CANDY COATED TIPS

OPI Nicki Minaj Limited Edition Collection: Swatches and Review

2012-01-27T08:16:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday Ya'll :)

Today I have a seriously fun and electrifying collection brought to you by OPI and Nicki Minaj!

Let's get this party started....

"Did It On 'Em"
2 coats, no top coat

Limey green cream...gorgeous! I love these type of "shrek-like" colors on my hands. I had no streaking issues with this color,like most yellow/light greens, it went on very easily and smoothly.

"Did It On 'Em" topped with 1 coat of "Super Bass Shatter". I added 1 coat of top coat, because the shatters tend to dry a bit "matte", so top coat is needed to give it that SHINE!

Oh yeah baby! Now we're coking with OIL!!!! Love this combo!!! "Super Bass Shatter" has a shimmer to it, almost glitter like, without all the lumps and bumps! Very nice over cremes!

"Fly"
2 coats, no top coat

It's a blue...so you know what that means..I LOVE IT!!!!!! This aqua cream was smooth and easy to apply, opaque in 2 coats, no issues.

"Fly" topped with 1 coat of "Super Bass Shatter" with top coat.

Look at that! Seriously, such a simple step and this polish just POPPED!!! :)

"Metallic 4 Life"
3 coats, no top coat

The base in this is a bit jelly like. Black jelly cream with silver glitter. 3 coats was NEEDED for me, 2 coats left bald spots and was not opaque. But if you did a base coat of any black cream, you would not need 2 coats. this would be awesome! I really like this polish! So fun and easy!

"Metallic 4 Life" topped with 1 coat of "Super Bass Shatter" with top coat .

I was super, super hesitant to top this off with the shatter. I just was not convinced it was necessary...and I was right..LOL! You definitely CAN do this manicure, but M4L is so pretty on its own, it does not need the shatter...just sayin!

"Pink Friday"
2 coats, no top coat

I am not a baby pink girl, but this has some possibilities. With it being smooth and opaque in 2 coats, you can't beat it! But wait.....

"Pink Friday" topped with 1 coat of "Super Bass Shatter" with top coat.

Oh yeah, I could rock this! Woo Hoo..."Super Bass" to the rescue!

"Save me"
3 coats, no top coat

Yes bar glitter is back baby! and although it does remind me of hair and shag carpeting, it's different and cool, and for that I love it! Silver glitter and holographic baby blue and pink bar glitter is a bit difficult to apply, 3 coats is necessary for opacity. Next time I rock this I'll apply a silver base coat, then rock the glitter!

"Save me" topped with 1 coat of "Super Bass Shatter" with top coat.

Can you say funky fabulous! Love it with the Shatter on top! Nice, very nice!

Overall when I see this collection, I feel the need to rock each color on a different finger, in fact that is the plan for this weekend!

My favorites are "Super Bass Shatter", "Save Me", "Fly" and Metallic 4 Life". Although the creams are possibly dupable, the glitters and shatter stand out to me enough that they are a necessary component in any girls collection.

Nicki Minaj by OPI nail lacquers contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application. This limited edition promotion is out NOW at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

ABOUT OPI

As the world leader in the professional nail care industry, OPI is committed to providing high-quality products and services to both salons and their customers, along with a focus on industry safety and innovation. Known for its exceptional formula, fashionable colors and iconic names, OPI’s heavily-pigmented lacquers are super rich, long-lasting and chip-resistant – offering an affordable luxury to consumers. OPI nail lacquer is available in over 200 shades and contains no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde. Each lacquer features OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application. Currently, OPI is available in over 100 countries and retails a full line of professional items, including nail treatments, finishing products, lotions, manicure/pedicure products, files, tools, gels and acrylics.

*Info. provided by OPI PR

Happy Friday!

Etsy Shop: Pretty and Polished

2012-01-26T08:46:00.000-08:00

Chelsea of Pretty and Polished gave two of her awesome creations to show you today!

Emphasis on AWESOME!!!!

First up...

"Razz"
2 coats, no top coat.

Razz is a great rose colored glitter with purple and green glitter added and it is seriously unique and pretty!

Isn't this simply gorgeous! These pics are just 2 coats, but you can layer it over a similar base color that is a shimmer or cream and obtain a more saturated manicure, although I prefer it just like it is...GORGEOUS!

Next up, is a real stunner...

"Jealous"

This is Chelsea's magical top coat, that once layered over any other color turns it into something seriously special...check it out!

