#31DC2013 Day 1: Red Nails

Let me start by saying I got overambitious.

The first of the #31DC2013 is "Red Nails." I was thinking "Hey, I'll be cool - just paint my nails red." I'm still weaning into nail art, trying to stay cool about it all. But then I just got overly excited and was like "DO ALL THINGS."

I started with a base of Cult Nails Get It On. I always wear base coat, even if I'm wearing nothing else that day.  It helps protect my nails and they always look healthy.  (Note I said look, hah.)

Then I put on one coat of Layla Softouch 7 Queen Bourdeaux. This is a lovely firey red that dries to a matte look but as with all Layla Softouch polishes, a top coat will not make it shiny.

But then I was like - I need nail art. I grabbed my striping tape and made a couple of lines, and then a couple more and was like "HAH I made a hashtag."  I painted over my nail with Zoya Bobbi and then pulled the tape off.

Mistake #1: Not waiting long enough to pull the tape off.

So a little came off with the tape and then I realize my hashtag was off centered of the nail.  I used my top coat from Digital Nails hilariously nailed "Ain't Nobody Got Time For That" and looked back at my hands and said...

LET'S ADD RHINESTONES.

Back when I was really interested in making a custom rhinestone iPod case (ahem), I figured out that I could buy tons of rhinestones super cheap on eBay. So I did. And they have sat on my desk ever since.  I have literally only used them once. 

So back to the beginning. I got overambitious.  I also am using my really big DSLR to take photos, and since I haven't been blogging lately, it felt really bulky in my hands and then I couldn't get the right lighting.

Have you figured out that I'm stalling before showing you pictures? Then again, most people skip the writing and go straight FOR the pictures so without any more rambling.

Day 1.

Ta da. Or something. Well - challenges are all about improvement, so here's to improvement!

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

Layla Gel

I have a love/hate relationship with gel polish - can you blame me? But one of the coolest things to come out of the polish world is gel effect polish without the light.  Say what?  Yes, seriously!

Layla Gel Effect Nail Polish is the revolutionary new gel nail polish that does not need a UV lamp to dry and has a long lasting brightness and luster similar to what you get in the salon!  This unique at home gel polish comes in 12 vibrant colors and has the performances of a semi- permanent gel polish in terms of brilliance, scratchless and is a ridge filler!

What Makes Layla Gel Effect different?

The Layla Gel Effect Nail Polish has the shine and color of a salon gel polish with the ease and simplicity of using it at home without a UV lamp! As with all Layla nail polishes, no base coat needed and 3 free!

This polish will last up to 12 days and dries in 3 minutes flat! The Layla Gel Nail Polish has extreme brightness, an amazing filling power, and a silky and ultra smooth texture. The Gel Effect Nail Polish comes in 12 gorgeous shades!

How to Use Layla Gel Effect:

1. Add two coats of the new Layla Gel Effect Nail Polish
2. No UV lamp  needed
3. Let dry for 3 minutes and enjoy this gorgeous semi-permanent Gel Polish for up to 12 days!
4. Add favorite Top Coat (optional).   We recommend our Layla Eco Base and Fix
5. Easily removed with regular nail polish remover

Layla Gel Effect is available at Aveyou.com / Zappos.com and retails for $10.00

Layla Softouch 3 - Stone

Press Sample

One of my favorite things about Layla is the long brushes inside the glass bottles. I didn't think I'd like the long brush but it's actually easy to hold and handle.  This is "3" which is also called Stone in their catalog.

I didn't use a base coat (as Layla says not to) and two coats of polish. The Softouch line looks like a matte but it doesn't get glossy with a top coat, so I didn't add a top coat either. It's this lovely dusty purple gray. I kind of wish that it would turn glossy to see those shimmers but hey, I'll live.

Here it is in the sun. This is two coats of polish and you can see how it's soft, matte, and pretty at the same time.

Meanwhile in some indirect light, it looks more grey. Even without a base and top coat, this polish did well. It wore well on me without tip wear or chipping for four days. Also, it didn't stain my nails which was great. 

The price on these polishes do vary - the current price I've found is $9.95 but sometimes you can find them on sale at Ulta.

Layla Cosmetics [Website | Facebook | Twitter] is distributed to the US through the Luxcon Group who has a Facebook Page to several online websites including Ninja Polish, Zappos, AVEYOU, Brigette's Boutique, Amazon, and Drugstore.  It is also available at Ulta.

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

LaylaPRO

LAYLAPRO - The evolution of Beauty

After 70 years of colours and success, Layla Cosmetics launches a new selective and professional brand of make-up and nail polish. With this choice Layla is now able to cover the 100% of the market requests.

LaylaPro is an exclusive Nail & Make Up range conceived to embrace the most high expectations . Forged with and unmistakeble Italian fashion style and upmost quality. Designed and formulated to be a partner for the most trend setting make up artists.

Produced to satisfy the higher quality requests of the professional and selective market, and wrapped in a an elegant packaging.  The needs  of both the professional and selective markets have been addressed in the formulations and merchandising materials.

