China Glaze Tis The Season

I absolutely love Christmas.  Also, I do not hope I'm offending my readers, but I do call it Christmas, as that is the actual name of the holiday.  I've always grown up with Christmas and Santa Claus, and I enjoyed it.  To those who do not celebrate Christmas because of another holiday or don't celebrate at all - doesn't matter to me as long as you're happy with it.  


Anyway, when I first heard that China Glaze was going to be putting out 16 new colors for the Winter 2010 collection, I kept thinking "Wow, that's a lot - how much can you elaborate on red and green?"  Well, plenty.  By far the longest name I've seen, this collection is called 'Tis The Season to be naughty and nice but I think it's going to be abbreviated as just 'Tis the Season. 

• Naughty and Nice: Deeply rich wine crème.
• Sugar Plums: Plum shimmer.
• Mommy Kissing Santa: Deep cherry red shimmer.
• Phat Santa: Red crème.
• Ruby Deer: Bright red crème.
• Mrs. Claus: Red glitter.
• Party Hearty: Green, gold and red chunky glitter.
• Mistletoe Kisses: Green glitter.
• Jolly Holly: Forest green shimmer.
• Peace on Earth: Olive green shimmer.
• Little Drummer Boy: Navy blue shimmer.
• Jingle Bells: Champagne shimmer.
• Midnight Kiss: Gold shimmer.
• Cheers to You: Silver shimmer.
• Frosty: White frosty shimmer.
• Snow: White crème. 

 Now, notice that the promo picture up there only has 12 bottles, but there is indeed 16.  That's because BAM:  Certain colors will also be available in the following gift sets:

Celebrate in Style Collection: Includes Little Drummer Boy, Peace on Earth, Mommy Kissing Santa, Jingle Bells and a holiday necklace. 

Merry Mint Set: Includes Naughty and Nice, Mrs. Claus and a complimentary China Glaze Peppermint Oil.

Rejoice Set: Includes Mistletoe Kisses, Mrs. Claus and a special red holiday candle. 

Cheers to You: Includes Midnight Kisses, Cheers to you and a China Glaze shot glass. 

Dreamin’ of a Green Christmas: Includes Mistletoe Kisses, Midnight Kiss and Jolly Holly.

Oh, Ruby Deer: Includes Sugar Plums, Ruby Deer and a stuffed animal. 

Peppermint Kisses with Holiday Wishes: Includes Mrs. Claus, Phat Santa, Snow and Frosty. 

I was also sent this image, even though it wasn't listed in the press release.

Party Hearty Set includes Phat Santa, Party Hardy and Jolly Holly... it appears that the "free gift" with this one is the Party Hearty top coat.  It's not an actual top coat, but rather a glitter to be layered instead of worn alone.

The release date has not been set, but I'd expect to see these in late October or early November.  I've seen Head2Toe have China Glaze gift sets before, so that might be a good place to stake out.  I personally am dying for a set of China Glaze shot glasses, just saying!

China Glaze [official website] can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty [official website], Sally's Beauty Supply [official website] as well asTransDesign [official website].

Zoya Flame

I'll have more information available (and color swatches!) starting Friday, but for now, here's something to make you giddy... it's Zoya's 2010 Winter Collection called Flame.  Unlike their last few collections, this is only 6 colors collectively called "Flame" (unlike the Flash and Sparkle or Wicked/Wonderful).


Note:  This collection was originally called Fire & Ice but in September the name was changed to "Flame".


Here's the entire plate - Valerie is very hard to photograph because it's pretty dark.

From left to right: Tiffany, Gloria, Crystal (!), Lisa, Sarah, Valerie.

Tiffany, Gloria, Crystal

Lisa, Sarah, Valerie.


Now, Zoya didn't contact me directly about the color Crystal, but holy cow, it's perfectly me because of the blue with gold sparkle... Blue and Gold are my Alma Mater college colors, so I'm excited to rock this for Homecoming which as a faithful alumna, I go to.  Woot!  (Too bad it wasn't Krystal though, I would have been over the moon then.)  Like I said, more on Friday!

Zoya [official website] can be purchased on their website for $7/bottle.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

China Glaze Octa Gone Wild

China Glaze Octa Gone Wild is from their now discontinued Kaleidoscope Collection.  Dear Polish Companies... I know that 2010 was year of the neon, so please make 2011 Year of the Holograph!  Seriously, I think this was probably my favorite collection ever because I absolutely love making rainbows with my nails.  I was actually named after a rainbow - kinda.  Hey, it was the early 80s.


Octa Gone Wild is a light purple lavender base (!) with tons of awesome holographic goodness.  Sadly, I was waiting for the cool front to hit when I swatched this color and the sun just absolutely hated me.  I used a base coat of Seche Natural, 2 coats of Octa Gone Wild and a top coat of Seche Vite.  Unlike the OMG! Collection, the Kaleidoscope collection loves the top coat.  I ended up wearing this polish for several days because I loved it so much and instead of chipping, I found it was almost rubbing away?  I really want to try the Nfu-Oh Aqua Base - I heard it's amazing for holographic polishes as a base.


Here's some cloudy but still pretty pictures.

You can see just a teeny bit of the rainbows here.


Then I had to move inside before the mosquitoes carried me off.  All the lightning in my house is Natural 6500K energy saving light bulbs... I'm slightly nuts like that.  I absolutely HATE yellow light!

The base color in this last picture is too dark - it's definitely more of a light lavender than a blue purple (or blurple as it's been called).


PS: BOO nubbins.  I was about to get a manicure to have my cuticles cleaned up and my hands just overall rejuvenated and BAM, nail break.  Grr.


China Glaze [official website] can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty [official website], Sally's Beauty Supply [official website] as well asTransDesign [official website].

A Public Apology

I started blogging last December after talking to my friend Jen (FrmHeadToToe) about how it can be fun and even relaxing sometimes - and especially how there is a whole community behind you.  I started out on ground zero, just finding my way through different polishes, companies, people, Twitter, Facebook Pages, websites...  It wasn't easy, but it's been fun.  I've really enjoyed the community especially.  I've always been a media oriented, community oriented person and this was just another outlet for it.


However, there have been a few bumps on the way.  Early on, I had a major disagreement with a blogger and chose a press representative's words over hers.  It ended up in a major fallout with the blogger, and while I was saddened, I realized that it was the nature of the business and moved on.  There has definitely been more drama in the blogging community that is neither here nor there, but I've tried to stay away from it, because overall I hate fighting.


Recently over the past month, I've noticed some of blogging friends have been silent on Twitter.  That's when I found out that they had stopped following me and had also removed me from their Twitter.  Today, I asked one why, and after she emailed me back, I knew I had to make this post.


I have always tried to help out, never tried to be malicious, but what sounds great in my head doesn't always come out well in the end.  That's what happened with this blogger.  I made her come off as a horrible person, and that was never my intent nor did I ever stop to think about how it made her sound.  While I respect her opinion to remove me, it makes me sad, and now worried that I've done that to others as well.  If I have offended you, I am sorry.  I truly feel that the blogging world is a community and we need to stick up for each other as well as be there for each other.  We may not all agree and while we should stay true to ourselves too, I think it can always be done civilly. 


But the end point of this is that I screwed up - royally, and I'm sorry to everyone I've hurt unintentionally.  I'm disabling comments on this post because I don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable and instead, I have a Google Form where you can leave any comments you'd like - and you don't have to sign your name or be a follower of my blog to do it.


Everyone needs a little shove down to earth, and this was mine.  Again I'm very sorry and wish everyone the best.

Zoya Cheryl

Can you see the duochorome peeking out?!  Zoya's Cheryl is from the Fall 2010 Wicked Collection and is a listed as a chocolate bronze sparkling metallic.  Whatever you call it, I'm in love.  This is easily my favorite from the Wicked Collection.  


