Lit From Within..

You all have every right to laugh at my blog song. I crack up every single time I hear this song. It's way too funny. Plus my boyfriend knows how to do Will.I.Am's voice perfectly hahaha

As I predicted, my 4th mani lasted ONE day LOL I just missed my base coats too much. UGGGHHH The IMPORTANCE of a base coat! It makes all the difference in the world. It not only prevents your nails from staining but it also helps make the polish last longer without chipping.

I received a few questions from friends about Orly's Bonder and I admit, I bought it for my holographic polishes but I have yet to ever use it. I stayed true to my NailEnvy considering how thin my nails are, but I decided to try it out once I finally got home from vacation. Which, by the way, was not that fantastic. It rained every single day in Virginia. It drove me nuts. I am literally happy to be home.

My beautiful friend Mama Sparkles had mentioned to me (and a few of our other lovely friends) her nightmare-ish application of Sally Hansen's HD Blu. I already own the entire collection and I know all too well the sheerness of this polish! It will take maybe 5+ coats to get any kind of opacity to this polish which happens to be so beautiful in the bottle!

I don't mind layering polishes but this is a warning to those who don't like them. Practically ALL of Sally Hansen's HD polishes are layering polish.

It really doesn't come alive unless you have an opaque base. Depending on the type of base polish, you'll only need 1 coat of that polish and 2 of Sally Hansen HD polishes. So she's the inspiration for this manicure I have this week, which is literally a STUNNER! I don't want her giving up hope and others like her either on this polish because it has so much potential.

I don't know what it is about the HD polish, but they're in a world of their own. They kind of light themselves from within the nail. You'll see what I mean.

I layered Sally Hansen HD Laser over Rimmel Lasting Finish PRO Midnight Blue.

I didn't want to use black because I really wanted to get as close to the bottle color as possible so I chose an opaque color that was closest to the colors in Laser.

The photos, as usual don't really do this polish any justice. IT IS GORGEOUS in person! I am still wearing it and it's already day 3.

This is next to my desk lamp. I mean seriously? LOOK at those colors!

As always I will post WAY more photos than I need. I was trying to get the colors on camera. It's a color you cannot stop staring at.

The problem with these indoor photos is that I couldn't capture the beautiful purple in the shimmer. It literally confused my camera and turned it blue, every single time. I wish I could get my photo taking skills in order.

My slightly failed closeups LOL I think my background was WAY to dark. You can see a *hint* of the purple I've been talking about on my nail on the left.

And another.. I can't believe I can't cut down these photos to like 3 max.

My hand upon my hip. I know, totally pointless photo. I am after all the Nail Narcissist LOL *snortwheezegasp* I'm JK.

This ends the indoor photos. I think this photo BEST represents the colors indoors. This is without flash.

Outdoor photo of the bottle. Can you all see the purple in there? Unfortunately this was day 2 and it was a rainy day! No sun to show the sparkles

Day 3 was more successful with sunlight to show better photos of this color.

This was used strictly for the bottle. Those colors exist on the nail that are in the bottle!! You can just barely see them in the photos of course.

My favorite photo!

Thanks for reading!

Song Currently Playing On This Post:

Will.I.Am - Big And Chunky

'Cause Baby You're A Firework

Good Morning everyone and Happy 4th!!

I am here in Virginia typing this up and about to go out and enjoy my vacation. Celebrated my birthday yesterday, very mildly, I don't mind mild. I'm officially 25 years old! WOO HOO! I can now legally rent a car in the State of NY LOL. I know, big whoop.

Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays next to Halloween and Christmas. My mom used to dress me up and take me out to the city and tell people I was lady liberty. She did call me that, I guess because my birthday is so close to Independence Day, I've always been spoiled with these spectacular birthdays. Fireworks I simply love. If I hear fireworks, I run like a child to wherever they are to watch.

It's too bad they're illegal in NYC.

Good thing I'm not in NYC huh? hehehe *commence finger blow up!* LOL just kidding, I wouldn't dare touch a firework, I'll leave that to the pros.

Anyway, I finally did my patriotic mani, I said I WOULDN'T do but, meh, my nails begged me for it.

Now, please be lenient on judging my nail art skills. This is the very first time I freehand any kind of design on my nails using those teensy brushes. It was a B-I-T--, you guys get the rest. It's nothing fantastic but I tried and although it was a nightmare to do, I am quite proud of myself.

Be warned, I am sharing a lot of photos LOL AS USUAL!

I seriously need to point out that I HATE Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Whirlwind White. It's a stark white polish that is actually a nightmare to apply . This of course is only personal opinion. I don't know if it's the polish or the brush, I will vote that it's the brush.

I do not expect this manicure to last because I forgot my base coat at home and didn't feel like buying another one.. it's already trying to lift and peel in every corner. *sigh* It's okay though, I don't think I'd want patriotic designs on my nails after Independence Day anyhow LOL

This is my right hand. I am right handed. I almost had an aneurysm trying to use my left hand to paint these designs. You can visibly see errors but I don't think it came out too bad!

And that's all I have for you guys today! Haven't thought up a new mani yet but I think it will be something very summery. Maybe, we'll see.

Thank you all for reading and have a very safe and enjoyable Independence Day!

Song Currently Playing On This Post:

Katy Perry - Firework

Galaxy Sin.. A Gradient.

I surely did call this mani "Galaxy Sin" LOL

Well, mainly because I'm Sin, and my nails have that starry night gradient which is surprisingly easy to do. I cannot post photos of the actually process because I never intended on doing tutorials but I got so many compliments and requests to do a tutorial, that I must oblige when I do this mani again. (which will be VERY SOON because this design had me staring at my nails all the time!

