Barry M • Barry M. • Polishes

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*TOP REVIEWER* mskilicious on 8/22/2009 1:23:00 PM more reviews by mskilicious

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Hmm I'm on the fence about Barry M polishes. I like the colour range, price and lasting power, but I find application much trickier than with other polishes. Not sure if it's the formula or the brush (maybe both??) but I always need to do some tidying up afterwards when using these, whereas I don't normally. They're also slow drying so the whole process takes ages if you don't want indents or smudges in your polish.

I have the grey one and Vivid Purple (which is a really amazing blue based slightly shimmery purple) and I would def buy the purple again, I just wish application was quicker and easier.

Incidentally, these are cheap at £2.89, but my favourite budget polishes are the George ones at Asda - more limited colour range but still some stars in there. They're only £1.50 and sooo much quicker/easier. Result! I just need them to dupe Vivid Purple and I'd leave Barry M for good. Sorry Bazza.

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clockworkmices on 8/17/2009 2:37:00 PM more reviews by clockworkmices

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I love Barry M nail polishes. ^_^ They come in so many different colours for around £2.89 and last forever. Seriously, they last ages, except for the pure glitter ones that seem to flake off after a day or so. They aren't streaky as long as you use two even coats, and the colours themselves are amazing, I always check for new ones or 3 for 2 offers whenever I go into Superdrug or Boots. The only issue I have with these are the green shades: they stain, and I mean, they really stain. I always use basecoat and whenever I use one of the green shades my nails always end up a hideous yellowy colour when I take it off ): I've tried everything to get rid of it but it refuses to come out so I have to repaint them another colour until they grow out. The polish is kinda gloopy and takes forever to dry but for the colours you get, and at £2.89 a bottle, it's worth it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Jenniferroyea on 7/2/2009 11:14:00 AM more reviews by Jenniferroyea

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I have only used the polishes on my toes. Without a base coat, and with a top coat, I actually removed the polish after a week and a half cuz I was bored of it - it still looked pretty shiny and had no chips. I am now using another colour with no base coat again, and 5 days on, it still looks great - no chips or anything. One of the colours I found a little gloopy, the other not at all. Great coverage, too, although on the big toes had to apply the second coat thickly. Great product for an awesome price.

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c00ki312 on 6/9/2009 2:46:00 PM more reviews by c00ki312

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Barry M is such a cult barand. its been around for AGES but only in the past couple years people have started to take notice. To be honest the only products of amazing quality is the dazzle dusts, lip paints and nail polish. I practically own every polish colour released (i check weekly at superdrug :D) and have collected quite a few DD. The nail paints are the hidden gems though. The colours they have cannot be found in any other brand and for the price, the quality is really good: non streaky, opaque finish and doesnt chip for at least 5-6 days. my fave shades are cobalt, racing green and shocking pink

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kmelia on 5/22/2009 6:11:00 PM more reviews by kmelia

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I have only 2 nail polishes from Barry M, gray and racing green. They are both amazing colors and glossy on their own. They really do last on my nails with minimal chips or wear. I really like their brushes, as they are soft enough to cover alot of my nail, but not too soft so that they are hard to control. I can't wait to order more!

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dkny76 on 5/17/2009 4:35:00 PM more reviews by dkny76

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

love love love love love love these!!!! the colours are really beautiful: vibrant and on trend! I love orchard! it's a pinky lilac colour with a gorgeous sheen! will definitely buy again, the price is really affordable at the moment superdrug have an offer: 2 for £4.99! I got a bit carried away buying them lol! I must say that at first I did think that these would chip after a day like many I have tried in the past, but the polish lasts for quite a long time!

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Ketchup38 on 5/7/2009 8:23:00 PM more reviews by Ketchup38

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive   Hair: Black, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Great array of on-trend colours

Lovely simple design, easy to use brush.

Easily opaque with just 1-2 coats

Lasts at most 3-4 days w/out chipping & a topcoat.

Wish it would last longer though..

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celluloide on 5/7/2009 3:49:00 PM more reviews by celluloide

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight   Eyes: Brown    

Great nail polishes; highly recommended to those who are looking for a wide range of colors at an affordable price on the UK high street. Two coats are required for the best results, and because of the thick consistency of these 'nail paints', they do take slightly longer to dry. Chip free for about a week when used with a top coat.

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*TOP REVIEWER* PaleIsTheNewTan on 4/26/2009 2:02:00 AM more reviews by PaleIsTheNewTan

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I'm a huge fan of Barry M. products - the Natural Dazzling Bronzing Powder, the Dazzle Dusts, the Shimmering Eye & Lip Crayons, the regular lip liners. Maybe it's because the products are cheap and I can't find them in Canada, and can only get them when visiting the UK and it makes it feel exclusive even though it's cheap, I don't know.

I should love the nail polishes but they're average. I get that they're cheap, but I've had better luck with Rimmel's 60 Second line or w/e than with Barry M's varnishes. Maybe my expectations are too high. But these are just 'ok'. But these are a dissapointment in comparison to their standout products.

I've had it on since Thursday night - so 48 hours. Chipping is minimal with base and top-coat. Spring Green is a lovely, matte mid-tone green - almost Urban Decay's Deluxe Grafitti shadow in nail polish form. A lovely, interesting shade of green that doesn't have a weird, shimmery overtone over it. Black works too - albeit, I stained my nails.

