Friday, January 30, 2015

6:00 AM

Zoya- London


     How many of you are over the textured polish trend and are glad Zoya discontinued their Pixie Dust line? Well to those of you who feel that way I'm sorry because today's post is in fact about a Pixie Dust Polish, Zoya London to be exact. But good news for those of you still craving those textured tips, as I write this post, London is still available for purchase

     I have to admit when these textured polishes first came out I was not impressed. The thought of textured nails kind of made my skin crawl, not gonna lie. But swatches kept popping up everywhere I looked and people were talking about how much they liked them and so on and so forth. So one day at Ulta I found Vespa in the clearance bin and thought why not. Nyx followed soon after along with Dahlia. I was kind of hooked. 

     London, as described by the Zoya website is " a fog gray with a sugared sparkle, in the exclusive Pixie Dust matte sparkle formula."  I would call it a dark Grey with just enough sparkle mixed in to keep it interesting. 


London-From-the-Zoya-Pixie-Dust-Collection
  
     Like my other Pixie Dust polishes, the application is a breeze. There's no patchiness and I tend to get good coverage with the first coat. I always apply 2 to make sure I've covered the entire nail. I've chosen to show London here without top coat to show off the texture and because I used it as a base for my Ugly Christmas Sweater manicure.  I know people will wear it both ways, depending on what kind of look they are going for. 

  
     As you can see in this picture that the sparkles cause the shade to change slightly depending on how the light hits your nails. Shifting from lighter to darker adding, even more, interest to the finish. And as for the texture? The best way I can describe it is the finest grit sandpaper imaginable, but without the worry of snagging your clothes.

     Of course, no blog post would be complete without a killer macro shot. Here is London in all its textured glory.

  
     What are your thoughts on the textured polish? Should it stick around for another year or go the way of the crackle finish and just disappear? Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

Thursday, January 29, 2015

6:00 AM

MoYou London - The Holy Collection Part 2 (Press Release)


     This Friday MoYou London is releasing the second set of plates in the Holy Collection. These 5 plates carry over the fun geometric style of the first set. I think everyone will be able to find at least one image they like here. 

     Plates 8 and 10 have caught my eye this time around. 

Hello there!

Remember OLLY?
Her exquisitely eclectic style and her love for all things geometric?
Well, she is still obsessed with peppy prints and bold colours and she is adding 5 new plates to her supercharged shape collection!

THE HOLY SHAPES COLLECTION

These 5 plates will be available starting this Friday 30th Jan!

Shape ya later,
The MoYou-London Team 

      Plates 8 and 10 have caught my eye this time around. I really like the negative/positive dot pattern on 10, and the mish-mashed curved lines image on 8. Which plates have caught your eye? 

     MoYou plates can be purchased in their shop. As mentioned above these plates will be available Friday, Jan. 30th. Plates are L4.99 each or about $8 U.S. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!



Wednesday, January 28, 2015

6:00 AM

Northern Star Polish - The Valentine's Trio: Pucker Up, Sweet Treat and Kiss This.


     January is almost over and that means it's time to start thinking about Valentine's day! Ahh Valentines, the holiday that has always ended up being a disappointment for me. Is it really too much to ask for a card or some flowers delivered to work? At least this year I can have some pretty tips thanks to the Valentine's Trio from Northern Star Polish.  This post is going to be very picture heavy, so sit back, relax and get ready to look at some pretty polish.


      Sweet Treat, Pucker Up, and Kiss This will be available for purchase on Jan 30th for $9 each. This trio has something for everyone. It's got Holo, flakies, pink and berry wine color, crelly and Jelly finishes. Let's start things off with Pucker Up.


Pucker-Up-by-Northern-Star-Polish-Valentine's-Trio
Photo was taken in Lightbox

    The darkest of the bunch, Pucker Up is a deep burgundy red with micro flakies. Shown here is 2 coats plus top coat. The application is easy with a lot of pigmentation in this little bottle. You could possibly get away with 1 thick coat for full coverage, but I had some uneven coverage when I tried it that way. Your best bet for nice even coverage is with 2 thin coats. The finish is best described as a crelly leaning slighter more to the creme side. 

