I haven’t done a nail polish post in ages. I’m into mini polishes these days because I’ve run out of storage for nail polish!
Recently, I picked up a mini bottle of sheer blue sparkle polish from PIXEL Nail Lacquer at Ulta for 69 cents – there’s no shade name on it. Plus I just received my first bottle of Ciate polish – a beautiful periwinkle blue called “double bubblegum” – in a subscription box. Ciate London, if you haven’t tried it either – is an upmarket English makeup brand. The nail polish is available at Sephora among other places, and it’s on the pricey side: $15 for a full size and $8 for a mini. Unfortunately, I had a bit of chipping the next day, but I redid those nails and we’ll see how long the polish will last.
I used:
- Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Smooth & Strong as a basecoat
- two coats of Ciate Mini Paint Pot in double bubblegum, though one coat looked like it would have been enough – maybe that’s why it chipped?
- one coat of PIXEL Nail Lacquer blue sparkle topper on my ring fingers and thumbs
- NYC In a Minute Quick Dry in clear Grand Central Station as a topcoat.
I love these pretty spring-y shades. I think they look great with my silk mohair pastel granny squares scarf that I crocheted a couple of years ago.
It’s finally warm enough to switch to this light as a feather scarf from my heavy winter ones.
Have you tried Ciate London Paint Pots yet? What did you think of it?
That is a beautiful nail polish color on you, and I love the floral design on the scarf – it looks so cozy, too! 🙂
Thank you, Anastasia!
This is a beautiful color!! I want it.
Kim recently posted…The NARS Audacious Lipstick Raquel Shade is Gorgeous on Brown Skin
I got so many compliments when I wore this. I was amazed. I think it’s a flattering shade for a range of skin tones. So pretty!
That shade from Ciate is beautiful!!! I would wear it in a heartbeat. Two years ago my mother in law got me the Advent Callendar with Ciate mini polishes and I really liked them and two years later I can still use them.
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I saw the Advent calendar online, and it was the cutest! How lucky you got it as a gift!
I love periwinkle blue and your mani is so pretty!
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Thank you, Erika 🙂
Love the nail polish look! <3
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Thank you, Laura 🙂
That periwinkle is so gorgeous! I am always a sucker for shades like that! I’m curious how long it lasts on your nails because $15 is a hefty price tag for nail polish! Although if it’s good, I’ll pay it! HA!
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I was disappointed that it didn’t last very long because I’ve read about other women who got about a week out of it. I wonder if it’s my still stressed nails that are the problem. Or maybe I need a new topcoat since my NYC Grand Central Station is more than 6 months old. The shade is so pretty!
Ooh what a pretty color on you! Ciate polishes are so good
Jess Scull recently posted…Save $1 on our best products for the season when you buy 2! + CVS Gift Card Giveaway! #LoveYourSkin
I love the shade too, but I wish it hadn’t chipped the very next day 😉
Such a lovely color for Spring!
Lisa recently posted…Popsugar: March 2015
It really is, Lisa. I just wish it lasted a little bit longer before chipping. Gotta try it again!
I love the combo of the 2 together!
Phyrra recently posted…Lather Sweet Almond Exfoliating Creme Review
Thank you! I like it too 🙂
Love the color!! I’ve been meaning to paint my nails periwinkle but got distracted by some new colors. Next on the list!
Do it!
I love that shade of blue! I have always wanted to try Ciate, their bottles are so adorable, but the price always deterred me. I’m so rough with my hands – between changing diapers, doing dishes and cleaning the house a mani never lasts on me!
Julie recently posted…Face of the Day {17 April 2015}
I love periwinkle blue too, Julie. But I think you’re right about manis, especially since the Ciate chipped on day 2!
Super cute and I love that scarf!
Justina recently posted…Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado (in Limited Edition Packaging!)
Thank you, Justina. Because of the fine yarn, it took me forever to make it!
I absolutely love periwinkle blue, and this is an especially gorgeous variant! I love that you added the sparkle shade on top of select fingers! This is a delightful look!
Lola’s Secret Beauty Blog recently posted…Rituals Yogi Flow Indian Rose & Sweet Almond Oil Foaming Shower Gel | Review
Thank you, Lola! This was a very pretty, spring combo. Now I need to find a new topcoat and try it again!
Such a pretty color! It’s especially nice for a spring/transition color, since it’s not quite a pastel and not quite dark either. I still haven’t tried Ciate but I want to!
Sammi recently posted…Brand Overview & Review: Core Clarity Skincare
That’s a great way to categorize it, Sammi 🙂
What a lovely colour! Shame about the chipping though. I checked out the Ciate offerings in Sephora the other day but nothing caught my eye. I was a little more drawn to the Nails Inc display, but I still only bought a bottle of base. Speaking of bases, try some different base/top combos and see if that helps your wear for this. Sometimes just switching out one of those can make a world of difference!
Do you have any recommendations for great no-budge topcoats, Rach? I should have bought the Butter London during the Ulta sale.
BL Hardware is online at Sephora. *nudge*nudge*
Hmmmm my topcoat arsenal lately contains:
the aforementioned BL (I’d say this is a medium consistency topper, definitely not as thick as Seche Vite, but not as thin as NYC Grand Central. Putting a second layer on the next day or so does not seem to cause any issue or shrinkage.)
Duri Rejuvacote (it’s an all-in-one base/top/treatment and I think can be had at Walmart even. it has a medium consistency and slight pink tint. Also layers over itself well, though the pink can start to show if your polish colour is light.)
Gelous (from Sally, med/thick, I sometimes use this to smooth bumpy glitter or just provide a thicker stabilising layer under a thinner topcoat, or sometimes use it on its own as a third day topcoat refresh. It seems to dry pretty hard- think “hard as nails” type advertising, so I don’t like to use it over and over on the same manicure lest the stiff nature actually cause more chips than it prevents)
Nails Inc Topcoat Kensington Caviar
NYC Grand Central
The BL, Duri, and Gelous are staples in my supply and all seem to work well together. Sometimes quick-dry on top of quick-dry can cause major shrinkage but these don’t usually do that for me, whether layered over themselves or taking a mix-n-match approach. The Nails Inc and NYC are newer to my stash and so far have been non-shrinking, but are not thoroughly tested. The NYC seems not quite as impervious as my thicker formulas so I’m going to retain it for the same sorts of duty as the Gelous, but probably not use it as the sole protective layer between my lacquer and all the things I seem to bang my hands against. I did just use it to quick dry a Butter London colour before slapping on my Dior Eclosion glitter topcoat, and I’m happy to report that it worked marvelously with both of those. It’s great for the price and I can now see why people like it, but it’s just not tough enough to become a be-all-end-all for me.
For bases, do you have a sticky/rubber one in your stash? That’s the first thing I try if I’m having adhesion issues. CND Stickey and Orly Bonder are popular choices. I’ve got the Orly and so far the only thing it just does NOT work for is Dior. Don’t do that combo, trust me, it’s not pretty. LOL
And…I um…. humbly apologise for the novel. O.o
Fabulous, Rach! Thank you soooo much! I had a good long run with NYC GCT but it just isn’t working with this combo (though the nails with the PIXEL glitter + NYC didn’t chip!). I will get Orly Bonder to try instead of the SH Smooth + ?. I’ll check the pice on BL, but I may have to go with one of the more affordable ones like Duri or Gelous. I really like NYC GCT because of the Quick Dry benefit. I have a spray that dries my nails but with bright shades it does fade them a big.
I love that Ciate shade! The combo is perfect!
Brooke @ Blushing Noir recently posted…OPI Hawaii Nail Polish Collection Swatches + Review // Spring 2015
I think so too, like the two shades were made for each other!
I love periwinkle blue, it can hard to find sometimes too.
Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted…My Picks for the Sephora VIB Sale!
I agree that periwinkle can be hard to find. I was lucky to get this one in a sub box 🙂
I love periwinkle, especially as a mani. I picked up that same Pixi glitter, too! I need to find it and use it, so pretty. Glad it’s finally starting to warm up for you up thar in NE.
Nidia – Lit From Within recently posted…Shimmery KBShimmer
The snow is almost gone, Nidia. I can’t believe it! The PIXEL glitter topper is so pretty because it’s very subtle. Definitely worth the 69 cents 😉
Beautiful periwinkle shade!!!
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Yes!
Such a lovely shade!!!!
Kath TheFabZilla recently posted…Put Your Best Face Forward #acnetalk
I love me some periwinkle!
I become crazed around blues like the Ciate. I have so many and love them all. How did I switch from red, red, red to blue, blue, blue? At least I can be patriotic.
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Oh, I love that, Marcia! Yes, you are very patriotic! And glad to see you switching from red to blue, lol
I’ve not tried Ciate, but that shade is lovely!
Destany recently posted…New Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polishes with some nail art!
I need to try it with a different topcoat because I loooove this periwinkle shade!
That Ciate color is really pretty.
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I sure think so!
What a beautiful colour! I’ve actually never used Ciate polish now that I think of it…
Bailey recently posted…Limited Edition Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
This was my first Ciate. So glad it came in my subbie box!
I loooooove periwinkle! <3 It's one of my favorite colors on my nails. 🙂
Shipra recently posted…LASplash Cosmetics Alice, Tiana, and Faline Studioshine Waterproof Lip Lustre Swatches and Review
I think it’s such a flattering shade!
I own a few blues in similar shade to this one from Ciate and I like it but I really don’t use it. I feel like it makes my skin color look weird. I love love Ciate and think their products are nice… though my favorite being their Speed Dry – it’s a must. 🙂
Honeygirlk recently posted…Foodie Friday – Honey’s Scrumptious, Moist & Easy Banana Bread Recipe
Not all shades work on all skin tones, but fortunately there are zillions of other shades to wear 🙂 I will definitely check out the Speed Dry because I hate waiting for my nails to dry. Howz the topcoat?
the Speed Dry Top Coat is my absolute favorite… I actually have to buy a new one, I’m almost out of the one I have. It drives quickly and lasts a good while. Since I wash dishes so many times a day – my manis don’t last past 2-3 days, but with the Ciate Top Coat… it lasts me a good week or longer 🙂
Honeygirlk recently posted…Spring Love Under The Wisteria Tree – Makeup Look Featuring Coastal Scents Revealed 3
Thanks for that recommendation, Honey. I will definitely try it. I should head back to Sephora and pick it up today, last day of the sale, but I have such a bad cold I think I have to stay in bed.
That periwinkle is so pretty!!!
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Thank you, Erica. I think it’s one of the prettiest shade for spring 🙂