30 Day Challenge: Tape Mani

Hey everybody! Today's theme is tape manicure and I just want to start off this post by saying, I LOVE how these came out! I started off my painting my navy blue base and then debated on which color to make the stars. I was originally planning on adding some sparkle and making the stars white but then I thought I should have fun with this design and add a pop of color. Naturally I couldn't decide whether to go with coral or lime green and thanks to my brother A.J, I decided on green.

30 Day Challenge: Gradient

Hey all! Guess what I have for ya today? A gradient! Gradients are always fun and it's a simple mani that seems really complicated and thats always great. I wanted to do a gradient with white and a bright color so I thought today would be a great time to do it. This mani is all kinds of perfect to me, its bright, playful and full of glitter!

30 Day Challenge: Texture Polish

Hey Hey Hey! Today's theme is texture polish and I only have three so narrowing it down was no issue haha. I went with Julie G in Sugar Plum Fairy, which was part of the 2013 Frosted Gum Drops Collection and can be bought on their website for $3.99. This was the only textured polish I had in my stash that I had yet to wear so I thought it would perfect to use so I can cross it off of my untried list.

Two Coats with No Top Coat

Mish Mash Challenge - Least Expensive Nail Polish

I have some nail polishes that are a dollar usually and some that I got for a dollar because they were on clearance. I spent more time then I probably should deciding which I would choose to use but I ended up deciding on the polish that was my favorite. I went to a Rite-Aid sometime during the end of summer and found so many nice nail polishes on sale including this Sally Hansen Sugar Coat Polish called Lick-O-Rich. I was ecstatic but unfortunately the reason they had so many things on clearance was because they were closing down and I was unable to make it for a second trip. The good news is I got a lot of discounted polish and that's always fun.

They had black on clearance for a $1 and usually retails for $5.49. This isn't necessarily the polish that was the biggest price difference but its the one I fell in love with and was so happy I got my hands on it, especially for a cheap price. I used two coats to reach this level of opacity and you can definitely feel its texture which is not as strong in other polishes. I found myself passing my nails across my face because I just loved the feeling and I will admit that that is incredibly weird but I just don't care! I was a bit worried that I'd make a mess with all the little grains in the bottle but was so happy when I found that it is as easy as applying any other polish. Definitely a great polish and gets Yeliza's stamp of approval.

Sally Hansen Insta Dri Co-Bolt Blue Swatch

Blue is such a great color, I don't think I've ever met anyone who doesn't like some shade of blue. Since I was trying to go for a color that can be thought of as the ocean I thought of Co-Bolt Blue. While it's dark and doesn't necessarily scream summer it does shine and becomes irresistible to stare at when sunlight is directly on it. This polish smells a bit odd to me though, I'm not sure what it smells like but it doesn't have the typical nail polish scent and I usually hold my breath while applying.

 

I'm wearing two coats for the picture above although I think I could have gotten away with one since the formula is a bit on the thick side, I rather play it safe. It was easy to apply and while there are some that are in love with the wide brush that comes with the Insta-Dri polish others are not big fans, I'm on neither side. The brush works for me sometimes and other times it's a mess, I have no problem with it and I would say it makes painting my nails faster since it takes about two quick swipes to cover the entire nail.

Sally Hansen Extreme Wear Mint Sorbet Swatch

I bought this because of all the hype I was seeing with all the nail gurus I basically stalk. Everyone was saying how great this color is and naturally I had to get my hands on it. I was afraid it wouldn't work with my skin tone but let me say I had no reason to worry! I tried it on a couple people with different skin tones and it looked good on each one of us.

 

Two coats was all that was needed for an opaque and even manicure. I'm not sure why but I was expecting a bit of trouble with application but it was actually really easy to work with. It's a great mint color that I think everybody needs in their arsenal of nail polishes. 

I painted this color on a friend of mine and it looked even more amazing on her! I couldn't stop looking at her nails while she had this color on and she also got quite a few compliments on it. 

Sinful Colors Candy Coated Swatch {Sugar Rush Collection}

So awhile back I got five colors from the sinful colors sugar rush collection. This is candy coated, it is a really pretty lavender color but I would say it kind of looks a bit periwinkle. I think it is a great spring color and I couldn't keep my eyes off of it when I had it on my nails.

 

Coverage was pretty good, it took two coats to get the color to the opacity it is above. The formula was also very nice and was not hard to work with. 

Collective Nail Haul

In the past three months I have bought a lot of nail polish. I'm not sure what sparked my sudden urge to spend so much money on nail polish in such a short period of time but whatever the case I have a lot to show. I went to Ulta, Duane Reade, and Rite Aid and got some things I've been eyeing for quite some time.

Before I went to Ulta I went to Walmart and got an Essie polish and a Sally Hansen Insta Dri with a free top coat. This weekend was the first time of I went to Ulta since there isn't one very close to me but I absolutely loved it! I raved about how amazing that place was for a least three days and even now I can't stop thinking about it! The cashier who rang everything up was also extremely nice and she even complemented my nails. I'm also really excited since these are my first China Glaze polishes and my first bottle of Seche Vite. I know, I know, how in the world did I go so long without these things? Here's my answer: I have no idea! They're amazing! I can't even begin to describe my love for the Seche Vite topcoat, it is beyond perfect, it's magical.

Lilac OPI - You're Such A Budapest

Black and White China Glaze - Whirled Away

Hot Pink China Glaze - Shocking Pink

Peach China Glaze - Peachy Keen

Clear Seche Vite

Lavender Essie - Lilacism 

Red Insta Dri - Sonic Bloom 

Clear Insta Dri - Clearly Quick

I also went to Duane Reade today and got so much stuff. The sad part is there are still so many more polishes that I want! While I was waiting on line I saw a whole section I completely forgot about. I don't even know how it happened but it did. Naturally I grabbed a polish from one of the displays and decided to wait to get any other color since I already grabbed so many. Most of the polishes in the display were from Essie and I didn't have enough money to go all crazy and get that many of their polishes.

Pink Essie - Sugar Daddy

Dark Pink Sinful Colors - Timbleberry

Emerald Green Insta Dri - S-teal a Base

Gunmetal Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Gunmetal

Mint Green Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Mint Sorbet

Cloudy Clear NYC - Matte Me Crazy (Matte Top Coat)
Light Pink NYC Long Wearing- Fuchsia Glamour (or Pink Champagne)

Black Wet n Wild Wild Shine - Black Creme

Glitter Revlon - Heavenly

Lastly there is Rite Aid, which I went to in January. I went pretty crazy there to, I just couldn't help it! There is just so many pretty colors and so many designs come to mind when I debate getting them (most of which I end up deciding not to do) and I end up with a bunch of new nail polishes. Anyway, on to the polish!

Red NYC Long Wearing - BroadwayBurgundy Frost

Teal Glitter Sinful Colors - Lush Life

Pink Coral Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Coral Reef

Purple Revlon Colorstay - Bold Sangria

Hunter Green Revlon Colorstay - Rain Forest

Orange Glitter Sally Hansen Salon Manicure - Copper Penny 

Blue/Green Petites - Utopia

Okay I won't be able to swatch all of these right away but look out for some soon, as well as some of these colors being featured in future nail designs!