Kleancolor

I've been seeing a lot of Kleancolor polishes as of late and when they said that the holos were comperable to Nuf-Oh I had to try them.  So I placed my first order...for about twenty some odd polishes, all holos and glitters.  Two words, Love Love!

Cosmetic Arts - No Name Green

I love this green, it makes me think of tart, juicy Granny Smith apples which makes me think of yummy apple pie full of cinnamon and sugar.  Yum!

I picked this, and a couple of other colors of the same brand, up at Ross Dress for Less for $1.99.  Not a bad deal. I love Ross. 

Since Cosmetic Arts didn't see fit to name their polish I have decided to put my own name on it.  I just can't decide between plain old Granny Smith Green or I'm Not Your Average Granny, Ms. Smith.  Ok ok, you can stop the collective groaning.

My pics all show a top coat over about three or four coats as I was trying to smooth out some streaking issues, but the actual finish on this is a nice satin like China Glaze Sun Worshiper and Orange Knockout. 

Unfortunatly I think it's that finish that lends to the streaking, as I've had the same issue with the two CG polishes above.  I think it's because the surface dries to the satin finish really quickly while the under layer remains wet.  It's just a theory but it stands to reason in my mind. 

I wonder why some polish lines don't name their polishes, this line doesn't even assign a number.  I think it would be so fun to come up with polish names don't you?  Well, until next time, have a lovely one!

Gilded Tips

My last mani turned out so well I pretty much wore it to death.  I thought I'd use the same technique with a different base color.  I don't think I like this one nearly as much but it still turned out really well.

 Sorry so fuzzy, not sure what the deal was.

This is two coats of OPI Friar Friar Pants on Fire.  The flakes I used are more of a copper color but they're tarnishing so there is some pretty blue mottling that I think is really pretty.  I used them over the tips and down one side of each nail.  All but the thumb, where I got a little too heavy on the foil, turned out really well.  Also I tried  a new top coat, Seche Vite UV cure top coat.  More on that in a future post. 

I figure that I have more than enough foil to last me for a lifetime of mani's and then some.  So if any of you are interested I'd be happy to send you a little bag with some.  Just let me know. 
Along that line, I find it so much more personal to be able to reply to your comments directly.  So if you're set to a No Reply please consider altering your profile so that I can respond to your comments via email.  It's really easy to do, go to your Dashboard, click Edit Profile, then make sure the box for Show My Email Address is checked.  A little lower down on the same screen you can enter the email address of your choice.  

Until next time, take care and have a great one!

Goldfingers

LOVE the way this turned out.

It's probably the most expensive mani that I'll ever have.

I picked up a big bag of gold leaf from the craft store and applied it to painted nails.  I could have picked some up at a beauty supply for cheaper maybe, I haven't looked to know for sure but oh well, I was there and it hit me, sometimes you just have to act on the idea.  Right?

I applied it over two coats of QRS Moody Blue (an awesome blue polish and could easily be a one coat wonder.)and while it was still a bit tacky, hard to do as it dries super quick, stuck on little flakes of leaf.  Honestly, it wanted to stick to everything but my nails.

I finished it up with a thick coat of Seche Vite.  I'd have to say my ring finger turned out the best.  I'll certainly be trying this look over other colors as well.

What do you think?  Do you like the look, would you do metal leaf over your nails? 
Thanks for reading, until next time, take care.

Pirate Pants

For the life of me I can't find the post with them to get specifics for you but I recently saw someone wearing one of the new nail treatments that had a white base with gold stripes that I could swear had bamboo in the name. (Can someone help me with this, I've done every search I can think of and nothing is coming up)
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to do in some alternate colors sooo. . .

On my left hand I used Steady as She Rose as the base color, took thin strips of painters tape and placed them as evenly across my nail as possible then went over that with two coats of Mermaids Tears.

On my right hand I did the same thing but used Mermaids Tears as my base coat and went over them with Steady as She Rose.

It's a silly post title I know, but they remind me of the stripped pants they always portray pirates as wearing, hence the name.  Do you see it or am I up in the night?

It's an Addiction I Tell You.

I always have the best intentions of cutting back on my polish expenditures, especially since we've got a trip to California planned for next month.

Unfortunately, the moment I walk into my nail supply store of choice, all sense seems to leave me.  This is Steady As She Rose from the Pirates of the Caribbean collection (of which I got all but one).  In full sun I can see the "rose" but honestly, more often than not it appears more of a very light pinkish purple than rose and fits in perfectly with the likes of Done Up in Deco and Parlez Vouz OPI.  Steady As She Light Purple just doesn't have the same ring to it though.

I find this shade to be quite flattering in it's subtle non-assuming way, and as usual for OPI, the formula is quite lovely to apply aside from a wee bit of drag around the edges..  This is two coats. 

I'll be honest, I did get the silver shatter, but as of yet, haven't had the desire to try it.  Maybe I'm just ok with living vicariously through other nail bloggers at the moment because there is certainly no shortage of shatter swatches.

Doesn't this make you wonder what the next "big thing" will be though?  Before shatter there was holo, what would you like to see as the next big thing for nails? 

So I know I'm becoming pretty flaky about my posting, I like posting every other day-ish, but they've increased my hours at work and school is becoming more of a pain and when I should be studying I'm daydreaming about other projects and when I go to do other projects I feel guilty for  not doing homework so nothing ends up getting done really.  Ug, remind me how great it's going to be having a degree 'cause I'm not seeing it at the moment. 
I do want you my wonderful readers to know how much I appreciate you taking the time to stop by to read my sporadic postings and commenting.  You're the best! 

