DIY Essential Oil Diffuser

 

I received 3 small felted wool balls in my most recent essential oil recipe box from Simply Earth (I'm a monthly subscriber).  They included instructions for a rainbow themed fiber art craft project which while adorable, was not my style.  So, I went off-script and created my own DIY diffuser utilizing my colossal bead collection, needle & thread, and a paperclip. 

 I made one for each vehicle (car vent diffuser), but I like the way they look hanging from houseplants too! It could even be fashioned into jewelry with a little adaptation.

Please use my code MESAS50 at SimplyEarth.com when you become a subscriber!

Can I Use Regular Nail Polish for Nail Art Stamping Techniques? Do I have to buy Stamping Polish?

Do you need stamping polish for nail art stamping plate technique?

The short answer is no. In fact, some plate manufacturers discourage the use of stamping polishes.

When you were introduced to the stamping nail art technique, you almost certainly took home a little kit with an etched plate, a scraper, a stamper, and a stamping polish. As soon as you successfully transferred one image from plate to fingernail, you hopped online in search of more plates and stamping polish shades!  But, before you pay for the dozens of items in your virtual shopping cart, why not shop your makeup bag?  You've probably been painting your nails for years and have at least a few regular polishes sitting around.  Did you know that most regular nail polishes will work for the stamping plate technique?

You're going to want to get to know the attributes and limitations of the nail polish collection you already have before going to the expense of buying stamping polishes. 

How will you know whether a given polish might be suitable for stamping?

First, let's explore and sort your inventory (or a subset of your inventory if you have a colossal collection).  Set aside your top coats and base coats; those won't work.  Also rule out crackles: NEVER use a crackle formula on you stamper head—it will eat the silicone! You can rule out glitters and crellies because the chunky particles don't settle into the finely etched designs in a stamping plate.  Jellies and sheer toppers are unlikely candidates, but you may find them useful later, so you might want to do some experimenting on them a little later, so those can go into the maybe pile.  Metallics and frosts are the most likely to be opaque, followed by cremes (matte and glossy) and shimmers. These are your best candidates for "stand-in stamping polishes."  You may find that certain brands give you a pattern good or bad results, but I find it much more reliable to ignore brands and focus on nail polish finishes.

Now we have a series of tests to conduct:

In-bottle translucence test. How deeply can you see into the bottle of polish? If you can see straight through the bottle, then it will be difficult to create a linear design using this.

The brush test. Simply take out the wand and see whether you can easily determine the color of the brush. If the polish is sheer, it may not give you the coverage that you want for a given design. If the polish is opaque, it will likely give you the desired coverage. 

The consistency test. Another clue may be the viscosity of the polish. If it readily drips off of the brush, it may be too thin to be heavily pigmented. If the drops have some clinging power and hold onto the brush for a few seconds before dripping, then that might be a good candidate for stamping.  One-coat polish formulas often pass this test.  Oddly enough, older polishes that have lost a bit of their fluidity and have thickened slightly often make good stampers.  In fact, some nail artists will clean the jar thread well and leave the cap off overnight to allow some evaporation to happen.  Because I sell vintage polish, I personally avoid any alterations to the original formulas.  But the practice illustrates what role the consistency plays in the process.  If the polish is lumpy, goopy, or sticky, it could be thinned to serve a useful purpose.  Remember to use a nail polish thinner and not acetone nor polish remover.  These later  wreak havoc on nail polish and render the polish useless after a use or two.

The Line Test. Occasionally, you will find a regular nail polish that will not 'hold a line', meaning the design slides or morphs out of shape on the stamper head after pickup.  So, go ahead and paint an etched image, scrape off excess, and gently roll the stamper over to see if you can get a solid, steady image to pick-up.  Notes:  Colormates, Ellen Tracy, and one other off brand has failed the line test for me. Also, true UV/LED gel polishes do not hold the line. You can buy UV/LED gel stamping polishes. No UV required gel-like polishes can be used as standard regular polishes for the purposes of this tutorial.

