Wednesday, April 25, 2018

UberChic Beauty Collection 25 + Shinespark Polish Radical Flakes Collection = Awesome!

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!


Hey, how was your weekend? Mine was pretty cool...I got a tattoo I've been thinking about getting for a while, and am pretty excited about that. You can see it here if you're interested in that kind of thing...


But on to the nail art for today! I've been bitten by the drip marble bug, and had to play around with the neons in Shinespark Polish's Radical Flakes collection (you can see my review of the collection here)...I drip, drip, dripped and I swirl, swirl, swirled, and here's how it all came out:


Drip marble featuring Shinepark Polish's Radical Flakes Collection

You guys!! I've always loved the look of watermarbles but have never been able to make them work. But this--this I can do! How awesome is this?! I'm in absolute love with this technique.


And because I have to stamp anything that stands still, I stamped with UberChic Beauty plate 25-02, using Kaleidoscope St-02 White:


UberChic Beauty 25-02 over Drip marble featuring Shinepark Polish's Radical Flakes Collection
UberChic Beauty 25-02 over Drip marble featuring Shinepark Polish's Radical Flakes Collection


This is like tie-dye stained glass--I love it! This is one of those manis I didn't want to take off, the colors were just so beautiful.


Don't you just hate it when you drip polish on your perfect mani? For my final mani today, I went a little Dali-esque...There were a bunch of little drip parts from my drip marble that were super pretty, and I just had to find a way to do a mani with them. So, I did a gradient with the polishes, stamped little flowers from UberChic Beauty 25-02 with Kaleidoscope St-02. Then I added my drips on top, for extra surreal rainbow power:


UberChic Beauty 25-02 over gradient of Shinepark Polish's Radical Flakes Collection


Hey, drips like this can ruin my mani anytime. :)  But seriously, I was really impressed with how well these polishes worked together to make gradients and drip marbles, and I'll definitely be pulling them out for similar looks in the future. :)


Now I'm off to stare at my tattoo...;-)


Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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Sunday, April 22, 2018

UberChic Beauty Collection 25!

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!

Today I have UberChic Beauty collection 25 to show you! Here's the video review I did of the collection:



And here's a still shot:


UberChic Beauty 25-01
 
UberChic Beauty 25-02

UberChic Beauty 25-03


UberChic's full-nail images are 1.7 x 2.1 cm, and here are shots with a ruler so you can see how big the smaller images are:


 


As always the quality of the images are excellent, and here are a few design ideas I tested out:











Here are the polishes I use for my designs:
1) Base: Zoya Snow White. Stamping polishes: Messy Mansion Amalfi Coast & Forest
2) Base: Zoya Monroe. Stamping polishes: Messy Mansion Petal and Dogwood pink
3) Base: Shinespark Polish Maveth. Stamping polishes: Messy Mansion Chalk, Hit The Bottle Polish Sea what I Green. 
4) Base: Spellbound Nails Antici...Pation. Stamping polish: Messy Mansion Soft Gold. 
5) Base: Shinespark Polish Andromeda Galaxy. Stamping polish: Messy Mansion Forest
6) Base: BeautyBigBang 003. Stamping polish: Messy Mansion Sterling
7) Base: Shinespark Polish Circinus Galaxy. Stamping Polish: Messy Mansion Amalfi Coast


On to the manicures! For my first manicure, I started with a base of Shinespark Polish Slap Bracelet Orange (from her Radical Flakes collection), and stamped images from 25-01 with Messy Mansion Chalk, Happy Now, Red-y Or Not, and Soft Gold:


UberChic Beauty 25-01 over Shinespark Polish Slap Bracelet Orange

UberChic Beauty 25-01 over Shinespark Polish Slap Bracelet Orange

Something about this makes me think of some sort of ancient Egyptian sun goddess, I guess because the image I stamped in the center looks a little like an eye of Ra--no matter why, I love the effect of this, it makes me want to be lounging on a beach. Hurry up, summer!


