I'm Captivated By Cult Nails' Devious Nature

Geez, all my blogging motivation seems to have *poofed* away. So I guess you'll continue to see sporadic posts from me until it comes back. And seeing as my last several posts have all been about nail polish,  I seem to have lost my makeup mojo as well. Working at a cosmetics counter seems to have burnt me out on it a little. One thing that never wavers in my undying obsession with polish. This layering combo is from a few months ago when two of my Cult Nails polishes jumped out at me from their Helmer drawer. Looking at it in these pictures makes me want to do this again. Actually I just bought Scandalous from Cult Nails so I might try Captivated over that next.

This is one coat of Cult Nails Captivated over two coats of Cult Nails Devious Nature.

Cult Nails Captivated over Cult Nails Devious Nature

Cult Nails Captivated over Cult Nails Devious Nature

Cult Nails Captivated over Cult Nails Devious Nature

Here is an uncropped picture just for fun. My hands are huge!

Cult Nails Captivated over Cult Nails Devious Nature

I Have A Golden Ticket! Pretty Serious Cosmetics Golden Ticket Swatches

So, I really do have a golden ticket. Don't believe me?

I was one of 10 lucky people to receive a bottle of this polish. There were only 10 bottles of this polish created and it was randomly given to 10 different orders purchasing at least one polish from the Christmas Without Snow collection. I was only able to order two polishes and was ecstatic to open my package to reveal not two polishes, but three!

I love, love, love the boxes, too.

I feel a teensy bit bad showing off this polish that completely unavailable, but it was too pretty not to share.

This was 2 coats of Golden Ticket with base and top coat.

Pretty Serious polishes can be purchased from their website here.

Rainbow Honey Sweet Talk Collection Valentine's Day 2013 Sweet Talk And XOXO Swatches and Review

Welllll, wow! It's been a little while hasn't it? I didn't expect to take a two month hiatus from the blog. The holidays just hit me a little harder than I expected and you know how it goes- life gets in the way.

But, I received these two beautiful polishes from Rainbow Honey's Sweet Talk Collection and just had to share them with you (check the end of the post for a $5 off coupon code). I'm completely in love with all the polishes I've used from Rainbow Honey. The polishes are unique, and the branding is professional, creative, and beautiful.

Image courtesy of Rainbow Honey

There are three polishes in this collection-

• Be Mine- "A lovely kiss of pink on your nails with a dusting of microshimmer and gold flecks."
• Sweet Talk- "A decadently sweet collection of pastel glitters in a white jelly with hidden shimmer."
• XOXO- "A ravishing blend of glitters and flakes in a clear base for easy use over any manicure."

I received the two I was looking forward to most, Sweet Talk and XOXO for review.

The polishes came in this cute cellophane bag.

Right- Rainbow Honey Sweet Talk, Left- Rainbow Honey XOXO

I love Rainbow Honey's boxes for their polish.

Right- Rainbow Honey Sweet Talk, Left- Rainbow Honey XOXO

Right- Rainbow Honey Sweet Talk, Left- Rainbow Honey XOXO

These are the Goldilocks of brushes- not to thick, not too thin, not too stiff, and not too floppy.

Rainbow Honey Sweet Talk in the sun

This was 3 coats. It looks a thicker in some places than others, but that is more to blame on my application than anything else. You could layer it over an opaque white, but I like the slight translucency of the white base.

Rainbow Honey Sweet Talk in the shade

Rainbow Honey XOXO over Sweet Talk in the sun

This was 1 coat of XOXO over Sweet Talk. Man, this polish is gorgeous. It would be my pick of the two polishes and I was really expecting to love Sweet Talk more. Wait until you see this one over a dark base!

Rainbow Honey XOXO over Sweet Talk in the shade

Rainbow Honey XOXO over Estee Lauder Black Plum

This is one coat of XOXO over two coats on Black Plum. Ugh, this is sickeningly gorgeous!

The Sweet Talk Collection is available from Rainbow Honey for a limited time here.  Until February 28th 2013, you can recieve $5 off your order with offer code SWEETTALK$5.


Disclosure: I was provided these polishes for consideration by Rainbow Honey. My opinions are my own and as always, my first priority is you lovely people who read my blog.

Chirality Nail Polish in Cu2+ (Blackened Teal Holo!)

Whew, where did the time go? It's been awhile since I posted. I don't understand myself. I take the time to swatch things and take pictures, but just leave them sitting there on my camera memory card collecting (figurative) dust. So, if you missed me- I'm sorry! And if you didn't even notice I was gone, well, I didn't either. Time flies!

I've been collecting polish lately like a crazy person. I bought a second Helmer to store my polishes and apparently that gave me the go-ahead to go on a polish spending spree. I've been trying to pick up more indie polishes lately too. This polish is from one of my first indie orders.

