NOTD: Spoiled Duo

Have y'all tried Spoiled by Wet 'N Wild polishes?

They are at the same $2 price point as Sinful Colors, but perhaps a half a step down.

Don't let that detour you, they are definitely still worth your while.  Who doesnt like cheap polishes? 

I picked up these two a while ago at a CVS sale and "Distant Memory" (the teal) is one of my favorites.  These polishes feature a wide brush similar to Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polishes and dry really quick.  Distant memory is a beautiful dark teal with a slight shimmer to it.  It is opaque in 2 coats and dries matte. 

Since I knew I was going to layer glitter over it I only used one coat of Distant Memory and Use Protection (*giggles).  The glitter per coat pay off is awesome with Use Protection....no need to do any placement or dab extra in certain spots.  I love this glitter polish.  It's a mix of large holographic and blue hex glitters and fine holographic glitter in a sea blue/teal jelly base. I'm almost positive that Sinful Colors has an identical version of Use Protection (dont know the name)....just in case.  It's a great layering polish!

Find any good cheap polishes lately?

Valentines Day Nail Art Challenge Day 6 - Your Choice

Today wasn't really a challenge day.  I wanted y'all to have the freedom to do what you wanted for Valentines day. 

I decided that since I have been doing detailed nail art for this challenge I should do something simple and elegant.

Here are my Glitter Gradient Valentines Day nails - Sally Hansen Flashy Fuchsia and Razzle Dazzler

I'm on the fence on how it came out.  Ive done glitter gradients before and they have looked better.  My Razzle Dazzler is old and getting really thick, so I had a hard time getting the gradient smooth.  They will do. 

I would like to thank everyone you has been reading and keeping up with my posts.  It means a lot.  Also super special thanks for my challenge participants Elena and Lynette.  I didnt expect anyone to participate in my challege, especially since I am new to the block, so it was really nice to meet these two and get their encouragement. 

Please go check out their Valentines Day nails:

1. Elena from Ecklipsed by Color

2. Lynette from Pink & Purple Dots

I hope everyone has a great Valentines Day!

DIY Peel Off Base Coat

This is by no means an original idea.  DIY peel off base coat instructions

have been floating around the nail blogosphere for a while, but I figured

I may as well document how I made mine.

You will need White school glue (the main ingredient in "peel off base coats") and an empty nail polish bottle.  If you don't have an empty you can empty a regular np bottle and swish acetone around in it till its clean.

Step 1: Fill bottle with glue

Step 2:  Enjoy!!

When you are ready to paint your nails with glitter just paint a thin coat of glue on your nails as a base coat, let it dry and apply polish as usual.  That's it!!  

When you are ready to peel off your glitter, gently push it up at the cuticle and peel it off. 

*Usually it peels off in big chunks, but the polish was fresh and just barely dried when I peeled it off.  There will be little to no clean up afterwards....and a lot less wasted time, remover, and cotton pads.  I think am going to try this approach next time I do a sponge gradient, but paint glue all around my cuticles/finger so that i can just peel off the mess and have a clean gradient...hmmm.

12 Days of Christmas Nail Art Challenge Day 5 - Snowman

Today's challenge is Snowman....and I'll be honest I didnt try very hard.

It has been a long and stressful week so I didn't go all out on this one.

I did, however, get a chance to use my I Love Nail Polish "Up to Snow Good" which made be happy.  Snow...Snowman...same thing right?

I used 2 coats of Color Clubs "Metamorphosis", 1 sheer coat of China Glaze "White Cap," and 2 coats of I Love Nail Polish "Up to Snow Good."  Wow, that is a lot of layering even for me, but look at the close up....there is so much wonderful going on here

Here are all the colors I used in this mani

I fully intend on doing an entire post of my I Love Nail Polishes...because they are awesome and deserve their own thunder.  Until then please stop by Nicole's blog to check out her Snowman nail art for today along with all the others participating in the Christmas Nail Art Challange.

 

Quick Swatch Spam - I'm not Lion

Just wanted to share a quick swatch of China Glaze's "I'm Not Lion."

If you follow my instagram (@lovelylacqueredlife) you have probably already seen it, but for those of you that don't here is a quick swatch.

This polish is a full glitter polish with a sandy/champagne color to it.  Its full of silver and light gold glitter...with a healthy dose of holographic glitter thrown in

Here is it out of focus on purpose so you can see the holo glitter going on. 

This polish is so sparkley!! Whenever my had caught the least little bit of light I would have to stop and stare.  It applied nicely, opaque in 2 coats, and dried pretty quick.  It does dry with a grainy almost matte finish.  I used two coats of Seche Vite over top to smooth out the finish and give it a great shine.....really brought out the sparkle.

Cant wait to try China Glaze's Holiday 2012 collection.  They have glitters very similar.