OPI: Stranger Tides (Pirate of the Caribbean Collection)

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! I had a great Christmas with my family and they all spoiled me with the most amazing presents.  I am so grateful to have such amazing people in my life! I hope you all have amazing people in your lives to share the holidays with.

Today I have a color to share from OPI's Pirates of the Caribbean collection. I know this is an older collection but too bad! I love this collection and just got it a few months ago so I am going to share it ;-)

This is Stranger Tides which is a gorgeous dirty sea foam green creme. It's just the perfect green. This is my all time favorite color in general, not just in nail polish. (I actually favor purple nail polish more than green even though I favor green in everything else).  I just adore the color of this polish and I think that while many brands seem to have put out a color like this this year this one is at the top of my list.

The formula is perfection! It's a rich creme that just glides on perfectly with no streaking or balding to be found. It's smooth and shiny at the finish and lasts forever. I never wear polish more than a few days but I rocked this one for 6 whole days with no chips and minimal tip wear. I am impressed! 

  

Beauteous right?! I love it!! What is your favorite green? Do you have this one?

Let me know in the comments what you did for the holidays! I'd love to hear!

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NYX Advanced Salon Formula: Enchanted Forest

Hello readers! Today I have a festive green color to share with you.  This is Enchanted Forest from NYX's Advanced Salon Formula line.  I purchased several bottles from the line during Cherry Culture's recent 20% off sale. I have seen only a handful of reviews for these polishes so I thought I'd try them and see what I think. 

Unfortunately the only two things I like about this polish are the bottle shape (pretty much the same as Deborah Lippmann's polishes) and the color...

The color is stunning, it's a medium toned shimmery green/gold.  It's absolutely gorgeous and eye catching. The formula however was an epic fail for me. 

First, this color is so sheer it required three coats for the opacity shown and four might have been better. I can usually deal with that but the formula was also so annoyingly thick it was difficult to  work with so the extra coat just pissed me off. It kept gunking up on the side of the opening which was a major pain.

Second, it just would not dry. I used Seche Vite on top as I always do and applied the polish the same way I apply all of my polishes and this thing just would not dry. Hours, literally hours later it was so tacking to the touch that I was able to scrape right off!! I just scratched it off all of my nails because it was like thick goo and never dried, even with the Seche.  That is a major turn off and I really hope the rest of the polishes I bought don't have the same issue.  

  

At least it's pretty right?

Have you used this line of polishes? What do you think of them? I bought several so I hope this is the only dud. 

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Zoya: Holly & Rina (Gems and Jewels Collection)

Hi everyone! Today I have two colors from Zoya's Gems and Jewels Holiday Collection. I think this was a really festive look for the season. I layered Rina over Holly.  Let's start with Holly:

Holly  is a (wouldn't you know) Holly green color. It's a shimmery sort of frosty finish and has a nice sparkle to it.  While it's somewhat frosty in finish I did not have any issues with brush streaks at all.  I used two coats for the opacity shown and had no bald spots.  I think this color alone is a great festive holiday color. I just love green!

To push the look over the top for the season I added two coats of Rina  on top. Rina is a green and holographic bar glitter that sits in a clear base. I think it absolutely needs to be layered because the base is much to sheer for my liking to be worn alone.  The glitter is mostly green but every once in a while the holo particles flash mostly blue to my eye. 

I think this looked pretty cool layered over Holly but in all honesty I am not a fan of the bar glitter, I just don't think it's pretty.  It looks sort of like Easter grass or something. This is just a personal preference  and does not have anything to do with the quality of the polish to me. 

So what do you think of these two polishes together and alone? 

Do you like the bar type glitter? Am I the only one who isn't digging it?

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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Layla: Magneffect Nail Polish in Black Metal

Good morning my friends. I hope all is well in your neck of the woods! For those who celebrate, are you ready for Christmas? I still have some last minute shopping to do, I am ridiculous! 

Today I have a nail polish from the brand Layla and it's a  "Magneffect Magnetic Effect Nail Polish". The color I have is Black Metal.  I am sure you have seen these types of polishes around lately, I know Nails Inc. makes one and some other brands as well. This type of polish is basically instant nail art.  Here's how it works:

The nail polish comes with a magnet on the top of the brush applicator.  You apply one coat (which is all I needed for the opacity shown) and immediately place the magnet above the nail; about 1cm away for the nail, for at least 10 seconds.  Magnets in the nail polish react wit the magnet on the applicator to create the nail art you see on my nails below. (At least that is what I think happens LOL)

This is the first time I used the product so the results are not 100% perfect. I think with practice I will have a better outcome but I do  think it still looks pretty cool! 

  

What do you think? I think it's pretty neat! And one coat for full opacity works for me. I did find it chipped very quickly so I am not sure if it's because of the one coat or what but it's something to be mindful of.  You can purchase this brand at Drugstore.com for $15.50 each, which is quite expensive considering you're only getting .33 fl. oz. 

