Nails:New In

It has been quite a while since I've purchased nail polishes. Not just since I've featured them on the blog but since I've bought any period. 

I had amassed such a large collection at one point that it became overwhelming.

A little over a year ago I got rid of a whole bunch of colors and have bought very few new colors since. 

When I was away on vacation though, I thought it would be a lovely opportunity to give a couple of new to me formulas a shot.* 

Ed Note:The Negative Space Manicure

It's pretty rare these days for me to want to experiment with nail art. Once upon a time I luuurved it. These days though I just don't have the time I'd like to for it so when something comes along, like the studs from last month, I get excited to play with it.

Now this is a far from perfect attempt but I am looking forward to giving this one another go and trying out some new shapes.

Manicures in the Park

 Now that the weather is starting to improve I've been looking for ways to bring the blogging out doors. ...So yesterday when a friend invited me for a little sun and girl talk in the park I thought it was a perfect opportunity to grab the camera and some nail polish and make an afternoon of it.

So this week instead of just making "things" I'm making time for things like this. 

My current polish choice is this OPI Multichrome. 

...and the Pink Gel Coat that a friend brought along might actually be giving my Holy Grail OPI Nail Envy a run for it's money!

Ed Note: Studly

It's almost the weekend! WOO!

What's better on the weekend than a little fun on your fingertips?
I'm referring, in this instance, to nail art but hey it's your weekend. Do with it what you like ;)

This little trick is a favorite of mine when I want to do something a little funky with my nails but I don't want to spend a million years with a striping brush, a dotting tool or, a sponge.

So do yourself a little favor and shell out the $.99 on eBay for a fancy wheel full of plastic silver and gold studs.
So the next time you're giving yourself a little manicure you can pop one of these into your wet polish, cover with a nice quality topcoat and have 2-4 days of the sassiest nails you have the patience to create.

I personally like the look of a simple single stud but just like with every other beauty bumpf you can add as much or as little as you like to create your desired effect.

Have a studly weekend boys and girls!

Ed Note: The Christmas Manicure

 There was a time...not all that long ago in fact, where I loved me some nail art. Not just for special occasions or a little sparkle but full on leopard print, negative space, googly eyed, nail art. 

While I have moved on from the more full on nail trends; when Christmas rolls around I have a hard time trying to control myself.

I want to put glitter on everything.

Errrythang.

So I whipped up a quick and easy glitter gradient to make the festive season just that bit more festive!

Wear All the Sparkle (And A SALE!)

ALERT! Deborah Lippmann polishes are being clearanced out at Ulta!* Not everything but a lot of cool shades are going for as low at 3$ a bottle. For a brand that normally goes for 20$ each this sale is worth checking out!

 Tis the season to wear ALL the glitter!

I used to be the kind on beauty creature that liked to wear glitter all of the time but as I've gotten older I find myself less and less drawn to it. 

The worst part is I have a big girl job and I can still wear anything I want on my nails but I usually just stick to cream finishes.

 That is about to change.

Ugly Pretty Colors

One thing Autumn trends tend to bring about is the presence of "ugly pretty colors." You know the pea soup and baby poop green shades. 

Things that only ever seem pretty when the air is clear and crisp and all of the scenery is blustery and warm.

I don't know quite what it is about this time of year but it makes me want mustard nails. 

In honor of the season let's match our nails to the wilting foliage! 

Sophisticated Sparkle

I love me a bit of sparkle. I do. 

It does seem that the older I get the less I gravitate toward it though. I'm not sure whether it's the removal process or if I just prefer the clean look of a cream or shimmer finish.

That said, when I do wear glitter I like to look for slightly understated but still glitzy shade that makes it hard to tear my eyes away from my tips. 

These days these three shades are the ones I've reached for the most. 

Try This! Nourishing Nailpolish Remover

I had been meaning to try this nail polish remover trick for a long time now. I have been pretty loyal to my Beauty Secrets Acetone (not pure acetone) remover for nearly 4 years. It's easily located at a Sally's Beauty Supply but that is like the one thing that is impossible to find in New York City. 

So today we're doing an at home version of Zoya's Remove+. I used the ratio wonderfully deduced by the absolutely brilliant Michelle at Lab Muffin. If you ever wanted to know why or how your products work puhhhlease go read her blog. So informative and so smart. 

The real key here is a mixture of straight acetone, water and glycerine and Oh.My.God. does this stuff work miracles.

It has all the remove-ability of pure acetone but leaves my cuticles feeling insanely soft and hydrated. 

For a grand total of 7$ up front this is one beauty DIY worth trying sooner rather than later.

Fresh Coat

Guys it's almost here! I've been bitching for months about the weather and the hot hot hot Summer. (In reality it wasn't really that hot, I'm just dramatic.) Now the mother-load of seasons, especially in NYC, is knocking on our door. 

Makeup rules in general I believe are pretty much bullshit but, something about the cooler air makes me reach for all of the navy, burgandy, emerald, and eggplant shades my collection has to offer.

