Urban Decay NAKED Basics

Now I love my Naked palette from Urban Decay.  I wore it at my wedding!

Photo Courtesy of Macy Ryan Photography

 But I have not fully jumped on the Naked train with Urban Decay.  Now only did they come out with Naked2 but now the Naked Basics, Naked nail polish and I heard the rumors of Naked BB creams.  Today, I have the release on the NAKED basics which I haven't bought yet, but I am thinking about it still. Maybe if it goes on sale?  

Image Courtesy of Urban Decay

NAKED BASICS
(Because we know you want new ways get Naked.)

THE SKINNY
Urban Decay launches Naked Basics—the long-awaited, multi-purpose MATTE companion to Naked. This is the palette that belongs in every woman’s makeup bag—from fans of a neutral matte eye to color fanatics looking for base shades to pair with their bolder shadows. These über-wearable shades look great on literally EVERYONE. Richer than other mattes, the color goes on with a smooth, luxe finish (never chalky or powdery). We’ve even included one demi-matte shade, Venus, which has the tiniest touch of satin—perfect for highlighting and adding dimension.

HYPE
Our best-selling Naked and Naked2 palettes are proof that neutral eyes are anything but boring. Ever since we launched them, fans have been BEGGING us for a matte palette of neutral Eyeshadows, and this sexy little set answers the call! But don’t be fooled—you can do a lot with these colors. Wende loves to use these shadows to contour and define her eyes and then add a bright pop of color for extra drama.

NICE PACKAGE
The sleek, soft-touch case has a slight sheen and feels like suede. Small and compact so it
travels well, this must-have palette is packed with six full-sized shadows.

BREAK IT DOWN
Naked Basics includes four totally new and exclusive shades, one shade previously only available in another palette and one all-time staff favorite. Each Eyeshadow features our brand new Pigment Infusion System™, the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives every shade its velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power and blendability.

THE NAKED BASICS COLLECTION INCLUDES:
VENUS – soft, off-white demi-matte
FOXY – very light yellow/beige matte
WALK OF SHAME – very light pinky nude matte
NAKED2 – rosy taupe matte
FAINT – warm, dusty brown matte
CRAVE – deepest, darkest brown/black matte

Naked Basics Palette (SRP $27) is available from Sephora, ULTA and select Macy’s stores. Or, online at Sephora.com, ulta.com, macys.com, beauty.com and urbandecay.com.

Pixi Amazing Amethyst

On a gloomy day, I decided to pull out Pixi Amazing Amethyst from their fall 2012 line.  I used a base of Cult Nails Get It On, 2 coats of polish and finished with Cult Nails Wicked Fast.  The polish behaved well - no flooding of cuticles, good opacity and did not stain my fingers.

Due to no sun being out to play, you have an overcast picture.

This color reminds me of China Glaze Grape Pop but is more blurple I think than GP. I will have to pull swatch sticks to do a comparison in the future.  I'm in the middle of a huge purge/brand reorganization in my house that I'm hoping will be completed by 2014.

Indirect light doesn't fair much better for showing how pretty this color really is.  I'm calling it a metallic because it has a bit of a sheen and isn't a creme but isn't a shimmer either.  It's pretty though.

And flash for good measure!  The polish almost looks waxy or rubberized here but it's just the way the light is hitting the bottle.  I still haven't gotten used to this long skinny bottle - be careful not to tip it over or you'll get a puddle of polish on your desk.  Thankfully I haven't done that... yet.

Pixi [Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | YouTube] can be purchased online from their website or use find a retailer using their Online Retailers search engine for $8.00 for a 7ml/0.25 fl oz bottle.  You can also purchase Pixi at Target!

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Zoya Pixie Dust

The rumors are true!  Zoya is also coming out with a "texture" nail polish this year, affectionately called PixieDust.  In case you haven't seen my article about nail trends in 2013, check the article out here.  (Small plug!)  Please enjoy the following press release - all images courtesy of Zoya.

Zoya PixieDust
Infused with Magic and Wonder!
Featuring the latest “must-have” nail polish finish – Textured, Matte & Sparkling.

This newly developed formula is sure to captivate with a magical sparkle and sugary finish like no other. The color experts at Zoya have created six, long-wearing stunners for the introduction of this look...

Zoya PIXIE DUST - special edition

Dahlia (ZP656) - Black Beauty sparkle, exclusive Zoya PixieDust Matte Sparkle formula.

Chyna (ZP657) - Red Dazzle sparkle, exclusive Zoya PixieDust Matte Sparkle formula.

Godiva (ZP658) - Soft Nude sparkle, exclusive Zoya PixieDust Matte Sparkle formula.

Vespa (ZP659) - Mint Kiss sparkle, exclusive Zoya PixieDust Matte Sparkle formula.

Nyx (ZP660) - Perfect Periwinkle sparkle, exclusive Zoya PixieDust Matte Sparkle formula.

London (ZP661) - Fog Gray sparkle, exclusive Zoya PixieDust Matte Sparkle formula.

Shipping January 15, 2013

Ultra long-wearing, nail lacquers by Zoya are BIG5FREE - all formulas are completely free of harmful industrial chemicals such as toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are known to cause cancer and birth defects.

Zoya PixieDust $9 (US)

Follow the Zoya Nail Polish and Treatments Blog and stay tuned on Twitter (@Zoyanailpolish) and Facebook for release date updates.

Hashtags: #ZoyaPixieDust and #nailpolish.

Zoya PixieDust

PolishGalore is now easier to Pin!

If you're new to Pinterest or have more boards than you care to admit, now PolishGalore is easier to Pin!  Thanks to Kevin and Amanda, now you can mouse-over on any photo on PolishGalore and the Pinterest button will appear in the top right hand corner.  If you want to enlarge the photo, click anywhere but the Pinterest button on the top right hand corner.  If you want to pin the photo to your Pinterest, click on the Pinterest button.  (This will not work on the mobile website or with a smart phone, sorry!)

Happy pinning!

The Original Pedi-Sox

Image Courtesy of Original Pedi-Sox Facebook Page

When I received an email asking me if I'd like to try the Original Pedi-Sox, I was all over it.  I've heard of Pedi-Sox, but I had never seen them in person... although the idea was genius!  I hate having cold feet in the winter but getting a pedicure and wearing shoes is pretty difficult unless you are getting a Shellac pedicure, so it was always the same... hop out the door and try to jump in the car before freezing in flip flops.

Not only can you wear Pedi-Sox for your pedicure appointment, but you can DIY it at home as well - slip on your favorite body lotion and put on your Pedi-Sox to keep your heels moisturized through the night.

So I received 3 pairs and was eager to go test it out.

I had two small issues.

The first was I didn't know how to put them on!  I looked at it three times before finally thinking "I got this."  However, you can see that I definitely didn't have it and was actually wearing the Pedi-Sox upside down.  The brand name is supposed to be up at your ankles, not down at your toes.

Secondly, these are "one size fits most" type of deals and as you can see on my left foot - I'm busting out.  I have psoriatic arthritis and it affects different parts of my body.  The one that is affected the most is my left ankle.  It swells up with fluid and gets cranky - and this was no exception.  You can see how much thicker it is to my right ankle.  Because of this, it was hard to get the Pedi-Sox on (and frankly, I question if me putting them on upside down didn't help any).  However, I will totally wear them again because I think it's just too cute.  They have all kinds of designs now - solids, stripes, even ones that resemble Mary Jane shoes.

The Original Pedi-Sox [Website | Facebook | Twitter] can be found on their website or through distributors (also on their website).  They offer both retail and wholesale sales and they are taking on new distributors as well.  Each pair is $9, are machine washable and are a acrylic and nylon blend.
Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

LAQA & Co. Nail Polish

I'll be honest, there are so many nail polish brands out there that I honestly haven't heard of all of them.  When I received this email from LAQA & Co., they mentioned their polish pens... and the only polish pens I could think of were the Nicole by OPI Nail Slicks that I had bought a bunch of, and never used.  I personally was having trouble with the way the polish flowed.  However, in LAQA & Co.'s email, they were letting me know that now they have bottles too!  I'm a much bigger fan of bottles (my OCD loves it) and even better, LAQA & Co features unique artwork from young designers who are looking to get their voice out there.  They receive part of the profit from their colors that are purchased.  They also had a cute gift box line for this holiday season and it's still available - hello, Valentine's Day gifts anyone?  Please enjoy the following release - all images courtesy of LAQA & Co.

