ManGlaze Butt Taco

This is another upcoming color from ManGlaze so "ignore the bottle, ignore the name" - just check out the color!  It's a bright orange matte with a bit of red in it - not really a tomato color but not carrot orange either.  This is 3 thin coats with no base or top coat.

Sorry for the blurry shade picture.  But you can see the color - just squint a little...


And because I can't leave stuff alone, here's a top coat over it.

Mmm, pretty shiny stuff that's all kinds of good.  Even if this color's name reminds me of a bad day at a Mexican place.  

And then in the shade.  Fun times!  This color isn't out yet but can you stand the wait?!

You can purchase ManGlaze on their website.  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 because of a Twitter giveaway.  For more information, please read this post.

Jesse's Girl Trouble Maker

Another Eye Dust for you today from Jesse's Girl - this is Trouble Maker, a light blue that has a bit of white mixed in with it.

Once again (heh), the pot looks much darker than the actual swatch.  With pigments, you only need to use a little to make a big statement.  I really should have swatched all these wet too (using a primer like Urban Decay Primer Potion) in order to show the difference.  I'm still new to the whole cosmetics swatching.  I have been an avid fan of Temptalia and FrmHeadToToe and well, I'm learning.

Side shot in the sun for opacity.

Here it is in the shade, and the payout isn't as pretty as I hoped but it's still a nice blue.  I'm still new to wild colors as eyeshadow.  :)

Jesse's Girl sells for $4.99 a piece online or at Rite Aid stores. You can visit Jesse's Girl on their website, Like them on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me using store credit for external work I provided.  For more information, please read this post.

Jesse's Girl Starshine

Today's Eye Dust from Jesse's Girl is Starshine, a snow white glitter pigment.  Not much surprise there - good for the inner eye or just to layer with another color.

Pure sun, and you can see that just one pat (no primer) has a lot of payout.

Shifted slightly to show opacity.

And once in the shade for good measure.  ^_^  If I was still in my early 20s, I'd probably wear this a LOT as a highlight, but I'm just going to have to see how I want to use it now.

Jesse's Girl sells for $4.99 a piece online or at Rite Aid stores. You can visit Jesse's Girl on their website, Like them on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me using store credit for external work I provided.  For more information, please read this post.

OPI Pink Shatter

Please enjoy the following press release from OPI!

Let’s Shatter Breast Cancer!

OPI Announces New Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts Nail Lacquer to Support

Susan G. Komen for the Cure^®

             OPI launches the limited edition Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts Nail Lacquer to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure^® in its promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever.  The 2011 Pink of Hearts edition will follow in the footsteps of its namesake 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Nail Lacquers in raising awareness of breast cancer for the fifth year in a row, during the months of September and October (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month).  Unlike previous shade incarnations, this year’s Pink of Hearts Nail Lacquer marks the debut of fan-favorite Shatter coat in OPI’s first pink shade. 

“We are continuing to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure in the hopes of increasing breast cancer awareness, while inspiring and empowering women.  The organization’s dedication to this cause is unwavering,” remarks Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “OPI is proud to join with Susan G. Komen for the fifth consecutive year to offer Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts.  By launching our first-ever Pink Shatter coat, we hope this exciting new textured hue will generate lots of awareness for this cause.”

Each bottle of Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts has a special pink-ribbon tag and pink cap wrap to call attention to breast cancer awareness.  OPI will also be making its annual donation of $25,000 to Komen for the Cure. Pink Shatter coat contains no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and it also features OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application.

The limited edition Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts will be available throughout the months of September and October 2011 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. 

            For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

###

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which is now the world’s largest breast cancer organization and the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer with more than $1.9 billion invested to date. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

Jesse's Girl Indian Summer

Today's makeup review is the EyeDust from Jesse's Girl Cosmetics called Indian Summer - an orange brown color.  When I opened this one, it poofed up in a cloud of sparkles all over my desk, which wasn't fun to clean up but made me really sparkly until I showered.


This is one quick pat, no primer, dry.

Here in the sun, you can see again that it looks darker in the container than on my skin.  It almost blends in with my skin tone here.

Again in the sun you can see the gold/brown/orange coming through.  Reminds me of a clay pot.

And finally in the shade.  I had forgotten to take a picture of this (and Ultra Violet) inside with the flash but because there isn't a duochrome property to this color, I completely didn't think about it.  Even though it's super glittery, it would be a good "neutral" color for brown eyes.

