Spookfest 2012: Orly Monster Mash Swatches (Pic Heavy!)

September 22, 2012 By StephanieLouise 706Leave a Comment2012-09-22+17%3A06%3A00StephanieLouise

Before posting my nail challenge, I have to get these swatches up! I was saving them for Halloween..but after seeing them I think you’ll understand why these couldn’t wait. Spookfest is starting early on the blog this year thanks to Orly’s Monster Mash!

Monster Mash: Holo grassy green medium hex glitters, small gold hex glitters & fine gold holo bar glitter in a sheer lime-y green base.
This is unlike any of my other polishes, none of the others even come close. One thing to note is that these swatches? ONLY 2 COATS. What? Yes.

Another interesting factoid is that these are holo like I see on paper, not necessarily in nail polish. Have you ever seen holo contact paper or something similar? It kind of looks like a graph? Well take a look at this up close shot, do you see it?

This looks almost lime in direct sunlight, especially in the bottle. It is stunning on the nail, in the bottle, pretty much everywhere. For all those ladies who make nail polish pendants, YOU NEED THIS! There is absolutely no issues with application, which shocked me. Normally when there are bar glitters along with this many other types of glitters there is something like clumping, grouping, peeling, something. Nope. Perfection.

If you love glitter. If you love green. If you love holos. You Need THIS POLISH.

What do you think? Is this a polish you want? What Halloween type polishes are you looking forward to most?

Victoria’s Secret The Nakeds Review & Swatches

September 21, 2012 By StephanieLouise 707Leave a Comment2012-09-21+13%3A17%3A00StephanieLouise

I’ve had this for awhile & honestly kept pushing back this review until I had ample time to test the shades. I actually picked this up from the Victoria’s Secret store as opposed to online…since there was absolutely no information online about it. WTF VS! Clearly this goes along with the whole neutral palette trend but this one is a bit different! I think you guys will really appreciate it so do keep reading!

So this comes in just a plain plastic sleeve with the price in the corner….meh. I DO like that it is clear so you can see the exterior packaging (which I also like…it’s pretty!) but mine was all scratched up. Inside was a card with the shades + their names (the only place the names are shown) & on the other side it has 2 separate looks. They’re pretty & simple.

The packaging is impressive, much nicer than their usual black plastic packaging with plain lettering. Win for Victoria’s Secret. This palette has a magnetic closure that just curves closed. The exterior has a big metal plate on top that says “The Nakeds” & Victoria’s Secret. The rest of the outer packaging is a textured metallic champagne shade. I love that it wipes clean!

There is a mirror inside that it about the width of a credit card but about an inch longer. Mine was clearly cracked but it was the last one & I didn’t open it before buying it. Whatever. I’m just leaving the plastic on it. If I desperately need it, it’ll work. Inside its a black plastic housing the shadows & tools but it doesn’t look cheap. It isn’t all that noticeable at all.

Along with the 10 shades, you get a black pencil eyeliner & a double ended brush. The brush is…one of the most awful like ever. Maybe I’m horribly spoiled by the Anastasia of Beverly Hills brushes, but this one is cheap, stiff, & the SAME on both ends. WTF? I digress I digress.

So before you swatch any of the shades, they all appear shimmery. They definitely all have that “shimmer cast” that you often get with blushes. What I mean by that is that SOME of these aren’t as shimmery as they appear. They mostly are though haha.

The texture of these shadows are seriously smooth. Love it actually! They aren’t as cream to powder as their eyeshadow singles, but they are really soft & creamy. Two shades stand out in particular for the shimmer quality that buffs away: Brown Sable & Charcoal Black. Brown Sable looked shimmery but after you remove that light top layer it is actually a really soft metallic, not shimmer at all. Charcoal Black is a nearly matte but feels super creamy. I love this black!

Now let’s dive into the shades! I swatched them by the top & bottom row. That’s also how I swatched them for convenience sake.

Top Row left to right:

Barely Pink: Super fair shimmering pink, perfect highlight!

Copper Sand: A warm light peach with gold shimmer/sheen. So pretty, my favorite light shade in the palette.

Graystone: An icy light blue toned gray. Perfect with the blacks for a quick & simple smoky eye. Very pretty, especially when wet.

Brown Sable: Cool toned taupe-y brown. Light on its own, even better wet. Love these types of shades.

Sparkling Black: Such a pretty shade! This is a dark charcoal but it has slightly blue toned silver shimmers. Unfortunately, this swatches super sheer. I recommend using this one wet or just to darken another shade. The shimmer DOES remain though! It is an interesting shade although definitely flawed because it comes off so sheer. Totally with working with if you’re going to use this palette though.

