Drip Drops and Nails Redesigned

This afternoon I have some swatches of two polishes from Drip Drop Nail Paint @dripdropnailpaint and a mani using those two polishes and nail stencils from Nails Redesigned @nails_redesigned. First I will show you the swatches and then I will show you the mani I did using all three items. 

First up, is "Swizzle Sticks."

"Swizzle Sticks" is a gorgeous purple crelly polish with various shapes and sizes of rainbow colored glitters. I couldn't even begin to list all the different types of glitter - there is a TON! Shown above is two coats with a top coat. This polish is absolutely amazing! Even though it is jam packed full of glitter, application was smooth and the formula was perfect. There was no need to fish for glitter, which like I said on my previous post, is one of my all time favorite things. Having to fish for glitter is a pain in the ass and makes painting your nails not as fun.

Next up, is "Shattered Gumballs." 

"Shattered Gumballs" is a lovely dusty rose, purple/pink cream polish. Shown above is two coats without a top coat. This color is almost indescribable. It is the perfect shade! I am in awe over it. As always, the formula was wonderful and applying this cream polish was like spreading room temperature butter. So easy, so smooth... absolutely amazing. That may sound a little stupid, but it is the truth! I cannot get over how perfect this nail polish is. And to be honest, I think I may have finally found a color that I love more than purple! Holy crap. 

And finally, here is the finished mani! This was my first time using Sara's @nails_redesigned nail stencils and now I am wondering to myself, why?! Why haven't I used these before? How am I barely just finding out about Sara and her products?! These are hands down, the best nail stencils I have ever used. I completely recommend them and will be placing an order as soon as possible. If you'd like to purchase Sara's nail stencils or check out all the other nail stencil designs that she has, click here. The polishes I used (I know you probably already know, but just in case some of you skipped to the bottom - you naughty skippers) are "Swizzle Sticks" and "Shattered Gumballs" by Drip Drop Nail Paint @dripdropnailpaint. If you'd like to buy Jessica's polishes that I used or check out more of her nail polishes, click here. I got the various sized rhinestones (Product ID# 12409) from Born Pretty. If you would like to purchase these rhinestones or check out more of their products click here. You can use my code DYJ61 for 10% off your purchase (already on sale items excluded.) 

Pretty Woman Review: "Sand" Collection - Part 1

Today I have a few polishes from Pretty Woman to review. These polishes are from their "Sand" Collection.

First up is "Love Boat"

Macro shot of "Love Boat"

"Love Boat" is a fire engine red polish with a hint of gold shimmer throughout. Shown above is two coats without a top coat.

Next up is "Tini Bikini"

Macro shot of "Tini Bikini"

"Tini Bikini" is a fuchsia polish with a touch of silver shimmer throughout that in the light sparkles hot pink, purple, and blue. Shown above is two coats without a top coat. I am in LOVE with this shot of "Tini Bikini." I am so happy I was able to capture the hot pink, purple, and blue sparkles in the bottle and on my nails. Thank you good lighting gods! 

Last but not least is "Sand Dollar"

Macro shot of "Sand Dollar"

"Sand Dollar" is a silver polish jam packed full of silver glitter - because really, you can never have TOO MUCH bling in one polish. Shown above is two coats without a top coat. This is hands down my favorite polish in Pretty Woman's "Sand" Collection. I cannot get over how stunning it is!

The "Sand" Collection from Pretty Woman is my favorite collection by them so far. I have to try them all before I make a for sure decision - so when I do, I'll let you all know if that changes. All of the polishes from the "Sand" Collection are definitely "one coaters." I've mentioned before that I tend to always do two coats of polish even if it is unnecessary. I have no complaints whatsoever about this collection. The formula is wonderful, application is smooth, and all of the colors are to die for! If you would like to purchase any of these polishes or check out more products by Pretty Woman click here. You can also purchase Pretty Woman products from your local Rite Aid. 

"Candy Drops" Goes to the Beach

Jessica @dripdropnailpaint and Alison @candiedapplepolish are at it again! Earlier this month, they collaborated with one another and came up with the idea to do a "Candy Drops" duo. The first one was so successful and loved that they decided to create another one! This "Candy Drops" duo is beach themed - hence the title of my post. I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of their swatchers for this duo. The official release date is August 8th. So set your alarms ladies! There will only be 50 sets available - 25 on Jessica's store and 25 on Alison's store.

First up, is "Wish Upon a Starfish" by Drip Drop Nail Paint @dripdropnailpaint. Shown above is two coats without a top coat. This pink polish filled with different colored and sized circle, square, and star glitters is absolutely amazing! The formula was perfect and application was extremely smooth, like all Drip Drop Nail Paint polishes are. I am in LOVE!

Next up, is "Waves-N-Sand Castles" by Candied Apple Polish @candiedapplepolish. Shown above is two coats without a top coat. This sandy white nude polish jam packed with a variety of different colored and sized hex, circle, and square glitters is perfection. The formula is amazing and application was flawless. I am obsessed! 

Here is the mani I did using the "Candy Drops" duo. Obviously I HAD to do a starfish, that was a given. I used acrylic paint to do the eyes and the mouth of the starfish. Isn't he a cutie! I do not know how Jessica and Alison do it, but their glitterlicious polishes apply just as easy as any crelly, jelly, etc. And what's even better is there was no fishing for glitter involved. My favorite! These two polishes are the PERFECT PAIR! 

Wrapping up this blog post with a collage. Like I said in the beginning of my post, this duo will be available August 8th and there will only be 50 sets for sale! You can buy a set from either Jessica or Alison and can find their stores by clicking here and here. Don't forget to follow both of these ladies on instagram for updates about the duo and all the other wonderful polishes that they make. Follow them by clicking here and here. Hope you all have a wonderful evening! 

Then and Now

A few weeks ago, the lovely Alicia @thebasecoat asked if I would do a guest post on her account while she was on vacation. At first, I was going to do a vacation themed mani but then I remembered a mani that I had done long, long ago. 28 weeks ago to be exact. It was a mani that Alicia had inspired me to do in the first place. So that's what I decided to do - a recreation, a then and now.

Here is the base. The polish I used is "Stevie" by Zoya. Shown above is two coats without a top coat. This is one of my FAVORITE purple polishes and it's also my favorite PixieDust polish by Zoya so far. I have to get them all to make a for sure decision - so once I do that, I'll make sure to update you all. This polish is absolutely stunning! Even more so in real life. I do not own many textured polishes but I can tell you that PixieDust textured polishes by Zoya are definitely my favorite. The formula is amazing, application is smooth, and it is just, all in all, a really great polish.

Now it's time for my "Then and Now" collage. Top left: Then - Bottom right: Now. I have come such a long way in 28 weeks. My nails are healthier, longer, and the strongest they have EVER been. Design/Application/Clean up wise I have made so much improvement, it's not even funny. My pictures and lighting have gotten a lot better too. Now all the polishes I use look way more color accurate. Just look at my instagram(click here) and check out the earliest posts. You will be shocked!

And now it's time for my close up! The polishes I used to create this mani are "Stevie", "Carter", and "Malia" by Zoya. I free handed the ruffian look and boy did it turn out a whole hell of a lot better than the first time I tried to create this look. I am so happy I decided to recreate this mani and I am in love with the way it turned out! If you would like to purchase any of these polishes or check out more products by Zoya - click here.

Drip Drop Galore

Tonight on the blog I have a hololicious gradient mani to share with you all! My first gradient mani that I am a 100% happy with. Gradients can be REALLY tricky. Once I practice more and get my new camera, I will make sure to do a tutorial on how I do it. Now, I am going to show off the gorgeous base colors that I used to create this mani.

The polishes I used for this base are "Synapse" and "Pink Ferrari" by Drip Drop Nail Paint @dripdropnailpaint. Shown is two coats of both polishes without top coats. "Synapse" is holographic polish that can either be used on its own or as a topper. This polish is absolutely STUNNING. It is definitely one of my all time favorite polishes that Jessica @b_jessica_3 has made. Pictures cannot even begin to do it justice, but the camera sure does try. "Pink Ferrari" is a very light pink polish and is extremely hard to capture in pictures. For some reason, it always ends up looking more white than light pink. But I promise you in real life it is light pink. Both polishes, like all Drip Drop Nail Paint polishes, have amazing formulas and apply like a dream! 

Shown above is a little sneaky peak of my gradient and also bottle shots of the three polishes that I used. The polishes I used to create the gradient are Prototype "#178", "#177", and of course "Pink Ferrari." Isn't this color combination absolutely PERFECT! Wait till you see a close up, you are going to die! Jessica @b_jessica_3 offers Prototype Grab Bags every so often in her shop. These grab bags include 3 full size bottles of polish for only $12 plus shipping and I promise you the polishes are ALWAYS amazing. If you would like to find out when she will be offering these grab bags, or want to find out about special offers/new polishes coming out, follow both of her accounts on instagram by clicking here and here. If you would like to check out her store and see what polishes she currently has available, click here. She also has a discount going on right now! Use the code SUGAR20 for 20% off your order.

Finally, here is the finished mani. The close up you've been waiting for! This is smoothest transition I have ever gotten while doing a gradient. The trick is making sure your sponge is slightly damp while doing it. Here you can see a closer look of "Synapse" by itself and as a topper. I used a very thin coat over top of my gradient to create this look. - and I mean thin! I usually tend to be a "thick coat" kind of girl when it comes to applying polish. That doesn't work in this case though when you only want to add a little bit of holo with "Synapse" over a design. So make sure if you use "Synapse" as a topper, you use a thin coat. 

