ORLY Purple Pleather

I'm still new to the Orly bus.  While I adore the rubberized tops and I think the Cosmic FX line was amazing (too bad I already pre-ordered the MAC line), I just hadn't really purchased any Orly yet.  I found this one at an HEB grocery store in San Antonio and I had seen it before and wanted to try it.  Purple Pleather is from the Plastix Collection that came out earlier this year.  It's not exactly a matte, but dries much like one - Orly officially says it's a "plastic finish."


I used a base coat of Seche Natural and 2 coats of Purple Pleather but I could have gotten away with 1.  Because of the finish, I did not use a top coat.  I also didn't get a shade picture as it was super blurry.

It's almost like a light China Glaze Grape Pop, but with that unique plastic type finish.  While this does photograph blue, I color corrected to make it color accurate.  I now want to try the red from the line "Retro Red" because I do really do like the finish.


I also added Seche Vite to my thumb to show the difference in finishes.

You can purchase Orly for $7.50 through their website, or it's available online at Head2ToeBeauty for ~$6 and in Sally's Beauty Supply stores.  Additionally, you can Like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

China Glaze Mistletoe Kisses

The brother to "Mrs. Claus" in the 2010 Winter Collection for China Glaze would have to be Mistletoe Kisses.  It's a green glitter in a green base - also apart of the "Rejoice Set" which came with a special holiday candle.  Unlike Emerald Sparkle, this is a lighter green with a lighter green glitter.

I used a base of Seche Natural, 2 coats of Mistletoe Kisses and a top of Seche Vite.  The formula was excellent on this bottle.

The green glitter almost gives off a frost appearance to me, but it's not - it's most definitely a glitter.

In the shade, you can see how the glitter is more of a silver based - and much lighter than Emerald Sparkle seen below:

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].

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 Orange Marmalade

Before you start singing Lady Marmalade (because I do EVERY time I see this color), let's look at this beauty from the 2009 Summer "Summer Days" collection from China Glaze - the orange glass flecked Orange Marmalade.  I actually wore this as my Halloween manicure - contained in the glass flecks is some gold particles that really made my nails shine.


I used a base coat of Seche Natural, 3 coats of Orange Marmalade and a top of Seche Vite.  The formula was good but I had a tiny bit of VNL afterwards.

Sun!  Check out all the gold in the bottle!  It's not a neon orange, despite looking quite hot on my nails ^_^  Instead, it reminds me a lot of an orange prescription bottle - less brown though.  Go figure.

More glass fleck goodness.  This is different from a glitter because it's not gritty or bumpy, but it's not really a shimmer either because it looks like crushed glass has been added to the mix.  


For laughs, here are some pictures from summer 2009 before I was blogging.  I used a "natural light" makeup mirror as my light source.

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].

OPI Presents "Deep In The Heart of Color"

I am a Texas girl.  I was born here, lived out most of my life here, and frankly I love my state.  Texans are warm, friendly people with a heart of gold if you ask me.  Now, I'm also a gimmicky person, you better believe I will be buying every single one of these for the sheer novelty factor.  To clear up a few misconceptions, I do NOT have an accent, I do say "y'all", I do not own a cowboy hat or boots, I don't own a horse, I don't have "big hair" or wear hairspray, I don't play poker and I do not go camping.  Just saying.  I am a little surprised there wasn't a yellow (The Yellow Rose of Texas) or something about Friendship (our state motto) or even just a bluebonnet (our actual state flower).  Please enjoy the following press release from OPI.

Deep in the Heart of Color

OPI Launches Texas Collection for Spring/Summer 2011

OPI comes “home” to the USA with timeless style in the Texas Collection for Spring/Summer 2011. These vivid shades are as iconic as images of an American summer – adding a fresh, effortlessly chic look for nails and toes.

“Texas provided the inspiration for this season, with bright colors and classic neutrals that draw from the American spirit,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “Taking cues from the state’s naturally beautiful backdrop, the Texas Collection features warm tones from honey and tangerine to dazzling hues of violet and sky blue.” 

This season, American classics come to life with sunny peach (Big Hair…Big Nails) and vivid honeysuckle (Too Hot Pink to Hold ‘Em).  Lush berry (Houston We Have a Purple) and grassy green (Don’t Mess with OPI) add a splash of the USA’s most vibrant colors to the season’s must-have neutrals (San Tan-tonio).

“The Texas Collection complements trends from the runway, where white made an appearance as the new black,” explains Suzi.  “Wearing these colors on fingers and toes will accessorize the season’s must-have pieces – from brightly colored botanical prints and filmy scarves to relaxed trousers and jackets and fuller, longer skirts – all done in shades of white, ivory, cream and taupe.”

            Texas Collection accompanies spring and summer fashion favorites with the following shades:

San Tan-tonio

A “honey” of a ten-gallon tan!

Suzi Loves Cowboys

But she loves this campfire chocolate shade s’more!

It's Totally Fort Worth It

A shimmery lavender grey that’s so worthy of you.

Don't Mess with OPI

A lean, mean, kick-grass forest green.

Austin-tatious Turquoise

Cowgirls love this bodacious blue-green.

I Vant to Be A-Lone Star

You won’t want to share this starry Texas-sky blue.

Y'all Come Back Ya Hear?

This Texas tangerine will be waitin’ for ya!

Big Hair...Big Nails

A rosy pageant peach.

Guy Meets Gal-veston

An “engaging” coastal coral.

Too Hot Pink to Hold 'Em

A red-hot pink-red that deals a winning hand.

Do You Think I'm Tex-y?

A “berry” sexy bloom of Dallas dahlia.

Houston We Have a Purple

A galactic red-violet that’s ready to “rocket roll”!

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

Texas Collection by OPI will be available February 2011, 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. 

            For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com.

China Glaze Snow vs China Glaze Snow

Oh yes, you heard right.  Snow vs Snow.  In summer 2009, China Glaze came out with 50 polishes called the Specialty Collection - also called the Glitters and Cremes collection.  I ended up buying every single one of them - in phases from Head2Toe Beauty.  Imagine my surprise when in the winter 2010 collection, there was another Snow.

Snow 1 is from the Winter 2010 Collection, Snow 2 is from the Summer 2009 Collection.  The obvious difference is that Snow 1 has a silver cap and Snow 2 has a black cap.  I also secretly feel like Snow 2 is a little bit brighter than Snow 1.

Bottoms of both bottles.  As you can see the number 818 is the same, but the 5 digit code has changed.  The original (Snow 2) was 80411, but the new Snow (Snow 1) is listed as 25176.


I used a base of Seche Natural for both colors, 2 coats, and a top of Seche Vite.  Both formulas were slightly runny - not unmanageable but just thinner than I would have preferred.

Can you tell a difference?  At all?  Me either.  They look pretty much the same - and I don't think anyone would notice a difference.

The shade tells the same story.  So are the bottles exactly alike - I'm saying yes, just different 5-digit codes.  A white creme is a white creme.  ^_^

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].

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