Thursday, September 30, 2010

Apothecary: OPI Nail Polish Remover

Hello ladies,

An essential practice to maintaining nail length is choosing a professional grade nail polish remover. One of my favorites in my apothecary is OPI Polish Remover. It dissolves even difficult to remove glitter polishes with ease. I appreciate that it is effective and simultaneously gentle.

New Gold Lantana in a center city window box.

The ingredients include: Acetone, aqua, aloe barbadendis leaf extract, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, parfum/fragrance, amyl cinnamal, limonene, CI 61570 (green 5), CI 47000 (yellow 11).

The formula has a low concentration of acetone. It's the perfect for those who prefer the quickness of removing polish with 100% acetone, but are looking for a gentler alternative.

My nails look clean and healthy after using OPI Polish Remover. There is no white residue or evidence of dryness on my nails. The aloe leaf helps to maintain the natural moisture levels in my nails during polish removal. For those ladies trying to heal nail damage, this remover is a useful ally.

To dissolve polish, I start with small rectangles of white felt from the craft store. I size them slightly larger than a single nail. After saturating the felt rectangle, I gently hold it against my nail for about 20 seconds and wipe the polish away.

Using this method is much more cost effective than working with cotton rounds or tissues. Far less remover is required to soak a small piece of felt. Since OPI Polish Remover works well, you will also need less.

For stubborn glitter polish, OPI Polish Remover works well with the foil method. Instead of pressing the soaked felt against your nail, wrap a piece of tinfoil around the top of your finger to hold the felt in place. Let it stand for about five minutes or until the glitter is dissolved. I typically work with one hand at a time when using the foil method.

Although OPI Polish Remover is perfumed with a fresh scent, it still maintains a chemical smell. I will attest that the scent is as pleasant as the nature of the product will allow. OPI does an admirable job of scenting their polish remover to make it enjoyable to use.

OPI Polish Remover is certainly one of my favorites. I find it similar to Zoya Remove+ in its performance. This remover earns a high recommendation from me.

I purchased the 16 ounce (480 ml) bottle of OPI Nail Polish Remover locally at Beans Beauty. The retail price is $15.95. This product is also available in their on-line store at beansbeauty.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Pearls and coral

Hello ladies,

There was about an hour of sun in Philadelphia today. This morning, I chose Coral Polish from eyeko with the thought of counteracting the days of rain and clouds. Aside from being a beautiful and vibrant jelly formula, Coral Polish may have power over the weather. I'll leave it up to you ladies to do your own experiments. There is your whimsy for the day!

From Konad plate S09, I stamped the line of flowers in white special polish. I alternated the positioning for my ring, middle and pointer fingers. I centered the design on each pinky nail. Ladies with wider nails would probably be able to get the entire image to fit vertically, as I did on my thumb. I added pale orange pearls to the center of the larger flowers. This look has an Asian influence.









The sheen of Coral Polish is lovely!
This photo best illustrates the design placement. I love how the petals of this white rose form a pinwheel.


The petals are the same shade as the pearls embellishing my nails.
Coral Polish even glows in diffuse light.
This chrysanthemum would look at home beneath the sea.

Coral Polish is a jelly formula that appears bright and glossy in just about every light. With two coats, you will have visible nail line. Three coats brings perfect opacity. Coral Polish still looks glassy and pretty at two coats. The color builds easily so you can choose whatever saturation you prefer.

I understand why eyeko labeled Coral Polish as For resort nails. The color is a cheer inducing, even on a (mostly) rainy day.

Coral Polish was sent to me for review. This shade can be purchased at eyeko.com.

Happy painting, ladies!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

New code for a free Konad image plate at OC Nail Art!

Hello ladies,

I have some great news for Konad stamping enthusiasts! OC Nail Art is offering a free image plate of your choice with any purchase of $30 or more. To receive the discount, select a design plate and add it to your order, then type in the code: paintedladyfingers. The price of the image plate will be automatically removed from your order.

I don't receive anything from sharing the code other than the good feeling of offering a great deal for you ladies. I am more than happy to do so. Many thanks to Kathleen for putting this together for readers of painted Lady fingers! You can view the full line of Konad products at ocnailart.com.

Residents of the US and Canada receive free shipping on orders of $20 or more. All other locations worldwide receive free shipping with a purchase of $40 or more.

