Friday, December 30, 2011

N.Y.C. Starry Silver



My last manicure fell right off my nails, due to my accidentally using a top coat as a base coat. I needed a new manicure for the New Year, and I needed it quick. I grabbed N.Y.C. Starry Silver, thinking it looked like a party in a bottle. It is a clear jelly base with smaller silver and holographic glitter along with pink and blue hex glitter bits.

Application was a breeze. The brush was small, but the formula was thin and spread easily. Drying between coats was good, so layering up was not a problem. This color would be great over a base color. On its own, it requires several coats. I have four coats on here, and I still have visible nail lines, but the overall effect is nice for this time of year; a bit icy, and a bit festive.

This one should be around a little longer now that I have a proper base coat on.

Remover used: Acetone/glycerin mix.
Nail prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat.
Color: Four coats of N.Y.C Starry Silver.
Top coat: Seche Vite.
Wear report: Pretty average wear. Had some chipping a few days in. I ended up removing this after a large chip came off around day #4.
Removal report: Not too terrible to remove, but it was a glitter. It required a little patience.

Sally Hansen Gem Crush Glitz Gal


This is possibly one of the prettiest polishes I have applied to my nails. I found this on a display rack at a drug store a few weeks back. Thinking it looked perfect for New Year's Eve, I gave it a spin. It is absolutely stunning and looks even better in person. It is a thick, dark-gray jelly packed full of silver micro gltter with larger multi-colored holographic glitter specks that change color and sparkle every time you move.

What is not to love about this polish? The brush was absolutely perfect. It is a wider brush, and it works really well for quick, even application. The formula is fantastic. Two coats would have been more than sufficient, but being safe, I went with three coats. Three coats may have been overkill. This polish covers quick and applies evenly and easily. Drying was fast, as seems to be the case with most glitters. For a smooth finish, a couple coats of top coat may be necessary. I only used one coat, and it left my nails textured. I am okay with that, but if smooth is what you want, you may want to add another layer of top coat. The only thing I think I would change is the shape of the bottle itself. The bottle seems a little top heavy, and I was a bit afraid of accidentally knocking it over. Thank goodness that did not happen.

I really suggest this polish. I have picked up the Gem Crush in red as well. I am going to have to collect a few more colors.

Remover used: Glycerin/acetone mix.
Nail prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: Don't laugh (well, okay, go ahead and laugh), but I accidentally applied China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat as a base coat. I had grabbed the wrong bottle. It will be interesting to see how this performs as a base coat.
Color: Sally Hansen Gem Crush Glitz Gal, three coats in total.
Top coat: Seche Vite.
Wear report: TBA. Update: I will have to try this one again. I made a mistake of putting a top coat on as a base coat, and it did not work at all. The polish just practically fell off my nails in whole sheets on day #2.
Removal report: What was left of the polish came off pretty decently but felt like it could have been tough with a regular base coat under it. It is a glitter polish, so glitter polish removal will most likely be needed. I used glycerin/acetone mix.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Pure Ice Super Star



I found this color on a holiday display in the local drug store. I had to pick it up. Super Star is a cranberry-colored jelly with micro glitter. It is a rather stunning mix.

This brand is hit or miss with me, as far as formula and application goes. This one falls somewhere in the middle. It was a bit streaky, but it was thin enough to go on well. It took three coats to achieve the opacity you see in the photo. It dried rather quickly and had a rough texture naturally.

For good measure, I stamped my ring finger using Sinful Colors Snow Me White as an accent. It works well.

Remover used: Acetone/glycerin mix.
Nail prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: Seche Clear; still having peeling issues.
Color: Three coats of Pure Ice Super Star, stamp is Sinful Colors Snow Me White.
Top coat: Seche Vite.
Wear report: TBA. Update: This wore very well. I had some edge wear and slight chipping on day #3. By day #6, I had one or two good chips, but they still looked very good despite not even wearing gloves to do dishes a few times.
Removal report: Removal was easy and quick, and I had no staining whatsoever.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Happy Holidays Nails


Having a few holiday gatherings to attend this week, I was inspired to try another version of gradient nails. For this manicure, I used Orly Meet Me under the Mistletoe (an old polish I have had for years) for the base color followed by OPI Animal-istic and Sally Hansen Gem Crush Cha-Ching! at the tips. I finished this look off by using Sinful Colors Snow Me White and my new stamping kit I picked up from Rite-Aid (I believe it is called Salon Express). 

The Orly color is a green glitter gel. It is an old polish, but its consistency was still perfect. That said, it was a bit streaky and shear, so it took three coats to get the opacity I was looking for. I used one coat of OPI Animal-istic sponged on from the tips up, and I layered 2 coats of Sally Hansen Gem Crush Cha-Ching! sponged on over that (from the tips up). The Sally Hansen Gem Crush is a red glitter that looks like it would cover to full opacity in just 2 coats. I am going to have to try it on its own. It looks rather close to a red glitter polish in the OPI Muppets collection, but the silver glitter bits are smaller than the OPI version. For a finishing touch, I used Sinful Colors Snow Me White for the stamp. Snow me white seems to be a perfect opaque white cream that would work great on its own or for french tips or nail art. 

I am quite pleased with the outcome, and I did receive a lot of compliments on this one. 

Remover used: Acetone glycerin mix.
Nail prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: Orly Bonder.
Color: Three coats of Orly Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, one coat of OPI Animal-istic sponged on at the tips, two coats of Sally Hansen Gem Crush Cha-Ching! sponged on at the tips, Sinful Colors Snow Me White for the stamp. 
Top coat: Seche Vite.
Wear Report: TBA, but I did have some edge wear the same day I painted the nails. It could be simply due to how thick the polish was and the fact that I had to play some reindeer games at a holiday party that involved stuffing balloons into some pantyhose. Update: This polish began to chip pretty well by day #3. I touched it up. On day #5, it chipped again, and again I touched it up. On day #7, it began to peel off in sheets, so I removed it. I would say the wear was average, but again, I am not sure if that is due to the different base coat or how thick I had applied the polish.  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!      

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Winter Gradient Nails


Sometimes a girl just needs to go gradient. These were really quick and easy to do (used a makeup sponge and worked from the tip upward). The base layer is Sinful Colors Ciao Bella. This seemed like a deep blue jelly with very fine blue glitter specks. The first gradient layer was Bon Bons (bought at Wal-Mart) in metallic silver. I followed that up with a few layers of Sinful Colors Queen of Beauty. 

Application of Ciao Bella went great. The first coat was streaky, but with a second thick coat, things were wonderful. It did take a bit longer to dry, but the results were worth it. The Bon Bons metallic silver went on easy too. Queen of Beauty by Sinful colors is a clear-based silver glitter. It took a few coats to get the coverage at the tips you see above, but I am quite pleased with the outcome. 

Everywhere I go, folks are impressed with this manicure. A friend asked if I had used loose glitter. They remind me of the deep quiet of a dark winter night. Perfect for December. 

Remover used: Glycerin/acetone mix.
Nail prep: Rubbing alcohol. 
Base coat: China Glaze Strong Adhesion; looking around again since I have had a lot of peeling recently.
Color: Two coats of Sinful Colors Ciao Bella, one coat of Bon Bons metallic silver sponged on at the tips, three coats of Sinful Colors Queen of Beauty sponged on at the tips. 
Top coat: Seche Vite. 
Wear report: Very good so far. I am on day #3 and have very, very slight edge wear on a few fingers. Updated: This wore very, very well. It lasted a week with only one very small chip on the edge of one finger. 

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Pure Ice Jaguar


Pure Ice Jaguar is a shimmering gold polish with a few larger but still tiny specks of gold glitter. It looked absolutely stunning in the bottle, which is why I picked it up in the first place. While the color is not exactly flattering on me due to my fair/pink skin tone, it still is quite pretty to look at. I am sure it would look great on those of you with darker or more olive-toned skin. It looks quite classy overall.

Application was tricky. After using OPI nail polish for quite a while now, the smaller brush in this bottle took a little getting used to. At first, I had difficulty getting enough polish on the brush. This polish was very thin and sheer. However, it dried rather quickly, so I had to move fast to avoid smudging. On darker skin, the sheer look would have been fine with me. For me, I ended up applying a third coat to give it a bit more opacity. I still have a faint hint of a visible nail line, but it looked better after the third coat. It was a bit streaky and left brush marks, as polishes of this type can do. I found it best to apply the last coat thicker and go with light, quick strokes. I did have some bubbling, and some nail plate imperfections stood out (I have been having some issues with peeling as of late). I do believe this one would do best over a ridge-filling base coat, which I do not have at the moment.  

If you have the right skin tone and with the right base coat and application technique, this could be a great polish. 

