Manicure Monday: No Place Like Chrome

Posted on by

Happy Monday, reader! I hope you guys like shiny silver, because that’s all I’ve got today. This is Essie’s No Place Like Chrome without top coat. Silver for days!

IMG_37082

IMG_37122

I love the Mirror Metallics collection from Essie. I have them all, but I’ve only ever used two of them, and No Place Like Chrome is the only one I’ve used twice. I know metallic polishes come and go, everybody makes them at some point, but I’m so glad I’ve got these. The finish is so fun and unique, making any mani stand out. I’ve only ever worn this polish by itself, but someday I’ll get around to using it as an accent with something. Mirror polish makes any mani striking.

IMG_37202

IMG_37252

The last time I wore this bow was with another strong silver mani. I am actually really surprised by how easy these are to wear. Sure, it’s big, but it rarely gets caught on anything. It’s about as wide as my finger, so someone with thinner fingers might have trouble, but I love wearing these bows. It’s like wearing the biggest, tackiest engagement ring, except it’s glued to one of my nails.

IMG_37312

IMG_37352

In the sunlight, the metallic effect is just as apparent. It’s actually kind of blinding. The bow is especially ridiculous. Check out the flares on it.

IMG_36832

IMG_36962

IMG_36882

IMG_37002

No Place Like Chrome and other Essie polishes are sold in stores nationwide. My bow charm is from Born Pretty Store.

I bought these products myself.

Swatch Sunday: Smitten Polish’s One Heart

Posted on by

Hello, reader! I’m excited to bring you this week’s Swatch Sunday. I’m wearing a new-to-me brand called Smitten Polish! I’m also wearing my one and only Hella Holo Customs polish. It’s so pink and perfect I could die. This is One Heart; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat. All photos were taken in direct sunlight.

IMG_35422

IMG_35452

IMG_35532

IMG_35572

One Heart is a pink holo with some extra silver glitters. Application was good; the product consistency is very smooth, and the coverage is fantastic, giving me a nearly-opaque first coat. I had no issues with it! It dries with a smooth and glossy finish; I used top coat for extra shine and protection.

IMG_35642

IMG_35682

IMG_35742

So color me impressed with this polish. It’s the best of both worlds; the holo is pretty intense without diluting the bright color. It’s really tough to strike that balance sometimes, and Smitten has done it wonderfully with One Heart. Let me just tell you how sad I am to be taking this off right away. So sad.

IMG_35762

IMG_35842

IMG_35892

If you’re not in the Hella Holo Customs group on Facebook, you should be! Beautiful group exclusives like this one are released every month by amazing indie makers. I know, you probably don’t need another excuse to buy polish, but if you’re like me and you need every single polish your favorite makers put out, you need to be there, just in case. It also helps you discover some new favorites. I’d heard of Smitten before, but never tried anything from them until HHC, and I’m super-glad I did.

Smitten Polish is now Dreamland Lacquer; One Heart is no longer available, but other Dreamland Lacquers are available in their online shop. Check out Hella Holo Customs on Facebook for info on how to join the group and how to buy group custom polishes.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer Prototype NEB 1.0

Posted on by

Happy Saturday, reader! I’m wearing a BEGL prototype for this week’s swatch! This is NEB 1.0; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

IMG_34972

IMG_34992

IMG_35062

IMG_35112

Prototype NEB 1.0 is a clear-based microglitter with black, silver, and blue holographic glitters. There are some larger dot and moon glitters floating around in the bottle as you can see from the bottle shots, but I didn’t get any of them on my nails. Application was very good; there was more glitter in this bottle than in a released polish, so I got full opacity in fewer coats than normal. I still used three, so my nails look a bit thick. However, it dried very quickly and didn’t leave a lot of texture behind. I still used top coat for shine and smoothness.

IMG_35152

IMG_35222

Are you tired of me talking about how great BEGL microglitters are? Because even though this one is only a prototype, it still has all the qualities I love in a microglitter. The colors, though varied, all complement each other. There are no holes in the coverage. The only real letdown was that I couldn’t get any of those larger glitters. I’ll get them someday!

