Liberty and Miranda Pixie Dust Gradient

Hey There Polished People!

Like I mentioned a couple of posts back, I really like stamping nail art. Some people think it’s cheating, some people think it’s nearly impossible to do successfully (check out this post if you’re one of those people :)) and some people, like myself, find it to be a relatively quick and clean way to add a little something to your nails. Quite honestly, part of why I like it is that I’m just kinda good at it… it just clicks for me. Some people are so good at dots (check out Frosso’s Dots and… a Bow mani here) and some people are so great at water marbling or needle drag marbling (see Amber’s marbling here) and some people are really good at gradients (see Traci’s here). I am great at none of these. I’ve pretty much given up caring about water marbling (although I’d like to try some of that needle drag marbling Amber does), but I really would like to be good at dots and gradients.

Today I’m happy to tell you that what I have to show you are probably my best gradient nails ever!! Woo hoo for me! The Pixie Dust polishes just really blended well, and I sponged em twice so I really feel like this is my smoothest gradient ever!!! And the matte sparkle finish of these Pixies is just so pretty! Before I over-hype them (TOO LATE!) hurry up and look so you don’t build them up in your mind and then become terribly disappointed when you actually see them.

Liberty & Miranda Pixie Dust Gradient

Direct Sun

Indirect Light

How To Get These Nails:

1. Basecoat. I like SH Hard As Nails.
2. Paint your nails with 2 coats of Nina Ultra Pro French White (or another white) to start with a clean canvas like a good little nail artist. Allow the white to dry. I used Jessica Brilliance to speed up the process, but that’s completely up to you.
3. Use a makeup sponge and Zoya Liberty and Zoya Miranda (find the swatches and reviews of all the Summer 2013 Pixie Dust polishes here and here) to sponge a gradient on each nail, being careful to cover up all the white around the edges. I use this method for gradients.
4. The Pixie Dust polishes are a little light upon first sponging, so repeat step 3 to smooth out the gradient some and make the colors a little more saturated.
5. Once your gradient is looking how you want it to look, use your clean up brush and some acetone to clean up your cuticles and skin around your nails.
6. Since you don’t use topcoat with Pixie Dust polishes, you’re done! Ta-daaaa! Admire your nails!

When I showed Daniel these nails, cuz I was so proud of them, all he had to say was, “They look like candy.” When I pressed him more- like, what kind of candy is a pink and blue gradient?? He had no answer but we eventually decided maybe Skittles… maybe Sour Skittles because they have that sugary coating. Do they even make Sour Skittles anymore? Oh boy, I’m off topic. Before I totally move on though I have to tell you- it was pretty cute when I wore these nails last week and taught Kindergarten… The kids LOVED my nails! They kept commenting on them and I had to tell them, “It’s time for guided reading, let’s talk nails later.” Haha. Hey, even if these kids can’t read yet, at least we know they have good taste! 😉

So… what’s the verdict?? Do you like these nails? Do you like the texture effect with the gradient? I feel like they’re a LITTLE much, but in the exactly perfect way. 🙂 Let me know what you think in the comments below. As always, thank you all for reading and till next time- Happy Polishing! 😀

**Zoya Miranda and Liberty are PR media samples.**