Check out the other Artsy Wednesday bloggers; they all do some pretty gorgeous work (and we have two new participants, Makeup and Masala and Every Little Polish)!
An Accent Nail
Showing posts with label Orange. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orange. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Artsy Wednesday: Three Colors
It's never too early to start thinking about Halloween, and so I did a fall-ish, Halloweeny manicure to get me in a spooky mood. I used Sally Hansen Lickety Split Lime as the base, then Slick Slate and Sun Kissed for stamping, using the LeaLC B plate. I'm pretty pleased with the result!
Check out the other Artsy Wednesday bloggers; they all do some pretty gorgeous work (and we have two new participants, Makeup and Masala and Every Little Polish)!
Check out the other Artsy Wednesday bloggers; they all do some pretty gorgeous work (and we have two new participants, Makeup and Masala and Every Little Polish)!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Artsy Wednesday: Two Colors
NEONNNN!
I chose neon yellow (China Glaze Celtic Sun), and a neon pink (Zoya Ali), to create a yellow and neon orange (yay color theory!) saran wrap manicure! I love this for summer, and it goes nicely with my new Curlformer curlers (which I purchased with my own money).
NEON!
Check out the other Artsy Wednesday bloggers; they all do some pretty gorgeous work (and we have two new participants, Makeup and Masala and Every Little Polish)!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Artsy Wednesday: Saran Wrap nails!
Crinkling up saran wrap and smashing it onto your polish sounds like fun, doesn't it? I figured this would be an excellent opportunity to see if I could salvage a chipped manicure with this method. I don't like crackles, another way to hide chips (even though I think they look like chipped polish anyway), so this was a method I was excited to try!
First, my old manicure. Not bad for almost a week of wear, but still pretty raggedy:
Next, with a layer of polish painted on and then saran wrap smashed into the wet polish (done one nail at a time, to prevent issues with dry polish getting gummed up):
LOVE IT. The peeks of blue through the copper? Perfection! I'm going to have to try different color combos, I love this style!
First, my old manicure. Not bad for almost a week of wear, but still pretty raggedy:
Next, with a layer of polish painted on and then saran wrap smashed into the wet polish (done one nail at a time, to prevent issues with dry polish getting gummed up):
I'm really honored to be able to participate in Artsy Wednesday, and you should all DEFINITELY check out these other, very talented Artsy Wednesday participants.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Swatchfest: Zoya Oranges, Pinks and Reds
I now declare this Zoya week at my blog! It's gonna be all Zoya, all the time. I have a whole bunch of Zoya polishes, and I wanted to swatch and photograph them all for you guys. I did so in a comparison format to show you (and myself) the differences between the colors. This post will be the oranges, pinks and reds that I own. On to the swatches!
I've got Pru and Tess to show you first. Pru is a purpley-pinky, soft dusty color with a gold shimmer in it. It's a pretty unusual color, and I really like how different it is from the purples or pinks I own. Tess is a pretty incredible rose metallic that I took a total gamble on buying, as I couldn't find many decent swatches. Below is a SINGLE coat of Tess! Incredible!
Next, I've got Rica and Tiffany. I was a little worried when I bought Tiffany that it would be too similar to Rica, but I was pleasantly surprised as to how different they were. Rica has much brighter pink and orange tones, while Tiffany is a nice pinkish-gold shimmer. I think Rica would be a great version of this pinky-orange-gold for the summer, and Tiffany a perfect option for the fall/winter.
These next polishes aren't similar at all, so the comparison part of the manicure is kind of moot, but they are both fabulous summery pinks. Ali is a super neon pink that dries with a rubbery, semi-matte finish (like most neons), while Rory is a metallic lavender-pink that applies like a dream. I could've easily gotten away with one careful coat for each of these polishes, but I did two to be safe.
Next we have Nidhi and Reva. Nidhi is a warm-leaning red with gold/blue microglitter in it. This color is super hard to capture, as it has a subtlety in its blue flashes and gold shimmer that you probably need to experience in person. Next is Reva, a darker red with straight gold shimmer, a simpler color but with a bolder impact.
Disclaimer: All products for this post were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
I've got Pru and Tess to show you first. Pru is a purpley-pinky, soft dusty color with a gold shimmer in it. It's a pretty unusual color, and I really like how different it is from the purples or pinks I own. Tess is a pretty incredible rose metallic that I took a total gamble on buying, as I couldn't find many decent swatches. Below is a SINGLE coat of Tess! Incredible!
Index/Middle: Pru, Ring/Pinky; Tess
Next, I've got Rica and Tiffany. I was a little worried when I bought Tiffany that it would be too similar to Rica, but I was pleasantly surprised as to how different they were. Rica has much brighter pink and orange tones, while Tiffany is a nice pinkish-gold shimmer. I think Rica would be a great version of this pinky-orange-gold for the summer, and Tiffany a perfect option for the fall/winter.
