Category Archives: Nail Art

The 31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017 – #31DC2017) Blue Water Decal Nail Art

04 Monday Sep 2017

Posted by in Beauty, Nail Art

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It took me two days to come up with a design for today’s prompt and after all that thinking I settled on full nail water decals. I kept coming up short as I tried different color combinations…Until I realized I did not have any light blue polishes??? The actual what?? Ah well, that just means I get to do some shopping, right?? **By the way, I am sorry, I didn’t realize these water decals were no longer available!**

Today’s nail art represents my monthly inter-venous Orencia infusion. Orencia is a strong immuno-suppresant that suppresses part of the immune system. This ensures it doesn’t attack the cartilage around my joints. This medication is the most effective for me, even if it cuts out a week early and I spend the last seven days of the cycle fatigued and in bed.

Check out the Inlinkz below and use the social media hashtag #31DC2017 if you participate in this month’s nail art challenge.

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31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017 - #31DC2017) Blue Water Decal Nail Art - ft. Born Pretty StoreBase: SinfulColors Midnight Blue

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

The 31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017 – #31DC2017) Day Four: Nature-Inspired Green Double Stamped Nails

04 Monday Sep 2017

Posted by in Beauty, Nail Art, Reviews

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What is there to say about green except it represents nature, growth and health. I feel at peace and happy when I am outside and in nature. I miss the days when I could hike for hours, kayak and rock-climb outdoors. Now, it seems like a distant memory.

I really love the look I came up with for today’s 31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge. I used one of my favorite Born Pretty Store stamping plates (in general, they make some very cute leaf designs). I double-stamped on top of my new Chanel polish in Fantastic which is a funny neon. Over a white base it pops but on it’s own it is your average bright green. Though, for this look, it’s exactly the color I neede. Can you see this as a print for a bag? I definitely can!

As per usual, don’t forget to check out the Inlinkz below and use the social media hashtag #31DC2017 if you participate!

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31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017) - Day Four: Nature Inspired Double Stamped Green Nails (#31DC2017)

Base: Chanel Fantastic

Details: OPI I Drive a SuperNova, Zoya Olivera, Born Pretty Store plate BPL-026

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

The 31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017 – #31DC2017) Day Three: Simple, Arthritis-Friendly Yellow Stamped Nails

03 Sunday Sep 2017

Posted by in Nail Art

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Items provided for honest review. Thoughts are my own.

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Yellow represents the sun and how amazing it makes me feel! Really, summer is my best season and heat just makes my joints happy. Not to mention, studies show vitamin D is an anti-inflammatory and supporter of strong bones! Yes, please!

I considered a couple of different ideas for today’s #31DC2017 prompt but decided to go with a simple double stamping. Born Pretty Store kindly sent me products to review a few months ago but I just didn’t paint my nails that often this summer. So, hopefully, this month I’ll be able to incorporate and review those items! Better late than never…

This new stamping plate is similar to their others. It’s large and rectangular and houses a good amount of designs that follow a similar theme. Before, the large plates were a modge podge of unrelated images; which, was not an issue for me. The BPX-L020 reminds me of geography and map symbols. It’s actually a pretty unique plate. It performs well enough but not at the same caliber as other BPS plates. Perhaps this was a bad plate but I experienced some difficulty transferring the image to the stamper. I still get a good final result but not without a more effort.

I hope you like this look! It’s kind of psychedelic and reminds me of seismic waves…sort of…What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

Don’t forget to check out the Inlinkz for all the other amazing yellow designs. If you participate in the challenge this month don’t forget to use the social media tag: #31DC2017.

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31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017) - Day Three: Simple Yellow Double Stamped Nails (#31DC2017) ft. Born Pretty Store stamping plates

Base: SinfulColors VIPeach, Sephora by OPI Cab Fare (I still completely miss this brand!!)

Details: Born Pretty Store plate BPX-L020 (USD$2.99), Color Club Wham! Pow!, Zoya Louise

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Born Pretty Store 10% off code

The 31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017) – Day Two: Orange Nails – #31DC2017

02 Saturday Sep 2017

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I cannot even contain my excitement about how much I love the nails I did for today’s prompt. I so badly wanted to post these on the first day! (Yes, I knocked out a few looks as insurance towards flare ups this month).

It took me a while to tie the color orange to the autoimmune, Rheumatoid Arthritis, but after Googling (yes, I googled ‘orange’) I learned that it signifies warmth. My joints love warm: warm compresses, warm fluids and warm weather! The summer is usually my best season. I am way more active and experience fewer flares.

So, I hope you like the look I came up with as much as I do. I feature one of my new neon Chanel nail polishes!!!

And, don’t forget to check out the Inlinkz for the other awesome designs and use the social media tag: #31DC2017 if you want to join in the fun!

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31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017) - Day Two: Neon Orange and Abstract Lines Nail Art (#31DC2017)31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017) - Day Two: Neon Orange and Abstract Lines Nail Art (#31DC2017)

Base: white undies Essie Blanc, Chanel Ultrasonic

Details: Revlon Parfumerie Fresh Linen, Essie No Place Like Chrome, SinfulColors Feel the Vibe, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Short Cir-cute

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

The 31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017) – Day One: Red – #31DC2017

01 Friday Sep 2017

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This year I’m trying something a bit different. I will match each look with something RA-related. I am not sure I can for every single color but I will try my darn-dest!

For the first day, I went with a simple ombre red with some sort of abstract design. Yes, specific, aren’t I?? This look represents every single blood draw I sit through for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. Techs prick me at least twice a month, sometimes more. They are so consistent that the vein in my left arm is permanently inflamed. You know how after you exercise your veins pop out and you feel “pumped”. That’s what the vein on my inner elbow looks like all the time.

Funny story: My blood has bled these four shades before depending on my health and hydration levels…Have you experienced the same thing?

Anyways, check out the Inlinkz below to see all the other cool designs and don’t forget to use the social media tag: #31dc2017!

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31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017) - Day One: Red Ombre and Glitter Accent Nails31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge (September 2017) - Day One: Red Ombre and Glitter Accent Nails

(from pinky to index)

Base: OPI Guys & Galaxies, Ro-Man-ce on the Moon, SinfulColors GoGo Girl, Revlon Parfumerie China Flower

Glitter Accents: Born Pretty Store Shine in the Dark, OPI Ce-less-tial is More

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge – 2017!

30 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Nail Art

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Wow, how time flies…It feels like just yesterday I participated in the last 31 day challenge!

This is arguably the biggest challenge of the year. Nail artists across the globe participate and share their gorgeous looks on blogs, Instagram and Twitter. Use the nail art social media hashtag: #31dc2017 to ensure everyone sees your designs!

Every day in September we tackle a open-ended prompt and create looks to our heart’s content. Of course, in true Monica with RA fashion, I stick to primarily arthritis friendly looks because that is a lot of small motor function for a month!

Here is the badge I will use on my blog but there are four more here. Save it, share it, use it and participate! The more the merrier, always!

31 Day Global Nail Art Challenge - September 2017

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Born Pretty Store Metal Series Nail Polish in Heroine || Review

25 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by in Nail Art

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Items provided for review. All opinions remain my own.

A while ago I reviewed a Born Pretty Store holographic polish called Shine in the Dark. You can see my short live swatch video here. It was a gorgeous gunmetal grey that had a great linear holo in it. I quite enjoyed the polish except for it’s brush. It was too thick and hard to maneuver on my tiny nails. Because I liked the polish I decided to give the brand’s new Metal Series polish a try as well. I don’t know what I expected but I didn’t realize “metal” meant “foiled”! Scroll through to check out my thoughts and photos on this beautiful pastel purple. P.S. The brush is exactly the same!

Born Pretty Store Metal Series Nail Polish in Heroine Review

heroine4Heroine (USD$3.59 here) is a very pretty lilac color. As foiled polishes go, this one is pretty good. It covers well in two coats and is not as streaky as others. Of course, if you are familiar with foils you know all this is taken with a grain of salt. After all, foils magnify imperfections like you’re looking at them through a looking glass. Is this the best foiled polish on the market? Maybe. It certainly cheaper and works better than some more expensive foiled polishes. I would highly recommend it so scroll down to the end for my simple tricks for perfect application!

Born Pretty Store Metal Series Nail Polish in Heroine Review

To Top Coat or Not to Top Coat?

Personally, I don’t like using top coats with foil polishes because bumps, lumps and streaks look worse; not to mention, it can dull the shine. The finished manicure will not last as long but will look way better. Ultimately, it’s up to you and what you need: time? or beauty? Having a flare? Foiled polishes are the best because you can eliminate one step: top coat!! 

heroine2

How do I apply foiled polishes, Monica??

  • Start with a proper ridge-filling base coat. OPI’s Ridge Filler and Essie’s Ridge Filling Base Coat are great options to minimize imperfections and streaking.
  • Stay the heavy hand. Apply thin, light and even layers from cuticle to tip. Take care not to re-apply over the same area twice.
  • Seal off the tips (meaning apply a little polish to the tips and underside of the nail) between the first and second coat so you can’t see the line of demarcation.
  • Let each coat dry completely before applying the next.

So, what do you think of this color? Born Pretty Store has other “metal” polishes and a whole slew of nail art goodies for very competitive prices. Make sure you check out their website here and if you do place an order don’t forget to apply my 10% off discount!

Born Pretty Store 10% off codeHi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

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