Illamasqua Vice

Here's a change of pace - Illamasqua Vice from Theatre of the Nameless.  The coolest part of this collection for me is the rubber/plastic finish, much like ORLY Purple Pleather.  I used a base of Duri Rejuvocate and 2 coats of polish.

I've mentioned this before, but the square cap comes off for a smaller round top.  It's not necessary for painting but some people prefer it over a square top.

Here it is in the sun - nice and rubbery and red.  It's not matte, it's not shiny... love the different finish here!

In the shade, the color is really nice and strong.  The red/purple berry is a great compliment for my skin.

Indoors with the flash is a bit hard on the eyes but not terrible.


Then, because I can't leave things alone, I added a top coat of CND Air Dry.

I don't know if it's a reaction of CND with Illamasqua or just the rubbery finish but check out how weird this turned out!  I left my pinkie alone but the other nails just seem streaky now.

It's a bit better in the shade but still - no bueno.  I will have to try a different top coat next time to see what the difference is.


For those in the States, you can purchase Illamasqua from Sephora [official website] for $14 a bottle.

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 Trendsetter

I love China Glaze.  I've loved them ever since I got (back) into nail polish back in mid 2009.  I would own every single color if I could and never buy another brand again.  (Oh yes, I said that.)  But honestly, I hate this color.


Trendsetter is a NYC mustard brown with gold shimmer.  At least, I think this is what NYC mustard looks like.  I'm going off super limited knowledge of one episode of "Girls Next Door" that was on at the gym one night.  This polish was from the fall 2011 Metro collection.


I used a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, 2 coats of polish and a top of CND Air Dry.  Formula was a little thick on the brush but then would be runny on the nails, so as always, thin coats to win.

This color is definitely darker that OPI Simply Smash-ing and more opaque.  The boyfriend hated this color, and normally he's pretty forgiving and interested in what I'm wearing (even the blues, which I'm always iffy on).

I like this color much more in the shade.  You can see the shimmer, it doesn't completely clash with my skin tone... I'm liking you a little better, Trendsetter.

This is another one of those polishes that doesn't like to be focused on with the flash.  Or I just suck at being still - either way, I apologize for the blurriness.  Indoors with the flash and you can see the shimmer and the unique brown yellow of this polish.  This will probably sit on my shelf for a good long time, I'm telling you right now.

China Glaze can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty, Sally's Beauty Supply as well as TransDesign.  You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

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

Color Club Artsy Crafty

Lately I've been ridiculously "Artsy Crafty", mostly working on cross-stitch projects but that can be talked about another time.  :] (Or just go to that link to see.)  Today's Color Club is from the Back to Boho Collection and is a dark pine green creme  Formula was good on this.  I used a base of Duri Rejuvacote, 2 coats of polish and a top of CND Air Dry.

Here in the sun you can see that this is a pretty dark and opaque green.  Frankly, I think it's beautifully pigmented but not my style.

You can see how lush it is in the shade as well.  Great for fall or for a base for some nail art or Konad.

Sorry for the slightly blurry indoors with the flash picture.  Not much else to say here.  If you're looking for a good formula, opaque and pigmented dark green creme, look no further!

Color Club is located on several etailers, including Head2Toe Beauty which has it for $3.00.  You can also Like them on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter.

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

Rafflecopter Giveaway!

After all the information that came out in 2011 about bloggers and giveaways, I had partnered with the Beauty Blogger Coalition for my giveaways and that's where I learned about Rafflecopter.


They have gained a lot of popularity and to kick off 2012 & their new version of Rafflecopter, they are having their own giveaway!


The giveaway starts today, 9 January and lasts for one month.  To enter, simply say who referred you [Krystal Seidel]


Please note that this giveaway is open to legal residents of the US and to Canadians age 13+.


One winner will receive an iPad2 (Wifi, 16 gig)
One winner will receive an Amazon Kindle Fire


If you win, and listed that I referred you, I will also win a Kindle Fire.  (Sweet!)  Good luck!

Naked Nails

So I like to go at least once a month to have my nails shaped and my cuticles removed.  It's relaxing for me, and I know I'm in good hands (hah!)


I took these pictures before I went in December - I've been using Duri Rejuvacote every day and am shocked at how long my nails grew!  I don't notice any extra strength in them, but the length has been great!

You see my left hand all the time, but I also have my *dun dun dun!* right hand!

Boo awkward hand position.


I do hate how thin my nails are and yes I have loads of ridges, but keep your nails free of stains by always using a base coat before you polish your nails.  :]

How To Remove Glitter Nail Polish

Glitter nail polish: It's BEAUTIFUL but yes, it's a pain to remove!  I used to be one who would take pure acetone and stick my fingers in it, leaving me with cold wrinkled fingers that were very dried out.  I also would attempt to take a little cotton wipe and scrub*scrub*scrub my nails until I could scrape it all off.  I've even peeled glitter polish off before (do not do this.)  Then, one day, I read about the foil method.


Now many a blogger has their method, their tools, their tricks.  This is simply the way I've been doing it.  :]


Materials
-Zoya Remove+.  This is step "1" in the Zoya Color Lock system.  It's a mild acetone remover with a pleasant lavender scent.  I also adore the plunger top, which allows you to get the remover just where you want it.  You can also relock the bottle's lid for travel or storage.
-Felt.  I bought mine at Hobby Lobby - I'm using white as I'm not sure how acetone and dyed felt react.
-Aluminum foil.  Just a square will do - you'll be crumpling it up as you go.

