Olympics Mani and something even better....

So, as everyone in the world will know by now London is currently hosting the Olympics. I lived in London for years and years and specifically in East London, about a 15 minute walk to the Olympic Stadium. It's a great place and I've really enjoyed seeing how it's developed.

Of course I wanted to do a mani to celebrate the Olympics so here it is. The stamping isn't the best, in fact I messed up the index finger and re-did it a few times but it never got to look any better. Oh well, you get the point!

For the base I used 2 coats of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls from the Spriderman collection. The formula on this was OK but it was a little streaky so I did have to work with it a bit. The then used Barry M Gold and Silver and OPI Take The Stage for the medals and drew in the podium and ribbons with Color Club nail stripers. The glitter is Barry M Britannia because I just had to fit it in somewhere.

I really did have trouble with the stamping on this mani and the green and red are both Konad polishes so I don't know why. My nails are pretty curved so I don't think that helps but I also got smudging from Cult Nails Wicked Fast so I think I need to try a new topcoat for stamping too.

Anyway, I got a lot of compliments and this mani was such fun. I even got to wear it to the Olympic villiage to see the water polo - make sure you scroll down to see the pics!!

And here's what I used:

And finally, the Olympics: here's the main stadium - look at the weather!!

The water polo centre: This was just at the start of the game - this is the Italian team

Look at them, aren't they gorgeous??!!

This is one of my most favourite London icons - Tower Bridge. All dressed up for the Olympics, isn't she beautiful? I just had to show you. Hope you've enjoyed this all just a tiny bit as much as I did.

Candeo Colors Deep Space

I was extremely fortunate to be able to get some polishes from Candeo Colours when Melinda opened her shop about a month ago. Actually my super speedy fingers managed to get 3 of them but so far I have only worn Deep Space so that is what I have to show today.

I am super excited this week though because clinics have finished for the summer so I have about 6 weeks of full time polish wearing ahead of me, I might even get through some of these untrieds..... you never know!

OK, Deep Space is a kind of sheerish green base with tiny glitters and larger holo hex glitters which shine orange, green and purple. I know that's probably not the best description but I had to make one up because I couldn't fine one!

I layered 2 coats of Deep Space over a coat of OPI Cuckoo for this Color which actually turned out to be a great match. The glitters were very smooth and I used 1 layer of topcoat

Also, I would just like to mention that Melinda at Candeo has wonderful customer service. I did have a small problem with a mini I bought from her a while back and she was super nice to deal with and sent me a full sized replacement.

Candeo can be bought here during one of the flash sales or at Llarowe. Both ship internationally.

piCture pOlish Denim

This is my very first piCture pOlish (although I also was happy to get Monroe at the same time!) and I was so lucky to get it from one of my awesome Australian polish friends as a gift.

This polish is a sort of cool toned blue with a hint of purple, a bit like a cornflower shade. I has a hint of shimmer and tiny flakies too. Very pretty indeed. I really liked this one and will definately wear it again.

This was 2 coats, the formula was great but I'm a bit of a slow polisher so I had to be a bit quicker with this one. It looked great with one layer of topcoat and wore really well in the 3 days I had it on. I even got a compliment from my boss on this one so it can't be bad!!

Enjoy.

Deborah Lippmann Mermaid's Dream

First off this is a long term lemming of mine and I was lucky enough to aquire it from one of my polish BFF's, well acutally her awesome husband picked it up for me.... how amazing is that?? I think I need to be doing some training with my man.... ha ha!

I don't own many Deborah Lippmanns but the ones I do I absolutely love. The formulas are great and who could resist that bottle, it's luxury to me! You know that feeling when something you've wanted for ages doesn't quite match up to what you've been imagining it to be, well this polish is NOT that problem. It is absolutely gorgeous, in fact if I had realised how beautiful it is I would have bought it myself long ago. I actually wore it for about 4 days and these photos were taken on day 3... that's how good the formula is. Also, it was actually pretty easy to remove too.

