Wednesday, April 30, 2014

COVERGIRL XL Nail Gel in Ample Apple (2 coats)

CoverGirl XL Nail Gel in Ample Apple (2 coats)
 
Earlier this week I was in Walgreens and happened upon a CoverGirl display with new "XL Nail Gel" polish. Of course I had to pick up a few to try- Ample Apple and Overblown Orange.
 
I chose Ample Apple to try first and I LOVE it! It's a gorgeous jelly that gave good coverage in two coats. A bit of VNL is visible, but it's a jelly after all, so I'm not too bothered.
 
I'm impressed so far- application was super easy, as was cleanup. It does have a nice thick look to it, although of course it's not actually gel...... It did dry nicely when I used my usual NYC Grand Central Station as a topcoat.
 
 

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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Glitter Topper: OPI Let's Do Anything We Want

 OPI Let's Do Anything We Want ( 1coat, dabbed on)
from the Spring 2014 Muppets Most Wanted Collection
over
Sephora by OPI What Aura Gonna Wear? (3 coats)
 
shade pic

Let's Do Anything We Want! is so pretty- it's a clear base with small pink and white glitter with larger white square glitter. I got great coverage with one coat, dabbing it on to make sure I had the placement I wanted.

It also dried pretty smooth- I just used one coat of NYC Grand Central Station as my topcoat, and it's almost completely smooth.


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Monday, April 28, 2014

Sephora by OPI What Aura Gonna Wear?

Sephora by OPI What Aura Gonna Wear?
3 coats
 
This mini was available in two sets (both discontinued of course):
Indian Summer
 
I was in the mood for a bright Spring-y pink, and I recalled that I'd never swatched the Indian Summer mini set from Sephora by OPI. I did find that I needed 3 coats to cover my nail line, but I was pleased with the results.

The Indian Summer mini set included:

Paisley Attention To Me
What Aura Gonna Wear?
Seriously, It's a Naan-Issue
I'm So Sari!


 


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Friday, April 25, 2014

Sephora Formula X in X ♥'s Rouge

Sephora Formula X in X ♥'s Rouge
2 coats
 
A striking nail lacquer in a classic candy apple red, exclusively for VIB Rouge requalifying members.
 
Wow, this is a pigmented red! So pigmented, in fact, that I wasn't able to clean up my mistakes...... You can see on my pinkie and ring finger that a little polish ran off the nail, and try as I did to clean up with my clean-up brush and acetone, I couldn't get it off.
 
I purchased X ♥'s Rouge for $10.50, but I have also read that it is being given to requalifying VIB Rouge members for free as a gift.
 
 
 
 

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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Pop Culture Cosmetics Fairyland over China Glaze You Drive Me Coconuts

Pop Culture Cosmetics Fairyland (1 coats)
 over China Glaze You Drive Me Coconuts (4 thin coats)

shade picture
 
In March I won a giveaway from Pop Culture Cosmetics (yay!) and received three awesome glitter polishes. After I wore China Glaze You Drive Me Coconuts, I thought it would be a perfect base for Pop Culture Cosmetics Fairyland- and I was right! I love how this turned out.
 
I did just one coat of Fairyland (using a dabbing method) and got what I consider to be great coverage for a glitter topper. I waited a bit, applied a thick coat of Gelous to help smooth it out, and did my normal topcoat of NYC Grand Central Station and had a really smooth result.
 
Thanks to Pop Culture Cosmetics for an awesome giveaway- I'll be featuring the other two shades soon!
 
 
 


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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

China Glaze You Drive Me Coconuts

China Glaze You Drive Me Coconuts (4 thin coats)
from the Summer 2013 Sunsational Collection
 
Another gorgeous summer shade! I got so many compliments on my Shell-o mani, I knew that this shade from the same collection needed to be my next mani.
 
As with Shell-o, You Drive Me Coconuts needed four thin coats to be even, and there is still a bit of VNL. Also note that since there is neon pigment in it, it does dry matte so I added a topcoat to make it shine.
 
Again, one nice thing about shades that dry matte- they dry super-fast. Super easy mani!
 


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Monday, April 21, 2014

China Glaze Shell-o

China Glaze Shell-o (4 thin coats)
from the Summer 2013 Sunsational Collection
 
Doesn't this scream Summer? I think we've finally had our last cold snap, and Spring is finally here! However, Spring doesn't last long here- the temp will soon be up in the 90s and I cannot wait!
 
Shell-o needed four thin coats to be even, and there is still a bit of VNL. Also note that since there is neon pigment in it, it does dry matte so I added a topcoat to make it shine.
 
One nice thing about shades that dry matte- they dry super-fast. Super easy mani!
 


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Friday, April 18, 2014

L'Oreal Orange You Jealous?

L'Oreal Orange You Jealous? (2 coats)
from the Spring/Summer 2013 Trend Setter Collection
 
While I LOVE this color, I don't quite love the formula. One coat was super-streaky, but when I added a second thicker coat, I wasn't too pleased with how "puffy" it looks. Still, it's a gorgeous shade for this time of the year, and I think I will keep it on as my Easter mani.
 
I received this bottle from House Party when I hosted a L'Oreal Miracle Blur party last year. They send along a group of nail polish to use during the party and this was definitely one of the faves.
 


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Thursday, April 17, 2014

OPI Muppets World Tour

 OPI Muppets World Tour (2 coats)
from the Spring 2014 Muppets Most Wanted Collection
 
I was pretty amazed with this glitter- look at the coverage I got from two coats, with no undies. It applied wonderfully too- no monkey business needed to get good coverage, I just applied it like I would any regular polish.
 
 
You can see the different colors better in this shade pic- there are small white and silver glitters, larger white and gold hexs, and larger pink and turquoise hexes as well. I do wish there was a bit more pink and turquoise- on several fingers I just one of those colors.
 
 
I can't wait to try this over another pink- I've seen pics that are just gorgeous!
 
 


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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

OPI Girls Love Diamonds

OPI Girls Love Diamonds (3 coats)

from the Major League Baseball Fashion Plate Collection
 
Today I'm wearing another shade from the Mini Hitters set, available on Amazon for $18.25. Six of the seven shades in the MLB Collection are featured in the mini set.  (Right Off the Bat, a frosty navy blue, is not included in the mini set).
 
Girls Love Diamonds is the only sheer shade in the set, and even with additional coats, I don't think it could ever be opaque. I think it works great both on its own and as a topper for a darker shade.

 
OPI announces the launch of seven new limited edition nail lacquers inspired by Major League Baseball (MLB), marking the first-ever professional sports league licensing agreement for the company. Featuring a range of red, orange, blue and white hues, MLB Collection by OPI shades are ideal to mix, match and wear while fans cheer on their favorite MLB team.
 
 
In the set:
Umpires Comes Out At Night
Girls Love Diamonds
7th Inning Strrretch
Short-STOP!
Orange You Going To the Game?
Love Athletes in Cleats 
 


#afflink 
 


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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

OPI Umpires Come Out At Night

OPI Umpires Come Out At Night (2 coats)

from the Major League Baseball Fashion Plate Collection

(this dries somewhat matte- I did not topcoat the ring finger so you could see this)
 
Today I'm wearing another shade from the Mini Hitters set, available on Amazon for $18.25. Six of the seven shades in the MLB Collection are featured in the mini set.  (Right Off the Bat, a frosty navy blue, is not included in the mini set).
 
I really like this navy blue! I also thought that I'd see what Girls Love Diamonds looked like on top of Umpires Come Out At Night. I love it like this too!
 
OPI Umpires Come Out At Night (2 coats)
topped with OPI Girls Love Diamonds (1 coat)


OPI announces the launch of seven new limited edition nail lacquers inspired by Major League Baseball (MLB), marking the first-ever professional sports league licensing agreement for the company. Featuring a range of red, orange, blue and white hues, MLB Collection by OPI shades are ideal to mix, match and wear while fans cheer on their favorite MLB team.
 
 
In the set:
Umpires Comes Out At Night
Girls Love Diamonds
7th Inning Strrretch
Short-STOP!
Orange You Going To the Game?
Love Athletes in Cleats 
 


#afflink 
 


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Monday, April 14, 2014

Sephora Formula X in Perfection

Sephora Formula X in Perfection
from the New Neutrals collection ($10.50 for 0.4 fl oz)
 
I have to admit to being disappointed when Sephora discontinued their partnership with OPI last year. Or it might have been the other way around, I don't know. In any case, after the Sephora by OPI line (or OPI for Sephora as it was sometimes referred to) was discontinued, Sephora released the Formula X line. I received this mini (.16 fl oz) as a 100 point perk.
 
I first tried a mani with two thin coats- I find, of course, that thin coats try better and faster than thicker coats. However, two thin coats didn't cover very well, and I dislike having to do three coats as a general rule, so I re-tried the mani with two thicker coats and got much better results.
 
The color is so similar to Metro Chic, of course I love it. It's such a great neutral.
 
Anyone have any other thoughts on this line? I noticed they have an VIB Rouge-exclusive shade called X ♥'s Rouge and embarrassingly enough, I've attained Rouge status, so I am pretty sure I need it. :-)
 


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Friday, April 11, 2014

OPI 7th Inning Strrretch

OPI 7th Inning Strrretch (2 coats)

from the Major League Baseball Fashion Plate Collection
 
My Mini Hitters set, available on Amazon for $18.25, came in this week and I couldn't wait to try another shade from this collection. Six of the seven shades in the MLB Collection are featured in the mini set.  (Right Off the Bat, a frosty navy blue, is not included in the mini set).

Although I found the super-frosty Orange You Going To the Game? to be very brush stroke-y, I loved the somewhat frosty steel blue 7th Inning Strrretch. One coat was very very streaky, but a second coat evened it out nicely.

OPI announces the launch of seven new limited edition nail lacquers inspired by Major League Baseball (MLB), marking the first-ever professional sports league licensing agreement for the company. Featuring a range of red, orange, blue and white hues, MLB Collection by OPI shades are ideal to mix, match and wear while fans cheer on their favorite MLB team.
 
 
In the set:
Umpires Comes Out At Night
Girls Love Diamonds
7th Inning Strrretch
Short-STOP!
Orange You Going To the Game?
Love Athletes in Cleats 
 


#afflink 
 


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Thursday, April 10, 2014

OPI Orange You Going To the Game?


OPI Orange You Going To the Game? (2 coats)

from the Major League Baseball Fashion Plate Collection
 
My Mini Hitters set, available on Amazon for $18.25, came in yesterday and I couldn't wait to try another shade from this collection. Six of the seven shades in the MLB Collection are featured in the mini set.  (Right Off the Bat, a frosty navy blue, is not included in the mini set).

I found Orange You Going To the Game? to be sadly very brush stroke-y. So disappointed! It's a really pretty springy shade, but the brush strokes ruin it for me.

OPI announces the launch of seven new limited edition nail lacquers inspired by Major League Baseball (MLB), marking the first-ever professional sports league licensing agreement for the company. Featuring a range of red, orange, blue and white hues, MLB Collection by OPI shades are ideal to mix, match and wear while fans cheer on their favorite MLB team.
 
 
In the set:
Umpires Comes Out At Night
Girls Love Diamonds
7th Inning Strrretch
Short-STOP!
Orange You Going To the Game?
Love Athletes in Cleats 
 


#afflink 
 


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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Pink Pong

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Pink Pong
3 coats
 
I was excited to try another one of the shades featured in the Stella McCartney Winter 2014 Collection fashion show at the Palais Garnier during Paris Fashion Week. These four shades are clean, modern, understated shades of nude to flatter the models’ skin tones and were chosen to complement the bold textures and sophisticated color palette of the collection. Last week I wore Almost Almond and I tried Arm Candy in 2013.
 
These gorgeously modern colors can be found in Sally Hansen’s award-winning Complete Salon Manicure collection, the only polish that infuses trend-setting shades with a nourishing, expert quality formula to deliver salon-caliber results. Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure delivers seven salon manicure steps in one bottle. Chip resistant strength joins gel-quality shine. Must-have color meets nourishing benefits. Plus, a built-in base and top coat, it’s everything you need to achieve a professional manicure at home.
 



THE SHADES
 
Complete Salon Manicure in Arm Candy
 
Complete Salon Manicure in Shell We Dance
 
Complete Salon Manicure in Almost Almond
 
Complete Salon Manicure in Pink Pong



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Monday, April 7, 2014

OPI Short-STOP!

OPI Short-STOP! (2 coats)

from the Major League Baseball Fashion Plate Collection
 
Short-STOP! was the second shade I tried in the collection, and although it was a ground-breaking shade, it is still a nice medium red creamy shade and since it was the MLB collection I had to BUY ALL THE COLORS.

OPI announces the launch of seven new limited edition nail lacquers inspired by Major League Baseball (MLB), marking the first-ever professional sports league licensing agreement for the company. Featuring a range of red, orange, blue and white hues, MLB Collection by OPI shades are ideal to mix, match and wear while fans cheer on their favorite MLB team.
 
 
 
There are seven shades in the collection, and six of them are featured in this Mini Hitters set, available on Amazon for $18.25. I ordered it last week and can't wait to try the other shades.
 
 


#afflink 
 


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