Another Gradient feat. China Glaze Reggae to Riches and Milani Deep Thoughts

Happy Wednesday guys! Halfway to the weekend already! WooHoo!

Today I am sharing the gradient I added to my Reggae to Riches Mani. I love wearing a really striking color on it's own, but I tend to get bored easily and want to play with my nails. Usually on the second day or so I end up adding something to my existing mani. This time I decided I wanted to add a vibrant pop of color, and settled on a gradient effect.

I chose Milani Deep Thoughts to add to RTR since I love pink and purple together and Deep Thoughts is such a gorgeous deep yet still vibrant purple. I went old school with this one, since the latest gradient technique that Sammi shared with us doesn't work well with these 2 colors. RTR is just too sheer to make it work well. I used a makeup sponge cut into small pieces and sponged from the tip of my nail toward the cuticle with Deep Thoughts, and then sponged a little Reggae to Riches over the center of Deep Thoughts. I love how it turned out, and I can't believe how may compliments I received!

Keep in mind that macro shots are unforgiving, so this mani didn't look as bumpy and rough IRL.  It did however flash all sorts of colors! The blue in RTR was very obvious, especially where I sponged a bit over the purple. This was another mani where I just could not stop staring at my nails! My husband really loved this one as well. He wanted me to stamp over it, but I never managed to find the time to add any more to this one.

Without further adieu, here is Reggae to Riches with Milani Deep Thoughts!

I am loving gradients (who isn't, right?), and I really love them with vivid colors! It's such a great way to update an existing mani, and they can look so chic with subtle colors. Yup, gradients are pure awesomesauce.

Next up: The Mani I created for X Out, a new product from the makers of ProActiv.  I cannot wait to share this one, folks! I'm rather proud of it!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Happy Polishing!
-Kimber

A classic favorite: China Glaze Reggae to Riches

Hi all! Happy Tuesday!

Today I have one of my very favorite polishes of all time to share with you. About a year ago I re-discovered my love for nail polish. I had dropped by Sally's to pick up some toner for my hair, and spotted China Glaze Reggae to Riches, a just gorgeous bright pink with heavenly blue shimmer.  I love pinks, and anything with blue shimmer makes me squee with joy, so I had to take her home. That was my first mani in I can't tell you how long, and sparked an immediate need to always have polish on my nails. In fact, this color sparked my entire obsession! I actually have some very bad pictures of that mani somewhere. I'll have to dig them up and share them with you!

I've really been craving lots of bright colors lately, as well as glitter, gradients, and nail art. I have a ton of new polish, but Reggae to Riches just kept peeking at me from the back of my China Glaze shelf, so a few nights ago I finally took her out and wore her again. I'm so glad I did. I had forgotten just how beautiful she is, and how happy a good pink with blue shimmer makes me! I did add a bright purple gradient to this mani after a couple of days, but that's for my next post!

Details:
1 coat OPI Nail Envy Matte
1 coat Instant Artificials
2 coats Reggae to Riches
1 coat Seche Vite

So pretty! This polish was just what I needed. Sometimes I get caught up in newer polishes and such and forget how amazing my older babies are. I really need to revisit some of my old faves soon!

Despite being on a shelf for a good year, application and formula on this girl were both near flawless.  I did have a tiny bit of bubbling, but it was nothing that shows up outside of macro shots. I was amazed that I didn't have to add a bunch of thinner.  Just a good shake and she flowed onto my nails like silk. Just one reason why I love China Glaze!

I'll be posting the gradient later this evening, followed by my nail art for X out, some gorgeous polishes that I have been lemming forever, and I promise I'll get to those Maybelline Color Show polishes!

Hope you are all enjoying your Tuesday and thanks for dropping by!

Happy Polishing!
-Kimber