January Nail Art Challenge Day 1: Ab Initio

Someone (I can't remember who now) mentioned this challenge a couple days ago on Instagram or Twitter and I thought it looked both doable and fun, so I decided to jump in. It was after the third when I saw it, so I went straight to glitter nails and wore my first and only Urban Lacquer polish, Ab Initio.

I remember I first saw this polish on Chalkboard Nails about a year ago and was absolutely smitten. However, I have to say I was just a little bit disappointed when I finally got it and put it on, because I think they must have changed it. The glitter is really dense, which I normally like, but one of the things I'd liked about Ab Initio when I saw it on Chalkboard Nails was that the glitter was sparse enough that you could really see the different layers of glitter glow through the deep purple jelly base. While I still really like this polish and am glad I bought it, I am a bit disappointed because it wasn't how I expected. I could layer it with another purple jelly, but my only purple jelly is Milani Rad Purple, which isn't the right color at all. But I have no objection to expanding my purple jelly collection... ;) Any suggestions?

Zoya Thandie

Hello again, readers! Today I'm wearing Zoya Thandie, a bright orange polish with a very subtle shimmer. It's the first one I've tried from the Stunning collection, and I quite like it - I don't tend to wear a lot of orange polish, but I can definitely see myself wearing Thandie once in a while.

I used three coats with top coat here, and the application was silky smooth. However, I will note that it looks like a creme in a lot of lights, particularly if you're not looking closely. Nonetheless, I'd definitely recommend trying Thandie, especially if you like orange!

This product was given to me for honest review.

A Summery Gradient

Hello again! Today I'll be showing you a manicure I did several weeks ago, after I tried Zoya Beatrix. I thought Beatrix and Destiny looked really nice together, so I decided to do a gradient. I used Beatrix as a base and sponged Destiny on top, then finished off with a couple coats of top coat.

Zoya Beatrix

Hello again! Here I am taking another study break...my first final is tomorrow, so I've been napping studying a lot. Today I'm showing you Zoya Beatrix, a tangerine that's perfect for the 80º weather we're having in St. Louis right now. I don't like the color of Beatrix quite as well as Destiny just because it's not as vibrant, but it's a very pretty orange and I will definitely be wearing it again this summer. This was two coats.

Zoya Destiny

Can we spend a moment admiring how gorgeous Zoya Destiny is?

Zoya Beach Swatches & Review

Greetings! Before I start the polish talk, I have to do a little self-promotion and remind you to go like my Facebook page. (And thanks for doing so!) I hope Monday is going well - or at least tolerably - for everyone. Like I promised, I have swatches of the Zoya Beach collection to show you today, starting with Reagan.

natural light

Zoya describes Reagan as a "deep cerise pink cream," which I think is actually a pretty good description of this gorgeous color. Unfortunately, I couldn't get it to show up very accurately in any of the many photos I took of Reagan. It's a bit more purpley than in the picture, but I think I managed to capture the vividity (which, yes, is a word - Google it) well. It's also very opaque at one coat. I'm going to be posting a comparison post for Beach later, but I'll say now that I think Reagan might be a dupe or close cousin to OPI Dim Sum Plum. Unfortunately, I didn't bring it to college, so it won't be in my comparison post.

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The second polish in Beach, Lara, is what Zoya calls a "vivid cerise pink cream." To me, it's a bit more of a cross between bubblegum pink and cerise, but that's very subjective anyway. Like Reagan, Lara is opaque in one coat. Also like Reagan, I couldn't get it to photograph well, and it's a bit more purple in real life. If you're in need of girly pink to add to your polish stash, Lara would be a great choice, though I honestly don't like it quite as well as Reagan.

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Speaking of girly pinks, Shelby seems to me like the epitome of Barbie pink, or as Zoya says, a "soft pinky pink creme." While it's not an uncommon color in the least, that doesn't mean it's not pretty, and I can definitely see myself doing some sort of tape mani with Shelby and, say, China Glaze For Audrey or Zoya Wednesday. Shelby is opaque in two coats.

