Barry M nails | Love or hate?!

Barry M were the make-up brand of my early teen years. Like many other girls I was obsessed with their dazzle dust pigments & their nail polish collection. However, as I have grown more knowledgeable to higher quality brands I realise that Barry M nail polishes really aren't everything we thought they were.

Even when I was younger I thought that their polishes took an age to dry & vowed not to buy anymore! But recently whilst shopping in Topshop, Oxford Street I spotted an amazing colour. I couldn't resist. & I hoped that maybe, just maybe they had changed their formula. 

I was wrong :( Their  nail polish is just as bad as it use to be. The polish is thick, becomes gloopy very quickly, takes a long time to dry, has visible brush strokes, easily chips & the surface is easily scratched & marked. I hate to be so negative, but it's all so true! 

I really wish that this wasn't the case, as I absolutely love their colour collection! The colour I bought recently  was Teal, and is pictured below. 

Ahhh, it's so pretty! About an hour after I painted my nails in the above photos I got dressed & put on a pair of leggings. After an hour, nail polish should definitely be bone dry! But, when pulling up my leggings the polish on a couple of my fingers creased completely & smudged up the nail. By this point I also had various scratch marks on the surface (due to the sheer thickness of the polish). 

The thickness of their polishes also means that they really don't last very long. Below is my selection of Barry M polishes. Although they look okay of the plastic nail wheel they don't appear like this on my own nails. The polish is so gloopy that it takes a lot of product to cover a single nail. Which still results in a thick, streaky result. However, I will add that the shatter effects polish is completely fine, as is the glittery red polish.

Am I the only person who thinks this about Barry M hair polish?? I'd love to hear your opinions too!

Jen xo

Mattified nails

I haven't really had time to do any fancy nail art lately but I wanted something different on my nails. Looking through my nail varnish stash I found an over coat polish I haven't used for a while. It's Rimmel's pro matte finish mattifying topcoat. I use to absolutely love this, & after using it again today I remember why.

I have painted my nails a few different shades of pinks & purples, so you can see what the different colours look like mattified, & then gone over the top with one application of the pro matte finish.

L-R = Rimmel 60 seconds rapid ruby, funtime fuschia & portobello pink, & Barry M in shade 22 & limited edition 30.

Please excuse the handle. I must have been tested colours for the crackle effect polish. Obviously I didn't want to try it out on my nails...

Below are pictures of my nails before & after application of pro matte finish.

What do you guys think of mattified nails? I think it's quite a nice change. The type of thing I'd have phases of I reckon, sometimes preferring this, but other times preferring shiny nails.

Hope you're all well,
Jen xox