Potion Polish Dreaming of the Islands Collection [Partial] Swatches & Review

Hi friends! Today I have two shades to show you from indie brand Potion Polish's Summer collection, Dreaming of the Islands. They are similar, but not dupes. Nope. And I needed BOTH of them. I was graciously gifted these from the brand creator when she sent their Halloween collection for review. I have had a hole in my coral-loving heart for a while; I've been looking for a coral nail polish exactly like this with that unique neon and sparkle component to no avail. So I was ecstatic to see these beauties were alive and well, just waiting for me from Potion Polish! Did they live up to my expectations? Let's see!

Received as a Gift

Electric Bikini is described as a "vibrant red-leaning coral crelly with soft holo and a dusting of gold sparkle". This is the darker of the two corals, a little more neon, and it's slightly more red while the other is more orange. The formula is a little thick but that makes it nice and opaque. This is two easy coats.

Papaya Sunrise is a "peachy orange crelly with a blush-toned linear holo flash". This to me has the same lovely subtle holo sparkle, with a lighter color and less of a neon punch, but it's still there. The crelly formula is a little less thick on this one than Electric Bikini, but it was still nice and opaque in two coats.

So even though these colors are pretty similar, I love them both and am so glad to have them because I'm coral-crazy! These are on sale right now for $6 each on www.PotionPolish.com, along with the rest of the Summer collection. I might need to pick up the rest of them considering these two were so great! Have you checked out this brand yet? I just saw a sneak peek of their mid-fall collection on their Facebook page and it looks excellent! Talk to you again soon!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were received as a gift.

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

GlitterDaze Radioactive Rainbow Collection Swatches & Review

Hi everyone! Today I have the new GlitterDaze collection to show you, called Radioactive Rainbow. It's a 10 shade collection of holographic lacquers. These are great for the tail end of Summer, nice and luminous but on the softer side. I didn't use top coat with these swatches, they dried quickly on their own.

Press Sample

First is Apo Calypso, a sky blue holographic. It was kinda sheer on the first layer, but it looked opaque on two coats. Although seeing my photo now, I wish I would have done one more.

Atomic Candy is a blue toned soft purple holographic. This was also more sheer at first, but was fully opaque with two coats.

This is Chemical Limeade, a lemon lime holographic. This one was slightly thicker, but easy to use. Two coats here. I think a lot of these don't appear super holo in photos but they are more so in real life.

Electromagnetic Bubble Gum is an adorable light candy pink holographic. It seemed more opaque on the first coat than some of the others; this is two coats.

Next we have Nuclear Geradium, a magenta pink holographic. This one was also more opaque. I used two coats.

Radioactive Decay is a spring green holographic. This one appeared sheer at first, but only required two coats for full opacity.

Here is Red Hot Rays, a pinky red holographic. This was one of the higher coverage ones and had a little bit of a thicker formula. Two coats.

Retro Spectrum is a vibrant silver holographic. This is probably the most in-your-face holo in the collection. Easy application, two coats.

This guy is called Solar Contamination. It is a banana yellow holographic with a slightly thick formula. Two coats was all I needed.

Last is Sun Kissed Wasteland, a peachy orange holographic. It had a higher coverage formula and was opaque in two coats.

These are all available now at the GlitterDaze website for $12 each. The GlitterDaze polishes always come in really cute boxes too, if you're into packaging like I am :) Let me know what you think of these dainty holos! Are you ready for Summer to be over or are you sad it's almost Fall? I'm more of a Fall girl, but I definitely enjoy my Summer shades!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

OPI Coca-Cola Two To Celebrate Duo Swatches & Review

Happy Saturday! I'm back today with the two new Coca-Cola shades from OPI! This duo was created for the 100th anniversary of the Coca-Cola green glass bottle. I prefer to drink my soda from a can, but I can appreciate a glass bottle when I feel fancy ;) Let's take a look!

Press Sample

Visions of Georgia Green was obviously inspired by the classic Coca-Cola bottle, it's a warm soft green metallic with a silver/pale purpleish pink shift, green shimmer flecks and pink shimmer. This was exciting to me when I first heard about it but I found it a little underwhelming once I put it on. It's pretty sheer, I had to use 4 coats. Nice idea, but doesn't quite hit the mark for me.

You can see the complexity better in the shade photo, but I still wish it was a bit darker or something. It's like just a whisper of green, which I'm sure was the look they were going for, mimicking the glass and all.

And this is Centennial Celebration, a silver foil with a touch of gold. It might look totally silver here, but next to a true silver, like My Signature is "DC" from the full Coca-Cola collection, it definitely comes off warmer and more pewter. However I don't think it's that big of a difference to warrant another silvery foil in the same collection. This was opaque in one coat, but I used two. The brush in this one had some wonky bristles, so it wasn't fun to paint with, but if your brush is normal I'm sure you won't have any issues.

OPI polishes can be purchased at professional salons like JCPenney Salons, Trade Secret, Sally Beauty Supply, Ulta.com and Ulta as well as a lot of other retailers and online. What do you think of the two new Coca-Cola shades? Are you a Coke fan?

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Takko Lacquer Summer 2015 Collection Swatches & Review

What's up you crazy kids? I'm doing a lot better this week and things are looking up. I'm trying to stay positive and it's helped my stress level for sure. It's nice to blog honestly to keep my mind off other things, so I am thankful to have you as an audience to write for. Today I have the summer collection from Takko Lacquer to show you!

Press Sample

First up is Afternoon Delight, a soft peachy pink coral with green to gold iridescent shimmer. This was a little thick, but not difficult. This is two coats. This is such a "me" shade, I love it!

Birthday Suit is a light taupe nude with golden shimmer and delicate holographic throughout the base. Easy to use and opaque in two coats.

This is Constellations, a navy blue jelly with actual silver flakies. This is more sheer due to the base being a jelly, but I got it opaque in three coats. I would recommend wrapping your tips so you don't see any white free edge. I love the silver flakies in this, very reminiscent of stars in the sky!

Electric Flamingo is a neon pink with green/orange flakies. I was floored by this, so pretty and it practically painted itself on. Two coats. It's a jelly, so you can see a bit of nail line but I don't think it's enough that you'd need another coat. And in real life you can definitely see the different colors in the flakies, my camera just didn't want to pick that up.

Next is El Nopal, a crelly cactus green with green/gold flakies. Another winner, just like Flamingo but in a delicious green and a bit more opaque. So pretty and covers in two coats. Same note on the flakies, they're definitely two-toned in real life.

Floridazed is a lush turquoise with pink shimmer. This is one of my favorite color combinations! This guy was a bit thinner than the rest, but two coats ended up being all I needed. It dries very quickly and more matte than the rest. All Takko Lacquers dry matte to satin due to the mineral pigments and Vitamin E they use in their formula so a top coat is a must for a shiny finish.

And last we have Xocomil, a periwinkle purple with actual silver dust. I showed you this in my last post with a glitter layered over it. I am in love with periwinkle this year and this one is no exception. So pigmented and rich but still slightly muted, and that shimmer just takes it over the edge for me. Two easy coats. Dries a bit darker than it looks in the bottle.

This collection and the two new shades I reviewed in my last post will be available on their website for $13 each tonight 7/28 at 8 pm EST (USA). I hear they can sell out quickly so don't hesitate to pick these up if you are interested. What do you think of these pretty takkitos? Thanks for joining me today!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Takko Lacquer New Releases Swatches & Review

Hello and happy Sunday Funday! It is definitely a fun day for me because I'm bringing you two new indie shades from Takko Lacquer! I was pleased as punch when Sheryl the owner of the company asked me if I'd like to review their latest colors and of course said yes please! Takkitos, the nickname for their polishes, are very popular in the nail community and I love being able to share in demand colors with you all!

Press Sample

First is C.R.E.A.M. (Cake Rules Everything Around Me), the polish they made for the 3rd birthday of their brand! Yay for birthdays! This shade is a baby pink crelly with golden shimmer and multicolored matte teeny tiny hex glitters, inspired by pink funfetti cake! It was easy to work with and was opaque in two coats.

And next is Kitsch, a polish that Sheryl created for the Cosmoprof North America convention that just happened earlier this month in Las Vegas. I wish I could've gone again! (I went one year, it ruled!) This polish has various shades of pink glitters, holographic silver shimmer and holo flakies in a clear base. Once dried it has a pink sugar cotton candy scent, which is so perfect for me! I used one coat over another Takko Lacquer called Xocomil, which I'll be reviewing soon. Kitsch is super easy to apply with great glitter payoff! I love this combo!

It's important to note that all Takko Lacquer polishes are 5 free, mineral based, 100% cruelty free and are infused with Vitamin E, so they all dry satin or matte. Both of these dried satiny so I used a shiny top coat.

These will be available at TakkoLacquer.com on July 28th at 8 pm EST for $13 each. I'm really happy with these two shades, and am excited to also be bringing you swatches of their summer collection very soon! Let me know what you think about these two beauties!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Nail Polish I Wore In Real Life Vol. 4

It's Saturday and I'm feeling great! How are you doing my friends? I've got another few polishes to show you today that I wore as a full manicure in real life! Oooh, aaahh! Imagine that, a nail polish blogger actually wearing nail polish ;)

KBShimmer Make My Gray is from their Spring 2014 collection. It is a pale grey crelly with a mix of glitters in turquoise, coral pink, and gunmetal. I don't know why I always expect these glitter-crelly polishes to be difficult to apply, they almost never are. Maybe because they look so complex I unconsciously imagine that getting this look should take more effort. Anyway, this was easy to apply and opaque in two coats. Tons of glitter. I purchased this from their website for $8.75.

I can't believe I didn't own China Glaze Sun Of A Peach until now. It's from their Summer 2013 collection Sunsational that I almost completely skipped. It's super popular and is included in China Glaze's core line now. The formula is pretty much awful, it's streaky, patchy and generally a pain in the butt to apply. BUT LOOK! So neon it's impossible to photograph accurately, and just crazy beautiful. This is three difficult coats, but I love it. It also dries matte like a true neon so top coat that shiz! I purchased this from Sally Beauty Supply for around $6.50.

And last is Essie Chillato, from this summer's Peach Side Babe collection . I posted a review on my picks from that collection a while ago and it didn't include this one, but this color just kept calling to me! I needed it. I bought it. I regret nothing! It's a unique green tinged pastel yellow. Essie calls it "pistachio green" but I think it's more of a lemon lime shade. Another difficult formula, very streaky, a little bubbly, and it took three coats to even out. But I adore it and I don't care. I bought this from my local CVS for $8.50.

So what do you think of these picks for my recent manicures? If you're interested in this series, you can see my other posts here. Thanks for visiting me today and we'll see you again soon!

❤ Kellie

ILNP Summer 2015 Ultra Holos Collection Swatches & Review

Hi everyone! I hope your week is starting off well! I'm still under the weather, but I think I'm beginning to come around the bend. Summer sickness is the worst! Today I have the second summer collection from ILNP to show you, a gathering of ten ultra holographic shades.

Press Sample

I See You is a tan champagne holographic. It was very smooth and easy to apply. This is two coats.

Next is Float On, a bright oceany blue holographic. This one appears more scattered holo than linear and it's a tad more jelly-ish. This covered completely for me in three coats.

Closure is a vivid apple red holographic. It was completely opaque in two coats. Surprisingly I had a tiny bit of staining on this one so double up on your base coat to avoid that.

Here is Paper Route, a pale grey milky holographic. It was on the sheer side on the first coat, but I used a slightly thicker coat on the second and it became totally opaque. This has a stronger holographic effect than I expected for a pale shade like this.

Ten Fold is a cool toned blueish green holographic. I was expecting this to be a "money green" but it's definitely got more of a blue tinge to it. This was the sheerest of the ten, this is three coats and it's still a bit see through.

This is called Walking Home, a yummy grape purple holographic. Great formula, two coats.

