OPI Mod Hatter over SH Stony Creme

I really wanted to use my untried OPI Mod Hatter for a more conservative look this week but when I swatched on my nail it was ridiculously sheer (however, this would make a great french top coat). 

This is what it looks like on the nail over SH Stoney Creme.  It has a slight shimmer and hopefully will wear well.

I was happy to use my, Sally Hansen's Stony Creme (Hard As Wraps), which I recently found on clearance at CVS for $1.00!  It was so simple and pretty that I had to get it. 

This combo is awesome together and I hope you like it.  If you're having a difficult time with your Mod Hatter, this just might be the solution for you!

Thanks for stopping by and hope this is finding you "well-polished"!

COMP-POST: Another Chanel Paradoxal Dupe? Really?

I stumbled across this color while traveling on one of my many "dusty" road trips!  At the time I found this polish it was old and separated and I had to shake it into submission but, boy oh boy, when I did it was a beautiful-ugly thing in the bottle that just had to come home with me.  I introduce to you Fortune by Dare toWear (a LeChat brand): 

I did not know what Chanel Paradoxal looked like in person so I went home and started on my first frankening/layering experiment = FAIL!!! So, I just broke down and purchased the REAL THING, my very first Chanel nail polish - ooooooh!  Got it home and it was just about the same, if not the exact, look and feel of my beloved and beautiful-ugly Fortune (comp pics below):

Paradoxal is on my ring finger and Fortune is on the pinky.  Can you tell the difference?  At first glance, no, but at second glance, yes, Fortune is a bit darker. Listen, this is the closest dupe I've seen yet!

Chanel has a purplish-pink shimmer and D2W has a bluish-purple shimmer but it's so close no one but a nailboarder at the right angle in the light of the sun on a clear day could tell the difference!  And for about 1/10th of the price of the Chanel it's well worth it.  

I've worn both and have gotten more compliments on the D2W, go figure!  So, no need to back-up my Chanel Paradoxal because I have my beautiful-ugly Fortune waiting in the wings to take it's place.

These can be found in obscure little beauty supplies scattered through out California, however, they do have a website (http://www.lechatnails.com/dw247.htm) and who knows, if you're interested, you may be able to find it there.  But I really ♥ owning a Chanel and for the price of gas searching for a dupe or shipping charges to order this online you might as well pick up - THE REAL THING ;)!  And as always, I hope this post has found you "well-polished".

CLOSE-UP: HandsDown Ultra Table Towels

This is the first installment in a series of posts that I will call "Close-Up".  This will feature tools that I use to make my manicuring life easier and maybe yours, too!  

Today I will be showcasing the HandsDown Ultra Table Towels:

This item can be found online or in many beauty supply stores around the country.  

I was tired of using paper towels because they would always slip around on my work surface and if I was using a fan, even blow away.  

"Featuring a soft absorbent material on one side with a plastic backing on the other, lint-free HANDSDOWN® Ultra Protective Barrier Towels are perfect for manicures and pedicures, and durable enough for wiping and cleaning brushes."  

These table towels are heavier in weight than a paper towel and because they are backed with plastic, when spills happen no damage is done to your work space.  This is the ultimate in having that salon-feel at home.

Hope this this information comes in handy and finds you "well-polished"!

HAULAGE REPORT - OPI DS Royal

This was a very fruitful nail polish weekend!  Purchased my first Nubars and found two OPI DS's to add to my collection.  Which brings me to my NOTD:

OPI DS Royal with Kleancolor Chrome on ring finger.  Chrome (on ring finger) was a beautiful gift from one of my MUA NBer (Makeupalley Nailboarder) buddies, faerieberry, she noticed it wasn't in my collection and wahlah there it was.

DS Royal puts me in the mind of the many glass-flecked colors in the market today, of which, Sally Hansen has contributed the most.  

Not sure if this will be the first and last time I wear this color, as it is definitely not one of my favorites DS's and with space being limited this might have to be one that I let go... :(

My haul consisted of five Nubar's: Prize, Gem, Jewel, Iris Dust and 2010; I also picked up Essie Sew Psyched. And later the same day came across OPI DS Glow along with Precision After Dinner Mints.  Today I found the nail polish shown in the picture (OPI DS Royal).  I really thought I was going to love this one, but, not so much...

CLOSE-UP: My JetMax Mani Station aka Melmer

Okay, so here I am, once again with the Melmer!  I absolutely ♥ these things...  This Jetmax unit consists of three 3-drawer cubes and one 4-shelf cube, as well as, a Desktop (which comes in a pack of two).

I find artistic expression in painting my nails and this is the perfect pallet for my creativity!