Sponge and Microbead It Up!

I was inspired by Tamara on ohtammm's Instagram page for the gradient/sponging technique and color combo, Sammy from The Nailasaurus Blog for the microbead use, and "Higasaurus" here on Instagram for combing both elements. Check those gorgeous gals out! 

I used Essie Marshmallow as the base for the middle and ring fingers with SinfulColors Pink Forever, Hazard, Why Not, Ulta Sun-Sational and Duty Free Shopping Spree sponged over that white base. Then my index and pinky finger is SinfulColors Why Not with silver Recollections Microbeads. It's all topped off with Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.

Blue and Silver - Caviar

This was my first time using microbeads on myself. I used Recollections brand in silver, Ulta Blue Streak, and Ulta Silver Lining for the base of the accent nail.

 I had heard that OPI Start to Finish sunk down in between the beads so it is a good top coat to use over the microbeads to seal them in. I can't really notice that much of a difference, and whatever change in look it makes I'm willing to accept because I want the microbeads to last more than one day. The last picture shows it with top coat.

Cupcakes - Poll Winner

I always wanted to try out the cupcake look. This was much harder than I had expected but well worth the time. I think they are so cute! I used Grace Advantage French Beige, OPI Pink-ing of You, Essie Turquoise & Caicos, Lapiz of Luxury, and Blanc, and Ulta Duty Free Shopping Spree along with Cina rhinestones and Recollections microbeads for chocolate sprinkles on my ring finger.

Grace Advantage French Beige was used a a base for the whole nail. Grace Advantage is a smaller brand and their polishes are salicylate, formaldehyde, toluene, camphor, and dibutylpthalate free. The formula was sheer, as it should be, but was a little streaky with two coats.

Pictured with Essie Blanc

Pictured with OPI Pink-ing of Your

Pictured with Essie Lapiz of Luxury

From left to right, top to bottom: 1. Paint a sheer base color and, once dry, paint 1/3 from the tip of your nail up with a color (pink). 2. Using a thin brush, paint stripes on the pink using a different color (purple). 3. Paint a strip of white right above the pink and purple. Use your nail polish brush to round the white polish to try to match the curve of your cuticle. Then, with a dotting tool or round end of a small makeup or paint brush, drag some of the white polish onto the pink and purple stripes. 4. With a dotting tool, make your sprinkles and add a rhinestones on top.

Silver Caviar

Recollections Silver Microbeads from Michaels with OPI Lincoln Park After Dark for my first caviar manicure...on my sister's nails.

It is very hard for my to take pictures of someone else's nails. Ahhh!