Love Notes, Bug Juice, & Smamfa - GG Couture

Today, I will show you three gorgeous polishes I worked with GG Couture to create. 

To create your own or purchase from the shop, check out GG Couture nails.

www.ggcouturenails.com

Each of the three polishes had fabulous application and dry time. No need for fishing out glitter!

First, Love Notes. This was inspired by this photo:

I took the photo. Don't steal it. 

I layered two coats of Love Notes over a beige base.

Second is Smamfa. This one is named after my younger sister's nickname, created for her. It's her favorite colors and made to match a quilt I created her. 

I used two coats of Smamfa over a medium gray base.

I also painted the underside of my nails red.

The third polish was created for my youngest sister, and it shares her nickname, Bug Juice. It is her favorite colors, and again, matches the quilt I made her.

I wore three coats over white.

They all smell divine.

Aren't they fabulous?!

Carl - Daring Digits

When I ordered a few polishes from Daring Digits, Ashley threw in a couple extras.

Today, I am showing you "Carl," one of the gift polishes.

Daring Digits polishes can be purchased at:
http://www.ddpolish.com


Now, I'm a little confused about this Carl situation, because I can't find swatches or info about it anywhere. I emailed her asking if its a discontinued, or a new polish, or what, but haven't heard bank yet. I will update when I do.

I would describe it as a white-ish crelly base, with the slightest gray tiny. It has small matte bright blue hexes, and shiny (not metallic) larger yellow hexes. It also has small black bar glitter.

As I've mentioned before, as a general rule, I don't like bar glitter.

When I saw the polish in the bottle, I initially liked it. I've gone back and forth about it ever since. I love the bright blue and yellow against the white, but the bar glitters... Not so much. For a while they reminded me of salt and pepper, and then I liked it.

The polish is opaque-ish in three coats. I used a very light gray base. It dries well, and shiny. The glitters disperse with ease.

I like it best from afar. It's unique, and the colors are fun. But, after wearing it all day, looking at it up close, the bar glitter reminds me of our bathroom sink after my husband shaves... whisker stubble. I guess the manly name fits that way?

I can't decide if I like it. It's a great quality, like all the others of this brand, but... The black bars just... not my thing. If they were micro glitter hexes, I think I would like it much more!

Photos outside and inside! Sorry for the poor clean-up. We headed to the park and I forgot.

UPDATE:
Ashley responded!
"Carl is part of my Aquateen Hunger force collection. I am hoping to launch it in May :-)"

Marguerite - Wanderlust Lacquer

Part two of five. A polish I purchased at a discount to swatch and review.

Marguerite by Wanderlust Lacquer
http://wanderlustlacquer.storenvy.com

From the site:
A Medium purple with medium sized aqua hexes, light purple, and small dark purple hexes.

The description is accurate. I love the shade of purple that this crelly (creamy jelly) base is. It's a bit "dusty" and not bold purple. The glitter combination is fun. The light purple appears a bit mauve to me, but I like it!

It goes on well. Two coats were opaque. It dried fairly quickly I think. The glitters lay smooth and I didn't have to fish for them!

My only complaint was that this mini bottle wasn't full. It was probably 3/5 full when I got it. One of the others from my set of 5 was the same, not full. In trying not to be too bummed out because I did get a discount, but still. I like the polish (and the other not full was the one I am most looking forward to) and will wear it again, so it's just sad that I won't get the full mini experience.

Edit: problem solved. Annie is very sweet and apologized sincerely for the bottle mishap.

The sky is getting even darker than this morning and its cold and drizzly out so these were also taken in the natural light of my kitchen.

I love this color!

This color is brought to us by Wonder Beauty Products.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WonderBeautyProducts

It's called Aphrodisiac. I'm copying this directly from her listing to describe:
"A subtle, but potent mixture of mood making minty asparagus green crelly base with a tinge of teal embellished with green, iridescence, gold, orange and turquoise glitter effects. "

I had been eyeing this color for a while, and then she had a sale... So... I treated myself (after I donated nearly all of my Spenk & Ollie proceeds to a charitable cause). I've vowed to stop buying for a while.

Side note: she sells polish making kits and I want one BAD.

Okay, so this polish came, along with a sample gift of "Cherries Jubilee." I haven't tried that one yet.

I decided today was THE day I was going to wear this polish. I slapped... Er... Painted two coats of nude undies (haha, that still makes me giggle) and then two glorious coats of Aphrodisiac. It went on so easily. So smooth. Glitter dispersed excellently and required no manipulation or fishing. I think this polish would have been opaque in three coats, but I wanted to save more for later. I'm like that. I'm an undies girl. (Bwahahaha no commando here! (Note: I'm sleep deprived and my two year old didn't nap today.))

Dries nicely. I used one coat of anti-chip top coat and its smooth like a Tommy-Tippee sippy cup (the smooth kind)).

I love this polish! It's so gorgeous! To me it gives off a vintage or retro feel. I'm thinking old melmac dinner wear or turquoise appliances. I LOVE it. Love!

My only critique that's not 100% positive is the name. It's pretty and sensual and all that, but good golly I would not want to answer my little sister (or daughter if I had one) when she asks, "What's 'aphrodisiac' mean?" Well, unless I just said, "something that gets you really excited." Hmm. Okay, so maybe it's not so bad after all.

Now, I want a polish making kit, the Chantilly polish, and maybe a few more.

Some day, when I allow myself to shop again.

Now, enjoy a plethora of photos, as I couldn't decide which to trash. Most are straight out of the camera except for watermark. Guess I was having a lucky lighting day!