Remover used: Glycerin/acetone mix.
Nail prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: CND Stickey.
Color: Three coats of Pure Ice Jaguar.
Top coat: Seche Vite.
Wear report: TBA. ETA: Wear on this manicure was about average. I believe I removed this polish on day #3 or day #4, and I did have some chipping. 

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Nicole By OPI Disco Dolls


This polish jumped out at me when I came across a Kardashian Kolors display in a local Wal-Mart. Feeling festive and in the mood of the season, I opted to try it out this week. It is a high-packed gold glitter with a few hints of pink and green (or is it mauve and teal?). There is fine glitter, and there are larger glitter pieces. Gold is not my best color, but it was so pretty I just had to have it. This is my first trial of Nicole by OPI.

I was very impressed with the brush. It seems to me that it is the same exact brush that is in all the other OPI polishes I have tried. Application was superior. It only took 2 coats for complete coverage, and for a glitter polish, that is outstanding. The polish dries very fast.

I apologize that the above photo is not very clear. I will say that my first impression of Nicole by OPI polish is very, very good. I will definitely pick up more polish from this line. 

Remover used: Glycerin/acetone mix.
Nail prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: CND Stickey.
Color: Two coats of Nicole by OPI Disco Dolls.
Top coat: Seche Vite.
Wear report: TBA. UPDATE: By day #2, I had edge wear and a slight chip. In the polish's defense, I did have my hands in water the next day. However, the chipping and edge wear continued to worsen on days #3 and #4. On day #5, a large chunk came off my thumb, and I had to remove it. Wear was not very good on my first try.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

OPI Animal-istic


I am in love with this color. It is perfect for the holidays. This shade is part of the OPI Muppets Holiday 2011 Collection. It is a bright, bold red with fine-glitter shimmer. It really pops and helps put me in a festive mood. I am not usually a fan of reds, but I don't want to take this one off at all. I can't stop admiring it. In fact, I have threatened to just keep wearing this one until January. 

Application was dreamy and easy, and I am wearing 2 coats here. I think I could have used another coat for good measure, but 2 coats works just fine. 

Remover used: Acetone/glycerin mix.
Nail prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: CND Stickey.
Color: Two coats of OPI Animal-istic.
Top coat: Seche Vite. 
Wear report: TBA. UPDATE: Wear was okay. I had some edge wear around day #2, which is no all that impressive. It held on pretty well until minimal chipping began around day #4. I had a lot of chipping by day #7. Removal was not that difficult with the acetone/glycerin mix.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Sinful Colors Verbena


Aster is the flower, and you can see it in the background of this photo. I love this color. It is a perfect match and really pops out in the light and colors of nature in autumn.

The formula is fantastic. It went on smooth and easy. I used 2 coats but probably only needed one. 

I have found the wear on the Sinful Colors creams to be very good, so that is a bonus since I don't want to take this one off.  

Remover used: Equate strengthening remover.
Prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: CND Stickey.
Color: Sinful Colors Verbena, 2 coats.
Top coat: Seche Vite. 
Wear Report: TBA. So far, I am on day #3 with some slight edge wear and one tiny chip. *Edited to add that it lasted darn near a week. Wear was great.*

Friday, October 7, 2011

Color Selection Method


Yes, sometimes this is how I sometimes choose what color to try next. I have no idea what these little purple flowers are. They are not chickory. They are a deeper purple and bloom in abundance only at this time of year. They pop out in the fall foliage among all the greens, reds, browns, and golds. Lucky for me, some also grows in my own backyard. I have wanted to polish my nails in their color since they started blooming, and now I think I have a match. They seem to be very close to the color of Sinful Colors Verbena. 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

CQ Golden Green


This was an unexpected find. While searching for Maybelline Autumn Leaves, I came across a few bottles of CQ polish that were just unique and beautiful. This one is a perfect green for fall. It is muted and yellowed, as the name suggests, and reminds me of a military green frosted shimmer. 

Application went well. The formula is great. It only took two coats, and brush strokes were not really noticeable for a frosted shimmer. 

I will definitely be picking up more from this brand. 

Remover used: Equate strengthening acetone remover. 
Prep: Washed with soap and water. Forgot to prep the nail with anything else. 
Base coat: CND Stickey.
Color: Two coats of CQ Golden Green.
Top coat: Seche Vite. 
Wear report: So far, this wears very, very good. I have had this polish on for 3 days now, and I only see very minimal edge wear. It feels strong and still looks great. Update: Wore for nearly a week with very minimal chipping and edge wear. I would say this polish wore exceptionally well. 

