Monday, April 29, 2013

Emily De Molly Harmony Swatch And Review

I've been trying to circumvent "the system" these days and I figured out a way to keep my unlimited data on my Verizon phone.  I want the new Samsung Galaxy S4 when it's released, but if I use my current line to upgrade, I lose my unlimited data plan.  After snooping on the internet, I realized I can add a new line with the new Samsung.  When the phone arrives, I need to activate it on my current line instead of the new line, and then activate a old non-data phone on the new line.  That works perfectly for me because we don't have a landline at home.  So double win for me, a new landline for the house and new Samsung Galaxy S4 for me without losing my unlimited data plan!  Now if only I can keep the new phone out of LO's mouth!

Another lost-but-now-found polish, this is  Emily de Molly's Harmony for you tonight.  This is a light lavender cream base with multisized hex glitters in dark purple, teal blue and matte white.  I had no issues with application and it had the standard indie glitter consistency in formula.  I used three coats here with Essence Gel Look Topcoat to finish.

Emily De Molly Harmony
Emily De Molly Harmony

Emily De Molly Harmony
Emily De Molly Harmony

Emily De Molly Harmony
Emily De Molly Harmony

Emily De Molly Harmony
Emily De Molly Harmony

Emily De Molly Harmony
Emily De Molly Harmony
I wish Emily De Molly polishes were easier to get here in the states rather though third party sellers, but it's still worth the extra hassle and money.  I found this to be a nice palette cleanser after using several dark polishes lately, not to mention I can never get enough matte white glitter.  What's your favorite type of glitter?

My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song Swatch And Review

After more digging and organizing, I found my order of My Ten Friends that I received a month ago.  In this order is Lunar Love Song, a lovely teal blue jelly base glitter that has gold, orange, pink multi shape/sized glitter and golden shimmer.  I love how the orange glitters pop against the base.  I found the formula to be really sheer and packed with glitter.  Application wise it was thick but workable.  It becomes semi-opaque after three coats but is really full of glitter.  I used a layer of Essence Gel Like Topcoat to finish it off.

My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song
My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song

My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song
My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song

My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song
My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song

My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song
My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song

My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song
My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song
 I wasn't happy with the base not showing through well, so I layered one coat over American Apparel The Valley, a bright sky blue cream.  I think it looks much better this way because the glitters really contrast more against the blue.

My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song Over American Apparel The Valley
My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song Over American Apparel The Valley


My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song Over American Apparel The Valley
My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song Over American Apparel The Valley

My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song Over American Apparel The Valley
My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song Over American Apparel The Valley

My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song Over American Apparel The Valley
My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song Over American Apparel The Valley
My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song Over American Apparel The Valley
My Ten Friends Lunar Love Song Over American Apparel The Valley
Which way do you prefer this?  Have you ordered from My Ten Friends before?  I had no idea it took a month for her to fulfill the order, not to mention it took me another month to figure out where I stashed it(remember I had guests in March?).  Overall, I really like the mixture of glitter in this polish.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Sinful Shine Amazonian Swatch And Review

Tonight DH and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary.  I can't believe how quickly time has passed!  We went to a restaurant by Roy Choi that was featured on the new Anthony Bourdain show and on Top Chef, and I have to admit I wasn't very impressed.  My chicken was really dry and the sauces didn't seem to compliment the food.  On the upside, seating was community style and we sat next to a couple that didn't live far from us.  We had a great conversation throughout dinner with them.  Roy Choi popped into the restaurant while we were dining, and it was sort of a treat to see a semi-celebrity.

The other day when I was hunting for the LA Girls, I ran across the new Sinful Shine display.  I wasn't overly impressed with the color selection because they seemed very similar to the standard Sinful Color polishes.  There were mostly creams but there was a stunning forest green glassfleck that popped out at me.  I came home with Amazonian, and while swatching it, I saw yellow flecks in it too.  But does the $2.99 bottle live up to the claim of having a super gel like shine to it once dry?  Almost!  It's definitely shinier than most polishes, but it's still not quite a gel like shine.  Is it worth the $2.99?  I think so.  These pics are two coats of Amazonian with no topcoat. 

Sinful Shine Amazonian
Sinful Shine Amazonian

Sinful Shine Amazonian
Sinful Shine Amazonian

Sinful Shine Amazonian
Sinful Shine Amazonian

Sinful Shine Amazonian
Sinful Shine Amazonian

Sinful Shine Amazonian
Sinful Shine Amazonian
 I finally unearthed my missing bottle of Essie Matte About You during my reorganization of my stash, so I used this opportunity to use it.  I love how the green changes after the matte topcoat.

Sinful Shine Amazonian Matted
Sinful Shine Amazonian Matted

Sinful Shine Amazonian Matted
Sinful Shine Amazonian Matted

I think after trying out this shade, I want to go and pick up some more but I'll probably wait until they go on sale.  The shiny finish is great but for me, I'd probably still use a quick drying topcoat because I'm impatient and I always ding my nails.  Have you tried these yet, and if so, how do you like the shine?

Friday, April 26, 2013

Illamasqua Venous and Comparison of YSL Vert D'Orient with China Glaze Exotic Encounters

Happy Friday!  I hope you've got some great plans for the weekend, that way I can vicariously live through you while I'm working on Saturday.  Aside from work, it's my five year wedding anniversary and we're planning on going to one of Roy Choi's restaurants for dinner.  I'm really looking forward to it because I've been seeing so much of his food on tv lately.