Paige is a fuchsia pink holographic. Another effortless formula, two coats for full opacity.

Next is Honor Roll, a striking navy blue holographic. These dark shades really pop with that awesome mix of linear and scattered she has going on with these ultra holos. Two easy coats.

1UP is a summery lime rind green holographic. Another easy one, two coats.

And last is Missed Calls, an inky black holographic. Excellent rainbows on this one, just wow. Two coats.

These are all really great. Easy formulas, fast dry time and easy removal. You can purchase these on the ILNP website for $10 each. Tell me which one of these is your pick! I have to give it to Paper Route, such a classy shade!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

ILNP Summer 2015 Collection Swatches & Review

Hi there friends! How are you doing? I'm down for the count with a real nasty summer cold, or possibly bronchitis, but I've still got swatches to show ya! Today I am bringing you the ILNP Summer 2015 collection. There are eleven shades of amazingness in this bunch. They also put out a nine shade collection of Ultra Holos I will be showing you next, so stay tuned!

Press Sample

First is Mega (X), the fourth incarnation of Mega in the ILNP family. This is labeled 'X' for "xtreme" holo because it has an extra large holographic pigment size. It was on the thin side; I used three coats here. I was basically blinded by this polish. A must-have for holo lovers because it's very obviously holographic even indoors. If you're interested, my friend Jess did a comparison on all four versions of Mega on her YouTube channel.

Summer Crush is a bright hot pink crelly with holographic flake shimmer throughout. The shimmer really is quite rainbowy and doesn't appear just silver, which I love. Photos do not do this justice. You can still slightly see nail line at two coats, but I think that's all it needs personally. Dries just a tad satiny so use a top coat for shine.

Next is Long Walks, a grey taupe with a nice hearthy warmth to it from bronzey shimmer and soft gold flakes, with a dose of holographic glitter particles. This polish is nicely subtle, classy, and oh so chic. Three coats with a slightly thin formula.

Super Juiced is a bright blurple crelly with gallons of pink shimmer. This is an awesome color and it is so vibrant! Two coats. Needs a top coat for maximum shine.

Here comes Money Bin! This is a stunning gold holographic polish with added gold holo flakes. It's like your nails are made of doubloons! It has great coverage, opaque in two coats. The flakes can get messy upon removal, but it's worth it.

So Coral is a crazy bright neon coral crelly. It's more orange than the original China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy, for comparison. This is an ultimate summer polish. It was streaky on the first two coats, I needed a third to even it out completely. I wouldn't even care if it needed another one, it's so gorgeous!

Next is Harbour Island, a greeny blue teal jelly holographic. It is sheerer than a straight holo and can be worn over other polishes. I wanted to build it up, so here is three coats. It's still on the translucent side but very juicy looking.

Kaleidoscope is another one of ILNP's ultrachrome metallic flakie polishes. This one is a combination of all the multichromes she's done, basically a rainbow of flakies. I wore one coat over Super Juiced. It has great glitter payoff so you can also build it up if you want.

Pink Mimosa is another crazy holographic with holo flakies like Money Bin, this time it's coming to you in a pale rose pink. Awesome formula, two coats here. I am in love with this polish!

Cameo is a multichrome polish that is kin to ILNP's metallic flake topper Neon Rosebud that I showed you a while ago. It shifts from a dark purpley rose to a bright greeny gold, and a few other places in between. Thin but easy to use. Three coats.

And last of this bunch is Shoreline, a soft aqua blue version of the holographic with holo flakies finish they did with Money Bin and Pink Mimosa. There is actually a purple version available too, from their Spring collection called Happily Ever After. This is two coats. It was hard to capture the flakes with my camera, but my friend Emily has some great shots of it, and the rest of the collection, here.

If you missed the presale for this collection, they will be back in stock on the ILNP website today! They are $10 per bottle, except Kaleidoscope & Cameo, which are $12.50 each. What do you think of this fun gathering of color for summer? My favorites are the foil flakie holos, but they're all quite lovely. Tell me your favorites!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.