On Saturday, I'm moving to a new place here in Boulder, so this week is annoyingly about packing and not nails.
I will return next week though. Have a lovely weekend!
FAQs now available!
Have you had a burning question about me or my blog?
I've compiled a list of FAQs for you to puruse at your leisure. Access it here, or just click the link to the page at the top of my blog (shown above).
If you don't see your question answered there, feel free to leave a comment and I'll add it to the list if it's applicable!
Floral Nail Tutorial for Online Fashion Week
OFW continues for just one more day, and as a special exclusive for the event, I've created a floral tutorial!
Check it out over at Online Fashion Week! Be sure to check all the other posts for beauty and fashion there before the day ends, so you can be sure you're on trend and stylish all through summer.
Check it out over at Online Fashion Week! Be sure to check all the other posts for beauty and fashion there before the day ends, so you can be sure you're on trend and stylish all through summer.
Faded French Tutorial
Some French manicures just look too tacky and chunky to be beautiful, and for special occasions like your wedding, the last thing you want is to look tacky.
I've worked with Weddingstar to deliver an easy and more subtle French manicure look. Read my write-up of the look over at Weddingstar's blog here! They'll be doing a Fashion Friday post every second Friday, and I'm honored to be the kickoff post for it, so please go give it a look (whether you're in a bridal party soon or not).
I've worked with Weddingstar to deliver an easy and more subtle French manicure look. Read my write-up of the look over at Weddingstar's blog here! They'll be doing a Fashion Friday post every second Friday, and I'm honored to be the kickoff post for it, so please go give it a look (whether you're in a bridal party soon or not).
Color Society - Color Club Royals
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| Click the icon to visit the Color Society page. |
Here's some nail art to prove it!
The color shown is Bright Night, splattered with little white daisies done with a nail striper from Color Madric. Isn't it so rich?!
For its swatch, I used two coats of Bright Night. It's one of the best blues I own to date, walking the line between being dark, yet bright. It's not for those afraid of bold colors, that's for damn sure!
Its partner in this review is Abyss. It's more blue than a previous teal from Color Society's set of Color Clubs using Wild Cactus, shown here. Again, very rich, and needs only two coats for ultra opacity.
If you're looking for great nail art polishes that'll get you fabulous results without lots of retracing, I recommend diving into some of the Color Club creme polishes, like these two rich beauties.
Thank you again to Color Society for sending out wonderful polishes for bloggers to review. And remember, if you're interested in applying to be part of the Color Society, fill out the application here!
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| Click the icon to visit the Color Society page. |
Tribal Nail Tutorial for Online Fashion Week
This year, for one week only, there's a mad dash of coupons, fashion posts, and discounts over at Online Fashion Week. They've asked me to be a part of a few of their posts, getting the nail side of things covered. I'll be doing a few tutorials for this one-time gig, and my first is the tribal tutorial I promised you yesterday!
Make sure you check out the tutorial over at Online Fashion Week for the tools of the trade. I also highly recommend snagging some of their discounts before the week is out!
Make sure you check out the tutorial over at Online Fashion Week for the tools of the trade. I also highly recommend snagging some of their discounts before the week is out!
Center of the Tribe
So this design was originally meant for a tutorial, but after trying to recreate the steps I did on paper, I realized it wasn't as simple as I'd hoped. It took a lot of retracing steps to make the lines look nice, and even still, it was a bit of a pain in the ass, so rather than a tutorial, here's some tribal eye candy instead! (Don't worry, another tribal look is on its way!)
I used four colors for this. Ali from Zoya, Sand Tropez from Essie, and two stripers from Color Madric in black and white.
I used four colors for this. Ali from Zoya, Sand Tropez from Essie, and two stripers from Color Madric in black and white.
Fake Tattoos Nail Tattoos Review
Before recently, I thought stamping and stickers were the next easiest way to get the artistic, perfect look without the steady hand some nail saints have. Then I was introduced to Fake Tattoos.
This European company specializes in temporary tattoos, whether they be on your body, or more excitingly, your nails! I've got a review today that's bound to excite you, and it's brought to you by Fake Tattoos!
Just like the temporary tattoos with unicorns and kittens we all wore as kids, these apply just as easily. They come on a sheet with paper backing and a plastic sheet on the other side. To apply this on your nails, you need to cut out the tattoo you want, peel off its plastic, and then apply the decal side to your nail. Then, with a damp paper towel, dab against the paper backing for about 15 seconds (they recommend 30). The backing will peel right away, and you'll be left with a beautiful design on your nails, just like these!
The middle finger bird (how appropriate) and the ring finger hearts (damn I'm good!) are all Fake Tattoos. Aren't they great!? Perfect, clean lines, with tiny details nearly impossible to achieve with a little brush or nail art pen. The floral design was inspired by the feminine florals of The Daily Polish.
The ease of putting these on was surprising. I thought I'd mess up at least one or two nails, but what you see above is my first attempt. They do have a slight visible (though not tactile) texture to them, as you can see in the black heart on my ring finger. I've layered on a thick coat of Seche Vite, and it still appears, but I honestly don't mind. It doesn't detract from the look in the slightest.
Though I've only used three tattoos here, there are plenty for you to choose from! You can see their whole catalog here, but I received six sheets. Here's what's on them:
Which is your favorite? How would you rock these?
You can try these yourself by ordering your own set here. Fake Tattoos offers shipping worldwide, so grab your favorite sets and try them out yourself.
These products were sent to me by Fake Tattoos. The reviews are based entirely on my experience with the products and were in no way influenced by anyone.
This European company specializes in temporary tattoos, whether they be on your body, or more excitingly, your nails! I've got a review today that's bound to excite you, and it's brought to you by Fake Tattoos!
Just like the temporary tattoos with unicorns and kittens we all wore as kids, these apply just as easily. They come on a sheet with paper backing and a plastic sheet on the other side. To apply this on your nails, you need to cut out the tattoo you want, peel off its plastic, and then apply the decal side to your nail. Then, with a damp paper towel, dab against the paper backing for about 15 seconds (they recommend 30). The backing will peel right away, and you'll be left with a beautiful design on your nails, just like these!
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| The colors used for this mani include My Vampire is Buff (OPI), Blueberry Blast (Misa), Lovely Lychee (Misa), Ripe Raspberry (Misa), Lime Love (Misa), Vintage Boutique (Avon), and Posh (Revlon). |
The middle finger bird (how appropriate) and the ring finger hearts (damn I'm good!) are all Fake Tattoos. Aren't they great!? Perfect, clean lines, with tiny details nearly impossible to achieve with a little brush or nail art pen. The floral design was inspired by the feminine florals of The Daily Polish.
The ease of putting these on was surprising. I thought I'd mess up at least one or two nails, but what you see above is my first attempt. They do have a slight visible (though not tactile) texture to them, as you can see in the black heart on my ring finger. I've layered on a thick coat of Seche Vite, and it still appears, but I honestly don't mind. It doesn't detract from the look in the slightest.
Though I've only used three tattoos here, there are plenty for you to choose from! You can see their whole catalog here, but I received six sheets. Here's what's on them:
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Which is your favorite? How would you rock these?
You can try these yourself by ordering your own set here. Fake Tattoos offers shipping worldwide, so grab your favorite sets and try them out yourself.
These products were sent to me by Fake Tattoos. The reviews are based entirely on my experience with the products and were in no way influenced by anyone.
Serum No. 5 Swatches and Review Part 2
How's everyones' nights going? Full of polish fumes and design ideas I hope! There are two contests with awesome prizes you all should enter! My 3D nail art contest, and the Rite Aid Nail Extravaganza! What're you waiting for?! Get going!
If you're stuck for inspiration though, I understand. Sometimes you need a kick in the creativity to get going on a project. For me, that inspiration often comes from a polish itself, rather than a more obvious design choice like floral designs or a beautiful background.
Sometimes just spending a thoughtful moment with a polish is enough, so here's seven Serum No. 5 polishes and some nail art to help get you started!
The nail art was inspired by the fierce, sparkling red glitter reviewed below, called Poppy Field. The sheer red jelly base paired with the dazzling ruby glitter reminded me of flames (and more specifically, the girl on fire). I lit up this polish by putting it in the 'hot seat' and drawing flames around it.
Now onto the swatches! This is the second installment of my swatches for Serum No. 5, the first of which you can see here.
Happy Place (2 coats over OPI Skull and Glossbones) - A somewhat opaque grey shimmer acts as a base for sparkly red square glitter, matte white shapes, and some larger gold pieces. As you paint on the layers of polish, they add a mask over the glitters underneath, and create a really great subtle look.
May Flowers (2 coats over Sation Teacher's Pet) - A springy, yet somewhat difficult glitter mix to work with, this mix features unusual shapes, including yellow flowers and holographic butterflies. The unusual shapes were obnoxious to apply though, causing a lot of frustration, even with the dabbing method of applying glitter. There's also a primary mixture of holographic shimmer, green, pink, and silver hexagons.
April Showers (1 coat over OPI You're Such a Budapest) - Like fog after a storm, this shimmer in this polish is very subtle. It adds light sheen over your polish (or bare nail if you choose) and a few matte white pieces of glitter. The shimmer is iridescent, so it's an interesting addition to any polish.
Beach Cruisin' (1 coat over OPI My Vampire is Buff) - This is a fun glitter mix! The large hexagons are slate green, and look like they want to curl but don't, giving them a very distinct visual pop on the nail. This might layer up nicely, even without a base coat, but I prefer to put shimmer mixes over cremes. You can see in the bottle shot that it's not a clear base, but not quite a jelly either.
Poppy Field (2 coats over OPI My Paprika is Hotter Than Yours!) - Poppy Field is super tricky to apply, but it's pretty lovely. The glitter pieces are much larger than most glitters I have worked with, so the dabbing method of application is definitely best. What I like about this glitter is also its super thin, jelly red base. You obviously can't see that in my swatch over the red polish, but in the nail art above, you can tell it's pretty great.
Fame (1 coat over OPI OPI...Eurso Euro) - A holographic beauty of perfectly shaped micro-glitter! It's perfect and I absolutely love the way it looks, especially over this beautiful dark blue. You definitely need to get this one!
Pink Peonies (4 coats) - I didn't use an under-color for this swatch because it's a creme mix, though it is quite thin. It looks like Valentine's Day frosting doesn't it?
What are your favorites from this swatch post? I personally love Fame. It reminds me of Fairy Dust from China Glaze. You can layer it over anything, and it would completely change the look of a polish, especially a creme! Get your hands on it or any of its siblings at the Serum No. 5 Etsy store.
These products were sent to me by Serum No. 5. The reviews are based entirely on my experience with the products and were in no way influenced by anyone.
If you're stuck for inspiration though, I understand. Sometimes you need a kick in the creativity to get going on a project. For me, that inspiration often comes from a polish itself, rather than a more obvious design choice like floral designs or a beautiful background.
Sometimes just spending a thoughtful moment with a polish is enough, so here's seven Serum No. 5 polishes and some nail art to help get you started!
The nail art was inspired by the fierce, sparkling red glitter reviewed below, called Poppy Field. The sheer red jelly base paired with the dazzling ruby glitter reminded me of flames (and more specifically, the girl on fire). I lit up this polish by putting it in the 'hot seat' and drawing flames around it.
Now onto the swatches! This is the second installment of my swatches for Serum No. 5, the first of which you can see here.
Happy Place (2 coats over OPI Skull and Glossbones) - A somewhat opaque grey shimmer acts as a base for sparkly red square glitter, matte white shapes, and some larger gold pieces. As you paint on the layers of polish, they add a mask over the glitters underneath, and create a really great subtle look.
May Flowers (2 coats over Sation Teacher's Pet) - A springy, yet somewhat difficult glitter mix to work with, this mix features unusual shapes, including yellow flowers and holographic butterflies. The unusual shapes were obnoxious to apply though, causing a lot of frustration, even with the dabbing method of applying glitter. There's also a primary mixture of holographic shimmer, green, pink, and silver hexagons.
