The Time Has Come...

I have been contemplating writing this post for a while now, and I can't put it off any longer. I have been blogging for a long time, si...

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

China Glaze Holiday 2016 Seas and Greetings Collection Swatches & Review

This year for the holiday season China Glaze is doing things a little differently! They are taking us on a tropical escape from the snow and cold to give us "warmed up" winter in the form of bright shades, shimmer and vibrancy! Let's take a look at the Seas and Greetings collection!

Good Tide-ings is described as a cool blue lavender, or in other words, a periwinkle crème. This is a total one coat wonder, excellent buttery formula that is very opaque. I used two coats here, as usual.
China Glaze Good Tide-ings

Warm Wishes is a watermelon coral with super subtle silver shimmer. This formula was on the thin side, so it could be runny if you overload your brush. I noticed some slight streaks after two coats, so I used three layers here.
China Glaze Warm Wishes

Joy To The Waves is a shimmering "serene" blue with a strong gold flash. This is thin and a bit sheer. I used three coats for full coverage. This type of shimmer can get brushstrokey so I recommend polishing with care.
China Glaze Joy To The Waves

Eat, Pink, Be Merry is a pale pink with subtle shimmer. Another thin formula, and a little sheer. I found that floating the brush over the nail instead of pressing down to be the best method of application to ensure a streak-free finish. This is three coats.
China Glaze Eat, Pink, Be Merry

Partridge In a Palm Tree is an aqua green matte with silver shimmer. This is one of those mattes that dries SUPER fast. And if you put on too thin of a layer, it can crack upon dry down. I got the best results when I applied this very quickly with a good amount of polish on my brush. If you manipulate it too much you will get uneven streaks. Very opaque, this is two coats but you could get away with one if applied well.
China Glaze Partridge In a Palm Tree

And you know I had to show this to you with top coat. The shimmer comes out like whoa!
China Glaze Partridge In a Palm Tree

Let's Shell-ebrate has a clear base with purple hexes, super tiny purple microglitters and soft gold flake shimmer. I layered two coats over Eat, Pink, Be Merry. You could also layer two or three coats of this on by itself for a different look.
China Glaze Let's Shell-ebrate

I wanted to show you a shot of Let's Shell-ebrate in the shade to better highlight the gold flecks, as they are quite prominent but the full sunlight photo washes them out a bit.
China Glaze Let's Shell-ebrate

Snow Way! is a winter white with a strong iridescent gold shimmer flash. Pale shades can be tricky to apply, but this was pretty straightforward and not finicky. I used three coats here for full opacity.
China Glaze Snow Way!

Tis The Sea-Sun is a vibrant coral crème with a sprinkle of practically invisible shimmer. A more orangey red kind of coral, thin but not runny or difficult. I found this really easy to polish with actually! This is two coats.
China Glaze Tis The Sea-Sun

Sand In My Mistletoes is a peachy nude crème. This was a little thin, but surprisingly opaque. I saw some faint streaky-ness on two coats though, so I used three for good measure.
China Glaze Sand In My Mistletoes

The More The Berrier is a metallic magenta foil. A more typical holiday type shade, this reminds me of a bold party dress. This is absolutely a one coat polish, I even left it alone at one because it looked so great I felt another coat couldn't improve it any more!
China Glaze The More The Berrier

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Starfish is an iridescent gold-to-green shimmer topper. I am convinced this was made to pair with Partridge In a Palm Tree, it looks perfect in my humble opinion haha. This is two coats over Partridge.
China Glaze Twinkle, Twinkle Little Starfish

Seas and Greetings is a striking amethyst purple shimmer. This formula reminds me of the old school polishes that were full of chemicals, kinda sheer and a bit watery but when built up they look really dimensional and glowy. This is three coats.
China Glaze Seas and Greetings

This collection is available now at Sally Beauty Supply stores and online at www.sallybeauty.com for $6.99 each. This is a crazy refreshing color palette for me right now, being knee-deep in the usual holiday reds, greens and dark colors haha. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm really pleased with the departure from the status quo for the season. My favorite is the combo of Partridge In a Palm Tree and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Starfish. What do you think of this collection?

❤ Kellie
The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

My Picks from the Essie Fall 2016 Collection Swatches & Review

So I showed you the Essie Winter 2016 collection a little while ago and today I thought I'd share my picks from the Essie Fall 2016 collection. This is a six piece collection inspired by Japan, though I'm not sure the exact name. I've seen it called the Fall Into Japanese collection and also Kimono-Over. Either way, I bought four of the shades that tickled my fancy.

Udon Know Me is a dusty stone blue crème. This is thick but nice to apply. I did end up using three coats, it still looked a tad streaky to me on two. I'm obsessed with this color.
Essie Udon Know Me

Go Go Geisha is a pale muted pink crème. This was just as thick as Udon, but covered evenly on two coats. I realized after I bought this it's a dupe for Zoya's Brittany, one of my favorite shades from 2015, but that one has a "satin" finish while this dries shiny.
Essie Go Go Geisha

Now And Zen is a subdued grey crème. Another thick formula, but easy to apply and opaque in two coats. I can't resist colors like this, they are must haves for me.
Essie Now and Zen

Playing Koi is a medium/deep rust orange. This has more of a jelly crème formula, it took me three coats to get a non-streaky, opaque finish but I didn't mind because it ends up looking so juicy! Dries a bit darker than it looks in the bottle. A great pumpkin-y fall color.
Essie Playing Koi

The two colors I didn't pick up from the collection are Kimono-Over, a purple jelly crème, and Maki Me Happy, a deep crimson berry jelly crème. This collection should probably still be in most stores still. Essie is sold in Ulta and in most drugstores like CVS and Walmart and on Essie.com. I purchased mine from Transdesign.com. Did you pick any colors up from the Fall collection?

❤ Kellie

Friday, November 25, 2016

Powder Perfect Christmas 2016 Trio Swatches & Review

Hi there! Thanks for dropping by today, I know there's a lot going on with all the great Black Friday shopping deals out there, and lots of us are recovering from food comas via yesterday's Thanksgiving feasts haha. But we gotta have polish! I have three awesome lacquers to show you today from Australian indie Powder Perfect for Christmas!

Sophisticated Santa is a rich warm red holographic with gold and silver shimmery highlights. This has a fabulous formula and covers in one coat. It does deepen a bit on the second coat, which is how many I've done here. This also dries super shiny!
Powder Perfect Sophisticated Santa

Merry Little Christmas is a bright tree green glitterbomb with several shades of green and silver glitters mixed throughout. This goes on easily, it's quite glitter dense but that didn't affect application at all for me. Two coats. This is a full glitter polish so you'll want a thick layer of top coat or two for a smooth finish.
Powder Perfect Merry Little Christmas

Sexy Santa is a luxe maroon red holographic with a glowy pink undertone. This seemed a bit uneven on the first layer despite it being very pigmented, it has more of a jelly-ish consistency, but two coats made it look perfect. Another really shiny one, but I always use top coat anyway.
Powder Perfect Sexy Santa

These shades are available now on http://www.powderperfect.com.au/ (Australian site) and http://www.powder-perfect.com/ (USA site). The two reds are $12.50 each and the green is $11. Let me know what your thoughts are on this jolly trio! I am head over heels with Powder Perfect's deep holographic effect so the reds are irresistible to me. Have a great Friday!

❤ Kellie
The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Nine Zero Lacquer November 2016 Polish of the Month Swatch & Review

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who is celebrating today! I'm ready to get my gobble on, haha ;) Today I have the polish of the month from Nine Zero Lacquer to show you. This guy came to me just a few days ago so I am glad to be able to show it to you before the month is over! November 2016 is a bright pink holographic with holographic silver microglitter.

Excellent formula, easy to apply and no fuss. Dries down dull so you'll want a top coat for shine. This is two coats.

This polish is available on the Nine Zero Lacquer website now for $11. Their new holiday collection is up for pre-order right now too, I should have my swatches & review of them up soon. Let me know what you think about this month's polish! What has been your favorite so far? Any guesses as to what shade we'll get in December?? I have it already, muahaha!

❤ Kellie
The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Fair Maiden Polish Winter 2016 Merry Grinchmas Collection Swatches & Review

Happy almost Thanksgiving haha! It may be my second favorite holiday after Halloween, truth be told. But today let's talk about Christmas, ahem, I mean GRINCH-mas! The lovely minds over at indie brand Fair Maiden Polish have put together a six piece collection inspired by the animated film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, named Merry Grinchmas!

Merry Grinchmas is a deep forest green holographic with soft glowy effect. Perfect color to represent ol' Grinchy McGrinch! Great formula, two coats here.
Fair Maiden Polish Merry Grinchmas

Cindy Lou Who is a bright pink linear holographic with a slight metallic sheen. This was a tad runny, be sure not to overload your brush. Two coats for full coverage.
Fair Maiden Polish Cindy Lou Who

Welcome Christmas is a color shifting, slightly metallic, mint green linear holographic that shifts in between a pinky-violet, teal-aqua, and a light sage. This was thin but applied easily. I used three coats here, but it's pretty sheer so you may want another coat depending on your preference.
Fair Maiden Polish Welcome Christmas

All The Whos In Whoville is a light rosy pink linear holographic with yellow to pink shifting shimmer, loaded with multi-colored microflakes. Nice and complex for a sparkly pink! This formula is lovely, full coverage in two coats.
Fair Maiden Polish All The Whos In Whoville

Who-Pudding is a dusky plum toned deep purple linear holographic with violet shimmers. Same type of formula as Welcome Christmas, but more opaque. I used two coats for this one.
Fair Maiden Polish Who-Pudding

❤ x 3 is a pigmented cherry red jelly linear holographic packed with scattered holo microglitter. I swear there are also some black specks of microglitter in this as well. In the bottle I was pleased with it, but when I applied it my heart exploded! It's SOOO beautiful! Great formula, two coats. May need a thick topcoat for a smooth finish.
Fair Maiden Polish Heart x 3

This collection will be available on Friday, Nov. 25 at 8am CST on the Fair Maiden Polish website. Their Electric Mayhem collection of bright crèmes will also be launching on that day, same time. Their Black Friday promotions listed below are valid Nov. 25 at 8am CST through Nov. 28th, midnight CST:
  • $5 doorbuster shade available in limited quantities called Cart-Jacked
  • 25% off the entire store (excluding doorbuster only)
  • Free full size mystery Holiday 2016 polish with orders of Winter collection ‘Merry Grinchmas’ or $50 total purchase
  • Free shipping over $50.
Let me know what you think about this collection! Are you planning on doing any shopping for Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

❤ Kellie
The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Glam Polish Limited Edition Group Exclusives Swatches & Review

Hi there! I've got some new polishes from Glam Polish today to celebrate their 4th Anniversary and their fans, two new limited edition polishes created exclusively for the members of the Glam Polish Facebook fan group!

Glitter For Breakfast is a special shade created from an inspiration picture and name suggested by fan group members. It is a mix of pink, violet, gold and silver holographic microglitter in a delicate pink tinted holo base with platinum silver flakes, pink glass flecks, and holo flakies. Excellent application, covers in one coat but I used two here. It is a glitter so it will dry with a gritty texture, I suggest using a layer of thick top coat or two to get a smooth finish.
Glam Polish Glitter For Breakfast

L-O-V-E is a special shade created to celebrate Glam Polish’s birthday and to show appreciation to their customers for supporting them over the last four years. This is a greenish-teal-turquoise intense holographic with added platinum silver flakes. This is has a superb formula, it's close to being a one coater but I used two here. This is stunning, not to be missed!
Glam Polish L-O-V-E

These shades will be available on Nov. 24th at 3pm EST; ordering info and a discount code required to purchase them will be posted in the Glam Polish Fans Facebook group, to join please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/739265499436119.

In case you are interested, Glam Polish has a few promotions coming up for this launch, more detail and photos can be seen in their newsletter!

* Glitter For Breakfast & L-O-V-E - Save $3 total when purchasing both Glam Group Exclusives together (promotion ends Nov 28th 11:59pm EST).

* Wizardly Ways Collection - Save 10% when purchasing the full collection, no code required. (promotion ends Nov 28th 11:59pm EST).

* Black Friday Sale - Save 10 to 55% off select shades on glampolish.com.au, shades already marked down, no code required. (While supplies last)
** Black Friday Promotion - Glam Polish is giving away a free full sized limited edition nail polish to the first 75 USA/international customers who spend a minimum of $50 USD on products, not including shipping, in one transaction placed on the glampolish.com.au website from 3pm on Nov 24th.

Congrats on 4 awesome years Glam Polish! I adore you!

