Mint Manis for Talia Joy

The lovely Nicole from NailPolishWars has rallied the nail polish community in a supportive tribute to the spirit of 13 year old YouTube darling Talia Joy Castellano. Her long fight with cancer drew to an end earlier this week. Her determination, vitality, encouragement and passion will be missed.

Nicole shares with us, "Talia was a beautiful thirteen year old girl who was battling two horrible forms of cancer, neuroblastoma and preleukemia. She was also a supremely talented make up and nail artist.  You might have seen her amazing appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show, where she was also made an honorary Cover Girl!"

A beautiful mint manicure was the most recent nail polish post Talia Joy shared on Instagram and hence serves as the muse for us all. Please join us in celebrating her inspirational life. My thoughts are with her family and friends.

(Sally Hansen Mint Sorbet with GGCoutureNails Couture Nail Lacquer in Genevieve with a Dragon's Blood scent and a Shimmer Polish Cassandra accent)

  

Dance Legend Cosmic Rainbow New Prism holographic nail polish

Yet another holographic nail polish. I must be happily stuck in a holo-holding-pattern ☼

This purple grape beauty is from the professional Russian nail polish brand Dance Legend. Cosmic Rainbow (#10) New Prism holographic nail polish is chock full of prismatic goodness with shots of blue, grape, pink and various other rainbow colors.

Indoors it is a vibrant grape purple that shows more beautifully than most holographic polishes. As you holo lovers know, most tend to be quite dull indoors. Not this one. It definitely broadcasts what is about to happen once you hit the sun.

The best part - this manicure required only ONE coat for this much saturation! Can you believe it?

The formula is quite thick, applies easily and did not bubble or leave "bald" spots. I would prefer a thinner application brush as I have a narrow nail base so it was difficult to coerce the polish as closely to my cuticles as I prefer. Other than the wider brush, no complaints. ONE coat! Let's just keep that in mind. Too many companies require 2-3 coats or worse yet, an under/base color. I like my natural nails to appear thin, not built up with many layers of polish.

Ninja Polish

Llarowe

Dance Legend

indoors under OttLite

 outdoors with camera A

 

 

outdoors with camera A

outdoors with camera B

outdoors with camera B

 

 

NailNation 3000 Max A Million

This incredible holographic nail polish is from the indie brand NailNation 3000. It is befittingly called Max A Million. Two coats of the light blue / aqua base glimmers into I-can't-even-count-the-amount of colors. One word:

Insane!

NailNation 3000

 

no, the picture above is not blurry, just incredibly holographic ☼

 

Lacquer Lust Butt Bootie Naked

This beauty is a discontinued Lacquer Lust holographic nude nail polish titled Butt Bootie Naked. What a demure stunner. Indoors it is the perfect nude. Outdoors it shimmers with warm gold, a bit of green - you get it - a subdued rainbow.

This is 2 coats over Nailtiques Formula 2 as a base. No top coat was used. Wear was excellent at 5 days after which the tips started to show slight even wear.

Thanks for taking a peek ☼

Lacquer Lust

 

Saran Wrap manicure

Today's manicure is another  "Crumpet's Nail Tarts" laid back challenge. The technique is called the Saran Wrap Method.

I used a base coat of Orly Color Blast Total Eclipse of the Heart which is a multichrome that shifts between pink, orange, green and gold. It's quite lovely on it's own.

I then painted jojoba oil around the skin surrounding my nails because this is a messy process and I was hoping oil would make clean up smoother. It did! I used a tool from Sally Beauty Supply that is intended to assist in removing nail polish without destroying your manicure. It is a pen-like device that has a retractable claw which holds onto a cotton ball or in this case, crumpled up saran wrap. It is made by Star Nail and is called an ASP Manicure Saver Cotton Claw. I bunched up pre-cut squares of saran wrap and used this tool to dab on the top layer of nail polish, Milani Black Cherry.

Seche Vite top coat was used between layers and as a final top coat.

I then removed the oil and excess nail polish with a Q-tip and used acetone with a stiff slanted brush for final clean up. This was quite a mess but I am pleased with the result. Please take a look at all the lovely pictures of other Saran Wrap manis. Enjoy ☼

ASP Manicure Saver Cotton Claw

HITS Dionisio Holographic

HITS Dionisio Holographic is a gorgeous rainbow purple long wearing nail polish. As with my other HITS review, I anticipate this polish will wear extremely well. I did encounter bubbles again and found the brush a bit "fat" for application. My personal preference is a thinner brush because my nail bed is quite slim. The color is magnificent.

I used Nailtiques Formula 2 for my base and applied 2 coats of HITS.

Enjoy ☼

Please join my site. I'd love to have you as a regular visitor. Thanks!

This is my first entry in the "Crumpet's Nail Tarts" laid back challenges. You can view other people's great manicures of a similar theme by clicking on their thumbnails at the end of this post.

Llarowe carries HITS

 

 

 

 

This is my first time participating in a full on group motivation/challenge that features other blogs. What fun! Click on 'em & have a great time browsing ☼

 

Pressed flower manicure

I'm so pleased to have been included in my first nail polish challenge group - The Nail Challenge on facebook.

This week's challenge was to interpret Spring.

As always, I used a base coat of Nailtiques Formula 2, applied two coats of Essence Forget Me Knot, a few layers of OPI I Juggle Men over real pressed flowers from last Spring with a healthy dose of HKG top coat. These Plumbago Auriculata were a challenge to work with but a learning experience is always worth the effort.

I hope you enjoy my Spring inspiration and thank you for taking the time to look at my blog ☼

HITS Hera Holographic

Holos are my latest obsession. So many companies have their own versions and of the four different one's I've tried, HITS is the clear winner for durability. I can wear a HITS Holo manicure for over 7 days with absolutely NO chipping. It is amazing!

Trust me when I tell you I put my hands through it all...dry desert heat (shrinks/distorts/water "opens" the nails back up), forced air, gardening, wood burning fireplace duty (smiling from ear to ear on this one), package opening (joy), laundry, various other mani treachery including dishes all day long. I never wear gloves for any of these tasks so HITS is insanely amazing. Most of my manis must be removed after 3 days tops because I can't stand chipping.

I extend the holos by glittering the tips to distract from the visible regrowth at the cuticles.

My only concern about HITS is that bubbling occurs when I apply 2 coats. It could be that I am too impatient between coats or that my "undies" are creating havoc. I only use Nailtiques Formula 2 as a base. I know most holos require a special base but I have not bought any. This in no way effects the overall beauty and rainbow insanity that is HITS but because they are my nails, I see the bubbles.

Llarowe carries HITS

The following pictures of HITS Hera were taken with two different cameras. I am still experimenting ☼

 

Shimmer Polish Cassandra with Fantasy Makers Confetti Glitz

Another stunner by Shimmer Polish: Cassandra

I had great difficulty picking up the color on my new camera as I have not yet deciphered how to white balance it. The pictures do not do this polish justice but the need to share outweighed the desire for reading the manual on CD, pfff. This is such a stunning combination. My nails look like icicles IRL!

Here is the process: Yellow Stopper as a base coat for that natural French manicure effect (it casts a lavender hue on your natural nail), one coat Shimmer Polish Cassandra (pearl white holographic glitter), "French tips" using  Fantasy Makers Confetti Glitz (a super shiny fine holo powder that can be used for many purposes) and my favorite top coat, HKG.

Enjoy ☼

Shimmer Polish

Butter London Jack the Lad

Featured is a fantastic gift from my friend Jammies at Baubles & Bubbles. Can you believe she would part with this incredible color?? She knows my love of green polish and is so thoughtful. I am grateful to her for my very first Butter London nail polish, Jack the Lad.  Official description: opaque, moss green shimmer with gold, turquoise and green microglitter.

I have applied 2 coats of Jack the Lad. Application was a dream. The polish is very complex and multifaceted. I particularly love the turquoise accents in the deep mossy green base. Gorgeous.

The pictures were taken indoors under an OttLite. Enjoy.

Butter London

OttLite

Candeo Colors Orchid

I promised you color and here it is. I have seen so many beautiful manicures with Candeo Colors Orchid, I just had to buy a bottle and give it a try. It has turned into one of my favorites.

This color is stunning. It is described as a shimmery fuchsia base that is loaded with small copper, light purple, magenta and large silver holographic hex glitter. I'd like to add that it is a fuchsia jelly based polish that can be layered for more depth and sparkle. It would be great for sandwiching (next time!).

For this manicure I applied a base of 2 coats Ulta in Deep Desire, one coat of Candeo Colors Orchid and 1 coat of Hong Kong Girl top coat.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Thanks for stopping by and Happy 2013 to you all ☼

Candeo Colors

Starlight Polish Cocoa Crystal

Happy Holidays to everyone!

