Christmas Tree Mani

If you've followed my blog for a bit, you'll notice that I never do much nail art.  Mostly because I'm lazy and I'm not much of an artist,  but I've seen this tape Christmas tree several places and I decided to try.  This was definitely quick and easy, even for someone like me, and it looks so festive!  For the gold background I used China Glaze Midnight Kiss (a gold foil from the 2010 holiday collection), for the glitter I used China Glaze Party Hearty (multi sized red, green glitter and smaller gold glitter), and for the tree I used China Glaze Emerald Sparkle (the most perfect green glitter in a green base).  I also put a little rhinestone for the tree topper.

OPI Just Spotted the Lizard

If holos are for sunny days, then duochromes were made for overcast days.  I can't be the only one who's noticed how great they look on those kinds of days.  Anyways, LA was having great weather and now it's cold again (read 58 degrees Fahrenheit or 14 Celsius) and the clouds are out in full force, so duochrome it is.

I picked out OPI Just Spotted the Lizard from their 2012 Spiderman collection.  It's a pretty gold that shifts green, and turquoise.  For some reason, I have about 3 other polishes that look just like this.  What is wrong with me?

Formula was nice, and no layering over black required.

This is 2 coats over Aqua Base.

Artificial Light:

Outside:

Zoya Naturel Collection Swatches and Review

*Press Sample

Today I have some swatches of the new Zoya Naturel.  It consists of 6 polishes and as the name suggests, focuses on a neutral color pallet.

First up is Chantal.  Described as a french vanilla cream, Chantal is the lightest of the bunch.  A lovely nude with some peach undertones.  This is 3 coats.

Next is Taylor.  This one is described as a light toffee cream.  It's a bit darker and more brown than Chantal.  This is 2 coats.

Chantal/Taylor comparison:

Next is Rue and is described as a boudoir blush cream.  I really loved this one.  This is 2 coats.

Now things are starting to move into mauve territory with Bridgette.  It's described as bombshell mauve.  I don't think I have any mauves in my collection that I can think of off the top of my head.  I kinda like it.  It's not bad, but still not my favorite polish color.  This is 2 coats.

Zoya calls Odette a sultry maroon cream.  This is 2 coats.

Last but not least is Normani, a sable mauve cream.  It's one of those taupes that lean a bit purple that have been really popular.  Very pretty, but not the most unique.  This is 2 coats.

******

Overall this is a very nice collection of neutrals.  Perfect as a palette cleanser or for times when a more conservative polish choice is necessary.  The formula on these were good with the exception of Chantal.  It wasn't terrible, but it was the only one that needed 3 coats and required a little more effort to apply.  My favorites in the collection are Rue and Chantal.

The Naturel Collection is now available on the Zoya website with each polish retailing for $9.00 ea (US).

Will you be buying any of these?  Which ones?

*These products were sent for review from Zoya.  For more information please see my disclosure.

Girly Bits Into the Night

I bought Into the Night around a year ago.  As you can see this is one of the older bottles with the crystal on the bottle.  Into the Night has lots of holo glitter in a black jelly base.  Now I'm thinking this was just a batch problem, but there were tiny little pieces of black pigment that hadn't quite mixed in all the way (I noticed this when I first bought the polish) and no matter how hard I shook, it still didn't want to mix in.  On the first coat the little chunks would make streaks, but the subsequent coats covered it up.  The first coat is also really sheer, but it builds up nicely.  Like a lot of glitters it was a little on the thick side, but nothing unmanageable.  I also needed two layers of top coat to make it smooth.

This is 3 coats.

Rescue Beauty Lounge Teal

I love this polish.  It's one of my go to's when ever I don't have much time to do my nails.  It's a one coater and glides on.  The formula is perfect.  I should have bought a back up when I could, but it's no longer available.  I can't think of any exact dupes, but OPI Ski Teal We Drop is close.

This is one coat (with top coat).

Color Club Ruby Slippers

Okay so you can't go though the holidays without wearing at least one red glitter.  China Glaze Ruby Pumps usually gets all the love so I dug through my stash and found Color Club's Ruby Slippers.  Like Ruby Pumps it has a red base with red glitter, but the red is a bit brighter and is packed with even more glitter.  I love it!

It applied great.  It wasn't too thick and was easily controlled.  It is however a top coat eater so be prepared to bust out Gelous before your final top coat.

This is 2 coats.

Illamasqua Radium

I was digging through my stash today and couldn't figure out what I wanted to wear.  (That's probably because of the massive amounts of untrieds I have.  I mean its ridiculous.)  So instead of my usual ritual of paint each finger a different color  and seeing which one fit my mood best, I closed my eyes and picked one.  Out came Illamasqua Radium!

