I first told you about NCLA back in November, now here's the polish! I received a few colors to review, but I couldn't wait to get Miss Sunset Strip on my hands first - literally! Now the square caps on these polishes come off to reveal a smaller round cap but I couldn't get my square cap off this polish for some reason, but know that they do come off. Miss Sunset Strip is a glitter polish with blue and purple microglitter, slightly larger purple and rainbow reflecting glitter, and a clear base. There's so much glitter that it looks like it's a purple base, but sadly, it's not. I used a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, 3 coats of polish and a top of CND Air Dry. I also used China Glaze Harmony as a base for my index and middle fingers.
You can really see the medium purple glitter in the sun but not so much the rainbow reflecting glitter which is too bad because you can see it in the bottle! I definitely need a base under this color for it to really shine.
Meanwhile in the shade, you can see more of the rainbow glitter on my ring and pinkie fingers. :] LOVE purple glitter.
Finally indoors with the flash - which you pretty much saw already in my NOTD. It looks wrinkly, but it's not! It's such a fun manicure that I wore it twice, oh yes! I can't wait to show you more of NCLA! Right now, they are offering 20% off your order if you enter the code VALENTINE20.
Also, they are having their "Light Up The Night" giveaway - three polishes (Bel Air Trophy Wife, LAX Jet Setter and Hollywood & Vine Starlet) given to 3 random winners! Contest open to US & Canada only - ends 9 February at 11:50 p.m. Visit their website page here to enter.
Told you I'd review Harmony from the China Glaze Romantique collection! This is a lovely grape purple metallic. I used a base of Duri Rejuvacote and 2 coats of polish. I didn't use any top coat because I was going to be adding some glitter. ;]
Nom nom nom, I love this color. It's such a great purple, so smooth, so lovely.
Even in the shade, it's just beautiful. It's a blurple almost (blue-purple).
Indoors with the flash on kind of freaks out my camera. Now, you may notice that my bottle is half purple, have blue/purple. This color had settled after sitting on the shelf for two years, and I had to shake shake shake like crazy in order to mix it up all together.
Want to laugh? I took these pictures back in the days before I had a blog, and was just photographing my polish... and didn't know how to use my camera (or Photoshop it seems).
Hah. The last one gives me Hulk hands and weird colored polish. Even though this polish has been discontinued, you may still be able to find it online or in some salon stores.
Remember my review on the PMD microdermabrasion system? Well, now I've been given the opportunity to try the PMD Regeneration System starter kit (retail $39.95 USD). This is a 4 step system to be used in combination with the PMD microderm tool to help maximize the effectiveness of this system.
I'll be honest, microdermabrasion is a bit rough on my skin. As I have said before on my blog, I have sensitive skin. I decided to do a little photo documentation, so you can see what I mean.
First off, here's what you need.
Hello random swollen foot of mine! Anyway, the microderm tool of course was provided to me earlier, but the Starter Kit has an Advanced Soothing Cleanser (60 ml), a Calming Neuro Neutralizer Toner (60 ml) and a Professional Recovery Moisturizer (15 ml). You can apply the products with a cotton pad or your fingers.
First, you need to properly use your microderm tool on your face. Want to see how red it leaves me?
Lobster! The boyfriend has been teasing me with how red my face is. Oddly enough, I did experience more bumps during the month I used my tool (once a week).
Granted, my face has been going crazy lately with stress and dry weather, but still. I'm only human!
So step 1 is using your microderm tool, step 2 is the cleanser. It's a slightly thick clear serum, almost the consistency of aloe vera but without a sticky after feel, and no fragrance.
Step 3 is the toner. It's a clear liquid that doesn't have much of a smell. While most of it will absorb into your skin, you can wipe any excess off with a clean cloth.
The final step is the moisturizer. This does have a fragrance to it, that isn't quite medicinal but is unlike any perfumed moisturizer I've ever tried. It's not unpleasant, but it's not my favorite either. It almost reminds me of dairy.
While the tool is used once a week, the products may be used both in your morning and evening routine. The cleanser helps to remove dirt, make up, oils and other impurities. The toner helps balance your skin's pH as well as preserve your natural oils. The moisturizer is the awesome stuff - I could bore you with details but the part you probably want to hear is it increases Catalase stimulation over 300% and Collagen expression 164% strengthening tissue and elastins for more vibrant younger looking skin.
So, did it work? Well you saw my before picture - here's what my skin looks like after applying.
Still red, but not as bad. My face calmed down and definitely felt better. Over the month, I did have less breakouts and I was complimented more on my skin than normal. I have to get into a better habit of moisturizing, but it's great to have products formulated to my microdermabrasion system.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration. For more information, please read this post.
Playing "pick the random polish" again from my untried box, and today is Motives by Loren Ridinger. I'll be honest, I had never heard of this brand before I'm always eager to try new things! Motives is a toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) free, as well as gluten-free and is not tested on animals. They offer a variety of colors and finishes that are long lasting and chip free. I received Wine & Dine Me, a medium red metallic color that was super popular in Fall 2011.
I used a base of Duri Rejuvacote, 2 coats of polish and a top of CND Air Dry. I didn't have any issues with formula or the brush itself.
In the sun you can see how well this polish applied. While it's not a true metallic, it's also not a pearl even though there's a bit of streaks.
In my first shade picture, you can see it's not quite orange, not quite red. It reminds me a bit of China Glaze Street Racing (which also is staring at me from my untrieds) but I think this is more orange.
This is also a shade color but just different overhead coverage. I really do like this color quite a bit, and wonder how more of these colors would look!
Finally, indoors with the flash and it is pretty red hot! I am definitely happy with this polish and would like to purchase some in the future.
Motives [Website] [Twitter] is available on their website for $5.25 but you also get cash back for your purchases. The above website link I have provided is from Kalomira, a Motives and Market America Distributor, but other links are directly from the Motives 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.
The Beauty Blogger Coalition is back with another $500 Visa card giveaway! To enter, please allow the Rafflecopter widget to load below. All Terms and Conditions may also be found in the widget. Please visit the following Beauty Blogger Coalition members who are bringing this to you! You may enter using Rafflecopter from any of the below blogs but your entry will only count one time. You may, however, tweet about the giveaway (the last option) once a day for the duration of the giveaway.
