SWATCHES: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine // Pistachio, Sour Candy, Acai Smoothie, Raspberry Ripple & Grape Soda

So I recently lost the will to not buy nail polish and bought some more nail polish. Approximately 11 shades from Barry M. I won't do them all in one go but split them up. I bought 5 new Gelly shades because I'm obsessed with the formula and pastels are my thing. I wanted the grey and yellow shades that are new as well but I have to draw the line somewhere...I guess...there is always next month.

Pistachio // Pistachio Creme

Collection: Gelly Hi-Shine

Release Date: Spring 2020

Coats: 2

True to it's name, this is a pistachio polish. This is one of the most recent additions to the Gelly range and it's right up my street. It kind of reminds of a mix between Essie Mint Candy Apple and Chillato. The application is easy, the formula glides across the nail and you can almost get away with one coat but I recommend two. Like all Gelly shades it's super glossy by itself and really does look like gel with a top coat on (but I never wear top coat in swatches). 

Sour Candy // Baby Blue Creme

Collection: Gelly Hi-Shine

Release Date: Spring 2020

Coats: 2

If you mixed this with Pistachio you'd probably end up with Wild Mint which was released in their Winter Wildlife Gelly collection (swatched here). I bought this one because I don't have many blues with me right now and well it's just super cute and pastel. It looks a little bit darker on the nails but it's nice and summery. I think this would look good as part of a pool watermarble. I couldn't resist as well and stuck on a shimmer topper:

Raspberry Ripple // Pink Creme

Collection: Gelly Hi-Shine

Release Date: Spring 2020

Coats: 2

This is pinker than I was expecting. Not awful but not exactly what I was after. It's kind of similar to Dragon fruit but more on the coral side of pink. With a bit of tan this doesn't look that bad and reminds me of Pinking Out The Window by China Glaze (that I recently swatched here). 

Grape Soda // Lavender Creme

Collection: Gelly Hi-Shine

Release Date: Spring 2020

Coats: 2

It's odd that I have about a bajillion Lavender shades now but all of them are different. I can't even find one that is remotely similar to this. Which is a good thing...I get to buy more lavender shades 😂. I'd say this on the cooler side and I really love how this goes with my skintone. It gives me 90s sailor moon vibes. December Dawn from H&M is also the perfect topper for this shade:

Acai Smoothie // Dusty Magenta Jelly

Collection: Gelly Hi-Shine

Release Date: Spring 2016

Coats: 2

This one is an oldie but I love the shade. I've been meaning to buy it for a while now. I love these dusty mauve/pink shades as their perfect for doing cosy autumn nails. This one has a slighter thinner formula that the others and leaves no streaks so you could use one coat for a jelly effect instead.

// Verdict

I think the formula for the Gelly range is getting better with each season. For £3.99 I really can't fault the application and pigmentation. I also love how every shade in this range is self-levelling; it's really difficult to screw up using them. There are a few more shades I'm after but I'm trying to practice restraint...I will probably end up just getting them lol.

SWATCHES: Barry M Gelly Hi Shine // Candy Floss, Cotton & Black Forest

After purchasing the some of the new 2020 Gelly shades I noticed there was a 3 for 2 on and decided to get some more just because I forgot how great the formula is. So here are some more swatches from the mini haul!

Candy Floss // Cool Pastel Pink Crème

Release: January 2020

This wasn't what I thought it was going to be based off the photos online (but when does that pan out?) but I still like it. I thought it was going to be a soft but bright pink and in very bright light it actually looks off-white. But in normal daylight it's quite soft and delicate. perfect for those who don't like "in your face" pink shades. Due to this it does need 3 coats just to cover the streaks. I'm wearing two and it looks ok in the photos, but there is a couple of streaks up close. It's nice and glossy though and the formula is easy to work with.

Cotton // White Crème
Release: January 2015

This wonderful white shade is ever so slightly off-white and has more of a cool/blue tone when compared directly against other pure white shades. The best thing about this shade though is that it's almost a one coat wonder. I'm a little shocked at how opaque it is. The formula is probably the thickest I've encountered for a Gelly polish and is a little tricky to apply but if you float one big blob you can get away with one coat. I think this has become my favourite for ombre's though as you only need that initial coat and it dries within about 2 minutes. I'm wearing 2 coats in the swatch though.

Black Forest // Black Crème
Release: Winter 2016

Behold, for I have found, a one coat black that costs under a fiver. Seriously, this stuff is ready in just one coat. I never wear black by itself but use it for backgrounds and space nails and this polish is just fantastic. It isn't as shiny as the others but I can deal with that.

SWATCHES: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine // Iced Latte, Berry Sorbet, Pink Lemonade

It's March!!! 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉And that means spring is finally right around the corner; oh god it's been so long since I felt the sweet sweet warmth of the sun. In other news, I was not spending money in Superdrug and did not buy more nail polish....

Pink Lemonade // Muted Pink Creme
Release Date: Spring/Summer 2016

Oh boy do I love this shade. It looks like more of a dusty dark pink in the bottle but on the nails it's just a true soft neutral pink. This is a perfect spring shade for floral mani's. It also dries quite quickly for the Gelly range. One coat isn't quite enough, but two does the trick and it dries nice and glossy.

Iced Latte // Vanilla Creme
Release Date: January 2020

This is a fantastic vanilla shade that isn't too yellow. This is the type of shade that will look good on any skintone. I can imagine this would make a nice coffee watermarble with a brown polish. This one definitely needs two coats as the first is quite streaky.

Berry Sorbet // Pale Blue Creme
Release Date: January 2020

Two coats is still a little streaky for this one as you can slightly see through the polish still but three coats isn't abhorrent for a gelly polish...in fact it's kind of the norm. I love this shade though; it's halfway between pastel blue and mint.

// Verdict

Well, I enjoyed these new spring shades so much I went out and bought 6 more Gelly polishes...They had a 3 for 2 on Feel Unique, don't judge me. This is my first time buying a Gelly shade in about 7 years and I'm not sure why I haven't bought more. They really do look like gel polish. I recently bought some gel and lamp (more on that in a post though) and these polishes have the exact same consistency as the gel ones. With the plumpy top coat on top, you can't go wrong.

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine

£3.99 each