Monday, September 30, 2013

NOTD: Sephora X We Are In Luck Here

 Sephora X We Are In Luck Here
2 coats

Sigh. When Sephora started releasing their Disney collections, I decided that I'd need to collect the nail polish mini sets. I have Cinderella and Jasmine, both released when Sephora had a partnership with OPI. But since that partnership was dissolved and Sephora is now releasing polish under the X line, I have to say I'm not sure I'll keep collecting them.



We Are In Luck Here is a coral-leaning red, and it covered nicely in two coats. I did *not* like the brush- the stem was very very short and hard for me to work with. I also did not like the square cap, although I've since read that it can be removed, similar to Chanel caps. Although that might help, I still think the short brush will continue to cause me problems.


At any rate, I do plan on swatching the rest of the shades in this collection over the next few days, so stop back by to see if my opinion changes on whether or not I need to continue collecting the Disney polishes.

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Thursday, September 26, 2013

NOTD: Avon Mega Watt in Hot Pants

Avon Mega Watt in Hot Pants
4 coats

Earlier this summer I placed an Avon order and was surprised to see they had a neon nail polish line! There were 5 shades in the collection and I ordered the one that grabbed my interest the fastest- Hot Pants. (Bailey at I Know All the Words has swatches of all 5 shades, which do not seem to be available any longer.)

Although some people like to start their neon manis with an undercoat of white, I chose not to. I was able to get the above look, *almost* covering my nail line, with 4 coats. Note that Hot Pants does dry matte, but a coat of NYC Grand Central Station brought the shiny back.

I am so happy with this color- it's bright and pretty and eye-catching. Although it's Fall, it's still getting up in the high 80s here during the day, so I'll just pretend it's still neon season!



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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

NOTD: OPI What Wizardry Is This?

OPI What Wizardry Is This? 
2 coats


What Wizardry Is This? is a brown and gold Liquid Sand shade from the Oz The Great And Powerful Collection from early 2013. OPI is calling this collection their Soft Shades collection for this year. (Do they release a Soft Shades collection each year?)

The more I use Liquid Sand shades and other textured polishes, the more I like them. Is a fun trend that's not quite as in-you-face as the crackled trend of a few years ago.


topcoat applied

Adding a topcoat (I used Gelous) really brings out the gold! I may even like it this way better. What do you think?



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Monday, September 23, 2013

Sephora by OPI shades down to 3/$10

Sephora by OPI shades are now on sale for 3 for $10- such a great deal! 


Here are swatches I have of colors still available online. At the end of the post I will list all shades available online.

A Color That Can't Be Tamed 

Caught With My Khakis Down 

Frankly I Don't Give A-Dam

Happy Earth Day To Me

I Don't Bite

I'm With Brad

It's Totally Karma

Leaf Him At The Altar

Metro Chic

Once A Cheetah, Always A Cheetah

Queen of Everything

There are also some of their "Jewelery Top Coats" on sale for the same price too. Here are the ones I have.

China Glaze Poinsettia
topped with Sephora by OPI Be-Claus I Said So

 Spark-tacular! Top Coat
over something (forgot what!)

Sugar Plum Fairies Gone Wild

Complete list of sale shades:
A Color That Can't Be Tamed
Already Famous
Break A Leg-Warmer!
Caugh With My Khakis Down
Charge It!
Dance Til Fawn
Dark Room
Fancy Schmancy
Frankly I Don't Give A-Dam
Give Peach a Chance
Happy Earth Day To Me
Hi Def
I Don't Bite
I Need Space
I Only Shop Vintage
IM Beauty
I'm With Brad
In The Shadows
Is She For Reel?
It's Bouquet With Me
It's Totally Karma
Just A Little Dangerous
Justa' Pinch of Glitter
Keep Me On My Mistletoe
Leaf Him At The Altar
Looks Like Rain Dear
Metro Chic
Neutral Beauty
On Stage
Once A Cheetah, Always A Cheetah
Queen of Everything
Ruby Without A Cause
S-Age Is Just a Number
Set The Mood
Social Climber
Thyme For A Mani
Under My Trench Coat
Violet's Just Get Married
What A Broad
Why Yellow There…

List of Jewelery Top Coats on sale:
Beam Me Up Hottie!
Be-Claus I Said So
Come To Paparazzi
Flurry Up
G-listen To Your Heart
I Found a Pot of Gold!
Indi-go With the Flow
Light, Glammer A, Action!
Mauve-ie Star In The Making
Meet Me At The Disco
Not Your Average Turquoise
Only Gold For Me
Sparkle Me Silver
Spark-tacular! Top Coat
Sugar Plum Fairies Gone Wild
The Golden Age
To The Glitter End!

Disclosure: Link to Sephora's website are NOT affiliate links. Link to ebates is an affiliate link.

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NOTD: L'Oreal Jolly Lolly

L'Oreal Jolly Lolly
3 coats

Jolly Lolly is from L'Oreal's Miss Candy collection of jelly polishes, released in Spring 2013. After seeing swatches of the collection online, I decided that this was the one I just had to have.

And it's so pretty! I do have a bit of VNL, but 4 coats is just almost an impossible task for me. My ADD kicks in and even 3 coats is a stretch. Ha!



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Friday, September 20, 2013

NOTD: Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat in Wool Lite

Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat in Wool Lite (2 coats)
over NYC Chinatown

I figured the dark base color of NYC Chinatown would look cool with the pink and white Fuzzy Coat over it.... and I think it does. However, although there *are* both pink and white bar glitters in Wool Lite, once on the nail they really just look all the same color.

It's a bit hard to get even coverage of this Fuzzy Coat. I did 2 coats on all nails, and you can see that my ring finger (second from right) has more glitter concentration than the other fingers.

I applied 1 coat of NYC Grand Central Station and was surprised to see that it evened it out quite nicely.



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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

NOTD: NYC Chinatown

NYC Chinatown

Today I'm wearing another shade from NYC's In a New York Color Minute line. I only needed two coats to completely cover my nail line with this shade. This deep plum with a silver shimmer is gorgeous. The shimmer is really only visible outdoors, indoors it is just a deep plum, but still pretty.

Topped with NYC Grand Central Station as topcoat, dry time was great. This line is just $1.72 at Walmart- quite a bargain!




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Monday, September 16, 2013

NOTD: Orly Sparkling Garbage

Orly Sparkling Garbage
3 coats

LOVE the holo!

Sparkling Garbage is from Orly's Summer 2013 Mash Up Collection. Knowing my penchant for holos, I knew I had to have this one, so I ordered it from Amazon recently because I missed it at my local stores. I am in love with Sparkling Garbage! I have heard it is also a great layering polish, but I haven't given that a chance yet. If you have, let me know what you layered it over.



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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

NOTD: OPI DS Lapis

OPI DS Lapis
2 coats, with topcoat


Whoops! I topcoated a polish meant to be worn matte! When I was applying this shade, I kept thinking, wow, this is matte! It was almost like the suede line OPI did a few years ago.

Without even thinking, I went ahead and used a topcoat, like I do with all my other DS shades. Today I went back and re-read the press release (copied below) and realized they meant for it to be matte. Oh well! I think it looks cool with a topcoat.

I did have a bit of a problem with the formula and brush. The formula definitely needed thinning, but my thinner wasn't handy so I just left it as it was. The brush also seemed wider than the normal pro-wide brush, and I had a bit of trouble around my curved cuticles and on my smaller nails, like my pinkies. I saw one blogger all this a one-coater, but I found that it was pretty streaky and I needed two coats to even it out. I was pleased with the result from two coats though- I'm not complaining, just saying it wasn't a one-coater for me.

I'm a little confused as to where they are taking the DS line..... all of the DS shades I have, which are admittedly older, are either linear or scattered holos. I know they released a few new ones over the past few years for the DS line that weren't holos, but I really wish they would have kept the line exclusively holo just for consistency sake.

