HJ Manicure* First Impressions: Swatches and Review

Last week I got a lovely parcel from HJ Manicure, a luxury nail brand that creates polish which is 5-free, cruelty free and vegan friendly so what's not to love!  I've got three shades to show you today, one from their permanent collection and two autumn/winter shades.

At the end of the post I also have a 25% discount for you guys if you want to order any shades from the website (which I think you will) so follow me under the cut to read my first impressions of HJ Manicure polishes.

Caramel Latte* - Caramel Latte is from HJ Manicure's permanent collection of classic shades. The lovely caramel shade is a darker nude with my skintone but is still a nice alternative to work friendly shades like red or grey.  The above swatch is with three thin coats and no top coat.  The polish dried within a few minutes between coats and although I was initially worried about the thin formula, after three thin coats, the polish evened out for an opaque, glossy finish.

Golden Bronze* - Golden Bronze is the first shade from the Autumn/Winter Shimmer Collection.  The base of the polish is an interesting brown/grey shade with a duochrome gold/bronze shimmer.  This shade is unlike anything I own.  The above swatch is of two thin coats and no top coat.  Like Caramel Latte it has a thinner formula than I'm used two but within two coats the polish became opaque.

Midnight Sky* - Midnight Sky was the polish that immediately drew my attention in the box.  The vibrant indigo shimmer (it is a bit more purple than photographed) was another thin coats and while it did apply a bit streaky, three thin coats made for an opaque wash of colour.  This polish was the slowest drying out of the three so be aware of that when you apply top up coats.

Overall I was impressed with HJ Manicure polishes.  The formulas are thinner than usual but full opacity can be achieved between two or three coats of polish.  The polishes dry in average time and have a glossy finish so can be left without top coat if you are in a rush (but of course I never recommend this!).  The bottle and brush shape remind me of American Apparel which means that application and control of the polish was pretty good.  At £9.50, it's a polish on the more expensive side of the spectrum but you are paying for a product which is 5-free, vegan friendly and cruelty free.

Now as a treat for making it this far LOL, here's a 25% off code for your first purchase from HJ Manicure (flailsandnails25).  The code is valid until 30/11/15.  The polishes, since they are a bit more of a luxe product, would make a fab Christmas present so if you're someone who is that organised then make use of the code and make someone very happy!

Which is your favourite shade from the collection?  Be sure to subscribe, follow and like all the social media sites to the side, until next time :-)

*these products were provided for review but all opinions are mine