If you hadn't noticed...

My blog has been on hiatus since I started Microbiology last Fall :(

What with the craziness of micro, entrance exams, internships, and school applications I haven't been able to keep up.

I haven't decided what to do for a permanent solution yet...either transition to instagram, post when I'm on breaks, or shut down for a few years (or even, forever?!). But I've been a lifelong polish fiend and will continue to be one.

Until then I leave you with this quick car snapshot.

Enchanted Polish. March 2015.

cloud de menthe

I had to take a quick break for a long-hours summer course but the end result is a lot of new polish and two new acrylic racks! 

I don't know where I first spotted this baby, but the first thing I thought was an OPI Creme de Menthe dupe! I don't know if I'm right and probably never will, but I compared it to the other minty gold shimmer I have and it's quite different. It's perhaps a bit lighter looking and less dusty than Creme de Menthe. My first Jessica and the polish had a perfect application and long wear time. I also got so many compliments!

Cloud Mine. Sunlight.

Cloud Mine. Sunlight.

Cloud Mine. Indoor light.

Cloud Mine. Sunlight.

Jessica Cloud Mine vs. Chelsea Baja Green

Cloud Mine bottle. Sunlight.

just two

Aren't there some kind of potato chips where they're like, "you can't have just one?" Or something? Is it Ruffles? Anyway, I couldn't get just one of these Roughles from Nicole, so I got three. Now I want the last one (pink, Rock the Look), but I have no idea where to find it. 

Looking at these on my nails I kept thinking of popcorn, stucco houses, and candy. The formula was great and they dried quickly. 

These pictures came out sort of dark and the colors look a bit more saturated and less pastel than they did in person. It may have been because I did them indoors, so I did not include a lot :( 

On What Grounds? Indoor light.

Sand in My Shoe. Indoor light.

Sand in My Shoe bottle. Indoor light.

or give me death.

Liberty is a beautiful polish in theory. The idea is a perfect mint green with a gorgeous, fine blue shimmer packed with glass fleck. It could probably be pulled off this way by a more skilled hand. However, I lack the patience to let an hour pass in between each coat (each of three coats!) so I only wait about fifteen minutes and it turns out thick and lumpen and sad. 

The color is still stunning and it is a unique polish. If you can deal with the frustrating formula, or you like the RBL formula, I highly recommend it. 

Also, the real reason I haven't been posting as much lately is because my computer is reaching old age. Every time I open iPhoto it takes about five minutes just for it to start. Photoshop...about seven and then quits multiple times during. It's a huge effort to do just a quick crop and color adjust. Such is life. 

Liberty. Sunlight.

Liberty. Indoor light.

Liberty. Sunlight (in the car!).

Liberty. Sunlight.

Second time's a charm

I decided I needed to conquer this gorgeous mint green. This is actually probably closer to my third or fourth try and after waiting for each coat to dry completely, I got it to work pretty well imo, though far from perfect. I looked at different swatches and noticed that there are almost no perfect (ah!! no offense) applications of Refresh-mint, and that's because quite honestly, it's a serious pita to apply. But worth the effort for that minty shade, despite the next day chipping.

This is probably one of my most proud mani days, haha.

China Glaze Refresh-mint. Artificial Light.

China Glaze Refresh-mint. Artificial Light.

Mints compared l to r: Refresh-mint, Milani Dressmaker, For Audrey.

Mints compared l to r: Refresh-mint, Milani Dressmaker, For Audrey.

Good Times

Remember your first John Hughes movie? I think mine was Pretty in Pink. On that note--

Duckie is a gorgeous minty green that I’d recommend as a must for every green-lover’s collection. Easy to work with formula and it looks great over a variety of greens. It is a very sheer jelly with two different sizes of green hex glitters and small yellow gold hex glitter. I like it sheer in three coats, but I know many are not a fan of “visible nail line.”

I also absolutely adore the other three polishes in this collection—Nostalgic’s “Bizarre Teenage Love Triangle—" a nod to the aforementioned movie. I took photos of the other polishes but had some glitter issues, so didn’t use them. Many other blogs have awesome pictures of these on the nail though :) 

Bizarre Teenage Love Triangle. From left: Andie, Duckie, Blane. Sunlight.

Duckie. Sunlight. (sometimes I hold the polish reeeeeally tightly)

 

Duckie. Artificial Light.

Duckie. Sunlight Macro Bottle.

For Audrey is a color I waited for awhile and has definitely become a staple in most polish lovers' collections. I own quite a few of these aqua and minty shades myself, but formula on them is tricky. For Audrey is no different and it is a little thick and draggy, but not un-doable, it just takes a little patience.

For Audrey. Artificial Light.

 I thought it might look cute with some glitters over it, so I tried some and settled on Aqua Daisy "Me Too," a matte mixed black and white glitter.

For Audrey with OPI Pirouette My Whistle topped with Don't Touch My Tutu, Aqua Daisy Me Too, Icing After Party, $OPI Sugar Plum Fairies Gone Wild, Sinful Green Ocean

For Audrey with Me Too. Artificial Light.

For Audrey and Me Too, bottles.

I really like Me Too as a substitute for the "original black and white glitter." It applies nicely and has the right shaped glitters for me. However, it seemed to yellow For Audrey ever so slightly. Can you tell?