Maybelline Autumn Leaves


I first passed this polish on a Maybelline fall display at the store, and I passed it right up. After seeing it in other polish blogs, I decided I had to have it. Unfortunately, by then it became difficult to find. Eventually, I came across a bottle after searching several stores. This is now one of my favorites, if not my very favorite in my collection. It is aptly named, as it perfectly captures the colorful soul of the autumn season. It is a dark, burned red with gold micro glitter. Perfection. I do believe Essie's Wrapped in Rubies is a duplicate color, just looking at the bottles. This excites me since Autumn Leaves is a limited edition and is rather difficult to find.

Application went perfect. This polish looked flawless with 2 coats.

Remover used: Acetone/glycerin mix.
Prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: Nail Tek II.
Top coat: Seche Vite.
Wear report: On first try, not that good. I had chips early on day #2, and by the end of the day, the polish on my little finger fell right off in a huge sheet. I am not sure if the polish failed or the base coat did. I will definitely dry this one again since the color and application were so wonderful.

China Glaze Papaya Punch


Still hoping to find that perfect goldenrod yellow, I thought I would give this one a try. While it is not goldenrod yellow, it is an awesome color of its own. It looked more yellow in the bottle but dried closer to a light orange on my nails. It can work for fall, though it is a bit bright. The finish is creamy. 

Application went pretty well. This polish seemed thick to me. It could be just the bottle I bought. Perhaps it needs some thinner, or perhaps it is just how this formula is. I had to be careful as a result. The brush seemed to hold a lot of the polish. I went with it and applied 2 thick coats. Had I been more careful with applying the first coat, I probably would not have needed the second. 

Remover used: Acetone/glycerin mix.
Nail prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: Nail Tek II.
Color: Two coats of China Glaze Papaya Punch.
Top coat: Seche Vite.
Wear report: Very good. I think I removed this on day #2 or #3 with just some slight chipping and edge wear. Not too bad.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Sally Hansen Pumpkin Spice


Oh my goodness. I love this polish! It caught my eye during one of my trips to Ride Aid. It was found on a fall display, and there was only 1 bottle. I am so glad I picked it up. It is perfect for fall and that pumpkin-spice mood on cool, crisp, cloudy days. It is a smokey, dark gray jelly base filled with coppery glitter. 

The formula is good and went on quickly. Being a glitter, it did take 4 coats to get the opacity you see in the photo. However, the coats each dried very fast, so this was not a problem. 

I will be wearing this a lot this season. 

Remover used: Glycerin/acetone mix.
Prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: Nail Tek II for peeling nails.
Color: Four coats of Sally Hansen in Pumpkin Spice.
Top coat: Seche Vite. 
Finish: Nail Life Aromatherapy Drying Drops.
Wear Report: TBA.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

China Glaze Reggae to Riches



This time of year, the thistles pop out in vibrant deep pinkish purple hues. I wanted a color that resembled this, and I think I found it in China Glaze's Reggae to Riches. This is a medium pinkish purple shimmer with some tiny flecks of blue, making it nearly iridescent. 

Application was awesome. The formula is a bit on the thin side, but this is good, as it spreads evenly and well without brush marks. The pigmentation is also good, despite the thinness. That said, I probably could have used another coat on this, but I stopped at two. It is *mostly* opaque now with just a hint of where, when applying the second coat, I hit the first coat with the brush before it  was dry (my faulty application, most likely). 

The polish dried FAST and became rock hard quickly, so smudging was not a problem. It feels very durable, like it will hold up well. This polish makes me want to collect more China Glaze colors. I am quite certain that will happen in the near future. 

Remover used: Glycerin/water mix.
Prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat used: Orly Bonder.
Color: Two coats of China Glaze Reggae to Riches.
Top coat used: Seche Vite. 
Finish: Nail Life Aromatherapy Drying Drops.
Wear report: AMAZING. Took this off after 5 days and only had minimal edge wear and 2 small chips. I am not sure if it was the base coat or what, but it wore well. 

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

L'Oreal Owl's Night


This polish is stunning. I found it at Walgreens while hitting up the Sinful Colors sale. It was on a fall L'Oreal display. There was only one bottle of this color, so I suppose I got lucky. It really stood out to me. It seems like a very dark charcoal or black base but is chock full of gold, green, and sometimes reddish-orange micro glitter. Mostly I tend to see the gold at first glance. It changes its appearance according to the light.

