Flat Irons

Considering my birthday is in exactly one month from today, and I'm definitely feeling like I'm getting older, I've decided that I needed to start caring more about my appearance.  Nail polish/long nice nails was part of it, but I've also started wearing eyeshadow and lipstick (still not getting into foundation/powder), and actually taking care of my hair.  I have very straight hair, as I showed you in a blog posting awhile back, so I never thought I needed a flat iron until I had my hair done at a salon.  It's crazy how much nicer my hair looks when it's been flat ironed - all the little flyaways are down and the hair almost shines.

However, my knowledge of flat irons is pretty non-existent.  All I know is what friends tell me and there is a kiosk in the mall that constantly tries to ask me "What flat iron do you use?"  Now, I like to read up on products before I buy, and recently I was told about a flat iron reviews website where some of the top rated flat irons can be found.  The best part for me is custom searching with the different tags.  If you're looking for a certain brand, this website has them listed alphabetically or if you have no idea (like me), you can browse by type as well.

I currently own 3 different flat irons - none of them have brand names that I can even remember, and all were very cheap.  I have a tiny traveling one that I used on my bangs when I first cut bangs this year, and I had a wet to dry flat iron that I loved but my Mom took to use for herself, and then I have one that I currently use that I just know gets really hot, really quick.  But just owning a product is half the battle - you have to know how to use it and of course, you have to use it.  At the very bottom of the review website are some tips and advice including how to create wavy hair with your flat iron and even how to clean it.

Do you own a flat iron or plan to get one during this holiday season?

Disclosure: The above post is a paid insertion in exchange for a product from the company to be reviewed for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

New Look!

After lots of debating, I finally updated the look of my blog.  Eventually, I want to customize even more, but this is a good start for now.  ^_^  Yay me!

Apothica Giveaway

I was so glad when I finally took the plunge for deborah lippmann nail polish.  Not only are all the polishes named after popular music (Deborah Lippmann is actually an accomplished jazz singer on top of being a celebrity manicurist), but they also incorporate a combination of sweet and bold colors and textures.  The hexagonal glitter combined with small round glitter of Ruby Red Slippers all set in a jet black base is still one of my favorite unique polishes that I own.

Now you can have the opportunity to purchase this polish, any deborah lippman polish or any product from the premium brands that is available through a great website called Apothica.  Apothica carries the finest selection of cosmetics, skin care, body care, fragrances, candles and hair care.  In addition to their store in Utah, they have an online store which I have been graciously given a $25 gift certificate to give away to a PolishGalore reader!  Both domestic and international readers may apply, but please note that an international winner will be responsible for any tariff/customs fees imposed by your country.


Apothica will be responsible for the fulfillment of the $25 gift card which will be sent via email and can be used at any of their 3 websites: http://www.skincarerx.com, http://www.apothica.com and http://skinbotanica.com  Please be sure that you add skincareRX as a contact in your email so if you win, the email isn't sent to your Spam/Junk Mail folder by your email provider.  The winner will be randomly chosen from the entries at which time, I will verify the winner and email them so I can send their shipping information to Apothica.  Please note your information will never be shared with a third party company, ever.


So let's do this!  The giveaway begins today 19 November and ends in 2 weeks at midnight GMT 3 December.  You do not have to complete all entry possibilities but these are all available to you.  Added information here:


1) The Facebook page for Apothica is located here
2) The Twitter page for Apothica is located here
3) The Newsletter for Apothica is found at the bottom left of their website here
4) If you write a blog post about deborah lippmann for seven additional entries, it must have a minimum of 100 words and use a pre-defined anchor text of "deborah lippmann" which must link to the website http://makeup.apothica.com/lippmann-collection.html

This giveaways is now closed.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company as apart of our advertising agreement.  For more information, please read this post.

China Glaze Cheers To You

I feel like I have a lot of silvers, and I do, but I was still pretty darn excited about China Glaze Cheers to You from the winter 2010 collection.  It's almost a foil like color instead of a shimmer as listed and I must say I LOVED this color and even wore it for almost three full days.  ^_^

I used a base of Seche Natural, one coat of Cheers to You and a top of Seche Vite.  The formula was simply awesome.

