Anyone that has previously read my personal blog will know what an utter nail polish fiend I am! The downside of this is that I now own enough bottles to ‘start my own salon’ (my auntie’s words!)… but the upside is that I’ve got the scoop on all the hottest new nail polishes for you to sparkle in this Christmas!
I’ve never needed any excuse to plaster my talons in more glitter than there is in Elton John’s wardrobe but the party season really is the ultimate opportunity to get super-sparkly!
For total all-out bling o’ clock, China Glaze Eye Candy 3D Glitters have to be top of my wish list! The whole collection uses different sizes, shapes and colours of glitter to create a wow-worthy 3D effect – think disco-ball on the nails and you’re about one-tenth there! Lorelei’s Tiara is a gorgeous seasonal silver-and-blue glitter combo, wintry frosty fabulousness, whilst Love Marilyn is a red-and-silver glitter that has a totally festive look. For those that want something a little more subtle, Some Like It Haute is a mixture of black, silver, charcoal and gunmetal glitters that proves black doesn’t have to be boring – and gives off rainbow dazzles when it hits the light!
I think of Deborah Lippmann as the Queen of Glitter in the nail-polish world, so it’s no surprise that she’s rustled up some spectacular sparkles just in time for Christmas. Do Ya Think I’m Sexy is filled with seriously sexy scarlet sequins, Shake Your Groove Thing is a full-on flickering gold, I Love The Nightlife is a groovy gorgeous graphite glitter and Stairway To Heaven looks like an iridescent opalescent icicle! For a total party on your nails, you should also check out her Get The Party Started gift set (below), which features three polishes chock-full with glitter every colour of the rainbow! These are big chunky glitters and definitely not for the faint-hearted; personally, I would wear them as a layering polish and all look especially outstanding over black. You could even try layering Do Ya Think I’m Sexy over a forest green or snow white to channel your inner holly plant or sexy Santa!
For something a little more subtle, but still just as shimmery, how about OPI’s The Muppets Collection? Ignore the wacky names and some of the more obvious bling-y choices, and instead head straight for Warm & Fozzie (shown above on nails) and Designer De-Better. Warm & Fozzie is a wonderful warm bronze colour, with a copper red and pink glitter that isn’t too overpowering, whilst Designer-De Better is a shimmering icy silver with champagne flecks.
Since we’ve covered silver and bronze, I have to mention a gold too – and my favourite is China Glaze’s Midnight Kiss, a pretty champagne-gold (above), from last year’s Tis The Season To Be Naughty AND Nice Collection (still stocked at Cher2). These all boast a foil-like finish for a more understated effect – and also don’t require a chisel to get off afterwards! I think these look great matched with other metallics or to set off the perfect LBD.
For those of you that don’t want to commit to a full-on glittery nail polish that will only gather dust until next Christmas, a layering polish might be a better choice. These will jazz up your average bog-standard manicure quicker than you can say ‘ho ho ho’! My favourite effect is ‘flakies’ – awesome confetti-like shreds of some magical substance that glow a whole rainbow of colours, and look amazing layered over pretty much anything (yes, I have considering varnishing my furniture…). Nails Inc have hit jackpot with their Overglaze Duo packs, including one crème for underneath and one flakie (either red, blue or green) for on top – although I advise you to ditch the tacky Gossip Girl packaging ASAP! Essie is also doing a really pretty gold leaf effect called As Gold As It Gets, (below) which would look totally Christmassy layered over a holly-berry red.
If you can’t be bothered with the hassle of doing your own nails, how about getting them MINX-ed instead (below)? It’s the latest celeb nail trend (Gaga, Rihanna, Beyonce and Katy Perry are all fans) and uses stick-on decals to deliver an impossibly-amazing effect that you can never quite get with nail polish alone; it’s like molten metal dripped on your nails, but with a variety of stunning patterns too! 10/10 Space has the best variety of designs and will do everything for you… so you can conserve energy shopping for the perfect party dress instead! Get these done as near as possible to the date of your party (or on the day itself) to have your MINX-ed nails looking their most picture-perfect!
Finally, much as it pains me to admit it, there are those of you that just don’t want glittery nails (don’t worry, I won’t judge!)… but there are still plenty of other festive choices too! You can’t go wrong with a brilliant creamy red, bright enough to make Santa or Rudolph proud – I recommend China Glaze’s Poinsettia (above) or the slightly-darker Winter Berry (no prizes for guessing what plants these were based on!), both of which boast gorgeous glossy finishes without the need for top-coat. Or for a deep velvety scarlet shimmer that’s not too much to handle, try China Glaze’s Mommy Kissing Santa too.
There’s simply no excuse for not ‘nailing it’ this party season!
China Glaze $60, Essie $60, OPI $70, from Cher2
1A Po Foo Building, 1 Foo Ming Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 2882 2528
809, 8/F, Mongkok City Centre, 74-84 Sai Yeung Choi Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, 2886 1132
1202A, 12/F, Century Plaza, 1 D’Aguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong 2510 0171
Deborah Lippmann $190, Get The Party Started set $480, Joyce Beauty
Lane Crawford (ifc, 3572 0364; Pacific Place, 3798 0172; Times Square, 3798 0171)
G/F New World Tower, Central, 2869 5816
G106 Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2367 0860
G39 Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong, 2265 7176
MINX manicure, $80/single nail or $650 full mani
10/10 Space, Flat B, 1/F Fairview Mansion, 51 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay, 3595 1152
Nails Inc Gossip Girl Overglaze Duo Packs, £20
www.lookfantastic.com (with free international delivery!)