Polished: How To Remove Glitter Nail Polish

I love glitter nail polish. It is sparkly and fun and statement-making and just so nice to look at while I type all day. I do not love removing said glitter nail polish. I usually apply 2-3 coats to get maximum sparkle impact, but then am stuck scrubbing and scraping it off when I decide it is time for a new manicure. Personally, I do not think it is right to spend more time removing nail polish than it took to apply it in the first place.

Enter my glitter fairy godmother at a nearby beauty store. I had a bottle of Deborah Lippmann Bad Romance in my hand – it is a gorgeous color, but I was complaining about what a pain it is to remove glitter nail polish.

She suggested placing a nail-polish remover soaked cotton ball on the polished nail, wrapping the tip of your finger and cotton ball in aluminum foil, waiting a few minutes, and the glitter would come right off.

I was skeptical but intrigued. After Google-ing “nail polish remover + aluminum foil interactions” and deciding that this method would not make my fingers fall off, I gave it a try.

HOLY CRAP, did it work. I made myself little alien fingers, waited about 5 minutes, and voila! The nail polish came almost completely off, and the leftover edges came off after another swipe. I am beyond excited to have a foolproof way to remove my most glittery polish!

-Alyssa

Polished: Nails Inc. Fitzroy Square 3D Glitter

Hello, readers!

My name is Alyssa, and I am lucky enough to be one of Daneen’s coworkers. As you may have noticed, I like a good manicure (looky here and here).

Since Daneen literally has her hands full with one-year-old Westley, I get the chance to bring you the latest nail news.

Recently, a batch of nails inc. colors came into the office, and I was immediately taken with nails inc. Fitzroy Square 3D glitter, which is described as clear with green glitter and chunky teal glitter. Swoon. Though I work in a business casual office, envelope-pushing nail polish is acceptable, so I knew this was my next manicure.

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of glitter that this polish contains. Most glitter nail polish has a few flecks with mostly clear, but this was saturated, which was great. Here is what three coats looks like...

This polish is definitely not for the faint of heart, but I got a lot of compliments on it. I absolutely recommend this polish for anyone looking for a little sparkle!

nails inc. is available at Sephora, for $9.50 a bottle.

-Alyssa

Kardashian Kolors: Nicole by OPI’s Holiday 2011 Collection

Photo credit: OPI/Michael Simon

Nicole by OPI is teaming up with the Kardashian/Jenner family for Kardashian Kolors, a collection of 14 new nail lacquer shades inspired by these six small screen stars. Kris Jenner and her five daughters – Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian and Kylie and Kendall Jenner – are known for their head-to-toe unique style, which now includes nails.

"We are so excited to work with everyone’s favorite TV family – the Kardashians – to share a diverse collection of fashion-forward shades," said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. "With lacquers ranging from high-shine and sparkly hues to neutral taupe and pinkish coral, Kardashian Kolors offers the perfect accessory for every woman – from teens to moms and everyone in between."



Kardashian Kolors includes:

 

 

 It's All About the Glam

Shimmering-white glitz for the glamorous gal!

Kim-pletely in Love

Finally! The pink of her dreams has arrived.

All Kendall-ed Up

Powder your nose and get some pink on those toes!

Wear Something Spar-Kylie

Glitter-ly the prettiest pink ever!

Sealed with a Kris

Handle with care: This klassy red is top-of-the-line!

Rainbow in the S-Kylie

Girls just wanna have…glitter in every color!

Disco Dolls

Glittery gold glam gone wild!

Kendall on the Katwalk

A head-turning blue-green with a "sparkling" personality!

Listen to your Momager!

If you don't, you’ll never see this fabulous blue again!

Follow Me on Glitter

A glittery deep gray that always has something to say!

My Empire...My Rules

This take-charge taupe is always on-trend.

Khloé Had a Little Lam-Lam

A deep dark emerald worth falling for.

Hard Kourt Fashionista

This delicious deep brown is the chicest hue in town!

