Vegas Baby: I'm Headed to CosmoProf!

Hiiii everyone! Just wanted to let you know I won't be posting for a few days because....

I'm headed to VEGAS BABY!

More specifically to the CosmoProf North America show in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay resort & casino. I am going to get the goods on all the upcoming products you will be seeing at the end of this year and next, to network and make some connections with some uber awesome businesses & brands, aaaaannnnddd (perhaps the best part) to meet up with some of my favorite beauty bloggers! Krystal from Polish Galore set up a breakfast meeting with all of the bloggers we know that are attending and special guest, Deborah Lippmann (SQUEE!). You can see all the bloggers that are going to be there on her post here.

You better believe I will be tweeting and twitpic'ing like a boss, so if you want to see how it's going, be sure to check out my Twitter :)

I was totally going to post a review today, I just got busy trying to wrangle everything together to fly to LV :P I promise normal posting will return by Wednesday! Until then m'dears, hugs and smooches.

Barielle Karma Kollection: Swatches & Review

Hey folks, hope you're all doing well! I have a super fun review for you today, three colors from Barielle's summer shades the Karma Kollection. (Not gonna lie, it's my pet peeve when people turn words with a "c" into a "k" haha.) I haven't seen anything new from Barielle since last year so I was happy to see these.

Soul-er Powered is a warm sunny yellow with lots of silver and gold shimmer. It is really fabulous, maybe my favorite yellow shimmer ever! It is just so happy and bright, I love it. This is two coats, it was very nicely opaque and creamy.

Positive ZEN-ergy is a warm mossy green with silver shimmer. I love the shimmer in this shade, it makes me think of frosted glass shower doors haha. This one was super easy to apply too, a big plus. Sometimes these crème based shimmers can get thick but this was on point. Two coats.

I thought Positive ZEN-ergy looked familiar at first sight, and then I realized it is very close to a BB Couture polish I just reviewed! Sexy Centerfold is super similar in base color, but PZ has bigger shimmer particles.

Gotta Have Fate is a gorgeous orange coral, super creamy and opaque. This is also two coats. I swear I have a million corals, but I always want more! I think they look really nice on my skin tone. (The second photo of this looks a little muted, because the sun decided to hide and I only got one good sun picture.)

I usually love Barielle's polishes, glad they have new ones out. These are on sale at www.barielle.com for $8 each, and they are currently buy one get one 50% off. The three other polishes in this collection are really pretty too, Welcome-OHM is a crème plum, Do Unto Others is a blue/green jelly crème, and Buddha-ful is a beige with soft baby pink, blue, and light gray foil flakes. Check em out!

Products provided for review.

Color Club "In The Teal" and "Pride" collections - Sneak Peek!

COLOR CLUB DEBUTS LIMITED EDITION NAIL POLISH COLLECTION FOR OCRF

OCRF and Super Saturday Teal to Benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund

July 2011 Color Club, a New York based cosmetic brand specializing in nail and lip products announced today a limited edition nail polish collection developed exclusively for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). The new shades – OCRF and Super Saturday Teal – are sophisticated yet playful teal blue shades created exclusively for OCRF and Super Saturday 14. The polishes will be available beginning in July 2011 as part of the OCRF Super Saturday 14 event and sold though September 2011, which is Ovarian Cancer Research month. The polishes are available on www.shopcolorclub.com and 10% of all proceeds will benefit OCRF. Color Club is also the official nail sponsor of Super Saturday 14 and will be offering manicures and nail art at the event on July 30, 2011 in the Hamptons.

Color Club is renowned for its high performance rich shades and exceptionally safe products. All nail colors are vegan, Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP and paraben-free - and made in New York, NY with the best raw materials. Color Club products are made in the USA and are not tested on animals. Products are available at shopcolorclub.com.