An avantgarde make up, fused  with a high percentage of active principles as tripeptide GHK (a mascara additive with lenghtening properties) and  Physalis Angulata (an anti oxidant present in the majority of LaylaPro face products) and exceptional, pure pigments.

Formulations that in the hands of  the most advanced make up professionals will produce incredibly natural to outrages scenographic  results. 

Nails are a must in this new project

Layla Pro presented in an 17ml exclusive format and moulded glass   . The highest quality and purest pigments ever presented on the nail make up market. Trendy fashionable colours for every feminine demand and all 4 Big Free, never staining nails yellow and eliminating any need to use a base coat.

We are excited to introduce for the first time ever the new Layla Pro Nail and Make-Up line during the Make –Up Show in New York, and our first Spring Summer Collection

Summerdream…. A colourful collection of golden primers, purple grape and  pink shadows and  – ready to be kissed- lips-

A new Layla Project.

LaylaPro…where professional meets retail.

Layla Caviar 10 Mambo

2013 is all about texture and microbeads or "caviar" is part of that rage. The concept is fairly simple - apply beads to a wet coat of polish and seal (or don't - I didn't!).

I used a base coat of Layla Softouch 9 "Aqua Zen" which is a pretty turquoise and then I poured the C-10 "Mambo" microbeads over a small bowl to catch the extra. Layla says not to seal with a top coat, so I decided not to. The photo above is right after I applied the microbeads. I lightly pressed them down into my nail and went to bed.

Sorry for the ridiculously out of focus shot. Overnight, the beads seemed to change colors! Instead of all being teal, now some were teal and silver. You can also see the tip lost pretty much all its beads in a solid line.

This is after lunch, just going about my daily routine. Quite a bit of lost beads but hey, the patterns looks cool!

This is 12 hours later - you can see that I lost about 50% of the beads. Now my day job consists of being a mom and a front desk secretary, so... take that how you will. I'd like to try again with top coat in the future but for me, this is definitely an accent nail look - not a full manicure look. I used regular nail polish remove to take the beads and polish off which meant that they were not reusable for me.

Furthermore the price point is a little high for me. When the caviar craze first started, I bought a package of colored microbeads from JoAnn's "Reflections" for $10. It contained 6 different colors so ... 

Layla Caviar Effect ranges between $10-$13 depending on the retailer.

Layla Cosmetics is distributed to the US through the Luxcon Group who has a Facebook Page to several online websites including Ninja Polish, Zappos, AVEYOU, Brigette's Boutique, Amazon, and Drugstore.  It is also available at Ulta.


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

Recent NOTDs

If you follow me on Instagram, then I totally apologize for the repeat photos but I thought I'd share a few NOTD polishes I've been wearing lately!

Starting with some naked nails:

1 October

10 October

27 November

And now some color!

Sation Diamond Diggin' Diva

Color Club Harp On It

Layla Softouch

Ruby Wing Sand Dune (shade on left, sun on right(

Jelly sandwich of Cult Nails Bitten & OPI Servin' Up Sparkle

Cult Nails Disciplined with Jindie Nails Tried & True

China Glaze Glistening Snow

It's been fun wearing nail polish again!  I hadn't been wearing full manicures lately and missed it.

Layla Magneffect Softouch Deep Violet

I had written about the new Magneffect Softouch Effect polishes coming down the line from Layla Cosmetics, but the other day I decided to take a bottle with me to work and see how easy it is to apply!  Softouch mimics a matte polish but it's not really a matte because if you add a top coat, the polish remains matte - it doesn't get all shiny and sparkly like a normal matte polish would.  For this manicure, I did not use a base or top coat, just 2 coats of Deep Violet polish.  Layla Cosmetics does not stain and actually advocate that you do not use a base or top coat with their polishes.

As with most magnetic polishes, you have to work a bit quickly.  I would polish a nail, let it dry, add a second coat and then immediately flip over the cap where a line magnet is located.  I'd hold the magnet there for about 5 seconds, then admire the nail.  If the magnet effect looked off, I just painted another coat and tried again.  Thankfully I got it down on most fingers, the first time but had issues with my thumbs.

Here in the sun, you can see that it's a lovely deep blue purple polish that is fully opaque in 2 coats.  I don't mind the bar line magnet, even though Layla did just come out with more magnets but I left them at home.

Now in the shade it almost looks like I have a bald spot in my index finger, and I wonder if the polish was a bit thin there or not.

Indirect light - nothing new to report.  I wore this polish for over a day and I didn't have any problems with chipping or staining.

Indoors with the flash - need I say anything else?

Layla Magneffect Softouch Effect is available for $15.50 a 10ml bottle.

Layla Cosmetics is distributed to the US through the Luxcon Group who has a Facebook Page to several online websites including Ninja Polish, Zappos, AVEYOU, Brigette's Boutique, Amazon, and Drugstore.  It is also available at Ulta.

