You've Got A Friend In Me!

Happy Saturday! I have two swatches to share with yall today. They are both by the indie brand Different Dimension (one of my favorites) and they are based off of Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story! So they were an insta buy for me! Check out the link above to buy them as a duo (not sold separately because I'm pretty sure that'd be a sin somewhere to separate Buzz and Woody!)

First is Reach for the Sky! a yellow based polish with red small and medium round glitters, medium hex square yellow glitters, and my eyes may be deceiving me but I definitely see some iridescent pieces in the bottle! And literally one lonely bar glitter. Haha! I don't know what's up with that.

Woody looks a little creepy here, sorry. But how spot on are these colors?! Ugh. So in love. This is three coats with Out the Door top coat. I still have really visible nail line, but I am 100% positive that's just me. I always have a lot of free edge even with short nails. You could definitely layer this though!

Ahhh, and second is To Infinity and Beyond! an awesome clear based polish with all sorts of assorted glitter goodies in there. I spy white rectangles, small and large NEON green hexes as well as neon round glitters, and small purple round and hex glitters. *whew* that's a generous amount. Shown is one coat over China Glaze - Tart-y For the Party (probably the most perfect lilac around). You can see the glitter payout is pretty good also. I had to do a little fishing for the rectangle and larger green hexes but seriously just turn it upside down before applying and you're good to go! You'll have so much glitter you won't know what to do.

As another option I layered it over China Glaze - Pelican Gray and I am having a tough time deciding
what I like better.

 Anddd of COURSE Missi is a genius for making it GLOW!!!! Photo below is about a minute under a lamp.

Do I make you want these?! I hope so! I love her polishes so much and these are no exceptions. If I could have every glitter I own be like these formulas it would be perfection. They were thick but the kinda thick you want for glitter. Easily spread and good glitter amount. 

Do you like To Infinity and Beyond over Pelican Gray or Tart-y For the Party? Thanks for reading! I think I'll go find my Toy Story movies somewhere right now..

Sparkling Garbage!

On my finger nails in this post is the most amazing polish to come into my collection. ORLY - Sparkling Garbage! From the ORLY Summer 2013 Mash Up collection. Funny name for something so pretty right? Seriously. Pictures do not do this justice. It is seriously a holo BOMB. Too bad I got this so close to summer ending! This polish begs to be worn on the sunniest days. 

Put your blinders on and scroll down!

A little out of focus for maximum holo appreciation.

It even looks amazing in low light and when the sun is going down. Ughh can I wear this forever?

Note: This polish is really sheer. It's buildable in about three/four coats, but since the base is greenish blue glitters, these photos above are two generous coats of Sparkling Garbage over OPI - Thanks A Windmillion. I love it. Can you tell?! Yeah. You need this in your life. And I fortunately got it on sale at San Jose Beauty Supply for $5. SCORE.

Saturday Swatch Spam! Pt. 2

More shades from Pretty and Polished :) here is the blogger collection! Chels collaborated with some really cool bloggers to create a handful of very unique shades that I was very luck to get my hands on through a giveaway. All swatches are three thin coats with Glossy Glam top coat (which I am loving btw. Doing a test post on that top coat soon!) 

Onward! 

I'll start with my favorite. Queen You Dig It? Inspired by blogger Shirpa, owner of Taneja's Bride. Even before I checked out her blog this color scheme shouted Bollywood to me (I am slightly obsessed with Indian culture) and I was right! This off white cream polish has beautiful blue and gold hex glitters and small round maroon glitters. Perfection.

Next is Adventures in Polish Making inspired by the blogger Amy at I'm Feeling Nail-Venturous.

Something about rainy greys draw me in and this is no disappointment. Suspended in this grey base are small blue and purple glitter that give the medium gray a pop. A quiet statement polish for sure.

 This is New York City Lights from blogger Carly at Lacquered Lover. This light purple flakie can be worn on it's own and it shines blue, pink, and I'm even picking up green in certain lights. It infuriated me to photograph though. Could not capture the real beauty!

 Here it is layered over O.P.I I Saw...You Saw...We Saw...Warsaw and the purple and blue flashes of the flakie are a little more apparent layered over a dark polish. Especially on my index and middle finger.