Application was fantastic. The formula is very good, and it only took 2 coats. Drying time was incredibly fast, and the polish already feels very strong. I bet this one will last.

I did my nails late last night, well after it was dark. I was so impressed, I did not want to wait for daylight to take a photo, so the above was captured with flash. How fitting for a color with a name such as Owl's Night. Dark, mysterious, and just fantastic. I would love to find a second bottle of this one since the bottle is so small, only 0.39 ounces. That said, it was worth ever penny I paid for it. One of my favorites for sure.

Remover used: Glycerin/acetone mix.
Prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base: Seche Clear.
Color: Two coats of L'Oreal Owl's Night.
Top coat: Seche Vite.
Finish: Nail Life Aromatherapy drying drops.
Wear report: Took this off on day #3. Had some slight edge wear and a small chip. This could be due to the base coat, but I am not 100% sure. Wear seemed short to about average.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Sinful Colors Over Easy


This is LOVE. I love the color, I love the formula. It is a perfect, creamy, dusky rose. It went on smooth and streak-free. I really could have used only 1 coat, but I went with 2 for good measure. Not bad for applying polish in under 10 minutes, as I have an appointment I can't be late for. This is definitely one of the best colors I have tried yet. Way to go Sinful Colors! 

Remover used: Glycerin/acetone mix.
Prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: Seche Clear.
Color: Two coats of Sinful Colors Over Easy.
Top: Seche Vite.
Wear report: Very good. I ended up with a few tiny edge chips on day #3, but I had done some house work. I took it off to try another polish but was reluctant not to put this one right back on, I loved it so much.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Rimmel Hard Metal


I am really impressed with this polish on the first try. The color reminds me of my favorite pair of jeans, a worn denim. The tone is subdued just enough to be perfect against other fall-colored clothing I may be wearing.  

The brush is excellent and covers the nail evenly and quickly. The formula was perfect for even application. It only took 2 coats to get a great finish. The pigmentation is wonderful. I think I really like this brand and look forward to trying other colors. 

Remover used: Glycerin/acetone mix.
Prep: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: Seche Clear (trying something new due to peeling issues).
Color: Two coats of Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Hard Metal.
Top coat: Seche Vite.
Finish: Nail Life Aromatherapy Drying Drops.
Wear report: TBA. Updated: Had a chip on day #2 and edge wear, so it did not wear long. It could be the base coat, though. Not sure. I will be trying this one again. I definitely loved this polish, so it will be tried again with a different base coat.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

L.A. Colors #567 Shock


This was a Dollar Tree (dollar store) find. I love the color for early fall because it reminds me of the tops of the goldenrod plants that are in full bloom this time of year. It is a bright orange-yellow that is sure to command attention.

This is about 4 coats of color. It was streaky and thin and rather hard to apply. It most likely would have been better with a white base coat, I am sure. For the $1 price tag, I guess I get what I get. So far, I think Sinful Colors, when they go on sale for 99 cents each, are still the best deal out there, as far as cheap polish goes. I have plenty of other bottles of L.A. Colors to try, though. 

Remover used: Glycerin/acetone mix.
Base coat: China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat. (Thinking of trying something else since I am experiencing some nail peeling and dryness.)
Color: About 4 coats of L.A. Colors #567 Shock.
Top coat: Seche Vite. 
Wear report: TBA. Updated: Had some edge wear on day #2. It may have been due to my cleaning the house plus all the coats of polish. Removed on day #2. Wear was just so-so for this trial.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Sinful Colors Sale


Walgreen's is currently having its 99-cent Sinful Colors sale, which is half the normal cost, so I took advantage and came home with this haul.  Sadly, one color has to be returned, as it is missing a brush. Looking at the polish around the cap edges, it likely happened in the store. That will teach me to check the polish for brushes before buying. As I understand it, this sale is happening all week, so it is a great time to buy.  

Saturday, September 10, 2011

OPI Mrs. O'Leary's BBQ



Another great color for early fall. This color is a creamy deep berry red with purple undertones. I love it for this time of year, when I think of berry pies and apples falling from the trees. Of course, it also makes me think of the last few BBQs outdoors before the weather gets too chilly and the leaves are all gone.

