QuikPic: Nfu-Oh 60

Hey all...

I'm a little out of sorts right now. I don't know how many of you have felt like this / do feel like this during grad school but I'm somewhere in between tears and dropping out. Blah.

Anyway...

I have managed to wrap up my coursework (frustrated determination/anxiety got me through it) and while I am not in the mood for nail art at the moment, I thought I'd swatch some of my new polishes. I must apologize in advance for the quality of the photo (cell phone, shot indoors at a window) and the state of my hands. I finally tried the acetone trick since my fellow PoP bloggers always have such great cuticles. I don't think I did too badly for my first time but acetone really does dry out my hands...and it's very pronounced on darker skin.

I swatched Nfu-Oh over several different things.
Pinky - 4 coats
Ring - 2 coats (over 2 coats Rimmel Black Satin 399)
Middle - 3 coats
Index - 2 coats (over 2 coats China Glaze IX)
Thumb 2 coats (over 2 coats China Glaze Wagon Trail)

In the pictures (and IRL) I don't really see much difference between fingers. I will try swatching over brighter colors to see if the effects change. Nfu-Oh is an absolutely gorgeous flakie though....a beautiful, fall inspired transition between greens, golds and coppers (at some angles maybe even blues and teals) suspended in a glassy black-brown

Chat soon.

-mKat

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China Glaze: Taking Ruby Pumps On a Stroll (Pic Heavy)

With all the raves for ChG's Ruby Pumps, I knew I had to have it. From the moment it arrived on my doorstep I was itching to wear it. I don't often do reds - I find they're a bit dated and they make people look old (kind of my opinion on red lipstick, to be honest). But this polish... this polish... does red right. I wore the plain mani (two coats) for a day and a half and couldn't stop staring at my hands while I did the most inane things (like shop for groceries).  I'm pretty sure my bf is sick of me going on about the sparkles.

Full sunlight

Look at the sparkles!

Of course, this red was just begging for Konad. I mean, it looks gorgeous on its own, but I couldn't wait to set off the sparkles against a deep, creme black.

Base colour: China Glaze - Ruby Pumps
Black: Rimmel - 399 Black Satin (one of the richest blacks I've ever seen, I'm ashamed to say I had to forgo China Glaze's Liquid Leather in lieu of this...)
Stamp: Konad SP - Black Pearl; China Glaze - Poetic
Plate - Chez Delaney A02
Topcoat: Konad clear topcoat (over black stamp); Seche Vite (over everything)

This may be my favourite Konad thus far. Unfortunately, Ruby Pumps is pretty damned hard to photograph as it is (what with all the shimmer and the fact that red pigment is terribly unforgiving)... The addition of topcoat made it close to impossible to catch the detail, especially Poetic over Black Satin.  Oh well. I did my best for you...hence the reason there are way too many photos! :P

BTW, I have to give credit to China Glaze's Orange Cuticle Oil. I bought a bottle during my last Trans Design haul. The only cuticle oil I own (Organix) came as part of a set and is $20 on its own. I figured if ChG could do the job for less than four bucks, it was worth it.  And it SO IS.  I think I'm addicted to the stuff. It smells awesome (I wear Satsuma from the Body Shop and I'm a fan of all things citrus)... and it moisturizes really, really well. I have incredibly dry hands (which tend to look ashy, especially in winter). And I've got dyshidrosis on my  hands, which is exacerbated by the dryness.  I find the oil really soothing.

The oil is so great I've been absently manicuring my bf when we watch TV. (He's enjoying it...and sometimes requests it...but I'm not supposed to tell his hockey team.) ;)

 

-mKat

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Quick and dirty...

Konadicures!

I've been trying to post these for the better part of the afternoon and Blogger's formatting is getting to me. GRR. Me of little patience.

Anyway... Here we go (again!)

I feel the need to defend the fact that I am still using Sally Hansen products. I swear it's just the nude, clear polish that I'm fairly certain isn't a topcoat at all but I use it for such.

Way, way back, before animal testing ever became an issue of mine, I fell in love with this nude for a topcoat and bought a number of bottles. Since then, I just can't bring myself to part with them so I'm slowly using them up. (Same goes for any "questionable" company you might see me using...Konad aside, because I'm fairly certain they make no claims to be cruelty-free).

Alas. Told you ignorance was bliss...

Moving on, here are some quick and dirty Konadicures I completed prior to joining this blog. Most of these were done really quickly so they're kinda messy.

Look 1
Base colour: China Glaze - Laced Up
Tip: Rimmel - 399 Black Satin
Stamp: Konad SP - Black Pearl
Plate: m35
Topcoat: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails w/ Nylon in Nude (no. 95)
*I forgot to take a picture of this when I first did it so this is after about a week of wear... in case you're wondering about the polish gap at my cuticles. :P

With flash


Natural light


Look 2
Base colour: Jordanna Cosmetics - Sapphire (140)
Stamp: Konad SP - Black Pearl
Plate: m51
Topcoat: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails w/ Nylon in Nude (no. 95)

Natural light


Thumb, natural light


Natural light


Look 3
Base colour: China Glaze - Rodeo Fanatic
Stamp: Konad SP - black pearl; China Glaze - DV8
Plate: m51
Topcoat: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails w/ Nylon in Nude (no. 95)
Again, I think I took pics 2-3 days after the mani, so my apologies for any wear or growth.

This is a really subtle, tone on tone mani. Rodeo Fanatic and DV8 have very similar underlying hues which is why I paired them. The holo really catches the eye under certain lights and it has a depth that isn't present in standard shimmers. Again, I don't think the pics do it justice. (I particularly loved looking at this mani under the pot lights in my condo's elevators. DV8 flowers just "appear" out of nowhere but are almost invisible head on. Magic!) :P

Thumb, yellow lamp light


Thumb, with flash


With flash


Thanks for looking!

- mKat

Coming up: Konad sponging

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