Monday, June 30, 2014

FingerPaints Gel Polish Taste of the Tropics Collection

Contest Prize Affiliate Links


Hello Loves!  A few weeks ago, I won the FingerPaints Gel Polish Taste of the Tropics Collection through one of their giveaways on Facebook.  Naturally, I just have to show them to you!  I'm in love with this collection.  The colors are quite unique to the other colors in my stash, which is always a plus.  Funny story, I actually purchased this collection on my lunch break the same day that FingerPaints announced the contest winners.  No joke, one hour after I purchased them, I learned that I won them.  Funny how that works sometimes.  :)

Anyway, onto the polish!  This collection consists of 5 tropical inspired gel polishes - 1 crelly, 1 glitter crelly, 1 shimmer, 1 frost and 1 glitter.  It is certainly a nice mix of finishes.  These have been available at Sally Beauty Supply for a few weeks now, but you should still be able to locate them if your local store hasn't sold out.

The first shade in the collection is Magenta Mambo.  This is a gorgeous, almost frosty, shimmery pink with a purple flash.  My camera insisted on picking up more of the flash than the actual color of the polish.  It is much bolder and more pink in person.  I found this one to be opaque in two coats, but swatched three as usual for consistency.
FingerPaints Gel Polish Magenta Mambo Swatch

Next up is Lots of Luau.  This bright, lime green crelly base is loaded with silver holographic glitter.  I found this one really needs three coats for even glitter coverage as the glitter likes to drag down the nail.  You can see a small bald spot in the glitter on the side of my pinkie nail in the swatch below. The holographic effect of the glitter is a bit muted in the crelly base and didn't really pick up in the photo, but it does show in person.
FingerPaints Gel Polish Lots of Luau Swatch

Habanera Hottie is a warm toned, medium orange crelly that is almost a jelly.  This one is almost opaque in three coats but will need four if you have a strong visible nail line like mine.
FingerPaints Gel Polish Habanera Hottie Swatch

Chica Chica Boom is my second favorite of the collection.  We're talking tons of purple glitter packed into a clear base that offers opaque coverage in three coats.  It can also be used as a topper with just one coat.  The glitter itself is cool toned purple that flashes a more red toned purple when the light hits it.  This photo does not do it justice.
FingerPaints Gel Polish Chica Chica Boom Swatch

Finally, Bahama Mama is my personal favorite from the collection.  You know how much I love my blues!  This is a medium blue base that is loaded with a frosty silver shimmer.  It absolutely lights up in direct lighting.
FingerPaints Gel Polish Bahama Mama Swatch

I loved Bahama Mama so much when I swatched it, I couldn't resist making it my mani for the week.  I stamped it here with an image from plate 26 from the Pueen Love Elements set.  It's amazing how much I use this set - it was my first of many stamping plate purchases and I still love it even though my collection has grown considerably since then.  The silver stamping polish is Pure Ice Silver Star (formerly Silver Mercedes).  Silver star is my absolute favorite silver for stamping!  I stocked up.  :)  I then finished with a simple silver stud as an accent nail.
FingerPaints Gel Polish Bahama Mama, Pueen Love Elements, Pure Ice Silver Star

The mani photo above shows what Bahama Mama looks like in less direct lighting.  Just gorgeous!

Are there any colors in the FingerPaints Taste of the Tropics Collection you can't live without?  If so, head to Sally Beauty Supply and grab them while you still can.  They won't be around much longer.  :)

~Michelle

*The gel polishes featured in this post were a contest prize from FingerPaints Nail Color.  This post uses Amazon affiliate links.  Purchases through these links generate commissions that help fund this site.

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Friday, June 27, 2014

Sweet and Innocent Dots and Roses (a BSG Review)

Press Sample Affiliate Links

Born Pretty Store 3D Candy Color Rose Review

Hello Loves.  I recently decided I was in the mood for a sweet little doticure.  No surprise there, right?  I don't know what it is about dots, but I just love them.  Dots and roses are always a great combo in my mind.  I started with a base of IBD Just Gel Juliet and then added large and small dots with Couture Ooh La La French and Couture Naughty-Cal.  I had originally planned to freehand a few roses, but then I realized that these adorable acrylic roses Born Pretty Store sent me for review match perfectly to Juliet and Naughty-cal.

