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May 31, 2014

Coca-Cola by OPI Coming Soon on Never Enough Nails!

OPI Partners with The Coca-Cola Company to Release New Limited Edition Nail Lacquers

OPI announces the launch of nine new limited edition nail lacquers inspired by some of the most recognized brands of The Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola by OPI offers a range of colors and hues representing everything from classic red for Coca-Cola to metallic silver for Diet Coke, dark red and black for Coke Zero, black cherry for Cherry Coke, cream and warm pink for Vanilla Coke, shimmering citrus green for Sprite and glitter-packed orange and deep purple for Fanta Orange and Fanta Grape.
“I have always believed that wearing nail lacquer can change your look – and your outlook,” remarks Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Co-Founder & Executive VP.  “Both OPI and Coca-Cola truly deliver happiness in a bottle to consumers looking for an iconic product of the highest quality. The nine shades in this collection represent not only bestselling Coca-Cola Company products, but also the styles of the women who enjoy them – from classic and glamorous to hip and trendy!”
Coca-Cola by OPI includes:
Coca-Cola Red (inspired by Coca-Cola)
Classic red – always in style, always perfect.



You’re So Vain-illa (inspired by Vanilla Coke)
I bet you think this creamy nude is all about you.

Sorry I’m Fizzy Today (inspired by Vanilla Coke)
Do Not Disturb…I’m enjoying this creamy, smooth pink.
Get Cherried Away (inspired by Cherry Coke)
Seriously, this black cherry is over-the-top gorgeous!


My Signature is “DC” (inspired by Diet Coke)
My initial impression? This shimmery silver is just “write!”

Today I Accomplished Zero (inspired by Coke Zero)
Dramatic black with effervescent red sparkle is a total must-do.
Green on the Runway (inspired by Sprite)
This uncut-lime green makes a real fashion statement.



A Grape Affair (inspired by Fanta Grape)
Make a big to-do in this deepest, darkest purple.

Orange You Fantastic! (inspired by Fanta Orange)
Glitter to the max in this juicy orange explosion!


The Coca-Cola 10 Pack of Style is a set featuring eight shades (Coca-Cola Red, You’re So Vain-illa, Sorry I’m Fizzy Today, Get Cherried Away, My Signature is “DC,” Today I Accomplished Zero, Green on the Runway and A Grape Affair) in mini bottles along with a miniOPI Top Coat and a mini OPI Original Nail Envy.
Coca-Cola by OPI will be available in both nail lacquer and GelColor formulas beginning June 2014. Nail lacquer shades each featureOPI’s exclusive ProWide Brush and will retail for $9.00 ($10.95 CAN)  at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, beautybrands.com, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, jcp Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, ULTA and ulta.com.  The 10 Pack of Style mini pack will retail for $24.95 ($29.95 CAN). GelColor is an in-salon, professional service only. Prices depend on the salon and range from $28 - $38 for a manicure and $35 - $45 for a pedicure.
“We are thrilled to partner with OPI – a brand that, like Coca-Cola, exudes optimism,” says Kate Dwyer, Group Director, Worldwide Licensing, The Coca-Cola Company. “It gives us another opportunity engage an important trendsetting audience and help further build favorability for our brands.”
For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter and Instagram @OPI_PRODUCTS, become a Facebook fan, and share Coca-Cola inspired manicures using the hashtag #OPICokeStyle.

About OPI
As the world leader in the professional nail care industry, OPI is committed to providing high-quality products and services to both salons and their customers, along with a focus on industry safety and innovation. Known for its exceptional formula, fashionable colors and iconic names, OPI’s heavily-pigmented lacquers are super rich, long-lasting and chip-resistant – offering an affordable luxury to consumers. OPI introduced color in 1989, rebranding the nail category. Today, OPI nail lacquer is available in over 200 shades. Each lacquer features OPI’s exclusive ProWide Brush for the ultimate in application, as well as a trademarked, iconic bottle and ergonomic cap. Currently, OPI is available in over 100 countries and offers a full line of professional items, including nail treatments, finishing products, lotions, manicure/pedicure products, files, tools and acrylics. In addition, OPI offers more than 100 GelColor shades.  With over 30 patents, OPI remains at the forefront of research and development in the nail care industry, setting new trends in both color and texture. OPI places a strong emphasis on corporate social responsibility by raising funds and awareness for numerous charities through retail partnerships and grassroots philanthropic initiatives.

About The Coca-Cola Company:
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands.  Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company's portfolio features 16 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle.  Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks.  Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.9 billion servings a day.  With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate.  Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates.  For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.

May 29, 2014

China Glaze At Vase Value

 *Purchased by me*

I'm behind with China Glaze collections! I haven't even swatched all of my picks from the spring City Flourish collection and the summer Off Shore collection is out in some places already! I better hurry up, haha. My NOTD today is China Glaze At Vase Value from the City Flourish collection. This was one of those polishes I knew immediately I had to have. At Vase Value is a gorgeous pastel blue creme. It is a bit brighter than my pictures show, my pictures make it look a little washed out. It's pastel, but it manages to be bright at the same time. It gives me lobster hands in the pictures, but in person it's actually very flattering.


At Vase Value doesn't have the greatest formula in the universe. It has a tendency to streak, so definitely use the absolute minimum number of brushstrokes you can and wait for each coat to dry completely before doing the next coat. I used three coats for these pictures, one thinner first coat and two thicker coats. The end result is pretty streak-free, so that's good news!

*Purchased by me*

Overall, I love this color! It's gorgeous and different from other pastel blues I own. I am willing to work with the slightly streak prone formula and will definitely be wearing this a lot. The China Glaze City Flourish collection is available now.

May 27, 2014

OPI Full Size Neons Swatches!!

*Sent for review*

I wear neon polish almost exclusively in the summer. It is really rare to find me without a neon either on my nails, toes, or both in July and August. There's something so happy and carefree about neon polish. I was THRILLED to hear that OPI was releasing 6 new full size neon polishes (the first full size OPI neons ever) AND adding them to the permanent OPI line-up. I have swatches of the six polishes for you today. OPI suggests you wear a white base polish with these to make them pop and so they also released OPI Put a Coat On!, a white base to be worn under brights. I failed to take pictures of Put a Coat On! alone, but it is a very good white. Streak-free and opaque in two coats. I actually have a friend who got it to be perfect in one coat, so that's pretty amazing. The first OPI neon I swatched is OPI Juice Bar Hopping, a bright juicy orange. I sometimes find that neon oranges veer into the chalky traffic cone color, but this is more of a clean orange, maybe with a hint of red.


This is two coats of Juice Bar Hopping over two coats of Put a Coat On!. I found this one to be a little prone to pooling in the cuticle area, so just don't load up your brush too much. Otherwise, it was fairly easy to work with and went on smoothly over the white.



OPI Life Gave Me Lemons is one of my favorites in this collection. I would have called it "Life Gave Me Lemons and I added a hint of lime" because it definitely has a neon lime tinge to it. This is a really unique shade, that kind of yellowy-green color I love, made super bright. It's brighter in person than my pictures show and more in your face. I think the brightness confused my camera, because it looks washed out. I think this is the most unique shade in the collection and if you love yellows, greens and weird-ish colors, you NEED this. I am not remotely tan, but I bet this would be amazing with a tan. You'll have to let me know, as I don't think Casper the See-Through Ghost can get a tan.


Life Gave Me Lemons had a great formula, I had no trouble with it at all. This is two coats over two coats of Put a Coat On!. As you can see, it is streak-free and smooth. I tried this one on a nail alone, without the white base, and you could get it to be opaque in 2-3 coats. It is not a neon without the white base, but it is a pretty cool color.



Next up is OPI Hotter Than You Pink, a shimmery hot blue-tinged pink. In person, it almost looks like the shimmer is slightly blue and it looks really pretty. At first I thought this might not be the most unique shade, but I actually can't find anything similar in my collection. I can't wait to wear this on my toes!


This is two coats over two coats of the white base. This had an excellent formula, really smooth. The added shimmer always makes polish so buttery! You can see in the picture below how this color just glows, even in the shade.



I have a tie for my second favorite of this collection, between OPI You Are So Outta Lime! and the next polish. You Are So Outta Lime! is a bright lime, yet maybe a little mintier than lime, green. This is another shade that glows, although I'm not sure this one is a true neon. It's super bright though and I absolutely LOVE the color. It's not at all close to anything else I have (I looked at it next to several things). China Glaze Highlight of My Summer is mintier and chalkier, China Glaze Grass Is Lime Greener has more white in the base and is much much more yellow, OPI Green-wich Village is more green and way less vibrant. As a green lover, this unique bright green is definitely a must have for me.


This is (again) two coats over two coats of the white base. Good formula, not as buttery as Hotter Than You Pink, but I didn't really have any complaints.



