Fingerpaints Winter Wishes w/ Orly Glitz & Glamour

Both of these polishes are from their brands respective winter collections.  Neither of which I gave much attention to.  I didn't really notice the Fingerpaints collections because those can be so hit-or-miss at my Sally's that I didn't want to lem one only to not be able to find it.  And I didn't pay much attention to the Orly collection, because just about the time it came out... Orly decided to make all the etailers jack up their prices to $6 a bottle (hrmph, Orly).

Anyway, like Savvy Garland, which I posted about previously, I happened to find these at Sally Beauty for half-off the clearance price.  So, they were $2 each.  Woohoo.  :)

Fingerpaints Winter Wishes is a champagne base with tons of silver and pale gold glitter (and there's possibly a small amount of orange in there).  I'm a sucker for golden polishes, so I fell head-over-heels for this one.  The glitter seems rather fine, but it was still quite gritty.  I have several coats of TC on my nails in this pic and it was smooth at that point, but it took at least 2 to get remotely smooth.  That said, I tend to use a thinner quick-dry TC, so I suppose if you were to use Seche Vite, it would take less.  The formula was a bit thick, so you had to be patient with it.  Pic is 2 coats.

Orly Glitz & Glamour is a very warm gold metallic.  Again, I'm a sucker for gold, so I had to pick this one up as well.  I love this one on my tips and I can't wait to use it as a full mani.

To create this look, I used one coat of basecoat, Jessica Critical Care and 2 coats of Winter Wishes.  I then applied a coat of TC and my Qtica Half-Time drops.  That was last night.  Then, this morning, I applied my french mani guides and applied Glitz & Glamour to my tips.  Then I applied a coat of TC, silver holo stars from my Art Club Christmas rhinestones pack, and 2 coats of TC to set the stars.

I realize it's only the 29th, and I'm almost certain, this won't make it 2 more days on my (darn NP ADD), but I think this would be a perfect NYE mani.  :)

Black and Silver French w/ Red Rhinestones

This is another look I created by using nail art products from Born Pretty Store. 

I created this by using Illamasqua Boosh (which is fab, BTW) as the base, a silver glitter striper for the tip and a red rhinestone for the accent.  I applied 2 coats of Boosh and a quick dry TC.  I then applied the tip.  I applied another coat of TC, making sure I had the rhinestone ready to apply.  I let the rhinestones set into the TC, and applied another coat of TC after it was almost dry.

I think this look, or any variant there-of, would look amazing for the holidays. 

Remember, all this week, I am showing you nail art looks you can acheive with Born Pretty products.  If you have any ideas, please let me know. 

Nail art pen and rhinestones were sent to me for review.  Illamasqua Boosh was purchased by me.

KOTD: OPI Lunch at the Delhi with Migi White

Sorry for the craptastic pic, but I wanted to go on and post this while it was on my mind.  If I think about it, I'll take another pic in the morning.

LatD is a muted, corally red.  When it was released, OPI described it as a coral.  It does have a hint of coral, but it's definitely a dusty red.  I used b/c I was kinda lemming Essie Chubby Cheeks, but LatD looks close and there's no need for a dupe of this kind of color, no matter how pretty.  This is 2 coats, though it could have used a third, you can still see VNL IRL.  If I wasn't doing a konad, I would have done a third.

As for the konad, this is another one of the fauxnad eBay plates.  I have a small obsession with lobsters and crabs (not live or cooked ones (blech), but cute ones.  LOL) and I was lemming this plate something awful.  Unfortunately, it didn't apply/release all that well, so it wasn't great, but I still love it.  I think it would look awesome in the summer.

EDITED to change my 2am typos.  :)

KOTD: ChG White Out w/ ChG Heli-Yum and Migi Black

I was in the mood for something black and white and very graphic with a pop of color.  I think this one fits the bill, but there's also a lot going on.  I don't consider it a fail, but I won't cry when I take it off tonight.  LOL.  BTW, pardon the dry cuticles.  I hadn't had a chance to moisturize yet this morning.

The base is 3 coats of ChG White Out.  I wanted a very stark white and WO works, but it takes so freaking long to get the desired look.  I've heard OPI Alpine Snow Matte is a great white base and is opaque in one coat.  Plus, if you use a TC, no one is the wiser that it started off as a matte. 

After almost 2 hrs of drying time, I applied a full nail konad in the houndstooth pattern using plate m63.  The color is ChG Heli-Yum.  H-Y is amazing for konadding.  I find of all the non-konad and non-nail art polishes (like Migi) polishes, ChG is the most consistent and best for using with the konad system.

Then, because I am horribly addicted to layered konads, I applied a flower using plate m21 in Migi Nail Art Black.  I'm sure you've seen that I've used my white and black Migis in konadding quite a bit now.  I was sent these a few months back by Migi and I mainly used them for dotting my nails.  Then the pen tip on my white quit working, so I had think of another use.  They have a brush and they are very thick, so I figured they'd be perfect for konadding.  Turns out I was right.  :)

KOTD: CC Fashion Addict with ChG Grape Pop and Migi White

I've actually had naked nails now for about 3 days, so it was nice to get back to polishing them.  I'm letting my nails be sans polish more and more lately, so I'm hoping this isn't becoming a bad habit.  I've been dealing with some personal crap (church crap, not relationship crap) lately, and it's really taken the wind out of my sails.  Plus, several weeks ago, my laptop migrated from the kitchen table to the living room.  I need to stick it back on the kitchen table because it's so much easier to polish my nails and then immediately do an update.

Anyway, this is CC Fashion Addict with ChG Grape Pop and Migi Nail Art White.  Plate is m57, and I did a layered design with the zebra pattern and then the accompanying flower.  I've recently discovered a love for holo polishes, as shown by my recent obsession and acquisition of holo OPI MPJ.  I've had a few holos in the past, most notably OPI Exclusive, but I ended up giving most of them away, as I didn't like them.  Yep.  I have up Exclusive.  I'm a dumbass, though I just gave it to my sister, so I can get it back if I need to.  However, lately, I've been loving all things holo.  Don't know why.  Probably the same reason I've been gravitating more towards cremes than shimmers.

Fashion Addict is from CC's 2009 Catwalk Queen collection.  It's a light lavender holo, that reminds me very much of CC Worth the Risque, only a very light purple rather than silver.  I decided to pair it up with ChG Grape Pop, from the U&A collection, in a zebra pattern and then an accent flower in Migi Nail Art white.

I love this one.  It makes me happy, and goodness knows... I can use some happy right now (I'm not trying to be vague.  In fact, I don't mind spilling my guts on what's been going on, I'm just tired right now and don't feel like writing a (longer) novel).

BTW, yesterday was my 10w anniversary of getting rid of the glue ons.  My nails still aren't 100%, and I'm still getting breaks because they are so thin in places, but I think they look pretty dang good.  :)

KOTD: RBL Plie w/ Migi Black

The second picture is just the first one flipped over, so you can better see the design.

This is RBL Plie topped w/ Migi Nail Art Black.  The stamp is a fauxnad I picked up on eBay a few weeks ago.  I can look up the info if anyone is interested.

I think Plie is probably my perfect mannequin hands polish, but the entire "mannequin hands" trend kinda creeps me out, so I'm just going to say it's a great nude for me.  Also, I'd mentioned a few times that I'd been having bad luck with RBLs, but I think I found a TC that works with RBL (for me).  It's Sally Hansen Insta-Dri.  It's works so well, and my nails were dry within minutes.  I don't know what took me so long to try Insta-Dri.  I guess it was just my NP snobbery kicking in.

2 ChG Up and Away NOTDs (Something Sweet and Four Leaf Clover)

Tonight, I have 2 NOTDs from China Glaze's new Up and Away Collection.

First up is Something Sweet

This was my KOTD a couple days ago, so I'm going to try and remember the details.  When I reviewed this before, I stated I think this has got to be the perfect pale pink.  And my opinion hasn't changed.  Eventually, I would like to swatch this beside CC Vintage Couture, but I think that Something Sweet is better.  It's not chalky at all.  For anyone that is still trying to find your HG pale pink, the color will not disappoint.

However, the formula is a tad tricky.  It has a tendency to be a bit thick and unruly.  I found that applying thin coats was the way to combat this problem.  I used 3 coats for these pics.  The konad is Misa Got to be Real with plate m64.

Tonight's NOTD is Four Leaf Clover

Like I mentioned the first time, this one is so freaking hard to capture on camera.  The first picture is with the flash and the second one is no flash.  In terms of color, the second one is definitely closer.  It's pretty dang closer, actually.  However, the finish on the first one is more accurate.  In the second picture, you can't see the shine and the smoothness.  I really wish this one was easier to photograph, because it is an AMAZING kelly green.  Seriously... I can't explain how fab this color is.  If you like greens, especially vibrant greens, give this one a try.  None of the pictures I've seen, whether mine or otherwise, captures the beauty of this color  You'll thank me.  LOL.

As for application and formula, this one is up there near Illamasqua in terms of awesomeness.  I did thin coats so it was 2 coats, but on one nail, I had to re-do it and I only did one (thicker) coat and it was perfect.  I think this one is definitely one of my favorites (if not my #1 favorite). 

