Friday, September 28, 2012

Elianto Racing Green

Elianto Racing Green is a Malaysian nail polish and I was lucky enough to get it through a swap months ago. It's a beautiful green polish with green and gold shimmer. Super easy application in two coats. 



Thursday, September 27, 2012

Happy Hands Motherboy

I have another polish from Happy Hands I've Made a Huge Mistake collection, Motherboy. What is Motherboy, you may ask. The reference is from Arrested Development's 13th episode from the 2nd season and involves a dance revolved around mother/son bonding (Motherboy XXX), an award for "Cutest Couple", a loose seal, a hook catching on a sandbag, and Carl Weathers. 

Motherboy has a clear base and is filled with lavender, pale green, pink,  and baby blue glitter of varied sizes. I used one coat of Motherboy over Orly Hot Shot in the pics below. 



Happy Hands Motherboy can be purchased at Happy Hands Etsy store. It is not in stock at the moment but she restocks on Saturday afternoons at 4 pm CST. 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Cult Nails Living Water and Sally Hansen In a Flurry

I picked up Sally Hansen In a Flurry at a local Walgreens a few weeks ago and wondered how similar it was to Cult Nails Living Water, so I both to show today.

Living Water is a polish that is beautiful in the bottle and translates just as well to the nails. It has a dark teal blue jelly base with tiny blue and green glitter. This was two coats and applies well, though it will have a gritty finish so at least two coats of topcoat is needed. I rushed application, so there is a some dragging, I apologize for that.


In a Flurry has a dark teal base but it's more blackened, less blue toned than Living Water. It's packed with small glitter particles and though there is a purple shimmer, I wasn't able to capture it in the picture. I dislike the Sally Hansen mop paddle brush and very narrow Insta-Dri bottle opening but those are things that are tolerable when the polish is pretty enough. 


In the photo below, Living Water is on my index and ring fingers and In a Flurry is on my middle and pinky fingers. The bases are similar but the real difference lies in the glitter. In a Flurry is filled with more glitter in varied colors compared to Living Water. I used two coats for full coverage for both polishes. They are not close enough to be called dupes but they are close enough to each other that you may not need to own both.



Living Water is a limited edition polish but it's still available on Cult Nails web store. In a Flurry is a limited edition polish from the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri line and can be found at various drugstores. 

Monday, September 24, 2012

Darling Diva Polish Love Bites, Mannon, and Ms. Monster Esq.

Darling Diva Polish recently provided me some of her Fall 2012 Halloween polishes to swatch and share. The polishes are so pretty and though they definitely fit into a Halloween collection, they could be worn year around. Overall, the formula for these was great, the polish consistency was not too thick, and there is plenty of glitter which each application. 

Love Bites has clear base with some shimmer,a bunch of large red hexes, little red hexes, black and white bar glitter, and white heart glitter. No curling for the larger pieces, what looks like curling is just reflective, everything was smoothed out and lay flat with two coats of topcoat. I applied two coats over a black polish base.




Mannon is a sage holographic polish with gold diamond and hex glitter and small iridescent glitter. Though it could be worn solo with three coats, I applied one coat over China Glaze Peace on Earth. 




Ms. Monster Esq. is probably my favorite of the three. It has a green tinted base with such a large variety of glitter, I won't even try to name them all. This is another that could be worn by itself with three coats but I applied one coat over New York Summer Hot Green. 



Darling Diva Polish can be purchased at her Etsy store and all three of these are currently stocked. 

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Sation Love at First Lavender and Show Off Your Navel Orange

I have some of the newer Sation polishes to show today. The colors are saturated and new packaging is definitely an improvement. The formula for these are thick though, so careful application is needed.

Show Off Your Navel Orange is bright, BRIGHT orange with pink shimmer. 


Love at First Lavender is a beautiful purple color. Gorgeous! If I could recommend just one Sation to buy, this would be the one to get. 


Sation polishes can be found on Miss Pro's website, Transdesign (which is where I purchased my bottles) or Ebay. 

Friday, September 21, 2012

OPI Deutsche You Want Me Baby

Deutsche You Want Me Baby is from OPI's Fall 2012 Germany collection. I did also buy the more popular polishes of the collection (Every Month Is Oktoberfest and German-icure by OPI) but the very first one that I had to try on was Deutsche You Want Me Baby. It's such a rich vibrant orange and has a really great formula. Nothing says fall quite like a good orange polish and I may just have to wear this again tomorrow since it's the first official day of the fall season. 



