Pebble Beach Crystal Sand review

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I was trolling for new polish as a local hole in the wall beauty shop when I came across this little rack of Pebble Beach Crystal Sand polishes from Max Makeup Cherimoya. I’m not sure if I’m late to the Pebble Beach party or early, but the colors are all gorgeous foils. They are supposed to be layered to make a “no fail” gradient effect, so instead of names they have numbers. You’re supposed to choose a color set and paint them with the corresponding colors, unfortunately my store did not have all the color sets so I had to settle for just a few beautiful foils. (Oh poor me… ^___^) 

The application was flawless and I only needed one to be fully opaque, but I used two to be safe. It was also not gritty or sandy feeling at all and with a coat of Seche on top it’s just the bees knees. I’m really hoping to try out the entire gradient sometime, I bet it’s very neat. 

That’s a chart of the gradient polishes and how to use them, have you ever heard of, or used this polish before?

I was trolling for new polish as a local hole in the wall beauty shop when I came across this little rack of Pebble Beach Crystal Sand polishes from Max Makeup Cherimoya. I’m not sure if I’m late to the Pebble Beach party or early, but the colors are all gorgeous foils. They are supposed to be layered to make a “no fail” gradient effect, so instead of names they have numbers. You’re supposed to choose a color set and paint them with the corresponding colors, unfortunately my store did not have all the color sets so I had to settle for just a few beautiful foils. (Oh poor me… ^___^) 

The application was flawless and I only needed one to be fully opaque, but I used two to be safe. It was also not gritty or sandy feeling at all and with a coat of Seche on top it’s just the bees knees. I’m really hoping to try out the entire gradient sometime, I bet it’s very neat. 

That’s a chart of the gradient polishes and how to use them, have you ever heard of, or used this polish before?

Ruby Pumps VS Ring in the Red

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It’s another Versus here at NANB! 

This time it’s the new Ring in the Red versus the old favorite Ruby Pumps.

Ring in the Red is a new red jelly polish that has multi sized glitter bits in it, large hex and smaller glitter bits. Ruby Pumps has just one size, and it also seems to be a bit more of a true ruby color where Ring is a bright peppy red. Both of these were three coats.

 
I think Ring has usurped Ruby as my favorite red glitter, I loved it so much I bought an extra so I would be prepared for when I run out! 

Here is a bottle shot of both of them:

It’s another Versus here at NANB! 

This time it’s the new Ring in the Red versus the old favorite Ruby Pumps.

Ring in the Red is a new red jelly polish that has multi sized glitter bits in it, large hex and smaller glitter bits. Ruby Pumps has just one size, and it also seems to be a bit more of a true ruby color where Ring is a bright peppy red. Both of these were three coats.

 
I think Ring has usurped Ruby as my favorite red glitter, I loved it so much I bought an extra so I would be prepared for when I run out! 

Here is a bottle shot of both of them:

What's With the Cattitude? Gradient

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Another glitter gradient?! 
I know. I know that's what you're thinking. I just can't help it! It's one of the easiest ways to make a statement. It looks like a lot of work went into it and it will make the perfect holiday outfit come together without fully committing to glitter nails!
I had originally set out to make my first Holiday nails, I wanted to make something that would remind me of snowfall; but, as someone pointed out to me I inadvertently made a beautiful Hanukkah manicure.
The base blue is from the OPI Shrek Forever After collection, What's With the Cattitude? and I used three different glitters, China Glazes Lorelei's Tiara (which has amazing glitter coverage, it's jam packed with small square silver glitter and has medium blue hex glitter tossed into a clear base to keep it fresh). I also used Pure Ice's Strapless, that is a tiny blue square glitter in a clear base and to top it off a smidge of China Glaze's Snow Globe.  Top all that off with a coat of Seche Vite and you're all done!
Here is an Extreme Glitter Close-Up for you:

Another glitter gradient?! 
I know. I know that's what you're thinking. I just can't help it! It's one of the easiest ways to make a statement. It looks like a lot of work went into it and it will make the perfect holiday outfit come together without fully committing to glitter nails!
I had originally set out to make my first Holiday nails, I wanted to make something that would remind me of snowfall; but, as someone pointed out to me I inadvertently made a beautiful Hanukkah manicure.
The base blue is from the OPI Shrek Forever After collection, What's With the Cattitude? and I used three different glitters, China Glazes Lorelei's Tiara (which has amazing glitter coverage, it's jam packed with small square silver glitter and has medium blue hex glitter tossed into a clear base to keep it fresh). I also used Pure Ice's Strapless, that is a tiny blue square glitter in a clear base and to top it off a smidge of China Glaze's Snow Globe.  Top all that off with a coat of Seche Vite and you're all done!
Here is an Extreme Glitter Close-Up for you:

Fashion Polish Giveaway!

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What a great giveaway by Fashion Polish!
I've never even seen the Essence polishes before, she picked them up while in Holland and has decided to share! Go here to enter her contest. Good luck!

What a great giveaway by Fashion Polish!
I've never even seen the Essence polishes before, she picked them up while in Holland and has decided to share! Go here to enter her contest. Good luck!

Oui

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Here is a swatch from the new Orly Holiday Soirée collection, called Oui. It was a toss up between Oui and Ingénue (and I think that it might be a dupe for Zoya's Faye so I passed on it). 
Oui is an aubergine, eggplant, color loaded with gold micro shimmer flecks. It looked at first glance like it might be a dupe for OPI's It's My Year from the Miss Universe collection, but it's a much darker purple base.

Here is a swatch from the new Orly Holiday Soirée collection, called Oui. It was a toss up between Oui and Ingénue (and I think that it might be a dupe for Zoya's Faye so I passed on it). 
Oui is an aubergine, eggplant, color loaded with gold micro shimmer flecks. It looked at first glance like it might be a dupe for OPI's It's My Year from the Miss Universe collection, but it's a much darker purple base.

Fashion Polish Giveaway

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Fashion Polish is having an amazing giveaway, with lots of really great prizes that are hard to find in the US. Try your hand here!

Fashion Polish is having an amazing giveaway, with lots of really great prizes that are hard to find in the US. Try your hand here!

Fowl Play

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Dupe time! I'm sure many in the nail community already know, but Orly's Fowl Play is a perfect dupe for OPI's Merry Melodies, and if you're a lemming for that hard-to-find color that came out in 2009 you're in luck! My only problem was that the seche gave me bad bad shrinkage with this polish.
It's a purple jelly with orange and redish flakies along with silver and blue micro glitter, check out this Extreme Glitter Close Up!

Dupe time! I'm sure many in the nail community already know, but Orly's Fowl Play is a perfect dupe for OPI's Merry Melodies, and if you're a lemming for that hard-to-find color that came out in 2009 you're in luck! My only problem was that the seche gave me bad bad shrinkage with this polish.
It's a purple jelly with orange and redish flakies along with silver and blue micro glitter, check out this Extreme Glitter Close Up!

PASTA!

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Yes bloggers, I am a nerd. If you've followed me for a while you probably already knowthat but if not, you do now.

This is one of my first forays into actual nail art, it's not the best, I don't have real nail art brushes yet so I ended up using a mega cheap plastic paint brush where the bristles kept falling out of. I did invest in some lovely new brushes but they have not arrived yet.

I decided to pay homage to adorable little Italy from Hetalia, as you can see he has his favorite word (PASTA!) on my index finger, with his cute little hair curl under it, the Italian flag on my middle, his white flag of surrender on my ring and a slice of pizza on my pinkie.

What do you think? Have you tried any nerdy nail art? 

Yes bloggers, I am a nerd. If you've followed me for a while you probably already knowthat but if not, you do now.

This is one of my first forays into actual nail art, it's not the best, I don't have real nail art brushes yet so I ended up using a mega cheap plastic paint brush where the bristles kept falling out of. I did invest in some lovely new brushes but they have not arrived yet.

I decided to pay homage to adorable little Italy from Hetalia, as you can see he has his favorite word (PASTA!) on my index finger, with his cute little hair curl under it, the Italian flag on my middle, his white flag of surrender on my ring and a slice of pizza on my pinkie.

What do you think? Have you tried any nerdy nail art? 

Swimsuit... Nailed it! versus Blue Year's Eve

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Here is another comparison swatch, this time it's OPI's Swimsuit... Nailed it! versus China Glaze's new Blue Year's Eve.
They both are shimmery foils, but China Glaze has a bit of purple/pink flash to it where as OPI has none. They are not a dupe, Swim is a lighter electric blue color, packed with shimmer. China Glaze seems much darker, and in the bottle has a fuschia flash in the bottle. They are both very beautiful in their own right, but if I had to choose, I'd go with China Glaze. 

