China Glaze Rare and Radiant

I have a thing for duo chrome polishes (polished that change color depending on the angle the light hits them).  I think they are just so cool.  The problem is, most duo chrome polishes are made in colors that aren't flattering to my skin tone.  China Glaze Rare and Radiant is beautiful, but not beautiful on me.  It has a duochrome that changes from a gold/bronze (pinky finger) to a blue/green (index finger).  Pay no attention to the spot I missed on my thumb. :)  Neither color in this polish is especially flattering to me.  :(  This polish is one of the many dupes for Chanel Peridot that was so popular a year or two ago.  I bought this polish for my niece.  Shhhh.  Don't tell her.  Her mom doesn't read my blog, so I think my secret is safe.  I think these colors are made for her. 

Color Club Harp On It

I had really high expectations for Color Club Harp On it and I was sure there was no way this polish could possibly live up to them.  However, Harp On It has managed to meet or exceed the very high bar I set for it.  This is my first holographic nail polish.  The hologram effect is really strong.  The effect shows up great in sunlight.  You can still see the holographic effect if there is some ambient light (lamp, window, etc.)  However, this pretty polish turns into a boring gray in shade or on cloudy days.  On cloudy days this Superman polish turns into mild mannered Clark Kent.  You need to check the weather forcast before you apply it.
Holographic polishes are know for being temperamental.  I've read that you need very smooth nails for a base, holographic polishes only work with certain base coats, top coats can dull the holographic effect, and that they chip in a day or so.   I didn't buff my nails first, and even my somewhat ridge-y thumb looked fine.  I skipped the base coat, so I can't speak to that.  The holographic effect wasn't dulled by my top coat, NYC Grand Central Station.  And it did not chip until day six and I was very hard on this manicure. 
I expected to feel a bit like a futuristic 70's disco robot with this polish on.  However, I just felt like a regular person who was wearing an awesome nail polish.  I believe you pretty much have to get Color Club polishes online.  I bought mine on Amazon.com.  I'm extremely impressed with Color Club Harp On It and I am totally and completely in love.

Sunset nails

This is another manicure that everyone who does nail art tries at least once.  I started out with a base of Wet 'n Wild French White cream so the yellow show up better.  I painted on two coats of Spoiled Mind Your Own Beeswax to the bottom half and one coat of Wet 'n Wild Dream Poppy to the top.  Then I sponged Essie Brazilliant onto the center section to blend the two colors together.  Frankly, I could have done a better job with the gradient.  I used the Salon Express stamping kit for the palm trees.  The palm tree stamp worked really well from that kit.  Designs from that kit are hit and miss. The thumb only needed one palm tree.   I used a dotting tool and Wet 'n Wild Black Creme for the "land" at the bottom of the nail.  I liked them, and I'll do this again. 

Wet 'n Wild Frosted Over

This is Wet 'n Wild Frosted Over.  It is a duo chrome glitter polish that changes from aqua to lilac/pink.  I has large glitter pieces that do not have the color shift.  The large pieces of glitter ruin this polish for me.  They make it much harder to notice the duo chrome color shift, and I'm all about the duo chrome.  If the large glitter wasn't there, this glitter polish would be on the edge of my comfort zone.  With the large glitter, it pushes it over the edge into a Disney princess nightmare.  This will be strictly pedicures and glitter gradients for me.  I layered this over a old pink polish to bring out the duo chrome. 

4th of July

This is my 4th of July manicure this year.  I started with a base of Wet 'n Wild French White Creme.  Then I taped off the french tips and stamped with an old Wet 'n Wild blue and the Salon Express stamping kit.  I tried several techniques, some involving tape some not for the stripes.  They all were a big 'ole fail.  I will alternate the nails between red and white on the bottoms next year instead.  The red is Wet 'n Wild Megalast I Red a Good Book. 

Orly Luxe

Orly Luxe is a tad too green for my skintone.  This is my second bottle of Orly polish and Orly and I just don't get along.  It starts chipping in a day. 

I used Wet 'n Wild I Need a Refresh Mint to do a ruffian manicure.  I should have gone all the way to the sides and not left the gold strip on the side of the nail.  You can do a ruffian either way, but I prefer the look with the gold just on the bottom and not the sides.  I also think it would be easier to do the bottom curve if I went all the way to the sides.  I did have better luck with the wide, flat brush of Megalast vs. when I tried doing a ruffian with a traditional polish brush.  Maybe next time I'll get the ruffian manicure right.