Bellaluna Cosmetics Birthstone Collection January-April

Greetings and Nailutations,

*Blogger Package*

Today I have the first 4 months of the Bellaluna Cosmetics Birthstone Collection.  Bellaluna Cosmetics carries 5-free indie nail polish that doesn't contain 5 of the harsh chemicals that can be found in polish.  This collection contains a variety of colors and finishes that everyone should be able to find a favorite!

Now let's get to some swatches!

Let's start with January's polish called Garnet Fever.  Garnet Fever is a red-plum jewel toned glitter jelly.  The red plum jelly contains magenta small hexes and micro glitter.  It applied perfectly and is my favorite of the 4 - I have a thing for maroons.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th photos) and matte top coat (6th, 7th and 8th photos).

Next is Amethyst Dream, for February.  It is a purple jelly that contains little flakes of purple and iridescent glitters.  This was a close second for favorite.  It applied easy and photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat (1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th photos) and matte top coat (6th, 7th and 8th photos).

Aquamarine Queen is the polish for March.  Aquamarine Queen is a pale light blue creme with just a hint of blue shimmer that peeks out when it hits the light.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

April's polish is a holographic top coat, called April Showers, which can turn any color polish into twinkling holo goodness!  I selected a neon blue (Beach Ball from Liquid Kandi) to holo-ize.  Photos show 1 coat of April Showers over Beach Ball topped with shiny top coat.

May's polish was just recently released and it is a green holo glitter bomb!

Shiny top coat: Gem Glam Top Coat from www.dreampolish.com
Matte top coat: Polish Matte'rs from www.girlybitscosmetics.com

Loves:  I love that each month has a completely different finish!  It is making for a very diverse, yet cohesive collection because the quality of the polish is what pulls it all together.  My favorites are the glitter jellies....I can't resist them!  Another added plus is that all Bellaluna Cosmetics products are 5-free so they don't contain 5 of the harsh chemicals that can be found in polish.

Wishes: So far, I am in love with this collection and I can't wait to see what my birthday month brings...December!  I hope more jellies are in store for the collection!

Do you have a favorite of these 4?  What is your dream polish that would be inspired by your birthstone?

Happy Polishing,
Kristi aka @BeginNails

Born Pretty Stamping Plate BP-07

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 Butterfly Nail Art Stamp Template Image BP-07 Plate (item: 16854).  It contains 4 separate designs that are butterfly and floral related.  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 is the beautiful butterfly image.  I stamped it with Yoga Pants over Gold Veined Mirrors which are both from Drip Drop Nail Paint and topped it with a shiny top coat.

Next is a tribal/aztec design which I stamped with Tighty Whities from Drip Drop Nail Paint over Elevation Polish Rose Cardamom Chocolate Truffles topped with a shiny top coat.

Then the swirly spirals were stamped on with Jenna Hipp's Jenna and The Giant Peach over Bicycle Built For Two from Drip Drop Nail Paint topped with a shiny top coat.

The last image and my favorite because it's perfect for coloring in is the floral pattern.  I started with Tighty Whities and stamped with Yoga Pants, both from Drip Drop Nail Paint and used Esmaltes de Kelly's Soap Bubbles and topped with a wax top coat.

Shiny Top Coat: Gem Glam Top Coat and Wax Top Coat from www.DreamPolish.com

Loves:  Love that each image picked up and transferred to my nails perfectly.  I also loved the large floral image perfect for lead lighting and also the dainty butterfly 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 - I have one more to review!

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

MPolish Stamping Polishes Review

Greetings and Nailutations,

One form of nail art I really love is stamping, this is where an image is etched into a metal plate and polish is spread onto the plate picked up by a stamper and transferred onto the nails.  Initially when I first started trying it (a little over a year ago) I had many struggles, but practice, watching You Tube tutorials and never giving up paid off.  Typically I stamp with cremes, but I had heard about a brand that made shimmer polishes for stamping that look amazing over darker colors, so I had to buy the collection!  The brand is called MPolish and it is 5-free (so it doesn't contain 5 of the harsh chemicals that can be found in polish).

Now let's get to some stamping!

First up is Apple Blossom which is a shimmery pink polish.  As soon as I saw it, I knew it had to be paired with black to really make it pop.  The black is Yoga Pants from Drip Drop Nail Paint.  I stamped with Apple Blossom and Winstonia W101 Plate to create a cute leopard look.  Then I added gold studs and shiny top coat.

Bells of Ireland is the green shimmer stamping polish.  I used it over a beautiful blue jelly with green micro flakies that matched Bells of Ireland perfectly.  I stamped using Vivid Lacquer VL022 Plate over Candied Apple Polish Serenity and topped it all with a shiny top coat.

Next is Apricot Delight which has an orange shimmer to it.  I decided to pair it with a deep red wine colored polish called After Dinner by Black Luna Lacquer.  I stamped with Winstonia Plate W301 and added a bee gold charm from Hex Nail Jewelry and topped it all off with a shiny top coat.

Then I used the white pearlescent shimmer polish called Snowberry.  I used a lace pattern off of Vivid Lacquer VL028 plate adding a double stamping on 1 finger as an accent.  I used Heather's Hues Rain Rain, Go Away as my undie and topped it all with a shiny top coat.

Next is Sweetclover, a yellow shimmer polish.  I decided to test a lighter colored polish with the yellow to see how well the polishes do over non-dark colors.  I was very impressed when I paired Sweetclover with CDB Lacquer's Butterfly Kisses using MoYou Princess Plate 14 all topped with shiny top coat.

The last look (and my absolute favorite) is using Starflower.  Starflower is a blue shimmer and it is stunning.  I paired it with a deep purple jelly with blue micro flakies called Restore The Classics from Drip Drop Nail Paint.  I used Emily de Molly EDM05 Plate and topped it with a shiny top coat and also a matte top coat.

Shiny Top Coat: Gem Glam Top Coat from www.dreampolish.com
Matte Top Coat: Polish Matte'rs from Girly Bits Cosmetics

Loves: Great finishes for stamping polishes, the shimmer really adds a fun look to the manis.  They were all easy to work with and stamped perfectly.  I love the wide brushes as well.  And of course the polishes are 5-free too!

Wishes: Although the polishes can be used on their own for swatching, the brushes weren't as easy to use for application and created streaks.  I had used them as undies to some glitter toppers.  I also wish there were more colors with these finishes....like a red and purple!

Have you tried stamping?  If not, what is keeping you at bay?

Stay connected to MPolish
Store: www.mpolishes.com
Instagram: @mpolishes

Happy Polishing,
Kristi aka @BeginNails