When I recently posted my Nicole by OPI Neon Gradient on Instagram (see it here in my recent post!), the amazing folks over at Nicole by OPI took notice… and asked for a tutorial!
Now you can replicate my go-to nail art seen here by heading over to Nicole by OPI’s Life in Lacquer blog now!
Don’t forget to share your photos of this look on my Facebook page or on Instagram, and let me know how you liked it!
~xo
Launched a few weeks ago in July, OPI’s partnership with Ford saw the introduction of six new limited edition nail lacquers to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang!
Including both creme and shimmery hues, the collection has aptly-named shades from Race Red to Angel with a Leadfoot, all with gorgeous, high shine finishes. Believe me when I say that you might need a few (or all) of these!
Race Red, the focal point of the collection, is described as a “hot pepper red,” though I find it to be more of an orange-leaning red and less of a true red. No matter, as I love red polish and found Race Red’s orange base helped it stand out. Here, 2 easy, jelly-like coats, no top coat. Love this shine!
Girls Love Ponies is described as a grown-up hot pink, and I absolutely love it! Incredible coverage even on the first coat, this gorgeous pink leans slightly fuchsia. Inspired by Chanel’s reverse French manicure and a post by the lovely Eugenia on her Instagram recently, I decided to layer Girls Love Ponies over Angel with a Leadfoot for a gorgeous (at least I think so) combination:
Note that this is also called a Ruffian Mani. : )
Where do I stop with the favourites? If you know me, you know I absolutely adore white polishes (and vamps, but more on that later)… and Angel with a Leadfoot is, well, angelic! A soft white with great coverage, this one applied really well, for a white. If you wear whites, you know they can be streaky, but by the second coat, Angel had applied evenly and was drying to a gorgeous shine. A tip is to apply a little more generously than you would another shade, especially on the second coat. Alternatively, apply three very thin coats. Two coats, no top coat:
Described as a golden pearl, 50 Years of Style is a soft gold that totally reminded me of the gold stripes on the classic Ford Mustangs. It applied really well, though being metallic, it can show application lines so apply quickly and with straight lines. 🙂 Two easy, quick-drying coats below:
Going for another Ruffian/reverse French manicure, I added the vampy Queen of the Road to 50 Years of Style. This is a very subtle Ruffian, barely visible in the sunlit photo. Queen of the Road is one of those must-have polishes: vampy and gunmetal gray in shade, but full of a fiery sparkle in the sun. Application was a breeze and best of all, no staining! As with 50 Years of Style, Queen can show application lines, but these are only visible in direct light. Two coats over 50 Years:
Last but not least, the very difficult-to-photograph The Sky’s My Limit, a shimmering blue hue with tiny blue, green and gold flecks that looked gold or silver in different light. This chameleon of a polish veered between green, turquoise and blue depending on the light. I found my photos looked more blue in sunlight, until I finally captured this photo which I think is a perfect representation of the polish: (two coats)
From OPI’s Chief Nail Polish Queen, “In creating these six colors, I was inspired by Mustang’s rich heritage. Race Red – the hero shade of the collection – pays tribute to one of Mustang’s signature colors, while 50 Years of Style celebrates Mustang’s golden milestone,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann. “Queen of the Road was inspired by Mustang’s sophisticated and dramatic black interior. The Sky’s My Limit brings to mind the open road and the adventurous feeling of rushing to meet the horizon,” continues Weiss-Fischmann. “Girls Love Ponies is a classic, feminine pink representing today’s multifaceted consumer; who says a ‘girlie-girl’ can’t love cars?” Finally, Angel with a Leadfoot represents the power a woman feels when behind the wheel of a Mustang. This clean, pure hue is an essential statement-making shade.”
Ford Mustang is now available in limited quantities wherever OPI is sold. For more information, visit www.opi.com, follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!
Have you tried any of these yet? Which one is your favourite?
~xo
If you liked this post, please take a moment to ‘like’ this post and/or comment! I love to read what you think.
(Products were provided for consideration and review. All opinions are my own.)
For this summer, Nicole by OPI launched a mini-collection of four new nail lacquers called Seize the Summer. Including bright, beach-ready shades of coral, citrus green, hot pink and metallic confetti glitter, these tropical shades are beautiful and will have you dreaming of the islands!
One of the first shades I wore from this collection, against my usual preference of pinks and corals, was Lay it on the Lime, the bright lime green shade.
Having seen just how bright this gorgeous neon can be, I wanted to experiment with a fun way to soften it. If you follow my blog, you have surely noticed my love of gradients, and why not gradient over Lay it on the Lime!