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Moving away from the pinks, Zoya Arizona is a "soft coral orange creme" that goes on easily in two coats. I'm not sure I'd describe it as coral - or soft, for that matter - but it's certainly a great color, especially for summer. Again, it's not terribly unique, but I'll talk more about that in my comparison post. Oh, and as a side note: could someone explain the logic behind naming a child Arizona?

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Tracie is sort of the standout polish in Beach, as it's the only one that's not a creme. Zoya calls it a "sea grass metallic," and while I see the sea grass part of it, I really consider Tracie to have more of a pearlized finish. Normally I don't like that finish much, but while Tracie isn't my favorite, I did actually end up liking it once I put it on. The base color is very pretty, and I think it helps that the pearlescence isn't too awfully streaky. Tracie was opaque in two coats.

flash

Finally, we have Wednesday, a "soft aqua creme" that I ended up wearing as a full manicure. I love dusty cremes like Wednesday, and while I tend to think of them as more spring-y as far as seasonality goes, I will wear just about any color during any time of year. Wednesday (again, I'm not quite sure why someone would actually name their child Wednesday, but whatever) was opaque in two easy coats.

Overall, while I don't feel that any of these polishes, save Tracie, are that unique, they're all very pretty colors that would be well worth adding to a polish stash that doesn't already contain dupes. As the application and opacity was also very good for all of the polishes, I would definitely recommend Zoya Beach.

These polishes were provided by the manufacturer for honest review. However, that has and will never change what I write in a post. For more information, see my disclosure policy.

Zoya Surf Swatches and Review

Helllooo there! I'm so glad I finally got these swatched so I can show them off to you all, though I must apologize for the fact that the lighting will be changing throughout the post due to the wildly variant weather we always have in St. Louis during the spring. I should be getting Beach swatched and posted relatively soon, too ... but first, Surf's up! (Sorry. I couldn't resist.)

indoors, with flash

First, we have Carly, a "thalia purple foil metallic." While I don't have the faintest idea what the heck a "thalia purple" is (feel free to inform me in the comments), Carly is certainly a stunner. I wasn't the biggest fan of Carly just looking at the bottle, but I like it a lot better on my nails. I'd almost say it's an amethyst purple, but I think it's a bit too pinkish for that - it does have that lit-from-within glow of a jewel, though. I used two coats in the picture, but the only reason I added a second was because I wanted it to be a bit more vibrant.

indoors, with flash

Second, we have Kimber, what Zoya calls a "magenta pink foil metallic." Zoya, I love your polishes, but I beg to differ. Kimber is not what I think of when I think magenta. If anything, I'd call it a hot pink foil with gold highlights ... or I could just call it gorgeous. Which it is. I used two coats of Kimber, and it was actually the only polish out of Surf that I really needed a second coat on.

indoors, with flash

Rory, a "lotus pink foil metallic," is honestly not my favorite of the collection. I think it's because I tend not to like frosts, and while Rory isn't quiiiite a frost, its lighter shade combined with the foil finish isn't doing it any favors in my opinion. However, that's just my personal taste, and it's quite the pretty pink - ignore the bumpy look it has on my index finger; that's just because I have peeling there that I haven't quite been able to entirely buff out without making my nail as thin as tissue paper. I used one coat of Rory. 

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While Myrta is described as a "coral orange foil metallic" by Zoya, and while it does look like a coral orange in the color drop, I really didn't see much, if any, coral in the polish when I wore it. Regardless, Myrta is a lovely bright orange with a golden flash, and it was opaque in two easy coats. In fact, I can just picture myself wearing it once warm weather comes around again.

 natural light

I actually completely agree with Zoya's description of Meg, which they call a "mermaid green foil metallic." I wouldn't have gotten to "mermaid" all by myself, but when I saw Meg and read Zoya's description, a mental image of Ariel's tail popped right into my head. *hums Disney songs* I can't quite remember if I used one or two coats of Meg, but I think it was one. Maybe. I should make a note of these things.

