Filed In: Nails Inc.
nails inc. – Leather Effect ‘Bling it on Rebel’
First we had large hexagonal glitters, then crackle/shatters came along, quickly followed by the crocodile look, and even quicker with a veritable explosion of glitters in a huge plethora of shapes & colours. For some of you already groaning at the thought of yet another “new” effects polish, you should accept that these types of unique finishes in our nail lacquers have no intention of going anywhere soon, but I must confess to a bit of eye-rolling on my part when I came across this little gem. Didn’t stop me from picking it up though …
The inspiration: lustrous black leather (source)
nails inc. Leather Effect
nails inc. Leather Effect (complete instructions on the back of the box)
contents of the Leather Effect kit
closeup detail of the included Swarovski embellishments
nails inc. Leather Effect ‘Bling it on Rebel’ – (CAD $30.00 10 ml/0.33 fl.oz for the kit) a black top coat that gives a simulated “leather” finish when layered over a base hue. Quite unique when worn without any adornment, it takes nail art to a whole new 3D level when embellished with the Swarovski elements included in this kit. Full instructions for how to apply both the lacquer and the studs/rhinestones can be found on the back of the box.
My findings: I initially thought that this was perhaps a (transparent) top coat that would give the leather look to whatever shade it was layered over – it’s not. In fact, it’s coloured black and is therefore best when applied over either a black or very dark hue, in order to properly appreciate its effect. Once your chosen base hue is on, apply an exceptionally thin layer of the Leather Effect polish – the thicker the coat, the less defined the pattern will appear. For the embellishments, I was disappointed that the makers didn’t think to lightly curve the ends of the skull element; its straight lines means that it will not fit on the nail snugly and its ends will catch on things – namely your hair & clothing. Also, the instruction state to apply more glue to this element along the protruding ends, once its been placed on the nail – don’t (see the last paragraph for why).
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The included plastic liner was very useful as a work area for the glue – which, by the way, you should avoid letting touch your skin and it is fast-bonding (Crazy Glue type of adherence). I would take a tiny dab of glue with the pointy end of the orange stick & apply it on the nail where I wanted the element to go, which I would then pick up with the tweezers and set in place, lightly holding it down with the tweezers for a few seconds.
The actual adorning of the nails is rather fast, providing you have an idea of where you want them to go – feel free to play around with patterns BEFORE applying any glue.
For removal, the polish came off quickly and left no staining behind, although the glue remnants were another matter. The more glue you use (ie: for the skull), the more will remain behind on the nail and will need some minor scraping to remove – something I didn’t care for, as it does lightly damage your nail’s surface. I suggest you soak any stubborn glue traces in acetone for an easier removal.
a-england ‘Camelot’ & nails inc. Leather Effect
To get the look:
- after my base coat was on, I began by applying one coat of ‘Camelot’ (previously reviewed here)
- followed by two successive coats of the Leather Effect polish
It’s important to note that your Leather Effect brush needs to have the barest amount of product on it, or the effect will not be defined.
For the embellishments:
The only changes I made to the instructions, was that I used a pointy-tipped tweezer to pick up and place the desired elements.
nails inc. Leather Effect
nails inc. Leather Effect
nails inc. Leather Effect
Leather Effect – skull element
Leather Effect – square stud elements
Leather Effect – large rhinestone element
Leather Effect – raised smoked rhinestone elements
Leather Effect – small rhinestone elements
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Final thoughts: Undeniably, this is a unique and rather understated effect to sport on one’s nails – especially when worn on its own. When accessorized with the included elements, it definitely takes on a whole rocker-chic vibe and guarantees that your nails will draw the lion’s share of attention. Initially, I believed that wearing more than one of the embellishments at a time would come across as tacky but with every addition, I found myself loving the look more & more. After all, this is meant to look deliberately exaggerated – intended to bring out that biker babe lurking in us all!
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*Disclosure: Some product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration
nails inc. – ‘Piccadilly’ Fishnet Magnetic Effect Polish (swatches, review & a variation)
While my tastes don’t run in the direction of traditional nail art, I do appreciate the unique look that effect lacquers can give a manicure, so recently when I came across nails inc.’s ‘Piccadilly’ Fishnet Magnetic Effect Polish, I had to try it out. My first attempt at using this type of lacquer (previously reviewed here) was interesting – but fell a little short of my expectations. Hoping that a fishnet pattern would increase my opinion of magnetic polishes, I couldn’t wait to give this a shot; it should be said that even without the effect, the colour of this beauty alone was worth the investment!