I layered "Jealous" over theses colors:

Left to Right: Rimmel "Black Satin", Nicole by OPI "Too Rich For You", Orly "Out Of This World" and OPI "Alpine Snow".

Are you ready? :P

Here they are with 1 coat of "Jealous" added on top!

Awesome, right? Yeah I was amazed how great it made these already fabulous colors, especially the first 3 colors!!!!

"Jealous" over the Rimmel (black creme).

"Jealous" over the NOPI (darkened teal shimmer).

"Jealous" over the Orly (deep purple shimmer).

AWESOME, great job Chelsea!!!

Left to Right: 1 coat of "Jealous" over, Rimmel "Black Satin", Nicole by OPI "Too Rich For You", Orly "Out Of This World" and OPI "Alpine Snow".

So pretty, indoors and outdoors :)

So if you want to get your hands on "Razz" and "Jealous", simply click the link HERE, or click the link on my page to the right, to Chelsea's Etsy Shop, and you will be transported to a mecca of great colors and creative glitters!

Don't forget to use the 5% off coupon code CANDY5!!!!

I know I'll be ordering "Party On My Yacht", "Star Struck", and "Midnight Rider" !!!

Zoya Gems & Jewels Holiday Collection 2011 Swatches

2012-01-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes, I know..the holidays are over, but this collection wasn't very "Holiday-ish" in my book :)

The colors, the textures, it just didn't seems very "in-tune" with the holidays. NOW, do not get me wrong, the colors are AWESOME and I love the bar glitter idea, Fabulous it IS, but Holiday?? Not so much! Anyway here are my swatches :)

Left to Right: Noel, Izzy, and Holly

Left to Right: Twila, Kissy, and Rina

Zoya "Noel"
2 coats
A faded denim blue with subtle hints of gold and silver in a dense foil finish

2 coats of "Noel", topped with 1 coat each of Twila, Kissy and Rina. Pinkie has nothing :)

2 coats of "Noel", topped with 1 coat each of Twila, Kissy and Rina.

Zoya "Izzy"
2 coats
A bright, bold deep pink with hints of silver in a glowing foil-like finish.

2 coats of "Izzy", topped with 1 coat each of Twila, Kissy and Rina. Pinkie has nothing :)

2 coats of "Izzy", topped with 1 coat each of Twila, Kissy and Rina. Pinkie has nothing :)

2 coats of "Izzy", topped with 1 coat each of Twila, Kissy and Rina.

Zoya "Holly"
2 coats
A rich holly green with subtle yellow tones in a luminous metallic finish

2 coats of "Holly", topped with 1 coat each of Twila, Kissy and Rina. Pinkie has nothing :)

2 coats of "Holly", topped with 1 coat each of Twila, Kissy and Rina.

Overall, I love the base colors, they are bright and smooth and deliver consistent color and shine! The "bar glitters" are great too, but only certain combinations work with me.

Basically the blues and greens are nicely layered among themselves and each other. The pink stands alone...LOL!

Don't get me wrong, I love the pinks, but they are best layered with one another, in my opinion. :)

I know some do not like "bar glitters" and feel they too closely resemble hair...LOL, but I say...there is always room for something different and new...ENJOY them all!

Keep It Sweet!

Franken: "Life 'O' The Party"

2012-01-24T07:37:00.000-08:00

Yep, I've been am mixin machine lately, and this one is super easy. I first heard about this franken on Reflection, Sassy Nails and Silly Diversions *say that 10 times fast* :)

Her franken was so awesome, and so close to Butter London's Black Knight, that I had to give it a shot, and so I did. I went to my local drugstore where I knew they had 2 bottles of Sally Hansen "Midnight in NY" and then grabbed 2 bottles of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear "Rockstar Pink" off the rack as well.

Went home and started mixin!!! I mixed in equal parts, and I ended up making 3 full sized bottles. I think I may give 1 away in a giveaway, does that sound cool?

Not a bad dupe, if I do say so myself :) After seeing the flashes of pink and sparkles, I knew I had to add some pink accent nails to the mix...so WALLAH!

This is my new franken "Life 'O' The Party", with Orly "Purple Crush" (which is not purple, but still awesome).

I topped the Orly off with Cover Girl "City Lights", so that it had some sparkle!

2 coats of LotP, and 2 coats of PC and coverage was opaque and perfect! The manicure tried a tad bumpy, but top coat took care of that in a jiffy. No issues!

And in true Franken Fashion, I named this bad boy after another Prince song *shocking*, "Life 'O' The Party" from his "Musicology" Album. WOO HOO!!!!! O(+>

Look at that awesome sparkle, and trust me after you make this beauty, you will not need BL "Black Knight"..save your $$$ for another beauty and make this one IMMEDIATELY!!!

