NotD - Barry M Sunset Daylight Curing

I didn't end up taking any of my nail polishes with me overseas (I actually gave away most of them to a friend's daughter who was super thrilled!). I was keen to paint my nails again but I knew I couldn't go too crazy with polish hauling. I was interested in trying out these gel-like polishes from Barry M at the local Superdrug so I picked up two shades and the top coat.

One of the polishes I picked up was Dark Side of the Shroom

 from the Sunset Daylight Curing Nail Paint range from Barry M. I've been keen on trying more gel-like polishes from brands and had some successes (Covergirl XL) and some flops (Rimmel Super Gel). I was hoping this one was going to turn out well.

On the Barry M website, the polish is described to give the look and resilience of pro salon gel nails without the need for a UV lamp and for a fraction of the price. No base coat is needed as the formula bonds to the nails like a gel and is easily removed with regular nail polish remover. The Sunset Topcoat must be used over these polishes for a high shine and long lasting finish.

The polishes come with a little instruction tag attached to an elastic around the neck of the bottles. I took them off as it got in the way during painting and ruined some of the nails. It suggests to paint the nails in two thin coats, allow to dry before applying the top coat. 

I found that Dark Side of the Shroom applied well both in a thicker coat as well as two thin coat with the latter giving a smoother finish and dried quicker. Overall, the dry time between coats was quite fast which I was impressed with. I was also a fan of the flat oval brush which made application a breeze. 

Dark Side of the Shroom is a lovely dusty mauve - perfect for the cooler change in weather. The topcoat gave the polish the shine it needed and it did give a gel-like feel to the nails. I'm a fan of being able to feel the nail polish layer. Removal was super easy with acetone-free polish remover.

I didn't have much success with the lasting power of this polish but I think it was mainly due to me doing washing up for about 3 hours without gloves! A lot of the polish peeled off. I feel that it would stay on for longer if I didn't do so much washing up (but that's part of my job... sigh). I still love the polish though! I cannot wait to try the other shade I bought!!

Barry M polishes can be found on their website and at Superdrug and Boots for £4.99 in the UK. In Australia, I know that Big W stocks some of products from Barry M but I'm not sure if they have this range.

Have you tried any Barry M nail polishes?