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I have to admit, even though I went in the order of how the polishes were in the box, the best (in my opinion) ended up being saved for last. Zuza, an "aquamarine foil metallic," is my absolute favorite of Surf by far. It's not that the others aren't pretty; it's just that Zuza is so, well, Zuza. I even love the name. It's a brilliant turquoise foil that makes me think of going to the pool - or even better, the Greek sea in the summertime. For example:

See where the color starts shifting from green to blue - in the middle, where it's that perfect teal? That's Zuza. I guess the true mark of a good summer color must be that it reminds you of last summer's vacation...at any rate, I'll definitely be wearing Zuza at least a couple more times in the next few months!

Overall, while I'm not always a fan of foils that aren't gold, silver, bronze, or copper (i.e., a metallic color that's actually the color of a metal), I thought Zoya did a good job on Surf, and my three favorites are Zuza (of course), Kimber, and Carly. Which would you pick?

These products were provided to me by the manufacturer for review; however, this will never affect my honest review of a product. For more information, see my disclosure policy.

China Glaze Capitol Colours: Riveting

Hello again! Today I have the color I wore to go see The Hunger Games movie Friday night, China Glaze Riveting. I was going to do some kind of nail art on top, but Riveting was so gorgeous on its own that I couldn't think of anything that would improve it. I actually used one coat of Riveting over one coat of OPI A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find, but it came out looking like the bottle color anyway.

 natural light

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Isn't it gorgeous? I wish my nails were just a little longer so Riveting could be shown off best, but c'est la vie. Unfortunately, my nails are now very chipped after playing lap tag last night (Google it - best game ever), so I'll be changing my mani soon. I'm thinking something light and springy...

Day 10: Gradient

Today's post will also be a brief one, as I once again have way too much reading to do in too little time. For today's gradient, I used Sally Hansen Sun Kissed, Revlon Victorian (from the Just Tinted collection), and China Glaze Golden Enchantment. I was very happy with the way it turned out, and then I went to bed and got sheet marks. Whoops.

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That's all! I promised a short post, didn't I? :)

Day 2: Orange

Hello there, and happy hump day! Sorry today's post is later in the day - I had a doctor's appointment this morning, or I would've had it up then, and I didn't write it last night because I wanted to get at least 8 hours of sleep...though I doubt that will last long this month. Today's theme makes use of a fantastic polish that I got in Greece at the end of July and for some inexplicable reason hadn't used yet. It's Seventeen "Shock" 1001, an orange crackle. I layered it over two coats of Ulta Sun-sational.

 sunlight

artificial light

artificial light

What can I say? I'm a huge fan of this crackle, and I can't understand why U.S. companies are only making crackles in a limited range of colors - no green, no orange, no yellow...come on! I also have Seventeen's yellow crackle, so I may use that tomorrow for Day 3.

On a side note, I receive Dr.'s Remedy's latest collection today in the mail, and I'm working on swatching it now. I should have it posted tomorrow or Friday.

The other blogs doing this challenge:

Aly Loves Lacquer

Manicure Addict

Dees Polish Endeavours

Bright Lights, Big Color

Splatter on Black

I was originally going to do a water marble with these colors, but for some reason it just wasn't working for me. Instead, I decided to go for an easier option: the splatter mani. I used a base of Wet 'n' Wild Black Creme with OPI A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find, Nina Ultra Pro Salsa, OPI Jade is the New Black, and Color Club Overboard.

direct sunlight

indirect sunlight

At first, I wasn't too happy with this, but it definitely started growing on me after I put top coat on. Unfortunately, it's chipped now, so I'll have to take it off soon. I'm not sure when that's going to happen, though, as one of my best friends, Francis, is visiting this weekend. This is Francis:

I really like how the focus turned out in the first picture, even though it was completely accidental. Anyway, that's about all I have to say now...have a great weekend!

Summer Layering

EDIT: I forgot to mention that Adamo 117 is one of the awesome polishes I got in Greece. Whoops!

