Cherry Blossoms + Born Pretty Fleur-de-lis

Nail babes, it's official: spring has sprung! One of the most iconic signs of spring here in DC is the annual cherry blossom festival. People travel from all over the world (seriously!) to marvel at the beautiful pink trees all over Washington. Fortunately for my allergies, but unfortunately for the tourists, the blossoms have been reluctant to bloom after this year's brutal winter. They're beginning to peek out, so I figured I'd encourage them and add a little DC pride to my nails!

Fleur-de-lis nail decoration provided for review. All other polishes and tools were purchased by me.

I started out with my base colors: Sinful Colors - Snow Me White on my middle and ring fingers, a no name mint Color club on my index and pinky, and OPI - Hey Baby on my thumb. Using a small dotting tool from my Bundlemonster set, I added a polka dot pattern to the white nails. I painted the branches using OPI - My Private Jet and used a variety of dotting tools dipped in white and several shades of pink (Delush Polish - Make Me Blush & OPI - Shorts Story) to create the blooms. Then I topped it all with a thin coat from a fresh bottle (sighhh so refreshing!) of HK Girl Topcoat.

I affixed this cute fleur-de-lis charm (Item 9399 #10 from the Born Pretty Store) to my ring finger by applying an additional, thicker layer of HK Girl, and placing it using a pair of tweezers. I love how it adds some dimension and maturity to this whimsical manicure, and love the detail in the metal! You can find this and tons of other affordable nail art decorations and supplies at the Born Pretty Store--free worldwide shipping, and 10% off your order using the code JNJ61! I'll be reviewing a few other items from them this week, so stay tuned.

Overall, I'm pleased with how this mani turned out, especially after not doing much nail art in the past few weeks. I attempted cherry blossoms nearly a year ago, and I see a ton of improvement. Not only do my blossoms look a lot more complex, I like how the look is more detailed, precise, and polished. Not to mention vast improvements in my nail care routine, posing abilities, and photo quality. Just goes to show you how far practice can take you!

 

GG Couture Swatches & Indie Maker Spotlight

Hey, nail babes! I'M BACK! After a hellish couple of weeks at school and work, AND a move to a new apartment, my nail game is finally getting back to normal. We still don't have internet in the new place, (I gave boyfriend one job...ONE) but I'm long overdue to share these beautiful polishes from GG Couture, along with my first indie maker spotlight in way too long! Read on to see some pretties AND to learn more about the fabulous Gabrielle of GG Couture :)

Polishes provided for review.

How did you decide to start making polishes?

One night, while painting the tiny nails of my 4 younger sisters (now 5!), I started wondering about the ingredients in nail polish. As I started doing more research, I realized something--most nail polishes have 5 positively terrible chemicals present in them. These chemicals are: Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toluene, Camphor and DBP. After understanding the chemicals and their effects, I looked into nail lacquers that are free of these  pesky chemicals, and safe to put on even the tiniest fingers. Much to my suprise, I didn't find many options. The colors were either bland, or the formula was not satisfactory. I then looked into making my own. I have been making my own polish since, and have had an absolute blast doing it.

The Deep Blue is a deep navy jelly polish with metallic circle and diamond glitters in a variety of shades of blue. These photos show three thin coats topped with HK Girl Topcoat. Application was smooth and even, and I didn't have to dig to get a nice distribution of glitters on each nail. 

What polish brands (mainstream or indie) are your favorites?

My largest 'collection' would have to be Sephora By OPI. I started collecting these long before I started create my own line, and even before I knew of the wonderful world of indie polishes. While I naturally prefer and use my line primarily, Sephora By OPI is one that really started the addiction! 

Side note: This was the first of the polishes I swatched, and there were a few weeks between this and the others. You'll notice a drastic change in my nail shape if you continue reading. I miss my lovely, long squares!

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I was planning on training and showing horses, as well as having a horse rescue. This is still a love of mine, and I still have 2 beautiful horses: King and Pumpkin. Horses are my therapy!

Here, I topped The Deep Blue with Sally Hansen Big Matte Topcoat. MATTEFY ALL THE JELLIES!

Where do you find inspiration for your colors?

Each quarter, when I release a new collection, the biggest goal is to create a balance. I want to create a line that polish lovers of all ages can love. While many of us love loud glittery neon polishes, others may desire something a little different. Whether you are more reserved with your polish likes, or want to wear a glitter party, I want to have something that you will love. 

What is your favorite color you've made?

I really cannot pick a favorite! My favorite really depends on my mood that day. 

This macro shot really highlights the depth in the layers!

Blushing Violet is a thermal holo jelly that is a dusty purple shade when cool, and a light silver when warm. Photos show three thin coats topped with Seche Vite. Application was easy for this one as well, and the sheer polish built up to opacity very nicely. PS...notice the change in nail shape here. Moving has not been kind to my talons!

What's your favorite thing about making polishes? What is the hardest thing?

My favorite thing about making polish is the ability to come up with an idea and see it come to life. The hardest thing is waiting for the post man to come when you know you have glitter mail coming!

This photo shows Blushing Violet (mostly) in its warm state. The polish was somewhat reluctant to transition, but when I dipped my fingers in warm water, the change was pretty dramatic (and so pretty! Thermals are so much fun!)

This photo is a relatively subtle shot of the transition. Without running water over my fingers to make it change, the polish usually looked something like this.

Would you rather be stuck with super nubs forever but be able to paint them any color you want, or have long nails that can only be one color? (and what color would you pick!) 

I would have to say long nails. I used to bite my nails, and my longer nails are kind of a trophy for me. I really wouldn't like not being able to paint them every day, though! I would probably do black or red with a holo topcoat.

