Swatches and review Catrice Limited Edition Haute Future

Catrice recently came out with a new limited edition called "Haute Future".

 

Catrice: "Future of Fashion. The latest designs are futuristic, edgy and straight. Reflecting surfaces, holographic materials and metallic elements bring the future into the present. A powerful digital look fulfils the highest couture demands and is eccentric as well as energising. The new limited edition Haute Future by Catrice offers the matching beauty products for this visionary look."

 

This limited edition presents 5 new nail lacquers and a special topcoat:

 

 

Swatches

C01 Eletrix Blue

 

 

Picture taken with natural light.

Two coats.

Eletrix Blue is a greyish blue holographic polish.

When applying it looks like a shattered holo but after two coats and placed in the right light you will see a subtle linear holo.

For a low budget brand not that bad for a holo. But I think they can do better ;-D

Big plus is that it applies moch more easy than stronger holo's; drying fast, two coats and the second coat won't take any of the first coat with it...like some other holo's can do.

 

C02 Never Green Before

 

 

Natural light.

Two coats.

Never green before exists (after taking a very very close look) out of a blue polish filled with plum micro micro glitter and light green micro glitter. Very high pigmented.

The finishing look shows only blue and green, making it more of a teal color.

I would describe this polish as a shimmery/glittery duochrome.

 

C03 iROSEdescent

 

 

Natural light.

Two coats.

I had some trouble to get this polish decent on picture.

iROSEdescent is very simular to Eletrix Blue.

Everything I mentioned for Eletrix Blue goes for this polish as well.

iROSEdescent is a greyish pink better to describe as dusky/old/antique pink.

 

C04 GaLILACxy

 

 

Natural light.

Two coats.

I find it very hard to describe this polish.

In the bottle it looks like an iridescent polish but on the nails it looks more like a pearly lavender.

Shifting a bit from lilac/lavender to light pink, in certain light even to a bit of bronze/gold.

After two coats there is still some tip see through but I'm not sure if more coats will take this away.

It's meant to be light and feminine.

 

C05 Gem Into The Future

 

 

Natural light.

Two coats.

Gem Into The Future is a silver holographic polish filled with small iridescent/holographic flakes (the gems).

For the holographic part I would point back to the previous holo's from this edition.

The gems (flakes) look so great in the bottle; unique and beautiful combo.

However only when you take a very close look at your nails you're will be able to see them.

In direct light the holo part will take over the gem part.

In the shade the flakes or better seen because there's no holo. But I still think the flakes look best with some light as well.

 

C01 Holo Is The New Yolo (Holographic Flakes Topcoat)

 

 

Base colors from left to right:

- China Glaze 1088 Splish Splash

- Kiko 311

- China Glaze 544 Liquid Leather

- Only You White French

Picture taken in artificial light.

One coat of Holo Is The New Yolo.

Holo Is The New Yolo is a clear base filled with different sizes of holographic flakes.

As I remember this is at least the third simular topcoat that Catrice brings with the flakes.

I experienced that the base color needs to be completely dry otherwise this topcoat will take some of it with it.

The surface is not smooth and will need a topcoat to flatten.

More coats means more flakes and I did find that it sometimes needed some placement of the flakes. Especially when the brush releases some more flakes at the same time: they tend to stick together.

Review/verdict

Application is easy and smooth except from the Holographic Flakes Topcoat.

Two coats are enough for being opaque which is good.

The holo's aren't that in your face but they're there.

In my opinion this limited edition isn't that special.

Catrice already made some simular holo's with their Luxury Lacquers and I'm pretty sure I've seen some simulars too of the GaLILACxy and flakes topper.

My personal winners are:

- C02 Never Green Before

- C05 Gem Into The Future

Reasons: They are the most unique and are gorgeous in both light and shade.

Gem Into The Future could have easily been the best if the gems had shown more on the nails.

Verdict: This limited Edition is okay but besides C02 Never Green Before, nothing I would run for.

Of course it all depends on personal taste and stash.

I still think Catrice offers a very nice range of products for a very nice price and tries to be up to date as well as bringing enthusiasm to those who aren't in the beauty/nail scene like most of us bloggers.

Thumbs up for Catrice!

 

Gradient and rose nail art with OPI Sheer Tints

I wouldn't be myself if I didn't try to make new looks with these beauties.

 

I started with a white base on all the nails:

Only You White French

Then I used the sponging technique for the gradient.

I sponged one layer of the 4 colors Sheer Tints and actually was pretty satisfied with the outcome;

a sweet pastel gradient with a minimum amount of bubbles.

But of course one of my 4 kiddies needed my help with something and I ruined my index :(

I didn't want to go through the whole process of cleaning, applying basecoat, painting it white, waiting for it to dry and making the gradient again.

So I decided trying to correct the ruined part with some more layers.

It worked...but of course the colors build up too and therefore the other nails had to get some more layers as well. 

Like I mentioned in my review. Layering these polishes will cause bubbles.

I tried to flatten some of them out with a topcoat but this worked only to a certain point.

But only when you take a close look you are able to see them.

 

For the accent I chose to randomly place the colors on the nail.

I added a topcoat to seal this part.

That way I could use the black acrylic paint and was free to start over when I wasn't satisfied.

I started with other flowers but ended up with the roses.

 

 

Review and nail art with OPI Sheer Tints

OPI Sheer Tints (Spring 2014)

My OPI Sheer Tints mini pack has finally arrived!

I've been waiting for these for so long.

 

 

Colors

There are 4 colors:

- I can teal you like me which is a blue

- I'm never amberrassed which looks like an amber color in the bottle but is more like a yellow

- Be magentale with me which I think is true to it's name. In the bottle it looks like a red but is magenta (pinkish)

- Don't violet me down which is a violet/purple.

 

I've been reading other experiences but for me "Don't violet me down" was the most thick and also the strongest and darkest in color. Best to start with when making a watercolor nail art.

I also found that when making a watercolor nail art the purple and pink look a lot alike. Therefore better to use them both less than the other two colors.

Missing the green? Of course mixing/layering blue and yellow will make green.

But be careful with mixing colors because just as with paint if you mix too many colors you will get an ugly brownish color.

Formula and application

These polishes look like sheer jelly polishes.

They remind me a bit of Indian ink that you use with crown pens/pin pens.

However these polishes are more viscous/syrupy/sticky and thicker than Indian ink.

They are workable for now but I do expect them to dry out pretty quick.

When open to air for too long there is a chance of string pulling.

The polishes are hard to apply evenly but will flatten when using a topcoat.

I experienced that layering them will cost bubbles. Something I don't have the answer for to prevent.

The best comparison I can make for these polishes is Seche Vite fast drying topcoat.

The last from the bottle to be even more precise.

Like Seche Vite the polishes are fast drying.

When painted on a zipper bag you can pull the same kind of plastic-like film from it.

Recognize the thickness and bubble making when trying to finish your Seche Vite bottle?

Well, these polishes are just like that!

I tried to use my detail brush and the polishes to make a detailed nail art but the polishes are too thick to make really fine lines.

Now, it looks like there are only down sides for these polishes.

This isn't true!

As long as you see them more as a topcoat (which is what OPI intended).

There are plenty of possibilities to use these.

Well, and the sweet pastel colors are of course perfect for Spring!

Ideas for use

- On their own. They will never get opaque enough to not have any see through. Perfect for a stained glass look.

- As a topcoat. Change any of your existing colors into a complete new color

- Tie dye. Ombres and gradients by using more or less layers.

- Watercolor nail art. Randomly place the Sheer Tints over a white base.

- Sandwich nail art. Place any polish, glitter, stamps between two layers of Sheer Tints

And many more...

I will try to show you as many possibilities as I can in the next days/weeks.

Nail art

Let's start with the most common nail art that is done with these Sheer Tints:
the watercolor nail art.

Starting with a white base.

I used the regular polish brushes to randomly place the colors on the nails.

Finishing with a topcoat.

 

 

You are beautiful like a rainbow

My message to all my lovely readers:

You are beautiful like a Rainbow!

Polish on the pinky is:
- KOH Colours! - Platinum Silver! 133

Sunset nails

Thanks to +roa' hamouda (who you can find here on Facebook) I have another mani for you :D

She also commented on my "I have some spare time-challenge" post.

Asking me for sunset nails.

I've done some tropical nails in the past which also had a kind of sunset there

but I never got to really focus on the sunset.

 

Before starting my mani I had to check Google for some inspirational sunset images:

 

 

The left image I chose because of the colors.

I love this gradient and decided my gradient had to look like this.

The second image I chose because of the grass.

I prefer a black silhouette though (most easy) but at least my mani had to include some grass.

 

First step: Making the gradient.

 

These are the polishes I've used for the gradient:

 

- Only You White French

- Only You 113 Banana Split

- Kiko 238

- Essence Beauty Beats 01 Baby, baby, ooh!

- Maybelline 650 Midnight Blue

 

I've used the sponging technique.
And here is my sunset gradient:

 

 

Second step: Getting some silhouettes on there.

I've used black acrylic paint and a detail brush 000 to paint them.

 

 

As you can see I also added some wild flowers just to make it more me :D

Hope you like it!

 

By the way if you have ever any request for a nail art. Never hesitate to ask me!

 

 

Challenge nail arts

I've been sick for a few days and am finally feeling better today.

I had some spare time to make a nail art but just didn't have any clue what to paint on my nails.

I thought it was a fun idea asking my Facebook followers to comment with an idea.

And then I would take the first one as my challenge for today.

 

First comment was: glitter tips.

Pff, luckily they didn't come up with some kind of masterpiece that I would have to recreate ;D

 

I took a look at my glitters and well...it's only Christmas colors.

I finally found my holo purple glitter which is just gorgeous and made my glitter tips.

 

 

Of course these tips didn't take that much time.

Luckily for me two other followers commented as well.

 

Second comment was: Anchor.

Pretty happy with this one as it takes some free hand painting (LOVE) and I could also bring in some blue for Autism Awareness and the Paint It Blue group.

 

 

Polishes are:

- Only You White French

- Essence Effect Nail Polish (Jeans Sugar) 07 Blue-jeaned

The Anchor is a free hand design using acrylics.

 

And the third comment. This was: Galaxy inspired.

 

This one actually took the most time as I'm a perfectionist and with galaxy you just have to let it go.

Sponging gives the best result. Some blue, some purple, some pink (and green, white and yellow).

Add some glitters, stars, dots.

It's a wonder your nails don't get twice as thick :D

Nevertheless I'm very pleased with how these came out.

I don't have a list of polishes because there are just too many.

 

 

Hope you liked my "I have some spare time-challenge" :D

 

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all my lovely readers.

Enjoy!

 

 

Simple Easter/Spring nails

For today a look that can work great for Easter and Spring.

Nothing special...just stripes.

Not a steady hand? Tape is your answer!

The design is exactly the same as my couch pillows :D

 

 

Polishes used:

- Only You White French

- Only You 113 Banana Split

- Kiko 311 Electric Pink

- China Glaze 1156 Mimosa's Before Mani's

- Bourjois 06 Adora-bleu

- Pink Tease (part of a Pastel set, no name/number)

 

Cute bunny nails

I just love bunnies and they're perfect for coming Easter.

Therefore another bunny nail art.

 

But first things first.

I got the chance to finally try the last polish I purchased from Big City Nails which is an Indie polish.

 

Big City Nails - Pearly Pastels

 

 

 

Pearly Pastels is a light pink pearly polish filled with white and pastel glitters in different sizes and shapes (bar glitters, hexes, squares and rounds).

I thought this would make a perfect Spring lacquer.

 

Hereby my swatch:

 

Maybe you've read it before but I'm actually not really a fan of these kind of polishes.

Mostly because I don't really know what to do with it.

Should you wear it on its own or as a topcoat/accent?

I'm lost!

Above is on its own with 3 coats and picture taken in shade. 

The glitters (maybe due to travelling and laying around) had sunk towards one side of the bottle.