For today's mani, I really wanted to use Adamo 117, a orange jelly packed with glass flecks that flash orange and gold. I plan on trying it on its own at some point, but I wanted to go to bed before midnight last night, so layering was necessary. I slapped on OPI A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find, which is my favorite orange creme, then added one coat of Adamo 117, one coat of Nubar 2010, one coat of 117, two more of 2010, and one final coat of 117. The results? HOT.

outdoors, sunlight

outdoors, sunlight

outdoors, shade

outdoors, shade

As I told my mom, this mani accurately reflects August weather here in Missouri, but I much prefer this gorgeous layering to the heat and humidity. Even as I'm typing this post, I keep stopping to stare at my nails. Pitiful, I know - but they're so pretty! I bet something similar would look great with pink, as well . . . I may have to try that, too. In the meantime, I'll just admire the juicy deliciousness I have on at the moment.

Don't forget to enter my Zoya Smoke & Mirrors giveaway - it ends Thursday!

My First Nfu-Oh

This was scheduled to post on July 31, but for some reason it didn't, so here it is now!

A while back, I won a giveaway from Jessica v. Polish, and included as an extra was Nfu-Oh 55 (an extra, can you believe it?!), a polish with a clear base containing green shimmer and green/orange flakies à la Nubar 2010 or Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure. It's absolutely gorgeous, and I haven't used it much only because I'm afraid I'll use it up! I'm wearing it here over a franken I made, Comet, but I definitely want to try it over other colors.

 indoors, artificial light

 indoors, artificial light

indoors, artificial light

These pictures really don't capture how gorgeous Nfu-Oh 55 is . . . I'm tempted to blow my checking account on more Nfu-Oh flakies, but I've restrained myself so far. We'll see how long that lasts. :)

China Glaze Life Preserver

Along with Grape Pop, which I showed yesterday, China Glaze also sent me the orange creme from their Anchors Away collection, Life Preserver. Just like Grape Pop, Life Preserver is a diva and refuses to photograph accurately, at least in the indoor lighting the weather has forced me to use. It's a dusty but vibrant, glossy orange creme, and while I would probably use three coats for a full manicure due to the slight VNL that I had with the two coats (without top coat) shown, two coats would also suffice.

indoors, artificial light

*sigh* Life Preserver is not that red. I think my camera is just mad at China Glaze for being so awesome. To get an idea of the actual color, look at these pictures, and then picture something between those swatches and mine. It's quite a unique orange, and I definitely don't have anything close to it in my stash. I'll have to bring it back out when the storms stop (though it doesn't look like that will be anytime in the near future) and take (hopefully) more accurate pictures.

I received this product from the manufacturer for review; however, that will never affect what I say about the product. For more information, see my disclosure policy.

Spring Frankens

Happy Easter! Go grab a Cadbury egg and come back.

Are you back? Okay, so last month sometime (I am clearly bad about posting things in a timely fashion), I made a set of four frankens as a spring collection of sorts. I decided I wanted four pastel-ish colors with subtle shimmer, and I made a pink, a peachy orange, a green, and a blue. The shimmer was indeed quite subtle and my camera pretty much failed at capturing these colors, but here we go anyway. All of these pictures were taken indoors under artificial light.

First, we have the green. As far as cooperating with the camera, this one definitely gets first place - the picture is actually color-accurate, and though it's hard to see the shimmer, it is there in the picture if you click to enlarge it, and it's definitely there in real life. I used three coats of this one without top coat, and as you can see, it's nice and shiny on its own.

Now we have the orange, which in my opinion is the fail of the collection. The shimmer both gets lost in the polish and is present enough to give it a chunky, gloopy texture that doesn't completely level even with the two coats of polish and one coat of Seche Vite that I used in the picture. This one isn't completely color-accurate, either; it's more orange and intensely colored than the picture shows.

This pink, on the other hand, is quite the success in my opinion. It's a bit more salmony than in the picture and the gold shimmer is more evident in real life. I used two coats without top coat in the picture.

*sigh* This blue...it's very pretty in real life, but it just refused to cooperate with my camera. Think more dusty periwinkle, and the shimmer in considerably more evident in real life. I used three coats without top coat.

