Zoya Paradise Sun Collection Summer 20515 Swatches!!

*Sent for review*

Sorry it's been slow around here lately! We are wrapping up our regular dance classes for the year and that culminates in a recital that really takes a lot of time and energy to put on. I've been dying to get to the Zoya Paradise Sun collection, but my poor nails have been bare and sad lately due to the extra work. I finally have these pretties for you today. Zoya says these metallic polishes are "fully saturated with a gorgeous micronized metallic sheen" and "much like sunshine sparkling on water". Zoya Isa is a gorgeous blurple metallic shimmer. I am not a huge fan of the word "blurple", but this really is one- a beautifully balanced combination of rich purple and royal blue.  The shimmer is like teeny tiny flakes of reflective material, you can see what I mean in the shot below. Whatever "micronized metallic sheen" really means, it is lovely for sure!

This is three coats of Isa. It was very easy to apply, but I would definitely let each coat dry before applying the next. I failed to do this in between the first and second coat, so it was a little patchy and needed a third coat. If you allow each one to dry, two coats should be perfect. All of these pictures have very little clean-up because I was running out of acetone! Luckily, the formula was very good and controllable.

Zoya Mae is a sparkling bright fuchsia. It has some blue undertones and is nicely eye-catching without being neon. This kind of pink is usually flattering on a wide variety of skin tones.

This is two coats of Mae. It was nicely pigmented and lovely to work with.

Zoya Aphrodite is a bright juicy red-orange with iridescent and gold shimmer. The shimmer in this is really pretty, it was hard to photograph. Zoya calls this a "summer red", but it leans very orange on me. I prefer orange anyway, so I'm happy about that! By the way, my bottle of this says "Aphroite" LOL.

This is three coats of Aphrodite. It's a bit juicier than the others, so there was still a bit of VNL at two coats. If you like a Jolly Rancher looking mani, two coats will be fine. It was nice and easy to apply.

This sparkling crisp white is Zoya Genesis. Zoya says Genesis was "designed to look like micro-fine diamond dust". I've never seen diamond dust, but if it looks like this, that must be super pretty!

I did find Genesis to be kind of streaky, although less so than many white polishes I have tried before. This is three coats. The opacity is pretty good, but I needed the third coat to even things out.

I like to save the best things for last sometimes and the next two polishes are my favorites from this collection. Zoya Oceane is a "true turquoise with a micronized metallic pearl finish that reflects the clearest blue ocean waters". That name "Oceane" and that description had me sold right away, but then this crystal blue shimmering beauty roped me in even more! Oceane has gorgeous green flashes in it, I think you can see some of this in the picture below.

This is two coats of shimmering ocean perfection. By this time into my swatch session, I was totally out of Acetone, so this is with no clean up. Oceane is lovely to apply, no complaints here!

I was really happy that I swatched Zoya Selene last, because I did all 10 nails and wore this baby right away! Selene is a stunning teal green with almost a duochrome flash of deeper blue-green to it. I had a hard time capturing that flash, but you can kind of see the blue-green in the lower middle of the nail below. While I wore this, I kept noticing the color looked a little different in different kinds of lighting.

This is two effortless coats of Selene. Pigmentation was great and again, no clean-up.

*Sent for review*

My favorites in the Paradise Sun collection are definitely Selene, Oceane and Isa. They're the stand outs in my eyes for sure. The formula of these are great, just watch for streaks with Genesis.

The Zoya Paradise Sun collection is available now at zoya.com.

Lynnderella Lady on a Lily Pad and Spring Thing Swatches!

*Sent for review*

Today I have two pretty Lynnderellas for your enjoyment. I'm still working on spring Lynnderellas, but technically it's still spring here until June 21st! First up is the stunning Lynnderella Lady on a Lily Pad.  I love everything about this polish- the name, the mix of pastel and neon greens, pinks and yellows and the delicate mint shimmer. This is such a perfect spring polish.

This is two dabbed coats of Lady on a Lily Pad over OPI That's Hula-rious!. It was pretty easy to apply with the dabbing method. The glitter was plentiful and the consistency was great, not too thick or too thin.

