Golden Oldie Thursday - Valentines

Golden Oldie Thursday (on a Saturday!) Valentines

St Valentines day was on Friday, and the name on this challenge is Golden Oldie Thursday, so I am a little late in posting this, bit life just got in way :)

This week I've been working the late shift at work which means finishing at 10pm so fitting in time to do new nails, taking photos and drafting a post can get a little tricky. I managed this on, only two days late :) lol

I've used Sally Hansen, Diamond Strength, unnamed red. Super glossy and applies great. Only two coats needed for this lovely bold red. The flash makes it seam a little thin in places but you cant see this in 'real life'  I've added a tiny pink hearts to each nail, this is my 'nod' to the valentines theme. I'm not keen on the valentines but I was surprised by given a lovely bunch of flowers, with one glittery rose in it. sounds strange but looks nice.

An InLinkz Link-up

Busy Girl Nails, Winter challenge - Valentines

It was St Valentines day on Friday and everyone was in a good mood.

I'm not the biggest fan of valentines day, It all seams to forced and commercial but I'll still join in, just a little bit :)

I've used two coats of Ted Baker, unnamed pink and Pretty, Gold flaked top coat. This Ted Baker polish is stunning, it looks amazing in the daylight and I always get compliments when I wear it. The colour is like a bright clean pastel. reminds me of a combination of three things, candy floss, marshmallows and Barbie.   

Using Barry M Nailart pen in White, I added an outline of a heart to my ring finger to join in with the valentines theme.

Please check out my intagram account by searching its_linzi or by searching #busygirlnails  to view everyone doing the challenge.

Thank you xx

 

 

Golden Oldie Thursday - Green

The prompt of green really got me stumped. I did initially think of doing a green skittle but I didn't have enough greens for each finger! So I opted for a three coloured ombre.

I've not done a sponged gradient/ombre for a while and to be honest I've missed it! I've used in order of darkest to lightest: Models Own, Green Tea. Models Own, Top Turquoise and Models Own, Jade Stone. To finish it I went for a Matte topcoat, hoping that it would soften and blend in the colours a little.

   

Busy Girl Nails, Winter challenge - Blue

Week four is all about Blue in the Busy Girl Nails, Winter challenge.

 

I have a love/hate relationship with the colour Blue. It looks great on but wow is it hard work to take off. I was given a Nails Inc set for Christmas and inside was this stunning blue named Baker Street. Wow this blue is great, it gave great coverage in just to thin coats and its super glossy and smooth. very impressed - I cant wait to use the others that came in the set.

 

I added a thin layer of Models Own, Banger to add a little interest and excitement. I picked this little treasure up in their recent 50% off sale.

Please check out my intagram account by searching its_linzi or by searching #busygirlnails 

Thank you xx

 

Model Own 50% Sale Haul

I just couldn't resit the recent 50% sale from Models Own. As you know I'm a big fan of their polish so when they announced their 50% sale I was straight on it. Im looking forward to trying them all but I am now seriously running out of room to store my collection. How do you store yours? Hidden away in draws and/or boxes or on proudly displayed on shelves? 

From left to right.
Golden Peach, Pukka Purple, Snowflakes, Banger, Emerald Black.
Mermaid Tears, Sparkler, Disco Mix, Coral Reef, Indian Ocean, Gold and Silver NailArt Pens and Express Dry.

Golden Oldie Thursday - Dots

Thursdays prompt was dots. I think I need more practise doing dots. It's harder than it looks, honestly I want perfectly smooth round little dots of polish heaven. What happens in reality is an uneven blob that just looks out of shape and awkward.

I'm so pleased with how they turn out!! I love this dotted gradient effect. simple yet visually stimulating. I was going to do this design on a white base, I'm so pleased that I decided not to. The colours stand their own again Utopia which is like a pale creamy concrete.

I've used 8 Oldies, some pinks, some purples and neutral. From left to right:
Models Own, Utopia. Models Own, Purple Imperial, Simple Pleasures, Purple (unnamed). Models Own, Lilac Dream. Simple Pleasures, Pink (unnamed). Ted Baker, Pale Pink (unnamed) Models Own, Lill's Pink and Models Own, Pink Fizz.

Busy Girl Nails, Winter challenge - Glitter

Glitter is this name of the this week.

I love glitter, I love seeing swatches of all the amazing indie glitters polishes and I'd love to add more glitter to my everyday life. I just cant seam to find a happy compromise with glitter on my own nails. Love the look, love the sparkle but I just hate taking it off!

I've used Models Own pro, Jack's Black for my base. This is the only colour that I have from MO Pro range. I like the smooth the application and glossy finish but it does have a strange smell that just hangs around in the air. I've used this little gem by Pretty that I picked up from a recent £1 shop! It's truly stunning because it has tiny gold glitter and larger gold hex glitter the finish it gives is amazing. The clear formal is thick but wow the shine is stunning.

Please check out my intagram account by searching its_linzi or by searching #busygirlnails 

Thank you xx

 

   

Golden Oldie Thursday - Blue

I thought it was Wednesday yesterday so when I realised that in-fact it was Thursday making today Friday it was a bonus, but it does mean I'm late for Golden Oldie Thursday - because its now Friday :)

This little beauty has been in my collection for such a long time I'd forgotten about it. This is one of the benefits of this challenge because it makes you really think about what's in your polish stash.