And of course, you cannot have a hololicious mani without having a holotastic direct sunlight shot of said mani. It would be blasphemous not to show off that amazing rainbow dancing on your fingers. On that note, it is time for me to get going. I have to be at the airport in a little over two hours to go pick up the love of my life, Chris. Hope you all have a wonderful night! I know I will. 

Polka Dots and Bows

You can't go wrong with them! Tonight on the blog I have a mani for you all from a mani swap that I did today with my friend Jessica @b_jessica_3. Below is a collage of our mani swap.

Originals: left - Recreations: right

Great minds think alike! Both of us chose a polka dot and bow mani that the other had done without even knowing it. We didn't tell each other what mani we were going to do until we had both already finished. Talk about a coincidence!

Here is the base for my mani. The red polish I used is "Raspberry Daiquiri" by Drip Drop Nail Paint @dripdropnailpaint created by Jessica @b_jessica_3. Shown is two coats without a top coat. This red polish is amazing - my all time favorite hands down! The formula is to die for, the application is flawless, and clean up for this baby is easy squeezy! I tend to steer clear of most red polish because clean up can be so difficult but that is definitely not the case for this one. If you all are looking for a go to red polish - look no further! This polish along with all the rest of Jessica's polishes can be purchased here.

The black and white polishes I used are "Liquid Leather" and "White on White" by China Glaze. Shown is two coats of both polishes without top coats. "White on White" is my favorite white polish to use. The formula is amazing and you only really need one coat for it to be fully opaque. I tend to always use two coats even if a polish is a "one coater" though. Not sure why, that is just how I do it. "Liquid Leather" on the other hand is a good black polish, but the formula definitely isn't as amazing as "White on White" is. It's a little bit too thick for my taste but it's still a good black polish, all in all.

And here it is, the finished mani! I am completely in love with how this turned out. You sure do have amazing taste Jessica! This design is perfection. I got the polka dot bow (Product ID# 10441) from Born Pretty. If you would like to purchase this bow or check out more of their products click here. You can use my code DYJ61 for 10% off your purchase (already on sale items excluded.)

Pretty Woman Review: "Feather" Collection - Part 1

For my first "official" nail post, I have a few polishes from Pretty Woman to review. These three polishes are from their "Feather" Collection.

First up is "Bold Bluebird"

Macro shot of "Bold Bluebird"

"Bold Bluebird" is a blue, black, and white bar glitter polish with a clear base. Shown above is three coats without a top coat. 

Next up is "Rainbow Lorikeet"

Macro shot of "Lovely Lorikeet"

"Rainbow Lorikeet" is a red, yellow, orange, and turquoise bar glitter polish with a clear base. Shown above is three coats without a top coat. This one is my favorite of the three. I don't usually gravitate toward extremely colorful polishes - but there is just something about this one. I am in LOVE!

Last but not least is "Pink Flamingo"

Macro shot of "Pink Flamingo"

"Pink Flamingo" is a light pink bar glitter polish with a clear base. Shown above is three coats without a top coat.

The "Feather" Collection from Pretty Woman is, in a few words, a TON of FUN! I have never used a bar glitter polish before, and now I can finally say that I have. If you have ever used bar glitter polish in the past, you know that applying this type of polish is a lot different than applying a regular jelly, crelly, etc. Especially if you are wanting a more "full coverage" look. I definitely would not say that it's difficult though. To be honest, I found it rather fun - hence the reason I described the "Feather" Collection the way that I did. Within the next few weeks I am planning on getting a new camera that I will be recording tutorials with. If everything works out the way I am hoping it will, I will make sure to do a tutorial on my bar glitter polish application technique. The way that I apply this polish gives it maximum coverage and makes using undies (a base polish) unnecessary. If you would like to purchase any of these polishes or check out more products by Pretty Woman click here. You can also purchase Pretty Woman products at your local Rite Aid.

And that's it for my first official nail post on my blog. I hope you guys enjoyed it. Have a wonderful evening!

Time to try something new

Hey everyone!

I have finally caved in and decided to create a blog. To be honest, I am kind of nervous... and I'm not sure why. I guess it's because this is a completely new experience for me. But then again, so was making a nail account on instagram and I am pretty damn happy with how that's turned out so far. So here's to trying new things! I'm diving head first into something I know very little about - so please, bare with me! I will now be posting my swatches, nail art, and more on here and will continue to post them on my instagram as well. I hope you all have a wonderful day/night - could be either depending on where you are from. I'll be posting some swatches tomorrow afternoon/evening so stay tuned!

image credit - click here