All Nail and Cosmetics

China Glaze Eye Candy 3-D Glitter Collection! Swatches!

2012-01-02T16:11:00.000-08:00

Blog Sale!

2011-12-30T16:16:00.001-08:00

I have added new items to the blog sale page.

Click the tab above to check it out!

Orly Holiday Soiree Collection Swatches

2011-12-29T14:31:00.000-08:00

This is a big post with lots of pictures and not much writing/descriptions. Please enjoy!

Androgynie, Ma Cherie, Oui

Oui and Ingenue are very similar! Oui (pictured above) is more purple and Ingenue is more pink. There is a comparison picture below (a few pictures down).

Au Champagne, Le Chateau, Ingenue

This color is hard to capture. In most lights it looks black but it is the darkest blue green.

2011-12-13T19:58:00.000-08:00

I've decided to close my shop (AllNailShop.com) after a year of business. I would like to thank you all for your support.

I will be selling off what I currently have left in stock at a discount. If you are interested in anything or have questions, please email me at audrey@allnailandcosmetics.com with what you would like, and your Paypal email address so that I may invoice you directly.

Click Here to see what's left!

Upcoming Posts:

China Glaze 3D Eye Candy

Orly Holiday Collection

China Glaze Eye Candy Giveaway

China Glaze Let it Snow Giveaway Winner!

2011-12-03T18:09:00.000-08:00

The winner of this is...

SweetCrazyLollipop

Congratulations!

I will be contacting you shortly via email.

Closed! Winner announced tomorrow! 12/2 China Glaze Let it Snow Giveaway!

2011-11-18T13:31:00.000-08:00

I have been crazy busy as of late however I just wanted to let you all know that I will be returning to a swatching machine shortly. Please stay tuned for that. In the meantime, here's a little giveaway to tie you over.

This giveaway is for (1) of the above Let it Snow! Holiday Sets. This set in particular contains 3 full size polishes in Icicle, Blue Year's Eve, and Poinsettia and a pair of fingerless gloves to show off your amazing mani! To enter read the info below!

This giveaway begins immediately and ends on November 30th, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST.

This giveaway is open internationally.

To enter:

Follow this blog (you will not be entered if I can't find your name under the 'Followers' section! No Anonymous comments).
Leave a comment in the comments section!

Along with the comment be sure to include your email address so that I can contact you if you win.

For a bonus entry tweet about this giveaway. Include a link to this post and my twitter username @szuchnic so that I can track entries.

ENJOY!

Nail Inc. Autumn Color Collection Giveaway Winner!

2011-11-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

And the winner is...

Congratulations!

I will be contacting you shortly via email!

The next giveaway will begin shortly for the China Glaze 'Let it Snow' collection!

*CLOSED** Nails Inc. Autumn Color Collection Giveaway

2011-11-04T16:23:00.000-07:00

It's time for an Autumn Giveaway!

What better set to giveaway then the aptly named Autumn Color Collection from nails inc.?!

Now, I have already swatched and reviewed these great fall colors in this post. If you've read it, great; if not, then go read it now!

To enter:

Follow this blog (you will not be entered if I can't find your name under the 'Followers' section! No Anonymous comments).
Leave a comment in the comments section!

Along with the comment be sure to include your email address so that I can contact you if you win.

For a bonus entry tweet about this giveaway. Include a link to this post and my twitter username @szuchnic

Other info:

Giveaway begins now and ends November 11th at 11:59 PST.

I will post the winner the following day (ie November 12th).

Available to International Followers!

FYI: In case you were wondering, I purchased these from Sephora!

Julep Maven Program/Polish Review/Discount Code

2011-11-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

Recently, I decided that I was no longer happy with Birchbox; so I canceled my subscription and started looking for something new and different. After some research into different monthly subscriptions for beauty, skincare, shoes, and jewlery, I found Julep which caters to my specific love of nail polish. The picture above is what came in my first box and I have to say that I am quite impressed with the polish (and it's 3 Free)!

The first thing you do when becoming a 'Julep Maven' (the name of the subscription service) is take a short personality quiz. From this quiz, you are place into a category (I believe there are 5/6). My category was Boho Glam which, based on the description is a great fit. My first box came with products in a retail value of $60; each subsequent box will contain at least $40 retail worth of product and it only cost me $19.99. The great thing about Julep, and the thing that is so similar to other services is that you can skip a month, request a new shelf pull (if you don't like the products that were picked for you), or send your Maven box to a friend.

Some fun characteristics of this program include:

As a Maven you get a sneak peek at new/exclusive colors first!

You receive a 20% discount on any Julep products that you buy outside of your subscription!

Free Shipping on all purchases!

Also, once you have signed up, you can use your referral link to earn free months of service for every 2 people who sign up because of you!

If you are interested in giving it a try you can use the code December--I believe this changes with the months-- (I've also seen codes Welcomemv5, first5, and Intro5; I don' t know if they work) to get your first box for just $5!

For every bottle of polish that is purchased, $1 is donated to organizations that support women through Julep's Powered by Girlfriends program.

For my first box, I received the Julep Basecoat, Olivia Polish, Miranda Polish, Glycolic Hand Scrub, and 2 small samples. The polishes are gorgeous, opaque in two coats or less, and when paired with the base coat the wear is incredible. The following are some swatches for you and other pictures of the bottles.

This product is good not great. I usually don't do much in terms of hand (skin) care so it's strange for me to start.

Miranda, 2 coats

Olivia, 2 coats-- I have never owned a brown polish like this! Love it!

Side view of the bottle

Olivia (w/China Glaze Golden Enchantment)

Overall, I'm loving this program. I will keep you updated!

FYI: I've included my referral link in this post.

OPI BCA Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-31T12:16:00.000-07:00

Here we go...

The two winners are...

Congratulations! I will be emailing you shortly!

A little Dior...

2011-10-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

I finally took the plunge and tried a few Dior products (which I purchased from Sephora).

The first is this Nail/Cuticle Cream called Creme Abricot (Apricot Cream). For this little tube (.35 oz) the price was a bit steep--$23.50 however it will last a long while. Technically, it is recommended that this be used as a night treatment. It is really gooey/tacky but also feels like it is providing a protective barrier. I have used this during the day, just on a whim and do not recommend that! My iPhone was covered in finger mark slides and clicks! Overall, I love this--but only at night.

A little bit goes a long way!

My next purchase was this polish in Ebony. This I am not so much a fan of. The color is a dark, taupe, dirty brown with a cream finish. Online, the reviews of this color were outstanding but between the semi-blah color and the streaky/patchy formula I was in no way impressed.

$22 for 10 mL or .33fl oz

Since this was my first Dior polish I had no idea that the silver cap was not actually attached.

Or maybe Sally Hansen took it from Dior (probably the case).

You can see the patchiness with the flash.

So I had a 50% success rate here. I love the nail cream and wish I didn't purchase the polish.

Essie Breast Cancer Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-22T21:21:00.000-07:00

Here we go...

The winner is:

Congratulations! I will be contacting you shortly via the provided email!

CLOSED Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway: OPI Pink of Hearts 2011

2011-10-21T22:50:00.000-07:00

It's giveaway time again!

(Last of the BCA giveaways)

Up for grabs is OPI Pink Shatter for Pink of Hearts 2011! I have two bottles to giveaway so let's get to the details!

(2 bottles = 2 winners)

Here's what it looks like in full effect!

To enter:

Follow this blog (you will not be entered if I can't find your name under the 'Followers' section! No Anonymous comments).
Leave a comment in the comments section!

Along with the comment be sure to include your email address so that I can contact you if you win.

For a bonus entry tweet about this giveaway. Include a link to this post and my twitter username @szuchnic

Other info:

Giveaway begins now and ends October 30th at 11:59 PST.

I will post the winner the following day (ie October 31st).

Available to International Followers!

**I purchased these items from Ulta

Nails Inc. Autumn Color Collection Swatches/Review

2011-10-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

Nails Inc. is a fairly new to us here in the United States however I have been coveting them since I first saw a UK blogger post some swatches. Luckily, you can now find these at Sephora! These polishes retail for around $9.50 for a 10mL bottle (they also make a much hyped magnetic polish). This set in particular, the Autumn Color Collection contains 4 full size polishes for $25!

Included in this set are:

Fenchurch Street-- a warm caramel

St. Pancras-- burgundy wine

Paddington-- deep smoky gray/green

Charing Cross--a classic red

As always click on any picture to enlarge!

Before you proceed, I must apologize for how terrible my cuticles look. I even considered re-swatching and taking all new pictures just because of how my cuticles look but that would take too long. Please bear this in mind.

The brush

Fenchurch Street

St. Pancras

Paddington no flash

Paddington w/flash

Charing Cross

Sticker residue on all the bottles

The formulas for all these polishes was amazing. They are all pictured with two coats but only Paddington really needed a second coat to get rid of some patchiness. I highly recommend these polishes! They are great for Autumn and very chic!

My biggest disappointment was the bottle itself; they just felt flimsy and cheap! As you can see above that beautiful shiny cap also has the ability to chip for no reason what so ever! The labels for these polishes also overlap the bottle and cap--while I appreciate this for shipping it leaves an annoying sticker residue. To remove I recommend rubbing alcohol.

What do you think about these polishes?!

Giveaway coming soon!

Color Club Beyond the Mistletoe Collection --Swatches and Review-- Holiday 2011

2011-10-16T00:28:00.000-07:00

This collection includes six glitter polishes; the perfect pick-me-up to the holiday season! All of these have fine glitter but contain a variety of individual glitter colors that comprise an overall shade.

Colors include:

Gingerbread-- brown, gold, and holographic glitter

Sugarplum Fairy-- lilac and holographic glitter

Jingle Jangle-- purple and blue glitter

Candy Cane--silver, red, and pink glitter

Beyond the Mistletoe--light blue, green, and holographic glitter

Holiday Splendor--emerald green base with silver and holographic glitter

(Click any picture to enlarge)

Fav's and Flops:

Favorite: Holiday Splendor and Sugarplum Fairy (both must haves!)

Flop: Candy Cane--it's just not my cup of tea.

Where to find:

Head2ToeBeauty.com for $3/bottle

**Please do not repost these images without my permission.

Closed Winner Announced 10/22 Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway: Essie

2011-10-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

This is a giveaway for Essie's 2010, and 2011 Breast Cancer Awareness Polishes. Included are 'We Can Do It Pink' (2010) and 'Raise Awareness' (2011).

We Can Do It Pink (2010)
Essentially a white with the faintest hint of pink. Very subtle and great for the person that doesn't love wearing straight up pink.

Raise Awareness (2011)
A light bubble-gum pink polish.

To enter:

Follow this blog (you will not be entered if I can't find your name under the 'Followers' section (ie no Anonymous comments).
Leave a comment in the comments section!

Along with the comment be sure to include your email address so that I can contact you if you win.

For a bonus entry tweet about this giveaway. Include a link to this post and my twitter username @szuchnic

Other info:

Giveaway begins now and ends October 21st at 11:59 PST.

I will post the winner the following day (ie October 22).

**I purchased these items from Transdesign.com

**Please do not repost these images without my permission.

The winner is... (China Glaze/Seche BCA Giveaway)

2011-10-13T11:03:00.000-07:00

Let's get right down to the nitty gritty of it!

The winner of this set:

Was chosen from these entrants:

And is named:

Congratulations! I will be contacting you shortly via the email provided!

Upcoming Posts:

Essie BCA giveaway

Color Club Holiday Splendor Collection and Swatches

OPI BCA Giveaway

Julep Maven Review

Nails Inc Review and Swatches

Nails Inc Giveaway

China Glaze Let it Snow Collection 2011! (Part two)

2011-10-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

Here's the part two of the Let it Snow Holiday Collection! Enjoy!

(Click any picture to enlarge for detail!)

Tinsel Town, 2 Coats

Ring in the Red, 2 Coats
I would layer this over a red polish but to me it looked similar to Ruby Pumps
so below is a comparison.

Ring in the Red, 2 Coats

Ruby Pumps and Ring in the Red

Ring in the Red compared to Ruby Pumps
You can see the base color difference as well as the difference in the type/size/shape of the glitter.

Twinkle Lights, Poinsettia, Velvet Bow

Twinkle Lights

Twinkle Lights over Velvet Bow, 1 Coat

Poinsettia, 2 Coats

Velvet Bow, 2 Coats

Fav's and Flops

Favorites:

Tinsel Town--An almost work/office appropriate glitter!

Ring in the Red--I love the variation in the glitter size/shape/etc.

Velvet Bow-- I thought that this color was predictable for the holiday season however I love the way it looks against my skin tone.

Flops:

None that I can think of!

Where to find:
Transdesign.com has these available now at $2.99/ bottle. There is short supply and most of the gift sets have already sold out.
Sally Beauty will begin having these available around November. They usually carry all the gift sets as well as the entire collection in store.

**Please do not repost these images without my permission.

China Glaze Let it Snow Collection 2011! Review and Swatches (Part One)

2011-10-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

This is part one the the China Glaze, Let it Snow Holiday Collection for 2011. This collection includes twelve polishes as well as several gift sets that would make excellent stocking stuffers. At the end of each part of the collection I will list my must haves. I hope you enjoy!

Deck the Halls Gift Set
Glittering Garland, Holiday Berry Cuticle Oil, Champagne Bubbles

Holly Beary Gift Set
Holly-Day, Stuffed Bear, Winter Berry

Holly-Day, Winter Berry

Holly-Day, 2 Coats

Winter Berry, 2 Coats

Glittering Garland, Holiday Berry Cuticle Oil, Champagne Bubbles

Glittering Garland

Glittering Garland, 2 Coats

Champagne Bubbles

Champagne Bubbles, 2 Coats

Icicle, Blue Year's Eve, Snow Globe

Blue Year's Eve

Blue Year's Eve, 2 Coats

Icicle

Icicle, 2 Coats

Snow Globe

Snow Globe, 1 coat over Blue Year's Eve

My Fav's and Flops:

Favorites:

Snow Globe--Iridescent Glitter that looks amazing over almost any color. It was previously released but mine is long since gone. So happy to replace it!

Holly-Day-- The perfect green for fall and winter.

Flop:

Champagne Bubbles--This color is not flattering at all on me and I just don't see anything special about it. I would leave this unless you really love the shade of gold (which I do not).

Where to find:

Transdesign.com has these available now at $2.99/ bottle. There is short supply and most of the gift sets have already sold out.
Sally Beauty will begin having these available around November. They usually carry all the gift sets as well as the entire collection in store.

**Please do not repost these images without my permission.

The Slim Silhouette Manicure Fashion Week Spring 2012

2011-10-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

This is just a really quick and simple manicure that is both on trend and office friendly. There are no nail art tools required and any colors would work! Enjoy!

I used:

And here's the how-to video:

Color Club Backstage Pass Collection Swatches/Review!