This simple but stunning manicure is 2 coats of Starlight Polish in Cocoa Crystal without a top coat. It is a warm brown linear holographic that applied beautifully. 

I promise to deliver some color soon but I think at heart I am a neutral albeit a dazzler neutral/brown girl.

be well & safe & happy

Starlight Polish

 

Nubar Spark with Shimmer Polish Wendy

I recently picked up a bottle of Shimmer Polish in Wendy and thought it would make a nice easy gradient topper over Nubar Spark as the tips started to wear. This gave my mani a two day extension. You can see the regrowth at the bed of my nails but IRL, it just looked like a fun gradient (sans sponge mess).

Thanks for stopping by!

Shimmer Polish

Nubar Spark

Nubar Spark is another lovely nude holographic color. It is such a perfect polish that glided on with ease. I applied two coats without a top coat.

Description from their site: "warm pale caramel with fine rainbow holographic glitter is filled with holographic glitter reflecting every color of the rainbow, with base colors just as varied, ranging from subtle neutrals to vivid pink to pale blue".

Nubar

 

 

Nouba purple 484 LA1521 nail polish

This gorgeous purple Nouba 484 was picked up in the same boutique beauty supply house in California as the post from October 20. It has a stunning purple gel base with many holos - bars and different sizes of round. What a stunner! I've captured it in different lighting situations and various focal points so you can get a better idea of it's beauty. Two coats is all it took. This polish is surprisingly soft to the touch despite all the fun going on but I did use one coat of HKG top coat to give it longevity. I hope you enjoy it!

 

 

OPI My Private Jet

This beautiful neutral brown with many tiny sparkly flecks is OPI My Private Jet non-holo version. I bought a decant from a polish fiend, er, friend - sorry about that little slip up! Great on shorter nails. Thanks for stopping by.

 

 

Nouba Silver Holographic 482 LA1521

Nouba is an Italian brand I discovered while in California. The colors are numbered rather than named. I love a silver holo! This was my first Nouba purchase (482 LA1521). It was a bit pricey at $8.50 for a 7ml bottle from a boutique beauty supply house but I had to have it.

Application was quite easy, requiring only 2 coats. I did not apply a colored base coat and I enjoy the effect of my nail peeking through the glitter. HKG top coat was used but not really necessary as the polish is surprisingly smooth for so much glitter and bars.

I hope you enjoy it!

Fantasy Makers R.I.P. Once Upon a Time Halloween red glittah fest

Fantasy Makers R.I.P. Once Upon a Time Halloween red glittah fest

This color is part of Wet n Wild's Halloween 2012 collection. The bottles are rectangular with a rounded faux granite "headstone" top that reads R.I.P. Adorable.

Stunning dark grey gel base color that keeps building to black and sandwiches the red chunky glitter to your customization. Love the depth you can achieve with one product. This is 2 coats of Fantasy Makers R.I.P. Once Upon a Time over Yellow Stopper base coat with Hong Kong Girl top coat. IRL it reads as a black polish with shots of red but in order to capture the glitter, I had to take the picture in bright sunlight.

Enjoy...

Elevation Polish Everest

I'm back from a three week nail polish break. I had mixed feelings about going bare. Every time I looked at my purposefully extremely short au naturale nails, I cringed. I experienced polish envy when I saw someone with nicely polished nails. I was almost embarrassed to go bare and so short. I didn't even start polishing my nails until June of this year! I discovered that beautiful nail polish is a joy to behold every time you look at your hands. I surprised myself.

My nails are feeling healthy and ready for beautification!

Please enjoy Everest by Elevation Polish. This formula glides and fills beautifully. I applied 3 coats for a more saturated look. The brown base with fine holographic shimmer dances in the sunlight but is appropriate for everyday wear. I wanted to ease back into polish-land and this color worked it's magic. I'm smitten.

Thank you for stopping by!
 
If I have piqued your interest in Elevation Polish, you can follow her blog for updates.

Elevation

Cirque Never Nude

I am taking a short 2 week break so my nails will be au naturale. I have cut them very short and intend to keep my hands and nails super moisturized for the duration.

In the meantime, here is a picture of a nail polish I used a few weeks ago. The simplicity of no "glitter bombs" was refreshing. The color is magnificent.

I hope you enjoy it!

Cirque