October 31, 2011

OPI Holland Spring Collection Preview!


New OPI collection- always exciting!!! I can't wait for Vampsterdam, Wooden Shoe Like To Know?, and I Have a Herring Problem!! Which ones are you looking forward to?


Color with a Touch of Dutch


OPI Launches Holland Collection for Spring/Summer 2012


OPI celebrates color with the Holland Collection for Spring/Summer 2012. Inspired by the country’s range of stunning shades – as seen in vivid tulips, windmill-dotted hillsides and bustling canals – the collection’s twelve shades offer a mixture of sophisticated neutrals and highly-pigmented brights. 
“Holland has a very unique, vibrant beauty to match its open-minded nature,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “Spring is the season of color, and the Holland Collection provides an array of pink, coral and orange hues that capture this energy. The bright lacquers are married with neutrals in new variations like red clay and sea green.”
            A sequence of electric brights, including a sun-lit orange (A Roll in The Hague), a hot coral-red (Red Lights Ahead…Where?) and two perfectly pretty pinks (Kiss Me on My Tulips and a light-catching Pedal Faster Suzi!) complement their cooler counterparts in hues of glistening purple (Dutch Ya Just Love OPI? and Vampsterdam), while elegant neutrals (Gouda Gouda Two Shoes, Did You ear About Van Gogh? and Wooden Shoe Like to Know?) meet two shimmer-laced blues (I Have a Herring Problem and I Don’t Give a Rotterdam!) and a creamy sea green (Thanks a WindMillion).
“Wearing these colors on fingers and toes will accessorize the season’s hottest trends,” remarks Suzi. “The varied palette of colors accentuates the looks that walked the runway, from colored pants and ladylike frocks to long, blousy-sleeved tops and dramatic patterns.”
            Holland by OPI includes the following shades:


A Roll in The Hague
Take advantage of this frisky little orange.

Red Lights Ahead…Where?
This coral-packed red is the hottest in the district.

Kiss Me on My Tulips
A smooch-worthy shade of hot pink.

Pedal Faster Suzi!
This pink lavender shimmer will have you “wheeling.”

Dutch ’Ya Just Love OPI?
All of Holland hollers for this crowd-pleasing plum.


Vampsterdam
A deep purple for a divine diva.

Did You ’ear About Van Gogh?
Rumor has it…this sandy bisque is a work of art.


Thanks a WindMillion
You totally deserve this breezy sea green.

Wooden Shoe Like to Know?
It’s no secret…everybody loves this shimmery chocolate-brown.


I Have Herring Problem
What’s that you say? I need to “sea” this shimmery green-blue?

I Don’t Give a Rotterdam!
This sassy steal-blue shimmer means business!


Gouda Gouda Two Shoes
Take a walk on the wild side with this robust rose.

Holland Collection nail lacquer shades contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and each includes OPI’s exclusive ProWideBrush for the ultimate in application.
Holland Collection by OPI will be available February 8, 2012, at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $8.50 ($9.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer.

            For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become aFacebook fan!

Happy Halloween!!


Just a quick post today, I'm swamped with work this week. In fact, my Zoya post never made it up yesterday!! I took all of the pictures, but ended up with no time for cropping pictures or writing the actual post! Never fear, I'll hopefully have that up by Wednesday!


I wanted to show you what I actually decided to wear for Halloween today. I used NYC Pumpkin and NYC Blackula for the alternating orange and black nails. Then, I did two coats of the beautiful Lynnderella Cauldron Drippings. Cute, right? I love how Cauldron Drippings looks over black!


 Do you have any plans for tonight? I went to a costume party on Saturday night, so tonight I'll just be handing out candy and watching Hocus Pocus for the nine millionth time!!


I might also play with the make-up I got the other day!! These are a few items from MAC's Holiday collection, Glitter and Ice. Aren't the silver boxes pretty? I'll have swatches up later this week!



NYC Pumpkin and NYC Blackula were sent to me for review by a PR agent for NYC. For more information, please read my Disclosure Policy.

October 29, 2011

Happy Halloween from Zoya!!



As usual, Zoya made an adorable video for the holiday! Just wanted to share it with you all! The colors in the video are Zoya Raven (black) and Zoya Tanzy (orange).

Sally Hansen Ghoulie Girl Salon Effects!!



So a lot of us were really excited for the Sally Hansen Halloween Salon Effects. As it turned out, I only ended up finding Ghoulie Girl (today's NOTD) and Numbskull. And, I only found one of each at a CVS, no back-ups. The whole collection is available online at Ulta.com, but I just somehow never got around to ordering. Anyway, I'm wearing Ghoulie Girl today, as I'm going to a Halloween costume party tonight!!


These pictures make the orange ghosts seem a little patchy looking, but to my naked eye, they just look orange! These nail polish strips were really easy to apply and my whole manicure was finished and dry in about 15 minutes! Gotta love that. I did put a top coat over these because I intend to wear them for awhile. 


I'm really starting to become obsessed with Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail polish strips. They're super easy to work with. I think they're easier than some brands because they are so thin and flexible. If you warm them up in your hands, they get to be even more flexible too, which means no bumps or weird patches upon application.

On another note.... as I took these pictures of my Halloween-themed nails, it was pouring snow. Yea... snow. I am so mad that it's snowing this early in the season, you have no idea. Earthquakes, hurricanes, snow in October... CONNECTICUT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?????

Sally Hansen Halloween Salon Effects are available online at Ulta.com.


October 27, 2011

Nicole by OPI Holiday Glitters Part Two: The Awesome-fest Continues!!



Hello ladies and gents!! As I type this, I am all pumped up for two reasons. One, I finally got my Halloween costume today!! I'm going to a costume party Saturday and wanted to get something cute. I settled on a purple and black witch costume with a tutu LOL. The second thing I'm excited about is the rest of the Nicole by OPI Holiday Glitters! Today I tried out My Sleigh's In The Shop and Snow-Man of My Dreams.


My Sleigh's In The Shop is a beautiful red-purple fine glitter polish. It has a clear base, but easily achieves full opacity with two thick coats or three thin coats (just like the first two Nicole by OPI Holiday Glitters). My pictures were taken today in the pouring rain, so I'm sorry for the rain drops. Also, the cloudy sky makes this polish look cooler-toned than it is. It is more of a red-purple than a blue-based purple.


The formula of My Sleigh's In The Shop was nice and easy to work with. No bald spots or any problems at all!! This color is really gorgeous too, a MUST HAVE for a purple lover like myself!


I wanted Snow-Man of My Dreams as soon as I saw the promo pictures. The glitter in this polish is small glitter, but it's not as fine as the glitter in the other three in this collection. It is mostly blue glitter in a clear base, with pink, silver, orange and maybe some gold pieces mixed in. The effect of the different colors in a mostly blue polish is really cool. 


 I think people had hoped this would be an OPI Absolutely Alice dupe, but it isn't. I will compare them, but Snow-Man has slightly larger glitter and a more multi-colored appearance. I *gasp* might like it BETTER THAN ABSOLUTELY ALICE *gasp*.


This one applied nicely too. It took three thin to medium coats for opacity.

Overall, all four of these polishes are AMAZING! If you LOVE glitter, you need all four. If you like glitter, but can only get two of these, my picks would be Snow-Man Of My Dreams and Glitter In My Stocking. But again, I recommend all four LOL. These will be available in November for $7.99 each in the U.S. at HEB, Sears, Stage Stores, select Target locations, Target.com, and ULTA. In Canada, lacquers will be retailed for $10.99 each in Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaw and Zellers.


These polishes were sent to me for review by a PR agent for Nicole by OPI. For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy


OPI and Nicki Minaj Preview!!

I'm pretty pumped about this announcement! I love Nicki Minaj's crazy style!! Also, Save Me?!?!?????? Wow!







"OPI Partners with Platinum Recording Artist Nicki Minaj to Launch Limited Edition Lacquers




                OPI announces the launch of six new limited edition shades inspired by hip hop sensation Nicki Minaj, including a purple Shatter!  Inspired by Minaj’s unique style, love of bright colors, and her debut album Pink Friday, theNicki Minaj by OPI promotion will feature an array of bold hues, from neon lime green to pink.
 “OPI is so excited to work with Nicki in releasing these six new nail lacquers,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “Nicki has taken the hip hop world by storm, but her music is only part of the equation. She’s also become a fashion inspiration, noted for her daring costumes and hair color both on and off the stage.”
Nicki’s eclectic look made including a new hue in OPI’s bestselling Shatter coat a must for this collaboration. The purple Super Bass Shatter (a record-setting purple that “shatters” before your eyes) is inspired by graffiti art and works when painted over any dry OPI hue. Adding top coat takes Super Bass Shatter from matte to glossy in seconds.
The line features five nail lacquers in addition to Super Bass Shatter, ranging from fantastic pink, rainbow confetti glitter and charcoal sparkle hues to two green shades in lime and teal:


Super Bass Shatter



Pink Friday
Kick off the weekend with this pop! of bubblegum pink.


