Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Lava

Hi you guys! Yay for Friday!

Sally Hansen recently came out with their Lustre Shine collection, a set of duochrome polishes infused with real silver particles. When I first heard, I didn't pay too much attention. After all, it seems like every polish company has come out with their own line of duochrome polishes which contains least one gold/green duochrome that looks awfully like Chanel Peridot. But that all changed when I saw the bottle shots of Lava. Pink/orange duochrome, which no one else is doing!! And could this be a dupe or at least be of a similar inspiration as Mac Bad Fairy, a lemming of mine that has eluded me?

Lava is composed of a sheer base with warm, shimmering pink/orange duochrome particles. What you see on the nails when you look at it from straight on is that the center color is pink, while the edges of the nails are orange. The more you tilt your hand, the more orange you will see. The polish comes out in smooth, medium consistency coats, and dry time is pretty quick. Due to its sheer base, you do need three coats to achieve the look you see in the swatches.

I went a little crazy with the pictures. I think I took over 100 shots in total to try to capture the color shift, and finally whittled it down to the few you see. My expectations were so high, and still Lava managed to blow me away. Since I don't have Mac Bad Fairy, I don't know if they are true dupes, but Lava totally fills the spot in my heart that had been lusting after Bad Fairy's pink/orange duochrome goodness.

The only negative is that Lava is a little pricey. I found mine at RiteAid for $8 for 0.33 fl oz, compared with salon brands such as OPI or Essie, which are $8 to $8.50 for 0.5 fl oz. And due to its medium consistency and needing three coats, you will see a noticeable dent in the bottle after each use.

For me, the only question left is, how many backup bottles should I buy? :P What do you guys think? Will you be picking up Lava or any of the other colors from this collection?

OPI So So Skullicious Halloween 2012 Swatches and Review

Today, I have this year's OPI Halloween offering to share with you guys. So So Skullicious is a limited edition set of four mini lacquers in bright orange, pink, black, and yellow hues, plus a sheet of skull nail decals. More info about the collection can be found here.

Because of the size of the mini bottles, I couldn't find a good way to hold them for the swatch pictures while having all my fingers line up. So I settled for swatches without the bottles, and hope you guys do not mind the change in posture. :-)

Hi, Pumpkin! is a bright citrusy orange with a creme finish. I did two coats, and it was still a little streaky, so you may need three coats for this one. It dries about a shade darker on the nails than what you see in the bottle.

A-Rose from the Dead is a bright, cool-toned, fuschia pink with a creme finish. This isn't a color I would normally associate with Halloween, but it's still pretty. This looks to be close to Kiss Me On My Tulips, so I pulled that out and did a quick compare. They are not dupes. They look almost identical in the bottle, but A-Rose is about two shades lighter and quite a bit warmer once on the nails.

Morning Glory is your typical black creme, opaque in two coats.

Candlelight is a banana yellow with a creme finish. The formula is mostly smooth, though a little streaky, so you will need three coats. Each coat does dry fast, so you do not need to wait more than a minute or two between coats.

In addition to the four polishes, you also get this sheet of cute and bright skull decals.

Overall, this collection is a set of bright and fun polishes, though none of them are particularly unique. All the polishes have smooth formulas and mostly cover with the standard two coats, with only Candlelight needing three coats. The small brush gave me some trouble until I got used to it. I found the trick is to load up the brush with polish and then to skip wiping off the excess polish. The overloaded brush then has just enough polish to cover one nail without dragging or pooling.

You can find the So So Skullicious set for a limited time at your local nail salons and beauty stores for $12.50.

** This post contains a product that was provided to me by the company for honest consideration. How I obtain the products does not influence my opinion. For more info, please view my Disclosure Policy.

OPI So So Skullicious Halloween 2012 Preview

Hi you guys! I'm currently working on the swatches and review for OPI's So So Skullicious Mini Lacquer Set for Halloween 2012, so I thought I would share with you the press release in the meantime. Please enjoy! :-)

(All info and images are courtesy of OPI.)

Colors to Die For!

OPI Launches So So Skullicious
Mini Lacquer Set for Halloween 2012

Celebrate the lives of the dearly departed with OPI’s festive Dia de los Muertos-inspired shades, arriving just in time for Halloween, for a limited time only. The new So So Skullicious mini pack includes four mini lacquers in supernaturally bright and bold orange, pink, yellow and black hues.

The So So Skullicious set also includes 10 nail decals for instantaneous nail design, offering vibrant variations of the iconic Dia de los Muertos skull.

“Rather than simply be spooky this Halloween, OPI has created colors that are full of life,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “So So Skullicious features vivid colors and fun nail decals that offer the perfect way to get festive for the holiday, whether you’re looking for a little way to show Halloween spirit, or planning to get decked out from head to nails and toes!”

So So Skullicious includes the following shades:

Hi, Pumpkin! This jack-o-lantern orange is sweet on you.
A-Rose from the Dead This hot pink is the life of the Halloween party.