Shaking didn't really work so I used a cotton swab to swirl everything around.

Application was smooth but the pearly base is a bit streaky and this shows, especially around the larger glitters which makes it look less like a smooth surface (see ring finger for example).

Although the pearly base is very light it does tend to hide the also light pastel glitters.

It's not a bad thing as many crelly, jelly glitter polishes do this.

I have to say that this polish is more beautiful in real life but it is my less favorite purchase of the three.

 

To make a better opinion of this polish I also tried to top it over something else.

 

Kiko 311

 

Kiko 311 is a bright pink with a subtle shimmer.

This is two thin coats and in the sun.

 

For the nail art I topped Kiko 311 with Pearly Pastels and as accent I free handed the cute girly bunny with acrylics.

 

 

As you can see Pearly Pastels also works perfect as a topcoat.

I also love the Kiko 311 peeping around the cuticles...it's an interesting look!

 

Cute Easter bunnies with velvet

Let's start today with yesterday's mani :D

Having some sick kids around makes it hard to do anything else besides taking care of them.

 

Therefore Yesterday'mani was a quickie.

Not my best but I still think it's cute :D

 

 

I've started with two coats of Bourjois 06 Adora-bleu and applied a topcoat to speed up the drying time.

Then I used the same topcoat as glue for the green velvet making the field. I worked one nail at the time.

Then I used a striper brush and Rimmel 840 Blue Eyed Girl to paint the bunnies and let it dry completely.

Again I took the topcoat, this time making larger dots as glue for the bunny tails which is actually light blue glitter velvet.

I chose blue for Autism Awereness month but if I had to do this mani again I would have used cotton for the bunny tails.

I finished by painting small flowers on the velvet field.

 

Easter nails

I'm interrupting my Autism nails for Easter nails.

Easter nails are fun to make and won't be of any use when I post them after April right?

So, I'll probably be doing some Easter nails for the next couple of days.

 

I'm not sure if today was a good day.

Almost every nail art I've done in the past was with the use of polish only.

Today I finally discovered acrylic paint and I'm not sure if I want to go back to polish anymore.

The benefits:

- No more polishes drying out as they are only used as lacquer

- Unlimited colors cause you can mix the acrylic paint anyway you want

- Cheaper than polishes

- More efficient. You come a far way with a little acrylic paint. When it dries out...simply add some water and it's good to go again.

- Easier to correct. Acrylic paint can be removed with water. When you mess up...wash your hands and you can start all over again.

 

I knew all of this before but it always felt a bit like cheating...

Artists use acrylic paint; nail artists use polish.

 

But I'm not sure anymore...

What do you think?

 

Here are my first Easter nails for this year:

 

 

 Polish:
- Bourjois 06 Adora-bleu
 

Splatter nails

Today I have some blue and white splatter nails for you.

I made these with the purpose to matte them for the NPQ challenge.

I'll show you the shiny and matte version and have to say: the matte is the best!

 

 Polishes used:

- China Glaze 818 Snow

- Max factor 37 Prussian Blue

- China Glaze Matte Magic

The splatters are made by dipping a cut drinking straw in the polish and giving it a short, full blow.
Repeating the process when I wasn't satisfied yet.

 

Blue nails with hearts accent

I'm having such an off-day.

I think I did about 15 designs today but it just didn't work for me.

I had no inspiration...and was even a bit done with the blues.

 

But whilst I was making dinner I suddenly remembered this picture I saved with hearts and I just went for it.

 

 

Polishes used:

- Maybelline Color Show Brocades 222 Beaming Blue (nails and 4th heart at the bottom)

- H&M Nail Polish Blue (accent background)

- L'Oréal Color Riche 624 Island in the sun (1st heart from the top)

- Big City Nails Are you feeling blue? (2nd heart)

- Big City Nails The sky is the limit (3rd heart)

- Maybelline Color Show 661 Ocean blue (outline hearts)

 

 

 

 

Disney Frozen Olaf nail art

Today I have another beautiful polish from Big City Nails

This one is called: Are you feeling blue?

 

Let's start with some swatches:

 

Picture taken with natural light.

