China Glaze Jungle Queen

Even though it's 100 degrees outside here in South Texas, the fall nail polish collections are rolling into your stores.  I swear, if I see Halloween items, I'm going to have to dance in a circle or something (negatively).  I hate feeling rushed through seasons.  Regardless, today, I pulled Jungle Queen from the On Safari! collection brought to you by China Glaze.  This is a smoky purple with this awesome purple shimmer running through it.  Trust me.  I've heard it's a dead on duplicate for Chanel Paradoxal (which I reviewed a year and a half ago) but I think this is more smoky in color.

No, I don't normally paint my thumb nail when I'm swatching nail polish.  I do paint all 10 fingers from time to time.  I'm wearing a base coat of Poshe, only one coat of polish and a top coat of nubar Diamont.  The formula was pretty excellent - no pooling, no spotting.

See that flash of purple?!  Love it.

Here in the shade took some heavy photo correcting because my hands kept looking lobster red.  The reflection on my nails that you see (especially on my index finger) is just me - nothing wrong with the nail itself.  (You can almost see my camera!)

Finally indoors with the flash and that purple shimmer jumps out and wants to eat you.  Rawr.  Jungle Queen.  Put a tiara on it.


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.

ICMAD Announces the 2012 CITY Trunk Show Dates

I got a press release today that really had me wishing I lived in New York, Los Angeles or Las Vegas.  Or that I just had my own private jet - I'm not that picky.  ICMAD has creatively come up with a way for the winners of the CITY (Cosmetic Innovators of the Year) Awards to really show off their new concepts, packaging and innovation into the beauty world.  If you're in one of the above three cities, do try and check it out!  Some of the companies listed are old friends to my beauty line up, some are brand new!

ICMAD Announces the 2012 CITY Trunk Show Dates

Inaugural Trunk Show Featuring CITY Award Winners

Palatine, IL (August 2, 2012) - The Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors (ICMAD) announces the first-ever CITY 2012 Beauty Trunk Show taking place this August in New York City, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The winners of the 2012 Cosmetic Innovators of The Year (CITY) Awards were announced on June 20th in New York City. Along with this honor, the display is another step to gaining additional exposure for excellence in innovation, packaging and beauty concepts.

An all-new initiative, the beauty trunk show gives the CITY Awards winners a platform to display their award-winning products at national retailers, which include: NewBeauty at Fred Segal, Ron Robinson Apothia, C.O. Bigelow, Henri Bendel New York and Skins 6|2. The CITY Beauty Trunk Show will take place simultaneously at all retailers August 21–28. Elevating its profile, the CITY Awards have evolved into a high-profile program, giving winners "bonus”’ launch pads to success. For the inaugural trunk show, ICMAD created a special unit for the winners so they can be available for purchase at stores and online at Beauty.com. This is just one example of the association’s commitment and determination ~ ICMAD prides itself as the catalyst to growth for their members.

2012 CITY Trunk Show Beauty Brands:

IT Cosmetics - Vitality Cheek Flush Anti-Aging Powder Blush Stain

Murad - Rapid Age Spot & Pigment Lightening Serum

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare- Alpha Beta Glow Pad for Body

Lux Beauty Group/Royal Apothic - Holland Park Eau De Parfum

Oribe - Après Beach Wave and Shine Spray

NYX Cosmetics - Haute Jersey Leopard Couture

Hevia MD Skin Care – Hevia Skin Science Line

Dayna Decker - Essence Wash & Lotion

Crafting Beauty - It's Me by Jacomo

Besame Cosmetics - Crimson Cream Rouge

Jack Black - DIY Power Peel Multi-Acid Resurfacing Pads

Swedish Skin Care - Razor Burn Freedom for Women

lacc la couleur couture

 While at Cosmoprof North America Las Vegas, I spotted lacc la couleur couture in the Spotlight Beauty section.  They are a vegan line of polishes that are big 3 free and highly pigmented.  

For the salon, their displays are stack-able allowing more product to be shown.  You'll notice a lot of cremes, but I was told that for Holiday 2012, you'll see some glitters!

I absolutely loved this purple!  The polishes are named by years so the purple is called 1972.

Please click to see larger

Only problem with this line?  I have no idea where to buy it or how much they cost.  When I went by their booth, the founder was actually at lunch and I didn't have a chance to stop back by.  As soon as I find out, I'll let you know!

Edit!  I have more information!  The lacc nail lacquer is priced at $16 a bottle - same for the base/top coats.  The polish is manufactured in NY but the company is incoporated in Vancouver BC (Canada).  They will be launching in September at the Shangri-la Hotel in Vancouver - the Chi Spa in the hotel will be carrying the lacquer as well.  AND by the end of August, they will have a website where you can purchase online!  Last but not lease, the designer colors are highly pigmented, with toxins removed, a UV protector and my favorite part: "All the colors are made by me with love."  That's directly form the owner, Farmia.

They also have their own base and top coat which reportedly help block UV rays.

Rite Aid Glam Camp!

I am so proud to announce that PolishGalore has once again been allowed the opportunity to work with Jesse's Girl Cosmetics in the 2012 Rite Aid's Glam Camp!

Last year, we did a water marble and this year we worked on the Galaxy manicure and had a bonus on how to remove Glitter Polishes.


