NOTD: Sally Hansen Purple Gala

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Saw this today at Kroger and snatched it up as fast as I could! Definitely a unique polish! Dusty purple base with TONS of gold glitter.  It almost makes it duochromey! Plus there's a bit of multi glitter in there as well so it really sparkles!! Smooth application and it's not chunky glitter at all.  Surprising for $2.95!

NOTD: China Glaze BFF

 

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More from the OMG Collection, BFF is a nice medium pink.  Simply beautiful!

Also, I wanted to mention that I haven't been bloggin' much lately.  3 jobs will keep a person pretty busy :\  Yes, 3 freaking jobs.  I have a full time job as a receptionist, I'm an Esthetician and a Manicurist at spa and I just added "Arch Expert" at a Benefit Brow Bar to the list. Because the whole idea was quit my full time job to peruse a career in the beauty industry; I'm doing just that and my last day at my full time job is this Friday! I'm all kinds of emotions! Scared, excited, blahblahblah. But anyway I've been doing the 3 job thing for a few weeks now and everything will calm down after this Friday. Thank God!

And in case you're wondering...I LOVE my new jobs!

NOTD: Sinful Colors Bali Mist

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Sinful Colors Bali Mist. Purchased from Meijer for $1.88.  

Well it's pretty, but I can tell you that this didn't last more than a couple hours on my nails.  Normally I paint my nails and it'll last a good 2-3 days before I get sick of it ad take if off...this one? Oh my.  The formula is so weird! Super goopy but sheer. It took 5 coats and I could still see VNL in some of my nails.  I had bubbles and omg it WOULD NOT dry.  Which is why I had to take it off.  By the end of the night my nails were TORE UP! 

With that being said I think this is more of a one coat layering color.  Layered on top of black or even silver would probably look really pretty since it has some duochromeyness.  Looks metallicy pink and flashes green and purple. Even has some pink shimmer! I wanted to love this, I mean in the bottle....SCHA-WING! But on my nails? Bleh.

This is the second Sinful Colors polish I've tried and that one was pretty "meh" too.  And I have more that I haven't tried on my nails...are they all like this?

NOTD: China Glaze IDK & TMI

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An oldie, but a goodie.  IDK is from the OMG collection.  Ahhh halo glitter...you complete me.

I just hunted down my last bottle of polish from this collection and drumroll please...I now have the complete set! YAY! I can't wait to have all this gorgeousness on my nails!! I actually tried TMI last week and didn't get 500 pictures of it like I normally do, but I managed to capture these two: 

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A pretty coral-pinky color.  Took this in my car at a red light lol so that's all you get!

Do you have any polishes from the OMG collection?

NOTD: Who wants to see yet ANOTHER Space Cadet swatch?

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Orly Space Cadet from the Cosmic FX collection.  Purchased from Sally's Beauty Supply.  Seriously amaaaaazing polish.  I'm pretty sure it's purple with green dupchrome, but it might be green with a purple duochrome...regardless...GORGEOUS!

Have you purchased any of the other polishes from this collection?

Comparison: OPI Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous vs. L.A. Colors Metallic Polish

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As promised here's the comparison of OPI Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous to the dark gray polish (with no name) from the L.A. Colors Metallic Polish 4 pack from my last post. 

As you can see they're reeeeeeeally similar! The only noticeable difference is the OPI has more multicolored glitter and the L.A. Colors has just silver glitter. Also the L.A. Colors has a darker base...it's more of a blackened charcoal and the OPI is just a dark gray.  Both great applications (2 coats), formula and dry time.

If I had to choose one, I honestly don't know which one I'd choose! I really want to mix them together. I love the dark base of the L.A.C. and the multi-glitter from the OPI. 

The L.A.C. polish was purchased as a 4 pack from my local CVS, again see my last post about those polishes.  The OPI polish was purchased at Ulta and is part of the Swiss collection.

Review and Swatches: L.A. Colors Metallic Polish Series

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I picked up this 4 pack at my local CVS sometime last week and I'm so impressed with them I decided to do a blogpost!

The first time I saw them I just walked right by, but after seeing the price, I decided to snatch them up.  I'm on a no polish budget right now, but for $2.99 I couldn't pass it up.  You can't even get one bottle for $2.99, let alone 4!