I loved this manicure, definitely a favorite!

Keep It Sweet!

Gung Hay Fat Choy

2012-01-23T07:42:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year! This is now the year of the Dragon, and very special and auspicious sign. Fortunately, I have 3 friends who are having a baby in the next couple of weeks and months, and their daughters will all be Dragon baby girls, Congratulations!!!!

Today I have a special manicure, just for the New Year!

"Time to get CRACKING for Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year is observed for two consecutive weeks, and is popularly known as Spring Festival. It usually starts from late January and early February. The variation in the date of festival is due to the changes in the track of the new moon. The Spring Festival ends on the 15th day when the Lantern festival is celebrated. Pure Ice has a quick and simple nail polish set to help you achieve this perfect look."

Pure ice "Winter Crackle and Ice Duo" Gold with Red Crackle.

1 coat of Pure Ice "Bite Me" and 1 coat of Pure Ice Red Crackle "Show Stopper", all topped off with 1 coat of clear to make it shine! Gorgeous!!!

"In 2012, Chinese New Year Day will be celebrated on January 23. The New Year festival will start from January 22 (Chinese New Year' Eve) and end on February 6 (Lantern Festival). 2012 marks the 4710th Chinese New Year, and this time it is the Year of Dragon according to the Chinese zodiac calendar.

The Dragon is the 5th sign of the Chinese zodiac and it is regarded as an auspicious symbol which stands for power, good luck, success, and happiness."

This manicure is such a great combination of glitz and color, perfect to celebrate the Lunar New year!

"Since ancient times, the Chinese New Year was considered as the time to honor ancestors and heavenly deities. In addition, it was the time to organize family gatherings and grand feasts.

There is a legend associated with the celebration of New Year in China. There was a monster named Nian who used to harass the villagers by eating their crops, cattle and taking away their kids. The villagers had no other option but to place food at the entrance to their homes so that the monster would eat it and go away without harming them.

One day, the villagers realized that the monster was scared of red color. So, they adorned their doors and windows with red paper cutouts and spring scrolls. The villagers also burst crackers to frighten the monster. Since then, Nian never came again to the village. Hongjun Laozu, a Taoist monk, was the one who captured the beast later on. Since then, the Chinese have been celebrating the capture of Nian on their New Year's Day."

"Chinese New Year is celebrated with fireworks, lion dancing, dragon dancing and cultural performances on the street. Families organize reunion dinners on New Year's Eve and make special preparations like spring rolls and Chinese dumplings. "

Happy New Year to everyone, and may the new year bring you health, wealth and overall HAPPINESS!!!!

*Info and product provided by Bari Cosmetics PR.

Happy Friday...Happy Nails!

2012-01-20T09:09:00.000-08:00

Yep, it's Friday and we are having a dual baby shower at work. yep, 2 more girls will soon be joining the world and hopefully the ranks of the POLISH OBSESSED! LOL, I'll make sure to stick a couple of my blog business cards in their onesies and diaper pails :)! *muah muah*!

Okay so for today I have a crazy fun green I sported a couple days ago, hope you like it!

2 coats OPI "Green-which Village" and 2 coats Kleancolor "Chunky Holo Clover" on top.

My poor poor cuticles, this was "custards last stand" for them. After these photos, I had to take drastic measures. :(

This is what I did and what I do ever time my cuticles get a bad case of the "Winter blahs":

Remove all my polish.
Soak my nails and cuticles in 1 part warm water, 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts warmed olive oil.
After they are soaked, I wash my hands and push back my cuticles, apply cuticle remover, to remove all the dead skin and extra "gunk".
Scrub my cuticles and nails with a nail brush., then wash and dry.

Apply a good hand cream and apply cuticle oil or your favorite cuticle cream to the cuticles. I forgot to take pictures after, but next time I do this I'll make a tutorial out of it :) But believe me it works.

Okay back to the polish...the OPI was pretty thin for a cream, definitely needed 2 coats to get full coverage, even then I had streaks, but after applying the Kleancolor in 2 coats, it was all good!

Chunky Holo makes every manicure better, look at the holographic display those chunk are giving...awesome! Next time I use my Kleancolor, I'm using it over a darker green, so I get more holographic effect! NICE!

Happy Friday!!!!

