MAC Dry Martini

Dry Martini is definitely one of those polarizing colors - people either love it or hate it. Personally I love it, and it works with my skintone. Curiously, I've seen photos where it looks very brown, but on me it is always olive green. It took 3 coats for even coverage, but the pigmentation is good - just a little uneven in the way MAC polishes occasionally are (I love them personally, but they can be picky.)

Of course, on the 2nd day I added a Konad.


This is plate M65 with China Glaze FYI as the stamp. I have the entire OMG collection - they are so great, both on their own and as konad stamps. I love holos though, and have way too many in my collection! Anyway, this is a gold holo that is noticeably gold on the nail. I like how this pattern is very 70s - it goes with the olive polish very well!

I'm thinking of doing a series of posts on polishes that work with the Konad, as I know many people have questions about that, and I have been experimenting with many different ones. So look for that soon, along with more glitters (I have been in a glitter mode lately!)

MAC Beyond Jealous

2 coats, indirect sun

I was worried about the "almost black" quality of this one, but luckily it looks teal to me in most light. I like it better than Dark Room (which I don't own) and OPI Here Today, Aragon tomorrow. Application was great, but I have always loved MAC polishes. I like the colors, and the cute bottle and rubber cap appeal to me. I don't care that they are small, because I never use up polishes anyway!

After a day, I tried the Konad over top.


I used MAC Mint Julep, an ancient minty foil, for the stamping polish. I don't care much for this image - it's too girlie for me, I like thinks a little more funky. Even so, the transfer was great, and my husband liked this one!

I've been playing with different polishes on the konad. I'm probably getting more of the special polishes, but I'm pleased that I have plenty of metallic and chrome polishes that stamp well. I'm loving this to embellish tired manicures!

OPI Here today, Aragon Tomorrow

3 coats, indirect sunlight

I just don't love this one like I hoped. It's simply too dark - as in, so dark that people don't believe me when I say it's green. I had high hopes after the first coat - it's an interesting warm green, different from my other green cremes. Unfortunately, it just turned black after that - at 2 coats it was still green but uneven. It had a bit of a watery texture, but it was very smooth and not gloppy the way OPIs sometimes are. I am experiencing bad tipwear, but that may be a result of my topcoat being thick. I think I'm going to try a new topcoat - Sally Hansen Megashine is not living up to it's name for me. This is rather dull looking after only a few hours.

I also bought Pamplona purple, which is pretty but easily duped. I'm not really overwhelmed by the collection, though it is pretty!

NOTD: China Glaze Emerald Sparkle

2 coats, direct sunlight.

I held off on buying China Glaze's Emerald Sparkle forever. I know - what's not to like, with the green and the sparkles? Well, it's often compared to Ruby Pumps and Lubu heels, and I don't much like either of those. I do like Ruby pumps over black, making my own version of Lubu, but on it's own it's disappointingly sheer, and for some reason it doesn't dry. Lubu is pretty in the bottle, but not sparkly enough on the nail, and again it is rather sheer.

Well, I was totally wrong about emerald sparkle! I have the newer version, which has a blackened base. I think I prefer this one, because otherwise I might have layered it over black on my own. I find it similar in a way to NYX Las Vegas, a glass flecked looking green jelly. They are not dupes however, as ES has glitter and the black base.

Application was very good - unlike Ruby Pumps, this polish was nice and thin, not at all runny or gloppy. It dried almost immediately with a coat of Sally Hansen Mega Shine on the top. I did experience one small chip during the day, but I was doing a fair amount of work with my hands.