Holo-llujah that's gorgeous! I opted to have this polish Chai Tea scented, and it smelled absolutely delicious--the perfect mix of sweet and spice, and definitely not overwhelming (even when wet!) I honestly was craving a chai latte the entire day I wore it!

The last polish I reviewed is Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend, a stunning glitter topper that is packed with holo dust, small holo dots, and larger holo hearts. These photos show two coats over Zoya - Odette. I can see this one becoming a staple in my future manis--so much glitter! So much holo! Application was best after giving the bottle a good shake to distribute the holo dust and the hearts. 

If you could add one extra hour to each day, how would you spend it? 

With my family!
 

What big nail trends do you see for spring 2014, and how is GG Couture fitting in with them?

I think the biggest spring nail trend will be brighter versions of spring colors (pink, green, yellow) + color shifting polishes. I have a new collection coming the first week of April, that encompasses what I think will be the top Spring nail trends!

I opted to have this polish Dragon's Blood scented, because I was SO curious as to what that would smell like! Honestly, I can't really describe it...it's spicy, but almost minty, and maybe a little floral? I like the smell, but I can't put my finger on what it reminds me of. Definitely worth trying if you're interested--Gabrielle offers scent options for ALL of her polishes!

Check out the GG Couture website to order these and other polishes from Gabrielle's line, and be sure to follow her on Instagram to keep updated on promotions and new releases!

Polish Pusher - South of the Bordeaux & Vincent

Holy guacamole! This evening I have an incredible new polish to share with you, and up-and-coming indie maker that you absolutely must have on your radar. I won a fabulous flash giveaway hosted by the Polish Pusher, aka Kati, who encouraged her followers to post and selfie and say something they loved about themselves. I was lucky enough to get a little self-esteem boost AND the opportunity to choose a polish from her soon to open Etsy shop. I picked South of the Bordeaux...

A yummy, wine toned jelly packed with a variety of warm toned glitters. But Kati didn't stop there--she was kind of enough to throw in a mini of Vincent, another upcoming polish in her line. OH. EM. GEE. This woman most certainly has a way with holo!

Vincent is a gorgeous kelly green linear holo with scattered larger holo glitters. It's on the sheer side, but builds beautifully. These photos show three thin coats topped with HK Girl Topcoat. Application and formula are even and easy to apply, and the polish dries to a semi-matte finish on its own.

Isn't it amazing? I loved it in the bottle, but was unprepared for what showstopper this would be on the nail. I have a few green holos in my collection, and this one is totally unique in comparison to the others. Also, in her note when she sent my prizes, Kati mentioned that this polish is part of a duo inspired by her grandparents and their beautiful relationship. Such a touching, personal thing to share with her customers, and I am so eager to see the other half!

Be sure to wipe the drool off of your keyboard before heading straight to Polish Pusher's Instagram so you can be prepared for when these beauties become available!

Simple French Manicure

Despite what my earlier nail pics might suggest, I've actually been doing my own nails for years. I've always been one to change the color on my nails at least weekly, and have never had the money (or time!) for such frequent professional manicures. Also, my mom is also a polish hoarder, so I was exposed to an enormous variety of options from a very young age. Something that I've practiced for years, but have never quite mastered, is the classic French manicure.

You might be surprised to hear this, considering how simple the design really is. However, at least in my opinion, a successful French manicure requires a careful balance of several key components. I had never really figured out my ideal formula...until this weekend!

Voila!

With all the frustration I've been feeling lately about my nail art abilities, this manicure was a totally necessary breath of fresh air. I found myself gazing at my nails more than usual, and got tons of compliments on them (mostly, "did you do those yourself?!" which is always my favorite question to get).

I started out with two thin coats of Revlon - Embody, a very sheer pale nude. In the past, I've made the mistake of choosing a base color that was too opaque, or compensating for a sheer formula by layering up the polish until it was thick and unappealing. I think practice with application and more experience with sheer formulas made me better this go round.

Another mistake I've made in the past is not allowing the base color to full dry before painting the tips. I don't trust my freehand to achieve a look this clean, so I use tip guides, and just like with tape or other sticky decals, they can pull up the polish base and ruin all your careful work. (This is another reason why 1-2 thin coats are ideal for the base!) I applied a single thin coat of HK Girl Topcoat and allowed my nails to dry for a full hour before prepping to do the tips. This prevented the base color from lifting, and allowed me to achieve a very clean line.

A word on tip guides: if you want to do French manis and don't have the patience for freehand, GET SOME! I bought a small pack with several hundred at CVS for maybe $3. I'm sure you can find them on Amazon and other online retailers as well. I've used regular tape in the past, and while that will get you a straight line, it most likely won't follow your actual nail line, making the outcome unnatural looking and severe.

Finally, I've discovered my ideal white for painting the tips, Essie - Blanc. While this is certainly not my go-to white for most purposes, (such as a base for neon polishes or nail art) the formula is the perfect consistency for applying a thin, opaque amount to the small tip area. You really want to avoid multiple coats on the tips for two reasons: one, you want to remove the tip guide while the polish is still wet, so you don't have time to allow for drying between coats; and two, you already have two coats of polish on your nails, plus top coat--your tip is going to start looking chunky really quickly if you're not careful. Blanc is a thin formula that makes for slightly streaky application on the entire nail, but is easily controllable when only painting the tip.

What do you think? Are French manis passe, or a standard staple in nail fashion? For me, this was just the palate cleanser I needed, and I have a feeling I'll be returning to my now-perfected formula in the future!