Milani Hot Pink Frenzy
Here’s the other shade I received from Milani’s High Speed Fast Dry One Coat Formula Nail Lacquer line that’s available in select CVS drugstores for the month of July. This bright number is called Hot Pink Frenzy.
Milani Hot Pink Frenzy
Hot Pink Frenzy is a super bright pink shimmer that can be best described as a traffic stopping shade. It is a hot raspberry pink that’s blindingly bright. Application was good and it dried pretty fast. True to its claim, this is a one coater shade (unlike Racy Green). Don’t believe me on how bright it is? See below for more pictures and yes, it’s even brighter in person. Pictures can only capture the effect so much.
Milani Hot Pink Frenzy (in shade)
Milani Hot Pink Frenzy (direct sunlight)
Milani Hot Pink Frenzy (close-up)
Shades from this collection should be available in select CVS stores nationwide. If you’re lucky, you can still score this or the other shades in that collection at your local CVS. Some CVS drugstores put the collections out late (not sure why) and some may just have not sold out of it yet. But if all fails, try grabbing them on their website while they still have ‘em. They tweeted a few days back that they’re having free ground shipping in the US until August 5th!
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Kitty Meets….
This is the first of (I hope) many series on fellow bloggers that I have met in person. Popping my “meeting a fellow nail blogger” cherry is Polish Police.
As many of you know, I have just recently returned from my 3 week visit to my family in the Philippines. While it felt short, it was just enough time for me to actually enjoy being back at work (which is good thing). My blog’s first year mark hit when I was in the air, traveling back to the US. I wanted to do a giveaway for it and all, but I was strapped for time to plan for it. But it’s okay. After all, I had this delight when I was there during my stay….
Philippines Flavored Ice Cream
….and of course I had so many more other yummy things. That’s ice cream in 3 different flavors. My parents got a tub when we went to the grocery store some time during the first few days that I was there. The purple one is Ube, the pink one is Strawberry and the yellow one is Cheese. Haha, yes! You read that right! Cheese! There was a 4th flavor in the tub, Rocky Road, but it was gone by the time I took this shot. My favorite is Ube. It’s Purple Yam and it’s so damn good. I consume it alone or with coconut meat. *drool*
Aside from missing treats such as these there, I miss a fellow nail blogger and someone I’m proud to say I’ve become good friends with: Pam of Polish Police (or known as @turbochicken on Twitter). You can read her blog entry on our meeting here. Let me tell you, she is the ultimate shopping partner for nail polish in the Philippines. I will not recount what happened blow-by-blow since you can read it on her blog entry, but let’s just say we hit all the nail polish brand stores I wanted to see in a span of 2 hours.
And of course, we swapped some. 
The pictures aren’t the best when using flash, but here are the goodies she got me.
Etude House
The Face Shop
Tony Moly
Deborah Lippmann, Majolica Majorca & OPI
And I shopped more of course. Who knew that there were lots of Asian brand cosmetics in the Philippines?! I didn’t take pictures of those, but the lovely ladies I chat with on Twitter were impressed when I told them I lugged back about 200 bottles of nail polish. I was so nervous they’d be confiscated cause of some technicality or what not. They all made it safe though (no casualties!) and these beauties shown above were part of the close to 200 that I lugged back. In case you were wondering how I packed them, here’s what I did:
1) Grab a gallon sized clear resealable plastic bag. The thicker the plastic bag, the better.
2) Cut out a cardboard to the size close to the gallon sized plastic bag. I determined the size by stuffing a layer of polish in it first and seeing what width it should be. Length should not reach the resealable end, since you will need room for it to close properly and comfortably without the cardboard getting in the way.
3) Cut out smaller pieces of cardboard to act as a divider between glass surfaces that touch next to each other. Note that I am packing my polishes in one flat layer, kind of like how the pictures above this post of my swap are shown. This way, TSA and any other parties that need to inspect my luggage can see clearly the contents of the plastic bag.
4) Cut out long and thin pieces of cardboard about the size of the polish base to prevent glass bottoms from touching those in the next row.
5) Keep filling the plastic bag with polishes row by row until it is almost full. If there is enough room left for a polish to be placed horizontally, do it. This will make sure that the contents of the resealable plastic bag won’t move around.
6) Seal tightly. I also put a piece of clear tape over the bag and wrote “nail polish” on it. Just for my own peace of mind.
7) I packed them in between layers of towels and clothing. Make sure that there is enough in that piece of luggage prevent anything from moving around.
I will be featuring different brands and shades of polishes in the next few weeks. Some are from the swap I did and some are those that I have purchased when I met my fellow nail blogger and friend. She is one of the sweetest person I have ever met and I can’t wait to go back again and see her. We talked for hours over Filipino food during lunch and there were no awkward moments in our conversations at all! I am so glad that I have met her in my lifetime. I truly mean that.
I hope you guys stick around to see what these and the other polishes look like and fare!
Milani Racy Green
Milani Racy Green. Oh, how much I love you. You defied all my expectations about a green shimmer shade. This is not just any green shimmer shade. This is THE green shimmer shade. It took my breath away. This is part of the 8 piece lacquer summer collection (High Speed Fast Dry One Coat Formula Nail Lacquer) that’s limited edition and hit select CVS drugstores this month.
