Monday Mani: #52WPNMC - Girly Bits Cosmic Ocean and piCture pOlish Sea Jewel

It is week 31 of 52 Week Pick N Mix Challenge (#52WPNMC) for which I chose the prompt Oceanic.  I picked two ocean-y colored and named(!) polishes just for the occasion, then used tip guides to create a faux mermaid tale reminiscent effect.  Although, on afterthought, I kind of wish I had thought of mermaid scales.  (And, yes, been less lazy with the clean-up.)

I used basecoat then put down two layers of black undies to make the colors pop even more (although I know the colors look fine on their own, I just wanted the extra effect).  First came two layers of Cosmic Ocean by Girly Bits Cosmetics, a blue/green/purple duochrome.  I could not find the purple, but I definitely saw several dimensions of blue and green.  It's just stunning (I've actually used it in my nail polish jewelry).  Then, using the tip guides, I put on a thick layer of Sea Jewel by piCture pOlish, a green and silver metallic green that dries with a smidgen of texture.  I layered on topcoat, which really made things pop even more.  I didn't have any troubles with application, and both dry fairly fast with my nail chemistry.

It is hard to capture all of the colors of Cosmic Ocean because it changes so easily and frequently under different lights.  You can literally move two feet and see a different color dimension to it.  I'm really digging how this mani turned out.  Tell me in the comments below what you think!

Under shade lighting, highlighting the dark green color aspect

Under shade lighting, highlighting the dark blue hues

Shade lighting

Direct sun, showing off all the sparkle!

Shade lighting, angled to show dark blue hues

Shade lighting, angled to show various dimension

Monday Mani is about realistically showcasing beautiful indie polishes that I've purchased.  So many swatches out there are captured under lighting that we simply don't use every day.  My intention is to show mani's under typical lighting and wearing conditions so you can decide if the beauty is right for you or not.  Please note that although colors are accurate on my computer monitor (Macbook Pro), colors do vary among devices.

Disclaimer:  All reviews and opinions are my own.  Products were purchased with my own money.  No affiliation with Girly Bits or Picture Polish and their products.

An InLinkz Link-up

Monday Mani: Echinops and Kilauea by Elevation Polish used for the #52WPNMC

Today's post is brought to you by the epic Mr. Fail Whale.  On several levels.

I entered the 52 Week Pick N Mix Challenge (#52WPNMC) with this week's prompts being indie or neons.  Well, I always do Monday Mani's with indies so easy peasy.  I was hoping to meet both, but I actually don't own neons because they don't really speak to me.  So, as a compromise, I chose what I had closest to resembling neons.  Now, I had an epic idea in my head for some nail art - combine the ruffian and starburst vinyl looks - that, unbeknownst to me, would turn into an epic fail.  Insert sad face here, BUT it's all about learning, right?  So while you bask in my "wonderful idea" turned failure, please admire the colors instead.

I used Elevation Polishes with Zoya basecoat and topcoat.  My first fail is that my base and topcoat bottles are almost gone so getting polish on the brush and nail was difficult.  I first used Echinops as the base, a soft Lavender/Blurple creme base with medium/low density holographic pigment.  The second color I layered on top is Kilauea, a bold Magenta/Pink creme.  Oddly enough, my experience was different than the descriptions in terms of coats.  I wasn't too worried about coverage from Echinops since I knew Kilauea was going over it, but it could've used 3 thin coats for full coverage instead of the 2 I used, whereas Kilauea is much creamier and really perhaps only needed one coat whereas I used 2.  However, it having a color underneath I noticed it really affected its look and came out leaning more red than pink (as you can see from the pics, the bottle shot looks different in color than the mani).  I imagined this color to be that of hawaiian punch so I'll be trying it on its own.  I used the starburst vinyl from Nail Vinyls on my middle finger.  Depending on what kind of look you want, the vinyl could be cut in half and placed as a smaller burst on the nail.

