Metallic Nails for the #31DC2018Weekly

Hey hey!

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I am a week behind (I am sorry) with the challenge but I plan on catching up this week!  I had a little bit of a nail fail this week.  But instead of putting it off even longer, I figured I would share anyways.  You guys like to see nail fails everyone once and a while, right?  Don't get me wrong.  In real life, this mani looks fly.  But up close, it is a bit of a mess.  And the process was a hassle (I don't love gel polish).  But here it is!

Yellow Nails for the #31DC2018Weekly!

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Another Monday, another prompt for the weekly version of the 31 Day Nail Art Challenge!  We are on Week 3 now.  If you haven't been able to join me yet for the challenge, don't you worry.  There are still 28 weeks to go.  Plenty of time to catch up.  It's time for yellow!  I know it is not everyone favorite color to wear on their nails but I like it.  Especially the more murky mustard colors.  You know, those ugly-pretty shades.  Which is exactly the shade of yellow I used for this prompt.  I paired it with some other retro colors and designs to give my nails a little bit of a 70s vibe.

Orange Nails for the #31DC2018Weekly

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Happy Daylight Savings!  I, personally, think we should do away with Daylight Savings all together, but I know there are plenty of people that love the longer hours of daylight after work.  Since it is sunny for extra long today, how about some orange nails!  For the second week of the challenge, we are doing orange nails.  Orange is one of my favorite colors.  I love wearing it on my nails.  This time around, I went for a deeper orange base and paired it with some metallic pink and gold.

Inspired by a Tutorial for the #31DC2017Weekly

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It's the last day of the challenge!!  OMG!  I have the last two challenges to share with you today.  I was able to do both of these nail looks while I am visiting Lotte in Germany.  For the 30th prompt, we are doing nails inspired by a tutorial.  I see so many ail tutorials every day, it was hard to choose.  But I was drawn to a manicure that So Nailicious did several weeks ago that also had a tutorial with it.  The tutorial was simple and I didn't really need to follow it, but it was a tutorial!  I really love how these fall tones came together.  Greens and brown are so in!  Let's take a look :)

Polka Dot Nails for the #31DC2017Weekly

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Another late post for the challenge but I have been super sick for the past 4 days and just couldn't drag myself into the polish room to paint.  But I am on the upswing now, so get ready for a bombardment of nails!   This week, we are starting with the design prompts for the challenge.  The first prompt is always the easiest, Polka Dots.  I think dotticures are the first nail art designs that people attempt when they are starting out doing more than just painting their nails.  They can be anything from simple little double side dots to more intricate mosaic patterns.  For me, I like simple.  So I did a gradient of dot sizes down the side of my nails for a fun little skittlette mani.

Inspired by a Movie for the #31DC2016Weekly

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Sorry, I have been a little slow posting here on the blog.  Busy, busy, busy.  But I do have my nail art look for the weekly version of the 31 Day Nail Art Challenge to share with you all today!  Yay!  I had a vision in my head and I am happy to say they turned out so similar to what I was thinking.  I love it when that happens!  I was inspired the by the Disney movie 'Brave' and the main character, Merida.  One of my coworkers has a new puppy named Merida, so I have been hearing her name frequently and the movie is just stuck in my head.  Whenever I think of the movie 'Brave', I have visions of Merida's flowing red locks against her velvet gown running through the forest.  Don't you?  Hopefully, you can see the inspiration in my nails :)

I started with a base of Zoya "Honor" which is a bright forest green shimmer with a matte velvet finish.  It just screams green velvet dress!  In my head, her dress is this color but I think in the movie it is a little more teal/blue.  But red haired lasses rock forest green, right?  I left the base in it's matte velvet state and carefully painted on sweeping waves of fire orange hair using P2 "Craggy Coast" from the Brave and Beautiful, Rustic Folk Collection.  I mean so perfectly does the name of this polish fit this manicure and inspiration??!?!  I painted some swirls of black to define the hair but did not top coat any of this manicure.  (actually I did try a glossy top coat after I took this photos and smear the black all over the place...but I will spare you that failsauce)

I really, REALLY liked how this mani turned out.  It was exactly what I envisioned and I think represents the movie nicely.  The contrast of the matte and shiny is great.  Do you agree?!?

Be sure to check out all of the other ladies participating in the challenge but perusing the #31DC2016Weekly tag on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Many thanks!
 - Amy McG (McPolish)

*products purchased by me or sent as a personal gift*

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Half Moon Nails for the #31DC2016Weekly

Happy 4th of July fellow Americans!