Lynnderella Spring Thing is described as a "scattered multiglitter featuring a bouquet of flowers in a pink-shimmered translucent pink creme base". The "bouquet" of flowers is a bunch of different colors of flower glitter. You already know I love this because of the circle glitter (my fave!). I love the mix of yellow, purple, pink, orange-y peach, and some blues. The base of this is a translucent milky pink and it does has a fair amount of pale pink tint to it.

This is one coat over OPI Put It In Neutral. I wanted to layer this over something sheer, so you could see the pretty pink tint in the base. I also topped it with a matte top coat. I was just in the mood for matte! This was very easy to apply, no troubles at all.

*Sent for review*

Both of these pretties are core colors from the Lynnderella Spring Things collection and they are readily available on lynnderella.com and lynnderella.storenvy.com. For more information (and hopefully a summer collection!), check out Lynnderella's blog!

Sally Hansen and NYC Go Red, White and Blue for July 4th!

NEW! NYC New York Color Expert Last Lip Color-MATTE in Red Suede

The perfect balance: a mix of matte and satin! These satin matte shades are perfectly wearable, from day to night, from casual to glam, this lipstick will complete your look. The long lasting, amplified color wears up to 6 hours with a velvety and glamorous finish. The formula doesn't feather or bleed.

NEW! NYC New York Color  24 HR Waterproof Eye Shadow $2.99:

 This retractable chubby has a unique, pigment-packed formula for 24-hour waterproof wear. Color glides on smooth and stays crease-proof all day and all night. Try using it as a liner, or smudge with your finger for a smoky effect.  Available shades: Wall Street Bronze, Brooklyn Mocha, Tribeca Taupe, 5th Ave Gold Rush,  Murray Hill Champagne,  Rockefeller Center Snowflakes,  Empire State Building, New York At Night, Central Park Tulips,  East River Romance and Madison Square Park

GIVE YOUR MANICURE INSTANT ATTITUDE WITH NEW SHADES OF 

SALLY HANSEN INSTA-DRI® NAIL POLISH

Street style is driving the conversation in fashion, but it's not just about the clothes you wear. This kind of style requires a daring attitude, eye-catching patterns, and the bold colors to match. The new, limited-edition collection of Sally Hansen’s Insta-Dri® nail polish offers the perfect assortment of urban-inspired shades. Borrowing from the city-cool of graffiti tags and street art, these new shades are tailored for women with an independent spirit and a unique style all their own. Shades shown below are: Tag, Ur It!, Vandal Eyes and Quick Brick

 

PRICE & AVAILABILITY: The limited-edition Insta-Dri® collection, SRP $4.99, is available beginning July 2015 at chain drugstores and mass retailers nationwide.

Some Spring/Summer Comparisons!

 *Sent for review*

I am totally out of room in my Helmers right now, so I kind of have nail polish all over the place. The good thing about this predicament is that I spotted a few similar polishes in the spring and summer collections for you. It was easy to see the similarities with all of these sitting out right next to each other. First we have Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Swimsical and Zoya Talia. These are definitely not dupes, as Swimsical is much lighter and more blue, while Talia is darker and has more hints of green. But they are in the same family, so I thought I'd show them side by side. This is three coats of Swimsical and two of Talia. Both have very nice formulas.

I would call OPI Lost My Bikini in Molokini and Zoya Serenity dupes for all intents and purposes. They look nearly identical in person and on camera. Zoya Serenity is maybe a hair dustier and ever so slightly more blue based than the OPI, but they are definitely not different enough to own both. This is two coats of each polish, and both of these also have a very nice formula.

OPI That's Hula-rious! and Zoya Tiana are also pretty much dead-on dupes. The OPI is a smidgen brighter and more white-based, but honestly, that's nit-picking a lot. Most human beings will not notice any difference between these two. This is two easy coats of OPI That's Hula-rious! and three slightly streaky coats of Zoya Tiana, so in this instance, I would go with the OPI.

In the category of "Not Dupes", we have Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Dive Bar and OPI Can't Find My Czechbook. I thought these would be closer. Czechbook is much much lighter and a different shade of blue. I was also going to compare these to China Glaze Bahamian Escape, but that is WAY lighter than both of these, so it was pointless. No dupes here and I am fine with that because I love these blues!!

Hope this was helpful! I may have more comparisons for summer collections coming up too.

