Avian Display - Peacock nail foil, Layla Turquoise Splash, Picture Polish Revolution

Another birthday gift from Jme - this time a nail foil!

[Eyes on the prize]

 Yay for nail foils! Quick, easy way to get fancy nails? Grab the foil glue and get stickin'!

[Peacock nail foil; Topcoat: Picture Polish Revolution]

This particular one is a peacock feather themed nail foil. The background (not the "eyes") are transparent but the entire foil has a pixellated holographic overlay over the top that you can sort of see on my middle finger above. I used Layla Softouch Effect in Turquoise Splash to keep in the peacock theme. You can see my swatches of Turquoise Splash here.

[Peacock nail foil; Topcoat: Picture Polish Revolution]

I also conveniently received my bottle of Picture Polish Revolution top/basecoat for glitter polish/nail foils at the same time, so that's what I used on this, and yes! It did preserve the holographic finish on this foil. Overall, a success! Sounds like it's time to break out all my shiny and/or holo foils...

Raspberry Ice - Layla Cherry Diva, Essie Peak of Chic, Essie Hors d'oeuvres

Usually when I combine more than two polishes together, my love for shiny ends up overwhelming any hint of good taste I may have started out with... I'd like to think this is one of my more successful attempts!

[Glitter cupcake]

This here is a combination of three shiny polishes, all in different ways. The base is Layla Softouch Effect in Cherry Diva which I've previously used here. After a few days, I got bored (and also picked up some new polishes I was dying to try out!) so I added a bit more shiny!

[Bottle to nail: Essie Peak of Chic (tips); Base: Layla Cherry Diva]

 I first started out with a glitter gradient french tip of Essie Peak of Chic from the Encrusted Treasures collection. Peak of Chic is a lovely snowy combination of white and silver holographic bar glitter in a clear base. Definitely gonna try it out with some shades of blue for a snowy winter manicure one day!

[Base: Layla Cherry Diva; Tips: Essie Peak of Chic]

This mixture kinda reminds me of a raspberry coconut cupcake or something...

[Bottle to nail: Essie Hors d'oeuvres; Base: Layla Cherry Diva; Bar: Essie Peak of Chic]

I then tipped everything off with a dabbed layer of Essie Hors d'oeuvres from the same collection. So it goes vaguely from least blingy to most blingy as you go from lunula to tip. Or at least that's the idea...

[Base: Layla Cherry Diva; Bar: Essie Peak of Chic; Tips: Essie Hors d'oeuvres]

I did skip topcoat though to preserve the suede-matte finish of the Layla Softouch base. All in all, I think it turned out alright!

Scattered Leaves - Layla Softouch Effect Stone, China Glaze Millennium

Bonus post! This is a follow-up from yesterday's post on Layla Softouch Effect in Stone.

[Base: Layla Softouch Effect Stone (2 coats); Stamping: China Glaze Millennium]

I had some stamping plates that I wanted to try out, so I was testing it out on my week-old mani! There was some tip wear and a chip on my index finger, but I was still pretty impressed, considering this is a matte polish and I didn't use any topcoat!

[Bottle to nail: Layla Softouch Effect Stone (2 coats)]

Just to show you what Layla Stone looks like on its own...

[Base: Layla Softouch Effect Stone (2 coats); Stamping: China Glaze Millennium]

I used China Glaze Millennium from the Khrome collection as a stamping polish using plate BP-19 from Born Pretty. I must say, I haven't stamped for a while and was trying to work out how much pressure to use so this is pretty uneven stamping, oh dear. Still, it was a good jog to the memory and hopefully I'll try a bit more stamping in the future!

Smoky Sands - Layla Softouch Effect Stone

Apologies for being super slack-arse the past two weeks! I've been crazy busy but it's an exciting time. Anyways, I spent a few days last week in Canberra for a conference so here's what I wore on my nails...

[Bottle to nail: Layla Softouch Effect Stone (2 coats)]

You thought I was done with these Layla Softouch Effect, but I'm not! Here's Layla Softouch Effect in Stone, a gorgeous gray matte velvet/suede finish with a strong purple cast. I thought Stone was an odd name at first, but after putting it on, I think it really suits!

[2 coats: Layla Softouch Effect Stone]

As I've said before, the Softouch series is really great for adding a bit of colour while somehow keeping in "worksafe" territory. Or maybe that's just me....?! Jme's also done a jazzed up version of this in combination with Zoya Harlow, which you can check out here!

[2 coats: Layla Softouch Effect Stone]

I've loved every single colour I've tried from this range and this is no exception. Formula was great. I used two coats and no topcoat and it lasted and lasted! Super impressed!!
 

