Takko Lacquer Winter 2015 Collection

Hey friends! Today, I have swatches of the Takko Lacquer Winter collection that is scheduled to be restocked on Monday the 25th along with a special 4 piece Valentine's Day collection (those swatches will be posted Monday morning).

In case you missed the Winter launch last time around, you will have another chance to grab five out of the six polishes originally released before the holidays. Ugly Christmas Sweater is sadly going into hibernation until the next holiday season. But that's okay, because the other five are gorgeous!

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

Takko Lacquer McTakko (McPolish x Takko collab), Black Creek (McPolish x Takko collab), Sweetpea (25_sweetpea x Takko collab), Daydreaming, & Ocean Glitter (25_sweetpea x Takko collab)

ILNP Juliette

Hi friends! My first post of 2016! What a crazy thought. I have been doing this whole blog thing for quite a number of years (to do a blog about nail polish that is). Although it is evolving, I still love this little space, and I love sharing beautiful polish just as much - I'm just too busy to commit to super frequent posts.

I still plan to share swatches and nail art, so never fear! Like today I have a seriously drool worthy polish that I wore for NYE - ILNP Juliette.

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

ILNP Juliette

KBShimmer Winter 2015 Collection (Partial)

Hi friends, happy Moday! I am trying to get a few things posted before the holiday weekend. I will be in East Texas visiting my family.

So today, I have three polishes from the new KBShimmer Winter Collection. It is a huge release with 14 shades in all. There are a few glitter toppers, holographic finishes, creams, crellies and more! 

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

KBShimmer Yule Worthy, Toying Around & Coal In One

Zoya New Year New Hue Promo Haul

Hi friends. Oh man I am so behind in posting these, lol! At least twice a year, Zoya ( a.k.a. the best mainstream polish ever) has a three-free promo where you pick three polishes and just pay shipping. It is a super sweet deal and I almost always take advantage! For new year's Zoya offered the three-free promo again, which include a free mini trio as well (swatches of those to come). I took the opportunity to complete the Ignite collection and score the three I was missing - Autumn, India and Remy.

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

Zoya Autumn, India & Remy (Ignite Collection, Fall 2014)

Takko Lacquer Heart Shaped Box

Hi everyone! Today I have a super cool new Takko Lacquer that you may not have seen yet. Heart Shaped Box was released as a "mystery polish" during the last restock at the end of January. Sheryl was kind enough to include it in an awesome Valentine's Day gift package, along with Absinthe and a few goodies. And of course I swatched it for you guys to drool over!

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

Takko Lacquer Heart Shaped Box

Takko Lacquer Winter 2014 Release Part Two

Hey guys and gals! So how is your week going? Anyone stressing out over the holidays yet, lol? I have so much stuff jammed into the next few weeks that I may be a little crazy by the time New Year's gets here! But before I go off the deep end, I have more Takko Lacquer goodies to show you guys! 

Today is part two of the winter release - with a total of seven new colors to lust after. The first three were swatched on Monday, so if you missed that post, you can read it here. I have three more to share in today's post (the seventh one was mistakenly left out of my package, but will be arriving shortly for me to swatch for you guys) and they are simply beautiful!

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

Takko Lacquer Diamonds & Tulle, Snow Bunny and Smitten Kitten

Cirque Colors Mirror, Mirror

Hi friends! How was your weekend? We had a great time at the fundraiser event for my daughter's school. It was a great turn out with fantastic home brew beers. Definitely a fun evening!

If you follow me on IG, you may have seen a sneak peek at the unbelievably stunning Cirque Colors Mirror, Mirror LE silver flakie holiday release. I wore it out this weekend for the party and it is just as amazing as I was hoping it would be!

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

Cirque Colors Mirror, Mirror

Twinsie Tuesday: Biggest Splurge

Hey friends, happy Tuesday! I have some great news! By the end of the month, my husband will have a new career path! This has been the big chaotic thing that has consumed all of our lives for the past few weeks. It is definitely a good thing, but my amazing hubby had to put himself through a lot of stress to get here. I will never be able to express my complete gratitude for all his hard work and dedication.

Okay, enough sap and back to today's post, lol. This week's Twinsie Tuesday theme is our biggest polish splurge. I know some of you may be able to guess what it is before you see the pictures. Out of all the higher end polish lines, I have a special place in my heart for Rescue Beauty Lounge. When I first started blogging Ji had just released the GOMM collection and I was immediately hooked. Nail polish inspired by one of my favorite artists?!?! And the colors were stunning and unlike anything I had seen from a nail polish brand. I vowed I would one day own all of those beautiful little bottles. Two years later and I own all but two. I sadly missed out on Poppy and Jack, but Ghost, Faraway, Bella, Abi and Santa Fe are sitting quite comfortably in my helmer.

