Monday, March 15, 2010

China Glaze: Taking Ruby Pumps On a Stroll (Pic Heavy)


With all the raves for ChG's Ruby Pumps, I knew I had to have it. From the moment it arrived on my doorstep I was itching to wear it. I don't often do reds - I find they're a bit dated and they make people look old (kind of my opinion on red lipstick, to be honest). But this polish... this polish... does red right. I wore the plain mani (two coats) for a day and a half and couldn't stop staring at my hands while I did the most inane things (like shop for groceries).  I'm pretty sure my bf is sick of me going on about the sparkles.


Full sunlight





Look at the sparkles!



Of course, this red was just begging for Konad. I mean, it looks gorgeous on its own, but I couldn't wait to set off the sparkles against a deep, creme black.

Base colour: China Glaze - Ruby Pumps
Black: Rimmel - 399 Black Satin (one of the richest blacks I've ever seen, I'm ashamed to say I had to forgo China Glaze's Liquid Leather in lieu of this...)
Stamp: Konad SP - Black Pearl; China Glaze - Poetic
Plate - Chez Delaney A02
Topcoat: Konad clear topcoat (over black stamp); Seche Vite (over everything)

This may be my favourite Konad thus far. Unfortunately, Ruby Pumps is pretty damned hard to photograph as it is (what with all the shimmer and the fact that red pigment is terribly unforgiving)... The addition of topcoat made it close to impossible to catch the detail, especially Poetic over Black Satin.  Oh well. I did my best for you...hence the reason there are way too many photos! :P









BTW, I have to give credit to China Glaze's Orange Cuticle Oil. I bought a bottle during my last Trans Design haul. The only cuticle oil I own (Organix) came as part of a set and is $20 on its own. I figured if ChG could do the job for less than four bucks, it was worth it.  And it SO IS.  I think I'm addicted to the stuff. It smells awesome (I wear Satsuma from the Body Shop and I'm a fan of all things citrus)... and it moisturizes really, really well. I have incredibly dry hands (which tend to look ashy, especially in winter). And I've got dyshidrosis on my  hands, which is exacerbated by the dryness.  I find the oil really soothing.

The oil is so great I've been absently manicuring my bf when we watch TV. (He's enjoying it...and sometimes requests it...but I'm not supposed to tell his hockey team.) ;)



 

-mKat

Like this? Click below to let us know!

20 comments:

Jenny$1983 said...

This is so beautiful. Thank you!

sarahloo said...

yay! I'm absolutely mad about ruby pumps too. YUM!

Heidi said...

I, too, think Ruby Pumps is the BEST red I've ever used. I love how you've paired it with the black in these photos, it looks dramatic, yet classic.

Thanks for the heads up on the ChG Orange Cuticle Oil. I picked up one of those insanely expensive kits at a kiosk in the mall (you know, the Dead Sea ones with the buffer, hand cream, and cuticle oil...what can I say, good salesman!), and I'm still working my way through the bottle of oil, but I'm looking forward to giving ChG a try when mine is gone.

PolishedSheep said...

Totally agree on Ruby Pumps - my favorite red so far :o)

mKat said...

@Heidi: Those sales guys will get you! That's how I came by my kit too. (I think the kiosk that sold Organix sold the Dead Sea stuff..) :) You know what I do want to try from the Dead Sea line though? That salt scrub... I wonder if there's a cheaper version of that around.

@Jenny: Thank you!

@ Sarah & PolishedSheep: I know, right? How could you NOT love such a red? :)

SailorWifey said...

Very Pretty. I still haven't got off my arse and used my Konad, but soon, very soon.

I'll have to try ChG's oil. Right now I'm using Revlon's that I got on clearance at Targeet. You know you can make your own salt scrub. Let me know if you'd like a recipe.

♥ SailorWifey

mKat said...

@Brittany: Oh by all means! Please share your salt scrub recipe. I'd much prefer that to spending an excessive amount of money on a tiny jar of something! (I often make my own masks and the like but haven't looked for a salt scrub recipe yet.)

I'm sure everyone here would appreciate a recipe too. :)

Thanks!

Heidi said...

Sally's (at least the one near me) has One Minute Manicure Moisturizing Hand, Foot and Body Scrub (with Dead Sea salt) 2 oz bottles marked down to a very cheap $1.99. I picked up one yesterday in Blackberry Vanilla, but I haven't tried it yet. I have heard very good things about them, though, and they come in a variety of scents. (I think they also had a citrus, a mint, and one other that I can't recall.) I'd be happy to snag you one if you want it!

Stephanie said...

I love the title of this post! :)

mKat said...

@ Heidi: I may just take you up on that! Let me know what you think of the Blackberry Vanilla scent otherwise I might be interested in a citrus one. TIA!

mKat said...

@ Stephanie: LOL... thank you.

Heidi said...

I just took the seal off of the blackberry vanilla; it's a true blackberry sent, unfortunately I don't really detect vanilla at all. I was hoping it would be a little *sweeter*, but, it is what it is.

Piff said...

You are lucky. That polish is tdf on you. I love Ruby Pumps but it looks awful on me. I can't seem to purge it from my stash tho :/

mKat said...

@Heidi... that's too bad. Is the blackberry scent pleasing at least? (Scent is such a subjective thing, I realize).

@Piff...really? I'm surprised. Then again, reds can be awfully iffy which is probably why I like so few of them. If you can't use it as is, why not try frankening it? If you darken it with a hint of blue it would probably look stunning on you.

amusedPolish said...

i love this konadicure and I'm with you that ruby pumps alone is just... not as great
i also love it with an black base and then one, maybe 2 layers of ruby pumps(i even got compliments on that during an exam :D )

Heidi said...

The scent is fairly true-to-life blackberry, so it's not bad (unlike some sugar scrubs that I purchased from a company that shall remain nameless that do not smell like blackberries, vanilla, or even remotely like a fruit....) I was really hoping to get a whiff of vanilla, but I can defintely live with the fragrance!

mKat said...

@amused... I did like it on its own. I truly did. Which is kind of odd for me these days. But it also contrasted well with the black. I will have to try your rec of RP over a black base. Sounds lovely!

@Heidi... I wonder if I can guess the company. ;)

Paige said...

Wow, that looks so cool!

Heidi said...

(laughing) I'll bet you could, mKat! I could send you one of those scrubs, too, and you could play guess the scent!

mKat said...

I'm compiling a haul list, Heidi. :) (Thanks in advance - again!)

@GA...thank you!

Related Posts with Thumbnails