Rainbows and hearts

Since this weekend was Pride I decided I wanted a rainbow-themed manicure for the festival - perhaps my favorite summer festival in the Twin Cities. I thought about doing each nail a different color, but couldn't decide which colors to leave out. I went to Google for some inspiration and decided on rainbow stripes.

I bought a little nail art kit with the intention to use the precision brush to make my stripes but ultimately ended up freehanding it. The stripes aren't perfect, but who is? I thought they turned out pretty darn well. It was a little time consuming but worth the effort and I love how it turned out. I chose these colors because they each have a bit of shimmer and did two coats of each.

Red: Sephora by OPI Sample Sale
Orange: Revlon Top Speed Poppy (1st coat), Sally Hansen HD Three D (2nd coat) - Poppy looked like the best orange on paper, but on the nail it was a little too pink. I think it worked out great because the Three D is a little sheer.
Yellow: Revlon Top Speed Electric - for whatever reason, this was a little goopy on the second coat but it turned out okay.
Green: Sally Hansen Hi-Def
Blue: Sephora by OPI Skinny Jeans
Purple: Maybelline Express Finish Grape Times

I wanted something simple for my toes so I went with all white. However, the nail art kit came with little stencils and even though I'm not a big fan of nail art, I suddenly couldn't go on without having tiny hot pink hearts on my big toe. It looks super cute, but my attempts at a photo failed miserably so you'll just have to use your imaginations!

Revlon Scented Nail Enamel - Beach

I apologize that I didn't get pictures taken of this. I'm actually still wearing it, but after a few days of wear without having applied a top coat, it no longer looks perfect and I'm not about to have the first nail polish picture on this blog look like crap. I'm also not willing to go through the effort of prettying it up for pictures when I will be removing it immediately afterward. I'm ready to move on.

I love the color of this nail polish. I love it enough that I'm going to hang onto it even though I found the scent to be distracting and unnecessary. It's mostly gone now, only detectable if you give my fingers a really big whiff, but the first two days it was overbearing. I sometimes sleep with my hands near my face, and boy, could I smell it then. Plus there was the constant urge to smell my fingers. No thanks.

As far as the scent itself, I still haven't decided if it smells like the beach. I guess it kind of does. When my boyfriend arrived home on the first night that I wore it, the first thing I said to him was, "Smell my fingers" to which he replied, "This never ends well." But he sniffed them, and I asked what it smelled like. "Flowers, I guess," he said. I'm pretty sure guys think every beauty product smells like flowers.

The next day I asked for the opinion of a gay friend. Well, maybe I didn't really ask.

Me: Ooh! Hey! Smell my fingers!
Chad: (looking terrified) I don't want to.
Me: No, smell them! I'm wearing scented nail polish.
Chad: ... /gives a reluctant sniff

His test was inconclusive, as I'd just gotten out of their hot tub and smelled mostly like chlorine.

SUMMARY: Great color, and Revlon always holds up really well, but scented nail polish? I could see where it might be a big draw for little girls, but it's not for me.
GRADE: C-

Initial Impressions: Revlon Scented Nail Enamel - Beach

I was on my way to the checkout at CVS today when the Revlon display caught my eye. Revlon now makes scented nail polish. Out of sheer curiosity, I picked up a bottle of what looks to be a shimmery lime green, called Beach. I sniffed the label, thinking it was some kind of scratch-and-sniff deal so you know what you're getting yourself into (it is not). I bought it, just to see what all the fuss is about.

I made sure to smell the polish in the bottle, and it smells like regular old nail polish. I've applied one coat so far, and I like the color well enough, and my nails do smell different. I'm not convinced that it smells like the beach, and am waiting for my boyfriend to get home so I can get a second opinion. It doesn't smell bad, but it doesn't necessarily smell good, yet I cannot stop smelling my nails. It's very odd to feel the urge to sniff your fingers every few seconds.

I'll post an update later, with pictures when my nails are all done - I'm guessing I'll need three coats of this to get the coverage I want - but I must ask, WHAT is the point of scented nail polish? WHY did I buy this product? Will people buy into the hype?

If you'll excuse me, I have some finger sniffing to do.