Hiya! I'd fancied picking up Illamasqua's Jo'Mina for a good while, having seen/read so many complimentary things about it on various blogs. Finally I caved and nabbed it from eBay (for slightly cheaper than normal) last week, thanks in part to the absolutely lovely Kayla Shevonne who was kind enough to send me a bottle-shot comparison to help me decide whether I 'needed' it (haha).
I was really keen to use it but didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted to do, so in the end I just picked out a couple of colours I thought would complement it and got to painting! Here is the result:
I'm generally a wee bit apprehensive about beginning a design without knowing what I'm going to do (it doesn't always end amicably!) but I'm pretty pleased with how these turned out. I think the skinniest stripes, which I included on each nail, pulled the different designs together quite neatly, along with the framing. I still find lines a bit tricky at times and I know a few of them are a bit wonky, but not too badly (I don't think?!). I totally dig bold, geometric-esque mix & match designs, although it's not something I do often.
Illamasqua Jo'Mina is a fantastic purple. It's more intense (and possibly a touch pinker, I'm not sure) in person. Here I've matched it up with Barry M Shocking Pink and 17 (by Boots) Smokey Marble. (It's spelt 'Smokey' with an 'e' on the bottle, though I don't know why!) I really wanted to use something other than my go-to black or gold as the offset/outline colour and I think Smokey Marble was a good choice here. It's a bit darker than it looks in the bottle - I think I'd call it 'gunmetal' - and the shimmer is pretty subtle, but I think it makes a nice change!
For my index and pinkie fingers, I found it easiest to paint the pink and purple first, then add the darker, thinner lines at the end. After having to redo my ring finger, I decided it was best to outline the patterns on the remaining nails, fill them in, then tidy up the lines where necessary. I mostly used striping brushes (in a variety of lengths, so I didn't have to clean them constantly!) for this design, including my super cut-down brush for the skinny lines.
What do you think? Are you a fan of mixing-and-matching? Do you have a favourite finger? (I realise that last question sounds kind of creepy.)
I'm generally a wee bit apprehensive about beginning a design without knowing what I'm going to do (it doesn't always end amicably!) but I'm pretty pleased with how these turned out. I think the skinniest stripes, which I included on each nail, pulled the different designs together quite neatly, along with the framing. I still find lines a bit tricky at times and I know a few of them are a bit wonky, but not too badly (I don't think?!). I totally dig bold, geometric-esque mix & match designs, although it's not something I do often.
Illamasqua Jo'Mina is a fantastic purple. It's more intense (and possibly a touch pinker, I'm not sure) in person. Here I've matched it up with Barry M Shocking Pink and 17 (by Boots) Smokey Marble. (It's spelt 'Smokey' with an 'e' on the bottle, though I don't know why!) I really wanted to use something other than my go-to black or gold as the offset/outline colour and I think Smokey Marble was a good choice here. It's a bit darker than it looks in the bottle - I think I'd call it 'gunmetal' - and the shimmer is pretty subtle, but I think it makes a nice change!
For my index and pinkie fingers, I found it easiest to paint the pink and purple first, then add the darker, thinner lines at the end. After having to redo my ring finger, I decided it was best to outline the patterns on the remaining nails, fill them in, then tidy up the lines where necessary. I mostly used striping brushes (in a variety of lengths, so I didn't have to clean them constantly!) for this design, including my super cut-down brush for the skinny lines.
What do you think? Are you a fan of mixing-and-matching? Do you have a favourite finger? (I realise that last question sounds kind of creepy.)
:) I just love this design: the combo of colours, patterns is just PERFECT :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of mix&match mani- it gives so many various combinations. Hmmm... My fav finger is my ring finger :P and the question is not so creepy for nail lovers ;)
THANK YOU! :) I love seeing mix&match manicures - people come up with such creative combinations, it's amazing! So glad you don't just think I'm weird and creepy, haha.
Deletehahaah my favourite finger is my middle finger :P your framing is on point by the way!
ReplyDeleteHahaha cheeky! And thank you - it's not like I ever wobble and just paint up the side of my finger instead... ;)
Deletei love the vertical striped one!
ReplyDeleteI love this look!! I actually love all your nail art! Im obsessed with nail polish, nail art, anything that has to do with nails lol!!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is a big inspiration :)
Kelly
xoxo
Thaaank you verrry much! I know how much other nail artists have inspired me, so to hear you say that is super sweet. :)
DeleteAnd YES - nails rule! Haha.
I love this design :-) the colours work really well together. I think I like either your thumb or your middle finger best.. but I can't decide which!
ReplyDeleteYay, thank you! I loved these colours together. I really liked the middle finger, too...but I almost feel it would be unfair of me to choose one. ;)
DeleteThis is GORGEOUS! I went through all your posts and you are incredibly talented!! And you're so new to bloggin (like me!), it's amazing! Definitely following you for inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this lovely comment! I had a wee look at your blog and your nail designs are so sah-weeeet (also I really love your nails/baking/crafts icons). Blogging is such a great way to connect with similarly minded nail-aholics, I think! Thank again. :)
Deletewow. Love this design. its awesome. Liked nail art on your blog. You are gifted :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this and all your lovely comments, Manisha. I appreciate them a lot! :)
DeleteThis is great! Now, I'm your fan hahaha
ReplyDelete