April 2017 Favourites

Today is the last day of April which means that we are getting closer and closer to Winter and OMG it's getting so cold already.  I am not looking forward to Winter at all.  I'm jealous of everyone going into Spring/Summer.  Anyway, we aren't here to talk about the weather are we?  Let's talk about all the things that I have been loving this month.  April has been a massive month for me.  I have continued on with my daily blogging (I've been daily blogging since the beginning of the year - not that I really set the goal to that, it's just happened), I have swatched 106 polishes and done 35 nail art manis.  Those numbers may be a little off because so of the manis I may have done before this month started but I have also done some manis that are for next month's blog posts or random manis that I just haven't posted anywhere.  You can imagine that seems I have swatched a lot and done a lot of nail art that my favourites this month is going to be quite big.  I'm seriously going to struggle when it comes time to do my favourites at the end of the year.

Nail Art

I've tried really hard to cut back on the amount of nail art favourites but it's still quite big.  I'm really not sure how people can only pick 4-5 manis as their favourites.  Despite the weather being colder this month I have still been loving my bright and pastel colours.  And stamping!  I love stamping!

Stamping Plates

I have been playing with a fair few stamping plates with month and while I think there are some good plates the only ones that I am going to be adding to my favorites for the month are the three What's Up Nails stamping plates.  These are the first and only plates I have from What's Up Nails and I am so impressed.  The designs are great and quality is fantastic.  I definitely want to add more to my collection.  You can see the manis I did using these plates here.

Image from What's Up Nails

Image from What's Up Nails

Image from What's Up Nails

Indie Polishes

As I mentioned earlier I have done a lot of swatching this month, so naturally have come across some gorgeous polishes which have stolen my heart. 

Emily de Molly Limited Edition Creme Polishes

We all know that Emily de Molly is one of my favourite brands and that I love creme polishes, so when you have Emily de Molly making creme polishes you just know that they are going to land right here in my favourites post.  The colours are beautiful and the formulas are amazing!  You can find my original post here if you missed it.

Emily de Molly From Out Of Nowhere

Ok so this polish isn't exactly new, nor was it even released this year but I have only just gotten around to using it and I love it!

Powder Perfect Fatal Attraction Collection

Powder Perfect's Fatal Attraction Collection is gorgeous but there are two polishes in particular that I fell in love with - Dark Whispers and Linger.  Seriously gorgeous.  You can find more pictures of these polishes (and the others in the collection) along with my review here.

Mainstream Polishes

There have been a lot of mainstream releases this month, particularly from China Glaze.  China Glaze have had 4 different collections this month (or that's just when I got my hands on them - they weren't necessarily released this month). 

China Glaze Spring Pastels Collection

This is hands down my favourite mainstream release this month.  This collection is a perfect Spring Collection if you ask me.  You can find my original post on this collection here.

China Glaze Shades Of Nude Collection

Probably my second favourite collection that China Glaze released this month is the Shades Of Nude Collection.  I can see me grabbing for these polishes and a matte top coat all throughout these colder months.  After much back and forth I managed to narrow my favourites from this collection to these four polishes - Bourgeois Beige, Fresher Than My Clique, Head To Taupe and Minimalist Momma.  You can see my swatches and review of the full collection here.

China Glaze Summer Reign Collection

Now I was a bit disappointed with this collection as a whole (I was really hoping for something more along the lines of the Lite Brites Collection) but there are a couple of polishes that I love - All Glammed Up and Summer Reign (this polish is so much nicer in person than in my picture).  You can find my swatches and review of the Summer Reign Collection here.

Orly Coastal Crush Collection

Now this is a summer collection!  I'm going to say that the Coastal Crush Collection is my favourite Summer Collection so far.  The colours are fantastic.  My favourites from this collection are For The First Time, Summer Fling and Under The Stars.  You can find the original post here.

Your Favourites
This month it appears again that my favourite nail art manis are the same as yours.  There are a couple of different manis but the couple that are in my top nine most liked manis on Instagram were also in my favourites but I cut them as I thought I had too many.  Lol

The three most view blog posts this month are:

China Glaze Shades Of Nude Collection

Emily de Molly Limited Edition Creme Polishes

China Glaze Summer Reign Collection

China Glaze is definitely a very popular brand on my blog.  It also seems to pop up in the most viewed/popular posts.  No complaints from me about that.  I love China Glaze polishes!

Anyway, that rounds up all the things that I have been loving for this month.  I have quite a few new things to play with in May so stay tuned for those.  

What polish have you been loving this month?

The Digit-al Dozen Does Birthdays: April 2017

We are nearly at the end of April which means that it's time for another Digit-al Dozen birthday mani.  This month we are celebrating two members birthday - Katherine's (ProcrastiNails) and Uma's (Uma's Nail Art).  The girls have come up with this really pretty bubble image for use to use as our inspiration.

