JulieG Big Red Bow

Today launched the new JulieG holiday polishes!  I was given the opportunity to check them out and man, I'm happy.  This was my absolute favorite one by far - Big Red Bow.  I used a base of Poshe, 2 coats of polish and no top coat.  I didn't need top coat - this shimmery red was perfection.

Sadly, I didn't have any sun on the day that I went to swatch these lovely (I have the whole collection to show you this week!) polishes but can you see that shimmer?!  And look how perfectly it applies!

Meanwhile in some indirect light, you can just see the love.  It's probably has a dupe, I'm sure but right now I'm just keeping it on my desk to love.  I also really want to use this as a base for some nail art!

The formula was absolutely a dream to work with - no pooling in the cuticles or bald spots.

To see more of the JulieG Holiday Collection, head to the Jesse's Girl Facebook page and click on the tab that says "JulieG Holiday Collection" (under the cover photo).  You'll also be able to enter in Jesse's Girl Cosmetics's giveaway to win a complete set of the Holiday polishes!

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.

China Glaze Real Nail Polish Appliques

Image Courtesy of China Glaze

While I was at Cosmoprof this summer, I got to see the China Glaze Real Nail Polish Appliques which are on the trend of instant manicure wraps you've been seeing all year.

Now, if you've watched PolishGalore for awhile, you've seen that I absolutely suck at applying these things.  I never seem to have enough patience to properly align and the biggest part - file off properly.  Either way, Nail Polish Canada was kind enough to send me my favorite design to try - Shake Your Tail Feathers - a peacock inspired blues, purples and greens with a white base.

Shake Your Tail Feathers
Image Courtesy of China Glaze

The strips are sealed in an airtight package because it is real nail polish and exposing it to air will dry the strips out.  This also means that your package is pretty much good for one time use.

Each nail is the same design which is kind of neat - the top has a rounded edge, the strip part where you hold is squared off.  So if you have squared cuticles, well you're going to have problems.  China Glaze also recommends warming your hands before applying but my hands are always warm so I didn't do any other prep work.

This is the hardest part for me - finding the one that is right for your nail.  At this point, there is still plastic covering the sticky part of the applique, so you can't really bend the sticker to form around your nail.

Also enclosed in your package is a mini orange stick and a file to "cut off" the excess.

If you don't saw off the excess at the right angle, it's going to tear.  Like I did above.  Additionally, it's best if your nails have some length so you can kind of tuck the applique under your free edge.

Yeah that whole above "fitting your applique to the nail"?  Fail on my part.

The directions recommend using a top coat so I brushed a coat of China Glaze Fast Forward on top.  My bottle of Fast Forward is the most chemically foul smelling thing EVER.  I seriously don't know why I still have it.  I want to be bad and add lavender oil to it or something (don't do this).

While pretty, this stuff won't last on me more than a few hours.  I kept getting hair stuck under the applique because I didn't press down hard enough and I just need to practice about 234920347 more times to get nail art appliques or stickers to actually sit right.

Sadly, I cannot find my paper to show removal instructions.  As this is real nail polish, I would assume acetone-based polish remover would did it.  I was a terrible person and peeled mine off.  Don't be like me.

You can purchase these China Glaze Real Nail Polish Appliques from Nail Polish Canada from $9 to $11 (depends on the design).  There are 16 nail appliques in each package, the orange stick, file & instructions.  They are reported to last 7 days.

Many thank yous to Nail Polish Canada for their kindness in letting me test these out!

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

Dear Artists {& an update}

Image courtesy of The Daily Nail blog

I'm still battling an upper respiratory infection (hello round 2 of antibiotics) but with fall and winter polishes piling up around me, I am making a conscious effort to get posts out to you to read (and not just press releases, although many of you have told me that you do appreciate the news!).

I got a text this morning from Manifest Destany asking if I had heard about the latest stolen pictures being using for an international nail polish company's fall promotional line.  I hadn't but it only took a quick look on Twitter to see what was going on.

First off.

DON'T STEAL PHOTOS.

It's one thing to download a photo to your computer so you can look at it later because it was inspiring or pretty or funny.

It's another to download a picture, use it as if you created it, SELL IT and think it's okay.

When I started college, I wasn't sure what I wanted to major in and one of my options was graphic design which I stayed in for a year.  I learned lots of valuable information that I still use today and while I didn't stay in that education path, I saw how much work someone puts into creating their masterpieces.  As a blogger, I take a lot of time in photographing and editing images for you to see and sometimes my photos are used in publications for companies or for the company's own use.

I will not comment on the company in question or similar companies that have been accused of stealing artwork off bloggers, art sharing or social media websites because I am confident that the companies in question will do the right thing and work towards an agreement with those who should have been rightly compensated for their work.  More so, I hope that someone lost their job over this and those in charge of that person were also reprimanded.  If this was an outside graphic design firm that was hired to create this artwork (which is very common), I hope they are also reported to the Better Business Bureau.

Sharing is caring.  Stealing is not. 

Update!
For starters, I ended up in ER last night.  That was not fun.  Doctor says I have Pleurisy.

The good news is that the company in question immediately was in contact with the true creator of the artwork, issued a public apology and a partnership between creator and company may be in the works!  Very happy to see a company work swiftly.  They hired an outside artist (as I suspected) who passed off this work as his own. 

ISSE Midwest November 4-5, 2012

I know some of y'all out there are licensed beauty professionals, so today this post is for you!  If you are looking for cash and carry, education, artistic presentations, exhibitions and the always fantastic hair and nail competitions, keep reading!  For more information, check out the PBA Calendar here or the competition page here!

ISSE Midwest Combines Professional Cash-and-Carry Expo and Educational Event for Licensed Professionals

November 4 - 5, 2012 │ Donald E. Stephens Convention Center │ Rosemont, Illinois (Chicagoland)

Phoenix, AZ (August 13, 2012) – The International Salon & Spa Expo (ISSE) Midwest show, which is the only major industry Fall / Holiday cash-and-carry expo and educational event for licensed beauty professionals, will return to the Chicago area November 4 – 5, 2012. Produced by the Professional Beauty Association (PBA), ISSE Midwest is more than just a “hair show” and will feature an array of education, including continuing education (CE) credits, hair and nail competitions, artistic presentations from some of the industry’s biggest stars and top beauty brands exhibiting with the latest tools and products.

ISSE Midwest will be held at industry favorite, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, which is conveniently located just outside Chicago near O’Hare International Airport and has been redeveloped with a host of new entertainment, dining and lodging options. Five new restaurants, a casino, bowling alley, ice rink and a high end outlet mall all bring Rosemont into a league of its own, competing with the likes of downtown Chicago.

Education for Everyone – Don’t Miss Those CE Credits:

An array of education classes in hair, nails, skin and business will be presented by notable beauty professionals and companies, including: Charlie Price, Chuck Caple, Faatemah Ampey, Derek J, Geno Stampora, Martin Parsons, Lydia Sarfati/Repêchage, Mikal Clay, Millie Haynam and many more!

For those who need Continuing Education (CE) credits, ISSE Midwest will have an assortment of more than 60 classes to choose from. In addition, the show will offer hands-on hair and nail classes and CIDESCO USA skin classes. (Some classes require additional investment.)

It’s Time To Compete – Hair & Nail Competitions for Students and Licensed Professionals:  

With cash, prizes, and prestige on the line, ISSE Midwest will offer hair and nail competitions for students and professionals, competing separately. All hair competitions are performed on mannequins.

Hair Competition Categories Include: Fantasy-Inspired by Hollywood, Long Hair Bridal and Women’s Trend Cut, Color & Style

Nail Competition Categories Include (Sponsored by NailPro): Competitors Report, Soak Off Gel Manicure, French Twist – One Hand, Tip & Overlay, Salon Success. A NailPro Competition Class will also be offered for those looking to enter the competition circuit or just pick up some great pointers.

Top Industry Stars Presenting on Two Main Stages:

See international platform artists, educators and some amazing artistic presentations on ISSE Midwest’s two main stages. Some of the many featured artists include: Derek J, DJ Riggs & Berry Bachen, Farouk, FI Hair Gear, J’s Hair Studio & Academy, Kris Sorbie, Martin Parsons, RUSK, The Teals & Steve Elias and many more.

The Products & Tools You’ll Want to Have for the Holidays & New Year:

Be prepared for the holiday season and New Year with the latest products and tools from some of the top international and indie brands on the expo floor. Plus, take advantage of year-end close outs from major manufacturers and distributors. Be sure to stop by the BSG Value Center for amazing deals on tons of products.  Some of the many ISSE Midwest exhibitors include:

Acific, Inc., American International Industries (AII), Beauty Systems Group/BSG/Cosmoprof Beauty Systems, Body Toolz Inc., Bonika Shears, Cricket Company, Crisace Hair Extensions, Dashing Diva, Daysmart Software /Salon Iris Software, Emani Green Professional Cosmetics, Farouk Systems Inc., Garfield International Company, Inc., Glimmer Body Art, LLC, GoLoyal Inc., Hair Addictionz,  Jatai International, Kadori Hair, Mikal Corp., Nail Harmony, Odyssey Nail Systems, Olivia Garden, Oster Professional Products/Arius Eickert. Passion Beauty, Inc. , Ranco Industries, Repechage, SalonBooker, SalonSwipe, Sorme Cosmetics, SureThik, Inc., Surface Hair, Takara Belmont USA, Tamsco Shears and Instruments, The Empowerment International Group Inc., TIGI, Venique, Inc., Worcester Reading Company and many more.

ISSE Midwest is open to licensed professionals and students only. All attendees are required to show proof of license and photos identification before entering. For a list of accepted professional credentials as well information on classes, exhibitors, hotel and travel reservations, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.probeauty.org/issemw. PBA Salon/Spa members receive two free expo tickets and Beauty Professional/NCA members receive one free expo ticket (registration required). All other PBA members may purchase up to two expo tickets. 

Cult Nails Giveaway!

Oh yes.  October is your month to win with Cult Nails, starting with the Join the Cult on Pinterest! giveaway that I told you about yesterday and in addition to all the wonderful winning that is happening there, Cult Nails will be giving one lovely PolishGalore reader the chance to win $50 worth of Cult Nails products!

So on top of the $100 worth of Cult Nails products from the Join the Cult on Pinterest giveaway AND the bonus $30 worth of Cult Nails products that I get to choose as my "Blogger Choice" prize, you can now win $50 worth of Cult Nails products HERE!

That's a lot of nail polish. 

Please wait for the Rafflecopter to load in full and refer to the Terms and Conditions contained within for any questions.  The giveaway will end at 12:01am EST 7 October, is open internationally and the prize is being fulfilled by Cult Nails.  Items pictured are not necessarily items that will be received by the winner.  These are just my personal stash pictures of Cult Nails polishes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway