Pick A Pink Gradient

Hello, Fireflies!

I rarely wear pink polish, but 'tis the BCA Season! The prompt for this week's Pick 'n Mix Challenge was pink, and a three-color gradient, so I did a gradient with three pinks.. and a black with pink glitter!

I started with Koco I'll Pink To That, a soft pink with a subtle gold shimmer.  The shimmers.  They always get me.  Annoys me to no end, though, when they are gorgeous in the bottle, and then nada on the nail.

...and then, we're done! I guess I got involved in the art and forgot to take pictures along the way.  Oops.  I just did a simple brushstroke gradient using the polish brush to build the gradient with darker pinks.

The next pink, Koco Strike a Posey, is a little brighter, and also has a little bit of shimmer.  Koco Punch-Drunk is more of a hot pink creme.  I finished off the tips with OPI Today I Accomplished Zero, a black jelly with dark pink to red glitter.

And then I added a pink heart rhinestone because I'm cutesy like that.  Hello Kitty, eat your heart out.

Bottle shot:  Koco I'll Pink To That, Strike a Posey, Punch-Drunk, and OPI Today I Accomplished Zero

Are you sporting some pink manis this month, or are you more about the ghouls and goblins in October?

Swirls in Purple and Gold

Hello, Fireflies!

When I saw this nail art from Les Ongles de Lucie, I loved it immediately, and knew I'd have to try it, even if I couldn't do it justice.

I started with Koco Plum's The Word, an orchid color with a lovely subtle gold shimmer.

A black striping brush, a steady hand, and stopping constantly to check Lucie's original art is what I needed for this step!

I filled in the gaps with a white striper for two reasons:  1) to help clean up some of the black lines, and 2) to make the gold glitter in the next step show up better.  I was not doing all this work and not have the glitter show up.

I do love it at this stage, too.  I could have just put on some topcoat.

Gold glitter and a gold stud complete the look.

I lurve this.  Someone told me that it reminded them of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and I totally see that, but of course I had no idea when I was painting it.

Swirls and swirls and swirls!

Bottle shot:  Koco Plum's The Word, and nail art stripers in black, white, and gold glitter.

I'm so grateful for the creative folks out there who inspire my nail art.  Do you take inspiration from what others have created, or do you look at raw colors and materials and get your ideas from that?

A Night at the Theatre

Hello, Fireflies!

It's Friday! What are you doing this weekend?  A little while ago, a friend dropped some community theatre tickets in my lap, so we got dolled up and went out!

I was wearing this gorgeous shimmery brown polish from Koco called Insta-Glam.

And, because when you go to the theatre, you should be dripping in jewels, I wore my real (simulated) crushed opal nail polish from Profound Glassworks!  It's so subtle, though.  I really wish the opals had more oomph.

I was actually leaving the house, so painting *both* hands was in order.

I wore some other jewels, too.  I don't normally wear these bib-style necklaces, but I love this.  Found it on clearance at Target.  

I have been experimenting more with my makeup, and figured - what better time to go for a dramatic eye than when I'm going to the theatre?  If anyone understands bold makeup, it's them!  I used my ELF brow kit (still learning!) and L'Oreal Color Riche Eyeshadow palette in 211 Blue Haute Couture, and Rimmel Scandal Eyes Mascara.

My primer and foundation were my new go-to products from Cover FX - the matte primer and the BB Gel. I think I used my Hourglass Mood Finishing powder that night, too.

The playhouse was right on the Intercoastal waterway, by the bridge.  I love where I live.

My Cover FX primer and BB Gel held up admirably in the Florida heat. Hubby could have maybe used some powder for his shiny head, though!

Usually, I wear a bold lip when I want to feel glam, but this time, I went for bold eyes.  What is your go-to for feeling instantly glam?