Category: Nails

Indie Spotlight: Smitten Polish in Mint Chip

Happy Wednesday! If you’re like me, you probably have quite a few polishes in your collection that you’ve had for a long time, but haven’t tried out yet. A couple weeks ago, one of my favorite beauty bloggers, Cosmetic Sanctuary, reviewed the Smitten Polish Fall Collection, and I was in awe! It sparked my memory that I own just one bottle of Smitten Polish, and I just never tried it out. Cosmetic Sanctuary inspired me to test out that polish, and I am not disappointed!

IMG_3199 IMG_3202 IMG_3203Here is Smitten Polish in Mint Chip, a mint based polish with brown glitters both small and medium sized. Application was great, and I achieved opacity in three thin coats. Not only is mint chocolate chip my favorite ice cream, but I just love mint nail polish, so Mint Chip is perfect for me! I’m so happy I finally gave it a try.

All in all, Mint Chip is a great polish, and I can’t wait to try more from Smitten Polish. You can purchase Smitten Polish on Etsy HERE for $9.00 each. While Mint Chip is not currently for sale, similar polishes are Adeste Fidelis and Groovy Baby. Plus, I’m sure you can’t go wrong with the brands stunning holographics. Be sure to follow Smitten Polish on Facebook as well, and let me know if you own any Smittens in the comments.

Incoco 100% Real Nail Polish Strips | An Inconclusive Review!

Happy Friday! Today I have a review of Incoco Nail Polish Strips, nail appliqués made from 100% real nail polish. Incoco sent me a few designs to test out for all of you, and I made sure to do a true wear test since the product is advertised to last up to 14 days. Let me tell you a bit more about Incoco!

IMG_2387Incoco Nail Polish Strips are made from real nail polish, and include a top coat, color coat, and base coat in every strip. These appliqués do not require any drying time, and are 3-free. Each pack contains 16 double-ended strips to ensure you find the perfect fit for your nails and nail shape. I also love that Incoco products are made in the USA!

To apply the appliqués, simply peel a strip, place it on your nail, and use a file in a downward motion to trim off the excess. To remove, use your regular nail polish remover!

IMG_2667 IMG_2668IMG_2717The first set I tried was Blazing Pink, a neon pink color that I absolutely love! Blazing Pink was so easy to apply, and I loved the look of my nails. I left on this manicure for one week before removing it. The third photo above shows the significant wear at the end of that one week. While I would have liked a longer-lasting manicure, I had a great experience with Blazing Pink, and would recommend this design!

IMG_2950 IMG_2954Up next is Cheers, a black and gold glitter design. I found Cheers much harder to apply – they were thicker and less malleable than Blazing Pink. The edges would not lay flat, and I experienced chipping after a few hours. I ended up peeling off the appliqués in less than 24 hours because the edges were all coming up off my nails. Cheers was thus a big disappointment for me.

IMG_3026 IMG_3029Last but not least is Garden Party, a floral design with a cream base and orange flowers. Garden Party applied well – not as good as Blazing Pink, but much better than Cheers. As you can see from the photos, the edges did not lay flat on all my nails. My manicure lasted about four days before I peeled off the strips. I loved the look of Garden Party, but wished it lasted longer!

All in all, I’ve had an interesting experience with Incoco! One set was great, one was bad, and the other was just alright. I can’t really give a final verdict of my Incoco opinion without trying more and seeing what happens, but I can say for sure that Blazing Pink is awesome. If you love neon pink and would like a manicure that lasts about a week, I would got for it. Incoco Nail Polish Strips can be purchased for $7.99-8.99 each online HERE. Be sure to let me know what you think in the comments!

 

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

 

Indie Spotlight: Surfer’s Paradise from Sallyface Polish and Potions

Happy Tuesday! Instagram really has proven to be a great place to discover new indie nail polish brands. I love perusing the #indiepolish hashtag, and one day Sallyface Polish and Potions appeared on my screen! The brand’s owner generously sent me one of her polishes to review, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

IMG_3166 IMG_3168 IMG_3172Surfer’s Paradise is a gorgeous aqua polish with just a hint of blue glitters and holographic shimmer. The polish has a great formula that was opaque in two coats and applied well. I was really impressed with the quality of this polish! Surfer’s Paradise is also a beautiful color. While some brush strokes are visible, that is due to it’s metallic quality, and in no way detracts from the look of the manicure. Overall, I’m loving Surfer’s Paradise!

My first experience with Sallyface Polish and Potions is a hit! Surfer’s Paradise is a great polish, and I would definitely recommend it. You can shop for Sallyface Polish and Potions HERE and follow on Instagram HERE. Prices currently range from $4.00-7.00.

 

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Zoya Zenith Collection for Holiday 2013

Happy Friday! Today I have a review of the complete Zenith Collection from Zoya Nail Polish.The Zenith Collection will be released in just a few days on October 1, and contains six beautiful shades for the holiday season. Let me show you these gorgeous polishes!

IMG_3057 IMG_3060First up is Belinda, a dark purple polish with blue and magenta shimmer. Belinda has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It was difficult to capture the shimmer on camera, but in real life this polish shines so beautifully. Belinda is definitely one of my favorites in this collection.

IMG_3096 IMG_3100Next is Seraphina, a silver metallic polish. Seraphina has a good formula, but I found it very difficult to apply due to its color. The silver is very sheer, and was hard for me to see during application. I therefore had to be really careful to make sure I was staying inside the lines. Besides that, Seraphina is opaque in two coats, and is a nice silver for the holidays!

IMG_3103 IMG_3107Cassedy is up next, and it is a stunning pewter polish that shifts to blue and green depending on the light. Cassedy has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, and I am loving how unique it is! I wouldn’t necessarily call this a duochrome, but it clearly has a color-changing quality. Cassedy is very edgy, and would look great for a rock star look. IMG_3110 IMG_3112Next is Payton, a cranberry jelly polish with scattered holographic glitter. Payton has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. Plus, application is amazing! Payton is such a beautiful polish, and it is a great alternative to the bright, Christmas red around the holiday season.

IMG_3115 IMG_3119Dream is up next, and is a blue jelly polish with scattered holographic glitter. Dream is literally a dream polish. It has the perfect formula, and is opaque in two coats. Dream is definitely my favorite polish in the collection, and I think it is so gorgeous. I love the dimension and sparkle!

IMG_3123 IMG_3126Last but not least is Mosheen, a glitter top coat mixed with holographic bars and grains. The base is just slightly blue, so I layered two coats over Zoya Blu to get the look in the photos. Mosheen does have a good formula, and I had no problems with application. Mosheen is a nice polish to add a bit of sparkle to any manicure!

All in all, I’m loving the Zoya Zenith Collection! I love that the polishes are unique, and different from typical holiday collections. I would also like to see more polishes like Dream and Payton in the future! You can purchase these polishes starting October 1 on Zoya’s website HERE for $8 each.

 

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund from The Crowdsourced Collection

Happy Tuesday! I will have a full unboxing of my September Birchbox up on the blog this Sunday, but I just had to show you the nail polish I received in my box. This month Birchbox teamed up with the new brand RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer to bring each subscriber a nail polish in her monthly box. I wasn’t sure how great the polish would be, but the bottle shape was cool, and I got an on-trend color. Imagine my surprise when I loved the polish! Let me stop talking and show you the polish in all its glory!

IMG_3084 IMG_3086This green beauty is Hedge Fund from The Crowdsourced Collection. Hedge Fund is an army green metallic polish with a gorgeous gold shimmer. This polish has the perfect, one coat formula that dries quickly and doesn’t require top coat. And if this polish couldn’t get any more perfect, it does! The brush is so nice, and the cap is actually designed to give users a good grip for application. While that may sound silly, it works! I haven’t enjoyed a nail-painting experience this much in a while!

All in all, Hedge Fund is everything I could ask for in a polish! It’s perfect for fall, and I have a feeling it will be on my nails a lot this season. You may even see it in another blog post soon (hint hint). RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer is available exclusively on the Birchbox website for $10 per bottle, or $24 for the 3-piece collection. While this is a bit more than I usually spend for polish, I am definitely considering buying more! I’m saving up my money for this amazing brand!

I also entered this manicure in Birchbox’s #RuffianManicure contest! I would really love it if you voted for me. Just click HERE and then hit the “vote” button. Thank you!

3D Bow Rhinestones from Born Pretty Store

Happy Thursday! I usually keep my manicures pretty simple, but every once in a while I like to dress up my nails. I was so excited when I received some bow rhinestones in the mail from Born Pretty Store. I think bows are so cute and girly, and couldn’t wait to add some flair to my manicure. Let me show you my fancy nails!

IMG_3002 IMG_3004How awesome are these bows?! I knew I wanted a really feminine look, so I chose one of my favorite pinks of all time for the base color – L’Oreal’s Check Me Out. Then I let my nail polish dry a little bit before applying the rhinestones because I wanted the polish to be tacky, but at the same time I didn’t want to smudge my manicure. Once I was sure the polish was partly dry, I carefully placed the bows on my nails and pressed them down. And it was as simple as that! The rhinestones stayed secure and I love the result!

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One of the reasons I love these bows so much is because they come in an arched design that fits the nails perfectly. This is something new for me, as other nail rhinestones I’ve tried have always been flat on the bottom, and thus didn’t fit my nails properly. It is so great that these bows are designed this way, I can’t stress that enough!

All in all, I am loving these bow rhinestones from Born Pretty Store! If you are looking to glam up your manicure, I highly suggest these. Plus, you can grab a pack of 10 bows for just $5.99 HERE. These rhinestones can easily be reused, so this is definitely a great value. For those who may not be as adventurous in nail art, these bow are a great option. As always, you can get an extra 10% off with coupon code FZL91 and there is free international shipping with every order. Happy Shopping!

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The products in this post were provided for unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Indie Spotlight: Oh Teally? and Fancy Schmancy from Amy’s Nail Boutique

Happy Tuesday! Early this year I purchased a couple polishes from Amy’s Nail Boutique, and they have just been sitting in my collection waiting to be used. I finally tried them out, and I am super impressed! I wish I tried these out so much sooner. Let me show you these gorgeous glitters!

IMG_3009 IMG_3012First up is Oh Teally?, a glitter top coat full of circles, squares, hexagonal glitters all in the color teal! I also spy a bit of a darker blue mixed throughout to add a bit more dimension. I layered two coats over Covergirl’s Mint Mojito, and I’m loving the result! Oh Teally? has a great formula, but I do wish more glitters applied with one coat. Thankfully, the polish isn’t thick, and two coats are the perfect finish! Oh Teally? is a must for all teal fans!

IMG_3015 IMG_3022Fancy Schmancy is the other polish I purchased, and it is a mix of turquoise, gold, purple, blue and fuchsia glitters in all shapes and sizes! I layered one coat over butter LONDON’s Queen Vic, and I think it makes a great manicure!  The colors remind me of fall, especially with the gold glitters mixed in. Plus, the formula was great and the glitters applied really easily. Fancy Schmancy is a winner!

All in all, I’m quite impressed with these polishes from Amy’s Nail Boutique. If you are looking for some beautiful glitters and more, head on over to the shop on Etsy HERE. I definitely look forward to checking out more of these polishes in the future.

 

This post contains affiliate links. Polishes purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Candy Color Nail Polish from Born Pretty Store

Happy Monday! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend and didn’t mind that I took a few days off from blogging. Today I’m back with a review of a nail polish from Born Pretty Store, my favorite online retailer for all things nail art (and so much more!). Recently Born Pretty came out with a line of nail polishes that remind me of indies, and I couldn’t wait to try them! While I love supporting small businesses, sometimes my bank account would be much happier with an indie dupe. Let me show you a polish I tried out from Born Pretty’s Candy Color line!

