Showing posts with label Matte Topcoat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matte Topcoat. Show all posts
Slim French with Essie
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
1/20/2016 10:07:00 AM
So I don't think it's any surprise that I like to play with my nail shape. A while ago, I decided to go square again, because I wanted to do a specific look. Mainly the slim french tip. It's just not something you can pull off on any other nail shape. Think how crazy it'd look on a round nail or ballerina shape.
My base is Essie Cashmere Bathrobe and the french is done with Essie Beyond Cozy. It's so simple to add that little french across the bottom but I feel like it really makes it pop.
Then for funsies....I topped it with a matte topcoat. Love the way it looks matte.
So funny thing, when I was done wearing this look. I immediately went back to round nails. I just can't pick a shape and stay with it. What's your favorite nail shape?
Enjoy & until next time, Amy Lee
*self purchased
Essie
Negative Space & NYFW
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
2/18/2015 08:30:00 PM
So if y'all follow me over on Instagram last Friday you got spammed by my backstage NYFW experience. I was lucky enough to be part of Team Cirque and got to go backstage to prep and apply nails. Backstage at NYFW is crazy, it's barely organized chaos. For every model there is at least two makeup people, a hair stylist, coordinator, press, photographer, nail person and more. There were 25 models in the show, so imagine how many people were working together to pull the show off.
This was the look I wore backstage. Since I was on Team Cirque I wanted to wear one of Annie's beautiful creations. I started with a base coat and applied right angle nail vinyls to create a negative space. The black is two coats of Zoya Willa*. After removing the vinyl guides, I added Cirque Le Invader to the bottom half of the nail. Finally I matted the whole thing.
What do you think of my first go at negative space? I kinda hate it. I think if the spaces were thinner I'd like it more, but it isn't my favorite look I've ever done.
Enjoy & until next time, Amy Lee
*denotes press sample
Triplets: Flowers and Chevrons
Monday, December 29, 2014
12/29/2014 11:00:00 AM
So Cynthia, Voni, and I got a wild idea to collaborate on a post. We decided to recreate this particular print from Society 6. Part of the fun of doing something like this is to see how we all interpret it differently. I went for a fairly spot of version, except my flowers are a bit abstract vs. literal.
My base is OPI You're So Vain-illa. I then added chevrons using mini chevron nail vinyls and OPI 4 in the Morning. I did the flowers with Sally Hansen's I <3 Nail Art pens in Orange #330, Yellow #320, Magenta #390, and Turquoise #450. I then topped everything off with Revlon's Matte top coat.
The nail art pens are amazingly easy to work with and they have a fine tip that allows you to get great fine detail when using them. I can totally see myself using them in the future. What do you think of my version? Check out Cynthia and Voni's versions below!
Tropical Dahlia
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
9/30/2014 11:00:00 AM
I decided to have some fun with Cirque's Dear Dahlia. While I was playing with this collection I kept imagining it on my tropical honeymoon. I'm excited to get married, but I'm also excited for an extended vacation lazing around on a beach with blue waters and drinks with little umbrellas. So I decided to paint some green palm type leaves and orange & blue flowers using Dear Dahlia as a base.
I then added a matte topcoat, so you can see the details a little better. I can't decide if I like shiny or matte better. What do you think?
All of the leaves/flowers were done in acrylic paint, so I don't have color names for you. Sorry.
Enjoy & until next time, Amy Lee
*all products used in this post were purchased by me
China Manis: The Great Wall
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
10/01/2013 12:19:00 AM
Today I have the first installment in the China Mani series. When we were in Beijing we visited the Great Wall. The Great Wall is certainly great. It's amazing and breathtaking. We climbed to the very top of the section we were at, and gawd, it was hard. It was like the worst StairMaster workout ever. None of the stairs are the same height, so it isn't like walking up normal steps.
Here are two of the pictures I took, that I used as my inspiration for my mani.
What do you think? Does it look like the Great Wall? Just to see, I added a Matte Top Coat.
I actually preferred the matte version. I can't wait to show you some of the other pictures and the inspired manis from our trip.
Polishes used: Base (Sky) China Glaze Kinetic Candy, Clouds Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen in White, Mountains Essie Shake Your $$ Maker, Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Green Tea, China Glaze Gaga for Green, Wall China Glaze Elephant Walk and Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Evening Fog.
Enjoy & until next time, Amy Lee
Here are two of the pictures I took, that I used as my inspiration for my mani.
And now, here is my manicure based on the pictures.
I actually preferred the matte version. I can't wait to show you some of the other pictures and the inspired manis from our trip.
Polishes used: Base (Sky) China Glaze Kinetic Candy, Clouds Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen in White, Mountains Essie Shake Your $$ Maker, Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Green Tea, China Glaze Gaga for Green, Wall China Glaze Elephant Walk and Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Evening Fog.
Enjoy & until next time, Amy Lee
*all products used in this post were purchased by me
White Gold Chevrons
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
9/25/2013 12:16:00 AM
Today I have a look for you with a new Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Polish. This is Coat of Arms, which is a Prabal Gurung for Sally Hansen. He collaborated with Sally Hansen for their 2013 collection. This was the only one that really spoke to me, so I picked it up.
This is a weird shade as it's not quite a true silver (even though my pictures look that way). I'm going to call it White Gold as thats what it looks like to me.
To spice it up, I've used my new Orly Instant Artist stripers in Crisp White, Jet Black, and True Blue to create some fun chevrons.
This is a weird shade as it's not quite a true silver (even though my pictures look that way). I'm going to call it White Gold as thats what it looks like to me.
To spice it up, I've used my new Orly Instant Artist stripers in Crisp White, Jet Black, and True Blue to create some fun chevrons.
Finally, I topped it all off with a coat of Revlon Matte Topcoat. I really enjoyed the depth that the matte topcoat gave to this look.
What do you vote? Matte or Shiny?
Enjoy & until next time, Amy Lee
*all products featured in this post were purchased by me
Blue Jeans Mani
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
7/10/2013 11:53:00 AM
*some products in this post were provided to me for review
Recently I received some nail studs for review in the mail from KK Center HK. The studs in question reminded me of the rivets on Blue Jeans, so I set out to create a Denim manicure to show them off.
To create the base look for the denim, I started off with a base of SinfulShine Break Away. I then used my fan brush to create vertical lines on my nails with a combination of Sinful Colors Sugar Rush, SinfulShine Most Sinful, and Break Away. I then painted on some stitching detail with China Glaze Kalahari Kiss (which you can see below) and finished everything off with my Revlon Matte Top Coat.
As far as the studs go, they are just too big! They are so big, that they are impractical. I can't imagine anyone being able to comfortably wear these on their nails. There is no curve to them, so they stick up on the sides, which you can see in my middle picture. I think the design itself is really cute, I just wish they were about 1/2 the size. The stud on my middle finger didn't last more than one hour before it got caught on something and came off. The one on my thumb was gone this morning when I got up, so it's lost in the sheets somewhere. Sadly, I don't feel I can recommend these, but I did love the other studs they sent for review.
If you would like to see these studs for yourself, click here. Be sure to visit their store here as they have lots of other fun items for sale as well.
What do you think of my denim look? Does it look real?
Enjoy & until tomorrow, Amy Lee
*the studs in this post were provided for review, all other products were purchased by me
Matte Black Tie Optional
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
5/08/2013 04:30:00 PM
Today I have a fun simple mani for you. This is one of those hurry up and get it done, you have places to be manis.
I started off with 2 coats of Essie Nice is Nice. I love this soft dusky purple. Its such a sweet simple color, very unassuming. It goes on smoothly, takes two coats to reach opaqueness and wears great.
Next, I topped it off with Hard Candy's Black Tie Optional. This glitter topper is unlike anything that I own and it is AH-MAZE-BALLS. I know it isn't for everyone, but I love the graffiti look it gives to a manicure. Finally, I decided to try my Matte Top Coat for the first time.
I love love love the way this manicure looks mattified. Why did I wait so long to use this matte top coat? I have the one from Revlon and for $4 it is totally worth it! Such a great purchase.
Have you matted manis? What did you think?
Enjoy & until tomorrow, Amy Lee
*all polishes featured in this post were purchased by me
