Aren’t you glad it’s Friday? Although this was a short work week for me, I felt like it dragged a bit. This weekend I was planning to do a bunch of swatching, but then I remembered that my nephew is getting baptized so we have Sunday blocked out for that. I can’t wait to see him all dressed up! I’ll put up some pictures on my instagram in case you want to check them out. Definitely get ready for cuteness overload. So as you may have noticed, I’m definitely a Tonic fan and I wanted to let you know that there will be a restock on Sunday 1/21 at 2:00 PM Central Time. For the love of God mark your calendars and set your alarms because no one wants to read about how you missed the restock because you were cleaning your bathroom, feeding your pet iguana or because you didn’t know what time the restock started in your time zone. And even more exciting, some of the UP polishes will be restocking for the last time. Yes, you read that correctly–THE LAST RESTOCK. Tonic Serendipity will be one of those polishes being restocked so I figured I might as well show you my swatches of this beauty. Continue reading “Tonic Serendipity”
Author: Cynthia
Baroness X Anthracite
How’s your Thursday so far? I’m just chillin’ like a villain trying to stick to my low buy. Did I mention that I’ve gone on a strict low buy this year? I’m really wanting to have sizeable savings in case of an emergency because of my health experience this past year. I was hospitalized and missed almost three weeks of work but I didn’t have enough PTO to cover my absence. Thankfully I had enough savings to make sure I didn’t have any financial issue, but it made me think that I should cover myself for a least 2-3 months in case of another emergency. Anywho, the reason for today’s post is to show you a magical polish: Baroness X Anthracite. This polish was also a group custom for The X Army. If you’re interested in joining (which I highly recommend), you can click here to keep up on all the Baroness X news and releases. Baroness X Anthracite is described as a cool navy blue jelly with unicorn pee and a sprinkle of holo pigment. Let me show you some swatches. Continue reading “Baroness X Anthracite”
Contrary Polish Duchess
Buenos dias and happy Wednesday! I had an extra long 4 day weekend, but all good things must come to an end so here I am back on the grind. Today I’m showing you another super awesome polish that you unfortunately can no longer buy. I know…I know…womp womp. Over the years I have learned that in the nail polish community, you really have to jump on things right away. If you hesitate, you lose. This polish is another custom polish for the SHIMMAHS Facebook group. There isn’t too much activity in the group right now, but feel free to join so you don’t miss out. Well, let me show you some swatches of Contrary Polish Duchess before I ramble on too long. Continue reading “Contrary Polish Duchess”
Tonic Tracks In The Snow
Well, look at me posting 2 days in a row! To be honest, I have a lot (A LOT) of swatches done that I just never got around to posting because I was too damn lazy to write up a post. Since I want to start doing more stamping and fun nail art besides just straight swatching, I want to clear out my archives and start fresh. Today I have a gorgeous polish that I bought a few months ago: Tonic Tracks In The Snow which was a group custom for the Shimmahs group on Facebook. If you haven’t joined, click here to join and get access to gorgeous custom polishes from some of the best indie brands out there! Tonic Tracks In The Snow is a gorgeous polish so let me show you some swatches. Continue reading “Tonic Tracks In The Snow”
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Reformulated – Swatches & Review
Hey there 2018 readers! Wow, yeah, it’s 2018 and I’m still chugging along. Today I have a bunch of swatches to share with you of the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Reformulated polishes. I was super excited to get these because I have always been a huge fan of the line, but I was definitely not excited when they arrived like this: Continue reading “Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Reformulated – Swatches & Review”
KBShimmer Holo-day Collection 2017
Hey there. How was your weekend? Mine was pretty uneventful since I had come down with some sort of stomach bug on Thursday/Friday. It was rather miserable, but I’m glad I was able to get past it quickly. Today I have some swatches of the KBShimmer Holo-day Collection ! I do love me some KBShimmer and enjoy holiday collections so what’s not to love?! Let me show you some swatches before I give you my thoughts. Continue reading “KBShimmer Holo-day Collection 2017”
Tonic Peacock Parade – Swatches & Review
Hey guys! Is it nice and toasty in your neck of the woods? It’s October and it’s basically 100 degrees so I’m hating life. I just hope that for the sake of wildfires all over the state, that the weather cools down a lot. This weekend I pretty much stayed home to avoid the heat which is kind of hard considering I don’t have AC, but I did end up swatching a bunch of polishes that I purchased recently. One of those polishes is Tonic Peacock Parade. Oh, beautiful shifty polish how I love thee! Let me show you some swatches before I let you know the verdict.
Tonic Peacock Parade (3 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Sweet baby Jesus on rollerskates! This polish is so shifty and gorgeous that I want to wear it every day in some capacity. This polish requires a few coats for full opacity–I applied 3 thin coats. I don’t mind having to apply 3 coats of polish, but considering that this is the only bottle I have, I get serious fear of running out. Will I run out? Probably not. There are very few bottles of polish that I have ever used up (OPI Vodka & Caviar, I’m looking at you!), so I should stop being a weirdo. I do wonder if I can apply one coat of black and one coat of Peacock Parade…I’ll have to give it a try. The formula on this polish was a little thin–hence needing 3 coats. I also felt that it was a little runny and I feared that I would flood my cuticles but I just made sure not to keep too much polish on my brush. It does show brushstrokes a little bit, but not enough to make me get annoyed. Removal was a breeze–no issues with staining whatsoever. I really, really love how beautiful this polish is! And here is a video of this polish in action:
I’m sorry if you love this polish because it was a one time pre-order. I know…I know.
If you do want this polish badly enough, I know that there have already been a few in FB groups/destashes. If you want to be in the know, don’t forget to join the Tonic Facebook Group so that you know when restocks are announced and you don’t miss out on any more pretties. So what do you think about Tonic Peacock Parade? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I will talk to you soon!
KBShimmer Fall 2017 Collection – Blogger Collaboration
Hello friends! Today I have a picture heavy post so get ready! The KBShimmer Fall 2017 Collection is pretty massive with 12 blogger inspired shades and 2 that were created by Christy. I was so excited to get these because I love KBShimmer collections and because Fall collections are pretty much my favorite. Let me go ahead and show you my swatches for the collection before I ramble on too long.
KBShimmer High-Rise To The Occasion (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Michelle from Ehmkay Nails wanted a polish that expressed her photos of the holidays in NYC. The steel of the high-rise buildings, the twinkle of the holiday decor, and the glow of the violet up lighting inspired this crelly polish. A light gray color, this polish has a soft violet shimmer, while pops of rainbow metallic flakes give this shade perfectly NYC look.
KBShimmer Pearls Gone Wild (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Amy from McPolish gave us beautiful photos of nature at its shining best, from a softly glowing starry sky, to shimmering opals and natural stones. This super sparkly polish is filled with micro and small holographic glitters, and a red shimmer that shifts to copper, gold and pink. This holographic polish feels like wearing jewels on your nails.
KBShimmer I Don’t Want No Shrubs (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Jen from My Nail Polish Obsession is a West Coast gal, so fall for her is full of beautiful flowers and bright colors, just like her inspiration photo. Those vibrant floral photos spilled into this bright fuchsia pink shade. Filled with micro golden flakes and shimmer, this hot pink polish will make you wish for warmer days.
KBShimmer Pun-King Spice Latte (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
When Valesha from Peachy Polish sent us photos of her inspiration, a copper tub and terracotta pots, we knew that fall was near. This terracotta, near pumpkin shade is filled with a subtle copper shimmer, which gives this near crème polish a sophisticated glow to it.
KBShimmer Espresso Yourself (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Gaby from LacquerLoon sent us some amazing photos to work from. Rich chocolate, warm coffee, and glimmering clothes in shades of brown, copper and gold inspired this glitter filled shade. Near in finish to our Mega Flame polishes, this rich brown shade is filled with copper and gold holographic micro glitters for a polish ideal for autumn.
KBShimmer Olive Or Twist (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Lovely Mishra from Nail It Lovely asked up to be inspired by rich gold tones and soothing shades of olive. This polish in our holo glow finish is the perfect addition to your fall wardrobe. A deepened olive color, this polish shimmers with holo glow flakes and a golden flash that shines in the light.
KBShimmer #squadghouls (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Holly from Miss Holly Berries inspiration photos were filled with the deep olive green shades of the forest, goldenrod yellows and autumn oranges. The best way I could express that was in a deepened olive jelly filled with glitters that shift in shades of orange, green and gold. And when naming this polish, I learned that Holly is a huge straight to DVD scary movie fan, so I knew that we had to tie in a campy horror name for this fall polish!
