Matchy Monday - Grey Rose Dress

Hello, Fireflies!

Welcome to another edition of Matchy Monday, where I do my mani as inspired by my outfit!

Think you know what this is?

Surprisingly, it's NOT OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls, but it sure looks like it.  It's Color Club Silver Lake. 

The rose and crosshatch pattern on Pueen 22 reminded me of my dress pattern, so I stamped with Finger Paints Black Expressionism on all my nails.

I added lines with a black and grey striper.

I also added grey and white to the roses, but in retrospect, maybe I should have added more black.

Isn't that rose ring super cool?  I love how it mimicked the dress.  I have earrings that look like the ring, too.

A better look at the nails against the dress pattern.

I really like this dress, too.

Bottle shot:  Color Club Silver Lake, Finger Paints Black Expressionism, and stripers in grey, black, and white.

I usually wear color, but I do so love a monochromatic look! Only the red lipstick for a spot of color.

Sunday Stamping - Un-girly?

I am posting in protest today, because today's theme is "Un-Girly" and I really try to avoid gender-based stereotypes.

So, I just picked a mani I had in the archives that could be gender-neutral.

I started with a gorgeous brown holo from Colors by Llarowe, Burnt Sugar.

It's like Espresso, really, it's so dark.  It's definitely not black, though.

I used the MJ III plate and the lizards design in the 5th row, 4th column.  I love the little lizards that run around here in Florida.  Not in my house, though.  I love them OUTSIDE, for any little lizards listening in.

The stamping was done with China Glaze Metallic Muse, an icy blue.

I love blue and brown together!

So, as long as we can agree that all genders and permutations thereof can enjoy brown holo nails and cute blue lizards, it's all good!

Metal Head

Hi Fireflies!

Bang Your Head! Metal Health will drive you mad!

Avon Brushed Metals won't drive you mad, but they are pretty Metal.  This is Dusky Copper.

I love this polish.  It really does look like textured metal! This is pretty much one coat - it's thick, but has a pretty good formula.

I wanted to try a 'watercolor' mani with lots of metallics, so I used Maybelline Bold Gold and Essie's No Place Like Chrome, Penny Talk, and Nothing Else Metals. 

I'm not sure how I feel about it.. I kinda like the patina look, like it's water-worn and maybe even melted a little.  But, it also looks a little muddy.

I wanted to try a different look that showcased the metal texture, so I just added some large hexagonal gold studs, and topcoat.

Metal with metal.  Yeah.  That's Metal.

Bottle shot:  Avon Brushed Metals in Dusky Copper, Maybelline Bold Gold, and Essie's Nothing Else Metals, No Place Like Chrome, and Penny Talk.

How do you feel about metallics?  Only for stamping? As long as their shiny and reflective? Or do you like this brushed metal look?

Are you a Makeup Pro? Are you going to The Makeup Show?

I'm so excited to be going to The Makeup Show in Orlando this weekend!  So many amazing brands will be showing off their latest and greatest, and they will have some keynote speakers that I do not want to miss!  I am fangirling over the appearance of Sutan Amrull (aka Raja)!

This event is for professionals and beauty school students only, so if you're in the biz, I hope you'll be there!

NARS, MEHRON, OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS, OFRA AND MORE HIGHLIGHT NEW PRODUCTS & FALL COLLECTIONS, SEPTEMBER 28 & 29  

  

ORLANDO, FL (September 2013) – The Makeup Show Orlando is excited to announce the launch of new products and fall collections – and all will be highlighted at the show next month! Below are just a few of the products you can find from NARS, Mehron, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, OFRA and more:

NARS will introduce Eye Paint, a must-have for beauty lovers who want to elevate their eye look.  Makeup artists are surely going to want to pick this up at The Makeup Show Orlando!  This versatile product will be available in 10 shades and can be used as both an eyeshadow and eyeliner.

OFRA will be launching their new Semi-permanent Waterproof Eyebrow Gel exclusively at The Makeup Show Orlando!  OFRA’s Semi-permanent Waterproof Eyebrow Gel helps to give you a precise eyebrow shape while maintaining a natural look.

Crown Brush has partnered with makeup artist Ve Neill on an exclusive brush set, which will be available at The Makeup Show Orlando.  Why wouldn’t you want this set of brushes?!  After all, they were only created by one of the best makeup artists in the business. 

Dermalogica has just launched Clear Start, a new skincare line for teens and young adults!  This skincare line is developed to prevent and treat symptoms of mild to moderate acne.  We can’t wait to try this out at The Makeup Show Orlando!

Mehron will be launching B.L.A.M.E makeup pens exclusively at The Makeup Show Orlando!  B.L.A.M.E. is a black light active cream makeup that can be used on the face or hair.  It will be available in six vibrant light reactive colors.  Be the first to pick this product up, only at The Makeup Show Orlando!

Mehron will also be introducing Glosstone PRO at the show!  This new lip gloss is sure to deliver ultra-shine and color.  Glosstone PRO will be available in three highly pigmented matte shades and two sparkly shades infused with tiny light reflectors to pump up the volume by creating the appearance of fuller lips.  Be the first to get this on your lips at The Makeup Show Orlando!

There’s more from Mehron!   Also, launching at the show will be their new SKIN Prep PRO.   The exclusive formula of SKIN Prep PRO increases the wearability of makeup under high-performance conditions such as heat, lights, sweat, etc.   Perfect from going to work to evening play!

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics will be showcasing their new fall color collection at The Makeup Show Orlando!  This collection consists of six new Lip Tars and six new Nail Lacquers.   Be sure to make Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics one of your first stops at the show – these products are sure to sell out!

The Makeup Show Orlando will also feature over 75 beauty brands, 6 keynote speakers, 20 seminars, and 8 hands-on workshops.  A few of the brands you will find at the show include:  Diamond Sponsor MAKE UP FOR EVER, Platinum Sponsor Crown Brush and Temptu PRO, Supporting Sponsors Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, NARS, Stila, Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry, The Powder Group and On Makeup Magazine.

TheMakeup Show Orlando is held on Saturday, September 28, 2013 from 9am to 6pm and on Sunday, September 29, 2013 from 9am to 5pm at The Peabody Hotel Orlando, 9801 International Drive.   For a complete list of participating brands, educational speakers, schedule of events and prices, please visit www.themakeupshow.com.

About The Makeup Show

The Makeup Show is owned and produced by Metropolitan Event & Production and travels internationallyfrom LA, NYC, Chicago, Europe, and Orlando.  Bringing each destination over 60 beauty brands, and unique convergence of artists and community, where beauty professionals are sure to find an artistic energy that will inspire any beauty buff, from the passionate beginner to the seasoned professional.  Each show offers an unparalleled lineup of education and appearances from top beauty professionals and focuses on career building and networking within the makeup community.  The show provides a unique experience for the makeup professional to network directly from the best in the business.

A Holo..With Teeth.

Hi, Fireflies!

I've technically finished my 4 technique posts for the Nail Challenge Collaborative, but I couldn't resist doing another tape mani.  This one took me a looong time.

I started with Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer We Saved The World I Say We Party!, a very light pale lilac-leaning-pink.

So, I saw this look from Love, Varnish, Chocolate, and more, and I just loved it.  So, I broke out the tons of tape I knew it would take to make it!  I did recycle the tape for the other hand, but it was still a lot of tape.

A LOT.  Tape everywhere. I felt like a Bizzaro-world Wolverine.

I painted over the tape with Julep Reese, an eggplant polish with holo glitter. I really like it when a glitter is so fine that you can paint with it and still get nice, clean lines.

And then, I added silver studs.  These are the largest I have, probably 3mm or so.

You can imagine how much effort it took clumsy me to apply all that tape with my left hand. It was a circus! But I did it!

If you've ever seen the comic The Maxx, you might understand why I think this look is reminiscent of his teeth.  I couldn't shake it!

I was pretty proud of my Herculean effort to work with all that tape, though.  I wore this look out to a nice dinner with some old friends and had a great time! Do you make a special effort with a mani when you're going to see a particular person?

Sporty Stripe

Hello, Fireflies!

I am so loving all the multichromes that are in vogue now.  I picked up the set from I Love Nail Polish, and this is the third one I've tried.  I lent the pix of Cygnus Loop and Bifringence to Glittery & Polished in my guest post.  This is My Little Glacier.

The shift on this one is the most subtle of the set, but the type of shift is a little more unusual.  I don't see a lot of polishes that shift from grey to blue.

There's also some pink shimmer in there, which is what had me reaching for Enchanted Polish Horizontal Running.  I was really surprised by the texture of this polish - it's much creamier and thick than any other EP I own.  Of course, I always want more holo, but this is a beautiful creme with a touch of holo.

I really liked this simple pattern from gutsandgrace (Pinned from Instagram), and thought it would look good with these colors, too.

I love what adding a simple white stripe does to the nail art. 

I think it looks like a sports bag now! So clean, fun, and sporty!

Here's the bottle shot:  I Love Nail Polish My Little Glacier, Enchanted Polish Horizontal Running, and a white striper.

I think I'd buy a track suit in these colors.. lol!

Falling for Nail Art - Early Sunset

Hello, Fireflies!

I'm a little bit excited about how this mani came out!  I wasn't sure that my sunset vision was going to come to fruition..especially when it started like this:

I knew I was doing a gradient, so I wasn't too worried about even coverage, but up close, this looks a hot mess!

I wanted the grey background for that twilight feel, so I used Maybelline Impeccable Greys.  Bootie Babe Honky Badonky gave it that purple shimmer. 

Orly Berry Blast added a sheer pink shimmer, and Butter London Silly Billy gave me the bright orange tips.

I may have dabbed on a little more Berry Blast and Honky Badonky.  Look at that shimmer! It glows.

For me, it was that shimmer that perfectly captured the essence of a gorgeous late summer sunset.

Bottle shot:  Maybelline Impeccable Greys, Bootie Babe Honky Badonky, Orly Berry Blast, and Butter London Silly Billy.

That Bootie Babe is gorgeous, but the name and the bottle just slay me!

Falling for Nail Art - The Notebook..Paper

Hello, Fireflies!

Yep, I'm doing another challenge... I hope we all enjoy it!

Today's theme is Back to School.  I've already done one of these with pencils, so I decided to do paper this time.  I started out with OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls.

I used a blue/green striper for the horizontal lines, and a red striper for the vertical ones.  I thought I was being clever in using a dotting tool with OPI Black Onyx for the holes.

I loved the doodling art that Kelsie's Nail Files did on her notebook paper, so I tried using a Sharpie to do some of my own.  It smeared a little, but it was pretty easy to do.

I was always doodling on my notes in school. Didn't we all draw suns in the corner of our papers?

Bottle shot:  OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls and Black Onyx, and my stripers and Sharpie.

Have you tried using something unconventional to decorate your nails, like a Sharpie?  I'd love to know what worked for you guys (and what didn't!)