a-england Tristam

I have been admiring a-england from afar, but finally after Christmas, I made my first purchases.  This is Tristam, a royal blue holographic polish from the Mythicals collection.  I used a base coat of Poshe, one coat of polish and no top coat.  Look how opaque this beauty is!  AND THE HOLOGRAPHICS!!!!  Oh man.  Formula was a dream.

Sun overload!  So I finally figured out what's up with my index finger always having opaque problems.  I have a thin index nail.  It just happens - nothing wrong with the polishes I use, just I have a thin nail.

Even in the shade, you can see a bit of the holographic sparkle (barely, but it's there, okay?).

Finally indoors with the flash and BLAM.  Look how amazing this color is?!  I didn't have any staining with this polish but I only wore it for a day, so I don't know if longer = staining.


Tristam (UK£ 9.00) is currently out of stock from a-england [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter], but for those in the US, there are 2 e-tailers.  I purchased my bottle from OverallBeauty for $12 and she has this listed as on back-order.  Llarowe is the other US e-tailer and she also sells it for $12 and apparently has almost 50 available still.

deborah lippmann at Bill Blass

Nails really were the hottest accessory for Fashion Week - please enjoy the following from Deborah Lippmann! All images courtesy of TLCommunications.

Backstage at Bill Blass Fall 2012

For this collection, Bill Blass envisioned a modern nail that was a bit of a departure from past seasons. Deborah Lippmann decided on a duet, which is a sophisticated way to wear nail art by taking a modern approach to a classic French manicure. Single Ladies, a flirtatious bordeaux red, was on the nail with a never‐seen dusty nude shade across the tip. To create a similar look, use Fashion, a not‐so‐typical taupe, across the tip of the nail.


The modern nail, showcasing a crème on crème look, is a new and fun way to play with color. It gives the nail a bit of an edge and playfulness that is easy for anyone to create! We’re seeing a new trend come to life with this duet look.

$16 each, available at www.deborahlippmann.com

Twitter Handle: @DeborahLippmann

Elixir Lacquers A Cool Fool

During a recent sale by Elixir Lacquers, A Cool Fool was given if you purchased 2 polishes.  This is a "holographic" rainbow glitter top coat in a clear base, much like China Glaze Fairy Dust.  Unfortunately, it was super cloudy this day, so you can't see all the prettiness in the bottle, and instead it appears to be a silver glitter.


I decided to use my existing China Glaze Electric Beat manicure, 1 coat of A Cool Fool, and a top of CND Air Dry.

You can see that the coverage is excellent for just one coat.

Loads of indirect sun pictures here - but you can finally see all the pretty rainbows that appear!  For anyone that missed out or can't find Fairy Dust, this is a great duplicate.  I had heard that Fairy Dust was discontinued, but my Sally's Beauty Supply still carries and restocks it, often, so who knows.

Slight blur to see the happy rainbows.

And finally indoors with the flash to show off the bottle, mostly.  Removal wasn't bad but I did have to wash my hands well to get all the microglitter off.

Elixir Lacquers [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter] is available on their website for $10 a bottle.  Please note that every bottle of Elixir Lacquers is made to order, and therefore may have slight color variances.

CND London Daily Nail 2.21.12 Burnt Parchment Manis at Giles

Winding down fashion week from CND - please enjoy the following (all images courtesy of CND)

CND London Daily Nail 2.21.12

Burnt Parchment Manis at Giles

February 21, 2012 - London's calling! The CND Daily Nail brings you the latest CND London Fashion Week runway nail styles created for designers Giles and Moschino:


At Giles, Marian Newman for CND designed a burnt parchment-inspired nail using a combination of colors to achieve the perfect shade. "Fingers and toes were not to match but had to be from the same family of colour" says Marian. "We custom blended CND Desert Suede (75%) with Sophia (25%) giving a 'licked by flame' effect; for toes we submerged into burnt brown combining CND Chocolate Milk, Sophia, a hint of Guava and a drop of Blackjack".

At Moschino, CND's Liza Smith created a Soft Peach semi-opaque manicure by blending CND Colour in Creamy Cameo with Studio White. The designer wanted the nail to mirror the exact colour of a pom-pom neck scarf from the collection.

