Tag Archives: Sephora by OPI

The Cloud Manicure

02 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by in All Thumbs, Nailed It!

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Spring is here and I’m in the mood for some pastels.

Here’s a DIY manicure that’s as easy as can be — and you’re sure to be showered with compliments. ;)

Cloudy with a chance of praise.

This is The Cloud Manicure, inspired by Jane over at Nailside (love that Jane).

I wanted to make this as cloud-like as possible, so I picked a light blue for my background. I gave my white fluffy clouds a silver lining and sealed the deal with a shiny, thick top coat.

Cloud formation materials, from left: Orly Mirror Mirror, Sephora by OPI Havana Dreams, OPI DS Series Radiance, OPI Alpine Snow, Essie Ridge Filling Base Coat. (Also some new cuticle cream I recently bought & am really enjoying... CND Cuticle Eraser.)

Oh, no. Streaky blue. So far, not impressed with Sephora by OPI, in general.

I thought a dark gray accent cloud would be cool... but I changed my mind and decided to opt for a uniform pattern instead.

Ahh, much better! And yes, I am that messy.

Here are some clouds in shade on my way to work.

And here's the Cloud Mani in brilliant sunshine!

Check out Nailside for the tutorial! Jane’s done ombré clouds (several shades of gray) and I’m thinking neons would look awesome, too. It really is the easiest artistic manicure I’ve done yet, and it was a huge hit! For you creative types out there, an “April Showers Bring May Flowers” theme is easy to imagine, isn’t it?

oncloudnine, GLOSS

P.S. My favorite band ever? a-Ha. They’ve got a hot track from the 80s called “Blue Sky” and if you expected me to ignore that happy coincidence and fail to include a link to the song at the end of this post… think again!

Enjoooooy.

Chic Prints for Nails — Sephora by OPI: An Epilogue

11 Wednesday Jan 2012

Posted by in All Thumbs

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Well, um... they're shiny, at least!

I had a vague memory of trying out “Chic Prints for Nails — Sephora by OPI” this past autumn. I knew I didn’t like them; I remembered they were difficult to apply, the sizes seemed weird and they peeled off almost immediately.

Remember THIS?

If anyone reading this has EVER had a good experience with these, please please write in the comments because I am convinced they are the worst nail creation in existence.

I really shouldn’t be complaining because, after my dismal experience with Cosmic Stars, Sephora Customer Service very generously gave me a full store credit for both Chic Prints I’d purchased: Cosmic Stars and Chrome Lace. They asked that I send them the remnants of Cosmic Stars for testing (postage paid, no less) and said I could do whatever I liked with Chrome Lace.

I’m a hoarder, so obviously I kept Chrome Lace in the bowels of my nail polish storage under my bathroom sink.

Over the weekend, I happened to be digging around when the banished Chic Prints sparkled at me like a newborn star. I could not resist. As I held the package up to the light, slowly turning it this way and that to watch the appliqués twinkle back at me, I had a flash of recollection.

“No!” shouted my better judgement. “No, these are bad! Don’t you remember? How they only last for 1-2 days? Don’t you remember the struggle, the sadness… the hideousness? Don’t you remember when one of the foul appliqués pulled out several strands of your hair? Don’t you remember anything at all??!“

“Sshhh,” I murmured. (In my defense, I was also sick with a growing sinus infection. I was not thinking clearly.) “I have an event that I plan to drag my carcass to tomorrow and I want my nails to be pretty.”

I stared at the glowing silver appliqués. So shiny. So silvery. “So pretty…”

And so I lumbered off to the kitchen table armed with a mug of hot tea, a box of Kleenex and my nail toolz. I was ready to try again.

And so it begins.

We've seen this before...

... we know how this ends.

Five steps. So simple. I follow every single one, including alcohol-soaked Q-tip. It doesn't matter.

My sad state of health leaves me with cold fingers. But wait! My mug of tea could do double duty and provide just the heat I need to make these strips work!

I think this snapshot captures the already-growing rage I am feeling.

We call this an "all-finger peel." (To be fair, this shot was taken 36 hours after application.)

Sizing issues. Sometimes I experience those with Sally Hansen too, but it's easy to snip and make a Franken nail. With these? No.

And here’s where the story ends. I gave Chic Prints a second chance and I am bitterly disappointed. As the fisherwives say, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Let’s end this on a high note.

Stay Shiny, GLOSS

Sephora — Glimmer Wonderland Nail Polish Set

13 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Lacquer Lust

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

You pay for what you get, as the saying goes. Usually, the old adage is true *except* when it’s Christmas time! Oh, I do love a good gift set. (As you know.)

I saw this gem online today and had to share.

What a spectrum! There's a little bit of everything.

Eighteen mini bottles — nice! I am of two minds when it comes to mini bottles.

On the one hand (pun intended), I love that they’re less expensive, so you can load up on way more options than you could if you were buying full-size bottles.

On the other hand, I find that the little bottles dry up pretty quickly. You can always invest in some actual, legitimate nail polish thinner (yes, it exists… and NO, using nail polish remover as a thinner is not recommended by true purists such as myself). Alternatively, you can just embrace the fact that this is a one-time or two-time polish and make the most out of it.