❤ Kellie
The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Moo Moo's Signatures Fantasy Wonderland Collection Swatches & Review

Hello again! Today I've got a new collection from Moo Moo's Signatures, a Singapore based indie brand. This is a six piece color set called Fantasy Wonderland, a lovely winter array of a variety of colors and finishes. Let's check 'em out!

Ballerina Moo is a pale putty color with subtle holographic particles and shifting shimmer with tiny flakies that flex from pink/gold to turquoise. This was a tad sheer and streaky on the first two coats, I used three here to build it up to opacity.
Moo Moo's Signatures Ballerina Moo

Garden of Eden is a dark forest green metallic with tons of scattered holographic particles, tiny green flakies and shimmer. This went on easily and covered in two coats.
Moo Moo's Signatures Garden of Eden

Gold Reindeer is a blend of gold shimmer, gold flakies, gold holo dust with tiny pink flakies. This is sheer enough to be a layering shade too, I bet it would look great over a black crème. This formula was a bit runny, I used three coats.
Moo Moo's Signatures Gold Reindeer

Devil Bunny in the House is a teal holographic with added pink shimmer and tiny red flakies. This applied like a dream. Two coats here.
Moo Moo's Signatures Devil Bunny in the House

Bubble Bath is a blush pink holographic with gold shimmer. I found this to be a tad streaky on the first two layers, but it evened out nicely on three. This is soft and oh so feminine!
Moo Moo's Signatures Bubble Bath

Fantasy Labyrinth is a limited edition shade, a greyed blurple with mauve shimmer, tiny pink and green flakies, blue to green chrome flakies, sapphire and pink holo sparkles, and tiny blue flakies. This is chock full o' flakies! A real stunner, great formula, opaque in two coats.
Moo Moo's Signatures Fantasy Labyrinth

This collection will go on sale on November 21st at 11 am EST (Nov. 22 at 12 am SGT) on the Moo Moo's Signatures website. They will sell for SGD18 each, except for Gold Reindeer which will be SGD16 per bottle. Let me know what you think of this winter collection! Any colors catch your fancy?

❤ Kellie
The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Friday, November 18, 2016

Different Dimension Homespun Holidays Collection Swatches & Review

Happy Friday friends! Different Dimension has a beautiful new holiday collection out right now called Homespun Holidays, a seven piece collection full of holographics and one glitter topper. This classy bunch of colors are gorgeous and is sure to liven up your nails this holiday season, and beyond.

Family is a light gold linear holographic with added shimmers. This looks more yellow gold in some lighting and more soft pale gold in others. I adore a good gold and this makes me swoon! Two effortless coats.
Different Dimension Family

Naughty is a bold cherry red holographic. This flame is a bit less intense than the other holos in this collection, it almost seems like the vibrant base color is swallowing it up, but it's more prominent in person. You can get full coverage in one coat but two gives a slightly deeper color.
Different Dimension Naughty

Celebration is a greyed taupe holographic with added shimmers, flakies and reddish-copper holographic microglitters. Fabulous formula, two coats for full coverage. Due to the microglitters this dries ever so slightly more textured than the others, but you may not even notice.
Different Dimension Celebration

Nice is a cheery medium grass green linear holographic. This has almost a jelly-ish formula, less opaque. I used three coats here but you may be fine with two depending on your application style.
Different Dimension Nice

Tradition is a pale copper holographic polish with added copper shimmers. Another excellent formula, two coats. A gorgeous shade, I need more copper polishes in my life!
Different Dimension Tradition

Blizzard is a glitter topper, a clear base filled with silver holographic glitters, iridescent glitters and white glitters to represent freshly fallen snow. I used one coat over Naughty. The twinkly iridescent glitters are my favorite in this, I can't wait to try it over more base colors! Dense with glitter and super easy to apply evenly, which I really appreciate as I find layering to be tricking sometimes.
Different Dimension Blizzard

Rejoice is a silver linear holographic polish with added shimmers and silver micro flakies. Mega flame density on this one, like wowza! The flakes add another cool dimension too, it's a winner. Two easy, dreamy coats.
Different Dimension Rejoice

Different Dimension also has some new cuticle oil scents available for the season: Blessings - an enveloping blend of grape, peach and plum with sparkling citrus, rose and musk; Jolly - just like mom use to make - yummy cookies made with sugar and vanilla and fresh from the oven; Noel - crushed candy canes are sprinkled over luscious layers of sugary white chocolate to make this cool yet sweet dessert sensation; Cheer - holiday notes of fir needle, cinnamon stick, cranberries, crisp apple and cedarwood; and Merry - notes of spun sugar, vanilla bean and apple cider.

The Homespun Holidays collection is available now on the Different Dimension website for $12 each, with the exception of Blizzard, which is specially priced at $5. Let me know what you think about these gorgeous holiday polishes!

❤ Kellie
The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

The Holo Hookup December 2016 Swatches & Review

Hello holo lovers! I have four new holographic lacquers to show you today, that's right, The Holo Hookup is here again! The December 2016 installment of the monthly box is themed for Hollywood Bombshells, named for four powerhouse women of the silver screen. I'm all about old Hollywood glam style so I am totally here for this! The three founding brands Cupcake Polish, Glisten & Glow and Different Dimension are joined by guest maker Darling Diva Polish this month.
color inspiration

Glisten & Glow Mae, for Mae West, is a black linear holographic with red and purple shimmers and silver galaxy glitters. Flawless formula, two coats. I really like Mae, she is hilarious and was one of the first female playwrights!
Glisten & Glow Mae

Different Dimension Audrey, inspired by Audrey Hepburn, is a hot pink linear holographic with added shimmers and microglitters. A very opaque, creamy holo. I used two coats but you can get full coverage in one. I have a special place in my heart for Audrey, her movies are some of my favorites and her beautiful philanthropic heart is still so inspirational to me.
Different Dimension Audrey

Cupcake Polish Grace, named for Grace Kelly aka Princess Grace of Monaco, is a metallic silver gunmetal linear holographic. Great formula, almost covers in one coat, but I used two here. Dries super fast! I adore old movies so I have tons of love for Grace.
Cupcake Polish Grace

Darling Diva Vivien, after Vivien Leigh, is a burgundy holographic with gold shimmer and gold holo sparks. This has a little more of a jelly type of base, so it requires at least two coats for opacity. This is my first Darling Diva polish! I'm not as familiar with Vivien, except for Gone With the Wind, but she's definitely a bombshell.
Darling Diva Polish Vivien

This quartet costs $40 and will be available for pre-order on Monday, November 21st at 9pm EST through Monday, November 28th at 9pm EST on The Holo Hookup website. This month they are offering FREE domestic shipping and reduced shipping internationally ($5.00 off the normal international and Canada shipping rates) to celebrate over a year of The Holo Hookup! (November 2015 was the first box!) Let me know if you like the theme for this month! Are you interested in picking up this box?

❤ Kellie
The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Essie Winter 2016 Getting Groovy Collection Swatches & Review

Hi there, today I have a new collection from Essie to show you! The Winter 2016 Getting Groovy collection is inspired by the party scene in London during the "swinging sixties". The names are hilarious and take me right into an Austin Powers movie haha. Let's take a look at this six piece collection!

Getting Groovy is a metallic "palladium gold" foil. This formula was easy to apply but could gunk up against itself if you do too many brushstrokes. This covers in one coat, but I did two here.
Essie Getting Groovy

Oh Behave! is a peach frost with gold shimmer. The formula was pretty thin but surprisingly not difficult to use. This is two coats.
Essie Oh Behave!

Party On the Platform is a garnet red crème. Slightly thin formula, no difficulty though. Two coats on this guy. I would caution you against staining though, I had a tinge of red around my cuticles after I removed this.
Essie Party On the Platform

Go With the Flowy is a pale dove gray with super subtle silver shimmer. This seemed a bit streaky but became opaque and even on the second coat. I kind of floated the second layer on, which I think helped from having the streaks reappear.
Essie Go With the Flowy

Satin Sister is a deep peacock blue jelly crème. Lovely to apply, but may also be a stainer. It's quite pigmented despite it's jelly-ish formula. Two coats for full opacity.
Essie Satin Sister

Ready to Boa is a dark bronzed mahogany shimmer. Excellent formula, opaque in one coat but I used two here.
Essie Ready to Boa

This collection should be in stores pretty soon, if not already. Essie is available at most drugstores like CVS, along with Ulta Beauty and Walmart, as well as online at Essie.com. What are your thoughts on this winter set? Oh Behave! is a surprising favorite for me, it reminds me of older formula polishes which I love. Have a great week friends!

❤ Kellie
The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.
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