Camo Clouds // Clairestelle8 Challenge September 2019

My first camo look! And I did it without the use of stamping; it's pure hand drawn baby. I'm actually quite proud because it looks, well, good. I'm not the biggest camo fan so I decided to make it something I would like to wear by using basic colours. 

I started off with a white base and created gradients using the main three colours and then used the larger end of the dotting tool to make the camo design. It took me around 10 minutes to do the entire look. I was originally going to just do 1 nail with the camo on it and leave the ombres however, I keep forgetting that the french tip polish from Avon is trash and the look was patchy.

The colours make this for me though. Who needs actual camo when you can have basic camo?

Polishes/Tools Used:-

- Avon True Colour // French Tip White
- Essence The Gel // Perfect Match (dusty pink)
- H&M // Wild Lilac (lilac), Huldra (blue)

- Barry M // Matte Top Coat
- Essence // Dotting Tool

Aloe You Succulents // Clairestelle8 September 2019 Challenge

I bought the new MoYou London Summer Lovin plates a while back now and I've been wanting to use them for something but keep getting sidetracked but now I've finally had the chance for this cute succulent prompt!

I wanted to do something other than just cacti and the hanging baskets on this plate are just adorable and super easy to use in reverse stamping as well. If only MoYou's stamping polishes were as easy to use as well...

I was also inspired to use the blue by this beautiful plant pot I got from Sainsbury's (it's like my new favourite place no lie. You know you're getting old when you go in the Sainsburys clothes section and actually like the clothes...) My friends got me an Aloe Vera plant as part of my leaving present and I think I've already killed it; it's only been 3 months. I can't be trusted with anything. I thought I was ready for the commitment of looking after a plant; clearly not.

I also love the background shade Pretty in Putty; I would wear that everyday if I wasn't so obsessed with doing my nails. It's such a perfect off-white cream shade that makes you look super tan. I tried to make the design look more cosy and autumnal as well seeing as how I should be putting away my palm trees and bright sunset shades....then again it's now summer in the southern hemisphere so sunset and beach mani's all year long!

Polishes/Tools Used:-

- Ciaté // Pretty in Putty (cream), Part-Time Mermaid (blue shimmer)
- H&M // Huldra (light blue), Sail Away (dark blue), Cantaloupe (mustard)
- Nicole Diary // Black Night (black)

- MoYou London // Croco Spark (blue duochrome)
- MoYou London Plate // Summer Lovin' 05

Back To School // Clairestelle8 Challenge September 2019

I can't believe it's September again already. The mornings are already starting feel crisper and the nights are getting dark early :( Whereas I love the idea of fall and autumn scenes with all the warm colours and general cosy-ness; when you're alone in the middle of nowhere it's kind of hard to be excited about the upcoming season.

But it's September and that means...discount stationary. That's right, all the stationary is on offer right now and I can't because it's one of my main weaknesses; that and Cadburys jelly popping candy chocolate. I've already done a similar look to this one but I really love the scholar and artist plates so combined them for a bit more of a detailed look.

I was a bit upset that I smudged the pencil stamp a little and the MoYou polishes are just awful. I'm going to have to stop buying them because it always takes me several tries to pick up designs. I might start doing swatch posts on them so others can see how terrible they are at being stamping polishes.

Polishes/Tools Used:-

- Nailberry // Stone (dark grey)
- Nicole Diary // Born Perfect (white)

- MoYou London // Mint Condition (pastel blue), Coral Crush (coral pink), Into The Woods (dark brown)
- H&M // Cantaloupe (mustard)
- MoYou London Plate // Scholar 01 & 06, Artist 21

Maniology // Pineapple Whip Starter Kit Review

My first order from Maniology! (formerly Bundle Monster) And probably my last due to shipping & import costs. Seriously, I spent $24.50 in total on the starter kit ($15), sticky base coat ($6) and some nail wraps ($3.50) with the shipping being a flat rate of $10. It was shipped in by Royal Mail who kindly charged me 20% VAT and then an £8 fee for handling. Bringing my entire cost to around $45 for everything. I would really love to subscribe to their mani x me box but I can't afford that tax every month just to import it. I'll stick to Mani & Lola for the moment. As for shipping time, I ordered on the 7th August and it arrived on the 20th which isn't too bad for US delivery; especially when it's coming from Hawaii. 

But anyway, I love pineapples and I've been longing to try out this brand for so long and the rose gold crystal wraps are hella cute. I'll never use them though because they're too cute so I'll just try and copy them via the dreaded hand painting.

We'll talk about the kit first and then I'll eventually get round to doing posts for the others.

