Tuesday, October 25, 2011

OPI: My Private Jet


Good morning! I hope you're all having a great week! Today I wanted to share one of OPI's most notorious nail polishes; My Private Jet. There are several versions of this beauty floating around, including a fantastic holo one. Unfortunately I have the "boring" version of this but I happen to think it's gorgeous in its own right so it's a-ok with me.

My version of My Private Jet is a deep espresso color with white/gray speckles throughout. It's not a glitter at all, just specks. It reminds me of the cappuccino Jelly Belly Jelly Bean:
 



Similar right? I don't think my photos do this justice because it really is pretty on the nails. It has a great shiny finish and looks so chic!

I found the formula to be easy to work with and used two coats for the opacity shown. I had no streaking issues and I think the consistency of the lacquer was just right; not too thick and not too thin.




So what do you think of this one? Sure, it's not the holo version but I think it's still pretty and I love having it in my collection.  

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Thursday, October 20, 2011

OPI: Bubble Bath



Good morning everyone! Today I have a classic OPI color that every lady needs in her collection for the perfect effort free manicure.  This is Bubble Bath and it's a semi sheer pink glaze of a color that takes no skills to apply and looks clean and polished.  I did this manicure one day before work when I didn't have time to be as precise as I normally am and you know what, I think it looks great. (If I do say so myself!)

I think if you're looking for something easy and classic you cannot go wrong with Bubble Bath.  I believe this is another version of this color floating around out there, it's not pink but sheer ivory. I think that one is lovely too. I think it is the pre-3-free formula though.  Not entirely sure.

I used three coats for the opacity shown. As you can see there is some VNL but nothing offensive in my book. This would make a nice semi opaque french base I think, maybe I will try that some day! 





Do you own this classic pink polish? Is it something you'd rock, at least to work?

Prim and Polished
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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Double Dutch Cosmetics: Sky's the Limit Dutchess


Hi there readers! Today I want to share a color from an up and coming small business called Double Dutch Cosmetics.  Double Dutch Cosmetics is a small company owned by two beautiful twin sister's named Danyell and Raynell.  Right now they have lip gloss and nail polish for sale on their website.  I had the opportunity to try one of their polishes and thought I'd let you all know what I think.

Double Dutch polishes can be purchased here for $6 each.  Right now they have six colors for sale. I personally love supporting small businesses like these. It's so fun to see women taking charge of their destiny and finding a creative outlet doing something they love.

The color I tried is called Sky's the Limit Dutchess and it's a mid toned blue creme. There's a cute Dutchess Dictionary on the site that explains each color and Sky's the Limit Dutchess is described as: "bold & ambitious) - a girl who knows her future and destiny is limitless. "  I love that! Very cool! 

I found the formula to be like buttah! I love the formula and needed just two coats for full opacity. I wore this color on my toes and found it lasted a good long time. I think the polish is great quality and at $6 a piece I can see myself purchasing some more colors for sure.



Pretty right? Let me know if you check out any of their polishes, I'd love to hear what you think of them! Best of luck to the twins with their business I hope it's a rousing success!

Prim and Polished

Disclosure: This product was provided by PR for review purposes. All reviews are 100% honest and done at my discretion. For more information please see my Disclosure Policy.

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Thursday, October 6, 2011

Essie: Lady Like


Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing well today.  I wanted to show you all Essie's Lady Like because I mentioned in my Demure Vixen post that they were very similar.  Hopefully you'll see the similarities I did.  I think Lady Like has the same grayed mauve color that Demure Vixen has but it lacks the purple micro-shimmer.  It's an understated professional color that I think many people can pull off. 

Formula was nice on this like all Essie's seem to be for me. I had no issues with streaking or balding and it was opaque in just two coats which is always a plus in my book!




Here they are side by side. Demure Vixen appears lighter only because that photo was taken with a flash to show the shimmers. The base is seriously identical:


Which do you like better?

Prim and Polished
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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Guest Post: How to Get Stong Nails by Aleya at the Hair Design Institute

Hi everyone! Today I have a fun informative post to share with you written by Aleya from the Hair Design Institute.  She asked if she could share her tips with you guys and I thought that would be fun. Enjoy! 

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How To Get Strong Nails
Between typing on the computer, doing housework and using my nails to do things that I shouldn’t use them for I tend to break my nails more often than I would like to admit. Knowing that millions of women have the same problem that I once did I would like to give some advice on  how you can grow some long healthy nails in no time at all.

Don’t Cut Your Cuticles
Nail technicians tell us that it’s good for our nails if we cut our cuticles. Ladies, this is completely false. Our cuticles help to protect our nails from bacteria and help us regenerate more cells in the surrounding area to keep our nails safe. Therefore, if you cut them you have a higher risk of getting a fungus which is painful as well as unseemly. If the sight of your cuticles bothers you all you have to do is apply some nail oil to soften them and then push them back before you apply the nail polish.

Moisturize Your Nails
We remember to apply moisturizer to our hands every day but often times forget to moisturize our nails. Just like your skin, your nails need nourishment so that they will be smooth and healthy.

File Your Nails
It’s a good idea to do your nails or get them done weekly, but if you miss a week and don’t have time to treat yourself to a manicure at least put aside a few minutes to file them. When our nails are not properly taken care of they get cracks and are more likely to break. Filing your nails will take less than five minutes and will do wonders for your nails.

Paint Your Nails The Right Way
Many women think that applying thick coats of polish will make their nails strong but this is actually not the case. Instead of thick layers of polish you should apply thin layers starting with a nourishing base coat and ending with a top coat. Your polish will last longer and your nails will get a touch of protection.

Your Nails Are Not Tools
You know the tendency that we have to use our nails to scrape off price stickers from presents or remove smudges from surfaces? That tendency is one of the fastest ways to break your nails. Instead of using your nails to remove things from hard surfaces you should use a knife, scissor or other appliance.

Don’t Use Your Nails To Dial
It’s hard to dial a number- especially on a cell phone- when the keypads are tiny and so we end up using our nails to dial. Be sure to keep a pen handy and use it to dial instead of your nails.

Wear Gloves
Even if you’re in a rush or there’s just one cup in the sink be sure to always wear gloves when doing the dishes. Some of the ingredients found in most dish washing detergents can wreak havoc to your nails and make them weak and brittle.

You Are What You Eat
Foods that are rich in calcium, Vitamins A and C and zinc are ideal for helping you grow healthy nails. The good news is that these vitamins  can be found in fresh fruits and veggies that are delicious. You should also be sure to drink a lot of water because it hydrates your nails.

It will take a couple of weeks but you will grow long, healthy, strong nails that you will love. Good luck!

This post was written by Aleya who writes the blog for Hair Design Institute which has beauty schools in West Palm Beach and other locations throughout Florida and New York. 



Prim and Polished
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Monday, October 3, 2011

Essie: Demure Vixen

It's just another Manic Monday! Today I have an oldie but goodie. This is from last winter, I think, but I just got it now. It's never too late to pick up a pretty polish!! This is Essie's Demure Vixen which is a light grayed mauve with a subtle purple microshimmer. The shimmer is understated but really makes the color something unique. I think this is a really chic, work appropriate color.  I think it will work for tons of skin tones too, especially darker skin tones. Though some might think it's too drab but I personally love it.

The formula was nice. I usually love Essie's formulas and this is no exception.  I used three coats for the opacity shown though I think I could have gotten away with two. It went on smoothly with no streaking or balding whatsoever.






So what do you think of this one? Pretty or too plain?



Prim and Polished
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