Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Here is my spooky manicure!

I poked around pinterest to get some easy nail ideas.  I'll breakdown the nail designs with each nail individually.

Index "Frankenstein" Nail:  I applied 2 coats of Zoya "Josie", and once it was semi-dry, I applied KBShimmer "Eclipse" with a brush in a track-like pattern, ALA Frankenstein.

Middle "Who's out there?" Nail: I applied 2 thin coats of KBShimmer "Eclipse". Once it was semi-dry (dry to the touch), I applied OPI "Alpine Snow" and Sally Hansen "Mellow Yellow" (old version) with a dotting tool.  Once that was "semi-dry", I applied KBShimmer "Eclipse" with a smaller dotting tool to the centers in varying angles. :)

Ring "Web" Nail: I don't like spiders, but I don't mind webs. I applied 2 coats of Orly "Shine" (my favorite silver) , and once it was "semi-dry", I applied KBShimmer "Eclipse", with a nail striping brush. This is a brush that is very long and makes great straight lines. Then, I  followed it up with a smaller brush to make the web-connections.   The connections were much harder, I'll have to perfect my technique with a thinner brush than I used.

Pinkie "Vampire" Nail: Super easy.  I applied 1 coat of OPI "Alpine Snow- Matte", and then 1 coat of regular OPI "Alpine Snow"

NOTE: I've discovered when working with white polishes, that if you first apply a matte version then the regular version, you get less drag and complete opaqueness without waiting for the dry time.

After that was "semi-dry", I applied, 3 red dots using "Zoya "Rekha" with a dotting tool, and then 3 red thin lines using a nail art brush, down towards the tip of the nail. I filled the rest of the tip using the brush, to make it look more "blood-like".

Thumb "Eyeball" Nail: This was a bit harder.  First I applied two coats of OPI "Alpine Snow", using the same method I used on the "Vampire Nail", then I applied  Zoya "Yummy" using my largest dotting tool, and smoothed it out in a circular motion, until I thought it was the right size. Getting this to be a "perfect" circle was hard for me. :( Once it was "semi-dry", I applied KBShimmer "Eclipse" with a dotting tool, on top.

While that was drying, I drew on the red veins using Zoya "America", with a nail art brush.  Then I grabbed OPI "Alpine Snow" and made a small dot, at an angle.  

NOTE: To clean up the blue eye, I used OPI "Alpine Snow-Matte" to quickly and easily cover-up the not-so "circular parts".  Matte polishes are perfect for covering up mistakes.  They are super opaque and dry fast.

I waited 20 minutes, before I applied my final 2 coats of top coat, because of the all the varying layers.

 















Overall, I am in LOVE with my Halloween Manicure!

Happy Halloween! Keep It Sweet!

Having fun with Born Pretty!

Happy Friday!

Nail art is all the rage right now, and I have some fun nail guides from Born Pretty that will make nail art a little easier.

For the first manicure, I used Sally Hansen "Mellow Yellow" (the old version), and Butter London "Jack The Lad".

First I painted my nails with the yellow, two coats and I let them dry completely. Then I applied the nail guides, "French Manicure Wave Edge Tip Guides" , to the tips of the nails, with a small edge of nail left visible.

Painted the darker color on the edge, and after a minute, I carefully removed the guide.

I did a little cleanup after I removed the guide, and the manicure was perfect and amazingly easy.

Next....

"Mellow Yellow" and Shimmer Polish "Jasmine" and "Practical French Manicure Wave Edge Tip Guides"

Unfortunately, removing these guides from the sheet were not easy, and several of them ripped at the point. I used tweezers to remove each guide, but a couple ripped :(

 

But I managed to get a couple of them off the sheet safely to complete the manicure.

The glitter didn't work out the best, but you can see that with the guides you can get a clean line, without all the fuss. :)

Both nail sheets are a great deal at $1.58 a sheet.  I would suggest gently using tweezers to remove the stickers from the sheet, in order to make sure you get the guide off in one piece. My favorite is the french manicure wave edge, it's clean and easy and delivers a great smooth arch for your nail art.

COUPON CODE: 10% off  when you use JS10K31

Check out Born Pretty Store, for more nail guides and for all your nail art needs!

Keep It Sweet!

*Products provided for review.

Sally Hansen "Pacific Blue"

Yes, Sally Hansen's "Pacific Blue" was a beautiful color.
Yes, Sally Hansen changed  the color recently.
Yes, the "new" version is still blue,

BUT..

No, the new color is not the same
No, the new color does not have the same formula and YES, the new color sucks, so the old formula and color are worth hunting for!

Here are some bottle shots of the old and new color, side by side. The old formula is on the left, new formula is on the right. Also, my old bottle (from my stash) has a different number. My old bottle has "33" as the color number, but the two bottles I found in the store are numbered "420"...this is so strange! :)

I found a couple other blog post where their bottles were also numbered "33", HERE and HERE!

WEIRD!

It's crazy how different the new color is, once compared to the old.  They literally are two different colors!

Nope, I did not buy the new formula, because it's crappy, it sucks and I refuse to support the purchase of a color that is CRAP! #everypennymatters

So here is the old, gorgeous formula. :)

Sally Hansen
"Pacific Blue"
2 coats with top coat

 Gorgeous muted soft blue creme! I purchased a back up bottle recently, but these swatches are with my old bottle which is probably over 5 years old.

Why did they make the big change? Who knows the real reason. Sally Hansen PR has responded that they were making room for more colors, and thy are just trying to keep the brand current and "progressive".

Honestly, we will never know the real answer, all we know is that the old color is gone.  So if you loved it, cherish it, and start searching for a back-up bottle.

You can google this color and you will find several bloggers and post about the whole issue, and the uproar it caused.

Even though it IS a blue, I wasn't "gah-gah" for this color. Since I have so many "blues", and so many polishes, it's hard for me to grow attached to a blue polish, like I used to.

But I will say, that I strongly dislike it when a company takes a beloved color and "mucks it up"...That just sucks!

OPI did it with "My Private Jet", more recently China Glaze did it with "Flip Flop Fantasy", and now Sally did it with "Pacific Blue", and I heard "Mellow Yellow" too... like we wouldn't notice..Pfftt....

Keep It Sweet!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I love St. Patrick's Day, and if you lived in Chicago for 10 years, like I did, you would love it too!

Chicago is amazing  year 'round, but on this day, it comes alive, and EVERYONE is Irish for the day!  What I miss most are the Pub Crawls / Bar Hopping, the Green River (see below) and the constant Parades!

Everyone goes to work on that day, but that's only so you can unload your stuff and go outside to enjoy the festivities, it is soooo much fun!

So in honor of my beloved Chicago, and it's green waters, I give you a teal- green manicure!

I actually wore this last week ( I was feeling very Irish then) but I decided to post it today (today's manicure will post in a couple days)

This is Sally Hansen "S-Teal A Base" and "Shimmer Polish "Sarah".

This isn't the most GREEN inspired manicure, but I love how this polish leans green and blue at the same time. Sally Hansen "S-Teal Base" is a teal-green polish with a slight shimmer, that applies well in 2 coat. I applied 2 for this manicure.

Then I applied 1 coat of "Sarah" on top of my accent finger, and I was in LOVE with this manicure! So simple, yet so perfect!

Shimmer Polish "Sarah" is a tropical blue green glitter polish.  I paired this polish with a blue color and it leaned more blue, then I paired it with this color and it leaned more green. It is the perfect chameleon glitter. :)

The manicure I am wearing today is way more GREEN! I'll share it with you later in the week :)

Keep It Sweet!

*Shimmer Polish was provided for review

Still in love with your holiday glitters?...wear them!

Happy Monday!

Today I am going to show you how you can still rock your favorite holiday glitters for Spring!  A little glitter goes a long way. :)

Hopefully this post will convince you that you don't have to put away your favorite sparklers from the holidays, and you can give them new life in the SUN!

I'll be using theses four glitters released this past Holiday from Sally Hansen.

Left to Right: "Twinkle Toes-ty", "Fa la la lavender", "Midnight Glitz", and "3, 2, 1derland".

SH "Twinkle Toes-ty" over Color Club "Antiquated".
2 coats over the Color Club, no top coat

I was inspired by the pink flashes of the gold glitter and the rose toned hex glitter, suspended in the clear base.  I love how the rosier base of the Color Club brings it all out!

SH "Fa la la Lavender"  over OPI "I'm Feeling Sashay"
1 coat over the OPI, no top coat

This combo is very "Easter Eggy"" to me, and I love the fact that the glitter gave me so much in just one coat.

This is an awesome combo of lavender glitter and rose pink glitter in a clear base.

Here are some pictures in indirect lighting...

Yep, I love it!

SH "Midnight Glitz" over OPI "Black Onyx".
2 coats over the OPI, no top coat

Here you can see the black glitter in the base :) The base ins a smoky black, not opaque, with black, gold and holographic glitter.

I know what your thinking, black glitter? and spring? But hear me out!

In Spring, once the snow thaws, people tend to be outside more at night admiring the clear night sky and enjoying the warmer weather. This reminds me of the night sky, which is best seen in warmer temperatures with a cool drink in your hand, and some good friends nearby. :)

This is a classic combo, a smooth easy base of black topped with black and holographic glitter of varying sizes, EXCELLENT!

SH "3, 2, 1derland" over Barielle "Lemondrops"
1 coat over the Barielle, no top coat

This combo is my favorite! It totally reminds me of the Spring flowers, yellow sunflowers, and yellow daisies paired with the blue skies of the clear Spring air, LOL :) Blue and green glitter in a clear base, sounds simple, but man what an IMPACT it has on a manicure! LOVE!

Here it is in indirect lighting...

What is your favorite holiday glitter to "revive" in Spring?

Keep It Sweet!

*Glitters provided by PR for review