Since I tend to have a love hate relationship with the application of any and all neon nail polish my fall wardrobe tends to make it's debut on my tips. 

This means today is all about the best of my Fall polish wardrobe.

The Repurchase: Seche Vite (Always and Forever)

 As someone with an insatiable appetite for beauty it is uncommon that a product comes along that I repurchase religiously. In fact I don't think there is anything besides Seche Vite that has that rare honor in my collection.

Now this is not an item devoid of flaw but, you'd be hard pressed to find a nail aficionado without this in their stash.

Not Quite Naked

Despite Summertime's standing order for all things bright and neon I have found myself reaching for nudes over and over again these last few weeks.

Maybe it's my not so secret longing for it to already be fall ( please?!) or maybe my collection, despite my attempts to streamline, is just so large that making a decision is just impossible.

Either way I have really been enjoying the simplicity of a neutral not-quite mannequin hands manicure these last few weeks.

From left to right.

Look on the (Very) Bright Side: Summer Nail Shakedown

About six months ago I made a nail polish purge video. 

I got rid of 100+ bottles.

That is STUPID

 I STILL have a ton of polish. A ton.

As much as it's a little ridiculous I've come to the conclusion that it is OK. I use the ones that I have and I love them. As long as I'm aware and get rid of the filler a few times a year I will be good.

I've been so good that this is my first real nail polish haul in months. I saw some new things I liked and was feeling seasonal-so shop I did. ;)

Matte Sparkle

I love a good contradiction. Especially in beauty and fashion. I like it when someone takes something ugly and makes you look at it in a way that makes it seem beautiful. Even better, when someone takes something very "in your face" and tones it down in a way that makes it more subtle and somehow even more eye catching.

Thus my obsession with matte glitter was born.

It adds a polka dot abstract art kind of vibe to the nails without the need for a dotting tool. 

Don't get me wrong I love nail art as much as the next girl but my life has gotten busier lately and this is just a MUCH more attractive option.

The Milani Sugar High, while not completely matte is mostly matte and it has this macaron-like color palette that makes it look arty and dessert-y all at once.

The Sephora Formula X shade TNT, the first I've bought from the range, is just this solid colored cobalt blue matte glitter. Over a white nail this is a crazy bold polka dot type pattern but over a nude or grey it gives this amazing marbleized texture that would take time a patience to achieve otherwise.

As much as actual sparkle has been taking a backseat these days matte sparkle has been moving to center stage.

The best part? With a matte topcoat any glitter can be a matte glitter :).

Bottled Glow

One of my favorite little tricks for faking a tan in the summer comes in the form of nail polish. This concept is not a forgien one to the beauty world, in fact, Model's Own just brought out a whole range based around this very concept.

But....since those are all the way across the ocean I figured I would pick out a few of my Stateside faves to get everyone in the summer groove!

Battle of the Stupid Expensive Basecoats

More than any other beauty product, nail base coats tend to get a lot of loyalty from me. Consequently they are one of the few beauty products I finish regularly. 

That said, every couple of years a new base does the rounds on YouTube  or I feel spendy and shell out $10+ on something that promises to make my sad brittle nails, long, shiny and strong.

The only difference is, now there's two newbies in the manicure bowl (more on that later).

Sun Protection For Your Nails?

I came across this Formula X Neon Top Coat in Sephora last Thursday and was immediately drawn into the notion of a Top Coat that made your nail color stay truer longer was a neat idea.

If you have used Seche Vite or any other top coat product that claims to be quick drying then you'll know that as the polish wears on, it very often discolors and becomes somewhat dull after the topcoat dries.

But does a topcoat with added UV protection actually do the trick?

Color Punched | Bleched Neons

Truth be told, I was a little dissapointed by most of Maybelline's Summer 2014 Bleached Neons Collection. Maybelline is the one brand that I will typically go clamoring to the drugstore for when people start to spot new displays.

The new Bleached Neons were a little different...

THE SPRING CLEAN- Purging Your Polish Collection

So I am not always the most proactive creature when it comes to keeping my collections in check. So once every year I like to do a MASSIVE clear out of all my polishes to get rid of any (inevitable) duplicates and make sure I'm keeping the best my collection has to offer in terms of selection and formula.

The Fall Mani-cure

Easily the best fall manicure combo ever, I am in love. First up (post base coat) is OPI's Muir Muir on the Wall from their most recent San Francisco collection. I nearly passed this color up but, after wearing it I am so glad I caved. Its like all the hidden shimmer vampy shades that I love for this time of year amped up with a bit of a (very apparent) green bronze shift.

On top of that I applied Orly's Digital Glitter. This one was a surprise on the nails. It looks like a multichrome with glitter in the bottle but in reality it is a sheer pink shimmer base, with  bronze/gold/green small hex glitter. Thrown in for good measure are some holographic squares and some red micro glitter. These two just layer so well together and, while it seems like all the effects would work against one another they just come together to create a beautiful, complex, and harmonious Fall manicure.

If you get anything from the salon brand fall collections this year, make it these two colors.