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I am a few days late with my mani for the #31DC2016Weekly this week but you will forgive me, right?  I have been hanging out by the beach with my mother this holiday weekend and just haven't been able to sit down and write this post.  I have a few minutes now, so let's get into it!!  This week's prompt is Half Moons.  I always like this nail art look.  It looks classy and can be made pretty funky, too.  I wanted to repeat my manicure from last year.  But that is not the point of the challenge.  You are supposed to do something new to you.  So, this year, I did a little gradient half moon.  This look was very much inspired by a recent tutorial by The Nail Trail.  In Hannah's look, she did ruffian instead of a half moon but the blue gradient under the nude nails looked so good, I just had to try it myself.   I made my half moon a little bit larger than you would typically see but I really wanted to show off the colors better.

Polka Dot Nails for the #31DC2016Weekly

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It is now time in the 31 Day Nail Art Challenge that we start doing specific nail art elements.  The first one is the easiest...Polka Dots.  You can make dots with a ton of different tools.  You can use dotting tools or items around the house like toothpicks and bobby pins.  It took all of my will to not do a #doublesidedots manicure but I do them all the time.  So I went with something a little different.  I did tiny dots in a swirling pattern.  I used a little toothpick to make my dots, so this is a design that anyone could do.

The base color is a deep eggplant purple creme from P2 Cosmetics called "Diva Expressiva".  I used a toothpick and Maybelline "Bold Gold" to create the dots.  I topped it off with a glossy top coat.

Then I had to see what it would look like with a matte top coat.  I chose to use the Matte Top Coat from Polish 'M which dries to more of a satin finish.  Doesn't it look like velvet!?

There are so many great nail art looks I am seeing from people joining in on this challenge!  You can see them but searching the #31DC2016Weekly tag on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  This is only week 11 so there are 20 more to go.  You have plenty of time to join in and catch up with you want to.  Join me!!


Smooches!
 - Amy McG aka McPolish

*products were purchased by me or sent in a swap*

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Metallic Nails for the #31DC2016Weekly

Hi all!

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Happy Saturday, time for the next prompt in the weekly version of the 31 Day Nail Art Challenge.  This week, the theme is metallic nails.  My most favorite metallic trend lately has been rose gold.  It's feminine and chic and I dig it.  I recently saw the Sinful Shine King Kylie display at Walmart and had to get this pretty little metallic polish, "Kreme De La Kreme", and had to get it.  It is a deeper rose gold color that leans a little more on the copper side than on the gold side.  I used this color as the base of my mani.

Next, I placed swirly nail vinyls from Whats Up Nails randomly on the edges of the nails.  I covered it with a thick coat of P2 Cosmetics "Winding Fjord" and pulled off the vinyls while it was still wet.  This is a beautiful deep teal creme from the Brave and Beautiful Collection.  I topped it all off with a glossy top coat.

I just had to see what this looked like with a matte top coat, too.  I just love a matte mani!  I really liked it both ways, glossy and matte.  Which do you like better?

I really, really liked how this came out.  And these vinyls were way fun.  I haven't used these swirly patterns before.  Whats Up Nails has a ton of different designs to choose from so they will have something for everyone.  Also, be sure to check out the #31DC2016Weekly tag on your favorite social media platform: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  I am loving seeing everyone's nail art each week!

Many thanks!

- Amy McPolish McG

*some products were sent for review and some were purchased by me*

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Takko Tuesday! - XOXO

Happy Takko Tuesday!

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I have one of Takko Lacquer's glitter toppers to share with you tonight.  There are not many glitter toppers in my takkito stash as they really rock the shimmer polishes.  But this little topper is super fun and makes you feel like a rock star.  "XOXO" is a mix of holographic gold glitters and matte neon pink glitters of various sizes in a clear base.  The glitter payoff is quite good and I didn't have to fish for the larger neon pink hexes.  This really makes your nails sparkle..  I used one coat over a bright cobalt blue creme from P2 Cosmetics called "Working Woman" and the topped it all with KBShimmer Clearly On Top.

I do not know when/if this polish will be restocked,  So be sure to follow Takko Lacquer on all of their social media outlets to get the jump on upcoming restocks and new releases.  Yay!  Takkos!

Takko Lacquer shop and restock info

Takko Lacquer Instagram and Twitter

Takko Lacquer stockists: Color4Nails, Mei Mei Signatures, Femme Fatale


Thanks for stopping by!
 - Amy 'McPolish' McG

*product provided by the maker for honest review*

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Violet Nails for the #31DC2016Weekly

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For this week's prompt, Violet, I have some super easy nail art to share.  I have seen this type of manicure done numerous times on Instagram, so I can't really give credit to one person for inventing it.  In fact, I may have done a manicure like this previously, but I just can't remember when.  All you need for this easy look is a fan brush.  In fact, you could probably get this same effect with no special brush at all.  But I used a fan brush that I got some the art supply store, Michael's.

