Chaotic dotticure: Zoya Tru and Orly Oui

This is my second attempt at participating in a nail art contest, this time for Polish days. This September's theme is Geometry, and i actually had a completely different idea in mind, but i didn't have much time yesterday, so i needed something quicker.

As i was terrible at geometry in school, i thought that something messy, in no particular order would suit me. So i painted my nails with Zoya Tru, a gorgeous purple with subtle copperish shimmer flecks, and dotted randomly with Orly Oui. 

Polish and money tree - more money, more polish! :D

OPI Mermaid's Tears and Nubar Black Polka Dot swatches & review

I've figured out the reason why my photos were washed out! Yay normal colors!

OPI Mermaid's Tears arrived with my nail mail and i couldn't resist to paint my nails with this beautiful turquoise color (i'm a sucker for it, as you might have noticed! If only the spelling of this word was easier :P).

But i also had a long lemming of mine sitting on my dest, asking for attention, and this was how polka dots invaded my nails :D 

The following pictures feature a base coat, 2 coats of Mermaid's Tears, 1 coat of Black Polka Dot and 1 coat of INM Out The Door under natural lighting. 

OPI Mermaid's Tears: a green-leaning gorgeous turquoise. Application was a dream. 2 easy coats were all that it needed. Actually i think it has a potential to be a one-coater, if you use thick ones! 

Nubar Black Polka Dot: small round glitters and larger hex glitters in a clear base. I love it, but could Nubar make the brush white next time, please? You just don't see how many larger glitters you've got, which in my case ended up being 100500 smaller ones and 1 big one. Yes, it certainly had something in it, but i want more larger glitters! Apart from that, i think Nubar may become my second favorite brand soon (because nothing can beat Zoya! :D). And i love their brush, although i don't like reviewing brushes, since they're an extremely individual thing. 

This manicure lasted whopping 5 days on me! It might not be too long some some of you, but nail polish usually chips in 2 days on me. If i can wear a polish for 3+ days, i consider it long-lasting.   

And that's it for today! Have you ever tried Polka Dots? Love or Hate? How do you feel about turquoise nail polish (and do you think it could use an easier spelling xD)? 

Geometrical manicure v.2

Hi everyone :)

This is the other geometrical manicure i did before going to Malta. I like it much more than the first one, to be honest :) I loved the color combination & it was my travel mani, too, so it lasted about 5 days on me - a record!

I used Nubar Baby Blue, Nubar Faded Jeans and Orly Prelude To A Kiss to create it. The last two pics are more color accurate, as they were taken outside in the natural light, while the first two - in a cafe with artificial warm light, at it was quite dim there, but i love the photos nonetheless. Thanks go to my bestie Veronika for taking the photos for me :)

Malta haul or nail polish in Malta!

Hi everyone, here i am back from Malta!

Before leaving i raped Google, and the only thing it would tell me is that i would't have any nail polish shopping there. 'Okay', i thought, 'then i'll just order nail polish online when i'm back'. I'll still order it, i'm in love with the new Zoyas and OPIs, and i'll be sure to pick up a couple of Essies, as well. However, i did bring some nail polish with me from that paradise on Earth :)

So, nail polish in Malta:

Gabrini ? (номер содрался вместе со скотчем, которым я заматывала лаки в дорогу), 322, 356

Beauty UK 62 Street Rose, 75 Smokey Lilac, 70 Plum, 38 Burgundy

 Layla Magneffect 07 Metallic Sky, 06 Golden Nugget, Ceramic Effect 13

Essence Ticket To The Show & Front Row Or Backstage?, Naj-Oleari 71 (it's glitter, but it's MATTE so i suspect...SUEDE ^____^)

Prestige NLW – 67 Orangerie, 70 Thaiti

 Revlon Facets Of Fuchsia, Radiance, Grape Fizz

 Givenchy (supposedly, since i couldn't find either of them online, but they might as well be just old :D) Baby Vernis 52, Vernis Brilliant Couture 603 Corail Empire

Max Factor Fantasy Fire x2, Odyssey Blue 
(YES, FREAKING 2 FANTASY FIRE BOTTLES! *NAILGASM*)

Where to find nail polish:
1. Franks and other beauty shops chains
2. Pharmacies, both chain and individual. Those sometimes carry real jems!
3. Anywhere. I bought my Beauty UK, Gabrini and Essence ones at a shop in Valetta called Pushka that actually carries clothes, not cosmetics (still, they had those displays, and i couldn't miss the opportunity :D)
All in all i'm very satisfied with my purchase. I really didn't expect to buy any, and i returned with FANTASY FIRE (yes, i have to capslock :D)

Oh, also i picked up my nail mail - 3 OPI Suedes & Mermaid's Tears! I'm almost in nail polish nirvana :D

China Glaze Happy Go Lucky swatches & review + NOTD

Hello everybody!

