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// REVIEW: BA STAR Natural Shadow Palette(Press samples provided...

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:42:00 -0700

REVIEW: BA STAR Natural Shadow Palette
(Press samples provided for review.)

Hello, hello! Today I have an eye shadow palette from BA STAR to show you. This is the Natural Shadow Palette, which contains three build-able neutral/brown tones for lustrous smokey eyes, along with two gel glitters for extra glam.

The set comes with a double-ended applicator:

I am not too fond of this regular hair brush because the bristles are a bit flimsy and don’t pick up the powder very well. If you’re at home doing your make-up, I suggest using your own brushes or if you’re on the go, your ring finger will do the job.

On the other side is a standard sponge tip, which works much better in my opinion. Again, nothing too special. If you have a fluffy brush, you will be able to blend in the colors better.

Now let’s move on to the eye shadows!

As I mentioned, there are five different shadows in this palette - three powders and two gels.

The first three are mineral shadows are in the colors Bronze, Cocoa, and Nude. Because the tones are in very natural shades, it seems to me that they will work for any skin tone! I love that you have everything you need in this compact set. The two gel glitters are new to me. I have never used a gel eye shadow before, but these are pretty cool. If you’re going to have a night out after a long day at work, just dab on a bit of the glitter over the mineral shadows for that extra bit of glitz and shine. ;)

TIP: Start out by priming your lids with your favorite eye shadow primer, then apply the Nude shadow all over your lid. Then using the Bronze and Cocoa shadows, slowly build up on the outer V of your eyes to achieve that smokey look. Be sure to blend well so that there are no harsh lines. Finish up with a dark brown/black eyeliner and mascara and you’re ready to go!

Aside from the Natural Shadow Palette, BA STAR offers three other shadow palettes in various colors (here). Perhaps you prefer to have bright colors on your eyes!

BA STAR has kindly offered a discount code to my readers (that’s you!) to receive 50% off your purchase. Just use the code BBSMOKY when checking out!

Have fun! Keep in touch with me: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

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Products provided for an honest review.

REVIEW: Barielle Summer Brights Collection 2013 +...

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:51:00 -0700

REVIEW: Barielle Summer Brights Collection 2013 + SWEEPSTAKES
(Press samples provided for review.)

With summer coming right around the corner, it is time to make the transition from your springtime pastels to bright, hot hues. Barielle created a set called Summer Brights to help you with those indecisive moments when you have absolutely no idea what to put on your nails. Let’s check out these beauties now, shall we?

Super bright colors not your thing? You can never go wrong with a simple baby pink creme. This is two coats of Pink Flip-Flops. Application is smooth and easy for such a light color! This is perfect for a pedicure to keep your toes looking stylish when you’re wearing sandals throughout the hot summer.

Like bright, eye-catching colors? Then Lemondrops is for you! I am always so impressed with a brand when they can make a yellow polish go on flawlessly and non-streaky on the nails. I just needed two coats for this cute, sunshine yellow creme.

Sweet Addiction is a basic jade creme. This was one of my first Barielle colors and I just love it! And guess what? It’s a one-coater! ;)

Cosmic Kiss is hot, hot, HOT magenta creme. How cute would this color look with your frilly sundress and over-sized sunglasses? Yep, I am totally ready for the summertime. I used two coats to achieve full opacity.

Finally, we have Blue Capri here. So maybe pink is not your thing and you love blues as much as I do. Then this one is for you! This is a gorgeous, one-coater polish. I am not quite sure how I would describe this color to you - It’s not quite blue, and it’s not quite purple. It’s blurple? Plue? Ah, it’s gorgeous, so let’s leave it at that!

And there you have it! Just a few more colors for you to consider adding into your summer nail wardrobe.

Barielle polishes are available on their website for $8/bottle, or you can get the entire collection for $25 here.

Want to try your luck at winning this set + more Barielle goodies?

Barielle is hosting a Sweepstakes starting Monday May 5th thru Monday May 27th. There will be 10 winners and one Grand Prize Winner.

The prizes are Mani-Pedi Spa kits and the Grand Prize includes one Michael Kors Wallet in addition to the Spa Kits.

The lucky winners will get:

One 5 Pack Nail Color Set – Retail $25
One Nail Rebuilding Protein – Retail $17.50
One Nail Strengthener Cream – Retail $17
One No Chip Speed Dry Topcoat – Retail $12.50
One Total Foot Care Cream 2.5oz – Retail $12.00
One Professional Protective Hand Cream 2.5oz – Retail $8.00

Total Value of $92.00!

Just go to Barielle’s Facebook page (here) and click on the Sweepstakes tab to enter. Good luck!

Have a great day! And don’t forget to keep in touch with me. :)

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

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Products provided for an honest review.