Bottom Row left to right:

Warm Vanilla: Perfection!Love this shade, its a warm white with a slightly yellow tone. Great for your browbone, inner corners, even a touch on the cheeks or cupid’s bow. This one does have some shimmers that it leaves behind even when buffed so keep that in mind!

Tawny Pink: Kind of a mauvey/peachy far pink. It swatches sheer which is fine with me. I don’t do pinks are a main shade. I love this as a highlight which puts it a safe distance from my eyes as well.

Smoky Lilac: A greyed out lilac with a hint of pink warmth. This one swatches a bit sheer, but it sure is pretty!

Sparkling Brown: This is a cool toned greyed brown with bronze microshimmer. Applies beautifully & evenly. This one is more of a metallic when swatched & is kind of a neutral. The warm shimmer with the cool base. Lovely color. I think it would look good one everyone because of its versatility. The combo comes off kind of khaki toned.

Charcoal Black: I actually wouldn’t even call this Charcoal…just black! I’m so impressed! This one is so soft too. It may look like there’s a bit of tiny shimmers in there, but it is absolutely not visible on the eye. I call this one a matte leaning satin.

All of these were taken WITHOUT primer…clearly it is more pigmented over primer but these are really pretty on their own! The stripe down the middle is the liner that came with the palette which is labeled as just a VS Eyeliner in Extreme Black.

Overall, I’m impressed with this palette. Way better than expected. If you aren’t into deeper shades, you’ll love it. So many more options for daytime looks. With the 2 highlight shades & even a few that can be sheered into a highlight, this also has more options for lighter looks. Love the black obviously & both the Charcoal Black & the Sparkling Black can take any of the looks from day to night in a hurry. They’re rather soft so pay attention to that by using a dense brush if you want a lot of color. I found that applying the lighter shades as a base with my finger was super easy. I kind of treat them like cream shades.

I picked this up for $28 at my local Victoria’s Secret store. I think they have samples out you can swatch now which is nice. I sure hope my review helped either way!
What do you think? How many “naked” type palettes do you have currently? Interested in this one?

Holiday 2012: Zoya Ornate Collection Press Release

September 20, 2012 By StephanieLouise 708Leave a Comment2012-09-20+20%3A35%3A00StephanieLouise

It’s time to celebrate… so make sure you celebrate in style!

The NEW Zoya Ornate Collection is the perfect to decorate your nails with stunning jewel tone colors and special effect pigments this season. Featuring six stunning, glittering, crystal shades in our new Power Pigment Full Coverage Formula. Superior coverage and dynamic color in one. All in the long-wearing, toxin free (BIG5FREE) formula you love… Each one is as beautiful as the next.

Zoya WINTER/HOLIDAY 2012/13: ORNATE Collection

· Blaze (ZP641) – Cranberry Glitter Glam Crystal – Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage

· Electra (ZP642) – Holographic Tinsel Special Effect- wear it alone or layer it for extra drama

· Ziv (ZP644) – Gold Foil Glitter Crystal – Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage

· Storm (ZP645) – Black with Multi Color Crystal Shimmer – Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage

· Aurora (ZP646) – Plum with Multi Color Crystal Shimmer – Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage

· Logan (ZP647) – Green Foil Glitter Crystal – Featuring Power Pigment Full Coverage

ZOYA IS THE NEW COLOR OF FASHION!

Ultra long-wearing, glossy nail lacquers by Zoya are BIG5FREE – all formulas are completely free of harmful industrial chemicals such as toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are known to cause cancer and birth defects.

Find over 300 other Zoya shades at www.zoya.com. Each and every name has a color as unique as the women who inspired it.

$8.00 ea. US. Shipping October 15, 2012.

Find Zoya Ornate on Zoya.com

I just received this message: Based on the immense initial response to the PRE-ORDER of our Gilty Pleasures Gift Box, Zoya has decided to make Zoya Ornate also available for PRE-ORDER starting sometime prior to Monday on Zoya.com.

So I was way crazy happy to share these shots with you guys! How fab do these look? I am SO excited for holos…I seriously have a holo problem. Are you loving these for a Holiday collection? Any of these strike your particular fancy?

Press + a DIY?: Gilty Pleasures 18K Real Gold Flake Topcoat Gift Box by Zoya

September 20, 2012 By StephanieLouise 709Leave a Comment2012-09-20+19%3A32%3A00StephanieLouise

Gilty Pleasures 18K Real Gold Flake Topcoat Gift Box by Zoya

Just in time for party season!

The Gilty Pleasures velvet gift box features Zoya Gilty*, the 18k Real Gold Flake Topcoat (0.5oz) Plus, two long wearing, full-size (0.5oz), colors to cover in gold as a bonus… Zoya Raven (black) and Zoya Purity (white).

Pre-Order Today HERE!

Official Ship Date 10/15/2012 – Due to extreme demand and scarcity of the gold material, we are asking everyone to pre-order the Gilty Pleasures Trio Box in advance. Once pre-sell is sold out, there will be no more product available (that means when it’s gone it’s gone). You will not be charged until for the Gilty Pleasures Trio Box actually ships.

Want more?
Try Zoya Gilty over your favorite nail polish shade to create your own signature 18K Gold look – click here for a few of our suggestions.

ZOYA IS THE NEW COLOR OF FASHION!

Find over 300 other Zoya shades at www.zoya.com. Each and every name has a color as unique as the women who inspired it.

$30.00 US. Shipping October 15, 2012.

Order Zoya Gilty Pleasure on Zoya.com today!

So the DIY? part is this. I have a pretty good idea for a gold (& a silver!) version of this polish…would you guys be interested in a DIY? What about this set, will you be pre-ordering it? Are you as bummed as I am that you can’t order Gilty Pleasures as a single?

Dupes?: Maybelline Metal Icon & China Glaze Stone Cold Swatches

September 20, 2012 By StephanieLouise 710Leave a Comment2012-09-20+16%3A50%3A00StephanieLouise

So I was asked to put up a comparison post about these last week & I’m just now pulling it from the vault! These AREN’T dupes but I do like both of them a lot, especially for fall!

[Read more…]

Nails: Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Bottle Shots ( All 6!)

September 19, 2012 By StephanieLouise 711Leave a Comment2012-09-19+23%3A17%3A00StephanieLouise

Although there should be more of these shades coming out (crossing my fingers they’re fab!) I did pick up all 6 that are available now today at Walgreens. They were NOT cheap. At $8.50 a piece they were actually a total sucker punch. I was contemplating only picking up a few but I probably would have picked the wrong ones! In fact, only 1 of the original ones I would have picked up is on my MUST BUY list so far as I’m swatching them currently. Enough talking, how you like these sugar?

Lava

Plume

Scarab

Copperhead

Moonstone

Firefly

So there you have it! I’ll save my long descriptions for each nail post but this at least gives you a look at each bottle! Which ones are you loving? If you could only have one, which one would you pick? What about that high price point?

Nail Challenge Day #11: Color Blind Test Dot Manicure Nail Art

September 19, 2012 By StephanieLouise 712Leave a Comment2012-09-19+16%3A09%3A00StephanieLouise

So as much as I adore dots, I wanted to try something a bit different! I’m a Pinterest freak (seriously check out my boards!) & pinned this incredible idea from Goose’s Glitter that she called “The Color Blind Test“. Hers are so perfect while mine are not so much. Her nails are wider (ah to dream!) & it just looks fabulous. Mine are long but quite narrow. My nails also grow upwards & are really curved. Basically…I need more freaking space haha.

My date I did was 0407 which is my birthday. I’ll never do a 7 or a 0 again haha. They were so tough! Maybe it’s because my 7 is so little though! But yea, my 2nd 0 is one I am NOT happy with! The black & white is a sign of a true color test, you should not be able to distinguish the numbers on each finger. You can kind of make out the first zero. I think if I did this mani again, I could do a really good job…I’ve learned a lot!

I’m going to list all my shades….ready?

Pink/Peach/Reds:
Passion Fruit by Orly
Soul Mate by Sinful Colors
Everybody Loves Redmond by Wet n Wild

Greens:
Parrot by Sally Hansen
Jaded by Revlon Top Speed
Exotic Green by Sinful Colors

Blues:
Thinking of Blue by Sally Hansen
I Need A Refresh-Mint by Wet n Wild
Grecian Sun by Sinful Colors

Orange/Yellows:
Crush on You by Orly
Almost Famous by Color Club
Vermillionaire by Essie

My base is Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Whirlwind White.

