Nailtini Stinger-An Interesting Duo Chrome

Last week I showed you a photo of a new polish collection from Nailtini that was designed by Janie Bryant, the costume designer from TV's Mad Men (view post here). I knew I needed to check out Stinger, so this is my first polish from Nailtini.

Below: I used two coats of this highly pigmented shade, and had no issues with the formula or application. I've been wearing this since yesterday morning with no top coat, and so far, so good on the wear. Stinger is described as an iridescent shimmering black, but it's got quite a bit more than that going on! It does have a black base, which acts as a vignette frame around the primarily deep teal shimmer that is at the center of the nail. These photos were taken outdoors under partly sunny skies.

Below: When shown in lower outdoor lighting, the shimmer becomes a little more green-toned and the black evens out across the background of the nail instead of staying focused at the edges.

Below: Back in a little more sun, the black shifts more to the sides again.

Below: What makes this an interesting shade, is that indoors is where the duo chrome seems to come to life. Most duo chromes do their best work in brighter lighting, but I'm not complaining! These photos were taken indoors with no flash. Purple and green are the most noticeable colors seen, but I spied some blue and teal in there too when wearing it around inside.

Below: Indoors with a flash.

You know I love all duo chromes, and this one is no exception. Nailtini polishes are themed after bar drinks, so maybe this is designed to become more active color-wise indoors under low bar/restaurant lighting, I don't know. I also picked up another shade from this latest release called Bourbon Satin, a rich brown hue.

I ordered mine last Friday and received them this past Friday, so a week from California is typical. I received a shipping notice within hours after placing my order, and they also included a free mini (.25 fl. oz.) of On the Rocks. These polishes are .5 fl. oz. and they come in a box. They are a little pricey at $14.00 each, but with the free mini, great customer service/shipping, and what seems like a quality polish, I'm more than satisfied with my experience.

3 Stila Palette Bargains From Sephora

I wanted to share a trio of palettes I bought from Sephora's Family & Friends Sale with you because I love Stila, but these are great prices too! They'd make fab stocking-stuffers, or in my case, great gifts for myself! I believe the Sephora sale is still going on through November 3 and the code is FF2010.

Below: The Road to Radiance palette contains 4 eye shadows and one Convertible Color (dual lip & cheek cream). This palette has a magnetic closure, an interior mirror (with a little proverb inside!), and measures about 2 1/2"x4 1/2". (note: the flash washed out the palette colors in photo directly below, but the swatches are accurate). With the 20% F & F discount, this is $8.00.

Below: The Pretty in Paris palette is in the same packaging as The Road to Radiance palette. This one is also available for $8.00.

Below: The Backstage eye palette is on sale with the discount for $15.20. This contains 6 eye shadows and is also in a magnetic palette. This palette measures about 3"x4 1/4" and the shadows are larger than the other 2 palettes.

Below: This is the outside of the palette. Isn't that pretty? It's an embossed fabric covering.

If you already love Stila products, you know this is a great deal. Their products are high-quality, extremely pigmented, and long-lasting. The powder shadows can also be used wet for a more intense look. If you've been wanting to try this brand or if you're looking for some nice gift ideas, this is your chance!

Did you place any orders during Sephora's sale? I'm considering one more because there are some NARS items that are tempting me, but I haven't quite decided if I really need them. Let us know what you got!

Sally Hansen Nail Prisms: Golden Cinnabar & Lavender Pearl

Here are a couple of the Sally Hansen Nail Prisms that I picked up at my local Dollar Tree recently. Both are discontinued, but they have been showing up across the country at Dollar Tree stores. I went back earlier this week to pick some up for one of my readers, and they only had a couple left. My store now has a large selection of NYC polishes, including Molten Metal.

Above & Below: Golden Cinnabar is a deep rose gold shimmer that flashes to a lighter gold shade. I like the strong duo chrome in this, but the shade itself is not my favorite with my skin tone.

Below: Lavender Pearl has a less dramatic color change than Golden Cinnabar, going from a pale pinkish lavender tone which is almost white, to a lavender tone.

Below: You can see where the word 'pearl' comes into play in this one's name. The finish goes from a shimmer to a pearl when in lower lighting.

Below: I know what I'll be doing this weekend! We've had very high winds all week, so there was no point in raking the leaves until that settled down. I think everyone else's leaves blew into my yard!

Check out your Dollar Trees to see if they still have any Nail Prisms in stock. They come in 2-packs, so you're only paying $1.00 for two polishes. If you missed out on the NYC Molten Metal craze a couple of years ago, they too could be turning up at your Dollar Tree now.

Mini Review of Color Club Betwitching & Giveaway!

**Contest Is Now CLOSED**

I purchased the Color Club Bewitching mini set a while back from Victoria Nail Supply, and I was also furnished a set from Color Club. So what should I do with the extra set? Give it away, of course! Also included is Art Club's Bewitching Gems Carousel. It's a little late for the winner to use this year for Halloween, but some of the shades--particularly Hocus Pocus and Charmed I'm Sure--are not strictly Halloween colors. Bewitching is the perfect one-coat black creme, which is always nice to have on hand.

Below: These are the stickers that come with the Bewitching set, and they're fabulous! I have quite a few Halloween decals, and these are by far the cutest and most creative ones I've see.

Below: Still on the Halloween topic, I just finished making a massive quantity of candy-filled goodie bags for my daughter's school Halloween party tomorrow. And I'm pleased to report that I only ate one piece of candy while I was filling them!

I'll be baking cookies all afternoon for the party, so we'll see how many of those I manage to consume! If you'd like to enter for a chance to win the Color Club/Art Club set--and I'll even make the winner a skeletor goodie bag!--just leave your eMail below in the comments. If you're dressing up for Halloween or have any spooky plans, let us know that too!

Contest ends at 10/29/10 at midnight!

*Products for the giveaway were furnished by the manufacturer or PR firm.

Orly & SpaRitual Spring 2011 Collections

Eva Chen, Beauty Director at Teen Vogue, just posted this picture on Twitter of the Spring 2011 Collections from Orly and SpaRitual.

*Source and image credit

Bloomberg Reporting OPI In Talks For Sale

Hmm, this is interesting. I don't know how much truth there is to this story from Bloomberg, but if you have an extra $1 billion dollars you're looking to spend, this could be for you!

OPI Products Inc., the closely held nail-care company, is in advanced talks to sell itself to a beauty-care company or private-equity firm for as much as $1 billion, said four people with knowledge of the matter.

Closely held perfume maker Coty Inc. is the likeliest buyer, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. Private-equity firms Bain Capital LLC and Advent International Corp. are also among those that made first- round bids, said the people. Second-round bids are due in the next two weeks, they said.

OPI, based in North Hollywood, California, may fetch $900 million to $1 billion, said the people. Investment bank Lazard Ltd. is running the auction for OPI, according to the people. Interested buyers are conducting due diligence on OPI, which sells nail polish, hand-and-foot care products and body lotion.

Coty distributes fragrances such as “Lovely” from actress Sarah Jessica Parker and “Princess” from designer Vera Wang. OPI’s products, which are used in nail salons, include the color “Teas-y Does It,” from the Holiday 2010 Burlesque collection based on Sony Pictures’ upcoming movie starring Cher and Christina Aguilera.

L’Oreal SA, the world’s largest cosmetics maker, didn’t make a first-round offer, said another person familiar with the matter. The Paris-based company is watching the bidding and may join later, the person said.

Founded in 1981, OPI has annual sales of about $300 million and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of about $80 million, said the people with knowledge the situation. The company is seeking 11 to 12 times its earnings for the sale, they said. President and Chief Executive Officer George Schaeffer founded the company in 1981, according to OPI’s website.
“These rumors have persisted for years, and other than that, I have no comment,” said Harris Shepard, a spokesman for OPI.

Spokeswomen for L’Oreal and New York-based Coty declined to comment. Coty calls itself the world’s largest fragrance company, with annual sales of about $4 billion. Spokesmen for Bain and Advent also declined to comment.

In April, L’Oreal agreed to buy Essie Cosmetics to expand in the nail color market in the U.S. Terms weren’t disclosed. Essie’s sales in the previous 12 months were $28 million, L’Oreal said at the time.

*Source

SpaRitual Fall 2010 Imagine: Dreams Becoming Reality & A World Of Compassion

SpaRitual's Fall 2010 Imagine Collection offers 6 shades comprised of cremes and shimmers, and I have two of the shades to share with you today. Shel Pink, the founder of SpaRitual, has this to say about the collection: "The Imagine Collection offers a brilliant palette of unique shades that nurture creativity and encourage a fresh outlook on beauty."

Above & Below: Dreams Becoming Reality is a teal creme that applied perfectly in two coats. This shade reminded me of several other teals, but when I compared some of them (MAC Blue India and Color Club Gossip Column), they were similar but not dupes. This is a beautiful teal shade that's not quite dusty looking, but it is somewhat muted in tone.

Below: A World of Compassion is described as a dusty periwinkle creme. Anything with the word periwinkle in it is always appealing to me! This one also covered nicely using 2 coats, and it tends to show a little more grey in less lighting and there were times when it appeared to have a more lavender hue.

I think SpaRitual polishes have one of the nicest formulas available. The majority of the ones I've used have covered well in two coats and they offer a nice range of shades and finishes. They retail for $10.00 and I've purchased many of mine at Skinstore.com. There's a 20% off code (autumn20) available now if you're looking to add some SpaRitual products to your collection.

*Products featured were furnished by the manufacturer or PR firm for review.

What Does Essie Have Planned For Spring 2011?

With OPI recently sharing images of their Spring 2011 Texas Collection, and China Glaze Anchors Away Spring 2011 Collection promo pics and color wheels out for us to look at, I wondered if there were any hints as to what Essie had in store for us. I didn't find too much information on the subject, but I did come across this little mention on Pantone's web site from Essie Weingarten:

"Paris. It seems an obvious choice, as it is one of the historic centers of fashion, but there was a large move away from the influence of Paris in the ‘90s in favor of the sweeping globalism that transfigured the world. I think there has been an inevitable return to Paris. Paris means many things to many people, but for me, it is the city of feminine romance!

We are seeing Parisian sensibility in everything right now – fashion, design, literature – you name it. In fact, my spring 2011 collection is heavily influenced by French glamour. This spring will blossom in shades of Antique Roses, Pretty Beiges and Alluring Blues. Metallics, once seen as déclassé, are again becoming de rigueur. Fabulous yet subtle metallics and iridescents for spring are surprising twists on classics, yet still very demure and charming. Springtime is always the time for a beautiful breath of fresh air."

We'll have to wait and see what that all translates to, but the "Alluring Blues" and "iridescents" sound very promising to me!

Seed Healthy Hand Cream: Winter-Proof Your Hands!

With winter quickly approaching, I'm always on the lookout for hand care treatments that protect against the elements. Seed recently launched a new hand cream that I had the pleasure to review, and it's perfect! The product is called Grape Seed Enriched Healthy Hand Cream. This cream is very rich and thick, yet it absorbs quickly without a greasy residue. You can feel the relief to your hands immediately, and with ingredients like Jojoba seed oil for repelling water and added hydration, it seems to last longer on my hands than many other products. I wash my hands several times throughout the day, and I don't feel the need to re-apply this one. The Healthy Hand Cream also contains Grape Seed oil, which is rich in antioxidants including Vitamin E. If your hands are extremely dry and cracked, the Healthy Hand Cream also contains Aloe for healing. My husband has been using this too, and his hands are noticeably improved.

This product is a 100% natural plant-based formula that's Paraben and Dimethicone-free. Seed does not test on animals, and all of their products are made in the USA. Their philosophy, or Seedology states that Everything begins with a seed. It’s a fact that a single seed contains all the nutrients that enable life. When you look inside a seed, it’s packed with elements that provide incredible skin health benefits. Our proprietary formulas are developed to deliver the most comprehensive benefits, while delivering an indulgent sensory experience. It’s all inside these tiny seeds – the essence and power to create a healthy life.

If you're looking for some healthy and effective skin care products, check out the Seed brand. They also offer a nourishing body lotion, lathering shampoo bar, and a moisturizing body bar. I'm quite certain they'll be introducing additional products in the future. The Healthy Hand Cream retails for $7.99 and is available (on sale for $5.59) on their web site here. Their products are also available at Whole Foods (30% off through 11/2). You can view my reviews on their other products here.

*Products featured were furnished by the manufacturer or PR firm for review.

Come Monday...weekly newsletter

I'm very late posting today! I've been swamped with projects I'm trying to get done, so this will be a short post. There's not too much going on in nail news this week...I did see where the Body Shop is releasing 2 holiday polishes, but other than seeing that information on their Ireland Facebook page, I don't know too much about it. P'ssion has some photos of it on her blog, but I'm wondering if these will be released in the U.S.

The winner of the China Glaze Snow and Frosty polishes is whateveramber! Congratulations to her and stay tuned, as I'll be giving away more polishes from the China Glaze 'Tis the Season collection this week.

NOTD: Rimmel Lava Red

My NOTD is Rimmel's Lava Red, from the Lasting Finish Pro line. These retail for $3.49 (Meijer stores) and have the wider angled brush, much like the Sally Hansen Salon line. They have a shorter stem and a wider bottle neck opening, so for that reason, I prefer the design of Rimmel's brush and bottle system. I'm always afraid I'm going to knock the Sally Hansen bottle over because the opening is so narrow!

Above & Below: Lava Red, shown outdoors using 2 coats, applied perfectly for me. The formula is just the right consistency, and dries quickly. This black/brown based shade with a rich burgundy red shimmer has a glow to it, which I love.

This is a great vampy shade for Fall, and I think it's also perfect for the Holidays. I especially like how the shimmer/glow shifts around on the nail. The black/brown base insures an opaque finish with ease, also gives a look that's sometimes a more brown with burgundy and sometimes more of a black with burgundy.

I love everything about this line from Rimmel, from the substantially weighted square bottles, to the brush design, to the shades themselves. Isn't it about time for Rimmel to introduce some more colors to this line?

Nailtini's Janie Bryant Collection ( a duo chrome!!!)

Nailtini is a brand that I've certainly heard of, but I don't own any of their polishes. I saw an article about their newest launch here, and after being mesmerized by Stinger (described as an iridescent shimmering black), the shade on the far right, I decided it was time to add a couple of these to my collection. I also ordered the rich brown shade, called Bourbon Satin (described as a satiny sable shimmer).

According to the article and Nailtini, this pretty little collection was designed by TV's Mad Men Emmy award-winning costume designer, Janie Bryant. The Janie Bryant Lacquer Collection is her first foray into nail polish designing, and if these look as nice on the nail as they do in the promo pictures, I hope it's just the beginning of a new side line career for her. You know I can't resist a duo chrome!

I ordered mine from the Nailtini web site ($14.00 each, $6.95 shipping), and they are also available at QVC.com and Duane Reed Look Boutiques. If you have any polishes from this line, how do you like them? That's probably something I should've asked before I ordered them! I'm looking forward to seeing these though, and I think I'll like them.

China Glaze 'Tis the Season: Snow & Frosty

The China Glaze 'Tis the Season Holiday 2010 Collection contains 2 white shades, Snow and Frosty. Aptly named for the season, don't you think? As I've been doing with all of the shades from this collection, I'll be giving away new bottles of each polish as they're posted. If you'd like to enter to win both of these shades, just leave your eMail in the comments below.

Below: Snow, a white creme, covered quite well using 2 coats. I'm always a little nervous with white creme shades because they're often thick and/or streaky, but Snow performed nicely for me. This is a clean white shade without being blindingly white.

Below: Frosty is shown using one coat over Snow. This is a somewhat sheer pearly white shade with tiny white and silver foil glitter. I used it alone and I was satisfied with 3 coats, although I prefer it over a similar shade. Used alone, more of the silver glitter is evident. The glitter in this sparkles like glistening snow and I noticed indoors under artificial lighting (not shown), the glitter also shows a subtle hint of other colors.

I was impressed with Snow because it applied nicely and was opaque in 2 coats--not my typical experience with a white creme! Frosty softens the look of Snow a bit, while also dressing it up with its sparkle. The formula of Snow reminds me of the Color Club Japanese glitters and some of the China Glaze glitters, in that it's a little jelly-ish. I'd like to try Frosty over a darker color to see what that looks like also. Has anyone tried that? What did you think?

The entry period will be open until midnight tomorrow, 10/23/10, and I'll announce the winner on Monday. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

*Products featured were furnished by the manufacturer or PR firm for review.

LORAC Cosmetics $10.00 Palettes!

If you're familiar with LORAC Cosmetics, you know that they make some top quality products. Their eye shadows are one of my favorite products because they're pigmented, silky, and extremely smooth. They are so soft that they almost seem to have a creme texture. They're powders though, and wear exceptionally well without creasing.

I noticed that they still have some great products on their VIP Discount page for incredible prices, so I wanted to share a little more information about a couple of their palettes that are available for about $10.00 each. These also make good stocking stuffers!

Above & Below: The Pink Python Eye & Cheek Palette (originally $35.00) is on sale for $10.99. This includes 4 eye shadows and 1 blush. The palette is about 3"x4", so you get plenty of product.

Below: The Picture Perfect Makeup Collection (regularly $37.00) is on sale for $9.95. This palette has a place on the front to insert a picture (which I've never done!), and is also good-sized measuring about 4 3/4"x5 1/2". It comes with 3 eye shadows, 1 blush, 1-mini Liquid Lipstick, a double ended eyeliner brush, and a blush brush.

My swatches are not the best, but hopefully you get the general idea! I ordered these last year and have been very happy with them. I check out their VIP sale page periodically, because they offer such deep discounts on their products. Their Croc Palette is my 'go-to' palette, so I'm hoping some day to see that one on the VIP page, although with its popularity, I doubt that will happen. I've hit pan on every item in it, so I'll keep my fingers crossed!

If you scroll to the bottom of their web site, you'll see where you can sign up for VIP savings. They'll send you an eMail alerting you to additional sales, and last year around mid-November, they had a great sale and I was able to pick up almost $300.00 worth of products for about $50.00. Here's a link to what I got, so hopefully they'll do that again this November.

Dollar Tree Sally Hansen Nail Prisms

I stopped at my Dollar Tree yesterday to pick up some Halloween cups and plates, and these somehow ended up with my purchases! They had dozens of these in twin packs, so for 50¢ per polish, that's not a bad deal at all. I was more interested in getting the Nail Prisms, but the old Salon line is nice too.

Below L-R: Diamond, Golden Cinnabar, Lavender Pearl, Rose to the Occasion.

Below: I did a quick swatch of Diamond using 2 coats, and I had only clouds to work with so I don't know it there's more to this one in the sun light. It looks like it could have a little bit of holographic action going on, but I actually like it just the way it's pictured.

Below: With a flash you can see a few more colors, but it's primarily a charcoal/silver color with very fine glitter.

Below: Macro shot of the finish.

There selection at my dollar tree wasn't that varied, just lots of the same colors. Check yours out and report back what you're finding!