Nails Inc Portobello Road Latex Polish

I’m always intrigued by the promise of matte nail polishes – my first one was OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark, and I actually picked it up by mistake. When it dried down, I was intrigued by the almost chalky texture, and weirdly, it’s the polish I turn to when I want a manicure which looks a little different. Now that it’s (supposed) to be summer, I thought I would try a summer version, so I picked up Nails Inc’s Portobello Road, which is part of the Latex Effect Collection.

I’m completely obsessed with the colour – a cotton candy pink, which, thanks to the thick formula, is almost opaque in a single coat. Since the polish is a matte one, your nails really do need to be in decent shape to wear the formula well – it tends to pool in ridges or cuticles. To apply, I made sure my nails were nicely filed and clean of cuticles, then I applied a coat of Nails Inc’s base coat. After that, I carefully applied a coat of the varnish – it is quite thick in comparison to other polishes, but it’s easy to control, and the colour payoff is incredible. After I had painted them I waited a few minutes to apply a second coat. The formula is touch dry within a couple of minutes, which makes this perfect if you need a quick option at work. The wear isn’t as long as glossy formulas though. I got a day and a half before it started to come off, but I had been doing some major housework. I’m obsessed with the colour, and this formula gives you an easy way to update your summer manicures!

The polish costs £12.00 and is available at Boots.