YSL Blue Moon & 10% Coupon Code Reminder

Above & Below: YSL Blue Moon is a favorite of mine for several reasons. I love anything lunar, so the name was the first thing that appealed to me! Although sheer, it is a quiet duo chrome, gently changing from gold to pink to a very pale aqua in different lighting.

Above & Below: In some lighting, the nail tips seem to stay a pale aqua, while the bed of the nail is pink. It reminds me a bit of some of the mood-changing polishes on the market.

Below: I placed a coat of OPI's Mad as a Hatter over the YSL and it gives it a subtle, iridescent look.

Last month I placed my first order at BeautyTicket.com, and I noticed they had Yves Saint Laurent nail lacquers for $11.99. I ordered 2 shades along with some other items, and I was very pleased with their customer service, shipping, and the products themselves. Their inventory changes frequently and while I was searching through their site last night, I noticed they had quite a few more YSL polishes than the last time I'd checked, including one of my favorites, Blue Moon (Bleu Lune). Sadly, I paid $20.00 for mine at the counter, but now I know better! They were kind enough to offer some items for my Friday Follower Freebie Contest, along with a coupon code for my readers for 10% off any order (US & Canada only for shipping purposes). I wanted to remind you that this code expires today, so if you'd like to stock up on some higher end polishes or cosmetics at a great price, enter BodySoul10 to receive your discount.

Bleach Black Dickweed

Above & Below: Bleach Black Dickweed is shown using 2 coats and photographed with an Ott light. I love how the edges fade darker in the last picture, and of course a blackened teal is always a favorite for me.

I ordered Bleach Black Dickweed almost 2 months ago, so I thought it was time to swatch this beauty. A blackened teal shimmer with a very slight duo chrome and a name that either repulses you or makes you laugh, it is a lovely and unique polish. I used 2 coats and I may go with 3 thinner ones the next time. This is one of those polishes that makes me wish I'd waiting for a sunny day to swatch, because I can see hints of purple in the bottle that I think might flash, had I been able to find the sun. No matter, just the fact that it's a blackened teal is good enough for me.

China Glaze Vintage Vixen~Coming July 2010

Here's something to look forward to! I love the image poster--oh, and the shades are pretty impressive too!

Start to Finish Product Review: Sebastian Trilliant Thermal Protection & Shimmer Complex

What & How: Sebastian Trilliant Thermal Protection & Shimmer Complex is a 2-part liquid that mixes and activates when shaken. It can be sprayed on damp hair for added body and shine, and also used sparingly on dry hair before styling with a flat or curling iron for heat protection and additional shine.

Price & Size: 4.9 oz. spray pump bottle runs between $12.99 and $15.99. I buy mine at my hair salon, and it can also be found online.

Would I Buy It Again? Yes. In fact, I picked up my second bottle earlier this week!

Above & Below: Sebastian Trilliant is a 2-part liquid that needs to be shaken prior to using in order to properly mix everything together. Below is my hair just before I got it cut and colored last week, styled with Trilliant. My hair color tends to fade after 6 weeks, and this really brightens it up and adds shine, especially during the time just before I'm due to have it colored again.

I threw away my first bottle of Sebastian Trilliant Thermal Protection & Shimmer Complex earlier this week--not because I didn't like it, but simply because I'd used it up. I started thinking about product reviews, which many of us post about, and I thought I'd start a new feature called Start to Finish. We often post reviews or read reviews, but seldom do we see any follow-up on the product. I think many of you would agree that sometimes we use a product that seems like perfection at first, only to find that over time our enthusiasm for it wanes, for one reason or another. The reverse can also be said, that over time, a product we weren't crazy about at first, turns out to be a staple item in our beauty routine. The premise of the Start to Finish series will be as the name implies--a complete review of a product's performance from my first impression, to my final impression after completely finishing it up. Every time something lands in the wastebasket, I'll post a review. It seems I don't actually use too many products up very quickly, because I tend to rotate things around in my makeup, skin care, hair care, and so on. It may also be due to the fact that I buy too many beauty products! At any rate, I hope you enjoy this feature and that it helps you out in some of your purchase decisions. There may also be the occasional product review of an item that landed in the trash before it was empty, for one reason or another.