PREVIEW: OPI Couture de Minnie Collection OPI Walks the Runway...

Tue, 07 May 2013 09:48:08 -0700

PREVIEW: OPI Couture de Minnie Collection

OPI Walks the Runway with New Couture de Minnie Nail Lacquers, Inspired by Minnie Mouse

OPI announces the launch of its Couture de Minnie collection, including four limited edition nail lacquers and one new Liquid Sand™ shade. Created in honor of Disney’s beloved character, the Couture de Minnie line explores the fashion-forward side of Minnie Mouse, mixing pink, fuschia and red shades with textural elements. In addition to three crème lacquers, the Couture de Minnie line features a red and white polka dot glitter shade and the strawberry-hued Liquid Sand nail lacquer in Magazine Cover Mouse to give nails a sparkly, matte finish.

“Last summer, OPI created a ‘Vintage Minnie Mouse’ line. Women around the world fell in love with the fun and playful shades evocative of Minnie’s traditional look,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “This year, OPI is exploring a different side of Minnie Mouse. The Couture de Minnie collection draws inspiration from Minnie’s iconic style and incorporates trends most recently seen on the runways, from standout shades to fun textural elements.”

The Couture de Minnie collection includes:

Chic from Ears to Tail This pop of bubblegum pink is totally fabulous!
A Definite Moust-Have This fantastic fuchsia is at the top of my shopping list.
Minnie Style This white and red glitter is the height of fashion.
Innie Minnie Mightie Bow Catch this crimson by the toe!
Magazine Cover Mouse The headline-making strawberry has sparkling texture.

Couture de Minnie nail lacquers each feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application. Liquid Sand lacquers should always be worn without top coat. This limited edition promotion will be available beginning June 2013 at professional salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, jcp Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, ULTA and ulta.com for $9.00 ($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!

PREVIEW: Nicole by OPI Scandalous! Neons & Notorious!...

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:12:47 -0700

PREVIEW: Nicole by OPI Scandalous! Neons & Notorious! Neons

Nicole by OPI Announces Two New Limited Edition Neon Mini Kits, the Brand’s First Neon Lacquer

Nicole by OPI launches its first neon nail lacquer with two limited edition mini kits. Scandalous! Neons includes vivid shades of blue, purple and pink while the Notorious! Neons includes vibrant shades of green, fuchsia and orange.

Each Neons kit includes a special white base coat, to be applied before adding color, allowing true neon pigments to pop. “These kits offer the hottest hues in a mini size to complement summer styles,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “Think of your nails as a blank canvas. With these color combinations, there are endless options for creating works of art.”

In addition to the white base, Scandalous! Neons includes:

Blue Neon (this blatant blue is deliberately belligerent)
Purple Neon (this attention-seeking purple is a real publicity hound)
Pink Neon (this pink’s purpose is to provoke your senses).

Along with white base, Notorious! Neons includes:

Green Neon (this gossip-stirring green is the talk of the town)
Fuchsia Neon (this fuchsia is famous for being unabashedly bold)
Orange Neon (this outrageous orange doesn’t know the meaning of meek).

“The shades included in both sets are perfect for accessorizing fingers and toes with bright pops of color,” adds Weiss-Fischmann. “The first step is to apply the white base coat followed by the desired neon shade; finish with one coat of Nicole by OPI Top Coat Plus to achieve intense neon color with a glossy finish.”

Nicole by OPI formulas are long-lasting, fast-drying, and salon-quality. Scandalous! Neons and Notorious! Neons mini packs will be available in stores beginning May 2013 for $10 each at retailers including Meijer, CVS, Duane Reade, H-E-B, Kroger, and ShopKo. Top Coat Plus will be sold alongside the kits for $7.99. In Canada, the kits will be available for $12.50 each and Top Coat Plus for $10.99 at Loblaw, Jean Coutu, Rexall, London Drugs, and Shoppers Drug Mart.

For more information, visit nicolebyopi.com. Follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter @NicoleByOPI and become a Facebook fan!

REVIEW: Zoya Stunning Collection Summer 2013 (as previewed...

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:44:25 -0700

REVIEW: Zoya Stunning Collection Summer 2013 (as previewed here)
(Press samples provided for review.)

Oh my, it is such a hot day today in sunny California! It’s the perfect time to get your nail polish wardrobe ready for the summer. Today I have Zoya’s Stunning collection to show you. Get your eyes ready for some beautiful, bright cremes! You may want to put your sunglasses on. ;)

First up is Darcy, a vibrant, sunshine yellow creme. I know that some people stray away from yellow polishes, but get out of that comfort zone and slap on something bright this summer! This is three coats.

Thandie is a coral creme. It is much more pink in person than pictured. Sometimes when you’re having a bad day, putting on colorful nail polish can instantly brighten up your mood (or is that just me?). This is such a cute color that can make you look very happy. :) I used two coats here.

