CG Fireside Glow - Layered

So here's what I did to spice up Fireside Glow (FG).  I added Ulta's Pinata-yada-yada (PYY).  I've featured PYY before; its an awesome multicolored hexagon glitter polish with a clear base.  Super versatile. 

Left hand.

Right hand.

Up close.

Overall, from afar.

Left hand from afar.

I originally wanted to try this with Wet N Wild's Jewerly Heist, but PYY is a much better complement to Fireside Glow.  PYY is a dupe of Deborah Lippmann's Happy Birthday, and Milani makes a nice dupe too.

This mani is one coat of base, 2 coats of FG, one coat of CG's fastforward (FF) top coat, one coat of PYY, and one coat of CG FF top coat.  CGFF top coat is the best top coat I have for leveling glitters.  Six coats, now my nails are super thick and hard!

To see a swatch of FG click here.
Thoughts?

China Glaze - Moonlight

Here is this week's simple and clean work mani.  CG's Moonlight a medium sheer milky white polish.  I wear Orly's Sheer Beauty, from time to time, which is very similar to this polish but it is more sheer than Moonlight.  Easy to apply, excellent smooth formula.

Two coats.

I did the accent finger with Ulta's glitter top coat.
A subtle way to sneak some glitter into my work day... ssshh.

Moonlight might be more sheer without Orly's nail armor, underneath. 



What I used.

Unlike hklinda, at the Lacquer Room who likes to wear her polish with out "undies" sometimes. I must be the opposite, I wear thick, full coverage grandma "undies" - Orly's Nail Armor.  Orly recommends two coats of nail armor, which has silk fibers in it and also functions as a ridge filler.   I don't have any ridges but right now my thumb nail has a big crack in it, below the nail line, so I'm using Nail Armor.  I don't want to deal with tea bags or glue or whatever else is used to patch nails, and so far, it's been working out well. 

Yes, I found Ulta's glitter top coat in the clearance bin, when I got to the register, the cashier rang it up for 49 cents!  SCORE!  It goes on really smooth, you don't need to add another top coat to cover the glitter. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Ulta - Alter Ego

Do you have a second self?  Ulta's Alter Ego (UAE) a medium electric blue shimmer polish, which was a dream to apply.  The formula was a little thicker than what I'm normally used to but in a good way.  I think the added thickness just allowed me to glide the brush around my round cuticles with an even flow of paint.  I hardly had to clean up with acetone afterwards, just a little on my right hand.  Two really easy coats, with no swearing.  Awesome!

I added glitter to this (previous post) for New Year's eve, but this was gorgeous all by itself. 

Ulta, regular price $6, on sale $3.  I wore this with a purple sweater dress. 

One coat Orly's nail armor, two coats UAE, one coat INM out the door top coat.

Enjoy!  Thanks for stopping by!

Where is this blog going? Ulta's Pin-yada yada and Alter Ego

Happy New Year!  2012!

I thought I would take this opportunity to address where this blog is going for 2012.   Considering I don't have much of an audience, I probably should work on building one.  How am I going to do that?  I'm not sure, yet, but so far I have noticed the posts that get the most traffic are the Lippmann ones....  so I'll post the ones that I have and see where that goes. 

When I started this blog I wanted to share my nail polish interest with other like minded individuals because most people are not deeply interested in nail polish and don't want to listen to me babble about it.  In addition, I'm a reformed nail biter, and would like to keep from ever biting my nails again.  I was introduced to China Glaze's Ruby Pumps (CG RP) three years ago and that's the color that turned me on.  When I first saw CG RP, I thought, "WOW, that's nail polish!?" It was a breakthrough. 

Over the last two to three years the nail polish industry has grown and we have seen much innovation. Glitter galore, holographics, duo-chromes, blue and greys, grey-beiges.... What's next?  I don't know.  I am excited to see what industry leaders have in store for us polish enthusiasts in the up coming year.   At the same time I also think some core colors get a little neglected so you will see me post some core line colors.  Core colors are easily available and I get a little frustrated sometimes when I see a nail color featured on line and I have to hunt it down, especially when there are so many beautiful core colors right under my nose, but I don't know what they really look like.

Over time I have noticed I really enjoy blogs with a little bit of meat in them.  Although I like to see a ton of swatches, I really don't want to get into swatching large volumes of colors, color after color, brand after brand, for me, I can't deliver that, and there are a ton of blogs that serve the purpose of a color catalog/reference, so I think I need to do something different.  Something with a little bit more thought and insight. 