The Swatching Test.  You don't need special nail art swatching sticks. I like to use my nail art mat to swatch ideas in preparation for a manicure—in fact, I don't even use a silicone mat, I prefer the clear chopping mats you can buy at the Dollar Tree.  You can even use a sandwich baggie.  I don't like to experiment on my natural nails, because I try to limit my exposure to acetone and nail polish removers because it is drying and toxic! Just try to execute the idea you have in mind using your polishes, painting down a little fingernail-sized patch of polish and try out your new "stand-in stamping polish."  Test them out on light and dark colors. Try images with fine lines and thick lines.  Take note of successes and failures. Pay attention as patterns emerge.  What brands tend toward the right attributes for you? Compare them to the stamping polishes you own.  This is also the stage at which you challenge yourself, break the rules, kick the tires, and push the envelopes! 

Now, let's spend a moment exploring those ultra-sheers, toppers, and jellies we left in the maybe pile.  If the polish is sheer, it may not give you the coverage that you want for a given design. However, sometimes sheer regular polishes have enough reflective pigment to create a stunning design, especially on dark colors. Or try a bright jelly over a white or nude polish.  You may find you like the effect, even if the contrast is subtle.  Expect some failures.  Finding out what doesn't work is just as valuable as finding out what does.

So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of stamping polishes vs. regular polishes?

Stamping polishes tend to be more heavily pigmented, meaning you can create a design with high contrast. Stamping polishes have a slightly longer dry time, which allows more time for a new nail artist to execute the pickup and placement of the images. The heavy pigmentation of stamping polishes make them poor candidates for foundation polishes because they chip, especially if your nails are healthy and flexible.

Regular polishes tend to create a more subtle contrast, and dry quickly which is very manageable for seasoned stampers.  Regular polishes can serve double duty as foundation polish as well as stamping polish which is especially cool when you want to reverse the design colors on accent nails.

Be cautious when using fast-drying formulas. Once you've learned to quickly execute this technique, and your speed is up, you could find success using fast-drying formulas. A popular substitute for stamping polish is Sally Hansen Insta-dry. They do tend to be heavily pigmented (often requiring a single coat), they are easily sourced at many chain stores, come in a large array of colors and finishes, and have an excellent price point.  While they can serve double duty as a foundation polish as well as be used for nail art stamping and reverse stamping techniques, new stampers may struggle with the shortened dry-time. And perhaps the most frustrating aspect may be their lack of durability.  If your nails are healthy and flexible, or you spend time with your hands in water, chipping may begin rather quickly which can be rather disheartening when you've created a stunning manicure that chips when you're making dinner or snags on your bath towel before you make it to work.  I have some of them, and I reserve them strictly for stamping since they make a poor foundation polish for nail art.

And, if you want to get into advanced techniques like creating make-ahead decals, those made with quick-dry formulas are going to be brittle even during short periods of storage. So, instead of purchasing Sally Hansen Instra-Dry polish chips on me within a few hours so I would prefer their Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear formula.  They are affordable, come in a good variety of colors and shades, are durable, widely available, and fairly pigmented.  The only drawback may be that a few more minutes may be needed for your manicure to cure.

Which stamping polishes are worth getting? Here again, rather than being partial to a particular brand, I feel that the palette is more important than formula. I personally have limited my stamping color palette to black, white, copper, silver, and gold. I find I can create most other looks with regular polish.

I will include a few observations about stamping polish brands. Hit The Bottle is a very good brand by all accounts with consistent results from color to color. Maniology has a very wide color palette and I like that they can easily be plucked from your skin with tape, making cleanup a breeze. I personally prefer Born Pretty for consistent coverage and price.  Nearly every brand of stamping polish must be purchased online, although Walmart sometimes carries a few Pueen products, and Ulta sometimes carries Caption nail art kits.

I am a big fan of acrylic stamping plates, and my favorite brand was Cici & Sisi (now out of business), and I own many of them. I even chose them as my manufacturer when having my own private line of stamping plates created. One of the tips on their website was to use regular nail polish instead of stamping polish for cleaner (smoother) lines.

Hopefully, these tips will save you money.  By buying fewer stamping polishes, selecting fewer fast-dry formulas, and getting familiar with the attributes of the polishes you already have on-hand, you can build a nail art polish collection that is worth every penny you've invested in your profession or your personal self-care routine!

Make Your Own Hydrosol from any plant material! (DIY)

I recently discovered rose hydrosol compliments to my essential oils subscription box from SimplyEarth.com!  Rose is not my favorite scent, but it is mild and an effective toner.

Another local subscriber that I've become acquainted with 'in real life,' mentioned that she makes her own.  After a couple of very conflicting methods viewed on YouTube videos, I was picking dandelion flowers from my backyard to get started on my first ever homemade hydrosol!

Here is how I set up my make-shift distillery...

I removed the handle from my steamer basket.  Placed my plant material around that.

 Then laid out the steamer basket plates and poured in water enough to cover the flowers/leaves (cold tap water).

Then I placed my 'catch bowl' where your steam distilled hydrosol will end up!

Set a tight-fitting bowl on top.  On low heat, get the water hot.  Once the water is hot (very low simmer), add a tray of ice cubes to the top bowl.  This cools/condenses the steam and makes it drip down the top bowl into your 'catch bowl inside).  When the ice melts, pour out the contents of the top bowl and replace the ice.  Do this on low heat for 1 hour.  Then turn it all off to cool.  Collect your hydrosol from the catch bowl.  I wanted to let it cool quickly, so I put mine into a heatproof jar.  Once it comes to room temperature, you can put it into a dispenser.  Since there is no sugar, starch, fiber, etc., there is nothing for mold to feed on.  Your hydrosol can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 year without preservatives!

Hydrosol is clear, though my photo is quite yellow.

This is a healing/hydrating skin toner!  Imagine taking this from the fridge and misting it on to cool the skin after getting some sun out of doors!  I also swab mine onto my face with a cotton round.

The dandelion smelled fresh, earthy, and more floral than I had expected.

I cannot wait to experiment with sage, lilac, cucumber, and more this summer!

DIY Barrier Masks #becausecoronavirus

I'm going to jot down a few notes on how I am frantically creating my own original design for homemade barrier masks for the COVID-19 health threat.  An avid sewer should be able to get the gist of my design from this, but I hope to come back as time permits to fill in details...

These are my ear bands.  Cut in half for men and women!  In thirds for kids.  Touch ends to the burner (on medium heat) to keep them from fraying.  (Dollar Tree has them up to 12 for $1 USD.)

7x9" lining can be cut 6x9 for a good all around fits all size.  3/8 seam allowance and a 1" casing at top.  (UPDATE: mens are better at 8x9.5"!!!!)

Lined.  One side is longer to create a casing.  Right sides together inserting elastic.  Trim corners to decrease bulk.

 Coffee bag twisty ties make the best posable nose piece!

Pleat them up like an accordion (I do 2 pleats) and iron and pin, top stitch through all layers. Try to arrange your pleats so that you have the same amount of layers to sew through the entire length of each side instead of having mountains and valleys.

(Kids and adults shown here)

One improvement I have been making (thanks to my EMT friend Jamie Brown!) for healthcare workers is where the lining creates a pocket so that a 3rd barrier could be inserted.

These apparently can be purchased to greatly improve the barrier.  (Photo credit Jamie Brown!)

Bonus for using novelty fabrics!  Keeping it kid-friendly and making a statement other than one related to illness.  

doTERRA Essential Oil Limbo

Two of my dear friends are struggling with ailments.  They have recently had financial set-backs and can no longer afford their beloved, high-priced doTerra oils.  They lament how effective the essential oils had been as part of their treatment. 

On a recent visit, one friend named an oil that had been particularly helpful for her, and I said, "Oh!  I have some of that!  I will share it!" She was elated! 

I dug my bottle out of my stash while she thanked me for my thoughtfulness.  I assured her that I had been on a bit of a buying spree and had more on-hand than I could use myself in a lifetime! 

When she saw the label, she stopped me. She refused the kindness since it wasn't doTerra brand.  I asked her to compare the scent and quality before making a final decision.  But she would not even hold the bottle.  She is terrified to use anything BUT doTerra.  I know first-hand how our local group preys on fear and spouts outrageous propaganda, demonizing all their competitors.  So, I try to be sympathetic.

I ask why she feels so strongly that something she hasn't tried won't work.  She stammers vaguely about the harvesting and the testing and the potency and the matchless quality (repeating propaganda she has heard but never fully understood).

