Stash Swatch Initiative: HITS Air Glow

Hello!

I have another one of the four very-popular-a-few-months-ago duochrome glitters from the HITS Phenomena collection swatched for you today. This is Air Glow.

HITS Air Glow. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Air Glow is simply small, hex glitters suspended in a clear base. What's special about these is that they shift from a yellow-green through orange to red depending on the angle. It's an awesome effect.

HITS Air Glow. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I chose to show this over yesterday's Color Club Winter Affair swatch. I added one coat of Seche Vite after one, swiped on coat of Air Glow. The next picture also has one coat of Butter London's Matte topcoat. Formula is good -- one swiped on coat was enough glitter coverage for me. And I am loving this combination -- it's very fall!

HITS Air Glow. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I purchased this polish from Llarowe. As of time of posting, Air Glow was sold out, however, the other three from the collection are available. Leah Ann is very good about updating restock information via their Facebook page, if you're after this one, I'd keep an eye out there.

HITS Air Glow. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

"This is Halloween" Nail Art Challenge: Witches

Hello again!!

Today's prompt for the "This is Halloween" Nail Art Challenge is "Witches"! My first design ended up being mostly fail, but I thought I'd share it anyway. Sometimes, stamping works, and sometimes, it doesn't! I loved my base for this one--it's NYC's Battery Park Purple with Orly Fowl Play sponged on the tips then matted down with Butter London's Matte Topcoat. I totally can't take credit for this combination. Way back before I started blogging or even thinking about starting one, I saw this done on another blog and was blown away by it's gorgeousness. Fortunately, I pinned to my nail art inspiration board, so I can give credit to the Polished Perfectionist. It was first seen on a guest post she did for Ivana Thinks Pink. So awesome!

NYC Batter Park Purple with Orly Fowl Play in matte. Indoors, artificial light, with flash.

For Halloween, I tend to associate deep purple with witches, so I thought the combination was wonderfully magical. My fail came when picking a polish to stamp with. I used Wet n' Wild's Hog-Quartz School, which has been reviewed to stamp well, but it didn't this time for me. It was my first time attempting to stamp with it, but I noticed this image is rather large and can look blob like if not done crisply. So, I think this particular image needs a polish intended to be used for stamping.

First attempt at some witch nail art--not great. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

My next attempt was done over Hits Demeter, a gorgeous orange linear holo, with Konad Special Polish in black and came out much nicer. I used Bundle Monster plates BM-13 and BM-04 from for the witch and her little kitty familiar.

Witches nail art and Hits Demeter. Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

I guess actual stamping polish made the difference with this design.

Second attempt--much cleaner but less interesting? Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Check out what everyone else did today!

More soon!! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: HITS Demeter

Hello again!!

Hits Demeter. Indoors, artificial light, with flash.

Today I have an awesome orange holo for you! This is Hits Demeter from the No Olimpo Collection!

Hits Demeter. Indoors, natural light, no flash.

I was lusting after this one for so long, so, of course, I had to put it in my first llarowe order. I'm so glad I did! I can't believe it's taken me this long to put it on because it is stunning!

Hits Demeter. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Demeter is a lovely peachy-orange linear holographic polish. Indoors, it's a very nice orange with a hint of the holographic effect. Outdoors, it's a super star! The formula and brush were fine; no issues to report. I did need three thin coats for opacity. Shown today is three coats of Demeter with no base or topcoat.

My only complaint is the small bottle. It's so awesome, I wish it came in a bigger bottle! I'll have to conserve my 6ml and try layering this over a base orange in the future.

Demeter, and the rest of the No Olimpo Collection, can be purchased from llarowe and Ninja Polish. I bought mine from llarowe--I'm so glad she's in business and allows me easy access to awesome polishes! (My wallet, however, feels otherwise. lol) I believe llarowe's new website will debut tomorrow along with a restock of these Hits polishes. If only I could afford to place another order! I've been trying to limit myself to two polish purchases a month with a total polish limit of six bottles (but, I've already failed... I found a half-full display of Essence polish last time I was Ulta, so I'm up to three purchases and nine bottles this month! I guess I only get one purchase in November haha!). How do the rest of you polish fiends manage your polish spending? Do you budget it? Try to limit it? What works for you?

More soon!! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Hits Moonbow

Hello again!

Hits Moonbow. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Today I have another very special polish. This is Moonbow from Hits!!

Hits Moonbow. Outdoors, natural light, no flash.

I used one coat of this over a black creme. I lusted over this polish for so long. I'm glad I finally got my hands on it and it doesn't disappoint!

Swatches today are one coat of Sinful Colors Nail Hardening Base, two coats of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Black Out, one coat of Moonbow, and one coat of Seche Vite.

Hits Moonbow. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

This is from Hits' Phenomena collection, which is a series of four multichrome glitters. I have read others mention these are dupes of some Ozotic polishes, but I am not familiar with Ozotics, unfortunately. Anyway, the glitter in here shifts from teal to purple to pink and finally gold at the extreme angle. Over black, this makes me think of galaxy nails. I like how you get both 'sides' to the shift from individual pieces of glitter being aligned differently.

Hits Moonbow. Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

Can't wait to see what other layerings I can come up with for this....

The Hits Phenomena Collection can be found at llarowe and Ninja Polish. It's been popular, so some stalking might be necessary to snag one. Happy hunting!

More soon!! ^_^

Hits Moonbow