Into the Tropical

Good Morning! Today's NOTD was kinda impromptu. Well, I only knew what colours I wanted to use and I know I want to blend them together in gradient form - which is what I went on doing. But after I've done my gradients I felt like it needed something more but lack of inspiration on what would be best on this nails, I debated between drawing simple kid-like swirls and dotting. Finally decided that I'd use my stamping plate which have been sitting around unused for all this time. I stamped on a palm tree looking leaves from Konad Stamping Plate M83 with The Face Shop WH002. And the nails ended up looking a lot like summer nails. Haha!

So there you have it! A simple stamping NOTD. I must add that despite the simplicity of the stamp, I do love the outcome. I thought it felt very joyful and lively. Totally brightens up my day! Hope these are able to brighten up your day too the way they did mine :)


Nail polishes used:

• Beau Kiss (BK) - 02
• Etude House (Matte) - 06
• Etude House - COR202
• The Face Shop - WH002
• The Face Shop - BL602

I tried to Stitch...

Hello! I have for you today are nails that are very badly stitched. Why? Because I'm a zombie and my hands are too shaky for straight lines - kidding, of course. Today's manicure is inspired by a necklace I saw on etsy! Hands up, if you're one to find inspirations around etsy too ;P Its a really simple manicure, started off with two coats of OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls and drew the lines with Chen Xi Nail Art Striping Brush (I don't recommend buying this at all). Yeah, sounds darn simple right? Actually it is. But the striper gave me so much problem (too stringy and tacky). Fortunately, this art design I had in mind was meant to look messy still, being able to have more controlled outcome would have been a lot better. Hmm, these nails are suitable for Halloween, no? ;)

So that's it for today's post. Haha, don't have much to say as my mind is somehow blank (sleepy, so yeah brain dead). Anyway, I hope all of you reading this will like it! :D

Urgh, the Unsightly Yellow Nails

Hello everyone. My nails been looking sad apparently my base coat isn't preventing doing a good job in preventing nails from staining like its suppose to. Its sad to see my nails have been stained pretty bad, or very bad (as how I'd put it). Because of that, I went on a hunt for a different base coat - at the very least, to find one that is able to prevent further staining (since I can't part with nail polish at the moment). Also the nails are really embarrassing to go out with, with its degree of yellowness. So after browsing through the internet, I've decided to try out Rimmel London's Whitener base coat - it claims to prevent discolouration. Anyway, I am taking this chance to mask my yellow nails as while waiting for them to grow out also to see if this base coat do prevents discolourations.

Warning: Really ugly/yucky yellow nails ahead!

Stippling the Fall

Hello everyone. Today's nails are inspired by a picture I saw on Pinterest. Its a lovely paper sculpture by Yuko Tadaka Keller. As well as a little vision I had in mind when I thought of what I wanna do for the nails. I wanted to create the look of lights dangling down using the stippling method. Initially, I've pick warm and cool colours to work with but I saw that Chalkboard Nails is holding a nail art contest and themed only either Warm Tones or Cool Tones nail designs and I thought I'd take it as a challenge to create a nail art inspired by only warm or cool tones. Honestly, I find it rather hard at first since I really loved the contrast between warm and cool palettes. I've kept to my original idea of inspiration and pick out some of the warm tones in my stash and got myself stippling.

It's rather unfortunate that the nail art contest is only open to US Residents only. I would have love to enter even for the sake of fun. But nah, I don't think mine will make the cut since its really simple. If you are a nail art enthusiast and from the US, please by all means, take this opportunity to participate in the Nail Art Contest. Who knows, you might be a winner! ;)

Anyway, for my nails I've started off with nude base and sponge on a little yellow covering only a quarter of my nails. Since I want the dots to be able to be as mini sized as possible I used a toothpick and go on started off with stippling white dots acting as a highlight and a rough guide for all my other colours to follow on. Little did I know that they turn out to look very suitable for fall! Almost winter-like too (thanks to the white haha!)