I told her that I have been using various brands and have had good results with most all of them.  I read labels, sniff-test, and I compare prices, just like I do for any industry.  I showed her that the bottle I was holding from Simply Earth as one example had a lot number, and a corresponding published test and suggested that she compare it to the doTerra equivelent.   No. Nothing I said allayed any of her fears.

Since she paid for the wholesale member status to get discounts, she feels like it would be disloyal to use another brand no matter the quality. And besides, this other friend of ours is in the same boat.  Can't afford doTerra, so they are going without essential oils altogether.  And there is some comradery in that.

 I wonder how many people out there are in doTerra limbo. 

Like any MLM brand, doTerra has to maintain high standards to maintain their reputation.  But where they really shine is in MARKETING!  Oils are their product; marketing is their business.  And Young Living is just their estranged twin sister.  They did not invent essential oils, they just developed a strategy to get people to buy it at inflated prices from their trusted friends and neighbors instead of shopping a store shelf at standard retail rates.

Do your research.  Be healthy.  Be balanced.  Don't allow a commercial entity or their followers bully you.  And don't make fear-based decisions.

2nd Encounter with doTERRA Essential Oils

It may be difficult to believe that I got roped into a 2nd doTerra meeting after the insanity experienced at the first one, but I am living my truth as they say.

In my defense, my disgust had cooled.  And I reasoned that since they were accustomed to straight-forward commerce, I might find within their group, a suitable marketplace for my handmade rice bags (popular accessory for massage therapies), since it had been suggested during the "Symphony of Cells" demonstration weeks earlier that the protocol could be followed up with a warm rice bag or heating pad.

I had also been added to the team's facebook group and had pre-sold a couple of rice bags, and the meeting would provide a somewhat neutral territory, it being hosted at the public library, for delivery of my handmade goods.

(Rice bags are life itself, now that I have one!  I'll write another post soon detailing that!)

This meeting to highlight cooking with essential oils, was sure to be more enlightening than the spine-straightening massage demonstration so many weeks before.  And I wouldn't dare try that at home without any guidance, since essential oils are powerful medicine!  (More on consuming EO in a future post.)

The presentation was friendly and brief.  And we taste-tested a half-dozen or so recipes including a balsamic vinegar bread dip, non-alcoholic lime/mint mojitos, peppermint brownies, and watermelon balls sprinkled with spiced sugar.  We were sent home with a jar of either the spiced sugar or a lemon-grass/ginger salt rub.  I was very surprised that the salt was iodized table-salt, the sugar was plain white, and the mojitos had a soda-pop base.  There wasn't much health food there.  My health-nut family eliminated these foods from our diets long ago.  

While mingling with our snacks, I struck up a conversation with someone about kombucha (a health drink).  She seemed interested and asked what company sold it.  I explained that it is a fermented beverage that you can brew at home cheaply.  Once it registered that it was not a money-making scheme that I was about to let her in on, she shook her head like I was crazy and very rudely scoffed away.  She was networking hard and I was just telling people how to save money.  Clearly, that is not socially acceptable at a doTerra meeting.

The evening was winding down and neither of my rice bag buyers were eager to conclude our rice bag transactions. So I just smiled profusely, handed off the goods for inspection, and cheerily demanded payment.  They both reluctantly, and sluggishly made their payments to me.  And one said, "If you keep coming to these meetings, we will eventually convert you."

My mind chanted mechanically, "one of us.  one of us."  And again, I made a hasty departure.  

The group hosts a yearly craft sale, free to vendors within their group, so I figured that it was in my best interests to keep things friendly.  Besides, a great many of my personal friends now sell and use doTerra and I don't want to lose friendships or create drama.  Arguments to avoid:  politics, religion, and essential oils.   

I received regular notification from the Facebook group, and have only participated with likes and hearts or a brief comment being careful not to antagonize.

Then I started using a certain brand of essential oils and posted a couple of reviews on my own timeline.  (I'll tell you about the brand soon.)  After getting my son off to school, I went into the local doTerra team's Facebook group to see what was being said about Palmarosa EO as part of some research I was doing for my mother's well-being.  When I noticed the Join Group option, I realized that I had been quietly put out of the group that very day.  At least it has come to a quiet, painless end for both parties.

