June 2019 Favourites

I'm a little all over the place at the moment.  I have no idea where the end of June has popped up from so I nearly forgot about monthly favourites.  Oops.  I also nearly wrote May 2019 Favourites - just shows you where my head is at.  Anyway, it's June Favourites time so let's take a look at all the things that I have been loving this month.

Nail Art

This month as been a little bit of an average month when it comes to nail art.  And by average I mean that I haven't done a lot of nail art, but I also haven't done hardly any.  Does that make sense?  Anyway, these are the manis that I have loved this month!  There are a couple of others that I couldn't have added by I am being tough.
    

Stamping Plates

There have been a few stamping plates that I have fallen in love with this month.
      

Moyra Stained Glass Stamping Plate

I have soooooo much love with this plate.  It is unique to my collection, stamps beautifully and has given me some gorgeous manis that have turned out better than I thought they would.

Image from Moyra

Uberchic Cold Blooded Stamping Plate

This plate has definitely been a lot of fun to play with and it's one that I look forward to using again.
   

Image from Uberchic

Uberchic Beauty Warm Blooded Stamping Plates

If you saw my blog post for this plate then you will know that I can't decide if I like this plate more or the Cold Blooded plate - so they are both in my favourites for this month.
     

Image from Uberchic

Stamping Polishes

I only played with one new stamping polish this month and oh boy!  I am in love!
    

Hit The Bottle Start The Day With Bubble (Polish Pick Up June 2019)

While this is technically a stamping polish it can also be used as a regular polish and it is gorgeous!  I can't fault it in anyway.
    

Mainstream Polishes

This month I haven't really played with any new mainstream polishes - with the exception of Jessica Cosmetics Rendezvous Collection.  While I do like this collection (the colours are great for Winter and the formulas are great) I don't consider this collection a favourite.
    

Indie Polishes

My indie girls have done it again this month!  I really don't know how they do it.
    

Emily de Molly High Degree (Polish Pick Up June 2019)

The indie girls have killed it this month with all of their Polish Pick Up polishes.  You will see all of the polishes I swatched in my favourites line up.  But how can I not?  I mean look at how amazing High Degree is?  I am in love with the colour and obsessed with the glitters.

Grace-full Nail Polish Helms Deep Fortress 

There is one particular stand out in the Roads Go Ever On Collection by Grace-full Nail Polish - Helms Deep Fortress.  It's gorgeous!

Grace-full Nail Polish Mount Wellington (Polish Pick Up June 2019)

Did I mention that I love the polishes in the Polish Pick Up this month?  I'm not sure pictures really do this polish justice but Mount Wellington is gorgeous and so shifty.
    

Grace-full Nail Polish Mrs Arrow (Hella Handmade Creations June 2019) 

This is another gorgeous polish from Grace-full that I fell in love with this month.  It is absolutely stunning!

Hit The Bottle Stuck In The 80s Collection 

This is hands down the best collection that I have played with this month.  I love neon polishes (I always have and probably always will) and this collection is just that - neons and bright colours!  The formulas are amazing and bonus points - these polishes stamp!  What's not to love?
    

Other

One of my favourite things that happened this month is that I became a Maniology Ambassador.  Maniology (formally known as Bundle Monster) has been in my life for many, many years (fun fact: I started using Bundle Monster products before I joined Instagram - so over 6 years ago) so to now to be able to call myself a Maniology Ambassador is amazing.  I am so grateful for this opportunity.  Thank you to everyone that has used my affiliate code far. 

For those of you who don't know my affiliate code is OLIVIA10.  This code will give you a 10% discount off your order (yay for discounts).  I do earn a small commission off your purchase (at no extra cost to you) which I will be using to put back into my blog - ie buying new products to swatch and review.  Blogging is definitely an expensive hobby lol.
    

That brings us to the end of this month's favourites post.  I hope you have enjoyed it.  Now bring on July!

Uberchic Beauty Warm Blooded Stamping Plate - Swatches & Review

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Yesterday I share with you the Cold Blooded plate from Uberchic Beauty (you can find that post here if you missed - I am a huge fan of this plate) and today I have the Warm Blooded plate to share.  As overwhelming as it is for brands to release so many things at the same time, I kinda like it.  It helps you save on shipping (I personally prefer to "fill up" a package rather than only having one or two things) plus then you have things like Warm Blooded and Cold Blooded plates being released at the same time.  Woohoo!

Image from Uberchic Beauty

Occasionally in winter Melbourne likes to surprise us with some sunshine (oh how I love the sun!) so I couldn't resist grabbing out some holographic polishes for my zebra nails.  For my base I used Color Club's Break It Up (over Harp On It) and stamped using Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish.  I am a little obsessed with this mani.  It's so pretty and sparkly in person.  Pictures just don't do it justice.

