The Mentality Nail Polish Scandal

I know I'm a small blogger and that most of you have heard about the Mentality issue on Facebook/Instagram/blogs already but I'm still writing this incase someone still haven't heard about it.

Basically the indie polish maker Mentality Nail Polish is possibly dangerous to use and should be avoided!

Earlier claims is that only their neon spring collection was causing horrible burning sensations in the nails and nail loosening (onycholysis). And yea, not all people has been affected but it sure has been INSANELY many who has suffered from this because of Mentality, it also seems as more people are popping up each week. Mentality officially calls people suffering from this issue for just being "sensitive", which is a load of BS IMHO.

The reason (Mentality claims) is because Mentality used a "bad batch" of nail polish base from a side-company to Nubar. They also claim that that "damaged" base only has been used to that neon collection and that they've stopped using that base. And that the bad base + the neon pigments has reacted somehow. However, apparently all this is just a wild guess. From my knowledge they have still not tested anything so it might as well be something else in their production. Who knows? (The newest speculation is that their new UV gel line and the regular polish line somehow has intermixed, and as you know unhardened gel commonly cause reactions..)

However again, now it seems like more people has come forward and realized that also other collections way prior to the neon spring collection has caused nail loosening. It is not only the neon collection that might cause these problems!

Furthermore, Mentality started to refund people but has now decided that they wont anymore (which is weird) and instead they launch new collections and are selling the neon collection on 50% sale. (yay, poison for 50%!)

Since they've started to refuse refunds, customers has started "claims" on paypal to force them to pay back. Mentality are then defending them selves by saying to Paypal that people (their customers) are bullying and harassing them and that they shouldn't be force to pay.

The worst thing is that it seems like Mentality has been aware of this issue for a year before this hole thing exploded in social media. Also it seems like they've prepared to avoid lawsuit by changing their business to a cooperation in a very "suiting timing". 

I only own one Mentality which I got in a swap in a facebook group before this Mentality issue got public. I still haven't tried it and now I doubt that I will ever use it on my nails. I'm honestly too scared to try it. I know all people might not react to the polishes and if you have them and continue to use them I urge you to be careful and keep a watching eye on your nails. Still I like to point out that I will continue to use indie polishes from other brands.

I think that mistakes can happen to anyone and of course Mentality didn't do this on purpose BUT the way they have handled this issue is beyond horrible. And I feel so sorry for all people who has been victims of this, a whole bunch of people in the swedish nail community has been affected.


There's a lot of well written and more detailed information about this in several blogs which I also urge you to read:
Here Themercurialmagpie speaks about it.
Here Ashleyispolishaddicted speaks about it.

Swatches of 2014 - Summary

Think this will be the last summary from 2014. So soon there things will go back to normal ;) But before that, let's look at the "regular" swatches I've done over 2014. Previously I've showed you summaries of both glitter swatches, my favorite nail art from 2014, winter nail art challenge summary and blogger statistics.

Thinking back I've really adored both Claudia and Kleancolor the most. :) Quite fun seeing the polishes in creme/crelly/"creme-shimmers" in just one post.

What do you think? Have I neglected some color category? ;)

Glitter swatches of 2014 - summary

I'm really into the summary mode and here's another summary post of the glitters I've showed during 2014. I've divided them in 3 categories here;

1. glitters covering on their own (or at least that's how I used them)
2. glitters with a clear polish base and must be layered; ie; effect polishes
3. glitters with a colored base, doesn't need to be layered.

As you can see of the above, only three of them covers of their own, and those are the ones I like the best.

From the effect glitter top coats I like the L.A. Girl - Uninhibited (black glitter) because it's so versatile for nail art etc. And I also like the the pink Claire's polish and the Lush Lacquer polish.

From these it was quite simple to choose, my favorites are the brown/blue Smitten and the two El Corazon.

What do you think? Got any favorites out of these?

Winter Nail Art Challenge - Summary

Today I'm showing a summary of the Winter Nail Art Challenge which Helena at Lacky Corner organized and hosted. Thanks for an awesome work Helena:)
And below are my contributions:

My personal favorites are the Christmas tree and the Snowflake manicure. :) Which one did you like the best?

Fun blog facts of 2014

Previously I've showed you what I thought was my best nail art's and I figured that I'd tell you some fun (?) facts which blogger statistics have showed. And that is what YOU readers probably have thought was my best things (both 2012-2014) considering the amount of page views;

Interesting to see is that for the second year in a row A clockwork orange nail art is on top with most page views. Still here from previous year is the White spider nail art from 2012, dandelion (2013, Hoopoe bird (2013) and the balloon funky french (2013). "Newcommers" on the list are (unexpected from my point of view) the "Side-flower"-tutorial (2014), Cow funky french(2014) and the Swirl needle dragging (2014).

A clockwork orange nail art (2013)

Tutorial of "side-flower nail art" (2014)

White spider nail art in black and pink (2012)

Cow funky french (2014)

Dandelion nail art (2013)

Hoopoe bird nail art (2013)

Balloon funky french (2013)

Must mention, the Balloon funky french is still my most commented post ever! :)

B&W needle dragging, swirl/fingerprint nail art (2014)

Other statistics:

From linked websites (except like facebook, pinterest, google, bloglovin etc) I've got a lot of clicks from Lelack and Lindas Nailorama.

Other fun facts are page views divided in countries here from when I started blogging. The countries being on top visiting my blog are from;

1. Sweden
2. United States
3. Russia
4. Germany
5. France
6. Great Britain
7. Ukraine
8. The Netherlands
9. China
10. Canada

Basically I got more French page views and less from the Netherlands and Canada. Ukraine and China are new comparing to last year. Also India and Poland has disappeared from the top ten list.

More statistics about page views per months and other read and follows counts, check out my Contact, PR & Policy.

Here is
Fun blog facts of 2013

So, what do you think? XD

My favorite nail art's of 2014

This is a part I really like, watching back of what I've done during the year and what I've been the most content with! (At least from what I think today).

In many ways this year has been different from other years, I usually have most of my favorite's during the end of the year, but this time most of my favorites are from the beginning of the year, mostly because of lack of time. I also feel that I haven't tried especially many new techniques this year.

Above is my favs in no particular order.

There has also been some "firsts" and also "repeats" this year;

• I've participated in many challenges
• still doing Where-in-the-world challenge
• did the 3IDNC (russian style in the spring)
• Winter Nail Art Challenges challenge
• Depression Awareness week in green
• Breast cancer Awareness week in pink
• Joined Nail Challenge Collaborative
• Me and Zara from Traces Of Polish created Valentine Polish Week <3
• And here I list all the new nail art techniques I've tried during 2013 (new to me);
• tried water color nail art
• managed to make full nail stamping and improved in stamping a lot
• tried some new needle dragging patterns, like hearts and swirls!
• tried dreamcatcher nails for the first time
• have also done a bit more "serious" skittelettes this year.

Do you have any favorites from this year? Which ones are your favorites?

A summary of 2014

Hi everyone. Being on a holiday usually means a lot of free time for me, but during this Christmas/new year it wasn't, at all. I'm therefore behind in both blogging, answering comments, reading blogs and commenting. I'm also back in Germany again, so hopefully I'll soon get some routine on things.

I'll start this week with some summary posts celebrating 2014, nail polish and nail art wise. I'll start with this list I've done before which originally comes from Cactus blog.

Have you done something this year that you haven't done before?

Nail polish: There has been some larger hoarding of polish but mostly I've kept a tight budget and haven't splurge in the polish in the way I've wanted to. A big difference from previous years, is that most of the polish I've bought hasn't been online, but during my stays in other countries. I've also had an amazing nail polish swap from Russia. ^^

Personal: I've moved to Germany, haven't done that before.

What countries did you visit?

Nail polish: Nail polishes arrived Sweden, Germany, Canada, Russia, and some eBay findings from Asia (probably Hong Kong). Did buy some stuff from the US too..

Personal: I've visited Canada and obviously Germany.

Did you miss something 2014 that you wish for in 2015?

Nail polish: Naa.. I'm looking forward to see all the flakie collections which will appear everywhere and by everyone.

Personal: Still that frickin' job..

What's the best things that happened to you during the year?

Nail polish: Oh, I've got soooo many new awesome polishes, hard to mention all of them, but among my favorites are definitely the ones from my Russian swap, the matte glittery polishes from Dance Legend and El Corazon.

Personal: That trip to Canada with my family was really nice.

What was your biggest mistake during the year?

Nail polish: I don't think I've done some polish mistake. I've been a bit bummed not been able to buy all polishes I wanted, like some limited edition, but that wasn't by mistake so.

Personal: Trusting and believing in the wrong people, that can be painful.

What was your best purchase during 2014?

Nail polish: Well, as I mentioned the Russian swap wasn't bad, even though that was swapped, and not bought in that way.. ;) But considering shopping hauls I found this one, where I bought my previous lemming Alanna Rene - Reptar amongst other.

Personal: As usual I haven't bought much, nothing expensive at least, and less than usual years. On top of my mind I've bought a rather cool fake leather jacket for 40 euros. Oh just remember, I did buy a camera! xD

What did you spend the most money on?

Probably food and rent. And then nail polish.

What made you happy 2014?

Nail polish: Old and new blog followers, also instagram followers and pinterest followers, so basically all you people commenting and reading my blog. Thank you! <3

Personal: My ability to fight, and not giving up even when it's hard.

Did you feel better or worse during 2014?

To be honest 2014 was a shitty year in general, with some happy peaks though.

Is there anything you wish you would have spent more time doing?

Nail polish: Maybe blogging, during this summer I just didn't have the time due to my summer jobs.

Personal: I've stopped regretting stuff like that. I always do the best I can, given the circumstances and my abilities of that time.

Did you get in love?

Nail polish: Yea, I'm still VERY found of matte glitter combos, and also matte texture polishes.

Personal: Still the same boyfriend. <3

What was the best television program?

Quite unpredictable but seriously, I just love Top Gear.

Do you hate someone you didn't hate before?

No, still hating the same people as much as before. Yes, I'm a hater.

Did you wish for something and got it?

Nail polish: Didn't get any of the polishes I wished for, but I got a surprise storage box from my brother which I'll put my nail art stuff in! Just perfect!

Personal: Yea, got awesome Christmas gifts.

Did you wish for something and didn't get it?

Nail polish: Yea, on my Christmas list was "anything from Smitten Polish site, but these are on top; (figgy pudding, not your mamas easter grass, electric lime, nuclear sunshine, seasonal lattes, fire burn)"..

Personal:Yea, wanted a decent job last year, still do.

Which where the best people you met during 2014?

Nail polish:  Hello there Dance Legend, El Corazon, Golden Rose, Jordana, Alanna Renee and P2..lots of new brands during 2014..to many to mention all.

Personal: Haven't met any new people really, no one that memorable irl.

How would you describe your style and style of clothing?

Nail polish: Still just everything on my nails, any colors and any patterns. One could say however that I've increased the amount of red+black and therefore also red in general. My amount of red polishes has increased during 2014.

Personal: Still into darker clothing, it's so convenient, fits any occasion and any accessories and especially any nail polish/nail art. I never wear pastel clothing, that literally doesn't excist in my wardrobe, white and colors works during summer though.

What made you feel good this year?

Nail polish. And awesome people commenting my blog, your support is awesome and can turn any day to a happy one.

What/who did you miss this year?

Nail polish: Not something I can think about.. the ones I didn't buy? XD

Personal: I missed my parents and brother a bit since they live a long way from where I live. Also some friends living far away too.

Which month was the best this year?

I'm a summer person, and this summer was the hottest ever..so it could have been the best ever, BUT I just had to work on a shitty job all summer. Missed the best summer ever.

Is there anything you could have done better?

Nope, learning by doing. As I said before, done regretting stuff, more of future-approach-thinking.

How will 2015 differ from 2014?

Nail polish: Less polishes I assume due to the fact that I probably can't afford it. Maybe more time to make nail art if I'm unemployed. Maybe less nail art if I get depressed of not getting a job. We'll see. LOL, the same as 2012/2013. ;)

Personal: I hope a lot of things will differ, like everything in a positive direction. Let's hope for that:)

Winter Nail Art Challenge - Are you joining??? ;)

Helena at Lackycorner has been kind enough to host a nail art challenge in December. And of course I wanted to join, I love nail art challenges! And of course it would be funnier if you joined too! ;) And if you aren't joining, heads up for a lot of winter/christmas nail art in december. ;)

The rules are very simple.
- Any nail art is allowed, and everyone can make their own free interpretation of the themes.
- You can join all days or just one day or as many of the days you want.
- You can join through your blog, instagram, pinterest and/or facebook.

For more info you can check out Helenas own post [HERE]. If you have a facebook account you can join the challenge group page to get all info there (and also to be social with the rest of us;)) and if you don't you can simply email Helena to get more picture sizes (like for IG) and to get inlinkz codes which is available for everyone.

There is 11 days before it starts so if you want you can start preparing, thinking what to do etc now already. :P

So, are you joining??? Tell me in the comments below. :)

Gelic nail art on instagram!

Yea, it has finally happened, I've got an official instagram account for the blog.

@gelicnailart

I'll fill it up along with my usual blog routine, so it wont stay empty for long. :)

You can also see it in the side bar to the right, below archive and all the follow stuff. Available at Snapwidget.

I'd also like to mention that my internet connection here in Germany basically sucks atm so I have no wifi to my phone so all posting etc is through my laptop through Gramblr. So if I answer really slow at IG or not at all it's because I don't get tagged, because you only get tagged on the phone.. But that hopefully will get better in the future.

So... Please follow and I'll follow you back :)

Fun blog facts of 2013

Previously I've showed you what I thought was my best nail art and I figured that I'd tell you some fun (?) facts which blogger statistics have showed. And that is what YOU readers probably have thought was my best things (both 2012-2013) considering the amount of page views;

On top we see the unthreatened A clock work orange nail art followed by the Hoopoe bird nail art and then on third place my White spider nail art, which also happens to be the only nail art from 2012. I guess that means that I've probably improved a lot during 2013.

1. A Clock Work Orange nail art (2013)

2. Hoopoe Bird nail art for Israel (2013)

3. Halloween White Spider nail art in pink and black (2012)

4. Ballon Funky French/ Ballon nail art (2013)

5. Purple converse shoe nail art (2013)

6. Dandelion nail art (2013)

7. Pink pig nail art (2013)

8. Cats in love nail art (2013)

9. Rhinestone flower nail art (2013)

So, what do you think, do you agree with the public? ;)

Other fun facts are page views divided in countries here from when I started blogging. The countries being on top visiting my blog are from;

1. Sweden
2. United States
3. Russia
4. Germany
5. Great Britain
6. France
7. The Netherlands
8. Canada
9. India
10. Poland

Update; personal

Hi, I'm sorry for not being able to do any blog posts, answer comments etc. Here you'll see the reasons;

As I mentioned before I had a lot of things to do with my part time job and 75% studies (exams and deadlines coming up) and my bf's birthday. But then I was offered an additional part time job too..and my schedule exploded.. So I'll probably wont have time to check in here until Monday. It sucks but I can't afford the luxury of free time this weekend.

Hope to see you soon though. I'll be back. Cross your fingers that I'll be able to be super efficient and everything will go according to plan. :)

My latest purchases

Isn't it just typical to get a cold in the middle of the summer and the thermometer is 30+ degrees Celsius in the sun? My throat is killing me and I feel very tired.

Any how, let's look at my latest purchases. :)

Stamping plate m63 from ebay. Finally I snugged it for a decent price and the print that made me buy it is the houndstooth pattern. I've began loving that print on literally everything and of cause I must have it on my nails. I'm really not that good with stamping but I've been planning to practice to don't be surprized if you'll see it here in the future. ;)

A bunch of Oopsie Daises from Etsy, and as usual it's Sminkan who's inspired me for the majority of these above.

 And above we have something as unusual as store bought polishes! My first Zoya's ever at the neat price of 19 SEK (that's about 2 euro). And three fairly new brands for me; Miyo, Odena and Vow.

The Miyo's I find extra exciting to try since they seems duochrome in the way Color Clubs's Port-Folio is. However I'm not sure if that's real duochrome or if we should call it something else?

Blog pause

As you might have noticed, I'm having a blog pause. 

I'm in the end of my diploma thesis and there's almost no room for anything but work. Yesterday I was at school working from 8 in the morning to 12 at the night and when I got home my only interest was my bed so you see what I mean.

But I'll be back when I got more time. :) xoxo

About comments

I've noticed that blogger seems to mess up comments. So I so sorry for those of you that I've might have missed answering. :/

Before I've set it up like when someone comment I get an email about it, for some reason this doesn't work anymore and I don't know why. For my new blog posts I mostly see the new comments at the blog before checking my email but for comments in old posts I'm now screwed.

My solution for this is that posts older than 10 days will be moderator approved. Hopefully this won't be any negative change for you more than if you comment on an old post the comment wont appear the second you've left it.

If any problems appear, please comment or email me. My mail is on the sideboard to the left.

To make this post a tiny bit funnier, some music. ;)

Alive but still absent..

This has been the longest time of absence ever in blog posts here at Gelic' nail art.

For those of you following my blog I can calm you that it's not permanent but right now I'm completely drowned with school work and volunteer work/regular work and I have almost no time for anything nail related. No naked nails though.

Positive things is that after this Monday my volunteer work/regular work will be finished. My school work will continue so time wise it will take a lot of time, the positive thing is that it's fun (doing my diploma thesis!).

Hopefully I'll get time tonight preparing to participate in Lelacks Nail Art Sunday.

Hope you're all doing fine and I'll let you know when I'm back.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of you checking in my blog every day. Despite my absence I've reached record numbers of readers checking out my blog(!), I would never in a million years have thought that! Thanks!

My nail art stuff - part 1, rhinestones part 1

Hi!
I hope you're all doing fine! I'm feeling a bit down, my school assignment is going crap and bad luck is happening too often at the moment. I'm all stressed out over my upcoming diploma thesis and it was a long time ago I felt motivation. That's why I've been having less time for reading blogs, cocommenting on blogs, maintaining my own blog and even doing nail art(!). Luckily I have bought a lot of beautiful indies which doesn't need further decoration. (They will of cause be shown here at my blog.) Even though the blog takes time I think it's important that I let my self have some "free time"=blog/nail related time. And I really value every person who read and comment on my blog, that makes me very happy between all stress. :)

Now for some funnier stuff (maybe?) and I wanted to show you my nail art stuff. I have a lot of nail art stuff and I've noticed that many people doesn't like too many photos in one post so I figured that I divide them between posts. This time I'll show rhinestones. (haha, humongous amount of photos anyway...sry)

Above and below is most of my rhinestone wheels and rhinestone jars. In the photo there's also metal beads and flat glitter but I'll show them in another post.

To be able to make nail art it's not that important to have many sizes of rhinestones but I think it's fun and very versatile. I also use them and they're very cheap so I don't mind having many. Below are the sizes I've got.

In most of the rhinestone sizes I've got at least 12 colors but mostly more. The reason for is that they're often sold in 12, 16, 24packs.

1MM rhinestones

I have my index finger as a reference and also a ruler for you to get the picture.

2MM rhinestones

Between 1MM to 2MM I attach with top coat coat because they're very small and the topcoat covers them enough.

3MM rhinestones

From 3MM and larger rhinestones I attach with nail glue, otherwise they would pop of too easy.

4MM rhinestones

Up to 4MM I have no problem having them on my nails, the are easy to glue and the curves on my nails doesn't matter.

5MM pearl rhinestones

Up to 5MM the rhinestones are getting large and they are harder to place. I usually have them in the middle of my finger from the tip to the cuticles (where the nail is less curved.)

7MM rhinestones

The 7MM are harder to use, they fit my thumbs and can be applied on other nails with some tricks. I also use them on my toes as accent when it's summer.

Pink leopard spots and large rhinestones

To make the rhinestone manicure last as long as possible it is good to ad additional top coat (shown as gray) after the glue has dried. The images below is exaggerated, but I do this with the 3MM rhinestones too to be sure that they wont get stuck to anything which they will if the edge is open.

And if it isn't obvious, this is a stylized image of nails looking right in front of them at the top.

To see the funky french in the reference images above, click the image:

Humble Bee funky french

Gelic' nail art on Pinterest!

Good to mention, I've got a Pinterest account now! Or I've had it for a while. Good for those who perhaps doesn't like blogs but like to see the pictures. I've was actually glad to see that other had pinned my nail art. :)

Here's the link: http://pinterest.com/gelicnailart/
If you you're in to it you can follow me there too.

For you regular blog readers there's of cause no difference from before. I'll keep posting here as before, Pinterest is just like having av FB page for the blog but without the FB, but you probably know all that.

Pink glitter funky french

More archive stuff, I'm still out of remover! Today is the 6th day wearing the same manicure! When I really like a manicure I easily were it for about 4 days, but then no matter what I think about it I want to change to something new.

Today I have a funky french to show, on short nails and a tiny bit out of focus(?). This is actually a trio of Wet n Wild bought at the Swedish store "Gekås" years ago.

Polishes used:
Wet n Wild (pearl blue shimmer)
Wet n Wild (pink shimmer)
Wet n Wild (pink glitter)

And as a bonus (wished from Little Miss Nail Polish):

Me and my boyfriend's dog. My bf had her before we met but you could say that I've adopted her. :) Most of my blog stuff I write in our sofa and she always lyes next to me with her head on my lap. Sometime with her head on my laptop meanwhile she's wagging her tail, or licking my face; that's when she wants food or go out. :) Most of my readers comes from Sweden but some don't and then I figured that it could be fun seeing how it looks outdoors where I live now, white and snowy.

My favorite nail art's of 2012

Here are my favorite nail arts of 2012, at least o what I think today. They are not in order from best to less best because blogger wont let me arrange the pictures. Now they are in the same order as I published them. The pictures are also clickable if you wish to see more pictures and reviews of the nail art.

Rainbow funky french

Zebra + leopard in a gradient

Checked nail art with rhinestone bows

Checked mani in black, white and red + rhinestones

Kleancolor holo gradient in pink, blue and green

Green corset funky french with yellow smiley accent nail

Green sloping funky french with 4MM black opaque rhinestones

Bright orange and dark blue nail art manicure

Dots and stripes mix nail art in white, red, black, blue..

Dots and stripes mix nail art in neon

Dots and stripes mix nail art in pink, black and white

Cute panda nail art on green funky french

Cute crab nail art

Great Britain flag nail art/ England flag nail art

Cute flamingo bird nail art

Black funky french with large pearl rhinestones

Dots and stripes nail art in blue, red, black and white

Rock it with 3MM gold square stud rhinestones!

Poisonous dart frog meets giraffe inspired nail art

Madly Matte Mario Mushrooms!

Halloween spider and spider web nail art

Gala Nails stuffed with rhinestones and holo

HM Mint Madness Tribal nail art

Salt n Pepper funky french

Humble Bee funky french

Swans in love nail art

Lava flow funky french

Reindeer nail art

Classical New Year's nail art

If any, what's your favorite of these ones above? Or do you think I've missed some nail art appropriate to fit here?

If you think something is missing in general, ie something I haven't done yet, please tell me and request a nail art! :)