Something wicked this way comes – wickedly good, that is.
I’m normally of the opinion that Halloween is a bit of a waste of time… unless it gives me an excuse to break out a brand new nail polish of course – and Deborah Lippmann’s Weird Science is exactly the kind of special sauce that spooky season screams out for!
Posted in Beauty
Tagged best glitter nail polishes, best green nail polishes, best metallic nail polishes, Deborah Lippmann, Deborah Lippmann nail polish, Fantastical Holiday Collection, glitter, gold, green, Halloween manicure, Halloween nail polish, Holiday 2014 Collection, manicure, metallic, nail lacquer, nail polish, nail varnish, NOTD, review, swatch, Weird Science, where to buy Deborah Lippmann in Hong Kong
Autumn is coming! OK, that doesn’t sound quite as epic as Game Of Thrones had led me to believe it would, but the sentiment is still the same… which means it’s probably about time I brought you my review of the final polish from Christian Louboutin’s Red Nail Extensions Collection – Jazz Doll.
Jazz Doll is actually the most unique of the scarlet trio (which totally sounds like it should be the name of a jazz band… or potentially a criminal gang from the 1940s), a cool-leaning cherry red with an underlying seam of pink shimmer. This is definite Snow White enchanted apple territory – except if Snow White met her fate via a bunch of poisoned cherries, or perhaps some enticingly shiny boiled sweets. Yes, all my references are edible!
Posted in Beauty
Tagged Beaute Louboutin, Beauty, Christian Louboutin, Christian Louboutin Hong Kong, Christian Louboutin Jazz Doll, Christian Louboutin Nail Colour, Christian Louboutin nail polish, Christian Louboutin Red Nail Extensions Collection, Jazz Doll, Louboutin nail lacquer, Louboutin nail polish, Louboutin nail varnish, manicure, nail lacquer, nail polish, nail varnish, NOTD, photos, red, Red Nail Extensions Collection, review, swatch, where to buy Christian Louboutin in Hong Kong, where to buy Louboutin nail polish in Hong Kong
Red – the colour of danger, love, anger, fire, blood, lust and, in Chinese culture, luck. You can see red, paint the town red, raise a red flag, catch someone red-handed, celebrate a red letter day and discover a red herring… and that’s before we’ve even got onto scarlet women, strawberry fields, crimson tides and ruby slippers. Basically, that’s a lot of connotations for a simple three-letter word!
So it’s no surprise that my second pick from the Christian Louboutin Red Nail Extensions Collection manages to be quite so different from the first. Lady Peep is dark and brooding where Edgypopi was bright and fresh; it’s the arched eyebrow of maturity to the fist pump of youth, the sophistication to Edgypopi’s sass. This is a long-winded way of saying it’s a dark red.
Posted in Beauty
Tagged Beaute Louboutin, Beauty, Christian Louboutin, Christian Louboutin Hong Kong, Christian Louboutin Lady Peep, Christian Louboutin Nail Colour, Christian Louboutin nail polish, Christian Louboutin Red Nail Extensions Collection, Lady Peep, Louboutin nail lacquer, Louboutin nail polish, Louboutin nail varnish, manicure, nail lacquer, nail polish, nail varnish, NOTD, photos, red, Red Nail Extensions Collection, review, scarlet, swatch, where to buy Christian Louboutin in Hong Kong, where to buy Louboutin nail polish in Hong Kong
I probably have over 100 nail polish reviews on my blog – but you might have noticed one colour that’s conspicuous by its absence. And that colour is red.
Red nail polish comes next to a standard French manicure in the boring stakes for me. Why opt for boring, conformist, crowd-pleasing red when there are glittery turquoises or colour-shifting metallics to play with instead? So if I’m going to do a red, I’m going to do it right… which can only mean Christian Louboutin.
Posted in Beauty
Tagged Beaute Louboutin, Beauty, Christian Louboutin, Christian Louboutin Edgypopi, Christian Louboutin Hong Kong, Christian Louboutin Nail Colour, Christian Louboutin nail polish, Christian Louboutin Red Nail Extensions Collection, Edgypopi, Louboutin nail lacquer, Louboutin nail polish, Louboutin nail varnish, manicure, nail lacquer, nail polish, nail varnish, NOTD, photos, red, Red Nail Extensions Collection, review, swatch, where to buy Christian Louboutin in Hong Kong, where to buy Louboutin nail polish in Hong Kong
Over the festive period, I was lucky enough to be invited to quite a few Christmas parties – so I felt it only right to put slightly more effort into my look than my usual pyjamas accessorised with cookie crumbs down the front… so hello new mani!
