ellagee Chronic Badass

Nothing To Disclose
One of my favorite parts of nail polish is meeting the people behind the blogs and behind the brands. Last November, I was able to meet up with a group of polish makers and lovers in Austin, Texas - including Laura, the owner and creator of ellagee polish.

Laura and I are both members of a club that no one wants to join - fibromyalgia. Laura's is more advanced than mine but we can both relate to the constant and irritating pain, exhaustion and frustration of this very misunderstood chronic illness. 

Chronic Badass is the ellagee half of this "Fi-bros For Life" collaboration box and is a clear base with black matte and holo glitter, black holo stars and butterflies in matte purple and silver holo. This polish was her collaboration with fellow Texan, polish maker, and lovely lady with fibromyalgia - Raphaelle from Digital Nails. 

I decided to use LVX Porcelaine for three fingers (creme white) and LVX Aster for one finger (creme purple) for my base coats and just used one dabbed coat of Chronic Badass. I topped all fingers with Digital Nails Ain't Nobody Got Time For That. The coverage was good but I did have to fish a bit for the butterflies that I used.

The stars wouldn't come out and play for me but you can see I got two butterflies with a little fishing.

Shade photo! You can really see the different glitters here - square, hexagonal, circle... And if you look super hard, you can see a black star near my middle finger inside the bottle.

Here's some indirect light as well. I'm really loving the lavender glitters but not against the purple. I think it's better over white.

You can purchase ellagee through her website. Prices range from $8 to $15.00 Join the conversation with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Tumblr.

China Glaze Pop Top

Nail art is hot right now, but if you don't have the time or patience, a good glitter coat can give you the appearance of nail art without the dedication.
Please enjoy the following press release from China Glaze. (All images courtesy of China Glaze.)

LVX Porcelaine

Press Sample 
This May, LVX launched their Summer 2014 collection which included the beautiful timeless ivory creme Porcelaine. Inspired by the McQueen runway, this classic neutral white creme is a great staple for any collection.

I started with Cult Nails Get It On for my base coat, 2 coats of polish, and finished with LVX's new Gel Like Top Coat. The first coat went on a little streaky but the second thin coat evened out over the nail, especially paired with the LVX Gel Like Top Coat.

How pretty is this?! It's a great crisp white, perfect by itself or as a base for nail art.

Even in the shade, you can see it's a great neutral color.

Finally inside with some soft indirect light, this color looks almost a little more on the cream side than on the ivory side, but it's great to see in all lights.

LVX [Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram] is available on their website. It is 10-free to include Toluene and Camphor, vegan and cruelty free. Use promo code POLISHGALORE for 20% off your purchase!

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

Salon Perfect Neon POP

Neon POP from Salon Perfect

Neons are definitely the summer trend - timeless and always hot. Please enjoy the following press release from Salon Perfect. (All images courtesy of Salon Perfect.)

Girly Bits #endlesslove

Nothing To Disclose Purchase || Affiliate Link Inside
In February, Gloss48 joined with Girly Bits to have an exclusive trio of polishes to be sold on their website. I couldn't resist and bought them! This is #endlesslove, a pale lavender with a very subtle holographic.

I used a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, 2 coats of polish and finished with Digital Nails Ain't Nobody Got Time For That top coat.

In the sun, you can see the holographic properties peeking out but for the most part, they stayed underwraps.

In the shade, you just get lovely lavender. Now, you may notice a bit of white at the bottle of my bottle. It's still there and does not affect the polish. It's my understanding that it was something to do with the suspension base but again, no ill effects were had.

In the indirect light, the holographic is still missing but it's still a great spring color.

I accidentally had my flash on for this photo but yay holo! 

This polish was a part of an exclusive trio for Gloss48.com that was available for $24.00. The polish is now discontinued but if you're able to find it somewhere, you won't be disappointed!

Girly Bits can be purchased on her website or through her approved distributors. Prices range from $10 (USD) to $12 (USD) but please note her website is in CAD, not USD because she is a Canadian company. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Twitter, & Pinterest.

Jesse's Girl Satins Collection

make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif

The first new Limited Edition polishes in the Jesse's Girl line since August 2011 are here! They are available on their website now, and will be in Rite Aid stores that carry Jesse's Girl Cosmetics.

LVX Viola

Press Sample 
LVX had their summer collection come out recently and I was given the opportunity to be the swatch model for Gloss48 (thank you again!)

Today is Viola, which is a FIERCE blue creme. I mean, whoa.  I used a base coat of Cult Nails Get It On, 2 coats of polish and finished with LVX's new Gel-Like top coat.

I mean what more can you say? This polish behaved beautifully - no pooling or flooding.

I did not do a wear test so I cannot talk about long term staining but I didn't have any staining while wearing the polish for a few hours.

