October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Image Courtesy of Teadora's Facebook Page

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Please enjoy the following wrap up of brands that will be participating in various breast cancer awareness events and efforts.

Zoya Ultra Pixie Dust

With the most recent Zoya promo (50% off for having your Facebook profile linked to your Zoya account), I decided to pick up the 3 new Ultra Pixie Dust polishes. They aren't here yet, but I'm excited to try them out especially for this holiday season.

FingerPaints Masquerade Affair

FingerPaints Masquerade Affair is a LIMITED EDITION collection of rich and enchanting gold-infused hues.

colors by llarowe At Last

Press Sample 
Today I have colors by llarowe At Last to share with you. I feel like the polish name describes me a lot right now because I feel like "At Last" some things are falling into place. Back in March, Mr. PG and I found out we were expecting a little girl. Sadly, in April, she was gone and I was filled with lots of sadness. We currently have a 7 year old and while we love him dearly, we were looking forward to expanding our family. Well, last month I found out that we are expecting again. I had quite a scare on my way to NYC for Fashion Week (official term was "threatened miscarriage") and while I'm not totally out of the woods yet, I did have some needed doctor's ordered bed rest to help my body try and reorient itself. Baby Emery is due May 2, 2015 and we are cautiously, happily awaiting his or her arrival.

But back to the polish. While at Cosmoprof North America, Leah Ann LaRowe, the owner of colors by llarowe gave out great gift bags with her newest collections - The Show Me Collection and Emily's Imagination. At Last is from Emily's Imagination and it's this crazy awesome purple blue teal multichrome holographic polish.

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. Top coat did not dull the polish at all. The first coat of polish was a little thin but the second coat made it nicely opaque.

See what I mean in the sun? The purple comes out to play along with the holographic goodness.

Meanwhile in the shade, you lose the holo but this lovely blue starts to peek out and give it this lovely duochrome look. Best part - no need to wear a base color under... again this is just 2 coats of polish!

Finally inside with the flash, you can see the teal coming through strongly. It's a gorgeous color to wear and I can't wait to put it on again and play with some nail vinyls.

Colors by Llarowe are available through the Llarowe website and range in price from $6 to $12. You can also like it on Facebook, follow on Pinterest, and follow on Instagram.

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

Dermelect Bejeweled

Dermelect: the ‘Cure’ in your ‘Mani’!  This fall, Dermelect is coming out with 4 jewel toned polishes perfect for the fall months.

The Beauty Quartet Subscription Box

I've been a huge fan of Digital Nails since I first stumbled across her Etsy site, so I was extremely excited to hear that she was a part of a new subscription service called The Beauty Quartet.

deborah lippmann Sexyback Lip & Nail Duet

While I love deborah lippmann's nail polishes and especially her new cuticle cream "The Cure", one thing I haven't tried yet is her lipstick. She now has 9 shades available on her website - nudes, berries and corals. This coming month, she’s bringing sexy back. 

LVX Laguna

Press Sample 
The finale of the LVX Summer 2014 collection, as we lead into fall, is Laguna, a beautiful sky blue. I used a base coat of Cult Nails Get It On, 2 coats of polish and finished with LVX Gel like Top Coat. Honestly, this could have been opaque in one coat but I used 2 thin coats to be sure.

So in the sun, this color just wouldn't behave! Look how BRIGHT and brilliant it is!

Meanwhile in the shade, it settled down and showed its true colors. You can see that I had a little cuticle issue but it wasn't from a bad formula - just an unsteady hand on my part.

Inside was pretty perfect too. I love how squishy it looks on my nails - not like a jelly but like a stay puff marshmallow. Would be a great base for clouds or a rainbow nail or just alone. I did not have any issues with staining but did not do a long wear test to double check.

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.

Zoya Twitter Party!

Are you on Twitter? Me too! Join Zoya (@ZoyaNailPolish) tonight from 8-9 pm EST (5-6 pm PST) for a Twitter Party! They will be covering the hottest nail colors for Fall, trends for NYFW (WHICH IS NEXT WEEK AND I'M GONNA BE THERE!) and more!
During the hour, Zoya will release a series of questions marked Q1, Q2, Q2 etc. Reply to the questions with A1, A2, A3 etc and the hashtag #FALLingForZoya so that everyone can find your tweets. Followers that participate and answer questions throughout the party will automatically be entered to win special prizes from the Naturel 2 and Entice & Ignite Collection at random.
Bonus! Upload a picture of your Zoya manicure during the Twitter Party & tell Zoya what shade you're wearing. One grand prize winner will win a full Fall Zoya Nail Polish Wardrobe! (Make sure to use the hasthag #FALLingForZoya and tag @ZoyaNailPolish)
*Terms & Conditions: No purchase necessary to participate or win. Promotion begins Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 8pm EST. Entry via Twitter ONLY - Twitter account must be on public setting and must follow @ZoyaNailPolish to be eligible to win. Giveaway winners will be DM'd codes - codes are not valid in conjunction with other coupons, codes or promotions. Continental US only. Art of Beauty is not responsible for incorrect addresses, credit card entry errors, web related issues or any errors associated with declined credit cards. Returns or exchanges of promotional items not permitted. This Twitter party is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Twitter, Inc. PolishGalore is not affiliate with the Twitter Party, just sharing the information.

