OPI and Gwen!

OPI partnered with Gwen Stefani to bring us some amazing new finishes and fun nail art pieces from Swarovski!

Cool new finishes, and crystals, studs and stones...OH MY!  Let's start with Gwen's signature color...

OPI "Over & Over A-Gwen"
2 coats, no top coat

Nothing says "Gwen" like RED!  She is known for her signature red lips and now she brings that same FLASH of color to our nails!I love this red!

The signature red literally has her signature on it! It applies like buttah, no application issues and is perfect in 2 coats.  It comes in a set with nail glue, and Swarovski elements in crystals, studs, bars and squares!

Because my nails are on the shorter side now, I decided to use one of the bars with 2 of the studs...a cool double headed exclamation point :) I didn't use the glue, I just popped them on my "sticky" nails and that was it.  After I was done with both hands I topped it with top coat. :)

OPI "Push and Shove"
2 coats, no top coat

"Push and Shove" is a silver mirror polish, and is worth the high maintenance application  hassle. . You have to use the base coat "Lay Down that Base" to get a smooth application.  I applied one coat of "Lay Down that Base", and then 2 coats of "Push and Shove".  I applied my coats very gently, and did not go over any areas I already polished. 1 stroke at a time, 2-3 strokes total for the nail and once the nail is covered...LET IT DRY!

After it looks dry, you can apply another coat using the same techniques.  Use a gentle hand! :)

The instructions say to not apply top coat, but I tested out two of my favorite top coats to see what would happen.

Seche Vite and OPI "Top Coat"...

Left to Right: Seche Vite, Seche Vite, OPI Top Coat, OPI Top Coat.

Left to Right: Seche Vite, Seche Vite, OPI Top Coat, OPI Top Coat.

Left to Right: Seche Vite, and OPI Top Coat.

Some say there is "dulling" when you apply top coat, but what dulling you see, goes away once the nail is perfectly dry, in my opinion!  In fact, I currently have this polish on my TOES, with a coat of OPI "Top Coat" and one coat of "Seche Vite", and I have been chip free for 2 weeks.

Left: No top coat.  Right: with Seche VIte and OPI "Top Coat"

So if you like this color and finish as much as I do, then I suggest you toss the instructions and apply one of these top coats.

OPI "In True Stefani Fashion"
2 coats, no top coat

This is a clear base topper with holographic and silver glitter in it. Nice coverage in 2 coats, but it is meant to be a glitter top coat over the solid colors, so I decided to try them over the remaining colors in the collection...

I did one coat of color, and then topped each of them with one coat of glitter. I like it over the gold the best!

OPI "4 in the Morning"
2 coats, no top coat

I want to love this, but it's hard!  I love the finish, the smooth satin finish is amazing and reminds me of  the smooth black pebbles you find on a river bed.  This  color is very cool, charcoal with micro-shimmer, amazing, but application was hard for me, and I couldn't get rid of that darn bald spot on my index finger!

Plus, if you want to wear this polish showing the cool finish, you have to forgo top coat, which means this manicure would not last past 1 day (on me). If you try to top this with top coat, and then a matte top coat, you would get longer wear, but lose the cool satin finish :(

OPI "Hey Baby"
2 coats, no top coat

A bubble gum pink creme, applied well in two coats...That's it!

OPI "I Sing In Color"
2 coats, no top coat

This is a gorgeous super shiny vamp creme! It rides the line between a vampy red, and a deep dark chocolate, I love it!  Applied like a dream, 2 coats, no issues!

OPI "Love.Angel.Music.Baby"
2 coats, no top coat

 This is a soft gold shimmer with a satin finish. Gorgeous!  I really like this color and finish together,BUT, like the other satin polish, it is difficult to achieve this finish and get lasting wear (without top coat) :(

Overall, I love "Push and Shove", "I Sing In Color", and " "Love.Angel.Music.Baby" and of course "Over & Over A-Gwen".  This collection doesn't have as many unique colors as previous collections, but it makes up for that in unique finishes and appliques! :)

Keep It Sweet!

 Gwen Stefani by OPI includes the following seven limited edition nail lacquers: Hey Baby, I Sing in Color,Love.Angel.Music.Baby., 4 in the Morning, In True Stefani Fashion, Push and Shove* and Over & Over A-Gwen**.

Gwen Stefani by OPI nail lacquers contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application. This promotion will be available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for  $9.00 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer. The boxed set including Over & Over A-Gwen and SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS will retail for $14.95 ($18.95 CAN).

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

*Must be worn with Lay Down that Base, which is complimentary when purchasing Push and Shove

**Sold only in a boxed set including SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS

*Product provided by PR for review

Are you still in the LOVING MOOD?

They say that true love comes from within, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make that special someone fall in love at first sight.  When it comes to making others swoon, it’s all in the wink of an eye and a kiss blown from a perfectly polished hand. This February, add a little spice to your sugar with the new Salon Perfect® Love, Lashes and Lacquer collection, available at select Walmart stores nationwide.

Complete your look of love with lust worthy lashes embellished with black crystals, or natural lashes to highlight your eyes – top it all off with a pretty polish.  Choose from metallic and matte glitter lacquers, rich crème, and special effects top coats.  Whether you’re a sweetheart or a saucy tart, Salon Perfect® has enough Love, Lashes and Lacquer to help warm even the coldest heart.

Salon Perfect® Love, Lashes and Lacquer collection features:

Lashes

Demi Wispies – Softly feathered lashes create an eye-catching gaze

602 Black Diamonds Diva Strip Lash – A full lash with a black jewel band for a touch of glamour

105 Glamorous Strip Lash – Long, lush lashes that are undeniably glamorous

53 Natural Strip Lash– A petite and graduated lash for subtle length and volume

110 Natural Strip Lash – A light full lash creates a soft natural look

Lacquers

•           He’s With Me! – Metallic red micro-glitter

•           In Love – Bright pink crème

•           Cosmic Black – Black and silver multi-dimensional glitters

•           Loves Me, Loves Me Not – Pale pink and black matte micro-glitters

•           Touchy Feely – Black and white matte micro-glitters

•           Hearts-a-Flutter – Fuchsia micro-glitter and gold heart glitter top coat

•           One Love – Iridescent holo-effect hex glitter and micro-glitter top coat

Salon Perfect® Love, Lashes and Lacquer collection will launch in February at select Walmart stores nationwide as part of a limited edition promotional display.  Individual polish will retail for $3.98, lashes will retail for $2.98.

From lashes and brow products, to nail color and beauty tools, Salon Perfect® has the products needed to look effortlessly beautiful at an affordable price.  View the complete Salon Perfect® collection at www.SalonPerfect.com.  Follow Salon Perfect on Facebook (@SalonPerfectLashes), Twitter (@Salon_Perfect), Instagram (@SalonPerfect), Pinterest (pinterest.com/salonperfect) or YouTube (youtube.com/salonperfect).

*Info sent by PR for review

HEAR THE SIREN’S SONG WITH CHINA GLAZE® SEA GODDESS

Swim into Spring with Six Sparkling Shades 

Discover the hidden treasures of the ocean this spring with China Glaze® Sea Goddess. Six vibrant matte and glistening glitters take you from the sandy, sunny shore to the depths of the sea where the mermaids play.

The shades in the collection include: 

v      Shell We Dance – Flip those fins across the sea floor in this bright rose pink with silver and pink glitter

v      Sand Dolla Make You Holla – The tide meets the sand in this white polish filled with fine multi-colored glitter

v      Wish On a Starfish – Make dreams come true with a light pink and gold shimmer polish

v      Tail Me Something – Listen carefully to the whisper of the secretive sea in this glistening light lavender

v      Seahorsin’ Around – Splash around in this mermaid-tail turquoise with soft gold shimmer

v      Teal the Tide Turns – Swim through a seaweed maze of light teal with green glitter

China Glaze® Sea Goddess will be available in February 2014 at fine salons and beauty supply stores.

China Glaze® is free of DBP, toluene, and added formaldehyde.

China Glaze® nail lacquers are available through salons and professional beauty supply stores nationwide. For more information, please visit www.chinaglaze.com or follow China Glaze on Facebook (@ChinaGlaze), Twitter (@ChinaGlaze), Pinterest (pinterest.com/chinaglaze) and Instagram (@ChinaGlazeOfficial).

China Glaze® is a division of American International Industries.

*Info. sent by PR. 

Zoya Nail Polish Naturel Collection 2014. Swatches and Review

Sometimes it is good to go "naturel", and Zoya has made that possible with 6 fresh new colors.

Zoya "Chantal"
French Vanilla Cream
2 coats, no top coat

This color reminds me of how REAL CREAM should look, rich and indulgent.  This is a warm peach cream, and even-though it is a bit too yellow for my liking, it is very pretty and went on well in two coats

Zoya "Taylor"
Light Toffee Cream
2 coats, no top coat

This is a nude I can wrap my nubbins around, LOL! This is a cool toned tinted cream that I think is perfect for my skin tone..not too pink, not too yellow..JUST RIGHT!

