Q: Queen Cupcake, Funky Fingers

This week's ABC challenge is "Q", a difficult letter, I would think.  I only have one polish that starts with the letter Q, and it is Queen Cupcake, from Funky Fingers.

Queen Cupcake is a pastel pink with gold shimmer.  I don't know if the formula is going bad, (one year old) but this was difficult and streaky on application.  Below is three coats to even everything out.

I also did a funky french with a pastel coral color, so as not to bore you.  I used one coat of Sunkissed by Mineral Fusion, on the tips.  You can find Mineral Fusion nail polish and makeup at Whole Foods grocery stores.

I usually free hand my french manicures because I'm too lazy to use tape or guides and I don't want to wait for the main color to dry.  I lay the brush flat, parallel to the edge of the nail, starting at very edge and swipe across. Go to the other side and swipe across again until the stripe meets in the middle.  I use the entire length of the brush to make a straight and crisp line.  It usually comes out straight.

So that is it for today. It is absolutely beautiful outside this time of the year.  If you are experiencing nice weather, please go outside!

Essence - #116 Gorgeous Bling Bling

Hey there!  Long time, no read!

I apologize for missing in action.  I will explain at the end of this post, but first I have a simple work mani to show you, a nice terracotta with gold flakies from Essence.  This one is called Gorgeous Bling Bling.... below is two easy coats.  I thought this was a nice polish, it stood out in a sea of reds, pinks and neutral nail polishes, yet, is tasteful/respectful.

I got my 8 ml bottle for $1.99 at Ulta.

My husband's mother passed away, in her home, and on her own terms on November 16th. I wasn't going to say anything but decided maybe I should since she let me do a post on her nails last year.  So we travelled down to Florida for her funeral and my husband and I stayed down there for Thanksgiving as well.  Needless to say, I was on the road for two and half days and had spotty internet along with a hectic schedule so... that is where I have been.  Although we are all saddened by her death she is in a better place. 

Well, that is it for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

Mineral Fusion - Sunkissed

Has anyone tried anything by Mineral Fusion? 

I bumped into their small nail polish display at Whole Foods, (America's first certified organic grocer, so their napkins say) the other day and picked up Sunkissed, a pastel, orange, coral creme. 
There wasn't very many unique colors to choose from, so I picked a pastel to test since those in general, are difficult formulas.   I have to tell you I wasn't disappointed in the least.  For a pastel, this is a great formula, creamy, opaque, not tacky.  Some of my nails have two coats (pinky) and some have three (ring finger).  The nails that have three I had a little trouble with the polish leveling out so I just did another thin coat on top to even out a streak. 

I was really seduced by the gorgeous bottles.  The bottle bottoms are oval shape and gradually taper up to the top to an elliptical shaped copper colored cap.  Really unique.  The cap was easy to hang on to while painting.

The brushes aren't too bad, they are flat and broad, but not too broad.  I found them easy to work with.  They kind of remind me of OPI's brushes in size and shape, but OPI's bristles are tighter.

The bottles are 10 ml in size and $7.99 each. 

Mineral Fusion's website makes no mention of their nail polishes, kind of weird.   I hope that doesn't mean they'll be discontinued.  The display says they are big 4 free, (big 3, plus camphor free)... but really who isn't big three free these days? Their products are vegetarian, some are vegan and of course, cruelty free.  By the way, there isn't an ingredient list, or much labeling on their polish bottles.

They also have nail polish remover, which is just ethyl acetate with isopropyl alcohol.  So I passed on that because it was a total rip off, it was a small bottle for $8.  I was hoping it was soy based remover because I've been wanting to try those out.

I'm going to pick up a couple more on my next trip to Whole Foods. 

Revlon Red Bikini by Gucci Westman

I've got another quickie swatch for you today; Revlon's Red Bikini from the Summer Escapism 2012 Collection by Gucci Westman.

Wowee, is this a bright red orange or what?  Red Bikini is a highly pigmented creme polish which could have been a one coater, but this is two super easy coats.  Perfect formula from Revlon.