I've fallen back in love with stunner from Models Own. Its from their Beetlejuice collection, Aqua Violet. When the sunlight hits, it glistens and sparkles, the blue tones light up and shine through. It has undertones of purple, hence the Violet in the name but to be honest I see more blue than violet or purple.

  

Busy Girl Nails, Winter challenge - White

Busy Girl Nails, Winter challenge - White.

I love White nails but often find them hard to keep them plain. Its like a blank piece of paper waiting to be drawn on. For this reason I opted for nails studs to add interest without distracting from the white.

I've used Manhattan Quick dry, White. This has a super smooth formula and only needed two coats for an all over even finish. The drying time was fast so the clean up was a little tough - only because I waited too long! I used Seventeen nail studs which I found in my local Boots store for 50p.

Please visit instagram and search #busygirlnails 

 

please ignore my weird shaped pointer fingernail. it's starting to flake and peel a little bit at the edge. Not really sure why its starting to do this - I've always had strong straight nails but this little bugger decided to start flake :(

  

Golden Oldie Thursday, Stripes

Thursday 16th January and the prompt today is Stripes. I love stripes but after a long day at work and a few glasses of wine I have no patience left thin nail tape!!

The tape wasn't being helpful at all, it kept curling up, not sticking to my nails and just not laying still. A nightmare.

The polish on the other hand did it's job. Perfect coat in one application. Lovely colour and great coverage. This little bottle of Rimmel 60 seconds, Purple Reign has been in my collection for such a long time - I cant remember when I even got it. I don't have many Rimmel's and I always forget how good they are. The brushes are great, the polish goes on smoothly and the colours are stunning so I might have to add a few more to the collection. any recommendations??

Busy Girl Nails Winter Nail Art Challenge - Teal

I'm joining in with another nail challenge, this one is Busy Girl Nails, Winter Nail Art Challenge.

I have started two new challenges recently but I've not been on time for either! This wasn't my intention, I had planned to have things in place and ready to go but this sadly just didn't work out.

This challenge is mainly on Instagram but I still wanting to post it here. Please follow the group and see all the other people's art. @its_linzi #busygirlnails

 

So here's my last minute entry, I know, I know, I know..... there's no nail art on my nails but there is teal, Totally teal. I had started to do a design but I just wasn't happy with it so I decided to go back to basics and keep it simple. this is two coat of No7 Totally teal. it's just perfect, it doesn't need a topcoat as it's super shinny and glossy without.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Golden Oldie Thursday, pink waterfall

Time for a new challenge? OK. This is Golden Oldie Thursday, GOT for short. This challenge is from Crumpets nail tarts. (only 1 day late)

The rules are simple:
The polish you use should be at least one year old
* if you haven't been a polishaholic that long, you can use the oldest polishes you have
* the polish should be previously used, but if you're stuck, you could free a yearling from Mount Untried
* you can use more than 1 polish as long as it fits the theme and the rules

I've used La Femme Beauty, Misty rose for my base. Its a shimmery pale pink but the camera has made it look really strange, honestly it looks soo much better in real life! I've then used L.A. Colors Art Deco White and Pretty nail art pen in hot pink to add the 'waterfall' effect.

The Hot pink didn't stand out as much as I was hoping,perhaps I should have had a white background and then used different shades of pink to create the waterfall effect. That being said it wouldn't have kept within the rules of GOT! I'll re-create this mani sometime soon and hopeful make an improvement on it :)

 

 



Blue stained nails

The down side of my favourite deep blue, Sally Hansen Navy baby is that it stains, and boy is it's hard to get rid of!

I did a comparison to show you the aftermath left behind. On my left hand I used two coats No7 So Strong and one coat on my right hand, Boots No7 So Strong is a great base coat because as it's name suggest it's strong which adds a tough layer of protection over my nails. Whenever I get the money of No7 make-up vouchers I do tend to get another one or two to add to my stash :)

My right hand (one base coat)

 

My left hand had two layers of base coats and there is considerably lower staining compared to the other hand which had one base coat.

side-by-side shot to show the levels of staining.

 

This is after 10 minuets of scrubbing using my white block - so much better!

 

The lesson in this story is when using a polish that stains double up on the base coat!

 

 

 

Christmas nail presents

Happy Belated Christmas and Happy and Healthy New year!

I was lucky to be given some great nail polishes this Christmas. I want to try them all now but I'll restrain myself and perhaps try an new one each week :)

An order of 7x stunning polishes from Illamasqua - this is a gift from me to me :) 

Models Own, Headkandi collection, Bora Bora. Models Own, Amerthyst and Models Own, Sardonyx

Ciate Chalkboard manicure set,

Nails inc, Christmas Crackers

 

 

Looking forward to playing with my new gifts, keep an eye out for the reviews and their might even be some more treasure from the January sales!?!

 

 



Night-time sky

It's the 3rd January and I've just got around to posting my new year eve nails!

I've used Sally Hansen, Navy Baby which is hands down my most favourite deep blue. It's just perfect for an evening night sky. I didn't want to use black because the sky where I live isn't black due to all the street lighting :(  To add the sparkly stars I've used 17 Nail Xtras, glitter top coat which I think really works. I had planned on added fireworks over the top but decided not to do so, I'm glad I didn't because I love how these nails turned out. Simple understated but very clearly the nights sky.