Pineapple Whip Stamping Starter Kit

RRP $15

In this you receive two full size stamping polishes, a square clear jelly stamper, a scraper, stamping guide and of course a stamping plate filled to the brim with cute pineapple designs. The box is actually really cute, sturdy and everything is packaged well for the price (especially if you are American and pay way less tax than we do). I also like how the tops of the stamping bottles have stickers on them that you can swatch the polish with both dark and light halves. They sell these separately in batches of 50 for $4 but it's easy to make your own (and cheaper if you live in the UK). Nice touch though.

The stamper I actually really love and I think it might be my new fave. It's super clear, soft and large enough to stamp 3 nails at once (although you would't be able to go right to the edge of the nail). I find it a bit ridiculous that MoYou London charge £9 for a crystal rectangular stamper (which isn't all that great) and this is way better. These go for $8.50 with a scraper on Maniology so it's well worth picking up one of these $15 sets for all the tools.

Maui Gold // Yellow Creme

$6

So the first polish; Maui Gold, is a bright yellow and I love yellow shades but this isn't the greatest yellow stamping. I'm really annoyed as well because the photos make it look so much better than it is in real life. It's kinda wishy-washy and streaky. You need two coats of this polish which I always find unacceptable in a stamping polish. I'd say it looks the best on very dark backgrounds as it stands out a little better. It's no where near as pigmented as the photos on the website though and doesn't do well with other bright colours so you need to stick to neutrals when using it.

Plantation Tea // Bright Teal Creme

$6

Next is Plantation Tea; a bright teal and this is more like it for a stamping polish. This stuff is opaque man. It stamps well on any colour but it does look the most striking on white but it's ready in one coat for just a regular ol' mani.

// Verdict

Overall I'm pretty happy with the stamping polishes and I wish I could afford to order some more as they do pretty well. However I'm impressed the most with the stamper; it's squishy, crystal clear and picks up detail well. Hopefully in the future when I have a higher disposable income I'll be able to order some more but if you're already in the US give them a go as they have cute new starter kits every month.

SWATCHES: China Glaze // Gone West Autumn 2019 Collection

Prairie Tale Ending // Beige Creme

I love this shade, it was one of the ones I wanted the most as these beige/clay cremes are so versatile. This one needs a minimum of 2 coats but applies well and has a super shiny finish even without top coat. 

Campfired Up! // Dark Red Creme

I've never been a big fan of red polish (or red lipstick) but I really love how this is more on the deep burgandy side of red. It's also ready in one coat and I think a watermarble design with this shade and Prairie Tale Ending would be a stunning autumn look.  Also, due to it's strong pigmentation, it works perfectly as a stamping polish.

Lawless & Flawless // Pink Jelly with Gold/Pink shimmer flakes

I kinda wish this was a little bit lighter but the tiny flecks of gold and pink really make this polish special. Each and every coat just adds more depth and it kind of reminds me of Picture Polish flaky/creme polishes. When I first bought this set I though this was a creme and was kind of upset when I realised it was a shimmer but once I got it on my nails and loved it.

Take The High Rodeo // Mauve Shimmer

I think this is my least favourite out of the collection, the flakes need to be a little bit more sparse like Lawless & Flawless. it's also more of a rose shade and rose doesn't look that good with my skin tone. A second coat makes this more wearable for me but it's not something that I would reach for to wear by itself.

Cattle Drive Me Crazy // Midnight Blue Metallic

This is so deep and so rich I didn't even realise it was a metallic polish. It has zero streaks or brush strokes that many metallics are plagued by. This reminds me heavily of Ciaté's Eclipse and looks beautiful with a holo polish and plenty of top coat. Only one coat is needed from this polish and stamps well.

Buffalo Bills, Bills, Bills // Mahogany with gold shimmer

This deep brown shade glimmers with golds shimmer in the light and if it hits it just right; you get a hint a green. This is a perfect fall shade that you could wear with one coat but I prefer two.

Gold Mine Your Business // Gold Holo Shimmer

I was surprised to find splecks of holo in this polish as at first it just looks like a regular gold shade. It needs around 3 coats but instead of being a yellow gold it's a little darker and has more of a 'rusty' feeling which is really in keeping with the Gone West theme. This would be a great shade for Christmas and New Year parties.

Cowboy, Bye // Deep Purple Holo Shimmer

And we finish with my favourite shade in the collection and the reason it caught my eye in the first place. This shade is more stunning in person than the photos let on. It reminds me of the night sky in an Arizona desert; it's just beautiful and the shade in the collection you need the most. Something new pops out at every angle. I'm considering buying another bottle just for display.

// Verdict

One of the first collections I've bought in full this year but I'm a sucker for anything Wild West related and the interesting mix of creams and shimmers have made this a fantastic autumn collection. I'm not a huge fan of the China Glaze brush and general formula however these were for the most part easy to apply and none of them had that awful matte finish. I highly recommend this collection, especially Prairie Tale Ending and Cowboy, Bye. I will say though, don't trust the promotional photos as they depict the shades much lighter than they are.

China Glaze - Gone West Collection