[NOTDs] September 2015

I now post my nail-of-the-day pictures on my nails-only Instagram account.  You can also find them on my "Prim & Polished" Pinterest board.  This post will be a rehashing of my manicures from last month, September 2015.

China Glaze Rosy Cheeks

Zoya Arizona (thick yet streaky, also not flattering against my cool-toned skin)

Barry M (Gelly) Almond

Zoya Sage (no topcoat, long drying time)

Revlon Bohemian

Unless otherwise specified, I use a basecoat, two coats of color, then a topcoat.  I use OPI Natural Base Coat and New York Color Grand Central Station for a topcoat.

[NOTDs] Holidays 2014

This post explains where I have been and my plans for the blog.  While I was away, I posted my nail-of-the-day pictures on Instagram (see also:  my new nails-only account).  This post will be a rehashing of my manicures from the 2014 holiday season.

Lynnderella Ribbon Candy over Julep Soraphine (1 coat each)

Essie Shearling Darling with Sinful Colors Gilded added to the accent nails

Candy Lacquer Rockin A-round the Christmas Tree over Zoya Giovanna, with Zoya Isla and a Neverland Lacquers tree nail vinyl (and glitter) on the accent nail

Neverland Lacquers Sugarplum Fairy

Revlon Catty

Nicole by OPI All is Glam, All is Bright

Zoya Tomoko (no top coat)

Unless otherwise specified, I use a basecoat, two coats of color, then a topcoat.  My favorite topcoat has always been New York Color Grand Central Station.  I don't remember what basecoat I used back in 2014; possibly it was Zoya Anchor or the OPI Natural Base Coat.

[NOTDs] Autumn 2014

This post explains where I have been and my plans for the blog.  While I was away, I posted my nail-of-the-day pictures on Instagram (see also:  my new nails-only account).  This post will be a rehashing of my manicures from Autumn 2014.

Orly Quite Contrary Berry

Zoya Zanna

Essie Plumberry

Zoya Chanelle

Shleee Polish Nightmare Moon over Sinful Colors Sweet Nothing (1 coat each)

Wet n Wild Megalast Haze of Love

Revlon Gray Suede (new formula)

Zoya Gloria over Milani Blackberry Baby (1 coat each)

Zoya Odette

Zoya Shivon

China Glaze When Stars Collide

Orly Steel Your Heart

Rescue Beauty Lounge Grunge

Julep Autumn over Julep Aisha (1 coat each)

Julep Brielle with Zoya Tess on accent nail

China Glaze Strike Up a Cosmo

Essie Sable Collar

Unless otherwise specified, I use a basecoat, two coats of color, then a topcoat.  My favorite topcoat has always been New York Color Grand Central Station.  I don't remember what basecoat I used back in 2014:  possibly it was Zoya Anchor or OPI Natural Nail Base Coat, which I use now.

[Favorite] Polishes for Summer Pedicures

I spend my summer days in sandals or barefoot (unless I'm hiking in sneakers), so I want to make sure my feet look as cute as possible, so I always wear fresh pedicures.  Since I'm extremely pale, I try to pick nail polish colors that make me look more "tan" (aka less pasty).  My three favorite colors to accomplish this are coral, bright light nudes, and rose gold.  These are my favorite polishes for a summer pedicure.

Essie Mademoiselle | Revlon Tropical Temptation | Essie Buy Me a Cameo

[NOTD] Revlon Whimsical

I adore Revlon Whimsical, a polish with various sizes/shapes of blue and pink glitters in a blue base.  It indeed looks whimsical, but I call this color "Unicorn Farts."  The base is semi-transparent and leans towards seafoam green, so I wore two coats of Whimsical over one coat of China Glaze Sea Spray to make it pull more blue.  I used Orly Bonder for my basecoat and New York Color Grand Central Station for my topcoat.

Revlon Whimsical (over China Glaze Sea Spray)

Revlon Whimsical (over China Glaze Sea Spray)

[Favorite] Spring 2012 Nail Polishes

I wear spring colors all year.  I love pastels, bright colors, and crisp whites, and they suit my skintone.  Every spring, I stock up on spring clothes and the new spring nail polishes.  This spring, I've been particularly enamored with lavender and light blue nails.

These are my favorite nail polishes to wear this spring as both manicures and pedicures.

[Spring Purples] Nicole by OPI One Big Happy Fame-ily, Essence No More Drama, Orly Bon Bon, Essie She's Picture Perfect

[Purple Nail Polish for Spring] Nicole by OPI One Big Happy Fame-ily, Essence No More Drama, Orly Bon Bon, Essie She's Picture Perfect

My Top 4 Purple Polishes for Spring 2012

Nicole by OPI One Big Happy Fame-ily :: This is a bright lavender polish with silver shimmers.  It will take a few coats for opacity, but it's not streaky.  I wore it here.

