I'm Swatchin' You - China Glaze Re-fresh Mint

As you know, I used China Glaze's Re-fresh Mint as my Mint Mani in memory of Talia Joy Castellano on Friday.  However, I did not give any details on the polish out of respect for her memory.  So today, I'm just providing the details on my experience with this mint green creme.

The formula was great.  The first coat was a bit streaky, but the second coat provided solid coverage.  I stopped at two coats.  And I loved how easy this polish was to clean up.  With such a light creme, I was expecting to end up with that whitish film after cleaning up.  I was pleasantly surprised to find no residue at all.

As I said on Friday, I am not a big fan of mint greens...or any light green for that matter.  I bought this specifically to remember Talia Joy.  I just thought the name, Re-fresh Mint, was perfect for the Mint Mani memorial.  It was the first polish that came to mind.  Which led to another thought.  Wouldn't it be fantastic if China Glaze would change the name of this polish in her memory?  Or maybe they could even issue a special limited edition version of this where the proceeds can go to cancer research?  I'm thinking Talia's Joy would be a great name!  Hmmmmm......

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Sinful Colors Snow Me White

Hi all!  Once again, don't forget to get in on my giveaway!  Today, I'm swatching Sinful Colors Snow Me White, a white creme. 

The first coat was a bit streaky, but that's to be expected with a pigmented creme.  The second coat provided good, solid coverage.  I ended up leaving this at two coats.  The formula was great.  And this is a great white for stamping...another plus!  I thought clean up would be much more difficult than it was.  All in all, a great polish that should be a staple in any stash.  My only complaint?  It doesn't play well with SV.  You may be able to tell in the photos that it puckered a bit after I topped it with SV.  Bummer.

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

3 Colors Nail Art Brush Review - Born Pretty Store

Hello and happy Tuesday!  First of all, be sure to get your entries in for my giveaway!  It ends next week.  As for today, I'm reviewing a product from Born Pretty Store.  This is their 3 Colors Nail Art Brush set. 

The set includes a fine detail brush (red), medium liner (green), and a long striper brush (blue).  They are also numbered 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

Other than the fact that they look like pens, the brushes are of decent quality.  I don't know that they will necessarily last, but they're great for someone just starting out with liner brushes (like yours truly).  And at $2.57, they are definitely a deal.  And if you hit the Born Pretty Store banner in my sidebar, you can use the code there (GMG10) for a 10% discount!  I like that they come with protectors over the bristles.  Makes storage much safer.  I did play around some with all three brushes, experimenting to get an idea of how they work.

The brushes loaded well (I do have experience with painting...just not with nail polish, as some of my epic failure manis have proven).  I did find that the brushes stained fairly easily with highly pigmented colors, but this didn't affect their performance.  Then, I decided to try my hand at a mani.  So...I bring you my Purple Pixie Stripes mani.

I started with Zoya Stevie for the main color.  My accent nail is a base of ChG Sweet Hook.  Then I used the fine detail brush (the easiest brush to work with for a beginner like me) to add three stripes using SH CSM in Bewitched.  I topped my accent nail with a coat of SV.  Not too terrible for a first attempt at striping with liner brushes, is it?

Anyway, get in on the giveaway, and I'll talk to you tomorrow!

This product was sent for review.

12 Colors Rhinestones Kit Review - Born Pretty Store

Happy Friday!  Despite my ravaged cuticles (due to neglect thanks to crazy, busy life stuff), I had a lot of fun doing this mani to review a product from Born Pretty Store.  First, the product.  This is their 12 Colors Rhinestone Acrylic UV Nail Art Kit W/Box & Pen.

 

There are two 12-compartment boxes filled with rhinestones and a rhinestone picking tool (fancy term for wax pencil).

One box contains 6 compartments of black rhinestones, and 6 compartments of crystal/clear rhinestones.

The other box is an assortment of colors.  There is crystal/clear, red, aqua, black, yellow/green, lavender, blue, green, orange, pink, light blue, purple. 

The wax pencil is something you could probably get from a craft store.  But since it came with the kit, bonus!

I really love the assortment of colors.  I do wish that the compartments in the assorted box did not contain more black and crystal/clear rhinestones since you get a whole box of just those.  I would have liked to have seen two other colors included instead.  Overall, the assortment and number of total rhinestones included is excellent.  It is really a deal, priced at $7.59.  And you can use coupon code GMG10 to get 10% off (you can always find this in my sidebar...check it out!).

The rhinestones are great quality.  And can I say how much I love the boxes!  Each compartment is numbered.  They are great storage boxes that can be re-used.  Love that!  And I must say, the wax pencil/picker tool made easy work of picking up and placing the rhinestones.  So...on to the mani!

First, a quick explanation.  Waaaayyyy back when I was in junior high and high school, I used to love playing around with nail polish.  Believe it or not, this was not a very popular practice back then (yes, it was THAT long ago).  My favorite go-to mani was to paint my nails to look like dice.  No tools, just good old-fashioned patience with bottles of white and black polish.  I would occasionally even paint my pinky as a red die (the advent of the accent nail???).  Someday, I will go through my old box of pictures from that time to see if I can find one that shows my nails.  But for now, you'll just have to take my word for it.

Anyway, when I saw that box half-filled with black rhinestones, I decided to go way back in time to recreate the look using rhinestones.  First of all, SO much easier than using polish.  Wish I had these...er, um, cough, cough, hack...*mumble* years ago.

I started out with a base of SH Double Duty, and added two coats of SC Snow Me White.  Then, using a little dollop of SV, I used the picker tool to pick up and place the black rhinestones.  I finished with a coat of SV and BAM...I was transported back in time.  Like I said, ignore the cuticles.  Sorry about that.  Truly trying to get my rear in gear.

This product was sent for review.

I'm Swatchin' You - OPI Romeo & Joliet

Up next is a pretty red-brown shimmer from OPI, called Romeo & Joliet.  I classified it as a red since I think the red hue dominates.  Sorry this doesn't translate well to the photos.  Light box, light box...where art thou, light box???  Oh, but the bandages abound!

The formula was only so-so.  There was no sign of leveling.  The first coat was a bit streaky, but improved with the second coat.  I went with a light third coat to fill in the streaks.  But it is a pretty color, vampy with a touch of class!

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Essie Wicked

Today, I get to show you my first Essie!  It's the vampy beauty, Wicked, a red jelly.

I have classified this as a red.  It's a deep, dark black-red.  I was excited to finally try my first Essie.  Sadly, I wasn't too happy with the formula.  There was no leveling, and uneven application.  This took three coats.  However, the third coat should be very light just to fill in the streaks that remain after the first two coats.  The formula was also quite thin.  But how could you not love the color or the name?!?

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - China Glaze 108 Degrees

Today's pretty little polly is coming to you from China Glaze's Summer 2011 Island Escape collection.  This is 108 Degrees, and fuchsia pink shimmer.  Holy double bandages, Batman!!!

This took two coats.  I have to say, I was not impressed with the formula on this.  The first coat was streaky with no signs of self-leveling.  Thankfully, the second coat evened out the look.  And I did experience some minor cuticle flooding.  The bottom line:  nice color, weak formula.

 SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Revlon Chili

Bright orange, ahead!  This is Revlon's Chili, a bright orange creme.

I did one coat with this color.  It's hard to tell in the pictures, but there is a slight VNL.  So if you want solid coverage, go for the second coat.  I wasn't too thrilled with the formula on this one.  Mine was very thin.  I left the bottle open for an eternity, and still had cuticle flooding.  She just didn't want to behave for me.  It is a pretty nice color, though.

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Sinful Colors Hazard

Hi all!  Today's color is coming to you from Sinful Colors.  It's a pretty, summery peach creme called Hazard. And oh, my...the virtual bandage has an offspring!  I must learn to be kinder to my hands.

You are looking at two easy coats.  The formula on this was great.  It levels well, and cleans up with ease.  I have heard that Hazard is a stainer.  I only had this on for a few hours, and did not have any staining, so I can't really confirm that for you.

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Orly Bus Stop Crimson

I can't wait to show you this amazing color!  It's Bus Stop Crimson from Orly.  This is a deep, red creme.

I have nothing bad to say about this polish!  The color is gorgeous, and the formula was excellent.  This took two coats.  Application was smooth and even.  Love it! 

On a side note...I really miss my light box!  But I should have photos using my light box coming to you within the next week or two!  Now if I could just get around to getting my cuticles back in shape!  Thanks for hanging in there with me!!!

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Sally Hansen Coral Reef

Next up...Sally Hansen's Coral Reef.  This is a peach creme that leans a bit pink from the Xtreme Wear 2012 line.  And the bandage keeps on covering!

 A lot of the polishes from the XW line are one-coaters.  Coral Reef didn't make the cut.  The first coat balds a bit too much for one coat to be enough.  Therefore, you are looking at two coats.  The formula was excellent in terms of self-leveling.  The color is very pretty and worth the second coat.

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.

I'm Swatchin' You - Color Club Hot Like Lava

Today's color is coming to you from the amazing Foiled collection by Color Club.  This is a hot pink foil called Hot Like Lava.  And of course (duh-duh-DUH), the bandage strikes again!

The foiled collection is known for being great one-coaters that stamp well.  I have tried stamping with this one, which you can see here. And you are looking at one coat.  The formula on mine was a bit wonky.  For lack of a better word, it was clunky going on.  Not necessarily chunky or thick, but not smooth either.  The color is definitely worth the effort!

SH Double Duty and SV as base and top.