I like to use 2 pumps of Remove+ straight on my square of felt and then wrap the felt around my finger tip.  This allows for all the remover to be on your nail, not your skin.

Next, wrap a square of aluminum foil around your finger.  Wrap as tightly as you can so there is some pressure on the felt.

Do the rest of your fingers on one hand.  After the last finger, wait a good 5 minutes before attempting to remove.  Yes I know this part is boring.  Do it anyway.


I like to unwrap the foil from my finger, and then pressing down on the felt, pull it off my finger.

Fold over the felt and remove any glitter that didn't come off in the initial slide of the felt.  Providing you covered your nail in felt, it will be easy to remove.


Finally, treat your nails to a cuticle oil of your choice.  I'm using Julep Essential Cuticle Oil from my September American Beauty Julep Maven box. [Julep referral link]

Ta da!  Hopefully this makes your glitter wearing a bit more bearable! 

Color Club Sugarplum Fairy

I'm so in love with Sugarplum Fairy from the 2011 Winter Color Club collection "Beyond the Mistletoe" that I've worn it twice already.  That's saying something.  I tried hard to snag a bottle when I was at Cosmoprof Las Vegas but they wouldn't let me take it.  But now you're MINE.


In the promo picture, the color looked lavender.  In person, the color looks much more silver but I assure you it's a lavender base with tons of holographic glitter.  I used a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, 2 coats of polish and a top of CND Air Dry.  The polish formula was slightly thick and you'll see that application was a tiny bit patchy.  I don't care, I love this polish.

BOO CLOUDS.  Okay, so this color is pretty hard to photograph.  Because of all the crazy awesome glitter, it just looks better blurry.  I have some crazy blurry pictures here but I'm saving your eyes because they will just becoming obliterated.  

Here in the shade you can see the purple much better.  And you can also see some of the splotchy/patchy parts.  I'd like to thin my bottle out a bit at another date.

Indoors with the flash: Middle finger is a bad patchy offender, but overall I really love this color.  I was able to wear this for several days before the polish started to chip on me and then I HAAAATED taking it off because it's so pretty!  

Color Club is located on several etailers, including Head2Toe Beauty which has it for $3.00.  You can also Like them on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter.

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 Love Marilyn

More Eye Candy from China Glaze - this is Love Marilyn!  This is a clear base with red and silver glitter.  I really wish this had been a red base but since it's not, I just grabbed City Siren to layer under.


I used a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, 2 coats of polish and a top of CND Air Dry.  This is a "thirsty" glitter and even after 2 coats of CND Air Dry (taken after the photos), my nails were still gritty to the touch.

So the glitter totally got messed up on my pinkie, but still you can see the range of the glitter.  On the bare nail (pinkie and ring) it's good because you have both small and medium red glitter but on the ring and middle finger where I have a coat of City Siren, you don't see the red glitter as much as you see the silver.  (Whoa that was a really long sentence.)

Kind of the same story in the shade?  It almost reminds me of Ruby Pumps with a kick of silver.  Why silver, I wonder.

Finally indoors with the flash and it just looks like a hot mess.  The glitter is way too much for my camera to handle.  Lovely glitter, must use foil to remove (post coming soon!).

China Glaze can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty, Sally's Beauty Supply as well as TransDesign.  You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

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 City Siren

How many red cremes can a girl have?  (Don't make me really answer that one.)  Pulling from the Fall 2011 Metro Collection, City Siren is deep red creme is pretty awesome.  I used a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, 1 coat of polish and I skipped a top coat because I loved the shine on this color.

So the sun was hiding for the day, so here's a nice cloudy picture.  Boo.  But yes, look at the shine!  Look at the opacity!  Love love love!

Here in the shade is also just really in your face.  It's like "HELLO OUT THERE."  Why did I wait so long to use this?!

Finally indoors with the flash and you can barely tell where my nails end and my bottle begins, haha.  Can't help it - I love this color and she's sticking around for a long time.

China Glaze can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty, Sally's Beauty Supply as well as TransDesign.  You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

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

NYC/Rusk Being Sexy Event

Please enjoy the following press release from Rusk!  I have a bunch of Rusk products (hair) and use their blow-dryer all the time!

RUSK hosted Being Sexy Hair Care Preview

with Sexy New York Housewife Sonja Morgan & the Sexy Firemen of the Nations Bravest Calendar

Building on the success of Being Sexy® Hair Spray, Rusk is excited to introduce an entire Being Sexy® lifestyle brand of salon professional hair care products. Featuring Shampoo, Conditioner and a full-range of styling and finishing products including a gel, mousse, creme, oil and the original ultimate finish Being Sexy® hairspray. Formulated to deliver voluptuous volume, tousled texture and seductive shine for “uninhibited hair,” these new products are sure satisfy.

To celebrate the launch of these sexy, inspired products, Rusk haircare is hosting a special product preview on December 15th, 2011 at the Chelsea Room (222 West 23rd Street) with special guests: New York Housewife Sonja Morgan and the firemen of the Nations Bravest Calendar.  Also in attendance will be celebrity stylist Jon Reyman to provide hair consultations and share expert styling tips and tricks to get the very most out of the new Being Sexy line of products.  Samples of all seven launches: Being Sexy Cream, Being Sexy Oil, Being Sexy Gel, Being Sexy Hairspray, Being Sexy Mousse, Being Sexy Shampoo and Being Sexy Conditioner will be available, exclusively at this preview before they hit shelves in Ulta and salons across the nation in March 2012.