SANTA PEPPERMINT NAILS

Merry Christmas Eve!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones. And make sure to not only cherish your loved ones this holiday season but all year round.

Products Used:

• Glitter is China Glaze's "Pure Joy"
• 3D Santa hat from Born Pretty Store (Item ID: 9402) 
• Red is OPI's "The Thrill of Brazil"
• White nail art polish
• Seche Vite Top Coat

Don't forget to use my code GYL91 at Born Pretty Store for 10% off your order!

Happy Holidays! I am so grateful to have every single one of you.

Products in this post were provided for review

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S AUDREY HEPBURN NAILS

This look was inspired by Breakfast At Tiffany's! I love this Audrey Hepburn gem.

Products Used:

• China Glaze "For Audrey"
• White nail art polish
• Pearls from amazon
• Chain from a store my friend got me when she went to Japan
• Audrey Hepburn 3D gem from Born Pretty Store (Item ID 9802 #2)

Don't forget to use my code GYL91 for 10% off at Born Pretty Store!

Products in this post were provided for review

3D CHRISTMAS TREE & WREATH NAILS

I don't think I've ever been this festive around the Holidays. There's something about everyone being so nice and the lights making everything look pretty that you can't help but feel all good and merry inside :)

Products Used:

• Green glitter is China Glaze's "This Is Tree-Mendous" from HB Beauty Bar (use my code "MODNAILS" for 10% off)
• Green is Essie's "Mojito Madness" topped with China Glaze's "Fairy Dust"
• 3D Wreath From Born Pretty Store (Item ID 9401)
• 3D Tree from Born Pretty Store (Item ID 9400)

Use my code "GYL91" at Born Pretty Store for 10% off! Please be aware that they do ship from Asia so keep shipping time in mind when you order things! 

And make sure to visit HB Beauty Bar for the latest collections including OPI's "Mariah Carey" and China Glaze's "Holiglaze" !and don't forget to use my code "MODNAILS" for 10% off.

Products in this post were provided for review

CHRISTMAS SWEATER NAILS

If you haven't shopped at Born Pretty Store you are missing out. They have the most amazing nail art gems. Nail wraps, water decals, 3D stones and gems, spikes, lace, studs, rhinestones, and everything you can possibly think of.

These are their Christmas nail wraps:

To purchase these click here or search for item ID: 9839 in #3. Don't forget to use code "GYL91" for 10% off your entire order!

I've used nail wraps before and these were THE BEST I have ever used. So easy to apply, they stick on so well, easy to fill off, and they fit so natural on the nail! With Sally Hansen's I've had them come out rough at the cuticles.

Bonus: These glow in the dark without a black light. I didn't even realize it until I went to bed last night and saw that my fingernails were glowing SO bright.

Products in this post were provided for review

CHINA GLAZE HOLIGLAZE COLLECTION

I love the glitters that China Glaze comes out with during the holidays! They're always so pretty and opaque in just a few coats. This look features China Glaze's "Put A Bow On It" from the Holiglaze collection.

Products Used:

• China Glaze's "Put A Bow On It"
• Ring finger is China Glaze's "Glistening Snow" 
• Essie's "Set In Stones" topped over it
• Seche Vite
• Bow from Japan

You can grab all your favorite OPIs and China Glazes plus more at HB Beauty Bar! Don't forget to use my code "MODNAILS" for 10% off!

PLEASE VOTE FOR MY CHRISTMAS NAILS!

I entered the China Glaze Holiday nail contest where the grand prize is $1,000. The first round is all up to votes. I'd super appreciate it if you voted for my entry!!!

Please vote for my nail art look! To vote you can click here or follow this link: http://www.chinaglaze.com/chinaglazevoting/index.php?photo=545

It only takes a few clicks!

Here are the Christmas nails that I entered:

Products Used:

• Green is China Glaze's "Def Defying"
• Red is OPI's "The Thrill of Brazil"
• Glitter is China Glaze's "Fairy Dust"
• White is OPI's "Alpine Snow"
• Seche Vite Top Coat
• Dotting tool to paint the Christmas Tree
• Make up sponges for the gradient

I love Christmas time. I've decked out my place with Christmas decorations galore and my work office.  Plus it helps that people are in such a good mood and not their usual grumpy selves.

SANTA & REINDEER NAIL TUTORIAL

Here is another Christmas tutorial! Watch my video to learn how to do these cute Santa & Reindeer nails. Sorry for the super annoying music, it was the only Rudolph song that I could use in my video so it would be viewable on mobile devices!

HOW TO TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR NAILS FOR BLOGGING & INSTAGRAM

One of the questions I get asked a lot is how I take my pictures and what I use for watermarking. Over the past year I've gotten better at it from practice.

I take my pictures with my iPhone 4S using the Camera + app. I make sure to wipe my camera lens before so the picture is clear. I place my hand under my white fluorescent desk lamp and take about 20 pictures in a span of one minute. 

