Regular Nail Polish + Soak Off Gel Top Coat (Part I)

You know what really sucks? When I apply my nails polish and it chips in the same day. It's OK if it chips when I'm at home, but if I'm anywhere else, it'll make me go crazy. Yes, I really hate having chipped polish on my nails, but sometimes there's not much you can do. Some polishes last a couple of hours on me before they chip, some last a day but never more than that. I'm sick and tired of that and that's the reason I decided to try the Soak Off Gel Top Coat as my last resort. I was wondering what would happen if I combined my regular nail polish with a gel top coat, so I bought one via Ebay - it's called Hong Nuo Top Coat and it cost me $4.75 (+ $0.80 for shipping). I was dying to try it out, but I had to wait for another essential part for the gel-ish manicure...

... the lamp! It has one 9 watt UV bulb and it's used to cure the gel top coat. Unlike regular polish, which airdries, gel polishes and top coats dry with the help of UV light. That's why you absolutely need one of these. There are a lot of different UV lamps: big ones, small ones, the ones with one, two or even four UV bulbs. The selection is quite big. I purchased this one because it's small and I figured it'll be good enough to try this techique out. I still don't know if I'm gonna like and use this gel-ish manicure so I picked the cheapest lamp. I got it off Ebay for $13.95 (buy it now, free shipping).

I've been searching the internet for information on using regular polish with gel top coat but without much luck. I decided to wing it and see what happens.

STEP 1
I used a regular polish just like I always do. I didn't use any base coat, I just applied 2 layers of Guppy nail polish in #64 to my nails. After the polish dried I did the clean-up with my brush. I waited for my polish to really dry before I continued with the next step. I think it took ~30 minutes for the polish to dry completely.

STEP 2
After the polish has dried completely, I applied a coat of Hong Nuo Soak Off Top Coat to my nails. I did the thumbs separately, 'cause they wouldn't fit into the lamp with the rest four fingers. I placed my fingers/nails under the lamp and cured the gel for 4 minutes.

STEP 3
Sometimes there's a sticky film on the nails after curing the gel. I didn't experience that, but in case I did, I kept a bottle of rubbing alcohol by my side to wipe it off. That's it! The nails are now dry and you can continue doing whatever you want. No more drying time. And the shine! It's amazing!

Removing soak off gel top coat:
Before I did a full manicure, I tried the techique on one nail - the application and the removal. Just in case to see the possible traps before I had gel on all my nails. Yes, the removal is a bit tricky and not as easy as with the regular polish, but that's why gel lasts longer.
I carefully filled off the top of my manicured nails trying to not file too much and damage my nails - you just need to file the gel part so it becomes rough. Then I placed a cotton pad on my nail and waited for a couple of minutes. The gel and polish went off pretty easily.

Let's see what are the good points of using a gel top coat and what are the downsides.

PROS: 
+ Longer lasting manicure.
+ It's easy and quick.
+ Amazing shine of the manicure.
+ No air-drying time.

CONS:
- The removal takes time.
- Possible nail damage that comes with the removal.

I also have another con for you, but I don't know if this applies to all the gel top coats - my Hong Nuo Top Coat stinks! It stinks only until it dries, but man, that's one bad smell. I still don't know about the longer-lasting manicure thing, I'll have to just wait and see. I hope it will last at least until the end of this week. I'll make sure to let you know about it in my Part II post which will be a sum up of this new techique. Just to get a little glimpse: I applied my polish yesterday and it still looks impecable today. So good so far. And I've never had my nails so shiny! This morning I woke up and expected to see sheet or hair marks on my nails, but no - they're still glossy and looking great.

What do you think of this half regular half gel manicure?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Catrice - Genius in the Bottle (#840)

I already introduced you to the gorgeous Heavy Metallilac from the new Catrice line and today it's all about the Genius in the Bottle. It's not all that genius. I bet someone just saw an opportunity to sell a lot of polish by trying to create a dupe of Chanel Peridot. Based on some comparison photos I've seen, they didn't succeed entirely, but they got pretty close. And I actually like Catrice one better.

Genius in the Bottle isn't exactly my type of color, but when I saw it in the store I couldn't help myself. Beautiful golden, copper and greenish tones in one bottle. *drool* I had to buy it. A downside is it looks much better in the bottle. Maybe they should have left the genius out of it. Set it free.

Catrice, Genius in the Bottle, 3 coats

Yeah, it needs 3 coats for full opacity, but I know some ladies might settle with 2 layers. The formula of this polish is great. Everything is great, except the brush. What were they thinking? Well, it's manageable but too big and weird shaped. I don't like it. I really don't.

You'll have to be careful with this polish - brush strokes are visible. That's one of the reasons why I didn't take any photos of it in my lightbox. Well, I did take them, but they're not good enough. Besides, these photos of the polish in natural lighting are more realistic.

Now this is a polish I don't mind applying 3 coats of. I'm sure we'll soon be swimming in the sea of Peridot look-alikes, but I dig this one 'cause it's easy to get (for me) and it's cheap. 10mL bottle of this golden/copper/green goodness cost me exactly €2.59. Spending €20 on a bottle of Chanel nail polish? No, thank you. It's JUST a polish.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Catrice - Heavy Metallilac (#800)

I finally got two shades from the new Catrice nail polish line. The first one is Heavy Metallilac and the second one is Genius in the Bottle. Today I'm showing you the purple goodness that is Heavy Metallilac.

First of all, I must warn you - these photos are pure crap. The polish isn't as cool toned and blue looking as the photos might suggest. It's actually a magenta (warm) toned purple. Although this polish looks nothing like the photos, I still wasn't disappointed when I saw it. It's a special shade, that's for sure. It's just impossible to photograph.

Catrice, Heavy Metallilac, 2 coats

Heavy Metallilac is loaded with shimmer and it looks a bit frosty. The brush strokes aren't as visible in real life as they are on photos. There's almost nothing I hate about polish more than frosty-ness, but in this case it's worth it. The shine is amazing and the polish looks much darker towards the edges - and I just love the depth it creates.

I tried so hard to capture the 'true' color, but I failed every time. Artificial lighting, sunlight, natural light, shade... nothing worked. This photo was taken outdoors on sunshine.

This polish is really amazing, but I do have one problem with it. The brush is horrible! I understand why some of the ladies love it - it's big and it covers almost whole nail, but that's where the problem lies. I have to have a control over my nail polish brush. And this one is so big it's almost impossible to lead it like I'd want to. Hence weirder than usual 'frosty lines'.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Lana del Rey Inspired Make Up

Surely you've all heard of Elizabeth Woolridge Grant AKA Lana del Rey (aka former Lizzy Grant). Lana: A songwriter and a singer. And a make up inspiration. Her ''gangsta Nancy Sinatra'' look makes a lot of people miss the old days. And 60's make up. Here she is, on the cover of Interview magazine, which made me say ''wow!''. And this is the make up I was trying to get close to.

Eyes. Lana uses natural colors on her eyes, combined with heavy black liner. Just like in the 60's, the crease is one of the most important things to emphasise. Don't forget the white liner on the waterline and/or bottom lid either. A pair of false eyelashes would be great as well, but I skipped that step. 

Products I used:
* Essence Stay All Day Concealer in Soft Beige (as a base)
* 88 Matte Eyeshadow Palette (nude all over the eyelid, taupe for the crease)
* Wet n Wild Mega Eyes Creme Eyeliner in Black
* NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
* NYX Doll Eye Long Lash Mascara

NYX Round Lipstick in Circe is the most perfect nude for this look I could find in my MU stash. But who am I kidding, this is the only lipstick I own that's remotely close to what Lana's wearing. =)

To sum it up: emphasised crease, black winged liner, white lower lash line/waterline, black falsies, nude lipstick and you're almost there. I wish my lips were fuller, like Lana's ... actually when I think it over, I don't want that. I just wish they were fuller. That's it. I didn't think I would take a photo of my face, so I didn't use any bronzer/blush. Just imagine it there.

Do you like Lana's make up? Would you wear something like this yourself?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Somewhere

Within Temptation - Somewhere

Lost in the darkness

Hoping for a sign

Instead there's only silence

Can't you hear my screams?

Never stop hoping

Need to know where you are

But one thing's for sure

You're always in my heart

I'll find you somewhere

I'll keep on trying

Until my dying day

I just need to know

Whatever has happened

The truth will free my soul

Lost in the darkness

Tried to find your way home

I want to embrace you

And never let you go

Almost hope you're in heaven

So no one can hurt your soul

Living in agony

Cause I just do not know

Where you are

Wherever you are

I won't stop searching

Whatever it takes me to know

Swatch: Beauty UK Eyeshadow Palette in Soho Bright (#2)

There are still a couple of Beauty UK Eyeshadow Palettes I have to show you. This one is called Soho Bright. Or is it just Soho? I don't know, but I do know there are some bright color in this one. Soho is definitely not for the shy ones.

Here are the swatches of the eyeshadows in the top row of the palette:

And this are the shadows from the bottom row:

TIP: If you're gonna use this kind of colors, I suggest you to layer them over a white base - something like NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk. The colors are gonna be much brighter and true.

Price: £3.99

Where to buy? Beauty UK online store (international) and Ličila.si (for Slovenian ladies).

Thanks for looking and commenting!

How To: Perfect Manicure Step by Step

I've been painting my nails for years now. I've been following different nail polish blogs, read a few nail articles and I gathered all this information, techiques and products throughout this time. You wanted it, you got it! Here's my guide on how to do a manicure.

Some ladies do their nails by themselves, some ladies ask their friends to do their nails for them and some ladies go to the salon. Well, you don't need to go to the salon to get your nails in shape. You just need some time, follow a few tips and remember - practice makes perfect. You also don't need to spend a ton of money on gel nails or acrylics (at least most people don't). Sure, they look nice right after they're done (if they're done right, which is quite often not the case), but think of your poor nails after your take them off. Ouch! I encourage you to work with what you've got. And keep in mind - it's just nails. Don't take it too seriously. Play around and have fun!

Once again: this is how I do it. It's like a pirate's code - is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules. ;)

How To: Perfect Manicure Step by Step

1) File

Filing and shaping your nails. This might sound a bit odd, but I find it easiest to file my nails while I still have my nail polish on. Especially when I'm wearing a dark colored polish. The shape just looks better if I do it this way. I suggest you to invest in a quality glass/crystal file - it will last a lifetime. Unless you break it. It's best to file your nails in one direction only, to prevent the nails from tearing. I use a small (3.5 inches long) glass file I got off Ebay. It's a cheap one, but it works great.

2) Remove Nail Polish

Removing old nail polish is the easy part. Soak a cotton/felt pad with nail polish remover, place the pad onto your nail, press gently and hold it for a couple of seconds and then wipe the polish off towards the nail tip. You can use a foil techique for glitter nail polish which is harder to remove. I use regular cotton pads and Essence acetone free nail polish remover.

3) Remove Cuticles

Removing cuticles is important and can also get tricky. I advise you to use liquid products for this step instead of tools. Cutting cuticles will give you a good result right away, but they will start growing back real soon and try to protect your nails even more. That's a circle ride that's hard to get off of. I use Blue Cross Cuticle Remover - it's easy to use, it's quick, safe and it works! I've also heard good things about the Sally Hansen and Mavala cuticle removers. After your dried up cuticles are removed, wash your hands, dry them up and gently push the cuticles back.

4) Paint Your Nails

Painting your nails is the hardest step for most ladies. It takes a steady hand and some practice, but you CAN do it just like a pro. Or even better.

1. Base coat - You don't have to use a base coat and if I'm honest, I often skip this step. Base coat comes in really handy if you have visible ridges on your nails or if you're using a nail polish that could stain your nails. My main problem are the ridges. That's why I love my NailTek Foundation II base coat. It does a good job at preventing my nails from nail polish staining as well. So, whenever you're planning on using a green or blue nail polish (these colors stain the most) - apply a layer of base coat first. Just in case.

2. Nail polish - This is the tricky part. You need enough of polish on your brush to paint your nails, but not too much so it doesn't flood your cuticles. Start by placing the brush in the middle of your nail, close to the cuticles but not too close. Push the polish drop towards the cuticles and then back towards the nail tip. Try to pain your nail in 3 moves, starting in the middle and ending with the sides.
Wait for the first coat of polish to dry and apply a second one. Some of the polishes are completely opaque in one coat, but they look much better when a second coat is applied. It gives a certain depth to the color. If you need more than two coats, I advise you to search for a color dupe - there are many brands out there and a ton of colors to choose frome.

3. Top coat - This is another step you don't need to take, but it can make your manicure look much prettier and/or dry faster. There's a lot of top coats to choose from: glossy, fast drying, long lasting, scented ... but not all of them work the same on different people. Find out what works for you. My favorite fast drying polish is Seche Vite. I also like Essence Nail Art Sealing Top Coat a lot.

5) Clean-up

Clean-up comes in handy for the ladies who want their manicure to look impecable. So, your hands weren't as steady as you wanted them to be or you just managed to paint your cuticles as well? Don't worry. A flat, stiff brush dipped in nail polish remover will take care of that. I use Lefranc & Bourgeois art brush 4300B in size 2. Slovenian ladies can buy it for €2.14 in Art stores.

6) Show Your Cuticle Some Love

Cuticles need some love. Nail polish remover can dry the skin out, especially if it contains acetone. Use almond/olive oil or hand cream to moisture your hands. This will also take care of dry cuticles. You can also use products designed especially for cuticles - cuticle oil, cuticle pencils... I use Essence Cuticle Softener Pencil (on photo above) and regular almond oil.

REMEMBER: Nails change. They can be affected by illness, seasons, food you're eating, work you're doing... Try wearing gloves when doing chores around the house (dish washing, yard work, cleaning). If you're not comfortable wearing gloves, keep your nails polished when you're soaking your hands in water - nail polish will protect the nails. As hard as this is, try not to use your nails as tools. If you have a certain problem with your nails, use a product designed for that problem - the market is full of nail hardeners, whiteners, anti-splitting treatments etc.

***

USEFUL TIPS:

* Go to the toilet before polishing your nails. It might sound funny, but it's important and if you don't trust me now, you'll regret it later (with all the dents in your fresh manicure). XD Here's a blog of a lady who knows this tip very well - Pee Before Polish.

* Paint your dominant hand first. I'm not sure why, but it works and my mani looks better if I start with painting my right hand first.

* Take your time, steady your hands/lean them on a table. Let the brush do the work for you - spread it over your nail, use slow motions. Moving your hand instead of the brush works well for some people.

* Nail polish doesn't harm your nails. Nails aren't alive and they don't need to 'breathe'. I find my nails stronger and longer if I keep them polished at all times. Beware of the bad chemicals though (most of them are banned in EU anyway), since some of them can cause health problems. Nails are made of keratin (like hair) and the chemicals can be absorbed into your body. At such small amounts you shouldn't have any health issues, but better to be safe than sorry. Paint your nails in a well ventilated room.

* Taking biotin supplements can help you with the super thin and brittle nails.

* If your nails are long and one of your nails breaks, just file them all down. Nails are much prettier when they're all at the same length. They'll grow back sooner or later.

* Buffing the surface of your nails can help you get rid of the ridges, but this will also weaken your nails. If you must do this, make sure to not over-buff. Do it only once a month or less! I use Essence 4 in 1 nail file for buffing.

***

So, this is it. All my nail wisdom in one place. Hopefully, you'll find it useful.

Did I leave anything out?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Review: KKcenterHK - Ouqian Magnetic Nail Polish in #002

I must admit I'm not too fond of magnetic nail polishes, but I had to try this one. When Maggie from KKcenterHK contacted me to write a review on their nail polish, I picked this one without much thinking. And it was a good pick. This is Ouqian Magnetic Nail Polish in shade 002.

Before anyone asks me: I've never heard of Ouqian polishes before and I can't give you any information about the ingredients. I would say these polishes are not big 3 free, but as I can't find the ingredients anywhere, I can't be completely sure. It does have a scent of something that could be toluene, but it doesn't reek of it.

This magnetic polish is easy to apply and it looks kind of frosty and 'blah' when you apply the first layer. I was almost sure I wasn't gonna like it. For the reviewing purposes I added another layer (still didn't liked it) and hold it next to the magnet. I guess some kind of magic happened in that time. The non-magnetic part of the polish became dark purple. And I mean dark. It reminded me of the new China Glaze polish from the Magnetix collection. I think it's called Instant Chemistry. Dark edges and bright lines. That's more like it!

The Ouqian magnetic polishes don't come with a magnet, so you need to buy it separately. This is the magnet I used with the Ouqian polish - the 3 in 1 magnet set from KKcenterHK. As you can see, it consists of three different magnet patterns, a base where you put your finger and a stand/holder.

Pattern #1 - diagonal lines (third finger from above)
Pattern #2 - horizontal lines (fourth finger from above)
Pattern #3 - Maltese cross (first two fingers from above)

This magnets work great. Especially the ones with the straight lines. The star one doesn't really create a star shape, it's more in the shape of a maltese cross. I don't like that one too much. It makes lines that are just too random for my liking. Maybe it's because my nails are too small, I don't know. I like the diagonal and horizontal one much better though.

Here's a comparison of 4 different magnetic polishes with the same magnet (the one mentioned above). I compared L'Oreal's Star Magnet in Magnetic Grey, Ouqian magnetic nail polish in 002, 17 Magnetized in Blue and Essence Magnetics in Hex Hex. See how 'right there in your face' Ouqian one is?

You can buy Ouqian magnetic nail polish on KKcenterHK website - HERE, for $12.00. That's also the place where you can buy the 3 in 1 nail polish magnet - HERE, for $13.00.

You can use a CODE - BLGA290AM10 for 10% off your purchase when you buy on KKcenterHK website. 

*Product was sent to me for review.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Review: KKcenterHK - Ebalay Nail Polish in #006

Here's a beautiful iridescent polish I got for review from KKcenterHK. The bottle reminds me a lot of OPI bottles, but it's got nothing to do with it. This baby is better. It's duochrome.

I applied two layers of this polish over a black base - Wet n Wild Black Creme. The particles in the Ebalay polish aren't glitter-size neither are they fine shimmer. They're right something in between. And they shine!
Here's a photo of my mani on sunlight.

This photo of the polish in shade shows it's duochrome effect better. Main color is burgundy which shifts to light golden/yellow and yellowish green. So, I guess it's a multichrome rather than duochrome.

Color drop:

I must say I was pleasantly surprised by this polish. It's effect is very nicely visible, it has a good brush and formula and the smell isn't that bad at all. It does smell like toluene, but there's none of that Kleancolor-like stench. It dries fast and is all in all a very decent polish.

KKcenterHK carries 11 different Ebalay iridescent shades. You can see them all HERE. The one I just showed you is this one - Ebalay A06. The bottle contains 15mL of polish and costs $6.80. Quite a bargain, I must say.

You can use a CODE for 10% off your purchase - BLGA290AM10.

***

BTW: Arya says 'hi'. Her scar has healed perfectly and she's becoming a big girl. She's already as big as Aishila and I think she'll get even bigger. She still likes to sleep in very unusual poses. Most of them involve laying on the back with her head twisted in an unnatural way. Plus: this cat LOVES to eat. She's the first one at the bowl and the last one to leave. =) And yes, I'm wearing my Ebalay polish on the photo.

***

What are your thoughts on this polish?

*Product was sent to me for review.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

New Essence Trend Edition: Soul Sista by Sun Club

''Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister! Things are going to get groovy, funky and chilled when essence presents the trend edition "Soul Sista" with a skillful combination of summer feeling and 70’s style under the umbrella sun club from mid march until april 2012. Gorgeous, summery bronzes blend with golden yellow, strong rosé and turquoise shades to create colorful looks reminiscent of the disco era. For make-up that puts you in the mood for summer! Get ready to head to the nearest beach club with your favorite soul sista!'' (Essence)

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Sorry

First of all: Thank you for all your kind words in the past week. They mean a lot to me! Thank you!

I feel like I have to write something, although it's still so hard for me to find the right words. It's been a week ... but that's nothing compared to 10 years we've spent with him. Car wasn't just a pet or a dog. He was our family member. He's been with us at all times. He slept in my mother's bed, he sat beside me when I ate, he gave me a kiss everytime I came home... and the house is so empty without him.

I don't know if I told you about the attack he had a couple of months ago. He looked like he was gonna faint and my mother and I took him to the vet immediately. He got a shot and some pills. The attack occured again this year and after we took him to the vet one more time, he was diagnosed with epilepsy. He got pills, but they didn't help. I went to the vet once more, telling him it must be something else (that was two weeks ago). He said the pills need a couple of days to start working and sent me home.

Car looked OK on Monday. He's been very playful and he ate like on any other day. I called the vet anyway, to schedule a heart exam. Just in case. But it was too late. Half an hour later, he became very weak and his heart stopped beating before we could make it to the vet. I was still sure there's something they can do. The word that came out of the vet's mouth broke my heart: ''Sorry.''

And so am I. I'm sorry I failed you, my little one. I'm sorry I settled with the 'epilepsy' diagnose when I knew something isn't right.

He was buried, wrapped in my blanket, alongside my beloved Gaia, Shiva and Puma. As soon as the snow is gone, we'll plant some roses there. Roses with thorns, just like he was.

P.S.: I'll be back on track as soon as possible...

All Good Things Come To An End

"All Good Things (Come To An End)"

Honestly what will become of me
don't like reality
It's way too clear to me
But really life is dandy
We are what we don't see
Missed everything daydreaming

Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end?

Traveling I only stop at exits
Wondering if I'll stay
Young and restless
Living this way I stress less

I want to pull away when the dream dies
The pain sets in and I don't cry
I only feel gravity and I wonder why

Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end?

Well the dogs were whistling a new tune
Barking at the new moon
Hoping it would come soon so that they could
Dogs were whistling a new tune
Barking at the new moon
Hoping it would come soon so that they could
Die die die die die

R.I.P. Car (July 2002 - February 2012)

Rest in peace, our little angel. You will be missed...

Panvel Make Up - Congo

Let's move on with the Brazilian beauties. This is another one I got from Laura and you've already had the chance to see it in my previous Ebay Buy post.

Like all the other South American polishes I've tried, this one also has quite a big brush. It's kind of bushy, but not too hard to handle and control. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out this one dries to a matte finish. The great thing about it is the smooth surface after it dries. It reminds me of ManGlaze Fuggen Ugly, but I don't think that one was as smooth.

Panvel Make Up, Congo, 2 coats

Another thing I have to mention about this polish is it's staying power. I've never had a matte polish that would survive dishwashing. This one did. Amazing, right? When I think about it, all Brazilian polishes last longer on me than other polishes. If you're not a fan of matte finish, you can always cover it up with top coat and make it glossy. You can see Congo by itself on the left and with Essence Nail Art Sealing Top Coat on the right.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Swap Offer

You know how hard it is to get cosmetic stuff from other countries, right? There are sale restrictions (I'm talking about you, China Glaze) and ridiculous shipping charges (Head2Toe) and paying taxes when you buy too much... Then there's also a problem of not being able to buy a certain product online. And it goes on and on.

That's why I've decided to try something new. I don't know how you'll respond to this, it might be a crappy idea, but I can at least try it, right? Well, big swaps kind of scare me. Things can get out of hands really quickly and you end up spending more than you wanted. That's why I came up with the Swap Offer.

My first Swap Offer includes:
* Essence Crazy Good Times Face & Body Glitter Stick (brand new)
* Essence Crazy Good Times Nail Polish in Princessorize (swatched once)
* Essence Crazy Good Times Nail Polish in Paradelade (brand new)

All these items together are worth €6,25 (~ 8 USD, 5 GBP).

Rules:
* These items only. All together.
* Every side pays their part of the shipping.
* Swapping for item(s) in the same price range.

If you're interested in these items, send me your offer on email: nihrida at gmail dot com. You can offer anything in the cosmetic section, but I'm mostly interested in nail polish. You can see my wishlist, but it's not mandatory to offer something from the list. You have until February 18th to send me your offers. I'll pick my favorite offer and inform the person who sent it to me. Then we can swap. Simple as that.

Let me know what you think about this Swap Offer idea.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Ebay Buy: More Rings

I should probably count all my rings sometime soon. My collection is growing fast. =) But with Ebay bargains like these, who could resist.

The first one was described as 'huge tibet silver gallant ring'. I got it for $1.50 (on auction, free shipping). You can also get it in 'buy it now' section for $3.50.

I wanted to get a ring like this one in H&M store a couple of months ago, but it was €7.00. I did a right thing leaving it behind and searching for something similar on Ebay. This 'tibet silver simulated stone ring' cost me only $1.26 (on auction, free shipping).

I think I like the knot one a bit more than the stone one. Which one is your favorite?

Thanks for looking and commenting!