Orly Breathable Swatches & Review

Orly Beauty has come out with a new line of nail polish that features a unique all-in-one formula they are calling Orly Breathable Treatment + Color. This polish is designed to be used alone, without a base or top coat. It has several nourishing ingredients including argan oil, vitamins B5 & C, and "advanced oxygen technology" which allow air and hydration to get through to the nail.

Press Sample

We all know our nails don't need to "breathe", as they are dead keratin cells, but the idea is for the nail structure and skin under the nail to have access to constant hydration and oxygen. The brand claims this can promote healthier, thicker, and more hydrated nails. And with the all-in-one formula, there is less time spent on a manicure and there are claims of less chipping and longer lasting polish. These are also Halal compliant for those that observe. I found these to dry a little quicker than regular polish and they also left a very shiny finish. I did not test them for wear time.

Barely There is a pale off white crème. I found the thicker, rounded brush helped greatly in application, though it was still a tiny bit streaky on two coats. I used three for full coverage.

Just Breathe is a purple periwinkle with a scattering of flecky shimmer. These both seemed thick at first glance, but upon application they are not. This applied easily and was opaque in two coats.

Orly Breathable Treatment + Color will be available in 18 shades September 2016 and retails for $8.99 each and will be available ULTA, JC Penney, salons nationwide and at the Orly Beauty website. So what do you think about this new type of treatment polish? Would you use it?

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

My Picks from the Orly Pacific Coast Highway & Melrose Collections

Happy Friday! It's been another crazy week for me, I'm hoping things slow down a little bit at work here soon. How has your June been going? Today I wanted to take a tiny break and show off some polishes I purchased myself. I picked up three polishes from the Orly Summer collection, Pacific Coast Highway, and one from their Spring collection, Melrose. Just a note, neons and ultra bright colors are a little hard to photograph, as I'm sure I've mentioned before. They are difficult to get fully accurate, but I tried my best. Now on to the swatches!

Road Trippin is a neon yellow crème. It's incredibly pigmented, but thick and a little goopy. I had substantial streaking with this, so I used three coats here and I was tempted to use a fourth. I had heard that this had a great formula, which is why I picked it up so I was pretty disappointed. However, I didn't need a white base to get this to glow so that might be a trade off. Or your bottle might have a better formula, haha.

Put The Top Down is a neon pink crème with a peach tinge. The consistency of this one was thinner than the yellow, but still thick. I needed three coats of to even out streaks. I still love it though, because WOW!

Scenic Route is a bright lavender crème. This one applied really nicely and was opaque in two coats. One thing to note about all of these is that the polish was really prone to running down the brush and overloading on my nail, to avoid this I had to be sure to wipe off a good amount before I applied it.

Vintage is from the Melrose collection, and it's the only one that I decided I couldn't live without. It's a bright mint green crème with a really nice formula. This is two coats.

I purchased these from online e-tailer Transdesign for $4.25 each. Orly polishes are also sold at Ulta and Sally Beauty. What do you think of my picks? Did you try anything from either one of these collections? I hope you all have a great weekend! I'm going to the Pride celebration in my town this weekend and will get to see a show with drag queen Yara Sofia! I literally can't wait! What are you up to?

❤ Kellie

Orly Summer 2015 Adrenaline Rush Collection [Partial] Swatches & Review

Hi everyone! Today I have four minis from the Orly Adrenaline Rush collection to show you. This is their 2015 Summer collection, it has six shades in it but I opted for the mini set of four. I found this guy at my local discount store for a good price so I had to pick it up.

Fireball is a super vivid red with a touch of hidden shimmer. This had a good formula, on the thin side but I didn't have any issues with it. I had full opacity on two coats. It dried satiny matte so use a top coat for maximum shine. I don't think I have a dupe for this, it's so cool!

On The Edge is a blurple, more blue than purple but it's still there. This had a great formula, two coats. I never used to like blurple colors, but I have come around so I definitely appreciate this one. It also dries semi-matte.

Push The Limit seems to be the popular favorite from this collection from what I've heard, and for good reason. It's a beautiful bright orangey coral crème with neon properties but not totally neon. It went on a little streaky for me, not terrible but not awesome. It also dries more matte.

Risky Behavior is the last in the mini bunch, a really bright gorgeous fuchsia pink, another almost neon crème. This one went on very easy and covered in two coats, almost opaque in one though. Also dries kinda satiny. This one is super flattering, I love it!

The other two shades in the full collection are a highlighter yellow crème and a vivid purple crème, which I'm sure are lovely but I don't think I necessarily need them. I wasn't sure at first, but I think my favorite of these four is Fireball! That unexpected shimmer just really wowed me! Also, I enjoyed these mini bottles. Some mini sizes just don't work well for application, but these were nice and easy to use. They are .18 fl oz with nicely sized handles and brushes.

You can purchase Orly polishes from stores like Sally Beauty Supply and Ulta for around $8 for a 0.6 fl oz bottle. I got this set for around $5 at Marshalls. Did you pick up any colors from this collection?

❤ Kellie

Orly Hot Tropics Swatch & Review

Hey folks :) Today I wanted to show you a dope a$$ polish from Orly called Hot Tropics. It came out in their summer collection called Baked. I got this in the Nailbox Pre-Fall 2014 Trendbox. It contains four polishes, a matte top coat and a set of nail wraps, all curated by Chalkboard Nails! I won the box participating in a #NailGlossip chat on Twitter not too long ago.

Received as Prize

Hot Tropics is a slightly pinky fuchsia purple almost neon with lots of flecky silverish gold shimmer. This is a seriously fabulous polish, really lovely on any skin tone and just fun. I love it for summer but it's a great transition shade too, as it's not super neon but still has a touch of that radiance. Two easy, dreamy coats.

You might still be able to pick this up at Sally Beauty or Ulta stores, or you can get it on Orly's website. It's also still available in the Trendbox I mentioned above. What do you think of this beauty? Is it your cup of tea? I'll see you soon darlings :)

❤ Kellie

The product mentioned was given to me as a prize from a giveaway.

My Nail & Hand Care Essentials

Hey guys and gals! Today I wanted to put together a post with all my essentials that I use to keep my nails and hands in tip top shape. These are my favorites right now but I seem to add or take something out every few months as I find new things that work better. This is just what is working for me at the moment.

Duri Rejuvacote - This has been my favorite nail treatment for a little over a year. I use it on bare nails for every manicure. I like this better than any other treatment I've tried. I still get peels on a few of my nails occasionally but no where near what I used to. And my nails grow faster and longer using this than ever before!

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Orly Primetime - I use this as a primer for my nails before I put on my base coat, it removes all traces of oil and residue so my products can adhere to my nail cleanly and completely.

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Orly Bonder - I have used this base coat for years and no matter what others I try, I always come back to this one. It is rubberized which helps the polish adhere to it better. It helps my polish go on well and resists chips. I believe everyone's body chemistry is different and what works for me might not work for you, you just have to experiment with different base and top coats to figure out the best combo.

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Glisten & Glow HK Topcoat - I wrote a review for this top coat not too long ago, you can see this post if you haven't read it. This is my favorite because it dries super fast and shiny. It also doesn't have any of the unfortunate side effects of other quick dry top coats, it doesn't get thick and goopey, it doesn't shrink the polish when it dries, and the surface doesn't get scratchy looking over time.

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Bliss Kiss Pure Nail Oil - This stuff is so amazing, it is practically liquid gold to me! I mentioned above how I occasionally have peeling nails and I have always had issues with dry and overgrown cuticles. I have been searching for something to supplement my nail care routine to hopefully help these concerns outside of my usual products. I found rave reviews of this nail oil, how it hydrates your nails and makes them more flexible, so I decided to try some and have fallen in love. I use this multiple times daily and it's made my cuticles nicer than ever! I'll do a more in depth review on this soon, it deserves it!

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Acetone and  Acetone/Glycerin/Water Mix - I have a hard time tolerating most scents and a lot of the nail polish removers out there have some kind of scent I can't handle. So I use pure acetone, it works the best and has no added scent. It can be drying though, so I add glycerin and water to make it more moisturizing. You can learn about this from Loodie Loodie Loodie, she explains it better than I could. I do use straight acetone to do clean up around the edges of my nail after painting. You can read about that process here from Lacquerized.

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Dappen Dish - I use this small glass dish to pour the acetone in that I use to clean up around my nails. It's super cheap and really helps my manicure routine.

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Small brush - This is my preferred brush to use for clean up with acetone around the edges of my nail. It's the e.l.f. concealer brush that I got for $1 at Kmart. It works well and is easy to replace when needed.

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Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover - This is my most used cuticle remover, though I have a few kinds. It's a gel formula that is easy to apply with the squeeze bottle. I used it at least weekly.

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Julep Hand & Cuticle Stick - This product is newer to my routine. I tried it on recommendation from Young, Wild & Polished (she's hilarious in her videos!). It is a balm that melts with the warmth of your skin. It smells amazing, like clean laundry, and it is easy to carry in my purse for quick applications on the go. It doesn't make my skin shiny either, which is helpful for taking photos of my nails.

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Hempz Original Herbal Body Moisturizer - This has to be my favorite lotion ever, hands down (hehe). I used to use it in high school after I went tanning, which I don't do anymore, but I always loved the clean scent and moisturizing effects. I recently got another bottle for a gift and it's quickly become my favorite and most used lotion. It is a little on the pricey side but I just love it.

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I'd love to hear about your nail care essentials! Tell me about your favorites in the comments :) Also let me know if you have any questions about my nail routine, I'd be happy to answer!

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Guest Post by Samarium's Swatches: Neon Watermarble

Hi folks! I'm almost recuperated enough to start swatching again but I do have another awesome guest post for you today, this time from Sarah of Samarium's Swatches. This gal is so fab, her photos and manicure skills make me envious! I also just love her blog style, delightful and so fun. I'm happy to show you her awesome nail art post here and be sure to check her out so you can keep up with all her awesome manicures!

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Hey guys! My name is Sarah from Samarium's Swatches!

Kellie asked me to help her out with a guest post and I gladly obliged after a few failed attempts! haha

For today's post I just knew I wanted to do something neon and bright!

First I started off with a white base, using Zoya Purity.

Using a wedge makeup sponge and the gradient sponging technique I used the following colors,

in the following order. 

For those unfamiliar you paint each color onto the sponge in a strip and then stamp the sponge on each nail. Then repaint and repeat once more onto your nails. I'd recommend using less colors though!

Illamasqua - Poke

China Glaze - Shocking Pink

Illamasqua - Gamma

Illamasqua - Rare

Illamasqua - Nurture

Illamasqua - Nomad

Illamasqua - Serenity

Then I mattified it with Butter London Matte Finish!

Then using A England Camelot, Glitter Gal Turbulence and Orly Nailtrition I tried a water marble.

I've been trying to practice at water marbling once a week lately, and I actually have improved some!

I'm not great at it but I really love how this turned out! Especially the pinky!

What do you guys think? I hope you like it!

Where to find Samarium's Swatches

Blog - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram

Some Random Lemmings Fufilled

Hi there folks! I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for new places to shop for nail polish, both online and brick & mortar shops. A while ago I was approached by BeautyStopOnline to review some polishes from their store. I got a few polishes I had been wanting for a while but had not gotten the chance to pick up anywhere else. These aren't necessarily "hard to find" polishes but their stock is varied and they carry some older polishes from Essie, Orly, and China Glaze.

First is China Glaze Oh How Street It Is, from their 2009 Summer collection Kicks. I am in love with this collection and will be in rapture when I complete my collection. This is a super sexy hot reddish orange jelly crème that really pops. Fantastic formula, no issues and it dries surprisingly shiny! I'm so obsessed with orange these days. And believe it or not, I was before the Pantone color of the year was announced haha :) Two coats.

Next is Essie Sand of a Beach, cute name and beautiful polish. This is an older Essie that I had my eye on for a while, so I'm glad I finally have it. I can't find a release date for it, so if you know please tell in the comments. The color is a sheerish sandy beige with heavy iridescent pink shimmer. It reminds me slightly of Demure Vixen from Essie, but this is definitely a nude while DV is lavender. The formula was thin and a bit bubbly, in need of TLC application wise. This is three coats.

And last is Orly Coquette Cutie from the Pin Up collection of last summer. I completely bypassed this collection when I saw it in stores but had regretted it after they disappeared from shelves. I am happy to have snagged this baby, a bright/medium slightly coral pink crème. I really wanted this because it's beautiful and slightly dorky, but it reminds me of "croquet" and that reminds me of one of my favorite movies "Heathers". Silly I know, but the heart wants what it wants ;) Two coats, thick but manageable formula.

So if you're like me and always poking your nose about for new ways to spend your money, check out BeautyStopOnline, they have some great deals on polish! Do you have any of these pretties? How do you like them?

Products provided for review.

Guest Post by Life and Polish: Orly - Blue Collar w/ konad

Please enjoy this guest post by my friend Liz over at Life and Polish!

Hi lovelies! EEEK I am so thrilled to be doing a guest post on Kellie's amazing blog, as everyone else has said. Kellie is a huge nail crush of mine, she always makes me want to chop my nails off and round them, even though I have done it and know it looks HORRIBLE on my hands, I want to do it all the time. Her nails are so cute!

Anyways, fangirling aside, I love Kellie and when I was thinking of what to do on my nails I decided to peruse some of my stamping plates. I just got my new bundle monster plates in the mail, and then I saw it! BM 225 has a reverse image stamp I have been dying to try! I love how the stamp looks like a Hawaiian shirt or something, and since I'm still in a summer-y mood I knew this image was it!

I used Orly Blue Collar as the base and then stamped with konad special polish in white, and seriously you guys, I LOVE this stamp. Or as Kellie would say la-la-la-loveeeeee it!

It's a simple stamp but I love the look it gives! Anyways, once again thank you so much for the opportunity Kellie! This was fun! Thanks for reading loves! :)

Aw this is such a pretty and sweet konad, I really do la la love it! I wish I could do konad, but i'm too messy and impatient and it never works out for me haha. Thanks for the post Liz darling!

