ABC Challenge: U is for Urban Waves

**Some products in this post were provided to me for review.  The opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way**

Hello Lovelies!!!  I'm sorry this is so late.  I swear I've been bitten by a tse tse fly!! You know that fly that makes you sleep all the time?  I can't keep my eyes open today!!  Of course it could be the fact that I'm an insomniac.  Oh well.  I do have today's nails for you.  Today is U of the ABC Challenge and I have Urban Waves (or Undulating Urban for the double u's):

I Used:
China Glaze- Urban-Night
Piggy Polish- Teal The End of Time
Born Pretty Acrylic Rhinestones
Medium Liner Brush

I love this mani.  And I really love these two colors together!  It's simple, but there's shimmer, rhinestones and purple (ok, plum but it's all purple to me), all my favorite things!  And it's a pretty easy mani as long as you use my little trick.

I started with two coats of China Glaze Urban Night, a beautiful, dark, smokey plum/purple crème.  Next came the Piggy Polish Teal the End of Time, a shimmery teal polish with a gold duochrome.  Once that was dried, I placed three dots on my nails to guide my wave:  One in the middle, and one to the left of that by the cuticle and one to the right at the tip.  These are my starting and ending spots:

Sorry, it's a little hard to see, but it gives you the idea.  I then started at the center spot and, using a medium liner brush to draw the waves.  Don't worry if the center dot shows, you're going to cover it with a rhinestone.

Once the wave has dried, I applied the top coat.  Then using the top coat, I placed a dot of top coat where I wanted the rhinestone and then sunk the rhinestone in.  I loved the rhinestones!  They  are from the Born Pretty Store (click here to see the rhinestones!!  I will have a full review of them coming soon!)  These are such beautiful rhinestones!!!  They are unusual colors:  teals, purples, neons, all with an aurora borealis finish!!  And all at a fabulous price!! these were sent to me for a review and I will have a full review of them next week.  Once you've placed the rhinestones,  you're done! 

Be sure to check out all the other fabulous "U" manicures done by this incredible group of talented ladies!!!  Happy Polishing!!!

Ulta FX Top Coats Review & Swatches

Hi y'all!!  How are you on this Tuesday?  Since I'm reviewing FOUR top coats for you today, I'm going to get right to it (it's kind of long,  but so worth it!).  When the May Ulta sales flyer came out, I saw they had a 4 piece special effects top coat and I knew I HAD to have it!  It took me a while to get there, but I made it:

They are, from left to right, as described by Ulta:
Color Enhancing Top Coat- "Brightens and intensifies any nail enamel.  Pops in direct sunlight and glows under black light."
Matte Top Coat- "Create a matte effect when applied over any shade."
Holographic Top Coat- "Futuristic rainbow holographic effect when used alone.  Silvery holographic frost when used over any colored nail enamel."
Smokey Top Coat- Gives any shade of nail polish a dark smokey effect.  Extends wear and increase shine."

And the nail polishes I used were:
Piggy Polish- Pink-ing of You (a super shimmery pink)
Nina Ultra Pro- Lilacing Discipline (lilac crème)

Are you dying to see the results??  All Pictures show two coats of the base color with ONE coat of the top coat.  Ok, first up is Piggy Polish Pink-ing of You (in direct sun):

Thumb: my normal top coat (Pro-FX High Gloss Quick Dry Top Coat)
Index:  Color Enhancing Top Coat
Middle Finger:  Matte Top Coat
Ring Finger:  Holographic Top Coat
Pinky:  Smokey Top Coat

And the crème, Nina Ultra Pro Lilacing Disipline (in direct sun):

Thumb:  Normal top coat (Pro-FX High Gloss Quick Dry Top Coat)
Index:  Smokey Top Coat
Middle Finger:  Holographic Top Coat
Ring Finger: Matte Top Coat
Pinky: Color Enhancing Top Coat

Ok, so let's take them one at a time.  First up, Color Enhancing Top Coat.  To be honest, I can't tell any difference between it and my regular top coat.  They looked identical to me.  It was a nice, glossy top coat and since I can't find my regular one anymore, I'm glad to have it.  I don't have any pictures of it under black light, because I don't have a black light, but I'm sure it glows.  If I come across a light, I'll give it a try.

Next is the Matte Top Coat.  This worked just like any matte top coat.  Although I so like the matte on the Piggy Polish more than the crème.  But that's just my preference.  The Matte Top Coat worked perfectly on both types of polish.

Next we have the Holographic Top Coat.  Oh my goodness!!  Who doesn't love holo???  And this worked perfectly.  And although for some reason it looks sedated in the pictures, it was a gorgeous, bright linear holo in person.  I do think this one looked better on the crème, but again, that is just my opinion.  It worked fabulously.  You could use two coats and just wear it alone.  It would be fabulous!

Last is the Smokey Top Coat.  This was the one I was probably most excited about, but I'm not sure how I feel about it.  On the super shimmery Piggy Polish, it was fabulous!  It went on smoothly and evenly.  And it did give the pink polish a dark, smokey look and I loved it!  But then came the crème.  Ugh.  Big difference.  One coat looked streaky and for some reason on the lilac, it shrunk from the edges.  Weird. 

My bottom line?  I'm happy that I bought them.  The only one I'm not sure about is the Smokey Top Coat, but I will give it another try soon.   These are available through Ulta and are $14.99.  What do y'all think of them?  Let me know in the comments!  Until later, Happy Polishing!!

Purple Gradient Glitter

Hi y'all!!  Happy Tuesday!  Since this is our "hit the floor running" day, I have a quick post for you today.  I have a kind of gradient for you.  It's not quite a gradient, so I'm not sure what to call it, lol.  Anyway, here it is:

I Used:
Sinful Colors- Amethyst (medium purple crème)
Piggy Polish- Among the Stars (small round pink holo and micro purple glitters)

To accomplish this look, I started with two coats of Sinful Colors Amethyst.  I love, love, love this color.  Just a perfect purple.  The formula was perfect.  And of course for 1.99,  you can't go wrong.

To make the gradient, I started at the cuticle (for all but the ring/accent finger, there I started at thee tip) with the Piggy Polish.  Make sure there is only a little polish on the brush, and using the brush that came with the polish, brush towards the tip of your nail, but lifting the brush off of your nail by the halfway point.  Make sense?  You'll need to repeat this step to get the glitter thick enough.  Just remember, there is no perfect way to do this.  Your way is going to be fabulous!!  As long as you make sure there isn't a lot of polish on the brush and lift the brush 1/4 to 1/2 way up the nail, it's going to work!  For other ways to do gradients, click here.  And don't forget your top coat!

Have fun with this design, and as always, if you have any questions go to my contact page for my email address.  Have a fabulous day!!  Happy Polishing!!

French Nail Tutorial

Hi Everyone!!  I've added a new page to my blog:  How To:  Perfect French Nails.  This gives you four different ways to achieve french nails and includes step-by-step directions and pictures.  So the finished product is my design for today.  And I finally have a Breast Cancer Awareness design on Pink Wednesday!

I Used:
Orly- Decades of Dysfunction (an extremely light pink)
Piggy Polish- Pink is the New Heart (pink and holographic glitter polish)

Be sure to check out the tutorial here on french tip nails.  And check out my new page on facebook, Glittery Fingers & Sparkling Toes.  Happy Polishing!!