Daring Digits: Gene

Hello lacquered lovelies! Happy Thursday! Just a stone's throw away from the weekend!

Today I am thrilled to bring you the first of many polishes from the amazing Daring Digits. Daring Digits is an Indie Brand (you know how I love my Indies!) from right here in Albuquerque! How cool is that?!? Ashley is the brains behind DD, and not only does she create some really amazing polish, but she lovingly handmakes each and every bottle. I love that kind of personal touch.

There are some BIG things in the works over at Daring Digits, including some brand new polish and hand/nail care products that will seriously blow you away (I'll be reviewing those within the next few days)! Ashley is also celebrating her One Year Anniversary of making polish, check out her blog post here for all the info! 

Today I am showing you one of Ashley's newest creations, and one of my personal faves, Gene. Gene is a truly stunning glitter topper jampacked with gold, teal, purple and pink micro and flake glitters. I'm sure I'm missing some colors here ! Gene is named after the legendary Gene Roddenberry, who I'm sure you will recognize as the creator of Star Trek. Being a Star Trek fan myself, I immediately thought of Mr. Roddenberry when I first laid eyes on Gene.  Alone, Gene is a soft, subtle glitter with a hint of color, layered over a dark color, it becomes something utterly celestial. I chose to layer Gene over a Navy Blue, however I will be showing you what it looks like over a lighter color in a later post.

All photos are 2 coats Barry M Navy, topped with 1 generous coat of Daring Digits Gene (some photos intentionally blurred to show color) :

Wow! Look at that! This polish is something to behold!

Formula:
This is the first Daring Digits polish that I have used, and I was immediately impressed. This polish had perfect consistency - not too thick, not too thin, without any thickening or clumps of glitter.

Application:
Gene applied like liquid silk - smooth and even with just the right amount of glitter with every brush stroke.  Gene was designed to be layered, but I'm fairly certain this baby could be worn alone with 3 good coats. Dry time was fast, and wear is impressive. In fact, I'm still wearing this as a full mani and have zero chips and minimal tip wear even after tons of typing and some plumbing work! Gene does not dry gritty, so all you need for smooth finish is your regular top coat.

I am so in love with this polish.  It's like having a little galaxy on my nails, without the time and effort of creating a galaxy manicure. The combination of color and texture here is just gorgeous, and I cannot wait to show you how this baby looks over a different kind of base. Gene really is incredibly versatile!

Daring Digits polishes are 5-free (you read that right, no big 3, plus no Formaldehyde Resin or Camphor), and available via DDPolish.com. Full size bottles will run you $6.50, but keep an eye out for anniversary specials - including a free LE mini that will only be availabele as a gift with purchase during February!  Right now the shop is on vacation due to the upcoming anniversary festivities, but will re-open tomorrow, 2/1, at 9:30 pm MDT. Be sure to follow Daring Digits on Facebook and Blogger for updates!

What do you think of Gene? Are you loving this polish as much as I am?

Be sure to stay tuned for more goodies from Daring Digits and some BGCosmetics!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!
-Kimber

**Product(s) featured sent for review. Please see Disclaimer/Legal page for more information**

Lollipop

As you probably already know I adore my Sugarpill eyeshadows. I wanted to try on a very different combination of vibrant shades so I wrecked my brain and inspiration picture stash for ideas. Eventually, I came across a look by Linn, a.k.a. MrBarbie at Dayviews.com that I decided to recreate (with a few modifications...). :)
If you're a member on Dayviews you can find her picture here.

Well, now onto my version of this look.

I decided to name this look "Lollipop" because that Lollipop song kept popping up in me head frequently during its creation. Buttercupcake is adorning the upper lid accompanied by Dollipop on the lower. They definitely make a candylicsious duet!

To get Buttercupcake to blend into my skin a little better, and to give my crease some definition I used Taupe notch by Makeup Geek as a transition color.

If you don't have the perfect Barbie-pink shade of lipstick you can do like this: 1. Make sure your lips are adequately moisturized. 2. Wipe off any excess lip balm and then apply NYX Jumbo pencil in Milk all over your lips. 3. With a lip brush apply a hot pink over your lips, making sure that Milk doesn't show through anywhere. 4. As a finishing touch, apply a little more Milk to the center of your lips and finish with a clear lip gloss.

Haha, I guess this is NOT my style at all but I kind of liked the result anyway. :) Sugarpill-Barbie/Pin up. Or something.

Face

*Skin base foundation 02 (Illamasqua)

*Studio finish concealer (M.A.C.)*

*Loose powder (Isadora)

*Blush Matt glory (Make Up Store)

Eyebrows

*Corrupt (Makeup Geek)

Eyes

*Jumbo Pencil Milk (NYX)

*Medium Pencil S.O.P.H.I.E. (Illamasqua)

*Taupe notch (Makeup Geek)

*Corrupt (Makeup Geek)

*Buttercupcake (Sugarpill)

*Dollipop (Sugarpill)

*Tako (Sugarpill)

*Blanc Type (M.A.C.)*

*False lashes #111 (Ardell)

Lips

*Fearless (Makeup Geek)

*Jumbo Pencil Milk (NYX)

*Clear gloss (Isadora)

*IMPORTANT: Since M.A.C. has decided to start testing their products on animals I can no longer recommend you to buy these products! The reason why I'm still using them is because I bought them before it came to my knowledge that M.A.C. would become a non-cruelty free brand. I won't however buy any new products by them since animals are more important to me than looking good. 

You can read my full post on the subject here. 

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Warning! This song is going to attach itself to your brain and getting it out again may require violence or an exorcist.

Thank you so much for reading! :)

Merge or Melt Day 21-31 Day Challenge

Hola!!
Ay ya se que he estado ausente varios días pero me pasaron algunas cosas esta ultima semana, en primer lugar mi camara se descompuso y después me lastime un hombro y el doctor me ha pedido que no cargue nada pesado pero tampoco he podido miverlo mucho. Ya me estoy recuperando aunque todavía sigo con dolor.

Y bueno continuo con el reto y me quede en el día 21 el tema es ''merge or melt'' y para hoy les tengo una tecnica que en lo personal me fascina y es no-water marble (marmoleado sin agua), la idea del tema es hacer una manicura con una técnica donde se mezclen los esmaltes o algo así.

Esta forma de hacer marmoleado la aprendi de Robin moses en Youtube, y quise hacer unas flamas moradas y plateadas, espero que les guste :D

China Glaze platinm silver and Cocont kiss

KATIE ROWLAND SHOOT

A taster pic from the shoot I did nails at today - for the lovely jewellery designer Katie Rowland's brilliant new collection.

ABC Challenge Letter "D": D is for DIY Liquid Sand

Hello lovelies! Happy Wednesday! Wednesday's at KLK mean it's another ABC Challenge day, and I have a really nifty mani to share today!

Today's letter is "D", and I chose another DIY nail art technique to share. DIY may be stretching it as far as the ABC Challenge guidelines go, but I couldn't resist sharing this technique with you. It's one of my favorite techniques so far.

I'm sure you've all seen the new OPI Liquid Sand polishes from the Mariah Carey Collection. I even have one that I need to share with you. If you're like me, you love the look, but your budget won't allow you to go out and buy all of them, and you may wish they came in more colors. I was blog surfing the other day, and came across this tutorial from The Daily Varnish. It did not take long for me to run out to Michael's and grab some supplies.

All you need for this look is nail polish, Matte Top Coat, and Embossing Powder. I picked up a few different colors of embossing powder for $3 each at Michael's, and they had a bunch on sale for $1.99 as well. I chose a blue embossing powder with silver holo for this manicure (although the matte top coat kills the holo!), and I love the result! I'm actually still wearing this! Let's take a peek at the mani...be sure to click to read more to find out how you can get this look!




This is Recollections Embossing Powder in Blue Blaze over 2 coats of Salon Perfect Berry Blue, topped with Warpaint Beauty Matte Top Coat:

I love love love this look!! I really dig the liquid sand polishes, but I wanted more color choices.  On top of that, when I went to pick some up, the colors I did want were sold out. This is a great way to get the liquid sand look for cheap!

How I did it:

I'll be posting a full tutorial on this look (along with the DIY black spotted tutorial) within the next week. Until then, here's a quick rundown of how I got this look.

1. Polish as usual. Start with your base coat, then polish, top coat, and clean up. I use a quick dry topcoat so that my polish dries faster, since you'll be using a matte top coat to finish.

2. After your basic mani is finished, apply a thin coat of your colored polish to the nail. I can't emphasize thin enough - if you go too thick, the entire layer will spread and create a thick, oddly shaped mess. Clean up isn't an option with this kind of mani, since the color in the powder will run all over your cuticles, and it's a pain to get off! Work on one nail at a time.

3. While your polish is still wet, take the Embossing Powder and either dip your finger into the container (easiest, with less mess), or sprinkle the powder in an even layer over your nail (if you choose this method, lay a piece of aluminum foil under your hand - you can pour the powder back into the container when you're finished.). Once your entire nail is covered with the powder, press the powder into the polish gently. Make sure you do this to the entire nail. Be careful not to press too hard, or your powder and polish will come sliding off.