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China Glaze: Colours From the Capitol (Hunger Games)

I don't typically like to bombard you with press releases since so many bloggers also receive them but this is a collection I am very excited for so I had to share. Here's what China Glaze has to say about the collection:

This collection of 12 new nail polish shades is inspired exclusively by one distinct setting in The Hunger Games- the Capitol of the nation of Panem.  Awash in lavish fashion, food, and entertainment, Capitol citizens enjoy extreme cosmetics and body modifications, bold wigs, and outlandish costumes.

I cannot tell you how excited I am for this collection. I am a HUGE Hunger Games fan and if you haven't read the books then GO GET THEM NOW! LOL but seriously they are so wonderful! 

Which are you the most excited for? I can't wait to see Fast Track and Luxe and Lush. 

Information and photos received directly from the company's PR. 

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Color Club: Sugar Plum Fairy (Under the Mistletoe Collection)

Howdy! Today I have a color from Color Club's Under the Mistletoe collection to share with you.  This beauty is called Sugar Plum Fairy and it's a light purple/silver/holo glitter. It's absolutely stunning in almost all lighting. I kept staring at my nails, holo glitter will do that to you! The color is just beautiful.

It's a pain in the bum to apply. It was thick and goopy and really annoying.  I used three coats and it was mostly opaque, maybe one more would do better but it was so obnoxious to apply I stopped at three. I had to keep closing the bottle and shaking it to get the globs and globs of glitter off the brush.  I topped it with Seche Vite to smooth it out and I found it worked well enough. 

It was also a pain to remove. Typical must soak glitter.

  

While it was annoying to both apply and remove I do love this polish. It's so pretty! I am a sucker for holo glitter.  

All this glitter for the season is killing my nails! I really need a glitter break! 

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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The Top Ten Award Tag

I was tagged by the lovely and talented Art Evolve to do the Top Ten Award Tag! I love tags and this is a fun one so here are the questions:

1. Favorite Cuticle Cream: I am a big fan of the Dr. Dobb's Tropical Blend Cuticle and Nail Salve with mango and lemon butter. It's a solid balm  that comes in a cute tin and it smells divine! I just love it! 

2. Favorite Cuticle Something Else (lol): For intense hydration and an overnight miracle for dry cracked cuticles I really love California Mango Mend. This stuff is an overnight wonder. I swear if your cuticles are beat up and dry from too much acetone or the cold weather just dab a little of this stuff on before bed and you'll wake up with noticeably hydrated skin. It's a holy grail product for me. 

3. Favorite Perfume: I am going to go all old school on you now and say Davidoff Cool Water for Women. I have been wearing this perfume since middle school and I still have a bottle on stand by. I think the reason I love it so much is because it just brings back old good memories. I wore it on my first date with my husband and I wore it on our wedding day. It's fresh and clean and for some reason just hits it off really well with my body chemistry. I have many perfumes in my collection but this one consistently appears and I never go without it. Notes: "citrus, pineapple, and woody notes, blended with the scent of ocean air". Honorable mentiones: Aquolina: Pink Sugar, Philosphy: Baby Grace and Pure Grace, Moschino: I Love Love and Donna Karen: Black Cashmere.

4. Favorite Lip Products: I am going to break this down into categories because I am nuts: 

• Favorite Lip Balm: I am going to have to go with another Dr. Dobb's product here. My favorite lip balm of all time is Dr. Dobb's Peppermint Tingle.  I used to be a huge Burt's Bees lip balm fan until one day at my law school's co-op I picked up Dr. Dobb's Peppermint Tingle; it's been my go to balm every since. It's just like Burt's Bees by more emollient and not as waxy.  It's got a refreshing peppermint scent and it's cooling to the lips. If you ever see it pick it up because it's incredible stuff.  Honorable Mentions: Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Original or Lemon/Chamomile. I also love Nivea Lip Balms.
• Favorite Tinted Lip Balm: I can't get my hands on there here in the US but Labello tinted lip balms are awesome!!! They are the smoothest tinted balms I have ever seen. I won one in a giveaway once and I have been dying for more since.
• Favorite Gloss: I am not huge on lip gloss but I do like Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Glosses. They're not sticky and come in some really beautiful colors. 
• Favorite Lip Stick: This is a tough one. I will have to say I miss MAC's Bare Slim Shine, why oh why did they discontinue it! I also love NYX's Thalia Round Lipstick which is only like $3 or less!

5. Favorite Nail Polish Brands: I love so many brands this is a tough one but if I had to pick only one I guess I'd say China Glaze because China Glaze products were some of the first in my collection and they've never let me down. 

6. Favorite Top Coat: I have to go with Seche Vite. I know it thickens and you have to buy Seche Restore or toss 1/2 of the bottle but it's always worked best for me as far as drying time and shine. 

7. Favorite Hand Cream/ Lotion: I am really picky with hand creams because I hate greasy stuff on my hands. I love the Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Shea Cashmere & Silk Hand Cream. It smells lovely and is not greasy at all. 

8. Favorite Base Coat: Nail Life Gripper is a great one and it comes in a giant bottle and isn't very expensive. 

9. Current Favorite Nail Polish Collection: This is so hard! Why must I be put on the spot!?!?! This year I really loved OPI's Pirates of the Caribbean Collection so I'll go with that! I loved all of the colors in that one.

10. Favorite Facial Moisturizers: Easy, for me it's Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Moisture Gel. It feels so nice!!!!!!!!!!!! 

TAG! You are ALL tagged. 

Link this post back to me if you do it!

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OPI: Pepe's Purple Passion: (Muppets Collection)

Hi everyone! Can you believe we're 12 days away from Christmas Eve? Where did the time go!? Honestly, this year flew by for me! Insane!! I still have not completed my Christmas shopping. Ugh!

Today I have another color from the Muppets collection to share with you. This one is called Pepe's Purple Passion and it's not really purple at all! To me this reads way more burgundy/maroon/plum than purple and it's packed with pretty red shimmer flecks. It's stunning! The shimmer absolutely makes this one for me. I am getting more into shimmer these days. Without the shimmer this color is basic but the red glass like flecks really make it fun to me.

The formula was a touch thicker than normal but not that difficult to work with. I did find that without a top coat this color lacked shine so be sure to top this one off.  I used two coats for the opacity shown and I am happy with the results. 

So, who is Pepe? Good question! I really love the Muppets but I guess I am not as big a fan as I thought I was because I really did not have a clue who Pepe was. Upon looking him up I have to say that I still have no clue who he is!  So let's learn together:

Apparently Pepe is a prawn, not a shrimp, a prawn. He does not like being called a shrimp so get it right! He is of Spanish descent and speaks with an accent. You can learn more about Pepe here. To be honest, he kind of scares me ;-) He's creepy but his polish is pretty so he gets a pass.

So hit or miss for you? I really like it. I think it's completely work appropriate too without being boring! 

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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On Wednesdays We Wear Pink: Color Club: Fame & Fortune (Backstage Pass Collection)

Hi lovelies! This Pink Wednesday I have a crazy color from Color Club's Back Stage Pass Collection to share with you. This beauty is called Fame and Fortune and it's a hot pink jelly packed with varying sized glitter sheets... yes, sheets, I can't think of any other way to describe them.  

Now this was not easy to apply and took some time to get right. I used three coats for the opacity shown. The glitter is a pain in the butt to work with because the shape. The jelly base is really beautiful but I find it to be thick and, well, jelly like so I found myself periodically pausing my application to close and shake the bottle.  Eventually I got it on and looking good. I only had some of the glitter sticking up in an obnoxious way but I tamed it with an extra thick coat of Seche Vite. I think the results are worth the trouble because this one is unique and really pretty.

One of you mentioned you'd like to hear more on removal of glitters. Well this one is just as much a pain as most others are. It's a soaker.  I did find as well that, like many glitters in my collection it chipped very fast on me... like not even one day before it began to chip. No bueno. 

What do you think of this one? Worth the trouble applying and removing for you? Let me know in the comments!

For me, it's worth the hassle. I think it's super pretty and unique! 

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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China Glaze: Tinsel Town (Let it Snow Collection)

Another Monday! I hope you all had a nice weekend! Let me say, at the risk of sounding like everyone else out there, where has this year gone? Can it really be December already! I am shocked at how fast this year went for me!!! 

Today I have a color from China Glaze's Let it Snow collection. This is Tinsel Town which China Glaze describes as: – "Bold silver, metallic glitter and the perfect match for sparkling night on the town." The bases is not so much silver as it is charcoal if that's not a nit-picky distinction. It's jam packed with silver metallic glitter and then larger pieces of silver glitter as well.  This color is very similar to the Kardashian Colors by Nicole By OPI: Follow Me On Glitter except the Nicole by OPI version's larger particles are rainbow colored instead of just silver. They're incredibly close though.  The smaller particles of glitter in this one make it really sparkly and fun to wear.  It's a little darker than what'd I'd expect to see around the holidays but it's festive enough. 

I am surprised that I like how this one applied. Sometimes glitters are too gritty for me. This one is fine and I only needed two coats for the opacity shown.  Don't get me wrong it still has the glitter texture but it's nothing a good coat of Seche Vite can't tame! 

Overall I like this one and I think it works for any time of year. What say you? 

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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Touring America Giveaway Winner!!

Thank you all for entering my OPI Touring America Giveaway! I wish I could send you all a prize but I am not a millionaire (sadly) so there can only be one winner! 

There were a total of 562 valid entries!! WOAH! It took a while to go through them all. Thanks so much to those of you who left fun comments in the say anything box. I read them all! 

I used random.org to select a winner and it selected entry #144

Entry #144 belonged to 

jennwasawesome

Congratuations Jenn, you won!!!!! I will be sending you an email as soon as this post goes live. You have 3 days to respond or I'll have to pick a new winner! 

Thanks to everyone who entered! If you didn't win this time don't worry! I will have more giveaways soon, I promise!!!

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