Kourt is Red-y for a Pedi

And this captivating coral looks "fab" on everyone!

At the Kardashian Kolors launch on July 11 in NYC, Khloe and Kourtney showed off their signature shades: Khloé Had a Little Lam-Lam and Kourt is Red-y for a Pedi (photo above).

Kardashian Kolors will be available Holiday 2011 for $7.99 each.

I'm digging Wear Something Spar-Kylie, Listen to your Momager!, Follow Me on Glitter, My Empire...My Rules, and Khloé Had a Little Lam-Lam. Which Kardashian Kolors will you be keeping up with this fall? Tell me in the comments...

Urban Decay Summer 2011 Collection

A few weeks ago, Urban Decay sent me their Summer 2011 Collection to test and review. As a huge fan of Urban Decay (they're one of my all time favorite brands - I love their rock and roll vibe and I’m addicted to their 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils), I always have high expectations for new products. And this collection does not disappoint.

Usually when I receive an entire collection to review, I'll choose a few of the best products and feature them here. This collection, which is comprised of some familiar faces and some new makeup bag staples, has so many choice products that I'm going to review the whole she-bang.

Okay, time to break it down...

The Rollergirl Nail Kit includes six mini bottles of summer's IT shades: Fame (shimmery beige), Superfreak (gold glitter), Xanadu (Purple Glitter), Miss T (pearly fuchsia), Woodstock (hot pink) and Love Train (iridescent white). Something to note about these lilliputian lacquers is that each brush has 220 strands, just like a standard polish brush - so it delivers the same flawless finish as a bigger bottle. I painted a pedicure using Woodstock a two weeks ago and it's still holding on and looking hot.

Even if you own just about every Urban Decay product that exists - like me - here's a reason you should still add the Rollergirl Eyeshadow Palette to your shopping list: one of the shadow shades, Verve (pale champagne with oyster shimmer), is exclusive to this set. And don't let the name fool you. There's more to this kit than just eyeshadows. You also get a full-sized 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Whiskey (dark brown) and a mini Crush Lip Junkie Lipgloss (sheer bright hot pink with a vanilla mint flava).

Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizers are great for this time of year when a face of foundation is just too much. The formula is buildable and breathable for comfortable wear. And it' got SPF 20 to protect your baby face from the summer sun.

I've been wearing Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion for years and while I wouldn't change the formula for anything, the packaging left much to be desired. You could never seem to get all of the product out of the I Dream Of Genie-esque tube, and makeup addicts everywhere were pissed. Some of them even took to YouTube, demonstrating how to saw the shit open to extract every drop. Well, Urban Decay has responded in a BIG way. They've re-packaged the product in a squeezable tube - with 10% more product than before. If you wear eyeshadow, Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is a must. When used as a base, your eyeshadow will not move or crease for 24 hours. I kid you not. And what's more - the pigment of your shadow appears truer and more vibrant...not some washed out version of what you see in the shadow pan. It's available in 4 shades: Original (invisible), Eden (tawny matte finish), Greed (glimmering gold) and Sin (champagne shimmer). If you buy anything in this post, this should be it.

Urban Decay is not kidding when they describe Cannonball Ultra Waterproof Mascara's formula as mermaid worthy. I wear Cannonball during my infant son's weekly swim lessons and it does not budge. Well, not until I remove it with Urban Decay's Meltdown Makeup Remover.

Even though I'm brown, I still like to up the ante in the summertime. What I love about Baked Face and Body Bronzers is that they are the antithesis of the flat, orangey bronzers that I loathe. The three shades deliver a gorgeous sunkissed glow that actually looks like it may have come from, well, the sun. I'm going to Miami in a few days and I couldn't decided which one should come with. In the end, I opted for Gilded (smoldering bronze shimmer). Besides being a gorgeous shade, I also figured that it could pull double duty as an eyeshadow. Genius consideration, right?

