Cynthia, Author at Of Life and Lacquer

Author: Cynthia

Of Life and Lacquer > Articles by: Cynthia

Nails Inc. Baker Street

Posted on 4 November, 20123 November, 2012 by Cynthia

How do you feel about blue nail polish? As a nail polish enthusiast, I think that most nail polish colors seem normal, but I’ve noticed that other people think it’s an off color for nails. I think that nail art has become so mainstream, that nothing is really that shocking anymore. Nails Inc. Baker Street is a polish that I had salivated over for a while but somehow hadn’t gotten around to purchasing. If you read my blog, you probably know that Nails Inc. cremes are just about my favorite polishes in the nail world. Before I got my hands on this polish, I received a lovely dupe by Kiko which I reviewed here. Kiko #336 really is a perfect exact dupe, but I could not resist getting both of them. Is it a sickness? You be the judge.

Nails Inc. Baker Street is a such a lovely and saturated cobalt blue. This polish definitely needs two coats because the first coat was a little thin. I actually found that the Kiko applied slightly better. I still love both of them!

I haven’t used my beloved Sticks ‘n Stones in a while so I dusted it off for this manicure.

This was my first purchase from Ninja Polish and I couldn’t have been happier. Since I would never get the Dramarella version of this polish, I’m so happy that this came out. You can purchase it here if you’re interested. Also, in case you are wondering how Sticks ‘n Stones compares to Lynderella Connect The Dots and even Dollish Polish Putting On The Ritzzz, check out this post over at My Lucid Bubble.

So there you have it, my polish peeps. How do you feel about bold colors such as Baker Street?

31 Inspired Days of Nail Art – Day 16: Polka Dot Nails

Posted on 3 November, 2012 by Cynthia

After the short break, we are back to the 31 Day Challenge! Are you excited too? No? Well, alright…

I finally got to use one of my new Illamasqua babies! Yayyyyy! Charisma is one of the two polishes from their Generation Q Fall 2012 collection, and as usual I would like to report that I love this polish for so many reasons. Look at it.

Illamasqua calls this a “deep raspberry pink” but this is actually darker than I imagined when I first saw some swatches. Nonetheless, this is a perfect call color. It’s dark but vibrant and glowy. As usual, the formula was perfect and opaque at two coats.

Since the challenge calls for polka dots, I was just going to use my dotting tool to apply dots on my nails but I decided to use some loose gold hex glitter.

I am feeling a lot more comfortable with using loose glitter now so I’m proud of myself for actually getting this mani done. While this may not be difficult for some people, I usually fail big time at anything that isn’t a simple manicure with some stamping. Doesn’t this just look like Christmas exploded on my nails?

So, what do you think of my polka dot manicure? Let me know what you think of this polish. Are you a fan of Illamasqua? Don’t forget to check out the other challenge polka dot manis below. Talk to you later.

Sation Seriously Slate

Posted on 2 November, 2012 by Cynthia

I did something today that strikes fear in the hearts of the most hardened individuals: I went to the DMV…without an appointment. Like an idiot, I lost my registration card so I headed over there to get a duplicate. Yes, I could have mailed it in, but I just wanted to get all straightened out as quickly as possible. When I got there, there wasn’t a huge line–maybe 10 people in line to get a number. It took over an hour just to get through the first line to get a number which entitles you to wait again while your number is called. Look, I know the DMV is a nightmare. I think everyone knows the nightmare is exponentially more painful if you go there without an appointment so I was ready for the long annoying wait. However, there seemed to be a lot of people there who apparently had never been to the DMV judging by their behavior. A few people were screaming at the DMV employee who was processing documents and giving our numbers. One guy was yelling at people to hurry up and go to the desk even if you weren’t being called yet. I ignored that guy and then he started telling people behind me to tell me to go up to the counter. WTF? I swear that if I hadn’t been in a mellow mood, I might have punched this guy in the vas deference. So after 2.5 hours, I finally got to talk to a DMV employee for 2 minutes and she printed out my new registration card. I guess all I want to say about this experience is: make a freaking appointment. If you don’t, then don’t act like a douche when you have to wait.

So once I got home, I was trying to figure out what to do with my nails. Since our 31 Day Challenge resumes tomorrow (polka dots!), I didn’t want to do anything too complicated since I’m going to have to remove it tomorrow and do the challenge manicare. So, I pulled out one of my untrieds: Sation Seriously Slate.

This colors is seriously gorgeous. It’s like the dark and twisty older sister of China Glaze Immortal. Don’t you just love that shimmer?? The only thing that I don’t like about this polish is that it is super sheer so I needed to apply 3 coats. The first coat is crazy sheer and patchy, but I am glad to say that it does build up nicely.

I have had this bottle of Miss & Makeup for a while now but hadn’t used it so I decided to layer it over Seriously Slate.

