L'Oreal Coral Starfish

Good morning, Dear Reader!  Today isn't the best day ever, as it's the third anniversary of my mom's death, so this one's going to be kind of short.  It's not the worst day either, but I figure keeping it brief is the best bet to avoid tears this morning.

I picked L'Oreal Starfish Coral to wear today, the orange of the L'Oreal Summer Siren Limited Edition shades.  I tried to do thicker coats this time, but by the third nail quit paying much attention and did my normal thin coats on autopilot for the rest.  That meant that again, I had to use a third coat, but since Coral Starfish applied very well and dries fast, that's not such a big deal.  I finished it off with Diamont, let it dry, and took a picture of it outside even though it's a bit cloudy.

L'Oreal Coral Starfish Nail Polish, Three Coats

This one's also really pretty.  From a normal distance the overall appearance, like that of Pink Shells, is a bit foily, but the gold sparkle breaks it up and keeps it from being too garish.  This is a really good orange.

That's it for today, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!

L'Oreal Summer 2011 Limited Edition Nail Polish

Good afternoon, Dear Reader!

I'm a bit late with them, but today I have L'Oreal's Limited Edition Summer Siren Collection, their four polish shades for Summer 2011.  I'd seen these a few times before and kept walking, but today I took a look and liked what I saw - they're really spectacularly sparkly and shimmery.

I used Pink Shells, which you could probably guess is the pink one, today.  Two coats could have worked, but mine were very thin and with the clear fake tip I have, I needed a third.  It applied really easily and dried very fast.  Here's L'Oreal Pink Shells.

L'Oreal Pink Shells Nail Polish, Three Coats

I took bottle pictures of the other three for you.  The only picture I'm not thrilled with is of the blue, Blue Marine, which seems to have some purple duochrome going on in indoor lighting, but that got washed away in the sun.  Here's Blue Marine.

L'Oreal Blue Marine Nail Polish Bottle

Yellow Seahorse has the potential to be what I wanted Chanel Mimosa to be, and I'm really hoping its shimmer shows up well.

L'Oreal Yellow Seahorse Nail Polish Bottle

The last one is called Coral Starfish, and it's a blazing orange with gold shimmer.  It's really pretty.

L'Oreal Coral Starfish Nail Polish Bottle

It's my hope that the remaining three shades sparkle the same way that Pink Shells does - it's hard to take my eyes off of it.

That's L'Oreal Summer Siren and the update for today, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Opening the Nail Files...

This past friday, I had the absolute pleasure of meeting the vivacious star of the new TV Guide Channel series 'Nail Files', Katie Cazorla!  She was here in Las Vegas with her mobile manicure truck, which was spreading nail polished tips across the nation! I have to say, she is a total doll. She is every bit as silly and bubbly as she comes across on the show, she's hilarious, fabulous, and as I described her, a total firecracker. Below you'll get to read our conversation, and see a little bit of what she's like!

In honor of meeting Ms. Nail Files herself, I knew I HAD to do special nail art for the occasion. I wish I had her reaction, because it was awesome. It completely made my day to see how stoked she was about the manicure (especially the Katie nail!!). :) I love it!

One sad thing about this manicure is that, while at work that night, I fell and broke THREE nails on my left hand (including the Katie nail!!) :( I was SO bummed, but glad that Katie got to see it before it was ruined.

Watch Katie and her crew Tuesday nights at 10/9c on the TV Guide channel! Check your local listings, or set your DVR! You won't want to miss it! (especially Episodes 3 & 5 according to Katie!)





TDN: You’re from a small town in New York, what made you move to the West Coast?

KC: Ok, so I love that question actually. I went to college for a couple years and found out that it wasn’t really my thing, and throughout college I was telling jokes at little bars, and always making my friends laugh and an agent saw me and was like “You’re funny, you should be a comic.” So she took me to LA, I ended up having a blast, and stayed. Um, unfortunately, I had no place to live, so I was kind of like one of those people that live out of my car for a couple of months until I found a place, and I was doing stand-up comedy for almost 10 years. After the 10th year, I was like ‘This is ridiculous, I need to get a life, I’m almost 30, I am gonna be eating Top Ramen until I’m 50 years old, so I had this crazy premonition and dream about my business and I drew it out and decided to really go for it.

Free mini-manicures on the Nail Files truck!

TDN: I also am from the other side of the country, from Michigan, and made the move to the west. Did you know anybody?

KC: No, I actually did not know anybody at all.

