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.

Layla Hologram Effect

Sorry for the confusion:  Layla Hologram Effect will be arriving at Ulta and Ulta.com in May 2012.


Yes, it's true!  Layla is bringing holographic polish back in the US!  Later today I'll have one of these beauties to show you but for now, drool over the following press release!

Hologram Effect Nail Polish

Revolutionary Polish For Unforgettable Nail Art

Experience the effects of a three-dimensional universe. This Spring, Layla Cosmetics introduces Hologram Effect, with 8 iridescent shades such as Jade Groove, Mermaid Spell and other unforgettable shades. Delivering a 3-D result with incredible color and shine, Hologram Effect allows you to be your own nail artist. The first to launch Magneffect, the revolutionary ‘built-in’ magnet on the bottle cap, Layla’s formulas deliver easy, yet intense nail transformations! If you are looking for more unique nail art, Magneffect also has launched 24 new colors for Spring ~ simply hold the magnet on top of the polished nail to create fantastic three-dimensional patterns.

HOW HOLOGRAM EFFECTS WORKS:

1.      On clean bare nails, take the Layla 2-sided emery board marked ‘side 1’ and rub all over the nail.

2.      Immediately buff the nails with ‘side 2’ and a glossy base coat will appear.

3.      Apply one full coat of Hologram Effect nail polish onto the nail. Wait a couple of seconds to add the second coat.  

4.      Apply Top Coat.

Hologram Effect’s fast drying, high coverage polish will last 1 week.  The revolutionary formula will not stain the nail and is free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde and DBP. Choose from 8 intense colors to produce holographic nail art at your fingertips: Mercury Twilight, Coral Glam, Retro Pink, Ultra Violet, Jade Groove, Mermaid Spell, Ocean Rush and Flash Black.

Layla Hologram Effect and Magneffect are available at Ulta Stores nationwide / Ulta.com and retails for $15.50.

It’s Nail Art At Your Fingertips...

China Glaze Kinetic Candy

China Glaze spring 2012 TechnoPop collection arrived on my doorstep and I couldn't wait to put on Kinetic Candy, a light blue creme.  I used a base of Duri Rejuvacote, 2 coats of polish and a top of Seche Vite.  The formula on this polish ran a little thick so I had to be careful with wiping the brush on the top of the bottle so it wouldn't pool.

Look how happy this color is!  I really love spring and the sun and this color is perfect.

Look how squishy this looks!  It's like little cloud pillows on my nails!

Even in the shade, you can see how smooth this color applies once you're careful with the formula.

Finally indoors with the flash and it's just making me smile.  It's smooth, it's pretty, it's blue without making me blue.  YAY!  More TechnoPop to come!

China Glaze [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter] can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty, Sally's Beauty Supply as well as 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.

OPI continues New York Fashion Week with BCBG Max Azria

More pictures and fun from Fashion Week!  This is from 9 February and the BCBG Max Azria show that was the talk of Thursday!  Please enjoy the following release from OPI.  All images are courtesy of OPI.

The Fall 2012 shows are well underway with OPI doing nails for its second show, BCBG Max Azria this morning at Lincoln Center! Models’ nails were painted with Passion for a nude look that complimented the neutral color blocking with pops of color in the clothes. 

Lynnderella Mercury's Rainbow

For my birthday, I asked for a gift certificate to Llarowe so I could get some more Lynnderella polishes.  Sadly I didn't get it, but I did get cash, so I put it to use.  Mercury's Rainbow was one that I had been eyeing because of it's micro holographic glitter paired with medium hexagonal holographic (rainbow reflecting really) glitter.  I thought this was a black base but it's not - it's more of a watery grey.  At first I was trying the polish on its own but after seeing how sheer it was, I layered it over Sephora Black, my favorite $1 polish ever.


This is a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, 2 coats of polish and CND Air Dry for my top coat.  Over Sephora Black, 2 coats of polish was also used.

Yes, that's some spam there.  You can see that this is a THIRSTY glitter - it just soaks up top coat.  We'll get to that in a minute.  See what I mean about it not being opaque?  Sad panda, but it's still a pretty polish.

In the shade, you can see some good amount of glitter that is just too hard to capture in the sun.

Indoors with the flash and again you can see lots of glitter (which yes, is a pain to get off - use felt instead).


Now, Lynnderella also makes a top coat that she calls Glitter Tamer.  I have no idea what it's made of but I just know that it makes my eyes water, and that doesn't happen with nail polish and my eyes.  It's nose hair burning, eye watering, choking on your spit horrible but it works SO well.


Here is a nail without Glitter Tamer (the watery grey ring finger)

See how you can see the edges of the glitter poking up?


Now a shot of Mercury's Rainbow with Glitter Tamer.

Bad hangnail!  But look how the glitter is smoothed down and sealed- not gritty.  The stuff really works but man does it stink.


Lynnderella is only available through the etailer Llarowe.  Currently, you have to contact Llarowe at the email address lalas.lynn.network@gmail.com in order to get on a shipping list which is sorted in 4 ways, so if you'd like to find out how to order, email that above address.


Lynnderella is sold by American e-tailer Llarowe for $15 a bottle.  Glitter Tamer sells for $8.00.