Black Shatter Experiment #2 Fire Nails!

I like to call them "Fire Nails" because... I shouldn't have to explain.  Click to enlarge!~

(Above) With top coat, (Below) Without top coat.

                     Design before "Black Shatter"                    Design after "Black Shatter" (without top coat)

 

                                   Without Top Coat                                                          With Top Coat

  

All I did was add the "Black Shatter" to yesterday's post which you can click HERE to see how I made the design.

I wanted to experiment with how the "Black Shatter" would look over a design that had at least two colors.  And the effect was awesome.  This has been my favorite way of wearing the "Black Shatter".  The look instantly reminded my of fire embers and the matte black before I put a top coat on reminding me of charcoal.  It was just very cool.

I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did.  I am currently doing a wear test for Deborah Lippmann's "Razzle Dazzle".  :)

☮ ♥ ☀

~LinZ

Red and Yellow Tribal Nails (Konad)

Hello, Everyone!  Long time no post.  Today's post is the result of my annoyance with the color "Sun Worshipper" by China Glaze.  I had originally planned on reviewing the color but the color refused to translate onto my camera.  And at that point I was already angry with "Sun Worshipper" because it took 4 coats of color to get it mostly even.  So I decided to cover up the color with Konad.  And here we are.

Products Used:

• China Glaze: Sun Worshipper
• Konad Special Nail Polish: Red
• Konad Image Plate: m65

After my base coat and 4 coats of "Sun Worshipper", I used Konad's Special Nail Polish in Red with image plate m65 to make the awesome design seen above and below.  And then I waited awhile to apply a top coat because I didn't want to risk smearing the design.

What's funny is that after I put the red Konad design, I fell in LOVE,  I love this design and the combination of colors.  It's a lot more impressive in real life.  "Sun Worshipper" is SO flipping bright.  My nails glowed.  It was interesting, but awesome.  The design reminded me of some kind of tribal design, therefore the name of the post.

I got several compliments in one day.  I only wore this for about 2 days because my pointer finger was already chipping.  I am willing to give "Sun Worshipper" another chance.  It's definitely a summer color.    Maybe I'll try it in the spring.  Is it spring yet?  Well, it's always hot where I am, so it doesn't matter.

Oh!  And when I went to Walgreens yesterday, I saw Essie and Sally Hansen Complete Salon bottles.  The entire nail polish section was VERY impressive.  I got Sally Hansen Complete Salon "Gray by Gray" and there will be a review soon because it is a beautiful gray/blue.

☮ ♥ ☀

~LinZ

Lippmann "Yellow Brick Road" Update

Today I got an email from the Deborah Lippmann website talking about Lady Gaga and her yellow nail polish that she wore at the Grammy's called "Yellow Brick Road" by none other than Ms. Lippmann herself.  Here's a screenshot of the email.

So, as you can see, the color comes out April 1, in case anyone was wondering. :)  And yellow is obviously this year's "it" color.  Which is good or bad, depending on who you ask.  But I personally like the bright, bold color.

I know this isn't a real post.  It's an excuse of a post.  But school comes first.  And physics is calling my name.  Momentum and velocity, anyone?

☮ ♥ ☀

~LinZ

Black Shatter Experiments #1

I have been playing around with O.P.I's "Black Shatter".  Trying different color, different ways of applying it, etc.  And here is today's experiment.  I used a bunch of different colors.  Enjoy.

No top coat, and 2 coats of each color.

 1.  Revlon "Emerald City"

       2.  China Glaze "Awakening"

    3.  O.P.I "Simply Smashing"

 4.  O.P.I "Teenage Dream"

           5.  O.P.I "Not Like The Movies"

In order of 2 coats of color (no topcoat), "Black Shatter" (no topcoat), "Black Shatter" (topcoat).

1.  Revlon "Emerald City"

2.  China Glaze "Awakening"

3.  O.P.I "Simply Smashing"

4.  O.P.I "Teenage Dream"

5.  O.P.I "Not Like The Movies"

Tomorrow I shall have another experiment with the "Black Shatter".  This is kind of fun.  LOL.

☮ ♥ ☀

~LinZ

Black Shatter I Have Found You!

After 3 weeks of searching that consisted of 3 trips to Ulta, 2 calls to ULTA, and 2 trips to Trade Secret... I have finally gotten my hands on apparently one of the most coveted nail polishes in EXISTENCE.  O.P.I's "Black Shatter".  And the only way to get it was if I got Serena William's Glam Slam Duo pack.  And I was like HECK YES.  I wasn't going to pass up the possibly only chance to get the "Black Shatter".

I felt giddy when I got it.  And then I hit Sally's in search of China Glaze's crackle polish.  But no luck.  BUT, I did get Chna Glaze's "Awakening", Seche Vite Base Coat, and Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.  Why you may ask?  Because apparently if you get the Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, you get the base coat for free.  And all China Glaze polishes were a dollar off.  And I have a Sally Club Card.  So everything ended up being pretty cheap.  So THERE.  I'm rambling, but here are the pictures.

(Left to right) 

• Seche Vite Base Coat (it had a Sally sticker on it and I started to remove it, but then stopped because that way I can easily differentiate between the base coat and the top coat)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
• China Glaze "Awakening" (The color reminds me of a sunset.  It's SO pretty!)

And here it is.  The Serena Williams Glam Slam Duo pack.

(Left to right)

• O.P.I "Black Shatter"
• O.P.I "Simply Smashing" (A yellow shimmer/slight glitter that reminds me of a tennis ball)

I have already used the "Black Shatter".  I used it over a mani that I was already wearing and it looks &$^#%@ AWESOME.  And then I chose 5 random colors and painted my left hand a different color on each nail, and put the "Black Shatter" on each color, to see how it looked. *sigh*  This stuff is neat.

And that will be tomorrow's post.

☮ ♥ ☀

~LinZ

O.P.I: Austin-tatious Turquoise

Hello, Everyone!  Today I have a color that got me through my week from Hell.  Which was the week of February 7-11.  Those 5 days.... are never to be mentioned again.  But this polish was loyal to me in my time of need.  It stood strong while I was weak.  I am talking about O.P.I's "Austin-tatious Turquoise" from the new Texas Collection!

All pictures were taken inside, next to a window with sunlight.  I used 3 coats and the photos are pretty color accurate.

Can you see the faint pink shimmer?

"Austin-tatious Turquoise" is a a more blue than turquoise shimmer, and if you can get the lighting just right, you can see a slight pink shimmer.  I used 3 thin coats of color.  It's pretty much opaque in 3 coats, but there is a visible nail line with 2 coats.  It's actually a rather sheer color, and it's streaky with 1 coat.  The color felt light on my nails as I applied it.  If that makes sense.  

Application was smooth, drying time seemed normal, but drying is usually irrelevant to me because I always use Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat, which makes any color dry in seconds.  This color lasted a very long time.  I wore it for 5 days, and no chips.  Only some tip wear, which might not even be tip wear, because it could just be the shrinkage that Seche Vite causes.  I took all the photos on the 5th day of wear.

And the photo below does a decent job at showing the pink simmer that is hidden unless you really look for it. (Look at the right side of the bottle)

I got this polish at Trade Secret for $8.50.  From the Texas Collection, I got this color and "I Vant to be A-Lone Star".  They were the only two colors that really interested me from the collection.  

That's all for today.  Everyone, have a great Friday. :)

☮ ♥ ☀

~LinZ  

Short Nails

Well, I felt daring.  Sort of.  I decided to cut my nails because I wanted my nails to feel refreshed.  Plus, my right pointer finger was already a lot shorter than the other nails due to constant abuse.  So I made them all the same short length.  Here are the pictures.

I have learned that my intense red nails looks better short.  I honestly feel like certain colors look better with short square nails, red being one of them.  Black being another.  I feel like really intense colors are better on short nails to look clean cut and chic.

It's funny how they look shorter in person.  If you feel like comparing these nails to yesterday's nails length-wise, here's the link to yesterday's post.

I had an amazing day, especially the morning.  Not that you guys especially care. LOL.  And I'm eating Godiva chocolate as I type this.  Today is a good day indeed.

☮ ♥ ☀

~LinZ

My Valentine's Day Nails! ♥

I gave in. Surprise, surprise.  I wasn't PLANNING on doing a Valentine's Day theme nail design because I had on my O.P.I "Not Like The Movies" and I love that color.  But the more I thought about it, the more I saw other people's V-Day nails, I couldn't resist.  And plus I had seen a picture of a look that I really wanted to try.  So this is the result.

I had seen this design on Polish or Perish HERE and I thought it looked simple enough, and I really liked it, and I happened to have "Some Enchanted Evening" so I thought, What the hay?

Colors used:

• O.P.I "Big Apple Red"
• Deborah Lippmann "Some Enchanted Evening"

I used 2 coats of "Big Apple Red" and then tried a gradient effect using "Some Enchanted Evening" fading to the tip of the nail.

The nail design ended up reminding me of Christmas.  Oh well.  I still enjoy it.  And I got several compliments in the span of one day!  So that's always fun. :D  Valentines is a fun, chocolate filled holiday, and who cares if you're single?!  No one.  

