Showing posts with label iridescent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iridescent. Show all posts

Friday, February 4, 2011

Teenage Dream - The Katy Perry Collection by OPI

OPI has teamed up with Katy Perry to create a collection of 4 glittery shades this winter. Katy Perry is a nail icon so it makes sense to collaborate with her! To complement the shades in the collection, OPI has also released a crackle top coat: whole lotta fun!

Teenage Dream - Semi sheer pink base full of large hexagon holographic glitter and pink micro glitter. This is three coats and I think it does a decent job building up. You could wear it like this, however I prefer it layered.

Not Like The Movies - My favorite of this collection! This is a steel metallic with a green/purple duochrome and little, itty-bitty silver flaky pieces in it.

Last Friday Night - Sheer blue with bright blue shimmer and iridescent hexagon pieces flashing red, blue and green. This one is definitely one to be layered. It looks pretty much identical to Sinful Colors - Hottie which I used layered for this mani.

The One That Got Away - This is a super rich, magenta berry with glass-fleck shimmer. This doesn't have quite as much sparkle as OPI - Let Me Entertain You from the Burlesque collection which I expected it to look just like, but it's beautiful in its own right.

Black Shatter - Shown over The One That Got Away - This is the best thing since sliced bread! I have been having a whole lot of fun with this one. You have to apply this over dry polish. It works best that way. If you ever used the old Cover Girl - Crackles from the 90's you'll remember they had to be applied over wet polish and they took forever to dry/crack. Black Shatter cracks quickly and gives a more uniform look. I am a big fan.

So overall, cool collection. It has everything. Holo, iridescent, duochrome, glitter, shimmer, and crackle! The Katy Perry Collection is out now!
What do you think!?
-Elaine
:c)

Disclosure: The products featured in this post were furnished to me by the manufacturer or PR company for review. For more information please visit my disclosure policy.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

A Quick Trip to Outer Space

If you thought my last layered glitter mani was outer space looking check this bad boy out>>>>

This is Deborah Lippmann - Bad Romance layered over black and then a coat of Sinful Colors - Hottie layered over that.

Looking at this seriously gets me lost in it.

-Elaine
:c)

Monday, April 19, 2010

Holy Layering!

Happy Monday! How's the start to your week? Mine isn't the best, I have to admit, but I am smiling thanks to the mani I have on!

I have a wild and awesome mani for you today. I did it over the weekend and am stunned at it's depth. It has it all: it's blurple, it's flakie and it's shining every color possible at me. Why do I need to wear anything but this? :cP

I started with a coat of Essie - Mesmerize. Then I added Nfu-Oh - #51. The sheer purple of #51 over the bold blue of Mesmerize created an electric blurple that is just perfect for this insane mani.

Then I threw on a great flakie I received from a sweet lady in Holland called "Rainbow" and it is from a line called "GOSH". I know GOSH is well known to my international readers but us fanatics in the US don't have access to it. The flakies in it are just like Nfu-Oh - #51 but the base is clear, making their "flakie-ness" shine a bit more than #51's.

Then the kicker. I added Nfu-Oh - #40 on top which I showed you over black here. #40 is one of my favorite polishes ever. Alone it isn't that exciting, but layered... oh. How it kills layered. #40 is what really makes this creation because although the flakes in #51 and Rainbow are well, rainbow, you get the different colors when you move your nails and look at them from different angles. So straight on they show mostly red and orange, but straight on #40 looks blue, green and aquamarine, so you all colors at once without twisting your hands around. It's rather intense!

Let's give a round of applause to the crew that made this possible! Woo! Mesmerize, #51, Rainbow, #40.

Also if you didn't know, fabuloustreet.com (where I get my Nfu-Oh polishes from) is having a sale this month:
All Polishes are priced at discounted prices. We are clearing our inventory on the Discontinued Paint Series (No. 133-282) They are marked 30% off. All other polishes are marked on 10-20% off. OFFER Valid from 04/01/2010 until 04/30/2010

Something to consider if you are in the market for some Nfu-Oh polishes!

What do you think? Do you rock layered looks?
:c)

Friday, April 16, 2010

Illusion D'or Layered

Hi! I wasn't going to post this as I felt it may be cruel and unusual because I hear Illusion D'or was sold out, but I think that claim has been reversed so here it is! I did a swatch of Illusion D'or layered over several different cremes so you can see what this baby can do.

I did two coats of I.D. over blue, black, red and green:

L to R: Illusion D'or +
  • Rescue Beauty Lounge - Dead Calm
  • Tropez - Black Satin
  • Rescue Beauty Lounge - Bangin'
  • BB Couture - Green Goblin
Dark shades really make that "illusion glitter" pop!
For my original swatches go here.

What do you think?
-Elaine

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Nailene Artifical Nails Review

Hello all! I received some Nailene nails to review for you all and I really can't get them on without looking really dumb or without filing down my nails (which I am not willing to do) because my natural nails are longer than the press-ons. There is an exception to the rule, however, with my left index finger. This poor thing keeps having ridiculous breaks so it is shorter than everyone else. He just can't get on the same page. And I'm not left handed! I would think the right hand would have issues, but no. It's too bad too because I think my left index is my favorite when grown and shaped properly. (Yes, I have favorite individual nails! *Is weirdo*)

Anyway, these looked so cool I thought I would try on one on the lame nail to model for you. The style is "Starry Sky" and I really like these. They have a semi-transparent, milky, soft, french pink for the base and the tip is dark blue with bright blue glitter that looks a little iridescent. Really pretty.