To read Jan Arnold's daily backstage blog, please visit cnd.com. Track @CNDWorld during Fashion Week, on Facebook, Pinterest and on YouTube.

China Glaze Electric Beat

Another cloudy day, another spring polish to attempt to bring some happiness to my day!  From the China Glaze ElectroPop collection, this is Electric Beat, a light dusty blue that some have said is a lighter version of Secret Peri-Wink-Le.  I used a base coat of Poshe, 2 coats of polish and a top of CND Air Dry.  This polish had the oddest consistency.  It was crazy thick and yet runny at the same time.  You had to wipe the brush carefully so the polish wouldn't pool onto the brush as you were applying.

Despite the weird application, it looks flawless on the nail.  I actually really like this color even though it's a blue (my normal DO NOT WANT) but I'm not sure I could wear it alone.  (More on that later.)

In the shade, I have a bit of lobster hands going on but the polish is still crisp.

And finally indoors with the flash - can we say electric?  Or not... I'm not sure I'd REALLY call this an electric blue just because I think of a brighter color than this, but it's definitely a pretty spring color.

China Glaze [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter] can be found online through several etailers, including my favorite Head2Toe Beauty, Sally's Beauty Supply as well as TransDesign.

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

deborah lippmann at Badgley Mischka

Oh yes, I still have more fashion week items to post!  While it happened almost a month ago, the press releases are still rolling in - and I love reading them, so hopefully you enjoy them too!  Please enjoy the following from Deborah Lippmann "Backstage at Badgley Mischka"!  All images courtesy of TLCommunications.

Backstage at Badgley Mischka Fall 2012

This season, Badgley Mischka envisioned an original nail look to complement the collection which was inspired by the light angles and geometry of the German Impressionist film, “Metropolis.” Deborah Lippmann came up with a sophisticated and playful spin on nail art, with a modern French manicure. The short, feminine nail had Dark Side of the Moon, an absolute aubergine shade, with a subtle pop of shimmer on the tip with Nefertiti, a modern micro fine golden frost.

$16 each, available at www.deborahlippmann.com

 Twitter Handle: @DeborahLippmann

Poshe AHA Cuticle Care

Continuing with the Poshe line, I decided to test out their AHA Cuticle Care - a unique blend of Alpha Hydroxy Acids and botanicals are specially formulated to exfoliate and hydrate problem cuticles. It can also be used on elbows, feet and other dry areas. Great for preventing hangnails while promoting healthy nail growth.


A squeeze tube with a precision tip.

Be careful, one little squeeze goes a LONG way.

Then just rub it into your finger and enjoy the softness!

Before polishing your nails again, make sure to wipe your nail with nail polish remover to clean any oils or lotion off the nail plate.  I prefer using Zoya Remove+.


Typically, I apply cuticle lotion, balm, or oil at least once a week but I really should be doing it every day especially in the dry heat.  I used to get terrible cuticles but with proper maintenance and care, you can help avoid them!


You can see their website as to where to purchase their products in the US (my local Sally's has them!).  I've seen the price range from $5.50 to $7 for their cuticle cream.


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

Nail Files - Season Two!

On February 13th, Katie Cazorla shared that Nail Files officially has been green lit for season 2! I'm stoked to watch - what about you?  Please enjoy the following press release from TV Guide!

TV GUIDE NETWORK'S ORIGINAL REALITY SERIES "NAIL FILES"

RETURNS FOR SEASON TWO

Executive Producer SallyAnn Salsano to Bring Viewers More Reality Drama with Series Star Katie Cazorla and Her Expanding Nail Empire

LOS ANGELES (February 13, 2012) – TV Guide Network has announced that it will bring back a second season of “Nail Files,” an original reality series from ratings juggernaut reality producer SallyAnn Salsano (Executive Producer of “Jersey Shore”). “Nail Files” launched in summer 2011 and delivered TV Guide Network’s highest ratings for an original series premiere. The second season, produced by Salsano and her team at 495 Productions, will feature series star and The Painted Nail salon owner Katie Cazorla. It is scheduled to air on TV Guide Network this summer.

“‘Nail Files’ quickly found a loyal viewing audience on TV Guide Network and became one of the most talked about new reality shows last summer among women,” said Allen Shapiro, TV Guide Network Chairman. “We are pleased to bring back the series with even more Hollywood celebrities, reality drama and intriguing characters.”

“Season two will follow the colorful escapades of Katie’s professional and personal life,” said SallyAnn Salsano, “Nail Files” Executive Producer and president of 495 Productions. “Expect a drama-filled, entertaining season that will give viewers a chance to see Katie in action as a businesswoman, nail industry trend-setter and bride-to-be.”

“Nail Files” follows the unpredictable and always exciting life of Katie Cazorla, a high-spirited nail salon entrepreneur living a fast-paced life in Hollywood. Season two of the series will star Katie, her fiancé Walter, and new and returning personalities in eight new original episodes.

“The second season of ‘Nail Files’ is well-timed to the expansion of my salon and many new developments in my personal life,” said Katie. “I hope to continue to bring viewers lots of laughs, while showering them with Hollywood glam, glitter, and of course, fabulous mani/pedis!”

About TV Guide Network

TV Guide Network is a full-screen entertainment destination with programming that celebrates Hollywood, its stars and shows that fans love.  Seen in more than 80 million homes nationwide, TV Guide Network delivers original series and specials that bring viewers closer to their favorite celebrities. Its signature programming includes red carpet coverage at Hollywood’s most exclusive star-studded galas such as the Academy Awards®, Primetime Emmy® Awards and Grammy® Awards. TV Guide Network, TVGuide.com and the TV Guide brand are owned by Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the leading next-generation studio and producer of award-winning series “Mad Men” and “Weeds,” and One Equity Partners, the private equity arm of JPMorgan Chase.

About 495 Productions

Since its launch in 2006, 495 Productions has emerged as one of the television industry’s foremost production powerhouses.  The company specializes in developing unique, character-driven television shows anchored by colorful personalities.  The founder and creative force behind 495 Productions is veteran producer SallyAnn Salsano.  495 became known throughout the world thanks to its smash hit, “Jersey Shore” which premiered on MTV in December of 2009 and instantly became a global pop-culture phenomenon. Additional projects include “Disaster Date” (MTV), “Repo Games” (SPIKE TV), four hit seasons of “Tool Academy” (VH1), “Nashville Star” (NBC) and many others.

Dollish Polish Toxic Avenger

2012 has been a big year of frankens, the act of mixing ingredients by a person to make a custom polish.  Some people use eyeshadow, pigments, existing nail polishes, glitter...  I don't even know it all.  My favorite frankener has always been Dr. Frankenpolish but she's been gone for a long time.  :|


When The PolishAHolic posted about Toxic Avenger almost a month ago, I knew I HAD to have it.  Dollish's next batch was going to be ready on 6 February and I actually set a reminder on my phone to wake me up so I could get one.  I believe only 3 bottles were available, all minis, and thanks to the Etsy iPhone website (and PayPal), I was able to buy one of the 3.  When I say mini, I do mean MINI.

It's even smaller than the OPI/SOPI mini bottles, but just barely.  Dollish says that her mini bottles are 1/8 oz (5 ml).  The SOPI minis are 1/8 fl oz but 3.75 ml, but color me confused on sizes.  I really don't know if Dollish was a misprint or if I'm just crazily confused.

From Dollish's page:  "Toxic Avenger" an 80's horror/hero cult classic. Poor nerdy Melvin, mutated after falling into a vat of nuclear waste, becomes the local mutant super hero. This amazing multi-chrome polish flashes from Grey, to Purple to Olive Green, with an intense Spectraflair pigment, most commonly known as holographic pigment which bursts into a rainbow of colors when the light catches it. Don't let this creepy little mutant scare you off. This color is one of the most unique and beautiful polishes I've made to date.
Each MINI bottle is 1/8 oz. (5ml)
Some pigments and glitters may settle to the bottom of each bottle, please shake bottle thoroughly before each use to achieve the correct color. Due to the fluctuating cost of some pigments, some Franken's may be more expensive than others.
This polish is 3-free! This polish does not contain the chemicals Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde and Toluene.