I have some fauna for you as well. Below are my sister's two dogs: Max, a white purebred German Shepherd and Elf, a Miniature Pinscher.

I'm on a boat. Max awaits his companions for a canoe ride.
Elf is a fine navigator. His keen senses are apparent as he surveys both water and land.

Max wades in the shallow areas.

Behind my sister's house, there is a tree-lined creek. The dogs occasionally accompany us in the canoe. It makes for a tipsy and often hilarious ride as Max and Elf move about in excitement. We stop in front of a small island in the center of the creek and let them run. Remaining aboard, we dangle our feet in the water and watch their antics. Two dogs, two ladies and one canoe. There is your whimsy for the day!

Happy painting, ladies!


Monday, September 27, 2010

Porcelain flowers

Hello ladies,

Philadelphia has been beset by much needed rain. I spent the majority of the afternoon indoors. Something about being at home made me consider fine china place settings. Taupe and white form a modern palette. When I created this look, I imagined tiny flowers on porcelain.

From design plate H39, I stamped the flowers using Konad white pearl special polish. I added Marquis rhinestones to ornament the closed buds. I alternated positioning of pearls and rainbow crystals. When repeating a stamping design over ten nails, a slight change in gem placement can add movement.




A strand of amethyst over a violet purple scarf creates the backdrop.
I adore the retro label!
Russian sage at the Morris Arboretum.

Two coats of Posh Polish brought opacity. Application was tricky. The formula seemed a little thicker than I would have liked. I am always hesitant to add thinner to a new bottle of polish, especially my first time working with a brand. I used Nubar Diamont topcoat, which smoothed beautifully over the taupe creme, adding a glassy finish.

I am pleased with the final manicure. Posh Polish is a skin flattering taupe. There is a hint of purple in the base color. I was stopped by a woman who loved the shade and wanted to know the name of the polish. It was fun to say!

Posh Polish was sent to me for review. This shade can be purchased at eyeko.com.

Image plate H39 was sent to me for consideration. To see the full line of nail art stamping plates, please visit chez-delaney.com. Check under NEWS for more information about the Halloween contest and giveaway running through October 31st.

Happy painting, ladies!

Big Plate Giveaway at Chez-Delaney!

Hello ladies,

There is a fantastic contest and giveaway happening at Chez-Delaney. Two big image plates will be awarded.

The first chance to win involves submitting an original Halloween stamping nail art manicure. E-mail your photos to chezdelaney[at]yahoo[dot]fr.

The second chance is simple. All that is required is to sign up for the newsletter at chez-delaney.com. You will be automatically entered to win the big design plate pictured below.

You can access the contest information by clicking on NEWS in the left sidebar at chez-delaney.com. The deadline is October 31st.

I love Halloween. This big plate is such a great prize! What do you ladies think? Are you excited?

Happy painting, ladies and best of luck!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Reviva Labs: Organic Cleansing Milk

Hello ladies,

Last month, I incorporated Reviva Labs Organic Cleansing Milk into my skin care routine. This cleanser combines antiseptic and antibacterial essential oils with skin softening aloe vera and vitamin E. I appreciate how well this product keeps my skin clear and smooth.

Roses at the Morris Arboretum.

Organic Cleansing Milk is formulated to whisk pollution and debris from pores naturally. Living in a city, I am always conscious of selecting cleansers that are hard working, yet gentle enough for my sensitive skin. I guard against going to sleep with traces of pollution I have encountered during the day still present on my face. Since cells rejuvenate faster during sleep than any other time, it's beneficial to begin the process of cell turnover with cleansed skin.

The deep cleansing action makes this product an effective make up remover. I also value this cleanser for it's ability to thoroughly dissolve all residue from facial sunscreen. I follow with Organic Skin Tonic to freshen my complexion.

The ingredients include: steam distilled water, certified organic floral water of lavender, red raspberry, certified organic herbs of angelica, chamomile, ginger, hibiscus, sage, thyme, certified organic aloe vera, sunflower oil, vegetable decyl glucoside, vegetable glyceryl stearate, shea butter, vegetable glycerine, cetearyl alcohol, cetearth-20, xanthan gum, caprylic acid, glycine, lavender oil, geranium oil, tocopherol (natural vitamin E), Lecithin (Soy), Ester Vitamin C, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid.

