Happy Saint Patrick's Day Manicure

     Today, I have some nail art to show you guys. It's been a couple months since I posted nail art and those of you who are regular readers know why. I've just been over the whole drama and bullying in the nail art world. But I decided that I would go ahead and post some nail art since it was kind of a holiday (hear this as not holiday enough so that I don't have to work) and I'm like <5% Irish (which is enough to claim....right?) But anyway I decided, you know what, screw the bullies. I'm gonna do my thing, and post some GD nail art. So here it is:

Pictures:

Indoor no flash. 

Indoor no flash. 

Indoor no flash. 

What I Used:

China Glaze - Running In Circles

OPI - Love.Angel.Music.Baby

OPI - 4 In The Morning

     To get this look I used the taping method and then used a dotting tool (or a teeny tiny paint brush) to add the gold accents. So yeah...it's green, black and gold...and after talking with my BFF we decided that it's kind of a Loki-esque manicure too...but what's a girl to do when a holiday uses green and gold (both colors look ick on me, so I need the black to balance it out. But seriously whenever I wear green I get asked if I'm sick...It's not a good look for me! Clearly whomever picked these colors for a holiday did not take deathly pale people such as myself into account). Besides it's not my fault they share colors. Also I like Loki so whatever. Let it be whichever you choose...but for me I'm saying it's Saint Patrick's Day...because I feel less like a freak of nature that way. But I digress, I have a tendency to do that (I'm like look a butterfly and away I go. But you guy know that already. And you like me anyway. Thanks for that.). (Focus RaynesOnyx, FOCUS!) I hope you guys have a happy Saint Patrick's Day. Be responsible and don't drive drunk please (You know how I feel about that). That's all I have for you today. Until next time, stay classy, and stay polished.
XOXO

OPI 4 In The Morning

        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

Zoya Storm

     Today, I am going to show you guys a swatch of Storm by Zoya. I have had this polish for a while but I haven't worn it because...well it just never made the cut honestly. But I was feeling like dark polish today so it finally made the cut. Yeah so black polish isn't exactly summer...but hey I can't wear most of the neons and bright colors that other (read this as not white as a ghost) people can. So, I rock dark colors year round. Anyway, here's Zoya Storm; it's a black polish with torn holographic glitter in it.

Swatches:

Indoor with flash. 

Indoor no flash. 

Outdoor in sunlight. 

*Best color representation

Outdoor in shade. 

Closeups:

Indoor no flash. 

Outdoor in sunlight. 

     For all the shots above I used 2 coats of Storm and a layer of top coat. The formula applied easily and dried quickly. Over all no complaints from me. It even wore for a long(ish) time (read this as 3 days) without chipping. Over all I really like this polish. It's very  pretty and it makes my Valkyrie heart do little flip flops. Because as you know there is nothing more appealing to a Valkyrie than something sparkly and for me specifically to be dark and sparkly. Anyway that's all I have for you guys today. Until next time. Stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO

Evanora Manicure

     Sorry, I've been MIA lately I've been busy. But in way of making up for it I have some nail art to show you guys today. There will only be two pictures though because it has been raining (or trying to) all day and I can't get a decent outdoor shot to save my life. Anyway...today I am going to show you guys my version of the Evanora manicure worn by the lovely Rachel Weisz as Evanora (the "wicked" witch of the East) in Oz The Great and Powerful. I know a lot of people have done this one but I wanted to try it too. So here's what I cam up with.

Here's my inspiration picture:

The manicure:

Indoor no flash. 

*The spider is covering my ouchy...it's healed but still gross. 

Indoor with flash. 