Super Saturday Teal (right)

OCRF Teal (left)

Purchase Super Saturday colors to benefit OCRF here

For additional information on OCRF please visit OCRF.org

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COLOR CLUB LAUNCHES PRIDE: Raise Your Hand if You Believe in Life in Color

What makes us proud: Being bold. Making a statement. Living life to the fullest. Equality for all. From New York-based Color Club, the new PRIDE Collection—vibrant polishes in every color of the rainbow, from red to violet—captures what it means to live your life in color and express your true self (or just your mood du jour). Seven formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, and paraben-free shades celebrate equality with cheeky names like “Not Just for Kelly, Green” and “Boys Wear Blue,” while a portion of proceeds from the sale of the collection benefit New York-based AIDS-related charities. Life comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and preferences. At the very least, shouldn’t your nail polish?

From left to right: P is for Pride, Polish For All, Dress For The Parade, Not Just For Kelly, Green, Boys Wear Blue, Express Yourself, 0-60 Speedy Topcoat

Ready for the most spirited manicure in town? The PRIDE Collection is available at shopcolorclub.com.

ABOUT COLOR CLUB
Color Club is a nail polish brand developed by Forsythe Cosmetic Group. Founded in 1979, the Forsythe Cosmetic Group is a New York-based cosmetic company widely regarded worldwide as a pioneer within the professional beauty industry. A global brand with products represented in more than 95 countries, Forsythe was one of the first companies to recognize and address the needs of the professional nail salon, a new phenomenon at the time. Rather quickly, the Forsythe name became synonymous with excellent, performance-proven products available in a diverse range of eye-catching shades. Today, more than three decades later, the Forsythe Cosmetic Group remains a vanguard in the beauty business by constantly introducing new concepts and elevating industry standards. Forsythe manufactures every product it offers, a practice that ensures superior color-matching quality control and the ability to respond quickly to consumer demands for the latest and most exciting trends in nail color, nail treatments and lip color.

Photos via manufacturer.

Icing - Absinthe

OMG y'all, I think this polish has curbed my craving for a super HTF lemming! Icing Absinthe, could you be a dupe for *gasp* China Glaze Moonpool?! Well, no, this is way more neon. But it comes close enough, and dare I say it might be prettier! Y'know, it's really like a cross between Moonpool and another ChG hard to find, Limonyte. Whatever it is, I like it.

You can get Icing polishes at their stores for $4.50, and they have a "forever" sale of buy one cosmetic item get one half off. The brush on this was too thick and fat. It needs to go on a diet. I got some staining on my cuticles from just swatching this (mostly from the fatty brush), so you'll need at least two coats of a good base or you'll get alien fingers.

Perfect Formula - Strong Nail Daily Moisture

I'm a little cheap. What I mean is, I don't really like to spend a lot of money. Unless...it's worth it. It was pulling teeth to get me to buy my first Chanel polish and I cringed when I did. But I know now that it is occasionally worth the splurge. I never thought I would like the product I'm telling you about now as much as I do. I like it so much, that I am going to have to fork over the $29 (for two bottles) it will cost once I run out. The Perfect Formula brand hasn't impressed me in the past, but the Strong Nail Daily Moisture oil is pretty fan-freaking-tastic.

Image via Sephora.com

It boasts a formula made with Vitamin E, keratin, what makes up your nail, and jojoba oil, which is chemically close to natural skin sebum and is both anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. A lot of nail/cuticle moisturizers have mineral oil in them which can irritate some folks, including me. And dork-butt that I am, I always always have to rub my eyes when I have oil on them (a curse?) and any other brand or formula that I get in my eyes makes me want to die it hurts so bad. Don't misunderstand, I am by no means telling you to get this stuff in your eyes, but honestly it doesn't hurt mine if (when) I do. Another reason I love this stuff so much is because it penetrates and absorbs into my skin really fast, so I don't have oil slicked hands for hours after I put it on. It also has no scent, which is a huge plus for me. I really can't find any fault with this stuff except the hefty price tag. However I have barely put a dent in my bottle and I've been using it for months.

I swear my cuticles have never looked better. They say this is very helpful for dry, brittle nails, but since I don't have either, I figure that this stuff is just reinforcing my pretty tips and making my skin look fab. You are supposed to use this once a day or so, on top of dry polish or your natural nails. You can get this on The Perfect Formula website or from Sephora.

Product provided for review.

Sheswai Lacquers: Swatches & Review

I love this nail polish. I love that this nail polish brand has a manifesto. I love the bottle design. I literally gasped when I first saw them. Sheswai Lacquers are 3-free and sold in Anthropologie stores and online for $16. They have caps made from sustainably harvested wood, grown on family owned tree farms. HOT. And a portion of their sales is "given to organizations that help educate, and sustain our beautiful planet." I got the opportunity to try out two of their colors, which have freaking adorable names, and I was just as impressed with their quality as I was the brand image.

Honeyfox is a bright true red that seriously seduced my eyeballs. There are many reds out there, that is sure enough, but this one is pretty on point. It slid over my tips without any trouble and covered beautifully in two coats. It dried quickly too, I don't usually put topcoat on when I'm swatching and I happened to nick my nail against the bottle before I had taken any photos and it was already solid. Amazing.

Stoned is described as "a smooth pebble grey with a touch of lavender and a hint of shimmer that will leave you feeling blissfully happy." Well it damn well left me happy, it left me ecstatic! I absolutely adore this taupey shimmer bomb, it is so classy but still suitably bold. This is two coats as well.

I know many folks won't splurge $16 on nail polish, but you have to admit, they are awful cute. And from my experience, they perform just as well or better than other high end brands. Check out Sheswai's website, http://sheswai.com/, to see their philosophy on life and polish. I think you'll like what you see.

Products provided for review.

OPI - Movin' Out over Diva of Geneva

Hi everyone :) Hope your Tuesday is going well. Today I would like to show you a layering combo of OPI polishes that is ridiculously beautiful. Movin' Out is a discontinued lacquer from the Holiday on Broadway collection which came out in 2003. It is very sheer, it is a pink fuchsia color with a multichrome flash that turns green, gold, and purpley. There are also tiny microglitter pieces that glow like pink embers. I imagine that this is as close to Clarins 230 that I'll ever get, I've heard this has the same shimmer as it and it was much cheaper. I got my bottle from Victoria's Nail Supply for less than $10, and there are plenty on Ebay I'm sure.This is two coats of Diva of Geneva, from the Swiss collection of 2010, a red based purple shimmer. It has to be in my top 10 OPI polishes ever, it's so beautiful. Adding Movin' Out was basically putting a cherry on top of a sundae, because it just upped the hawtness by 100%. I couldn't keep my eyes off this while I was wearing it, it color shifted beautifully.

What are some of your favorite layering combos? I

The Hungry Asian - Sneeze Breeze

Greetings darlings :) I am beyond excited to show you this polish, made by my friend Kae who runs The Hungry Asian blog. I told you a while ago she was making her franken polishes available to buy and I am so glad she made more of this fab polish, called Sneeze Breeze. It was sold out the first time I tried to buy it from her and I was lucky to snag one the second time it became available. You can see some of her other great frankens for sale on her blog shop page.

Sneeze Breeze is a glitter polish consisting of bright blue and black glitter speckles. This glitter is special because it's not "glittery" per say, it's more "speckly". Very unique and fun! I used this for layering, I don't know if it would ever get opaque by itself haha. I used China Glaze's Blue Sparrow for the base color, two coats. It is from the INK collection that came out in Summer 2008. It by itself has tiny blue glitter, you can see my review of it here, but with Sneeze Breeze over it all you really see is the blue base, which is a dead ringer for the blue in SB. I got the idea for this combo from my girl ChaosButterfly who runs The Phalanges Files. This has to be one of my favorite manicures that I've ever done.

Do you love it? Or is it too weird for you?

OPI - Midnight Blue Glitter

Hi friends! This polish is called Midnight Blue Glitter by OPI. It is a vintage polish from 2004, it came out in the Tuxedo collection. It has a sheer charcoal watery base and is full of dark grey, blue, silver, and teal glitter flakes. This polish is borrowed from my bestie, Mickelle. I wasn't convinced of its beauty until I saw some swatches that have been popping up recently on my reading list from fellow bloggers. I thought at first it was a little boring but the subtle duochrome of the glitter is really beautiful, I love that turquoise pop that comes out from certain angles.

This polish was pretty sheer, pictured here is three coats. I have heard this is great for layering over blue or black polishes. I think it is lovely and has an understated glamorous quality to it. What do you think?

I am sorry that I haven't been posting as much during the last two weeks. I actually just got laid off from my job, and needless to say, it's been a little bit trying to my sense of well being. I have never had this happen before, my company is closing so it came as quite a shock. I am alright and know I will get another job soon, but it is definitely an experience I would rather not have to go through. I was at this company for over four years so I definitely have invested my heart and soul into it, it is hard to see it just fall by the wayside. I have been trying to keep positive and now I can find a career that is tied into what I went to school for, really live up to my potential. I know it will yield positive results in the end, but it is still hard. Thanks to everyone for your support, you're awesome and I love you!

Color Club 'Fractured' Collection Part 2: Swatches & Review

Hi everyone, today I have the remaining three polishes in the Color Club Fractured Collection. You can see my review on the first three here.

First up is Kiss and Break Up, the fuschia purple fractured topcoat. I am not terribly impressed with this one. It's an okay color, on the hot pink side of purple. I hear it is an dupe for the color of China Glaze's Purple Panic. This one didn't crack very much on my first few tries, this is my third attempt at a swatch for it. I put it over Sinful Colors Adventure Island, a yellow tinged green crème. It is actually more dusty and pale than my picture makes it out to be. I got a new camera for flash photography so I'm learning how to use it correctly, bear with me. I really like the color combo of these two together.

Next is Tattered in Gold, the light gold fractured topcoat. If I was not impressed with Kiss and Break Up, than I might as well toss this one right now. It would simply refuse to crack no matter how much I varied application, thick, thin, etc. I eventually thinned it a little with polish thinner, and that helped maybe a tiny smidge, but not much. I don't like how the gold is so light too, it's almost silver :P I put it over my first Pixel Polish Oh Pardon Me. You can get these at Ulta for $1.99. They are tiny but have a really fabulous brush. Oh Pardon Me is a shimmery tri-tone blue shimmer/glitter.

And last, and my favorite from the three, is Splitting Image, a bright blue fractured topcoat. This one cracked the best out of the second half of this collection, and was nicely pigmented. I used it over Sinful Colors Seaweed, a dusty pale green dupe for OPI's Stranger Tides. My bottle of this broke so I had to decant it into an empty franken bottle. I liked this polish too, it was creamy and applied easily.

These were all were a bit more temperamental than some other crack polishes I've tried. And they got really chunky around the neck of the bottles, as they dry I guess. I have to say I'm not a fan of this half of the collection all that much. You can purchase Color Club polishes from TransDesign.com, Head2ToeBeauty.com, and from VictoriasNailSupply.com (although they are on vacation until July 28th). Take care dolls, I am having kind of a hard time right now but I'm trying to get through it with my head held high. Kisses!

Products provided for review.

OPI - Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts Sneak Peek!

Let’s Shatter Breast Cancer!

OPI Announces New Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts Nail Lacquer to Support Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

OPI launches the limited edition Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts Nail Lacquer to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in its promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever. The 2011 Pink of Hearts edition will follow in the footsteps of its namesake 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Nail Lacquers in raising awareness of breast cancer for the fifth year in a row, during the months of September and October (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month). Unlike previous shade incarnations, this year’s Pink of Hearts Nail Lacquer marks the debut of fan-favorite Shatter coat in OPI’s first pink shade.

“We are continuing to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure in the hopes of increasing breast cancer awareness, while inspiring and empowering women. The organization’s dedication to this cause is unwavering,” remarks Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP and Artistic Director. “OPI is proud to join with Susan G. Komen for the fifth consecutive year to offer Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts. By launching our first-ever Pink Shatter coat, we hope this exciting new textured hue will generate lots of awareness for this cause.”

Each bottle of Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts has a special pink-ribbon tag and pink cap wrap to call attention to breast cancer awareness. OPI will also be making its annual donation of $25,000 to Komen for the Cure. Pink Shatter coat contains no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and it also features OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application.

