Happy New Year - 2014

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you all have a safe and happy transition into 2014. Below is the manicure I will be wearing to ring in the new year :)

I am wearing black slacks with a red top and a silver clutch, so red with black and silver glitter just seemed like the right way to go!

This is two coats of Sephora X Flashy, with China Glaze Razzle Me Dazzle Me dabbed onto the tips, sealed with Sephora X Top Coat.

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 30: Inspired By A Tutorial

The tutorial I have chosen as my inspiration is this Glitter Gradient Tutorial By Lucy's Stash

I began with a base coat and two coats of Nicka K Ripe Apple, and added China Glaze Twinkle Lights for the gradient. I covered that with one coat of Gelous gel top coat, and finished with a coat of Seche Vite.

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 10: Gradient

The 10th task in the 30 Mani Marathon is Gradient Nails.

To represent Gradient Nails, I began with a base coat and one coat of Zoya Purity (white). After the white had dried, I chose two holographic polishes, Literary Lacquers Laters Baby (grey) and Hits Ares (red), and dropped some of each color side by side onto a metal stamping plate. I then took a piece of cosmetic wedge sponge and dipped it into both colors at once, and dabbed that to my nails where I wanted the gradient to be. I repeated this process, giving the layers time to dry in between dabbings, about 4 or 5 times until I had the desired gradient effect. I sealed the manicure with a layer of top coat, and used q-tips dipped in polish remover to clean up around the cuticles.

30 Mani Marathon - Manicure 1: Red Nails

Today is the first day of the 30 Manicure marathon, and it kicks off with Red Nails!

To represent Red Nails, I have used two coats of China Glaze Ruby Pumps. I'm sad that the incredible 3D sparkling glitter does not pick up in photos, it truly is a fantastic red polish!

It's not too late to join in on the 30 Mani Marathon, check here for all the details!

Strawberry Patch

Today's manicure began with base coat, two coats of Bondi New York Strawberry Fields, and a top coat.

(Strawberry Fields, Limelight, Brick Road)

Then I added strawberry stamps using Konad special white stamping polish, and Shany stamping plate SH19.

Next, I used a dotting tool to add Bondi New York Limelight to the tops of the berries, and Bondi New York Brick Road to the seeds in the middle.

When the green and yellow polish was dry, I added a top coat to seal and protect the manicure.

Products Used

One coat Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat

Two coats Bondi New York Strawberry Fields

One coat Diamond Dry Top Coat Brilliance

Shany Stamping Plate SH19

Konad White Special Stamping Polish

Small Dotting Tool, Bondi New York Limelight, Bondi New York Brick Road

One coat Diamond Dry Top Coat Brilliance

Funky Pippa - Are You Drunk?

Today I wanted to do a look using an unconventional color combination. Something fun and funky and out of the box. This is what I came up with!

This manicure began with Zoya Anchor base coat. Next I added two lovely coats of Zoya Pippa, and then a layer of Zoya Armor top coat. I then let the polish dry and cure overnight.

The next day, I dabbed some China Glaze Scattered & Tattered onto a piece of cosmetic wedge sponge, and dabbed that to the tips of my nails, creating glitter tips.

I finished the look with two coats of Gelous gel top coat, and one layer of Seche Vite.

Products Used:

One coat Zoya Anchor Base Coat

Two coats Zoya Pippa

One coat Zoya Armor Top Coat

China Glaze Scattered & Tattered Glitter 

Two coats Gelous Advanced Gel Top Coat

One coat Seche Vite Top Coat

Independence Day 2013 - Star Spangled

Happy Independence Day!

I love doing festive holiday manicures, especially for July 4th! *Bonus footage of last year's July 4th designs are at the bottom of the post.*

This year's 4th of July manicure began with one coat of white polish, Zoya Purity. When the white was fully dry, I created red, white, and blue stripes on each nail. With the pictorial below, I have attempted to show how I created the stripes using french tip guide stickers, Zoya America, and China Glaze Starboard.

After giving the stripes a while to dry completely, I then dabbed Lush Lacquer Snap Crackle Pop onto a piece of cosmetic wedge sponge, and gently dabbed that to the tips of each nail. Over that, I have applied two coats of Gelous gel top coat to smooth out the glitter, and one coat of Zoya Armor top coat to finish.

Below is a before/after of each step from base color to glitter tips!

Products Used:

One coat Beauty Secrets Moisturizing Base Coat

One coat Zoya Purity

Stripes of Zoya America & China Glaze Starboard

Glitter Tips of Lush Lacquer Snap Crackle Pop

Two coats Gelous Advanced Gel Top Coat

One coat Zoya Armor Top Coat

*Bonus Footage*

July 4th 2012 Designs