Wet'n'Wild Ice Ice Baby Collection

I ran across some glittery goodness at Walgreens tonight while on a mission for mystical conditioner I can't seem to find anywhere else. Wet'n'Wild has released the Ice Ice Baby limited edition collection. This translates to eight shades of awesome glitter. My local store had four of the eight in stock. Here's the preview. Swatches will follow.

Believe Me, It's Real; It's All In The Cut; Back Ally Deals; Diamond in the Rough

Believe Me, It's Real; It's All In The Cut; Back Ally Deals; Diamond in the Rough

Believe Me, It's Real; It's All In The Cut; Back Ally Deals; Diamond in the Rough

 

 

 

Believe Me, It's Real; It's All In The Cut; Back Ally Deals; Diamond in the Rough

 

 

Gameday Nails - Week 8

Greetings!

I got a little distracted during week 6 and Nebraska had a bye week last week, but I'm back with the latest edition of my Gameday Nails series. Week 8 wasn't exactly an indimidating matchup. The Minnesota Golden Gophers are not exactly known as a football powerhouse. It was pretty safe to assume Nebraska would win this one, but the question was about how much of a fight Minnesota would put up.

The final score ended up 41-14, Nebraska. The 14 points came in the second half and Nebraska was rotating the 2nd and 3rd string into the lineup. Historically speaking, Minnesota still has an edge in the series, but the majority of the victories came pre-1960.

For the polished portion of the program, today's nails are an excuse to put my new goodies to use. I used 2 coats of Color Club's Red Velvet, then topped it with my new Wet'n'Wild Behind Closed Doors.

Behind Closed Doors, like Red Velvet, is a sheer black with red glitter, but the glitter is a little brighter red and it obviously contains larger pieces of glitter. It takes more coats to build up than Red Velvet, and I didn't want to overdo the large particles, so I used it mainly for layering this time. The brush was alright, though a little stiff compared to some. Also, if you have narrow nail beds, it may be tricky. The formula was pretty smooth, but drying time is a bit longer than I'm accustomed to. I used two layers of top coat, and it still wasn't 100% smooth, but I kind of expected that with the glitter.

I'm hoping you'll forgive the photography. I'm still waiting for the nail on my left hand to grow out, so these are painted and photographed with my left hand. It's harder than I thought it might be.

Next week's game is against Michigan State, who took down Wisconsin in a spectacular fashion tonight. Check ESPN. they'll be running that replay for weeks. Last second madness. I kinda don't want to play them next week. Eek.

Color Club Backstage Pass Collection Preview

Take the Stage, Platinum Record, Wish Upon A Star, Backstage Pass, It's A Hit!, Fame & Fortune

If there hasn't been enough glitter for you this season, your luck is about to change. Color Club recently released this collection of six insanely awesome glitter polishes. I've never owned polish like these before. I've played with them a little, and you'll see a full review and swatches soon, but I had to get some bottle shots posted. These are crazy fun, and I think Backstage Pass will be a hit collection for this holiday season.

Take the Stage, Platinum Record, Wish Upon A Star, Backstage Pass, It's A Hit!, Fame & Fortune

Take the Stage, Platinum Record, Wish Upon A Star, Backstage Pass, It's A Hit!, Fame & Fortune

Take the Stage, Platinum Record, Wish Upon A Star

Backstage Pass, It's A Hit!, Fame & Fortune

New Look!

I was looking at my blog, and the design-fanatic in me decided it needed a face lift. Any fellow blogger users probably know they offer some great themes, and I thought this new layout was really fun and interactive for readers. You all are the ones reading this, so let me know if you like it, or want me to go back to a more traditional look. Feedback is appreciated!

Hautelook for Discount Designer Shopping

I've always had expensive taste, but I've never had the cashflow to buy the stuff I want, so I look for bargains. Clearance racks, BOGO sales, anything to save a few bucks. If you're like me, I have the website for you.

Hautelook offers a sort of "deal of the day" on their website for brand name clothing, household items, beauty products and even vacations. The cost difference between normal retail and Hautelook's pricing varies depending on the product and each sale, and the individual sale events last for a few days. I have mainly purchased beauty products thus far, but here are a few of the deal's I've found:

LORAC Baked Matte Satin Eye Shadows. Regular price: $22. I paid $2.

 LORAC On Screen Duo (Powder Highlighter & Cream Shadow/Liner). Regular Price: $24.00. I paid $4.

 

Philosophy Hope Will Set You Free set. Regular Price: $48. I paid $33.50.

Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer. Regular Price: $32. I paid $9.

Stila One Step Makeup. Regular Price: $44. I paid $9.

Stila Garden Bliss All Over Shimmer Powder. Regular Price: $28. I paid $11.

These are a few of the deals I've gotten in the last couple of months, and these are full size products, not little sample kits. The only thing I'm not 100% ecstatic about is the fact that shipping is usually a little slow. They are great about sending shipment notifications, though, and they often arrive ahead of schedule. They also give estimated ship dates at purchase, so you know if it'll take too long to get something you need. I can wait a couple of extra days for these prices. They also preview events so you can see what's coming, even if you don't get to see the individual items coming soon.

I've been really happy with the quality of the stuff I've gotten, and my overall experience. Shipping is reasonable and the products are high quality. Considering it's a free membership, I say this stuff is well worth it. They also offer $10 if someone you refer makes a purchase AND you can see who has signed up and how much credit you have, unlike some other companies. If you want to sign up, you can use my link to register, or visit the main page.

Essie Cocktail Bling - Winter 2011 Collection

Cocktail Bling, Brooch the Subject, Bangle Jangle, School of Hard Rocks, Size Matters, Bobbing for Baubles

I've got my first holiday polish set!

Essie's Cocktail Bling collection is a set of glossy cremes that sort of defies the traditional holiday rules. There is a red and a green and even a blue, but not what you see every year. The traditional poinsettia red, holly green, silver and gold are nowhere to be found with Cocktail Bling. Instead, you get a slightly softer and more sophisticated pallette, which makes the collection more wearable the rest of the year, and which I happen to like. As fun as it is to play with glitz and glimmer, I've always been partial to pure shine, which Essie always delivers.

Cocktail Bling, Brooch the Subject, Bangle Jangle, School of Hard Rocks, Size Matters, Bobbing for Baubles

Cocktail Bling, Brooch the Subject, Bangle Jangle, School of Hard Rocks, Size Matters, Bobbing for Baubles

Cocktail Bling is a soft blue, Brooch the Subject is kind of a pale camel or nude, Bangle Jangle is a pale lavender, School of Hard Rocks is a murky teal green (maybe dark seafoam?), Size Matters is a fantastick cranberry red and Bobbing for Baubles is a beautiful navy blue.

I ordered the cube with all full size bottles, and I will say the packaging is really cute. I've always gotten individual bottles, so this is the first time I've seen the cube.

 

What I like so far:

• Essie maintains tradition, but without the obvious answer.
• The colors can be worn after Christmas.
• If you're not into solid colors, these could look great with some stamping or decals. Very pretty canvases.

I can't say there's anything I don't like right now. I haven't worn or swatched these yet, so you'll get a full review soon.

Wet'n'Wild On The Prowl Collection (Fall 2011) Preview

Today, I have for you a preview of my winnings from Kelly's Vampy Varnish Anniversary Giveaway. I was the lucky recipient of Wet'n'Wild's fall collection, called On The Prowl. I cleaned out my nail polish collection and narrowed it down to a shoebox of the ones I wore the most while I was moving from apartment to apartment a few years ago. I only had a few bottles of Wet'n'Wild, and they were so old I hadn't touched them in years. I had no idea what to expect when I got this set, aside from pictures from other blogs.

These colors are PRETTY.

