China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy

As part of my mini haul of China Glaze products from US eBay, I picked up Flip Flop Fantasy, initially released as part of the Poolside Collection in 2010.  

Neon accents are very on trend at the moment and although I have yet to embrace the trend fully in my clothing, I can totally get on board with neon nails!

The colour in the bottle is seeringly bright and I am happy to announce that it remains suitably dazling when swatched and used on the nails.

The finish is semi-matte, as is common with many neons andI tend to use a top coat with it as I prefer the shiny, glossy look.   I did however find that it applied very streakily to the nails and it required three coats before it started to even out.  It was also quite liquid and difficult to control on the nail, although I have found this is common with other China Glaze polishes.

With Flash

In terms of wear time, it was only a couple of days before it began to chip, and when it chipped it flaked off in large chunks - there was no trying to cover it up with crackle polish like I normally do when I encounter short wear times!

Without Flash

Verdict

The colour is gorgous, both in the bottle and on the nail.  However the issues with application and the short wear time meant it was just too much hard work for me.  I will be saving it for specific nights out and for when I am craving statement nails! 

2/5

Price - £6.59

Where to buy - Sally's, US eBay

Review: Mac Mad Cap Lipglass

Mac Mad Cap Lipglass is another of the brands sparkly lip products, which are designed to provide a high gloss, shimmery finish to the lips.  It came out as one of Mac's many limited edition products a short while ago, however I have found it currently available on Cheap Smells, and Mac often re-issues their limited edition products.

The first thing that struck me was that the lipglass seems to be tiny! I really don’t think the tube will last long at all, as you only get 4.8g of product and to apply, I found myself having to dip the applicator into the tube several times in order to cover the lips fully. 

 

In the tube, the product looks to be a shimmery, pale golden nude, which I hoped would give a give a subtle, glimmering warm sheen to the lips.  The gloss is on the fairly sticky side, as I believe is common with all other lipglasses, and when applied, it gave hardly any colour to the lips at all, looking almost like a clear gloss.  There was also very little evidence of shimmer on the lips, which is good news for those who have an aversion to glitter in their makeup!

As this gloss appears almost clear when applied, it would probably be best used over the top of a nude lipstick or used on its own when you are after a basic no-makeup look.  Lasting time is around 2 hours for me which is fairly standard with lipglosses and Mac's Lipglass formula and thankfully, due to the absence of visible glitter, the product wears off evenly, with no discernible shimmer left on the lips.  

Verdict

I haven't previously been particularly excited by Mac's lipglass offerings and Mad Cap has not changed my opinion.  This is essentially a clear lipgloss which imparts only the most subtle of pigment on the lips.  If you like the lipglass formula and are after a clear gloss, this would be a viable option, however if you are seeking a nude gloss with some pigment, this is not the product for you.

2/5

Price - usual price £13, however £9.95 on Cheap Smells

Where to Buy - Cheap Smells