To make this beautiful neon softer and more wearable for those that are neon-shy, I thought a nude, taupe-y shade would do the trick. Enter That’s Putting it Mild, a creamy nude shade!
The look I wanted was similar to a soft, unstructured French manicure, with neon tips. What do you think of the end result?
I also experimented with this gradient using OPI’s amazing nude Don’t Bossa Nova Me Around… another gorgeous combo you may have seen on my Instagram.
For more information, visit Nicole by OPI on the web, on Facebook, on Instagram and on Twitter!
Would you like to see a tutorial for this look?
~xo
Just in time for summer, OPI will be launching a collection of six full-size (yes, full-size!) neon lacquers, along with Put a Coat On!, a special white base coat that is meant to boost neon colour.
If you recall my posts on last summer’s Neon Minis (see them here and here!), you will remember just how hot the little Neon Lacquers were. OPI fans wanted more, and unfortunately, last summer’s offering only came in a mini size. Fast forward to now, and OPI is offering both the full size collection of neons, as well as a mini set of all six lacquers (does not include the special white base coat).
Today I bring you a quick sneak peek at the six shades, as well as… well, let’s just inspiration struck.
I started with a base of Put a Coat On!, an opaque white polish meant to be worn under these neon lacquers to help make them pop. I used only one generous coat which actually applied quite evenly, with minimal streaking (which is what white polishes are notorious for, unfortunately), and let that dry. Once it dried, I created some 80’s pop-art nails, slightly reminiscent of my abstract nail art seen here:
And of course, a macro, because I can’t help but love macros!
What do you think of today’s neon nail art? Are you like me, totally obsessed with neon shades for summer?
~xo
If you liked this post, please take a moment to ‘like’ this post and/or comment! I love to read what you think.
(Products were provided for consideration and review. All opinions are my own.)
OPI announces the launch of six new neon nail lacquers, the brand’s first full-size neon shades, along with Put a Coat On! – a special white base coat that instantly boosts neon color. Neons by OPI arrives just in time for summer, with electric hues in shades of lemon-lime, tangerine, hot pink, coral, lime and purple.
“With hands and feet constantly on display during warmer months, wearing nail lacquer is a must,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Co-Founder & Executive VP. “I am a big fan of bright colors for summer, and Neons by OPI delivers a bold look that pairs perfectly with sun-kissed skin. To really make the neon shades pop, I recommend using Put a Coat On!, a new white base coat developed to be worn with bright lacquer hues to further enhance color.
“These six shades are the first full-size neons OPI has ever released,” adds Weiss-Fischmann. “With large demand for new bright lacquers, this collection is a welcome addition to OPI’s permanent line.”
Neons by OPI includes:
Life Gave Me Lemons
This citrusy lemon-lime hits the spot every time!
You are So Outta Lime!
Here comes trouble and she’s wearing this outspoken lime green!
Juice Bar Hopping
This tangerine cream makes me jump for joy!
Hotter than You Pink
Just when you think pink can’t get any hotter, there’s this!
Push & Pur-Pull
This forceful purple has got me coming and going!
Down to the Core-al
The beauty of this brilliant coral goes beyond skin deep.
Put a Coat On!
Amp up any bright shade with this color-boosting base coat.
Neons by OPI Minis
Neons by OPI will also be available in GelColor, marking the launch of OPI’s first neon gel shades. GelColor is a professional salon service that offers a high-shine, 100% gel finish that lasts for weeks with a 30 second LED cure.
“If you’re planning a summer vacation, try a GelColor manicure or pedicure,” said Weiss-Fischmann. “Not only will your neon nails look fabulous, they’ll remain chip-free and flawless while you’re having fun in the sun.”
Neons by OPI will be available in both nail lacquer and GelColor (for professionals only) formulas beginning May 2014. Nail lacquer shades each feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application and will retail for $10.95 at professional salons and spas across Canada.
GelColor is an in-salon, professional service only. Prices depend on the salon and range from $28 – $38 for a manicure and $35 – $45 for a pedicure.
For more information about OPI, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!
With last summer’s Neon Minis (see them here and here!), there was a resounding call for full-size neons, and I’m so happy OPI listened! Which shade are you most excited about?
~xo
Hello all and Happy New Year to those of you that have already welcomed 2014!! For the rest of us, I can’t believe another year has come to an end, bringing me to almost two full years of blogging and obsessing over nail polish, makeup, and other beauty products. (That is a lot of obsession!) It was also a year that brought me my own polish shade – more on that below.
To wrap up the year, I thought I would bring you some of my favourites from 2013. (Polishes in part 1, some of the other favourites will be in part 2 as this will be a picture-heavy post.)
