Random Manicure Monday

I always take pictures of my manicures, even if I don't post them...here are some of them!

Have a great day!

Time for a Pedicure!

Summer is fast approaching and it is time to look after those forgotten feet…time for a Pedicure!

This is my way of doing a pedicure:

1. Remove all old nail polish.  
2. Trim and file nails to preferred length.  To prevent ingrown nails, trim and file straight across.
3. Fill a large bowl or a foot soaker with warm water and mild soap, then soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Next use a pumice stone and gently remove calluses from feet.
5. Now to remove cuticles.  I use a cuticle remover because I am not a fan of cutting my cuticles.  Gently push back your cuticles with an orange stick or a metal cuticle pusher.
6. Use a soft nail brush and remove the cuticle remover, then dry your feet.
7. Apply moisturiser to your feet, messaging it in well.
8. With acetone remove excess moisturizer from nails.
9. Apply a base coat.  It is best to use a base coat so the nail polish doesn't stain your nails.  Base coat also helps to adhere the polish to your nails.  There are a ton of base coats, I like OPI Nail Envy.
10. FINALLY the colour.  Apply a polish that makes you happy and will look cool on your toes :)  Usually I do 2 coats to achieve the opaqueness I like; sometimes more is needed and sometimes less.
11. Remove all nail polish from cuticles or anywhere else you messed up...we all do it!  I find the easiest way to do that is with acetone and an angled make-up brush or Q-tip.  You can also buy corrector pens.
12. Last but not least the top coat.  There are many out there, but my all-time favourite is Seche Vite.  Fast drying and shiny as glass.  I don't think it can be beat.
13. One more tip is cuticle oil.  After your polish is completely dry, moisturize your cuticles with some cuticle oil.                                                                                                                                               

Treat yourself to a home pedicure, you can save yourself some money by doing it yourself or get together with a friend and do each other’s!

**Just a footnote for Diabetics...remember the water temperature should be between 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (lukewarm, not hot), avoid razors for callus removal, ensure that you dry thoroughly between your toes and finally no lotion between toes.
Diabetes and Pedicures Mayo Clinic

Manicures with Zoya NYX

Happy Thursday!

While I love nail polish and probably buy too much of it, I really do buy it to wear it, not just to collect it.  I love the Zoya Pixie Dusts so here are a couple of manicures utilizing Zoya NYX.

OPI Mariah Carey Liquid Sands

I guess it's official I am on the 'textured polish' band wagon :) That being said, after I tried out the Zoya Pixie Dusts I had to try some OPI Liquid Sands.  Here are 4 of them without and with topcoat.

Stay the Night is my favorite. It is a gorgeous black with pink/magenta glitter and similar to Pixie Dust in that the glitter still sparkles after the polish is dry and turns matte.

Get Your Number is a blue jelly with a ton of glitter of different sizes and colours.

Can't Let Go is a purple with glitter.  Very grape looking.

The Impossible is a red/pink with different colours and shapes of glitter.

These were all opaque in 3 coats and went on relatively easy.  I really liked these polishes. The new OPI Bond Girl collection is now out, must try!

I will probably try more OPI polishes now that my fav online company Nail Polish Canada has lowered the prices...Thanks NPC!!

PS:  They have also lowered Essie polish...YAY.

Nail Art Design from some great You Tubers!

I'm not one of the most artistic people in the world, but I thought I must be able to do some kind of nail art besides dots with my dotting tools. So where do you go when you want to learn...You Tube!!  These are 2 relatively simple designs I tried.  Just click on the links to watch.

MissJenFABULOUS

cutepolish

You too can be artistic, with a little practice!

PS:  I ended up using my dotting tools...LOL

What do you do when your tips start to chip?

So, I was thinking how can I prolong my manicure after the tips start to chip, without just removing the polish and starting all over again.  Here is my solution...get your handy-dandy dotting tool out and dot the tips!  Throw another coat of top coat on and voila, it will last a few more days.

PS:  My nails never have the opportunity to chip :)

Essie's Mint Candy Apple

This manicure may seem kind of boring but Mint Candy Apple is one of my favorite polishes.  I have other mint green polishes but none of them come close to this one.  It is a creme mint green and has been around since 2009.  Your nails look clean and crisp. Definitely a must have! Looks fab on the toes.

Orly Hope and Freedom Collection

This is 4 of the 6 polishes included in the 2013 Orly Hope and Freedom Collection.  I love the names of the polishes!

Melodious Utopia is yellow with pink shimmer.  As you can see in the pics it is very sheer,  I was unable to get full opacity.

Coachella Dweller is a green creme, pale but not quite a pastel. Applied OK with 3 coats.

Elation Generation is a pink/peachy with tons of glitter.  The consistency is jelly like.

High on Hope is a navy blue with pinkish shimmer.  It is by far my favorite one.  Opaque in 2 coats.

I would recommend some of these polishes.  If you like sheer, you might love them.  I like full opacity with polish.  The 2 other polishes not included are Boho Bonnet and Peaceful Opposition, might have to have a look at them :)

Color Club Shimmers and Duochromes

Here are 4 Color Club polishes is shimmers and duochromes. They were very fast drying.

