Konad m85 & m84

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Last night I realized I simply wasn't up for scrape-y edges of my failed Sweet Tart-an manicure poking me, so I changed it and called that one an expensive waste.

This week is a big one because it's the last week of the semester before finals.  Yes, semester and finals - after the professional ethics debacle last spring, I decided I needed to get some letters after my name to prevent that in the future and started grad school full time in August.  I have a nightmarish project to muscle through this week to keep my A in the only class where there's a question mark about an A, and a fun mani seemed like a much better choice than an annoying one that's constantly poking me for that.

My ultimate "I'm in no mood..." color is Essie Punchy Pink, and I applied three coats last night.  I was horrified to discover that the remaining polish in the bottle is right at the bottom "e," so maybe two manicures left.  Still, I recalled driving on the highway to face my ex's ridiculous lawsuit against me two years ago, with him being a lawyer represented by a lawyer and me showing up alone hoping for the best, having a truck driver playing aggression games on the highway at about 6:00 a.m., halfway through the drive, and just how truly satisfying it was to flip him off with an Punchy Pink and black Konad mani.  That sealed the deal no matter how precious the remaining drops are, and I stamped it in Konad Black Pearl this morning.

On my tips, I used the interconnected rings pattern from Konad plate m85, which is a full nail pattern, but being open it lends itself to use as a tip pattern.  That went on all nails, and on my my left ring finger I added the lips pattern from Konad plate m85, sort of a nice little póg mo thóin touch.  The result is a bright fun manicure that makes me giggle, so it fits the bill perfectly.  Protect your retinas, because here's Punchy Pink.

Konad m85 with m84 over Essie Punchy Pink Nail Polish

In person, it's brighter - Punchy Pink is the single most retina-searing neon pink I've ever used, and that's one of the reasons I love it.

I'm off to dig into my last nightmarish project for the semester, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!

All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.

Konad m85 & m84

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Last night I realized I simply wasn't up for scrape-y edges of my failed Sweet Tart-an manicure poking me, so I changed it and called that one an expensive waste.

This week is a big one because it's the last week of the semester before finals.  Yes, semester and finals - after the professional ethics debacle last spring, I decided I needed to get some letters after my name to prevent that in the future and started grad school full time in August.  I have a nightmarish project to muscle through this week to keep my A in the only class where there's a question mark about an A, and a fun mani seemed like a much better choice than an annoying one that's constantly poking me for that.

My ultimate "I'm in no mood..." color is Essie Punchy Pink, and I applied three coats last night.  I was horrified to discover that the remaining polish in the bottle is right at the bottom "e," so maybe two manicures left.  Still, I recalled driving on the highway to face my ex's ridiculous lawsuit against me two years ago, with him being a lawyer represented by a lawyer and me showing up alone hoping for the best, having a truck driver playing aggression games on the highway at about 6:00 a.m., halfway through the drive, and just how truly satisfying it was to flip him off with an Punchy Pink and black Konad mani.  That sealed the deal no matter how precious the remaining drops are, and I stamped it in Konad Black Pearl this morning.

On my tips, I used the interconnected rings pattern from Konad plate m85, which is a full nail pattern, but being open it lends itself to use as a tip pattern.  That went on all nails, and on my my left ring finger I added the lips pattern from Konad plate m85, sort of a nice little póg mo thóin touch.  The result is a bright fun manicure that makes me giggle, so it fits the bill perfectly.  Protect your retinas, because here's Punchy Pink.

Konad m85 with m84 over Essie Punchy Pink Nail Polish

In person, it's brighter - Punchy Pink is the single most retina-searing neon pink I've ever used, and that's one of the reasons I love it.

I'm off to dig into my last nightmarish project for the semester, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!

All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.

Essie Super Bossa Nova

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

Today brings a bright polish, Essie Super Bossa Nova.  I think this one is from Summer 2011, but I'm not positive of that.  It's relatively recent, in any case.

Super Bossa Nova is a bright, kind of fuchsia pink shimmer, not anything terribly unique but it has a really pretty shimmer that I like.  I used two coats and finished it with Essie Good to Go, and although the application of the color was just fine, it's not too shiny once dry.  It's not matte or anything, it just lacks the really glossy finish of quite a few recent manicures, and I prefer shinier.

After giving the manicure a few minutes to dry, I took a picture in sunlight.

Essie Super Bossa Nova Nail Polish, Two Coats

A good vivid pink was overdue, so even though it's not the shiniest ever, I like it.

That's all I have for you today, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!

All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.

Essie Super Bossa Nova

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

Today brings a bright polish, Essie Super Bossa Nova.  I think this one is from Summer 2011, but I'm not positive of that.  It's relatively recent, in any case.

Super Bossa Nova is a bright, kind of fuchsia pink shimmer, not anything terribly unique but it has a really pretty shimmer that I like.  I used two coats and finished it with Essie Good to Go, and although the application of the color was just fine, it's not too shiny once dry.  It's not matte or anything, it just lacks the really glossy finish of quite a few recent manicures, and I prefer shinier.

After giving the manicure a few minutes to dry, I took a picture in sunlight.

Essie Super Bossa Nova Nail Polish, Two Coats

A good vivid pink was overdue, so even though it's not the shiniest ever, I like it.

That's all I have for you today, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!

All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.

♪♫ This could really be a good life...

This week is shaping up to be a very very good one! I had a job interview yesterday for a Christmas temporary position as a sales girl in a record shop which I nailed so I'll be starting that next week. Then today, I got a call from another job I applied for which is basically a Chalet Girl position but without the Alps! It's live-in so it also means I'll be able to move out of parents' place for a while. I have to go for an interview/trial kind of thing this Sunday and if I'm successful, I'll start in January - I'll keep you guys posted on that!

And to top it all off, this blog hit 2000 followers today! Thank you all so much for reading and following! I hope I say it often enough but I really don't think I could say it enough. It means the world to me that you all like my little piece of the internet enough to keep coming back and showing your support. THANK YOU!

Today is a Wednesday so here comes the pink!

Stamping Plate: Bundle Monster BM205
Base Colour: Models Own Utopia
Stamping Colour: Barry M Raspberry
Accents: BYS Flirty Sparkle
Top Coat of NYC

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Sally Hansen Magenta Magic

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

I've been over-the-top busy since Sunday, the kind of busy where exhaustion and frustration are constant themes, but I decided to take a half-hour head clearing manicure and post break between tasks.  In an email today,wearing a good holo was mentioned, and thinking of them made me decide wearing one would be a good idea.  It doesn't take a single thing off my To Do list, nor does it make anything easier, but having a cool holo mani is generally spirit-lifting so it seemed like a good choice.

I used one of the old Sally Hansen Magicals, Magenta Magic.  It's a really, really good holographic polish.  I used a coat of Nfu Oh Aqua Base, two of Magenta Magic, and one coat of SpaRitual Tout de Suite top coat for the manicure.  In the last year, maybe year and a half, I've answered lots of questions about top coat over holos and jumping through hoops with it, and to be honest I'm not sure how the idea that top coat is problematic with holos came up.  I've always used whatever top coat I have a bottle of over whatever holo I'm wearing just like any other color polish without a problem.  The instant top coat is applied it dulls the holographic effect, then about two minutes later after it's dried the holo is back, just like when the holo polish is first applied and wet it's not super holo and gets more so as it dries.  Anyhow, this manicure had no trouble with it, as you can see here.

Sally Hansen Magenta Magic Nail Polish, Two Coats

The Magicals were a really cool line, another that was discontinued after a short life.  I really like all that I have quite a bit, and it was nice to wear a much-loved oldy today.

That's Sally Hansen Magenta Magic and all I have for you today, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!

All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.

Sally Hansen Magenta Magic

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

I've been over-the-top busy since Sunday, the kind of busy where exhaustion and frustration are constant themes, but I decided to take a half-hour head clearing manicure and post break between tasks.  In an email today,wearing a good holo was mentioned, and thinking of them made me decide wearing one would be a good idea.  It doesn't take a single thing off my To Do list, nor does it make anything easier, but having a cool holo mani is generally spirit-lifting so it seemed like a good choice.

