Nautical Nails

Pin It

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

Picture Polish Orbit Swatch & Review

Pin It

Press Sample

It's Friday!!! Thank you baby Jesus, I'm exhausted, figuratively dead on my feet!

Ever wake up absolutely zonked and just never recover? I don't know if it's the flu jab I had yesterday, lack of sleep or what, but me sleepy sleep. Me closing my eyes in the Friday afternoon rainy traffic in Auckland. That's pretty bad, so early to bed tonight and I might just take a certain white, furry boy to bed instead of a hottie bottie too! Charlie looks sleepy too :)

I've got another gorgeous piCture pOlish to show you today. Orbit is part of the Mesh range. Something tells me you're gonna love it!

piCture pOlish Orbit

Orbit is a dark blue that leans slightly indigo with tons of silver square/hex glitter. The formula and pigmentation are AMAZING! You can get away with one thick coat. but I applied two thin ones, plus Seche Vite.

Wowza, right?!

piCture pOlish is available on their website (which lists their international re-sellers) and here's all their social media pages too.

pOlish On-line Store     Facebook     Twitter     Pinterest     Instagram

You all take care while I catch some zzzzzzzzs.


xxx
NPA

Piper Polish overload!

Pin It

Press Sample

 

(L-R) Orange'ya Glad It's Spring?, Temptress, Fusion, Dark Star, Teenage Wasteland, Perfect Addition, Iron Maiden

 

I have a total of seven polishes from Piper Polish Co. to show you today. Most of these are new or soon to be released by Erin, the woman behind Piper!

 

I've blogged about Piper Polish in the past, but for those of you who are new to the brand, here is a little blurb from Erin herself,

 

" I have always been obsessed with nail polish but never was able to find colors that I really loved. I would always think up things I would add or mix to make them "different". I started experimenting with my loose shadows, powders etc. and was amazed that I could actually make something that was pretty close to nail polish!!! Once I found the proper ingredients, that was it, I was hooked. In order to support my obsession, I decided to try to sell my creations. After all, I only have 10 fingers and 10 toes and my wallet is unfortunately not bottomless. Fast forward a year and here I am! I still love thinking up new creations and trying to crack the code on old favorites. What I love most of all is the interaction with my customers. I just love how open, friendly and welcoming everyone I have encountered has been so far."

 

 

Now, on to the polish.

 

 

Piper Polish Fusion

 

Candeo Colors Prenses Ros & Strea Cende

Pin It

Greetings readers/nail aficionados!!

Yesterday was ANZAC Day (originally the commemorative day for all the Aussie & Kiwi soldiers who perished at Gallipoli in WWI, and now a day for paying tribute to all our armed service war veterans).
I was shockingly bad this year, I didn't go to a Dawn Service (ok I haven't been to one since I was a kid and the whole family got up and went to the Central Hamilton one for my Nana, who was a WAC in WWII. She fed all the soldiers who were training at the Papakura Army Camp; go Nan!!!! She's a bloody mean baker :) ) or watch any documentaries on TV.
But my excuse is that my sister came back from Melbourne for the first time since July last year, so we cleaned and baked in the morning and spent the rest of the day with her.

Funnily enough, it doesn't feel like 9 months since I've seen her - just like when I catch up with old school friends! And the dogs are in seventh heaven. Especially Charlie - not sure Buster remembers her :)

My eldest sister also arrives back in NZ today from Saudi Arabia. I haven't seen her since July last year either (my Nana's 90th Birthday, was the last time everyone came home), so it's a busy few days for me. Thank God I'm on holiday!!!

Now on to the POLISH:
These semi-sheers from the Candeo Aruba Collection are my new 'go to' soft shades. I finally took some photos to share with you!

Candeo Colors Prenses Ros

Prenses Ros is a semi-sheer soft candy pink with silver holo hex glitter. This one starts out very sheer, but after four coats the pink really deepens and my VNL wasn't too obvious. It isn't loaded with glitter, but once you get a couple of coats down it's a glitter sandwich in one lacquer. I found the formula to be a bit streaky after one or two coats, but application is fairly nice. I just love the outcome Prenses Ros has. You don't expect the pink to pop so much and the holo glitter glows in all light!