Deep Wine - Layla Softouch Effect Queen Bordeaux

Hello hello! I still haven't run out of Layla Softouch Effect polishes to show off here! 

[Bottle to nail: Layla Softouch Effect Queen Bordeaux]

This week is a lovely deep blood red called Queen Bordeaux. I must say, what a great name! It applies super shiny then dries to a darkened red... kinda like blood...!!

[2 coats: Layla Softouch Effect Queen Bordeaux]

It's quite a dark vampy colour as you can tell. Even in full light, it's still a deep shade. Now that the weather is starting to cool down, this certainly makes a great autumn manicure! Great formula, almost opaque in one coat (definitely manageable if you're careful) but I used two just in case.

[2 coats: Layla Softouch Effect Queen Bordeaux (with topcoat)]

I did really like the glossy shimmery red it was before drying down matte, so after a while I added a thin layer of top coat to bring out the shine. The lighter red shimmer is really eyecatching once you add topcoat, so it really depends what look you're after!

Sand Rainbow - LA Splash Sparkling Tailscales

A follow-up from last week's post, now featuring extra glitter and holographic goodness!

[Bottle to nail: LA Splash Sparkling Tailscales (2 coats) over Layla Golden Touch]

I'm breaking the string of Layla Softouch Effect posts here, although does it count if the base is the Softouch from last week, Golden Touch??

[Glitter: LA Splash Sparkling Tailscales (2 coats); Base: Layla Golden Touch (2 coats)]

After a week of Golden Touch, I decided to top it up (and hide tip wear!) with another champagne gold, this time with fine glitter particles in pale gold and holographic. This one's two coats of LA Splash Sparkling Tailscales over Layla Softouch Effect Golden Touch.

[Glitter: LA Splash Sparkling Tailscales (2 coats); Base: Layla Golden Touch (2 coats)]

The final result is a fine holographic sparkle that really comes to life in the sunlight! Dry time was average and the formula was fairly thin and easy to control. I think it's a bit too fine/sparse for an opaque full coverage mani on it's own, but it might work if you're going for a subtle sparkle on nude nails. =)

Champagne Bubbles - Layla Softouch Effect Golden Touch

I'm far from done with these Layla Softouch Effect polishes! Here's the next one! =)

[Bottle to nail: Layla Softouch Effect Golden Touch (2 coats)]

This here is Golden Touch, a pale champagne yellow gold with the same Softouch finish - a very lightly textured matte finish with heavy shimmer.

[2 coats: Layla Softouch Effect Golden Touch]

These are two coats, great dry time and very easy to work with. No top coat used so that the matte finish is retained. The photos show some visible nail line but it is much less noticeable in real life probably due to the heavy silvery-gold shimmer. Wear was good despite no top coat - the shade also helps disguise tip wear!

[2 coats: Layla Softouch Effect Golden Touch]

These Softouch finishes are great for toning down colour and shimmer for a relatively worksafe polish. I'm glad I got a whole bunch when I had the chance!

Dream Lagoon - Layla Softouch Effect Turquoise Splash

If you'd made a guess that I'd rediscovered my haul of Layla Softouch Effect polishes and was happily swatching my way through them, you would be right!

[Bottle to nail: Layla Softouch Effect Turquoise Splash]

This one here is aptly named Turquoise Splash. Most of my photos are a touch overexposed as I took them in direct lighting (rather than with my 'diffuser' as usual) to show off the Softouch look. Basically a matte shimmery finish. This first photo is the most accurate representation of the shade.

[2 coats: Layla Softouch Effect Turquoise Splash]

Turquoise Splash is exactly that, a turquoise shade, slightly more green than my photos suggest, in part due to the heavy gold shimmer. Formula was excellent, my photos show two coats. Dry time was also quick and of course, no topcoat. You can add top coat to give a shiny finish instead if you prefer.

[2 coats: Layla Softouch Effect Turquoise Splash]

I do find that it starts chipping at the tips within a few days, which is normal for these matte/suede effect polishes. In relative terms though, this performs better than plain mattes and matte suedes of other brands that I've tried!

Pink Delish - Layla Softouch Effect Cherry Diva

Been working too much... brain... outta juice.... Have a pretty polish! That deserves more words than I can come up with right now... 

[Bottle to nail: Layla Softouch Effect Cherry Diva (2 coats)]

As it says on the bottle, this is Layla Softouch Effect in Cherry Diva. My pics are a bit warmer than the polish actually is. The colour in the bottle is more accurate, the slightly cooler (cherry!) red tint.

[2 coats: Layla Softouch Effect Cherry Diva]

As you can tell, this is a soft cherry shade with tons of gold shimmer which goes really well with the Softouch Effect which is a matte faintly textured finish. Very luxe and sophisticated!

