Swatch Spam !

I have a few indie polishes to share today!

I post more frequently on my instagram, but I'm trying to get into the habit of blogging more often.
Instagram is super convenient to post, even on the go, (stupid blogger app never works properly)
but blogging lets me elaborate more.
So I usually save my blog for more long winded reviews. :B

Jindie Nails - Burrrberry
Jindie Nails is another brand which I love for glitter-crelly combinations!
Eh unfortunately for Singapore nail polishaholics,
Mei Mei Signatures has limited stocking for Jindie Nails' newest collections.
My to-die-for Jindie Nails' polish? Dead Roses, a limited edition polish.

Burrr-berry is a white crelly with sky blue, medium blue and magenta circle and hex glitters.
Opaque in 2 coats.

When I see this, it makes me feel like eating berry yoghurt! :D

Powder Perfect - Crinoline

A neutral nude crelly with copper and mint hex glitters.

Opaque in 3 coats

Glam Polish - That Old Black Magic

Black scattered holo, with micro glass flecks.

2 coats for opacity

Feels like a blackened rainbow!

Lumina Lacquer - Take Back the Night 

This is after I applied a matte top coat!

It's actually a black creme with silver micro-glitters and blue-turquoise iridescent hexes.

2 coats, but due to the thick consistency of the polish, 

you can apply one coat over black base to keep the layers thin.

Glam Polish - Don't Go into the Woods.

Part of the Dark Terror Limited Edition set collaboration with Mei Mei Signatures

Dark forest green holo.

1 easy coat did the trick!

Emily de Molly - Harmony

Soft gray with small white, purple and teal hex glitters.

I love the unusual color combination of this one.

Generally my color picks are usually brighter.

Glam Polish - Dark Water

Deep purple holo with micro-glass flecks which I was unable to capture nicely. ):

The accent nail is Color Club - Harp On It, a super strong silver holo!.

Glam Polish - Another Galaxy

Sky blue crelly with teal, blue, and indigo glitters of various shapes; circles, stars and hexes.

This was an old favourite of mine! :D

Indies are my favourite, perfect for days where I'm feeling lazy to do nail art, but still want a mani on. :D

Swatches - Basic colors Part II !

I'm back with Part II !

Seriously considering if I should even start on the glitters, 

because it's damn hard to remove and I'll probably kill my nails.

We'll see.

China Glaze - Electric Beat

2 regular coats. No issues whatsoever!
Dusty blue-leaning periwinkle

China Glaze Bahamian Escape

1 slightly thick coat, due to its consistency.
Azure sky blue

China Glaze - Man Hunt

2 slightly thick coats

Navy blue crelly texture, dries slightly matte.

Essie - Bouncer It's Me
3 thin coats are needed for opacity, jelly polish which dries with a matte finish.
Apply carefully as there it is slightly streaky.

In the bottle its a bright cobalt blue, but you need a white base to get the true color.
Index and middle finger has no white base, Ring and pinky has 1 coat of white.
Index and pinky is the matte finish, Ring and pinky has has top coat.

China Glaze - I Sea the Point
2 regular coats, but you can get away with 1 coat if careful.
A true cobalt blue with slight matte finish

China Glaze - Sunday Funday
2 thin coats. Very watery and tends to flood cuticles, so be careful.

Medium blue.

China Glaze - Creative Fantasy
Issues are similar to Bouncer Its Me.
Neon jelly polishes tend to be like that actually;
they need more love and patience, but I find the bright color worth it.

3 thin coats are needed for opacity, jelly polish which dries with a matte finish.
Apply carefully as there it is slightly streaky.

In the bottle its a bright cobalt blue, but you need a white base to get the true color.
Index and middle finger has 1 coat of white base, Ring and pinky has no base.

Another major issue I had with this polish, was the fact that the color had changed over time.
Not sure if I was unlucky and got a bad batch,
but I had the same issue with another polish from the same collection (Cirque de Soleil).
I've given up on that one (Hanging in the Balance), because the color is not unique.

Look at the difference between the new and the old bottle.

Index and pinky is the correct shade - with / without white base.
Middle and ring is the mutant shade - with / without white base.

China Glaze - Urban Night
2 thin coats.
A deep plum creme, almost black.

Color Club - Disco Dress
2 thin coats, slightly watery.
Neon purple crème, slightly similar to Creative Fantasy.

China Glaze - Skyscraper
3 thin coats, slightly streaky on first coat.
Dark indigo jelly with silver shimmer.

China Glaze - In a Lily Bit
2 thin coats, streaky on first coat but evens out. slightly watery.
Light purple pastel, almost pink.

OPI - Pink Friday

2 regular coats, slightly streaky on first coat only.

Light pink creme.

Here's a comparison shot between Pink Friday (Index and Middle) and In a Lily Bit (Ring and Pinky)
You can see the purple tone for In a Lily Bit from here.

China Glaze - Surreal Appeal
2 regular coats
Coral Pink.

OPI - I Think in Pink
3 coats for visible color.
Forget about reaching full opacity with this jelly shade! VNL will be seen unless you apply a white base
Soft light pink.

OPI - You're Such a Buda-Pest
2 thin coats, slightly streaky on first coat

Purple leaning periwinkle with slight shimmer.

China Glaze - Street Chic
2 thin coats, slightly watery.
A milk chocolate brown.

OPI - My Vampire is Buff
2 thin coats, slightly watery.
A cool-toned nude creme, like panna cotta.

OPI - Nude

3 thin coats for visible color, VNL seen.
2 thick coats for partial opacity, some VNL seen.
A nude jelly.

So yupp, these are some of the basic shades I use for nail art!
I say most cause I realised I forgot about black and white.. HAHAH.

For black, I use Essence Black is back.
Doesn't dry too fast, so it's good for nail art detailing.
That's not a good sign if you want to use it for base though.

Cirque's Black has also had good reviews,
but I haven't had the chance to purchase it yet *waiting for sale :B*

For white, I use a brand which I found in Seoul, Korea.
Its quite opaque on first coat, and not streaky, super rare for a white!
With regards to drying time, its good for both nail art and base.
Makes me want to go back and stock up :xxx

Hope it has been useful !

*All nail polishes purchased by myself*

Quotesome

Thanks to Nailpolis 's competition, I discovered the very cute Quotesome Turtle !

I believe we all have a quote to live life by; our basic principles of life.

For me, my favourite quote is "Simplicity is key"

I find joy in the simplest of things, like a plate of carbonara, a pretty bottle of polish.

The simple things in life that we sometimes may overlook.

If we appreciate what we have, happiness is actually very easy.

Another favourite quote is "Love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody is watching"

To be who I am, and not feel restricted by what society expects.

Of course, it is not to live life recklessly and go YOLO at every thing.

Rather, it is to live life to the fullest and not be scared of judgement.

Because you can never please everyone.

More about the competition.

In lieu of World Turtle's Day, Nailpolis had a collaboration with Quotesome Turtle 

So I was inspired to do this set of nails.

simplicity ♥ 

Mint base is Sea Lore Polish's Popping Parrotfish, a mint crelly with colorful square glitter.

Drew the cute turtle and my simplified quote on. 

Easy :D

Review: Essie Fashion Playground + Tribal Nail Art

I have Essie's Fashion Playground from the Spring 2014 collection for review today!

Fashion Playground is a light mint with a crelly finish - a mix of creme and jelly.

There is a slight shimmer up-close.

The first coat may seem a little streaky but I assure you it evens out after the second.

Its my dream mint polish!

Previously purchased China Glaze's Re-fresh Mint but the color turned out more leaning to light blue.

Also missed it with Essie's First Timer; too dark, more of a pistachio than mint.

Two coats in indoor lighting.

I did some tribal patterns using Bornprettystore's nail art pen in white. (previously reviewed here)

This was in lieu with Cult Nails' monthly nail art competition in April..

Yes I procrastinated for really long :x.

Sort of trying to clear my log of photos, to give me a reason for taking them in the first place.

According to my phone's history, I take an average of 1400 photos a year, 

so might as well put them to use.

ANYWAY

Wanted to do something different from the usual tribal manicures,

which are mostly vibrant colors and strong black lines.

So I did the complete opposite; soft colors and white lines.

And since I had a fine pen, might as well do more details to challenge myself.

Thumb design is the famous Hakuna Matata African symbol.

It means no worries, for the rest of your days ~ 

And the middle finger was partially inspired by Atlantis.

 #disneyfan

Nail art for right hand too. (: