The Neverending Pile Challenge: Least expensive

How are you today? I got to see some old college friends yesterday--it was really great to catch up!

Today's Neverending Pile Challenge theme is least expensive. I didn't do price checks or anything, but some of my cheapest polish is by Love & Beauty (Forever 21's brand), which retails for $2.80 for 14 ml. I got two textured polishes from this brand in a secret santa swap, and they are every bit as gorgeous as the more expensive textured polishes I own!

I used Love & Beauty Blue Jewel, a teal polish with green and gold flecks, and Black Glam, a blackened purple with magenta and gold flecks (this is the one that's a dupe of Julep Glam Roc). I added some dots using clear topcoat for a little extra excitement!

Both of these polishes had very nice application and were opaque in two coats, but they were a little slow to dry, which isn't ideal for a textured polish.

Total untrieds tried: 22

The Neverending Pile Challenge: Deborah Lippmann Cleopatra in New York

The product in this post was given to me as a gift. All opinions are my own.

Hi! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend! We went to a department potluck for my husband's work and I made my famous mac and cheese, which was completely devoured! (Too bad--we were hoping for leftovers.)

Today's prompt for the Neverending Pile Challenge is most expensive. I'm not 100% sure (and too lazy to check), but I think my most expensive polishes are my Deborah Lippmanns. I only have a few untried DLs, and in fact they're some of my oldest untrieds; my mom gave me a bunch for my birthday in 2012, right after I started collecting polish. I decided to do a swatch of Cleopatra in New York, and man, I really should have worn this polish earlier! It's gorgeous!

Deborah Lippmann Cleopatra in New York. Two coats with Gelous and Out the Door topcoats.

As you can see, Cleopatra in New York is a black jelly with two sizes of gold glitter. Black glitter jellies are a real balancing act because you want them to be dark enough without hiding the glitter too much, and I think Deborah Lippmann totally nailed it. This polish just oozes glam! (I always know a polish is really amazing when it makes my husband go "ooooh".)

The formula was equally awesome--not thick or goopy, and the glitter cooperated very well. The brush picked up a ton of glitter every time, so it was easy to get good coverage in two coats. I went with two layers of topcoat to get my nails nice and smooth.

Cleopatra in New York retails for $20 (15 ml) at Deborah Lippmann's site!

Total untrieds tried: 20

The product in this post was given to me as a gift. All opinions are my own.

Neverending Pile Challenge: Had to have it, still haven't worn it

Happy Friday! Today's Neverending Pile Challenge prompt made me laugh: had to have it, still haven't worn it. I think most polish collectors can relate to that feeling!

Here's the story of the polishes I picked. A year or so ago, I found a bunch of mini polish sets by The New Black online and instantly lusted after them; I think I was sucked in by the nice packaging. I remember agonizing over which set to buy for days. Finally I made up my mind and ordered the one called Noble Spirits. They arrived, got swatched, and went into my stash never to be worn.

So today I picked two polishes from the collection for my mani. I started with my favorite one, a dark indigo creme called Deep Amethyst (nice formula but chips very quickly), and made some half-moon designs using Golden Age.

Yes, in case you were wondering, I did have to shorten my nails! I was a little rough on my hands yesterday and lost a corner of my middle fingernail (of course on my swatching hand!!). So I'll have these rounded nails for a while.

Total untrieds tried: 19

FingerFood's Theme Buffet / Neverending Pile Challenge: Boutique gothic

Hi folks! It's time once again for a challenge double-up! FingerFood's theme this week is gothic, and the Neverending Pile Challenge for today is boutique. I had to check what counts as boutique polish--apparently it's an indie company that produces its polish in a lab rather than by hand-mixing (so like A England, Rescue Beauty, etc.). I actually own four A Englands and I've never worn any of them, even though they're gorgeous, so I grabbed two of them for today's mani!

I started with a base of A England Beauty Never Fails and did some freehand gothic-style vines using Sleeping Palace. The pattern turned out more subtle than I would have liked, but it kinda reminds me of a man's waistcoat fabric from a period movie. Anyone else see it?

Total untrieds tried: 17

The Neverending Pile Challenge: Maybelline Wine & Dined

The product in this post was purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

Hi everyone! It's positively summery outside today, and I finally opened a window for the first time since last fall! (Then the dog next door barked at Trudy so I had to close it again.)

Today's Neverending Pile Challenge theme is drugstore. I only had time to do a swatch, so I'm wearing Maybelline Wine & Dined, a decidedly NOT summery polish.

Wine & Dined has a sheer brown base with burgundy shimmer and gold and purple sparks. Super vampy!

Maybelline Wine & Dined. Three coats with Out the Door topcoat.

I needed three coats for full opacity. I was happy with the formula--somewhat on the runny side, but it applied smoothly and easily. This polish was slow-drying. Wine & Dined actually reminds me of a couple polishes from my Silmarillion collection!

Total untrieds tried: 15

The product in this post was purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

Today's mani: deconstructed Easter egg

Happy Easter! I hope everyone celebrating has a great time and some great food! Sadly I haven't had a real Easter dinner in seven years, and since it's still Passover there's a lot of stuff my husband can't eat. So I celebrated today by doing my nails (of course)!

I decided to do a mani that was reminiscent of Easter eggs but not full-on pastel. I'm calling it the deconstructed Easter egg. :-D

On my index and pinky fingers, I used a base of Julep Kimberly from their most recent mystery box. I still can't get over those speckled polishes! This one reminds me of those Easter candies that are egg-shaped and taste like malted milk balls. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

On my index finger I painted a chick using a small brush and the corner of a makeup sponge (because what comes out of a deconstructed egg? A chick!). I used Julep Bea, China Glaze Peachy Keen, and Revlon Stiletto. Mr. ALIQUID loved the chick and named him Frankie!

On my other two nails I used a base of Revlon Trade Winds and added some Easter-egg-style patterns. (Middle finger: Essie Neo Whimsical, Julep Bea, Zoya Blu; ring finger: China Glaze Peachy Keen, Maybelline Green With Envy, Essie Play Date.)

I finished everything with Revlon matte topcoat since eggs are matte!

What's your favorite thing to eat on Easter? Mine is lamb and mint jelly, followed by Jelly Bellys!

FingerFood's Theme Buffet / Neverending Pile Challenge: Indie holo fishtail

TGIF everyone! I'm knocking out two challenges at once again with today's mani. This week's FingerFood's Theme Buffet prompt is fishtail, and the Neverending Pile Challenge theme is indie. Sooo I did an indie fishtail!

I chose three scattered holographic polishes: Different Dimension Ditz (pink) and Homeboy (blue) and Ellagee Like a Sleepy Blue Ocean (teal). I wish I hadn't had to use two similar shades of blue, but I don't actually have many untried indies that would work here! (Someone buy me some more indies!)

This is my first attempt at a fishtail mani, and let me tell you, I have a newfound admiration for people who can do fishtails with perfectly straight and consistent lines...it's not easy!

I think for my first try, this turned out decent. From a distance it looks nice at least! The polish at my tips is so thick I don't think it's ever going to dry...

Total # untrieds tried: 14