My 1st Encounter with doTERRA Essential Oils

Ever the die-hard natural remedies guru, my mother used essential oils for as long as I can remember.  She had a little kit with half-dozen basic oils...I only remember lavender, peppermint, & orange.  She massaged them on her temples for head-aches or on our bellies for nausea.  It was a low-key, unremarkable experience, that had little meaning for me until...

Recently, a school yard incident with my young son, brought me into a conversation with someone from my past.  Two mommies had to deal with an embarrassing situation so we met for coffee to hammer it out, hear apologies, and make nice.  I mentioned that things had been stressful in general lately, and so I was glad to have resolved this matter quickly.  The mention of stress, led immediately to her sales pitch on doTerra essential oils.  She demonstrated on my wrist what seemed to be (and most likely IS)  rather convincing proof that the oil immediately enters the bloodstream, gave me a sample to try at home, and invited me to a doTerra meeting at our public library.  

I used the sample of "Balance" that week and at times felt as though I wanted to lick it off of my wrist because the aroma was so appealing!  At other times, the aroma smelled rather unappealing.  I was perplexed and attended the meeting, hoping that someone might explain why I was having such hot and cold reactions to the product.

I was greeted warmly, and helped into a seat.  The presentation started.  It took many turns including an almost prayerful thanking of God for the abundance of natural remedies housed in his vegetative Creation, a tearful bit on moms in third world countries who can send their children to school thanks to the high wages they are paid for collecting herbs for doTerra, personal anecdotes of cures and symptom reduction for all sorts of ailments, and of course the sales pitch itself.  

I received a free roller-bottle mixed by the presenter that smelled divine and was given a flyer and marketing material. 

Now, my father was an Amway distributor, grandma sold Jafra, and I sold Park Lane Jewelry.  So I understand the MLM (multi-level marketing) business model fairly well.  I know that the products have amazing quality.  I know that the prices charged for these amazing product are directly related to the pay structure of all the up-line folks taking their cut, not the cost of ingredients.  The VALUE of the product lies heavily in the consumer's conception, carefully shaped by well-trained salespeople who seemingly worship the life-giving (or at least life-altering) product and it's company.  Belief in the company is indispensable, since the expectation is that every consumer become a devotee and join the great cause.  My uncle was once approached about Amway and his reply was, "No thanks.  I have my own religion."  

With doTerra marketing material in hand, I began to mingle.  I had been researching essential oils independently and had heard Neroli was good for tension and mood, so I hoped to sniff test it to see if I would enjoy it's use or not.  The mommy who had invited me ran around the room systematically rifling through the purses of her entire doTerra sisterhood looking for a sample.  Now, maybe this is just a person boundary, but from my viewpoint, the contents of a woman's purse is sacred.  I would not presume to invade the purse of my best friend, my mother, my sister; and I would be appalled if I knew they had been in mine.  And NOT because I have anything to hide or embarrass at the contents!  It is just a thing you don't do; a place you don't go.  The term "sister-wives" came into my mind, and of course, out of my mouth--I couldn't help it!

Well, Neroli could not be located, so I decided to look into the description and price of "Balance" (the sample I had been given).  That was promptly produced.  I read the ingredients list on the label and realized that this proprietary blend is diluted with coconut oil!  I was perplexed, since the presentation had demonized other "unscrupulous" companies that cut their essential oils and pass them off as "pure."  The presenter insisted that the potency of an essential oil is of paramount importance to do the miraculous healing they promise it will do.  Afterall, "a single drop of lemon oil contains 40 trillion molecules--enough to treat every cell in you body many times over!"

What miraculous healing did they claim?  Well, if I stayed for the following presentation, a member who had attended a "Symphony of Cells" seminar would be sharing her notes and demonstrating a massage that would (and reportedly has) cured a number of spine ailments.  I heard one woman ask another how a blend she had prepared was working on an unnamed condition.  The other woman said it gave him a horrible rash, so she only tried it once.  She was reminded that "our bodies have a natural inflammatory response, so a rash is a GOOD thing!" and exhorted to "KEEP using it!"  I had to pick my jaw up off of the floor.  The woman was also standing in disbelief, so I frowned and shook my head to discredit this insane advice--which medical advice, by the way, was dispensed and presumably practiced without a license!  I overheard at least two others telling attendees to avoid the medical profession whenever possible.

My grandmother has 10 compression fractures in her spine, so I thought I ought to stay for the extra instruction. Slides of a curvy spine were shown before and after shots in a powerpoint presentation.  Then, a male volunteer received a generous oiling from the base of his neck to the soles of his feet.  I started to write down the protocol in my notebook, but the 15 drops of this and 10 drops of that followed by handfuls of coconut oil seemed never-ending, and I could not possibly keep up with the flow of information.  Besides, they were giggling about the generous spilling that was happening on the massage table and surrounding carpet.  The honorary massage 'therapist' recovered by ensuring the crowd that since the oils were natural, there really was no way to make a mistake, and that the protocol could be adapted to utilize any oils purchased from doTerra.  

My friend asked me what I thought at this point.  I had already run amok with the "sister-wives" comment, so I only dared to ask what investment would be required just to accomplish this protocol, and to remark that this single treatment seems very expensive--especially if repeated frequently.  But inside I was screaming, "if a single drop of essential oil treats every cell in your body many times over, then WHY were they bathing this man in essential oils?!?!? And if I need to buy the most potent, pure, concentrated, weaponized, expensive products in this market--why would I also need to buy doTerra's fractionated coconut carrier oil to dilute it?!?!"

I finally found an exit, and booked out of that library!  I was a bundle of nerves, and felt as though I had just escaped a dangerous encounter with...with...with...it would take me 'til the next morning to find the word: CULT.

My husband had been calling the whole essential oil industry "snake oil and voodoo," and I was forced to admit to myself that demonizing all competitors, discouraging people from seeking medical care, the playing on emotions, the intense devotion, and the weird bond they all seemed to have definitely seemed to have strong religious (even cult-like) overtones.  

Weeks later, I was convinced to attend a 2nd meeting (which I will try to recount for you soon), where a saleswoman said to me, "I know you are skeptical, but keep attending our meetings, and we'll eventually convert you."

The funny thing is, I was NEVER skeptical of essential oils UNTIL my brush with doTerra!  The truth is, I might have just encountered one localized, rogue team of over-zealous, well-meaning men and women who over-stepped the scope of their work and mis-represented their company.  But I went seeking a product, and was sold a lifestyle that I cannot afford.  I am writing this several months after the encounter, so I've had time to reflect, but my discomfort with this company hasn't subsided.  I haven't given up on essential oils themselves.  I research.  I read labels carefully.  And I do not buy from brands that promote unsafe practices, nor do I buy from the brands claiming to be the only trustworthy source.  We have got to learn to detect and reject grandiose propaganda.  DoTerra did not invent essential oils, and they did not perfect them either.  God did that.  

Level Up! Participating Maker: Twisted Lacquer

Wendy from Twisted Lacquer is offering 3 fun shades to members of Polish It Off! during our "Level Up!" Indie Group Buy event May 24-31.  Buy them at $9 each or to maximize your savings, buy all three for only $25 AND get a FREE holographic topper!!!!!

"Toxic Sludge" is a shocking lime green loaded with holographic glitter!  The result is a highly textured, eye-catching color bomb!  It has a good translucence, so I had to try my hand at a leafy pond mani as seen here.  Proper swatching photos will be available soon.

"Pink Is My Happy Place" is a cheery medium pink with light holographic glitter and sparse metallic hot pink glitter.  Texture is mildly gritty due to the elements if interest, so you will want a plump layer of topcoat for a smooth finish.

"Summer Vibes" is a white crelly with mixed chunky neon glitter.  It will be amazing for accent nails on all sorts of neon designs this summer.  One crelly to match all the brights in your collection!

Bonus:  "Holo Is Life" is your FREE gift for purchasing all 3 shades featured above!  It is transparent with just the right amount of holographic glitter to use atop any shade.  It dries gritty so be sure to use a plump topcoat.  This topper is a mani-fixer!  Think of it as duct tape for nail art!  If you ever ferl your manicure is kinda "meh" slap on a coat of this and it will come alive for you!  A must-have for any new nail artist!

15ml

Level Up! Participating Maker: Passion Nail Polish

Melissa Lattin of Passion Nail Polish has brought 3 bold shades to our Level Up! Indie Group Buy event May 24-31 hosted by Polish It Off!

"Pretty Things" is a high metallic, opaque or nearly so in one coat.  It stamped well so it is a natural choice for nail art.  Similar shades in my collection dull as they dry, but the high shine remained and was much less streaky than I anticipated!

"Passion Pink" has a sophistication you don't find in hot pink cremes and I think it is because she leans ever-so-slightly toward coral.  High shine and beautifully self-leveling.

"Sun Daze" is a sunflower or goldenrod yellow creme.  Glassy, high-shine finish.  Nearly opaque in one coat.  Dried a shade darker than it appeared in the bottle.  It is a great color for yellow centers of flowers and butterfly wings!  And I bet you have nothing like it in your collection!  I haven't taken a proper swatch photo yet...but it stamped nicely in this manicure:

Each shade is $10, but I suggest buying all 3 featured shades to get a FREE All Clear topcoat/basecoat during the Level Up! Indie Group Buy Event!  It is a very glossy, high-shine product that smooths ridges and did not smear artwork for me. 14ml bottles.

Bonus:  you can add ANY shade from PassionNailPolish.com to your Level Up! order to enjoy combined shipping!

Level Up! Participating Maker: Dream of Glitter

Now is your chance to sample polishes from Canadian Maker Chelsea Longe of Dream of Glitter while enjoying USA shipping rates!  Three shades are available during the Level Up! Indie Group Buy event hosted by Polish It Off!  May 24-31.

"Bubble Gum" is a purple to pink thermal (color-changing) nail polish!

"Dark Lover" is a warm black translucrnt polish with holographic microglitter!  A must-have for galaxy nails and those sexy sheer black nail designs!

"All I Need is Space" is a translucent purple polish with holographic micro-glitter!  

Dream of Glitter is re-designing their labels, so we look forward to seeing the finished bottle design!  All polish is 5-free formula and 15ml.

Level Up! Participating Maker: Pin-Up Paint

Jenni Evans of Pin-up Paint has discounted 3 featured shades from her Dancehall Collection for Level Up! Indie Group Buy event May 24-31 hosted by Polish It Off!

"Patti" is a deep black-purple with a lot going on!  Its shifty with iridescent and metallic purple micro-glitter.  This would be a natural pick for galaxy nail art.  $7.50 (normally $10).

I actually gasped when I first swatched "Linda H." because she has a gray to pink shift and deposits little surprizes everywhere you move the brush!  Great translucence to build on with each coat! $7.50 (normally $10).

"Eleanor" has a beautiful peach to gold shift, a lot of translucence, and loaded with surprizing elements.  I would recommend an opaque color beneath for designs other than sheer, since you would need many coats for full opacity.  She could be considered a heavy topper in my opinion.

$7.50 (normally $10).

The entire Dancehall Collection along with 3 shades I've previously swatched: Kate, Sammy, & Bettie will be available for combined shipping during Level Up! at the price of $10 ea.  PinUpPaint.etsy.com

All polishes are 10 free and 10.5ml.

Level Up! Participating Maker: Soothing Soul Nail Lacquer

Helene Tapp of Soothing Soul Nail Lacquer is offering three NEVER before SEEN shades of polish to our Polish It Off! Facebook group during the May 24-31 "Level Up! "Indie Group Buy event!

"Sophie" is a rich, complex rosey plum shade that is somewhat metallic.  It has a bit of translucence allowing dimension to build with each layer, but is opaque or nearly so in 2 coats.

"Waterfall Mist" is a complex metallic teal green with a subtle holographic microglitter just translucent enough to build complexity with multiple coats.  

"Moon Rise" is described as a blurple with pink purple & blue micro-glitter.  This creation is so new that i was unable to even obtain a prsample!  Hot off the polish lab!  It is definitely on my wishlist!

These will eventually be available at tssnails.com, but you can get them 1st at Polish It Off! 

All are 7-free formula, 15ml.