Saturday, March 31, 2018

8:49 AM

LynBDesigns Easter Sale (Press Release)


With the code BUNNY everything in the store is 50% off through Tuesday

It's Easter weekend and I can't have candy. That means I want to shop. So let's have a sale.

-With the code BUNNY everything is half off through Tuesday. Buy any three polishes and get a free mystery gift with your purchase. 
-The April polish of the month is live now in the store. It's inspired by diamonds and is a perfect layering polish.
-The entire Us Against the World collection has been restocked and is also included in the sale.
Start Shopping

Group Custom

Shop this gorgeous wine themed custom polish now in the store. Must be a member of LynB Loves to purchase.

It's April, Check out the POTM

We have a polish of the month for each birthstone of the year. This month is Diamond

Thursday, March 29, 2018

6:00 AM

Lustrous Lacquer's Quarterly Favorites Round-up


     I've decided to try a new feature on my blog this year in the form of a round-up. Every three months I'll look back and share some of my favorites looks from those months. This way I will be able to really see how I've progressed as a nail artist and also see if I tend to lean more towards one technique or do a good job of mixing them up. I haven't decided yet if I'll just do nail art looks or incorporate swatches also. I'm kind of doing this on the fly and hoping for the best. So, what are my Favorite looks from January, February, and March? Let's take a look.


    January started off with some nail art featuring the Orly Darlings of Defiance Collection. While I created two looks for that post one really stuck out in my mind. The gradient I created using Penny Leather and Champagne Shushe.


     There was just something about this color combination that I really liked. This combination was also a bit out of my comfort zone and I'm proud of the fact that I'm starting to branch out a bit. Even if it is just a small amount. More photos of this look can be found in my Nail Art with Orly Darlings of Defiance post. 

     January also saw the start of the Untried A-Z Challenge, another new series for my blog this year that I hope you are all enjoying. I've mixed things up a bit with this challenge and have done some swatches, shown two polishes and shared a bit of nail art. My next favorite look is from the second week of the challenge, Letter B week


     This is some of the cleanest, crispest stamping I have ever done and that is the reason I've chosen this as one of my favorites. Not to mention I have a little obsession with geometric nail art right now. I've gotten away from sharing nail art in the latest posts of the Untried A-Z challenge but will be getting back into it as the challenge progresses. Speaking of the Challenge, next week starts letter G week and I'd love to see more people participate. This is a come and go kind of challenge where you can do as many or as few prompts as you like so feel free to join in. Even if you didn't mention the challenge in your post but used a polish with a G in the brand name or polish name add it to the link up! Help me get the word out and let's get through those untried polishes together. 

     February was a short month but I was still able to squeeze in a few different looks and some new techniques. I started out with a technique I'm very comfortable doing and ended with one I've been trying to master for years. This first look was my Groundhog Day prediction manicure which sadly turned out to be wrong and winter is still hanging on.


     I am full on head over heels in love with this look. I love the bold vampy base color, I love that it's got flowers, the contrast between the gold and berry wine is gorgeous and I want to wear this look again. Plus it was so easy to do using the advanced stamping technique. It is my absolute favorite look so far this year. 

    This next look while not quite as pretty as my floral image is one that I am very proud of. For years I've been admiring the needle drag manicures that pop up in my news feed, and have attempted the technique a handful of times with horrific results until now. 


     This was the first look I created for Valentine's Day and my first successful needle drag manicure. I know it's not much but for me finally getting this technique to work was huge! What was the secret to my success? You'll have to read the original post to find out, I'm not giving away all my secrets today. 

      I haven't attempted to do another needle drag yet this year but have a few ideas in mind, plus I'd like to do a full hand look instead of just the accent nail. And I think colors with a bit more contrast will give a more interesting look.

