Review: Deborah Lippmann, Happy Birthday

I must admit that whenever I have seen reviews or swatches of the various rainbow glitter polishes I've been left largely uninspired.  Its quite lucky then that I stumbled across this beauty on a trip to House of Fraser...

Nails - Deborah Lippmann in Happy Birthday and Nails Inc in Bruton Street

Almost an exact dupe for OPI's Raindbow Connection, the Deborah Lippmann contains numerous sizes and shades of glitter on a clear polish base.  After three coats the nail is coated in glitter (but not too much!) and looks just as fab with a dusky pink (as above) as it does with Slate Grey or black.  It's a really versatile polish with just one problem... IT REALLY DOESN'T PHOTOGRAPH WELL!

I think the reason I was uninspired by it was because it looks a little sparse and tacky in photographs because you cant see the shine and how it catches the light but trust me.  Go and find a tester and try it out.

It is quite an expensive polish coming in at a hefty £14 but I imagine this will last me for a really long time and frankly, I cant stop staring at my ring finger as I type which is surely what it's aaaall about!

This gorgeous rose shade was part of my Christmas haul and yet again Nails Inc have produced a wearable, highly pigmented flattering shade.  I can see this becoming a staple in my day to day nailwear!

What do you think of glitter polishes?  Are you still in love with them or are you getting a little bored?

Cath Kidston Inspired Nails

Since I love my Models Own polish in Grace Green so much, I couldn't resist using it in a tutorial!  As a baking enthusiast my kitchen is litered with Emma Bridgewater and Cath Kidston, including a lovely green apron that my friend Sam gave me for my 21st!  Using this as inspiration I created these lovelies and I cant stop looking at them as I type away...

The good news is, it's so much easier than it looks!


Here's what you'll need:

A base coat and a top coat: I'm using Nails Inc Kensington Basecoat Caviar and Albert Bridge Topcoat.

A base colour: I have used Models Own in Grace Green but this looks just as good with pastel blues or pinks.

A light pink shade for the roses: I've used Barry M Nail Paint in Bright Pink

A darker pink shade for the petals: I've used Topshop Nails in Paint It On

A green shade for the leaves: I've used Topshop Nails in Beyond the Sea

A blue shade for the small flowers: I've used Models Own in Feeling Blue

If you have a white nail polish, you can easily use this but I have used the Andrea Fullerton Stripe and Sparkle pen in Kathleen:

You will also need a kirby grip, opened out:

This is what you will use, dipped into the polishes to create your design!

Start by putting on your base coat and your chosen background colour:

Next, take your white nail pen (or using the kirby grip) draw two stripes along 2 of your nails and cloud shapes on the other three.  Put polka dots along the outside of each shape.

Dip the kirby grip into the lighter pink shade.  Draw large rose shapes onto the clouds and put dots along the stripes.

Next, take the dark pink and put lines inside the large rose shapes to resemble petals.  On the lines, add more dots.

Finally, use the dark green to add leaves to the roses and put more dots along the stripes, slightly on the outside to make them more like leaves.  Use the blue polish to add more flowers to the stripe.

Finish with a glossy topcoat, making sure you leave enough time for it all to dry.

And there it is. A Cath Kidston style manicure.

What do you think?  Will you be giving this a go?