LAQA & Co. has taken their quick-drying glossy nail polish formula and put them in a sleek bottle! The range includes all Fall’s hottest colors, along with new shimmering metallics, perfect for a subtle holiday look.
 
And as usual, we’re supporting young artists by covering our packaging in their unique artwork. And they get a cut of the profit from every pencil purchased.

NCLA Call Me For The After Party

Polish people, unite!  From the Fall "Going Out in LA" 2012 collection by NCLA, today I have the murky blue shimmer Call Me For The After Party.  It's slightly metallic and slightly black/blue.  It's one of those colors that I don't mind on shorties but not a huge fan if I have longer nails.  Formula was consistent, and love that I did not have staining.  I used a base of Cult Nails Get It On, 2 coats of polish and a top of China Glaze Fast Forward because oddly I have a bottle at my desk so I grabbed it.  No issues with the polish wrinkling even though I had different base/top coats, which makes me pleased.

Here in the sun, you can see how it's kinda sapphire blue but not totally - not very black here and the metallic is more shimmer?

But in the shade, I feel that the color has more black in it and maybe looks a bit metallic - but not futuristic metallic... more like 80s metallic.

I also grabbed a shot in some indirect light to try and get a better look on the nails but I think I just got a better look of the bottle.  I can't always get the outer cap off NCLA bottles so they don't always line right back up when closed.  I will figure it out one day - my OCD requires it.

Overall this is not a bad polish, just not my style.  NCLA continues to deliver on good polishes with good opacity, no staining, and unique - I just don't love dark blue on myself.

NCLA [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Tumblr] is available on the website for $16.00 a bottle and in a variety of stores.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

China Glaze & Ardell Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away

When I saw this collection at Cosmoprof North America Las Vegas, I was blown away with the glitters originally. What I loved was that the glitters were being used in the Seche special edition overlay too - I love a good tie in.  I have a few press samples of this collection to review and last week I decided to spend my Christmas money on the rest of the collection and I can't wait to wear several of them!  Please enjoy the following press release from China Glaze & Ardell.  All images courtesy of A.I.I.

China Glaze® and Ardell® Introduce Exclusive Collections Inspired by

Paramount Pictures’ new 3D Film, “Cirque du Soleil™:  Worlds Away”

LOS ANGELES (November 15, 2012) – China Glaze® and Ardell® announced today their partnership with Paramount Pictures to offer exclusive collections of nail polishes and eyelashes inspired by the upcoming 3D film, “Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away” in theaters December 21^st. 

From the big top to the big screen, visionary filmmaker James Cameron and writer/director Andrew Adamson invite you on an all new 3D adventure: “Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away.”  A young couple who is separated must journey through the astonishing and dreamlike worlds of Cirque du Soleil® to find each other as audiences experience the immersive 3D technology that will allow them to leap, soar, swim and dance with the performers.

The new China Glaze® and Ardell® “Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away” inspired nail polish and eyelash collections will bring to life the wonderfully exotic artistry that is presented throughout the film. The China Glaze® nail polish collection combines rich crèmes, soft shimmers and bold glitters to create 12 limited edition shades including:

Whirled Away

Black and white collage glitter

It’s a Trap-eze

White cream base with multi glitter

Escaping Reality

Neon raspberry pink

Surreal Appeal

Rich coral crème

Def Defying

Lime green crème

Running in Circles

Cilantro green shimmer

Hanging in the Balance

Cerulean blue crème

Water You Waiting For

Shimmering blue green purple

Creative Fantasy

Grape neon

Bend Over Backwards

Pepper red shimmer

Igniting Love

Hot tamale red crème

Get Carried Away

Multi-sized black and red collage glitter with black crème

The “Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away” inspired collection from Ardell® consists of six attention-grabbing lash styles ranging from more natural styles to feathers and jewel embellished lash strips:

Imagine

Inspire

Surreal

Fantasy

Mystical

Daring

Both collections will be supported by a consumer and beauty trade marketing campaign which includes a billboard in Times Square, print ads, retail displays, a sweepstakes offer and social media efforts.

To coincide with the 3D release of “Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away,” in theatres December 21, 2012, the China Glaze® and Ardell® film-inspired collections will be available the first week of December 2012 at salons and specialty beauty retailers nationwide, including Sally Beauty Supply and ULTA stores. Individual nail polish shades will retail for $7; eyelash styles will retail for $6.

China Glaze® and Ardell® are divisions of American International Industries.

About American International Industries

For 42 years, AII has been the leading manufacturer and worldwide distributor of innovative, quality beauty and skin care products for men and women.  Our product lines include Andrea, Ardell, Body Drench, Bye Bye Blemish, Checi, China Glaze, Clean + Easy, Clubman/Pinaud, Duo, European Secrets, EzFlow, Fright Night, Gena, GiGi, Gypsy Lash, IBD, It’s So Easy, Jeris-Lustray, LASH BeLONG, Nail Tek, No Tweeze/Micro Tweeze, 'N Rage, Poshe, Prolinc, RAW, Seche, SuperNail, Surgi-Care, Waterworks, Winning Nails, Woltra, Woody’s, and Youthair. For more information, visit our website: www.aiibeauty.com.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation 

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

It's a Mish Mash

I wanted to apologize for my little break here - after my awesome party month in December (Blogiversary, getting married, my birthday, Christmas and New Years), I was hit with a hard reality.  On my parents 35th wedding anniversary, January 2nd, my mom passed away unexpectedly.  The hardest part hasn't been my own grief, but that of everyone else's.  My mom touched a lot of lives - more than I ever realized.

I'm okay.

I am, however, having to settle affairs and get her things in order.  She didn't have any kind of funeral plans or arrangements so there's that.  Additionally, I have to devote some time to helping my dad do a purge of items because my mom was a good record keeper to put it kindly.  Everything she had, has a story or a purpose so my weekends are going to be dedicated to getting that taken care of for a little while.  I am still going to be working on PolishGalore - I have lots of press releases to share!  But additionally I have a LOT of polish to share, some that I've been really excited about.

Lots of love.

Creative Bioscience Challenge: Final

I am not a doctor.  The following post is written with my opinions and the information provided from the Creative Bioscience website.  You should discuss any weight loss treatment with your doctor before you start it.  

January 1st marked the end of my 90 Day Weight Loss Challenge from Creative Bioscience who is sponsoring my product trial of African Mango 1200TM for 90 days in my effort to lose weight.

Now, last month I gained 2 pounds but gone down a dress size and was feeling more full during the day, so it was like an even wash.  December was going to be challenging with my wedding, my birthday, Christmas and New Years.  I knew getting to the gym would be hard, as would saying no to so many tempting foods.

And I was 100% right.  I had cake (wonderful, 4 layer white cake)... and quite a bit of it.  I also had cookies, candy, popcorn, tamales, and lots of soda.  I was eating during the day, not at night, but I was eating a lot.  I was still taking my pills during the morning and feeling full during the day after eating, but I wasn't eating healthily.  I tried to stick to Subway for lunch instead of Mexican food (the town I work in has only 3 restaurants) and that helped.

Despite all that, lazy won out and I gained an additional 2 pounds and was no longer down a dress size.

So what does this mean?  Would I recommend the product again?  It's hard to say.  Had I followed a workout routine and better diet, I'm sure I would have seen more results, since I did have the full feeling during the days and that's part of my problem.  However, knowing my current lifestyle, I would not try this particular method again.

I will be holding a giveaway soon for one reader to try out their own 90 day challenge - please stay tuned!

And HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.