Poll Runner Up: Bettina #189

Hi! Today I get to show you the polish that got second place in my poll(: I wanted to use this one purple polish for the stamping but it didn't really show up :( I also tried to use the white first and line up the purple so it came on more opaque... but that failed... to the extreme. In the end I just ended up using white....simple, but cute:)

#189.... such a pretty shimmer.... #189 is and aqua-ish blue with some gorgeous green undertones packed with micro shimmer.... so much shimmer that it actually looks like a sheen. #189 is a tad but more green in real life... just a little bit... a pinch:) Formula on this was great (as usual) and dry time was fast. It's a little sheer but it's very build-able. In the photos you can see some slight VNL, but it's not that noticeable IRL. This is two thin coats.

My stamping looked a little flat so I decided it was the perfect time to use my Finger Paints Sparkle Top Coat! I must say... I am in love!! I definitely want to start using glitter more often. It's gorgeous:) 

Also, I have so many ideas I want to try out!! I am starting to think this is going to be a good week....

Anyway, let me know if you like(:

• Base Color: Bettina #189
• Stamp Color: Luv My Nails White
• Plate: BM201
• Glitter: Finger Paints Sparkle Top Coat

(**Bettina product sent for review**)

Poll Winner: Bettina #28

Hi everyone!! So Bettina #28 was the winner of my very first poll(: I wanted to say thankyou to everyone who voted... all 35 of you! :D Since this one went so well, I think I might do another one next week or something. Let me know what you think. Anyway, I'll have a picture of the poll results (just for the heck of it) on the bottom of the post. But for now, pictures! :)

#28 is a gorgeous deep purple/burgundy shimmer. Stunning. Formula was spot on as usual. The only thing that I didn't like was the smell... it was a little strong. There was a subtle gold duo-chrome in the bottle but that didn't really show up on the nail. That's ok though.... the polish is still beautiful without it.

I did end up stamping it except I messed up horribly so no photos :( Anyway, thanks for reading and be sure to let me know if you love #28 as much as I do! :D

Poll results:

Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to participate in my poll(: Be sure to be on the lookout for the next one! :D

(**Product sent for review**)

Review: Pro-FX Quick Dry High Gloss Top Coat (+Comparisons)

Hi everyone!! So I recently bought a new topcoat(: I was cruising Twitter and Rie (Nails and Noms) mentioned that she got this new top coat, and it was fairly similar to Seche Vite. I have been needing a new bottle of TC, so after she said that it was like Seche, the very next day I went and bought it. I also ended up buying the 3 In One Base Coat, Top Coat, and Nail Strengthener, but I'll review that another day. Anyway, this is a super long review so better grab a snack or something.

Note From Me: I have 3 go-to topcoats. Seche Vite, NYC Quick Dry, and now Pro-FX Quick Dry Top Coat. Seche is basically my holy grail but it's really hard for me to find where I live. The NYC one was recommended by Sammie (The Nailasaurus) and that's really easy for me to get. I really like that top coat as well. Very nice brush (similar to OPI pro wide brush which I love).

Bottle/Price:  Ohmygawd the bottle is HUGE! I first saw this brand at my local Walmart about 4-5 months ago, and I have always wanted to try it because of the bottle. Apparently it's "salon size". It's 2.5 FL. OZ/ 75 ML. You can see in the second picture, how it compares to a regular bottle of Beauty Secrets Base Coat. This top coat was fairly cheap considering it's size, I only payed $4.95 +tax.

Bubbling:  Rie mentioned that this top coat bubbled on her friend really badly. (It didn't bubble on Rie though). I noticed that this top coat gets bubbles really easily which I absolutely hate! Even if it looks like there isn't any bubbles, move it even slightly stupid bubbles start popping up. And even when you paint it, as you dip the brush back into the bottle it slowly gets bubbles. But, the good thing is, is that if you let it sit for a while, the bubbles go away:) But still, be careful while applying and be sure to not shake it.

Brush/Wand:  The wand is super long and giant. It also touched the very bottom of the bottle which I think is great, it allows you to get every last bit of product. The brush is very soft and much like Seche. But a little bit bigger. If you have enough product on, and with a light touch, it doesn't smear your stamping! :) Also, if you don't let it drip on one side, you can do your whole hand without having to re-dip. Even though the brush/wand is very large, I had no problems what-so-ever(:

Formula/Smell:  The formula is a little thinner than Seche Vite. Formula wise, Pro-FX is closer to NYC. It smells just like Seche though. (It actually has the word "Seche" on the bottle)

Dry Time/Hardness:  Although dry time is quick, it isn't as quick as Seche. It also doesn't harden as fast. It's dry to the touch in about 5 min, fully dry in about 10-20 minutes, hard enough so you don't ding anything in about an hour, and fully hardened by the next day. Which I guess compared to Seche, that's a while, but it is very hard nonetheless. Nothing can really ding the surface and it lasts super long so yay!

Wear Time:  Ok, now for the good part! Wear time! Most top coats start peeling/chipping on me by the second day. This top coat, doesn't chip/peel or even have tip wear until the fourth day... which is usually when I start getting bored of the color and start picking at it. Seriously! Not even tip wear! The other day (I forget what color I was wearing... Zoya something rather), I didn't have anything until day four. I went to the beach twice, swimming twice, sand, dishes, showers, school, everything!! That's pretty awesome!

Shine:  Last but not least, shine. It does dry very shiny, and stays shiny for the most part. I have been out of Seche for a while so I can't really compare it to that... NYC dries shiny as well, but doesn't stay shiny.... for me at least.

Overall:  Overall, I really love this top coat. Even though Seche Vite will always be my favorite, it chips/peels way to fast for way and when using Pro-FX I know it will stay on. You get a lot of good
product for a fairly cheap price, dry time is fast, and I just overall love it! Even though it bubbles easily which really annoys me, the wear time/shine makes up for that.

If you have any questions feel free to ask(:

My first poll!!

Hi everyone(: I decided to post my very first poll asking all of you which Bettina polish you would like to see next. It ends on 9/16/11 so be sure to put your vote in before that date!! :) You can find the poll box right below my tab bar on the right.

Thanks for voting!! :)

Bettina Ocean

Hi everyone! My second un-stamped post. Been feeling so un-inspired. Which sucks cause I had a GREAT stamp idea for this color and it turned out so gross and yucky I had to take it off. Seriously, I did my nails 7 times!! NO JOKE. I finally settled on Planks-A-Lot. Which I actually didn't stamp either. Anyway, I swatched Ocean on Friday. It took me forever! This color is so hard to capture! And even with editing it's still not completely color accurate. Ok, enough talking, onto the photos!

Bettina Ocean.... a very hard color to capture. Mkay... let's see.... Ocean is a stunning slightly vibrant sea-foam green (way more sea-foamy, less aqua IRL) with the most awesome formula ever. Dry time was quick and like most of my Bettina's, this polish dried shiny! This is 2 thin coats.

I also wanted to mention that Bettina Brand is now being sold in two stores in Florida. I am not exactly sure where, but you can go to their FB group page and ask them(: Oh! And one more thing, Ocean is similar to Mermaid Tears (even though by my swatch photos you would think they would be completely different). Let me know if you want a comparison post! :) So ya, think less aqua/blue, more Mermaid Tears.

Anyway, let me know what you all think! Do you love this color as much as I do?? 

(**Bettina product sent for review**)

Zoya Kelly

Here it is... my namesake(:

Kelly is a gorgeous gray with some purple undertones. When you first see it, it looks like a dark grey, but put it next to an actual grey, it's very purple (see pinky on the photo above). Very hard shade to describe. Formula on this was perfection and dry time was fast. This is two thin coats. 

If you follow me on Twitter you would know that I was a little disappointed with Kelly. Not because it's bad or anything, it's actually very pretty, but I personally don't wear colors like this. I love bright colors and this is very dark and it's not something I would wear... normally. BUT, I am going to find a way to rock it!! Because after all, this is my namesake color. I was thinking maybe some awesome stamping?? YES!

EDIT: I take back everything I said! I just recently started using this and I love it!!!!!!

No nail art post today :( I wasn't feeling inspired and I was in a rush.... but don't worry, I'll have something AWESOME for you this week(:

Do you own Kelly?? Do you like it?? What color is your Zoya namesake??

Bettina Snakeskin Mani

I have a cute fall snakeskin manicure to show you today(: I have been wanting to use this brown color for a while but didn't know what to do with it. Finally this idea hit me! I think it turned out great :)

Bettina #195 is a nice chocolate-y brown. But although it appears to be just some ordinary brown... it isn't. If you look look close enough, you can find hidden gold shimmer/flecks!! I didn't think that I was going to like it, but it's really flattering on my skin tone. The formula on this was amazing and buttery smooth. This is 2 coats.

Afterwards, I took a Q-Tip and sponged on a little bit of Bling Dynasty, and then stamped the snakeskin print on BM215 over that.

I <3333 the way this turned out, what about you?? :)

• Base Color: Bettina #195
• Stamp Color: Konad Black Pearl
• Gold Sponging: OPI Bling Dynasty
• Plate: BM215

(**Bettina product sent for review**)