Author Archives: Stacie Wacie

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s If You’re a Seascape

Posted on by

Hi, reader! Welcome to Swatch Saturday. We’re really back in the swing of things now that we’re back to our regularly scheduled Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer polishes. This beauty from the Far From the Sun collection from 2014, is called If You’re a Seascape. I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite. All photos were taken outdoors in direct sunlight.

ssbegliyas

ssbegliyas2

ssbegliyas3

ssbegliyas4

If You’re a Seascape is a coral pink linear holo polish with hot pink shimmers. Application was super-smooth; I had perfect opacity at one(!) coat. The consistency is thick, but workable; it’s thick enough that I get super-awesome coverage in one coat, but not goopy or clumpy thick. The shimmers give the polish a metallic finish on top of the holo effect. The color also seems much cooler and more mauvey in real life than in the photos, but I can’t tell if the color just changes in lighting, or if the shimmers make it appear cooler than it is. This polish dries with a satin finish; I used top coat for extra shine and sparkle.

ssbegliyas5

ssbegliyas6

ssbegliyas7

This is beautiful shade. It’s cool, it’s warm, it’s summery and shimmery. It’s soft, but it holds its own. This is a perfect fall shade, but it’s also a really nice transition shade, too, especially for work.

ssbegliyas8

ssbegliyas9

If You’re a Seascape and other Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquers are available from their shop.

I bought this polish myself.

Manicure Monday: Dainty Pink Water-Marble

Posted on by

Happy Monday! This Manicure Monday’s secret word is dainty. We’re like baby princesses over here. My main polish in this mani is Model City‘s Fairy Godmother; I’m wearing it alone at three coats on my thumb and pinky, as well as in a watermarble with Elevation Polish‘s Hitsujiyama Park and under MAC’s Just Jewels. All nails are topped with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

mmdpwm

mmdpwm2

Perhaps the most unique thing about this polish, as well as the most obvious, is the strong pink pearl flash. This is what really sets it apart from the other pale pinks in my collection. There’s also a hint of holo; unfortunately it’s nasty cloudy outside, so I can’t demonstrate the pretty holo effect properly.

mmdpwm3

mmdpwm4

mmdpwm5

I decided on a water-marble pretty last-minute, and it was hard choosing the right color to contrast with the pale pink. I wanted one that was still pale so as to be dainty (ahhhh!) but dark enough to contrast with what I was already using. Hitsujiyama Park is just a shade or two darker, and has about the same amount of holo and lacks the pink flash, so I went with it. In the end, I wish I’d gone with something just a tad darker, but I really like the result I got. I bet there’s a sub-species of unicorn with stripes like these. A Zebracorn, if you will.

mmdpwm6

mmdpwm7

Finally, I used some glitter. MAC’s Just Jewels is a sheer but powerful shimmery topper with some multi-colored metallic glitters mixed in. It’s a little too strong for the watermarble, but I think it pairs really nicely with Fairy Godmother. The heavy pink shimmer is just what Fairy Godmother needs.

Fairy Godmother is discontinued; you can get other Model City polishes from their shop. Hitsujiyama Park and other Elevation Polishes can be purchased from their shop. Just Jewels is discontinued; other MAC polishes can be found wherever MAC products are sold. My bow charm is from Claire’s.

I bought two of these polishes. One polish was sent for review; my opinions are not influenced in any way.

Swatch Sunday: MAC’s Neptune

Posted on by

Happy Sunday! I’m excited to show you today’s polish; it’s a souvenir from one of the coolest vacations I’ve ever taken. This is MAC’s Neptune, and it was purchased from the Macy’s flagship store in New York City. I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

ssmn

ssmn2

ssmn3

Neptune is a metallic burnished gold polish. Application was easy; coverage was buildable, and it took me all of three coats to achieve this level of opacity. The consistency was thin but smooth and cooperative. It dries quickly and to a semi-glossy finish. There’s a slight duochrome effect to this polish; it leans slightly green when in certain lighting conditions. I used top coat for shine and to accentuate the shimmery finish.