These roses are listed as "3D Nail Art Sticker Candy Color Rose Flower Nail Decoration".  That's one heck of a name, so I'll break it down for you.  They are little acrylic roses that can be applied to the nail with nail glue, acrylic or even gel.  They remind me of miniature versions of the butter cream roses that you see on cakes.  They aren't squishy or edible, but they do make me crave cupcakes. lol Below is the product photo from Born Pretty that shows the various styles and colors available. The ones I used for this manicure are in the center of the bottom row, and I now want them all!
10pcs 3D Nail Art Sticker Candy Color Rose Flower Nail Decoration

I was expecting these roses to be much larger, so I was pleasantly surprised when they arrived to see that they are quite small. I'm not afraid to go bold with my nail art, but I find that larger pieces get in the way when caring for young children. These do have a bit of height to them so they are raised off of the nail, but only slightly higher than your average large bow.  I took a side shot so you can see the height a bit better.
Born Pretty Store 3D Candy Color Rose Review

I attached the roses with a bit of super glue after curing the top coat and removing the tacky layer.  I then went around the seams at the bottom of the roses with a bit of top coat to seal them to the nail.  I did not top coat over them like I usually would because I didn't want them to be super shiny, but doing so will certainly help prolong the wear time.

Here's another shot of the final mani.  I was going for sweet and innocent.  What do you think?  Did I nail it?  ;)
Born Pretty Store 3D Candy Color Rose Review

If these roses aren't your style, Born Pretty has several others to choose from. Click here to check them out. Be sure to check out some of Born Pretty Store's other nail art items too!  Use code MANYX31 for 10% off and free shipping. 

~Michelle

*The bows featured in this post were provided by Born Pretty Store for my honest review.  This post uses Born Pretty Store and Amazon Affiliate links.  Purchases through these links generate commissions that help fund this site.
 
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Thursday, June 26, 2014

Guest Post at Imperfectly Painted

Hello Loves!  Just a quick off schedule post to announce that I am guest blogging at Imperfectly Painted today while Stephanie is on vacation.  Click here to pop on over and see this design in full color and find out which polishes I used!
http://imperfectlypainted.blogspot.com/2014/06/guest-post-manic-talons.html


~Michelle
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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Revel Nail Gel Polish - Swatches and Review

Press Sample

Revel Nail Soak Off Gel Polish Review

Hello Loves!  I have a new gel polish brand to show you today.  Revel Nail Gel Polish is new to the soak off gel market and was created with the goal of providing high quality, professional, salon gel polish at affordable prices.  Needless to say, I noticed a few things right off the bat that made me completely excited to try these out! As is typical for my new product reviews, this one is a bit long.  If you're short on time, there are plenty of pretty pictures and a summary at the end as usual.
Revel Nail Gel Polish Review

If you're a gel user, you likely noticed the same thing I noticed.  The gel colors come in clear bottles.  Yes, clear bottles!  This caused me to raise an eyebrow since gel polish is usually in opaque bottles to protect it from UV exposure.  I immediately assumed the bottles are coated, but the website says the gels are formulated to be "UV Stable".  Being the naturally curious person (aka skeptic) that I am, that left me with questions.  What exactly does that mean?  And will they cure in all UV and LED lamps?  Or is a specific range needed?

Of course, I emailed Keeli at Revel Nail to find out.  Her response was intriguing!
"Our gels are compatible with all UV and LED lamps. Our chemist was able to formulate the product using a special type of photo initiator that minimizes the curing in the visible light range,  which is what we see in our house or store. The photo initiator is optimized for the UV and LED absorbance level,  but minimizes the absorbance level in visible light range,  which is about 500-700 nm. UV lights typically emit about 280-350 nm range and LED typically emits 385-410 nm range." 
So, what does that mean?  It means the gels are safe in their clear bottles indoors!  They should not be used in direct sunlight, but are safe to store in a salon setting.  If exposed to a small amount of direct sunlight, a thin layer of the gel may cure to the glass walls of the bottle, but it won't hurt the gel inside.  This also means that what you see is what you get!  No relying on inaccurate dots on the label or a small window in the bottle to determine the color inside.  Clients can see exactly what shade they will get by looking through the bottle and seeing the color inside.  This is a really cool feature to me.

Needless to say, I geeked out a little bit over the bottles.  I could go on and on about it, but I have a lot more to show you.  Let's start with price, follow with application, touch on wear and customer service, and end with the swatches.