I think it turned out okay, didn't happen like how I visioned it to. But I'm feeling very inspired! You can expect to see more stippling action to come! ;)

What I've used :

• Elianto - Light Coffee
• Bandi - Crystal Brown
• The Face Shop - YL701
• The Face Shop - WH002
• Etude House (Matte) - 06
• Nails Topshop - Country Bumpkin
• Sally Hansen - Chocolate Nut
• Toothpick

"Summer" Favourites!

Hello all! First, let me explain why I highlighted Summer. Well, that's because Malaysia doesn't have Summer since its on the Equator (hehe). I've been privileged enough to be tagged by a very kind and sweet blogger from Colour at your fingertips! Thank you so much! 

A very brief explanation about Summer Favourites Tag, its a really quick way to summarize the summer as well as a fun way to share each other's blog. So, there will be two parts to this tag. First part being the questions section on favourite products used during the summer and the second part sharing blogs we've come across and have become our favourites! 

The 10 Questions : 

1) What has been your favourite glitter polish this summer?

Hmm, its probably Etude House PBK 801, but its not a summery sort of glitter polish. Its much more suitable for Fall/Halloween. Hahaha. 

2) Have you preferred to wear brights or pastels on your nails this summer?

A little bit of both, but if I have to choose one, I'd go with bright colours since pastels don't go too well with my skin tone. 

3) Have you discovered a new brand of nail varnish this summer?

Yes, Bandi Nail Polish and Tip Top Nails South Africa. They are both free of the harmful chemicals. Bandi's nail polishes tend to be rather sheer and Tip Top nail polishes are very pigmented. Both are awesome to use and fuss free :D 

4) What is your most disappointing product of the summer?

White nail polishes. The ones I usually use was The Face Shop's and Skin Food's white nail polishes and both are streaky and sure gave me a hard time that I frown every time I feel I needed to use white colours. Recently, I've purchased a new white nail polish, BeauKiss(BK) 02 which is no problem so far except that I do not like how it smells. LOL. 

5) What has been you favourite blog post of yours this summer?

The one I did on the last day of Makeup Savvy's nail challenge; Makeup Savvy Nail Challenge Day 15 - Anything!. I really do love how the galaxy nails turned out. 

6) What's your best nail bargain of the summer?

There were mega sales during the month of August. I manage to get two Etude House glitter polishes for the price of 1. I think that's a pretty good deal. :D 

7) Have you followed any new trends this summer?

Not sure if they can be considered new, my answer is definitely the new found love for gradient nails and galaxy prints! I'm pretty sure sandwich nails comes in next! 

8) Have you tried any new colours this summer that you never thought that you would?

Well, this "summer" no. Most of the colours I tried on were colours I knew I'd wear one way or another. But in the month of May I've actually worn a bright fuchsia colour (The Face Shop PP402) which I never thought I would.  

9) What has been your most worn combination of colours this summer?

Ah, I think its yellow, red, coral and teal. 

10) Will any of your summer polishes be following you through to the autumn?

Perhaps. Usually my colour choices varies and are mostly influenced by what mood I'm feeling or what colours are inspiring me to use them. So it really depends.

And for the second part of the tag, I am to share about blogs I've discovered during the summer be it a new blog or old, big or small with a few words on why I chose these blogs to share with you all. Without further ado, I'd proceed with my list (they are in no particular order): 

1. The Nail Artiste - One of the most creative, talented, wonderful upcoming blogger I've chanced upon! She has many tutorials available and they are all uniquely hand-drawn for all her fellow readers to read! I'm always looking forward to see her nail art designs. Do take some time and check her blog out I promise you won't regret! :D

2. Diamond in Rouge - An awesome blogger whom I've come to know through Makeup Savvy's Nail Challenge! She's very kind and ever ready to help! I know because I've asked her questions before and she has answered me with great details! Thank you again! Her blog is packed with various information from nails to beauty to fashion to food! (yum! keep the food rolling in! XD). Yes, you'd find her blog full of exciting adventures! So go on and stop by her blog :D 

3. The Daily Nail - A very popular nail blog I must say. She does really awesome and fun manicures I have to include hers here. Crazy talent she have there! And she has recently created video tutorials and they are clear and easy to follow and she's fun to listen to! Haha!! Her latest Blah Blah nails really amuses me.

