Enigmatic Rambles

Nail Polish Swatch: Barry M - Blue to Lilac (UV / Solar Reactive)

2026-05-12T16:00:00.001+01:00

This polish alongside the other UV reactive is the first release from Barry M since the buy out by Warpaint.

The colour change is definitely there for this polish although it is quite slow to react and colour change is subtle. But that may be down to me living the Northern England and it is May so not height of summer.

Colour | Blue to Lilac

Finish | Cream

Opacity | Two Coats

How Much | 10ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | Boots

[Fingers Reacted to UV, Thumb No UV Light]

Nail Art: Life is Better with Cats

2026-05-11T16:00:00.019+01:00

Base Thermal Polish | Cat Tail Bloody and Bruised (still partially transitioned)

Holographic Glitter | China Glaze Fairy Dust (thinned down 1/3)

Black Stamping Polish | MoYou - Special Stamping Polish - Black

Silver Stamping Polish | Barry M - Silver Foil Effect

Stamping Plate | MoYou - Crazy Cat Lady Collection 12

Monthly Empties: April 2026

2026-05-10T16:00:00.001+01:00

Used up quite a few bits this past month;

China Glaze Liquid Leather | Nice enough basic black polish, I do however prefer Barry M Black Forest and so wouldn't repurchase [swatch].

Jessica Hologram Top Coat | A scattered holographic topcoat, the formula on this was one where you had to really shake it to get the particles re-suspended in the base. I did like this, but have purchased China Glaze Fairy Dust as a replacement [swatch].

Lush Scooby Doo Bath Bomb | Turned the water a neon yellow shade and left red sediment in the bottom of the bath, the scent was very subtle too so not one I'd repurchase.

Lush Frankenstein Bath Bomb | Grapefruit and citrus, so uplifting rather than calming bath. It was okay but I'd not repurchase.

Lush Sex Bomb Bath Bomb | Jasmine scented but not too floral, more musky. Would repurchase [review].

Lush Snow Fairy Bubble Bar | Used this over two baths, made lots of bubbles and smelled sweet. Worked well with sex bomb. Might repurchase this.

The Perfume People Sexy Bomb | Smells like Lush's Sex Bomb bath bomb, scent lingers around for a while. I'd consider repurchasing.

Yankee Candle Christmas Eve | I didn't find this candle had much, if any scent to it. Not one I'd purchase.

L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Youth Cream | This sample sank in quickly and by the next morning my skin was very soft. But it did make my skin sting so not one I would purchase.

CeraVe Moisturising Cream | Very thick, intense moisturiser which is designed for very dry skin. I like this and have repurchased it.

Garnier Ambre Solaire SPF 50 | I'd had this a year so was time to get rid, it works with or without make up and doesn't leave a white cast. I have since repurchased.

Erborian CC Red Correct | It has taken me a long time to use this up but I do really like it, I have a lot of redness in my face and so this really evens out my skin tone whether I wear foundation or not. I have already repurchased it.

Aldi Lacura Sweet Angel Shower Gel | Scent dupe of Lush Snow Fairy, another good basic shower gel scented of sweet pear drops. I would repurchase.

Superdrug Fruity Strawberry and Raspberry Shower Gel | Scent was what you would expect from artificial strawberry, it was okay. I would repurchase from the line just not this scent.

L'Occitane Verveine Shower Gel | Quite a light citrus scent. Nice enough but not a repurchase.

Nail Polish Swatch: Orly - Chillax (2000's Winter 2025)^

2026-05-08T16:00:00.001+01:00

Colour | Silver Chrome

Finish | Metallic

Opacity | Two Coats

How Much | 18ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Collection | 2000's Winter 2025

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | Gift

Same Prompt One Decade Later Nails: Cloud Style Nails

2026-05-07T16:00:00.001+01:00

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

Light People Polish | OPI - Do You Lilac It?

