OPI Pepe's Purple Passion: Review & Swatches

Another polish for Mani Monday is OPI Pepe's Purple Passion. Now this is an "oldie, but a goodie" category of polish since it came out in a collection from way back when (maybe fall/winter 2011?). I found it randomly at Ulta this last summer, and past collections of OPI polishes are a little easier to find in my opinion. For example, you can go here.

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

SquareHue December Box: Review & Swatches

The December box is the beginning of the Passport Collection that SquareHue has planned for this upcoming year. It's starting in one of the biggest fashion/beauty capitals of the world, New York. It contains two new finishes, and it's a nice mixture of colors. I'm hoping there will be a Tokyo collection in the works.

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

Maybelline Color Show Brocades Nail Polish: Review & Swatches

For today's Mani Monday I have polishes that are a part of the Gilded in Gold collection by Maybelline, the Brocades. These are only two of about 10 polishes available. The only two I found in the limited display I found, but I hope I see the extended display soon. The two that I have available are Crushed Crimson and Silver Swank.

Click the link below to see swatches.

SquareHue November Collection: Review & Swatches

It is once again Mani Monday, and the November SquareHue subscription is the Coastal Collection. It perfectly exemplifies the turbulent coastal oceans. Interesting choice for a November collection, but that's what I like about SquareHue. They like to keep me on my toes.

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

Sinful Colors Faceted: Review & Swatch

Now for the daily dose of pretty. I have Sinful Colors Faceted for you to enjoy. I found this within a display that also housed some Halloween polishes, but I don't think it's actually part of the Halloween collection. I was confused. But it caught my eye, so I decided to take it home with me.

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

Gap Nail Polish Preview

This is a quick "teaser" post with some GAP polishes. I'll get around to doing swatches and reviews, but I wanted this up for Mani Monday since right now they have buy one ($6) and get one free. That's a steal by any polish standards. I don't know how long this deal will last, but I say go check it out. Especially since the pretty teal shade on the far left (Bright Pool) is supposed to be a dupe for the Rescue Beauty Lounge Aqua Lily, which is a limited edition products (if I'm not mistaken).

Finger Paints Nail Polish in Sarong so Right: Review & Swatch

This polish is part of the Finger Paints A Pair Affair by All Laqured Up (a nail polish blogger if I'm not mistaken). There were about 5-6 shades available, but Sarong So Right was the only one that spoke to me. It was a unique color to my shamefully large collection. I found this at Sally's Beauty Supply.

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

L'Oreal Orange You Jealous?: Review & Swatches

Continuing on with the Mani Monday theme that I have going, here is another polish from L'Oreal. Although summer is fast approaching to an end, I say you can wear whatever color you please year round. That said Orange You Jealous? may be more appropriate for the warmer months.

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

September SquareHue Box: Reveiw & Swatches

It's a miracle, I'm being good and posting my September SquareHue contents at the beginning of the month! Let's see how long I can keep up the good work. September's theme is The Serengeti Collection. Nice Africa theme to wave off my roomie goodbye who'll be in Africa this month.

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

August SquareHue Subscription: Review & Swatches

For those of you who have been loyal and following my blog, you may have noticed that I didn't put up a post of July's Square Hue box. Reason being that something got lost in translation, and my box didn't get forwarded to my new temporary address as it should have. Any way, here is the August Endless Summer Collection.

To see the colors and read the review of the August SquareHue Collection, click the link below.

Maybelline Clearly Spotted Nail Polish: Review & Swatches

It's Monday, and time for a new mani. I've been on the hunt/excited to try the new Polka Dots nail polish line from Maybelline. I was good, and also wanted to see how this applied prior to going crazy with the entire line of polishes, so I stuck with a staple. The black and white polka dots of Clearly Spotted. These retail for  $3-4 depending on where you buy it.

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

Essie in The Girls Are Out: Review & Swatches

Essie nail polish in The Girls Are Out is one of the polishes from one of the summer collections (can't remember which one since these collections all tend to get mixed up within one display). It's one of the pretty vibrant colored ones with shimmer in it, and it has a great salacious name.

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

SinfulShine with Gel Tech in Sailor's Delight: Review & Swatches

The newest member of the SunfulColors family is their SinfulShine with Gel Tech nail polish that claims to be five times shinier than patent leather shoes. Thus far, it seems to be exclusive to Walgreens, but hopefully that will change in the new future. There are currently 32 shades in the range, and retails for $2.99. I have the color Sailor's Delight for your enjoyment today. (Note: this product was sent to me for free to review by Influesnter, but my opinion is all mine.)

