Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Mentality Nail Polish - The (Sparkly) Microglitters - Part 1

I've got some serious shine to show off today! Mentality Nail Polish sent me part of their 'The Good, The Bad, and the Microglitters' collection and they. Are. Fab! I took the bottles outside to get a good photo of them in the sun but they were soooo sparkly that my camera pretty much said "Yeah...no. I'm not even going to try..." LOL! They are VERY dense, opaque in 2 coats, and I was thoroughly impressed with the formula. Sometimes glitters can be a little unruly and you end up with sparkles everywhere but this collection stayed put and went on evenly and smoothly! YAY!

Because there are so many, I'm going to split this up into 2 posts so that I don't overload your graphics card.

First up is Ecstatic! Ecstatic is a mix of super shiny red, silver and black micoglitters. This is 2 coats, over naked nail, plus top coat.






Next we have Revelry - a surprise favorite and perfect choice for fall! Revelry is packed with sparkly orange, silver and black microglitters. This is 2 coats, over naked nail, plus top coat.





Next is Blithe - a gorgeous mix of green, silver and black. When I pulled this one out of the bubble wrap I actually said out loud "SLYTHERIN HOUSE!" This is 2 coats, over naked nail, plus top coat.





Last up in part one is Social - a SUPER blingy mix of silver and black microglitters. This is 2 coats, over naked nail, plus top coat.




SOOO what do you think? You can find Mentality Nail Polish HERE at their Big Cartel shop, and on Etsy, Facebook, and on Instagram! Mentality Nail Polish also offers FREE SHIPPING on all orders!



Saturday, August 24, 2013

Husbands Just Don't Understand!

Purchased By Me

OH MY LAWD is it Sunday already?! *Grumble*

Before we get to the pretties I have some important shop news:

Etsy has changed its layout and its causing some weeeeird errors for some of our customers! If you experience an issue with our Etsy shop, please consider browsing our new store on ArtFire - It's just like Etsy but less buggy right now.  Plus the gallery section is just fun! If you own a Fox Claws rack send us a photo and we'll pop it up there! You can also click the banner at the bottom of this post :) Thanks! Now onto the fun stuff!

I have a stunner for you today from Above The Curve! I saw Angel and Shawn post a photo of it a couple weeks ago and I didn't even hesitate, I HAD to have it! And so it was done....bought and paid for LOL!

HUSBANDS JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND  is a teal-forest green beauty with a pinch of scattered holo and flecks of blue and green shimmers. Though not technically a 'holo' its got that same glow-y depth that holos often have and the shine factor on this is through the roof. While you definitely could get away with one coat (it leans to the thick side), I went ahead and did 2 just to make sure everything evened out properly and was definitely NOT disappointed. Topped that baby off with 1 coat of KBShimmers 'Clearly On Top' top coat and off I went!

OH! Just a heads up! I did have to edit these slightly for color - with the exception of the comparison photo at the end - because they photographed really blue. On MY computer screen, this is as close to real life as I could get it. Stunning right!?






And just for kicks, here is Husbands Just Don't Understand vs. A-Englands 'Saint George'. To the naked eye they were VERY close, but again, in photos, HJDU came out a bit blue. I left this photo unedited so you could see.



You can snag Husbands Just Don't Understand HERE (they're on sale for $7 right now!) AND $1 from every bottle sold is donated to Shriner's Hospitals for Children! You can also find Above The Curve on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclaimer: This item was purchase BY ME. <3

Click here to visit our new ArtFire store, or click the banner!



Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Avon - Cosmic Starburst

Purchased By Me

So just a quick one today! I've been watching these online for a few campaigns and when they finally went on sale ($3.49 - regularly $6) I snagged a couple just for kicks. The Avon Cosmic Nail Enamel collection colors are certainly pretty and they rock a subtle scattered holo that can easily pull double duty (glam/classy) if you work in a professional (stuffy!) environment. For the record I don't think I'd pay full price for them, but if I see 'em on sale again I will definitely pick up a few more.

Starburst is a dark pink / magenta scattered holo. The formula was okay, it was a little runny, but it was pigmented enough to be completely opaque in 2 coats. I did 3 coats just to make certain I covered my free edge, plus top coat.




They are back at full price right now but but if yo're interested you can click here to go straight to the Cosmic Nail Enamel page, and if that link doesn't work, try this one: http://khartwig.avonrepresentative.com/  If you aren't familiar with Avon you can order directly through the website now and have it shipped to you, or you can find a local rep and they'll drop it off. I typically just have it shipped and there's usually a free shipping code somewhere. Keep your eyes peeled too, they are bound to go on sale again soon!



Sunday, August 18, 2013

Aquadellic like you've never seen it before!

When you hear 'Aquadellic' you problem think of China Glaze's uber popular bright turquoisy cream, but this Aquadellic is a totally different beast. This new stunner from Northern Star Polish is packed with an intriguing mix of aqua, gold, hot pink, and blackish green fine metallic glitter with pastel green, aqua, light yellow, and hot pink matte glitters in a clear base. Just looking at it in the bottle had me tilting my head because it really doesn't look like it should work together...but it SO does! I mean, its really freaking fun!


Disclaimer: Some or all of the products in this review were sent to me for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way

The bling in this baby is stunning, and I layered it over a few dark blues and a green before I decided to go with ORLY's 'Shockwave'. The coverage is fantastic and it applies evenly and doesn't require fishing. This is 2 coats of Aquadellic over Shockwave plus top coat.





Gorgeous right!? In case you've missed my earlier reviews of Northern Star Polish, here's some pertinent information that you might want to know...
  • Northern Star Polish is Big 4 free! No DBP, Toulene, Formaldehyde or Formaldehyde-resin!
  • Northern Star Polish is cruelty-free & vegan-friendly! She does not test on animals AND does not purchase materials from companies that do. She also does not use ingredients that are derived from animal by-products
  • Northern Star Polish is gluten free!
  • Annnnnd it's made in America!  
You can snag Aquadellic (15ml/.5oz) for $8.50 (or $5.50 for a mini) in the Northern Star Polish Etsy store! You can also find Northern Star Polish on Facebook.  AND use CELEBRATE25 at checkout to receive 25% off all orders through 8/23!


Friday, August 16, 2013

Different Dimension GLOWIES

Disclaimer: Some or all of the products in this review were sent to me for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way

Confession: I am a relatively well adjusted 29 year old...BUT...seeing my nails glow in the dark at bed time = instant 5 year old! I mean I charged these babies up, switched the light off, and rolled around giggling in the dark, waving them around like I was at a rave, or imagining that this is what it would look like if I could shoot magic from my fingertips. Mr. Fox even commented that 'someday you'll grow up' weeeellllllll SORRY BABY, but NOPE! THEY GLOW. My nails freaking glow! And I like it...so there!

Tonight I have 2 AWESOME, 3-free, glow in the dark beauties from Different Dimension - 'Merry Go Round' and 'Light It Up Blue'. Both of these fabulous finds glow a gorgeous blue, and are super bright for a few minutes after you charge them (it doesn't take much - the flash on my phone did a fabulous job LOL) and continue to glow for a good long time. I should have timed it but I fell asleep every time I tried so you'll just have to snag these and test it out yourself. Sorries!

 'Merry Go Round' is described as a white "crelly" base packed with various shapes and sizes of pink, blue, silver, black and fuchsia glitters...AND IT GLOWS IN THE DARK. WOOT! There is a lot going on with this baby from squares to circles to hexes - its like a party for your finger tips. This is 3 coats of Merry Go Round with 2 coats of a quick dry top coat. The glow in the dark pigment may feel a little gritty so an extra coat of top coat will help smooth it out.






'Light It Up Blue' was inspired by Autism Speaks, World Autism Day, and Missi's 2 autistic sons. This beauty packs silver and blue holographic glitters and large white hexes into a light blue jelly base that, surprise, GLOWS BLUE IN THE DARK. Also for each bottle sold, Missi donates $2 to the charity organization, Autism Speaks. How awesome is that? I layered 2 coats of 'Light It Up Blue' over Essies 'Rock The Boat' plus 2 coats of top coat.