Medium Purple Polish | Orly - Indigo Skies^

Dark Purple Polish | Barry M - Gummy Bear

Holographic Polish | China Glaze - Fairy Dust

2016 Version;

Shopping: April 2026

2026-05-03T16:00:00.003+01:00

Just the two polishes and a massive five litres of remover purchased this month;

China Glaze Fairy Dust // OPI Lincoln Park After Brunch

Hive Non-Acetone Remover

Nail Polishes Worn: April 2026

2026-05-02T16:00:00.019+01:00

Managed to wear 15 polishes during April, not too bad and I also did quite a bit of nail art;

Nails Inc Keep Me Toasty // Orly Chillax^ // A England Lady of the Lake // ILNP After Hours

Rogue Peacocked // Barry M - Cotton // China Glaze - Liquid Leather // Orly Caught Off Gourd^

Orly Cowabunga^ // Nails Inc Perfectly Poured // Orly Leave Britney Alone^ // OPI Do You Lilac It?

Orly Indigo Skies^ // Barry M Gummy Bear // Orly Morning Dew^

Nail Polish Swatch: Nails Inc - Keep Me Toasty

2026-05-01T16:00:00.001+01:00

Bubbles on thumb were due to topcoat needing thinning not the polish.

Colour | Red Toned Brown

Finish | Cream

How Much | 14ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Collection | Touch of Teddy

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | Gift - QVC

Same Prompt One Decade Later Nails: Micro Animal Print

2026-04-30T16:00:00.007+01:00

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

Berry Polish | Nails Inc - Perfectly Poured

Pink Polish | Orly - Leave Britney Alone^

Black Fine Sharpie

Dotting Tool

2016 Version;

Nail Art: Multichrome Crackle

2026-04-27T16:00:00.001+01:00

Crackle Polish | Rogue Peacocked

Silver Base Polish | Orly Chillax^

Accent Magnetic Polish | ILNP After Hours

Nail Polish Swatch: Nu Nail Polish - I Burn for You

2026-04-24T16:00:00.001+01:00

[Velvetised Style]

[Ring Finger Using Bar Magnet]

Colour | Red

Finish | Magnetic

Opacity | Two Coats

How Much | 12ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Collection | Nurture Us Valentine's 2025

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | NuNailPolish - etsy

Same Prompt One Decade Later Nails: Needle Drag

2026-04-23T16:00:00.006+01:00

Today is the prompt 'Needle Drag' a decade on from the original which you can see here, I think the colours I chose this time were too similar to show up.

Yellow Polish | Orly - Caught Off Gourd^

Orange Polish | Orly - Cowabunga!^

2016 Version;

Nail Art: Blue Magetic

2026-04-20T16:00:00.012+01:00

Magnetic Polish | Emily de Molly - Throwing Shade

Cream Polish | Barry M Blue Margarita

Nail Polish Swatch: Barry M - Aqua Aura

2026-04-17T16:00:00.002+01:00

[Direct Sunlight, No Flash, Colour Washed Out]

[Indoors, No Flash, Colour Looks Less Vibrant]

Colour | Aqua Green

Finish | Holographic

Opacity | Two Coats

How Much | 10ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Collection | Holochrome Holographic Effect

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | BarryM.com

Same Prompt One Decade Later Nails: Cow Print

2026-04-16T16:00:00.001+01:00

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

Black Polish | China Glaze - Liquid Leather

White Polish | Barry M - Cotton

Stamping Polish | MoYou - Stamping Polish - Black

Stamping Plate | Bundle Monster 222

2016 Version;

Nail Art: Thermal Seahorses

2026-04-13T16:00:00.006+01:00

Base Polish | Fancy Gloss - Sapphire Shards (still transitions after three years)

Accent Polish | Orly - Golden Waves^

Stamping Polish | MoYou - Stamping Polish - Black

Stamping Plate | Cheeky CH38

Empties: March 2026

2026-04-12T16:00:00.001+01:00

I finished up five litres of acetone free remover, I think I got it in 2022 so it has lasted a while;

Hive Non-Acetone Remover | This lasted a good few years, it did the job of removing polish but did take a while to remove glitters. It didn't dry out my nails although I have always washed my hands after using it. I will repurchase this.

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

Lip Smacker Coca Cola Vanilla Lip Balm | I liked this, was slightly vanilla scented, didn't tint my lips and was moisturising and slightly glossy. I would repurchase if I didn't have enough.

Lip Smacker Pepsi Lip Balm | This was plain Pepsi just with the wrong lid. Again I liked this, was cola scented, moisturising and only very slightly tinted my lips brown. I'd repurchase if I didn't have enough.

