Takko Lacquer Xocomil & Kitsch

Good morning!  Hope your Monday is going well.  I've got a pretty light schedule today, just want to get in a short run today (and this whole week) so I don't over exert myself before I run the half marathon on Sunday.  I also need to make sure I am drinking tons of water this week so I don't dehydrate myself and pull a muscle.  Other than that - I'm looking at a regular week.  How about you?  So let's start this week off with some lovely Takkos!  I briefly met the maker of Takko Lacquer and she's seriously adorable and really sweet - I probably scared her because I am loud and just jumped into a conversation to meet her.  While we were sitting in a group we also asked her how to pronounce Takko and it's "taco", so there you have it, mystery solved!  Well I have some of her polishes to share today - one from the Summer 2015 collection and the other is the CosmoProf 2015 color!  Both will be available at the upcoming restock on 9/3 at 8pm EDT.  Takkos are $13 USD each.  So let's check out some polish!

*press sample*

Takko Lacquer: Shop, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Up first I have Xocomil, a "periwinkle purple filled with actual silver dust."  Sheryl says that Xocomil is inspired by the Mayan legend El Xocomil.  I enjoyed hearing about this legend as much as I enjoyed wearing the polish!  Xocomil is really a purple beauty and that's a lot coming from me because I don't love purple polish.  But this blue toned purple is unique and gorgeous.  The silver dust is a special addition that I don't think I've seen in any other polishes (at least none in my stash).  The formula and application of Xocomil were both fantastic.  I loved the length and size of the brush, it was kind of short and squat and so easy to work with.  Xocomil was very creamy and opaque - I had full coverage in 2 coats.  I finished with a layer of topcoat.  As a side note - I wore Xocomil for 3 days with no chipping and the most minimal tip wear on only one nail!  

I deiced to try out the CosmoProf color, Kitsch too!  First off how adorable is this mini bottle?  The minis are called Takkitos (tacquitos).  Kitsch is a "glittery party filled with multi pink glitter and holo shimmer and holo flakies in a clear base.  Once dry it smells like pink sugar cotton candy."  Ok it was totally cute and I loved the scent!  So sweet and yummy!  I found myself sniffing my nails through the day.  The scent diminished once I showered and didn't last longer than a day.  The glitter came out in abundance and covered perfectly.  I used 1 layer of Kitsch over Xocomil.  You can layer it over anything really or you can build it up in a few coats and wear it alone.  I finished with a layer of topcoat.   

CosmoProf North America: ella + mila, Impala, Leighton Denny & Faby Coverage

Hey hey!  Yup, I still have more posts from CosmoProf to share with you.  Can you even believe how much stuff I saw in 1.5 days!?  It's insane!  I definitely have 1 more post featuring nail polish, but I am debating a short post to share a few of the beauty products I saw also.  I was also hoping for some feedback - are you interested in seeing coverage from the Tips & Sips and Cocktails & Colors after parties?  I have plenty of pictures that I can share!  It's just a matter of finding the time to write up 4 more posts!  While I mull it over why don't we delve into today's post.  I have 4 brands to share, 3 of which are new to me and one is a tried and true Brazilian favorite!  So let's go!

ella + mila is a newer brand on the scene and I (much like others) have come to recognize the brand by the cute little elephant on the bottles.  This is a 5-free, vegan, cruelty-free, USA made brand.  Their launch product was the Mommy & Me line, which was a duo of regular and mini sized polishes.  

Now ella + mila has over 80 colors in their line up and 7 collections.  Here's a peek at their selection!

There is also a nail treatment line: base and top coats, cuticle oil, primer and a soy polish remover.  The remover just launched last month.  ella + mila is available online, at Color4Nails, in Anthropologie stores and boutique salons.  Definitely a brand that's worth seeking out!  I have a very pretty neutral grey creme to share with you so be on the watch for that post!

I was pretty darn excited that I came across Impala at the convention.  I didn't see their name in the list of booths.  If you don't know Mundial Impala, they are a pretty fabulous brand that hails from Brazil.  Impala had 3 new collections for us to view...the first is Plumy, 3 glitter topper polishes that give off a "feathered" effect.  While these aren't a new concept here in the states, it could very well be in other parts of the world.  I am a big fan of the bar glitter polish so I am happy to see that brands are still making them.  

This one reminds me of mint chocolate chip!

And this one reminds me of Valentine's Day!

My Secrets is another one of the new collections.  It consists of 5 creme shades with an iridescent, shimmery effects topper to wear over them all.  

The last collection at the booth was Encanto Natural...5 gorgeous shades in softer colors, some pastels, that was released a few months ago.  This collection will be perfect for the Spring and Summer months.  You can pick up Impala at Ricky's NYC and Amazon.  

Another international brand that I checked out was Leighton Denny, from the UK.  I had only heard of this brand once or twice before hitting them up at the convention but I was definitely impressed with their set up and variety of polishes available.  I like their unique bottles too...check them out.  

Leighton Denny has 40 core colors that are available.    

There is a new 5ml mini sized bottle, they are pretty cute!  

Here's the new collection for the Fall, Autumn Goddess.  I was very drooly over these colors.  I need to find a way to get these pretty babies in my grabby hands right about now (damn Royal Mail).  

Top That is a true gel system.  You need a lamp to cure the Top That topcoat.  You can purchase the lamp in the picture directly from Leighton Denny and though I have no clue what is good quality or not because I know noticing of gel polish, they assured me this lamp is very high quality.  

And finally I have Faby USA!  This is an Italian brand that's been around for 3 years, but they have been available in the US for a year.  Faby is based in Milan and the collections are on trend with the current fashion.  Faby has over 300 colors with a pro-grade formula and a 400 bristle brush.  The caps are also very professional...tapered and textured.  Aside form polish Faby is also releasing a spa line.  They contain Manuka and Moringa oils.  There will be a great scrub coming out: bamboo and wanut husk - it's paraben and cruelty free.  Faby is available online and on Amazon.  

Here's a sneak peek of the Illusion collection for the Fall/Winter.  

This was the Summer 2015 line up.  I like the mix of bright and dark color.  

Faby has a gel line but it's only available for professional purchase/use.  

They released a Breast Cancer Awareness shade - what a perfect pink!  

Faby Nature is a naturally derived collection.  These are natural colors that contain minerals and natural pigments as colorants.   Actually it's made of 87% natural ingredients! 

Pahlish: 10/6, Man's Red Flower and Melon Baller

Good afternoon!  Let me just start this post by saying BUY ALL THE CORAL POLISH!  Yup, it's one of my favorite colors and I especially love to wear it in the summer.  So I had to share these gorgeous polishes from Pahlish with you now before the Summer is officially over.  Pahlish has some really fantastic colors and themed collections.  The thing about Pahlish is that if you like a color you need to get it fairly quickly.  Shannon doesn't keep her collections around for very long.  Now and then she has a few "popular" shades return but nothing is guaranteed.  Point in case...all 3 of the polishes I have to share with you tonight.  There are all up for grabs in the last couple months but now, they are gonezo.  So I'm a little bit of a big old meanie and sharing polish that isn't available, I'm sorry!  Right now Pahlish has the lovely Marco Polo collection in her shop and they are perfect Fall colors.  Welp let's look at some coral polish...

*press sample*

Pahlish: Shop, Facebook, Instagram

10/6 is from the Through the Looking Glass collection.  It was Alice In Wonderland themed so I was a big fan.  Now I will admit that I am a bit confuzzled because the bottle I have is way more coral/red than the pink I was seeing in swatches.  Maybe because of my skin tone, maybe because I took my pictures in direct sunlight?  I really like this color though so it doesn't bother me too much.  10/6 is a coral-pink with a soft scattered holo finish.  The formula and application were both great - no issues to mention.  I used 2 coats of 10/6 and finished with a layer of topcoat.

*shade*

Man's Red Flower is from The Jungle Book Trio, which was limited edition.  This is a peachy-orange-coral linear holo with some soft pink shimmer.  Again, for some reason my bottle looks very different from all the other pictures I've seen so I can only contribute it to the settings in which I took the pictures - skin tone and lighting.  Man's Red Flower was creamy and opaque and one of those polishes that literally applies itself.  I used 2 coat's of Man's Red Flower and a layer of topcoat.  

And now for the bright neon orange-coral crelly!  This is Melon Baller from the Tropical Trio and I loves it!  The Tropical Trio was also limited edition.  There is a perfect blend of silvery and pink flakies in there that really make the polish stand out.  Formula and application were both stellar.  Because this is a squishy type polish I expected more coats but was happy that it only took 3 layers of Melon Baller for full coverage.  I finished with a layer of topcoat.  

*shade*