Milani Racy Green
Holy hell. I am actually having a hard time to find words that describe the awesomeness I see in this shade. In the bottle, it’s pretty neat looking. On the nails, it was more than just that. It rocked my world. This finish of this green shimmery shade is simply stunning. It reminds me of glass fleck shades, but not quite just that. It’s a cross between that and a metallic foil maybe? Whatever it is….I have never fallen hard for a green ever as I have with this shade. The collection claims the shades to be one coat, but I needed 2 for this one. I did try laying it on as one thicker coat, but no bueno. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Milani Racy Green (in shade)
Milani Racy Green (direct sunlight)
Milani Racy Green (close-up)
Wow.
Shades from this collection should be available in select CVS stores nationwide. Also check other known Milani retailers.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Nicole by OPI Kardashian Kolors Collection
Here’s a press release from one of Nicole by OPI’s latest offerings scheduled to come out soon. What I’m super excited about are all the glitters! Eeeee!
Nicole by OPI Announces Kardashian Partnership, Featuring
14 “Kaptivating” Nail Lacquers
Nicole by OPI joins the Kardashian/Jenner family in announcing the launch of Kardashian Kolors, 14 new nail lacquer shades inspired by these six trendsetting women. Kris Jenner and her five daughters – Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian and Kylie and Kendall Jenner – are known for their head-to-toe unique style, which now includes nails!
“We are so excited to work with everyone’s favorite TV family – the Kardashians – to share a diverse collection of fashion-forward shades,” declares Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “With lacquers ranging from high-shine and sparkly hues to neutral taupe and pinkish coral, Kardashian Kolors offers the perfect accessory for every woman – from teens to moms and everyone in between.”
Kardashian Kolors includes:
Nicole by OPI It's All About the Glam
Shimmering-white glitz for the glamorous gal!
Nicole by OPI Kim-pletely in Love
Finally! The pink of her dreams has arrived.
Nicole by OPI All Kendall-ed Up
Powder your nose and get some pink on those toes!
Nicole by OPI Wear Something Spar-Kylie
Glitter-ly the prettiest pink ever!
Nicole by OPI Sealed with a Kris
Handle with care: This klassy red is top-of-the-line!
Nicole by OPI Rainbow in the S-Kylie
Girls just wanna have…glitter in every color!
Nicole by OPI Disco Dolls
Glittery gold glam gone wild!
Nicole by OPI Kendall on the Katwalk
A head-turning blue-green with a “sparkling” personality!
Nicole by OPI Listen to your Momager!
If you don’t, you’ll never see this fabulous blue again!
Nicole by OPI Follow Me on Glitter
A glittery deep gray that always has something to say!
Nicole by OPI My Empire...My Rules
This take-charge taupe is always on-trend.
Nicole by OPI Khloé Had a Little Lam-Lam
A deep dark emerald worth falling for.
Nicole by OPI Hard Kourt Fashionista
This delicious deep brown is the chicest hue in town!
Nicole by OPI Kourt is Red-y for a Pedi
And this captivating coral looks “fab” on everyone!
Nicole by OPI Nail Lacquers and Nail Treatments contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde. Nicole by OPI formulas are long-lasting, fast-drying, and salon-quality, with products featuring the Perfect Stroke brush for streak-free, even coverage. Kardashian Kolors will be available Holiday 2011 for $7.99 each ($11.00 CAD).
For more information, visit nicolebyopi.com. Follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter @NicoleByOPI and become a Facebook fan!
Sancion Angel Etna
It wasn’t a huge shock to me that Sancion Angel released a crackle polish line not too long ago. It seems like every brand did. There are 6 fun shades to choose from in their Cracker’s (Crackle) line. The one I have is named Etna.
Sancion Angel Etna
Etna is a stunning red metallic crackle shade. I used this over one thin coat of Fright Night Claw Sinister, a black creme. I adore this metallic foil red shade! I don’t have any metallic foil red crackle or shatter polish, so this is definitely a must-have for me. I love how the silver dances with the red in this crackle shade. I waited until the underlying coat is completely dry and quickly applied one generous coat of this over it, careful not to apply on the same spot twice. Shown is with no top coat.
Sancion Angel Etna (in shade)
Sancion Angel Etna (direct sunlight)
Sancion Angel Etna (close-up)
Pretty, eh?
They have a lot of other shades from several different lines. As far as I know, they are only accessible through their website along with a few others unless you live close to a local store in Brazil that carries their line.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Deception Franken
Today I have a franken to share with you guys. This one’s something that didn’t come out the way I intended it to when I had a particular shade in mind. I love it anyway. I named it Deception.
Deception
I love how it turned out a lot. I created Deception by mixing Color Club Worth The Risque? and ULTA Rock Star. The result is a stunning violet holographic shade. Formula went on smoothly like butter. I had no patchy issues with it. This shade is pretty opaque. Shown is one coat with no top coat.
Deception (in shade)
Deception (direct sunlight)
Deception (close-up)
Deception (direct sunlight again)
What do you guys think?
