Pure Ice First Time
Hey guys! It’s the middle of the week again. Today’s post is on one of the discontinued shades by Pure Ice. The new shades look so pretty, but this is just as deserving to have a post on. Here’s Pure Ice First Time.
Pure Ice First Time
First Time is a pretty green frosty metallic shade. Some may say it’s metallic, but nooooo…..I disagree. Metallics never give me this much of streakiness, so it’s a frost as well for me. Grab this shade while you still can. Shown is 2 generous coats with no top coat.
Pure Ice First Time (in shade)
Pure Ice First Time (direct sunlight)
Pure Ice First Time (close-up)
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Zoya Lovely Collection
Here’s what’s in store for Spring from Zoya….
EDIT: Swatches here.
Zoya Lovely
Beauty is a lovely state of mind
Zoya Lovely Collection
Lovely, just LOVELY!
Spring is awash in six soft and lovely new Zoya shades including three dewy metallics and three fresh blooms of cream. Poetic in nature, this collection is sure to capture the beauty of the season like no other….
Zoya Lovely – SPRING 2013
GeiGei (ZP651) – Blushing Cherry Blossom Pink Metallic – Full Coverage (Originally designed for Zang Toi/SS13)
Julie (ZP650) – Soft Wisteria Purple Metallic – Full Coverage (Originally designed for Zang Toi/SS13)
Piaf (ZP652) – Fresh Forsythia Yellow Metallic – Full Coverage (Originally designed for Fashion Designer Zang Toi)
Jacqueline (ZP654) – Perfect Magnolia Nude Cream – Full Coverage (Originally designed for Peter Som/SS13)
Blu (ZP653) – Lucky Hyacinth Blue Cream – Full Coverage
Neely (ZP655) – Earliest Spring Green Cream – Full Coverage (Originally designed for Peter Som/SS13)
Shipping January 01, 2013
Ultra long-wearing, nail lacquers by Zoya are BIG5FREE – all formulas are completely free of harmful industrial chemicals such as toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are known to cause cancer and birth defects.
Zoya Lovely $8 (US)
Follow the Zoya Nail Polish and Treatments Blog and stay tuned on Twitter (@Zoyanailpolish) and Facebook for release date updates.
Hashtags: #ZoyaLovely and #nailpolish
N.Y.C. Tribeca Silver
Hey guys! Today’s post is on a shade that is suitable any time of the year. I think it suits Fall and Winter the best though cause it’s silver. Here’s N.Y.C. Tribeca Silver.
N.Y.C. Tribeca Silver
Tribeca Silver is a beautiful silver shimmer that goes on easily. The finish is more metallic than shimmer really. Formula is a wee bit on the watery side, but it gave me no problems at all during application. One coat is too sheer. It’s sheer enough to use it over another shade when applied thinly. In the direct sunlight shot, you can see how sheer it is still when it’s more than just one coat. Shown is 2 coats with no top coat.
N.Y.C. Tribeca Silver (in shade)
N.Y.C. Tribeca Silver (direct sunlight)
N.Y.C. Tribeca Silver (close-up)
This can be found in chain drugstores and mass merchandisers nationwide.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Zoya Ornate Swatches
Zoya certainly outdid themselves with this Holiday’s collection. They’ve never done any holographic shades to my knowledge, so you can imagine my surprise when I saw that 3 out of the 6 shades have a holographic finish! It’s not a super strong holographic effect, but it certainly is pretty and something new from them that I welcome with open arms. More please, I say! Swatches below are shown in the order of the press release.
First up is Ziv.
Zoya Ziv
Ziv is described on their site as the following: “A full coverage, yellow-toned metallic gold foil with silver highlights and warm gold flake glitter accents. Try this for an extremely shiny, reflective, and eye-catching luxe gold nail.” Gold is a typical Holiday color that would naturally find a spot in a Holiday collection. No surprise there really, but the formula is simply exquisite. It glided on smoothly and dries really fast. Gotta love that. And the warm gold flake glitter accents in it? LOVE it. Shown is 2 coats with no top coat.
Zoya Ziv (in shade)
Zoya Ziv (direct sunlight)
Zoya Ziv (close-up)
Next is Electra.
Zoya Electra
Electra is described on their site as the following: “A micro fine diamond holographic glitter mixed with large silver holographic bar tinsel in a clear base. Electra can be worn alone, as a festive french tip or layered over any polish to add a unique hologram glitter effect.” Electra is basically a holographic bar glitter shade. It’s a shade that some will hate and some will love. It looks best layered over something else, but for swatching purposes I just left it as is. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Zoya Electra (in shade)
Zoya Electra (direct sunlight)
Zoya Electra (close-up)
Next is a crowd favorite called Storm.
Zoya Storm
Storm is described on their site as the following: “A full coverage, holiday black with a high concentration of micro fine diamond holographic glitter. Storm is elegant, powerful and versatile – try it as a french tip over Aurora or Blaze!” Storm is black shade with holographic glitter. While it’s not a full on holographic shade, it’s still something different that we certainly would love to see more of from Zoya! In shade, it looks like a cool black shade with some silver glitter. The full effect is seen under direct sunlight. Shown is one thick coat with no top coat.
Zoya Storm (in shade)
Zoya Storm (direct sunlight)
Zoya Storm (close-up)
Moving on, we have Blaze.
Zoya Blaze
Blaze is described on their site as the following: “A full coverage, cool-toned medium mulberry red with a high concentration of micro fine diamond holographic glitter. The multidimensional holographic glitter adds complexity and depth to this vampy red.” Blaze is another holographic glitter shade in this collection. It’s the deep raspberry red version of Storm. And just like Storm, the holographic effect is certainly best seen under direct sunlight. It’s still very pretty under shade. Shown is 2 coats with no top coat.
Zoya Blaze (in shade)
Zoya Blaze (direct sunlight)
Zoya Blaze (another angle)
Zoya Blaze (close-up)
Another holographic shade up next is Aurora.
Zoya Aurora
Aurora is described on their site as the following: “A full coverage, medium sugarplum purple flecked with a high concentration of micro fine diamond holographic glitter. The rainbow holographic sparkle turns this plum purple into something truly captivating.” Aurora is the purple version of Storm and Blaze. And just like those 2, it’s best seen under direct sunlight. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Zoya Aurora (in shade)
Zoya Aurora (direct sunlight)
Zoya Aurora (close-up)
Last in this collection is a shade called Logan.
Logan is described on their site as the following: “A full coverage, yellow-toned forest green with dense, foil-like yellow-gold and blue-green duochrome shimmer! Rich color, a sparkling finish and a subtle duochrome effect make this green very special. Pair it with a Zoya Ziv (gold) tip for an extra dash of holiday flare!” A Holiday green is another standard shade in a Holiday collection, but it’s one that I never get tired of really. I mean, I don’t think a Holiday collection would be complete without at the very least a red, a gold and a green…..right? While this shade isn’t really that far off from lots of shades I have, I’m glad that it’s not just a straight up shimmer. Formula is great and it dries very fast. Shown is one thick coat with no top coat.
Zoya Logan (in shade)
Zoya Logan (direct sunlight)
Zoya Logan (close-up)
I love this collection as a whole. I’m not a huge fan of Electra really and I thought that maybe they could’ve made a silver holographic glitter shade instead, but I can’t complain. If holographic shades is the direction Zoya is heading towards – I’m all for it.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
nails inc. “Shades of Gray” Nail Polish Trend
A few options from Nails Inc. for this ongoing trend….
nails inc. in Cambridge Terrace & The Thames
Are your shades of gray light or dark? Take them from one extreme to the other with these two gorgeous colors from nails inc. Choose from Cambridge Terrace, a sweet, shimmering silver, or The Thames, a deep, brooding charcoal. Named after iconic UK destinations, these polishes are professionally formulated and catwalk inspired with an exceptionally glossy long-lasting finish.
nails inc. Cambridge Terrace
nails inc. The Thames
Price: $9.50 each, Available at Sephora and on Sephora.com
I own a few of nails inc. shades in my entire collection and they’re pretty good. They last a decent amount of time on my nails and I find the formula pretty consistent and easy to apply. Cambridge Terrace is definitely right up my alley – a true metallic shade!
Zoya Ornate Collection
The latest buzz that I’ve been excited about in the nail polish world? Zoya’s upcoming Holiday Collection. Check out the press release below.
EDIT: Swatches here.
It’s time to celebrate… so make sure you celebrate in style!
Zoya Ornate Collection
The NEW Zoya Ornate Collection is the perfect to decorate your nails with stunning jewel tone colors and special effect pigments this season. Featuring six stunning, glittering, crystal shades in our new Power Pigment Full Coverage Formula. Superior coverage and dynamic color in one. All in the long-wearing, toxin free (BIG5FREE) formula you love… Each one is as beautiful as the next.
Zoya WINTER/HOLIDAY 2012/13: ORNATE Collection
Blaze (ZP641) – Cranberry Glitter Glam Crystal – Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage
Electra (ZP642) – Holographic Tinsel Special Effect- wear it alone or layer it for extra drama
Ziv (ZP644) – Gold Foil Glitter Crystal – Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage
Storm (ZP645) – Black with Multi Color Crystal Shimmer – Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage
Aurora (ZP646) – Plum with Multi Color Crystal Shimmer – Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage
Logan (ZP647) – Green Foil Glitter Crystal – Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage
ZOYA IS THE NEW COLOR OF FASHION!
