MINISO Nail Polish

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Treat yourself to some glamorous nail care this spring with the new range of nail varnishes from MINISO. With a range that’s being updated in the coming months, we were sent two colours to try; Shiny Pink and Starlight Gold. Both were from the Golden Cap range, which you can see in the photo is part of their packaging branding too!

These oil-based nail varnishes (or nail polish to give them their American titles) are a steal at just £3.99 for the bottles at 11ml. They’re full size, but not anywhere as expensive as some of the other nail varnishes on the market.  I am wearing the Shiny Pink colour in this photo and it’s only 2 layers (I did have a clear base layer on underneath these layers though.) The colours both glide on with ease, the oil base makes it easy for them to fill out to the corners and gives a shiny finish. As with most oil based varnishes, they take longer to dry but they are very stable and harder to chip when they are fully dry. I would recommend waiting 30 minutes between each layer of colour to allow the varnish to dry properly and last longer.

Each of the colours is deep and builds up to a lovely finish. Shiny Pink is a hint away from red towards pink so you’d be mistaken for thinking it was a primary colour, but there’s a splattering of glitter in the colour which gives it a reflection. The Starlight Gold colour is just as vibrant and works up to a deep colour too. As the name suggests, there’s tiny starlight flecks of gold in the colour too, reflecting back in a disco theme.  This colour is more for the weekend or going out, whereas I felt comfortable wearing the Shiny Pink all week, but there’s no reason why you can’t paint your nails gold for work too!

Available soon from £3.99 here:

Rubis 4 Piece Ladies Grooming Leather Case Set

Disclaimer: we received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

I have always been a bit embarrassed about the state of my nails. For years I was a nail biter and as a result my nails are quite weak and have a habit of snagging and tearing, usually once I’ve managed to grow them a little bit! With a couple of important events coming up this year I decided enough was enough as I want my nails to look nice for once, so my New Years resolution was to finally start looking after my nails properly.

The first step was to book a manicure and after a bit of expert advice and a gentle lecture about not nibbling them I was ready to change my ways! I’ve discovered that the secret to good nails is having decent nail tools so I was really pleased when the Rubis 4 Piece Ladies Grooming Leather Case Set arrived. Inside the neat little red leather pouch are four Swiss-engineered tools that mean serious business: Colibri cuticle scissors, nail clippers, a nail file made from the tiniest glass beads, and a rather clever Push & Clean nail cleaner. It’s essentially the Formula One pit crew of nail care, but small enough to live in your handbag.

I already own a pair of Rubis tweezers so I know first hand just how good Rubis products are so armed with my nail technicians expert advice I was, dare I say – quite excited to start trying the new nail tools on my nails. Each tool is crafted in their Switzerland factory from the best stainless, acid-resistant surgical steel, which means they are easy to clean or sterilise and will last for years.

The nail clippers are a fantastic upgrade from my previous ones, the cutting action is noticeably sharper and they cut through nails with a single, precise cut. The curved cuticle scissors are just as impressive, sitting comfortably in both hands, they are nice and sharp and give a really clean finish around the cuticles.

The glass nail file, stored in its own protective pouch, has quickly become my handbag essential. Rather than shredding the edge of the nail like traditional files, it smooths and shapes gently, leaving the nail edge tidy and sealed. Best of all, it stops me reaching for my teeth when I spot a rough edge.

Finally there’s the wonderfully practical double-ended Push & Clean nail cleaner. One end is designed to gently push the skin back from the nail, keeping everything looking neat and well-groomed, while the other end hooks neatly under the nail to remove any trapped dirt. After a day in the garden, it’s absolutely invaluable

The leather pouch is nice and compact and slips easily into my handbag, so when a rogue hangnail appears or a nail suddenly decides to split, I’m prepared. No more emergency nibbling to tidy up my nails !  

With Mother’s Day coming up, this would also make a brilliant gift. It’s practical, beautifully made and the sort of quality item that many mums would never think to buy for themselves but would use all the time. A little touch of Swiss precision that keeps nails looking their best every day.

RRP £104.71 available from allcures.com