For my next manicure, I started with a base of Girly Bits Hot Stuff, from their awesome Sequins and Satin Pants collection, then stamped the image from 25-03 with Messy Mansion Bisque and Red-y Or Not: 

UberChic Beauty 25-03 over Girly Bits Hot Stuff

UberChic Beauty 25-03 over Girly Bits Hot Stuff

I was going for a sort of flapper-dress layered fringe look, and I love how it turned out! Glitter and fringe, what more can a girl ask for. :)


For my final look for today, I started with  base of Zoya Darby, then stamped the layering images from plate 25-01 with Messy Mansion Misty Jade and Soft Gold:

UberChic Beauty 25-01 over Zoya Darby

UberChic Beauty 25-01 over Zoya Darby

I'm obsessed with blues and greens together right now, and I love how the gold just pulls it together. I want a bedspread in this pattern, right now!


Something about this screamed out to be matted, so I tossed on some Sally Hansen Big Matte topcoat and here's how it came out:


UberChic Beauty 25-01 over Zoya Darby, matted

UberChic Beauty 25-01 over Zoya Darby, matted


I like the glossy but the matte has a frosty feel to it that feels super luxe. Love. :)


You can find these plates on sale now in UberChic Beauty's store, and don't forget to follow them around the interwebs here:




Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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Thursday, April 19, 2018

UberChic Beauty Woodland Chic plate!

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!

I don't know how she does it, but UberChic Beauty just released another new collection and a new plate! Today we're going to take a look at the Woodland Chic plate--here's the video review I did of the plate:



And here's a still shot:


UberChic Beauty Woodland Chic

I love that this plate has a cute, whimsical feel, without going over-the-top cutesy. The full-nail images are great for texture and for skittle mix-n-match, and of course this is a perfect plate for building a scene. But I also love that she gives you several foxes (wolves?) and several rabbits, so you can have a little menagerie of friends on your fingers.


Here's a look with a ruler, so you can judge the size of the designs; the full nail images are 1.7 x 2.1 cm. :



I tried out a few of the images on nail sticks:



There's something about that super-fox flying through the air that makes me very happy...


I took two of the looks and built them into full manicures. For the first, I started with a base of Zoya Blu, and then stamped my leaves with Messy Mansion Forest and Spring Green. I did my reversed stamping with Messy Mansion Carbon, Banana Bender, Gingerbread, and Pudding:


UberChic Beauty Woodland Chic over Zoya Blu

UberChic Beauty Woodland Chic over Zoya Blu


Bot the owl and the squirrel make me smile like crazy. :)


For the second manicure, I did a forest scene, like you'd see when you go camping in the woods. I started with a base of Shinespark Polish Koosh Ball Blue (which goes on sale tomorrow!), and then stamped with Messy Mansion Sterling, Forest, Ivy, and Carbon:



UberChic Beauty Woodland Chic over Shinespark Polish Koosh Ball Blue

UberChic Beauty Woodland Chic over Shinespark Polish Koosh Ball Blue


This look would also look great with the mountain peaks on the plate, or a combination of the mountains and the trees. :)


This plate is on sale now in UberChic Beauty's store, and you can follow UberChic Beauty around the interwebs here:




Watch this space for my review of Collection 25, coming soon!


Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Shinespark Polish Radical Flakes Collection!

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!


Are you ready for some summer neons? Because today we're going to take a look at Shinespark Polish's Radical Flakes collection, which features six neon jellies with--that's right--scattered holo glakes and glitter.


Shinespark Polish Radical Flake Collection


These polishes are buildable jellies, which allow you to get massive depth with those flakes, and awesome neon squishiness. Or, if you want to ramp up the neon factor, you can put them over undies. I'll show you both below.


Let's jump right in with Shinespark Polish Day Glo Pink, a neon hot-pink with scattered holo goodness:


Shinespark Polish Day Glo Pink

Shinespark Polish Day Glo Pink with white undies
 Coverage: 2-3 coats without undies, 1-2 coats with. Here I have three coats without undies, and two coats with undies.

