Sunday, April 3, 2016

Midnight Snake

Inspiration: Color

Products: Rainbow Honey My Midnight Garden, Essie Sleek Stick Sneek-e

Thoughts: I needed something to go with a navy and silver dress for a special event, and these nail wraps layered over My Midnight Garden where perfect.  These went on pretty well, and definitely have staying power.

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Edgy Electromagnetism

Inspiration: Edgy Electromagnetism on page 47 of the March/April 2016 issue of Nail It!

Products: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Wedding Glitters, Art Club Nail Art Duo Black, Solar Tides foil

Thoughts: Used a different foil glue this time and it worked perfectly!  I even had the exact foil the tutorial called for.  Not the biggest fan of the black border, but I think it helps keep the foil from chipping and pulling up.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Half Magic

Inspiration: Half Magic on page 44 of the March/April 2016 issue of Nail It!

Products: Julep Nicolette, Art Club Nail Art Duo Silver Glitter, It's So Easy Foil 'Em Kit

Thoughts: I think my foil glue was getting old because it was not working as well as it used to.  Also, instead of using striping tape like in the tutorial, I did a strip of silver glitter because a.) I didn't have enough silver striping tape and b.) I am horrible at applying striping tape.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

In the Box: March 2016 Target Beauty Box

This month's Target Beauty Boxes was back down to $5,and it contained a nail polish!  The formula on this Sinful Colors Poisonberry is a little thin, but the color is beautiful.

What other goodies did I get?  Hair Food Moisture Shampoo & Conditoner, Not Your Mother's Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, Banana Boat Sun Comfort SPF 30 Lotion, Nugg Deep Hydration Facial Mask Treatment, you are AMAZING Juicy Grapefruit Body Lotion, and Caress Adore Forever Body Wash

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Donut Digits

Inspiration: Donut Digits on page 47 of the January/February 2016 issue of Nail It!

Products: Trust Fund Beauty What's a Budget? and I'm Kinda a Big Deal, CoverGirl Star Wars: The Force Awakens Speed of Light, Rainbow Honey Interstellar Ice

Thoughts: I actually free-handed these donuts with the bottle brush.  I kinda surprised myself and love this fun look.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

In the Box: February 2016 Ipsy

Definitely a month for nail polishes! I also received nail polish in my Ipsy bag (clicking will take you through my referral link).Once again, Ipsy sent a bottle of Trust Fund Beauty polish.  I'm Kinda a Big Deal is a great pink with good coverage.

What other goodies did I get? Naked Cosmetics Mica Pigment in Sierra Nevada #2, Margaret Dobbs London Minature Crystal Nail File, Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Primer Oil, and Seraphine Botanicals Carrot + Rose Hydrating Cream.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Lunula Love

Inspiration: Lunula Love on page 46 of the January/February 2016 issue of Nail It!

Products: Madam Glam Original Sin, Art Club Nail Art Duo White

Thoughts: So I can't free hand hearts, not make small dots, but this is still a fun look for Valentine's Day.

In the Box: February 2016 Birchbox

It has seemed like forever since I have received any nail polish in my Birchbox (clicking will take you through my referral link).  Well, this month I received a mini. Birchbox is where I first discovered Color Club and fell in love with the brand.  This month, I received That's My Jam, a fun raspberry color.

What other goodies did I get?  ARROW BOOST Color Enhancing Lip Balm, Borghese Purification Clay Cleanser, Catherine Malandrino Romance de Provence, Corioliss Argan Conditioning Mask.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

In the Box: February 2016 Target Beauty Box

I love Target's Beauty Boxes which they seem to now be doing every month, although the price has gone up to a whopping $7.  I was super excited that February's include nail appliques from Incoco, who makes awesome ones.  The one I got is Brillant Bursts.

What other goodies did I get?  Soapbox Coconut Oil Shampoo and Coconut Oil Conditioner, Mayfair Soap Foundry Body Creme in Sea Lily Jasmine, Vera Wang Embrace Eau de Toilette, L'Oreal Boost It Air Blown Texture Mist, Skinfix Lip Repair Balm, a bath pouf, Laneige BB Cushio and Derma e Hydrating Night Cream.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Electric Halo

Inspiration: Electric Halo on page 46 of the January/February 2016 issue of Nail It!

Products: Julep Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat, Zoya Maya, Art Club Nail Art Duo Gold Glitter

Thoughts: Once again, I started with a good base of Oxygen since this was another negative space tutorial.  Since the hole reinforcers need to be removed while the polish is still wet, a good one-coat polish is definitely needed.  Unfortunately, Maya was not that, but I got the reinforcers up without too much damage.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

In the Box: FanMail Valentines & Galentines

I wrote a few months ago about FanMail, a woman-oriented geek box.  Well, once again, they included some nail goodies (I will be ecstatic if this twice a year nail-goodie thing continues).  The theme of their January box was Valentines & Galentines, and I guess everything adhered to that.  While it is not a beauty box, it did contain these awesome exclusive Nailed It! nail wraps in Sestrahood of the Traveling Genes from Espionage Cosmetics (a $10.00 value).

What other goodies did I get? Truthwitch Map Poster, Claire's Wedding Ring Necklace Set, Fandom Greeting Card Set, Princess Bride T-shirt, Red Witch sampler, and an ARC of A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab, which was only included in 40 boxes.  With so many exclusive items, it is hard to put a good value on the box, but I would say the items I liked (the nail wraps, the T-shirt, and the book), made it worth it (not sure how I would feel this month if I wasn't one of the lucky recipients of the book).

Monday, January 18, 2016

Gypsy Goddess

Inspiration: Gypsy Goddess on page 45 of the January/February 2016 issue of Nail It!

Products: Julep Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat, Madam Glam Text Me Later, Pipe Dream Mas Fina, Art Club Nail Art Duo Silver Glitter

Thoughts: When doing negative space art, I like to start with a good base coat so the nail peaking through can look its best.  Oxygen is matte, but a good top coat will take care of that. The tutorial called for a third silver line between the other two, but a.) I did not leave enough room and b.) the silver was not dark enough to really pop anyway.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Blue Moon

Inspiration: Blue Moon on page 44 of the January/February 2016 issue of Nail It!

Products: Julep Shelby, Sanaa, Kris, and Harley

Thoughts: This tutorial showed a technique for filling in the moon - place three dots and then connect them to form the outer line as a guide for where to fill in.  I tried this and it is a good technique, but the glitter in Kris was not cooperating, so I had to free hand.  For the accent nail, I used the hole reinforcement method since I decided to do Sanaa on top of Harley since it was glittery (but smaller glitter than Kris).

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Hint of Cheetah

Inspiration: Hint of Cheetah on page 45 of the January/February 2016 issue of Nail It!

Products: CoverGirl Star Wars Limited Edition Outlast Speed of Light, Sally Hansen Satin Glam Silk Onyx

Thoughts: This tutorial was listed as beginner, but cheetah spots are very difficult for me.  Luckily, I have a stamper that does them perfectly.  I opted for a sparkly charcoal instead of solid black to soften the look.