However, the varnish is gloopy. It's almost too thick. It look way too long to dry, and I eventually got bored of sitting with hands flat on my desk. So, of course I moved around, got on the laptop for some schoolwork, and smudged. If you have a ton of patience, and are willing to stare into space while these dry, go ahead.

The colour range is awesome. The varnish is opaque, and not some sheer mess.

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annakristina on 4/24/2009 5:35:00 PM more reviews by annakristina

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I bought Barry M nail polishes in:
Bright pink, Baby Pink, Pink Iridescent, Tangerine and a turquoisey one that I don't know the name of :P
I love the amazing variety of matte colours you can get at Barry M, they just seem to be endless!
The texture, however, isn't perfect, I usually need two coats, with a topcoat to prevent the polish peeling off (which it does. A lot.) But I don't expect more than that for an inexpensive brand like Barry M (2 for £5 now at Boots!)
I'm pretty happy, and I'll most definitely buy again!

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clare01 on 3/16/2009 9:21:00 AM more reviews by clare01

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

Lady like chic for urban peasants (e.g. retail workers e.g. me). Nearly every one of the varnishes in this range is absolutely gorgeous. They do good classic colours; the red-black is a poor woman's rouge-noir (she would couldn’t afford French at finishing school?), spot on colour, just as glossy, just as sexy, lasts as long if you stick some top-coat over the top and about a fifth of the price of Chanel. The Bright Red is a perfect post-box shade. Even the more eccentric colours are worth a try; I like the shiny opaque shades; I've given the Turquoise to a number of girlfriends and it always looks good, weird, but cute.

All in all, the coverage is great, and they just don't feel cheap. My favourite cut-price nail range. £3 a pop, how can you lose?

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jrogers93 on 2/16/2009 11:37:00 AM more reviews by jrogers93

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Navy colour
It was a good buy for £2.89 but I think that the brush is very annoying when painting and the polish is quite goopy. I love the colour though. It has just enough shimmer to stop the colour looking flat.

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*TOP REVIEWER* cocofabulous on 2/8/2009 5:26:00 AM more reviews by cocofabulous

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Barry M nail polishes are my absolute favourite! Loads of colours, cheap & I've yet to find a brand (including OPI) that is more chip-resistant. I've had a manicure for up to a fortnight with minimum chips! Love 'em.

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aqua2291 on 1/26/2009 2:03:00 PM more reviews by aqua2291

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

i used to be in love with barrym, but i'm rethinking. seriously, i planned to get the whole collection but i got annoyed with waking up with the sheet print on my nails or smudges - seriously, it takes FOREVER to dry. i was foolish to buy their 3in1 top coat so thats what made it take so long to dry as well. i have 4 colours:
spring bean (no290) - a gorgeous pale green and it completes my complexion a lot. i love looking down at my nails and seeing this colour on them. great for summer time.
tangerine (no136) - looks so good on my toes. really. i love this colour. however, when it smudges, it makes my nails look dirty.
vivid purple (no161) - my FAVOURITE colour. if anything is anything, i will get this colour again. seriously. ohmigosh!
i also have a deep blue which i think is discontinued but its amazing. the reason why i'm not happy with barrym anymore is because it chipped to easily and took WAY too long to dry. sorry barry but it wasnt worth waking up in the morning with smudged nails. and i give my nails sufficient time to dry - my rimmel doesnt smudge so i dont know why you do. but i know i probably will buy you again (i plan to tomorrow!) but, until i can find one that is just as bright and affordable, be warned that our affair is on the line.
EDIT = i change my mind. i realised that it was my cheap base coat that makes my polish chip. but it still takes long to dry. i'm going to get a fast drying top coat instead and give it another try.

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theseahag on 1/25/2009 8:15:00 AM more reviews by theseahag

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

For the price, Barry M nail polishes aren't bad. What I like best about them is that they're super cheap and come in a great range of funky colours so ideal if you like to change your nail polish every couple of days. I also like Barry M packaging, it looks kind of 40s/50s retro style (not sure if that's intentional).

The downside is the quality. I find it chips almost straight away and the coverage isn't great - you need a minimum of 2 coats, and in some cases [the bright yellow shade for e.g.] that's not even enough to give full coverage.

In summary, 'cheap & cheerful'. Great if you want a collection of colours and don't want to spend much but don't expect the highest quality.

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twiggy016 on 1/8/2009 4:24:00 PM more reviews by twiggy016

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I love Barry M nail polishes.
So cheap and the colours are great.
I especially love the Coral colour, very flattering.
Better than some of my other nail polishes, which costed twice as much! :)

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Guinever on 11/22/2008 1:32:00 PM more reviews by Guinever

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This is for the Barry M. nail polish in black which is available in the UK. I usually buy this brand in Superdrug and the products are usually quite reasonably-priced and you get trendy colours which are worth the money spent.

This nail polish is black (colour number on the bottom 47). What I like about it is its good price (around 3 Pounds max.), the coverage it provides (it is not as good as for example a Chanel or Dior nail polish I own but it is still very good).

Also it comes only in a small 10 ml bottle without any fancy packaging (black lid) and the colour range is very big and I got some more colours of this brand because it is fantastic value for money.

The polish itself glides on easily (with a black colour polish I usually apply a transparent base coat before) and it needs 2 coats for good coverage.
The shine it provides is fantastic! It takes about 15 - 20 mins until it is thoroughly dried.

Usually the nail colour on my nails (although they are cut fairly short) chips off on the tips so I always reapply after two days max.

Highly recommended!

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