Lovely Neutral... Jacqueline

I have the worst time finding a good nude or neutral polish.   In the store, those many beautiful neutral/nudes beckon me to bring them home, but as soon as I get those colors on my hands, my heart is quickly broken by colors that make my fair coloring look more washed out than usual.

I finally have a beige polish that looks good on my hands!!  (insert happy dance here!!)

I found this polish on a bloggers site, and I fell in love with the color.  The blogger had fair skin with a red undertone, just like me!  My heart began to mend... could a nude that looks good on my hand actually exist?

Be still my beating heart... and say hello to Zoya's Jacqueline!!

Zoya's website describes this polish as, "full-coverage, perfect magnolia nude cream. This light creamy beige has slight warm undertones and a glossy creme finish."




I love this color!!  I have worn it all by itself, which is high praise indeed.

My camera cannot do this polish justice.  My hand does not have such red undertones (as seen in the picture above).  

A Tale of Two Gargantuan Green Grapes

Okay... this is strange.  I purchased OPI's Gargantuan Green Grape from Ulta a few weeks ago.  When I finished my manicure with the new color, I was slightly perplexed.





There are two (2) different OPI's GGGs.   One is a minty, creamy green, the other is a creamy, milky blue.  

Obviously, I purchased the milky blue GGG.

I love this color, but I still need to purchase the green version of this polish, because I still need a good mint green polish.

Tomoko and Arabella

The Zoya PixieDust line is really a superior product, one of the best.  The formula is unbelievably easy to apply, and the colors and textures amazing.

Today I did a quick free hand design using two PixieDust colors, Tomoko (described as a "champagne silver with a matte, textured, sparkling metal finish") and Arabella (the Zoya web site describes this color as a "rich fuchsia pink in a matte, textured sparkling finish").



Now, Zoya does not recommend using a base coat or a top coat.  However, I always use a a base coat and so far I have not had any problems.

A little art...

Okay, I added a few polka dots to my OPI's Pinking of You manicure.

On my index and ring finger, I added Maybelline's Color Show Polka Dots in Clearly Spotted.

The white accents are China Glaze in White on White.   The black accents are also China Glaze, Liquid Leather.

Side note, I love Clearly Spotted.  You can add it to almost any type of nail polish (cream or jelly or sheer) and it can really change the look of the manicure with very little effort.  Plus the price!!!  Walmart sells Maybelline's Color Show for only $3.00!

I try to keep my nail art very simple, for a good reason, I am a horrid artist.  I mean it, I cannot draw to save my life.  So I rely on good dotting tools and tape.

A little pink to perk up my day!

I know... it is fall, not spring or summer.

I should really be doing Halloween or Thanksgiving manicures, using all those rich fall colors, such as navy, khaki, hunter greens and rich browns.

But I was in the mood for a little pink!!

October is Breast Cancer month, so everyone has been doing all sorts of beautiful pink type manicures and I wanted to get in on the action.

This lovely pink is by OPI called Pinking of You.  

As usual the formula was just lovely.  I actually used four coats (yikes!) to get rid of my vnl.

I like this creamy pink.  It is more bright that the standard baby pink, and a little richer too.

What do you think?

I may have to add a little something... hmmm.  But what to add?

Eh... I have done better...

but I have also done worse.  

I am not in love with this manicure, but it is different.  I was fooling around with some more PixieDust and tape.  I started with a lovely nude by Sally Hanson Complete Salon Manicure in Almost Almond (which I will swatch and post all my itself one day because it is a lovely nude with a slight shimmer).   Then I add Zoya's PixieDust in Dahlia.

However, the black stripes were completely overwhelming the shimmery nude.  I added a coat of Zoya's PixieDust in Tomoko over the nude and it worked a little better.

This is what happens when you are polishing your nails when you should be getting some sleep... which is where I am off to right now!  I will be back on Monday with a new manicure.

Some more Zoya's Blu and a little Nyx

I did this manicure last night with no planning or forethought.  So of course, it came out looking great!  

I started with two heavy coats of Zoya's Blu, and then I added accent nails in Zoya's PixieDust in Nyx.  Oddly enough, I had two customers compliment me on my manicure, which always makes my day!

