Monday, January 11, 2016

Before & After: SinfulColors Purple Diamond + It Girl Nail Art IG102 (or, Zig-a-zig-ah)

(Press sample; affiliate link)

Hello!

I have a simple, fun before & after for you today. I started with SinfulColors Purple Diamond:






Then stamped using It Girl Nail Art Plate IG102, and Pop-arazzi Down The Runway:





Here's how it turned out:


Zig-a-zig-ahhhh


Zig-a-zig-ahhhh


Zig-a-zig-ahhhh

What do you think? Simple, fast enough to do before you head out to work, hard to mess up, but fun and flirty.

Happy stamping!
M.

Friday, January 8, 2016

Before & After: The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist + MoYou London Sci-Fi 04 (or, Alien Whales)

(Nothing to disclose)

Hello!

So, a while back I bought MoYou London Sci-Fi 04, made a video reviewing it, and set it aside until inspiration grabbed me with a great idea for a manicure using it. But, as much as I loved the plate, Nothing inspired me to use it, and it just sat, neglected, among my plates.

And then I met The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist, and I knew exactly what I had to do.

First of all, here's the video review of the plate, for your viewing pleasure:



And here is a still image:

MoYou London Sci-Fi 04
MoYou London Sci-Fi 04


But, let's get back to The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist. Have you heard the phrase 'ugly pretty', used to describe a color or a combination of colors that really should be ugly, but somehow, someway are just amazing and pretty? For me, this polish is the ultimate version of that. Bio Exorcist is a lovely conconction of mint-green-to-bright-blue duochrome flakies that send out beams of luminescence from the depths of chocolate-sludge jelly squishiness. It looks like the sea on some dark alien planet:



The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist
The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist

The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist
The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist


So that's exactly what I decided to do with it--make it into a story about a spaceship traveling through the beautifully sludgy depths of an alien planet's ocean:



The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist + MoYou London Sci-Fi 04
The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist + MoYou London Sci-Fi 04

The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist + MoYou London Sci-Fi 04
The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist + MoYou London Sci-Fi 04

The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist + MoYou London Sci-Fi 04
The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist + MoYou London Sci-Fi 04

The Lady Varnishes Bio Exorcist + MoYou London Sci-Fi 04


I decorated it using the reversed-stamping technique, stamped with Eat Sleep Polish Endless Sheets of Canvas, and filled in with Zoya Tracie, Zoya Zuza, Sally Hansen Red-io Active, and Orly Iron Butterfly.

I love how this came out--it's like one of those movies from the 1960s, like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea or something. Fun, kitschy, and just a little bit scary!

Happy stamping,
M.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Review: Zoya's Whisper Collection (Spring 2016)

(Press sample; affiliate links)

Hello!

Today I have the Zoya Whispers spring 2016 collection to show you! This is the sort of spring collection I can really get behind; the colors are soft and pastel, but with a muted palette that takes them out of the ordinary and into sophisticated.


Zoya Whispers collection


Let's first take a look at Zoya April, a nude beige creme with the tiniest whisper of pink:

Zoya April
Zoya April

Zoya April
Zoya April

Zoya April
Zoya April

I had a little bit of a coverage issue with both of the nudes in this collection; I found the formula was a little thin and I got patchiness with two coats. Nothing super annoying, but I'd recommend three thin coats instead of two regular coats with both April and Cala; that's what I have here.

In terms of color, this is the perfect nude for me. It has an elegant, sophisticated Hamptons sort of feel, perfect for work or for relaxing on the weekends.


Next up is Zoya Cala, a muted buttercream-nude creme:

Zoya Cala
Zoya Cala

Zoya Cala
Zoya Cala

Zoya Cala
Zoya Cala

As with April above, I'd recommend three thin coats with this one, to avoid patchiness.

I wasn't fond of how this looked with my skin; to wear alone, I prefer April with my skin, but I think this color is pretty and would definitely work with other skin tones. And, I love it for a base for nail art, so much soft creamy buttery goodness.


And then there's Zoya Eastyn, a muted slate creme that also functions as a neutral:

Zoya Eastyn
Zoya Eastyn

Zoya Eastyn

Zoya Eastyn
Zoya Eastyn

I had no issues with this one; excellent formula and application, this is two easy coats.

I love the smidge of brown to the gray here, it adds just a bit of depth, like a layer of smokiness in the polish. This is another great polish for a nude look, or for a nail art base.


Next is my favorite of the collection, Zoya Ireland; a well-named smoky avocado creme, this polish makes me think of moss-covered rocks sitting in a deep Irish fen:

Zoya Ireland
Zoya Ireland

Zoya Ireland
Zoya Ireland

Zoya Ireland
Zoya Ireland

The formula on this one was a little thin, but nothing extreme. This is two easy, beautiful coats.

I could live in this polish, in fact, I'm wearing it now. Typical pastels don't call to me--the subtlety and class of this makes me feel flirty while still feeling elegant. I love, love, love.


Next we have Zoya Lake, and antiqued robin's egg blue creme:

Zoya Lake
Zoya Lake

Zoya Lake
Zoya Lake


Zoya Lake
Zoya Lake


The formula and application on this one were a breeze; this is two coats.