Price and Quality


When Revel Nail said they wanted to create an affordable, high quality professional gel line, they stuck to their goal.  With a price point of $6.49 per 0.5 oz bottle, these gels are certainly affordable.  The entire collection of 24 colors with base and top is only $150 with free shipping!  Not to mention the awesome trial deal that is currently available on their website.  Base + Top + 1 Color for $10.99 S/H.  It doesn't get much more affordable than that, and it would be the perfect starter set for new nail techs (or established nail techs who are looking to expand their services).  As for quality, they have you covered there too with a 3-free, vitamin E enriched formula that claims to soak off in 7 minutes.  (Don't worry, I put that to the test too).

Application


Application was what I would consider average.  The first color coat is a bit thin and streaky, like most gel polish brands.  The second coat is where this gel wowed me.  I was expecting to need 3-4 coats based on the first, but that was not the case.  The second coat really clings to the first coat and builds beautifully.  Of the 5 colors I sampled, 3 were completely opaque in 2 coats and the other two were great at 3 (keeping in mind that my coats are thinner than average).

The brush is flat but is also a bit thinner than I prefer.  That is certainly a personal preference.  I have wide nails (aka man hands) and I found that I couldn't use my typical 3 stroke application with these brushes.  I needed 4 strokes to cover most nails and 5 strokes for my thumbs.  But for those with smaller nail beds or those who prefer thinner brushes, I think you'll really like them.
Revel Nail Gel Polish Review

Wear


This is where I found a negative, but Revel Nail quickly turned it into a positive.  Before I go into that, let's talk about the Revel Nail Base Gel since the base gel seems to be the largest contributor to wear.  The base gel is a bit thinner than many of the bases on the market.  I found that I really like this - it allows a thin application without fighting to drag the base down the nail.  I had no issues with pooling.  The application of the base was a breeze.

So, how does it wear?  For me, not well.  As you know, nail chemistry/type plays a HUGE role in how gels will perform.  There's no such thing as a one size fits all base.  My nails are naturally very smooth, even with buffing.  In addition, my nails beds tend to be oily.  I often joke that my nails are like Teflon in that nothing wants to stick.  I have to use bonder with most gel brands, including my most beloved brands.  There seems to be very little balance for me.  If it is designed to remove quickly, it doesn't stick to my nails without bonder on the tips.  If it sticks, soak off is difficult.  This is also why I started using gel to begin with - regular polish simply would not stay on my nails for more than a few hours.  So I'm not surprised that the base doesn't work well for me.  I experienced a chip a few days into the wear test that led to the polish lifting off the nail in a sheet.

Knowing that my nails are extremely difficult for gels, I redid the test with bonder on just the free edge.  This time it wore perfectly.  I had to cut the test short after 8 days to move on to other products, but I'm confident that I could get 2 full weeks with bonder.  If gels typically wear well for you without bonder, this base will likely work for you as well.  If you have problem nails like I do, bonder may be necessary.  (Excuse the rough shape of my Cinderella hand.  Every time I do a wear test, I tell myself I'll take better care of her, but I never follow through.)
Reven Nail Gel Polish Wear Results

So here's where Revel Nail completely blew my mind!  I sent Keeli an email when the lifting occurred a few days into the wear test.  I was expecting the standard gel company response.  If you've never emailed a gel company about lifting or wear issues, let me break it down for you.  They will usually reply with a form letter type answer that implies you're an idiot and don't know how to use the product.  The response generally includes basic gel polish application instructions.  You know, clean the nail, remove all oils, buff the nail, thin coats, blah blah blah.  Well, that is NOT the response I received from Revel Nail.  THIS is the response I received:
Reven Nail Gel Polish Review

Ok, so what exactly are those?  Those, my friends, are prototype bases.  After discussing my Teflon nails with Keeli, she spoke with her chemist and they came up with two prototype formulas for those of us with nails that don't work well with your typical quick remove base gel.  Both of these are formulated to stick a little better but still soak off quickly.  I'm testing them now - one on my right hand and one on my left - and will report back with wear results.  Seriously, y'all, this is a company that really cares about the customer!  They took my feedback and are using it to improve their product!  I know a lot of gel companies that could learn a few things from Revel Nail on this one.