I have had a great day so far.  And I hope your day has gone splendid as well!  And I'm eating Godiva chocolate truffles as I type this.  Could I be any happier?  No.  The answer is no.

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  Valentine's Day!  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

☮ ♥ ☀

~LinZ 

Valentine's Nail Ideas ♥

♥ Hello, Everyone!  Well, Valentine's Day is Monday and I have some old nail designs that have a Valentine's Day feel to them.  Enjoy. ♥

♥ Start with 2 coats of O.P.I. "Alpine Snow-Matte".  Then add a top coat and quickly sprinkle loose pink glitter using a gradient effect (more glitter t the tip and then progressively using less glitter).  Stick on a pink heart rhinestone and then add another layer of top coat to seal it all together! ♥

♥ I did this so long ago and I used an unidentifiable red.  But China Glaze's "Ruby Pumps" works just as well.  Use two coats of "Ruby Pumps".  When it's dry, use China Glaze's "White on White" and using a thin paintbrush, paint on a small white heart and fill it in.  Then using a striper brush and silver glitter nail polish, outline the heart.  Stick on a small red rhinestone in the center of each heart and then seal it with a top coat! ♥

♥ Use 3 coats of O.P.I's "Heart Throb" then use a quick dry top coat.  When it's totally dry, use Sally Hansen's Nail Art Pen in white and draw a small circle in the center of each nail (except the 4th nail).  Then draw a small dot above and below the circle on each nail.  On the 4th nail, draw a large heart and draw small dots around it and in the center of the heart, put a pink heart rhinestone. Then seal it all with a top coat. ♥

♥ Use 2 coats of China Glaze's "Sacred Heart (Neon)".  Use a quick dry top coat and wait until it's totally dry.  Then using Sally Hansen's Nail Art Pen in white, draw a line of dots vertically in the center of each nail.  On the 4th nail, draw a medium sized heart and then seal it all off with a top coat. ♥

If you don't want a design and just want a simple pink or red or a fun glittery pink or red, check out my post from a few days ago.  I swatched all of my pinks and reds HERE!

Regardless if you have a special someone or not, Valentine's Day is a day for everyone!  Buy your friends chocolate! Buy YOURSELF chocolate.  Wear red!  Think pink!  Be happy!  Valentine's Day should be fun and not stressful!

☮ ♥ ☀

~LinZ

Lippmann Spring 2011 Collection

Today I received an email from Deborah Lippmann's website, stating that her spring 2011 colors are out!    I was wondering when she would be coming out with new colors.  I took a screenshot of my email, and here it is:

   

So.  I was really hoping for another famous Lippmann glitter, and I guess that's what "Glitter In The Air" could be.  I'll have to see some swatches of it before I pay $18 for it.  As for "Naked", I'm not really interested in it.  I'm not into the neutral/natural look.  

I'm sure I'll be seeing these colors all over the nail blogs soon enough. :D

☮ ♥ ☀

~LinZ

Pink and Red Swatches Explosion! (For V-Day!)

Hello, Everyone!   Today I went though all my old photos to find all the reds and pinks of my nail polish collections.  And the ones I didn't have pictures of I swatched and quickly took pictures.  I have more pinks and reds than I thought.  Huh.  Well, the whole reason I did this is because Valentine's Day is coming up.  Enjoy.

O.P.I "The One That Got Away"

Orly "Purple Crush"

O.P.I "Ate Berries in the Canaries"

China Glaze "Strawberry Fields"

O.P.I "Teenage Dream"

Zoya "Harlow"

Deborah Lippmann "Razzle Dazzle"

O.P.I "Heart Throb"

Lippmann "Some Enchanted Evening" over O.P.I "Heart Throb"

China Glaze "Sacred Heart (Neon)"

China Glaze "Ruby Pumps"

O.P.I "Big Apple Red"

O.P.I "From A to Zurich"

Revlon "Ruby Ribbon"

O.P.I "Tease-y Does It"

WHEW. OKAY.  I had to add the last one in just in case someone wants a more vampy color.  It's seductive and sultry and a bunch of other words. :P
It's kind of fun doing this.  I might do it more often.  Pictures are the most important/interesting part of a nail blog!  Half the people don't even read the text!  But I don't get angry.  Because I am guilty of doing the same thing!  But I usually TRY to read the text.

My nail polish has grown a lot for the past few weeks, and it's slightly becoming a problem.  I don't know what to do with them!

Random thought, but Michael Bublé and his songs speak to me.

☮ ♥ ☀

~LinZ