Two New OPI Coca-Cola Shades to Celebrate 100 Years of the Coca-Cola Bottle!

OPI & COCA-COLA CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF THE COCA-COLA BOTTLE WITH THE ICONS OF HAPPINESS COLLECTION WHAT THEY ARE: A limited edition collection of nail lacquers and GelColor in honor of the Coca-Cola bottle’s century anniversary.  In 1915, The Glass Root Company designed the now classic contoured glass Coca-Cola bottle in Terre Haute, Indiana. One hundred years later, this unique bottle has become one of the most globally revered packages ever created. To celebrate this milestone, OPI created an exclusive Icons of Happiness nail color collection, featuring two new shades and six classic colors that pay homage to the bottle’s bold color and signature style. OPI – the world’s number one nail salon brand – is also no stranger to iconic bottles. Along with the Coca-Cola bottle, the OPI bottle’s matte black handle and distinctive silhouette make it one of the world’s most recognizable nail lacquer bottles. Now, enjoy the essence of one legendary image alongside another, with the new OPI and Coca-Cola Summer Collection. Two new additions to the Coca-Cola x OP nail color line celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the iconic Coca-Cola glass bottle.

The Summer Collection includes: Eight on-trend shades to deliver flawless, long-lasting color inspired by the iconic drink.  Shades include: • You’re So Vain-illa, a sweet, creamy nude • Visions of Georgia Green (NEW), a sparkling green inspired by the classic Coca-Cola bottle • Centennial Silver (NEW), a shimmering pewter • Coca-Cola Red, the iconic red that’s always in style • My Signature is “DC,” a glimmering silver • Sorry I’m Fizzy Today, a smooth and creamy pink • Get Cherried Away, an over-the-top black cherry • A Grape Affair, a deep, dark purple. Nail Lacquers ($9.50 SRP $11.50 CAN) and GelColor by OPI ($14.95 salon, $18.95 CAN salon) WHERE TO FIND IT: Discover the collection at select professional salons and on HSN, June 2015. For more information about the 100th Anniversary of the Coca-Cola Bottle this year, please visit: www.cocacolacompany.com

OPI Nail Envy, now in color!!!

INTRODUCING NAIL ENVY “STRENGTH IN COLOR”

IDEA: Strengthening treatment plus coveted color in one  WHAT IT IS: The fortifying power of OPI’s Original Nail Envy Nail Strengthener is now combined with softly tinted color in four gorgeous OPI shades. The trusted formula you love—from the world’s number one salon brand, OPI—has added delicate, subtle color for the very first time. Infused with hydrolyzed wheat protein and calcium, the new Nail Envy “Strength in Color” delivers maximum strengthening aid to transform weak, brittle, damaged nails into stronger, longer, harder nails shining with bold, true-to-bottle color. WHAT IT IS: The fortifying power of OPI’s Original Nail Envy Nail Strengthener is now combined with softly tinted color in four gorgeous OPI shades. The trusted formula you love—from the world’s number one salon brand, OPI—has added delicate, subtle color for the very first time. Infused with hydrolyzed wheat protein and calcium, the new Nail Envy “Strength in Color” delivers maximum strengthening aid to transform weak, brittle, damaged nails into stronger, longer, harder nails shining with bold, true-to-bottle color.   Inspired by of-the-moment creamsicle hued and pink quartz spring runway looks, this first-of-its-kind collection includes classic OPI favorite shades like Hawaiian Orchid, Samoan Sand, and Bubble Bath, plus a Nail Envy-only exclusive offering, Pink to Envy. Simply apply this innovative two-in-one nail strengthener plus color lacquer directly onto nails to add some much needed muscle to your manicure. NEW Nail Envy “Strength in Color” ($17.95 US retail, $22.50 CAN retail): Hawaiian Orchid: A tropical pink with hints of light purple Samoan Sand: A warm beige-pink Bubble Bath: A sweet candy pink Pink to Envy: A Nail Envy exclusive shade in sheer light pink

New Sally Hansen Pearl Crush, Insta Ombre and Big Peel Off Base Coat Preview!

