Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Pueen Cosmetics Stamping Plate Review

I purchased these from Amazon for $17.99. They arrived in 3 business days.Very fast.
These stood out to me so much. Very different images from what I have seen. I was so hoping they would transfer well. And I was pleasantly surprised!


I am in love with a lot of these designs! 4 out of 5 stars for sure!

Pros:
The plates have very unique designs
They transfer 90% of the time
The edges are not sharp like others
Fast delivery

Cons:
Price is $17.99. Compared to others its high.
You need to wipe with acetone before use
Full nail designs are smaller
Some details in a couple stamps get lost.




Sunday, January 27, 2013

Detailed Caviar Nail (Micro Beads)




I posted these nails on Instagram and immediately got ask how I did them. They certainly look harder then they are. With some time anyone can do these. I also decided a video would be a better way to show the steps.Best to watch in full screen.


More pictures of this manicure.






Monday, January 21, 2013

Happy Heart Stands Out!

Had this nail idea today. You probably have seen the original picture with the yellow happy face amongst the blue sad faces. I just switched out the yellow face for a heart for Valentines.

I started with Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Blue Me Away. 2 coats.

I then used black acrylic paint and fine art brush to create the faces and heart outline. Start at the tip of the nail and work your way towards the cuticle.



Then make all the round faces with sad or grumpy faces.


Take a dotting tool or tooth pick and fill in the heart with pink. And give her a happy smile!

Add a nice top coat.
For the rest of my nails I used the same pink. Sinful colors in Dream on.


Happy V-day Heart






Sunday, January 20, 2013

Candied Lustre Swatches and Nail Art (Indie Polish)

Yesturday I recieved these beauties in the mail. I was so excited to create some nail art with them.
I was already headed over to my moms to give her a new mani and decided to bring them along just in case she was a willing puppet.
She took one look at them and was more then happy to use them.
These are from Candied Lustre and you can find her shop on Etsy by clicking HERE. She has many different top coats and polishes to choose from. Free shipping in the month of January promo code SHIPITOME

Starting with my moms Manicure.
She wanted to have a Valentines mani. She also wanted small hearts trailing up the side of the nail. So,we went with leopard print with hearts incorporated in the leopard print. And then one large heart on the ring finger.
All but the ring fingers have 2 coats of Strawberry Milkshake then the print,
The ring fingers have 1 coat of Strawberry Milkshake and 2 coats of Jawbreaker the outlined heart.

My manicure started with 2 coats of Liquid Vinyl from Orly on all but the ring finger.
2 coats of Strawberry Milkshake 

Then I did a gradient effect with Jawbreaker over the black. 
This on its own is quite beautiful.
 I stamped the ring finger with one of my cheeky plates.

I then took my dotting tool and placed Jawbreaker glitter randomly on the stamped nail.

Added SechVite for my top coat.

Top Picture is natural light.

Another natural light.





Friday, January 18, 2013

Zoya Nail Polish Sale Swatches

Zoya nail polish had a fantastic sale recently. Get 3 free nail polishes! Well, I sort of went on a no buy for a few weeks after the holidays. But,that did not stop my mom from taking advantage of the awesome sale. She was so sweet to let me show you all the swatches of the polishes she picked. Lets be honest, in the end I will be putting the polish on her anyway. Hahaha



From left to right.
Feifei,Daul,Faye,Cheryl,Maisie,Giegie,and Carey.

Feifei


Daul


Faye


Cheryl


Maisie
Two coats on its own on the left. One top coat over Cheryl on the right.


Giegie


Carey


Which is your favorite?
Mine is Maisie over Cheryl!





Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Nail Art Stamping-- Lets Break it Down!

These videos and information are based on what I have learned thru stamping on my own and from fellow youtubers,bloggers and instagramers.
We all have our own way of learning and steps to show this. I am positive that there is still lots of information  and techniques that I have yet to discover.
My hope is that you can watch these, as a fellow stamping enthusiast,and gain some knowledge to help you in your stamping adventures.
Much love and positivity to you all!



Part 1 :
I talk about my area where I do my nail art.I go thru items needed for nail stamping and talk about polish I use for stamping.




Part 2 :
My Stamping plates and reviews on which I prefer.



Part 3:
I show you different techniques and tips and trick for stamping.


Please feel free to comment below for any questions you may have.



Tuesday, January 15, 2013

My Nail Strengthening Routine and Review

By the time the Holidays were over my nails and cuticles were shot. Between house cleaning,wrapping,packing and traveling they just looked and felt horrid.
So,when we were back in town I knew some serious t.l.c was needed. I also knew this would be perfect for a blog post to see if in 3 weeks my new routine works.
I am very happy to report that my nails are in very good shape! So, lets get to the products and review.


I tried to apply Hard as Hoofs 3 times a day. To help me remember,I did so right after washing my hands when I used the bathroom. I also pushed back my cuticles at the same time. I kept the cuticle pusher and cream near the sink in eye sight.
I applied the Orly Nailtrition every 3 days. Or whenever I felt I needed a fresh coat.

