O.P.I Alcatraz... Rocks Swatch & Review

Happy Sunday! I'm currently sitting and enjoying doing absolutely nothing, So I figured, why not share some swatches of an awesome polish I recently purchased! I bought this polish during my shopping spree to Ulta (Post about it here), and I just love it.
I bought O.P.I Alcatraz... Rocks, which is my first ever liquid sand textured polish, and I'm glad to add it to my collection.

Alcatraz... Rocks - $8
Alcatraz... Rocks has a deep purple gel-like base, with holographic glitter flecks of gold, copper, green, blue, and pink.
The formula applies smoothly and super glossy. The texture is not visible at first, but as it dries the polish slowly turns both matte and gritty.
The first coat is a bit sheer, but the second coat immediately darkens and brings the color to almost full opacity. I applied three coats to get complete coverage.
I love that it looks like a plain old holo-glitter until it dries, then it really does look and feel like bedazzled sand.
The only issue I had was that as the previous coats begin to dry and change texture, it makes the next coat a bit harder to apply, so the application is not as smooth as with the first coat. But that is to be expected. You just have to take your time a bit more, to make sure you don't leave any bare spots.

Close up of Alcatraz... Rocks.

This polish comes with a large, pliable, super workable brush that I was very happy with.

O.P.I Alcatraz... Rocks under lamp.

O.P.I Alcatraz... Rocks in sunlight.
O.P.I Alcatraz... Rocks with flash.
Now, well I know this is hard to do, you have to skip the top coat with this polish. Otherwise, you will ruin the matte finish and smooth out the texture. But, if your a top coat junkie, I added a coat of Revlon Quick Dry top coat so you could see the effect it has on the texture.

O.P.I Alcatraz... Rocks with top coat.
While the top coat does bring out the richness of the purple base, and brighten the glitter flecks. It also glosses over -No pun intended.- the matte finish, and smooths over most of the sand texture.
If your fine with that, I would suggest just buying a normal holo-glitter polish. Otherwise, skip the top coat and show off that awesome sandy texture.

So, to sum it up, I love this shade. I love the luxe deep purple color, the mix of matte finish and multicolored glitter, and the interesting texture. I think the texture gives the look more interest, without going overboard.

The mix of dark color, strong glitter, and texture could have gone to the land of tacky, but O.P.I really made it work, and made it look pretty, edgy, and a bit sophisticated.
I also love the name, it makes me think of Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.

Thanks for reading! To check out my previous Swatch & Reviews click here.
-xo Brittany

Would you add Alcatraz... Rocks to your collection? What do you think of textured polishes? Let me know in the comments!

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Cath Kidston Tea Set Nail Art: A Mani for Tea Lovers

Hi guys! Today I've created a design that will (hopefully) be enjoyed by those of you with a serious floral and/or tea addiction. Now, while I am more likely to accept a huge mug of coffee than a dainty little cup of tea, I've always had a soft spot for the British tradition of obsessive compulsive tea drinking. After all, a cup of tea solves everything, right? I decided to make my tea set extremely girly, and added lots of roses and pink details. Though I hadn't checked prior to starting the design, I now realise that it's rather reminiscent of this Cath Kidston set. You probably won't believe me when I say that it was a really easy manicure, but seriously, it was! I was totally surprised when I managed to knock it together in an hour or so. So if you fancy having a go yourself, just keep on reading...

The equipment:

Sinful Colors 'Easy Going'
Sinful Colors 'Snow Me White'
Sinful Colors 'Island Coral'
Sinful Colors 'Pistache'
Barry M 'Shocking Pink'
No. 7 'Totally Teal'
Models Own 'Utopia'
e.l.f. Cosmetics 'Nude'
Essie 'Good To Go'
Fine nail art paint brush

I used 'Easy Going' as a base, which is a gorgeous, ultra-pale pink. It's a good alternative to plain old white, which I knew I couldn't use as it would be the base colour for my tea set. Sinful Colors polishes normally take three coats, and the drying time isn't great, but for £1.99 a pop they are definitely worth it! When my bases were dry, I used a fine nail art paint brush to apply the shapes for my tea set items. For the teapot, I painted a 'squashed' circle and a spout. The biscuit tin is a simple rectangle, the teacup a 'squashed' semicircle, the sugar bowl another circle, and the milk jug a slightly rounded rectangle with a pointy tip. Once dry, I went over each shape again to ensure opacity.

