Summer Neon Comparisons

Hello to all! How's everyone's weekend going? I haven't done anything but clean and polish. I'm almost to the point where I'm ready to do something on the weekend ha. Next weekend is a concert somewhere in a field (from my understanding) by Frank Foster- his new album release concert.  He's this guy that my husband graduated high school with (mind you he had only 10 people in his graduating class). You can check him out on Facebook here. It's not really my kind of music, but he's very talented and a good friend of Allen's, so we enjoy watching him become famous. Pretty cool.

Anyways, since this summer has been all about neons I wanted to compare a few for you all. I seem to have collected quite a few yellow neon colors that I have been staring at on my shelves and thought I would try them side by side to compare.

                             

So I chose to compare China Glaze I'm With the Lifeguard, Milani Totally 80's, Nina Ultra Pro Solar Flare, and Orly Glowstick. These are shown as they are on my nails from left to right.

First up is China Glaze I'm With The Lifeguard. First of all, I loved this collection, as did most people I found. I loved all of the colors I have from this collection. This is def a neon in my eyes but doesn't have that complete semi-matte finish neons usually have, but rather an almost shimmer finish to it and only required 2 coats with no undie- like most other neons.

Milani Totally 80's is one that I bought but haven't tried until now. It did require some white undies and was very sheer and needed like 5 coats for an opaque look. This is actually a more green than yellow color. This was the only color that has a creme finish to it.

Nina Ultra Pro Solar Flare. I've yet to find this brand anywhere but Sally's. They did have a summer neon collection come out, but not much is said about this brand. I think it's just as good as any of the other brands found at Sallys (China Glaze, Orly, etc.) This was the only color I bought from this neon collection. I had it on my toes early summer and got a lot of compliments and it is a very bright, very much a neon. All the qualities- requires white undies, very sheer, so bright it hurts, semi-matte finish. 

Orly Glowstick and Solar Flare look exactly the same when side by side. Same qualities and a few dollars more in price. I love Orly but sometimes the application can be a little frustrating. The brush is long and thin and seems to make it harder to apply this neon since semi-mattes and mattes have a tendancy to dry quickly. I also used a white undie along with about 5 coats for an opaque look- even witht the white underneath. I still found the latter two polishes a bit streaky looking and wasn't quite pleased with the outcome.

So, there you are. 4 yellow neons from this summer. Just for review purposes I used Orly Bonder as basecoat and Seche Vite on top. I like all these colors and loved the neon polishes that were released this summer, but I'm ready for some fall colors, as I've already shown you with my previous review of Zoya. So, did anyone else like these colors or have any others they would add to this (other neon yellows)? Tell me what your favorite summer color was?

Well, as always I like to leave you with lil something. I was playingn around on YouTube this morning and found the "Yes Dance 2" from Rob Hoffman. I don't think it's as funny or original as the first, but nevertheless, it was a good laugh.

Never really seen a hot straight guy in a tutu...gotta watch!

China Glaze Pink Plumeria

Hello all polish lovers!! Hope everyone had a good weekend! Allen and I took Kade to his cousin's birthday party- Princesses & Pirates was the theme. We didn't dress him up, but they had pirate hats for all. Here's my lil mate!

Kade

Then, today we went to eat in Ruston to kinda celebrate our 1 year anniversay, then we did some fun grocery shopping- NOT. Never again will I ask Allen to help me with groceries lol. He was ready to leave after 15 minutes! So...anyways, I made him stop by Sally's, so I could try to pick up some new polish. I found a few of CG Summer Neons. I am actually showing you the one I wasn't looking for, but really liked, Pink Plumeria.

If you've been following other nail blogs, you've probably already seen this collection. Neons seem to be the trend for this summer, because every popular polish brand has a collection. I'd really like to get my hands on some Orly and OPI, but haven't really seen anymore in stores, but haven't had a lot of time to shop. By the time I get around to it, something else will be in...oh well. Story of my life. Ha.

So, since the closing of Picnik.com :( I have been using Picmonkey.com, which is from the same people, but free.  They don't have as much, but enough to edit my pictures. I finally decided to use the new collage option and found it very useful for this review.

Left: Direct Sunlight                                                       Right: Outside in shade

I used Seche Clear as basecoat, then 3 generous coats of CG Pink Plumeria, then finished up with a thick coat of Seche Vite. As you can see, the direct sunlight really brings out the coral and shimmer. I love both and think this is a great polish. As always I love China Glaze, but it's not always as opaque as I think it should be. After 2 coats I could still see an outline of my nail beds so I used one more coat just to be sure. Maybe I should have used white as a base color, but I didn't think I needed it.

Left: Direct sunlight                                                 Right: Outside in shade

When comparing these two up close side by side I couldn't believe this is the same nail color! You can see the flecks of gold, purple and pink on the left. So beautiful and girly. Such an awesome color! You can't see it on the right picture but the pink is very neon shimmery- which I haven't seen alot of. It's very pretty and classy looking when inside under artifical light. So, it's like I'm wearing a different polish depending on what kind of light or setting I'm under....how cool!

Left: Direct Sunlight                                                          Right: Outside in shade

And if I dared, I could upload a picture I took on my phone to upload to FB. It was so bright it look it like I was in the dark and showed up really neon- which I suppose this color made it to the Summer Neons Collection...

Color Glaze and Rhinestones

Well, I have been getting really behind in posting swatches, but I have been a busy girl. Nothing out of the norm, just not enough time to do everything...
I really enjoyed doing this look and thought it turned out really well.

As I was reading one of my favorite blogs, the Nailasaurus, it dawned on me how she got her nails so shiny...I felt so stupid. Use a thicker coat of topcoat, duh. So, I started combining my bottles of Seche Vite and came up with 3 bottles from oldest to brand new. Works like a charm and it dries much faster than I thought. I mean, that's why it's a top coat, right? Anyways...

This look was created by using a basecoat then used 2 coats on 3/4 of my nail using Color Club Rad Nomad, which is the purple grayish color and then 2 coats of China Glaze Kinetic Candy on the other quarter. I used 3small black rhinestones and then used 2 thick coats of SV! Voile!

Franken with m60

WOW! This has been a crazy week! I had the best of intentions of posting my 3rd day of nails for V-Day, and I did new nails for the 14th, but they I was so tired and they looked crappy and I couldn't bring myself to even take pictures:(

I had this ingenious idea to make frankens for all my new co-workers, so I came home Monday night- which is the night I have to take Addie to dance and didn't get home until around 7. I started making mixing after I got home and got done around 1 a.m. I was so happy with my results! I made 8 V-Day themed polishes that I wanted to take pictures of and had the best intentions of posting, but was just so tired:(  Then I finally got around to creating this awesome look for Valentine's Day, but they just sucked. I feel like I am failing as a blogger- I am only able to post once a week because my life is so crazy! I want so bad to do swatches, take pics, and post them. I sit there and just stare at my polishes, buying new ones, reading other bloggers, rearranging my polishes- everything but taking pictures.  It's just so hard to get good pictures when I don't have decent lighting inside and hardly any time to do so.

Plus, I have really gotten into making frakens and have just ordered some more empty polish bottles, so I will be working hard, just may not be posting a lot.
I polish my nails at least every other day, but just don't have time to do everything else to get them on my blog...not sure what to do.

Nevertheless, I was able to create a look for today. For today I wanted to use a franken I made this past week. I have this tank that's this chartreuse, green, gold looking and I wanted to have a polish this color. It looks like China Glaze Trendsetter (which I have swatched) but a little lighter and not as green.  Well, I do like my results, but it's not as green as I would have liked, and I will continue to work on this until I get my desired color.

 

Konad plate m60

First I started out with Color Club Stuck On You basecoat. Then I used two coats of my franken You Are My Sunshine.  It wasn't the best on application, kind of sticky and took a while to dry. Patience is a virtue...

Then I used my new Konad plate m60- my only Konad plate- with Konad special polish in silver.  Now I don't know what the reason was, but I had the HARDEST time getting my stamp to go on my nail.  I had to go over some of my nails twice with the stamp, which I've never had to do before and had to repaint two of my nails b/c I messed up.  I was about to lose patience, but I really wanted to use this paisley stamp. I was determined to make it work. I am pleased with my results. I will try another stamp color next time and see if that was my problem.  My theory on Konad polishes might soon change...I finished up with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat of course:)





Burt's Bees Hand Creme Product Review

I wanted to review this in a separate post. I bought Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme last week:

I was looking for a good hand creme that would help make my hands and cuticles softer and prettier for swatches and came upon this product. I believe it was about $8 or so at Target have been using it a couple of times a day. I LOVE it! I found that since it's rather greasy, hence the "beeswax" in the name, that I get more use out of it if I apply it to my fingers and hands right before bed.  I also, as shown to my right, used it in my gradient swatch today. 

Plus, I absolutely LOVE the way it smells! It reminds me of suntan lotion...that sweet almond scent:) Makes me wanna take a trip to the beach! Here are some other reviews and places you can buy this product. I love the shiny look it gives my hands, especially with CG White Cap on my nails. Even though it's greasy, I still like it. I am still in the market for other products, though, but this is my first attempt at a hand softening creme. So, any advice would be great!

China Glaze/Essie Gradient

Good afternoon polish lovers! So, this week has been crazzzzy! I started my new job- well I started training for my new job:) I will be a "relationship banker" or formerly known as a CSR. I was a teller long years ago (like 7 yrs ago lol), and want to move up...so I am. I am super excited and really enjoyed this week! The weather hasn't been very nice to us though, plus I haven't had any time to swatch.  So, when I woke up today and it was soooo sunny and beautiful outside, well, I knew what I had to do!

I have been watching tutorials on YouTube, and saw this really cool one on gradient nails, so I thought I would give it a try! I wanted something kinda spring-y that would stand out. I thought I'd go with some blues. I really like the results I got!

First I started out by painting the tips of my nails with China Glaze For Audrey, which I LOVE! I love Tiffany's color blue and this is almost a perfect match to it! I kinda waited for that to dry and added a little extra to the very tips. Then, I used Essie Absolutely Shore, which is a light minty color.  I went down half way with one coat then went down a little further and lighter with a second coat. Then, one nail at a time right after Essie I used China Glaze White Cap, which I used last week.  It's an sheer, iridescent white and gold glittery...and one of my fav colors. I went almost all the way down to my cuticle with one coat and kinda swished with two colors together creating a more even gradient look. I topped it off with Seche Vite Top Coat and THAT'S IT! It was a lot easier than I thought, but know I can still do better.

Here's what I used in order from L to R: China Glaze For Audrey,
Essie Absolutely Shore, and CG White Cap

I took like a million pictures of this! I had so much fun playing with my camera in the sun lol. I was trying to get as far away but still use my macro, so I could get a good view of my whole look. This was so much fun and I can't wait to do another gradient! Please let me know what you think!!

China Glaze Trendsetter with BM19

Hey all ya'll polish girlies! So I started my new job today! So excited even though I spent it in orientation and filling out paperwork ha! Well I bought this shirt, but when trying it on last night, my daughter says, "Mom, please tell me that's not what you're wearing? That's just wrong." I guess I'm trying to dress my age...imagine that. So I changed and went something layered with a scarf and cardigan (like I always do:)
So, now to the polish! In the spirit fo the new job I did my nails to match my outfit:)

I'm really loving stamping, and I looked and looked to find one that I thought would look somewhat classy. I think the leaves only look good because of the green/gold China Glaze polish. This is Trendsetter, which i saw in Ulta a couple of weks ago, but didn't like until I saw someone else's swatch, then I had to have it! I love it! It's kinda pukey looking, but has a golden, yellow shimmer to it that goes on very well with just 2 coats.

For this I used Orly Bonder, 2 coats of the Trendsetter, Wet N Wild black for stamp with BM19, as shown below, with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

Well, it's past my bedtime polishers of the world. So, goodnight to all:) Tomorrow is a whole nother adventure we begin again!

Stamping with BM20

Hey all you polish lovers! Today I thought I would try some stamping. I got some Bundle Monster plates a few weeks ago, but haven't had the patience to practice.  Because of the crappy, overcast weather today I didn't plan on taking any pictures, but I think my look turned out okay and the sun came out for about 5 minutes and I got a few pictures I thought I might share. 

I used Orly Bonder as a basecoat, then I used 2 coats of Sally Hansen
 Commander in Chic, which is a light taupe opaque polish.   I then used China Glaze White Cap, which I am IN LOVE with and I think everyone should have in their stash if you don't already!

Since I don't have any special Konad polish to use for the stamping I used the most opaque, one-coater polish I thought I had on plate BM20, Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Plum LuckThen I topped it off with Sally Hansen Insta-Dry top coat. I think it turned out alright, but still need some practice- I have trouble getting my whole nail covered at one time. So, practice, practice, practice for me!

Essie- Bobbing for Baubles

Hey there polish ladies! While I'm still working on my swatching I will grin and bear it...I wanted to share this look I created last week, but was afraid they would look bad, but I really liked the look, just didn't get great pictures since it was already dark, so I had to take pics inside, so I didn't capture the polish at its full potential.  But I will use the top coat again.

Inside light

 h

Had a bit more light here, but more fuzzy, so not much better :(

I used Essie Bobbing for Baubles 1 coat with 3 coats of China Glaze Wireless Holographic Top Coat. I really loved the look I got with the Holo on top of a dark color....looked very galactic and made me think of my favorite TV series, Fringe. The first pic had darker light which I wasn't liking, but I think it brought out the darker Essie color like a night sky while the other pictures showed the holographic colors. I could have added so many more coats, but three is enough. I don't think this color was meant to be too terribly holographic. (I can't wait to get my hands on GOSH Holographic 549!)
These aren't great swatches, the polish was messy and the pictures aren't very good, but I really wanted to share this swatch with you all. I really like it and want to try it again, hopefully when my nails have grown back.
I just bought Butter LONDON's Spring Collection- so excited to make swatches! More to come!
I am also in the midst of creating a Facebook page for my blog, but don't have much more up there than I do here, plus trying to figure out what to swatch, and how to get a great manicure, just busy, busy, busy. Plus I start a new job end of this week!