Candeo Colors Strea Cende



Strea Cende is a semi-sheer warm nude with gold holo glitter, light copper glitter and golden shimmer. She's a beaut!!!! Maybe it pulls a tad orange on me, but who knows, that might just be my horribly stained nails' doing!!! In fact my tips could have used some whitening, they look pretty manky in these photos! The formula was again easy to apply and I didn't have any issue with streakiness. I used three coats and there is a little VNL, but it looks right with a sheer shade, you know? I did top it with some some sort of top coat which is why there are a few air bubbles, my bad.

You can find these pretties and many more on Candeo Colors' website for US$9 a piece. They offer international shipping and Llarowe stocks them too.

Do you have any Candeo lacquers? I'm still lemming Jellybean, even if I never end up wearing yellow polish. It just looks so fun! Would've been a great Easter manicure, darn it!


xxx
NPA

Ninja Polish Hannukkah Floam

Pin It

Good Morning Monday!

I'm starting my Vet Nurse course today, argh! So nervous... I'm writing this the night before because I need to get myself sorted for the morning and procrastination is so sweet!! I'll let you know how I find it tomorrow night.

In the lead up to Christmas last year I picked up a couple of the Ninja Polish Holiday Collection glitters. You've already seen Shattered Star and I ended up selling on Festive Floam, so here is the lucky last, Hanukkah Floam. BTW I love the blue and silver colour theme Hanukkah has going! It's got that icy feel!

Ninja Polish Hanukkah Floam

sun

sun

Hanukkah Floam is a matte medium blue and silver holo micro glitter in a clear base. I applied 3 thin coats for relatively full coverage. I really need to find a way to get better coverage on my free edge; something I struggle with when it comes to floam glitters. This bastard was so un-photogenic!! In the sun it was so sparkly I couldn't take a focussed photo to save myself and in the light box the blue looks too light. Oh well, you get the gist!

Make sure you apply thin coats and let each one dry completely before adding the next as the glitter is prone to shifting. You will need some thick top coat to smooth Hanukkah Floam out too. I opted for some Glitter Gloss.

Next time I'll wear HF over a dark blue, like Orly Stone Cold!

I hope the end/start of your week is very chill guys,


xxx
NPA

Glitter Gradient - My NYE Mani

Pin It

Remember how I said I managed to delete photos of my New Year's Eve nails?
Well, I sort of recreated the manicure because it was too pretty not to share with you!


Originally, I had a couple of gold caviar nails too, but I didn't bother with that hassle this time! 

Glitter gradient using Ninja Polish Shattered Star on Paint Box Polish Ice Cap

Shattered Star is a blingy mix of small and fine gold and silver holo glitters in a clear base. It was a holiday release from Ninja Polish and I think they might still have some in stock too! I started with a white base of OPI Alpine Snow topped with Paint Box Polish Ice Cap (a milky/sheer white glass fleck shimmer) and then use a sponge to make the glitter gradient.
The sponging does not come naturally to me! I'm yet to get the hang of it, but I live in hope!

What were your nails sporting when they rang in the New Year?

Shattered Star is available *here* for $9/15mL bottle.


xxx
NPA

Picture Polish Ruby Blou Swatches & Review

Pin It

Ruby Blou is one of Picture Polish's new glitter polishes.
Here are a couple of bottle shots:
 

 Picture Polish prints QR codes on all their bottles that link to the site your bottle was purchased from, very handy.

 Picture Polish Ruby Blou over Cult Nails Disciplined and China Glaze Immortal

sun

sun

macro

Ruby Blou is a mix of fine and small red, blue and silver glitter in a clear base. I'm wearing 1 coat over grey shimmery bases without top coat. It applies very nicely and the hexes lay flat on the nail, yay!

Originally I wasn't very thrilled with this mix of colours, but Ruby Blou has really grown on me and I think I could use it for more than just french and US themed manis!!!

Don't forget Gracie Lou is the NZ authorised reseller of Picture Polish and Ozotic lacquers.

And you can keep up to date with all Picture Polish happenings at various links below.

piCture pOlish

Visit our on-line store - www.picturepolish.com.au

Like us on Facebook - piCture pOlish - a week on your tips never on your hips!

Follow us on Twitter - piCture pOlish

Pin on - Pinterest

xxx

NPA 

China Glaze Holiday Joy Collection 2012: ANGEL WINGS & GLISTENING SNOW

Pin It

Hey ladies!