Photo was taken in natural light
  
     Even without the top coat, Pucker Up has a glossy finish, add the top coat and your nails end up with a high shine. In fact, they are so shiny that I couldn't avoid capturing reflections in the pictures.

Photo was taken in natural light


     The one slightly disappointing part of Pucker Up is that there is a lot of flakies noticeable in the bottle but they get a little lost on the nail. I tried adding a matte top coat to see if that would bring them out more but it had the opposite effect. 

Photo was taken in lightbox


     Next up is Sweet Treat a fuchsia jelly with multi-colored flakies. This pop of pink is sure to make you smile.

Sweet-treat-by-Northern-Star-Polish-Valentines-trio
Photo was taken in lightbox

     Show here is 2 cost plus top coat. Again application was easy and smooth. Just like Pucker Up, Sweet Treat dries to a glossy finish. The addition of top coat makes for a high shine.

Photo was taken in lightbox
   
     Sadly the flakies in Sweet Treat tend to disappear on the nail just like Pucker Up. But this time they are slightly harder to see, even in my macro shot.



     A matte top coat made the flakies stand out a little more but also left a fun finish just begging for the addition of some nail art. I actually tried to make it look like a chalkboard but my attempt was so bad that I didn't even bother to photograph it. The color also seemed to darken a little with a matte top coat.


     Rounding out the trio is my favorite of the 3. Kiss This is a medium pink linear holographic polish that covers in 1 coat! The holo in this one is so intense it practically jumps out of the bottle at you. My daughter actually came running from across the room when I pulled this out of the box and yelled: "Mom it's a rainbow polish!"

Kiss-This-by-Northern-Star-Polish-Valentines-Trio
Photo was taken in lightbox

      Application of Kiss This is a dream come true. I had complete even coverage with just 1 coat but I used 2 plus top coat for my pictures because well I always apply 2 coats. 

Photo was taken in lightbox


     I couldn't get enough of Kiss This and ended up wearing it for a few days and the ladies at work loved it. My mother actually applied it to her pinkie just to see what it looked like quick. She had no base coat or top coat and Kiss This lasted for 4 days before showing any real signs of tip wear.

Photo was taken in lightbox


 I love seeing manicures of holo polishes stamped over holo polishes so I used Color Club Cloud Nine and Shandy plate SH215 for a love themed manicure. 

Photo was taken in incandescent light
     
     What I ended up with was a more subtle look than I was expecting but it got me wondering how well Kiss This would stamp.  

     I used Finger Paints Paper Mache as my base and Shandy plate SH214 to test it out. Kiss This works great as a stamping polish, my skills could use a little work, though. 

   
   Whew, that was a lot of photos. If you've made it this far, thanks for sticking with me. Id love to hear which polish is your favorite in the comments. As a reminder, this collection is releasing this Friday, January 30th and can be purchased on Etsy for $9 a bottle. Make sure to hop on over to Facebook or Instagram to keep up with all the latest news and sneak peeks at upcoming collections. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

Monday, January 26, 2015

6:00 AM

Orly - Luxe


     Welcome to my first post as the proud owner of my own .com!!! That's right no more blogspot for me. Woohoo!  I decided that if I really wanted to get serious about blogging that I needed to make that leap. I'm probably way more excited about it than a grown woman should be but I can't help it. I was jumping up and down and all giddy like a school girl that just got asked out by her biggest crush last night. And to start this party off I've got Orly Luxe to share with you. So let's get to the polish, shall we...

     Orly released Luxe in the spring of  2010 as part of the Foil Fx collection. The finish on this one is pretty unique. Instead of being all one color, Luxe is made up of tiny gold and silver particles giving more depth to the finished look than your typical gold polish. 

Luxe-from-the-Foil-FX-Collection-by-Orly
   
     Shown here as 2 easy coats plus top coat. Application of Luxe is smooth with even coverage on each coat.  And would you look at that, no real brushstrokes! You don't see that very often with a metallic finish. 

     

     I like how this looks like real foil on my nails yet there's no texture to it at all. Even before adding the top coat I had smooth nails.  I used Luxe for quite a few manicures during the Christmas nail art challenge but the best look at it is in my art-deco attempt while reviewing some nail vinyls. 

     Even though Orly released this color in 2010 you can still find it in stores. In fact, I saw it at Sally's the other day if you want to add it to your collection.  I'd love to hear what your go-to gold polish is in the comments. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

Friday, January 23, 2015

6:00 AM

Carpe Noctem - Literary Lady


     Today I have for you the dazzling Literary Lady from Carpe Noctem. A complex multi-chrome with scattered holographic accents. This polish shifts effortlessly from red to pink to orange all while maintaining a subtle holo effect.

Carpe-Noctem-Literary-Lady

     The application was pretty good with this one. I did notice that if I did multiple strokes on the same nail there was some slight dragging. But I'm talking 5 or 6 strokes, not your typical 3. 
     
     Just look at that color shift, I mean seriously check it out! It's exquisite. Looking at it here makes me want to put it back on my nails.  This is 2 easy coats plus top coat.



     As you can see I really meant it when I said there was a subtle holo effect. It's not so subtle that you can't see it with the naked eye. In fact, like most holographic polishes it was easier to see than to capture with the camera.  

     It was way too cold to try and get pictures outside to capture the holographic effect. Sorry, I'm a wimp when it comes to the cold. My hands tighten up and I can't hold the bottle let alone work my camera, however, I was able to snap a quick one with my cell phone. 


     Why my cell phone takes better pictures than my camera is a mystery to me. But it has saved me a few times with hard to photograph polishes. I'm actually in the market for a new camera. If you've got one that's great at capturing holo I'd love to hear your suggestions!  And please check out my previous post where I used Literary Lady as the base for my snowman manicure.

     Currently, Carpe Noctem's shop is on vacation mode but a little birdie told me she's set to open back up again on Jan 30th. There will be a restock and new releases that day. To see what's in store and find out about upcoming collection be sure to check them out on Facebook

     Because the shop is in vacation mode I am not sure if Literary Lady is still available for purchase. If it is, make sure to grab yours on the 30th. If it's not, I'm sorry to dangle this unattainable beauty in front of you. If it helps you can all wish me dry cuticles and chipped manicures. Just kidding please don't wish that upon me. I have enough cuticle challenges already.  Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

Thursday, January 22, 2015

6:00 AM

MoYou London - The Holy Collection (Press Release)


      This Friday MoYou is releasing a completely new collection. The Holy collection consists of 5 plates with images reminiscent of the 90's. You'll find tribal art,  graphic shapes, as well as a few art deco patterns. Check them out below.


Happy Friday!

Say hello to OLLY!
We adore her exquisitely eclectic style and her love for all things geometric. She’s obsessed with peppy prints, bold colour and has a special place in her heart for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

THE HOLY SHAPES COLLECTION

These 5 plates will be available starting this Friday!

Shape ya later,
The MoYou-London Team 


     I'm actually really excited about plate 4 in this collection. Some of the images remind me of a few tape manicures I've wanted to recreate. Plate 2 is also peeking my interest. Are there any that are catching your eye?

     MoYou plates can be purchased in their shop. As mentioned above these plates will be available Friday, Jan. 23rd. Plates are L4.99 each or about $8 U.S. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!



Wednesday, January 21, 2015

6:00 AM

LynBDesigns - Lost Without my Blogger


     Happy Hump day everyone. My post today was hand picked by my 8-year-old son, Conner. I gave him a choice of  3 polish types and he chose "The green polish with glitter" which is LynBDesigns Lost Without my Blogger. When I told him the name of the polish he said: "Mom I picked the one with the right name because you're a blogger!" You might be wondering why I'm telling you this but trust me it's big news in this household. Normally I get eye rolls and groans from my boys at the mere mention of polish.

