Blue Multi-Striped Mani

Okay, so my stripes aren't perfectly even. Still, I love this combination of shades. Here's what I used, starting at the bottom:

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Breezy Blue

Wet n Wild I Need a Refresh-Mint

essie avenue maintain

Revlon Surf

Revlon Midnight

L'Oreal Nail Lingerie over essie avenue maintain

These limited edition nail decals are from L'Oreal's Versailles Romance collection. The gold shade was sold out at the Walgreens where I picked them up, so I bought one each of the white and silver. So many possibilities for these! I chose to wear the silver over essie avenue maintain.

 

I've also had my eye on the the essie shade in the cab-ana, but found a near exact match in this Wet n' Wild shade I Need a Refresh-Mint. Six dollars cheaper and just as pretty! I used this shade as a base for the white decals.

Sweet, Hot and Pink! nails inc. Shoreditch

Here's a bit of trivia: If you were one of the many people who had to read the book 1984 in high school English class, you may remember a reference to an old English nursery rhyme called “Oranges and Lemons.”   And if you have a really good memory you may remember that the poem refers to a church named Shoreditch.

 

All trivia aside, this is a sweet confection of a shade.  It's a hot, girly, summer-y pink. Of all the pinks in my collection, of which there are many, I have nothing that matches it.  Also it applies with a very glossy finish so a glossy topcoat is optional.

Discontinued Hall of Fame: Revlon Royal

This shade was from Revlon's Top Speed Fast Dry collection and I'm sorry to see it go. Cobalt blue shades with a jelly finish are pretty hard to come by—in fact, this is the only one I know of!

Fortunately it's still available on Amazon, and although I wasn't able to find it at Ulta or any of my favorite drugstore chains (CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens and Target) I did find a bottle at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Also try Big Lots or your local dollar store.

OPI Oz the Great and Powerful: Lights of Emerald City

This is a clear glossy shade with chunks of holographic glitter. The possibilities are endless—it would look great layered over so many bases.  I chose a shimmery blue/violet—Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Virtual Violet.

Sephora by OPI Mr. Right Now

A red mani for Valentine's Day? Admittedly it's a little cliché but who can pass up a deep, glossy, sexy red like this shade? Sephora describes it as a wine, but your mileage may vary—it's a deep red on me.

More Big Fun at Big Lots: Tiara Style On Nails

Here's more proof that you don't have to spend a lot for cool nails. These press-on nails fit me perfectly. I like that they're not too long—makes it easier for me to type! $4 for twenty-four nails.