A England Limited Edition Holy Grail Swatch

'Ello Loves!

For all who celebrate, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving (and if not a wonderful day yesterday ^_^)! I know I did. I still feel stuffed from last night. As soon as I was done eating I was ready to sleep! Speaking of sleep, I learned a new fun fact from watching a Thanksgiving Special on History Channel. Apparently, there is not enough tryptophan in turkey to make you sleepy after eating it. What gives us post-prandial somnolence, the fancy word for drowsiness after eating aka the "itis," is a high intake of carbs!!! Somehow...I'm not surprised. Today I have a swatch of a very popular polish from a england!!! Please enjoy the Limited Edition Holy Grail!!!

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Holy Grail is a brilliant gold shimmer! I'm always saying live life vibrantly, well, with this polish you have no choice! It is warm toned and simply amazing. The polish was a great consistency and easy to work with. It wasn't too thick or thin. My 1 problem with this polish was, believe it or not, the smell. You can call me an addict if you want to but I normally love the smell of nail polish. This, however, was REALLY strong.

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 a england recently revamped the color and re-released Holy Grail! If you want this one, the original, you can actually get it on sale for £5 which is about $8 on www.a-england.co.uk! Look under the Mythicals collection. What could possibly make this better you ask? SHIPPING IS FREE!!!

Hope you all enjoyed the post! Have you tried either of the Holy Grail polishes? Comment and let me know what you thought of them! Thank you for reading and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!!!

Until Next Post!!! ^_^v

OPI Holiday Avojuice Skin Quenchers

Hope everyone out there reading who's from the USA is having a Happy Thanksgiving!!! For everyone else, hope you're having a great day!!!

Hydrate Skin this Holiday Season!

OPI Introduces Holiday Avojuice Skin Quenchers Hand & Body Lotions in Vanilla Snowflake and NEW Peppermint Shimmer

            This holiday season, OPI releases Avojuice Skin Quenchers Hand & Body Lotion in two limited edition scents, Vanilla Snowflake (a blissful blend of sweet vanilla and buttercream) and new Peppermint Shimmer (a soft peppermint aroma with a kiss of shimmer).  These lotions are a festive way to keep skin hydrated and healthy during the season’s unforgiving cold weather with smooth, rich and moisturizing formulas.

            Holiday stress and winter chill can make skin dull and lifeless, but saturating hands and body with the aloe and avocado extracts in Peppermint Shimmer and Vanilla Snowflake can rejuvenate and reinvigorate dry skin, making it feel moist and silky smooth.

“Though the holidays are a festive and joyous time, the winter cold can be harsh on skin,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “Peppermint Shimmer and Vanilla Snowflake are both delicious fragrances, but they are also designed to completely moisturize skin, leaving hands and body feeling soft and replenished.”

In addition to the regular bottle, both Avojuice lotions will be available in miniature sizes, perfect for stashing in the car, carrying in a purse, or giving as a stocking-stuffer.

full size

mini

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* I know I'm missing a picture of the mini Avojuice Skin Quencher in Peppermint Shimmer but for some reason the pic sent to me by OPI did not work. Just image the Vanilla Snowflake mini in blue ^_^*

2-2-2-2 OPI Avojuice/Holiday 2012

New OPI Avojuice Skin Quenchers Hand & Body Lotion in Peppermint Shimmer  and Vanilla Snowflake will be available beginning November 2012 at Professional Salons, including Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, Ulta, Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Dillard’s, and JCPenney, for the suggested retail price of $1.95 ($2.50 CAN) for each 1 fl oz and $7.95 ($9.95 CAN) for each 6.6 fl oz.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

Has anyone tried these before? Are they good? Let me know!
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!!!
Until Next Post! ^_^v

Have We Been Duped? Essie Winter 2012 Collection

Hello, Everyone!

We're all off to a very busy week again! I wonder if everyone from the USA who reads this blog is anticipating Thursday like I am. I can't wait to get stuffed like the Thanksgiving turkey that my mom will be making! Today I have a few comparison for you all. Rest assured we have not been duped!

If you really want to get Essie Snap Happy but have OPI Red Lights Ahead...Where? don't worry you haven't been duped! Snap Happy is a basic creme with a nice splash of orange. Essie used the perfect word when they described it as vermilion. Red Lights Ahead...Where? in contrast, has strong coral notes. It also has a squishy finish. 

 Mermaid Tears is a light green creme. Where's My Chauffeur? leans a little more on the blue side become the perfect turquoise. Fly leans closer to a bright teal creme. Each of these colors have room in any nail polish collection.

