Before I became a teacher I used to paint my nails all the time. In university, black, plum or pewter were my colours of choice. Becoming a teacher (and constantly washing paint pots up) spoilt that for me, and then becoming a mother made it doubly impossible. However I miss doing my nails as I feel infinitely more feminine with a nice lacquer on my fingernails.
However, I recently was sent some new nail varnishes to try out. Eye Candy launched nationwide in Sainsbury's stores in April and have a range of colours in a variety of effects. Now I'm not one for nail art, I truly dislike the patterns and detailing that is very fashionable nowadays. Personally, I prefer blocks of colour, normally metallic sheens to them as well.
Eye Candy have six different effects out at the moment:
- Colour Flip (a metallic colour flip 'technology' gives a dual hue finish: Green with Envy, Regally Yours, Liquid Gold and Sexy and You Know It, i.e. blue!)
- Magnetic Wave (contains tiny metallic micro minerals and iron particles. Paint your nails and move the magnetic lid over the nail to create a wave effect: Arctic, Bourdeaux and Espresso)
- Cracklin' (paint over the top of your normal nail varnish and it cracks: Rose or Star)
- Nail Lacquers (normal varnish: a range of colours from blue through to yellow via neon pink and deep purple)
- Graphite (Limited Edition Silvery Grey)
- London Lights (Holographic top coat)
These are in addition to the base coat and top coat that they sell (Β£6 each).
This photo shows (top row): top coat, Colour Flip in Green with Envy, and Limited Edition Graphite; (bottom row) base coat, Magnetic Wave in Arctic, Espresso and Bourdeaux.
While I was trying out the Magnetic Wave Bourdeaux, I remembered my sister first teaching me to paint my nails twenty years ago. Which made me feel old. However, some tips:
- buff your nails first to get rid of the lines and indentations;
- use a base coat to protect your nails (especially from discolouration);
- one swipe down the centre, one either side and one back over the middle per nail. Stay away from the sides and cuticles by 1-2mm to allow the nail to grow up and not drag the cuticles with it;
- apply a top coat once dry to help protect the varnish;
- use a cotton bud and nail varnish remover afterwards to remove any droplets of smudges on the skin.
I didn't remember any of this until after I'd put the base coat on so couldn't be bothered to go back and buff my nails. However, I still think that they turned out quite well and I like the effect of the magnetic wave in the block of colour. With a base coat and top coat, and a three year old son to deal with, the nail varnish lasted three days before I needed to touch up the chips.
If you'd like to win one of five Eye Candy Magnetic Wave nail lacquers (in the colour of your choice)worth Β£10, then fill in the Rafflecopter form below.

I love the Eye Candy London Early Night
Anything jade coloured! I love the greeny-blueness! π
I love red nail varnishes but my fave out of the ones above is Bordeaux
Anything with pastels especially Purple
Magenta
I love the Bourdeau one
bright colours of purple or pink π
I love pinks , must have about 15 different shades
I love any shade of purple at the moment, lilac, mauve, deep purple
purple as it makes me feel glamourous x
I like natural colours as they're still making your nails look glamourous but aren't too loud and out there
I love trying different nail varnishes, best thing about me are my nails π and usually Browns and purples but have recently used Pink also xxx
my Wife favours purple, so who am I to disagree?
I like to match my nail varnish to my clothes. Sometimes I'll go the french route, depends how I feel.
I do like a green especially in the spring/summer. I like to try and be a little adventurous and try to match it to the colour eyeshadow im wearing.
I love the graphite ones, even though I already have many π
Blue.
I love the expresso
scarlet or any red, like the Bourdeaux you have
Pink, i love all shades of pink.
I love reds
black
I love plums, deep reds and purples.
Hot Pink
I like the Magnetic Wave Bourdeaux best.
I particularly like green with envy and bourdeux!
I love red shades because I always feel glamorous with red nail varnish.
pinks
Dark red to purple
Dark reds and purple shades
deep purple, i love the spiritual colours x
Lilac with Sparkles
pink
this looks brilliant would love to try them
lilac
I love bright blue
bright red! π x
MAGENTA
I Love Pastel Pink…
I'm fond of candy pink colours.
neutral colours normally pinkish types
bright pink
Dark purple, bright purple, I'm not fussy as long as it's purple
Oh wow these are amazing, I love Bourdeaux
Excellent, I would love to try!
Bordeaux is my favourite
I love pale metallic blue, especially for my toe nails
Magenta
Love purple and pink xx
any powder shades
I love Corals!
These are so lovely, especially the pink!
I like the metalic colours fav at the moment gold
Anything sparkly, the one from the selection above is definitely Green with Envy
I love anything blue
at the min it's definitely purple π
My favourite colour is a deep emerald green. I love it because green's my favourite colour and generally matches what ever I wear!
its a bit boring but I do like brown
Deep Plum
i like the purples best
I like it when my wife wears purple
Green =]
I love bronzes, golds and metallics.
Green with Envy – Love the colour and the name
Great prize purple is probably my favourite colour along with green x
Candy Pink x
I like natural colour
Bordeaux is gorgeous x
Purple!
My favourite colour is Plum
At the moment I like bright summery colours, like coral or yellow
i use brown but i`d love too try any other colour……….
Green with Envy!
purple
Pink/lilac
I always seem to go for red. Really should branch out a little!
