Friday, February 28, 2014

Stash Swatch Initiative: Wet'n'Wild Red Tape

Hello!

Today, I've swatch the bright red polish I used for last week's GOT Polish Challenge. This is Wet'n'Wild Red Tape!
Wet'n'Wild Red Tape. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Red Tape is a crazy-bright red-orange creme which has a slight jelly-like finish.

Wet'n'Wild Red Tape. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Swatches today are one coat of Sinful Colors Base Coat, two coats of Red Tape, and one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. The formula is good and smooth, but my brush on this little bottle is terrible. It's very large and fluffy.

Wet'n'Wild Red Tape. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
I purchased this bottle about three years ago -- about the time I first moved out here and started getting into polish. I don't think I have anything comparable in my sizable collection at the moment, so I do hope Wet'n'Wild still has this color as part of its lineup. It's bright and eye-catching!

Wet'n'Wild Red Tape. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^





Thursday, February 27, 2014

GOT Polish Challenge: Orange

Hello!

Today's GOT Polish Challenge prompt is "Orange"! I double-dipped for inspiration this week!


I started with two coats of China Glaze Riveting over my base of Seche Clear. Riveting is the best orange polish -- It's so gorgeous! I then stamped the orange slices from Bundle Monster plate BM-308 in Konad Special Polish White. I sealed that with one coat of NYC In a New York Minute.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Then, I used one coat of Zoya Coraline, another oldie but goodie (so old, in fact, it was one of my very first swatch posts!), to create a stamped jelly sandwich. I finished that off with one coat of Seche Vite.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Finally, I added one coat of Butter London Matte for this shimmery, juicy look.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
More soon! ^_^






Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Stash Swatch Initiative: Milani Jewel FX Fuchsia

Hello!

Milani Jewel FX Fuchsia, layered. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Today's polish is Milani Jewel FX in Fuchsia.

Milani Jewel FX Fuchsia, layered. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Jewel FX Fuchsia is simply medium and tiny shiny, fuchsia, hex glitter in a clear base. I wasn't in love with Zoya Normani from yesterday, but adding this topper made the whole thing look lovely!

Milani Jewel FX Fuchsia, layered. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are one coat of Jewel FX Fuchsia plus one coat of Gelous and one of NYC In a New York Minute over yesterday's Zoya Normani swatch. Formula is good here -- great glitter coverage and easy application. I did use the dabbing method to spread the glitter out evenly, but you could easily swipe this on for a more random look.

Milani Jewel FX Fuchsia, layered, matte. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
I purchased this bottle quite awhile ago. I'm fairly certain I found it at CVS, where I saw it still for sale recently.
Milani Jewel FX Fuchsia, layered. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Stash Swatch Initiative: Zoya Normani

Hello!

Today I have another of my picks from Zoya's Naturel Collection. This one is Normani, a dusty purpley-taupe creme.
Zoya Normani. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are one coat of Sinful Colors Base Coat, two coats of Normani, and one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. Like her sisters, Normani has a good formula that applies without problems.

Zoya Normani. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

This is probably my least favorite of the five colors I picked up from the Naturel Collection. It falls a bit flat on me, but from other swatches, I notice that it looks nicer on different skin tones.

Zoya Normani. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
I purchased my bottle directly from Zoya during a promotional sale. Stay tuned to their Facebook page to catch one of their frequent sales or promo codes!

Zoya Normani. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^





Monday, February 24, 2014

Stash Swatch Initiative: Zoya Payton

Hello!

I have a gorgeous polish to kick off this week with! Check out Zoya Payton!

Zoya Payton. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Payton is a beautiful deep plum-purple jelly with holographic fleck-like bits.

Zoya Payton. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Swatches today are one coat of Seche Clear, two coats of Payton, and one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. This applied easily with zero issues. It is nicely opaque at two coats, yet retains that jelly-like squishiness.

