Moyra Estelle 907 Review and Swatch

Today I got some nail mail from Moyra UK and I couldn't wait to get this shade on!
Moyra is a European brand which is now sold in the UK. I have reviewed a few of their polishes before and use them regularly.
They are a budget brand (the most they cost is £4, think BarryM type pricing) but they are by far my favourite budget brand. They are better than BarryM in my opinion as I just love the Moyra brush. Its flatter and wider so, for me, makes application easier.

This is Estelle. Also known as No. 907. A lot of the Moyra polishes don't have names but use numbers instead.

This is from their Gel Look range. They are highly pigmented but not thick unlike the BarryM Gellys. I find them very easy to apply and the pictures show 2 coats with KBShimmer Clearly On Top topcoat.
It was quite shiny by itself but also slower drying.
No streaks or blotches which I have found to be a problem with other dark reds.

Estelle is a strange shade of red. In direct light it can be quite bright like the pictures but in low or artificial light it turns to quite a muddy deep red. Think old blood...Gross.
Although it bares a resemblance to gore, it still looks very classy and I do really like it.
I have always been a great fan of reds and feel they do suit me.

All in all this shade is fab and there are no complaints from me!
This shade and many others are available from Moyra UK, prices start at £3 (£2 sale running for a very limited time)

Life in Lacquer Challenge:INSPIRED BY ANOTHER NAIL ARTIST OR BLOGGER

Ill start of by apologising. I am really late on this prompt but I do have a good excuse I swear!!

As you can see we have had a big change here at Life in Lacquer.... We are now a dot com! This is a big step for me and its really made me feel quite accomplished!
I also have a fantastic new layout courtesy of Shiny Magic. They are so reasonably priced and was really easy to install.

Okay so back to the last prompt of the Life in Lacquer July Challenge. I chose one of my fave bloggers Let Them Have Polish.
She did a fantastic look called Rainbow Ombre and she also made a tutorial. All of which can be found on her original post.

Here's my take...

I used the exact method she did my following her YouTube tutorial. 

The colours I chose are bright so to me it looks a bit like a galaxy nail art! 

The shades I used were

Moyra Bubblegum Limoncello 622

Moyra 102

China Glaze Electric Beat 

OPI Pink Friday 

Manhattan 67N

Essie Mojito Madness

CND Vinylux Cream Puff (base) 

I used Sick Lacquers Pastel Fusion over the top to give it some glitz. This bottle is not pictured in the bottle shot (I forgot, sorry!)

I then matted it all using Mentality Matte Top Coat. I love this topcoat and the effect it gives. 

The clean up wasn't great as I got it everywhere, but I am still happy with the look. I also found Let Them Have Polishes video really easy to follow. 

So what do you think of this nail art? 

Also what are your thoughts on the new look? There's more to come with the look so its a work in progress.

Life in Lacquer Nail Art Challenge:INSPIRED BY TV OR FILM

Today's prompt is Inspired by TV or Film

This one took a lot of thinking!
I had so many ideas but I thought I would go with a TV program I have watched for years and years...

Eastenders, if you aren't aware, is a British soap that runs four days a week on the BBC. I chose to try and recreate the title image.....

Taken from Wikipedia. 

I obviously simplified it down alot. 

I used a base of Manhattan 106K and OPI Nein Nein Nein Okay Fine. I used my usual sponge splodging. I then added Dont Mess With OPI by OPI for bits of greenery.
I used acrylic paint to paint and highlight the Thames and create London Dome. Yes that white circle is supposed to be The Dome.... I told you I simplified it LOL


What do you think? Do you watch Eastenders? You can find out more about Eastenders HERE

An InLinkz Link-up

Moyou Nails Stamping Plate and Polish Review.

A couple day ago I was sent a lovely package from Moyou Nails. I had been waiting for a while and turned out my first one must have gone walkies. 

It contained 2 stamping plates, a gold stamping polish, a stamper and scraper. 

I haven't tried Moyou Nails before (not to be confused with Moyou London) but I liked the look of the designs I was sent.

Here's my first play....

The gold stamping polish is really good. It has like a glitter effect to it, its not just plain gold. It picked up really well and showed up great against the dark background. 

The base is Vant To Bite My Neck by OPI. 

The stamper and scraper work fine and pick up well but they are not what I would usually use as I prefer the Magno XL Stamper as it is squishy.