The Lacquer Cabinet Introduces the Nail It! for Nailtini® Collection

As the first ever consumer magazine for nail enthusiasts, Nail It! is proving that it’s not just industry insiders that get to have all the fun. As Beauty Director of Nail It!, Karie L. Frost truly has a perfectly polished finger on the pulse of what’s happening in nails, having seen just about everything new and noteworthy cross her desk. Lucky for Nailtini, she tapped deeply into her passion for polish and quest for uniqueness to cocktail a collection for “The Lacquer Cabinet” – Nailtini’s exclusive lacquer delivery service featuring monthly limited-edition collections by leading nail and beauty artists, stylists and trendsetters.

Zoya Entice & Ignite

Zoya Entice & Ignite FALL 2014-COLOR SEDUCTION
It feels so weird to be talking fall, especially when the heat index here is triple digits, but Fall is right around the corner. Looking to be inspired? Zoya has you covered with their new Entice & Ignite collection.

LVX Aster

Press Sample 
Finishing up the Summer 2014 LVX collection and this is probably my absolute favorite. This is LVX Aster, which is a beautiful lilac purple. I used a base coat of Cult Nails Get It On, 2 coats of polish and finished with LVX Gel Like Top Coat. The formula applied beautifully!

Look how pretty this creme is in the sun! A lovely lilac.

In the shade, it tends to pull more blue but it's absolutely gorgeous no matter what.

I knot this looks like a totally different polish but it's the same polish, same day! In indirect light, the polish really decides to play nice with the camera and show her true self.

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.

#IHeartCND Houston 2014

Today, CND held their "I ♥ CND" Event at Central Nails & Beauty Supply in Houston, Texas. Jan Arnold and the CND Education Ambassadors were on hand to demonstrate the CND Art Walk Summer and Fall 2014 looks featuring CND SHELLAC and VINYLUX. After the Art Walk, CND also held a SHELLAC Certification course for those looking to become a SHELLAC Certified Pro.
The CND Art Walk featured designs using the Summer 2014 "Paradise" Collection and the Fall 2014 "Modern Folklore" Collection as well as the Summer and Fall Additives.
My first two stations featured designs using the Fall 2014 Modern Folklore Collection and Additives to create regal fall nail art looks.

First, Education Ambassador Michele Huynh took me through the "Burnished Crest" nail that she created (far right nail in the above photo). She used SHELLAC but you can also use VINYLUX for this look. It includes using Additives for shimmer and small bullion beads for added flair. 

Michele Huynh

Next, Education Ambassador Shelena Robinson walked me through the incredibly beautiful and incredibly simple Modern Renaissance fall nail design (far left nail). She also used SHELLAC but again, VINYLUX could be used as well.

Shelena Robinson

Shelena is pictured here with the nails from The Blonds Fall 2014 Show that she designed. She crafted the guns from this iconic photo strictly by hand only using Retention+ Liquid and Powder. Crazy amazing.

Her own nails today were amazing too. She created a watercolor look using CND products.

Next on my Art Walk were looks created with the Summer 2014 Paradise Collection.

Educational Ambassador Heather Reynosa-Davis showed me how to create the middle nail "Blue Lagoon" using CND SHELLAC and nail foil. TIP: Allow your foil adhesive to dry to clear, then apply your foil. Apply too soon and the foil will be too wet and not apply properly.

Educational Ambassador Alfa Romero created a "Dragon Fruit" nail using Summer Additives in Sizzling Sand and Midnight Tide.

Next, Educational Ambassador Sylvia Palomino walked me through the entire LookBook, both available digitally and in hard copy, from the Fall 2014 season.

They even had the wall art that was created from the Spring 2014 season. Did you know that CND has been apart of Fashion Week for over 17 years?

Super exciting secret - I will be attending the Mercedes-Benz Spring 2015 Fashion Week next month! My schedule hasn't been finalized so I'm not sure which shows I will be covering but I do know of 2 of them and I'm super excited. (Make sure you're following my Instagram for the most up to date photos and information!)

The second to last station on the CND Art Walk was the Education Station. This one is definitely the most important because CND is all about education - both initial and continuing. Being a nail fanatic (not a professional), I'm not eligible for the perks but if you have your license or you know of a salon that wants to become SHELLAC Certified, send them to the CND website ASAP! After you take your SHELLAC Course, there are "Next Steps" to complete in order to get your Welcoming Kit.

The last station in the CND Art Walk is definitely the best. It's Jan Arnold!

