Mattése Elite Desfiles de Samba

I told you about the Mattése Elite Carnaval Collection a few weeks ago, but now I actually have one of these neons for you!  Desfiles de Samba is a neon lime green that wants to photograph blue, but I color corrected for you to get back to true color.  I used a base of Poshe and 3 coats of polish.  Normally neons dry matte but this one didn't really do that so I didn't use a top coat.

Here it is in the sun - look at that shine!  You can also see a bit of VNL on the pinkie, but I didn't really notice it much while wearing this manicure.

In the indirect sun though, you can see more of the VNL on all nails.  

Here in the shade, there's not much difference - just nice, shiny, pretty green.  It almost reminds me of a glow in the dark polish but it doesn't glow in the dark.

Indoors with the flash - well that's not so lovely.  The camera doesn't want to focus too well because of the neon properties of the polish but it does do well!  There will be a lot of neons coming out this summer but I haven't seen this shade of green yet, so this is a keeper for me!


Mattése Elite Carnaval Nail Polish retails for $5.99 and is available for purchase exclusively at Ricky’s NYC store locations and at www.RickysNYC.com

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

CND Daily Nail 2.15.12 Biker Chick Nails at The Blonds

I was really excited to see this CND posting - it was Kristina Saindon (is it same as Estabrooks?) who did my Shellac manicure last summer!  Please enjoy the following release from CND!  (Okay, seriously, is this the same person?  I don't even know anymore.)

CND Daily Nail 2.15.12

Biker Chick Nails at The Blonds

February 15, 2012- Tonight's Daily Nail is the one you all have been waiting for - your seasonal nailgasm. Take a breath, and grab a glass of wine while we take you to a manicure moment with The Blonds.


At The Blonds, CND's Kristina Estabrooks and her team spent 130 hours hand detailing biker babe manicures. No nail set was alike - crystals, glitter, leather, Phillipe Blond faces, crushed glass shards and acid washed denim designs were just a few of the styles to grace the runway.

At Milly, CND's Candice Manacchio created a "Navy Nail" with two coats of CND Colour Midnight Sapphire. This manicure accessorized hyper femme layered jackets, voluminous mini skirts and pops of pink, yellow and cobalt blue.

To read Jan Arnold's daily backstage blog, please visit cnd.com. Track @CNDWorld during Fashion Week, on Facebook, Pinterest and on YouTube.

OPI Pink Shatter

For Valentine's Day, I thought about doing a kind of pink on pink manicure, but in the end, it just didn't really work out for me.  Even though it was only 2 weeks ago, I don't even remember what I did for my manicure - time flies when you're stressed, hah!  Anyway, I had a couple of combinations in mind, and this was one of them...  using my CND Muddy Rose manicure, I added one layer of OPI Pink Shatter, a translucent shatter that still allows some of the underlying polish to show through (as opposed to being opaque).

Pink Shatter dries matte, so I added CND Air Dry only to my middle & ring fingers.  I'll have a detailed picture coming up.

You can barely tell this is a pink on pink manicure at first glance, which is what I was going for, but in the end, I just didn't love it.

Here you can see the difference between the top coat vs the matte.  The top coat brings out a subtle shimmer to the Shatter, where the other side just appears dry.  In fact, it reminds me a little of muscle tissue, like if someone split open your leg.  Hey, if The Daily Nail can do zit nails, maybe I can do "raw meat nails"  :p

Trying to get a picture indoors with the flash just wasn't working so my pictures today (in order) are sun, indirect sun, close up and this is the shade.  Now I've had nothing but ick weather lately, but there was one day of sun, and that's when I tested this manicure.  I WANT SPRING TO BE HERE.  Minus the mosquitoes, heat, humidity, tall grass growing...


Anyway, I found my bottle of OPI Pink Shatter on sale for $6 at Ulta on a back rack, but most OPI bottles do still run at around $8.50.

OPI [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter] 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.  

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

Algenist's Firming & Lifting Line

Although I don't talk about it enough, I really have started taking better care of my skin.  I'm only 28, but I know that I already have some signs of aging around my eyes.  Please enjoy the following releases from Algenist - and check them out now at Sephora!  There's a lot of information here, but it's totally worth it!


Algenist’s latest skincare innovation (hitting Sephora this month): Firming & Lifting.


The line is truly a must-have for women looking to strengthen their skin and reduce the effects of aging and gravity. Skin looks firm, toned and sculpted in 10 days!


How it works:
In addition to key ingredient, Alguronic Acid (algae-compound with the ability to protect and regenerate skin), the Firming & Lifting line incorporates proteins and peptides to restore and repair skin.

Firming & Lifting Cream ($94): Ultra firming and restructuring cream to lift and tighten while reinforcing skin structure


Ingredients: Alguronic Acid and ProPeptide3, Avocado Oil, Phytosterols, and Olive Fruit Oil


This ultra firming and restructuring cream immediately lifts and tightens the skin by leveraging the power of Alguronic Acid and ProPeptide3: a never-before-seen anti-aging complex introduced through Algenist’s new Firming & Lifting line.


By uniting Alguronic Acid with ProPeptide3 (a combination of three active peptides and three active proteins), this anti-aging complex increases collagen synthesis by up to 209%, increases proteoglycan synthesis by up to 155% and prevents loss of firmness by 44%. Together these ingredients boost production of skin's key structural proteins: elastin, collagen, and proteoglycans. As it strengthens skin's structure, this advanced formula reduces the effects of aging and gravity on the skin so that the complexion appears immediately firm, toned and sculpted.


