Summary of nail arts - July 2014

Today it's the last day of the month of July and for the first time I'm going to sum up my nail art manicures. Mostly stampicures but also a nail striping tape manicure and a free hand adventure ;)

Which one is your favourite?

Moss Copenhagen Envy - swatches and review

It's Green Wednesday again and I've got a green/blue Danish polish for you. This is my first bottle of polish from the Danish brand Moss Copenhagen. After a quick look at their website I discovered that they've got quite a range of pretty polishes. Click here if you're interested in those!

I got mine from my dearest friend Goldie who got it from the Swedish retail store Saint Tropéz I believe. It's called Envy but Goldie and I call it "Tyrkis" which is printed on the bottle and which I believe means turquoise in Danish ;) We didn't know it was called Envy at first. We thought it was called Tyrkis ;)

GOOD TO KNOW:

Type of polish: Cream.

Number of coats: Two, but it's a possible one coater depending on how you apply it.

Formula: Excellent formula! Very self leveling!

Brush: Quite wide straight cut brush.

Top Coat: Yes. 

Grade: 5/5

This is a great polish! A beautiful shade of turquoise and a great formula! The only down side is a strange smell. Not unpleasant. Just strange.

How do you like Envy?
Have you tried this brand?

By K Pretty Nude - swatches and review

Time for a pretty nude! This is also the name of this polish from By K. It's brand new from their summer collection. Vegan, 5-free and cruelty free. This is Pretty Nude!

GOOD TO KNOW:

Type of polish: Cream.

Number of coats: Two.

Formula: Very good! Full control and very self leveling even though I applied it during a very hot day.

Brush: Thin straight cut brush.

Top Coat: Yes. 

Grade: 4/5

This is really a pretty nude as the name says ;) Good qualities and a perfect base for nail art! I can't wait to show you what I did to this one ;) If it had been the perfect shade to my skin tone I'd given it a 5 but it has one drop or two too much pink in it for that. So a strong 4 from me :)

How do you like Pretty Nude?

Ballet Slipper Nails

I know these are childish but they are so cute too! It's Nail Art Sunday and these ballet slipper nails are my contribution :)

Base polish is By K Camelia Rose and then I added "the foot" with By K Pretty Nude and then I did "the straps" with Camelia Rose and a thin brush. A top coat to seal everything up. Very easy and very cute! ;)

How do you like my ballet slippers nails?

OPI DS Glamour - swatches and review

It's Friday. It's payday. I'm on holiday. AND it's time for Holothon again! Could it possibly get better?! ;) Today I'm going to show you an old favorite of mine (not gold or yellow lol!) - this is OPI DS Glamour!

I've showed it before but it's so beautiful and rare it deserves to be shown again - and again, and again... :)

Great formula, great rainbows, great base color - do I need to say more…? ;)

GOOD TO KNOW:

Type of polish: Holographic.

Number of coats: Two.

Formula: Excellent! No bald spots, no streaks. So easy to apply! Dries fast.

Brush: Wide straight cut brush.

Top Coat: Yes. 

Color accuracy in pictures: Accurate. 

Grade: 5+++/5

The only negative thing about this polish was that it had a quite strong chemical smell to it. I haven't noticed it before so I'm wondering if it's an age thing…? I opened the bottle perhaps four years ago. It won't stop me from using it though ;)

How do you like Glamour?

An InLinkz Link-up

By K Confidence - swatches and review

This is a beautiful red based polish infused with loads and loads of multi chrome shimmer. The shimmer shows in red, orange or pink depending on lighting. The result is a sort of multi chrome foil! Stunning! Also 5-free, vegan and cruelty free!

This is three coats. One pic above water and one under water to enhance the multi chrome effect on the shimmer :)

GOOD TO KNOW:

Type of polish: Hm… multi chrome foil? ;)

Number of coats: Three.

Formula: A tiny bit thin but not runny. Fairly easy to apply.

Brush: Thin straight cut brush.

Top Coat: Yes.

Color accuracy in pictures: Accurate. 

Grade: 4+/5

This is a unique polish in my collection and if the formula had been tip top I'd given it a 5 but a strong 4+ from me. I got many compliments from my customers wearing this! It seemed to drive men crazy… lol! ;)

How do you like Confidence?

By K Limelight - swatches and review

I'm on holiday but I couldn't resist posting an amazing green polish from By K's new summer collection. This is Limelight!

Excellent formula and so bright it's on the edge of being a neon (does not dry matte though)!

As always with By K's polishes it's 5-free, vegan and certified cruelty free. Perfect for Green Wednesday! :)

GOOD TO KNOW:

Type of polish: Cream.

Number of coats: Three but two coats is probably enough. (I applied it on a super hot day.)

Formula: Excellent formula! Even on this hot day I was in full control and it was very self leveling too.

Brush: Thin straight cut brush.

Top Coat: Yes.

Color accuracy in pictures: Accurate but actually even brighter live! :D

Grade: 5+/5

I will so wear this again soon! The great qualities combined with the super bright beautiful green color makes it a favorite summer green in my book! By K has succeeded again!! :D

How do you like Limelight?

London Skyline Silhouette Nails

Today it's Nail Art Sunday and for me it's the last work day for four weeks! The theme for today is "Silhouettes" and I've done a stampicure of the London skyline in the sunset :)

Well, skyline is a slight exaggeration ;) but at least you can see London Eye and Tower Bridge :)

The base is the magical Confidence from By K's new summer collection. The pattern is made with Misa I Will Survive and MoYou London plate Tourist Collection-05. To really get the illusion of a sunset the picture is taken under water to enhance the multichrome effect of Confidence.

I was quite happy with this nail art and when I wore it yesterday at work at got quite a lot of compliments actually :) And the base polish is absolutely stunning! I will do a separate review of Confidence later.

How do you like my London nails?

Holothon: KBShimmer Goldie Rocks - swatches and review

It seems like I've shown you only gold and yellow holos for this season's Holothon... but this will be the last one - I think ;)

This is a golden metallic holo polish from KBShimmer called Goldie Rocks. It has some glitter in it too because when I removed it I felt it. It's not hard to remove though! It comes off as easy as a cream.

Strong linear rainbows on this one! Beautiful! Two coats is enough for full coverage.

GOOD TO KNOW:

Type of polish: Holographic.

Number of coats: Two.

Formula: Good formula! Watch out for brushstrokes though.

Brush: Medium straight cut brush.

Top Coat: No. 

Color accuracy in pictures: Accurate. 

Grade: 4/5

This might not be the perfect color for my skin tone but it sure gives you wonderful rainbows! :)

How do you like Goldie Rocks?

An InLinkz Link-up

By K Lavender Blue - swatches and review

I'm a big fan of Lavender the flower and it turned out that I'm a big fan of By K's Lavender Blue polish too! I'm not really a lilac person but this beauty is so pale and delicate that in some lightings it looks grayish - and I love grey! I didn't see that one coming at all! So it's with great pleasure that I'm showing you Lavender Blue today! She's also 5free, cruelty free and vegan! :D

GOOD TO KNOW:

Type of polish: Cream.

Number of coats: Two.

Formula: Very good! Very self leveling and easy to apply!

Brush: Thin straight cut brush.

Top Coat: Yes. 

Color accuracy in pictures: Accurate. 

Grade: 5+/5

This is a great lilac polish! So romantic and yet cool! I love it! I'm wearing this again soon! I also did a beautiful nail art with this polish as a base. Will show it soon so stay tuned! ;)

How do you like Lavender Blue?

Golden Holo Swirls on Green Nail Art

It's Green Wednesday and I've got a holo nail art for you today! :D

The base is KBShimmer Goldie Rocks and then I've stamped on the green pattern to create the swirls. Well, actually the stamping polish is a turquoise but the gold underneath turned it into a green. The polish is Ocean Depths from By K and the pattern is from a MoYou London plate called Pro Collection-07. I've used this pattern before in a totally different look. Click here to see that manicure.

I'm quite happy with the result. It looks warm and glittery ;)

How do you like my golden swirls?

New arrivals!

Last week was dream week polish wise! I got polish parcels from both llarowe and Smitten polish! If you are curious on what I got scroll down!

Only polishes in my favorite colors! Green, blue and turquoise! Love them all!

Cbl Gemini Rising, Jade Mirage, Cbl Independence Day
Smitten The Oncoming Storm, Girl Sprouts, Not Your Mama's Easter Grass

Which one should I try first…?

By K Camelia Rose - swatches and review

I'm still struggeling with my awful cough but this is my last working week before a four weeks long  vacation! Even though I love my job, I can't wait for my holiday to begin. I've worked so hard this year so my poor body and mind needs a good rest now.

Today I want to show you a beautiful pink polish from By K's newest collection. This one is called Camelia Rose and it really captures the soft romantic color of a Camelia flower! Perfect for a florist like myself ;)

Excellent formula! This is two coats. Vegan, certified cruelty free and not less than 5-free too!

GOOD TO KNOW:

Type of polish: Cream.

Number of coats: Two.

Formula: Very good! Very self leveling!

Brush: Thin straight cut brush.

Top Coat: Yes. 

Color accuracy in pictures: Accurate but I have noticed that on some screens it shows a bit to bright. This is a soft medium pink polish.