 

Picture taken with artificial light

 

Are you feeling blue? is a beautiful shimmery blue polish with green undertones making it lean towards teal.

This duochrome polish has a satin finish.

I used two coats in the pictures above. First coat was quite streaky and didn't went on smooth.

Surprisingly the second coat made it opaque and a lot less streaky. Nothing a topcoat can't solve.

Pictures above are without topcoat.

Two out of three polishes are gorgeous...can't wait to try the last one...but that one has to wait till after my Autism challenge.

 

Now, for the nail art.

 I've been asked many times to make Frozen themed nails.

I actually bought the movie for my kids and they love it (and mommy too!).

However it's not really the time of year anymore to make nail arts with snow, frost and ice.

But I make an exception with this polish and this challenge.

 

Are you feeling blue?

Olaf will make you smile!

 

 

 

Puzzle nails

Puzzle pieces are the international symbol for Autism.

The puzzle piece logo was first created in 1963 by the National Autistic Society.

They explain that the symbol of the Society should be the puzzle as this did not look like any other commercial or charitable one as far as they could discover.

Nowadays the puzzle piece has much more meaning and better ones too.

I could make a list with meanings but I guess you're here for the nail art right?

Let's end with the fact that Autism is a puzzling condition.

 

Here is my nail art:

 

 

I actually did a sandwich nail art.

As layers I used a local brand polish; Etos - Mint Cupcake (which is lighter blue in real life than in the picture).

The polish is a milky blue crelly filled with small blue hexes, medium sized pink and silver hexes and iridescent bar glitters.

The above description promises a beautiful mixture...however I hated the substance.

Now, up front I don't have much experience with polishes like this, but OMG is it normal that it feels like painting glue with glitters on your nails?

Even painting a single thin coat was a quest on it's own. Whilst painting I could have done sugerspun nails with the strings of polish between my nails and brush!

Thank God for the topcoat as I applied it on the still wet polish to even everything out.

Between the layers of polish I've painted puzzlepieces using a detail brush and stamping polish; Essence Love Letters 05 Inkheart

 

Despite the troubles I had I am happy with the outcome.

 

Street style Autism nails (graffiti)

Today's Autism nails for #paintitblue is a graffiti nail art.

I love graffiti!

 

Hope you like my nail art!

 

 

Polishes used:

- Bourjois 26 Blue no blues (background)

- Maybelline Color Show Street Artist top coat 04 Alley Attitude (background)

- Bourjois 06 Adora-bleu (letters)

- Rimmel 840 Blue Eyed Girl (outline letters)

- China Glaze 544 Liquid Leather (shading letters)

 

Blue holo flower nail art

I actually didn't want to do a nail art today.

For two reasons:

1) I'm not feeling very well :(

2) This polish doesn't need anything

 

Let's start with the polish.

This is my first Indie polish and it is from the Netherlands...yay!

Thanks to another blog...don't know the name anymore because I was on a huge Google/blog search for Dutch Indies :-/

I finally found Big City Nails

And ordered 3 beautiful polishes.

 

Today I show you "The sky is the limit"

 

 

Are you seeing the gorgeous holo glitter already?!

 

 

I love the bottle top. It's like a giant "The sky is the limit" gemstone.

In fact every nail polish bottle should contain this...don't you agree?

 

 

The hand written polish name...definitely Indie and personal :D

Oah and a little peek of the polish on the nails.

 

Here are some more swatches:

This picture is taken in the shade

 

This picture is taken in sunlight (but we didn't have much today).

 

The sky is the limit is a clear polish filled with a great amount of blue and holo glitters.

Pictures above are 3 coats and 1 coat of Seche Vite topcoat.

With the first coat I wasn't sure if I could get this polish opaque but it built up very quickly with the next coats and also dried a lot faster than other glitter polishes.

There wasn't much sunlight today but when this polish hits the light...ahum...breathtaking.

I bought it for €6,95 ($9,54)

For sure a polish and webshop I can recommend.

 

For the nail art I only did a simple flower on the accent nail.