Ultra long-wearing, glossy nail lacquers by Zoya are BIG5FREE – all formulas are completely free of harmful industrial chemicals such as toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are known to cause cancer and birth defects.
Find over 300 other Zoya shades at www.zoya.com. Each and every name has a color as unique as the women who inspired it.
$8.00 ea. US. Shipping October 15, 2012.
Find Zoya Ornate on Zoya.com.
Sally Hansen Bride To Be
Hey Guys! Happy Monday! It’s back to work and a few days away from the start of Guild Wars 2. I am so excited! It’s been a while that I am so into a game. Granted I’m not that good at it right now, but I’ll get better as time goes on! 
Today’s post is on a shade that makes me think of Medieval Knight armor. Here’s Sally Hansen Bride To Be.
Sally Hansen Bride To Be
Bride To Be is a pretty silver metallic shimmer. It applied smoothly and dried pretty fast. I don’t see it as a bridal shade though, so the name confused me a bit. But it’s a great shade to have still. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Bride To Be (in shade)
Bride To Be (direct sunlight)
Bride To Be (close-up)
This should be available generally wherever Sally Hansen is retailed.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Lakme True Wear Twilight Mauve 103
Hola! It’s almost Friday once again! Time sure flies by fast these days. Today’s post is on another shade that my Didi brought back for me from her recent trip to India. Here’s Lakme True Wear Twilight Mauve 103.
Lakme True Wear Twilight Mauve 103
Twilight Mauve 103 is a very pretty mauve shimmer that has a slightly foil metallic finish. The color is almost like a dusty purple. Formula was smooth and decent. It dried pretty fast. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Lakme True Wear Twilight Mauve 103 (in shade)
Lakme True Wear Twilight Mauve 103 (direct sunlight)
Lakme True Wear Twilight Mauve 103 (close-up)
Not bad, eh?
Nicole by OPI Fall 2012 Target Exclusives
Accessorize with Lacquer!
Nicole by OPI Launches Five NEW Fall Shades, Exclusively at Target
Nicole by OPI announces five new nail lacquers to be sold exclusively at Target this fall. With richly pigmented formulas in shimmering shades of deep blue, gold, purple, mauve and green, these five hues can be worn as the ultimate accessory to the season’s hottest styles, from military-inspired jackets and heavier brocades to micro floral prints and leather.
“Nicole by OPI is excited to bring the fashion-forward Target guest new lacquers for the fall season,” remarks Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “Not only do the shades add the final touch to runway trends, the shimmery finish adds elegance and depth to these trendy colors.
The five new lacquers include:
Nicole by OPI For Gold Times Sake
Go on and try on this gold…
Nicole by OPI Iris My Case
Because this purple is amazing.
Nicole by OPI Just Busta Mauve
You will want to put on your dancing shoes to wear this one.
Nicole by OPI If the Blue Fits…
This blue fits all!
Nicole by OPI Mer-Maid for Each Other
This green is so hot it was made just for you!
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. These new Target exclusive shades will be available August 2012 for $7.04 each at select Target locations nationwide and online at Target.com.
For more information, visit nicolebyopi.com. Follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter @NicoleByOPI and become a Facebook fan!
Lakme True Wear Color Crush 01
Hey guys! The weekend is fast approaching and this has been a relatively unproductive week for me. It gives me a chance to catch up on other things. Unfortunately, polish swatching is not one. I may get some done this weekend hopefully. Today, I have another shade from Lakme of India. Here’s Lakme True Wear Color Crush 01.
Lakme True Wear Color Crush 01
This particular shade didn’t have a name really. Just a number (01) and it is part of their True Wear Color Crush Collection. It’s a beautiful gold metallic shimmer shade. Formula is decent. It applied nicely and it dries pretty fast. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Lakme True Wear Color Crush 01 (in shade)
Lakme True Wear Color Crush 01 (direct sunlight)
Lakme True Wear Color Crush 01 (close-up)
Beautiful, eh? Thank you again to my beautiful, wise Didi for picking this up for me on her last trip to India. ♥
Lakme True Wear Tarun Tahiliani 20
Hey guys! Happy Friday! Today’s post covers an international brand again. This time, I have a brand that I’ve never encountered before. My Didi (older sister in Hindi) brought it back for me from her last trip to India. I’m so lucky to have such wonderful co-worker siblings in my life. They put up with all my eccentricity, babbling and endless bursts of baking madness. Here’s Lakme True Wear Tarun Tahiliani 20.
Lakme True Wear Tarun Tahiliani 20
Tarun Tahiliani 20 is a shade from the Lakme True Wear Tarun Tahiliani Collection. Tarun Tahiliani is a famous designer in India. Just like how Sally Hansen has some designer collections, so does Indian cosmetics brand Lakme. Tarun Tahiliani 20 is a very pretty pink shade that has a glass fleck-ish shimmer. Or maybe foil metallic like the Zoya Surf Collection ones. Formula for this one is decent and it dried pretty fast. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Lakme True Wear Tarun Tahiliani 20 (in shade)
Lakme True Wear Tarun Tahiliani 20 (direct sunlight)
Lakme True Wear Tarun Tahiliani 20 (close-up)
I love this shade. While I do have some other shades similar to it in my stash, this holds a special place in my heart cause my wonderful Didi brought it back for me all the way from her land of birth. ♥
Zoya Surf Swatches
I loved this entire collection based on the press release and man…..it did not disappoint in person! Here are the swatches in the order listed in the press release.
First up is Carly.
Zoya Carly
Carly is described on their site as the following: “Very rich, bold, red-toned dark purple with iridescent red and silver metallic shimmer and a dense foil finish. The bold color and sparkling foil finish make Carly like gift wrap for your nails.” This shade went on very smoothly on my nails. It’s pretty opaque and dried really fast. Shown is one coat with no top coat.
Zoya Carly (in shade)
Zoya Carly (direct sunlight)
Zoya Carly (close-up)
Next is my favorite in this set, Kimber.
Zoya Kimber
Kimber is described on their site as the following: “Rich, bright and saturated medium magenta pink with strong gold metallic shimmer and a foil-like finish. A huge hit of color and a shot of shiny gold metal make this polish look electric.” This shade went on very smoothly on my nails as well. It’s very opaque and dried really fast. Shown is one coat with no top coat.
Zoya Kimber (in shade)
Zoya Kimber (direct sunlight)
Zoya Kimber (close-up)
Next up is a shade called Rory.
Zoya Rory
Rory is described on their site as the following: “Medium mauve pink with lilac tones, gold and silver reflective metallic shimmer accents, and a foil-like finish. The gentle color of this polish gives the foil finish a softened appearance.” Formula for this is beautiful. It’s very opaque as well and dried really fast. Shown is one coat with no top coat.
Zoya Rory (in shade)
Zoya Rory (direct sunlight)
Zoya Rory (close-up)
Then we have one that bears a unique name to me, Myrta.
Zoya Myrta
Myrta is described on their site as the following: “Warm medium orange coral with red undertone, gold and silver metallic shimmer, and a foil-like finish. The coral color of Myrta is soft, but the foil finish gives it added warmth and glow.” This shade is the least opaque in this set. It still applied nicely on my nails and dried really fast. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Zoya Myrta (in shade)
Zoya Myrta (direct sunlight)
Zoya Myrta (close-up)
Moving on, we have Meg.
Zoya Meg
Meg is described on their site as the following: “Light yellow-toned mermaid green with heavy gold and silver metallic shimmer and a sparkling foil finish. A light and fresh looking green with added sparkle and shine.” This shade is not as opaque as the other shades in this set, but it’s not as sheer as Myrta. It’s a cross between the other shades and Myrta in terms of opacity. Formula is decent and it dried really fast. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Zoya Meg (in shade)
Zoya Meg (direct sunlight)
Zoya Meg (close-up)
Lastly, we have Zuza.
Zoya Zuza
Zuza is described on their site as the following: “Deep, saturated, oceanic turquoise with gold and silver metallic shimmer and a foil-like finish. A beachy, colorful, foil-like shade with the perfect balance between blue and green.” This shade is simply stunning. Definitely one of my favorites in this collection. It is very opaque and dried really fast. Shown is one coat with no top coat.
Zoya Zuza (in shade)
Zoya Zuza (direct sunlight)
Zoya Zuza (close-up)
I loved their summer collections last year, especially the one with the same type of finish as these (Sunshine Collection). I described the shimmery finish as something of a foil metallic really. The one that surprised me the most is Zuza. So stunning and pigmented. But then again, they all are.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Pure Ice Silver Mercedes
Hey guys! Today’s my birthday and I am officially out of my 20′s. It’s not bad at all and I’m taking it in stride. I chose this shade to feature today cause it seems fitting for the occasion. Silver also reminds me of bullets in particular and the best times I’ve had recently has been at the shooting range. Here’s Pure Ice Silver Mercedes.
Pure Ice Silver Mercedes
Silver Mercedes is a bright metallic silver shade that I think is edging up to be my favorite silver ever so far. There’s brush strokes, but it’s not like applying a frost at all. Application was painless and it glided onto my nails ever so smoothly. It’s stunningly beautiful. Shown is 2 coats with no top coat.
Pure Ice Silver Mercedes (in shade)
Pure Ice Silver Mercedes (direct sunlight)
Pure Ice Silver Mercedes (close-up)
What do you guys think?
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Zoya Beach & Surf Collection
What’s Zoya cooking up for the summer? Read on!
EDIT: Beach swatches here and Surf swatches here.
“Announcing Summer 2012 nail color by Zoya Nail Polish!
BEACH and SURF dive into the color…
Zoya Beach & Surf Collection
Summer 2012 is going to be a super stylish season for nails with the latest offering of nail polish collections, Beach and Surf, from the new color of fashion, Zoya! This new splash of color, designed by the Zoya color experts, is kissed by sea and sand translating beautifully onto the nail in the famous, full-coverage Zoya formula.
Dive into the creamy shades of the Zoya Beach Collection or the shimmering sea foils of the Zoya Surf Collection. The choice is yours – this color palette is sure to be a splash!
Zoya BEACH Collection
Reagan (ZP614) – deep cerise pink cream
Lara (ZP615) – vivid cerise pink cream
Shelby (ZP616) – soft pinky pink cream
Arizona (ZP617) – soft coral orange cream
Tracie (ZP618) – sea grass metallic
Wednesday (ZP619) – soft aqua cream
Zoya SURF Collection
Rory (ZP620) – lotus pink foil metallic
Carly (ZP621) – thalia purple foil metallic
Kimber (ZP622) – magenta pink foil metallic
Myrta (ZP623) – coral orange foil metallic
Meg (ZP624) – mermaid green foil metallic
Zuza (ZP625) – aquamarine foil metallic
Zoya is the new color of fashion…
The Zoya BEACH and SURF collection was designed and inspired by resort runways and tropical get-a-ways.
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 BEACH and SURF as well as over 300 other ultra high-fashion Zoya shades at http://www.zoya.com. As always, each and every Zoya color is made for women so we name them after women.
BEACH and SURF by Zoya Nail Polish – 12 new colors:
Available April 1, 2012 (USA)
www.zoya.com
Sug. Retail $8.00 per 0.5 fl.oz. bottle (US).”
Any of these shades calling out to you? I think I’m gonna need the entire Surf Collection for sure! Lara and Arizona are the most promising looking ones from the Beach Collection. I guess we’ll have to wait and see!
Pure Ice Crackle Duo Green & Silver
Pure Ice Crackle Duo Green & Silver is simply perfect for St. Patty’s Day! Today, I went to the gun range with my co-worker friends John and Willie. It was a lot of fun and I actually did better than I thought I would! One of the things I learned that relates to this blog is that some of the ammo are coated with lacquer to prevent rust. It was this military green jelly-ish creme shade….I actually thought about a shade I swatched earlier that would’ve been more attractive (but I took it off cause I didn’t want my flashy nails to distract people at the gun range). Pure Ice Crackle Duo Green & Silver consists of the green shimmer shade, known as Not Now or 511CP, and the silver crackle shade called Lighting Strikes.
Pure Ice Not Now
See what a pretty green shimmer this shade is? Formula for this one is a bit watery, but it self-leveled at 2 coats. It’s actually a very nice green honestly. Shown is 2 coats with no top coat.
Pure Ice Not Now (in shade)
Pure Ice Not Now (direct sunlight)
Pure Ice Not Now (close-up)
Pure Ice Not Now (lighting changed)
Lightning Strikes is a beautiful silver crackle shade with a metallic finish. I applied it right when I figured that Not Now is completely dry.
Pure Ice Not Now with Lightning Strikes (in shade)
Pure Ice Not Now with Lightning Strikes (direct sunlight)
Pure Ice Not Now with Lightning Strikes (close-up)
I like this duo a lot. I’d love it if the base shade isn’t as watery as it is. Hopefully that’s the way it is in the batch of polish I ended up receiving and others will have ones with a less watery formula.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Milani Signature Gold
Hey guys! Hope y’all are having a great week so far. Today’s post is a beautiful shade from Milani. It’s another one of their new shades for Spring. Here’s Milani Signature Gold.
Milani Signature Gold
I adore this shade. I say that because I don’t own that many metallics and certainly nothing close to this gold one. I have some that are cooler or warmer, but nothing even close to this. It applied onto my nails smoothly and it’s pretty eye-catching. And an added bonus? It’s a one coater. Shown is one coat with no top coat.
Milani Signature Gold (in shade)
Milani Signature Gold (direct shade)
Milani Signature Gold (close-up)
This shade should now be available in retail stores where Milani is sold. Otherwise, try nabbing it online on their website.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Pure Ice Crackle Duo Silver Glitter & Teal
Here’s another duo set from Pure Ice. I like this crackle shade a lot and the base glitter shade is pretty awesome on its own. Pure Ice Crackle Duo Silver Glitter & Teal consists of the silver glitter shade, known as Beware or 537CP, and the teal crackle shade called Strike A Pose.
Pure Ice Beware
Beware is a silver glitter shade. It is made up of plain silver glitter in a clear base. The silver glitter is pretty packed, giving pretty good coverage on my nails. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Pure Ice Beware (in shade)
Pure Ice Beware (direct sunlight)
Pure Ice Beware (close-up)
Strike A Pose is a teal crackle shade with a metallic finish. It dries a little bit dull, not shiny. I applied it right when I figured that Beware is completely dry after a coat of top coat and it performed nicely.
Pure Ice Beware with Strike A Pose (in shade)
Pure Ice Beware with Strike A Pose (direct sunlight)
Pure Ice Beware with Strike A Pose (close-up)
I really like the teal crackle a lot!
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Zoya True Swatches
Today’s post features swatches from one of Zoya’s latest collection, True. This 6-piece collection has some great and not so great shades according to my taste. I’ll be showing the swatches according to the order of the press release.
First up is Cho.
Zoya Cho
When I think of the name Cho, I think of the character Cho Chang from the Harry Potter series and this shade doesn’t describe her to me. It just doesn’t look like a Cho really, but the slight shimmer in this was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed it so much that even when the clouds moved in to block the sunlight when taking pictures didn’t bother me at all. Formula was pleasant to work with. Shown is 2 coats with no top coat.
Zoya Cho (in shade)
Zoya Cho (direct sunlight)
Zoya Cho (close-up)
Next up is Farah.
Zoya Farah
Described as a “full coverage, latte beige cream”, I like Farah the least from all 6 in this collection. It’s very plain and I’m not a huge fan of nude shades in general. And this doesn’t have that shimmer Cho has! This one behaved relatively well during application. Shown is 2 coats with no top coat.
Zoya Farah (in shade)
Zoya Farah (direct sunlight)
Zoya Farah (close-up)
Then we have Bevin.
Zoya Bevin
I’ve never met a Bevin yet, but the name makes me think of a guy rather than a girl. But there are a lot of names like that these days. This shade is not one of my favorites from this collection and formula was a bit trickier to work with for me, at least compared to all 5 other shades. Shown is 2 coats with no top coat.
Zoya Bevin (in shade)
Zoya Bevin (direct sunlight)
Zoya Bevin (close-up)
Next up is my favorite in the collection, Skylar.
Zoya Skylar
O HAI! Wow! What a beauty! I am absolutely head over heels in love with this shade! Now we’re talking Zoya! This shade is described as a “full coverage, silvered slate blue metallic” and that’s pretty close. The finish is quite mesmerizing really. Skykar is a blue shade with silver shimmer. Simply gorgeous. Formula was great and self-leveling. Any patchy spots evened out with the second coat. Shown is 2 coats with no top coat.
Zoya Skylar (in shade)
Zoya Skylar (direct sunlight)
Zoya Skylar (close-up)
Then we have a shade called Tru.
Zoya Tru
Tru is described as a “full coverage, gilded purple orchid metallic” and “orchid” is definitely the perfect word to describe this shade. Tru is vibrant and a very feminine shade. The shimmer in it is like reddish gold. This one’s self-leveling too during application. Shown is 2 coats with no top coat.
Zoya Tru (in shade)
Zoya Tru (direct sunlight)
Zoya Tru (close-up)
Zoya Tru (lighting changed)
Last, we have Lotus.
Zoya Lotus
I find Lotus to be the dusty version of Tru. I don’t like it as much simply for the fact that the shimmer is less visible and it’s smokier. I like my shimmers really visible or else what’s the point? It’s a muted purple with shimmer that looks pink and shows up better under sunlight. Formula is good to work with. Shown is 2 coats with no top coat.
Zoya Lotus (in shade)
Zoya Lotus (direct sunlight)
Zoya Lotus (close-up)
Not bad overall. If I had to pick 2, it’d be Sylar and Tru. Which ones are you guys getting?
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Zoya True Collection
I didn’t think much about their last collection since they’re pretty plain for me, but Zoya’s back in the game with one of their Spring 2012 offering….the True Collection.
EDIT: Swatches here.
Zoya True Collection
2012 SPRING NAIL COLOR by ZOYA
TRUE
HONESTLY, BEAUTIFUL COLOR
A fresh bloom of dewy color. Inspired by the runway looks of top designers this collection features slightly muted and unexpected spring shades in six easy to wear, full-coverage creams and metallics.
Cho (ZP585): Full coverage, vanilla shimmer metallic
Farah (ZP586): Full coverage, latte beige cream
Bevin (ZP587): Full coverage, pale sage green cream
Skylar (ZP588): Full coverage, silvered slate blue metallic
Tru (ZP589): Full coverage, gilded purple orchid metallic
Lotus (ZP590): Full coverage, light lotus purple metallic
Zoya is the new color of fashion…
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.
Sug. Retail $8.00 per 0.5 fl.oz. bottle (US)
Available January 13, 2012
Find Zoya TRUE as well as over 300 other ultra high-fashion Zoya shades at www.zoya.com.
As always, each and every Zoya color is made for women so we name them after women.
Mattese Elite Semipermanent Liquid Liner
If you’re looking for the perfect liquid liner, this post is for you. I recently got the opportunity to try this and it exceeded all my expectations out of a liquid liner! Enter Mattese Elite Liquid Liner.
Mattese Elite Liquid Liner
First look, they seem very pigmented. I’m happy to report that they indeed are when put to the test. They have a skinny brush applicator to get the product on nicely and with pretty good precision. Formula is on the thin side, which helps with great and easy application. I simply can’t rave enough about this product. It goes on really easy, just nice and smooth, and it lasts forever. What do I mean by forever? The product never claimed to be waterproof, just semipermanent. I don’t know what semipermanent really means but let me tell y’all, this product will NOT budge at all once it’s on! It would not come off even one bit! I tried water then soap and water and nada. Not even a little bit came off. I was shocked! Pleasantly shocked really and for the price tag it comes with? $12 isn’t that bad at all. Great color payoff and lasting power definitely justifies that. It stayed on for a whole 12 hours with no wear at all. Swatch below shown is for the shades Teal and Pink. I did a thinner then a wider application.
Mattese Elite Liquid Liner Swatches
You can score this beauty in several other shades as well on their webpage or if you live in the wonderful state of New York, you can stop by at any Ricky’s NYC store locations (see here) and see this and other shades for yourself before you buy. Mattese Elite Lip Gloss Wands retails for $12 each before tax.
Direct link to semipermanent liquid liners here.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Jordana Metal Rocks Retractable Eye Liner Pencil
Today’s post features another one of Jordana’s eye cosmetic product. If you read my previous review on their Glitter Rocks Retractable Eye Liner Pencil, I was quite impressed by their eye products so far. This one is even better. Here is their Metal Rocks Retractable Eye Liner Pencil.
Jordana Metal Rocks Retractable Eye Liner Pencil
Jordana Metal Rocks Retractable Eye Liner Pencil (shot to show shade names clearly)
These are described as:
- Retractable – No Sharpening Required
- Silky Smooth Soft Glide Formula
- Creamy, Intense Metallic Shine
- Long-Lasting, East to Use Shimmery Colors
- Made in Germany
I find these to be very easy to use and carry. Formula is much smoother than their Glitter Rocks eye liners. Very nice and it went on very smooth over my waterline. It’s very pigmented and wear for this is excellent. I didn’t have to retouch at all during the whole work days (9AM – 6PM) I’ve tried this product, just like with the Glitter Rocks eye liners. This reminds me more of Jordana’s sister company’s eye liners (Milani Liquif’Eye Metallic Eye Liner Pencil), but it’s not even close to it in terms of a buttery smooth formula (that one glided on sooooo easily). Swatches below are shown for shades above from left to right. For each shade, swatch on the left is one swipe of the eye liner and 2 swipes beside that on the right.
Jordana Metal Rocks Retractable Eye Liner Pencil Swatches
Jordana Metal Rocks Retractable Eye Liner Pencil Swatches (with flash)
These retail for $2.99 each, a great price for eye liners! I’d definitely buy these again when I run out. You can get these on their website or at your local Walgreens. A reader mentioned that Jordana is also available at KMart.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Hard Candy Eye Def Molten Metallic Cream Eyeshadow Miss Enid
I love eye shadows. I love and own colorful palettes even though I rarely use them. I own several palettes and sets. Admittedly, I have always been wary about cream eye shadows. I worry about smearing and how it would look at the crease and such. Naturally, I have my doubts about the product I’m writing about today. Enter Hard Candy Eye Def Molten Metallic Cream Eyeshadow in Miss Enid.
Hard Candy Eye Def Molten Metallic Cream Eyeshadow Miss Enid
This product is described as “A unique molten cream eyeshadow with a unique crease free formula. Gorgeous metallic shades that gives eyes a stunning flash of color.” I swatched it on my arm for you guys to see the difference between one swipe and 2.
Hard Candy Eye Def Molten Metallic Cream Eyeshadow Miss Enid swatch
Hard Candy Eye Def Molten Metallic Cream Eyeshadow Miss Enid swatch (lighting changed)
What I love about this product? The formula is so creamy and luscious! I fell in love with the texture of it. My concern was never the texture of it. My concern was how it holds up after application. I am happy to report that it got excellent marks from me for that. I applied it on my eyelids for a Katy Perry concert back in September and it held up beautifully. It is so pigmented and bold. I applied 2 coats on my eyelids and they lasted throughout the night. It was on my eyes at 2 PM and when I got home at 2 AM, it didn’t smudge at all and barely show any wear. Very impressive! This gold metallic shade goes with a lot of different looks too and can be worn year round.