Del Sol Spring Fling
Today’s featured shade is one that was purchased by my other half’s mother when vacationing in the British Virgin Islands. This is not my first brush with Del Sol shades and I was very excited to receive 2 shades from their Spring 2011 line. This one’s called Spring Fling.
Del Sol Spring Fling
As with all Del Sol products, this shade changes color when exposed to sunlight. Spring Fling is supposed to turn from a light green to a dark purple when under the sun. The green part is spot on with what was shown in the press release, but the purple falls a little bit short when under the sun. The accurate under direct sunlight shade is a little bit darker than the last picture in this entry, the strong direct sunlight shot. It pretty much immediately starts to change away from the purple when it is no longer under the sun, as shown in the in shade and weak direct sunlight shots. Sorry for the blurry indoor shot. This was the best one among all that I took. This frost gave me a little bit of difficulty with application, as expected with a frost shade. The very tips of my nails weren’t fully covered in the shots below. I applied the second coat when the first coat wasn’t fully dry, so I lifted the brush off too fast to prevent dragging. I certainly didn’t want to endure swatching it again at that time. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Del Sol Spring Fling (indoors)
Del Sol Spring Fling (indoors with flash)
Del Sol Spring Fling (in shade)
Del Sol Spring Fling (close-up)
Del Sol Spring Fling (weak direct sunlight)
Del Sol Spring Fling (strong direct sunlight)
Not bad. A thumbs up from me for this one even if the direct sunlight shade isn’t quite a close match with the press release picture. I have used this one more time since I’ve swatched this initially and the brush stroke problem is less evident, as seen in the last shot. Practice does pay off with frosts apparently.
Mattese Elite Crackalacquer Collection
Here’s another press release that just proves that the crackle and shatter trend has not waned.
EDIT: Swatches here.
Mattese Elite Crackalaquer Collection
The gold and silver looks glittery from the picture, but I’m thinking it’s metallic in person.
Envy Franken
Hey y’all! I’m probably flying in the air still when this goes live. I have another franken to show you guys. This one’s the one I was referring to in my post about Fear. I finally got it down to what I want enough to call it Envy.
Envy
I created Envy by mixing Color Club Worth The Risque? and China Glaze Outta Bounds. It’s a very pretty green holographic shade. I prefer it to be a brighter green, but Worth The Risque? dulled the bright green in Outta Bounds quite a bit. I couldn’t switch the quantities more because I’d lose how holographic the shade is at the moment, which I really like. Formula is smooth and no patches at all during application. This shade is pretty opaque. Shown is one coat with no top coat.
Envy (in shade)
Envy (direct sunlight)
Envy (close-up)
Envy (direct sunlight again)
See the scattered holo goodness?
Sancion Angel Mia
I’m always wary of creme shades no matter what brand it is. Sancion Angel is no exception. I was given the chance to try one of their creme shades and it certainly did not disappoint. Just like Jessica, this shade is also from the Meninas do Blog (Blogger Girls) line. Here is Mia.
Sancion Angel Mia
Mia is a lovely pale lilac creme shade. It glided onto my nails smoothly and dries really fast in between coats. It’s super creamy. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Sancion Angel Mia (in shade)
Sancion Angel Mia (direct sunlight)
Sancion Angel Mia (close-up)
What do you guys think? Worth a try maybe?
They have a lot of other shades from several different lines. As far as I know, they are only accessible through their website along with a few others unless you live close to a local store in Brazil that carries their line.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Fear Franken
I originally was trying to create a holographic green franken, but the base I used for this was too dark. I ended up with this hot mess that I have grown to love. I named it Fear.
Fear
Fear is made by using a mixture of Color Club Worth The Risque? and ULTA Green With Envy. This shade is very holographic under sunlight and even in direct indoor light. When I saw how dark this came out, I knew I had to change the name to something else. It was too dark for what I intended Envy to be and not dark enough for what I envisioned a black holographic to be, one that I wanted to call Darkness. So I named it Fear. The name actually brought back memories of this horror novel series I read in both grade school and high school called Fear Street. It applied smoothly and dries super fast. This shade is pretty opaque. Shown is one coat with no top coat.
Fear (in shade)
Fear (direct sunlight)
Fear (different angle)
Fear (close-up)
Fear (direct sunlight again)
Fear (last shot)
What do you guys think?
Finger Paints Fall Fashionista Collection
Here’s the latest press release pictures I got for Finger Paints. They’re releasing a set of 9 fashion-themed shades.
EDIT: Swatches here.
Finger Paints Fall Fashionista Collection
Other brands’ Fall Collection are of darker hues. Kudos to Finger Paints for bringing in more color for that season.
Finger Paints Stunning Stilettos
Finger Paints Cordur-Orange
Finger Paints Military Green
Finger Paints Vintage Velvet
Finger Paints Raspberry Tafetta
Finger Paints Catwalk Queen
Finger Paints To-Teally Chic
Finger Paints Haute Taupe
Finger Paints Purple Pinstripe
I think I matched the names up correctly. Looks like mostly cremes, but some may actually be barely there shimmers (EDIT: I got confirmation that they’re all cremes). Even with the big bottle shots, it’s a little hard to tell.
