Tag Archives: gradient nail art

RA-Friendly Sponged Gradient and Flakie Nail Art

06 Wednesday May 2015

Posted by in Nail Art, Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Did You Know?

It was first believed exercise would exacerbate and quicken the progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Now, it is proven light exercise helps protects the joints and keeps the muscles from atrophying.

 

I am not going to lie. The most annoying comment I hear, from doctors to friends, is “exercise!”. It really is not as simple as that. I know exercise lessens my symptoms (I feel more limber and alert), however, sometimes activity worsens them. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you may remember blog posts here and there about my grievances about climbing and RA. It is such a fine line for me. I have to be very careful. I rarely climb for more than a couple of hours, I do not push myself and the minute I feel a “twinge” I stop. If I’ve done grocery shopping or done any housework I do not climb; even with a lengthy nap in between activities, it is way too much for me to handle.

 

But…now onto the nail art! I like using an eyeshadow sponge tip applicator with similar colors. It is more RA-friendly than using a makeup sponge and the uneven lines are masked better.

Why, oh why do I not use this flakie more??? This gorgeous topper was actually at the back of my cabinet! I managed o get my hands on it before the shade was discontinued. (Hah, maybe that’s why! Do you ever feel guilty using polishes you know you can no longer get? I especially feel that way about the old Milani polishes!) However, I do really like how this look came out. It reminds me of those fun thermal bath toys that would change from pink to purple when placed in warm water!

I hope you like it! (I completely forgot to take a sunlight picture so I had to settle for my usual indoor lighting)

 

Purple-Pink Sponge Gradient | The Rite of AgingI started with China Glaze Violet Vibes and Barry M Plum as my base.

I used generous coats of Nfu Oh Nfu 51 on the accent nails and sponged it on the tips of my index and pinky nails.

I stamped with Mundo de Unas Neon Pink and Pueen Cosmetics plate PUEEN 85. I usually stamp my right hand first then move to my dominant left. As I worked with MdU formula more it became more opaque. I am still learning this specialty polish but I like the gradient effect!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

RA-friendly Gradient Nail Art

04 Monday May 2015

Posted by in Nail Art, Rheumatoid Arthritis

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May is National Arthritis Month so, in honor, I will focus on RA-friendly looks! I have not decided yet if I will stick with one technique per week or vary them but stay tuned for simple, fast and most importantly, easy nail art!

 

Did you know? 

RA risk varies with geography!

 

I do not know whether this is true or not or how much research supports it but I have heard similar claims. Lower Vitamin D levels have been linked with higher RA risk. The farther a person gets from the equator the less sunlight and Vitamin D is absorbed into the body. This makes some sense but I have also heard people who live in cities are more likely to develop any time of autoimmune. Cities are chock-full of pollution, a number of debris and bacterias. And yes, I did grow up in Washington, DC!

 

Anyways, onto the nail art! Today I have a simple two color gradient with sponged neon glitter. This reminds me of ice cream and sprinkles! I hope you like it!

Brown Gradient and Sponged Glitter | The Rite of AgingI started with 2 coats of Barry M Lychee as my base. I protected it with a quick dry top coat. I found if I don’t do this the color peels up with the sponge.

I used a makeup sponge, Lychee and Milani Dark Coffee for the gradient.

I sponged China Glaze Let the Beat Drop on the tips.

I covered everything with a generous coat of INM Northern Lights.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Gradient Nail Art with Pahlish and KBShimmer

01 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Nail Art

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After I fell out of love with glitters last month they began collecting dust at the back of my shelves. I felt bad for them, especially my new KBShimmer “Sand in My Stocking”. I lusted after this polish for months and months and finally purchased it when I bought a cuticle oil pen from the website.

I started a love affair with Pahlish nail polishes and purchased a whole lot of them from Llarowe during the massive New Year’s sale! I did not even think twice about adding them to my cart when I saw how discounted they were. As much as I love all the colors I had I rarely used them in nail art! For some reason, I could not figure out how to use them….until today.

I decided to bite the bullet and go full on glitter. It almost overloaded my nails. I guess after such a long dry spell there was no such thing as moderation!

I am actually quite fond of today’s nail art. I was slightly worried it would get too busy but, I think it came out quite nicely! The colors worked together well! I hope you like it, too!

 

DSCF4104_fotor2

DSCF4119_fotorI started with 2 coats of Pahlish Fevers and Mirrors as my base.

I applied KBShimmer Sand in My Stocking on my thumbs, middle and ring fingers.

