[NOTDs] Winter 2015

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 Winter 2015.

Candy Lacquer Polar Unicorns over Zoya Sabrina (1 coat each)

Orly Petit Four

A England Guinevere

Zoya Nyx (no top coat)

Essie Comfy in Cashmere (no top coat)

Loaded Lacquer 40 Below over Julep Soraphine (1 coat each)

Essie Coat Couture (no top coat)

Lynnderella True Love's Kiss over Zoya Bethany (1 coat each)

Zoya Valentina

Essie Just Stitched (no top coat, this was a goopy mess)

Zoya Harlow (no top coat)

Neverland Lacquers Sweet Aurora

Julep Margit

Shleee Polish The Great and Powerful Trixie (1 coat dabbed on) over Rescue Beauty Lounge (3 coats)

Orly Decoded and Zoya Tao

Essie Warm and Toasty Turtleneck

Rescue Beauty Lounge Be Humble

Comparison of Essie's:  Warm and Toasty Turtleneck (pinky finger), Bangle Jangle (ring), Miss Fancy Pants (middle), and Master Plan (pointer)

A waterfalls manicure in honor of Kitty: Zoya Chanelle with Sally Hansen White Out on the accent nail, with stripes of Julep Janae, New York Color Sidewalkers,  and Wet n Wild Ebony Hates Chris  

This is my cat, Kitty.  The above manicure was inspired by her.  Kitty passed away in March after having thyroid problems (which we had treated for years).  She loved eating turkey, macarons, and the foamed milk I put on coffee.  She loved sleeping on suitcases and folded blankets, playing parachute with the bed sheets, chatting with the skunk outside, and sitting and chatting with my boyfriend and me.

Zoya Hunter (this one stained horribly)

Rescue Beauty Lounge Reveillon

Elevation Polish Colline du Charf

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, and I have been using OPI Natural Base Coat.

[NOTDs] Summer 2013

My last post explains where I have been and my plans for this blog.

I am rehashing my old manicures that I had posted on Instagram.  (My nails-only Instagram is @stumpynails; my main Instagram account, where I used to post NOTDs, is @stephanienics.)  Here are my painted nails from summer days in 2013.

Nicole by OPI That's Totally Red-ical

Zoya June (this one is a little patchy)

Zoya Miley (definitely patchy)

Essie The Girls Are Out

Julep Alaina and Julep Cassie

Julep Blake dotted with Sally Hansen White Out

Sally Hansen Violet Voltage

Wet n Wild Mermaid Curves (1 coat) over Zoya Zuza (1 coat) 

Nicole by OPI Inner Sparkle (1 coat) over New York Color Lavender Cupcake (2 coats)

Zoya Lola (indirect sunlight)

Zoya Lola (indoor lighting)

Zoya Garbo

Tillie I'm a Mermaid

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 2013; possibly it was Zoya Anchor.

[NOTD] Rainy Day Ombre

To celebrate the spring rain showers of the past few days, I wore this gray-purple ombre manicure.  I used these polishes (dark to light): Sally Hansen Complete Manicure Commander in Chic, Wet n Wild Megalast Bite the Bullet, Orly You're Blushing, Zoya Megan, and Essie Master Plans.

Rainy day ombre nails

Gray-purple ombre nails

Grayed purples ombre manicure

Sally Hansen Commander in Chic | Wet n Wild Bite the Bullet | Orly You're Blushing | Zoya Megan | Essie Master Plans

Does you enjoy spring showers?

[NOTD] Rainy Day Nails

I'm sporting two gray-purple polishes: Essie Master Plan and Sally Hansen Commander in Chic.  I'm wearing two coats of each with Orly Bonder for my basecoat and New York Color Grand Central Station for my topcoat.

[Rainy Day Nails] Essie Master Plan with Sally Hansen Commander in Chic

[Gray-purple Nails]  Essie Master Plan with Sally Hansen Commander in Chic

These colors remind me of storm clouds.

[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?