Zoya "Rue"
Boudoir Blush Cream
2 coats, no top coat

This is a tinted blush cream. A very nice tinted pink cream, not my favorite but tolerable! It went on well in two coats, no issues.

Zoya "Brigitte"
Bombshell Mauve Cream
2 coats, no top coat

Pink mauve cream...Yep it's mauve all right and yep...I do not like it, nope!  I will say it went on well in two coats, no issues.

Zoya "Odette"
Sultry Maroon Cream
2 coats, no top coat

Not bad.  This borders on pastel and a bright...I really like how this leans more lilac, on my hands than in the bottle.

I wouldn't call this "sultry maroon", I would call it "bashful lilac", LOL! No issues with application.

Zoya "Normani"
Sable Mauve Cream
2 coats, no top coat

I like this color, it' adds color to the nail while still being understated.  This is more like a lilac mauve and I can see this color becoming a cult favorite with women of varying skin tones. This is a keeper.  :)

Overall, I love "Taylor" and "Normani", those two colors are definitely my favorites :) All of them applied well, no issues and all of them were a dream to work with.  I think these colors would be best in a manicure mixing several colors in a pattern or designer...just to keep it fresh and interesting. :)

ZOYA IS THE NATUREL COLOR OF FASHION!
$9.00 ea. (US)
Available on Zoya.com

Keep It Sweet!

*Products sent by PR for review.

BRING ON SPRING WITH SECHE®

Seche Nail Lacquer Introduces New Spring 2014 Collection: Perfectly Poised

The Seche® woman can Conquer the World, one perfectly polished nail at a time. She is dressed Head to Toe in confidence as she steps out to take on the day. Buttoned Up in her best, this Effortlessly Styled woman is smart, sassy, ambitious and quick-witted. She is Perfectly Poised – always looking for the longest-lasting, fastest-drying seasonal shades that remind her to “Keep It You.” To stay true to who she is, she turns to Seche®.

The collection includes:

Keep It You: Deep rose pink with purple shimmer

Head to Toe: Creamy nude

Effortlessly Styled: Melon sherbet cream

Perfectly Poised: Soft marigold cream

Conquer the World: Light teal with gold shimmer

Buttoned Up: Lavender cream with purple shimmer

Seche® is the leading global brand most trusted by professional nail technicians and the women who desire and demand superior quality, exceptional technology, unparalleled performance, and beautiful results for the care of natural nails. Seche® Perfectly Poised will be available February 2014 nationwide. For more information, visit www.seche.com.

*Info sent by PR  

OPI and JAKKS Pacific partner together to make a mini OPI Nail Salon!

OPI Partners with JAKKS Pacific to Launch miWorld™ OPI Nail Salon Play Set and Mini Nail Lacquer Set 

OPI joins JAKKS Pacific to collaborate on a new line of miWorld™ play environments, including a miniature OPI nail salon.miWorld encourages girls to build and design their own OPI nail salon for an interactive experience. In addition to the basic structure, eachOPI miWorld includes nail lacquer bottles, nail tools, product display, a manicure table and two chairs, a gel lamp and light, a spa chair for simulated pedicures and an apron (miWorld doll sold separately). To complement the miWorld play set, OPI announces a custom mini nail lacquer pack featuring bestselling hues Need Sunglasses?, Do You Lilac It?, Princesses Rule! and Funny Bunny.

JAKKS Pacific will also launch the free miWorld DreamPlay app which features patented iD™ recognition technology to bringmiWorld play environments to life on iOS devices. Through the app, users can customize their miWorld avatar, shop at virtual miWorldstores, and take their virtual miWorld on-the-go.  

 “The love for nail color is truly ageless. By partnering with JAKKS Pacific, girls have the opportunity to engage with one of their favorite brands and in one of their favorite activities in a new, authentic way,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Co-Founder & Executive VP.  “Whether girls see beloved family members going to the nail salon, or they’ve enjoyed the salon experience themselves, they can become both the nail technician and the customer through miWorld.

“OPI will also offer a mini lacquer set including four bestselling shades,” adds Weiss-Fischmann. “Girls can give and receive manicures and pedicures with tiny accessories – then have their nails painted using the real product!”

The OPI miWorld play set will be sold alongside the mini nail lacquer pack beginning February 2014 at professional salons. ThemiWorld line will be sold at Walmart, Toys “R” Us and other major retailers. miWorld play environments retail for $14.95 each. Suggested price for the miWorld play set and mini lacquer set is $25.00+.