Lip Love Honey-Infused Lip Therapy gives lips a sheer/stained effect. The conditioning formula nourishes your pout, sans stickiness. Available in five shades (Stung, a sheer blackberry, is the prettiest IMO), the gloss smells and tastes like honey. Problem is I don't like honey - the smell or the taste of it. But if you don't have honey hangups, these are some gorgeous glosses to add to your collection.

Urban Decay is celebrating 15 years in the beauty biz with the Quinceanera Makeup Bag. This baby is already packed in suitcase for Miami. It's the perfect size for a product packrat like me. Roomy enough so that I can travel with enough stock, but not so cavernous that I'm tempted to fill it up with everything I own. LOVE!

Finally, there's the Urban Bride Kit. Urban Decay says, "If you're looking for something new to give your favorite bride, lavish her with this decadent gift-ready box of travel-sized products designed to keep her looking exquisite all day (and night, wink wink)." But, honestly, you don't need to be a bride-to-be to enjoy this set. I've been a Mrs. for 4 years and I'm crushing on this kit. It contains:
• Razor Sharp Ultra-Definition Finishing Powder to diffuse lines for a flawless airbrushed look.
• Urban Decay’s best-selling original formula Eyeshadow Primer Potion (full-sized) and Supercurl Curling Mascara to keep her eyes looking fresh.
• Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Midnight Cowboy to give bare and lightly colored lips a sensual, come-hither shine or electrify darker lipcolor with more texture.
• All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray to ensure her look stays put for 16 incredible hours.
• Marshmallow Sparkling Lickable Body Powder to keep the party going long after the guests have left.

I was so impressed with All Nighter that I bought Deslick (their other makeup setting spray that also addresses oil overload) yesterday at Sephora.

So there you have it. Which products are going on your wish list?

OPI Shorts Story

Peep my polish. It's OPI Shorts Story. I have my friend/co-worker, Alyssa, to thank for this discovery. She's been wearing it for the past week and after she caught me coveting her pedi like a thousand times, she benevolently bought me a bottle. This lovely lacquer is a bright, blue based pink that covers perfectly with 2 coats. It's the perfect summer shade for me, as it pops against my tan skin - without looking garish. Though I don't work in a corporate environment that frowns on trendy nail colors, I imagine that this would be a great shade for girls who wanna have fun with their manicures, but also need to look business class-y (provided that you keep your nails short).

Happy Independence Day!

All the women who are independent, throw your hands up at me!

Happy Independence Day, dolls! I hope that you are enjoying a fun and relaxing holiday. If you're just chilling at home and looking for something festive to do, might I suggest that you try out this 4th of July Splatter Manicure I spotted on Clumps of Mascara?

Have a great one! See you back here tomorrow!

Peep My Polish: OPI Austin-tatious Turquoise

Peep my polish. It's OPI Austin-tatious Turquoise from the Texas Collection. This photo was taken on Sunday, as the polish was drying. Craziest thing is that it's now Friday and my mani looks EXACTLY the same. Not a chip, smudge or imperfection in sight - which is extremely rare for me. I'm kind of rough on my nails and I do dishes like it's my J-O-B, so I'm lucky if a manicure survives two days without a ding.

I did this manicure myself, so I'm feeling pretty proud of my paint job. I think the recipe is why it's held up so well. Here's are the deets:

1) Apply Zoya Get Even Ridge Filling Base Coat.
2) Apply Zoya Anchor Base Coat.
3) Apply two or three coats of OPI Austin-tatious Turquoise - it goes on very sheer, so layer to achieve desired opacity.
4) Apply Zoya Armor Top Coat. You're supposed to re-apply every two days for "for extended color wear" - but to be honest, I didn't and my manicure still looks perfect.

What shade are you currently rocking? I'm always looking for my next nail polish color - so share in the comments section below!

Nude Attitude: Zoya Touch Collection

I’m a buff nail buff, for many reasons. First, like a pair of nude pumps, nude nails elongate and slims the fingers. And if you’re prone to chips, they’re less obvious than if you’re wearing a more pigmented polish. But one issue I have with most nudes is their transparency. It irks me to no end when I have to paint on layer after layer to achieve an opaque finish. Usually, the finished product ends up looking thick, if you know what I mean. Or all of those layers take eons to dry which increases, tenfold, the probability of me smudging my polish.

