Models Own Artstix Nail Polish Duo in 'Jade Flakes'

First of all, let me apologise for the lack of posts recently. University is starting to wind down so i'm finishing off final assignments and ensuring everything is done for when I eventually move back home for the summer. As well as this, i've suffered from quite bad skin due to stress these past few weeks, so i've refrained from taking photos as i'm just not feeling really comfortable with the way i'm looking right now. But anyway, pity party over!

As a student (And as a girl in general), I love a bargain. What I also love are products that provide combinations, making it a full-proof way of ensuring you get it right every time. The Artstix Nail Polish Duo from Models Own is one of those products! They've jumped on the 'double-ended polish' bandwagon, which sees a base coat paired with either a polish with a nail-art brush or a nail effect top coat.

'Jade Flakes' is just one of eight combinations from Models Own, but with the inclusion of 'Snowflakes' from the Wonderland Collection it quickly became a must-have.

(I am well aware that my nail painting skills are not great!)

For £6 this product is ideal for someone looking to explore new shades without breaking the bank, as fullsized bottles of these two polishes alone cost £5 each. However, when using a glitter top coat its easy to end up using a lot of product just trying to get the desired effect seen on the bottle. With its large flakes, I ended up having to use three coats on each nail, resulting in a quarter of the bottle being used in one application. The top coat also has an extremely thick consistency, meaning that because of the layering (And I tried to thin it as much as possible without losing the flakes) it began to chip straight away and created bubbles on the surface of the nail which ruined the overall effect!

Overall it's a gorgeous combination and I had no problems with the application or the coverage of the 'Jade Stone' polish. However, the inclusion of the top coat meant that the polish latest just over 24 hours. I'm open to trying different Artstix as every one is different, however I feel i'm more likely to just use the base coat in the future as the top coat is extremely disappointing.

You can purchase Artstix Nail Polish Duos from your local Boots, or online here for £6.

Review: Models Own 'Disco Mix'

I'm always a little hesitant about buying glitter polish, purely because it is such a hassle to remove. Even with the Bourjois Paris Magic Nail Polish Remover to help me along, the polish needs to be extra special for me to decide to go against my initial feelings and try it.

After seeing it on a lot of llymlrs' posts, I decided that Models Own Disco Mix could possibly be the polish that would encourage me to love glitter again. I'm such a huge fan of Models Own polishes, purely because there is such an enormous variety of not just matte colours, they have a wide selection of chrome finish, shimmers, glitters, metals, crackle and of course, all the colours you need for a perfect french manicure.

This colour is just so gorgeous, I had to have it. With flecks of blue, purple and pink, it looks incredible when the light hits your nails and can be worn over the top of so many different colours.

First off, i'm sorry for the bad quality of the picture. I took it with my iPhone a few days after I painted them and then forgot to take another one with my actual camera before taking it off! My nails were in a really bad condition then because i'd just had my acrylics taken off,  but as you can see i've teamed it with a gorgeous dark blue (From the Rimmel I <3 Long Lasting range) and I really like how it turned out.
The polish itself is neither gloppy or messy, and two light coats is certainly enough to coat an already painted nail, but one more coat would have covered it completely (it's not good to go over 3 coats, otherwise your polish is too thick and you'll be able to peel it straight off with your fingers!). It's perfect for adding a touch of sparkle to a plain outfit - I like to wear glitter polish to work as my uniform is all black, boring! It also dries extremely quickly, which is an added bonus for people like me that are too impatient to wait around!

I highly recommend this shade if your into glitter, and don't be as hesitant with the idea of it being tough to remove like I was - I'll be posting a 'how-to remove glitter polish' tutorial very soon! :)

You can purchase Models Own Disco Mix for the bargain price of £5 at your local Boots, Models Own shop or online here.

If you like this shade as much as I do, you could win it along with another shade of your choice, a Tangle Teezer, Revlon Colourburst Lip Butter in a shade of your choice, and another little surprise in my first giveaway! 
Simply click this link to find out how to enter. Good luck!