China Glaze Happy Go Lucky from Up & Away Collection is a bright creme that is opaque in 2 coats. The formula of this one is quite thick, so you need to be careful at the cuticle area unless you want to end up with nasty bald spots :)

This polish is a blast of sunshine! I've worn it twice in the past month, and it's become my go-to polish if i feel upset and need to cheer myself up. 

I used a coat of Nail Tek Foindation II, 2 coats of Happy Go Lucky and a coat of INM Out The door for this mani.

The next day this polish made the perfect base for some geometrical manicure :)

Ugh, the colors look washed out again, i don't know what to do with that :( Anyway, the orange is Skinfood or006 and the dark blue one (yes, it's dark blue, not black like it appears in the pictures %)) is Nubar Dark Wash Jeans. The manicure lasted 3 days on me before i grew tired of it and took it off - something that never happens with me, i change nail polish because it has chipped off (and because i need to swatch many other for my blog :D), not because i'm tired of it!

The Blogazons weekly roundup' July, 20

Hey guys :) here's my first weekly roundup post that gathers The Blogazons' members' posts. The Blogazons is a group for beauty bloggers who are new kids on the block on Facebook. Since i'm desperately missing socialization i decided to join it.

Sincerely Stephanie: Ever heard of a jelly gradient sandwich? Check out how Sincerely Stephanie combines these two techniques!

Beauty Thesis: Love + is an appropriate name for this gorgeous red (!?) eye shadow. Beauty Thesis shares the good, the bad and the awesome!

My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura is hosting a GIVEAWAY! 3 lucky readers will win the Smashbox Softbox Palette!

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Lola from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog is all starry-eyed about the new Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Twilight Night Shimmer Ink because it is so gorgeous and complex!

strong>Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: The beautiful jellies of the Zoya Gloss collection are spotlighted on Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom

Mani Curiously: Check out E's yummy swatches & review of the NEW Zoya Fall Collection, Gloss!

Geniabeme Beauty Blog:: What is your favorite bright lippie? See which ones are Genia's favorite!

Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist: How I (used to) style my long hair with a curling iron to create smooth waves. Added bonus....an easy messy side updo tutorial.

Mama Fashionista: Mama Fashionista is ecstatic over the new LUSH storefront at the Mall of Georgia! Find out why, and see if there is a LUSH coming to mall near you too!

The Beauty Book: Does your face resemble a slip-n-slide at the end of the day? Here are some GREAT tips and advice on how to combat oily skin!

Midnight Manicures shares with you the hottest new Independent polish company - Sea Lore and it's first release, Triton's Daughters Collection. Beauty by Miss L: Have you used Korres Yoghurt Face Sunscreen SPF30? Miss L did and shares her thought about it.

Très Beau Glamour: Ever wondered what eye and lip combos you could create? Nay Denise shows four different lip and eye combinations that can be worn throughout the seasons.

Lisa's Nail Obsession: Do you like your moon's to show in a nail design? You've got to see this one!

Patty and Goldie's Day off: The Invention of the Jelly Sandwich, the possible truth about how this sandwich came to be.

Beauty Professor: Ever enchanted by multitasking products, The Beauty Professor reviews the lovely Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tints in Coral Nymph and Mystique.

Beauty Product Review: Have sensitive eyes? Check out MUFE Sens'Eyes Makeup Remover and see if it's right for you!

Ray Connect: No time for facial?? Get the glow of a facial... Now at Home only with Garnier Light 3 in 1 fairness facial. One product does it all!!

Ishah x Beauty: What's in the Influenster Summer Beauty VoxBox? Come and check out Ishah x Beauty to find out!

Captivating Claws: Are you a fan of pink + black?? Check out Captivating Claws' Weekly Water Marble!!

Spontaneous Chick: We've found great bath products from Clean Logic to make your skin look amazing and to save you time.

adore-a-polish: Wondering what Julep's latest lip product looks like? Check out swatches and a review on Camellia.

Cosmetics Aficionado: Red holo? Yes please! Read the review and check out the photos of Jade Vermelho Surreal nail polish.

All Things Beautiful: All Things Beautiful is hosting a Become Giveaway! Enter to win a Become Beauty Tinted Mineral Foundation quick!

