Ciate Caviar Inspired Nails -- The Look for Less

 

(CLICK THE PICTURES TO ENLARGE FOR DETAIL)

Ciate has come up with this caviar manicure trend and I thought it was quite interesting.  I saw this new trend on Sephora's website and I was considering purchasing the kit.  The kit on sephora.com is $25 and comes with the microbeads and polish (white with white beads, black with black beads, and pink with multicolored microbeads).  I tried to look online at craft stores to see if they sold microbeads and I ended up finding them at Michael's.  The ones I purchased came in a pack of 6 for about $3.  They were originally around $6 but luckily when I went to the store they were half off.  This brand was "Recollections" and it is sold in the scrapbook section of the store.

Honestly you can achieve the same look for a cheaper price if you just look around for these microbeads.  Martha Stewart also has a bunch of different colored microbeads that you can buy on amazon.  If you buy them online you can choose from many other different color choices and still get the same look for less.  

WHAT YOU NEED:

Nail polish for base coat (color of your choice)

Microbeads (Color of your choice)

Basin or box to catch microbeads (I've used the cover for a blank CD spindle or the lid from a tin container)

*optional -- funnel to put excess beads back in container (I used a little funnel that came with my sephora perfume atomizer)

                --Topcoat (I've found that the beads stay on longer when topcoat is applied)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) I first painted one coat of nail polish (for these I used a plain white Wet n Wild and Sally Hansen blackout polish) on all of my fingernails and let it dry.

Now comes the fun part - applying the beads.  

*Make sure you work on one nail at a time when applying the microbeads*

You are going to work over the basin or box or whatever container you are using to catch the fallout.  

2) Paint a second coat on your nail (again we need to do one nail at a time), and while the nail is still wet, sprinkle the microbeads all over your nail.  The amount of beads to sprinkle depends on the look you want to achieve.  You may want your entire nail covered, or you may just want a nice widespread arrangement so that part is up to you.

3) Once you've got the beads onto your fingernail, slowly and carefully pat the beads onto your nails.  This will hold them better in place.  I usually just shake my nail to see if any extra beads will fall off.  

*Repeat steps 1-3 to complete the entire hand*

4) Let your nails dry for about 15 minutes-20 minutes.

*optional: Apply topcoat.  When I have beads or rhinestones on my nails, I've found that applying topcoat really makes a difference in preventing them from falling off.  If you plan on keeping them on your nails for awhile I suggest using a topcoat.  The microbeads will usually last about 1-2 days.  

TO CLEAN UP: You can use a funnel or a rolled up piece of paper to place the extra microbeads back into the container to conserve them.

And there you have it, a lovely caviar manicure!! 

  

 

peachy keen!

I love China Glaze's "Peachy Keen".  I decided to mattify them for a different effect.  I also cut up some tape to do the bandage effect and used Revlon's "Gold Coin".  Perfect spring mani!!

P.S. it may look more orange cuz of my weird lighting, but it's really very peach-y

Hunger Games nail series - District 12 theme

For this one, I actually used a polish from the China Glaze Hunger Games line.  I decided to do a District 12 theme from the book/movie, which is a coal mining town.  The main grayish base color is Hook & Line from the Hunger Games nail polish line.  For the thumb, I used Nails Inc Magnetic Polish in Trafalgar Square and used the China Glaze magnetix magnet.  For the index and ring finger,  I stamped a design that is similar to the design on the book cover.  I used the BM19 nail stamping plate.  For the thumb and pinky I added OPI's black shatter to represent the coal.  My shatter is kinda thick now so it looks really chunky but it fit the theme.

Hunger Games Effie Trinket Reaping nails

For this Hunger Games inspired mani, I decided to do Effie Trinket's nails during the reaping.  Unfortunately it's hard to get the colors exact because of lighting issues, and cuz I didn't have the exact colors but I tried to find something close.  I used China Glaze's "Traffic Jam" for the magenta base color and then using a makeup sponge I applied Revlon's "Gold Coin" using the gradient effect application for the tips of the nails.  For added glitter effect, I used China Glaze's "Fairy Dust" as a top coat.

Connect The Dots!!

Soo...... I am so excited because I finally own the infamous Connect The Dots nail polish, especially hand-made by Lynnderella!! This thing is so hard to get your hands on.  Thanks to Llarowe I finally have it! Check out Leah Ann's shop at shop.llarowe.com.  Her shop is where I previously won a bunch of nail polishes from her shop and they are all so amazing.  I swatched "Connect the Dots" on my sister's nails because she had a very pastel purple (China Glaze "Light as Air") painted on her nails and I wanted to see what it looked like on it. I LOVE THIS STUFF!! probably going to do some swatches with some other colors later on.

Easter Nails