How can I have a “favourites” list and not include my go-to nude/white alternative, OPI’s My Vampire is Buff? MVIB has quickly become a cult favourite, at least in the nail polish community, as many of us not only wear this beautiful bisque shade alone, but love to use it for nail art.
And speaking of nail art, this was the year I ventured into the somewhat terrifying “nail art” territory, and found that I can actually nail (sorry, couldn’t resist) some cute looks! Though hard to narrow down, my Top Ten Faves include MVIB and Essie The Girls are Out…
…can’t leave out the Euro Centrale dotticure I tried (I love the entire Euro Centrale collection!)…
…a cute jelly sandwich using Nicole by OPI and OPI’s Funny Bunny that even Nicole by OPI loved! (you must know I simply adore jelly sandwiches!)…
…another NOPI, two actually, together for an alternative French mani (also seen here on this Must Follow Canadian Nail Bloggers article!)…
…some snow nail art with Zoya’s PixieDust Sunshine…
…a glitter gradient (my easy go-to nail art) using piCture pOlish’s Blogger over OPI’s Eurso Euro…
…my first foray into leopard spots using the stunning Zoya Cashmeres & Satins collections…
…my entry into the NOPI and Prom Canada Prom Nail Art challenge…
…and last but not least, my spring gradient using Dior’s brand new Dior Vernis Bouquet!
This was really hard to narrow down, as I have really LOVED many polish shades this year, but here are nine more of my favourite shades this year, including the amazing Selena from Nicole by OPI…
…these looks are actually two polishes: Ozotic Beam 907 over Nubar’s Jaded, both spectacular alone and even more together…
…the gorgeous Rare Bear from Colors by Llarowe, a brand launched only this year but hugely successful…
…as well as Smooth Criminal from CbL...
…OPI’s Neon mini-set was spectacular, especially Pink Outside the Box!! (still hoping for a full-size, OPI) 😉 ….
…a bright but wearable, gorgeous orange from Zoya, Thandie…
…the incredible Pink of Hearts duo from OPI (for an amazing cause – Breast Cancer Awareness!)…
…Dior’s entry into magnetic polishes, Dior Vernis Mystic Magnetics was a glamorous take on magnetics (see some of my other Dior Vernis favourites here and here)….
…and OPI’s Ski Slope Sweetie, a huge LOVE for me…
…and my favourite polish, as well as a huge accomplishment for me as a blogger, my very own piCture pOlish collaboration shade, Bewitch!! (Thanks to the amazing girls at piCture pOlish!)
Thanks for reading my second Favourites list! Hope you enjoyed this, and look for part 2, which will include some non-polish favourites!
Happy Labour Day Weekend!
Today I have two of the limited edition Gumdrops from Nicole by OPI that were exclusive to Shoppers Drug Mart (in Canada)! Launched this summer, Gumdrops feature a sugar-like finish that dry matte but shimmer with tiny glitter particles. Add candy colours and Gumdrops are like little sugar candies on your nails.
First up, Lemon Lolly, a bright, lemon-hued Gumdrop with a jelly texture and gold shimmer that dries a little sheer, but is absolutely bright, gorgeous and summery! I personally loved Lemon Lolly, but I know yellow is not for everyone. Lemon Lolly would still be a gorgeous accent or nail art polish. I used two coats for the photo below:
Check out this gorgeous macro shot (click for larger photo):
And Lemon Lolly, shiny with top coat:
The second Shoppers Drug Mart exclusive polish is That’s What I Mint, an oddly-named shade as it’s not mint at all, but a blue-teal base with blue and gold glitter. This dried to an amazing, sparkly finish, but comes off looking slightly shiny in my photo. I used two coats for the swatches:
I love the gold shimmering in the macro shot:
And finally, shiny:
Nicole by OPI Gumdrops should always be worn without top coat to achieve the textured finish, but it’s always nice to see the sparkle come alive in a different way with top coat!
Nicole by OPI Nail Lacquers and Nail Treatments contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde. Nicole by OPI formulas are long-lasting, fast-drying, and salon-quality. In Canada, these shades are available for $10.99 each at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart Canada, Jean Coutu, Loblaw, and London Drug.
Have you snagged either of these exclusives yet? Have you spotted them in the US?
~xo
(Products were provided for consideration and review. All opinions are my own.)
Yesterday I showed you a couple of the new Colour Clash polishes, released for fall 2013 from Butter LONDON. Today I bring you a cute skittle mani featuring three of their bright colours!
You’ve already seen the beautiful crisp Cotton Buds, and look how gorgeous it looks with Pimms and Silly Billy!!
