Wearing my heart and Konjac on a string..#wonderpiel

Product provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

I've been reviewing a lot of different konjac sponges lately, and this one is the last I have in the queue.  I've shown you round white ones, and round green ones, round black ones, pointed red ones, and today's is a pointed black one from Wonderpiel.

Share The Love at a Wedding Reception

Hello, Fireflies!

Recently, I went to a wedding.  Well, not so much a wedding, as the couple had previously eloped.  It was a reception, but nothing fancy.  It was outside, and dress was casual.

So, basically, I went to a party where I really didn't know that many people, and there was no dancing, and I sweated a lot.  But, I am happy for the couple, and I'm glad they included us. 

Since it was a wedding, it's appropriate to share the love, right?  I mean, NailNation3000 Share The Love, a fuchsia holo! And some rose water decals.

Water decals are so easy and fun.  Simply cut out around the decal - no need to be precise - and soak them in water for 10-20 seconds.  When you pull them out of the water, they'll separate from their paper backing, and then you can place them on your nails.

I also did some pinkish makeup for the event.  I was running late, so hubby took this picture in the car at a stoplight on the way there!

Trying out my new Too Faced Pretty Rebel palette! I love Too Faced products.

It was hot, there was no A/C, but Cover FX saved the day! The CC Cream held on admirably over a mix of anti-aging and SPF primer.  Here's my makeup after I got home from the wedding.  I only reapplied lipstick - changing from Milani Power Lip in Raspberry Tart to Tarina Tarantino Floriculture after dinner.

Dang. My hair is a frizzy mess.  I hate Florida heat.

The stable of makeup for the day:  Cover FX primers in SPF30 and Anti-Age, Blemish primer and Eyeshadow primer, and also Setting Powder.  Kevyn Aucoin The Creamy Glow in Pravana, Hourglass Ambient Light in Mood Light, Rimmel Scandal Eyes RetroGlam mascara, Nars Black Valley and Maybelline Studio Eyes in Eggplant, Too Faced Pretty Rebel palette, and Milani Power Lip in Raspberry Tart (going) and Tarina Tarantino Floriculture (after dinner).

Not pictured, but I know I used a setting spray.. either ELF or Urban Decay.  Not sure. They both work well for me.

What are your tips for keeping your cool (and your makeup fresh) during this summer heat?

What Does The Fox (Holo Skittle) Say?

 Hello, Fireflies!

This is the last NCC skittle challenge this month! This isn't a nail art I gravitate to, so it was fun to think of different ways to wear it.  Challenges definitely help keep me from doing the same old, same old..

So, this skittle was inspired by the colors in the nail decoration I decided to use for this look: pink and blue.

The pink (an awesome freebie sent with an order I placed) is Nail Nation 3000 Inner Flame, a hot pink holo.  The blue is Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer Tea Is Soothing, I Wish To Be Tense, a light blue holo from her Buffy The Vampire Slayer-inspired collection. The glitter is Funfetti from (apparently defunct) Makeup Your Face.

And, my inspiration, a little fox nail decoration, with pink and blue stones in the tail! Let's all say it together, now: AWWWWWWWWW.

I know, right?

Double the foxes, double the cute! If you love nail decorations, Ebay is the place to go.  The cheapest prices are from sellers in China, but they can take quite a while to ship to the USA.  Your Mileage May Vary.

I love how Funfetti's glitters compliment the blue and pink holos, but stay soft because of the milky base.

I admit, most times after I take the pix, the nail decorations come right off, because otherwise I'll just pick them off.  But I dearly love sticking things on my nails! How do you feel about nail decorations?

An InLinkz Link-up

Blue and Grey and Dots and Studs #NailArtForNubs

Hello, Fireflies!

If you missed it, I had a post go live earlier today.  Click HERE to see my review of February's Beauty Box 5!

But now, for my #NailArtForNubs!  Today's look was inspired by Raggio di Luna dots and square studs nail art.  She does some of the most creative nail art, and I really love her style.

I started off with Paula Dorf Stormy, a light grey creme.  I picked up a few Paula Dorf polishes in a blog sale, and I've loved each one so far! Great formula.

On top, for a little sparkle, I layered NailNation 3000 Dancing In The Sky, a light grey holo.  I love how it adds a slight blue tinge.

I had some trouble lining up the dots in the center.  I tried to put a marker in the center (like on my thumb) with Julep Josephine, and then build the diamond on top of it.  This worked better for some nails than others.  Probably because some of my nails are wonkier than others!

Also, geometry is important, kids.  Stay in school.

I used Julep Char for the next set of dots, sweeping to one side..

And I used Julep Something Blue to make the dots that swept to the other side.

The original nail art used square studs, but I'm so in love with these triangle studs I just got, I had to use them instead.  I love a good stud.

Topcoat is essential for keeping a stud in its place.  All studs should be properly, um, restrained.  Use your imagination.

Bottle shot:  Paula Dorf Stormy, NailNation 3000 Dancing In The Sky, and Julep Josephine, Char, and Something Blue.

Hopefully, you're seeing through this series that even nubs are a playground for studs.. and nail art! No need to hide your hands because of short nails!

An InLinkz Link-up

It's Pretty Black at 4am

Hello, Fireflies!

I love No Doubt, and I think Gwen Stefani is pretty cool, and I'm loving a lot of her new polishes in the OPI collection.

