Coachella Sunset // Pink & Lilac Ombre with Palm Trees

Oh boy it's been a hot minute. Where does the time go, I've posted 3 times this month! I've been busy moving back to sunny blackpool and driving up and down the M6 as well as trying to wrap my head around a different programming language for work. I've been painting my nails but I just forgot to take photos or edit or function properly 🙈.

In other news I've been reunited with my full collection; just in time for autumn as I only had spring pastel shades with me. But, I will not let summer go that easy and I did this ombre and palm trees look. I actually wore this with a normal basecoat and for days I just kept staring at my hand (only my left hand...no one does nail art on the other hand).

And there's a video! I found a desk sized ring light that's big enough for my camera to film through so now I can film no matter what time it is!

There were so many looks I had planned this month but I'm almost settled so hopefully things will go back to normal next month. MoYou London just released a new tropical themed collection that of course I had to buy; it had layered monstera leaves. I'm living the dream right now painting my nails and drinking Aldi's £4.99 version of Bailey's Strawberries & Cream.

Polishes/Tools used:-

- OPI Infinite Shine // Brightening Primer

- Essie // Blanc (white)

- Deco Miami // Cake (pink)

- Ciaté Gelology // Spinning Teacup (lilac)

- Twinkled T // Vibin' (black)

- Barry M // Matte Top Coat
- MoYou London Stamping Plate // Mix & Match 13

Safari 'Teal Dawn // Clairestelle8 August Challenge 2019

My first entry for a Clairestelle8 challenge in months! Granted I've already missed a few for August and the Safari one was supposed to be out on the 13th but you know work'n'stuff so here it is:

I love this look. I wanted to do something a little different than all the orange sunset looks as they look great but I feel it's the obvious choice when you think of a safari mani. So I went for an 'almost' dark look with the moon rising in the sky. The gradient turned out perfectly and here is shot on it's on because it's beautiful and could be the base for so many other designs. Galaxy forest at night, canyon, desert road trip...endless.

I used one the new Nicole Diary plates as well as some Nicole diary stamping polishes and I'm pleasantly surprised. The white isn't completely opaque but I'm actually ok with that for this look because I didn't want the moon to be super bright. The plate has a load of interesting scenes on it from the safari to grass with bunnies, dense trees and mountains with dragons. There are also some great individual animal designs and solo trees to help flesh out your scene. For £2 off eBay I couldn't ask for more.

How I did it:-
I did the gradient on bare nails (2 coats) using Bohemian Rhapsody, Dance Party 'Teal Dawn, Take me to Heaven and Monoi; then applied a layer of top coat. Once that was dry I used a dotting tool and some of the white polish to create little stars and stamped on the image of the moon. Then, I placed the safari scene with the elephants, lion and tree on my thumb being extras I added to fill in the gaps. I then added another layer of top coat to seal it all in.

Polishes/Tools Used:

- Jessica // Bohemian Rhapsody (dark navy)

- OPI // Dance Party 'Teal Dawn (bright teal)
- Essence Shine Last & Go // Take me to Heaven (baby blue)
- H&M // Monoi (citrus green)
- Nicole Diary // Black Knight (black), Born Perfect (white)
- Avon Mark. // Gel Shine Top Coat

- Nicole Diary // L10 Plate

Heatwave // Look Fantastic August 2019 Nails

Not the greatest box art I've ever done but still way better than last months Look Fantastic offering. I was completely inspired by the red sand/orange sunset combo and set about to recreate that. The sea foam on my middle and ring fingers are actually from the Nicole Diary marble plate and I placed it strategically to look like waves as I don't actually have a stamp like that...over 100 plates and only a few with waves on them. Looks like I need to buy more.

I was also very happy to finally do the ombre of H&M colours that I wanted to do when I first got them and mentioned here when I swatched them. They blend so beautifully together and the dark burnt orange stamps really well on light colours. I'll have to use that in a future design.

Polishes/Tools Used:-

- Cuccio // Flirt (white)
- H&M // Cantaloupe (mustard), The Heat is on (orange), Sun on Clay (burnt orange), 
- A-England // Camelot (black)
- Avon Gel Shine // Top Coat

- Harunouta //L080 Plate
- Nicole Diary // 076 Plate

This Is The Life // Birchbox June 2019 Nails

Ah this box! It's so cute and it's given me so many ideas for mani's. I had such a hard time trying to decide on just a couple of things to do. I eventually decided on making the sunsets the feature but I may do another look attempting to recreate all the little notes (it may require some freehand painting, but practice makes perfect...)

Anyway, you can check out the full unboxing here (there's also a video) but this post is just for the nails!

The sunset scenes were an ombre of four different shades; Bohemian Rhapsody, Cool Cucumber, Raindrop and then the aptly names Catch The Sunset for the pop of pink. I've been wanting to use the mountain stamps from this Haranouta plate for so long as well. It almost looks photo realistic...from a distance with no glasses on. The palm tree were then from Summer Vibes 3. I then used Tropical 36 for the other two nails with the shades First Kiss and Dream Holiday (the plane is from BP 124 though).

I just love sunset mani's though. The hint of green I added almost helps it look space like as well. I toyed with doing some freehand painting to include little post-it notes and other details seen on the box but I'm going to have to practice my painting more. Plus I just ordered some proper nail art brushes off Nail Art UK from Mitty so perhaps it'll be a little easier.

Polishes/Tools Used:-

- Sally Hansen Colour Therapy // Well, Well, Well (slight off white)
- Jessica // Bohemian Rhapsody (dark denim blue)
- Sally Hansen Colour Therapy // Cool Cucumber (dark forest green)
- NYC In a New York Minute // Raindrop (pastel blue)
- Cutex Care + Colour // Catch The Sunset (coral pink)
- MoYou London // First Kiss (pale pink), Dream Holiday (cerulean), 

- Born Pretty // 3 (black)

- Barry M Hi-Shine // Plumpy Top Coat
- MoYou London Plate // Tropical 36, Summervibes 03
- Harunouta Plate // 17
- Born Pretty Plate // BP-124

Urban Beauty // Look Fantastic Beauty Box May 2019 Nails

I finally managed to get up this months Look Fantastic nails! I was wondering what to do for this month but then in the box magazine they had this skyscraper ombre thing going on and I thought city sunset mani! It didn't turn out perfectly because I don't have any skyscraper stamping plates so I freehanded it...that's right I'm entering the world of freehand. Acrylic paint just makes it so much easier.

I also really enjoyed the curation this month. The conditioner only lasted twice because I have butt length hair but it left it smelling fruity and fresh and the lip liner makes a beautiful nude lip shade. I mix it with lip balm for a nude lip. The other items I haven't used yet but I love the Polar night cream so I was super excited to receive another item from them. I was going to do a full review this month but I think I'll start next month with that stuff again. I'll just leave it at; this was a good month.

How I did it:

I started off with one coat of white polish; any will do, it's just so the ombre needs less coats. I used two and then topped it off with top coat. I used black acrylic paint to create the skyscrapers and Golden Hour for the highlights as the highlights on the box was rose gold this month.

Polishes/Tools Used:-

- Cutex Care + Color // Catch The Sunset (bright coral pink)
- Essence The Gel // Orange To Go (bright orange)

- Essenge The Gel // Pumpkin Spice (dark orange clay)
- Ciaté // Golden Hour (rose gold)
- Crafts 4 All Acrylic Paint // 753 Black (black)

- Barry M // Plumpy Hi Shine Top Coat