April Showers (1 coat over OPI You're Such a Budapest) - Like fog after a storm, this shimmer in this polish is very subtle. It adds light sheen over your polish (or bare nail if you choose) and a few matte white pieces of glitter. The shimmer is iridescent, so it's an interesting addition to any polish.
Beach Cruisin' (1 coat over OPI My Vampire is Buff) - This is a fun glitter mix! The large hexagons are slate green, and look like they want to curl but don't, giving them a very distinct visual pop on the nail. This might layer up nicely, even without a base coat, but I prefer to put shimmer mixes over cremes. You can see in the bottle shot that it's not a clear base, but not quite a jelly either.
Poppy Field (2 coats over OPI My Paprika is Hotter Than Yours!) - Poppy Field is super tricky to apply, but it's pretty lovely. The glitter pieces are much larger than most glitters I have worked with, so the dabbing method of application is definitely best. What I like about this glitter is also its super thin, jelly red base. You obviously can't see that in my swatch over the red polish, but in the nail art above, you can tell it's pretty great.
Fame (1 coat over OPI OPI...Eurso Euro) - A holographic beauty of perfectly shaped micro-glitter! It's perfect and I absolutely love the way it looks, especially over this beautiful dark blue. You definitely need to get this one!
Pink Peonies (4 coats) - I didn't use an under-color for this swatch because it's a creme mix, though it is quite thin. It looks like Valentine's Day frosting doesn't it?
What are your favorites from this swatch post? I personally love Fame. It reminds me of Fairy Dust from China Glaze. You can layer it over anything, and it would completely change the look of a polish, especially a creme! Get your hands on it or any of its siblings at the Serum No. 5 Etsy store.
These products were sent to me by Serum No. 5. The reviews are based entirely on my experience with the products and were in no way influenced by anyone.
Rite Aid Nail Extravaganza - Contest AND Giveaway!
This is a long post, but read it all! There's not only a contest for you to enter, but also a giveaway, so make sure you get the details for both!
First up, the contest!
Rite Aid is looking for nail artists, young and old, beginner and pro, to participate in the 2013 Search for the Ultimate Rite Aid Nail Enthusiast!
The grand prize winner will receive amazing prizes:
1 Grand Prize Winner
2 First Prize Winners
The top three winners are selected by a combination of public vote and celebrity judge scores.
Here are the step-by-step details on how the contest works:
Round 1 Enter & Win: May 13-24
In addition to earning a prize with your awesome nail art, Rite Aid has also sponsored a prize giveaway at Nailed It, and you don't even need to do nail art for it!
Starting May 15 at 12:00AM MST and running through May 22 at 12:00AM, I will be hosting a giveaway, with an amazing gift basket brought to you by Rite Aid.
Holy caboodles that's a lot of good stuff!
The rules for entering, as well as all possible entries are listed below in the Rafflecopter. Please be sure you fill it out completely to be considered for the prize.
Sorry, contiguous US residents ONLY!
I'd like to thank Rite Aid for this amazing prize, and for the awesome contest! I hope everyone pulls out all the stops to get their best entries in for the win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The products of this giveaway were sent to me by Rite Aid.
First up, the contest!
Rite Aid Nail Extravaganza Contest
Rite Aid is looking for nail artists, young and old, beginner and pro, to participate in the 2013 Search for the Ultimate Rite Aid Nail Enthusiast!
The grand prize winner will receive amazing prizes:
1 Grand Prize Winner
- $500 Rite Aid gift card
- 20% off storewide as a wellness+ Gold status member for the rest of 2013
- A feature in an upcoming Rite Aid email
- The opportunity to be the Rite Aid 2013 face of nails.
2 First Prize Winners
- $100 Rite Aid gift card
- 20% off storewide as a wellness+ Gold status member for a year
- Featured in an upcoming Rite Aid email
- Highlighted on Rite Aid's Facebook page
- $50 Rite Aid gift card
The top three winners are selected by a combination of public vote and celebrity judge scores.
Here are the step-by-step details on how the contest works:
Round 1 Enter & Win: May 13-24
- Enter to Win by submitting a photo of your nails at the Rite Aid website.
- Share Your Photo - Tell your family and friends to vote for you because their votes count!
- Win Prizes - The top 20 entries with the most votes will win and move on to Round 2.
- The top 20 entries with the most votes become finalists. These finalists will receive an exclusive nail beauty bag that they will use to create a design. Celebrity judges - Annette Falso (Revlon SVP of Global Product Development), Julie G (Makeup and Nail Design Artist) and Katie Cazorla (Kiss Nail Dress Brand Ambassador) and popular vote will then decide the top 3 prize winners.
Rite Aid Sponsored Giveaway @ Nailed It
In addition to earning a prize with your awesome nail art, Rite Aid has also sponsored a prize giveaway at Nailed It, and you don't even need to do nail art for it!
Starting May 15 at 12:00AM MST and running through May 22 at 12:00AM, I will be hosting a giveaway, with an amazing gift basket brought to you by Rite Aid.
Holy caboodles that's a lot of good stuff!
The rules for entering, as well as all possible entries are listed below in the Rafflecopter. Please be sure you fill it out completely to be considered for the prize.
Sorry, contiguous US residents ONLY!
I'd like to thank Rite Aid for this amazing prize, and for the awesome contest! I hope everyone pulls out all the stops to get their best entries in for the win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The products of this giveaway were sent to me by Rite Aid.
Pop, Lock, and Drip It
Pop art, as it turns out, isn't given that genre name because the work usually 'pops' out at you. It's an abbreviation for "popular".
I like my more naive, childhood interpretation though, and took it quite literally here, with these 3D-looking pop art inspired drip nails!
This was fun to do. The base color is My Boyfriend Scales Walls (OPI). Then, I used Snap Happy (Essie), Carribean (Savina), and Almost Famous (Color Club).
If you're following me on Instagram, or you saw the colors in my feed to the right, then you knew what was coming. Is this what you were expecting? It's like the pop artist simply spilled all his paints, ruining the perfect dots underneath in a sort of perfect way.
I like my more naive, childhood interpretation though, and took it quite literally here, with these 3D-looking pop art inspired drip nails!
This was fun to do. The base color is My Boyfriend Scales Walls (OPI). Then, I used Snap Happy (Essie), Carribean (Savina), and Almost Famous (Color Club).
If you're following me on Instagram, or you saw the colors in my feed to the right, then you knew what was coming. Is this what you were expecting? It's like the pop artist simply spilled all his paints, ruining the perfect dots underneath in a sort of perfect way.
Color Society - Ruby Wing Color Changing Polish - Pink & Gold
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| Click the icon to visit the Color Society page. |
Ruby Wing polishes are unique, in that they change colors. However, unlike the temperature-dependent polishes that you regularly see (that change when you stick your hand under cold water), the Ruby Wing collections require real sunlight to change. How does it work?
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| MAGIC! |
But it really does seem magical! The colors all look one way when you're indoors. Then, as if by some sorcery, they instantly begin to transform as soon as you're in the sunlight. It happens quickly too, with full effect in direct sunlight seen in under one minute.
I was really impressed with the transformation. Let's take a look. Disclaimer: I am taking pictures of the same bottles in the indoor and outdoor shots. I have not switched bottles. Like I said...magic!
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| Indoor |
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| Indoor |
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| Outdoor |
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| Outdoor |
The bottle colors as they mixed were pretty rad too.
To complement this pink, Color Society sent along an awesome gold, Sunflower.
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| Indoor |
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| Indoor |
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| Outdoor |
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| Outdoor |
Now what happens when you pair them together? I just did a simple stripe down the center of each nail, to watch it go from pop princess party mani, to sultry and rich mani.
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| Indoor |
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| Outdoor |
My first experience with solar polish was awesome. This stuff surprised me, and I want to wear it in the wild to experience it in real life! Awesome work Ruby Wings, and thank you for the polishes Color Society!
Interested in applying to be part of the Color Society? Fill out the application here to apply!
These products were sent to me by Color Society. The reviews are based entirely on my experience with the products and were in no way influenced by anyone.
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