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 "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

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

Awesome stuff to come!

Hey lovely people!

I am very excited about the next nailart creation that is coming up on both here and on my instagram account (personal: @princesslea89 and blog: @queenbeepolishes). 

All the polishes required to complete the manicure.

I have come up with an idea of using a technique I use in my hobby model building and painting (I'm a geek and proud of it).

This idea could either look really really cool or fail exponentially... either way I'm going to post the results here first!

Keep your eyes peeled for the outcome!

xoxo
Queen Bee

A Refreshing Break.

Hey everyone!

I thought that I would break up the monotony of the constant swatching, so here goes!

To start off with, I have a dirty little secret! I recently bought my first two OPI polishes during an Ozsale promotion (cue the gasps and looks of horror!). It isn't like I don't like OPI polishes, I just have never bought one for myself, I mainly reserve the more expensive polishes for anniversary, birthday and Christmas wish-lists.

The first polish that I decided to buy was "Honey Ryder" which is a liquid sand from the James Bond Anniversary Collection.

Now, despite all the rave reviews that were all over Instagram, I wasn't sure that I would like like the consistency of the formula because I am one of those people that can't stand having lumpy polish because I have the overwhelming desire to pick at the lumps. But when my friend bought me the liquid sand mini's pack I thought to myself "why not give it a go?" and it turns out that I absolutely LOVE IT!  Also, because the mini's pack didn't include Honey Ryder and that is the one that I wanted the most, when I saw it on Ozsale I jumped at the chance to get it.  

Honey Ryder is a gorgeous gold with a variety of gold glitter, the rough, textured formula has an amazing coverage, and you will only need one to two coats for maximum coverage. It also has an incredible drying time and it has a bonus, if you plant your finger on it while it is wet, it's so textured that the finger/pillow print blends into the textured surface.

The second polish purchased was You're Such a Budapest! this polish is a gorgeous strong lilac that looks incredibly creamy once applied. I'm a complete sucker for purples (my room is painted about 4 shades of purple lol). It requires a few coats to get it completely opaque. I used 4 but they were incredibly thin (on purpose) I loved the drying time, in fact, I find all the OPI polishes that are in my collection have amazing drying time which is a bonus.

In summary, I am very impressed with both polishes and they have enticed me into looking into purchasing more OPI's.

In the next few days I will be posting another post continuing Swatchfest 2013 so keep your eyes peeled!

Love you all!
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