Piccadilly Circus is a road junction and public space of London’s West End in the City of Westminster, built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly. In this context, a circus, from the Latin word meaning “circle”, is a round open space at a street junction – (source)
Piccadilly Circus, circa 1890 (source)
Piccadilly Circus, today (source)
‘Piccadilly’ is an absolutely beautiful & regal-looking antique gold hue, filled with all kinds of interesting surprises, such as ultra-fine brassy coloured glitter, as well as larger golden irregularly shaped flakes – all ending with tiny magnetic particles in the formula which help create the unique fishnet pattern when the included magnetic cap is used. The formula had a nice density to it, flowing more on the thicker than thin side, and levelled off quite evenly, leaving a nice shiny finish behind.
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While magnetic effect lacquers have been around for some time now, it’s still useful to know a few tips to help the pattern appear more readily, and after some experimentation, the following is what I found worked the best:
- begin by applying base coat
- apply one coat of ‘Piccadilly’ to each nail
- working one nail at a time, apply a thick coat of the polish (remember to keep the bottle well closed between each nail application)
- working very quickly, hold the magnetic cap over your nail – as close as possible without letting it touch the surface – use the little tab on the cap as a guide, aligning it over your cuticle line
- don’t rush this part; the longer you hold the magnetic cap in place, the more pronounced the fishnet pattern will turn out – approximately 20 – 30 seconds should be enough
- finish with a glossy top coat to really enhance the effect, and bring out each unique facet
NOTE: while removal wasn’t too difficult, the fine glitter in this lacquer does tend to travel, therefore you’ll need a few passes of polish remover to get every last little bit off the nails and surrounding skin.
the cap which bears the magnet, clearly displaying the fishnet pattern
in sunlight
macro
indoors
with flash
When I was recently fortunate enough to acquire a bottle of OPI’s ‘Spotted’ (review forthcoming) thanks to a very special French reader of mine, the wonderful Lélie of The Purple Fairy Book, I’ve been having a blast by applying this effects polish over EVERYTHING — some combinations are iffy at best, while others turn out to be spectacular successes. When layered over the soft brilliance of ‘Piccadilly’, something unexpected occurred; the randomly spotted pattern that surfaced followed by some crazing, created a unique tortoise-shell effect … so simple to achieve, yet so unique (also, this was a look I hadn’t seen when ‘Spotted’ was layered over other lacquers). Note that there is no top coat applied to this finished look.
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in sunlight
indoors
with flash
Final thoughts: I’m a little torn with this magnetic effect polish; on the one hand & after having satisfied my need to try this type of lacquer with my first bottle a few months back, I hesitated to pick up a second version – but I can’t resist anything fishnet. I’m a little disappointed that the pattern does not appear more distinctly and that it’s almost hit or miss, depending on the shape of your nails (the more curved your nail bed, the more difficult it will be to make anything appear), but that being said, I do appreciate that ‘Piccadilly’s’ final effect results in a more subtle, elegant and refined look and that in a pinch, this lacquer can also be worn alone – without the magnet being used. Retailing for CDN $18.00 at Sephora, nails inc. also offers the fishnet pattern in 2 other colours – ‘Spitalfields’ (green), and ‘Soho’ (chrome).
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nails inc. – Regent’s Palace (swatches & review)
During a recent “Friends & Family” event at Sephora, one of the few items I picked up with my discount, was my second nails inc. varnish, ‘Regent’s Palace’ – a deep and lustrous magenta leaning purple (my first lacquer from the brand was reviewed here). From the crystal studded cap, to the swirling black scrolls on the gorgeous outer packaging, what really sold me was the colour itself, gleaming jewel-bright and just begging to come home with me. All swatches are with Deborah Lippmann’s 2-Second Nail Primer, Rehydrating Base Coat and Addicted to Speed Top Coat.
I would be lying if I didn’t say that the bejewelled cap of ‘Regent’s Palace’ is what drew me to it in the first place; apart from the magnificently regal shade of the lacquer itself, the more than 100 individual crystals adorning the bottle are as stunning as they are practical. I found that the rougher surface provided by the stones actually act as ridges, enabling you to hold the cap quite securely – an unexpected plus! The formula was superb; opaque enough to cover even with one coat, I still prefer to apply two, as I felt that it truly brought this colour to life. A deep metallic amethyst hue, bearing an intensely shimmering magenta shimmer in its depths, it was quite smooth to apply, leaving absolutely no brush strokes behind and finished with a lovely glossy shine. Bonus: no staining upon removal.
In sunlight, ‘Regent’s Palace’ takes on a deep grape-like intensity, hinting slightly at some blue in its base.
This secondary sunlight photo, appears to pick out the reddish glints that are also a part of this shade’s deep inner glow.
This angled view not only emphasizes this shade’s mega-violet shine, but casts a beautiful ombré effect along the nail edges.
Indirect light portrays the intensely true purple core of ‘Regent’s Palace’, and gives it such a regal air.
Shaded light naturally blackens this colour, yet never manages to obscure its violet tone.
A final view taken with flash highlights this shade’s utterly brilliant shimmer and throws the spotlight on its true violet core.
