Today, I have Love.Angel. Music.Baby from OPI's Gwen Stefani collection to show you. Love.Angel. Music.Baby is a satin finish gold nail polish, and honestly I wasn't going to get this polish at first because none of the swatches I had seen online did it justice. But then I went into Sally Beauty Supply and saw the in store swatch (and the price $4.50 on clearance), I was like "You are coming home with me!" So I bought it and I'm so glad I did. She's such a pretty polish. But enough of my blathering, see for yourselves, here's Love.Angel. Music.Baby:
Pictures:
Indoor no flash.
*Best color representation.
Indoor with flash.
Closeup:
Indoor no flash.
For these pictures I used two coats of Love.Angel. Music.Baby and no topcoat (because you loose the finish if you top coat it). This polish applied easily and dried quickly. Over all a great addition and it's kind of making fall in love with satin polish. I need more satin polish in my life. Normally gold is so not my color (when you are this white it's not a good idea), but this is such a soft gold that I could actually pull it off. Anyway that's all I have for you guys today. Until next time, stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO
Today, I have Muppets World Tour from OPI's Muppets Most Wanted collection to show you guys. Muppets World Tour is a silver (holographic), white (matte), pink (metallic), blue (metallic), and rose gold (metallic), glitter topper in a clear base. This polish is going to blow your Valkyrie minds. It's that sparkly. So you've been warned. Now buckle up, because here she is in all her glittery, sparkly glory:
Pictures:
Indoor no flash.
Indoor with flash.
Closeup:
Indoor no flash.
In these pictures I use one coat of Muppets World Tour over two coats of OPI Don't Pretzel My Buttons, followed with a very heavy layer of topcoat. This polish applied easily and dried quickly. That said it's a very textured, rough glitter polish, so you are going to want a very thick layer of top coat (Maybe two coats) on top of this. I know a lot of people have been complaining about the texture on this glitter but it's not a texture polish, it's certainly not marked as one at any rate. It just seems like a really chunky glitter that eats top coat for dinner (Think China Glaze Glistening Snow kind of eat's topcoat alive glitter). I used Seche Vite (but any thick top coat should do) and went heavy on it. So the polish was great for me with no texture showing. It had a long wear time and came off easily. So, I'm not sure what others are having such a problem with. It's a chunky glitter, all chunky glitter will eat up topcoat so I always go heavy (on top coat) and didn't have a problem. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this swatch. That's all I have for you guys today. So until next time, stay classy, and stay polished.
XOXO
Today, I have Let's Do Anything We Want! from OPI'sMuppets Most Wanted collection to show you guys. Let's Do Anything We Want! is a pink and white glitter topper in a clear base. I don't know if it's supposed to be based on a character from the film but since it's pink I would bet on Miss Piggy (But that's just a guess). This polish is probably my favorite one of the collection though. So without further ado here is Let's Do Anything We Want!:
Pictures:
Indoor no flash.
Indoor with flash.
Closeup:
Indoor no flash.
For these pictures I used two coats of Let's Do Anything We Want!, over two coats of OPI My Vampire Is Buff, followed by a layer of top coat. This polish applied fairly easily...well let me extrapolate that: The small pink and white glitter applied easily...the large white squares...not so much. They kind of have to be dug out and placed where you want them. Which is kind of a pain in the butt to be honest. That said I think the effort is well worth it. I freaking love this polish. It's so pretty, I'm in love. I'm officially putting matte white glitter on my list of favorite types of glitter. I can't explain it but I find them to be all sorts of groovy. What do you guys think? Are you loving Let's Do Anything We Want!? Tell me your thought below. Well that's all I have for you today. Until next time, stay classy, and stay polished.
XOXO
Today, I have OPI Pure from the Holiday Mariah Carey collection to show you guys. Pure is a 18k white gold and silver flake topper. I have to say I was very excited when I heard they were making this one. Since I am allergic to yellow gold I had to miss out of the yellow gold flake polishes everyone was releasing in 2012 and 2013. So when they released this one I knew I had to get it. I wasn't about to let it pass me by. So here she is (over OPI Vant To Bite My Neck?).
Pictures:
Indoor no flash.
Indoor with flash.
Closeup:
Indoor no flash.
For this swatch I used two coats of Vant To Bite My Neck? (as undies), two coats of Pure, and a layer of topcoat. This polish applied easily and dried really quickly. Over all I love how it looks and it's definitely worth the price. I liked it so much I put it on my toes as well. What do you guys think? Are you loving Pure as much as I am? Let me know your thoughts below. Well that's all I have for you today. Until next time, stay classy, and stay polished.
XOXO
Today, I have 4 In The Mourning (4ITM) from OPI’s Gwen Stefani collection. Originally I wasn’t sure if I was going to get this polish but I picked it up on a whim and I am really glad I did so. 4ITM is satin finish black polish. What’s satin finish you ask, we’ll I’m going to tell you. Satin finish is not a matte finish. Where matte finish looks dry(ish) this polish almost looks waxy. Like you spilled a bit of candle wax on your nails and just rubbed it over the surface of the nail. It’s hard to explain It’s more of a show you rather than tell you sort of thing. So with that in mind here is 4ITM.
Pictures:
Indoor no flash.
Indoor with flash
Outdoor in shade (sorry no sun to be found).
For this I used two coats of 4ITM and no topcoat. It says right there on the bottle to no use a top coat so I just let it hangout naked on my nails (which I have to confess felt really wrong). This polish applies fairly easily and dries super fast. A word of caution though: try to do each coat in as few brush strokes as possible, and avoid going over the same spot until it’s dry, or you get little dumps that are just icky. And while I really freaking love this polish it’s not a long term polish. Lack of top coat means that you will have tip wear fairly quickly. But she’s such a pretty polish she’s worth the trouble. I do so love black nail polish, and this polish is one of my new favorites for sure. Have you guys tried it? What did you think? Anyway that’s all I have for you guys. Until next time stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO
Today I have a swatch of OPI Silver Shatter to show you guys. My BFF Marcie got it for me fore Christmas and I was dying to try it out. Silver shatter is a metallic shatter nail polish from I think The Pirates Of The Caribbean collection. I used one coat with OPI Vant To Bite My Neck? undies. And seriously, I'm kind of loving the combination of dark and sparkle (Don't act like you're surprised). So without further ado here's Silver Shatter.
Pictures:
Indoor no flash.
Indoor with flash.
Closeup:
Indoor no flash.
Over all I really like this polish and the combo of dark creme and metallic crackle make me one happy Valkyrie. It applies like all shatter/crackles/cracking polishes (smoothly), but make sure you use as few strokes as possible and don't go back over anywhere you have already applied the shatter (as with all shatter/crackle/cracked nail polish). It just helps the shatter effect get more shatter-y, if you use thin coats and don't go back over anything. Well that's all I have for you guys today. I hope you enjoy this swatch and this polish as much as do. Until next time, stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO
As I am carrier of viral plague once again I am going to post a mani I did a while back but never posted. Don't get me wrong I love my job working with kids but I'm not a big fan of their germs. Anyway disregard nail length as I said this was an older mani that I did and took pictures for but never posted until now. I have another stamping manicure to show you guys. I decided I really like pairing two duo-chrome polishes together and I'm pretty happy with the result. Here it is:
Pictures:
Front view. Indoor no flash.
Tilted back view. Indoor no flash.
Tilted down view. Indoor no flash.
What I Used:
OPI - Just Spotted The Lizard
OPI - Peace & Love & OPI
Stamping plate: Mash-49
I used 3 coats of Peace & Love & OPI then stamped Just Spotted The Lizard over top. I really like the effect. A subtle duo pattern, that screams fall. Do you guys like it? I also tried a different clean up technique where I used a brush around the cuticles (Hence the tiny bit of exposed nail bed near the cuticle). What do you guys think of this nail polish clean up approach? I can't decide if I like it or not. I keep looking down and going "Ahh! Naked Nail!" Thoughts? Anyway that's all I have for you today. Until next time stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO
Today, I have a fall water marble to show you guys. Now I know everyone is posting Halloween manicures already...and as much as I love Halloween (And that's a lot) I refuse to do Halloween manicures until October 1st. I won't do it. I'm tired of this rush into and out of holidays. I won't do Thanksgiving mani's till November, and I won't do Christmas ones until December. If that makes me old fashioned then so be it, it's the only way I'm old fashioned. I just refuse to give into the man that says Halloween starts in September, Christmas starts in November and Valentines Day starts in January. I officially thumb my nose at the man and say "No! I will celebrate them during the month of and no sooner." Okay, sorry about the rant but seriously it kinda makes me crazy. Without further ado here's my fall water marble:
Pictures:
Indoor no flash.
Outdoor in sunlight.
Outdoor in shade.
What I Used:
China Glaze - Cross Iron 360
China Glaze - Goin My Way?
China Glaze - Riveting
OPI - Oy-Another Polish Joke!
So I used a basic leaf like water marble over a base coat of Oy-Another Polish Joke and I'm pretty happy with how this marble turned out. It's very Autumn and harvesty (I'm making that a word). Anyway that's all I have for you today. Until next time, stay classy, and stay polished.
XOXO
Today, I have a swatch of Oy-Another Polish Joke from OPI's Euro Central Collection to show you guys. Oy- Another Polish Joke is a bright gold flake polish. Think Goldeneye but way, way brighter. So without further ado, here's Oy-Another Polish Joke:
Swatches:
Indoor no flash.
Indoor with flash.
Outdoor in sunlight.
Outdoor in shade.
Closeups:
Indoor no flash.
Outdoor in sunlight.
I used four coats of Oy-Another Polish Joke and a layer of topcoat. The formula is thin, but it dries really quickly and applies easily. Normally I am not a big fan of gold polish, but I love the way this one looked with my vampire like pale skin. I am actually kind of mad that it took me this ling to wear it. Anyway, that's all I have for you today. Until next time, stay classy, and stay polished.