I wore the polish a second time as well and I got a little messy on the sides but that was my fault - not the polish.

LVX [Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram] is available on their website. It is 10-free to include Toluene and Camphor, vegan and cruelty free. Use promo code POLISHGALORE for 20% off your purchase!

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

Cosmoprof / GlossyBox Collaboration

This July Cosmoprof North America (CPNA) proudly brought back the successful sampling concept, BOUTIQUE, to its already exemplary program of new and returning initiatives.  This sampling bar allowed attendees to select deluxe-sized samples, including the latest in up-and-coming cosmetics, skin care, nails, hair and some classic beauty favorites. Once at the sampling bar, attendees could hand-pick seven deluxe samples from 20 featured exhibiting brands in exchange for a small charitable donation that benefited CITY OF HOPE, a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. 

The BOUTIQUE concept was widely successful at last year’s show and announces a special collaboration with GLOSSYBOX, the leading online purveyor of luxury beauty with recent collaborations that GLOSSYBOX has launched with brands, including Net-A-Porter, Bergdorf Goodman, La Prairie and many others.  The limited edition Cosmoprof BOUTIQUE box will be available for sale exclusively on GLOSSYBOX.com on August 1  for $40. The limited edition box will feature seven products and will have a small run. Once sold out - it is gone!  

CPNA: LVX 2014

I randomly walked up right before the brother-sister team behind LVX had their audition for QVC/HSN/Shop - they made it in the final round of auditions and have a great shot at being on one of these three channels!

I had no idea that LVX was going to be at Cosmoprof North America this year, but I was excited to see them in Discover Beauty again this year. Branka and Rade Tomic are a fantastic example of when family businesses work and work well. LVX has consistently been churning out on trend polishes each season and just recently came out with their own gel-like top coat.

Nerd moment - they also came out with new boxes that have the cutout so you can see the polish you're purchasing before you buy it.

I did get a sneak peek at the new fall collection (top row) which did not have names at press time. I asked Branka why she decided to go with two greys and she smiled and said "Because I can." 

I'm also excited about that red on the end. It's similar to Roux from the summer collection but has more magenta in it. (Bottom row is the summer 2014 collection.)

Keep watching for more amazing things coming from LVX here on PolishGalore!

China Glaze The Giver

Last week I told you about The Giver collection coming from China Glaze - now I have more information! All images below provided by China Glaze.

FingerPaints Metallic Moondust

Press Sample 
Back in March, FingerPaints announced a limited edition collection of intense glitter chrome polishes with textured glitter. Today I have Metallic Moondust to share. This green, gold and silver mix is an interesting combination in my collection.

I used a base coat of Nail Pattern Boldness Glitter A-Peel, 2 coats of polish and no top coat. My brush was super "fluffy" which aided in the glitter application.

As you can see, the 2 coats was perfectly fine for full coverage without any bald spots. I was quite surprised how well it did apply.

In the shade you can really see the different glitters appear. This combination gives the polish almost a 3D effect in person and in photos.

Hiding out in some indirect light and you can see how this polish is a bit rough (textured). I always feels weird when I run my hands through my hair, but otherwise it's neat to wear.

FingerPaints [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter] [Blog]  is found exclusively at Sally Beauty Supply. Cost is $5.99 per bottle or $5.49 for Beauty Club Card holders.

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

ORLY Baked Collection

This summer, ORLY used cosmetic technology to create their Baked collection - six super-saturated tropical colors using glitter and rich pigments.

CPNA: Morgan Taylor 2014

Following suit from last year, I got to talk to Taylor of Morgan Taylor about all things coming out 2014, but first I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement about Spring 2015! You KNOW something big is coming... I wasn't even allowed to take notes or photographs.

But let's talk about what I can. Summer 2014 was all about neons - which I just ordered myself this past weekend. I can't wait to play with them as they were super neon in person.

Next we have the Fall 2014 Collection - Enchanted. This collection was inspired by the fall fashion week and the trends that were seen on the runway. The 6 piece collection has been broken down into two 3-piece sets - "Do You Believe?" which includes Who-Dini, Now You See Me, and Simply Spellbound; and "The Magic Touch" which includes Hocus Pocus, I'm The Good Witch, and Magician's Assistant.

For Halloween 2014, Morgan Taylor has a repromote of their black polish but are introducing a brand new hot orange called Orange Crush.

As soon as I'm given the go-ahead for the Winter Collection, I'll post it!

FingerPaints Film Noir Collection

Launching Friday, FingerPaints is bringing out another 4-piece limited edition collection to Sally Beauty Supply.