Micky is a sweet, bubblegum pink creme. Super cute for a pedicure when you go out to the beach this summer! Two coats for full coverage.

Yana is a beautiful magenta creme. If you have smaller nails, this polish could easily be a one-coater!

These last two colors are my favorite from this set. Rocky is a lovely shade of sky blue. It’s adorable and a must-have for me! I used two coats.

Josie is a lovely kelly green creme. I don’t think I have a green like this in my collection, so it is definitely unique to me. Love it! I used two coats.

Application was great for all of these except for Darcy. I had a bit of a streaking issue in the first two coats of the yellow creme, but the third coat smoothed everything out.

The Stunning collection is available NOW on the Zoya website for $8 each. Be sure to get yours to sport these hot colors this summer!

Happy Friday, everyone! :)

Connect with me: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

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Products provided for an honest review.

PREVIEW: OPI San Francisco Fall/Winter 2013...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:50:32 -0700

PREVIEW: OPI San Francisco Fall/Winter 2013 Collection

Urban-Inspired Nails!

OPI Launches the San Francisco Collection for Fall/Winter 2013

San Francisco by OPI brings street chic style with West Coast flair to nails and toes for Fall/Winter 2013. This new collection features a palette ranging from sky and sea-colored hues of blues and gray to reds, burgundies and browns inspired by some of the city’s most iconic elements – Chinatown, the Golden Gate bridge and the Embarcadero. This fall mélange is mixed with texture, seen in three new Liquid Sand™ nail lacquers in earthy hues of taupe, blue and gray: It’s All San Andreas’s Fault, Wharf! Wharf! Wharf! and Alcatraz…Rocks. Liquid Sand lacquers dry to a textured, matte finish, infused with reflective sparkle.

“To me, the women of San Francisco and the city itself really epitomize today’s multifaceted beauty consumer,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “San Francisco offers a European flair with distinct West Coast attributes. These elements inspired a collection of urban chic nail lacquer shades, thanks to the sophisticated combination of high fashion and eclectic street style.

“With twelve colors ranging from moody grays and blues to garnet and ruby jewel tones, these lacquers are designed to accessorize fall’s hottest looks, from military details to winter whites,” continues Weiss-Fischmann. “On fall runways, models were seen wearing luxurious textures from head to toe. The three new Liquid Sand nail lacquers incorporate the texture trend through nails, with rich matte finishes in colors to complement the season’s fashion.”

San Francisco by OPI includes the following shades:

A-Piers to Be Tan I shore do like this chocolaty tan.
Dining al Frisco Just feast your eyes on this fresh-air blue!
Haven’t the Foggiest Can’t tell you why I love this misty gray…I just do!
Peace & Love & OPI This holographic sage and eggplant is far out!
Keeping Suzi at Bay There’s no holding back this assertive navy blue.
Incognito in Sausalito You better keep this almost-black blue under wraps.
Lost on Lombard Oh garn-et! I’m all turned around!
I Knead Sour-Dough Are you bready to wear this toasty warm brown?
Muir Muir on the Wall This trailblazing plum is the fairest of all.
In the Cable Car-Pool Lane Good golly, Miss Trolley, this rich burgundy takes me away!
Embarca-Dare Ya! Betcha can’t pass up this marvelous magenta.
First Date at the Golden Gate You and me and this shimmery ruby make three.
It’s All San Andreas’s Fault I’d move mountains to get this textured earthy taupe!
Wharf! Wharf! Wharf! Dog-gone it…fetch me that textured matte blue!
Alcatraz…Rocks There’s no escaping this arresting textured gray.

San Francisco nail lacquer shades each feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application. Liquid Sand nail lacquers should always be worn without top coat. San Francisco by OPI will be available August 7, 2013, at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, jcp Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, ULTA and ulta.com for $9.00 ($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!

NOTD: Revlon Heavenly over Black OPI Black OnyxRevlon...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:42:59 -0700

NOTD: Revlon Heavenly over Black

OPI Black Onyx
Revlon Heavenly

Hello lovelies! I apologize for the inconsistency of my posts lately. School has been hectic and problem sets have been taking up the majority of my time, poo. :( But not to fear, I still have ten fingers that want to be painted so I will continue to post as often as I can!

Today I have a quick glitter combination to show you. This is Revlon’s Heavenly layered over a black creme. Heavenly is one of Revlon’s newer selections. This clear-base polish is jam-packed with iridescent square and hex glitter chunks. In the bottle, it appears to be milky - nothing too fantastic, but once layered over a dark creme, it’s eye-catching! Many thanks to my momma for picking it up for me. <3

I love how it turns blue, green, and orange at various angles.