TDN: Was it terrifying for you?

KC: You know, not really, because i was 20, and I think I was kind of stupid, and thought it was going to be so much easier than it really was. So I was kind of, I guess I would like to say naive to the way LA works, and how you think you’re just going to go out there and make it, because it’s not like that. You don’t just move out there, I mean, one in a gazillion chance of that ever happening, and less of a chance for someone to move out there like ‘I’m going to get my own show, and I’m a nobody’, but it’s kind of like that’s what happened.

TDN: I have to comment on Jessica, I have no idea how you didn’t punch her.

KC: Oh my God, everyone is saying that , I think its just that Jessica is nice. The problem is is Jessica did everything wrong from what I really wanted, and I had to pay for all of that stuff. So, unfortunately, I wasn’t happy, and it was probably pretty apparent by my crying. But everyone is just like “God, she’s such a crybaby,” but that cost me $2,000, it’s so expensive, and they didn’t show all the other other stuff, the big banners and signage, and to have the main displays messed up was really a problem for me. So, you know, it ended up being kind of a problem, and unfortunately, we probably aren’t friends anymore after that episode.

TDN: Was she really laughing inappropriately when you were in a state of duress?

KC: Yes, she really was laughing like that. I think it was more of a nervous laughter, but it just didn’t come off that way, and I feel bad that she came out like that, but it is what it is, what can you do?


TDN: So, one of my downfalls, I’ll admit it every time, I love to do the nail art stuff, but I suck at nail care. What is one of your best nail care tips?

KC: Really? Ok, well here. Number one, I think you should ALWAYS use cuticle oil. You have to, because here’s the thing, even if you don’t get your cuticles nipped all the time, which, I don’t nip my own, I don’t get them nipped. I think that actually leads on my personal body to more cuticle growth than what I want, so I just kind of push them back and buff off the extra, and if there is obviously like a hangnail or something, I’ll nip that off. But cuticle oil is my best friend, I use it everywhere, hands, elbows, little dry spots, whatever. I absolutely love it.

You know what I just discovered? This product called ‘Get Fresh’ based out of Santa Monica. Oh my God, their lemongrass foot products... I want to eat. They sent me their lemongrass pedicure kit, so now we do the lemongrass pedicure in my store. Amazing, and they have a heel balm, and all these fun products you can use to do upkeep at home.

TDN: What are your thoughts on nail art? (this was a question I had planned to ask, but it got answered in the middle of a conversation about my blog...after I mentioned the huge response from Brazilian women, and their love of all nail art in general)

KC: I love nail art, and people who don’t like nail art are just not my friend. They can’t be, it’s not fair.

The contents of my goodie bag! :) Click to enlarge!

TDN: Because it’s fun! Yes, it can go into the tacky range, but it’s mostly fun. 

KC: Oh, ok, here’s where it gets tacky. When somebody’s nail is really long and it curves like a corn chip nail tip and it’s got someone’s name on it, and it’s pierced with a charm. (we both said the last part at the very same time) You get me...we speak the same nail language.

You know what’s really annoying, is when people say, “Oh, you’re not a real nail tech because you didn’t graduate from nail school” and I’m like, But I went to nail school, I just didn’t graduate because I found my salon in time and it was like ‘Oh my God, I have to get this before somebody else does.’ and I’m sorry , I want this space, it’s my dream space.” Plain and simple.

TDN: Right, when opportunity knocks, you can’t let anything stand in your way. You can always finish nail school, but that space might not be there tomorrow.

KC: I can always finish when I want, because I have hours that don’t expire. I think I have two hundred and some hours. Gosh, that’s a lot. I only need like 180 more hours or 200. I have finished almost half, but it’s 3 1/2 months, it’s a commitment, every single day, all day long.

TDN: But you’re one of those people that don’t go to college and still become insanely successful.

KC: Jet Blue guy, didn’t he drop out of college? (I looked it up...yes, he did, from University of Utah after 3 years). The Microsoft guy (Bill Gates), he dropped out of Harvard. Hello, one of the richest men in the world. (my words: bazillionaire!!) You know what, so eff you college, I don’t need you. I don’t need you today, or any other day!

TDN: Your nail pet peeve. We’ve already discussed corn chip nails, but do you have any other ones?

KC: Oh my God. You know what else I don’t like? Long, French manicured toes.

TDN: I read your interview with Michelle of All Lacquered Up, and actually cheered when I saw that.

KC: She said the same thing. It’s so gross!

