Tuesday 30 November 2010

NOTD - Milani Orange Burst

Today's NOTD is one of the new polishes I purchased on holiday, my first go with a Milani polish; this one is Orange Burst. The only problem I really had with this one is its sheerness, took 4 coats and there was still a little viable nail line, but the stunning colour of this bright shimmery orange with very fine glitter particles more than made up for that :)

OPI Chip Skip
Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy
Milani Orange Burst 4 coats
Top Coat: Seche Vite


no flash
The last photo without the flash is probably the truest colour, the polish definitely looks more orange in real life, but it does change tones depending on the light. Polish was very thin and quite easy to apply, not very quick drying but Seche Vite always helps with that :D

NOTD OPI Burlesque Collection - The Show Must Go On with Barry Ms Crackle Polish on top

Fancied spicing this one up a few days later with Barry Ms Crackle Top Coat, (excuse the tip wear)

flash

OPI Chip Skip
Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy
OPI Burlesque Collection 2010: The Show Must Go On 3 coats
Top Coat: Seche Vite
Barry M Instant Nail Effects Crackle Polish 1 coat applied thickly in 3 strokes
Top Coat: Seche Vite

 photos without flash to show the amazing duochrome nature of this polish, really love it! :)
indoors no flash

indoors no flash

Monday 29 November 2010

NOTD OPI Burlesque Collection - The Show Must Go On

sunlight
OPI Chip Skip
Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy
OPI Burlesque Collection 2010: The Show Must Go On 3 coats
Top Coat: Seche Vite

The slight smudge on the middle finger is where I recently glued a nail silk wrap on a split nail (review of these to follow soon) I didn't wait long enough for the glue to dry when painting, this was remedied in the next photos with one more coat of polish :D


flash

I really wanted to capture the stunning duochrome nature of this polish, it has stunning flashes of a golden orange colour which gets lost in certain light, so here is the best I could do to capture the amazing effect :)

indoors no flash
indoors no flash
indoors no flash
This ones a bit blurry but it really captured the orange undertones in this polish :) soooo pweettyyy :D

I think this colour is definitely my favourite from the non glitters in the Burlesque Collection, it reminds me a little of Mac's Bad Fairy, in that is has a similar Duochrome effect, although that polish is slightly darker I'll have to do a comparison at some point :D


KOTD - OPI My Private Jet with Konad Plate M72

Finally decided to try out a different colour Konad Special Polish for this one :D

OPI Chip Skip
OPI Nail Envy 1 coat
OPI My Private Jet 3 coats (is opaque in 2)
Top Coat: Seche Vite (ensures the nails are completely dry for Konading)
Konad Special Polish in Silver and Konad Plate M72 (this was done the next day)
Top Coat: Seche Vite (about 5 mins after konading, and in three strokes not overlapping)



One thing I've discovered with Seche Vite on top of Konad designs, is if you try using the top coat after applying Seche Restore thinner to it, at first it can smear the designs, as the consistency of the top coat becomes thinner, so its always good to wait a few uses before using it over Konad, I usually use my Konad Special Top Coat while I'm waiting for the Seche Vite to thicken a bit :)

NOTD - OPI My Private Jet

Although I've not managed to get my hands on the uber holographic version of this polish yet, I still love the new version, as you can see from the photos it does still have an element of holo to it, but nothing near as much as the original version, which is near impossible to find the ole UK, *sigh* one day I shall find you :D
Still this polish goes on like a dream, and dries to a lovely glossy finish :)


OPI Chip Skip
OPI Nail Envy 1 coat
OPI My Private Jet 3 coats (is opaque in 2)
Top Coat: Seche Vite 
close up
The holo effect is a lot more visable in sunlight, as always I couldn't resist spicing this up with some Konad, pics to follow :D



Wednesday 24 November 2010

KOTD - China Glaze Ruby Pumps with Konad Plate M51

Finally managed to get my hands on Ruby Pumps :D (have ordered the rest of the Wizard of Ooh Ahz collection so swatches of them will follow soon)
sunlight no flash
OPI Chip Skip
OPI Nail Envy 1 coat
China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Ahz - Ruby Pumps 3 coats
Top Coat: Seche Vite (ensures the nails are completely dry for Konading)
Konad Special Polish in Black Pearl and Konad Plate M51 (this was done the next day)
Top Coat: Seche Vite (about 5 mins after konading, and in three strokes not overlapping)

sunlight no flash
sunlight no flash
sunlight no flash
I'm a bit of a sucker for red and black :) really love this konad design, and so happy that I finally have Ruby Pumps, its such a gorgeous glittery red, and isn't hard to remove at all :D

Collection Wheel Update

Here are some polish swatches I purchase before and during my holiday :) added to the collection page :)

