Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Zoya: Magical Pixie Collection Spring 2014, swatches and review

Zoya released this new collection of Pixies in February 2014, but these are different. They are Magical Pixies!

Yes, the trio of chunky holographic beauties are from Zoya, and they are "pixies", but I don't think they are THAT magical, LOL.

Here they are!

Zoya "Cosmo"
2 coats, no top coat

















I think these may need some top coat to help them sparkle on camera.  In person they sparkle a lot in the sun.:)

"Cosmo" with 1 coat of top coat














There's that sparkle and shimmer that everyone loves :) "Cosmo" is a silver glitter fest with holographic glitter.  It was thick, which was expected with something so chunky, but was opaque in 2 coats.

Zoya "Vega"
2 coats, no top coat

















"Vega" is a light blue glitter with holographic glitter. This applied in the same way as "Cosmo",  thick, but opaque in 2 coats.

Zoya "Lux"
2 coats, no top coat


















This is a light pink glitter with holographic glitter.  Application was the same. Opaque in 2 coats.

You can tell from my lack of commentary, that I am not a fan of these chunkier pixies. I love the first versions of the pixie, they are amazing, and I will be sporting them again this Spring.

These however, I'm not so sure about.

They are too chunky for my liking.  I used to like chunky glitter, but in my old age, LOL, I have no patience for its removal, even when I use the "foil method"!

I may be able to use them in nail art for glitter gradients over a similar base color, or something to that effect.

Zoya is releasing more Magical Pixies next month, and I will be reviewing those as well. I hope they bring on the glitter, without all the "chunk", LOL!

Keep It Sweet!

These are available at zoya.com and they retail for $10.

*Product provided by PR for review 
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Sunday, April 20, 2014

Easter Day Manicure

Happy Easter Everyone!

I did a special manicure today, inspired by a manicure I saw on Pinterest using, my new Cult Nails color and the two of the newest additions to the Nicole by OPI Core Line.

















Nicole by OPI "I Shop Mintage", Cult Nails "Casual Elegance", and "Nicole by OPI "Teal Me Something New".
















Isn't it cute?  I love it, and it is supposed to be reminiscent of Easter eggs. :)  I started off with one coat of the base color (alternating fingers and colors) and then I added the 2nd layer of color with a wave pattern only 2/3 up on the nail.  I used thin layers, since I applied a full coat to the tip, and not just a wavy line. After that,  I applied the 3rd and final color in the same wave pattern to the lower half of the nail.

The original nail tutorial was on Pinterest via bellasugar.com, HERE.  Easy peasy!

The Cult Nails, "Casual Elegance" applied AMAZINGLY well! It is basically a one coater and it is a stunning light lilac creme. Smooth application and excellent drying time.

NOPI "I Shop Mintage" is a yellow based mint green creme. It was thin and did not apply well in one coat, so I made the 2nd coat thick which required a longer dry time.

NOPI "Teal Me Something New" is good. No application issues, and is a nice bright vivid teal green color.  I was scared it would stain, so I applied 2 layers of base coat just in case.  I'll update later, if it does stain *fingers crossed* :)

















After I was done, I wasn't sure that anyone would recognize my nails as "eggs", but when my nephew saw them he said "Hey, they look like Easter eggs" :)  He is so observant!

Happy Easter and  Happy Resurrection Day, and I hope all of you have a blessed and joyous day .

Keep It Sweet!

*OPI provided the two products for review
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Friday, April 18, 2014

Zoya: Announcing the 2014 Zoya Nail Polish Exchange*

IT'S BACK!




Give the earth a helping hand by joining the healthy nail polish movement! Since its inception, ZOYA has been the pioneer of toxin-free nail polish, releasing the most beautiful colors in the healthiest formula available each season. With Zoya Nail Polish, you don't have to compromise a healthier lifestyle for a glamorous one. go worry-free with a formula that is BIG5FREE**
Now you can join smart, eco-chic women who are changing their world, one gorgeous Zoya Nail Polish bottle at a time! To help kick start your "color cleanse", the Zoya Earth Day Nail Polish Exchange is BACK for 2014. Not only is ZOYA making it easy to swap out old, unwanted color for the world's healthiest and longest wearing natural nail polish formula on the market, we will dispose of your old shades in an eco-friendly manner!
This offer is only good for 1 week - so hurry - Don't Wait!
Valid 4/21/14 - 4/28/14 (11:59pm EST)
PLEASE VISIT THE ZOYA BLOG FOR COMPLETE PROGRAM DETAILS!

*Info. sent by Zoya PR
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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Zoya Nail Polish Summer 2014 Sneak Peek: Tickled and Bubbly!




 Laugh, Giggle, Chuckle and Smile! Welcome to a happy Summer season of long-wearing, feel good BIG5FREE* nail color by Zoya featuring two new collections destined to bring out your inner Glee! 

#ZoyaNailPolish #ZoyaTickled #ZoyaBubbly #SummerNailPolish

 ZOYA IS THE NEW COLOR OF FASHION! www.zoya.com


 *Info sent by PR.
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KBShimmer "I'd Rather Be With Blue" created by Cosmetic Sanctuary

I thought I d show you this polish for 3 reasons.

1. I have yet to swatch or wear it.

2. It's from the Winter 2013 Blogger Collection, and since it is still snowing in some parts of the world I thought it would be perfect for today.

3. It's a great shade for Spring time too, and deserves to be seen in the sunlight. :)

So without further ado...

KBShimmer
"I'd Rather Be With Blue" created by Cosmetic Sanctuary
2 coats, with top coat
































KBShimmer "I'd Rather Be With Blue" is a  light blue matte polish with subtle iridescent shimmer. It seriously sparkles like snow, or (for warmer climates) think of the sparkle of a freshly cleaned pool.  This applied perfectly in two even coats, and the dry time was excellent. 