Mourning Glory A black so shiny, it will lift your spirits.
Candlelight Be all aglow in this flame yellow.

Each nail lacquer shade in this set contains no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde. So So Skullicious will be available for a limited time beginning September 2012, at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $12.50 ($14.95 CAN) suggested retail for each mini pack.  

OPI Pink of Hearts 2012 Swatches and Review

Today, I have OPI's Pink of Hearts 2012 Collection to share with you guys. This limited edition collection is released by OPI to raise awareness and funds during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. More information about the collection and the cause can be found here. This collection contains a pair of polishes in the colors I Think In Pink and You Glitter Be Good To Me. 

I Think In Pink is a light, soft bubblegum pink with a creme finish. The formula is thin and even, and it goes onto the nails smoothly without any application issues. Two coats was still a little sheer, so I ended up doing three coats for the swatches. 

You Glitter Be Good To Me is a glitter polish made up of small, round, light pink reflective glitters and larger hexagon-shaped purple glitters. Since its base is sheer, I applied it over I Think In Pink for the swatches. During application, the small glitters are easy to place. For the larger glitter pieces, you have to remember to dab where you want them and then gently smooth out the polish so that the pieces will stay in place.

Overall, this is a cute collection for a wonderful cause. I'll definitely be wearing this frequently in the month of October to show my support for Breast Cancer Awareness.

You can find Pink Of Hearts 2012 for a limited time at your local nail salons and beauty stores for $14.95 for the pack of two polishes.

** This post contains a product that was provided to me by the company for honest consideration. How I obtain the products does not influence my opinion. For more info, please view my Disclosure Policy.

OPI Pink Of Hearts 2012 Preview

Please enjoy this preview of OPI's Pink of Hearts 2012 duo in support of breast cancer awareness. I should have swatches and review ready for you tomorrow morning (as long as I don't get distracted by Sunday Night Football). :D

(All info and images are courtesy of OPI.)

Pink for the Cure

OPI Supports Breast Cancer Awareness with Sixth Annual Pink of Hearts Promotion 

OPI announces the launch of its sixth annual limited edition Pink of Hearts promotion, featuring the classic pale pink shade I Think in Pink and the new sparkle-packed hue You Glitter Be Good to Me. This duo pack is designed to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and support. In 2012, OPI will donate $25,000 in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. OPI will also donate $5,000 to Rethink Breast Cancer in Canada.

“Organizations like Susan G. Komen and Rethink Breast Cancer offer hope to everyone whose lives have been touched by breast cancer, and OPI is proud to aid these organizations’ global effort in eliminating this disease,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “Breast cancer afflicts millions of women worldwide, and Pink of Hearts is OPI’s way of creating new visibility to honor those who have valiantly battled breast cancer, and support those who continue to fight.”

Pink of Hearts 2012 includes two shades sold in one pack – the pale pink I Think in Pink and the vibrant You Glitter Be Good to Me. This sparkly lacquer is packed with both micro and macro glitters in pink and magenta, and can be worn alone or layered on top of I Think in Pink. Each bottle of I Think in Pink and You Glitter Be Good to Me nail lacquer has a special pink-ribbon cap wrap in support of breast cancer awareness. 

Both lacquers in the Pink of Hearts 2012 duo pack contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and each includes OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application.

Pink of Hearts 2012 will be available September and October 2012 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $14.95 ($20.95 CAN) suggested retail.

Zoya Ornate Collection Holiday/Winter 2012 Preview

Hi lovelies! A preview of Zoya's Ornate Collection for Holiday/Winter 2012 has landed in my inbox, and I wanted to pass it along to you guys.

I'll link to swatches and reviews once I have those. (All info and images are courtesy of Zoya.)

It’s time to celebrate... so make sure you celebrate in style!

The NEW Zoya Ornate Collection is the perfect to decorate your nails with stunning jewel tone colors and special effect pigments this season. Featuring six stunning, glittering, crystal shades in our new Power Pigment Full Coverage Formula. Superior coverage and dynamic color in one. All in the long-wearing, toxin free (BIG5FREE) formula you love... Each one is as beautiful as the next.

Zoya WINTER/HOLIDAY 2012/13: ORNATE Collection

·         Blaze (ZP641) - Cranberry Glitter Glam Crystal - Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage

·         Electra (ZP642) - Holographic Tinsel Special Effect- wear it alone or layer it for extra drama

·         Ziv (ZP644) - Gold Foil Glitter Crystal - Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage

·         Storm (ZP645) - Black with Multi Color Crystal Shimmer - Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage

·         Aurora (ZP646) - Plum with Multi Color Crystal Shimmer - Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage

·         Logan (ZP647) - Green Foil Glitter Crystal - Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage

$8.00 ea. US. Shipping October 15, 2012. Pre-order available NOW on Zoya.com.

It looks to be an exciting collection, and I love that each color is named after a female superhero. What do you guys think? Which of these colors are you most excited about? <3

Priti NYC Ruffled Velvet Iris

Happy Friday! :-) The end of this week totally crept up on me. One minute it was Monday, I had a whole week to get things done, and I was definitely on track. Next minute, it's Friday, I haven't gotten much of anything done, and I'm totally behind. Ah ya!

Today, I have yet another beautiful polish from Priti NYC to share with you. Ruffled Velvet Iris is a deep, velvety royal purple with lots of fine shimmers in a metallic finish.

The formula is excellent, as is usual for Priti NYC polishes. It comes out smooth, thin, and pigmented, needing just two coats for opacity. It dries fast, so wait time between coats is minimal. And even though this is a metallic, there is barely any perceptible brush strokes.

I'm a total sucker for rich, vibrant colors like this, especially for the fall. The clouds here in the Pacific Northwest get so thick and gray that they cast their dark gray shadow over everything. It looks like color has been wiped out from the world. In such gray times, it's incredibly comforting to look down and see some pretty colors on my nails. :-)

You can find Ruffled Velvet Iris on PritiNYC.com for $12.50 for 0.43 fl oz.

** This post contains a product that was provided to me by the company for honest consideration. How I obtain the products does not influence my opinion. For more info, please view my Disclosure Policy.

Priti NYC Love Patt

Hi you guys! Today, I have another lovely Priti NYC polish to share with you guys. Love Patt is a fresh, grassy green with a creme finish.

Love Patt is a little thinner, so I did three coats for what you see in the swatches. It also has a sheer, squishy texture that makes it look somewhat like a jelly. The formula is smooth and easy to apply, though drying time between coats is a minute or two longer than usual. This is a fun, interesting green that is unique in my stash.

You can find Love Patt on PritiNYC.com for $12.50 for 0.43 fl oz.

** This post contains a product that was provided to me by the company for honest consideration. How I obtain the products does not influence my opinion. For more info, please view my Disclosure Policy.

Priti NYC Lungwort

Hi you guys!

I have just received a few lovely polishes from Priti NYC, and I am so excited to share them with you. Today I'll start off with the most cheerful, summery one. Lungwort is a bright, pastel aqua with a creme finish, and it was originally released as part of Priti NYC's Turkish Sorbet Spring 2012 Collection.

This has a wonderfully smooth and buttery formula. It goes onto the nails easily without any pooling, lumping, or dragging. The first coat is a little streaky, but it all evens out and is opaque with the second coat.

While a lot of the pastels I have seen lately have been on the more muted and dusty side, this pastel is unapologetically bright. I love that the color just jumps out at me from the nails. As we approach the colder winter months, I think I will be wearing this one quite a lot to ward off the winter blues. :-)

You can find Lungwort on PritiNYC.com for $12.50 for 0.43 fl oz.

** This post contains a product that was provided to me by the company for honest consideration. How I obtain the products does not influence my opinion. For more info, please view my Disclosure Policy.

Orly Mysterious Curse

Hi you guys! I have another untried from my collection to show you today. I have been saving this one for the fall, as well. It is Mysterious Curse from Orly's Dark Shadows Collection that was released earlier this year. It is a blue/purple duochrome with a metallic finish.

The base color of Mysterious Curse is dark purple, and its shimmers are blue. What you see on the nails when you look at it from straight on is that the center color is blue, while the edges of the nails are purple. The more you tilt your hand, the more purple you will see. I had a bit of trouble getting the exact shade of color correct in my pictures. In person, the purple and blue colors have a slightly muted quality to them that I just wasn't able to capture in my pictures, so what you see is just a shade more vibrant that it really is.

The formula is easy to work with and fast drying, and I needed only the standard two coats for opaque coverage. One thing to note about this polish is that it is an exact dupe of Orly's Royal Velvet. I'm not sure why Orly would release the exact same color under two different names. I think Mysterious Curse is gorgeous and I love it! But if you already have one or the other, you definitely don't need both.

You can (probably still) find Mysterious Curse at your local nail salons, at beauty stores such as Ulta and Sally Beauty, and online at select beauty retailers.

China Glaze Agro

Hi you guys! Hope your week is off to a fabulous start! :-)

Today, I have an untried from my polish collection to share with you. I have been saving this rich color for fall, and now that fall is finally here, I eagerly brushed this on my nails. It is Agro from China Glaze's Capitol Colours Collection (inspired by The Hunger Games). It is a deep, mysterious olive green with a golden sheen and tons of silver, green, and gold shimmers, all in a metallic finish.

This gorgeous color totally surpassed my expectations. It looks kind of murky in the bottle, but on the nails, it has so much depth and really comes alive. The formula is lovely, with great consistency, pigmentation, and coverage. I did two coats in the swatches for opacity. Each coat dries lightning fast, so you need not wait long between coats. It's a metallic, but not at all streaky. All in all, it's a wonderful color for fall, and I think I'll be wearing it a lot in the upcoming months. :-)

You can (probably still) find Agro at your local nail salons, at beauty stores such as Ulta and Sally Beauty, and online at select beauty retailers.