The limited edition Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts will be available throughout the months of September and October 2011 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which is now the world’s largest breast cancer organization and the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer with more than $1.9 billion invested to date. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

Products provided for review.

FingerPaints 'Fall Fashionista' Collection: Sneak Peek!

I am loving these colors for fall! Very soft and preppy, I think these will all be winners. The yellow and pale purple are especially enticing to me. What do you think?

Products provided for review.

Misa 'Hip To My Jive' Collection: Sneak Peek!

Revisit the ’50s With Misa Cosmetics’ Hip to my Jive Collection

Like, far-out, daddy-o! Misa Cosmetics’ fall collection, Hip to My Jive, will have you flipping out over shades that hearken back to the decade of old-school cool while ensuring that your nails remain of-the-moment. The ’50s brought us TV dinners, cruising in chrome-accented automobiles, and poodle skirts at the malt shop, but now they bring forth six retro-inspired hues that’ll knock your socks off!

Peachy Keen: You don’t have to be a square to appreciate the necessity of perfectly polished nails. This champagne-hued taupe is a flattering neutral that’ll go with everything in your closet, from full skirts to sweetheart sweaters. Take this shade from the office to after-hours—it’s guaranteed to make a soft, feminine statement.

Go for the Pinks: Thinking pink? Throw your hair into a ponytail and put on your girliest nail color. Perfect for going steady—or meeting the parents!—this muted but statement-making matte rose lends a girly-girl flair with an irresistible high-gloss finish.

Pop the Clutch: Nothing’s more liberating than grabbing the keys and taking a ride on the boulevard—except perhaps this rosy brown hue with a hint of iridescence. Put the top down, slide the key in the ignition, crank up the tunes, and tap out your favorite rock-and-roll beats on the steering wheel with perfectly polished nails.

Bop Till You Drop: Go ahead, stay out all night; this vibrant shade will ensure that your nails make a statement from early evening into the wee hours. One warning, though: This shimmering orangey coral will definitely outlast any partner you can find down at the dance hall.

Catch a Flick: Getting swept away in your favorite Hollywood plots at the drive-in is a perfect pastime, but you’ll want to keep your nails firmly rooted in reality. Just try to tear your eyes away from this cool mint green to watch the movie!

Got It Made in the Shade: Whether in the heat of an Indian summer or lounging as the leaves turn for autumn, this fall, make sure you’ve got nail color that’s laid-back yet oh-so-hip. Perfect for hanging with the greasers or dancing at the sock hop, this unique olive green will keep your nails cool—and hot—all season long.

About Misa Cosmetics
Misa offers more than 164 nail lacquers that provide the richest and most intense coverage possible in nail color. An exceptionally high concentration of pigment, as well as mica, in a professional-grade formulation ensures that Misa colors last and last without chipping, wearing or fading. And unlike many polishes that can thicken with age, Misa nail lacquers stay perfectly mixed for a smooth, streak-free and even finish—even years after first use.

Misa Cosmetics’ Technology
Misa continues to upgrade products, including the use of revolutionary nanotechnology. This nanotechnology helps Misa develop polishes that are smoother, resulting in a surface that allows light to reflect evenly. Nail polish performance is enhanced through ease of application and removal, high gloss, higher abrasion resistance and better stability. Better adhesion allows for longer-lasting results. Safety is also a prime objective; therefore, Misa no longer uses DBP, toluene or formaldehyde chemicals in any of its nail lacquers. A unique 230-strand polish brush fits in the hand—just right for a steady polishing job—while the elegant and sturdy base ensures the bottle won’t tip. Discriminating nail professionals and colorful people everywhere have requested Misa since 1996. Beyond seasonal collections, Misa offers an impressive array of frosts, sheers, French manicure and nail art colors for year-round indulgence.

I am loving these shades, although I am surprised to see them in a Fall collection! It will be a nice break up from the other dark and murky fall collections we've been seeing pop up. And the Misa formula never fails me so I can't wait!

Images via manufacturer.