Red-Brandt by Finger Paints

I think I've displeased the Nail Polish Gods, I've painted my nails I can't count how many times in the last day and each time I would get them done I would ding them before I got pictures.  We're talking within second of putting the cap on the polish.
The first couple of times I removed the polish and started again but after repeating this a couple of times, on the same fingers no less, I threw in the towel.  It was pretty late when I got this on last night and even then they weren't perfect.  Taking pictures was the last thing on my mind, so you get these the day after, and after work, so pardon the tip wear.

 

Red-Brandt is a red polish with a nice bit of shimmer, it unfortunately cause me quite a bit of angst.  I hope I just got a bad bottle, because I've not had an issue with Finger Paints in the past, but this formula was just horrid!  It was all at once thin and streaky and thick and gunk even after a good shake

 

This is three coats and thankfully the pictures don't show the irregularity to it.   I've never encountered such bad streaking that carried through each coat. 

 

Based off of past experience with this brand I feel this is an exception rather than the rule unless they've drastically changed their formula recently.  I do like the color though.  If you can find a bottle from a good batch I'd recommend it.  

Hopefully this is the worst of my polish issues and I can get on the upswing.  I still need to post my recent purchases.  I think I'll do that next in hopes that the Polish Gods are forgetful :-)

When Bordom Strikes

I've always wanted to try newsprint nails, I didn't realize how finicky they were though.  I got three done and got bored with the process. I used Milani Bare to Wear as my base color.

 So I decided to try water marbling for the first time. I used Ulta Angel Baby (White) Wet n' Wild Black Creme, China Glaze Recycle (gray) and Essie Smooth Sailing (blue).

I didn't have filtered water on hand so it could have worked out a lot better, but all things considered I don't think they came out too bad. Since I had no intention of doing my right hand with the newsprint, that came off, as well as the marble on my thumb since I didn't care for how that came out.

Essie Smooth Sailing went on all my other fingers.  Love this color and the soft shimmer it has.  Glorious application too.  Two coats was all it took for full coverage.

 By the time all was said and done, it was late so I didn't get pictures, these were taken next day after work, hence the wear and tear, sorry bout that.

So that's what happens when I get bored mid-manicure.  Not a bad thing.

Have you ever gotten bored mid mani and totally switched gears? 

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading, until next time, have a great one!

Love in Neon

I admit that I don't do true neon's very often, they usually look pretty harsh on me rather than flattering.  Not so with Orange Knockout by China Glaze.   Which is doubly amazing because orange is usually not a great color on me either.  I am totally ok with this one working for me though because I am in love love with this super bright polish.  It's just so happy and it screams summer to me.

This is three coats and while the photos make it look like there is a VNL, it was not apparent in real life.  What's with that??  Anyway.  On my accent nail I used an additional coat of CG Sun Worshiper as well as two coats of Color Club Turn the Other Chic.

I love the soft, satiny finish of this polish, I think it may be part of why this polish looks so good on me, it's keeping it somewhat softer than a high gloss.

This is a total win for a summer color and currently in my top five list.  If you've had trouble wearing neon's in the past, give this one a try.  It's well worth it.

For Moi?

I am super late re-posting these but I want to put out a huge thank you so Delicious Nails for my Liebster Blog Award and Beauty Shades for my Top 10 Blogs award. 

The Liebster Award is designed to be awarded to blogs with less than 300 subscribers to spread the blog love and get them out to a wider audience.

The Rules are:
1. Post displaying the award, linking back to the person who awarded you.
2. Pick 3 blogs and let them know they're awarded.

For the Top 10 Award
Rules are : 
1. Thank for being tagged.
2. Put in the link to the blog of a person who tagged you.
3. Put on your blog the logo Top 10 Award
4. Choose 10 bloggers to be tagged by you.
5. Put links to their blogs.
6. Inform them about it.
7. Create the list of your top 10 cosmetics

 Now, call me a party pooper but I am going to skip the actual tagging portion as I would never get this posted if I did.

My top 10 cosmetics at the moment are,

Almay Clear Complexion Foundation
Covergirl Coverstick concealer
EcoTools makeup brushes
Orglamix eyeshadow
Stary eyeliner gel
Covergirl Lashexact mascara
Maybelline Super Stay lip color
Covergirl loose powder
Paul Mitchell The Conditioner leave in conditioner (Not exactly a cosmetic but it's amazing and part of my beauty routine)
Beautique eyebrow pencil

Even Martha Does It

I admit to being the hugest Martha Stewart fan, I mean I seriously adore the woman.  For those of you who don't subscribe to Living, browse though it when you go through the check stand next.  There's an article called Noteworthy Nails.  With suggestions from Deborah Lippman one breaking  into bright colors for summer and  five step at-home mani/pedi with tips from Kimmie Kyees.
 It also comments on how Martha uses two natural shades to create a custom look for her fingernails (looks better on tv,) while reserving color for her toes.  Call me crazy, but the thought that Martha is rockin' some bright color on her toes just makes her that much cooler to me.  

Sorry I've been lacking on posts as of late, I've been under a lot of stress from school and military.  I've been going around with ratty, unpainted nails for about a week.  Hopefully things are on the upswing though so I can have a bit of me time.  I have picked up some new shades so will get a post out about them as soon as I take pics.