The PERFECT Summer Manicure!

I was craving orange. NEEDED orange on my nails. I've been contributing to a bridal magazine the last few weeks (go, see, here) and have been trying to go with the flow of designer clothes and accessories on the magazine, so I haven't gotten an orange fix in a while. I pulled out Essie Meet Me At Sunset, which everyone else seems to think is a cream, but is actually a jelly- a dense jelly, but not even a crelly- and did two coats. Sigh. Relief. Wanted more orange, so a thin coat of Girly Bits Sailors Delight was the topping on the sundae. More orange jelly with golden glassfleck. Heaven. Perfect- and a great pedi for those who can't bear orange on their hands. Dazzle Dry topcoat.

Metallics are coming (again) - Let's see one from the past!

Fall 2011 brought us a collaboration with Lippmann and Juicy Couture called The Precious Metals Collection Holiday Collection.  I've seen a few around, including still on amazon.com. I got both sets, as I vaguely remember these as being discounted/couponed down to about $15 for the three polishes. This  set includes Believe, Here Comes the Queen and Jewel in the Crown, the only one I really wanted, because it's opaque and a unique color to my collection. It's a dark pewter color with a smidge of bronze in it, and supposed-to-be fine sparse glitter that just doesn't show on the nail. Two coats over Zoya get even and I still have a bit of ridging- this polish wants smooooth nails! That's why I am HOPING the new shimmers/metallics coming out for fall 2013 have addressed this issue- there ARE polishes that are metallic without streaking, folks! But, I'm pretty happy with it, thinking of some art to put over it right now.

Lace manicure on my BL Bride magazine post!

http://blbride.com/?p=602

Not a Summer Manicure

Ahh Elevation Xixabangma! (say THAT three times fast!) I love olive greens, and this is not only a two coater, but has an unusual blue/green shimmer peeking out! It was quite shiny without topcoat- I used Dazzle Dry over which, while it does dry incredibly fast, isn't quite as glistening as, say, Poshe or Seche Vite.  I adore the Elevation brushes, perfect for my nails, they fan nicely and are quite thin to get into the sides of the nails. I accented a couple nails with the glow in the dark Spectral Pup from Dollish Polish.

Ozotic 531 Mish Mash (naked)

One of my top 5 polishes, the copper-gold-red holo deliciousness that is the now discontinued Ozotic 531. No undies, while a black or dark underneath may offer a few more color changes, I like the cleanness sometimes of wearing this plain. Yum. These are all the same polish, yes.

KB Shimmer Misfit- Debbie Does Denim

This is quite the blurpley murky glitter hodgepodge that should really be on the fingers of you-know-who.  I think the blue magenta and purple shiny glitters are very necessary in this mix, although current trends are towards more matte (and round) glitters. Matte wouldn't be able to show through this evening colored soup as well as the shinies. Two easy coats (if I had been a bit more awake there would not be any thin spots) and several layers of topcoat and voila! No pushing or shoving of glitters, no dabbing or rearranging. I AM testing Essence peel off base coat (basically school glue) and will let you know tomorrow if it holds up and peels off as everyone seems to claim.  Not sure why this didn't get into her lineup- even a dedicated purple avoider like myself really likes this one!

Barry M Gellys! Finally!!

The ever-so-delightful Rhonni at ninjapolish HERE got a new shipment of the summer Barry M Gellys in and promptly sent me my order. (really- one day shipping!) I ordered a few from the last collection as well as the new summer one. Decided a skittle was in order. All are two coats except the lavender (Prickly Pear) which took three.  These are NOT gelish, just lovely squishy smooth gliding application pretty polishes.  I need the rest of them.

God Bless America!

Happy Independence Day and birthday of my country!
Base of Illamasqua Scorch (2 coats) then hand painted fireworks- China Glaze  Fairy Dust over top.