Manic.Monday: Haute Chocolate

Not only is it a Monday, it's Manic as usual, but it's also in the run up to Christmas so the mania is worse than ever. I thought I was fairly well prepared but I still feel as if time is running away from me. Well if it is, then at least may nails can look fab while the mania is increasing. I've shown a couple of polishes from Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure Formula previously and today we have another true winter beauty. As I've mentioned before this formula combines five different nail care products in the one formula; base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, top coat and of course whatever beautiful color you've bought which in this case is the very wintery Haute Chocolate (£6.99) that makes me think of decadent hot chocolate with whipped cream and a sprinkle of chopped roasted hazelnuts.

The first times I tried this polish I still felt sceptical about how well all these claims worked and I used to use both a separate base and top coat, however having tested this a few times without the separate products I am now completely comfortable and trust this formula to be long lasting and high shiny without having to use anything extra. I was most worried that not protecting my nails with a base coat would cause discolourations, but it hasn't, not even when wearing very strong colors like e.g. Fiery Island. I've also mentioned before that the brush is one of the best ones you can use. It's very wide and you easily get great opaque coverage without having to use lots of strokes, which I find usually causes some streaking in the finish. Even though you do get a lovely opaque look using just one coat, to me sticking to just one coat depends entirely on which shade I'm using and when it's more metallic or shimmery I like to wear two coats. In the photo I've used two coats as a base to really bring out the metallic almost mirror like effect in the finished look.

From left to right (in natural light):

Sally Hansen - Haute Chocolate

Sally Hansen - Haute Chocolate with Nails Inc Snowflake effect

Sally Hansen - Haute Chocolate with Ciaté Snow Globe

 From left to right (in artificial light):

Sally Hansen - Haute Chocolate

Sally Hansen - Haute Chocolate with Nails Inc Snowflake effect

Sally Hansen - Haute Chocolate with Ciaté Snow Globe 

 

Today's shade Haute Chocolate is a wonderful warm and discrete slightly plum tainted metallic chocolate brown and it's not just the name that is perfect for the season. To me this shade is a muted and sophisticated option to the traditionally very bright Christmas shades that also works well with different effect top coats. In the photos I've applied one coat of my current absolute favourite - Nails Inc Snowflake for that powdery, newly fallen snow look and also Ciaté's opalescent light catching Snow Globe and I think they are both suitable for lovely and subtle party looks.

This formula is very long lasting and on me it'll definitely last without any need to retouch for about 5-6 days and it's also easy to remove, even with the different effect top coats. I can't mention enough what a great nail polish this is and I would highly recommend that you try one of their amazing shades. All of a sudden I'm in the mood for some hot chocolate... I wonder why?