Tag Archives: nail polish

St. Patrick’s Day Nail Art By MadamLuck

Hello everyone.  I am super excited to share today’s post with you.  Last week I saw some nail art by Suzann of Amateur Manicure on NailIt.com and I knew I had the perfect idea for some St. Patrick’s Day nail art.  I reached out to nail art expert Amanda from MadamLuck to bring my idea to life, and I have to say she did a stunning job!!!   Scroll down to see the steps to create this stunning manicure.

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Amanda started with one coat of our new black cream, Eclipse.   Then using Bunny nail image plate HD-B for the clovers, she stamped those over the black use a white polish.  Now, here is the trick, with the white stamped over the black, you can layer a jelly polish, like Get Clover It, to create a stunning layered look.  Follow with a coat of Clearly On Top for a smooth, shiny finish.

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Isn’t that lovely!  This technique can be used it so many ways.  I could see space stamping done with I Got A Crush On Blue over for a unique galaxy manicure, or Witch Way done up for Halloween.  What ever color, the white will make the jelly polish pop!

Do you love St. Patrick’s Day?  Here is a bonus manicure from MadamLuck using Daisy About You, Honeydew List, and Clearly On Top.  Striping was done with acrylic paint, and clover jewels complete this festive look.

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Thank you so much Amanda for helping out with this post.  And if you love nail art, run over to Amanda’s sites to see any or stunning work.

You can find Amanda on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/MadamLuck/173882919339770
Instagram – http://instagram.com/madamluck

KBShimmer Spring Release…Details and Descriptions

We are very excited to announce the release of 16 new polishes to the KBShimmer polish line.  Included are 8 glitter polishes and 8 creams.  Polishes in the Glitter Collection will retail for $8.75 per 15 ml bottle, while polishes in the Cream Collection will retail for $7.50 per 15 ml bottle.   Read below for more details on the launch and the polishes themselves.  Read through for a fun contest and giveaway!

Launch Details and FAQ-

Spring release is on for this Friday, March 14th, midmorning.   Spring polishes will be easily located by the NEW icon, or by visiting this page – https://www.kbshimmer.com/product-category/nail-polish/spring-2014-nail-polish-collections/

Polishes will be on sale for at least 3 months, and should not go out of stock, so even if you don’t order the first day, the polishes will be available.

For this launch, we will be limiting the amount of each shade a customer can buy, to allow everyone’s orders to be processed in a timely manner. I know people do group orders, but we will be limiting the shades to 10 per color, per customer…, per day. This limit will be lifted April 7th.  We will also be limiting other shades the same way.  Multiple orders will not be combined and we reserve the right to cancel orders for those that try to skirt the limits.

Order processing times – We do anticipate a slightly longer processing time for orders during the launch.  We will start shipping orders on Friday, but please allow a 5-7 business day turn around time.  Those that have shopped during launches before know that most orders do get out much more quickly then that!

You may see the polishes on the site before launch, they will be listed as Out Of Stock until the launch.

You anyone has other questions feel free to ask below and I will answer this evening!

The Glitters & Holos – For quick dry time and smooth feel, follow with KBShimmer Clearly On Top.

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Full Bloom Ahead- When winter comes to a draw and spring is near, bulbs start peeking through the snow.  While waiting for spring to officially start, pops of purple, pink, yellow and blue litter flower beds across the nation. This white based polish is loaded with small, medium and large hex glitters in fuchsia, navy, teal, gold and orange; colors reminiscent of those floral tones that signal spring is near. Best in 3 Coats.

Belle Of The Mall- This coral toned pink polish is a fun color to brighten your day. This jelly like polish is loaded with holographic silver hexes in various sizes and is stunner in the sun.  To allow the glitters to shine this polish is more sheer then others and is best layered in three coats, or worn over a coordinating cream.

Rush Flower Traffic- One of the things most looked forward to in spring is the flower beds bursting to life.  This metallic glitter top coat represents the crocus, tulips, iris, and other spring flowers and plant life that brighten our day.  Fuchsia, gold, green, sapphire, and aqua glitters in hex and dot glitters fill this polish. Ideal as 1 coat over our Chick Me Out or Honeydew List creams, this topper can be worn over so many colors!

Daisy About You- A pale green creally, this spring polish features neon green hex glitters swimming among purple and lavender hexes and a scattering of lavender daisy glitters.  Best in 3 Coats.