Zoya Payton. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Payton is gorgeous! She is similar to earlier the Zoya holos, Storm, Blaze, and Aurora. Ahh, I have much love for this one!

Zoya Payton. Indoors, filtered sunlight, no flash.
I purchased my bottle directly from Zoya during a promotional sale. Stay tuned to their Facebook page to catch one of their frequent sales or promo codes!

Zoya Payton. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^






Saturday, February 22, 2014

Stash Swatch Initative: Zoya Rue

Hello!

We're moving on with the Zoya Naturel collection swatches today. This is Rue, a muted, blush pink creme. Delicate and demure!

Zoya Rue. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Swatches today started with a base coat combination of Duri Rejuvacote and Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. After that, I used two coats of Rue followed by one coat of Qtica Extending Topcoat. Rue applies beautifully. I had no issues with this polish because it flows smoothly and easily on to the nail.

Zoya Rue. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
I purchased my bottle directly from Zoya during a promotional sale. Stay tuned to their Facebook page to catch one of their frequent sales or promo codes!

Zoya Rue. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
More soon! ^_^




Friday, February 21, 2014

Stash Swatch Initiative: China Glaze Itty, Bitty, & Gritty

Hello!

Today's polish is Itty, Bitty, & Gritty from China Glaze.

China Glaze Itty, Bitty, & Gritty. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Itty, Bitty, & Gritty is a bright coral texture polish. This is a creme version of a texture polish, if you will, because it has no glitter. Just textured pigment that dries somewhat matte, but I can still see shine on the flat bits of polish where there is no texture.


China Glaze Itty, Bitty, & Gritty. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are two coats of Itty, Bitty, & Gritty over my usual base combination of Duri Rejuvacote plus Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. I didn't have any problems with application.

This polish is so fun -- it's bright and beachy. The texture is perfect. I really enjoyed wearing this as a full mani, and I think I'll be putting it on my toes next!

China Glaze Itty, Bitty, & Gritty. Indoors, filtered sunlight, no flash.

I purchased my bottle on clearance at Sally's a few months ago. I think this collection was released last summer, so it's on it's way out. Head2Toe Beauty still has the whole collection available.


China Glaze Itty, Bitty, & Gritty. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^




Thursday, February 20, 2014

GOT Polish Challenge: Chevron

Hi!

Today's GOT Polish Challenge prompt is "Chevron"!

I started with two coats of Wet'n'Wild Red Tape, which is definitely one of my older polishes. I did take swatch pictures of it before I continued on with the nail art, so expect to see a full-fledged post on that in the next few weeks. I remember that I purchased Red Tape sometime in 2010, soon after I moved out here. I hope it's still available from Wet'n'Wild in some form because it's a vibrant red-orange unlike anything else I have.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

After that was mostly dry, I sponged Barielle Lemondrops over Red Tape in random places. I hit that with one coat of Seche Vite. Once it was all dry, I used the fantastic chevron image from Bundle Monster plate BM-201 and Konad Special Polish in Black. A quick coat of NYC In a New York Minute and voila!

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Bright and fun! I did attempt to do a nude and black chevron-shaped french tip before these, and it was a complete fail. So, in my frustration, I nubbinized my nails and went with this look instead! When all else fails, stamp it!


More soon! ^_^



Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Stash Swatch Initiative: Nfu-Oh 51

Hi!

Nfu-Oh 51. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
So, before they disappeared from the world, I did manage to snag a couple of now-discontinued Nfu-Oh flakies. This one is #51.

Nfu-Oh 51. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

51 is a crazy polish! The vibrant purple jelly base is loaded with duochrome flakies and shimmer. I see predominantly copper/orange flakies that shift to yellow and then green.


Nfu-Oh 51. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are over Sinful Colors Base Coat and are as follows: one coat of 51 over Cult Nails Nevermore on my pointer and pinkie fingers, one coat over Cult Nails Vicious on my middle finger, three coats alone on my thumb and ring fingers. Everything was topped with one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. I had no issues with application.