For this manicure I started with a base coat of Poshe, 2 coats of polish on my index and middle fingers, and then I tried CND Blackjack on my ring and pinkie fingers, & then 2 coats of Toxic Avenger.  I topped all nails with CND Air Dry.

I'm determined to get my hands on Spectraflair at some point.  I'd love to have a car colored in it, but until then, it can go on my nails.  I've begged a fellow blogger to let me buy her Spectraflair, but she's not selling.  You can find some sellers on eBay or through other blogs, but as I've not personally purchased from anyone yet, I'm not providing any links at this time.

Back to the polish.  I didn't have strong sun this day (of COURSE) but look what we had anyway!

Here's the olive green and purple being shown!  I really prefer this over black as opposed to the bare nail.

You can barely see the holographic properties here but more of the purple and some green.

The green is more apparent on the bare nail than against black but again I love it over black more.

Indoors with the flash and BIZ-AAAM.  Spectraflair holographic goodness.  My nails were nuts under the light.  Love it to death.

In case you're wondering, this is what it looked like during removal.

Thanks to The PolishAHolic and social media like Pinterest, Dollish Polish has been SLAMMED with orders and her shop is currently closed as she catches up.  Toxic Avenger is offline until further notice, and she is not taking any pre-orders or putting any bottles on reserve.

Dollish Polish [Etsy] [Facebook] [Blog] [NAILS Nail Art Gallery] [YouTube] ranges from $4-$4.25 for a mini bottle and $7.50-$8.25 for a large bottle.  I paid $4.25 for my mini bottle plus ~$2.00 in shipping.  Because I bought 2 items, my shipping was $4 total.

Color Club Blossoming

Spring is almost here folks!  It was in the 80s here today and I actually turned on the air conditioning!  YAY!  To help pick up your spirits (or at least mine), here is a great spring release from Color Club!  (PS: I don't know why it says it was being released in October 2011 - I just got the release 2 weeks ago and the actual polishes arrived at my house late last week.)


Edit: I heard directly from Color Club and the reason that the release says October 2011 is that's when it went out to other beauty editors (think print).  This collection is intended as a Spring release for February 2012.

Introducing The New Blossoming Collection from Color Club

Rich Color Has Bloomed & Everything is Coming up Couture

October 2011 - New York, New York - Color Club, the New York based nail color company announced today the debut of Blossoming a new nail polish collection for Spring. With the beautiful budding flowers of the season as an inspiration, rich color has bloomed! Add Diamond Drops topcoat for a “morning rain-kissed” effect. Blossoming features six nail polishes -- from Hydrangea Kiss, Sweetpea and Blue-ming to Blushing Rose and Lavendarling. This new vegan, formaldehyde, toluene and DBP-free collection is sure to signal spring is in the air... or blossoming.

The Blooming Collection includes:

Hydrangea Kiss: Dusty blue-purple crème

Sweetpea: Rosy Pink crème

Blue-ming: Bright blue-green crème

Blushing Rose: Baby pink crème

Lavendarling: Dusty purple crème

Diamond Drops: Silver ice flake polish

Color Club’s Blossoming Collection will be available in February 2012. All Color Club products are made in the USA and are not tested on animals. Products are available at shopcolorclub.com.

About Color Club

A favorite of celebrity manicurists and nail color fans worldwide, Color Club is renowned for its high performance rich shades and exceptionally safe products. From the brightest neons, to glitter and French, all nail colors are vegan, formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP -free – and made in New York, NY with the best raw materials. Products are available at shopcolorclub.com.

Poshe Nails Fast Drying Base Coat

I had mentioned earlier that I was going to be doing a trial run of Poshe products on my nails and I'm starting at the beginning with their fast-drying base coat.  This base coat is said to work on both natural and artificial nails, is fast drying, non-yellowing & chip resistant.  The following pictures are from 18 February, and I've worn Poshe base coat alone or under every manicure since.

