NOTD: It's a hard nub life

Ah nubs, I haven't had them in months. I have kind of forgotten how to deal with them. I had a great optical illusion art planned, but I'd need a little more space for them.

On the bright side, I can wear colors plain without feeling like I'm wasting an opportunity, so silver lining!

Today I decided to do holo skittles- I've swatched  some of this collection before, but they were poorly photographed and didn't really capture the color all that well. So here is my new semi-swatch, mostly NOTD post:

Pretty sure I managed to capture the holo a little better this time. They look a little more linear than scattered in person, but you can see the way they basically explode into rainbows in the sun! These aren't the strongest holos I've ever seen, but I really like that they show up holo even indoors- something that their stronger cousins don't always manage.

I'm pretty sure that the polishes have some generic names like "Lilac" and "Strawberry", but it doesn't say so on the bottle so I'm going to just list their numbers:

Thumb- #35
Index- #34
Middle- #32
Ring- #39
Pinky- #38

I realize that I cheated a little by using taupe instead of yellow or gold, but it's a fairly unobtrusive transgression in person.

The wear on them is decent, mild tipwear after three days, and I'm sure if I didn't change my polish obsessively I could probably get these to last out a week without any significant chipping. The formula is fantastic- two thin coats for full blingy opacity, and they applied like a dream! They don't need any kind of special base or top coat to pop, although in general a topcoat is better because they dry slightly matte.

Pupa is an Italian brand that is also available in Israeli pharmacies. They're more expensive than I usually buy- mini sized but priced as a mid-range full size bottle. Still, occasionally I succumb to the Pupa pretties.

NOTD: Sloppy stamps

I'm really starting to get into this whole two accent nails thing. It's a great way to have more art without the hassle of doing a design on every nail. Plus, you can showcase the pretty base color! This way I don't feel as bad doing art over a base that I particularly like- I can have my cake and eat it, too.

The stamping here isn't the best I've ever done, because I had to repeat the stamp a few times. I only have one(!) stamp pattern that covers the whole nail, because everything they sell here is a cheap knockoff. I really need to get my act together and put in an order for a BM set.

Colors used:
Orly- Star Spangled
Chic Metalix- Citrine Gold

I spotted Star Spangled in a store months ago, and I new I needed it. The problem was, I'd already overspent my polish budget at that point, so I couldn't afford a new one. And then there was an Orly scarcity, and I had pretty much given up hope of getting my paws on it. But last week I found myself in a store that I usually don't go to, and lo and behold, sparkling at me on the shelf, there it was! I absolutely adore it on my fingers, I don't regret this purchas for a second.

A small note on the stamping: Since I can't seem to stop singing the praises of Chic Metalix, here's some more. They are fantastic for stamping, because the glitter is really densely packed! And they have a fair variety of colors, so if you're looking for a local alternative to tiny little stamping polish bottles, here it is!

Sad update: As of posting this, I have to return to nubs. I got a new cabinet for my kitchen, and I managed to chip a nail really badly when I was shlepping it into my house. Thankfully it didn't chip deeply, so it didn't hurt. I mean, I'm not devastated- it's not a big dramatic event. Still, I'd finally gotten my nails to be perfect- short enough to be manageable, but long enough that I could keep them in a pretty square shape. Now I'll have to start from scratch! :(

NOTD: Blue to green glitter gradient

Aw, darn. I had such a great streak going- two or three posts a week! And then I let it slip. I have been trying to make a swatch post, but since those are much longer, I keep procrastinating. In the meantime, have my latest NOTD:

Colors used:
Chic Metalix- Green Olive (905)
Chic Metalix- Peacock (906)
Chic Metalix- Smashing Blue (907)
Wow Cosmetics 350- (white cream base)

I don't think I will ever stop loving this particular collection. It's been out for more than a year, and I still find myself coming back to these colors again and again. They're not all identical- here, for example, Peacock and Smashing Blue are silver particles in a colored jelly base, while Green Olive is a clear base with the particles themselves being green (that's why it's so much more sheer). But they all complement each other really well, and they're vibrant, easy to work with, and don't stain. Basically, the polish jackpot.

I will try not to take accidental two-week hiatuses in the future!