Darling Diva Green Diamond

I don't really feel like saying much tonight but I know I can't keep this pretty polish all to myself so...

...here is Darling Diva Green Diamond.  It's a one coater (on me at least).  It's a green linear holo that dries matte which is really cool.  With a top coat it's pretty stunning.

That's about all.  Have a great night! (:

Dark Rose Mani

Hey Everyone!  I can't wait to show you all this mani.  I don't even know how I came up with it, but it's so ME!  Let's check it out!

I started with two coats of a sparkly dark grey that I mixed myself awhile ago.  Then I used Julep Joy (mauve) and Zoya Posh (red) to create the abstract roses.  Then with my go-to black creme, Sinful Black on Black, and a super skinny nail art brush I added random curved lines to make the roses look like actual roses and less like red and mauve blobs.  Then with the same black polish, I did a color block.  I also used Zoya Veruschka mixed with a little Zoya Zuza to create the perfect green leaves and then I added a matte top coat and done!

I think this is such a cool, gothic style mani with a little bit of a girly flare.  It's definitely something I would be seen in if it were a fabric.  I actually used to have a dress that sort of looked like this but I lost it.  ):  I think someone stole it to tell the truth.  Hmmm...I should look into that.

Well I hope that you all love it as much as I do.  I know it's not Spring/Summer looking but, like I said, it's so ME! (:

Zoya Solange

Finally!  I got my hands on Zoya Solange.  It's been a while so I can't remember where exactly I got it, but I remember it being really cheap.  I told myself for the longest time that I didn't need it but I was so wrong.  I might be crucified by some that I know for saying this, but I LOVE yellow polish!

Zoya Solange is part of the second set of PixieDusts that Zoya released.  I think it was the Summer set.  I used two coats and probably should have went for a third but it's difficult to tell there are bald spots in person.  It dries matte just like all of the PixieDusts except this one contains a gold metallic pigment that is exclusive to Zoya.  I feel like this is the perfect shade to welcome the warm weather that has been coming our way.  It just makes me want to hang by the pool with my shades on.

Does Solange make you feel happy and fancy-free?  Let me know in the comments below! (:

Orly Retro Red

OMG!  Who is this invading your feed?  IT'S MEEEEEE!!  I have been M.I.A. for awhile and I really needed it.  I needed to focus on all other aspects of my life because I really was getting lost in blogging and overwhelmed with it and everything else life was throwing at me.  But I have been slowly collecting nail photos (when I actually feel like painting my nails) and I just sat down today to edit and watermark them.  It's not very many but I am excited about them.  I received some lovely nail mail from a friend, Jen from My Nail Polish Obsession, a while ago with two lemmings and today I have for you.

This is Orly Retro Red from the Plastix collection.  When I first started blogging I saw these on someone's blog and just about died.  I had to have them and now!  BUT they were already difficult to find anywhere.  Then I went on a lovely polish shopping trip with Ashley from Smashley Sparkles and saw all four of them in a small nail supply.  I had to pass them up though as I had already spent WAY too much money.  lol.  Haven't we all been in that situation?  Well anyway over time, Jen has managed to find all four for me and sent me the best surprise nail mail.  I love her! ♥

So for the swatches I only needed two coats and it dries so fast.  The finish is, of course, like plastic.  Not entirely matte but with just a bit of a sheen.  I assume they are like the Illamasqua Rubbers?  I don't know because I don't own any Illas at all.  I've only posted one of the other Orly Plastix not too long ago.  You can view Old School Orange HERE.

China Glaze Teal the Tide Turns

Tonight's post will be quick because I have a massive migraine.  Sorry.  It's the second polish I bought from the China Glaze Sea Goddess collection.

China Glaze Teal the Tide Turns is a textured teal-y turquoise-y color.  Yeah I said that.  The lines between the two are blurred for me when I see this one, but it's beautiful nonetheless.  It does dry pretty matte which makes the teal glitters show and shine even more.

Like it?  Love it?  Let me know in the comments below.

Metallic Matte Ruffian

So I saw this mani on Pinterest and unfortunately I can't find the original pin (because I was lame and forgot to pin it) but I saw it and loved it!  You also get a little sneak peek of the polish you can win in my giveaway.  You can find more info on that if you click through the photo in the upper right hand corner of my blog.

I started with a base of OPI Lay Down That Base because I don't think the effect will work if you don't.  Next I applied one coat of OPI Push and Shove which is the silver foil you see peeking out from under the black.  After that was dry I carefully made the ruffian design using Zoya Dovima.  Then I applied a second coat when the first was dry.  I didn't use a top coat because I didn't want to ruin the matte effect so of course this mani lasted only a day.  I still loved it though.  I just hate how my middle finger looks...short and fat.  Wah!  lol

So what do you all think?  Is this your kind of mani?  Oh and aren't you super excited that you entered to win a bottle of OPI Push and Shove (because I know you clicked the photo and went to the giveaway page, right?)  ;)

Pink Matte Glitter

So I haven't really been motivated or inspired to do any nail art lately.  I've been in kind of a funk so instead of just doing a solid color polish, I've been slapping on glitter and then moving on.  Here is my recent glitter mani.

I started with two coats of Zoya Micky which you will see swatched on the blog soon.  I used one coat of my black and white glitter Cover Band Sticks 'n' Stones and then one coat of OPI I Snow You Love Me which is the holo cirlces.  I just can't get enough of those holo circles!  When all was finally dry (yes it took a while) I added my Sally Hansen Big Matte top coat and away I went.  I received more compliments on this mani than any others recently.  I think it was just so Bubblegum Barbie and who doesn't love Barbie, right?

So what do you think?  Glitter manis for the win?  Let me know in the comments below! 

OPI Alcatraz...Rocks

Before we get to the good stuff, I have a teeny tiny rant.  Does anyone else hate Google+?  I mean like really dislike it?  I have had this polish swatched for the longest along with a few others and couldn't post them because I didn't know Google+ had an auto-enhance feature that was automatic when you signed up.  Lame.

I'm so glad that I had someone tell me about it or this would have gone unblogged probably for many years to come.  It's way to gorgeous for that.  This is an OPI sand from the San Francisco collection called Alcatraz...Rocks.  It's like a navy/purple sand with steely silver shimmer in it.  Of course it dries matte  and I only needed two coats for full opacity.

Zoya Dovima

Oh yes!  This is the best Zoya polish that I own without a doubt...maybe the best ever.  I guess if you are into black polish and matte polish then this is definitely for you.

Behold...Zoya Dovima.  I only needed two coats for full opacity.  I love the fact that it's not just matte black.  It has some shimmery bits in it which are a great surprise in sunlight because they a slightly blue.  At least that's what I see.  It dries fairly quickly if you apply thinner coats.  I've had thicker ones take quite a bit to dry.  Do I know what this looks like with a top coat?  No.  I refuse to tarnish it's true beauty with a glossy finish.  lol

Do you own Dovima or any of the other Zoya velvet mattes?  I have all (yes even the brights) but one...Harlow.  Anyone wanna give up their bottle?

Winter Wonderland

Just because the holidays are over doesn't mean that Winter is.  Judging by everyone's Facebook posts, I think the cold weather is here to stay for awhile.  I live in Texas so for me to see the thermometer hit 20 degrees is exciting.  So instead of dreading it, let's celebrate it.

OMG look at these!  This definitely goes on the list of my all-time favorite manis.  It's so simple and easy but super pretty.  I started with two coats of Color Club Hydrangea Kiss then added one coat of Nubar 2010.  If you don't have 2010 you need it.  It was the first flakie polish I ever owned and still my favorite by far.  I actually need a new bottle because I'm almost out after two years.  When that dried I applied one coat of Spoiled Jewelry Heist and topped it off with Sally Hansen Big Matte.  I don't know about you but I just love glitters with a matte top coat.  Oh who am I kidding?  I love everything with a matte top coat.  lol
So what do you think?  Are you a big matte fan?  And what's on your nails this cold Winter evening?

Orly Old School Orange

OMG!  OMG!  OMG!  I know this polish may not be a big deal for a lot of you, but I just died the first time I saw the Orly Plastix collection.  The colors are not anything out of the ordinary.  The formula is just as good as any other, but the finish...oh the finish.  You all know I love mattes and I don't feel any different about vinyls.

Old School Orange is a semi-gloss creme orange.  The vinyl or plastic-like finish shows up almost immediately and it dried pretty quick as well.  I don't think a lot of people are really into this finish but I love it.  This whole collection has been on my wishlist for the longest and finally someone gifted two out of the four to me...Jen from My Nail Polish Obsession.  She's always so amazing at finding things I can't find here.  Well I actually did find them once and I passed them up like a dummy.  But anyway they are mine now.  If only I could get the last two.

Be on the lookout for the other one I received, Purple Pleather.  I've just been wearing so much purple polish lately that I'm a little burnt out on it.  If you like this finish, let me know what you think in the comments below.

Urban Outfitter Ombre Sets

Afternoon!  I've noticed over the past past couple of months that Urban Outfitters has fun polish goodies from nail art stickers and brushes (which I own and are awesome) to these ombre sets I picked up for just $10 each.  Sadly I don't think they have them on their site anymore but I saw them in-store and on clearance I believe.

They don't have names but this one is a grey/silver combination with a scattered holo glitter.

This one is a combination of different teal/turquoise colors and one glitter as well.

My pinky has a steely grey satin polish.  My ring finger is more of a pewter silver satin polish  My middle finger has a light grey creme polish that looks a lot like Zoya Dove.  My pointer finger is a metallic silver polish with silver glitter bits.  And my thumb (excuse the staining) is the scattered holo glitter.  As far as these colors being cohesive in some nail art, I think they would work, but they don't look very ombre to me.  I think the glitter would be best layered over each one and not used as a part of the ombre look.

The teal set really surprised me because the colors are much more vibrant than they look in the bottles and they were matte!  That was totally unexpected and I love them.  I added a top coat for you all as well eventhough I prefer them matte.  ;)

My pinky has a darker teal creme polish.  My ring finger is a turquoise/teal creme with silver shimmer/glitter bits.  My middle finger is a turquoise creme with a slight shimmer and maybe my fave of the set.  My pointer has a lighter teal creme polish.  My thumb is a scattered holo glitter in a shimmery teal base.  This whole set really reminds of mermaids.  It's so pretty.  Again I think these would work in some nail art together, but as far as being ombre, they are not.  Maybe if I switched the colors on my middle and ring finger they would blend better, but I just used them as they were packaged.

Each set has it's ups and downs apart from the color/finish selection.  Each polish only needed two coats except both glitters I used three.  The teal/turquoise set had fabulous formulas for being tiny, no-name bottles.  The darkest shade from the grey/silver set was goopy and had a few application issues but it self-leveled.  The color on my ring finger from the grey/silver set was actually almost dried out in the bottle.  The lid wasn't closed all the way.   /:  Luckily I was still able to use it and it was more manageable than I thought it would be.

So will I be doing another ombre mani with these?  Probably not.  Will I be using these for some awesome nail art?  YES!  I feel like $10 is a bit much for these set unless I can get great use out of them.  Mermaid-inspired mani here I come!!