What do you think?

Keep in touch with me: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Until next time, toodles!

ALL TAPED UP! Julep Kate gold striping tape Hi there! :) I have...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:03:10 -0700

ALL TAPED UP!

Julep Kate

gold striping tape

Hi there! :) I have a quick NOTD post for you.

When I started painting these nails, my original intent was to use the gold striping tape as painter’s tape to paint another color over the white base, but after seeing how elegant the gold looked against white polish, I decided to leave them.

I started with my base Kate, which is a white polish with a pearl finish. I received Kate in my Julep Maven box last July along with other goodies. Then using the striping tape, I went ahead and dazzled up the manicure with some gold stripes.

Tip: Use a top coat to prevent the tape from peeling up.

That’s it! Have a great Friday, everyone! :)

Keep in touch: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

PREVIEW: Nicole by OPI LIMITED EDITION Gumdrops...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:28:28 -0700

PREVIEW: Nicole by OPI LIMITED EDITION Gumdrops Collection

“Sugar” Coated Nails!

Nicole by OPI Announces NEW Limited Edition Gumdrops Nail Lacquers

Nicole by OPI launches Gumdrops – six new limited edition matte texture shades designed to give nails a mouthwatering manicure. With a “sugar-like” finish that lightly shimmers with fine glitter particles, Gumdrops features brilliant candy colored hues.

“These shades are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Co-Founder & Artistic Director. “By combining groundbreaking texture technology with some of the hottest trends including matte and shimmer finishes, Nicole by OPI has created a new line of lacquers for cutting-edge manicures. Worn without top coat, Gumdrops lacquers dry to a textured matte finish to give nails a “sugar” coated appearance.

Gumdrops shades include:

I Lilac Gumdrops But I love this sugar-frosted lavender.
My Cherry Amour You’re the one magenta I adore.
Candy is Dandy This sweet pink is my favorite guilt-free treat.
Cinna-man of My Dreams I dream in shades of this warm spice pink.
Blue-Berry Sweet on You I’ll be true to this berry blue hue.
A-Nise Treat This shimmery licorice is everyone’s favorite.

Nicole by OPI Gumdrops nail lacquers should always be worn without top coat to achieve the unique textured matte finish.

Nicole by OPI formulas are long-lasting, fast-drying, and salon-quality. This limited edition collection will be available beginning May 2013 for $7.99 each at retailers including select Walmart (May 2013), CVS (June 2013), Rite Aid, Kmart, Kroger, Ulta, H-E-B, and Duane Reade locations (August 2013), In Canada, these shades will be available for $10.99 each at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart Canada (July 2013), Jean Coutu, Loblaw, and London Drug (August 2013).

For more information, visit nicolebyopi.com. Follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter @NicoleByOPI and become a Facebook fan!

GIVEAWAY: $1000 Shopping Spree at dfi Aging Good morning,...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:49:53 -0700

GIVEAWAY: $1000 Shopping Spree at dfi Aging

Good morning, sunshines!

I have recently learned about a brand new skincare line called dfi Aging. Scientifically formulated by a world-renowned surgeon, who’s worked with celebrity and royal clientele worldwide, dfi Aging represents a breakthrough in anti-aging skincare. To celebrate the new launch, they are giving away $1000 in product to one lucky fan.

What do you have to do? Just enter in the Rafflecopter widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! :)

REVIEW: Milani Ultrafine Liquid Eyeliner(Press samples provided...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:13:12 -0700

REVIEW: Milani Ultrafine Liquid Eyeliner
(Press samples provided for review.)

Ahoy there! Today I am showing you Milani’s Ultrafine liquid eyeliners in five different shades. I will show you to swatches on my arm, rather than my eyes because I haven’t figured out how to adjust the lighting against my face just yet and I want to be able to show you the true colors of these eyeliners.

But first, let’s talk about the brush.

The wand has a pointed felt tip which allows for precise application. You can use the tip to draw thin lines or you can apply a bit more pressure and let the larger end of the tip help you draw thicker lines.

This felt tip is extremely helpful for a beginner because unlike a brush tip, the felt does not change shape as it glides against your skin, thus allowing for straight, crisp lines since you have better control. If you don’t have a steady hand, I advise for you to practice with these eyeliners!

Picture above from left to right: Black Vinyl, Black Gems, Prismatic Purple, Sparkling Turquoise, and Emerald Glisten

Black Vinyl is a basic black liquid eyeliner. The formula is highly pigmented, so you wouldn’t need to draw the line on more than once.

Black Gems is another black liquid eyeliner but with ‘gems’ laced in. That is, there are various colors of sparkles. It adds a very intense and bold touch to make your eyes pop!

Prismatic Purple is a gorgeous violet liquid eyeliner with a navy blue shimmer.

Sparkling Turquoise is a sparkling, metallic turquoise. This is perfect for the springtime.

Emerald Glisten is a must-have! Emerald is the color of the year, so you’ll definitely want to give this a go. It’s beautiful and glistens in the sun.

All five of these eyeliners are waterproof and smudge-proof, which is a big plus in my book because I tend to rub my eyes throughout the day (bad habit, I know). Since they are waterproof, you need to use an oil-base makeup remover to take them off. The nice thing is that with remover, they will come off with ease and will not smear around your face (so no raccoon eyes!).

These eyeliners are available at CVS, Target, Walgreens, Walmart, and Kmart for $7.49 each. You can also find them on the Milani website (here).

Questions? Comments? Keep in touch with me on FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM!

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Products provided for an honest review.

REVIEW: Nicole by OPI Modern Family Collection (as previewed...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:19:00 -0700

REVIEW: Nicole by OPI Modern Family Collection (as previewed here)
(Press samples provided for review.)

Hello! Today I am excited to show you the Nicole by OPI and Modern Family collaboration. Together, they came up with fourteen (yes, you read that right - FOURTEEN!) nail colors with witty and “punny” names. To all you Modern Family fans, get ready! ;)

Am I Making Myself Claire? is a muted lilac creme. It appears to be almost gray, but with a subtle purple tint to it. This is just two thin coats.

I usually avoid frost-finish polishes because of the usual streaky application, but I do declare that I Do De-Claire! (see what I did there? bahaha) has a wonderful, non-streaky formula. This girly rose-mauve frost is just perfect in two coats!

She’s Lily Something is the polish that I was most excited to try out because of the star glitter. Unfortunately, the stars are extremely difficult to get out of the bottle, so “fishing” is definitely required. On the other hand, I don’t mind that the stars don’t come out because the shimmery pink-tinted base alone adds a new dimension to the base color! This is three coats of She’s Lily Something using the “dabbing technique” over Stand by Your Manny (which I will show you three pictures down).

A Like-Haley Story… is a stunning fuschia creme with a pink shimmer. I took so many photos of this polish, and could not get the shimmer to show up, but you can slightly see it in the bottle. This is two coats for full coverage.

My Jay or the Highway! is a simple taupe creme. Formula is a bit watery, so use thinner coats to avoid flooding your cuticles. I used three coats here.

Stand by Your Manny is a dusty baby blue with a silver shimmer. I really like this color, but boy, I found the application of this polish to be quite wonky. I don’t know what was going on, but no matter how long I waited for the polish to dry between coats, the previous coat kept getting dragged up by the next. I needed to use four coats to cover up all the bald patches caused by the dragging. Pretty color, bad formula.

Okay, I just love minty green cremes, so it’s a given that I love Alex by the Books. This is three coats.

Haley Good Lookin’ is a clear base with a mixture of pink hex glitter in two sizes. There are also some iridescent larger hex pieces in there as well that reflect nicely in the light. I layered one coat of Haley Good Lookin’ over Am I Making Myself Claire?, which was shown at the beginning of this post.

Basking in Gloria is a rich and bold frosty raspberry color. I used two coats.

Luke of the Draw is a black jelly base with silver glitter. I was expecting complete coverage since this is a black jelly, but even after three coats, you can see my bare nails through the polish. I suggest layering this over a black creme.

A Phil’s Paradise is an intense, charcoal gray metallic polish. I love this! Three coats here.

Candid Cameron is an amazing duo-chrome polish in blue and green. You absolutely need to see this in person at various angles! This is two coats.

Back in my Gloria Days is a beautiful purple with a bronze shimmer. This is the most unique color of this collection (and when I say unique, I mean I don’t have anything like it in my stash!). This is a must-have in my opinion! Two coats.

What’s the Mitch-uation? is a frosty midnight blue. Another georgeous, intense color! Two coats.

Whew! So what did you think of these colors? My top picks are Alex by the Books, Candid Cameron, A Phil’s Paradise, and Back in my Gloria Days.

Modern Family lacquers are available now for $7.99 each at retailers including select Walmart, Target, CVS, Rite Aid, Kmart, Kroger, ULTA, H-E-B, Meijer and Duane Reade locations. In Canada, this line will be available for $10.99 each at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart Canada, Jean Coutu, Loblaw, and London Drug.

Don’t forget to keep in touch with me on Facebook and Instagram!

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Product samples provided for an honest review.

REVIEW: alessandro - Peachy Cinderella(Press sample provided for...

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:22:16 -0700

REVIEW: alessandro - Peachy Cinderella
(Press sample provided for review.)