Index/Middle: Rica, Ring/Pinky: Tiffany
I recently discovered that I actually look okay in orange, so I bought a few oranges from Zoya to enjoy. Kaufda is a reddish copper that is pretty unusual and very, very flattering. I chose Pia to get a brighter orange that wasn't a neon creme. I'm not sure how Pia compares to, say, Lianne, Elise, Ginger or Sienna, but I do like how brilliant it looks, and it has a nice shimmer. I did have visible nail line with 2 coats, I think a third would be in order to make sure that's all covered up.
Index/Middle: Kaufda, Ring/Pinky: Pia
These next polishes aren't similar at all, so the comparison part of the manicure is kind of moot, but they are both fabulous summery pinks. Ali is a super neon pink that dries with a rubbery, semi-matte finish (like most neons), while Rory is a metallic lavender-pink that applies like a dream. I could've easily gotten away with one careful coat for each of these polishes, but I did two to be safe.
Index/Middle: Ali, Ring/Pinky: Rory
Sparkle pink! I love both of these sparkly pinks. Astra is packed with magenta and silver glitter in a clear base; it's kind of amazing how well it covers without being gritty or gummy. With two coats of Astra, I didn't have any visible nail line. I swatched it next to Gilda, which is hands-down the best pedicure pink ever. It's a glassfleck cool-leaning pink that just pops without being a typical neon. It's a great base color for watermelon nail art too! The visible nail line in this picture isn't as noticeable in person, but a third coat would eliminate it for sure.
Index/Middle: Astra, Ring/Pinky: Gilda
Next, the reds! Jade is the first, a jelly-like red glitter polish. The glitter is very subtle, but the tint of red is a particularly classic red, so it'd be a good go-to for glamour.
Next we have Nidhi and Reva. Nidhi is a warm-leaning red with gold/blue microglitter in it. This color is super hard to capture, as it has a subtlety in its blue flashes and gold shimmer that you probably need to experience in person. Next is Reva, a darker red with straight gold shimmer, a simpler color but with a bolder impact.
Index/Middle: Nidhi, Ring/Pinky: Reva
Index/Middle: Nidhi, Ring/Pinky: Reva, Thumb: Jade
Finally the vampiest of the bunch, Blair and Valerie. Blair is a deep burgundy with a glowing shimmer that looks just gorgeous, and is going to be perfect for winter drama. Valerie, probably technically a cool color but very warm-leaning, is possibly one of the greatest polish colors ever, so I saved it for last (best for last and all). Valerie is a dark purple/burgundy base with gold/silver/possibly some green shimmer to it. I'm always surprised when I put it on, as to how fascinating a color it is.
Index/Middle: Blair, Ring/Pinky: Valerie
Check in later this week for the cool-toned Zoyas I have!
Disclaimer: All products for this post were purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Julep Maven June Box and Gradient Manicure!
What's a Julep Maven? I am!
Julep is a salon on the West Coast that has started selling their own line of nail polish. They decided a good way to gain a national audience was to set up a monthly subscription service where you pay a flat fee and get nail polish delivered right to your door! Enabling? Yes. Fun? DEFINITELY.
Above is the June It Girl box; I got 3 polishes, a bonus SPF 15 chapstick, and two pixi stix! I also got a voucher for a free polish, since this is my first monthly box (you start getting the monthly boxes after you get your intro box). The freebies for newbies seem to change around (a makeup bag was the last one), so if you sign on, you may get a different one! I paid $19.99 for this box; that's the typical monthly fee, and you get at least $40.00 of product; some styles get 3 polishes, some get 2 polishes and a spa product like lotion, sugar scrubs or cuticle oil.
I did a sponged gradient manicure with Morgan and Sandra, and I love the look! It reminds me of Lisa Frank folders, and is pretty simple to do. Zoya has a great tutorial on how to get the look. I have plenty of pinks in my collection, but I definitely don't have any purples like Morgan!
How do you become a Julep Maven? Go here: http://julep.com/?r=19631454 and take the style quiz to see what style you are. You can use the code PENNY or COLORS4ONE to get your first box for $0.01! (taxes may apply for your state) Monthly boxes cost $19.99 regularly, and you're able to decide to skip or cancel your subscription before the 24th of each month if you sign on.
When you sign up for Julep Maven, you take a style quiz to see what your personal style is, and you'll be assigned that style for your monthly subscriptions. My personal style turned out to be Classic With a Twist, but the great thing about Julep is, you aren't locked in to your style. I liked the It Girl colors better this month, so I just logged in and chose that style for this month! You can also skip a month, if finances are tight or you just aren't feeling the colors. It's a pretty great program, flexible and convenient.
