New Years Eve manicure

Hello hello :) Wow, I can't believe this year is coming to an end. I'm going to be clichéd but honest - it truly has flown by! I've finished my third year of studies in University and entering my last. This time next year I'll be totally finished with studying omgsh!! Haha, shall think of it and cross that bridge when I get to it though :P

In terms of nail polish collections, I haven't been blown away by them too much. The most memorable and stand collection to me was definitely China Glaze's Anchors Away collection. I remember it being the first collection of 2011 which I loved. It's been a great year for crackles (to be honest, I'm burnt out of them!) but I can't wait for the new trend of 2012. Here's to hoping it'll be lots and lots of flakies!! I love them so much and need to grab them all when I can access them haha!

Of course, with the New Year approaching, I have to wave it in with some bling and glitter :) I decided to wear OPI Excuse moi from the Muppet collection as a full mani since I haven't done so before. It's a glorious red-pink base filled with awesome glitter. For someone who rarely sports reds or pinks, this definitely wowed me! I applied two coats - it's that opaque! Upon closer inspection though, there is still a slight bit of visible nail line so a third thinner coat may have helped. Because of the glitter, this is a top coat eater, but I don't mind the grittiness so I didn't double on the top coat :)

It was so beautiful that my camera spazzed and couldn't photograph the true shade. I had to do some editing in photoshop (hence the redder looking fingers) and even then, the colour is still a little off. Imagine it a little pinker, or you can just go and grab it from your nearest nail supply store :P The first photo is definitely the most colour accurate.

What are you sporting on your nails on New Years Eve?

Please also have a look at my blogsale as I want to get rid of the polishes :)

Thanks for dropping by!
~Sharon

This product was provided for consideration. For more information please view my disclosure policy.

Where is my spring?

Hi everyone! Hope you've had an enjoyable and restful holiday :) I've been stuffed full the past two days celebrating Christmas the Aussie way - with barbeques! Not that they're doing me much good since I've been sick and coughing... :(

Anyway, today's mani is from the vault, back when we actually had sunny and warm weather. In reference to the post title, this summer has been crazy so far with its cool and warm temperatures, but nothing like the sweltering hot summer days we normally get! Not that I'm missing those hot days so much although I can't help think we're in autumn instead of summer. At least give us spring? ^^

From index to pinky - I applied two coats of China Glaze Re-fresh mint, Ulta3 spring fling, spring shower and spring blossom (three coats). On my thumb, I had two coats of China Glaze Light as air. I then used my dotting tool to add the white dots.

Definitely very springy and simple. I quite liked this mani ^^

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

Mini holiday series: A Christmas coloured mani

Hi ladies~ Hope you have a Merry Christmas celebrating with family and friends :) Today's mani is another Christmas coloured inspired one. I love how simple these colour themed nails are haha.

Thumb: Two coats of OPI Here today...Aragon tomorrow, layered with one coat of Nubar 2010
Index & pinkie: Two coats of Hello Kitty Golden girl, layered with one coat of Essence Make it golden
Middle finger: Two coats of Maybelline Candy apple. Stripes applied with Art Deco nail art polish
Fourth finger: Two coats of Orly Stone cold

What do you think? :)

Thanks for dropping by!
~Sharon

Mini holiday series: Simplicity at it's best

Hello everyone~ If you know me, you know I love my glitter tips :P This mani is actually from awhile back but I thought the glitter tips were quite fitting of a holiday mani.

This is two coats of Ulta3 black satin. I then applied a coat of Essence Make it golden (dupe for Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow - woohoo for cheap dupes!), starting at the tip and dabbing down towards the base for the gradient effect. To add a little more bling and sparkle to it, I dabbed on OPI Servin' up sparkle.

I quite liked this mani, especially the combination of gold and black. This combo never gets old :) What do you think of this mani?

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

Mini holiday series: T-minus 2 days

Hello hello~Phew, I can finally get started on a small holidays series of manicures :) I'm not one who usually wears manis according to the season or holiday but I thought I'd try it out this time since I was out of ideas anyway :P Here's a skittle mani I came up with to join in with the festivities!

Index & fifth nails: I applied two coats of China Glaze Emerald sparkle
Fourth nail: I applied three coats of China Glaze Ring in the red
Middle nail: there is two coats of Face of Australia Titanium and then layered on a coat of Sally Hansen Nail Prisms Diamond. Unfortunately, the holographic effect wasn't too apparent as I had no sun in the time I wore this mani! :(
Thumb: I applied two coats of Maybelline Dark chocolate and then layered two coats of OPI Rainbow connection over it.

