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Hello lovelies,

So just to update you a bit - I'm feeling better than last week but I'm still a bit ill and very tired all the time. But on the plus side I got my wedding dress! I'm so happy I got one, it's a lot of stress off my shoulders. Obviously I can't show you until the wedding but it's very pretty ;) Now let's do some nails...

It's not too late for snowflake nails, is it? ;)

I've got sent Snowflake stencils from Whats Up Nails* and I've decided to try and do Snowflake Half Moon design. It was super easy with them an I've used half of one stencil for all 5 nails so you can do with just one snowflake stencil cut in half for both hands.

I've used two coats of Zoya Prim and topcoated them. Then I've applied half of the snowflake sticker to the nail and sponged on white Zoya Purity with make up sponge. That creates that softer snowy look. I removed the sticker immediately to get crisp edges. Once the white polish dried a bit I applied topcoat and added a silver crystal rhinestone*. I got these particular ones from Light The Box shop (they come in a pouch so I put them in the rhinestone wheel). Oh and the tweezers are from the same shop as well (available here).

Here's a picture tutorial to show how I've done this design:

This design is so simple to do with the Whats Up Nails Snowflake stencils and I'll probably use them again before Christmas. If you're not very skilled in intricate nail art then stencils are great tool. Whats Up Nails have many different types from the regular chevron and stripe stickers to holiday and Valentine's Day themed stencils.

TIP: They also carry THOSE awesome nail art brushes that so many nail artists including me use - Pure Color! I will show them to you again in some future post.

Have a good start of the week! Lucie x

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Hello lovelies,

I'm sure you've spotted the new Models Own collection called Colour Chrome by now and I have half of it to show you! The whole collection consists of 10 metallic colours that can be worn by themselves or used for stamping (yes, they work great!). They have highly reflective metallic foil finish, stunning shiny bottles and they come with wider brush.

Swatching these was a bit of a challenge for me because I have ridges and imperfections in nails due to some health problems and these polishes show every single flaw. You're meant to use them without topcoat (bye bye ridge filling topcoat) and then 2-3 coats of polish. I must say even after light buffing my nails had many flaws so please excuse the imperfections and patched up pointer finger ;)

Chrome Silver - bright silver metallic. This was the first shade I've swatched and I haven't buffed my nails at all so as you can see this polish highlights all ridges. I have applied three coats just to try and hide the imperfections but it didn't help much. The polish itself was fully opaque in two coats and applied well. I've applied topcoat as well.

Chrome Green - cool pastel green metallic. I've applied two coats of polish, no base coat and sealed with topcoat. This is the last swatched polish with unbuffed nails.

Chrome Gold - pale gold metallic. Stunning pale gold which I think will suit almost everyone and it will transform your nails into luxuriously looking manicure. Tw coats were fully opaque and I've applied topcoat as well. Nails lightly buffed.

Chrome Pink - pastel pink metallic. This is the girliest colour from this collection I have and it leans a bit into lavender shades. I've applied two coats and topcoat. Nails lightly buffed.

Chrome Blue - light blue metallic. I'm not too keen on this shade because I think it flatters me but otherwise it applied well and was opaque in two coats. Nails lightly buffed.

I've got mixed feelings about this collection - on one hand I absolutely love the shiny metallic finish and the bottles but I absolutely hate how it shows the imperfections on my nails. I have read a tip in some nail group to apply it over another nail polish the next day, giving it smooth surface. That way you might get flawless finish and I will be trying that for sure.

The formula of all shades was the same - they applied well, the polish isn't thick but it does dry fast so work fast to avoid dragging colour and creating patches. All metallic polishes including these ones are somewhat streaky so pay attention to the brush strokes when applying the last coat of colour. Topcoat will not hide the streaks!

Also the big question about stamping with these beauties - I have tried it and I'm pleased to say THEY STAMP GREAT! I will be purchasing few more colours for sure and do some stamped manicures for sure.

Models Own Colour Chrome collection  will be available from 29th January 2015 on modelsownit.com and they will also be available from Models Own Bottle Shops from 31st January, and Superdrug stores from 11th of February for £4.99 each. BUT on 29th January Models Own website will hold a 50% sale and limited quantity of this collection will be available so you could get these polishes for as little as £2.50! I know I will...

Have a lovely day! Lucie x

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