3 Empties: Krafty Gurll Designs Gloss It Top Coat, Fortune Cookie Soap Body Wash and Sunny's Triple Thick Body Cream

Greetings and Nailutations,

It's another installment of 3 empties, where I review 3 products I have used up and express my opinion on how well they worked, how well they smelled, their packaging and if I'd make a repeat purchase.

The first product is a fast drying top coat from Krafty Gurl Designs called Gloss It!  Gloss It! creates a fantastic shine, doesn't smear nail art and is UV resistant.  I originally received this as a press sample with a review of one of her duos.

Smell Test:  smells like polish.
Feel Test fast drying
Packaging Test:  easy application.
Buy Again:  I loved the shine on Gloss It.  It didn't dry as fast as a few other indie brands I am currently using, but the fact it does't smear nail art is always a reason to come back to Gloss It!

The next product I used up was from Fortune Cookie Soap.  What is it? You ask...well the label disintegrated in the shower...I know our water is hard, but I'm pretty sure the label should be a little more water proof.  Right?  This was the Body Wash in the scent of 'Tis The Season To Be Mary.  Yes....I know I am still using up the massive amounts of products from the Winter line, but when things are 50% off, you can't blame me for going a little nuts.  It has a flowery fruit smell.

Smell Test: fruity and refreshing
Feel or Look Test: Foams and bubbles up easily with the use of a loofah - love the actual product.
Packaging: I was a litte disappointed that the Body Wash label dissolves in the shower.  It should withstand any water damage...it's body wash.  Aside from the label, the bottle was easy to use.
Buy Again:  I will most likely pass on future Body Wash products from Fortune Cookie Soap, unless the label changes.  But there are plenty of other products I love from them (soap, whipped creams).

The last product was a product that was in Sunny's Body Products Exclusive Spring Box.  I was looking forward to the Spring Box because all the scents were described as clean - and I love clean scents.

Smell Test:  soft, clean floral scent, with almost a smell of candy.

Feel or Look Test: made my hands soft and moisturized.

Packaging: it came in a 1 oz plastic bottle.  The only thing I struggled with was trying to get all the product out when it was almost gone.  I had to open the lid to dip a finger in.  Must use all the lotion!  

Buy Again: Yes, but I will explore other scents as well since she carries over 400!

Have you tried any of these products?  What are your thoughts?

Happy Polishing,
Kristi aka @BeginNails

Born Pretty Store Mixed Abstract Patterns Nail Art Stamping Plate Review

Greetings and Nailutations,

*Press Sample*
Today I will be sharing a product that I received from Born Pretty Store, which is an online store that sells nail art supplies, tools, polish, decals, and even home goods and clothes!  Born Pretty carries affordable products and you can purchase in bulk as well.

The product I am reviewing today is the Mixed Abstract Patterns Nail Art Stamp Template Image BP28 Plate (item: 17911).  It contains 4 designs that are floral and whimsical.  It is shown on the far right in the image below.  All plates from Born Pretty Store arrive with a blue protective film.  It is easily peeled off to reveal the images etched into the plate.

Now let's get to some manis!

First up I used a whimsical design on the plate.  The base is Costume Jewelry and it is stamped with Tighty Whites both from Drip Drop Nail Paint topped with a shiny top coat.  The image picked up perfectly and provided clear lines with no issues.

Next is the floral design, which I placed over Exotic Lacquers Original Sin using Drip Drop Nail Paint Yoga Pants topped with shiny top coat.  The plate provided clean image pick up and placement.  This is my favorite image on the plate.  

Next is the abstract image on the plate which also picked up perfectly, and even had small circles.  In my previous experience with plates only high quality plates will pick up them up.  In this mani I used Exotic Lacquers Purple Haze from Exotic Lacquers and stamped with Yoga Pants from Drip Drop Nail Paint and topped with a shiny top coat.

The last images is another whimsical design which has a lot of small dimensional shapes which also picked up perfectly.  I used Exotic Lacquers Twister as the base and stamped with Jenna Hipp We Are Mint To Be and topped with a shiny top coat.

Shiny Top Coat:  Gloss It from Krafty Gurl Designs and Gem Glam Top Coat from www.DreamPolish.com

Loves:  Love that each image picked up and transferred to my nails perfectly.  Even the small dimension images and shapes had no issues.  I also liked the size of the images, it didn't leave any part of my nail absent of an image.  All products from Born Pretty Store are super affordable as well.  

Wishes:  Very pleased with this plate!  Great images!  I look forward to other BPS plates.

Stay connected:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BornPrettyStore2010
Instagram: @bornprettystore
Store: http://www.bornprettystore.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bornprettystore/

Don't forget to use code: DGJ61 for 10% off any purchase from Born Pretty Store.  All orders are always shipped free, but expect on average 2 1/2 weeks shipping time.

Happy Polishing,
Kristi aka @beginnails

Born Pretty Store Perfect French Manicure Edge Tip Guides Product Review

Greetings and Nailutations,

*Press Sample*
Today I will be sharing a product that I received from Born Pretty Store, which is an online store that sells nail art supplies, tools, polish, decals, and even home goods and clothes!  Born Pretty carries affordable products and you can purchase in bulk as well.

The product I am reviewing today is the Perfect French Manicure Edge Tip Guides (item: 6542).  They are stickers that you place on your nail to help guide polishing.  The best part about them is that they can be used for any design, not just a french manicure, which I show below.  The set I received contained 3 types (circle, arrow, and fancy).

Now let's get to some manis!