I think this is about as festive as I'll get haha. What do you think of this Christmas coloured mani? :)

Thanks for stopping by.
~Sharon

Swatches and review: OPI Holland collection for spring/summer 2012

Hi ladies :) I thought it'd be helpful just to have a round up of the polishes I've been showing the past few days of OPI's Holland collection before moving on (to a mini holiday themed series :P). This will also have a more in-depth review overall of the application, formula and drying time of all the polishes. I hope you enjoy this and find it helpful!

All the polishes I received in this collection have spot on formulas - a couple were a little thicker than normal, but still super to work with. I had absolutely no troubles when applying, helped of course with the prowide brush that is OPI's :). They're all really opaque too! In terms of drying time, all polishes were relatively quick. I was able to paint all five nails and go back for the second coat with no dragging issues. I can't comment much on the staying power of the polishes as I mostly swatched them, with the exception of two. I'll talk about that more in the individual reviews below :)

First up is Thanks a windmillion. This was one opaque polish - in the swatches below is only one coat! A second coat would have definitely helped with levelling out the polish on the nails though. I was surprised at how easily the polishes glided onto my nails as thicker polishes generally mean a harder application - no troubles from this little fella at all!

This shade does remind me of Mermaid's tears and I know some have been thinking the same. I don't own the other polish and can only say from seeing swatches of Mermaid's tears and a comparison of the two made by Fashion Polish that Thanks a windmillion is dustier whilst Mermaid's tears is greener and a touch brighter.

Did you 'ear about Van Gogh? is a gorgeous neutral crème. I don't own many neutrals so this one is definitely a winner in my book. Once again, the formula was a little thicker than normal but it didn't present a problem at all. Funny how these thicker formulas still apply so well! This was one of the two polishes I actually wore for a couple of days and stayed on perfectly during that time. Two coats. No chips and no tip wear :).

Wooden shoe like to know? is one of the polishes in this collection which has a beautiful golden shimmer in it. I think the shimmer makes the red tinged brown shade looks so much more interesting! Mmmm, now I feel like chocolate... :D Shown is two coats.

Dutcha just love OPI? is a lovely red based purple. I normally shy away from these purple tones as I don't like red :P The gold shimmer in this shade called to me though and I knew it would be a perfect match with my summer dress :) I applied two flawless coats for this swatch and was quite unwilling to take it off! I must wear this as a full manicure in the near future.

I don't give a rotterdam is the first of two glass-flecked finishes from this collection. I love me some glass-flecked finishes and knew I needed both, despite their similar looking shades! Below is three coats of I don't give a rotterdam. I applied three as I still had some patchiness after the second coat. I'm sure with careful application you can stop at two.

This was also the second of the two polishes I actually wore and can comment on the wear :P And...it was magnificent! Not chips or tip wear after three days...and I did quite a lot of washing in that time too!

I have a herring problem. The second glass-flecked finish polish. Looks pretty identical with I don't give a rotterdam, doesn't it? The differences really stand out when you see them side by side though :)

I applied two coats of I have a herring problem. A beautiful, dusty green-blue shade. LOVE!

And as promised, here is a comparison of I don't give a rotterdam with I have a herring problem.

Both polishes have the same finish and dusty look but the shade varies in that I don't give a rotterdam is a dusty looking blue whereas I have a herring problem has a greener tinge to it.

Now, do we really need both? I'd say YESYESYESSSSS! They're both gorgeous in their own way and really, I'd be hard pressed to choose only one of the two :P

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

Products provided for consideration. For more information, please view my disclosure policy.

Swatches and review: I have a herring problem

Hi ladies~I have a herring problem from OPI's Holland collection is another lovely glass-flecked shimmer polish. I'm so in love with this type of finish <3. I applied two coats in this swatch, the polish gliding onto my nails as per usual :P

This definitely does look really similar to I don't give a rotterdam. They're both different though, I have a herring problem is greener compared to the other. I'll have a comparison up shortly of the two :)

Thanks for reading.
~Sharon

Product provided for review. For more information, please view my disclosure policy.

Swatches and review: I don't give a rotterdam

Hey everyone~When I first laid eyes on OPI's Holland collection, I knew I had to own I don't give a rotterdam. I mean, how can anyone resist the awesome glassflecked look in this polish? It's also a gorgeous dusty shade of blue and since my love for blue has grown, I just need all possible shades of it :P

Shown in the photos are three coats of the lovely polish. I would have left it at two, but there were still some patches on some nails. You can definitely stop at two coats if you're more careful when applying!

What do you think, can you live without this polish? I sure can't! :P Have a look at my blog sale too, hehe.

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

Product provided for review. For more information, please view my disclosure policy.