Wild Refillable Caramel Latte Lip Balm | Wild fixed the grainy formula on their lip balms, this is smooth and strongly scented of sweet coffee. 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. I tend to go through one a month but just seemed like I finished the end of three this past month.

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.

Lush Curl Power Hair Cream | I didn't get through this smaller tub before it went out of date, its quite heavy duty which weighs my hair down so I could only use a very small amount. It is lemon scented, and I did want to love this, maybe for curlier / coily hair but more importantly thirsty hair I think it would be great for.

Bath and Body Works Mini Cookie Bites Hand Gel | This hand sanitiser had blue bits in it which I'm unsure what for. The scent lasts on my hands and did surprisingly smell of cookies. I may repurchase this.

Soap and Glory Body Scrub | A thick scrub which is nice as it actually stuck to me as I was using it. The scent was generic 'pink' Soap and Glory, the product is very thick and difficult to get out of the tube. I don't have much of a want for body scrub so wouldn't repurchase.

Primark Frost Angel Shower Whip | This was clearly a scent dupe for Lush's Snow Angel. I thought this would be like a mousse shower gel but you had to pump the pump a lot of get a bit of the foam out and it didn't grow and turned to nothing. I'd not repurchase, although it did smell nice.

Baylis and Harding Sweet Mandarin Shower Gel | A thick shower gel, it was okay but not something I'd purchase for myself.

Nail Polish Swatch: Orly - So Fetch (2000's Winter 2025)^

2026-04-10T16:00:00.002+01:00

Colour | Peach

Finish | Cream

Opacity | Two Coats

How Much | 18ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Collection | 2000's Winter 2025

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | Gift

Same Prompt One Decade Later Nails: Violet

2026-04-09T16:00:00.004+01:00

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

Base Polish | Orly - Chillax^

Purple Polish | A England - Lady of the Lake

2016 Version;

Shopping: March 2026

2026-04-05T16:00:00.001+01:00

I made an order with Prism Polish;

Always Half Hidden // Aragonite // Calcite // Selenite // Twinkling Tree

Found a magnet for less than £5 on AliExpress to try the glass bead magnet effect;

Three sheets of stickers;

And lastly Soap and Glory Sugar Crush body buttercream, this had been discontinued but I saw it again in Boots so put my points to use;

Nail Polishes Worn: March 2026

2026-04-04T16:00:00.017+01:00

Mostly pastel shades for March, and two darker polishes worn;

Nails Inc Ride That Wave // Prism Polish Always Half Hidden // Fancy Gloss Sapphire Shards // A England Saint George

Nu Nail Polish 'Til We're Old and Grey // Orly So Fetch^ // Barry M Aqua Aura // Barry M Kiwi

Emily de Molly Throwing Shade // Barry M Blue Margarita

Nail Polish Swatch: Nu Nail Polish - 'Til We're Old and Grey

2026-04-03T16:00:00.001+01:00

Colour | Grey Base, Violet Shimmer, Purple Flakes

Finish | Crelly, Shimmer, Flakie

Opacity | Three Coats

How Much | 12ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Collection | Nurture Us Valentine's 2025

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | NuNailPolish - etsy

Same Prompt One Decade Later Nails: Chevron Tape

2026-04-02T16:00:00.007+01:00

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

Cream Polish | Barry M - Kiwi

Holographic Polish | Barry M - Aqua Aura

2016 Version;

Nail Art: Cactus Flakie

2026-03-30T16:00:00.016+01:00

Base Polish | Prism Polish - Always Half Hidden

Green Accent Polish | W7 - Fluroescent Green

Red Accent Polish | Nails Inc - Scarlett

Stamping Polish | MoYou - Special Nail Polish - Black

Stamping Plate | What's Up Nails - B037

Nail Polish Swatch: Prism Polish - Always Half Hidden (Little Box of Horrors Feb 2026)

2026-03-27T16:00:00.001+00:00

Colour | Slate Blue / Grey Base, Pink / Gold / Green Flakes

Finish | Crelly

Opacity | Three Coats

How Much | 11ml

Brush Type | Paddle

Collection | Little Box of Horrors Feb 2026

Vegan | Yes

Cruelty Free | Yes

Purchased From | Prism Polish UK