For Christmas party number one, I went with Essie Dive Bar, an inky blackened teal – very cool, very rock n’ roll, but darkly sophisticated with it. It’s one of those intriguing polish colours that looks black from far away, but reveals glittering depths on closer inspection. It’s super easy to use; like most Essie polishes, it flows onto the nail beautifully and is pretty much opaque in one coat (although I always seem to do two out of habit). I did find it dried a little dull for my tastes though, so I added a slick of top coat to give it a glossier finish. Amazingly enough for a polish this dark, it doesn’t stain either so well done Essie.
Posted in Beauty
Tagged best flakie nail polishes, best flakie top coats, black, Dive Bar, Essie, Essie Dive Bar, Essie Luxeffects Collection, Essie Shine Of The Times, flakies, glitter, Luxeffects Collection, mani, manicure, nail lacquer, nail polish, nail varnish, NOTD, photos, review, Shine Of The Times, swatch, teal
I love blue nail polish at the best of times… but there’s something about it that just seems so much better in summer. So with the first hints of an autumn breeze swirling through the air here in Hong Kong, I thought I’d better bust out Christian Louboutin Scarabee II before our long hot summer was over for yet an other year (*insert lament about how quickly time flies here*).
Scarabee II is another colour from the limited edition Christian Louboutin Scarabee Collection of gorgeous duochrome polishes inspired by the iridescent shell of an Egyptian scarab beetle – and it might just be the most instantly striking of the three. Or it might just be that I’m an eternal sucker for blue nail polish!
Posted in Beauty
Tagged Beaute Louboutin, Beauty, blue, Christian Louboutin, Christian Louboutin Hong Kong, Christian Louboutin Nail Colour, Christian Louboutin nail polish, Christian Louboutin Scarabee II, duochrome, Louboutin nail lacquer, Louboutin nail polish, Louboutin nail varnish, Louboutin Scarabee Collection, manicure, metallic, nail lacquer, nail polish, nail varnish, NOTD, photos, review, Scarabee Collection, Scarabee II, swatch, where to buy Christian Louboutin in Hong Kong, where to buy Louboutin nail polish in Hong Kong
Do you believe in magic? Well, if not, may I present you with Christian Louboutin’s Scarabee I.
Duochrome colours – metallic shades that shift different colours in different lights – are certainly nothing new in the nail polish world, but that certainly doesn’t stop me feeling a giddy sense of wonder every time I wear one… and Scarabee I is no exception.
Posted in Beauty
Tagged Beaute Louboutin, Beauty, Christian Louboutin, Christian Louboutin Hong Kong, Christian Louboutin Nail Colour, Christian Louboutin nail polish, Christian Louboutin Scarabee I, copper, duochrome, gold, Louboutin nail lacquer, Louboutin nail polish, Louboutin nail varnish, Louboutin Scarabee Collection, manicure, metallic, nail lacquer, nail polish, nail varnish, NOTD, photos, review, Scarabee Collection, Scarabee I, swatch, where to buy Christian Louboutin in Hong Kong, where to buy Louboutin nail polish in Hong Kong
There are some partnerships that are just meant to be. Fish and chips. Fred and Ginger. Rach and cupcakes. And now another match made in heaven has materialised… The Nail Library and Christian Louboutin.
Hot on the heels of Christian Louboutin’s nail polish line launch, the iconic French designer has picked nowhere other than The Nail Library for its first ever collaboration with another brand – yep that’s right, a world-exclusive range of Louboutin nail spa treatments, right here in Hong Kong. Polishaholics assemble!
I’ve already told you how much I love The Nail Library – and with its New York cool ambience, top-class technicians and massive range of luxurious lacquer brands, how could any nail aficionado not love the place? Adding Louboutin to the party just makes it even better, with not only the whole range of Louboutin Beauté nail polish colours to pick from, but also a menu of specially designed Louboutin hand and feet treatments too.