2011-10-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

Before you scroll through all the pictures I would like to preface this post by saying that this is a collection of (mostly) glitter polishes. These would need to be layered over a polish to truly get the entire effect but I am showing exactly what you get when you brush on the polish/glitter.

This collection includes six polishes:

Take the Stage-- Gold glitter with silver/iridescent flakes

Backstage Pass-- Silver and purple hex glitter (large)

Wish Upon a Rock-Star-- Multicolored glitter with large purple hex's

It's a Hit-- Purple hex glitter (large)

Fame & Fortune-- Red jelly base with iridescent flakes

Platinum Record--Silver glitter

Wish Upon a Rock-Star, Backstage Pass, Take the Stage

Take the Stage-- I love the large glitter flakes!

Take the Stage-- 2 coats

Backstage Pass--Mainly large hex glitter but there are a few small glitters in there too!

Backstage Pass--2 Passes of trying to apply--I basically had to place the glitter piece by piece to make it somewhat even.

Wish Upon a Rock-Star

Wish Upon a Rock-Star, 2 Coats, easy application

Platinum Record, Fame & Fortune, It's a Hit

It's a Hit

It's a Hit, 2 coats, had the same problems as with Backstage Pass

Fame & Fortune

Fame & Fortune, 2 Coats with Flash

Fame & Fortune, 2 Coats without Flash

Platinum Record

Platinum Record, 2 Coats

Fav's and Flops

Favorites:

Platinum Record--Easy to apply, good coverage for a glitter, and I love the different sizes and shapes.

Fame & Fortune-- It's the only polish in the collection with a base color and I love the iridescent flakes.

Wish Upon a Rock-Star-- In the bottle it didn't seem special but I really like the combo once it is painted on the nails.

Flops:

Backstage Pass and It's a Hit-- The application was so difficult you couldn't just brush it on! I spent so much time trying to get the hex glitter to fairly evenly cover the nail that it was more of a hassle than fun.

Where to find:
Head2ToeBeauty.com is the cheapest place that I could find @ $3.25/bottle.

Transdesign.com also has this collection which you can purchase as a set or individually. Here they are on sale for $3.52/bottle.

**Please do not repost these images without my permission.

Essie Cocktail Bling Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-08T14:44:00.000-07:00

I would like to start by thanking everyone who entered this giveaway. There were over 50 entries including comments and tweets and I can't tell you how much that means to me. Without further ado...

The winner is...

Congratulations!

Upcoming Posts:

Color Club Backstage Pass Collection Swatches/Review

China Glaze/Seche Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway Winner

Essie Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway!

China Glaze Holiday Collection 2011 Swatches and Review

*** CLOSED Winner announced tomorrow! China Glaze/Seche Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway

2011-10-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You will find everything from kitchen gadgets to beauty items that will donate part or all of the proceeds from the sale to a foundation which supports breast cancer research. In order to pay tribute to this month I have several pink giveaways coming up. The first in that series is this one: China Glaze and Seche.

For some up front information: I did pay for all these items. These items in particular were purchased at Sally Beauty Supply.

This giveaway is for the following:

1 bottle of China Glaze Strawberry Fields

(Part of the breast cancer awareness set at Sally Beauty)

1 Seche/China Glaze Support Awareness Set

(includes 1 bottle of Seche Vite, 1 bottle of China Glaze 'Go Go Pink', a BCA Angel Keychain)

I did not swatch the 'Go Go Pink' since I did not want to open the giveaway item but below is China Glaze 'Strawberry Fields' which is a repromote from a summer collection 2 years ago (that I happen to already own and love).

Strawberry Fields is a gorgeous bright berry pink with a gold sparkle.

It is an amazing color!

To enter:

Leave a comment below (any comment but please include your email address so that I can contact you if you win).
Follow this blog.
For a bonus entry you can tweet about the giveawy being sure to include my name: @szuchnic and a link to this giveaway.

Giveaway begins immediately and ends Wednesday October 12th at 11:59 PST.

Revlon Facets of Fuchsia and Blue Mosaic Swatches and Review

2011-10-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I realize that these new Revlon polishes are getting quite a bit of hype. I decided that it was time to throw my hat in the ring and share my thoughts and swatches of these two beauties!

First up is Facets of Fuchsia. This is a blackened purple jelly polish with small round and large hex fuchsia glitters. It took a solid three coats to get rid of any visible nail line and even out the large glitter chunks. Overall, I think the effect is beautiful.

Next is Blue Mosaic. This is again a jelly but the tint is the faintest blue with small light blue glitter and large silver and green hex glitter. I love the blue and green together but this polish does not give full coverage. You would definitely need to layer this polish to get the full effect.

Just to let you know there is another polish in this collection however I could not find it anywhere around me. I believe it is a milky white/pink jelly with small round and large hex glitter but I'm not too sure of the details.

I purchased these at Walgreen for $4.99 a bottle.

Essie Cocktail Bling Collection Swatches

2011-09-29T21:16:00.000-07:00

Although this collection is entirely 'jewel' themed none of the colors have shimmer or glitter. Instead they are reserved creme colors which are both fun and professional; demure and sassy.

Click any picture to enlarge

Brooch the Subject- 2 coats

Bangle Jangle-- 2 coats

Cocktail Bling-- 2 coats

School of Hard Rocks-- 2 coats

Bobbing for Baubles-- 2 coats
(My favorite color! More of a grayed out navy)

Size Matters-- 2 coats

CLOSED Winner announced 10/8! Essie Winter Collection Giveaway!

2011-09-26T23:25:00.000-07:00

Just an FYI: I will have swatches posted as soon as my Incoco Wear Test is complete. These are also quickie pictures--better ones are coming!

Essie's Winter Collection 2011--Cocktail Bling

This giveaway is for 6, full-size bottles of the Essie Winter Collection--Cocktail Bling.

Colors included are:

Bobbing for Baubles

Size Matter

Bangle Jangle

School of Hard Rocks

Brooch the Subject

Cocktail Bling

All you need to do to enter is:

Comment on this blog post with your favorite Essie product (nail care or polish color) and your email address (if you don't put your email address I cannot contact you if you win) I recommend formatting email addresses as "name at gmail dot com" to avoid spamming.

You can also retweet this giveaway for a bonus entry being sure to include my name (@szuchnic) and the link to this post. The following is an example: "Enter to win the Essie Cocktail Bling Collection from @szuchnic http://www.allnailandcosmetics.com/"

Rules:

You must follow this blog to qualify.

Giveaway begins immediately and ends October 7th, 2011 at 11:59 EST.

The winner will need to provide me with their Full Name and Address for shipping.

The winner will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 24 hrs, another winner will be chosen and the original winner forfeits the prize.

Incoco Nail Polish Applique

2011-09-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

In the last Birchbox that I received, I finally got the opportunity to try something that I was just too cheap to buy...

Incoco Nail Appliques!

The color I received was Stardust (glitter finish).

I decided to make this into a video demonstration of my experience rather than just a wham, bam, thank you maam set of pictures. Let me say that these were ridiculously easy to apply; more simple than I would have ever imagined. They also look amazing and the pattern is subtle but still gives that WOW! effect.

Here are some pictures to show the results:

I did add a top coat just to seal in the edges/tips

With Flash to show the glitter

Holy cow I actually made a video!

Color Club 'Covered in Diamonds'

2011-09-22T17:36:00.000-07:00

I'd like to introduce you to a new love of mine:

Color Club 'Covered in Diamonds' is a beautiful 'flakie' style polish that reflects iridescent blue, green, amber, and purple. The reflect almost looks like mica. I purchased my bottle from Head2ToeBeauty.com for $3! What a steal (It was originally released with the Untamed Luxury collection)!

