Green!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! I got into green mode these days. I think it started out from OPI New Orleans mini set I bought a while ago. (Check out the review here!) Since then, I bought 2 green shirts and kept reaching for green polish! Maybe because after the grey winter, I can't wait for fresh green! 

I'm also doing simple designs recently. Life is busy these days! 

For this look, I first painted my nails with OPI I'm Sooo Swamped! (bright green). I stamped the clover design from Bundle Monster plate BM-723, using Nails Inc. Chelsea Bridge Road (gold foil) as stamping polish. 

I'm not usually a green person so I'm not sure what happened to me... But I'm enjoying wearing green now! 

Do you like this green? Are you a green person?

Love,

Little Dot

Cosette Clear Stamper Review!

I purchased this clear stamper from Cosette Nail Shop after reading a review from Chitchat Nails. And here are some of my thoughts on this product!

I have been using this stamper for the last few weeks. It is a great tool when you require a precise placement of a design. So something like small images that you want to place in a particular area of your nails or double stamping. When I do plaid nails, I usually double stamp with two different colors. So I know I would be using this stamper for sure! Also, it is handy for Direct Decal Method because you can actually see what the decal would look like before stamping!

The one I bought is called "Crystal C-Thru Stamper with Cap" and as you see, it comes with a cap and a scraper. The cap is great because you can protect the head and keep it clear of dust particles! The stamper head is nice and squishy. The other thing I like about this stamper is the fact the bottom is flat. This makes it easier if you want to add color to it for direct decal method. 

Now here are some potential issues. This is a view from the top as you may be approaching your nail from above. You can see where you are going but it looks like magnifying view. I found myself having some trouble judging the distance between the stamper head and the nail surface maybe due to this distorted view. I learned to stamp aligning the image by placing the stamper and nails like this in the past. 

So you have to re-learn the way a bit. I will probably stamp the way I have been doing for most of the time (because I became pretty good at aligning images this way!) and use this stamper for when the precise placement is called for. 

The other thing I noticed was it sometimes doesn't pick up clear images. I find it better if you roll your stamper lightly to pick up images. Some learning curves here. 

Overall, I think this is a great stamper to have around. Certainly, this little tool will make nail stamping a lot easier. You can order this stamper from cosettenailshop.storenvy.com. 

Have you tried this stamper? What is your thought?

Love,

Little Dot

Trip Around The World - India!

If you remember, I started my "Trip Around The World" design theme long time ago. Here is my Indian nail look!

I purchased Essie 2016 Resort mini set recently. This collection is inspired by India and the polish I really wanted to get was Taj-ma-haul. This earthy orange color is so unique!

Obviously, I needed to do an Indian inspired look!

For this look, first I painted my nails with Essie Taj-ma-haul (earthy orange). I used one of the designs from MoYou London plate Explorer Collection 03 for stamping. I used my go-to gold foil polish, Nails Inc. Chelsea Bridge Road as stamping polish. 

I like the simplicity of this nail look. I just wanted to enjoy the color of the unique orange and complimented the look with henna design!

If you want to see my other posts on "Trip Around The World" theme, check here and here!

Love,

Little Dot

OPI New Orleans Mini Set Review!

The weather is getting nicer and the days are getting longer for sure, but we are still experiencing yo-yo climate here in our area. One day spring and one day snow storm! Oh well, you can just dream spring/summer time with OPI New Orleans collection!

I bought a mini set, which contains 4 colors; Got Myself into a Jam-balaya (coral pink), Take a Right on Bourbon (warm metallic pewter), I'm Sooo Swamped! (green), Show Us Your Tips! (periwinkle shimmer).

Nice spring tones! 

For this look, I first painted my nails with OPI Got Myself into a Jam-balaya (coral pink) and OPI I'm Sooo Swamped! (green). I used a leaf design from Bundle Monster plate BM-XL116, using OPI Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (gold) as stamping polish. 

I think this green might be just what I need for St. Patrick's Day nails! 

Have you tried any colors from OPI New Orleans collection? What is your favorite color?

Love,

Little Dot

Lace Mani!

Negative space manis have been going around for quite some time now. This is a sort of my take on it. 

For this look, I first painted my nails with Essie Stylenomics (dark green black) and Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Dune (baige nude). I used a lace design from Bundle Monster plate BM-618 to stamp, using Mundo de Unas stamping polish 02. 

A little change of pace from pink and red Valentine themed nails I had for the last few weeks, I think. 

My nails are doing pretty good this winter thanks to milder weather but I still have a little peeling tips on some nails. Covering them with the nude shade is a good way to go if you are not totally comfortable going nude nails! 

Have you tried negative space manis or lace manis?

Love,

Little Dot

Gold Hearts, Navy, and Hot Pink!

This is probably the closest I can get for my Valentine's nails! I can't do it too sweet!

The color inspiration came from this pen my beloved daughter gave me for Christmas!

I don't wear too much pink so I was looking through my polish stock for hot pink. And I found this pink, Hey Baby, in OPI Gwen Stefani mini set. There was also good stamping gold polish, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in this set, so I was good to go!

For this look, I first pained my nails with OPI Hey Baby (hot pink), China Glaze History of the World (navy), and OPI Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (Gold). I stamped heart pattern design from Pueen 29, using OPI Love. Angel. Music. Baby. as stamping polish. 

China Glaze History of the World is my favorite navy polish. I don't really know other navy polish that actually looks navy rather than black... If you know any, please let me know!

Have a happy Valentine's Day!

Love,

Little Dot

OPI Hello Kitty Mini Set Review!

This look is a bit too sweet for my taste to be honest. But if you do a review of Hello Kitty nail polish, you must match the look, right?

I wasn't planning to get this collection but when I saw this mini set at my local Winners, I couldn't resist! It's so cute!

It even came with a nail art tool, which is a dotting tool on one side and a skinny brush of the other side! 

I used 4 colors out of 5 for my nail look. I painted one nail with OPI Milk Bottle (white), one nail with OPI 5 Apples Tall (red), and the rest with OPI Let's Be Friends! (pale pink). I used heart design from Pueen 41 and stamped on my white nail. I used OPI Never Have Too Mani Friends! (black) as stamping polish. I used a dotting tool to put pale pink dots on red nails, using OPI Let's Be Friends! 

On the back of the box, there are a couple of nail look suggestions and there are some great easy nail art tutorials on OPI website at opi.com/hellokitty if you want to check it out. 

The 4 colors I used were all pretty well pigmented. Two coats gave decent coverage. The black one was even good enough for stamping! Interestingly, the white polish, Milk Bottle, seems to be only available to purchase in this mini set. As far as I know, you can't even get this as an individual bottle. It's a bit strange because this polish is used in many of the tutorials in the OPI website. I'm pretty sure you can just use any white polish though... 

In my honest opinion, I don't find these colors to be anything special. But if you are a Hello Kitty fan, this is a very cute set that gives you all the colors and the tool you need for Hello Kitty nail art!

Did you get any of Hello Kitty polish?

Love,

Little Dot