Salon Perfect Ivy League

Hi, you guys! Hope you had a great weekend, and your week is off to a good start. My weekend was incredibly lazy. It's been rainy and gloomy and dark, so I haven't felt like doing much at all. I need to move somewhere sunnier lol. :D

Today, I'm going to continue with another color from the Salon Perfect First Look Fall Collection. Ivy League is a dark mossy green with fine olive green shimmers in a metallic finish.

With Salon Perfect Matte Fx Top Coat

It's one of those naturesque colors that makes me think of tall mature trees in a forest with the canopy shielding out most of the sunlight. This is quite dark on the nails; not yet black, but it's getting close for me. The shimmers are subdued by the dark base and show up best under direct light. The formula is good for the most part. It's a little on the thinner side, but still easy and smooth to apply, and two coats gets the job done.

You can find Ivy League exclusively at Walmart stores for a retail price of $3.98 for 0.5 fl oz.

** This post contains product(s) provided for honest consideration.

Salon Perfect Playful Plum

Hi there! I'm sooo excited that it's Thursday. One of my favorite tv shows, Elementary, is coming back tonight and I can't wait! :D Are you guys looking forward to the return of any tv shows?

Today, I've got another beautiful shade from the Salon Perfect First Look Fall Collection to share with you. Playful Plum is a dark and vampy reddish plum purple with lots of shimmers.

With Salon Perfect Matte Fx Top Coat

The formula is a little thin and just a smidgen watery, so be sure to wipe carefully to avoid dollops of polish running down the brush and onto the nails. The application is great otherwise. Two smooth, non-streaky coats and you're all set. :) I do love that this shade is dark, but not so dark that you can't see the color in it. I also added the Matte Fx Top Coat just to see, and it looks amazing mattified too—edgy and mysterious.

You can find Playful Plum exclusively at Walmart stores for a retail price of $3.98 for 0.5 fl oz.

** This post contains product(s) provided for honest consideration.

Salon Perfect Scarlet Enchantment

Happy hump day, my friends! This week feels like it's going by fast, and that's always a good thing! :-)

Today, I've got another enchanting (teehee) shade from the Salon Perfect First Look Fall Collection to show you. Scarlet Enchantment is a bright scarlet red with red and gold shimmers in a metallic finish.

With Salon Perfect Matte Fx Top Coat

This is definitely one of those va-va-voom shades. The formula is great, so smooth and not at all streaky. The payoff is so good that you can get away with just one coat, though I did the usual two coats for the swatches to deepen the red shade a little more. Personally, I've always been a huge fan of red nail polish, which makes me feel so powerful and confident when I wear it. 

Just to see how this would look matte, I threw on Salon Perfect's Matte Fx Top Coat. And would you believe, I love it even more! I've been really getting into matte finishes lately and think that most dark fall shimmers look super duper amazing as a matte. What do you think of this red shade as a matte?

You can find Scarlet Enchantment exclusively at Walmart stores for a retail price of $3.98 for 0.5 fl oz.

** This post contains product(s) provided for honest consideration.

OPI Miss Universe 2013 Preview

OPI has announced a trio of polishes inspired by the women in this year's Miss Universe competition. One of the three colors, a textured matte, has a "new satin finish"... I wonder how the satin looks in combination with the texture. It sounds really interesting! :-) Please enjoy this preview and let me know what you think.

I'll link to my reviews once those are up. (All info and images are courtesy of OPI.)

Shades Fit for a Beauty Queen!

OPI Releases Limited Edition MISS UNIVERSE® 2013 Nail Lacquers

OPI announces the launch of three limited edition MISS UNIVERSE nail lacquers – the dusky purple I’m Feeling Sashy, the deep black plum Miss You-niverse, and the textured matte platinum This Gown Needs a Crown. Worn without top coat, This Gown Needs a Crown offers a new satin finish. Each bottle of this matte silver nail lacquer comes with a complementary bejeweled crown ring – the finishing touch for a manicure worthy of Miss Universe. All three hues are inspired by the gorgeous, sophisticated women entering the 2013 MISS UNIVERSE^® competition, to be held November 9, 2013.

“The women competing for the MISS UNIVERSE title are beautiful, intelligent and inspiring,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI co-founder and Artistic Director. “They are passionate ambassadors for many worthy causes, and through the Miss Universe Organization, they help to empower other young ladies around the world.