     The beginning of March brought a lot of green nail polishes to my blog for St. Patrick's Day and has ended with some softer shades and we ease into spring. I have to giggle at the "ease into Spring" part because as I'm writing this post they are predicting another 9 inches of snow to fall tonight. Hopefully, it will all be melted when this post goes live. *Fingers crossed*

     

     My first look from March is the drip marble I did for St. Patrick's day. I shared this look is both a glossy and matte version. While I like both looks the matte version won my heart and is my second most favorite look so far this year right behind the Ground Hog day floral. 

     Finishing up my quarterly favorites is the art deco look I shared last week. This was a blogger meet up manicure featuring the reverse stamping technique and my second geometric manicure this year. Did I mention I have a slight obsession with geometric manicures?


    This is the first manicure I can remember doing where I mixed two different techniques on one nail. The first being a smoosh manicure and the second a reverse stamped look. I really like the classy, elegant feel this accent nail has which is why it made it into my top 6 looks this year. mixing two techniques together is a great look and need to remember to do this more often. I know gradient and stamping are commonly mixed together but I have yet to do a manicure like that. Maybe I'll have one in my next quarterly favorites post? 

     I hope you enjoyed this look back at the first 3 months of blog posts.  I hope a few of you decide to join in on the Untired A-Z Challenge, full details can be found at the Facebook Event.  If you decided to recreate any of these looks please share them with me on my Facebook page or tag me on twitter. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing. 

Which look is your favorite?

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

6:00 AM

Orly - Pastel City Collection


     I'm back with another collection from Orly. Today I'll be sharing my thoughts on the new spring collection, Pastel City.  This 6 piece collection consists of a mixture of creme and pearl finishes in pale colors perfect for the season. Now I know the pearl finish in an unpopular one but why is that? Is it because they tend to dry with all those unsightly brushstrokes we all tend to hate? Well, keep reading because I've got a trick to get rid of those. One that just might make you want to break out that beautiful polish you've been ignoring because of those aforementioned brushstrokes.

      Electric Jungle

Icy sage green nail polish with a pearl finish from the Pastel City Collection

     Color: An Icy sage green polish with a pearl finish.

     Application: The formula for this polish is a little thinner than normal which surprised me because it's extremely opaque. I was able to get complete coverage with one coat. It is still easy to work with as the polish applied evenly on the nail. As you can see it suffers heavily from brushstrokes. But here comes that trick I mentioned earlier. You'll notice there are no brushstrokes on my ring finger, that's because I sponged on the second coat. by applying the polish this way I was still able to see the color and depth of this polish without the brushstrokes. Pretty neat huh.  Polish is shown as two coats plus top coat.

Icy sage green nail polish with a pearl finish from the Pastel City Collection

Icy sage green nail polish with a pearl finish from the Pastel City Collection

Lilac City

Icy Pink nail polish with a purple undertone and a pearl finish from the Pastel City Collection

     Color: Icy pink polish with a hint of a purple undertone in a pearl finish.

     Application: The formula again was on the thin side for such an opaque polish. This is another one coat polish with even application. As you can see Lilac City also dries with quite a few brushstrokes and that the sponging method helps eliminate them. Shown here as two coats plus top coat. 

Icy Pink nail polish with a purple undertone and a pearl finish from the Pastel City Collection

Icy Pink nail polish with a purple undertone and a pearl finish from the Pastel City Collection

Power Pastel

Pale pink nail polish with a creme finish from the Pastel City Collection

     Color: Extremely pale pink nail polish with a creme finish. This one is so pale it almost looks white. 

     Application: The formula for this one is a bit thicker than the previous two polishes but has what I'd consider a nice consistency. I wasn't quite able to reach full coverage with one coat but power Pastel is still a highly opaque polish. I did have a few streaks on the first coat and sadly this polish is not a self-leveler. Full opacity and even coverage was achieved after two coats. Shown as two coats plus top coat. 

Pale pink nail polish with a creme finish from the Pastel City Collection

Pale pink nail polish with a creme finish from the Pastel City Collection

Pink Noise

Pale peach nail polish with a pink undertone and a creme finish from the Pastel City Collection

     Color: Pale peach creme nail polish with a pink undertone.

     Application: the formula for this is a bit on the thin side but extremely opaque. Like Power Pastel, this is close to being a one coat coverage polish.  The first coat applied smoothly and evenly. Shown here is two coats plus top coat. 

Pale peach nail polish with a pink undertone and a creme finish from the Pastel City Collection

Pale peach nail polish with a pink undertone and a creme finish from the Pastel City Collection

Cyber Peach

muslin colored creme nail polish from the Pastel City Collection

     Color: Muslin cloth colored creme nail polish with a peach undertone.

     Application:  Creamy formula with a high opacity. I did have a slight issue with streaking when I applied this in a thin coat and the polish does not self-level. I was able to avoid the streaks when I switch to my "normal" coat for the application. Shown here in two coats plus top coat.

muslin colored creme nail polish from the Pastel City Collection

muslin colored creme nail polish from the Pastel City Collection


Metallic Haze

Sandy Champagne colored nail polish with a pearl finish from the Pastel City Collection

    Color: Sandy Champagne colored nail polish with a pearl finish.

     Application: The formula has a nice smooth consistency but again is a bit thin. This is another highly opaque polish with full coverage on the first coat. Like the other pearl finished polishes in this collection it also suffers heavily from brushstrokes. You can see from my ring finger that the sponging method works once again for avoiding those brushstrokes. Shown here is two coats plus top coat.

Sandy Champagne colored nail polish with a pearl finish from the Pastel City Collection

Sandy Champagne colored nail polish with a pearl finish from the Pastel City Collection


     Overall I think this collection is just ok as far as the variety of colors go. The cremes all seem to be pretty bland with the exception of Pink Noise. Although I think that one should have been named Cyber Peach. I do have to say that I was extremely impressed with the opacity of these and was curious about how they would work for stamping. Being the stamping fan that I am, I couldn't let that curiosity go unfulfilled so I did this...


     Using Power Pastel as my base I stamped an image from Pueen plate Marble Paradise 01 with Electric Jungle, Lilac City, Pink Noise and Metallic Haze. As you can see I was right to think that these would stamp. They all worked beautifully! 

     What are your thoughts on this collection, are you like me and wish that there was a bit more color to the creme finishes? Did you find my little trick for avoiding brushstrokes helpful? Let me know what you think in the comments and as always, Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!







Sunday, March 25, 2018

8:28 AM

Top Shelf Lacquer - The Drinking Games Pastels (Press Release)


The new release from Top Shelf Lacquer, Bright Shimmers Quad, and Drinking Games Pastels are available as a discounted full collection for one more week. On April 1, the polish will still be available but only by individual bottles, without a discount to buy the full set.  This is a change to the store so that we may better track and manage inventory.  
Top Shelf Lacquer Drinking Games Collection | Review and Live Swatches!!!
Make sure to also check out these LIVE SWATCHES by Juanita at BonitaJuanita on YouTube.  I LOVE live swatches - so you can really see how the polishes apply with 1, 2 or 3 coats. 

Subscribe to her channel while you are there!
Make sure to also check out these LIVE SWATCHES by Juanita at BonitaJuanita on YouTube.  I LOVE live swatches - so you can really see how the polishes apply with 1, 2 or 3 coats.  

Subscribe to her channel while you are there!
Drinking Games – Pastels: 
    If you’ve been a Top Shelf Lacquer customer for a while, you know I love pastels in the spring.  These pastels are a little different than previous years as the colors are not neon, but more subdued and soft and they all have a touch of twinkling holo sparkle and some are mottled or speckled in appearance.

    Price: is $10.00 15 ml Full size, $7.50 for 8 ml polish shots;
    Discounted collections will only be offered for 2 weeks after release (through the end of March). After two weeks, they will be individual bottle pricing.
    Full collection discounted price:  $90 Full size, $67.50 8 ml polish shots
    1. Drink a-Palooza:   A soft pale lemon yellow base with a touch of added holo twinkle with a slight golden sheen and a subtle mottled appearance from the glitters
    2. Kings Cup:  A creamy salmon base with a touch of holo twinkle and a slightly mottled appearance of tiny red flakes.
    3. Beer Pong: A soft bubblegum pink base with just a hint of a blue shimmer and a touch of that same holo sparkle.  
    4. Drunk, Drunk Goose: A soft periwinkle creamy base color with tiny periwinkle flakes and a touch of holo sparkle.
    5. Quarters: A soft sky blue creamy base with darker blue mottling and a touch of holo sparkle.  This one is one of the easier ones to see the mottling and one of my favorite from this collection.  It’s so unique to the Top Shelf Lacquer Line, I just love it.
    6. Spin the Bottle: A soft turquoise creamy base with a slight golden shimmer and a touch of holo sparkle.  
    7. Drunk Jenga: A gorgeous soft mint green creamy base color with a touch of holo and a bit of tan flake mottling 
    8. Truth or Shots: A very light grey base with strong charcoal grey flecks mottling the finish with a touch of holo sparkle.
    9. Never have I ever…: A soft greyish purple with subtle red shimmer with tan and purple flakes slightly mottling the finish 
    10. Flip Cup: A soft lilac creamy base with subtle purple shimmer and just a hint of holo sparkle in the right lights.
    Grab the Drinking Games Pastels Here!
    Bright Shimmer Quad: 
    This set of four fun polishes was inspired by the picture of a vase of spring tulips, which was submitted in a contest within the Top Shelf Lacquer Fans Group on Facebook.  I loved the colors of this picture and had a 4th (the purple) that fit so well.  I wanted crisp and cool spring colors that were perfect for shimmer and sparkle and this fit the bill beautifully.  These polishes are a touch more sheer than normal Top Shelf Lacquers to let that shimmer and sparkle shine through – but they are easily buildable to full coverage with 2 thick or three thinner coats.

    Price: is $10.00 15 ml Full size, $7.50 for 8 ml polish shots;
    Discounted collections will only be offered for 2 weeks after release (through the end of March).  After two weeks, they will be individual bottle pricing.
    Full collection discounted price:  $36 Full size, $28.00 8 ml polish shots
    1. Time flies when you're having Rum!:  Bright and super shimmery turquoise jelly base with a glow within from the turquoise to lilac shifting shimmer and the plentiful super small scattered holo glitter.  This is my favorite of this small collection.
    2. Technically, Alcohol is a solution:  This fun color is a watermelon pink jelly base, with a pink to orange shifty shimmer from within that also has plentiful super small scattered holo glitter. 
    3. Let the Evening be GIN!:  A jade green jelly base with green to turquoise shifty shimmer with scattered tiny holo glitters.
    4. Call me Old Fashioned:  A grape purple jelly base with purple to red shifty shimmer and scattered tiny holo glitters. 
    More Live Swatches by Nichole of Bedlam Beauty on YouTube! 

    Subscribe to her channel while you are there!
    More Live Swatches by Shavonne of I.Love.Pretty.Nails on YouTube! 

    Subscribe to her channel while you are there!
    Grab the Bright Shimmer Quad Here!
    Thank you to the amazing swatchers and bloggers who have reviewed and swatches all of these polishes!

    Friday, March 23, 2018

    1:09 PM

    Zoya Earth Day Exchange (Press Release)

    *Press Release*

         It's that time of year again when Zoya does their annual Earth Day Nail Polish Exchange. I know many of you look forward to this time of year and wanted to make sure you have all the details.

    ZOYA EARTH DAY EXCHANGE 


         Clean up your act by trading in your old nail polish (any brand, used or unused) for brand new bottles of ZOYA! Zoya, the exclusive pioneer of the healthier, 10-Free & breathable natural nail formula invites you to trade in your old not so healthy and unwanted nail polishes for brand new Zoya bottles. We’ll even dispose of your old bottles in an environmentally friendly way. As the trusted brand among professionals and women who want cutting edge color with the safest formula available, we thought it only makes sense that we take the lead! Will you join us? After all, #HealthierIsHappier! 

