China Glaze Blue Iguana

Check out my bottle here of China Glaze Blue Iguana.  Notice how it's got some missing?  I don't know why, but boo because this color is AWESOME.  I wish that the duochrome purple would show up in my pictures (and not just the bottle) but I took tons of pictures and couldn't get it.  (I know other bloggers have felt this same pain!)


I used a base coat of Seche Natural, 3 coats of Blue Iguana and a top of Seche Vite.

Here in the sun, it almost looks like there is some VNL on the middle finger, but I don't recall that.  Also look how super shiny pretty it is!  (The purple is completely hidden.)

Here in the shade you can see how amazingly smooth this formula is, especially since it looks like it would be gritty with all that shimmer/glitter in it, but nope!  It's super smooth, super shiny (super easy to apply and control).

Indoors with the flash - you can really see how much polish is seriously missing out of my bottle.  Oy.  I almost wished I had bought a back up and might still.

Ooh, bonus - check out the bottle in this picture.  Do you see all that purple on the side?!  This, 108 Degrees and Senorita Bonita are my hands down favorites of Island Escape.

China Glaze can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty, Sally's Beauty Supply, and TransDesign.

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

Nail Files "The Queen of Nails" Breakdown

Image from TV Guide Network's Facebook Page

Tonight was the premier episode of Nail Files, the original reality series about the Painted Nail with Katie Cazorla.  I didn't think I was going to be home during the airing, so I set my DVR to "record series", and went off with my happy self.


I realized later that Katie was live tweeting during the show (PS: She's giving away a prize pack! What am I talk about, she's giving away a LOT of prize packs!  I won one the other day!).


Each show is 30 minutes long and it's not just the nails, but all of the awesomeness that Katie is going through as a small business owner in Los Angeles.


I am obsessed with most reality shows, hilariously enough - Jersey Shore is definitely included, and the producer, Sally Ann Salsano, created Nail Files.  Automatically, I knew I was really going to love it.


Okay, so the show starts with an f-bomb.  Can we say win?  Then Katie is rolling down the street in a Smart car.  When I was in Europe in 2005, I first saw the smart fortwo and I swore I was going to get one of those cars in the States.  Well, now it's 2011 and I drive a huge extended cab, extended bed Toyota Tundra (with towing package).  Sigh.  But I live in Texas and I own a metal building business, so that's my excuse (and random Krystal trivia).


Next we meet Nichole, Manager of the Painted Nail.  While her hair changes quite a bit in this episode, I just have to point out that I love the purple.  I think I counted about 4 different hair changes for her!


By the way, purple is ALL OVER the salon, mind you.  The walls, the curtains, the trim, the accent throws... ahh!  What's my favorite color?  OH YES, PURPLE.  Additionally, there is a clothing boutique next door and they do hair and makeup.  (And give away cocktails/wine with your mani-pedi... yum.)


Hold up, Debbie Gibson just walked in - and Katie drops "Holy shizballs."  More win.  Seriously.  Win.


So following in the wave of Deborah Lippmann, Katie is having celebrity help with her polishes.  While Deborah creates polishes with or inspired by celebrities and her polishes are the names of songs, Katie just flat out says "Hey, want to help me name this?"  (And thus Electric Blue was born which I don't currently see in her shop but I'll find out what's up, somehow.)


Ralina, Katie's Publicist calls to let Katie know that she's going to host the gifting suite at Sundance.  Becky, Katie's Assistant is put on a whirlwind of getting tickets, scheduling, etc etc - while Katie playfully chomps on chips in her ear.  Poor Becky ends up confused (I guess) because Katie ends up having to book her hotel herself and everyone is booked.  She does end up getting a condo (for a cool $2k, hah).  Also, can I mention that it's hilarious that above their heads is a sign that says "Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake"?  Becky also has to get Katie's 200 polishes picked up to fly out but Becky is having some math issues and a few more scheduling issues as far as Katie's displays are concerned.