To achieve the floral design, I added tiny blobs of 'Island Coral' all over the white shapes. Then I added some leaves using 'Pistache'. For more details, I used 'Shocking Pink' and 'Totally Teal'. At this point, the whole manicure didn't really resemble a tea set, so I had to keep working on the shapes. 
I used 'Utopia' for fine outlines, lids and shadows. I also filled the tea cup with 'Nude', to make it look like tea. For handles and bases, I used a combination of 'Shocking Pink' and 'Island Coral'. The biscuit tin and sugar bowl needed lids, so I applied little dots to the tops. 
I think the tea pot is the best part of this manicure, mainly because it's got a more interesting shape. When everything was complete, I toyed with the idea of mattifying, but decided I quite liked the sheen of a shiny top coat. So I used my favourite, Essie 'Good To Go', to seal everything in. What do you think? Let me know!

Askruk46

A Month in Mani's

A Monthly round up of all my manicure looks for October 2013.




It's that time again! Time to list all the manicures completed for the month of October. I definitely want to keep this a regular feature on I Heart Nail Art -Hopefully you agree!-. I like having a round up of all the nail related posts I've done for the month, and also It's fun to see the nail looks I was able to accomplish. I wish I could make even more designs, but a girls gotta work! Though I do promise to try to make more tutorials, I've totally been slacking on that lately...Oops...




My first look for October was actually also my first Dupe! I pitted Butterlondon Cheeky Chops against Sally Hansen Lightening. To see who won, check out the original post here.


My first nail design of the month was this mint and striped design. I used Covergirl Mint Mojito as the base on most of my nails, then added a black nail gem. For my ring finger and thumb I used striping tape, NYC Black Lace Creme, and NYC French White Tip. Then I applied a coat of Sally Hansen Double Duty base & top coat in one.


This manicure was made using four coats of Maybelline Drops of Jade over two coats of Covergirl Mint Mojito as my base. Than I applied a coat of Sally Hansen base & top coat in one.


My third nail art tutorial! I teach you how to make simple bows. For this look I used Essie Merino Cool as my base, Sally Hansen Diamonds as an overlay, and NYC French White Tip for my bows. I then applied some nail gems, and a coat of Sally Hansen Double Duty base and top coat in one.
(From Bow Tutorial)


My Doctor Who inspired design was made using quite a few polishes; Sally Hansen Gilty Pleasure, NYC Black Lace Creme, Avon Cosmic, Avon On Point Blue, Pure Ice No Means No, and NYC French White Tip. Then I applied some nail gems, and a coat of Sally Hansen Double Duty base & top coat in one.


For this manicure I used a coat of NYC French White tip as a base to make the green pop. Then I applied three coats of Covergirl Glosstinis Appletini. I finished the look with a coat of Sally Hansen Double Duty base & top coat in one.


This mani was made using NYC French White Tip as a base to help coverage. Then three coats of Covergirl Glosstinis Bahama Mama. I finished the look with a coat of Sally Hansen Double Duty base & top coat in one.

Thanks for reading! If you would like to check out last month's post click here.
- xo Brittany

Which manicure was your favorite? Let me know in the comments!
My favorite was my Doctor Who design. Being the big nerd that I am, that was super fun to create.

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The Remembrance Duo - and a sale on Halloween polishes

Hey gals! I bring some really sad news. My family has recently lost a member. My bonus-dad (my dad in all but blood) passed suddenly on October 25th. He was so proud of me for making polish - such an odd thing for a big, gruff guy like him to proud of but he was always telling anyone who would listen that I actually make my own polish ... and sell it too! I wanted to honor the wonderful man he was and the broken hearts he left behind ... and I guess this is the only way I feel I can do that.

I also want you to know that I keep nothing from selling these polishes. ALL proceeds will go to my mom to help her pay bills and funeral costs.

Teal We Meet Again - Teal Holographic and Butterflies and Broken Hearts - Silver Holographic Butterflies, Black Broken Hearts, green glitter, and black and silver holographic micro-glitter

This is The Remembrance Duo. It includes Teal We Meet Again and Butterflies and Broken Hearts. As part of The Remembrance Duo is the only place you will ever be able to buy Teal We Meet Again. However, if you want just the glitter topper Butterflies and Broken Hearts can be about alone.

