The inspiration behind this post is one of my most brilliant friends; introducing Mrs Gemma Burgess (*wolfwhistle*). Exactly how brilliant she is is a whole other post (suffice to say she just survived Hurricane Sandy by herself, in a NY hotel with a one year old – and all the while managed to carry on writing her bestselling books and articles for Tatler. She is *that* girl).
Our boys were born five weeks apart and while we shared pregnancy and early motherhood in all it’s banal minutiae (has your baby poo’d today? Is his willy normal? Why will he only eat pear?) I adore the fact that we can spend hours talking about normal stuff, namely beauty. Yes we are grown women, wives and mothers, yes we hold degrees and read newspapers, but our beautiful friendship is cemented by our ability to talk for HOURS about the pros and cons of BB Creams. Don’t judge, okay?
She is in fact a CEW Beauty award-nominated writer on the subject of nails, so when she told me about having fingers ‘dipped in disco snowflakes’, I was intrigued.
It also prompted me to dig out the LCN Nail Candy I’d been sent (a range of micro beads that you scatter over wet polish to give a textured finish), and have a little play.
Here are the results.
I tried this every which way, on tips, half moon… but I think I like the pinky finger best. I’m wearing it with my favourite polish of this AW12 – Essie’s Midnight Cami. A perfect smart navy. The Nail Candy is so easy to apply; straight after your second coat you just sprinkle it over the wet polish and press gently so it adhers. No special glues needed. The teeny beads don’t stay on forever, so definitely one to do for a ‘one night only’ look, but I like the glossy navy and matte, caviar-like black combo.
I know, my cuticles are shot. I’ve been slathering them with OPI Avoplex cuticle oil but cycling everywhere, plus central heating, plus my awful cuticle-chewing habit have not helped.
I *love* this shade from Barry M, called Cappuccino. If you’re an Essie Chinchilly fan you’ll dig it, too. I wanted the fine glittery accent polish (another Barry M, code 338 – they’re £3.99 each or 3 for 2 at the mo in Boots) to look like silver leaf laid haphazardly over my half moons. I love the way this updates an everyday neutral with a hint of autumnal metallics.
Another easy autumnal nail trend is to simply pick out the ring finger with a pop of colour. I was dubious about this but gave it a go last week and loved catching glimpses of this bold fuschia from Estee Lauder (oh bungalow pink). Again I’ve teamed it with Essie’s Midnight Cami. I’d love to try it with a dark purple and perhaps a mauve on the ring finger? Endless possibilities.
Finally, the look I’ve been wearing for the last few days. A dark claret (Estee Lauder’s Berry Desire) with another Barry M, Yellow Topaz Glitter, over the tips. It is borderline ‘Chinese New Year’ but I can see this look bedecking my digits this Christmas.
