Dare to Bare: Nude Nails

Every fashion aware girl should own a nude nail varnish, that's my belief and I'm sticking to it. Understated yet sexy, there's a fabulous air of sophistication which radiates from a nude talon. Here are my top picks for those who dare to bare...

butterLondon Nail Lacquer in Shandy (part of the new Starkers collection), £13

butterLondon (with it's oh so trendy packaging) is bang on trend with it's new Starkers collection. The Shandy shade, pictured above, is delightfully soft and creamy - wonderful for pale skin tones. It reminds me of delicate vintage lace.

Nails Inc Basil Street Polish, £11

I'm always a fan of the quintessentially British Nails Inc. Each shade is named after a well-known place in London (except for the darkest of shades, which is named 'Black Cab'...  too cute!) Basil Street has a more of a latte feel to it, Nails Inc describe the tone as Pale Soft Toffee. Gorgeously chic and really versatile, a shade which compliments light and dark skin tones. 

Rococo Nail Apparel Lab Nude 8.8 Creme, £12

Rococo Nail Apparel has a whole Nude offering which ranges from 1.0 (a sheer gloss) to 9.0 (a creamy mushroom). I love this caramel nude shade, Lab Nude 8.8, a warmer option for the trend which is gorgeous on darker skin tones. This varnish is quite thin but very fast drying, so you can build up the intensity of the shade with ease. 

More Talon Tantalisation...

See the hottest nail shade for Spring 2013

New Maybelline Colour Show Nail Laquers

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Get the Glitter Bug with Barry M Glitter Nail Paint

Barry M Glitter Nail Paint in Ruby and Amethyst, £2.99 each, available from BarryM.com

These nail paints by Barry M are so cute, ultra glitzy, and a total bargain. I wore the 'Amethyst' glitter on New Year's Eve for an extra glam addition, so eye-catching and packed full of shimmering sparkle! The 'Ruby' glitter paint is more subtle, with light-reflecting black and red flecks. I like to pop a coat on over black varnish for a cute finish. Be warned through, the glitter varnish is an absolute nightmare to get off... you may want to invest in some strong remover!

Pictured: Barry M Glitter in 'Amethyst' on top of a coat of black nail polish

Pictured: Barry M Glitter in 'Ruby' on top of a coat of black nail polish

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Feel the Magnetism: Barry M's Magnetic Nail Paint Review

I'm not going to lie to you all, I wasn't overly sure on the concept of magnetised nail varnish. In fact, I thought it would look absolutely hideous. But actually, Barry M's Magnetic Nail Paint, £4.99, was quite a hit. A glossy finish, rich colour, good shimmer... And the magnetic effect wasn't as childish as I had feared. It actually looked pretty damn good. I take it all back, dearest Bazza M.

Top Tips For Magnetic Perfection

This is not one for the impatient amongst us. Give yourself plenty on time, and be prepared to concentrate.

Prepare the nail. Trust me, it makes all the difference if you've got a great base to work with. I use Boots' 6 Way File and Buffer, £2.50 to remove ridges in the nail and shine the surface. I then apply one coat of Boots' Save The Nail 45 Second Coat, £6.99.

Take it one nail at a time. Apply a generous layer of the Nail Paint and then immediately hold the magnet (on top of the lid) a millimetre away from the nail surface. Hold it there for a few seconds. This was where my patience failed me, as I accidentally plonked the magnet on my wet nail four times. Seriously. FOUR TIMES.

Repeat this step with each and every nail. Only one coat required, yes!

Get as creative as you like. Here's my tasty 'mint humbug' inspired nails. I applied a black coat before using Barry M's magnetic varnish in sparkling silver.

Have Yourself a Very Glitzy Christmas!

I know, I know, we're not even in December yet. But the sudden wave of festive spirit (namely the John Lewis ad, which I must have watched and then re-watched every day since its release) has got me feeling wonderfully festive.

And then there's all the talk of Christmas parties. The black-tie work do, the informal house party, the meal between old friends. Yep, now is the time to do some fabulously festive beauty prep.

Which is why I purchased these Christmassy delights by Barry M, with more magical sparkle than you can shake a stick at. Last year I opted an overtly seasonal Red glitter, this year I've plucked for Aqua and Magenta. Simply paint a layer of the glitter paint over a base colour of nail varnish (I'd recommend Barry M's Nail Paint in turquoise for the Aqua, and pink for the Magenta.)

Sparkle up your talons as you deem fit; whether just one statement nail on each hand, the tips, or the full blown set.

Pssst! There's also a fabulous black and gold shade 'Gold Mine' which is bang on the current Baroque fashion trend. I love it!

All Barry M Nail Paints are available from Barry M for £2.99

Get Glossy: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint

If you want glossy gel-effect nails without the 45 minute salon experience and a price tag of £20 to £30, then try Barry M's brand new offering. Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint by Barry M, £3.99, available from Superdrug, is the savvy girl's cheat to super glossy talons.

It might not last as long as a salon cured gel treatment, but this nail polish is a worthwhile purchase. Easy to remove (no need for acetone soaking) and fast drying,  I applied it while on a bus, ladened with several shopping bags, and remained smudge free despite only having a six-stop time frame. That's impressive. Good work, Baz!

My only grumble would be the limited number of shades, but that's mainly because I was seeking a deep, glossy black. No joy. Instead I plucked for Watermelon (pictured) but was also very tempted by the plum shade, perfect for the rapidly approaching festive season.