OPI Shine for Me

OPI Shine for Me

(3 coats)

 

from the Fifty Shades of Grey collection

  

 

 

Shine for Me is the second shade from the right in the mini collection and is the only glitter. It's a really pretty mix of silver and two different shades of blue glitter. It got good coverage with 3 coats,  although coverage towards the tips was a bit sparse as some glitters tend to do. It's super cold here today, so don't mind my red fingers- my skin turns red quick in the cold!

I purchased my set for $21.95 at my local Ulta. I used a $3.50 off coupon to make it a bit more affordable.

OPI Romantically Involved

OPI Romantically Involved

(2 coats)

 

from the Fifty Shades of Grey collection

 

 

Romantically Involved is the third shade from the left in the mini collection and is the only red. It's actually the only "color" as everything else is a shade of grey! Ha! It has good coverage and I didn't have any application problems at all. I wouldn't say it's anything special, but it's a nice red nonetheless.

I purchased my set for $21.95 at my local Ulta. I used a $3.50 off coupon to make it a bit more affordable.

OPI My Silk Tie

OPI My Silk Tie

(2 coats)

 

from the Fifty Shades of Grey collection

 

 

My Silk Tie is the first shade on the left in the mini collection and is the only frosty shade. Brush strokes are unavoidable, and this shade is not at all unique. I found two coats left behind some patchy spots, but wasn't bothered enough to add a third coat.

I purchased my set for $21.95 at my local Ulta. I used a $3.50 off coupon to make it a bit more affordable.

OPI Embrace the Grey

OPI Embrace the Grey

(3 coats)

 

from the Fifty Shades of Grey collection

 

 

Embrace the Grey is the fourth shade from the left in the mini collection and is the middle color of the three grey shades. I think it looks a little darker on the nail, as some greys tend to do. As with Cement the Deal, I had a bit of trouble getting opaque coverage with just two coats, so I added a third and was pleased. This shades suits my skintone a bit better... I felt like Cement the Deal gave me lobster hands.

I purchased my set for $21.95 at my local Ulta. I used a $3.50 off coupon to make it a bit more affordable, and although I think that was still pretty expensive for minis, I'm super glad OPI didn't stick a mini top coat in there.

OPI Cement the Deal

OPI Cement the Deal

(3 coats)

 

from the Fifty Shades of Grey collection

Cement the Deal is that last shade on the right and is the lightest of the crème shades. I think it looks a little darker on the nail, as some greys tend to do. I had a bit of trouble getting opaque coverage with just two coats, so I added a third and was pleased.

I purchased my set for $21.95 at my local Ulta. I used a $3.50 off coupon to make it a bit more affordable, and although I think that was still pretty expensive for minis, I'm super glad OPI didn't stick a mini top coat in there.

OPI Dark Side of the Mood

OPI Dark Side of the Mood

(4 coats)

 

from the Fifty Shades of Grey collection

Dark Side of the Mood is the darkest grey in the set (second from the left in the mini set). It's got an almost imperceptible shimmer in it that's only visible in direct sunlight, and even then, you need a macro shot to see it. Still, it's so pretty!

macro shot 

I found it to be quite watery and found myself with some sheer patches even after three careful coats. I added a fourth, but if you look closely at my ring finger above, you can still see a sheet spot near the cuticle. There was no chance of me adding a fifth coat, so I called it good. Only a nail-crazy person like me (or you since you are reading this blog!) would probably notice. :-)

I purchased my set for $21.95 at my local Ulta. I used a $3.50 off coupon to make it a bit more affordable, and although I think that was still pretty expensive for minis, I'm super glad OPI didn't stick a mini top coat in there.

Dermelect Fall/Winter Bejeweled Collection

Dermelect Bejeweled Collection

 

The Bejeweled Collection, new for Fall 2014, features four new hues "inspired by the rich and radiant pigments of precious gems."

 

Dermelect Lustrous

3 coats, topcoat added

Lustrous, described as "sparkling cognac" was gorgeous. I love the glass-fleck quality. I did find I needed 3 coats to get complete even coverage.

Dermelect Gilded

2 coats (intended to be worn without topcoat)

Gilded, described as "textured patina", in meant to be worn without a topcoat to show the texture. I really liked this one! I got pretty darn good coverage with one coat, but did 2 to make sure I had even coverage.

 



Dermelect Heirloom

2 coats, topcoat added

Heirloom, described as "metallic royal sapphire" is definitely my favorite in the collection! Do you see that gorgeous pink shimmer? Enlarge that pic and check it out- it is so rich and complex! 2 coats gave great coverage so I stopped there.

Dermelect Belle Epoque

2 coats, topcoat added

 

Belle Epoque is described as "deep, smoky quartz crème. This shade dazzled me the least, but it was  great quality. It's such a dark brown that it almost looks black indoors.

 

 

Dermelect’s Bejeweled Collection, available Fall 2014, retails for $14-16 and can be purchased online at www.dermelect.com and at high-end apothecaries, beauty boutiques, salons, spas, medi-spas and doctors offices. Locally, Dermelect is available at Ulta.

 



 



The Nude Manicure: Dermelect

 

With Awards Season in full force, Dermelect spotted some incredible emerging trends on the Red Carpets of the Met Gala, Cannes Film Festival and Billboard Music Awards. A recurrent beauty trend across the board has been the The Nude Manicure. A refreshing, chic alternative to the perennial bright Summer nail, this toned-down look has added advantages of accenting any color perfectly (as demonstrated below by Emma Stone in fuchsia, Jennifer Lopez in red, and Katie Holmes in yellow) and giving the appearance of long, elegant fingers.

 

Dermelect Debonnaire (3 coats)

 

Debonnaire ($14) is a creamy beige that works for all skin tones—the perfect choice for a classic nude mani.

 

Dermelect Naturale (3 coats)

from the Spring/Summer 2014 Revival Collection

New for SS14, Naturale ($14) is a nude amped up with shimmery peach accent—it goes perfectly with a summer tan.

 

The Dermelect line is now available at Ulta.

 

 

 

 

Dermelect Cosmeceuticals Nails National Distribution at ULTA Beauty

I was recently browsing thru my local Ulta's nail polish section, and was excited to see a new Dermelect display! I snapped a (very unfocused) pic with my cell because I remember seeing some press release info about this.

Dermelect Cosmeceuticals, the company that introduced the 1^st Peptide Infused, Anti-Aging Nail Treatments, announces that their entire Nail, Hand & Foot care range will now be available at ULTA stores nationwide and Ulta.com.  Beginning January 2014, all ULTA locations will feature Dermelect’s collection of Nail Treatments and ME lacquers on end-caps throughout the month of January and then Dermelect can be found amongst ULTA’s professional assortment of products.

“By having a national presence at ULTA Beauty, Dermelect anti-aging nail treatments are now readily available to the woman who has been experiencing changes to the appearance and health of her nails. We’re excited to be able to provide our innovative solutions to help restore naturally long, strong, beautiful nails, while flaunting fashionably forward fingertips,” says Amos Lavian, Founder of Dermelect Cosmeceuticals. 

ULTA will offer a variety of Dermelect’s leading Nail Treatment products, including treatment base coats, a manicure extending top coat, colored treatment lacquers and restorative creams all infused with Protein Keratin Peptide, a pure protein derived from New Zealand sheep’s wool that works to strengthen the nails and nourish the skin. Award-winning Rejuvenail Fortifying Nail & Cuticle Treatment and Timeless Anti-Aging Daily Hand Treatment along withRunway Ready Luxury Foot Treatment are mainstays of the line-up, as well as nail treatment lacquers Launchpad Nail Strengthener, Makeover Ridge Filler and High-Maintenance Instant Nail Thickener. Step-by-step Nail Recovery System provides a complete regimen to restore damaged, hard-to-grow nails in a value set.   24 shades of ME’s peptide-infused, professional-strength lacquers will round out the range combining hydrolyzed keratin with rich pigments in a 3-Free formula.  In March, Dermelect will introduce three new Nail Treatments and seven on-trend spring hues.

In anticipation of Dermelect’s launch at ULTA, the retail packaging has undergone a complete revamp featuring a sophisticated, dual finish texture to better align with the high quality and efficacy of the innovatively advanced treatments. To convey the feel of the luxury treatments, the new packaging features a soft touch technology and is coupled with a high gloss finish to complement the high-shine of the lacquers. The DER ME LECT logo, seen throughout the polish collection has been carried over for brand uniformity. The messaging communicated has also been improved upon to better cater to the educated consumer, not simply listing the product’s feature/benefits but also providing key ingredient definitions.

“We are pleased to launch Dermelect exclusively at ULTA Beauty,” said ULTA Senior Vice President of Merchandising, Janet Taake. “We believe that Dermelect’s technologically advanced line of peptide infused, anti-aging nail treatments and colors will be a perfect fit for ULTA Beauty and our customers.”

To support the launch at ULTA Beauty, Dermelect will be included in ULTA’s circulars and sampling promotions. Online initiatives will include utilizing mass emails and social media Q/A’s, nail maintenance tips, and nail art tutorials to further the brand’s messaging.

The Dermelect Nail Treatments range from $14.00 for the ME Anti-Aging Color Nail Treatments to $59.00 for the Nail Recovery System.

About Dermelect Cosmeceuticals

Dermelect Cosmeceuticals was formed in 2006 to provide targeted, multifunctional treatments to the woman experiencing changes to her appearance. As a complement to invasive procedures or as a stand-alone DIY range, its no-nonsense beauty philosophy is to combine luxurious formulations with innovative technologies to achieve and maintain realistic skincare and beauty goals.  In 2012, Dermelect expanded its heralded Anti-Aging, Nail Treatment category by introducing professional color lacquers, Dermelect ME, the 1^st Peptide-Infused, Anti-Aging Color Nail Treatment collection. The Dermelect range covers eight key anti-aging categories including Skin Solutions, Skin Brightening, Décolleté, Hands & Feet, Total Body and Eye Care.  Dermelect Cosmeceuticals is available at high-end apothecaries, beauty boutiques, salons, spas, medi-spas and doctor’s offices as well as www.dermelect.com.  The Nail Treatments andME Lacquers are also available at ULTA Stores Nationwide and www.ulta.com

About ULTA Beauty

ULTA Beauty is the largest beauty retailer that provides one-stop shopping for prestige, mass and salon products and salon services in the United States.  ULTA Beauty provides affordable indulgence to its customers by combining unmatched product breadth, value and convenience with the distinctive environment and experience of a specialty retailer.  ULTA Beauty offers a unique combination of over 20,000 prestige and mass beauty products across the categories of cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, skincare, bath and body products and salon styling tools, as well as salon haircare products.  ULTA Beauty also offers a full-service salon in all of its stores.  As of November 2, 2013, ULTA Beauty operates 664 retail stores across 46 states and also distributes its products through the Company’s website: www.ulta.com.

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.

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!

NOTD: OPI Merry Holly-Days!

OPI Merry Holly-Days!

I *believe* this was an Ulta Holiday 2008 exclusive. I found a pic of this that I posted on my personal blog in December 2008 (I certainly needed to do some filing!) and that's how I referred to it, so we'll go with that. Google wasn't particularly helpful in verifying this I'm afraid.

The above swatch is 2 coats, and I love this glowy red so much! Application was easy and perfect and topped with NYC Grand Central Station, I got no shrinkage as you can see by this picture taken on Sunday morning after I did this mani on Saturday evening.

Anybody have any info on this shade?

NOTD: OPI Dreaming of Red

OPI Dreaming of Red (Ulta exclusive)

What a pretty red! Not all that unique, but still pretty. We all know Suzy loves her reds!

Slight tip wear, but I painted about 24 hours ago and remember I shuffle paper for a living. It's bound to happen!

NOTD: OPI Amethyst Twist

OPI Amethyst Twist

This shade is from the Ulta Tiny Tinsels set from Holiday 2009. Isn't that gorgeous?

I'm laughing about the tiny bottle in my hand, thinking about the Cafe Disco episode of The Office where Michael is serving espresso in those tiny cups and saying "Oh, look at my giant hand and this regular-sized coffee cup...." Too funny!

Poshe' Sale at Ulta

I stopped by Ulta yesterday and found they were having a great sale on Poshe' products- buy one get one free! There wasn't an Ulta circular in my paper this Sunday, so I'm not sure if this was advertised or not.

I've been wanting to try their topcoat to see how it compares to my beloved Seche Vite, so I picked up a bottle of that and for my free product I chose the AHA Cuticle Care.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was testing and comparing the Poshe' Cuticle Care and CND Cuticle Eraser. My final opinion is that I really can't tell much of a difference between the results of the two products- both seem to work equally well. I do prefer the smell and thicker texture of the Cuticle Eraser, but I can certainly use the Poshe' if I get a good price!