SALLY HANSEN INTRODUCES A NEW SPECIAL EFFECT: CREATE A RADIANT, IRIDESCENT LOOK WITH PEARL CRUSH™

This summer, it's time to get cultured—with pearls, that is. Sally Hansen introduces Pearl Crush™; a collection of eight new Special Effect polishes that give nails an eye-catching, shimmery finish. Inspired by the season's iridescent trend, the Pearl Crush™ polishes have a unique combination of pigments that interact with layers of large, faceted glitter particles. The resulting effect: a 3D crushed pearl look that plays off light, lending a lustrous, vibrant look to summer manicures. Choose a softer tone or go dark—either way; you'll want to wear these precious "pearls" everywhere you go!

SHADES: Oy-ster It Up!: Aw, shucks—this true white with faceted glitter catches the light beautifully, She Sells: Whether on the seashore or the city streets, this pale blush hue is pretty, pink perfection, Lady Crab: No need to pinch yourself—this dreamy hot pink really is as steamy as it gets!, Rainbow Fish: Casting off icy tones, this iridescent blue is quite the catch, Shell & Tell: The secret is out: A lovely lilac like this doesn't come around every day, Mer-Mint: This splashy, soothing seafoam green is loaded with sea-inspired shimmer, Silver Scallop: Reflect on this modern take on metallics—a shape shifting silver that appears constantly in motion and Clam Digger: This lava-rock black stands out with flecks of phosphorescent-green glitter.

PRICE & AVAILABILITY: This limited-edition Pearl Crush™ collection, SRP $5.99, is available beginning June 2015 at chain drugstores and mass retailers nationwide.

CREATE A DAZZLING GRADATED LOOK WITH NEW SALLY HANSEN® INSTA-OMBRE™ NAIL COLOR

It's official: Ombré is the look of the decade. From runways to red carpets, from highlights to home decor, a gradated wash of color is perpetually on trend. Now, Sally Hansen makes it easy to create a sparkling ombré manicure with new Insta-Ombre™ Special Effect.

Available in eight high-impact glitter shades, this clever and innovative ombre-in-a-bottle makes it easy for women to achieve the look in just three simple steps. First, apply one coat to clean, dry nails. Next, apply a second coat from mid-nail to the tip. Finally, apply a third coat to only the nail tip. Voila: A radiant, wash of ombre color at your fingertips. 

As the first and last word in nail color, Sally Hansen offers eight shades to match every mood: Copper Cap: Beige that grows into a warm, copper glow, Cobalt Coat: Blue, from barely-there to intense, Layer On Lilac: A cool-toned take on purple,  Scarlet Spark: A true red that fades into a whisper, Gold Grade: Metallic glitter, from quiet to saturated, Fuchsia-Nista: A bright pink with the slightest hint of violet, Jade Fade: An enviable emerald hue, Grey-diant: A stunningly sparkled fade from light to black.

PRICE & AVAILABILITY: This limited-edition Insta-Ombre™ collection, SRP $5.99, is available beginning June 2015 at chain drugstores and mass retailers nationwide.

SALLY HANSEN INTRODUCES BIG PEELOFF BASE COAT^TM

Everyone wants a manicure that looks perfect, resists smudges, and removes easily. Traditionally, it hasn't always been easy to achieve those desired results. Now, however, Sally Hansen introduces a nail essentials to simplify and improve the at-home manicure regimen: Big Peel Off Base Coat^TM . 

For nail-art aficionados, glitter girls, and anyone else who lives for regular manicures, Big Peel Off Base Coat changes everything. Nail polish remover can be harsh on nails, leaving them dry and brittle—and therefore, prone to breakage. Hard-to-remove special effects such as glitters, textures, and shimmers can damage nails further by scraping the nail surface and can be a time consuming removal process.

That all changes with the introduction of Big Peel Off Base Coat^TM. This fast, convenient easy base coat makes it easy to remove glitters and other special effect polishes in a single step. Just paint on the base coat, which quickly dries to a transparent finish. Apply nail polish as usual and enjoy the manicure. When it's time for a change, simply peel off the polish in one fluid movement. No scrubbing, soaking, or fussing—just a clean, healthy-looking nail.

PRICE & AVAILABILITY: Sally Hansen’s new Big Peel Off Base Coat^TM , SRP $5.99 each, will be available in June 2015 at chain drugstores and mass retailers nationwide.