I do have to agree that this is a fast drying base coat.  I like to start with my pinkie and move to my thumb when painting my nails and by the time that I've capped the bottle, my pinkie is dry.  This is great for me, because I never seem to have a long time to do my nails.


Like my test run with Duri, my nails have been growing well and I haven't had any issues with splitting, peeling or breaking (so far!).  I was supposed to have a manicure done today, but my nail tech had to reschedule so I'll wait another week before posting my nails since I'll be having the length taken down a bit as well.


I think I'm going to start having my pedicures done with this.  Unlike my hands, my toenails are stained from wearing the same polish for up to 6 weeks straight.  I'm not 100% sure what base coat my nail tech uses on my feet, so I will be bringing this in next time I see her for a pedicure.  Do you bring your own polishes to the salon?


In my press release post of Poshe products, I had some ladies share that where Seche Vite has failed them, Poshe has redeemed itself.  You can see their website as to where to purchase their products in the US (my local Sally's has them!).  I've seen the price range from $5.50 to $7 for their base coat.


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

Pure Ice Excuse Me

Another release from Pure Ice - this one will get you looking forward to some summer sun!

"I thought I had a sign a Seal like Heidi Klum, 

Like Jay and B

Like Chris and Rih..."

 - Q-tip F/ Kanye West We Fight We Love (remix)

Hollywood's way of surrending to the reality of the worst break-ups is by the way of a sunny manicure.  Take off the wedding ring and put on the yellow nail polish just just like Seal did.  Sad to say, but it's really over.

Put some yellow in your life when you want:
- clarity for decision-making
- relief from 'burnout', panic, nervousness, exhaustion
- sharper memory and concentration skills
- protection from depression during dull weather

Excuse Me by Pure Ice is the perfect pick me up to mend heartbreak by attracting that next sweet honey bee into your life.

Buy here

Mattése Elite Desfiles de Samba

I told you about the Mattése Elite Carnaval Collection a few weeks ago, but now I actually have one of these neons for you!  Desfiles de Samba is a neon lime green that wants to photograph blue, but I color corrected for you to get back to true color.  I used a base of Poshe and 3 coats of polish.  Normally neons dry matte but this one didn't really do that so I didn't use a top coat.

Here it is in the sun - look at that shine!  You can also see a bit of VNL on the pinkie, but I didn't really notice it much while wearing this manicure.

In the indirect sun though, you can see more of the VNL on all nails.  

Here in the shade, there's not much difference - just nice, shiny, pretty green.  It almost reminds me of a glow in the dark polish but it doesn't glow in the dark.

Indoors with the flash - well that's not so lovely.  The camera doesn't want to focus too well because of the neon properties of the polish but it does do well!  There will be a lot of neons coming out this summer but I haven't seen this shade of green yet, so this is a keeper for me!


Mattése Elite Carnaval Nail Polish retails for $5.99 and is available for purchase exclusively at Ricky’s NYC store locations and at www.RickysNYC.com

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

CND Daily Nail 2.15.12 Biker Chick Nails at The Blonds

I was really excited to see this CND posting - it was Kristina Saindon (is it same as Estabrooks?) who did my Shellac manicure last summer!  Please enjoy the following release from CND!  (Okay, seriously, is this the same person?  I don't even know anymore.)

CND Daily Nail 2.15.12

Biker Chick Nails at The Blonds

February 15, 2012- Tonight's Daily Nail is the one you all have been waiting for - your seasonal nailgasm. Take a breath, and grab a glass of wine while we take you to a manicure moment with The Blonds.


At The Blonds, CND's Kristina Estabrooks and her team spent 130 hours hand detailing biker babe manicures. No nail set was alike - crystals, glitter, leather, Phillipe Blond faces, crushed glass shards and acid washed denim designs were just a few of the styles to grace the runway.

At Milly, CND's Candice Manacchio created a "Navy Nail" with two coats of CND Colour Midnight Sapphire. This manicure accessorized hyper femme layered jackets, voluminous mini skirts and pops of pink, yellow and cobalt blue.

To read Jan Arnold's daily backstage blog, please visit cnd.com. Track @CNDWorld during Fashion Week, on Facebook, Pinterest and on YouTube.