Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Miss Wanderlust and Miracle Gel Top Coat Reformulation

Oh, hey there! It has been a while! I actually have a post today - with nail polish! I do apologize for the abrupt absence, but I felt the need to step back and focus on other things for a while. I have been working on my novel quite a bit and have hit the half way point to my word count goal! It's very exciting! I have also been doing the mom thing all summer long, full of play dates and park trips and a few excursions to a nice cool watering hole when the Texas heat just gets too much for us. 

I'm not saying that I am back full force yet, but I am saying that I'm not gone for good either. In fact, I actually have some nail art on my digits and i am pretty stoked, you guys! But today's post is the standard swatch/review. Baby steps, right?!

Please Note: Products shown were provided by the company/creator for review purposes.

 

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Miss Wanderlust

Takko Lacquer Summer 2015 Collection Part 1

Hey guys and gals! So if you have come to my blog looking for the new Takko Lacquer summer release, you are in for a treat! Today I have part 1 of 2 posts for the new summer colors to be released June 18th at 8pm EST.

The entire collection is flat out gorgeous, as always. It has a variety of different finished, neon, jelly, flakie, shimmer, holo and glitter, so there is something for everyone. And now all Takko Lacquer polishes are infused with Vitamin E (on top of being 5-free and vegan) to help promote strong, healthy nails. The only noticeable change is that the polishes are slightly thicker and dry to a satin finish. They all still apply fantastic and now have the added bonus of actually making your nails better from the inside too! How cool is that? I don't think I have ever heard or seen a polish that does that. 

One more thing before we get to the swatches. Along with the seven new polishes in the summer release, Takko Lacquer is introducing a new high shine scented top coat called Sugar High. I will post a full review along with the other three polishes on Wednesday but  I used the new top coat for all the swatches in both posts. 

And now, sit back and enjoy all the drool-worthy goodies I have for you all today!

Please Note: Products shown were provided by the company/creator for review purposes.

Takko Lacquer Electric Flamingo, El Nopal, Floridazed & Afternoon Delight

Takko Lacquer Aphrodisiac

Hello friends! How was your weekend? We had a really nice one, after a glorious cold front blew in Friday night, the weather was fantastic - and for Texas in September, a cold front is a big deal. Yesterday we took the girlie to play Putt Putt for the first time. It was a blast, and no body won! We forgot to take score after the third hole, oops!

Today, I have one last beauty from Takko Lacquer to show you. This one is a previously released polish, but Sheryl threw it in along with the new colors.

Please Note: Products shown were provided by the company/creator for review purposes.

Takko Lacquer Aphrodisiac

Zoya Threedom Promo Haul

Hey friends! Hope you all are having a great week! We have been stuck at home all week due to my husband's car malfunctioning and needing to use my car for his commute to work. It hasn't been too bad, but the limit of our outings has been a bit tiresome. It has given me more time to swatch my way through the ridiculous pile of polish I have acquired from birthday spending/gifts. 

Today I have my picks from the recent Zoya "Threedom" promo. Every so often, Zoya has a three free (just pay shipping) sale, and I usually use the opportunity to check a few Zoya's off my wish list. Cause the Zoya wish list is never ending!

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my personal use.

Zoya Wendy (Tickled Summer 2014 collection)

Wendy is a bright, almost neon, pink coral cream. Apparently I am still in love with coral polishes because I just can't help myself when I see one! This color is probably my favorite for summertime. It is bright and fun and perfect for manis or pedis. The formula was good, a little more thick than what I am used to from Zoya, but easy to work with. This is two coats for total coverage followed up with KB Shimmer COT top coat.

Zoya Cole (Awaken Spring 2014 collection)

Cole is a soft peach cream. It is such a fun and unexpected shade. I am all over these bright pastel shades, especially the peachy toned ones, and this one is just perfect! The formula was standard Zoya cream. It was a little patchy, but evened out after three coats. I used KB Shimmer COT top coat for the swatch photos.

Zoya Bevin (True Spring 2012 collection)

Bevin is a dusty sage green cream. I just love dusty shades lately! This one is a great color too. Edgy yet sophisticated. The formula was consistent with Zoya creams, creamy and smooth. This is two easy coats followed up with KB Shimmer COT top coat.

The Zoya promos like this are always such great deals and I try to take advantage of them whenever there is one. I am never disappointed with the polishes either. Zoya has proven to be a strong mainstream brand with excellent products and always fantastic color pallets! 

So did you guys grab any from the Threedom event? What were your picks?

