Nail Shield Review

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I broke down and bought a nail shield!!! I was so sure that they were a ridiculous trend, but the ones on Hex Nail Jewelry actually looked kind of awesome so I said, "What the hell?", and added two on to my order :)

Pahlish Sleep to Dream with Nail Shield

So it's pretty clear that this particular shield doesn't fit my nail well. My nails are just too narrow (and probably the wrong shape right now - oval nails are the ideal - maybe a little too short too!). The shield is somewhat pliable so I gently curved the nail shield so it didn't lie so flat, but it would only curve so much... Not enough for my narrows, but I believe it would be perfect for someone with standard sized nails. I always have trouble with wraps and fake nails being too wide for my nails too!

The shields and nail jewelry are way smaller and thinner than I had expected which is an awesome surprise!!! I was worried they'd all be too big for my nails, but I think most will look fine. I'll be posting more manis featuring the hex jewelry in the mid-near future.

Have you tried nail shields? Are you sold on the trend or do you have reservations? I'd love to hear about your experiences and/or opinions!!

xxx

NPA

A Couple Cadillacquer Gems

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These are the other Cadillacquer polishes I got when I hauled the Breaking Bad Collection a few months ago.

Cadillacquer 9 Crimes

9 Crimes is a muted slate blue/purple gray glass fleck shimmer with matte white hex and square glitter. It's a bit different than I expected based on swatches I'd seen, but I'm feeling it. I applied 2-3 coats for full coverage.

Cadillacquer Now and Then

Now and Then (favourite girl's coming of age film FYI, oh and the Hairy Bird too!) is a white/palest purple crelly with purple & white flake shimmer and purple hex glitter. Yum! I applied 3 coats which made it a little too thick, so next time I'll stick with two generous coats.

Cadillacquer Slice of Life

Slice of Life is a medium orange based red with glass fleck shimmer. The coverage was pretty decent for a red - I think this was two coats. I'm a real sucker for red lacquers!

Cadillacquer is available here and at various e-stockists.

xxx

NPA

My Love of Pahlish!

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Pahlish Your Fortress Fades

Your Fortress Fades is a neutral light taupe with gold shimmer flecks. This is a work appropriate polish with a little sass! Two coats.

Pahlish Sleep to Dream

Sleep to Dream is an aubergine with blue, gold and other indiscernible colours of shimmer flecks. Absolutely stunning!!! I applied two coats for completely opaque coverage.

Pahlish Sink in the Silence

Sink in the Silence is a deep chocolate brown creme with gold and rusty orange/bronze shimmer flecks. This is a shade I'll be sporting this Fall/Winter. Two coats - seriously opaque!

Pahlish Forest of the Dead

Forest of the Dead is a dark swampy green bursting with green, gold and bronze shimmer flecks. Absolutely stunning. If you don't own many greens, this is the one you want. Two coats.

Pahlish Fleur de Sel

Fleur de Sel is a white/very pale pink creme with red and pearl shimmer flecks. I've never seen non-metallic red flecks before and I'm totally obsessed with them! This was just two coats.

Pahlish El Topo Petite

El Topo Petite is a deep purple leaning taupe with rusty orange glitter flecks. It's gorgeous, perfect for Autumn/Winter. Two coats.

Pahlish Bad Wolf

BTW I'm holding a bottle of Your Fortress Fades in the photos above because I temporarily misplaced Bad Wolf and the colours were close enough, I thought I'd get away with it. Fail!

I freaking love Bad Wolf and for that matter any polish that has these colour-shifting (pink-gold) flakes in it! Way to make a putty taupe stand out Pahlish!

All the flakie shades need a thick topcoat for a smooth and glossy finish - but otherwise the formulas are easy to apply, if slightly thick.


Pahlish is available here and at several e-stockists.

Cirque Colors Arcane Fire

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Woooweeeee! It is hot tonight, so my windows are open and a cricket sneaked in and is jumping around my room eeeeeeewwwwwwww!  I'm so not going to sleep now :p

Cirque Colors Arcane Fire

Arcane Fire is burgundy and choc-full of colour shifting shimmer flecks that are gold dominant, but also go green and blue. The formula is a tad thick, I applied two coats which gave plenty of coverage.

 Here is a list of Cirque stockists.

xxx

NPA

Essie Madison Ave-Hue

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I'm scratching the bottom of the 'Edited' folder here guys... Madison Ave-Hue has been sitting patiently for at least 6 months asking me repeatedly,"Why do you hate me mama?"
I actually do like you, but you just don't inspire me. Meh.

Essie Madison Ave-Hue

Madison Ave-Hue is a blue-toned pink with fine white flake shimmer. The formula is nice enough, I got away with two coats here, then I added some INM Out the Door because it dried a little dull and ever so slightly textured due to the flakes.

I thought it might have been the same base colour as Essie A Splash of Grenadine so I compared the bottles for you (and me!)

 Essie A Splash of Grenadine v Madison Ave-Hue

A Splash of Grenadine is definitely more purple so you can easily own both - HOORAY!

xxx

NPA

Lilypad Lacquer Pink Sugar

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WOWZA! You all need to get Pink Sugar NOW!

Lilypad Lacquer Pink Sugar

Pink Sugar's an amazing hot, blue based pink with tons of colour shifting flakey shimmer and linear holo effect. The shimmer gives it a real blue/purple/fuchsia flash that is AMAZING!!! The formula is on the thicker side of things, but it goes on opaque in two thin coats.

Lilypad Lacquer is available from the following stockists:

Etsy

Femme Fatale

Llarowe

Have an amazing Wednesday my polished pretties!

xxx

NPA

Saturday Spam: The Polish Well

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Exams are done - just have to wait for the results now....

The Polish Well makes some beautiful lacquers from time to time. I managed to place a pre-order for some of her newer shades recently and they did not disappoint! 

I only wish I'd bought full sized bottles instead of the minis!!!

The Polish Well Bad Boy

 Bad Boy is a muted slate/navy blue with multi-coloured micro-flake shimmer. Two coats.

The Polish Well Coraline

Coraline is a Halloween creation of teal blue jelly with green-blue micro-glitters and flakes. Two coats.

The Polish Well Evil Witch

Evil Witch is another Halloween colour, a forest green jelly with square and hex green glitter and coppery gold micro-glitter. Two coats.

 The Polish Well Love Dust

Love Dust is a real beauty, but man is this coral-pink a BITCH to photograph?! It is more pink than the photo suggests with gold micro-flakes and super fine pink/purple shimmer. This one is more sheer so it requires three coats.

The Polish Well Monster

 Monster is a close dupe for Butter London Two Fingered Salute. The oxidised copper green creme contains pale green shimmer and copper glitter flakes. Two coats.

The Polish Well Tonight

 Tonight is a warm grape jelly chock full with multi-coloured iridescent flakes. Two coats.

The Polish Well Wrath

Wrath is from the Seven Deadly Sins Collection; a red jelly, red and gold glitter. Three coats.

Hope everyone celebrating Thanksgiving & Hanukkah are enjoying their holidays and to everyone else: Happy Weekend!

xxx

NPA