There's a new collaboration video up on my YouTube channel between myself and Sarah Richardson, (Sarah R).
This month we are using my latest stamping plate, DP04, from my Dixie Plates stamping range. You can purchase them here, should you like what you see.
As usual, we didn't discuss what images we were using, only that it had to be from DP04.
I chose my favourite image, the cherry blossoms and I decided to do a bit of sharpie nail art underneath.
Sarah chose the plaid image, also one of my favourites, double stamped over an ombre gel polish base.
Either design looks like it could be done by a professional nail technician (which we both are), but both designs can easily be done at home.
Our tutorials are easy to follow and any products we used are linked in the description bar below our videos. We'd also love to see any designs you create using Dixie Plates. Be sure to use the hashtag #dixieplates so we can see your work.
I've got a new video up on the YouTube channel featuring four gorgeous colour changing gel polishes from Madam Glam.
It's just a quickie today, showing application and then the colour change between hot and cold temperatures. I'll have a nail art video up soon using one of the colours as I have an idea for a cool video.
The colour changing polishes in general are something I tend to steer clear of because I usually find one or the other of the colours you get (from hot to cold) are not colours I like, but with these four I love all the colours.
Application is a dream. Madam Glam do suggest doing three coats to get good opacity but I found you could easily get away with two coats so do experiment if you have any of these.
Super cute colours at a very reasonable price. Madam Glam is not a professional only brand BUT in saying that, the quality is as good, if not better than quite a few professional only brands I use. I also know of several nail technicians that have introduced Madam Glam into their salons and the clients LOVE IT!
I highly recommend the gel polishes. I've been using them for a good year now and I've loved everything I've tried.
If you are wanting to purchase, I have a 30% discount code. It's not an affiliate code and I do not benefit in any way if you use it!
Simply enter kate30 at checkout to receive your 30% discount. Also do sign up for Madam Glam emails. They regularly have sales and special offers so you can grab yourselves some awesome deals.
Now there are a few of these products about. Some are great and most I've tried, honestly, are rubbish. So I was over the moon excited when I tried this one. It's ultra fine and applies beautifully to the nail, leaving each nail with a beautiful holographic rainbow.
I tried two methods of application; the first being the handy little makeup applicator which comes with the product. This works a dream so stick to it. I also tried a silicone tool which was a complete and utter fail! It works brilliantly with some chrome pigments I've used but with this, it was just useless.
The best way to apply the powder (if you are using it over gel polish) is:
1. Apply your chosen colours and cure.
2. Apply a no-wipe top coat and cure. If you do not have a no-wipe top coat, remove the inhibition layer of your top coat with a lint free cloth or kitchen roll.
3. Apply the holographic powder to each nail and remove any excess with a soft brush. There should not be any significant excess. You barely need any product to cover each nail.
4. When you are happy with your coverage, top coat (twice for good measure) remembering to seal the free edge to prolong the life of your manicure.
REMEMBER: This product goes a LONG WAY. You barely need anything to cover a nail. Add a tiny bit and if you need more, add some, rather than going in too heavy handed.
I can't recommend this highly enough. It's just beautiful. If you apply it correctly over a gel polish of your choice, you should see exactly what you see in my photo and video, the colour of the gel polish underneath with the beautiful holographic effect on top. Too much powder will just cancel out the colour of polish underneath.
I've listed all the products I used in the description bar below the video.
Apologies, I have been sick for months and I've really been struggling to get consistent content up.
I'm using new products in the tutorial. I've been introduced to Akzentz and I have to say, so far, I am loving it. I purchase my Akzentz products here in Australia and if you are elsewhere in the world, you can check out their products here.
The star of the show is the Akzents Options Glass in black. This completely cancels out the need to mix your black gel polish with a clear top coat to get that sheered out effect because it's already done for you. Also, you won't have uneven consistency. This is my new favourite product!
I've used black Gel Play too, which I found very easy to use. I've never used gels in pots before and I was a little nervous I would find it difficult, but I found it easy to apply, cured beautifully and looks great on the nails.
I also need to give a shout-out to the Akzentz Gel Brush-111 that I used to apply the glass. It's got a very thin handle, thinner than other brushes I've used, and I found it really nice to use and very comfortable.
