NOTD: OPI Lincoln Park After Dark Suede topped with Nicole by OPI Extra Snowflakes Please

OPI Lincoln Park After Dark Suede (2 coats)

topped with Nicole by OPI Extra Snowflakes Please (1 coat)

For some reason I wasn't loving the LPAD Suede after I got it on, so I topped it with the NOPI holo topcoat- and it looked gorgeous in the sun!

However, this combo did not wear well at all- of course being at the lake may have had something to do with it, but it was chipping on the second day.

NOTD: Essie Bikini So Teeny

Essie Bikini So Teeny

(three coats)

I was really really hoping the slight shimmer that is visible in the bottle would translate onto the nail... but no, it did not. Just looks like a pretty periwinkle cream on the nails.

I did three coats because there was some sheer-ish spots after just 2.

NOTD: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Grandma

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Grandma

Last month at IMATS, one of the booths I was dying to visit was Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. I had never tried their products, but was oh-so-obsessed with picking up a Lip Tar. And while I was there, like any good nail blogger, I purchased a few nail polish shades too.

The name of this shade makes me laugh- it is totally NOT a Grandma color! It's actually quite on-trend and gorgeous!

The above swatch is three coats, topped with my newest favorite topcoat, NYC Grand Central Station.

Swatches: Sephora Tangerine Tango set

Yesterday was a beautiful day so I took the opportunity to do some swatches of Sephora's Color of the Year Nail Enamel Set ($24). These Tangerine Tango shades are gorgeous, and I especially think they suit warm skin tones like mine.

Left to right: Glitter, Creme, Matte, Shimmer (all three coats)

I think the Glitter shade might work well as a topper too, so I think I may try one coat over the Cream shade to see how that looks next. Hope you are having a great day and nice weather where you are!

NOTD: Essie She's Picture Perfect topped with L'oreal Silver Sparkle

Last week I showed you a swatch of L'oreal Silver Sparkle, all on it's own. I wasn't wowed, but I liked it OK.

But you know what? I LOVE it as a topper! I added it to my Essie She's Picture Perfect mani and it finally wowed. me.

Essie She's Picture Perfect topped with L'oreal Silver Sparkle
(so hard to get a good pic of this! Trust me- it's gorgeous!)

Here's a macro bottle shot- there are so many pretty glitters in there!

Unfortunately, it's a bit hard to get a good shot of this glitter, but here's an angle shot that shows a bit more of the multi-colored glitter.

NOTD: Essie She's Picture Perfect

Essie She's Picture Perfect

I picked this one up from the 2012 Resort Collection because I thought that hidden shimmer was so pretty. 

The above swatch is three coats, topped with a new (to me) top coat that might just be in the running for Best Value Ever- NYC Grand Central Station.

I think it was either $2 or $3 and I'm pretty darn impressed. It seemed to dry the polish as well as my beloved Seche Vite.

Have you tried it? What do you think?

NOTD: Revlon Whimsical over Sally Hansen Air

Revlon Whimsical over Sally Hansen Air

Ok, so I really had no idea how sheer this one was. I knew it was a take-off on Deborah Lippmann Glitter in the Air, but Whimsical is actually much more sheer than Temptalia's swatch of GitA. In fact, this was pretty much the sheerest sheer ever, with some glitter thrown in.

So after I had applied one coat of Whimsical, I went back and did a coat of Sally Hansen Air, then topped that with two more coats of Whimsical.

Phew.

I really haven't gotten into the whole indie glitter-topcoat thing, and I'm not sure that this is going to start me down that path. I do think this is pretty, but all those coats were work! :-)

But I do like the end result. So maybe, just maybe, I'll get on board.

NOTD: OPI DS Original

OPI DS Original

It's basically already summer here in the Southwest, and I am absolutely consumed with thoughts of gorgeous holos in the sun. I have many many untried in my collection right now, but I just couldn't resist wearing this beauty again- it is just gorgeous!

What's your favorite holo?

NOTD: L'Oreal Silver Sparkle

L'Oreal Silver Sparkle (3 coats- sun)

L'Oreal Silver Sparkle (3 coats- shade)

I picked this up last week at CVS because it was $5.99 and there were $2 coupons on the display, and I'm a sucker for a $4 polish.

Be sure and click on the pics to enlarge them so you could see the multi-colored glitters.  There are so many shades, and they are almost color-shifting. I see mint green, light blue, pink, copper, and gold.

I thought it was really pretty by itself, but I'll be trying over a vampy shade soon to see how it works as a topper.

NOTD: Bling Cosmetics MpressMe

Bling Cosmetics MpressMe

April and May are my busiest months at work, but I have been trying to get everything done so I can blog about IMATS! My husband surprised me with a trip to NYC and a ticket to IMATS, just because he knows how much I love makeup and nail polish. Isn't that sweet?

I was on the lookout for new products that were eye-catching, and oh boy did I ever find it!

Check out this bling! Bling Cosmetics (aptly named!) grabbed my attention. This line is just gorgeous and I have never seen anything like it. Look closely at the bottom of the stock pic from their website and you'll see  a really neat feature- the top of the bottle has a light that is aimed towards your nail! So unique.

The mission of The Bling Collection from The House of Simone is to establish the first full-line of cosmetics that marries the unique concept of jewelry with make-up. The line represents top quality products in lighted and “blinged” casings for makeup and accessories. Each item is encrusted with the Patented “Wall of Bling” design.

I met super-sweet Malaika at IMATS and she spent some time telling me about their line and even provided me with the shade I swatched above to try. The above swatch is two coats, and this shade applied like a dream. Topped with Seche Vite, it was much smoother than I thought it would be given the amount of glitter in the polish.

The retail price of their polish is $25. But girls, this is truly a luxury line, perfect for gift giving for the makeup and nail polish lover who has everything. I may have over 400 bottles of nail polish, but I have none as stunning as my bottle from Bling Cosmetics. Looking for a Mother's Day gift for a nail polish lover? I think Bling Cosmetics would be a perfect fit.

Where to find Bling Cosmetics:
Online: BlingCollectionOnline.com
Facebook: facebook.com/BlingCollectionOnline
Twitter: twitter.com/BlingOnline

Disclosure: The shade swatched above was provided to me for PR purposes.