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my personal use. All opinions are my own. For more info, please read my disclaimer.

Zoya nail polish is available on line. Products retail from $9 to $10 a piece.

O.P.I. Live. Love. Carnival. - Spring/Summer Color Trend

Hello everyone! Another Friday has come (one that I didn't accidentally skip, oops!) and we are almost done with the spring/summer Pantone color palette! We have two colors left and their polish counterparts are phenomenal! One of my absolute favorite colors is a bright coral and Pantone added the gorgeous red hued shade, Cayenne into the Spring color palette. O.P.I.'s Live.Love.Carnival. nails the color perfectly!

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my personal use.

O.P.I. - Live. Love. Carnival.

Live. Love. Carnival. is a bright, almost neon, coral red. It is soooo bright and happy! I can't think of a better shade for summer manis and pedis. The formula was once again flawless, two smooth coats for full coverage. As I mentioned, it boarders the neon line so it doesn't dry super shiny, so be sure to add a nice thick top coat for a glossy finish!

Once again, I am over the moon for another O.P.I. Brazil shade. I have never been a huge fan of the brand, but this collection just killed it!

Only one more color left and it is another amazing polish from O.P.I. And it's pretty much a polish lovers dream come true! And I promise not to flake again, and skip a week!

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my personal use. All opinions are my own. For more info, please read my disclaimer.

O.P.I. is available at beauty stores like Ulta and Sally's. Products retail for approximately $9 a piece. 

Maybelline Bleached Neons Summer 2014 LE

Oh hai friends! Many apologies for the sporadic posting as of late! I just don't know what it is about my schedule sometimes. I can go a whole month without anything crazy going on, and then the universe seems to decide to dump everything on me at once! April (running into May) has consisted of school stuff non stop, parties, brunch dates with fellow nail gals, more parties, camping trips, wedding receptions, birthdays. Oi. I don't see a free weekend in sight! I'm hoping to keep posting at least once a week, but don't get too worried if I go radio silent for a little while.

But, I do have a fun summer collection to share today! And I wanted to get these out a.s.a.p. since they are LE (limited edition) so you guys will have a chance to grab them if you like the swatches!

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my personal use.

Maybelline Color Show Pink Punch (Bleached Neons Summer 2014 LE)

Pink Punch is a vivid bubble gum pink neon. The color has a slightly faded, or washed out look going with the "bleached" theme.  This is three coats on its own without a white base. The formula was pretty standard for a neon, streaky and thick. I did experience some cuticle drag in between the first and second coat. Allowing a bit more dry time between the second and third remedied the issue. Top coated with HK Girl by Glisten & Glow for a shiny finish.

Maybelline Color Show Coral Heat (Bleached Neons Summer 2014 LE)

Coral Heat is a red leaning coral neon. It looks kinda dupey for ChG Flip Flop Fantasy, but I don't have it to compare. This is three coats on its own without a white base. The formula was thicker and more difficult to work with, but not a complete loss. Thicker coats, with plenty of dry time in between make application possible. But it is still a pain! Top coated with HK Girl by Glisten & Glow for a shiny finish.

Maybelline Color Show Ultra Violet (Bleached Neons Summer 2014 LE)

Ultra Violet is a vibrant orchid purple neon. Out of all of them, this is the most neon, and captures that "bleached" look the most. This is two coats on it's own, without a white base. The formula was much more workable with a relatively easier application. Top coated with HK Girl by Glisten & Glow for a shiny finish.

Maybelline Color Show Citrus Collide (Bleached Neons Summer 2014 LE)

Citrus Collide is a pastel yellow neon. It has both the pastel and neon quality, without the chalkiness you would expect of a yellow this light. This is two coats on it's own, without a white base. As problematic as some of these are, I expected Citrus Collide to be the worst, but it actually isn't that bad. The formula is thick, but not horribly so (Pink Punch, Coral Heat and Bleached In Peach were all noticeably thicker). After a streaky first coat, a thicker second coat made it opaque. It did have some leveling issues, but top coating it smoothed everything out. I did notice that using a top coat changed the color slightly, bringing out the neon more. Top coated with HK Girl by Glisten & Glow for a shiny finish.

Maybelline Color Show Lime Accent (Bleached Neons Summer 2014 LE)

Lime Accent is a lime green neon.  It again, balances that pastel, yet neon so well. This is three coats on it's own, without a white base. Surprisingly, the formula was very thin and watery. But I was able to get full opacity with three coats, so all in all, not so bad. Top coated with HK Girl by Glisten & Glow for a shiny finish.

