ABC Challenge: Q is for Q-Tip Manicure

I spent all week thinking I didn't have a single Q polish, so I decided to do something with nail art. I was actually REALLY happy with how this mani turned out. I used Milani's Instant Pearl and then dabbed Essie's Turquoise and Caicos on a Q tip, and rolled it over my nails. The result is a subtle watercolor manicure. The problem? It doesn't photograph well AT ALL. After about an hour of trying, I gave up and just picked the best of the worst. It's really a shame, because in person it's such a sweet peppermint candy manicure.

 

Of course, after I go through all this, I realized that one of my Milani's is called "Quick Teal". *sigh* I need to organize my stash. 

ABC Challenge: E is for Essie

Man a week just flies by so fast. This week I'm using Essie's "Beyond Cozy" again. This time mixed with OPI's "Live and Let Die" from the Skyfall collection. It was the only glitter I had that I could make work with my first attempt at a tape mani. 

 

I don't have mani tape, so I used scotch tape. I'm still not super happy with the results, but it's my first time so after three botched attempts it became personal and I was determined to make it somewhat passable. Haha. 

 

 

All photos are two coats OPI, one coat Essie, and one coat HK Girl top coat. 

OPI and Essie are both my two top favorite mainstream nail polish brands. OPI is smooth and thick, but not too thick, and Essie has that thin yet opaque glitter that remarkably didn't run or stick through the scotch tape. 

It's another dark mani, but we had a couple cold days here in Texas and that's all the excuse I need to drag out dark colors another week. =D

ABC Challenge: D is for Dark Brown

I've been wearing so much glitter lately, I've completely neglected my more basic colors. So, for D I decided to go with Milani's "Dark Brown". And just because I couldn't give up on the glitter entirely, I decided to jazz up my ring finger with Essie's "Beyond Cozy".

Two coats Milani "Dark Brown", one coat HK Girl Top Coat.

Two coats Milani "Dark Brown", one coat HK Girl Top Coat.

I don't know how much you can tell--maybe I'm just that neurotic--but my index finger is a great deal longer than the rest of my nails. I had a horrific break on my middle finger and a minor one on my ring finger in a freak accident in the kitchen, and I couldn't bring myself to file my nails down. I can't wait for them to be nice and long again. *sigh*

Anyway, back to the polish. For being a "cheap" CVS brand, I adore Milani. Their polish occasionally has a stronger than usual odor, but for the price tag and formula, I can look past that. It always applys on super smooth and shiny; no visible brush strokes. Just one layer of my topcoat and you can see how shiny and glossy they are. Milani dries fast too, which is always a huge bonus for me.

This might be more of a fall/winter manicure, but I just love dark colors, so I'm using what's left of January as an excuse before I move on to more pastels and neons.