Something Different Sunday - the Lilly Brush

The Lilly brush was provided to me for review, through my relationship with iFabbo.  Regardless, I make every effort to have my reviews be unbiased and honest.

The Lilly brush's tagline is 'Save Our Sweaters' and is touted as a great way to save your sweaters from pills.
I, uh, well, don't really wear sweaters here in Florida, so I picked a few other things to try.

My first experiment was a set of navy blue towels that had gotten a bunch of white lint on them that several washings couldn't remove.  Well, neither could the Lilly brush.

My second experiment was with a shirt of my husband's that had gotten a little pilly.

It was so hard for me to take a macro pix of the pills on this shirt, but I did my best.

After using the brush, I could see that many of the pills were brushed out, and the fabric had a 'brushed' look to it.  I later realized that the shirt wasn't 100% cotton.  Apparently, synthetic fibers are longer and stronger than natural ones, and need to be removed or shaved from the cloth.  The Lilly brush is ONLY recommended for natural fibers.

You can see that some of the pills were indeed brushed off.

My third experiment was with some dog hair I put all over some shorts.

A few swipes of the Lilly brush removed all the hair.  I did half so you could see the difference.

No dogs were harmed in the experimentation of the Lilly brush, but he did want to sniff the brush!  (This is Bodie, one of our 4 dogs.  He's a rescue boxer mix, probably around 5 years old, and 50 pounds of attention/love sponge.)

I would recommend this brush if you have mostly natural fabrics that get pilled, or you have a pet hair problem - and with 4 dogs, I sure do!  The brush is pretty compact and comes with a case that fits over the brush head.  What do you think about the Lilly brush?

If you'd like more information, or would like to purchase the Lilly brush, I encourage you to use my affiliate link to their site:  HERE

The Lilly brush was provided to me for review, through my relationship with iFabbo.  Regardless, I make every effort to have my reviews be unbiased and honest.

Sunday Stamping - Lilacky-Backy!

This week's Adventures in Stamping challenge is:  over a lilac base.  My biggest challenge was deciding which lilac to use! Luckily for me, I had just gotten some nail mail, and my selection from Barielle's last sale finally arrived!  This is Lilac Jelly Bean.

Ok, I don't know *anyone* who thinks that a lilac-flavored jellybean is actually a good idea, mind you.  Now, *lavender* I've tried, and it makes a good ice cream, but I don't know about lilac.  That's, well, that's just weird.  But so beautiful, and the formula is pretty good, too.

I used a polish I got in a swap - a brand I've never heard of before.  Joie' Kollection Metailic Burgendy.  I triple-checked the spelling on the label.  I used a weirdly-spelled plate, too - Pueen 14.
 

I thought the stamp looked like the ornamental top of a building, like the Taj Mahal.  For stamps like this, I wish my nails were longer!

In the pix, it just looks a little blurry, but this stamping polish had the prettiest pink shimmer that just glowed with the topcoat.  Pretty cool effect in Real Life, even if it makes me look a drunk photographer for my blog.

I love a polish with a surprise like that.  Do you have any polishes that just took on a different characteristic when you used topcoat, or layered them, and you were pleasantly surprised?

Above the glittery, pastel curve

I love the Spring glitter collex from Above The Curve... which surprised me a little, because I usually just go for their holos.  It was a nice surprise!

First, a skittle shot, no topcoat.  Pretttttty.

Daisy Lilacs It.  Pastel purple with blue and gold circle glitters, some small magenta glitters, and a few small stars.

When I first swatched this in the skittle mani, I didn't even know it had stars! I hadn't seen these new smaller star glitters before, and I like them a lot better than the large ones.

Misty Morning.  Gorgeous blue with white hexes, and some really big hexes.

I had a little trouble with this application.  The large hexes are just too large for my nails, I think.  I have small nail beds, and if the glitter wasn't right in the center, it wouldn't lay flat.  You can see on my pointer that the glitter is off to the side and is sticking up.  On my ring finger, the glitters in the center look fine.

Also, this one probably needs undies.  To get it opaque, it's just too thick.

Sunset Skies.  Not really a pastel, but it is lighter than I was able to photograph it. I love these fiery orange and pink and yellow glitters.  It really is like a bright sunset.

Rain-Kissed Strawberries.  Who knew that I would start to love pink polish again?  This is a great shade - not too girly-sweet, with more of those magenta circle glitters, and some others hex glitters in shades of pink.

Field of Tulips.  This pastel green is one of my faves this season.  Can't seem to get enough.  The explosion of color glitter isn't something I'd wear every day, but it is a fun glitter, and reminiscent of its name.

If you like pastels, glitter - especially the new bright circle glitter - then I think there is at least one in here for you.  My fave is probably Daisy Lilacs It.  Do you have a favorite?

If you'd like more information about Above The Curve (including their charitable donations to Shriners and others) please visit their Facebook page, or their shop on Big Cartel.

Feel like a Goddess..

While I enjoyed exploring textured polishes, there is something about the holo that just draws me back, and I can't wait to show you a few that I've discovered.

Today, I'm loving the Goddess collex from Pretty Jelly.  All 5 are multichromes with a scattered holo.  Each applied wonderfully with no special needs, two coats, or one coat over OPI Black Onyx on my thumb.

Aphrodite.  Described by Pretty Jelly as, "Pink-purple multichrome holo. Shifts from purple-pink to orange to yellow."

Can you believe this is the same polish?  Amazing shift.  That pink is even brighter in Real Life. Definitely one of my faves from this collection.

Artemis: "Cyan-red multichrome holo. Shifts from cyan to blue and purple."

For me, any blue was only evident in the lightest flash, except when over the black.  The reddish colors showed up best along the edges.

Demeter: "Green-brown multichrome holo. Shifts from green to blue to purple." 

The green is actually more evident in Real Life than in the photo.  It's a very pale green, though. I'm not seeing much purple, but the blue is clear in the shift over black. Very similar base color as Artemis, but with a green flash instead of blue.

Hera: "Purple-indigo multichrome holo. Shifts from cool icy blue-purple to a rich red-purple."

Some of the other holos in this collection have a very similar base color, and really only show differences in the shifts.  Not Hera.  This one clearly has a purple base, and the red to blue shift is more pronounced. 

Hestia: "Copper-orange multichrome holo. Shifts from copper to orange to yellow."

I love an orange/pink polish.  This one definitely has a glowing quality to it.

Overall, I like these.  I love multichromes and I love holos.  I do with that the holo was a little stronger, but I suspect I wouldn't want to give up some of the pigmentation that is the usual tradeoff.  I will admit that I have trouble telling some of these apart because they are so similar.  (They're not the SAME, they're similar!) Hera is a clear standout, and Aphrodite is as well. 

I'm glad I have them all, mostly because my OCD is satisfied to have the whole collection.  What do you think?  Are any so similar to others in this collex or other polishes that you don't need them?  Which is your fave?

If you'd like more information on Pretty Jelly, you can find their maker, Liquid Jelly, on Facebook, or on their Etsy store. EDIT:  Pretty Jelly now has their own Facebook page!

What do Crocs and Sea Salt have in common?

Well, in the nail world, they are both textures!  Today I have a few random ones that I don't have a full collex of.

Julep Madeline - Sea Salt texture.  Their version of the creme texture mani, it is a very pretty delicate seashell pink.  Needs at least two coats for opacity, and is probably the least textured of all the ones I've tried, so it might be a good starter texture!

Barry M. Ridley Road Texture.  Oh, mint.  I must have a mint polish in every brand, and now in different textures!  I love this color, and it's pretty fun in this form.  It's another creme texture, bumpier than the Julep, and I think bumpier than the Milani, too, if memory serves.

Barry M Croc Effects.  I may be over crackle, but I am loving this.  I am wearing Black Croc Effects over Pretty Jelly Hestia (from the Goddess collex - stay tuned tomorrow for swatches from the whole amazing collection.)

I have one thin layer over my index and middle, one thicker layer over my ring and pinkie fingers.  On my thumb I have two layers, with the second applied after the first had already cracked.

With topcoat, it looks like patent leather!  The thinner layers took on a bronze look from the color underneath, and the thumb with two coats took a long time to crack a second time and looks too thick.  I recommend one thick layer.  It's fun to watch it make the pattern, too. It's entertainment!

Ok, I admit, I still have crackle polishes, too, but I rarely wear them.  This effect I would wear loud and proud.  It's awesome.  Same with the sand/salt/etc textures.  They are really fun and versatile.  Did you find one that you liked?  Do you still rock a crackle mani?  Don't worry, I won't judge you... much. ha-ha!

Spring Fling Giveaway!

I've joined forces with 40+ bloggers and Indie creators to bring you a fabulous and HUGE giveaway.  You can enter from the Spring Fling tab on the top of my page, or there is a link on the side, or

HERE.

Show these folks some love, especially

So You Think You Can Paint

for organizing this whole thing.  Thanks, and GOOD LUCK!

Fairy Dust? or Pixie Dust?

Well, Zoya PixieDust won't make you fly, but it will make you FEEL like your flying, right?

Well, it'll make you want to fly?

Ok, it'll make your fingers feel bumpy, and it's pretty.  But that's pretty much all we can ask from nail polish, anyway.

My friend Jill wanted Zoya London, a beautiful medium grey, with French tips done in Dahlia.

She also wanted them topcoated, which made them supersparkly and smooth, but it also meant that they barely lasted a day before they chipped off.  Word on the street is that if you want to use base and/or top coat with Zoya Pixie Dusts, it has to be the Zoya brand, or you'll get chipping.

Zoya Vespa.  Icy, pale green.  It practically glows.

I took a cue from Jill's mani, and decided to do these with a Dahlia French tip as well.  Love the contrast.

Zoya Nyx.  Icy, pale blue.  But, wait a minute - that's a Julie G bottle I'm holding there.  Yep, one of my nails is painted with Blueberry Fizz.  In Real Life, it was nearly impossible to tell them apart, so I'm calling it a dupe.  By the way, it's my thumb.  Did you guess right?

And, French-tipped with Dahlia again. 

Dahlia.  Well, I can't just show you the little sliver of Dahlia without showing you the whole mani, can I?  I love this color.  Black, with silver sparkle.

No French tips here, but there is another dupe!  My thumb is actually painted with Orly FX Black Pixel.  Nearly impossible to tell apart in Real Life.

As far as formula, you can't go wrong with Zoya.  All of these applied great, one or two coats as you like.  They definitely dry with a texture and a sparkle, but I don't find it to be too rough.  I think the Julie G Gumdrops are more textured.  All of these are easier to remove than regular glitters, but harder than creme polish. 

Have you found any other dupes yet?