I am passionate about conserving/cleaning up our environment, promoting animal rights, and reducing our use of carcinogenic chemicals.  You can see that I only post cruelty free, big 3 free polishes and I will continue to do that.  I don't wear makeup, but I am aging.  I may post some reviews on anti aging skin and hair care from a preventive approach.  In summary for 2012 you will see future posts on these topics, hand and nail care, and other beauty product reviews.  

Well with all that said, here my New Year's eve mani.  It's Ulta's Alter Ego and Pin-yada yada.  

Switched bottles to reduce glare.

This mani was tough to photograph!  Lots of blinding glare, sharp shadows and the macro mode on my camera uses a large aperture (around f 2!) so the depth of focus is short, so some nails are not sharp as in the first photo.

I did take some photography and darkroom classes in college, so I may venture out and do some photography posts too.  I studied with a Nikon N60 SLR film camera, on unforgiving slide film 15 years ago, so I can appreciate a good technical photo when I see one.  I'm not a professional photographer and I certainly am not perfect so maybe we can share some tips and tricks.  Or I can just stick strictly to nail polish....

Well, I think that covers it.  More to come in 2012!
Thanks for stopping by!

Ulta - Into Astrono-me?

Hello out there.

I have a quick posting for you today - Ulta's Into Astrono-Me? (UIAM), a midnight blue with subtle shimmer and a touch of grey.  I'm such a sucker for anything grey in it, I think because of its wear-ablility, it tones down the brightness and adds sophistication.

I had to crop this, the side of my hand looked like a giant chicken breast!

See the shimmer?  Clearly in the bottle but its very subtle on the nail though.

I bought this at Ulta during their mix and match buy 1 get 1 free sale, so this polish was only $3, plus I had a coupon! Happy!

Are you into astrono-me?  Here's NASA's picture of the day for astronomy lovers, NASA.
Thanks for stopping by!

Ulta - Pinata yada yada - New Year's nails!

So here's what happened to my Grin & Berry it mani.  Multicolored hexagon glitter!  Big surprise.  Ulta's Pinata yada yada (PYY) is a clear based, big and small multicolored hex glitter, it screams PARTY.  I think this would be a great mani for New Year's Eve.  2012, can you believe it is almost here?  I love the randomness of glitter polishes.  You never know where and how the glitter is going to land.  So sparkle-ly!  The glitter reminds me of champagne bubbles, or maybe confetti. 

I used one coat Orly's nail defense base, 2 coats Ulta's Grin & Berry it, one coat China Glaze fastforward topcoat, one coat Ulta's PYY, one coat of CGFF top coat again.  Whew. 

I notice when I put a top coat on before glitter I have an easier time removing glitter polishes.  I think this mani is going to outlast me, because I'm still wearing it and it has been 5 days with just a little tip wear, no chips or scratches!  With 2 coats of topcoat my nails are hard!  Plus my thumb nail broke last week so I had to file down all my nails to even them out.  :(  So, I noticed my manis last longer when my nails are shorter.

Ulta - Grin and Berry It

What a pretty color!  I love this nail polish, Ulta's Grin & Berry It (UG&BI)!  UG&BI is a bright but deep fuchsia berry with a little shimmer.  Cheerful and uplifting now that most of the leaves are gone, they sky is grey and it's cold outside!  This polish could be a one coater, smooth, even, and easy application.  I still did two coats though (habit maybe), the color just deepened with the second coat.  A great year round wear anywhere nail color!

I used Orly's nail defense base, 2 coats UG&BI, one top coat China Glaze fastforward top coat.

Wait until you see how I recycle this mani!
Stay tuned!

Ulta - Material Girl

I have luke warm feelings about this nail polish.  The color in the bottle is what sold me and more micro holo glitter!  UMG is a goopy deep magenta colored polish loaded with glitter, which the glitter unfortunately, gets buried in the color.  It surprisingly, dries fast to a rough and matte finish. Me NOT likey! Since the glitter is causing all the roughness I thought I would test out two of my favorite top coats, plus add some much needed shine.  My left hand wears Revlon quick dry top coat (RQD) and right hand wears, China Glaze Fastforward top coat (CGFF).   Shiney-ness was about the same between the two top coats, both dried quick, (1-2 minutes) dry to touch.  However, CGFF is a better leveler, as my right hand fingers felt and looked smoother. 

What I used: One coat Orly’s Nail defense base, two coats UMG, one coat RQD or CGFF top coats.

No top coat.

China glaze FF top coat.

top - CGFF, bottom RQD top coats.

Flash picture to try to capture sparkle.  It does look darker in lower light.

Top photos are more true to color.

I picked up Ulta’s material girl (UMG) during this month’s buy 2 get 2 free ulta polishes.  Ulta, regular price $6.

Thanks for stopping by!