nails inc. the thames

nails inc. the thames

(By the way, do we capitalize nails inc. names or not???? They are not capitalized on the bottles..... let me know if you know!)

Forget the translucent nude polish, ombre style or wild designs of summer… This fall, nail art is simple, bold and mysteriously dark. Models on the fall runways flaunted the smoky nail trend while September’s blockbuster magazines have the sultry look splashed across their beauty pages.

 

Shades ranging from gunmetal to metallic set the tone for this season’s modern monochromatic story. Those with fairer skin should go for steely tones, while those with darker complexions will want to choose paler versions.

 

I really like this shade! Coverage was absolutely PERFECT in two coats, and a dream to apply. I continue to be impressed by nails inc. even if I'm unsure about the proper way to write the product names!

I got several comments on how this was a very on-trend shade. In fact, the nurse at urgent care last night loved it. (Yes, I've got a lovely sinus infections. However, a bonus of being in bed all day was catching up on my DVR!)

Price: $9.50 each, Available at Sephora and on Sephora.com

 

Disclosure: This shade was provided for review purposes.

Two shades from the L'Oreal Project Runway collection

This fall, L'Oreal launched a line of Project Runway-branded makeup, which included 8 shades of nail polish. (You can see the full collection here.) Walgreen's was having a nice sale a few weeks ago, so I picked up two shades that caught my eye.

 L'Oreal the queen's might

3 coats

The formula on this one was nice and even, although it's a bit sheet and you can still see a visible nail line even after 3 coats. There's some silver veining in the bottle that doesn't translate to the nail.

L'Oreal the mystic's fortune

2 coats

The formula on this one was somewhat lacking- after one coat it was a streaky mess but luckily a second coat evened it out just fine. In the bottle you can see some small pink and aqua shimmers, but they don't really show once applied.

Giveaway for BCA Month: Stila Positively Pink Set

I recently received Stila's Positively Pink Cheek Palette to review and I've been wearing it pretty much everyday! It's a gorgeous pink with lighter pink embossed BCA ribbons in it that give the powder the slightest glow. Note that it's definitely not glittery!

I'm excited to say that I also have one to giveaway- and it's in a cute set with a Lip Glaze as well.

Stila Positively Pink Cheek Palette

This multi-colored pressed powder blush has a luxe, velvety finish and embossed pink ribbons for a positively glowing flush. For each purchase, $1 of proceeds will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Price: $16, Available in October 2012 at www.stilacosmetics.com

Stila Positively Pink Set

This collectible, multi-colored, pressed powder comes paired with a Stila Lip Glaze to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For each purchase, $1 of proceeds will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Price: $18, Available in October 2012 at www.stilacosmetics.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway Good luck and thanks for entering!  

Disclosure: These products were provided to Sasha for review purposes.

Swatches: Pop Culture Cosmetics Disintegration Collection

Denise from Pop Culture Cosmetics was nice enough to send me some of her indie creations to swatch. I was excited to see that she had a collection based on songs by The Cure. These three shades, from the Transforming and Magical section of her store, are from the Disintegration Collection and are all one coat of her polish over plain black.

Pop Culture Cosmetics Just Like Heaven

Pop Culture Cosmetics Last Dance

Pop Culture Cosmetics Lovesong

I think these are just gorgeous and were so so easy to apply. Denise sent me a few of her glitters as well, and I am excited to give them a try too!

NOTD: L'Oreal Eiffel For You topped with Silver Sparkle

L'Oreal Eiffel For You 

topped with Silver Sparkle

bottle shot 

L'Oreal Eiffel For You

bottle shot

L'Oreal Silver Sparkle

 I based this mani on an Emmy mani that L’Oréal Paris Consulting Nail Expert Tom Bachik created for Ashley Judd. 

First, Tom applied a deep taupe violet color, Colour Riche Nail in Eiffel For You, as the base color. Then, he gilded the tips with a chunky silver sparkle, Colour Riche Nail Diamond Collection in Sparklicious (he only gilded the tip vs. a full on French manicure for a long slender look).

I had received Eiffel For You to review, and I already have a similar sparkle shade, Silver Sparkle, in my collection, so I decided to add that on top.

It's quite rainy and gloomy here, so I wasn't able to get my typical sunlight shot, but I think the overcast lighting really lets you see the different colors of glitter in Silver Sparkle. It's really gorgeous and eye-catching. The finish is also super-smooth after just one coat of topcoat.