Here is the list of Varnished Vixens joining me in the Challenge:

-Kimber at Kimber’s Lacquer Korner
-Kat at Hooked On Polish
-Diana at Nails By Diana
-Aly at Wonderland Beauty
-Meredith at Perfectly Polished
-Nicole at The Color Republic
-Kate at The Painted Pony Nails
-Cee at Absolutely Cee
-Sam at Polished Art
–Nail Narcotics
-Nicole at Nicole Gets Nailed
-Shelby at Shelby’s Swatches
-Stephanie Louise at All Things Beautiful
–Mixed Mama
-Joanna @ Sweet Polish of Mine
–Patty Greenberg
-Liz and Lisa @ Lozlosa
-Mari at Nailista
-Miss L at Beauty by Miss L
-Gini at Sassy Paints
–Chameleon Stampede
-Pam at Nail-E-Glance
–Me, Myself, and Polish
– Robin Sparkles

In case you missed, Day #1 was RED Nails, Day #2 was ORANGE nails, Day #3 was YELLOW nails, Day #4 was GREEN nails, Day #5 was BLUE nails, Day #6 was VIOLET nails, Day #7 was BLACK & WHITE nails, Day # 8 was METALLIC nails, Day #9 was RAINBOW nails, Day #10 was Gradient nails, & the next challenge is STRIPE nails.

Hair: Maijan Pure Moroccan Argan Oil infused with Grapeseed Oil and Essential Oils

September 18, 2012 By StephanieLouise 713Leave a Comment2012-09-18+15%3A21%3A00StephanieLouise

If you had told me 5 years ago that I would be ADDING oil to my hair to make it look better, its likely I would have slapped you silly. I’ve come a long way & have stocked up on quite a few different oils since. I usually say my hair is normal but a bit dry at the ends. Its pretty healthy regardless of what damage I do to it. This humidity here in Nebraska though, gross. On one hand, I kind of like that it brings out the waves in my hair if I don’t style it. On the other hand…GROSS. So between the heat & humidity you’d think I’d be staying away from hair oils right? Nope!

From Maijan.com:
Maijan Pure Moroccan Argan Oil infused with Grapeseed Oil and Essential Oils is the perfect solution for healthy hair and skin. This miracle golden Organic Argan Oil helps soothe and soften both dry and frizzy hair and trouble skin. Maijan’s secret blend of the Organic Argan Oil infused with Grapeseed and essential oils gives your hair and skin a sense of pure luxury like none other.

This is a 2 oz glass bottle with a dropper. It will last quite a long time. The scent on this is VERY different from my other oils but I do like it! It reminds me of getting henna tattoos as a kid. The key to this oil’s glory is that somehow it packs in all the benefits of the nutrients & anti-oxidants while feeling incredibly light. Definitely a great trait in something going in my hair. This hair oil is a bargain compared to many other hair oils I have at only $25. It might SOUND expensive, but you only use a tiny amount.

I don’t have to use much of this Maijan Moroccan Argan Oil to notice a positive change in my hair. I like to add it to my tips usually just brushing & pinching them with my fingertips a bit. I’ve also used it on dryer parts of my skin which I’ve prone to & it adds back the moisture I’m lacking. Now, please do note, I’m not slathering myself in oil. End note.

I have given my hair an oil treatment but I really find that my tips benefit the most & it helps to keep my hair styled & not frizzy at all. In winter, I use hair oils to combat dryness in my hair so I’m sure this will be put to good use…if I have any left! I think I’d really like to try the Maijan Deep Conditioning Boost Hair Oil Treatment with Argan & Lavender Oil next! For more information about Maijan products, check out their website!

Holiday 2012: Anastasia of Beverly Hills Want You to Want Me Kit Review + Swatches

September 17, 2012 By StephanieLouise 714Leave a Comment2012-09-17+17%3A35%3A00StephanieLouise

I make no secret: I have been awaiting the Anastasia of Beverly Hills Holiday sets like a crazy person. I missed out last year & knew I wanted to score some this year! I also have another set, a must have really! I’ll be reviewing that here soon! It’s all lippies & they have one of my absolute favorite formulas! That is called Kisses on My List & you can see my preview of it with some information!

From the Anastasia of Beverly Hills site:

A kit within a clutch. A nod to the glam and decadence of the 1970’s.Kit styled like a clutch and features a removable eye shadow palette for a takeaway touch-up wherever your night takes you. Nine long-wearing eye shadows create a range of looks from neutral to dramatic to smokey.

FEATURES & BENEFITS
– Velvety smooth matte and hydrating Illumin8 shimmer shades keep eyes looking glam and crease-free.
– High-pigment shadows can be worn dry for a sheer wash of color. Wear wet to transform shadow into liner or for a bold metallic finish.
– Dual-sided eye shadow brush included.
– Jet black liquid eye liner creates the perfect thin line for a dramatic eye.
– Mini Clear Brow Gel sets brows in place all day and night.

KEY INGREDIENTS
Youthful SynergyTM Complex in Shimmer shades.
Brown Algae – A key ingredient that smoothes, firms, hydrates, and revitalizes the appearance of skin.
Diamond Core Powder – Diffuses light for a soft focus effect.
Sea Whip Extract – Soothes the skin.
Macadamia derivative – A natural hydrator capable of holding up to 300% more water in the skin.
Powerful antioxidants of Vitamins A, B, C, E, and F. Balkan Botanical Infusion®.

The Want You to Want Me kit is gorgeous, from the shades to the packaging. I think they designed this just for me! Hello, neutrals + purples! So up my alley! I can’t wait to show you guys how I’ve been wearing these shades, my blue eyes love them!

Packaging: This comes with a sleeve over top (the first photo!) with info on it then after it is removed you have the soft packaging. I love this type of packaging in theory, but (like the NARS packaging) this picks up lint. It’s a black velvety texture so it feels very holiday-esque. The inside stores the double-ended brush, liquid liner, clear brow gel, & the palette of eyeshadows. Like the outside of the clutch, the eyeshadow palette has the same packaging. I love the golden/copper Anastasia of Beverly Hills stamped metal although my camera hated it!

The coppery/gold printed metallic chain goes around to the back as well on both the kit & the eyeshadow palette. I love the simplicity. You can see the names of the shades beneath the palette. The interior is a brown with a slight shimmer that was only visible after trying to photograph it. I had to mess with it a bit because the names are metallic so they were somewhat reflective. Love the giant mirror in the kit & in the palette. The double-ended brush is also a nice edition, I actually use these!

The brow gel & black liquid liner: This was my first time trying either product & I am quite happy with both. The clear mini-brow gel is handy since I love clear gel. I actually use it daily. This has good hold without being sticky or too stiff plus dries pretty matte. The black liquid liner is super black & fabulous. It applies really easily & although I didn’t swatch it here, you’ll see it in upcoming looks! I’m not loving the applicator but I’ll have to work around it a bit.

Let’s dive into the palette. We have nine shades here, all varying finishes.

I swatched all 9 of these dry & they are beautiful. I didn’t swatch them wet this time (oops!) but I’ll be doing looks with them wet so you can see how crazy beautiful they are. I personally love that this palette isn’t red, green, & white like so many holiday palettes are because I can wear it year round.The 70s names are so freaking cute, love the whole idea. Again, something to enjoy even after the holidays are over.

The shadows themselves are incredibly smooth, long wearing, & just wonderfully butter. These have a bit of fallout here & there so tap your brush before application & for a stronger shades use it wet. These are made to look phenomenal on skin of all ages & these shimmers are to be forgiving on wrinkled lids as well.

Top row left to right: Platform Wedge, Front Row Center, Ziggy, Members Only.
Bottom row left to right: Power Ballad, Jellies, Graphics Ts, Brass in Pocket, Iron On.

Platform Wedge: A soft matte nude.
Front Row Center: A shimmering fair nude/champagne.
Ziggy: A light to medium lavander with a frosty/metallic finish.
Members Only: A light, soft matte brown.
Power Ballad: A shimmering taupe.
Jellies: A light shimmering pink.
Graphic Ts: A cool toned brown with purple, gold, & bronze shimmers.
Brass in Pocket: A slightly warm toned nude bordering on metallic.
Iron On: A super deep plumy packed with light purple & medium purple shimmers. This might even have a bit of brown in the plum base.

You can pick up this set for only $34 (a $90 value!) at Sephora & Anastasia of Beverly Hills. These sets are VERY limited edition & completely sold out last year.( The She Wears It Well Palette I reviewed has also sold out!) If you want one, grab it ASAP!

What do you think? Loving the shades & wearability or are you looking for something more holiday-toned?

**Products provided in consideration for review from PR. All my opinions are 110% my own.

Nail Challenge Day #10: My Fail Gradient with Orly It’s Not Rocket Science & Ingenue

September 16, 2012 By StephanieLouise 715Leave a Comment2012-09-16+18%3A37%3A00StephanieLouise

So…my gradient is a fail. SO bummed. I had envisioned this beautiful Fall gradient. Ingenue is a gorgeous light purple/mauve shade with a golden/light olive sheen. It’s Not Rocket Science is this crazy green with many shades of green & is so glassy! Sounds good in theory right?

So, I’m pretty much being punished for not swatching before using these for nail art. It doesn’t even look like a gradient, it looks like green over black. BOO! I promise to do something awesome next time, I’m just too irritated to redo it!