Sometimes it's SO hard to take a picture of a mani with dark colors. When I do a red or purple mani it never shows up like it looks in real life. I always try to use the bottle that will make my fingers look like they're in white light as opposed to yellow. I take the picture a little far away to where you can see my hand then crop it. Camera + lets you crop it in a square instagram ready shape. 

To watermark I use "iWatermark." You can also use "typerdrawing" to do a curved watermark around your cuticles but I suck at making it look like a natural curve. 

Let me know if you have any questions I can answer! 

EASY SNOWMAN NAILS TUTORIAL

Here's a simple tutorial on how to get these cute snowman nails!

PURPLE AND TEAL GRADIENT MANI

I decided to recreate one of the first manis I ever did. This was the mani that first gained a lot of views and reposts all over the internet. It's crazy what a year of practice can do. Here's a before and after:

Before:

After:

Products Used:

• China Glaze's "For Audrey"
• China Glaze's "Spontaneous"
• Microbeads from Michael's Craft Store (Brand is Recollections)
• Studs from www.dollarnailart.com

Things I've learned in the last year:

• Lighting is everything when taking your picture. I place my fingers under my fluorescent white desk lamp. I use the app on my iPhone 4S "Camera +" to take my pictures.
• Use a pointy q-tip to clean up around the edges. Messy fingers ruin everything
• Keep your cuticles moisturized! Use cuticle oil every day. Nobody wants to see ratchet cuticles
• Make sure each layer of your gradient dries a little before you sponge on more color

CLASSY SNOWFLAKE CHRISTMAS NAILS

One more snowflake mani! I don't use my stamping plates as often as I should. There's so many cute snowflake images I wanted to use.

Black is OPI's "Black Onyx" and snowflake stamp is from Bundle Monster plate BM14. Microbeads are from Michael's Craft Store. They brand is "Recollections." 

I topped the black over with a matte top coat and once it dried I stamped the snowflakes on my middle finger and thumb with black konad polish to get the shiny effect. 

Rhinestones were added after everything dried with nail art glue!

SNOWFLAKE WINTER NAILS

Now that I'm back in town and Thanksgiving is over I'm back at it! Here is the first of many winter / holiday looks. I love this look, it looks so elegant in person and the blue is a perfect winter color!

Products Used:

• OPI's "Alpine Snow"
• China Glaze's "So Blue Without You"
• Konad white polish
• Snowflake stamp using W120 from Winstonia Store
• Seche Vite

Make sure to use my code MODNAILS for 10% off at HB Beauty Bar! They will be adding a LOT of OPIs very soon!!!

Happy winter :)

Products in this post were provided for review

CHANEL INSPIRED NAILS

I saw Khloe Kardashian post these nails a while ago and I've always wanted to try them out.

After getting Chanel decals from www.SighStar.com I decided to finally do them.

I used black acrylic paint from the paint drips. Base color is OPI's "Glints of Glinda." I added a matte top coat over it all.

To apply the Chanel decal I cut the design I wanted out, removed the plastic, dipped the decal in water for 15 seconds, slid it off with my finger (I suggest wetting your nail before so you can move the decal around in case you don't place it where you quite want it at first), applied it on my nails, and added top coat. Then a matte top coat.

Get these decals and more at www.SighStar.com ! Only a little over a dollar for each decal and they're so pretty and you can't even tell they're decals.

Products in this post were provided for review

FALL 2013 SUPER BLACK LACQUERS BY NATALIE DEE

The new Fall 2013 collection from Super Black Lacquers is out and they're beauuutiful! Three of the four polishes are holo and they apply so easily and are opaque in just two coats. And if you have the patience to wait you don't even need a top coat the finishing is so shiny!

This first one is "Spanked" and it's a pink holo. So beautiful.

This second one is "heather" and it's my favorite from my collection (have you noticed my favorite color is purple?). IT'S SO PRETTY. I can't stop staring at my nails when I have tis on. 

This gold is "Guilty" and it's a light yellowish gold. Another holo. Super pretty and perfect for fall, it reminds me of Autumn.

This last one is "3RD Degree" and it's perfect for fall or winter. It's a metallic orange red and opaque in two coats.

All these looks were two coats and one coat of top coat. But like I said you can use them without top coat the finish is so shiny. The holos were to die for. Pictures do not do them justice. Make sure to grab yours at Super Black Lacquer!

Products in this post were provided for review

BLUE AND GOLD HOLIDAY MANI

Maybe this isn't too holiday-ish but it looks like it to me. I saw the half blue and half gold studded nails on this month's issue of Nail It Magazine and I fell in love with it!

Products Used:

• Keeping Suzi at Bay from HB Beauty Bar (Use my code MODNAILS for 10% off!)
• Essie's "Good as Gold"
• Studs from Born Pretty Store (Item ID 4993 use my code GYL91 for 10% off!)
• Stamping plate BM 402 from Bundle Monster
• Seche Vite Top Coat

I lovve this blue. It's a deep perfect blue and I thought the gold went well with it.

Products in this post were provided for review

MIX & MATCH LEOPARD STUDDED CHEVRON NAILS

I couldn't decide what design I wanted so I came up with a mix & match design that includes leopard spots, a chevron design, a few studded nails, and glitter!

Products Used:

• Nude base is OPI's "Glints of Glinda"
• Black is OPI's "Black Onyx"
• Gold glitter is OPI's "All Sparkly and Gold" from HB Beauty Bar (Use my code MODNAILS for 10% off)
• Chevron stamp from Bundle Monster (Stamping plate BM 423)
• Gold studs from Born Pretty Store (Item ID 2860, use my code GYL91 for 10% off)
• Black studs from Born Pretty Store (Item ID 5471, use my code GYL91 for 10% off)
• Small pearls from Tmart.com 
• Infinity charm from Hex Nail Jewelry
• Seche Vite Top Coat

I loved everything I used for this look. I applied the studs and pearls with nail art glue. This is probably one of my favorite looks I've created so I made sure to put nail art glue this time instead of just top coat like I usually do.

Thank you to HB Beauty Bar, Born Pretty Store, Hex Nail Jewelry, and Tmart for all of these amazing goods!

Products in this post were provided for review

OPI MISS UNIVERSE COLLECTION 2013

The new OPI Miss Universe Collection is a limited edition three piece set which includes "I'm Feeling Sashy" "Miss You-niverse" and "This Gown Needs A Crown".

It's now available at HB Beauty Bar for $7.95 each and if you use my code "MODNAILS" at checkout you get 10% off!

This first look is "This Gown Needs A Crown" and I'm in lovvve. It's a satin finish and it has a cute little crown jewel on the bottle. This is three coats, no top coat. Back in April my friend went to Japan and brought me back so many amazing nail art gems, I used one of them on my accent nail. I haven't been able to find them online :( I use nail glue to apply the charms. It doesn't damage my natural nail and it stays on for 2-3 days (this gem is pretty heavy). Perfect for a night out!

This next look is a gradient using "I'm Feeling Sashy" and "Miss You-niverse". One is with a matte top coat and the other is with Seche Vite Top Coat. I also added some roses!

Grab these limited edition polishes soon before they run out! I couldn't choose a favorite. They're all so pretty and purple is my favorite color so of course I loved it.

Products in this post were provided for review

XOXO NAIL CANDY POLIShES

I haven't tried many holographic nail polishes until now and maybe it's just XOXO Nail Candy polishes but I am in looooove. Now I know what all the hype is about.

This first one is a gradient using "Sitting On A Fluffy Cloud" and "Unheard Prayers" from the Heavenly Holo collection (the purple bottle I'm holding). Both took only ONE coat of polish. There was so much coverage on one stroke. The holographic glitter in these polishes is amazing.

This next look is "Pretty In Purple," a glitter top coat, over OPI's "My Vampire is Buff." It's a glitter with stars, hearts, hexagons, and diamonds. It's such a fitting name since it really is such a pretty purple glitter.

"Clown Hugs" is one of my favorites. This is over OPI's "Black Onyx." This glitter top coat is so fun. I added a matte top coat over it. It reminds me of the clown maze at Knotts Scary Farm haha but in a good way. I love this.

This last look is "Unsinfully Nude" and "I Want A Pink Holo Halo." More gorgeous holo-ness!

My favorite is "Unheard Prayers," probably because purple is my favorite color and the holographic glitter is mesmerizing.

Make sure to grab some bottles, perfect for the holidays!

Products in this post were provided for review

SPONGEBOB NAILS

I got these water decals from Sigh Star and I couldn't wait to use them.

Products Used:

• Yellow is Sally Hansen's "Mellow Yellow"
• Spongebob Water Decals from www.sighstar.com
• Matte top coat (One by Calvin Klein)

Sigh Star has so many pretty water decals be sure to get yours! These Spongebob ones are only $2.35!

Products in this post were provided for review

HAPPY BELATED HALLOWEEN!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween! I had to come up with a super quick last minute outfit so I had one of the common costumes ever, a cat haha. I bought a pair of ears at Party City and wore all black, painted the whiskers and nose and voila. I'm sad Halloween is over but that just means Thanksgiving is almost here and I finally get to see my family!

Here are the nails I sported on Halloween:

Products Used:

• OPI's "Brights Power"
• OPI's "Black Onyx"
• Rhinestones from amazon
• Halloween decals from Born Pretty Store (Item ID 8679)
• Seche Vite Top Coat

I definitely recommend getting some Holiday decals from Born Pretty Store! They're so easy to apply stay on as long as the nail polish stays on. I did these nails on Tuesday and they're still on and no chip. 

Don't forget to use my code GYL91 for 10% off at Born Pretty Store, they also offer free worldwide shipping!

What was your costume this Halloween?

Products in this post were provided for review