Posted in Beauty, Hong Kong, Pretty Things
Tagged Alta Perla, Beaute Louboutin, best manicure in Hong Kong, best nail spa Hong Kong, Christian Louboutin, Christian Louboutin Alta Perla, Christian Louboutin Hong Kong, Christian Louboutin manicure, Christian Louboutin Nail Colour, Christian Louboutin nail polish, Christian Louboutin Scarabee III, Christian Louboutin Signature Manicure, French manicure, French tips, Louboutin Beaute, Louboutin Scarabee Collection, manicure, photos, review, Scarabee Collection, Scarabee III, swatches, The Nail Libary Christian Louboutin, The Nail Library, The Nail Library Christian Louboutin treatments, The Nail Library Hong Kong, where to get a manicure Hong Kong, where to get a manicure Sheung Wan, where to get Christian Louboutin manicure, where to get Christian Louboutin treatments
When it comes to manicures, I’m more of a DIY girl (in case you hadn’t guessed from the previous 100 or so blogs); as for the rare occasions where I have brought in the professionals, I discovered my mani manna with The Nail Library and have rarely strayed from them since.
However, when I heard that the Four Seasons Hong Kong was opening their very own Nail Bar, my polish-loving ears pricked up. The Four Seasons is easily one of the best hotels in Hong Kong and definitely one of my personal favourites; everything they do, they do to perfection. So if they were trying their hands (perfectly polished, natch) at a Nail Bar, chances are it was going to be done right.
If you’re talking first impressions, then the Four Seasons’ Nail Bar definitely deserves a standing ovation. On walking in, you’re immediately greeted by a knockout view over Victoria Harbour through a sweeping wall of windows; in fact, Four Seasons even has sunglasses on hands for when the view gets too blinding – now that’s service! The space itself is small but far from squashed, and the whole place positively screams chic, sophisticated luxury – five plush leather chairs for treatments, gleaming marble surfaces and glowing nail polish bottles displayed in backlit alcoves like treasures in a jewellery box.
My media partner-in-crime Charmaine and I were booked in to trial The Nail Bar’s signature Luxury Manicure – a divine hour of hand heaven. In fact, since we had the room all to ourselves, the Four Seasons had laid on a special Nail Social for us, complete with afternoon tea and champers. Afternoon tea and nail polish? I’m not sure the day could have been more tailor-made for me unless they’d laid on a litter of cute puppies to cuddle as well. And don’t worry, even if you haven’t booked a Nail Social, the Four Seasons still lays on complimentary beverages for all guests; champagne, cocktails, whiskey, smoothies, wheatgrass shots, fresh juices, tea… you name it, they’ve got it!
Tagged best manicure Hong Kong, best manicures Central, Christina Fitzgerald, Christina Fitzgerald Doll House, Christina Fitzgerald Freedom, CND Shellac, CND Shellac Cerulean Sea, Four Seasons HK, Four Seasons Hong Kong, Four Seasons Hong Kong Nail Bar, Luxury Manicure, luxury manicure Hong Kong, luxury nail salons Hong Kong, manicure, Nail Bar Four Seasons HK, Nail Bar Four Seasons Hong Kong, nail lacquer, nail polish, nail varnish, NOTD, review, Shellac manicure Central, Shellac manicure Hong Kong, swatch, The Nail Bar, The Nail Bar Four Seasons Hong Kong, where to get a manicure Central, where to get Shellac Central
I can’t remember what I heard about first: the existence of British nail polish brand Models Own… or the fact that they regularly have amazing 50% off sales on their website!
They recently had another such sale and of course, I immediately began to get itchy buying fingers. But for once, I managed to exercise some cosmetics control and instead decided to shop from my substantial stash instead – resulting in a quick mani using Models Own Slate Green.
The results? I really need to start shopping my stash more often! How on earth did I let this colour go undiscovered in the murky depths of my drawers for so long?
Posted in Beauty
Tagged Beauty, best green nail polishes, cosmetics, green, jade, mani, manicure, Models Own, Models Own sale, Models Own Slate Green, nail lacquer, nail polish, nail varnish, NOTD, photo, review, swatch
I'm Rachel Read, a Hong Kong-based freelance writer and editor, make-up addict and general layabout. I'm powered by bacon, cupcakes, nail polish and the needs of two cute Yorkies.
All products/meals were paid for by me, unless otherwise stated.
Contact me at
rachelmread+ttlg@gmail.com
Photo by Sabrina Sikora Photography
© Rachel Mary Read and Through The Looking Glass, 2010-20.
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material (including photos) without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Rachel Read and Through The Looking Glass with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Through The Looking Glass by Rachel Read is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Through The Looking Glass 