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

Layla Cosmetics Fall-Winter 2012

Image Courtesy of Y! PR

It's no secret that I love the nail polishes that come from Layla Cosmetics and that I wish we could get their other lines of cosmetics in the USA, so I was super excited to check them out at Cosmoprof North America Las Vegas again this year.  Once again, Connie and Paula from Luxcon Group (the USA distributors of Layla) were on hand to show all the new lines coming in from Italy, but the big surprise was that Babila Spagnolo, Product Manager for Layla Cosmetics and Tatiana Elleboro (also with Layla Cosmetics) were also there!  It was great meeting Babila and Tatiana and of course seeing Connie and Paula.

Myself and Babila

So, what's new for Layla this year?  Well, first off, major congratulations for winning the Discover Beauty Award for 2012!

A beautiful crystal cube, which didn't want to photograph against anything but black...

But really, let's get to the new lines!  First, somehow I totally missed that 6 new Hologram holographic polishes are launching this fall.

Photo courtesy of Y! PR

I also somehow missed the Mirror Effect display, which are super high shine chrome like polishes. 


But I did see that new Magneffect magnetic colors and four new magnets are on their way!  The heart looks so cute!  This brings the total of Magneffect polishes to 24!

Next is something that I thought was awesome.  First let me say that I love matte polish but I hate how it chips so fast, and if you add a top coat, the matte is gone and you're left with shiny polish.  Layla has the answer.  It's called Softouch and it's the look of matte, without the chipping and a top coat will not alter the matte look!

Here is Babila wearing Ceramic on 2 fingers (shiny) and the Softtouch on the others.  She used a top coat on all fingers shown, but the top coat does not alter the Softouch polish!

Oh but there's more!  Let's take Magneffect and cross it with Softouch and you have my new favorite.  Magneffect Softouch!

I will have swatches coming up.  The following lines will be available in Ulta come fall 2012.  I also found out at Cosmoprof that Ninja Polish sells Layla on their website as well!


For Christmas this year, Layla has a selection of current polishes, laid out in the Christmas in Laylaland display.

Dancing With the Stars, The Butterfly Effect, Killing Red, Green Galaxy and Space Cowboy

How awesome is that purple?!  I feel like it's a lot like Cult Nails Unicorn Puke, but I'll have to do a comparison to find out.  I think Unicorn Puke has more flakie colors in it though.


Layla Cosmetics [Website (Italian)/Website (English) | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube] can be purchased in Ulta Stores or online at Ninja Polish.

Layla Ultra Violet

It's coming...  Layla Cosmetics is bringing Holograhic polish back to the United States!  Today I have Ultra Violet, a light purple holographic polish with linear holo!!!  This is where you can see the full rainbow on the nail versus a scattered holo (like China Glaze Tronica).  Now there are some downsides but we'll get to those much later.


First off, Layla claims not to need a base or top coat with its polishes - they keep it simple.  Instead, they provide a nail file with the holographic polish that has 2 sides.  The pink side is to file the ridges down, the white side buffs your nails.  Then you have a smooth surface to apply your Hologram Effect polish on.  I buffed my index and ring fingers but left my middle and pinkie finger unbuffed.

Can you see the difference in the shine and amount of ridges on my nails?


Next I applied 3 coats of polish to all my nails.  Warning, lots of nail spam coming now!

nom nom nom.  Nail LOVE.  This color is a lot like China Glaze Octa Gone Wild except this has way more holographic goodness in my opinion.  Again, this is without a top coat.

Okay, downside in the shade.  You can see that I had a bit of patching on both my non-filed middle finger and my filed ring finger.  Boo.  :|


Next, I wanted to try some top coat.  Layla makes a top coat called Brilliant Due Nail Polish Protector ($19 at Zappos for 0.33 fl oz).  It has a bit of a "glass effect" that will prove useful in upcoming Layla collections (but that's all I can say about that for now) so I wanted to check it out.  

Now, normally top coat dulls the holographic finish of polishes.  I wanted to test polishes so on my index finger I have Layla Brilliant Due, middle finger - CND Air Dry, ring finger - Seche Vite and pinkie finger - Sephora by OPI top coat.  Check this out.

The holographic polish is definitely dulled by CND and Sephora by OPI but Seche Vite holds up a bit and Layla obviously looks the best.  Here's a comparison of just Layla and Seche Vite.

Hello holo!


Okay, now for the bad news.  First, Layla Hologram Effect polish won't be available until May.  :|  At that time it will be available in Ulta and possibly more stores online but Ulta is the only confirmed.  The second piece of bad news is that it's a bit pricey at $15.50 for a 10 ml bottle.  To compare, Glitter Gal's old bottles were 9 ml for $14.00.  a-england is priced at $12.00 for 13 ml.  OPI is ~$8 for 15 ml...  so yes, it's expensive but it will be available and that's sometimes half the battle.


I cannot WAIT to get my hands on more of these.  Check this out!

Photo courtesy of Layla Cosmetics Facebook page

Must... have... all... of... them...  Formula wise, the polish was just slightly thick but not nearly as bad as GOSH Holographic.  A tiny bit of thinner would probably make this perfect.


Again, this line will be available in May at Ulta for $15.50 a bottle.

Layla Cosmetics is distributed to the US through the Luxcon Group who has a Facebook Page to several online websites including Zappos, AVEYOU, Brigette's Boutique, Amazon, and Drugstore.

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