Radium is from Illamasqua's Spring 2011 collection.  It's a bright pea green that has a bit more brown in it and subtle green shimmer that shows up in bright light.  It wouldn't say it's the most unique shade, but I love it on.

I have no complaints about the formula on this one.  It applies nicely.

This is 3 coats but could have gotten away with 2 if I was more careful.

OPI Get Your Number

Okay so I have a confession to make.  This is my first time using one of the textured/liquid sand polishes.  I have to admit I wasn't completely sold on them and I'm still not sold on those cream textureds.  However after finally biting the bullet and using Get Your Number for a mani, I love it!

Get Your Number is from OPI's Mariah Carey collection from earlier this year.  It's a medium blue with large holo glitter interspersed.  It's on the thick side but I didn't have a hard time applying.

This is 3 coats (could have gotten away with 2).  These pictures where taken a several hours after application to show the true effect.

This picture is with a coat of Gelous and Seche Vite.

China Glaze Concrete Catwalk

Concrete Catwalk comes from China Glaze's Metro Collection from Fall 2011.  It's a pretty dark gray creme.  Most gray polishes in my collection have a green undertone, but this one has blue undertones and I love it!

Application was nice; no complaints.

This is 2 coats.

Elevation Polish Haba Xueshan over OPI I Theodora You

It's been a while.  My only excuse is that life happened, so thanks to all of you who are still following!

I'm just going to jump right back in here.  A few months ago UKNailRunner posted a mani with Haba Xueshan over a nude polish and I fell in love.  Of course I had to try the combo out for myself.

I Theodora You comes from OPI's 2013 Spring Soft Shades Collection (inspired by Oz the Great and Powerful).  It's a slightly warm nude pink with a slight jelly finish.  It starts of sheer but builds nicely.  I love it!  I usually avoid nudes like this due to yellow nails, but it covered it up perfectly!  As for application, it was a little on the thick side and I was worried it would just end u a streaky mess, but it leveled itself out.

This is 3 coats of I Theodora You.

Haba Xueshan is a glitter topper by Elevation Polish.  A twist on the black and white glitter trend, it has some pastel blue glitter in it as well.  Application was nice; I have no complaints.  I did use both a coat of Revlon Top Coat and Seche Vite to make sure everything was smoothed out.

This is 1 coat of Haba Xueshan over 3 coats of I Theodora You.

Pretty & Polished Popples

I bought this one on a whim and I absolutely love it!  Popples is another one of those polishes with a milky white base and neon glitter suspended through out.  It has tiny neon blue glitter, medium sized neon green glitter and large neon pink glitter (my camera didn't quite capture how neon the pink glitters are).  It applied nicely just make sure you shake it up.

This is 2 coats.

Different Dimension Soft Kitty Warm Kitty

I love The Big Bang Theory and when I saw this I had to have it!  Soft Kitty Warm Kitty has a pale gray jelly base with different sized hex glitters that are white, holo silver, and a dark silver.  Application wasn't bad although the glitters tended to clump a bit toward my cuticles.  I didn't really try and get them placed evenly.

Anyone else love The Big Bang Theory?

(This is 3 coats)

My Mommy's Nails

My mom bought some nail stickers the other day to try out.  Unfortunately most of them were too short for her nails so she let me pick out a color that matches.  I chose Zoya Neeka.  I'm almost surprised she put it on, but I love it!  It matches perfectly!

Essie Da Bush

It's been a while.  Way too long.  Thanks to everyone still reading!  I haven't felt much like painting my nails and I've been wearing clear for the past few weeks.

I'll keep this short.

Today I have Essie Da Bush from the Spring 2011 collection.  It's a green gray creme and I'm loving it!

This is 3 coats (nice application).

OPI My Vampire is Buff

Today's NOTD is My Vampire is Buff from OPI's Spring 2013 Euro Centrale collection.  This is the only one I purchased from this collection (gasp).  I was pretty disappointed in this collection, especially in comparison to last years Holland collection.  Nearly all of the polishes seem dupe-able . 

I am however in love with this one because I love opaque off white polishes and all the other off white polishes in my stash lean a little pink and I can't think of a dupe.  I'll probably be wearing this on my toes all summer.

Now since this is a white based polish, application was not the greatest and was a little on the thin side.  It kept pooling in my cuticles, but it was nothing a little clean up wouldn't fix.  It was also a bit streaky on initial application.

This is 3 coats.