Here is a bottle shot:

Here is another comparison swatch, this time it's OPI's Swimsuit... Nailed it! versus China Glaze's new Blue Year's Eve.
They both are shimmery foils, but China Glaze has a bit of purple/pink flash to it where as OPI has none. They are not a dupe, Swim is a lighter electric blue color, packed with shimmer. China Glaze seems much darker, and in the bottle has a fuschia flash in the bottle. They are both very beautiful in their own right, but if I had to choose, I'd go with China Glaze. 

Here is a bottle shot:

Swimsuit half moon mani

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Everyone has tried the half moon manicure at least once on Tumblr so I figured I'd jump on that bandwagon before it rolled away. I used China Glaze Liquid Leather to cover up the OPI Swimsuit... Nailed it!
(It was pretty tough to do- it's such a beautiful color I didn't want to mess it up!) 


I've had to take a few shots inside because of overcast rainy skies here for the past few days, so the blue isn't as true to color as it should be. 


I used the paper reenforcement tabs that a few bloggers have suggested, and the process was a breeze.Though, as a tip, don't press too hard on your nails with the stickers because they were so sticky; I had left over residue when I peeled it up. (Which may have just been my batch.)

Everyone has tried the half moon manicure at least once on Tumblr so I figured I'd jump on that bandwagon before it rolled away. I used China Glaze Liquid Leather to cover up the OPI Swimsuit... Nailed it!
(It was pretty tough to do- it's such a beautiful color I didn't want to mess it up!) 


I've had to take a few shots inside because of overcast rainy skies here for the past few days, so the blue isn't as true to color as it should be. 


I used the paper reenforcement tabs that a few bloggers have suggested, and the process was a breeze.Though, as a tip, don't press too hard on your nails with the stickers because they were so sticky; I had left over residue when I peeled it up. (Which may have just been my batch.)

Lacquered Lover giveaway!

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Lacquered Lover is doing something amazing.



She is giving away a bottle of Unicorn Puke.
I know! I think she is crazy too.

If you'd like to enter the giveaway, go click the link at the bottom.


http://www.lacqueredlover.com/2011/11/lacquered-lover-unicorn-puke-giveaway.html

Lacquered Lover is doing something amazing.



She is giving away a bottle of Unicorn Puke.
I know! I think she is crazy too.

If you'd like to enter the giveaway, go click the link at the bottom.


http://www.lacqueredlover.com/2011/11/lacquered-lover-unicorn-puke-giveaway.html

Swimsuit... Nailed it!

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I have such an obsession with blue nail polish. It seems like every blogger out there has their own color that they collect more than normal. For me, it’s blue; I have more blue polishes than any other color. This is Swimsuit… Nailed it! from the Miss Universe collection and of course I had to snatch it up when I saw it! 

It’s on of those magically lit-from-within colors that look like they have some inner light. (I know seems sort of dramatic for just a bottle of nail polish, right??) I would go so far as to say that this might be a prettier blue than the DS Magic. It’s a fantastic foil, that is opaque after two coats. 

I have such an obsession with blue nail polish. It seems like every blogger out there has their own color that they collect more than normal. For me, it’s blue; I have more blue polishes than any other color. This is Swimsuit… Nailed it! from the Miss Universe collection and of course I had to snatch it up when I saw it! 

It’s on of those magically lit-from-within colors that look like they have some inner light. (I know seems sort of dramatic for just a bottle of nail polish, right??) I would go so far as to say that this might be a prettier blue than the DS Magic. It’s a fantastic foil, that is opaque after two coats. 

Glitter Gloss Garbage Giveaway

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Glitter Gloss Garbage is having an amazing giveaway right now; there is only four days left too, so hurry on over there for your chance to win the FULL Touring America collection from OPI.


http://www.glitterglossgarbage.com/giveaway-2/enter-to-win-entire-opi-touring-america-fall-collection/

Glitter Gloss Garbage is having an amazing giveaway right now; there is only four days left too, so hurry on over there for your chance to win the FULL Touring America collection from OPI.


http://www.glitterglossgarbage.com/giveaway-2/enter-to-win-entire-opi-touring-america-fall-collection/

Warm and Fozzie

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I've never been a fan of browns.

Browns/tans/nudes have never really sparked my interest as colors that I would want or own, but oh boy, I saw Warm and Fozzie and had to snatch it up. It is a two toned brown that has flashes of gold and rusty pink. It reminds me of Black Hills Gold, if that makes any sense. 

It is definitely the star of the Muppet collection in my opinion, along with Designer... De Better. I was so disappointed in the glitters from it, I thought they could have done so much better with their interpretation of the different characters instead of just the same glitter polish in different colors. 

