I have always loved Topshop makeup. I say always, as it is
easy to forget that the super high-street brand only first launched their
pretty make-up range 3 years ago in 2010. I remember it well as I was working
in a Topshop store back in my home-town. The collection in our store first
started out with a few of the nail paints, in around six colours. The entire
staff was excited by the prospect of a more extensive range, which soon came
in the form of lipsticks, cream blushes and mascaras. Since then, the range has
blossomed to include everything from lip crayons to waterproof kohls and
doesn’t seem to be slowing down. So imagine my delight every time I hear that
new products are soon to be released. From the Louise Gray collection to the
‘Dark side of nude’, each collection brings something new to the table.
So onto their new offerings under the SS13 collection. The new range includes a new mascara in ‘Carbon Copy’, two lip paints in
‘Low Down’ (a bright orange) and ‘Yeah Right’ (a bright ruby red shade), two
new palettes (one for face, one for eyes), a new brush set, two new lip colours
(‘Bombshell’- a neon pink and ‘Straight Ace’ a gothy purple), a liquid liner,
two stick blushes (‘Sneakpeak’- pink and ‘Acting up’-orange), and the most
exciting prospect to me; peel-off nails.
Topshop SS13 makeup range leaflet (first 3 images)
As I am currently a little short of money (hurry up easter
student loan), I decided to be sensible and stick to one product to start with.
I chose to try out the peel-off nail polish in ‘Straight Laced’; a pretty
grey-purpley colour which I thought would look especially pretty in the spring
time. I’d have to say that along with their lipsticks, Topshops nail polishes
are my favourite items in the ever-growing collection. It is impossible not to
get a little excited when walking into a store and seeing a colourful array of
polishes, and Topshop’s are some of the best in the high-street/drug stores. At
only 5/6 pounds a bottle they are slightly cheaper than well-known brands such as
Essie and O.P.I but arguably just as impressive.
And SO, back to the peel-off nails. I guess I picked one up
because I find the concept quite interesting. Even the girl at the counter in
Topshop looked at the bottle and quizzically asked what I thought ‘peel-off’
nail polish was supposed to do. The product description in the leaflet claims that the polish
is a ‘fluid, solvent-free formula [which] applies with ease…preserving [the]
nail’s natural moisture’. From the photos you will see that the colour is
pretty enough, but the real test here was the formula and the concept of
peel-off nails. Topshop.com tells you that to remove ‘simply peel off by hand’.
Hmm, interesting.
Firstly, I would have to say that although the colour is very
VERY pretty, I had to layer on a whopping FOUR coats to get to a colour that
was not too sheer. This aside, I did notice that the polish is without
that horrible strong nailpaint odour that often comes with painting your nails,
presumably down to the unique formula. The finish is slightly shiny and it went
onto my nails like a dream. I really like the idea of just being able to peel
off the polish easily without using the dreaded nail polish remover (it really does work- they come off so easily and quickly), and found
it easy to remove those cheeky smudges around the side simply by gently tearing
them off. Since painting my nails yesterday (and washing my hair, doing the
washing up etc etc) I have to say that the colour is still largely going
strong. So far so good right? Wellllll, here’s the slight downside. Because the
formula is easy to peel off it does have a tendency to well, peel off before
you are ready. Both of my thumbs have lost the very top of the polish and are
curling down. It does feel really great on nails though and is clearly a more natural solution to nail polish which does not damage or weaken the nail at all. SO all in all, a clever idea which is healthy and natural for nails, and a very pretty shade, but perhaps
not the best type of nail paint for long lasting colour.
I am also really looking forward to giving the ‘Low Down’
lip paint and ‘Acting up’ stick blush a go, as I am HUGE fan of anything orange tinted. Reviews
will of course follow!
Has anyone else tried out the peel-off nails or any other product from the range? What do you guys think?
B.
