This is such a near dupe to China Glaze “For Audrey”…. (and my Tiffany pouch). “For Audrey” is the tiniest bit bluer.
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Essie “Turquoise & Caicos”
The Essie formulation is a little thinner and streakier than I would have hoped. This was three coats. Still lovely.
But of course, I splashed all kind of dots over it. This actually made me want to lay off the dots just a tad.
Hey everyone!
I’m Duana, first time blogger, long time subscriber. I was introduced to Cheryl and her blog through the wonderful world of Twitter and have since fell in love with her nail art! But, enough about me, let’s talk polish.
I find myself picky in most aspects of life, and my nail polish is no different. A few years back, I tried the perfect red at my local nail salon; it was in OPI’s Christmas collection and I have been searching for it ever since. None of the polishes I pick have ever come close, and it seems as if the perfect shade of red is about as elusive as a unicorn…hence, my red blues.
One day, as I was walking through my local Target, I stopped in the nail care section (as I often do) and found “Forever Yummy” by Essie. It was beautiful in the bottle, but made a bunch of promises that it didn’t keep. I needed it to be a little brighter, like a true red/scarlet and not crimson. It looks nice on my hands, but the red is a little too deep for me. Check it out…
Essie “Forever Yummy”
It looks brighter in this picture than it actually is. I think it was the bright lights at the nail salon.
This is how it actually looks…pretty, but not what I wanted.
I love this combination. It is such a light and nude display… but so whimsical and intriguing. One of those manicures that doesn’t call attention to itself, but when you catch a glimpse, you’re taken.
Love Letters is polish that is the equivalent of a whisper. So soft.
Pictures can’t do the holographic flakies in Shine of the Times justice.
So if you’re not into bright colors or wild and crazy nail art…. this one is for you. Finished and fancy.
China Glaze “Love Letters”
Essie Luxeffects “Shine of the Times”
My plan was to use a topcoat of Essie’s “As Gold As It Gets”. And I’m certain it will be pretty if I ever get around to doing it….. but something in my soul just prevented me from marring this beautiful polish. I couldn’t do it.
There is just something about a pretty red nail…(ask Our Painted World’s hubby 
)
classic.
Essie “First Dance”
I couldn’t wait to get snow again…. like REAL snow…. so-I-can’t-drive-to-work snow; need snowplows and boots snow; may have to leave work early snow!!!
And even though they aren’t forecasting a blizzard or a very large accumulation…. I’m still crossing my freshly manicured fingers – well, nails – in the hopes of the forecast just being WRONG, and flakes blanketing this place into halting.
Snow is so calming to me. And at the same time, excites me. I might even like it more than sunny days…. but that race is definitely neck & neck.
There was obviously no question about what theme would cover my nails…. it was more a query of how the interpretation would play out….
I went with the typical, and with shimmery silver….. but I tried my first “gradient” and “sponging” manicure. There. will. be. repeats. TRUST. ME.
It turned out to be much easier than I expected and I love the look.
I used OPI “Moon Over Mumbai” as my base.
Then sponged on:
Color Club “Sheer Disguise”
OPI “What’s With The Cattitude”
Essie “Coat Azure”
China Glaze “Sky High-Top”
Sinful Colors “Midnight Blue”
I used a white nail art striper (and a silver glitter one to add to one snowflake on my ring fingernail) to create my snowflakes. White polish with a tiny dotting tool for random dots of snow falling, and Sinful Colors “Queen of Beauty” for some shimmer over the snowflakes.
Sounds like a lot, and I definitely didn’t need to use that many blues…but it was still faster than some of my “regular” manicures!!
& Essie “We Can Do It Pink”
I started here:
just couldn’t make a decision…. Hannah chose the stripes…. Nikki chose the polka dots.
After a trial…. Nikki’s choice looked better on… and then, I do still have that affection for polka dots. LOL.
Essie “We Can Do It Pink” & Sinful Colors “Feeling Great”
I feel like I’m in a strawberry patch. 
I have no reason to explain changing my nail color, except that I was experimenting with my new automatic nail polish remover machine when I came home from the New Year’s celebration….
I ordered the machine online from TransDesign.com. For $18, it was a good purchase!! I’ll definitely save on cotton squares. I told myself I wasn’t using glitter again until I received it…. as we all know the huge HASSLE glitter presents at removal time. I haven’t yet used any heavy duty glitter polish, so we’ll see how it responds when I do.
After I finished my dot design, it just kept reminding me of some retro wallpaper or something…vintage. And I actually liked the results on my right hand better than my left! My right hand always gets neglected when it comes to picture taking… had to give the right hand some camera time today.
Essie “Sand Tropez”
acrylic paint dots
Glitter! Sparkles! Frosts! Champagne – Sliver – Gold!!!
If there was any holiday more appropriate for this, I don’t know what it is.
However, I’ve opted for the beautifully muted Color Club “Sheer Disguise” blue.
Top Coat of Essie Luxe Effects “Shine of The Times” (THANK YOU Liza! I am in LOVE with this top coat!! it’s like an iridescent flake-filled jelly = fun!)
My nails reflect the kind of celebrating I plan on doing this evening to bring in this new year: Calmly chilling with a nice sparkle. 
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
All the best to you and yours! Be safe out there!
I was looking in the office supply section at Target and I saw this notebook.
couldn’t help myself.
worked with colors I already had instead of searching for these specific colors. 
Essie “Turquoise And Caicos”
light green & white nail art stripers
It’s crazy when you do your nails yourself, you become straight impatient.
Another twist on that classic French.
I couldn’t wait to get off work to go home and try @boutique_nails’s design:
I saw the photo around lunchtime…. which meant I wasn’t going near home for a good 8 hours. smh. I wasn’t even anxious to remove the current design…. but testing out this new one was all I could think of!
FINALLY!!!!! home…. manicured 
and loving it.
Essie “Sand Tropez” w/ white tips
Polish2Times 