These shades will be available in stores and online starting August 2011. They retail for $4.99 each.
Foodgasm at Home Sweet Home
As many of you know, I am on my 3 week vacation to the Philippines. I’ve been eating, shopping and cooking every so often. Here are just a few of the things that I’ve helped make (and consumed!) with my mom. Sorry that some of the pics are blurry. I really wanted to get clear ones and I took a hundreds of them, but these are the best that came out. Without flash, pictures shows the true colors best. Can’t be picky now though. 
First up are cheesecakes.
No Bake Lemon Cheesecake
No Bake Lemon Cheesecake with a cherry on top
No Bake Lemon Cheesecake with a cherry on top all wrapped up
No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake
Next is Angel Food Cake.
Angel Food Cake Batter
The size of the pan is H-U-G-E! See how it compares to my hand? And I don’t have teeny tiny hands either!
Angel Food Cake
Angel Food Cake with orange topping
Then we have this delightful treat called Mine Lemes Romb.
Mine Lemes Romb
Mine Lemes Romb (with flash)
Mine Lemes Romb (closer shot)
Mine Lemes Romb (even closer)
And lastly, Pork Buns!
Pork Buns in Steamer
Pork Buns
Pork Buns (lighting changed)
Ah, these are only one of the few things I will miss.
Sancion Angel Scarlett
One of my favorite polish finishes is without a doubt holographic. I love how it looks in and out of sunlight. It never fails to bring a smile to my face when I have such a shade on my nails. Today’s holographic shade is from Sancion Angel’s Holograficos (Holographic) line. Each shade in this collection is named after a remarkable female lead in movies. This one’s called Scarlett, named after Vivien Leigh’s character in the movie “Gone With The Wind”.
Sancion Angel Scarlett
This beauty is pretty on its own. Scarlett is a purplish red holographic shade. It applied extremely well onto my nails and I didn’t experience any patchy spots with this like I did with a lot of other holographic shades from other brands. It dries super fast. The holographic property in this shade is scattered. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Sancion Angel Scarlett (in shade)
Sancion Angel Scarlett (lighting changed)
Sancion Angel Scarlett (direct sunlight)
Sancion Angel Scarlett (close-up)
Sancion Angel Scarlett (direct sunlight again)
Here’s more shots with different angles.
Sancion Angel Scarlett (so pretty)
Sancion Angel Scarlett (isn't it?)
Sancion Angel Scarlett (look at the holo goodness)
Sancion Angel Scarlett (again)
Sancion Angel Scarlett (and again)
Sancion Angel Scarlett (with flash)
If this shade doesn’t rock your boat, there are 11 others to choose from!
They have a lot of other shades from several different lines. As far as I know, they are only accessible through their website along with a few others unless you live close to a local store in Brazil that carries their line.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Caronia Nail Care Line
I have had the opportunity to use various items from Caronia’s Nail Care line. Overall? Not bad at all. Read on for the breakdown.
Caronia Solvent & Nail Polish Remover
First nail care item I pulled out is Caronia’s Solvent. The right side of the bottle states “Thins and dissolves nail enamel. Helps clean your metal manicure implements.” and the left side indicates the following directions: “Use a few drops of Caronia Solvent to thin out nail enamel or to clean your metal nail implements.”
Verdict? Works perfectly except that this doesn’t come with a dropper or brush. I did end up using this and had some difficulty since I had to pour directly out of the bottle. Just be careful to avoid spills when using this. I didn’t use this to clean my metal nail implements though, so the verdict for that is up in the air.
Next item I used is Caronia’s Nail Polish Remover. The right side of the bottle states “Removes nail polish fast without drying!” and the left side indicates the following directions: “Prepare your nails for a fresh manicure by removing old nail polish. Put a generous amount of Caronia Nail Polish Remover on a cotton ball. Wipe on nails until all nail polish has been removed.”
Verdict? If I lived here permanently in the Philippines, this is the polish remover I’d always use. It works really well in removing nail polish and it has a very pleasant smell. It contains 81% acetone, but it’s not drying at all! I didn’t bring any polish remover with me when I was traveling, as I anticipated that this item waiting for me over there would suffice and it sure did!
Caronia Cuticle Remover & Cuticle Sanitizer
Before painting my nails, one of the items I used is Caronia’s Cuticle Remover. The right side of the bottle states “Softens and helps remove overgrown cuticles, giving you a gentle manicure experience!” and the left side indicates the following directions: “Start preparing the cuticles and nail bed for a manicure by removing old nail polish with Caronia Nail Polish Remover. Brush on a generous amount of Caronia Cuticle Remover. Allow cuticles to get soaked and soften before pushing. After pushing, brush away excess cuticle and nail plate particles before applying Caronia Cuticle Sanitizer.”
Verdict? Very effective! It works really well. I followed the instructions and the excess cuticle particles came right off as promised! Only downside is the brush. It’s pretty stiff compared to brushes of other brands I’ve used.