I haven't seen the booklet this year yet but it will great on my wall (haha)!  I'm hoping to get both framed this year to place in my office.  THANK YOU AGAIN to Jesse's Girl!

Salon-de-Lis, Kingsville, Texas

Image courtesy of Salon-de-Lis Facebook Page

I was once told that living in South Texas and being into beauty was an oxymoron... that we were 10 years behind the trends.  I wouldn't say 10 years, but it does seem like we do tend to fall behind in what's going on in the world of beauty and fashion.  I had heard of Salon-de-Lis from my Mom originally, when her hairstylist moved to this location, and then I physically visited the location during their ribbon cutting for the Chamber of Commerce.  When I first went by, the nail room was in the front, with the normal China Glaze and OPI in the room, but because they were busy with the ribbon cutting, no one could really tell me what nail services were offered.

Fast forward a few months, and while I was reading my Facebook feed, I saw that Salon-de-Lis was now offering Shellac by CND!  I immediately jumped to make an appointment for a pedicure due to my upcoming Las Vegas trip and I knew that I didn't want to have my toe polish flake off or chip while out of state at a beauty convention.  I was able to sign up straight from their Facebook Page (bonus!) which leads to the website Vagaro - a web based appointment calendar.

I received a phone call a few days later asking to reschedule my appointment.  The woman who was going to perform my services was no longer available on that day, and in the end, it worked out better for me to move the appointment.  The owner, Lisa, offered to even come in early to the salon so I could get in and out in time for my flight, which was a nice gesture.  At this point, I had not spilled that I was a nail blogger, but she saw we had mutual Facebook friends and remembered my blog through other conversations I had with said mutual contacts.

I went into the salon a few days early to see (a) if Salon-de-Lis offered the entire Shellac process and (b) what colors she had available.  I had printed off some color combinations from the CND website because I knew I wanted to layer my colors.  The polish room had moved to another part of the salon since the last time I had been there, and the new room had a neat display of all their polishes.  I asked to see the Shellac set up and was pleased to see the official CND lamp, Shellac polishes, base and top coats.  I narrowed my choices down to 3 possibles, and was set to return the following Saturday.  Turns out, I didn't even need my printouts because Lisa had the same printouts available in her salon, with the colors that she offers already pre-marked.

On Saturday (July 21), I was running a bit late (if you saw my Instagram, you'll see I packed in 16 minutes, nervewracking!), so I called to let them know I was about 15 minutes behind.  I arrived and was offered a drink (I chose water), and was seated in a nice plush salon chair with a pull out drawer for the pedicures.  I didn't need a pedicure, just my nail lacquer removed and the Shellac applied, and since Lisa now knew I was a nail blogger and understood Shellac, she asked if 2 shadows (new hires) could watch.  I didn't mind at all, so the duo came in to observe.  (It was actually a brother & sister that just graduated from cosmetology school and were still new to nails.)

Lisa is very adamant about using the entire Shellac system from start to beginning and not short changing the client by mixing and matching products or systems.  I chose to put on one coat of Purple Purple and one coat of Moonlight & Roses which resulted in a nice lilac shade.  Lisa took care to make sure no gel was on the cuticle area during the pedicure, my foot was relaxed during the UV lamp, and that she wrapped the tips (which is difficult on toes but not impossible!).

There were only 2 downsides.  The first was that I was the first Shellac pedicure, and so her pedicure chair was not set up properly for Shellac.  In order to make me comfortable, she would polish one foot, then hold the lamp on the foot rest while I placed my foot inside.  While that cured, we'd small talk until the light went off, then she'd polish the other foot and hold the lamp during that foot's curing.  It made the procedure last longer only because instead of being able to polish one foot while the other was in the lamp, she was making sure my foot was comfortable.

The other downside was that when it came time to remove the sticky layer, she used 91% isopropyl alcohol instead of 99%.  While it removed the sticky layer and kept the shine, I knew it wasn't "right".  Salon-de-Lis is still working on getting their CND Certified certification and being added to the CND website - all in good time.  Edit: I talked to CND and they said that 91% IPA is 'okay' but the 99% IPA is the professional grade and makes the nail the glossiest post-service and is what is recommended for the Shellac procedure.

The best part of my Shellac pedicure?  As soon as it was done, and I mean the second it was done, I put on my shoes.  Yep, just slipped them on.  No need to wait for anything - just put them on.  I went to the reception area where another woman was waiting and asked what I had done (because my nails were bare) and I said "Oh, I had a Shellac pedicure."  She was freaking out that I was wearing shoes.  NO smudging, nothing.

I paid $30 for my pedicure which is now almost 2 weeks old and you can't tell one bit.  It's still extremely shiny, no chipping, and the grow out is nearly non-existent.  My toe nails grow much slower than my finger nails so I figure I'll get easily another 2 weeks out of this pedicure before having to go again, and I definitely will go again.  I'm not sure how much a spa pedicure with Shellac would cost, but I'll be finding out.

I don't have current pictures of my pedicure because I'm not fond of feet to begin with but I did take this one picture (no filter) for Instagram, so please don't look if toes aren't your thing.  This was taken on the day of the Shellac pedicure, after putting on and taking my shoes off.

Salon-de-Lis is located at 506 E. Kleberg in Kingsville, Texas.  Their phone number is (361) 592-5472 or you can book an appointment via their Facebook Page