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Laugh Myself Lily- A muted jade creally, this soft color was inspired by water lilies and the many paintings where lilies are the subject.  Swimming in the polish are holographic hexes in gold, pink, sliver, lavender and blue.  Pink and light aqua dots complete this muted polish.  To allow the glitters to shine this polish more sheer and is best layered in three coats.

Quick and Flirty- Every girl needs a good violet colored polish in their collection, and what better than one that comes with a rainbow!  This linear holographic offers full coverage in 2 coats, add a third for a deep lilac color.

Make My Gray – A pale shade of gray sets off glitters in turquoise, gunmetal, pale aqua and coral. Wear alone in 2-3 coats, or layer this over a grey like My Life’s Porpoise for a unique spring manicure.

Prism Break- We here at KBShimmer love rainbows, and nothing is more rainbow then holographic polishes!  This linear holo top coat was designed to bring maximum rainbow bling, while still allowing the color below to shine.  One light coat over any cream will turn your color into a holographic lover’s dream.  Add a second coat for a even more dramatic look.

The Creams – Ideal for wearing alone, under glitter polish, or for nail art.  For quick dry time, follow with KBShimmer Clearly On Top.

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Life Rose On – This is my perfect pink, bright cheery, and it covers in 1-2 coats.  This vivid cerise polish has blue undertones, making it wearable for many skin tones.  Pair this with your favorite glitter topper or use in stamping for a girly manicure.

Chick Me Out- This bright yellow cream is the ideal shade to welcome warmer weather.  Full coverage in two coats, I love this under Rush Flower Traffic.

Honeydew List- Just like ripe honeydew, this dusty pastel green is perfect for spring or summer.  This is the ideal color to wear under Rush Flower Traffic, or pair with Ice Queen for a sparkly spring manicure.  Full coverage in just 2 coats.

A Touch Of Glass-  This light aqua mint cream reminds me of tumbled sea glass.  A pastel green with blue undertones and very subtle shimmer, this color is covers in 2-3 coats.

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Sky Jinks- I love those days, the ones when there is not a cloud in site, and the sky is the most stunning shade of bright blue.  This medium blue cream with a hint of dustiness, reminds me of those perfect days.  Sky Kinks covers in 1 coat with careful application and is perfect in two.

Pansy-Monium- This pansy purple cream offers full coverage in just two coats.  With a slight red undertone, this purple will look great even on warm skin tones.

My Life’s Porpoise- No matter if you spell it gray or grey, this pale shade is a neutral that is fun to wear alone, or under bright toppers like U Rock My Heart.  This creamy shade covers fully in two coats.

Eclipse- This is s true black cream, with careful application I get coverage in 1 coat.  Those with longer nails might need a second coat.  Pair with Prism Break or Clown Puke for a perfectly fun manicure, or use with Band Geek for a uniquely metallic look.

Thanks for entering all!  The winner has been notified.  Congrats Jill!

1. What is your favorite color from the glitter collection?

2. What is your favorite color from the cream collection?

3. Jason again had a hand in polish creation.  Which two polishes from this collection did he create?  Jason created Make My Gray and Prism Break.  Good work ladies on figuring that out.  Jason worked hard on Prism Break to get what we thought was the perfect balance of rainbow goodness without greying out the color below. Make My Gray is something he has been working on for a while.  He is drawn to the grey/teal color and with the pop of coral color, the polish was finally read for release.  I am very proud of he design work and look forward to seeing what else he comes up with!

Contest is now closed.  Thank you!

 

Multi-Chrome Nail Art – Guest Post From Life In Lacquer

Hello!!

I’m Jade from Life in Lacquer and I am so happy to have been given the opportunity to post for you all today!

Life in Lacquer is a blog I write about nail polish and all related things! I am from the countryside in the UK and have been a nail technician since 2010.

I have recently become the proud new owner of 3 KBShimmer multi-chrome polishes. They make me think of all things futuristic so I thought I would so for a design featuring geometric patterns. They look like they could be designs for a spaceman’s costume!

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I used a white base and then hand painted on Pigment Of My Imagination. This polish so amazing! I see mostly purple but there are flashes of deep blue, gold and red. It’s like a super pretty oil slick! It was quite tricky to capture all the colours but I think I did a good job.

I then finished of the design by adding a black outline and little diamantes.

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I CANNOT stop staring at these nails! I don’t think I am going to get much done and that to me is a sign of a great polish. Plus I now have it on my toes too. I may just paint everything with it HA!