As you'll see from my pictures, it wasn't exactly an awesome mani.  I experienced some odd shrinkage, I believe, on my index finger.  I had spotty coverage due to user error.  My polish smeared a little bit.  I think I need to be more patient when applying Elevations because I think the formula doesn't agree as well as some other indies I buy with my nail chemistry.  But I know many other bloggers who have great success with the formula so I'll keep plugging away at my efforts to get into a groove with it.  However, due to them almost feeling rubber-like, the wear time on EvP is amazing.  In the meantime, tell me in the comments your thoughts about my fail - perhaps it gave you a good laugh!

Echinops in the shade

Echinops in direct sunlight.  Oooo, holo!

Nail art in the shade

Nail art in the sun

Monday Mani is about realistically showcasing beautiful indie polishes that I've purchased.  So many swatches out there are captured under lighting that we simply don't use every day.  (I typically am not admiring my nails under Ott lights.)  My goal is to show mani's under typical lighting and wearing conditions so you can decide if the beauty is right for you or not.

Disclaimer:  All reviews and opinions are my own.  Products were purchased with my own money.  No affiliation with Elevation or its products.

An InLinkz Link-up

Monday Mani: Only You and Wind's Indecision by Pahlish

Two beautiful handmade polishes are featured today from indie maker Pahlish, a 5-free polish small business located in Arkansas.  I debated about going for a monochromatic look with Only You, but decided to do tips with Wind's Indecision because it's so beautiful, and later regretted not doing monochromatic with each because they're just SO gorgeous.  These photos show one day of tip wear, and I have been impressed so far with their resilience.

Only You is a soft rose pink linear holographic with rose-gold and metallic gold microflakes.  The camera captured the pink more easily than the microflakes so I had some difficulty getting to color accuracy.  It is simply a stunning color in all lights.  Even though the description doesn't speak to holo, I swear there must be because there is so much sparkle to it when the light hits it!

Wind's Indecision is a bright blue soft holographic with a mix of pink, gold, and electric blue flakes. Wind's Indecision is one of their Special Editions celebrating Pahlish's third anniversary. It was inspired by the Pahlish classic "Train Underwater" using an updated twist.  Blue is my favorite color so of course I was all over this one.  Now, I only did the tips so I can't fully speak to its awesomeness until I do a full mani with it, but by gosh is this color beautiful.

I initially didn't have application issues with Only You, but started to when I got to my other hand.  However, I think I didn't shake my bottle up enough or something so the difficulties with application may be due to user error.  After all, it is chock full of flakes and sometimes those suckers can be difficult when applying or settle together in the bottle.  No problems with Wind's Indecision.

In the shade outside - Only You bottle shot

In the shade outside - Wind's Indecision bottle shot

Under direct sunlight outdoors

Monday Mani is about realistically showcasing beautiful indie polishes that I've purchased.  So many swatches out there are captured under lighting that we simply don't use every day.  (I typically am not admiring my nails under Ott lights.)  My goal is to show mani's under typical lighting and wearing conditions so you can decide if the beauty is right for you or not.

Disclaimer:  All reviews and opinions are my own.  Products were purchased with my own money.  No affiliation with Pahlish or its products.

Day4JNAC - 13 Days of January Nail Art Challenge: Monochromatic

It's no secret blue is my most favorite color.  Yo Cupid Take A Hike by Colors by Llarowe is my biggest lemming so I'm constantly searching for a dupe.

Now, I can't say for sure this is a dupe since I don't own both to compare, but I CAN say that this is literally the exact shade of blue that is my most favorite color.  You know how you have a favorite color, but it's a certain shade within that spectrum that's your most favorite shade, the one that you think is the best representation of that color?  Yeah, this is it.

Say hello to Dream Walker by Darling Diva Polish.  This is almost a one coater polish.  I tried out some new stickers I got and I can't believe how gorgeous this looks.  I decided to be simple and go REALLY monochromatic for this post.  Just mono, haha.  I could just stare at my nails all day long.  I love it.  I'm going to get some serious mileage out of this bottle!

Also, holo.  That is all.

Photos taken outdoors in the shade.

