On a Bender

Today's nails were inspired by a movie that came out yesterday; The Last Airbender. Now, I haven't seen the cartoon other than once or twice in passing, and I probably won't go to the movie, but reader Michelle C. asked that I do an Avatar: The Last Airbender themed manicure, so this is for her! :) I used the icons that represent water, earth, air, and fire for the index, middle, ring, and pinky, then for the thumb, I used the arrow tattoo on the main character's head. (or at least part of it)

I used:

Thumb: Head with arrow tattoo

MAC Abalone Shell as a base, with a mixture of Nubar Stronghold, American Apparel Peacock, and American Apparel Mount Royal for the tattoo part.

Index: Water

Orly Gumdrop as a base, with a mix of American Apparel Peacock and American Apparel Mount Royal for the icon.

Middle: Earth

American Apparel Palm Springs as a base, with Zoya Dea for the icon.

Ring: Air

butterLONDON Billy No Mates as a base, with a mix of Zoya Jancyn and Nubar Stronghold for the icon.

Pinky: Fire

A mix of Essie Alligator Purse and American Apparel Palm Springs for the base, with a mix of Essie Alligator Purse and American Apparel Hassid for the icon.

Topped everything off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

Hope you approve, Michelle! :)

Also, since I get a lot of people asking what I use for my designs, I took a picture of the brush that I use, which I got at Sally Beauty Supply.

4th of July this year

Hello my Sweet Nail-Art Lovers
Here is my 4th of July manicure this year.
I used Zoya polishes for this look. i really love how it turned out, especially color combination. To be honest this is one of my favorite themes for manicures, but due to the lack of free time, i created this mani in like 20 minutes last night, so it is not perfect in terms of accuracy, but i still like it .

STAR SPANGLED BANNER

This is a custom mix of all different glitters that I had. I also put a glitter on the nail beds. As you can tell I am having a lot of fun doing flags on nails. It's just too cute not to. I can't help myself!

I made this flag using acrylic and painting the white stripes on. The stars I purchased from dollar nail art and mixed them with clear acrylic.

You can't go wrong with fimo clay dots. They are from oaktreedollshouseminiatures.com
I always love to mix it up by doing the ring finger just a little different. It's unexpected fun!

This is a marbling technique that I learned at a young nails class. This is acrylic. All of the colors are from young nails. I painted the silver stars and red dots with polish.

This is my favorite black called nebula. I added 3d flowers with acrylic in opposite colors.

This is just me having fun with some super cute colors purple and black!

This is opi gel polish in one of their newest colors Kyoto Pearl. I painted a cheetah print with my migi nail art pens.

Review: Nfu Oh Flower Oil

Ingredients

Nfu Oh Cuticle Flower Oil packed with nourishing botanicals and aroma essential herb oil. Real flower provide the great fragrance to your nails and cuticles. Nfu Oh Flower Oil filled enriched with Vitamin E and aroma esssential oils. It has mositurizer for penetrate deeply and quickly, softening into skin for healthy, growing natural nails.

Mineral oil, Aroma Essential Oil, and Dried Flowers.

Eye candy

For today I have a review on Nfu Oh's cuticle oils, named Flower Oil. Let me start off by saying these are hands down the prettiest cuticles oils I've come across so far. The oil is contained by the 'regular' Nfu Oh bottle we all know and love. The cap is shaped like a corset, and the bottle is a draped skirt with scroll and floral details, just as you'll find on the cap. On the bottom of each bottle you'll find dried flowers floating about which makes it incredibly cool to look at. So, when I placed a Nfu Oh order a while ago I just had to try these out. I got the Banana scented one and my mom chose the one that smell like Jasmine.

Is it all that?

I'm afraid the praise has to end here. While the smell is nice, this product isn't really doing anything for me. And my mom isn't a big fan either. It just doesn't feel like it's moisturizing at all. After some research online (the label doesn't list any ingredients), I found out what I already suspected: the main ingredient is mineral oil. Now the opinions are divided on this, but mineral oil (basically just baby oil) to me is pointless as it cannot penetrate the nails or skin. It can work as a sealant, so maybe it could do any good if you apply this after you rubbed in some Lemony Flutter.

Final judgement

I don't really understand why a brand with such great packaging and normally high quality products, would want to sell cheap ass oil that doesn't do jack. It isn't cheap either, depending on where you buy it you'll have to pay 8.55 EUR or 12.50 USD for 17ml.

Available Scents:

Vanilla Banana

Sun Flower Mango

Orange Rose

Strawberry Plumeria

Bubble Gum Lavender

Peppermint Jasmine

I've Got the Blues?