Maybelline Color Show Bleached In Peach (Bleached Neons Summer 2014 LE)

Bleached In Peach is a yellow toned peach neon. I am swooning for peach shaded this year, and so wanted to love this one. This is three coats on it's own, without a white base. The formula was in between Pink Punch and Coral Heat in terms of thickness and work-ability. I am hoping that a generous dose of thinner will help it some, because I can't let it go! Top coated with HK Girl by Glisten & Glow for a shiny finish.

Maybelline Color Show Dayglow Teal (Bleached Neons Summer 2014 LE)

Dayglow Turquoise is a bright blue neon. While this doesn't quite have the faded/bleached look as the previous colors, it is still bright enough to be a nice option. This is two coats on it's own, without a white base. It also boasts the best formula out of the bunch, almost a one coater. But I felt that a second coat would give it more life. Top coated with HK Girl by Glisten & Glow for a shiny finish.

I love the concept of this collection. I am all over the bright/neon pastels. And I think these capture the Bleached Neon look quite well. While about half of these are problematic, they are not without hope. In some cases, polish thinner might be a viable option. My favorite, based on color and formula is Ultra Violet, but I have my fingers crossed for Bleached In Peach!

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my personal use. All opinions are my own. For more info, please read my disclaimer.

Maybelline Color Show Bleached Neons are available for a limited time. Products are available at many drugstore locations, including Walgreens. Prices vary by location.

Julep Maven March BoHo Glam Box

Hello all! Hope you weekend is going well. SXSW starts this weekend, but I am lame and not partaking in the festivities. Oh well, at least I have nail polish, right?!

Today I have the March Maven box from Julep. I stuck with my original selection "BoHo Glam" this time around.

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my personal use

Julep March Maven Riviera Collection - BoHo Glam

Julep - Elisa

Elisa is a pastel blue toned purple crelly with a delicate silver shimmer. The shimmer is very subtle but adds a nice amount of depth to the overall look. For a pastel, this is an incredible polish. It is bright and rich, without being chalky. Formula was good, and I like the idea of making pastels as a crelly. The first coat was a little patchy, but a good medium thick second coat covered the nail nicely. I don't usually go for colors like this, but I actually like it a lot. It is very springy, and a nice shade of purple, not something you see very often.

Julep - Harriet

Harriet is a bright red/orange coral crelly. It is slightly more transparent than Elisa, and has a more squishy look to it. As many coral polishes as I have gotten last year, I am a little burnt out on the color, but this is so vibrant and juicy and screams summer that I can't help but love it! 2 coats for full oppacity, and no issues with application.

Julep Lip Gloss - Enchanting

Enchanting is a sheer, but build-able, watermelon pink lip gloss. This is probably my favorite add on in a while. I love this color for spring and summer, and I love the lip gloss! It is nice and smooth, but not sticky. The color pay off good, and I like that you can add more color and more depth with an extra coat. It also has a subtle vanilla scent that is really nice. I am definitely going to be wearing this a lot this season, and it has already made it's way into my make up bag in my purse!

This month's box was win for me, which is a good and bad thing. The last box I got was December's and I was so underwhelmed that I didn't even bother posting it. Not to mention the next two months were pretty boring as well. But this set is fantastic! And while I was considering cancelling my subscription, I'm now torn. I'm hoping next month will be just as good!

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my personal use. All opinions are my own. For more info, please read my disclaimer.

 If you are interested in signing up for your own Maven box, click here. Don't forget to use the code "FREEBOX" to get your first box for free

Zoya Color Your World Swatch Spam

Hey guys! I am finally getting a chance to post my polish from the Zoya "Color Your World" promo from the beginning of the year. I ordered twice, and it took forever to get both packages, but I finally have them swatched and ready!

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my personal use.

Zoya - Arizona

(Beach Collection Summer 2012)

Arizona is a yellow toned orange crelly (cream/jelly hybrid). This is two thicker coats, and I probably could have used a third. Average dry time for Zoya.

Zoya Pixie Dust - Chyna

(Pixie Dust Premier Collection Spring 2013)

Chyna is from the first Pixie Dust release, and is a deep red with textured glitter. 2 coats for full coverage, longer dry time due to the Pixie Dust formula.

Zoya - Dream 

(Zenith Collection Winter 2013)

Dream is a deep blue jelly filled with holographic glitter flecks. It has the same finish as the Zoyas from the winter 2012 collection (Aurora, Blaze and Storm). 2 coats for full coverage. A little on the thicker side for Zoya, but no issues with application.

