Breast Cancer Awareness Month: OPI

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month so in true style, the brands of the beauty community have 'pinked' up some of their products.  I thought I would try and show you some of these products throughout the month and see what takes your fancy.

Today it's all about nail polish, shatter nail polish.  OPI say 'let's shatter Breast Cancer' with their pink shatter topcoat.  All bottles cost £10.50 with £1 going to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

You can purchase online at Lena White.

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NOTD: OPI 'Not Like the Movies'

It's day 7 of my flu and I'm still feeling lousy. I'm in no fit state for more outfit posts at the moment but a nail post, that I can do.

I shoddily painted my nails in OPI's Not Like the Movies from the upcoming Katy Perry Collection as posted about previously here.

I'm sure OPI describe this is a metallic silver or such like. They certainly don't describe it as it actually is. It's more of an iridescent shade and depending on what light your in it appears a different colour. In the bottle it looks a mucky metallic silver with tinges of green but on the nails it at first appeared more purpley ... in artificial light it appeared more silver then in completely natural light it appeared green.

Here's the photographic evidence ...

In a mixture of artificial and natural lightDirectly under artificial light

Natural light

It's quite an extreme difference in colour from the first to the last photo. This polish is therefore a bit of a 3 for the price of 1 effort. This is the colour achieved from 3 coats of polish but to be honest it's the exact same result as 2 coats. I applied an extra coat since I had time and just to make sure I wasn't missing out on anything from the shade.

There is also a definite sparkle that runs through this particular shade ... not glitter, not chunky sparkle ... more like a magical sprinkle over the nail ... it isn't noticeable in the bottle at all - only when applied to the nail and it's really very pretty.

Iridescent shades are not normally my bag ... I like to pick a colour and stick with it not have it interchange dependant on conditions however, this one is growing on me. It has those kind of mucky undertones that has been trending for the past year or so but with a metallic edge.

The Katy Perry Collection comes with a cackle effect polish which I think would look pretty cool over this shade due to the colour change qualities.

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OPI Katy Perry Collection

Just like many make up brands OPI have set the standard in the nail world by releasing new collections time and time again reflecting current trends and pop culture.

The next collection due in January is a collaboration with the gorgeous Katy Perry. Like her or not she is absolutely stunning and never afraid to take risks in the style department.

This collection reflects the fun, colourful image of the new Mrs Brand offering four shades and a crackling topcoat. Teenage Dream (a pink shade with holographic glitter), Not Like the Movies (a dirty silvery green color), Last Friday Night (a glittery purplish blue), The One That Got Away (a deep pink berry color), and Black Shatter (crackling topcoat creates a cracked-like pattern - Barry M seem to have got in there first).

I was sent some of the collection to review and the one that jumped out at me most was Teenage Dream. It's such a pretty shade but as I do with most glitter polishes, I apply over a complimentary opaque shade. In this case it was Barry M's Mushroom and I find that it works really well.

It's such a pretty look and the glitter is really effective, shimmering and sparkling in the light. Unlike other glitter polishes it retains it's sparkle rather than looking a bit tired and dull after a few days. As for chipping, I haven't noticed any after 3 days.
I haven't tried this polish on it's own so can't comment on it's true quality applied without a base shade but with another colour it is just lovely. I think this is a cute collection and will definitely appeal to Katy Perry fans.

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Dell's OPI Laptop ...

I blogged about the DELL/OPI collaboration not long back ... everyone had blogged about it long before me but it only became of interest of me when my laptop started dying a slow but sure death.

Lucky old me got the chance to trial one of the Dell Mini Inspirons for a few weeks while I researched my new laptop purchase and it just happened to be from the OPI range.

To start with, the mini inspiron is cute, way cute. It's dinky, light and a little bit chubby but in a good sturdy way. It's the perfect size to fit in a handbag if you so wish, which I did ... this means blogging is easier on the go. Not that I do a lot of blogging on the go but having that option was great. I blogged in a cocktail bar ... something I would never do if i had to lump around my regular laptop.

What makes it even cuter is this particular collaboration with OPI ... I was sent the trendy OPI shade, Jade is the new black.

The battery life was the big bonus for me. Out of the 2 weeks I trialled this laptop I only charged it once and that was only to give it an extra boost 'just in case'.

I am not a techy but the Dell had applications that my poor old laptop would take a fit if it was exposed to ... like a webcam and Windows Livewriter which is great for blogging.

Just as the Dell went back to it's home, my own laptop packed in and so far it looks like Dell is the front runner for a new one. I do have a modest budget and Dell seem to be great value for money. The mini inspiron retails at around £249 with an extra £69 for the OPI customisation.

Any other laptop recommendations are welcomed :)

Matching your nails with your laptop ...

I have been hearing about this collaboration for ages now and to be honest it all seemed a bit gimmicky, however, now that it is here I have to say I am pretty tempted.

Dell have teamed up with OPI to 'fuse fashion and style' ...(shouldn't that be beauty?) I digress ... to create 26 different coloured covers all inspired by your favourite OPI nail lacquer shades.

You can choose from shades like 'I'm not really a waitress', 'Strawberry Margarita', 'Rosy Future' ... and then some.

My only issue would be choosing which cover I was partial to most.


Thing is this does coincide with my own laptop dying a slow but sure death. In fact, my laptop is so bad it is starting to take the fun out of blogging! poor me.

Anyway, I have little knowledge on laptops and unsure whether Dell are a reliable brand to buy from (even though I worked for them once upon a time).

So, what do you think of this collaboration? Will you be upgrading your laptop for one of these? And does anyone want to stop me from rushing out to my local PC World before I make a big mistake?

All advice and opinions welcome :)

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NOTD - OPI Lincoln Park after Dark

I can never stick with a pastel nail for too long, I always yearn for my dark goth berry nails. So a couple of days ago I swapped Eyeko nude for OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark.
I have to say OPI polishes are probably my favourite - in a single coat you get great coverage and a flawless finish. Downside, 2 days in and I have chipping. For the polished results though, I think I can overlook this.

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NOTD - OPI Midnight in Moscow

When I was 13 I had my first manicure and requested my nails should be painted in Chanel 'Rouge Noir'. I was obsessed with Rouge Noir nails to the point of having pictures plastered over my wardrobe of hands painted in Chanel! Years later when I was 16 I managed to get my hands on the real deal and since then I have bought practically every vampish nail polish I come across. A deep berry red or darker than blood red is my all time favourite nail colour.

Anyway this takes me onto a purchase I made while on holiday. I came across a shop selling OPI and they happened to have the Russian Collection which is quite possibly one of my favourites of the OPI's. The shade that really stood out to me was Midnight in Moscow.It is pretty much a black with red shimmer so it is very vamp - absolutely gorgeous. It is very similar to MACs Baby Goth Girl but a more grown up version without the gold chunks! The only drawback to this polish is that it takes at least 3 coats to create the desired effect. Anything less and the colour just looks black and dirty - the 3rd coat is essential.

What are your favourite vamp shades?

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OPI Russian Navy

I bought this OPI Russian Navy a few weeks ago. Navy is one of my favourite colours so i had high hopes for this product but when i first wore it the colour looked weak and more purple than navy ... however i gave it another go last night and applied a thicker coverage this time. Well, it came out exactly as i had originally imagined it would look like. Its a lush shade of navy with a purple shimmer undertone. I love!

Please excuse my dodgy podgy fingers - i really have the most unattractive hands!! Think Russian Navy will be my Valentine's Day look or maybe China Glaze Ruby Pumps ... not decided yet!