Elle - Cutting Edge Emerald

Today I am going to share with you Elle - Cutting Edge Emerald. This is one of the polishes that came in a gem-tone trio that my sister got me for my birthday a while back.

Polishes Used:
-Nail Tek II
-Elle - Cutting Edge Emerald
-HK Girl - Topcoat

I hadn't used this polish yet because I didn't really think that I would like it. But seriously, how did I  not wear this sooner?! It is seriously gorgeous! I am wearing two coats and it is opaque. The application was really smooth and easy. I have heard that other people have run into issues with Elle brand polishes but out of the 2 I have used thus far, I haven't had any issues.

Do you own any Elle's? Which ones? Any application issues?

BGEL Gel Polish Review

*Products in this post were provided by the manufacturer for my honest review*

Today I have a new brand of gel polish to share with you, BGEL. Here is what BGEL has to say about their polish: "BGEL is a revolutionary gel polish. Unlike all other gels, BGEL is made from a medical grade formula that won't damage your natural nail. The polish does not penetrate into the nails, so it won't yellow nails over time. BGEL colors require no base coat and are completely safe to apply directly to nails! The special formula is designed to nourish and strengthen the natural nail. Additionally, BGEL's superior product won't wrinkle on nails and there is no tacky residue left behind after application. All BGEL colors are guaranteed to stay shiny and chip-free for at least two weeks".

BGEL comes in 71 different colors, they asked me what colors did I like and of course I said pink cremes, so they sent me color #B116, Fantasy Pink.

One thing that I should mention is that BGEL has a wide brush, which I like to help get easy non-streaky application.

So the instructions are as follows:
Step 1: Prep nails, apply pH bond
Step 2: Apply a very thin layer of BGEL color
Step 3: Cure under LED lamp for 15 to 30 seconds or under UV lamp for 35 to 50 seconds. (DO NOT exceed the curing time limit. Doing so will cause the color burnt and easily chipped)
Step 4: Repeat step 2 and step 3
Step 5: DO NOT wipe with alcohol as alcohol will take away the shine and make the color looking dull.

Now it's time to show you the NAILS!

So I have to say that even though the instructions clearly said to apply a thin layer, this was hard for me; I am used to applying thicker layers but I tried my best and think I did a pretty good job. The part that I didn't do so good with was over-curing. I may have gone a 60 seconds in my lamp. I am wearing two coats here and my nails are completely opaque. 

I wore these nails for 4 days before taking them off (which for me is an eternity); the polish was holding up great except for one nail that I slammed in a drawer at work (ouch!)

Here are the removal instructions:
Step 1: DO NOT buff nails. Place cotton pads dipped with acetone on nails and wrap with foil paper.
Step 2: Wait 2-3 minutes.
Step 3: Remove everything.
Step 4: Lightly push a cuticle pusher against the polish to easily remove the remaining color.

My thoughts on the removal aren't as great as the application. While this polish was no harder to remove than any other gel polish, I waited 10 minutes "soaking" my nails with the "foil method" and I still had to use the cuticle pusher to scrap a significant amount off.

MY OVERALL THOUGHTS!

Pros:

• Easy and quick application! These took no time at all to apply and since it was just the color step, it was one and done!
• Nice opaque colors and lots of color choices!

Cons:

• I felt that this polish wasn't as shiny as some of the other gel polishes that I have used, I wanted to buff them to be shiny!
• I don't think that polish is available for the general public at this time (currently available at a handful of Salon's in Chicago)

Overall, I would recommend this polish to anyone looking for something quick and like color choices! I am even planning to use this on some of my friends soon!

You can find BGEL online at the following:

-WEBSITE

-TWITTER

-FACEBOOK

-PINTEREST

*Products were provided by the manufacturer for my honest review*

Catrice - Purple Reign

Happy Monday!

Today I am showing you another polish that I picked up in Belgium; Catrice Purple Reign.

Polishes Used:
-Nail Tek II
-Catrice - Purple Reign
-HK Girl Topcoat

This is a gorgeous blue leaning purple with blue shimmer! I have two coats of color on and it was completely opaque. The application was really nice too and the Catrice polishes that I own all have a wide brush (which I love). Excuse any wear and tear on my nails in the pictures; I polished them then had to run to the ER with my hubby so this is post ER wear.

Do you own any shades like this?

AIS - Over a Saran Wrap Base

Today is Sunday, but it's also my husband's 30th birthday; Happy Birthday Rob!

Anyway, this week's theme in Adventures in Stamping is "Stamping over a Saran Wrap Method Base". I liked this challenge because the Saran Wrap Method always gives fun unique looks.

Polishes Used:
-Nail Tek II
-China Glaze - That's Shore Bright
-OPI - My Boyfriend Scales Walls
-Maybelline - Amethyst Ablaze
-HK Girl Topcoat
-Pueen 15

I chose to use two purples in this, one as the base and one as the stamp and I think that it flows really well together. This is the first time that I have used AA and it is a lot more metallic than I thought, and it's fun!