Thursday, September 20, 2012

Happy Hands Banana Stand

Anyone who knows me will tell you that my obsession for Arrested Development runs deep. Some say maybe a little too obsessed but I won't dwell on that. For those who are not familiar with Arrested Development, it was a TV sitcom that lasted only 3 seasons and revolves around the Bluths, a dysfunctional family that are trying to hold on to their diminishing wealth and Michael Bluth, the responsible son, who is just trying to keep everyone on the straight and narrow. There is so much more I can say about this show but really the best thing I can do is recommend watching it.Why am I going on about Arrested Development? Because Kristi from Happy Hands Nail Polish created a polish collection inspired by Arrested Development (I've Made A Huge Mistake! Collection) and I have one to show today.

Banana Stand has a yellow base with yellow and brown hex glitter and small green glitter. It applies well, very little streakiness and I used 3 coats though I could have gotten away with 2 coats. As for the reference, well, watch the 2nd episode of the series "Top Banana" and it will all make sense.



Happy Hands Nail Polish polishes are sold on her Etsy store and she does have some stock of Banana Stand at this time. The store is restocked on Saturday afternoons at 4 pm CST.

Liebster Award

Hannah from Tooth and Nails nominated me for a Liebster Award in a comment a couple of days ago. Clicking on Hannah's blog, I learned that someone else had previously nominated her, gave her 11 questions to answer and asked that she share 11 random facts about herself. She in turn would nominate other bloggers that have less than 200 followers, ask them 11 questions and have them share 11 random facts. I think the idea is more like a chain mail letter than anything else but it sounded like fun and a nice way to spread some some among lesser-known bloggers, so here is my contribution:

Eleven Random Facts about Me:

1) I used to play the piano for a long time (about 10 years) but no longer do.
2) I have a whey allergy and am lactose intolerant which means I cannot eat cheese or dairy without gastro consequences. But that doesn't always stop me from indulging.
3) I am taller than both of my parents.
4) I wear bright blue eyeglasses.
5) I have a very large collection of t-shirts.
6) I read a lot, right now mostly paranormal urban fantasy.
7) When asked for favorites, I can never just pick one, I have to give a least a few favorites.
8) I am the first one of my family to be born in the US (both my parents are from Iran).
9) I can be shy with new people but once I feel comfortable with someone, I will talk their ear off. When I was younger I would get in trouble with teachers for chatting too much in class.
10) I am a comedy nerd, from my love of comedy podcasts, to going to see comedians live and watching TV comedies.
11) I collect vintage glassware.

Questions from Tooth and Nails:

1) What's your favorite non-nail polish beauty brand? I don't really have a favorite brand, more favorite beauty products: YSL Glossy Stains, Illamasqua blushes, Makeup Forever Face & Body Foundation, Eyeko mascara, and Jo Malone perfumes.
2) What got you into nail polish? I have always had an interest in nail polish since I was a teen but I was never quite as into it as I am now. I saw a picture of a holographic nail polish and wanted to know more, starting looking a blogs, and down the rabbit hole I went.
3) Is there a certain color of polish that you always seem to buy? Blue, I can never say no to a good blue nail polish.
4) How do you feel about indie nail polish? I am a big supporter of indie nail polish sellers. I like the originality and thought that can go into the colors and that the sellers are just as passionate as nail polish as I am. Overall I have had positive experiences and though there have been a few not so great purchases, that can be said for most type of products.
5) If you could create your perfect nail polish color, what would it be? I love blue but a close second is orange and I would love to have a bright orange nail polish with purple shimmer. I don't know how to do this   though, so for now, it's just a fantasy.
6) What do your friends think of your polish collection? They are okay with it, I don't know if they realize just how much polish I have.
7) What's your favorite color combo? A couple that I like are mint and gold & purple and orange.
8) Do you have an overall obsession with makeup or just polish? Overall I love beauty products, but besides polish, I am obsessed with blush and lip stains.
9) What's the most expensive polish you own? Chanel Kaleidoscope
10) How do you store your collection? Within a overflowing Helmer.
11) Besides nail polish, what's another one of your loves? My two cats.

