LVX and Windestine

Sometimes, I get hooked into these sites like SneekPeek or HauteLook, where they discount these luxury brands so us average Jane's can try them.  I didn't know much about LVX, but I wanted to find out more. 

Avireo.  I must have a dozen iterations of this greyed green, and I keep buying them because I can't get enough.  I like how shiny it is.  I can't remember if it had problems with leveling or if the ripples are caused by the glue base coat and my impatience.  It's not on every finger, so I'm going to go with operator error.

Windestine has some of these micro-glitter topcoats that are so delicate and pretty.  This one is Hydrangeas.  I love the flashes of purple on the green.

Legendaire.  Gorgeous color, some problems with application.  This spring you are going to see LOTS of pastels, so pick one that you love and love to apply.  Pastels are notoriously streaky, so it usually pays to go with a higher-end brand for pastels.

Again, I went with Windestine Hydrangeas for the topcoat.  Now, the green is popping on the purple.

I also tried Windestine Into the Wild, a larger hex glitter of browns and coppers.  Love the glitter... not so much over the purple.  What was I thinking?!?

Prussian.  Oh, I love these darkened teal blues.

This time, I went with Windestine Jeweled Sand as a topcoat.  I like blue with brown and the light blue is really sparkling.  Seems a shame to cover up Prussian, though, with anything.

Primrose.  Yeah...no.  I don't really do these acid yellows.  Not my speed.

I did an abstract rose pattern using Prussian, Avireo, and Livid, a great pitch black polish from LVX.

Kinda takes the sting out of the acid yellow a bit! 

If you'd like more information about Windestine, you can find them on Facebook and their Etsy store.
LVX can also be found on Facebook.  They're having a 25% off promotion through Valentines' Day.

Do you feel yourself drawn to Windestine or LVX?

Waiting for Santa?

Well, Santa's here!  I have two different Santa manis for you today.

The first one was inspired by a pix a friend left on my FaceBook wall.  I don't know who the original artist is, I'm sorry to say.  If you know it, please leave me their info in the comments! 

I started with a base color of Milani White on The Spot, with an accent of American Apparel Dance.  I am seriously impressed with White on the Spot - it's a great, glossy white, opaque in two coats, and not chalky.  It's not only great for nail art, but also as a full-coverage polish.

Next, I used China Glaze Adventure Red-y to paint the hats, and make some reference dots for Santa's face.

A dotting tool finishes up the rest - China Glaze Glistening Snow for the trim, LVX Livid for the eyes, and a little AA Dance mixed with the Adventure Red-y for the jolly elf's nose.

I liked the Santa, but the straight French-style tip doesn't look that good on my nails - I have small nail beds, and they have a slight triangular shape to them.  This type of tip emphasizes their stubbiness.

This next Santa mani is inspired by Sincerely Stephanie's 'Cutest Santas Ever!' tutorial.  

I started with Milani White on the Spot over all nails except the ring finger.  That, and the edges of the others are painted with a lovely glowy red, Pure Ice All Nighter.  The faces are using the American Apparel Dance again, just like in the previous Santa.

Oy, what a mess! I clean up using an ELF concealer brush and DIY Zoya remove (acetone + water + glycerine).  A dotting tool and LVX Livid for the eyes, more All nighter for the noses, and a mix of the red and Dance for the rosy cheeks.

A little white over the eyes and a dot on the black makes his eyes sparkle and look like he has eyebrows.  A little more white and China Glaze Glistening Snow gives us a little hat for Santa, and a stripe of Livid with some Glistening Snow, and Santa has a belt for his suit!

Now, he's a jolly ol' elf with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.  I think that the curved French tip is more flattering to my nail shape, too, so I'm a lot jollier as well!

Will you be decorating your nails for the season?  If you try either of these Santas, please leave me a pix on my FaceBook!

Stamping Sunday - winter challenge, and an unexpected dupe!

When I saw that the challenge was for a winter scene, my thoughts went immediately to a soft blue and grey background.

I had just received my LVX polishes from SneakPeek (or Haute Look, to be honest, I can't remember!) and I loved this one, called Callais.

...but take another look.  Do you see that not all the polishes are the same?

I mixed in the HTF and very sought after OPI What's with the Cattitude? from the Shrek collex.  It's on my thumb, if you couldn't tell.  In RL, my hubby couldn't tell, either.  The only difference I noted was in the application.  The OPI took three coats, and was a bit more jelly-like, but it didn't self-level.  The LVX actually had a nicer formula.  If you're interested, as of this writing, the LVX is still available on their site.

Because I was stamping, I didn't bother with a sponged gradient, but just brushed on Hare Ancient Affairs.  This is a beautiful soft grey with a blue shimmer.

Then, with Milani White on the Spot and Bundle Monster 323, I stamped on my snowflakes.

I imagine them drifting down, like they do in those old Rankin-Bass Christmas specials.  Which, I know, dates me.  And some of the younger kids don't like them, but for my money - it's just not Christmas season until I've watched Rudolph, and Frosty, and Jack Frost.. and The Year Without A Santa Claus.. and Rudolph's Shiny New Year...