Review: Messy Mansion Glass Nail Files

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!


We all know the first step to an awesome mani is using the right tools to care for our nails. And for me, glass nail files are a must-have nail tool.


I tend to struggle with the nails on my right hand (ironically, I'm left-handed), especially my index and middle nails--they split, chip, and break like crazy. Back in the day when I used to wear acrylic nails, those nails would actually wear down at a noticeably fast rate, so I suppose it's no surprise that now that I wear natural nails, they'd take quite a beating.


The only thing that works to keep them in any sort of decent shape involves two things--a rebuilding base coat (I prefer Barielle's), and glass nail files. When I use both of these together, I can actually manage to get natural length out of even those two problem nails. And my favorite glass nail files are from Messy Mansion:

Messy Mansion glass nail files

Messy Mansion glass nail files

Why are they my favorite? Three reasons. First, they're excellent quality. I've been using my set for months, and they perform well, are effective but gentle on my nails, and still look brand new. I'm extremely impressed.


Second, you get two files, one the perfect size for your purse. I absolutely have to have a nail file with me whenever I leave the house--many nail owies have been saved from being complete nail disasters by a strategic application of my file to prevent a complete break.


Finally, I love the cases they come with. Other glass files I've had come with a little fabric sleeve, and my file slips right out of it in my purse. These close well, and keep your file from scratching up everything else you carry with you:

Messy Mansion glass nail files

Messy Mansion glass nail files

What can I say--I love these files and hope to never be separated from them! If you haven't yet tried a glass nail file, get one asap--they do so much less damage to your nails while still getting the job done effectively and quickly.


You can find these beauties in the Messy Mansion store.


Happy filing!
M.

Before & After: Sci-fi lilypads (The Lady Varnishes Black Flame Candle + UberChic Beauty 11-03)

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!


Omg, omg, omg. I'm so sorry to be all silly about it, but I am sooooo in love with the mani I'm going to show you today!


It helps when you start with a polish you adore, and I am full-on in love with The Lady Varnishes Black Flame Candle:

The Lady Varnishes Black Flame Candle

 

The Lady Varnishes Black Flame Candle

Then I stamped the cosmic lilypad-looking image from UberChic Beauty 11-03:

UberChic Beauty 11-03

I stamped with Messy Mansion Soft Gold (also available on Amazon); here's how it came out:

The Lady Varnishes Black Flame Candle + UberChic Beauty 11-03

The Lady Varnishes Black Flame Candle + UberChic Beauty 11-03

The Lady Varnishes Black Flame Candle + UberChic Beauty 11-03

The Lady Varnishes Black Flame Candle + UberChic Beauty 11-03

Seriously, I just haven't been able to take my eyes off of this, I'm so happy with how it turned out! Such great fall color, and such a fun design. Love!!! What do you think?


Happy stamping,
M.

Comparison of Zoya Urban Grunge Metallics and Holos, Part 2!

(Press samples and affiliate links ahead!)

Hello!


I'm back today with the second half of my review of Zoya's Urban Grunge Metallics and Holos! For these comparisons, I went through my Zoya collection and pulled out the closest colors I have; I can't guarantee these are the most similar colors Zoya has, but they're the closest I have!


First let's take a look at Zoya Ash, and the closest polish I have in my Zoya collection, Zoya Gloria:

Zoya Ash vs. Zoya Gloria

In the bottle, Gloria looks a little bit lighter than Zoya Ash, but you never know until you see them on the nail:

Zoya Ash vs. Zoya Gloria

Ash is definitely more red, and the metallic finish is more dense. Gloria is a bit lighter and has a sprinkle of blue and gold in the finish. Absolutely not dupes, and you can certainly justify owning both!


Next up we have a closer horse race to look at, Zoya Finley vs. Zoya Mimi:

Zoya Finley vs. Zoya Mimi

Hmm...in the bottle, they're pretty close...

Zoya Finley vs. Zoya Mimi

...But, once we get them on the nail, they're pretty different. The color is similar, it's true, but the finishes are very distinct. Finley is one of Zoya's scattered holos, while Mimi has more of a flecked metallic flake. Definitely can justify owning both of these.  :)


And, finally, we have Zoya Merida vs. Zoya Logan and Zoya Ivanka:

Zoya Logan, Zoya Merida, and Zoya Ivanka

Yeah, it's pretty safe to say that we don't have any danger of an exact dupe here, unless something really transformative happens on the nail:

Zoya Logan, Zoya Merida, and Zoya Ivanka

Zoya Merida is pretty similar in color to Zoya Logan, although Merida is a scattered holo, and Logan is a flecked finish with a spray of gold. Still, if you only feel you need one of a given shade in your collection, these are similar on that dimension. Zoya Ivanka is pretty different on all dimensions--lighter, with a fleck-style metallic finish, and no holo.


