Tag: 2013

OPI Miss Universe Collection 2013

OPI Miss Universe Collection 2013

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I’ve never been one to really be interested in pageants and such, but I give those women props because I do think it takes a lot to go through that whole process. It’s sad that what I tend to remember from pageants is the following:

Poor Miss South Carolina! Anyway, today I have the OPI Miss Universe Collection which is a lovely trio made up of 2 cremes (CREMES!!!!!!!) and one metallic polish. Let me show you the shades and let you know what I think of them.

OPI I'm Feeling Sashy 1OPI I'm Feeling Sashy 2Love, love, love!!! OPI I’m Feeling Sashy is a gorgeous plum/purple creme with a dusty quality to it that really gives it a unique look. It’s so creamy and glossy that I can barely contain my glee. I do really love this color, and it applied like a dream. I applied 2 coats for the swatches above.

OPI Miss You-niverse 1OPI Miss You-niverse 2OPI Miss You-niverse is one of those gorgeous dark fall colors that should be a staple. The formula on this one was pretty nice as well and it is almost a one coater. It’s so inky and shiny!

OPI This Gown Needs a Crown 1OPI This Gown Needs a Crown 2When I first saw OPI This Gown Needs A Crown, I groaned because I thought to myself: not another metallic! You don’t even know how much I hate metallics. Anyway, this is a very unique polish. It’s not really a metallic as it applies like a glitter but dries to a satin finish. It’s a strange polish at first but boy did it grow on me! The formula is a little thin so I used 3 thin coats for full coverage.

I’m really pleased with this fun little trio! What do you think? Are these colors you’re interested in? Thanks so much for the visit today!

 

MISS UNIVERSE nail lacquers each feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide Brush for the ultimate in application. This Gown Needs a Crown features a satin finish and should be worn without top coat for best results. These shades will be available October 2013, at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, jcp Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, ULTA and ulta.com for $9.00 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer. For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

 

LVX Spring 2013 Collection

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Happy Friday everyone. I’m a little miserable today since it’s the upper 80’s to low 90’s so you all know how I feel about hot weather. BARF. I’m doing my best not to be in a completely foul mood but it’s hard my friends. It’s really hard. There nothing like shiny new nail polishes to put me back on the road to happiness. Ha! Today I have some swatches to share with you of  a new-to-me brand: LVX. LVX–or light in Latin–is a brand that has been around for about a year, but it wasn’t until today that I got to test out their latest delicious Spring collection. So without further ado, here is the LVX Spring 2013 Collection.

 

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You are not alone in thinking that some of these colors don’t really seem very Spring-y…but that doesn’t mean they are pretty.

 

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First up is Fantom. For those of us who like to dabble in nail art, we are always on the quest for the perfect white polish and this one comes pretty darn close. It’s creamy, glossy and very opaque. I applied 3 thin coats for the swatches above, but I could have probably gotten away with 2 thick coats. I love this white, and I can already see myself nail arting it up posthaste!

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I am still a little unsure about Citrine. It’s a pretty and unique colors, but I’m not so sure that it looks good on me. I just don’t know what to make of it. What do you think? This polish has a kind of crelly finish so I did need 3 coats for full coverage.

 

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I think we all probably have a dupe of Azalea in our collection. It’s a nice color, but not terribly unique. What sets this one apart is the amazing formula. This polish could have been a one-coater, but I applied two out of habit. It dries glossy and gorgeous–so feminine.

 

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Viridian…ah…Viridian! I think that every single collection out there has put out a version of this color since emerald is Pantone’s Color Of The Year. I think that this is my favorite polish of the whole collection even though I am pretty sure I have a bunch of similar colors already. It’s such a beautiful jade color that unfortunately stained my nails to high heaven. I haven’t had a polish stain my nails so badly since I used OPI Fly. Still, Viridian, I forgive  you cause you’re pretty.

 

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Before I show you my swatches of Cerulean, I wanted to show you what happened to it when I put some Seche Vite on it. What in the world? Look how streaky and chalky it turned!!! I had to go back and apply another coat of polish to hide this strange reaction.

 

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Cerulean is also somewhat of a stainer, but it’s definitely not as bad as Viridian. You know I swoon over these gorgeous blues so I am definitely feeling this one as well. It is super pigmented so I only needed 2 coats for full opacity.