Deborah Lippmann "Razzle Dazzle"

2012-01-19T07:56:00.000-08:00

Hello sweet cheeks! Today I have the 2nd color in the Deborah Lippmann color trio "All That Jazz" Fall 2010, "Razzle Dazzle".

Here it is....2 coats of glorious black raspberry glitter! These pics are after 3 days, and as you can see I have a little tip wear, but NO CHIPS!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!

This beauty dried smooth, but I still did my usual 1 coat of OPI top coat, 1 coat of Seche Vite to "seal the deal", and as you can see the shimmer does not stop, even into day 3... glorious! :)

As you can see from the pics, the raspberry and magenta glitter saturate the polish, so it is never difficult to get glitter "all over" the nail. Lippmann's wear like iron on me and hopefully it is the same for you :)

I've purchased Lippmann's from Nordstroms, Apothica, Zappos, and Bloomingdale's. But you can always find them at her site HERE.

The last of the trio "Some Enchanted Evening" will come next week, until then...Keep It Sweet!

New Franken: Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)

2012-01-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

Hello, there! Today I have a new franken I created a couple weeks ago.

For those of you not familiar with the term, a "Franken" is when you mix other polishes or polish ingredients (i.e. glitter, eye shadow, pigments etc.) together to create your own unique color, or a duplicate of your favorite color.

My newest creation is named "Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)". Like all my other frankens, this one is named after a Prince song from his "1999" album...I LOVE PRINCE! O(+>

Okay, Okay, on with the nails :)

Pretty isn't it!!!! I love blues and this new color is no exception! Here it is 3 coats, because I wanted to really get a saturated holographic look! By the way, it was perfectly opaque in 2 coats. :)

I love used old OPI bottles, for my frankens, they are great sized bottles, have great brushes and my frankens look so pretty in them...LOL :)

I am super happy with this creation and the formula is super easy. equal parts NARS "Midnight Express" and OPI DS "Sapphire"..that's it!!!! Okay 2 more pics :P...

Okay, until next time..Keep it Sweet!

OPI Walks the Red Carpet at the Golden Globe Awards!

2012-01-17T12:30:00.000-08:00

Former wrestler and actress Stacy Keibler walked the 69^th Annual Golden Globe Awards red carpet with George Clooney on her arm and OPI nail lacquer in Did You ‘Ear About Van Gogh? on her hands. This new nude, which complemented Keibler’s classic look, is part of the Holland collection, launching in February for Spring/Summer 2012.

Laura Linney, nominated for Best Actress in a TV series for her role in The Big C, paired her purple-hued dress with the jewel-tonedOPI nail lacquer Congeniality is My Middle Name, a limited edition shade from the Miss Universe partnership.

*Info provided by OPI PR.

Ooopps, one more!

2012-01-17T07:57:00.000-08:00

I found one more holidays collection I reviewed but didn't post..sorry! :)

This is Sinful Colors Holiday 2011- WISH Collection!

Even though most of the colors are repeats, together they bring in the classic colors of the holidays, red. green, silver and blue!!!

"Out Of This World"
A perfect silver with swirls of glimmer
2 coats

"Midnight Blue"
A bold, bright twist on navy
2 coats

"Daddy's Girl"
A deep purple with a drizzle of shimmer and glitter
2 coats

"Sugar Sugar"
A Candy Cane, red-hot tint
2 coats

"Last Chance"
An emerald with depth and allure
2 coats

But don't forget the glitz...

Woo Hoo, have ornaments on my hands! :) Sinful overall is a great drugstore brand, and in my opinion, they run neck and neck with Wet n Wild in terms of colors and wear-time! Definitely worth the $1.99 price

The standouts in this group for me are, "Daddy's Girl" (great over black and opaque deep purples), and "Sugar Sugar", the perfect holiday red!

*Product sent for review by Sinful PR.

China Glaze ElectroPop: Spring 2012

2012-01-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles, CA - (January 2012): Where heavy metal meets rocker chic, China Glaze® introduces the Spring 2012 collection, ElectroPop. Inspired by all things girly, edgy and fun, the 12 shades of ElectroPop bring out the inner rock star in all. For flash and glam this spring, China Glaze® hits the stage in style!

Kinetic Candy – Touch the sky in light bluecrème

Electric Beat – Periwinkle nails for a wink worthyperformance

Aquadelic – Pool blue for nighttime gigs anddaytime fun in the sun

Gaga For Green – Green lacquer for the girl cravingthe limelight

Sunshine Pop –Shine in the spotlight in bold yellow

Make Some Noise – Rock the mic in tangerine

Wicked Style – Party cocktail tropical punch

Fuchsia Fanatic – Fuchsia pink for the rocker diva inus all

Gothic Lolita – Steal the show on girls night out inseductive purple

Dance Baby – Hit center stage in cotton candy pink

Sweet Hook – Blow a kiss in dreamy lilac

Techno –Glitter confetti polish for a dazzling topcoat finish or all over finger tipbling

ElectroPop is also available in:

6 Piece Collection of “Brights”: Techno, Aquadelic, Sunshine Pop, Gaga forGreen, Make Some Noise and Wicked Style

6Piece Collection of “Lights”: Fuchsia Fanatic, DanceBaby, Electric Beat, Kinetic Candy, Sweet Hook and Gothic Lolita

12 Piece 3-D Counter Display and 36 Piece Rack

ElectroPop will be availableFebruary 2012. Individual shades retail for $7; 6 piece collections retail for$42.

China Glaze is free ofDBP, toluene, and added formaldehyde. China Glaze nail lacquers are availablethrough salons and professional beauty supply stores nationwide. For moreinformation, visit: www.chinaglaze.com or follow China Glaze on Facebook andTwitter: http://twitter.com/ChinaGlaze

China Glaze is adivision of American International Industries.

About AmericanInternational Industries

For nearly 40 years, AIIhas been the leading manufacturer and worldwide distributor of innovative,quality beauty and skin care products for men and women. Our productlines include Ardell, Andrea, Body Drench, Bye Bye Blemish, Checi, China Glaze,Clean + Easy, Clubman/Pinaud, Duo, European Secrets, EzFlow, Fright Night,Gena, GiGi, Gypsy Lash, IBD, Jeris-Lustray, No Tweeze/Micro Tweeze, 'N Rage,Prolinc, RAW, Seche, SuperNail, Surgi-Care, Waterworks, Winning Nails,Woltra, Woody’s, and Youthair. For more information, visit our website: www.aiibeauty.com.

*Info sent by China Glaze PR

Finger Paints: Special Effects Swatches

2012-01-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

Today I have a swatches of the entire Finger Paints Special Effects top coat. It was very hard for me to find all 5, in fact, it was so hard, I did not find them..LOL, a dear nail polish friend on Facebook helped me out!

Thanks a million, Marcy! Not only was she able to grab all 5 for me, at the Sally's discounted price, but she also was able to grab me a cute teal clutch, that came free with the purchase, SCORE! :):)

Here they are...

Also, I am testing out a new watermark for my pictures. There is a lovely seller on EBAY.FR that is using my pictures to sell her polishes, not cool!! So after contesting her use of my pictures, TWICE, I am forced to watermark. Let me know what you think of the watermark placement, all suggestions are welcome :)

I decided to try my new effects over a Finger Paints color I've had for ages!

Finger Paints " Cobalt Cardigan", a lovely marine blue creme/jelly, gorgeous with 2 coats and don't forget the slight hint of shimmer!

So pretty, but once you add 1 coat of the Special Effects, it's turns into MAGIC...

AWESOME!

Thumb to Pinkie: Twisted, Asylum, Flecked, Motley, and Flashy!

Finger Paints "Twisted"...My favorite!

Finger Paints "Asylum"

Finger Paints "Flecked"...My 2nd favorite!

Finger Paints "Motley"

Finger Paints "Flashy"

Love it! So yes they are awesome, and yes they are dupe-ish of other "fan favorites". So far this is what I have figured out:

Flashy is similar to SH "Hidden Treasure, "Nubar "2010" and other similar flakies.
Flecked is similar to CND "Limelight" and Nails Inc "The Wyndham".
Motley is similar to Sinful "Green Ocean", except G.O. has glitter too. Also Nfu Oh 40 is very close too!
Asylum is similar to Deborah Lippmann "Edge of Glory"...so I've heard!
Twisted is similar to Picture Polish "Festival" and the old fan favorite L'Oreal "Crushed Opal"

When I say "similar", I use it nicely, because some of them are dead on dupes..LOL. So if you can score these FP's do it, because they are way cheaper than the others...I'm...just... sayin!

Have a great Friday and remember, Keep It Sweet!

Kaley Cuoco wears "Lucky" OPI manicure on the red carpet

2012-01-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

Last night, The Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco hosted the 2012 People's Choice Awards at L.A.'s Nokia Theatre, wearing her now trademark “lucky” manicure with two-toned nails styled by OPI celebrity manicurist Beth Fricke. Cuoco wore OPI Nail Lacquer in Bastille My Heart on all her nails, except on her two ring fingers, which were painted with Nicole by OPI Nail Lacquer in Follow Me on Glitter.

Cuoco also sported a similar two-toned OPI manicure at the 2011 Emmy awards; this look was hailed as one of the evening’s best accessories to walk the red carpet.

*Info and pictures provided by OPI PR and Getty Images.

Zoya: Fleck Effect 2012, Swatches and Review

2012-01-12T08:26:00.000-08:00

Zoya Fleck Effect 2012

Zoya presents their 3 new mylar fleck glazes that can be worn alone or layered.

Oh yeah bring on the flakies, baby!!!!! I wanted to show how these looked over different color shades, so I choose to layer mine over Zoya "Snow White" (white creme) , Zoya "Kelly" (medium grey creme), and Zoya "Pinta" (dark eggplant creme).

First Up...

"Maisie"
Blue tint with mylar green fleck effect
1 coat over each color.

L to R: Snow White, Kelly, Pinta, all topped with 1 coat of Maisie

Please excuse my poor cuticles :( After a full day of swatching so many colors, they looked HORRID. But they were better after a warm cuticle soak in olive oil and lemon juice, they were good as new by morning :)

Wow, on top of "Pinta", "Maisie" really POPS!! I also like how the flakes are totally different over "Snow White", very angelic :)

"Opal"
Green tint with mylar green fleck effect
1 coat over each color.

L to R: Snow White, Kelly, Pinta, all topped with 1 coat of Opal.

This one is very similar to "Maisie" once it is topped on darker colors, but if you compare the 2 colors on the "Snow White" nail you'll see that the tint changes the look :)

This one is very pretty over Pinta, the flakes are amazing!!

"Chloe"
Pink tint with mylar green and gold fleck effect
1 coat over each color.

L to R: Snow White, Kelly, Pinta, all topped with 1 coat of Chloe.

I am really happy Zoya finally gave us FLAKIES! Even-though the difference between "Maisie" and "Opal" can only be seen on lighter colors, I think all 3 are definite colors that everyone needs. What I like about these 3 are the fact that once topped over any manicure, it totally changes the look, without changing the color of your manicure.

Much like Sally Hansen "Hidden Treasure" and her followers, these 3 colors offer real versatility and variety, with an added bit of refreshing color variation... Thanks Zoya!. :)

All 3 were surprisingly easy to apply, and were not "gloppy" like some polishes that contain flakes. My favorite has to be "Chloe", because on top of "Pinta" it almost reminds me of Cult Nails Fan Favorite "Unicorn Puke" AKA "Clairvoyant"...doesn't it?

So do you LIKE them? Do you LOVE them? :)

Sug. Retail $8.00 per 0.5 fl.oz. bottle (US) Available January 13, 2012

Find Zoya FLECK EFFECT as well as over 300 other ultra high-fashion Zoya shades at www.zoya.com.

As always, each and every Zoya color is made for women so we name them after women.

*Info. provided by Zoya PR.

Butter London: Introducing the Spring/Summer 2012 Collection

2012-01-11T13:00:00.000-08:00

Zoya: True Collection Spring 2012: Swatches and Review

2012-01-11T08:12:00.000-08:00

"TRUE, HONESTLY, BEAUTIFUL COLOR

A fresh bloom of dewy color. Inspired by the runway looks of top designers

this collection features slightly muted and unexpected spring shades in six easy to wear,

full-coverage creams and metallics."

Today I have swatches of the True Collection from Zoya.

First Up...

"Cho"

Full coverage, vanilla shimmer metallic

2 coats

Me no likey! LOL!!! It's a nice, yellow based nude shimmer. The color is very original, I have nothing like it, but it's not my kind of color. No application issues.

"Farah"

Full coverage, latte beige cream

2 coats

A very "mannequin like" color. This nude creme, is the perfect shade for when you want to have a "palette cleanser"moment. After all the holiday glitters and winter nudes, this color is a refreshing change. Wear it and re-boot!!! Great application for a nude!

"Bevin"

Full coverage, pale sage green cream

2 coats

Wow! This one is gorgeous! Seriously, this antique dusty green creme, is the BOMB!!!! Oh yeah... I have a new favorite green ya'll...ain't she pretty!!!!! So smooth and perfect, it went on like buttah!

"Skylar"

Full coverage, silvered slate blue metallic

2 coats

I'm on the fence about this one. It was easy to apply, so that is a plus!

On one hand, it's blue, so I automatically love it, but the shimmer in this seems a bit...... much. I would have preferred a hidden shimmer in this one, or a hidden glitter, like the following 2 colors. Know what I mean?