Either this is a common dilemma or my friends at Zoya somehow read my mind – because they just launched a collection of full-coverage nude polishes designed to coordinate with every skin tone based on yellow, red or blue undertones and kissed with a hint of metallic to make them ultra wearable.

The Touch Collection includes:

Minka - latte beige cream with a metallic kiss
Shay - desert rose sand beige cream with a metallic kiss
Pandora - mauve beige cream with a metallic kiss (I'm wearing a Pandora pedi right this sec)

 
Like Zoya’s other 300 shades, the Touch Collection polishes are also formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and camphor free, and vegan-friendly.

The polishes can be purchased separately for $8 or as a trio for $24 at zoya.com.

*Samples were provided by the brand for review.

Milani Nail Lacquer in Diamond Dazzle

This pic is proof that pretty polish needn't break the bank. My co-worker, Alyssa, is sporting Milani Nail Lacquer in Diamond Dazzle ($3.50). Above is two coats of the polish and below is Diamond Dazzle paired with OPI's Black Shatter.

Kardashian Kollection for OPI?

A few days ago, Kim Kardashian tweeted:

"Were shooting our ad campaign today 4 our new GLAM line of nail polish for Nicole by OPI. You guys are gonna faint when u see our new polish"

By we, I'm assuming Kim is referring to her partners in krime: Khloe and Kourtney.

No release date has been set for the Kardashian nail collection, but I'm excited. OPI is one of my favorite polish brands, and they never cease to impress me. I mean, I initially scoffed at the The One Less Lonely Girl (Justin Bieber) collection  - but immediately changed my (pun intended) tune once I saw the shades in person and tested them out (I'm sporting a "Baby" Blue pedicure right now).

So tell me, will you be keeping an eye out for the Kardashian polishes?

Peep My Polish: Essie Sew Psyched

So today, I headed to the nail salon for a loooooong overdue (and much needed) manicure. I had planned on picking a bright shade, but when I came across Essie's Sew Psyched, it spoke to me. As soon as I laid eyes on its "cashmere-soft sage pewter" gorgeousness, I immediately picked up the bottle and stopped perusing the polish selection. I have to say that it looks a little more pewter in the bottle and more sage on my skin, but I am beyond pleased with my choice. I guess you could say I'm soooooo psyched! LOL. I just crack myself up. Hopefully, you're mildly amused by my lame attempts at humor too.

For some reason, Sew Psyched and a whole bunch of other shades are on sale at essie.com for just $3.80. I don't know why - but who cares?!? Just consider yourself lucky and fill up your virtual cart before the folks at Essie come to their senses.

So, what do you think of my polish? Would you wear a green shade on your nails?

Peep My Polish: Ginger + Liz Swagger

This week, I'm rocking Swagger by Ginger + Liz, a "soft, sexy metallic with rose gold undertones."

The formula is pigmented as all get-out, so it only took two coats to achieve this gilded gorge-osity. And it's so hot, every time I peep my own polish, this starts playing in my head:

No one on the corner have swagger like us

Swagger like us, swagger swagger like us...

 

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips

If you’ve perused the beauty aisle at your local drugstore, you’ve likely spied the new Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips from Sally Hansen. As a big fan of their Nail Art Pens that launched a few years back, I expected to love these. But after trying them, I have to admit that my feelings were a lukewarm like.

Like a moth to a flame, I’m inexplicably drawn to anything leopard print – so it’s a no-brainer that I chose to outfit my nails in the Kitty, Kitty style. Following the instructions, I affixed the stickers to each nail and became very frustrated with the fit. It was a Goldilocks kind of situation – the strips were either too narrow or too wide for my nail bed. And when I tried to stretch the sticker for a perfect fit (the directions suggests doing this), the sticker ripped several times.

