*items in this post were provided for review

Hi!!

It's been awhile, but now I'm on Thanksgiving break so I have time to blog! 

For today's post, the Born Pretty Store was kind enough to send me a set of nail art brushes to review. 

This set contains three striping/detail brushes and one larger flat-topped brush.

These nails are loosely based on a design by Deirdre's Nails. 

Polishes Used
China Glaze First Mate // Essie Blanc // Nails Inc Chelsea Bridge Road

For the half moon section, I outlined it and filled it in with the shortest detail brush. Then I added the curved scallop-y lines with the midsized detail brush, and added the straight lines with the longest brush. I used the wide brush for cleanup.

I was really happy with these brushes! I have been using a set from MASH, but I prefer these. The striping brushes are just the right length, not too long to control but also not so short that the lines come out super thick. Also, I didn't have to trim off any stray hairs!

What I liked most about these was that these brushes have plastic handles so they're OK if you get a little acetone on them, unlike some brushes that have paint handles so if they come into contact with acetone the paint comes off and gets everywhere.

My one complaint was that the wider brush was a little too thin to be used for cleanup for me. I get nail polish everywhere when I paint my nails, so I need a pretty heavy-duty cleanup brush. If you're used to using the ELF concealer brushes or regular paint brushes for cleanup, you might find this one a little too thin. 

But I could see this brush being used for cleanup for neat people or for filling in large spaces!

Overall, I would recommend these brushes  -- all four are only 4.92 USD, and they work great!

And lastly, the Born Pretty Store was kind enough to give me a 10% off coupon code for all of you guys!

Thanks for reading, and happy Thanksgiving to all of you guys who celebrate it!

Lucy xx

More Florals

Hi!

I've been loving floral nail art lately. Last week I did a retro floral pattern, this week I did another simple floral pattern! I don't know, they're just so easy to do and they look so cute.

Polishes Used
China Glaze First Mate | Deborah Lippmann Build Me Up Buttercup & Spring Buds | JINsoon Tea Rose | white acrylic paint

This pattern wasn't really inspired by everything, I just picked out a few colors I thought would look good together and went with the flow! I'm not really sure how to describe these (thus the post title, "More Florals" haha).

I really love First Mate (it's been on the blog twice before: once with studs, once nautically). It's kind of a dusty navy creme, with perfect application! It'll definitely be one of my go-to colors this fall.

Do any of you guys have a nail art pattern/style that you've been loving lately? And what have been your favorite fall nail polish shades?

Thanks for reading!
Lucy xx

P.S. if you've been liking my floral designs, you can browse my floral nails tag!

Nautical Nail Art

Hi!

I loved First Mate so much, I had to do another manicure with it! (see my previous post featuring First Mate)

The polish is named First Mate, and it's navy, so of course I had to do something nautical.

I finally got to put this weird chain I had lying around to good use!

I used striping tape for the stripes on my index and ring finger, then freehanded everything else. 

Polishes Used
China Glaze First Mate | Wet n Wild French White Creme | Nails Inc Chelsea Bridge Road

I like doing a couple posts in a row that are similarly themed, what do you guys think?

Thanks for reading!
Lucy xx

China Glaze First Mate

Hi!

In a change of pace from last week's 80's themed nail art, I have some nautical sort of stuff for you guys this week :)

This design was inspired by Matchbook Nails' gorgeous design (it's my Cinderella hand, so I had to choose something simple!).

Polishes used:
China Glaze First Mate | studs from Claire's

 First Mate is an amazing polish. It gives full coverage in ONE coat, self-levels beautifully, and is a gorgeous navy color! 

The top photo shows it more purpley than it really is; I've edited the photo below to show its true color.

I love the simple feel of these. The only thing bothering me is that the studs are different shades of gold! 

Thanks for reading!

Lucy xx

Flip Flop Fantasy Skittle

Hi!

I recently picked up a bottle of China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy in a sale at my local Sally's, after hearing so many good things about it.

I only realized there were two different versions of Flip Flop Fantasy (new and old) after I brought it home, but I think I like the new version more than the old version! It's more of a neon coral color than a neon pink color, which is pretty :) 

It makes my hands look super tan, which could be a good or a bad thing...?

Polishes used:
Wet n Wild French White Creme | China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy | China Glaze First Mate | Wet n Wild Black Creme | Claire's studs

I kind of did whatever I felt like with these, neons seem to be perfect with crazy designs! I tried to add some navy blue to the tribal with China Glaze First Mate, but it pretty much blends in with the black. 

These were super fun to do, and I think they'll also be fun to wear as the temperature around here climbs into the 70s and 80s :)

Thanks for reading!

Lucy xx

Green Nimbus Waves

Hi!

I can't believe it's only Tuesday! It felt like Friday today for some reason... or maybe that's just me being weird?

But anyways. Recently, the Nailasaurus came out with a new technique: nimbus nail art! (see her tutorial here)

 I decided to try it out, and of course I had to add some extra stamping and glitter. 

The finished product

First, I started with a white base (Revlon Spirit). Then, I did nimbus nail art with Sally Hansen Mint Sorbet, Sephora by OPI Read My Palm, and Nails Inc Queen Victoria Street. 

Next, I added one coat of China Glaze Fairy Dust (which I'm in love with... like just about everyone else). 

And finally, I added the stamping with MoYou Suki 01 and Nails Inc Chelsea Bridge Road. 

Yep, the pinky was a complete failure, but all the other fingers turned out pretty well! The nimbus technique was really simple to do and I liked the finished effect. 

But for some reason, even though the stamping and nimbus effect turned out fine, I think these just look a little strange. I don't know why, but I just don't like them for some reason... do you guys ever feel like that about a design you've done? 

What do you think of this design? Do you think it's kinda weird-looking, like me? And are you as much in love with Fairy Dust as I am?  :D

Thanks for reading!

Lucy xx

Guest Post at My Daily Nail Designs: Gumdrops

Hi!

I was recently contacted by Anita of My Daily Nail Designs to do a guest post! 

It took me forever to decide what to do -- her nail art is so amazing so I felt like I had to kind of, you know, good... but eventually I decided on frosted gumdrop nails.

Here's a sneak peek:

For actual photos and details, check out my guest post.

And be sure to check out My Daily Nail Designs too -- her freehand skills are amazing!

Thanks for reading!
Lucy xx

China Glaze Golden Meringue!

Hi again!

I AM still sticking to the once-per-week doing my nails thing, but, well, since I was doing my nails today and I REALLY wanted to try out this new polish... yeah. So today I tried out my first China Glaze! It's Golden Meringue, which is a pink sheer polish with a tiny bit of a golden shimmer (but you can't tell it has shimmer in the bottle). I picked this up recently at T.J. Maxx for $2.99, which is a pretty good deal for China Glaze... I think...

It applied pretty well, despite my nails not really being properly cleaned up from the black glitter polish. But to be honest, it just didn't look that great on me.

It looks okay in the top photo, but I also included the bottom photo because that's how it looks in real life... not all that complimentary. I tried it out on the ring finger over white polish (see Begone, Gluten's post about sheer polish) but it's kind of an odd peach color that's too sheer to look good over white. 

My nails are pretty yellow (blame the fact that I wear nail polish most of the time) and so I'm willing to show them to the public yet. Definitely not completely bare, and not under this sheer polish either.

I don't think I'll be wearing it much, but maybe as a toe color... Or maybe it would work as something like this, from Roxy's Girl Time. 

- the Nail Snail :)