Dermelect Launchpad Nail Strengthener

Ever since my nail staining in July 2009 when I used China Glaze Paper Chasing (a green with yellow undertones) and did not use a base coat, I have used a base coat every single time.


I started with Seche Clear Crystal Clear Base Coat which simply states "will not yellow".  I had pretty awesome results but then Seche tweeted about Seche Natural which contains wheat protein, calcium and polyurethane to strengthen weak nails.  Okay, yes, I just said polyurethane, but after doing a bit of research, I found that some organic polish companies use it too, so it's not as bad as it sounds.


Well now I'm trying out something new.  Dermelect Cosmeceuticals is a line of beauty products formulated jointly by medical professionals and licensed estheticians.  They have their website [official website], Facebook Fan Page [Facebook] and Twitter page [Twitter].  Just as of note, you can follow Dermelect on Twitter and Facebook for the chance to win a Nail Recovery System (value $70).  I'm not sure if the giveaway is on one platform, the other, or both, but regardless, we're talking free product here!  The giveaway ended last week.


I am reviewing their anti-aging base coat, Launchpad Nail Strengthener which is available on their website for $18.  Here's the skinny:

LAUNCHPAD NAIL STRENGTHENER

• Hydrates and strengthens nails using the protein peptide, ProSina.
• Resists chipping and splitting, while providing a great basecoat for your favorite nail polish.
• Increases the integrity and cohesion to the nail plate resulting in natural flexibility and increased moisture.
• ProSina’s anti-oxidant behavior allows it to actively remove harmful free radicals most commonly associated with nail damage. 

It's also big 3 free, which they call their "Green Formula"... free of DBP, Toluene, and Formaldehyde.

Now I don't have a hard time getting my nails to grow.  From super nubbins to nice and long takes about 4 weeks. Now, will this help my nails grow faster?  I'm not sure - that's my test, as well as the other items it offers... resists splitting (which I've done twice this month already) and chipping, and just the strengthening and hydrating properties.  I'm going to use Launchpad exclusively for one month and see how it does.  Even if I'm not wearing nail polish, I'm going to wear Launchpad.  It has a fast-drying formula that provides a soft shine, and is not blue like the bottle. 

Now I did find that it dries a little slower that Seche Natural, but Seche Natural also dries to a matte finish, so that's another thing.  Launchpad recommends 1-2 coats as your base, but I'm only using one.

The bottle looks just like Rescue Beauty Lounge, and the brush is a little short but not unmanageable.  So here we go!  I'll check back in a month or any time that is relevant.

Dermelect Cosmeceuticals products are available on their website [official website].

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

OPI Flit a Bit

Sorry for the slight delay in postings - my computer is having some USB problems, and won't turn on until I unplug everything from the USB ports... go figure.  


OPI Flit a Bit from the Summer Flutter 2010 collection is a hot orange creme that almost looks neon in the bottle, but it doesn't have a matte finish.  It's almost tangerine orange, and very nice on the nails.  I used a base coat of Seche Natural, 2 coats of Flit a Bit, and a top coat of OPI RapiDry,  The formula was very nice - I almost thought about just doing one coat.

Gotta love the white paint still on my hands from the day's work.  As you can see in the sun it's very pigmented and the top coat really gives it a nice shine.

The shade almost makes it look more like a pumpkin orange, but still very lovely.  I was quite pleased with this - it definitely is more of a bright orange than a fall orange.


OPI is available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and Ulta, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer. Please visit their website for details [official website].  

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

OPI "Summer Flutter" Collection

You've already seen me post Flower-To-Flower, but here is the official press release for OPI's summer collection - Summer Flutter!  I'm seriously excited about the Catch Me In Your Net.  Yes, it looks just like Zoya's Charla, but this is such an amazing color that how can I not be excited?!

Summer Colors Take Flight!

Summer Flutter by OPI Transforms Nails with Bright, Seasonal Hues

                                                                                                                             

Capture summer’s fun, playful nature with Summer Flutter by OPI, a limited edition collection featuring four new nail lacquers in lively shades of purple, orange, pink and teal. With whimsical names and bold colors designed to make fingers and toes pop, Summer Flutter provides the perfect warm weather accessory.

            “With tulle, lace, ribbons and bows dominating many runway collections for the season, bright color splashes add the perfect accent to the flirty, feminine, and neutral clothes of summer,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “OPI’s Summer Flutter shades also offer rich hues to compliment more daring pieces – from tribal and floral prints to denim and studs.”

            Summer Flutter by OPI shades include:

Wing It!
Let your heart soar with this shimmery fuchsia.

Flit a Bit
This bright orange goes here, there, and everywhere.

Flower-to-Flower
Next stop…hot pink!

Catch Me in Your Net
And s’teal me away!

  

Summer Flutter by OPI Nail Lacquers contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and each features the exclusive OPI ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application. 

            Summer Flutter by OPI will be available beginning June 2010 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and Ulta, for $8.50 (US) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer.  

OPI Swiss Collection

OPI has released the details on their fall/winter collection - I'm pretty excited to see so much COLOR from OPI!  When looking at Trade Secret last time, I felt like I was drowning in reds and pinks.  Please enjoy the following press release from OPI.  