This polish dries as a matte polish, but I decided to slap some top coat on it, to make the sparkles POP! Go to Cosmetic Sanctuary site to check out her pics of it without top coat, it is an amazing blue!

I have yet to wear and display any of the polishes from this collection, even though I created one of the color myself, LOL.  I know... I suck, but I'm getting there :)
















This color is perfect for Winter and Spring so don't be afraid to dig out your bottle, and wear it TODAY!






















Keep It Sweet!

*This product was gifted by PR.
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Friday, April 11, 2014

Nicole by OPI Roughles Collection, swatches and review

If you love textured polishes, then you will love these new ones from Nicole by OPI.















Roughles or "Ruffles" as the gals are calling them are HERE! I know everyone has been searching for these everywhere, so if you see them and you like them, buy them!

I've heard they have been spotted at Walmart and CVS, but usually the displays are so small that they are emptied rather quickly. :(

Let's begin...

Nicole by OPI "Sand In My Shoe"
2 coats, no top coat
















This is a sunny yellow textured creme with tiny specks of orange. This is bright and pretty, easy to wear and applied well in 2 coats.

Nicole by OPI "I'm Stucco On You"
2 coats, no top coat
















This is a favorite for me. This is a bright lilac purple with specks of reddish purple and blue in the polish. At 2 coats, it is my favorite!

Nicole by OPI "On What Grounds?"
2 coats, no top coat
















I sooo wanted to love this, but nope, I don't!  Bright turquoise textured base with blue and grey specks. Went on well in 2 coats, no complaints about that, just something about the color and the texture on my hands, does not "do it" for me :( I also wish he specks were more prominent :(

Nicole by OPI "Rock the Look"
2 coats, no top coat
















A pale bubble gum pink with reddish orange and soft grey specks. I actually like this one, it reminds me of a fresh strawberry shake. :) 2 coats and it was perfect!

Overall, I'm 50/50 about this collection. I love the texture with the added specks...love! But, the colors mixed with the texture don't always work for me, and they seem to fall FLAT. The application was great, and the dry time was a bit longer than the usual texture dry time, but besides that, it was just "meh" with me.

I think I will try them with one coat of top coat, to help the colors POP.  Maybe I'll love them all then :)
My favorites are the purple and the pink, those win for me!

Have you found these in the stores? Which stores?

Keep It Sweet!

*Product sent by PR for review
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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

OPI: Having fun with OPI Sheer Tints! Swatches and Review

So like many, when I got my polishes in the mail I was super excited to see them in person.  Those bright jelly colors were calling me....then it hit me...how do I actually use them? LOL!

Yes, they are sheer, and no amount of layer building makes them opaque enough that the visible nail line (VNL) isn't  shown, so I decided to re-read my post sent by OPI PR on these beauties. Ohhhh, layered over OTHER colors...the light bulb went off, LOL!
















First I want to show you how sheer they are, and what they look like by themselves...bring on the naked nails, Eeekk, LOL!

OPI "I'm Never Amberrassed"
Left to Right: 4 coats, 3 coats, 2 coats and 1 coat
No top coat

















OPI "Be Magentale With Me"
Left to Right: 4 coats, 3 coats, 2 coats and 1 coat
No top coat

















OPI "Don't Violet Me Down"
Left to Right: 4 coats, 3 coats, 2 coats and 1 coat
No top coat

















Because the consistency of these polishes are very gel like, they tend to bubble up when they are layered, can you see the bubbles on the middle finger?


















I bet you can see them now, LOL! this is at three coats.  Not pretty!

OPI "I Can Teal You Like Me"
Left to Right: 4 coats, 3 coats, 2 coats and 1 coat
No top coat

















These applied like a gel, smooth  with a thick application. Because they are thick, they do not dry in the regular amount of time, so when layering, add another 2 minutes onto your "wait time" before you add another coat, or layer over another color.

Okay so now you can see that wearing them by themselves is not ideal, but still it can be pretty if you like the sheer look, or you do not have a VNL.  Since I do not like the sheer look, I decided to layer them.

For my first layering manicure, I layered each color over one of the latest OPI glitters "Desperately Seeking Sequins".














I started with 2 coats of the glitter then, 2 coats of the sheer tints.















Since DSS has a clear base with added glitter, you still get the sheer look, but with more sparkle and pizzazz.  But, if the VNL bothers you (like it does me), then I found the manicure for you.  I first saw this manicure on Pinterest.  It was done by Fierce Makeup and Nails, and I fell in LOVE with it!  I knew I had to do it too!
















LOVE!  It's fluid and gorgeous, and screams SPRING!  All I did was apply two coats of OPI "Alpine Snow" (a plain white cream) and then I brushed on the tinted colors in random strokes. Since the sheer tints tend to bubble up, I made sure only to apply one coat of each color only.


















I made sure to overlap certain colors to obtain other colors. Yellow over pink for orange/peach, yellow over blue for green, etc. :)  After I was done with my colors, I layered my usual two coats of top coat and I was done.

















I loved this manicure so much, I think I may actually repeat it for Easter...on my hands and toes too!

The colors look a bit brighter in the sunlight, so I took a picture indoors too.



















Yep, still pretty! :)

Sheer Tints features OPI’s exclusive ProWide Brush for the ultimate in application. Sheer Tints will be available March 2014, atProfessional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, jcp Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, ULTA and ulta.com for $9.00 ($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 aFacebook fan!

Keep It Sweet!

*Product sent by PR for review

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