Holographic gradient

Hi ladies~ My apologies for the lack of posts - I'm still adjusting to full time work :) This manicure was inspired by this pin. Mine didn't turn out as great, oh well! I started off with two coats of A-England Tristam on all my nails, except for my ring finger. I created a blue gradient using Ulta3 lily white and spring shower before taping it off with some striping tape and applying a thick coat of Tristam over it.

Of course, whenever I pull a holographic nail polish out to wear, I don't get any sun! The photo below was taken with flash to show off the holo :)

What do you think of this look?

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

Swatches and review: China Glaze Glitz 'n Pieces collection

Hey everyone! China Glaze's Glitz 'n Pieces collection consists of 6 bottles of jam packed glitter concoctions. I'm going to start off by saying this instead of repeating myself over and over again below - each bottle basically consists of a coloured medium hex and finer glitter, mixed in with black bar, larger hex, medium hex and finer glitters. When I first heard of this, it occurred to me it wasn't the most innovative idea but after swatching the polishes on my nails, I love each and every one of the bottles from the collection.

Formula wise, each bottle is jam packed with glitter so the pay off is absolutely amazing. There is no need to fish for glitter pieces and in fact, each nail has a unique look depending on what glitter piece makes its way onto it! All my swatches will show one coat over a base colour.

First up, I have the namesake of the collection - Glitz n pieces. It consists of silver glitter particles combined with the black mixture. For my swatch, I layered it over Rimmel Grey matter. Because of how versatile the glitter colours are, this is one I'll be reaching for often!

Scattered and tattered contains a red and black mixture. It is layered over a white base below. I wasn't sure of what to layer Scattered and tattered over first because of the red - I thought pink would tone down the more dramatic red glitter effect so I decided to go with white in the end. Love it so much! ♥

Graffiti glitter, oh how I adore thee! I layered one coat over OPI Thanks a windmillion. The brighter, emerald green glitter just stands out so well over the dustier base colour!

Razzle me dazzle - do you contain a pale pink or the palest of copper hex glitter shades? I do believe it look like the latter when layered over OPI Did you 'ear about Van Gough. This polish is a funny one in terms of colour combinations and it's not one I would normally pick up, but it looks so pretty on the nail!

Mosaic madness contains bright blue glitter pieces along with the standard black glitters. Whilst I lean heavily towards blue polishes, this one didn't stand out to me as much.

Bling it on is a blurple and black glitter mixture. Over Australis Peek-a-boo, the blue side stands out more but in the bottle, there is more of a purple tinge (not that my camera helps with showing that!).

I love that the major nail polish companies are dipping their fingers further into the glitter bandwagon and are coming up with more interesting combinations. It's funny how I'm not usually a bar glitter fan, but love the effect it has in these nail polishes - maybe it just has to be in moderation :)

Are there any you know you'll be needing to get from the Glitz 'n Pieces collection? :)

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

Products provided for consideration.

Swatches and review: OPI Oz the Great and Powerful collection

Hello everyone! I'm super excited to show you my picks from OPI's Oz the Great and Powerful collection. In collaboration with the movie (to be released in March in Australia), OPI brings three sheer polishes, three glitters and one liquid sand nail polish. You can check out the press release here. Without further ado though, I'll get straight into my review!

To start things off I have a pretty, sheer polish - Don't burst my bubble. This one is a delicate and super pale pink polish. In fact, when I first saw it, I was reminded of OPI Bubble bath. I can't do a comparison with the two to clarify though, because I don't own Bubble bath. Don't burst my bubble gives off such a clean look and was really easy to work with. My photo shows three coats and as you can see, it has pretty much eliminated visible nail line :)

Onto the glitters now! Which is witch contains short bar glitter pieces mixed with medium and small hex glitters. Add in some micro holographic glitter pieces and you have the most elegant glitter concoction ever. Upon first look, Which is witch appears to be a dupe of OPI Servin' up sparkle, but don't be misled! Whilst Servin' up sparkle also contains the medium hex glitters and micro holographic particles, the mixture is a definite silver shade. Which is witch is so much more delicate and softer, matching the theme of the collection. I layered one coat over Don't burst my bubble below.

When monkeys fly is another glitter polish from the collection and I have to admit, I'm not sure of it. Whilst the large gold hex glitters are evidently abundant due to the pay off on the nail (I didn't fish any of them out!), they do curl a little. The reflective nature of the glitter doesn't help as it gives the illusion that the glitter curls all the more. I layered one coat of When monkeys fly over two coats of Don't burst my bubble below - you can see that at two coats, Don't burst my bubble still covers quite nicely!

I decided to make a glitter sandwich out to see if it would help cover the curling glitter look and layered one more coat of Don't burst my bubble over it. I'm not sure of the final outcome though.

Whilst I'm not a sheer polish kind of girl, I have to say Don't burst my bubble has really won me over! I love the fact that it works so well with my skin tone as well, and paired with Which is witch, gives off the most beautiful and elegant manicure look ♥ What do you think ladies? Will you be picking up some of the polishes from this collection?

(Oh and btw, this is the first time I've made a collage photo, what do you think of it?)

Thanks for reading as always!
~Sharon

Products provided for consideration.

Press release: OPI Oz the Great and Powerful

Hi ladies! Please enjoy the following press release from OPI Australia :)

OPI Skips Down the Yellow Brick Road with the new

Oz The Great and Powerful Range

We’re off to meet the Wizard …….OPI launches a range of six limited edition soft shade nail lacquers with a touch of magic and OPI’s new Liquid Sand formula, inspired by Disney’s new movie, Oz The Great and Powerful.

In the movie Disney takes us back to where it all began, a fantastical journey filled with adventure, flying monkeys and magic; as the wizard (staring James Franco) mysteriously arrives in the Land of Oz where he meets the three witches (staring Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis) to become the Great Wizard of Oz. The highly anticipated film Oz the Great and Powerful opens in Australia on 7th March 2013.

The soft shade limited edition range by OPI - Oz the Great and Powerful - is bursting with magic and excitement designed to capture the magic and whimsy portrayed in the film. The collection features soft neutrals in white, beige and pink combined with glittery shades of white, gold and silver.

With a mixture of soft crème and warm glitter shades, the range is ideal for layering to create rich complex nail art designs.

Which is Witch, a silver glitter lacquer with a magical iridescent sparkle.

Glints of Glinda, only a good witch could turn beige from bland to chic.

When Monkeys Fly! you will go bananas for this gold confetti.

Don’t Burst My Bubble, an irresistible white like puffs of clouds

Lights of Emerald City, like a white confetti spray bursting with excitement

I Theodora You, an adorable sheer pink that is bewitching.

And OPI’s new Liquid Sand formula, What Wizardry is This? – designed specifically for The Great Wizard - a rich taupe hue with reflective sparkle. OPI’s new Liquid Sand formula offers a textured matter finish with infused reflective sparkle.

As with all OPI nail lacquers, the shades inspired by Oz The Great and Powerful contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush.

OPI’s Oz the Great and Powerful will be available from mid February at selected salons, David Jones and Myers, $19.95. For more information on stockists contact 1800 358 999 or www.opi.net.au.
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In all honesty, I was a little underwhelmed by the lacquers in the collection at first, especially when I think of red, green and yellow in relation to Oz. Perhaps the nail polishes will look a lot better in person. I do love that OPI is branching out into more 'indie-esque' glitters and I'm really eyeing Lights of Emerald City!

What are you picks from this collection?

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

Golden circles

Hello everyone! Here is a simple stamped manicure I wore awhile ago. I am finding that full time work results in lesser and lesser time to dedicate towards freehand nail art so stamping plates are becoming rather useful for people like me who lack time, but still want something more than just plain nail polish on their tips! :) I started with two coats of OPI Eurso Euro and then stamped with Ulta3 gold rush fever and BM-322.

Mmm, stamping provides such easy nail art alternatives :) Do you like to stamp? Why or why not?

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

Denim saran wrap

Hello hello! Awhile ago, I posted a skittle look with a denim saran wrap and seeing how awesome it looked, I decided to use it as a full manicure :) I started with two coats of Cult Nails Princess, then saran wrapped with China Glaze First mate. Love love loveeeeeeeee the final look :D ♥

I think some golden zipper nail stickers would totally complete the look...now I'll have to be on a look out for them! ;) What do you think of this manicure?

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

Tel aviv

Hi ladies! A quick post for today :) This is two coats of B by Bloom Cosmetics Tel aviv, a pretty almost black blue polish. You can really see the polish come to life under direct light but otherwise, it looks pretty close to black in dimmer lighting.

Not a polish I wear often, but pretty all the same :)

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

Ivanka and some houndstooth

Hello everyone :) I have a simple, but pretty manicure to share today. I don't recall the last time I wore a Zoya nail polish so I decided to pull out the stunning Ivanka to sport on my nails. I then decided to stamp the houndstooth design from BM-322 with a black stamping polish. The outcome is so gorgeous; I couldn't choose which photos to share so be prepared for a small pic spam ;)

I decided to add a matte top coat the next day and loved how it 'trapped' the golden flecks on the nail even when the light was hitting it :)

After wearing this, I remembered why I don't usually wear Ivanka - it's a little too bright and attention calling :P I loved it all the same still but it'll be awhile before I pull it out to wear again! What do you think, is this a little to loud for your nails?

Thanks for reading as always!
~Sharon

Sinful Colors Cinderella

Hi ladies! Sinful Colors was recently sighted in Target so I pounced on the display ;) I decided to limit myself though and only bought Cinderella, a gorgeous soft blue shade with fiery shimmer swimming in the base. Shown is three coats of the beauty ♥

Seeing the soft look, I decided to stamp the feather design on it using BM-214 and Rimmel Your majesty. The stamping didn't come out 100% great but it's subtle so it's okay :)

Are you a fan of softer nail art looks? :)

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon