My Valentine’s Swap from Jessika!

February 17th, 2010 by Toni | No Comments | Filed in Blathering about what today?
Valentine's swap from Jessika

Valentine's swap from Jessika

Okay, not the best picture, but if you click on it, you can see the details (and probably some cat fur) of all the wonderous goodies Jessika sent to me. I have to work on my pics as they’re sucky again since I moved my lightbox. I’m doing something wrong but I sure don’t know what! For one thing, it’s way too small for awesome swaps!!! Back to the point here, I’ll have more (better) pics up soon, but I wanted to get a pic of the lovelies up first! Please note the itty bitty cutest little Sinful nail polish in the world on top of the yummy bottle of RBL spiced floral lotion, the totally cool bookmark (she knows I have a short attention span!), the bottle of Philospy Falling in Love, the vintage Orly in Jungle Love, OPI DS Glow, all the purples and the SpaRitual Days of Wine and Roses, which is a polish that started Jessika and my conversations way back!! Perfumes and goodies galore. Have a look at everything! All so wonderful and special and thoughtful. :D
Thank you for being my Valentine and my friend, Jessika!

OPI Tickle My Francey

February 17th, 2010 by Toni | No Comments | Filed in Cremes, Neutrals, OPI, Pales
OPI Tickle My Francey

OPI Tickle My Francey

Oh, the yummy nudiness of this polish. This is 3 coats and I do still have VNL, which doesn’t bother me, but probably would have taken only 1 more coat to make opaque. This is also the closest I’ve found to my skin color. If you have any mannequin hands color idea, please let me know!

Chanel Particuliere!

February 9th, 2010 by Toni | 2 Comments | Filed in Browns, Chanel, Cremes
Chanel Particuliere

Chanel Particuliere

Thanks to jbrobeck, I have been in possesion of her Chanel polish and it’s time for it to go home to it’s real mom! I finally figured out the lightbox and this IS color accurate. It goes on like buttah. This is only 2 coats and it’s totally opaque. I’d buy it in a second if I could find it! I’m now a Chanel convert and see what the big deal is! Thanks, Jessika! ;)

OPI Suzi Says Feng Shui

February 9th, 2010 by Toni | 5 Comments | Filed in Blues, Cremes, OPI
OPI Suzi Says Feng Shui

OPI Suzi Says Feng Shui

Finally got the Hong Kong collection after everyone else, but I have it. DH went for me today and got the whole collex for me! I don’t have a fave yet, but this one is gorg! Two coats with an OPI! It goes on really smooth and rivals an RBL in texture. The colors are all really interesting and different than you’d expect for a spring collex, but I love it since spring isn’t exactly my color season. Look for more of there pretties soon!

My lovely swap from Kesha!

February 9th, 2010 by Toni | 2 Comments | Filed in Blathering about what today?

We were starting to get worried about my package because it took a month to get here! It was worth the wait! Thank you so much for your thoughtful package, Kesha! I love everything in there!!

Here’s the pics!

Swap package from Kesha

Swap package from Kesha

 

and all the goodies inside….

Swap Goodies from Kesha!

Swap Goodies from Kesha!

My lightbox is too small for big swap pics, lol! In my box were so many surprises and things I’d not think to get for myself! I love those kind of things! Everything is from Germany, so it’s all this cool stuff I never see here! Nail decals and stencils, neat shaped tip guides, a dotting tool (I needed one!) a file for my purse, yay! Bath Bombs and salts, which I never buy for myself, but love! 2 face masks, another thing I never think of for myself, but sure need! The two pens are cuticle oil and a cuticle remover pen, which are about the neatest things I’ve seen next to the neat shaped tip guides! And to top it all off, lots of polish and candies and a super sweet note!

Here’s the details on the polishes… Kesha found me some BIG bottles of Fantasy Makers in a dark Red and a black… I have never seen these! Also an Essence Whitening polish, which sounds really great since my nails have gotten so yellowed. I cannot wait to try all these fab goodies out!

Fairwind polishes from Kesha

Fairwind polishes from Kesha

These are rockin’! Can’t wait to try them and the Essence polishes. I don’t have a pic of the Essence up close, somehow, but those look fantastic. All the Euopean bottles and containers are so much more intersting than what’s available here.

Next up is UMA Ballroom glitter polish. They come in these wonderful little round bottles and I love it so much, she got me 5! I’m in glitter for awhile! And it’s perfect, too. No color to it, just glorious glitter that goes with every polish you put it over.

UMA Ballroom glitter

UMA Ballroom glitter

 And the amazing Xmas present, OPI DS Mystery, which has been on my wishlist for I don’t know how long! It’s absolutely stunning in the bottle and on everyone else, so I think it’s going to do great for me, too!

OPI DS Mystery from Kesha

OPI DS Mystery from Kesha

Now is that amazing, or what?? AMAZZZING!!!!!!!!! Thank you Kesha! I’ll enjoy these for a looooong time ( you hope, right, lol!)

Clarins Ocean from Jessika!

February 9th, 2010 by Toni | 2 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 | 2 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 | 2 Comments | 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 | 2 Comments | 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!