Then, because I have rekindled my love for konad, I decided to apply a konad design. 

I had to use a flash to show the konad because I couldn't hold my hand still enough to capture it without the flash.  This is plate m64 with ChG Grape Pop (another Up and Away) and Migi White.  Yep.  I said white.  When I applied the TC, something weird happened and the white turned pale green.  Everything was dry and my TC is not tinted, so I'm guessing it's just a chemical reaction.  At first, I was like WTF?, then I decided I liked it just as much as I did before I applied the TC. 

Hope you guys like these.  I'll have more soon. 

BTW, yesterday was my seven week anniversary of taking off my glue-ons.  :)

KOTD: ChG Happy Go Lucky with Migi White

In continuing my re-do of the China Glaze Up and Away polishes, I used Happy Go Lucky for my NOTD.  This bright yellow isn't really my kind of color, but for some reason, I couldn't stop of thinking of this one, so that's why I went with it for this mani. 

In the 10 months or so since I became a NP addict, I went from being a red and purple girl, to an anything that goes with my skin girl.  Before, when I reviewed this, Happy Go Lucky and Peachy Keen were my least favorite colors in this collection.  I haven't re-reviewed Peachy Keen yet, but in regards to Happy Go Lucky, I have to change my opinion. 

While I'm not going to make yellow my go-to color from here on out, I do really like this color.  It doesn't look weird with my skin, though it is a little shocking to look down and see bright yellow nails.  LOL.  :) 

True to its name, it's a happy color.  It's like liquid sunshine on my nail.  It looks like the color of the daffodils that pop up in early spring.  It's perfect for spring and summer.  I think this would look great paired with a navy and white outfit.

As for formula and application... the formula was a tad streaky at one coat.  On most of my nails, a second coat evened things out, though on 2-3 nails a third coat was needed.  However, the end result is so glossy.  The finish on all of these is perfect.  This polish was really easy to control... not too thick, not too thin.  It flowed nicely on my nail.

Then I decided to do another konad.  This is is plate m21 with Migi Nail Art White.

From what I understand, there's a seller on Amazon (I think the one I used to purchase the Alice In Wonderland polishes today) that has the Up and Away collection up for sale.  E-tailers should have them up soon, as the collection is to be released on 1/15/10.

Stay tuned for another Up and Way N/KOTD tomorrow. 

Both China Glaze and Migi provided these product for review.

KOTD: ChG Re-Fresh Mint w/ Migi Black Polish

I read on the NB that Up and Away is going to be sent to sellers this week, so it should be in stock at e-tailers soon.  Thus, I figured I'd apply all 12 of these as NOTDs, as my swatches were really sad.  So I chose Re-Fresh Mint as my first one. 

*Sigh*  This color is absolutely amazinga nd it's the first mint I've tried that doesn't look like utter ass on me. It makes my hands look a bit red, but I don't really give a crap.  It's too pretty.  It's a true mint green creme that doesn't lean blue.  Normally, like I mentioned, mints look gross on me, but this one works.  There's been a bit of variation in opinion on various nail bloggers as to the formula on these polishes, especially the pastels.  Some find it great and some find it difficult.  I am in the middle.  It took 2 coats to reach opacity, but it was a little thick to apply, but nothing too hard to control.  Also it was a bit streaky on the first coat on some nails.

I loved the color on its own, but I wanted to break out the konad for the first time since I started growing out my nails.  I meant to take a pic before I applied the stamp, but I totally forgot.  Plate is m71.  I used Migi Nail Art Black.  The Migi is a little cumbersome for the konad, as it doesn't have a flat base, but I managed.

Hope you guys like this one (I lurve it).  Tomorrow, I'll be back with another Up and Away NOTD.  Any thoughts on the next one in the collection you'd want to see?  I'll pick the one with the most votes.  :)

Both the China Glaze polish and the Migi Nail Art pen used to create this mani were supplied to me by the manufacturer for review.

Merry Christmas!!!

(what's left of it, that is.  I started this around 11:30p)...

This has been a crazy week, so I'm so sorry for not updating before now.  I have a few recent manis that I'll just combine into one post.  And then I'll try to get back on track with the daily NOTDs next week.  I should have my "big" Dermelect review either Monday or Tuesday as well (plus a surprise, so stay tuned.  LOL).

Here are my recent manis that I haven't gotten around to posting yet...

