Deborah Lippmann's 'Across The Universe' VERSUS Sally Hansen's 'Mermaids Tale'

The word 'dupe' is used quite a lot within the online beauty world and I don't really believe in dupes. If you want to buy a Chanel lipstick then there are many more reasons you are buying it rather than just for the colour i.e packaging, branding, prestige etc. So in this case if you want to splash out and order a Deborah Lippmann nail polish from the states and that's what your into then its totally cool but if you are more likely to pop into Priceline and pick up a bottle of Sally Hansen's 'Mermaids tale' then that's cool too. Both polishes give a very similar finish to your nails, but are quite different in application.
So I am just going to give you the facts:

Deborah Lippmann 'Across The Universe'
Availability: Only online for Australian consumers at www.revolveclothing.com
Price: $19.85each
Application and lasting time: The appearance of the polish in the bottle is deceiving, the glitter is suspended in a sheer jelly base. It takes about 3 and a half coats to become completely opaque on the nail making dry time a real pain, time to put on Benjamin Button or some other really long movie and not touch anything for about 2 and a half hours. Only apply a topcoat to your nails once the polish is dry, otherwise you will move the glitter pieces around and it will look a bit of a mess. Lasting time was ok, but because of how thickly you need to apply the polish it does chip in a 3 to 4 days. I like applying this polish over a navy blue base colour to avoid having to apply so many coats.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in 'Mermaids Tale' 
Availability: From Priceline stores and www.priceline.com.au
Price: $14.95each
Application and lasting time: Applying this polish is a dream, the Salon Manicure range has very wide brush which fits neatly into your nail bed and requires less stroke to cover your entire nail. It takes 2 coats to achieve an opaque finish on the nail with the glitter applying evenly and not clumping. It definitely needs a topcoat to give the surface an even and glossy look. 'Mermaids Tale' lasted 5 days with minimal chipping which is quite good considering the amount of washing up and champagne drinking I did on the week of wearing the polish.

xxx Nella

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Just Another Manicure Monday : Cobalt Mermaid Tips

Revlon Top Speed ' Royal' $13.99 Deborah Lippmann 'Across the Universe' $25.00 Seche Vite Top Coat $14.95

I am so crazy for cobalt in general - Cobalt 541 C in pantone just incase anyone needed to know. Revlon's Royal is a true bright cobalt it is a dream to apply, opaque in 2 coats. The brush on Revlon polishes isn't my favorite but it's easy to get the hang of once you're up to your third nail or so. It dries to a semi matte and but glosses up nicely with a top coat if you want to wear it on its own BUT this is Manicure Monday so like hell I am wearing it on its own! Glitter tips are a cute edition to jazz up your average nail, apply glitter with either a sponge or several layers of glitter top coat. The end result is as pretty a mermaids tail.

Winter Nail Combos : Across the Universe

It's taken a while but I have finally found my favorite winter nail glitter combo.

Last winter it was all about a deep red with a high gloss topcoat, but since I have been totally addicted to glitter polishes I was desperate to find a combo that would match the cooler weather.

The above is my absolute favorite:

1. Revlon Top Speed Black

If you are using any glitter polish with a jelly base to make it pop - do your base in flat colour that matches. Navy would also work well with this look. Because there are going to be quite a few layers choose one which will give you total opacity in one coat and a quick dryer otherwise you are going to waiting around for ages not being able to do anything stuck in the hands in the air drying stance.

2. Deborah Lippmann Across the Universe

This is a total nail splurge! Could I have shopped around and got a dupe? Yes. I saw it and fell in love and before I knew it I was paying $14 shipping for it to come from Jamaica on Ebay. Oh well. Thank goodness I LOVE IT! It's a jelly so if applied on its own it would take 5 coats to be opaque. The blues and green glitter are so pretty and my nails kind of look like beetle wings. On saturday really cute hunk told me my nails looked like 'Galaxy's' - Which was the last confirmation I needed to know this was the ultimate winter nail combo.

3. Seche Vite Fast Dry Topcoat

Holy water of a Topcoat, this will change your life. It takes about 10mins dry time but then its done and not budging, the result is super super shiny. Apparently it has loads of chemicals in it and isn't the best for you - just a heads up!

So excited to debut this out of control 'Galaxy' look at the next N.P.A meeting.