Showing posts with label shimmer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shimmer. Show all posts

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Pretty Jelly Dark Magic: Holographic Flakie Multichrome


Hi everyone! Did you all celebrate Valentine's Day yesterday? I really wanted to do a girly pink mani for Vday, but I didn't feel like taking my current mani off - which is this pretty polish from my indie brand. It's a dark anti Vday purple...like my soul. ^^

Is it just me or are evil villains much more interesting than the heroines? I recently started (and finished) Once Upon A Time, and I really love all the villains. So while I'm waiting for season 5, I decided to create a dark purple reminiscent of the ominous rolling smoke clouds in the show.


It was cloudy when I took these pics, so I couldn't capture the scattered holo. :( It has a subtle shift from blue-purple to red-purple.



If you like this polish, it's currently available at my Etsy shop for $12. It's limited edition, so I only have a few quantities in stock. Also, I ship worldwide! :)

Thanks for reading!

♥ Liz

Sunday, October 19, 2014

[Review+Swatch] CND Vinylux Daring Escape & Purple Purple


Hi everyone! Hope you're all enjoying your Sunday. Today I have two CND Vinylux shades to share with you. Enails.eu recently reached out to me and asked if I'd like to review this line. I've never tried CND polishes before, so I was excited to finally give them a whirl. :)

The Vinylux line is labeled as a weekly polish and is meant to last a week without the use of a base coat. The line also offers a top coat that activates in natural light. I think it's similar to Sally Hansen Miracle Gel, but I can't give you a direct comparison since I don't own the Vinylux top coat.

All swatches are shown with Seche Vite top coat and no base coat.


Daring Escape, 2 coats: dusty blue-teal with strong silver shimmer. This one had an interesting formula. It's thick in the way it clings to the brush; however, it applies like a medium-thin polish. So you need to brush off all the excess clinging to the brush, but on the nail it feels smooth and applies easily. I had no problems with application itself - just wanted to note the unique formula. I think the silver shimmer makes this color interesting and adds a bit more depth.



Purple Purple, 3 coats: purple base with strong, fine blue shimmer. This combination makes the polish look blurple in most lightings. The formula was excellent - medium consistency that glides on easily. The pigmentation is pretty good as well. You can get away with two coats, but I found that a third coat will eliminate brushstrokes and deepen the color. The shimmer becomes more rich and intense as well. Absolutely gorgeous!



I loved this one so much, that I wore it as a mani! I dressed it up with some simple stamping and a bow charm. I used MoYou London Kaleidoscope 09 in case you're wondering. ^^ I didn't do a wear test since I don't own the Vinylux top coat, but this mani was chip-free 3 days later with Seche Vite. I'm not particularly rough on my nails, but nail polish doesn't last very long on me without base coat.

Verdict: Both polishes applied flawlessly and had excellent pigmentation/coverage. The colors I tested were also unique and beautiful. Purple Purple in particular has stolen my heart.

Availability: You can purchase Daring Escape (here) and Purple Purple (here) at enails.eu for 12.99€ each. Enails.eu is one of the few online stores that offer CND Vinylux worldwide, so be sure to take a look. They offer a wide selection of colors including the latest collections.


Have you tried any of the Vinylux colors? Let me know your thoughts below! ^^

Liz

Friday, September 26, 2014

[Review+Swatch] Zoya Ignite Collection for Fall 2014



Hi guys! Last time I showed you Zoya Entice. Today's collection is Zoya's other fall release: Ignite! I always look forward Zoya shimmers as they tend to be more unique than the creme set. As expected, this year's colors are gorgeous. On top of that, all of them applied beautifully without any trouble. Swatches are shown without top coat. Enjoy!

Friday, August 8, 2014

[Review+Swatch] OPI Ford Mustang Collection



Hi everyone! I have a quick review of OPI's limited edition Ford Mustang collection for you today. :)

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

[Review+Swatch] Julep Maven May 2014 Bombshell Box



Hi!♥ I haven't been taking my Julep Maven boxes, so I decided get this month's. I was drawn to the lively colors and these didn't disappoint.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Pretty Jelly x Lacquer Chic Exclusive Nail Polish Swatches


Happy Easter (if you celebrate)! Hope everyone's enjoying their Sunday. The weather is warming up again, which is awesome. Today I have swatches of the Pretty Jelly exclusive for Lacquer Chic. They're opening today at 1pm PST, so be sure to go take a look at all the indie brands they are offering. :)

Sunday, March 9, 2014

[Review+Swatch] China Glaze City Flourish for Spring 2014


Happy Sunday! Did everyone (in the States) move their clocks forward? I love that there's more sun, but it always sucks losing that hour. Anyway, now that it feels like we're really getting into spring, here's a collection from China Glaze that I think you'll appreciate. I have six of the twelve shades from the new City Flourish collection, which features a mix of both pastel and neon colors!