4. Repeat on all 10 nails.

5. Once everything is reasonably dry, use either a fan brush or a fluffy powder brush to brush away the excess embossing powder.

6. Apply Matte Top Coat (this is what gives it the liquid sand finish) and allow to dry. Wash your hands and voila! Finished! I will mention that the embossing powder sticks to everything! You can see some of it on my hands in the photos!

Once everything is completely dry, you can wash your hands, oil, lotion, etc as usual. My matte top coat is wonderful and returns to a matte finish after oiling and washing, but if you have a finicky matte, it may take a good 20 minutes to return to the matte finish.

Sounds like a lot of steps, but it's really fast and easy. Not to mention cheap!

What do you think of the DIY Liquid Sand Mani? Will you be trying this?

Be sure to check out all the lovey ladies and their awesome "D" Manicures!





Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!
-Kimber

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine - Azure!!

Hello lovelies! Another late post today. I had planned on posting some awesome Daring Digits for you this afternoon but I was caught up in some school stuff for my daughter. No worries though! I have some Daring Digits coming up after the Challenge Post, as well as some more BG Cosmetics!

Today I have the elusive 7th Lustre Shine polish for you. When Sally Hansen released the Lustre Shines, there were 2 other polishes on the display and promo ads that were not with the 6 available polishes. We all wondered when they were coming out, and what the deal was. Apparently the first 6 were just the "teaser" release, with the full line releasing a few months later. The final two shades are Azure and another gold/bronze number that was out of stock at my local wags.

Azure is a truly gorgeous Cobalt Blue/Purple combo. It has less duochrome than the others, but it still well worth owning since the color is just phenomenal. Much like the others, Azure can be worn layered or alone, and has a fabulous, almost blinding sheen.

I photographed this in 3 different lighting conditions to show the slight color change. All photos are 3 coats Sally Hansen Lustre Shine in Azure alone, topped with HK Girl Top Coat:

Rawr! Tell me this isn't an amazing color. It's so vibrant, and the fact that it can be layered is such a bonus. I'm also impatient to try this out with some stamping!

Formula:
As with all the Lustre Shine polishes Azure's formula is fantastic. No issues at all.

Application:
Smooth and silky, Azure applied like a dream. It is a touch streaky on the first coat, but evens out beautifully with the second. It is also fairly sheer and needs 2-3 coats for full opacity when worn alone.  I did also experience some drag on the first coat, so I recommend allowing this to dry wel between coats. I let my nails dry for about 5-6 minutes between coats and the dragging was no longer an issue. Azure did dry quickly and the shine is amazing, even without top coat.

I do love my Lustre Shines, but Azure is really the stand out of this collection. Well worth the wait if you ask me!

I found my bottle of Azure in the permanent display at Walgreens for around $9. I have yet to see this color anywhere else.

What do you think of Azure? Were you waiting on this one like I was?

Be sure to stay tuned for an ABC Challenge Post tomorrow, as well as Daring Digits and BG Cosmetics!!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!
-Kimber

Polish TBH Girl Please Collection - Hard Candy

Hello lovelies! My apologies for the late post today. I had an IEP meeting for my daughter this morning and those tend to be long. That's usually my posting time, so I had to wait for some free time this afternoon to post.

Today I have the final polish from the Polish TBH "Girl Please" Collection. This one is called Hard Candy, and man! It is awesome! How I Troll is a definite fave from this collection, but Hard Candy is certainly tied. I really can't decide which one I like best, and The other 4 polishes all run a close second. In all honesty, I love every single polish that Polish TBH has released. I'd be hard pressed to choose if I had to own just one.

Hard Candy is unique since it is available in 2 bases: clear, or a milky white. It's also a glitter bomb - filled with black, gold, and rose pink glitters. I'm showing you the white based version (I love them both, but the white base just really does it for me!).

Hard Candy also really reminds me of another "Blonde Rebel": Madonna. Obviously there is her album "Hard Candy", which outside of Confessions on A Dance Floor totally defined a period of my life. Actually, if there were a soundtrack to my life, it would be mostly Madonna. Even as I look at this baby on my nails now, I really do think of Madonna. Love it!

All photos are 2 coats of Hard Candy topped with HK Girl Top Coat:

Just beautiful. I knew I would love this as soon as I opened the package, but I didn't realize just how much I would love it!

Formula:
As with all Polish TBH Creations, Hard Candy's formula was perfection. Always usable straight from the bottle, there was no thickening during use, no glopping or gooping, and no clumpy glitters.