I used one of the old Sally Hansen Magicals, Magenta Magic.  It's a really, really good holographic polish.  I used a coat of Nfu Oh Aqua Base, two of Magenta Magic, and one coat of SpaRitual Tout de Suite top coat for the manicure.  In the last year, maybe year and a half, I've answered lots of questions about top coat over holos and jumping through hoops with it, and to be honest I'm not sure how the idea that top coat is problematic with holos came up.  I've always used whatever top coat I have a bottle of over whatever holo I'm wearing just like any other color polish without a problem.  The instant top coat is applied it dulls the holographic effect, then about two minutes later after it's dried the holo is back, just like when the holo polish is first applied and wet it's not super holo and gets more so as it dries.  Anyhow, this manicure had no trouble with it, as you can see here.

Sally Hansen Magenta Magic Nail Polish, Two Coats

The Magicals were a really cool line, another that was discontinued after a short life.  I really like all that I have quite a bit, and it was nice to wear a much-loved oldy today.

That's Sally Hansen Magenta Magic and all I have for you today, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!

All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.

Day 20: Water Marbled

If I could take one sick day from the 31 Day Challenge, it would be today! The mani you see here is my third attempt at a decent water marble. By the time I finished I was suffocating under the sheer amount of marbling fail. Never again, guys, never again!

In hindsight, my experience with water marbling was not that bad, but at the time all I wanted to do was scrub this off my nails as soon as the pictures were taken. It looks kind of nice, but for the hours, sweat and tears it stole from me I probably won't be doing it again any time soon!

Head over to Rie and Cristina's blogs to see if they had better luck than me with their water marbling!

Base colour: BYS Lilac Bliss

Marble colours: La Femme Grey Cream, Nails Inc Victoria, George Scarlet Kiss

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Zoya Gems and Jewels Swatches

Good evening, Dear Reader!

What I have on tap for you tonight is swatches of Zoya's Holiday 2011 release, the Gems and Jewels Collection, which Zoya sent for review.  It's six polishes total, three shimmers and three glitters (which they call "glitter glazes"), and although Zoya suggests various layering options, I figured I'd show you swatches of each of the six at two coats so you have an idea of what each looks like before getting into any layering.  I used artificial light for today's pictures because there's no sunlight, which is never my favorite but sometimes shows glitters a little better by not washing them out.

I'll start with glitters, and with generalities about all three in the collection.  They're all a clear base with colored glitter of two types, powdery-fine regular glitter and particularly small bar (stringy) glitter.  I'm really picky about bar glitter, and this is a good one because it is so small - there are no giant stringy bits anywhere.  All three provided good coverage at two coats, and with glitters like this I use slow brush strokes on the first coat to avoid essentially wiping off all the glitter as I go.  Since these are swatches and I have not worn any as a full manicure, I don't know how much top coat they'll need, but it doesn't seem like it would be a lot with how fine the glitter is.  The dry time looks promising as well, and I'll let you know for sure when I wear them.

Kissy might be my favorite of all here.  It's a kind of fuchsia bright pink glitter with holo-y bar glitter.

Zoya Kissy Nail Polish, Two Coats

Twila is a striking vivid blue glitter with matching bar glitter.

Zoya Twila Nail Polish, Two Coats

Rina is a bright evergreen glitter with matching-but-reflective bar glitter.

Zoya Rina Nail Polish, Two Coats

I think these are great holiday glitters - they bring to mind throwing glitter and streamers at a party.  I don't think they'll be of the sandblaster removal variety either, because of how fine the glitter is - I find that the size of glitter tends to make a pretty big difference in how tough it is to take off, but again, I'll confirm that after I wear one for real.

That brings us to the three shimmers, which are also quite good.  All three were completely opaque and even in two coats, were super easy to apply, and they're full of the kind of shimmer I expect Zoyas to have, where it's strong but not too out there.

Noel is a good kind of silvery blue.

Zoya Noel Nail Polish, Two Coats

Holly is the epitome of a holiday green.

Zoya Holly Nail Polish, Two Coats

Izzy is a hot pink glowy shimmer.  I'm kind of hoping bright pink takes off as a permanent holiday color (in general, not just for nail polish!).