Here is a close-up of the bottle:

And here is what it looks like over China Glaze 'Near Dark':

I love the shine and character this can give to any polish although there are a few difficulties in application:

Similarly to hex glitter, this can have some placement issues causing parts of the nail to look sparse and parts to look clumpy. QUICK FIX: Apply in thin layers being sure to allow drying time between application.
Little corners of the flakes can stick straight up which makes applying a topcoat difficult. QUICK FIX: same as 1 except check as you apply the thin layers to be sure your not building on a stray piece.

China Glaze Haunting Collection Giveaway Winner!

2011-09-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

The winner of this:

Was drawn from these entries:

And is named:

Congratulations Michelle! I will be contacting you shortly via the provided email.

Next Posts:
Color Club 'Covered in Diamonds' Swatches
Essie Winter Collection Swatches and Giveaway

Essie is on sale!

2011-09-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to tell you that Essie Nail Polishes are on sale at Transdesign.com for $4 a bottle! That is a crazy good deal!

Upcoming posts:

China Glaze Giveaway Winner

Essie Winter Collection Swatches and Giveaway

China Glaze Haunting Swatches!

2011-09-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

This collection for Halloween includes four new shades and two that are repromotes:

Haunting--A silver glitter flecked polish with a black base
It's Alive--A gold and yellow glitter polish in a green base
Near Dark--Dark Forest Green Creme
Crimson--Dusty, Dark Violet Creme
Ghoulish Glow--Glow in the Dark (comes out every Halloween)
Black Mesh--Black crackle--previously released

Here are your swatches:

Haunting--2 Coats

It's Alive--2 Coats

Near Dark--2 Coats (Is actually a bit dark in person)

Crimson--2 Coats (Almost black in normal light)

Zoya Giveaway Winner!

2011-09-12T09:43:00.000-07:00

I love having giveaways, hence the recent slew of the them. Besides actually giving something away I enjoy the whole process...

Compiling the names, checking to make sure that those who enter are in fact following my blog, and finally checking tweets. Once that is done I put everyone's name on a list and print it out. Then, I get to cut out all the names and fold them up--I *really* do love this part, it is something about the soothing monotony of it all. Finally, I throw all the folded names in a glass jar, toss them up, and have the hubby pull a name (I feel that it's all a bit more fair that way).

Congratulations to our winner:

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Coming up this week:

Swatches and reviews of the China Glaze Halloween Collection and a giveaway for their Haunting set!

Also, I'll be having a twitter giveaway coming up this week. Follow me @szuchnic and enter when I tweet about it!

CLOSED Zoya Color Lock System Giveaway! (winner announced Monday)

2011-08-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

This system from Zoya is still pretty new to me but it has been quite impressive. The 'Color Lock System' comes with everything you need to keep your nail polish drying faster, staying longer, and perfecting your overall nail look. This kit includes:

1 - 8oz Zoya Remove Plus in the Big Flipper Container

1 - 0.5oz Zoya Anchor Base Coat

1 - 0.5oz Zoya Get Even Ridge Filling Base Coat

1 - 0.5oz Zoya Zoya Armor Top Coat

1 - 0.5oz Zoya Fast Drops Polish Drying Drops

1 - 0.5oz Zoya Renew Nail Polish Rejuvinator

The kit comes in a zip-lock handle bag with instructions on its use.

Value: $48 USD

Image courtesy of Zoya.com

My favorite product in this kit is the Remove Plus and it's Big Flipper container--if you've ever used it you know what I mean! The scent is unlike any nail polish remover and it is both gentle and effective. The other product from this kit that I find invaluable is the Fast Drops; perfect for when you need to get out the door.

To enter:

Comment on this blog post with your favorite Zoya product (nail care or polish color) and your email address (if you don't put your email address I cannot contact you if you win).
You can also tweet this giveaway for a bonus entry being sure to include my name (@szuchnic) and the link to this giveaway.

Rules:

Giveaway begins immediately and ends September 10th, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST.

You must follow this blog to enter.

The winner will need to provide me with their Full Name and Address.

This IS available internationally!

This giveaway is being sponsored by me!

A few of my favorite things!

2011-08-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

I recently placed an order with Sephora.com to replace some of the skincare products that are my 'holy grail' items. Here's what I ended up with:

Clinique is one of my favorite brands! These two products in particular have improved my skin ten fold.
Liquid Facial Soap in Mild
Turnaround Concentrate
The soap is gentle and virtually stops breakouts and the concentrate (more of a serum) changed my skin to have a smooth texture; more than it never did before.

This eye cream is affordable and delivers exactly what it promises. I couldn't ask for anything better. This is my third tube so I can't imagine switching anytime soon!

This is the splurge of my purchase. I tried a sample of this in my Birchbox about a month ago (maybe two). I love that it is feminine but not overwhelming and it lingers all day. Call me crazy but I love to get a wafting of the scent hours after I put it on. I find it vaguely similar to YSL Parisienne (if you mixed it with Chanel Coco Mademoiselle). The shots below are of the bottle because I thought that it was elegantly simple and beautiful.

Samples

A promotional sample if you enter ACNE at check.

I am trying to figure out what my next giveaway should be for (brand and items). If you have any suggestions, I would love to see them in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

Urban Decay Giveaway Winner!

2011-08-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

Da-da-ta-da!

My first place winner (made by random 'name-in-a-jar' selection) is:

And the second place winner is:

I will be contacting you shortly via the provided email addresses!

I will be having another giveaway soon--look out for that!

** I will be deleting all comments off the post so that your email addresses aren't floating around!

CLOSED Urban Decay and a Giveaway!

2011-08-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

Next in my series of favorite brands is Urban Decay.

I've loved this brand since I really got serious about makeup. The edgy, bright, and eclectic packaging has always drawn my eye and some of my favorite products (probably many people's favorites) are still available after all this time.
Urban Decay Cosmetics has been in business for approximately 15 years. They are a great company with many vegan and cruelty free items including cosmetic brushes. Overall, I can't think of a more iconic brand; they have incredible palettes, a primer that is a staple for many, and some of the most fun packaging that you can find in the industry.

My Favorite Products: Big Fatty Mascara (regular, and waterproof), Primer Potion (Original color for eyes), 24/7 Liner Pencils (Bourbon, Zero)

Now for the Giveaway! Two winners will be chosen!

First prize will win:

Preen Shadow Box

Big Fatty Waterproof Mascara

Apocalyptic Nail Kit

Second Prize will win:

Apocalyptic Nail Kit

To enter:

Comment on this blog post with your favorite Urban Decay product and your email address (if you don't put your email address I cannot contact you if you win).
You can also tweet this giveaway for a bonus entry being sure to include my name (@szuchnic) and the link to this giveaway.

Rules:

Giveaway begins immediately and ends August 19th, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST.

You must follow this blog to enter.
The winner will need to provide me with their Full Name and Address.

This IS available internationally!

This giveaway is being sponsored by me!

Apothica Giveaway Winner!

2011-08-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

I decided to choose this winner in a different way--well, at least for me. No, random.org was not used to choose the winner, instead I opted for the 'names in a hat' approach'. Before I continue, I would like to thank you all for taking the time to enter. If you didn't win, don't worry, I have plenty more giveaways coming up soon!

Here's how it played out:

First, I counted and verified all the entries (the hardest part of the process).
Then, I entered everyone's name into a word doc (some people had multiple entries).
Next, I printed and cut out all the names.
Then, I folded them and placed them in this vase.

Look! Here you all are:

Then I chose the winner:

Congratulations 'Kittypolishnbags'! I will be contacting via the provided email shortly!

FYI: I will be deleting all comments from the giveaway post so your email addresses aren't just sitting out there!

Stila Cosmetics! and a Giveaway! CLOSED!

2011-07-14T23:47:00.000-07:00

I am starting a new series in which I will attempt to give you a little insight into some of my most coveted brands; these will include makeup, skincare, nails, etc. Enjoy!

Stila Cosmetics was founded in 1994 by a celebrity makeup artist by the name of Jeanine Lobell. They began with a focus on individualizing makeup to make it a more personal experience. The key symbol to the brand is the Stila Girl which is unique to different palettes and individual items. Some of their bestselling items include Kitten eye shadow, their line of lip glazes (click up design) and signature palettes which offered the user step by step directions to apply the perfect shadow look.

My personal favorites include: Gebera Convertible Color, Kitten eye shadow, One-Step Corrector, and the Lip Glaze in Grapefruit and Tangerine

Since this is the beginning of a new series I would like to celebrate with a giveaway! The winner will receive a $25 gift card to spend as they like at Apothica.com, SkinCareRx.com, or skinbotanica.com.

Fun fact: Stila Lip Glazes are on sale right now…

Apothica Giveaway Entry Options

(Please leave a comment on this post letting me know which options you have completed. If you post to twitter, leave me your twitter username, if you post to your blog please leave the name of or link to your blog, etc..)

Option 1: Facebook

1. Visit Apothica.com

2. Write on Apothica’s Facebook wall about what you think of Apothica

Bonus: Opt in to Apothica’s Newsletter

Option 2: Twitter

1. Visit Apothica.com

2. Tweet about Apothica on your own Twitter Account

Bonus: Retweet Apothica’s tweet about this giveaway

Option 3: Blog

1. Visit Apothica.com

2. Write something on your blog about what you think of Apothica

Bonus: Write about the brand I highlighted and link it to Apothica

The contest is open internationally, but Apothica does not ship to all countries so, it would behoove you to check their shipping policies via Apothica.com.

MORE INFO:

1. The giveaway will run for 2 weeks and will end Saturday, July 30^th at 11:59pm EST.

2. The winner will need to provide the full name, shipping address, email address, and phone number.

FYI: You may find it easier to save SkinCareRx as a contact in your email contacts so that you will receive email communications without interruption or accidental Spam/Junk misplacement.

Have fun and Enjoy!

Disclaimer: This giveaway is being sponsored by Apothica.com.

The winner is...

2011-06-23T01:25:00.000-07:00

Carmen!

Congratulations! I will be emailing you shortly!

Ever heard of Birchbox? Gift-Away! CLOSED!

2011-06-10T17:30:00.000-07:00

I've been using Birchbox (a monthly sample delivery service) for the past three months and I absolutely love it. I saw/read a lot of reviews on YouTube and on other blogs and had to give it a try. Every month I get to try different skincare, fragrance, makeup, and other miscellany that I would never have the opportunity to try on my own; the price, $10. Every month, the new box ships by the 10th and I have it in hand within 5-7 days. I've generally enjoyed everything that I have received with the exception of a few oddball items, but isn't that how it always is?
Here is what came in my June Birchbox:

Here's what it looks like with the top off

A card comes with every box that has a little message and a list of everything in the box with full size prices. You can purchase the items at birchbox.com and receive free shipping on any items featured in that months box!

Pangea Organics Toner for normal to oily skin (1.8oz)
Full size: 4 oz, $26

Oscar Blandi Olio de Jasmine Hair Serum (5ml)
Full Size: 15ml, $16

Laura Geller Baked Blush n' Brighten in Honey Dipped
This is a full size B N' B! Actual cost: $29.50

Some miscellany: Herban Essentials Orange Towelettes (2)
Full Size: 20 Towelettes, $15
Sample of Pangea Organics Facial Cream for normal/combination skin

Kate Spade Twirl .05 fl oz.
Full Size: 3.4 fl oz, $65

Now for the fun part! I would like to gift one of my blog followers with a 3 month subscription to Birchbox. To enter you just need to leave a comment on this post with your email address. See below...

This giveaway ends on the 21st, at 11:59pm PST. You must follow this blog in order to be entered. This giveaway is only available for the United States, its territories, and APO boxes, as they are the only places they deliver to. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be posted here on the 22nd. The winner will need to provide me with their first and last name so, if you cannot give out that information please do not enter. Good luck to everyone and thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I have paid for both my subscription and the giveaway prize. All opinions are my own. I am not being compensated in any way for this post.

My recent favorites...

2011-06-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the items that I have been loving recently. Some are long time favorites and some are new but they are all fabulous products that I can't live without!

I suppose that it is appropriate to start with nails... I finally finished my Nail Magic Base Coat Therapy (which I do not recommend) and was able to purchase this--hopefully I can get my nails growing again!

My all time favorite tinted moisturizer! I have used this for a few years now and I always come back to it! My color is light.

I just received this as a sample from Everyday Minerals and I love the color--the applicator not so much.
Color is Cardamom.

This falls into the oldie but goodie category. I love all MAC fluidlines but this color has been getting a lot of play lately.
Color is Blue Peep.

This NARS blush again is one that I am using a lot. The color compliments my skintone very well and it a great orange coral.
Color is Gina.

A recent favorite for moisturizer. It has Alpha Hydroxy Acid (a small amount) that is doing wonders for my skin.

I love my Clarisonic Mia.

But, I specifically love this new brush head which is the Deep Pore Head. Amazing!

This will definitely be my next fragrance purchase! This sample was in my Birchbox and it was my favorite thing in there!

This one is odd but I love the color of these earrings--they are from Target and were in a set of three.

Huge Savings!

2011-03-08T11:28:00.000-08:00

All Nail Shop is celebrating being open for

6 months!

From today (3/7/11) through (3/31/11 at 11:59 PM PST) take advantage of the savings!

If you spend: $10 save 15%

$15 save 20%

$20 save 25%

$25 save 30%

No code necessary!

Blogs I love!

2011-02-25T15:02:00.000-08:00

I get asked very frequently if there are any blogs that I would recommend to people. The problem is that I have many varied interests so, when I recommend blogs it always requires me to ask, "Well, what do you like?"; after all, there is no point in recommending something if you aren't interested in it. So I bring to you some of my favorite blogs; the ones that I check in on almost daily to see if they've updated anything:

Nail Blogs

I know that there are many, many awesome nail bloggers/blogs out there. So here are a few of my favorites:

The Dail Nail (The most amazing designs!)
For the Love of Nails (Mainly swatches)
Prim and Polished (Again, a lot of swatches)
Deez-Nails (Swatches and easy, fun designs)
All Lacquered Up (How could I ever leave out the first nail blog I ever followed)

Fashion/Lifestyle

I do not have a huge interest in fashion, decorating, or anything of the sort but I love seeing how style affects people...

Cupcakes and Cashmere (Amazing blog! Tutorials, baking, decorating, and clothes; this blogger has an amazing personal sense of style and I love seeing what she comes up with.
Erratic in Heels (If you know me personally then you know that I have a quirky, sarcastic sense of humor; this blogger appeals to that side of me.)

Baking

If you didn't know, I went to school for baking and pastry and worked at a fairly prestigious restaurant as a pastry chef. This is something that I will always have an interest in, and these blogs reflect that side of me.

Bakerella (Cake pops anyone?)
Cake Wrecks (Because I have seen my fair share of wrecks.)

I hope you enjoyed this and if you have any suggestions of blogs for me I'd be happy to take a look!

