Only Five Essies Tag

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm still blogging. I'm just busy with dental school application stuff. Life is as Life does. Below are my picks for the #onlyfiveessies tag that spread like wildfire in the nail polish community on Instagram not too long ago.

L-R: Perennial Chic, Sugar Daddy, Absolutely Shore, Master Plan, and Cocktail Bling

All shades are pretty neutral and, more or less, work well for every season! 

Which polishes would be in your #onlyfiveessies? I'd love to know.

Thanks for looking! 

Michelle

Essie As Gold As It Gets

Self-purchased

Essie As Gold As It Gets is a delicate gold flakie topper that makes for a very subtle look. I think it's a great alternative to the flashier karat gold leaf top coats that were trendy a couple years ago. I used 1 coat over Essie Ballet Slippers. The formula was good and easy to apply. No top coat.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

#Sharing The Love For Ane Li - The Silver of the Moon

Today, I have a very special mani to share with you all. Today, July 25th, some of us in the nail polish community are posting recreations of Ane Li's manicures and nail art to honor her memory. Ane was a nail artist quite well-known for her gradients and unique style of nail art. I was very saddened to hear that she had passed away around a week ago. (I will not go into specifics, as respect to her family and friends.)

These ruffian nails, which I think look like the silver of the moon in the dark night, is a recreation of Ane's. I think it characterizes her simple, yet trademark look of her nail art! I used Sally Hansen Celeb City as the base and Cult Nails Fetish for a waxy look since it seemed like Ane used a matte top coat over the black polish in her mani.

I hope you join us in sharing the love for Ane Li today!

Ane Li

Instagram: ane_li

Youtube: Ane Li

Please be sure to use the hashtag #sharingtheloveforaneli if posting on instagram!

R.I.P. Ane Li

Wet n' Wild On A Trip

Self-purchased

Wet n' Wild On A Trip is a bright, medium purple creme. It's very similar to Color Club Pucci-licious, but not as bright because it's not a neon polish. I love the color because it reminds me of jacarandas, which I really enjoy seeing bloom and scatter in the wind during spring. Anyway, I used 3 thin coats, but I think I could have gotten away with 2 thick coats. The formula was great and smooth. I didn't have any problems with the wide brush, which I love because it covered the nail so quickly! With top coat.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow + Avon Don't Be Jaded

Self-purchased

Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow (middle and ring fingers) is a gorgeous gold glitter with a smattering of 24k gold dust. This is probably my favorite glitter topper in my whole collection, and that's saying a lot as I'm going through a massive declutter! The formula was great and easy to apply - I didn't have to fish for glitter at all. As you probably guessed, I definitely recommend this glitter.

Avon Don't Be Jaded is a jade creme. Once upon a time, I used to love this color, but not so much anymore as I much prefer nudes and taupes now. I used 2 coats. It's an old polish so the formula was a bit thick and stringy. With top coat. I'm sad to say this polish was just not my cup of tea anymore.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Julep Nedra

Self-purchased

Julep Nedra is a grey-toned, dusty blue creme. It's one of the first Julep polishes I bought after Julep changed to a breathable Oxygen Technology formula, which supposedly provides healthy and beautiful nails simultaneously. I used 2 coats. The formula was smooth and very easy to apply. I'm not sure if this is because of the Oxygen Technology formula, but it dried rubbery. I used the Oxygen Smoothing base coat and Oxygen Performance top coat, which I believe are supposed to be used in the Oxygen Technology system.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Barry M Prickly Pear

Self-purchased

Barry M Prickly Pear is a pastel-yet-bright lilac creme that's perfect for spring! In some lights, I really see the blue tone in it. I believe I used 2 coats. The formula was great and easy to apply. I like the creamy, slightly thick nature of the Gelly Shine formula, but those who prefer a thinner creme may not like the formula. It tried shiny true to its Gelly Shine name, but I still used top coat out of habit.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

La Mer

La mer: (French) noun. the sea

What I used:

OPI Thanks A Windmillion
Revlon Whimsicial (over Thanks A Windmillion on the ring finger)
Gold star stud from Born Pretty Store

I remember, two years ago, I didn't like Thanks A Windmillion when I first swatched it. Now, I really like this color! So funny how much a person can grow and change in such a short amount of time.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Essie Lapis of Luxury

Self-purchased

Essie Lapis of Luxury is a periwinkle creme that can lean more purple in certain lighting. I think I used 2 or 3 coats. The formula was a bit thin and runny, but was otherwise fine to apply. With top coat.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Studded in Grey

What I used:

Essie Cocktail Bling
Zoya Caitlin (ring finger)
China Glaze Fairy Dust (over Essie Cocktail Bling on middle finger)
Gold square stud from Born Pretty Store

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Wet 'n Wild 2% Milk

Self-purchased

Wet 'n Wild 2% Milk is a very sheer nude that pulls peachy/pink on me. I believe I used 2 or 3 coats, which still didn't cover my nails. But, I like it that way! The formula was a bit streaky, as you can see, but otherwise fine to apply. With top coat.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Essie Summit of Style

Self-purchased

Essie Summit of Style is a golden bronze hex glitter topper. 1 coat over Orly Decades of Dysfunction. The formula was really great because it was so easy to apply, had the perfect amount of clear base, and didn't require fishing for glitter! I definitely recommend this glitter polish. It dried smoothly. With top coat.

