Red Alert: Burberry Beauty

"There is a shade of red for every woman"

― Audrey Hepburn, supposedly. 

I've been on the hunt for the perfect red for quite some time. Like thousands of others, I turn to Chanel Le Vernis 'Rouge Noir' when I need a dark tone. But, what I've been looking for is red red. Not orangey red, not burgundy red, don't even mention oxblood… 

I almost gave in to OPI Big Apple Red, but thought I'd have one more look around first. In Covent Garden, Dior, Burberry, and Chanel conveniently sit side by side. Chanel are giving red a BIG push at the moment, and as I 'collect' this brand I was certain I'd find something. Yet, from 'Dragon' to 'Fire', 'Pirate' to 'Rouge Fatal', nothing was drawing me in quite enough.

Next, I popped into Burberry. Other than some lovely skin illuminator, Burberry Beauty hasn't been on my radar. I went in and opened a bottle to have a look at the width of the nail brushes (wow, I'm cool). A security guard was pointing at a computer screen, suggesting I use it to look at shades. I did the whole 'smile, say thanks, ignore instruction' routine. Then the make-up artist started lining up nail polish bottles on the machine. Each time he added a bottle, a colour would appear on the screen. At this point, I couldn't hide my excitement: 'LET ME USE IT. LET ME USE IT! HEY, YOU! I'M THE CUSTOMER. LET ME PLAY.' The security guard did the telling 'I-told-you-so' kinda thing, while I started playing with the bottles ― each one has a computer chip underneath, so that the data can be detected. Here's a picture to demonstrate… 

While I was comparing reds, Wai (the make-up artist) introduced himself. Keen to help, he applied the shade of red I was contemplating on himself. SOLD. Burberry Military Red, you're coming home with me.  

Here are some things I've learned about Burberry nail polish:

• It dries very fast. It's one of fastest-drying polishes I've owned. Make sure you've got a good painting technique, because you won't have much time to spread it around!

• It lasts ages. I've taken a picture of my nails on the day I painted them (left) and then ten days later (right). The polish stays shiny, and with a good top coat it doesn't fade or chip ― the only change is where I've picked at the cuticles slightly. 

• The packaging is pretty. And I'm a sucker for pretty packaging. 

Nail varnish in Military Red 300, £15, Burberry.

Sophy Robson: Nail Porn Queen

Here's some nails, not done by me!… 

My kinda industry has meant a continuous stream of offers to have my nails painted – and while I'm not complaining *I'm sincerely grateful, kind PR people*, the number of manicures I've turned down has probably reached triple figures. I'm quite fussy and my own attempts can outlast some gel manis. 

However, there are exceptions. I never turn down the chance to meet my favourite nail artists. Queue Sophy Robson, Nail Porn superstar. Recently, I had the chance to interview her for Cosmopolitan – she's worked with Keira Knightley, Rihanna, Jourdan Dunn, Lindsay Lohan, and Lily Allen, to name but a few; as well as campaigns for House of Holland, Tom Ford, and Jimmy Choo. If she's good enough for RiRi, then she's good enough for me. She's talented, honest, and doesn't take any shit. You can read my full interview with Sophy here, which has some great advice for any budding entrepreneurs or session artists.

On the day, Sophy was following a brief for Diamond Digger Saga (the oh-so addictive app) but it was also Halloween week. The nails had to be relevant to the brand, but I also wanted something to suit my 'zombie Dorothy' costume. Although the nails don't look spooky, they do represent the Wizard of Oz fairly well with Emerald City and 'Somewhere-over-the-Rainbow' vibes. Sophy painted one hand (left picture), while her main gal @NeringaNails glammed-up the other.

Flashback! Neringa creates fantastic designs in Sophy's salon Glo in Fulham. She's extremely creative and definitely one to check out on Instagram. Here's an image of the last time Neringa did my nails, as part of an initiative with the England netball team.

Want more?

Find out what happened when I attended Sophy Robson's first masterclass here.

Autumn 2014: An Ode to YSL… and Tomato Soup

“Aprils have never meant much to me, autumns seem that 

season of beginning, spring.” 

―Breakfast at Tiffany's, Truman Capote

This week I was looking through my collection of polishes for something that screamed 'autumn'. There was one bottle screaming 'pick me' as loud as possible. Given to me as a gift and previously ignored through the summer months, La Laque Couture in Ambre Gingembre by Yves Saint Laurent was finally ready to shine.

I added some glitter and black touches to the nails, but it wasn't until I was sitting down to dinner that I realised… my nails are a very similar shade to Heinz tomato soup, and my polka dots look like black pepper. 

Soup aside, I'd highly recommend this polish - two coats provides fantastic, long-lasting coverage and YSL brushes are lovely and wide for easy application. Buy it for £18.50 from Debenhams.