ehmkay nails: March 2014

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Kiko Milano now in the US! And I went!

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know my love for the brand Kiko. I usually set up swaps with nail friends in Europe, and hauled pretty big when I went to Europe this past August (you can see that haul here). Can you believe my excitement when my friends in England tagged me on Kiko's Facebook page to tell me their first American store opened just 15 minutes away in the humongous Garden State Plaza Mall in Paramus, NJ?! I had no idea! I won't lie...I dropped everything and drove over.

Kiko USA highlights!

I was in heaven and have already been back again! The staff was super helpful and I ended up leaving with quite a nice haul of makeup and nail polish. They helped me choose the correct shade of eyeshadows and lippies to go with my skin tone and they were super excited I knew so much already about the brand.

Because it was a Friday afternoon, the mall was flooded, so my pictures were rushed when people moved out of the way, but you get the idea.

Kiko in the new "Fashion Way" wing...conveniently next to LUSH!

LE displays in the center of the store. Yes, that's a wall of polish behind it

Here's a closeup of their LE Denim Collection. The lip pencils are amazing and last a really long time (an entire Saturday night of drinking and my lips were still colored!) The circle tin to the left is a blush/lip balm duo, and I'll most likely be back for it. The nail polishes are "denim" but it's more of a matte/rubber finish than suede.

Denim collection with EXCELLENT lippies. I picked up the lip pencil (bottom center red)

WALL OF KIKO POLISH!! These are cores and quick dry polishes $6-$7

LEs: Quick Dry ($7), Cupcake ($8), Fancy Top Coat ($8)

Cupcake Polishes $8 (4 came home with me)

Fancy Top Coats $8

I went back again yesterday to grab a few gifts and ISOs for polish friends and it was way less busy but they did a makeover on my mom, so I didn't snap better pictures of the store. It's really an experience you need to see! Here are quick pics of some of my purchases.

Cupcake 650, 655, 654, and then I went back and got 656!

Amazingly pigmented lip gloss ($5), and a lip pencil (will need more of these) $9

Kiko will have different promotions but I'm not sure how often they will rotate them. For their opening, they had promotions on eyeshadows so I picked up a few plus their eyeshadow primer ($11).

Eyeshadow stick (on sale for $7.90) in purple, 2 Kiko eyeshadows ($3.90 each).

Had some fun with staff trying lip colors. I went with the middle pink. I've gotten so many compliments wearing it!

They do plan on opening up more stores in the future and they told me they DO plan on manufacturing in the US so you can expect a website for Americans! Most of the products in Europe are here except for products that contain SPF which need to be reformulated for US standards (like my favorite Kiss Balm!) I hope Kiko sticks around and more people get to experience this AWESOME brand.

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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Different Dimension Black Dahlia

The final of my nubbed NOTD's is Different Dimension Black Dahlia, which is a super awesome polish, but the name is kind of gruesome considering it makes me think of the murder in the 20s. My greater half renamed it Metallic Sunrises, and so that's what I am calling it! Hah.

Different Dimension Black Dahlia

Anywho, this polish is a greyed out black holographic polish, which wouldn't be special except it has gorgeous blue, purple, and green iridescent glitter. I really love when indies add flakes or smaller glitter to their holo polishes. It really sets them apart and I love.

Different Dimension Black Dahlia

I do love this polish and the dimension (terrible pun) of it!

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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Enchanted Polish Once Upon a Cloud

Another NOTD on my nubs. This time is Enchanted Once Upon a Cloud, which was a one-time release on New Year's Day, so I snatched one up.

I was slightly underwhelmed when I received it, but loved it much more once I put it on! There is a great pink shimmer in person--if only I had sunlight. Two easy coats. Super pigmented though, so it could be a careful on coater.

Enchanted Polish Once Upon a Cloud, cloudy weather

Enchanted Polish Once Upon a Cloud, outdoor with flash

Enchanted Polish Once Upon a Cloud, indoor with flash

Sometimes, it's okay to wear just ONE polish. It feels weird for me, but I think it is nice to showcase just one polish every now and again.

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Monday, March 24, 2014

Elevation Polish Small Batch Prototype Morning Mountains

Here's a quickie NOTD. I have quite a few of these from when I broke my nail and had to trim them all. They are finally starting to grow out.

Elevation Polish Small Batch Prototype Morning Mountains

For some reason, short nails = darker polish on me. I decided to try one of my newest Elevation Polishes. Small Batch Prototypes are polishes that Lulu made, but maybe didn't fit her upcoming collection. She puts up the small batch for sale, and they can never be recreated. These used to be easier to get, but now with her popularity, they are more difficult. I failed this month, but grabbed this one last month.

Morning Mountains is a red/burgundy polish with a super heavy gold shimmer. It's sexy and applied in two coats. What else is there to say?!

Elevation Polish Small Batch Prototype Morning Mountains

Elevation Polish Small Batch Prototype Morning Mountains, with flash

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Saturday, March 22, 2014

Hare Own Your Opulence and Texture Skitlette

First, I just want you to know I've added a blog sale section. I need to clear out some polishes, so if you're looking for Lynnderellas and other polishes, check it out here.

Second, I broke a nail pretty badly and had to completely nubbinize, so I am showing you some older manicures I haven't had a chance to post, but are totally worthy of showing. I may end up showing you my broken nails NOTDs but they are mostly a single polish as opposed to art.

Hare Own Your Opulence and Texture Skitlette

I started by picking out Hare Own Your Opulence. I knew I wanted to wear it over a gold, so I chose Layla Softtouch Gold Touch 02. I used one coat over Own Your Opulence over two coats of Gold Touch.

Then to play off the colors of the glitter, I used two coats of L'oreal Rough Around the Edges which is the perfect black sparkly texture (and good news, this LE collection is now permanent!). Then on my thumb and pinky I used two coats of Love and Beauty (a brand found at Forever 21) Champagne. Together, I think it made a very cohesive look!

Hare Own Your Opulence and Texture Skitlette

I love skitlettes. I'm able to use a ton of polishes at once, and it's like super quick nail art without even trying!

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Monday, March 17, 2014

Happy St. Patrick's Day Nails! Ireland Flag and Shamrock Glitter

Happy St. Patrick's Day! The past two years I did variations on a rainbow and pot of gold, but this year, I felt like an Ireland flag motif!

St. Patrick's Day Ireland Nail Art

There were a lot of colors for this manicure! I did two types of Irish flags- a glitter and a texture flag, my favorite finishes! The texture flag is Red Dog Designs Palm Cove (green), OPI Solitaire, and Red Dog Designs Coral Beach (orange). The glitter was Elevation Finding Nemo (green), Nanacoco Gorgeous (white) and Nanacoco Lollipop (orange).

My accent nails were Rescue Beauty Lounge Nailsandnoms (orange) and Elevation Polish Ocean of the Mountains (green). I then topped them with Red Dog Designs Shamrock Shake, which is the most amazing green glitter with CLOVER GLITTER. Like the other two RDD St. Patrick's Day polishes, this is LE and only available in March! So grab them now!

St. Patrick's Day Ireland Nail Art

If you want the Limited Edition St. Patrick's Day trio from Red Deg Designs, grab it soon! Again, it is only available for March! You can purchase it HERE.

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Sunday, March 16, 2014

Easy St. Patrick's Day Nail Art with Red Dog Designs Blarney Stone

Here's a super simple green idea for St. Patrick's Day using two of three LE St. Patrick's Day polishes from Red Dog Designs. These are available only for the month of March, and if you grab the trio, it's discounted at $27 (instead of $32). I'll be showing you the third polish tomorrow.

Easy St. Patrick's Day Nail Art with Red Dog Designs Blarney Stone

I started with three thin coats of Pog Mo Thoin, which is a soft green holographic polish. Then on my accents, I did three thin coats of Blarney Stone, which is an amazing texture polish! The polish actual covers fully in two coats, but I decided I wanted more of the gorgeous gold holographic glitter, so I added another coat.

Red Dog Designs Pog Mo Thoin and Blarney Stone

Red Dog Designs Pog Mo Thoin and Blarney Stone, flash

Then I added random stripes (like I did with my Valentine's Day texture stripes here) using Colors by Llarowe Army of One and Seahawks Lime. They were nice and opaque within one coat!

Easy St. Patrick's Day Nail Art

Easy St. Patrick's Day Nail Art, flash

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Femme Fatale Gilded Rose with Gold Rose Nail Art

Happy Saturday! Femme Fatale Gilded Rose is a glitter right up my alley. Gold, rose gold, copper, and sparkly. I had in my head to do gold rose nail art with it. Let's get on with the details and photos.

Femme Fatale Gilded Rose with Gold Rose Nail Art

I started with two coats of Jade Irrestivel on my thumb, index, and pinky. I then did a gradient of Essie Your Hut or Mine and topped the gradient nails with 1.5 coats of Femme Fatale Gilded Rose. The glitter payoff was great and the stars came out easily. I loved the complexity of this glitter even though it's only a few colors. It really sparkles!

Then on my accent nails, I started with two coats of Essie Your Hut or Mine, which is actually a gorgeous dusty pink with gold shimmer. Using various gold and gold holographic polishes, I painted the roses. Again, no rhyme or reason. I just kind of went with it! Enlarge the photos for more detail.