I was recently sent a pot of magnetic nail powder from Born Pretty Store, I got the powder in shade number 5 (0.1g), but there are 6 colours and they are available in different amounts of powder. The powder is copper/bronze shade that colour-shifts towards a golden-green. 

The Born Pretty Store website has instructions for 2 different ways to apply the powder to your nails and, in the video below, I tried the powder in both ways. The instructions state to use the powder over cured gel nail polish, but I don't use gel polishes, so I am applying the powder over 2 coats of Black Forest by Barry M with a layer of Good To Go top coat by Essie.

The first way to use the powder, is to just pick up some on the eyeshadow brush (that comes included with the powder), and buff it onto a black nail. This creates a duo-chrome finish across the entire nail. 

The other way to use the powder is by mixing some of the powder into clear polish (or top coat/base coat), applying it over a black base, and before letting it dry, hold a magnet over the nail to create an interest effect in the polish. I used the magnet that came with a Barry M polish I have (you can buy specific magnets from the Born Pretty Store, but any magnet should work). I understood with this method why if would have been better to apply the powder mixed into a clear gel polish, because I did find that the polish dried a bit too fast before I could get the magnet onto it, which means no pattern will appear... I managed to fix this by adding another clear coat over the powder whilst it was on my nail, and that seemed to work great. 

I think this powder is super fun, it looks great just as a chrome finish buffed on the nail, but the fact that it's magnetic means you could create some really fun and interesting design using it. 

You can buy the powder here!

& use my discount code for 10% off: NMYX31

Demo Video:

Born Pretty Store: http://www.bornprettystore.com/

As I have been obsessed with nail stamping recently, I was super excited when I was sent a stamping polish to try from Born Pretty Store. I choose the shade Moonlit (obviously, because it's blue). 

I decided to swatch this polish first, before testing it for stamping. The polish was basically opaque on the first coat, but I decided to apply a second anyway. The shade is a beautiful metallic turquoise blue, that colour-shifts towards more of a green tone. The polish looks great with gloss or matte top coat.

I wanted to test this polish for stamping over both black and white. I started with white, using Moyou London's Tourist 21 plate. 

The polish worked great, it is very pigmented and stamping fully opaque designs. 

I then tested the polish stamped over a black base, using Moyou London's Scandi 09 plate. Although I liked the look of the polish over white, I much prefer it stamped over black. The contrast between the design and the base is stunning. 

I was able to pick up and apply the stamped designs perfectly and for only £3.52, these polishes are great if you are looking for pigmented stamping polishes at a cheap price. The full 'Universe Series' collection has 5 different shades. 

You can buy this polish here.

& use my discount code for 10% off: NMYX31

Demo Video:

Born Pretty Store: http://www.bornprettystore.com/

Recently, I was sent these Chameleon Holographic Flakes from Born Pretty Store to try out. I got them in shade number 3, but there are 6 different colours to choose from on their store.

These flakes are so pretty, and when I opened the little gar they came in, I was completely mesmerised by the sparkly-ness.

So the Born Pretty Store website's instructions all include using gel polish and curing the base, but I don't use gel polishes, so I am used regular polishes. The instructions also described a couple different ways to use the flakes, being a mirror finish and a matte finish, the way I'm using them in the video and the swatches is the matte finish.

I knew from the get-go that these were going to be a nightmare to remove with polish remover, so I started out with a peel off base coat. I then painted my nails alternating black and white, because I wanted to test the difference in the flakes effects on dark vs light. I applied two coats of polish to each nail and then added a layer of fast drying top coat (which isn't really necessary)

For the clean up, and this is the only thing that I hate about doing my nails, especially when glitters or powders are involved. I started by dusting off as much excessive as I could with a q tip in between coats. After finishing my nails I washed my hands with soap and water before taking the final swatch photos, and the excess did come of my hand pretty easily, but you may end up with some glitter on your clothes or the surface you have your hands on. 

So I did one layer of the flakes and then after dusting them off, I did a second, I didn't apply any top coat between layers but you totally could to avoid moving any flakes from the previous layer. And finished off the nails with a glossy top coat. 

I think the final result is absolutely stunning. The flakes are so pretty and reflect so many colours, which I think looks much better over darker polish than lighter polish, but it does have a nice subtler look over lighter polish.

You can buy these flake here!!

& you can you get 10 % using my code: NMYX31

My video demo...

BORN PRETTY STORE: http://www.bornprettystore.com/

BUY THESE FLAKES: http://www.bornprettystore.com/born-pretty-chameleon-holographic-flakes-powder-laser-nail-flakies-sequins-paillette-p-41516.html

**contains PR samples**

I recently tried 2 of Essence's Metal Shock chrome powders. This is my first time trying any kind of chrome powder, so I haven't tried any other products to compare these too. 

I really enjoyed playing around with these powders, although they don't create a completely 'mirror' finish, it is a really pretty and shiny finish. The 2 colours I tried: Mirror, Mirror On The Nail and Be My Little Mermaid, are both beautiful. I prefer the colour of the teal powder, but I prefer the application of the silver. Pros: - Price, they are only £3, so for a fun experiment they are not too expensive. - Good pigmentation, with good application or 2 coats. - Good colour selections (although I have only tried 2). - Beautiful shiny finish. - Top coat dries quite fast. - The excess washes off easily with soap and water. Cons: - Messy, this will get glitter dust everywhere. - Patchy if to applied perfectly. - The top coat is too thin of a formula for my liking, pools in the sides. - Some apply better over clear polish, some better over black polish. Tips: - Apply with finger, doesn't work with eye shadow brush. - Only works on gloss polish, does not apply onto a matte base. - Do more than 1 coat for full coverage. - Prepare for the mess, lay down some paper or something and avoid touching too many things before washing your hands.
You can buy the powders for £3 each and the top coat is also £3, both from Wilko.