New 31DC: Color Opposites

Today's nail art was super quick and simple, and overall quite striking! The prompt was Color Opposites, and I went with a simple gradient (I always forget how much I love the gradient effect, especially in smooth creme colors!) in pink and green. 

I started with a base of creme white. I own about 10 of them, and I don't really like any of them, so I don't usually keep track of which one I use :(

I used China Glaze Surreal Appeal and Def Defying (my two picks from the Cirque du Soleil Collection), along with the white creme to help them blend in the middle. 

Here's my sponge: Thin stripe of Def Defying, thin stripe of white, slightly larger stripe of Surreal Appeal. I sponged this on over the white, and it took about 3 layers to get a color saturation that I was happy with. Though Def Defying still shows as yellowish on the nail. I actually did this mani a few days ago, and just looking at the photos makes me want to put it right back on! I think I'll have to brainstorm to include gradients in some of the rest of the challenges :)

Be sure to check out the rest of the "clashing" colors in the links below!

NEW 31DC: Favorite Color Family

So excited to be moving out of specific color prompts! I just said on day 4 that my favorite color was pink, and it is. But my favorite color family, overall, is the monochrome gorgeousness of black, white and grey!

I went with my favorite, go-to nail art technique, to go with my favorite color family, the dotticure! I started with a base of NYC Sidewalkers, then did large dots with Sinful Colors Black on Black and Snow Me White. On top of the white went smaller dots in China Glaze Immortal, on top of the black: Sinful Colors Heavy Metal. 

I love the simplicity of this manicure, and am sad that it had to come off so soon :( But that just means I have to pull out something really awesome for tomorrow, no?

Check out the rest of the manis below- it should get really interesting now, as the themes are pretty open to interpretation!

NEW 31DC: Silver

Hello, dears! Hopefully the first day of your new year went swimmingly! Today was my first day back at work after a mini vacation, but it was a fairly easy day, so I won't complain :) 

Onto the polish, yes?

I knew I wanted to do something regal, and I've been dying after this crown image since it came in the mail (a whole four days ago!). I started with a base of China Glaze Immortal, then topped it with Sinful Colors Heavy Metal. I stamped using Sinful Colors Black on Black. The crown is from Red Angel plate RA-119, the filigree is RA-120. 

Quick side note: I got these Red Angel plates on Amazon. Something like $13 for 21 plates. There is only ONE plate in the whole bunch that I don't see myself ever using, and they stamp like a dream! Cleanup is a bitch on the super finely engraved plates, but what can you do? 

Check out the rest of the silver manis in the links below!

12 Days of Christmas: Wreaths

12 Days of Christmas Challenge day 9! Only three more to go! 

Today's prompt is another one I thought I would have a difficult time with, but I'm actually very pleased with how this one came out! 

I started with a base of China Glaze Near Dark, then used dotting tools to do my wreath with China Glaze. I then dotted on Chirality Kale on top, to give it some holo sparkle. The holly berries and bow were drawn/dotted on with a very small dotting tool and Sally Hansen Ton of Bricks. 

Overall, I love this mani! It came out looking like wreaths! I tried to do a layered stamping thing, which wasn't working out at ALL, and I'm glad I switched, because I love these! 

I don't think that I've ever actually had a wreath for Christmas- how about you?

Be sure to check out the other challengers below!

Starlight, Starbright

Another Starlight and Sparkles today! These polishes are amazingly versatile, bringing amazing new life to your boring old dark cremes. Today is brought to you by Starlight, flagship/namesake polish of Starlight and Sparkles.

Starlight is a holographic topcoat, turning any color into a linear holo! Can't find that perfect hot pink holo? Now you can. Take your fave color, add a coat of this, and voila! My mani is Starlight over China Glaze Near Dark, a deliciously dark and swampy green. With the holo over the top, the green gets a bit lost, but . . . holo! 

Check out that gorgeous rainbow break <3

I have to admit, I am a holo convert. I want all of them. Every holo, ever made.

In the shade. Still trying to scatter a little bit, bless it's heart. 

The green of my undies is a bit more visible here, now that the holo isn't distracting everyone.

Like every Starlight and Sparkles polish that I have tried, this one applied amazingly, and was pretty much chip free at the end of the day. This polish is made with Spectraflair, and is 3-free and vegan. 

Starlight and Sparkles polishes can be purchased on Etsy. A full size bottle of Starlight runs $12.