Barry M Matte Nail Paint in Crush

Autumn is well and truly on its way here in Kent. In fact, Monday and Tuesday this week felt more like the middle of Winter, but let's not dwell on that! My thoughts are turning more and more to leather jackets, Chelsea boots and cosy knits... and to dark and berry coloured nails after a season full of brights.

My sister came to visit over the bank holiday weekend, and, just for a change, we went shopping. I picked up two nail polishes from Barry M, one of which was the Matte Nail Paint in Crush. I fell in love with the colour immediately, and I have to say that my heart sank a little when I realised that it was a matte formula. I've always avoided matte polishes in the past because I love glossy nails, and was fairly sure I wouldn't like any polishes that didn't have a sheen to them. However, the rich burgundy colour of this one is so lovely and so perfect for Autumn that I thought I would be adventurous and give it a try.

What you see in the pictures is two coats of Crush over a base coat of Ciate's Underwear. For some reason I had in mind that a matte polish would be tricky to work with, but Crush glides on like a dream. When you first apply it, it looks glossy, and then it dries to a matte finish.

It's reflecting the light a bit, but I assure you, there is no shine to this whatsoever. It's flat as a pancake.

I have to admit, I hated it at first. Loved the colour, loved the application, hated the matte finish. Then some time passed and I got used to it, and I started to think that maybe it didn't look so bad after all. In fact, I thought, maybe it looked sort of sophisticated.

I'm still undecided about it. I don't think it helps that I've applied it on a day when I'm working at home and thus am wearing a ratty old jumper and jeans and have left my hair and face "au naturel" - in other words, slightly terrifying to dogs and small children. It's kind of tainting the effect of the nails a bit. I also think that the matte finish is pretty unforgiving to anyone who's not amazing at doing their own manicure - i.e. me. Every last bit of sloppiness around the cuticles seems magnified somehow, with no gloss to distract the eye.

That said, I do love the colour, and I'm going to persevere with it. Tomorrow I shall dress as a human being as opposed to a scarecrow and we'll see what I think of it then!

What do you guys think of matte nail polish? (I ask all the hard-hitting questions on this blog!) Any brands/shades you recommend?

Kate x