These polishes are being sold at a slightly increased price ($10 for the glitter topper and $20 for the duo).



Butterflies and Broken Hearts has a lot of meaning to me and my family. My mom taught me early her belief that butterflies are messengers of heaven and that every time you see a butterfly it is simply a loved one's way of waving hello from the great beyond. I couldn't create a memorial polish without including lots of silver holographic butterflies. The black hearts are of course the broken hearts he left us with. You'll also find tons of green (my bonus-dad's favorite color), as well as lots of holographic black and holographic silver glitter.


Teal We Meet Again is a gorgeous teal holographic polish that makes a stunning base for Butterflies and Broken Hearts. I really don't think you could find a more perfect pair.


On a side note, there are still a few polishes from the Halloween 2013 Collection left that can now be bought on sale.

Askruk46

Curing Nail Artist's Block: A Mix & Match, Leopard Print Mani


Ever suffered from nail artist's block? It is one of the most frustrating things in the world. You sit there, dozens (if not hundreds) of beautiful polishes smiling up at you, begging to be used. Your nails are crying out: 'Please paint me, I'm so naked/chipped/sad!'. You scroll through your Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr feeds, greeted by so many gorgeous nail art designs, and immediately feel a pang of jealousy. 

You're desperate to do your nails, but you are fresh out of ideas.

Onlookers may roll their eyes and sigh with exasperation. 'Just paint them then? You've got so many nail polishes to choose from.' The thing is, when you dedicate a large portion of your life to coming up with new ideas, trying out techniques, executing complex designs and then sharing your creations across the good old Interweb, the simple 'slapping on' of a colour just doesn't cut it. You know that plain nails will bring nothing but disappointment, both for yourself, and for the friends that regularly anticipate a gorgeous, detailed manicure. 

So how do you solve this predicament? How do you cure the dreaded condition of nail artist's block? Well, my two failsafes are leopard print and mix & match. Leopard print is the go-to pattern for many; it is simple, yet effective, and allows for the use of any colour combination. Mix & match nails are also an excellent option: the most basic designs can be brought together, making for an eye-catching mani, and enabling you to combine tricky techniques with more modest methods. 

Here's what happens when you fuse the two...

The equipment:

Butter London 'Molly Coddled'
OPI 'Can't Let Go'
Sinful Colors 'Snow Me White'
Barry M black nail art pen
Nail art gems
Fine nail art paint brush
Essie 'Good To Go'


I used 'Molly Coddled' as a base for my little finger and thumb nails. This required two coats, but I could have easily got away with one. On my middle and ring finger nails I used 'Can't Let Go', which is a Liquid Sand lacquer from OPI's Mariah Carey collection. On my index finger, I used three coats of Sinful Colors 'Snow Me White'. Once all bases were dry, I started adding the details. I decided to give my thumb a full-on leopard print pattern, so dabbed on dots of 'Can't Let Go', and once dry, added extra patches with my black nail art pen. I then decided to involve love hearts in the design, and used a fine nail art brush to apply a 'Molly Coddled' one to my ring finger, and a 'Can't Let Go' one to my index finger.

I then added more leopard print to my ringer finger's heart. I dotted on white, and added final details with my nail art pen. On my white nail, I decided that the leopard print should be set behind the love heart, and so used 'Molly Coddled' along with black. My little finger looked a little bit sad, so I used a dark purple nail art gem to cheer him up. Though the texture and glitter of OPI's Liquid Sand polishes is gorgeous, I couldn't help but feel my middle finger was a bit of a Plain Jane, so I used another nail art gem!

As always, I topped everything off with a good top coat. Apparently you're not supposed to use top coats with Liquid Sand polish, but I think it actually looks much better, neatening everything up and adding an extra bit of shine. What do you think? What's your go-to mani when the dreaded nail artist's block strikes? Let me know!

*Please take this post with a pinch of salt - I am well aware that 'nail artist's block' is a trivial matter in the grand scheme of things. I'm not that much of a drama queen... Honest!

Askruk46

Birthday Haul: Lots of Naily Treats!


