OPI "Gouda Gouda Two Shoes"

Hey everyone!  As you may know that in the past week or two OPI's newest collection came out!  The collection is called Holland and as you can probably guess the colors represent how gorgeous Holland is in the springtime.  I am so excited about this collection!  I decided to purchase only two colors from the collection because OPI is pretty expensive.  Both of the colors I picked are subtle and more toward the neutral side.  However just because they are neutrals doesn’t mean they aren’t gorgeous!  The colors I got are “Gouda Gouda Two Shoes” and “Wooden Shoe Like to Know.”

Okay so this week I decided to use one of my new nail polishes!  I decided to wear “Gouda Gouda Two Shoes” because it is this dusty rose pink color.  First off I LOVE this color!  It is a nice, classy, sophisticated color that makes me feel so grown up!  It also has a shimmer too it as well.  The shimmer is more noticeable in the bottle then on my nails but it is still pretty.  As always it took two coats to get complete coverage.  The only thing I tried differently this time was the topcoat.



I got a really great recommendation from a friend at school who uses Orly’s “Sec’N Dry” polish as a topcoat.  My usual complaint when I do my nails is how long they take to dry and it doesn’t seem to matter how long you wait your nails still get smudged and ruined.  But with the Orly “Sec’N Dry” my nails were completely dry in about fifteen minutes.  Now I have read a lot of reviews online and many people complain it didn’t work for them.  What I did to achieve the best result was:

1.       Apply my normal clear Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in “Invisible.”  I allowed it to dry for about ten minutes.

2.       Apply the first coat of color.  In this case OPI’s “Gouda Gouda Two Shoes.”  Then allow it to dry for about ten minutes.

3.       Repeat step two until you feel the polish is opaque.  Allow a ten minute wait between EACH coat.

4.       After letting the last coat of color sit for ten to fifteen minutes apply the “Sec’N Dry.”  Allow the “Sec’N Dry” to dry for about fifteen minutes.

Orly’s “Sec’ Dry” topcoat has worked so well for me!  I have been wearing the polish for about ten days now and I have had very minimal chipping and I had NO smudges at all.  After the product had been on for fifteen minutes I could get up and go and do whatever I needed to without having to worry about ruining the nail polish.

Thanks for reading my blog and sorry that I don't post very often!  Maybe one day I'll have enough time to post more often!

OPI "Dutch Tulips"

This week I decided to spice up winter by trying out a new (well new to me) OPI nail polish that I just got over the weekend!  “Dutch Tulips” is this gorgeous red color.  It is hard to describe because it is classy yet feisty, and it is fun but flirty.  I really love this color!  However one problem I encountered was that it took FOREVER to dry!  I spent the better part of four hours sitting around waiting for them to dry and then when I went to bed almost all the nails still got a little patterned by my comforter.  Also I have found out that the polish chips really easily.  I have been wearing “Dutch Tulips” all week and after the first day the tips of over half my nails had no polish on them anymore.  That has been kind of a letdown because OPI polishes usually hold up nicely for me.

However while “Dutch Tulips” doesn’t seem very durable the color is fantastic!  I used two coats of color along with the clear basecoat and clear topcoat.  I probably could have gotten away with one coat of color but I opted for a second coat to make the color be a little brighter.  “Dutch Tulips” as a color is very hard to describe.  I would classify it as a red, but in some lights it looks more like a hot coral color.

Overall I really do like this color I just wish it would hold up longer and not chip so quickly.  Also please forgive the picture.  I typically try and use naturally sunlight, but it is the middle of winter and we haven’t seen the actual sun in weeks now.  I used the flash because if I didn’t the pictures were coming out too dark and a little blurry.

Also as a side note I laid my entire nail polish collection the other day and realized I have 65 bottles!  The last time I checked I had about half that many! 

Thanks for reading my blog!

butter LONDON "HRH"

So this week I decided to stick with purple, but this time I went with a jewel tone!  This week I went with Butter London’s “HRH,” and I found it because I sometimes spend endless hours surfing the Internet looking for new nail polish trends, colors, and blogs.  And near the end of last year I came across the brand Butter London.  I instantly fell in love with the brand, which is 3 free!  3 free means that is doesn’t use Formaldehyde, Toluene or DBP, which are harsh chemicals.  London Butter is kind of pricey and cost me about $15 for one bottle.  I was nervous about spending that much money on a single bottle of nail polish, but it has been well worth it!

As you can tell by the brand name Butter London, the brand is inspired by all things British.  The color that I purchased is called “HRH” which means Her/His Royal Highness.  The significance of the name is that in the olden days purple was very expensive to make, so essentially only royals could afford it.  Overtime the jewel tone purple color became associated with royalty and become the royal color, which is probably why Butter London named theirs “HRH.”

Anyway enough with the history lesson and onto the nail polish!  So purple is my fave color and I couldn’t resist going with a jewel tone to make my week, full of freezing cold weather, pop!  “HRH” is a really gorgeous bold color that sparkles in the light when I move my hands!  As usual I used a clear basecoat so that I don’t stain my finger nails and in the case of “HRH” I used two coats of polish to make sure that the color was as bright as possible.  Butter London definitely didn’t disappoint.  It covered very well and lasted well without chipping, though I don’t really know how long it could have gone before chipping because I had several babysitting jobs and had to switch keys between key chains, which chipped the crap out of my nails!

Overall spending $15 on Butter London was well worth it!  In fact I bought two more bottles yesterday because that’s how much I love it!  It covers well, is environmentally friendly, and lasts well.  And as a side note:  Don’t worry about how big the cap is because it is a faux top that pulls off and has a smaller handle beneath which is easier to paint with!

Zoya "Jana"

Hey!!  Sorry for not posting in a while but with all the holidays and final exams blogging had to take a back seat.  Anyway now that another semester has started back I should be able to post regularly again.

First off I just want to say sorry about the poor quality of this picture but my digital camera was dying and the pictures refused to come out clearly.  Have no fear though I got a new camera for Christmas and its picture quality is much better!  EDIT: Updated photo now. (1/2/13)

So now that winter is in full swing, and it is freezing outside, I have started wearing more winter colored nail polish.  “Jana” is this really great dusty purple color that is muted enough to be a winter color.  I was really excited when I ordered this color from Zoya’s website because purple is my favorite color and I have a hard time finding winter colors that aren’t jewel tones.  I actually ordered this color back in October but waited to wear it over Christmas Break when the weather was cooler.  For me “Jana” is a nice splash of life during the cold winter months when not many flowers or plants are blooming.

This was my first time using Zoya nail polish and I have to say I LOVED it!  The polish covered very well and I only ended up using one coat of color.  Another thing I noticed about Zoya nail polish was it lasted for well over a week before it chipped, which is practically a miracle for me.  I cannot wait to try more Zoya nail polish in the future!

Hope you enjoyed my blog!

 

 

EDIT: As with a couple of my other posts I decided to update the picture because my previous camera was old and on its last leg and the pictures just didn't do the nail polish justice.  The original picture is now here at the bottom and the new updated picture is at the top!  :)

If you want to try "Jana" this polish can be purchased on Amazon (affiliate link)

Essie "Allure"

Once again I seem to be on a neutral kick.  This color is "Allure" by Essie.  I purchased this color when I realized that the beautiful Kate Middleton wore it when she walked down the aisle this past spring to marry Prince William.  Kate is so fashionable and everything she wears is classy.  “Allure” is a very classy nail polish that is very sheer.  I think this color is a great addition to my collection since it isn’t too flashy and can be worn to any occasion.

The color is sheer, and streaking was a bit of a problem.  In the picture above I used a clear base coat and top coat, and three coats of “Allure.”  I used the three coats to help even out the streaking and to make the color a little more noticeable.  However there is still some noticeable streaking, especially on my thumbs.  Other than the streaking the only other thing I had any problems with was getting it to dry.  Between all five coats it took almost 2 hours, with pauses in-between coats, to get it to dry, and I still ended up smudging both of my thumbs.  (Did I mention that I am very clumsy?)

Overall “Allure” by Essie is a nice neutral color with a lot of potential.  I would probably recommend using it in a French manicure, though I am enjoying it just as a nice simple polish on its own.  Also I used three coats of color, but two coats would probably suffice if you aren’t looking for the polish to be very noticeable.

Thanks for reading!

If you would like to give this nail polish a try it is available to buy on Amazon (affiliate link)

Essie "Ballet Slippers"

After wearing my bright and festive Cornhuskin' nail polish for most of the week I was ready for a lighter and more peaceful color.  I decided on Essie’s “Ballet Slippers” because it is a very pale pink and is a nice neutral color.  I usually tend to stay away from neutral colors simply because a. it isn’t my personality (I am pretty outgoing), and b. it makes me feel too grown up.  I originally purchased “Ballet Slippers” because I LOVED its name.  I have danced now for many years and Ballet is always my favorite style.  However, when I put it on I realized that while it is a neutral, and does make me feel more grown up, it also makes me feel very dainty and sophisticated.  Another thing I like about “Ballet Slippers” is that it can be worn all year!  It is not season specific, which makes sense because you aren’t classy and sophisticated for just part of the year (hopefully).

