Lacquer or Leave Her!: 2018

Monday, December 31, 2018

It Girl Nail Art Limited Edition Mythology Plate

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!

If you haven't already heard, this month's Polish Pickup theme is Mythology, and It Girl Nail Art is contributing a limited edition plate celebrating the theme:

It Girl Nail Art LE107

She did a mix of several types of mythology and mythical creatures, and I gotta say--the mighty jackalope is definitely my favorite. (You gotta love jackalopes, because that's where naugahyde comes from, and where would we be without naugahyde?)

I had a blast playing around with this, so I have several manis to show you...this first one started with a base of Zoya Rekha, then I stamped an image from It Girl Nail Art IG102, and then added in my images from LE107, using Messy Mansion Carbon and Soft Gold:

It Girl Nail Art LE107 and IG102 over Zoya Rekha

Next up I went for some Greek mythology...I started with a base of Stella Chroma Cinnamon & Spice, and then stamped an image from It Girl Nail Art IG105 with Girly Bits Irreplaceable, and then stamped my LE107 images with Messy Mansion Spring Green, Carbon, and Soft Gold:

It Girl Nail Art LE107 and IG105 over Zoya Rekha

Next I took a trip under da sea with a base of Stella Chroma Flannel & Boots, and stamped an image from IG111 with Messy Mansion Chalk. Then I reversed-stamped my images from LE107, using Stella Chroma Sugarplum Fairy and It Girl Nail Art Inkwell for the narwhal, and Messy Mansion Spring Green for Nessie:

It Girl Nail Art LE107 and IG111 over Zoya Rekha

And I saved the best for last...I started with a base of Shine Nail Polish Upper Crust, then stamped an image from IG111 and Girly Bits Irreplaceable to look like a terrain map, then reversed-stamped my jackalope using Girly Bits White Wedding and Little Black Dress:

It Girl Nail Art LE107 and IG111 over Zoya Rekha

I hope this gives you an idea of the fun stuff you can do with this plate...It will be on sale during January's Polish Pickup, from January 4th-January 7th. In the meantime, check out It Girl Nail Art's other awesome plates here, and check out their cuticle balm while you're there (it's my favorite).

It Girl Nail Art LE107

Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Peaceful Boxing Day

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Hello!

If you celebrate it, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. For me, the day after Christmas (known as Boxing Day in many areas of the world) always has a bittersweet feeling for me. I'm always a little bummed Christmas is over, but every year I'm also a little more relieved to be finished with all the preparations and know that everything unfolded (mostly!) successfully. Especially this year, because I hosted several guests yesterday, so have been extra busy the last two weeks, and was on my feet all day yesterday.

But today I get to sit next to my tree, sip my coffee, and enjoy some peaceful time to write. :)

To share that peace with you, here's a manicure that shows what I'm hoping my day will look like:

Sweet Heart Polish Hey Catnip! and UberChic Beauty Holly Jolly

Just my tree, and a little holiday glimmer dusted across everything. :) For this manicure I used Sweet Heart Polish Hey Catnip! and UberChic Beauty Holly Jolly.

And here's a bonus holiday mani, because people give away holiday left-overs on Boxing Day:

Lantern & Wren's Most Wonderful Time over Shine Upper Crust

This one features Lantern & Wren's Most Wonderful Time over Shine Upper Crust.

I hope your Boxing Day is peaceful and happy!

Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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Monday, December 24, 2018

Five Polishes from Shine Nail Polish

(Press samples ahead!)

Hello!

Merry Christmas Eve! I hope all your preps finish up easily and fast so you can enjoy an awesome holiday. :)

Today we're going to take a look at a new-to-me indie, Shine Nail Polish. Shine polishes are 10-free, non-toxic, and vegan--but what's the quality like? Let's jump on in and take a look at five of their polishes.

First up is Shine Embers:

Shine Embers

Coverage: Two coats
Formula & Application: Excellent
Other: Good dry time and no issues.

Shine Nail Polish Embers is a rust-orange-red-pink multichrome shimmer. This is like someone took a bunch of gorgeous fall leaves and crushed them up into a bottle of polish. But, of course, given what day it is, I also see this as a gorgeous holiday polish--if you don't want just a regular red, this gives you cranberries and oranges and roasted nuts and spice all in one place. I adore this polish.

Next up we have Shine Nail Polish Esmeralda:

Shine Nail Polish Esmeralda

Coverage: Two coats
Formula & Application: Excellent
Other: Good dry time and no issues.

Shine Nail Polish Esmeralda is a deep green-leaning teal shimmer with green, black, copper, and purple multicrhome glitters. This polish looks like a fir tree glistening in a winter forest--a perfect polish not just for winter/the holidays, but as a base for any tree-look nail art you want to do. I have just such a winter nail-art mani already done, waiting to show you...

Next we have Shine Nail Polish Mirage:

Shine Nail Polish Mirage

Coverage: Three
Formula & Application: A little thinner than I normally like, but not problematic
Other: Good dry time and no other issues.

Shine Nail Polish Mirage is a sepia red-brown-gold gentle-shifting multichrome with an aqua shimmer. The end result ends up like a shimmering, gilded, sugared grape. I love the color on this, but tend to shy away from three-coaters unless the additional coat adds depth. That said, the quality is excellent, I loved the look.