It's still gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but I wanted this one to be so much more. But it's a blue, so you gotta love it! :)

"Tru"

Full coverage, gilded purple orchid metallic

2 coats

A very pretty "grape kool-aid" colored purple creme with hidden golden pink glitter. It reminds me of other grape colored cremes, but with the pop of golden pink glitter, it stands out from the crowd. I love hidden glitter! The formula was a bit goopy for me, difficult to apply the 2nd coat with out getting bumps from the first coat. :(

"Lotus"

Full coverage, light lotus purple metallic

2 coats

I love this color! I love polishes with hidden shimmer, or in this case glitter, and even more so when the base is mystical and smoky! :) This dusty lilac is a Win Win! Applied nicely, no issues!

Overall this collection is not disappointing and exactly the type of spring colors needed after all the dark winter colors, and holiday glitters. However, the fact that the first 2 colors are so close, almost seems repetitive for Zoya, and I am surprised that they released such similar colors together.

My favorites are Bevin, Skylar and Lotus!

Zoya is the new color of fashion...

Ultra long-wearing, glossy nail lacquers by Zoya are free of harmful industrial chemicals like toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, resin, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are known to cause cancer and birth defects.

Sug. Retail $8.00 per 0.5 fl.oz. bottle (US) Available January 13, 2012

Find Zoya TRUE as well as over 300 other ultra high-fashion Zoya shades at www.zoya.com. As always, each and every Zoya color is made for women so we name them after women.

*Info. provided by Zoya PR.

Zoya: Feel Collection: Swatches and Review

2012-01-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

I HAD swatches of the True Collection ready for you to see today, but somehow I mistakenly deleted the pictures of 1 of the colors :(

I don't know how I did this, but I have to swatch it all over again...at least it was only 1 color that was deleted and not all 6....UUGGHH! Be patient, I'll have the colors up this week....Promise :)

NOW, adding insult to injury blogger, is messing with my page and I can not get the spacing right..AHHHHHHH this day is not starting off well :(

But today I still have Zoya swatches, of their other collection, the Feel Collection released in the Winter of 2011.

"FEEL Beautiful!

Every season the color experts at Zoya create dozens of new color collection options. This

year, one of those “secret collections” just had to be seen now rather than later. FEEL by Zoya

Nail Polish delivers six new, highly pigmented, full coverage neutrals for right now!"

Starting with...

"Kristen"
Full coverage, gull gray cream
2 coats

"Gull gray"? ...not sure what this description is supposed to describe, but "gull gray" are not the words that come to mind when I see this lovely color. :) Great application, no issues.

I was prepared not to like this collection, I mean, it's a collection of pastel shades, but once I had them on my hands, the light wisps of color really POPPED OUT!

"Carey"
Full coverage, periwinkle gray cream
2 coats

Beautiful light gray creme, no complaints, application was perfect!

"Megan"
Full coverage, taupe gray cream
2 coats

I forgot to take a zoom shot of this one, but you can still see that this light color is NOT Taupe, at least not on my hands. LOL!

It seriously looks like a light lilac to me. I've seen other pictures, and sometimes it looks taupe and sometimes it looks lilac. It's a chameleon, and it's gorgeous!

"Kendal"

Full coverage, rose quartz beige cream

2 coats

A light rose creme, with slight lilac undertones. Pretty, but not exactly my favorite from the collection. Application was flawless :)

"Kennedy"
Full coverage, pale french beige cream
2 coats

"Pale french beige"... seriously?!?!? No way, this is a light baby pink...or maybe the french word for "light baby pink is "pale french beige"...LOL!

"Avery"
Full coverage, blonde beige cream
2 coats

"Blonde beige cream"?!...I quit! These names are killing me, "You like tomato and I like tomahto, Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto!"..LOL!

I may not agree on the names, but I do agree that for creams, Zoya has the best formula out there! Hands Down!. Application is flawless, opaque in 2 coats, dries nicely, you can't beat'em! My favorites are "Kristen, Carey and Megan"

Find Zoya FEEL as well as over 300 other ultra high-fashion Zoya shades at

www.zoya.com. As always, each and every Zoya color is made for women so we

name them after women.

FEEL by Zoya

Sug. Retail $8.00 per 0.5 fl.oz. bottle (US)

*Products sent by Zoya PR for review.

My new favorite manicure!

2012-01-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

Yep, the second I woke up the next morning I fell in love...No, not with any hot guy next to me *I wish*, but with the hot manicure on my hands...LOL!!!

