Zoya Fire & Ice

Zoya Valerie

Red based purple, fuchsia, red and gold sparkle.

This polish is gorgeous, and reminiscent of Milani Totally Cool, but way more opaque with a redder base. I was shocked at how opaquely and evenly this applied. One of the sure stand-outs in the collection!

Opacity scale (1-5): 4

Use for Konad: Stamps well on lighter colors, but you still stamp get the sparkle on the darker bases for a subtle effect. Sponges well to make gradients.

Finish: Sparkle, 2 coats to be opaque.

Zoya Sarah

Beautiful ruby-red sparkle.

I couldn't imagine a more perfect holiday red. Think China Glaze Ruby Slippers on steroids, this polish has densely-packed ruby sparkle that I felt like Dorothy's ruby slippers were on my nails. This definitely has a tiny, tiny lean toward the fuchsia-y red side, and is a tad cooler (and more opaque) than Ruby Slippers. I couldn't even capture CLOSE to the amount of sparkle it actually gives off. I'd suggest getting a Zoya Color Spoon for this one.

Opacity scale (1-5): 3.5

Use for Konad: Stamps well on lighter colors, but you still stamp get the sparkle on the darker bases for a subtle effect. Sponges well to create gradients.

Finish: Sparkle, 2 coats to be opaque.

Zoya Lisa

Candy-apple red sparkle, with a tinge of hot pinkness.

Such a glowy red! Lighter than Sarah, and definitely warmer, with a hot pink and gold sparkle to it. Super pretty and wearable- even for someone who doesn't wear reds or pinks- I actually love this!

Opacity scale (1-5): 3

Use for Konad: Stamps well on lighter colors, but you still stamp get the sparkle on the darker bases for a subtle effect. Sponges well to create gradients.

Finish: Sparkle, 2 coats to be opaque.

Zoya Gloria

Rose, gold, and pink/silvery foil with some red reflects.

Gloria? How about GLORI-OUS!? Definitely not a pink person, but for some reason I love this polish- I love the gold reflects, and subtle duochromeness of the polish. For you MAC addicts out there, in my mind this looks like Rose pigment, though I think I sold mine, because I can't seem to find it anywhere.

Opacity scale (1-5): 2.5

Use for Konad: Stamps so-so on lighter colors, but you can still stamp get the sparkle on the darker bases for a subtle effect. Amazing for sponging gradients.

Finish: Foil, 3 coats to be opaque.

Zoya Tiffany

Peachy, pink, and pale coppery foil with gold sparkle.

Another pink that I could (and would) wear. As soon as I took this out of the box I was enamored (and then enameled) with it. I think I love it because it is SO warm, sparkly, and not so...pink? :)

Opacity scale (1-5): 2.5

Use for Konad: Stamps so-so on lighter colors, but you can still stamp get the sparkle on the darker bases for a subtle effect. Great for sponging gradients.

Finish: Foil, 3 coats to be opaque.

Zoya Crystal

Light sky-blue foil with gold flakes.

This polish is gorgeous. Hands down favorite of this collection for me. It LOOKS like ice crackles. I adore the gold in it, it contrasts off the blue so well! I love that the foil particles of the blue and gold are very different in size, it makes for a lovely texture on the nail.

Opacity scale (1-5): 3.5

Use for Konad: Stamps so-so on lighter colors, but you can still stamp get the sparkle on the darker bases for a subtle effect. Amazing for sponging gradients.

Finish: Foil, 3 coats to be opaque.

Overall, I double-heart this collection. In my nature, I'm not much for reds, pinks (unless shockingly hot pink or neon), but these are colors that I would actually WEAR. They're great winter and holiday colors, but seeing as I'm not one for seasonal polish changes, I'd wear these puppies all year round. If you like sparkle and awesome, this collection is for you, too!

The application for me was super easy and smooth- no streaking, and they actually dried really fast, and despite all the sparkle and foil, very SMOOTH. The removal surprised me as well, and was VERY easy, even with all the foil particles, though I did I have sparkle on my fingers, which was easily removed with a good hand-washing. :-D Another thing that is great about this collection is how well they work to sponge gradients, especially the foils, I used Zoya Crystal to sponge a gradient over dark grey for a super-chic, simple look as one of my daily designs, Gilded Gradients!