Zoya Giovanna - Fall/Winter Color Trend

Hey guys! Today is the first installment of my new seasonal color trends series and I thought I would kick it off with a gorgeous polish that is a perfect representation of Pantone's color of the year - Emerald. I am a huge green lover, especially this particular shade of green, and Zoya Giovanna is truly stunning. Originally designed for the Zoya/Zang Toi Fall NYFW collaboration, and later released as part of the Casmere & Satin collections. 

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

Zoya - Giovanna

 

Giovanna is a metallic emerald green with a shimmery "lit from within" glow. Despite being such an amazing color, the formula was a bit of a problem. As you can see from the pic, it is prone to brush strokes. I have read about applying a matte tc and then a glossy tc to smooth out brush strokes, but have yet to try it out myself. It was also a total pain to apply, unfortunately. The first coat was streaky and I had issues with cuticle drag. A thicker second coat covered everything nicely, though. It is also a major strainer, so be sure to double up on the base coat!

 

 

Zoya Giovanna with Pantone Emerald color swatch

In all honesty, and I have said this before, I am willing to over look a crappy formula if the color is amazing. And Giovanna fits the bill. I can guarantee that it will be in heavy rotation this fall/winter. 

Are you feeling the Emerald color trend? 

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

Zoya Giovanna and the rest of the Cashmere & Satin collection can be found on line. Products retail for $8 a piece. 

China Glaze Hologlam Not In This Galaxy

Hey y'all! Hope you guys had a nice weekend! Having a break from being mom and spending time with my husband was wonderful. It had been way too long since our last date night!

 

Today, I have one of the polishes from the China Glaze Hologlam line. Even though I am technically on a no buy, I found them marked down on line and decided to grab a couple.

 

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

 

 

China Glaze Hologlam - Not In This Galaxy

 

 

Not In This Galaxy is a warm pink metallic linear holographic polish. I swear, in almost every swatch on line for this one, it was way more coral (even peachy in one particular shot) than in person. I knew the holo was already weak, but the color difference was a big let down. I'm not one to go for pinks like this, but it is pretty and flattering none the less. The formula was good, very reminiscent of the New Bohemian luster chromes actually. My impatient application did leave a few brush strokes behind. Very quick dry time. Also, top coats do dull what little holo there is.

 

China Glaze Hologlam - Not In This Galaxy (macro)

 

The holographic effect is pretty weak, but it is there. My apologies for the lack of daylight shots. Too many trees, too many clouds and not enough time to find some sunshine. Fortunately, there is no need for a special base like Nfu Oh Aqua Base for the application. Other than that, I like it and I am glad I didn't have to pay $15 for it! Also, I'm thinking it will be good for stamping!

 

If you are lucky to have a Sally's Beauty Supply near you, I would suggest checking their clearance section. After purchasing these on line, I went to Sally's and found almost the entire line in the clearance for about $5 a bottle. Otherwise, you can go on line to 8ty8beauty and find the Hologlam collection for the same price (plus shipping).

 

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

31 Day Nail Art Challenge: Metallic

Hey guys! Challenge prompt Metallic on time and ready for your viewing pleasure! I had such a hard time deciding what to do or this post. I knew that I was going to use the metallic polishes from the Urban Decay Naked nail set, but I kept changing my mind about the design. And then I remembered how awesome the mani I did for the Polish Days theme last month turned out, so I decided on a splatter mani! Yay!

 

Used:

 

Urban Decay - Toasted (Naked, pink/beige shimmer metallic)

Urban Decay - Hustle (Naked, eggplant shimmer metallic)

Urban Decay - Smog (Naked, bronze shimmer metallic)

 

Straw

 

I LOVE this so HARD! Omg. I can't even begin to describe how awesome it looks in person. I even wore it for a couple of days after I did it! This is definitely my favorite post so far. It turned out exactly how I wanted and I think it looks fantastic.

 

Using a straw for the splatter can be a little tricky, but I think it gives the best effect. I painted 3 coats of Toasted for the base and once it was dry, I used Hustle and painted the inside of the end of a straw and blew out the polish on my nail. Next I used Smog and did the same thing. Then I proceeded to clean up. This can get pretty messy, so take your time and be as thorough as you can. Top coat, and done! 

The aftermath of splatter! I'm sure a lot of the mess can be avoided if you use tape or Vaseline, but I was too lazy. Meh, no biggie.

 

Rainbow is next!!!

Takko Lacquer Winter 2012 Collection

 Hey everyone! Today I have the newest two colors from my fav indie brand, Takko Lacquer. These two colors have actually been out for about a month but they have sold out in minutes every time Sheryl restocks. I was lucky enough to grab them this last time and I completely understand why they sold out so quickly, they are gorgeous!

 

Takko Lacquer - We're All Mad Here

 

We're All Mad Here is a deep royal blue jelly with a bright orange shimmer and blue/green flakies. I DIE. This is, hands down, the BEST FRICKIN POLISH I have ever seen/worn/owned. Each and every time I am completely astounded at the awesome creations Sheryl comes up with, but this is pure genius. I tried soooooo hard to capture the beauty and complexity of WAMH, but damn, it's near impossible. Just trust me when I tell you, get it now. Formula was a dream, thick and smooth, just the way I like it. 2 coats, for perfect coverage (from a jelly! what!). It dries matte because of the pigments, so shiny top coat is a must. Ugh. Just look at that shimmer.

 

 

 

 

Takko Lacquer - Va Va Voom

 

Va Va Voom is a rich red metallic with a strong scattered holo, almost linear in some lighting. Sexy, sultry, definitely befitting the name. Let start off by saying, I do not like red polish. This one makes, number 5. If you count the blue polish, I have, it's closer to triple that number. There is something different about this shade of red. It's warm, and even shifting to an orangey red on occasion. I like it. A lot. This is also the strongest holo out of the entire Takko line. Formula was identical to the other holos, 2 coats, smooth and flowly, perfect consistency.

 

 

It's no secret I get all fan girl over Takko. But can you blame me? The only bad thing, is that more people are catching the Takko fever. Like I said, it took me about a month to get these two colors, they kept selling out that fast! But I couldn't be happier for Sheryl. She is the sweetest lady & I adore her to bits. All this love is totally deserved! XOXOXOXO!

Takko Lacquer is available on line via Etsy.

Rescue Beauty Lounge: Ghost & Catherine

Hello lovelies! Today is part two of my recent Rescue Beauty Lounge mini haul. Previously, I posted the gorgeous stormy Piu Mosso, that is now available for everyone to get on the Rescue Beauty Lounge website! Along with that, I got Ghost and Catherine.

 

Rescue Beauty Lounge - Ghost

 

Ghost is a metallic antique bronze from the GOMM collection. It is flawless, perfect and omg I in love. When I first saw swatches of the GOMM collection, I knew I had to have at least one. I have a special love for the artist and inspiration behind the polishes and all of the colors speak to my artist heart (fun fact: I majored in fine arts in college and have had my fill of art history). Formula was simply perfection, one smooth and flowy coat. It does leave brush strokes as you apply, but they fade as the polish dries to a soft satin finish. I actually prefer it satin, and didn't use a top coat.

 

 

Rescue Beauty Lounge - Catherine

 

Catherine is a smokey eggplant purple with a gunmetal shimmer and sparse flecks of fuchsia, blue, green and gold glitter, inspired by Henry VIII first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Despite it being very dark, it didn't wash my skin out! I think it looks very chic and refined, definitely fit for a queen. Formula was a bit thinner than I was expecting, but still applied wonderfully. I did need two coats for full coverage on this one. My favorite thing about Catherine is the pink and blue flash at different angles.

Rescue Beauty Lounge is available on line.

Zoya Ornate Collection: Part Two

Good morning! We're back with the second part of the Zoya Ornate Collection, featuring foil finishes!

Yesterday's post featured the Holo finishes, and yes they are amazing, but don't discount these two gorgeous foil polishes. In my opinion, Zoya is the master at creating foils. I have quite a few of them and each one is just as beautiful and shiny as the next.

Same as last time, pics first & formula write up at the end!

 

Zoya - Ziv

 

Ziv is a bright gold foil with deep golden flecks scattered through out. It reminds me so much of golden foil wrapping paper! It dries so shiny and reflective. Sigh...this is why I love foil so much.

 

 

 

 

Zoya - Logan

 

Logan is a cool dark green with bright green and golden foil flecks through out. This one is a bit of a chameleon. It can look very dark and dramatic with serious blue tones, and then it can shift to a bright warm golden green.

Formula, again was perfect. It almost seems like an improvement from previous foils, even. 2 coats, slightly longer dry time than the holos, but still good. Shiny, smooth and glossy, no top coat needed. Ziv is for sure, my choice because it is such a great color for the holidays, but Logan is just as beautiful.

Tomorrow....Bar Glitter!!!!

Zoya Ornate Collection is available online.

