Mrs. Lacquer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Essie Lilacism
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!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Weekend Link Love...and I'm back!!! :)
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 :)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Top 5
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!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Pink Lovelies :)
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?
Monday, March 7, 2011
Good, Better, Best!
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:
So here is where the fun begins: let's rate my work! Good, better, best!
So the stamping looks a little bit better on these nails.... still some imperfections with the polish in the pattern, but overall not bad.
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?
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Guest Blogger!
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!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
KONAD! Need I say more...
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 |