I would quite happily use a water decal with this image on it.  I think it's just so pretty.  I don't think I have a decal with this image but even I did that would kinda be cheating.  So I found some of the closest things I had.  For my base I used Grace-full Nail Polish Lake Town and stamped using Emily de Molly's Holographic Stamping Polish.  I was hoping that the holo would be a bit more obvious so that it picked up some of the colours within the bubbles.  It didn't quite work how I was hoping but I still love the result.  The stamping image is from BM-505.

I'm really excited to see how the other girls in the Digit-al Dozen interrupt this image.  I bet there are going to be some really cool techniques.

An InLinkz Link-up

Crumpet's Nail Tarts: 26 Great Nail Art Ideas Challenge: Work Approriate Nail Art

It's time again for another post for the 26 Great Nail Art Challenge that I am doing.  The theme for today is "work appropriate nail art".  I personally haven't had a job where I have been restricted with what I can wear on my nails (or maybe I have and haven't realised it? or haven't been pulled up on it?).  Anyway, I figure I would go for something really simple - nude with some subtle stamping.  I seriously love how this mani turned out. 

For my base I used China Glaze's Minimalist Momma (for the Shades Of Nude Collection - you can see my swatches and review here if you are interested) and stamped using Powder Perfect's White Stamping Polish.  Stamping design is from Uberchic Beauty 16-01.

Don't forget to check out everyone else's mani for this weeks theme.

An InLinkz Link-up

China Glaze Spring Pastels Collection - Swatches & Review

I am so glad to finally be able to sit down and write this post.  I actually had to push it back in my blog planner because I didn't think I would get the time to swatch this collection but I somehow managed.  I'm really not sure how but who am I to question it?  Anyway, on one of my random scrolls through somewhere (Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest...I really can't remember) I saw that China Glaze not only released the Spring Fling Collection for Spring but they also had another collection (well two if you also include the Shades Of Nude Collection) - the Spring Pastels Collection.  I am a huge fan of pastels.  I think they are so beautiful so I just knew I had to get my hands on these babies and I am sooooo glad that I did!  

To save myself telling you the same thing over and over the formulas across these polishes are great (especially for such light colours) and I am in love with the colours!  Each polish is easy to work with and is opaque in two to three coats.   

A Waltz In The Park is a pale purple.  Easily a favorite of mine.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Are You Orchid-ing Me is described as a soft orchid.  Another favourite.  My swatch shows two coats.

Belle Of A Baller is described as a gemstone pink.  Another favourite (I know I am repeating myself with that one - sorry).  This one I used two coats for my swatch, however I am questioning whether or not I need a third coat.

Casual Friday is described as a sorbet yellow.  Huge fan of this one.  Such a gorgeous yellow.  This one did apply unevenly so needed three coats to even out.

Chalk Me Up! is described as a pale sky blue.  This is another favourite of mine.  This one does apply unevenly on the first coat, however evens out beautifully on the second coat.

My Sweet Lady is described as a sweet peony pink.  This is another that does apply unevenly and needed three coats to even out.  But I am in love with the colour so I will accept doing three coats for it.

Spring Jungle is described as a pale pistachio.  Now this is a green that I can definitely wear over and over!  So gorgeous.  I used two coats for my swatch.

That'll Peach You is described as a juicy apricot.  Now this is the only one that I kinda question in this collection.  The colour is nice, but it's not a favourite of mine.  It applies unevenly and needed three coats to even out which was quite the surprise given it's not a very light colour.  I was expecting that it would be two coats.

I'm sure you already know that I am going to say that I love this collection.  It's everything that I could hope for in a Spring Collection and certainly makes up for the Spring Fling Collection.  Thank you China Glaze!

Pretty Serious Cosmetics Anti-Valentine's Trio - Swatches & Review

Sometimes you sit down to write a blog post and you have no clue how to start.  Yep, that is me today.  The same thing use to happen to me when writing uni assignments too.  Does that happen to anyone else or is it just me?  Anyway, today I have my swatches and review of Pretty Serious Cosmetics Anti-Valentine's Trio.  Yes, I know Valentine's was quite awhile ago now, but if my memory serves me correctly, this trio was released after Valentine's Day so really I am not that late.  At least I am swatching them in the same year I purchased them.  That is another New Years Resolution of mine (although I am not sure if I actually said that in my original post - maybe I need to go back and look at it again?).  I'm digressing here.  Let's take a look at these polishes shall we?  Before I begin though, I am going to apologize for my pictures.  These polishes really need some sunshine so you can see the shimmers in them.  Sadly Melbourne has no sunshine at the moment.

Cherry Bomb is a pink creme with golden shimmer.  I think this is such a nice colour, especially with the shimmer.  The formula is great and applies evenly.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box with flash

Heartbreaker is a purple creme with a colour shifting shimmer.  This one is definitely my favourite of the trio.  The formula is amazing (you could get away with one coat) and the colour is gorgeous.  My swatch shows two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box with flash

Stupid Cupid is a mint shimmer.  This is a really nice colour.  The formula is easy to work with, however it does apply unevenly.  I used two coats for my swatch, however I am questioning whether I should have done a third coat.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box with flash

I quite like this trio.  I think the colours are really nice and the formulas are good.  As I mentioned, Heartbreaker is definitely my favourite from this trio.