Leopard print plus glitter?  Yes please!  This has actually been a really fun mani to wear (and has received lots of compliments).  For this mani I used OPI Hey Baby and My Favourite Ornament.

I am a huge fan of this plate.  I don't think I can decide if I like this plate better or the Cold Blooded plate.  I think both are great and have such great images on them, and of course they both stamp beautifully.  Which plate is your favourite?

The Warm Blooded Stamping Plate is available now from Uberchic Beauty.

Uberchic Beauty Cold Blooded Stamping Plate - Swatches & Review

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I have two more plates from Uberchic Beauty's recently release to share with you guys so prepare yourself for some back to back Uberchic posts.  I have definitely saved "the best for last" with these plates - they are my favourites from the latest release.  Today I will have the Cold Blooded plate and tomorrow I will have the Warm Blooded plate to share with you.  So without future ado, let's get into it.

Image from Uberchic Beauty

I thought it would be cool to do some foiled snake print.  I was originally going to try and stamp using foils but then I rediscovered Lacquistry's Amazeballs (I'm so in love with this polish) and couldn't go past it.  I love how this mani turned out.

I mentioned that other day that I thought that Jessica Cosmetics Night Cap would look awesome matte - well it does!  I couldn't resist stamping over it.  

I am a huge fan of this plate.  I think the images are so cool and make for some awesome manis.  I really look forward to playing with this plate some more.

The Cold Blooded Stamping Plate is available now from Uberchic Beauty.

Jessica Cosmetics Rendezvous Collection - Swatches & Review

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I always love playing with new products and trying out new brands (both new to the market and new to me brands) so when I was approached by Jessica Cosmetics to swatch some of their polishes I naturally said yes.  They are definitely not a new brand but they most certainly are new to me and I have heard some good things about their polishes plus they have some gorgeous looking colours so really I had no reason not to say yes.  I have two of their Autumn/Winter collections to share with you - starting with the Rendezvous Collection.

Illicit Love is a wine creme.  I am a big fan of this colour.  It is perfect for winter.  The formula of this one is fantastic  It is easy to use and applies evenly.  For my swatch I used two coats.

Mystery Date is described as a deep wine creme.  Reds aren't really my cup of tea, but this is one is great for winter.  The formula of this one is great.  Like with Illicit Love it applies even and is so easy to work with.  For my swatch I used two coats.

Night Cap is described as a light grey creme.  I am a big fan of this one.  I think this would also look great mattified (which I should do - I'm still wearing it now).  Like the others in this collection - this formula is great as well.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Each of these shades are perfect for the cooler weather and I am impressed with the formulas.  They are so easy to use and apply evenly.

The Rendezvous Collection is available now from Jessica Cosmetics.

Uberchic Beauty Take Me Out To The Ball Game Mini Stamping Plate - Swatches & Review

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Happy Monday everyone!  I know most people don't get excited for Monday's but I am this week.  It is officially the last week of school then it's school holidays!!!  I am excited for the school holidays.  I have no clue what exactly we will be doing but it will be nice to get to spend some time with my daughter before we head into her gymnastics competition season. Woohoo!  Anyway, getting a little side tracked here.  Today I have the last of the mini stamping plates from Uberchic to share with you - the Take Me Out To The Ball Game plate.

Image from Uberchic

I am not one for baseball (in fact I don't really care for most sports - except gymnastics and that is because of my daughter) so I was quite stuck at what to do with this plate.  My eyes first went towards the hearts - mainly because it does scream baseball as much as the others.  For my base I used Emily de Molly Bright Retreat and stamped using Maniology Quasar.

I thought for this next mani that I would go for something completely different and I am quite happy with how this turned out.  For my base I used Emily de Molly Fade Into Black and stamped using Powder Perfect's Silver and Gold Stamping Polishes.

This plate isn't for me because I simply don't care for baseball.  But if you like baseball then this could be a great plate to add to your collection.  The images stamp beautifully.  

The Take Me Out To The Ball Game Mini Stamping Plate is available from Uberchic Beauty.

Grace-full Nail Polish Pruglies Take 2 Collection - Swatches & Review

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If you saw my post on Friday then you will know that Grace-full Nail Polish have not one but two new collections.  You can find my swatches and review of the Roads Go Ever On Collection here if you missed it but today we are going to look at the new Pruglies Take 2 Collection.

Before we jump in I just want to say that the formulas across this collection is identical (or as close to identical as polish formulas can be).  So rather than repeating myself I figured I would talk about the formulas as a whole now.  Each of the polishes apply like a dream.  They are even and have enough opacity that you can stop at one coat if you wanted.  I used two coats for all of my swatches - mainly out of habit, but because there were a couple of nails that I think looked a little see through at the tips in direct light (personal pet hate of mine because I am fussy like that). 

Paint The Brown Red is a grey toned brown creme.  I quite like the colour of this one, especially for this cold weather we are having at the moment.

Rust In Time is a brown toned orange creme.  This one isn't my type of colour, although it could be good for some nail art.

Sage Before Beauty is a dark sage creme.  I don't usually go for green toned polishes but this is another colour that I quite like. 

The Berry Best is a berry toned red creme.  This is maybe my favourite from this collection.  There is something about these types of colours that I really like when its cold.  No clue why.  They are just so pretty.

I am a big fan of this collection.  The colours are great for this time of year and the formulas are awesome.

The Pruglies Take 2 Collection will be available on Grace-full Nail Polish's Australian site on 24th June 8pm AEST and on the international site at 5am CST.

Grace-full Nail Polish Roads Go Ever On Collection - Swatches & Review

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Grace-full Nail Polish are back with not one but two new collections.  Woohoo!  I do have both collections to share with you over the next couple of days but I thought I would start with the Roads Go Ever On Collection - simply that's because that's what I swatched first.  This collection is inspired by The Lord Of The Rings and the name is from a poem by Tolkien.  

Fields Of Rohan is a light tan crelly with gold flakes and green and gold crystal chameleon flakes.  This one isn't my cup of tea in terms of colour but the formula is good.  It is easy to use (with no fishing or placement required for the flakes) and applies evenly.  For my swatch I used three coats, however you can stop at two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Fires Of Mordor is a black jelly base with ultra chrome chameleon flakes in red, gold and orange.  Now this one is a little more me.  As it is a jelly polish it is a little sheer on the first coat but builds up nicely on the second coat.  I did find that it was best to do a slight dabbing motion on the first coat.  My swatch shows three coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken outdoors in overcast lighting

Picture taken outdoors in overcast lighting

Helms Deep Fortress is described as a black based linear holo packed with blue-purple aurora shimmer and teal/navy/violet ultra chrome chameleon flakes.  This is easily my favourite from this collection.  I think the colour and glitters are gorgeous and the formula is great and easy to use.  I used three coats for my swatch.  I am going to go ahead and apologize for the 'holo' pictures.  Sadly, when I was swatching this polish there was no sunshine and no sun forecast for the next forever (thanks winter).  This polish is definitely much prettier in person.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken outdoors in overcast lighting

Picture taken outdoors in overcast lighting

Picture taken under direct LED lighting

Picture taken under direct LED lighting

Mirkwood Trees is an emerald green aurora shimmer with flashes of gold and a metallic that glows.  The formula of this one is great and applies evenly.  My swatch shows two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken outdoors

Picture taken outdoors

Misty Mountains is a light blue crelly with teeny blue metallic flakes.  Now this one I kinda found a little disappointing.  Hear me out first before jumping on me.  I think this is a pretty polish but is looks so much prettier in the bottle.  In the bottle it nearly looks as though it has a blue sheen to it which kinda took this polish to another place, but on the nail it completely disappears on the nail.  Formula wise this one is sheer but it's easy to use.  I used four coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Rivendell Waterfall is a thermal polish that moves between a grass green to a greeny turquoise blue with a smattering of aurora shimmer.  This one isn't for me.  I really am not a fan of green nails, but that is just me.  The formula of this one is great and applies evenly, it also transitions well between the warm and cool states.  I used three coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box (transitioning)

Picture taken in light box (transitioning)

Picture taken in light box (cold)

Picture taken in light box (cold)

Picture taken outdoors in overcast lighting (cold)

Picture taken outdoors in overcast (cold)

Picturre taken in light box (warm)

Picture taken in light box (warm)

Tower Of Isengaro is a black jelly base with crystal chameleon colour shifting flakes in green, blue, fuchsia and gold.  Of the two flakey polishes in this collection - this is my favourite.  I love the colours in it.  In terms of the formula it is along the same lines as Fires Of Mordor.  My swatch shows three coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken outdoors in overcast lighting

Picture taken outdoors in overcast lighting

Tree Folk is a linear holo with a black base and aurorua shimmer in green/gold/teal. and a smattering of red gold chrome chameleon flakes.  This is a such a great colour and the formula is awesome.  You could easily get away with one coat, however I used two coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in overcast sunlight

Picture taken outdoors in overcast lighting

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight

There are definitely some great polishes in this collection, although there are a few that aren't my personal taste.  My favourite from this collection is Helms Deep Fortress.

The Roads Go Ever On Collection will be available on Grace-full Nail Polish's Australian site on 24th June 8pm AEST and on the international site at 5am CST.