Friday Favourites - Nails for Spring

At The Amazing Blog, we can never have enough nail polishes to share in the office! Whether it’s to coordinate with our latest outfits or to pack into our travel bags for a holidays, we cannot resist adding yet another polish to our collection. So today we thought we would share some of our favourite colours and brands for this season.

Starting with Only Fingers and Toes ‘Understated Chic’ Trilogy Set. When these arrived,  we instantly fell in love with the elegantly embossed recyclable packaging that sets off the nail polishes, giving a very luxurious feel. Inside there are three gorgeous shades that are on-trend but also versatile enough to be worn all year round. The polishes are all DBP, Toluene, formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin, camphor and ophthalmic acid free;  and what we particularly like is the Only Fingers and Toes supports charity ventures like Dollis Hill Dolls Nail Bar (London) Polished Girlz (US) and Shine Nail Bar (Leeds).

‘Sweet like Candy’ a pale pink shade which made the nails look glossy, perfect for daytime wear. ‘Manganese’ a khaki colour, perfect for the up and coming military trend. Our favourite of the collection was ‘Ciao’ is a pastel purple shade gorgeous for the upcoming spring season. If you want to have gorgeous and chic nails grab your Trilogy Set here for £42.

One nail polish brand you cannot go wrong with the fashion-led FNUG and we were so excited to get our hands on these.  FNUG uses the holographic nail lacquer to get your nails looking sparkly as ever. Starting off with a Aqua fix base coat, apply one layer and let it dry to enhance the holographic effect. We were sent 'Fnuglista', a pink shade that sparkles, great for a girly night out and for our futuristic fashionistas, 'Futurista' a blue sparkly shade, whilst moving ours fingers it gave a prism effect of light reflecting peacock shades. Both delicious shades for that Balmain style. Get all 'Psychedelic' with their silver holographic nail polish, giving the wearer a playful and ice cool style. These cool and vibrant trio of nail polishes are great for creating a dramatic effect. We rocked the 'Futurista' blue polish - our favourite, which worked well with both denim and our little black dresses.  

If the holographic nails aren’t your thing, then FNUG also has a coral ‘A Lister' and deep purple ‘After Party’ in regular nail polish, letting you create a more subtle look for the upcoming spring season. Get the nail polishes individually here for £12.00 each.

We couldn’t contain our excitement when Kiss sent us some of their 'Everlasting Range' which included an LED Gel Lamp, French Manicure Everlasting Gel; plus three great shades of gel polish.  'Sweet', a sea green colour which is lovely for the spring months ahead, 'Smoky', a dark grey shade which complements your smokey eye look for nights on the town and 'Lush', a bright shade of pink which is bursting full of vibrant colour.

The 'French Manicure Everlasting Gel Polish' includes french wraps, brush-on gel glue, colour gel 'Petal', base gel, top gel, gel cleanser, lint-free wipes, a buff block, manicure stick , a mini file and an instruction sheet to help you along the way. This kit provides you with everything you need for a really professional looking French Manicure.

Accompanying both kits, is the LED Gel Lamp to cure the gel evenly for chip free nails with a high gloss effect. Only 30 second drying time so perfect for when we are in a rush. When we tested out the 'Everlasting Gel Polish' we were pleasantly surprised by the simplicity of the application.  For everlasting and beautiful nails get your kit here ranging from £14.99 to £38.99.

Deborah Lippman is a celebrity and fashion manicurist who has designed opulent nail polishes for top celebs like Lady GaGa, Scarlett Johansson, Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow, Just to name a few, and we were pleased to find out that Deborah has now graced us with her new limited edition spring collection of 8ml mini bottles, ‘Sweets for My Sweets’ which include six pastel shades from soft yellow to baby pink and we just couldn't wait to give them all a try.