Correction Tape, Behind Closed Doors, Tangled in My Web, Cougar Attack, Ink Well, Ready to Pounce, Buy Me A Drink, Jungle Fever

Correction Tape, Behind Closed Doors, Tangled in My Web, Cougar Attack, Ink Well, Ready to Pounce, Buy Me A Drink, Jungle Fever

Correction Tape, Behind Closed Doors, Tangled in My Web, Cougar Attack, Ink Well, Ready to Pounce, Buy Me A Drink, Jungle Fever

Correction Tape, Behind Closed Doors, Tangled in My Web, Cougar Attack, Ink Well, Ready to Pounce, Buy Me A Drink, Jungle Fever

Correction Tape, Behind Closed Doors, Tangled in My Web, Cougar Attack

Ink Well,  Ready to Pounce, Buy Me A Drink, Jungle Fever

This collection practically screams fall, except for maybe Correction Tape. The collection consists of four glitters, three shimmers and a creme. I haven't had a chance to paint more than a little swipe over my existing polish, but the formula on the shimmers and creme are great, and the glitters will be great for layering. You'll see more of these, for sure, but I had to get some initial photos up for you guys.

I really want to thank Kelly and Wet'n'Wild for this collection. I'm not sure I would have sought these out on my own. I will definitely have to make a point to keep my eyes on Wet'n'Wild's future collections, for sure.

Nicole by OPI Something About Color (Fall 2011)

I Love You Cherry Much, It's Not Me It's Blue, Sounds Grape to Me, Green Up Your Act

I Love You Cherry Much, It's Not Me It's Blue, Sounds Grape to Me, Green Up Your Act

I Love You Cherry Much, It's Not Me It's Blue, Sounds Grape to Me, Green Up Your Act

During my little hiatus, I managed to do a little swatching, and one of the sets I got to was Nicole by OPI's fall collection. I've seen mixed reviews on other blogs. The name of the collection is Something About Color. Several other reviews have said this set doesn't look like a cohesive collection. I can't say I disagree with that thought. At the same time, the name of the collection can be interpreted pretty loosely. Each of the 4 colors fits a trend in fall fashion. Every collection I've seen has a murky or dusty green. Red is definitely hot. A smoky bluish or purple color fits with the trends. And what fall collection is complete without a burgundy or plum?

I Love You Cherry Much is not my usual red. I normally opt for a darker, creamy red, but this one is amazing. It glitters no matter what light it's in. It seems like a pretty universally flattering color, and it's fun and vibrant. It's right on par with the bright red fashion this fall. The formula is flawless. It'll cover in two coats, but I use three to hide my nail lines.

 

It's Not Me It's Blue is the same formula as I Love You Cherry Much, but in a lovely Periwinkle blue color and a little more sheer. I use three to four thin coats. There are flecks of silver in this one, it seems, and flashes of pink. The last picture is in dim lighting with the flash on my cell phone. In bright sunlight you see more of the blue.

Sounds Grape to Me is pretty much the same formula as the other two shimmers. Two coats was plenty for this one. I'm not normally drawn to shades of burgundy like this, but the best part of this one is that it is actually the color of grapes. Other bloggers said the name was weird considering it's not the usual purple color we refer to as "grape." I have long wondered why they always call bright violets and purples "grape." I have never seen a grape that color. Ever. I wore this polish while I was at the grocery store. I compared it to an actual red grape. It was the right color. Nicole by OPI wins the prize for the first brand of anything to make something the color of a real grape. Yes, these are the things I think about.

Green Up Your Act is the only creme of the bunch. while it looks a tiny bit out of place with the shimmers in this set, but the color is really pretty. Greens like this can be tricky on my skin, but Nicole managed to make one I can wear. It's less yellow than the greens we saw from Zoya and China Glaze. I think I'm going to have to do a continuation of my comparison post with Dree and Westside Warrior, adding in the greens from Nicole by OPI, Essie and Wet'n'Wild...and anything else I find between now and then.

All in all, I'm happy with this collection. It's affordable, easily accessible and fits the trends for the season. I got this set at Target, and I'm sure it's available online, as well. Target sells each bottle for $7-8.

Split Nail Repair 101

I mentioned a few posts ago that I was returning from that short hiatus. I am, but I've hit a snag along the way. Aside from adjusting to a new work schedule and a whole lot of stuff that needs doing, I'm fighting with my nails. One, in particular.

The ring finger on my left hand (aka, my swatching hand) has had a vertical split coming from the nail bed for years. It's fine most of the time, but if I do something clumsy and break the nail, I have to cut it to the nail base and start over...which looks kind of icky when posting pretty nail polishes. It's currently like half the size of my other nails.

If any of you have ever had to deal with a vertical split, you know how irritating it can be, so I turned to the interwebs to see if I could find a good way to make it grow out right. In my search, I found the awesome video that shows how to patch your nails using nail glue and a tea bag. As you can imagine, I was intrigued, so I'm giving this a try.



(The link if you can't play the video. Note: This is NOT my video. I found it on YouTube.)

The basic process is as follows:

1. Cut the top off a tea bag and dump out the tea leaves. Cut the paper from the bag to the size of your nail., leaving a little extra at the tip. I held the tea bag paper over my nail and traced around my cuticles with a pen to get an exact shape.
2. Clean the nail with acetone polish or rubbing alcohol to remove all residue.
3. Cover the nail in nail glue and fit the trimmed paper onto your nail. Be careful when  smoothing the paper over your nail. Cellophane worked in the video, I used the tip of metal cuticle scissors to move and arrange the paper. 
4. Let the paper set so it doesn't move, then cover the nail with another layer of nail glue.
5. Allow the glue to dry completely. 
6. Use a buffing block or file to smooth the nail surface and be careful not to file through the paper. 
7. Use scissors to trim the excess paper from the nail tip, then file the remaining edges.
8. Apply your base coat (I used two coats) and apply polish normally.

From what I can tell, this process allows the nail to grow out without separating where the missing nail fiber causes the split, or in the event of a break/horizontal split, it forms a graft of sorts to prevent the entire nail from coming off while allowing to grow.

I'll keep you posted with how this process goes, and if it works effectively. In the meantime, I'll be swatching my right hand, so you'll be relying on my left handed photography and painting skills. Wish me luck. :)

Bare Escentuals Buxom Fashion Show & Tell

Sugar, Katie, Mia, Alison, Sasha, Linda, Kesha

A recent Sephora haul included this fab set of lip gloss from Buxom/Bare Escentuals. Here's what Sephora has to say about them:

What it is:
A collection of seven ready-to-wear mini Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polishes.

What it does:
The haute-to-trot looks you can create with these polishes are straight off the fashion week runways. Infused with vitamins and antioxidants—you'll go wild for the cooling, tingling sensation. From vibrant magenta to sheer pinks and trendy neutrals, these backstage beauties are ready-to-wear. 

Sugar, Katie, Mia, Alison, Sasha, Linda, Kesha

Sugar, Katie, Mia, Alison, Sasha, Linda, Kesha

 I was a little concerned about a couple of the brighter colors when I first opened the box. My fair skin and super bright colors can walk a fine line between "bold" and "hooker." Luckily, most of the shades are pretty sheer and offer a great shine and sparkle.

Size Comparison

Applicator

Sugar, Katie, Mia, Alison, Sasha, Linda, Kesha (Indoor Light)

Sugar, Katie, Mia, Alison, Sasha, Linda, Kesha (Indoor, Natural Light)

 Each swatch was a single swipe with the applicator on my arm. As you can see, Sugar, Mia and Kesha are the most pigmented of the bunch, but also the most wearable despite the bolder colors. The other colors are quite sheer. Linda is the only one that really changes the color of my lips. My lips are naturally pretty rosy, though, so if you can actually do a true "nude" lip, you may notice the differences in the lighter colors more.

As indicated in the promotional blurb, there is a cool tingly feeling on the lip. The idea is lip plumping. I'm not sure if your lips are actually fuller, but I tend to puff them out more than usual with the tingly glosses. Maybe that's how they really work...

Other notable things about the glosses include the size and price. You can see when shown next to a cotton swab, the tubes are sample sizes, which I kind of like. They're small enough you can put all of them in your purse. If you're rocking a tiny clutch, they won't add bulk or weird bumps. The set of seven glosses costs $15 from Sephora, which I think is reasonable. The applicator is also nice and easy to apply with, no mirror necessary. The gloss wears really well, too. Even after the glossy finish wears off, my lips feel nice and soft for hours. I can generally go 2-4 hours before reapplying, if I'm not concerned about maintaining the color.