The only gripe I have about these plates is that the designs are not wide enough for me. I don't have wide nails particularly and usually the XL images are FAR too big so I am a tad confused as to why these design are so skinny.

That is why the middle finger design is different.... But that could have been intentional lol!

All in all I love the polish and it didn't smudge when top coated so I would recommend that but the stamps seem to small. They would be great for me personally for feature nails or something as they would never be wide enough for my thumb (and I suck at lining up two stamps lol) 

You can buy these stamps, polishes and other bits and bobs from HERE

Press sample. Some of these products have been sent to me for my honest opinions.

Cloud Nail Art

recently in my part of the UK it has been very very warm.
I dont like the heat. I'm a breeze and cloud kinda girl. Luckily today it clouded over and again lucky for me it inspired another cloud themed mani!

I am also really into negative space nail arts at the mo. I used a nail vinyl from Nail Stickrs to create the V shape at the base of my nail.
I was going to add some bling but then changed my mind as I didn't want to over do it.

I matted this too using Mentality's Matte topcoat. Not only do I love this topcoat but I find it so much easier to get better pictures as there is no reflection.

I used China Glaze Electric Beat and Essies Butler Please. I first used Electric beat as a base and then when that dried I used a sponge to randomly splodge on Butler Please.
Then I used my ole faithful St Petersburg Brush from Moyra and some acrylic paint for the clouds.

What do you think of this nail art? Would you have added some bling?


Press sample. Some of these items were provided for my review. All opinions are honest and my own.

Lightening Nail Art using Nail Stickrs

A quick, simple and easy nail art today!

This look is so easy to do all you need is two polishes and some nail vinyl stencils. These ones are from Nail Stickrs.
Nail Stickrs are an American based brand but they ship to the UK for about £1.50 ish so very reasonable! I also happen to know that they have some very exciting new styles coming soon!



I used Moyra 602 and Jasmines Wish (853). Jasmines Wish is a stunning textured polish. A teal with a golden glitter effect.

I have really tried to get this colour as accurate as possible, it was a pain to photograph! 

Doesn't it look like a Drusy?!

Its formula is great. Cover fantastically in 2 coats and of course you don't need top coat! 

I love pairing textured polishes with ordinary ones!

What do you think of this? 

Nail Stickrs are available from Here. Moyra has a brand new website Yay!! You can find it Here.

Press sample. Some of these products were sent for my honest review. 

Nail Stickrs Review and Nail Art

Today I received these lovely samples in the post!

Nail Stickrs is a company based in the USA but they DO ship to the UK.  Shipping is cheap too, $2.50 which works out at around £1.49

I was sent a pretty big pack of stencils and stickers to play around with so expect quite a few designs with these babies!

Okay so today I decided to try the straight lines and the arrow type ones first. I am in love with all things geometric at the mo!


The polish needs to be proper dry before using these so I recommend waiting a while after base colour application. I didn't use a fast dry topcoat so waited about an hour. I have tried to use a topcoat to speed up this process before but I actually don't think it works too well. It makes you think its dry when its not, sneaky!

First I picked up a bunch of the stencils and the placed them on my nails. This way I can ensure they are straight and equally spaced. 

Then I removed every other sticker. I found using tweezers made this part easier. 

When I was happy with the positioning I used the end of the tweezers to push the stencils down into the sides of the nail to make sure there are no gaps. 

And there you have it. The smallest tutorial of all time! The base is Manglaze Mayonnaise. A matte shimmery white. Takes 3 coats for opacity.

I then used a sponge and OPI Nein Nein Nein Okay Fine and Mentality's Scoundrel to create the gradient.

The triangle shape was also made using Nail Stickrs but this time I used the straight lines.

I did make some mistakes with these though. Some of the polish leaked under the stencil. I found using a little brush with some nail polish remover on cleaned it up a bit. I don't think they are bad at all for a first attempt!

Matted it all, again. I mean I just love matte!

What do you think of these new Nail Stickrs? I love them and whether your new or a dab hand a nail art these have a use for everyone.


You can purchase and peruse at their WEBSITE, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM


*products featured were sent to me as a press sample. Opinions are honest and all my own*

Feather Nail Decals

I am trying so very hard to keep the blog up to date but as some of you may know I also crochet things for people and at the mo I have loads to do so my little blog has suffered slightly. Normal service will resume soon!

