NYC Color Battery Park Purple

 Here we have another NYC polish. As I always say: I love this brand. Awesome polish!! Needless to say how grea they are. This is NYC Color Battery Park Purple a beautiful cream eggplant color. Effortless application done with 2 coats. Just great!!!

Welcome February ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

It is really F-E-B-R-U-A-R-Y?? Really?
Where did January go?
I do not know but February is here and I love this month. Here I have some manicure to received this month with lots of love  ♥. One of my favorite colors is red and so here you have it. I pulled out some OPI Mat-adore. I don't even know how to describe this color rather than perfection. It was just a little hard for me to apply it cause it's an oldie and its brush is not a flat one :( overall I managed to make it work and I love it.

Then I went to my plates to play around with heart shape designs and all Valentine like. I used all of the designs from one plate. That plate is really special for me. I'd like to share with you all a little cute story. You know how I have my wish list here on my blog? So during Xmas time I saw my husband looking at my blog from his computer. I was like "Uhm ok. I was a bit embaressed that he was reading what I write there" but he jumped out of his chair like he got caught. On Xmas morning he had bought me some nail plates that were on my wish list. I thought that was such a thoughtful gift. He is the best! So, yeah, that is a very special plate for me indeed.
So, back to my mani here ... I messed up on the middle finger and I tried to make it up free hand fixing oen of the hearts. Oh bummer! I was just too tired to do it all over again.  But if you look pretty fast you won't even notice LOL I promise.

BC: OPI
Base Color: OPI Mat-adore
Stamping: Sally Hansen White On
Designs: M59/ BM 11
TC: SC

China Glaze First Class Ticket + Essie Shine of The Times

Friday yayyyy!

I am so looking foward to this weekend. I had quite a busy week. I'm not complaining. It was actually very productive though and I feel happy about that. Sorry I don't have enought time to be blogging but I am always on my facebook page as soon as I can. Also check my LM email often and am busy answering you guys' emails. I had tons feedback from my last post about Jordana's new collection. I do like that glitter collection too: price, quality and variety. Answering again what everybody asks "Where can I find them?" You will be able to find Jordana polishes at Kmart and/or on their website (all of them).

For today I have a combo that I can't stop staring at. Flakies have been quite popular and lots of companies have been releasing them here and there. For the Holidays last year Essie came up with a fun collection including Essie Shine of the Times. When I saw press releases of it and a picture from the beauty event in Las Vegas last summer I knew I had to have that one. And here it is. It's a beautiful flake. Looks like Nubar 2010 but it's a bit chunkier and fuller. A bit thicker if that means more flakies, I am on board. If you have a nail polish collection you have to have at least one bottle of flakie. That gives a whole different look to any boring polish you might have. 

 Essie Shine of the Times

 A macro shot. That way you can see what I am talking about.

 And this is China Glaze First Class Ticket. That is what I have under Essie. That is a pretty violet ink purple full of super fine shimmer. You kinda have to move your fingernails to be able to see that. Pretty cool!

Remember that you still can submit your Valentine Manicure Photo to the Nail Art Contest until this Sunday. You're not gonna miss out on that, are you? To see details on how to submit your entry please CLICK HERE.

Jordana Glitter Specialty 2012 Collection Swatches and Review - !! BE AWARE, Super Long Post!! Lots of pics :)

Hello you all!!

Today I have a very very very long post ... full of great swatches just for you. I have 18 out of the 24 glitters from the Jordana Glitter Specialty Collection 2012.

NET WT 0.20 FL oz / 6 mL and DBP, Toluene & Formaldehyde Free. The other 6 colors are still coming soon. I have been so so super excited to swatch these pretties. They are super blingly pretty and much more in real life.

These polishes are already available at Jordana's website and will be available at Kmart begin of February. however, I've heard some people have found some of them already. Retail price: $2.99. For that little price it's hard to believe you can get such a variety of great polishes in that collection for every taste. I have to take  my hat to Jordana. Great job!! You will find diversity in colors and glitter size, fine, chuncky, graceful, bold, funcky, elegant. It's a collection to be put in your wishlist.

Be prepared to scroll down as you will find lotsss of pictures. You are about to have 18 swatches before your eyes right now! In my opnion, I believe this will be fun to look at them though. Some polishes I used by themselves and some of them I layered over other cream/jelly color to better show its effect. These are just my choices but you can feel free to layer those glitters over any color that would better suit your taste. Another note: the pictures are not posted in any specific order. Now, let's get to the swatches and details on the colors of this collection. Hope you all have fun :)

 FAIRY DUST ****- a fine and super fine holografic silver glitter imersed in a graceful fairy pink jelly (but thick) base. I used 2 coats of that over 1 coat of Milani Fashionable to make that glitter pop and sow its beauty. Fairy Dust was a little too thick and I used a couple drops of nail polish thinner to make it manageable. It worked great. It's a really pretty polish. I kinda felt like a princess wearing it.

