Faded Florals ♥

Hey all!  Yesterday, I decided to give The Beauty Department's faded florals mani a whirl.  I used their tutorial to make the faded florals, but added my own touch to it by adding leaves.  I also used similar colors instead of all different ones. 

The colors I used for my version shown above are:
Victoria's Secret Cocktail (base color for non white nails)
OPI Don't Touch My Tutu! (white base color)
Sephora by OPI Caliente Coral (florals)
SinfulColors Island Coral (florals)
Julep Niecy (florals)
China Glaze Starboard (leaves)
OPI Pirouette My Whistle (glitter)

Instead of using a creme white base, I chose a sheer white to get a softer look.  On the none floral nails, I also added diluted white and pink, then topped it with OPI PMW.  I actually like the above version better in my pictures, but on me I didn't.  So I took off the non floral nails and revised them to get the look below:

In this version, I used OPI DTMT! topped with China Glaze White Cap for my non floral nails.  I also added a coat of OPI PMW on the floral nails.  By the way, White Cap looks nice layered over any of the OPI NYC Ballet colors.  I originally got the idea to do this after seeing a bottle of Revlon Calla Lily.  I liked how it looked, but resolved not to get it.  From looking at it, I knew I could achieve the bottle color with two polishes I already owned. :)

This was my first attempt at Rebecca Likes Nails's watercolor technique.  It could be better, but I think it turned out alright.  I still want to attempt this faded floral look again with cooler colors and smaller florals.  Hopefully I'll get the hang of diluting the colors out more like Rebecca.  I haven't done an all over watercolor look like hers either!  It's definitely on my to-do list!

What do you think?  Do you like the first version or the second one?  I'd love to hear your thoughts! :)


Liz

$OPI: Caught With My Khakis Down

Today I have Sephora by OPI's Caught With My Khakis Down. 

Sephora by OPI: Once a Cheetah, Always a Cheetah

If you haven't noticed yet, Sephora has come out with a new summer line, The Safari Luxe collection.  Naturally, when I went to Sephora the limited edition colors were all sold out: Caught with my Khakis Down and Once a Cheetah, Always a Cheetah.  So I scurried on over to JCPenney, and the Sephora there had all the colors. :)  At the time, Caught with my Khakis Down (CKD) wasn't really calling out to me, so I only grabbed Once a Cheetah, Always a Cheetah.  But I do know the unique IT color from this collection is CKD.  I'm actually considering going back and grabbing that one.  I feel like I might regret it when they no longer carry it. -_-

I also did a quick one swipe swatch of all the colors in store, and I know for a fact that the two "holographic" colors are not holographic.  So don't fall for that! :P  I was actually most excited about those two until I saw "holographic" meant...multi colored shimmer.

Once a Cheetah, Always a Cheetah (these names are so long), has a bright orange base abundant with yellow-orange shimmer.  The end result is almost like a foil, although I don't think this falls exactly under that category.  I also noticed this looks lighter indoors.  Outside the bright orange base lights up and the shimmer is nearly blinding.  Although, it's not entirely unique, if you don't have any shimmery oranges yet, I would recommend this.

Here's 3 coats of Once a Cheetah, Always a Cheetah.  On my middle nail I used 5 coats to get it completely opaque to cover the crack I have on my tip.  It is a bit sheer, but in the sunlight it looks pretty opaque because of the shimmer.

Have you picked up any polishes from the Safari Luxe collection?  What did you think? :)


Liz

Ozotic Pro #503 Rainforest & 100+ Followers/ 2 month blog-o-versary

Yay I'm finally done picking out pictures and editing them.  I had so many pictures that it took a while to decide which ones I wanted to use.  It was also a lot sunnier today than yesterday (when I took these)!  Such a shame.  I did snap one more today, so you can see how it looks in full sunshine. :)

Ozotic Pro 503 is a multichrome that is for the most part different shades of green, such as emerald, moss/forest green, olive, and jungle green.  If you're not sure what jungle green is try googling 'jungle green Crayola.' :)  There are also shades of red/copper which can tend to look brown with the green.  I've also seen turquoise, blue and purple at certain angles.  I recommend using a base coat with this since it's very sheer and doesn't build up.  For my swatches, I used 2 coats of Sinful Black on Black on my index and middle, and 2 coats of China Glaze First Mate on my ring and pinkie.  Basically, my theory is if it can be layered over black, it can be layered over a dark blue/navy. :)  And First Mate is such a nice color. ^^  For the Ozotic Pro, I used 2 coats.

Index & Mid: Black,  Ring & Pinkie: Blue

Today I was looking at my nails and I thought it might look nice with copper glitter, so I used a coat of Sally Hansen Snappy Sprinkes and $OPI Traffic Stopper Copper to see how it would look.  Snappy Sprinkles seems to blend in with the polish, but Traffic Stopper looks really nice!  I think it brings out the copper in 503 and keeps it from looking too brown.  What do you think?  Also which layering combo do you like the best?  Let me know in the comments! :)

In full blazing sunshine

Overall, I enjoyed using this polish, although I could have used some more multichrome.  This one is closer to a duochrome most of the time.  Which is something you should think about, especially if you're in the States, since this one will cost you $24.50 including shipping.  It is very lovely though and blindingly shiny in the sun.  I think it would be fit for an Amazonian princess or a wood nymph. :)  You can buy #503 at Picture Polish.

I also have exciting news for you.  Today Liquid Jelly reached 100 followers (and beyond)!  I want to thank everyone for following and supporting me so far.  Thanks!  I know I promised a giveaway, so I will post that as soon as I have all the prizes. :)  Coincidentally, it's has also been exactly 2 months since I began this blog!  I'm so amazed I gained so many followers so quickly.  Shall we aim for 200 when the blog turns 4 months? ;)  But honestly, I've seen so many great blogs and have gotten to know just as many great bloggers.  It really doesn't matter how many followers I have, I'm just glad to do this and get to know you all. :)


Liz

Sephora by OPI: If You've Got It, Haunt It

Hi all :)

This is the second polish I promised to review.  $OPI If You've Got It, Haunt It is from the limited edition 2010 Halloween collection.  It has a sheer charcoal base packed with silver micro glitter.  It also has fine black and multi-colored glitter.  The consistency of the polish is a bit gloopy because it has to hold onto all the glitter.  I used to shy away from this polish because it wouldn't come off!  But I tried out the foil-method and it just slipped off.  So now I don't mind using it. :)  The finish is rough, so if you want it to be smooth you'll have to use tons of top coat.  I personally don't mind.  I used two coats, but it was a tad bit sheer.  I would recommend two thick coats or three thin ones.

Sorry, this is the only pic I had of it alone.  So yes I re-used it from the last post.

I wanted to freshen it up the next day, so I decided to experiment with Zoya Faye.


Mostly the gold shimmer in Faye stood out, but there was still that brownish purple tint left.  I think it provided a nice contrast that is a bit more complex than what a normal gold would have given it.

This pic makes me think this would have looked amazing matte!

Indoor pic

At certain angles you can see the purple more.  It did have a bit of a reddish hue, although not as much as this picture implies.



Overall, I thought this was a nice combo.  What do you think?


Liz

NOTD & Update

Hi!  Sorry I haven't updated in like a week, and I missed Pink Wednesday too! :(  May is not a fun time for a college student. *sigh*  Thought I'd just share what I've been up to (besides finals and 12 page papers), so I guess this post will have more of a personal touch.

Last Tuesday was the 100th day anniversary for me and my bf, so he sent me flowers!  This wasn't the first time, but it was the biggest yet, so I was pleasantly surprised. ^^

Too pretty

He also got me OPI Teenage Dream and Black Shatter, which I've been lemming.  I know I didn't run out and get those when they came out, but I've been meaning to.  I'm currently wearing this combo right now, because it actually came in the mail today.  It was supposed to come last Tuesday, but there were some problems with shipping.  So I'm actually getting another set free!  Not sure if I'll be swapping those or giving them away.  We shall see. ;)

These were taken in weak, indirect sunlight coming in through the window, so they're not the best pics.  I'll snap more pics outside tomorrow to show you the amazing holo and glitter.  I also should've done another coat of Teenage Dream, but I was too excited and wanted to see it with the shatter right away.  Doesn't look nearly as sheer in person though.