Next, I used Caronia’s Cuticle Sanitizer. The right side of the bottle states “Cleans, disinfects and sanitizes yoru nails white it keeps your cuticles healthy-looking!” and the left side indicates the following directions: “Apply Caronia Cuticle Sanitizer to cuticles after cleaning and pushing. Gently brush nails to distribute tint evenly for that healthy-looking cuticle. Wipe off excess liquid on nail bed with clean cotton or towel. Allow to dry before applying Caronia Nail Hardener and Base Coat.”
Verdict? I found this one a bit strange, but that’s probably because of the pink-ish orange tint of the solution. My nail plates do feel dry and ready for a manicure, void of any oils and such. I think it’s a step that I can skip most of the time when doing a manicure. The brush is the same kind as the Cuticle Remover, so it’s quite stiff as well.
Caronia Nail Hardener & Base Coat, Fast-Dry Top Coat & Kwik-Dry & Cuticle Conditioner
First of the 3 I used is Caronia’s Nail Hardener & Base Coat. The right side of the bottle states “Protect your nails from breaking and chipping with a base coat that locks on to nail polish color!” and the left side indicates the following directions: “Apply one coat of Caronia Nail Hardener and Base Coat. Let dry, then apply 2 coats of Caronia nail polish. Apply every other day for 2 weeks to help harden nails.”
Verdict? Not bad for a base coat really. It does the job and it has a very glossy finish, which I imagine would keep the manicure looking good if you’re using it as a nail hardener too. I didn’t follow the last line of instructions, since my nails aren’t soft at all to begin with. The brush looks to be of the same as the Cuticle Remover and Cuticle Sanitizer, but I noticed it seems softer during application. I chalked it up to the ingredient listing of each nail care item being different and that this one softens the brush more.
The next item I used is Caronia’s Fast-Dry Top Coat. The right side of the bottle states “Get durable, glossy finish in express time!” and the left side indicates the following directions: “Top off your Caronia nail polish with 1 layer of Caronia Fast-dry Top Coat and the manicure will be touch-dry in 3 minutes. Maintain manicure by re-applying on nails after 2 days.”
Verdict? This is where I got confused. The Nail Hardener & Base Coat asks me to reapply every other day for 2 weeks and this one asks me to re-apply on nails after 2 days. It seems redundant. But it sure does what it says. In 3 minutes it’s definitely dry. I rubbed my finger over my manicure and got to smudges at all. The finish is super glossy too. I’m actually very impressed with this item.
Last item I tried is Caronia’s Kwik-Dry & Cuticle Conditioner. The right side of the bottle states “Dry your nail polish faster and keep it smudge-free while you condition your cuticles at the same time!” and the left side indicates the following directions: “One minute after applying Caronia nail polish, gently brush on one layer of Caronia Kwik-Dry & Cuticle Conditioner. To use as a cuticle conditioner, wash hands and apply to cuticles. Massage cuticle from nail tip to nail base. To maximize conditioning effect, apply before going to bed.”
Verdict? Okay, I was so confused with this item at first. I initially read it as a fast drying top coat and conditioner at the same time. How could that be?! After following directions, I came to the realization that it is indeed a conditioning item for the most part. This item only has 2 ingredients, Isopropyl Palmitate and Mineral Oil. I used this item as a conditioner instead of a quick dry tool. It works very well as a conditioner. It’s not too greasy and my cuticles are happily conditioned everyday so far in my trip. My nose didn’t detect any scent at all for the most part. I recommend it definitely.
I hope the reveiw of each Caronia Nail Care item helps you guys in the Philippines somehow. They’re pretty affordable and some are available in larger sizes than as shown.
These are available in all leading department stores, supermarkets, drugstores, and health & beauty shops in the Philippines nationwide. You can also check out other shades from their core collection online. They also carry some hand and foot care items.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Orly Happy Go Lucky Collection
Here’s a press release from Orly’s latest nail lacquer collection.
Happy Go Lucky
ORLY Back to School 2011 Collection
Inspiring Hues to Give You a Thrill
Move over sheer nudes, brights are back with a vengeance. Just in time for a head turning season of back to school fashion, or for those having a hard time saying good bye to summer, ORLY is proud to present the new Happy Go Lucky Collection of fun, edgy lacquers. Inspired by the carefree attitude and thrill-seeking sensibility of youth, the collection exudes uninhibited creativity that adds instant liveliness to any wardrobe. These bold hues make it easy to test-drive the bright trend overtaking fashion without committing to pricey accessories or unflattering apparel. Each bottle delivers a vivid, chip resistant formula, while the brush glides smoothly on nails, never clumping or streaking, for maximum impact.
The lacquers in Happy Go Lucky include:
Orly Happy Go Lucky Collection
Flirty: Pink Shimmer
Frisky: Teal Crème
Fresh: Green Crème
Frolic: Purple Crème
All ORLY Nail Lacquers including the Happy Go Lucky Collection are free of DBP, Toluene and all traces of Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Resin.
The Happy Go Lucky Collection Lacquers will be available starting July 2011 for $7.50 each. ORLY Nail Lacquers and Treatment products are available at orlybeauty.com, Sally Beauty, Ulta and other purveyors of beauty throughout the U.S. and in over 100 countries worldwide.