But. BUT. 4 in the Morning for me will always be a Night Ranger song.  They were the first 'favorite' band I ever had, and I lurve them.

Now that I've dated myself, let me show you one of the newest trends in nail polish!  The satin effect in OPI 4 In The Morning is so gorgeous!

It looks like it's going to be a black polish, but it's more of a charcoal, with itty-bitty specks of blue.

I've been a fan of NailNation 3000 for a while - her holos are pretty cool.  When I saw Ol' Black Water was a black holo with a twist, I had to have it.  I put it on the tips as sort of a gradient effect here.

I love how the satin black turns into holo with that green flash.  It's very subtle, but the finishes make it pop.

But, I'm not done messing around with it yet! I couldn't just stop there, oh, no.  Topcoat time! I think I like it even better this way.

That green! It really does look like murky, mysterious swamp water.  Don't you want your nails to look like swamp water?  You know you do if it's holo swamp water.

So, what earworm do you have now?  Gwen's or Night Ranger's 4 In The Morning, or 'ol' black water, keep on rolling.. Mississippi Moon won't you keep on shining on me.."

It's a musical montage on the nail!

Holo Midnight Blue

Hello, Fireflies!

For today's Favorite Color NCC challenge, I combined my fave color, Midnight Blue, with my favorite polish finish - holographic.

The result was this gorgeous dark blue holo from NailNation 3000, Marthe.

Marthe may be closer to navy than midnight blue, but she's still beautiful.  NailNation sure does know how to make a sparkly holo.

These silver studs were in a variety wheel of studs I have.  I know they're too big for my nails, but I love the shape - and how big they are! It's fun to put outrageous things on your manicure sometimes.

Do you like to wear crazy big studs and rhinestones?

Navy Glam!

Hello, Fireflies!

This is the last comparison of this week - gorgeous navy blue, one of my fave colors for a holo because it just shows all the holo goodness with so little of that greying effect.

Ninja Polish made this color, Glamorous, as a dupe for the VHTF OPI DS Glamour.
 

I wish I had DS Glamour to compare, but I don't.  In any case, this is a gorgeous polish, and if you like deep blue holos, this is a must-have.

NailNation 3000 Doppel Ganger is also supposed to be a dupe for OPI DS Glamour, but it's different from Glamorous.

This polish applied beautifully, but interestingly.  The first coat had larger holo bits, and looked like it was going to be a sheer, scattered holo.  The second coat changed everything, and it was a perfect, linear holo.  I was amazed!

Aly's Dream Polish in Navy wasn't touted as a dupe for anything, and it's a brighter blue than the other two.

When Aly first set up shop, she had soooo many holos, I was overwhelmed and ended up not buying any.  Now, I wish I had bought all of them.  They are really great holos!

Here's the bottle shot:  Ninja Polish Glamorous, NN3000 Doppel Ganger, and Aly's Dream Polish Navy.

Behold, the side-by-side comparison.  No dupes!  I wish wish wish wish I had DS Glamour to compare!  It's hard to imagine any polish being prettier than any of these.  I love them all.

Do you need all three, too?  Or, do you have the coveted DS Glamour, and need none of these?  Inconceivable!  Must.Have.Them.All!!

That's Teal-ly Hard!

Hello, Fireflies!

I want to continue these comparisons with a favorite, teal.

Or is it?  I had such a hard time deciding if something was teal or turquoise, or aqua, etc.  By the time I was done, I didn't know what was what.  So, here's the deal:  I picked 5 colors in my untrieds that I thought were fairly close, and whatever they are, they are some kind of blue/green color.

First up is Literary Lacquers Lake of Shining Waters.  This is the color *I* think of when I think of teal.

This is a gorgeous holo, and it really does look like a mystical lake, or what I can imagine the lake in Anne of Green Gables looked like, as this polish collex was inspired by the book.

Avon Cosmic Celestial is not that teal.  I think of this as more aqua.  There is some green in there, but it's pretty subtle.

It is a really pretty scattered holo.  Blue/aqua/grey/green... what do you think?

Above the Curve Gratitude looks more teal to me, but it has a completely different finish - it's still holo, but it has a frosty shimmer, too.

It almost has a metallic look to it, but it's sheer at the same time.

Indigo Bananas Telephasic Worshop looks teal in the bottle, but it has a purple shimmer that is the kind of purple my camera hates to photograph.  It's quite strong, really, but I guess you'll have to take my word for it.

This pix shows you a *hint* of the purple. It also dries matte!  I put topcoat on it for these swatches, but in the comparison shot at the end of this post, I left it matte.  It totally changes the way it looks, though both are pretty cool.

Last, but not least is NailNation 3000 Gina...So Guess What?  which is her tribute polish to her friend and polish blogger.  NailNation is known for her holos, and this one is pretty holo!

Is this teal or turquoise?  Or neither?

In the bottle, the differences are there, but harder to see.  Bottle shot:  Literary Lacquers Lake of Shining Waters, Avon Cosmic Celestial, Above the Curve Gratitude, Indigo Bananas Telephasic Workshop, and NailNation 3000 Gina...So Guess What?

I suppose this would be the 'money shot'.  All the polishes next to one another for best comparison.  No dupes!  So many different finishes.

Teal, turquoise, aqua, blue... they are all beauties! Which is your favorite?