OPI Down to the Core-al is tied for second place for my favorites of this collection. Down to the Core-al is a shimmery neon orange-y coral. It was hard to photograph accurately. It leans a little more pink than these pictures might suggest. It's kind of like an orange-y pink base with pinky shimmer. I think it looks to red in my pictures. It GLOWS like something radioactive, and that's always the kind of polish that makes cameras freak out. Down to the Core-al is really gorgeous and absolutely perfect for summer toes.


I think I used three thin coats of this one over two coats of the white base. It may have been my own personal malfunction though, but the first coat seemed very streaky and uneven. It was opaque enough after two coats, but still seemed a little uneven so I added a third. 



Finally we have OPI Push & Pur-pull, a bright purple. This leans a little pink, rather than leaning blue, making it look warmer. This shade is really gorgeous and flattering on me, I'll definitely be wearing it a lot! It is super bright, but this is another one that I am not sure it's a true neon.


This is three thin coats over two coats of the white base. Again. I thought it was still a little uneven looking after two coats, so I added a third. Otherwise, no problems with the formula.

*Sent for review*

My top picks from this collection are definitely Life Gave Me Lemons, You Are So Outta Lime! and Down to the Core-al. I do really enjoy all 6 shades though. I am probably biased towards loving these because I do love neons so much. The white base is very good. Sometimes I really dislike neons that need a white base, because if the base is at all streaky or uneven, the whole thing looks like a hot mess. With this white base, I didn't have those problems, so I didn't mind using it as much. There are a couple shades here that are maybe not true neons, but they are super bright and fun anyway.

I can't wait to start wearing these as soon as my current mani/pedi gets removed! I think I want to wear Down to the Core-al on my toes and Life Gave Me Lemons, maybe with You Are So Outta Lime! as an accent, on my nails. Memorial Day is over and summer has (un)officially begun!

Neons by OPI are available in both nail lacquer and GelColor (for professionals only) formulas now. Nail lacquer shades retail for $9.00 ($10.95 CAN)  at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, beautybrands.com, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, jcp Salons, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, ULTA and ulta.com.  GelColor is an in-salon, professional service only. Prices depend on the salon and range from $28 - $38 for a manicure and $35 - $45 for a pedicure.

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

May 25, 2014

Zoya Magical Pixie Summer 2014 Swatches!

 *Sent for review*

Zoya has another round of the Magical Pixie polishes (textured mattes with holographic glitter) for summer 2014! I like these three even better than the spring Magical Pixies, yay! This raspberry matte texture with holo glitter is Zoya Arlo. Arlo is a pinky purple almost jelly base packed with large holo glitter and lots of smaller holo glitter. In the bottle, the large hex glitter looks pink to me, but it might just be the base colored tinting it.


All three of these Magical Pixies had basically the same formula, so I'll talk about it here. I used three coats for all of them and they were pretty easy to apply. Despite the fact that they are textures AND have lots of glitter in them, they go on fairly smoothly. If you do thicker coats, two coats should be great for these, as they are fairly pigmented. They all had a more translucent base than the spring Magical Pixies (those were kind of a frosty base) and I think it lets the holo glitter shine through more. I'd love to see a bright blue in this formula.



Zoya Bar is an interesting golden nude base packed with silver holo glitter. I love that Zoya did a nude in the Magical Pixie formula. I almost never actually wear nudes, but I would wear this one! Bar won't be a true nude for a lot of people, it has lots of gold, almost yellowy tones. Zoya calls it a "topaz nude" and it does have a topaz look to it a bit.


 This one probably needed the three coats, as there is still a bit of VNL.



Zoya Ginni is a light rose pink textured matte with silver holo glitter. Ginny is my mom's name, and she was excited to have a polish with (kind of) her name! Ginni is a nice blush color, so it actually could work as almost a nude for some skin tones (some of the people for whom Bar is not even close to a nude!).


*Sent for review*

Overall, I like all three of these Magical Pixies a lot! I like these more than the first three, although I liked those and I have worn them quite a few times. I think the squishier base allows the holo glitter to really stand out, and we all know I love holo glitter. If you hate textures, you probably won't love these, as they are very textured. They would look gorgeous with top coat though I'm sure!

The Zoya Magical Pixies for Summer 2014 are available now at Zoya.com.

Any Memorial Day weekend plans for my US readers? I am resting up a bit, as I am recovering from a lovely sinus infection, and doing some swatching (OPI Neons soon!). My uncle is a veteran, so we'll be having him over for dinner tomorrow. Thank you to all of the soldiers, veterans and families of soldiers and veterans!

May 22, 2014

Smitten Polish Frangipani


I hardly ever wear pink polish. I may find one or two when I'm swatching collections that I love, but then they somehow never make it on to my nails for a full mani. However, I had a total pink moment last week. I was wearing OPI Kiss Me, I'm Brazilian on my toes and I got my new Smitten polishes in the mail. I bypassed the awesome gray with green shimmer Tornado Skies, the beautiful blue holo Himalayan Blue Poppies and the stunning Radiant Orchid and slapped Smitten Polish Frangipani on my nails immediately! I'm glad I did, it is so much more than just "pink". Frangipani is a soft almost lavender-tinged pink creamy holo. Creamier holos are less blindingly rainbow than a full on linear holo, but they are still so gorgeous. I don't own a ton of creamy holos, but this polish makes me want many more.



The formula of Frangipani was nice to apply. I used just two coats for these pictures and I had no complaints at all. I have found Smittens to be excellent in general though. As a note, I did not use base coat or top coat for these swatches. When I wear lighter colored (i.e. unlikely to stain) holos, I don't wear base coat because I think they apply better without it. And I usually don't top coat holos- don't want to dull them! The picture below is in full sun, so you can see Frangipani in all of it's creamy rainbow glory!


Smitten Polish Frangipani is available on Smitten Polish's Big Cartel store. For more info, check out Smitten Polish on Facebook.

Nicole by OPI Seize the Summer Preview!

Seize the Summer! 
Nicole by OPI Launches Four NEW Nail Lacquers for Summer

Nicole by OPI announces four new nail lacquers for the summer season. Seize the Summer includes bright, beach-ready shades of coral, citrus green, hot pink and metallic confetti glitter.  These tropical shades add a burst of island-inspired flavor to fingers and toes.
 “Bright nail polish colors are in this summer!” exclaims Suzi Weiss-FischmannNicole by OPI Co-Founder & Executive VP.  “With warm weather comes beautiful, bold hues.  Summer is the perfect time to experiment with fun colors!”
Seize the Summer shades include:
Lay it on the Lime
This citrusy green is the limiest… and that’s the truth.

LeaPink for Joy
This playful pink makes me jump and shout!




Shaved Nice
Glittering and frosty… this is one sweet treat.

The Coral of the Story
I’ve learned my lesson… nothing but this bright coral for me!

Nicole by OPI formulas are long-lasting, fast-drying, and salon-quality.  The 4 new nail lacquers will be available in stores beginning June 2014 for $7.99 each at retailers including select Fred Meyer, CVS, Duane Reade, H-E-B, Ulta, Harmon, Kmart locations. In Canada, these shades will be available for $10.99 each at select Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart and Target Canada.
For more information, visit nicolebyopi.com. Follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter @NicoleByOPI and become a Facebook fan!


About Nicole by OPI:
Nicole by OPI offers a salon-quality range of bold, fashion-forward nail lacquers. The brand’s heritage is based on OPI’s well-established foundation of excellence in both color and technology, providing premium products to a broad range of consumers looking for trendsetting nail lacquers.  Known for its celebrity collaborations and partnerships, the brand invites consumers to be creative and confident by expressing themselves through color. Currently, Nicole by OPI range boasts over 120 shades, including retailer-exclusive lacquers, and serves as the color authority for the younger demographic.

May 20, 2014

FingerPaints Vermillion Dollar Painting

 *Purchased by me*

FingerPaints Vermillion Dollar Painting is another polish that has been languishing in my untrieds tomb drawer. Vermillion Dollar Painting is a lovely tomato red with very teeny golden glass fleck shimmer. I might even call it micro glass fleck. I always forget to wear red polish because I somehow equate it with "boring" or "traditional", but this red orange shimmery treat is definitely not boring. I should wear this more often, it really is flattering on my skin tone. I think it would actually be pretty flattering on a variety of skin tones. The warmth would compliment warmer tones and bring brightness to cooler skin tones.


The formula was a little on the thin side, so you have to be slightly careful that it doesn't go pooling in your cuticles. This is three thin coats, I think two thicker ones would also suffice. It's so juicy looking, isn't it?

*Purchased by me*

At the time I'm writing this, FingerPaints polishes, including Vermillion Dollar Painting, are on sale for $3.99 on Sally Beauty's website. I think they have pretty frequent deals on these and this one is definitely worth picking up, especially for summer!