China Glaze Well Trained

Nothing To Disclose
Decided I wanted pull out another of the All Aboard Fall 2014 Collection - this time Well Trained, a dark turquoise creme. I used a base coat of Cult Nails Get It On, 2 coats of polish and finished with Digital Nails Ain't Nobody Got Time For That. This was a messy polish - I painted all over my cuticles in order to get my nails covered. Not a huge deal - that's what a clean up brush is for.

How pretty is this? I can see some amazing peacock nail art happening with color. It's fantastic for fall.

Of course in the shade, the polish wants to reflect EVERYTHING ELSE IN SIGHT. Like the trees and the sky. Lovely.

Overall this is a lovely color, even with the extra cleanup I needed. I didn't do a wear test to check for staining but you can work to avoid it by wearing a good base coat.

I accidentally had the flash on for this photo but look how pretty this is with the added light! I can't really think of a close dupe to this color in my collection so I'm glad I grabbed this one as well. 

Who am I kidding, I bought the whole collection.

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.

Brand Overview: Waxelene

This past 4th of July, I decided to do a water marble design which meant I needed to protect my skin from getting polish all over it. In my normal fashion, I used store brand petroleum jelly.

I don't mind petroleum jelly for the most part but I do wished it rubbed better into my skin afterwards instead of feeling slimy.

Waxelene is the eco-friendly alternative to petroleum jelly!  It has the same protective, waterproofing, moisturizing and soothing properties that doctors love, but contains no petroleum or hydrogenated oils. Waxelene’s ingredients include natural beeswax and oils like vitamin E and organic rosemary which soak in and nurture skin cells. Waxelene’s patent-pending aeration process gives it a silky smooth texture that won’t clog pores. Committed to the environment and healthy living, the makers of Waxelene endeavor to become more sustainable every day. From using natural and organic ingredients, to packaging in recyclable jars and tubes, and to implementing energy-efficient practices, Waxelene is striving to do its part to prepare for a petroleum-free future. For more, visit: www.waxelene.com

Waxelene has both a 2 oz jar ($8.99) and a 9 oz jar ($17.99) that may be my answer to my petroleum jelly issue. You can purchase it on their website or stores like Whole Foods, Sprouts, cvs/Pharmacy and Bed Bath & Beyond. They are cruelty free as well.You can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for more information.

CPNA: nubar 2014

I always enjoy seeing the nubar booth at Cosmoprof. Their booth is located right by the entrance to the press room, so it's typically one of the first ones that I see each year. This year, Aimee sat me down to talk about her new collections and we tossed around a few ideas.

This summer, they launched their Social Butterfly collection which isn't on their website at this time, but you can always order by calling them using the number on their website.

For the World Cup (which was going on during Cosmoprof North America), nubar packaged some of their core colors into a special set that would allow you to recreate all the different flags around the world. This is a great collection for someone wanting to get started with nubar and need some core colors.

Launching this fall is the FALLing In Love collection - 8 new polishes all made with mica for a great shimmer. Names were not available at press time.

Also coming this year from nubar - a matte top coat launching in fall and a new PoliCure top coat. Use it over any polish brand and it will cure in the sunlight (no lamp needed) to a gel like finish in both durability and shine. To remove, use regular nail polish remover - no buffing or drilling needed.  Considering that the big thing at Cosmoprof this year was gel-like polish systems (Ever Glaze, Caption, Bio Seaweed Gel), it's really neat to see just a top coat that can be used over ANY polish brand that will give you the look and feel like gel without being a gel.

Brand Overview: Pacifica

Pacifica is thrilled to celebrate a new category to their effortless natural beauty collection with 7 Free nail polish, just in time for spring. 

China Glaze Choo-Choo Choose You

 Nothing To Disclose
Yesterday, I walked into a Sally Beauty Supply to kill some time before lunch and spied two FULL displays from China Glaze. One was The Giver (the Limited Edition 12 piece line that ties in with the movie) AND All Aboard - the 12 piece fall 2014 collection. I literally started grabbing with both hands before I decided to be civil and get a basket.

I had mentioned in my CPNA posting that I thought Choo-Choo Choose You would be my standout from the Fall 2014 All Aboard collection - from the bottle I had seen, it looked like this dusty purple with a shimmer to it.  Imagine my face when I saw it in Sally Beauty and it's this almost Barney purple with this ridiculously amazing gold to green to amber shimmer shift in certain lights. Hello.

I started with a base coat of Duri Rejuvacote, 2 coats of polish, and finished with Digital Nails Ain't Nobody Got Time For That.

Check this out. It's almost like this pretty orchid with this amber gold shimmer overlay. All in one bottle? Yep.

Or it's this dusty pretty purple with a green to gold to amber shift!

Or it's a shimmery rose amber with dusty purple under!

Or it's this greeny gold shimmer.

Overall, it's beautiful. Breathtakingly beautiful.

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.