Finish Line Performance: Let me start the review on Sebastian Trilliant by saying it's not something I use daily on a regular basis. For me, this product works best about half-way through the six week period after I get my hair colored. I normally get a clear glaze applied every time I get my hair colored, which add a great deal of shine. When that starts to fade after about 3 weeks, I reach for Sebastian Trilliant. I spray it on damp hair after any other products have been applied, and then I blow dry it. I then spray a lighter mist on my dry hair before heat styling it with a flat iron. The shine factor is the main reason I love this product, but it's a bonus that it also adds some body and conditions my hair at the same time. The first time I used it, I didn't see any noticeable results, and never used it again. Then I decided to give it another try, and after about 3 days of straight use, I could really notice an improvement in the shine and condition of my hair. So although the results weren't instant, this product is one I'm glad I gave a second chance to. It has a very light fragrance that smells a bit like watermelon, and doesn't leave my hair stiff like some heat protectants do. Some of the ingredients are Dimethacone which helps to condition hair and add shine, Glycerin to lock in moisture, Denatured Alcohol--which some people tend to shy away from, but personally, in a hair care product, I find it add just the right amount of hold, and VP/VA Copolymer, which is a thickening agent and also adds shine and hold. The overall result I have from using this is soft, shiny, bouncy hair that shines like glass and feels like silk.

Friday Follower Freebie x Five!

Today's FFF includes a product review, and in staying with the St. Patrick's Day theme, we've tied everything together in a nice little green display! Because of the generosity of Reviva Labs, we're going to have 5 winners instead of the customary 1 or 2. Each winner will receive 2 bars of Reviva Lab's All Natural Seaweed Soap, 1 bottle of Studio M (formerly Massini) Jade or Energy nail lacquer, and a sprinkling of mint cup candies, all tucked into a festive green bucket!

Reviva Labs is as a company whose origins are in professional skin care salons, and they produce some of the finest skin care available. I know this for a fact because I've been reviewing some of their other products (which I'll post about later this month), and am nothing short of being very impressed with them. I don't post all of the product lines I review, because honestly, if I don't care for them, I don't want to spend the time to post a formal review. Now if something were to be completely unacceptable for whatever reason, I would certainly inform you of that, because I would want you to be aware. There are many mediocre beauty/skincare products out there, but the ones I'm interested in and the ones that I want to make you aware of, are the ones I choose to spend my time on. With that being said, on to the review!

The All Natural Seaweed Soap, is a vegetable based soap made from palm and coconut oils. The seaweed grains provide gentle exfoliation while also removing impurities from your skin. Seaweed has long been touted as a skin care product for it's diverse cleansing and anti-cellulite properties. This soap also contains glycerin to help your skin maintain the softness imparted from the coconut and palm oils. I've been using this soap for over a week now and have no negative issues with it. It lathers up nicely and rinses clean without any drying effect on my skin. It has a light fragrance and the seaweed grains seem to be just the right size to do the job right without any scratching on my skin. What I like the most about this soap is how moisturized my skin feels. Normally, especially in the still-cool weather we're having, my skin feels like I need to apply a moisturizer to it. After using this soap, I no longer have that feeling. I was even able to enlist my husband to help me out with this review, and if you knew my husband, that doesn't happen too often! He was just as pleased as I was with it and has been using his bar faithfully. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that I always enjoy using natural based products. Reviva Labs is known for their ability to provide many natural and effective products, and although I had heard of them, it wasn't until I read through some of their literature that I realized exactly what this company was all about. They have been in business for over 37 years, and their founder, Stephen Strassler, was one of the first Aestheticians in the U.S. They offer a wide range of basic and specialty skincare products, which can be found in many health food stores, and on their website. All of the ingredients for each product can be found on their site, and there are a number of navigational links at the top of the page filled with useful information on skin care.

THE RULES: You must be a follower to enter. You must leave your eMail address below in the comments section as your entry. You must submit your entry no later than midnight tomorrow, March 13. Remember, there will be 5 winners! Good luck!

*Reviva Lab products were furnished by the company for a review and prizes.

BB Couture Spring 2010: Ode to a Ladybug

Above & Below: Ode to a Ladybug is one of the shades in BB Couture's recently released Ladybug Collection. The photo above is with an Ott light, while the photo below is with a flash.

I received my Ladybug collection yesterday from Kim at Overall Beauty...I'm always amazed at how fast my orders arrive from her. My first choice was Ode to a Ladybug, a coral-red-pink (how's that for a color description!) that's more of a creme with added gold glitter than an actual shimmer. The glitter is fine and delicate, giving it just a hint of sparkle. This is such a pretty shade, and I think it would look just as nice as a pedicure color. I used 2 coats and had a nice application. I love the high gloss finish on BB Couture polishes, as they're one of the few lines that satisfy me without a top coat.

