China Glaze - LOL

This purple prismatic polish from China Glaze was the perfect choice for today. I was in a rush, so I slapped on two easy coats of LOL (no base/top coat) and quickly took a picture before I left home. Indoors it may look kinda boring, but outside in the sun? Absolutely breathtaking. 

Thanks for watching!

Happy Halloween Ghouls and Gals!

Being a nanny I have to get in the Halloween spirit if I like it or not, even if my back has been a nightmare the past few days ( note to self: sleep on side, not on back). But it's also nice to have an excuse to dress up (the ever original witch costume) and bake cookies!

But to also do a Halloween inspired manicure! Now I have to confess I'm not a huge fan of candy corn, I'm actually more privy to the ones that have chocolate at the bottom, The Indian candy corn. ( Insert the tune of Moose and Zee's "But I don't like candy corn!")

Don't judge me.

But onto the manicure! I used Zoya Sooki to make the various shades of orange, because I don't own an actual orange nail polish. Shocking, I know. And for the yellow, I used this detailing yellow nail polish that Renee got for me as part of my b-day gifts when I visited her in Japan.

For the glitter I used.. those awesome glitters that I got from AC moore, that I keep talking about. I tried to make the tips more opaque (mostly because I was happy with the redish orange tips and too lazy to paint them white) But in real life, it is much more obvious that they are white and I don't look lazy (thank you very much flash for basically sucking up the white and ruining my reputation as someone who took the time as actually painted the tips white instead of just drenching them in white glitter)

I love how the thumb came out /modest.

The ever amazing ettisais topcoat!

Okay, well off for now, tata and Happy Halloween!

Ozotic Mish Mash 531

I know quite a few of you have been waiting to see this one :) Ozotic Mish Mash 531. The truth is that I just wasn't feeling this one in the bottle and chose to wear the other blue ones first.  I didn't think I was really going to love this polish, I don't know why, but I just wasn't getting the vibe! 

I put this on and wore it to a wedding on Saturday and I don't know if its because it complimented my outfit so perfectly or what, but WOW was I soooo wrong.  I love this one so much.  It's my favourite out of the bunch of the Mish Mash polishes - hands down!

Ozotic 531 is the holographic version of Ozotic 502.  I'm certain it is 502 and not 520, because when you check the acute angle, it shifts to the bright yellow of 502, rather than the orange of 520 as can be seen in this comparison post.

The sun was also out on Saturday, so I was able to get some sun shots of this, as well as indoor ones.

The strong shimmer of the golden tones makes it a little hard to see the holographic rainbow at this angle.

OMG I love this next photo angle.  This shows what this polish looks like most of the time.  The spectraflair in the polish has toned down the maroon base and made it appear more brown or copper bronze.  The colour reminds me of our old 1c piece (a little like a US penny).

I love how the spectraflair can tone down the colours in a polish.  It seems to work like a blue/violet hair toner used on blonde hair that has a brassy look to it.   There have been so many times when I have been frankening and I think, 'this colour is a little to strong, it needs some white in it', so instead I add a little spectraflair and it's perfect.

Indoors, near the window, using the LED macro light on the camera.

Like all the other swatches, this was two coats over a black base.  So which is your favourite?  Are you going to buy any of these? Which one/s?

I did the comparison swatches yesterday (comparing my franken of spectraflair mixed 505 vs Ozotic 532 vs 505 + holo top coat.  The outcome is very interesting.  I also did a quick swatch of each of the Mish Mash polishes without the black base.  So pop on by tomorrow for those.

Ozotic Mish Mash 534

More pretty Ozotic holographic multichrome goodness today.  This is Ozotic 534, which is the holographic version of Ozotic 504.  The base colour for this polish is a rich blue it then shifts through purple to red tones on acute angles. 

This next photo is probably the only one where I managed to catch the red tinge on the middle and index fingers.

This one really is beautiful.  I prefer it over 533, and like it about the same as 532.  Same excellent formula and application as I have come to expect from Ozotic polishes.   This was two coats over a black base with Seche Vite top coat.

No other chit chat tonight, it's been a stupidly busy weekend and I can't believe it's Monday already tomorrow. I feel the need to stop and look around, just as Ferris said, 'Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.'

Chunked Shawn

Hmm, I think my nails never looked this weird. Two coats of Zoya - Shawn, one coat of Kleancolor - Chunky Holo Black and a layer of matte top coat (I'm loving the matte texture these days!). I kinda like this mani in all its weirdness.. Tell me, what do you think?

Thanks for watching, enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Ozotic Mish Mash 533

Hello lacquer lovers.  Here is another of the new Mish Mash polishes.  Ozotic 533.  This is the holographic version of Ozotic 506, which is a cyan blue, with a purple multi chrome shift.

This one really does look similar to 532, just as 506 and 505 are very similar too.  

One thing I noted with these polishes that I didn't say yesterday is that because of the Spectraflair in these polishes, the base multichrome colour is paler than the original non-holo version.  Anyone that has played with Spectraflair would know  how that it lightens your polish when you add it.  They have the balance just perfect though, and it only lightens the base slightly.

All these pictures were taken next to the window with diffused overcast skies, using the LED macro light on my camera.  They are all two coats over a black base with Seche Vite top coat.

Also, Amy X asked if I could do a comparison swatch of one of these Mish Mash polishes vs a Spectrafranken holographic multichrome vs a multichrome with a holo top coat applied.  Great idea, I will do up a comparison swatch this weekend.

Ozotic Mish Mash 532

Finally, here is a swatch of one of the new Ozotic Mish Mash polishes.  I got all four and will post a new one each day.  They are all holographic multichromes and they are all of the same high quality as the other Ozotic polishes.   But I do have a couple of things to say about these up front.

Firstly, any long term readers of my blog would know that a holographic multichrome isn't a new or original idea. Why? Cause I did it first, nearly four months ago.  I added Spectraflair to Ozotic 505, which I tell you is exactly what Ozotic has done with this polish, and the others in the Mish Mash range.  Given that all the Ozotic polishes are made with JDSU Chromaflair pigments, I reckon I could say rather confidently, the holographic pigment in these is also a JDSU product, specifically Spectraflair.

Next, tell me, if you were selling a product, would you do everything in your power to present it well and find out exactly what it was?  I know I would.  That's why I found it really strange to read on the Picture Polish facebook page a reply from the lovely ladies at Picture Polish to an excellent question asked about these polishes

Q: So are these a mixture of multichrome AND hologrpahic?

A: You will have to tell us Davina all we know is that they are a mish mash of ozotic's finest ingredients however we think you are pretty spot on!!

Seriously, you're selling these and you don't even really know what they are? And sorry, but what is with that swatch, how the hell is that suppose to help us choose which polishes to get?  Why not try a nail wheel at least?

Now onto the swatch, which I know is what you really want to see.  These are not my best swatches I'm sorry to say. It's been overcast ever since I got these in the mail, so they are taken indoors, with diffused light from the window, with the macro LED light on my camera.  These polishes are also a little tricky to photograph because, holos look best in lots of light, yet multichromes look best in the shade.

Mish Mash 532 is the holographic version of Ozotic 505.  That is, it shifts from a turquoise green base to purple. But of course, this one also has the rainbow prism across the nail.

All these show two coats over a black base.  Wear was excellent. These swatches were taken on day two, and the macro shows a little tip wear, but that is usually for me.  Formula on these was just like applying the multichromes, perfect. 

So if you love 505 and holo polishes, your gonna love this one.  But if you already have 505 (or Sally Hansen Turquoise Opal) and you have some Spectraflair, you could always franken up your own bottle and save the $14.

Come back tomorrow for 533.

Black & Gold

There are many ways to spice up black nails; this time I decided to add some stamping. I used China Glaze - 2030 and a floral design from Konad plate M73. I wondered how it would look matte, so I also applied one coat of Essence's matte top coat. I like this mani so much! The matte finish makes it look so, uhm.. interesting? ;)

Thanks for watching!

Frankenpolish Glass Fleck Duochrome Top Coat #4

Here is my last glass fleck duochrome top coat.  This one is a pretty purple, shifting to pink and gold.  Applied two coats over black.

Look at the macro.  Arhhhhhhhh *angels sing*

And of course, in the sun it's super sparkly.

Next, my standard comparison to an Orly Cosmic FX polish, this time Galaxy Girl.  The base colours don't match, but I bet if I mixed some of this pigment with a black polish, rather than layering it over black, it would look exactly like Galaxy Girl.  But I much prefer the top coat.

Psst. Check that bottle shot above, those look like the exact same flakes as on the nail.

Ok, Ok Where to get them.

honeyjr - you totally nailed it in your first comment about the blue/purple one. She said "Doesn't TKB sell some of those Sparks pigments and they also have those Travel To powders which are somewhat similar aren't they?"  

These aren't the Sparks or the Travel To powders, but these are from TKB. These are called Star Bites.

The Blue/Purple one is called Cherika Moon.

The Gold/Green one is called Shanika Sun.

This Purple/Gold one is called Miranda Star.

So next time your ordering your mini bottles, or for you US ladies, when your ordering your suspension base, grab a sample pack.  These babies are worth every cent.

Any Aussie ladies ordering the suspension base should also ask about the Rona pigments, they are the same thing and they also have them in red/copper/gold and turquoise/blue/violet (although I haven't tried those colours yet, only the Volcanic Sparks)

Pa A32 with Pa AA37 blue flakie

First, a shot of Pa A32.

This picture kinda stinks.. mostly because my polish job kinda stunk. It needed another coat to be even (I applied 2) but I was too lazy to wait for it all to dry that day. Dark cream green. Got this one as an extra in a discounted set. A so/so color.. though hubby likes it. I paired it with Pa's AA37 blue flakie (with opaque base) for a nicer look.

Pa A32 with Pa AA37 blue flakie, a photo by KitaRei on Flickr.

I took the clear-fuzzy gradiation pic on purpose to give you an idea of the look of this polish. Pa's A32 with Pa's AA37 blue flakie on top (man I wish they named their colors!) I really thought this would be a great combo, and though the blue does bring out the green, making it very "emerald-y", it just didn't stand out as much as I though it would. I guess it's a combo of the dark color I layered it on top of plus the opaque base the flakie has. I'll try it next over a lighter color and see how it goes :)

However, I did like this combo better than with Nubar 2010 on top, something about the blue flakies just worked better. The warmer tone didn't work as well (at least in my opinion.)

Comparison of Nubar 2010 and Pa AA37 over Pa A32

(blurry on purpose) The bluematches the green much better, but I have to admit the Nubar 2010 stands out so much more! What do you think? :)

Frankenpolish Glass Fleck Duochrome Top Coat #3

Here is my third (out of four) glass fleck duochrome top coats that I frankened.  This one is gold shifting through to green and is two coats applied over black.

Macro shot showing the glass fleck and the green duochrome on the nail edges.

In the sun, very reflective and shiny.

Now another comparison to an Orly Cosmic FX polish, It's Not Rocket Science.  Of course the base colours are nothing alike, but the actual glass flecks in the polish are the same.  You can see the shift of the flakes in the bottle and how they match the shift in the franken.  I could totally franken a pimped out version of this polish, but the truth is, the base colour of this isn't one of my favourites, so I would much rather wear this as a top coat.

Only one more day to wait and I will tell you where you can get these three glass fleck pigments from.

a england - Camelot

I've been on a quest for the perfect black nail polish for quite some time now, but that quest is over. Meet Camelot from a england. Camelot is blacker than black with a glossy finish, perfectly opaque in two coats and it applies like butter. Just perfect. As a teenager I went through a black nail polish phase, well.. Camelot easily pushed me into that phase again. Black nails rock! 8)

Did you know Adina (the owner and creator of the brand a england) offers free worldwide shipping on all orders from now on? That's really great news, 'cause everyone should have the chance to try (one of) these wonderful nail polishes. 

Thanks for watching!

*The product(s) in this post was/were sent to me for reviewing purposes.

For more information, check out my Disclosure Policy.