Tag: Fingernails
A Realm of Kingfishers
“A Realm of Kingfishers” is giving “An Unkindness of Ravens”, no? If you know, you know.
Hit the Bottle Polishes “A Realm of Kingfishers” is from May’s “Tropical Forest” Polish Pickup. It’s a shimmery magnetic polish inspired by the sacred kingfishers that populate the creator’s garden yearly. I love the way the golden magnetized section plays against the steel blue base. I’ve never spied one here in Texas – I probably live too far inland.
I used the narrow edge of my neodymium magnet again, this time straight down the middle of the nail, but I wasn’t quite precise, because the magnetized portion isn’t dead center on every nail. Oh well.
This is two coats of “A Realm of Kingfishers” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Shantay You Stay
I wouldn’t say that The Flamingo is my favorite casino to stay at in Vegas – that would be The Cosmopolitan…but it is my favorite to just bum around in. There are flamingos everywhere, it smells like suntan lotion…and it’s home to RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! I was lucky enough to get to see the show on my birthday in 2020, a week or so after it launched. It was a blast and I can’t wait to go again.
Atomic Polish “Shantay You Stay” is from June’s “Vacation Destinations” Polish Pickup and is inspired by Las Vegas and RuPaul’s Drag Race Live. I usually avoid oranges and corals, but this flamingo-esque shade was just begging to be added to my cart. It applies like a dream and lasts forever and ever – I’ve had it on my toes for about 3 weeks!
This is two coats of “Shantay You Stay” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loops“.
La Paz-itively Hot
Although I LOVE wearing the fancy Indie polishes from Polish Pickup, sometimes a plain, corporate nail polish hits the spot. At least my base and top coats are still Indie…
I found OPI “La Paz-itively Hot” In the back of a cabinet – I think Miss Lisa gave it to me when she was purging her collection? It’s from the Fall 2009 Matte Collection, but it worked just fine. It is a hot pink matte with a hint of shimmer. I wasn’t feeling matte vibes, so I made it shiny.
Funny story. I have beef with La Paz – my ex indulged in hookers and blow on a business trip to La Paz. Then he came back and told all my friends that I must have cheated on him when I ended up with an infection. Too bad his co-worker had loose lips. Good times.
This is two coats of “La Paz-itively Hot” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loops“.
Easter Egg
I must have taken a dozen different shots trying to capture every facet of By Vanessa Molina “Easter Egg” – every angle is a different look! Those shifty magnetic polishes…
“Easter Egg” is the last polish I needed to sample from April’s “Celebrate!” Polish Pickup. It’s – of course – inspired by Easter. It’s a magnetic polish containing green/magenta/copper/purple variations, with Aurora Pigment and glitter Galaxy. It’s like the northern lights, the milky way and a zombie rising from the dead, all wrapped into one.
I used the neodymium magnet on these again, but instead of just resting my finger on the flat side of the magnet, I held the narrow edge catty-corner over each nail and got a really nice stripy lightning effect.
This is two coats of “Easter Egg” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Synchronous
I don’t know how I managed to skip over Envy Lacquer “Synchronous” – it’s been patiently waiting for me since last October’s “Natural Phenomenon” Polish Pickup!
“Synchronous” is inspired by the synchronous firefly display in the Appalachian mountains. I’ve never seen it, but I imagine it’s a sight to behold. We just get regular loner fireflies here in Texas – but we call them lightning bugs. (Ask me about Louie the Lightning Bug and maybe I’ll sing his song for you.)
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a neon shimmer like this. It’s sheer, but opaque? How even?
This is two coats of “Synchronous” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Empty Orchestra
I snagged Baroness X “Empty Orchestra” during April’s Polish Pickup. Did you know that ‘karaoke’ literally means ’empty orchestra’ in Japanese? You’re welcome.
This is another beautiful magnetic polish and I think I am finally figuring them out! I used my brand new neodymium magnet as I used my husband’s magnet – I just painted my nails while resting them on the magnet and got the ombre french manicure look. I LOVE this polish so much…How long until I can try it again?
This is two coats of “Empty Orchestra” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Stinking Corpse
Cupcake Polish “Stinking Corpse” is another polish from May’s “Tropical Forest” Polish Pickup. It’s inspired by the world’s smelliest flower – the Stinking Corpse Lily. Even though Houston has its own corpse lily, I wasn’t able to make it to the Houston Museum of Natural Science when she bloomed in 2023. Here’s to hoping I get to smell her when she blooms again in 3 to 10 years.
“Stinking Corpse” is a beautiful combination of deep wine red shimmer nail polish with scattered holographic micro flakies – I love a shimmer, but adding the holographic flakies makes it really out of this world.
This is two coats of “Stinking Corpse” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Electric Jaguar
Lumen Lacquer “Electric Jaguar” is giving GOTH LISA FRANK.
“Electric Jaguar” was one of my first picks when I was picking out polishes from May’s “Tropical Forest” Polish Pickup. It’s NOT magnetic – it’s a dramatic multichrome that shift from red to green to gold to amber. The main shades are red and green, but somehow it’s not giving Xmas. It’s completely wearable.
This is two coats of “Electric Jaguar” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.
Blue Rizzler at the Garden Party
True to my word, I added two new polishes to my last Ulta order – Holo Taco “Blue Rizzler” and Holo Taco “Garden Party Taco”.
“Blue Rizzler” is a blueberry violet crushed holographic. “Garden Party Taco” is a scattered floral topper. I did have to do some glitter fishing for those flowers, but it wasn’t TOO awful.
I started with Holo Taco Pink Smoothing Base Coat and two coats of “Blue Rizzler” on all of my nails except the pinky. My pinky got two coats of “Garden Party Taco”, while my ring finger got a single coat of “Garden Party Taco” I finished with Holo Taco Glossy Taco Top Coat.
Power Number
…I feel like I’ve been stuck in the early 00’s lately – binging One Tree Hill with Lily, which also means revisiting the music and fashion – so why not revive another millennial trend? CRACKLE POLISH is back y’all.
Fresh from April’s Polish Pickup, we’ve got Colores de Carol “Power Number“. It’s a teal multichrome shimmer crackle – it’s got EVERYTHING, and it crackles like a sonofabitch.
I started with Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and a single coat of Atomic Polish “Sour Apple Rings”. I topped with a thick coat of “Power Number” and I admit, that it got patchy as it shrunk, so I may have filled in a few bald spots to even out the finished look. I finished with Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“.