Jesse's Girl sells for $4.99 a piece online or at Rite Aid stores. You can visit Jesse's Girl on their website, Like them on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me using store credit for external work I provided.  For more information, please read this post.

FingerPaints Fall Fashionista

Please enjoy the following press release from FingerPaints!

Catwalk Queen

Stunning Stilettos

Cordur-Orange

Vintage Velvet

Military Green

Haute Taupe

To-Teally Teal

Purple Pinstripe

Raspberry Tafetta

In stores and online starting August 2011.  $4.99 each

Zoya Jana

When Zoya's fall Smoke and Mirrors collection arrived at my house, I decided that instead of swatching my favorites first, I'd attempt to go in order.  Then I realized how many other polishes I had first, haha.  Well, not FIRST, but I still have to show you Zoya Touch!  Jana is from the "Smoke" collection and is a "smoky mauve quartz creme."  I used a base coat of Zoya Get Even, one coat of polish (instead of 2) and a top coat of Zoya Armor.

In the sun you can see it's kind of a mushroom purple taupe - but without any of the shimmer in it.  Definitely a good fall color (even though I'm totally not ready for fall!)

Random, I know, but I love how this polish looks smokey in the bottle.  It's a new texture!  Overall I'm iffy on this color.  I like it for fall, but it's not a good staple for me.  I'm still new to the whole "other side" of nail polish - dark colors that aren't red (or purple!).  It's pretty but I don't know that I'd buy it alone.

Zoya can be purchased on their website for $8/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.

Jesse's Girl Ultra Violet

Decided to get a few more of these swatched.  I decided to list all my pigments on another spreadsheet here and now I feel like I need to swatch them ALL.  One day, one day.  So Jesse's Girl Cosmetics Ultra Violet is a light purple eye dust with almost a pink lavender hue.

It looks so much darker in the pot than on the arm.  Again, this is one swipe of product, no primer.

Here's a side shot in the sun, and you can see how it's not opaque.

Here it is in the shade, and I don't know what on earth happened haha.  It almost looks chalky?  I think it's just bad lighting.  I'm obsessed with purple, so you better believe I'll be using this a LOT.

Jesse's Girl sells for $4.99 a piece online or at Rite Aid stores. You can visit Jesse's Girl on their website, Like them on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me using store credit for external work I provided.  For more information, please read this post.

Karmin G3 Review

Image from Hair Products Pro

Back in November of last year, I was given the opportunity to review a Karmin G3 Salon Pro.  I was flat ironing my hair quite a bit at the time - several times a week to almost every day, and I was just using one that I had purchased at either Sally's Beauty Supply or Wal-Mart... definitely didn't know much about them.  

Now, I don't know how to do anything special with flat irons - I can just straighten my hair.  The Karmin has 1" pure tourmaline ceramic plates and reaches a max temp of 450 degrees (minimum of 180).  I didn't love that the on/off switch and the temperature dial are located on the inside of the plates, because I figured I'd burn myself, but knock on wood - I haven't so far.

As for the actual straightener, it did do a great job at leaving my hair smooth and shiny after just the first use, and has continued to perform without any fail.  It's listed as one of the best straighteners on Hair Products Pro's website and I do see why.  Compared to my much cheaper version, it did work after the first pass through my hair - I don't have to go over it several times.  I have not noticed any real damage from the flat iron (I do use a hair serum before hand) which was also key because I don't want to fry my hair.

For fun, here are two pictures of my hair before and after.

Okay, so I added a little makeup to my face too (but not in Photoshop!).  Now for the big question... would I buy it?  I do love how this works and while I don't know that I could fork over full price, for $130, I would definitely consider purchasing it again.  I really do love how well it works, how fast the iron heats up and how my hair has not had damage.  I do wish the on/off switch & dial were on the outside (as I mentioned above) but it's not a deal breaker.

The Karmin sells for $300.00 but you can purchase it from the link in the first paragraph for $129.95.

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 Too Hot Pink To Hold 'Em

So, now that I'm done with the first half of the Texas collection, it's time for the second half.  I had previously mentioned that there was a LOT of online chatter about how nail techs/cosmetologists did NOT like this half of the collection, called "sorbets" but also known to bloggers as a "jelly".  The formula is not (and will not become) fully opaque, as you will see below.  Like a neon, you can layer this over a white (like OPI Alpine Snow) in order to achieve opaque color.  I decided to show these colors as is, no white base, so you can see what I'm talking about.