Essie nail polish, for me, tends to work very well and dries without any real issues.  The only thing I noticed is that because “Ballet Slippers” is a very pale color it streaked a little.  I ended up using three coats of color and the streaking has almost entirely disappeared.  And as always to make my nail polish last longer I used a clear basecoat and topcoat.  (“Invisible” by Sally Hansen.)

Over all I really like “Ballet Slippers” by Essie because it is sweet and simple.  The pale pink color is pretty and looks good with just about any outfit you put on with it (from pajamas to stilettos).  And while I am not ready to grow-up entirely wearing “Ballet Slippers” is a nice start.

Thanks for reading my blog!

You can grab this nail polish for yourself on Amazon (affiliate link)

Cornhuskin'

I know the title of this piece is kind of weird and confusing unless you are a Meredith College girl, which I am.  Before I attempt to explain Cornhuskin’ you should know that Meredith College (in Raleigh, NC) is an all women’s college that prides itself in high quality education (and high tuition prices in my opinion), but it does lack one thing, and that is a football team.  You are probably confused about how some random thing called Cornhuskin’ goes with football and the answer is it really doesn’t.  Since we don’t have a football team at Meredith (I mean we are all girls) we cannot have a homecoming!  Well that isn’t okay, so we have Cornhuskin’ instead.  Cornhuskin’ (usually referred to as Corn by MC girls) is this week long event that takes place the first week of November every year.  During Corn there are bonfires, singing, school unity, and ultimately one big competition between the classes just to boost the moral and have some fun.  At Meredith College the girls will tell you that Corn cannot be described and that “You just have to experience it!” and they are right you really cannot fully understand it unless you see it.  And while not everyone reading this will be at Cornhuskin’ this Friday night you can find some videos from past years of Corn on YouTube.  (You might specifically want to look for Meredith College Class of 2010’s skits.  There’s were always the best!)

Anyway onto the nails.  Now that you understand Cornhuskin’ a little better you probably aren’t so confused about my yellow and green nail polish!  I have never really tried to do patterns and multiple colors on the same nail before, so I started first by looking around the Internet to see how other people do it.  What I discovered is that many people use blue painters tape.  Well I didn’t have any of that but I do have regular masking tape, which I am here to tell you does NOT work!  Lucky for me I only tried it on two nails (my ring fingers).  I am going to leave the polish on until after Cornhuskin’ simply because it shows school spirit, and I worked really hard on my nails!

The colors I used are both by Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme wear.  The yellow is called “Mellow Yellow” and the green is called “Emerald City.”  And just like every time I paint my nails I always start with a clear base coat and finish with a clear top coat. (My top coat of choice is still “Invisible” by Sally Hansen.)  Like most yellows “Mellow Yellow” is very streaky, but once I applied a second coat it does even out, however a third coat would probably make it look better.  I did two coats of “Mellow Yellow” and didn't do a third because I knew I was going to add a second color on top and didn’t want it to get too thick!  As for “Emerald City” it goes on very well, though I still recommend two coats.  I applied two coats of “Emerald City” to the tips of my ring fingers just to ensure that the yellow beneath that area was fully covered.

 Overall “Mellow Yellow” is a nice vibrant color that most definitely won’t go unnoticed, however you do have to live with a little streaking.  “Emerald City” on the other hand makes a great year-round color because it is a cooler color, and doesn’t have any problems with streaking!  Also as a side note Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme wear usually sells for around $3 a bottle.

So before I forget I just bought a bunch of new polish this weekend and I am very excited!  ULTA was holding a sale and I had a 20% off of one item coupon!  So I bought four new OPI polishes, which I cannot wait to try out!  I also went to Sephora and bought one of their polishes (also made by OPI), and the last place I went was Claire’s.  I know that there is a big gap price wise between Claire’s and the other two stores but I have had good luck with polishes from there.  Claire’s was doing a pre-Halloween sale on beauty supplies so it was buy one, get one half off!  I couldn’t resist getting a bottle of their glow-in-the-dark polish, and three bottles of mood changing polish.  I haven’t tried yet to see if they work, but I am really excited!!!  Also on the way here is my first two bottles of Zoya polish!  Thanks to @YouGotNailz on Twitter I found out that Zoya was doing a Halloween treat!  If you put in their special code you got TWO polishes ($8 a piece) and you only had to pay shipping and handling!  (Unfortunately that sale ended at midnight on Halloween).

Thanks for reading my blog!