Tag: Cuticula

 
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Mandragora

Although I am no longer in my Harry Potter era, I can appreciate a pretty polish when I see one. It seems gold, but has beautiful green and fuchsia shimmer.

Moonshine Mani “Mandragora” is from January’s Polish Pickup and is inspired by the Herbology Class scene in the first Harry Potter film. I did not know until I googled it, that Mandrake is hallucinogenic? I mean…I’m too old to start experimenting with strange plants, but interesting nonetheless. <Furiously googling how to import Mandrake from Asia…>

This is two coats of “Mandragora” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Raspberry Pop”.

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We’re All Born Naked, the Rest is Drag

I went through a Drag Race phase several years ago, so I couldn’t pass up Paradox Polish “We’re All Born Naked, the Rest is Drag” from December’s Maker’s Choice. This is the last polish from December – I did it!

Even though I’m not crazy into Drag Race like I used to be, I’m still glad I picked this one up – it’s one of the BEST thermal polishes I’ve ever tried! It doesn’t stop working after a day or so and the color change is so dramatic. My daughter is also OBSESSED with thermal polishes now, so I guess that’s what I’ll be grabbing from the Pickups now.

This is two coats of “We’re All Born Naked, the Rest is Drag” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Raspberry Pop”. I cannot remember if I used Glitter Grabber, but I don’t think I did.

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No Ordinary Rose

Beaux Rêves Lacquer “No Ordinary Rose” is inspired by The Little Prince. I feel like I’ve read it, but I cannot remember a damn thing about it except for what I’ve read on Wikipedia. This beauty is from December’s Polish Pickup.

This is two coats of “No Ordinary Rose” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Raspberry Pop”. I am really liking Cuticula’s base and top coats – my manicures are lasting 6, 7, even 8 days now!

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Glass Jellyfish

Lumen Lacquer “Glass Jellyfish” is the perfect neutral. In low light, it looks like a simple, sheer pink or lavender…HOWEVER…when the light hits it, there is a brilliant shine, with a hint of the blue that is so prominent in the bottle. The best part? It’s so sheer that you cannot see chips. I wore it over a week!

I LOVE this polish. This is the second polish I’ve sampled from December’s Polish Pickup.

This is two coats of “Glass Jellyfish” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Raspberry Pop”.

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Shape-shifting in the Moor

Here’s to assuming that Psyche Minerals is referring to shape-shifting in a bog and NOT shape-shifting inside of a Andalusian Muslim. (Am I logophile? Or a Witzelsucht…I’ll let you google and decide.)

Psyche Minerals “Shape-shifting in the Moor” is from November’s Polish Pickup. I was so excited to try “Redrum” that I had to circle back to finish up November. Oops.

“Shapeshifting in the Moor” is inspired by the púca, a shape-shifting troublemaker from Irish folklore. The most famous representation is Puck in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream.

This is two coats of “Shape-shifting in the Moor” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Raspberry Pop”. I was surprised to find a bit of texture in the shifting polish – I guess that’s the silver glitter? Next time I might add some Glitter Grabber.

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Atomic Redrum

I’m baaaaaack…did you miss me?

I was in Arlington last week for a work thingie and then a Girly Getaway in Waco this weekend…and BAM – today hit me like a ton of bricks. Back into the office today, cold as fuck…and then Grad School started again. Thank FUCK this is my last semester. But you’re not here to read about my foul mood or all the bad decisions I’ve made that led me to this point…you just want to hear about the REDDEST and MOST BADDASS red nail polish I’ve ever seen.

That MOST BADASS red nail polish is Atomic Polish “Redrum”. I have so many red nail polishes that it’s gonna take a lot to make me purchase another one. “Redrum” has a lot of…whatever it is that makes me want to buy nail polish. On paper, it sounds boring…a red shimmer polish, that shifts to orange in the light. It’s just so intense!

This is two coats of “Redrum” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Raspberry Pop”. Oh, and it’s inspired by that creepy little kid in The Shining.

Oh, and it matches LaLa’s SUV – it’s the EXACT color…I wish I had remembered to take a picture when I was there.

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Polish Pickup December 2023 – Maker’s Choice

Ooohhhh…December is Maker’s Choice, which means that instead of a theme all of the maker’s are asked to follow, they are allowed to offer whatever they want!

I went a little crazy again…here are my choices for December…

I wanted a Cuticula Base Coat to go with the Top Coat I got in October, so I grabbed Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” ($10), which is a wintery peppermint and vanilla cream scented base coat. It’s got more to it than that, but I really couldn’t place it.

I cannot WAIT to try Paradox Polish “We’re All Born Naked, The Rest is Drag” ($13), inspired of course, by RuPaul. It’s a thermal polish!

Beaux Reves Lacquer “No Ordinary Rose” ($12) is a shimmer inspired by The Little Prince. That book sure does come up in pop culture a lot these days, doesn’t it?

Lumen Lacquer “Glass Jellyfish” ($13) is a sister polish to “Glass Frog”. I had passed on “Glass Frog”, so I’m glad I had a chance to grab this one.

Finally, Atomic Polish “Redrum” ($13) was the FIRST polish I added to my basket. Not only because it was near the front alphabetically, but because it is an OUSTANDING orangey red.

I’ve already started using these polishes – I cannot wait to share!

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Urban Decay – An Homage

I’ll just come out and say it…Urban Decay Cosmetics is not what it used to be. It used to be edgy and controversial and fun…and now? Now, your mom’s makeup bag is full of Urban Decay and you’re buying whatever starlet puts their name on makeup this week…Bobbie Millie Brown, Selena Gomez, Billie Eilish all have beauty brands.

Rogue Lacquer “Urban Decay” is from October’s Polish Pickup and is inspired by Urban Decay Cosmetics – specifically their nail polish – from back in the 90s. I still have a bunch of bottles, and now I want to dig through them and see if they are still any good…Oooh! I have a project for tonight, since I am officially “on vacation” – no work and no school until the Monday after next!

This is two coats of “Urban Decay” over Vibrant Scents Double Bond Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber and Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Raspberry Pop”.

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Polish Pickup October 2023 – 90’s Grunge

I might be addicted to the Polish Pickup…I keep telling myself that I can stop any time…

October’s theme is 90’s Grunge, which is right up my alley. It was a struggle to pick just a few of these!

Lyn B Designs “Does it Get Eddie Vedder?” ($13) is inspired by her love of Weird Al parodies, Pearl Jam, and sweaters. It’s a grey crelly with a shocking blue to purple shimmer.

Rogue Lacquer “Urban Decay” ($13) is inspired by…90s Urban Decay nail polishes. I still have a few of them – I hope they’re not all dried up. “Urban Decay” is a brown toned purple jelly base loaded with purple, magenta and orange flakes as well as a subtle flash of gold glass flakes.

Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Raspberry Pop” ($10) is a scented top coat. I cannot wait to see how it smells!

Stay tuned to see these polishes…