Tutorial: Mint for Joy nails

Hi everyone! Welcome back to my blog!

Today's tutorial is for a special manicure. My friend Donna (aka @dwooleybooger on Instagram) organized a collaboration between nail artists on Instagram in honor of Talia Joy Castellano, who passed away on July 18, 2013. See below for more information, straight from @dwooleybooger's page:

"Talia Joy Castellano was a Covergirl spokesperson and YouTube sensation with her make-up videos. She had neuroblastoma and leukemia, which would later take her life at the age of 13 on July 18, 2013. Her last YouTube video featured painting her nails mint green. One of her favorite phrases was "just keep swimming". The nail community has dedicated July to be #mintmani marathon month in honor of her. You are encouraged to paint your nails mint color to help raise awareness for children who have cancer." -- @dwooleybooger

Here are thing things you will need for this manicure:

• Top Coat: Seche Vite 
• Base Coat: Seche Vite 
• Lauren B Nail Contour My Private Cabana (mint green) 
• OPI Radiance (silver chrome) 
• Twinkled T Heart Cyclone nail vinyls 
• Latex-free makeup sponge

First, apply your base coat (Seche Vite Base Coat) and base color (Lauren B mint green). Apply a quick-dry top coat over the base color, because we are going to add nail vinyls next. If you don't apply a quick-dry top coat and allow it to dry for at least 15-20 minutes, you risk having the nail vinyls pull up your base color. That almost happened to me with this manicure too, even though I waited for probably 30 minutes before applying the vinyls! Ahh, it was so scary!

After waiting for the top coat to dry sufficiently, apply your Heart Cyclone vinyls to your nails. I applied them in different directions for each nail, just for fun, but you can apply them all the same if you want. Make sure to press down really well on the edges of the vinyls, where they meet your cuticles, because that's where you're most likely to experience color bleeding.

\You're going to use a sponge to apply the silver chrome nail polish, because this reduces the risk of color bleeding as well. Apply the nail polish to the sponge, and then apply it to your nail, just like in gradient sponging.

Make sure to peel up the nail vinyl as soon as your are done with each nail. If the color is allowed to dry, then you will have a very difficult time getting the vinyl off your nail and it will mess up the design. I used tweezers to pull up my vinyls, so that I didn't mess up the colors on my other hand.

After allowing the silver chrome layer to dry, apply a quick-dry top coat to each nail. And you're done! 

Congratulations! You have an awesome Mint for Joy manicure! 

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to comment and subscribe, and also follow me on Instagram (@bethcruzan) and Snapchat (bethcruzan). See ya later! 

Tutorial: Tie Dye Nails

Hi guys! Welcome back to my blog!

This tutorial is for Tie Dye nails, which I did for the #clairestelle8 challenge on Instagram. The prompt for the 16th was Psychedelic, and this is what I decided to do!

Here are all of the products you'll be using for your manicure:

• Sinful Colors Base Coat
• Seche Vite Top Coat
• Julep Brigette (white base - not pictured, I forgot!)
• La Sante Neons
• Neon Lemon Yellow
• Neon Orange
• Neon Aqua
• Neon Pink
• Neon Green
• Neon Pink
• Neon My First Kiss
• Salon Perfect Cosmic Dust

I was inspired by Ohmygoshpolish's version of Tie Dye nails, Pastel Tie Dye. 

Start off with your base coat (I'm using Sinful Colors) and then your base color (I'm using Julep Brigitte, which is a nice white creme).

Begin your tie dye spiral by making a swirl on your nail with your first color.

Then, repeat that process for each of your other colors.

Finish off your manicure with a holo top coat (optional, of course) and a quick dry top coat. 

And you're done! That was easy, right? Now you have beautiful tie dye nails :-)

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to comment and subscribe, as well as follow me on Instagram (@bethcruzan) and Snapchat (bethcruzan). See ya later!
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Tutorial: Watermarble Manicure

Hi guys! Welcome back to my blog!

This tutorial is for watermarble nails, which I did for a collab on Instagram with a bunch of other nail artists. I hope you enjoy it!

Here are all of the products you'll be using for your manicure:

• Seche Vite Base Coat
• Sech Vite Top Coat 
• Silver Canvas (base color - also from the Color Paints collection)
• For the watermarble, I used colors from the OPI Color Paints collection:  
• Primarily Yellow
• Chromatic Orange
• Pen & Pink 
• Purple Perspective
• Turquoise Aesthetic
• BMC Latex Poli-Peel Cuticle Skin Protector
• Watermarble tool from Whats Up Nails (you can also use a toothpick or anything pointy)
• A cup of room-temperature
• A q-tip or stick to clean up the water after each watermarble

First, apply your base coat and your base color, and let dry. Then, apply liquid latex skin protector on the skin around your nails. Make sure to cover a good portion of your fingers, including the bottom part of your fingers, because watermarbling is messy! Alternatively, some people also use tape to protect their cuticles and fingers. 

Now, prepare to watermarble by getting out your cup of room temp water, your q-tip/stick, your watermarble tool, and your nail polish colors for the watermarble. 

You are going to create a bullseye with the nail polish colors. Drop one drop of each nail polish color, in order, into your water. Don't drop the polish from too high up, because it will just sink to the bottom of your cup. Drop it just above the water, or even touch the water slightly. Do this process rather quickly, so your polish doesn't begin to dry. If it does dry before you get to the pattern drawing part, then you'll have to start over. 

Once you have a bullseye of at least 6 rings, you can use your watermarble tool or other pointy object to draw a pattern (see below). 

After you have drawn your pattern, quickly choose which part of the design you want on your fingernail, position your fingernail directly over that part of the design, and dip it in. Leave your finger in the water. Clean up the surface of the water with your q-tip/stick until there is no polish left of the surface. Now you can pull your finger out of the water. 

Remove the liquid latex or tape from your finger immediately. Do any necessary clean-up of your cuticles with acetone. And yay, you're done with one finger! Repeat this process on as many fingers as you want. 

Congrats, you have a fabulous watermarble mani! Yay! 

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to comment and subscribe, as well as follow me on Instagram (@bethcruzan) and Snapchat (bethcruzan). See ya later!
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Tutorial: Sunset Reciprocal Gradient

Hi guys! Welcome back to my blog!

This tutorial is for Sunset Reciprocal Gradient nails, which I did for the #dreamnailschallenge on Instagram. Don't know what that is? Don't worry, I'll teach you! I hope you enjoy it!

Here are all of the products you'll be using for your manicure:

• Sinful Colors Base Coat
• SuperChic Lacquer Marvel Liquid Macro Top Coat
• Julep Brigitte (white base)
• Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow (yellow)
• Sally Hansen Fuchsia Power (pink)
• OPI I Carol About You (purple)
• Salon Perfect Cosmic Dust
• Striping tape (I got mine on eBay)
• Liquid Latex (I got mine from Amazon)
• Latex-free makeup sponge

Start off with your base coat (I'm using Sinful Colors) and then your base color (I'm using Julep Brigitte, which is a nice white creme).

While waiting for your base color to dry, apply liquid latex around your cuticles to protect your skin from the gradient that you're about to do. I get my liquid latex from Amazon in bulk and transfer it to eyeliner bottles via a plastic syringe, but I know that some people prefer fancy brand-name liquid latex products as well.

For some silly reason, I decided that it would be a good idea to only apply liquid latex on one hand, and leave the other hand to fend for itself. As a result, I had to clean up A LOT. Don't be like me! Use the liquid latex!

Prepare for your gradient by loosening all of the caps on your gradient colors. I'm using purple, pink, and yellow for my gradient - the colors of the sunset! Also prepare your sponge by cutting it in half lengthwise (like a hot dog, not like a hamburger), so that you're not wasting a good sponge and getting even more nail polish on yourself than you already are. 

For your gradient, paint each color of nail polish on your sponge, as shown below. 

Sponge the polish onto your nail, going back and forth a few times. 

Continue painting the nail polish onto the sponge and then sponging the polish onto your nail until you are satisfied with the opacity of your colors. Then, immediately peel off your liquid latex. DO NOT let it dry, because that will make things really difficult for you later. 

Apply a quick-dry top coat and let dry for at least 15-20 minutes. Then apply liquid latex again and apply striping tape in the desired pattern. I only ended up applying striping tape to my thumb nails because, well, I'm lazy. 

Repeat sponging process on the nails with the striping tape, but this time, flip the colors to the opposite ends of the sponge/your nail as last time (i.e. if you put yellow near your cuticle last time, you will put it near the end of your nail this time). This is called a reciprocal gradient. 

After you finish sponging on the reciprocal gradient, take off the striping tape and liquid latex as quickly as possible, before the polish dries. 

Apply your holo top coat (Cosmic Dust) and your quick dry top coat, and you're done! 

Congratulations, you have a beautiful sunset reciprocal gradient! Yay!!

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to comment and subscribe, as well as follow me on Instagram (@bethcruzan) and Snapchat (bethcruzan). See ya later! 

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Tutorial/Nail Fail: Dry Brushing Manicure

Hi everyone! Welcome back to my blog!

Today we are going to learn how to do this dry brushing manicure that I created for the #clairestelle8july challenge. Hang tight, it will be super fun! Also, it's a huge nail fail for me. It didn't quite turn out how I planned... You'll see what I mean.

Here is what you'll need for this manicure:

• Base Coat: Unt Ready For Takeoff
• Top Coat: Seche Vite Top Coat
• Sally Hansen White Out
• Zoya Gweneth (berry pink)
• Zoya Talia (turquoise)
• Zoya Darcy (yellow)

First, start with a base coat to protect your nails. I'm using Unt Ready For Takeoff, which is a fantastic peel-off base coat.

Next, apply white nail polish for your base color. This will create a nice blank canvas for your dry brushing masterpiece! I'm using Sally Hansen White Out.

Now, prepare by loosening the lids on all of your dry brushing colors. I've chosen three colors, which is about how many colors you should choose for your manicure. Too many more colors and they will start to blend together too much. I'm using Zoya's Gweneth (berry pink), Talia (turquoise), and Darcy (yellow).

Next, take your first color, remove most of the nail polish from the brush by wiping it off on the neck of the bottle and/or on a piece of paper. I'm using Zoya Talia first. After you've wiped most of the polish off, start painting your nail with the almost-dry brush. Get it? Dry brushing!

Repeat this step with your other colors until you are satisfied with your design. Then, put a fast-dry top coat over your design and clean up any mess around your cuticles.

And wallah! You have a beautiful dry brushing manicure! Congratulations!

Just kidding! This is so ugly! I mean, it's just not my taste. Maybe some of you will like it, but I was pretty horrified that such pretty Zoya colors could produce this craziness of a manicure. I guess it reminds me of a 2 year old's painting. 

What about you? What do you think of it? What does it remind you of? 

Thanks for reading! Please comment and subscribe! You can also follow me on Instagram (@bethcruzan) and Snapchat (bethcruzan). See ya later! 

Tutorial: 4th of July Nails!

Hi guys! Welcome back to my blog!

This tutorial is for my new 4th of July nails. I hope you enjoy it! 

Here are all of the products you'll be using for your manicure:

• Sinful Colors Base Coat
• SuperChic Lacquer Marvel Liquid Macro Top Coat
• Sally Hansen White Out
• Essie Dressed to Kilt (red)
• Essie Style Cartel (blue)
• Julep Jet (black)
• Salon Perfect Cosmic Dust
• Liquid Latex (I got mine from Amazon)
• Bundle Monster Stamping Plate BM-S211
• Bundle Monster Clear Stamper and Scraper

First, start with a base coat; I'm using one by Sinful Colors. Then, put on a coat of your base color, which is white; I'm using Sally Hansen White Out. 

While waiting for your base color to dry, apply liquid latex around your cuticles to protect your skin from the messy, messy smooshy manicure that you're about to do! 

After letting your base color and the liquid latex dry, prepare for the smooshy part of this manicure by opening your white, blue, and red polishes and getting out your stamper. 

Apply drops of your polish colors to the head of the stamper in a random pattern. 

(Sorry about the unfocused image, my camera sucks sometimes!)

Smoosh the stamper down on your nail. If you don't like the design, squish it around until you like what you see. Remove the liquid latex and clean off the skin around your nails. 

Next, you are going to stamp over your smooshy manicure, so apply a quick-dry top coat and let that dry for at least 10 minutes. After that, prepare to stamp by getting together your black polish, stamper, scraper, and stamping plate. 

Additionally, put some tape (doesn't matter what kind) on the table so that you can easily clean off your stamper when needed. 

To begin stamping, apply black polish to the stamping plate on the image that you want to stamp onto your nails. Scrape the polish across the stamping plate with your scraper, multiple times if necessary. 

Roll the stamper head across the stamping plate to pick up the image. 

Stamp the image onto your nails, using the clear stamper as a guide for placement. 

Apply your holo top coat (optional, but I love holo, so yes please!) and your quick-dry top coat, and you're done! 

Congrats, you have a fabulous 4th of July manicure! 

Thanks so much for reading this tutorial! Don't forget to comment and subscribe. Also, feel free to check out my Instagram account (bethcruzan) and my Snapchat (bethcruzan). See ya later! 

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My Fav Products: July 2016

Hi guys! Welcome back to my nail art blog!

Today I'm going to be telling you about my favorite nail products. I labeled this "My Fav Products: July 2016" because I know myself and I know that I change my mind sometimes. And if I find a better product, I'll want to tell you guys about it! So be prepared for future additions of this post, if I ever find more fav products ;-)

So, without further delays, here we go!

Bliss Kiss Simply Pure Nail Oil

Simply Pure is a nail oil that I use daily (sometimes multiple times daily). It contains Jojoba Wax Ester, which is an oil that is very similar to your natural body oils. This makes it possible for the Jojoba Wax Ester to penetrate your nail plate and moisturize your nails/cuticles. Moisturized cuticles equals stronger, longer, prettier, healthier nails! I started using this product about 1 month ago, and my cuticles look soooooo much better now! I don't have any peeling or hang nails, like before, which is something I've struggled with my entire life. Amazing!

 SuperChic Lacquer Marvel Liquid Macro Top Coat
I heard about this fast-dry top coat from my fav nail artist on YouTube, SimplyNailogical. When I finally decided to trust her and try it, I was kicking myself that I hadn't tried it sooner! It dries so fast! Literally, I painted it on my nail, and then immediately accidentally touched my cat, and no hair stuck to the top coat! Crazy stuff. It's magical. Also, it makes your nails suuuuuper shiny, which I love.

Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
I am torn between the Seche Vite top coat and the SuperChic Lacquer top coat (above) for my absolute favorite. They're just good for different things! The Seche Vite top coat is best for glitter and other designs when you want a very thick, gel-like top coat. And it drys lightening fast! Love that.

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

I actually just recently got this, but I already love it. I've been putting it on at night before bed, and my cuticles already look healthier. I was doing much better with cuticle health since I started using the Simply Pure Oil, but this is helping a ton too. Love! 

Cutex Twist and Scrub Sponge

I love the Cutex Twist and Scrub Sponge. I hate taking off my nail polish, but this sponge-in-a-jar thing makes it so easy! I just have to sit there for a few seconds with my nail in the jar, and my nail polish is GONE! If I had only known about this earlier... So much nail polish would have come off quickly! Haha :-)

Julep Jet (black nail polish)

Julep Jet is a deep black creme nail polish and it's a ONE COATER. It is super opaque, dries very quickly, and is easy to clean up. What's not to love?? I think I like it even better than my previous fav black polish, China Glaze Liquid Leather. 

Bundle Monster Clear Stamper

I just started stamping, but this stamper makes it soooo easy! The ability to see straight through and look at the design placement has made me an instant stamping master, even with double or triple stamping. On top of that, it's just a good-quality stamper. I never have problems with it picking up the image, or with the image transferring to my nail. 

Whats Up Nails Watermarble Tool

Before this tool, I was watermarbling with a knitting needle. Yes, that's what happens when a former knitter starts watermarbling, haha :) But anyway, this tool is SO MUCH BETTER. My watermarbles are clean and precise. They look awesome!

And that's it! I hope you enjoyed getting to know me and my fav products a little better. Thanks for putting up with my sarcasm, exaggerated enthusiasm, and craziness! 

Please comment and subscribe, and I'll talk to you later! See ya! 

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