Peep my polish. The finished results look pretty damn impressive in the photo. But close up, it’s actually kind of messy…Cher Horowitz might characterize my mani as a “full-on Monet.” On some of my fingers, parts of my nail are clearly visible. And on others, the design overlaps my cuticle and the skin on the sides of my nails. Granted, I don’t think anyone will be scrutinizing my hands with a critical eye. But, to me, it doesn’t matter if others notice the minor imperfections...what matters most is that I do.

My friend, Alyssa, had a better experience than me (see above), though she did have some of the same complaints - namely that the strips don't apply as smoothly as she had hoped. However, she praised the product's staying power. Her mani lasted for about a week and might have worn longer, had it not been for an unfortunate run-in with an errant Ped Egg. 

Maybe I’m too much of a perfectionist or perhaps my application technique could use some practice. Bottom line: when it comes to my manicure, it better be wow-worthy. Otherwise, I’d rather sport nekkid nails.

If you’re looking for a quick, DIY alternative to the Minx mani, the Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips are a decent bet. I’d recommend the High-Fashion Designs (Wild Child, Kitty Kitty, Fly With Me, Girl Flower, Misbehaved, Laced Up, Booty Camp and Collide-o-Scope, Cut it Out, Check it Out , Skinny Jeans) and High-Shine Metallics (Frock Star, Bling it On, Glitz Bitz, Raise a Glass, Blue Ice) over the Shiny Neons (Cry Baby, It Girl, Violet Night, Teal With It, Groove, Electric Shock, Squeezed!, Red-y for Trouble) because I’ve heard the neons really exaggerate nail imperfections and the result doesn’t look as - pun intended - polished.

But at $10 a box, I’d rather spend two more bucks and indulge in a professional manicure at my local nail salon.

OPI Texas Collection

For its Spring/Summer 2011, OPI comes "home" to the USA with timeless style in the Texas Collection. "Texas provided the inspiration for this season, with bright colors and classic neutrals that draw from the American spirit,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. "Taking cues from the state's naturally beautiful backdrop, the Texas Collection features warm tones from honey and tangerine to dazzling hues of violet and sky blue."

The Texas Collection includes:

San Tan-tonio

A "honey" of a ten-gallon tan!

Suzi Loves Cowboys

But she loves this campfire chocolate shade s’more!

It's Totally Fort Worth It

A shimmery lavender grey that’s so worthy of you

Don't Mess with OPI

A lean, mean, kick-grass forest green

Austin-tatious Turquoise

Cowgirls love this bodacious blue-green.

I Vant to Be A-Lone Star

You won't want to share this starry Texas-sky blue.

Y'all Come Back Ya Hear?

This Texas tangerine will be waitin' for ya!

Big Hair...Big Nails

A rosy pageant peach

Guy Meets Gal-veston

An "engaging" coastal coral

Too Hot Pink to Hold 'Em

A red-hot pink-red that deals a winning hand

Do You Think I'm Tex-y?

A "berry" sexy bloom of Dallas dahlia

Houston We Have a Purple

A galactic red-violet that's ready to "rocket roll"!

My friend/co-worker/hand model, Angela, is rocking I Vant To Be A-Lone Star, my current favorite shade of the collection. But all of the colors are so gorge, I'm sure I'll have a new pet polish next week.



Six of the shades (Guy Meets Gal-veston, Ya'll Come Back Ya Hear?, Too Hot Pink to Hold 'Em, Big Hair...Big Nails, Do You Think I'm Tex-y? and Houston We Have a Purple) have a semi-transparent finish that OPI is calling sorbet. "These sorbet-style formulas for nails will be in full swing by 2012, but women can get a jump start on this trend with colors in the Texas Collection," says Weiss-Fischmann. "Unlike thicker creams or light sheers, these twelve shades are slightly translucent - similar to the look of icy, water-based sorbet!"

Watch the video below to learn how to apply the sorbet formula and to see the finished result!

 
*Samples were provided by the brand for review.