So on to the review: they're awesome! I wasn't expecting too much, because if you break it down it's like .75 cents a bottle right? But seriously...I was amazed at the pigmentation of them.  The only downside I see from these is that they don't have names. I hate when they don't have names! But everything else about these are great! They're not runny or streaky, they just glide right on.  The teal one...did you see it? It's amazing, right? ONE coat!! The rest needed two coats, but that's ok by me! It's when I get into 4-5 coats, I start getting annoyed.

Are you still reading this? Why haven't you left to run out to your CVS to buy these? GO GO GO! :)

In case you need more convincing I'll give you more details:

Teal: WOW, my favorite of the group, goes on opaque with 1 coat, super rich teal color with silver metallic glitter.

Purple: Dark purple with blue and purple glitter. Super glittery, but a little sheer. Needs 2 coats.

Pink: Raspberry pink with lots of pink and blue glitter. Needs 2 coats.

Gray: Blackened gray with silver metallic glitter. Needs 2 coats.

Also, I do believe I've found a dupe for OPI Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous! Stay tuned for a comparison!!

NOTD: Orly Fantasea

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I think it's safe to say that I've redeemed myself from the last NOTD! This is a flipping awesome polish. Smooth application and opaque in 2-3 coats.  It actually surprised me.  It looks sheer when you first open it, but when I put it on, it had good coverage. Obviously I had VNL (Visable Nail Line) with the first coat, but with the 2nd coat it was completely opaque.  I added 1 more coat for good measure :)  This has a lilacy purple base with rose gold duochrome sparkles!

I do believe this just made my top 10!  And I'm starting to really LOVE Orly! Anyone try their base/top coats?

I purchased this from my local Sally's for around $3.

NOTD: OPI DS Jewel

Meh.  I'm not really sure what it is about this polish, but I'm not "wowed".   I went to Ulta this weekend and picked this up for $12.50.  That's the most I've ever spent on a polish.  This is also my first Designer Series polish.   For $12.50 I feel like I should be blown away and I'm just...not.  The color in the bottle is what made me get it...it looks like a burgundy base with gold duochrome and pink glitter. On my nails it looks like I stuck my hand in chocolate :( Maybe it's just my coloring...I dunno.  I'm not impressed.  I WANT to love it.  I just can't.  

What do you guys think?

NOTD: Orly Oh Cabana Boy

Orly Oh Cabana Boy is a super bright pink with a blue-ish-purple flash. Applies pretty thin so it takes 3-4 coats to get it opaque.  Also dries like a neon so you'll need a top coat to make it look glossy.  It looks awesome on toes!

LOTD: Didn't I already do a look like this?

I do believe I did a look similar to this but used a blue on the lid and green in the inner corner...well this time I used purple.  Hmm...I still think it's a nice color combo and I like the way it turned out.  If you have any questions on what I used, just ask :)

NOTD: Nicole by OPI Mis-Magenta Me?

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Holy smokes! Look at this polish...LOOK AT IT!!! It's...magenta...with silver metallic glitter...or something!? I don't even know how to describe it!! It GLOWS! I love it.  I picked this up at Target for $7 bucks and it's an exclusive, so if you like it you might want to run to your local Target to see if there are any left!!!

LOTD: Glowing Purple

What I'm wearing:
Face:
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Light
Bare Escentuals Foundation in Medium Beige
Bare Escentual Mineral Veil
Ulta light pink (no name) blush on cheeks
Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights in Dusk as a contour 
Eyebrows:
NYC Brow Pencil in Dark Brown
Ardell Brow Defining Powder in Dark Brown
Eyes:
Stay Don't Stray e/s primer by Benefit
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Purple on the lid
Coastal Scent Hot Pot # CM07 (dupe for MUFE #92!) on the lid
Stila e/s in Pewter in the crease
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk in the inner corner
Ulta cream colored e/s (no name) as the brow highlight and inner corner over Milk
Lorac 02 Black eye pencil on the water line and the purple e/s over the eye liner to blend
Rimmel Volume Flash the MAX mascara
Lips:
Wet n Wild lipstick in 502A
Milani 3D Glitzy lip gloss in Starshine

Hope you like it!

NOTD: China Glaze Skate Night

This NOTD is over a week old, but it's too pretty not to post! China Glaze Skate Night is a deep vampy red.  One of my faves from the Retro Diva collection. I purchased this from head2toebeauty.com about a year ago and it still catches my eye when I'm looking for a red polish.

