Lots of New Color Club Collections!

I was browsing Color Club's site, and saw all of these new collections they have coming! I don't see anything about exact release dates, but they definitely give us something to look forward to. Glitters, Foils, Holidays, French, and scented top coats are the theme of Copycoats!

*Source

Milani Haute Flash Shimmer Lipgloss

Today is the last day to take advantage of some of Milani's LE July 2011 products (includes polish, eye shadow, and lip glosses) and these are also available on line if you haven't been able to locate them near you. There are four shades available in the Haute Flash Full Cover Shimmer Lipgloss LE Collection, and they retail for $6.99 each (0.18 oz.).

In A Flash - deep purple with multi-colored micro glitter that reminds me in color, of Massini/Studio M Purple Medallion!

Hot Flash - bright fire engine red shade with hot pink micro glitter.

Star Flash - baby pink with pale violet and blue micro glitter.

Flashy - rich magenta with pale violet and pink micro glitter.

The overall tube measures 5.25" and the applicator is a doe-foot style.

The formula on the Haute Flash glosses is definitely on the thick side, which allows them to wear longer than most glosses. I was concerned that they may be drying with the amount of glitter in them, but I found them to wear very nicely with no drying at all. These are highly pigmented and maintain their color longer than many of my other glosses.

I'm loving all four of these shades! They're sparkly and colorful, they wear well and feel smooth on my lips, and even though the glitter is quite plentiful throughout these, I don't feel like my lips are too glitter-fied. All four of these shades seem to work with my skin tone and they are shades that are going to work for me during every season.

Were you able to find these in your area? Did you pick any up if you were?

On a side note, after my computer died and I got my new one up and running, my camera decided it too had had enough! That was the reason for my absence this past week. After doing some research, I replaced my old Canon with another Canon (Powershot Elph 300 HS), so I'm in the process of learning how that one works. The pictures in this post are my first using the new camera, so hopefully I'll be able to improve upon them in the near future.

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

In the News: Current Nail Stories on Madonna & Kia

I'm catching up on some of my reading this evening and thought I'd share a couple of links with Nail News you might find interesting. The first is from Fashionista discussing the possible copyright infringement by Madonna's newest nail polish addition to her line vs. Butter London. You can read about it here and see the similarities between the two brands.

In other news, auto maker Kia has come up with a crazy ad campaign that involves nail polish. I know how competitive the advertising industry is, and I know that coming up with the most unique approach to sell a product is an integral part of the job. But the video in this link is almost hard to believe! I don't know how effective it will be as advertising, but someone deserves extra points for such an endeavor! Adweek has the scoop here.

Come Monday...weekly newsletter

Hello, beauties! How was the weekend? I'm still working on transferring files and photos to my new computer and I will be glad when that's done. I also bought a portable external hard drive so the next time I lose my computer, my back-up system will hopefully be in tact!

First up, our winner of the Morningside Linden Flower Body Butter is...Carrie! Congratulations to Carrie, and thanks to all who entered.

Not too much in nail news this week, although I did see where Kim from Overall Beauty is going to be carrying Glitter Gal polishes. I don't have any of these in my collection, so I'll be picking up a few to add. Let me know if you have any recommendations.

Speaking of recommendations, I've been trying to upgrade my make up brushes and ordered the MAC 187 and 188 this weekend. I usually wash mine in baby shampoo, but after reading about some homemade brush cleaner recipes, I thought I'd get some ideas from you about the subject. How often do you wash your brushes, and what type of cleanser do you use?

There have been a few comments left over the past couple of weeks that readers were having trouble connecting to my Facebook page. If you have minute, I'd appreciate it very much if you can click on the FB link in the right-hand column and let me know if it works for you. I deleted my original link and uploaded it again, so I'm not sure what the problem is. Thank you!

That's it for now, and I hope you all enjoy this last week of July!

What's Your Favorite Fall 2011 Polish Collection?

Now that most of the Fall 2011 polish collections have been revealed, do you have an overall favorite? I know many of us haven't seen all of the collections in real life because they're not yet available, but what are your first impressions? There are six brands that I tend to think of as the most mainstream: Orly, Zoya, OPI, Essie, Color Club, and China Glaze, and below are their Fall offerings. Of course there are many other brands that we love, but of these six, do you have a favorite Fall Collection?

