Just Spotted a Gradient

Last year so many people were going gaga over Chanel Peridot that my anti-popularity filter went into overdrive. I hate feeling like part of a mob when something gets popular, thus my dislike of Brittany Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and why it took me so many years before I finally broke down and read the Harry Potter books. The price tag was a big contributor to my antipathy towards the color as well. I mean, really, $26?

Fortunately there are a few companies now that have come out with duplicates, the latest of these being OPI with Just Spotted the Lizard from the company's newly released Spiderman collection. Obviously I don't own Chanel Peridot myself but I've seen some rather convincing comparison photos.

I think you've probably figured out by now that my mani for today's post has to do with OPI Just Spotted the Lizard. I was fortunate enough to snag a bottle this weekend before the OPI booth sold out of it.

 Two coats, full sun

Two coats, shade

It really is a lovely duochrome. I'm just glad I didn't have to spend anywhere near $26 for it! Rather wishing I hadn't filed my nails quite so far down for work however. Oh well, they'll grow back. Now at some point with this mani I knew I wanted to add a gradient but I decided to do a little stamping first to add a bit more visual interest.

 Stamping with Chameleon Waltz, artificial light and flash

Indirect lighting

And then I added the gradient with the same polish as the stamping, Chameleon Waltz.

 With flash

Indirect lighting

Such a pity there's no sun today, I'd love to get a better photo of the lovely blue-purple duochrome of Waltz. Unfortunately it just doesn't seem to photograph well in indirect lighting.

Layering Fun

I can't believe I still haven't posted this one yet! This is one of the new Sally Hansen Diamond Strength polishes, Black Tie (two coats w/ top coat, full sun):

Then I topped this with one coat each of Sally Hansen Princess Cut, another new Diamond Strength polish, and Finger Paints Motley and another layer of top coat:

There is nothing I won't put flakies over XD

Idyllic (WARNING: Photo Overload!)

Well look at that! I've got 200 followers now! Thank you so much to every one of you for taking the time to read my posts, comment or even just browse the photos <3

Speaking of photos there are a lot of photos in my post today! I apologize in advance but I just couldn't narrow my choices down any more than what you see here.

The polish I used for this is CQ Idyllic which you can find at just about any Rite Aid. The reason there are a lot of photos is because this polish is a duochrome. It has a brass/copper/brown/wine color shift that is perfect for Fall.

Artificial light

Above photos taken in the shade

Above photos taken in full sun

Of course you should know by now that I can't leave a manicure alone for more than a day or two so I decided to use ma.nish.ma Way Out Fuscia, a pink/purple duochrome glitter (also found at Rite Aid), and create a gradient.

Artificial light

Above photos taken in full sun

I know I just threw a whole lot of photos at you and I apologize again but I definitely recommend clicking for a closer look, especially on the gradient photos.

Up next: Giveaway time!

Hard Candy Beetle (Pic-heavy)

Today I have a delicious little number to show off. I've had this one on my wishlist for a while and every time I went into Walmart I'd go through the cosmetics section and pick it up, admire the lovely multichrome action, sigh, put it back and proceed on to what I was really in there to get. Finally enough was enough and I buckled down, saved some extra gas money and bought it.

Here is Hard Candy Beetle in all it's glorious colors. All photos were taken with three coats of Beetle and one coat of Out the Door top coat.

I managed to keep this polish on with minimal tip-wear for four days. The formula was a bit thin and the multiple colors made it a bit difficult to tell if I had missed spots, especially around the edges, but the multichromatic effect was completely worth those minor deficiencies.

A bit of Time Travel

I was a big polish nut back in high school and my favorite polishes were always duochromes. I have the good luck to have held onto most of them and today I am sharing one with you. Revlon Silver Switch was one of my favorites for layering over other colors but I'm showing it here by itself. All photos below are shown with three coats of Silver Switch. Unfortunately I couldn't get any in full sun since it was rainy at the time.

 Artificial light

 Artificial light

Artificial light

 Natural light

 Natural light

Natural light

Later I topped it with a coat of gLORIous top coat for a bit of extra pizazz. Luckily the sun DID come out the next day!