Friday, June 30, 2017

6:00 AM

Game Face Grooming Wipes


     Last week I was given the opportunity to try out Game Face cooling wipes. Since I'm a two-sport athlete I was excited and eager to try them out. There's nothing worse out on the sand volleyball court that being all sweaty and having the sand stick to you, especially your face! Or having sweat run into your eyes when trying to catch a fly ball in the outfield. I opted to try the cooling wipes meant to energize and invigorate specifically because of the sports I play but there are several options to choose from. And they can be found at Walmart and GNC stores if you're in a hurry don't want to wait for shipping from the Game Face Grooming site. 



About the Product
Deodorizing Underarm and Body Wipes
Our Deodorizing Wipes are perfect for a quick post-workout wipe down. They are made with a cleansing formula that kills odor and leaves the skin feeling clean & fresh. Game Face’s Deodorizing Wipes are perfect for gym rats of all degrees to keep themselves smelling fresh after a rigorous workout.

Anti-Bacterial "Warrior" Wipes
Our anti-bacterial “Warrior Wipes” are made with a mild hand/body sanitizing cleansing formula that kills germs and leaves the skin feeling clean & fresh. Our eco-friendly wipes are perfect for gym rats of all degrees to keep themselves free of MRSA and other staph based bacteria that are common in work out facilities.

Cooling Facial Wipes
Our line of “Cooling Wipes” (Energize & Invigorate) are specifically designed to keep you cool in the hottest of situations, wiping away sweat without leaving any trace of residue. Cool down, energize & get back in the game.

Cleansing Facial Wipes
Our "Cleansing Wipes" (Refresh & Rejuvenate) wipe away dirt, grime, and sweat while also hydrating the skin.

All products are:
Paraben Free
Hypoallergenic
98% Natural
100% Biodegradable (TENCEL)
Dermatologist Tested
Made In The USA!



   

      Game Face Grooming, the originator of men's athletic facial wipes! Our approach is original formulations built from the ground up for performance minded athletes! Game Face Wipes are designed to help athletes cool down, swipe away dirt and grime while gently exfoliating to even out skin tone and leave skin feeling hydrated and smooth! 

     Stay fresh on the fly with Game Face Wipes! Whether you're soaking up the sun at the beach, hitting the gym, working on the construction site, landscaping the yard in the brutal heat, or simply just trying to catch your flight, Game Face Wipes are designed to help you stay fresh & clean while going about your daily responsibilities! 

    I tested out the wipes in both situations and was impressed. Not only did they clean me off but they really did cool me down! And I love the fact that I wasn't left with a wet feeling on my face. The moisture evaporated almost instantly leaving me with cool soft skin.


     The wipes come in an easy to carry package similar to baby wipes and conveniently into fit  into most purses and gym bags. The easy open tab makes it easy to grab and go and the wipes are huge!

Wipe shown against an 11 1/2 X 9 folder

     I'd have to say my only complaint is that the scent is a bit strong for me, It reminds me of cucumber melon which I like. This was just a bit much, thankfully it fades away withing 5 minutes give or take, depending on what you're doing. 

     While game face wipes are primarily targeted to the male athlete they work great for both skin types and I easily see myself trying out the other styles. Well, that's all I have for today. I hope you enjoyed this post and I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 


Wednesday, June 28, 2017

6:00 AM

Cupcake Polish - Lilac You Mean It


     Back in October, my wonderful Fiance bought me my very 1st Cupcake Polish, in fact, he bought me 6. Am I a lucky girl or what! Today I'm sharing one with you that he picked out for both of us. Lilac you Mean It. You see his favorite color is purple and my absolutely favorite scent is Lilac. I get so happy in the spring time when they bloom and a bit sad a week later when they are done.  Now thanks to his generosity I get to have a beautiful lilac shade on my nails anytime I want.

purple-linear-holographic-nail-polish
   
     Lilac You Mean It is a medium purple linear holographic polish with a blue undertone. Sadly my camera picked up more on the blue than it did the purple. My macro shot is the most color accurate shot I could get. And believe me, I tried! I used 3 different cameras and as many lighting options as I could find. 

purple-linear-holographic-nail-polish

Purple-linear-holographic-nail-polish

     Lilac You Mean It has a smooth flawless application and as you can see a strong holographic flash. Shown here is 2 coats plus top coat. I have to say I don't own a single polish quite like this one. Sure I have a few lilac colors and a lot of holos but not both together. 

     Sadly Lilac You Mean It is no longer available for purchase, but there are a ton of other beautiful holographic polishes to satisfy you. What are your favorites from this brand? Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!




