Let's Go Camping - Under the Stars Nail Art

I recently decided that I'm going to try to do more nail art.  I always complain that I'm not very good at it and admire other's art.  Well practice makes perfect, so I'm determined to do more of it.

That said, I've joined the Challenge Your Nail Art group on Facebook.  The theme this go around is Let's Go Camping.

Today we're doing Under the Stars.  

When I was younger, every summer I would go to an over night camp for about a week called Circle V.  Being from LA, I was always amazed at all the stars I could see at camp that weren't visible in the city and how unobstructed my view of the sunset was.  This helped inspire this nail art along with this post by Wondrously Polished.  She does amazing nail art that I'm always admiring.

The black at the bottom is supposed to be blades of grass, but it kind of looks like a faraway forest.

Polishes I used:

• Orly Decades of Dysfunction
• China Glaze Well Trained
• China Glaze First Mate
• China Glaze Stoked to be Soaked
• Wet n Wild French White Creme
• Wet n Wild Black Creme
• Essie Matte About You

Check out these other entries bellow!

An InLinkz Link-up

Femme Fatale Snapvine

It's been a while since I've worn and "indie" glitter so out came Snapvine by Femme Fatale from my infamous and seemingly never ending "untrieds" pile.

Snapvine has a teal crelly base with pink and green-gold glitter.  Formula was a little thick and the glitters clumped together a bit, but I think my struggle was due partly to it having been a while since I've applied a color like this.  Over all I loved the color, application, not as much.

This is 2 coats.

OPI Do You Have This Color in Stock-holm?

I always look forward to OPI's fall collections and this years Nordic Collection was no different.  I didn't buy them all, but the ones I did get are lovely.

Do You Have This Color in Stock-holm is an impossible to photograph blurple.  One of those colors that make you keep questioning if it's really blue or purple.  I really like it, but this is coming from someone with tons of "blurples."

Application on this polish was nice.  First coat was streaky but the second straightened everything out.

This is good in 2 coats, but I'm wearing 3 because the camera tends to pick up bald spot that art visible in real life.

China Glaze Sun Upon My Skin

Who loves yellow polish?  I do!  And I'm probably one of the rare few.  Even though this color polish tends to have crappy application, I love with my skin tone so I put up with it.

Today's post is Sun Upon My Skin from China Glaze's Off Shore Collection for Summer 2014.  As you may have guessed, it's a lovely bright yellow cream.  I don't know why, but this yellow seems a bit more cooler toned than other yellows in my collection.

This applied decently for a yellow.  A little streaky, but nothing you couldn't work with.

This is 3 coats.

If you havent already don't forget to enter my giveaway here!

Rescue Beauty Lounge Au Chocolate

Today I have a little throwback Thursday action with Rescue Beauty Lounge Au Chocolat.  I bought this a while ago (maybe 2010?) and of course I'm just now getting around to wearing it.  I don't think it's even available on the site anymore (sorry!).

Au Chocolat is a red/brown crelly, meaning a mix of both cream and jelly finish.  It's a great fall color.  It's dark without looking black in low light, which I love.  True to most Rescue Beauty Lounge polishes, the formula was nice, but a bit streaky on the first coat.

This is 2 coats.

Essie Strut Your Stuff

Today I have Essie Strut Your Stuff and short nails.  I'd been thinking about cutting them for a while, but my car door made that executive decision for me.  Story of my life.

So before I started swatching the fall Zoyas, I decided to wear something bright.  Enter Essie Strut Your Stuff from the same collection as Roarrrange, Summer 2014 collection.  This one is a bright blue cream.  Definitely a darker hue of blue than a sky blue, but still bright.

This applied really well and was easy to control.  It did stain my nails so watch out for that!

This is 3 coats.

Elevation Polish Echinops

Today I have a polish from Elevation Polish which has quickly become one of my favorite indie brands.  I bought Echinops a few months ago and I'm finally getting around to wearing it.

I have to admit I had to google what Echinops was, plus it's always fun to know the inspiration behind a polish.  It's a pretty blurple spherical flower.  This polish has the same pretty lavender/blurple color but with some subtle holo pigment in it.