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

[Review+Swatch] Milani Nail Lacquer for 2014



Hi everyone! I can't believe it's already March. Sorry, it's been a little quite around here lately. I got caught up in a lot of projects, including new Pretty Jelly collections for spring/summer 2014! There's a preview of one of the collections on FB if you'd like to see it. I'll be posting official swatches on the blog soon, so you can look forward to that. :)

In the meantime, check out these ten new releases from Milani for 2014!

Saturday, February 22, 2014

[Review+Swatch] Zoya Awaken and Monet for Spring 2014



Hey guys! Look what came in the mail today? It's Zoya's spring 2014 collection! I fell in love with all the soft colors, so I decided to swatch it right away for you. Plus the sun was out, so yay. :)

Monday, February 17, 2014

[Review+Swatch] OPI Brazil Collection for Spring/Summer 2014


Hey all! It took me a few days to get this post together, but it's finally up. :) The bright colors in this collection have me really looking forward to spring and summer. It's so cold, I'm literally counting down the days till spring. In the meantime, take a look at these sizzling colors!

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

[Review+Swatch] Nicole by OPI Carrie Underwood Collection



Hi guys! Today I'm showing you the entire Carrie Underwood collection from Nicole by OPI!

Monday, January 27, 2014

[Swatch+Review] Barielle Banana Drop, Satin Glow, & Blue Cotton Candy


Hi guys! Hope you all had an enjoyable weekend. Mine was super cold, and it's currently snowing again. I wish it would be spring already! Unfortunately, that won't be for a few more months. In the meantime, I've been enjoying these lovely colors from Barielle.


Banana Drop, 3 coats: pastel yellow creme. Most pale yellows aren't very flattering on me, but this one looked okay! It was a tiny bit streaky, but the third coat evened it out just fine. It was fairly easy to apply and has a smooth, shiny finish. I wore mine with base coat and didn't have any staining either.



Satin Glow, 3 coats: sheer, warm pink crelly with gold shimmer. First off, I really love shimmery creme-jellies, and this one is no exception. It's a bit sheer, but builds up nicely in three coats. It's also a little slow to dry, but expected for this finish. (Think Nicole by OPI Kim-pletely In Love, Sinful Colors Cinderella, Essence Grey-t To Be Here.)



Blue Cotton Candy, 2 coats: teal blue with silver shimmer. I love this one. It reminds me of Cult Nails Let Me Fly, but lighter and dustier. The formula was excellent, as was the opacity. Dry time was good as well.


Verdict: I'm glad I got to try all three of these. None of them were disappointing and lived up to my expectations in both color and consistency.

Availability: Barielle polishes are 5-free and are available for purchase at barielle.com for $8 each.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

[Review+Swatch] Nicole by OPI Better After Dark & Promises In The Dark



Happy Saturday! Hope everyone's weekend is going well! Today I'm showing you two chocolate-y shades inspired by Dove Chocolate. Nicole by OPI is currently doing a promotion with Dove to celebrate the launch of a new year and their new line of dark chocolates. You can enter their sweepstakes for a chance to win a bar of Dove chocolate and the lacquers shown above. They're giving away 25,000 of these kits, and you have till Feb 5 to enter. :D

I actually got a sample of Dove's regular dark chocolate, as well their new salted caramel version. Oh my gosh, you guys. These are so good. I was already a fan of Dove chocolate, but I think the salted caramel is my new favorite.♥

But enough about the chocolate, let's talk about the nail polish!

Monday, December 16, 2013

piCture pOlish Collab-Fest 2013 (Paradise)



Hey all you lovely people! If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll probably recognize this polish from piCture pOlish. Paradise is a color I created with piCture pOlish as part of their blogger collaboration. Today I'll be showing you a few more shots of Paradise, in case you missed it the first time around. ^^

If you're curious about my inspiration, the process, and how this beauty applies, check out the following posts below. They pictures there also do the polish a lot more justice, since they were taken in sunlight. As always, this color is so hard to photograph!

piCture pOlish Paradise by Liquid Jelly - shade inspiration, in depth formula and finish description
Announcement ♥ piCture pOlish Paradise by Liquid Jelly - great macro shots of the glitters

But here's a quick break down of Paradise. :)


I'm wearing 3 coats here on my little stubby nails. Unfortunately I had a break in my nails last week, so I'm a little sad I didn't take my pics when my nails were longer. I think for me, each time I wear Paradise I'm a little surprised. My favorite part is seeing it apply on my nails because the shimmer glimmers across my nails and settles around the pink glitters. It can photograph a bit gritty looking, but I promise you it's smooth to the touch. Especially with a nice top coat!






And here's one last artsy photo of Paradise. Not really color accurate - just for fun. :)


You can purchase Paradise or any of the piCture pOlish shades at http://picturepolish.com.au/ or from one of their international stockists.  Don't forget to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest piCture pOlish news!