Well, it Friday.  And unlike the rest of the working world, my weekend won't start until Sunday night at 8:30 when I finish my shift.  Like all good little retail drones I will be spending my weekend serving the general public.  Boy, it will be a blast.  

Enjoy your weekend!!  I will be back on Monday night with a new manicure!

Pink French Manicure

So, I saw this manicure on Pinterest last night and I really wanted to give it a go....

I used Zoya's Bela (lightest pink), Pinking-ing of You (OPI) and finally, Maybellline's Color Show in Pinkalicious.

I did use nail tape to keep the lines neat.  I love that little string.  

I will have to do this manicure again, but maybe with greens or violets.  Hmmmmmmm....  the possibilities are endless.  

Three new colors at a super price!

I may have mentioned my affection for Zoya nail polish and remover.  Really, both are superior products.  Of course, I wish the price was a little more budget friendly (but it is not as expensive as say... Butter).

At the Ulta Cosmetic Stores in my area, Zoya nail polish is always buy two, get one for free.  Great deal, right?

But it gets better!!  You can usually find one of their $3.50 off a ten dollar purchase coupon, either online or in their Sunday circular.

Zoya polish is usually $8.00 (PixieDust $9.00), but if you buy three instead of $24.00, it is only $18.00.  I was able to use my $3.50 off, so for three Zoya polishes, it was only $12.50 plus tax.  Which comes out only cost about $4.15 for each bottle.  That is a deal!!  It is almost half price!

The only problem, Ulta does not have a huge selection of Zoya polishes, and they tend to a little behind the release dates.  But it is still a great place stock up on these polishes.




I purchased Lauren, Bevin and Neely.  




Here is Bevin and Neely:      

More PixieDust

The fact that I purchased a purple polish at all, speaks very highly of the product.  My dreary little retail job has sentenced to me to a life of wearing purple shirts.   I wear purple for morning shifts, afternoon shifts and yes, evening shifts.  Purple all the freakin' time.

I have grown so very weary of purple.

However, as I was going through the Zoya collection at my nearby Ulta the other day, I came across this brilliant purple PixieDust.  I decided to give it a chance.

And boy, am I glad I did!!

I always use a base coat, even though Zoya does not recommend a base coat or a top coat with this product.







I did not use a top coat for this picture:

Here, I did apply two coats of OPI's Top Coat, I have to say... I like it!!!  Even though it is purple.

Orly's Peaceful Opposition, Take 2

See... I told you so.  This is a great polish.   I am wearing my standard NailTek base coat and of course, my trusty Seche Vite on top.  I used three coats of OP (I bet four would be even better!).

This screams wedding nails to me, a nice break from baby pink or french (which seems to be the de riguer for so many brides).  It is a little more playful, and a little unexpected for a bride.

 Hey, and not to toot my own horn... look at my cuticles!  I have finally found a great nail oil, third time is the charm.  I have horridly dry nails due to my regular body chemistry, plus a medication I take on top of just getting older.

I have spent too much money trying different products and spent even more countless hours doing research trying figure out why my nails won't grow!  Or I should correctly reference the question as 'why do my nails always break?'

I am waiting for the day thirty before I post my review, so stay tuned!

Enjoy your Friday!

Zoya's PixieDust in Dahlia

Last night I was surfing the web and I saw a picture of Zoya's PixieDust in Dahlia and was blown away.  I love black polish, but I am so fish belly pale it does not always work with my skin tone.

I whipped out my trusty iPod Touch and went to add the color to my polish list.  Side note: yes, I am the only person in the world who does not use a smartphone, I am still kicking it old style cell phone and using my iPod Touch.  But I love my iPod Touch!!  I mean, love it!  I can surf the web, check my email, play Suduko or Tetris, listen to audio books and music.  Best of all features, no data fees.

Back to the polish... as I added the polish to the list a little bell went off in my tiny brain.  I remembered I have this polish!

The glittery tones added to PixieDust really softens the black, at least for my pale skin.  What do you think?

As usual, I have on my base coat, two coats of Dahlia finished up with two Seche Vite coats.  It a top coat is not suggested for these polishes, but I like adding some gloss to the finish.

