Essie Lilacism

I am in LOOOVE with this color. Lilacism is a gorgous light purple creme. In fact, one of my friends this weekend picked this it out to wear because it was "So Springy!" (On a side note...it has become the rule now that my friends come over with a basecoat already on so they can raid my stash while they're here...I love it!). I usually stay away from pastels but I love me some purple and this one was just calling out to me. Glad I went for it!

Application was flawless and even, which is not always the case with light colored cremes. I am showing it here with 2 coats and no topcoat. BTW, last week I wore this as a mani and got 4 days chip-free! That's amazing in my book! The light purple leans ever so slightly to the blue side which makes it look positively luminescent in low light.

On a side note...is anyone really a fan of the new drug-store Essie bottles? UGH! Next time I'm totally cropping that nasty barcode!

Weekend Link Love...and I'm back!!! :)

I have emerged from my tests VICTORIOUS! I passed my grad school comps and I feel good about my licensing exam (I won't know for sure for at least 4 weeks). I really missed posting but I knew I left you all in the exuberant and capable hands of my dear friend Martha. She did a fabulous job and it was so much fun to read her posts. In fact...I wouldn't mind her posting on here occasionally :) How about Martha Mondays? Has a good ring to it doncha think!

This week is my spring break and I plan to get caught up on posting and swatching and generally feeding my polish addition :) I'm obsessed with my new Konad plates and spring colors so expect to see both in my posts for the next few weeks at least :)

Since I kinda dropped off the blogosphere for the past few weeks my link love posts go back to the beginning of March because I just didn't want to miss anything!

Lacquer Ware for Tips and Toes is celebrating 666 followers with a sa-WEET little giveaway...kitties not included.

Are you a sucker for flakies...then head over to Nails Beautiqued to win a pair of polishes perfect for celebrating St. Paddy's day (if somewhat belatedly)

WARNING! Check this one of only if you have extra moolah because after you read Fashion Polish's review of the new Dior collection you will be hooked! I can't stop thinking about Rock Coat!!!

And finally...my St. Paddy's manicure :)

Top 5

I know the anticipation has been killing yall... How much longer will you have to wait for my list of my top 5 polishes??? Well, the wait is over!

#5: LA Splash "Crimson Tide"

This fun color is a dark maroon/red infused with several colors of red and pink glitter. It is a neutral-ish colors with a BAM of glitter that is eye-popping! It requires a pretty thick basecoat though; the glitter takes a bit more effort than normal to remove from the nail. Mrs. Lacquer and I decided that "Crimson Tide" does not do the color justice; we instead deem it "Bloody Red Cherries."

#4: Revlon "Minted"

Last summer I discovered this light green shade (actually, Mrs. Lacquer pointed it out while we were shopping at Target and I had to buy it too lol) and since then it is one of my favorites! My mom called it "Shrek toes" when I wore it, but it is such a lovely light green that goes on opaque (and is not Shrek-y at all!). This is the exact color that I think of when speaking of mint, and compared to every other minty color I've seen it is #1!

#3: Sinful Colors: "Easy Going"

I've already paid homage to this LOVELY pink in my previous post, but I can't help but include it in my top 5. My polish style has always been dark purples/greys/browns/blues - basically neutrals - but this is surpassed them all! It looks so crisp and clean on the nail, and the pink is so light and pretty. I cannot say to many great things about this polish! It definitely does not disappoint!

#2: Incoco Dry Nail Applique: French Manicure Tips

Ok, so technically this one isn't a polish, BUT it is something that I buy on a regular basis and keep in my polish bucket for times when I'm feeling a little French. These appliques are easy-to-apply tips that look fabulous and fool everyone into thinking you've gone acrylic. There are 20 tips in the case, so I am able to get two separate applications for each hand. It comes with a small nail file and a cuticle stick- complete application in one box! If you're considering purchasing these tips, be sure to apply to clean nails, then top with a basecoat and then SV. The great thing about these tips is when there is chipping on the ends, you can just trim your nails and you have a fresh-looking manicure :) This is definitely one of my go-to's.