Zoya Izzy Nail Polish, Two Coats

I really like each one of these quite a bit individually, and all together I think they make a very cool holiday collection.  If there's only one in your budget, my vote goes for Kissy - it's a New Year's Eve party in a bottle!

Those are my Zoya Gems and Jewels swatches and all I have for you today, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!



All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.

Zoya Gems and Jewels Swatches

Good evening, Dear Reader!

What I have on tap for you tonight is swatches of Zoya's Holiday 2011 release, the Gems and Jewels Collection, which Zoya sent for review.  It's six polishes total, three shimmers and three glitters (which they call "glitter glazes"), and although Zoya suggests various layering options, I figured I'd show you swatches of each of the six at two coats so you have an idea of what each looks like before getting into any layering.  I used artificial light for today's pictures because there's no sunlight, which is never my favorite but sometimes shows glitters a little better by not washing them out.

I'll start with glitters, and with generalities about all three in the collection.  They're all a clear base with colored glitter of two types, powdery-fine regular glitter and particularly small bar (stringy) glitter.  I'm really picky about bar glitter, and this is a good one because it is so small - there are no giant stringy bits anywhere.  All three provided good coverage at two coats, and with glitters like this I use slow brush strokes on the first coat to avoid essentially wiping off all the glitter as I go.  Since these are swatches and I have not worn any as a full manicure, I don't know how much top coat they'll need, but it doesn't seem like it would be a lot with how fine the glitter is.  The dry time looks promising as well, and I'll let you know for sure when I wear them.

Kissy might be my favorite of all here.  It's a kind of fuchsia bright pink glitter with holo-y bar glitter.

Zoya Kissy Nail Polish, Two Coats

Twila is a striking vivid blue glitter with matching bar glitter.

Zoya Twila Nail Polish, Two Coats

Rina is a bright evergreen glitter with matching-but-reflective bar glitter.

Zoya Rina Nail Polish, Two Coats

I think these are great holiday glitters - they bring to mind throwing glitter and streamers at a party.  I don't think they'll be of the sandblaster removal variety either, because of how fine the glitter is - I find that the size of glitter tends to make a pretty big difference in how tough it is to take off, but again, I'll confirm that after I wear one for real.

That brings us to the three shimmers, which are also quite good.  All three were completely opaque and even in two coats, were super easy to apply, and they're full of the kind of shimmer I expect Zoyas to have, where it's strong but not too out there.

Noel is a good kind of silvery blue.

Zoya Noel Nail Polish, Two Coats

Holly is the epitome of a holiday green.

Zoya Holly Nail Polish, Two Coats

Izzy is a hot pink glowy shimmer.  I'm kind of hoping bright pink takes off as a permanent holiday color (in general, not just for nail polish!).

Zoya Izzy Nail Polish, Two Coats

I really like each one of these quite a bit individually, and all together I think they make a very cool holiday collection.  If there's only one in your budget, my vote goes for Kissy - it's a New Year's Eve party in a bottle!

Those are my Zoya Gems and Jewels swatches and all I have for you today, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!



All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.

Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

I wanted to be sure to get in one more pink for BCA month, so today I have Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop to show you.  It's the pink one that came with Lippmann Forget You in the Get This Party Started set and is equally fabulous.

As with Forget You, the base of this one is just right.  It's pigmented enough to be opaque in two coats, but translucent enough that it lets the glitter show through really well.  For the manicure, I used a base coat, two coats of Candy Shop, and SpaRitual Tout de Suite to dry it.  After it had dried, I added one coat of Sally Hansen Salon 10 Day Speed Dry to even out the glitter and make it nice and shiny.  The result is an amazingly happy manicure.

Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop Nail Polish, Two Coats

Here's a better look at the glitter on part of a nail, where you can see how the depth created by the glitter peeking out makes it differ from layering Lippmann Happy Birthday over pink.

Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop Nail Polish, A Closer Look at the Glitter

This is another Deborah Lippmann hit for me, I really like it a lot.  Honestly, I think I prefer Forget You just because it's a less predictable base color, but that doesn't take away from how cool this one is at all.

That's Lippmann Candy Shop and the update for today, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!