That being said, I know that my mother is going to steal this gem away from me when she sees it.

Also, as a reminder, check out your local Meijer (if there is one near you), I picked this and a few others up from there at exceptionally low prices... it's almost like they have made a mistake on them! 

I've never been a fan of browns.

Browns/tans/nudes have never really sparked my interest as colors that I would want or own, but oh boy, I saw Warm and Fozzie and had to snatch it up. It is a two toned brown that has flashes of gold and rusty pink. It reminds me of Black Hills Gold, if that makes any sense. 

It is definitely the star of the Muppet collection in my opinion, along with Designer... De Better. I was so disappointed in the glitters from it, I thought they could have done so much better with their interpretation of the different characters instead of just the same glitter polish in different colors. 

That being said, I know that my mother is going to steal this gem away from me when she sees it.

Also, as a reminder, check out your local Meijer (if there is one near you), I picked this and a few others up from there at exceptionally low prices... it's almost like they have made a mistake on them! 

Sparkle Teal Sunrise

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This swatch is three coats of Sparkle Teal Sunrise over Fairy Teal. I adore glitter polish so much, it just makes me so incredibly happy. It’s like a bottle full of laughter, a bottle full of happy.

(Yes I am one of those obnoxious happy all the time people) 

Here is an EGCO for you, check out that sparkle!

If you want your own bottle, check on ULTA, this is an ULTA exclusive color, and right now they have a great 20% off coupon. 

This swatch is three coats of Sparkle Teal Sunrise over Fairy Teal. I adore glitter polish so much, it just makes me so incredibly happy. It’s like a bottle full of laughter, a bottle full of happy.

(Yes I am one of those obnoxious happy all the time people) 

Here is an EGCO for you, check out that sparkle!

If you want your own bottle, check on ULTA, this is an ULTA exclusive color, and right now they have a great 20% off coupon. 

Zoya Vs Wet 'N Wild

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I’ve heard that Zoya’s Charla and Wet ‘n Wild’s Teal of Fortune are a dupe, so I decided to pull them and check it out. I’ve got Charla on my pointer and ring and Teal on my middle and pinky. 

Charla is a spectacular blue based polish that has teal and green micro shimmer glitter in it. I cannot even adequately describe how dazzling this is, especially when the sun hits it. It’s exactly what I’d imagine a mermaid scale to look like. It is a bit on the watery side, so I needed four coats before I got rid of the dreaded VNL.

Teal of Fortune on the other hand was a lot more blue without the same amount of green micro shimmer. It’s most definitely beautiful in its own right, but I just can’t call it an exact dupe of Charla. I am glad that I have both of them, because I’m a blue fanatic and they are both stellar pigments. 

Here is two bottle shots to show the difference:

I’ve heard that Zoya’s Charla and Wet ‘n Wild’s Teal of Fortune are a dupe, so I decided to pull them and check it out. I’ve got Charla on my pointer and ring and Teal on my middle and pinky. 

Charla is a spectacular blue based polish that has teal and green micro shimmer glitter in it. I cannot even adequately describe how dazzling this is, especially when the sun hits it. It’s exactly what I’d imagine a mermaid scale to look like. It is a bit on the watery side, so I needed four coats before I got rid of the dreaded VNL.

Teal of Fortune on the other hand was a lot more blue without the same amount of green micro shimmer. It’s most definitely beautiful in its own right, but I just can’t call it an exact dupe of Charla. I am glad that I have both of them, because I’m a blue fanatic and they are both stellar pigments. 

Here is two bottle shots to show the difference:

Look at Me Purple

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This is a new polish I’ve just found called Look at Me Purple, and the name certainly fits well with the color.

It was hard for me to get a true color shot, since neons don’t film that well, but this is much much brighter in person. The formula on it was quite nice, I’ve never heard of nor used Ruby Kisses polish before, and I’m glad I picked this up.

It’s a neon color so it’ll dry semi matte, but with a top coat of Seche it just pops. I’ll definitely be buying more Ruby Kisses in the future. 

This is a new polish I’ve just found called Look at Me Purple, and the name certainly fits well with the color.

It was hard for me to get a true color shot, since neons don’t film that well, but this is much much brighter in person. The formula on it was quite nice, I’ve never heard of nor used Ruby Kisses polish before, and I’m glad I picked this up.

It’s a neon color so it’ll dry semi matte, but with a top coat of Seche it just pops. I’ll definitely be buying more Ruby Kisses in the future.