I don't always show you the manicures I do in exact order I do them, and that was the case here.
First item I actually used from my review package was this Mirror Effect Chrome Pigment, Item #37234, color 1.
I actually did two different manicures, as first one was utter disaster!
Most chrome or holographic powders call for the gel polish base, but because I am aware that many of you may not have gel polishes at home, I wanted to see how I could use this product over regular polish. Second reason is that even though I did built up nice gel polish collection, color wise, I have infinitely more color choices with my regular polish collection.
I started by painting my nails with OPI - AmazON... AmazOFF - beautiful deep forest green crème polish.
Using eye shadow applicator that was provided with powder, I gently rubbed it over my polish base, and this is how it looked - amazing!
As you can see from the photos, gel top coat cured nails were slightly bit duller, but also effect was smoother. Born Pretty top coat seem to amplify the chrome effect, but is slightly more "grainy" in comparison. so far so good...
Thing is, everything just unravelled from this point on.
My base polish was drying super slow, and I was not really patient, and all of the sudden there was some shrinkage and wrinkling of the base, so I tried to do a cover up using rhinestones and glitter... no good... seemed like second coat of top coat just made things even worse...
That is unfortunate, as I really liked how this looked, but too many flaws was getting under my skin...
I could just move on, and never showed you my disaster, but I have to show you, if for nothing else, so you can learn from my mistakes.
I took few photos, and promptly removed every trace of this fail, so I just started over... no one can tell that I give up easily...
While I was at that, I decided to do it over different colors, so at least you will have idea how different same powder can be depending of the base.
Once again, I used regular nail polishes as a base, and I used following polishes as a base:
Wet'n'Wild - Black Crème, Cover Girl - Vio-last and MoYou London - Violet/dark blue.
This time I decided to skip the top coat all together. I did some spring oriented nail art on the top, using Mundo de Unas - White, Hit the Bottle - Let's go to the Peach and green stamping polish I purchased from Born Pretty long ago, item #1325, color 2.
All images are on HK-07 stamping plate.
Next day, I took the last two photos outside, as I wanted to see if I will manage to capture slight blue shift of this chrome powder. If you go up, you can see almost see it on the macro of my thumb, but also on the thumb in photo above that. That blue shift was really noticeable in low light, and I thought it looked magical. My husband loved this set when I came to see him in the hospital. He was mesmerized by this powder, and when I went shopping later that day, I was stopped by complete strangers because they wanted to see my nails.
I used hand sanitizer too, and as you can see, yes, some of the powder rubbed off, but I still had some to show next day.
I do not say that this is what you should do, but if you want to try some chrome powders, and wear this for a day or special occasion, I would say, just go for it.
You can also seal any of the powders with the water based top coat, but those are not available in drugstores... I plan to order some soon, and will definitively revisit this powder.
Until then, I need some time to play with the top coat that was sent to me, and see if there is better solution to this temporary look.
I hope you like what I did here.
If you find yourself at Born Pretty Store site, be free to use my 10% off coupon - just enter SHGK31 at the checkout and you will save on all full priced items in the store.
***Some of the items used are sent to me for my honest review. All opinion is mine, based on my use and experience with the products. For availability and pricing, please refer to seller, all links provided.***