Nail of the Day - Essie Coat Azure

This is Essie Coat Azure, the last and final polish in the Essie French Affair four-pack mini collection set. As you can see, this is a pastel blue and my favorite polish of the bunch, because it's of course, blue! This polish has a slight shimmer and is very opaque with the first application. I applied two coats of Essie Coat Azure to get coverage for the photos. I applied Seche Base as a base coat, two coats of Essie Coat Azure and Seche Vite as a top coat. I hope you all enjoy!

Essie Coat Azure - Two Coats

Essie Coat Azure - Two Coats

Essie Coat Azure - Two Coats

Nail of the Day - Essie Nice is Nice

I will admit I really love this color. I know I am usually not a fan of pastel colors, but Essie Nice is Nice is such a cute pastel purple. I know there hasn't been a lot of hype around this color, but I honestly think it's the perfect light purple cream polish. I like lilac colors overall, but they aren't usually my go to colors for nails. This color is a subtle purple lilac and it was just so pretty on my fingers I caught myself looking down to check out my polish throughout the day. I applied Seche Base as a base coat, two coats of Nice is Nice and one layer of Seche Vite as a top coat for this result. I think the reason I love this color so much is because it really compliments the yellow/tan undertones in my skin. What are your thoughts?

Essie Nice is Nice - Two Coats with Flash

Essie Nice is Nice - Two Coats with Flash

Essie Nice is Nice - Two Coats with Flash

Essie Nice is Nice - Two Coats with Flash

Top 10 Tips for Beautiful Nails

(1) Acetone is you Friend.

I know, I know, acetone is bad for your skin. I will admit, using pure acetone can be really bad for your hands in general. However, using a nail polish remover that does not include acetone can be a bit of a nightmare. I use the generic brand nail polish remover with acetone that can be found at your local drugstore. You can do a lot with good oils, creams and hand lotions to fix dryness. Trust me. It can't be good for your nails if you're rubbing the heck out of them trying to get off OPI and Katy Perry's Teenage Dream nail polish! (That stuff is ridiculous to get off, btw!) Just suck it up and go the acetone route, you'll save time and some of your sanity!

(2) Nail File Abundance is a Good Thing

I am really bad at remembering where my nail file is. I have to usually search for it a bit before actually sitting down to give myself a manicure. However, I have found investing in several nail files that reside in key spots helps me stay organized. I have a four-sided nail file for my purse, another one for my back pack, a six-sided nail file for my night stand and a glass nail file for my desk. (I usually paint my nails at my desk because there is more light and it's easier to keep my hands steady!) I know it may sound a little ridiculous to keep so many nail files, but in reality, it's sort of like quarters - you never have them when you need them! So why not just buy a few and save yourself the search!

(3) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's nails, get some OPI Original Nail Envy now!

Ok, OPI isn't sponsoring this post and I am not an affiliate of OPI's Nail Envy, but I must admit OPI's Original Nail Envy did wonders for my nails. I have taken a break from using OPI's Original Nail Envy as a base coat for my polishes, however my nails have remained strong and long! Now, I know this product doesn't work for everyone, but it really has worked great for me. If you are struggling with dry, peeling or sad nails, try it! I can't guarantee it will work, but it was way worth the $16 investment for me! :)

(4) Lemons to Lemonade has nothing on Lush's Lemony Flutter Cuticle Cream!

I have had quite a few questions about my hands and how I keep them from drying out when applying and removing nail polish day after day. The trick is actually a cuticle butter I discovered called Lemony Flutter from Lush. Lush is an all-natural and vegan cosmetics brand that makes all sorts of yummy and delicious bath and beauty products. I fell in love with their cuticle butter when I applied it ONE night and woke up the next morning with soft hands and cuticles! This stuff is really amazing! I recommend it to anyone with dry skin patches or rough skin...or DRY CUTICLES! A little goes a long way, so don't let the $14.95 price tag scare you.

(5) A Fast Drying Top Coat will save you time and money!

I've always heard how Seche Vite is the best top coat there is. I believe the claims. Not only does Seche Vite dry ridiculously quickly, it's a super thick top coat with ultra high shine. If you suffer from dull nail polish after a few days, slap this stuff on your fingers! It's amazing! It even helps with nail unevenness! It's my holy grail top coat! 

(6) File Nails in a Downward Motion

Since I can remember I have always filed my nails across and upward. It never occurred to me that my filing motion could be the cause of my splitting nails until I started to think about it! Of course filing in an upward motion would cause the layers of my nails to split because the upward motion of the nail file was pulling at the layers of my nails and pushing them up away from my nail bed! Not good! 

(7) Picking is for Noses, Not Fingers or Cuticles!
I was an avid nail biter for much of my life. After breaking that nasty habit I began picking at my cuticles and nails! BAD HABIT #2. I have since broken both habits but not without a lot of discipline! Cuticles exist for a reason - to protect the nail from infection, injury, bacteria, etc. If you pick at the cuticle with your nails, teeth, other objects, you are potentially allowing anything that may be on your fingers, teeth, or other objects under the cuticles and into the the most vulnerable part of your nail. Thus, the more you pick, the more likely you will develop a nail infection or have other issues with brittle, sad nails! To keep your nails strong, don't cut your cuticles or pick at them, just dissolve them with Instant Cuticle Remover, like Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover. Your nails will thank you for it!

(8) Remove Mistakes with Paint Brush

This is actually one of my favorite tips and I discovered it while reading Lacquerized. I now use a paint brush dipped in my acetone based nail polish remover to clean up any mistakes I may make! I used a Princeton Art & Brush Co. 6300B brush that I purchased at my local art store for $4. This brush has changed my life! I can now make all sorts of mistakes and easily clean them up with a steady hand, a cheap, stiff art brush and some nail polish remover! Amazing!

(9) The longer the strokes, the better the application.

 This tip is actually one I learned from watching countless YouTube videos on how to apply nail polish like a pro. I have found that the easiest way for me to apply nail polish is to apply a generous amount on the middle of my nail, push the polish up toward the cuticle, and then bring the excess polish away from the cuticle towards the tip of the nail. This method has saved me a ton of clean up time and has resulted in a much cleaner and smoother application for me overall. The less strokes the better, in my mind. 

(10) Keep Polish On When Shaping and Filing Nails
I also learned while doing my nails that the white section of overgrowth on my nails is not even. Every time I would file my nails I would attempt to get the white section of overgrowth even, but then I would realize that my nails would be crookedly shaped. So my solution? File my nails with the polish on! Then the white section of nail overgrowth doesn't mess with my desire for a perfectly even nail and my nails (which are almost always painted) always look even and straight! 

Nail of the Day - Essie French Affair

This is Essie French Affair the nail polish which the entire Essie French Affair nail polish was named for. As you can see, it's a creamy pastel pink. It was really nice to apply on the fingers and was opaque with only two coats. The first coat went on a bit sheer, however two coats was only required to get this polish completely opaque. Again, this collection is just meh to me. However, I really do like these colors on my fingers even if they aren't my favorite. I have received numerous compliments from people when I wore Essie Topless and Barefoot, but I still can't help it, I love my brights. :)

I applied Seche Base as a base coat, two coats of Essie French Affair and Seche Vite as a top coat. I recently broke my ring finger nail on my left hand while attempting to avoid the use of scissors (big mistake). Either way, I decided to there was still enough nail to show you it painted! Enjoy!

Nail of the Day - Essie Topless and Barefoot

Please excuse my thumb nail, I broke it while trying to open the packaging to a book I ordered from Amazon...yeah. I had to file it down in a kind of funky way, so it's looking a little messed up right now.

This is Essie's Topless and Barefoot from their new French Affair Collection. I purchased the four-pack of colors, which includes Essie French Affair (pastel pink), Essie Topless and Barefoot, Essie Nice is Nice (pastel purple) and Essie Coat Azure (pastel blue). As you can see, Essie Topless and Barefoot is a light tan brown (if you can even call it that) cream polish. It applied nicely to the nails, like all Essie nail lacquers. I found out just the other day that Essie polishes are made for natural nails, whereas OPI is marketed toward those in the nail industry who paint on acrylic nails. So, I'd assume Essie polishes are expected to last longer on natural nails than acrylic nails. Either way, I wasn't super impressed by this color at first, but it's really starting to grow on me. I am not a huge pastel fan, but this collection is starting to make me reconsider my skepticism.

I applied Seche Base as a base coat, three coats of Barefoot and Topless (it was a bit sheer on the second coat), and Seche Vite as a top coat. Enjoy!

Three Coats Essie Topless and Barefoot with Flash

Three Coats Essie Topless and Barefoot with Flash

Three Coats Essie Topless and Barefoot with Flash

Three Coats Essie Topless and Barefoot with Flash

Another Nail of the Day - China Glaze Black Mesh with Essie Forever Young

I really wanted to pair China Glaze Black Mesh Crackle Glaze with a color that would really make it stand out. I decided on Essie Forever Young because it's such a beautiful deep red on the fingers. I applied Seche Base as a base coat, and then two coats of Essie Forever Young which is a deep rich red cream. I then applied one coat of China Glaze Black Mesh. I decided to apply a top coat (Seche Vite) to give the nails a real shine. I left my pinky without a top coat so you all could see what China Glaze's Black Mesh looks like without a top coat. It dries matte like all the other polishes in the China Glaze Crackle Collection and like OPI's Black Shatter.

I have been asked by many people whether I prefer OPI's Black Shatter or China Glaze Black Mesh. I honestly think China Glaze Crackle Collection has a much better formula than OPI's Black Shatter formula. I think OPI's Black Shatter dries too quickly to get an even coat of the polish on making the polish apply chunky. I find it much easier to work with the China Glaze Crackle Collection as a whole. However, I think OPI's Black Shatter lacquer creates a bit more unique of designs on the actual nail. What do you think? I've included a photo of OPI's Black Shatter on American Apparel's Mac Arthur Park for you to compare the two black polishes in each collection.