I used a base coat of Zoya Anchor, two coats of Cheryl and a top coat of Zoya Armor.  Sadly, this picture was taken IN some rain and I really only got one picture before the sky opened up and started weeping.

 You can see a drop of water on my ring finger hah.  Also LOOK at that bottle!!!!  Oh I love this color.


Zoya [official website] can be purchased on their website for $7/bottle.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Blogs of Note

Happy Sunday!  I have 3 more blogs for you today.

First up today is Concrete and Nail Polish.  This is run by sisters April and Ashley.  They feature a lot of blue (which I love) but also quite a bit of nail art.  I love that it's not just Konad, but also nail pens or free handed designs.


Next is Dr. Frankenpolish.  Owner Amanda mixes her own nail polish creations using her own extensive collection, as well as some pigments and embellishments.  She was featured in a NAILS magazine article here.  This was another one of the original blogs I first subscribed to, and I even purchased about $50 worth of frankening supplies because I thought "Pfft, I can do that too!"  Well, I can't do it, and I ended up actually mailing my supplies to Amanda, hah.  


Third is not a nail polish blog but actually a jewelry blog.  I came across this blog after my friend Jen of FrmHeadToToe (I'll be linking to her blog another day) modeled some DSK Jewelry and I am absolutely obsessed with all the jewelry that DSK creates using loads of Swarovski which I collect.  I haven't made a purchase yet, but with very reasonable prices and a huge client base, I'm just itching to make a purchase.  


Enjoy!

Zoya Kelly

Oh Zoya, be still my heart.  When I saw the first swatches of Kelly, I was just overwhelmed.  Is it dusty purple creme?  Is it purply grey creme?  (Okay seriously, I can never figure out if it's grey or gray, so I'm going with grey.)  Now, it was just about to POUR rain before I took these pictures, so I took as many pictures as I could and bolted in the house for one more swatch.


I used a base of Zoya Anchor, one coat (one coat!) of Kelly, and a top of Zoya Armor.

Here in some indirect sun, it looks soooooo dark grey and you can just barely see the purple.  

And yet when I rotated my hand, bam, hello purple!  Very happy with this color and I can't wait to wear it again this fall.  Kelly is from the Fall 2010 Wonderful collection, available on Zoya's website now.


Zoya [official website] can be purchased on their website for $7/bottle.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Color Club Ruby Slippers

I'm such a sucker for red glitter.  While I was picking up my OPIs and Color Club Revvvolution, I also saw this very beautiful gem from Color Club - Ruby Slippers.  This is a red based polish with loads of red glitter.


I used a base coat of Seche Natural, 2 coats of Ruby Slippers and a top coat of Seche Vite.  Yum.

Check out that sun glitter goodness!

Look how beautiful this is in the shade?!  It's almost brighter than China Glaze Ruby Pumps.  It literally just jumps off my nails.  Definitely beautiful.

Color Club is located on several etailers, including Head2Toe Beauty which has it for $3.00.  You can also Like them on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter.

Barielle Cashmere or Loose Me

Barielle's Fall 2010 Collection, "Style in Argyle", came across my desk and I was really intrigued by all the browns in this collection.  I don't normally purchase browns even though they don't look bad on me at all.  I think I'm still warming up (haha) to browns since it's such a non-conventional color to me.


Unfortunately, I couldn't get a good bottle picture - it kept coming out orange instead of brown.  Cashmere or Loose Me (what a name!) is a soft brown with copper pearl.  It looks like just a creme in the bottle but when I took it out in the sun, BAM hello copper pearl.  When I was just looking at it, I was thinking it was more of a bronze shimmer, but hey, tomato, tomato.  Wait, that doesn't work when it's written...


I used a base of Seche Natural, 2 coats of Cashmere or Loose Me and a top coat of Seche Vite.  Here's some sun!

In the shade, you see more brown, no shimmer on the nail (just in the bottle).

Notice the new bottle?  Before it was "Shades by Barielle" with the circle, and 0.50 fL oz.  Now it's Barielle Shades and they did lower the content by 0.05 fL oz.  I like both bottles, but this new bottle shows off the color more (since the logo isn't large and in the center).

Barielle retails for $8/bottle.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Color Club Revvvolution

The place that I bought my OPI My Private Jet, also had bottles of Color Club so not only did I want to get a bottle of Revvvolution, but I wanted to get 2 bottles.  So you imagine my surprise when I saw this.

Now, I could almost swear that my "One" bottle is much lighter than my "Two" bottle.  I even Tweeted about it and Color Club responded saying that it shouldn't happen.  Well...  ^_^


Revvvolution is a black holo which just makes my day - it's everything I love in a polish.  I used a base of Seche Natural, 2 coats of Revvvolution and no top coat.

Here in the sun, I really think that my Two is darker than my One, just like the bottles.

Holos hate shade.  But you can see in the shade that there are different base colors of black here - One is more gray.  Well, either way I still love this polish.  

Color Club is located on several etailers, including Head2Toe Beauty which has it for $3.00.  You can also Like them on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter.

Sephora by OPI Club Scene Queen

Oh Sephora, you are my downfall.  I love you for your Urban Decay, and your Sephora by OPI, and your Kat Von D.  I pretty much buy your Sephora by OPI Mini sets all the time.  So when Rocker Chic came out, I was so happy that I wanted to buy two colors in full bottles, this is rare.


Club Scene Queen is listed as a sheer smoky grey with fine blue glitter.  However, I didn't know that when I purchased it.  I also didn't have a tester bottle when I purchased it - but went off a very enthusastic salesperson's recommendation.


Let's just say I'm not too happy with this.  I ended up using Seche Natural as my base (instead of my OPI base coat), and 3 coats of this watery dark grey base with little blue glitter polish and Seche Vite top coat.  You're lucky I suffered with 3 coats - I was ready to throw in the towel by coat 1.

This polish hates the camera too.  You can see lots of blue glitter and some of that smoky grey but really, it didn't look like this on the nail.

Here in the shade you see loads of the glitter, which is what I saw in the bottle originally.  Either way, I'm not super happy with this polish.  I think it would be much better with a base coat of CND Blackjack which I have been way too happy with - I think I need a back up.  Anyway, I digress.  


You can purchase Sephora by OPI in Sephora stores or online here for $9 a bottle.

Cult Nails Release

You have probably already seen this around, but I also would like to share the news.


Please enjoy the following press release from R3 Daily - a fellow blogger that I've been following and enjoy reading!

Nail polish blogger R3 Daily announces a new nail polish line, Cult Nails. Maria Morrison is the blogger of R3 Daily and creator of Cult Nails. The polish line will be B3 Free which means it does not contain formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phtalate. Cult Nails polish line is also camphor free, cruelty free and considered a vegan friendly product. "When creating this line it was important to me that not only can I safely wear it, but so can my daughters."

The line will launch in early 2011 with only three colors. Cult Nails will continue to introduce colors to the line throughout each fashion season in 2011. Maria stated that "While I was very excited about the opportunity, I had to be realistic in what I could bring to the table. A small line with a limited collection is a perfect introduction for Cult Nails. The focus is on creating trend setting polish colors that are fun and safe while taking an earth friendly stance in everything we do" In fact Cult Nails committment to being earth friendly means removing unneccesary packaging, using boxes for shipping that are made from 100% recycled materials and shipping packages with reusable packing materials, like cotton balls.

The three introductory shades will retail for $10 per bottle and will include a vibrant holographic red aptly named "Follow Me", a true grey purple creme with a subtle shimmer named "My Kind of Cool Aid" and a yet to be chosen color that R3 Daily's blog followers will have an opportunity to create. Maria's goal is to involve the polish blogging community in the creation of this new line, "Polish bloggers and followers are the most amazing group of women I have seen. They are so supportive of each other and have amazing ideas when it comes to polish. I can't wait to see what they create! This line isn't just for me, it's for all of us!"

For more information on R3 Daily or Cult nails go to: http://www.r3daily.com/ or http://www.cultnails.com/