Swatches


Ok, ok, are you ready to see some swatches?  I thought you might be.  :)  But before I get to that, I would like to point out the shine from the top coat that is visible in the swatches.  The Revel Nail Top Coat is of average thickness, applies well without pooling, and has a very nice shine.

The first color I have to show you is a beautiful, squishy, purple leaning hot pink called Gala.  This one applied nicely but needed three coats to be completely opaque.  This is pretty common with crelly type finishes.  This is the color I chose for my wear tests.
Revel Nail Gel Polish Gala Swatch

Mai Tai is what I would consider a dusty orange shade.  Very Earthy.  This one is a cream finish and was opaque for me in 2 coats.  As usual, I swatched three for consistency. 
Revel Nail Gel Polish Mai Tai Swatch

Fierce is a medium purple with a slight blue shimmer.  This one needed three coats to be completely opaque, but this color is definitely worth the extra layer!  I'm currently wearing this one for my prototype base wear tests.  It's stunning in every light!
Revel Nail Gel Polish Fierce Swatch

Kodie is a gorgeous, bright frosty blue.  This one is a little thicker than the creams and shimmers and is opaque in two coats.  Again, I swatched three for consistency.
Revel Nail Gel Polish Kodie Swatch

Slainte is a beautiful, shimmer packed, medium green.  Like Kodie, Slainte is a bit thicker than the others but applies beautifully.  It is opaque in two, but I swatched three anyway.
Revel Nail Gel Polish Slainte Swatch

Finally, Disco is exactly what you might expect from the name.  This is a beautiful glitter topper that consists of a clear base loaded with holographic glitter.  I can only think to describe it as Gelish Vegas Nights or Gelaze Fairy Dust on steroids.  The swatch below is two thin coats because three would simply be too much.
Revel Nail Gel Polish Disco Swatch

I couldn't resist throwing one coat over Mai Tai as well to show you how it looks layered.  Stunning!  That's one coat.  One.  And I didn't have to leave it upside down to get this coverage.  This is my new go-to topper.
Revel Nail Gel Polish Disco Swatch over Mai Tai

Removal


So, does Revel Nail Gel Polish removal live up to the hype?  Yes and no.  The first test that failed certainly soaked off quickly.  It removed easily in 10 minutes with the foil wrap method with pure acetone.  I did not break the seal before soaking, so it may have removed in 7 minutes if I had.  I simply forgot.  10 minutes is still very quick for removal, so I'm calling that a yes.  The second test with bonder took a little longer to remove.  12 minutes with the foil wrap method and pure acetone after breaking the seal, to be exact.  This is in line with my expectations since I had to use the bonder.  Bonder always makes soak off a little longer.  I can say that both times it soaked off clean in sheets.  That makes me very happy.  I hate trying to remove gels that seem to disintegrate instead of popping off the nail.  I apologize for the absence of photos for the removals.  My son's birthday party was this weekend, so I was a little scattered.

Final Scores


Base Gel
Application:  Thinner gel but smooth application with no pooling or shrinking.  5 Stars.
Wear:  For me, not great.  With bonder on the free edge, very nice.  Since I know my nails are difficult, I'm going with 3 Stars.  It's what I consider my average experience.
Removal:  Without bonder, it soaked off in 10 minutes.  With bonder, 12 minutes.  It doesn't get much better than that.  5 Stars.
Overall4 Stars.

Colors
Application:  First coat feels very thin, but the second coat more than makes up the difference.  The thinner brush is a negative for my wide nails and makes it difficult to get a smooth coat.  I'm  deducting a point for the brush.  4 Stars.
Wear:  Base issues aside, the colors wear fabulously.  No fading or changing over time with the two I have worn so far.  5 Stars.
Removal:  Same as base above.  5 Stars.
Overall4.5 Stars.

Top Coat
Application:  Moderately thick formula applies well.  No pooling or bubbling.  5 Stars.
Wear:  Nice shine and seems to be quite durable.  No dulling over time.  Holds studs and pieces well.  5 Stars.
Removal: Break the seal for faster soak off, but otherwise the same as above.  5 Stars.
Overall5 Stars.

Final Thoughts


Revel Nail set out to provide a high quality product at a great price.  In my opinion, they nailed it.  With an overall rating of 4.5 Stars on my scale, I'm very likely to purchase more of the colors just based on that.  But, they sealed the deal with their excellent customer service and desire to use customer feedback to improve their product.  This is truly a 5 Star company and a brand I will keep in my collection.  I can't wait to see what they come out with in the future.  I expect great things. 