Crystal from Crystal's Crazy Combos created Crazy Circles. I wanted to love this polish sooo much! Circle glitters make me so happy! But I feel like the formula should have been a little thicker so the large round glitters wouldn't just slip off the brush. Even after storing it upside down I couldn't really get them on the brush to manuver them around. I still actually really love it and maybe I will apply it with a more careful hand next time. :)

It's a slightly grey tinted white base with a little bit of holo sparkle in it.

 And Me, Myself, and Cacti made by Sarah from Chalkboard Nails! I love this neon green jelly. It has black and white matte glitter in hex and round shapes. Looks exactly like a cactus! It also reminds me of a kiwi, which makes me want to do some fruit nails... I did three coats here but maybe because of my super visible VNL I will opt for four coats or layering.

All these polishes are so unique! In general and in my collection. I really love Queen You Dig It? and Adventures In Polish Making. 

Thanks for reading part two of Saturday spam and I hope ya liked it ;)

Reptar Indie!

Today's swatch is from an indie brand from Australia! I love Alanna Renee's polishes! It just blows that I have to order from another supplier because Australia has some strict custom laws on polish I believe.

Reptar is an awesome green based polish with lilac and orange hex glitters and black and white small round glitters sprinkled throughout the base.

Swatches below are three thin coats. You could probably get away with two thick coats but I find this polish gets kind of gummy like if you pile it on. So thin coats work the best. For some reason the orange glitters were a little difficult to get out. So store the bottle upside down before applying or shake before applying!

I love this! The colors are soo spot on with Reptar. I also just have a very thin layer of top coat on. I don't know if this polish was made to be texture like, or it's just a top coat eater. Either way I am fine with one coat but if you are one to like a smooth finish, be ready to pile on the top coat!

Doesn't it make you want to go and watch Rugrats? 

I picked up my bottle from Color 4 Nails a while ago. There is the link for their website and here's their Facebook page if the site is down for restock! Thanks for reading!

Really quick. I wore this to the dentist's office for my operation and they told me I might need to take my polish off so they can get my pulse on the litttle finger clip. (Why I didn't think to take this off before the appointment.. who knows!) but man. They could not stop RAVING over this. Seriously. The assistant AND the male surgeon! Haha. They kept saying how much skill I have and how surprised they could get the pulse through it. Wow! If only they saw half the people I follow on Instagram!

Teeth On My Teeth

You may be wondering.. what up with the title? Haha. Once I sent my picture a friend of my nails, when they happened to be shaped more square at the time, and he said "Your nails look like perfect teeth." Ever since then I can't get it out of my head! So odd yet funny.

 Anywho, I did a simple (and slightly strange) little mani and painted some teeth..on my teeth!

Started with a base of China Glaze - Something Sweet, perhaps to represent gums? And free handed the tooth shape with white acrylic paint using a picture online as a reference! I painted my pinkie with a wee little toothbrush using China Glaze - Ruby Pumps and white acrylic paint for the bristles and blue for the toothpaste.  

I only painted three teeth (actually four because of my thumb.. I should remove that one) because as it turns out I am getting my wisdom teeth removed Friday :( boo! And oddly enough I only have three coming in. Four has disappeared. 

Sorry if that's TMI for yall haha. I'm just hoping I do something funny coming off the anesthesia! Maybe I'll post the video here later.

Here's a swatch of Something Sweet. Formula was okay. Three thin coats and it was still patchy in some places. But I love the color. It reminds me of some really yummy strawberry yogurt!

Polished By KPT Thermal!

I am so excited to put these up! It's a thermal polish by the indie brand Polished By KPT and this is called Being In the Pink (holographic version). When warm it's a beautiful lighter shade of magenta, and when cold it turns into a deep grape colored purple.

 I'm so infatuated with this polish and I'm not ashamed! I can't decide if my favorite color is when warm or cold. 

All swatches are three thin coats with Glossy Glam top coat (which I have yet to share my thoughts on even after several manicures!)

Pictures after the jump, because I went a little crazy photographing. It's a thermal. Can ya blame me?!

Just Keep Swimming!

Greetings~ I have a proper swatch of Just Keep Swimming! By the amazing indie brand Different Dimension! Her holos never cease to amaze me and when she posted her new creation... I jumped to my computer. And missed. So I had to wait for the restock. Sooo worth it!

It's an amazing indigo shade of blue that has a scattered/slightly linear holographic finish. Plus it's soo shiny. I used two coats for opacity.

I was out on the field for a Geology trip in a boat. It was only appropriate to stop paying attention to the professor to take a picture on the water! Just Keep Swimming hellllo!

More procrastination! We were also looking at samples under this fancy shmancy microscope and of course I had to stick my fingernail under. The teacher told everyone to look at their cuticles under their microscope. & My friend actually suggested it first and I pretty much screamed looking at this brilliant holo rainbow up close!! (P.s diascoping is hard.. this is a picture through the lens of a microscope haha) but wheewwww! look at it shine!!

Thanks for reading! I love Different Dimension polishes. Check out her Etsy shop because she also has super cute Disney themed collections that you absolutely need. 

ZOYA Stevie

Ahhhh, one of my picks from Zoya's ever growing texture polishes (dubbed Pixie Dust) was Stevie. I've never been let down with a purple polish and this surely is no exception to that high standard! And something about this lighter shade of purple really goes well with my skin tone.

Swatches below are two super easy coats. I find it is easier to apply thin coats as opposed to thick. It dries faster and you get a more even textured look. :)

 You catchin the silver sparkle in it?! I'm so in love! I actually think I like Zoya's texture polishes better than O.P.I.. sssshh! I cannot wait to get more. Their fall line up is lookin reaaaaaaaal nice too. I see an empty wallet in my future.

I think this polish would look flattering on anyone!

Do you like texture polishes? What brand do you think is the best?

Jellin Like A Felon

ok. Not really a felon.. but I'm on a roll! (jelly roll that is)

Today I have a swatch of China Glaze - Creative Fantasy from their Cirque Du Soleil collection a while back. This is a vibrant yet dark (is that even possible?!) true purple shade, although it is more on the red side of the mix.

Swatches below are four thin coats with top coat because it does dry a little dull/matte, although you could get away with two slightly thicker coats. I just preferred to do thin coats :)

My mother said "This looks like grapes. But like..grape kool-aid." Haha!

 So good and shiny. Another one of my favorite jellies. And purple is my favorite color!

You ever just be like wth Seche? I don't really use this top coat but I did for my ring finger because I was in a rush when I had to re-paint it. Just wow. Cmon son.

Essie - Turquoise & Caicos

I've been in a jelly type of mood lately so I dug out one of my favorites in my collection (I act like I have a lot lol) Essie - Turquoise & Caicos! A very pretty dusty turquoise shade.

Being a jelly you expect a little bit of sheerness but this one is a little more on the opaque side. Swatches below are three coats with top coat.

 Mmmm so beautiful and squishy!!

I was also playing around with jelly sangwiches and discovered a dupe (almost) for Drops of Jade from the Maybelline Polka Dots collection! It's obviously not so jade but it looks a lot like it :) the black and white glitter I used is one coat of Social Suicide by the indie Different Dimension. I lovve it!

Hope you enjoyed the swatches and the little recipe ;) thanks for reading <3 

Gray Weather... Grey Nails

Boo! Some summer I'm having here on the coast of California. Today was soooo gray/foggy. Hard to believe it's the middle of July! Anyhow, I let the weather guide my choice for a color today and I chose China Glaze - Pelican Gray.

It's definitely one of my favorites. I love that it's not your typical gunmetal gray, rainy blue/gray. It's just a very pretty light, muted gray. Gray, gray, gray!

 Formula was a little thin but it's buildable and dries quickly. I'm wearing three thin coats.

 I lovvvee it. Decided to add a little flair! (Spectraflair 35 to be exact!) My bottle is from KPT but many other indie brands have it out there. Gives any polish you have a holographic finish! How cool is that?! And I'm diggin this over the light gray. Gives it such a subtle look.

 Don't know why I put it on if the sun isn't out though! Haha. So here's some directly under my lamp.

Thanks for reading ;) Do you prefer gray or grey? I think I asked that before. I switch back and forth between the two!