The Anti-Valentine's Trio is available from Pretty Serious Cosmetics.

China Glaze Shades Of Nude Collection - Swatches & Review

I finally got around to editing my pictures for today's post!  Yay me!  Mind you I still have about another 30 pictures to edit, but that is a job for tomorrow I think.  Anyway, I was scrolling through Pinterest a few weeks back when I stumbled across a picture of a new China Glaze collection.  I hadn't heard a single thing about this collection at all, but I was intrigued.  I searched high and low to see if I could get my hands on it and low and behold there it was on eBay so I grabbed it.  This probably seems like an odd collection for me to want, but I am a big fan of nude nail polishes, and there are some gorgeous ones in this collection.

A Whole Latte Fun is described as a soft caramel.  This one is a little on the sheer side, and seems more like a crelly than a straight up creme.  The colour is quite nice and the formula is easy to work with.  I used three coats for my swatch.

Bare Attack is described as a smoky chestnut.  This one is easy to use and is a nice colour but it's definitely not a favourite of mine.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Bourgeois Beige is described as a cool almond.  Now this one I am a fan off.  The formula is quite runny so you do need to be careful as it flies off the brush quite quickly.  It is easy to work with (once you get the excess off the brush) and applies relatively easy.  My swatch shows two coats.

Don't Make Me Blush is described as a sweet blush.  I'm not a fan of this colour on my nails.  The formula is easy to work with.  I used three coats for my swatch, however you can get away with two coats (there is a very slight visible nail line though).

Fresher Than My Clique is described as a light mushroom.  This is a great colour with a good formula.  My swatch shows two coats.

Give Me S'More is decadent chocolate.  I really don't have much to say about this one, as I am not really a fan of browns.  It's not a bad polish or colour but it's just not my cup of tea.  It could come in handy for nail art for me though.  The formula is good and opaque in two coats.

Head To Taupe is described as rich mulberry.  The formula of this one is awesome.  It's super close to being a one coater, and the colour is stunning.  I used two coats for my swatch.

It's A Match is described as a peachy nude.  This one applies unevenly but is easy to work with.  I am a fan of this colour too.  It's quite fresh looking.  My swatch shows three coats.

Kill The Lights is described as a deep mauve.  I quite like this colour and think that this would look great matte.  The formula is great and is opaque in two coats.

Minimalist Momma is described as a classic sandy tan. Gorgeous colour, however it is a little sheer and does apply unevenly on the first coat.  I used three coats for my swatch.

Note To Selfie is described as a dusty rose.  Another nice colour with a great formula.  My swatch shows two coats.

Pixilated is described as a barely there beige.  I'm also a fan of this one too.  The colour is nice and the formula is good.  I used two coats for my swatch.

I am a fan of this collection overall.  I did find it a little "boring" to swatch the polishes back to back but then twelve nudes is a lot.  I do love my colours!  My personal favourites are Head To Taupe, Bourgeois Beige, Fresher Than My Clique, Minimalist Momma and Kill The Lights.  I seriously think that a lot of these polishes would look amazing matte! 

What do you think of this China Glaze Collection?  Are you a fan of a collection of nudes?

Lina Nail Art Supplies Feeling Shapely 07 Stamping Plate - Swatches & Review

Today I had planned to share with you China Glaze's Shades Of Nudes Collection, however I haven't actually finished editing all the pictures yet.  I mean I could edit them, but I really can't be bothered.  Editing is definitely one of my least favourite parts of blogging.  Anyway, I have finished editing all of my pictures for Lina Nail Art Supplies Feeling Shapely 07 Stamping Plate so let's talk about this plate instead today.

Image from Lina Nail Art Supplies

Now I want to say that this is the first mani that I did using this plate, but honestly I can't remember if it was.  I actually did these first two manis awhile ago now and for whatever reason forgot to do a blog post for them.  For this mani I used Emily de Molly's Animated Hearts and stamped using Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish.

For this next mani I used Sally Hansen's Teal Good (from their Color Therapy range) and stamped using Powder Perfect's Teal Stamping Polish.

For this last mani I went with another really simple mani (sometimes really simple manis are just the best way to go).  I used Orly's Summer Fling for my base and stamped using Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish.

I know I have mentioned this before with most of my Feeling Shapely stamping plates but I am a big fan of this collection of plates and Feeling Shapely 07 is no exception.  I think there are some fantastic designs on this plate which you can do some really simple and striking manis!  Or you can go crazy and do some more "fancy" manis with gradients etc.  There really are no limits.  I had no issues with this plate what so ever.

Feeling Shapely 07 stamping plate is available from Lina Nail Art Supplies.