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.

 

 

Swatches, review and nail art OPI Brazil Beach Sandies Mini Set

Part of the OPI Spring Collection 2014 is this mini set with sand polishes:

 

 

There is only one store in town where I can purchase OPI.

Most of times there aren't any swatches or try-outs available which I find very annoying as a big bottle of OPI sells for €14,25 (19,62 USD) and a mini set costs €18,95 (26,09 USD).

But luckily they did have swatches of this collection...including this mini set.

 

Swatches in store looked like this:

 

Source: timtam00.blogspot.com

Looking at the swatches above I immediately fell in love with this mini set.
It totally looks like bright and neonish textured polishes.

Well, I have swatched them for you and here are my swatches:

 

 

 

Samba-dy loves purple

 

Purple with silver shimmer.

Not as bright as I expected.

Two coats gave good coverage.

Application wise this polish was the worst.

It dried less fast than the others and the texture was best after complete drying time.

Before taking this picture I ruined the top finger and therefore applied a third coat to smooth out the damage. As you can see on the picture the texture didn't really kick in yet on the top finger.

 

I'm Brazil nuts over you

 

 

Coral pink with purple shimmer.
Again not as bright and pink as I expected but nevertheless a beautiful color.
Two coats was enough for good coverage and application was smooth.

What's a little rain forest?



Bright blue with silver shimmer.
Finally a color that met up with my expectations!
Very bright and beautiful.
Application was smooth and it needed two coats for complete opacity.
One coat of basecoat isn't enough to wear under this polish because I did have some staining afterwards. I recommend using at least two coats of a clear or white basecoat.

You're so flippy floppy



Goldish yellow.
Again not as bright as I expected but not bad either for a yellow.
Perhaps on a white base it can totally pop.
I've used two coats for the picture above but I would prefer a third.
Application was smoothly.

Final verdict:
I am a little disappointed with this mini set.
I had hoped for more neon textured polishes...which is about the only textured polishes I'm missing ;D
The colors aren't bad and do fit the Spring/Summer season but aren't neon.
My favorite is 'What's a little rain forest?' (except for the staining that is!).


Of course I also made a nail art with this collection and I decided to keep it tropical :D

 

Tropical nails:


 

Day 249) OPI San Fransisco mini pack

OPI recently came out with a new fall collection: San Fransisco
Besides the 15 new full size colors OPI brings a mini pack as well.
This mini pack contains 4 mini's of the above full size collection.

From left to right:

- First Date at the Golden Gate

- Muir Muir on the Wall

- In the Cable Car-Pool Lane

- Peace & Love & OPI

 

 

Swatches:

Note: This collection contains polishes that have a different color when placed in different lights. The colors looked best inside or in the shade and as it's supposed to be a fall collection, which means darker times and spending more time inside, I decided to show the colors how they look in this kind of setting.

First Date at the Golden Gate
Three coats (but two coats will be just fine).
A deep orange/RED polish.
Classic



















In the Cable Car-Pool Lane
Three coats (two can be fine)
A real plum color.
Perfect for fall











The above polishes should have some shimmer in it (according to OPI). Well, I found maybe 5 little shimmer parts in total and thought this was a left-over from bad cleaning of previous polishes.
For me this are creamy-jelly lacquers. Kinda watery at the first coat but drying very quick and two coats is enough for a good coverage, but three is best.

The next two polishes can be considered as chrome lacquers.

Muir Muir on the Wall
Two coats.
Deep purple with purple and golden shimmer.
A color to love!













Peace & Love & OPI
My favorite!
Haven't seen this yet.
A duo chrome of teal with purple.
For this one you don't have to twist your hand and look stupid while trying to get the colors changing. Duo chrome straight on the nail. In the middle teal and at the sides more purple.
Just gorgeous!!! Must-have for fall I think.
N.B. I've been wearing this one today and it has been a very hot day. In direct sunlight the color isn't as beautiful. But who cares...not like it's going to be a hot fall :D





Nail art:
Of course I wanted to use the above polishes for today's nail art.
And let's be fair...this needed the Golden Gate Bridge San Fransisco (see first OPI image).

It's a little hard to see but it's there! And I kinda like it as it just feels suited for this fall collection.

Day 212) Liquid sands nail art

I worked my but off today and I'm really tired.
Today is a very simple nail art again.
As compensation I'll show you my new purchase ;-D

Artdeco - 53 Sparkling Sand Nail Lacquer

(Douglas)

I decided to paint 4 of my nails with this beautiful golden liquid sand version and make a nail art on the ring finger nail as an accent.

For the nail art I used some stencils:

Wynie Accessories - Ref. 570601

I already did a Chevron nail art. So, for today's nail art I used the left ones.
After the basecoat I applied two of the stencils on my nail.
Then I applied the golden liquid sand on the free parts:

I removed the stencils and I filled the open spaces with another liquid sand that I own: OPI Couture de Minnie - Magazine Cover Mouse.

Here are today's nails:

Day 177) O·P·I Couture de Minnie

I finally got it!

O·P·I Disney Couture de Minnie - Runway minnies



 

 



The 4 mini polishes are:

• A Definite Moust-Have: This fantastic fuchsia is at the top of my shopping list.
• Magazine Cover Mouse (liquid sand): This headline-making strawberry has sparkling texture.
• Chic from Ears to Tail: This pop of bubblegum pink is totally fabulous!
• Innie Minnie Mightie Bow: Catch this crimson by the toe!

Although O·P·I is quite expensive for my budget, I seem to forget all about it when I see sets like this ;P

 







Time to show you!

From left to right: Innie Minnie Mightie Bow, Magazine Cover Mouse, A definite Moust-Have and Chic from Ears to Tail.

Such a beautiful colors!
Application is smoothly and accurate and the polishes dry very quickly.
When you are in hurry you could get away with just one coat (except for the light pink), but I recommend applying two coats and three for the light pink (see pictures).

But the main reason I've wanted to have this set is the liquid sand mini.
I had seen a swatch of this polish and immediately fell in love with it.
A sweet pink with a subtile glitter and sand texture...very pretty!

Totally happy with this set I still had to make a nail art with it.
I already had an idea in mind and was almost starting, when my eye catched the cover of this set.
"Doesn't that couture Minnie Mouse look cute?" Indeed it does!
So, why not try to replicate this on my nail...

 

Not exactly the same, but I think it turned out quite good.