P.S. I haven't been posting for so long because of Life, and then a slew of presentations, projects, and finals happened. Now, I'm taking a small mental break as I take one class during summer session to finish my Master of Science (M.S.) program. I'll have some long overdue swatches and reviews coming up eventually.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

My Picks for Summer

Alas, the last post for the "My Picks" mini series... Summer means hot, sunny days and ice cold tea! This time, it turned out that I picked many bright pinky corals and a couple of intense oranges. Well, I can't say no to such colors this time of the year! ;)

Left to right in first photo:

Glam Polish Hibiscus // intense orangey coral with opalescent flakies and holo

pa AA60 // lime green crelly with black glitter - reminiscent of kiwis

Revlon Dazzle // pink-coral jelly with gold, pink, and purple flakies

Sinful Colors Timbleberry // intense pink-coral creme

SpaRitual Ebb & Flow // enchanting turquoise creme

Color Club Over the Moon // clear blue holo
Deborah Lippmann Sweet Dreams // medium pink jelly with opalescent flakies
Sinful Colors Citrine // bright orange creme
Avon Don't Be Jaded // calm jade creme
Julep Rose // bright watermelon creme
Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow // gold glitter with 24k gold dust

Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this mini series. See you on the other side of the day!

Michelle

Revlon Jaded

Self-purchased

Revlon Jaded is a delightful, neutral-toned mint creme. A perfect color for spring! 3 coats. The formula was a bit thick, yet slightly runny. It didn't level out too well when it dried, but that was fixed with a good top coat. Overall, a standard mint creme that you can find in any brand.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Butter London Sprog

Self-purchased

Butter London Sprog is a dusty periwinkle - "serenity" if you will - creme. 2 coats. Since it was a Butter London polish, I expected a lot from the formula. Sadly, I found it thick and a bit stringy. Time to break out the nail polish thinner! Other than that, it dried shiny, though I still used top coat.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

My Picks for Spring

Bird mating calls. Bird mating calls everywhere! (But really though. I'm trying to sleep!) Anyway, when I think of spring, I think of dainty pastels and delicate cherry blossoms greeting the day with its fallen petals. Hence, a majority of my spring picks are light pinks. And how can I say no to such pretty colors?

Left to right in first photo:

Glitter Gal Wisteria // sheer pale lavender holo 

Love & Beauty Rose/Gold  // rose gold foil

Butter London Sprog // periwinkle creme

Nicole by OPI Kim-pletely in Love // pale pink with blue-green shimmer

Julep Shelly // bluish mint creme

Polished by KPT Camellia // clear to magenta thermal jelly

Revlon Pink Pineapple // pinky peach creme

Revlon Buttercup // pale yellow creme

Zoya Ginni // pink jelly with silver glitter texture - reminiscent of delicate cherry blossoms

Sally Hansen Drama Sheen // sheer pale lilac with red shimmer
Julep Paris // a mix of pale pink, gold, and silver holo glitter

Thanks for looking! See you on the other side of the day!

Michelle

Essie Master Plan

Self-purchased

Essie Master Plan is a pale taupe creme that looks grey in certain lighting. 2 wonderful coats! The formula was great - thin, yet pigmented. It dried shiny, but I still used top coat.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Cult Nails Evolution

Self-purchased

Cult Nails Evolution is a really pretty peach crelly. 3 coats. The formula wasn't that great because it was streaky and runny so I had to apply the polish carefully. Despite these issues, I still like the polish because the peach color goes well with my skin tone. I find it very difficult to find peach polishes that suit me. It dried very shiny, but I still used top coat.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Essie Cocktail Bling

Self-purchased

Essie Cocktail Bling is a lilac-toned grey creme. I was delighted to find that it was even prettier in person! (And, of course, on the nail. ;) ) I used 2 coats. The formula was smooth and thin, but still very pigmented. Application was a breeze. It dried shiny, but I still used top coat.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

"20 Polishes I Can't Live Without" Challenge

Amidst destashing a huge portion of my collection, I thought it'd be fun (and challenging) to come up with 20 polishes I can't live without. No way are these polishes ever getting destashed! Millie of The Nail Smith galore posted hers a few days ago so I'm quite late to the party on this one (even though I'm the host...). Let's get straight to it!