Swatches and review: Wooden shoe like to know?

Hello hello~As you can probably tell, I'm trying to get these swatches of OPI's Holland collection up asap so I can squeeze in some holiday manis too :P I can't believe it's going to be Christmas in a week! How time fliesssss.

Anyway, I have swatches of Wooden shoe like to know today. Similar to Dutcha like OPI, this red-brown also has a golden shimmer running through it. It's another opaque polish but I applied two coats to even it out a bit and for a deeper shade of colour. I really can not harp on about the formula in the nail polishes I've tried from this collection - they are all so amazing and great to work with!

I'm not usually a brown type of girl but this one is another beauty ♥ What do you think, to pick up or not to pick up? Check out my blog sale too :)

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

Product provided for review. For more information, please view my disclosure policy.

Swatches and review: Thanks a windmillion

Hello everyone~ Thanks a windmillion is my second and last crème from OPI's Holland collection. The dusty green shade immediately caught my attention - neeeeeeeeeeed! This baby is so opaque that I only applied one coat in the photos below. Again, there were no issues with application. Flowed onto my nail perfectly and the wide brush ensured no clean up needed!

I love crème polishes, I really do :) What do you think of this shade? Have a look at my blog sale too!

Thanks for dropping by.
~Sharon

Product provided for review. For more information, please view my disclosure policy.

Swatches and review: Dutcha just love OPI?

Hi ladies~Today I bring to you my second nail polish from OPI's Holland collection. When I saw the promo pictures for this collection, I knew I just had to own Dutcha just love OPI. It's purple, it has a lovely gold shimmer in it, what's not to love about it?!

I applied two glorious coats of this pigmented polish. I'd say you can get away with one coat since it's so opaque, but for the depth and colour to really show, a second coat is needed. I hardly have any trouble with the OPI formula and this one is another dream to apply. The prowide brush really helps for me and no clean up was necessary! :)

What do you think of this polish? I reckon this is a must have from the collection! :D

Do have a look at my blog sale as well ^^

Thanks for reading.
~Sharon

Product provided for review. For more information, please view my disclosure policy.

Swatches and review: Did you 'ear about Van Gogh?

Hello everyone~I have for you today my first nail polish from OPI's Holland collection! Did you 'ear about Van Gogh is a lovely neutral crème and totally work appropriate. I found the formula a little thicker than I am used to from OPI but it wasn't too bad. Application was nice - I love the pro wide brushes hehe. Here, I've used two coats.

I love crème polish (in fact, they're one of my favourite finishes) but I did find the polish a tad boring after awhile. I decided to add a little nail art and glitter to make my mani more interesting and fun :) Since the shade of Did you 'ear about Van Gogh looked similar to a burberry pattern background, I decided to take a leaf out of Emerald Sparkled's post and drew on a plaid pattern onto my accent nails. I layered on one thick coat of L.A. Colors Starlight onto the rest of my nails.

I love that the polish is so work appropriate, especially since I don't own many :P What do you think of it?

Thanks for reading.
~Sharon

A product was provided for consideration. For more information, please view my disclosure policy.

A sponged rainbow

Hi ladies~ Awhile ago, I saw this mani over on Let them have polish and knew I would one day have to recreate this look. I loved the gradient shift of colours on the nail and hey, more leopard print. Why not? :P (Yeah...this is my third one in less than a month? Hehehehehe.)

I really love the way this turned out. I'm into day 3 of wearing this! Such a record haha, since I normally change my mani every 1-2 or so days.

I used so many nail polishes I'm just going to post a photo of the bottles used. If you want to know more, just ask :)

Hmmm, I might try a crackle polish over this next time. What do you think?

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

Look what arrived today!

Hello everyone~ Omigoshhhhhhhhhhh, OPI's Holland collection for spring/summer 2012 has arrived!! :D I was totally looking forward to this and six of the beauties which were released are now mine, hehehehe ♥

As these are all gorgeous, I don't have the heart to simply swatch them (well, and the fact that I'm too lazy to sit through swatch sessions :P). NOTDs will be following this post shortly, after I decide to remove my current mani. It's so awesome too - it'll be my next post for sure :)

For now, any idea as to what the above polishes are? Not that this will stump you polish fanatics :P

Thanks for dropping by!
~Sharon

Prince Charming is blingy

Hi everyone~ Not much talking today, onto the polish!

This is two coats of Orly Prince charming layered with one coat of Color Club Magic attraction. I hadn't intended for the glitter to be so dense but it seems my bottle of MA has thickened quite a bit since I last used it.

I'm not so sure about this combination, what do you think?

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon