Wet n' Wild-I Need a Refresh-Mint

This is one of Wet'n'Wild's polishes from the Megalast collection. I haven't been able to find these anywhere near where I live until this past week when they showed up in my local Walgreens. I was really excited, too, because they were on sale buy 2 get 1 free. So, naturally, I picked up three. The colors I got are On a Trip, Candy-licious and I Need a Refresh-Mint. Today I have the last one for you guys :)

This color is almost and exact dupe for For Audrey from China Glaze.  For Audrey is the slightest bit more green, but if you have FA, I would skip on this one (or vice versa).  I have no complaints about the formula, but the brush...the brush is...giant.  On the cap it says it has a "manicurve pro brush" (perhaps trying their hand at the Pro Wide?).  It's humongous.  I have pretty wide nail beds and the brush is almost too wide for them.  If you have more narrow nail beds, this brush will not work for you.  It took me quite a few tries to get used to the shape and size of the brush.  Also, it barely fits in the neck of the bottle, so going back for more polish is kind of a pain.
Let me know what you think about the brushes in these particular polishes!

Thanks for stopping by!
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Happy Valentine's Day!

Hey everyone!  Today is Valentine's day, and I had to do a mani for the occasion.  I wasn't too inspired, so I decided to go a little out of my comfort zone and do a shatter manicure.  I almost never wear shatters, but I just got this lovely red one from OPI and I figured what better occasion than Valentine's to use it?  I think I have a love-hate relationship with shatters because they never work out for me formula wise.  This one is actually really good, and was really easy to use.  I used the shatter over Orly Cotton Candy.

Please forgive my lack of posts lately.  It's really hard to keep up with a blog when I'm working full time and going to school.  I always say I'll do better, but there's no way to guarantee when I'll have enough free time to swatch and post.  I really do try, though :)

I love all of you!  Hopefully you have something fun planned for today/tonight!  (A date with some bottles of polish wouldn't be half bad haha!)
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China Glaze-Four Leaf Clover

That's right, ladies, I'm finally going to post Four Leaf Clover.  As I'm sure most of you know, this polish is notorious for being impossible to photograph.  First, I'll start with a color description.  FLC is a kelly green that is quite bright and leans the slightest bit neon.  For some reason, the combination of these traits result in the most difficult to photograph polish in the world.  I've never seen a swatch that really shows the true color, and mine are no exception.  With color correcting, this is as close to the real color as I could get.  You really have to see the polish in person to see how gorgeous it really is :)

This polish photographs a lot lighter than it actually is, so picture this a bit darker as well as a bit more vivid.  The formula on this beauty is wonderful as well.  Virtually perfect application in two coats.  It self levels perfectly as well, leaving a glassy finish.
Overall, I highly recommend this polish if you're looking for a unique green.  Definitely nothing else like it that I've come across!

Thanks for reading!
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Ulta-Smoke Screen

I was in the mood for something dreary on my nails yesterday, and this was the winner.  Smoke Screen is a gorgeous dark gray creme that leans a bit purple.  I love the formula on this one, you guys.  Thin, even, and covers great in two coats.  Even before topcoat, it's superbly shiny.  These are second-day nails, so they're a bit more dull than I would like, but you guys get the gist :)

This color does dry darker than the color in the bottle, but I still love it every bit as much.  This one is tied with Femme Fatale for being my favorite polish from Ulta :)

Thanks for reading!
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Funky Cloud Mani

I decided to try my hand at a cloud manicure a la Nailside.  I always admire her manicures, and while I can't get anywhere close to her talent level, I can't resist trying out one of her tutorials every once in a while :)  So here's my interpretation of a funky cloud mani:

You guys would not believe how time consuming this is!!  It takes ages to layer all the colors, get the shapes right, etc.. but I like the end result.  Because of all the layers, this took AGES to dry and I got tipwear/shrinking right away.  I had to wrap my tips again right before I took these photos so it wouldn't look gross.
Anyway, the white is Zoya Purity, the orange is CG Life Preserver, and the purpley gray is Ulta Smoke Screen.  I like the color combination.  It even looks kind of tribal-ish to me.  Let me know what you guys think!  What color combos would look nice with this mani?

