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Friday 30 August 2013

Giant Leopard Moth Print | Nail Art

Today I am bringing you the hot new thang in animal print trends: Giant Leopard Moth print! Leopard print was, like, so 2012. Or something. Whatever.





In the (ahem) off chance that you are not familiar with the Giant Leopard Moth:


Source: http://biologie-me.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/buggin-out-on-thursdays-giant-leopard.html


I pinned this image to my nail inspiration board on Pinterest (which I occasionally remember to use) aaages ago, so I'm glad I finally got round to making use of it!

I almost regretted beginning this design because it meant starting with a white base, which is always a pain in the backside. However, I used Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in 'Ivory Skull' this time around and it was kind of okay. I mean, it's a bit sheer and streaky and if I looked veeery closely, imperfections were sometimes visible even at three coats in certain, but the formula itself wasn't difficult to use. 





After much deliberation, I added one coat of Essie 'Pure Pearlfection'. It's a silver-ish shimmer top coat, but if you look closely you can see that the individual particles have a green/pink iridescence. It's pretty subtle in person, but even more so on camera. It showed up best in underexposed images...I hope these prove that the shimmer actually exists!


I thought the random piece of paper in the background really added something...



I added the 'spots' using a super skinny cut-down brush. I had planned to use my Model's Own x WAH nail art pen, which I've tested on paper but never yet used on my nails, but when I attempted a trial run (again on paper) it seemed to have gone very watery. Not cool. If you've had a similar issue and have any suggestions, do let me know! 

I left these shiny for about a day but added ELF's matte top coat while I was taking my photos and I think I prefer them this way. It seems to help the shimmer come out to play, too. ELF's isn't the matte-est matte top coat I've seen and it doesn't stay matte especially long, but it isn't bad for the price.


Shiny/Zombie hands

Matte


So, what do you think? Did I make the right decision in adding the shimmer? Are you a shiny or a matte person? I do like this design since it's quite striking and unusual, but now I want COLOUR, so I don't think they'll last very long!

When Giant Leopard Moth print starts popping up on the catwalks, just remember that you saw it here first... ;)

6 comments:

  1. Hey Kristie! I've nominated you for the Liebster Award! Here's my post for more info: http://www.magnifique-nails.com/2013/08/liebster-award.html Hope you decide to accept!

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    1. THANK YOU Ana and sorry I've been so horrendously tardy in responding. I've been so busy, but I really do appreciate your nomination. :) x

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  2. I really like the shimmer :). I don't often matte my nails but I always love the look when I see other people do it.

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    1. Thanks Vicky! I feel the same way about matte nails - I always love it on other people (especially Chalkboard Nails!) but hardly do it myself. I think I'm really a shiny girl at heart, haha.

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  3. I love Essie <3 Also to say, I have nominated you for the Liebster award... http://thepinkprincessz.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/liebster-award-nominations-those-who.html

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    1. Aw, I really like Essie too but I don't have many since I only buy them when I can find them going cheap haha! I think they're in the Boots' 3 for 2 at the moment, so who knows...

      And thank you so much for the nomination! I'm hoping I'll have a chance to put together a Liebster post soon. :)

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