Hope you enjoyed the post! Are there any dupes you can think of for any of the colors in the Essie Winter 2012 Collection? Comment and let me know! 

Thank you for reading my blog and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!!!

Until Next Post!!! ^_^v

Essie Winter 2012 Collection Swatches

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all have been having a great weekend. To say this week was hectic for me would be an understatement! I've been working on my thesis literally everyday. I can't say this wasn't expected though. At  the end of the semester everything seems to come to a head. Life of a graduate student ::sigh::. HOWEVER there has been an upside to this week. Christmas came in November in the form of a package of Essie polishes!!! I present to you the Essie's Winter 2012 Collection!

(L to R) where's my chauffer?, snap happy, leading lady, butler please, beyond cozy,  she's pampered

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Where's My Chauffeur? is an amazing turquoise polish with a creme finish. This was seriously love at first stroke for me! Where's my chauffeur? was already beautiful in the bottle but WOW. The color was vibrant and the formula was a dream to work with. One of my favorites from the bunch. Here I have 2 coats 

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Snap Happy is a beautiful red-orange creme. Though this is a very typical color I was happy to find that this one was a true one coater! My smile line *poof* disappeared with one coat. I still did 2 for this review though.

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Leading Lady was another favorite from this collection! Essie decided to throw a glittery dark-red jelly into the mix! This is perfect for the holiday season. The formula was great and I reached perfect opacity with 2 coats.

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 Butler Please satisfied my blue craving in an unexpected way. It turns out this true cobalt blue turned out to have a matte finish! The formula was great! I reached opacity with two coats. I decided to do some swatches with top coat for you all as well.

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Beyond Cozy was my absolute favorite of this collection. The gold-silver sparkle in this was gorgeous!!! I could not stop looking at my nails! For a polish with so much glitter this had a surprisingly good formula. I also reached perfect opacity in 2 coats which I feel is rare with glitters. Perfect holiday color! 

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She's pampered is in my opinion a basic red with the slightest tinge of raspberry. I actually had to debate this with my husband and a friend. We all finally came to a consensus that the raspberry was in there. If you don't already have a red like this in your collection this would be a great addition. This was a very nice creme  with a great formula. Perfect opacity with 2 coats.

This was a great collection from Essie and they remain the Queen of Cremes in my book! My favorites were Where's My Chauffeur?, Leading Lady, Butler Please, and Beyond Cozy (can't get over how great this one was!). If you don't already have reds like Snap Happy and She's Pampered then I think they would be good additions to any collection.

Hope you enjoyed the post! Which colors did you love? Are you adding any to your wishlist? Comment and let me know! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!!!

Until Next Time post! ^_^v

Nicole by OPI 7 New Nail Lacquers at CVS

Think Neutral, Not Boring!

Nicole by OPI Launches Seven New Nail Lacquers, Exclusively at CVS

Nicole by OPI announces seven new nail lacquers to be sold exclusively at CVS. With various hues of pink and rose, along with blue, maroon, purple and silver shades, these colors give fingers and toes “new neutrals” to complement the hottest trends for 2013.

 “Nicole by OPI is excited to provide the CVS customer with lacquers that can work with any style – from office formal to soccer practice sporty to date night dressy,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “I consider these lacquers ‘new neutrals’ because they can be worn any day, at any time. In the past, certain shades and textures were considered appropriate only for specific occasions, but now, nothing is taboo when it comes to wearing color.

“The CVS shopper leads a fast-paced lifestyle, but she doesn’t want to sacrifice fashion-forward, stylish colors,” adds Weiss-Fischmann. “When she shops at CVS, she knows she’ll be able to find all of her beauty essentials in one convenient place.”

The seven new lacquers include:

I Sea You and Raise You
       Go for it...this ocean blue is a sure bet.

Always a Silver Lining
       This positively-charged silver will keep you feeling optimistic.

Don’t Overpink It

Trust your instincts...this rosy pink will be perfect on you.

 
Feeling Grapeful
       Count your blessings...including this yummy purple.

A Pinker Shade of Pale

The slight blush of this cool pink is just the right touch.

   

Personally Speaking...
       Between you and me, I look ah-may-zing in this light and airy rose!

Marooned in Paradise
       This deep burgundy could make even a castaway look chic.

 2-2-2-2 Nicole by OPI/CVS

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 CVS-exclusive shades will be available November 2012 for $7.99 each at select CVS locations nationwide.

For more information, visit nicolebyopi.com. Follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter @NicoleByOPI and become a Facebook fan!

I actually don't have any Nicole by OPI in my collection, just OPI. However, I've seen swatches of I Sea You and Raise You so I might end up trying them out :).
What do you think of these new colors? Let me know by leaving a comment!
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!!!
Until Next Post! ^_^v

NOTD: World Diabetes Day

Hello Loves!

When a person decides to blog or interact in any way with social media they are allowing their voice to be heard. That voice also has the capability of reaching a wide audience. This is why I think it is important to blog for a cause, especially one that touches many like diabetes (I have cases of diabetes in my own family). SO in support of World Diabetes Day and bringing awareness I have a NOTD for you. I have 2 coats of OPI Unfor-Greta-bly Blue and 1 coat of OPI Save Me on my ring finger.

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Hope you enjoyed the post! Leave a comment and tell me what you think! Do your own blue mani and show your support. For more information on diabetes visit www.idf.org. 

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!!!

Until Next Post! ^_^v

OPI The Man with the Golden Gun

The Golden Touch!

OPI Announces Striking New Limited Edition Bond-Inspired 18K Gold Leaf Top Coat    

           OPI has crafted the perfect, decadent holiday treat - complete with a dash of luxury, a sprinkling of fashion, and touch of intrigue - to celebrate James Bond’s Golden Anniversary with the introduction of 18 karat gold leaf top coat The Man with the Golden Gun. This luminous, rich top coat adds an additional layer of chic gold leaf texture whether painted over completely dry OPI nail lacquer or directly to the nail itself.

 Inspired by the world of 007, this stunning, real 18 karat gold top coat comes packaged in a special limited edition collectable gold bottle and makes the ultimate holiday gift.    

 “For 50 years Bond beauties have graced the big screen with their dazzling looks and opulent style, and gold has always played a prominent role,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “Gold transcends time; from the first Bond film to the soon to be released – Skyfall – Bond Girls have adorned themselves with gold accessories from jewelry and heels to clutches. This top coat’s radiant hue and stunning 18 karat gold leaf texture and patterns take accessorizing this holiday season to new heights!”

As with all OPI nail lacquers, The Man with the Golden Gun contains no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and features OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application.

2-2-2-2 OPI/Bond 18K Top Coat

This limited edition promotion will be available beginning October 2012 at professional salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for  $30.00 ($37.50 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

I REALLY want this! The only way I would give in and buy The Man with the Golden Gun is if it doesn't make it's way into a box labeled "To: Stania" by Christmas Eve.

Let me know what you think! Is The Man with the Golden Gun on your wishlist?

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!!!

Until Next Post! ^_^v

How to: Chevron/Fishtail Nail Tutorial

Hello Loves!!!

Today I have my first tutorial!!! I'm using just Essie products to show you how to do this Chevron/Fishtail and showing you 2, count'em, 2 methods ::kudos if you got the Spongebob reference:: 
*WARNING*- This post is heavy with both pictures and copy. If you don't want to read just scroll through the pics ^_^

Here's what I used!

(L to R) Essie Barefoot in Blue, Blanc, Trophy Wife

Base Color: Do your manicure as you would normally! This hopefully means base coat and at least 2 coats of color (unless you have a one coater in your stash) on clean, oil free nails. I'm using Barefoot in Blue. Allow your base color to dry completely! Skip the top coat for now 

Method 1: Free Hand

1. Take your brush and paint an arc shape from the corner of the nail to the center. Repeat on the other side! You may need 2 coats. I used Blanc so I reached perfect opacity in 1 coat.

     2.    Repeat the same arc motion with your third color, in this case, Trophy Wife.

     3.    Give the entire manicure time to dry

     4.    Put on your favorite top coat. Make sure to seal those edges!

Method 2: Tape   

     1. Take a piece of tape and make sure to get most of the stickiness off of it.

     2. Draw the shape of the chevron on your tape. This time I made it straight rather than curvy.

     3.   Test it out against your nail to see if it's a keeper. If so, just cut along the dotted line.

  4.   After your base color is nice and dry, place the tape on your nail (no need to press it down hard) and paint over it with your 2nd color. Try not to flood your nail because it may get under the tape.

 Remove the tape and allow the polish to dry.

    5.    Move the tape up as much as you desire and paint your 3rd color over this. Remove the tape.

           Voila! Allow your chevron to dry before doing your clean up or putting on your topcoat.

Final Product

    



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Hope you all enjoyed the tutorial and try a Chevron/Fishtail design on your nails if you haven't already! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!!!

Until Next Post! ^_^v