IMG_35272

IMG_35292

In direct sunlight, this polish comes alive. It really does. The holographic effect is much stronger and the sparkle is legendary as a result. Today wasn’t the sunniest day, but if it was, I’d probably be blind from glitter exposure.

IMG_34522

IMG_34572

IMG_34632

IMG_34692

IMG_34872

No other bottles of Prototype NEB 1.0 were made. Other Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquers are sold in their online shop.

I bought this polish myself.

Manicure Monday: Latte

Posted on by

Happy Monday, reader! I’m excited to be wearing a holo today; I’m excited to have an excuse to leave my office and take advantage of the sunshine. The polish I used today is Model City‘s Latte; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

IMG_34072

IMG_34112

Latte is a polish from Model City’s 2014 fall collection, a collection of holos based on coffee drink favorites. I loved this set; it was autumnal and neutral but still had enough holo to warrant spending time outside. Of course, in Florida, autumn is just extended summer, and it feels weird drinking pumpkin spice lattes out of the red cups when it’s still 80 degrees out. We have to do them in frap form.

IMG_34182

IMG_34252

IMG_34242

This polish is my favorite from the set, I believe. It’s so versatile. It would pair with anything, it would be a suitable base for any glitter, and would work into any nail art look you could imagine. Wearing it alone today was actually a tough choice; I had to stop myself from digging through my stash to find a polish to wear with it. I’m really glad I wore it alone, beacuse it’s such an elegant and clean look. It makes me feel pretty! Also grown up.

IMG_34332

IMG_34372

IMG_34412

My photos don’t really do this polish justice. The holo effect got a little washed out in the harsh sunlight. The polish itself is pretty pigmented and the holo takes a back seat to the color, but there’s more to it than is visible here.

Latte is currently not in stock by Model City Polish; other MCPs are available in their etsy shop. My star studs were found in an outlet store.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Sunday: Sinful Color’s Timbleberry

Posted on by

Welcome back to Swatch Sunday! Even though I’ve worn a lot of Sinful Colors polishes over the years, I’ve never had the chance to dedicate a whole post to one. My Sinfuls are my workhorses; they’re always there for me when I need a basic creme or a dainty iridescent glitter. Timbleberry is the perfect example of a Sinful creme; it has great coverage, it watermarbles, and it’s up to whatever task you have. For these photos, I’m wearing three coats of Timbleberry with one coat of Seche Vite.

IMG_33702

IMG_33762

IMG_33822

Timbleberry is a bright pink creme polish. Application was good; the first coat was nearly opaque, and the second brought it up to full opacity. The product consistency was still smooth and workable, despite the polish’s age. It dries quickly and with a glossy finish; I used top coat for extra shine and protection.

IMG_33862

IMG_33902

Timbleberry is one of the oldest polishes in my collection, and it’s been a part of a lot of different nail looks, though only a couple have been on the blog so far. It’s a pretty unique shade for being a creme; it’s a bright pink, but it’s juicy, warm, and in some lighting conditions, it’s almost red. It’s a great color.

IMG_33962

IMG_34032

Unfortunately, Timbleberry has been discontinued by Sinful Colors. Other Sinfuls are available nationwide.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s Siren’s Quarter-Life Crisis

Posted on by

Happy Saturday! My swatch today is of a super-small-batch gift-with-purchase from a Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer holiday sale. Only 15 bottles of this were made, and I have one! This is Siren’s Quarter-Life Crisis; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

IMG_33312

IMG_33342

IMG_33432

IMG_33452

Siren’s Quarter-Life Crisis is a clear-based microglitter polish with shades of periwinkle, lavender, and teal holographic glitters. Application was good; the first coat has just a smattering of glitter, but coverage builds with additional coats. The polish has a lot of glitter in it, but doesn’t affect product consistency; it’s still very easy to apply. It dries quickly and with a slightly-textured glitter finish; I used top coat for smoothness and shine.

IMG_33512

IMG_33572

I feel really fortunate to have this polish. These small-release BEGL polishes go fast, and this one is from 2014, before they got really popular. Look at the label, I have #11 out of 15; I nearly missed it! These are my favorite polishes to own: the ones that would be highly sought-after if more people knew they existed.

