Nail Swatch : Nailtopia Nailpolish

To begin with, my cousin owns this polish. I just happen to see it near the television so I decided to give it a try. I've already used it on my old post Nail Art-A-Go-Go : Jewel Tones (Lotus Flower Inspired) and fell in love with it.

The picture above is the comparative swatch. You can  see on the far left of the picture how pigmented it is for a single coat. This reminds of my Barry M. nail polish. It cost about Php130 but it's really worth it. I'd definitely buy my own. 

Have you tried this brand? Let me know what you think about it by commenting below.

See you on my next post... ^_^

Nail-Art-A-Go-Go : Monochrome

Here's another day hoping you'd like my design for the challenge. I was suppose to make this post yesterday but I was kindda tired with the day's work. Exam week is a lot more tiring than it looks.

Anyway its the 4th day of the nail art challenge and today's theme is monochromatic. Honestly, when I first saw the table, I didn't know the difference between achromatic (click here to see my achromatic design)  and monochromatic I had to google it. Basically, monochrome means you have to use one color in different shades ranging from the lightest to darkest to emphasize the design.

For this challenge, I used my Etude house nail polishes. I used a pale pink color for the base, its PK003, and a darker one in BR301. I simply made a big blob of polish then spread it out to make the tail imitating a heart shape. Then I added small dots for decoration.

This is it for the 4th day. Check out my blog again tomorrow for the fifth day of the challenge. If you love it, give it a g+ ^_^

Nail-Art-A-Go-Go : Warm vs. Cool

This is the third day of the challenge and today's theme is warm vs. cool. So far, the categories are easy and work isn't getting busy yet.

Anyway, I'm not so sure if I have any inspiration on this one. I just thought of using navy blue and lilac because I like the colors and they look good together. They also fall right for the theme. ^_^

To make sure I'm not gonna make any mess on the side for the lilac, I used scotch tape to cover it. After painting the other half with blue, I took off the tape and colored the other half with a shimmery lilac. Then I simply put dots on the side, four for each nail. I wasn't able to get some nail tapes so I placed gems in the middle part instead to cover up the line. It's not that it doesn't look good but it looks a bit unfinished if I'd leave it that way.

There's something I want to change though. I really should've looked for some nail tapes or probably used a smaller gemstone for the center. The ones I used looked as if it dominated my entire nail.

Oh, well. I hope you also liked this one. See you tomorrow for my next nail design.

Nail-Art-A-Go-Go : Jewel Tones (Lotus Flower Inspired)

Today's the second day of the challenge and the theme is Jewel tones. The nail polish I used is from Nailtopia. I don't really remember what number it was but it looks like garnet red to me so I decided to use it. I also don't own the polish. I borrowed this one from my cousin since I honestly don't have much variety of nail polish colors. Most of what I own are pastel colors.

Year End Haul (Shoes, bags, accessories and other random stuff)

Happy New Year to all my readers. Another year have passed and I didn't really made this year as promised so I won't be making another blogging resolution that I would most likely break. I feel really sorry for that. After the operation, I had a change of occupation and started taking my Masters in Management making me busier than I used to.

This year, I'd like to start my blog with a haul of some of the things I purchased and received as gifts. Just a disclaimer, this post is in no way intended to brag about what I have. And the stuffs are things that I accumulated over some time and some were given as presents . Let's just say, this is my way of thanking everyone for all the presents they gave me and keeping track of my purchases.

The only time that I love to buy shoes without regret is during a sale. I went to Ayala for some Christmas shopping and I found a really great deal at Call It Spring. Originally, the leather and lace shoes cost Php2,195 each but I only got it for Php650 per pair. They're really comfortable and I so love wearing them specially the leather shoes. It's currently my go-to shoes. I'm kind of more careful when using the lace one though because I don't want it getting stained. It's really going to be perfect for spring until summer because of the color. The rubber shoes would be my parent's gift for me. The color is just so pretty and girly but the tough kind of girly. :p

The next would be a bag from Celine and an inspirational book that my cousin gave me as a Christmas present. Honestly, I just got it today. I wanted to buy a Celine bag for myself but I'm having second thoughts about it because I'm really getting off my holiday budget but I guess now I don't have to worry about it.

Nail Swatch : Etude House Look at My Cotton Candy Nails

I bought this near the end of January from Etude House Mall of Asia Branch. There were only a few colors available in the store from this collection and some of those are almost the same shade of what I already have so I ended up just buying this one. I got it in CBE101 which is a pretty pastel yellow color. Aside from the pretty summer appropriate shade, there's really nothing much to expect from it. It cost Php78 each for a small bottle compared to local brands. Probably, this size would only cost around Php40 for the same quality. 

Opacity is nice with two coats  and just like other polishes, it dries on an average time frame and may last for around 3 to 4 days. It bubbles a bit, too. My skin tone is somewhere in the middle and I don't think it compliments me very well. Some polishes may make your skin look vibrant but not really this one on me. I guess this color suits best for those with a slightly fairer skin than mine. I could still use it with other colors though.

Nail Swatch : Bobbie Nail Polish in Lush

This is my very first nail polish from this brand. My mom said this is also a good quality polish just like Caronia so I tried one. I was looking for an emerald color to join this season's fad and this is the closest I can find. I really like the fact that it compliments my skin tone without looking so green. Actually, it made my skin look fairer.

Nail Swatch : Magnetic Nail Effects by Barry M.

I have to new additions to my nail polish collection. I won these two Magnetic Nail Paints by Barry M. from Charlotte's Nails. One in magnetic blue and the other in dark silver. Both have rectangular caps where the design is drawn making it easier to distinguish and on top of it is the magnet. It has this stopper like thing at one end of the magnet so the cap can rest on your fingers without touching the nails. The brush handle is long enough for comfortable application and the bristles glides smoothly too.

Nail Swatch : [b] Basic New York Nail Polish (Limited Edition)

I won this from a giveaway at Alex's blog. It's a limited edition of [b] Basic nail polish. I got both of them, 1 in Central Park and the other is in Metropolitan. Both colors really standout when you wear them. It's not your average dark green or maroon color. They just look effortlessly pretty and seductive.

Nail Art Tutorial : Lovin' Ice Cream

My second summer nails! I don't know if it looks like it but it's a light cranberry ice cream with syrup and chocolate sprinkles. Since it rains a lot in the Philippines now, I chose a shimmery type of really light pink, a regular brown polish to be the syrup and a few micro beads for sprinkles. I got the idea from a previous edition of Nail Up, a Japanese Nail Art Magazine, from Eki's blog. If you like to read about cute finds and see Japanese Magazine Scans you should visit her site. She also make good reviews. Click here to visit her site.

Holly and Polish China Glaze Giveaway

(Click the here to visit her blog)

Holly and Polish is celebrating her blog's first year anniversary so she's giving away China Glaze Safari Collection to her lucky follower. The colors are really perfect for upcoming fall. So here are the rules:

Nail Art Tutorial : Summer Sprinkles

Here's my latest nail art video. Sorry it took me awhile to publish a new one. I hope you'll like my easy to do summer inspired nail art. 

Nail Swatch : My Blooming Nails (Etude House)

This is the latest nail polish line from Etude House which is really perfect for summer. But  the thing is, there are only 6 colors available limited on pink, red and orange hues because  its made to match with your lip color. I got mine in #1 OR201 like peach color.  I find it a bit pricey for Php 178 with an average bottle size. I can't tell the exact net weight though because the writings are all in Korean.

It comes in a long handle brush making application a lot easier compared to their regular nail polishes. One thing that I didn't like about it is the bristles. It's an advantage that they're flat but the strands are really thick it can make those harsh lines appear during application.

Review and Nail Swatch : OPI Best of the Best Nail Polish

I finally received my prize from Polish Vixen's 700 Followers Giveaway. It's an O.P.I. mini collection Best of the Best consisting 10 polishes with a net weight of 3.75ml per bottle. This is my very first O.P.I. set so I'm really excited to try it.