It is opaque in three thin coats or you can you it as a topper over black.

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I hope you have enjoyed my design and thanks for reading!

Jade x

Lifeinlacquer.blogspot.co.uk

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P.S.

Thank you Jade for such a wonderful post!  Jade provided so many wonderful pictures I could not help but fill the post with them!  If you want to see more art and swatches from jade, head over to her blog, http://lifeinlacquer.blogspot.co.uk/ and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LifeInLacquer.

 

 

The Dos & Don’ts of Picking Undies!

Hi everyone!  My name is Valesha and I run a little blog called Peachy Polish.  I’m so excited to get to do a post on KBShimmer’s blog!  It is such an honor for me since KBShimmer is one of the first indie polishes that I fell head over heels for.  🙂

For those of you who don’t know, “undies” are polishes that are worn under glitter topcoats.  So I’m here to show you how I pick my undies!  This is by no means the be-all and end-all of picking out undies and there are infinite exceptions to my thoughts and ideas of what looks good.  I do spend a lot of time before I start swatching any polish, picking out undies I think will fit nicely with a particular glitter polish.  Choosing colors that look good together is something I’ve been meticulous about since I was a child.  My mom tells me horror stories of me being in complete disarray because my stirrup pants didn’t match my turtleneck.  Yep, I was one fashionable kid.  LOL!   I think picking good undies is the key to making your manicure pop so here are my personal do’s and don’t’s for picking out undies!

 

DON’T: Pick undies that make the glitter disappear.

While the undie choices here makes the glitter look very subdued (which is great if that’s what you are going for!) it also makes one color of glitter blend into the base.  If you want to show off a glitter polish to it’s full potential, you want to pick an undie that will make the glitter be the focal point.  Here I used one coat of “A Dot Mess” over Illamasqua “Obsess” and Essie “Licorice.”

KBShimmer A Dot Mess

 

DO:  Pick a color that let’s the glitter do the talking.

In these photos I used “A Dot Mess” over Zoya “Song” and Zoya “Arizona.”  I chose these two colors as undies because they really let the glitter be the star.  The colors of the undies compliment the colors of the glitter without overwhelming it.  Now, I would never wear this mani exactly like it is here because it is much too busy to use two base colors with a glitter that’s so detailed as it is but each undie on it’s own with “A Dot Mess” on top would be magnifico!

KBShimmer A Dot Mess

Here’s another fun example of letting the glitter do the talking.  A red and white glitter such as “Candy Cane Crush” is reminiscent of so many holidays so it’s visually appealing to layer this pretty glitter over a variety of colors.  A purple polish like OPI “Tomorrow Never Dies” topped with a coat of “Candy Cane Crush” is perfect for Valentine’s Day.  CCC on top of Zoya “Song” is a great combo for the 4th of July.  CCC over OPI “Pink Friday” is a tasty treat that reminds me of Valentine’s Day or a peppermint-y Christmastime treat!  And Essie “Mint Candy Apple” under CCC is like a bright and fun winter theme!

KBShimmer Candy Cane Crush

 

DO: Wear multicolored and neutral glitters over every color of the rainbow!

Glitters like “Clown Puke” have such an abundance of colors that you can basically wear it over any undie!  When in doubt, a multicolored glitter over white or black polish always makes a statement!  There really isn’t a don’t for this except that usually it looks best if you use an undie that’s complimentary to one of the colors in the glitter or use a neutral like black, white, gray or nude as the base color.  “Clown Puke” for example is bright and bold, so I choose bright and bold undies!  It wouldn’t have looked very good layered over a dark colored undie like maroon, for example.  From pointer to pinkie: Zoya “Darcy”, OPI “Who The Shrek Are you?”, Zoya “Zuza” & Butter London “Primrose Hill Picnic” all topped with a single coat of “Clown Puke.”

KBShimmer Clown Puke

When we are talking about neutral colored glitters, they can truly be worn over any color.  The sky is the limit when it comes to undie and glitter topper combinations.  “Grayscale” has white, black and gray matte glitters and would look amazing over every color.  I choose to layer it over (from pointer to pinkie) Face Shop “PP405”, Essie “Turquoise & Caicos”, Essie “She’s Pampered” & Zoya “Gie Gie.”