IMG_33602

IMG_33652

This glitter takes off in the sunlight. It got a little washed out, but the shine and sparkle is legendary. There’s a red shimmer that’s not as apparent indoors. There’s so much going on! I love BEGL microglitters, always and forever.

IMG_33052

IMG_33142

IMG_33092

IMG_33242

Siren’s Quarter-Life Crisis is no longer available; other Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquers are sold in their online shop.

This polish was a gift with purchase. It was not sent for review.

Manicure Monday: Vision Intuition

Posted on by

Happy Monday! Manicure Monday is here! I’m excited to be using a SpaRitual polish for the first time today, as well as a Lynnderella polish that’s been calling my name for a while now. For this look, I used three coats of SpaRitual’s Intuition and one brushed coat of Lynnderella’s Moonstone Magic.

IMG_32442

IMG_32482

I have to admit, I don’t really know anything about SpaRitual. I’ve seen a few polishes around in communities, so I knew about the brand, but I’d never seen it in stores until I found some in a TJ Maxx in upstate New York. I got a set with two bottles and a clutch for like ten dollars. I had to buy it! I hate to say it, but I expected a little more from the formula; the first coat of Intuition was worringly thin, and while coverage improved dramatically with extra coats, it’s still not fully opaque. The shifting shimmer is nice at least. It’s still a pretty polish.

IMG_32542

IMG_32592

I went through a phase where I was all about the white glitters in shimmery bases. I’m still not over it. I think half of my Lynderella collection is white glitters. They’re just so pretty! I have so many and yet none of them are the same, they all have some unique must-have quality. I chose Moonstone Magic for this look for its shifting base; it’s not quite the same shimmer as the one in Intuition, but I think they work together. It’s a little milky-looking over the purple, but it’s still dreamy and iridescent. Truth be told, though, I almost reached for Beautiful Dreams again. It was a hard choice!

IMG_32652

IMG_32722

IMG_32822

The following photos were taken in direct sunlight. In harsh light like this, you can see how thin Intuition still looks after three coats. It’s pretty disappointing. The tiny silver stars in Moonstone Magic kill me.

IMG_32092

IMG_32302

IMG_32132

mmvimc

Intuition isn’t in stock on the SpaRitual website; other polishes are available there. Moonstone Magic might be discontinued by Lynnderella; other Lynnderellas are available on their new site and on eBay.

I bought these polishes myself.

Swatch Sunday: Shleee Polish’s Beautiful Dreams

Posted on by

Welcome back, reader! I’m excited about today’s swatch; it’s from a brand I’ve been dying to try forever! This is Beautiful Dreams from Shleee Polish; I’m wearing one coat over LA Girl’s Black, China Glaze’s White on White, P2’s French Kiss (pink), and Nails Inc.’s Baker Street (blue).

IMG_31262

IMG_31322

IMG_31352

ssspbdbcm

Beautiful Dreams is a clear-based glitter topper with a primarily white glitter mix — shapes include stars, moons, hearts, dots, and clouds — with silver moons and stars, iridescent hexes, and a strong blue-to-purple shift. Application was good; I didn’t have to fish for the shape glitters, and the glitters brushed on evenly. Product consistency was also good; it wasn’t too thick or thin. It dried quickly and with a glossy finish; I used top coat for extra smoothness and shine.

IMG_31562

IMG_31592

When this polish came out early this year, I jumped on it. This was the first time I’d ever seen the cloud glitters, and I still get so excited about new glitter shapes, I have to buy the polish I see them in first. Beautiful Dreams is a great use for them, too; the overall look is ethereal and celestial, and the clouds just belong. It’s a perfect mix of glitter and shimmer. I am crazy impressed with it, as well as with Shleee in general.

IMG_31662

IMG_31692

IMG_31842

IMG_31912

IMG_32002

The following photos were taken in direct sunlight. The shift gets a little washed out — especially in midday — but still looks gorgeous. You may also be wondering why I used a white polish as a base for white glitter. I think there’s something charming about white over white; it’s giving the shift and the silver glitters a chance to stand out.

IMG_30962

IMG_31042

IMG_31092

IMG_31002

IMG_31202

IMG_31162

Beautiful Dreams is currently not in stock; other Shleee Polishes are available in their etsy shop.