Follow Revel Nail on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for great offers and new product info!

~Michelle

*The products featured in this post were provided by Revel Nail for my honest review.

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Monday, June 23, 2014

Stripes and Dots with Neverland Lacquers Nail Stencils

Press Sample

Hello Loves.  I'm really excited about today's nail art!  As you know from previous posts, I can't use tape to save my life.  I have tried and failed so many times I swore off tape forever.  Well, today I have a "tape mani" to show you!  But I didn't use tape.  Nope, I used vinyl stencils from NeverLand Lacquers (formerly Pop Culture Cosmetics).

For this design, I started with a base of Daisy Duo Papaya Whip.  I applied the top coat, cured, and removed the tacky layer.  I then applied the simple stripe vinyls to block out the design and used a fine brush to fill in the blank spaces with Daisy Duo Melting Violet.  I cured again, then used a pair of tweezers to remove the vinyls (pull at a sharp angle to get a clean edge).  I added a few dots of Melting Violet after I removed the tape, cured the dots, then topped it all off with a a gel top coat.   As  I mentioned in last Wednesday's post, these two colors were simply made for each other!

This is my first time using nail vinyls, and I couldn't be happier with the results!  If you've ever tried to do a tape manicure with gel polish, you know that getting the tape to really stick to the nail is crucial to prevent seepage and get a crisp line.  I haven't managed to accomplish that with my many tape attempts in the past.  I didn't have that problem at all with these vinyl stencils!  These babies stick.

I love them so much I just couldn't stop!  I'm doing a wear test right now, but I couldn't resist spicing up my plain mani with an accent nail using these adorable french bow nail art stencils.  I love that this particular design can be used in two different ways - you can use the outer ring and fill in the bow with polish or apply the bow and paint over it.  So you get double the number of uses.
http://popculturecosmetics.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=114&products_id=765

I took a few shots of the process when adding the bows to my ring fingers.  The steps are pretty simple.
1) Complete your manicure including gel top coat and remove the tacky layer
2) Use a pair of tweezers to position the stencil, then press it firmly to the nail.
3) Fill in the areas where you want the 2nd color.  I used a small detail brush, but you can use the polish brush if you prefer.
4) Cure the 2nd color with the stencil in place.  (Excuse the image for this step.  It doesn't match the others because I forgot to take the photo on my left hand.  The finger pictured in that square is my right ring finger.  I almost forgot again and started to remove the stencil before I caught myself.  lol)
5) Remove the stencil by gently peeling it off the nail.  Use a sharp angle to produce clean lines.
6) Apply your gel top coat to seal the image and cure as usual.  In this case, I added a small stud to the center of the bow before adding the top coat.  :)

If you're a tape mani failure like I am, I highly recommend these stencils from Neverland Lacquers!  I haven't tried other brands to compare yet, but these certainly beat the socks off of striping tape, scotch tape, painters tape and masking tape!  I can't wait to try more of the designs!

Be sure to follow Neverland Lacquers on Instagram and Facebook stay in the know about their many other great products!

~Michelle
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Friday, June 20, 2014

KBShimmer Summer Collection - Select Swatches

Press Sample

Hello Loves!  Today is the big day - the release date for 12 more gorgeous shades in the KBShimmer line!  I have 6 of the 12 to show you today, and I think you're going to like what you see.
KBShimmer Summer Collection

Mixed Peelings is an awesome, off white base packed with pink, yellow and green neon glitters of varying sizes.  As with all of the KBShimmer polishes I've tried, this one applies smoothly.  However, I did have to do a little fishing to get a good mix of the glitters, but nothing too difficult.  I just swirled the brush around in the bottle between nails.  The swatch below is 2 coats of Mixed Peelings over a white gel polish base.
KBShimmer Mixed Peelings Swatch

Peak My Interest is a pink crelly base that is packed with white triangle glitters as well as multiple sizes of hex glitters in pink and dark aqua.  I didn't have to fish at all with this one, though I did need to position some of the triangle pieces once they were on the nail.  Below is three coats, though you could easily get away with two.
KBShimmer Peak My Interest Swatch