Ok well it's going to be a short post today but make sure to keep an eye out for all the other Saran Wrap Base mani's online today ;-)

The Nail Challenge Collaborative Presents - Flowers - Week 4

TGIF!!!

Hope you're all excited that it's Friday! Today I have my last Nail Challenge Collaborative mani for July, Flowers #4!

Polishes Used:
-China Glaze - Too Yacht to Handle
-Kiss - White
-China Glaze - Purr-fect Plum
-China Glaze - Gothic Lolita
-HK Girl Topcoat

I haven't used the final polish of the China Glaze Sunsational collection, Too Yacht to Handle. I will definitely be wearing this shade alone because it is just so gorgeous. Since it's the end of the month, it turns out that I don't like flowers as much as I did unless they are stamped. My freehand flower skills aren't great. Anyway, overall I am please with this design and like the contrasting colors together.

Make sure to check out what the other ladies in the NCC did for their final Floral manis :)

Crumpet's Nail Tarts: Tri-Polish Challenge

Happy Final Day of the July Tri-Polish Challenge! I always run into road-blocks by the 4th challenge. LOL. Anyway, today since the colors lended themselves to it, I have decided to go with Galaxy Nails.

It's a very simple mani. I simply started with my darker blue, sponged on some white, green and lighter blue, added the white dots and topped it off with a coat of Northern Lights. :) Easy Peasy!

Do any of the other ladies participating in TPC have the same issue of running out of ideas by day 4? The one thing that helps is seeing all the other pretty mani's that the lovely ladies have done and using those for inspiration. Make sure you check them out!

Jindie Nails - Betty's Fetti Milkshake and Don't Get It Citrus Twisted

Today I am sharing with you two lovely Jindie Nails polishes that I recently purchased.

First up, Betty's Fetti Milkshake:

Jen describes this shade as "White crelly base with all fine and ultra-fine micro-matte hex in opaque pastels and opaque & transparent neon hex.  Named after the the funfetti cookies, I wanted a different name since there are so many funfetti, cake sprinkle, cookie sprinkle, etc. polish names out there, this seemed fitting and different at the same time.  The fine and ultra fine hex glitters are all matte finish and the colors include all matte glitters in gray, black, white, bright pastel yellow, bright canary yellow, matte bubblegum pink, bright pastel/baby pink, neon pink, neon coral, neon hot orange, neon blue, neon green, neon yellow, neon orange, pastel peach, dark purple, neon purple, bright kelly green, bright pastel purple, dark green, satin teal, red  and there may be one or two more colors I've forgotten, it's full of colors!! This is very fun and cute for the summer!" I am wearing two coats of Betty's Fetti Milkshake topped with Glisten and Glow HK Girl. I really love how jam packed with micro glitters this polish is!

Next up we have, Don't Get It Citrus Twisted:

Jen describes this shade as "This is a bright neon green crelly with matte opaque kelly green, pastel yellow and canary yellow dots and extra large hex, neon pink hex and opaque baby pink dots and extra large hex with gorgeous silver shimmer.  Opaque in about 3 coats." Although Jen mentions 3 coats here in the description, I am wearing only two and it is pretty much opaque. Some of the larger glitters are hard to keep placed on the nail without dragging but the final look of this shade is super fun and bright for summer!

Jen also provided me with some mini's for review so stay tuned to see more Jindie Nails polishes.

You can purchase Jindie Nails HERE and make sure to like her FACEBOOK page to stay up to date with re-stock information :)

Crumpet's Nail Tarts: Tri-Polish Challenge

Today I am back with Day 3 of the July Tri-Polish Challenge. I am trying out a really simple tape mani that I have been wanting to try for a while now and this was the perfect opportunity.

I used my 3 TPC polishes plus My Boyfriend Scales Wall for the white on my ring finger. I had a little trouble "staying inside the lines" of the tape but it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated it to be so I will probably do more mani's like this in the future.

I was also interested to see what it looked like Matte, so here are those pictures too!

I can't decide which version of this I like better. I enjoyed wearing it shiny but I think matte looks good in the photos. Which version do prefer?

Check out the other ladies who are participating in TPC!

Liquid Lacquer - Pepto Puke

Happy Monday Loves!!!

Today I am showing you Liquid Lacquer Pepto Puke. If you have been following my blog for any amount of time you know that I love my Liquid Lacquer polishes, I *feel* like I own almost all of them, but since I don't actually, I always keep my eyes peeled while scrolling through blog sales to find Limited Editions that I wasn't able to get my nails on. ;) Anyway, Pepto Puke was one of those lucky finds! There were 3 bottles made of this and now I am one of those lucky 3!

Polishes Used:
-Nail Tek II
-Liquid Lacquer - Pepto Puke
-Gelous
-HK Girl

I don't have an official description but if I had to describe this shade it would be a barbie pink crelly polish with green, purple, orange, and translucent glitters in multiple sizes. (Clearly I am not meant to be a polish describer lol)

Although Pepto Puke isn't available for sale, Melissa is always coming up with tons of gorgeous shades for her customers. You can follow her on Facebook and check out her Big Cartel shop as well!