Our favourite nail polish was ‘Sugar Sugar’ a pastel baby pink, an effortlessly chic shade which matches any outfit of your choice. The formula of the polish allows you to apply thinly onto your nail for a long lasting colour effect topped with a high gloss finish, completely gloop free. Like the above two brands FNUG and Only Fingers and Toes, Deborah Lippman is a 'five free' polish and is also not tested on animals.

Presented in a colourful gift box, these sets of polishes will make the perfect treat for you or your nail enthuastic pals. Add a splash of pastel to your hands with Deborah Lippman’s must-have shades for the spring here for only £27.

Helmies – Nail Helmets

We girls at The Amazing Blog  love having beautifully manicured hands and it's a rare occasion to spot any of our team without perfectly preened nails. Some of us get a little more adventurous than others dabbling in amateur nail art (currently rocking the reverse French Manicure look). However, there is nothing more annoying than when we are on the dash, and our nail polish is still drying. You know the scenario, last minute manicure, late and hastily digging deep into our handbags to find house keys and - yikes - you guessed it, smudging!  This is when someone suggested these clever little Helmies Nail Helmets.

In the box, we found ten white little helmets plus two bigger pink ones for the thumbs or toenails. Helmies are reusable, soft and elastic so they can fit easily over each finger/toe. Yes they do look a bit quirky and we all got the giggles when we wore them. However, they serve a purpose allowing you to go about your household errands or in our case, typing in the office. Helmies are ergonomically designed fitting perfectly over each finger/toe with three little holes on top which lets the air flow through allowing the polish to set properly. They're made of silicone gel and are hypoallergenic. In fact, they have thought of everything including the open back which allows your fingertips to be free for making phone calls or texting.

No more ineffectual waving of hands or blowing on your fingertips, time to invest in a set of these practical little Helmies Nail Helmets available for £7.99 here .

Soigne Nails - Barbe A Papa Range

Bright colours are perfect for this time of year. Whether you’re on the beach, or strutting around the city, we’re firm believers in making a statement with our bold beauty choices. The girls at The Amazing Blog are big fans of Soigne polishes, and their Barbe a Papa range of summer colours are perfectly in keeping with our bold and beautiful ethos.

With a large range of luxurious colours in their core collection, the French brand has introduced three new shades for summer 2015. Of the trio, we were excited to try the Framboise Bleue shade. A tropical greeny blue, the hue would look wonderful on an island getaway – what better to coordinate with than the crystal ocean waters? As we’re not currently on a tropical island escape, we’ve had to settle for jazzing up our typing hands in the office. Still, the shade adds a wonderful pop of colour, and looks fabulous with the light, cream clothes that we often sport at work.

Paired with their Oxygen Base Coat and Gel Effect Top Coat, we were left with fabulously glossy nails that looked professional even after our shoddy paint job. Housed in the ultimate opulent packaging, the indulgent polishes are free from carcinogens, as well as containing 85% plant-sourced raw ingredients.  Chic and environmentally friendly, we can’t think of anything more we’d want from a manicure.

Add some Parisian sophistication to your manicure with the Soigne summer collection. Pick up the beautiful Framboise Bleue shade here for £11, as well as the Oxygen Base and Gel Effect Top Coat here for £13 each. 

Friday Favourites - Nail Polishes

Here at The Amazing Blog, we take great pleasure in testing out new nail colours. The change of seasons means we can say goodbye to our dark fall and winter hues, and hello to pretty brights and pastels for the spring and summer.

First up, we’re loving the Spring/Summer 2015 nail colour collection from CHEEKY Cosmetics. Inspired by three luxurious holiday destinations – Ibiza, Miami and St. Tropez – the collection has some fantastic shades designed with the culture of these destinations in mind. So if your wallet won’t allow you to schedule an exotic holiday this summer, you’ll still be able to bring a taste of the ocean and nightlife right to your fingertips.

