October 31, 2014

Rainbow Honey Siren Song Swatches & Review


Hello readers,
Today I have my Halloween polish g to show you.  I decided to dress up as Princess Jasmine this year so I need the perfect light aqua polish to match the outfit.  I settled on Rainbow Honey Siren Song.


Siren Song features a super shimmery aqua base packed with aqua, navy and gold glitters in various shapes and sizes.  I did find the formula on this one thick and a bit tricky to work with.  I ended up having to dab a few spots to ensure even coverage.  Also, because there is so much glitter in this polish it does dry quite roughly.  I used a generous coat of gelous to smooth it out.  Photos show two coats of Siren Song with one thick coat of gelous and on coat of HK Girl top coat in a mix of natural and daylight spectrum lighting.

Rainbow Honey Siren Song Rainbow Honey Siren Song

Rainbow Honey Siren Song Rainbow Honey Siren Song

Rainbow Honey Siren Song Rainbow Honey Siren Song

You can find Rainbow Honey at:


Happy polishing,

- Michelle

October 29, 2014

Julep Lena Swatches & Review


Hello readers
I know I've been pretty quiet the last couple weeks.  Somehow work and life got super busy all of a suddent.  I'm back today with a lovely shimmery creme to show you.


Julep Lena is a bright teal creme with a soft golden shimmer.  The formula on this one was excellent.  It was very pigmented and opaque in two coats.  However, the shimmer is less obvious on the nail than it is in the bottle.  The only issue I had with this polish was taking it off.  After removal the skin around my nails was stained green for about a day.  It didn't stain my nails through my base coat though.  Photos show two coats of Lena with one coat of CND Super Shiney top coat in daylight spectrum lighting.  It does lean a little bit more green in person.

Julep Lena Julep Lena

Julep Lena Julep Lena

Julep Lena Julep Lena

You can find Julep polish on their website along with a variety of other body, bath and beauty products.

Happy polishing,

- Michelle

October 22, 2014

Mentality Altered Swatches & Review


Hello readers,
I'm back from a short but sweet vacation and settling back into my routine. Today I have a beautiful dark polish for fall to show you.

Mentality Altered Mentality

Mentality Altered is a navy blue scatter holo with a subtle blue flash. This formula was fantastic. It was almost a one coater. If you were were vigilant about sheer spots you could definitely do it in one. I did two coats just to be safe. The polish dries to a waxy matte finish so if you like shine, you'll need to add a glossy top coat. Photos show two coats of Altered with one coat of CND Super Shiney top coat in daylight spectrum lighting.

Metality Altered Metality Altered

Metality Altered Metality Altered

Metality Altered Metality Altered

Mentality always amazes me with the quality of polish they are able to produce for such a low price. You can find Mentality at


Happy polishing,

- Michelle

October 15, 2014

Beauty Box 5 October 2014 Review


Hello readers,
It's time for another Beauty Box 5 to show you.  The theme this month was 'effortless allure' and I'm pretty happy with this month's contents.  Here's what I got.


Chapstick Hydration Lock | Retail: $2.99 0.154 oz
"This double-ended wonder balm with 2 conditioning formulas will keep your pout portected, soothed and smooth- 24/7! BB5 Tip: Wear alone for a subtle shin or under your lipstick to keep your smackers hydrated!
 Lip balm is something I go through a lot of so I'm happy to see this in my box.  It will definitely get used.

Bellapiere Cosmetics Cheek and Lip Stain in Pink | Retail: $19.99 0.31oz
"Do double duty with this sweet stain! Use your fingertip to apply a small amount to your lips or blend onto the apples of your cheeks.  BB5 Tip: If you're running late, a little dab on both will add a flirty flush of color in seconds!"
 I'm looking forward to trying this one out.  It looks a little too light for me but if it's more sheer than opaque I think it will work out nicely.  Another good product in my opinion.

Lashem Picture Perfect | Retal $3.95 0.5fl oz
 "Look fab at every age! This nourishing serum reduced fine lines for a gorgeous glow when applied after cleansing.  BB5 Tip: Not worried about wrinkles yet? It also works as a primer- blend onto face and let dry to proved a smooth canvas for makeup application.
 I don't have to worry about wrinkles yet and I don't wear any face makeup that requires a primer so this product doesn't really work for me.  It'll end up on the swap list.

Nanacoco Nail Polishes | Retail $3.95 0.5fl oz
"Pretty polish, please! We love these high-quality lacquers for their thick professional formulas.  BB5 Tip: Let each layer of polish dry completely before you add another for the longest-lasting mani and pedi!"
 Finally! A polish in a colour I actually like... no more red!  I haven't tried this brand before but it looks like a really pretty periwinkle cream and I'm looking forward to giving it a shot.

Extend Your Beauty Cosmetic Tool | Retail $5.49 6 inches
"Throwing away precious products hurts, so make sure you get every single drop!  This handy spatula grabs that hard-to-reach last bit and lengthens the life of your beauty essentials.  BB5 Tip: It's dishwasher-safe, so you can reuse it again and again!
I'm undecided on this one.  I usually just cut open tubes to get at the very last of a product so this seems kind of gimmicky.  I do like that it's washable and reusable though.

Conclusion

I'm quite happy with this month's box.  There's lots of products that I will definitely use. If you want to find out more about BB5 or sign up for your own box check out the BB5 website.
Happy polishing,
Michelle

October 13, 2014

Fish Scale Stamping and Finger Paint's Sailor's Lure


Hello readers,
Today I have Finger Paints Sailor's Lure to show you along with some stamping inspired the the 'fish scale' texture this polish is supposed to mimic.  I'd seen lots of swatches of the Finger Paints Enchanted Mermaid Collection out there and I wasn't particularly impressed.  The textured look didn't do much for me though I loved the based colours.  I was in Sally's the other day checking out their 50% off all clearance polishes sale and noticed one of these polishes in the bin.  I figured for just over $2 it was worth a shot.

Finger Paints Finger Paints

I used two coats of Sailor's Lure first.  The formula was not terrible but not great.  I found if you didn't pay attention the texture glitters would kind of clump together.  Then I added a generous coat of Gelous and waited for it to dry.  Finally I stamped fish scales over top with China Glaze Liquid Leather and Bundle Monster plate BM-502.  A coat of CND Super Shiney top coat was added to seal everything up.  Photos show this mani under daylight spectrum lighting.

Fish Scale Stamping Fish Scale Stamping

Fish Scales Nail Art Fish Scales Nail Art

Fish Scales Nail Art Fish Scales Nail Art

So, how do I feel about this textured polish?  I'm still not sure.  I definitely don't like it without top coat, however, when it's smoothed out it does look kind of interesting.  I absolutely love the base colours of this collection (Pssst.... Fingerpaints.  You should totally release these without the texture).  I think for this design the texture actually works out quite well since it adds depth to the scales.

Happy polishing,

- Michelle

October 10, 2014

Girly Bits Shift Happens Swatches & Review


Hello readers,
Today is my birthday and I chose an amazing effect top coat to sport for my birthday nails.  Apologies in advance, this is a very picture heavy post.


Shift happens look somewhat unassuming in the bottle.  It has a soft copper to green shimmer.  However, when you layer it over another colour it comes to life giving any polish an amazing shimmery colour shifting glow.  I layered one coat of Nina Ultra Pro Cobalt, a cobalt blue jelly.  The result was a shimmery layer that shifted from red to copper to green.  I love it.  The formula was fantastic and I didn't have any issues with patchiness or bald spots.  Photos show one coat of Shift Happens over Nina Ultra Pro Cobalt with one coat of CND Super Shiney top coat in a mix of natural and 5100K lighting.

Girly Bits Shift Happens Girly Bits Shift Happens

Girly Bits Shift Happens Girly Bits Shift Happens

Girly Bits Shift Happens Girly Bits Shift Happens

Girly Bits Shift Happens Girly Bits Shift Happens

Girly Bits Shift Happens Girly Bits Shift Happens

Girly Bits Shift Happens Girly Bits Shift Happens

Did you make it through all the pictures??  If so, you probably want to buy this polish now.  You can find Girly Bits at

Instagram

Happy polishing,

- Michelle
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