My Questions:

1) Do you have a favorite perfume or scent and if so, what is it?
2) What is the last polish that you bought?
3) What is your favorite nail polish finish?
4) How often do you change your nail polish?
5) What is an easy to find lemming that you haven't fulfilled?
6) What is your favorite commercial nail polish brand?
7) What color do you find yourself buying the most?
8) Do you have anyone in real life that shares your polish obsession?
9) In what number range is your polish collection?
10) What is a future polish release that you are excited about?
11) Do you collect anything else besides nail polish?

The blogs that I am tagging next:
Emily from http://canvasnails.blogspot.com/
Jenny from http://lavishlayerings.blogspot.com/
Debbie from http://manicuresandme.blogspot.com/
Laura from http://www.lauramarsipan.com/
Naz from http://nazsnails.blogspot.com/
Summerella from http://summerella31.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Polish Revolution Handies in the Andes

Polish Revolution is a newer shop in the indie polish market. The first thing that grabs your attention are the names, they are playful and amusing and you just know there is story behind each one. But names are minor compared to the color selection so it's a good thing that her polishes are beautiful.

Handies in the Andes has a pale mint base color with small iridescent and white hex glitter. It is on the sheer side, so layering may be needed but I was able to get it opaque in 3 coats and applied a matte top coat.



Handies in the Andes can be found at Polish Revolution's Etsy shop along with the rest of her polishes.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

OPI Absolutely Alice with a twist


The lovely jyj gave me the idea for this manicure. Here is OPI Absolutely Alice on my left hand, please forgive the less than perfect application, minor tip-wear and weird hand position. My left hand is not used to  such attention. 


And though Absolutely Alice is beautiful in its own right, when I added a thin layer of New York Summer Hot Purple, well, this is what happens: 




OPI Absolutely Alice was from the 2009 OPI Alice in Wonderland collection, so it's harder to find now but still pops up pretty often on eBay or blog sales. 

New York Summer Hot Purple may be discontinued since I can not locate it on Transdesign or Amazon but Verity Deep Violet is a easy alternative and can be found on Amazon.

Monday, September 17, 2012

KBShimmer Toucan Touch This


Toucan Touch This is one of KBShimmer's newest polishes from her Fall 2012 collection. It has a lime base with teal, gold, orange, and blue hex glitter and tiny orange bar glitter. I ended up using this on its own with 3 coats and I love the way the polish looks. The base color is pigmented and the glitter stands out nicely. The bar glitter is awesome but I love bar glitter. For those who are not fans of bar glitter, I think it's small enough to add depth and not be obtrusive. Though this is from a fall collection, it makes me think of summer days, ideally on a tropical beach, with pina colada in my hand.


Toucan Touch This can be found here along with the rest of KBShimmer's products on her website.
Harlow and Co also carries KBShimmer polishes for international customers. 

Friday, September 14, 2012

NYX Girls Emerald Forest and Woman

I have a couple of NYX Girls polishes to show today. Emerald Forest is a green polish with green and gold glitter. It becomes opaque in 3 coats and once you get to that point, it's so pretty to look at. Woman is a beautiful red polish with gold glitter throughout.



NYX Girls polishes can be found online at BeautyJoint and Cherry Culture

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Lush Lacquer Summer Lovin'

Summer Lovin' is one of Lush Lacquer's polishes. This is 2 coats with Seche Vite to smooth it out and then I applied a matte top coat. I love how this turned out, it looks like granite, though probably more pink than true granite.



Lush Lacquer is sold on Etsy and a bottle of Summer Lovn' can be bought here

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Sally Hansen Nail Prisms Amber Ruby

Not a lot to say about this polish except that it is amazing. It's a multichrome that shifts from red, to orange, to gold. Sally Hansen Nail Prisms had some really great releases but this is by far my favorite one they have done. This is three coats by itself, I didn't want to layer it over another color and see how many coats it took to get to full opacity. It's not so easy to find now but if found on a blogsale or eBay, grab it!




Monday, September 10, 2012

Misa Epiphany


My Transdesign haul was delivered last Friday with the fall 2012 Misa Wanderlust collection included. And the first one I had to try on was Epiphany. It is a light yellow with shimmery flecks throughout the polish. I don't own many yellow polishes since the color doesn't always go so well with my skin tone. This one looks great though, more a neutral, very pale yellow and those flecks of gold glitter in it make Epiphany an eye-catching color. 