Application:
Despite being a hunky glitter bomb, Hard Candy applies smooth as silk. I had zero issues with application, even on the first coat. The glitters distributed perfectly and lay flat on the nail, so no need for Gelous or Glitter Food with this girl. 2 coats to perfect opacity.

Hard Candy has really won me over. I love how original this is for a milky white based polish (thankfully we're seeing more original white based glitters now!) and in all honesty, I don't want to take this off!! I've been wearing this as a full mani for almost 2 days now - and I have minimal tip wear and zero chips.

Polish TBH is the brainchild of the incredibly talented Christian. All of her creations are 3-free and cruelty free (and you really need to have these!). You can find Polish TBH on etsy, and full size bottles retail for $8, minis for $4.  How I Troll is the exception, selling for $9.00/full size and $4.50/mini. Full sets of the Girl Please Collection are still available for $36 for full sized and $18.50 for minis (I recommend getting them by the set....you don't want to have to choose!) While you're there, be sure to check out the Fantasy Collection!

What do you think of Hard Candy? Do you have a fave Polish TBH creation?

Be sure to stay tuned for the mystery Sally Hansen Lustre Chrome, more BG Cosmetics, and some awesome new products from Daring Digits!!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!
-Kimber

Wet N Wild Megalast Lip Color

It is hard to disagree that both of this lipsticks are utter yummy-ness in a little tube. Until now, I had never tested the cruelty-free low budget brand Wet N Wild, and I must say I was positively surprised.
I came across Cherry Bomb when I was looking for a dark cherry-red lipstick and soon after the darker,  purple Vamp It Up caught my eye.

These lipsticks are part of the Megalast Lip Color series, which provides a very convenient description of them. They last long, without getting blotchy, which is very unusual for lipsticks of dark shades such as these.

Cherry Bomb is a dark cherry red, as the name suggests. Unlike many other lipsticks with the word "cherry" in the name this one refers to real cherries. Ripe ones. The ones you select exclusively because they taste the best.

Dark purple perfection. Those are the words I would use to describe Vamp it up. It is just gorgeous, long lasting and smooth like a dream. What more could you ask for? :)
This is definitely going to be a go-to lipstick for me when I want a substitute for black!

Thank you so much for reading and hope you'll have a lovely day! :)

Polish TBH Girl Please Collection: Blonde Rebel

Good Morning Lovelies! Happy Sunday! I am nice and refreshed after taking a much needed day off yesterday. Of course, this means lots of pretty polish to share over the next few days. I have the elusive 7th Sally Hansen Lustre Shine coming up this afternoon, so stay tuned!

As you all know, Polish TBH has just released their 2nd collection, the "Girl Please" Collection. I've already shown you Geyttyh and How I Troll, and Chaotic Peligro and Tiny Dancer were early releases from this collection. This collection is fabulous. I've had a hard time deciding on a favorite since honestly I love them all!

Today I'm sharing Blonde Rebel with you all. Blonde Rebel is cool denim blue shimmer with silver glitters and white shreds. The name and desription on the Polish TBH store site evoke thoughts of the fabulous Lady Gaga, or if you were an 80's child, Madonna. Either way, this polish ROCKS!! I am a sucker for blues, and the white shreds and silver glitters really make this polish pop.

All photos are 3 coats Blonde Rebel topped with HK Girl Top Coat:

*sighs* Love. Just love. This reminds me of either studded or acid washed denim. Really takes me back to the days when I was young, platinum blonde, and wild.

Formula:
As with all Polish TBH Creations, the formula on Blonde Rebel is fabulous. Usable straight from the bottle with never any thickening during use, glooping or goopping, and no clumps of glitter on the brush.

Application:
A bit sheer and streaky on the first coat, Blonde Rebel evens out perfectly with the second coat. This polish is opaque at 2 coats, however I knocked a nail against my table and added a third coat to fix the little smudge.  The glitters in this girl lay flat against the nail despite the natural tendency of shard glitter to stick up and poke you! A sinlge coat of my usual top coat was enough for a smooth surface.

The Girl Please Colletion is highly impressive. The colors, the glitters, the names! I have one more polish from this collection to share with you all, and it's a doozy! Make sure to check back tomorrow to check it out.

All polish TBH creations are 3-free and cruelty free and can be found via Polish TBH on Etsy. Full size bottles retail for $8, minis for $4, save for How I Troll which is $9 for full size ad $4.50 for a mini. You can also pick up the entire Girl Please Collection this weekend for $36, $18.50 for minis. While you're there, be sure to grab the Fantasy Collection as well!

What do you think of Blonde Rebel? Do you have a favorite from this collection yet?

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!
-Kimber

**Product(s) Featured sent for review. Please see Disclaimer/Legal page for more information**