Revlon Leather Effect Downtown Swatch And Review

Purchased

Ok, I impulse bought a new point and shoot camera.  My rational self knows that I don't need a new camera, but the sales goggles were on and I couldn't stop myself.  I need to convince myself that rather than buying a new camera, I should work on my photography skills and improve my lighting set up.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I would love to know what lighting you use for your photos!

The other day after I received an email from CVS for $3 off a Revlon purchase, I headed over to my local store with the intent of getting some of the Revlon Parfumerie polishes.  Instead, I spied a new display for Revlon Leather Effect polishes and was immediately drawn to the dark eggplant purple shade called Downtown.  There was a black, blue, and I believe a grey shade as well, but purple being my favorite was the obvious choice.  The formula on these are spectacular, especially consider that it's a texture polish.  I was expecting some resistance with the formula, particularly around the cuticle area, but the formula was so silky smooth and applied exceptionally well.  It was a near one coater but I did two out of habit.  No topcoat so you can see the natural textured finish.

Revlon Leather Effect Downtown

Revlon Leather Effect Downtown

Revlon Leather Effect Downtown

Revlon Leather Effect Downtown

Revlon Leather Effect Downtown

Revlon Leather Effect Downtown

It indeed has a leather effect, which is a texture that is between a sand and a matte.  I don't know the chemistry behind it, but it seems that the polish glides on smooth like a cream but then begins to dry and form little bumps, almost like a coagulating effect.  The blank canvas begged to be decorated, so I broke out my Winstonia W113 plate and used the beehive image and Color Club Angel Kiss to stamp.

Revlon Leather Effect Downtown Stamping

Revlon Leather Effect Downtown Stamping

Revlon Leather Effect Downtown Stamping

Revlon Leather Effect Downtown Stamping

I like this image because the stamp isn't too busy and allows the base color to shine through.  I gravitate toward geometric patterns in general, so this particular pattern is a favorite for me.  Out of the plates I own, the Winstonia ones are my favorite because the image always seems to transfer over cleanly and easily.  I wish I could do it more often but with the LO around, it's hard to find that extra time to do nail art.  I like quick and easy accents and I'm always on the lookout for new techniques.  What's your go to nail art?

Purchased

OPI Russian Navy Suede Swatch And Review With Snowflake Stamping

Thank goodness for Saturday.  I've had a rough couple days - correction, LO had a rough couple days - she got her first real sickness, a 24 hour stomach bug.  Poor thing started vomiting and later developed diarrhea.  She didn't understand what was going on and was very upset by it all.  Luckily DH took the day off to care for her.  She's feeling better now but still tired and weak.  Hopefully she'll make a full recovery by the end of the weekend.

In the midst of damage control, I managed to stub a finger and break a nail.  I didn't even realize it until after she'd gone to bed.  That means you might see some posts alternating between my new nubs and my former long nails so considered yourself forewarned! 

After said accident, I had a hankering for some nail art and decided to start with a fabulous polish that was sent to me by the lovely Liz from Lacquer Slacker Liz.  It's an OPI oldie but goodie called Russian Navy Suede, a luscious navy blue suede with hidden silver shimmer.  It applied easily and smoothly, and was nearly opaque in one coat.  I used two coats here - there's something about dark shades and nubs that work so well together.  I love the suede finish, it's not quite matte and dries to a soft finish that really does look reminiscent of suede.  So cool! 

OPI Russian Navy Suede

OPI Russian Navy Suede

OPI Russian Navy Suede

OPI Russian Navy Suede

OPI Russian Navy Suede

OPI Russian Navy Suede

The navy blue reminded me of a winter's night and I though some snowflakes were in order.  I stamped some on using Color Club Angel Kiss and my Winstonia plates.  The Winstonia plates had three separate snowflake images and I alternated using them on my nails.  Angel Kiss stamped very easily but unfortunately the holo properties didn't translate too well on the suede.

Snowflake Stamping

Snowflake Stamping

Snowflake Stamping

Snowflake Stamping

Snowflake Stamping

I know it's not quite winter, but after a mini heat wave in SoCal, I'm really missing a brisk winter night.  I remember being young and looking out the window at night and seeing the snow falling softly to the ground.  Hopefully this mani captured a little of that.  In retrospect, I should have topcoated this to see if the silver shimmer would show through.  That'll have to go on my mental checklist for later.  Have you been getting into the winter spirit yet?  Are you preparing for the holidays yet?

#31DC2013 Inspired By A Color: You're Turning Violet, Violet by Smitten Polish

Purchased

Today's challenge is one of those open ended challenges that you can interpret in any way you want.  I decided to go the purple route, and use Smitten Polish You're Turning Violet, Violet as inspiration and a focal point.  I used it on my ring finger and then did a glitter gradient with it on my pinky over Sinful Colors Enchanted.  I then did a gradient with Enchanted and Color Club Puccilicious and Sinful Colors Sweet Nothing on my middle and index finger.  Finally, I used some striping tape with Enchanted and Color Club Eternal Beauty on my thumb.

#31DC2013 Inspired By A Color

#31DC2013 Inspired By A Color

#31DC2013 Inspired By A Color

#31DC2013 Inspired By A Color

#31DC2013 Inspired By A Color

I really like this mani - I don't often get the opportunity to do skittlettes but they're fun to do and always look great.  It's a shame I have to remove it for the next challenge tomorrow!

I'm testing a new lens and I'm realizing that some of my photos are coming out a little blurry so I apologize for that.  Hopefully I'll get it figured out soon!

Let's see how the other ladies interpreted today's challenge, shall we?

Purchased

Color Club Uptown Girl Swatch And Review and #31DC2013 Animal Print

Purchased

I miss my regular posts of swatch reviews, and when this baby arrived on my doorstep I knew I had to wear it right away.  This is Uptown Girl from Color Clubs latest fall collection Girl About Town.  This is probably one of the most remarkable polishes that I've seen all year, and you're about to see why.

Uptown Girl is a purple jelly packed to the rim with awesome color shifting flakies that transition from gold, orange, red, and all the way to green.  Think Nfu Oh #51 but on steroids - it has more flakies and more color shifts.  I used three coats here, and found the formula to be on the thick side.  I didn't want to thin it down though, in fear that it would affect the density of the flakies.  It had a normal dry time, and I finished with a layer of my current topcoat mixture of Poshe and NYC GSC.

Color Club Uptown Girl

Color Club Uptown Girl

Color Club Uptown Girl

Color Club Uptown Girl

Color Club Uptown Girl

Color Club Uptown Girl

Color Club Uptown Girl

I had difficulty capturing the green shift in the light tent, but I assure you, the green shift is extremely prevalent in regular lighting.  I caught myself staring at my nails while driving whenever daylight touched it.  I love how the flakies float within the jelly and looks bottomless and never ends.  This is definitely one of this year's must have polishes, especially if you don't have anything similar.  Of course, on the flipside, I imagine you could probably create a jelly sammich to dupe this if you have a purple jelly and a flakie topcoat, but who wants to bother with that?

Oh!  And don't think I forgot about today's challenge.  I wanted to forget, but unfortunately I'm stubborn and will post my poor attempt at today's challenge which is animal print.  I've already done cheetah and snake print, so that leaves only a few more options that I'm not good at.  I decided to try stamping giraffe nails and failed miserable because my brown was pigmented enough and my nails were too long for the plate.  Doh!  The green on my thumb is suppose to represent a tree, and the head of the giraffe is buried within.  Off the top of my head I used China Glaze Lemon Fizz and Entourage.

#31DC2013 Animal Print Giraffe Nails

Sigh... unfortunately I can't try again because my brother is staying the night and he's occupying my workspace, so these will have to do.  I apologize for any visual trauma that I may have inflicted with this mani!

Please quickly move on and see what the other ladies have come up for today's challenge!

Purchased

#31DC2013 Violet - Purple Ruffian Rainbow

Purchased

I almost didn't make this post because I nearly fell asleep with LO when I put her to bed.  I persevered and dragged myself out of bed to get this violet themed mani up for you and complete day 6 of the 31 Day Challenge.  Aren't you proud of me?  I think I deserve a toast for that.... where's my margarita?

I've been seeing ruffian rainbow manicures sporadically and thought it would be nice to try a gradient rainbow using the ruffian technique.  I started with a dark purple, Matesse Elite Pumped Up Purple.  It took two coats of semi-opacity and applied streaky.  I didn't dwell too much on that though because I knew I was covering that up with a medium shade of purple, Color Club Puccilicious.  My light lilac-ish purple shade was Sinful Colors Candy Coated, and to finish I added some dots of Zoya Purity.  I topped it all with Pure Ice Busted to add purple shimmer, and finished with a layer of NYC GCS.