Deborah Lippmann Mermaid's Dream is a green gold shimmer with an aqua blue base and blue glitters throughout, that's probably not a perfect description but it's as close as I'm going to get.

I used 2 coats for this mani and just so you know, this is one hungry polish! I used 2 coats of topcoat and it was still gritty so a further coat of Gelous and topcoat then sorted it out. It was well worth it, it's just stunning. I think everyone should own this one.

Whimsical Ideas By Pam: Seuss

Now, these aren't really the most fabulous pictures but I had to post this because I was so excited when I got my Whimsical Ideas by Pam order and her polishes are actually more gorgeous than I thought they would be.

This is Seuss. Yes, as in Dr Suess and Cat in the Hat for those people that remember - well I needed the polish just for the name didn't I?!

This polish is a blue jelly base with a meduim sized red hex glitter and a large silver hex glitter. I used 2 coats and it gave almost full coverage (tiny bit of VNL) and I was surprised by how smooth the polish was, it took only 1 coat of topcoat to be completely smooth.

In all I love this polish and I'm so glad I have 2 more of Pam's to try in my stash. I think they are great quality, reasonable and I love the bottles and the ordering system. Pam rocks!! I just wish she offered international shipping.

Details of how to order can be found on Pam's facebook page: here

GOSH Holographic 549

So continuing my holographic theme here's GOSH Holographic.

I probably don't need to say anymore do I?

I have to admit I caved and paid a lot for mine on ebay, but it was oh so worth it. BUT if you are thinking of doing the same DON'T! It's being re-released apparently in August so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the formula is the same. I don't think I'll quite believe it until it's on my nails but if it is I'll ceratinly be stocking up I can tell you.

GOSH Holographic is an amazing linear silver holographic. I don't think there is anything quite like it myself. It's a pretty small bottle at 8ml so I saved it by just using one coat over my Nails Inc Royal Mews which is also silver holo (here). I found it pretty easy to apply but that was probably because I already had a base.

Please DO NOT use a topcoat with this, from what I found it will ruin the holo effect. I haven't extensively tried all my topcoats with GOSH holographic but I really think the best thing is just to accept this is an awesome mani which will last only a few days.

Anyway, here's the awesomeness:

Here's what the bottle looks like:

GOSH also did a base coat to use with this polish. I was lucky enough to get one but I didn't use it here, I will next time though.

HITS Afrodite

I'm finally getting around to posting my last mani of my vacation... and it was HITS Afrodite. Now, I have to say it is pretty but I was a bit disappointed in it. Maybe it was because I had been wearing really beautiful linear holo's for the previous week and this is a more subtle scattered holo ,or maybe because I found the application and brush to be a nightmare.

Now just to clarify HITS do tend to be known for their bad brushes but really this was HUGE. Also, I was painting in the heat and the polish just went stringy on the brush as I was appliying it. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if I had been in a cooler temperature, I don't know but I do know that I won't be taking it on vacation again.

Anyway, it is a beautiful sort of pinky coral colour which is just perfect on my pale skintone. This was 2 coats and all I could bear to apply!

Enjoy!

Jade Psicoldelica

Today is the insanely holo Jade Psicoldelica.

This is an in your face silver holo, there just isn't much more to say than that!

I did get a few bubbles with this but I was painting either in the heat or the air conditioning so I guess it should be expected.

I'm loving these Jade's and can't wait to get my next ones.

This was 2 coats and topcoat:

Jade polishes can be ordered from LLarowe or Ninja Polish.

Jade Holographic Delirio Rosa

So it's time for more holo's...........

Today it's Jade Holographic Delirio Rosa. This is a gorgeous bright pink strong linear holographic polish.

I was lucky enough to get this in an awesome swap with a lovely lady from Brazil and I really enjoyed wearing it. The formula was great, this was 2 coats and the holo effect wasn't dulled by a topcoat at all.

The pictures don't really do this holo justice, it was a lot more holo than I could capture but it's pretty in these pictures anyway so enjoy!!

Jade is stocked by Llarowe and Ninja Polish.