GORGEOUS for summer.  I don't know if I captured it, but there's a certain crisp-ness and boldness to this polish, I tried photographing it with other bottles.  I think the second picture shows it off the best.

I've been seeing this color, it seems, everywhere this year.  Its probably very close to this year's Pantone color of the year Tangerine Tango.  According to the Time.com article this color signifies what what the world needs right now, "courage and action" in a time of financial uncertainty.

Thoughts and insights?

Nina Ultra Pro - Burnished Bronze

Earlier I did a post on a half moon mani using Nina Ulta Pro's Burnished Bronze, and today I'll show you a swatch of just this polish by itself because it is a beautiful metallic burnt orange.  If your a fan of orange, this should be in your collection.  AND if you are NOT a fan of orange, this should be in your collection.  I don't own very many oranges, maybe only three. However, I LOVE Burnished Bronze, and I really could care less about the other two.  Deep and rich in color, its probably best for late summer and fall, but oh well, here it is, two coats.

Burnished Bronze could be a thick one coater but the color deepens with the second coat.  The formula is fantastic, even, streak free, and the consistency is just right.  Application was a breeze. 

Nina Ultra Pro is at Sally's for $4.29. If you can catch these on sale they can be a real bargain.  This month they are buy 2 get one free. So three for roughly $8, not too bad. 

Click here to see the half moon mani with China Glaze's Hook and Line, in case you missed it.

Do you have any oranges that you absolutely love?

Half Moon Mani with China Glaze Hook and Line

Hi Guys!
Today I'm excited to show you my first half moon mani!  I used Nina Ultra Pro's Burnished Bronze and China Glaze's Hook and Line from the Hunger Games collection. 

I know this picture is blurry but don't you just love how blurry pictures can convey an impression? 
Like what this mani might look like from afar?

How did I do this?  It was pretty easy.

Two coats of Burnished bronze.  Make sure this is completely dry and cured. 
About three hours for me.
Then apply stickers, and make sure they are flat so that paint does not seep under them.
I used a cuticle pusher to flatten the stickers.

Paint two coats of Hook and Line.  With one coat the orange was still coming through.

What I used. L to R, reinforcements, CG top coat, CG Hook and Line, NUP Burnished Bronze.

I peeled the stickers off right away, after painting with Hook and Line, and then cleaned up the edges with a brush and pure acetone.  Gooped on some CG fastforward topcoat and that was it!

My nails were really thick.  There are a total of seven coats of polish that I'm wearing.  I used Orly's bonder as a base (nice and thin), two coats of Burnished Bronze, one coat of CG FF top coat, two coats of Hook and Line and one thick coat of CG FF top coat.  I also have to add, after I peeled off the stickers, Hook and Line started to dry, and left kind of a wall of pooled paint that was laying against the edge of the stickers.  CG's top coat did a nice job of smoothing out the line/wall while still maintaining a clean crisp demarcation.  I think this is why CG FF top coat is my go to top coat for glitters.  It is such a great leveler, smudge fixer and delivers a high gloss finish. 

Well what d'ya think?

I think you are going to see more of these half moon manis from me because they are so easy to do and fun.

If you missed yesterday's post on CG's Liquid Crystal click here.

Sinful Colors - Hazard

Well, like green I don't have very many orange nail polishes in my collection.  Here is one I recently picked up at Walgreens: Sinful Colors, Hazard, from the Petal Pushers line.  Orange is another difficult color for me to pull off because my skin is cool toned.  I really did not like how this turned out, Hazard borders on being a neon, but I would describe it as a medium orange coral.

Hazard applies like a pastel, thick and tacky.  Above is two coats, and I did not have any issues except I'm just not that excited about the color.  Maybe I will be in August when its hazy, hot and humid here on the east coast.  Late summer the sun is so bright, everything is washed out and I can't see anything else except these bright beachy colors.  UGH.  Maybe I need to add some nail art or glitter?   At least it was only $1.99. 

Thoughts?