#1: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure: "Commander in Chic"

For me, there is nothing I have discovered that can surpass Commander in Chic. This is the first polish that I purchased and the one that started the obsession. I first saw it on Mrs. Lacquer's fingers.... I remember the day distinctly: We were talking in the kitchen at the speech therapy clinic at our school, and I couldn't keep my eyes off her nails! (She shared the secret of SV with me that day too... my life has never been the same!) This color is the perfect blend of purple and grey and is a fun way to have a neutral nail without going with the usual suspects. The brush in this line of polishes is really great too; it is rounded at the ends and helps achieve a clean shape while painting. If you haven't tried it, go for it! Then let me know how much you love it :)

Bonus! OPI Correct & Clean Up Refillable Corrector Pen

Ha! Little did you know that you would be getting a bonus 6th favorite! I'm always trying to keep you on your toes :) This corrector pen is something I picked up at Ulta and was a wonderful purchase that I use everytime I polish. It is filled with polish remover and has a felt tip that can be used to clean up cuticles or polish lines. Admittedly, I am not the cleanest polisher, so this has been a life-saver for me! After a manicure I used to clean my cuticles in the shower the next morning, but no more! The felt tip works well (it comes with a second tip as a replacement) and the pen is re-fillable with your choice of remover. It cost about $7, but it was definitely worth it for me!

So there you have it! My top 5!

On an unrelated note, Mrs. Lacquer is taking one of her huge comprehensive tests tomorrow (Friday) morning and the other on Saturday morning. Send your prayers and happy thoughts her way!

Which polishes are on your list? I'm eager to hear about your favorites!

Pink Lovelies :)

Hello! I hope everyone's week is going splendidly! Thank goodness tomorrow is Thursday- I'm ready for the weekend!

So, here is my confession: I have been on a baby-pink kick lately. I can't explain it; ballerina pink on nails used to be a pet peeve of mine, but now it is the only color I seem to be buying. Who knows?!

While browsing at Ulta, I saw several polish brands with baby pinks. Essie has a polish quad of baby pinks, and I read (somewhere) that light pink is going to be an "in" color this spring due to the popularity of the movie "Black Swan." I don't know how that movie would move someone to wear pink; if you have seen it you know that it is a pretty dark story. Again, who knows?!?! But pink is our topic today, and I would like to present five lovely light pinks to ballerina-ize your nails!

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Thumb: Revlon "Sweet Tart"

Ok, I threw this one in to make it an even hand.... it isn't techniqually a ballerina-pink (at least to me), but it is a pretty pink. It was very thick- I generally stop at two coats, but after one it was opaque. I'm not a fan of this on fingers, but it would be cute on tan summer toes :)

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Pointer: Sinful Colors "Beautiful Girl"

Sinful Colors is one of my favorite brands. It is super cheap (2 for $3), which means I don't have to feel guilty when I buy two (or three or four) at the local Walgreens when I pick up my prescription. For such an inexpensive brand the quality is really nice and there are lots of cute colors to choose from. This pink is creamy and light but not obnoxious, and when I think of its name I start singing (beautiful girls all over the world, they've got nothing on you baaaaabyyyyy).

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Middle: Sinful Colors "Easy Going"

So the name of this polish does NOT do it any justice. It really should be called I LOVE THIS COLOR (all caps means business). It is a perfect light pink that sways on the verge of white. It makes fingers look super tan, and two coats gives you perfect coverage. This is going to be a polish that I'll have to buy multiples of; one bottle will not be enough!

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Ring: Wet 'n' Wild "Sugar Coat"

This was a random buy about 9 months ago... it was very inexpensive and seemed like the perfect baby pink. It was sheerer than I was hoping, but after two to three coats it was opaque and had a subtle sheen. Instead of being ballerina pink, it really is a nude-pink. (I'm baring my nail polish soul in this blog: I'm not a huge fan of the nude polishes. It makes me feel like my fingernails are scabbed over. I know what you're thinking- this girl is a strange one! I guess I just haven't found the right nude). So to say that this is a pretty nude-pink is saying a lot from me.

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Pinkie: Essie "We Can Do It Pink!"

Confession #3: This is my first purchase of an Essie polish. There, I said it. I've ogled polished in the Essie section at Ulta, but this was my first (and I got it for only $3- cha-ching!). On the nail, it is a barely-pink/beige that leans more on the white/beige side. To be honest, I don't know why it is called a pink. I was hoping that it would be a light pink/lavender, but the grey undertones make it much more beige than pink. My first go at Essie was a little bit disappointing, but I will not forsake Essie! Plus, at that price who could be mad??

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So there you have it! Pretty pink polishes!

What are some of your favorite pinks???