Tape manicure

I am so excited!  After last night's nail polish failure, tonight I tried a new look and it was almost successful!

I called this a tape manicure, because that is where I got the idea from a pinterest board of tape manicures.  However, I used a small nail polish brush to do the the outline and filled the color in with the standard polish brush.

After my basecoat, I started with a lovely baby pink by Maybelline Color Show in Born With It (#150), then the deep pink is also a Color Show in Pinkalicious (#170) and finally the black is Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Black Out (#370).

I am going to do this manicure again, but with some other colors.  Hmm... grey, purple and a deep silver might actually be a different look.

Stay tuned for the next time!

Orly's Peaceful Opposition

This picture does not do this polish justice... or really it was my application that leaves something to be desired.  But I was having a nail polish crisis last night.

Last night after I finished my usual manicure routine, I applied two polishes and started playing with some free hand art.   There is a reason I was a political science major... I am not an artist.  I should have taken picture of it (it was not bad, just not good).  So off came the polish.

Whenever I have to begin a second attempt, I can never make a decision on a polish.  I mean, c'mon if I mess it up again...  it just won't stop.

So I applied two coats of a old standby, OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls.  And added two coats of Peaceful Opposition.

You really need third coats to do the pearl/glitter polish justice.  But even with 2 coats, it looks lovely.

A little Blu and Sailor Water Marbling

Hello!

I love spending time working on water marbling, as long as it goes smoothly.  I am still a novice when it comes to this process, so there are times when the finish product stinks.  But I am hopeful my skills will improve with each attempt.

As usual, I began with my Nailtek base coat.  Under each water marble nail is one coat of OPI's My Boyfriend Scales Walls.  The artwork was done with Zoya's Sailor (a lovely creamy navy blue), Zoya's Blu and OPI's My Boyfriend Scales Walls.

The other nails have two coats of Zoya's Blu featuring Sailor polka dots.

Zoya ... sigh... Does it get any better than this?

On those lovely and carefree days, when I am able to go nail polish shopping, I used to go straight to the OPI displays.  I still love OPI.  Their colors are super and who doesn't love those witty names?  C'mon, I Am Not Really a Waitress... that is genius.  OPI makes a great polish with a consistent formula that never disappoints me.  

But for the last few months, I have become a Zoya freak.  I just adore this polish!  Regardless of the finish, their formulas are nearly flawless.  

Below is one more of the Pixie Dust colors... this one is Nyx.  Just two coats... sigh.  So lovely.

Zoya's Blue... I meant Zoya's Blu

I love Zoya nail polish (and I have serious feelings of love for Zoya's nail polish remover, but that is a post for another day).

As we all know, Amazon is my favorite place to shop for nail polish; provided I am confident the brand and color of polish will work for my completion and nail type.  You may be asking yourself, 'how do I know a color will work for me without trying it on, or at least seeing the color in person?'  All I can say is thank the nail polish goddess above for Google images and Pinterest.

It is easy enough to search for polish colors that catch my eye, and thereafter find a ton of pictures featuring that polish.  Most often, I am able to decide from those photos if my completion will work with such colors.

Zoya's Blu is one of those colors I only saw on the Internet and purchased online.   I adore this polish, but be warned, this can be an unforgiving polish.  This polish is rate a 5 (opaque) on the Zoya site and the first coat does not go on super evenly.  However, by coat 2, the polish is pretty perfect.  

And I love it!!

My nails tale of woe...

If I did not have to work for a living (or clean, or cook, or have to clean after I cook) my nails would be super long and very rarely break.  Unfortunately, I have a need to buy those crazy things like food, and shelter (and oddly enough, my nail polish habit), so I have to keep working.

Yesterday,  after my shift ended I realized I had damaged not one, but two nails on my right hand (yes, like most the world I am right handed).  Of course my left hand was still perfect condition.  And although my left had did not suffer at all, I hate having one hand with significantly longer nails than the other so the whole team was got a trim.

My nails are very hard, but dry and brittle.  And my nails don't break, they develop a small tears (always right at the quick).  I swear,, I will find a way to grow all my nails (on both hands) and keep the nails in good working order for more than two days.