So I've been lacking on the posts, but fear not...I'll be back at it soon.  Life is crazy right now! I haven't even had polish on my nails for like a week *gasp*! I also had a nail catastrophe when I broke my middle finger nail and chopped them all off! Now they're nothin but nubs.  When life calms down a bit and my nubs grow a little I'll be back to posting NOTDs.  I do have a LOTD to post, so stay tuned for that! :)

Thanks!

47 followers?! Wow thank you guys so much!!! I really mean it!!  I still can't believe anyone, let alone 47 of you, would be interested in my little blog. And yet here we are! I really do appreciate it! So much so that I'm considering a little giveaway...hmm...

 In other news, I'll be kinda slackin on the posting and commenting this week...I take my state board exam for manicuring on Friday!! I'm kinda nervous, but so excited to have this journey be over with! I can finally move on with my job and get a new career! This is huge for me.  So with that being said, I'll have a NOTD to post (maybe tomorrow) and then I'll be back next week!

Stay beautiful!
Jen

NOTD: China Glaze Something Sweet

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Something Sweet is tricky.  You can see the difference in the pictures with and without the flash.  WITH the flash it's definitely more accurate.  Bright baby pink. Cotton Candy pink. They nailed it with the name.

The formula is...meh.  Its very watery and it took 3-4 coats to get it opaque.  Worth it though right? How sweet, girlie and innocent looking :)

LOTD: Using Coastal Scents Metal Mania Palette

Below: the colors I used are indicated by the little hearts:

 

Bonus pics!

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So by now y'all have heard of Coastal Scents right? Awesome palettes with amazing colors all for around $25 bucks? Yup, they're pretty amazing. If not; go to their website and order yourself somethin pretty :)

I'm wearing:

Face:

Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Moisturizer

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Light

Ardell Brow Defining Powder in Dark Brown

Bare Escentuals in Medium Beige

Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil

Ulta Blush (no name)

Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights in Dusk
Eyes:

Benefit - Stay Don't Stray eyeshadow primer

Coastal Scents palette (see above for colors used)

Physicians Formula gel eye liner in black

Lorac eye pencil in 02 black

NYX EL 120 false eyelashes

Lips: 

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lip gloss in Passion Fruit Pop

NOTD: Millennium and Movin Out

I have on China Glaze Millennium and OPI Movin Out on my accent finger.

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So have you ever seen something you thought was so beautiful you got lightheaded? 

That happened to me as I was catching up on my blogs.  I literally had to remind myself to breathe when I saw alizaine claws' post about OPI's Movin Out.  I think I drooled a little bit when I looked at her pictures.  The first thing I did was come to the realization that I NEEDED this polish and second; log onto eBay to see if they have one listed. Guess what I got....

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CLEARLY worth the $11.24 I paid for it.  Hands down one of my top 5 favorite polishes of all time.  It's flipping gorgeous!! A purpley pink that flashes green, blue, purple and gold with hot orange glitter!! I tried to take a bunch of pictures to capture it's true beauty, but it is so much prettier in person! It's very sheer and I put it over Millennium, so on its own it would look completely different.  Check out alizarine claws' blog to see her pictures! To me this is a layering polish. I can't wait to layer it over different colors to see how it changes!

And just FYI it's from the 2003 Holiday on Broadway Collection.  Yup ANOTHER OPI polish from 2003.  OPI you better step up your game! MORE POLISHES LIKE THIS IN 2010!!!

And not to completely dismiss the other color! China Glaze Millennium....wow! I can't move my hands with out it catching my eyes.  My fingers look like mirrors! Super smooth application, opaque in 2 coats.  I did notice that it works better without a base coat.  With a base the first coat gets streaky, but add a second coat and it smooths out. 

I do believe this is the most I've ever paid for a single polish.  What's the most you've ever paid for a polish?

NOTD: China Glaze Bare If You Dare

 
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First swatch from the haul.  Bare if you dare from China Glaze.  I wasn't too sure about this at first since I never wear oranges, but it's growing on me.  It's light and shimmery. It makes me feel girly and dainty.   It's a peachy orange with gold shimmer. Very pretty.

Head2toebeauty.com haulage!!! Pic heavy!

So last weekend while organizing and taking pictures of my stash I realized I lost one of my prized polishes...Agent Lavender! I took it to school on my last day and must have left it there! Super bummed, I decided to jump on head2toebeauty.com to see if they had it in stock...well lucky me! They did, so I put it in my shopping cart and the next thing I know this happened...