 CELEBRATION****- a very infused fine lilac glitter that I managed to make full coverage by itself. What you see above is a result of 2 coats. Very good application, except it was a bit thick and I also had to add a couple of drops of nail polish thinner on this bottle too. But other than that the polish is just fine.

 MAGENTA MAGIC**** - hexa and fine fuschia glitter in a clear base. Not thick. Just perfect formula. Again I used 1 coat of Magenta Magic over 2 coats of Milani Fashionable. I love the way it looks!

 PIXIE PINK**** - hexa and fine copper pink in a clear base. I used 1 coat of that one over Jordana White. I wish I could have apply two coats of the glitter instead. I wish I could be able to have full coverage with that glitter but I don't think I can. However, it's a very pretty polish in real life and probably will remind you of some polish that just came out during the past holidays. Jordana Pixie Pink is a great choice for its quality and price.

 RHINESTONES***** - Very fine and hexagones silver glitter + a super fine gold glitter (that one you won't be able to see on the picture or not even in real life unless you really look up close - it's super subtle, yet pretty). I know this one looks ordinary but it is one of my favorite one. The formula is so dense with the fine glitter that I could have full coverage with just 2 coats of it. It's super classy in my opnion. I love that one!

 GREEN GLITZ***** - Another favorite of mine. Beautiful emerald fine glitter in a clear base. I used 2 coats of Green Glitz over 2 coats of  Milani Antique. The name of that glitter makes me giggle as I write this. When i was a kid I used to call glitter -> "glitz". Oh, how I love childhood sweet memories. Thanks Jordana Cosmetics for that :)

 GOLD GLAM ** - I can not tell you how anxious I was to try this one. I had high expections for Gold Glam. That is a fine gold glitter in a clear base with some specs of holografic losange/diamond pieces in it. Those beautiful little diamonds are really hard to apply on the nails. I had to pick one by one to apply them. I was dissapointed on this polish. It seems like those funky shapes are too heavy for the formula and most of them are just sitting on the bottom of the bottle. I tried to shake as much as I could until I gave up. I like the concept though.

 COPPER BLAZE ***** - Wowww so chic and elegant. I feel like a diva wearing that. Who in the world will tell me that I am wearing a $2.99 polish? Tell me? Who? Jordana did such a great job on this collection I have no words to say. Copper Blaze is a fine and hexagone coppery orange glitter in a clear base. It's beautiful! I used 1 coat of  that over 2 coats of Milani Antique.

BRONZE FEAST *** - When I grabbed that bottle I was like "uhmm it kinda looks like Copper Blaze doesn't it?" But looking at them side by side you will see that bronze Feast is fuller in its formula that Copper Blaze. Bronze Feast has more of a spicy pumpkin fine and hexa glitter with some fine and hexa gold glitter in a clear base. It looks very sofisticated!

 COSMIC ***** - Stop the traffic lights! Do you see what I see? Is that really $2.99 polish? Yes, it is. Thanks to Jordana we have access to feel like a million dollars. Cosmic was on my list to "being anxious to see it". That one made me a happy girl! It's a fine blue glitter with hexa blue, silver and green glitter in a clear base. I know what yu are all thinking right now and yes, it looks like a high end kinda polish DL Across the Universe. To achieve the color above I used 2 coats of Cosmic over one coat of a non labeled sheer navy polish I have. Any sheer or cream navy polish you have will do the work for you. Just lay it with Cosmic and there you have it. "That is gorgeous! " our waitress said to me while taking our orders. She couldn't stop staring at my nails and writing our orders on her notepad and all of a sudden she stopped and asked: "Is that a polish? That is gorgeous!!" I love when I get compliments on my nails. That means it is beautiful indeed. Cosmic, I love you!!

 LUNAR LIGHTS***** - ohhh pretty you are. When I got these polishes that bottle was one of them that I was looking at it and turning the bottle up and down and examining and all. It's a gorgeous holografic hexagon and super fine glitter suspended in this kinda milky but super magic formula I can't even explain. Immmediately I thought laying that over black. And yes, it looks fantastic!

 SEQUINS ***** - I know some people wearing asking me on my fb page about that one. So here you have it. I was also excited for that one and I do like it. It's super fun! Sequins is a gold, blue and fuschia hexagone glitter infused with lots of fine red glitter in a clear base. Very cute! I wasn't over it just looking at the bottle but I loved when I layered 2 coats of that over black.

 BLUE BASH **** - ocean blue fine and heaxagone glitter in a clear base. To better incorporate the color I used a coat of Wet n' Wild Bleu Bijou and used 2 coats of Blue Bash. Such a pretty vibrant blue but it's not in your face type of color either.

 LA CITY NIGHTS **** - A fine blue and purple glitter in a clear base. I used 2 coats of LA City Nights over 2 coats of black Milani Antique.

CELESTIAL**** - it's an aqua green fine and hexa glitter in a almost jelly aqua green colored base. I wanted to use some base color and ended up using Petites 473- Tahitian Green to achieve the look of the picture above. I'm also pretty sure Celestial would look great over black, white, silver and gold. Very pretty glitter :)

 GEMSTONES***** - A multicolored hexa glitter. I bet you have seen that before somewhere but yet it's not a "I will pass type of polish". It's a must have it!! Gemstones over black or white would be very pretty too :) As I swatched that collection I was thinking how happy I am for Jordana's work coming up with all of those pretty sparklies.

