Clarins Ocean from Jessika!

February 9th, 2010 by Toni | No Comments | Filed in Blues, Clarins, Cremes
Clarins Ocean from Jessika

Clarins Ocean from Jessika

Beautiful polish from a beautiful lady! This polish (fake or not) is just lovely and it’s a winner. It’s a deep navy blurple, darker blue. It went on perfectly in two coats, the formula was just right. If you have a chance to get this, grab it! Thank you Jessika!

China Glaze Spontaneous

February 9th, 2010 by Toni | No Comments | Filed in China Glaze, Cremes, Purples
ChG Spontaneous

ChG Spontaneous

ChG Spontaneous is such a lovely, feminine and flirty purple creme. It’s a bit bright, not dusky at all. Lavender? Lilac? There are near dupes, but not an exact one that I’ve found yet. It applies really nicely dries fast and wore well! It’s a win!

China Glaze High Hopes

February 9th, 2010 by Toni | No Comments | Filed in China Glaze, Corals, Cremes
ChG High Hopes

ChG High Hopes

In continuation of the long series of Up and Aways is High Hopes. It’s less gooey than the pastels, but more gooey than the deeper hues. This is definitely on the orange side of coral, and is pretty bright! It dries a little darker than it appears in the bottle. I want to like it, but have many similar shades that apply much easier.

ChG Heli-Yum

February 5th, 2010 by Toni | 1 Comment | Filed in China Glaze, Cremes, Pinks
ChG Heli-Yum

ChG Heli-Yum

Another great formula. I guess it’s just the pastels that are kinda glooppy. It’s a bright pink, obviously. To my eyes, there’s definitely no red or orange look… it’s all pink! I really don’t know how to describe it better! Hibiscus Pink?

ChG Flyin’ High

February 5th, 2010 by Toni | 1 Comment | Filed in Blues, China Glaze, Cremes
ChG Flyin' High

ChG Flyin' High

Flyin’ High is another winner in the formula category. I checked my blues, thinking I had one like it, but I really don’t. Similar to Custom Kicks, but it bluer. The picture is quite accurate. Pardon the neglected and poorly painted right hand! I think these polishes *may* be Konadable. They’re preeetty opaque….

ChG Peachy Keen

February 5th, 2010 by Toni | 2 Comments | Filed in China Glaze, Corals, Cremes, Oranges
ChG Peachy Keen

ChG Peachy Keen

Peachy Keen was kind of a pita to apply. It was thick and streaky. Took 3 coats to get this. The color to me is a little less bright than in the pic, but still, it reminds me more of cantaloupe than peaches. Overall, it will be worth the pain in the butt to apply it, I think. ;)

ChG Light As Air

February 5th, 2010 by Toni | 2 Comments | Filed in China Glaze, Cremes, Purples
ChG Light As Air

ChG Light As Air

Light as Air is a very pastel lavender creme that isn’t so chalky looking. It was thick, but applied much better than some others. It was opaque in 2 coats, easily. For me, this is a win, maybe because I like purples so much! Yes, I have my own biases.

ChG Four Leaf Clover

February 5th, 2010 by Toni | 3 Comments | Filed in China Glaze, Cremes, Greens
ChG Four Leaf Clover

ChG Four Leaf Clover

This is my favorite of the bunch, and I couldn’t get a perfect pic of it. It’s more green, not blue at all. I was even wondering how Four Leaf Clover and OPIs Jade is the New Black would compare. The formula on this one is MUCH smoother and nicer to apply, very much like Grape Pop, maybe better. The color is really different and bright and I like it! :D YAY!

ChG Refresh-Mint

February 5th, 2010 by Toni | 3 Comments | Filed in China Glaze, Cremes, Greens
ChG Refresh-Mint

ChG Refresh-Mint

ChG Refresh-mint is quite thick and opaque. It went on streaky at first but leveled itself out pretty well. It still looks a bit chalky on my skintone, but I don’t dislike this formula as much as I did the yellow ones. It’s application is different than a usual ChG, much thicker. Not always a bad thing, I guess! Anyhoo, the color is a very pastel mint green with no hints of blue at all. Pure mint. This is pretty color accurate.

OPI Can You Tapas This?

February 5th, 2010 by Toni | 2 Comments | Filed in Browns, Cremes, OPI, Vampy, Wines
OPI Can You Tapas This?

OPI Can You Tapas This?

This is way prettier in person, much shinier. It is a kind of kidney bean color, so the photo is pretty accurate, though irl, it looks a bit darker. It’s not maroon and it’s not burgundy, it’s in between somewhere! Went on perfectly. I love OPIs. This is another beautiful creme from the Espana Collection.

China Glaze Channelesque

February 5th, 2010 by Toni | 4 Comments | Filed in China Glaze, Cremes, Neutrals, Purples
ChG Channelesque

ChG Channelesque

Lavender putty. I think they use that to describe Sephora OPI Metro Chic. This is possibly similar, though I don’t yet own the Metro Chic yet. Went on great, white label, for those who care, dry time was a wee slower than normal, but it took only 2 coats. I really love the neutral shade of this color. It looks much shinier than in my pics. Still working on that…. yes.

China Glaze Lemon Fizz

February 3rd, 2010 by Toni | No Comments | Filed in China Glaze, Cremes, Yellows

ChG Lemon Fizz

Application was a globby, streaky mess, however I did manage this on the first try. The pic here shows the color a little darker than it is, for sure. NOT color accurate.

Grape Pop is fine, glad to report (again.) The rest, I’ll continue swatching when I can stomach it. Most of these colors look like chalk on me. They are thick and fairly opaque in 2 thick coats. To me, it just isn’t TIME YET for these Easter-egg pastel colors. I’m still in full-fall gear here!

Diamond Cosmetics Froggy

February 2nd, 2010 by Toni | 4 Comments | Filed in Diamond Cosmetics, Greens, Jellies
Diamond Cosmetics Froggy

Diamond Cosmetics Froggy

This is another great green from Jessika! Apparently, I don’t have enough greens here, lol! But I love Froggy, both for it’s uniqueness as a polish and as a sentiment for my love of froggies. If you like greens, or on on the fence, try this one!!

Please pardon the dreadful cuticles. Still on my “no pushing” and “no cuticle remover” routine. We’ll see how long I can tolerate that!!

This polish went on beautifully. It’s a Kelly Green pure jelly, to my eyes and nails. I didn’t use any undercoat such as a white to cover my visible nail lines so you can see how the polish really looks. This is 3 coats. I used seche vite on top, though the polish has a jelly, but not matte finish. I happen to dig shiny things. ;)

Stilllllll working on getting the lighting just right in the box, so the photos will keep improving!

Thanks for this gem, sweetie! You’re a peach!! :D

SH Xtreme Wear Wet Cement

January 31st, 2010 by Toni | 6 Comments | Filed in Cremes, Drug Store polishes, Greys
SH Xtreme Wear Wet Cement

SH Xtreme Wear Wet Cement

Not the best picture, I’m still perfecting the lightbox! This polish applies amazingly well and I love the brush. I used 3 coats but 2 is probably good. Dh says this is exactly the color of wet cement, so I guess it’s very accurate! To me, the color is a little lighter, more dove grey. Overall, a big winner!! I do love these polishes, they’re just always sold out around here! I felt really lucky to find this one!

Illamasqua Rampage!

January 31st, 2010 by Toni | 5 Comments | Filed in Greens, Illamasqua, Jellies
Illamasqua Rampage

Illamasqua Rampage

Hehehee… finally mine! Another fabulous score and longtime lemming from Jessika! Thank you, darlin!!
This is creamy perfection, and any application flaws are my fault! This is two coats, and I was impatient, so… you know.
The finish is a jelly, not matte and not super shiny. I topcoated with Poshe, and so far it seems Seche Vite works better for me with Illas. The drying time was a little longer on Rampage than the other Illas I’ve tried, but nothing that would make me not wear this gorgeousness! There’s no hint of black, it’s pure, deep green. I’ll try to capture a better pic next mani and add it. The lightbox is almost ready, but my hands are not, lol!

Sally Hansen Baroque Bronze

January 31st, 2010 by Toni | 5 Comments | Filed in Browns, Drug Store polishes, Duochrome, Shimmers, Vampy
SH Salon Baroque Bronze

SH Salon Baroque Bronze

A polish I LOVE as bronzes are some of my fave shades. Jessika found this beauty and thought of me! :D It is almost a one coater, but I used two because I’m an addictive painter! The formula is really smooth on this, too, very easy to apply and not thin at all (nor goopy or thick!). This is a deep bronze with a very golden flash. Baroque Bronze is the perfect name for this color. Thanks, Jessika!

Konad New Plates delayed.

January 28th, 2010 by Toni | 2 Comments | Filed in Blathering about what today?, Konad and frenchies

I received an email from wowsocool.com today after ordering my new plates. They said the plates would be available in late February and shipped out then, so I guess it’s a wait for my polka dot mani! :(   Anyone else hear about this delay?

Thanks, ladies! I love y’all!

Tone

Goodies and more goodies!

January 27th, 2010 by Toni | 5 Comments | Filed in Blathering about what today?

I got the most lovely two packages from Jessika stuffed FULL of polishes over the last couple of weeks and haven’t been able to get good photos of them. One is a very special polish made for me, Toni the Frog, lol! (Yes, I have a thing for frogs and toads!) It’s a bright and beautiful tree-frog green with holo glitter!  Among the goodies… a Chanel for me to try out, the coveted LE CK Summer Love and Illamasqua Rampage!! I can’t wait to show you all the goodies!! It’s a swapaholic’s dream.

DH went shopping today for a light box and came back with materials to make one! It’s HUGE! He decided to make the frame from 1/2″ pvc pipe and fittings for more stability and longer use. The fittings are glued together to make it permanent. He purchased reflective clip lights from Home Depot (where he also got the pvc and had it cut) and muslin fabric from JoAnn’s. I plan to use masking tape to put the fabric on so I can change it or wash it. After it’s set up, I put a piece of Bristol Board in the back and voila’! I’ll have my light box!

We still have to glue it together, put on the fabric, yada yada…. a job for the morning, but I’m excited!!

Wet n Wild Wild Orchid

January 26th, 2010 by Toni | 6 Comments | Filed in Drug Store polishes, Purples, holos
Wet N Wild Wild Orchid

Wet N Wild Wild Orchid

This pic is taken indoors. I hoped to have a sunny day today so you can see how pretty this polish really is. Goes on every bit as good as any ChG or OPI. This is 4 coats to get maximun opacity. I love purple and random holo, so this polish screamed to me!

American Apparel Office

January 25th, 2010 by Toni | 3 Comments | Filed in American Apparel, Cremes, Greens, Hand and Nail care
American Apparel Office

American Apparel Office

This color is just the same as a green index card, lol. A dusty light minty green on the blue side (as compared to true pastel mint), this pic is taken indoors and is more color accurate than I could get outdoors. I was skeptical on the first coat, but the second went on great and covered most of the streaking. You can still see it a little. I really need 3 coats for the VNL and my super lumpy nails, which I now hear can be due to vitamin deficincies, cuticle remover, pushing too hard on the nail bed, among other things. So if you have horizontal ridges like these, you might want to start on a supplement multi-vitamin, eat healthier, or better yet, see your doctor. Anyway…overall I have no complaints about the polish! Very pretty shades from AA, so you’ll see more soon! This one is a keeper!

Also I recently heard on mua about polish recalls from AA. Something to do with the bottles, I believe. If you have any, you might want to check on it! I’m going to find out more and let you know asap.