NOTD: Formula X for Sephora Freaky Like Freud

Next my nubbins were graced with Freaky Like Freud from the Brilliants collection of Formula X for Sephora:

Of course, something this sparkly and holographic and basically AWESOME, I had to do a polish in motion for:  

So, obviously I loved this polish, what do you think of this color?  It actually is a very pale lavender, although with all the holo sparkle it comes off silver; here's a comparison betweem it and Hubba Hubble (the actual silver from the Brilliants collection):

Thanks for reading =)

~Colette

NOTD: Anise Cosmic Kiss

After I chopped my nails I needed sparkles to make me feel better, so I wore a succession of really beautiful polishes, the first of which was Anise Cosmic Kiss - the Anise brand is available at DSW of all places:

The inner fire and subtle holo finish of this polish didn't show up like I wanted it to in pictures, so I did a Polish in Motion for it:

Sooo pretty!  I really enjoyed having this on my tiny nubbins.  They've since grown out of course, but I'm trying to keep them on the shorter side (for me) for a couple of reasons - one of which is in an effort to minimize breaks which is so far a fail; I think I could get a break at any length I am such a clutz LOL.

I've got such a backlog, both from earlier this year & from last year, I could probably do a post a day for the next year & not be caught up.  I don't know if I can actually follow through on that, but I plan to try!  Day two:  check!

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: Formula X for Sephora Hocus Pocus

Another from the Formula X for Sephora line, this is one of their holos; not the strongest holographic effect that I've ever seen, when compared to something like the OMG collection or some of my Layla's, but still a nice rainbow flash - this is Hocus Pocus:

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: Layla Jade Groove

Moving right along ... not quite as quickly as I'd like, but quicker than I've managed recently LOL so I guess I shouldn't complain.  Another holo - apparently I was on a kick - this one is actually a very light green but it's hard to tell in most of the lighting, you just see the holo effect.  This is Jade Groove:

And here's a look at it in motion:

I'm not only enjoying editing my old manicure pics - I'm enjoying all the pics I'm finding while digging through them =)  Here's a bonus pic of Dude looking very alert & serious:

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

NOTD: Layla Hologram Effect Ocean Rush

Another gorgeous Layla holo - Ocean Rush is probably the most vibrant blue holo in my collection.  China Glaze DV8 is close but leans more teal, this is a deep turquoise touched kind of blue & I loved wearing it:

Here's a look in motion:

Thanks for reading =)

~Colette

NOTD: Layla Hologram Effect Flash Black

Ironic to be posting an old holo manicure as I'm wearing one of my new holos =)  (I'm enjoying Color Club Miss Bliss currently, if you're wondering)

Layla is a bit on the expensive side, but if you love holographic polish they're worth adding to your collection I think.  Here's a look at Flash Black:

And an even better look - in motion:

I wish it were still as nice out as when I shot this vid back in the summer - if I do a polish in motion for my current color I'm going to end up with pretty cold fingers LOL.

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

The Haul Post

Usually for hauls I'll do a vid, and then I'll do some close-up pics with whatever info I forgot to mention in the vid - because no matter how thorough I think I'm being I always forget something. But most of these I never got around to bottle pics, or if I did I never go around to editing them, and at this point I don't think I'm going to ... so if you're interested to see any of these polishes before they get full manicure posts, the vids are it ... pick & choose as you will because there are kind of a lot LOL.  I've also included the related swatch videos and/or polish in motion vids that I've finished, although there are others I still would like to do.

This vid is mainly on the China Glaze Prismatic Chroma Glitter collection - I still haven't gotten around to swatching the Nabis that I mention at the end:



Big Lots is of course one of my favorite places for discounted polish, and I really enjoyed getting these glitters from Michael's - even though so far all I've done is gaze adoringly at them:



The gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS Layla Hologram effect polishes:



If you do want to see more of that awesomeness I've got 4 polish in motions so far, for Flash Black, Ocean Rush, and Jade Groove & Mercury Twilight which are quite similar -  full posts for these still upcoming:






I always look forward to Zoya's Earth Day sale - I'm already looking forward to the next one LOL although I'm sure there will be other good sales before then =)



A few colors from the OPI Spiderman collection:



Many  of you probably already know that Just Spotted the Lizard is a dupe for Chanel Peridot:



A gigantic Big Lots haul of Revlon polishes, along with a decent serving of DSW's Anise brand:



My first haul of the initial 5 Orly Flash Glam FX glitters:



Another bucketful of glitter, this batch from the Dollar Tree:



My unexpected birthday haul including the Essie Mirror Metallic collection:



Revlon's Moon Candy flakies from Walgreens:



And swatches - so hard to capture flakies on camera but I tried:




And to end on a bang, the crown jewel of all these hauls as well as my most recent (well, except for the ones I just bought & haven't recorded yet!), my prize for winning Orly's Flash Glam FX contest - the entire 22 glitters, plus the Fired Up collection - awesomeness, awesomeness & more awesomeness:



I've done polish in motion vids for Sunglasses at Night & Be Brave, as well as 2 swatch videos on these so far - and I would like to do another set of swatches, with no base and/or complimentary base colors.  Not sure when that will happen but coming eventually =)






So, that's it ... for now ;)

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

The Evolution of Zoya Paz + Tiger Stripes Tutorial

OK, don't faint - it's a weekday post =)

Zoya Paz is an awesome bright orange, next thing to being a neon, and a very stand out color all on its own - the camera does not do it justice.  These pics are old enough that I can't remember how in the world I managed the gouge on my index finger LOL:

I decided to amp it up even further with a coat of Nails Inc Electric Lane:

And then after a day I decided to try my hand with some freehand tiger stripes.  I used black acrylic paint for the stripes:

Here's the tutorial:

I was really quite pleased with how everything came out.  Before that I'd always just gone with stamping but I think I'll try some more freehand animal print in the future.

Thanks for reading.

~Colette

The Evolution of OPI DS Temptation

So, let's get some nail pics on this polish blog, eh?  I know it's been a while.

OPI DS Temptation is one of the most recent additions to the Designer Series.  & while they're not as holographically awesome as many of the original colors, it's still a blurple glittergasm & a totally gorgeous polish:

I could have & should have left well enough alone but after a day or 2 I thought I would add some stamping with Komad image plate m69 - I don't know WTF was going on with my white stamping polish, but this is how it turned out - just a patchy mess, worse than it shows up in pics, and not my best job at matching edges either:

Not cool.  Not cool at all - especially late at night without time for a complete change.  So I attempted to cover it all up, using Zoya Izzy, from their 2011 Gems & Jewels Holiday collection:

I didn't quite get the coverage I was looking for after a couple of coats, so I attempted further camouflage with OPI Servin' Up Sparkle, from one of the Serena Williams duos that I picked up a while ago:

& while I wasn't quite happy with it that way either, by that time it was too late & I just kind of gave up LOL.  Needless to say the next day I soaked the whole mess off & found something simple & awesome to replace it with ... which I'll share with you soon =)

Thanks for reading.

~Colette