Pinks are my favourite.
Anything bright and outrageous greens yellows oranges LOVE them! x
bright pinks
black
Love Blues and aqua colours
Purple!
I love bright colours like hot pink
My fav colours are anything thats bright like shocking pink π
Xx
black
Bordeaux is my fave β₯
Any red…love the Bordeaux
Purple
Bordeaux is my fave
I love any shade of pink xx
I love golds/bronzes and neutral beige colours
hmmm black or pink x
green
Sexy and You Know it
I like pink nail polishes, particularly hot pinks π
Thanks for the giveaway!
Dark reds
I like pink or red.
I love purple but with these magnetic polishes it is great to have two tones so purple and silver or black
Plum for me please.
pink
Well I like all sorts of colours but my favourite has to be deep pink colours π
bright pink
My wife wears dark reds/purples/greens so i guess i would say those colours!
ruby red
Mint greens always get my vote! x
Green with envy
baby pink
I love deep reds xx so lovely that you remember your sister teaching you to paint your nails – my eldest has just this week been teaching my youngest little girl how to paint hers xx
Purple
I've got a really gorgeous dark purple that is my favourite at the moment
I love the Bourdeau one
Pinks, but I do like red on the toes x
Purple or Black, a purple and black is even better π
@tiredmummyoftwo
Red
Im loving Orange at the moment, its so summery π
Mixture of pinks and reds, depends how I'm feeling really x
I love red π
i liked Espresso
green with envy
bright colours of purple
I love nail polish so much I have so many favorites, anything twinkly! and these look great…I think the best nail I have done recently I painted my toes alternate red,white, blue and my big toe with a union jack! looked very effective…
Anything in the coral range – not too pink.
Anything twinkly
pinks xx
I like purple.
I like corals and browns
My favourite is black, but only because I've not found just the right shade of olive green or gunmetal yet!!!
Red, red and more red!
I love pinks, the brighter the better!
I'm loving burgundy at the moment – I don't feel that the rest of me has to be as dressed up as I do when wearing red polish, and it looks great on shorter nails so I don't need to panic when I snap one, as I frequently do!
I love beiges and browns – espresso looks lovely!
I like reds and browns, so I particularly like the look of Espresso and Bourdeaux.
I like using pinks colours!
oooh, Espresso sounds right up my street!
I like coral colours and i also like silver colours like the Graphite shade
I love red nail polish so the Bourdeaux caught my eye.
i love purple
I love turquoise nails
I love all shades of purple
purple
For Summer, I love corals but I always go back to red!
Espresso would be my choice. A dark browny red works best on my short, mummy nails.
I would love to win the Bourdeaux it is exsacly my colour and i love it.
I love the Bordeaux – in fact they're all lovely!
Green with Envy as it matches my motorbike (Ninja)
I like hot pink colours!
Bordeaux
Green with envy for me. looks lovely x
I usually go for french manicure but feel the need to try something a bit brighter and funkier
Blues are my colour. x
london lights
Purples are my favorite. There are so many shades out there that there is always a purple for any occasion.
i love purple nails
I love coppery hues or lavender
I love changing my nail varnish and use all sorts of colours, but my favourites are my purples.
love anything neon
So nice to see that i'm not the only nail polish wearer who gave up when kids and work came along.
favourite colour has to be either neutrals, that give a sheen but don't show the chips or a really vibrant blue for when I want my nails noticed
Any shade of redβ¦love the Bordeaux
red
Gold!
Coral
I love purple π
Love the coral
It changes from day to day, but I am loving coral at the moment, as well as a bright pink that I bought last week! π
Janey L
@cupidsbow1414
Am loving green nails at the moment! : )
Metallic blue
I really like dark colours, especially pewter-type shades. It makes me feel sophisticated!
pastel Blue or turquoise
I love a deep red for a night out which dosnt happen that often would love to try some more colours for day time x
Silver or sparkles π
Purples
i like dark coulours so browns deep reds are great
I love bright reds
I love nudes at the moment (just read that back to myself and made myself giggle)
Gold
I am really into black or purple with glitter polish over the top, it hides my terrible nails π
I think red always looks good and quite professional π
At the moment its dark purple
I like smoky purple.
I prefer bright or dark colours, especially anything purple ^^
Hot pink!
I like pale colours because I'm rubbish at removing it when it starts to chip so you can't tell as much.
Pink
Frosted pale pink is my favourite colour
teal
Love purple shades
Red – classy and feminine for a party night out
I love anything teal or sparkly, even better if its sparkly teal
I love the red nail varnish, stunning!
I love lilacs and purples at the mo x
I love the really dark colours for the winter and bright pink for the summer
Depends on what im doing but i do like a nice deep scarlet red
some quite nude as wearable to work
Black is my fav x
luuuurve the fab red on the end -very sexy!
π
Emerald green
I love hot pink
Black
I love greys, whether metallic or matt π
Pastels – Pale Lilac or Pink
Pinks or lilacs
Duo-chrome blue or green
I love painting my nails, especially with duochrome polish.
I love purple shades but can' seem to stop wearing Barry M Jewel Britania at the moment, it's gorgeous!
Purple! π
I have a gorgeous new blue one called turkish sea, technic I think it is <3
It really depends on my mode – loving technic carnival at the moment though π