So, unlike with the cremes, I didn't find any dupes or close dupes here...only similar colors with very different finishes. Hope this helps you make up your holiday wish list!


Happy polishing,
M.

Review: Ejiubas double-sided Celtic plate!

(Press samples ahead!)

Hello!


Okay, guys. If you haven't checked out Ejiubas stamping plates yet, I am deeply excited to be the first to introduce them to you because, two words (one hyphenated word?): Double-Sided.


Yes, of course I love the designs, and yes, of course I wouldn't be excited if it didn't stamp well. But it does. And: DOUBLE-SIDED. Why didn't someone do this before??

Ejiubas Celtic double-sided plate

Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself. First, here's the full video review I made of the plate (I also did a super-quick version, which you can find here):

Okay, let's take a look at the plate:

I love that one side of the plate is collage-style and one side is traditional full nail images, to give you the best of both worlds, and to maximize the design potential you get from mixing and matching. And while I love the predominant Celtic flavor of the plate, I also love the art nouveau influence that makes this an amazing plate for so much more than just Celtic designs.


So how big are we talking? The full nail images are 5/8ths of an inch wide and 6.5/8ths of an inch tall:

And here's a shot to give you a feel for how big things are on the collage portion:

Yeah, okay, but...does it stamp well??

Those are some darn good images. The one thing to be careful about is the bird section of the plate--whenever you have big, wide spaces like that, you need to be careful about the direction you swipe, o you won't get bald areas. I try to go diagonal to the main lines. :)


On to the sample manicure! I'm still loving fall colors, although I'm starting to feel the pull of winter jewel-tones...but for now I wanted to do some fall layering with this plate, so I pulled out Spellbound Nails Crookshanks, an excellent polish for pond manis and stamping sammiches. Then I stamped between layers and on top of the layers with Girly Bits stamping polishes in Bronze Goddess and Flame:

Ejiubas Celtic over Spellbound Nails Crookshanks, stamped with Girly Bits Bronze Goddess and Flame

Ejiubas Celtic over Spellbound Nails Crookshanks, stamped with Girly Bits Bronze Goddess and Flame

Ejiubas Celtic over Spellbound Nails Crookshanks, stamped with Girly Bits Bronze Goddess and Flame

 I am sooo happy with how this came out, I think I'm gonna recreate it and wear it on Thanksgiving. I love how you can see the layered swirls and the flakies in the polish, and I love how these two colors of stamping polish play together. If pumpkin spice were a manicure, this is the manicure it'd be. :)


You can find Ejiubas plates on their website, and also on Amazon if that's easier for you. And don't forget to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for inspiration and updates!

Happy Stamping!
M.

Review: UberChic Beauty Collection 12

(Press samples ahead!)

Hello!

It's always one of my favorite days when I get a new UberChic Beauty plate to play with, and their newest collection, Collection 12, is no exception. Here's the full video review I made of the plates:

(I also have a super-quick review if you prefer that; you can find it here).


Let's take a look at the plates:

UberChic Beauty 12-01

UberChic Beauty 12-01

UberChic Beauty 12-01

My favorite images from this plate: The lotus + butterfly image, the bundle of little flowers (super-duper-major cute!), the totally adorable suns, the corn-like leaf image, and the thick waves. Love!!

UberChic Beauty 12-02

UberChic Beauty 12-02

UberChic Beauty 12-02

Negative-space butterflies to let your awesome holos and glitters shine through. The quatre-foil mosaic images. The medallion-like full nail images in both negative and positive that also match with the images on the very bottom. And, a tribute to the Flying Spaghetti Monster. All super-cool. 

UberChic Beauty 12-03

UberChic Beauty 12-03

UberChic Beauty 12-03

OMG, those layering images!! I'm so excited these are becoming more popular and she dedicated half a plate just to them. I can't wait to do something with those trees and the birds, and I'm a mosaic geek, so the pattern with the diamonds is really calling to me. Even the ladybugs make my heart go pitter-patter!


Here's a quick look at size:

And how do they stamp?

As usual, these plates are cute, have a ton of versatility, and are top-notch quality! I'll be back with manicures from each of the plates in separate posts--until then, you can find these in UberChic Beauty's store. You can also follow UberChic Beauty on Instagram and Facebook for tons of inspiration and news updates! And watch this space because I'm pretty sure there's a new Christmas plate on the way...


Happy stamping!
M.