Just for reference, here's what 'Rock The Boat' looks like without 'Light It Up Blue'...



YAY! What do YOU think about glow polish? Let me know in the comments below! You can find more of Missi's gorgeous polish in her Etsy shop: Different Dimension as well as on Llarowe. She can also be found on Insagram @Missibarry and Facebook. Full sizes range from $8.50-$12.00 and she also offers minis of most of her creations! Not convinced? Click here to read browse all of my Different Dimension reviews.

BONUS! From now until 8/18 use coupon code 10KSALE for 25% off orders of $20.00 or more at her Etsy shop!


Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Different Dimension LOVES!

Disclaimer: Some or all of the products in this review were sent to me for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

I just about had a heart attack when I opened this package from Missi at Different Dimension! SO MANY PRETTIES! You know that moment when you get a present from someone and you know just by looking at the outside of the box that its going to be an epic un-boxing...yeah it was like that. Every little bubble wrapped polish burrito was an 'OoOo', 'AAaaaAhhh', or 'OH MY GOD!' I'm going to break this into a couple of posts so keep an eye out for its counterparts. Woot!

If you aren't familiar with Different Dimension (pardon my French but... WHAT ROCK HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING UNDER? LOL) take a stroll on over to DD's Etsy shop here and check her out! Missi has been creating and dishing up high quality, 3-free, gorgeous polish for over a year, and her Etsy shop alone boasts an amazing 10,000+ sales! Different Dimension was born when Missi, a mother of 2 and a licensed nail technician, was forced to take a break from her full job as she recovered from joint replacement therapy. With the level of success she has achieved with her polish, she's be able to quit her full time job and focus all of her energy on her boys and creating beautiful lacquers for our fingertips -- and it shows! Different Dimension polishes are top notch, highly collectible and on point with the hottest colors, glitters and trends of the season.

SO WITH THAT, here we go :)

'Today Was A Fairytale' was an INSTANT favorite of mine! This beauty has a milky white base with a fine pink shimmer running through it and its packed with different sized holo and pink circles glitters. The pink shimmer is stunning in person but I couldn't capture it for the life of me with my camera so you'll just have to trust me LOL. Although you can achieve opaqueness with this polish by itself, I think next time I'll layer it over a one coat white; this is 3-4 coats of 'Today Was A Fairytale' plus top coat. LOVE!





This next beauty was a surprise favorite because I'm not really a fan of purple BUT, ITS SO PRETTY!  Ohana Means Family is a delightful mix of periwinkle, lavender and light blue glitter in a clear base. The periwinkle and lavender glitters are kind of frosted making the light blue sparkly glitter POP. This would be gorgeous over any blue or purple polish (it was even gorg over black and white), but I chose Wet & Wilds 'Who is Ultra Violet' from the summer Pop Art collection. This is 2 coats of Ohana Means Family + top coat.




Last but not least is Drops of Jupiter a sure fired top seller from the get go! This stellar (HAHA PUN) mix of silver holographic circle, hex, square and star glitters in a rich, deep black jelly base.  Most of my holo glitters showed up silver in these photos but in the sun they shine like rainbows! You can achieve opacity in 2-3 coats or layer over black, either way its going to be a winner. I decided to layer Drops of Jupiter over a bare nail for added depth and got lots of compliments on it. This is 3 coats + top coat. P.S. YOU NEED THIS.




You can find more of Missi's gorgeous polish in her Etsy shop: Different Dimension as well as on Llarowe. She can also be found on Insagram @Missibarry and Facebook. Full sizes range from $8.50-$12.00 and she also offers minis of most of her creations! 

BONUS! From now until 8/18 use coupon code 10KSALE for 25% off orders of $20.00 or more at her Etsy shop!


Oh yeah! And make sure you check out our brand new nail polish cabinet options on Etsy