Showing posts with label 2014. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2014. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Alter Ego Nail Enamel Home For The Holidays Collection

Hello beauties!  Today I am posting my first Holiday collection and it's really a unique and lovely set of polish.  This is Home For The Holidays from Alter Ego Nail Enamel.  Let me tell you that one of the things I really love about Cynthia's unique polishes is that they all tell a story.  You get that heartfelt feeling that she puts her all into each and every one and it makes them very special and cherished.  I am also very happy to see that Alter Ego is getting some much deserved recognition - recently being stocked by Gloss48 (my review of those exclusive polishes are HERE) and I've seen so many unique one-of-a-kinds for auctions and giveaways and box sets!  The Home For The Holidays is all that I mentioned above; unique, heartfelt, thoughtful.  It's full of shimmer, glitter and sparkle.  What more could a polish loving girl ask for?  The Home For The Holidays Collection will be available to purchase on Saturday 11/15. 

*press sample*

Alter Ego Nail Enamel: Shop, Facebook, Instagram

*I used Alter Ego She Shines Topcoat on top of each polish in this collection*

Up first I have the blingy glitter bomb of the collection, Big Sister.  Big Sister is full of "medium size gold & metallic fuchsia hex glitters." It's inspired by Cynthia's big sister who had a vision and came up with this gorgeous blend of colors! The nice thing about Big Sister is that you can use it over a base color but it also covers really well on it's own. The glitters sit suspended in a slightly milky white base. The formula and application were both great - easy to get the glitters on my nails, they didn't clump up in one spot. I used 2-3 coats of Big Sister depending on the coverage I had on each individual nail, and I finished with 1 layer of topcoat.






Mother Hen is a "Pink and blue matte super fine glitter." This polish is perfect for it's inspiration - a mama to any baby in need. The small glitters remind me of babies and the soft eraser pink base is adorable. The formula and application were both nice - easy to use with good coverage. Mother Hen dries to a matte finish so for the glossy look you will want to use topcoat. I used 4 layers of Mother Hen and still had the smallest bit of visible nail line. I finished with 1 layer of topcoat.






The last glitter in the collection is Greatest Gramma, inspired by...Grandma of course!  Greatest Gramma is a milky white base with rainbow holo glitter, satin neon pink hearts and satin yellow flowers.  I love that the base is shimmery and that I catch tiny rainbow sparkles when I move my hands.  As with all heavier glitter polishes, it took a little persuasion to get the hearts and flowers out. I suggest letting the bottle sit upside down for a little while and then fish some of the glitters out.  You can wear Greatest Gramma alone for a very soft look or over a base color.  I chose to wear it alone.  I used 3 coats of Greatest Gramma plus some dabbing to get the glitters on my nails.  I finished with 1 layer of topcoat.  






Now we are at the solid colors.  This is Family Friend Forever, inspired by that one special friend that has been adopted into the family and things just wouldn't be the same without them.  This is a gorgeous medium blue based polish full of lots of sparkly blue and just a little purple shimmer.  I love this polish.  The color, formula and application were all superb!  I used 3 coats of Family Friend Forever for full coverage and finished with 2 layers of topcoat.  






As usual I saved my favorite for last.  Bosom Buddy is inspired by a best friend for life.  It's a "rusty red with a gorgeous shimmer."  It's so dang perfect and one of those colors that I totally lust after.  The formula and application of Bosom Buddy were both fantastic.  I reached full coverage with 3 coats of Bosom Buddy.  I finished with 2 layers of topcoat.  





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Monday, November 3, 2014

Lumina Laquer Fall 2014: Pumpkin, Spice, Cranberry & Frosting

Good evening all!  I'm happy that it's we had Day Light Savings last weekend.  I do enjoy that it's darker earlier, makes it easier to get my kids to bed.  But it also makes me want to stay home and cuddle under blankets instead of meandering about looking for things to do.  It also harder to get up when it's still dark out.  But with the change in sunlight hours and weather it seems like a good time to share another Fall collection with you.  This collection from Lumina Lacquer is Thanksgiving themed and it is so yummy to look at it makes me hungry for the big feast!  All 4 polishes are currently available in the shop and are $9 - $10 each.  Pumpkin, Spice and Cranberry are only available as a "One Time Stock" so don't wait to long to pick these ones up if you like them!  

