem that I have found is that some of the colour from the polish transfers onto the top coat brush when I apply the top coat.

I would definitely recommend others to try this polish, it provides a statement all on its own and can be used in all seasons as a bold colour in summer or a polish to warm up a winter wardrobe. So definitely put this on your wish list.

xoxo
Queen Bee

Savvy Polish Reviews: Part 1.

Hey to all you Lovely People,

I'm going to mix it up for you all today and take a break from all the bulk Essie reviews to show you an awesome Australian brand called Savvy.

Savvy polishes can be bought at any Priceline Pharmacy within Australia. These polishes are of really good quality and they are only $1.00 per polish which is perfect for any nail addicts budget.

The following polish reviews are a small portion of the Savvy polishes that I own, there definitely will be other posts reviewing the rest of my collection.

Sally Hansen: Ginger Ale.

"Ginger Ale" is a light and refreshing gold glitter polish that contains a majority of micro light gold glitters and a small scattering of larger hex glitters to add a bit of variety.

This polish would be perfect as a glitter topper but I managed to get the look above by applying roughly 3 coats. As you can probably see I really like this glitter and have used it many times. I highly recommend this polish for those who are on a budget but also want quality.

Savvy: Flaming Blue.

"Flaming Blue"is a semi-translucent, navy blue jelly polish that has a subtle blue to green duo chrome effect.

This polish is great quality for a budget price, although you wouldn't think that it is a transparent jelly, instead of a really pigmented opaque polish. This is a great thing because you can use it on its own and also can be used for a jelly sandwich with a difference.

The duo chrome that is visible in the bottle is really subtle once is on the nail but also allows for a pleasant surprise that occasionally catches your eye when the light hits it. I hadn't been using it that much, but looking back, think I will be using this one a lot more.

Savvy: Green Tea Martini

 

"Green Tea Martini" is a forest green polish with a subtle green shimmer. It is really pretty both in the bottle and of the nails but is a lighter green once applied on the nail.

This deep green polish looks amazing on short nails, it also looks incredible against my pale skin. The green shimmer makes it look a lot luxurious and turns it sort of into an Emerald richness. It was opaque after 2 coats, although it photographs lighter than in person, it is definitely worth a try.

**UPDATE**

Once I had removed the polish, I noticed a bit of staining on the cuticles and a slight staining on the nails (Although this was removed easily using a stain removing home method).

Please stay tuned for more installments!

xoxo
Queen Bee

Review: Sally Hansen "Blue Me Away".

Hello My Gorgeous People!

Today I am reviewing Sally Hansen "Blue Me Away".

  

I used "Blue Me Away" as part of the above tape manicure with Orly "Honey Ryder".

This polish is a vibrant, bold blue that is perfect for a summer manicure that is a little bit different. The application is really smooth and even, it is a strong colour and only needed 2 coats to become completely even and opaque. The drying time is really impressive as I found it dried a lot faster than some of my other Xtreme Wear Sally Hansen polishes.

One problem that I had with this colour is that even though the polish was completely dry when I applied my tape some of the polish ripped off when I was removing the tape. I'm not sure if this problem was user error on my behalf or due to the polish.

**Update**

Now that I have removed the polish I have noticed that it unfortunately permanently stains the nails, surrounding cuticles and skin. (Please excuse the crappy condition that my nails are in, these were taken pre nail care ritual)

Talk to you all later!

xoxo
Queen Bee

Review of L'Oreal: Lush Tangerine.

Hello to all my lovely people!

This post here is to show you all my 'Summertime Daisies' manicure and to review L'Oreal's "Lush Tangerine".

 
I absolutely loved creating this design, it is bright, sunny and reminded me of summer and warm weather. Best of all, it was easy to create.

L'Oreal "Lush Tangerine"

After applying my base coat (I use Duri Rejuvacote) I applied two coats of L'Oreal "Lush Tangerine", a strong, sunny orange. I found it extremely easy to work with, it had a smooth formula and applied evenly and strongly coloured, it also had a very impressive drying time, allowing me to create this look in a short period of time.

I noticed that the newer polishes (including "Lush Tangerine") come in 5ml bottles, which I find is a bit too small for a decent polish as most other brands have polishes that are around the 13ml mark. I'm not sure what made L'Oreal only sell 5ml bottles and not include larger bottles as well but this fact makes me feel like I shouldn't use the polish as often as I want to for full manicures instead of accent nails (which is what I do for most mini polish bottles), which is a shame because I absolutely love all of the colours in their various ranges.

Despite this, I really enjoy working with L'Oreal products as they are always of a good standard and definitely are worth their price.I have never had any problems with staining or quality issues, which is why I have a fairly large range of L'Oreal polishes.  L'Oreal products can be found in most department stores and chemists though the ranges that are available vary from store to store.

xoxo
Queen Bee

Review: Orly "After Party".