KBShimmer Better Lake Than Never (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Alicia from Delishious Nails gave us a stunning palette of rich, deep blues, turquoises, and teals to work from, and I knew this would be a perfect fit for our Holo Glow finish. A jewel toned teal leaning blue, this polish is filled with holo glow flakes that accent a strong turquoise shimmer that makes this polish shine bright.
KBShimmer Peach For The Sky (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
When Antoinette from aricedotcom gave us beautiful photos of autumn leaves against turquoise skies, I knew I wanted to create a soft sky blue polish to bring a pop of color to fall. This creamy shade is loaded with a peachy copper shimmer, for a soft shade that will make you imagine jumping into leave piles on a bright fall afternoon.
KBShimmer Let’s Fang Out (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Sam from Sam Nailed It posted a stunning picture of deep burgundy vampy lips as her inspiration photo for a crème polish. I knew with the glittery polish from Lisa in the same shade it was a perfect match! The cream polish is almost a plum color, with hints of maroon and aubergine, this is the perfect autumn crème!
KBShimmer Lady And The Vamp (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Lisa from Cosmetic Sanctuary knew she wanted a deep vampy color burgundy red in our Mega Flame finish, and we delivered! This almost plum color polish is loaded with holographic glitters, with hints of maroon and aubergine for the ultimate sparkle. For a fun manicure, pair with Let’s Fang Out!
And my favorite of the collaboration shades…
KBShimmer Northern Frights (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Judy from Beauty Judy was inspired by the dark night sky and the stunning hues of the Northern Lights. This shifty shade is the aurora borealis in a bottle. Filled with holo flakes, this polish shifts based on viewing angle from an emerald green, to a deep indigo purple, to an almost navy, for the perfect sky inspired polish.
And the two additional shades that were created by Christy…
KBShimmer Oh My Gourd (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Caramel apples, butterscotch, changing leaves and gourds signal that fall is near. This creamy butterscotch shade is made for fall. Pair with your favorite sweater, a pair of brown boots and your latte, and lets go head out to enjoy the crisp weather that only autumn can bring.
KBShimmer Stop And Smell The Rosé (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
One of Christy’s obsessions is rose gold, from phones, to jewelry, to wine, rose gold is life! This softly pink, near copper shade is the perfect match for those that like to stop and smell the rosé!
So there you have it! Now, let me start the love. I adored this collection 100%. All of the shades were beautiful and had a dreamy formula. I have to admit that I was a little concerned about the base change, but the quality did not change one bit. In case you didn’t know, KBShimmer is now using a 5-free base and the Fall Collection was the first collection to feature the new base. For all of my swatches, I used 2 coats of polish and 1 coat of Poshé top coat. I didn’t think that any of these shades needed more than 2 coats; however, keep in mind that I like to do 1 thin coat and a second more generous coat. If you’re concerned about removal issues, the following shades will be a little more difficult to remove due to the heavy glitter load: Lady and The Vamp, #squadghouls, Espresso Yourself and Pearls Gone Wild. The 1 polish that gave me the hardest time for removal was Pearls Gone Wild due to the glitter getting all over my skin and cuticles. However, don’t let that dissuade you because it’s a gorgeous polish. As always, I find that letting an acetone soaked cotton round dissolve the polish for a few minutes before removal will give you the best results. My absolute favorite polish from this collection is Northern Frights–Jud did an amazing job with the inspiration and Christy nailed the polish. My other favorite is Stop and Smell The Rosé–what a gorgeous holo! It’s so difficult to pic favorites so I know that you’ll have a hard time picking which ones to buy. These 14 polishes launched September 23rd, 2017 at Polish Con Chicago, with online sales starting Friday, October 13th. The Fall collection will retail for $9.25 per bottle and can be purchased at kbshimmer.com, Amazon.com and select salons & retailers.
So what do you think of this collection? Which are you favorite shades? Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I will talk to you soon.