Check out that close up! Awesomeness.

There are two more french manicure sets that I have to show you, but I couldn't bear going through more rounds of gluing and soaking so I just have shots off the hands:

These don't have a name just a number: 71000. They are your classic french manicure. I really like the way the white fades away with little dots rather than having a definitive line.

These are style number 77935. Again a classic french, but the base has a sparkly, crystal shimmer which I think is super pretty.

The glue that comes with these is mega strong. You won't have to worry about these nails not hanging on! Once they are on they aren't going to go anywhere!

The one thing I have to stress, and I know I will sound like a broken record: Use 100% acetone to get them off. Please. The glue is like super glue. If you rip them off, you will take your natural nails with it. These will not damage your natural nails if you use them right. Glue them on, wear them for about a week to 10 days tops, and soak, soak, soak in 100% acetone. Regular "acetone nail polish remover" is not strong enough. Get a little bowl, pour some 100% acetone in and soak for several minutes. Try 5 minutes at first, which should be good enough, and then scrape off the nails with an orange stick. They will be like a soft, gooey blob of plastic. If there is any glue still on the nail, soak a cotton ball with the acetone and remove the glue. Please remember this. The box says "soak in acetone remover" to get the nails off, as it seems all fake nail kits do, and that is misleading. Regular remover will not cut it. *end rant*

These can be found at retailers and drugstores where Nailene products are sold.

-What do you think?
Elaine
:c)

Disclosure: The products featured in this post were furnished to me by the manufacturer or PR company for review. For more information please visit my disclosure policy.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Chanel - Illusion D'or...

... is my new obsession! This is so pretty that it had to be my first Chanel polish ever. So let's get into some pics so I can help you understand the power--->

(*Don't forget to click the pics!)

Chanel - Illusion D'or

Check out this bottle shot! This is a shimmery sheer gold with what I thought were going to be holo glitter but it is not. There are very thin, iridescent particles that are sort of like a flakie but they aren't flakie either! They are their own category. I guess you can call them "magic". Or "Illusion glitter" but I must say again... it's not glitter. It's awesomeness.

Here it is next to Claire's - Goldmine, which is a gold with holo glitter. See the difference? The glitter is holo and flashing all colors, while the Chanel "illusion glitter" is more iridescent and flashes mostly blurple and blue. Also the glitter are dense, metallic particles while the Chanel has these very thin, fairy dust-ish pieces.

This is Illusion D'or alone in 4 coats. It is rather sheer. You'll probably want to layer it. You could layer it over gold, or black if you want the iridescent pieces to pop more, or white, or pretty much whatever you want.

For today's mani I decided to rock it over a soft white: Essie - Marshmallow. Here is 3 coats in my daylight bulb.

Here it is in the shade outside. (definitely click on this one!!)

And here it is in the sun!

Edit: I wanted to see what "illusion d'or" meant and I found out it translates to "gold phantasm" and phantasm is:

phan·tasm
[fan-taz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1. an apparition or specter.
2. a creation of the imagination or fancy; fantasy.
3. a mental image or representation of a real object.
4. an illusory likeness of something.

pretty cool......

I am totally putting this over RBL - Bangin' next!
What do you think?
-Elaine
:c)

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Amour - Rainbow Hologram

Have you ever seen the Amour polishes on Transdesign.com that claim to have some sort of awesome reflection?Photo courtesy of Trans Design

This is what the site says about these polishes:
The special formula contains Titanium dioxide platelets of precisely controlled thickness reflects gold, red, green or blue by interference . . .and transmit the respective complementary colors. Deposited on mica for reinforcement . . . combined with colors pigment to introduce intensity, contrast and extraordinary color play.
Instructions:
Step 1: Apply black polish to the free edge.
Step 2: Allow polish to dry, apply color effect polish to the entire surface of the nail.
Step 3: Apply top coat

I didn't really think these would be anything out of this world but I had to get one to be totally sure. I was right. A bought Rainbow Hologram and swatched it over a black tip just like it said.

It's really just a shimmery sheer with iridescence. It is not special in any way. This black tip thing looks weird too. I am not a fan.

What do you think?

Have a great day!
-Elaine

Friday, December 11, 2009

Naughty Nailz 'XXX' Collection Swatches

So we've gotten to the last set of Naughty Nailz. This collection has the most scandalous names, and the funnest colors, in my opinion; Blue, purple, neons, glitter!! This set has is all.


WARNING!!! The names for this set are the most naughty of all three collections. Hence, the triple 'X' rating! Do not read with the little ones! This is for you to enjoy in private! (Or with a partner!) Are we even talking about nail polish anymore? I can't even imagine how upset people will be when they do a search for something X rated and get to this blog about nail polish! Hehe! Let's get on with the the naughty!