KBShimmer Grayscale

I would also consider silver to be a neutral, since it’s along the same lines of gray.  You can wear silver glitters over any color you can think of, as well.  I prefer wearing silver glitters over creme polishes as to not overwhelm the amazingness of the blingy silver, especially if the glitter is holographic.  We want to holo to do the majority of the talking here so I used one coat of “Ice Queen” over Essie “Snap Happy”, Dior “Mango”, Deborah Lippmann “Almost Paradise” & Nfu Oh! “JS15.”

KBShimmer Ice Queen

 

DON’T: Go too crazy when choosing a contrasting color!

Do we want the undies to contrast the glitter topcoat enough that the glitter won’t disappear?  Yes!  But bear in mind, you can go too far.  Pairing a pastel glitter like “Pastel Me More” with an olive green like China Glaze “Trendsetter” or a deep reddened orange like Sparitual “Clay” takes away from the fun and cheeriness of the glitter and isn’t aesthetically appealing.  The pairings do nothing for the undies or the glitter.  You want the undie to make the glitter better and vice versa!

KBShimmer Pastel Me More

The same goes for these combinations of “Squared Away” with Essie “She’s Pampered” and Cult Nails “Afterglow.”  The colors of the polishes and glitter just don’t do anything to make each other better.

KBShimmer Squared Away

 

DO: Choose an undie that’s in the same color family!

A great rule of thumb is to choose an undie that’s just a shade or two different from one of the colors of glitter, since we don’t want the glitter to disappear.  This is a good example of what I mean, each column starts out lighter at the top and gets darker as you go down but it doesn’t change in color tone (like an ombre!)  For this I did one coat of “Pastel Me More” over Essie “Where’s My Chauffeur?” and OPI “Pink Friday.”  Each of the polishes are just a shade or two off from one of the glitters in “Pastel Me More.”

KBShimmer Pastel Me More

Once again, the same goes for these combinations of “Squared Away” with China Glaze “Beach Cruise-r” and Face Shop “BL602.”  Each undie is a “one-off” of one of the glitters in the topper.  The undies really compliment the glitter, while still making the glitter bits stand out.

KBShimmer Squared Away

And here is one last example of using base polishes that are just one or two shades different from the colors in the glitter polish.  All of these are gorgeous combinations that are really eye catching!  I did one coat of “Bejeweled” over NCLA “Venice Beach Vixen”, Rescue Beauty Lounge “Pause”, OPI “Wooden Shoe Like To Know” & Zoya “Rocky.”KBShimmer Bejeweled

I hope that these are some useful pointers for those of you who might have a hard time trying to choose good undies!  I’d love to know, how do you like to choose undies for your glitter toppers?  Do you have a method you like to use or do you like using a randomly picked base color?

Thank you to Christy from KBShimmer for letting me come over and do such a fun guest post on the KBShimmer blog! ♥

Glitter Polish 101 – Tips for Application, Removal, and Everything Between!

I get questions often on how best to apply glitter polish, how to reduce chipping and extend wear, the best way to remove glitter polish.  Below are some of the tips and tricks I have compiled, plus two videos on application and removal.

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First, I want to say that KBShimmer nail polish is not a Gel polish.  You do not need any special lights or machines for application.  KBShimmer polish is not a quick dry polish.  You many see the 60 second polish, or 90 second polish.  Ours is not that type either.  It is a regular polish, that will take time to dry.  For the best dry time, use thin coats, waiting in between each coat for at least a few minutes will help the polish dry.

Application Instructions

  • Roll bottles between hands before use.  Large glitter can sink to the bottom and polish can separate in the heat.  With our polish, you can shake it. Leaving the bottle upside down for a few minutes before application can help reduce “fishing” for larger glitters.
  • Wash hands and ensure nails are clean, use KBShimmer Nail Prep if desired.  Make sure hands and nails are dry after washing.
  • Use a base coat.  This will protect your nails from staining and aid polish in adhering to the nail.
  • To apply evenly, dab the polish on the middle of the nail, then sweep the brush to distribute.
  • Apply in thin, even coats.  Two – three coats are recommended for the best look, but some sheer polish may be best layered over other colors.
  • Glitter polish will feel rough on the nail once dry.  To achieve a smooth and shiny look, use a fast dry top coat like KBShimmer Clearly On Top.  Some polish may need two coats of top coat for that smooth, glass like finish.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/IMTKrBUs46c[/youtube]

Easy Removal

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  • Gather polish remover, cotton balls, and tin foil.
  • Cut or tear foil into palm sized pieces.
  • Soak the cotton balls with polish remover,
  • Place soaked cotton ball on the polished nail.
  • Cover tightly with tin foil.  Wait 5-10 minutes.  Twist foil around the nail and pull off.  Polish and glitter should come off clean.
  • If any residue is left, use more remover and cotton balls to remove the excess.
  • Wash hands to remove any stray glitter, preferably with KBShimmer Soap!

