Renaissance Cosmetics: Prototype 19 Glitter Gradient

Purchased By Shelby Lou

I had a rare day off mid-week yesterday with the hubbs and it was also gorgeous out! Obviously, blogging was put dead last on the priority list. We really value our good weather in Buffalo because we get so little of it. We went up the "The River" and sat in the sun on the rocks. The water was cold af I didn't care! It was 80 and sunny. I even got a slight tan, woo! I'm still more reflective than not though. Anyway.

Here is a lovely little mani I wore some time last week. I used a Prototype, Prototype 19 to be exact, from Renaissance Cosmetics. I started with three coats of OPI You're So Vain-illa (a yellow-toned nude that I find surprisingly flattering!). Then I just used the bottle brush to layer on some shimmery goodness.

Shelby Lou Nails
Renaissance Cosmetics Prototype 19
over OPI You're So Vain-illa
without flash

Prototype 19 is an aqua, turquoise, caramel, gold, and brown topper in all sizes and finishes. And so much shimmah! Perfect formula which makes gradient-ing nice and easy. I absolutely love this color--why you no make, Meghan?! I remember a Nicole by OPI from a couple years ago that came out in a similar color palette, and I really liked the colors but there was nothing really special about the polish. This, my friends, is proof to me that indies will always do it better. I can't remember the last time I bought mainstream.

Shelby Lou Nails
Renaissance Cosmetics Prototype 19
over OPI You're So Vain-illa
with flash

RenCos has really well-planned restocks and gorgeous collections full of delicate shimmers in glorious colors. Check them out, maybe you can pick up a prototype or two at the next restock!

Shelby Lou Nails
Renaissance Cosmetics Prototype 19
over OPI You're So Vain-illa
with flash

Products:
Renaissance Cosmetics

Have you loved your cuticles today?

Happy Memorial Day

Purchased By Shelby Lou 

I hope everyone is enjoying a day off and some time with loved ones today! Somehow I have a day off and my husband doesn't haha.  Memorial Day is a day to honor those who died while serving in the US military. There are several veterans and current service members in my family, including my brother, and I take their sacrifice very seriously. While thankfully no one has died in service close to me, I honor those who have and whose names I will never know. Thank you to all the service men and women out there!

I haven't done some "real" nail art in awhile and really wanted to try some horizontal gradient-ing in patriotic colors. My base colors are OPI Angel With A Leadfoot (white), China Glaze Man Hunt (blue), and OPI What's Your Point-settia? (red). Man Hunt is apparently one of my favorite blues since it's 1/3 gone. And I'm also happy I broke down and bought the Gwen Holiday Collection (because: Gwen Stefani) so I had plenty of reds to choose just the right shade.

Shelby Lou Nails

Memorial Day

Featuring Gridlock Lacquer The Rockpile

I got a bit of a false start on my gradient since I originally thought I wouldn't need a colored base--hey it's been awhile. After a couple passes I decided to do a couple strokes on either side of my nail with the brush, then did my sponging over the top of that when it was dry for more vibrant color. I was dreading cleaning up the red and blue but it wasn't too bad with my handy liquid latex as a barrier!

Shelby Lou Nails

Memorial Day

Featuring Gridlock Lacquer The Rockpile

Over the top of my gradient I did a coat of Gridlock Lacquer The Rockpile. I bought this one at the recent Mix Your Own event I went to with Gridlock Lacquer. I love patriotic polishes so of course I needed this one. The formula was great! Really nice spread and literally like 3 dabs randomly across my nails. My only complaint is I didn't get any of the medium satin white glitters on my nails. However, not a deal breaker and I still am happy with this purchase. There are iridescent microglitters within the red white and blue mix which I love. I am really pleased with how this turned out!

Products:
Gridlock Lacquer

Have you loved your cuticles today?

Stamping Saturday: Soft Swirls

Purchased By Shelby Lou

I survived this last week of work being two people--go me! I only worked like 3 hours overtime and my husband said I wasn't a psycho when I got home and everything. Plus this will be my third post this week. I feel like such a winner. Except that I slept in way too late today. Anyway, it's been awhile since I did a Stamping Saturday. For today's edition I have a lovely soft look using mostly KBShimmer polishes. KBShimmer just released a ginormous summer collection that I have been drooling over. I'm actually so overwhelmed with trying to pick what I really want and need that I haven't ordered yet. But I do know I need some of their new mani bombs!

I started with KBShimmer Meow Or Never on my thumb, index, and middle fingers. Meow Or Never has all soft shades of grays, blues, purples, and white glitters. Fabulous formula as always, I did just three thin coats and no placement of glitter. On my ring and pinky I did KBShimmer Hugs And Wishes, the most perfect Lavender creme ever and just three thin coats.

Shelby Lou Nails
Stamping Saturday
Soft Swirls
KBShimmer Meow Or Never, Hugs And Wishes, Eyes White Open
Vivid Lacquer VL 022, INM Northern Lights
Without Flash

For my stamping I used an image from Vivid Lacquer VL022 with KBShimmer Eyes White Open. Eyes White Open is a really nice soft white, not too bright or blue and not too gray. I must use it more for stamping, it was good!

Shelby Lou Nails
Stamping Saturday
Soft Swirls
KBShimmer Meow Or Never, Hugs And Wishes, Eyes White Open
Vivid Lacquer VL 022, INM Northern Lights
Without Flash

Meow Or Never has a lovely dusting a holo so I used some INM Northern Lights over my stamping. I feel like it overpowered that in Meow Or Never, but ah well, there it is.

Shelby Lou Nails
Stamping Saturday
Soft Swirls
KBShimmer Meow Or Never, Hugs And Wishes, Eyes White Open
Vivid Lacquer VL 022, INM Northern Lights
With Flash

Products:
KBShimmer

Have you loved your cuticles today?


get the InLinkz code

An InLinkz Link-up