Hey to all my lovely people!

Today I'm going to be showing and going through my crazy tribal look and the base polish used to create the look. You can see the results below.

I used Orly "After Party" as the base coat for this look, it is a gorgeous and sultry deep blue with pink, purple and blue shimmers. I loved the look of this polish from the first time I saw it, it kind of reminds me of a nightclub on my nails, dark yet with the constant presence of coloured light.

After Party is absolutely amazing to work with. It applies really smoothly and only took me 2 coats to get it completely opaque. It has an impressive drying time, it didn't take long at all for each coat to completely dry which allowed me to complete this manicure in just under an hour from base coat to top coat. I don't recommend using this polish if you have your aircon/fan on in the same room, it will dry out too quickly and produce an uneven look, I did this when I first bought it and thought that it was the way it applied and shoved it to the back of one of my Helmer drawers. I'm really glad I revisited this one as it is such a gorgeous colour and is unique.

The removal of the polish is awesome, it comes off with nail polish remover and doesn't need to be soaked off using the foil method like a glitter would (BONUS! Sparkly polish without the drama!).

If you are looking for a sultry polish with a little bit of extra drama, then this polish is for you. You can pick up Orly at selected pharmacists and department stores. Just head over to their website to find your nearest stockist or to order online.

See all of you beautiful people later...

xoxo
Queen Bee.

Review: Emily de Molly "Speckled Pig".

Hey Lovely People!

Today I am reviewing "Speckled Pig" by the amazing Emily de Molly.

**(Please excuse the terrible aspect ratio of this picture, I cropped it for Instagram before I remembered to save a copy for the blog!)**

Emily de Molly: Speckled Pig.

Emily de Molly is an Australian Indie nail polish brand that sells her creations through Etsy (Australia Only) and Llarowe (International Sales). She is absolutely amazing to buy from and it is really hard to pick between all the polishes she creates, they are all so incredibly gorgeous (not to mention affordable too!)

This unique polish comprises of a creamy pink base with tiny matte black circular glitter. The pink is a gorgeous rosy pink and is opaque in two coats. The black glitter provides a refreshing change from all the sparkly glitter bombs that are popular with indie brands (not that this girl doesn't mind a good glitter bomb). 

The formula is a dream to work with, going on smoothly without any fuss or fishing around the bottle to get enough glitter out to make it look amazing. There isn't a strong odour to it so it is perfect for those that tend to get overwhelmed by some of the stronger smelling indie formulas. It is "3-free" meaning that the polish does not contain the harmful chemicals Touline, Formaldehyde and DBP (Dibutyl Phthalate). 

I am definitely glad that I picked this baby up, pretty much, I drool over anything that Emily de Molly makes but I love this polish because it's a fun and unique colour and glitter combination and has endless possibilities for straight manicures and nail art. I strongly suggest that you pick up a bottle for yourself as it is an amazing addition to any polish fanatic's collection.

xoxo
Queen Bee

Review: Revlon "Blue Lagoon"

Hey lovely people!

I recently created some basic level nail art using Revlon's "Blue Lagoon".

I thought I would mix things up a bit and review this polish out of order as a part of Swatchfest 2013, so here goes!

Revlon: Blue Lagoon.

This polish is incredibly creamy and a dream to apply, I have used it countless times as a plain manicure or as a base for more elaborate nail art. It is a baby blue creme with a slight silver sheen that is still visible when applied on the nail. It has an amazing coverage with no patchiness and/or streaking, it goes opaque in as little as two coats.

I have absolutely fallen in love with this colour since the first time I saw it on the shelf. It was very appealing to me as I love good strong creme polishes and I have always been a sucker for a good pastel.

The formula goes on incredibly smoothly and has an amazing consistency (not too thick and gluggy but not so watery it goes everywhere). The drying time varies from incredibly quick (if you normally apply multiple thin coats) to moderate (if you tend to apply your polish thinker with fewer coats).

I have used this polish as a base for stamping, it was really helpful as it dries evenly and doesn't 'smoosh' (aren't you loving my serious terminology lol!) when the rubber stamper is rolling over the polish to apply the stamp. It is also awesome for things such as dotted manicures because it doesn't tend to go stringy as the polish dries out and you continue stamping.

So overall, I would have to give this polish a (perfectly manicured) thumbs up and recommend you all to go out and buy it and give it a try. It should be available anywhere Revlon is sold such as, department stores and you local pharmacy.

See you later lovely people!

xoxo
Queen Bee

Sincerest Apologies!

Hey Everyone!

I know I have been AWOL for a few weeks and I sincerely apologise and ask for you to bear with me!