Essie Forever Young - Two Coats with Flash

Essie Forever Young - Two Coats, China Glaze Black Mesh with Top Coat and Flash

American Apparel's Mac Arthur Park - Two Coats, OPI's Black Shatter One Coat with Flash - No Top Coat

Essie Forever Young - Two Coats, China Glaze Black Mesh - One Coat with Top Coat and Flash

Essie Forever Young - Two Coats, China Glaze Black Mesh - One Coat with Top Coat and Flash

Essie Forever Young - Two Coats, China Glaze Black Mesh - One Coat with Top Coat and Flash

Nail of the Day - China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle Glaze and OPI's Dating a Royal

I know,  I know, I know, I have been using a lot of blue nail polish lately. Ok, so here is my dirty little secret - I LOVE BLUE NAIL POLISH! Yeah...I do. I love it so much a large chunk of my collection is made up of blue nail polish. So when it came to pairing China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle Glaze, a creamy light turquoise-blue polish, with another polish - I chose blue! I chose one of my favorite blues of all time - OPI Dating a Royal! I love this blue because it is vibrant and eye catching! I applied Seche Base as a base coat, two coats of OPI Dating a Royal, and one coat of China Glaze Crushed Candy. I love it! Of course I love it, it's blue! :)

OPI Dating a Royal - Two Coats with Flash

OPI Dating a Royal - Two Coats with Flash, China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle Glaze - One Coat with Flash

OPI Dating a Royal - Two Coats with Flash, China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle Glaze - One Coat with Flash

OPI Dating a Royal - Two Coats without Flash, China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle Glaze - One Coat without Flash

Another Nail of the Day - China Glaze Fault Line and OPI's Green-wich Village

I have read a few blogs that claim China Glaze Fault Line doesn't crack as well as the rest of the polishes in the China Glaze Crackle Glaze collection. However, respectfully disagree. The formula of China Glaze Fault Line is different than the other polishes in the collection because China Glaze Fault Line has a slight shimmer throughout the polish, whereas the other lacquers are cream finishes. I've noticed the thicker I apply a coat of lacquer, the less likely the lacquer will dry with tiny cracks and more likely the polish will dry with one large crack down the nail. Because China Glaze Fault Line has a slight shimmer, it is a thicker polish overall and thus dries with less minor "cracking". The crack effect still works with a thicker application of the polish, however the cracks are less sporadic and usually larger - much like a "fault line" versus a "crack". Thus, China Glaze Fault line does exactly what its advertised to do - it dries with a large fault line in the nail, unlike the tiny cracks throughout the nail the other polishes in the collection create once they are dry.

I paired China Glaze's Fault Line with OPI's Green-wich Village for a almost Batman's Joker-like effect. I wanted my nails to be reminiscent of Batman's Joker. In the movies, the Joker always wears purple and green. Thus, I decided to apply China Glaze's Fault Line with a lime green (OPI's Green-wich Village). I applied Seche Base as a base coat, two coats of OPI's Green-wich Village, and one coat of China Glaze Fault Line for this result. Enjoy!

OPI Green-wich Village 2 Coats with Flash

OPI Green-wich Village 2 Coats, One Coat China Glaze Fault Line with Flash

OPI Green-wich Village 2 Coats, One Coat China Glaze Fault Line with Flash

OPI Green-wich Village 2 Coats, One Coat China Glaze Fault Line with Flash

Nail of the Day - China Glaze Broken Hearted Crackle Glaze and Sephora's Hello Kitty Blueberry

I decided to pair China Glaze's Broken Hearted Crackle Glaze with a light blue. My favorite light blue pastel polish is Sephora's Hello Kitty Blueberry cream polish. I think the contrast of light blue and light pink is not only interesting on the nails, but reminds us all of the social norms associated with each color - girls like light pink, boys like light blue. As strange as this social norm may seem to us as adults, the fact of the matter is we often associate certain colors with certain genders. Since China Glaze's Crackle Polish in light pink is entitled Broken Hearted, I thought it was a bit poetic to pair the lacquer with a light blue polish. It is boys who break girls' hearts, isn't it? hahaha.

I applied Seche Base as a base coat and two coats of Sephora's Hello Kitty Blueberry, then I applied one coat of China Glaze Broken Hearted Crackle Glaze for this result. Enjoy!

Sephora's Hello Kitty Blueberry Nail Polish

Sephora Hello Kitty Blueberry Two Coats, China Glaze Broken Hearted Crackle Glaze One Coat

Sephora Hello Kitty Blueberry Two Coats, China Glaze Broken Hearted Crackle Glaze One Coat

Sephora Hello Kitty Blueberry Two Coats, China Glaze Broken Hearted Crackle Glaze One Coat