I was feeling blue over my nail situation, so I decided to do something a little snazzy.

I started with OPI's My Boyfriend Scales Walls, the water marbling was done with My Boyfriend and China Glaze's Liquid Leather (also the polka dots are done with Liquid Leather).  My left hand middle finger, my right hand index finger and both thumbs stared with My Boyfriend, then for something fun I added Maybelline's Color Show Polka Dots in Clearly Spotted.

If you want a versatile fun polish to add to your collection, I cannot say enough good things about Maybelline's Color Show Polka Dots in Clearly Spotted ($3.00 at Walmart!), add just one coat and it will quickly jazz up any solid polish.

I could not post my sad little right hand... trust me, it is not pretty (both my index and thumb are down to the quick, sniff, sniff).

Thanks!!

Elizabeth

Oh, my goodness....

Have you seen the movie Cinderella lately?  Can you recall her beautiful blue princess dress?  The dress was from her Fairy Godmother, described as a lovely silver blue gown.  

And imagine my surprise when I read that Sinful Colors (a very inexpensive polish) has an amazing Cinderella polish?  It was all over the Internet and nail bloggers were flipping out over this color.

Once I got this color on my digits, I understood the buzz.  It is amazingly glorious, baby blue with a silver gleam with a taste of shiny pink, just like that dress. 

I need to take a picture in natural light so you can really see the many colors and appreciate the richness of the shades.

Now, this is a $2.00 polish, so the formula is not the best.  I did three coats and I still had a vnl, but I did not want to do four.  I may try doing a coat of white, then apply two coats of Cinderella. 

Honestly, I did not even care about the formula.

See y'all soon!!

Elizabeth 

Zoya Pixie Dust

Holy cheese on crackers!  I love these polishes!!

Along with My Boyfriend Scales Walls, my recent Amazon order included not one, but two bottles of Zoya's Pixie Dust.   I should have ordered three (at least!).

These colors go on like buttah...

I purchased Tomoko and Nyx, both took my breath away.  I have an uncontrollable urge to log into Amazon...

Here is Tomoko, with three coats on top of my base coat and followed by Seche Vite.

Do you like it as much as I do?

Elizabeth

Can my nails wear white after Labor Day?

The calendar tells me it is September and the first day of fall is right around the corner.  But no one has told Atlanta yet, because as far as this city is concerned we are still in the middle of summer.

I lived in Massachusetts when I was a very wee girl.  Now that is a state with a real Fall season that actually begins right after Labor Day.

But here in Marietta, Georgia, it feels like summer is going strong.  There is no need to bring out your Fall wardrobe until after Halloween.  And since I am not the kind of girl who worries about wearing white shoes after Labor Day, I might as well wear white polish on my nails.

I love OPI's My Boyfriend Scales Walls.  Funny story - I had been eyeing this polish online for about two months.  It is from the Spider Man Collection and I searched every and any store, spa and salon for this polish.

I finally I gave up hope and purchased the polish from Amazon.  And then a week later I found the color at Publix.  Can you believe it?

Anyhow, the above picture shows three coats over my base coat (Nail Tek Hydration Therapy III for dry, brittle nails) followed by that old favorite fast drying top coat - Seche Vite.

It is a lovely white, with a touch of something else (grey, blue... something different).  I can wear this alone, or use as a base coat, either way it is a great color!  

What do you think?

Elizabeth

Hello!

Hey Y'all!

Let me me introduce myself.   I am an old married woman with a fabulous husband and a fulltime son.  Like most woman, between my family and my job, there is not a bunch of time, just for me.
But, after the boys go to bed and the house is quiet, I bring out my nail box and go to work.   I enjoy painting my nails.  Depending on my mood, I may just apply a few coats of a baby pink.  Or I might do something a little more creative.  

Speaking of baby pink, above is one of those easy manicures.  I stumbled upon Maybelline Color Show polishes this summer and I was so pleased.  These are priced very low ($3.00 at Walmart) and the quality of the polish is pretty good (especially when you consider the price!).  

I am wearing Born With It (#150). 

See you soon!

Elizabeth