Swatch Sunday: Sally Hansen’s Magenta Moves

Welcome back, reader! It’s Sunday, so it’s time for swatches! Today’s swatch is an oldie but a goodie, Sally Hansen’s Magenta Moves! I still remember the day I plucked this polish out of a Target sale bin. For this swatch, I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

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Magenta Moves is a bright pink creme polish. Application was a challenge due to the wide Insta-Dri brush. I love the product formula; the pigmentation is excellent, delivering an opaque first coat, but the brush was about as wide as my whole nail and made application somewhat of a mess. The polish itself, though, is very nice. It’s well-pigmented and opaque, and dries evenly and smoothly with a glossy finish. I used top coat for even more shine.

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Let’s talk about the stained cuticle. I know you’re looking at it, I can’t stop looking at it, I’m kind of embarrassed about the whole thing. This is the unfortunate downside to the Insta-Dri formula. Because you get such fantastic one-coat coverage and strong color, you’ll also get some staining if you’re not careful. I figured this would happen, so I took all the precautions I could — I slathered my cuticules in oil before I started, and I tried my damnedest to keep the color off my skin to begin with, but because the brush was so wide and my nails are so little that it just happened anyway. And let me tell you, that pink stain was not easy to remove. I used a boatload of acetone and washed dishes, and the only thing that took it off was cuticle remover. It’s really my own fault for having neglected cuticles, but even so, let this be a warning.

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Magenta Moves has been discontinued by Sally Hansen; other Insta-Dri polishes and Sally Hansen products are available in stores nationwide.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s Void Stuff

Happy Saturday, reader! I’m so excited to share today’s swatch with you, because it’s an incredible polish, possibly even my favorite BEGL holo to date! This is Void Stuff from Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat. All photos were taken outdoors in direct sunlight.

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Void Stuff is a deep turquoise linear holo with color-shifting shimmers. Sometimes the shimmers appear pink, sometimes they disappear into the green polish. Application was so easy because the consistency is so smooth and velvety; though it was a bit thin, it glided right on and gave me near opacity on the first coat. The linear holo effect was a bit stronger in Void Stuff than in previous BEGL holos. It dries quickly and with an almost glossy finish; I used top coat for shine and extra sparkle.

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Though it’s a deep color, it’s very appropriate for the season! It’s the color of the happiest ocean. In the shade, the turquoise is still very vibrant and has a metallic finish, and in the sunlight, the holo is very intense. I could seriously look at this polish all day. I think it might look even better on the nail than it does in the bottle! It is summer happiness.

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Void Stuff, unfortunately, has been discontinued by Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer. Other BEGL polishes are available at their online shop.

I bought this polish myself.

Manicure Tuesday: Plum Opal

Hello, reader! I had an awesome Fourth of July weekend, and that’s why I’m posting a mani in the middle of the week. I hope yours was just as good! I like this mani, so even if it is late, I’m excited to share it. I’m using one of the Chanels I treated myself to for my birthday and a gorgeous flakie topper! This is Chanel’s Provocation and Finger Paints’s Symmetrical Symphony mattefied with Essie’s Matte About You matte top coat.

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I loved the Finger Paints flakie collection from the other year. I was actually pretty lucky and scored most of them from the Sally Beauty Supply sale bin. It was the most exciting thing. I love this one because the colors contrast; some flakies glow golden, others glow blue-violet, and they bring out the best in each other. I had to mattify them for the full effect. The colors are very strong. I used two coats to get this much coverage.

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As beautiful as the flakies are, though, I’m the most excited about wearing Provocation. Deep plum polish always makes me feel glamorous, but having it be a Chanel polish really ups the glamour factor. There’s still a part of me that feels guilty for buying these, especially since there’s no real difference between mid-end and high-end polish. I just remember seeing Chanel’s Vamp in so many magazines as a young teen that I knew one day I’d have to own a Chanel polish. I might have a little buyer’s remorse, but I feel posh as hell with this polish on.

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In the sunlight, you can really see the opal effect the flakies have. It’s really mesmerizing! The matte coat makes it possible to see all the colors at once, and the colors are really vivid outdoors. Provocation looks red for some reason. These photos were taken in direct sunlight outdoors.

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Chanel polishes are available wherever Chanel cosmetics are sold; mine is from Nordstrom. Finger Paints is sold at Sally Beauty Supply.

I bought these polishes myself.

Swatch Sunday: Mystery Brand’s Glitter Glow in the Dark Polish

Hello reader! This Sunday’s polish is one of those fun novelty ones from around the holidays. I don’t have a brand or a shade name, just this cute pumpkin face — looks strangely sinister in the dark — and a dainty, glowing look. I got this from Rite Aid in Atlanta a few years ago, and that’s really all I can tell you about it. I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

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This mystery polish is a translucent glow in the dark polish with a fine iridescent glitter mix. Application was good; the consistency was about what I expected, not too thick or thin. The glitter is well-distributed and evenly applies to the nail. It’s very sheer, so building to opacity is not what this polish was suited for; however, this doesn’t have a grainy appearance that some glowers have with multiple coats, making it a good polish for layering. It dries quickly and with a glossy finish, though there is still a bit of texture from the glitter.

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I bought these — I also have a pink equivalent — because I couldn’t turn down glow in the dark polishes with glitter. I’m not the kind of person who (usually) goes after novelty products, but these were so cute and not really something I expected to find, so I got them. I like how barely there it is; I forget I’m wearing polish at all. Even the glitter is inconspicuous unless the light is shining right on it. And, of course, the glow is pretty powerful if you’ve been holding it under the light. One thing I worry about is wear length and quality; a few hours after finishing the mani, I got a chip.

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I took some outdoor photos. The sun didn’t come out for me today, but it looks nice regardless. These photos were taken in mostly cloudy conditions.

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I have these polishes listed as Rite-Aid, since that’s where I got them, and there’s no branding or anything else on it. I’d love to learn more about who makes these!

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s The Innuendo Squad

Welcome back to Swatch Saturday! I absolutely love today’s polish. This is The Innuendo Squad from Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat. Al photos were taken outdoors in direct sunlight (by the pool!).

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The Innuendo Squad is a powder blue linear holo polish with silver shimmer. Application was very good; the consistency was thin enough to glide on, but thick enough to be very pigmented. I had near-opacity on the first coat. I had no issues at all with this polish. It dries quickly and with a satin finish; I used top coat for shine and extra holo goodness.

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I’m really enjoying this polish. The holo is on the softer side; there’s no crazy rainbow action here, but I’m okay with that. I feel like too much holo would spoil the beautiful color of this polish. The silver shimmer is really subtle as well, a soft addition you’ll miss if you don’t know it’s there. It’s very delicate, and very charming.

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Outdoors is where you’ll see the holo effect best, obviously. I think the shimmer might look best indoors, but the holo looks best out here for sure. Really, just the color of this polish is a huge win for me. The holo and shimmer are bonus.

The Innuendo Squad is discontinued by Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer; other BEGL polishes are available from their online shop.

I bought this polish myself.