Hola!

Here is another way to achieve gradient nails without the hassel of using a cometic sponge/wedge.
No special tools necessary just your ordinary nail brush. 

Sometimes it such a pain to clean up after making gradient nails, so I wanted to show you guys another way to do them.  You can also do this method and then use a cosmetic sponge/wedge at the end of the process to give it a more blending effect & less mess! :) 

If you would like to see my post on Gradient Nails using a cosmetic wedge visit here .

Here is the mani I posted yesterday on my Instagram:

Nail products used for this mani are:

1.  Nail Life Gripper Basecoat
2.  Julie G Tangerine Dream, from the Gumdrop Collection
3.  OPI Magazine Cover Mouse, Liquid Sand
4.  OPI Jinx, Liquid Sand
5.  Pueen Stamping plate 40
6.  Stamping Color:  Wet n Wild Black Crème
7.  Seche Vite Top Coat (optional, only if you love a shiny finish)

Steps in achieving a gradient nails:

1.  Apply your favorite Basecoat.
2.  Apply Julie G Tangerine Dream to the upper part of the nail just 1/3 of the nail.  I applied two coats, wait for polish to dry between each coat.

3.  Now apply your second color which is OPI Magazine Cover Mouse to the other 2/3 part of the nail, the middle section.  Two coats.



4.  Then you apply your last color OPI Jinx to the bottom part of the nail.  Two Coats.



5.  Your nails should look like the pic below.  You can reapply in any area that needs to be reapplied. 



6.  Finish it with your favorite stamping design.  I chose Pueen plate 40.

7.  If you wish, you can also apply a topcoat to your texture nails.  I honestly love both looks.



I hope you enjoy my post!!  Which method do you prefer?  Or if you have another method to achieve gradient nails I would love to hear about it. :)

Hasta Luego amigos!

Swanette



How To Achieve Gradient Nails, A Picture Tutorial

Hola!

Here is tonights mani!  Its a gradient mani.  The gradient effect is fading two or more colors together on the nail creating a colorful mani.  There are many video showing how to achieve this look.  Its very easy, fun but messy. 

I used:

1.  A makeup Sponge Wedge.  (These are the ones that look like triangles)

2.  China Glaze White on White ( My base color:  applying white will make neons brighter)

3.  China Glaze Sun Worshiper (Color near cuticles)

4.  China Glaze Japanese Koi (Middle color)

5.  China Glaze Pool Party (nail tip color)

6.  Stamping plate Pueen 31

7.  Stamping color Wet n Wild Black Crème.

8.  Nail Life Gripper Base Coat.

9.  Seche Vite Top Coat

Here is my mani:



Steps:

1.  Start with your favorite Base Coat.

2.  Paint all your nails White.  Using white as a undie (base coat) helps neons appear more brighter.

3.  Take you makeup wedge and apply the three colors. 

4. Take the makeup wedge and dab it on your nail.  Pressing very lightly and you will see how the colors blend on your nails.  (For demonstrating purposes I didn't apply the white base here.  I just wanted to show you how to achieve a gradient effect.) 

5.  After you dab your sponge on the nail you should have a gradient effect like below.  I recommend you letting each coat dry and repeat the process until you have reach the desire effect.   Don't be alarm if you are left with an uneven look or maybe slightly rough look, because this will even out when you apply your top coat.



6.  Now you should apply a top coat.  This will help out smooth the nail, blend in the colors better and leave you with great base for your stamping. 

7.  After it dries you apply your stamping and finish off with your top coat! 

I hope you enjoyed my post and try it out too! 

Hasta Luego!

Swanette



Sally Beauty Supply Buy 1 Get 1 Deal!! 2 Days only!

Hola!!

Here is a great deal!!  Sally Beauty Supply has a Buy 1 Get 1 Deal on China Glaze, Orly or Gelish Soak-off Gel Polish.  Limit 2 per customer.  That means you can get 4 polishes.  This offer is valid in Puerto Rico too!! Yay!  This offer was posted on their facebook page:

So what did I get?? 

The four polishes I got are:
Left to right:  Sun Worshiper, Pool Party, In the lime Light and Japanese Koi.

I also got some clearance goodies.  I was lucky that my local Sally were still offering an additional 50% off clearance.  I got a China Glaze Nail Polish Appliques, A Nail Life Gripper Basecoat, six So Easy Stripe Rites plus two China glazes names Hawaiian Punch and VII.  Remember to ask if your store has any deal with clearance items, you might get lucky! :)

Are you stopping by your local Sallys??  If so what are you getting?  I would love to know.  Remember this deal is for 2 DAYS ONLY!!  Run! But be careful! lol

Hasta luego!!

Rica's 3-Free Glossy Glam Top Coat

Hola Chicas!!

I am so happy to present to you Rica's 3-Free Glossy Glam Top Coat.  You can find Ricarda on Instagram @justricarda, her blog is here and here is her Esty Shop .

I was so happy that she sent me her new Top Coat to try out.  I received it yesterday and just had to try it out immediately.  A picture has a thousand words, look below to see what this beautiful Top Coat does:

(This pic was taken indoors.)

Nail products used-  3 polishes from Orly Mineral FX Collection:  Stone Cold, Rococo A-Go-Go & Emberstone.  Stamping plate Red Angel 106.  Stamping Color:  Essie Good As Gold

 

(This pic was take outdoors.  It hasn't been sunny in Puerto Rico these couple of days.)