Sancion Angel Leo
Today’s lacquer comes all the way from Brazil. This shade is from another collection of Sancion Angel, their Zodiac line. The one I received is Leo.
Sancion Angel Leo
One of my favorite types of lacquer is glitter, so no doubt about it I love this shade! Leo is made up of silver glitter in a yellow jelly base. I used it alone since the jelly base isn’t clear. It’s a shade that can stand alone on its own unlike some shades that are deemed to be glitter top coats. I actually like how it looks in shade better than direct sunlight. Formula gave me no problems at all during application. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Sancion Angel Leo (in shade)
Sancion Angel Leo (lighting changed)
Sancion Angel Leo (direct sunlight)
Sancion Angel Leo (close-up)
They have a lot of other shades from several different lines. As far as I know, they are only accessible through their website along with a few others unless you live close to a local store in Brazil that carries their line.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Caronia Sweet Bliss Swatches
I’ve has this collection waiting for me for a while now. I haven’t had a chance to swatch it cause I just got back to the Philippines. I didn’t think about what a hard time I’d have swatching somewhere else I’m not used to at all. That was the first challenge. It felt like I was chasing the sun the whole time. It didn’t help that it’s the rainy season here right now. But I persisted and managed to swatch them all. My cuticles are so sore from all the retakes. Y’all would notice too that the background keeps changing in all the shots (unlike the standard static background I usually have). Enough babbling, let’s move on to the swatches!
First up is Baby Pink.
Caronia Baby Pink
This shade is described as a “salmon pink” and is my favorite of the bunch. The formula though…..it was thick and gloopy. I don’t know if it’s just my bottle or what cause I didn’t have this problem with any of the other shades. Since I had some difficulty with this, I had to thin it out and it took me more coats than usual to even out the patches. Shown is 3 thin coats with no top coat.
Caronia Baby Pink (in shade)
Caronia Baby Pink (direct sunlight)
Caronia Baby Pink (close-up)
Next up is a shade called First Crush.
Caronia First Crush
This one’s described as a “rich lilac” and applied like a dream. I was dreading that the rest of the shades in this collection would apply like Baby Pink. Glad this isn’t the case! This shade is actually opaque with just one coat, but since I have some ridges from buffing I used 2.
Caronia First Crush (in shade)
Caronia First Crush (direct sunlight)
Caronia First Crush (another angle)
Caronia First Crush (close-up)
Next up is a summery one called Sun Kissed.
Caronia Sun Kissed
I don’t have that many oranges in my stash and that’s why I was excited to try this one out. This rich orange creme is described as a “pumpkin orange” by the brand. First coat went on a bit patchy, but it evened out with another coat. The formula is a little bit watery, but not unmanageable at all. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Caronia Sun Kissed (in shade)
Caronia Sun Kissed (direct sunlight)
Caronia Sun Kissed (close-up)
Another bright one in this bunch is called Sweet Surprise.
Caronia Sweet Surprise
This shade is described as a “lemon yellow” and is the perfect summer shade. Formula is a bit watery, like Sun Kissed, but it evened out with another coat. This is the only one among them all that is labeled “Frosted” instead of “Regular” on the back of the bottle. This shade has micro silver flecks in the yellow creme base, but this is definitely not a traditional frost that I’ve dealt with before. I know that Caronia has always used the term “Frosted” for shades I would classify as shimmer. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Caronia Sweet Surprise (in shade)
Caronia Sweet Surprise (lighting changed)
Caronia Sweet Surprise (direct sunlight)
Caronia Sweet Surprise (close-up)
Next up is the hardest one to photograph, On-The-Go.
Caronia On-The-Go
I tried many, many times to get really clear pictures of this shade and these are the best that came out. On-The-Go seems to me the most popular one among all 6. There’s something about shades in the teal family that lacquerheads absolutely love. Just like First Crush, this is pretty opaque. It’s a one coater, but I used more for the ridges to be less visible. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Caronia On-The-Go (in shade)
Caronia On-The-Go (direct sunlight)
Caronia On-The-Go (close-up)
Last one in this set is a shade called Summer Fling.
Caronia Summer Fling
Summer Fling is a coral creme described as “coral red” in the press release. This one went on my nails smoothly. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Caronia Summer Fling (in shade)
Caronia Summer Fling (direct sunlight)
Caronia Summer Fling (close-up)
These are available in all leading department stores, supermarkets, drugstores, and health & beauty shops in the Philippines nationwide. You can also check out other shades from their core collection online. They also carry some hand and foot care items.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Sancion Angel Zakzuk
Hi guys! currently, I’m in the middle of my vacation back to my country of birth – the Philippines. I’ve been shopping for souvenirs and polishes to bring home with me. I’ll be featuring some local brands shortly, but today I have another shade from the Brazilian brand Sancion Angel. This shade is from one of their 2 recently launched Chromic (Chrome) lines. Names in these collections are selected by the winners of a competition they ran a while back. This shade is named after one of the collection names itself, Zakzuk.
Sancion Angel Zakzuk
Zakzuk is a purple shade that’s more foil than chrome to me, although a lot of people use the term interchangeably. Chrome, to me, has a mirror-like property. The finish is smooth and reminds me of aluminum foil pretty much. Foils are the same except it is more scattered instead of linear. Since the finish is not one smooth seamless pool of color (I spotted lots of tightly packed silver bits in a sea of purple), I classify it as a foil. Not a bad thing really. This one went on smoothly on my nails and dried super fast. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Sancion Angel Zakzuk (in shade)
Sancion Angel Zakzuk (lighting changed)
Sancion Angel Zakzuk (direct sunlight)
Sancion Angel Zakzuk (close-up)
Do you own any chromes?
They have a lot of other shades from several different lines. As far as I know, they are only accessible through their website along with a few others unless you live close to a local store in Brazil that carries their line.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Loyalty Franken
Hey y’all! Today I have a shade that I frankened recently. I was gifted 88 bottles to franken with and I started as soon as I got them in my hands. I wanted to create a holographic line with shades representing and named after my co-worker friends whose nails I regularly paint. Along the way, some shades didn’t turn out the way I envisioned them to. The result? Another line of holographic shades! The first one from that series is called Loyalty.
Loyalty
Loyalty is a true blue holographic shade. I made this using a mixture of Color Club Worth The Risque? and Milani Bolting Blue. The holographic property in this shade is scattered. I would’ve used China Glaze OMG or GOSH Holographic to make this shade linear, but I don’t own either of them. Either way, I’m very satisfied with the outcome. Pictures simply can’t show what I see in person. This shade is pretty opaque. Shown is one coat with no top coat.
Loyalty (in shade)
Loyalty (direct sunlight)
Loyalty (different angle)
Loyalty (close-up)
Loyalty (direct sunlight again)
Loyalty (last shot)
What do you guys think? It’s more holographic than what the picture shows for sure. I just can’t quite capture it in pictures unfortunately.
Sancion Angel Satine
Today’s post features another shade from the Brazilian brand Sancion Angel. This particular shade is from their Flocados (Flakies) line, which is also known as the Broadway Collection. The shades are named after leading ladies in Broadway musicals and this one’s named Satine, after the leading lady in Moulin Rouge. I swatched this over Fright Night Claw Sinister, a black creme, as flakie shades aren’t really anything on their own.
Sancion Angel Satine
Wow. I didn’t keep my hopes too high because I really wasn’t sure if this would turn out to be a good flakie shade since some flakie shades from other brands have fallen short. The flake effect of this shade is beautiful and totally surprised me. No complaints over here! This is just one thin coat of Satine over one thin coat of Fright Night Claw Sinister. The flakes are abundant and distributed quite evenly on its own during application. You can apply a thicker layer or multiple layers for more flakes. Formula was just of the right consistency to spread it on over the base shade evenly. It dries pretty fast. Shown is with no top coat.
Sancion Angel Satine (in shade)
Sancion Angel Satine (direct sunlight)
Sancion Angel Satine (close-up)
Sancion Angel Satine (different angle)
They have a lot of other shades from several different lines. As far as I know, they are only accessible through their website along with a few others unless you live close to a local store in Brazil that carries their line.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Zoya Smoke & Mirrors Collection
I’m looking forward to seeing these shades in person. Here’s Zoya’s offering for Fall 2011.
Zoya Smoke & Mirrors Collection
smoke and mirrors
…beautiful illusions
Zoya Nail Polish presents 12 enticing and mysterious new colors for fall 2011.
Zoya Smoke Collection
Jana (ZP564) – smoky mauve quartz cream
Petra (ZP565) – smoky eggplant mauve cream
Codie (ZP566) – smoky brown taupe cream
Anja (ZP567) – smoky palatinate purple cream
Cynthia(ZP568) – smoky Prussian blue cream
Dree (ZP569) – smoky camouflage green cream
Zoya Mirrors Collection
Nimue (ZP570) – smoky rich thistle metallic
Marina (ZP571) – smoky steel blue metallic
Tao (ZP572) – smoky slate gray metallic
Yara (ZP573) – sparkly olive green metallic
Neeka (ZP574) – sparkly amethyst purple metallic
Jem (ZP575) – sparkly fandango pink metallic
Zoya is the new color of fashion…The new Zoya smoke & mirrors colors were designed and inspired by top fashion designers and beauty icons.
Ultra long-wearing, glossy nail lacquers by Zoya are free of harmful industrial chemicals like toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, resin, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are known to cause cancer and birth defects.
Find Zoya smoke & mirrors as well as over 300 other high-fashion Zoya shades at www.zoya.com. As always, each and every Zoya color is made for beautiful women so we name them after beautiful women.
smoke & mirrors by Zoya – available July 15, 2011 (USA)
Sug. Retail $8.00 per 0.5 fl. oz. bottle (US)
China Glaze METRO Collection
Here’s the latest news from China Glaze.
EDIT: Swatches here.
