China Glaze White Cap

Next in the Anchors Away collection is White Cap, a "whimsical and sparkling multi-dimensional white."  It's more like a milky base with a gold-orange duochrome shimmer running through it.  Now I'll be honest.  I thought (seeing from other blogs) that this was more of a yellow shade, but it's not - it's white...  It's also not opaque so if your nails are stained, it's going to show up.  I wasn't in love with it when I saw it at first, but it is a pretty color.


I used a base coat of Seche Natural, 2 coats of White Cap and no top coat.  After seeing how sheer it was, I layered it over CND Blackjack.  The formula was very nice - great coverage.

Look at all that shimmer!  It's just all over.  Very pretty.

Shade shows basically the same thing.  Does it look familiar to you?


For fun, I layered it over Life Preserver as well.

More gold, less green.

By itself, not so fun... over another color, lots of possibilities.  ^_^

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 Life Preserver vs OPI Cheyenne Pepper

See!  I'm not crazy!  In the bottle, China Glaze Life Preserver looks a lot like OPI Cheyenne Pepper.  


For Life Preserver, I had a base coat of Seche Natural, 2 coats of LP and a top of Seche Vite.  For Cheyenne Pepper, I had a base of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of CP and a top of OPI Top Coat.

Okay, now you can make fun of me.  Yes, in the bottle they look a like but on the nail - not even close.  Oops.

Yeah, you can really see how different they are now.  Oh well.

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 Cheyenne Pepper

I was one of the 150 winners of OPI's Facebook 100,000 Fans Giveaway and received 6 retired shades direct from OPI.  One of the 6 was Cheyenne Pepper, an orange-brown shimmer.  I read that this was from a 1996 collection called "Rocky Mountain" but don't hold me to it.


I used a base coat of OPI Natural Nail Base Coat, 2 coats of Cheyenne Pepper, and a top coat of OPI Top Coat.  The formula was very nice - played well with my nails.

As you can see, it's almost a rust type color - not what I expected, especially because in the bottle, it looked a lot like China Glaze Life Preserver (really!).

In the shade, it looks much more brown than orange - this is definitely a deceiving color.  I'm sure you can find it on eBay and possibly as a dusty at some salons or nail supply stores.


OPI is available 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. Please visit their website for details [official website].  



Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company because of a Facebook giveaway.  For more information, please read this post.

China Glaze Life Preserver

I'm starting off my review of China Glaze's spring collection Anchors Away, a nautical natural collection.  First today is Life Preserver, listed as a highly pigmented and luxurious poppy creme.  It's a bit of a darker orange (with a bit more brown tone) than the recent oranges I've seen.


I used a base coat of Seche Natural, 2 coats of Life Preserver and a top of Seche Vite.  I probably could have used a one coat, but I did two just to be safe.

I learned a lot about the poppy from work, and I know it's more of a red than an orange, so this was a bit confusing.  You can see how bright it is though - and yes, highly pigmented.

I also had one small bubbling issue in my middle finger - go figure.  In the shade, this looks more muted, but the sun picture is more accurate.  It's definitely a unique color!

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 LOL vs Virtual Violet

LOL on left, Virtual Violet on right

Another OMG Collection vs Tronica Collection post today as I'm making my way through now 2 boxes of unswatched but still new polishes.  I'm drowning in polish and couldn't be happier!


For this comparison I used a base coat of Seche Natural and 2 coats of polish.  As you can already see, LOL is a bit more blue than Virtual Violet, and then of course the linear holographic versus rainbow sparkle holographic.

As you can see, Virtual Violet is still super pretty.  Even better, I have this:

Now you can really tell the difference.

And a blah shade picture.  Oh shade.  You bore me.


I think my nails are just too long at this point and I'm ready to chop them all off.  They make it hard to type!


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].

Essence blossoms etc

Please enjoy the following press release from Essence

essence trend edition “blossoms etc…”

The time has come for blossoms to stretch their buds and face the sun, birds are chirping and nature is awakening from a winter slumber. It’s official, spring is here and thanks to essence, you can wear gorgeous colors of the season with the new essence trend edition “blossoms etc…!”

In April 2011, this new trend edition is spreading the joyous feeling of spring.  With their innovative products in gentle pastel shades and floral designs, essence will make achieving springtime radiance simple.

essence blossoms etc… nail polish

Get ready for springtime from head to toe! The enchanting and romantic colors of the blossoms etc… nail polishes will immediately put you in the mood for springtime. They are long-lasting, offer great coverage and have a subtle shimmer for perfect spring toenails and fingernails! Available in 

a hint of mint

I like

my fellow yellow

bloom-a-loom

forget-me-not

Around 1.79 €*.

Zoya Promotion

Update: 10:09 a.m. CST 4 March 2011.
I saw on Twitter (again from the Nailphile) that the Zoya promo is sold out and has been canceled effective immediately.  The blog posting is now gone from Zoya's website, and now they have confirmed on Twitter.  I didn't even get to place an order!  (It's only been 10 hours)




Thank you to the Nailphile for the first look - I didn't get the email but it's live on Zoya's website.

Zoya Get Your Green On Promotion

Get 3 of Zoya's best selling green nail polishes for $5*! This incredible offer includes Zoya Suvi, Zoya Shawn and Zoya Ivanka! Green polishes for work, play and everyday! Get this $24 value for $5* when you add it to your cart now! (You save $19!) Don’t miss out! This offer is only valid until March 8, 2011 at 11:59 EST! Limit one Trio per customer.

Here's how it works:

Add one  "Get Your Green on Trio" to your shopping cart.  Once in your cart a discount for $19.00 will appear, reducing the net Trio cost to $5.00.  Then just complete the checkout process.  Remember only one "Get Your Green on Trio" will be discounted. Any additional trios that you purchase will be at regular price.

(*Consumers  Only, Continental USA only, Valid Credit card with sufficient funds needed to process order, Limit one per customer. Any additional trios (Zoya Suvi, Zoya Ivanka can Zoya Shawn) be purchased at retail price. Valid ONLY FROM 3/4/2011 - 3/7/2011 at 11:59PM EST. Non-Transferable. Not Valid with any other promotions or offers. Standard S/H applies.)

I even posted in green for this special.  :)  Here is my link to Zoya Ivanka, and here is my link to Zoya Shawn.  I actually own Suvi as well but haven't reviewed it yet... that might be tomorrow's quest.

Catrice update

Please enjoy the following press release from Catrice:


Ultimate Nails
We want them all – 40 bright nail polishes – so pretty that we just can’t get enough. Each color makes a statement, fresh from the catwalks of the fashion metropoles around the world! Your nails – this season’s most beautiful accessory.




CATRICE Ultimate Nail Lacquer
A wow-effect is guaranteed: ultimate intensity, ultimate shine and ultimate coverage – now new 19 times over! With just one stroke of the innovative professional brush, your nails will become this season’s ultimate high fashion accessory - to go with every outfit and every mood. Formaldehyde-free. Around 2.49 €*.

CATRICE Ultimate Nudes NEW
The new elegance is delicate and nude. Six soft nude shades ranging from rosé to light beige - sometimes shimmering, sometimes with a subtle shine – tempt you towards a new, sophisticated style. Apply once for a natural effect and twice for more coverage. Formaldehyde-free. Around 2.49 €*.


CATRICE Quick Dry & High Shine Top Coat NEW
An absolute essential in a new outfit: the Quick Dry & High Shine Top Coat. Its tried and tested quality that makes nail polish dry faster, offers additional shine and gives it more resistance will remain the same: unbeatable! Formaldehyde-free. Around 2.49 €*.

CATRICE Prismatic Effects Top Coat NEW
Iridescent effects in white and blue turn this into a true eye-catcher: the Prismatic Effects Top Coat can be used solo or as a top coat to give other nail polishes a multi-facetted, duo chrome effect that changes according to the lighting. Simply irresistible! Formaldehyde-free. Around 2.49 €*.

China Glaze Sexagon vs Hologram vs OMG

L-R Sexagon, Hologram, OMG

As stated yesterday, the new Tronica collection, a Sally Beauty Exclusive, does not have a linear hologram effect like the OMG collection, but rather a rainbow sparkle hologram, much like the Kalidoscope collection.  Since I very luckily own all these collections now, I thought more comparisons are in order.  


I did not use a base or top coat on these swatches but did use 3 coats of each polish.  Sexagon is the least opaque of the three, OMG is second, but Hologram's formula is far better than the others - I could have gotten away with just one coat, and that's the hidden beauty of this collection.

In the sun you can see that Sexagon and Hologram are more closely related and again, please note that Sexagon isn't as easy to apply as Hologram.  OMG is the lone linear hologram that I own currently.

You can see the opacity in the shade picture - notice the bald spots on the index nail with Sexagon versus the completely covered middle finger in Hologram.  Win!


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].

China Glaze OMG vs China Glaze Hologram

Tronica has landed at Sally's Beauty Supply!  I was literally there at opening to get my set of 12 holo pretties.  The manager was totally laughing at me, but I just laughed back.  I even put the display up for her (heh).  My store only got 2 full sets, and I bought my set and 5 more for an Aussie friend, so I felt a little bad leaving such an empty display but another employee said they may get another set (or two) soon.  (Yeah right)

OMG on the left, Hologram on the right

Now the big question has been "Are these the original "OMG!" Collection holos?!"  I'm going to be up front and said it - no.  These are more like the Kalidoscope holos (in my opinion) which were more of a glittery holo than the OMG holos which were more of a linear rainbow across the nail.  Sorry friends.


I used a base coat of Seche Natural and 3 coats of each polish.  I did not use a top coat.  OMG is still very streaky and can leave bald spots (a problem with that collection).  I'm going to be purchasing the Nfu-Oh Aqua base next month when they get in a couple of colors I had back ordered but part of me wants it NOW.  I'm told that GOSH also has an Aqua Base that works just as well.  (Aqua bases claim to adhere better with holographic polishes).

My nails are getting ridiculously long.  As you can see in the sun, OMG is a smoother finish which throws off a linear rainbow (you can see the colors across the nail), where Hologram is more of a rainbow glitter spread across the nail.

Holos in the shade, are just blah.  They are never show themselves off and are just kinda bland.


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].