First up is RBL Killa Red

Sigh.  I love the color in the picture and in brighter light, but that's about the only thing I love.  The formula was hard to work with.  You'd think with it being a RBL it wouldn't be such a bear, but I struggled with it for the entire mani (actually 2, but more on that in a minute).  Also, the brush on my Killa Red was a freakin' mop.  I managed to make it through, but my application isn't as neat as I'd like.  In darker light, or under the halogen in my kitchen (where I polish my nails), this looks very dark.  In fact, it looked very similar to OPI Got the Blues for Red (which is a great color, but I expected something different).  In bright light, it's much lighter and it's a beautiful color, but I wish I got Glamourpuss instead.  Lastly, it seems, on me at least, that RBL cremes do not want to work with some base coats.  I finally got it to play nice with Orly Calcium Shield, but I had to remove my previous mani and reapply Killa Red because it was so glumpy with the first base coat.  I plan on keeping it and using it again with longer nails, but if the color wasn't so nice, I'd have to put it in the "no" pile.  So far, I'm 0 for 2 with RBL cremes.  I didn't really like Au Chocolat, either.  But I'm planning to try again soon.

Next is the ubiquitous ChG Emerald Sparkle Holiday Mani

I love ES, but I only used this for Christmas Eve because I felt it was expected.  Not by my ILs (who I spend Christmas Eve), but by the NP gods in general.  It applied perfect, and without a lot of fuss.  This is one coat with another spot coat to cover a few bald spots.  I liked it, and I love the color, but I removed it pretty quickly.  I just don't like conforming.  LOL. 

Lastly, here's my attempt at some festive nail art

This is 2 coats of Essie Amalfi (a pretty white/gold (heavier on the gold) shimmer), with 2 coats of ChG Golden Enchantment.  I also did dots with Migi Nail Art in red and gold.  On my index finger is 2 coats of the Migi Nail Art red (Migi is unique in that there's a dotter and brush on each color.  Click the "Migi Nail Art" label to see more info on Migi... I'm too lazy to link right now, sorry :P).  I meant for this to look like strands of beaded garland.  I think the look turned out okay, but there were so many coats on my nails that I ended up getting sheet marks and shrinkage.  I took this off this morning (Christmas Day after I did this the night of Christmas Eve).  My nails were actually nekkid for Christmas *gasp*.

And that's it for right now.  I plan on starting back up with the daily NOTDs very soon.  I hope everyone had a happy and safe Christmas.

Migi Nail Art

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Migi Nail Art asking if I'd like to try and review a few samples of their product. As I'm always up to try new things, I said yes! I received the samples a few days ago, and lemme tell you... I think this is a fantastic new product for us amateur nail artists.


As you may have noticed, I love nail art. Up until I became an advanced novice on the konad, I tried striper pens and decals. Decals are okay, but some of them are a PITA to remove from the backing and they are pretty spendy unless you order in bulk from eBay or a company like Cina Pro. And you never know what you are going to get with the eBay items.

Striper pens, however, are the bane of my existence. They are just so hard to use and control, and while I can usually paint a deformed flower on my nail, there's no way I can get salon quality nail art with them, especially with my non-dominant hand.

Here's where I think Migi Nail Art fills the void. It's has a double cap on it so you can use a brush for painting your nails and the pen for drawing designs or creating swirls. There's nothing special about the brush, it's just your everyday nail polish brush (pic below), but the pen is perfect. It's a small point just like you'd see on a gel pen you'd get a Walmart (again, pic below).

brush

pen point

This point allowed me so much control, even with my left hand. I did a simple design today, but in the future, I plan on doing more elaborate designs to try the products to the fullest. I think my next design will be a corset pattern. Here's what I did today...



This is the white Migi Nail Art pen over a base coat of Nina Pro Out of the Blue. As Nina Pro OotB is supposedly a dupe for Chanel Blue Satin, I immediately thought of pearls, due to the Chanel dupey-ness (since this post is a review of Migi Nail Art, I'll save my review of Nina Pro OotB for a post to follow). So I use the white pen to create small dots in random, chain patterns on my nails.

I adore this look. It's fun and was pretty easy to create with the Migi pen. I couldn't see myself being able to do this with a striper pen. I suppose if you had a dotting tool you could, but this was by far easier, IMO. I did have a little bit of streaking when I applied my TC (it doesn't look nearly as bad on the nail as it does in the macro pics. Yikes), but that could just be the fact that I only waited 10 minutes. You may have to give it a bit more time.

Migi Nail Art is available here. They have 5 sets available, in a variety of colors. They are $24.95 a set with each set being 8 colors (4 wands with 2 colors on a wand with screw link in between). I received 4 colors in my sample pack, black, white, red, and gold, and I plan to use them more in the near future.

In short, I whole-heartedly endorse this product. I love them so much, in fact, that I really want to try a few additional colors, and when I have some extra cash, I may pick up a set. If you love nail art like me, I suggest you give this product a try. I think you'll love it, too.