What I used:

Deborah Lippmann - New Flesh

China Glaze - Icicle

Nail Art - Black

Striping tape (for crisp lines)

     I applied 3 coats of DL New Flesh, taped off using striping tape, then used a black nail striper to fill it in, then applied the silver stripes. When I was about half way though I was afraid that I wouldn't like this manicure but now that it's done...I freaking love it. I know in the picture her nails are nude except the black 'V'...but if my nails go naked they get all chippy...and we can't have that. So, I improvised by starting with New Flesh (which was kind of cheating because I already had on for a swatch which should be up in the next day or so). Anyway, I really loved the movie, and Rachel is amazing in it so I had to try her nails. Now I'm glad I did. Well that's all I have for you guys today. Until next time, stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO

Color Club Beyond

     Today, I am going to show you Beyond from Color Club's Halo Hues (2013) collection. I am really excited to show you guys this one, because Beyond is a black linear holographic polish. Which as you know, fits my two main criteria for an awesome polish (Dark and sparkly). I don't know who said, "I know let's make a black holographic polish," but on behalf of my inner Valkyrie I'd just like to say, I think I just fell in love whomever came up with the idea.

Swatches:

Indoor with flash. 

Indoor no flash. 

Indoor no flash at an angle.

Outdoor in sunlight. 

Outdoor in shade. 

Closeups:

Indoor no flash. 

Outdoor in sunlight. 

     All pictures are with two coats of Beyond and a layer of topcoat. This polish is a thicker formula, but it applies easily, dries quickly, and is fully opaque in two layers. As with other Color Club holographic polishes, make sure that you apply the polish in as straight of lines as possible or you will disrupt the linear holographic effect...it's will be all crooked (if you aren't careful), but even then it still has it's charm (it's still a holo for sobbing out loud). I love Beyond with all my dark, sparkly, Valkyrie heart. It's so pretty. If you don't have it yet, you should order it asap, because this polish will surely become HTF before too long. It's that lovely. Well, that's all I have for today. Until next time, stay classy, and stay polished.
XOXO

Lac Attack Dementor's Kiss

     Today, I have Dementor's Kiss from Lac Attack's Magical Musings collection to show you guys. Dementor's Kiss is a clear base polish with large red hexagonal glitter, medium black hexagonal glitter, and small black hexagonal glitter in it.

Swatches:

Indoor with flash. 

Indoor no flash. 

Outdoor in sunlight. 

Outdoor in shade. 

Closeups:

Indoor no flash. 

Outdoor in sunlight. 

Buy it here and follow Lac Attack on Facebook here. 

    All pictures have two coats of Dementor's Kiss, over two coats of Orly Decades Of Dysfunction with a top coat over the whole thing. This polish applies easily and dries at an average pace. Free warning though, make sure each layers are completely dry before applying the next layer or you will have one heck of a mess on your hands. This was the first Lac Attack that I really, really wanted and it didn't disappoint. It's a gorgeous polish, and I just love it. Black and red are my two favorite glitter polish combinations....and Lac Attack nailed it (forgive the pun) with this polish. I am in love. Anyway that's all I have for today. Until next time stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO

OPI Stay The Night Swatch and Review

     I am so excited to show you guys this polish. It's unfreaking believable. Stay The Night (STN) is a liquid sand polish from OPI's Mariah Carey collection, that has both black and medium neon-ish glitter in it. This polish dries to a sandy matte finish while still somehow retaining it's sparkle. Dark + Sparkle = Valkyrie overload and me head over feet in love with this polish.

The bottle:

Indoor with flash. 

Indoor no flash. 

Outdoor in shade. 

Outdoor in sunlight. 

Swatches:

Indoor with flash. 

Indoor no flash. 

Outdoor in shade. 

Outdoor in sunlight. 

Closeup:

I love how this close up turned out. You can see the glitter and the awesome texture. 

And a video... because I love the song and this polish reminds me of this song...for some reason.

Enjoy some Darren Hayes - Dirty. 

