More Stamping!

Hi Everyone,

I did it again!! More stamping! And seeing as I had them out from my last post, I used the In Style Nails Inc polish - this time Bluebell, with LA Colors Pacific Blue for the stamp.

I used my Bundle Monster stamp number 201 for the zigzags! Here's what I came up with!

OK, so I have to admit, I am really pleased with this manicure. I love how it turned out! The subtle change in the blue colours reminds me of a subtle pinstripe in a suit. This is more of a modern take on it though, haha!

I also learnt a new trick! Like yesterday's manicure, there were a few parts that got missed during the actual stamping. Yesterday, I used the stamped polish and a toothpick to fill in the blanks. However, my photos proved that the difference in the colour when stamped on and when applied straight to the nail is quite different. This time, I made my corrections using a thin art brush, first dipped into a small amount of acetone, then dipped into the polish. This watered the colour down a bit, which matched the stamped effect much better! I'm sure you'll agree, it's much harder to spot the corrections this time around!

What do you think?

Thanks for reading,

Love Charlotte x

Stamping Manicures

Hi Everyone,

Today I am going to share a stamped manicure with you - something I haven't done for a long long time! I seem to go through phases of preferred nail art techniques, but after my friend Jo bought herself a stamping set, I got all nostalgic for my own stamping plates!

So, out they came! I have a Bundle Monster plate collection, which is awesome, but so much cheaper than the Konad versions. For around £20, I purchased a pack of 25 plates. A Konad plate normally costs about £5. For one.

I used a base coat of Nails Inc's Power Pink from In Style magazine -  see here for the original review. I used plate number 223 for the tiger print effect, and stamped it using LA Colors Fiji Purple - which worked relatively well.

Regrettably, there were a few patches where the stamp didn't quite reach on the nail - I think its because of how much my nails curves inwards personally. I tried to amend this using my stamping polish and a toothpick, but this is really noticeable in the photos. Sorry!

I am, however pleased with the overall effect, especially the combination of colours! I am also rather aware that this much animal print, coupled with bright pinks means that I'm a shoulder pad away from time-travelling back to the eighties! For the record, I am more a Hall and Oates girl than a Wham girl.There, I said it. Deal with it please!

For the rest of the day, I shall mostly be humming Private Eyes.

Have a great day,

Love Charlotte x

LA Colors - Swatches and Fun Part Two!

Hi Everyone,

As promised, here is part two of my LA Colors swatchathon. And look at me go, I'm making even more words up now! Oh well, I have to unleash my creative side somehow!

So...! Let's get to it!

From L-R: Pacific Blue, Wired, Fun In The Sun, Fiji Purple and Glistening Purple

Pacific Blue is not the kind of blue I would normally buy. And what a pity that would have been as this is gorgeous! This is a stunning sea-green blue frost, with a slight green shimmer. It only took two coats for full coverage, and applied really well. I love this blue.

Natural Light

Flash

Flash

For some extra pretty, here it is with Sassy Sparkle over the top.

Natural Light

Flash

Wired is your typical Royal Blue Jelly. Very similar to Nails Inc's Chando's Place, if I remember correctly. I apologise, I thought I had a swatch, but apparently not! My computer monster ate it.

Anyway, this is the thinnest LA Colors Polish from my collection.This took three coats to cover my nail to a suitable standard, but still left a bit of VNL. Still, a beautiful colour, and if you need a blue like this, get the LA Colors one instead of the Nails Inc version. It's 90% cheaper!

Natural Light

Flash

Next is Fun In The Sun! A purple - woot! A glossy purple - also woot! This is another thin polish, but this time the hardest to apply as there was a bit of drag. This needed a third coat to cover the patchy bits. It did dry quite nicely though. A lovely sort of Cadbury's purple, which everyone needs in their collection. Or at least some Cadbury's chocolate stashed away!

Natural Light

Flash

Flash

And with sparkles, courtesy of Glistening Purple:

Natural Light

Flash

Finally, we have my favourite polish from the bunch. Predictable, I might be, for this is a stunning purple. Fiji Purple to be precise. I'm not sure how Fiji comes into this, but it's very welcome for this lovely shade! In fact, if anyone wants to send me on an expedition to Fiji in the name of research, I would be glad to oblige. All expenses paid, yes?