Formula: Excellent. No pulling or weirdness; everything applies easily and evenly.

Neon pinks are one of the exceptions to my personal pink-is-meh rule. I love the way neon pink pops and makes my hands look tan and amazing! This pink is bright and fun and sassy, and it tried its best to break my camera, which is always an excellent sign from a neon. ;-)


Next we have Shinespark Polish Fanny Pack Green, a lime neon with that scatter of holo:


Shinespark Polish Fanny Pack Green

Shinespark Polish Fanny Pack Green with undies
 Coverage: 2-3 coats without undies, 1-2 coats with. Here I have two coats without undies so you can contrast with the others, and two coats with undies.

Formula: Excellent. No pulling or weirdness; everything applies easily and evenly.

Pass the salt because this polish is filled with lime-a-rita goodness! Of all the polishes in the collection, this is the one that takes me right back with that 80's-90's retro vibe, especially over those undies. Without undies, this flirts with the line of grass green, which makes my nails feel like summer fun on the lawn is right on my nails.


Next we have Shinespark Polish Hypercolor Purple, a grape scattered holo wonder:


Shinespark Polish Hypercolor Purple

Shinespark Polish Hypercolor Purple with undies
Coverage: 2-3 coats without undies, 1-2 coats with. Here I have three coats without undies, and two coats with.

Formula: Application was excellent, although this one was slightly patchier over white than the others were, I think because it's on the darker side. But it still evens out well and will do you fine.

The squishiness of this one without undies makes me want to reach out and touch this--the grape is rich but still vibrant. This changes the most over the undies, and turns the brightness on high!


Then we have Shinespark Polish Koosh Ball Blue, medium-royal blue packed with holo:


Shinespark Polish Koosh Ball Blue

Shinespark Polish Koosh Ball Blue with undies
Coverage: 2-3 coats without undies, 1-2 coats with. Here I have three coats without undies, and two coats with.

Formula: Excellent. No pulling or weirdness; everything applies easily and evenly.

This is my favorite name and color in the collection--not only is this a bright, happy blue over undies, it's an instant night sky without. I'm obsessed with it, and know I'm going to come back to it again and again.


Then there's Shinespark Polish Scrunchie Tangerine, a tangerine holo delight:


Shinespark Polish Scrunchie Tangerine

Shinespark Polish Scrunchie Tangerine with undies


Coverage: 2-3 coats without undies, 1-2 coats with. Here I have three coats without undies, and two coats with.

Formula: Excellent. No pulling or weirdness; everything applies easily and evenly.

This is squishy and juicy and makes me want an Orange Julius (do they still have those??) I love how saturated this orange is, the holo points of light pop out it like crazy. Gorgeous for summer, this will be a great fall color too, especially without undies.


And finally, we have Shinespark Polish Slap Bracelet Orange, a yellow-orange scattered holo jelly:



Shinespark Polish Slap Bracelet Orange
Shinespark Polish Slap Bracelet Orange with undies
Coverage: 2-3 coats without undies, 1-2 coats with. Here I have three coats without undies, and two coats with.

Formula: Excellent. No pulling or weirdness; everything applies easily and evenly.

This beauty shifts from saturated saffron yellow to a sherbert-y orange depending on how much you build it up. Basically, it's like a lemon and an orange had little babies. That keeps this from being a standard highlighter yellow, and gives it a little more richness. It's daisies and orangeade and smiling faces.


So what do I think overall? The colors capture the retro vibe promised by the names, and collections don't get much more fun than this. The formula is consistently good, the drying time is super-fast, and let's face it--holo makes everything better. If this doesn't brighten up your summer mani wardrobe, I don't know what will.


Shinespark Polish's Radical Flakes collection will go on sale April 20th, so set your reminder, because I predict these are going to be popular! And in the meantime, you can follow Shinespark Polish here:




Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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Saturday, April 14, 2018

The Digit-al Dozen Does Indie Love: Day 3! (Or, All Girly Bits, All Day Long)

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Hello!