Disclaimer: All products in this review were purchased by me. The Julep link is a referral to the Julep Maven program provided to my by Julep.com.
 |
| Morgan, Sandra and Sasha |
Above is the June It Girl box; I got 3 polishes, a bonus SPF 15 chapstick, and two pixi stix! I also got a voucher for a free polish, since this is my first monthly box (you start getting the monthly boxes after you get your intro box). The freebies for newbies seem to change around (a makeup bag was the last one), so if you sign on, you may get a different one! I paid $19.99 for this box; that's the typical monthly fee, and you get at least $40.00 of product; some styles get 3 polishes, some get 2 polishes and a spa product like lotion, sugar scrubs or cuticle oil.
I did a sponged gradient manicure with Morgan and Sandra, and I love the look! It reminds me of Lisa Frank folders, and is pretty simple to do. Zoya has a great tutorial on how to get the look. I have plenty of pinks in my collection, but I definitely don't have any purples like Morgan!
How do you become a Julep Maven? Go here: http://julep.com/?r=19631454 and take the style quiz to see what style you are. You can use the code PENNY or COLORS4ONE to get your first box for $0.01! (taxes may apply for your state) Monthly boxes cost $19.99 regularly, and you're able to decide to skip or cancel your subscription before the 24th of each month if you sign on.
When you sign up for Julep Maven, you take a style quiz to see what your personal style is, and you'll be assigned that style for your monthly subscriptions. My personal style turned out to be Classic With a Twist, but the great thing about Julep is, you aren't locked in to your style. I liked the It Girl colors better this month, so I just logged in and chose that style for this month! You can also skip a month, if finances are tight or you just aren't feeling the colors. It's a pretty great program, flexible and convenient.
Disclaimer: All products in this review were purchased by me. The Julep link is a referral to the Julep Maven program provided to my by Julep.com.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
First Post: Nail Mail!!
What better way to kick off a blog than to show off some recent nail
mail! These polishes are from some
awesome swappers. I love swapping nail
polish; it's a great way to get a hold of unusual polishes you can't find
yourself.
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Spring Green:
This is a very Kermit-ey green creme. It will be an awesome background for glitter and stamping. I was able to get rid of a duplicate polish I had in order to get my hands on this one; it's always nice to be able to expand my polish collection!
I love the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri line of polish; it dries quickly, and every one that I've tried
has been a one-coat polish. Some people
are on the fence about the fat brush trend that brands like Sally Hansen, Wet
n' Wild and OPI are embracing, and some people flat-out hate them, but I love
them (if they're well made). It makes applying polish quick, with far fewer
passes per nail. However, if the brush
isn't well cut and has funky, mop-like bristles, it can be nightmarish (I'm
looking at you, Wet n' Wild).
Sally Hansen Gem Crush in Lady Luck:
A clear base with small fuscia glitter and larger silver holo glitter. This is a packed glitter polish; it was nearly opaque with 2 coats on my wheel, and for a glitter polish that's pretty crazy.
This will be great for glitter
gradients. It also dries with an almost
matte finish, which is pretty interesting to look at, but the shiny punch of
the glitter is brought back to front-and-center with a topcoat.
China Glaze Virtual Violet:
This is a super grapey, scattered holo polish. It really comes to life in the sun, but it's a pretty interesting shimmer indoors as well.
I tend to prefer scattered holos
to linear holos, for two reasons; first off, they're waaaaaaay less expensive. Second, the highly linear holos remind me of
Lisa Frank folders. They're stunningly
beautiful, but I worry about being able to wear them to a lot of
occasions. I may be overthinking it, but
since scattered and weaker linear holo polishes are way more accessible, I'm
not too worried about my preference!
OPI Y'all Come Back Now, Hear?:
OPI has the goofiest polish names. This polish is a bright orange jelly; I've recently discovered that I really like orange polishes, so it's been fun to find ones that I can pull off.
This is a dupe for Zoya's Coraline, which is
awesome because out of the Birchbox trio they recently released, Coraline was the only one I
was particularly interested in, but it isn't for sale on its own.
Essie Luxeffects in Shine of the Times:
The flakie polish trend is pretty interesting, as they're just SO very different
from the typical glitter. This flakie
polish is probably the densest available, with a beautiful orange/green
duochrome. I'm excited to layer this one
and see how well it plays with other colors.
Zoya Anne:
Along with orange nail polish, I've recently discovered I enjoy nude
polishes a lot. Anne is a somewhat sheer
warm-toned nude with a slight shimmer. I have very cool-toned skin, so I can't
pull all nude shades off, but the warmer ones work with me. I'm so excited to wear this one, maybe with
Shine of the Times over it!
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