I used a base of OPI Natural Nail, 2 coats of Too Hot Pink To Hold 'Em, and a top of OPI Top Coat.  This is a very bright pink, almost neon, but just very red.

Here in the sun, the color looks pretty awesome!  If you look on my index though, you can see a bit of black on the tip.  That's not dirt under my nails, it's the cap of the bottle showing through the sheerness of this polish.

In the shade, this color doesn't look half bad either.  I actually like it a lot.

Finally here indoors with the flash can you see the true problems with this polish.  As you can see, it has a lot of bald spots on my fingers.  Not kidding when I say this is not and will not be an opaque color.  I've seen some bloggers do some neat things with sorbet polishes - layering, using them with French manicures...  I think it might even work well in a water marble!  I have 5 more to debut so you'll get to see why people have been more frustrated than in love with this collection, but again - just add a coat of white polish underneath to make it pop!

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 for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

Cult Nails Hypnotic Collection

Please enjoy the following press release from Cult Nails!  (I purchased all 9 colors during the Cult Convert sale, and I get the privilege of meeting owner Maria at the end of this month for Cosmoprof North America in Las Vegas!)

Fall 2011 - Hypnotic Collection


The Hypnotic Collection includes 4 new shades by Cult Nails. 'In a Trance' shifts from olive green to a muted gold and has an enchanting shimmer that brings it to life. 'Enigmatic' is a purple base with silver shimmer that draws flashes of red, blue, purple, and pink sparkle in the sunlight. 'Awakening' is a muted teal that has a rich creme finish that dries to the perfect Cult Nails shine and is perfect for any skin tone and age group. Finally, 'Hypnotize Me' lives up to it's name as an ice green sheer jelly with vibrant blue and green glitter that is marvelous on its own or layered over any color in this collection!


Cult Nails polishes retail for $10 (USD) for each 0.5 fl oz bottle; pre-sales for this collection will cost $30 (USD) for the set of 4 (plus the cost of shipping).


It's time to get HYPNOTIZED...  Shop now 

Nail Files "Walter's Big, Fat Russian Birthday Party" Breakdown

Image from TV Guide Network's Facebook Page

Birthday party, Jersey Shore girls and stealing tips (money, not the nails)?!  It's another episode of Nail Files and it starts with Wonderful Walter doing the dishes and making coffee and FORGETTING VALENTINE'S DAY?!  But never fear, he picks some flowers out of the yard, sticks them in a glass and surprises Katie with them.  And then tells her how he's going to be doing all his daily chores.  Seriously - I need one of these in my lives.


His birthday is coming up (53!) so Katie wants to throw a huge Russian birthday party at Romanov - all Russian and totally Walter.  Too cute, seriously.


Down at the Painted Nail, and "everywhere you look" it's totally Candace Cameron Burke.  (Oh yes, I did sing the song in my head.)  I didn't know that Candace was on Make it Or Break It and neither did Katie, who busts out in a half handstand (which by the way, was better than I can do).


Back in the boutique, sounds like Tina is stealing tips and I'm thinking someone's going to get cut - LA style.


Katie gets to Romanov's (late) and it's a fancy place for sure.  All the red wallpaper with gold scrolls was killing my TV.  (The shaky camera was also killing me, but that's another story.)  So time to throw around numbers.  "$12,000?  No, I want $5,000!  Guess what - I own a nail salon and you have females in your life.  WIN."  Classic.


Hey Katie, I have a blog... You have nail polish...  Just saying.  (Totally kidding - I already have my Nail Files prize pack from Twitter - LOVE.)


Back to Tina and the missing tips.  Here's the thing - this is reality TV.  They are going to show the most outrageous moments they can find... and a money scandal is always good.


Katie has decided to learn a traditional Russian Gypsie Dance, and since Katie has an "excellent dance background", she's going to kill it.  She does seem to get it a lot quicker than I would, but I have to see something a thousand times when it comes to dance.


So back to Tina... and she's sending tons of weird text messages - almost obsessive.  Additionally she was telling Katie how she could better her business.  Uh, what?  (Also note: Katie doesn't like texting.  Crap.  Allow me to put my phone up.)  And spreading rumors that about threesomes?!  Come on now.


Okay, it's the time in the show where Katie vents to Walter and Walter comes to the rescue!  I really like him.  