1. China Glaze Party Hearty Christmas Collection 2010 - Phat Santa
2. China Glaze Party Hearty Christmas Collection 2010 - Party Hearty
3. China Glaze Party Hearty Christmas Collection 2010 - Jolly Holly
4. China Glaze Party Hearty Christmas Collection 2010 - Phat Santa with Party Hearty on top
5. China Glaze Party Hearty Christmas Collection 2010 - Jolly Holly with Party Hearty on top
6. China Glaze Wizard of Ooh Ahz - Ruby Pumps


1. Arissa Nail Lacquer - Pretty 
2. Arissa Nail Lacquer – Pretty (same name but different colour) 
3. Arissa Nail Lacquer – Ruby Sparkles 
4. Essie – Vintage Wine 
5. Essie – Chinchilly 
6. Etude Power Lasting – WH707 
7. Bourjois 1 Seconde - 28 
8. Bourjois 1 Seconde - 8
9. Bourjois 1 Seconde – 14 
10. Bourjois 1 Seconde - 1
11. Bourjois 1 Seconde - 2 
12. Bourjois Very Vernis Nail Enamel – 44 Orange Insolent 
13. Inglot Nail Enamel - 304 
14. OPI South Beach Collection – Feelin’ Hot Hot Hot! 
15. Milani Nail Lacquer –119 Totally Cool 
16. Milani Nail Lacquer – 45 Sun Flash 
17. Milani Nail Lacquer – 117 Orange Burst 
18. Milani Nail Lacquer – 88 Raspberry Fusion

Monday 22 November 2010

KOTD - Phantom Of The Opera Inspired Nails

While looking through my Konad Plates, when I came across the music notes on Konad Plate M73 I felt inspired to create a Phantom themed manicure :) quite pleased with how this came out.

OPI Chip Skip
Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy
OPI Alpine Snow (index to little finger) 3 coats
China Glaze Liquid Leather (thumb) 2 coats
Top Coat Seche Vite (10 minutes before konading)
Konad Plate M73 with Konad Special Polish in Black Pearl (index to ring finger)
Konad Plate M54 with Konad Special Polish in red and green (little finger)

Phantom Mask created using the pen tip of a Nail Star two way Nail Art Pen and Brush I first drew the outline with the pen nib then filled up the rest leaving the eye holes black.
Konad Plate M54 with Konad Special Polish in pink and green for rose
Konad Special Top Coat (5 mins after Konading)




Friday 19 November 2010

KOTD - Essie Chinchilly with Plate M81

OPI Chip Skip
OPI Nail Envy 1 coat (2 coats on nail with split)
Essie Chinchilly 3 coats
Top Coat: Seche Vite (ensures the nails are completely dry for Konading)
Konad Special Polish in Black Pearl and Konad Plate M81 (this was done the next day)
Top Coat: Seche Vite (about 5 mins after konading, and in three strokes not overlapping)



smeared the thumb a little :( but that was mainly down to my impatience lol :), overall really love this design, think it works really well on the grey of Chinchilly, also it literally refused to chip, went a good 5 days and if I hadn't had wanted to change my mani I expect it would have gone a whole lot longer :D looking forward to trying out more Essie Polishes :D

NOTD - Essie Chinchilly

Back from hols :D came back armed with lots of new polishes (filled a new nail wheel too so will have to post that soon also)
Here's one of the new colours i bought, Essie's Chinchilly, this is actually my first Essie Polish, and I was amazed at how long it lasted without chipping :D will definitely be trying some more :D


OPI Chip Skip
OPI Nail Envy 1 coat (2 coats on nail with split)
Essie Chinchilly 3 coats
Top Coat: Seche Vite 


Absolutely loved how this colour looked with some konading, post to follow :D

Saturday 6 November 2010

NOTD - Barry M Crackle Polish with China Glaze Sun Worshiper

OPI Chip Skip
Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy 
China Glaze Poolside Collection 2010: Sun Worshiper 4 coats (took a lot to make this one opaque but its quick drying)
Top Coat: Seche Vite
about 10 mins later
1 coat Barry M Crackle Polish (applied thickly and not overlapping)
Top Coat: Seche Vite

 More Pics :D (all with flash)


I really love this crackle polish :) it's so fun watching it dry and go all crackly :D I remember trying a cover girl one many years ago, but I dont think I ever applied it correctly as I just could never seem to get it to work, am absolutely in love with this Barry M one though, cannot wait to try it over lots of other colours :D

Here is what China Glaze Poolside Collection 2010: Sun Worshiper looks like on its own :) neons rule! :D
OPI Chip Skip
Base Coat: OPI Nail Envy 
China Glaze Poolside Collection 2010: Sun Worshiper 4 coats 
Top Coat: Seche Vite



Wednesday 3 November 2010

KOTD - OPI South Beach Collection Feelin' Hot-Hot-Hot! & Plate M65

Couldn't resist adding some Konad fun to my previous manicure, was really dying to try Konad Plate M65s rose design, but my nails were slightly too long for the pattern to cover, so when I trimmed them down to save my cracked middle finger, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to give it a go :D here it is!