If you’re a big fan of Sephora by OPI, note that many of the colors in this set are some of the line’s most popular shades, so you may end up with dupes if you’ve got a stash already going.

At $48 for the set, this breaks down to ~$2.50 a bottle. This would be an awesome gift for a young lady in your life who’s just beginning to develop her very own nail polish stash — and would be just as perfect for that special someone who’s already obsessed with polish. And if that “someone” is YOU (nothing wrong with a little treat for yourself)…

My recommendation is finding two or three friends and going in on the polish together so that you can all get your favorite shades! If all of you seem to be liking the same shades (uh-oh!), I suggest this “grab bag” method:

  • Putting all of the little bottles in a bag or box — however you’d like so that the drawing is blind
  •  Roll a dice or do rock / paper / scissors to see who grabs first, then take turns grabbing until all bottles have been distributed
  • Then, it’s up to each girl:
      • Keep what you grabbed, or
      • Discuss trading options on a bottle-per-bottle basis

Hey, nail polish distribution is serious business, okay?

Maytheoddsbeeverinyourfavor, GLOSS

Stupid Nail Polish Names

11 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by in Nailed It!, The Nail Files

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

The name says it all.

If you’ve ever been caught off guard — or struck by horror — when you stumbled upon one of the (depressingly) many misogynistic / politically inappropriate nail polish names and thought to yourself, “W. T. F. ?” …

…THEN HAVE I GOT A BLOG FOR YOOOU. Ladies and gents, I proudly present: Stupid Nail Polish Names. The Blog!

Oh, I do love a clever writer. Sometimes “Panderbear,” our witty blogger, is short and sweet:

Other times, she waxes poetic. T.Wo, this one’s for you:

I especially love her labels! Panderbear’s been inactive lately. If we all comment on her blog and beg for her to come back, maybe she’ll return from whatever nail polish sabbatical she’s on.

In the meantime, what’s the stupidest name you’ve encountered recently?

“My answer would be ‘One Less Lonely Glitter’ from the Justin Bieber* for Nicole by OPI Collection,” GLOSS

*Perfume. Polish. What’s next, tampons? Step off, Beebs.

Chic Prints for Nails — Sephora by OPI

02 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by in All Thumbs

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Cosmic Stars? More like Cosmic BARF! Hooooooooo!

First, the Candy Corn Mani failure, and now this? Ay ay ay. At least you can learn from my mistakes, that’s all I have to say. And on that note, let’s begin.

When it comes to new beauty products , I tend to think of myself as an early adopter.

This is both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes I feel glamorously ahead of the curve. Other times… With this latest experiment that I’m about to share with you, I felt like a nail polish pioneer, just paving the Oregon Trail as best I can, forging crazy rivers (to HELL with the oxen) and huntin’ food, but then so-and-so gets a broken leg, I get dysentery, I JUST can’t take it anymore.

This post is pretty pic-heavy, so click here to read the whole scoop!

Pages: 1 2

Topless, Barefoot, and Bronzed

04 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in All Thumbs

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


You may have guessed from the title that my favorite season is Summer.  I just love everything about summer, the heat, the sun, beaches, bikinis, and a pretty umbrella in my refreshing cocktail!  With that in mind, this manicure was created in remembrance of my summer and all the fun times it brought.

This is a light and fun manicure that is understated and easy to do!  Although it is now fall and I am supposed to be thinking of jewel tones, it is incredibly simple and elegant, making it appropriate for any situation or season….

Step 1:  Coat your nails in a base coat.  I used Sally Hansen’s Double Duty, because it works as a base coat and top coat…and that is just plain efficient!  However, any base coat you prefer will do.

Let dry completely.

Step 2:  Double coat your nails in Essie’s Topless and Barefoot.  This color looks alright in just one coat, but the second coat is quite fabulous!

Let dry completely.

Step 3:  Using regular scotch tape, tear off 5 strips approximately 1 and a 1/2 inches in length.  Then cut each of the 5 strips in half, lengthwise.

Now you will have 10 strips of tape, 1 for each finger.

Step 4:  Place one piece of tape approximately 1/3 of the way from the tip of your finger nail.  I suggest you start by placing the tape directly to the center of the nail (as opposed to the side), which will help you get a straight line all the way across your nails.

Once the tape is straight across your nail, fold down any excess around your fingers.

Also, just start by taping only one hand, as two taped hands will make the painting process cumbersome.

This is not necessarily meant to be a french tip, rather slightly larger than the tip of your nail with more of a straight line.  Play around with it and see what works for you.

Step 5:  Coat the tips of your nails in Sephora by OPI’s Already Famous.  One coat is plenty.

Let dry completely.

Step 6:  Once your tips are dry, slowly and carefully pull the tape off each of your fingers.

Depending on what kind of tape you use, you may have a sticky residue left on your nails.  If this happens, don’t worry!  Just carefully wash off the residue with soap and warm water before you begin with the next steps.

Step 7:  Complete steps 4-6 on your second hand.

Step 8:  Using the same base/top coat (Sally Hansen Double Duty), polish your nails off with a thick top coat.

Let dry completely.

XOXO, Varnish

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 82 other followers