The Nail File

There’s something about spring that makes me happy – the sun is shining, the weather is warm, daylight savings has started (sorry, Queensland) and everyone is getting about in bright, bold colours.

To celebrate summer only being 13 days away (counting? moi?) I have been rocking a rainbow manicure. Yellow, orange, coral, pink, purple…four of them are creme and one is slightly shimmery (the orange), but it doesn’t look out of place.

From left to right:

Models Prefer – Love To Shop – $5.99 – Priceline

Essie – Bachelorette Bash – $18.95 – Myer (Note: I bought this in the states for $8 and it’s part of the Essie line at Walmart so I have no idea if it’s available here or not)

Maybelline Mini Colorama – Urban Coral – $5.95 – Priceline

Maybelline Mini Colorama – Urban Orange - $5.95 – Priceline

Maybelline Mini Colorama  - Urban Lemon - $5.95 – Priceline

Cute, no? Nail art without the nail art.

The Models Prefer and Maybelline polishes were offered to The Nail File for editorial consideration in accordance with our disclosure policy

For all the craziness of the hair at last nights Myer Spring Summer Collection Show, the nails were surprisingly pared back. We know glitter is going to be big, but last night it was on the hair rather than the nails.

The inspiration was the colours of the Australian desert – the way the light moves and reflects off the surface and creates white heat mirages. Delicious. Two creamy colours were picked to add a sun-bleached effect.

Illamasqua Blow is a creamy-yet-bold pastel yellow (similar to OPI Banana Bandanna) which is not for everyone, but looks nice when done well.

Illamasqua Wink is a sweet lilac purple that anyone could wear (I had Eyeko Lilac polish on yesterday when I was backstage and it was very similar). Purples are still hot, so give it a try! You’ll be able to buy the Eyeko polish soon from a very special retailer…

Illamasqua polishes are $34/15ml and available exclusively from Myer.

Check out the full round up of hair and makeup on Stuff That I Bought. I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but it was pretty awesome.

Remember last week when I told you about the Bloom/Sass & Bide collaboration for charity? I was lucky enough to get my mitts on the polish to try them out and WOW. Love at first site. I will be buying two of each when they hit shelves on August 1.

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The hotties over at Sass & Bide have teamed up with Bloom Cosmetics for the latest Bloom Designer Collection. Over the last year, Bloom have brought us polishes from Sibella Court, The Design Files and Flamingo Sands, so S&B are in illustrious company. As with the other collections, $2 from every sale will go to the Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Sass & Bide I is a bold teal, while Sass & Bide II is fluorescent chartreuse – both shades reference the labels S/S2011 collection Boogie & The Historymaker, which is chock full of beautiful statement pieces like the dress Olivia Palermo is wearing on the cover of the current Shop Til You Drop (I’m a wee bit obsessed).  These polishes definitely aren’t for the shy, retiring type!

Do you think you could rock either of these?

The Bloom Sass & Bide polishes will be $19.95 each, and hit shelves on August 1st.

Aye Caramba!¡!

Come July 25th, Kit Cosmetics will be releasing the most fabulous collection they have done in quite some time – Viva La Color. Eye, lip and cheek colour palettes with Missoni-like print on the packaging, bold lippies, bright glosses, and new brushes with colourful handles. But the polish, oh the polish! Five full sized colours, and then a set of four minis. All limited edition, naturally.

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Everyone loves a touch of luxury, and LUXE from Face of Australia certainly fits the bill. This limited edition set of eight polishes is super cute – it’s not themed for winter or summer or rock chic or star signs. Just eight cool colours in a beautiful formula.

Note: all pics taken in natural light

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Kit have outdone themselves with four really awesome colours from their new Capture The Moment collection (due to launch on Monday). This whole makeup collection is hot to trot, but you know I will always have a soft spot for polish (this isn’t theblushfile, or thelipfile now, is it?)

Kit do excellent bright pastels, and these are no exception. We’re talking bright, but still feminine. First firework to explode is High Impact…
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Gotta say…there is something a little dirty about the Illamasqua Throb collection. What do you think when you hear names like Throb and Load? And then you find out Load is a, well, custardy off-white shade. I felt like JD laughing at his own jokes (a little Scrubs reference right there) – so dirty.

Taken in natural light

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May your lamb be barbecued, your beer be cold and your television be switched to the Australian Open. Kind of odd to have a public holiday smack bang in the middle of the week, but I’m not going to say no.

If you’re looking for a little green and gold inspiration,  I recently acquired two colours from the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure range that are perfect for just this occasion.
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You know, I’m not the only polish addict out there. It gives me great joy to introduce the first of many guest swatchers to The Nail File – Miss Kat. Kat writes The Mane Loves…, a gorgeous hair blog. While follice is her first love, she also has a passion for polish and will be contributing here from time to time.

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Bloomin’ fabulous! Bloom’s Alessandra is a marine blue with a high gloss finish – this is a great shade to match that blue dress you’re planning to wear during the holiday season!

Taken in artificial light

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