I am having a few complications with my health and between running from specialist to specialist, getting scans and now being on doctor ordered bed rest (ugh!) I haven't had many opportunities to jump on here to create full posts.

Me, Stuck in bed...

All this being said, I have managed to take a few hours over the past day or two to cook up some good posts for you to all enjoy which will be posted over the next few days. I am also getting my husband to create an area that is completely dedicated to polish but allows me to stay on bed rest as per doctors orders.

I hope that you all can bear with me for a little while longer but I promise that I haven't forgotten you all!

xoxo
Queen Bee

Swatchfest 2013: Essie Collection Part 4.

Hey Everyone!

The Swatchfest continues so let's get started!

Essie: Demure Vixen.

A really sheer polish that has a subtle purple shimmery glow when light hits it. This polish would be perfect for someone who needs to have naked nails for work/school but wants to cheat (I don't know about others but I can't stand to have naked nails for too long!). It can also be used as a top coat for other polishes. It is fairly easy to apply because there is no need to worry about streaks or patchiness. The formula has an amazing drying time with a really smooth consistency.

Essie: Hot Coco.

This gorgeous creamy brown really does resemble a warm hot chocolate and is perfect for a manicure to warm you up on a cold winter's day. It has a thin consistency with a quite disappointing application. I don't know whether it was the way that I was applying the polish but I found it quite hard to get it to look consistent on my nails. I needed to use quite a few coats to stop it from looking streaky and patchy, also the drying time was a bit average. Despite this I still love the colour and the fact that it looks really glossy once applied. I was left feeling a bit undecided about this one.

Essie: Smoking Hot. 

This perfect winter shade is a creamy grey with a hint of purple mixed in. This polish makes me feel really sophisticated and I received a number of positive comments during the time that I wore it. It looks amazingly glossy so there wasn't really any need to apply a top coat, it has an amazing drying time is opaque in three coats and perfect for those girls who are rocking nubbins. This one will definitely be one of my favourite go-to's.

Essie: Decadent Diva.

This metallic maroon polish contains an additional fine copper glitter that shows up spectacularly in the sun. It is slightly sheer but can become opaque if you apply a decent number of coats which is easy because of the thin formula. The copper sheen is clearer than can be seen once applied to the nail. This polish is another one that you could seriously rock if your nails tend to be on the short side (like mine lol!).

That's all for now so keep your eyes peeled for the next instalment! 

xoxo
Queen Bee.

Swatchfest 2013: Essie Collection Part 3.

Hey Everyone!

I am slowly getting through the Essie portion of the challenge. As my favourite 'luxury' brand, my Essie certainly is a large portion of it.

Anyway, on to the reviews!

Essie: Cascade Cool.

A gorgeous creamy hot pink which borders on a Barbie pink (not that it's a bad thing, we all love Barbie hey?). It is really easy to apply with a smooth formula that has an incredible drying time that is even yet slightly sheer (the tips of the nail are slightly visible through the polish). I used two coats plus topcoat for the image above.

This colour would look amazing on all skin types from a gorgeous tan to a smooth pale (like mine) I find it hard to find pinks that suit my complexion but this one fits the bill.

Essie: Fiji.

First of all I have to say I FREAKING love this polish. It has to be one of my all-time favourites and a definite go-to over and over again.

It is an incredible, soft light pink creme pastel that has a really impressive colour intensity. I only used three coats plus topcoat for the image above (the third coat isn't necessary but I used it to ensure even coverage for the photos). This pastel pink is a gorgeous colour that is perfect for a soft, girly look (and also perfect for a wedding manicure!).

Essie: Haute As Hello.

This creamy orange makes for a good statement nail or undies for nail art. I originally purchased this polish for nail art but have slowly grown to like it more and more each time I wear it. As much as I like this colour on me, I have no doubt that it would look amazing on a tan complexion. This polish has an incredibly strong pigment and as I applied it I noticed that it didn't apply patchy (like some other Essie pastels).

There are two things that I should mention though, first one it that the formula dries semi-matte (I don't know whether this is because I used a matte base coat but I would love to hear you experiences with it). The second is that it does dry darker than in the bottle. Neither of these should be the reason that you don't give this polish a try, it's worth it!

Essie: Braziliant.

The first time I saw this polish on the rack at the store I had to buy it because it was so unique. It is an extremely bright burnt orange with an orange shimmer that is strong on the nails. It has a smooth, easy application and is opaque in two coats. I am using this polish for nail art as I find it way too bold and intense for my skin tone but this colour is perfect for someone who likes to make a statement.

Well, I'm signing off to do some more swatches so that I can bring them to you!

Love you all!
xoxo
Queen Bee

Swatchfest 2013: Essie Collection Part 2.

Hey lovely people!