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Disclosure: These products were provided to me for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
KBShimmer Fall 2017 Collection KBShimmer Fall 2017 Collection KBShimmer Fall 2017 Collection
KBShimmer Fall 2017 Collection KBShimmer Fall 2017 Collection KBShimmer Fall 2017 Collection
Sally Hansen Color Therapy – Swatches & Review
What’s up, peeps? How’s your Tuesday going? I’m feeling pretty chipper and energized on this lovely Tuesday. Maybe it’s the fact that I have a short week ahead or just because I feel good right now–who knows? But I’ll take it and run with it for now. Do you still buy a lot of drugstore polishes? I feel like my blog has always been skewed more towards mainstream salon brands and drugstore brands. I definitely think that while the indie market is huge, not everyone knows about indie brands. Maybe I’ve been living under a rock, but I had not heard of the Sally Hansen Color Therapy line. I tend to keep an eye out when it comes to drugstore releases, but this had totally flown under the radar for me. Let me show you the two shades that I tried out from the Sally Hansen Color Therapy line.
Sally Hansen Color Therapy Re-nude
Sally Hansen Color Therapy Chai On Life
While these shades are not the kind of colors that I wear on the regular, I think that they are excellent palette cleansers. Because these shades are on the lighter side, I ended up applying 3 coats of polish to get a completely opaque result. I then applied 1 coat of Poshé for added shine. I wish I had more feedback as to how these polishes wear but I didn’t leave them on longer than a few minutes. I liked the formula because it wasn’t too thick or too thin. Have you used this line before? I definitely will look into getting some of the more pigmented shades to try out. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I will talk to you soon!
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Disclosure: These products were provided to me for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
KBShimmer Polish Con Chicago 2017 LE Shades
I’m really hoping that this week goes by quickly because I have some time off coming my way! Even though I just took two days off, I’m looking forward to a nice 4 day weekend. I am also quite enjoying the cooler weather here in SoCal….but I feel like I’m being lulled into a false sense of security before the weather shoots back up into the 100’s. Anywho, on this lovely Monday I have two very special polishes to share with you. If you are lucky enough to be going to Polish Con this coming Saturday, you will get to see soooo many gorgeous polishes so I am definitely jealous.Without further ado, here are the KBShimmer Polish Con Chicago 2017 Limited Edition shades for your viewing pleasure!
KBShimmer The Age of Aquarium (2 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
The Age Of Aquarium – Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium inspired one of the two limited edition polishes for Polish Con Chicago 2017. One of the area’s top attractions, it features both salt water and fresh water attractions and is one of the largest aquariums in the country. Like the deep waters of the attractions, darkened teal shade features our holo glow flakes and a fun purple shimmer like glistening fish swimming through the sea.
KBShimmer Bean There, Done That (3 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
KBShimmer Bean There, Done That – Direct Sunlight (3 coats of polish + 1 coat of Poshé)
Bean There, Done That –One of the two limited edition polishes for Polish Con Chicago 2017 is inspired by the chrome silver sculpture name Cloud Gate in Millennium Park. More commonly known at The Bean for its bean like shape, this sculpture reflects the sky and surroundings, for a unique piece of art. Our take on the bean starts with micro holographic flakes that give this polish both a linear and scattered holographic look. We then added a touch of color shift shimmer to allow a hint of blue and pink to pop at various angles.
So what can I say about these gorgeous polishes? Not much except that they are classically KBShimmer: beautiful and perfect formula. For The Age of Aquarium, I used two coats of polish plus one coat of top coat for an extra glossy finish. Despite the polish being very pigmented, I did not experience any staining. Removal was extremely easy and was not messy at all. Bean There, Done That appeared somewhat thin when I first applied it. For my swatches, I ended up applying 3 coats of the polish but it probably would have looked fine with two thicker coats. Due to the micro flakes, I did have to put in a little more elbow grease for removal because I did have shimmery particles all around my skin.For those of you who will be at Polish Con, there is a third polish that you may have access to:
Kiss My Butkus You Ditka – Polish Con Chicago VIP Bag Polish – A limited amount of this polish will be available starting at 2 PM at Polish Con Chicago. This navy blue, near Chicago Bears blue polish is loaded with linear and scattered holographic sparkle, and micro orange glitters perfect for any Bears fan.
Unfortunately, I do not have Kiss My Butkus You Ditka to swatch for you today, but I can’t wait to see swatches of it! So what do you think about these polishes? Will you be picking up any of these if you go to Polish Con? Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I will talk to you soon!
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Disclosure: These products were provided to me for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
KBShimmer Polish Con Chicago
KBShimmer Polish Con Chicago
