Thursday, March 7, 2013

ABC Challenge 'I' - Barielle Island Breeze

Hi all!

For today's challenge I planned to do a quickie Illamasqua swatch but I found all my Illamasqua shades have been featured here already (some more than once). So, I went through my untrieds and found this little gem, Barielle Island Breeze! I don't have very many Barielles, just a few here and there that I've picked up at TJ Maxx (and the elusive Falling Star, which I totally should have posted for F day of the challenge but just figured it out now. GRR) but they really have some lovely colors.

Onto the polish! Island Breeze has a steely blue base between turquoise and aqua with a greenish shimmer that makes the polish look lit from within (I am really, epically bad at describing polish colors). I used three coats of Island Breeze, though it looked great at two I just wanted a third coat to saturate the color and shimmer. Then I did my very first glitter gradient with Jordana Cosmos.




The shimmer wasn't as apparent on the nail as on the bottle but it's definitely more shimmery than my camera captured. Looking back now, maybe the third coat was counterproductive and hid the shimmer. I have to add that the formula on this polish was just wonderful. Not too thick or runny but buttery and amazing. Also, I'm pretty happy with the glitter gradient! It still doesn't look as amazing as other ladies make them look but it's not bad for a first try.

What do you think? Any tips on how to do glitter gradients?

Have a great day!

27 comments:

  1. I'm so in love with this! Great job! I'm excited because I have both of these polishes so I can recreate this.

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    1. Thank you! I'd love to see if you decide to recreate it :)

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  2. Into wishlist right now! I love what you did. Epic mani!

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  3. Kat...crazy gorgeous glitter gradient. And from a virgin, no less!!!! ;)

    Funny you mention TJ Maxx. That's the only place I've ever found Barielle, and I've never seen ANYTHING like what you're wearing. Wow.

    I am such a sucker for turquoise tinted blues. Sigh. So happy making.

    This is gorgeous!!!! :)

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    1. Thanks darling! My glitter gradient cherry has been popped :P

      It's always a random assortment at my TJ Maxx but usually of the newer collections. That's part of why I picked this up, it looked out of place all alone and sad. I wanted to give it a good home.

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  4. Base color is beautiful, and the glitter matches it so well. Very pretty combo - looks amazing.

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  5. What a gorgeous color!! And the shimmer is just too much! Another polish I have to have! And congratulations on your first gradient...fabulous!!

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    1. Thank you! At least it is part of the core collection so its easy to get...not that I'm pushing you to get it ;)

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  6. This is such a great summer-y color! And that gradient looks pretty darn good to me!

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    1. It is very summery! Like for lounging by a pool or the beach. And thank you :)

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  7. Wow..just wow!!!! I LOVE THIS LIKE WOAH!!!!!!!

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  8. I really adore your combo, Blue & green glitters? Just amazing! That macro shot is to die for, can I ask which camera you use? :)

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    1. Sure! It's a Canon TX1. Very old point and shoot we've had for years :).

      And I agree, blue and green anything is always pretty.

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  9. Wow, that Barielle looks absolutely gorgeous. I love the shimmer in it. Haha I am still figuring a way to make those shimmers stand out more. And I have deducted (my dear Watson) that a thinner last coat will make them show a lot more than a thicker one, because otherwise they will just sink at the bottom, as they do in the bottle. Does this make any sense? Or am I convincing myself that I am smart? :p

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    1. It makes complete sense! I've also heard that lightly brushing with acetone over the top of the polish helps take off some of the base polish and reveal more shimmer.

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  10. Love that polish and the combo with the glitter is awesome!

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  11. Ooo this is so pretty. I love Barielle polish, it's hard to find here, but I love when I do find them!!

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  12. Amazing color and your glitter gradient is beautiful. Nice smooth and subtle. Great job!!

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Thank you for taking the time to comment! I really cherish each and every piece of feedback I might get.

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