      This polish applies easily and dries insanely fast. All pictures are with two coats of STN and no top coat. That's right no top coat. Which is so weird for me. It's like my nails are running around in their panties or something. This polish is worth it for one main reason...it's really fun texture. I really like the dirty, gritty texture of this glitter. I am however left wondering why it ended up in the Mariah Carey collection though...Mariah Carey is so polished and girly this polish is so gritty and not in sync with that...It just seems to be disjointed from her image if that makes sense...but hey what do I know I'm just a silly girl. That said the distressed nature of this polish is actually one of the things I love about it. It's raw, gritty texture is just awesome. That's all I have for you guys today. Until next time, stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO

OPI My Private Jet Swatch and Review

     Today I have a swatch of OPI My Private Jet (MPJ) to show you guys. I have wanted this polish for some time but because it was core line I always opted for the fashion colors...yes I know that's pretty vapid of me but hey it's easier to get the fashion colors when they are initially out rather than wait and get them when the price is way higher. But I digress the main point I was trying to make in my rambling is that I had wanted this polish for a very long time and my best friend Marcie got it for me for Christmas. And to tell you the truth I am kind of mad I waited this long to acquire this polish. It is freaking gorgeous. My inner Valkyrie is stunned. MPJ is a dark grayish brown base with micro-holographic glitter in it. Dark + Sparkly = Valkyrie Heaven. But enough of my blathering here's the polish.

The bottle:

Indoor with flash. 

Indoor no flash. 

Outdoor. 

The swatches:

Indoor with flash. 

Indoor no flash. 

Outdoor in shade. 

Outdoor in sun(ish).

Close up:

Note all the little flecks are holographic. 

     All pictures are with two coats of MPJ and a coat of top coat. This polish dries quickly and applies easily. All in all a must for everyone who likes dark glittery polishes. It actually remind me of the night sky. Like when I was a kid and laid out on the trampoline and stared up at the sky at night. This polish brings me right back to that moment and it makes me love it all the more. If you don't have MPJ in you collection you need to go out and get it because it is amazing. Well that's all I have for you today. Until next time, stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO

China Glaze Get Carried Away Swatch And Review

     Today, I have a swatch from the China Glaze Cirque Du Soleil collection for you guys. Get Carried Away is a black jelly with small and large hexagonal glitter (silver, black and dark pink), and black bar glitter in it. Now normally I don't buy polish with bar glitter. I hate bar glitter. It never lays right, clumps up, and if you get a piece of said bar glitter hanging off the edge of your nail after your polish dries, you are in for some not so fun paper cuts. But I put aside my deep dislike of bar glitter to try this polish because it's dark and glittery (two of the best qualities a polish can possess) plus I just adore when black and red or black and dark pink are pared together. That and it was free thanks to Amazon gift cards so worse case scenario I pass it off to my best friend (and fellow polish addict) Marcie.  Anyway, enough blathering on my part here's the polish.

The bottle:

Indoor with flash.

Indoor no flash.

Outdoor. Stupid rainy weather. 

Swatches:

Indoor with flash.

Indoor no flash.

Outdoor.

Close up:

*All my close up shots are taken of polish on the nail, not in the bottle. So you get a better idea of what it will look like on. 

     The pictures above are with 3 layers of Get Carried Away, and two layers of topcoat (this polish like all large glitter polishes eats top coat alive). The bar glitter was as expected, a ginormous pain in the...well you know where it was a pain. I ended up having to use tweezers to remove a few bar glitter that refuse to lay right at the tips and cuticles. Also the nail polish is really thick and gloppy which adds another level of annoyance to the polish. What I find really kind of funny is that on the nail you barely even see the bar glitter and (in my opinion) the polish would have been better without it. I love the hexagons though so pretty. And I think the polish could look really cool layered over another polish. If I had payed for this polish I probably would have been a grumpy Gus but I didn't so it's kind of like, ehh it's alright. I may have to try it as part of a jelly sandwich and then decide if I'll pass it on down the line. Well that's all I have for you today. Until next time, stay classy and stay polished.
XOXO