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

ABOUT JAKKS Pacific, Inc.

JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a leading designer and marketer of toys and consumer products with a wide range of products that feature popular brands and children's toy licenses.  JAKKS’ diverse portfolio includes Action Figures, Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up, Role Play, Halloween Costumes, Kids Furniture, Vehicles, Plush, Art Activity Kits, Seasonal Products, Infant/Pre-School, Construction Toys, Ride-On Vehicles, Wagons, Inflatable Environments and Tents, Impulse Toys and Pet Products sold under various proprietary brands including JAKKS Pacific®, Creative Designs International™, Road Champs®, Funnoodle®, JAKKS Pets™, Plug It In & Play TV Games™, Kids Only!®, Tollytots®, Disguise®, Moose Mountain® and Maui®. JAKKS is also the creator of the underlying Monsuno® property and toy line. JAKKS is an award-winning licensee of several hundred nationally and internationally known trademarks including Nickelodeon®, Warner Bros.®, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Graco® and Cabbage Patch Kids®. DreamPlay Toys, LLC is a joint venture between JAKKS Pacific, Inc. and NantWorks LLC to develop, market and sell toys and related consumer products incorporating NantWorks’ proprietary iD recognition technology.

*Info sent by PR

Nicole by OPI and Dove Chocolate, bring on the chocolate! Swatches and Review

Yep, I received in the mail nail polish and dark chocolate.  I was excited about the colors, and my family was more excited about the chocolate, win-win for everyone!

Left to Right: Nicole by OPI "Promises In The Dark" and "Better After Dark"

Nicole by OPI "Promises In The Dark"

2 coats, no top coat

"Promises In The Dark" is a gorgeous dark chocolate cream.  Applied well in two coats and dried to a nice glossy shine. 

Nicole by OPI "Better After Dark"

2 coats, no top coat

"Better After Dark" is a smooth milk chocolate with added pink shimmer.  The shimmer is noticeable in the bottle and on the nail. Very pretty and feminine with the added shimmer. Covered well in two coats and dried to a nice shine. 

Overall, I like the concept for both, but "Promises In The Dark" is my favorite. You can't go wrong with a nice deep chocolate brown. 

If you really like these colors you can try and win your won bottles...keep reading! :)

DOVE^® Dark Chocolate and NICOLE by OPI^® celebrate the New Year with the launch of the “Discover Your Dark Side in the New Year Sweepstakes.”  The Facebook-based promotion will randomly award 25,000 entrants with two exclusive NICOLE by OPI^® nail lacquer shades inspired by DOVE^® Dark Chocolate: “Better After Dark” and “Promises in the Dark.”

As the #1 solid dark chocolate on the market[1], the unique, silky-smooth taste of DOVE^® Dark Chocolate lives up to people’s expectations of what chocolate should taste like. Available in four varieties, including new DOVE^®Silky Smooth Sea Salt Caramel Dark Chocolate, DOVE^® uses carefully selected cocoa beans to deliver its signature taste and a special process that delivers the unique, silky-smooth texture.

“In 2014, we want to encourage people to discover the delicious taste of DOVE^® Dark Chocolate, which offers a creamy taste experience that shatters the perception that dark chocolate tastes bitter,” said Roy Benin, Chief Consumer Officer, Mars Chocolate North America. “With this sweepstakes, we’re putting the silky-smooth taste of DOVE^® Dark Chocolate at people’s fingertips with the always smooth nail polish experience from NICOLE by OPI^®.”

Enter the “Discover Your Dark Side in the New Year Sweepstakes”

From now through February 5, 2014, DOVE^® Chocolate Facebook fans can enter once per day for a chance to win one (1) of the 25,000 NICOLE by OPI^® kits, which include:

§  A coupon for a free DOVE^® Dark Chocolate Bar (1.34 oz. - 1.44 oz.)

§  Better After Dark NICOLE by OPI^® Nail Lacquer Bottle

§  Promises in the Dark NICOLE by OPI^® Nail Lacquer Bottle

To enter, simply “like” the DOVE^® Chocolate Facebook page and click on the Sweepstakes tab (https://www.facebook.com/dovechocolate/app_548734081871225) to enter your name, email address, shipping address and date of birth.  The Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States who are age 13 or older on or before December 27, 2013. All winners will be selected at random by an independent agency in the week following the sweepstakes. 

For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/dovechocolate or www.facebook.com/nicolebyopi.

Keep It Sweet!

*Product provided by PR for review