 

 

Polishes used:

- Big City Nails - The sky is the limit

- Layla Holgram Effect 07 Ocean Rush

- Maybelline Color Show 661 Ocean Blue

- China Glaze 544 Liquid Leather

 

Blue and gold dragon nails

A dragon eye nail art was still on my "to-do-list".

And today I finally found the right spirit to do so.

I'm still in the #paintitblue challenge so of course it had to include some blue :D

 

The dragon eye nail art is a free hand design using different polishes.

The other nails have a 'bad' croco topper which I reviewed some time ago and can be found here.

 

 

Polishes used:

- Essence Effect Nail Polish (Jeans Sugar) 07 Blue-jeaned

- Catrice Limited Edition Glamazona (Crocodile Cracker) C01 Jungle Treasure

- Maybelline Forever Strong Pro 820 Winner takes it all!

- China Glaze 553 Sexy in the city

- China Glaze 554 Liquid Leather

- China Glaze 818 Snow

 

Blue squares nail art

For today I made a blue squared/color blocking nail art.

I've used different textured polishes and it turned out really nice if I may say so :D

 

 

Polishes used (middle finger):

Up left: Essence Effect Nail Polish (Metal Sugar) 04 Skyfall

Up right: OPI Brazil Beach Sandies mini set What's a Little Rain Forest?

Bottom right: Rimmel Sweetie Crush 012 Blueberry Whizz

Bottom left: OPI Mariah Carey Holiday Collection 2013 mini Kiss me at midnight

 

 

Nail art blue mermaid tail

Today's Autism nails represent a mermaid tail.

Before painting I had no clue what to do.

I simply displayed some of my blue polishes on my table and while looking at them they spoke for themselves...MERMAID.

Well, I'm not so good in painting faces so I only went for the tail.

 

I actually used some extra shimmer and holo glitter topcoat but because of a lack of sunlight I couldn't catch them on camera :(

 

My list of used polishes is way too long so I'm not even getting there :D

 

Here are 2 pictures of my free handed 'blue' mermaid tail nail art.

 

 

 

 

 

Blue water marble nails for Autism

In my last give-away I've asked people what they wanted to see in my next nail arts.

I found this very useful as it not only gives me ideas for next art but also what people want to see.

 

A few times they asked for a water marble.

 

To be honest:

I love the look of water marble nails!

 

But I hate the frustrations that it is giving me.

First 'the polishes'; not all of them work well for water marbling.

Second 'the design'; it almost never ever ends up the way I had in mind.

Third 'the outcome'; mysterious appeared bubbles, open spaces, awful design.

And last but not least 'the clean-up'; and this is with tape!

 

So, today's autism mani is quite perfect IMAO ;D

But it took me 2 hours of redoing which is more than a detailed mani will take...

 

 

 

For these nails I've used 2 polishes:

 

- Anny 385 Blue bikini girl

- Essence Beauty Beats 02 I'm backstage

 

World Autism Awareness Day mani

Today is World Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd).

 

As I said in my previous post I'll be trying to do as much blue nails as I possibly can.

So, I really hope that you're loving blue :D

 

For today a mani that besides the blue has another link to Autism; puzzle pieces.

The puzzle piece symbolizes the mystery and complexity of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). And as every puzzle piece is different in some way, it represents the diversity of the individuals affected.

 

First a swatch of my main polish

China Glaze Crinkled Chrome 1266 Iron out the details

 

 

Blue silver chrome polish with sand and bars which gives the whole crinkled look.

Application is a little tricky because of the sand and bars and it dries very quickly (even on the brush if you wait too long).

Give the bottle a good shake and try to apply an even coat.

Big plus is that it only needed 1 coat!

Picture above is without topcoat but the next nail art is with topcoat...no problems there!

 

I like that it is different from other textured polishes.

 

For the nail art I've used this image as my inspiration:

 

 

Nail art

 

 

Polishes used:

- China Glaze Crinkled Chrome 1266 Iron out the details

- China Glaze 818 Snow

- China Glaze 553 Sexy in the city

- Maybelline Forever Strong Pro 650 Midnight Blue