Hello lovelies! Today I have a nail polish from a new brand (new to me) to introduce to you. alessandro is one of the leading luxury nail polish and hand care brands in Europe that has officially crossed the ocean to launch alessandro’s 99 fabulous shades of nail color (and more) in the USA. I am wearing alessandro’s Peachy Cinderella which is a coral/salmon creme.

I only needed to use two thin coats for full coverage. The application of this flawless formula is perfect! It is non-streaky and dries to a glossy finish.

The thing that caught my attention right away is the ergonomics of the bottle. (Is there such a thing as ergonomics for a nail polish? Haha!) The sides are curved in so that your thumb and index finger fit comfortably. There are also some ridges on there so that your fingers don’t slip while painting! Well, that’s what I think they are there for. :)

Isn’t the bottle shape pretty?

There are even more colors on the alessandro website (here), so be sure to check them out! Each bottle retails for $12.

What do you think? Do you like this coral creme polish?

Talk to me on Facebook and Instagram! :)

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Product provided for an honest review.

REVIEW: Milani Color Statement Lipsticks - Naturals &...

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 12:08:48 -0700

REVIEW: Milani Color Statement Lipsticks - Naturals & Browns
(Press samples provided for review.)

Hey, hey! Today I have the remainder of the Color Statement lipsticks from Milani to show you. These are the natural and brown shades. The natural shades really add a bit of color to make your lips look smooth and healthy! I really was not expecting to find any of these shades compatible with my skin tone, but to my surprise, I ended up loving most of them. It just goes to show you that you’ve gotta try a color before you decide whether or not you like it!

Naturally Chic (25) is my favorite! This pinkish nude cream lippy makes my lips look so healthy! I have pale lips and this simple lipstick really helps to brighten up my face.

Nude Creme (26) is as the name says - a nude cream, haha. It’s a bit too light for me.

Dulce Carmelo (27) is a very light pink with a pearl finish. This is another color that is easy to wear on a daily basis. The pearl glow gives the illusion of plumper lips. ;)

Teddy Bare (29) is close to my actual lip color. It helps even everything out for me. Would definitely wear this again!

Candied Toffees (30) is a milk chocolate brown metallic lippy. It’s much too dark for me, but I will definitely use this to mix with another color to my liking.

Bronze Beauty (31) is a brown lippy with an intense bronze shimmer! Shockingly enough, I like the shimmer in this lipstick quite a bit!

D’Oro (36) is a golden metallic. It’s close to a sandy color, but has a stunning gold shimmer. This does not work well on me unfortunately.

Chocolate Berries (37) sounds delicious, huh? It’s a deep brown with reddish hues. Can I pull this off? Perhaps, but I would need to blotch the color a bit to lighten it before I go outside!

Double Espresso (38) is the darkest brown of this set. This is a pearl-finish lippy. I love the intensity of the color, but it’s much too dark for me.

For the first four lipsticks shown, I used Milani’s Color Statement Lipliner in Spice (09) to line my lips and for the remaining colors, I used Cocoa (10). These liners are a must to prevent your lipstick from feathering and outlining your lips prior to lipstick application results in a crisp and clean look.

I really like the lighter tones in this set, but the deeper browns were much too dark. Which ones would you wear?

Milani’s Color Statement Lipsticks and Lipliners are available at CVS, Target, Walgreens, Walmart, and KMart. You can also find them on the Milani website (here).

Don’t forget to keep in touch with me on Facebook and Instagram!

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Product samples provided for an honest review.

REVIEW: Nicole by OPI CVS Exclusives (as previewed here)(Press...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:15:00 -0700

REVIEW: Nicole by OPI CVS Exclusives (as previewed here)
(Press samples provided for review.)

Hello hello! :) Today I have seven CVS-exclusive polishes from Nicole by OPI to show you. This collection has four cremes and three frosts/metallics for you to enjoy.

I Sea You and Raise You is a rich, sky blue creme. I used two coats here. Smooth and flawless application!

Always a Silver Lining is a nice silver with bits of glitter sparkles. It can be streaky, so you should use a light hand when applying this polish. I used three coats.

Don’t Overpink It is a creme-jelly piggy pink. I say jelly because the first two coats are quite sheer, but the third coat covers up the nail lines. Very cute color!

Feeling Grapeful is another creme-jelly polish. This vibrant orchid polish is a must-have! I used two coats.

A Pinker Shade of Pale is a grayish pink frost. I like the subtlety of this color, but the formula is just so streaky! Two coats here.

Personally Speaking… is a rosy metallic. Again, since it’s a frosty polish, application can be streaky. I used two coats.

Marooned in Paradise is a sexy, vampy maroon creme. I absolutely love this color on shorter nails - very chic! I used two coats here.

These new CVS-exclusive shades are available now for $7.99 each at select CVS locations nationwide.

What are you favorites from this collection?

Keep in touch with me on Facebook and Instagram!