It almost has a mirror like quality - a lot like the metallic polishes, but it's actually a shimmer.

I seriously couldn't stop looking at my nails.  This would probably be great konad'ed as well.

China Glaze [official website] can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty [official website], Sally's Beauty Supply [official website] as well asTransDesign [official website].

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 Ruby Deer

Ah, welcome to the beginning of crap weather here in South Texas.  Note the weird sky in the background - it's the start of bad things to come.  :(


But to combat this icky day, I have China Glaze Ruby Deer, a squishy red jelly from the winter 2010 collection.  I used a base coat of Seche Natural, 2 coats of Ruby Deer but it could have been 1, and a top of Seche Vite.  The formula was really nice on this.

Mmm squishy goodness.  It's just a very pretty red.

In the shade the color is just slightly darker but it's still pretty squishy.  I love squishy reds.

China Glaze [official website] can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty [official website], Sally's Beauty Supply [official website] as well asTransDesign [official website].

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

Cheeky Monkey Social Climber

This is another user requested swatch - Cheeky Monkey Social Climber.  It's listed on their website as a dark brown but it does have quite a bit of red in it as well - almost more of a plum creme.


I used a base coat of Cheeky Monkey Get Wet, only one coat of Social Climber and a top of Seche Vite.  The application was very nice and the one coat opacity was a delight.

You can really see the plummy redness in the sun.  You can also see how well it applied.

In the shade the color appears a bit more brown but it's still with some red undertones.


Cheeky Monkey can be purchased on their website [official website] for $15 a bottle.

China Glaze Party Hearty

When I first saw the promo pictures for China Glaze Party Hearty I knew that I had to have it.  I don't feel that this is a good color to wear alone because the glitter is all different shapes so it would take a lot to layer it.  I loved the hexagonal glitter - reminded me of deborah lippmann.


I used a base coat of Seche Natural, then 2 coats of China Glaze Snow topped with Seche Vite.  Then I added my coats of Party Hearty followed by another coat of Seche Vite.

In the sun you can see that one coat just isn't enough but 4 coats is almost a little much.  I was happy with 2 coats but would probably use 3 coats.  The trick is to let each coat dry slightly until it's tacky, then add your next coat, otherwise you end up dragging the chunky red hexagonal glitter off with your nail.

Same thing, just in the shade.


I also got a close up of the glitter for you.

The sun is on the left and the shade is in the right - you can see there is silver and gold square glitter, hexagonal small gold glitter, green medium hexagonal glitter and big red hexagonal glitter.  Love it.


I also tried 2 coats of it over Ruby Deer.

Definitely a winner in my book - I seriously think this will be part of my Christmas manicure.

China Glaze [official website] can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty [official website], Sally's Beauty Supply [official website] as well asTransDesign [official website].

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

OPI 100,000 Fans Giveaway!

OPI is giving away 100 fans a set of six retired OPI shades: Kinky in Helsinki, Smokin In Havana, Hoodoo Voodoo, Parlez-Vous OPI, Sahara Sapphire and Cheyenne Pepper.

Picture from OPI's Facebook Fan Page

How to win:
1) Like the OPI Facebook page
2) Fill out the giveaway entry form.
3) Tell your friends!


I do request that if you do this from reading it here, please do list me "Krystal Seidel" as the OPI Fan Who Referred You.  ^_^


*This is only open to USA residences - sorry!

Blogs of Note

Happy Sunday!  Here are 3 more blogs.

First today is Susie's Home and Hobbies.  Susie is actually my Mom's age but my Mom doesn't wear polish like Susie!  Susie also includes some posts about her hobbies (hence the name) but there is quite a bit of polish and Konad.  She does have short nails but paints them every color available, which I think is just great.


Next is The Edge of Sanity.  Although they appear to be on a bit of a break, this blog is run by 8 women who are crazy about nail polish and makeup.  I absolutely love Gabrielle's pictures and just all the different polish these women have.  They also did a great cover of the new CND Effects line and a Top Coat experiment with many different brands - some I had never heard of!  This was one of my originals to follow before I had my blog and I have certainly loved reading it.


Last today is The Hungry Asian.  Blog owner Kae could have been my neighbor as my parents were looking to move where she lives when I was a kid.  But I digress.  She has very nice squared long nails and features not only polish but some frankens too.  Absolutely a lovely blog with great pictures.


Enjoy!

Migi Nail Art Pens

L-R: Hot Pink, Fire Red, Neon Orange, Lemon, Kelly Green, Royal Blue, Deep Purple, Magenta

One thing you haven't seen on PolishGalore is nail art - why?  Because I'm terrible at it.  I could never figure out how to effectively use a dotting tool or striper, and trying to put some kind of tape on my nails?  Forget it.  I do not have the most steady hands and the one paint pen I picked up required a tip that you pressed down first to get the paint flowing and it was just super messy, not to mention always scratched my manicure.


So when I was asked if I wanted to review Migi Nail Art pens, I was interested but super skeptical, not in the product, but in my abilities.  By a shipping accident, I received the entire White Collection #101 (available for $24.99) as well as the White single pen.  Each pen contains a 0.16 fl oz (4.8 mL) plastic bottle of polish with a threaded end.  If you unscrew the cap, it's a normal nail polish brush.

Additionally if you pull the cap off directly, it's a paint pen point.  I have a bead of paint already shown on this image, but that doesn't appear normally.

Unlike the other paint pens I've tried, you do NOT push down on the metal point - instead you squeeze the plastic nail polish container.  I found it helpful to get the first "drop" out and wipe it on a cotton pad, then use the actual pen.


I used a base coat of Seche Natural and on my index, ring and pinkie finger I used 2 coats of the base color.  Now be gentle, this is my first attempt at nail art!  Sun picture!

My middle finger does not have a base color - just simple "lemon" polish stripes.


Shade picture and thumb!

The white polish has a bit of a reddish/pink shimmer to it - it's very subtle but it's there.  I was really proud of my pinkie nail - I started trying to make a swirl but screwed up and decided to make a little flower instead.


The hard part for me was sealing my art.  I did not wait long enough before using a top coat of Seche Vite and my first attempts smeared (I had a rainbow on one finger, a heart and a flower on another).  This second time I waited a little longer and it seemed to work without smearing.  Migi sells its own top coat which I would hope works better with their product but again maybe it's just that I'm not patient enough.  ^_^


I did find that the colors as base colors were just slightly too sheer for me to wear alone.  I'm used to thick cremes BUT at the same time, you can see that the colors worked well as base colors.  I didn't have any problems with the formula at all - not runny like I originally thought it would be.  As paint pens, after that first bead of polish which I always squeezed out, I found it worked pretty well - I'm just trying to work on my steadiness as well as my control of the pen.  However, you can see how thin of a line it will draw as you can see on my middle finger.


Now remember that threaded end I mentioned?  The collection kit also contained these rings:

Screw them all together and what do you get?  Long pens!

Now, Migi has graciously given me another collection (Gold Collection #100) to give to a reader!  A $24.99 value, this contains 8 Fashion Colors each with its own brush and art pen in the follow colors: Purple, Aqua, Violet, Gold, White, Glitter Navy, Green and Orange, 4 Twist and Join Rings, 1 Design/Instruction Booklet and 1 Cleaning Pin (located inside the design booklet - you can also use it to help aid in designing).

One more thing - when you purchase any of their products, you can register on their website to get free* refills for US customers.  You pay $2.99 for shipping and processing and then choose any two colors you'd like - whether you need more of a color you already own or if you want to try out another color.  More information is available here.


This giveaway is available to all followers and you can earn more entries by the following methods:
(1) REQUIRED: Be a member of PolishGalore through Google Friend Connect. (What is GFC?)
(2) One extra entry: Follow Migi Nail Art on Blogger through Google Friend Connect.
(3) One extra entry: Follow me (Krystal) on Twitter.
(4) One extra entry: Follow Migi Nail Art on Twitter.
(5) One extra entry: Subscribe to Migi Nail Art on YouTube.
(6) One extra entry: "Like" Migi Nail Art on Facebook.


Please note that your information will never be shared with a 3rd Party Company, sold, or given out. 

This giveaway is now closed

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