Sea You Around is a polish that I just can't resist!  This emerald green jelly base is loaded with fuchsia and silver circles and light blue hexes and squares.  But that's only half of it!  It also has fuchsia micro slivers and tons of sparkle.  This one applied like a dream.  No fishing or glitter placement!  Sadly, my camera refused to capture all of it's glory.  The base is much deeper than it appears here with a touch of teal.  I swatched three coats as I found that the jelly base left a good bit of visible nail line with only two coats.
KBShimmer Sea You Around Swatch

Mint-al Vacation is a gorgeous, blue leaning mint holo.  The holo in this one is subtle in most lighting.  I absolutely adore it!  This may be my new favorite mint shade.  Application was very nice and it is opaque in 2-3 coats (depending on the thickness of your coats, of course).
KBShimmer Mint-al Vacation Swatch

Red, White and Blue-tiful is a limited edition glitter top coat that is a must have for the 4th of July!  The clear base is loaded with red, holographic blue and holographic silver stars.  It also has fine red, blue and silver glitters and shimmer.  I can't even tell you how much I love this topper!  I had no trouble with the glitters at all - there are so many of them packed into this little bottle, it's impossible to pull the brush straight out without getting a good mix of stars and glitter.  I have swatched it here as one coat over a white gel polish base.
KBShimmer Red, White and Blue-tiful swatch

Finally, Happily Ever Aster is a beautiful glitter topper made up of multiple sizes of purple, lavender, white and light aqua hex glitters in a shimmery base.  Like Red, White and Blue-tiful, this baby is packed with glitter.  I tried it over several different colors, but I fell in love when I swatched one coat over a white gel polish base. The white glitters are lost over the white base, but the aqua and purple glitters simply pop!
KBShimmer Happily Ever Aster Swatch

If you're reading from the U.S., head on over to www.KBShimmer.com to check out the other colors in this collection and grab your bottles.  :)  If you're not following KBShimmer on Facebook, take a peak there too for other blogger photos.  This collection is packed with beautiful colors and finishes!  If you're not in the U.S., check out www.HarlowandCo.org to get your KBShimmer Summer Collection fix!

KBShimmer has also launched a line of nail vinyls with this release!  Stay tuned for a review on those soon.  :)

~Michelle

*The polishes featured in this post were provided by KBShimmer for my honest review.
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Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Daisy Duo Swatches: Bold and Soft Shades

Press Sample


Hello Loves!  I have three more Daisy Duo polishes from Esther's Nail Center to show you today.  Daisy Duo sets consist of the All In One Gel Polish and a matching lacquer.  These gels do not require a separate base coat but do need a separate top coat.  Be sure to check out Part 1 of my Daisy Duo Review for my thoughts on formula and application and Part 2 of my Review for my wear test and removal results.

Firework Star is a gorgeous red glitter in an orange leaning red jelly base.  This shade would be the perfect color for a 4th of July manicure!  I swatched three layers below.  I found the first to be a bit sparse on glitter, so I gave it a better shake for the 2nd and 3rd coats.
Daisy Duo Firework Star Swatch

The second color I have to show you is this beautiful light peach called Papaya Whip.  This could easily be considered a nude depending on your skin tone, but is certainly a subtle shade.  Application was nice with even coverage.  Two coats showed a touch of visible nail line, so the third is necessary for a completely opaque look.
Daisy Duo Papaya Whip Swatch

Finally, Melting Violet is a very pretty violet toned grey.  It reminds me a bit of stone.  Application was smooth with this one as well and I found it to be opaque in two coats.  I swatched three here for consistency.
Daisy Duo Melting Violet Swatch

I personally think Papaya Whip and Melting Violet were made for each other!  I'm thinking these two need to be paired together for a sophisticated nail art design.  I'm going to give it a try.  Check back Friday to see the results.  :)

Daisy Duo gels are available for purchase online at Esther's Nail Center, along with many other gel polish brands.  Be sure to check them out and follow Esther's Nail Center on Facebook and on Twitter for updates on sales and deals!

Also, in case you missed my off topic post last night, be sure to pop over and check out the Beauty Blogazon's Summer 2014 Giveaway!  You don't want to miss your chance to win a $500 Visa Giftcard.  That would buy a lot of polish! 

~Michelle

*The polishes featured in this post were provided by Esther's Nail Center for my honest review.

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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Beauty Blogazons Summer 2014 Giveway!

Hello Loves!  I have something super exciting to share with you today!  Everyone could use a little extra spending money right?  Check this out!