An InLinkz Link-up

Day3JNAC - 13 Days of January Nail Art Challenge: Half and Half

So this is turning out to be *quite* the learning experience.  Things I learned yesterday: the answer to the question "Do I still need to wait several minutes after applying quick dry top coat before trying nail art with Scotch tape?" (the answer is yes); pulling tape off not-completely-dry polish creates a cool, but undesirable effect; sometimes doing lines freehand is easier; using a second color to completely cover the basecoat color is easier said than done.

However, like usual, Girly Bits did not disappoint.  Although My Ten Friends will always hold a special place in my heart, Girly Bits is quickly becoming possibly my second favorite indie brand.  The formula is so amazing that it doesn't require clean-up if you've got good technique.  Unless I slip, I'm able to paint with BOTH my hands without clean-up being warranted.  Dries quickly and the wear on it is AMAZING.  Tomorrow will be my third day wearing it and I'm willing to bet I'll end the day with hard-to-notice tip wear.  Oh, and she also makes pretty colors. ;)

Today's nail art is half and half.  Of course, this was WAY cooler in my head... also would've helped if I was patient with the tape.  Ah well, live and learn.  I used What Happens in Vegas Ends Up on Facebook (2014 version) and What Happens in Vegas Ends Up on Instagram (2014 version).  I wish the camera would capture the stunning glitters in this better - they're a gorgeous surprise.  The purple glitter in particular is breathtaking.  Maybe tomorrow's sun pictures will do it justice.

Indoor Lighting

An InLinkz Link-up

Day2JNAC: 13 Days of January Nail Art Challenge - Happiness

So apparently I can't read and thought today's prompt was a tape mani.  Whoops!  BUT french tips *do* make me happy, so this still counts, right?  This was my first time using decorative tape so I still need some practice on using it right.  Also had trouble getting it to stick.  And WOW I did not realize how poor a clean-up job I did - once again that darn camera is unforgiving, huh?!

Although I prefer to freehand french tips, I used some tape guides to help me create tips on three nails, and accented my pointer with two strips of silver decorative tape.  I used BEWBS! and Ashes Ashes for the mani, both by Darling Diva.  Formulas are on the thicker side, but boy are they rich, deep colors kissed by holo.  Despite the formulas being a smidgen thick, it creates a solid finish - almost reminiscent of rubbery, perhaps - that is not prone to chippage.  The following are indoor pics from tonight, I'll do outdoor pics tomorrow if my mani survives well enough.

And outdoor pics in the shade!  With a JUICY bottle shot of BEWBS.

An InLinkz Link-up

Day1CNT: 13 Days of January Nail Art Challenge - Follow A Tutorial

BKD Signature is participating in its first ever nail art challenge!  I'm joining a group of lovely bloggers in showcasing some gorgeous polishes and stunning nail art skills.  Of course, not MY stunning nail art skills, so this is a fun challenge I'm participating in to expand my skillset and challenge myself.  You can admire everyone else's beautiful works and giggle at my attempts. ;)  But most importantly, say hi to some awesome indie polishes!  My goal is to try to stick to only using handmade lacquer.

Today is Day One of The Thirteen Days of January Nail Art Challenge or #Day1CNT!  Today's theme is Follow A Tutorial.  I found inspiration from one of my awesome blogger friends, Chalkboard Nails.  I followed her ruffian mani, which you can find on Instagram.

I used NailNation 3000 "The High Life" under Girly Bits Limited Edition "Joyeux Noël".  I did this quick mani after a long day at work so please excuse the poor lighting.  I prefer to snap my mani's under natural light, but I figured moonlight wasn't enough. ;)  I'll snap better ones tomorrow and edit this post.

The High Life is a gorgeous yellow gold chock full of holo.  Joyeux Noël is a stunning magenta-leaning red with microglitter.  Had some trouble getting the NN3000 to dry (usually indies dry on my nails crazy fast), but the formula and brush were awesome for application.  The Girly Bits dried fairly quickly and also had nice application, as is my experience with GB.  Because I am not good at freehand, I used french tip nail guides to help me (which I could use practice applying).  However, I AM proud to say that my using polishes with amazing application leads to almost zero need for clean-up!

Edited to include some photos I took outdoors next day.  In the shade, in the backyard.

An InLinkz Link-up