[NOTDs] Winter & Spring 2013

While I have been away from this blog for three years, I have not stopped painting my nails or taking pictures of my manicures.  After abandoning this blog, I started posting my NOTDs on my personal Instagram account, and I have recently created a nails-only Instagram account, @StumpyNails.  Over the years, I have certainly gotten better at taking care of my nails and cuticles, and I have gotten better at taking the pictures too.

To catch up, I will re-post all of those manicures here on the blog.  Some people might prefer following blogs over Instagram, and I think it is easier to find pictures through a Google search than through an Instagram search.  I also have and will continue to re-post my Instagram nail pictures onto a Pinterest board.  (Links to all my accounts are also in the sidebar.)  I plan to continue re-posting my Instagram nail pictures here monthly or seasonally and occasionally.  I may also post about my subscription boxes, favorites, polish comparisons, and other nail polish topics.

My Essie collection, February 2013

Essie Miss Fancy Pants

Nicole by OPI Am I Making Myself Claire?

Julep Joy

Essie Maximillian Stasse-Her

Orly Bon Bon

Essie Pink-a-boo over Zoya Bela

Easter skittles manicure, with Tillie Bows and Bandeaus, Tillie Sarong So Right, Zoya Blu, Julep Blake, and Sinful Colors Orange Cream

Nicole by OPI One Big Happy Fame-ily (3 coats of color), with matching Peep bunny

Nicole by OPI One Big Happy Fame-ily (3 coats of color)

Zoya Julie (which I did not like because it was patchy)

Essie Lapis of Luxury (3 coats of color)

Julep Robin (this one stains horribly)

Zoya Bela (3 coats of color, a bit streaky)

L'Oreal Wishful Pinking (3 coats of color)

Wet n Wild Flossy (1 coat dabbed on) over Zoya Neely (2 coats)

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, but I don't remember what basecoat I used back in 2013; possibly it was Zoya Anchor.

[Subscription Box] Julep Maven September 2015

Julep Maven September 2015 Monthly Subscription Box

I have skipped the past few Julep Maven boxes, but the September colors drew me in.  I think I swapped out one item, added on one item with my Jules, and received a bonus polish for free.

Julep September 2015 Maven Box, featuring (l-r) Cassandra, Rayma, Aubrey, Zoey, and one polish labeled "Julep 5226"

Cassandra - A dark wine crelly

Rayma - A deep berry cream

Aubrey - A berry metallic

Zoey - A dusty seafoam green cream

Julep 5226 - A dusty purple-pink cream, similar to Essie Splash of Grenadine but darker and more gray for autumn, which was the bonus polish

Julep September 2015 Maven Box Swatches:   (l-r) Cassandra, Rayma, Julep 5226, Aubrey, and Zoey

I have not yet worn any of these polishes on my nails, so I don't know how they truly apply or wear, but I have swatched them on my nail wheel, and all the polish formulas seem fantastic as usual.  Most Julep polishes are thick (but not goopy), apply easily without pooling in my cuticles and self level, and dry fairly quickly.  They are often one-coaters, but I almost always prefer wearing two coats because I have thin nails that need extra protection.  My swatches all have two coats.

A quick run-down of this subscription service:  Julep is a nail polish company that offers a monthly subscription box.  Each month, Julep comes out with new seasonal colors of nail polish along with other nail and beauty goodies.  Subscribers can choose to have Julep pick their box items for a surprise, swap out items to create their own ideal box, or skip any month without being billed.  Subscribers can add on more items to their boxes for a fee (lower than it would cost to buy the items separately from the box), and they also get reduced prices site-wide.  With each box, subscribers accumulate points, called Jules, that can be used towards receiving a free monthly box or free add-ons (your choice how to use them).  Jules are also given out for milestones such as their birthday and the anniversary of subscription.  I think the subscription service is very easy to use.  This was only the second box I took this year, and skipping months is very easy and worry-free.

This is my personal referral link to join Julep Maven.  According to the Julep site, if you join using my link, you get your first box free (whereas if you just join without a referral link you get a box for half-off).  Your first box will not be the usual monthly box; it will be a special welcome box.  For every referral I give that leads to a new subscriber, I get $15 to spend on Julep.com.

[NOTD] Zoya Gloria

I love that Zoya categorizes their polishes into cool, neutral, and warm families.  I have cool-toned skin, so I look best in cool-toned colors.  By searching for cool-toned reds, I was able to find this polish, Zoya Gloria, a red with golden orange microglitters.  On my monitor, I thought this polish looked warm-toned, but I gave it a chance, and it is indeed a lovely color for me to wear.  And it's perfect for autumn.

Zoya Gloria (indoor lighting)

[NOTD] Zoya Kate

When I went apple picking in September, I wore Zoya Kate, a creamy red polish to coordinate with the red apples I was picking.  Kate is a cool-toned red which leans a bit brown.  I wore two coats of Kate over one coat of Zoya Anchor basecoat, topped with one coat of New York Color Grand Central Station.

Zoya Kate

[NOTD] Oopsie Daisies Mischief Night

My nails are still dressed for Halloween.  I'm wearing the indie polish, Oopsie Daisies Mischief Night, a glitter polish which has purple and orange hexagons with pink and orange dots in a black base.  I'm wearing two coats over Wet n Wild FastDry Ebony Hates Chris.  My basecoat is Zoya Anchor, and my topcoat is New York Color Grand Central Station.  Mischief Night is very chunky, so I later added a second top coat.

Oopsie Daisies Mischief Night over Wet n Wild Ebony Hates Chris

Oopsie Daisies Mischief Night over Wet n Wild Ebony Hates Chris

Black is always a harsh contrast against my pale skin.  I love this polish, but I'm not sure it is the best color for me.