Also, if you own Paradise, please share your pictures with me on Facebook or Twitter! I love seeing all the lovely messages and pictures you send me. :]

♥ Liz

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Check out all the other blogger collaborations.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Zoya Zenith Winter/Holiday 2013 Collection Swatches



Hi everyone! When I think of holiday polish, I think of a lot glitter and sparkle. Today's collection is no exception. Zoya's Zenith collection features an array of deep jewel tones, glitters, and shimmery silvers.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Precision Toxic Love Collection Swatches + Review



Hey guys! I recently got to try out this new collection by Precision and can't wait to share my experience with you.  First, a little bit about the brand. Precision is a line of polishes created by Lamoon Beauty. Lamoon means "the moon", representing the shape of our nail beds. I thought that was cute. :)

The collection I am showing you today consists of "six dark, seductive, and deep shades." Each polish is vegan, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and 3-free.

Since this was my first time wearing Precision nail lacquers, I did conduct a wear test with a few of the colors. For the most part, I would say that these wore fairly well.  I had minimum tip wear on day 5 and a small chip on day 7.  This was without base coat and top coat, so I'm sure it would wear much better with them.

Now on to the swatches!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Nicole by OPI Modern Family Holiday 2013



Wow, it's been too long!  I swear I was going to post more frequently this month.  I think I'll start posting notds on my Instagram account, so that I can share more frequently without worrying about all the editing and writing.  So if you're not following me there, please do! :)

I'm also planning a holiday giveaway for you guys, so keep you're eyes peeled for that!  Speaking of holidays, let's talk about this new Modern Family collection. ^^

Saturday, September 14, 2013

OPI San Francisco Collection Review + Swatches (Fall 2013)



Whee~ I feel like we're actually getting into fall now, which makes me happy since it's my favorite season.  Today I have the fall collection from OPI, so let's get started - there's a lot!

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Zoya Fall 2013: Satins Collection


Today I'm showing you the final fall collection from Zoya - the Satins Collection!  Satins is the metallic half of the two collections and is filled with glowing jewel tones.


Channing, 2 coats: rust red copper metallic with very fine gold shimmer.  All of the polishes in this collection were a bit thicker than what I prefer.  Aside from that, they still applied relatively well.  Because the formula is thicker, longer dry time between coats is recommended.  Some were better than others, and Channing was on the better performing side.



Mason, 2 coats: red-violet metallic.  I love how glowy this looks because of the violet shimmer in the red-purple base.  There are also some red fleck-like shimmers that give this color dimension.  However, I did find mine thicker than the others and slower drying.



Claudine, 2 coats: meteorite grey metallic.  It's a dark grey that doesn't come across as black.  Again, the formula is on the thicker side, but Claudine applied very well.



Neve, 2 coats: sapphire blue metallic.  I had no problems with the formula as it applied very smoothly.



Giovanna, 2 coats: lush emerald green metallic.  Hands down my favorite from not only this collection, but the Cashmeres collection combined.  The moment I saw this, I knew I would like it - and I was right.  It's a beautiful shade of emerald green.  I love how glowy this looks and it's bound to attract everyone's attention while you're wearing it.  This did, however, stain my nails a little bit near the cuticles, so beware.



Maria Luisa, 1 coat: sparkling cellophane gold topper.  Maria Luisa has a clear base filled with thin metallic, gold flakes.  I'm wearing one coat on my tips over Mason (above) and one full coat over Channing (below).  This is great if you want to add some subtle sparkle to your manis.


Verdict:  While the colors in this collection were all opaque in two coats, I did find the formula a little too thick.  Some of the polishes even got a bit gloopy around the neck of the bottle, so I plan on adding a few drops of thinner to mine.  It still applies well, but it could be better.  I recommend longer drying times between each coat.

Availability:  This collection is currently available at Zoya.com.  Each polish retails for $8.  You can also find Zoya polishes in stores at Ulta.


Whew - that's all of Zoya's collections for Fall 2013!  Which collection is your favorite (Cashmeres, Satins, or Pixie Dust)?  Let me know in the comments below. :)

Liz

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Essence Grey-t To Be Here

Wow, it's Thursday already!  It feels like this month is just flying by.  Today I have another polish I bought from Ulta last week.  I've had my eye on this polish for months now, but only just got it.  My timing couldn't have been any better, because all of the Essence polishes were on sale for 99 cents!


Grey-t To Be Here, 2 coats: grey creme-jelly with warm pink shimmer.  Gah, I'm seriously in love with the pink shimmer.  I was afraid the shimmer might be subtle, but it's not. :D  Application was lovely as well - two smooth easy coats with quick dry time.




 
Isn't it so soft and pretty?  I don't know why it took me so long to get this.  I also think I need more grey polishes.  For some reason, I don't have many.  Any recommendations?

Also, does anyone know if Layla is being discontinued at Ulta?  I couldn't find their display, and the sales girl helped me find it in the clearance section.  She said it looks like they might not be carrying them anymore.


Availability: You can find Essence polishes at Ulta for 1.99 each.

Liz