WINE/NAIL NIGHT: My Friends' Nails

Now for another segment of NAIL/WINE NIGHT. A time for me to catch up with my friends, drink a little wine and put my polish stash to some actual use. 

Check out these designs I put together, with the help of my friends of course: 

Lacie's Nails

Sharon's Nails

 Kim's Nails

So what do you think of these manis? Which one is your favorite? Do you have nail parties? 

Essie "Hip-Anema" + Stamping + Glitter =

Check out this fun mani I put together: 

I started with three coats of the lovely red Essie "Hip-Anema"

Next I added some stamping with my Bundlemonster stamping plates and some Konad Special Black stamping polish

And finally, I used Shimmer Polish "Tracy" for a glittery accent. 

So what do you think? I wish the stamping was better, but overall this was a fun and eye catching mani. 

SWATCH AND REVIEW: Essie Spring 2013 Collection

I have a beautiful collection of colors to show you today that were just released by Essie in March of this year. The collection blends bold and soft and really is just perfect for this time of year. 

This collection features 6 new colors. I will not be swatching one of the colors from this collection as it was not included with my PR package and that is "Go Ginza"

Here's a little info on the history and mission statement of Essie. 

 Here is two coats of each color on clear swatch spoons. 

Now onto the swatches. 

Madison Ave-Hue

This polish is a beautiful color dark pink creme with a subtle silver shimmer. This is 3 coats no topcoat. 

Avenue Maintain

This polish is a rich denim blue creme polish that finishes with a high gloss. This is two coats no topcoat. 

Bond with Whomever

This polish is a lovely lilac creme polish that dries to a high gloss finish. This is three coats. No topcoat. 

Maximillian Strasse Her

This is a pale grey creme that dries to a high gloss finish. This is three coats, no topcoat. 

Hip Anema

Last but not least is my personal fave of this collection. It's a bright and bold cherry red creme polish with very slight orange undertones. I have had this on all day and it is such a sexy color. I can't stop staring at my hands. This is three coats with no topcoat. 

Overall Review

• The formula on all of these is great. I did use 3 coats for most of them, but it wasn't because they weren't opaque. It was because I wanted a nice even application. Had I used topcoat, I probably would have only needed two coats. 
• While I did enjoy the whole collection, the three I loved the most were "Madison Ave-Hue", "Hip Anema", and "Bond with Whomever". They were three bold colors that really add a pop of color to your nails. 
• I like the brushes with Essie. They are the thin kind, but I have small nail beds an I prefer a smaller brush. 

For more info on Essie products and polishes as well as locations where you can buy, please visit the following links: 

ESSIE ONLINE

ESSIE ON FACEBOOK

*Special thanks to Essie for providing me this beautiful collection to review. I am honored. *

So what do you all think of this collection? Which shade is your favorite? Do you plan on buying or have you bought any of them yet? 

Cover Girl "Toasted Almond" + Stamping=

Check out this understated but fun mani I put together. 

I started with a base of Cover Girl "Toasted Almond". This is a light brown creme and is opaque in two coats. I have to say, while I realize I'm not the biggest creme fan in the first place, this polish looks just "blah". I guess I'm too much of a bright color and glitter gal to really enjoy neutral creme polishes. But the formula was awesome and it has a super glossy finish. I have quite a few of this particular line, because they were given to me as a gift from my man. The formula on all of them is awesome. 

Then I added a simple stamping pattern using Essie "Good as Gold" and a Bundlemonster stamping plate from the third set. It's a simple stamp, but one I find myself using over and over. I wish my stamping was a little cleaner. But the nice thing about the pattern stamps, is even if you mess up, they still look pretty good. 

This Essie foil gold is one of my go to stamping polishes. It works perfectly!!!

Like I tell friends, stamping is 3% technique and 97% using the right polish. Most polishes don't work well at all for stamping. It can be a chore to find ones that do. I have a nice collection of go to colors that work well for me, but if I'm on the market for new ones, I always look around online to see what works for other people. No one brand has the best stamping polish and special stamping polishes aren't always the best to use. Konad black and white are great, but I don't use their other colors because other brands have ones that look better. 

So what do you think of this mani?