NOTD: Robyn + SmART Nail Stencils (Review)

Hey Ladies!

I have fallen behind again. But now you all know why. I have all my pictures ready though so I'll start the postings throughout this week. This is my manicure from June 22nd.

This is 2 coats of Zoya's "Robyn" from the Flash Collection. Zoya describes it as a perfect turquoise cream. The name describes the application: Perfect! I usually fear creams because they can sometimes be a pain to apply. However, the application on this one was flawless. But I wouldn't describe this as a turquoise. Maybe more like an insanely bright blue sky. It has that same bright quality as a neon would. But it's not a neon so it doesn't dry matte. This color really is stunning!

I then used my new SmART Nail Stencils. I decided to go with the stars (image N022 in their catalog). I placed the stars on my thumb and ring finger using China Glaze's "Tempest." "Tempest" is a hypnotizing blue/purple semi-douchrome color. The best swatch I've seen has been on Lacquerized's blog (here).


SmART Nail Stencils Review

I finally used my SmART Nail Stencils that I won from Evil Angel's giveaway (original post here). Even though their website has a great description (here) and frequently asked questions section (here), I'm going to type up my own 2 cents worth of an opinion on this product. Since I won these I didn't have to pay for them (obviously). But they are definitely worth the money I would of had to paid to get them.

These are transparent little square shaped stickers with a design cut out from the middle. They are quite flexible so you can stick them on any shaped nail. Press the sticker onto the nail and be sure that the area around the design has properly adhered to the nail. You can tell just by looking at it and seeing if there is air underneath. If you've painted your nails, be sure that the paint is dry enough before applying the stencil sticker. Once the sticker is on the nail, apply the nail polish color you want the image to be over the image area. Be sure not to go over the edge if your nail is somehow exposed. LOL! Once you've applied the color for the image, immediately remove the sticker off your nail. Don't wait for the paint to dry because it can get dry on the sticker. We don't want to end up pulling the image off the nail.

It is ridiculously simple to use and the outcome is flawless. I'd dare to say it's easier and faster to use than stamping. This product is also great because you can use the stickers more than once. Just place the sticker back on the sheet and clean off the polish with some remover. Then you can place the sticker on another nail and use it again. Plus, I think it's easier to center these or place them exactly where you want them to be before applying color. Unlike stamping, which somethings is hard to see where it will end up, you can keep removing the sticker until you get it in the right spot. Also, you can use the edge of the stickers to make perfect lines.

I will keep track of how many times I've been able to reuse the stickers until they have to be thrown away and I'll report back when I have that number. So far, I'm at 2.

Overall, I recommend these stencils. They are $2.99 per pack, which contains 10 stickers. They have a nice variety of images so you are bound to find something you like. I also recommend these if stamping isn't your thing for whatever reason.

You can visit SmART Nails at http://www.smart-nails.com.

Happy Polishing!