Lets start with Hard as Hoofs.
I purchased mine at Walgreens for around $4.
It is also sold at Walmart and Amazon.

There is a slight perfume smell to the cream. But I love that the smell doesn't linger. The consistency is close to room temperature butter. It is in no way greasy like butter though. Your nails and fingers soak up the cream nicely. Within 5 minutes, it leaves your nails and fingers smooth and soft.
                                                                                                    

Ingredients:
Purified Water, Aloe Vera Concentrate, Jojoba Oil, Aloe Vera Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Bees Wax, Hydrolyxed Protein, Calcium Pantothenate, Allantoin, Liposomes, Vitamins A, C, D & E, Dl-Panthenol, Natural Fragrance, Methyl Paraben, Probyl Paraben

Directions:
Massage Into Nail Beds, Cuticles, and Undersides of Nails 3 Times Per Day Or As Often As Necessary. May Be Use Over Nail Polish. Hoof Hands Tip: For Even Better Results Use With Hoof Horsetail Hardener For Extreme Strengthening Power.



Orly Nailtrition.
Purchased at Sally Beauty Supply for around $10. 
Very easy to apply. Drys within 2 minutes. And leaves your nail looking like you just had a manicure. 
If your like me and have extremely thin nails, you will notice the difference right away. The nail isn't as flexible.
Description:
Nailtrition Strengthening and Growth Treatment helps stimulate faster nail growth and strengthens peeling and splitting nails. Nails grow longer and stronger. It's great for rebuilding nails after acrylics and for nails that just won't grow.
                                                                                                 Ingredients: 
Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Isopropyl Alcohol, Propyl Acetate, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, Triphenyl Phosphate, n-Butyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Benzophenone-1, Stearalkonium Bentonite, CI 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride), Citric Acid, Dimethicone, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Water (Aqua), Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Saccharomyces/Calcium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, CI 15850 (Red 7).
My before and after shots.


Aside from normal discoloring from my nail art, They look and feel so much better.
My index finger never grows this long! 


I am positive my nails will break. That's the way it goes. But, I can now grow them faster and healthier. Which will prevent them from chipping and breaking more often.








Sunday, January 6, 2013

My Secret Santa!!!



This year I participated in a bloggers secret. Erin over at 365 hosted it. To visit her beautiful blog click here.
Three Six Five

I ended up Erin's secret Santa. So, my package went all the way to London!  To see one of the items I sent her click here. She did a makeup look with the pallet I sent.

My secret Santa was my cousin! BeautybyKrystal. To visit her blog (everything beauty) click here!
Beauty By Krystal

I was so excited to hear she was my secret Santa! It was so cool because this year my family went to visit for the holiday in California,where the whole family is.So, I received the gift in person.Although I didn't know she was my secret Santa until I was there. I told my house sitter to check for the package 3 times a day. We have package thieves in our area. It was a relief to know the gift was safe and sound.
Here is the awesome secret Santa gift!

Krystal went onto the e.l.f. website and picked products out just for my eyes and skin tone. So thoughtful! And of course included some essential nail products.
She placed all the items in a really cute bag from benefit.

First off is elf studio Eye Enhancing Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes.I am super excited to try this pallet out.
elf studio Baked Blush in Peachy Cheeky

elf Cream Eyeliner in Plum Purple. This color is so pretty!

elf Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Summer Nights

Hypershine Lipgloss in Flirt. I have this and love it! So happy to have another. Mine is almost out.

elf Studio Matte Lip Gloss in Rich Red. I don't actually have a red lipstick. To be honest I only have tinted chap stick and gloss. I know, I'm kinda lame. So, I am happy to try this.

 The last makeup product is Clinique High Impact mascara. I tried this the other night. I love the wand! 

This is Hand and Body Lotion from VMV HYPOALLERGENICS. Now that I have done this blog post I can start using this and see how it is. The smell is barely there which I like. I don't like the smell of the lotion to linger all day. 

elf Nail File Set, Professional Nail Buffer and Cuticle Pushers. I will use all of these for sure. I already have the cuticle pushers. They are gentle and perfect to use on yourself or when giving a manicure. Easy to clean as well.

Nourishing Cuticle Pen. I was really excited to open this. I had seen it on the web sight and thought for just $1 how good could it be? Well, I can tell you its amazing! I already have been using it. BeautybyKrystal says hers has lasted for a year and still going strong. I will purchase another when I order from elf again.


And last but not least. Krystal mixed up some beautiful polishes, and I got 2!!!
Check these beauties out! She added her own tints to make the colors.

One and two coats of the stars. One, two and three coats of the chunky glitter on the right. I love these so much!
I think its safe to say my secret Santa rocks!!! Everything was so thoughtful.
Thanks Krystal!! XOXO