I used a makeup sponge, Pahlish Fever and Mirrors and Reinette for the gradient. I alternated Sephora by OPI Cover me in Petals and Fever and Mirrors to brighten the color. When I was finished I applied a dab of Sephora by OPI Be-Claus I Said So at the tips.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Gradient and Stamping Nail Art: Pink Lemonade

17 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Nail Art

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I woke up this morning and knowing the nail art I would do tonight. I had this vision swimming around in my head of a glitter-y beautifully blended pink lemonade-esque gradient.

I don’t know what I dreamt about last night but I am glad it ended in a nail art idea!

I hope you like it!

 

DSCF3708_fotorI started with 2 coats of Zoya Pippa as my base.

I created the gradient with a makeup sponge, Pippa and Barry M Gelly Grapefruit.

I stamped with Born Pretty Store plate BP – L004 and Milani Black Swift.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Gradient and Stamping Nail Art for NAIL (Feb 2015): Hearts

16 Monday Feb 2015

Posted by in Nail Art

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During the Valentine’s Day mania I saw stamped hearts over red and pink, I saw watermarble heart decals in red and pink and white and finally I saw free-drawn hearts in red and pink and…yup, you guessed it, white!

I have a ton of heart stamps especially from the Pueen Cosmetics Love Elements collection but I hit a major creative block with this prompt. I felt nothing towards the traditional color schemes but didn’t know how to proceed otherwise. Finally, I decided on a darker, fiery gradient with some well, okay, white stamping on top.

Speaking of stamping and Valentine’s Day, I am seriously falling out of love with Seche Vite top coat. It smears ALL my nail art and it’s getting really irritating. Seriously, what’s going on? I wait a generous amount of time for the polish to dry. I don’t press down to hard on the brush when applying it. Some of these techniques, like gradients, take so long to begin with I am never in the mood to re-do one or two or more nails!

Anywho! I hope you like my heart nails!

 

Please excuse my nail shape, my fingers and just overall photo. I don’t know what’s up but my fingers look insanely thin with gargantuan nails attached to the tips. I shaped my nails yesterday and they looked great. My flare is almost gone and maybe I filed my nails to fit that swelling? I tried to position my hand to make everything look better but something still looks off 😦 And, on top of everything else, because of the flare my hands were so shaky I literally only got 2 non-blurry shots! Yikes!

 

DSCF3685_fotorI started with 1 coat of Barry M Gelly Mustard as my base.

I used a makeup sponge Milani Mauve Medley, American Apparel Neon Red and Barry M Gelly Mustard for the gradient.

I stamped with Pueen Cosmetics plate PUEEN41 and Konad Special Polish White.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Stamping Nail Art for 2 Challenges

17 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by in Community, Nail Art

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I am going to be 100% honest with you. I am going to flip flop the rest of this month. I am so behind on every nail art challenge it makes little sense to catch up. I am bummed about this because I mapped out all my manicures in my new “Cat Naps” planner. My entire plan flew out the window due to this seven-day flare!

Initially, I did not plan on participating in the Winnie the Pooh challenge. I wish I did not have to because I L-O-V-E Winnie the Pooh. My dogs even wear Winnie the Pooh collars! But, I couldn’t think of any non-freehand art designs I could do so I figured it would be best for my arthritic self-esteem! But, I received a few stamping plates in the mail and it sparked an idea for both the 31DC2015 and Challenge Your Nail Art group.

I love leaves. The way they change color in the fall, the way the holes age after bugs eat through them any other time of year is just amazing.

However, there is one specific memory I will always hold dear. The first day I stepped onto the Colorado State University campus…

Colorado State University was my #1 choice junior and senior year of high school. However, my school did not allow us to apply to any university without visiting first. This ended up in my favor as I only applied to one school. Anyways, my father and I eagerly flew out to Colorado and drove into Ram Country. There is only one weekend where the leaves turn color before they fall off the trees. Seriously, this color change only lasts a couple of days. We were so lucky we visited that one weekend. These gorgeous leaves cast a spell on the entire campus. Each tree was full of life and I knew I had found my home for the next four years!

Every year after, I looked forward to that one weekend. I spent as much time as possible exploring campus, just to breathe in this gorgeous scene.

I know it sounds ludicrous in some ways but I always felt completely at peace.

 

And now that I’ve gushed on and on…

 

I hope you like my manicure!!

Stamping Fall Leaves | The Rite of AgingI started with 2 coats of Barry M Gelly Chili as my base.

I used a makeup sponge, Chili and Sephora by OPI Mr. Right Now for the gradient.

I stamped with Mundo de Unas Copper, Barry M Gelly Mustard and multiple images from Born Pretty Store plate BP-19.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

 

Check out the other tranquil manicures from the CNT 31-Day Challenge below!

…And don’t forget to check out the other 100-Acre Woods manicures!