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Christmas 2014: 11 best nail polishes
Choose from glittery, shimmery, glossy or matte varnishes this Christmas. Nail blogger Madison of Fundamentally Flawless paints the town in festive shades.
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Your support makes all the difference.Christmas is time to have a bit of fun with your nails. Many brands have created special additions to their collections for the festive season and it can be confusing to know which will give your outfit the wow factor. We’ve drafted-in nail blogger Madison from Fundamentally Flawless to help find quality, lasting colours and toppers that will dazzle. Here’s her expert edit.
{1} No 7 Stay Perfect Purple Cracker: £6, boots.co.uk (in store only)
This regal purple gives strong coverage in just one coat. Very fine glitter particles mean that its sparkle is understated but elegant. It’s one of No 7’s three releases for party season. In their sparkly gold boxes they make great stocking fillers, too.
{2} Barry M Silk Collection Poppy: £3.99, boots.co.uk
This raspberry red’s matte finish has a subtle holographic shimmer, which makes it ideal to take you straight from office to party. If you’re not taken with the current trend for matte, it would also look great with a glossy top coat.
{3} Butter London West End Wonderland: £12, amazon.co.uk
When this densely-packed mixture of very fine pale and copper gold glitter catches the light it sparkles like twinkling fairy lights on a Christmas tree. Just two coats of the polish is enough for the full, glitzy coverage.
{4} Models Own Diamond Luxe Collection Oval Plum: £4.99, modelsownit.com
Containing real diamond dust, this dark fuchsia polish is opulent without breaking the bank. The sparkle is delicate rather than in-your-face and adds depth to the bold colours.
{5} Ciate Fade to Greige: £4.50, beautybay.com
Greige, a portmanteau of grey and beige in case you were wondering, is big news in the nail world this winter. From chic nails you can rock at the office to demure evening elegance, this violet-toned shade will quickly become a staple of your winter polish collection.
{6} Leighton Denny Click, Click, Flash, Flash: £11, urbanretreat.co.uk
Though green isn’t perhaps everybody’s choice, this sparkly offering is made up of different shades of the seasonal colour. Dark enough to give a tasteful festive touch to a little black dress, it would also be a great choice to accompany a Christmas jumper.
{7} Nails Inc Kensington Church Street Snowflake: £16, johnlewis.com
This pretty topper contains lots of different white glitter shapes in a clear base with micro sparkle. It’s a beautiful daytime-party polish, reminiscent of frosty weather. It looks perfect over Nails Inc Alexa Edit Winter Lilac, or pop it over your favourite nude polish.
{8} Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Queen of Hearts: £6.99, boots.com
For those after a classic festive red polish, this vibrant crimson is a colour and base coat combined for time-saving application and long-lasting wear. Its high gloss finish is super sexy.
{9} Eve Snow Prima Donna: £14, boots.com
This metallic foil-effect polish dazzles in light and has a chrome-like shine in shade. Since the colour is somewhere between silver and gold, it will complement any party outfit. As a quick-drying polish it can also be left until the last minute.
{10} Essie Luxe Collection Summit of Style Gold: £7.99, superdrug.com
Here’s a versatile combo of bronze glitter in a clear base, so can be added over any colour. It looks angelic over white, gives delicate depth to gold or silver and brings a glamorous touch to a dark red.
{11} Topshop Exhibit: £5, topshop.com
For those who are a fan of Uma Thurman’s iconic vamp red nails in Pulp Fiction, this red is definitely one to try. It is a unique burgundy-oxblood hue of red, which can be paired with any outfit over the festive period - without reminding everyone that Santa is on his way!
Verdict: For a polish that adds the dazzling final touch to an outfit, we love Butter London's West End Wonderland. Ciate's Fade to Greige will take you seamlessly from the office to the Christmas do. And for a polish which combines sophistication with the fun of the festive season, our pick is No 7 Purple Cracker.
See more: fundamentallyflawless.com