    Lost Without my Blogger from the Baker Street collection, has a green base containing circle glitters in light and regular green and hex glitters in a multitude of camo colors along with small squares in a dark green.

LynBDesigns-Lost-without-my-Blogger-from-the-baker-street-collection

     Can I let you in on a little secret? I actually purchased this almost a year ago, slipped it into a helmer drawer and forgot about it. I know, I know I'm a bad blogger, but there is a plus side! Even though this bottle has sat unloved for that long the glitters have stayed suspended in the base. Before application, I rolled the bottle between my hands maybe 4 times and got set to work. As you can see there is a lot of glitter on my nails, without fishing or any placement. The other bonus, all the glitters are laying flat on the nail, no taco glitter here! I can't be the only one who finds that impressive.

     Shown here is 3 coats plus top coat. I would recommend waiting for a few minutes between coats if you're going for full coverage. That way you avoid moving the glitters around on the nail. I didn't quite get full coverage here, but I used this as a base for my Presents manicure in a nail art challenge where full coverage wasn't needed. 





     And of course here's a macro shot with a matte top coat, so you can see all the details Lost Without my Blogger, has to offer. Do you like it better glossy or matte?



     Lost without my Blogger is still available on Etsy where a full sized bottle will cost you $8. Be sure to check out my previous reviews of Mind Palace which is also available from the Baker Street Collection and Nightmare Revisited from the Nightmare Begins collection.

      I'd also like to hear your thoughts on my new share buttons floating over there on the left. Are they a distraction, have you ever noticed the other set I have way down there at the very bottom? Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

8:28 AM

MoYou London The Zodiac Collection - Aquarius Plate (Press Release)


     MoYou London now has the Aquarius plate available from the Zodiac Collection. Get your first look here!



This is for all the adventurous, curious, friendly, loyal, humanitarian, broad-minded, creative, intelligent, unpredictable, rebellious... AQUARIUS stamping girls!

<< ZODIAC COLLECTION >>

Meet LUNA - She connects with stars* 
This plate is Available TODAY
Have a great day!
The MoYou-London Team

Monday, January 19, 2015

6:00 AM

China Glaze - Capacity to See Beyond


     I thought I'd start the week off with something bright. I don't know about you but I'm over the cold grey weather and am looking forward to brighter days and warmer temps.  Unfortunately, that is still a few months away for me so I'll have to settle for colorful tips.

     Capacity to See Beyond is from the limited edition Giver Collection released for fall of 2014.  This bright Aqua creme was just what I needed to chase away the winter blues. Or in my case the winter Greys.

China-Glaze-Capacity-to-See-Beyond

     The formula is thinner on this one. While smooth and opaque with 2 coats, the first coat applied quite streaky. Nothing compared to the quality I have come to expect from China Glaze. I've shown it here with 2 coats plus top coat.


     The true color leans a little more teal than I was able to photograph, but not enough for me to call this a teal rather than aqua.  

     With its bright burst of color Capacity to See Beyond makes a great base for nail art. I used it as the base for my glitter Gradient with Shimmer Polish Jennifer



     A lot of the reviews I've read about Capacity to See Beyond have been very positive when it comes to formula. If you have any experience with this one I'd love to get your feedback. It would be nice to know if I maybe just got an iffy bottle. Thanks for stopping by and Happy polishing! 

Saturday, January 17, 2015

6:00 AM

MoYou London - Valentines Plates in the Festive Collection (Press Release)


      Are you looking for a new look for your Valentine's manicure this year? MoYou London has
2 new plates available starting right now.  Check out the sneak peek below and make sure to get your order so you have them in time for Valentines Day.


Roses are red,
Violets are blue
And we are head over heels in love with you!
Will you be our valentine?

Feel the love with our new Valentine’s Day collection.
SHOP NOW

xoxo,
The MoYou London Team



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