Thanks for reading!
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Sinful Colors-Nirvana

Nirvana is a really nice taupey-brown creme.  It has really nice application, but for some reason doesn't agree with ridge filling base coats.  It kept pulling like crazy until I used it over a regular base coat.  This is two to three coats with no topcoat:

Quite an interesting color.  Not quite brown, but not quite taupe either.  And it's not really a "greige" either.  I like this better than a regular brown on my skin tone, however.

Thanks for reading!
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Zoya-Purity

Sorry if this post is kind of scatterbrained...I had to take my dog to the vet at 3:30 this morning because she ate over half of a devil's food cake.  Scared the holy living poo out of me, but she's doing fine after some treatment :)

Purity is supposedly one of the best white polishes available.  After hearing all the hype, I had to get my hands on it when Zoya was having their two free polishes promo.  I have to say, it is the best white that I own.  I have another one by L.A. Colors that's pretty good, but the formula on Purity is smoother.  The first coat goes on kind of streaky, but the second coat evens everything out.  Usually with a white polish, it's nearly impossible to get even coverage.  These photos are two coats with no topcoat:

The photos are similar, just with slightly different coloring.  As you can see, it's glossy enough on it's own to where you don't get the "white out" look.  Since I've gotten it, I've loved it for layering under sheer polishes to amp up the color.  I also really like it on it's own.

Any suggestions for a perfect white?  I'm always on the lookout!

Thanks for reading!
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China Glaze-Starboard

In my opinion, Starboard is the most perfect color of green.  I absolutely love this polish and how beautiful the shade of green is.  It seems pretty standard at first, but after looking at it for a while, I fell in love.  It's a bit dusty/dirty, which adds an interesting touch.  Application is pretty good.  The formula is pretty thin, so I used three coats.  I think I could have gotten away with two, though.  No topcoat:

Pretty, yes?
Like I said yesterday, I'm experimenting with some new lighting, so I'd love some feedback on what you guys think.  Any suggestions as to what light bulbs to use to minimize orange/red cast in photos?  That's the main issue I'm having right now.

Thanks for reading!
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Finger Paints-Catwalk Queen

Catwalk Queen is a mustardy yellow creme.  It's one of those polishes that is "fashionably ugly" and supposed to be all the rage.  Usually, I don't go for colors like this one, but I quite like it.  Not only is it a nice color, but it goes on completely smooth in two coats!!  For all of you nail polish junkies out there, you know how rare it is to find a yellow that cooperates...it's nearly impossible!  Well, this one is spot on with the formula :)  I used two coats here with no topcoat:

I'm trying out some new lighting, so bear with me while I figure out how to get my skin to not look so red.  The color is accurate, though.

Anyway, I think she's a beauty.  Definitely something that will have you standing out in a crowd :)

Thanks for reading!
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butter LONDON- Pink Ribbon

This is Pink Ribbon by butter LONDON.  It's a lovely peachy pink sheer shade.  Application provided a few issues, as with most colors like this, but after working with it for a while, I got a pretty smooth application.  I used three coats to smooth out any streaks.  

I think this color is quite beautiful.  It's really nice against my skin tone, as well (not something I usually get in a nude).  If you have this color, but the streakiness deterred you, give it another try with three really thin coats.  I think it's worth it because the color is really lovely.  Really similar to OPI Bubble Bath, if you ask me.

Thanks for reading!
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Sinful Colors-Vacation Time

Okay, first of all, this polish in no way reminds me of vacation.  It's a nice, neutral color that reminds me of something very office/work friendly.  It actually reminds me of my mom, who loves colors like this (she thinks it's illegal to wear shimmer/glitter/metallics/brights/etc. after a certain age [ridiculous, I know]).  Anyway, this is two coats, with no topcoat.  This polish is insanely shiny on it's own :)

Nice, but nothing special.  My mom's entire polish collection of about 5 are all colors like this, so maybe I'll give it to her.

Don't forget about my giveaway!