I haven't named any of them yet (I am also clearly bad about naming my frankens in a timely fashion), so I'm asking all of you for some help. I don't like any of the names I've come up with so far, so if you have any ideas please leave them in the comments. Thanks, and again, have a very happy Easter!

BB Couture A Touch of Greece: Apollo and Uranus

Hello, all! Today I'll be showing you Apollo and Uranus, the two polishes I received to review from the BB Couture A Touch of Greece collection. Apollo and Uranus are both from the men's part of the collection. Unfortunately, it was raining yesterday when I took these pictures, so I only have indoor pictures to show you - of course, today the sun is shining bright...and I don't have my camera with me.

In case you didn't know, Apollo was quite a busy god - he was the Greek god of music, poetry, plague, oracles, the sun, medicine, light, and knowledge. BB Couture Apollo is a bright orange, which I'm guessing comes from the fact that he was god of the sun/light. It's actually the only orange I have which is actually the color of a real orange. It's a little less vivid than the picture shows, but it's quite close. I really like the color and consistency, and though I wouldn't be surprised if there are dupes, I don't have any in my stash. Also, look at how shiny that is without top coat! I did have to use three coats to eliminate visible nail line, but as the application was absolutely perfect, I didn't mind.

indoors, artificial light

The second polish I was provided was BB Couture Uranus, which is a toffee, caramely brown color that I love despite the disparaging comments my mom made about its similarity to the color of...well...you can probably guess. Uranus is the Greek god of the sky and son of Gaia, the goddess of the earth. I only had to use two coats of Uranus, and it was just as incredibly shiny without top coat as Apollo was. I actually went ahead and wore this as my full manicure today because I loved it so much. The color isn't as yellowy as it looks in my pictures, though.

indoors, artificial light

So there they are, Apollo and Uranus! What do you think? 

These products were sent to me by Overall Beauty for review. However, this will never affect what I say about a product. For more information, see my disclosure policy.

Franken Week Day 4: Fresh Squeezed

I believe I was inspired to make an orange jelly flakie after a brief exchange with L on twitter...I could be totally wrong though, my memory is horrible. At any rate, I did it using Sally Hansen Sun Kissed, Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure, and clear polish - one of my simplest frankens. Unfortunately, it was a bit thick - I'll be adding some thinner - and it didn't photograph particularly well. The flakies are more prominent in real life...I think there's something about my camera that makes flakies not show up well when they're in a base as opposed to layered on top of a polish. Also, sorry for my janky cuticles.

indoors, artificial light

Again, this is another one I need to re-take pictures of when (if) the sun ever comes out again...it poured and then hailed yesterday. At least I guess that means it's almost spring? Wait, no, it's 28 degrees outside as I'm typing this. Never mind. :/ Hope your Wednesday is sunnier than mine!

I keep forgetting to add my "new polish blogs" thing to the end of my post...I've been reading all of these for at least a week now and I haven't posted them. Anyway, go read! :)

Polish Infatuated
Death By Polish
Glitta Gloves
Polishing and Make-Up
Solensdanserinde

Neon Skittles

At the beginning of last week, I was in the mood for something happy and bright. The weather was warm (it's not anymore), the sun was shining (it's cloudy now), and it felt like spring was on the way (what's spring again?). While that mani definitely doesn't reflect the current weather anymore, maybe it'll brighten up everyone's day regardless. Sorry for my gross cuticles...I really do love winter, but why does it have to make my hands look like I wash dishes all day? Also, apologies for the nasty staining on my thumb.

indoors, artificial light

From thumb to pinkie, I used Icing Electric Feeling, Sally Hansen Sun Kissed, Nina Ultra Pro Punki Pink, China Glaze Kiwi Cool-ada, and Sally Hansen Lightening, and added Rush top coat on top of all of them. I used the same colors on my other hand, but in a different order. Since all of these but the orange and yellow are true neons (matte when dry, etc.), they didn't photograph too well. Punki Pink is definitely not that orangey, and Kiwi Cool-ada is not quite that cool. Electric Feeling, on the other hand, is pretty much accurate.