Stay “New-tral” with Rich Color

OPI Launches Swiss Collection for Fall/Winter 2010

OPI offers a new take on classic neutrals with must-have hues in the Swiss Collection. These highly anticipated lacquers feature rich shades sure to become the new standard basics, or “new-trals” for Fall/Winter 2010.

“Switzerland provided the inspiration for this season, with a backdrop of snow-peaked mountains, lush glacial valleys, and glittering lakes,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “With luxurious hues across the color spectrum, the Swiss Collection features jeweled tones from ruby red to shimmering gold and everything in between.” 

This season, deep shades of rich color become the new basics, from dark green (Cuckoo for this Color) to glowing red (Color So Hot It Berns).  Metallic shades of exquisite pewter (Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous) and gold (Glitzerland) offer touches of effortless elegance to every fall wardrobe.

“The Swiss Collection features the same relaxed luxury that walked the fashion runways, where timeless shades of black, camel and cream were met with a wealth of jeweled emerald, sapphire, and gold,” explains Suzi.  “Wearing these colors on fingers and toes will accessorize the season’s must-have pieces – from masculine-inspired tailored jackets contrasted with ultra-feminine dresses to beautiful bohemian garments with toughened touches of leather.”

            Swiss Collection complements fall and winter fashion favorites with the following shades:

The Color to Watch

It’s the perfect time for this delicate lilac.

Yodel Me on My Cell

I’ll feel “blue” if you don’t!

Cuckoo for this Color

Go “crazy ’round the clock” for this dark green!

Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous

You’re chic at the chalet in this stunning pewter.

Glitzerland

Swiss gold in the cold.

Diva of Geneva

A vibrant pink-red that’s anything but neutral.

Color So Hot It Berns

Cozy up to this warm red après-ski.

From A to Z-urich

This rich ruby shade goes with everything.

I’m Suzi & I’m a Chocoholic

I’m addicted to this irre-switz-able chocolate shade.

Just a little Rösti at This

But practice makes perfect with this brandy-red!

William Tell Me About OPI

A crisp burgundy that’s your overture to great style.

Ski Teal We Drop

There are mountains of color in this grey-green-blue.

OPI’s Swiss Collection Nail Lacquer shades contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and each includes OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application.

Swiss Collection by OPI will be available August 2010, at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and Ulta, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer.  

China Glaze Fight Like A Woman

This is my Grandma and me, many years ago. She passed away in 2006 after a long battle with bone cancer that was caused from her breast cancer. I hope that one day, we'll have a cure for this killer.

I've never been really vocal about my fight against breast cancer.  It's not that I'm not passionate about it, because I am, but I'm scared of getting it, since it does run in my family.  I do donate to cancer research, and I have a pink ribbon pin that I like to wear in October, but I was really excited last year when I saw that China Glaze had 3 special pink polishes for Breast Cancer Awareness month.  This year, they are doing it again, and portions of the proceeds benefits IARC, an agency of the World Health Organization, so I'm super thrilled.  I have requested a PR sample but I have mentioned that I'm willing to buy them because frankly, cancer research needs all the help it can get.  I have already thought about having October be a "pink month", where I only swatch my pinks, but we'll see - that's quite far away!  Please enjoy the following release

Find Strength in the Power of Pink

China Glaze Nail Lacquer Gets the Gloves Ready to Join in the

Fight Against Breast Cancer

Los Angeles, Calif. (July 2010) – Join China Glaze Nail Lacquer this October in the battle against breast cancer, one nail at a time! The professional line of nail lacquers brings on the fight with three powerful pinks. Inspired by the women who fight everyday and those that support them in their battle, these fabulous shades are sure to help you defeat the toughest opponents with style and class. China Glaze representative Rachel Schafer voiced that “in an industry dominated by women, for women, it is important that we strive to work together towards finding a cure.”

The three colors in “Fight Like A Woman” include:

Encouragement – A baby pink shimmer that brings on the cheer

Endurance – Power through the punches with this raspberry shimmer

Empowerment – Stand up tall with this cotton-candy crème on your nails

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency of the World Health Organization dedicated to the science of cancer and promoting international collaboration in cancer research. 

The “Fight Like A Woman” Collection will be available at professional beauty supply stores and select salons this September. Availability will be very limited internationally.

China Glaze colors may change from season to season, but our formula remains the same amazing longwearing lacquer with hardeners. Designed with the professional in mind, our 220-strand brush is great for ease of application. Best of all, our non-thickening formula provides great coverage. For more information, please visit www.chinaglaze.com.

About American International Industries

 For nearly 40 years, AII has been the leading manufacturer and worldwide distributor of innovative, quality beauty and skin care products for men and women.  Our product lines include Ardell, Andrea, Body Drench, Bye Bye Blemish, Checi, China Glaze, Clean + Easy, Clubman/Pinaud, Duo, European Secrets, EzFlow, Fright Night, Gena, GiGi, Gypsy Lash, IBD, Jeris-Lustray, No Tweeze/Micro Tweeze, 'N Rage, Prolinc, RAW, Seche, SuperNail, Surgi-Care, Waterworks,  Winning Nails, Woltra, Woody’s,  and Youthair. For more information, visit our website: www.aiibeauty.com

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].