Step by Step: Pink & Black Half Moon Manicure

I always wanted to try half moon manicure but I never made it perfect to show you the final result. I thought that I could make it free hand just like ruffians I tried before but I'm not that good at it at all. xD

I made almost perfect half moons with reinforcement rings, I just wish my nails were longer for this look. Next time I'll try to make half moons smaller. :) You can use reinforcement rings, you can try to freehand it or use a small nail art brush... As you wish. :)

I used a lovely purple holographic Catherine Arley with number 677, which I got in a swap recently from lovely Nina from Women's Temptations and classic black creme. :) I'll show you swatches of the holographic one next time, first I wanted to share my first half moon try and a quick tutorial. :P

All pictures below were taken under daylight bulb and black background. 

Catherine Arley - #677 / 2 coats

Wet n Wild - Black Créme / 1 coat

Beauty Secrets TC Fast Finish Polish Dryer

I decided to make a step by step tutorial with smaller half moons as I did them on the pictures above. :)

All you need is a base and top color, reinforcment rings and top coat. I used these polishes:

Catherine Arley - #677

Reinforcement rings

Wet n Wild - Black Créme

Beauty Secrets TC Fast Finish Polish Dryer

Step 1: Start with a base color you want. It can be bright or dark, anything you like. I suggest that you try to do a half moon manicure on a day or more old manicure, because you don't have to wait base color to dry. That's how you can also hide a tip wear or any chips that happen in days and get new manicure with an upgrade.
Step 2: Place reinforcement ring where you want your half moon to be when the base color is 100% dry. If you want smaller half moons, place it more towards cuticle and reverse. I always use just half of the ring, because I can have 1 ring for 2 nails. Just make sure you rub the ring a little hard, to make sure that ring is completely down.
Step 3: Add a layer of top color all over your nail and a little over reinforcement ring to make a half moon line. 
Step 4: Remove the reinforcement ring right after you apply your second color when it's still wet. You can make some tiny correction with the brush after you remove it if the line isn't perfect but if you're satisfied with the half moon, finish the whole manicure with a layer of top coat and you're done.

I'm not the first one who made this manicure like this but I still wanted to do a tutorial if you didn't know about it. :) What do you think about Half Moon manicures? What's your favorite color combination? How do you make your half moons look perfect? :)

I just broke my daylight bulb and I almost throw down my lap top. Thankfully my lappie is in one piece but I need to get another daylight bulb soon. :) I'm also seeing the anesthesiologist in the morning so he can tell me when I'm having a tiny surgery on my wrist to remove ganglyon cyst. I have a big lump on my wrist now and it started hurting me when I'm using my right hand so I had to do something. Wish me luck! But a great news is that I won a giveaway at Cristina's blog Pee Before Polish (awesome name 8) and it's so true!).Thank you Cristina for making my week! :h

Thank you for reading and stopping by! I hope I'll be back to blogging soon. :)

Xoxo,
Ivana :k

Swap with Nina from Women's temptations

It's fridaaaay, yay. :) I don't know why I'm so happy about it because I've lots of study to do this weekend and a whole another week. :/

I got another amazing package days ago. :) I wanted to complete my Catherine Arley's wishlist so I asked Nina if she can get them for me. Nina has a blog at Women's Temptation and her nails are amazing - I'm loving her from the 1st post. Please check her out and of course, show some love. <3

Here's what I got. :)

Catherine Arley 

677

673

Perfect

226

233

Now I got all Catherine Arleys I wanted. xD Can't wait to try them all, especially Perfect polishes, I never tried them before. Thank you Nina for all this lovely pretties. I hope you'll like your goodies too when I'll be able to send them out. :k

Have you ever tried Perfect polishes? :)

Can you see what's new? I got a new background. xD I saw lots of pics with black background so I wanted to try it out. I also got a hot pink and lilac, but I think I'll use it a black for now. I also need a daylight lamp - any suggestions? And if any slovenian bloggers or readers are reading this, please let me know which one are you using. :) Once I was watching them in store but there were so many of them so I didn't know which one would be the best. :$

I also broke my thumb nail so badly yesterday. It also hurts a bit and I'm having square shape on one side and oval on the other side. :$ So annoying. :/

Thanks for reading and have a nice Friday!

Xoxo,

Ivana :k

Catherine Arley - 670 #2

I already showed it once here, but here it is once more. :D I had to remove KIKO - #255 because I broke my thumb on my right hand - horribly while hitting the drawer, still hurts. xo I don't shorten my nails when I broke a thumb, do you? I really don't like different lenght of other nails but if it's thumb - it's cooool. :D

I didn't want to pick dark color because I don't want to get attention on my broken thumb, so I picked this pretty light pink holographic polish. :)

I still have some more Catherine Arleys on my WL, unfortunately they became so hard to get, company changed the shades or something, they're also sold out, we ordered them again and after couple of month of waiting I didn't get any that I wanted but that's ok, at least I have 4 or them. Better something than nothing. :D

I dooon't like the brush but because it's application is really flawless I don't mind that wonky brush. It dries super fast so it's perfect for a quick manicure when you don't have time. 