New Goodies! Portugal Swap

2011-01-15T16:09:00.000-08:00

I was very lucky to swap with a another wonderful person from Portugal. If you remember a while back I posted a swap with All About My Nails who has a blog that I've followed for quite some time (her blog is in Portuguese then translated to English).
I met Elisa from this blog and set up a swap for ten polishes. While she doesn't have a blog to show what I sent her I figured that I could show you what I was sent. So here we go...

Left to Right (Brand, color): Yes Love, 72; H&M polish, No Mambo Jambo; Andreia, 53; Andreia, 105

Yes Love '72' (1 coat)

H&M Polish 'No Mambo Jambo' (1 coat)

Andreia '53' (2 coats)

Andreia '105' (2 coats) This resembles 'Mermaid' by Sephora by OPI

Left to Right (brand, color): Bity, Jade; Risque, Menta; Risque, Verde Esmeralda
Names Translated (L to R): Jade, Mint, Emerald Green

Bity 'Jade' (2 coats)

Risque 'Menta' (3 coats)

Risque 'Verde Esmeralda'

Left to Right (Brand, color): Risque, Azul Hortensia; Risque, Laranja Siena; Risque, Obsessao
Name Translation: Blue Hydrangea, Sienna Orange, Obsession

Risque 'Azul hortensia' (2 coats)

Risque 'Laranja Siena' (2 coats)

Risque 'Obsessao' (2 Coats)

I love the way these are packaged!

New Year, New Deal!

2011-01-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

I've changed around my checkout system at AllNailShop.com so now I can issue coupon codes now! In honor of this occasion I have a 25% off coupon code (Min. order of $5) through the month!

Coupon Code: newyear11

Shipping is now also flat rate of 2.50.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Colore Root Touch-Up and Highlighting Pen

2010-12-22T16:08:00.000-08:00

The Product:

The Oscar Blandi Pronto Colore Root Touch-Up and Highlighting Pen is a great way to cover up roots, enhance your highlights, or just add some natural color to your hair. As the title suggests the product comes in a pen form where you click the product up through the applicator (which resembles a Stila Lip Glaze). The formula is both ammonia and peroxide free and and full of gentle conditioners. The application is very simple; all you do is paint the color on! Additionally, the color dries quickly and is waterproof. The pen comes with .16oz of product for $23.00 and can be purchased at BGlowing.com, or anywhere else Oscar Blandi Products are sold.

What comes inside the box.

My Opinion:

This is a very fun product to use! I have the color Neutral Brown and it is just slightly lighter than my natural hair color which gave me a very refreshing low-light effect. It added extra dimension to my hair that washed out when I shampooed my hair. All in all I can't think of any downside to this product. It would also be amazing if you do color your hair for in between touch-ups or just for adding more highlights to your hair.

My Rating:

Ease of Use: 4.5/5

Quality: 4.5/5

Packaging: 4/5

Value: 4/5

*Product provided for review purposes by BGlowing.com.

Candy Cane Nails!

2010-12-12T22:35:00.000-08:00

Candy canes are one of my favorite parts of the holidays (only the peppermint one's though)! So it was only a matter of time before I got around to doing this design. I've also been a bit out of the loop (nail art wise) so I thought something with straight lines would be a good starting point back in.

I can say with complete honesty that I will probably do this at least one more time before the holiday season ends. Hopefully the next time I will be able to get the lines a bit less shaky! Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

3 Quick and Easy Halloween Nail Designs

2010-10-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

I have been insanely busy lately but I have been getting tons of requests for Halloween nail art. I had two hours free (that includes editing, filming, etc) and managed to put this together. While I am not totally loving the way these turned out I figured it was still worth showing you. I hope you enjoy and have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Go Nails Product Review

2010-10-12T00:19:00.000-07:00

Go Nails has been a product that I have been looking into for quite a while. I'm happy to say that it is a product I couldn't live without now. Instead of boring you with all the regular information (like ingredients, how to use it, etc) I'll instead direct you to their website HERE. This is probably the only nail product that I've used where you can see results within two weeks! (all of the hardeners that I have ever tried need at least 8 weeks to really show a change). Here are some pictures to show you the improvement in my nails! Please keep in mind that my middle finger snapped off while playing with my dog (very painful!) You can see the massive improvement in the way my cuticles look and how the texture of my nails smoothed out.

Before

After

COUPON ALERT*** Use the code GONSZUC to receive 20% off your order at MyGoBeauty.com

FYI: This was sent to me for review purposes

3 Different Halloween Nail Art Tutorials

2010-10-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

I just thought that it might be a good idea to put all the Halloween Nail Art Tutorials that I did last year on one post. I plan to be making some more costume oriented designs this year so if you need nail art for your costume or just have an idea please leave it in the comments section! Thanks and enjoy!

Friendly Frankenstein:

Easy Spiderwebs:

Bats, Spiders, and Webs:

If you are in need of any nail art supplies please check out my shop: All Nail Shop!

More Swatches...

2010-09-29T22:20:00.000-07:00

This is what I am currently wearing on my nails: Zoya 'Sloane'.

This is a deep black cherry color with an amazing shimmer of red and purple. I tried my best to show the shimmer but it is one of those 'hard to capture' effects. Anyways... I hope you like it!

Rescue Beauty Lounge 'Ani'

2010-09-25T17:46:00.000-07:00

My favorite shimmering nude in my collection is (can you guess from the title): Ani by RBL.

It's a sheer (but buildable) peachy champagne that compliments my skin tone perfectly. While all in all I am not a huge fan of nudes (whether it be lips, nails, or the like) I can make an exception for this polish. I'm wearing it at least once every few weeks at the moment. Here are some swatches and I hope you all are having a fabulous weekend!

Sorry for the oily cuticles; I'm testing a new product and my cuticles have been kind of dry (and torn up) so I slathered them with Mango Cuticle Oil.

Coupon Alert

2010-09-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

Head over to the All Nail Shop to take $2 off an order of $10 or more.

Amount will be refunded when your order processes.

Good through 10/1/10 at 11:59pm.

No code necessary!

Questions: audrey@allnailandcosmetics.com

Follow this blog to recieve Coupon Alerts and New Product Updates!

Need Nail Art Supplies?

2010-09-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

I've just opened an online nail art supply shop! You can check it out: All Nail Shop.The reasoning behind this is that I get asked numerous times where to find the basics (swatching wheels, dotting tools, rhinestones, etc) so instead of directing you to a hundred different sites I figured that I could just provide the tools for you! I'd love it if you glanced through and checked out the items we carry. I will be adding some different and exciting items shortly but I figured this would be a great general preview! Any questions email me: audrey@allnailandcosmetics.com

Peacock Feather(esque) Nails

2010-09-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

I have been dying to try a peacock nail design for the longest time but every time I sat down to put something on my nails it looked awful. For this design I focused on the feathers (instead of the whole bird) and voila! I actually have something reminiscent of a Peacock feather! I was amazed! (notice all the exclamation points!) Now there are things that I would do differently if I had them to do over but, for now this will suffice. I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think in the comments, I really do enjoy reading them.
BTW if you ever leave a question in the comments I will answer it on that same post so you need to come back and check it or you can leave your email address for me to respond to. Also if you'd like you can email me directly: audrey@allnailandcosmetics.com

Products Used (in order):
Nail Magic Base Coat Therapy
ChG Liquid Leather
Zoya Penny
ChG Tree Hugger
Misa Toxic Seduction
Confetti My favorite Martian
ChG Frostbite
Seche Vite

Birthday Cupcake Nails

2010-09-09T15:51:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know (if you follow me on Twitter) that my birthday was on Labor Day. Now for such a momentous (lol) occasion I decided that my nails should match. My birthday nails incorporated my two favorite parts of a birthday: cupcakes and candles.

