Nail Polish PSA: Bad Helmer Drawer Liners

Today I'm doing a Public Service Announcement, PSA!  On one of my facebook nail group pages, we were discussing drawer liners for the IKEA Helmer. Helmer is the drawer system used by many nail polish lovers to store their polish bottles.

I, like most wanted to line my drawers immediately once I bought the Helmer, and I did. I went to Target and chose these...

Up close...

Here is a post I did on my drawers back in 2010, HERE.   See how nice the black liners are...yeah...well last year around X-mas, 2011, I noticed something odd was happening to my bottles...THIS....

and THIS...

Looking at this picture, makes me SCREAM! The Zoya bottles were getting "grease spots" on them, and some labels were falling off...OH NO!!!! and my beloved OPI's...well they were intact but they were losing their codes...OH HELL NO!!!!

Here is a comparison of my damaged bottle and a good bottle....

Damaged bottle on the left, good bottle on the right! Luckily this is the only bottle that is severely damaged, most of the other 15 or so OPI bottles, that were damaged are just partially "smudged". :(:(

So my suggestion is, if you have these liners, stop using them...and if you do not have them. Do not buy this brand or kind. LOL!!!

Also if you know of any other liners I can use, please email me  (My info is on the "Contact" page up top) and let me know. Thanks :)

Keep It Sweet!

Nicole by OPI Launches Five NEW Fall Shades, Exclusively at Target

Accessorize with Lacquer!

Nicole by OPI announces five new nail lacquers to be sold exclusively at Target this fall. With richly pigmented formulas in shimmering shades of deep blue, gold, purple, mauve and green, these five hues can be worn as the ultimate accessory to the season’s hottest styles, from military-inspired jackets and heavier brocades to micro floral prints and leather.

 “Nicole by OPI is excited to bring the fashion-forward Target guest new lacquers for the fall season,” remarks Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Executive VP and Artistic Director.  “Not only do the shades add the final touch to runway trends, the shimmery finish adds elegance and depth to these trendy colors.

The five new lacquers include:

For Gold Times Sake
Go on and try on this gold…

Iris My Case
Because this purple is amazing.

Just Busta Mauve
You will want to put on your dancing shoes to wear this one.

If the Blue Fits…
This blue fits all!

Mer-Maid for Each Other
This green is so hot it was made just for you!

Nicole by OPI nail lacquers and Nail Treatments contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde. Nicole by OPI formulas are long-lasting, fast-drying, and salon-quality. These new Target exclusive shades will be available August 2012 for $7.04 each at select Target locations nationwide and online at Target.com.

For more information, visit nicolebyopi.com. Follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter @NicoleByOPI and become a Facebook fan!

*Info provided by PR

OPI Launches New Diamond Dust-Infused Designer Series Shades for Fall 2012

Indulge in Luxurious Lacquers!

            OPI releases two new high-shine hues – DS Indulgence and DS Luxurious – to join the Designer Series by OPI collection this fall. Fusing fashion and technology, the Designer Series lacquer formula is enhanced with real diamond dust, offering light reflecting, multidimensional color.

OPI DS Indulgence

DS Indulgence, a radiant red-violet with a shimmering, golden finish, will launch along with DS Luxurious, a captivating coral-red with a golden glisten. With these two additions, Designer Series by OPI will offer 12 glitter-filled, highly-saturated, breathtaking colors.

OPI DS Luxurious

            “Red nails are the epitome of glamour, and this fall OPI is adding two dazzling reds to the Designer Series line,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP and Artistic Director. “With vivid color and intense shimmer and shine, these lacquers create a bold, high-fashion accessory statement. DS Indulgence provides a deeper, classic red look, while DS Luxurious incorporates rich auburn pigments.”

Designer Series by OPI nail lacquers contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and each includes OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application. DS Indulgence and DS Luxurious will be available beginning September 2012 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $12.50 ($14.95 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!

*Info provided by PR

The first manicure after my 2 week vacay....

After wearing the same blue gel manicure for 2 weeks, I was itching to get it off ans wear something else.

Don't get me wrong I loved my gel manicure, but 2 weeks of the same color will drive any "bonafide nail polish junkie" BATTY!!!!!

So I immediately grabbed 2 colors I loved, and applied them in a hurry!

OPI "A Roll In The Hague" and "Road House Blues". :)

In fact I was in such a hurry to do this manicure, my camera was still charging, so I used my phone to take the pics! :)

Left Hand

Right hand, please excuse the cotton on the nails, I was in a bit of a hurry :) 2 coats of each color and I was a happy nail gal. These pics do not have top coat...I told you I was in a hurry, LOL! :)

I am in love with the alternating color block pattern on each hand, it's my new thing, LOL! :)

Oh and hear are some pics from Bali, Indonesia...

Keep it Sweet!

OPI Launches the Germany Collection for Fall/Winter 2012: Preview

Edgy Elegance

 OPI embraces runway trends with the Germany Collection for Fall/Winter 2012. Drawing inspiration from Berlin, an exciting new fashion hub that blends classic looks with the avant-garde, the collection’s twelve shades offer a mixture of vibrant color, urban-chic neutrals, and reds in variations from light to dark.

