A-England was the brand that made me want to start painting my nails again, and that is really no mean feat, considering my impatience and all round klutziness when it comes to nails. I picked up all in The Legends collection when it was released and considered myself done in. Got bored 🙂
But when I was playing dress up recently, I wanted to paint my nails to match my navy blue dress. I wanted a bold shade that complemented the colour of the dress without being too matchy-matchy (My original choice was Tristam). But then, my eye fell on St. George and I thought “Hmm… I seem to have missed using that colour! Let’s see how it fares…”
It fares pretty well if I don’t say so myself 😀
St. George is a lovely deep teal green holographic nail colour that is of a cool tone. It is, how shall I put it…. insanely beautiful applied on nails, and the formula is almost perfect. When a klutz like me gets it right with just 1 coat, you know you are onto a winner!
The formula in St. George is very smooth. It isn’t goopy and is very easy to apply and get it right almost immediately. I find that it is a bit like molten metal. It just flows over my nail effortlessly and then sets into a gorgeous teal shine. The holographic shimmer is well distributed and it has lovely sparkle. You don’t even need a top coat to help it shine, it does it all by itself!
Naturally, my swatches don’t do the polish justice because I’m not much of a nail blogger. There are loads of beautiful swatches out there if you just do a quick search and you will fall in love with the colour, I promise.
The downside is I felt that tip wear with this colour happened more quickly. I sealed it with Seche Vite Top Coat but even then, I noticed wear after about 2 days. Considering I wasn’t doing anything remotely hard on my nails in those 2 days (I wasn’t even typing on a computer) it was a little disappointing.
In a nutshell
St. George is a holographic teal green nail polish that applies like a dream. If you don’t like how nail polish can sometimes apply thick and unevenly, then pick up St. George and you will not be disappointed. The colour is lovely, the shimmer is well distributed and not overly chunky and the shine is perfect with just one coat. 2 if you want it to look even more “solid”. I noticed that tip wear happened more quickly with this formula than other colours in the A-England range. Not sure why.
Pros: Beautiful colour, Lovely holographic shimmer, Easy to apply, High shine, 3 Free
Cons: Tip wear seemed to happen more quickly than other polishes in the range
Who will like this: Anyone who hates thick goopy nail polish that applies streakily, Anyone who love holographic colours and deep jewel shades for nails, Those looking for Three-Free polishes
Did it work against my navy blue dress? Well, I’ll let you be the judge of that 🙂
I think it did, beautifully 🙂
Do you own St. George from A-England polishes? Do you own any A-England polishes yet? If you are planning to get some, be sure you place St. George in your shopping basket. Its absolutely worth it.
Paris B
A-England polishes are 3-free. St. George is part of The Legend collection Price: £9 each Availability: A-England website International Shipping: Yes, free shipping worldwide
Rainy Days & Lattes says
May 30, 2012 at 8:39 amThe intensity of the teal is drawing me in. I’ve never tried much polishes at all, and certainly none from A-England. i’ll check out their line… I hope they have it in the US :p
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 2:42 pmI’m not a nail polish girl myself but I do like the colours, shine and ease of application of most of the A-England polishes bar a couple. If you can’t find them in the US, the website ships internationally for free 😉
Tine says
May 30, 2012 at 8:48 amUn-Teal? Oh no you didn’t! 😛
I had tip wear very quickly with this too. Such a pity ‘cos it’s a gorgeous, GORGEOUS colour.
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 2:43 pmUh sorry, I did 😛 The colour is absolutely beautiful but that tip wear boggles my mind because the other dark colours I have from the range wear alright
Germs says
May 30, 2012 at 9:24 amWhoa that kind of colour in just 1 coat is pretty amazing! I think it ups the lux factor of your outfit and is really classy 🙂 great choice of colour!
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 2:43 pmThanks! And yes, it really does look pretty much perfect with 1 coat. 2 makes the shimmer more prominent and the colour richer. Maybe that’s why I’m a little obsessed with their polishes LOL!
Applegal says
May 30, 2012 at 9:36 amThat is a very pretty shade! Love your navy blue dress and make up. You looke ready for the Oscars!
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 2:45 pmThanks Applegal! I wish you were right and that someone would invite me for the Oscars! LOL!! 😀
Kel says
May 30, 2012 at 10:05 amUnfortunately with all dark coloured polishes, the tips do wear off very quickly…i’ve personally never tried a-england nail polish but even OPI, eSSi & what-nots do wear off within 2-3days..
which may turn out to be a blessing in disguise because dark coloured polishes just turns your nails yellow in a blink of an eye, after 15 years of constant wearing nail polish, my nails cant be bear to see the sun-light..haha
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 2:47 pmErgh! I know! Just a few wears of deep nail colours in a row and my nails look weird. Part of the reason I stopped wearing nail polishes for the last few months so my nails breathe 🙂 With the other dark shades in the A-England line I didn’t experience the same sort of wear though. I have Bridal Veil which is a holographic black and it wears for at least a week with no problems. Maybe its the formula or something 🙂
Stacey says
May 30, 2012 at 10:46 ambeautiful colour and complements your dress totally! yes most dark coloured polishes wear off within a day or two. the China Glaze Stone Cold from the Hunger Games collection chipped on me within a day. it’s a shame that a beautiful colour can’t last beyond a day without chipping and chips on a dark coloured polish is so obvious..
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 2:51 pmThanks Stacey 🙂 I have realised that deep shades do wear off more quickly or maybe we just notice it more because of the shade, but I had to mention it because my other deep toned A-England polishes last quite long, up to a week sometimes. So for me, tip wear after just 2 days was a bit of a bummer in this one 🙂
Monstro says
May 30, 2012 at 12:08 pmI’m really into all blue/green shades of nail polish right now. This is just gorgeous dear! I like how it’s darker and can basically go with anything. Definitely goes with your dress!
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 2:57 pmThanks Monstro and if you like these sort of colours, I think you need this one in your life. Seriously! 😀
synical says
May 30, 2012 at 12:41 pmBought Ascalon and Bridal Veil (cos I very the goth, like that ;P) during the last promotion. When it comes to these for me personally, I skip the base coat and go for the top coat after 2 coats. Still okay after a few days.
Seeing air bubbles in the nail polish is v. annoying.
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 3:00 pmI like wearing Bridal Veil! Its less sparkly than I expected but a very pretty deep sparkly black that I like wearing 😀 I don’t have a tip wear issue with Bridal Veil though, which prompted the comment on tip wear on this colour 🙂 I tend to skip base coats too 😛 My rationale is that I never really keep polish on my nails longer than 3 days (I get bored) so the idea behind painting my nails is for instant gratification and not to last LOL!
Hanny says
May 30, 2012 at 1:05 pmI have Avalon and it lasts alright. However, I did realize that you can PEEL it clean off if you applied too thick a layer on. HAHAHA.
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 3:05 pmAvalon is pretty 🙂 But I didn’t think it was a one coater. Looks better with 2 thinner coats – the shine is certainly one of a kind 😀
Issa says
May 30, 2012 at 1:07 pmthis is a very gorgeous color! 🙂
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 3:08 pmIt most certainly is! Tempted? 😉
Jyoan says
May 30, 2012 at 1:11 pmHow coincident! I just painted my nails with Tristam yesterday. But I don’t understand the rave! =((( Tristam is awfully goopy, while it doesn’t streaks, it just wouldn’t flow out and automatically be evenly spread! It’s a really pretty color though.
I am so glad I bought Galahad and Iseult too which are different formulas, because they don’t sparkle. And thank goodness those two apply properly. Sigh. Tristam doesn’t. Big disappointment.
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 3:10 pmHappy coincidence! 🙂 I’m the opposite. I hate the formula in Galahad. It applies very thickly and streaky so I’ve stopped using it. I personally found the holographic formulas of A-England easier to handle but maybe its because I’m too much of a n00b with polishes 🙂 Tristam was a good n00b polish for me – 1 coater that slides on like a dream 🙂
Sunny says
May 30, 2012 at 2:38 pmI’ve been eyeing some A-England polishes forever, and this is definitely one of them! I still wonder if it works better for those with cooler skin tone, but it’s just too wacky cool! Think I’ll have to lay my hands on some A-England soon! Thanks for sharing Paris 🙂
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 3:32 pmYou definitely need St. George and Tristam 🙂 Both are beautiful shades and I don’t think they are too cool. Lots of other swatches out there by other better nail bloggers 🙂 Or get Dragon. Its gorgeous too! 😀
Sze Ling says
May 30, 2012 at 3:06 pmThat color is gorgeous! My favorite color too. 😉
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 3:34 pmIt most certainly is! Get it? 😉
Marina(Makeup4all) says
May 30, 2012 at 3:24 pmThis is just gorgeous! Definitely one of the prettiest nail polishes ever 🙂
Paris B says
May 30, 2012 at 3:37 pmMost definitely so 😀 Did you end up getting any from the new collection, Marina?
Marina(Makeup4all) says
May 30, 2012 at 5:37 pmYes, the black one, Bridal Veil!
Paris B says
May 31, 2012 at 11:59 amExcellent choice! The Karl Drogo one hehe…
makeupmag says
May 30, 2012 at 3:32 pmThis and Avalon are my two favourites from A-England. LOVE!
Paris B says
May 31, 2012 at 11:57 amYay for Avalon too! 😀 Just realized I only used it once! 😛
S. says
May 30, 2012 at 3:39 pmThis color is really pretty! It goes perfectly with your dress.
Paris B says
May 31, 2012 at 11:57 amIt did! I was surprised but in a happy way 😀 Planning to get any, S? 😉
xin says
May 30, 2012 at 3:52 pmsuch a gorgeous color, which reminds me that i have not used my a-england polish for a while.
Paris B says
May 31, 2012 at 11:58 amGo go! Time to dig them out and use them again 😉
gio says
May 30, 2012 at 5:27 pmWhat a gorgeous shade, so intense. And only one coat? Wow! Gotta grab myself a bottle too. 🙂
Paris B says
May 31, 2012 at 11:59 amYup, just one coat, Gio! Its really impressive, this one. Hope you do like it if you get it 😉
milktea says
May 30, 2012 at 9:54 pmLike Sunny, I’ve been eyeing a-england polishes forever. Better take advantage of their ‘real’ free worldwide shipping offer soon! 😉
Paris B says
May 31, 2012 at 12:10 pmOh yes! They are definitely the real free worldwide shipping deal! 😉
Danielle says
May 31, 2012 at 9:44 amOh WOW. This shade is absolutely coming home to me! So so ridiculously gorgeous!
Paris B says
May 31, 2012 at 12:25 pmIt most certainly is, i think you’d totally love it Danielle 🙂