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

CND Sticky Anchoring Base Coat Review

As I continue my search for the perfect base coat, I've decided to try out the CND Sticky Anchoring Base Coat. If this is the "Sticky Base" that I often hear reference to, then it's supposed to be good and worth a try. I got mine at Ulta, but I believe Sally's sells CND products as well.

This is touted as a soft, sticky base coat that anchors nail polish so it won't chip or peel. It does live up to these claims. I do feel like my polish lasts a little longer, and doesn't chipped as quickly as my polishes usually do. It's a thinner formula that applies easily and evenly, leaving a very slight (nearly colorless) green tint. This tint doesn't affect the polish color on top. The only downside to this base coat is that it doesn't protect the nails as well as other base coats. I find that some of the darker polishes (like dark greens) have stained my nails.

Bottom Line: If you have issues with chipping nail polish, this is the way to go. Just be careful with staining polishes. If you don't tend to wear darker polishes, this won't be a problem. I like this for most of my polishes, but I'm still on the look out for stain-protecting base as well.

L'Oreal Pistachio Dream Polish: Revie & Swatch

I'm a nail polish junkie, and I have problems with buying the same type of color polishes over and over again.  Of course the nuances makes the polishes slightly different, but I probably didn't need the extra polishes. That being said, the L'Oreal Pistachio Dream is NOT one of the colors. It's one of a kind, gorgeous polish, that I originally past up, assuming it was another mint green. 

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

Essie Into the Cab-ana (Updated): Review & Swatches

Essie comes out with a lovely Resort Collection yearly, and they tend to be very nice colors. Resort Collection 2013 is no exception.  This year is a rather vibrant color selection, and Into the Cab-ana is no exception. It's a nice bright tropical water blue cream. It's lovely and bright without being loud and obnoxious.

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

SquareHue April Box: Review & Swatches

Now this is my third month of getting the SquareHue monthly nail polish subscription service. I decided at the beginning that I would give this service a good three months before deciding to continue it or not. To read and see swatches of the last two months, go here for March and here for February. SqaureHue's April box's theme is the Bloom Collection. This month's box brought all the fun bright spring colors that you want and expect.  The color choices are spot on, and brought some light to the dreary days outside.  At least it's dreary here, and I was in much need of a little bit of brightness.

To see swatches and find out my verdict on whether I keep the subscription, click the link below.

Renting Nail Polish?

Maybe I'm just slow on the game, but I was flipping through my Self magazine when  I came across a blurb on renting nail polish.  It got me a little interested, so I thought I would share the info for those of you that're curious like me.  It's through Lacquerous, and for $18 a month you can try three high end brand polishes (NARS, MAC, Chanel, etc). From what I can gather on the website, each month you get nail polishes sent to you of your choosing. You can use each one only 3 times in the given month (apparently they check the amount), then you send it back in a pre-paid package to get your next set. Now this can be ingenious, or completely disgusting depending on your  take on hygiene.  I think it's nice to be able to access high end nail polish that you may not want to shell out for.  At the same time, you're using the same bottle that other subscribers have used. I will be honest and say that I tend to err on the side of being a germaphobe, and the idea of using nail polish that people I don't know have used is a little gross.  I mean what if they have fungus? Once you get nail fungus, it's pretty much down hill, and it is possible (although very unlikely) to get fungus from fomites (inanimate objects) such as nail polish (Picture: Lacquerous).

Bottom Line: The concept grosses me out, so I would never partake in a monthly nail polish "renting" scheme.  However, I think it's important to be well informed of your options, so here ya go.

China Glaze Turned Up Turquoise: Review & Swatches

Next on the journey of St. Patty's Day pizzazz is China Glaze Turned Up Turquoise nail polish.  Nail polish is a great option for those of you a little shy about going all out with colorful peepers.  This particular shade of polish is of the China Glaze neon range so it dries down matte.  I don't have too much experience with matte shades, but it's always good to branch out right?

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link below.

SquareHue: First Impressions

Today I can finally introduce my initial impressions of SquareHue, a monthly nail polish subscription that I hinted to last December. I was honestly surprised when this showed up in the mail at the beginning of the month since I was under the impression my first box won't come until March. In any case, it was a pleasant surprise to find it waiting for me. As a side note, currently there isn't as long of a wait since the promotion price is over.  You can get the specifics of the subscription service by going to SquareHue directly, but in a nutshell you get 3 full sized (0.5 oz) "3-free" nail polishes each month for $21 (no extra shipping charge).  SquareHue sends out "fresh" month appropriate colors that fit a variety of occasions, and they are committed to giving part of their proceeds to different causes/organizations.

To continue reading the review and see swatches, click the link.