On to Jessica.  Okay.  So while the laugh is SUPER annoying (and Katie's parody of it did have me laughing quite a bit), the fact that this girl didn't write anything down, and was promising things that this chick knows won't happen in a day (at least it would never happen where I live...), just screamed "THIS IS GOING TO GO WRONG."  Displays with 3D pop outs for SUNDANCE in 24 hours?  And then Jessica ends up with backwards displays?  Seriously?  How do you NOT know how a nail polish rack works?  I mean, granted, the first time I tried, I didn't get it either originally (just like Katie) but it took me a whole 5 seconds to say "Oh, I have it upside down, hah."  Not to mention that her lateness keeps Katie from her romantic dinner with her fiancé, Walter.


A little into Katie's home life, where you meet said Walter, a song writer and record producer.  (Another Krystal trivia moment: I used to be a radio personality.)  That studio is uh-mazing, by the way.  (And props to the lava lamp in the corner.)  While Walter is not able to go to Sundance with Katie, she is able to take Amy, one of her best friends.


Katie is having some issues with her signage.  Her labels are off - the hair is more yellow and the skin is a brown tint (a crack about Jersey Shore is made).  All her displays are backwards.  It's not 3-D like she asked.  But Walter puts everything into perspective and lets her know that only she knows it's a problem, and she just has to rock it.


I also work for a company in California, and driving in CA is absolutely scary for me.  Katie gets a driver who is driving on the wrong side of the road and misses their exit.  Katie calls 911 (no joke) because at this point, it's dangerous.  Swirling, not listening, missing exits - will they make in time?


This season looks amazing.  Drama, nail polish, and Katie is an absolute gem.  I can't wait to see what else is coming.


Nail Files airs on the TV Guide Network Tuesdays at 10/9c.

China Glaze Cracked Medallion

I decided to grab another Metallic Crackle from the Crackle Glaze - China Glaze that will be released this summer - this is Cracked Medallion, a "bold bronze".  My high school colors were black and gold so I thought this would go great until I realized that no, this is bronze, not gold, haha.

Loads of shimmer in this one.  I layered this right over my earlier Liquid Leather manicure and added a top coat of Seche Vite.

Here in the shade, it's really pretty - I'm actually super happy with this color.  I need to compare it to the Tarnished Gold that was also released in this collection - I can't wait until I get back into my comparisons :]

Indoors with the flash - crazy!


I haven't seen a bronze anywhere else out there - have you?

China Glaze can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty, Sally's Beauty Supply, and TransDesign.

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 Liquid Leather

So as I'm running low on my CND Blackjack (my first bottle of nail polish to have emptied!), I decided to pull another black that I have - China Glaze Liquid Leather from the Core Line.  This is just a simple black creme - a little watery for me... but it is still opaque.  


I used a base coat of Seche Natural, 2 thick coats of Liquid Leather and a top of Seche Vite.  When I was making my pick for this color, it took 4 thin coats of Liquid Leather to cover the nail and it still wasn't as opaque as my CND Blackjack,  but again on the nail, it was only two.

Granted, I have a coat of Seche Vite over this but look how shiny this color is!  As far as the "watery" goes, check near the cuticles, especially on my ring and pinkie finger - you can just barely see the nail under the polish.

In the shade, it's all about reflecting everything (mainly, my camera and my fingers, haha).  I don't wear black alone - I always tend to pair it with something like a sheer shimmer or glitter or flakie.

Indoors with the flash and well, this picture just kind of makes everything run into each other... bottle, nails... whatever.  :P

China Glaze can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty, Sally's Beauty Supply, and TransDesign.

OPI Blue Shatter

Kind of continuing the whole peacock idea, I thought I'd try out OPI Blue Shatter over China Glaze Cha Cha Cha.  This is a bright cyan blue shatter/crackle polish.

I think instead of "peacock" this just translated into "80s dinosaur egg" look.  I still like it but not nearly as much as I thought I would.  I did use a top of Seche Vite over it for shine and protection.

Still loving how Cha Cha Cha lightens up so much with a dark color over it.

Indoors with the flash - you can see a little shrinking of the shatter on a few places ... need to make sure it dries completely before adding a top coat.


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.