St. Patrick's Day Contest Goodies!

I apologize for posting the photo of the March Contest goodies so late, but here it is...finally! Too many other projects have cut in to my leisure time, but life has a way of doing that at times. The winner of this contest will receive a rainbow of green polishes, complete with some 'pot of gold' shades. Also included are two nail treatments, nail decals, and POP ROCKS! In green, of course. Pop Rocks are just fun, especially when you put an entire package in your mouth! Here's a breakdown:

Pictured L-R: China Glaze 5 Golden Rings, China Glaze L8R G8R, China Glaze Gussied Up Green, China Glaze Paper Chasing, Essie St. Martin Mint, OPI At Your Quebec and Call, OPI Jade is the New Black, Sinful Green Ocean, Color Club Twiggie, Color Club Object of Envy, Color Club Wild Child, Orly Gumdrop, Orly Green Apple, Orly Luxe. Also included: Gelous Nail Gel Coat (green printing on the bottle!), Smooth Base Coat (this is VNS's custom base coat...and it's green!), Pop Rocks, green nail decals.

I tried to include some new shades as well as a couple of older, hard-to-find shades in this rainbow of polish. And of course, everything has some relation to greeeeeeeen! A special mention of thanks goes out to Yen at Victoria Nail Supply for providing her usual excellent customer service in helping me pull this altogether.

The Rules: Followers Only. Send me an eMail with the words 'March Contest' as the subject line and include your eMail address. Entries due by midnight, March 17, 2010.

Revlon Dark Pleasures: Scarlet Letter

Above & Below: Revlon Dark Pleasures in Scarlet Letter shown using 2 coats. The above photo is with an Ott lamp, while the photo below is with a flash.

I'm feeling -zero- motivation today for anything. I look at polishes and nothing appeals to me, I have tons of work to be doing and yet I'm not doing much of anything. We all have those days I'm sure, I just don't like it because I feel like I'm wasting precious time. Dark mood, Dark Pleasures. This is one I picked up at Big Lots that I hadn't seen before. My Big Lots always seems to have a wide assortment of the Dark Pleasures, and every now and again I find one I don't have. The first coat didn't look too exciting, but the second coat gave it much more depth. This is a burgundy shimmer with deep Ruby red flecks of color. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get back to what I was doing. Nothing! Hopefully tomorrow will be more productive!

Well, It Sounded Like A Good Idea!

And it may still be a good idea. I haven't given up on the concept yet, but it definitely needs a little refining. Have you ever used eye shadow as nail polish? I've mixed it with clear before, but this time I did something a little different. The main problem with this was that I didn't get the coverage entirely even, especially around my middle finger's cuticle, so it looks like it needs serious clean-up. However, the area I'm talking about is so close to the cuticle, that if I cleaned it, I'd take too large of a color section off of the nail bed instead of the cuticle. Read on beneath the picture if you're interested in my experiment!

I was using the blush in my Urban Decay Side Show palette today and there are a couple of eye shadows in there that I never use because of the glitter fallout. One of them is Crash, shown above. I have a product from Dior that is quite old called Voile De Nacre. The premise is that you paint your nails with the clear polish in the set, then apply the finely milled colored powder that comes with it, over the tacky clear polish with a brush. I was never all that impressed with that, but again, it sounded like I good idea when I bought it many years ago! I decided to try something similar with Crash, first painting my nails with a clear base coat and letting them set up just a bit. I them took an eye shadow brush that I don't use often, applied a fair amount of Crash to it, and simply painted in over the nail in one stroke. After rinsing the powder residue from my hands, I applied a coat of Out the Door fast drying top coat. In hindsight, I still think it's an interesting idea that lends itself to endless possibilities. The next time though, I'll try using a makeup wedge sponge and see if I can get a little more even coverage, particularly around the edge of the nail. It seems to me that I'd be able to press the color onto the nail that way, rather than brush it. I'll load up the sponge with color and then press and roll it from side to side, hopefully covering the entire nail.

What do you think? Have you ever done something like this? What I like about this method is that it actually wastes very little eye shadow and doesn't destroy it in the process. If I like the way it looks using this method, then I'd likely go ahead and create an actual polish with it. I just hate when I destroy a shadow in hopes of getting a decent Franken and it doesn't turn out right.