Zoya - Elodie

(Gossip Collection Summer 2008)

Elodie is a warm coral jelly. I had no clue it it was a jelly until I swatched it. It is also very similar to Zoya Maya, just a touch more orange. But close enough that I really don't need both and will most likely part with one if I ever have a blog sale. Other than that, it is really pretty! 3 coats for full opacity, since it is a jelly. A bit patchy on the first two coats, and still a tiny bit of VNL (visible nail line) on the third.

Zoya - Josie 

(Stunning Collection Summer 2013)

Josie is a bright grassy green cream. 2 coats for full coverage. A bit streaky on the first, but the second leveled out perfectly.

Zoya - Neely

(Lovely Collection Spring 2013)

Neely is a soft minty green cream. 2 thicker coats for full coverage, 3 if you paint thinner. The first coat was on the patchy side, but a thick second covered completely. 

I love that Zoya always has really great promos and specials like this. Zoya is by far my favorite mainstream brand, and I am more than happy to splurge every now and then!

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my personal use. All opinions are my own. For more info, please read my disclaimer.

Zoya nail polish is available on line. Products retail from $9 to $10 (for Pixie Dust) a piece.

Lacquer Lust - Morning Sunshine

Hey y'all, happy Monday! Hope the weekend was a good one. I want this week to go by as quickly as possible because next Monday is my birthday! I will be 33 and I'm not exactly sure how I feel about that. But I will be getting moar polish and that is definitely something to be happy about!

 

Today I have something new to share - thermal polish! A.K.A. polish that changes color depending on body/ambient temperatures. Thermal polish is a completely new thing for me, and I wasn't sure exactly how I felt about the trend, to be honest. Until I stumbled upon Lacquer Lust that is.

 

Please Note: Products were purchased by me for my personal use.

 

 

 

Lacquer Lust - Morning Sunshine

 

Morning Sunshine is a peach/coral thermal crelly with tiny gold flakies. It is beautiful! I cannot even begin to describe how much I luuuurvvvve this polish. The color change is awesome, very obvious and sensitive too. I was completely fascinated by it for the three days I wore this. Formula was nice, but strange. A little thick, but not problematic. More gluey in consistency, but again, it wasn't something that was an issue at all. It just felt different that other polish when I was applying that. I used three coats, two worked fine, but I used a third to cover a tiny bit of VNL. Application was really good, no dragging, pooling, or anything else. It was also kinda cool watching the polish change color while I was painting my nails.

 

 

Cold

 

Warm

 

Transition

 

 

Can you guess why I picked this particular thermal to try? If you said Coral, you're right! And you read my blog. Which means you are awesome. Anyway, I am totally blown away with this, and I am dying to get my hands on more thermals. There was recently a restock, and the shop is on vacation right now, but Jo (the creator) is active on twitter, facebook and IG so there are plenty of ways to find out when the next restock is. So go follow all the ways and get some thermals! She also makes some beautiful holos as well for all you holo lovers!

 

Lacquer Lust is available on line and at Harlow & Co for international shoppers. Prices range from $8.50 to $12.50 per bottle. Harlow & Co prices vary.

 

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my own personal use. All opinions are my own. Please read my disclaimer for more information.

Essie Naughty Nauticle Collection Pt. 1

Hey guys and gals! I'm a little late with this post, sorry about that! I have had a bad case of laziness lately and really didn't want to mess with taking pictures, editing, blah blah blah. But I knew I had to share this collection with you, because it is just that awesome! I don't want to overload you all with a ton of pics in one post, so I decided to break the collection up into 3 parts.

 

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my personal use.

 

Essie - Naughty Nautical

 

Naughty Nautical is a bright teal/turquoise with a subtle silvery shimmer. It is a touch more green than my swatches, so keep that in mind. The shimmer is subtle, but you can still see it twinkling faintly in most lighting (my camera didn't want to capture it, boo!). It also shows different colors, almost like an iridescent shimmer, super pretty. Formula was fantastic! Almost a one coater, tho I used two for swatching. If you are careful, you could easily get away with one. Application was great, no streaking, dragging, pooling, or any other problems. Nice dry time, and super shiny. I did use a top coat for all the pics, however.

