Ludurana Acqualux Watermelon

Every time I looked down at my Ludurana Acqualux manicure that I have been wearing for the past two days, I was picturing watermelons. Something about the little black glitter speckled throughout the redish orange base that said I had to try this summery manicure. It was intended to be just a "test" that I ended up really liking, so please forgive the sloppiness.

I started out with Color Club Twiggie on the ring finger and on the tips. Once that was dry, I went over it with OPI Shatter the Scales* which cracked perfectly to replicate the pattern on the watermelon rind. After adding the slightly wonky white stripes (did I mention I was doing this at 1am?) and top coat, this manicure was good to go. It is not perfect, but watermelons aren't either :)

I first created a version without the accent nail, but the overly crooked white line on the ring finger was driving me nuts so I added the accent nail you see in the photos above. I'm still undecided if I like it better with or without an accent nail...

Which version do you like better? Any thoughts on accent nails in general?
Let me know what you think of this! :)

Ahh, this makes me crave summer even more! Where's the sunshine?

Thanks for looking!
Anutka :)

** Polishes marked with an asterisk (*) were provided to me for review by the manufacturer or their PR. **

** For more information please see the disclosure policy **

Ludurana - Acqualux

The month of June is usually a hectic one for me and this one is starting out with a bang. Most of it is good, including out of town family that I'm always excited to see and birthday parties galore. There are four birthdays (including mine) within the next few weeks in my close family. Weekends and free time are hard to come by. What it means is that I have had close to zero time and energy for nail art, but it doesn't meant that I can't enjoy lovely colors such as this on their own...

This is Ludurana Acqualux, a polish I got in a swap with Fran of Francirocks. We agreed on polishes to swap and then each of us threw in a few more just for fun. Acqualux is one that I got as a surprise. It is not something I would have picked out myself, but it it is just what I needed on a gray and gloomy day such as today.

Acqualux is a redish orange jelly with small black and holographic glitter peppered throughout. Indoors it looks more red than what shows on the photos. The glitter is not overpowering and I love how subtle it looks. Very unique in my existing collection. It covers almost completely in three coats with nail line only slightly visible. The formula on this is perfection and I'm in love with the brush...

These swatches are three coats plus a top coat...

Swatch Details
	Brand: Ludurana Collection: Marmorizado Color Name/Number: Acqualux Number of coats: 3 Top Coat: Yes Free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)

Hopefully you will not mind seeing random swatches from my collection this month until I have more time for nail art again!

I would love to know what you think of this!

Thanks for looking!
Anutka :)

OPI Nail Apps Day 7

When I posted my review of the OPI Nail Apps Parisian, I mentioned that I would update every few days to show how they are holding up. That didn't quite happen as planned since there wasn't anything to show. I diligently took photos every days, but unless you interested in seeing how my nails grow (ie the Nail Apps getting further away from the cuticles), there was essentially no change.

This is what the my nails look like this morning, Day 7.
There is the expected growth away from the cuticles...

And the expected tip wear...

Only other thing is the tiny chip on the corner of my middle finger... Can you see it? Since the design is so light it is hardly noticeable.

I'm extremely pleased with the Nail Apps. I would definitely wear them when I want a long lasting manicure that I don't have to worry about.

I should mention, however, that one of the reasons the Nail Apps lasted so long is because I did not pick at them. If I had been constantly picking at the edges they would have chipped right away. See that bright line on the middle finger, at the edge closest to the cuticles? It is slightly upturned along that edge (on most nails) and has been since day one. It is the cut edge of the Nail Apps and I couldn't get it to lie flat. It was the most tempting spot to pick and would have ruined the manicure for sure. So, if you are a picker, just beware. If not, these can last at least a week as you see here...

I'll probably be taking these off in the next day or two because I'm itching to try something new... :D

Thanks for looking!
Anutka :)

** These were provided to me for review by the manufacturer or their PR. **

** For more information please see the disclosure policy **