China Glaze Midtown Magic

Where did May go?  I feel like I blinked and missed it.  Now it's getting into hot summer months here, and I still have fall collections on my desk.  (But you know how much I don't care for fall collections, so this is a moot point.)  Today I have Midtown Magic from the China Glaze Metro Collection in Fall 2011.. a dark purple with gold sparkles.  This really looks blackish/brown in the bottle but it's purple - I swear.  I used a base coat of Poshe, 2 coats of polish and a top of nubar Diamont.  The formula on the polish was pretty watery but I made it work.

Here it is in the sun - you can see how dark it is.  The shimmer is a bit faint but there.

See the dark purple in there?  (And the fact that I need cuticle oil?)

Indirect sun - you can see tons of shimmer in the bottle ... not so much on the nails - or can you?  I heard that a trick to colors like this is to store upside down, 30 minutes before you apply, and that way the shimmer will be near the top of the polish.  Haven't tried it myself but hey.

In the shade you can see a mix of the gold shimmer and a bit of the purple base in the bottle - the nails are mixed.

Finally indoors with the flash - you just see brownish red polish.  Sigh.  Not my favorite color at all.

Removal - dark purple!  I just don't care for this dark vampy look... not my style.

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.

Salon Perfect

Starting this week, I'm going to be showing you a line of polishes that you may not have seen but if you're near a Wal-Mart, be sure to check it out as they are only here for the rest of May.  I'm trying to get as many swatched as possible so you can make your choices but honestly, with a price tag of under $3, get them all!

 CORNUCOPIA OF COLOR

Salon Perfect Introduces Limited Edition Spring Polish Collection

Los Angeles, CA (April 2012) – Did the cold winter months keep your fingers and toes under wraps?  A fresh manicure with a bright, energetic polish is the perfect pick-me-up to bring your tips and toes out of hibernation.  Bursting with vibrant brights and sweet pastels, the all-new Salon Perfect® Blooming with Color nail polish collection is sure to put a spring in your step!

Your polish basket is sure to overflow with rich crème shades including:

• Perfectly Peach – Delicate peach
• Lemon Zing – Sunny yellow
• Kiwi Lime – Vibrant green
• Blue Mint – Cheerful mint
• Berry Blue – Classic periwinkle
• Purple Sorbet – Dark lilac
• Lavender Icing – Soft lilac
• Spicy Tomato – Juicy red
• Tangy Tangerine – Tart orange
• Sour Apples – True blue-green
• Blue Raspberry – Vivid azure
• Plum Sorbet – Magenta with purple shimmer
• Berry Pink – Bold flamingo pink
• Bubblegum – Honeysuckle pink

Celebrate spring with a bountiful array of Salon Perfect® Blooming with Color nail polishes!  The collection will be available in approximately 1,700 Walmart locations nationwide during the month of May for $2.98.

About Salon Perfect:

Salon Perfect is a collection of professional-quality lash, brow and nail products. Available exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide, Salon Perfect offers premium faux lashes in an assortment of styles.

NCLA I'm With The Band

I have another fantastic NCLA polish today - this time from their new collection called "Summer of 69".  I'm With The Band is a hot coral creme polish that just rocks my summertime hands.  I used a base coat of Poshe, 2 coats of polish and a top of nubar Diamont.  The formula was pretty awesome - no issues.

Check it out in the sun!  I love how bright this is!

Here in the shade you can again see how well it pops against the skin.  I think this is pretty much an any-season polish, because I will definitely be wearing it in the fall as well.

My camera could barely contain itself here inside with the flash.  The colors are just intense!  Eventually it calmed down and I got this snap.  I'm really excited that NCLA is planning to attend Cosmoprof North America Las Vegas!  I only have 62 days left to prep and I'm starting off by going to the gym in the morning.


NCLA [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Tumblr] is available on the website for $16.00 a bottle and in a variety of stores.

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 Spider-Man

I've pretty much had it with Spiderman, but he's coming back in order to work with the Aventures, and OPI was able to work with Sony Pictures to bring you some new limited edition polishes.  They are available now, so get them while you can!  (All images courtesy of OPI)

In“Spider”ed Shades!

OPI Celebrates Sony Pictures’ “The Amazing Spider-Man” with Limited Edition Nail Lacquers

OPI announces the launch of six limited edition nail lacquers and a new Shatter, inspired by Sony Pictures’ The Amazing Spider-Man.  With an all-star cast including Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, this highly-anticipated series reboot opens in theaters nationwide in 3D on July 3, 2012.
“OPI is so excited to work with Sony Pictures in welcoming Spider-Man back on the big screen,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “This film explores a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy that’s going to be both dark and sexy. The colors created for this promotion capture the movie’s exciting atmosphere, with standout shades like the deep shimmering blue Into the Night and the metallic golden green Just Spotted the Lizard.”

The film villain’s reptilian look can be replicated with a high-fashion twist by using the new deep green shimmer Shatter coat.  Shatter the Scales is inspired by graffiti art and works when painted over any dry OPI hue. Adding top coat takes Shatter the Scales from matte to glossy in seconds.
The line features six nail lacquers in addition to Shatter the Scales, ranging from white, coral and pink to mood-setting hues of blue, nickel and yellow-green:

Your Web or Mine?

The perfect pink for sticky situations.


Into the Night
This perfect midnight blue was made for prowling.

Call Me Gwen-ever

Girlfriend, be sure to pick up when this urgent coral calls.

Just Spotted the Lizard
Be seen in this reptilian yellow-green.

My Boyfriend Scales Walls 
Climb new heights with this cityscape white.

Number One Nemesis
Show your metal in this sparkling nickel.

As with all OPI nail lacquers, these shades inspired by The Amazing Spider-Man contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application.


This limited edition promotion will be available beginning May 2012 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for  $8.50 ($9.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer.
For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

JulieG Gelato in Venice

I told you about the JulieG Collection by Jesse's Girl Cosmetics last month, but now I can show you probably my favorite (unexpected!) color!  Today is Gelato in Venice, a mint green creme that wears so well with just about everyone.  


I used a base coat of Poshe, 2 coats of polish and since I couldn't find my top coats that day, this is topped with nubar Diamont.  Speaking of Diamont, I wore this manicure for a whole week without chips or dings.  Total win.  Formula for Gelato in Venice was super smooth and worked well.

Here in the sun, you can see how well this color wears.  This was before I broke my nails (boo) and I love how well it covers (opaque) without streaks.  I think this would be perfect for a gradient manicure base as well.

In the shade, you can see how it's just enough mint and just enough green - haha like that means something.  No really, it's a great pale green which I like because I'm still easing into greens.  Good to note that I didn't have any staining with this color.

Finally indoors with the flash and you can see how creamy this polish is - looks totally like gelato!  I went to Venice back in 2005, so it was a good memory to read the name of this polish.  (And yes, I actually ate gelato - they have stands all over the place!)


You can purchase JulieG in Rite Aid stores across the US or shop online at Jesse's Girl Cosmetics which ships worldwide!  JulieG sells for $3.99 for a 0.35 fl oz (10 mL) bottle.


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