Summer Nails

From l-r: Essie ‘Sunday Funday’, Sally Hansen ‘Kook-A-Mango’, No7 ‘Mojo’, Mavala ‘La Paz’ & ‘Madrid’

Bourjois ‘Adora Bleu’, Barry M ‘Blueberry’, Mavala ‘Lagoon’, No7 ‘So Neat’, Essie ‘Naughty Nautical’

Last summer I didn’t paint my nails at all; this summer I’ve been all over it. My lack of enthusiasm last year probably had something to do with not owning many warm-weather appropriate shades and a lifelong aversion to in-your-face colours. Oh, how that has changed – I’ve since embraced summer brights with open arms and built up quite a collection of ocean blues, sea greens and juicy corals. It’s fair to say I went a little nail polish crazy over the past couple of months, and didn’t realise until it was too late that I was essentially buying multiple shades of the same colours - nevertheless, there are some real gems in this little lot.

Although I love the formula of the Bourjois So Laque Glossy polishes – flawless, fool-proof and ultra-opaque application – I haven’t found myself wearing Adora Bleu (a gorgeous powder blue) that much in the hotter weather as I think it’s more of a pretty spring shade. And while Mavala’s Lagoon is lovely too, I can see myself wearing this muted jade more on those days when the weather isn’t sure what its doing and I want something neutral with a twist. Barry M’s Hi Shine Gelly nailpaint in ‘Blueberry’, however – a gorgeous swimming-pool blue that looks extra good with a tan – is a definite summer shade, as is Essie’s Naughty Nautical, a vibrant shimmery turquoise that really reminds me of the ocean, and applies faultlessly thanks to the defuzion line brush.

I had high hopes for these No7 polishes (which ofcourse I picked up with £5 off vouchers), but sadly they didn’t live up to expectations. These apply quite sheer, needing a good 3 coats to reach full opacity, and chip like nobody’s business. The Seche Vite top coat has helped me get a little more wear out of them, but in general they’ve been trumped by the Essies. Sunday Funday is such a gorgeous, bright peachy-pink coral, it cheers me up just to look at it. Lastly, possibly my faves of the bunch, Sally Hansen Kook-A-Mango is a hot orange-red which looks equally good on fingers and toes; likewise these Mavala minis in Madrid and La Paz offer lovely little pops of colour to both hands and feet. Classic red and hot pink - essentials for summer, and shades I know I’ll get wear out of year in year out.

What are some of your favourite nail polishes for summer?

Chandra

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