Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Here is my spooky manicure!

I poked around pinterest to get some easy nail ideas.  I'll breakdown the nail designs with each nail individually.

Index "Frankenstein" Nail:  I applied 2 coats of Zoya "Josie", and once it was semi-dry, I applied KBShimmer "Eclipse" with a brush in a track-like pattern, ALA Frankenstein.

Middle "Who's out there?" Nail: I applied 2 thin coats of KBShimmer "Eclipse". Once it was semi-dry (dry to the touch), I applied OPI "Alpine Snow" and Sally Hansen "Mellow Yellow" (old version) with a dotting tool.  Once that was "semi-dry", I applied KBShimmer "Eclipse" with a smaller dotting tool to the centers in varying angles. :)

Ring "Web" Nail: I don't like spiders, but I don't mind webs. I applied 2 coats of Orly "Shine" (my favorite silver) , and once it was "semi-dry", I applied KBShimmer "Eclipse", with a nail striping brush. This is a brush that is very long and makes great straight lines. Then, I  followed it up with a smaller brush to make the web-connections.   The connections were much harder, I'll have to perfect my technique with a thinner brush than I used.

Pinkie "Vampire" Nail: Super easy.  I applied 1 coat of OPI "Alpine Snow- Matte", and then 1 coat of regular OPI "Alpine Snow"

NOTE: I've discovered when working with white polishes, that if you first apply a matte version then the regular version, you get less drag and complete opaqueness without waiting for the dry time.

After that was "semi-dry", I applied, 3 red dots using "Zoya "Rekha" with a dotting tool, and then 3 red thin lines using a nail art brush, down towards the tip of the nail. I filled the rest of the tip using the brush, to make it look more "blood-like".

Thumb "Eyeball" Nail: This was a bit harder.  First I applied two coats of OPI "Alpine Snow", using the same method I used on the "Vampire Nail", then I applied  Zoya "Yummy" using my largest dotting tool, and smoothed it out in a circular motion, until I thought it was the right size. Getting this to be a "perfect" circle was hard for me. :( Once it was "semi-dry", I applied KBShimmer "Eclipse" with a dotting tool, on top.

While that was drying, I drew on the red veins using Zoya "America", with a nail art brush.  Then I grabbed OPI "Alpine Snow" and made a small dot, at an angle.  

NOTE: To clean up the blue eye, I used OPI "Alpine Snow-Matte" to quickly and easily cover-up the not-so "circular parts".  Matte polishes are perfect for covering up mistakes.  They are super opaque and dry fast.

I waited 20 minutes, before I applied my final 2 coats of top coat, because of the all the varying layers.

 















Overall, I am in LOVE with my Halloween Manicure!

Happy Halloween! Keep It Sweet!

Orly: Black and Silver Pixal Manicure

Today I have a super easy manicure to share, I decided I wanted a little glitz and I did not have any time to do nail art, so I simply applied the Orly Pixal colors in "Silver Pixal" and "Black Pixal" and one coat of top coat.

Orly "Silver Pixal" and Orly "Black Pixal".

 

Super easy to apply, and in two coats I was done.  You are not supposed to apply top coats with this type of polish, but I like applying it for several reasons.

1. It really makes the glitter in the textured polish SHINE!
2. It seals in the texture so it is not easily dulled by everyday wear and tear.
3. Adding one layer of fast drying top coat speeds up the drying time, and helps with extended wear.

If you don't want your textured polish to be on the "shiny side", you can always add a coat of matte top coat instead of a regular top coat, thus preserving the matte texture and still giving it the added protection of a top coat. :)

I love these two colors, however I wish the "Black Pixal" had a deeper black base, thus making the silver glitter really stand out, almost like stars against a night sky.

I had great wear with these, four days and I was taken care of.  Plus, I had a nail that was "mid-break" and I was trying to prolong having to cut it, because the break was so low. This textured manicure really protected the glued edge and I was able to go about my week "snag free". :)

Keep It Sweet!

PINK!!! with Orly and Lynnderella

I am NOT a pink fan, but occasionally the closeted "Barbie" fan in me wants a little breathing room!

Well today my inner barbie wants OUT!

Orly "Frolic" and Lynnderella "The Garden of Even"

I started with 2 coats of Orly "Frolic", then  I decided to top Lynnderella's "The Garden of Even on every other nail"...as if this manicure wasn't pink enough.  :)

Orly "Frolic" is a warm pink-lilac creme. It is super bright and super girly, and actually leans both pink and purple depending on your skin tone and what other colors it is paired with. It dries with a satin matte finish, so top coat is needed to make this doll shine.

Lynnderella "The Garden of Even" is a pink glitter party. It has pink, fuchsia, magenta and some purple all rolled into one. This color is known for having "bleeding glitter", which means the color of the glitter bleeds into the base, but that doesn't bother me at all.  This was part of the "Sweet Somethings for a Summer Solstice", released in 2012.  I nabbed my bottle from a fellow nail polish lover in one of my FB groups. :)

I think these two colors compliment each other very well. I did have to apply two thick coats of top coat over the entire manicure, to ensure that the glitter dried smoothly and that the manicure dried in a decent amount of time, given all the layers I used.

Yep, my inner Barbie has been satisfied!

Keep It Sweet!

4th of July "Liquid Sand" Stars and Stripes

I saw this nail tutorial on Chalkboard Nails, and I knew I had to do it for today's manicure!

I used...

OPI "Alpine Snow" for the base color. Orly "Snowcone" and Orly "Shine" for the stripes and then the stars are sponged on using OPI "Magazine Cover Mouse".

After I painted the base and the stripes, I topped it off with Seche Vite, so that it would dry faster before starting the "stars process". The base colors MUST be completely dry before you try applying the sponged stars. COMPLETELY! After that, you punch the stars in the tape and sponge them on, that's it. Follow the tutorial by Chalkboard Nails for better details.

I had some problems, with the tape.  I used the same piece of tape punched with stars for each nail, and as the nails progressed the definition in the stars lessened.  Next time, I will use several pieces of tape, punched with stars, so that I will always have the same defined stars throughout. :)

Here is a quick pic of the tutorial stage...

Overall, I'm very happy with my manicure, and I recommend you try this technique, it's worth the effort :)

Happy July 4th, and Keep It Sweet!

Orly "Sparkling Garbage"

Yep, you read that right...Orly named a polish "Sparkling Garbage"....and it is AWESOME!

Orly "Sparkling Garbage" from the Orly Mash Up Collection.

This is a gorgeous sea foam green jelly holographic polish, that is AMAZING I tell ya!  Yes it is thin, so I did 4 thin coats, and I let the holographic madness take care of the rest. :)

With 4 thin coats, it went on very well, and did not feel thick, AT ALL! It dried smooth, and after my usual 2 coats of top coat, it was PERFECT!

Here are some "blurry" pics , so you can see how "blingy" this is....

Oh man! This polish was a lot of fun to wear.  If you love sparkles, and you love a smooth finish you don't have to fight...I suggest this beauty!After 4 coats, and my usual 2 coats of top coat, this manicure lasted 4 days before I got my first chip. :)

If you don't want to do 4 cats, you can always layer this over your favorite sea foam green creme, like OPI "Mermaids Tears". :)

Bottle Shot

Keep It Sweet!

A SINFUL COLOR worth searching for...

Happy Monday!

I have for you today a game changer, at least it was for me. For years I had tried Sinful Colors Nail Polish and hated tit, it chipped, the formula's were inconsistent, it just did not work for me.

BUT this one did, Sinful Colors "Endless Blue", it is amazing! Great color, great formula, and it lasted 3 days with no chips!!!!

Sinful "Endless Blue", and Orly "Retro Red".

AMAZING...Right?  I applied 2 easy coats of the sinful and they applied like buttah!  For the accent nail I applied 2 coats of the Orly, and  with my handy dotting tools,  I did blue dots and then smaller red dots on top, creating blue rings on my nails.

Sinful "Endless Blue" is an amazing bright cobalt blue creme. It is from their "Buff to Bright" Collection, and is practically a 1-coater...WOO HOO!

Even better it is a dead on dupe of Nails Inc "Baker St.". Also, it can be found at your neighborhood drugstore for around $1.99 and sometimes on sale for .99 cents.  So there are 3 great reasons to go find it and buy it!!!

Orly "Retro Red" is from the Plastix Collection 2010 .  It is a bright orange toned red, that dries with a plastic like finish. This collection came in 4 colors, red, orange, teal and purple and I love them all. Perfect application in 2 coats. '

I was prepared for this manicure to chip, and I didn't even do my usual 2 coats of top coat. I just applied Seche Vite and let it dry. Wow, 3 days and no chips...what a happy surprise :)

Keep It Sweet!

Orly "Miss Conduct"

Hi! A bit gloomy here in California, but I hope it's sunny where you are.

Today I have a beauty from Orly's Naught and Nice Holiday 2012 Collection, "Miss Conduct". This is the only polish I bought from this collection, the others just didn't "get me", like this one. :)

"Miss Conduct" is a perfect fuchsia scattered holographic polish. This is 2 coats, no top coat.  It was easy to apply, no issues, and dried to a nice smooth finish.

Bottle Shot

Since I normally wear my polishes with top coat, here are some pics with 1 coat of top coat.

Let the sun shine in with your bight and blingy nails :) , Keep It Sweet!