TDN: It’s the worst. You see it a lot here in Las Vegas, it’s everywhere.

KC: It’s because there are so many strippers, and they love French manicured toes. Not that there is anything wrong with that, it’s just not the look I’m going for. (me: It just doesn’t look classy) I don’t think I’ve ever seen a classy stripper, but if I did, she wouldn’t have French manicured toes.

TDN: So on your first episode, Debbie Gibson came in, and you said that you have to treat celebrities like everybody else, even when on the inside you’re really squealing.

KC: I know, I totally wanted to sing Electric Youth. It was hard for me because I was like ‘Oh my God, Debbie Gibson is in here,’ and I was totally like a mall rat crazy person fan of hers and I needed to hold it together and be a normal person. She looked ridiculously amazing. She’s the type of woman that could grocery shop in a thong, and it’d probably be ok. She’s awesome.

Katie's funny hand sanitizer. Click to enlarge.

TDN: On that note, if anybody were to walk through the doors of your store, and you would absolutely lose it and go all fan-girl, who would it be?

KC: I’d love to give Ryan Reynolds a manicure.

TDN: I’d love to give Ryan Reynolds more than a manicure! (Aaron, one of the promoters commented that I was a dirty bird...oops! :-D What can I say, he’s adorable, funny, and sarcastic...need I list more?)

KC: I know, he’s hilarious, and so cute. I love it. I think that would be my number one, he’s a doll. It has to be a guy...but if it were a woman, it’d have to be Barbra Streisand, because she has the most insanely gorgeous nails I’ve ever seen in my life. They’re beautiful, and I want her to wear my polish. (Get some sparkle on her.) Yes. I want sparkle on Barbra.

TDN: So you’ve got a lovely rock on your finger, I know there is no date set for a wedding, but what color do you plan to wear for your wedding?

KC: I really don’t see myself having a wedding, if I did, it’s going to be glitter, I’m not going to do anything traditional, I’m such a non-traditional person. (What, so no french manicure?) No, maybe I’ll do a picture of Walter on my nail.

TDN: So, you’ve conquered the nail world, you’re conquering the TV world, what’s next?

So Katie did confess what she's up to next, but she also said it was kind of a secret!  Until she gives me the go-ahead to share it with you, you'll just have to eagerly wait!  It's definitely something fun!

Katie & I in front of the manicure truck - it was over 100° outside!! SO HOT!

What'd I use?

I used American Apparel Cotton as a base for all nails...

Thumb: Part of the 'Nail Files' logo

Claire's Stiletto for the red base, with Nicole by OPI OMB! over it for the glittery parts.

Index: Part of the 'Nail Files' logo

Claire's Stiletto for the red base, with Nicole by OPI OMB! over it for the glittery bottle, CND Blackjack for the cap of the bottle and for the nail file with a mixture of CND Blackjack and Orly Mirror, Mirror to shade.

Middle: TV Guide logo

Claire's Stiletto for the red base, with Nicole by OPI OMB! over it for the glittery parts, then American Apparel Cotton for the TV guide lettering. 

Ring: Katie Nail!

CND Blackjack for the background and for the eyes, combinations and layering of  American Apparel Manila, Zoya Dea, Zoya Helen, and American Apparel Cotton for the hair, Ulta Moody Blues for the eyes. For the skin, a mixture of Zoya Helen and American Apparel Cotton, then mixed that with a bit of Claire's Stilettos for the lips. 

Pinky: Mojito! (Katie's signature drink)

For the glass outline, I used Orly Mirror, Mirror, for the mint, I used a combination of Frida Nails grass green jelly (has no color name), the Icing True Beauty, and CND Green Scene. For the liquid, I used a mixture of Frida Nails grass green jelly with Nubar Yellow Primrose, and a little American Apparel MacArthur Park to shade the ice cubes. 

Topped everything off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

OPI Serena Glam Slam England

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I have one of the OPI Serena Glam Slam England sets to show you, the purple one with Grape...Set...Match and Servin' Up Sparkle.

Grape...Set...Match is a truly fantastic purple, about the same shade as Nubar Pasadena Purple, and the OPI has distinctly visible pink and blue shimmer bits.  It's very well pigmented, requiring only two coats and very easy to apply.  Here's Grape...Set...Match without top coat.

OPI Grape...Set...Match Nail Polish, Two Coats

I topped it off with two coats of Servin' Up Sparkle, which looks just like Disco Ball Sparkle, the UK exclusive from a couple of years ago, but the glitter seems to reflect more colors in Servin' Up Sparkle.

OPI Servin' Up Sparkle Nail Polish, Two Coats over OPI Grape...Set...Match

This is my favorite of the Serena Glam Slam sets so far - the purple is gorgeous, and I think Servin' Up Sparkle is just more versatile than the shatters in the previous sets.

That's the news of the day, Dear Reader, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Illamasqua Caress with D23

Good morning, Dear Reader!

This morning I tried out a pattern from stamping plate D23, and it turned out quite well.  It's the plate's full nail pattern, which is a lattice of tiny flourishy scrollwork.  It stamps very cleanly for having such fine detail.

I started off with a mani of two coats of Illamasqua Caress, then stamped the pattern using Blue Konad Special Polish and finished it off with a coat of top coat.  Here's how it turned out.

Illamasqua Caress, Two Coats, with Pattern from D23

One thing I've noticed in the past week or so is that my nails are growing really, really fast.  I started taking biotin again a couple of months ago, 5mg/day, and I do think it makes a difference.  There was no reason that I quit taking it before, it was one of those things where I ran out and just didn't think of getting another bottle at a good time until it was completely forgotten.  I think I'm going to try to stick with it this time.

That's the news of the morning, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Nina Ultra Pro Grin and Berry It

Good morning, Dear Reader!

This morning's manicure is Nina Ultra Pro Grin and Berry It, a really great neon purple shimmer.  Again today, I had all the stuff out and ready to Konad this one, but I like it so much alone that I'm just wearing it plain.

My recollection of Grin and Berry It was that there were drying troubles the last time I used it, so this time I left a couple of minutes between each of the three coats of color I used, and it dried just fine with a coat of Diamont top coat.  Here it is after drying in low sunlight.

Nina Ultra Pro Grin and Berry It Nail Polish, Three Coats

The tiny bits of blue shimmer are what really set this polish apart for me.  It's just fun to look at.

That's what I know today, Dear Reader, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!

LCN Magnetic Nail Polish in Green Temptation

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I have something a little different for you, one of LCN's magnetic nail polishes.  It's the green one, named Green Temptation.

It came with two magnets, so I tried both out.  I'd gotten reasonably good at using magnetic polishes with the magnet on the bottle, and it turns out that I'm not nearly so good at using a loose one.  When it's on the bottle, there's a little ledge to anchor the tip of the nail to hold it really close to the magnet, and that's handy.  Using these loose ones, it's hard to get and stay close enough to the polish without bumping into it, which you'll see I did to two nails.  I applied base coat to all ten nails, then a coat of Green Temptation to one nail, did the magnet thing to it for about twenty seconds, and moved on to the next nail until I was done, then top coated all ten.  I used a diagonal stripe magnet on all but my ring fingers, and there I used a star magnet.  These didn't turn out so great...

LCN Magnetic Nail Polish in Green Temptation, One Coat

It's frustrating to put a lot of effort into a manicure that looks this half assed upon completion...

That's it for today Dear Reader, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Stamping Plate D20

Good morning, Dear Reader!

For today, I tried out one of the D series stamping plates, D20.  It's got a whole bunch of butterflies and Tinkerbell on it.  I started out with two coats of Misa's Spinning Out of Control, a purple shimmer, and stamped over it in Konad White Pearl.  Here it is on a cloudy day.

Stamping Plate D20 over Misa Spinning Out of Control Nail Polish

That's certainly upbeat!  It's also just about all I have to tell you about, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!

China Glaze Cracked Medallion Crackle

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I have another China Glaze Metal Crackle on tap for today, this time Cracked Medallion, the bronze.  I was looking at what I'd like to pair it with, and I thought it might look cool with the glitter in OPI Merry Midnight.

Merry Midnight is a three coater, so I put that on and figured I'd take a new picture of it while it was drying.

OPI Merry Midnight Nail Polish, Three Coats

The addition of one coat of Cracked Medallion changed it a lot.

China Glaze Crackled Medallion Crackle Glaze over OPI Merry Midnight

On a sunny day, this is a good manicure to be wearing.  That's it for today, so until next time love and nail polish to you!

China Glaze Tarnished Gold Crackle

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I was looking at what to add to yesterday's Essie Trophy Wife to change it up a bit for another day, and decided to go with China Glaze Tarnished Gold Crackle Glaze, the gold from the Crackle Metals.  I'd narrowed it down to Tarnished Gold and Cracked Medallion, the bronze, but decided that Cracked Medallion might be a bit much and went with the gold.