Editorial is a gold green duochrome. Opaque in 2 coats.  Dupe for Chanel Pericot.

Port-folio another duochrome in purple green.  Opaque in 2 coats.

Model Behavior is a copper shimmer very bronzy.  Opaque in 2 coats.

First Looks is a black based blue shimmer.  Opaque in 2 coats.

These were great polishes to apply and what a great colour payoff!  Would recommend!

Essence Colour & Go

I have walked passed the Essence display for months...I finally stopped and had a look and saw that the polishes were only 1.99, so I thought what the heck.  There were about 20-21 available, I picked up 4 to give them a try.

'LOL' is a creme SHREK green!  I was hesitant to get it, but I couldn't resist.  It doesn't look bad and went on like a charm. Wonderful consistency.  I think it might be a dupe for OPI 'Who the Shrek are you?'

'Chic Reloaded' is a multichrome with purple, green/teal and so many other colours!  It was difficult to get the camera to pic up on the different colours.  It's amazing in the sun.

'Walk on the Wild-side' is a mossy green with tiny green shimmer.

'Date in the Moonlight' is a lighter navy blue with tiny blue shimmer.

These polishes are great quality with an excellent price!  I purchased  them at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada.  I think they are available at Ulta in the US.  I would definitely recommend these.

Blossoming Collection by Color Club

This collection includes 5 creme pastel colours and a silver glitter. It also included 0-60 speedy top coat.  While I loved the colours of this collection, I struggled with the application.  I had trouble with the leveling and hence the visible lines, as you can see in the pictures.  

'Blushing Rose' is a blue-based light pink.  This was the most difficult to apply, yet one of my favs of the lot.  I tried a top coat to see if that would make a difference with the non-leveling and streakiness, it did not.

'Blue-ming' is far from blue.  It is a unique lighter turqouise shade. My favorite.

'Hydrangea Kiss' is a pretty periwinkle.

'Lavendarling' is a light purple.  I have several very similar shades.

'Sweetpea' is a rosy purple.

'Diamond Drops' is a shard like glitter that I put over Sweetpea.

Would recommend this set based solely on the colours, but beware it is not an easy application patience is necessary! Something I don't usually possess :)

Zoya Pixie Dust

Well, I jumped on the texture nail polish bandwagon with Zoya Pixie Dust.  I was hesitant because I like a nice shiny finish and these polishes are matte.  The sparkle makes up for the matteness!

Zoya states:

"IMPORTANT PixieDust Application Information -  Do not use a base coat or top coat. Apply 1-3 (for full coverage) thin coats of polish. Allow product to dry down completely matte in between layers for full textured effect. The Pixie Dust textured formula may take up to 10 minutes to dry completely matte. Once dry, the textured finish is long lasting, matte and ultra-glittery!"

The first 3 polishes require 3 coats to achieve opacity.

Vespa is a seafoam matte sparkle.

Nyx is a periwinkle matte sparkle.

Godiva is a nude/beige sparkle.

The remaining 3 polish are opaque in 2 coats.

London is a grey 'foggy' matte sparkle.

Dahlia is a black matte sparkle.

Chyna is a red matte sparkle.

The wear time on these are great but I am going to try a top coat next time for more shine. I'm looking forward to Pixie Dust Summer Edition...I want some bright colours!

Beware, similar to glitter polish, it can be difficult to remove.

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Review

YAY, I made it through Lent...no nail polish purchased!

I was interested in the new CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant nail polish, but thought that 5.99 was far too much for it. Being thrifty and waiting it out I found it for 3.00 at well.ca, so I picked up 12 of them.  This is what CoverGirl claims:

"Dare to go topless with our new nail polish formula that combines a base coat, high gloss colour, and a chip-resistant top coat in one simple step."

Note:  All swatches are 2 coats or more to obtain the desired opacity and no top coat.

'Always naked' is a taupe/beige neutral.  I'm not sure this is the best shade for my skin type.

'Wine to Five' is an oxblood/wine.  This is my favorite of the bunch.

'Mint mojito' is more of a turquoise then mint.  My sister loved this one with some silver glitter.

'Lav-endure' is, in fact, a lavender. 

'Vio-last' is a beautiful blue-violet colour.

'My papya' is a unique shimmery coral with pink undertones.

'Forever festive' is a jewel toned ruby...wonderful Christmas colour.

'Out of the blue' a vibrant true blue.

'Pink-finity' is a blue-based creme pink.

'Grapevine' is a very saturated purple polish with shimmer.

'Golden opportunity' is a shimmery champagne gold and somewhat metallic.

'Silver lining' is not a silver, which was disappointing, it is more a grey.

I think it's a pretty good polish with a good selection of colours.  I don't like the idea of stained nails so I used a base coat.  Most of the polishes were opaque with 2 coats.  Some of the lighter colours I found too thick and couldn't get them to level (Pink-finity was the worse.)  I also found that there were occasionally bubbles when applied, as you can see in some of the pictures.  All in all I would recommend them for the price I paid.