First, I started with my favorite white base, OPI "My Boyfriend Scales Walls".  It is not a stark white and has a little hint of grey to it.  Once that dried, I put down globs of two purple shades from P2 Cosmetics onto my Uber Mat.  I then tipped the tip of my fan brush into each shade and lightly brushed it on the nail.  I started at the edge near my skin and then dragged it towards the midline.  I repeated those steps with both colors 2-3 times until I got the effect I liked.  

The two purple polishes I used were from P2 Cosmetics which is a German drug store brand.  I am ever so grateful for my dear friend Lotte for sending me these polishes as I am just in love with the formulas.  The dark indigo violet is "Royal Beauty" and the periwinkle lavender is "Lovely Daughter".  They are both from the Volume Gloss line.

There was a little bit of clean up needed.  I should have used a latex barrier but I forgot.  It would have made it go much more quickly.  I topped this look off with a glossy top coat and a matte top coat.  I think I like the glossy the best, but I pretty much love all matte nails all the time. :)

I really enjoyed how easy this nail art was and how cool the results were.  In some lights, this looks more like a blue mani but it is purple, I swear.  Be sure to check out all of the other lovely nail artists joining in on this challenge.  You can find them easily by scanning the #31DC2016Weekly tag on your favorite social media platform: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook,  If you want to join in on the fun, please do!  There is plenty of time to catch up, this will not end until October 1st!

Thanks for stopping by!

- Amy (McPolish) McG

* all products were purchased by me or sent as a gift*

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Born Pretty Store - Artistic Vortex Water Decals

Hello there!

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Today, I have a fun and easy skittlette mani to share with you all using some polishes from P2 Cosmetics and water decals from Born Pretty Store.  As you are well aware, I love me some skittlette nails!  If you don't know what a skittlette mani is, head over the master her self, ChitChat Nails, for a great tutorial.  I always like to use a textured polish in my skittletes :)

For this simple mani, I used some water decals sent to me from Born Pretty Store.  I just loved the abstract nature of these swirly patterns and the colors felt very retro to me.  I chose polish colors that would compliment the colors in the decal designs.  The saturated teal creme is P2 "Hidden Mermaid" from the Volume Gloss line and the matte orange textured polish is P2 "Peach Icing" from the Crisp+color line.  I adore P2 polishes!  They are a German drug store brand are always impress me with their formulas.

The water decals are such an easy way to add a little extra something to your manicures.  If you can't hand paint but still want some fly nails, try a water decal.  All you need to do with soak the decal in water for approximately a minute, slide the paper backing off and place it on the nail.  Add a glossy top coat to seal it in and Ta Da!  Instant nail art.  Born Pretty Store has a ton of water decal to choose from.  This sheet of Artistic Vortex Pattern has several different patterns and is only $1.99.  

You can get many manicures out of this one pack.  Especially if you are just doing accent nails like I am.  If you want to try out this water decal sheet or any of the other numerous water decals, head over the Born Pretty Store and place an order.  They ship worldwide and I have a 10% off coupon code you can use at check out: AVAW10

Hope you have a great weekend!

 - Amy 'McPolish' McG

*decals provided by BPS for honest review*

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My first P2 Cosmetics!

Guten Tag!

I recently participated in my first international nail mail swap.  My buddy, Beninga, and I swapped drug store brands that neither if us could get in our respective counties very easily.  She wanted Hard Candy, Sinful Colors and Orly from the US.  I wanted P2, Essence and Catrice from Germany.  I was so ecstatic over the amount of awesome in my box from Germany!  Tons of textured polish and lots of orange and coral colors.  I love textured polish :)  It makes great accent nails and I use them in all of my skittlettes.   But I had no idea just how awesome P2 Volume Gloss line was.  Holy hell!  These polishes have the most perfect, creamy, glossy formula ever.  I seriously want them all!

So here is my very first P2 mani!  I used 2 coats of Business Woman from the Volume Gloss line and 2 coats of Strict from the Sand Style line.  I did not use a top coat.  Repeat...I DID NOT USE A TOP COAT!  Look at that perfect shiny finish!!!!  I'm in love!

Don't you wish you could just run out to Walgreens and pick up this whole line of polishes?  I do.  But I will have to wait for another package from Germany :) 

Danke Freunde!
- Amy McG aka McPolish