Dragon Lady Nails

Upcoming Giveaway

Stumbled across this on a Google search - I love otters!

Just quickie post while I am packing for my trip. I think I nailed down some prizes for my upcoming giveaway. Although I am considering doing a themed nail art contest instead. Still up in the air at the moment. I will try to get some posts up soon, as well as the giveaway/contest info so stay tuned.

Okay, off to bed to get some sleep before our early departure. Much Love, The Dragon Lady

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Wow, I suck. Not only have I not been blogging much lately but I just realized that back when I swatched the Essie Metallics...I apparently forgot to actually publish them. I set them up for auto posting but didn't publish them. FAIL!!

As for the rest, I have been taking photos and doing my nails just not finding the time to post them. About the only thing I have actually done this summer is some serious nail care and some testing of nail treatments (I'll have to write those up) and I have managed to actually grow out my nails a bit these last few weeks. I also received a Summer Vox Box and I have that to review for you as well. Some cool stuff in there.

School is starting up in the next few weeks for the kids and the hubs and I. After such a busy summer I am looking forward to school again. My goal this weekend is to get some of those photos I've taken actually posted. Next Thursday I leave for a mini family vacation to Fort Bragg,CA. I hope to be regularly posting again and have some auto posts set up for the time I'm gone....and yes, I will double check that I actually publish them this time. LOL!

I am also trying to figure out how to celebrate reaching 1000+ lovely followers. I have so many ideas I can't decide on one.

Ok, off to bed for now. See you tomorrow and in case you were wondering...Here's what's currently on my nails! Sally Hansen Pink Rose Diamond, 2 coats no top coat.

Much Love, The Dragon Lady

Essie Nothing Else Metals

Next up in the Essie Mirror Metallics is Nothing Else Metals, a pale lavender foil. Again swatch photos are shown two coats over one coat of Essie Grow Stronger with no top coat, unless stated. The formula was the same on this one as Blue Rhapsody, you can see the Blue Rhapsody post here. Slightly temperamental in application but second coat came out good. Very pretty, very light lavender color.

I decided to add and accent nail and stamp over Nothing Else Metals with the silver from this collection, No Place Like Chrome. I used Mash-40 image plate. I was a little disappointed that the silver and lavender were so similar in color, but after a while I decided I kind of like the subtle stamp effect. However, I think I will have to do a side by side of all five colors when I'm done so you can more accurately see the color differences. These photos are with one coat of Seche Vite over the stamp.

Much Love, The Dragon Lady

Essie Blue Rhapsody

Yesterday I asked which of my newest polish additions you wanted to see first and it seems like the new Essie Metallic polishes were the most wanted. So here's the first one, Blue Rhapsody, an icy blue foil. All swatch photos are shown two coats over one coat of Essie Grow Stronger (upcoming review of this nail treatment in a few days) with no top coat.

I was a little worried when the first coat on the first nail came out REALLY streaky and any attempt to correct it only made it worse. On the next nail I applied a thicker coat to start with and didn't seem to have the streak problem. On my thumb and middle finger I realized that this polish dries fast and you can't dally in your application. Once I figured these things out the rest of the application and the second coat were just fine.

This is definitely one you'll want to use some underwear for, maybe a ridge-filler if you have it. I noticed it shows all the flaws in my nail underneath, but that it pretty common for metallic polish.

Now how many of you saw these online or on the shelf and though what I did..."Metallic...hmm, I wonder if they stamp? " Well, I had huge hopes that they would, and I can't speak for the other colors yet but...this one does. Woo Hoo!!!

With top coat

I re-did my ring finger nail as an accent nail (Essie Grow Stronger - 1 coat, unnamed Cosmetic Arts pink creme - 2 coats and with one coat of Seche Vite). I used one of my new MASH stamp plates (Mash-49) for the star pattern.