Zoya: Winter Holos

This is gearing up to be a late night post!  Finally got myself all cleaned up and ready for bed.  I tried out my new microdermabrasion tool and think I rubbed too hard in one spot because it's a little achey and stings when I touch it, like I literally rubbed the skin right off.  Ooops!  First time using it, but now I'll know better.  Seems like a great way to slough off dead skin in the cold winter months and I feel like it works because the rest of my face feels nice and smooth.  Anther way to stay fresh looking in the Winter is to wear bright nail polish colors!  Zoya recently came out with their Winter Holo trio and it's 3 lovely scattered holos in fun, non-wintry colors.  You can purchase the Winter Holos now, individually for $10 or as a set for $30.  Pssst, Zoya is also running a promo!  New Year, New Hue.  4 colors for free, you only pay shipping ($15).  Use the code Hue19.  Maybe you can get these 3 beauties!

*press sample*

Zoya: Shop, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Makeup Review: Younique, November Kudos

Evening!  It was wet out today!  My boys both had to play soccer in the rain, I remember how much fun that was but I also remember how freezing cold I'd be afterward. Good thing they both had dry clothes to change in to on the way home!  Anywho...tonight I have more fun makeup to share with you.  I've tried several products from Younique in the past and there are a few things I buy consistently - like mascara.  Well, after purchasing the November Kudos I have a new favorite product that will be repurchased several times over!  The monthly Kudos is a bundle of products that go together and you get them for a slight discount. I liked that I was able to select the color of each product in the Kudos so I wasn't stuck with 2 awesome, skin tone complimentary products and one that made no sense.  The November Kudos is gone now but you can get the December Kudos or any of the products here (minus the purple mascara), individually.  PS - you should check out the December Kudos, it has a magical silver metallic liquid eyeliner...me wants!  Well, let's check out the November Kudos!

*nothing to disclose*

Younique: Shop, Bold Beauties Club, Instagram

LeChat Dare to Wear; Exposed Collection & Perfect Match Gel Exposed Giveaway

Morning all!  Tuesday means back to reality.  Bye bye 3 day weekend.  Hello homework and after school activities.  What I genuinely hope for this week is that the crazy weather is behind us.  It was 107 at points and it was smokey from local fires but then yesterday it flipping rained!  Mother Nature must be pmsing. I just want cool Fall weather now...waiting, waiting, waiting.  While I'm waiting let's look at a perfectly 'exposed' collection.  This is the new LeChat Exposed Collection and it's a great palette cleanser for between seasons!  6 shades that give your nails just a hint of color in the cleanest way for a super elegant look.  You can pick these up for $6.50 each.  LeChat also sent along the matching gel set and since I don't use gel I'm giving them away!  Ok then, let's jump in to the post!

*press sample*

LeChat: Website/Shop, Facebook, Instagram

Paint Box Polish Fantasmic Flakies Custom; Nude Beach

Morning!  Happy Sunday and Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there reading my blog!  I'm riding solo with my kids today and it's pretty much going to be soccer, soccer, soccer.  But I really want to do some shopping so maybe I can sneak that in.  But for now I have a gorgeous group custom to share with you.  This beauty was created by Paint Box Polish for the Fantasmic Flakies Group.  You can only purchase this if you are a member of the group so make sure you join, link is HERE!  Nude Beach is $12 and only available until the end of May.  Ok let's jump in and check it out.

*press sample*

Paint Box Polish: Shop, Facebook, Instagram 

KBShimmer Office Space Naughty Nudes Collection; Winter 2016

Evening all!  Trying to finish up 2016 with a last few posts.  Tonight I have the KSBhimmer Office Space Naughty Nudes Collection - inspired by Office Space of course.  I was just thinking how funny that movie was, Jump to Conclusions anyone?  Anywho...this is a totally office friendly collection.  8 shades that you can wear at your desk or as neutral compliment to a fun outfit.  The Office Space Naughty Nudes Collection will be available on 1/4/17 and each polish will be $9.25.  Let's jump in and check this collection out!  

*press sample*

KBShimmer: Shop, Harlow & Co, Live Love Polish, Color4Nails, Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest

ellagee The Business Bitch

Good afternoon!  I am back with another post to share today.  This time from the lovely ellagee!  She came up with a suitable for work collation based on the always hilarious show The Office.  This collection is called The Business Bitch and consists of 4 neutral, but gorgeous shades with subtle shimmer.  As I said, they are perfect for a work place that doesn't allow bright polish, but they are also perfect palette cleansers for us ladies that like to wear in-your-face colors and need to give our eyes a break.  The Business Bitch collection will be available on 8/6.  Let's jump on in and check out the goods!
*press sample*
ellagee: Shop, Facebook, Instagram

Chaos & Crocodiles An Alpaca With A Plan

Afternoon all!  I'm working on some big posts right now when I get breaks in mom-life but I wanted to pop in for a quickie!  I pre-ordered from Chaos & Crocodiles a while back because I just couldn't resist this warm cashmere colored holo.  When it arrived I was definitely happy I bought it!  Perfect trans-seasonal shade, great as a nail art base, nice shade for work and perfect palette cleanser!  I just checked out the webpage and there is only a few merchandise items up for sale at the moment but you should make sure to follow C&C on Facebook and Instagram so you can be in the know when she restocks the shop with her lovely polishes!  Let's jump on in and check out this pretty little ditty!

*nothing to disclose*

Chaos & Crocodiles: Shop, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

ellagee Vacation!

Good evening dears!  Popping in with a short post featuring a lovely new-ish holo from ellagee!  This beauty is called Vacation! and it's just my cup o' tea.  If you've followed me for any amount of time you'll know that I am drawn to nude holos like a moth to a flame.  I. Just. Can't. Resist.  Not that it's a bad thing, they're just so darn gorgeous.  Vacation! is available in the shop now and is $13 USD.   If you're a fan of holos or nudes then head on over and get this beauty now, you won't regret it!  

*press sample*

ellagee: Shop, Facebook, Instagram

Zoya Whispers, Transitional Collection 2016

Good morning dears!  I'm heading out the door to meet up with some of my running friends to take an easy trail that goes by Levi Stadium!  It'll probably be the only opportunity I'll get to see the Super Bowl 50 decorations up close because once we're taken over by fans it's going to be nuts!  So while I'm off running you can enjoy this post.  I've got the Zoya Whispers collection which is a transitional set, something to tide us over as we wait for Spring.  It's full of soft, creamy (almost crelly formula) polishes.  You can purchase the Whispers collection now, each polish is $9.  So let's go ahead and check these out!

*press sample*

Zoya: Shop, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Smittten Polish Valentines Collection

Good evening lovelies!  I have a jaw dropping collection to share with you tonight - the Smitten Polish Valentine's Collection.  This is a small collection of 4 polishes in holo and matte finish.  Of course you know how much I adore Smitten holos but I have to say I was completely wowed with the mattes!  They are gorgeous!  So I hope you haven't grown tired of pink or purple polish yet with Valentine's Day coming up this weekend because these are some shades you need.  The Valentine's Day Collection polishes are available now and are either  $9.50 (mattes) or $11.50 (holos) each.  So let's jump in and take a look at this collection.

*press sample*

Smitten Polish: Shop, Edgy Polish, Femme Fatale Cosmetics, Hypnotic Polish, Rainbow Connection, Facebook, Instagram    

Up first I have Date Night.  This is definitely the one getting all the attention from Smitten fans and for good reason.  Date Night is an amazing "hot pink...jelly linear holographic."  I mean it is HOT PINK.  My camera was going nuts.  Date Night has this intense red/purple flame that really helps the neon pop.  Formula and application were both fantastic.  I used 2 coats of Date Night and finished with 1 layer of topcoat.  

*direct sun*

Ok Ok, I know that Date Night is all that and a bag of chocolates but The Accidental Nudist is totally my thing.  I am probably the biggest sucker for nude holos out there and this one does not disappoint!  The Accidental Nudist has a very soft pinkness to the nude that makes it a flattering shade.  It's just so natural and perfect - definitely a wear anytime kind of a shade.  Formula and application were both great.  I used 3 coats of The Accidental Nudist and 1 layer of topcoat.   

*direct sun*

And now the mattes!  This "soft purple shimmery matte" is Let's Kiss.  So the phrase and the shade make me think of a conversation heart candy.  The formula and application of Let's Kiss were both perfect, it covered well, didn't dry too quickly or pull bald spots like some mattes.  I was very impressed with the soft matte finish.  I used 3 coats for full coverage and no topcoat.  

*direct sun*

*no topcoat*

*direct sun*

*with topcoat*

And lastly we have Hug Me, another matte polish that reminds me of conversation heart candy.  Hug Me is simply described as a "soft pink shimmery matte."  Hug Me had a great formula, it applied easily and built up to a nice opaque coverage.  I used 3 coats of Hug Me and no topcoat.  

*direct sun*

*no topcoat*

*direct sun*

*with topcoat*

One last thing - I did a quick comparison of Date Night, Be Mine and Frangipani.  All are lovely pink holos, but none are identical.  Be Mine is closest in color but it has more of a shimmery holo finish than a straight up holo.  I have 2 coats of Date Night on my index and ring nails, 2 coats of Be Mine on my middle nail and 2 coats of Frangipani on my pinky.  

Superficially Colorful Lacquer: Giving Thanks Collection

Good morning and hello weekend!  It felt like the weekend to me yesterday since the kids didn't have school and we all stayed in our pjs until 3pm!  But that's ok because this morning we are up bright and early to get to an 8am soccer game.  But we have to be there at 7:15 and the field is over 30 minutes away.  So I guess it all evens out, right?  Well while I am freezing my bootay off on a soggy, foggy soccer field you can enjoy this post featuring the gorgeous Giving Thanks collection from Superficially Colorful Lacquers.  I have swatched several collections for Jin and I am a big fan of her work - her collections are always inspired, beautiful and well made.  Giving Thanks is definitely all of those and I absolutely love the metallic-esque holo finish of this collection!  She released The Giving Thanks Collection around Thanksgiving last year (makes sense, right?) and they are all available in her shop for $9 each or $60 for the entire set.  Shipping is extremely reasonable as far as international rates go and she runs promos pretty frequently.  Enough talking!  More looking at pictures!

*partial purchase/partial gift*

Superficially Colorful Lacquer: Shop, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest

Give Thanks is a "nude - cream color with subtle holographic finish and satin look when dry."  I love the color here - neutral, easy to wear, but a little flashy.  The formula and application of Give Thanks was superb.  I used 2 coats for perfect coverage, you could easily get away with 1 though.  I finished with 1 layer of topcoat.  

*artificial lighting*

Cornucopia is a "warm and homey gold holographic polish."  This metallic golden brown holo makes me think of honey and that makes me want a cup of hot tea and that is definitely a homey feel!  This was another great formula and application.  I used 2 coats of Cornucopia and 1 layer of topcoat.

*artificial light*

We've come to my favorite of the collection - Food Coma.  This is a "dark chocolate color with red, gold and holographic shimmer finish."  It's so yummy!  I love colors like this and I can easily wear Food Coma year round.  It will make the perfect vampy/sexy date night nails!  Formula and application of Food Coma were both wonderful.  I used 2 coats for full coverage and 1 layer of topcoat. 

*artificial light*

New World, "a very orange-y red with rather strong holographic finish."  You know I love me some orange so this is high on my list of favorites in the collection.  The metallic holo and orange shade are a great match up.  The formula and application of New World were both great.  2 coats and 1 layer to topcoat for full coverage.  

*artificial light*

Cranberry Sauce is another favorite.  It's a "cranberry red holographic polish with light holographic shimmer that dries to a satin look."  This is another great color that makes you think of warm, cozy times - watching a fireplace, drinking cocoa, cocooning yourself into your big, fluffy robe. I did get a teeny tiny bit of pigment clumps in Cranberry Sauce, but it's cold and I didn't give the bottle a very good shake before I started painting.  Aside from the couple little clumps that I got, there were no formula or application issues to mention.  I used 2 coats of Cranberry Sauce and 1 layer of topcoat.   

*artificial light*

Pass the Beans is a "dark rich green with gold and holographic shimmer."  This is an awesome green! I love the deeper tone and metallic-like finish.  Formula and application were both really lovely.  I used 2 coats of Pass the Beans and 1 layer of topcoat for full coverage.  

*artificial light*

And finally, we have Peas & Thanks.  This is a "light green with golden sheen and subtle holographic finish."  It's the sheerest shade in the bunch and a nice bright, cheerful color.  It built up well also.  I only used 2 coats of Peas & Thanks, as you can see there is still a little visible nail line.  A 3rd coat would surely cover that up.  Formula and application were both great.  I finished with 1 layer of topcoat.