Stash Swatch Initiative: L'Oreal Sexy in Sequins

Hello!

I'm back with a few swatches this week finally! Here is one from L'Oreal's Hidden Gems Collection from fall of last year. This is Sexy in Sequins.

L'Oreal Sexy in Sequins. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Sexy in Sequins is a deep purple texture polish with small silver hex glitters (which show up purple on the nail from the purple-colored texture base tinting them). It also has the most incredible shimmer of any texture I think I have. It's got gold, orange, and purple shimmer bits that make this polish so interesting to wear.

L'Oreal Sexy in Sequins. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are simply two coats of Sexy in Sequins over a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote. Formula was not problematic, and application was a breeze.

L'Oreal Sexy in Sequins. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I am pretty sure I bought this at CVS back in Maryland well over a year ago now. It disappeared from shelves out there quickly, but I have actually seen the display here in the Midwest recently (at ShopKo, I think!). So, if you missed out on any of these, they are still out there, but by now, are probably pretty elusive. Good luck!

L'Oreal Sexy in Sequins. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Copycat NOTW: Sweet and Cozy

Hello!

I wanted to share with you this sweet, cozy, wintry mani I've been wearing all this week. I was inspired by this pin.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I started with my base coats - Duri Rejuvacote and Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. To that, I added two coats each of Sally Hansen Wet Cement, the light grey creme; Zoya London, the medium grey texture; and OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around, the greyed-out pink creme. Once dry, I embellished the look with delicate dots in Wet Cement and Konad Special Polish white over the Don't Bossa Nova Me Around on my middle finger, a snowman stamp from plate BM-318 over the Wet Cement on my pointer finger, one coat of OPI Muppets World Tour over the Wet Cement on my pinkie, and, finally, a clear rhinestone on my thumb. Everything but the textured polish got one coat of Seche Vite to finish.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I loved this look and got plenty of compliments on it.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: OPI Magazine Cover Mouse

Hello!

This is OPI Magazine Cover Mouse!

OPI Magazine Cover Mouse. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Magazine Cover Mouse is a saturated red texture polish with a heavy gold and pink shimmer. It's gorgeous! It does give off a Christmas-y feel though.

OPI Magazine Cover Mouse. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today started with one coat of Duri Rejuvacote and one coat of Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. After that, I applied two easy coats of Magazine Cover Mouse and was on my way. I had no problems with this polish, and one coat was almost enough.

OPI Magazine Cover Mouse. Indoors, natural light, no flash.

I found my bottle dusty-hunting at K-mart recently.

OPI Magazine Cover Mouse. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Zoya Stevie

Hello!

Today's swatch is Zoya Stevie!

Zoya Stevie. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Stevie is a pretty lilac textured polish with silver shimmer. It's sweet-looking and lovely.

Zoya Stevie. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are two coats of Stevie over my base coat combination of Duri Rejuvacote plus Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. Formula on this was fantastic. It glides on nicely, and I found no problems.

Zoya Stevie. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I purchased my bottle some time ago, either from Zoya or Ulta.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: OPI Black Shatter

Hello!

I picked up OPI Black Shatter a long time ago, and now it's turn on the blog has finally come.

OPI Black Shatter. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Black Shatter is exactly that - a black, shatter effect polish. I'm not super in love with shatter/crackle polish, so I usually only whip this baby out around Halloween. For some reason, it has an eerie feel to me.

OPI Black Shatter. Indoors, artificial light, no flash (natural finish).

Swatches today are one thin coat of Black Shatter over yesterday's Sally Hansen Lava swatch, which I thought worked out nicely. In the above picture, I left the natural finish, and the rest have the combination topped with NYC In a New York Minute. Depending on how you apply this, you can get different shatter patterns. A thin application will look like my swatches -- with thin shatter lines. Use a thicker coat, and it will look more like the design on the cap, which you can start to see on my ring finger where I used a bit more polish. This is easy to use, but you do need to be quick since it will crackle as it dries, and it dries pretty fast.

OPI Black Shatter. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I really don't remember where my bottle came from, but I have seen it recently for sale in the independent salon I go to.

OPI Black Shatter. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: China Glaze Itty, Bitty, & Gritty

Hello!

Today's polish is Itty, Bitty, & Gritty from China Glaze.

China Glaze Itty, Bitty, & Gritty. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Itty, Bitty, & Gritty is a bright coral texture polish. This is a creme version of a texture polish, if you will, because it has no glitter. Just textured pigment that dries somewhat matte, but I can still see shine on the flat bits of polish where there is no texture.

China Glaze Itty, Bitty, & Gritty. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are two coats of Itty, Bitty, & Gritty over my usual base combination of Duri Rejuvacote plus Sinful Colors Nail Hardener. I didn't have any problems with application.

This polish is so fun -- it's bright and beachy. The texture is perfect. I really enjoyed wearing this as a full mani, and I think I'll be putting it on my toes next!

China Glaze Itty, Bitty, & Gritty. Indoors, filtered sunlight, no flash.

I purchased my bottle on clearance at Sally's a few months ago. I think this collection was released last summer, so it's on it's way out. Head2Toe Beauty still has the whole collection available.

China Glaze Itty, Bitty, & Gritty. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: OPI Get Your Number

Hello!

We started the week with texture, and we're going to end it with texture! This is OPI's Get Your Number.

OPI Get Your Number. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Get Your Number is a bright blue texture polish with a smattering of holographic hex glitters. It's a squishy blue, the jelly equivalent for texture polish. It's hard to describe, but it's not the deep, saturated blue like Zoya Sunshine from Monday. This is more sheer, but far brighter.

OPI Get Your Number. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are one coat of Sinful Colors Base Coat and two coats of Get Your Number. This applied easily without any complications.

I picked up this polish a long time ago from my local JCPenney Salon, I think... Yes, February 2013! My now-husband bought me this one for Valentine's day!

OPI Get Your Number. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Zoya Sunshine

Hello!

Quick post for today's polish, Zoya Sunshine!

Zoya Sunshine. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Sunshine is a rich, deep blue texture polish with silver sparkle.

Zoya Sunshine. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are simply one coat of Seche Clear and one coat of Sunshine. That's it! It's super pigmented and easy to apply!

I purchased this polish directly from Zoya's website.

Zoya Sunshine. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Zoya Nyx

Hello!

I have a quick post today to show you Zoya Nyx.

Zoya Nyx. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Nyx is a PixieDust from Zoya, which is what they're calling their line of textured polishes. Nyx is a gorgeous, frosty blue with silver sparkle.

Zoya Nyx. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are a base of Seche Clear, three coats of Nyx, and no topcoat. This polish has a great formula. It glides on smoothly, and I had no problem with application. It does dry slowly, and without the aid of a quick-dry topcoat, a mani with this is a bit of a time commitment.

Zoya Nyx. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

I purchased this directly from Zoya's website.

Zoya Nyx. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

NOTW: London Stamped

Hello! Yay Friday!!!

I used Monday's Zoya London swatch for the base of my Nail-of-the-Week for this week.

Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Once the base color was completely dry, I used Pure Ice Gossip and Zoya Robyn to stamp the retro squares image from Bundle Monster plate, BM-204. This was a fun, fairly quick mani -- no topcoat needed!

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Zoya London

Hello!

Today I have a Zoya PixieDust to show you! This is London!

Zoya London. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

London is a cement-grey, matte textured polish with silver shimmer.

Zoya London. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Swatches today are a base of Duri Rejuvacote and two coats of Zoya London. This polish has a great formula, which applied with zero issues. As with all textured polishes I've used thus far, dry time is a little long, and you'll want to wait a bit between coats.

Zoya London. Outdoors, sunlight, no flash.

I purchased this bottle from Ulta, but usually buy directly from Zoya.

Zoya London. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^

Stash Swatch Initiative: Julie G Rock Candy

Hello!! Today I have a sneak-peak from tomorrow's April haul post! This is Julie G Rock Candy!

Julie G Rock Candy. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Rock Candy is a textured polish. I am LOVING this trend, and I can't get enough of it. I was so pleased to find the Julie G display stocked at my local Rite Aid!

Julie G Rock Candy. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

Rock Candy is a pretty, sea-green with silver shimmer and silver glitter. The silver shimmer gives this a slightly frosty appearance... so I guess the collection, Frosted Gumdrops, is aptly named! :) The texture is actually rather fine; it's a finer grain than the first OPI Liquid Sands, if my memory serves me well. It's a nice polish and a different take on this new trend.

Julie G Rock Candy. Outdoors, natural light (shade), no flash.

Swatches are a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote and two coats of Rock Candy. No issues with this polish. Well done!

Julie G Rock Candy. Indoors, artificial light, no flash.

More soon! ^_^