This manicure is AMAZING! I LOVE IT!!!!

Orly "Orange Punch" and Lynnderella "Connect The Dots"

I love this manicure!!! Lynnderella "Connect The Dots" is amazing, seriously, this makes every manicure AWESOME!!

And apparently, I'm not the only one who loves it, I checked out one of my favorite fellow nail blogger's site, "Chalkboard Nails" and she posted Lynnderella "Connect The Dots" Tuesday, Check it out HERE.

Great minds think alike, Chica!

The Orly is a gorgeous bright orange, without being neon. It was a bit sheer, so I had to apply 2 "thickish" coats, and then 2 coat of the "Connect The Dots" . The "Connect The Dots" applied, nicely and I did not have to "place" the glitter on my nails. :)

"Connect The Dots" has a sheer slightly glittery base, with black and white multi-shaped and multi-sized glitter. There is bar glitter, hexagon shaped glitter, round glitter and even squares!

I loved this color so much, it is on my toes too, LOVE IT!!!! Lynnderella has a great blog, where she announces her newest collection HERE.

Also, you can get Lynnderella "Connect The Dots" at LLAROWE's website, HERE.

Happy Friday, Keep It Sweet!

A pretty little duo-chrome diddy...

2012-01-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

Today is a pretty little color from Sinful. I picked up this beauty from a Meijers in Indiana, while I was visiting family :)

Sinful Colors
"Night Of Barbados"
3 coats

Yeah, you see that duo-chrome action going on in the bottle!?!..well, no worries here ladies, because that action DOES translate on the nail!!!

Gorgeous right! This beauty did present some challenges.

It was thin, so 3 coats was necessary to achieve opacity, but layered over another similar color would deliver the same effect with less coats :)

However, because I had to apply 3 coats, I got air bubbles on some of the nails.:(

Although Sinful is carried at most local Walgreen's and other drugstores, I've never seen this color there. Only at Meijer's, did I find this beauty, so if you have a Meijer's near you...go and get it!!! You can't beat this color or $1.99. :)

You may also find it at Cherry Culture, HERE.

If it weren't for the air bubbles I would have worn this manicure longer than 2 days. I had no chips and it wore very well, but with the air bubbles ...it had to go!!!

Keep It Sweet!

Deborah Lippmann "Lady Sings The Blues"

2012-01-04T12:36:00.000-08:00

I purchased the Deborah Lippmann color trio set "All That Jazz", almost 1 year ago and I am NOW just starting to unveil it's true beauty....* I know, I know, soo many polishes...so little time*

The set includes "Lady Sings The Blues", "Razzle Dazzle", and "Some Enchanted Evening".

I refuse to just "swatch" these beauties, so I'll have to wear them all and posts them individually :)

First up, of course, is my beloved navy blue :)

Deborah Lippmann
"Lady Sings The Blues"
2 coats

This is a gorgeous, yeah I said it. Dark navy blue with large and small silver glitter. The formula was excellent, no application issues. In 2 coats I was able to achieve full opacity, and a nice amount of glitter on the nail. (no "placement" issues)

Please excuse my poor cuticle in this shot, the dry weather has been torture on my nails :( Thanks to LUSH "Lemony Flutter", my cuticles recovered nicely :)

I never have a problem with Lippmann glitters, they apply wonderfully, "wear like iron", and always seem to dry smoothly.

I topped this manicure with my usual 1+1 combo , 1 coat of OPI "Top Coat" and 1 coat of Seche Vite, and I was "out the door" :)

UPDATE: Any brand name top coat will do, but I always use 1 coat of a non-fast drying top coat, and then1 coat of a fast drying top coat, to prevent shrinkage and it gives my manicure staying power! :)

Last holiday manicure....

2012-01-03T08:35:00.000-08:00

I still have 1 more holiday manicure to share. This one I wore the day after Christmas, while shopping :)

I actually like this one the best!

I started off with a great red creme, China Glaze "Phat Santa" from the 2010 Holiday Collection, and a dark green creme, Orly "Enchanted Forest" on the ring finger, and layered China Glaze "Party Hearty" on top of it all!

Party Hearty is from their Holiday 2010 collection and is AWESOME! Best Holiday Glitter ever! It is comprised of small gold glitter with larger hexagon shaped glitter in red and green! :)

The red glitter is slightly "lost" on top of the red base. I think I like "Party Hearty" on top of the Orly dark green creme, better :)

I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday and new year! :)

Woo Hoo, 2012!!!!!