My Top 12 Indie Polishes of 2012

My Top 12 Indie Polishes of 2012

I was hoping to have this list up sooner, but I was trying to narrow it down to 10… but I could only narrow it down to 12.  So here is my Top 12 of 2012 Indie Polish list!  I only selected Indies that are hand poured for this post.

I know that everyone has different tastes and not everyone will agree with my choices, but these are the indies that stood out to me this year!

I’m still a little under the weather, so I won’t chat too much <3

Ready for this?

Number 12 – Smitten Polish in Bluebird:

I’m not one for brown polishes, but I really loved this combo!  Bluebird is a milk chocolate colored jelly polish with small aqua glitter and slightly larger aqua hex glitter.

You can purchase Smitten Polish on Etsy HERE

Number 11 –  365 Days of Color in Bora Bora:

I love Sunny and her creations and this is one of her polishes I wear quite a bit!  Bora Bora is a gorgeous sky blue with pink shimmer.

You can purchase 365 Days of Color in her shop HERE

Number 10 –  Naild’ It Unique Polish in Rudolf Knows:

Naild’ It Unique Polish takes the #10 spot with Rudolf Knows!   Rudolf Knows is a vibrant red jelly base with red and holographic hex glitters of different sizes mixed in.  Absolutely beautiful!

You can purchase Naild’ It Unique Polish through Llarowe, Overall Beauty, Mei Mei Signatures or the Naild’ It Unique Nail Polish Etsy Shop

Number 9 – Maya Cosmetics in Last Call:

Last Call was my first Maya Cosmetics experience and since trying this one, none of her creations have let me down.  Last Call is described as a Blackened violet with blue/violet/pink-shifting flecks.

You can purchase Maya Cosmetics through her shop page HERE

Number 8 – Girly Bits in Smurf Dance:

I was absolutely thrilled to be able to purchase Smurf Dance by Girly Bits and it is one of my favorite glitters!  There is a backstory to this ones creation - Smurf Dance was created for Silver over at The Silvernator (check her out too – absolute sweetheart and INCREDIBLY talented with nail art!)  because she did the Smurf Dance for Pam on video.  Smurf Dance is a gorgeous clear base chock full of a fine holographic glitter along with blue and white bar glitter, small and medium sized blue and white hex glitter, and square white glitter.

Girly Bits can be purchased on Big Cartel

Number 7 – Ruby White Tips in Pan Can Purple:

I’m a huge fan of purples, and the shimmer within this vibrant polish blew me away!   This is a lovely purple crelly (halfway between a creme and a jelly) with subtle blue and pink shimmer scattered within the polish.

You can purchase Ruby White Tips through Etsy HERE

Number 6 –  Contrary Polish in Purple Smoke:

 Contrary Polish has a lot of gorgeous creations, but Purple Smoke was by far one of my favorites!  Purple Smoke is a medium grey creme base with blue and purple shimmer.

You can purchase Contrary Polish through Llarowe’s Shop

Number 5 – KBShimmer in Snow Way!:

Snow Way! was released with the KBShimmer Winter 2012 Collection.  Snow Way!  is a gorgeous sky blue base with small matte white glitters and medium hex matte white glitters as well as tiny subtle iridescent glitters.  Absolutely stunning!

You can purchase KBShimmer on her shop HERE

Number 4 – Girly Bits in Roger That:

Roger That is not only a stunning holographic blue polish, but the story behind Roger That brought tears to my eyes.  Brady is a young man who died unexpectedly in Pam of Girly Bits community.    The color inspiration came from Brady’s sparkly blue eyes, Roger That was his Twitter name.

Girly Bits can be purchased on Big Cartel

Number 3 – Mentality Polish in Rapture:

Rapture is just breathtaking!  I fell in love with all of the Mentality creations, but this one is still my absolute favorite!  Rapture is a coppery red and silver speckled holographic polish.

You can purchase Mentality Polish HERE

Number 2 – Above The Curve in Risen Angel:

Above the Curve is another brand with absolutely stunning creations and Risen Angel is simply amazing!   Risen Angel is a deep plum holographic polish!  $1.00 from each Above the Curve Polish sold is donated to Shriners Hospitals for Children.  Gorgeous polish for a good cause!

You can find Above The Curve on Etsy as well as on Big Cartel

Number 1 – Enchanted Polish in I Am The Walrus:

And landing the #1 spot is Enchanted Polish I Am The Walrus.  Enchanted polish had a TON of gorgeous holo polishes released this year and this one blew me completely away!  Not only is it a holo… but a duochrome as well!  Look at the subtle linear holo!   This shifts from a pretty cranberry to a golden orange to a pale gold with a green tinge to it.

I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g’joob.

You can purchase Enchanted Polish through Llarowe’s Shop

And that ends my top 12 Indie Polishes of 2012!  Can you tell I love holographic polishes? I hope you enjoyed this post, I would love to hear some of your favorites of 2012 as well!

I hope everyone has a fabulous 2013 and I look forward to seeing many more gorgeous indies in the coming year <3

Posted in 365 Days of Color, Above The Curve, Contrary Polish, Featured, General, Girly Bits, KBShimmer, Maya Cosmetics, Mentality Nail Polish, Nail Polish, Naild'It Unique Nail Polish, Ruby White Tips, Smitten Polish

OPI Mariah Carey Collection Swatches and Review

OPI Mariah Carey Collection Swatches and Review

OPI has partnered with Mariah Carey to bring us 8 fabulous polishes for Spring 2013, 4 Studio Shades and 4 Stage Shades!

I know a lot have been waiting to see what this new Liquid Sand business is, so I will kick off the post with those.  I was personally a bit skeptical when I first heard about these 2 months ago, but after trying them I am pleasantly surprised.  They are NOT as gritty as they appear, but there is some texture.   For those not into texture but loving the colors and glitter, I have added top coat photos along with the Liquid Sand swatches so you can see that as an option to wear!

Ready for some ‘Stage Shades’?

To pay homage to her iconic status, we wanted to launch her collection with something completely new and exciting. OPI Liquid Sand nail lacquer offers a never-before-seen look with a pebbled finish that lightly shimmers with fine glitter particles. Worn without top coat, Liquid Sand lacquer gives nails a unique textured matte finish worthy of a superstar

Get Your Number:

Get Your Number is probably my favorite of the “Liquid Sand” polishes.  Both with and without top coat.   Get Your Number is a vibrant blue jelly base packed with different sized glitters.  A lot of the glitter is silver holo glitters which are visible in the natural “Liquid Sand” form, but when a top coat is added, oh MAN!  It’s dazzles!  I used 3 coats of Get Your Number for this mani.  For the top coat photo, I used 2 coats of top coat to smooth the mani out.

Can’t Let Go:

Can’t Let Go is probably my second favorite!  Gorgeous purple jelly base packed with lavender hex glitter and fine purple glitters.  I really love the look of this one without the top coat.  I used 3 layers of Can’t Let Go for this photo and 2 coats of top coat for the photo on the right! And yes, the song Can’t Let Go is now stuck in my head.

There you are
Holding her hand
I am lost
Dying to understand
Didn’t I
Cherish you right
Don’t you know
You were my life…

Ok moving on!

Stay the Night:

Stay the Night is a black jelly base with small black glitters mixed in with slightly larger red glitter.  I think of Lava Rock when I see this in the photo on the left with no top coat.  I only needed 2 coats of Stay The Night for this photo and on the right, I used 2 coats of top coat to smooth it out for a glossy look.

The Impossible:

For me, The Impossible kind of lived up to its name.  While I find it to be really pretty with and without top coat the stars were an issue for me!  I only got 1 star out doing this manicure. I turned it upside down for a few minutes hoping stars would magically catch on the brush and allow me to use them, but it didn’t work so well for me.  I used 3 coats of The Impossible and got 1 star.  That lonely star is sitting on top of my middle finger.  The points of the star kept lifting without top coat. You can find of see a point sticking up a little in the non top coat photo on the left.  Of all the liquid sands, this one had the least “texture” to it and I really loved the color.    I will still wear it without the stars and maybe one day they will come out and play with me.

Now onto the “Studio Shades”!

Anti-Bleak:

Anti-Bleak is my favorite creme of the collection.  Anti-Bleak is a red toned purple creme.  Application was a dream.  I used 2 coats for full opacity and I am in love with this shade of purple.