The colors are lovely some are really pigmented and may only need one coat specially the dark ones but the lighter tones may need at least 2 coats to be opaque. It's also easy to apply and easier to remove compared to other local polishes that I tried. It's like in one swipe of cotton with mild acetone my nails are clean. It lasted about 3-4 days before it started chipping off but note that during my testing period my hands are not as active.

Review and Nail Swatch : Miss Beauty Nail Polish

It's been awhile since I bought and tested this ( included in my Haul : Hortaleza Nail Products ) but I never get to publish it so here it is now.

The color is really pigmented I'm absolutely loving it. It doesn't dry and crack as fast as the HD Matte Crack nail polish so you have enough time to layer the second coat. Make sure that the first layer hasn't crack yet or else it'll form into chips and fall off. Don't layer too much either otherwise it wont crack. I'm not sure for others but the texture it creates for not cracking looks lovely to me.

It's easy to apply but like any other crack nail polishes, its so hard to remove. This particular brand (uncracked) took 4-5 days on my mom's toe nails and still looking new.

Review : Sassy Nail Art

I saw this in Watsons when i went shopping for a few bath supplies. It's really affordable since it's only Php 36 each with a net weight of 10ml. It was also available in blue but I decided to get black and red only since these are my nail color staples.

Nail Swatch : HD Crack Nail Polish

Currently, I have two HD Crack Nail Polish. One is regular in color number two which i got from Hortaleza ( included in my Hortaleza Nail Products Haul) and the other is a matte finish in color number seven that my mom got from Victory Mall in Caloocan.

HD in matte finish cracks and dries faster than Miss Beauty Crack Nail Polish I previously tested but it dries so fast you wont get the chance to layer on the second coat. You might have an uneven nail crack on your hand like I did when I was trying it on. So if you want it thicker, pile it up on your first application.

Nail Art Tutorial : Berries for V-day

Happy hearts day everyone! Here's my V-day Nail Art Tutorial for you ladies. I hope you like it. It's nothing hot or sophisticated. If I'll describe it, it's more like flirty and playful. It's a little difficult compare to the first that I made because the tips but it's worth the patience.

Instructions :

1. Swipe Caress nail polish in Platinum to be the base color of your nails.
2. With Sassy Nail Art in black, make a triangle tip then fill it up with the same polish.
3. Taking the red Sassy Nail Art, create another triangle on top of the black.
4. With the same red nail polish, draw a line under the black.
5. Add some gray Klick Nail Sequence beneath the red line.
6. Place a purple gem on one end of your nails then add a green tear drop shape gem to serve as a leaf.
7. Finish it off with a final coat of Caronia Colorless.

Nail Swatch : OMG Nail Polish

OMG is from the makers of Klick Nail Polish. I haven't made any previous review on the original Klick nail polish but I have tried their products before and was satisfied of its quality. I have also tried and made a review on their nail art accessory which you may read through my post Haul : Nail Art Accessory.

I really had high expectations on this one. It's Php 18, same with the original Klick, but it's net weight is 10ml while the latter is only 7ml. The original isn't so great but at least it would fall on average. I thought the quality would be the same since it's from the same maker but sadly it's not.

The polish is really smelly and very liquidy. The color is pretty but it takes at least three to four coats to get a really opaque color plus it bubbles. If you were able to buy one and you don't want to waste it, it's good enough to be used as a base color since it may last for up to three to four days because of its thickness.

Nail Art Tutorial : Floral Nail Blush

This will be my first nail art tutorial ever. The design is really simple and all products mentioned are linked to the related review/haul posts. Please let me know if you like it by posting a comment below.

Instructions :

• Color your nails with Caronia in Italian Nude. This will serve as the base color of your nails.
• Put glue or clear nail polish at the tip of your nails on a diagonal direction.
• Dip your nails on the pink Nail Sequence ( Nail Art Accessories Haul ) then  flatten them. Brush off the excess but make sure to maintain the diagonal tip.
• Put a red nail gem on the higher end.
• Lastly, seal the design with clear nail polish.