Lacquered Lover: Glitters, metallic and even two holos make up the gorgeous new Butter London Autumn/Winter 2012 Collection!

Makeup Chronicles: Looking for the perfect summer highlighter? Check out this review for NARS' Illuminator in "Super Orgasm".

Amber Did It!: Swatches of the Sally Hansen Magnetics Collection.

Pinked Polish: This week Challenge is Gradients:) and don't forget to enter my 2 giveaways

Miakhymai: Check out what products Kae-Toya is reaching for most often!

DeyiMizu: See swatch of Essie's Off The Shoulder nail polish and find out how you can win one!

Perilously Pale: Does the new Pure Chromatics Palette from the Fall 2012 Yves Saint Laurent Collection finally make a khaki lover out of Perilously Pale? Let's find out!

Beauty Binge: Don't let the summer heat frazzle your tresses! Beauty Binge gives you some tips on caring for and styling your hair during the long, hot summer.

Shades Of Beauty, Inc.: REVIEW: Sinful Colors...Not just Nail Polish anymore...

Baking Beauty: Tame your frizz and flyaways with Foxy Curls!

NOTD: Essie Bangle Jangle & Sophin 100

Russian polish meets American! A duo mani i wore the other day using Essie Bangle Jangle and Sophin 100 (it's written on the bottle that the polish is made in France, but since i've never ever seen a Sophin polish in French shops, i feel something fishy about it :P).

Essie Bangle Jangle is a lovely lavender violet cream, while Sophin 100 is dense slightly dusty pink with lovely silver shimmer (lord knows i'm the pickiest when it comes to glitters amd shimmers, i often feel they look tacky). Both are completely opaque in 2 coats. Here shown with a coat of INM Out The Door.
 

Zoya Robyn swatches & review

Hi everyone :) Today i'm showing you a polish i wore a couple of days ago, and despite minor issues with it, freaking adored it! I'm talking about Zoya Robyn.

Zoya Robyn is a very bright aqua blue cream. It's quite opaque, but i found its folmula to be a bit tricky to worth with. it's very prone to streaking and is not much forgiving. It also dries fast, so at some point it started to remind me of glue with some pigment added to it (or maybe it's just my imagination?). Anyway, although it's definitely a 2-coater (if you're accurate and precise enough), i needed 3 coats to even out any flaws. Major chipping started on the third day of wear, which is good for me but is a common experience with all Zoyas i've tried so far.

I love the color of this so much! I definitely have a thing for blues, aquas, turqs etc., but this one shall always have a special place in my stash and heart. It's vivid, eye-catching and just awesome. It also happens to be the same color as my boyfriend's arm's plaster (i did it on purpose and he loved it :D)

with flash

Skinfood bl002 swatches & review

Hi people :) Today i'm gonna show you a cute korean nail polish, Skinfood bl002 from their milk nail polish series. Needless to say i'm in love with the bottles, and, tbh, they were the main reason why i ordered those (i have 9 of them) from eBay. 

Skinfood bl002 is a plain 2-coater creme. The color reminds me of green apples and Shrek :D I don't have the Who the Shrek Are You? by OPI to do a comparision, but i think they're at least alike, if not dupes. 

It's easy to apply, doesn't require much clean-up afterwards (and needs some at all because somebody has wobbly hands >_>), but it doesn't last long on me, unfortunately. I experience major cheaping already on the second day, and the next day while taking morning shower i could easily peel it off like if it was some sort of a film. 

The size is not big either, 8 ml i guess, it cost me something like 5$, shipping excluded, and it was the best deal i could find (the seller was really nice, too :)). Taking into account its rather poor longevity and the fact you can only get it in South Korea (i don't know about any retailers in the USA or Europe), i think you really need it only if you're as crazy about cute bottles as i am or because you need this particular shade or if Skinfood is vastly available where you live. 

Take care ^_^

Orly Nite Owl swatches & review

Nite Owl is a well-known and appreciated nail polish. It's modest enough to be worn at work but its shimmer gives it a quirky twist. I wore it to my last exam, when i couldn't take bare nails anymore but still couldn't paint my nails crazy colors [which i adore] so as not to draw much attention to myself :) 

2 coats with a coat of INM Out The door on all the pictures below :)

Application is very easy, i didn't experience any problems with it. It's opaque enough to get away with just one coat, but i prefer 2 for more density. However, it chipped pretty fast on me, so i wouldn't expect a week of wear with this one. Still, i adore this polish and i can see myself using it over and over again :) 

And that's it for today, take care, sweeties :*