I just used one quick coat of Tarnished Gold over Trophy Wife and added a coat of top coat to seal it, and I'd revived it for a new day.

China Glaze Tarnished Gold Crackle Glaze

I like these two together and do think that Cracked Medallion would have been too much, so I'm pleased with the outcome.  That's all there is to tell you about today, Dear Reader, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Blogger in a China Shop

I know I've said this a million times, and Ill say it again, ideas come from the most unexpected places...the idea for this post came from a manicure I did a while back that also used the two polishes that I used for this manicure. I noticed that when painting the blue over the white, there was a certain amount of transparency near the middle and end of the strokes, and I knew if I diluted it a bit more with clear polish, I could layer it to create a china pattern! I've always loved the look of old china, and though I'd never own it (I'm far too clumsy), I'll admire it from afar...and on my nails! :) I hope that you enjoy my interpretation of antique china patterns!

I used American Apparel Cotton as a base, with ULTA Moody Blues for the china pattern. To make it a tad sheerer in places for layering, I mixed it with Seche Vite top coat. I then topped it all off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

And because I think I like the thumb better on my right hand....

Essie Trophy Wife

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today's manicure is just a simple nail polish, Essie Trophy Wife.  When I started it out I'd planned to stamp over Trophy Wife, but I like it so much on its own that I decided to leave it alone for today.  I might add more to it tomorrow...

Trophy Wife is a teal shimmer, and it applied very easily and is opaque in two thin coats.  I have no complaints to speak of, so I'll just show you the picture, taken outside on a cloudy day.

Essie Trophy Wife Nail Polish, Two Coats

This one's definitely a keeper.  That's just about all there is to tell you today, Dear Reader, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Chanel Mimosa

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I've finally gotten around to trying out Chanel Mimosa again, and yet again, I find it somewhat disappointing.  I'd have been mad if I paid for this one.

Mimosa is a yellow with a great shimmer in the bottle, but on me the shimmer didn't translate to on the nail at all. In normal lighting, it's that kind of finish where you're not sure if it's a creme or a shimmer.  The color is nice, but both times I've used it, it required four coats to be even and opaque.  For high end prices, RBL Yellow Fever is much nicer, and since the shimmer doesn't really show up in Mimosa, they're not too different from one another. Here's Mimosa under artificial light.

Chanel Mimosa Nail Polish, Four Coats

See?  It's just a standard yellow.  I could have used unrealistically bright lights and a closer macro shot to provide you with a prettier picture of the polish, but I was more interested in showing you what it really looks like on me wearing it.

Since a standard yellow isn't nearly festive enough to keep my spirits up these days, I added to it from one of the D series stamping plates, D23.

Chanel Mimosa Nail Polish with Stamp from Plate D23

Adding the smiley face, a pattern I've wanted for some time, made me think of something funny.  A good while back, I'd added Konad fake gem decals or some other nail art to a Chanel.  I liked it, it was fun to wear, nothing out of the ordinary.  Someone left a really funny comment on the post, lecturing me about how Chanel is all about simple elegance and reprimanding me for ruining it, and it just went on and on with the "you should know better" kind of thing.  It made me think of one of my aunts, who'd be about 98 now and always wore a hat and a fur coat, and I pictured her getting all irate about what someone else had done to her own nails, which made me giggle.  I think for me the bottom line is that for $23, I'm not just buying a bottle of polish, I'm buying the rights to do whatever the heck I want to do with it!  Today, that was a smiley face.

That's Chanel Mimosa and the story for today, so until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Stamping Plate D15

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I'm still playing with the D-Series stamping plates, and today I used D15, which has a bunch of star-themed patterns on it.  I figured I'd go for a night sky kind of thing, so I started out with Sally Hansen Salon Navy Baby, a reliable two coat navy shimmer, and stamped various patterns from D15 over it using China Glaze Millennium, a silver chrome.  Here's what it looked like when I was finished on a cloudy day.

Stamping Plate D15 in Silver over Sally Hansen Salon Navy Baby Nail Polish

The man in the moon was a little smudgy, and I got a smudge with the star surrounded by tiny stars as well, but I find that kind of thing is easier for me to mess up with a chrome polish for stamping rather than the usual Konad polishes I'm accustomed to.  Since there's not a silver Konad polish that shows up this well, I'll just have to live with it.

That's the scoop for today, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!

Stamping Plate D08

Good morning, Dear Reader!

On Friday I showed you some celebrity picture patterns from one of the D-Series plates, D09, and today I have a celebrity mani using plate D08.  D08 also has lots of choices, but there was one so perfectly absurd it designed this mani for me - Woody Allen.  Any time nail art comes up conversationally for the rest of my life, I'd like to be able to volunteer, "I own and have used a Woody Allen nail art stamp."  Now I can.

I figured this one should have more of a pop art feel, so I used a patterned French tip and Woody Allen in white over Color Club Gimme A Grape Big Kiss, the purple neon from Wicked Sweet.  Here it is.

Woody Allen Manicure using Stamping Plate D08

I have no idea why I love this so much or why I'm so thrilled with the mere notion of a Woody Allen manicure, but I'm happy for both.

That's it for today, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!

China Glaze Oxidized Aqua Crackle

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I have a picture I haven't shown you yet of China Glaze Oxidized Aqua from the Metal Crackles, so that'll have to do for today.  I wanted to try it out over a contrasting base color, so I picked OPI Ate Berries in the Canaries, and this is what I came up with.

China Glaze Oxidized Aqua Crackle over OPI Ate Berries in the Canaries

Not my worst, not my best... I do think Oxidized Aqua is pretty cool though.

I'll have to scamper off and come up with something better for tomorrow, so until then, love and nail polish to you!

Nubar Marble Tower & D09

Good morning, Dear Reader!

I finally decided to take a breather from things that sparkle today, but I didn't take a break from fun manicures.  Today I figured I'd try out a few patterns from the D-series nail art stamping plates, which I've only seen at Chez-Delaney.com.  I went with plate D09, which is one with several stamps of iconic celebrity pictures.

For a the stamps, I thought black would be best, and I decided to use Nubar Marble Tower, a light grey creme, as the base color.  Here's what I ended up making.

Nubar Marble Tower Nail Polish with Nail Art Stamping Plate D09

Starting at the top, that's Clint Eastwood on my thumb,  Jim Morrison on my index finger, The Blues Brothers, Audrey Hepburn, and Sylvester Stallone in Rocky.  Audrey won the prize in a battle against Bob Marley for her spot - he's also an option on this plate.

I've been reluctant to try these because the Chez-Delaney.com owner only sells this series as a substantially discounted set, stating that several of the patterns within the set don't work.  With these particular images being so detailed I thought there might be troubles, but there wasn't a single one.  I'll probably play with stamping plates for a few days since I'm so completely enamored with this manicure.

That's all for this morning, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!

China Glaze Crackle Metals - Swatches & Review

What's up kids?! Dying to get your eyeballs on the new China Glaze Crackle Metals?

Well, feast your head orbs on my swatches and review at reviews.thedailynailblog.com!!

China Glaze Haute Metal over Hot Mess

Good morning, Dear Reader!

Today I'm wearing China Glaze Haute Metal, the pink from the China Glaze Crackle Glaze Metals I swatched for you yesterday.  I paired it with Man Glaze Hot Mess, which until I ran into it in my living room yesterday, I would have denied ever owning.  I just wandered around looking at some polishes I hadn't used in a while until I came across one that would go well with one of the Crackle Metals, and Hot Mess was the winner.

Hot Mess is a glittery whitish silver matte, and very pretty.  I used three coats over a completely dry base coat, and this is Hot Mess on its own.

Man Glaze Hot Mess Nail Polish, Three Coats, No Top Coat

As you may recall, I recently discovered with OPI Turquoise Shatter that the crackling happened oddly over a matte with no top coat, so even though the surface of Man Glaze mattes feel more like powder than that weird rubbery feeling of many mattes, I top coated it.  That made it sparkle a bit more and gave it some depth.  I'd wear this one alone easily (I wish I'd known I had it sooner!).

Man Glaze Hot Mess Nail Polish, Three Coats, with Top Coat

My original plan was to pair this with Oxidized Aqua, which I still think would look cool, but somehow the notion of Haute Metal, the pink, over this made me think "futuristic ice princess."  I don't know what that means either, but I ran with it.  I added Haute Metal and two coats of top coat to make it nice and glassy smooth.

China Glaze Haute Metal Crackle Glaze over Hot Mess

This one's odd and it's hard to see what's going on without looking carefully, but it's sparkly silver pink so I'm happy.  I like it a lot.

That's what I know this morning, Dear Reader.  Until next time, love and nail polish to you!