Sun

It's so pretty on sun, holo effect isn't sooo strong but it's still there. I took like 50 blurry pictures without even noticing I didn't set my phone on macro. I's so worried that something is wrong with my phone, because lately it's acting a little crazy. :D

What do you think about this shade? Do you have any Catherine Arley polishes?

And OMG did you see new beautiful glitter from Deborah Lippmann???? It has my name on it! :$

Candy Shop

I took this picture from All Lacquered Up's blog so check more infos about this pretty polish on her blog. :D I lately fell in love with Glitter in the Air, which I want soooooooo badly, but now I fell in love again. Need both in my life - one day... Soon. :L Right, S.? :k

I hope you like it! :) This is my last post for next week and a half. Miss me. :$

Xoxo,
Ivana :k

Catherine Arley - 675 vs. S-he - 427

I'm back, did you missed me? I definitely miss you all! :$ I was neglecting my blog lately and probably I'll neglect it for couple of weeks more because I's so tired and I still am but at least I can sleep long tomorrow. I started working at our administrative unit, work isn't difficult because I don't do mostly anything, just checking some papers or enter them to computer and that's it. It's not the work which makes me so tired but early waking. I don't sleep enough that's why I'm so tired when I get home and I take a nap almost every day but that gives me energy for staying late as always... So I'm going in circles... Well 3 weeks more and I'll be done. :)

It didn't happen much this week I guess....oh it was something new! I had my wrist in bandages. :$ Nothing serious as it looks like. :i I had a lump big as those little marble balls since last year but I never went to doctor.. But lately my right wrist hurt me bad so I went and they'd to make a puncture and now it's gone. It can happen again but next time they'll cut it out so I hope it won't come back. It was sooo hard and I thought it was a bone, but it was something filled with colorless liquid. I so enjoy watching surgeons during their work (my biggest wish when I's younger was to become a surgeon but unfortunately I'm not even near medicine :( ).
So I had just a little wound of injection but they wrap my wrist with bandages like I have broken wrist. :D It was fun because at work they thought it's something serious and I didn't have to do anything just sitting there and relaxing. :D

But now I don't have any bandages just a plaster. :i I just have to share this with you. :$

I wore my stamped Pink it up! manicure till today and I broke a nail yesterday - well it wasn't broken but it was so peeled that it became so sensitive and when I saw that's almost gone, I shortened them all. I'm using Nail Tek II Intensive Therapy for 2 weeks now I think and my nails are better, stronger... Just my pointer started peeling even before I started using Nail Tek and I didn't want to cut them all... So I'm glad I can start at the beginning... I'll probably make separate post dedicated to this nail hardener in near future. :)

I promised you a picture of comparison between Catherine Arley - 675 and S-he 427. S-he #427 is the only holo which we can get in drugstores... Pretty pink with great application and low price. :) When I was searching the nearest shade from CA I own to this beauty I thought it would match with 675 but I was wrong.

As you can see the difference is quite obvious but if you're not a pink lover, you definetely don't need both. But if you're like me, you must have both - I really can never have enough of holos, but if they're pink... I have to have them all!! :i
I applied 2 coats of each, fast drying, great application... :L

Sun

Daylight

 Middle finger and pinkie: Catherine Arley - 675

Pointer and ring finger: S-he - 427

#675 is more pink and #427 is more like mauve pink - I'm really not so good with describing colors. :D Oh, and why my pinkie looks darker? - I really don't know. xo Maybe the light hits it under different angle or I applied one coat more? I can't remember. :D So, which one do you like more?
CA polishes can be bought online and S-he at drugstores in Europe called DM but not all DMs have it (some ha. At the moment they're on sale, because we can expect new products from them soon! I hope they'll make more interesting colors! :D

I read all your comments but I'll reply on them probably this weekend, when I will be rested!

I wish you all great and relaxing Sunday! :k
Xoxo,
Ivana :k

Ombre Holo Manicure

Woooohooo, today was my first day at "job" and it was great. They're all super kind and sweet, so it was a really great day today. :) But I'm sooo tired, I didn't sleep long. I had lectures yesterday, yes professor showed up :D , so I got home very late. xo When I checked and did everything I had to, it was almost morning. :D But it's weeeeeekeeend, so I'll catch up that lost sleep. :D Some already right after I post this... :P

Today is time for ombre manicure. :e I wasn't even planning doing it, but it looks like an Ombre, right? :) I used all Catherine Arleys I have and here it is. :D

From pinkie to pointer:

666

804

675

670

Sun

Shade

You can see that 666 and 675 have strongest holographic effect, so bad I didn't took more pictures, that's why I have just one on the sun. :D I'm so happy to have them all. :L Which one is your favorite?

I wish you all a great and relaxing weekend! :h

Xoxo,

Ivana :k

Catherine Arley - 675

It's time for new and my last Catherine Arley holo beauty I own. :) I think this one has the strongest holographic effect, which is also best visible on picture. 