Lavender oil is well known as a relaxant and sleep aid. It is also employed in skin care because of its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory action. Lavender is often utilized in the treatment of acne. Geranium oil has antiseptic properties that make it an effective skin treatment. It also stimulates circulation and can help in cell turnover.

These essential oils along with the proprietary blend of floral water and herbal extracts instill Organic Cleansing Milk with a beautiful fragrance. The scent reminds me of drinking a cup of herbal tea. Its pleasant aroma is relaxing to the senses.

Organic Cleansing Milk is a product I look forward to using on either side of sleep. If you are searching for a gentle cleanser to fit your daily regimen, I highly recommend giving this product a try.

Organic Cleansing Milk was sent to me for review. This product is available for purchase at revivalabs.com for $9.50. The bottle pictured at the site shows Organic Cleansing Milk to contain hydrogen peroxide. The updated formula does not have hydrogen peroxide listed as an ingredient.

Happy painting, ladies!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

A corn snake and goldenrod

Hello ladies,

I recently made the acquaintance of a lovely corn snake at the Rancocas Nature Center. This snake is incredibly friendly. He ventures out of his aquarium often to educate school children and adults alike.
What beautiful coloring! His markings make me think of autumn leaves. He had shed recently, so his scales were exceptionally vibrant.
His tongue was so busy capturing the scents in the air.

His tongue emerged repeatedly. I wonder if he enjoyed the fragrance of my nail polish and rose perfume. He seemed so curious!

A field of goldenrod behind the visitor's center.

The handler at the nature center helped support the rest of the snake as I took photos. Were I permitted to hold him on my own, he would have easily wrapped around my neck. He already seemed to want to settle there on his own accord. Such a communicative and beautiful snake!

Many thanks to the people of Rancocas Nature Center for the introduction!

Happy painting, ladies!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Orbs in the night sky

Hello ladies,

I was working at a Halloween event on Thursday night. On a bit of fancy, I decided to take a picture of the Full Moon. The spheres you see in the black sky of evening are neither planets nor stars. They are orbs.

Orbs often appear in photos taken in areas reported to be haunted. The town I was working in has enough interest and activity to support its own ghost hunters' store.

Some people believe that orbs are a trick of the light or a fault of the camera. Others believe they offer evidence of ghost activity. I discovered an interesting article about orbs at theshadowlands.net.

I didn't edit this photo aside from cropping the image. There has been no retouching. You can click on the image to enlarge.

My intent of taking a photo of the Moon was to place it in a future post with a Halloween manicure. I couldn't resist sharing the picture as the Moon is still full in the sky. It was fascinating to see the orbs as the picture loaded onto my computer. Has anyone else found orbs in their photos?

Happy painting, ladies! Happy haunting as well!


Windswept flowers

Hello ladies,

On such a warm and still day, I wanted to inspire Nature to stir the air. I decided to create the look of windswept flowers. These were a nice accompaniment as I strolled through the paths in Rancocas Woods with my friend Sarada.

From fauxnad image plate, I stamped the tumbling flowers in Konad white special polish. I accented the design with tri-color metallic gems from Art Club. I alternated gold and silver petals across my nails.


Sedum




Goldenrod
Mayweed

These mushrooms were so delicate and tiny. Many were smaller than thimbles.

I painted three coats of Tequila Sunrise for perfect opacity. I imagine this shade would flatter most skin tones. This base color reminds me of persimmons. There is a tint of pink beneath the orange. Gold shimmer adds a gentle radiance.

I love how Tequila Sunrise is a bridge of color from summer into fall. It makes me think of sun-warmed fruit and flowers.

Image plate H34 was sent to me for consideration. To view the entire line of stamping nail art plates, please visit chez-delaney.com.

The metallic gems are from the Art Club Pretty Shiny Things Kit. These were provided for my consideration and can be purchased from victoriasnailsupply.com.

Tequila Sunrise was sent to me for review. This shade is from the Cantina Nights Collection, available at overallbeauty.com. For the opportunity to win your choice of five polishes from Cantina Nights along with a beauty gift pack from Reviva Labs, visit the Naturally Beautiful and Polished Giveaway. The contest closes at the end of the day, September 25th. Please stop by and enter if you haven't yet had the chance.