ssmn4

ssmn6

ssmn5

I mentioned before that this polish is a souvenir, and it is. Last year, I had the opportunity to tag along on a road trip from Jacksonville, FL to Niagara Falls. We passed through New York City, and being sentimental and a shopaholic, I stopped in every flagship store and bought at least one thing, just so I could say “Yeah, I got this from the Herald Square Macy’s”. I almost wonder if that wasn’t the whole reason I wanted to go to New York.

ssmn7

ssmn8

I really like this polish. Apart from its being a vacation buy, it was one of my first MAC polishes, and probably also one of my first makeup-brand polishes. I tend not to buy those since they’re so easily dupeable, but this had been a special occasion, and sometimes it feels good to overpay for something. It feels like a luxury.

Neptune was part of MAC’s long-gone Aquatic Allure collection and is discontinued. Other MAC polishes are sold at counters and stores nationwide.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: A Rhyming Dictionary Polish’s Heathendom

Posted on by

Hi reader! This is the first new swatch I’ve done since I got the camera back. It feels so good to be doing this again! This Saturday, I’m wearing a new-to-me brand called A Rhyming Dictionary Polish. This is Heathendom; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite. All photos were taken outdoors in direct sunlight.

ssardh

ssardh2

ssardh3

ssardh4

Heathendom is a medium blue linear holo with silver flakies. Application was a breeze; my first coat was sheer, the second evened out the color, and the third achieved full opacity. The holo effect is most visible outdoors, though it does appear in any lighting condition. The silver flakes are more easily seen indoors. It also seems to have a purple shift in some lower lighting conditions. Drying times were very fast, and the polish dried with a satin finish. I used top coat for extra shine and smoothness.

ssardh5

ssardh6

ssardh7

Heathendom was released as an installment of Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer‘s Destination Duo collaboration series. It and its sister polish, Foss Idols from BEGL, were inspired by the spectacular Goðafoss, or Waterfall of the Gods, in northern Iceland. Both polishes do a very nice job of evoking images of clear, deep, cool water, but I think this is my favorite of the two. The fact that it’s a holo helps a bit. I’m also really impressed with the formula and the presentation, so I’m also pretty likely to check out A Rhyming Dictionary’s other polishes.

ssardh8

ssardh9

The Goðafoss Destination Duo is available from the Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer shop. Other A Rhyming Dictionary polishes are available from their shop.

I bought this polish myself.

Brag Swatch: Enchanted Polish’s Lobster Roll

Posted on by

Today is a momentous occasion. I have squashed my ultimate lemming: I now own a bottle ofEnchanted Polish‘s Lobster Roll. As soon as I got home, I tore open the envelope, took off my old mani, and put it on. I have looked forward to this day for so long, and I thought it would never come. Here is my brag-swatch of Lobster Roll; I’m wearing two coats with Seche Vite. All photos were taken outdoors in direct light.

bseplr

bseplr2

bseplr3

bseplr4

Lobster Roll is a red linear holo with a strong pink flash. It’s got a gorgeous formula; I actually had full opacity on the first coat. The consistency is rich, smooth, and velvety. It dried quickly with a semi-glossy finish. I used top coat for shine, as well as to bring out the shimmery pink flash.

bseplr5

bseplr6

bseplr7

bseplr10

I am so happy that I finally own this that I can’t even tell you. I don’t want to be the dramatic nail girl who says that finally finding her holy grail polish is the best thing that has ever happened, and I can’t remember a time when I was this happy, but it’s kind of true. I gushed to my boyfriend about it the day I bought it, and he’s like “Don’t you have enough polish? I don’t care that it’s hard to find, it’s not freakin’ Pokemon.” So this is why I’m writing a post about it. I know that you, dear reader, will understand my euphoria. This is, without a doubt, a very happy day.

bseplr8

bseplr9

Sorry this isn’t a proper review post. I really just needed to brag.

I bought this polish myself.