Beauty Blogazons Summer 2014 Giveaway

The Beauty Blogazons, a group of beauty, fashion and lifestyle bloggers have connected again to give away $500 of cold hard cash to get you ready for the Summer!  Will you do a major beauty haul? Pick up the ultimate Summer wardrobe? Maybe pay a few bills? The choice is yours!

Please take a little time to visit and thank all the bloggers that chipped in to make this happen.

The giveaway ends on July 1, 2014 at 12:00 am Eastern Standard Time and is open Internationally!  The full terms and conditions are available at the bottom of the Rafflecopter widget below.

Good Luck!

~Michelle 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Monday, June 16, 2014

A Sample of Girly Bits Holos: Including 3 soon to be released shades!

Press Sample


Hello Loves!  I have a few gorgeous Girly Bits holographic polishes to show you today.  This sampling of incredibly beautiful polishes includes three from the upcoming release and two equally amazing older offerings.

Let's start with the beauties in that will be released on June 19, 2014.  This may be my favorite of this release and the name suits it perfectly!  No Such Thing as a Purple Problem is a royal purple base with scattered holographic shimmer.  It absolutely explodes with color in direct light! I have swatched two coats here with one coat of Out the Door top coat.
Girly Bits Lacquer No Such Thing as a Purple Problem Swatch

Girly Bits Lacquer No Such Thing as a Purple Problem Swatch

The next polish I have to show you is from the 80s Girl Bands CollectionI'm Your Venus is an amazing copper base with a linear holographic effect.  The holo is much stronger in person - my camera didn't want to capture it in all it's glory.  The second photo shows it a bit better than the first.  The application on this one is as expected from Girly Bits - the polish glides on smoothly and effortlessly.  This one can be worn in two coats, but I chose to go with three here.  This is without top coat.
Girly Bits Lacquer I'm Your Venus Swatch

Girly Bits Lacquer I'm Your Venus Swatch

The next polish I have to show you from the 80s Girl Bands collection is my favorite!  Betty Davis Eyes is a finely textured, white silver polish with scattered holographic bits and a blue and pink shimmer.  It is simply loaded with amazing dimension.  My brain doesn't know what to do with it, so I'm not surprised that my camera didn't either.  I was able to capture the texture, but not the shimmer.  This one applies nicely - extremely well for a texture - and covers in two coats.  I used three here. 
Girly Bits Lacquer Betty Davis Eyes Swatch

Girly Bits Lacquer Betty Davis Eyes Swatch

I did manage to capture a bit of the shimmer in this failed macro shot.  Funny how that works sometimes.  :)  I should also note that two layers of top coat will make this one completely smooth and bring out the shimmer if you aren't a fan of textures. 
Girly Bits Lacquer Betty Davis Eyes Swatch

These next two are from previous releases, but too pretty to leave out of this post!  First up is Bachelors Button.  This is a pretty blue holo that almost leans periwinkle.  The holo is linear but quite subtle, making this a very delicate polish in appearance.  Like most Girly Bits lacquers, application is nice and the formula is flawless.  This is three thin coats.
Girly Bits Lacquer Bachelors Button Swatch

Girly Bits Lacquer Bachelors Button Swatch

Finally, I have one that I have debated ordering for a while because I knew I would want to show it to you, but the name made me pause.  Pam decided it was time for this beauty to be mine and included it with the last round of press samples.  She was right, it certainly belongs in my collection!  D!ck In a Box is gunmetal grey base with a strong holographic shift.  I absolutely adore it and it has just become my favorite holo in my collection!  I love how the holo shift makes it take on a slightly olive tone next to my fair skin.  Simply beautiful!
Girly Bits Lacquer D!ck In a Box Swatch

Girly Bits Lacquer D!ck In a Box Swatch

Be sure to mark your calendar for June 19th for the 80s Girl Bands collection release as long as three bonus colors (including There's No Such Thing as a Purple Problem).  Check out the other shades in the collection here!

Be sure to follow Girly Bits on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the know about new releases!  Also, there are several Girly Bits distributors world wide, so be sure to check those out as well to find the best prices for your location!

Are any of these beauties calling your name?  I personally love them all!  You're pretty much guaranteed to see these beauties as part of gel sandwich manis here in the future!

~Michelle

*The polishes featured in this post were provided by Girly Bits Cosmetics for my honest review.
 
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