From top to bottom of the row, left to right:

1. Essie Shine of the Times: opalescent flakie topper

2. China Glaze Fairy Dust: scattered holographic glitter

3. Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow: gold glitter with gold shimmer

4. Essence Julia: holographic, silver square and hex glitter

5. Wet n Wild Party of Five Glitters: multicolored glitter

6. OPI Samoan Sand: peachy beige nude

7. Essie Sugar Daddy: sheer pink nude
8. Nails Inc. Porchester Square: pinky taupe nude creme
9. Elle Vintage Charm: pinky brown nude creme

10. Revlon Vixen: oxblood creme
11. Love & Beauty Peach Bud: pinky peach creme with silver shimmer

12. Sinful Colors Citrine: tangerine creme

13. Essie Absolutely Shore: pale sea foam creme
14. Avon Don't Be Jaded: jade creme

15. Essie Bikini So Teeny: periwinkle creme with subtle silver shimmer
16. Sally Hansen Pacific Blue: electric blue creme
17. Nicole by OPI Khloe Had A Little Lam-Lam: deep teal creme

18. Chanel #583 Taboo: "purple" - deep blue base with red shimmer and blue-flakie shimmer
19. Essie Cocktail Bling: lilac-toned grey creme

20. Wet n Wild Ebony Hates Chris: black creme

So, theoretically, I could do with only these polishes... But would I want to? Of course not! Part of the reason why I have a sizable collection is because some polishes were gifts, keepsakes of certain memories/periods of my life, or souvenirs. I'm definitely not downsizing into the double digits anytime soon!

I really enjoyed this challenge and recreating my swatch book! I hope you did too. Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Essie Big Dipper

Self-purchase

Essie Big Dipper is a subtle, pearlescent white shimmer. Originally intended as a topper, I instead used 1 coat on bare nails for a "barely there" polish effect. (Perhaps you can get away with this for work? ;) ) The formula was great and easy to apply. With top coat. I didn't expect to love this one as much as I do!

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Rescue Beauty Lounge Oh Slap! + ILNP Juliette

Self-purchased

Rescue Beauty Lounge Oh Slap! is a sheer, soft pink. 3 coats. The formula was good. I was surprised to find that it wasn't very streaky although it was a sheer nude. It was a bit tricky to apply because my brush had two bristles that were longer than the rest. It dried shiny, but I still used top coat.

ILNP Juliette (accent nail) is a neutral-toned rose gold with sparkling metallic flakes and linear holo. It covered very well in 2 coats, but I did 3 coats just in case. The formula was great since it was easy to apply and control. It dried smooth. With top coat.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Color Club Cherubic

Self-purchased

Color Club Cherubic is a beautiful nude with very strong linear holo. I believe I used 2 coats. The formula was amazing - so easy to apply and very opaque. No top coat because it was a holo. As you can probably tell, I love this little one. I definitely recommend it!

Thanks for looking! See you on the other side of the day!

Michelle

The All About Polish Tag

1. What is you favourite nail polish finish (eg. creme, crelly, glitter, etc)?
Definitely cremes! Even most of My Top 10 (2015) consists of cremes.

2. What is your favourite “pretty ugly” shade?
Barry M Mustard... You guessed it! A mustard creme.

3. Which polish in your collection is the most sentimental to you?
It's either China Glaze White Ice because my dad actually went out to get a few China Glazes when I asked for For Audrey (which he couldn't find), which was how my collection began, or Chanel #583 Taboo, which one of my good friends since high school pitched in to help me buy for my 21st birthday.

4. If you could go back in time and buy any collection, what would it be?
None, really. I prefer buying individual polishes.

5. What is your go-to “all occasion” polish?
OPI Samoan Sand - you can never go wrong with a nude polish!

6. What items are essential to your nail care routine?
Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover, Badger Balm Cuticle Care, Sunny's Cuticle Oil samplers, and a plastic cuticle pusher.

7. What is your favourite “newly discovered” brand (indie or mainstream)?
I don't have one. Ever since I finished my major destash, I unfollowed many swatchers on Instagram and Bloglovin' so I wouldn't be tempted by new polishes anymore. (It has worked by the way!)

8. What is your go-to “bad ass” colour (the colour that makes you feel sexiest or most badass)?
Definitely a black creme! I recommend Wet 'n Wild Black Creme and Ebony Hates Chris, by the way.

9. Indie or Mainstream?
I prefer mainstream now, specifically Essie. My style has changed recently so I love wearing cremes and sheer nudes. (Check out my favorite nudes!) It's hard to find such polishes from indies. Not to mention, I love Essie's square bottles! They're so easy to store and aesthetically pleasing.

10. Which brand’s collections do you most look forward to?
I guess Essie's? I like looking at the packaging and color palette even though the collections don't excite me anymore.