Katie gets everything ready for the party including an awesome blue dress.  That girl knows how to party.  While Walter is looking for Katie, she's sneaked off to the bathroom to don her black wig and get ready to dance her heart out.  I think Walter is going to pass out in excitement when he realizes that Katie is up there dancing for him.  He looks so happy and so in love.


Random but Kenny G is all OVER the place right now.  Anyone else notice that?!  I thought that was him next to Walter at the party, but then when he was on stage playing his sax?  And what's up with the cameo in the Katy Perry video?  You're the man, Kenny.


Back to the Painted Nail and hold the phone, the Jersey Shore girls walk in.  Now it's probably not COMPLETELY random... the producer of JS is the producer of NF...  But hey, I love cross-overs.


Up next week, we get to see those Jersey girls in action and Tina goes cra cra!


Nail Files airs on the TV Guide Network Tuesdays at 10/9c.


Happy Dance!: I asked Katie on Twitter if I'd see her in two weeks at Cosmoprof and she said yes!  Here's hoping she and I can snag a Cape Cod or 10...  and a picture.  ;]

Nicole by OPI Something About Color

Please enjoy the following press release from Nicole by OPI!

Target-ed Color for Fall!

Nicole by OPI Launches Four New Shades, Exclusively for Target

Nicole by OPI adds four new shades to Something About Color, exclusively retailed at Target. From olive green and periwinkle to deep burgundy and classic red, these four hues are designed to transition manicures from summer to fall with on-trend colors.

“Nicole by OPI has taken the Something About Spring collection that launched in Target this past March and added new shades to take the line from Spring to Fall,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “Target has become a hub for fashionable consumers, which is why the new colors feature some of the season’s hottest hues, like red [I Love You Cherry Much], which will appear this winter as an accent shade to add a bright pop of richly-pigmented color. The neutral trend will also continue, adding elements of taupe, khaki and olive green [Green Up Your Act!] to the current favorites of nude, tan and grey.”

Nicole by OPI additions to Something About Color include:

Green Up Your Act!

This powerful olive-green has its eyes on you!

Sounds Grape to Me

A shimmering burgundy that’s up for anything!

It’s Not Me, It’s Blue

Pretty periwinkle, you had me at “shimmer.”

I Love You Cherry Much

Hold onto this romantic red – it’s a keeper.

Nicole by OPI Nail Lacquers and Nail Treatments contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde. Nicole by OPI formulas are long-lasting, fast-drying, and salon-quality, with products featuring the Perfect Stroke brush for streak-free, even coverage. The new Something About Color Nail Lacquers will be available August 2011 for $7.04 each at select Target locations nationwide and Target.com.

For more information, visit nicolebyopi.com. Follow Nicole by OPI on Twitter @NicoleByOPI and become a Facebook fan! 

ManGlaze Metal Licka/Mink Mitten

Update 7 September 2011: ManGlaze, cheeky fellows they are, have renamed this polish "Mink Mitten".

"Think of this as Hot Mess's illegitimate offspring. "You got blingy shit in my purple!" "You got purpley shit in my bling bling!" And a new star is born. You may have seen a sneaky peek of this color under the name Metal Licka at PolishGalore.com but we couldn't resist a little inside joke. We're calling this one the Mink Mitten. It's a nickname we had for the Michigan peepshow/adult novelty chain, The Velvet Touch."

Ignore the bottle design and kind of ignore the name... This is one of the 3 new colors that ManGlaze is creating - release date has not been announced.  The name is temporary but for today, this is definitely Metal Licka.  It's like Fuggen Ugly and Hot Mess had a baby... and then fell into some grapes or something.  It's a matte finish despite having all the silver glitter running through it. I put this directly on my nails - no base, no top coat and just one coat of polish.  You can see a tiny bit of balding on the index and ring fingers but that could have been corrected with just another coat of polish.  Because this is a matte, it did dry fast.


Seriously.  Purple.  Glitter.  Matte.  Win.  Cue sun!

Here it is in the shade.


And of course, I can never leave things alone.  Here it is with a top coat of Seche Vite.  First in the sun:

Definitely need to wear 2 coats of polish - you can see the balding on my index badly now.


Now in the shade:

I haven't done a wear test yet, but it is a matte, so you know they don't wear as long as something sealed with a base/top coat.  As I mentioned before, this is not for sale yet.


You can purchase ManGlaze on their website.  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 because of a Twitter giveaway.  For more information, please read this post.