 MY SUPERSTAR ***** - Oh that one brings a smile to my face. Another one I was so excited for it and I'm happy to have it. My Superstar is a fine gold glitter with gold, blue and red hexa glitters in a clear base. I layered 2 coats of that over Milani Antique. Love it a lot!!

 FUNKY GOLD TOWN **** -  and last but not least a gold hexa glitter to add chuncks of bling to your nails. everybody should have something like that in their nail polish collection. That one screams to me "Let's parteeeee!!!" I heart that one.

If you wanna see a video of those bottles here it is:

Phewwwwww! Are you tired yet? Or you look now at your white door/wall and see everything sparkling? LOL. Hope you guys enjoyed watching those swatches and reading my review. What are your favorite ones? Which ones are you gonna pick?

PS:The stars by the polish names are my grade to them from 1 to 5 stars showing my preference as far as application, color and my own taste/preference.

To buy the featured polishes on this post go to Jordana's Website. Also visit them at their facebook page and give them your LIKE at http://www.facebook.com/jordanacosmetics.

Do you have pinterest? Liked the swatches and want to pin them to your board? Click on the PIN IT button that you see right there --> 

" The products in this post were sent to me for unbiased review purpose."

Sally Hansen Lapis Amethyst over Love & Beauty by Forever 21

Oh how I love lavender, blue tones. It kinda brings me a peacefull feeling to my soul. I had two polishes I wanted to use so I decided to play with both of them together and see what I would get. Just apologize for my cuticles. I have been really really busy and I have been slacking on taking take of my cuticles. But oh well, I can also blame the dry and cold weather. Let me stop babbling and get to the pictures.

 On the picture above I have Beauty & Love by Forever 21 Dusty Blue. The I grabbed my bottle of an old one from Sally Hansen, Lapiz Amethyst. I am not a big fan of frosty, pearls finish but this one is an exception for sure.

What do you think? Like that somple combination?

And remember, I'm hosting again another nail art contest. If you want to participate you've got this week to get your mani done or one that you have done already in the past time and submit it. It just needs to follow the Valentine theme. CLICK HERE for details!!

Now you can Pin from here Yayy!!

I'm playing around right now to see how you can can easily pin my pictures to your pinterest account.
I really hope this work!
I'll be back with more pictures soon :)
For now click on the Pin It button and see if you can pin anything from this blog ok? I'd really appreciate your help. That way i can see if that is really working.
See ya soon :)

Talk Tuesdays - " Nail color is an affordable indulgence. It's an easy way to be on-trend and to make a statement "

Did you guys miss my Talk Tuesdays? Or not at all?
Well, today I have a very interesting thing to share with you guys. I don't remember how I got on reading this article. You know when you are online browsing here and there and from here you go there and there and there and so on. Internet can really catch you LOL
The article is super short and you can read it pretty fast. If you like polish and everything related you are gonna want to read this.

In tough economic times, women buy nail polish

By Andrea Burzynski, Reuters

Posted at 12/20/2011 11:16 AM

 

For the first ten months of 2011, sales of nail polish and products were up 59% from the same period in 2010, according to market research firm NPD Group, which also showed sales have grown since the onset of the economic downturn.
"Nail color is an affordable indulgence," said Karen Grant, vice president and global beauty industry analyst at NPD. "It's an easy way to be on-trend and to make a statement."
Although NPD's research focused on department stores, Grant said the trend extends to the mass market as well.
Demitrius Simpkins, manager of New York salon Lali Lali in New York, agreed.
"Beauty is one thing women never forget about," he said. "Manicures are a way to lift spirits."
NPD's research showed that both colored nail polish and base coats were selling well, which suggests that more women may be skipping the salon manicures and doing their own nails.
"With so many looks that you can play with for relatively little expense or commitment, it lends itself to being a DIY treatment," Grant explained.
Simpkins said that although the salon's nail services are popular, he has noticed some customers are looking for ways to save money and opting for long-lasting gel manicures to reduce salon visits.
"Some women who used to come every Monday now come maybe every other Monday," he said.
Grant and Simpkins also think women are aiming for value.
"A bottle of nail polish can last a month or two at least," said Grant. "If you go out to dinner, you only get one night."
Grant also noted the capacity for growth in the nail cosmetics market, which she said is larger than for other color cosmetics.
In 2001, when lipstick sales shot up former Estee Lauder chairman Leonard Lauder coined the term "lipstick index" to describe the increase in demand for lipstick after the late 1990s tech bubble burst.
"The size of the market is burgeoning, and there's a huge opportunity for doubling or even tripling growth," Grant said of nail cosmetics. "It's like lipstick ten years ago."

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I enjoyed a lot reading that. If you want to read the original artical from its original source here it is the link CLICK HERE.