Okay everybody, let's climb into the way-back machine and go back to Wednesday, when it was Day 3 of The Digit-al Dozen's Indie Love week...


::insert weird sound effect that accompanies flashbacks in 80s sitcoms::


For my other days during this theme, I've shown you several indies in a mani, one for the polish, one for the plate, etc. But today we're gonna take a look at an indie that can do all three: Girly Bits Cosmetics.


That's right--I'm sure you know they make awesome indie polishes, but did you also know they make awesome stamping polishes, and even put out their own stamping plate? Yep, it's true, and I love them all.


For today's mani, I wanted to use one of my very favorite polish collections of all time: Girly Bits Sequins & Satin Pants collection:

Girly Bits Sequins & Satin Pants Collection


Every polish in this collection applies like a dream, has amazing holo glitter, and is a fun, happy color. And, they all work together for just about everything--spring, summer, fall nail art, halloween nail art, even Christmas nail art. I've turned to these again and again and again.


You all know I have tragic, tragic watermarbling skills, so I decided now was the perfect time to try out my first drip marble--if these can't make an amazing look, I don't know what polishes can!


To complement my drip marble, I painted two of my nails with Le Freak, and then stamped with Girly Bits Silver Bells and then Ker-minty Frog Here, using Girly Bits plate GBC 1-01:


Girly Bits GBC 1-01

Here's how it all came out:

Girly Bits GBC 1-01 over Girly Bits Sequins & Satin Pants Collection, stamped with Girly Bits stamping polishes

Girly Bits GBC 1-01 over Girly Bits Sequins & Satin Pants Collection, stamped with Girly Bits stamping polishes
Girly Bits GBC 1-01 over Girly Bits Sequins & Satin Pants Collection, stamped with Girly Bits stamping polishes


Can I say how stoked I am about that drip marble?! I will definitely be using this technique again, it's so easy and gives such great results. My favorite nail is that pinkie--just wow. I hoped all of the holo glitter goodness would come together, and boy, did it. :)


I hope you've found something to love this week, and please do support indie brands! And don't forget to take a look at the other manicures linked below. :)


Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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Friday, April 13, 2018

The Digit-al Dozen Does Indie Love: Day 5 (Or, Monet's Pond at Night)

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Hello!


So, we're technically at the last day of The Digit-al Dozen's Indie Love week, but since I missed Day 3, I'll be posting it tomorrow. So today is my second-to-last Indie Love post. :)


For today's mani, I wanted to create a manicure showing Monet's waterlilies--but at night. To do this, I started with one of my all-time favorite polishes from The Lady Varnishes (and all time favorite period), Evil Like Me, a purple-blue duochrome with a blue-green shifting shimmer:


The Lady Varnishes Evil Like Me

The Lady Varnishes Evil Like Me


Then I stamped waterlilies from Dixie Plates Spring 01:


Dixie Plates Spring 01


I stamped with Hit The Bottle Polishes Pool Party, It Mossed Be Love, My Suitor Wears Pewter, and Lucky Spark. Here's how it came out:

Dixie Plates Spring 01 over The Lady Varnishes Evil Like Me

Dixie Plates Spring 01 over The Lady Varnishes Evil Like Me

I love the way Evil Like Me looks like moonlight shimmering on the surface of a pnd at night, and I love the deeper tones to the waterlilies, but the holo stamping polish gives a little bit of reflected light.


I had to see how it looked matted (I use Sally Hansen's Big Matte topcoat):



Dixie Plates Spring 01 over The Lady Varnishes Evil Like Me, matted

Dixie Plates Spring 01 over The Lady Varnishes Evil Like Me

Hmm. I do love the way Evil Like Me looks matted, but I think the matte muddles the colors of the flowers a little too much. I think this time, I prefer it shiny. :)


I'll be back tomorrow with my last Indie Love post, and in the meantime, check out the other manis linked below! :)


Big hugs,
M. xoxo

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