“Designers showcased rich colors and striking textures for fall,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP and Artistic Director.  “The Germany Collection beautifully complements these looks, with standout shades in various hues of red and burgundy – the season’s ‘new black.’ Sapphire, black olive and lime yellow are married with creamy neutrals in honey, taupe and nude rose.”

“The overall feel of the Germany Collection is elegance with an edge,” adds Suzi. “The varied palette of colors adds another accent to the list of special touches – think beadwork, paneling, fur and embroidery – that walked the runways during New York Fashion Week. Wearing these shades on fingers and toes is a great way to accessorize a range of looks for the season.”

Germany by OPI includes the following shades:

Don’t Pretzel My Buttons

A haute honey-beige that can always make you smile.

My Very First Knockwurst
…and what a magical rosy-nude rendezvous it was!

Berlin There Done That

A traveling taupe that’s seen it all. (Yep, that too).

Don’t Talk Bach to Me
There’s nothing mellow about this sassy lime-yellow!

Nein! Nein! Nein! OK Fine!

A bodacious black-olive? We say “Ja! Ja! Ja!”

Unfor-greta-bly Blue

Everyone’s favorite Fräulein loves this über shiny blue.

Every Month is Oktoberfest
Prost! Here’s to the prettiest plum in the Biergarten.

Suzi & the 7 Düsseldorfs
The most beautiful bright purple of all.

Deutsch You Want Me Baby?
A self-assured shade of shimmering red-orange. 

Danke-Shiny Red
You “Bitte” try on this ravishing ruby before it’s too late!

German-icure by OPI
The best burgundy shimmer in the business

Schnapps Out of It!
Shake off the blues with a shot of fall’s must-have mauve!

Germany Collection nail lacquer shades contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and each includes OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application.

Germany by OPI will be available August 8, 2012, at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $8.50 ($9.95 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!

*Info sent by PR

FLOAM!!!!!

Yep, you've all seen it before, it's FLOAM made by Nail-Venturous Lacquers.

Every time it came up for sale, I would wait patiently by the laptop, quickly add it to my cart, and at checkout it would be stolen from me, LOL!!

I thought I would never get my hands on a bottle, but finally a lovely chica in my nail group messaged me and said she had an extra bottle and would swap for it. I was soooo happy! When I finally had it in my hands, I knew it was fate! I LOVE this polish!

Nail-Venturous Lacquers
"Floam"
 2 coats over 1 coat of Orly "Viridian Vinyl" (w/ top coat)

"Floam" is a an awesome polish made up of tiny dots of green, yellow and blue suspended in a fabulous clear base.  Application was a bit tricky as Floam can be a little thick, but once it is on and dried,  it wears like a champ, no chips for 5 days. Love it!

It does dry a bit matte, but very little and it dried relatively smooth, so no need for several top coats,  1 coat of top coat was fine for me. :)

This polish is so unique in soooo many ways, I love it!

Floam can be purchase at Ninja Polish.  Or if you are feeling super lazy, just click on the link to the right of the page under "Candy Shop of the Month" :)

Floam makes a great gift for any polish lover, or for yourself :)

Keep it Sweet!

Tutorial Tuesday: Inspirations from Bali

I'm finally taking part in a Group Challenge! LOL! I am a member of a polish group on facebook, and often they do great challenges, but I never take part in..until now.

I saw a fabulous "Fishtail braid" tutorial done by Lucy's Stash, that reminded me of a bracelet I bought on the beach in Bali, so I knew this tutorial and challenge was for me!

What do you think?

Here is the bracelet...

Here is the tutorial...

The tutorial had fewer layers of colors than I did, but I don't think it turned out that bad :)

I used 2 coats of Orly "La Playa" as my manicure color, and for the "Fishtail Nail" I used a base of China Glaze "For Audrey", and then used Orly "La Playa", OPI "Black Onyx", China Glaze "For Audrey", and OPI "Fly" for the braid. :)

Layla Mirror Effect "Metal Chrome": Swatch

Happy Monday!

Today I have a lovely little silver foil I recently acquired from a super nice nail lover and friend who lives in Italy, Thanks Simona!

Layla Mirror Effect
"Metal Chrome"
2 coats over regular base coat

Now this polish is super tricky, and generally requires an aqua base coat to get great application. I do own an aqua base base coat, but I opted not to use it because I was being lazy and did not want to go digging for it in my drawer, LOL!

I used a regular base coat and applied my coats gently without adding too much pressure on the nail and a bit on the thick side, and I did not repeat any strokes over the wet nail as that can cause major drag. I hope that all makes sense. :)

The dry time was great for this polish, and the mirror effect is strong and looks fabulous on the nail. :):)

Given that I did not use aqua base coat I think this manicure turned out rather well. I decided to use top coat on it, to see how it reacts.  Sometimes top coat can "muck up" the mirror effect on the nail.

When I first applied it, it went on kind of cloudy and I thought the worse, but after it dried it was fine, no major issues! I did have slight drag on the pinkie nail, where some of the top coat caused the polish to come off a bit.

Overall I am super happy I had her grab this for me, and I love the strong mirror effect it delivers! Simona also has a fabulous blog at Light Your Nails, check it out!

Keep It Sweet!