    Click Here for the Earth Day Exchange Countdown! 

    HOW THE EXCHANGE WORKS... 
    1.) Visit www.zoya.com and add a minimum of 6 bottles of your favorite polish colors (no more than 24 bottles) to your cart – Consumer Accounts Only 

    2.) Apply code: HEALTHY and a 50% credit will be deducted from your exchange order - FREE SHIPPING INCLUDED! 

    3.) Complete checkout and you’re all set! If you need further instructions on sending back your unwanted polish, see below. 


    RETURNING YOUR POLISH 
    Once you receive your order, decide if you are going to send in your unwanted polishes or donate them to a local cause. We are using the honor code to make sure you get your Zoya Nail Polish as quickly as possible! Offer is not contingent on customer returning polish; we assume you’re going to do the right thing! If you do choose to send us your old polish, we promise to properly dispose of it according to environmental guidelines. If you choose to ship back polishes, please include a copy of your invoice with your order. You do not have to send us the exact amount of bottles that you are ordering, there is no limit! 

    Please note: You will need to check with your carrier of choice for guidelines and restrictions on shipping nail polish. 


    USE CODE: HEALTHY 

    Valid Monday 4/2/18 through Sunday 4/29/18 (11:59pm ET) 

    Open to US/Canada 








    *10 FREE FORMULA: FORMULATED WITHOUT FORMALDEHYDE, FORMALDEHYDE RESIN, 
    DIBUTYL PHTHALATE, TOLUENE, CAMPHOR, TPHP, PARABENS, XYLENE, ETHYL TOSYLAMIDE, and LEAD. 

    Thursday, March 22, 2018

    6:00 AM

    Art Deco Nail Art


         Happy Thursday Everyone! I hope your spring season has started off better than mine did. The weather in Minnesota was anything but for the official first day of spring. It was grey all day with a consistent mixture of rain and snow, with more snow predicted for this weekend. Needless to say, I'm not happy about that! I'm ready for sandal season! But enough about the weather, let's get to the real reason you're here the nail art. Today I'm sharing a look I created for a nail blogger meet-up I attended last month. I love geometric and art deco nail art looks and finally created one myself. 



         I used Sinful Colors Shock Candy as my main color. Which I recently reviewed in my 2018 Walgreens Exclusive colors post if you want to check that out. The accent nail is a combination of nail art techniques starting with a smoosh manicure and ending with some reverse stamping.  

        For the smoosh manicure I combined Sinful Colors Shock Candy and White Board. White Board was released earlier this summer as part of the limited edition Back to School collection called School Goals. The actual technique I used was to drop small amounts of each color onto my stamping mat so that they overlapped and ran into each other. (Very similar to the Drip marble technique except on a smaller scale.) Then I smooshed my stamper into the polish and dabbed it onto my nails until I liked the way it looked. Here's a video I did a few years back showing the exact process. 



         After that, I added a layer of top coat and let it dry while I moved onto the next step; reverse stamping


         I used my nail art mat for this step also and it worked like a dream. The image is from plate UR Beautiful-18 and I used Hit the Bottle A Glint of Gold to stamp with. I filled in parts of the image using Sinful Colors Mixed Signals, Beyond the Nail Wink and Supermoon Lacquer Moon Crystal Power. A layer of Sally Hansen Double duty went on over that and I let everything dry so I could peel it up and apply it to my nail. 

          I like the way the gold stands out from the rest of the manicure. It was a bit easier to see than what my camera shows.The sparkly and shine ended up hiding a few details. The next shot should give you a better idea of what it looked like to me. 


         Sadly Moon Crystal Power kind of got lost in all the other colors on the nail. (It's the lighter pink shade at the edge of the design.) But I will have a review of it coming up shortly so be sure to come back for that. Otherwise, I love how this manicure turned out. I think Id like to try something similar in a full manicure next time. What do you think? Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing! 




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