OPI Samoan Sand

Beige nude jelly. I bought it to try the mannequin hands trend that was popular a few years ago.

The formula is sheer but not streaky. It seems like it could be a good jelly sandwich polish. However, I’m not sure if the shade works as my mannequin hands. Do you think it suits my skin tone?

Thanks for looking!

Polish peels:
• Michelle Base (1 coat)
• OPI Samoan Sand (3 coats)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (1 coat)

Smitten Polish Glass Elevator

Pale milky aqua base with micro light blue glitter and small iridescent aqua hexes. This was my Christmas manicure; my first Indie polish! Since this country is tropical, I figured I could at least have a white Christmas on my nails (:

I found the formula good. The base is sheer enough to let the glitter show, yet is opaque in three coats (please ignore the spot I missed on my pinky). There’s enough iridescent glitter to go around, no fishing required. I do love the overall icy feel this polish has; it’s a great introduction to the world of Indie brands.

I bought this polish from Shoppe Eclecticco. They carry a good range of Indie brands from Emily de Molly to Rainbow Honey. They also have some commercial brands like Layla and Nfu Oh. And the best part is that they ship internationally so anyone can buy from them.

Polish peels:
• NailTek Foundation II (1 coat)
• Smitten Polish Glass Elevator (3 coats)
• American Classics Gelous (1 coat)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (1 coat)

Polish Days: Geometry

I’m so excited to be participating in my first Polish Days! It’s an event organized by Hannah for bloggers to post a themed mani simultaneously across the world.

Essie Lapis Of Luxury & Orly Snowcone

While both polishes are in the cornflower blue category, Lapis Of Luxury has a bit more periwinkle. It’s not so obvious in the picture above but definitely noticeable in person (as shown in the sunlight shots below).

Unless you have a soft spot for cornflower blues, I’d say you don’t need both. I’m keeping them both because Snowcone is great as an opaque cream but I do love my squishy polishes too!

Thanks for looking!

Polish peels:
• Essie Lapis Of Luxury (3 coats) – index and ring fingers
• Orly Snowcone (1 coat) – middle and little fingers

LA Girl Hustle

Collection: Disco Brites

Bright violet crelly (jelly-cream hybrid). This is one of my favorites as it was my first purple when my stash was still small. I love the color but recent attempts to swatch this has proven it to be a PITA.

The pictures you see are the third time I’m swatching this. The formula used to be great but it keeps bubbling on me now. Maybe it needs more thinner? Still, the gorgeous color is worth it.

Thanks for looking!

Polish peels:
• NailTek Foundation II (1 coat)
• LA Girl Hustle (3 coats)

Essie Lapis Of Luxury

Collection: Resort (2010 Summer)

Periwinkle cornflower blue jelly-cream hybrid (crelly). I hesitated on getting this for the longest time, thinking that Orly Snowcone was a dupe. But when finally put it on, I loved it!

Although this takes three coats to even out the streakiness, I didn't mind at all. Look at that shine! It also levels out pretty well as no top coat was used in the pictures.

Thanks for looking!

Polish peels:
• Essie Lapis Of Luxury (3 coats)

Strawberry Jelly Sandwich

My first jelly sandwich! What is that? It's basically glitter sandwiched between two jelly layers. Since jelly polishes are not meant to be opaque, it showcases the glitter underneath it beautifully. It's been popular on the Nail Board for a while and I thought, why not try it with a black glitter instead? I had the idea to try it with a red jelly and thought that it would be perfect for Chinese New Year since red is considered an auspicious color.

Does this remind you of strawberries? Because this is what it makes me think of! Essie First Dance is a neutral tone red jelly-cream and I love how squishy it is. I secretly wanted to lick my nails because they looked so yummy!

Since First Dance is a little opaque as a jelly, I tried to do the second coat as thinly as possible. I also gave extra dry time for the glitter to set as the brush can drag the glitter around, as seen in the bald spot in my middle finger.

Thanks for looking!

Polish sandwich:
• China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat (1 coat)
• Essie First Dance (1 coat)
• L.A. Girl Uninhibited (1 coat)
• Essie First Dance (1 coat)
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat (1 coat)