Tag Archives: Essie

Bundle Monster Turns 5! Nail Art Challenge Day 11: Confetti

11 Wednesday Jun 2014

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I love confetti! It is messy and so colorful! Whenever I sent letters, I stuffed them full of glitters and cutouts and general happiness. People always knew I was the sender — even before opening the parcel!

I hope you like my confetti, glitter-y manicure for the Bundle Monster challenge! My camera just cannot capture this neon yellow properly!! It has the most horrendous formula, but it has the most wonderful color!! But, I think it is a little too bright for my poor little camera.

 

ImageI used 3 coats of American Apparel Neon Yellow as my base.

I stamped with Konad Special Polish Red and Bundle Monster plate BM 301.

I dotted with Sephora by OPI Cover Me in Petals, Color Club Wham! Pow!, Almost Famous!, and Essie Naughty Nautical.

I finished with two coats of Zoya Maria Luisa.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Crumpet’s Nail Tarts June TPC #2: Turquoise, Coral, Nude

11 Wednesday Jun 2014

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I have been having trouble with this month’s color trio. I tried water-marbling but the colors looked weird together so I tried a dry-marble instead. I ended up really liking the result.

I hope you do to!

 

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No top coat

 

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Top Coat: Seche Vite

I used 2 coats of Urban Decay Naked (from the Naked collection) as my base. I protected it with Julie G JetSet top coat.

I swirled with OPI Red Lights Ahead…Where?, Essie Naughty Nautical and pure acetone.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Don’t forget to check out the other June Tri-Polish manicures!

Bundle Monster Turns 5! Nail Art Challenge Day 10: Cupcakes

10 Tuesday Jun 2014

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I was one of those kids who dislike cakes and cupcakes, just for the sheer fact they felt weird in my mouth. I always opted for ice cream cakes instead. I love ice cream!! Love it!!

Anyways!

I do love L-O-V-E looking at cupcakes. They are a really cute shape! There are so many varieties and flavors, in cake and frosting and even sprinkles. There are neverending possibilities!

If I am asked to choose one type of cupcake it would be the funfetti ones. There are so many pretty colors! My manicure was inspired by these colorful creations!

I hope you like it! (This was a difficult one to photograph, I think there were too many details and my camera did not know what to focus on!)

 

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I started with 2 coats of Julie G White Orchid as my base.

I dotted with Color Club Mrs. Robinson, Milani Peacock, Sephora by OPI I Come In Peas and Deborah Lippman Popular (Wicked Collection). 

Before the dots dried, I “saran-wrapped” with Julie G White Orchid and Sinful Colors Chick Chick.

I stamped with Konad Special Polish in Black and Bundle Monster plate BM 307. 

I used the following polishes (from pinky to index finger) for the sugar-spun frosting:

  • Sinful Colors Chick Chick + Revlon Parfumerie Fresh Linen
  • Deborah Lippman Popular (Wicked collection) + Essie No Place Like Chrome
  • Essie No Place Like Chrome + Revlon Parfumerie Fresh Linen

I added crystal beads from the Martha Stewart crafts collection as sprinkles.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Best News Ever – Essie Fill the Gap

07 Saturday Jun 2014

Posted by in Nail Art, Reviews

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Okay, not exactly but I am more than thrilled right now!

When I first started on my nail adventures I bought Essie Fill the Gap on a whim. The description “it helps re-create smoothness, crucial to youthful looking nails…visibly sculpts and plumbs nail base…stronger feeling and hydrated nails…helps prevent brittleness and breakage” mimicked butter London Nail Foundation on a more modest budget.

I love Nail Foundation, do not get me wrong, but it gets thick and gummy around the halfway mark which for the price is a ridiculous waste of money.

I tried the Essie alternative. Did I fall in love?

I think yes!

The formula is gorgeous. GORGEOUS! It has thick coverage with a thin consistency and makes my nail beds look perfect. The main purpose of this base coat is as a ridge filler but it also provides wonderful adherence for any future polishes.

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I always wear toe nail polish but when I want to give my toes a break, I wear this as my “naked” nails and it makes my feet look taken care of without being completely disrobed.

The best part? While I may not notice any long term effects, in the short term my nails break less frequently and are in general better health.

 

I loved this product through two full bottles. Probably the only nail product I have ever fully finished.

Then.

ULTA stopped carrying it.

I went to the internet and was no longer available on the Essie website. Was it being discontinued? My relationship with Fill the Gap ended suddenly and without proper goodbyes.

 

Until today.

 

I was at my local CVS. I was milling around the beauty section looking at all the 50% off stickers when I happened upon the smaller Essie display near the back. What did I see? FILL THE GAP. You better believe I grabbed a bottle.

I am ecstatic since I gave my toenails a break yesterday. I removed my polish and noticed chips in the nail bed. I have never seen this before. Not on the tips, on the nail beds themselves.

I better give these guys a break before true sandal season comes around!

 

How about you? Have you tried Essie Fill the Gap? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Anything in between? Is there something better? I would love recommendations because I am afraid I may not have this product for long!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Bundle Monster Turns 5! Nail Art Challenge Day 6: Macaroons

06 Friday Jun 2014

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Today’s prompt is macaroons! Weird things, macaroons. They are bright, funny colors and look like mini hamburgers. They never quite made sense to me!

I was kind of at a loss for what to do with this manicure so I just chose to use the colors I usually macaroons in and stamp that sort of resembled them.

I am still working on my stamping skills but I hope through this month I will just get better and better at it!

 

ImageBase colors in order from pinky to index finger: Zoya Reece, Color Club Twiggie, Urban Outfitters Westside, and Milani Dark Coffee.

I stamped with Essie No Place Like Chrome and Bundle Monster plate BM 322.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

The Crumpet’s SIMPLES Challenge: Week Three- The Ombre Manicure

06 Friday Jun 2014

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It took me a while to come up with the pairings I wanted and even then I do not think it came out quite right. I wish I had a better purple for my index finger.

I do like how ombre between the pinky and third finger though! (I just realized they are all Sephora by OPI nail polishes! Go figure!)

 

ImageIn order of pinky to index finger – Sephora by OPI Caffeine Fix, Mrs. Can’t Be Wrong, Domestic Goddess and Milani Vivid Violet.

I used Essie Matte about You to tone down shine and shimmer. This really helped tie the colors together.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

World Cup Nails 2014 – Ecuador

03 Tuesday Jun 2014

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The lovely Emily from Nailsxo invited me to take part in her World Cup Nails 2014 challenge. Each participant was given a country playing in the World Cup and asked to create nails based on it.

I got Ecuador! I am not too familiar with Ecuador except it is next to Peru, which so happens to be half of where I am from!

I was a little nervous for this challenge. I butcher flag manicures and I am not the biggest fan of futbol/soccer. I know, I know, I make the worst Peruvian-Indian EVER given the sport is so huge in both countries!

I took to the internet and upon further research I learned the Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador! I had no idea! Being a Zoology major, I have studied quite a bit about the Galapagos so I decided to base my manicure on that very large part of the culture.

 

Did you know? Ecuador is considered the most biodiverse nation per kilometer!

 

I included a couple of photos because I L-O-V-E how wonderful the base of these came out!

 

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ImagePolishes Used:

  • Sephora by OPI Go My Own Way
  • Sally Hansen Triple Shine Slick Black
  • Zoya Crystal, Yara, Opal
  • Urban Outfitters Blue Velvet
  • Milani Peacock, Power Periwinkle
  • Deborah Lippmann Mermaid’s Dream
  • Essie No Place Like Chrome
  • Seche Vite top coat

Supplies Used:

  • Small artist’s brushes
  • Sponge-tip applicator
  • MoYou London plates 04 (Princess collection) & 08 (Sailor collection)

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.