Monday, June 26, 2017

6:00 AM

Z Plate Decals


     Happy Monday everyone, wow where did the weekend go? I don't know about you but I was so busy it feels like I blinked and my weekend was gone. On a positive note, I was able to get my 2 new helmers built and my collection organized. My collection was starting to get out of control and I had bottles in little totes and covering my desk. Now everything is in its place and I feel like I can start focusing more on nail art instead of just swatching.  Afterall nail art is the reason I started this blog in the first place. Which brings me to today's post. I realized it's been over a month since I've shared any nail art with you, May 10th be exact when I shared my pink roses look.  This time I'm sharing some decals I created using Z Plate Image plates from Mundo De Unos.


     This look went a little bit outside of my comfort zone with the color pallet and I found that I really like it. Maybe I've been playing it a little too safe all these years and need to venture outside the box more often.... hmmm that's something to think about.

     To create the decals I used the reverse stamping technique and pulled out my Simply Neat Miracle Mat and image plate Abstractos 4 using Hit the Bottle polish Absinthe. A shimmery green polish that reminds me of summer.



    Once the image dried to used my smallest dotting tool and filled this image in. For the center, I went with Sinful Colors Vibrant Vida and the "petals" I used Taupe is Chic part of the Trend Matters collection. A collaboration with Kylie Jenner and Sinful Colors nail polish.


     I've found that the easiest way to create decals is to use a non-quick drying top coat. You can read about my failed attempt at making decals in this post featuring Smoky Mountain Lacquers Radiant in Orchid.  Trust me it's not a pretty site and I learned a lot from that attempt. My favorite top coat to use for decals is Sally Hansen Double Duty. It dries reasonably quickly but stays pliable so the decals are easy to work with.


     
     Do you have any tips for creating decals? How about a favorite top coat to use? Let me know in the comments and as always Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!




Saturday, June 24, 2017

10:49 AM

Literary Lacquers - Returning Favorites


     Happy Saturday! I know I'm posting outside my regular schedule again but I felt that these polishes were too good to wait. Plus I didn't want any of you to miss out on getting your hands on them. Did any of you pick up the Ocean at the End of the Lane trio from Literary Lacquers? Well, I hope you're not done shopping yet because today I have 3 more beautiful colors to share with you: Feather Family, If Thou Hast Eyes to See and Porco Rosso. 2 of these are returning favorites and 1 is a free gift with purchase. Read on to find out more.

Photo was taken in a lightbox

Photo was taken in direct sunlight
     Porco Rosso is described as a deep red linear holo with taupe and gold flakies. When I looked at the bottle I saw a magenta linear holo with gold flecks.

     Released in 2014 as part of the Community Collection. Porco Rosso was created by Schette of SchetteEssaisBeaute and inspired by the book of the same name.

     Like Miner's Gift the formula on this one is a tad thicker than I'm used to but still very easy to work with. I had smooth even coverage and complete control over where the polish went. Porco Rosso is also extremely opaque and could be a 1 coater. Shown here is 2 coats plus top coat.







     There are a lot of linear holos out there that are very similar to this. In fact, I've got a few sitting in my Helmers. But what makes Porco Rosso stand out from the rest is the addition of those Taupe and Gold flakes.


     If Thou Hast Eyes to See is described as soft sea green. Looking at the bottle I saw pretty much the same thing. A sea foam green creme nail polish.

     Released in the summer of 2016 as part of the Othello Duo this green is bright enough to catch attention but not so bright that it's eye-searing.

     The formula was a little on the thin side but not to the point where I had any pooling at my cuticles. On the first coat, I had some bald patches thanks once again to the horrible ridges in my nails. Everything evened out nicely and full opacity was reached after 2 coats. Shown here is 2 coats plus top coat.



     My daughter took one look at this polish and commented, "wow that's a bright burst of color on your nails." I had to agree with her, but I also smiled because it made me look tan. Which is a blessing to this Irish daughter of a redhead.

Photo was taken in a lightbox

Photo was taken in direct sunlight
     Feather Family is described as sparkling soft pink holo. When looking at the bottle I saw a medium pink with scattered holographic glitters and a hint of linear holo flash.

Inspired by The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Named by Alex Bacon-Leslie, LitLaq Marketing Director

When I was searching for the right name for this gift with purchase polish to adequately express the gratitude I have for the support and love given to me by my fans and customers as I come out of this long dark period of LitLaqlessness, Alex pointed me in the direction of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, a brilliantly fun sci-fi book by Becky Chambers. The book introduces a few interesting alien species, including Sissix, the reptilian feathered Aandrisk tech. 
 “Okay, well, on her wall, there’s this big fancy frame with a mess of Aandrisk feathers hanging from it. Every Aandrisk’s got one, as far as I know. See, if you’re an Aandrisk and somebody really touches your life in some way, you give that person one of your feathers. And then you keep the feathers you get from others as a symbol of how many paths you’ve crossed. Having a lot of feathers on your wall shows that you’ve had an impact on a lot of people. That’s a pretty big priority for most Aandrisks. But they don’t give feathers out casually, not, like for helping you carry something or giving you a free drink or whatever. It’s got to be an experience that sticks with you, but it can totally be between strangers.”
 Thanks for being my feather family.

     The formula on Feather Family is absolute perfection. I had flawless application and no catching or dragging on the ridges in my nails. Shown here is 2 perfect coats plus top coat.





     I feel this is just the right shade of pink for my skin tone. It's a hint darker than bubblegum pink which I love and it's a great color for summer.

     As mentioned above Feather Family is a gift with purchase polish. All purchases over $20 will get a free mini bottle and purchases over $50 will receive a full sized version.


 The Ocean at the End of the Lane Trio Released on Friday, June 23rd from Literary Lacquers at noon MDT along with some returning favorites. Want to know what they are so you can knock out some of those lemmings? Well, you're in luck I just happen to have a list!

1. And So I Step Up 
2. Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster 
3. Ether Binge 
4. Flickum Bicus 
5. Grasshopper With Candy Colored Hair 
6. Porco Rosso 
7. Some Glad Morning 
8. Green Gables
9. Lake of Shining Waters 
10. Raspberry Cordial? 
11. Marilla’s Amethyst Brooch 
12. If It Pleases You 
13. Happy Prince 
14. Hope Is A Thing With Feathers 
15. Amortentia
16. Mysterious Irrevocable Sacred
17. Orgasm
18. If Thou Hast Eyes To See
19. Desdemona’s Handkerchief
20. Salmon Chanted Evening
21. Bluestocking Romance
22. Breathing Dreams Like Air
23. Laters Baby
24. Long May She Reign

      This is not a restock situation, the shop will remain open and stocked. Holos/Multichromes will be $12 and Shimmers/Cremes will be $10. 

     Be sure to follow Literary Lacquers so you never miss an update. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!


Friday, June 23, 2017

6:00 AM

Zoya - Kaufda


     Happy Friday everyone! I hope your week went well and that you get to enjoy the weekend. I don't have a lot of plans, except to work on a lot of swatching and try to get ahead on blog posts. For those of you who follow me on snapchat  (I'm lustrouslacquer if you want to add me) you got a full preview of all the polish I have piling up to review, I also posted a glimpse on Instagram. I tend to post a lot of behind the scenes stuff on snapchat so if you're interested feel free to add me. But enough pimping of my social media let's get to the real reason you're here, the polish! Today I'm sharing one of Zoya's classic colors Kaufda which was released in late 2009 or early 2010. I haven't been able to narrow down a specific date or collection for this online. If you know please let me know in the comments.

Rustic-copper-orange-nail-polish-with-golden-shimmer

     Kaufda is a rustic coppery orange polish with golden shimmer. I've had my bottle for about 4 years and didn't really mix it up well before using which may have caused the formula to be thin. I'll have to give it a good mixing and try it again to be sure.

Rustic-copper-orange-nail-polish-with-golden-shimmer

     The application process was surprisingly easy and even considering the polish was so thin. The first coat was on the sheer side but more opaque than I was expecting and completely even and full opacity was reached with 2 coats. Shown here is 2 coats plus top coat.

     Like all shimmer finishes, Kaufda suffers from brushstrokes and is unforgiving when it comes to nail imperfections. A good top coat helps to hide some of this but sadly not all of it.

Rustic-copper-orange-nail-polish-with-golden-shimmer

     I think the golden shimmer really helps illuminate the polish adding warmth and depth. Kaufda really is a gorgeous color and really fun to wear during the summer. It's definitely one I'll be sporting on my toes in the near future.

     Sadly Kaufda is no longer available from Zoya but you might get lucky if you search some destashes. I do have some good news though, Zoya is currently running a promotion! It's Buy 3 Get 3 free with code 3Color. This promotion is valid until 7/7/17 at 11:59 pm EST. Let me know what's on your lemming list from Zoya in the comments. As always Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

Thursday, June 22, 2017

12:28 PM

Literary Lacquers -Ocean at the End of the Lane trio


     Today I have for you a gorgeous trio releasing to the core line of colors on June 23rd from Literary Lacquers. The Ocean at the End of the Lane Trio which is inspired by the book of the same name is sure to have something for everyone whether you like matte polishes, multi-chromes, glass fleck or holographic finish.