Proteins and peptides (protein building blocks) are essential structural components of the skin, responsible for the structure, regulation and function of skin cells. The deterioration of these essential structure proteins affect the skin’s ability to restructure and repair itself, leading to a visible loss of firmness and elasticity.


The Firming & Lifting Cream's unique formula helps strengthen skin's structure to redefine facial contours, leaving skin smooth, sculpted and lifted. Avocado Oil, Phytosterols, and Olive Fruit Oil moisturize and nourish the skin


Directions for use:
Apply to entire face and neck twice daily.

Firming & Lifting Eye Gel ($68): Lightweight Eye gel to rebuild density while firming & lifting delicate skin around the eyes


Ingredients: Alguronic Acid and ProPeptide3, Alfalfa Seed Extract, Lupine Protein, Caffeine, and Chamomile


This lightweight eye gel rebuilds density while firming and lifting delicate skin around the eyes by leveraging the power of Alguronic Acid and ProPeptide3: a never-before-seen anti-aging complex introduced through Algenist’s new Firming & Lifting line.


By uniting Alguronic Acid with ProPeptide3 (a combination of three active peptides and three active proteins), this anti-aging complex increases collagen synthesis by up to 209%, increases proteoglycan synthesis by up to 155% and prevents loss of firmness by 44%. Together these ingredients boost production of skin's key structural proteins: elastin, collagen, and proteoglycans. As it strengthens skin's structure, this advanced formula reduces the effects of aging and gravity on the skin so that the complexion appears immediately firm, toned and sculpted.


Proteins and peptides (protein building blocks) are essential structural components of the skin, responsible for the structure, regulation and function of skin cells. The deterioration of these essential structure proteins affect the skin’s ability to restructure and repair itself, leading to a visible loss of firmness and elasticity.


The unique formula smoothes eye contours, revealing a revitalized, recharged and youthful appearance. Alfalfa Seed Extract, Lupine Protein, Caffeine, and Chamomile reduce puffiness and soothe skin around the eyes.


Directions for use:
Apply to the eye area twice daily

Firming & Lifting Intensive Mask ($52): Refreshing gel mask to firm, tone & sculpt facial contours


Ingredients: Alguronic Acid and ProPeptide3, Jojoba, Green Tea, and Vitamin E


This unique gel mask immediately restores skin elasticity, structure and suppleness by leveraging the power of Alguronic Acid and ProPeptide3: a never-before-seen anti-aging complex introduced through Algenist’s new Firming & Lifting line.


By uniting Alguronic Acid with ProPeptide3 (a combination of three active peptides and three active proteins), this anti-aging complex increases collagen synthesis by up to 209%, increases proteoglycan synthesis by up to 155% and prevents loss of firmness by 44%. Together these ingredients boost production of skin's key structural proteins: elastin, collagen, and proteoglycans. As it strengthens skin's structure, this advanced formula reduces the effects of aging and gravity on the skin so that the complexion appears immediately firm, toned and sculpted.


Proteins and peptides (protein building blocks) are essential structural components of the skin, responsible for the structure, regulation and function of skin cells. The deterioration of these essential structure proteins affect the skin’s ability to restructure and repair itself, leading to a visible loss of firmness and elasticity.


The rich formula immediately tightens and firms leaving skin toned and lifted. Jojoba, Green Tea and Vitamin E moisturize, hydrate and strengthen skin.


Directions for use:
Apply an even layer to clean, dry skin, avoiding the eyes. Leave on for 10 minutes and then remove using warm water or a warm, wet face cloth. Apply once or twice weekly, as desired.


The Firming & Lifting line is:

• Suitable for all skin types
• Dermatologist tested
• Non-comedogenic
• Ophthalmologist tested
• Hypoallergenic
• Non-irritating
• Not tested on animals

All Algenist products are formulated without:

• Parabens
• Sulfates
• Synthetic dyes
• Phthalates
• GMOs
• Triclosan

FingerPaints Motley

2012 is the year of the magnetics and the flakies!  I was so excited when FingerPaints announced their flakies collection and was able to purchase all 5 thanks to the lovely ladies of Sally's Beauty Supply's Twitter.  I wasn't sure which one I wanted to try first, so I just grabbed and that's how Motley came to be my first swatched.  I used a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, then FingerPaints Black Expressionist, then one coat of Motley on my index and ring fingers, and two coats of Motley on my middle and pinkie fingers.  I topped it with CND Air Dry.

Motley has a green and a blue flakie in a slight yellow base.  I talked to a nail tech who said the suspension base that the flakie is floating in has to be used over a darker color because of the yellow in the base, otherwise it can make the base color (black in this instance) look off.  Does that make any sense?  It did when she showed me over a light blue and it made the blue looks weirdest green.  Anyway.


While 1 coat does do wonders, I prefer 2 coats.  2 coats on my middle finger, 1 coat on the ring finger.

See what I mean?

In the shade, you can really see how pretty this is - reminds me of fish food - the colorful stuff, not the round brown pellet stuff.  

Seriously, indoors with the flash just makes this look blah.  Almost glow in the dark though, haha.  Not a good look for flakies - indirect sun/shade is the best way to see these pretties.  If you can still find them in Sally's, go get them!  They are limited edition.


FingerPaints [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Blog] can be found in Sally's Beauty Supplies stores and online for $4.99 USD each.