Application on this was pretty perfect (another reason I love me some Elevation Polish).

This is 2 coats.

Elevation Polish can be purchased from their website or from LLarowe.

If you haven't already, don't forget to enter my giveaway!

OPI The Sky's My Limit

This summer, OPI released their Mustang collection in collaboration with Ford for Mustang's 50th anniversary.  This is the second Mustang collection OPI has done, the first being in 2005.

The Sky's My Limit is a medium toned blue with lots of turquoise and gold glitter.  It's definitely a cousin of Catch me in My Net and it's dupes, but it's a bit darker and more blue.  Honestly, if you already have Catch Me in My Net or one of it's dupes, you don't really need this unless you really like this finish or you love all things Mustang.

This applied really well.  No complaints at all.

This is 2 coats.

The Perfect Barielle Manicure and a Giveaway [Closed]

Sponsored Giveaway Press Sample

 I was recently given the opportunity to work with Barielle in creating my version of the perfect manicure using some Barielle products.  They were also kind enough to allow me to give a set of my picks to a reader!

Here we go!

My first step (after removing all old polish), was to exfoliate with Barielle's 60 Second Mani-Pedi.  This is a scrub made of salt and several oils.  I scooped a bit into my hands and rubbed it in making sure to also focus on my cuticles.  Make sure not to rub too hard because the salt can be abrasive.  I then rinsed in warm water and patted my hands dry.  This left my hands super soft!

Next I used Barielle's Natural Nail Camouflage.  This base coat has been in my rotation for a few years now.  It works well as a ridgefiller and I even wear it alone when I feel like going "naked" but don't want my nails to look too yellow.  It doesn't cover my extensive staining completely, but it helps.

And now for the color.  I picked Mint Ice Cream Cone because, who doesn't love a pale green polish?  This is a pastel green cream with a white base.  Pastels and whites are notorious for their bad application, but this applied well.  Fist coat is streaky, but second coat evens everything right out.

I let it dry a bit and topped it off with Barielle Gel Top Coat Max Protection.  This is a gel top coat that needs no light to dry.  For those used to a super fast drying top coat, this is not one of them.  Patience is needed, but it does dry to a nice shiny finish.

This is 2 coats Mint Ice Cream Cone with 1 coat Gel Top Coat.

And finally moisturize those hands!  Barielle Professional Protective Hand Cream is great for an everyday moisturizer.  It has the consistency of regular lotion. The smell isn't too strong at all (I'm not a fan of hand creams with super strong scents so this is perfect.) and it absorbs nicely leaving your has soft and moisturized, but not greasy.  Great to throw in your purse or have on your desk to moisturize through out the day.

All these products can be purchased at barielle.com and you also have the opportunity to win them through the giveaway!

Giveaway Information

1.  Before entering below, please be aware that this giveaway is US ONLY.  Sorry to my international readers!

2.  You must be 18 years or older, or have a parents permission to enter.

3.  I am not responsible for lost or stolen mail.

4.  The giveaway ends August 26, 2014 at 12:00am Eastern Standard Time.

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Sponsored Giveaway Press Sample

Smitten Polish Electric Lime

After swatching all those neutrals, I just had to put on something nice and bright . . . and holo!  So out of my untrieds pile came Smitten Polish Electric Lime.  This is a neon holo green.  I'm now kind of obsessed with it.  It looks good in both dull lighting and in the sun (I hate how some holos look kind of blah when you can't see the flame).  In really dull lighting, it looks like a bright green with lots of golden shimmer.

This applied nicely.  First coat is pretty sheer, but it does build up.

This is 3 coats.

Had to put in that extra picture, it's so pretty!  Smitten Polish can be purchased through her shop www.smittenpolish.bigcartel.com

Zoya Naturel Deux (2) Swatches and Review

Press Sample

Early this year, Zoya released the Naturel collection full of lovely neutral shades.  Well, they're at it again and I'm loving this round!

Naturel Deux consists of 3 brown shades as well as 3 in the muave/plum color family, all of which are work appropriate.

On to the swatches!