Look at this pretty macro shot of Miss & Makeup! This sweet and pretty glitter comes from the “I Love Miss-self” specialty glitter collection that was released recently.

So what do you think of Seriously Slate? Do you like Miss & Makeup? Are there any other base colors that you think would go well with this glitter? I was thinking of using a hot pink underneath. Don’t forget to check in tomorrow since we will be resuming the 31 Day Challange–fun times! Talk to you later.

P.S. Did you enter my giveaway? It ends in a couple of days. Don’t miss out.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

China Glaze Little Drummer Boy

Posted on 1 November, 20121 November, 2012 by Cynthia

November is here which means that the only holiday I like is around the corner: Christmas! I am not a person who usually enjoys holidays, but I love decorating a Christmas tree. There is something so lovely about the process of unwrapping and unpacking Christmas ornaments that just makes me happy. I was looking through my polishes today since I had a bunch of them out after my blog sale post, and I reached for China Glaze Little Drummer Boy. This polish comes from the 2010 Holiday collection which predates my nail polish obsession. The reason why I even got this polish is because I can never think of the song The Little Drummer Boy without thinking of Angela on the office singing this song during office karaoke or when she asked Andy if she could walk down the aisle to this song when they were planning their wedding. hahaha…I am cracking myself up over here. I tried to find a clip of these exchanges on youtube but could not come up with anything. 🙁 However, I did find one clip that I had forgotten about:

That’s classic Dwight right there.

Back to the polish: Little drummer boy is a darkened blue with some gorgeous shimmer. This polish is super opaque so I could have gotten away with one coat but I used two.

Since I haven’t been doing much stamping lately, I decided to stamp an argyle design from Konad plate M60.

I am not that happy with this stamping job. I have noticed that all of the white konad polish that I have purchased the last year or so have been really watery. The first couple of white konad polishes I bought where so thick and opaque and always stamped perfectly. These new ones, not so much.

And just as a treat (I’m looking at you, Lesley!), here is a compilation video of awesome Dwight moments:

I think that I have just found the perfect opening sentence for my next job interview: “How would I describe myself? Three words: hard-working, alpha-male, jackhammer, merciless, insatiable.” How could they NOT hire me, right?

My Very First Blog Sale

Posted on 31 October, 20125 November, 2012 by Cynthia

EDIT 11/5/12: For updates about what is available, please check the Tab called Blog Sale Items here.

Ok polish enthusiast, I don’t know how this is going to go down so bear with me: I have completely outgrown my current polish storage, and I want to make some room for future polish babies. I absolutely refuse to buy another melmer–I do not need 4 melmers!!!!!

These are just the first few polishes that I want to put up for sale. If I see that people are interested, I will put up more down the line. Most of these polishes are brand new and if they are not, I have only swatched them once. (I have made notations as to which are new or swatched)

China Glaze

Pure Joy – Glitter All the Way – Cranberry Splash

($3.25 each – swatched once)

Wet N Wild Fantasy Makers Halloween 2012

Glow in the Dark (x2) – Once Upon A Time – Rest In Pieces – Nail In The Coffin (x2)

($2.50 each brand new)

Wet N Wild Saved By The Nail/Bell Collection 2012

Nerd Alert Screech (x2) – Fashionista Lisa

($2.50 each – Brand New)

Sally Hansen Smooth And Perfect Color Care

Sorbet – Whisper – Air – Sea

($2.00 each – Brand New)

Sinful Colors

Slate – Winterberry

($2.25 each – Brand New)

Nails Inc.

Carnaby Street

($6.00 – Brand New)

China Glaze

Passion In The Pacific – Channelesque

(Passion In The Pacific – $3.00 – Channelesque : $5.00 – Both Brand New)

Kleancolor

Starry Purple – Blue Eyed Girl – Take A Hint – Red-Hot – Peaceful Heart – Chunky Holo Purple

($1.25 each – Brand new except Chunky Holo Purple – Swatched once)

China Glaze Eye Candy Collection Winter 2011

Love Marilyn – Material Girl – Lorelei’s Tiara – Blonde Bombshell – Marry A Millionaire – Some Like It Haute

($3.00 each – Swatched Once)

Shipping will be $3.00 for first item and $.50 for each additional items. You are responsible for Paypal fees which I will add to your invoice.

Delivery Confirmation is available for an extra $0.80.

Shipping will take 4-5 business days and I will notify you as soon as your package is dropped off for shipping.

I am very meticulous with my packaging and always use bubble wrap. I’ve mailed TONS of packages and have never had any problems. I will not be responsible if any items are damaged or lost once they have left my hands. There will be no returns or exchanges.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, you can email me at oflifeandlacquer (at) att (dot) net and I will send you an invoice. If I invoice you, I must receive your payment within 48 hours. Paypal is the only form of payment that I will accept.