OPI Chip Skip
OPI South Beach Collection Feelin' Hot-Hot-Hot! 3 coats
Top Coat: Seche Vite (ensures the nails are completely dry for Konading)
Konad Special Polish in Black Pearl and Konad Plate M65 (this was done the next day)
Top Coat: Seche Vite (about 5 mins after konading, and in three strokes not overlapping)




Its funny although I've purchased the Konad Pro Salon Kit II, which has loads of lovely stamping colours, somehow I'm always drawn to using the black and the white :) I just love how they look, but I'm definitely going to try some stamping with the other colours soon, actually really want to post a review of the kit as well, I love it so much!

NOTD - OPI South Beach Collection Feelin' Hot-Hot-Hot!

Feeling Pink! :D


OPI Chip Skip
OPI South Beach Collection Feelin' Hot-Hot-Hot! 3 coats 
Top Coat: Seche Vite (ensures the nails are completely dry for Konading)

I've been searching for a nice creme pink for a while, found this online and I do love it :) really want to try layering OPI - And This Little Piggy on top. 

Tuesday 2 November 2010

Product Review Calieo Invisible Nail Bandages for split nails

Calieo Invisible Nail Bandages: Repairs Split Nails Instantly - No Glue - Stays for Days


A few weeks ago I snagged my middle finger nail on a very infuriating drawer in my kitchen that is always an ordeal to open, a few days later I noticed a tiny crack on the side of my finger nail, I was devastated :( and thought this meant I would have to cut down all my nails immensely. However I initially used some nail glue to seal the crack and applied my polish as usual, this did work for a day or so, but eventually the crack remerged and I could see the nail splitting.

Recently when I visited Sally’s I found this product:
Calieo Invisible Nail Bandages for just under £4.00, so I thought it was worth a go.
Here is what you get in the pack

 30 bandage stickers in 3 different sizes (you get 10 of each)
A mini file/nail buffer
A mini hoof stick for easy application.


Here is how I applied them:

  • Firstly remove all polish and glue remnants
  • Peel bangage off using hoof stick on edge
  • Place the bandage so it completely covers the area of the nail that has split/cracked
  • You can use the buffer to file off the excess bandage, but I literally cut off the overlapping bit of the bandage, and did not buff as I did not want to make the nail weaker (since I had health probs which left me with very thin nails I try very hard not to buff my nails)
  • Apply nail polish as usual

Here is how it looks close up on my nail, I’ll admit it is visible (probably because I missed out on the buffing step) but in all honesty you really have to look closely to see it, and I’d much rather have that then a very very short nail!!


This is my first try with these bandages and it has been 3 days since I applied it and so far so good, the product says it should last 7-10 days and is also waterproof, although I really think putting nail polish on top helps it stay secure.

Will update this post when I need to change the bandage to see how it has faired :D

So all in all I am very fond of this product so far, it has saved my nail. :D

UPDATE DAY 4

After some konading and another layer of Seche Vite, the bandage is even less visible :) so I guess two coats of Seche Vite would definitely help disguise the bandage :D

UPDATE DAY 7


On day 6 I decided to change my mani, the bandage came off very easily with a bit of remover, and I have put on a new one :D so far I'm very happy with these bandages :D just as easy to apply the second time, and probably would have lasted longer if I hadn't wanted to change my mani.

UPDATE DAY 14

onto bandage number 3 (have put a new one each time I removed polish, and so far I'm ecstatic, before finding these bandages I would have definitely lost my nail :D


UPDATE DAY 19

UPDATE DAY 22


Nearly a month, and thats a month I would have had to endure with tiny nails if it hadnt been for these awesome things, went to Sallys to stock up but unforunately there were none left :( I can see why, they are amazing, but there should be more in stock by the end of the week, still in the mean time I purchased some Silk wraps, as I hadn't tried that method yet, review to follow on that :D

Update 21/12/10
Have just posted my review of silk nail wraps here, and they are awesome!!
So my final verdict on the nail bandages is
8/10
although these are very cheap the fact that you have to reapply a new bandage each time you do your manicure, makes them a little less cost effective for me, but they are extremely easy to apply and a great way to save split nails if you need a quick fix, definitely one for the handbag :D

OPI Burlesque Collection KOTDs


OPI Burlesque Collection 2010 - Bring on The Bling & OPI Burlesque Collection 2010 - Simmer and Shimmer Konad Designs

Left: OPI Burlesque Collection Bring on The Bling with Konad Plate M50 with Konad Special Polish in Black Pearl
Right: OPI Burlesque Collection Simmer and Shimmer with Konad Plate M59 & M70 with Konad Special Polish in White




OPI Burlesque Collection 2010 - Let Me Entertain You KOTD Alternative French Manicure

Konad Plate M56 and Konad Special Polish in Black Pearl



no flash truer colour
no flash

OPI Burlesque Collection 2010: Take The Stage KOTD
With Konad Plate M50 and Konad Special Polish in Black Pearl

OPI Burlesque Collection 2010: Tease-y Does It KOTD
With Konad Plate M36 and Konad Special Polish in White