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine: Lava and Copperhead (Pic Heavy)

A few weeks ago, I saw a post floating around twitter, about a new Sally Hansen collection of duo chrome polish called "Lustre Shine" and searched for swatches, bottle shots and any info available. I fondly remember Sally Hansen's Prism collection (even tho I no longer have any of the bottles! ::sob::) and had insanely high hopes for this one. Apparently, each polish has silver infused in the formula, which adds to the luminescence. I literally stalked every beauty department I came across looking for the new line, and finally found them today!

 

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine - Lava

 

Lava is a gorgeous pink/red/orange/gold duo chrome glass fleck foil. It looks very similar to MAC Bad Fairy, but I don't have MAC to do a comparison. 2 coats for full sparkly coverage. Formula was okay, I did have a bit of drag while swatching and if I went too fast over a previous stroke, I would lose some glitter. The trick is load up the brush and go slowly! It was a bit slow on the dry time, as well. 

 

 

Daylight

 

It has an incredible sparkle in full sun. That lense flare, in the last pic, was not added in photoshop. Almost too much shine for my little camera to handle!

 

 

 Sally Hansen Lustre Shine - Copperhead

 

Copperhead is a coppery reddish brown/purple duo chrome. Now this is a great fall color! Unique for a duo chrome too. I don't think I have seen a color shift like that! The purple flash is a bit toned down, but it is there, especially outside. The silver particles really stand out in this one, creating such a pretty twinkle! 2 coats again for this one as well, which is good for a pricier polish. Formula was okay, not the greatest. It has a tendency to show brush strokes if you're not careful with application. Dry time was slooooowwwww. Even with a top coat of Seche Vite, I still managed to wrinkle my pinky nail a few minutes afterwards.



 

Daylight

 

 

They are a bit on the pricey side for drug store polish, $8.49 at the Walgreens where I got mine. Overall the collection has eight shades, and I have seen six of them. There are at least two more on my list (of the six I have seen), Firefly and Scarab. But those will have to wait until my bank account is less empty. Lava is really special, and I think everyone needs to grab that one. Copperhead too, if you like unique looking polishes!

Have you seen any of these? Which ones are on your wish list?

Zoya BOGO Haul & Swatches

Happy Labor Day!

 

Last week, Zoya had an awesome Buy one, Get one offer to all their existing customers, and naturally, I took the opportunity to snag some items off my Zoya wish list.

 

Fei Fei, Happi, Jules, Charla, Dannii, & Goldie

Zoya is one of my favorite polish companies because they really do have an amazing brand. From color, to finish, to formula; Zoya knows how to make a quality product. And their glass fleck/foil polishes are mind blowing!

 

Fei Fei

 

Fei Fei is one of the most complex polishes I have ever seen. It is a steel blue grey with gold fleck, but I swear it has a scattered holo effect to it! Every time I look at it, I see something different. Definitely a chameleon, and definitely a polish everyone needs to own.

 

 

 

Happi

 

Bubble gum pink with a pretty green/gold duo chrome shift.

 

 

 

Jules

 

Champagne gold with gold and silver micro glitter.

 

 

 

Charla

 

Bright teal with AMAZING foil finish. dies...

 

 

 

Danni

 

Violet purple with silver micro glitter.

 

 

 

Goldie

 

Warm yellow gold metallic. It screams 70's, disco & gold lamé!

 

All polishes were perfect with 2 coats, the exceptions being Fei Fei & Charla. Each needed 3 coats, had a bit of VNL (visible nail line). After this haul, Zoya is taking over my stash. I certainly do not have a problem with that!

 

 

Zoya nail polish can be purchased online at Zoya.com

My Favorite Polish: Part 2 (Metallics/Foils)

I have a weakness for anything sparkly. Glitter based polishes take up the majority of my stash. Some of my absolute favorites are glitters with metallic and foil finishes. When ever I do my nails with these types of polishes, I almost become mesmerized by the overdose of sparkle.

Zoya - Faye (Sunshine collection)

 A sheer mauve/purple base loaded with gold, copper, red and even a bit of green micro glitter. This polish is so incredibly reflective and lively! The purple base with the golden glitter creates a great color shift effect. Out of all the colors in the sunshine collection, I think this one was the absolute best. Seriously pretty.

A little on the thick side for Zoya, and dry time is also a bit longer than expected. But a bit of patience & a good quick dry top coat can easily remedy the minute flaws this amazing polish has. 3 coats for perfect coverage.



Zoya - Tiffany (Flame collection)

Another Zoya, but what can I say, love me some Zoya. This one is a peach metallic foil, a sheer peach base with peach and copper glitter and chunky golden flake glitter. The amount of shine is incredible, it literally sparkles with every shift of my hand!

This one is the opposite of Faye, perfect consistency, quick dry time & only 2 coats for full opacity. A great example of how awesome Zoya polish is.