Anyway.....
I have a very simple nail art to show you today. AND I used the mysterious fan brush.... The fan brush usually comes in most nail art brush kits and I have seen a few people ask what to do with it, so here is just one thing you can do!

I used +Barry M  Gelly polish called Key Lime and China Glazes  Flying High. I then added some feather water decals from Sparkly Nails.
I then topped it all off with Mentality Matte top coat! I love Matte top coat and I just want to matte all the things!
Ive said it once and I'll say it again... If you don't like hand painting nail art then water decals are the option for you. They are easy to use and don't stick up like stickers. plus they can be cut and edited to fit any design you might want to do.


The fan brush is part of a set of brushes from Effect Beauty. For 10% off  use code LACQUER.

What do you think of this look?


Some products in this post were sent to me for review. All opinions are my own and they are all honest.

My Final Christmas Nail Art!

Here is my final Christmas nail art for 2013!

I am hoping to wear this for Christmas day so I really bloody hope they don't chip. 

Here are the last cheesy Christmas tree photos... Enjoy!

I couldn't do a mani without the use of some texture could I?! Here's Zoya PixieDust in Chyna. I also used OPI Affair in Red Square. This is such and Christmas colour, it has this lush shimmer type metallic sheen. 

As you can see the stamping smudged a tad but when you look at it in real life you cant see it at all and I mean AT ALL. Its kind of annoying!

The stamping plates are all from the festive collection by MoYou London. 

I used the decal method for the Hollie. You can find a tutorial HERE 

Did you know I have written 180 posts this year? My first year of blogging! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS YOU LOVELY PEOPLE! 

Update....

I thought I would quickly stop by to explain where I have been hiding... 

Well I have been ill for a while now, a lot of vomiting! YUMMY (not!) 

I was so ill I didn't even manage to paint my nails for my own birthday on the 30th of Nov! 

BUT..... I am going to try and do a few designs this week and I have a review to do too! 

Also i have a new addiction which i have mentioned before... Crochet!! 

It is just as much of an obsession as nails! 

So anyway I just wanted to quickly pop in to let you know I am still here and havent forgotten any of you 

:D 

Guest Post Over on Racho's Nail Love

Hello my Lovelies! 

I have been super super busy going crochet mad this week so I haven't even had time to paint my nails! 

But today I am over at Racho's Nail Love with a guest post so please do check it out! 

You can find it HERE

Jade Holo with Stars

A polish that shares my name?! 

Get in my collection you sexy beast!!

Okay so pink isn't usually my thing and I am still unsure as to whether I would wear it on a regular basis but it is gorgeous! 

This is Jade Delirio Rosa. Two coats with topcoat. 

I used a Cheeky stamping plate for the design. I didn't want to leave it plain but also didn't want to go mental. 

Also trying out new photo techniques *again* what do you think??

So my lovelies, do you love a linear holo? 

Zoya PixieDust

After the Halloween mess up Ive gone for something decidedly better! 

After trying Zoya for the first time a while back, I just had to give PixieDust a try!

And wowzers! I think it is now my all time fave! 

Its so glittery and applies sooo well. The only thing about it that I am not a fan of is drying time.

 I usually use a fast drying topcoat but if you do that you would loose the textured effect.

This is Liberty, 2 coats. The accompanying polish is Robyn also by Zoya. 

I also love the Zoya bottle shape.

 I don't know why really but it is my fave shape of all my bottles.

The texture of this polish is not the most bumpy I have tried so if you are new to textured polish this would be a fantastic one to start with.

This sparkles like a dream. I cant stop looking at it!! 

I want this is every shade around, but I have decided to go on a no buy for a bit. Christmas is coming and all!

What do you think about textured polish? Have you tried PixieDust?

Zoya Love Heart Nail Art

I have lost my Zoya virginity and my my am I in love! 

So much so that I have painted little hearts in acrylic paint! I have actually never don't free hand hearts before and this was relatively easy! The one thing I found hard was keeping them the same size. 

(proud of these pics lol)

This is two coats of Zoya Coco, a super pretty red brown, its like a raspberry brown. Very hard to describe. 

I find this type of colour really suits my skin tone and I really love them!

What do you think? Have you tried Zoya before?