NOTD: Distressed Valentine's

Hello!

Here's a cute Valentine's Day look I just finished.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I started with a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, two coats of China Glaze Friends Forever, Right? on all my fingers but my thumb, which got two coats of Zoya Shelby. This was all topped with one coat of Seche Vite before stamping the chevron pattern from BM-201 with Zoya Geneviev, then again with Pure Ice Gossip and the hearts from BM-317. I added one coat of NYC In a New York Minute topcoat to add shine.

I didn't intend for it to be so grey and distressed, but it worked out well anyway.

Hope your day is great!

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Lacquer Lust A Toast to the Good Life

Hello!

Lacquer Lust A Toast to the Good Life. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I could not wait to wear the polishes I received at Christmas, so here's the first one I tried. This is Lacquer Lust A Toast to the Good Life.

Lacquer Lust A Toast to the Good Life. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

A Toast to the Good Life is a gorgeous mix of fine holographic gold glitter and small iridescent black hexes in a grey-tinted base. Pictures hardly do this one justice as it sparkles and flares rainbows like a diamond-encrusted ring. My camera just can't translate the beauty into digital form. The best I could do was some intentionally blurry captures.

Lacquer Lust A Toast to the Good Life. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are one coat of Duri Rejuvacote, one coat of Sinful Colors Nail Hardener, two coats of Zoya Normani, one coat of A Toast to the Good Life, and one coat of Seche Vite. I chose to layer this, but I'm not sure I needed to. I think two coats on it's own would have been sufficient now that I've used it. This polish applies wonderfully. It dries surprisingly smooth, and I only needed a normal topcoat to finish it off.

Lacquer Lust A Toast to the Good Life. Indoors, filtered sun light, no flash.

This polish was part of a limited-edition holiday collaboration set between Polished by KPT, Lacquer Lust, and Serum No. 5 for the 2014 holiday season and was given to me by my awesome parents. This is not available any longer, which is a shame. I'm sorry to be a tease! But take a look at some of their other offerings - my goodness some of those look incredible!

A Toast to the Good Life is my first Lacquer Lust polish, and I'm quite pleased with it. The logo is adorable too!

Lacquer Lust A Toast to the Good Life. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Copycat NOTW: Sweet and Cozy

Hello!

I wanted to share with you this sweet, cozy, wintry mani I've been wearing all this week. I was inspired by this pin.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I started with my base coats - Duri Rejuvacote and Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. To that, I added two coats each of Sally Hansen Wet Cement, the light grey creme; Zoya London, the medium grey texture; and OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around, the greyed-out pink creme. Once dry, I embellished the look with delicate dots in Wet Cement and Konad Special Polish white over the Don't Bossa Nova Me Around on my middle finger, a snowman stamp from plate BM-318 over the Wet Cement on my pointer finger, one coat of OPI Muppets World Tour over the Wet Cement on my pinkie, and, finally, a clear rhinestone on my thumb. Everything but the textured polish got one coat of Seche Vite to finish.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I loved this look and got plenty of compliments on it.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Dance Legend Albion

Hello!

Today's polish is Dance Legend Albion from their Mist Way collection.

Dance Legend Mist Way. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Albion is a sheer grey crelly with small translucent, gold flakies. The flakies are subtle and perfect for this stormy polish.

Dance Legend Mist Way. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are three coats of Albion over my base coat (Sinful Colors Base Coat) plus one coat of NYC topcoat. Formula on this is a little finicky. It is sheer and will drag and bald if not dry enough before you start on the next coat. You'll see that's what happened to me on my thumb. Also, take care to use a thin final coat so the flakies will show up well.

Dance Legend Mist Way, matte. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I purchased my bottle from Llarowe.

Dance Legend Mist Way. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

NOTW: Ready for Fall with Cozy Plaid!

Hello!

This week's mani was definitely ready for Fall! I used two coats of Powder Perfect Widow's Walk on my thumb, pointer, and pinkie. My middle and ring fingers got three coats of Sally Hansen Big Smoky topcoat before I stamped the plaid image from Konad plate m60 with Konad Special Polish in Black. I used one coat of Seche Vite over everything to complete my cozy look!

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Even though temperatures this summer have been really quite nice and mild, I am definitely ready for fall and snow! I'm so glad to be back in Minnesota--here's to a proper winter! I've missed it!

More soon! ^_^

GOT Polish Challenge: Stripes

Hello!

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

I used my two picks from last year's Hologlam Collection from China Glaze, Strap on Your Moon Boots and When Stars Collide. These are not quite a year old, but close. I think that collection came out in March or early April. Anyway, I swatched them once and never wore them again... what a shame!

