November’s Fave Freebie – Nails Inc Polish (reviewed)

I have some good news: the dry spell is over! Before you start thinking I’ve gone bonkers and taken up rain dancing to invoke the recent inclement weather, I’d better explain that I’m not talking about the stuff that falls from the sky. I refer instead to the stuff that comes free with the monthly lifestyle mags – beauty freebies!

After 2 months of barely nothing, November is awash with them. Cosmo, Elle, InStyle, Bazaar, Red and Glamour – they all come with a free beauty product this month (there may be other titles too but these were the ones I spotted in my local WH Smith last Friday).

So - choices, choices, choices! Selecting this month’s fave freebie was a toughie, not unlike the almost impossible decision when given first dibs on a Hotel Chocolat Sleekster box. In the end I plumped for a Nails Inc polish that comes free with December’s Glamour. 

At £2 I think Glamour is exceptionally good value for money.  It’s even more so when you consider that the free polish is worth £11. I’m pretty certain that is a higher retail value than any of the freebies bundled with the aforementioned magazines, though don’t quote me as I didn’t take notes.

If I hand't already tried Benefit’s Push-Up Liner I’d have gone for Elle, which has a travel size on its front cover.  This much-hyped liner has had very mixed reviews. Personally I really dislike it – it dries too quickly, it clumps and it’s difficult to draw a straight line. The Elle freebie gives you the chance to sample it before committing to the full size.

There are 4 Nails Inc/Glamour shades to choose from: Wigmore Street (dark blue), Tate (red), Marylebone Mews (lilac grey) and  Hanover Square (deep purple). I picked Marylebone Mews. Hanover Square was the shade I actually wanted but my local Smiths didn’t have it – I searched through the whole rack to check, twice!

Nails Inc, Marylebone Mews – Review

These full size 10ml bottles have the ‘Glamour’ logo embossed on the front, an indication perhaps of the growing value of these freebie collaborations to beauty and magazine brands alike!

The colour of Marylebone Mews will pretty much go with anything. Now I come to think of it, perhaps this was a wise choice of shade after all! Not just for its ‘mix and match’ quality but also because Grey is about to become massive. The’50 Shades of Grey’ film premieres next year and there’s going to be lots of tie-in beauty products hitting the shops –  OPI and Make Up Forever (MUFE) were among those pre-announcing ’50 Shades of Grey’ licensed products last week.

I was a little disappointed with Marylebone Mews when I applied it. It was thin and watery -  it really didn’t look much on. Then, as it dried, it settled into a uniform wash of grey which I did like. It does need two coats though, and even then this is a subtle shade, not a ‘hit me in the face’ block of colour.

You can buy more Nails Inc polishes here, ranging  in price from £5 to £14.

Other Freebies Available This Month:

Elle – Benefit Push-Up liner
Red – Rodial lip balm
InStyle – Murad exfoliator cleanser
Tatler – Cowshed hand cream
Harper’s Bazaar – Estee Lauder mascara
Cosmo – Nip + Fab body moisturiser