The day after our anniversary was his birthday, so I made a surprise late night meal for him.  I'd post pics, but I forget to take pics after plating it.  Basically, I made kimchi fried rice rolls wrapped in bacon, whisked egg rolls, and some veggies on the side.  I made this off the top of my head, so I was glad they were edible.  The bf said they were good, but who knows. :P

Since we couldn't really celebrate our anniversary and his bday, he celebrated this past Sunday.  I treated him to a late birthday dinner at a Japanese restaurant.  We had soup, salad, duck spring rolls, and sushi, which was pretty good since we're in the middle of cornfields. -_-

Yes, that's my bf's arm.  He didn't want to be in the pic. ^^;

Yum!

For this dinner, I went with the less conventional date shade...grey/silver.  I did think about wearing some thing pink and red, but settled on this.  It's $OPI If You've Got It, Haunt It, which was the first polish the bf has bought me.  He likes it when I wear it, so I chose it over the pinks.

So, that's all the fun stuff that's been happening in my life in a nutshell.  Hopefully I'll be able to post a bit more, especially during the weekend.  After that I might be MIA again, since it's finals week for me.

Anyhow, sorry there wasn't much nail stuff in this post.  But I hope you enjoyed this more personal post too.  I'll be reviewing the $OPI and OPI polishes featured in this post in more detail tomorrow, so don't forget to drop by! :)


Liz

Who rear ends a bus?

Hey all!  Hope you guys are having a better day than me.  I woke up with a headache today, got dressed and made it outside in time to catch my bus.  I was out early so I got a good seat and was waiting for the bus to leave, but it didn't.  Next thing you know the bus driver says he can't leave cause he just got rear-ended!  So everyone had to get off the bus, and I was confused since I didn't even feel anything.  Turns out some kid rear-ended the bus with his truck.  Question...how on earth do you rear end a stopped bus?  I mean...was it not big enough?  Anyway, I had to wait for the next one and that made me 10 mins late to class. -_-''  On top of that it's rainy and I feel nauseous in addition to the headache, so...I'm just blech. 

Negativity aside, here's my polish for today!

-edit-
Hey guys.  I wrote the above in the morning and now it's night.  I pretty much knocked out when I got back from classes and slept till now.  Feeling really nauseous so I'll just post the pic!  Enjoy your Fridays for me. :P

Very briefly: This is Hell to the No from the Glee collection by $OPI.  It's a gorgeous purple with very fine gold and copper shimmer.  The shimmer is so soft, it reminds me of suede.  I've been debating about whether I should get this or not, so when I went to grab it for a swap I decided to get it.  Not at all disappointed!

Here I added $OPI's Traffic-Stopper Copper, which is basically medium hexagonal and fine copper glitter.  I love copper, so I had to have this.  I'm absolutely in love with it.  They look like crushed pennies, and the tiny square glitters remind me of freckles, which makes me happy.

Alrighty, back to sleep.

Liz

Sephora by OPI: Caliente Coral

Ack.  Where did the weekend go?  I'm pretty sure I didn't get enough rest or weekend hours... did someone just fast forward time when I was sleeping?  If you did- rewind it back!  Anyway, I've been meaning to post this all weekend. >.<  Ah it's so hard trying to post every day now.  I have two weeks till finals which means a boatload of projects and essays are all due this and next week before exam week.  On top of that I need to edit/ send out to a publisher a campus cultural guide book with another student by the end of April.  That's two people updating/ editing a book. >.<   And I still need to look for 8-12 sources for my upcoming humongous research essay. T_T  Why....?????  Okay, I'm done complaining- but if I don't post much, just know that^ is the reason I'm MIA.

On to the pictures...

Caliente Coral is a bright (but not neon) orange creme that leans towards coral in certain lights.  It is a teeny tiny bit streaky, but nothing a second coat won't get rid of.  Otherwise formula is superb and drying time is good too.  I love wearing this color in the summer and I think it's super flattering on me.  Sorry about messy application and bad pictures.  :/  I didn't have time to clean-up and wanted to get some quick snaps in while the sun was still out.

I'm actually behind again because I change my nails every day but haven't been posting every day.  I want to show you the mani I'm wearing right now, but alas I must get some more work done before I hit the sack.  I might just be keeping it short and posting pictures for the next three weeks at least, so keep checking back.  ^^


Liz