Thursday, December 19, 2013

OPI incREDibly Festive topped with OPI Gift Tag... You're It!

OPI incREDibly Festive (3 coats)

topped with
OPI Gift Tag... You're It! on pointer and ring fingers
and
Nicole by OPI Extra Snowflakes Please on middle and pinkie fingers

(incREDibly Festive and Gift Tag...  You're It are from the 2013 OPI ULTA Exclusive! Cheers To The Holidays 4pc Mini Set)





I wasn't very pleased last week when I tried Gift Tag... You're It over Checking My List. It was hard to get an even coverage of the glitter and I didn't feel like it was very holo.

In that post, I commented that I knew OPI knew how to do a fabulous holo glitter since I had Nicole by OPI Extra Snowflakes Please and loved it. So I thought I would do a mani with both and compare the two.

Of course, Extra Snowflakes Please totally wins. See how uneven the glitter on the ring and pointer fingers is? I even tried a second coat on my ring finger to even it out, but that made it even worse.

Just one coat of Extra Snowflakes Please is perfect- so so much better.

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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

OPI incREDibly Festive

OPI incREDibly Festive (3 coats)

from the 2013 OPI ULTA Exclusive! Cheers To The Holidays 4pc Mini Set

incREDibly Festive is a pretty nice red crelly. At two coats it was somewhat sheer but a third coat covered my nail line, but still left it a big squishy looking.

I'm still really underwhelmed with this year's Ulta OPI mini set. Have you tried it?


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Thursday, December 12, 2013

2013 Ulta OPI Holiday Minis

2013 OPI ULTA Exclusive! Cheers To The Holidays 4pc Mini Set
(currently $6.95 on www.ulta.com)

OPI Checking My List (2 coats)
topped with
OPI Gift Tag... You're It! (1 coat)

When I picked this up I was excited to see OPI do a holo glitter topcoat that reminded me of two of my favorites, CoverGirl City Lights and China Glaze Fairy Dust. I chose the pink shade to do my first mani with this set.

I found the formula of Checking My List to be sub-par for OPI... it was watery and patch and at 2 coats it was pretty uneven. But since I planned on topping it with the glitter, I moved on.

I am sad to say that Gift Tag... You're It! won't be replacing, or even joining, City Lights and Fairy Dust as a fave. It was a bit hard to apply. Almost a gel-like texture, the glitter didn't apply evenly. Nicole by OPI did a fabulous holo glitter topper a few years ago in their holiday mini set called Extra Snowflakes Please and it is great, so I am surprised they didn't just duplicate the formula here.

Also of note is that there is no mention of Ulta on the box..... it's the first year I've noticed that.


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Thursday, December 5, 2013

Ulta OPI Holiday Minis 2006-2012

Over the weekend, I picked up this year's Ulta OPI holiday mini set. I have had a chance to snap a pic, but I remembered that last year I took pics of all the sets I had. Does anyone know if they did these sets before 2006?


2006
Ulta's Gift of Color
with free cell phone charm
note no mention of OPI printed on the front
Is That For Me?, What I've Always Wanted!, Cheery Cherry



2007
Ulta-Mate Celebration
with free holiday purse
Merry, Merry!, Candy Cane Cutie, Hip Hop Holly
(so very sad I've misplaced two of these!)


2008
Ulta Season's Sparklings!
free shimmer wristlet
Berry Brilliant, Season's Sparklings, Pretty Plum-tious


2009
Ulta Tiny Tinsels
Berried in Gifts, Amethyst Twist, Silver Bells


2010
Ulta Holi-daze
All the Berry Best, Gift of Gold, Plum Full of Cheer


2011
Deck Your Nails
first time "Ulta" doesn't appear to be part of the mini collection name
Speak for Your-Elf, A Sparkle Yule Love, How's It Snowin'?


2012
Stuff My Stocking
(this is the first year the color names aren't printed on the front)
Last Minute Shopper, Skip the Gift Wrap, Gift Cards for Everyone!

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Saturday, November 30, 2013

NOTD: Maybelline Color Show in Silver Swank

Maybelline Color Show in Silver Swank (in sun)
from the Brocades collection
2 coats

Maybelline Color Show in Silver Swank (in shade)
from the Brocades collection
2 coats



Silver Swank is a silver glass fleck with gold micro glitters and medium silver hex glitters. And although it *does* appear to be primarily silver, when you get in most light..... it is gold! So very pretty.

Application was awesome- at 2 coats I had plenty of coverage, no need to do a third coat.





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Thursday, November 21, 2013

CoverGirl Violet Flicker Glosstini Nail Polish

 CoverGirl Violet Flicker Glosstini Nail Polish
3 coats
photo taken in sun

 photo taken in shade

close up shot to show the gorgeous shimmer in there.... you can see blue and pink in certain light


Violet Flicker is part of the CoverGirl + Hunger Games Catching Fire collection. Since I am absolutely obsessed with Hunger Games (already bought my opening night movie ticket!) I was so excited to see this collection! I found the shades I picked at Target for just $3 each.

Note that Glosstinis are definitely in the mini bottle category at just .11 ounce. I didn't have too much trouble with the brush, although it was short as mini bottle brushes tend to be.

I did need 3 coats to cover my visible nail line. At two, it was very apparent in the sun that I didn't have complete coverage.

If you are interested in seeing the rest of the collection, KarenD has swatches of all 9 shades in this collection.




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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

My Collection of CoverGirl Polish

I don't have very many CoverGirl polishes, but the new Hunger Games collection is causing me to add to my collection!


Seared Bronze
Rogue Red
Violet Flicker
Pyro Pink
Scalding Emerald

all 5 from the Hunger Games collection


Ruby Dust
Amethyst Mist
Disco Dazzle
City Lights

I purchased all off these about 5 years ago at Target. City Lights is my favorite- I have used it so many times! It's a China Glaze Fairy Dust dupe.


Amethyst
Sangria

I purchased Amethyst to do a Paradoxal/Perplexed comparison, and Sangria was the first Glosstini  I purchased to see what the hype was all about- Sangria is definitely a fave.


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Monday, November 18, 2013

NOTD: CoverGirl Rogue Red Glosstini Nail Polish

CoverGirl Rogue Red Glosstini Nail Polish
3 coats
photo taken in sun

photo taken in shade



Rogue Red is part of the CoverGirl + Hunger Games Catching Fire collection. Since I am absolutely obsessed with Hunger Games (already bought my opening night movie ticket!) I was so excited to see this collection!

Seared Bronze was the first shade I bought from this collection, and this weekend I picked up four more at Target since they were just $3 each.

Note that Glosstinis are definitely in the mini bottle category at just .11 ounce. I didn't have too much trouble with the brush, although it was short as mini bottle brushes tend to be.

I did need 3 coats to cover my visible nail line. At two, it was very apparent in the sun that I didn't have complete coverage.

If you are interested in seeing the rest of the collection, KarenD has swatches of all 9 shades in this collection.




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Friday, November 15, 2013

Sally Hansen Triple Shine in Twinkled Pink (over red)

Sally Hansen Triple Shine in Twinkled Pink (2 coats)
over SinfulColors Get It On
(click pic to enlarge)

Twinkled Pink has both large silver and copper hex glitter as well as copper small glitter in a sheer pink base, and I thought it might look really cool over red. Since I already had SinfulColors Get It On on, I gave it a try and I was really pleased with it. I think the combo of colors looks neat, very fall-like. Reminds me of all the gorgeous leaves falling this time of year.

I am still loving these Triple Shine glitters because they dry smooth! It is so nice not to have to mess with putting an extra coat of something like Gelous before I do my topcoat.



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Thursday, November 14, 2013

NOTD: SinfulColors Get It On

SinfulColors Get It On
3 coats
no topcoat- meant to be matte

Get It On is really pretty, but needed 3 coats to be even and opaque. I was impressed with the wear- I wrapped my tips and still had good tip coverage on the second day.

Just like with SinfulColors other collection from this fall, Crystal Crushes, I did note that the bottle did not mention that this was meant to be worn without topcoat. I wonder if the display these shades will be in will mention that? I wish that SinfulColors had noted this feature on the bottles, like OPI did with Liquid Sand and China Glaze did with their Texture Coat. I'm just afraid these will get mixed in my collection and I won't recall that it is meant to be matte until I use it.

LEATHER LUXE
Lustrous Leather Looks that Lure for Fall

Tease, taunt and turn heads this fall with the SinfulColors Leather Luxe Collection. A texture rich, trend-setting collection of stylish matte finish nail polish shades which are richly pigmented to provide a flirtatious way to flaunt your style.  The Leather Luxe Collection features eight weather-warming shades with leather-inspired finishes. The best part: they come in every popular base color so there's a leather-icious look for everyone.   

Laced Upenthralling orange                   
Leather Loosesafari sinful brown
Whippedbeguiling black
Get It On: bravely berry
Strappedscintillating seafoam
My Turnstunning steel
Cold Leatherenchanting night sky             
        
SinfulColors Leather Luxe, $1.99 exclusively at Walgreens for Fall 2013.


You can find SinfulColors online here:
Twitter: @SinfulColorsNP



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My Collection of Deborah Lippmann Polish

I recently got my first two Helmers, and I am trying to get organized! Deborah Lippmann is a brand that I don't have very many of, but I really have been pleased with the ones I do have (with the exception of Marquee Moon). I think the bottle shape is so classy and elegant.

Note: All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them


Cleopatra in New York
Ruby Red Slippers
Across the Universe
Lady Sings the Blues


Superstar
Razzle Dazzle
Bad Romance
Marquee Moon
Happy Birthday



Daytripper
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
I Know What Boys Like


Dancing In the Sheets
Let's Hear It For the Boy
Almost Paradise
Footloose


Ray of Light
Bitches Brew
Mermaid's Dream


Do you have a favorite Lippmann?

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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

My Butter London Collection

My Butter Londons have been hanging out in my untried bin.... I need to change that. So far I have worn Knackered and All Hail the Queen. Hope to try some more soon- I was impressed with both of the ones I have tried.


Wallis
West End Wonderland
Tart With a Heart
The Black Knight


All Hail the Queen
Bluey
Knackered
Disco Biscuit
Trout Pout

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Monday, November 11, 2013

My Avon Collection

You will probably be able to tell from the number of Avon polishes I have.... but I love Avon! The price and quality is always great. A few of the cremes are not my favorites, but they are still good quality.


Splendid Blue
Empower
Blue Shock
Vintage Blue
Blue Water Lilies
Forget-Me-Not Blue


Serene
Jade
Electric Green
Garden Green
Olive Green


Golden Twilight
Gunmetal
Urban Grey
Pale Gold
Illusion


Pink Power
Rose Gold
Golden Sand
Deluxe Chocolate


Wicked
Midnight Plum
Night Violet
Perplexed Purple
Vivid Violet
Luxe Lavender


Powerful Pink
Tangtastic
Pink Radiance
Cherry Jubilee
Ruby Slipper
Golden Wine



Mambo Melon
Brown Pearl
Fusion
Crystal Calm
Hot Pants

Do you have a favorite Avon shade?

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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

NOTD: Revlon ColorStay in Red Carpet

Revlon ColorStay in Red Carpet
2 coats

I'm not sure how long I'd had this one..... at some point I believe I purchased it at CVS, most likely during an ECB deal or sale.

It's really a pretty jelly- and I got good coverage in just two coats. I have a bad habit of on wrapping the tips only on my swatching photo hand, and the hand that I did *not* wrap the tips on had major shrinkage over night. (I used NYC Grand Central Station.) The hand with wrapped tips still looked nice this morning though.



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