I bought this polish myself.

Swatch Saturday: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer’s Siren Scales

Posted on by

It’s Saturday, and you know what that means! It occurred to me a few days ago, while looking at my Instagram, that I’ve been on a pretty long blue polish streak. Today we’re extending it! This is Siren Scales from Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer; I’m wearing three coats with one coat of Seche Vite top coat.

IMG_30332

IMG_30362

IMG_30432

IMG_30452

Siren Scales is a deep blue jelly with blue, navy, and teal flakies. Application was easy; the polish brushes on easily and imparts good color and coverage on the first coat; coverage builds with additional coats. Most of the flakies are fine, but some are pretty coarse, and don’t lay totally flat on the nail. The product consistency is a little thick due to all the flakies. The polish dries quickly and with a satin finish; I used top coat for extra shine and smoothness.

IMG_30512

IMG_30552

Siren Scales has an amazing glowing shimmer from all the flakies, and it really makes the polish, and sets it apart from the rest of the deep blues. The large flakies, though uncommon, add a fun texture with the occasional bump in the polish. I’ve enjoyed wearing this; it’s not the most summery shade, but it’s mermaidy, and that’s what counts!

IMG_30602

IMG_30682

In the sunlight, the flakies really glow. It almost looks metallic. You can see the larger flakies in the outdoor photos a bit better than indoors.

IMG_29862

IMG_30002

IMG_30032

IMG_30092

IMG_30182

Siren Scales was released as a numbered limited edition in November 2014, and has since sold out. Other Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquers are available in their online shop.

I bought this polish myself.

Empties Roundup: July 2016

Posted on by

Welcome back! It’s a little late, but here’s the Empties Roundup for July 2016! I don’t think it’s as impressive as last month’s post, but I’m excited anyway. Let’s get started!

Toni & Guy Cleanse Dry Shampoo

IMG_30702

So I am super lazy and I hate washing my hair. Even though I love the way it looks after I wash it — my curls and waves are never as happy as they are after a good shampoo — I put off washing as long as I can stand it because I hate doing it. suffice it to say, I use a lot of this stuff. This is my first time with this particular product, but I really liked it. It didn’t leave a lot of white powdery residue like a lot of dry shampoos do, and it was pretty affordable. It didn’t absorb oil as much as I would have liked it to, but I’d buy it again. It’s not the worst I’ve ever used.

Bath and Body Works Waikiki Shower Gel and Lotion

IMG_30772

I ran out of these at about the same time, and that never happens for me. Why do Bath and Body Works make their shower gel bottles so large but the lotions so small? Usually I run out of the lotion when the shower gel is still half full. Complaint aside, this scent was really nice. It’s fruity, floral, and tropical, the way you’d expect a Hawaiian-inspired scent to smell.

(Seed) Grapeseed Enriched Healthy Hand Cream

IMG_30822

I actually won this in a giveaway from Polish Galore! It actually was a really nice hand cream. It was fragrance-free and formulated without parabens, phthlates, petrochemicals, and common allergens, and is cruelty-free. The product is quality, but even the effort they make to keep bad ingredients out makes me want to get another tube. It’s very moisturizing, but still a bit light; I’ll still need something heavier after I’m done washing dishes.

Lancôme La Base Pro Primer (Sample)

IMG_30842

This is my favorite primer in the history of makeup primers. A Lancôme rep sold me on it years ago when I was foundation shopping. I ended up returning the foundation — it oxidized like mad and made me look like a Simpson — but the primer was definitely a win. This was a sample I had sitting around in a cosmetic bag, and I used it just to use it up. I don’t know if I’ll repurchase this right away — I’ve got another one I want to use up first — and honestly I’ll probably buy Smashbox Photo Finish when I’m out of that, because it’s a bit of a better value. However, my heart will always belong to La Base Pro.

I’ve got a lot of things that may make their way into August’s roundup! I’ve got a tube of BB cream that feels a little light, a lip gloss pot I’ve been working on for ages, and I finally hit pan on my Dallas bronzer! It feels so good to empty a product, and writing these roundup posts — as well as reading so many others — makes me want to keep doing it.

That’s July’s Empties Roundup! What did you finish up this month?

I bought these products myself.