Pink Yet Lavender:

Pink Yet Lavender is the perfect pairing for Anti-Bleak!  I actually put this combo back on when I was done swatching all of the Mariah Carey Collection!   Pink Yet Lavender consists of medium light pink hex glitters and small silver holographic glitters in a clear base.  I only needed 1 coat of Pink Yet Lavender for this photo!  Perfect amount of glitter was evenly and easily distributed!

A Butterfly Moment:

A Butterfly Moment is the “soft” shade of the collection!  A Butterfly Moment is a pretty nude pink with lots of gold shimmer throughout.  Formula was really good and easy to work with.  I only needed 2 coats for this photo and a top coat.

Sprung:

Sprung is a mix of copper shimmer densely packed into a clear base.  The shimmer is very fine.  On first coat, you may not be impressed – but stick with it!  I used 3 coats and it was well worth it!  Such a dazzling beauty!  Pictured is 3 coats with no top coat!

Overall, I enjoyed this collection.  The Stage  Shades were much better than I expected when I first saw them on a nail wheel.  Even if you aren’t a texture person, they are still worth getting even if you plan to slap on a top coat.  Who knows?  The non top coat look may grow on you ;)  Removal was no different than other glitters for me.  I wore one overnight to test this and it removed easily by just soaking a cotton ball, holding it down over the nail for a minute or two and then swiping off.  I then had to go back over it to remove any stubborn glitters that didn’t remove in the first swipe.

My top shade from The Stage Shades is Get Your Number and my top shade from The Studio Shades is Anti-Bleak – what about you?  I’d love to hear what you think!

The Mariah Carey Collection will be available beginning January 2013 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for  $9.00 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer.

***Products in this post were provided for review.  All opinions are my own***

Posted in Featured, General, Nail Polish, OPI

Nailtini Speakeasy Lacquer Collection Swatches and Review

Nailtini Speakeasy Lacquer Collection Swatches and Review

The Speakeasy Collection adds a stiff shot of smoky, sultry style to your lacquer cabinet. Apply responsibly.

I have a cute collection to show you today that is perfect for fall!  Nailtini is the nail portion of the ‘Tini  Beauty Lounge.  The also carry Liptini and Eyetini!

Their newest Nailtini collection is the Speakeasy Lacquer Collection!

Dark & Stormy

Dark & Stormy is a mauvy  greige creme polish.  Perfect application!  I only needed 2 coats for full coverage.

Rusty Nail:

Rusty Nail consists of very densely packed glitter.  The fine glitter is a charcoal glitter mixed in with small copper hex glitters.  I only needed 2 coats for full opacity and 2 coats of top coat to smooth it all out!

Sidecar:

Sidecar is a creamy caramel shade!  Probably my favorite of the whole collection!  I only needed 2 coats for full opacity and it applied like a dream!

Millionaire:

If you subscribe to the monthly box Ipsy (formally known as MyGlam) – you may already have this glitter polish!  Millionaire is chock full of gold glitter particles, gold bar glitters as well as teal and green bar glitter.  I used 1 coat of Millionaire over Sidecar for this picture!

As I said before, this is a great Fall Collection!  Application was perfect on all 4 Speakeasy Lacquers!

You can find more Nailtini Lacquers as well as Nail care items on the Tini Beauty Lounge website

Each Nailtini retails for $13.00

Make sure you check out Nailtini on Facebook as well!

Thinking of purchasing?  For a limited time you can use the code NAILBLOG to receive 10% off your Nailtini order!

***Products in this post were provided for review.  All opinions are my own***

Posted in Featured, General, Nail Polish, Nailtini

Happy Holidays Giveaway!

Happy Holidays Giveaway!

Who is ready for an amazing giveaway to finish off the year?

 I won’t draw this out, so let’s get to it. You know a few of my blogger buddies and I had to do something special for you to finish out the year. International fans you asked and we answered, we know you are tired of supporting our blogs and getting left out of the giveaways, it is something a lot of us struggle with.  So I am happy to announce a slight twist to this giveaway that allowed us to open it International, YAY!

It was planned to have one winner of this amazing prize, but in an effort to include the International fans this is what we are going to do, in the event that the first confirmed winner in an International fan that person will receive the Gift Cards prize and a 2nd US winner will be chosen to receive the beauty product gift basket which as it stands at the moment is valued at approximately $175.

Some of the items in the basket include:

• 4 Polishes from the China Glaze Holiday Collection
• E.L.F Beauty on the go Pallet
• Mary Kay Cream Blush
• Kiss Lashes
• Sephora Lip Gloss
• Mary Kay Eye Makeup Remover
• Philosphy Amazing Grace Powder Compact
• Barielle Ultra Speed Dry Top Coat
• Revlon Lip Glosses
• Eos Lip Balm
• Stila Lip Glaze

 & much more

It has been an amazing year of blogging, and I appreciate each and every one of you who stops over here to read my posts. Looking forward to a new year and bringing you much much more. Have a wonderful Holiday Season.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in Featured, General

Kelara Lacquers Colors for A Cause – Hooray For Boobies! – Swatch and Review

Kelara Lacquers Colors for A Cause – Hooray For Boobies! – Swatch and Review

Another Kelara Lacquers Colors For A Cause polish on the blog today!  Today’s polish? HOORAY FOR BOOBIES!

Hooray for Boobies! is a beautiful pink creme with a purple shimmer throughout.  The shimmer is very subtle and makes this pink glow!  For each full sized bottle of Hooray for Boobies! purchased, Kelara Lacquers will donate $2 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation!  I only needed 2 coats for this photo and a glossy top coat.  Dry time is fairly quick as well!

About the Charity:

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), founded in 1993 by the late Evelyn H. Lauder, works to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime by providing critical funding for innovative clinical and translational research at leading medical centers worldwide, and increasing public awareness about good breast health. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised nearly $380 million to support clinical and translational research at medical institutions across the globe conducting the most advanced and promising breast cancer research that will help lead to prevention and a cure.

Full Size Kelara Lacquers retail for $9.00

$2.00 from each sale of Hooray For Boobies! is donated to  The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

You can check out Kelara Lacquers in their Etsy Shop HERE

Make sure you also check Kelara Lacquers out on Facebook for future updates and more swatches

***Products in this post were provided for review.  All opinions are my own***

Posted in Featured, General, Kelara Lacquer, Nail Polish

Zoya Lovely Collection for Spring 2013 Press Release… and some Swatches!

Zoya Lovely Collection for Spring 2013 Press Release… and some Swatches!

Zoya Lovely
Beauty is a lovely state of mind

Lovely, just LOVELY!

Spring is awash in six soft and lovely new Zoya shades including three dewy metallics and three fresh blooms of cream. Poetic in nature, this collection is sure to capture the beauty of the season like no other….

ZOYA LOVELY – SPRING 2013 (I already own 5 of the 6 of these for their original release… so I decided to throw the swatches in along with the PR photos provided!)

Piaf:

Piaf (ZP652) – Fresh Forsythia Yellow Metallic – Full Coverage (Originally designed for Fashion Designer Zang Toi)

GeiGei:

GeiGei (ZP651) – Blushing Cherry Blossom Pink Metallic – Full Coverage (Originally designed for Zang Toi/SS13).

Julie:

Julie (ZP650) – Soft Wisteria Purple Metallic – Full Coverage (Originally designed for Zang Toi/SS13).

Sorry – no swatch for Blu yet!

Blu (ZP653) – Lucky Hyacinth Blue Cream – Full Coverage

Neely:

Neely (ZP655) – Earliest Spring Green Cream – Full Coverage (Originally designed for Peter Som/SS13).

Jacqueline:

Jacqueline (ZP654) – Perfect Magnolia Nude Cream – Full Coverage (Originally designed for Peter Som/SS13)

Shipping January 01, 2013

Ultra long-wearing, nail lacquers by Zoya are BIG5FREE – all formulas are completely free of harmful industrial chemicals such as toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are known to cause cancer and birth defects.

Zoya Lovely $8 (US)

Follow the Zoya Nail Polish and Treatments Blog and stay tuned on Twitter (@Zoyanailpolish) and Facebook for release date updates.

Posted in Featured, General, Nail Polish, Zoya