My bottle may have had a thick formula, so I may add some thinner before wearing it again. The application was tricky for me.  I had to use 3 coats to cover up the streaks, and I still ended up with some brush marks and imperfections. Again, it could just be the particular bottle I bought. A little thinner should fix it right up.

Remover used: Acetone Glycerin mix.
Primer: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: China Glaze Strong Adhesion.
Color: OPI Mrs. O'Leary's BBQ, ,3 coats.
Top Coat: Seche Vite.
Wear Report: TBA. Updated: Took it off on day #5 with minimal edge wear. This stuff wore like steel. Excellent wear!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

OPI Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous


I can't say enough about this color. I have already gotten compliments on it, and I have only had it on a few hours. This is a color people notice. Sometimes it looks gray and metal like, and sometimes I catch the greenish cast to it in the sunlight from the tiny, blue-green glitter specks. It is simply gorgeous. 

The formula was nice and thin, so application was easy and fast. I did put three coats on for good measure, but I think I could have gotten away with just two. 

Remover used: Acetone/glycerin mix.
Primer: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat: China Glaze Strong Adhesion.
Color: Three coats of OPI Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous.
Top Coat: Seche Vite.

Wear report: Fabulous. I took this polish of on day #2 and barely had any edge wear going on. Using my acetone/glycerin mix, it still took some extra soaking to get it off. Love this polish!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Sinful Colors Serena and Chloe


This color is absolutely stunning. It is a bit shear, but it adds to the charm, in my opinion. The formula is fantastic. It does appear a bit more dark and gold in the bottle than it is on the nails. On the nails, it is more of a vibrant, deep reddish orange that really pops when outside in the daylight. This is yet another perfect fall color. Again, quite a deal for the price, especially since it seems to be wearing so well. 

Remover used: Acetone/glycerin mix.
Primer: Rubbing alcohol. 
Base coat: China Glaze Strong Adhesion.
Color: Sinful Colors Serena and Chloe, 3 thin coats.
Top Coat: Seche Vite
Wear Report: TBA, but I am on day #2 with no signs of wear yet. I am quite pleased with this one. Updated: I took it off on day #3 to try a different color, and there were no chips or signs of wear. The wear on this one seems very, very good. 

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

First Time


There is a first time for everything, and last Friday I had my first ever professional manicure. It was amazing. I wish I could have it done all the time. What she did to clean up my cuticles and make my nails look bigger and beautiful was nothing short of magic. Her filing and shaping was perfection. 

This is an OPI nail polish, but sadly, I cannot recall the name. It is a shimmery orange. 

I got my first chip 3 days after the manicure, which is normal for her manicures, per the manicurist herself.

Remover used: Unknown.
Primer: Rubbing alcohol.
Base coat used: Nail Tek (her recommended base coat for its moisturizing properties).
Color: Two coats of OPI color.
Top coat: Seche Vite (her recommended top coat).
Wear report: Normal wear, about 3 days before chipping.  

Friday, September 2, 2011

Making a List and Checking it Twice ;)


Five more Sinful Colors joined my growing collection this morning. I picked up a few jewel tones for fall. I will be collecting more China Glaze and OPI colors as soon as I solve my storage issues. 

I now have nearly 160 color polishes and 13 base/top coats along with 2 nail treatments. I keep lists and swatches to hopefully help stop me from buying something I already have. 

One can never have enough nail polish. Choice is a good thing, and color is grand. Besides, what could be better on a Friday morning than hot coffee and hot nail colors? :) 

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Dollar Store Find

Sometimes I am kind of cheap. ;) These colors were found in a local Dollar Tree store. They were in blister cards, hanging up in the beauty section. They are vibrant, and the bottles are really nice. I can't wait to try them out. 

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Oh yes indeed! :D

Sinful Colors Paradise


This color is AWESOME. I think it is the perfect cheery color for early fall. It reminds me of the clear, blue skies in October. The formula seemed fantastic. I applied one coat and had perfect opacity, but I applied a second coat for good measure. I will report in later as far as what I think of the wear.

Remover used: Acetone/glycerin/water mix.
Primer: Orly Primetime.
Base coat: China Glaze Strong Adhesion.
Color: Sinful Colors Paradise, 2 coats.
Top coat: Seche Vite.
Finish: Nail Life Aromatherapy drops.

Wear Report: Pretty darn good. The color held up well for 4 days before edge wear happened, and that is only after I cleaned my house, which is always hard on my manicure. I never reapplied the top coat, and the color remained vibrant and beautiful. Absolutely, this was a great polish for the price.