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I started with a base coat combination of Duri Rejuvacote and Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. After that, I layered on one coat of When Stars Collide, and topped it with one coat of Seche Vite. When that was dry, I used striping tape to create the look and one coat of Strap on Your Moonboots. Once the tape was removed, I used another generous coat of Seche Vite.

Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

This turned out clean and crisp. I love how the two polishes work together, but the holo is so subtle!

Here are the rest of the participants' take on the prompt:


More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Hare King of Carat Flowers

Hello!

A lemming finally squashed! This is Hare Polish King of Carat Flowers from their Fall 2012 collection. I have been on the lookout for this one pretty much since it was released, but only recently lucked out and found it in stock.

Hare Polish King of Carat Flowers. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

King of Carat Flowers has gold, purple, and iridescent hex and square glitter in a sheer, grey base with golden shimmer. It is soft and elegant, and I couldn't be more pleased about finally adding it to my stash.

Hare Polish King of Carat Flowers over Essence Grey't to be Here. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are one coat of King of Carat Flowers over yesterday's Essence Grey't to be Here swatch plus one coat of Gelous and then one of NYC In a New York Minute. This lovely polish has a nice formula. It swipes on easily, and one coat over an opaque base achieves the in-bottle look on the nail.

Hare Polish King of Carat Flowers over Essence Grey't to be Here, matte. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I finally found this in stock on Llarowe, where it is sold out again. Clearly it's massively popular, so I expect it will return. Happy hunting!

Hare Polish King of Carat Flowers over Essence Grey't to be Here. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Essence Grey't To Be Here

Hello!

Today I have my favorite grey polish swatched up for you. This is Essence Grey't to be Here.

Essence Grey't to be Here. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Grey't to be Here is a fabulous, soft, grey creme with pink and gold shimmer. The shimmer brings a delicateness to this polish that is absolutely gorgeous!

Essence Grey't to be Here. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are a base coat of Seche Clear, two coats of Grey't to be Here, and one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. This has a decent formula that is slightly streaky on the first coat, but opaque and even in two. I don't care for the brush much on this line, but for $2, I can deal with it.

Essence Grey't to be Here. Indoors, filtered sunlight (window), no flash.

I bought this polish at Ulta, but I never have seen it there again. I've been looking for a back up bottle or two since they're tiny, but I've been unlucky so far. The search continues!

Essence Grey't to be Here. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Spoiled Steel the Show

Hello!

The Stash Swatch Initiative keeps on rolling today with Spoiled's Steel the Show. Steel the Show is a purple-grey/taupe creme. Simple, but unique.

Spoiled Steel the Show. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are a base coat of Seche Clear, two coats of Steel the Show, and one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. The polish has a great formula - it flows smoothly and evenly onto the nail for easy application. No issues.

Spoiled Steel the Show. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Spoiled is a special line from Wet n'Wild that is sold exclusively, I believe, at CVS stores, which is where I purchased this bottle.

Spoiled Steel the Show. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Essie Sable Collar

Hello!

I have a polish from a new collection to show you today! This is Essie Sable Collar!

Essie Sable Collar. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Sable Collar is a taupey-purple with plum shimmer. This is a unique color to my stash of 375 or so polishes, and I love the warmth of the shimmer.

Essie Sable Collar. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are a base coat of Seche Clear, two coats of Sable Collar, and one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. This has what I find to be the typical Essie formula -- it is thin and watery, but surprisingly opaque needing just two coats. I don't much care for this type of formula, in fact it put me off Essie as brand for a long while, but even so, I had no problems with application.

Essie Sable Collar. Indoors, filtered sunlight (window), no flash.

I picked this up recently at my local CVS. I had a coupon plus some Extra Bucks to burn, so this one came home with me. This should be readily available now; I think this is from Essie's winter collection, which was just released.

Essie Sable Collar. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Polished by KPT Harvest Moon

Hello!

Polished By KPT Harvest Moon cold. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Today I have the very beautiful Polished by KPT's Harvest Moon for your viewing pleasure!

Polished By KPT Harvest Moon warm nail bed, cold tips. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Harvest Moon is a holographic thermal polish that is a very light, grey when warm and gorgeous coral when cold. I didn't get great sunlight shots -- yay winter in the northern hemisphere! The holo effect is subtle indoors, but what I could see outside, in the weak sunlight was fantastic. I love that the cold color is warm-toned and the warm color is cool-toned! So fun and pretty!