Nfu-Oh 51, matte. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I like this over black the best. The duochrome effect is amazing!

Nfu-Oh 51. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I purchased my bottle from FabulouStreet, which I was skeptical of at first because the website looked a bit dodgy, but I'm happy to report my two bottles were shipped to me freely and quickly! At the time I'm writing this, 51 is still in stock there! Hurry!


More soon! ^_^






Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Stash Swatch Initiative: Trelly's MISC Sugar Plum Dance

Hello!

Trelly's MISC Sugar Plum Dance. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Today's polish has sat untouched for far too long, so long, in fact, that it is no longer available. Sorry about that, but I want to show you Trelly's MISC Sugar Plum Dance anyway!

Trelly's MISC Sugar Plum Dance. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Sugar Plum Dance is a sheer purple jelly with orange, purple, and fuchsia circle- and hex-shaped glitters. I love the contrast between the colors here. The glitters range from very shiny to holographic, and the coverage from one coat is just right.

Trelly's MISC Sugar Plum Dance, layered. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are one dabbed coat of Sugar Plum Dance over yesterday's Cult Nails Flushed swatch plus one coat of Gelous and then one of NYC In a New York Minute. I had no issues with application.

Trelly's MISC Sugar Plum Dance, layered, matte. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

This polish was released by Cassie of Trelly's MISC way back 2012's holiday collection. I held off swatching it for so long because I just couldn't find the right base polish to use under it. I do think you could build this polish to opacity or close enough, but I don't care for most glitter polishes that way. Keep an eye out for new Trelly's on Facebook and at their storefront!

Trelly's MISC Sugar Plum Dance. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
More soon! ^_^






Monday, February 17, 2014

Stash Swatch Initiative: Cult Nails Flushed

Hello!

Today's polish is Flushed from Cult Nails.

Cult Nails Flushed. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Flushed is a beautiful, sheer grape-purple polish laced with a heavy orange/copper shimmer.

Swatches today are one coat of Sinful Colors Base Coat, three coats of Flushed, and one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. The formula is sheer, but builds easily. I had no problems with application.

Cult Nails Flushed. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

The shimmer is what makes this polish so great! Check it out in the sun!

Cult Nails Flushed. Indoors, filtered sun light, no flash.

I purchased my bottle from Llarowe, where it is still available. I normally buy directly from Cult Nails, but Flushed was a limited edition and is no longer available through them. So snatch this one up from Llarowe now or you are likely to miss out!

Cult Nails Flushed. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
More soon! ^_^





Saturday, February 15, 2014

Stash Swatch Initiative: Dollish Polish Crystal Empire

Hi! Hi!

Today I have a fun glitter topper to show you! This is Dollish Polish Crystal Empire!

Dollish Polish Crystal Empire. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Crystal Empire is a crazy mix of girly glitters. I see: big, silver holographic circles; satin, purple stars; white stars and moons; small and medium, fuchsia circles; small, teal circles; teal microglitter; and teal stars.

Dollish Polish Crystal Empire. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Swatches today are over yesterday's OPI Pompeii Purple, plus one coat of Gelous and then one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. I had a very hard time getting any glitter out of the bottle. I could see it stick to the brush, but as I pulled the brush out of the bottle, all that glitter would slide right off as the base drained off. In addition to that difficulty, the white glitters liked to hang out at the bottom of the bottle even after 24 hours of it sitting on it's top. I really had to work to get these swatches done, but I think it was worth it.

Dollish Polish Crystal Empire, layered. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
Crystal Empire is super girly and fun!

Dollish Polish Crystal Empire, layered and matte. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I purchased my bottle from Llarowe, where it is no longer available, but Dollish Polish's Big Cartel Store still has it for purchase.

Dollish Polish Crystal Empire, layered. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.
More soon! ^_^