Products used:
Nail Magic Base Coat Therapy
OPI Koala Berry
OPI Rosy Future
Art Deco Polish 'Light Pink'
Stripe Rite's in 'Turqoise' and 'Blue'
Zoya Purity

Here's the step by step:

Ginger and Liz 'Ivy League'

2010-08-30T22:47:00.000-07:00

Just sharing a swatch with you!
FYI: This is not a full size bottle, it is a sample which I won in a giveaway.

Gold and Silver Glitter Gradient

2010-08-30T20:34:00.000-07:00

This was requested a long time ago. It's not a difficult nail design at all but I have just been so swamped that I didn't get around to it. Here's the original:

(Source)

And here is what I came up with:

Mine is a bit different but not a bad dupe of the original. I used (in order):
Nail Magic Base Coat Therapy
China Glaze French Bliss 'Ooh La La Peach'
Ginger and Liz 'Got my Groove Back'
China Glaze 'Nova'
China Glaze 'Techno'
China Glaze 'Golden Enchantment'
Seche Vite

Here's how I did it:

An International Polish Swap!

2010-08-30T20:22:00.000-07:00

Recently I swapped with Helena from All About My Nails who is located in Portugal. I've been reading her blog for a few months and absolutely love all the swatches and different brands of polishes that she posts about. I've been wanting to get my hands on a few so we arranged a swap and I just wanted to share what I recieved. If you want to see what I sent her feel free to click here!
FYI:
My only request was no pinks or reds as I am overwhelmed with the ones I already own.

(Left to Right) All Access, Into the Night, 270, Menta, 96

And individual (very quick) swatches:

All Access

Into the Night

270

(My Favorite) Mentha

If ever anyone would like to do a swap feel free to contact me via email (audrey@allnailandcosmetics.com)!

GINGER and LIZ Nail Polish Review

2010-08-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago I was shopping online for nail polish (surprise, surprise) when I came across a brand that was new to me: GINGER and LIZ. Now while I in no way claim to know everything about nail polish and different brands I was surprised that I hadn't, in the very least, seen a swatch of their colors before. Since I am always looking for a good deal, and I knew that I wanted four colors in particular, I waited for a sale and then snagged these four beauties!

(Left to Right: Chase Me, Boy Toy, Reality Check, Got my Groove Back)

G and L polishes are normally $12 for .43 fl oz but on this particular occasion, I paid $8 a bottle so the same as if I was purchasing Essie or OPI. The difference? Quality!

Up until this point no "high end" polish had truly lived up to the hype for me. OPI, Essie, and the like all wore off pretty quickly on me even with a great base/top coat combination. There is a reason I have a large number of China Glaze polishes in my collection; they mimic Essie and OPI in color but are less than half the price.

The G and L polishes come in several finishes, have a wide range of colors, and wear like no body's business. I can get a solid week out of these polishes with nothing more than tip wear and since I use my hands a lot for work, that is saying something! They have a wide range of colors from professional nudes and lighter shades, to neon's and deep sultry colors. Overall it is a varied selection sure to fit anyones needs. They also have their own base coat and top coat which I haven't tried yet but am excited to get my hands on.

Below you'll find some swatches as well as my review video! Enjoy!

Reality Check

Got my Groove Back

Chase Me

Boy Toy

FYI: This is not a sponsored post and I am not affiliated with GINGER and LIZ. I'm just sharing an amazing brand with fellow nail fanatics!

Review: Seche Ultra V Top Coat

2010-08-12T21:29:00.000-07:00

When I first saw this product at my local Sally's I was curious to try it but would look at the price, pick up my regular top coat (Seche Vite) and leave. Recently though I had a 20% off coupon and I decided that it was time to take the plunge and see if it was worth the fuss; so here it goes:

This is a two step process:
First you need to paint your nails and use the Ultra V formula topcoat.
Second you cure the topcoat with the UV light that you purchase seperately.

The overall effect gives you shiny (almost mirror like) nails that look more like gels than nail polish. The curing (takes three mins) sets the polish no matter how thick you paint it on and gives a pretty durable finish. I went 7 days with just tip wear and on the 8th I got a chip.

By no means is this a necessity for anyone to have but it is great if you like gadgets, or the way acrylics look with out the damage to your nails!

Just so you know, this removes very easily with nail polish remover and felt or a cotton square. For more details you can check out the video at the end of the post. The last 20 second or so show you a snapshot of my nails each day to see the wear.

Nautical Nails

2010-07-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

So my latest nail design is one which I have been admiring for quite some time now. I was browsing through The Material Instinct (Valerie's) Tumblr one day and found this lovely image of an easy and cute nail design. I am a big fan of anything nautical so I put it in my 'to do' file and left it at that. I was recently going through my computer and found it so I figured it was time. Here is what the image is:

(Source--Claralikesguts)

My goal was a recreation and here is what I came up with:

Well, that's about all for now. I am trying to update this more often but life gets in the way! Watch the video below for a step by step tutorial:

If you shop online, you should be using Ebates!

2010-07-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

I am an avid online shopper. There I said it! With sites like hautelook.com, sephora.com, and numerous others, I find myself online window shopping quite frequently. Now while I'm not always in the mood to buy I would always like to save money. I frequently 'google' coupons, codes, etc looking for a way to save a buck. Recently I've started using Ebates when I shop. Basically, it's a way to earn back money on purchases that you were already going to make (they also have coupons, and special offers). I earn a percentage of cashback depending on which sites I shop on and what category of item I'm buying. I use it for eBay, Sephora, Ulta, Victoria's Secret, etc and I can't be more happy with it. I just figured I'd pass this along for anyone like me with an online shopping addiction! :)

Sign up for Ebates

FYI: Just like Hautelook, Ebates does give referring bonuses hence the link.

4th of July Nails!

2010-07-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

Fireworks to be exact!

I made my first attempt at Fourth of July Nails last year. While I feel the effort was there and the designs were good I couldn't get past the nagging fact that I have never made a video or even attempted to create fireworks on my nails. So this year I decided that the time had come. For this design I started with OPI 'A Oui Bit of Red' for the base color. For the fireworks themselves I used Stripe Rites in Blue and White. For a bit of sparkle I pulled out China Glaze's 'Techno' and 'Fairy Dust'. I topped it all off with a rhinestone and voila(!) firework nail art.

I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday!

Miu Miu Swallow Print Nails

2010-07-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

Ok so this design was requested a lot but I never really wanted to do it. I get into mood where I don't care how much people want to see it; I don't want to do it. I guess I was being a little selfish so I finally sat down last week and banged this one out.

For my base color I used OPI Russian Navy and for the design I used a light pink Art Deco polish and a white stripe rite. The rest, so they say, is history...

Check out the video below to see how I did it!

Piano Key Nails

2010-06-13T18:58:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! It has been such a long time since I've been able to create a video, blog post, or even just do a design on my own nails...but alas I am finally figuring out how to make so "me" time amongst all the chaos. So for my first design back I figured this piano key design was the place to start.
Overall the process was simple and all it really comes down to is drawing a lot of straight (or in my case semi-straight lines). I hope you enjoy the photos and video below and would love to hear your thoughts!

Spring Polish Favorites!

2010-04-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

I have been neglecting both my youtube channel and this blog and my reason is: life! I don’t for one second to ever think that I missed out on an opportunity or experience so besides just being thoroughly exhausted from working I am also using my weekends to try new things and go to new places within my fair city. I recommend exploring your city as much as possible—I am always discovering new places, shops, and people!