I ordered me a bunch! LOL

(With flash) L to R: Worth the Risque, Millennium, Bare if you Dare, Orange Marmalade, Happy Go Lucky, Metallic Muse, Watermelon Rind, Agent Lavender, Spontaneous, Fashion Addict, Something Sweet, Light as Air.

Without flash.

Millennium and Metallic Muse from the Khrome collection.

Bare if you Dare from the Fiji Fling collection.

Worth the Risque and Fashion Addict from the Femme Fetale and the Catwalk Queen collection respectively.

 The picture on the right was taken with the flash so you can see the HALO GLITTER! (I may or may not be obsessed with halo polishes right now).

Watermelon Rind (how did I not own this before now??) and Orange Marmalade. Both from the Summer Days collection.  Just this past week I swatched Strawberry Fields from the same collection...which is what made me get these two.  I love the sparkly, smooth glitter!

 

My reordered Agent Lavender! Not sure why I took these in the same picture since they're not from the same collection, but whatever! Agent Lavender is from the Operation Colour collection and Spontaneous (polish on the right) is from the Flirt Two 2 Tango collection...which is by far the dumbest name for a collection ever.  Sorry China Glaze, but really?

 

Something Sweet, Light as Air and Happy Go Lucky. All 3 from the Up and Away collection.  One of my favorite collections!

  And the last 2 items, a crystal glass nail file and Seche Restore.  As a manicurist I've heard 100x the benefits glass files have over regular sandpaper style files.  They're gentle, hygienic,easy to clean, virtually indestructible, and will last you a lifetime.  It never gets dull!   Buy one of these babies and you'll never have to buy another file again! Unless you're like me and misplace your things :P
Seche Restore is a must have if you have the Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat. If you don't own this top coat, stop what you're doing, drive to your local Sally's and purchase a bottle.  IT. IS. AMAZING. If you do, you're aware that after a while the consistency gets thick and goopy.  Seche Restore is the only thing that will restore it back to it's original state. It can also be added to polishes that have become old and yucky.

So that's it.  If you've never ordered from head2toe I HIGHLY recommend it.  They have super quick shipping and awesome customer service.  I emailed them after I sent my order and asked if they could send me a turquoise glass file and...well you can see the picture above :) I ordered all this on Monday and I got it this morning(Thursday)! SUPER quick...although I should mention they're based in Illinois and I live in Ohio sooo it didn't have to go very far.  They're shipping is based on what UPS Ground says, and I believe I paid $7 for shipping, but to me it's worth it.  I also saved $2 (5%) using a coupon code aug05. Hey 2 bucks is 2 bucks!

So which polish should I swatch first?!

Design Challenge

 

This is my entry for PHD's design challenge: "Just Tips".  I used Master of Disguise from Color Club and then the famous Hidden Treasure over the black.  And then just Seche FDTP over that.  Turned out ok considering I have pretty short nails.  What do you guys think?

New nail polish storage!

Got this 3 drawer organizer at Target for $6!

Top drawer: base, top coats and misc polishes, konad kit and other accessories.

Middle drawer: Blues, greens, purples and blacks.

Bottom drawer: reds and pinks.

I have a bit more organizing to do. I'm thinking of getting those tray organizer thingies so when I pull the drawer open the polishes don't go flying all over the place.  Any recommendations? 

NOTD: OPI Blue Moon Lagoon

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Very rare Blue Moon Lagoon came out with the 2003 Summer for Shore collection. Yup, this is 7 years old! I had to buy this sucker off eBay and I'm so glad I did.  Enlarge the collage to take in it's true beauty...HALO GLITTER!! Good Lord OPI make more halo polishes! And while you're at it bring back the old brush!

NOTD: China Glaze Strawberry Fields

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Strawberry Fields came out with the Summer Days collection from last year.  While organizing my stash I found this little beauty and decided to swatch it for you guys! It may be a year old, but it's still pretty! It's hot pink with gold flecks. Goes on super smooth...this is 2 coats with base and top. So girly! Strawberry Fields is available at head2toebeauty.com for $2.99

LOTD: Using the Urban Decay Naked Palette! Look #2!

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Look #2! I used Virgin on the brow bone and inner corner, Sin on the lid and Creep in the crease. I also used Zero (the black pencil) on the top and lower lash line.  Super smooth!! LOVING this palette!

On my lips I have Milani 3D Glitzy lip gloss in Starshine. 

Everything else is the same from my last LOTD.

Do you have this palette? Who looks are you coming up with?

And one last silly one...LOVE for my followers!