I personally like my accessories--I do consider nail polish to be an accessory!--to reflect the season of the moment for the most part, and after a long, hot Summer, I'm ready for earth tones, smoky hues, and shades that make me really feel the season. The changing reds and golds of the leaves, bonfires, cool nights, crisp autumn blue skies, leather boots, soft sweaters...these are the things that come to mind when I think of Fall, and I like to see those shades represented in the Fall collections.

Thinking back over the past couple of years, Orly has often been my favorite Fall collection. I'm having that same thought again this year. A pop of color, some traditional Fall tones, and a variety of finishes all appeal to me in the Birds of a Feather Collection.

I must admit though, Zoya's Smoke & Mirrors is a collection that really reflects my favorite Fall moods and colors.

OPI Touring America has a handful of shades I'm interested in, but it definitely doesn't "look" like what I want a Fall collection to represent. I'd prefer to see smaller collections with more originality than a larger collection that has just a couple of Fall-like shades and a majority of what I'll call "filler" shades.

I love the theme of Essie's Brand New Bag, and I think the color palette is Fall-like. But the more I see swatches of this collection though, the less enthused I am about it overall.

This is the only Fall collection that I have so far, and there are some great Fall shades in Color Club's Back to Boho set. There are some shades that don't do anything for me though, and again, I'd prefer to see less shades that are more unique and true to the season, than a larger collection with some random shades included.

The China Glaze Metro Collection seems like a good Fall Collection, but again, there are some shades that don't appeal to me. I will say however, that for a larger Fall collection, they did a great job of hitting the mark on most of these shades. It has plenty of what I think makes up a good Fall selection--there's dark, smoky, pops of color, vampy, trendy, and a nice range of finishes.


I'm torn between Orly's collection and Zoya's collection for my favorite Fall set if I had to pick just one that represents the Fall season the best. Of course, that's just my opinion! Tell us your thoughts and what one collection you'd pick for your Fall favorite, based on what you've seen so far. Or maybe there's another collection that I didn't include that you like better.

On a side note, I did get my new computer up and running on the first try! Now I have to transfer all of the photos I had ready to post, load some software, and all of that other fun stuff!

Short Leave of Absence!

I managed to get Color Club's Back to Boho Fall 2011 Collection swatched, but my computer died just after that. I'm tired of fighting with my laptop all day and its lack of photo editing software, so I'm off to buy a new system. I've got a busy weekend coming up also, so I'll likely take a few days to get things hooked up. I'll leave you with a quick photo of Nouveau Vintage from Back to Boho. Have a great weekend, and wish me and my lack of technology luck!

Color Club Back to Boho Nouveau Vintage Bottle Pic!

Color Club's Back to Boho Fall 2011 Collection arrived a couple of hours ago, and I can't wait to swatch these tomorrow! It looks like there are a couple of jellies in the collection, but the one that really caught my attention was Nouveau Vintage. The press release description of The perfect understated vintage frosty gold didn't sound too appealing to me, but words can be deceiving!

I don't want to get too excited yet, because once on the nail it may turn into a frosty gold. Here's hoping it looks as good out of the bottle as it does in the bottle!

Morningside Simple Originals Body Butter Review & Giveaway!

I recently had the opportunity to try a "new to me" brand called Morningside, which is a woman-owned natural body care company based in Idaho. Their focus is on value and safe quality ingredients (97% naturally derived ingredients). In addition to making quality products at a very reasonable price, for every Originals or Simple Originals product that a consumer purchases, a portion of the proceeds are donated to the “Every Child is an Original” foundation which funds projects that serve to enable America’s youth to gain the tools they need to succeed in life and compete in the world economy.

