I very rarely do rushed manicures. I'm of the 'If you can't do it properly, don't do it at all' school of nailpolish application.

I can actually deal with chipped nailpolish better than badly done nailpolish, as long as it was well applied in the first place.

So, this recent manicure – applied in 5 minutes flat – was hugely out of character for me. But I had a business meeting to go to where appearance was paramount, and pulled out Ulta3's Black Plum, a shade I'd been impatiently waiting for cooler weather to try, and slapped it on.

Worst of all – no base coat. My poor abused nails.

I have to say, I was really disappointed and sad that this colour didn't live up to the outpourings of adoration I'd read on Vogue. It seemed flat and dull and I was about to remove it, about 5 hours after application, when I thought I'd see how it looked with a topcoat.

Oh. My. Goodness.

This is like crushed garnets sprinkled all over your nails. The transformation is nothing short of miraculous.

I have to show you another picture.

Okay, so they look exactly the same. But Ulta3 Black Plum is worth looking at over and over again.

This one goes to the top of my Ulta3 favourites list. Oh no, that's for Watermelon. Okay, number 2 spot then.

I can see this being on my nails alot this winter.

xx Kiki

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