Thanks for reading!
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Sinful Colors-Why Not

It's snowing like crazy here today!!  Well, it's been snowing for the past few days, but today I woke up to a winter wonderland!  Anyway, it's been quite dreary here for a few days, and I felt like posting a bright, summery mani :)  This is SC's Why Not, a bright aqua blue.  This polish was super hard to capture on camera.  Every picture I got made it look brighter than it actually is.  Almost neon, but the actual polish is nowhere near neon.  The color is pretty accurate, but picture it a bit less bright:

I love the color and can't wait to rock it as a full mani in the spring.  Today, it's lifting my spirits on a dreary day :)

Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY if you haven't already :)

Thanks for stopping by!
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butter LONDON- Royal Navy

I got this polish as part of a pack of three on black friday :)  The pack was supposed to sell for $42, but I got it for $30, so I thought it was a pretty good deal :)  Anyway, this is Royal Navy, a gorgeous dark navy creme.  Application was really nice.  It took me a second to get used to the BL brush, which is why I flooded my pointer finger.  After that, application way easy breezy.  Two coats:

I really like dark blues, and this one is definitely up there!  I really, really love it :)

Keep an eye out for an upcoming giveaway ;)

Thanks for reading!

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China Glaze-Life Preserver

This has been a polish that I have been wanting since February!!  For some reason, I could never find it...anywhere!!!  For my b-day, I got a gift card to Ulta from Mr. NbC's mommy, so I decided to use part of it to order LP!!  Now, I'm not big on orange polish, but this one has spoken to me since the first time I saw swatches of it :)  This is two coats, topped with China Glaze Fast Forward:

In dim lighting, this polish takes on a kind of rusty hue, but these photos show what it looks like most of the time.  The formula is awesome (as with all CG cremes) and the wear was also good.
This is by far my all time favorite orange!

Ugh, and I busted off my pinky nail, as you can see.  I've got a little nub!

Thanks for reading!
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Essie-Lady Like

Happy Pink Wednesday!  I have a really soft pink for you guys today.  It's Essie's Lady Like from the Brand New Bag collection!  I adore this color :)  It's a super soft pink with some purple tones.  I would say it's borderline nude, as well.  Two coats was good for this polish, even though the first coat was kind of patchy.  Topped it off with a coat of SV.

I think it's so classy and feminine :)

Thanks for reading!
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Orly-Paris Promedade

YOU GUYSSSS.  I am so sorry I've been completely MIA for the last week.  Ugh, I feel gross about myself.  But I was up to my eyeballs with stuff to do.  Thursday was my birthday/I had an exam/I had to work, and it just went from there.  I had family visiting and couldn't do my nails or blog :(  But I'm back!!  And today I have Orly's Paris Promenade on guest fingers!!  My mom, Betty, was kind enough to loan me her nails :)  She wanted a bloody color for her halloween costume, and this is what she picked off of my wheels:

Paris Promendade is a medium to dark red creme that is slightly on the sheer side.  Application was pretty good, as with all of my old Orly's, but you can see some slight pulling on her middle finger in the second photo.  Overall, I liked how it turned out on her against her skin tone (more olive than my own).

Thanks for sticking with me, ladies!

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Essie-Power Clutch

This is Power Clutch, fom Essie's fall 2011 collection.  She's a gorgeous medium grey creme with a bit of an unusual greenish tinge to it.  I didn't like this one at first, but it grew on me the more I looked at the bottle and when I put it on my nails, I loved it! Formula is awesome, this was only one coat topped with SV:

And don't forget to keep voting on my contest entries here!

Thanks for reading!
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ELF-Nude

ELF Nude is one of those polishes that you think will look good on you in the bottle, but is dissapointing on the nail.  At least for me and my skin tone.  I got some major lobster hands!!  Formula was good, however, and I would recommend this for people with a warmer skin tone than I have.  Two coats and super shiny even without topcoat.  Pictures!

What do you guys think of this one?  I like it, just not on me :)

Orly-Naughty

Naughty is just as the name would imply...naughty!!  It is a very dark burgundy with an ever so lovely creme-jelly finish.  Application was lovely, as with all of my oldie-but-goodie Orlys :) I included four pictures to show off the great depth to this polish.  Two coats:

This type of color is super on-trend for this fall, so I'm excited to have such a great one in my collection!

Thanks for stopping by!
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Sally Hansen-Petal Pusher

Since it's nearing the end of summer, I thought I'd show you guys a light pastel before the cooler weather starts to set in :)  This is Petal Pusher from the SH Insta Dri line.  A light pastel pink bordering on a creamy white.  The first time I swatched this I hated it, but I also wasn't very good at getting an even application.  The second time around, I got it a bit more even and I liked it.  I used three coats, no topcoat:

This color looks so classy on any skin tone, in my opinion.  Just light enough to not make me look like I have mannequin hands (and I'm super pale), so that's a plus.  Let me know what you think about this one!!

Thanks for reading
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