Today's nails were 'inspired' by the fact that I bought a couple of new polishes on clearance today at Sally Beauty Supply, and I thought they'd look pretty marbled together, along with Zoya Charla, one of the new glitter polishes from their Flash & Sparkle Collection.

I used Zoya Charla, Orly Bailamos, and Orly La Playa marbled. Topped with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

I've decided that I'm definitely going to do a tutorial. What design would you like to see? Post your replies in the comments! :) Thanks!!

Diamond Cosmetics - Sparkling Sherry

Hi guys! What's up? The weather here is incredibly hot and my laptop is burning my lap as well, so I'll keep this a short post. Today I'm showing you my what was actually my first encounter with the brand Diamond Cosmetics. (I know I've posted about Monarch Masquerade earlier, but I tried this one first). As always, trying out a new brand, I was a bit afraid in terms of the quality: will it be thick or goopy or streaky. Well, this polish was none of this stuff. I kinda fell in love with it actually. And let me tell you why! The color is really rich, a beautiful glowy and sexy deep magenta, with a really great foil finish. And, this was believe it or not a one coater. I don't come across many one coaters so I was thrilled. It went on very smoothly, I think this one might end up as one of my go to polishes when I'm in a hurry!

This polish was sent to me for review by Boozy Shop. Boozy Shop is a lovely Dutch webshop, that sells a lot of great brands like Diamond Cosmetics, Essie, Sinful Colors, Milani, Wet 'n Wild and they even carry the famous 88 palettes. They ship throughout most of Europe, if you aren't sure if they ship to your country, don't hesitate to contact the owner, because she's incredibly helpful!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
- Michèle

Total Eclipse of the Heart

The first question one encounters when mentioning the Twilight Saga (after the barrage of taunting and insults) is this: Team Edward or Team Jacob?! Personally, I have to say I'm both, I am totally Team Edward in the books, but very Team Jacob in the movies. Noooo, it's not because of Taylor Lautner's 8-pack (though it certainly doesn't hurt), it's because Edward is too brooding and angsty for me in the films, and Jacob has a charismatic quality, sense of humor, and playfulness about him that definitely doesn't show up in the books. While Lautner's acting skills are not, shall we say, 'Oscar-worthy', he does bring a great personality to the screen, and honestly, they shouldn't bother with shirts for him, they're totally unnecessary. (I can say this now that he is technically 'legal' :-P)

Today's nails were much requested, and obviously had to be done. I had a few people request the very same thing... a Jacob vs. Edward manicure, so Libby P. Maria Clara, and Nikki, I hope you approve! :) (but please ignore the cuticles on my right hand- bowling and sewing are tearing them up!!)

Team Edward:

Team Jacob:

I used American Apparel Hassid as a base on all nails but the ring finger on each hand, then applied Nubar Stronghold with Bundle Monster plate BM20. For the edward nails (left hand ring finger), I used topped Sally Hansen Professional Lavender Cloud with one coat of Zoya Alluria. I shaded with a mix of Nubar Stronghold and Zoya Alluria, used a mix of American Apparel Hassid and A Beautiful Life Poison for the lips, a mixture of American Apparel Manila, Zoya Jancyn and MAC Showy for the eyes, and a mixture of MAC Showy and American Apparel Hassid for the brow. Topped off the entire face with CND Sugar Sparkle, because I live in Las Vegas, land of sun, so Edward would look like a damn disco ball. :-D For the Jacob nail, I used Zoya Flowie as a base, Zoya Dea to shade a little for the bicep, and American Apparel Hassid for the tattoo of the wolf pack members. (or at least the best I could do on such a small canvas!! :-P) Topped everything off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat. :)

Go Team everyone!!! :) (except Victoria...and Riley... and well...you get the point.)

Everything Isn't Just Black & White

...but these are.:-D

Today's nails are a geometric black & white pattern. I actually painted this on part of my dorm fridge in college! :) (that fridge currently keeps my beverages chilly in the garage!) :)

I used Sally Hansen Professional Lavender Cloud as a base, with American Apparel Hassid for the black. Topped it off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

OK- I'm off to go wait in line to see Twilight: Eclipse. Yeah, that's right I'm a nerd. lol

Go Team Undecided!!!

Pink+purple chrome hearts!

Black french + glitter + baby pink chrome hearts inlay!
Gel sculpture extension

Purple + pink chrome hearts!

Gel overlay

Pink chrome hearts + dark pink disco balls! Mini bows added for the extra sweetness. :D
Gel overlay

Pink+purple chrome hearts!

Black french + glitter + baby pink chrome hearts inlay!
Gel sculpture extension

Purple + pink chrome hearts!

Gel overlay

Pink chrome hearts + dark pink disco balls! Mini bows added for the extra sweetness. :D
Gel overlay