“The three new shades in the MISS UNIVERSE promotion were created with these exceptional women in mind,” continues Weiss-Fischmann. “The colors are very glamorous – ideal for special occasions, a night on the town, or even being named the most beautiful woman in the world!”

OPI was named the Miss Universe Organization’s official nail care sponsor for 2013 at the MISS USA^® pageant, a precursor to the MISS UNIVERSE^® competition.

MISS UNIVERSE nail lacquers each feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application. This Gown Needs a Crown features a satin finish and should be worn without top coat for best results. These shades will be available October 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. 

OPI Pink of Hearts 2013 Preview

OPI has announced their annual Pink of Hearts duo to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and support. I look forward to this two-polish set every year. It's for such a great cause and the colors are always lovely. This year, the glitter looks particularly interesting to me. :-) Please enjoy the info below.

I'll link to my swatches and review once it's up. (All info and images are courtesy of OPI.)

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

OPI announces the launch of its seventh annual limited edition Pink of Hearts promotion, featuring the classic sheer pink shade Pink-ing of You and the new sparkle-packed hue More than a Glimmer. Pink of Hearts 2013 will also include pink ribbon and crystal decals (10 each) to embellish nails. 

This duo pack is designed to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and support. In 2013, OPI will donate $25,000 in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) to Susan G. Komen®. OPI will also donate $5,000 to Rethink Breast Cancer in Canada.

“OPI is proud to support Susan G. Komen and Rethink Brest Cancer with the seventh annual Pink of Hearts promotion,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI co-founder & Artistic Director. “I encourage women to create and customize their own Pink of Hearts manicure, wearing these colors as a visible way to honor everyone whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.” 

Pink of Hearts 2013 includes two shades sold in one pack – the pale pink Pink-ing of You and the vibrant More than a Glimmer. This sparkly lacquer is packed with both micro and macro matte glitters in a rainbow of colors and should be worn without a top coat, either alone or layered on top of Pink-ing of You. Each bottle also features a special pink ribbon cap wrap in support of breast cancer awareness, and every set offers 10 each decorative pink ribbon and crystal decals. 

Pink-ing of You and More than a Glimmer feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application. Pink of Hearts 2013 will be available September and October 2013 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, jcp Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, ULTA and ulta.com for $15.95 ($19.95 CAN) suggested retail.

China Glaze Monsters Ball Preview

Good evening, ladies and gents! I've got a few press releases that are getting dusty in my inbox, so let me go ahead and share them with you. :-) First up, we've China Glaze's new collection for Halloween 2013. This six-polish set consists of five new colors and a glow-in-the-dark top coat. All the info is below.

(All info and images are courtesy of China Glaze.)

COME ONE, COME ALL: YOU’RE INVITED TO THE MONSTERS BALL

China Glaze® Introduces Six Limited Edition Shades for Halloween 2013

This October, you’re invited to celebrate with the ghosts and ghouls at the darkly decadent Monsters Ball, hosted by China Glaze®.  Attended by spooky sparkles and tantalizing textures, you’re sure to have a hauntingly good time with this limited edition six-piece collection shrouded in mystery and dripping with lavish color.  

Dance the night away in six colors and finishes perfect for All Hallows Eve:

Howl You Doin’: Shadowy purple glitter

Bat My Eyes: Ominous gold glitter

Boo-Gie Down: Multi-sized orange, black and white glitter

Fang-Tastic: Mysteriously mixed up green, blue and magenta glitter

Bump In The Night: Hair-raising black texture

Ghoulish Glow: Glow-in-the-Dark top coat

Ideal for creating holiday manicures that are a true work of art, the China Glaze® Monsters Ball display features artwork by renowned artist Abigail Larson, best known for her illustrations inspired by the various things that go bump in the night.

China Glaze® Monsters Ball will be available in October 2013 at fine salons and beauty supply stores. 

Salon Perfect Pink Taffeta

Hi, you guys! :-)

Today, I've got another of my picks from the Salon Perfect First Look Fall Collection to share with you. Pink Taffeta is a warm rose pink with lots of pink and gold shimmers in a metallic finish.

This is a pretty and feminine shade, with the golden shimmers adding a touch of autumn to the pink. The application is great. It takes two coats for opacity, with each coat being smooth and nicely pigmented. Metallic streaks are always amplified in swatches, but in person, most of the streaks disappear as the polish dries.

You can find Pink Taffeta exclusively at Walmart stores for a retail price of $3.98 for 0.5 fl oz.

** This post contains product(s) provided for honest consideration.

Salon Perfect Tainted Love

Happy Monday, you guys! Hope your new week is off to a good start! :-)

Today, I want to kick off a selection of my picks from the Salon Perfect First Look Fall Polish Forecast. Tainted Love is a soft neutral peach with lots of golden green shimmers and a metallic finish.

This is a very pretty and delicate shade, with just a pop of color to be interesting while still being neutral. My favorite part of this shade is the unique golden green shimmers. They add an interesting opalescent shine to the color. Unfortunately the shimmers were shy in front of the camera, but they're definitely stronger in person than in the swatches. As for the formula, it's really terrific. It applies thinly and smoothly, building to opacity in two coats without much streaking.

You can find Tainted Love exclusively at Walmart stores for a retail price of $3.98 for 0.5 fl oz.

** This post contains product(s) provided for honest consideration.

Sephora + Pantone Universe Purple Wine

Happy weekend! Hope yours is off to a fantastic start! :-)

As you guys know, "pink" and "shimmery" are two of my favorite words when it comes to nail polish, so I'm always looking for more of that to add to my stash lol. When I came across Purple Wine from the Sephora + Pantone Universe Spectral Lacquers, I knew I had to have it. Purple Wine is a bright purplish pink with tons of prominent blue shimmers.

Just look at the glow of the blue shimmers against the pink base! *stares* Seriously, you guys, I faint! :D This has got to be in my top five pinks now, which says a lot cause I have way too many pinks lol. The formula's pretty flawless, too. It's smooth and easy to apply, needing just two coats for total coverage. And it dries to a slight velvety matte finish, which looks amazing with the shimmers.

You can find Purple Wine currently on sale at Sephora stores and periodically here on Sephora's website for $5 for 0.3 fl oz (original price is $10).

Butter London Brown Sugar

Hi there, lovely readers! Happy Mid-Autumn! We celebrated with friends last weekend by eating mooncakes, the ubiquitous food of the holiday. I've never been a huge fan of the original flavors like lotus and red bean, but one of our friends found more interesting flavors for us to try, like jasmine tea, and they were delicious. Being the tea-lover that I am, I love anything tea-flavored. :-)

Today, I have another gorgeous lacquer from the Butter London Rock Your Colour Collection to share with you. Brown Sugar has a reddish brown base filled with oodles of golden shimmers and gold and pink glitters.

Gosh, isn't this one just sensational?! It's my favorite from the collection. It's so sparkly and full of warmth, really just a perfect color for fall. The formula's equally awesome. It's easy to apply, coming out effortlessly though a little on the thin side. I ended up doing three coats for total coverage, but you may be able to stop at two coats depending on your application. Even though this is a glitter, it dries glossy and smooth to the touch, which is a total bonus. :-)

You can find Brown Sugar on butterlondon.com and at select retailers such as Nordstrom and Ulta for $15 for 0.4 fl oz.

** This post contains product(s) provided for honest consideration.

Butter London Pistol Pink

Hi, you guys! :-)

Today, I've got another color from the new Butter London Rock Your Colour Collection to share with you. Pistol Pink is a raspberry pink speckled with lots of light pink shimmers.

My favorite part of this polish is its shimmers. They are bigger and look flakier than usual shimmers, so there's enough contrast to really pop against the magenta base. The application is easy thanks to a great formula. Each coat comes out thin, even, and smooth. It's also nicely pigmented, so two coats is all you need for opacity.

You can find Pistol Pink on butterlondon.com and at select retailers such as Nordstrom and Ulta for $15 for 0.4 fl oz.

** This post contains product(s) provided for honest consideration.

Butter London Jaded Jack

Happy Monday, you guys! Gosh, the weekend sure went by fast, didn't it? It's starting to feel like fall here. For the first time in a long time, both Saturday and Sunday were dark, cloudy, and rainy. Come back, summer! I'm not done with you yet lol.

Recently, Butter London came out with their Rock Your Colour Collection, and I have a few of the beautiful polishes to share with you. First up today is Jaded Jack, a citrus-y lime green creme.

What a fun color! I think it's a great transition from summer to fall, when you still want a little bit of brightness without going all out. This has great application, very smooth and even. I just needed the standard two coats and it was totally opaque. It dries to this interesting satiny rubber-like finish that I really like, but you'll need a top coat if you prefer a glossy shine.

You can find Jaded Jack on butterlondon.com and at select retailers such as Nordstrom and Ulta for $15 for 0.4 fl oz.

** This post contains product(s) provided for honest consideration.