My Downsized Nail Polish Collection

For the past year or so I've been an absolute nail polish addict. I don't even want to think about how many I managed to collect in that time. I've been downsizing most of my make up collection recently (see my blog sale here) because some products weren't getting any love but my nail polish collection is now about a third of the size it was. I've just counted and I have thirty three polishes, ten of which are minis.

And you know what? I feel so much better! I used to feel a bit guilty when I was choosing a polish for my next manicure because I knew I'd probably only wear some of the shades a couple of times before they went all goopy.

I was pretty ruthless when deciding what to keep and what to pass on. I kept most of my neutrals unless I had two which were exactly the same, in which case I had to choose one or the other. Every polish I've kept is one I've used more than once. I kept most of my Essie minis because I might actually manage to finish one of those and I like that they don't have really fiddly brushes.

Without further ado, here's my nail polish collection:

American Apparel - Office

Butter London - Bumster

Chanel - Particuliere, Rouge Noir, Blue Satin, Lilac Sky

China Glaze - Pelican Gray, Custom Kicks, Ruby Pumps

Essie - Minis - Topless & Barefoot, Lady Like, French Affair, Very Structured, Fishnet Stockings, Size Matters, Bobbing for Baubles, Power Clutch, Cocktail Bling, Bangle Jangle, Full Sizes - Chubby Cheeks, Little Brown Dress

Models Own - Peacock Green

OPI - Tickle My France-y, Barefoot in Barcelona, You Don't Know Jacques, Lincoln Park After Dark, Baby It's Coal Outside, Ski Teal We Drop, Suzi Says Feng Shui, Jade is the New Black

Revlon - Carbonite, Perplex, Cherries in the Snow

I've linked to any NOTDs I may have done - some are pretty awful so I apologise for that!

If you read my post yesterday, you'll know that I've already added to this collection...oops!

Stace xx

NOTD: Models Own - Raspberry Crush

Models Own - Raspberry Crush

(Three Coats of Raspberry Crush, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat)

I love the colour of this! These sorts of pinks are definitely my favourite. The formula of this was pretty thin and not very opaque hence I needed three coats and even then I didn't feel it was enough. This is the last Models Own polish I had to try out and it seems to be similar to Slate Green formula-wise compared with the others which were almost opaque in one coat! I thought this was really similar to Revlon's Cherries In The Snow and it is, although this is brighter.

What do you think?

Also, I bought these little cuties today...

Sheep slippers! Teddy loves them and they're so soft. They were £4 in Primark.

Stace xx

NOTD: Models Own - Beth's Blue

So here's today's NOTD! I love this colour! It was pretty much opaque in one coat but I added a second which was probably a mistake because again, I was rushing and made a mess. Is there a polish out there which is Stace-proof?! Answers on a postcard!

What do you think of the colour?

Stace xx

NOTD: Models Own - Slate Green

Models Own - Slate Green

(Four Coats of Slate Green, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat)

I LOVE this colour! Yes, it's another four-coater but this one is so worth it! I was a bit worried when after two coats it still looked terrible but once I'd finished the fourth, it was love. I have a lot of mint or lighter green shades and some darker ones but I don't have any in this sort of mid-turquoise range. The formula is very watery which is why it's so difficult to work with. 

This is another polish from my 'to-try' pile of polishes; it's my favourite so far! This is actually my second day wearing this as French Affair was removed pretty quickly! I wonder which shade I'll try next? Hmm...

What do you think?

Stace xx

Teddy seemed to like it....

NOTD: Models Own - Peacock Green

Models Own - Peacock Green

(Two coats of Peacock Green, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat)

Now, this isn't a polish I'd typically go for but after trying this, I'm so pleased with it! It was a doddle to apply and was completely opaque in two coats. I couldn't stop looking at my nails when I has this on. The shimmer isn't obnoxious and it looks really nice on my warm toned skin. I'm a big fan of blues and greens so this is probably why I like this polish so much - I don't think I'll be branching into metallic silver any time soon!

This is the first in a series of polishes that I'm trying for the first time; I've swapped for so many polishes recently and I'm making my way through them all!

What do you think?

Stace xx

Haul & Swatches: E.L.F. & Blog Sale Goodies

Blog Sale Buys!

Models Own polishes in Peacock Green and Raspberry Crush

Barry M Lip Paint in 145 (top swatch) and Lip Gloss Wand (below swatch - no shade name)

Avon Super Shock Gel Liner in Silver

MUA Professional Palette in Pretty Pastels

Maybelline Eye Studio Quad in Bronze Drama

E.L.F. had a 50% off discount code which I took advantage of! I picked up the following:

Eyeshadow Brush (I love these)

Eye Crease Brush 

Studio Flawless Finish Foundation in Caramel (too dark!)

Studio Matte Lip Colours in Coral and Praline

Eyelid Primer Collection

Oil Blotting Sheets

Mechanical Eyelash Curler

Studio Matte Lip Colours in Coral (L) and Praline (R)

It feels so weird to be able to buy things! Although I'm being as thrifty as possible...honest!

What have you bought recently?

Stace xx

Beauty Buying Ban - Day 23 - No Models Own for me!

I'm going to be good and not purchase anything in the sale. I did have my heart set on In The Navy, Raspberry Crush and Lemon Meringue.

If you want to take advantage of the offer, the code is FIFTYFIFTY and is valid for use on orders over £20 (before discount). The sale will end on the 29th of August.

It seems as though the website is going crazy and people aren't sure if their orders are going through. Lots of people are talking about it on their Facebook page. 

Let me know if you buy anything!

Stace xx

Can I Break My No-Buy For The Models Own Sale?!

So they've reached 50,000 likes on their Facebook page so the 50% off code will be announced soon (they're making sure the website can handle the traffic at the moment!)

I was hoping my no-buy would be over by the time they reached 50k :(

I don't *need* new nail polishes but it's such a good chance to try some at a low price!

What to do?!

Stace xx

Beauty Buying Ban - Day 11 - This Is NOT A Haul!

Okay, well it sort of is but I don't think I'm breaking my buying ban so here goes...

I placed an order on Superdrug for the MUA Professional Heaven & Earth Palette. It arrived at the end of last week. Delivery was super speedy and it was free! Although I think the free delivery on all orders promotion ended on the 8th, unfortunately. I've got a comparison between this and the Urban Decay Naked Palette coming up. It was £4.




I went home for a few days and my granny, who always has a lot of Avon in the house, gave me a lovely bubble bath. The scent is White Lily so it's a nice, clean floral scent. I'm looking forward to using this as my current bubble bath has almost run out and I didn't want to be without bubble bath for the whole month!




I picked up Marie Claire because I'm a bit of a magazine addict. I hope this doesn't break my beauty buying ban but I don't think it does as the products I got were technically freebies. The first freebie is a 50ml tube of Dove Express Treatment Conditioner. The second is a Ciate Paint Pot polish in Wait Until Dark. Watch out for a NOTD post with this very soon! The magazine is £3.60 and the freebies are supposedly worth £18.




I picked up a few items from a blog sale before the beginning of my buying ban. First up is an Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Shadow Pencil in Rehab. I love this! I had tried Midnight Cowboy and found it too glittery but this one is excellent! Secondly, I picked up a Models Own polish in Fuzzy Peach. I've already done a NOTD for this one and whilst I initially wasn't overly impressed, I did grow to like it a bit more once I'd worn it for a few days.




I'm waiting on a few swap parcels too so this buying ban is going well so far! There are a few essentials that I'm running out of (nail polish top coat!) but I'm going to try really hard to make them last until the end of the month to avoid having to go into Boots or Superdrug!

Have I broken the rules? Let me know what you think!

Stace xx

NOTD: Models Own - Fuzzy Peach

(Look at the state of this bottle! After only two uses!)

Models Own - Fuzzy Peach

(Rimmel Base Coat, Two Coats of Fuzzy Peach, Sally Hansen Mega Shine Top Coat)

This stuff smells awful. It's also a lot brighter in real life than in the photo. I've used it before on my toes so I guess I didn't notice how neon it was then! It wasn't the easiest polish to apply either and dried down to a weird semi-matte finish. A shiny top coat is definitely required with this polish! This is the only Models Own polish I have. I want to try a few other shades - hopefully in their sale if they have it after my month of no make up buying ends!

Do you like Models Own polishes? Any recommendations?

Stace xx

50% Off Models Own When They Reach 50,000 Likes!

I've never tried a Models Own polish before and since I'm on a no buy for the entire month of August, this offer will be useless to me but I thought I'd share it anyway because sometimes I'm nice like that.


The idea is that if they reach 50,000 likes on their Facebook page by the end of the month, they will have a 50% off sale. They currently have almost 29,000 so they've got a bit to go.


Click here to go to their page.

Are you a fan of Models Own? Looking forward to this potential sale?

Stace xx