Guest Post by Colour Coated: Fish Scale Nails

Please enjoy this guest post by my friend Jasmine from Colour Coated!

Hey Peeps!

First off I have to say that I'm beyond excited to be doing this guest post for Kellie! I'm pretty sure that I've spent hours drooling over pictures of her gorgeous nails, so I felt totally honored (and a little nervous...ok, a lot nervous) when she asked me to do it.

After spending time debating with myself about what I'd choose to post, I decided to do something fun and colorful. I'm severely limited when it comes to doing nail art, but my nifty little dotting tool is like a magic wand that makes it look like I have a little bit of skill, so I decided to bust it out.

My inspiration was a book that I read in elementary school called The Rainbow Fish. I was always obsessed with the cover of the book because the fish on it has some awesome holo/glitter scales. Check it out:

To try to recreate the look of the rainbow fish I painted my nails with 2 coats of Orly Snowcone, then I dotted on OPI Jade is The New Black, NOPI Midnight Snowfall, Jesse's Girl Wild Thing, Zoya Breezi, and Nfu Oh 61 (for the holo scales of course!). Peep it:

So what do you guys think? Do you see the resemblance?

I hope you guys like this mani, and a million thanks to Kellie for being so lovely and letting me share it with all of you! :)

I love this dainty dotty nail art! I fail at most nail art but this looks like something even I could pull off! Thanks so much for sharing Jasmine!

CosmoProf North America in Las Vegas: Part 1

I am beat. Literally and figuratively. My feet, shins, and shoulders are dying from all the walking and hauling around Las Vegas, more specifically, the CosmoProf North America convention. I went with my bestie, my sister Clarrisa, and we stayed at the Mandalay Bay where the conference was being held. It was overwhelming to say the least, there are a bazillion exhibitors of beauty brands, lots of products to look at, and about a billion and a half people. Not to mention, miles and miles of ground to cover in a short time. I arrived on Sunday morning, and while my sister kindly checked us in, I took off straight for the convention center.

I met up with Jen from The Polishaholic first thing and we went off to explore. Both her and I were a little confused as to what we should do at first, like what questions we were "supposed" to ask the exhibitors and brand reps. It turned out, I mostly got enjoyment out of discovering new brands and products and looking at the new collections from some of my favorite nail polish brands and meeting the people behind them.

I will be posting more pictures soon, along with a more in depth post on the conference and who I met, what I learned, yadda yadda, but here is a bunch of pretty photos for now. (Picture heavy, so they're after the jump.)

Orly Precious collection

Well, most of Orly's Precious collection anyway ;) I have to say that this collection is kind of a snoozer for me. Pity. I already have the one exciting polish from this collection in Orly's sister brand SpaRitual. Oh well, on to the pickchas.

Gilded Coral is a seashell-esque light coraly pink with a gold frost, without the nasty brushstrokes. It has a nice finish and is a decent polish, just nothing to write home about in my book. Very safe. Two coats here. (Sorry for the crappy photo, all of my pics of this were out of focus D: my bad! I had to send it off to it's rightful owner before I cropped them so I couldn't take any new ones.)

Ancient Jade is a spearmint "jade" green crème. Sorry, even though I really like this polish, YAWN. It's just been done to death. Oh my, have I become jaded (hehe) and need something crazy and new and different around every corner to appreciate anything?! Let's hope not. This is two coats.

Royal Velvet is the funky one in the collection, a purple blue duochrome shimmer with a bit of frost. This polish is pretty but is watery and kind of annoying to work with. Like I said, I have this color in the SpaRitual form, and that one doesn't have such a dumb name, Health, Wealth & Happiness...wait scratch that, both names aren't so hot. This is three coats.

Sorry to be such a downer about these lacquers :( I don't usually dog on a whole group like this, but I kind-of have to give these guys the stink-eye.

xoxo,
kelliegonzo

These were sent for review.

Orly Bailamos and La Playa

I didn't purchase the Orly Viva! collection polishes when they first came out, for some reason. I saw them in a discount bin a while ago though and decided, eh why not. And I'm so glad I did because I really like them! I bought the two blues, though there is an orange and pink color in the collection too.

La Playa is a gorgeous navy blue creme that applies like a dream. This is probably my favorite blue creme, in that shade range anyway ;) This is two coats.

Bailamos is a beautiful turquoise polish that has awesome light teal shimmer.  This one is a tad sheer so it took three coats to build it to opacity.  Don't mind, though, it's gorgeous!

Yikes, I need to get started on my Christmas shopping :/  I loathe shopping.  Well actually, I don't care for crowds and inclement weather while shopping.  Plus having no money doesn't help during this time of year haha.  I plan on having a big blog sale after I get done with school this semester though, so stay tuned for that :)

xoxo,
kelliegonzo