Like a Dream Come True!

I blame Alison's Instagram for a lot of things.  She's responsible for my growing collection of indie polishes (just bought 20 more last night), my 'mystery' polish obsession,  and also my discovery of Gem Glam Topcoat from Dream Polish.

Gem Glam Top Coat

6.95

Reasons we love our Gem Glam Top Coat:

• Shortens the drying time of your manicure
• Prolongs the length of your manicure
• Protects polish from chips and wear
• Smooths glitters in 1-2 coats
• Gives nails a high-gloss, wet look after just one coat
• Does not shrink your polish
• Non-yellowing formula
• Gentle scent
• 5-free formula
• Vegan & cruelty-free

Gem Glam Top Coat is available in the following scents:
Limited Edition Honey Almond ~ Lavender ~ Peach ~ Pink Sugar ~ Unscented

To date I have all but Lavender, but only because I'm actually allergic to the herb.  It's quickly became my favorite top coat not just because it's scented, which I'll talk about in a minute, but because it never smears.  It floats, which in manicure terms means that it glides off the brush onto your nail without tugging or pulling at the art.  It doesn't gloop up around glitter and it doesn't pull stamped images out of place and leaves all the fine details where they belong.  It's not thick or gel like, so if you like that super thick glass like finish, this probably isn't it.  This formula is amazing when working with multiple layers that require a top coat, such as with vinyls and stamping.  It dries quickly with a very smooth clear sharp finish.

The scents are not overwhelming, cloying, or 'fake'.  I most often use both the Peach base and top coat and it leaves a very fresh lingering scent.  It's not something that you can smell lingering around you like perfume, but more like a fresh alternative to a chemical polish scent. 

Peach: Just like the name implies, it smells like a peach.  I would say the scent is more candy than fruit, but it's my favorite.

Pink Sugar: I have to admit, I didn't realize this was a perfume, it's not all that known in Italia!  

Stylish and lively, with a distinctive personality, Pink Sugar takes you on a journey through the pleasures and flavors of childhood with a playful blend of vanilla and caramel.

Notes:
Bergamot, Sicilian Orange, Raspberry, Fig Leaves, Lily of the Valley, Licorice, Strawberry, Red Fruit, Cotton Candy, Vanilla, Caramel, Musk, Wood, Powder.
Style:
Playful. Mischievous. Romantic.

I like it so much I ordered the perfume, as well as Gold Sugar.

Tapanga's Rose:  I get more of a strong floral than a rose scent.  The cuticle oil is very strong and I don't use it often, but as it's a fundraising effort, I have no regrets at all!

Summer Melon: "It is an uplifting blend of watermelon, canteloupe & honeydew. It also has slight undertones of rum and vanilla."  Don't lick it.  You'll be tempted because it's amazing and completely reminds me of Jolly Ranchers, but tongue prints don't look good on a mani.  It's an honest scent that smells like crisp melon.

Honey Almond: This doesn't contain any actual honey, so it's still vegan and cruelty free.  It smells like marzipan.  Like tart almonds, it's almost like the amazing Jergen's body lotion scent.  This is a very traditional holiday scent here in Italy that I could compare to the PSL craze in the States.

I hope you give Dream Polish a try!  There is a special this weekend using the code VEGASBABY that gives you free shipping on an order of $15us or more as well as a free sample of the new matte top coat!

French Gradient

 

• Apply a base coat.
• Apply the lightest of the two shades you've chosen, and let dry.  I am using 479 from Kiko Cosmetics.

• Cut the makeup sponge you're using so it's a little bigger than your nail.  Swipe it so that it's saturated with the darkest colour across the top and then directly under it with the lightest.  The bottom of the sponge will remain dry.  The dark shade I'm using is I Want S'More from Drip Drop Nail Paint.

• Dab quickly over the tip, aligning the top of the sponge with the tip of your nail.  You will have to pause several times to reapply polish or to switch to a new sponge; this is so the material of the sponge does not pull apart and leave little bits in your manicure.

• Work until you have a gradient you like on each nail.
• Apply a quick dry top coat and let dry.

You can end here for a simple sophisticated manicure!

Or you an go one step further and add a design using a stamping plate.

• After the top coat is dry, pick an all over design.  The motif I picked is open enough that the lightest base shade will still be dominant.
• Using the dark shade you used for your tips, use this as the polish you stamp the design with, this will make it appear as if the motif is disappearing into the dark tip of your nail!  I am using a design from Bunny Nails plate A.
• Tidy up, if required!

If you're inspired to try any of my designs, please don't forget to tag them #00Inspired on IG!

And the winner is....

I counted each unique entry this morning and plugged the number into the random thingiedoo and here is what it gave me! 

 Which means the winner is:

Please use the contact tab to email me your address!

A lot of you asked for a stamping tutorial which I'm working on!  Part One can be found right here.

For the next three months I'll be doing the #31dc2014, each month following a theme... just to give myself even more of a challenge, you can see more checking out the tab up there ⬆️.  I'd love for you to join me!

Also in October I'll have another giveaway and I'll start a monthly feature focusing on indie brands and their owners!

Day, Of the Dead

Thank you all so much!

Mission: Water Marbling

I spent a better part of the weekend practicing to water marble.   I thought I'd share with you some of my progress... or lack there of!

Wormhole: EXTREME!

• Apply a base coat.
• Apply an even layer of the holo polish you've chosen.  Any will do, I just love the depth of Black Gold, Texas Tea from LLarowe.

• Apply a quick dry base coat and  let dry completely.
• Carefully remove the entire bullseye design from the backing.  These are from Lou-It-Yourself and the moment I saw them I knew that I wanted to try this mani with them!

• Place the entire design over the nail as desired.  I did each nail with a different aspect, it's up to you!

• Carefully remove every other inner ring.  Applying the whole design at once and then removing the extra ensures that the spacing between rings remains exact.

• Apply the solid cream polish you've chosen, this design looks best when the holo and the cream match.  I'm using Camelot from A England.

• Carefully remove the vinyls, piece by piece, pulling up.  Try to move quickly before the vinyls melt.

• Let the solid colour set a bit before applying a fast dry top coat.  Letting it set ensures that it doesn't smear into the holo.
• Tidy up, if required! 

What do you think?

If you're inspired by any of my posts, don't forget to tag them #00Inspired on Instagram!