Don’t hesitate to shoot me an email if you have any questions.

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Miss Professional Nail Sation Holiday Golightly Collection 2012

Posted on 31 October, 201231 October, 2012 by Cynthia

Hello ladies and gents. You might have seen this information already, but I wanted to share with you the Holiday Golightly collection from Miss!

Happy “Holiday Golightly” from Miss!

Holidays are a time for all things fabulous: parties, presents, and polish! Miss Professional Nail
(Miss) is ringing in the season with “Holiday Golightly,” a shimmering new collection of nail
lacquers. These six sparklers are a great idea for fun stocking stuffers and to accessorize your
New Year’s Eve look!

Miss’ Creative Director Staci Dao wanted to celebrate the joy of gift-giving (and receiving!) by
reminding us to pamper ourselves and our loved ones this season. Silver screen icon Audrey
Hepburn captured our hearts playing free-spirited fashionista Holly Golightly, whose love of
shiny gems helped inspire Miss in creating this wish list of winter stunners.
From the timeless, Tiffany-inspired blue to unique reds and greens, these luxe shades will light
up your holiday season: “Under the Miss-letoe,” a pearlescent pine green; “Feliz Navi-doll,” an
icy crystalline grayish-white; “I Love Yule,” a velvety poinsettia red; “Let’s Mingle & Jingle,” a
silver-spangled sapphire blue; “Holiday Golightly,” a glistening Robin’s egg blue, and “Stop
Scrooging Around,” a gold-sparkled ruby wine. ‘Tis the season to channel our inner Holly
Golightly and embrace the Miss mantra that “It’s the little pleasures that count…”

If you don’t the find the Holiday Collection under your tree, it will also be available online and
in beauty supplies in late October.

All Miss products are free of DBP, toluene and formaldehyde.

Miss is an MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) certified company.

As you already know from my frequent posts and general declarations of love towards the Sation line, I can’t wait to get my hands on these. I am a huge Audrey Hepburn fan, and Breakfast At Tiffany’s has been one of my favorite movies for as long as I can remember. Ahhh…the stalking for these polishes begins!

China Glaze Holiday Joy 2012

Posted on 30 October, 20121 November, 2012 by Cynthia

Ok, so I just shared the PR info for the China Glaze Holiday Joy Collection and I suddenly realized that I already had 3 of the polishes. Ehhh???? Well, a few weeks ago I went to one of my nail places and I was in a buying trance and was just grabbing random polishes. If this has never happened to you, then you’re probably not really a nail polish addict. Anywho, when it came to add the polishes to my spreadsheet, I realized that they were from the new collection. I am not sure if my nail place put them out by accident or what because they were mixed in with all the other older regular colors. Anywho, I decided to swatch them for you even though they are not even close to the colors that I want from this collection. I am actually really looking forward to Blue Bells (BALLS! hee!) Ring and Winter Holly. My cuticles haven’t quite recovered and my nails are still short so bear with me!

Cranberry Splash

Glitter All The Way

Pure Joy

Aren’t these three the most yawn-worthy colors? I mean, they are so been there done that. There is nothing unique or exciting about these colors because it’s like they are holiday collection staples. Ugh…why did I get them? WHYYYYYYY? (Press the button!) I didn’t want to make fun of Nancy Kerrigan cause I totally loved her, but I couldn’t help it.

So what other holiday collections are you excited about? Do share!

China Glaze Holiday Joy Collection 2012

Posted on 30 October, 201230 October, 2012 by Cynthia

Hi everyone. Today I have the official information regarding China Glaze’s 2012 Holiday Collection: Holiday Joy! Ahhh…finally it’s starting to feel like Winter is just around the corner even if it’s still in the 80’s here in California. I can’t wait for the temperatures to fall and for me to break out some California “Winter” clothes.

Check out the shades below!

ChinaGlaze_HolidayJoy_display — Is it just me or is the puppy the star here?

Bringing tidings of good cheer, the China Glaze® Holiday Joy collection features 12 merry crèmes, glitters and shimmers including:

Glistening Snow – Fine diamond-like silver glitter

Champagne Kisses – Bubbly rose gold glitter

Angel Wings – Delicate gold dust glitter

Winter Holly – Gold-flecked dazzling green glitter

Glitter All The Way – Exciting multi-color glitter

Pizzazz – Twinkling multi-dimensional glitter blend

Blue Bells Ring – Icy blue shimmer

Pure Joy – Fiery red glitter with gold particles

Red Satin – Silky blue-based red crème

With Love – Classic red crème with a hint of orange undertones

Merry Berry – Rich berry red crème

Cranberry Splash – Ruby red shimmer

The China Glaze® Holiday Joy collection will be available in November 2012 at fine salons and beauty supply stores nationwide.

Are there any shades you’re interested in getting? What’s your favorite thing about the holidays?