The circle nail guides are the classic french manicure shape.  I decided to use them on the slant/corner of my nail instead of straight across.  Be sure to use a quick dry top coat and allow your under polish to dry completely before using this product.  Once it is placed where you want it, paint another polish to create a "tip."  In this mani I used Pipedream Polish Validate Me as the under polish and Bicycle Built For Two from Drip Drop Nail Paint and topped it with a shiny top coat.

Next up is the fancy nail guides, which were like a little hill.  I decided to use these as a "deep" tip, so it resembled more of a half moon design.  These turned out very soft and delicate with the use of pink and gold.  I used Drip Drop Nail Paint's Pink Ferrari as the base and added Julep's Harlow and shiny top coat.  The bow is from Born Pretty Store.

The last look is using the arrow nail guide, which looks like a single chevron.  I decided to use this in the middle of the nail with stamping.  I painted my nails with Elevation Polish Ceram Sea and then applied the quick dry top coat and waited for it to dry.  Then I applied the nail guide(s), stamped with Winstonia Plate W112 and Drip Drop Nail Paint's Pink Ferrari and then after removing the guides added a silver line to accent the unstamped portion.  Then used a shiny top coat.

Shiny Top Coat: Quick dry top coat Seche Vite and shiny top coat is Gloss It from Krafty Gurl Designs

Loves:  This product really makes creating a french tip easy.  I love it because it pushed me to be creative when using the products.  I also love that Born Pretty Store products are affordable.

Wishes:  Love this product!  Wouldn't change a thing!

Stay connected:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BornPrettyStore2010
Instagram: @bornprettystore
Store: http://www.bornprettystore.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bornprettystore/

Don't forget to use code: DGJ61 for 10% off any purchase from Born Pretty Store.  All orders are always shipped free, but expect on average 2 1/2 weeks shipping time.

Happy Polishing,
Kristi aka @beginnails

Exotic Lacquers Assorted Polish Swatch And Review Part 2

Greetings and Nailutations,

*Press Sample*
Today I have the next 3 polishes from a new indie called Exotic Lacquers that is scheduled to open February 16th.  In my previous post, I shared a thermal, a scattered holo and a multi-chrome polish.  This post has a flakey polish, a holographic polish and a glitter jelly.  All Exotic Lacquers polishes are 5-free too.

Now let's get to some swatches!

First up is Ruby Slipper, a delicious (as in beautiful...don't eat it) red glitter jelly.  Ruby Slipper contains red micro glitter swimming in a lovely red jelly.  This polish will actually be part of her Oz Collection and be available after the initial launch.  Formula was easy to apply and photos show 2 coat with shiny top coat (1st, 2nd and 3rd photos) and matte top coat (4th, 5th and 6th photos).

Next is Twister, which is also from the Oz Collection.  Oz is a dark grey polish with holographic rainbow dust.  This polish had great formula, just like the all the rest of the polishes from Exotic Lacquers.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

The last polish is Original Sin, a golden flakie magical elixir.  This polish contains gold shimmer and gold flakes.  This polish also works as a topper over any color too.  Original Sin is opaque in 3 thin coats and photos show it with shiny top coat.

Top Coat: Gloss It from Krafty Gurl Designs

Loves:  All finishes on these polishes applied perfectly.  The colors and combinations are pretty and original.  The bottles are unique, which sets Exotic Lacquers apart.  The brushes are nice and wide, which makes application easy.  And all Exotic Lacquers are 5-free, so they don't contain any of the 5 nasty chemicals that can be found in polish.

Wishes: I am excited to see what else is in store for Exotic Lacquers.  I would love to see other versions of Original Sin and Ruby Slipper in different colors!

Stay Connected:
Store: www.etsy.com/shop/ExoticLacquers
Instagram: @ExoticLacquers

Exotic Lacquers Assorted Polish Swatch And Review Part 1

Greetings and Nailutations,

*Press Sample*
Today I have 3 polishes from a new indie called Exotic Lacquers that is scheduled to open February 16th.  The polishes I was sent have a variety of finishes including multi-chromes, scattered holo, glitter jellies and thermals.  All products from Exotic Lacquers are 5-free so they don't contain 5 of the chemicals that can be found in polish.

Now let's get to some swatches!

First up is Purple Rain, a multi-chrome that shifts from purple to blue to turquoise.  Purple Rain isn't just a multi-chrome, but also has some surprised shimmer that sparkles in the light.  It applied nicely and smooth.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

Next is Black Diamonds, a thermal with golden shimmer.  Black Diamonds shifts from a dark silver/brown with gold shimmer to a light silver with gold shimmer.  It did take using a bag of frozen peas and me sitting on the other two fingers to really show the contrast in color.  Easy to work with formula.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

Lastly is Slate Board, a blue-grey polish with scattered holographic glitter.  Formula applied smoothly and was perfect!  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

Top Coat: Gloss It from Krafty Gurl Designs

Loves:  The formula on all 3 were superb.  They went on smoothly and self leveled and were all opaque in 2 coats.  The bottles are unique, which sets Exotic Lacquers apart.  The brushes are nice and wide, which makes application easy.  And all Exotic Lacquers are 5-free, so they don't contain any of the 5 nasty chemicals that can be found in polish.

Wishes: I am excited to see what else is in store for Exotic Lacquers.  The only thing I would change is making Black Diamond a little more thermally sensitive.

Stay Connected:
Store: www.etsy.com/shop/ExoticLacquers
Instagram: @ExoticLacquers

Happy Polishing,
Kristi aka @BeginNails