*press sample*


Let's check out Pumpkin first.  You know, because I have an undeniable love for orange polish!  And Pumpkin is amazing!  It's described as a"orange opaque polish with gold holo glitter."  I found it to have a slightly jelly-ish formula that applied perfectly.  I used 3 coats of Pumpkin for full coverage and 1 layer of topcoat.  My pictures did pick up a brighter shade of orange than is the true shade.  Someone please pass the pumpkin pie?  *Pumpkin is a one time stock polish.

Lumina Lacquer Pumpkin

Lumina Lacquer Pumpkin

Lumina Lacquer Pumpkin

Lumina Lacquer Pumpkin

Moving along, this is Spice.  Spice is a "medium brown opaque polish with gold holo glitter."  Yum this is such a pretty brown and it does look like a mixture of spices.  Spice was very rich and creamy AND this beauty covered my nails in one coat!  Formula and application were both fabulous.  I have on 1 coat of Spice and 1 layer of topcoat.  *Spice is a one time stock polish.  

Lumina Lacquer Spice

Lumina Lacquer Spice

Lumina Lacquer Spice

Lumina Lacquer Spice

Cranberry was my favorite of the bunch.  How could it not be?  Cranberry is a "cranberry opaque polish with silver holo glitter."  I see flashes of purple, red, gold and silver holo when I move my nails around.  Cranberry much like Pumpkin had a jelly-like formula but it was thisclose to being a 1 coater!  Of course I am light handed with my brush so a regular painter can easily reach full coverage with 1 coat!  Cranberry had a superb formula and applied like a dream.  I used 2 coats of Cranberry and 1 layer of topcoat.  *Cranberry is a one time stock polish.  

Lumina Lacquer Cranberry

Lumina Lacquer Cranberry

Lumina Lacquer Cranberry

Lumina Lacquer Cranberry

Ok this is the one you've been waiting for!  Frosting!  Cheese and crackers look at this stunning little polish!  Frosting is a "light pink super holo glitter."  It's so darn blingy and girly, I know every pink polish lover out there will need Frosting.  The formula and application were both fabulous.  I used 2 coats of Frosting and finished with 1 layer of topcoat.  I did still feel a little texture when the topcoat dried so you may need a second layer of a nice, thick topcoat.  Good news, Frosting is not a one time stock! 
*A light tint may develop in the base over time.

Lumina Lacquer Frosting

Lumina Lacquer Frosting

Lumina Lacquer Frosting

Lumina Lacquer Frosting

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Saturday, October 25, 2014

Press Release: China Glaze Twinkle Collection

China Glaze is releasing a pretty amazing holiday collection this year!  The 2014 Holiday collection, Twinkle, is full of shimmer, glitter, creme and a super cool metallic foil!  So let's take a look at some of the promotional pictures that I was provided with.  And who knows, maybe your beauty supply store already has these in stock.

*press release*

China Glaze:  WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter

Twinkle features 11 new shades and one specialty top coat that perfectly capture the spirit of the season: sparkles in the night sky created by glowing lights, the softness of fresh snowfall and visions of the New Year.  Whether you Tip Your Hat to the classic red crème or De-Light in the gold and holographic staple glitter, your manicure and you will beChillin’ with (Your) Snow-mies in style this holiday season.
*all the descriptions are from my own observations

Chillin' With My Snow-mies - matte white glitter topper

Dancing & Prancing - multicolored metallic glitter topper


De-Light - a sparkly metallic gold glitter topper


December to Remember - denim blue full of pink and gold shimmer


Define Good... - shimmery burgundy


Feeling Twinkly - blue metallic micro glitter topper


I'd Melt For You - silver metallic foil


Meet Me Under The Stars - black and silver micro glitter in a slightly tinted base


No Peeking! - dusty plum full of tiny rainbow shimmer


Out Like A Light - dark toned grey creme


Pine-ing For Glitter - small and micro green glitter in a clear base


Tip Your Hat - classy red creme


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