Ahhh, enough dreaming and back to the polish. This was in the middle of being thick and thin. Confused? Me too! It felt as though I wanted it to be a bit thicker, but wasn't the thinnest of the polishes. Alas, this bled into my nail beds a little bit too much, and as my photo's prove, I didn't clean up as well as I thought I had. Oh well...! A rich blend of fuchsia and plum, which I think is appropriate for Summer or Winter - I do love a multi-tasker!

Natural Light

Flash

Flash

And last but not least. Fiji Purple with both Sassy Sparkle and Glistening Purple.

Natural Light

Flash

Flash

There we have it, my new collection of LA Colors polish. I recommend these. They have a great colour selection, are fantastic value for money and mostly have awesome, quick drying formulas. They are also cruelty free.

Thank you again to Beth for buying these for me, and thanks to you for reading my epic swatchathon!

Love Charlotte x

LA Colors - Swatches and Fun Part One

Hi Everyone!

I have some more nail pictures to share with you today - all courtesy of my friend Beth. Again! (Fairy Glam-Mother, or what?)

We decided to send each other a parcel of lovely things - aka nail polish! Woot!

I sent her a few of my favourite bargains, including a Color Club set I'll tell you about soon. She sent me a BOX of LA Colors polishes. A BOX! I was somewhat excited by this. That is somewhat of an understatement, but you get the idea! She sent me so many, I'll have to do two posts. Woot!!

LA Colors are available from Beauty Base stores, and are only 99p each. And, they are pretty awesome as nail polishes go. A generous sized bottle - 13ml each, a great brush and a fantastic formula. Surprisingly (for me) I've had very little clean up when using these polishes. The formula is often thick, but in a pleasing way - one coat normally gives great coverage, two is enough for complete coverage - however, I did still have a bit of VNL with one or two polishes. A couple were a bit thinner, and need three coats - but that's not exactly a hardship!

I only have two gripes. One: The lids feel really thin, like I might break it if I'm too heavy handed.Two: The UK stores are all in London or Middlesex. The lids are not a major issue - If I can handle the annoyance of the tiny, iddy biddy lids on OPI minis, then these are fine. I just might cry if I actually break one. Travelling all the way down to London - not an easy task for me. I am a few years overdue a trip to the big city, so maybe I'll just have to save up and go! And get me some more polish when I do haha!

So, without further ado, we have part one of my new LA Colors polish collection! Ta Dahhhh!!

From L-R: Apricot, Magnetic Force, Lightning, Cactus and Sassy Sparkle

 Apricot. This is a gorgeous peachy orange, or maybe an orangey peach. It's a jellyish polish - hence the VNL, but has a nice thick consistency, and a beautiful subtle shimmer running through it.

Natural Light

Flash

Flash

Here it is again with Sassy Sparkle over the top! Pretty!!

Natural Light

Flash

Magnetic Force is a stunning bright coral colour, with a shimmery gold streak running through it. This is a Summer go-to polish if ever I saw one. Fingers, toes, whatever. It's a beauty! Application was lovely too.

Natural Light

Flash

Lightning is another Summer bright - a more pink toned coral without the streak. This is more jelly-like in my opinion (more VNL) but this is only two coats. A third would have lessened the VNL, but wouldn't have been necessary with a nude base. Doh!

Flash

Natural Light

Cactus is a bit more complex - it has an almost purplish black jelly base, with a ton of antique gold shimmer. The finished effect gives an olive toned gold. I used three coats for full coverage and fell in love with this polish. This will be my Autumn go-to, I am already planning ahead!

Natural Light

Flash

Flash

So far, I fully recommend LA Colors polishes. I am loving the ones I have tried. Fantastic colours, great application and a brilliant price. They all seem to dry pretty quickly too, which is always good! I'm a busy girl, doncha know, I can't sit around watching paint dry! Even if it is pretty paint!  Anyway, go get some!! If you can, if not, I will be feeling your pain. /Sigh.

Part Two coming sooooooon!!

Love Charlotte x