Pimms is a term for a “gin-based tradition at its finest,” and is desribed as being a “refreshing beverage that is almost as popular as English tea.” A gorgeous opaque, sun‑flower yellow cream shade, Pimms is a crelly (cream jelly) polish that applies easily and dries to a gorgeous shine. On my middle finger I blended it lightly with Cotton Buds to lighten and brighten it, and on my ring finger: 2 coats alone.
Silly Billy is an opaque bright orange orange crème, and is a term for a popular clown “at fairs in Britain, and a fab nickname for anyone named William.” Another crelly-type polish, this was another dream to apply! I used two coats on my ring finger above on its own, and as you can see, it dried to a high finish.
I am totally obsessed with the Colour Clash collection and… consider me converted! I am in love with Butter LONDON lacquers.
The Colour Clash Collection is now available where Butter LONDON lacquers are sold. For more information, check out their website or follow on Facebook!
~xo
(Products were provided for consideration and review. All opinions are my own.)
Launched for Summer 2013, the China Glaze Sunsational collection is made up of six jellies and six cremes, all brights leaning toward the neon spectrum.
Yesterday I showed you three of the jellies of this collection, and today I will show you some cremes. Similar to the jellies, these shades are sunglasses-required-bright; stare at your own risk!
The first shade I have for you is one that I wanted the moment this collection was announced: Sun of a Peach, described as a “popping peachy creme” that I see as a blinding cantaloupe shade. It is absolutely gorgeous!! Sun of a Peach is one of those shades that makes your skin glow, deepening any tan, and I think, probably my next pedicure shade. The formula was a little streaky – I found the best way to work with it was to be a little more generous with each coat to avoid the streakiness. I used only two coats for the photos below with base and top coat.
In the sun:
In artificial light:
Next up, a very difficult-to-capture violet called That’s Shore Bright. While very bright, it’s not quite a neon, and has very blue undertones that kept popping up in artificial light–almost like a halo around each nail. The formula was not bad, and it dried to a satin finish. I used two coats over base coat, with top coat. The colour is absolutely beautiful!
In the sun:
And in the shade:
And last but not least, the final creme I have for you is Highlight of my Summer, a mint green creme that almost looks like yesterday’s Keepin’ It Teal over white base. Like Keepin’ It Teal, it’s very minty, a pale green. The formula was not great – it was like working with an opaque white, needing some care to avoid blotchiness and streaks. Here are two coats with base and top coat.
In the sun:
In the shade:
Which of the Sunsational Neons are your favourites?
China Glaze nail lacquers are available through salons and professional beauty supply stores nationwide. For more information, please visit http://www.chinaglaze.com or follow China Glaze on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
~xo
(Product provided for consideration and review. All opinions are my own.)
Continuing on with my reveal of the summer brights in OPI’s Neon Revolution, today I bring you the other three polishes in this adorable mini pack! (See the pink one here!)
The Time is Pow! is a bright orange neon jelly, and is probably the brightest-looking out of the four in the bottle. I love a beautiful orange in the summer and this is no exception! The consistency was similar to Pink Outside the Box: jelly, smooth application. I applied two coats over white, but this time I left my index finger with just clear base – no white – to give you an idea of what it’s like alone.
Two coats over white, except index finger which is 2 coats over base coat, pre-top-coat:
The orange was such a challenge for me to photograph… it kept photographing really pale in the sun, especially when I applied top coat. Here it is with top coat, super-shiny:
The next lacquer was challenging to apply, especially because I rushed the white base also, leaving streaks on the white canvas. Don’t Say It – Yellow It! is a beautiful neon yellow, but due to its light colour, the jelly looks really sheer. Yellow is really difficult to apply when cream, so I found the jelly consistency to make it even more difficult. Here are 2 coats over white base, with top coat:
Even with the slight streaking you see, I think I will give Yellow It another try. The shine and that colour are just too gorgeous!
Last but not least, Blue it Out of Proportion, a pretty and innocent-looking blue (in the bottle)! Blue is one of my favourite colours, and this blue jelly was dreamy! It really comes alive when applied over the white base, as you can see in the photo. I applied two coats Blue it Out of Proportion over white base:
Overall, I absolutely loved this mini set. A perfect collection, released at the perfect time. I felt the summer heat just applying these beauties! The consistency overall was great, and loving jellies as much as I do, I would love to wear these differently. The only negative? I wish they were full-size bottles!
So which of the Neon Revolution minis is your favourite?
This limited-edition collection will be available in July wherever OPI is sold, including Nail Polish Canada, though I have heard that this set has already been spotted in stores!
For more information, visit OPI.com, follow them on Twitter, and become a Facebook fan.
~xo
(Product provided for consideration and review. All opinions are my own.)