Happy painting, ladies!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Reviva Labs: Rosewater Facial Spray

Hello ladies,

I adore the perfume of roses. For the past few weeks, I have been enjoying the scent and experience of Reviva Labs Rosewater Facial Spray. This product is a refreshing skin toner that is versatile in application.

The directions recommend holding the bottle 8 inches from the face and misting the skin. I prefer saturating two cotton rounds and gently wiping my face and neck in an upward motion. I use the Rosewater Facial Spray directly after cleansing and before applying moisturizer. This technique will help skin creams better hydrate the skin.

The scent level is perfect. The rose fragrance softly perfumes my skin for a few minutes, then dissipates. I love that it's strong enough to be pleasing when applied, but doesn't linger in a distracting way.

Rosewater Facial Spray can be used by women who like to set their foundation and powder with a fine misting of water or toner.

With five nieces, I can see how this product would be useful in a school locker to freshen the skin throughout the day. Many astringents marketed towards teens are harsh and can cause imbalances that actually contribute to excess oil production. I am a believer in maintaining a gentle and consistent routine to keep skin clear.

Rosewater Facial Spray would also benefit women who work out regularly. The product could easily be transferred into a travel size container and tossed into a gym bag for convenience.

The ingredients include: Distilled rosewater, glycerin, aloe juice, polysorbate 20, hyaluronic acid, tocopheryl acetate, vegetable oil, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), Vitamin D (ergocalciferol), extracts of fennel, hops, balm mint, mistletoe, maticaria, yarrow, mallow, ivy, cucumber, sambucus, and arnica, trace mineral concentrate, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, and citric acid.

I find myself using Rosewater Facial Spray as a skin refresher after being out for the day. It provides cleansing and skin softening properties. Gentle moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid hydrate the skin. In addition to the appealing scent, rosewater has been used historically as a skin beautifier and treatment for wrinkles. I can attest that my skin feels softer after using it. Maintaining the skin's hydration levels will minimize the appearance of wrinkles.

Reviva Labs also makes a Lindenflower toner for normal to oily skin. From my experience with the Rosewater Facial Spray, I would definitely recommend trying if it better suits your skin type.

Rosewater Facial Spray was sent to me for review. This toner can be purchased at revivalabs.com. The 8 ounce bottle retails for $9.00. For a chance to win Rosewater Facial Spray and gift pack of Reviva Labs skin care items, check out the Naturally Beautiful and Polished Giveaway. The contest closes on September 25th, so please stop by if you haven't yet had the opportunity.

Happy painting, ladies!



Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Topsy Turvy Ladybugs and a garden friend

Hello ladies,

I decided to create a playful manicure featuring topsy turvy lady bugs. There is no way not to feel cheerful looking at such embellishments.

The base color is BB Couture Sex on the Beach. The lady bugs were stamped in black Konad special polish from plate M30. I placed gunmetal grey spheres from Bundle Monster on each of the dots. The color pulled just a touch with topcoat. The spheres pick up the color of the glitter and give the lady bugs added dimension.











While taking pictures of the peppers, I was distracted by a tiny rustle about two feet away.

A vole! This little creature was so very curious. I took the photo from about 8 inches away using the macro function. He even modeled with his paw up. So sweet!

Sex on the Beach is a sheer red jelly polish packed with multi-hued glitter. The color makes me think of strawberry juice. The red has a faintly pinkish tint that calls to mind a summer fruit bowl. I feel this red is distinct enough to warrant a purchase.

This polish can be worn in different ways. It looks pretty and glassy at two coats with a hint of visible nail line. Three would suffice for most ladies. I stopped painting at four coats, which made the color almost opaque. This polish dries fast. Whatever you decide is the best color saturation for your nails, this shade will still offer easy application.

This manicure induces happiness. There is nothing quite like sparkly lady bugs to add a bit of whimsy to your day.

Sex on the Beach was provided for review. This polish is part of the Cantina Nights Collection, available for purchase at overallbeauty.com. For a chance to win your choice of five colors from Cantina Nights along with skin care products from Reviva Labs, stop by the Naturally Beautiful and Polished Giveaway. The contest ends September 25th, so be sure to get your entry in soon!

Happy painting, ladies!