 

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And last up is Indigo Blue. This is a color that seemed a little out of place in this collection because it screams fall to me, but I’ve never been one to follow rules so who cares? Rules? What rules?! This polish was also beyond pigmented and it looked pretty good after one coat, but I applied a second one just because that’s how I roll. I was dreading the impending staining after removal, but it was actually not bad for such a dark color.

Overall, I am very pleased with my first LVX experience. The formula on all of these polishes is rather fantastic: pigmented, smooth, glossy and incredibly easy to work with. In addition, I really loved the brush because it was very conducive to precise application, and I hardly needed to do any clean up which is always a huge plus for me.  My one drawback is the price. At $16 for a .5oz bottle, they are on the pricier side. What do you think about this collection? Have you tried LVX before? I’m really interested in knowing what you think so leave me a message. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I will talk to you soon!

 

Just a little bit about LVX:

LVX recognizes the importance of beauty within Fashion. LVX is a deeply devoted fashion brand providing an in-depth understanding of emerging runway trends and high fashion. Our unique color collections are meticulously selected to be the top colors of the season, and will be the perfect complement to your wardrobe. LVX is committed to creating palettes that exceed seasonal trends while maintaining a timeless essence. Our long lasting, chip resistant and non-streak formula is free of toxic and harsh chemicals. LVX products are formulated without the use of Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, DBP, Toluene, and Camphor. We are devoted to providing you with top quality, socially responsible, and vegan-friendly, luxury products without compromising quality, durability and finish.

LVX nail lacquer is cruelty free. All products are produced in the U.S.A. 

To keep up with LVX news and releases, you can visit them at:

Website: http://shoplvx.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoplvx

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shoplvx

 

Essie Bridal Collection For 2013

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Wedding? Barf. I’ve got to admit that I am a sort of wedding hater. I mean, if a friend or loved one is getting married, of course I’m happy for them and I will happily go to their wedding celebration, but personally, I just think they are a big waste of time and money. Now, don’t get your bridal panties in a bunch if you disagree with me; this is just my personal opinion and I am not telling you that YOUR wedding is a waste of time/money. Just wanted to clear that up. If it were me, I would rather go on a crazy and amazing vacation or put that money towards buying a home or something more practical, but that’s just the part of me that hates planning parties and such. Anyway, this past weekend I went to a wedding and the bride looked gorgeous and I’m sure it was worth all the stress and money that they spent to get that day to be as perfect as possible. Since I was thinking about weddings, I decided to pick up the new Essie Bridal Collection for 2013 even though the colors aren’t exactly the kind that make my heart skip a beat. Before I show you some swatches, I couldn’t get this song out of my head while I swatched them:

 

I don’t know about you, but I think Muriel’s Wedding is one of the funniest and saddest movies I’ve ever seen. I’ve been a Toni Colette fan ever since this movie came out. I also couldn’t believe that Rachel Griffiths played Rhonda in this movie! Not only is the acting superb, but the ABBA music is killer. Yes, I am an ABBA-maniac.

 

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No Baggage Please is the color that screams “bridal” to me the most. It’s such a light and delicate color with a beautiful faint shimmer that unfortunately was captured in my pictures. Being that it is such a light color, I did have to apply 4 coats for full coverage so be forewarned. The formula is definitely a little streaky, but it does build up nicely. I do like delicate colors such as this, but they definitely have a time and a place. This is not a color that I would ever swoon.

 

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Next up is Meet Me At The Altar which is No Baggage Please’s flirtier cousin. This polish also has a faint shimmer that isn’t showing up in my pictures. The formula was also a bit streaky, but I got away with 3 coats on this one. For lilac lovers, I think this is a very conservative choice.

 

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My Better Half screams bridesmaid to me. I’ve been seeing so many of these bright pink polishes lately, but I don’t really get tired of them. It has a glowing quality to it, and I’m glad to report that the formula as nice and pigmented so I only needed two coats.

 

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Last but not least, here is Using My Maiden Name. I think that this one is my favorite of the bunch and not just because I am a purple fanatic. I just love the beautiful shimmer in this polish and the formula was really great.

What do you think about the Essie Bridal Collection For 2013? I like these colors and they certainly are wedding appropriate, but they aren’t all colors that I would say I’m excited about. Since I’m not anticipating getting much use out of these colors, I will be putting them up in my blog sale so check that out if you’re interested. Do you have a favorite from this collection? Thanks so much for visiting today and catching up with me. Talk to you soon!