 

 

Now, lets continue....

 

What do I look for in a top coat?  Being a stampaholic the first thing I want from a top coat is that it DOESN'T smudge my nail stamping design.  Second, I want my mani to shine like a diamond!  Third, I would like it to dry fast, because I am a busy mom.

 

My thoughts.....

 

1.  I was amazed on how Glossy Glam didn't smudge my stamping.  Believe me when I tell you I have tried a lot of top coats and every single one has smudge my design except Seche Vite.  I even tried it immediately after stamping and No Smudging!! I just couldn't believe it!

 

2.  This beauty leaves your mani super shiny! Amazing!  Just like the name says Glossy Glam! :)

 

3.   My mani is also a gradient.  I used three polishes from Oryl Mineral FX collection.  Those polishes have glitter and dry to a rough texture.  I am happy to add that Glossy Glam Top Coat smooth out the glitter gradient and made a great base for me to stamp with just one coat!

 

4.  Last but not least, the drying time.  I have to admit she never said Glossy Glam was going to be a fast drying top coat, but my goodness it dries faster than many other top coats from leading brands which advertise fast drying top coat.   So I am very happy about that!

 

How do you get Rica's Glossy Glam Top Coat?

 

Follow her on Instagram @justricarda she posts on when her Glossy Glam Top Coat are available.  Act fast because these babies go super rapido!!
 

What do you think?  Are you going to purchase one?  Let me know in the comment section below!

 

 

Hasta Luego!!

Here is another pic I wanted to add, we finally got a little sunshine in Puerto Rico.  Hope you can appreciate it better.

 

 

 



How To Make Magical keys With Nail Polish!

Hola amigos!

Today I finally decided to add some Pizazz to my keys.  Transforming them from old ordinary key to Magical Keys!! :) 

I have seen this idea all over the internet.  People painting their keys with nail polish.  Its a great way to tell your keys apart and make them look beautiful.  I wanted to try this for the longest time and I am so happy I finally I did.

At first I started to paint them on a piece of paper and was going to paint one side first then the other, but  I realize that it would take too much time and maybe they would get smudged if I would turn them over too early.

So I got an idea!  I had a piece of Styrofoam laying around and decided to stick the keys in it.  It became a base for them to stand up and I could work on both sides.  It made painting easier and in less time.

 

 

 

 

Colors used:

 

1.  Left key is Sinful Colors Black on Black covered with Finger Paints Twisted Flakies. 

 

2.  Right key is China Glaze I'm With the Lifeguard covered with Krafty Gurl Indie Polish in Melon Mania.

 

To seal in the colors I used Seche Vite Top Coat. 

 

This is such a cool Idea.  You can pizazz your keys in so many different ways.  Have you tried this yet? 

 

I hope you enjoy this post!

 

Hasta luego!!

Simple Delicate Mani Using A54 Stamping Plate

Saludos chicas y chicos!

Here I have another plate from the A Series.  Its A54, I used it today to  make a nice simple mani using some Bettina Polishes. 

Bettina Polishes is a brand made in Puerto Rico, until recently you could only find them in the island, but now you can find them also in South Florida.  You can see their whole line of Cosmetics here http://bettinacosmetics.com/ .   Bettina polishes are very opaque polishes and apply very well.  I really like to use Bettina, especially for stamping.  A lot of their cream polishes have the right consistency for stamping. 

Ingredients to this simple delicate mani:

1.  Index and pinky Bettina 192 Lyrical

2.  Middle Finger:  Bettina Glamour Celebrate

3.  Ring finger:  Base color is Bettina Marshmallow, stamping plate A54, Stamping colors:  Bettina Art Deco Brown & Bettina Glamor Celebrate.

4.  I stamped two times on the ring finger. I stamped the whole design using Bettina Art Deco Brown  and then I stamped using Bettina Glamor Celebrate only the palm leaves.

Espero que te haya gustado!  I hope you enjoyed my mani!

Hasta Luego!



Stamping with plate A47

Hola!
I hope everyone had a great Monday! 

Tonight I took out my A Series plates, I had them stored away in a small wooden box.  A Series plates are stamping plates made in China.  I don't know the brand I just know them by A series plates.  I purchased them on Aliexpress.com a long time ago.   These plates are larger than your regular stamping plates like Bundle Monster and even larger than Cheekys Summer plates.  The images are very large, great for long nails and even toe nails.  You can also find them on Ebay.  I do recommend you look for a good seller, remember to read their feedback, read about their shipping fees, especially if buying on Aliexpress.com.  Its very important to do so because you might get low quality plates, which is a downside when buying on Aliexpress.com.

I have to add something very important in this post.  These plates have NO backing cover on them and are EXTREMELY sharp.  Believe me I have cut myself a few times with them...ouch!  I tried to file them down but they are still sharp.  Please be careful handling them. 

Here is plate A57:

I honestly don't know what these images represent, but I think they look beautiful. Below is the mani I posted on Instagram.  A friend on Instagram said that my mani look like a design you would find on a antique Holland plate.  What do you think these images are?  Let me know in the comment section below!

Nail products used:

1.  I applied Bettina Marshmallow to all my nails as my base color.

2.  Stamping plate A47

3.  Stamping color is Bettina Jeans Over Dyed.

Hasta Luego!