Press release info:
This fall, OPI adds DS Raw Granite, two new granite-inspired hues – DS Pewter and DS Lapis – to the Designer Series by OPI collection. Featuring a matte textured finish with mineral-like reflections, each Designer Series Raw Granite lacquer formula offers subtle sheen with a sparkle finish.
DS Pewter, a matte textured metallic with deep silver ore, will launch simultaneously with DS Lapis, a deep sapphire blue with a textured matte finish. Designer Series by OPI offers a mosaic of 11 glistening shades and a high-shine top coat, including these two new stunning hues. DS Pewter and DS Lapis can be used without DS Top Coat to achieve an alternate matte look.

“Diamond-dust gives nails the perfect touch of glamour and can instantly transform any look. These two new shades are inspired by raw granite – the diamond’s edgy cousin – and we’re excited to broaden the range of color in the Designer Series line,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “These lacquers incorporate rich pigments with brilliant shine, to create a bold yet elegant statement. DS Pewter and DS Lapis are the ideal high-fashion, festive accessory.”

Designer Series by OPI nail lacquer shades each feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application. DS Raw Granite lacquers should be worn without top coat for a matte finish. DS Pewter and DS Lapis will be available beginning September 2013 at professional salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, jcp Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, ULTA and ulta.com for $12.50 ($14.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer.



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Monday, September 9, 2013

NOTD: OPI Alcatraz... Rocks

OPI Alcatraz... Rocks
(a Liquid Sand shade)
2 coats, no topcoat
 
This is the main shade from the OPI San Francisco collection that I have been drying to try. I was lucky enough to win it in a giveaway and I LOVE IT! As hard as I tried, my camera couldn't catch how the multi-colored shimmers show up even when it's left matte.

OPI Alcatraz... Rocks
2 coats
plus 2 coats of Gelous and
1 coat of NYC Grand Central Station

I thought I'd add some topcoat, and it brings out the glitter even more. This is definitely my favorite Liquid Sand shade so far.

 

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Saturday, September 7, 2013

NOTD: OPI Jinx

OPI Jinx
a Liquid Sand shade from the 2013 Bond Girls collection


(click pic to enlarge)
left to right

Solitaire
This diamond-sparkling white is totally engaging.

Pussy Galore
This light feminine pink has the purrrfect amount of shimmer.

Tiffany Case
A classic light blue worth investigating.

Vesper
A mysterious and intriguing deep purple.

Honey Ryder
Take a ryde on the wild side in this shimmery gold.

Jinx
This mesmerizing matte coral has lucky sparkle.

The only one I decided to buy was Jinx, and I am so glad I did! I agree with those that say this is the prettiest one in the collection. It's so eye-catching and the color color is gorgeous.
 
 

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Thursday, September 5, 2013

NOTD: NYC Spring Street



NYC Spring Street
3 coats

Today I'm wearing another shade from NYC's In a New York Color Minute line. I did find that I needed three coats to completely cover my nail line with this shade- it's got a bit of a jelly quality to it. Coral is has been such a hot shade this spring and summer- love this one.

Topped with NYC Grand Central Station as topcoat, dry time was great. Yesterday I checked the price on this line at Walmart, and it's just $1.72. Such a bargain!

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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

NOTD: NYC Lincoln Square Lavender



NYC Lincoln Square Lavender

Since I'm a big fan of using NYC Grand Central Station as a quick dry topcoat, I was excited to give some colors from the line (In a New York Color Minute) a try. Today I am wearing the second color in the group that was sent to me, and again, I was not disappointed.

The above swatch is two coats, topped with Grand Central Station. Dry time was great and I had great coverage in 2 coats. Since this line retails for around $2 and their shades are great quality, I'd recommend you give them a try. In my area, NYC is available at Walmart, Target, and CVS.

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Monday, September 2, 2013

NOTD: NYC Murray Hill Mauve


NYC Murray Hill Mauve

Since I'm a big fan of using NYC Grand Central Station as a quick dry topcoat, I was excited to give some colors from the line (In a New York Color Minute) a try. I was not disappointed.

The above swatch is two coats, and I topped it with Grand Central Station. Dry time was great and I had great coverage in 2 coats. This line retails for around $2 and is absolutely a STEAL. Seriously. I've seen this line at Walmart, Target, and CVS. If you haven't given the colors a try, you should. I'm very very impressed.

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