This isn't my first time seeing Jan. We had a 1-1 sit down interview in 2013 and one of the first things she asked me was "Why don't you have your nail license?" Especially with the CND Nail Scholarship Program available, I don't have any good excuses. I would love to go to school so that I can have the education behind my passion but that will have to wait for another day. I also got to see Jan last month at Cosmoprof for a fleeting moment. She hugged me like I was an old friend and we talked shop then too. Jan always has the most amazing manicures, so this time I needed to see what she was sporting.

This manicure is going on TWO WEEKS. Look how incredibly shiny and amazing it looks! Jan told me that while she loves short square nails (like what I normally wear), for her, she needs a more feminine almond shape and longer length to balance her short hair. "Short hair, long nails. Always. The almond shape does for the hands what the stiletto heel does for the legs." Jan stated. A timeless but elegant look, perfect for today's event.

On my own nails, I created a sponged gradient with VINYLUX. 

I started with a base of Powder My Nose which is a cream colored creme polish, then sponged on Rapture Blue and Lilac Longing. I added a few pieces of hexagonal glitter for sparkle before finishing with CND VINYLUX Weekly Top Coat.

Bit of a rookie mistake though. Because VINYLUX is designed to harden to the polish like a gel product, it squeezes out all the air in the polish... and essentially popped my glitter off. Educational Ambassador Michele told me that the trick is to apply the VINYLUX Weekly Top Coat, let dry 8.5 minutes, then use CND Super Shiney Top Coat (purple bottle) to apply the glitter. Lesson learned.

CND holds their #IHeartCND events across the country - be sure you're following the CND social networks for locations and dates!

You can purchase CND VINYLUX for $9.90 per bottle at select salons.

Join CND via their social media channels Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.

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

LVX Lolli

Press Sample 
We are on the back half of the LVX Summer 2014 collection now! I feel like I've saved the best three for last, starting with the pretty pink creme Lolli.

I used a base coat of Cult Nails Get It On, 2 coats of polish and finished with LVX Gel like Top Coat.  This polish wasn't very well behaved and did flood my cuticles but I cleaned up before top coat.

This is the very first pink for LVX and it's a very pretty pastel pink! The Texas sun just didn't want to cooperate, so this is Lolli in the shade. You can see how it applied well without any brush strokes or unevenness.

In the indirect light, you can see that it's not a Barbie pink but not a Pepto Bismol pink - but rather just a soft happy pastel pink. It's soft enough to be worn all year round but stands out enough to be on toes as well.

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.

Girly Bits What happens in Vegas....ends up on Instagram

Press Sample 
At the Sparkle & Wine 2014 Event, Girly Bits came out with the second in her "What Happens In Vegas" polishes - this one being What happens in Vegas....ends up on Instagram. It's this crazy fuchsia with holographic glitter everywhere and BAM in your face!

I used a base coat of Cult Nails Get It On, 2 coats of polish, then topped with one coat of Nail Pattern Boldness Glitter Food (which mattified the polish) and then Digital Nails Ain't Nobody Got Time For That (which made it shiny).

If you think this looks top coat hungry, it is. Girly Bits will be tweaking the formula and it will look exactly the same but won't need two coats of top coat for a smooth finish.

As with most holographic polishes, once in the shade, you lose the holo but look what you gain! Lots of beautiful shimmer - blues and purples start peeking out.

It's such a happy companion to last year's "What Happens in Vegas... Ends up on Facebook" (which I promise I will get on the blog soon!).

I got a bit of flash in this one - oops. But you can see that it has a smooth finish and like I mentioned - the final formula will be nice and smooth.

This polish will be available in a limited run in mid-August so be sure to sign up for the Girly Bits newsletter and follow her on social media for the announcement.

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.

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® Fall 2014: Modern Folklore Collection

It feels so wrong to be talking about fall already and yet I'm actually really feeling all the jewel tones I'm seeing coming alive from the different brands.


Please enjoy the following release from CND about their Fall 2014 Modern Folklore Collection, including new Shellac, Vinylux and CND Additives! All images courtesy of CND.

LVX Lemondrop

Press Sample 
Another shade from the LVX Summer 2014 is the butter yellow creme Lemondrop. Well all know that yellows can be a pain in the backside and yes - the first coat of this was a hot mess, just like Porcelaine.

I used a base coat of Cult Nails Get It On, 2 coats of polish, and finished with the LVX Gel like Top Coat.

Not a hot mess anymore! Well, other than my index finger because I had a stray cat hair just in there and well... cats.

It's such a light pretty yellow! In a world of neon yellows, this was a nice change.

This was my shot in indirect light. It's pretty amazing - like butter. Which makes me want to eat toast.  Mmm toast.

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.

Crabtree & Evelyn NUD-EST Collection

Are you ready to kiss your neons goodbye and get ready for a more subtle fall season? Crabtree & Evelyn brings you their NUD-EST Collectino for fall.
Please enjoy the following press release. Images courtesy of C&E.