What I don’t like about this product? Not really much of a negative thing, but I wouldn’t do much more than that due to the potential of flaking with more layers or coats. I tried doing 3 layers or coats on my arm swatch and it started flaking when dried. I used a generous amount for each layer when testing it. You might be able to pull off 3 or more coats if you applied it pretty thin.
This item is available in 10 different shades: Crystal Palace, Golden Earth, Jagged Jade, The Essence Of Envy, Miss Enid, Knockout, Electric, Rose Amour, Fake Bake, and Flash. They retail for about $6 each and are available exclusively at Walmart. For the price, it’s worth it compared to similar items from other brands for more than double the price of this baby!
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Ruby Kisses Silver Bling 112
We got another earthquake Saturday night. This one’s pretty strong. Apparently we’ve had a few that day already and this one hit before the night ended. 5.6 is the final reading given out. This one felt like it lasted longer than I kinda thought earthquakes do. I wasn’t sure how to react too when it happened, but I’m safe and there isn’t that much damage it seems (which is very, very good). I chose a simple shade to reflect my mood of what’s been happening recently and with the Holidays being right around the corner. Here’s Ruby Kisses Silver Bling, also known as 112.
Ruby Kisses Silver Bling 112
Not much is needed to say about this. It’s a pretty white silver foil shade and it does bring on the bling as promised. It went on smoothly and the formula for this is a bit on the thin side. It takes longer to dry than most brands I’ve used, as I’ve mentioned before in my other Ruby Kisses posts. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Ruby Kisses Silver Bling 112 (in shade)
Ruby Kisses Silver Bling 112 (direct sunlight)
Ruby Kisses Silver Bling 112 (close-up)
Ruby Kisses products are available online here. I know that my friend has told me she spotted Ruby Kisses at her local beauty supply stores as well.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
Sally Hansen Fall 2011 Tracy Reese Collection Swatches
About this collection: “Tracy Reese joined forces with Sally Hansen for the eleventh consecutive season to create six bold shades and rich metallics that mirror the designer’s opulent fall aesthetic. On the runway, models wore Complete Salon Manicure in Shiny Penny, a rich bronze, and Oxide, a gunmetal grey.”
First up, I have Oxide.
Sally Hansen Oxide
Um, no words can describe how I feel about this silver grey shade. Oxide, oh Oxide. It’s my favorite from this whole collection. It’s stunning, classy and beautiful. Formula was great and dried fast. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Sally Hansen Oxide (in shade)
Sally Hansen Oxide (direct sunlight)
Sally Hansen Oxide (close-up)
Next up is Shiny Penny.
Sally Hansen Shiny Penny
Can this be any prettier? Shiny Penny reminds me a bit of Deborah Lippmann Brick House. It’s a beautiful bronze that suits Fall very well. It applied onto my nails smoothly and dried pretty fast. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Sally Hansen Shiny Penny (in shade)
Sally Hansen Shiny Penny (direct sunlight)
Sally Hansen Shiny Penny (close-up)
A collection isn’t complete without a beautiful blue. This one’s called Himalayan Blue.
Sally Hansen Himalayan Blue
Himalayan Blue is a pretty blue creme shade, but that’s about it. It applies beautifully, but there’s nothing that sets it apart from a lot of beautiful blue cremes I’ve seen. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Sally Hansen Himalayan Blue (in shade)
Sally Hansen Himalayan Blue (direct sunlight)
Sally Hansen Himalayan Blue (close-up)
Next we have Bewitched.
Sally Hansen Bewitched
I keep thinking the name is odd because it’s close to Halloween. Bewitched is a dark plum purple creme shade. I consider this a very dark, vampy shade. It makes me think of dark purple bruises. Formula is nice and thick. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat.
Sally Hansen Bewitched (in shade)
Sally Hansen Bewitched (direct sunlight)
Sally Hansen Bewitched (close-up)
Last I have is Green Tea.
Sally Hansen Green Tea
Green Tea is a beautiful pale green, not quite mint green. It reminds me of the popular Essie Mint Candy Apple, but I don’t think they’re close enough to be dupes at all. Formula was great with this creme shade. Shown is 2 thin coats with no top coat. I think I swatched Shiny Penny before this cause it left a yellow-ish cast on my cuticle area.
Sally Hansen Green Tea (in shade)
Sally Hansen Green Tea (direct sunlight)
Sally Hansen Green Tea (close-up)
Overall? Nice,well-rounded collection. A few shades seem out-of-place for Fall, but I can overlook that with the variety given. I’m missing one shade from this collection called Radicchio. This should be available at wherever Sally Hansen is retailed in October.
*Some products in this review may have been provided by the PR company or manufacturer for an honest opinion.*
