PolishGalore Blog-iversary Sweepstakes #1

I looooove December! This year is going to be especially awesome, but more on that later.  I never thought three years ago that my little hobby would bloom into what it is today.  I've written almost 1300 posts, have had over 800,000 page views, there are over 2500 subscribers, I've attended two beauty conventions and spoke at one of them, and seen my nail polish collection go from a shoe box to an entire wall of my house.  I launched PolishGalore on 7 December 2009 so this month I plan on giving back to those who got me here!  

First up, the entire Color Club Halo Hues collection!  I actually won this collection from the Color Club Facebook page and then because of crazy shipping mishaps, I ended up with 2 sets, so I asked if I could include the extra set in my Blog-iversary and Color Club said "Sure thing!"  (Thanks lovelies!)

Due to shipping regulations, and my limited budget, this is only opened to USA residents.  Please wait for the Rafflecopter widget to load in full and email me at krystal@polishgalore.com with any questions as comments are closed.  The first Rafflecopter widget is to verify that you live in the USA but you won't be required to provide your full mailing address unless you are the winner.

The Rafflecopter giveaway will close at midnight on 8 December 2012 CST.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

NCLA Dirty Martini

It may be December but it's still hot here in South Texas so today I have Dirty Martini by NCLA.  This olive yellow-green creme is from the Fall 2012 "Going Out in LA" collection.

I used a base of Poshe, 2 coats of polish and a top of Cult Nails Wicked Fast.  This polish was very well pigmented and formulated.

Look how nice this is!  Now, on my middle finger you can see every single ridge I have.  To keep your ridges from being the center of attention, you can use a ridge filling base coat.  It's like a regular base coat but fills in the grooves of your nails so you have a smooth surface to paint on.  I like to buff my nails with a 4-way buffer that I get at Sally's Beauty Supply.  It's kind of cute to see my nubbin fingers - my nails are a lot longer now but I've also been religiously wearing at least a base coat on my nails, daily.

This picture is in the shade and while I didn't think it would be a color that I'd like, I LOVE it.  I don't know what it is about this color but it's not too pea-soup or baby projectile or any of the other images that I originally thought when I thought "olive yellow/green."

Especially in indirect light - I'm obsessed.  I think this color works well in other seasons as well - not just fall!

And finally, indoors with the flash - more yellow shows up here than in the other pictures.

While NCLA is definitely a higher end brand, I feel that it's totally worth the price tag for the formula and the range of colors.

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.

Creative Bioscience Challenge: Check In 2

I am not a doctor.  The following post is written with my opinions and the information provided from the Creative Bioscience website.  You should discuss any weight loss treatment with your doctor before you start it.  


Have you missed me?  ^_^ I have lots coming up in December which was planned in November, hence my absence.  However, I've been keeping up with my African Mango 1200TM pills!  I am now 60 days into my 90 Day Weight Loss Challenge from Creative Bioscience who is sponsoring my product trial of African Mango 1200TM for 90 days in my effort to lose weight.

Now, last month I hadn't gained or lost any weight but also hadn't done anything to aid in my weight loss (gym, eating healthier) so November was going to be my month to work out!  Well, that was the plan at least.

Out of the 30 days of November, I worked out 3 of them.  I went to Zumba with a co-worker and was ready to kick butt but ended up with tight calf muscles that wouldn't relax so I called it quits until I could build up a bit more stamina.  When I say wouldn't relax, I'm not exaggerating.  They were rock hard and it hurt to walk so it was in my best interest to stop exercising to let them heal.  Additionally, the gym I have a membership with is changing EVERYTHING about how they do business, and so I will not be staying with them.

I did have my Engagement/Save The Date photo session with Macy Ryan Photography [Website | Facebook] and I was so happy with her that I booked her for my wedding as well.  She shoots in both South Texas & Central Florida in case you're located in either of those areas.  Here is the first shot that she had to share with us.

Photo Courtesy of Macy Ryan Photography

Now for my update!  I decided to stay off the scale until yesterday and to my dismay I've gained 2 pounds since last month.  However, I am feeling MUCH more full during the day and don't snack like I used to and I have gone down about a dress size, so I'm losing inches, just not weight.

December is going to be a VERY busy month for me - not only do I have the holidays (we celebrate Christmas) but the week prior is my birthday!  I also have a few surprise items that will be popping up, including my 3 year Blog-iversary!  Yes, PolishGalore is turning 3 this month and I have a LOT of cool things that I'll be giving away.  I will continue taking my capsules and have a wrap up for you next month!

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

Boots Botanics Complexion Refining

My skin dries out like mad during the winter months and I'm constantly looking for new ways to keep my skin peeling off.  Boots Botanics is a new to me company that sounds like it smells amazing.  Please enjoy the following press release.

While the climate may dry out your skin, rejuvenate it as the seasons change from fall to winter, with Boots Botanics Complexion Refining products. When the weather transitions to a cooler climate, air becomes drier and skin produces additional oil to compensate for the lack of moisture.

Boots Botanics Complexion Refining range of Rosemary-infused masks, moisturizers and toners, help purify skin, absorb excess oil and reduce shine, making them the perfect winter supplement to your regular cleansing regimen. Use the following mask, moisturizer or toner to your pre-existing beauty routine for an extra dose of shine control power.

When you need a little extra care, apply the creamy Boots Botanics Complexion Refining Clay Mask ($9.39), which works deep into the skin to draw out the most deep-rooted impurities.

In addition to protecting from harmful sun rays, the light-weight Boots Botanics Complexion Refining Day Moisture Lotion SPF 12 ($13.59) contains rosemary extract to help purify skin and promote a smooth, even complexion while oil absorbing powders reduce shine.

Perfect for normal to oily skin, Boots Botanics Complexion Refining Toner ($8.39) tightens pores with mattifying Amazonian Clay that removes excess oil and sweeps away the last traces of cleanser, leaving you with a matte finish.

All Boots Botanics products are available at ShopBootsUSA.com, Target stores and Target.com.

A Rhyming Dictionary Prince Bobo

I have really been fighting the indie movement after one bad experience but I'm really trying to expand my horizons and try Etsy sellers and other indie brands found on Llarowe, Overall Beauty, Harlow & Co and Ninja Polish.  (I can personally say that all 4 of those websites offer a great selection, excellent customer service, reasonable prices and well packaged/wrapped shipping options.)

A Rhyming Dictionary is an Etsy seller that asked me if I wanted to review her first collection based off the Wizard of Oz.  I've never read the book so a lot of the background stories were very new for me, but I love a good nail polish tie in.  Prince Bobo is mix of silver holo squares, tiny and medium gold holo hexes, and gold halo bars with light gold fine flakes mixed in.  While gold is my least favorite color ever, I was interested in seeing how this performed.

This is 3 coats of Prince Bobo on a clear nail stick.  You can see that while it's not opaque enough to wear alone, there should be good layering options available.  I decided to use my existing LVX Primrose, thinking the yellow base would be a good starting place.

I used 2 coats of Prince Bobo on the following manicure followed by Cult Nails Wicked Fast top coat.

The fine gold glitter gets completely lost against the yellow of Primrose but all in all, I don't think yellow was that bad of a choice to layer over.  I do love seeing the different types of glitter.  Please note that I received a mini bottle of polish - not that I have giant hands.

In the shade you can see the fine gold glitter better as well as the different holo squares and small hexes.

Indirect light for fun, but mostly it just masks the glitter - boo masking.

I do have to say that this was a bit of a thick polish.  Because of the mini bottle (perhaps?) no mixing BBs were included, so I added 2 of my own so I could shake the bottle and loosen it up a bit.  I also want to add a little thinner to the bottle to try and break up the suspension base that I believe she used for this polish.

A Rhyming Dictionary [Etsy | Facebook | Twitter | Blog] is big-3 free and sold on Etsy.  She does not send internationally at this time.  Full sized bottles are 15 mL and sell for $7.50 plus shipping.  Her Etsy shop does not have the mini bottle prices listed.

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