Morningside Simple Originals Body Butter ~ I was able to choose my own product to review, and the Tomato Blossom scent intrigued me. Never having actually smelled a tomato blossom, I was very curious about this scent. I love fresh tomatoes and we grow them every year, but considering how strong and distinctive the scent of tomato foliage is, I couldn't imagine what this might smell like. I was pleasantly surprised by this scent, and it's addicting to me! It's not bitter at all like tomato plants, but clean and fresh. The scent is like nothing I've ever smelled before in a product, but it reminds me of freshly mown grass and a summer rain. I find it very intoxicating and delightful, because those two scents always bring back fond childhood memories. The older I get, the more I miss my youth, and I find myself opening the jar just to take me back to a simpler, more carefree time. It's like therapy in a jar!

Morningside's Body Butter is a nice consistency--plenty thick, but soft enough to apply quickly and easily. It has absolutely no greasy feeling and it absorbs well, leaving a delicate scent and ultra-soft skin. This 8 oz. tub is filled with shea butter, antioxidants, extracts and vitamins, and it leaves my skin feeling hydrated all day long. Here's a look at the ingredient list:



This product feels and performs very luxuriously, and the pricing is beyond reasonable. They are offering a two-pack of their body butters for just $12.99 right now, which is 35% off their normal price. You can choose two of the same scent, or one of each scent offered. They also offer free shipping within the U.S. for orders over $35.00.

Morningside is an eco-conscious company that offers a range of bath and body products within their four different brands: Originals, Simple Originals, Morningside, and Lumiere. I found the body butter to be of above average quality, and their pricing is less than I would expect based on that quality.

Giveaway ~ I chose their other scent for our giveaway, because I wasn't too sure about the Tomato Blossom, until I smelled it! The other scent is Linden Flower, a light fresh floral fragrance. One winner will receive an 8 oz. tub of Linden Flower Body Butter. If you'd like to enter, please leave your eMail in the comments section below. Entries will be accepted until midnight Sunday, July 24. The winner will be announced in my Come Monday weekly newsletter on Monday, July 25. Followers only, please.


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

OPI Pink of Hearts Pink Shatter to Support Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Let’s Shatter Breast Cancer!

OPI Announces New Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts Nail Lacquer to Support
Susan G. Komen for the Cure®


OPI launches the limited edition Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts Nail Lacquer to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in its promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever. The 2011 Pink of Hearts edition will follow in the footsteps of its namesake 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Nail Lacquers in raising awareness of breast cancer for the fifth year in a row, during the months of September and October (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month). Unlike previous shade incarnations, this year’s Pink of Hearts Nail Lacquer marks the debut of fan-favorite Shatter coat in OPI’s first pink shade.

“We are continuing to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure in the hopes of increasing breast cancer awareness, while inspiring and empowering women. The organization’s dedication to this cause is unwavering,” remarks Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “OPI is proud to join with Susan G. Komen for the fifth consecutive year to offer Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts. By launching our first-ever Pink Shatter coat, we hope this exciting new textured hue will generate lots of awareness for this cause.”

Each bottle of Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts has a special pink-ribbon tag and pink cap wrap to call attention to breast cancer awareness. OPI will also be making its annual donation of $25,000 to Komen for the Cure.

Pink Shatter coat contains no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and it also features OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application.
The limited edition Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts will be available throughout the months of September and October 2011 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer.

Refinery29 Reserve's Deal of the Week (Zoya, Juice Beauty, Alima and more)

If you love natural and organic product brands like Zoya, Juice Beauty, 100% Pure, Suki, and Alima, this is a great deal that I was recently made aware of by Refinery29, a fantastic web site that showcases the latest trends and fashions. They just launched another site called Refinery29 Reserve, which offers subscribers exclusive offers on all of their favorite brands, stores, and experiences. It only takes a minute to join their site, and you can do that by clicking on the sign-up link in the upper right corner.

They've partnered with Futurenatural for a deal that works somewhat like Groupon...you pay $60.00 and receive a voucher for $100.00. This deal is only available until midnight tomorrow, and the voucher must be used by July 31, 2011. You can find all of the details here.

They carry quite a few brands in addition to my personal favorites that I listed above, so check out this deal if you're a fan of any of their product lines! I'm looking forward to seeing future offers from Refinery29 Reserve...not that I need any more products, but if it's a good bargain, how can I resist?

Suki Body Butter Cream Healing Salve for Cuticle Defense

I've been testing out Suki Body Butter Cream Salve, and it has been added to my "must have" list of products for my cuticle care. This 100% natural multi-functional product is designed "to nourish, moisturize, heal and protect any areas on your body that need special attention." It's effective on everything from a sunburn, to dry feet and elbows, eczema, bruises, stretch marks, small cuts and scratches--and it's safe and gentle enough for babies.

The Butter Cream Salve comes in a 2.0 fl. oz. glass jar and melts easily for application once it touches the warmth of your skin. I would like to see this product in a little more user-friendly packaging, because I scoop it out with the back of my finger nail--which works fine, but a small tube would be ideal if the product would still function properly in that type of packaging.

The combination of ingredients is excellent for healing, and soft, supple and hydrated skin. The scent is quite strong, smelling of lavender with an underlying camphor or menthol. I'm not crazy about the scent, but it doesn't linger.


I started out using this on my cuticles after having good luck using another product that's pure shea butter. For me, this type of product works better at keeping my cuticles under control than other more product-specific ones like CND Cuticle Eraser. I notice much less excess cuticle skin coming off when I do my weekly cuticle remover application followed by pushing my cuticles back, since I began using the Butter Cream Healing Salve. I try to remember to apply it twice a day, morning and evening for the best results. It's long-lasting, and keeps my cuticles looking soft and moisturized all day.

It's also been effective as a lip balm, healing up some scratches on my hands from gardening, and softening my elbows, knees and heels. This product retails for $24.95, and while it's more expensive than the pure shea butter product I had been using, it lasts significantly longer on my skin and contains not only soothing and nourishing ingredients, but grapeseed for an antioxidant. I only need to use a tiny amount on my cuticles, so this should last me for some time. The results are noticeable immediately, and with continued use my cuticles look better than they ever have. Moisture, nourishment, and healing properties make this product an all-around winner for me.

Suki carries a wide range of products for the face, body, hair, and more. They are cruelty-free, use recycled materials in their packaging, and their products are 100% natural. Their web site hosts a wealth of information about product ingredients, so if you're a skin care freak like I am, check it out for some interesting reading.

*Product featured was furnished by the manufacturer or PR firm for review.

Misa Fall 2011: Hip to my Jive Collection

Revisit the ’50s With Misa Cosmetics’ Hip to my Jive Collection

Like, far-out, daddy-o! Misa Cosmetics’ fall collection, Hip to My Jive, will have you flipping out over shades that hearken back to the decade of old-school cool while ensuring that your nails remain of-the-moment. The ’50s brought us TV dinners, cruising in chrome-accented automobiles, and poodle skirts at the malt shop, but now they bring forth six retro-inspired hues that’ll knock your socks off!

Fall 2011: Hip to My Jive Collection - Coming August 15th

Peachy Keen: You don’t have to be a square to appreciate the necessity of perfectly polished nails. This champagne-hued taupe is a flattering neutral that’ll go with everything in your closet, from full skirts to sweetheart sweaters. Take this shade from the office to after-hours—it’s guaranteed to make a soft, feminine statement.

Go for the Pinks: Thinking pink? Throw your hair into a ponytail and put on your girliest nail color. Perfect for going steady—or meeting the parents!—this muted but statement-making matte rose lends a girly-girl flair with an irresistible high-gloss finish.

Pop the Clutch: Nothing’s more liberating than grabbing the keys and taking a ride on the boulevard—except perhaps this rosy brown hue with a hint of iridescence. Put the top down, slide the key in the ignition, crank up the tunes, and tap out your favorite rock-and-roll beats on the steering wheel with perfectly polished nails.

Bop Till You Drop: Go ahead, stay out all night; this vibrant shade will ensure that your nails make a statement from early evening into the wee hours. One warning, though: This shimmering orangey coral will definitely outlast any partner you can find down at the dance hall.

Catch a Flick: Getting swept away in your favorite Hollywood plots at the drive-in is a perfect pastime, but you’ll want to keep your nails firmly rooted in reality. Just try to tear your eyes away from this cool mint green to watch the movie!

Got It Made in the Shade: Whether in the heat of an Indian summer or lounging as the leaves turn for autumn, this fall, make sure you’ve got nail color that’s laid-back yet oh-so-hip. Perfect for hanging with the greasers or dancing at the sock hop, this unique olive green will keep your nails cool—and hot—all season long.

About Misa Cosmetics
Misa offers more than 164 nail lacquers that provide the richest and most intense coverage possible in nail color. An exceptionally high concentration of pigment, as well as mica, in a professional-grade formulation ensures that Misa colors last and last without chipping, wearing or fading. And unlike many polishes that can thicken with age, Misa nail lacquers stay perfectly mixed for a smooth, streak-free and even finish—even years after first use.

Misa Cosmetics’ Technology
Misa continues to upgrade products, including the use of revolutionary nanotechnology. This nanotechnology helps Misa develop polishes that are smoother, resulting in a surface that allows light to reflect evenly. Nail polish performance is enhanced through ease of application and removal, high gloss, higher abrasion resistance and better stability. Better adhesion allows for longer-lasting results. Safety is also a prime objective; therefore, Misa no longer uses DBP, toluene or formaldehyde chemicals in any of its nail lacquers. A unique 230-strand polish brush fits in the hand—just right for a steady polishing job—while the elegant and sturdy base ensures the bottle won’t tip. Discriminating nail professionals and colorful people everywhere have requested Misa since 1996. Beyond seasonal collections, Misa offers an impressive array of frosts, sheers, French manicure and nail art colors for year-round indulgence.

Come Monday...weekly newsletter

How was the weekend? Mid 90's here, so Summer is in full force! First up, I've got some winners to announce today...congratulations to:

Facebook Winner: Melinda A. (not sure if you have a blog/link!)

Friday Follower Freebie Winner: HollygyG222

July Monthly Contest/China Glaze Metro: Christie B.

In nail news, Karl Lagerfeld will soon be releasing his newly designed writing pens that dispense nail polish instead of ink. They're expected to retail for about $2,000.00 each, so don't expect to see a review on my blog! That's just a bit beyond my nail polish/cosmetics budget.

We seem to be inundated with celebrity and reality stars nail polish and cosmetics releases lately...Justin Bieber, Serena Williams, the Kardashians...now, Madonna and her daughter Lola are expanding their Material Girl fashion line next month to include "nail polish, lipgloss, body sprays and lotions in Macy's New York next month with eye-shadows following in September." You can read more about their latest venture here. Teresa Giudice, from Real Housewives of New Jersey, is also launching a line called TG by Teresa Giudice. Details can be found here. Her line will offer nail polish, lip gloss and lipstick for starters. It's anyone's guess who will be the next to launch a line!

That's all for now, and I hope you all enjoy the week. Stay cool if you're in the heatwave that's gripping parts of the U.S.!

L'Oreal, What Is This Nail Polish?

I was flipping through the August issue of Allure Magazine, and admiring the beauty of Freida Pinto in L'Oreal's ad for their The One Sweep Eye Shadow...but I was quickly entranced with her nail polish! What is that? It looks like a deep chocolate, or maybe even black with gold glitter.

Does anyone know if this is a L'Oreal polish shade? Maybe it's layered with a gold glitter? I don't know what it is, but I need it!

NOTD: Chanel Graphite

After trying to talk myself out of getting anything from the Illusions d'Ombre de Chanel Fall 2011 Collection, I ended up getting the three nail lacquers, the powder blush, and two of the Illusion D'Ombre eye shadows. If I love any of those nearly as much as I love Graphite, then it was money well spent on my personal happiness!


Graphite looks like a charcoal grey metallic shade in the bottle, but release it from the glass confines and it has quite a bit more than that going on. The primarily gold sparkly micro glitter comes to life, and this color-changer--while not a duo chrome--flashes some olive green at the base, and some additional colors of glitter in addition to the gold. In the sun (above) the foil/metallic finish is more evident, while lower lighting (below) brings out the olive tone and the glitter is much more defined.



The formula on this shade was just the right consistency, and I used 3 thin coats. I love the many faces of Graphite...metallic, foil, shimmer, glitter (a lot of glitter!), grey, olive, gold. This shade looks different every time I look at it, and I can't stop staring at it. Chanel calls this a glittery grey-black, but don't let that limited description fool you!

Friday Follower Freebie!

Today's Friday Follower Freebie features four of Revlon's newest scented polishes! One follower will win all four shades...Orange Fizz, Watermelon Fizz, Colada Fizz, and Grapefruit Fizz!

If you'd like to enter for a chance to win these polishes, just leave your eMail in the comments section below. I'll accept entries until I post my Come Monday weekly newsletter on July 18, at which time the winner will be announced.

Good luck, and have a fabulous weekend!

Lippmann Across the Universe vs. Lynnderella Throwing Water Into the Ocean

Here's a quick comparison of Deborah Lippmann's Across the Universe with Lynnderella's Throwing Water Into the Ocean. They are definitely similar, but they do have their differences. Both have a dark blue jelly-type base, but AtU is more navy, while TWItO is more of an inky deep teal. I use two thicker coats of Atu, touching up bald spot after the first coat before applying the second coat. TWItO applies best for me using three coats without requiring any touch ups, so similar applications, more or less. *Click pic for larger detail.

Macro shots show the glitter colors and configurations. Lippmann's has more green hex pieces than Lynnderella's, and more uniform hex sizes. Lynnderella's has a variety of hex sizes. There's also more micro glitter in the Lippmann shade.


The most obvious difference is the prominence of the green hex glitter in the Lippmann polish. The more obvious difference to me is in the base itself. Not the blue color difference as much as the way Lynnderella's polish seems to overlay the glitters. Lippmann's glitter appears to be more on the top surface, while Lynnderella's seems to have more depth to it. I mentioned earlier that Lynnderella's base reminded me of the Maybelline Waters polishes, and that attribute allows you to see the layers of glitter, with each progressing layer showing more clarity.

Reader Requests: Lynnderella Blue Flame & Bibbitty Bobbitty Boo Blue

Here are two more Lynnderella shades that readers wanted to see! I'm making my way through the requests, so if you haven't seen yours yet, it will be up in the next couple of days.

Blue Flame is an interesting shade which I think was designed to be used as a top coat over just about any shade. It's a milky base that's filled with pale violet iridescent micro glitter...or so I thought. The first stroke (shown here over a black creme) revealed larger hex glitter that I didn't see in the bottle. Upon closer inspection, there is the palest of gold--almost see-through--hex glitter in the mix as well. It all combines on the nail to become a glowing bright blue maze of glitters.

Here's a photo taken in the shade, and the hex glitter becomes more foil-like. I did put this shade over a pale yellow that I have on my toes to see what color a lighter base would turn the glitters, and they are a very pale lilac. I'll have to do a nail wheel using random colors to see just what else Blue Flame can do!

Macro Shot.


Bibbitty Bobbitty Boo Blue...try to say that fast a couple of times! This shade looks quite purple in the bottle, because it has a massive amount of purple micro glitter mixed in with the larger foil blue hex glitter. This shade appears to have a greyed-out dusty violet colored base, and I used three coats for opaque coverage. Once applied, it becomes a violet blue shade that leans more blue.

Macro shot.

I have a hard time describing some of the Lynnderella polishes, because there are so many colors and shapes in them! Many of the glitters are iridescent, so they change color in different lighting and with movement. Never having tried to re-create one of her polishes, I can certainly see why it has been difficult for those who have tried, with no luck. What she puts in these, I have no idea, because I see something different every time I look at them.

Lynnderella Throwing Water Into The Ocean

I've received a number of reader requests asking if I could share more of Lynnderella's shades since announcing that she is now offering her polishes to the public. The most requested shade was Throwing Water Into The Ocean, and it's a beauty! This is an inky deep teal shade with a buildable base that reminds me of the old Maybelline Waters polishes. It's loaded with tiny purple and turquoise micro glitter that's secondary to the larger turquoise foil hex glitter. I used three coats, and the base seems to have some charcoal color mixed in with the deep teal.