Misa Epiphany (along with the rest of the Wanderlust collection) can be found on Misa's website or Transdesign


Thursday, September 6, 2012

Jade Holográfico Vermelho Surreal

Jade is a Brazilian brand and they have a line of holographic polishes. The range of colors has the usual suspects of black and silver but also include a gold, a bubblegum pink, a teal and this one, Vermelho Surreal, a beautiful red. I liked the look of it solo but I wanted to get a darker red. This is one coat of black polish and one coat of Vermelho Surreal and the color is darkened, almost to the shade of a Garnet. No special base is needed, the polish applies smoothly without dragging. I used my normal Seche Vite as a top coat and it did not dull the holo one bit. 

The bottles of the Jade polishes are smaller (8 ml) compared to Layla (10 ml) and Nfu-Oh (17 ml) but they are also a bit cheaper. And not having to use a special buffer or aqua base is definitely worth noting. 


Jade Vermelho Surreal can be found online at Llarowe or Ninja Polish

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Savina Purple Pansy with CrowsToes Katnip

Savina Purple Pansy is something I picked up at one of my local nail suppliers. In the pics, it comes across as a deep blue but it's more an indigo color in real life. It dries to a matte finish but a topcoat will fix that. I love this color! The problem that I had was that after applying Seche Vite as a topcoat, it started bubbling a bit.
I pulled CrowsToes Katnip from my drawer of untried polishes and sponged it on the tips for a gradient effect. Katnip is a densely packed green and gold glitter and the colors went really well with Purple Pansy if I may say so.




Savina Purple Pansy can be found online at 8ty8 Beauty but Nordstrom Rack has been known to carry Savina polishes, so a trip there may be worth checking out. 

CrowsToes Katnip is a Overall Beauty exclusive and can be found here. It is not in stock at the moment but check at Overall Beauty's Facebook page for updates. 

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Smitten Polish You're Turning Violet, Violet

Sometimes, there is nothing better than a interesting complex glitter polish. You're Turning Violet, Violet is one of those with holographic purple and dark blue glitter of varied sizes in a purple base. I used two coats but made sure to top it off with one coat of Gelous and two coats of Seche Vite as it is on the rough side. I love this polish, and not just for the Willy Wonka reference. The dark blue glitter is a nice contrast and really pops with the purple.


You're Turning Violet, Violet is produced by Smitten Polish and this is her Etsy shop. Nothing is in stock right now but updates can be found on her blog or Facebook page. Llarowe will be selling her polishes though and will launch today here at 1:00 pm MST and 7:00 pm MST. 

Monday, September 3, 2012

The Hungry Asian Itsy Bitsy

Kae, the creator and seller behind The Hungry Asian, is an underrated gem. Every part of the customer experience is carefully thought out and executed well, from the labels, the polish bottles, the colors, to her shipping process. Every time I have ordered, the polish shipped super quickly and included a nice handwritten note. As for the polish itself, the formula is great, no sinking glitter, cremes that are not too thick, and everything applies smoothly.

I have one of her newer releases to show today, Itsy Bitsy, a pretty yellow creme kinda on the sheer side, with red and orange glitters. Yellow polish can notoriously have problem formula but I found this better than expected. Since it is somewhat sheer, I used 3 coats. And I had "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" running through my head for a while, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.


The Hungry Asian sells on her Etsy shop and she does have minis as well. She does not have any Itsy Bitsy in stock right now but check her Facebook page for updates. 

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Essence Grey-t To Be Here and Walk on the Wild Side

Essence has always been a brand that was a nice cheap pick-me-up buy when I went to Ulta or HEB (a grocery chain in Texas). They recently overhauled their polish line in which they doubled the price but also the size of the bottles. As for the colors, they are all great but there are some that are truly amazing, especially for the price. Of the six that I bought, here are two, Walk on the Wild Side and Grey-t To Be Here.

Grey-t To Be Here is a lovely grey with a pink/copper shimmer. A really nice neutral with depth to have on hand.



Walk on the Wild Side is a dark forest green with green shimmer. On this one, the shimmer is definitely visible, even in low light. 


The only negative thing I can say about these polishes are the wide paddle brushes. I hate this type of polish brush with a burning passion but the colors are worth the trouble, so don't hesitate to pick up some if they are available.