Nail Art January 2016: Day 02

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Today's Prompt: Fresh

This starts my second take at Nail Art January, created by Californails. She created this one last year, and I did it then. I decided to try it again, and try to make it a yearly event, kind of like the 31 Day Challenge that I do in September. No one else is really doing it this year, as far as I know. But I like to complete it so I can see how much I improve over a year!

Nude: Essie Brides to Be
White: Essie Blanc
Glitter: Essie Luxeffects A Cut Above

The first prompt, being fresh, made me think that French tips were the best way to go. I ended up doing an accent glitter nail, too, because it makes it more fun.

This glitter is also special to me, because one of my best friends bought it for me for Christmas, so it was the perfect time to use it! I had been considering buying it, and thinking strongly about it, and then she surprised me by getting it for me when I hadn't even told her I thought about it!

Thanks for reading <3

Christmas 2015: French Tip + Glitter

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Every year on Christmas Eve, we go out to church, and have a nice dinner and exchange presents with my brother and his family. We always dress up for Christmas Eve, so I wanted something that looked nice and formal, so I thought a nice French manicure with an accent glitter nail would be perfect!

Nude: Essie Brides to Be

White: Essence Colour & Go Wild White Ways

Glitter: Sinful Holiday Rebel

I sponged on the glitter, and used French tip guides from Essence to create the look!

Thanks for reading <3

Halloween 2015: French Tips

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Last week I went out of state to a national conference related to my work. It was a very professional event, so I needed something that was professional. I thought that wearing a french manicure would be perfect! I wanted it to still be a little festive, though, so I had one accent nail which was a black and white glitter.

For the first time, I used some long-lasting polishes, in this case OPI Infinite Shine. I was really happy with the results this time! I was not exceptionally rough with them, but I didn't always think about being careful with them. They were barely looking different at the end of the week! The nails of french tips were nearly perfect still, other than maybe one nail that chipped in the tiniest. The nails with glitter chipped more, but the glitter was not a long-lasting polish, I just topped it with that top coat.

Nude: OPI Infinite Shine The Beige of Reason
White: OPI Infinite Shine Non-Stop White
Glitter: Sinful Colors Splatter Spell

I'm really happy with these nails, and with the color of the nude for the french nails!

Thanks for reading <3

Mani By Annie: French Tips & Glitter Gradient

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Yes, I already posted this design, but my sister loved them so much, she wanted them, too! I did these a couple of weeks ago, but I never got a chance to share them!

Link to the original post can be found here.

Skin Tone: Essie Brides to Be
White: Essie Blanc
Pink: Essie Tying the Knotie
Glitter: Essie Set in Stones



















For the french nails, I used french nail guides from nailvinyls.com. To add the glitter, I used a latex free cosmetic sponge and sponged it on in up and down motions, then used the brush on the polish to fade it a little more.

Thanks for reading <3

Wedding Nails: French + Glitter Ombre

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Last week I had two weddings to go to, so I decided to do something simple and classy. I went with a french manicure and an accent nail of a glitter ombre.

Skin Tone: Essie Brides to Be
White: Essie Blanc
Pink: Essie Tying the Knotie
Glitter: Essie Set in Stones

For the french nails, I used french nail guides from nailvinyls.com. To add the glitter, I used a latex free cosmetic sponge and sponged it on in up and down motions, then used the brush on the polish to fade it a little more.

Thanks for reading <3

Fourth of July: Sinful Colors Star Blast Off

Welcome back!

This is a super late post, but I've been out of the country for a week, and never had the chance to post these while I was gone!

I did these after the fourth, but they're so simple, you could do them any time, really! I've done this same idea for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and Cinco de Mayo.

Skin Tone: Essie Brides To Be

White: Nicole by OPI Yoga-Then-Yogurt

Glitter: Sinful Colors Star Blast Off

Thanks for reading <3

Cinco de Mayo: Fierce Fiesta

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Today I wanted to share the nails that I did yesterday for Cinco de Mayo! I really wanted to do something simple, because I needed a break! I did something similar to what I did for Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day! I had a glitter topper from Sinful Colors, so I made that the feature!

Glitter: Sinful Colors Fierce Fiesta
Nude: Essie Brides to Be
White: Nicole by OPI Yoga-Then-Yogurt

I did the french tips by using the french tip nail vinyls from nailvinyls.com, and then I just sponged on the glitter topper to accent!

I love how simple this is, yet it has the twist since there is the accent nail! It is super easy and the only time it takes is how long it takes for your layers of polish to dry!

Thanks for reading <3

Sinful Colors Shamrockin'

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Today's nails are some simple French tips with the St. Patrick's Day polish from Sinful Colors in Shamrockin'. Even though it was supposed to be a St. Patrick's Day polish, it works great for spring, too! It's green glitter with some big white flower glitters. It's such a cute polish! I sponged this on used a latex free makeup sponged.

For the French nails, I used Nicole by OPI Strengthener+ to start. Then I used two coats of Sally Hansen Diamond Shine Barely There. To top it off, I used the Nicole by OPI Brightener+, then a coat of topcoat. Once it was dry, I used my French Tip Nail Vinyls with Nicole by OPI Yoga-Then-Yogurt. 

It even worked out that they matched my book!

Thanks for reading! <3

Valentine's Day: French Manicure with Accent

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This manicure is the actual manicure that I wore on Friday and on Valentine's Day!!

I wanted to highlight the glitter that I used on my ring finger, so I paired it with a simple French manicure. My nails are pretty stained, so I knew I needed more than a sheer cost of a barely there nude. To help my nails look better colored, I first put down a layer of Nicole by OPI nail strengthener. The next layer was a brightener by Nicole by OPI.

After these two, I finally out down a coat of Sally Hansen Diamond Strength in Barely There. Once it was dry, I used HK Girl quick dry topcoat, and waited about 10 minutes before I put down the French manicure Nail Vinyls, and painted the white with Nicole by OPI Yoga Then Yogurt.

The accent nail was done using Sinful Colors Love Sprinkles. I sponged it on to make it thicker and more opaque without doing a million coats.

Thanks for reading! <3

#NailArtJan Day 02

Welcome back!

I decided to do what I do at the 31 Day Challenge with all of the challenges that I partake in. That way, I can keep track of what polishes I used to create each manicure!

First up, the Instagram challenge that I am doing right now, in January. I was on vacation during that day, so it was slim pickins'. Thankfully, the prompt was "Fresh," and I had some press on french nails.

The ones that I used this time were by imPress, and they were the short length. I have tried the Kiss brand press ons before this, and I liked those alright. But now that I've tried this, I absolutely loved these more. They go on much easier, and they stayed great, but they came off so easily! They looked better to me than the Kiss ones, because it was easier to stick them at the base, so it didn't look like two different colors on my nail beds.

Overall, I liked the shape and length better, too. They felt more natural and comfortable, where I remember the Kiss ones being less comfortable.

Thanks for reading! <3

Halloween Nails 2014: Part 1

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Today, I figured I'd post a roundup of the Halloween manicures that I did this year! I know it's a little late, but better late than never, right?

The first one is extremely simple. I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri OMGhost for the white, Color Foil in Liquid Gold and the glitter is Sinful Colors Splatter Spell. On the last picture, I removed the gold accent nail and replaced it with just the white, just to give another option to make it more simple. I almost liked that one better.

The next manicure was very similar to the first, but in black. I used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Night Fright, Color Foil Sterling Silver and the orange is a no name brand that I found at Meijer. It came in a little pumpkin bottle. :) Again, on the last picture I replaced the silver with just black for simplicity.

This manicure is very simple. It only used Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Pumpkin Queen and Maybelline The Color Show Jewels Gleaming Graphite. I wish the graphite color looked more black, because that's what I was going for, but it was more of a steel gray. Some lighting made it look blue, even. The last picture was in outdoor lighting.

That's all for this half! Part 2 will be up shortly!