Then there's Shine Nail Polish Moonlight Chameleon:

Shine Nail Polish Moonlight Chameleon

Coverage: Two coats
Formula & Application: Excellent
Other: Good dry time and no issues.

Shine Nail Polish Moonlight Chameleon is a champagne rose-gold metallic with a flecked finish and a subtle aqua shimmer. This is sophisticated and classy, like a New Year's Eve celebration in an upscale restaurant. This is how I like my neutrals--elegant, but with a touch of something magical so it still feels special. LOVE.

And finally, we have Shine Nail Polish Upper Crust:

Shine Nail Polish Upper Crust

Coverage: Two coats (you may only need one!)
Formula & Application: Excellent
Other: Good dry time and no issues.

Shine Nail Polish Upper Crust is an opulent golden-bronze metallic. This feels expensive, like a gorgeous burnished statue. It functions as a neutral, but is so much more--it's like turning your nails into beautiful jewelry.

So what do I think about Shine Nail Polish overall? The quality is excellent, and the colors are right. While I wish Mirage was a two-coater, the rest exceeded my expectations, and I'd definitely try Shine again. I think you'll be very pleased with the quality, and they have a very nice selection of colors.

All of these polishes are on sale now in Shine's store, for $11.50 per bottle, and you can follow them around the interwebs here:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/shinenailpolish/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/shinenailpolish/

FB fangroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Shinemob/

Merry Christmas!!
M. xoxo

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Friday, December 21, 2018

Lantern & Wren Most Wonderful Time Plate!

(Press samples ahead!)

Hello!

Today I have another new Lantern & Wren plate to show you--her Most Wonderful Time plate, which was included in her advent calendar, and is now available to buy in her store.

Here's the in-depth ideas video I did with the plate:

And here's a closer look at the plate:

Lantern & Wren Most Wonderful Time

Here are the swatches I did in the video:

Now on to the manis! One of my favorite images on this plate is the poinsettia image, so I started off with that:

Lantern & Wren Most Wonderful Time over Pretty Jelly Liberte

Base polish: Pretty Jelly Liberte
Stamping Plate: Lantern & Wren Most Wonderful Time
Stamping Polish: Girly Bits Cosmetics Bronze Goddess

This is the sort of look I love to wear for the holidays, and I'll almost certainly be wearing something like this on Christmas day.

For the next, I had to play with the scribble trees:

Lantern & Wren Most Wonderful Time over Spellbound Nails Bugged

Base polish: Spellbound Nails Bugged
Stamping Plate: Lantern & Wren Most Wonderful Time
Stamping Polish: Kaleidoscope White, Kaleidoscope Mint

I was going for that flocked-tree look, lol!

And finally, I wanted to do a little bit of festive French:

Lantern & Wren Most Wonderful Time over Stella Chroma Gala

Base polish: Stella Chroma Gala
Stamping Plate: Lantern & Wren Most Wonderful Time
Stamping Polish: Girly Bits Cosmetics White Wedding, Sterling, Moonflower Polish Aguamarina, and Messy Mansion Forest

This plate is on sale now in Lantern & Wren's store, if you didn't already get it in the advent calendar. If you did, I hope something here inspires you!

Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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Thursday, December 20, 2018

More holiday manis featuring Dixies Plates Christmas 2018 plate

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!

A few days ago I showed you Dixie Plates three holiday plates, and I'm back today to show you more manis I did with the plates. Let's jump right in!

My first mani I like to call Christmas Eve in Santa's Workshop:

Dixie Plates Christmas 2018 over My Indie Polish

Everybody's going a little crazy--the elves are running around trying to get the presents together, and the reindeer are trying to get ready for their flight--and Santa's nowhere to be found! He probably went out to get some Starbucks to keep him awake for the journey. This manicure uses:

Base polish: My Indie Polish Mrs. Piggy
Image plate: Dixie Plates Christmas 2018
Stamping polish: Messy Mansion Pudding, Red-y Or Not, and Forest

The next manicure celebrates one of the best things about Christmas--Santa mail!!

Dixie Plates Christmas 2018 over Spellbound Nails I Must Not Tell Lies

Who doesn't like getting packages during Christmas?!

Base polish: Spellbound Nails I Must Not Tell Lies
Image plate: Dixie Plates Christmas 2018
Stamping polish: Girly Bits Cosmetics Little Black Dress and Fire-Engine Red

My final mani celebrates another thing I love about Christmas, but don't get to do anymore, a trip to the Christmas tree lot:

Dixie Plates Christmas 2018 over Spellbound Nails Prophecy

Mr. LoLH prefers artificial trees, because they're less of a fire hazard if you forget and leave the lights on...so I very rarely get a live Christmas tree anymore. So I'll visit vicariously through my mani...

Base polish: Spellbound Nails Prophecy
Image plate: Dixie Plates Christmas 2018
Stamping polish: Messy Mansion Carbon, Chalk, Red-y Or Not, Sterling, and Moonflower Polish Aquamarina

I'm having a blast with this plate--I hope you like these manis as much as I enjoyed making them! You can buy these plates directly from Dixie Plates store, or if you're in the US or Canada, from Lantern & Wren.

Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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