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Here is Candy Color Polish in Number 17 (Born Pretty doesn’t have polish names, just numbers!). The first thing I noticed was that the bottle I received looks nothing like the picture on the website — it is a different shape and brand name. Yet the polish color looks the same and that’s all that matters!

This polish is a milky yellow base filled with red and gold hexagonal glitters and fine gold glitters. It applied very well, with glitters easily laying flat on the nail without any special effort. I applied three coats to achieve opacity, but this could be layered over another color as well. I was rather impressed with the formula, and I actually like the color combination. This is a really unique polish!

All in all, I am really liking the Candy Color Nail Polish from Born Pretty Store. This line contains 10 polishes, each of which is just like an indie nail polish. The best part is, these polishes retail for just $4.36 each, or $38.80 for the entire, 10-piece collection. You can purchase this fabulous and affordable polish HERE and don’t forget to use coupon code FZL91 to get an additional 10% off your purchase. As always, Born Pretty Store offers free international shipping. Let me know if you have tried any Candy Color shades!

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The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Indie Spotlight: Daphine Polish in Watermelon Taffy & Sick, Sad World

Happy Thursday! Today I’m back with a review of some more polishes from the indie brand Daphine Polish. If you missed my first review of this brand, you can see it HERE. The polishes I’m reviewing today are from different collections, but they are equally as great! Let me show you these beautiful polishes.

IMG_2889 IMG_2892 IMG_2896First up is Watermelon Taffy, a pink jelly polish with black, green, and holographic glitters. I am amazed at how easily Watermelon Taffy applied to my nails — it glided right on and there is no need to fish for glitters! I layered two coats of this polish to achieve opacity, and then I added a matte top coat for the bottom photo. Not only is Watermelon Taffy a sweet candy, but it’s an awesome polish!

IMG_2900 IMG_2904 IMG_2906Next up is Sick, Sad World, a metallic green polish with blue, gold, and green square glitters. Sick, Sad World has a great formula, and is opaque in two coats. I love how it shifts from green to gold depending on the light! I couldn’t resist adding a matte top coat to Sick, Sad World as well. Doesn’t it look great?!

All in all, I am loving these polishes from Daphine Polish! I’m so glad I found out about this indie nail polish brand. The quality here is great, and like I said in my previous post, the polishes were packaged so well when they arrived. Make sure you check out the Daphine Polish Etsy shop HERE, and like the Facebook page HERE.  Let me know what your favorite indie brands are in the comments!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

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Try it on Tuesday | Zoya Nail Polish in Wednesday, Lola, & Charisma

Happy Tuesday! I’ve acquired some new Zoya polishes lately, so I thought it would be fun to do a review of my untried Zoyas for this week’s Try it on Tuesday. I can’t believe that it’s been just over a year now that I’ve known about Zoya — it’s become one of my favorite brands! Let me show you some polishes that surely don’t disappoint!

IMG_2927 IMG_2929First up is Wednesday, a dusty turquoise creme. While I’ve used Wednesday on my toes a few times, I’ve never tried it out as a manicure. The formula is a bit on the thick side, but easily manageable and opaque in two coats. I love this shade, and think it’s perfect all year long.

IMG_2932 IMG_2934Next up is Lola, a bright pink polish with purple duochrome shimmer. Lola is a dream nail polish! Not only does it have an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, but it is so beautiful. The color is just so unique, and I love how bright it is. Plus, it is multidimensional due to its duochrome effect. Lola is one of my new favorite nail polishes!

IMG_2938 IMG_2939Last but not least is Charisma, a vibrant magenta polish that dries to a matte finish. Charisma also has a great formula, but make sure you apply it carefully or streaks will appear when the polish dries. I applied two coats to achieve opacity, and I’m just loving the result. Matte polishes are a favorite of mine, and Charisma’s color is just amazing!

All in all, these three Zoya polishes are just fabulous. I honestly love each of them, and plan on wearing them again and again! If I had to pick one favorite from this bunch, it would be Lola. What about you?! As always, you can purchase Zoya’s polishes online HERE for $8 each.

C.O. Bigelow