Final thoughts: It’s getting harder and harder to find truly unique and/or original nail varnishes, and so when I came across something as visually appealing as nails inc.’s ‘Regent’s Palace’ with its jewelled cap and gem-like hue, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this shade was meant to come home with me. Purple has always had regal connotations and while practically every brand has produced their own version, the intensity of this beauty gave it a fresh new twist on a familiar colour, something that I like to term: urban royalty. Part of nails inc.’s limited edition Crystal Colour Collection and available through Sephora, these are said to be shades for the girl who has everything … but will never say no to a little more!
nails inc. Magnetic Polish in ‘Trafalgar Square’ (swatches & review)
I confess to having my interest piqued when I first heard about magnetic polish, so when my local Sephora brought in two shades from British brand nails inc., I was immediately drawn to the slate hue, ‘Trafalgar Square’. Had this lacquer not come with this new “twist”, I would have still gravitated towards this shade, as the colour is a rich lead-like grey tone, filled with ultra-fine subtly glimmering particles … so completely my style. The following swatches are all with Deborah Lippmann’s 2-Second Nail Primer, Rehydrating Base Coat, and Addicted to Speed Top Coat.
For the best and most vivid effect, you need to layer the magnetic polish over another shade, and wishing to keep it more or less tone-on-tone, I opted for one of my all-time favourite lacquers, ‘King Arthur’ (previously reviewed here) from relative newcomer (and quickly reaching cult status!) British brand, a-england. To begin with, I began by first removing ‘Trafalgar Square’s’ outer cap, which actually houses the magnet, and setting it nearby. Then, after applying two coats of my base shade, I proceeded to layer one coat of ‘Trafalgar Square’ on top.
*Note: according to the company, it was suggested that once you apply your base shade, you should then add a layer of the magnetic polish, wait for it to set quickly, then working with each nail individually, top that with another coat of the magnetic polish. The rest of the steps are the same as what I have listed here, but after trying it as recommended, I found that not only was the extra step unnecessary, but the effect came out rather muddy as well.
In order for the magnetic process to be successful, you need to work fairly quickly, and most importantly, with one nail at a time. Here’s where your own preferences and artistic leanings can come into play; applying a fairly thin coat of ‘Trafalgar Square’, will result in a more subtle and certainly less defined pattern. By contrast, layering a thicker coat of ‘Trafalgar Square’, will definitely yield a lot more contrast in your final pattern. On the outer rim of the cap, you will notice a chevron motif; not merely decorative, it’s also a cleverly designed tool to help you align your pattern so that each nail emerges somewhat unified, if that’s the look you prefer. If not, then anything goes! (see my following swatches for proof of that!)
The small lip on the cap is a clever little guideline, enabling you to hold it against the skin above the cuticle, without worrying about how high above your nail line the cap needs to be – then, let the magnetic particles work their magic.
I found that once I applied my layer of ‘Trafalgar Square’, it was significantly easier for me to see where to place the magnet by laying my hand flat on my painting surface and crouching beside to clearly see the action taking place. Without this last step, I did manage to accidentally allow the cap to touch my nail’s surface a couple of times, so lesson learned! Holding the cap over each nail anywhere between 10-15 seconds, is all that’s needed for the pattern to emerge, but feel free to experiment time-wise as well. The following last step is a must: adding a top coat really brings your “creation” to life and emphasizes all the little nuances of the design, as I found that ‘Trafalgar Square’s’ finish is rather on the satiny side, so I wouldn’t suggest you skip it.
Sunlight adds a nice depth to this effect and gives the nails a beautiful “tiger’s eye” look. Note that the ring finger had the thinnest layer of ‘Trafalgar Square’.
Indirect light not only tamps down the intensity of the hue, but also appears to add an overall milky touch.
Shaded light deepens the base shade, and brings out ‘Trafalgar Square’s’ chevron patterns in more detail.
A final view taken with flash is the best light to truly appreciate the original look of this lacquer.
Final thoughts: That this is a unique effect, I don’t doubt; crouched down by my nail and physically watching the effect take place before my very eyes, was in a word: cool! ‘Trafalgar Square’s’ formula was also a welcome surprise, flowing neither too thin nor too thick, it was not difficult to apply or to vary its thickness. Getting the hang of proper cap placement, takes a few tries, but you can have fun alternating the pattern if you so wish, but as far as layering it over other colours, I found that it didn’t really affect the final outcome and instead, I liked the look a lot more by staying in the same tonal family. Again, this is a matter of personal preference and you should definitely try it out over other hues to compare. I initially felt that I would have liked to have a more “pronounced” look given off by the magnet, but in retrospect, I actually enjoyed it better somewhat understated like this. While I’m more of a “colour purist”, as I’ve stated before, I enjoyed playing with this novel effect … the closest you’ll find me getting to ‘nail art’ any time soon!
