Monday Manicure

Wow.  I haven't done the Polish-aholics Anonymous Monday Manicure Challenge in a while.  Here's to hoping I can keep up with it!

This week the theme was "heart" manicure.  I did my best to brainstorm & prevent my manicure from looking like a Valentine.  I avoided my pinks & reds and decided to go to the opposite end, hence the tealish color palette.  The nail polishes used in this manicure were:

• Sinful Colors Open Seas
• Diamond Cosmetics Don't Teal My Heart Away
• Revlon Plum Night
• Sally Hansen Natural White

I also decided to only include one heart & throw in some plaid nail art:)  I think I will be adding plaid to my list of wearable nail art.  I'm a huge fan:)  Here she is...

How would you incorporate a heart theme into your manicure?

Monday Manicure

Today's theme at Polish-aholics Anonymous was *Galaxy* Manicure.  This encompassed sky, space, galaxies, nebulas, etc.

And here she is:

Have you ever tried a galactic manicure before?

Mermaid Manicure Tutorial

I've been asked a few times about creating a tutorial for my "Mermaid Manicure." This tutorial was done with photographs, so this post is very picture heavy!  I apologize for those of you who would rather just have the word directions, but some of you may (or may not) learn from the pictures:)

This is what you will need:

-base/background color

-glitter polish or another color

-sponge applicator (like the cheap-o things you get with eye shadows & never use)

-topcoat (I guess this is optional, but it will help your mani to last longer & will smooth it out)

 Optional:
-basecoat

-remover pen for cleanup

 Step 1: Prep your nails, use your basecoat, etc. Let dry completely.






 Step 2: Paint your nails in your base color.  I used Sinful Colors Open Seas ($1.99).  Make sure you achieve the desired opacity in as few coats as possible.  I used 2 coats. Let dry completely.




Step 3:  Get your sponge applicator.  (I got mine in this kit for $1.99 for the sole purpose of destroying it with polish)  Unscrew the lid of your layering polish and scrape the polish off the brush onto your applicator.  My layering polish was Sinful Colors Nail Junkie ($1.99).







Step 4:  Lightly dab polish onto your nail (at the tip, the left or right corner, one side, or your nail bed).  As you dab polish concentrate on one part of the nail, I did the tip, and lightly fade it out before getting more polish.

Step 5: Wait between layers for polish to dry or it will become tacky and get indents in it.





  


Step 6: Continue adding layers until the desired darkness/concentration of layering polish is achieved.  Do not forget to "fade" while using your sponge applicator.

*Some people swear by sponging a thin layer on 3/4 of the nail, wait for it to dry.  Sponge polish on 1/2 the nail, wait for it to dry. Sponge on last 1/4. See illustration below*







 Step 7: Finish with your favorite topcoat.  This not only helps your manicure to last longer but it also tends to mask any minor flaws in your sponging.





Here is the illustration I created on how to sponge.  Keep in mind that you can create a gradient by using polishes of slightly different colors, just like in the picture.

Let me know what other tutorials you would like to see.  I can always give a manicure a shot, even if it doesn't turn out perfectly;)

Mermaid Manicure

Yesterday's Sinful Colors Open Seas manicure was beautiful.  I really love the sea foam green.  I'm normally a "boring" polish kind of gal.  I prefer to use red, light pinks, or nudes on my fingernails.  I don't know why, but other colors make me feel like I have funny looking hands!

Alas, I decided to be bold and try something I would not normally do.  I added Sinful Colors Nail Junkie to my Open Seas mani.  I sponged it on with a cheap sponge tip applicator (the lame ones you get with eyeshadows-I never use them so this was a wonderful way to use and not waste!).

I don't know if there really is such thing as a "mermaid manicure."  If there is, I apologize for stealing the name. I decided on the name because it reminds me of something mermaids would wear, especially the colors:)

I guess I forgot to clean her up before taking her picture.  I apologize for the stray glitter everywhere:)

Here is the tutorial for this manicure.

Manicure Monday

...on Tuesday!

I'm sorry that this is a day late.  I moved this past weekend and I'm still trying to relocate/organize everything.

I've been looking for a green polish that will flatter my pale, cool complexion.  The hunt for Sinful Colors "Mint Apple" has been going on for MONTHS.  I have yet to hold that pretty little bottle in my hand.  However, while in Rite Aid I located the ADVENTURE ISLAND display for Sinful Colors and fell in love with Open Seas.  Here she is:
Review:
Application: easy, smooth the polish is on the thicker side, but it is not goopy, sticky, or lumpy.  It was also fast drying.
Opacity: full coverage in two coats
Color: sea green cream, not minty green definitely more blue-grey, would recommend using a basecoat (just in case)
Finish: glossy finish
Durability/Wear: long lasting

Many polish lovers are comparing Sinful Colors Adventure Island Collection to the OPI Pirates of the Caribbean (POTC) Collection.  What is your opinion?