12 Inch Gang Bang - Let's just get this one out of the way. I am definitely not easily offended, but this is the one polish name out of this whole line that make me cringe. The color however, I love. This is a bright sky blue shimmer.

Lickalottapus - Love it! This one is one I am calling neon, but it's only a little neon. It dries slightly matte (despite looking rather shiny in my swatch) so I am assuming there is some neon pigment in there, but it's not really a glowing, obnoxious, can-be-seen-from-a-mile-away neon. It's just a mega bright, punchy creme pink.


Cummin 4 U - Sun and shade. This is a clear base jam packed with iridescent glitter that flashes mostly green and gold. My swatches mainly look gold, but there was green when I was indoors, I promise. And so you can see how it looks layered:

Lickalottapus + Cummin 4 U


Nipplebiter - Hehe. What a funny name. This is a royal purple with slight blue and magenta shimmer.

Pounded On The Kitchen Table - Yes! An orange! Oh thank heaven. This one I am also calling neon, but just a little. Like Lickalottapus, this dries semi matte, so I believe that there is neon pigment in it, but it isn't over the top. Just nice and bright. The first picture shows the natural color, but doesn't really capture the neon glow, so I added the second one.



Red Hot Fuck - Sorry for the profanity, but that is the name and they aren't shy about it! It's precisely what the label says. This color reminds me of cherry tomatoes. Sexy, I know. This is a light, cherry tomato red with a pinch of orange and a gold shimmer. I am a fan of the color, and definitely of the name!

Now that we have seen all 3 collections here is my final verdict:

Overall I am impressed thanks to the application and dry speed. This brand new line has formula down; even the neons. Did you hear me? Even the neons! They aren't chalky or streaky at all. They aren't as neon as most neons though. But Considering how nicely these all apply, I bet they could punch up the neon and still have great application.

I am however, upset by the color range. When I have them all sitting on my desk, all I see is red and pink, and it makes me feel a bit sad. It's not very exciting. Of course, that is only me. I like green and orange and heaps of glitter. I am sure that for some ladies out there red and pink is their go to polish. And there is nothing wrong with that.

The names are of course what is big about this line, and what would be the main driver to buy these colors. They range from cutely naughty to straight-to-the-point filthy, naughty. So you can purchase what fits your needs for sexual humor/polish satisfaction. They would probably be really great for a girls night/mani-pedi party, a bachelorette party or perhaps if you are a rep for one of those sex toy companies that does parties to see and sell sex toys, maybe this could be a product to add to your line-up.

If a bomb-diggity formula is what drives you to buy polish though, this line is for you. And if you want to forget what the name of that 12 Inch Gang Bang you're wearing is, you can peel off the label.

I must also mention the line of treatments from Naughty Nailz. They have a top coat, base coat and nail hardener: I'm On Top, I'm On Bottom, and Get Hard, respectively. They all retail for $6.95.

I'm On Bottom: I only used this while swatching and never got a chance to test if for wear because I spilled out the entire bottle on my desk. I am seriously the clumsiest person on the planet. BUT I can say that it went on smooth and dried super fast and made a nice base at least for swatching. I had no staining while using it so that is a plus.

Get Hard: I can not say if it made my nails hard because they are probably as hard as can be, but if you need a product to strengthen your nails, why not give it a try? I used it as a base for my first official Naughty mani and like I'm On Bottom, it dried quickly and made a nice base, had no cuticle drag or bald spots and it gave me good wear (even if I only wore it for 2 days since I have to change my polish constantly).

I'm On Top: My main concern with top coat is the dry speed. Wear is not usually a concern because I change polish frequently. So I tested I'm On Top against my go-to, Seche Vite. Dry time was seriously the same between them so the other reasons I may choose I'm On Top over Seche Vite would be:
- The smell: It was less offensive than Seche Vite's wood varnish smell.
- The consistency: It was thinner than SV, but not too thin and it didn't slip around and pool up at the cuticle. It is just thinner. However, this is a negative if you wanted it over glitter, when you would normally like a thicker top coat. Also, because it is thinner, I noticed it picked up a little tint of the red I was wearing, and Seche Vite did not do this.

My two requests for Naughty Nailz:

1) Please release new sets with a different range of colors. Yellows, golds, grays, blacks and of course greens! Green is attached to aphrodisia (at least mythically). I assume it would be overkill to have a XXXX collection, but maybe a "Callgirl Collection" or "Lady of the Night" collection, a "Sweet but Naughty" Collection, a "I Vowed Abstinence and Change my Mind!" collection. The possibilities are endless! And keep it up with the glitters and neons!




2) I absolutely love love love the silhouette of the curvy girl with the big hair on the bottle. So my request is that you make her a nail decal! I think they would fly off the shelves! They would be so cute and sexy! I would wear them with every manicure.

You can purchase Naughty Nailz by contacting jenny@naughtynailz.com

Now that we have seen all the colors, read all the names, and covered the treatments, what do you think? Let me know and as Jenny of Naughty Nailz says: Stay naughty!
:c)

Disclosure: The products featured in this post were furnished to me by the manufacturer or PR company for review. For more information please visit my disclosure policy.