Pastel Gradient Nails

So after a month hiatus of refusing to do my nails I finally decided to do this method of gradient nails. They came out.......ok. 

What you'll need:

Base Coat I used Orly's Bonder 

and a top coat to seal the finished product, I used Orly's In A Snap, my all time favorite top coat. 

Pastel Water-Colored Nails Tutorial

A couple of days ago I ran into this article on Beautylish and got really inspired to try water-colored nails. But was really put off by how complicated it looked. But luckily I ran into this detailed tutorial by the lovely Rebecca explaining step by step how to achieve these lovely nails. I'm happy with how they came out but no so sure whether I love them quite yet.

It's not a hard look to achieve you just need a some good colors.  I achieved this look by using only four different colors counting the base coat you need to make the colors pop. 

Here, I'll give you a mini tutorial on how you achieve the look. 

NOT PICTURED: A small fluffy paint brush *not a nail art brush a paint brush* this is needed to blend out the colors perfectly*
And acetone *needed to blend the colors*

• First apply your favorite base coat, then apply one or two coats of a white nail polish making sure its opaque. 
• Then a layer or a good thick top coat, this is important to do so that the acetone does not destroy your white base while you're blending your colors. 
• Then, after letting the first layer dry completely, apply three small dots of your first color, I chose Pink Friday from OPI, and quickly dip your paint brush into the acetone making sure that the brush isn't soaked but a bit wet begin blending your color covering your entire nail. 
• Repeat this step with the rest of your chosen colors, I used two more, Stripe Rite in yellow and Essie's Coat Azure. Make sure the colors over lap each other but do not completely cover each other. 
• After you've blended the colors to your liking add your top coat and voila you've got water-colored nails. 

I allowed some of the white base to show through my nails, but that's up to preference. 

Also some quick tips;

Work fast or else the polish will dry in chunks. 

Do not drench the brush with acetone or else it won't work like you want it to, but if you accidentally use too much acetone just blow on it and it will dry. 

Don't try to be a perfectionist, like I was, or else you'll mess up your nail and will have to start over, like I did. 

I hope you guys enjoyed this look and please let me know of any looks you would like to see me do. 

Essie's Play Date Swatch and Review

Hello Dolls. So I recently went on a search for a nail polish in my favorite color, LAVENDER. There where surprisingly a lot of options but I stuck to a brand I knew and had had a lot of luck with when it cam to pastel colors. Essie. I picked up Play Date from my local CVS for about $8. 

Gryffindor/Breaking Dawn Inspired Nails

So, yeah, like everyone else in the world I've been bombarded by Breaking Dawn adverts, and the colours have been inspiring me for a while, so I came up with this nail look. 

Small Nail Haul

A couple of weeks ago I started working at Sally's Beauty Supply! So I finally got money to go out and buy some things. The majority of this money was spent on new polishes. (Like I needed more :P)

Essie Nail Lacquer in Bahama Mama

Nails of the Week: Dark Horizons

Since school just started I wanted to do something simple. Something not so complicated and something I could touch up super easily if they chipped. 

 

Target and Wal-Mart Haul :D

I finally went school shopping yesterday. And of course make-up and clothes is an important part of back to school shopping. :D I was excited to get a lot of new stuff for the the new school year considering that since it's my senior year I won't be able to buy a lot of random stuff because I'll be busy paying for school stuff. So here we go, let's start off with Target.

I really didn't buy much at Target just a couple of things that I had been really wanting.

Wet N' Wild Palette in Vanity

Essie's Nail Polish

My nail two hours after I had originally painted it with Essie's Dive Bar.

I will be the first to admit that  I absolutely fell in love wit Essie colours. I will also admit that I've been constantly let down by the formula. I did my nails yesterday and before I went to bed one of my nails was completely chipped. This formula completely fails me. Like I said, I love the colour, but in order to get the colour that I want, basically the one that I see in the bottle I have to use about four to five coats. The consistency is so sheer for most of the polishes I own from Essie's. Paying eight dollars for such  a small bottle  just feels like I'm being ripped off horribly. Honestly, I feel like wet n' wild, and Sinful Colours from drugstores are a better alternative. On the higher end OPI, and China Glaze  are also greater, and for basically the same price, you're getting almost twice the product. I don't think I'll be purchasing Essie polishes any more, unless it's a really specific colour.