[2 coats: Layla Softouch Effect Cherry Diva]

Great formula, this was two coats. The finished mani is eye-catching but not too in-your-face. Good stuff!

No Holo - Layla Ocean Rush

Well! The other day I learnt a little lesson about holo polishes....

[Plenty glowy, not so rainbow-y]

Holo polish, you say? That doesn't look particularly holographic to me!

[Bottle to nail: Layla Holographic Effect in Ocean Rush (2 coats)]

Indeeeed, this should be a super flame-y Layla Holographic Effect nail polish in Ocean Rush. Jme swatched this previously in all its rainbowy glory, so check it out here to see what it should look like!

[2 coats: Layla Holographic Effect in Ocean Rush]

So, what have I done to stuff it up? Used the wrong base coat! I randomly picked Nail-Tek Ridge-filling Base Coat (Foundation II) as my base coat. Ooooops~ Looks like it doesn't play well with holographic finishes, or at least with Layla holos.

[2 coats: Layla Holographic Effect in Ocean Rush]

I switch base coats around depending on what I feel like so it's surprising that I haven't hit this winning (losing) combination yet considering how frequently I've been using holographic polishes!

Cocktail Glass - Layla Ceramic Effect Ipanema Girl

Jme and I picked up a bunch of Layla polishes earlier this year and Jme has swatched quite a few already which you can check out in our Layla tag. Here's one of mine!

[Bottle to nail: Layla Ceramic Effect Ipanema Girl (2 coats)]

This beauty is Ipanema Girl from Layla's Ceramic Effect line of polishes. Isn't she so beautifully glowy!

[2 coats: Layla Ceramic Effect Ipanema Girl]

Ipanema girl is a green glass fleck with an intense lime shimmer as you can see in my photos! These were all two coats for full opacity, though as usual, that depends on the length of your nail. 

[2 coats: Layla Ceramic Effect Ipanema Girl]

I rarely have problems with the formula of glass flecks and this was no different. Dry time was relatively quick and the finish was quite glossy even before my usual layer of topcoat. The intensity of the glass flecks combined with the strong glow gives it quite a foil/metallic finish.

Compared to China Glaze Running in Circles, a staunch favourite of mine (swatch and review here), Ipanema Girl is a lighter shade, more towards lime, with finer sparkle and a slightly jelly-like finish. I still prefer Running in Circles, but it depends what you're after - both are gorgeous!

Purple Plumage - Layla Stone, Zoya Harlow

I really do love suede/velvet matte nail polish, but I definitely don't wear them enough. Let me feature my favourite!

[Top: Zoya Harlow
Base: Layla Stone]

[Layla Stone]

So the base coat is Layla Softouch Effect Stone. Stone is a pale gray-lavender semi-matte nail polish. It's different and gorgeous on its own, but I couldn't resist spicing it up.

[Top: Zoya Harlow
Base: Layla Stone]

Please ignore the start of the chip on the nail of my forefinger. >.<

By freehand, I went over Layla Stone with Zoya Matte Velvet Harlow. Harlow is so rich and as the collection named it, velvety. I can't help but love this nail polish, and it's my favourite semi-matte.

I love the end result. Yay for having two different purples in semi-matte plishes!

Glass Seas - Layla Turquoise Splash

I'm on a Layla spree, and I'm loving it! This is Layla's Softouch Effect Turquoise splash.

[Layla Turquoise Splash]

Isn't this fabulous? Like all of Layla's Softouch Effect polishes, this one is a semi-matte. But the microglitter means it's still plenty shiny.

[Layla Turquoise Splash]

This is a good photo of Turquoise Splash under natural lighting, so it doesn't look like it's shiny and glossy. This semi-matte look is how it comes across in real life, except with a bit more sparkle from the microglitter.

Turquoise Splash is actually greener than any of my photos managed to capture. The colour in these photos are exactly like the colour of the nail polish in the bottle, but the colour of the mani on the nails are closer to a teal shade leaning towards green.

This is a gorgeous colour for a gorgeous nail polish, and I love it! I can't wait to try the rest of my Layla Softouch Effects!

Fizzy Lime - Layla Softouch Effect Limoncello

I have here a yummy nail polish!

[Layla's Softouch Effect Limoncello]

This is Layla's Softouch Effect Limoncello. What a tasty name to go with a delish polish. Limoncello is a lime green that dries to a semi-matte. It's not exactly matte nor is it a suede matte. Like the name describes, it's a soft effect, like a soft matte.

The microglitter combined with the finish makes this mani a very pretty, glittery one without being over the top. I really love the look of Limoncello!