Grade: 4/5

The only reason this didn't get a 5 is because pink isn't my favorite color. However, I really liked to wear this one though. If you are a pink lover you'd probably adore it! :)

How do you like Camelia Rose?

Vintage Roses Nails

It's Nail Art Sunday today and time for a stampicure! :)

The base is Picture Polish Chillax - so gorgeous I want to cry! ;) Then I've stamped on two different patterns from MoYou London plate Pro Collection-07. Yes, TWO patterns :) Please note that the ring finger is inverted ;) As stamping polish I've used By K Choco Mousse.

I call this manicure for vintage because I think the brown and the bright minty turquoise create a vintage feeling. I was very happy with this manicure! :D I think I like the inverted pattern best actually. What do you think?

How do you like my vintage roses nails?

By K Dandelion - swatches and review

I thought you might want to see the magnificent Dandelion from By K which I showed yesterday with a holo top coat on. Here it is in its own glory!

The same yellow as a Dandelion flower. I don't usually look good in yellow but in this shade I actually did! To my pleasant surprise! :D

Great formula! This is two totally effortless coats.

GOOD TO KNOW:

Type of polish: Cream.

Number of coats: Two.

Formula: Excellent formula! Easy to control and self leveling.

Brush: Thin straight cut brush.

Top Coat: Yes. 

Color accuracy in pictures: Accurate. 

Grade: 4/5

This is sunshine on a bottle! Also 5-free, certified cruelty free and vegan! Good for you and good for the animals! :)

How do you like Dandelion?

Holothon: Darling Diva Dreamy - swatches and review

For today's Holothon I want to show you a magic holo top coat that will turn your ordinary cream polishes into gorgeous sparkling holo polishes!

This is Dreamy from Darling Diva on top of By K Dandelion. A yellow bas diminishes the holo a bit but imagine this over a black! Or a blue! Or a green! Or a purple! Ok, you understand ;) The possibilities are endless with this holo top coat!! :D

GOOD TO KNOW:

Type of polish: Holographic top coat.

Number of coats: Two.

Formula: Very nice formula! Dries fast too.

Brush: Medium straight cut brush.

Top Coat: No. 

Color accuracy in pictures: Accurate. 

Grade: 4/5

It's great to be able to turn your regular creams into holos but I must say I prefer ready mixed holos. More pretty and less work for me ;)

How do you like Dreamy?

An InLinkz Link-up

Bamboo Manicure

I've got a MoYou London plate with a bunch of different bamboo patterns and I used one of them on top of the gorgeous duo chrome Electric Apple NYC from Takko Lacquer. The result was a fairly tone in tone look in the sun and strong lighting but in the shade there was a bigger contrast. Pictures of both examples can be found below. I like the tone in tone version best :)

The plate is called Suki Collection-06 and I stamped with Essence Gold Digger.

How do you like this bamboo manicure?

By K Glacier - swatches and review

I'm still struggling with the most horrible cold and cough but I couldn't resist trying this fantastic minty green from By K's newly released summer collection. This is Glacier and the name couldn't be more perfect! Imagine the color of the icebergs floating in the sea, just where the ice cold water meets the ice. That is the color of this polish! Stunning!

Perfect formula as always with By K! And of course 5-free, certified cruelty free and vegan :) Today it's Green Wednesday and I'm joining! ;)

Pinky without top coat. Rest of fingers with top coat.

GOOD TO KNOW:

Type of polish: Cream.

Number of coats: Two.

Formula: Very good! You're in total control and it's self leveling too!

Brush: Thin straight cut brush.

Top Coat: No. Like many minty and turquoise polishes a top coat brings out the yellow in the color. Look at the last picture where pinky has no top coat whilst the others have one. I tried four different top coats, all with the same result. However, Glacier dries fast and shiny so a top coat is not needed.

Color accuracy in pictures: Accurate. 

Grade: 5/5

This is such a beautiful cool minty green! Perfect for summer! Great qualities and it always feels good to wear something cruelty free and vegan.

How do you like Glacier?

Nails Inc Baker Street - swatches and review

This is one of my absolute favorite polishes ever! The magic Baker Street from Nails Inc! The polish, the myth, the legend ;)

I've shown it before, I'm showing it now and I will show it again! Such a beautiful shade of blue and great qualities too! Looooooove it!

GOOD TO KNOW:

Type of polish: Cream.

Number of coats: Two.

Formula: Great formula! Very easy to control and very self leveling! (And my bottle has been open for at least a year now!)

Brush: Quite thin straight cut brush.

Top Coat: Yes. 

Color accuracy in pictures: Accurate. 

Grade: 5++++++++++++++++++++++++++/5

I love this polish so much! If you are a blue polish lover you need this!!

How do you like Baker Street?