Metallic 4 Life
This charcoal sparkle flies with the stars in the skies.


Save Me
I drove for miles just to find this silver-rainbow glitter.


Fly
I came to win, to fight…and to wear this aqua.


Did It On ‘Em 
A lusty little lacquer that loves the “lime”-light.


Nicki Minaj by OPI nail lacquers contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide Brush for the ultimate in application. This limited edition promotion will be available beginning January 2012 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for  $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter@OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!"

Dr.'s Remedy Fall Fever 2011 Preview!





Dr.'s REMEDY FALL FEVER 2011
Autumn Allure Like Never Before


Fall 2011 will be fierce: leaves will change, for sure, and temps will follow suit. But the real news relates to the hues of this season. Indeed, we're revolutionarily-ready to welcome a crisper, cleaner, clearer collection of colors, kudos to Dr.'s REMEDYinsight and excitement over autumn. These hues celebrate the season that screams renewal: a rich bordeaux; a modern burgundy; a navy-meets-royal blue. We welcome you to invite your nails to dance in Dr.'s REMEDY FALL FEVER 2011.

The vibrant shade collection of Enriched Nail Polish includes:
DEFENSE Deep Red: A rich bordeaux with a mystifying matte finish
NOBEL Navy: A sea-at-dusk shade that reflects light and brings dimension to tips and toes alike
BALANCE Brick: A modern maroon with body and balance      
            
Dr.'s REMEDY Enriched Nail Polish is $17 and available for purchase online at

Dr.'s REMEDY is a line of doctor-inspired cosmetics that is dedicated to using clean, hypo-allergenic ingredients. The birth-child of two New York-based podiatrists, Dr. Adam Cirlincione and Dr. William Spielfogel, Dr.'s REMEDY proves quintessentially-perfect for any person looking to better the condition of her skin and nails; their Enriched Nail Polish is the first-ever nail polish on the market approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Dr.'s REMEDY is sold online atwww.remedynails.com or by calling 1-877-323-NAIL. 

October 24, 2011

You NEED These: Nicole by OPI Holiday Glitters Part One!!




I was excited when I saw the promo pictures for the Nicole by OPI Holiday Glitters. I figured, "Hey, they're called Holiday Glitters. That means they have glitter, so they'll probably be cool!". Well, they are more than cool, they are STUNNING!!!! I tried two of these beauties this morning and now have two new favorite polishes!


First up we have Orna-ment For Each Other, a beautiful red glitter with gold glitter pieces. These glitters in these polishes are all the same size, all small round glitter pieces. This is my favorite kind of glitter polish, small pieces packed into a clear or lightly tinted base and able to achieve full opacity. I LOVE how Nicole by OPI included the gold glitter in this red. It saves it from being just another red glitter at the holidays. Because of the gold glitter, this is different from any other red glitter in my collection. The gold pieces are REALLY shiny and eye-catching, as you can see in my macro shot.


I used three thin coats for full coverage here. You could also do two thicker coats (as I show you with the next polish). This applied nice and evenly, with no bald spots whatsoever. Surprisingly, it didn't eat top coat too badly either!



AGHBSIHREUBNKJWIIIILO!!! OMG. I put this baby on and texted EK (former co-author of this blog!) "Nicole by OPI Glitter In My Stocking. You need it." Glitter In My Stocking is gold glitter with red glitter pieces, so kind of the opposite of Orna-ment For Each Other. WOW, this looks amazing on!


The gold glitter in this is so shiny (again, like Orna-ment for Each Other)! I don't know where they found this glitter, but it's the sparkliest glitter I've ever seen! The red glitter adds a pebbled look and I really just love it! It's amazing how different a gold glitter can look when you add just a bit of red glitter.


This time I did two thicker coats for full coverage. You see it amounts to the same look, nice and opaque. Glitter In My Stocking applies nicely as well, again, no bald spots. I took an excessive amount of picture here, but I really loved how this looked!



 I tried to make my pointer finger blurry in the above picture, so you could see the sparkliness!



I can't wait to try the other two polishes in this collection, I think I'll love them if they're like these two. So far, Nicole by OPI has my favorite release for this holiday season!!! I am just obsessed with these two glitters and I honestly will wear them year round. Stay tuned for Snow-man of My Dreams, a blue-multi glitter, and My Sleigh's In The Shop, a fuchsia glitter.

