Day 17: Studs

Can this work please? I used Essie Midnight Cami, Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors, and a little piece of broken jewelry I saved for crafts...or this.  
.

Julep Joelle

Joelle is a super dense holo glitter polish that applies smoothly and is nearly opaque in 1 coat. However, I used 3 coats because I'm obsessed with how beautiful this is.

How do you combine nature and hollywood?

...In this manicure of course! I admit that the light pearly green and silver star combination is an odd one but I loved trying something new. I used my very first Zoya nail polish, Tracy, Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors, and some glitter confetti.

Summer Thoughts

The brightness of Essie Peach Daiquiri is almost neon and certainly is uplifting, and the contrast of Beyond Cozy glams up this look.

Royal Ruffian

This ruffian was inspired by colors of royalty: Essie Beyond Cozy and OPI Suzi and the 7 Düsseldorfs.

Glitter-licious, It's Hot Hot

Matte Glitter? Yes please. I used my favorite black polish for the base, Essie Licorice. Then it was a combo of Milani Teal and Hot Pink glitter topped off with Essie Matte About You top coat to finish off this look.

Chevron Contrast

Someone how my only two chevron manicures look the same. Search "chevron" for an earlier attempt at this style.

I used SinfulColors Pink Forever, Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors, and Ulta Blue Streak for this version. 

I know the tips turned out super thick. Lesson learned: give polish at least a few minutes to dry before adding another layer. 

Red Carpet Worthy

For this manicure, I embellished it a little more by adding subtle glitter to the red.

So here's what I did:
Ciaté Dangerous Affair (solid red) and Enchanted Rose (red glitter)
Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors (applied with a thin paint brush)
Orly Instant Artist Jet Black

By the time I finished, I thought it looked rather elegant and classic. What do you think?

Electric Blue Combo

One of my favorite things to do when it comes to nail art is combining two designs. For this manicure, I did a gradient and polka dots. I used my Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors base with Essie Butler Please as the gradient, then I added silver polka dots...which blended in with Smoke and Mirrors as I got closer to the cuticle.

Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors

Smoke and Mirrors is a gorgeous and smooth silver that glistens like a thousand suns and is impossible to photograph. Is that convincing enough?!?! This was full coverage in one coat. I found the Sonia Kashuk line at Target and they were about $8-9. I want more of this brand because the line is very pretty.

Minnie Mouse Inspired

For a recent trip to Disneyland and California Adventure I borrowed my sister's shirt and that, along with the work of @ohtammm on Instagram, inspired my Minnie Mouse nail design.

The design is the same on both hands but just showed my non-dominant hand.
Thumb: SinfulColors Pink Forever with Orly Instant Artist Crisp White
Index: Julep Kate and I dipped a straw into Essie Licorice, SinfulColors Pink Forever, and Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors for the abstract design.
Middle: SinfulColors Pink Forever with OPI Pink-ing of You polka dots, Essie Licorice for Minnie Mouse silhouette, Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors for the bow, and a single pink glitter from Milani Hot Pink.
Ring: Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors.
Pinky: SinfulColors Pink Forever with Julep Kate and Essie Licorice polka dots.

Natural Lighting

Here is the shirt that inspired the design and my sister's Minnie Mouse Ears. (Indoor Lighting.)

Girly Fishtails

This is my second trying out the fishtail/chevron nail art design. I used Chalkboard Nails' video tutorial for a "Candy-Colored Fishtail Manicure". As you see in the video, you just use the brush that comes in the nail polish bottle, and though there may be some clean-up needed, it is a simple technique that I can even execute on my dominant hand as seen below.

I used OPI Pink-ing of You, Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors, and Essie Lapiz of Luxury.

My dominant hand in natural light

My non-dominant hand in artificial light

My non-dominant hand in natural light

Paris Inspired Bridal Shower

I recently went to a Paris themed bridal shower so I decided to paint my nails to fit the occasion.

On both my thumbs I painted a pink base (Essie Delicacy) and three lines of black polka dots (Essie Licorice).

Left Hand: Essie Delicacy as the base. Index Finger: OPI Pirouette My Whistle; Middle: Julep Kate; Ring: Orly Instant Artist Jet Black; Pinky: Julep Kate.

Right Hand: Essie Delicacy as the base except for my ring finger. Index Finger: OPI Pirouette My Whistle; Middle: Julep Kate; Ring: Base is Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors and Cina sqaure rhinestones; Pinkie: Julep Kate.

Left Hand

Right Hand and Thumb

Nicole by OPI - Miss Independent

This is my first time using Miss Independent. My mom picked it out for herself so I did her nails as seen here. It is a silvery pink metallic color with smooth application. Even though it looks pink in the bottle, I think it looks more silver on the nail.

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.

Glitter Gradient

I was recently in need of a manicure that was both sophisticated and festive. I decided to go with my favorite red, OPI I'm Not Really a Waitress, as the base. Then, with OPI Pirouette My Whistle and Milani Silver, I created the glitter gradient. This manicure paired very well with my black dress with white polka dots as red is classic and the glitter mimicked the white polka dots.

Sunlight

Indoor Lighing

Wedding Dots

I used Essie Delicacy and Ulta Silver Lining.