[youtube]http://youtu.be/LSHqLYbZ5ss[/youtube]

 

Why Does Polish Chip/Peel/Come Off My Nail

  • Top and base coats – Different top and base coats can cause polish to pop right off or chip. There is a base coat called Yellow Stopper that causes glitter polish to pop off, and Seche Vite top coat can also cause polish to peel away. Both shrink causing air to get under the polish and it will chip or pop off.  KBShimmer Clearly On Top and Basic Training both work for many people, and your favorite brand many work well too.  Layering a cream polish you know sticks under the polish.
  • Polish Thickness:   Apply in thin layers that can dry, instead of thick layers. Thick layers many not dry completely, never properly adhering to the base coat. I also like to apply the top coat, no matter the brand, while the last layer of polish is still tacky, but not wet, so they dry together.
  • Application- Make sure that you not only wrap the tip of your nail with polish, but that you wrap the tip of the nail with the top coat too. Exposed tips can greatly increase chips and decrease wear time.
  • Moisture in the nails (i.e. you polish after a shower or bath, wash your hands often or right before applying).  Your nails need to be dry before polish. Wet nails will contract when dry and polish will pop right off. The same happens if you spend a lot of time in the pool or with your hands in water, the nails will expand causing cracks and separation and the polish will then chip or peel.   If you plan on washing dishes, gloves are a manicures best friend.
  • Oil on the nails: Some people have very oily nails, and polish therefore will not stick well. You can try cleaning your nails before applying the base coat with a nail prep product like KBShimmer Nail PH Prep.  Make sure if you are using lotion that you wait a few hours for it to absorb before polishing. Also try using lotion a few hours before applying polish and don’t use moisturizing remover on your nails right before polishing.
  • Dry Nails:  The opposite of oil nails, if you have dry nails that peel, the base coat and polish will have a hard time sticking, as your nail will still peel letting air under the polish. Using a nail strengthener, moisturizing often (but not right before polishing) and never buffing nails will help improve nails to reduce peeling, therefore helping polish stick longer.
  • Body Chemistry/Nail Structure- Last, everyone has such different body chemistry, such different nails, that not every polish brand will work well for them. I have spoken to a few ladies that no matter the brand, polish never lasts more than a day. Some are having luck with the CND sticky base coat extending wear time. Myself personally, I have brands that I cannot wear more than a day without chips, but others that wear like iron. If you have long thin nails that flex, you might find my polish does not work as well as it is not super flexible, it is more stiff when dry then rubbery.

Caring For Your Polish

  • Storage – For best results, store polish in a cool, dark place with the bottle upright.  Polish, especially Indie Polish, can separate over time.  Storing upright helps the ingredients stay combined.  I also suggest giving the polish a quick shake every few months or so. Heat can hinder the suspension properties of the base, so not storing in your car, in the oven,  on your heater is a good thing.  Not to mention polish is flammable.  Some pigments can fade, and that is especially true when exposed to sunlight.  I take care to use pigment that don’t fade, but do the polish a favor and don’t store in sunlight.
  • Bottle Care – When you are finished using the polish, there is often a bit of polish around the neck of the bottle.  Taking a cloth, wipe the neck and thread of the bottle to remove left over polish and glitter.  If needed, use some acetone to help with the removal.  Have clean threads and a clean bottle neck will allow a good seal with the cap.  That good seal will help the polish to not evaporate and get gloopy over time.
  • Thinning polish.  It happens, polish is made of volatile ingredients that can evaporate over time.   That can lead to thick, gloopy polish.  It is fixable.  Start with polish thinner, NOT POLISH REMOVER OR ACETONE.  Add a few drops into the bottle, recap and shake, and check consistency.  Repeat until it is the consistence you desire.  When doing this, keep in mind that larger glitters or polish with a heavy glitter to base ratio will not be a smooth as a cream polish, and even thinner will not help that.

I hope that helps take the mystery out of glitter nail polish!  If you ever have any questions, feel free to contact us at customerservice at kbshimmer dot com.