Details

Brand/Name: L'Oreal Eiffel For You topped with L'Oreal Silver Sparkle

Number of coats in pic/topcoat?: 2 coats color topped with 1 coat of glitter topped with 1 coat NYC Grand Central Station

Source: Eiffel For You was provided for review purposes, and Silver Sparkle was purchased by me for my collection from CVS in the spring

Retail price: L'Oreal polish retails for approximately $4.99 at drugstores

NOTD: Sephora by OPI Hollywood If I Could

China Glaze Cherry Crystal

accented with

Sephora by OPI Hollywood If I Could

macro shot

Last week I was trolling Sephora and ran across some new shades and Hollywood If I Could looked interesting so I ordered it. It's described as "clear with pink/purple/blue tinsel glitter".

To me, the bar glitter is just reflective.... so it's going to show lots of colors depending on the light. In indoor light, it tends to look more green and yellow, and outdoors in the evening light you can see gold, some green, and a bit of pink and blue. Regardless, it's pretty!

It appears that it's part of the Tinsel Town Collection, although there's not really good information on Sephora's website showing exactly what is included in this collection. Part of it looks to be re-promotes, because the Tinsel Town Eight Piece Set contains shades that don't appear to be new: 

- Mr. Right Now (opaque classic wine) - repromote

- Merry Me (opaque red with micro red glitter) -repromote
- Keep Me On My Mistletoes (opaque champagne gold with fine glitter) -repromote
- Bare To Be Different (sheer warm ecru) -repromote
- Chamomile-ion to One (sheer pink beige with fine gold glitter) -possibly new?
- Thyme For a Mani (opaque light khaki) - possibly new? could be from Spice Market collection
- Mash-Up (opaque metallic green purple duo chrome) - repromote from Glee Collection
- If You've Got It , Haunt It (opaque black with chunky glitter) -repromote from Halloween 2010

However, you can sometimes find the newest shades by looking at the first or last shades in their listing of all colors. I found these eight shades which appear to be new, and do go along with the Tinsel Town movie-type theme.

Ruby Without A Cause - opaque chrome wine-burgundy with two tone effect

What Film Noir You In? - opaque metallic rich deep magenta with fine shimmer

Here's Lilac In' At You, Kid - opaque chrome blue-violet with two tone effect

Is She For Reel? - opaque smoky grey with fine silver & gold iridescent glitter

The Golden Age - clear with chunky & fine gold/silver glitter

Light, Glammer A, Action! - clear with chunky & fine gold/silver/teal glitter 

Mauve-ie Star In The Making - Clear with chunky & fine pink/purple/gold glitter

Come To Paparazzi - clear with chunky & fine gold/orange/black glitter

Hollywood If I Could - clear with pink/purple/blue tinsel glitter

So here's my question... why aren't the NEW shades in the eight piece mini set????? So very strange Suzi! You are making this too much work! You need a new marketing rep at Sephora!

Details

Brand/Name: accent nail- Sephora by OPI Hollywood If I Could

Number of coats in pic/topcoat?: 2 coats topped with NYC Grand Central Station

Purchase info: $9.50 from Sephora.com

More info: from Fall 2012's Tinsel Town Collection

NOTD: China Glaze Cherry Crystal

China Glaze Cherry Crystal

Somehow this very very old China Glaze was in my un-trieds! This is so old, I know I bought it either during college or very soon after I finished. For reference, I graduated from college in the mid-90s.

Unbelievable, this didn't even need any thinning! It was in great shape. I did find that it took a bit longer to dry than newer China Glaze shades dry. I went to bed about 30 minute after painting my nails, which is normally not a problem, but I had slight sheet marks on them when I woke up this morning, so I added another coat to cover them.

Here's a pic of the price label still on it. I forgot how to read Beautyco labels... does the 99300 mean that it was 1999? Could be I suppose.

Details

Brand/Name: China Glaze Cherry Crystal

Number of coats in pic/topcoat?: 3 coats topped with NYC Grand Central Station (would have been fine with two, but I added a second to cover slight sheet marks)

Purchase info: Looks like I purchased it for $5.99 from Beautyco in the 90s!

More info: Cherry Crystal is still available as part of China Glaze's core line