The color on this makes me think of vintage lace and postcards, of those vellum end papers in books from the 19th century. I see little gilded birds and poppies dancing around, and it just makes me smile.


And finally we have Zoya Misty, a smoky sage creme:


Zoya Misty
Zoya Misty

Zoya Misty
Zoya Misty

Zoya Misty
Zoya Misty


Oh, please, do play Misty for me. This makes me think of beauties girls in 1910 dancing around a meadow in diaphanous dresses. It makes me think of spring rain showers, lovely grass and flowers glistening with water under a cloudy sky. This also will work as a neutral, but it's so much more.

The formula and application was excellent with this one; this is two easy coats.


As a whole, I think this collection is a Victorian spring sprung to life; the muted, smoky colors are feminine but powerful, pretty but versatile. You can put on any one of these shades and not worry about how they're going to work with whatever else you put on for a week, and you'll feel polished and pretty the whole time.

You can buy these polishes directly from Zoya--oh, did I mention they're also having an amazing flash sale right now:



You can also find them here on Amazon, and at all retail locations where Zoya is sold.

Happy polishing!
M.

Monday, January 4, 2016

Swatch spam!!

(Nothing to disclose)

Hello!

What better way is there to start the new year than to show you some awesome polishes that, for one reason or another, didn't make it onto the blog last year? Yes, that's right, it's the first 2016 edition of swatch spam!


China Glaze Tip Your Hat: Red-hot chili drama


China Glaze Tip Your Hat


Julep Christa: Periwinkle holo pizzazz

Julep Christa
Julep Christa

Julep Christa
Julep Christa



Julep Linnea: Soft mauve with mint shimmer

Julep Linnea
Julep Linnea


Julep Jo: matte silver chrome madness

Julep Jo
Julep Jo



Zoya Harlow: Aubergine matte gloriousness

Zoya Harlow
Zoya Harlow

Zoya Harlow
Zoya Harlow



Hope you saw something there you like!


Happy polishing, and happy new year!
M.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Before & After: Mysterious Rendezvous

(Nothing to disclose)

Hello!

I'm back today with a manicure I think is fast and cute for a New Year's Eve or other party sort of look...It's a little more subtle than my last look, but still has plenty of wow.

I started out with China Glaze Rendezvous With You, a sugar-plum concoction of fleck-y sparkle:

China Glaze Rendezvous With You

Next I stamped an image with Nfu-Oh 61 and Cici&Sisi 19, then I sponged on some Bling! by Colores de Carol:






I like that this is a simple, fast look that delivers style and just enough bling to make you feel special at that awesome party. A sprinkle of holo glitter will catch that hottie's eye--and I have no doubt you'll be able to take it from there.


Happy stamping,
M.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Before & After: Incoco Stars Align + UberChic Beauty 6-01 (Or, Cosmic Discoball)

(Press Sample)

Hello!

So you might have noticed that this post went live a little prematurely--my apologies!!

Anyway, this manicure is about a look I love for New Year's Eve. You may remember when I got my last batch of Incocos to review, one of them had been punctured and didn't apply well, but was still very beautiful:


Incoco Stars Align
Incoco Stars Align

Incoco Stars Align
Incoco Stars Align

I love the glitzy look of these, and wanted to see if I could come up with a design that would be fun for New Year's and also took the eye away from the wrinkles in the appliques. I chose an image from UberChic Beauty 6-01 that has a kaleidoscope feel:



I stamped with Barry M Gold Foil Effects, and added little half-beads in the center:

Cosmic Discoball
Cosmic Discoball

Cosmic Discoball
Cosmic Discoball

What do you think? I think it has a cool cosmic disco ball effect that's perfect for ringing in the new year!

Happy stamping,

M.

Friday, December 25, 2015

Before & After: Simple Poinsettia with Zoya Sue + UberChic Beauty Christmas 01

(Press sample; affiliate link)

Hello!

Christmas day, for me, is the calm after the storm. The presents are purchased and wrapped. Cards have been sent. The decorations are up, the cooking is done, the stockings have been filled...and now it's time to enjoy it all with family and friends. It's peaceful and soothing. My Christmas day offering for you is my attempt to capture that beauty and serenity.

I started with Zoya Sue, an almost-white gold matte with soft, frosty white shimmer:


Zoya Sue without topcoat
Zoya Sue without topcoat

Zoya Sue with topcoat
Zoya Sue with topcoat

For this manicure I did a single accent nail, made with a reversed-stamping poinsettia from UberChic Beauty's Christmas 01 plate; I stamped with Zoya Honor, and filled in with Zoya Amal:


The beauty of a single poinsettia
The beauty of a single poinsettia


The beauty of a single poinsettia
The beauty of a single poinsettia

I think poinsettias are elegant, understated, and beautiful, all of the things I wanted this mani to be. I've been waiting to have my pretty red poinsettia since I first saw this image on the plate.

I apologize that two of my nails are a little wonky in terms of shape--they're casualties of all the nail-destroying cooking, cleaning, and wrapping of the season! And I wouldn't change a bit of it.

I hope your Christmas is warm and happy and filled with the beauty of love.

Merry Christmas,
M.