Indie-nail-polish-blurple-holographic-grey-matte-blue-linear-holo


     Miner's Gift is described as a blue/purple multi-chrome with holographic micro flakes. When I looked at the bottle my first impression was a deep dark blurple with gold micro glitters. 

Inspired by the character of the opal miner. The death of the miner is the catalyst for the awakening/actions of Skarthach. His offhandedly adult means of compensating for the loss of the one thing that gave the boy comfort is counter-balanced by Lettie’s selfless, childish (as in done by a child – not as in immature) and steadfast determination to make things right for her friends. As such, the Miner (and other adults – Hempstocks excluded) is the initial counter character to Lettie.

“He was a South African, although he had made his money mining for opals in Australia. He gave my sister and me an opal each, a rough black rock with green-blue-red fire in it. My sister liked him for this, and treasured her opal stone. I could not forgive him for the death of my kitten.” p. 14

Blurple-multi-chrome-nail-polish-with-scattered-holo

     The formula for Miner's Gift was a bit thicker than I'm used to but not to the point that it was difficult to work with. Because my nails are still recovering from my foray into builder gel nails and have a VERY distinct ridge I had a small issue with bald spots on the first coat. Everything built up nicely and you can barely see the ridge after the coat. So I guess what I'm saying is that even if your nails are in rough shape this polish will make them look fabulous. And if you don't have a distinct ridge like I do you won't have any issues with application. Shown here is 2 coats plus top coat. Miner's Gift dries to a smooth sparkly finish.

Blurple-multi-chrome-nail-polish-with-scattered-holo

Blurple-multi-chrome-nail-polish-with-scattered-holo

     Swaying Grayly is described as matte light grey polish packed with silver flakes and glass fleck. My first impression after looking at the bottle was a medium grey polish with silver and gold flecks.

Grey-matte-nail-polish-with-silver-flakes-and-glass-flecks
Swaying Grayly without top coat
Grey-matte-nail-polish-with-silver-flakes-and-glass-flecks
Swaying Grayly with a glossy top coat

Designed with Adrienne Nguyen

Inspired by the persistent description of Ursula Monkton in her true form as Skarthach of the Keep as represented by tattered grey canvas.


“It was my old bedroom, but it wasn’t. Not anymore. There was the little yellow handbasin, just my size, and the walls were still robin’s-egg blue, as they had been when it was mine. But now strips of cloth hung from the ceiling, gray, ragged cloth strips, like bandages, some only a foot long, others dangling almost all the way to the floor. The window was open and the wind rustled and pushed them, so they swayed, grayly, and it seemed as if perhaps the room was moving, like a tent or a ship at sea."

     Swaying Grayly has a smooth even application and a flawless formula. each coat was packed with sparkle. Shown here as 2 coats without top coat and then the addition of a glossy top coat. Dries to a smooth finish with zero texture from the flecks.

Grey-matte-nail-polish-with-silver-flakes-and-glass-flecks
Swaying Grayly without top coat

Grey-matte-nail-polish-with-silver-flakes-and-glass-flecks
Swaying Grayly with Glossy top coat

Grey-matte-nail-polish-with-silver-flakes-and-glass-flecks
Swaying Grayly without top coat

Grey-matte-nail-polish-with-silver-flakes-and-glass-flecks
Swaying Grayly with Glossy top coat
     Lettie's Ocean is described as a soft turquoise holo with holo sparkle. My first impression after looking at the bottle was a pale turquoise with scattered holographic glitters and a subtle hint of linear holo.

Soft-Turquoise-holographic-nail-polish
Lettie's Ocean photographed in a lightbox
Soft-Turquoise-holographic-nail-polish
Lettie's Ocean photographed in direct sunlight

Designed with Carolyn Chambers

Lettie is an eleven-year-old girl who just may have very well been eleven for a very long time. 


"Lettie Hempstock was made of silken sheets the color of ice, filled with tiny flickering candle flames, a hundred hundred candle flames. Could there be candle flames burning under the water? There could. I knew that, when I was in the ocean, and I even knew how. I understood it just as I understood Dark Matter, the material of the universe that makes up everything that must be there but we cannot find. I found myself thinking of an ocean running beneath the whole universe, like the dark seawater that laps beneath the wooden boards of an old pier: an ocean that stretches from forever to forever and is still small enough to fit inside a bucket, if you have Old Mrs. Hempstock to help you get it in there, and you ask nicely."

     Lettie's Ocean has a smooth formula with even application. I was expecting a sheer polish that required 3 coats or more but full opacity is reached after 2 coats. Shown here is 2 coats plus top coat. Dries to a smooth even finish.

Soft-Turquoise-holographic-nail-polish

Soft-Turquoise-holographic-nail-polish

Soft-Turquoise-holographic-nail-polish

Soft-Turquoise-holographic-nail-polish

     I honestly don't have a favorite from the trio. I like the deep rich color contrasting with the holographic sparkle of Miner's Gift, The layered flecks in Swaying Grayly and the holographic flash in Lettie's Ocean. Can you pick a favorite? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

     The Ocean at the End of the Lane Trio Releases on Friday, June 23rd from Literary Lacquers at noon MDT along with some returning favorites. Want to know what they are so you can knock out some of those lemmings? Well, you're in luck I just happen to have a list!

1. And So I Step Up 
2. Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster 
3. Ether Binge 
4. Flickum Bicus 
5. Grasshopper With Candy Colored Hair 
6. Porco Rosso 
7. Some Glad Morning 
8. Green Gables
9. Lake of Shining Waters 
10. Raspberry Cordial? 
11. Marilla’s Amethyst Brooch 
12. If It Pleases You 
13. Happy Prince 
14. Hope Is A Thing With Feathers 
15. Amortentia
16. Mysterious Irrevocable Sacred
17. Orgasm
18. If Thou Hast Eyes To See
19. Desdemona’s Handkerchief
20. Salmon Chanted Evening
21. Bluestocking Romance
22. Breathing Dreams Like Air
23. Laters Baby
24. Long May She Reign

      This is not a restock situation, the shop will remain open and stocked. Holos/Multichromes will be $12 and Shimmers/Cremes will be $10. 

     Be sure to follow Literary Lacquers so you never miss an update. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

11:16 AM

Paint it Pretty- More Thermal Polishes


     Hello everyone, I know it's been awhile since I've posted and I'm posting outside of my normal schedule. I hope that doesn't throw everyone off. I thought once summer vacation hit, I'd have more time to devote to writing posts. Well settling into a new house and going on 2 vacations had put a damper on my free time. Don't get me wrong I'm loving every minute of it even if I've discovered that even on vacation you need more hours in the day. Anyway, I didn't start this post with the intention of giving you an update on my entire life, I'm writing it to show you more pretty thermal nail polishes from Paint it Pretty Polish. And they just happen to be available for purchase right now! 

     Once again this will be a picture heavy post so I'll be keeping my words short and sweet. Each polish is photographed in my light box using daylight bulbs.

Indigo Fire


     Color: In the bottle, Indigo Fire is a blurple polish with aqua shimmer. In a warm state, it's a pale purple with aqua shimmer and shifts to a deep purple with aqua shimmer when cold.

     Application: Smooth and easy application with tons of sparkle in each layer. Very easy to control where the polish went. It is a bit on the sheer side and shown here as 3 thin coats plus top coat.

     Finish: Dries to a smooth glossy finish. 




     Indigo Fire in a warm state




Indigo Fire in a cold state




     My overall thoughts are that I love this polish. I like thermal polishes but I'm especially drawn to ones that have extreme color shifts to them. I like that distinct difference to the colors and find myself checking out my nails more often when wearing them just to catch the color shift.

Cheers to 4 Years


     Color: In the bottle Cheers to 4 Years is a lilac purple polish with silver and pink shimmer. In a warm state, you get an icy pink color with silver shimmer that shifts to a pale lavender with pink undertones and silver shimer when cold.

     Application: Smooth and even but because it's a shimmer you get a bunch of brushstrokes. A bit more opaque than Indigo Fire so only 2 coats were needed to reach full opacity. Shown here as 2 coats plus top coat.

     Finish: Dries to a smooth semi-gloss finish but suffers from brushstrokes, the addition of top coat will help to hide most of them.



Cheers to 4 years in a Warm state




Cheers to 4 Years in a cold state




     My overall thoughts are that I like both colors that Cheers to 4 Years shifts to. I just wish they were in 2 separate polishes. The color shift is a little too subtle for my personal taste. That being said I did end up wearing this one for almost a week. Which is something that I rarely do.

     Indigo Fire and Cheers to 4 Years are both available for purchase right now from Paint it Pretty Polish along with the other 3 thermal polishes I shared with you a few weeks ago. And don't forget to check them out on Facebook to keep up with all the latest news. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!


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