2 Silver/Greys From BB Couture: Hustle & Disco Ball

Above & Below: BB Couture's Hustle is a lovely light grey shade with fine silver glitter. After using this, I'd have to say it's one of my favorite light greys. Below is a close-up of the finish.

Below: BB Couture's Disco Ball is a bright silver shade with holographic bar glitter as well as small silver glitter. The problem is, the bar glitter did not apply in an even manner, which is somewhat typical of this type of glitter. If you look closely, you can see some of the bars got covered up with the second coat, so the shape is there, just not the holographic color. It looks nicer in the bottle, as you can see in the close-up photo below this one.

These 2 silvery grey shades are from BB Couture's Disco Ball Collection. Hustle is a light grey shimmer with small silver glitter. I really love the way this one looks, because it's such a subtle shade of grey and the refined glitter adds just enough sparkle to dress it up. Disco Ball is most definitely more silver, having a somewhat foil finish and holographic bar glitter. It too is a shimmer, and with the bar glitter and silver glitter (which sometimes looks dark grey or black), you'd think it would appear more disco ball-ish! The bar glitter is holographic and it shows up fairly well in the bottle, but not so much on the nail. I used 2 coats on both of these and have no complaints, other than that I wish the look of Disco Ball in the bottle was the same look on the nail.

BB Couture Cherry Baby

Above & Below: BB Couture's Cherry Baby is a Cherry red with subtle shimmer. The color never loses it's clarity and stays a true red in all lighting.

Below: If you asked me to match this color to an item, I'd have to go with a Marischino Cherry. It was the first thing that came to mind after I placed the initial brushstroke.

Below: One of my favorite snacks when I'm trying to curb a sweet tooth is frozen Maraschino cherries. I place them in a Tupperware container in the freezer with about 1/2" of the juice. The juice never freezes entirely, and the cherries taste so sweet. They don't have much nutrional value, but they're only 10 calories each.

I'm clearing my untried BB Coutures making way for their new Spring 2010 Ladybug Collection! First up is Cherry Baby, a perfect Cherry red creme accented with red foil micro glitter. The glitter is subtle, yet noticeable, and the finish has a very high gloss. I used 2 coats and I had no application issues. I have a number of reds that tend to turn toward the pink side in various lighting, but this one stays true. The only thing I don't like about it? Now I have Frankie Valli's Sherry Baby stuck in my head!

BB Couture Spring 2010: Ladybug Collection

Overall Beauty is offering the BB Couture Spring 2010 collection beginning today on their web site. The collection is called Ladybug and offers 6 shades of glitters and cremes.

Above & below L-R: Daisy Dweller (yellow glitter), Beetle Bailey (purple creme), Ode to a Ladybug (red creamy glitter), Lovebug (pink glitter), Signs of Spring (blue cream), Manbug (green glitter).

This looks to be a great collection for Spring, and many of the shades will work all year long. Let's see if I can convince myself to buy all of them, or just a select few. I love a yellow polish against tan skin in the summer, but have only found a few that apply nicely. BB Couture polishes have one of the best formulas available, so I'm definitely looking forward to Daisy Dweller. Hmm, which others should I choose? Manbug is a no-brainer. It's an intriguing shade of green, it's a glitter, and it has a cute name. Signs of Spring looks to be a muted blue with a slight teal hue, so okay, I talked myself into that one. Beetle Bailey looks like a nice enough shade of purple, maybe even Eggplant, but do I need another purple cream? No. Am I passing on this one? I really can't, for sentimental reasons. You see, I have 2 older sisters and we're all a year apart. I also have a little brother that I don't want to leave out, but he wasn't born yet when this childhood flashback started. Anyway, when my oldest sister started Kindergarten, my Mom promised to buy her a turtle...I don't remember why, but then each year when the next child started, she always bought them a turtle. We ended up with 3 turtles and believe it or not, 2 of them survived for more than 20 years. One was named Beetle Bailey, so yes, I have to have this one. I need the collection namesake polish, Ode to a Ladybug, because in the picture, it looks like it might be a red-based coral rather than just a straight-up red. So that only leaves Lovebug. Pink. Glitter. Girly. Without it, my collection wouldn't be complete. Into the cart you go. As you can see, I can justify anything once I put my mind to it! With Kim's quick shipping, I should have these to swatch for you soon.

What do you think of this collection? Do you have any favorites? I've got 7 untried BB Coutures on my shelf, so I'm going to get busy swatching them to make room for this collection!