Rescue Beauty Lounge New York: Mani + Polishes

One of the things I promised myself I'd do while I was in New York was go and get a decent mani. And in a city famed for its nail bars, there was only one choice: Rescue Beauty Lounge. This nail destination-salon-slash-polish brand came to my attention a couple of years ago when I was researching a magazine piece on beauty destinations and I've been itching to go to it ever since. I'm not the only blogger in love with Rescue's ethos: they've named one of their shades after Scrangie, the seminal polish blogger.

There's plenty more where that came from too. A newish collection is themed around the Tudors but those don't really appeal to me, mostly being those sort of muddyish tones that sit well with this season's Paradoxal-style polishes. What I did like was the shade I had my nails painted: Under the Stars, a gorgeous midnight shade lit from within with subtle blue glitter. In the bottle, above, the lacquer looks super-sparkly but on the nails it's a lot more subtle and flashes only under bright light.

But how about the treatment itself? At $30 for a file and paint, sure, you can get cheaper in New York. Rescue Beauty Lounge is located in the hip Meatpacking district, and y'know, location always bumps prices up.  This is no mere nail salon either. It's quite a sleek space, mostly white, with mani stations and pedi rooms, a sunken relaxation area and a big reception where you can browse Rescue's own polishes and beauty bits from other brands like Blinc. They also do facials and waxing, so it's pretty much full-service.

For the money, I got a very thorough manicure: there was filing, buffing, exfoliation, cuticle work and massage as well as the requisite base, two coats of colour and a top-coat. I was then left to browse magazines until I felt ready to pay and go without smudging my new nails.  Irish salons, oh please take note.

Longevity has been amazing. Even himself noticed, who immediately slagged me the second I returned to the hotel about my inability to keep polish on my fingers. "How long'll that last before you pick it off," he archly wondered and yes, usually a mani lasts approx a day on me before it chips and therefore I start to pick at the remainder.

But five days on all I had was two minor chips and some tip wear. And that was pretty much (unprecedented) it. Colour me impressed. If I had any gripes about the treatment at all it'd be that I'm not 100% gone on the shape the manicurist filed my nails into - but that is a seriously small nit-pick.

Before I left, I of course made some purchases. I'd been browsing the shade selection online before I left Dublin and had a pretty good idea what I wanted to buy. In addition to Under the Stars, I picked up two glitters. Cos bitches, I is all about the glitter recently - Models Own Disco Mix ignited the love - so I snapped up Frugalista and Look Rich, Be Cheap.

I LOVE THESE. LOOK AT THEM. THEY ARE FAB.

I think I paid $20 each, though the Rescue Beauty Lounge website advertises them for $18 (around €13) a pop. If you can't live without 'em either you can buy online too - but postage to Ireland can be steep so maybe think about going in with some friends to spread the cost.

This is the fabulously-named Look Rich, Be Cheap applied. You're looking at four coats over a clear base and I LOVE IT SO MUCH I HAVE TO USE MORE CAPS. God, glitter is such fun. So easy to apply - ok, a bugger to remove - and the really unusual purple and gold spangles just work so well together.  Adore.

Not beauty-related but I have to show you one of the bits I bought in NY - massive, impractical, my owl ring looks amazing with the sparkly Rescue glitters.