#31DC2013 Purple Ruffian Rainbow

#31DC2013 Purple Ruffian Rainbow

#31DC2013 Purple Ruffian Rainbow

#31DC2013 Purple Ruffian Rainbow

This mani was really easy to create and I freehanded most of it with the bottle brushes except for the dots, which I did with a dotting tool.  If you're looking to do some nail art and you need something quick, this method is something you need to add to your arsenal.  Pure Ice Busted is one of my favorite shimmer toppers as well, and I love how it sets off the entire mani.

Thanks for checking out my day 6 purple mani!  Please make sure you check out the other ladies' creations.

Purchased

Color Club Abyss Swatch And Review with Lynnderella Connect The Dots

Thank goodness it's the weekend!  I'm exhausted from my first full time week back at work.  I fell asleep early each night this week and didn't get a chance to post as much as I wanted to.  This weekend there's a million and one things I want to do again - there's a food truck festival at the Rose Bowl, a sample sale, and then my mother wants to take another trip down to OC.  I'm not sure that I'll get to do all of what I want to do, but there's always another weekend I suppose!  Is your weekend jam packed?

I visited my favorite nail supply with my BFF when she was in town, and she convinced me I needed to pick up Abyss from Color Club's Kaleidoscope Spring collection.  It didn't take much convincing because it's a gorgeous green leaning teal cream that simple pops with color.  I found application to be a dream, nearly opaque in one coat but two to even it out.  This is with a layer of Poshe.

Color Club Abyss

Color Club Abyss

Color Club Abyss

Color Club Abyss

Color Club Abyss

I hope I captured how gorgeous this color this is, teals are always wonky on the camera.  I thought it would be the perfect shade to go with Lynnderella Connect The Dots, an oldie but goodie.  I forgot that there was shimmer in the clear base.

Color Club Abyss With Lynnderella Connect The Dots

Color Club Abyss With Lynnderella Connect The Dots

Color Club Abyss With Lynnderella Connect The Dots

Color Club Abyss With Lynnderella Connect The Dots

It's no wonder that Lynnderella revolutionized the polish world with this amazing mix of matte white and black glitters with squares(!), hexes, and bars.  There's been several similar dupes released since, but nothing compares to the simple awesomeness of this glitter topper.  Is there a glitter topper that you'll never get tired of?

Color Club Halo Hues 2013 Beyond and Eternal Beauty Swatch and Review

I feel like I'm always running, running, running, whether it be to or from work, to pick up the baby, or meeting up for an appointment.  I'm probably going to burn out soon, so luckily I planned ahead and scheduled a nice dinner with DH this Friday.  It'll be just the two of us while my brother watches LO.  Now with the baby around, we really have to make an effort to make sure we spend time with each other.  Not to mention, now I've got something to look forward to at the end of my week.

Tonight I have some quick swatches of my favorite pics from the Color Club 2013 Halo Hues holographic polishes.  This is the second release of the Halo Hues, and I reviewed four from the first release in this post.  The holographic effect from these CC polishes are stunning, and the 2013 releases do not disappoint.

First I have Beyond, a rich and dark charcoal grey holographic polish that glows with rainbows in many lights.  This is probably going to knock Layla Flash Black off its pedestal as my favorite dark holo.  From afar it appears to be a standard dark vampy polish but up close the ever changing color show is in full effect.  I found the formula to be a little on the thick side and I could have used one thick coat for opacity but opted for two thin coats out of habit.  No base coat or topcoat so you can see it's natural beauty.  The first set are in my light tent.

Color Club Beyond

Color Club Beyond

Color Club Beyond

Color Club Beyond

Now, because I love this color so much and want you to see all facets of its beauty, photos taken under the bulb directly:

Color Club Beyond

Color Club Beyond

Color Club Beyond

Color Club Beyond

Color Club Beyond

Next I have my other favorite from the 2013 releases and that's Eternal Beauty, a deep dark purple holo.  I was hoping it would be a darker purple but it's more like a medium purple with a stunning dynamic rainbow.  No problems with application, this went on like butter and I used two coats for opacity without topcoat or basecoat.

Color Club Eternal Beauty

Color Club Eternal Beauty

Color Club Eternal Beauty

Color Club Eternal Beauty

I've seen swatches of the other colors from numerous blogs and forums and although none of them interest me, the holographic effect in each is truly stunning.  Color Club really hit the holographic nail on the head with the Halo Hues and I can only hope they continue the line with more colors or make them core rather than limited edition because they're truly special.  Do you plan on picking any of these up or do you think there are better holo polishes out there?