Review: OPI Absolutely Alice!

Comparing photos from earlier this week to now, it's pretty obvious that I got acrylic nails.  I'm ok with it, it means my nails are all nice and even and I don't have to deal with having two broken nails on my photo hand.  The universe's reward for said fake nails?  Finding a polish I've longed for for ages in the salon, OPI Absolutely Alice!

Absolutely Alice is a super awesome blue and gold micro-glitter from all the way back in 2010.  I've longed for it for so long and there it was, just sitting on the rack of polishes to choose from.  Turns out it's super easy to just ask if you can buy one of said polishes and to bargain them down cos it's been used.  I know it's a little gross but I wanted it, dammit!  It was really full and hardly used so mine.  Anyway, I didn't want to waste three coats of it so I started with two coats of Orly Sweet Peacock, the sparkly blue foil.  Absolutely Alice has a really great consistency, it's nearly opaque in one coat on it's own. 

The Verdict:  I love this polish, I'm so happy to have rescued it from the salon round the corner.  So what are you going to do next time you get a manicure?  Look at the shelves - look for China Glazes with silver lids, polishes you don't immediately recognise, anything that stands out from the rest.  Don't let them hurry you and don't be afraid to haggle.  Or check your photo for the price on ebay.  If it's over $30 then buy, but keep that poker face!

Minimalist Carmen Miranda Nails!

I don't have quite the same volume of time free to do my nails I used to, because I now have to commute 20 whole minutes to get to work and I keep falling asleep at crazy early times.  This usually results in me slapping on the nearest polish I can get away with two coats of and then accenting with as many charms I fancy at the time.  Charms are the best for making your nails fancy with no effort what-so-ever.  Yesterday I felt like wearing smiley-face charms with pineapples on top.  It took stablenails on Instagram pointing it out that I'd inadvertently created minimalist Carmen Miranda nails.  THIS PLEASES ME, THANK YOU STABLENAILS. 

To start, I applied three coats of Sephora Formula X Equinox, a really pretty foily purple duochrome polish.  I know I said two but this really does look better with three.  After sealing said coats off with Seche Vite, I used nail glue to apply my Sparkly Shop Smiley Face and Pineapple charms.   I love these charms so much, like, LOOK AT THEM.  Especially the pineapples. They're small and flat so they even stay on well, if you're not the type for giant King Cobras.  I wear those cobras so much, they make me feel badass.  Anyway, minimalist Carmen Miranda nails!  Woo!

The Verdict:  Sure, I'm biased with these charms cos I chose them in the first place but LOOK AT THEM.  I can't believe I didn't notice what the combo looked like too.  Woo for crazy charms!

DON'T FORGET, IF YOU WANT 15% OFF AT THE SPARKLY SHOP, USE THE CODE BLOGGYPANTS.  I WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE CHARMS AND SPARKLIES.  Totally not for money, I swear.

I FINALLY GOT NAIL FOILS TO WORK AHHHH

Nail foils are so amazing in theory.  Super shiny, super holo and really quick to do.  However, as soon as you move or apply top coat, they die.  Thus, the eternal quest to find a top coat that doesn't ruin the finish of the foils.  I FOUND IT.  Sally Hansen Miracle Gel top coat DOESN'T KILL FOILS.  To prove it, I thought I'd have a go at doing nail foil stripes and it turned out awesome except for where I kept trying to cover up the gaps.  SHINNIEEEESSSSSS!  Oh and of course I need charms. 

To start I applied three coats of the amazing neon coral China Glaze Thistle Do Nicely.  I have no idea where this came from but it's so bright and neon.  In person it's ten times brighter cos neon are impossible to photograph.  Anyway.  Once the three coats + Seche Vite had dried, I applied striping tape to do my foil stripes.  I applied the glue over the tape and then peeled the tape off before the glue dried.  Once it was clear, I applied my gold holo foil over the top.  My mistake here was to try to fill in the gaps cos it just lost some of the definition but still, it's shiny.  Two coats of the Sally Hansen top coat and some bow charms and I'm good to go.  

The Verdict: Well I think my foil obsession is a thing now so brace yourselves.  It's just so shiny!  I love shiny.....

Bow charms from The Sparkly Shop for $1.99 a pair!