Manicure Monday: Jack the Lad

Posted on by

Happy Monday, reader! Manicure Monday is easy this week. I’m wearing three coats of Butter London’s Jack the Lad with one coat of Seche Vite and the Kitty Bow from Daily Charme. All photos were taken outdoors in direct sunlight.

mmbljtl

mmbljtl2

Jack the Lad is a deep emerald jelly with fine green, gold, and blue flakies. I actually can’t tell if they’re glitters or flakies, but I suspect they’re flakies; there’s no gritty glitter texture, even before the top coat. Also, some of them color-shift; the gold ones turn purple at certain angles and it’s absolutely beautiful. Application was smooth; the first coat was streaky, but the second one evened it all out. It dried quickly and with a semi-gloss finish. Top coat gives it extra shine and protection.

mmbljtl3

mmbljtl4

mmbljtl5

This is a great seasonal color. I mean, I love jewel tones year-round, but they really are an autumn staple. This would even be a good holiday color. It’s so seasonal that the tree behind me looks like the leaves are changing, but it’s really just an orange tree. It’s like 88 degrees outside. It might be November, but it’s not autumn in Florida, that’s for sure.

mmbljtl6

mmbljtl7

This is a great polish! This was one of my first Butter Londons, acquired from a sale basket at Nordstrom Rack. Wearing it feels mega fancy. I never get the shade names, though; I like to think I’m pretty good at UK words, but some of them really baffle me.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Sunday: Lynnderella’s Chef Kitty

Posted on by

Did I mention how happy I am to be swatching again? I have missed it so much. I know I’m out of practice, so please bear with me while I get back into the swing of it. This Sunday, I’m wearing my first Lynnderella polish, Chef Kitty; I’m wearing one coat over Mac’s Queen’s Honor (red), Essie’s Roarrrrrange (orange), OPI’s I Just Can’t Cope-acabana (yellow), Revlon’s Posh (green), and Nails Inc.’s Baker Street (blue) with one coat of Seche Vite.

sslck

sslck2

sslck3

Chef Kitty is a shimmery glitter topper with mostly white glitters in various shapes and sizes, as well as accent glitters in various colors and finishes. The maker describes it as an “’everything but the kitchen sink’ approach to cuisine”, and I have to agree with that; the variety of glitters in this polish is staggering. Considering the amount of glitter in this bottle, it spread very well over the nail; I had no trouble getting even coverage at all. It dried pretty well, all things considered. I used to top coat to smooth everything down and really bring out the shimmer in the lacquer base.

sslck4

sslck5

I know Lynnderella is old news for most people, but I had to see what the fuss was about and, last March, purchased Chef Kitty. I loved the mental image; I pictured my own fat fluff wearing a chef’s hat and knocking every herb and spice I own into a bowl. I was amazed by this polish and its quality, so impressed that I bought 24 more since then. They’re just so gorgeous! Lynnderella’s been in the indie polish game a long time, but everything they make is still creative and gorgeous.

sslck6

sslck7

Chef Kitty is available from Lynnderella’s Storenvy; other Lynns can be purchased via eBay auction.

I bought this polish myself.

News: Wacie Nail Co. for Depression Awareness 2015

Posted on by

Hey reader! For once, I have something really exciting to share with you. Julie, the owner of Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer and Wishes of a Blue-Eyed Girl, is getting ready to start her annual depression awareness fundraiser, and for the second time, Wacie Nail Company has made a special edition one-of-a-kind polish for the cause. This year’s offering is called Glow-Mo; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

wncfda

wncfda2

wncfda3

wncfda4

Glow-Mo is a pastel green polish with a green pearl flash, rose pearl flakies, and a slight holo effect. It also glows green in the dark. It’s on the sheer side; it took me all three coats to get to this opacity, and it dries with matte finish.

wncfda5

wncfda6

wncfda7

wncfda8

wncfda9

These photos were taken in direct sunlight. This is where the holo effect is most visible.

wncfda10

wncfda11

These photos were taken in complete darkness to demonstrate the glow-in-the-dark effect. If I may say so myself, the glow is really bright. I wore this to bed last night and I kept waking myself up with my nails. And, for funsies, I included a photo that’s not in complete darkness; it’s really just my hallway with the lights turned off. It glows even there. I feel I should mention that that photo is not altered in any way.

wncfda12

wncfda13

wncfda14

Looks like an ’80s music video!

There is only one bottle of Glow-Mo (other than the one I used for swatching, of course), and it is being auctioned on eBay with tons of other special polishes from other makers. 100% of the proceeds goes to benefit the depression awareness and suicide prevention network I Need A Lighthouse. This is a cause that means a lot to me, so please check out the auction. Last year’s auction raised over 700 dollars, so let’s try to beat that number! The auction begins today, 10/31, at noon EDT; you can find the entire auction here.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s Ocean Warmed by the Sun

Posted on by

Guess what, reader! My camera is fixed, and Weekend Swatches are back in action! You may notice that this is actually my second post today; that post is important, so make sure you check it out! These photos were actually taken a couple months ago; it was the last Swatch Saturday post planned before the camera broke. The polish is Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer‘s Ocean Warmed by the Sun; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite. All photos were taken in direct sunlight.

ssbeglowbts

ssbeglowbts2

ssbeglowbts3

ssbeglowbts4

Ocean Warmed by the Sun is a turquoise linear holo with hot pink shimmers. It went on pretty well; it was almost opaque in one coat, and two sealed it up. The color is bright, and the holo effect is pretty strong. it even kind of upstages the pink shimmers, because they’re a bit hard to see. It dried quickly and with a glossy finish; I used top coat to really bring out the holo effect and shimmers.

ssbeglowbts5

ssbeglowbts6

ssbeglowbts7

This is a super-summery polish. It’s the color of the sky when I’m near the ocean; it’s bright and cheerful and flawless. I want to live in a universe where the sky is this blue a hundred percent of the time.

ssbeglowbts9

ssbeglowbts8

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I used Ocean Warmed by the Sun in my birthday mani. It was just the right blue to match the Nails Inc. glitter I used. I know holos have been around a while, but I still get excited when I use one. It must be how a dog feels every time it gets a treat.

Ocean Warmed By the Sun has been discontinued by BEGL, but other polishes are available in their shop.

I bought this polish myself.

 

Manicure Monday: Neon Sunset Gradient

Posted on by

Happy Monday, reader! I adore today’s manicure because it’s so bright and busy. The gradient you see was done with Color Club’s Wham! Pow! and Sally Hansen’s Magenta Moves; the glitter topper is China Glaze’s Whirled Away. All nails are topped with Seche Vite top coat. I had a ton of fun doing this look today, so I hope you love it!

mmnsg

mmnsg2

Wham! Pow! is one of the best neons I’ve used in recent memory. It was opaque in two coats, dried with a satin finish, and — the best part — did not require a white base for the full effect. It’s almost painful to look at, it’s so bright. This is a seriously fantastic neon and I definitely recommend it to everyone. Magenta Moves, though a bright color, isn’t as neon as Wham! Pow!, so it kind of keeps the gradient from being too loud and creates the smoky-but-still-bright sunset effect.

mmnsg3

mmnsg4

I fell in love with Whirled Away the first time I saw it. This was back when those black and white glitter toppers were at the height of their popluarity; this was the first one I got, probably also the first one I ever used. My favorite thing — simultaneously the best and worst thing about this polish — is that it sets itself apart from the others by using much larger glitters. I love big glitters, cannot lie, etc., but I feel like it makes the polish go faster. I’ve only used it twice, but the bottle is already half empty. It’s so sad. It’s also kind of a pain to apply, because the slice/bar glitters are so long they sometimes hang off the nail like eyelashes, and sometimes it was hard to get the glitters to spread evenly over the nail, but it still looks cool even when it’s a little lopsided.

mmnsg5

mmnsg6

Unrelated: I miss swatching! I noticed today that it’s been two months since my Canon broke; I thought it would only be in the shop a few days and now I have no idea when I’m getting it back. I’m so sad, I really miss wearing all those new polishes! I’m kind of afraid to use things now because I can’t document it as easily. Here’s hoping it’ll come back someday soon.

I bought these polishes myself.