Category Archives: Nail Art

Beauty Video | Empties 2016.1

16 Saturday Jan 2016

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Not all, but some, links are affiliates.

EEEK! I made my first beauty video! I toyed with the idea for at least a year and put it off since I did not have a working camera. I realized I was just making excuses and decided to take the plunge.

I used my phone camera to shoot a Empties video but am pretty happy with my first attempt! I hope you like it. Below is not only the video but links to the products I mentioned.

 

Don’t forget to sign up with Ebates for some extra cash back on certain online orders (Bath & Body Works, Nordstrom and Sephora to name just a few!)

 

Bath & Body Works – Hand Soaps (Gentle Foaming and Deep Cleansing)

The Body Shop – Moringa Body Butter

Dermalogica – ‘Age Smart’ Dynamic Skin Recovery w/ SPF 50

Clinique – ‘All About Eyes’ De-Puffing Eye Massager

Origins – Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash

Formula X Nails @ Sephora

Sunday Riley – ‘Good Genes’ Treatment

Neutrogena – Acne Stress Control Power Gel Cleanser

La Mer – The Cleansing Gel

Living Proof – Restore Mask Treatment

Fresh – Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate

Caudalie – Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet

Olay – Active Hydrating Beauty Fluid Lotion

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

All Natural Marble | Nail Art

15 Friday Jan 2016

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I have not done any true marbling recently and dread hitting the water again. After countless hours of practice I am at a point in water-marbling where I am consistently happy with the outcome. But, unfortunately, if I don’t use it, I lose it and I feel like I am starting from scratch!!

I eased myself back into the water nail art sports with the much simpler water-spotting technique and tried something I had wanted to for a long time: natural marble! I saran-ed the base then water-spotted the brown for a more natural look.

I hope you like it!

 

Natural Marble Water-Spotting Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Barry M Chai

Saran-Wrap: Zoya Goldie, Severine, Formula X Nails Platinum Prime

Water-Spotting: Pahlish Reinette, SinfulColors All About You

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Metallic Gradient with Triangle Vinyls | Nail Art + Review

11 Monday Jan 2016

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Vinyls provided for honest review.

I never tried vinyl stencils, even at the height of their popularity. I thought I would be all over them because they had ‘RA-friendly’ written all over them but I always skimmed over the items when I purchased other nail art-related items! I figured at some point I would try them and I finally got my chance to review them for the Born Pretty Store.

This specific set comes with 15 stickers which only comes out to one and a half manicures. Of course, you can make them last by using them as accents; and even longer if you have small nails, like me, and cut them in half.

Unfortunately, I ruined two and a half vinyls while removing them from the plastic backing. They are pretty fragile and when I tried to tear them apart I ripped and twisted them beyond repair. Keep them safe by cutting them apart then removing them from the backing.

I love how these worked. They applied nicely and stuck well but were still removable if I wanted to change their position. I did not experience too much bleeding underneath the stencil and what I did notice was more because of my own inexperience with vinyls. 

 

Metallic Stencil Gradients Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Wet n Wild Black Creme

Gradient: Formula X Nails Platinum Prime, Zoya Severine, Goldie

Stencils: Born Pretty Store Irregular Triangle Pattern Vinyl Stencils ($2.00/15 stencils here)

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

10% off code

Freehand Winter Berries | Nail Art

09 Saturday Jan 2016

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Well, I’ve been MIA for a while! I had no intention of this but just felt completely uninspired to produce nail art. I felt really crummy because I was not painting my nails   but couldn’t put anything on them! To help me get my mojo back I will take part in some nail art challenges or groups and hopefully the prompts will jump start my creativity.

It is strange because I always feel the least inspired at the beginning of a new year. While everyone is creating a list of resolutions and bumping the air for starting them out strong I feel depressed and down. Not depressed in a sad way but just unmotivated. This may be in part to never having felt the same excitement over New Year’s as my peers. I never quite understood why New Year’s was the only motivation for changing one’s life. If something needs to change, why wait…why not just go for it now?

Heh, that’s my realistic (read: pessimistic) view on the New Year but regardless, I hope you all enjoyed yours with friends and family!

I hope you like today’s look!

 

Winter Berries Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Zoya Charlotte

Stamping: Bundle Monster plates BM 323 + 319, SinfulColors Whiteboard

Details: acrylic paints

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

A New Year’s Metallic Waterfall | Nail Art

02 Saturday Jan 2016

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I still maintain my purchase of the limited edition Chanel Le Bleu nail polishes was completely necessary because when I combed through my collection of polishes for something to wear on New Year’s Eve none of them seemed right. Fortissimo was the only one that spoke to me as the perfect midnight blue for a late night. It definitely did not disappoint! The color and sparkle were quite noticeable, necessary for the glitziest night of the year. Sure, I had other midnight blues but they looked dull next to this gorgeous Chanel!

I also wanted to use this great polish as the base for a fun New Year’s look and thought metallics would pop against the color. I created something that reminds me of fireworks without the extra work of drawing them out and I am very pleased with the final result!

I hope you all had a great start to the New Year and I will talk to you soon!

 

New Year's Eve Metallic Waterfall Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Chanel Fortissimo

Waterfall: Serum No. 5 Sleepy Holo, OPI I Drive a SuperNova, Essie On a Silver Platter

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

New Years Sparkles and Water Decals | Nail Art

29 Tuesday Dec 2015

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Long time no see, everyone!

After my cracked rib I lost my nail art mojo and then we had guests from out of town for the Christmas holidays. They loved painting their nails and I hung out with them while they did but I realized doing my own nails was a very solitary exercise. Not sure why, but that’s how I felt!

Of course, I felt the pang of not posting and as we quickly came up to New Year’s I felt a little sparkle was in order.

I hope you like my simple nail art today!

 

Easy New Year's Sparkles Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: OPI Ce-less-tial is More

Water Decals: Pueen Cosmetics, Born Pretty Store (purchased by me)

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Christmas is Coming Red and Green Dotticure | Nail Art

23 Wednesday Dec 2015

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Check the sidebar for more information.

I am TOTALLY off my nail art game which makes me really upset because I love Christmas and holiday nail art more than anything! I finally got some of my mojo back for the “Christmas is Coming” prompt but I am still not up to my usual standards.

I confused my nail art challenges and “Christmas is Coming” is part of the Clairestelle8challenge on IG!

 

I won the Formula X Nails Infinite Ombre kit from an Instagram giveaway and I honestly never thought I would use it nearly as much as I do. I thought the sheer polish trend was cool but was never interested enough in it to pursue it further. I like the colors in the kit and I like how well they blend together. However, they are a bit thicker than typical sheer polish which for me, is neither here nor there.

Can you believe I forgot I own “Holiday Rebel” by SinfulColors?? It is the perfect holiday glitter and I pushed it back into the cabinet over the year. I finally dusted him off, apologized profusely for neglecting him and eagerly dabbed him on my nails. I need to find a use for this very awesomely secular polish. Otherwise, I’ll use once, twice maybe thrice tops, which is far less than he deserves.

Anyways,

I hope you like this look!

 

Red & Green Dotticure Nail Art | The Rite of AgingBase: Formula X Nails  Platinum Prime

Dots: Formula X Nails Timeless Teal, Boundless Berry (Infinite Ombre kit)

Glitter: SinfulColors Holiday Rebel

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.