 

 

 

 

Essie - Sunday Funday

 

Not to be confused with China Glaze Sunday Funday, Essie's version is a red toned coral with a silvery shimmer. The shimmer is a bit more noticeable in this, but I think it's because the pigmentation is a bit thinner than Naughty Nautical. This was 2 coats for full coverage, the first showing a bit of VNL (visible nail line). Still a really great formula, no problems at all. Average dry time.

 

Okay, so it is no secret I am all about coral polishes right now, so naturally I love this one. I'm wearing it on my toes and I have this and The Girls Are out in a gradient on my fingers, which is so full of win. I posted a pic on IG yesterday, if you are curious.

 

 

I am so in love with these two, plus the rest of the collection. I have felt a little disappointed by the last few Essie collections, but this particular one has really won me over. It's just so fun and bright!

 

Don't forget, my next challenge post will be up a day late, and it's gonna be a fun one!

 

Essie is available at many retail locations. Polishes are about $8 a piece.

 

Please Note: Products shown were purchased by me for my personal use. Please see my disclaimer for more info.

Zoya Summer Pixie Dust Collection (Pic Heavy)

Hello everyone! I am so flippin' excited about today's post. I have the entire summer Pixie Dust collection, from Zoya, swatched for you guys! To be honest, when this whole textured trend started, I was heavily against it. None of the promo pics from any brand looked good, in my opinion. Once I started seeing swatches of the original Pixie Dust line, I was mildly interested. Then Zoya announced the summer collection, full of bright, sparkly colors. I was done for. I have lusted after these beauties for almost two months before I was able to get the whole collection. I totally splurged and it was totally worth it. This collection is at the top of my list for all time favs. They are that gorgeous!!!
 

The formula and application is the same for each, so I'll go over all that here. For each color, I used 2 coats. Application was easy with no typical problems that you would normally see with glitter type polishes. Formula was a good consistency as well. I did let the first initial coat dry before I applied the second coat. Dry time was a little bit longer than a typical polish. Removal was easy as well. I didn't have to resort to foil, just a cotton ball soaked with acetone remover. There is a bit of glitter residue after removal, so it can be kinda messy!

Please Note: Products were purchased by me for my own personal use.

 

Zoya Pixie Dust - Solange

 

Solange in a bright lemon yellow textured polish with gold and orange glitter. This is the one I wasn't expecting to like. In every picture online (including mine) it looks very metallic, but in person it is bright and cheery and sooooo sparkly! I think it may be the sparkliest one of the bunch. Absolutely gorgeous.

 

 

 

Zoya Pixie Dust - Beatrix

 

Beatrix is a juicy tangerine orange textured polish with gold glitter. Excuse me while I pass out from the awesomeness of this polish! Perfect for summer and just plain beautiful.

 

 

 

 

Zoya Pixie Dust - Destiny

 

Destiny is a red toned coral textured polish with gold glitter. If I had to pick a favorite (and that would be almost impossible) Destiny would be it. Mainly because I am obsessed with coral. Have I mentioned that already? Pretty sure I have...

 

Anyway. As soon as I got my package, I swatched this one first. The gold glitter plays so well with the warm coral and the crystalline effect of the Pixie Dust. Swoon.

 

 

 

 

Zoya Pixie Dust - Miranda

 

Miranda is a berry colored textured polish with silver glitter. Okay, so I'm not really a pink nail polish fan, but this is so pretty! The color base is almost jelly-like and tints the silver glitter a bit. Out of all the summer colors, this is the most work-appropriate color. It's not terrible bright, compared to the others, and looks like a more traditional polish, just with a bit more sparkle.

 

 

 

Zoya Pixie Dust - Stevie

 

Stevie is a lavender textured polish with silver glitter. It is a tiny bit darker and slightly more red than my pictures. My camera hates purple and wants to turn them all blue. Lame, I know. The silver glitter really stands out in this polish and is so much better looking in person.

 

 

 

 

Zoya Pixie Dust - Liberty

 

Liberty is a cobalt blue textured polish with silver glitter. The polish base is similar to Miranda with a jelly type consistency, giving the silver glitter a blue tint. Love me some blue polish, and this one is so pretty!

What can I say, other than I love them all. The matte sparkle is absolutely stunning in person and pictures just can't do it justice. My personal faves are Destiny, Beatrix and Liberty, but they are all gorgeous and if you are a magpie (like me), you need some Pixie Dust in your life!

Zoya Pixie Dust is available on line at  Zoya.com. Polishes retail for $9 a piece.

Please Note: Products were purchased by me for my own personal use. All opinions are my own. For more information, please see my disclosure policy, here