Nail Care and My New Gym Rant

Posted on 29 October, 2012 by Cynthia

It’s not like I’m some nail guru, but because I technically have a nail blog (is this REALLY a nail blog??), people tend to ask me about what I do to care for my nails. I am more than happy to share what I do with my nails, but please bear in mind that this is what works for me. What works for me, may not work for you. So the following is a list of my HG products:

CND Solar Oil

This stuff is like liquid gold to me. I have tons of bottles all over the place, and I always keep one in my purse. This cuticle oil is by far the best product that I currently use on my nails and cuticles. It soaks in quickly and doesn’t leave my hands and fingers greasy like other products. If I could only keep one nail/cuticle care product, it would be this one.

Barielle Intensive Hand Treatment Cream with gloves

This Barielle hand cream is the shiznit. I try to use it every other day right when I go to bed. This cream is incredibly thick and lightly scented so it doesn’t bother me. Once I rub the cream all over my hands and fingers, I add a little bit more to my fingertips and then I slide on the gloves and go to bed. When I wake up the next morning, my hands are soooooo soft. I adore this product.

Nail-Aid

Every time I start to grow my nails, I reach for my nail-aid to help strengthen them. I am deathly afraid of those horrible breaks people get when their nails are long so I always use this as a base coat. I use the Collagen nail builder when I am trying to get my little nubs to grow faster as well. The 3 Minute Artificial is a great base or top coat, and it supposedly makes nails 11 times stronger. I can’t substantiate those claims, but my nails are definitely stronger when I wear either of these.

Sally Hansen Cuticle Removers

I honestly have not been able to find cuticle removers that are better than these two. I use both of them and don’t really have a preference. They are both manicure staples for me because my cuticles are my #1 nail problem. When I was a kid, I used to bite my nails and chew off my cuticles. You can’t even imagine how horrible my fingers and nails looked back then.

Now, for something that is a little different, I take a biotin supplement which is supposed to be good for your hair and nails. Some people will say that it makes no difference and that there’s no scientific evidence, but I know it makes a difference for me. As soon as I start taking biotin, I notice that my hair gets stronger, doesn’t fall out as much and my nails grow like crazy. For this same reason, I like to take protein powder supplements. I started drinking protein shakes when I started working with my personal trainer, and I also noticed what a huge difference it made when it came to my hair. In case you’re wondering why I’m taking about my hair so much: one of the symptoms of having PCOS is that some people experience heavy hair loss. My hair has thinned a lot over the year even though most people say they can’t tell at all. I used to have super crazy thick hair and now I don’t so I want to make sure I take care of the hair I have left! lol

Now, for my gym rant. So I started going to the gym again and I’m sad to say nothing has changed. Why do people go to the gym to stand on machines and admire themselves in the mirrors? It’s like I’m an alien in there sometimes because I go to work my ass off–literally. I sweat a lot. If you annoy me, maybe I’ll fling my sweat at you.

Look at the sweat on my t-shirt. (No, I’m not trying to pull a Flashdance with the off the shoulder thing–my tshirt is just too big. lol) Does this look like the sweat of a person who wants to listen to you blab with your friend or even worse, on your cell phone? I just want to throw a 5lb free weight at their faces sometimes. I have way too much rage at the gym. I guess it’s good that I’m taking it all out on the treadmill, huh?

So there you have it. These are just a few things I do for my nails. Do you have any holy grail nail products that you can’t live without? I’m always open to trying new things so please share. Talk to you later!

Swagbucks Reminder & Giveaway

Posted on 28 October, 2012 by Cynthia

To all the people who have joined Swagbucks through my post: Woooo hoooo! I’m so glad so many of you have decided to give Swagbucks a try. If you haven’t signed up yet, remember that in order to get your extra bonus and start ahead of the pack with 100SB, you must sign up before 11:59pm PST on Monday so click here to sign up via my referral link, and then enter code CODEHAUNT to qualify for the extra bonus.

Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day because they are having a special Swag Code extravaganza all day long starting at 4:00am PST. This means that they will be releasing Swag Codes all day long. If you get the code, you must go enter it at their site and they will credit you. I will try to be active on twitter tomorrow to update when a SC is released. One thing I must warn you about is that it is against the rules to share the actual Swag Code but you can help “guide” people to finding it. It will make more sense tomorrow if you decided to participate. Once you get a SC, you have to go to your home page and enter it:

For all of you who decide to participate in the Swag Bucks program and sign up under my referral link, I will be having a special giveaway for all of you. There will be some rules, but I will talk about that more in early November. The prize will be a $25 Amazon Gift Card–or higher depending on the participation. It all depends on you!

So, there you have it. For those of you who are NOT interested in Swag Bucks, have no fear…my blog will be SB-free except for my Swag Bucks Saturdays posts from now on. 🙂