I have another fantastic dark teal for you today, and that is Illamasqua's Venous.  It's a dark green leaning teal cream that had a superb formula.  With absolutely no issues with application, this polish nearly painted itself on my nails.  I almost got away with one coat but used two to be safe and then finished with a layer of Poshe.
Illamasqua Venous
Illamasqua Venous

Illamasqua Venous
Illamasqua Venous

Illamasqua Venous
Illamasqua Venous

Illamasqua Venous
Illamasqua Venous

Illamasqua Venous
Illamasqua Venous

And as promised, I have a comparison of Illamasqua Venous, YSL Vert D'Orient, and China Glaze Exotic Encounters.

Comparison of YSL Vert D'Orient, Illamasqua Venous, and China Glaze Exotic Encounters
As you can see, Venous and Vert D'Orient are closer in shade than Exotic Encounters.  EE leans more darker and dusty.  Application-wise, China Glaze was streaky and thinner than either YSL or Illamasqua, but Illamasqua wins hands down in formula and ease of application.  The YSL was a bit thicker and didn't self level at all, unlike the Illa that smoothed itself out.  I'll keep looking for a cheaper alternative, but if you like this shade of teal, I definitely recommend the Illa over the other brands.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Love & Beauty Grey / Hot Pink Swatch and Review

Remember the other day I mentioned that I was out shopping and came home with only one nail polish?  Well tonight I have that one polish to show you, and that's Love & Beauty Grey/Hot Pink from Forever 21.  Grey/Hot Pink is the only name description I can find on the bottle, and it does not give the polish any justice with its description.  It's a sheer grey crelly base with teal and hot pink hex glitters with tiny hot pink microglitter throughout.  I used three slightly thick coats in this mani and did not experience any problems.  The glitter density is perfect - not too much and not too little.  I'd say this is a great start to seeing more crelly polishes by mainstream manufacturers!

Love & Beauty Grey / Hot Pink
Love & Beauty Grey / Hot Pink

Love & Beauty Grey / Hot Pink
Love & Beauty Grey / Hot Pink

Love & Beauty Grey / Hot Pink
Love & Beauty Grey / Hot Pink

Love & Beauty Grey / Hot Pink
Love & Beauty Grey / Hot Pink

Love & Beauty Grey / Hot Pink
Love & Beauty Grey / Hot Pink
Don't you love the combination of colors in this?  I don't see enough grey based glitter polishes so I was immediately drawn to this.  I can't believe I found this at Forever 21!  FYI, Love & Beauty is made by the same manufacturer of LA Girl nail polish, but it's cheaper than the 3Ds at $2.80 a pop.  What a great price!  Have you seen other cream glitters out in the wild?

L.A. Girl 3D Holographic in Sparkle Ruby and Black Illusion plus bonus nail art!

The other day I showed you L.A. Girl's 3D Holographic in Purple Effect, and now I have my other two picks from that same collection.  These both had similar formula and application like Purple Effect, and that's a little sticky but workable jelly base.  I used two coats for all of these pictures.  Warning, this is super picture heavy!!

First is Sparkle Ruby, a berry leaning red scattered jelly holo.  I really love this shade and wore if for three days!  The tipwear on this was excellent as well - barely any after two days of work.  I wish the holo was easier to capture, but it's definitely visible with movement.  First pic is in the light tent, the rest are under direct light.

LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby
LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby

LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby
LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby

LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby
LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby

LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby
LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby

LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby
LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby

LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby
LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby

LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby
LA Girl 3D Holographic Sparkle Ruby
Next is Black Illusion, a black jelly with scattered holo.  I really like this option of black nail polish instead of traditional black cream.  The hint of holo is fabulous.  Again, first pic is in the light tent, the rest in direct light.  I think I managed to capture a bit of the holo in one of the pics!

LA Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion
LA Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion
L.A. Girl 3D Holographic  Black Illusion
L.A. Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion


LA Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion
LA Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion

LA Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion
LA Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion

LA Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion
LA Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion

LA Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion
LA Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion

LA Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion
LA Girl 3D Holographic Black Illusion
And, now a little nail art - nothing over the top but first is a gradient with Sparkle Ruby and Black Illusion.

L.A. Girl 3D Holographic in Sparkle Ruby and Black Illusion Gradient
L.A. Girl 3D Holographic in Sparkle Ruby and Black Illusion Gradient

L.A. Girl 3D Holographic in Sparkle Ruby and Black Illusion Gradient
L.A. Girl 3D Holographic in Sparkle Ruby and Black Illusion Gradient
 And finally my attempt at a water marble... it's sloppy but I think partly it's due to the stickiness of the LA Girl formula... whenever I tried to use the orange stick to make the swirls, it would drag in th water and clump more than I wanted.  Oh well.  It's still pretty, I like the translucence of the marble.  I did all three colors over Sparkle Ruby.

L.A. Girl 3D Holographic in Sparkle Ruby, Purple Effect and Black Illusion
L.A. Girl 3D Holographic in Sparkle Ruby, Purple Effect and Black Illusion

L.A. Girl 3D Holographic in Sparkle Ruby, Purple Effect and Black Illusion
L.A. Girl 3D Holographic in Sparkle Ruby, Purple Effect and Black Illusion

Sorry for the picture heavy post!  I just wanted to share how much fun I had with these polishes.  I really enjoyed all of them and would definitely consider picking up the rest of the colors despite their somewhat boring names.  If you haven't gotten any yet, I highly recommend that you seek them out!