Essie Mirror Metallics

When I saw this collection coming out this summer I was really excited because the swatch pictures online looked so pretty.  I was surprised when I tried these because the polishes have a very unique finish.  They dried almost matte and weren't very streaky for how metallic they are.  I only used one coat for my swatch pictures.  The only downside is how they show every little flaw in the nail, even ones I didn't know I had.  If you are going to get these, I recommend purchasing a good ridge filling base coat and buffing the nail first.  

 No Place Like Chrome: silver metallic

Nothing Else Metals: lilac metallic

Blue Rhapsody: blue metallic

Penny Talk: copper metallic

Good As Gold: gold metallic 

Penny Talk

Nothing Else Metals

Blue Rhapsody

Good As Gold

No Place Like Chrome

I really can't decide which ones are my favorites.  I think Good As Gold looks the best with my skin tone, but I really love Penny Talk and Nothing Else Metals.  Which one is your favorite?

Independence Day Polish

I finally have my computer up and running again! I moved to a new place and the internet has been a little sketchy since I have been here.  I didn't realize my pictures were posting as a huge size so I fixed that on my last few posts.  Anyways, I decided to play with my red, white, and blue polishes to do some patriotic nails for the fourth.  I love holidays because it gives me a chance to try out nail art that I wouldn't normally do.  Hope you enjoy!

 Some of my red, blue, and white polishes. 

 Zoya Noel

A nice medium blue foil.  I probably wouldn't have bought this one, but I got a mini in my Birchbox awhile ago.  Great application and quick dry time.

 China Glaze Skyscraper

A blue jelly packed with tons of silver glitter.  It is a much sparklier version of Essie Starry Starry Nights. 

 Essie Ruby Slippers

This one really deserves its own post because it is so beautiful.  What makes it really pop is the lighter red/orange glitter in the dark red jelly base.  Without a topcoat it looks dull, but once you put on the topcoat it really shines! 

 Zoya Sooki with Julep America accent nail

Sooki is the most perfect red creme I have ever used.  It's super pigmented, smooth, and shiny.  Reds are usually a pain to apply but this one went on like butter. Julep America was great once I thinned it and put it over a red base.  I tried it over white and it looked awful so I will stick with red from now on.

 

 Chalkboard Nails' Ruffle Manicure

I used Essie Marshmallow as the base, then Essie Bobbing for Baubles, Zoya Sooki, China Glaze 2NITE, Sally Hansen White On, OPI Red My Fortune Cookie, and Essie Smooth Sailing for the ruffles.  I wasn't a huge fan of how this turned out because the reds weren't opaque enough, but it was a fun technique. 

Sponge Manicure

I used 2 coats of Essie Marshmallow for the base, then sponged on Essie Bordeaux and China Glaze 2NITE, and topped it all off with Essie Carnival and Seche Vite. I did this combo because I wanted it to look like fireworks.  I think it turned out well for my first attempt at sponging. 

That's all I have for today, which one was your favorite?  

Happy Fourth of July!

Butter London Victoriana

Today is my favorite blue.  I guess this isn't a true blue, it is more of a teal leaning blue with silver shimmer.  I had to include Butter London in my list of favorites because they have the BEST formula, a great color selection, and wear amazingly well.  Not to mention their cute little bottles that line up perfectly! I'm a sucker for how a well organized nail polish collection looks all lined up by brand and color.  When I get settled in a new place I will finally get one of those acrylic wall racks to display my polish in my bathroom.  Anyways, here is Butter London Victoriana:

On the top of my wishlist is Nails Inc Baker Street, as soon as I can make it to a Sephora store I'm sure it will take the place of my favorite blue!

Essie Bikini So Teeny and Lapis of Luxury

I picked up Bikini So Teeny from the Summer 2012 Collection with the same name.  Bikini So Teeny is a very pretty light blue with hidden silver shimmer.  It reminded me a lot of Lapis of Luxury, so I did a side by side comparison.  Lapis of Luxury is a dustier cornflower blue with a creme-jelly finish. I love both polishes, which do you like better?

Essie Bikini So Teeny

Left- Bikini So Teeny, Right- Lapis of Luxury

Index and ring: Bikini So Teeny

Middle and pinky: Lapis of Luxury 

Shimmer Polishes

Because of my busy schedule this past week, I had been painting my nails and taking pictures without posting them here for everyone to see.  I have been loving the shimmers! Hope you enjoy my swatches. 

Essie Smooth Sailing (sunlight) 

Essie Smooth Sailing (inside with flash) 

I adore this polish and the name is very fitting, perfect for summer.
  

Essie Jackie Oh My

This is a gorgeous milky off-white with subtle shimmer.  This was three coats and you can see some visible nail line.  I could have done four coats to make it completely opaque, but I got lazy.

Zoya Charla

This polish looks like a mermaid fin.  There isn't much to say about this other than everyone should own it.