The polish I'm showing you today is a blackened teal holo. It's a GORGEOUS color and one of the most unique holos I've ever seen. The holo effect isn't the most pronounced, but it still visibly, crashing your car because you're starting at your nails, there. Chirality Nail Polish makes some great holos at an even better price. Full size bottles are only $7. I plan on picking up some more, including their newer glitter shades, when I get a chance.

I believe I used two coats with a base and top coat.

Chirality Nail Polish in Cu2+

Chirality Nail Polish in Cu2+

Chirality Nail Polish in Cu2+

Chirality Nail Polish in Cu2+

Chirality Nail Polish in Cu2+

Chirality polishes can be purchased here. Also check their Facebook page for specials, swatches of other colors, and news on upcoming releases.

Nubar Reclaim Swatches (Green Holo!)

Nubar Reclaim may look a little familiar to you if you read my last post. It was the polish I was wearing in the picture holding the palette. Now this is a polish I've wanted for years. 3 years, 5 months, and 4 days to be exact. Which is the date I read about the Going Green collection from Nubar at Scrangie's blog. And was this polish ever worth the wait! It's green and it's holo; what more is there to say? My only regret is that I waited this long!

This was 2 coats with base and top coat.

Nubar Reclaim

This polish doesn't have the most intense holo effect, but it is visible. Typically holos ship easily on me, but this wore really well. I'm in love with formula on the 3 Nubar polishes that I've worn.

Nubar Reclaim

Nubar Reclaim

Nubar Reclaim

I love this polish and i think it's one every polish fanatic needs in their collection. Even in the 3 and a half years this polish has been out, it still seems pretty unique. I'm not sure I've seen another holographic green polish exactly like this. I bought this polish on Amazon for $5.49 with free shipping. Not bad considering Nubar polishes retail for $8 on their website and you still have to pay shipping.

Tarina Tarantino Emerald Pretty Eyeshadow Palette Swatches and Review

I bought this palette along with a few other Tarina Tarantino items when I first found out that they were 40% off. This palette had been on my wishlist since I saw Phyrra and Temptalia post about it. For $36 I was never quite willing to pull the trigger. But for $22, there were no second guesses.

I don’t know if the quality of the shadows in this palette is indicative of Tarina Tarantino’s shadows across the board, but I certainly hope so as these are AMAZING. I think I may like the formula better even than Urban Decay’s. The shadows, even the matte brown, are smooth, almost buttery but not too soft that they're powdery, and uber pigmented. There is no fallout and they apply easily and exactly where you want them to go. I know it is a bit of a cliché to say something practically applies itself, but that definitely fits here.

Tarina Tarantino Emerald Pretty Eyeshadow Palette

Tarina Tarantino Emerald Pretty Eyeshadow Palette

 I know quite a few people have complained about it, but this palette is HUGE. Here is is compared to my hand and I have quite large hands.

Tarina Tarantino Emerald Pretty Eyeshadow Palette

This was taken indoors with the flash so the colors are a little washed out.

Tarina Tarantino Emerald Pretty Eyeshadow Palette

This was taken in weak sunlight.

Tarina Tarantino Emerald Pretty Eyeshadow Palette

The swatches are dry over bare skin. You can see how nicely they apply just in the swatches. My swatches are usually incredibly messy and these are smooth and even. They may not be the most unique colors, but they are really pretty and the formula is amazing.

I think I used all the shadows but the matte brown here. The eyeliner is MAC Undercurrant.

I HIGHLY recommend this palette. The colors are beautiful, work well together, and the formula is one of the best, if not THE best I have ever used. You would be doing yourself a disservice not to purchase this palette. As of right now it is still available on Sephora’s website, but I’m not sure for how much longer. So don’t wait!

Del Sol- Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween everyone! I don't have much time to write this post as I waited until right when I needed to go to sleep to start it, but I wanted to share this awesome polish with you. It's the perfect Halloween polish!

You've probably heard of those gimmicky polishes that change color in the sun right? Well, this is one of those. But it's WAY better than what you're probably thinking of. Out of UV light, the color is tiny orange and holographic glitter in a clear base. But out in the sun the clear base turns into a deep, dark black. It's so cool!

This polish is sold on Del Sol's website. It usually sells for $10, but right now it's $7.50. I rarely buy backup bottles because I never use up a bottle of polish, but I'm greatly tempted this time.

This is three coats with base and top coat.

Del Sol Trick or Treat

This is in the shade before the sun had a change to change the color.

Del Sol Trick or Treat

I took this one the instant I stepped into the sun and you can see the polish has already started to darken.

Del Sol Trick or Treat

This is about half way through the transition.

Del Sol Trick or Treat

And this is the darkest the polish gets. I almost wish it looked like this all the time! A bad thing about this polish is that you can't see the polish on your cuticles until you get out in the sun and it turns black!

Del Sol Trick or Treat

Here is the polish in the shade before the base starts fading back to clear.

Oh, and GIF TIME!

So any plans for Halloween? Not for me, I'm just going to stay home and be boring. Like usual! ;)