American Apparel Mouse and Water Decals

I love neutrals and I love these nail decals so this mani was a match made for me! Take a look!

I think these colors looked great together! I put a decal on each ring and thumb nail. Click HERE to go to my post explaining the process. For this mani I used 3 coats of American Apparel's Mouse over Orly Bonder and sealed with Out the Door.  The decals were added the next day. 

I did a similar manicure this week (the mani I'm posting now is a few weeks old) and I tried not putting topcoat over the decals.  They remained tacky (the clear borders did at least) and picked up fuzz and dust. So lesson learned: always topcoat the water decals!

Wintry Nails with Snowflake Stickers

It hasn't even been cold lately, not sure where the inspiration was for this.  This is one of those manicures that look much much better at a distance, not super macro friendly.  I had one with it, though!

"Natural" Light

I'm patiently waiting for my thumbnail to grow more, too. I've never broke a thumb nail before, was so bummed when it happened. And I don't even know HOW it happened!

"Natural" Light

For this mani I sponged on China Glaze Dance Baby and Seaspray with which made this purple-y base you're seeing.  Then I sponged on some China Glaze Frosty (one of my all time faves!), added dots with my dotting tool using Frosty again and Sally Hansen Whirlwind White. I had ordered these stickers from Born Pretty over the summer, was fun to get to use them! So many shapes and styles of snow flakes.

"Natural" Light

"Natural" Light

LOL, I tried some nail art. Promptly removed and replaced.

NOTD; elephunk

I bought this one yesterday as mentioned in my previous post.  This is Funky Fingers, "Elephunk".  The application wasn’t too bad, this is 3 thin coats.  It was still a little spotty in some spots but only if you held it up to the light and looked for it.  It’s a grey, I think crème? Base, with the tiniest most miniscule hints of a silvery shimmer.  So I guess it’s a shimmer then.  But it doesn’t look like it on the nail, and barely in the bottle.  Anyways this is my first grey and I really do love it.  I added some pink and silver butterfly decals that added that extra something I felt it needed.  I put two on each ring finger and one on each thumb.  These pictures are pre-cleanup so excuse the messy edges. 

 

Also, I’ve been having trouble with the skin around the edge of my nails!  My left thumb has open cuts on the side and the right thumb (pictured) is super dry!  I use oils and cuticle balm but they don’t seem to have the same effect on my thumbs.  I definitely think my skin there is different but I am still figuring out how to avoid the issues I’ve been having.  Any advice? I sure could use some.

Look at that cute eyeshadow palette!  I got it for 3$ at Essentials at my mall.  So cute (=

Click to enlarge for detail.