I worked for (almost) a whole day standing by a photocopier scanning documents...
Yet I'm surprisingly upbeat, go figure!

It might be because so many polishes are on their way to my doorstep, eeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

Before I bit my nails to the quick, I managed to swatch the gold and silver super fine holo glitters from China Glaze's holiday collection. As soon as I saw the publicity still, with a Christmas puppy I knew I had to have as many of these as possible. Half the set is glitter, epic win ChG!!!!!!

China Glaze Angel Wings

sun

sun

sun

shade

macro

Angel Wings is a devine super fine milled holo gold glitter in a clear base. It's a dupe for last year's Ulta Exclusive ULTAmate Holiday. On me I see a distinct chartreuse leaning in the shade, which I love!!! The coverage is great, wearable at 2 coats but I think it looks best after 3 like above. You may choose to thin it, because these fine glitters are low on base thus quite thick. She's a thirsty b**** too so I recommend at least 2 layers of thick top coat.

China Glaze Glistening Snow

sun

sun

sun

shade

macro

Glistening Snow is a super bling-y ultra-fine silver holo glitter. A pure white-silver! Exact same formula as AW but somehow it is even more holo-tastic!!!! Some peeps don't seem too into GS and I have no idea why?!!!! It's too perfect and bonus, flattering on my warm toned skin. Not many (if any) silvers are as kind to me.

Angel Wings and Glistening Snow are much more holo in person, and made my camera freak out a lot (so please excuse the blurry pics). Try to let each coat dry fully to avoid any glitter dragging, cos these glitters are prone to a bit of movement.

I hope to bring you swatches of 3 more Holiday Joy glitters soon. Please grow back nails. I just want you long enough to squoval!!!!


xxx
NPA

OPI Tomorrow Never Dies & Born Pretty Store Silver Foil

Pin It

Some wonderful Kiwi ladies just started a Facebook group for NZ polish enthusiasts (god, enthusiast sounds uber nerdy!) and I had no idea how many of us there are! I'm so excited for swaps and possible polish hunting missions etc!

In other news I can't shake my pups! Charlie is stuck to me like glue (though Mum came home today so he stares at her an awful lot, except he prefers to do it from my arms...), and Buster is either begging for cuddles or playtime! I donated my Jemima Puddle Duck to him this week because he had a lack of toys and I knew he'd go crazy over the sticky out beak and feet. He's been thrashing her all round the house. The cutest thing is when he lays on his back with all paws in the air, holding the toy in between his front paws while chewing! His ears go all pointy and he looks adorable! It makes me giggle even when he has been naughty!

I'll be back in Chch this time tomorrow night to pack up my flat and drive back up to Akld :( Gonna be bitter-sweet ;(


Moving on to the manicure:

Silver Nail Art Foil over OPI Tomorrow Never Dies

sun

natural light

shade

macro

 Tomorrow Never Dies is a deep violet with pink and blue micro-shimmer that is extremely blue toned. The formula and application were flawless in 2 coats. I don't have any other purples like this so I'm thrilled it's part of the OPI Skyfall Collection.

Born Pretty Store contacted me to review a product for them (which I'm still working on) and it reminded me that I'd had a cart full of their products waiting to be checked out for so many months now! I pulled the trigger on a selection of nail art products and they arrived about one and a half weeks later - not bad BPS!!! Especially when they warn you that products take a minimum of 3 weeks to arrive!

One of the things I purchased was the Gold and Silver Nail Art Foil 12pk. They come with about 1 sheet per pottle and this stuff is basically the same as gold or silver leaf, only it's made of some other type of metal.

I couldn't find any tweezers and I was being lazy, so I broke the pieces up and placed them on my nails with my fingers! I just placed the pieces randomly on my nail (they transfer to the nail so easily!) and sealed them with a layer of Color Club 0-60 Speedy Top Coat.

The foil lays really flat to the nail so there are no texture issues.
I can't wait to try some gold foil tips out, or maybe an entire foiled nail! I suspect this faux foil could be used in place of real gold/silver leaf in a top coat... But I haven't tested its colour-fastness in polish base so I'm no authority!!

Born Pretty Store were also kind enough to provide my readers with a 10% off discount code.QHL91

If enough of you use it, they will sponsor a giveaway so keep that in mind!!

I hope your weekends were awesome!


xxx
NPA