NPA Loves Candy Lacquer #2

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TGIF!

I'm back with Part II of my Candy Lacquer swatches. Yesterday I showed you Candy Girl, Barbie Girl and Princess Celestia. Today I have Razzle Dazzle, Snow Bunny & Summer Circus for you:

Candy Lacquer Razzle Dazzle over OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender

Razzle Dazzle is a serious mix of satin/matte glitters. Pastel purple, blue and green; neon pink & blue, coral red and lime... Surprisingly it works pretty well with the large hexes, squares, stars, hearts, diamonds, butterflies and flowers. I paired 1+ coats with a lilac toned pastel pink creme and used 1 layer of Glitter Gloss to smooth it.

Candy Lacquer Snow Bunny  over Orly Pretty Ugly

 Snow Bunny has been around for months and I can't tell you how often I've added it to my cart! Now it is finally mine and does not disappoint in the slightest!!!!! It's the perfect mix of small square and hex glitter in white satin and blue and purple holo; as well as fine iridescent glitters. The sparkle is awesome and it's nice to see Candy Lacquer can make great regular glitter top coats too. I layered 1 coat over Pretty Ugly with 1 coat of Seche Vite.

Candy Lacquer Summer Circus over China Glaze Peachy Keen

Summer Circus is a really festive mix of bright pastel hexes in baby pink, medium pink, yellow, lemon, lilac, orange and green. It's bloody packed with glitter so one coat was plenty and I didn't need to do any glitter placement! The pieces of glitter are thick so I needed two layers of Glitter Gloss plus some Seche Vite for a glassy finish. In the photos above I only had on 1 coat of GG. It looks like a sherbet mani!!!

Candy Lacquer is available online for $8.50/15mL bottle.

Do not forget to enter my Giveaway for the chance to win a $20 Harlow & Co voucher. Ends in 21 hours!!!!

xxx
NPA

Nautical Nails

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Press Sample

Ahoy!

I had big outdoor swatching plans today but the sky decided to be grumpy and put away the sun! Stinky winter right?

So tonight I've got some nautical themed nail art to share.

OPI Alpine Snow, China Glaze First Mate & Millennium with decals

I love nautical inspired fashion so this was a really fun mani for me. I couldn't find my striping tape so I just cut strips of regular sellotape and tried (and failed!) to make an even pattern!
I did the regular blue and white stripes on every nail except my accent which I painted silver and blue instead. I thought it'd standout but it's pretty subtle actually. In most of the photos you can't even tell. Next time I'll introduce some red, yeah?

I used water decals from Born Pretty Store to complete the look.

Compass Anchor Pattern

The pack came with four decals each, of two different compass and anchor designs. The decals aren't tiny so I had to angle them to actually fit on my nails. My pinkie finger was too narrow for any of them to fit. No skin off my nose though, because I think these look better as an accent.

These were very easy to work with. You just cut them out, remove the plastic covering and lay face down in water until the backing card is fully soaked. Then to apply, just slide the decal off the wet card and push on to your nail and leave to dry. If you want to re-position the decal all you have to do is wet it again and it'll slide around for you. Once it's perfect seal it with 1 layer of top coat. I used Seche Vite above.

If you want to get some nail art supplies of your own you can use my 10% off voucher at BPS. They offer worldwide free shipping!!!!

So... what do you think?


xxx
NPA

NPA Loves Candy Lacquer #1

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If you're a regular reader, you might have figured out that I'm a lover of Candy Lacquer glitters. Sandra makes so many different novelty glitter mixes. My favourites involve hearts and butterflies but there are stars, moons, flowers etc.

When my latest parcel arrived, I literally tore it open and started swatching!

Candy Lacquer Barbie Girl over China Glaze Grape Pop

 Barbie Girl is a seriously exciting glitter topper. Instead of the standard glitter in a clear base, Sandra loaded it up with pink-purple color shifting shimmer too. Then there are neon pink squares, butterflies and large hexes; pastel purple flowers, small and medium hexes and blue iridescent flakes. It packs a mighty punch to say the least! I applied one coat - with a bit of individual placement - over my grape creme base and finished it with two coats of Glitter Gloss for a smooth and shiny mani.

Candy Lacquer Candy Girl over Nicole by OPI Kim-pletely in Love

Candy Girl is a sweet, pastel glitter mix containing pink, green, purple and blue hexes with flowers, large squares, giant hexes and heart glitter. I actually put off placing an order for about a month because CG was sold out for a while and I couldn't live without it!!! I layered 1 coat over a very pale baby pink shimmer and placed a few pieces of glitter in the gaps too. This one is finished with 1 coat of Glitter Gloss and Seche Vite.

Candy Lacquer Princess Celestia over Cult Nails Mind Control

I have been drooling over Princess Celestia for MONTHS! Whenever I made an order it was either sold out, or I just couldn't afford any more bottles. Thankfully it's a permanent offering, so I snagged it this time. It's a white and iridescent glitter mix with gold holo stars, white hearts, diamonds, squares and hexes. Too much love!!!!!!! Here I've layered 1+ coats over Mind Control and smoothed it with Glitter Gloss and Seche Vite.

The one thing I wish I could change? I wish chunky glitters could dry smoother, but i doubt that's ever going to happen. Wider nails would help too! Glitter manufacturers PRETTY PLEASE make thinner, solvent resistant glitter?

You can get your own Candies from the big cartel store for US$8.50/15mL bottle and they offer international shipping.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway, it closes in 3 days!!!


xxx
NPA

piCture pOlish: Denim, Focus, Hope, Monroe, Peacock & Shocked

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I think we all know by now that Picture Polish make some of the best lacquers around. I've been a huge fan since I discovered the company several years ago, but I had only bought 3 shades from them before they started sending me lacquers for review last year. I just never had any enough money at the right time, you know? So many polishes, such a small wallet...

But after receiving so many collaboration and newer shades to review a couple of months ago, I had to have the rest!!!!! I made the plunge and bought 9 lemmings and now I'm almost caught up on all my PP must haves; damn you new collaboration shades. I'm looking at you Sea Jewel & you Whimsy!

Today I have 6 of the 9 to share with you, enjoy.

piCture pOlish Denim

 Denim is a near periwinkle blue shimmer with glowy blue micro-glitter and white flaky glitter/shimmer. Denim has been on my most wanted list since I first discovered PP more than two years ago. How did it take me so god damned long to snag her????? The formula is excellent, you only need two thin coats.

piCture pOlish Focus

 Focus is a collaboration shade from Sheila of Pointless Cafe. It's an amazing dark pink-wine/red purple hue with flaky shimmer and glowing pink/red micro-shimmer flecks too. My camera couldn't handle the beauty so these photos do no justice to Sheila's baby! Another great, two coat formula.

piCture pOlish Hope

 Hope is a dark teal blue jelly with scattered holographic shards and blue hex glitter. It's another collaboration shade, this time created by the woman behind the french blog Vernis en Folie. It's got the same great formula as the other holo shard polishes PP does so well, but the smattering of glitter takes you by surprise! I'd probably prefer it without the glitter, but the blue is a nice accent. Another perfect two coater.

piCture pOlish Monroe

 Monroe v2.0 is a burgundy scattered holo shard lacquer. I now own both versions of this beauty!!! The formula is perfection, especially compared to the troubling original and the hue, divine!!! Say it with me now, "Two coats of perfection".

piCture pOlish Peacock

 Peacock was released with the original Opulence range and is the only remaining 1 out of the 3 not to be discontinued! It has a dark, dull purple (that appears kind of gray at 1-2 coats) base and tons of fine emerald green hexes plus tiny silver bar glitter. On its own you need 3 coats for full coverage and it's a pretty thick formulation so I recommend thin coats. The dullness of the purple base lets Peacock down, so I'll try layering it over a brighter purple creme next time.

piCture pOlish Shocked

Shocked is yet another collaboration polish. Shatter Me Claire filled a huge pink holo hole in the PP line with this bright medium pink scattered holo shard lacquer. Shocked is so girly and fun, but the jelly consistency keeps it from looking childish or tacky - great job SMC and PP! It is sheerer than the rest of the polishes, needing at least 3 coats for full coverage. Ladies with long nails may need 4 to cover their smile lines.


I'm so freaking pleased that I took the plunge and bought a bunch of PP lemmings. The cost wasn't too bad in the end either because I bought direct from PP using the Every Day Deals - buy 7, get 2 free. NZ Shipping is $19 for 1-9 bottles and I only had to pay for 7 so that's a saving of AUS$20 straight up!
They are shipped by DHL so you get them within 3 days wahooooooo!!!!! I love DHL :)

Which PPs are you lemming?

Don't forget to enter my 'Because I Passed My Exams' Giveaway.


xxx
NPA