Nicole by OPI Holiday Glitters will be available in November for $7.99 each in the U.S. at HEB, Sears, Stage Stores, select Target locations, Target.com, and ULTA. In Canada, lacquers will be retailed for $10.99 each in Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaw and Zellers. And by the way, Target.com also has Nicole by OPI Green Up Your Act, which I am currently sporting on my toes and loving!!

These polishes were sent to me for review by a PR agent for Nicole by OPI. For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy

October 23, 2011

OPI Revamps iPhone App!




"Virtually App-ly Color!

OPI Revamps iPhone Application with New Visuals, Greater Speed and More Colors


OPI announces the re-launch of the OPI Application for the iPhone® and iPod Touch®.  The updated OPI App continues to offer an easy, free way to browse and search over 200 OPI nail lacquer shades – now at faster speeds.  The Try It On Color Studio continues to provide a look at all current OPI shades, while the search feature now incorporates retired shades, allowing users to view past favorites and information about the year in which those hues were retired.
The updated OPI App also includes higher resolution images to further enhance visual displays. In addition to running faster, the application now has the capability to wait in the background while other programs are used, namely Facebook. This feature gives users the option to check OPI’s Facebook page without having to leave the OPI App.
“The improved OPI App gives fans the chance to try on lacquers easier than before. The App’s Try it on Studio has been hugely popular, and we are happy to improve upon and expand it. It’s a great resource when choosing your lacquer at the salon, since you can get an idea of how a color looks on your hand before committing,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “The portable nature of the OPI App makes it easy to take while shopping and choose a lacquer shade to accessorize any new dress, top or jacket right there in the store!”


The OPI App also includes a search bar with word prompt technology; after typing just a few letters, any possible options will be proffered. Since its original debut, the App has added a sort-by-collection feature, highlighting current collections and promotions so that users will know what’s new to the brand. The App even lets users select favorites, storing lacquer choices for future reference.
The OPI App is available at Apple.com and is free to download. This application works with all iPhone and iPod Touch devices running software update iOS 5.
For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com.  Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!"

I like the idea of having this with you when you're shopping! I wish there was a feature to catalog your OPI collection though. I could use that so I don't buy a color I already own LOL!

October 22, 2011

Halloween Patchwork with Born Pretty Store Crystals!


Today I did my first creative Halloween manicure of the season. I attempted patchwork nails for the first time AND used these amazingly beautiful Swarovski Crystals I received from Born Pretty Store! I think it turned out pretty well and I am definitely going to do this again in the future.


To create my patchwork nails, I simply started with two coats of NYC Pumpkin. After NYC Pumpkin was completely dry, I used Scotch tape to section off 1/4th of each nail. I painted this black using Knockout Cosmetics Flatte Black. When that section was dry, I removed the tape and sectioned off another 1/4th of each nail to paint black. This process is fairly easy, and I did learn a couple things to make it easier in the future. First, I really should have used a very fast drying top coat (such as Seche Vite). This would have made the process faster, and would have spared me a few of the mess-ups in the polish. Second, I really should have waited longer in between each step!


 Even considering the few mistakes here, I loved this look in person! I think it was made really special by the application of Born Pretty Store's Swarovski Crystals. They are gorgeous!!! These crystals are flat-backed, so they are perfect for nail art. To adhere these to my nails, I simply picked up each crystals with a pair of tweezers and applied a dot of top coat to the back. I pressed the crystal down on my nail and then added a coat of top coat over the whole nail. For a longer lasting look, I'm sure you could use nail glue.


I'm impressed with the quality of these crystals. They're so blingy and shiny in person, it's crazy! I've seen some crystals that don't shine, but these really catch the light well. Born Pretty Store sells these very inexpensively too, 144 of these are only $6.61!!! I got one of the smaller sizes, either ss9 or ss10, and I think they are perfect for nail art.


Never fear, for I will be using these gorgeous crystals in many a look coming up! Can you imagine how great these will be for the holidays? I really want to order the orange and peridot colored crystals too. I don't know yet how I would use them, any ideas? Check out Born Pretty Store's full selection of crystals here, it's pretty amazing. Born Pretty Store has tons of other cool nail art supplies as well, so give the site a look if you haven't yet!

NYC Pumpkin and Swarovski Crystals were sent to me for review by a PR agent for NYC and Born Pretty Store, respectively. For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy.