Layla Bubbly Effect Meringue Pie over Illamasqua Stagnate

Layla Bubbly Effect Meringue Pie over Illamasqua Stagnate

Layla Bubbly Effects are really interesting topcoats that create a random spattered effect on the nails. I've been aware of these for a while and I just 'happened' upon them on Amazon.co.uk the other day, so I couldn't resist trying one out!  I was lucky enough to get a bottle of OPI Black Spotted last summer, and I generally go for neutral 'effects' polishes so I can use them with everything, so I chose Meringue Pie from the Bubbly Effects range, which is white. I was already wearing Illamasqua Stagnate when Meringue Pie arrived, so I used this as my base.

Here's a look at Stagnate first, as this is a nice colour in it's own right. It's a medium taupe cream that reminds me of hot chocolate; it has a slightly pinkish leaning. I was wearing this as a work appropriate colour yesterday - I had a couple of meetings where wild nails were not appropriate and I think this fitted the bill perfectly! And as a mid-tone it was great for testing out Meringue Pie!

Illamasqua Stagnate

Like just about every Illamasqua polish I've ever used, the formula on Stagnate is great - it's easy to apply and gives full coverage in just a couple of coats. This is two coats of Stagnate with a coat of Seche Vite.

Then with Layla Bubbly Effects Meringue Pie:

Layla Bubbly Effect Meringue Pie over Illamasqua Stagnate

I love this effect! It applies just like OPI Black Spotted - so the black bubbly effect is the answer for anyone who missed out on OPI Black Spotted. It works a bit like a wax resist technique in painting or fabric dyeing; the pigment runs over the smooth surface of your nail and collects in puddles, which then dry to form the pattern. A few tips for application:

• Make sure your nails are really smooth and shiny before you start. They need to be fully dry too. I've had best results when I've applied Bubbly Effects or OPI Black Spotted over an existing mani (I always use SV), but it should be OK after a few hours, or better still overnight. I wash my hands before I start and give my nails a quick polish on my sleeve!
• I prefer the effect you get with a fairly generous application of the Bubbly Effect. The formula on these is surprisingly thin and runny, so it might not look like much on the brush but it will be plenty on the nail. If you don't put enough on, the end result is a very thin 'skin' of the Bubbly Effect colour with your base polish showing through. Just brush it quickly over your nail and wait for it to start 'pooling'. If you miss a bit, go back and add a bit more, but do this quickly, before it starts to dry properly. 
• Be careful not to get any on your cuticles, this stuff is the devil to get off! It's somehow plasticised to make the effect, so it doesn't respond like normal polish with acetone, it makes a horrible sticky mess! You can see what I mean if you look carefully at my cuticle in the macro shot of my thumb :(
• If you mess a nail up, or you don't like the effect, it's quite easy to get the Bubbly Effect off with hot soapy water and a soft nailbrush (or an old toothbrush). Then you're back to your base polish and you can just start again! It's only on the shiny polished nail that it's easy to remove like this though; it's hard to get it off your skin.
• It needs to be sealed with topcoat - both to make the surface smooth and to protect the Bubbly Effect   polish. I allowed the Bubbly Effect to dry then applied a non-quick drying topcoat quite generously, followed by Seche Vite. I'm not sure what would happen if you put SV straight over the Bubbly Effect, I wasn't brave enough to try! Layla do make a special protective topcoat for the Bubbly Effect polishes, but I did perfectly OK with a China Glaze topcoat and SV. I've been wearing this 36 hours now and there are no signs of wear.

And there you have it!

I purchased Layla Bubbly Effect Meringue Pie from Amazon.co.uk. Layla polishes are also available from Sallymagpies If you're not in the UK, Layla's Website ships worldwide. I received my Illamasqua Stagnate in a swap, but the shade can be purchased from Illamasqua or Sephora outside of the UK.