XOXO
Today, I have some nail art based on Kick-Ass 2. I absolutely love Kick-Ass1 and I'm going to the squeal tonight. So, I thought how about some nail art. If you haven't seen Kick-Ass you so should. It's awesome. Hit-Girl is a freaking awesome little bad ass super hero. Anyway here's my nail art.
And a song from the Kick-Ass 1 (in a Hit Girl kicking ass sequence) that I just love and that every woman should have on their iPod.
Bad Reputation by Joan Jett
I used several different forms of nail art on this manicure. I used taping, stamping, self made decals, and free hand nail art. This one took forever but had a pretty good payoff I think. I didn't attempt faces because all my faces look just awful. That aside I think it turned out pretty well. Are you guys going to see Kick-Ass 2? Or have you already? As excited as I was for this movie to come out I waited for Tuesdays because my local theater does cheap popcorn on Tuesdays. I can't wait I'm so excited. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this manicure. Until next time, stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO
Today, I have some Flame Nail Art to show you guys. To be fair it was a practice run at small part of a nail art I won't be showing you guys until November. Sorry for the tease, but I have never attempted this type of nail art before. Hence the test run. And how better to learn a specific type of nail art than to practice, practice, practice. Ten practice nails and I am pretty happy with my ability to create flame nails. Anyway, here are my flame nails.
Pictures:
Indoor no flash.
Indoor with flash.
Outdoor in sunlight.
Outdoor in shade.
What I Used:
China Glaze - Smoke & Ashes
China Glaze - Dandy Lyin' Around
China Glaze - Solar Power
China Glaze - Riveting
OPI - Danke-Shiny Red
and a regular old pin (like you would use for sewing)
And the song that's stuck in my head so I thought I would share:
Wonderland by Natalia Killls
Okay, so I used the pin drag method to create this nail art. I am actually pretty happy with the outcome. For a flame manicure virgin I think I did pretty well. What do you guys think? Do you like it? Ten bonus points to whomever can guess what the theme for manicure in November I'm working on. And Marcie this excludes you because you already know (Sorry, but that's cheating). Actually I think you guys will like November as far as nail art goes. I have two pretty big nail art posts planned for then. But you will have to wait. Don't worry there will be plenty of nail art coming up before that. It's almost fall (my favorite season). Two of my favorite shows start new seasons so I may do something for them...and lets face it the whole month of October is going to be a Halloween nail art spree. It is my favorite holiday after all. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this manicure. Until next time, stay classy, and stay polished.
XOXO
So, first off before I get to the manicure I wanted to let you guys know why I've been MIA the last week or so. It's really a super fun collection of "super fun" (Sarcasm alert) events. My car broke down, then the keyboard in my laptop quit working (then randomly started working again the next day), and I broke my baby toe or my left foot (don't ask how it's kind of an embarrassing story, who am I kidding when is it ever a non-embracing story when I hurt my clumsy ass). Plus, a couple of good things also distracted me: I read four books I couldn't put down, and got a new Sims 3 expansion pack...so yeah all these things have converged to distract me. But anyway, I am back and I have some nail art to show you guys. Do you remember the Mermaid Manicure Tutorial I posted back in January? Well after getting my new Sims 3 Expansion (Island Paradise) and playing with the new mermaids I wanted to do a new mermaid manicure. But this one is a different version of the Mermaid manicure. Or at least a different color scheme at any rate. I am calling this one Sunset Mermaid. Enjoy.
Pictures:
Indoor no flash.
Indoor with flash.
Outdoor in sunlight.
Outdoor in shade.
What I Used:
ORLY - Ingenue
OPI - Sprung
China Glaze - Passion
Shany Stamping Plate - SH222
I used sponging to get the base gradient and then stamped over top of it. Over all I really like this look. It reminds me of tropical sunsets and mermaids of course. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this manicure as much as I do. Until next time, stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO
Today, I have a swatch of Orly's Mermaid Tale from their Flash Glam collection to show you guys. Mermaid Tale is a mix of large and small holographic, green glitter, in a clear base. For these pictures I used OPI Mermaid's Tears as underwear.
Swatches:
Indoor with flash.
Indoor no flash.
Outdoor in shade.
Outdoor in sunlight.
Closeups:
Outdoor in sunlight.
Indoor no flash.
I used two coats of OPI Mermaids Tears under two coats of ORLY Mermaids Tale followed by a layer of top coat. The formula can glob up on you, so make sure you keep the coats thin, it does however dry fairly quickly so if you want to go for a third coat you won't have to wait that long for it to dry. Over all I really like this nail polish. Let me clarify that for a minute by saying that green is not normally a color I can pull off (without being asked if ill). But this one , I can wear and I genuinely love it. So pretty. Possibly my favorite of the Flash Glam set that I own. Anyway, that's all I have for you today. Until next time, stay classy, and stay polished.
XOXO