I've stamped with the usual suspects, including my Dixie Plate DP03, which you can check out here, and my Sticky Dixie stamper, which is here and comes in a range of colours.
I found Akzentz a pleasure to use so stay tuned for more tutorials coming very soon using their products.
All the info on what I used is linked in the description bar below the video.
I've got a new video up on my YouTube channel featuring two Swarovski Crystal Pixies that were very kindly sent to me by Tracey from Touched By Colour.
Tracey is an Australian authorised reseller of Swarovski products.
The Crystal Pixie comes in eight colours - four of which have just been released in Australia. I have Cute Mood and Rock Shock.
They are super easy to apply to the nails and make a gorgeous feature nail or all nails if you are so inclined.
I decided to do one nail of each colour and they applied really easily. I applied the Crystal Pixie by lay down a thin layer of clear gel and then pouring the crystals into the wet gel, gently pressing them in and then curing in my LED lamp.
I then sealed the free edges just to prevent any loss of the stones or snagging.
They look lovely and are super sparkly. The Cute Mood would be perfect for a bridal feature nail.
I've listed all the products used in the description bar below the video.
I've got a new video up on my YouTube channel featuring the Florality 2 stamping plate by Moyra.
Now I was getting these plates sent over from Ireland but it takes AGES and I can't be bothered to wait six weeks. So after a little bit of searching, I've found that Beautometry stock Moyra. They're much quicker shipping-wise and they have a good stock available.
They also stock other great brands of plates, great stamping polishes, including Hit The Bottle and other goodies.
The plate is just gorgeous but I did find a few of the images a little tricky to pick up this time. I've not found this previously with any of the Moyra plates but this one is not etched as well as it could be. This is not Moyra's issue. It's down to the manufacturer.
Not a major issue though as I managed to pick up all the images after trying a few different stampers.
The designs on this plate are lovely and original. I love the fact that they are slightly larger images, measuring 2cm by 2.4cm catering for longer nails.
I've listed all the products I used in the description bar below the video. I also have a few more Moyra plates on the way to me from Beautometry so once they arrive I'll do some more swatching for you.
I've got a new stamping video up on my YouTube channel and it's part five in my Moyra stamping plate series.
Since I started the series I've been trying to find a consistent supplier that has plates in stock and it's proving a little difficult but I've finally found two suppliers that have a good stock of the plates that can ship to me in Australia and also elsewhere in the world. There's nothing more frustrating to me than desperately wanting to order and not finding a supplier.
I highly recommend the two following companies for the Moyra plates. This doesn't mean there are no other companies that stock them, it just means these are the ones I found to have good stock and I am comfortable purchasing from:
Beautometry: http://www.beautometry.com
Beautometry are based in the USA and have a great range of the Moyra plates, they also have a really good selection of other plates, nail art accessories and polishes, including the very sought after Esmaltes da Kelly.
Moyra Ireland: http://www.moyrashop.ie
This is the first place I purchased Moyra plates and although the postage took FOREVER (not their fault obviously) it was well worth the wait.
The plate itself is gorgeous, as are all Moyra plates. The images are slightly larger than standard images, measuring 2cm by 2.4cm on a plate that is the same size as my Dixie Plates or ÜberChic Beauty.
I adore using the Moyra plates. They're super well etched, beautifully designed down to the cover art and I literally haven't found a design I don't like. They're also well priced - on par with ÜberChic Beauty or B.loves Plates.
Can't get enough of these. I've got one more plate to show you in the series so far BUT I may have placed a sneaky order with Beautometry for a few more so I'll show you those as soon as they arrive.
I've listed all the products I used in the description bar below the video.
WOOHOO new metallic gel polishes from Madam Glam arrived on my doorstep this morning so I decided to do a quick swatch video on my YouTube channel.
I've already done a small video which you can find HERE.
I'm swatching another eight colours in this video and they're really lovely. They are however a pain in the bum to apply. Not difficult, but tedious.
Steps:
1. Apply base coat and cure for recommended time.
2. Apply no cleanse top coat and cure for recommended time.
3. Apply metallic gel polish and either cure for THREE MINUTES or let air dry for two minutes and cure in lamp for a further minute.
4. Apply top coat and cure.
So as you can see, the curing / drying time is slightly ridiculous BUT I do think the finished result is lovely.
I did have an issue with the top coat removing some of the metallic gel polish. This is either because the top coat is too thick, or the metallic gel polish isn't cured properly. I'm going to have a play and see if a different top coat makes a difference and I'll report back.
I've added the names and links of the gel polishes in the description bar below the video, should you want to purchase some.
I've also got a discount code for Madam Glam. At checkout, simply enter kate30 for 30% off your order (excluding shipping) and your discount will be applied.
I have a press sample plate so I have all the images on the one plate but when you purchase, the plate has been split into two slightly smaller plates.
Not only is the brand new to me, the material that the plate is made of is new to me too. The plate is made from clear acrylic, making it lighter than your standard stainless steel stamping plate.
The images themselves are etched into the plate it's acetone resistant.
Perfect for weddings or beautiful delicate nail art, this plate is well etched and full of gorgeous designs. I found it very easy to stamp with and easy to clean. Definitely a plate you need to add to your collection.
I've linked all the products used, in the description bar below the video.
I've got a new video up on my YouTube channel featuring a gorgeous set of stamping plates that have been designed by five well known nail bloggers and Bundle Monster. So this set of plates is called the Blogger Collaboration Set 2.
I think it's a great idea that a company has collaborated with five great nail bloggers to come up with some super fun plates.
As usual the plates are well etched and stamp beautifully.
I've left links to all the products I used, in the description bar below the video.
YAY don't you love it when the postman brings you nail goodies first thing on a Monday morning!
I got a delivery from ÜberChic Beauty and I always get excited when the lovely Brittany sends me a parcel. Today I received the brand new Set 9, along with a couple of other goodies that I will show in another video.
Oh my goodness, what gorgeous plates - not that I expected anything less than that. There are some super cute Summer appropriate images, along with some fun patterns and of course, the gorgeous florals that I always love to see on ÜberChic plates.
These plates are always packed with gorgeous, unique images that are well etched and stamp perfectly every time you use them.
If you are a beginner or expert you will love using these images as much as I do. Super easy to use and just gorgeous on your nails.
I've used quite a few products in this video so I've linked them all in the description bar below the video.
I've got a new video up on my YouTube channel featuring the rest of my collection of gel polishes from Madam Glam.
I uploaded the first video last week and you can watch it HERE if you are interested in seeing the latest colours to be released by Madam Glam.
The gel polishes are beautiful to use, reasonably priced and a great size at 15ml.
Even though Madam Glam is not a professional brand, you won't be disappointed by the quality of the products. I use Madam Glam on my nails on a regular basis and get the same amount of wear time as I do if I use a professional gel polish.
If you are interested in seeing any specific nail art tutorials or you would like to see swatch comparisons of any of the colours I've shown in the videos, please leave me a comment and I'll get it done for you.
All the names of the colours, along with links, are listed in the description bar below the video.
Poli-Peel is a latex-based cuticle barrier you can use for stamping, water marbling and any kind of nail art where you are likely to get product on your skin.
It's a great product that goes on light pink and dries within about 20-30 seconds. When it's dry, it turns a dark pink.
The Poli-Peel is a very thin formula, goes on beautifully with a generous brush and comes off easily in one piece.
As with all latex-based cuticle protection, it has an interesting odour, but nothing you can't deal with. Just don't stick your nose too close to the bottle!
In my opinion, this is a great addition to your nail art kit.
I've tested the Poli-Peel out by doing some stamping over my nails. I've listed all the products used in the description bar below the video.
NOTE: If you have an allergy to latex, then don't use this product.
I've got a new video up on my YouTube channel featuring the new Kaleidoscopic Stamper and the new plate 16 from the Fashionista collection. Both products are from MoYou London and they ship worldwide (with some exceptions).
I've used black stamping polish from Nail Stamping Queen and I am stamping over a gorgeous base of LadyLike from Madam Glam. I am currently obsessed with this colour, a gorgeous shimmering light rose gold / bronze colour. A nice twist on the nudes that I usually wear.
The Fashionista plate is all lace images and they are just stunning. These would be perfect for bridal nails, or anyone that loves lace. The images are well etched and I had no issue with picking up perfect stamps every time.
The one thing I will say, when cleaning the plate with a cotton pad, I found I got a lot of fuzzies stuck in the etching so I went over the plate with a lint-free cloth. Obviously this is not an issue. It's a sign that the etching is very well done.
The stamper is fantastic. I love the long handle and the fact that you can precisely place your image on the nail with no issue, due to the clear stamper. I was a little worried that because the stamper wasn't sticky, it would be tricky to get a clean image. Not the case at all. The stamper picked up perfectly every time with no priming or cleaning before use.
If you are interested in purchasing any of the Madam Glam products, I have a 30% off code. Simply enter kate30 at checkout for your discount to be applied. This is not an affiliate code.
All products mentioned are linked in the description bar below the video :-)
There's a new video up on my YouTube channel featuring 15 of the new colours from Madam Glam and OH MY GOODNESS some of these colours are stunning.
Every colour I bought is lovely and I've mentioned at the end of the video my three favourites. Madam Glam colours are highly pigmented, with many of the colours only needing one coat.
They are a non-professional brand so anyone has access to these beautiful gel polishes. Another great thing about Madam Glam gel polishes is that they are 5 free and cruelty free.
There is also a good range of regular nail polishes, chameleon gels and lamps to choose from, should you want to purchase from them.
Shipping is very reasonable, and as I mentioned in the video, you can either use my 30% off discount code kate30 at checkout, or look out for other great offers from Madam Glam by signing up to receive their news letters.
All the colours I've swatched, are listed in the description bar below the video.
The lovely ladies at Madam Glam sent me some of their cosmetic products to try out so I've done a 'first impressions' style application video.
I received a foundation, blush, mascara, eyeshadow and two lipsticks.
Since I recorded the video a few hours ago, I can report that the foundation is wearing really well and I haven't had to do any touch-ups. I applied the makeup at 8.30 this morning and it's now 1.36pm and I have no shine, no creasing and no uneven wearing.
I should also mention that the foundation is probably a light to medium coverage that is easily build able to a medium to full coverage.
The lipstick has worn really nicely too. It's quite a nice high shine so I was expecting it to wear off quite quickly but it's stayed even and there appears to be a stain to it too so I think if you did get wear from eating or drinking, the stain would stay so your lips still look good.
The blush is still really nice and so is the eyeshadow and mascara. I quite often experience fallout from mascaras and the Madam Glam mascara is staying put. I've got lovely fluttery eyelashes with no clumping and no panda eyes in sight.
Overall I am really happy with all the products, even though the eyeshadow isn't a colour I would normally choose. I do however like how it's applied over the taupe colour I applied as a base.
A big thumbs up for all products and if you would like to purchase your own, here's a 30% discount code for the Madam Glam store. DISCOUNT CODE: YT30OFF
I've added a list of products and prices in the description bar below the video if you are interested in the shades that I received.
Sarah R and I have decided to do an extra collaboration this month as we get quite a lot of the same products, so we decided to review them together.
We're are showing you the gorgeous stamping plates from Pet'la Plate in this video and OMG they are definitely plates I recommend if you want some unique plates to add to your collection.
I've got another four that I will be reviewing next week so stay tuned for those too.
All product information is in the description bar below the video.
The gorgeous neon pigments from Magpie Beauty arrived yesterday and I've done an initial review and #Pride tutorial for you so you can see how amazing the colours are.
These are so lovely to apply, so buttery and pigmented and really pop on the nails. They are a great base for stamping or just on their own for some ombre nail art.
They were launched yesterday and are available worldwide.
All product information is in the description bar below the video.
Uber Chic Plates Series 3 & Reverse Stamping Tutorial
Hey everyone,
I've got a review and tutorial up on my YouTube channel of the Series 3 stamping plates from Uber Chic Beauty. Gorgeous plates, great designs and fantastic etching.
The images stamp well with any stamper and any polish I've used, as do all the plates from Uber Chic Beauty. I absolutely love these and I highly recommend them.
I'm going to have plenty more tutorials up really soon using these and I also have another review up in a week or so of the four individual plates that were recently released so stay tuned.
I've been sent one of the two sets of Mosaic Glass gel polishes from Bundle Monster to test out and review so I thought I'd do a couple of 'lead light' or 'stained glass' style nails for you.
These are really lovely to use and the colours are great. They're also very affordable and are super quick to get to you anywhere in the world.
All product information is listed in the description bar below the video.