Hi everyone! Today I've decided to show you some of the nail-related gifts I received for my birthday last week. I turned 24 on November 3rd, and since then I've been so busy with various events and meetings, I haven't had a moment to spare for my poor little blog. Although I haven't had enough time to create a new nail art design, I thought that you may enjoy having a little nosy at some of my newest naily treats. I did extremely well in terms of presents this year - I'm pretty certain I've never received so much, and I felt spoiled rotten. It just goes to show that no matter how old you are, you can still feel like a child again when it's your birthday! 


So first up is OPI's Mariah Carey collection, which consists of four Liquid Sand mini nail lacquers. From left to right, the polishes are: 'Get Your Number', 'Can't Let Go', 'The Impossible' and 'Stay The Night'. Since purchasing my first OPI polishes, the Couture De Minnie collection, I've become a massive fan, and I was extremely happy to receive a few more. The Liquid Sand polishes dry to a textured matte finish, and are totally packed with sparkle. 


Next up are some more OPI minis, which come together as the San Francisco collection. From left to right, they are: 'First Date At The Golden Gate', 'Muir Muir On The Wall', 'In The Cable Car-Pool Lane' and 'Peace & Love & OPI'. I immediately fell in love with the latter. It's one of the only birthday nail polishes that I've managed to use so far, and it's still sitting on my nails in its shimmery, petroleum-coloured loveliness (albeit a little chipped).


I also received quite an impressive No. 7 haul, which includes these three glitters. I wish I could say that No. 7 took the time to give them nice titles, but unlike OPI's ultra-creative nail polish namers (the most perfect job in the world, if you ask me), they simply stuck to 'Gold Glitter Top Coat' and 'Silver Glitter Top Coat'. However, they pushed the boat out a bit with the pink, naming it 'Daisy Darling'. 


Here's the rest of my No. 7 haul. From left the right, we have: 'Vivid Violet', 'Temptress', 'Beanie', 'Damson Dream', 'Salsa' and 'Totally Teal'. The majority of these are new to me, but a couple are good replacements for polishes that are quickly running out (mainly 'Totally Teal', which I use for pretty much any manicure involving green shades!) I really love 'Beanie', and used it in this mani along with 'Gold Glitter Top Coat'.


I was also lucky enough to receive my first ever Butter London polish. It's called 'Molly Coddled', and though I already own a number of purple shades, I've never come across one quite like this. I swatched it almost immediately, as I was desperate to test out a polish that everyone seems to rave about. As expected, it applied really smoothly, dried quickly, and didn't require anymore than a coat or two. I also got a Barry M nail art pen, which I muse about here as well! Remaining loyal to my all-time favourite Models Own, I also got 'Absinthe' from the Velvet Goth collection. I already own 'Obsidian', and I really love it, so I was pleased to receive the deep green sparkly shade.


Finally, I was treated to a Jessica Quick Dry Oil. Again, I'm yet to try it out, but I've been assured that it's absolutely amazing. It looks and feels so luxurious too: the box packaging screams high-quality in its simplicity, and the translucent glass bottle, along with a glass pipette for application, is extremely snazzy!

So there you have it, my birthday nail haul! Do you have any of these products already? Let me know what you think!

Askruk46

Tutorial Tuesday: Rose Polka Dots

Hey everyone! Today I have a brand new Tutorial Tuesday for you, this time for this gorgeous rose polka dots that you might remember from here. I had originally intended to post a tutorial for these bow nails today, because I was absolutely certain that I'd posted this tutorial already. However, after discovering (and double checking) that I hadn't, I decided to push the bow nails back a week and post these instead, considering I promised you a tutorial 'soon' over 3 months ago!  I can only apologise for my idiocy.


I wont bombard you with pictures as you've already seen these before, but just as a reminder for the colours I used 2True - Sienna for the base, 2True - Taylor for the roses, MASH - White, Barry M - Key Lime, and these studs from Born Pretty Store.


Step 1: Paint your nails pink
Step 2: Using a dotting tool and white polish draw dots on alternate nails
Step 3: Using a larger dotting tool paint on darker pink spots, more loosely than the white dots
Step 4: Using a thin brush paint on the shapes of the inside of the roses. For this shade I mixed the base colour and the white together to create a more opaque light pink
Step 5: Using the same brush paint on the leaves in green. 
Step 6: Finish off with a topcoat to seal in your design, and you’re done! You can also add studs whilst the topcoat is still drying if you wish

What do you think? Let me know in the comments!
Alice

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