Like with others I applied 2 coats of #675, fast drying, high shine... All + for these!

Sun

Shade

Daylight

I must say I'm so happy I have them in my collection. For that low price they're just awesome and I hope I'll get more soon! :L It's never enough having great polishes, especially pink holos like these. :$

I made a comparison with S-he 427 and skittles manicure with all CA I have, which actually looks like I did an Ombre manicure. :L I'll show them to you in next days. :)

Xoxo,

Ivana :k

Catherine Arley - 804 & 500 followers!! ♥

These days are really sunny and beautiful. :L It would be great if I they wouldn't say that it'll snow tommorow. :( Who need snow now? :(

Anyways, it's time for a new Catherine Arley - number 804 - another pink beauty. I added 2 coats, it would be better if I added one more, because there is still VNL. I think it wasn't so obvious in RL. Holo effect is more visible in RL as on these pictures, my camera only catches rainbow when the polish is a real holographic goddess. :P Color is most accurate on second picture. :)

Sun

Shade

Daylight

It's super glossy and shiny like all before. Another win! :L What do you think about this beauty? :)

And I reached 500 followers today. :e :e How cool is that? :P

Thank you so much for following and reading me. :k Every day when I wake up - first I check my mail box (to see if there were any comments) and then I check blogger's dashbord just to check if I got any new followers. Addicted... Totally. :$

Have a nice and sunny end of the week!
Xoxo,
Ivana :k

Catherine Arley - 666

Good morning! :)
I just woke up and I'm checking all blog updates, news, everything. :D My day always starts like this. :) I've prepared new Catherine Arley today with number 666. xo

It's a dark pink with prismatic particles. :) Application was great, 2 coats,... :) I coudn't capture holographic effect in all its beauty but it's stunning and holo is stronger than 670.

Sun

Shade

Daylight

Like previos pink this was also super glossy and shiny. :P

Hope you like it!

Xoxo,

Ivana :k

Catherine Arley - 670

Time for some Catherine Arley! Are you ready? It was a sunny day so I tried all my 4 new Catherine Arleys. :D I have like million pictures which are waiting to be checked and posted. :D 

Let's start with the lightest pink I got - #670 - what a name, right? xo It's sooo subtle. :) I added 2 coats. Application is great! They're a little sheer so maybe I should add one coat more but I like it anyway. :L Holographic effect isn't very strong but it's still there. :) They're also drying super fast! What do we want more?

Really low price, 14 ml of polish, quicky drying, super glossy finish and also holographic - they're just awesome. :L

Sun

Daylight

I didn't add any coat of TC but even without they're sooooo super glossy and shiny. I'm sooooooooo in love with all of them! :L If you don't have them, don't think - just grab them! :)

evercouldbe asked me if I could take a picture of their brush and compare them with OPI and H&M brushes, so here it is:

H&M - Sinful Señorita, H&M - I'm a Saint, Catherine Arley - 675, OPI - DS Original

Their brush is little wider than H&M but narrower than OPI. 2 Catherine Arleys brushes were wonky so I decided to trim them a bit. But when I tried to grab that piece of brush which was too long, I easily pulled it out. :i That's why I removed just those which were too long, because I didn't want to pull out the whole brush. :D Application of these holos isn't difficult,  that's why you can apply polish just easily with thier brush. I  personaly like OPI brushes most.
I hope this was helpful. :h

I was really honoured when Prettyfulz picked my previous manicure for nail of the week at her blog. Thank you so much! :$ She has also one lovely blog, be sure that you'll check and start following her. :) She started posting video tutorials too, keep them coming! :)

I just noticed that Deborah from Love. Varnish, chocolate and more... for todays bloglight picked me. :$  You're so sweet, thank you so much for your sweet words! :h Go and check her blog too and show some love there, you won't be sorry I promise. ;)

That's all for today! Take care ladies.
Ivana :k

Catherine Arley Haul

Look what I got! :L

670, 675, 804, 666

My mom said when she saw them: "Ivana?! Why do you need 4 same polishes? Wouldn't 1 be enough?" :D They're not so close like she thinks. :D I would love to have 2 more and I'd be done with them. :$

We ordered them at Beauty Cosmetic online shop. All bottles came in one piece, they secured them well, so if you want them - grab them asap. :)

I'm waiting for sun to start trying them! :L So many new polishes and I have just 2 hands, that's bad. xP

Xoxo,

Ivana :k

Catherine Arley request!

I'm wondering if any of my Bulgarian readers or anyone who have access to Catherine Arley would be interested in doing a swap? I would love to get some Catherine Arley holographic beauties! I saw them in Bulgarian online store, but I can't order them because I don't have credit card.

I took this photo from The Polished Perfectionist, AmyGrace, hope you don't mind. She's killing me with swatches of this beautiful holographics! Take a look, her nails are breathtaking!


So, if anyone is interested please e-mail me at ivana dot ristic88 at gmail dot com or leave a comment down below.

Edit - 3/20: I got them.

Xoxo,
Ivana