Quite obviously a gradient is when a darker color fades into a lighter one, and vice versa.

I wanted to go with a purple galaxy and the idea was AMAZING in my mind. However, I've been so determined on collecting polishes, I neglected the fact that I barely have any cremes -__- (you don't NEED cremes but how odd would it look to go from a creme to a shimmer? I guess the way I'm explaining it doesn't sound entirely too bad, but trust me I think you guys understand a little. If not, show me I'm wrong! I'd love to see photos of some awesome gradient manicures ).

I used quite a few colors and before you think it weighed the nail down, it totally didn't!

I should list everything but I assume a photo would be best to go with it LOL

All photos are linkable to enlarge it. By all means, enlarge the photos for details.

Left to Right:

Sally Hansen Salon Manicure in Delphinium

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails in No Hard Feelings

FingerPaints' Hue Rang?

Orly's in Charged Up

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Black Out
and a Cosmetic wedge, yes, a cosmetic wedge.

I painted my nails with the lightest color first; Delphinium.
I then cut the wedge to apply my polish, and brush the polish straight onto the wedge. Starting from the tips of my nails, I patted on No Hard Feelings (not all the way to the end of my nail of course, You have to be able to see the lighter color.)
The harder you press, the darker the color, so press lightly.
I then followed the same methods I used with No Hard Feelings using Hue Rang? and Charged up.
And the tips I used Black Out and you gotta be careful with the black, you don't want to put too much so just pat it onto a paper towel after you brush it on your wedge, THEN pat it onto your tips.

Go over the darkers with a little of the lighters and blend it in by patting only of course.

I didn't take a photo but I forgot the glitter I used for my tips to mimic a shimmery galaxy was Sinful Colors - I Miss You, a very pretty magenta/purple chunky glitter. I'll add the photos of the other polishes I missed later, I promise.

After all the colors have been patted on I applied Out The Door's Northern Lights (a clear top coat with very, very, very fine holographic glitter, it's lovely and reminds me of stars!) You can find it at Sally's for around $5. Lastly, Seche Vite, because I COULD NOT sit and wait for it to dry. Which it actually dried a lotttttt faster than I thought!! I was literally out the door within 10 minutes. Granted they weren't fully dry but they weren't dentable.
On to the picture hoaring! **WARNING** tons of photos of both my left and right hand. I couldn't decide which to use. Which is usually always the case with me.

I saved the super duper close up for last.. I mean seriously.. THIS is a closeup, click on it, I dare you LOL

Song Currently Playing On This Post:
Backstreet Boys - All I Have To Give

M.I.A. & A New Manicure

I got caught up in a little trouble a few days ago, been a bit down since, so I'm sorry for not doing any posting the past few days.

Good news is, I'm back and with a new manicure!

I'm currently under treatment using OPI's Nail Envy. Never tried it before, kind of excited to see what it's about. Your first initial use, you use two coats as a base, then everyday for a week you use one coat. After 1 week, you remove it and start all over again until your nails are at their maximum strength, then you switch to Nail Envy Maintain. As you all know, I'm taking biotin vitamins. I'm on this quest towards stronger, healthier nails. I hope it works, because my nails have ALL types of problems; peeling, paper thin, discoloration.. UGH! It's so aggravating. I'm used to breakage every day. But lately since I've been more careful, I have yet to break my nails (Hopefully I didn't just jinx myself.)

There's some slight discoloration on my nails, thanks to Sinful Colors polish, I keep forgetting the name and I have that bottle BURIED somewhere.

This particular design, I wasn't too thrilled with. Being inexperienced and shaky handed (is that even a term? LOL) it was a PITA (pain in the a**) PLUS I used Sinful Colors new Neons that didn't thrill me much. They're very sheer and quite streaky. The green pissed me off the most! Yellow would be close second since it is EXTREMELY streaky. I don't know, I'm really thinking of purchasing a new set of neon colors. Maybe I will hunt down China Glaze's Poolside collection and call it a day.

Starting with THESE neons, they need a white base indefinitely or else you will need about 18 coats to get the color that is in the bottle (no joke, and NOT fun!)

I used Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri in Whirlwind White. Yeah, I'm messy, I figure with time I'll get it right.

Now here's the truly hard part *le sigh* candy striping..you will see ALL my horrible errors but the good part is, it gets covered anyway but I'm really hoping I can someday get this candy striping down. It's annoying and time consuming but I LOVE the way it turns out, it's so pretty. WHEN IT'S DONE RIGHT!

I was TRYING to go for a summery look using neon and crackle.. Maybe I used the wrong color crackle.

Using Sinful Colors Neons in Neon Melon, Summer Peach, Irish Green & Pink (yes, pink it's called)

And all the nails about an hour to 2 hours later. I take a long time because I get easily distracted.

The green is not so "blue" it's a very vibrant green. But takes about 3 coats WITH a white base to see that vibrancy

Candy stripes covered in Sally Hansen's Crackle Overcoat in Snow Blast.

At this point I had to switch from my camera to my phone because my memory stick was full!

Song currently playing on this post: M.I.A. - Sunshowers

Sally Hansen & Milani

I worked hard last night/this morning on this manicure.. I've still got MUCH to learn. Cleaning up my cuticles were such a chore! Ugh, however I found this fantastic color in CVS yesterday.

Amazing it was in the clearance bin.. It's called Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine in Spark.
It's a SLIGHT duochrome jewel purple with red flash. I really love this and my crappy camera refused to capture what it was worth!





I am determined to find other colors in this SH collection. It's lovely.

I then, became inspired by Chloe's Nails, and did the taped off pyramid design in Milani 3D Holographic polish in HD..



It's a little messy but it IS my first time! What do you guys think?