Essence No More Drama :: This is a light and desaturated grape purple.  This polish has a great consistency and looks good in two coats.

Orly Bon Bon :: This is a gray yet bright purple.  It is a very light color yet it's opaque and not chalky.  It has a jelly-like consistency.  It looks good in two coats.  I wore it here.

Essie She's Picture Perfect :: This is a blue-tone purple with fuchsia shimmer.  This is another great formula, and it looks good in two coats.

[Spring Blues] Essie Borrowed & Blue, Revlon Whimsical, Zoya Kristen

[Blue Nail Polish for Spring] Zoya Kristen, Revlon Whimsical (over Essie Borrowed & Blue), Essie Borrowed & Blue

My Top 3 Blue Polishes for Spring 2012

Zoya Kristen :: This is a desaturated sky blue.  This was a favorite of mine during the winter months too.  I wore it here.

Revlon Whimsical :: This glitter polish has blue and pink large hexagons, smaller pink hexagons, and dots of blue and pink glitter in a milky blue-green base.  I think it looks better as 1-2 coats worn over another opaque blue polish because it will take a few coats for opacity on its own.

Essie Borrowed & Blue :: This is a very light blue, but it doesn't look stark against my skin.  The formula is excellent: it is not streaky or chalky, and it looks great as one coat.

[Spring Pinks] OPI Japanese Rose Garden, Orly Cupcake, Essie Pink-a-boo

[Pink Nail Polish for Spring] OPI Japanese Rose Garden, Orly Cupcake, Essie Pink-a-boo (over China Glaze Innocence)

My Top 3 Pink Nail Polishes for Spring 2012

OPI Japanese Rose Garden :: This is a medium blue-leaning pink with subtle shimmers.  It's bright and cheery.  I wore it here.

Orly Cupcake :: This is a bright yet slightly dusty pink.  It might lean a tiny bit blue.  The formula is excellent, and it looks good in two coats.  I like this color much better than Orly Lollipop, which leans more blue, is more chalky, and looks too stark against my skintone.

Essie Pink-a-boo :: This is a light, bright pink with fuchsia, blue, and purple shimmers.  This is sheer and somewhat streaky on its own, so I prefer to wear it over another light pink polish (like a coat of China Glaze Innocence).  I wore it on its own here.

[Spring Colors] Sally Hansen Complete Manicure Yellow Kitty, New York Color Peaches 'n Cream, China Glaze Kinetic Candy, China Glaze Techno

[Bright Pastels for Spring] Sally Hansen Complete Manicure Yellow Kitty, New York Color Peaches 'n Cream, China Glaze Kinetic Candy, China Glaze Techno (over Kinetic Candy)

My Favorite Bright Pastel Polishes for Spring 2012

Sally Hansen Yellow Kitty :: This is a sunny yellow.  It is a little streaky, but it's not chalky.  It leans slightly green.  I need three coats for opacity.

New York Color Peaches 'n Cream :: This color is between tangerine and coral.  The formula is excellent, and if applied carefully, it could be a one coater.

China Glaze Kinetic Candy :: This is a slightly green blue.  It is very light and bright but not too neon or too stark against my skin.  It looks good in two coats.

China Glaze Techno :: This is a glittery topcoat.  The glitters are holographic hexagons and small dots.  One coat of this builds up plenty of glitters on a nail.

For reference, I am very fair and have cool-toned skin.

What are your favorite spring nail polishes?

[NOTD] Revlon Catty

I'm wearing Revlon Catty for the first time, and I adore it!  Catty is comprised of very fine metallic glitter pieces that create a brushed metal look on the nail.  I needed two coats because it did look sparse with only one coat.  The color is between gold and silver.  It easily catches the light and sparkles.  I might wear this polish again on Christmas.  The name "Catty" does have a negative connotation though.  I would have preferred a name like "Jingle Bell Rock" or "Sleigh Bells Ring."

Revlon Catty (tungsten lighting, no flash)

Revlon Catty (natural lighting)

I'm wearing Sally Hansen Double Duty for a base coat and New York Color Grand Central Station for a top coat.

[Favorites] Top 10 Fall Nail Polishes

There are only 8 days left until winter, but I thought I'd share my favorite autumn polish picks with you anyways.  Better late than never, right?  Right?

I love to wear dark, shimmery, or jewel-tone nail polishes in the fall.  I especially gravitate towards reds or browns.  Last autumn, I loved to wear Revlon Vixen on my toes and Revlon Gray Suede on my fingers.  This autumn, I've expanded my nail polish collection.

Top 10 Fall Nail Polishes (l to r): Zoya Nina, New York Color Lincoln Center, Revlon Vixen, Essie Plumberry, Zoya Shivon, Revlon Facets of Fuchsia, Milani Purple, Revlon Gray Suede, Essie Lady Like

My Top 10 Autumn Nail Polishes

[Maroons] Zoya Nina | New York Color Lincoln Center | Revlon Vixen

Zoya Nina ::  This is a creamy chocolate brown with a red undertone.  It is dark but not too dark, so it still looks fine against my super pale skin.  I wear this color for a shocking dark mani or pedi. (Here Nina is worn on my toenails.)

New York Color Lincoln Center :: This color is very similar to "Nina," but it is more red than brown.  The consistency is very watery, which I find easier to apply to my fingernails than my toenails.

Revlon Vixen ::  This color is very similar to the last two, but it is slightly lighter and more maroon.  Of the three, I like this color the best, but it applies a bit streaky and therefore needs three coats, so I usually just apply this as a pedicure.

[Swatches] Middle finger: Revlon Vixen | Ring finger: New York Color Lincoln Center | Pinky: Zoya Nina

In the swatches above, Revlon Vixen is on my middle finger, New York Color Lincoln Center is on my ring finger, and Zoya Nina is on my pinky finger.  (I think Essie Size Matters is on my pointer finger.)  All are shown with two swatches.  Vixen could use another coat.  Obviously, I love maroon nails for fall.

[Lovely Reds] Essie Plumberry | Zoya Shivon

Essie Plumberry :: This is a beautiful red.  I have very pale, cool-tone skin.  This color leans a bit blue and isn't too dark, so it's my perfect red nails polish, and I love having red nails in the fall.  The formula is great: it applies easily in two coats and lasts for days without chipping.

Zoya Shivon :: I have already shown you Shivon. (I've also worn it on my toenails.)  As I've mentioned before, it's a metallic red with gold shimmer on top.  It has a flash of gold, but the base color is blue-toned, so it still looks good on my cool-tone pale skin.  It's a festive holiday color.

[Shiny!] Revlon Facets of Fuchsia | Milani Purple Passion

Revlon Facets of Fuchsia :: This polish has hexagons and tiny dots of fuchsia glitter in a black base.  It was opaque in two coats.  While I normally shy away from black polish (because I am very pale), this polish had enough sparkle to brighten the dreary black plus it's paired with a vibrant fuchsia.  This is my way of wearing black nail polish.

Milani Purple Passion :: This is a gorgeous metallic blue-leaning purple polish.  I love wearing jewel tones in autumn.  Unfortunately, this polish chips very quickly.  I wore it on one finger here and with crackle over it here.

[Fall Neutrals] Revlon Gray Suede | Essie Lady Like

Revlon Gray Suede :: I often prefer neutral manicures, and these following two polishes are my way of wearing a neutral nail in the fall.  Gray Suede is a taupe with a tiny flash of shimmer.  I love it.  I shared a not-very-good picture of me wearing it here (color accurate but you can't see the shimmer).  This is a thin polish (which I like), so I find it easy to apply, and it's opaque in two coats, and it lasts for days.

Essie Lady Like :: I love pinks and purples and browns, and what do you get if you combine all those? Mauve.  This is a lovely light mauve.  It's the same color as Essie Demure Vix(en) without the shimmers.  It's creamy and easy to apply and lasts a long time.  I wore Lady Like here with a lacy scarf of the same color (that I knit myself!).

What have your favorite fall nail polishes been this year?

[Nails of the Week] Zoya Shivon, Essie Lady Like, Essie Size Matters, & Revlon Gray Suede

For all nails in this post, I used Sally Hansen "Double Duty" for the base coat and New York Color "Grand Central Station" for the top coat.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I wore the festive Zoya "Shivon."

Zoya Shivon (2 coats, tungsten lighting)

"Shivon" is a metallic red with gold shimmer on top.  This is one of my favorite nail polishes.  It has a flash of gold, but the base color is blue-toned, so it still looks good on my cool-tone pale skin.

Earlier in the week, I tried to paint my nails with my favorite nail color from last fall, Revlon's "Gray Suede," but the polish has gotten goopy.

Revlon Gray Suede (2 coats, tungsten lighting)

"Gray Suede" is a gorgeous taupe with a slight shimmer, which wasn't picked up in my picture.  I love the color, so I will try polish thinner to spruce up the polish or buy a new bottle.  Unfortunately, I was busy preparing for Thanksgiving, and I ruined this manicure within an hour.

A week ago, I was wearing Essie "Lady Like," a lovely creamy mauve color.

Essie Lady Like (2 coats, outdoor cloudy-day lighting)

All last week (and still now), I wore Essie "Size Matters" on my toenails.