Since I’ve not been doing much in the way of designs with my nails I’ve instead decided to tell you which colors/polishes I currently love. You could consider this a Spring Color Trend post if you wish but this is just my personal opinion.

Here it goes:

Glitter polish!

Anything shiny specifically 3D shiny is really working for me right now. I love that they wear really well and look amazing both in the sunshine and against my tanning skin.

My Suggestions: Color Club-Magic Attraction, China Glaze-Shooting Star, Nova and Dorothy Who? OPI Goldirocks.

Brights/Neons

Truth be told I wear brights and neons all year round but specifically in the Spring and Summer I find them most appropriate. Now if you find the polishes that are both neon and contain glitter; that’s what I call a “Jackpot” situation.

My Suggestions: Misa-The Grass is Greener on My Side, China Glaze-Flying Dragon, Blue Sparrow, Turned Up Turquoise.

Pastels

I’m just loving the way they look in contrast to my skin at the moment.

My Suggestions: China Glaze-Refresh Mint, Lemon Fizz; OPI-Lucky Lucky Lavender

Oh and my big No-No at the moment: Pink nail polish! For some reason I just can’t seem to bring myself to wear it!

Splatter Paint Nails!

2010-03-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

This is a much requested video whether it be through my formspring.me account or just through regular emails and messages. I finally had the time and had acquired all the tools to pull this off and here is what I came up with!

But...it was a very messy process!

Sorry for the lack of posts...

2010-03-19T18:53:00.001-07:00

New Job, New Friends, it's all a bit overwhelming. I should be posting more regularly in the upcoming future so please stay tuned to this site for more nails, nails, nails!

Eyeko ‘Pastel Polish For Nice Nails’ Review

2010-03-03T08:44:00.000-08:00

If you’ve read the title then you may be wondering what I am doing reviewing another Eyeko nail polish. Well, this actually a limited edition product which I figure at least deserved a little bit of my time and a few pictures. The color is beautiful, a baby blue with a seafoam green duochrome effect. The color is light enough that one coat would leave you with a sheer light nail but, if you bump it up to three coats, you have a nearly opaque baby blue. This color reminds me very much of spring which I can’t wait for!

My complaint, you may wonder? I absolutely despise the brush and handle and I fear that the polish will dry out very quickly since the mouth of the bottle is very large. Of one thing I’m certain, air+polish in bottle=thick goopey mess.

Onto the Pictures!

The Duochrome-y goodness

The Brush

The wide mouth of the bottle

1 coat

3coats

What do you think of this color?

Ransom Note/Message Nail Art

2010-02-27T22:05:00.000-08:00

I’ve been a bit sick for the past few days which I am pretty sure is thanks to my new job—being around a lot of new people usually does this to me—so when I went to make my tutorial today I wanted something that wasn’t all too difficult but was still pretty, fun, and unique. I was recently asked about nail decals and while I don’t have any of those on hand, this design sort of incorporates the techniques that you would need in decal application. Moving along...
This design resembles a ransom note—now, I haven’t personally seen a ransom note (thank goodness) however I’m sure that we’ve all seen the generic cutout letter ransom note that movies and television shows depict.

I first went through and painted my nails a nice dark navy color (Zoya’s Ibiza) and then let them dry completely. Next, I went through and cut out some works and letters that I liked from an older magazine that I had lying around; this was the fun part. I then applied top coat to my nails (Seche Vite) and then went about sticking on my words.

I really think that this design is fun and gives the wearer a bit of freedom to be as creative as you they can be! I hope you all enjoy this one—let me know what you think in the comments!

Products Used:
Nail Magic Nail Hardener
Seche Clear
Zoya—Ibiza
Seche Vite
An old Gourmet magazine!

Pictures:

All Nail and Cosmetics

China Glaze Eye Candy 3-D Glitter Collection! Swatches!

Blog Sale!

Orly Holiday Soiree Collection Swatches

China Glaze Let it Snow Giveaway Winner!

***Closed! Winner announced tomorrow! 12/2*** China Glaze Let it Snow Giveaway!

Nail Inc. Autumn Color Collection Giveaway Winner!

***CLOSED**** Nails Inc. Autumn Color Collection Giveaway

Julep Maven Program/Polish Review/Discount Code

OPI BCA Giveaway Winner!

A little Dior...

Essie Breast Cancer Giveaway Winner!

***CLOSED*** Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway: OPI Pink of Hearts 2011

Nails Inc. Autumn Color Collection Swatches/Review

Color Club Beyond the Mistletoe Collection --Swatches and Review-- Holiday 2011

***Closed Winner Announced 10/22*** Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway: Essie

The winner is... (China Glaze/Seche BCA Giveaway)

China Glaze Let it Snow Collection 2011! (Part two)

China Glaze Let it Snow Collection 2011! Review and Swatches (Part One)

The Slim Silhouette Manicure Fashion Week Spring 2012

Color Club Backstage Pass Collection Swatches/Review!

Essie Cocktail Bling Giveaway Winner!

*** CLOSED Winner announced tomorrow! China Glaze/Seche Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway

Revlon Facets of Fuchsia and Blue Mosaic Swatches and Review

Essie Cocktail Bling Collection Swatches

***CLOSED*** Winner announced 10/8! Essie Winter Collection Giveaway!

Incoco Nail Polish Applique

Color Club 'Covered in Diamonds'

China Glaze Haunting Collection Giveaway Winner!

Essie is on sale!

China Glaze Haunting Swatches!

Zoya Giveaway Winner!

***CLOSED*** Zoya Color Lock System Giveaway! (winner announced Monday)

A few of my favorite things!

Urban Decay Giveaway Winner!

***CLOSED*** Urban Decay and a Giveaway!

Apothica Giveaway Winner!

Stila Cosmetics! and a Giveaway! CLOSED!

The winner is...

Ever heard of Birchbox? Gift-Away! CLOSED!

My recent favorites...

Huge Savings!

Blogs I love!

New Goodies! Portugal Swap

New Year, New Deal!

Oscar Blandi Pronto Colore Root Touch-Up and Highlighting Pen

Candy Cane Nails!

3 Quick and Easy Halloween Nail Designs

Go Nails Product Review

3 Different Halloween Nail Art Tutorials

More Swatches...

Rescue Beauty Lounge 'Ani'

***Coupon Alert***

Need Nail Art Supplies?

Peacock Feather(esque) Nails

Birthday Cupcake Nails

Ginger and Liz 'Ivy League'

Gold and Silver Glitter Gradient

An International Polish Swap!

GINGER and LIZ Nail Polish Review

Review: Seche Ultra V Top Coat

Nautical Nails

If you shop online, you should be using Ebates!

4th of July Nails!

Miu Miu Swallow Print Nails

Piano Key Nails

Spring Polish Favorites!

Splatter Paint Nails!

Sorry for the lack of posts...

Eyeko ‘Pastel Polish For Nice Nails’ Review

Ransom Note/Message Nail Art

Closed! Winner announced tomorrow! 12/2 China Glaze Let it Snow Giveaway!

*CLOSED** Nails Inc. Autumn Color Collection Giveaway

CLOSED Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway: OPI Pink of Hearts 2011

Closed Winner Announced 10/22 Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway: Essie

CLOSED Winner announced 10/8! Essie Winter Collection Giveaway!

CLOSED Zoya Color Lock System Giveaway! (winner announced Monday)

CLOSED Urban Decay and a Giveaway!

Coupon Alert