Enigmatic Rambles

Empties: September 2026

2026-10-11T17:00:00.000+01:00

Only a couple of things used up this past month;

Barry M Mani Mask | This is a nude polish which I used as a base coat, I have been trying to wear one more often to avoid staining. I did like this and if it is still available I would repurchase however I have plenty base coats to get through.

Orly Cuticle Oil^ | The oil had a brush style applicator which was good for getting both cuticles and under the nail length. The scent is sweet citrus and it sinks in quickly so you can get on with your day. I did like this but I'm no longer purchasing from Orly so won't be repurchasing.

CurlSmith Hair Shine Oil | I'd used about 3/4 of this bottle before it went off. It changed from yellow to clear and smelt off. This may have been because it was particularly hot this past summer. The formula was too intense for my hair needs and I wouldn't repurchase. I did however like the dropper style applicator.

Bath and Bodyworks Sparkling Watermelon Hand Sanitiser | This was strongly scented of watermelon and it did linger for a few hours on my hands. I liked it and would repurchase.

Halloween Nails: Octopus

2026-10-11T16:00:00.000+01:00

Base Polish | ILNP - Take a Bow

Red Accent Polish | Orly - Clause a Commotion^

Purple Accent Polish | Seventeen - Royal Indigo

Green Accent Polish | W7 - Fluorescent Green

Stamping Polish | MoYou - Special Nail Polish - Black

Stamping Plate | Bohemia Stamping - Spooky Summer

Nail Polish Swatch: Barry M - Olive Green (Autumn 2026 Gellys)

2026-10-10T16:00:00.000+01:00

Barry M have released some new gellys since being bought out by Warpaint. The lid is now white rather than silver, and the label and polish name is now on the back rather than the side or bottom. I've posted a photo of the new label below the swatch.

Colour | Khaki Green

Finish | Cream

Opacity | Two Coats

Brush Type | Paddle Style

How Much | 10ml

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Collection | Autumn 2026 Gellys

Purchased From | Superdrug

Nail Polish Swatch: ILNP - Radioactive [Bar Magnet]

2026-10-09T16:00:00.000+01:00

To me this polish is very Halloween-y.

Colour | Reddy Orange, Green Magnetic

Finish | Magnetic (Using Bar Magnet)

Opacity | Two Coats

How Much | 12ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Collection | Twisted Collection

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | Rainbow Collection

Same Prompt One Decade Later Nails: Stitched French

2026-10-08T16:00:00.000+01:00

The is the prompt 'Stitched French' a decade on from the original which you can see here.

Base Polish | Barry M - Butterscotch Sundae

Purple Polish | Orly - Rave Wave^

Green Polish | Barry M - Rainforest Green

Orange Polish | Orly - Night Fever^

0.2mm Black Sharpie

2016 Version;

Halloween Nails: Magnetic Pentacle

2026-10-07T16:00:00.000+01:00

Base Polish | ILNP - Blue Fizz

Stamping Polish | MoYou - Special Stamping Polish - White

Stamping Plate | MoYou London - Halloween Collection 04

Halloween Nails: Green Spiderweb

2026-10-05T16:00:00.000+01:00

Base Polish | ILNP - Mad House

Spider and Web - Stickers

Shopping: September 2026

2026-10-04T16:00:00.000+01:00

I've not bought much at all this past month, waiting to get the new Barry M Gelly's, only got this lovely smelling candle;

Home Bargains Pumpkin Toffee Waffle Candle

Halloween Nails: Smokey Nightshade

2026-10-04T16:00:00.000+01:00

Base Polish | Orly - Grunge Glam^

Flakie Polish | Emily de Molly - Nightshade

Nail Polishes Worn: September 2026

2026-10-03T16:00:00.000+01:00

This past month I seem to have been leaning towards autumnal colours;

Nails Inc It's Smooth Sailing | Prism Polish Calcite | ILNP Radioactive | Orly Light My Campfire^

Barry M Nutmeg | Orly Stop the Clock^ | OPI Got the Blues for Red | Barry M Cocoa

Orly Golden Hour^ | Prism Polish Twinkling Tree | Leighton Denny Girl's Best Friend | Barry M Sky Blue

Barry M Pink Lemonade

Nail Polish Swatch: ILNP - Mad House [Horseshoe Magnet]

2026-10-02T16:00:00.000+01:00

Colour | Purple Based, Green Magnetic

Finish | Magnetic (Using Horseshoe Magnet)

Opacity | Three Coats

How Much | 12ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Collection | Twisted Collection

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | Rainbow Collection

Same Prompt One Decade Later Nails: Halloween in the Wrong Colours

2026-10-01T16:00:00.000+01:00

As it is the first of October I am starting to try and do a Halloween themed nail art every other day throughout the month.

The is the prompt 'Halloween in the Wrong Colours' a decade on from the original which you can see here.

Lilac Base Polish | Leighton Denny - Girl's Best Friend

Pink Base Polish | Barry M - Pink Lemonade

Blue Base Polish | Barry M - Sky Blue

Stamping Polish | MoYou - Special Nail Polish - Black

Stamping Plate | B115

2016 Version;

Stamping Plate: Bohemia Stamping Spooky Summer

2026-09-27T16:00:00.000+01:00

I bought this plate over the summer, and although it is a summer plate its also good for spooky season;

The plate comes backed with hard white plastic and a blue protective sticker over the front.

It is summer but spooky themed, it has lots of individual images. I've used it a couple of times and it does stamp across, you just need to adjust the scraping angle.

[Mermaid Nails]

[Spooky Octopus Nails]

Nail Polish Swatch: Prism Polish UK - Calcite

2026-09-25T16:00:00.000+01:00

Colour | Red, Iridescent, shifts to slight orange, green)

Finish | Flakie Topper (shown over aubergine cream)

Opacity | One Coat

How Much | 11ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | PrismPolish

Same Prompt One Decade Later Nails: Needle Drag

2026-09-24T16:00:00.000+01:00

Today is the prompt 'Needle Drag' a decade on from the original which you can see here.

Brown Polish | Barry M Cocoa

Red Polish | OPI - Got the Blues for Red

Metallic Polish | Orly - Stop the Clock^

2016 Version;

Nails: Top 5 Autumn / Fall Polishes 2026

2026-09-23T16:00:00.000+01:00

As autumn arrives today, I thought I would share my top five autumn / fall nail polishes. Polishes I plan on wearing as autumn rolls in.

I have done similar posts in 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013.

Prism Polish Calcite // A England Flaming June // Swamp Gloss The Alpha and the Beta // Leighton Denny Chestnut Charm // Makeup Revolution Horror Show

Calcite is a flakie topper which looks like autumn leaves, this one leans more red than Fancy Gloss Magma. I think this worn matte will make a lovely set of autumnal nails.

Flaming June is a golden orange holographic polish, the tone reminds me of the sunsets you get around this time of year in the UK.

The Alpha and the Beta, this is a vivid purple base with fuchsia hex glitters. There's something quite Halloween themed about this polish for me.

Chestnut Charm, its more a brown red than a red brown metallic which isn't showing up well in this photo. It's another autumnal leaf shade.

Horror Show, is a dark grey metallic polish which is good for Halloween and later in autumn. The bottle also is very Halloween-y.

Stamping Plate: UberChic - Sweater Weather

2026-09-19T16:00:00.000+01:00

I think I got this in October 2023, since then I have used it a few times;

The plate comes with a blue protective sticker, and is autumn themed. Some is more aimed at American 'fall' but overall the plate is very seasonally appropriate and the images I have used stamp across well;

[Micro Pumpkins]

[Autumn Vibes]

Nail Polish Swatch: Nails Inc - It's Smooth Sailing

2026-09-18T16:00:00.000+01:00

Colour | Deep Aubergine verging on black

Finish | Cream

Opacity | Two Coats

How Much | 14ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Collection | Golden Hour Get Ready

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | Gift - QVC

Same Prompt One Decade Later Nails: Autumn

2026-09-16T16:00:00.000+01:00

Today is the prompt 'Autumn' a decade on from the original which you can see here.

Orange Metallic Polish | Orly Light My Campfire^

Nude Polish | Barry M Nutmeg

Black Stamping Polish | MoYou - Special Nail Polish - Black

Red Stamping Polish | MoYou - Special Nail Polish - Chestnut Red

Gold Stamping Polish | MoYou - Special Nail Polish | Emperors Gold

Pumpkin and Text Stamping Plate | UberChic - Sweater Weather

Tartan Stamping Plate | UberChic - Pretty in Plaid 4

2016 Version;

Empties: August 2026

2026-09-13T16:00:00.000+01:00

No empties post last month so this is two months worth of things;

Boots Cotton Wool Balls | I seem to go through a lot of these, they are good for removing polish with so would keep repurchasing.

Wild Refillable Cola Lip Balm | Wild fixed the grainy formula on their lip balms, this is smooth and scented of cola. I liked it and it was mositurising and didn't tint my lips at all. Another one I would repurchase if I didn't have many already.

Lip Smacker Sprite Lip Balm | While the formula was fine on this, lemon scented, mositurising and didn't drag and tear my lips. But I had to just get rid of it because it leaves my lips with a weird looking white residue.

Umberto Giannini Conditioner | I got this as a gift set, but the shampoo made my scalp itch badly which wasn't a problem I had originally. I wouldn't purchase this as it didn't agree with my scalp. This conditioner was okay as I don't use it on my scalp, but still wouldn't repurchase.

John Frieda Hair Foam | I like the foam because one box goes a long way and covers my long hair. The dye does wash out of my hair after a couple of months but it also means there isn't a harsh demarcation line of roots. I will repurchase at some point.

Giovanni LA Hold Gel | This was a strong hold gel, it worked well on my hair and kept the frizz away on curls. I would repurchase but have enough gel to get through first.

JVN Air Dry Cream | I used this as a primer when wearing my hair naturally wavy, it has a bit of hold to it but worked best when layered with a stronger hold gel. It was easy to use too much of this on my hair but I think I worked it out by the end of the tube. I have already replaced this.

Superdrug Sticky Toffee Shower Gel | These shower gels are basic but do what you need them to do. This particular one was very accurately scented of sticky toffee pudding, which was a bit odd to be washing in. I would repurchase from the brand but maybe not this scent.

Lush Lord of Misrule Shower Gel | The scent is identical to the bath bomb, musky and patchouli and a little goes a long way. The scent also really does linger on my skin too which is nice. It is expensive, but I would repurchase it, or at least ask for a gift!