The Ibiza polishes are inspired by the island’s dance scene and come in four metallic colours ranging from gold to blue. The Miami colours are bold and vibrant to show off the fun and energetic culture of the city, so a few statement blues and a fuchsia pink are included in the mix. Finally, the St. Tropez collection is classic and posh for ladies who want a touch of French sophistication, with three nudes and two red-toned hues. One of our favourites is Make It Rain from the Ibiza Collection. A beautiful lilac metallic, it's the perfect summer shade - subtle enough for daytime wear, but exotic enough to catch a few eyes on a summer night out.

Shop here to get the new colours for £7 each.

Although we love a good nail colour, removing it can sometimes be a hassle and can do damage to your nails than good. Little Ondine is a nail polish brand that is revolutionising nail colour. Their varnishes are chemical free, odour free and are made only of natural ingredients. Composed of 80% water, 15% resine and 5% pigment, the polishes allow you to peel off your colour in one go without any hassle or chemical removers. The brand is perfect for those of us who like to change our nails as often as our outfits.

Since the formula is water-based, it dries quickly, making it perfect for on-the-go! With over 80 colours to choose from, there is certainly a polish to suit everyone’s taste. You can find them here, with prices ranging from £7-£9 each or £12 for a fun twin pack.

Speaking of innovative formulas, Micro Cell has come up with a great formula for nail colour. The Micro Cell 2000 Colour Repair collection is a range of quick-drying varnishes that offer brilliant colour pay-off while working to strengthen your nails. The collection fortifies nails, protects them against drying out and encourages natural growth. Besides these benefits, the shades have excellent coverage and prevent premature flaking. It's comforting to know that your nails are feeling good whilst your manicure is lasting.

You can purchase your own Micro Cell 2000 Colour Repair nail varnishes here for £14.95 each and see their strengthening results in 2 – 3 weeks.

For a more sophisticated nail colour, reach for the elegant T. LeClerc nail enamel bottles. The colours are hypoallergenic and are free from a huge variety of chemicals.

We tried three different polishes – a bright pink, a bold red and a luxurious purple – and we love how long the colours last, despite the daily toll our we take on our nails. They dry quickly and have a lovely flat brush for a smooth application. To top it off, the finish is classic, ultra-shiny and opaque. Safe to say, our nails looked as chic and sophisticated as the packaging.

Check out the full range of T. LeClerc nail polishes here, which cost £12 each.

Another wonderful range of polishes with a shade for any occasion is Nella Milano. The brand's packaging and feel reflect perfectly the Italian roots of muse, Nella, and are perfect for anyone looking for an elegant, sophisticated manicure (and who isn't?).

Of the shades we tried, our favourite was Mulberry Wood. A deep berry colour which wouldn't be out of place in an Autumn/Winter collection, this colour oozes glamour, looking both rich on darker skin tones, and striking on paler tones. Of course, if darker hues aren't to your taste, the brand has over 80 other vivid shades to choose from, all of which apply beautifully and have great staying power. All 3-free formulas, the colours are great for showcasing your inner fashionista. We'll certainly be taking a page out of Nella's book this summer and using our nails as the ultimate fashion accessory.

To spice up your wardrobe, you can shop the stunning collection on the brand's website for £8.95 each.

Majique - Nail Buddy

We here at The Amazing Blog love painting our nails and having fun with new colours. A great manicure is the perfect finishing touch to a stylish outfit and keeps you looking your best. Since sometimes a DIY manicure can lead to spills and messes, we love the Nail Buddy from Majique because it keeps our nail polish bottle safe and steady as we work our manicure magic.

With no spills and no messes to worry about, the Nail Buddy makes painting your nails a really enjoyable experience. It’s great for use at home or on-the-go, since it’s small and portable. We're guilty of painting our nails in bed, and as a result, have been victim to a spillage or two over the years. Thankfully, this convenient little base is the perfect way to keep your sheets clean and your manicure looking perfect. We really like that the Nail Buddy fits snugly between our legs, so that you don't need to have a flat surface to rest it on, and it will fit nail varnish of any shape or size. And with a range of colours to choose from, we were spoiled for choice.

To take all the hassle out of the perfect paint job, head to the Majique website and get your own nail buddy for £7.99.