Cult Nails - Manipulative

I picked this up during the $5 sale because I'm a sucker for this shade. And it looked so fantastic with an added shimmer so I was very excited! When it came in however, I was disappointed. The shimmer doesn't show up at all to the naked eye once on the nail. And let's face it. It's pretty much an exact dupe of China Glaze For Audrey.... :(

This is 2 coats

 Can you see any shimmer?

 I didn't think so. :(

Here it is on a swatch-sicle to compare.

Left is CN Manipulative

Middle is ChG For Audrey

Right is WnW I Need A Refreshment

I can barely distinguish a difference.

I still wanted to wear it, so I added one coat of Pure Ice Heartbreaker for the shimmer I was looking for!

I felt Manipulated all right..... :( Duped again.

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Pure Ice Polish Swatches

Hey readers!

Today's post is swatches from Pure Ice. I have had these polishes to review for a really long time and am just now getting around the sharing them with you guys. :/

The first is Wild Thing. This is a lime green creme. I did 2 coats, but it took a little work to make sure it wasn't streaky and uneven.

Next is Splash. This is a frosty, pale blue shimmer. The formula on this was a little watery, so it took a very careful 3 coats. I do think this color is pretty though.

This is Jaguar. This one reminds me a little of China Glaze Champagne Bubbles. This is 3 coats, again the formula was watery so application takes some patience.

Next is Cheatin'. This is fine blue and purple glitter in a clear base. The is one of my favorites of the bunch. I really like how small the glitter is. This is one coat over Orly Frisky.

This is Not Now. A slightly frosty emerald shimmer. I believe this is 3 coats.

And finally, here is Lightening Strikes, a metallic silver crackle. The crackle effect worked really well, no issues there. But that doesn't change the fact that I am so over crackle polish! I wonder if we will be saying that about flakies and magnetics by the end of the year. haha

Do any of you own any Pure Ice polish?

You can purchase Pure Ice at Walmart or online at Bari Cosmetics.

Happy Friday! :)

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*Polish was sent for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

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Solution for Frosty Brushstrokes!

There is an easy way to solve the problem of the pesky frosty polish that applies and show each individual brushstroke. It can really distract from the beauty of the polish, so how can you get rid of it? Sponge on the final coat!

Take for example Pure Ice Platinum.

This is 3 coats and it's full of brushstrokes.

Take a small piece of a makeup sponge, or a clean eye shadow applicator like pictured here, and sponge on the last coat of nail polish.

Look at that smooth finish?! What a drastic change! It's a super easy technique that anybody can use to get more use out of their polishes. Now you don't have to pass up anything for fear of pesky brushstrokes!

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy!

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Pure Ice Review - Part 2

(these polishes were provided for review)

Crackle - Show Stopper

This is my first experience with Pure Ice's crackle line. I could not find them locally. I have to say that this is my favorite crackle I've tried! It applies easily, doesn't dry too fast, and cracks with big defined cracks rather than stings and shatters. This is the look I prefer.

Show Stopper is a red crackle. It applies like a creme when applied over a creme polish. It appears to have a jelly finish when applied over a glitter polish.

This is one coat of Show Stopper over 3 coats of Pure Ice Platinum.

 This was my first test with one coat over a white creme and a yellow creme.

3 coats of Platinum.

Platinum is a metallic white that is a bit frosty. Thin formula, but builds easily for full coverage.

Last but not least is Oh Baby. This polish is entirely clear on it's own, so even a thousand coats wouldn't be opaque. It's got tiny glass fleck glitter that looks nice and wintery over white. But it comes alive when layered over black! It has a teal/purple duochrome effect when over black polish.

Click this picture to enlarge and you can clearly see the shift of blue, teal, and purple in the glitter!



So that's it for my Pure Ice review. Thanks again to Bari Cosmetics for providing these for me to consider.

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Pure Ice Review - Part 1

(I was sent these polishes for review)

I really enjoy Pure Ice polishes. They are very affordable and usually a great formula. I can find them locally at my Wal-mart for $1.99. I've read on some blogs that people have found them sold at their Walgreens, but that's not true in my area.

First up is Tease Me. This is a medium metallic green. 3 coats pictured. Easy to apply, formula is on the thin side, but it builds nicely. A few noticeable brushstrokes. But I'll tell you how to resolve that later!;)

This is Strapless. A clear base densely packed with blue glitter.

This is just 1 coat to show you how evenly it applies. The base is nice and thin so that it isn't like applying glue to your nails.

 These pictures are 3 coats.

 Compared to the other blue glitters I have. It is very close to Milani Blue Flash.

This is Celestial. Pictured is 2 coats. Bright blue metallic finish.

Easy to apply, formula is great, builds nicely. A few noticeable brushstrokes.

I love these colors and I appreciate Bari Cosmetics for sending them to me. Come back later for the other 3 polishes. :)

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Lilly Pulitzer - Look 1

Shaina Rose suggested using the prints of Lilly Pulitzer as inspiration. I think this is a great idea! Many of the prints even feature little cartoon animals, so I couldn't resist. Shaina Rose thought that this print in particular would be good inspiration, and this is what I came up with.

I featured the monkey, tiger, elephant, and giraffe.

I started with these background polish colors.

 Pure Ice Free Spirit, Sinful Colors Thimbleberry, Sally Hansen Insta Dri Presto Pink, Brisk Blue, & Lightening.

For the details I used the same colored polishes above, with the addition of black and white acrylic paints.

I like this little fun guy the best. I'm proud that I managed to fit him proportionally on the nail!

 Just the tiger's belly so that I could freature the most stripes.

 The elephant is super simple because there are not many details.

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