Macro shots are always nice to see, because they can give a more in-depth look at at the details. In many cases, those macro details aren't noticeable to the naked eye when wearing the polish, but that's not the case with this shade. Every detail in the macro shot is clearly evident on the nail.

The formula on this shade is jelly textured, and the color and glitter detail begins to emerge nicely after the second coat. A third coat is optional if you prefer an opaque look, as I generally do. The drying time is a little quicker than most jellied glitters, and there's no staining (blues seems to stain on me more than other colors). The finish dries to a high gloss shine, and because the glitter lays nice and flat, it's smooth as can be to the touch. Another upside to this shade is that when I remove it, there's no "dreaded foil removal" additional time required, because it comes off quite easily.

More Lynnderella shade requests to come yet this week! I'm also going to compare Throwing Water Into The Ocean with Deborah Lippmann's Across the Universe, because that was my first thought when I first saw this Lynnderella shade.

China Glaze Let It Snow Holiday 2011 Nail Wheel

It's never too early to start thinking about the holidays! Here's a quick look at this year's holiday offering from China Glaze, the Let It Snow Collection.

Come Monday...weekly newsletter

Happy Monday to everyone! Did you enjoy the weekend? We had a sunny and hot weekend, so you'll hear no complaining from me. It's a slow week in nail news, although there is one Fall polish collection I haven't heard anything about yet, and that's MAC. They've teamed up the last couple of years with Jin Soon Choi for their Fall/Winter collection, so I'll be interested to see what they do this year.

Tea Leoni has a new TV show coming out on HBO called Spring/Fall. It's a half hour comedy that revolves around the lives of two women working in the New York City fashion industry. They began shooting the pilot last month, so I think I'll tune it to that...although I'm not sure yet when it will debut.

BB Couture has a new collection coming out, and Kim has them up on Overall Beauty. There are no pictures up yet, but the items have been added. With names like Busty Bombshell, Feathered Vixen, and Junk in the Truck to name a few, I will be refreshing Kim's site for those pictures!

That's all I've got for you this week. I hope everyone has a fantastic week!

OPI Miss Universe Limited Edition Collection Swatches

The OPI Miss Universe Limited Edition Collection contains four shades with a variety of colors and finishes. They are scheduled for an August release, set to tie in with the Miss Universe contest to be held in September, although they are starting to show up stores now.
The application and formula on all of the shades was nice and easy, and my photos are shown using two coats.

It's My Year is a medium plum shimmer packed with gold micro glitter, giving it a somewhat foil finish. The first photo was taken in full sun, while the second photo was taken in the shade. In brighter lighting, you'll see massive amounts of sparkle, while lower lighting really refines the gold glitter.



Congeniality is My Middle Name is a bit of a chameleon--in brighter lighting (full sun directly below) it's a berry colored shimmer with pink and purple shimmer, that also seems to reflect some blue shimmer. This is a jelly finish with shimmer, if there is such a thing. Normally, jellies are found in creme finishes, but take a look at the second photo. Indoors, the color is more of a burgundy, and the jelly aspect is evident. Presto! Now it's a vampy jelly!



Swimsuit...Nailed It isn't terribly unique, because we've seen a number of similar shades recently, but it's still a great bright royal blue with a top-notch formula. This shade seems to have a charcoal base, making it nearly opaque in one coat, although I did use two in this photo. It has blue foil micro glitter, giving it a metallic finish in brighter lighting, and a more foil finish in lower lighting.



Crown Me Already is one crazy-busy glitter! This bright silver shade is a maze of large hex glitter and smaller standard glitter in a clear base. This is almost too glittery for me, if that's possible. I thought this would be primarily a layering polish, but I did try it over Congeniality is My Middle Name, and it covered the color after one coat almost to the point where I couldn't see the base color. I'll have to play around with it some more with a lighter touch. This is shown using two coats, and a third would likely cover visible nail lines. The application isn't bad, but there is so much glitter in this shade, that it tends to need smoothing out here and there to break up the glitter colonies!




What are your thoughts on this collection? I'm happy with all of them, but I adore Congeniality is My Middle Name. The jelly trait in that one definitely appeals to me.