2nd Day Nails: Matte

Soooo, I recently shared my review of Copper Waters for BadAss Polish, you can check it out HERE if you missed it.  I really enjoyed the look, but of course, I wanted to change it up a bit.  As I was walking through my bedroom, I saw my matte top coat, so that was that, matte it was!!  I love the look of matte glitters and this was no exception.

Please forgive the tip wear, I used a cheap drug store polish as my base, Wet N Wild Ebony Hates Chris.  I don't think I will be using this one any more.  It always starts to wear off about the 2nd day.  You will notice that my ring finger with Essie Good as Gold has no tip wear or chipping.  

I need a good black, any recommendations?  I picked up Sinful Colors Black on Black, we will see if that one holds up any better.

Glitter toppers are so fun and you can do so much with them.  Right now, I am loving the matte glitters, I am sure there will be more in the near future ;)

Happy Hump Day!

XOXO  Mandy

Pretty & Polished: Bashful Bouquet (2 ways) NCC April~Pastel~Week 1

Afternoon everyone!  I am excited to be back into my challenge group again, known as The Nail Challenge Collaborative.  We have done weekly themes for the seasons all through last year.  I unfortunately, didn't finish the last 2 :(  April marks the 1 year anniversary of the group and I am excited to still be here and join the new challenge.  Things have changed a bit, and I quite like these changes.  It will make it easier for me to keep going with the challenge themes.  Instead of having a pre planned weekly schedule, we are going to have a them for each month.  We can do what ever we want each week of that month for the theme.  Make sense?  Ok, so our first ever challenge was a pastel one, wanna see mine?  Click HERE,  little nutty huh?  That was back when I first started blogging.  Any who, since our first challenge was a pastel one, the theme for April is pastel ;)  I have been saving this polish for this challenge cause I find it very appropriate.  Pretty & Polished Bashful Bouquet is a mix of pastel glitters in a clear base.  FUN!  I did my mani 2 ways, glossy top coat and matte top coat.  Which do you like best?

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Base Color:  Zoya Shelby (2 coats)

Glitter Topper:  Pretty & Polished Bashful Bouquet (1 coat)

Top Coat:  Seche Vite (glossy)

Top Coat:  Essie Matte About You (matte)

I prefer the matte look.  It's so soft and pretty.  I often forget about my matte top coat.  I think I am gonna leave it next to my Seche Vite so I can see it all the time :)

There are a few of us doing the NCC challenge.  Please head over and visit their blogs, great stuff!!

XOXO  Mandy

ASBMF #8 Matte Magic

It's time for another spring challenge mani.  Number 8 is Matte Magic.  I have to admit, I was a little worried about this one,  I didn't have a matte top coat and every time I hit the store, there weren't any Essie's Matte About You.  Luckily, when I ordered my set of Kleancolor Holos, it came with a matte top coat, YAY!!  What is the best type of matte mani?  In my opinion, a flakie one!  I have just one flakie, Essie Shine of the Times.  I love this flakie.  It looks so different over different colors.  I chose to use blue as my base color.  It's nice and sunny here, a bright blue seemed fitting.  Here is what it looked like

Base Coat:  Seche REBUILD

Base Color:  Sinful Colors Midnight Blue

Top Coat:  Kleancolors Madly Matte

Hunger Games: Stone Cold

Seems everyone is familiar with the Hunger Games books and the movie coming out.  I however had never heard of it.  I probably wouldn't have heard of the China Glaze Hunger Games Line if it weren't for PAA
I was excited to get Stone Cold, a gray matte with a little sparkle.  I don't have any matte's so this was a biggie for me.  I was able to order a couple on sale with free shipping, YAY!!!
So here is my take on this polish.  I don't love it, and that makes me sad.  I do think that with a little more practice, I will grow to love it.
I put on my first coat and was a little surprised how uneven it went on.  I used a thicker 2nd coat and that helped a lot.  You have to be real careful when cleaning up your cuticles, if you get polish remover on your nail, it will take off a bit of the top layer and you will be left with a silver spot in your polish.  You will notice that I have a few of those.
It's totally weird not to use a top coat, if you do, you will make this a shiny finish.  Wondering if I needed to use a matte top coat.
Thoughts?  Suggestions?  All are appreciated, Thank You!!!

Base Coat:  Seche Rebuild

Base Color:  China Glaze Stone Cold

Top Coat:  None

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