All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.

Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

I wanted to be sure to get in one more pink for BCA month, so today I have Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop to show you.  It's the pink one that came with Lippmann Forget You in the Get This Party Started set and is equally fabulous.

As with Forget You, the base of this one is just right.  It's pigmented enough to be opaque in two coats, but translucent enough that it lets the glitter show through really well.  For the manicure, I used a base coat, two coats of Candy Shop, and SpaRitual Tout de Suite to dry it.  After it had dried, I added one coat of Sally Hansen Salon 10 Day Speed Dry to even out the glitter and make it nice and shiny.  The result is an amazingly happy manicure.

Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop Nail Polish, Two Coats

Here's a better look at the glitter on part of a nail, where you can see how the depth created by the glitter peeking out makes it differ from layering Lippmann Happy Birthday over pink.

Deborah Lippmann Candy Shop Nail Polish, A Closer Look at the Glitter

This is another Deborah Lippmann hit for me, I really like it a lot.  Honestly, I think I prefer Forget You just because it's a less predictable base color, but that doesn't take away from how cool this one is at all.

That's Lippmann Candy Shop and the update for today, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!



All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.

Day 12: Stripes

I was stuck for a long time trying to come up with a design for Day 12, then I remembered this Wah Nails design and set about picking colours. Blue and pink aren't two colours I would normally pair but these two neon shades look absolutely eye-popping next to each other. I'll definitely be trying this colour combination again!

If you haven't already, head over to see Rie and Cristina's stripy creations too!

Nails Inc Shoreditch
Barry M Cyan Blue for the stripes

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Day 10: Gradient Nails

Today's challenge is gradient nails and it's also Wednesday which means PINK. Sorry for the brief post but I have such a busy day ahead, I even had to get up a little early to schedule this because I won't have another spare minute today between work and evening plans. I'm going to see Charlie Simpson tonight which is super exciting!

Don't forget to check out Cristina and Rie's gradient nails too!

Models Own Utopia
BYS Metallic Fuchsia sponged on

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Sally Hansen Salon Effects Booty Call

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

Today I'm back to another BCA mani with Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips in Booty Call.  I bought these several weeks ago during a good sale especially for a grand breast cancer awareness manicure because they're pink camouflage.  That seemed appropriate for doing battle with the illness.

I used non-sticky base coat (I found sticky base coat made these hard to work with), the nail strips with a few repairs because I'm too exhausted to even have a shot at perfection, then I finished it off with  BB Couture Top Rock top coat (I generally just use a top coat that doesn't dry polish well on me over strips).  Here's my pink camo mani, Booty Call.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Booty Call Nail Polish Strips

The repairs show in the picture and you can also see that the pattern is composed of dots, but looking down at my hands neither of those things shows - this one just isn't holding up to magnification as well as most.  The result is pink camo nails, and I love them.  They're a nice change from all the glitter I've worn recently but not one tiny bit less fun.

That's Sally Hansen Salon Effects Booty Call and one more BCA pink mani, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!




All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Booty Call

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

Today I'm back to another BCA mani with Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips in Booty Call.  I bought these several weeks ago during a good sale especially for a grand breast cancer awareness manicure because they're pink camouflage.  That seemed appropriate for doing battle with the illness.

I used non-sticky base coat (I found sticky base coat made these hard to work with), the nail strips with a few repairs because I'm too exhausted to even have a shot at perfection, then I finished it off with  BB Couture Top Rock top coat (I generally just use a top coat that doesn't dry polish well on me over strips).  Here's my pink camo mani, Booty Call.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Booty Call Nail Polish Strips

The repairs show in the picture and you can also see that the pattern is composed of dots, but looking down at my hands neither of those things shows - this one just isn't holding up to magnification as well as most.  The result is pink camo nails, and I love them.  They're a nice change from all the glitter I've worn recently but not one tiny bit less fun.

That's Sally Hansen Salon Effects Booty Call and one more BCA pink mani, so until next time, Dear Reader, love and nail polish to you!




All Rights Reserved, Siobhan@The Nailphile. If you're reading this elsewhere, it's stolen from a real nail polish blog.