This post is a continuation of Swatchfest 2013. I am really enjoying doing this challenge because I am finding some amazing gems that I have previously overlooked.

To add to the challenge, I have decided to go on a self-enforced no-buy until I have completed Swatchfest. This will be a real challenge in itself because (as most of you fellow nail addicts can understand) I have a serious polish buying problem.

So, now on to the reviews!

Essie: Lilacism.

This gorgeous, girly polish is a light purple pastel with subtle grey undertones which is absolutely perfect for a spring manicure or simply a mani to brighten your day and make you feel a little girly. The formula is amazing, it goes on the nail really smoothly with no patchiness and it has an impressive amount of pigmentation. It is completely opaque in as little as two coats. I would definitely recommend this polish for those looking for a softer look or just those that want their manicure to make them feel girly.

Essie: Navigate Her.

Firstly, I have to admit that my husband (being the dirty minded male that he is) absolutely cracked up when he first heard the name of this polish. Personally, I don't see what he finds so hilarious. Anyway, on to the actual serious review.
Navigate Her is a strong khaki green creme pastel. It is incredibly pigmented, needing a maximum of two coats to become completely opaque. Personally, I didn't really like this colour against my pale skin tone (seriously, my skin hasn't properly seen sunlight in over a year, let alone become tanned). But this is most certainly won't be the case with everyone, I'm just stating my personal experience, I encourage everyone to give it a go if you want to. the formula applies beautifully with an amazingly even coverage. I would recommend this polish for those that don't mind doing things a little different.

Essie: Bikini So Teeny.
 

I have to admit that this polish was a HUGE lemming of mine and still remains as my favourite Essie polish, so much that I have three bottles (oops!). This gorgeous polish is a creamy sky blue with a slight blue to silver shimmer. It doesn't apply evenly for the first coat (as I find is the case for most Essie polishes) but after 2-3 coats it is completely even and opaque. I love this polish because it give a freshness that I really look for in a summer polish. I don't like wearing dark polishes during summer as I find that they can drag down a colourful summer outfit. Also, sadly the shimmer that is so strong in the bottle sort of disappears on the nail but then also gives it more of a lightening effect.

Anyway lovelies, keep your eves peeled for the next instalment in this challenge.

Love you all!
xoxo
Queen Bee

Swatchfest 2013: Essie Collection Part 1.

Hey lovely people!

If you read my last post you would know that I am undertaking the challenge of Swatchfest 2013 (a.k.a. swatch every polish in my current collection). So here is my first entry of many... this is gonna be interesting!

Essie: To Buy Or Not To Buy.

This polish is an absolutely gorgeous lavender creme with a subtle blue and purple shimmer which compliments and brightens the polish although it doesn't show up much on the nails. This polish requires at least 3 coats to get it appearing smooth and opaque as the formula is very sheer and slightly streaky on the first couple of layers (like the majority of Essie pastel and lighter polishes). Overall I'm impressed with this polish and am going to continue using it.

Essie: Absolutely Shore.

This polish is a gorgeous light pastel green. I found the formula a bit disappointing, it was hard to get an even consistency causing bad streaking. You will also need at least three coats in order to get it opaque. I love the way it looks with my (very) light skin, normally greens make me look jaundiced but this one it kinda cute. Despite the problems with the formula I kind of like it, it won't be one of my frequently reoccurring polishes but I will use this one again, maybe for an accent nail or undies for a design.

Essie: Mint Candy Apple.

I have to admit, this polish was a lemming of mine for a LONG time. I instantly fell in love with the gorgeous fresh colour and it looks AMAZING against my (very light) skin. The formula of this polish is absolutely amazing, it is has a really easy application, no streaks at all and is opaque in two thin coats. I absolutely love this polish and will for a very long time, this colour is one of my top 10 polishes and I will wear it over and over.

Keep your eyes peeled for another Swatchfest 2013 post.

xoxo
Queen Bee

Swatchfest 2013

This is my first real entry for this blog so I thought I would start it off with a bang!

I was inspired by a post that Zombified Nails did on Instagram. The challenge was to swatch every polish in your current collection. I saw this and thought to myself "why not? I'll give it a go!" I am using this challenge to rediscover old favourites, find new ones and give others a second chance.

Each post in this series will comprise of 2-5 polish swatches with a review per swatch. I aim to add to the Swatchfest a few times a week (I'm a bit slow at the moment, I'm still attempting to figure out everything haha!) if you would like to receive email notifications when the posts are up, please provide the necessary details in the box on the right side of the page. 

I will also be posting my images on the Queen Bee Instagram (search @queenbeepolishes) so feel free to check them out there too!

I invite everyone to see if they can complete this challenge with me! If you do, link your images to #queenbeeswatchfest on Instagram!

xoxo
Queen Bee.