China Glaze Metro Collection
URBAN EDGINESS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
China Glaze Introduces 12 New Purely Pigmented Crèmes, High Coverage Glitters and Intense Shine Shimmers for Fall 2011
Los Angeles, CA– (April 2011): City living boasts excitement, a cool, edginess and confidence that oozes from fashion forward women like none other. City loving celebs like Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Ivanka Trump, Rosario Dawson and Jaime King have style to spare and their fashion sense trickles down to everyone from working women to college kids. This Fall, China Glaze has captured the big city feel in 12 sexy, sophisticated shades that are on trend, exciting and will be on every fashion maven’s “must have” list. Whether you prefer downtown funk or uptown class, China Glaze’s METRO collection pulls together ensembles and will undoubtedly make heads turn! Colors in this collection include:
- China Glaze Skyscraper
· Skyscraper: A sparkling, glitter blue reminiscent of the sky over the city.
- China Glaze CG In The City
· CG in the City: Glittering dusty purple, bronze and silver multi-tonal glitter, perfect for a pop of edge from West side to East side.
- China Glaze Urban-Night
· Urban-Night: Exactly what you need for a night on the town – rich purple crème.
- China Glaze Traffic Jam
· Traffic Jam: Stop traffic with a breathtaking, raspberry pink crème.
- China Glaze City Siren
· City Siren: The perfect deep, red crème to match any outfit.
- China Glaze Loft-y Ambitions
· Loft-y Ambitions: Burgundy shimmer and cocktail hour – nothing better.
- China Glaze Brownstone
· Brownstone: Burnt terracotta crème mirrors the quaint townhouses of the city.
- China Glaze Midtown Magic
· Midtown Magic: Burgundy base with flecks of gold shimmer captures the latest fashion trend.
- China Glaze Street Chic
· Street Chic: This gorgeous beige crème is the perfect go to shade letting your clothes do the talking.
- China Glaze Concrete Catwalk
· Concrete Catwalk: Steel grey crème is amazing for a chic mani.
- China Glaze Westside Warrior
· Westside Warrior: For the trendsetting woman this camo green crème is to die for.
- China Glaze Trendsetter
· Trendsetter: Mustard yellow shimmer translates beautifully from hot dogs to nails.
Fall in the City is a magnificent time and China Glaze has interpreted the hues of the urban jungle into their limited edition METRO collection. Escape your everyday and indulge in the city life!
The China Glaze METRO collection will be available in a “Downtown” 6 piece box collection (includes Skyscraper, Concrete Catwalk, Westside Warrior, Trendsetter, Loft-y Ambitions and Midtown Magic), an “Uptown” 6 piece box collection (includes CG in the City, Urban-Night, Traffic Jam, City Siren and Street Chic and Brownstone), a brand new, amazing 3D 12 piece counter display, a 36 piece rack display, and as open stock colors.
China Glaze Metro Collection Uptown Set
China Glaze Metro Collection Downtown Set
China Glaze is free of DBP, toluene, and added formaldehyde.
China Glaze nail lacquers are available through salons and professional beauty supply stores nationwide. For more information, visit: www.chinaglaze.com or follow China Glaze on Twitter: twitter.com/ChinaGlaze
China Glaze is a division of American International Industries.
About American International Industries
For nearly 40 years, AII has been the leading manufacturer and worldwide distributor of innovative, quality beauty and skin care products for men and women. Our product lines include Ardell, Andrea, Body Drench, Bye Bye Blemish, Checi, China Glaze, Clean+ Easy, Clubman/Pinaud, Duo, European Secrets, EzFlow, Fright Night, Gena, GiGi, Gypsy Lash, IBD, Jeris-Lustray, No Tweeze/Micro Tweeze, ‘N Rage, Prolinc, RAW, Seche, SuperNail, Surgi-Care, Waterworks, Winning Nails, Woltra, Woody’s, and Youthair. For more information, visit our website: www.aiibeauty.com.
Misa Wine Burgundy
Okay guys, today’s post involves a shade that I got from a swap over at MUA. It was sent over as an extra, which I am extremely surprised and grateful for. There are lots of nice ladies over there that I’ve swapped with. Just do your research, be courteous, and read the feedback for a lovely swapping experience over there. There are a few bad apples, just like anywhere else, but don’t let this hold you back from a possible wonderful swapping experience. I haven’t been swaplifted yet, so I have no complaints about my experience on MUA swapping-wise.
This is my ver first Misa lacquer. I’ve seen and read about the brand. I never got around to getting any though. I tend to want to see them in person before purchasing really. The bottle cap didn’t fare as well as the bottle itself during shipping, but no harm done! It’s still intact and I have since then decanted it into an empty nail polish bottle. I got lots of those a few weeks back for frankening.
Misa Wine Burgundy
Wine Burgundy is a beautiful deep, dark red shimmer. Thank goodness not a lot of it leaked. I absolutely LOVE this shade! Formula for this is nice and it went onto my nails smoothly. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Misa Wine Burgundy (in shade)
Misa Wine Burgundy (direct sunlight)
Misa Wine Burgundy (close-up)
Sorry about the blurry close-up swatch picture. I just can’t get the lighting right with this one. I tried so many different shots and this is the best one that came out without the flash.
Have you tried any Misa shades? Any feedback? I’m looking to get more after this shade started my love affair with the brand.