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Products provided for an honest review.

REVIEW: Milani Color Statement Lipsticks - Plums &...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:56:39 -0700

REVIEW: Milani Color Statement Lipsticks - Plums & Berries
(Press samples provided for review.)

O hai, lovely readers! Today I have the plum and berry shades of Milani’s Color Statement Lipsticks to show you. In case you missed my swatches of the reds/oranges and pinks/corals, I will link them at the end of this post for you.

Plum and berry shades are definitely out of my usual preference for lip colors, but these rich, vampy colors make quite the fashion statement! Now let’s look at some swatches!

Plumrose (17) is a cream-finish pink orchid color. It’s a ‘safe’ color to wear since it’s more pink than purple.

Raspberry Rush (19) is a metallic purple-pink with a hint of blue in the frost. Very bright!

Uptown Mauve (20) is another bright lippy! This is a cream-finish mauve. Pretty!

Sangria (21) is a matte, vampy plum color. I really love matte lippies!

Chilled Brandy (22) is a brown/bronze-berry frosty polish. In my opinion, it’s a tad too dark for my skin tone, but perhaps you can pull off this color better than I can!

Black Cherry (24) is a gorgeous berry cream. It is definitely very dark, so I can’t see myself sporting this on a daily basis, but it would look awesome with a sophisticated black dress if you’re going to a party!

Violet Volt (34) is the most purple shade from this set. Surprisingly, I found myself really liking this vibrant metallic lippy!

For 21, 22, and 24, I used the Color Statement Lipliner in Brandy (07) to line my lips prior to lipstick application. The creamy lipliner is a must to outline the shape of your lips! And for the rest, I used the Color Statement Lipliner in Fuchsia (08).

Which colors do you like from this set? My personal favorites are 19, 20, and 34!

If you missed the reds/oranges swatches, you can find them here and the pinks/corals are here.

Milani’s Color Statement Lipsticks and Lipliners are available at CVS, Target, Walgreens, Walmart, and KMart. You can also find them on the Milani website (here).

Don’t forget to keep in touch with me on Facebook and Instagram!

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Products provided for an honest review.

REVIEW: OPI Bond Girls Collection (as previewed here)(Press...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:09:46 -0700

REVIEW: OPI Bond Girls Collection (as previewed here)
(Press samples provided for review.)

The more textured polishes I try, the more I am liking this new trend! Today I have the Bond Girls collection to show you, which features six brand new Liquid Sand polishes from OPI. These polishes will be available in stores at the beginning of May this year.

Oh my, this was the first polish I swatched in this set and I fell in love instantly! Solitaire is a white textured polish with silver sparkles. I highly recommend this polish for a bride! It’s just so elegant and clean and would match perfectly with a shining diamond ring. ;) This is just two thin coats and NO top coat.

Pussy Galore is a cotton candy pink textured polish with a beautiful fuchsia shimmer. Unfortunately I could not capture it with my camera, but believe me when I tell you that this polish looks much, much better in person. This is two coats.

Tiffany Case is a frosty blue with silver sparkles. The formula is fantastic and I only needed to use one coat for full coverage.

Vesper was a surprise for me! It appears a bit muddy in the bottle (almost brownish), and I was not expecting a deep aubergine color to come out. With one coat, you can see a jelly purple with black glitter, but after applying the second coat, you can no longer see them. I’m on the fence about this color because the outcome looks a bit like bumpy leather…

Honey Ryder is gold in a bottle! The textured finish brought back memories of when I was in the fourth grade learning about the California gold rush. We went on a field trip and got to pan for gold in the river. I found several pieces of pyrite which looked and felt exactly like Honey Ryder. Whoops, I’m getting off topic, but I’m just trying to tell you that I love this polish! ;)

Jinx is a stunning coral jelly with a mesmerizing golden shimmer. Oh, it is absolutely amazing in the sun - you’ve got to try it! This is two coats. I am going to go ahead and say that this will be the most popular shade from this collection!

OPI Liquid Sand lacquers should always be worn without top coat (but that shouldn’t stop you from experimenting, hehe).

Bond Girls by OPI nail lacquers feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application. These six new shades will be available beginning May 2013 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Chatters, JCP Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $9.00 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer.

Questions? Comments? Keep in touch with me on Facebook and Instagram!

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Products provided for an honest review.

PREVIEW: Zoya Stunning & Irresistible Collections Summer...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:27:16 -0700

PREVIEW: Zoya Stunning & Irresistible Collections Summer 2013

JUST LIKE THE SUN, YOU ARE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION!
STUNNING & IRRESISTIBLE

Twelve new Sun Inspired Colors for Summer 2013.

Summer brings the sunniest colors to nails! Including six super shiny creams and six fresh foil metallics to put all the focus on the brightest shining light in any room - YOU!

Zoya SUMMER 2013: STUNNING Collection

Darcy (ZP663) - Sunny Yellow Cream - Full Coverage.
Thandie (ZP664) - Citrus Orange Cream - Full Coverage.
Micky (ZP665) - Amazing Coral Cream - Full Coverage.
Yana (ZP669) - Rubine Red Cream - Full Coverage.
Josie (ZP667) - Grassy Green Cream - Full Coverage.
Rocky (ZP668) - Serene Blue Cream - Full Coverage.

Zoya SUMMER 2013: IRRESISTIBLE Collection

Kerry (ZP684) - Yellow Gold Foil Metallic - Full Coverage.
Amy (ZP670) - Red Orange Foil Metallic - Full Coverage.
Tinsley (ZP671) - Rose Gold Foil Metallic - Full Coverage.
Bobbi (ZP672) - Hot Magenta Pink Foil Metallic - Full Coverage.
Hazel (ZP673) - Blue Green Foil Metallic - Full Coverage.
Rikki (ZP674) - Fern Green Foil Metallic - Full Coverage.

Shipping April 15, 2013
$8.00 ea. (US)
Available on Zoya.com

Ultra long-wearing, glossy nail lacquers by Zoya are BIG5FREE - all formulas are completely free of harmful industrial chemicals such as toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are known to cause cancer and birth defects.

Find over 300 stunning Zoya colors on www.zoya.com.

Each and every color has a name as unique as the women who inspired it.

ZOYA IS THE NEW COLOR OF FASHION!

REVIEW: Nicole by OPI Collaboration with KELLOGG’S® SPECIAL K®...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:39:00 -0700

REVIEW: Nicole by OPI Collaboration with KELLOGG’S® SPECIAL K® (as previewed here)
(Press samples provided for review.)

Nicole by OPI and Kellogg’s teamed up together to create three custom nail polishes to promote healthy eating and confidence. If you purchase specially-marked Special K products, you can enter in the codes to receive these three gorgeous colors.

With the purchase of three eligible Special K products, consumers will receive the shade Challenge Red-y. After submitting the purchase codes from eight eligible Special K products, consumers will receive all three lacquers – Challenge Red-y, Pros & Confidence and Be Ama-Zing!

Nicole by OPI generously sent me all three colors so that I could show you what you could get just by submitting in some codes! :) So without further ado, let’s take a look at these swatches.

Be Ama-Zing! is a highly-pigmented, hot pink creme. The formula for this polish is absolutely amazing - I used just one coat for full coverage!

Challenge Red-y is another one-coater polish. There are so many shades of red polishes out there, but this is my definition of a true red creme. It’s absolutely perfect in every way and it could be yours with just three Special K codes!

Oh, I just love blues. This is two thin coats of Pros & Confidence, an aqua blue creme.

Creme-finish polishes with smooth application always win a special place in my heart, hehe. Be sure to submit those codes to get your polishes so you know exactly what I’m raving about. :)

Questions? Comments? Keep in touch with me on Facebook and Instagram!

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Products provided for an honest review.

REVIEW: Milani Color Statement Lipsticks - Pinks &...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:45:03 -0700

REVIEW: Milani Color Statement Lipsticks - Pinks & Corals
(Press samples provided for review.)

Wheee! I have more lippies to show you today. Last time I showed you swatches of the reds and oranges from Milani’s Color Statement Lipsticks collection and today I have the pinks and corals.

Pink Frost (09) is a metallic, shimmery pink. I don’t think I can pull off frosty lipstick very well, but it is definitely something to try if you’re willing to move out of the comfort zone. :)

Fruit Punch (11) is a more natural shade of pink. Very creamy and easy to wear with any eye makeup!

Flamingo Rose (12) is cream-finish magenta lippy. It makes your lips look extra sweet! ;)

Rose Hip (14) is a bright orchid cream. It is much less purple in person - I’m not sure why my camera freaked out on me with this color, haha!

Hot Pink Rage (15) has a beautiful matte finish. Definitely a nice lipstick to add a pop of color to your face!

Flirty Fuchsia (16) is definitely flirty! This vinyl-finish lipstick is very highly pigmented to perfectly stain your lips with this kissable color. My favorite of this set!

Rose Amour (33) is my definition of a perfect Barbie lipstick. It does not work very well for my skin tone, but I just love the creamy application!

I used two different lip liners for these lippies. All Natural (04) and Haute Pink (05) are both perfect to match up with these pink and coral shades.

So how do you like these pinks and corals? Talk to me on Facebook and Instagram!

Milani’s Color Statement Lipsticks and Lipliners are available at CVS, Target, Walgreens, Walmart, and KMart. You can also find them on the Milani website (here).

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Products provided for an honest review.