CND Vinylux in Tinted Love

CND Vinylux in Tinted Love

3 coats

 

The last time I tried a shade from CND Vinylux I wasn't overly impressed. I thought I would give it another try with a different shade. I did need 3 coats of Tinted Love to get opaque coverage, and I topped it with CND's Vinylux Weekly Top Coat. This pic was taken the morning after I did my mani. By that afternoon I already had significant tipwear on my other hand....... Stayed tuned to see my final thoughts soon.

 



SpaRitual Magnify

SpaRitual Magnify

2 coats

 

A few months ago, after doing quite a bit of research on beauty subscription boxes, I decided to give GLOSSYBOX a try. In the past, I have subscribed to both Birchbox and Ipsy, but discontinued those because I seemed to get products that I never used.

GLOSSYBOX *is* more expensive ($21 versus both Birchbox and Ipsy's $10), but the quality is so much better- these are high end brands! I also LOVE the beautiful, high quality boxes they send each month. They are great for drawer organizing or keeping craft products in. Here is a link to my review of my July 2014 box.

 

SpaRitual Magnify was included in my August 2014 GLOSSYBOX, and I was so excited because I LOVE when subscription boxes include nail polish. It's like they KNOW ME! And isn't Magnify a gorgeous Barbie bubble-gum pink? Application was fabulous, and 2 coats provided perfect coverage.

 

SpaRitual shades retail for $12.

 

Disclosure: GLOSSYBOX link is a referral link.

Sparkles Save a Bad Mani

Cover Girl Boundless Color in City Lights (1 coat) (sorry, discontinued!)

over

Sephora Formula X in Prophecy (2 coats)

 

Do you ever do a mani, and something just goes so so wrong? This mani seemed to be a lost cause (more on that in a minute), but just one coat of a holo glitter saved the day! I am sad that City Lights is discontinued, but there are two others that are easy to find and work in quite the same way: China Glaze Fairy Dust and Out The Door Northern Lights Silver Hologram Top Coat. Swatch and Learn has a great comparison post here.

 

Anyway, back to my failed mani. A few weeks ago I read beautygeek's review of the Sephora Formula X Brushed Metallics line and I knew I had to have Prophecy. You've got to check out her pic! It's amazing.

 

But on me..... it crackled! It was so very strange. I used my normal base of NailTek II, which I guess the Sephora X did not play well with. The first coat of Prophecy was very streaky but I figured the second coat would even it out. No! The second coat made it crackle! Just like the crackles of a few years ago. I was so frustrated, and I was late and I was tired and wanted to get to bed. I grabbed my trust bottle of Cover Girl City Lights, which has saved me before, and let it work the magic. I ended up loving how this mani turned out.

 

I'll have to try Prophecy again, I guess with a different base. Anyone had better luck with something else?

 

 

OPI Oy-Another Polish Joke!

 OPI Oy-Another Polish Joke!

(3 coats)

from the Spring 2013 Euro Centrale Collection

 

shade

 

Although I don't love this shade against my skintone, it's quite pretty! I did need three coats to cover my nail line, but application was so easy and it dried so fast, I didn't mind.

 

OPI Hands Off My Kielbasa!

OPI Hands Off My Kielbasa!

3 coats

 

from the Spring 2013 Euro Centrale Collection

 

I have to tell you, I like this one so much more than I thought I would! At first I thought it leaned a bit too flesh-toned for my taste, but as I wore this it grew on me. It's really flattering, and the bronzy shimmer in there is quite pretty. Two coats were actually fine, but I added a third because a few spots seemed thinner than others.

 

 

 



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.

 



 



Revlon Popular

Revlon Popular

(3 coats)

shade pic

 

Revlon Popular is really pretty- I love the "jelly sandwich" look and love that this one polish takes care of it for me- no need to layer two polishes to get the look.

 

Popular is pretty sheer and I needed 3 coats to get good even coverage. Topped with NYC Grand Central Station, dry time was normal for me- I painted my nails and went to bed about an hour later.