4. Gold Speck Nails - This is a blog I found through Pinterest! She does crazily amazing stamping nail artworks! And they are always so creatively done and simply amazing! If you are a frequent stamper, this is a must visit blog! Even if you aren't, visit her! She's so inspiring! :D 

5. Gorgeois - Another must stop to visit blog. Her designs are always so unique and tedious and meticulously done and fresh and inspiring! Yeap, yeap, another talented nail artist there! Hop on over and be inspired! ;)

6. One Nail To Rule Them All - You know, if you're out of ideas, check this blog out! She's always posting wonderfully done nail arts and they are perfectly executed! I have fun looking at all the various nail art she's been doing for some time now. I must say I really adore the one she did inspired by Scrabble. Haha!! Yeap, don't forget to pop by and say hello to her! ;) 

7. Glitter Tips - I love her nail designs! Creative and talented I could not execute mine anywhere close to how perfect she did her's! An absolutely skillful nail artist! Go, go drop by her blog too! 

8. Jamegackie - New and upcoming blogger! Skillful and wonderfully executed nail designs! Some of my favourite designs from her is the Dewdrop leaf and whales design. There are wonderful tutorials available at her blog too so be sure to check those out ;)

9. Nail Art Couture - I chanced upon her blog on hellocotton and became an instant follower! Why? Look at those details and effort she puts into her nail designs! Stunning and breathtaking! Looking forward to more exciting nail art post from her :)

10. ChitChatNails - This is one blog I've really enjoyed reading for these past two months! A very friendly and down to earth blogger. There's a lot of great swatches and unique polishes being featured at her blog. Her tutorials are awesome too if you haven't check it out, please do! Her nail arts and techniques has been inspiring to me! :D 

And that's the summary of blogs I've enjoy reading and chanced upon the past two months. Hope you will find some of these blogs interesting too, if not all. Again, a special thanks to Colour at your fingertips for being such a darling and for granting me this chance to be able to participate in this wonderful tag. 

Also, I've noticed there's been an increase in the number of followers here in my blog, would like to take this chance to welcome all new followers and thank you to all who have been faithfully reading my blog. I really appreciate and love each and everyone of you. Seeing all of you brings me smiles :D Thank you! 

~Lacqueerisa

Just A Little Grey

Good Morning everyone! Its a cloudy morning here so I'm feeling a little grey. Nah, not in the bad way, but those quiet wonderful mornings sort of grey feeling. Unfortunately, it isn't as chilly as I hoped. Its still hot, despite the clouds and I'm sweating right after bath. Yeap, crazy weather. Alright, back to topic. Just simple grey gradient nails to share. The colours are inspired by a clock I saw in etsy.

I have to show you the thumb. I love how the gradient turn out here ♥

Jumping Dashes on Saran/Cling Wrap

Today I have a very simple NOTD to share with you. I've been messing around with Saran/Cling wrap technique again. I really love the one done by Criminal Nails that resembles a Swimming Pool! Such a lovely effect she created there! I was inspired and wanted to achieve similar results. Fortunately, she posted a tutorial on how she did her Saran wrap manicure!

Ah, somehow I really failed at mimicking her style. Its probably due to the consistency of the nail polish used. Mine is somehow pretty opaque. While I think the bottom colour is no problem, the secondary nail polish used to create the effect does matter. I might have to switch to one that's medium consistency. So its not too solid and not too runny, just nice sort of nail polish, (lol). Hopefully on my next try, I'd be able to more successful.

Anyway, I've been feeling rather in between aqua and turquoise which resulted in me using Etude House GR605 over the white nail polish (BK) Beau Kiss #02. Here's my take on the Saran Wrap Manicure :

I wanted to add more fun element into the Saran Wrap manicure and decided to add yellow (Etude House COR202) zig-zag dashes with a toothpick. And turns out looking a lot like jumping dashes to me (hence, the name!). I think this is a really simple way to achieve a fun casual looking manicure to fight off the Monday's blues. ;)

Nail Polishes Used from base :

• Beau Kiss (BK) - #02 (two coats)
• Etude House - GR605 (one thick coat)
• Etude House - COR202 (zig-zag dashes)
• Konad Top Coat.