You're a Gem // Birchbox April 2019 Nails

This months Birchbox was a stunning design, but these nails just don't do it justice. I'm definitely going to have to revisit this design once I become a better nail artist because they're ok but they don't really look like the box. I used nail polish mixed with acetone and I really couldn't get that watercolour look this time. I'm going to invest in some acrylic paint though and hopefully I'll be able to get that look without ruining the base coat (and it'll be less harsh on my nails...)

The contents of the box were nowhere near as interesting as the design though this month and I felt they were a little lacklustre. I don't mind receiving body lotion and conditioner but not in such tiny samples. One month we got a 20ml conditioner and I used it in one go (my hair is down to my butt though lol).

Anyway, here are the nails!

I'm not completely unhappy but I'm not super stoked either. I just feel like they could be so much better. To be honest I should've had some new polishes by now but Born Pretty took 2 weeks to dispatch for some reason. These polishes are designed specifially to create that dreamy watercolour/marble look and I got the pink and blue especially to do some basic bitch rose quartz and serenity nails (I will never get over that pairing, it was the best).

How I did it:-

I started off with 2 coats of Blanc and then 2 layers of top coat and let them dry for a good 20 minutes. I then placed small drops of the other colours into a palette and every time I went to use them I dipped my brush in acetone, then dipped it in the polish, then dipped it back in acetone again. I'm not the best at this yet and I really couldn't get that perfect bleed as it would start to remove the other colour. I then applied a layer of top coat and then brushed on some gold streaks before ending it with a matte top coat.

Polishes/Tools Used:- (forgot to take a photo sorry!)
- Essie // Blanc (white)

- NYC Expert Last // Fresh Blue (primary blue)

- OPI // Strawberry Margarita (hot pink)
- NYC In A New York Minute // Lincoln Square Lavender (dark dusty pink)
- Ciaté // Fly Away (lavender)
- Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine// Blueberry (pastel blue)
- OPI // Lavendare to find Courage (pastel pink)
- Born Pretty Polish // #1 (gold)

Spotlights // Look Fantastic March 2019 Nails

Aaannnndd I finally got round to doing this months Look Fantastic nails. I really thought I was going to miss it this month due to Uni deadlines but I got them done. Hopefully I'll be a little more organised next month. I was also trying to figure out how I could do this design without going to abstract. 

I'm pretty pleased with the outcome; it's not exactly like the box but without a printer I don't think I would've got exactly there. I'm also very happy with this months contents as well! Apart from the Morphe (which I gave away immediately; I can't stand that brand) every other product was pretty good. I haven't tried The Ordinary serum, Madara Face mask or Omorovicza Cleanser yet but I love EOS balms (they're my favourite) and the Rituals hand balm is actually very nice. At £13, I couldn't have bought them any cheaper.

On to the nails though. I started out with a white base coat then sponged on a few layers of Fresh Blue, Bohemian Rhapsody, Orchid Chic and Jam Sesh in a diagonal pattern. After a layer of top coat, I then layered on the white stripe using Blanc, followed with a matte top coat.

It actually took me a while to find a white polish that was sheer enough to create that layered looking effect. I thought Alpine Snow by OPI would be perfect as it's milky AF and needs around 7 coats to become opaque; but no, it turned out to be one of the best white stamping polishes I've used...who'd have thought? I've finally found a use for it.

Polishes/Tools Used:-
- NYC Expert Last // Fresh Blue (primary blue)

- Jessica // Bohemian Rhapsody (dark denim blue)

- MoYou London Polish // Orchid Chic (purple)
- Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear // Jam Sesh (lavender)
- Essie // Blanc (white)
- Barry M // Matte Top Coat
- Born Pretty Plate // Geometry L001

Anti-Valentines // #Clairestelle8 Valentines Challenge

So, the prompt for the 16th was 'Anti-Valentines' and whereas this may not look very 'anti-valentinesy', I was inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean;

"Means no."

So yeah, I bought this strange plate about a month ago off eBay because it had some wreath designs I was looking for but it also has these quotes on it. I didn't pay much attention to them, but when it arrived I noticed they were the weirdest quotes to have on a valentines plate. You've got things like "I decline", "no way", "FREEE", "Good Luck!" and "Bless you". 

How I did it:-

I started off with one layer of Vortex Vixen and then did two sponged layers of Vortex Vixen, Ballerina and Designer Dress. After a quick dry top coat I stamped on the quilted pattern and the text.

I'm glad we're past valentines day though as it truly is my least favourite holiday of the year. I know a lot of women are like "I'm a strong independent woman who don't need no man" but no matter what your preference is; being single on Valentines day truly sucks and it's perfectly ok to hate all those happy people lol. Only for one day though.

Polishes/Tools Used:-
- Artistic Colour Revolution // Vortex Vixen (pale mauve)

- Barry M Nail Paint // Ballerina (dusky pink)
- New York Color Expert Last // Designer Dress (pink)

- Revlon // Quick Dry Top Coat
- Harunouta Stamping Plate // L085
- Nicole Diary Stamping Plate // Animal World ND-004