What polish confession do you have to share?

Good, Better, Best!

Let's play a game: Good Better Best!

This weekend, at Mrs. Lacquer's house, I had an awesome time attempting to stamp my nails using the Konad stamps. Looking through the plates, I decided to go with houndstooth- WINNING. What could be better/easier than the classic houndstooth?!?

Fortunately Mrs. Lacquer had already attempted the stamping process and knew which polishes work well (FYI: the consistency of the base color is not important, but the opaqueness of the stamping color is what matters. A good stamping color is opaque in one coat. Consider yourselves informed lol). Below are the colors I used:

From left to right: Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine in "Spark," Sally Hansen Color Quick polish pen in Silver, and "Rage" by Orly.

(Paper towel background by Brawny lol)

Watching Mrs. Lacquer practice stamping a zebra print, I thought, "This looks easy, and the results are super cool! Let me get my hands on this bad-boy!" I was snapped back into reality after the first attempt to stamp:

It wasn't hard, but precision is the key. It took several fingers (a actually, a whole hand lol) to get the hang of pulling back the cuticle far enough to allow the pattern to start at the edge of the nail:

So here is where the fun begins: let's rate my work! Good, better, best!

GOOD:

Not bad for my first attempts at stamping, right?! Also, this pic shows a comparison of using Orly "Rage" (top) vs. Sally Hansen's Color Quick pen in Silver (bottom) as the houndstooth color. Thoughts/opinions???

Better:

So the stamping looks a little bit better on these nails.... still some imperfections with the polish in the pattern, but overall not bad.

Best:

Here is my crowning beauty! Isn't she lovely! It only took me seven practice nails to create this gorgeousness! I rated this the best because you can't tell if the base color is blue or silver, and the pattern reaches all edges of the nail. I was interested to see how the pattern handled under normal wear & tear. After only one thin coat of SV, I have to say that I'm impressed; no chips or peeling from the pattern, and it has been three whole days.

Verdict? Konad nail stamps are fun to apply, have lots of different patterns, and are stunning on the nail. I guess I'll have to get my own kit!

What are some of your favorite color combos when stamping?

Do you prefer the Orly "Rage" or the Sally Hansen Silver?

Guest Blogger!

Hi everyone!

So Mrs. Lacquer has two huge tests this week and is busy busy busy studying her butt off! Because she cares so much about her readers and the health of her blog she decided to let me, her nail polish protege, post for her this week. I'm ready and eager for the opportunity!

This is me jumping for joy because I'm excited to be the guest blogger this week!

(The joy in this pic also comes from graduating in December, but the sentiment is the same lol).

DISCLAIMER: I am not, by any means, a nail polish expert. My journey through the beautiful world of nail polish began mearly one year ago. Let's turn the clock back to March 2010.... (cue the time-travel music)...... As the mist clears, we see a poor grad student, plain nails and a super busy schedule. Then from the heavens descends a magical topcoat.... Seche Vite! This amazing topcoat speeds up drying time and prolongs the life of a manicure, allowing the poor grad student to quickly paint her nails without worrying about chipping and smudging. Who brought this game-changing info into my life? None other than Mrs. Lacquer herself! Thank goodness she shared her nail knowledge with me; my nails have not been bare since!

(Ok, back to present day) SO that is the beginning of my polish obsession. I don't know all the polish blog lingo, and I'm not familiar with the exclusive or elusive brands or colors, but I do have a deep love for all things lacquer and I'm excited to share this with you!

This week I have some fun ideas to post: more on the Konad nail stamps, a focus on ballerina pinks, my top 5, and an honest look at Rescue Beauty Lounge. Let's have an awesome week!

KONAD! Need I say more...

Just popping in to say I'm still alive...although I'm drowning in a sea of test prep material. This will all be over next Saturday but don't expect new posts until the following Monday. A girl has to celebrate after all :)

If anyone is able to stick with me through this I promise you will be greatly rewarded! In fact, my first Konad order came in the mail today. It's going to take me some time to get the hang of it and as long as you don't laugh I'll show you my very first Konad manicure EVER! Ok..no laughing. Seriously! (I used image plate M63)

Orly Rage stamp over Essie Lilacism

Sally Hansen Spark stamp over Essie Lilacism

I'll post a more in-depth description of my first Konad experience ASAP. Thanks everyone for your support and for sticking with me. Have a fabulous Friday!!! :)