Polished By KPT Harvest Moon warm nail bed, cold tips (my favorite!). Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

Swatches today are a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, two coats of Harvest Moon, and one coat of Seche Vite. Formula on this was similar to Nightcrawler, but less sticky. I did see what looked like pigment bits making a slightly textured surface, but topcoat smoothed everything over. You can kinda see what I'm talking about in a the thumb/label picture below, but, out and about in normal life, this looks smooth and normal.

Polished By KPT Harvest Moon cold. Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

I purchased this recently directly from Polished by KPT.

Polished By KPT Harvest Moon warm. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Polished by KPT Nightcrawler

Hello! Happy Halloween!!

Polished by KPT Nightcrawler. Cold. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Today I have a new-to-me brand. This is Polished by KPT's Nightcrawler!

Polished by KPT Nightcrawler. Cold. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I saw swatches of this collection over at MakeupWithdrawal about a week or so ago, and I was smitten! I immediately followed her link and purchased this polish. A completely impulsive polish buy! This is my first thermal polish, and I'm super excited to wear it. It's a reason to keep my nails long like this!

Polished by KPT Nightcrawler. Warm with cold tips. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Anyway, Nightcrawler is a gorgeously complicated, color-changing polish packed with purple, pink, and blue shimmer. When warm, Nightcrawler is a soft, shimmery grey. When cold, it is a deep, mysterious purple/blue. The shimmer is predominantly purple, but you can see the other two colors flash a bit at different angles. It reminds me of what OPI Russian Navy looks like up close. It also has a duochrome effect from purple to blue. So. Awesome. I wore this for a full day, and it was interesting to see how often the color changed. The thermal effect is very sensitive. There were plenty of times when the polish was in transition and made the perfect gradient. I wasn't able to catch it on camera, but, seriously, my pictures just do not do this pretty justice.

Polished by KPT Nightcrawler. Cold. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, two coats of Nightcrawler, and one coat of Seche Vite. The formula on this polish is a little weird -- it's thick but also almost sticky. I suppose that's what color-changing pigment does, but it didn't cause me any serious problems. I found application to be easy, but deceptive. The polish changed immediately for me when I brushed it on from the deep, dark blue to the light grey, so it was difficult to see where I had polished and where I needed a bit more. Once my hands got cold, it was easy to see the spots I missed a little (most noticeably, the bare patch on my middle finger). Now I know what to expect, I think I can manage this better next time around.

Polished by KPT Nightcrawler. Cold. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I purchased it from here! I just started following KPT's Facebook page, but I expect restock info will be announced over there.

Polished by KPT Nightcrawler. Cold. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Sally Hansen Wet Cement

Hello!

Quick post today on Sally Hansen's Wet Cement.

Wet Cement is the perfect, light grey creme. It's a nice, clean grey that I really enjoyed wearing.

Sally Hansen Wet Cement. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are a base coat of Seche Clear, two coats of Wet Cement, and one coat of NYC In a New York Minute. The polish has a good formula. It glides on smoothly with only minor streaking on the first coat that was completed evened out with the second.

Sally Hansen Wet Cement. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I purchased this bottle in the early stages of my addiction, most likely from CVS. It's a great, basic color.

Sally Hansen Wet Cement. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Zoya London

Hello!

Today I have a Zoya PixieDust to show you! This is London!

Zoya London. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

London is a cement-grey, matte textured polish with silver shimmer.

Zoya London. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are a base of Duri Rejuvacote and two coats of Zoya London. This polish has a great formula, which applied with zero issues. As with all textured polishes I've used thus far, dry time is a little long, and you'll want to wait a bit between coats.

Zoya London. Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

I purchased this bottle from Ulta, but usually buy directly from Zoya.

Zoya London. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Copy cat NOTW: Coral, Navy, and Grey Skittles!

Hello!

Today I want to show you a Nails of the Week from a few weeks ago. I wanted to recreate this mani to wear into DC to celebrate my fiance's birthday last month. In all the craziness June dished out, I hadn't the time to write about them here yet.

Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

I started with a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote. I layered on three coats of Cult Nails Scandalous, plus one coat of Seche Vite, on my pointer and pinkie fingers. My middle and ring fingers each started with two coats of OPI Skull & Glossbones to which one coat of OPI Pirouette My Whistle was added on my middle finger only. My ring finger was stamped with Zoya Ibiza in the awesome chevron design from Bundle Monster Plate, BM-201. My thumb was painted with two coats of Contrary Polish Santorini.

The hearts were added in OPI Skull & Glossbones using a bobby pin as a dotting tool. For contrast, I added a bit of Scandalous over the Skull & Glossbones heart on my ring finger. Everything was topped with a healthy coat of Seche Vite.

Random tidbit: This picture was taken in downtown DC near the US Navy Memorial.

More soon! ^_^