It's pretty rare for me to like an ENTIRE collection, and even when I first saw the color plate for this at CosmoProf, I wasn't as thrilled as when I actually got it on my nails. This collection gets a super A+ from this redhead.

Misa Spark My Interest Collection Preview

Today I've got a preview of a fun (and sparkly) new collection from Misa Cosmetics! Lots of sparkle, shine, and pink! :-P Now you're probably saying, "But Melissa, you don't like pink!?", to which I'll reply- when it comes to glitter, I celebrate the entire color spectrum. :-D (plus, hot pinks are acceptable!!) Anyway, here are the color descriptions straight from the company!

September 2010 – Philadelphia, PA. Ladies, put some bling on it!
Whether you’re hitting the clubs in South Beach or sipping martinis in a Manhattan high-rise, you’ll need nails that glimmer as bright as the surrounding lights. Misa Cosmetics’ latest collection, Spark My Interest, pays homage to the glitz and glamour of nightlife and romantic intrigue—because nighttime nails should never fade into the background. The six brilliant hues are saturated with shine, thanks to the thousands of glittering particles packed into each polish, guaranteeing that nails remain the center of attention all summer long.

Date Nights to the Twilight: You may never know what to wear on date night, but this ebullient royal purple will lay the foundation for the perfect look, whether you choose a flirty mini or laid-back denim. Wow him with your glittering personality (and nails!), then party from twilight till morning light!

Red Pumps at the Nordstrom: Self-conscious? Never! Slipping into a pair of red stilettos is instantly empowering for any woman, and this ruby-red sparkle polish will stir up the same sense of instant sexiness and look-at-me self-assurance. Match your favorite sirenred Louboutins with this high-octane shade for confidence that won’t quit.

Spark My Heart, That’s a Start: A glimmer of interest is easy to notice—he can just follow the flashing of your fingernails as you take his hand and lead him to the dance floor. This coral-pink hue lets him know that your heart beats strong, but he still needs to work hard to keep you interested. A bold demand, sure, but this shade is for women who know what they want.

Pink Bling On My Ring: You can’t leave home without the right accessories! A girl’s gotta have jewelry, but this shocking hot-pink glitter hue will vigorously compete with the gemstones that decorate her fingers. Like bejeweled ornaments, nails will shine bright and accent any outfit just right.

Wink, Blink, Let’s Get a Drink: Skip the awkward getting-to-know-you phase and get right to the flirting! This glimmering deep fuchsia will let him know you’re interested from across a crowded room—and will have his eyes glued to you all night as you work your charm. It won’t be long before he leans in and asks, “Another round?”

Glitz, Glamour, Smile for the Camera: Let’s get candid: Nails will be continually camera-ready with a couple of coats of this sparkling playful plum. Picture-perfect nails are guaranteed as this polish’s glitter catches the light of the paparazzi’s flashes. Evoke the sophistication of Old Hollywood and say “glam” just before the shutter snaps!

NOX Twilight Beauty

Recently, I found out about a new line of nail polishes from NOX Twilight Beauty. The packaging was what really drew me in, I'm a sucker for interesting touches, and I really liked the metal Cullen crest on the bottle. It gives the bottle some 'weight', not in the lb and ounce way, but I'm sure you get my meaning. It kind of makes the bottle look more expensive than its $6.99 pricetag on the Twilight Beauty site. There are twelve colors, and today I have 6 of them to show you!

NOX Twilight Sugar Plum

Fuchsia base with bluish purple shimmer

For those of you that have been reading the blog for a while, you know that I'm NOT a pink person, but this polish had an interesting twist on it with the glowy blue shimmer that made it something that I would actually wear, and it's my favorite of the 6 I've seen in person.

Opacity scale (1-5): 2.5

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped. works on lighter colors, does a fun thing over dark colors- you see the blue shimmer- that's it! (and it looked pretty neat)

Finish: Shimmer, three coats to be opaque.

blurred shot to show sparkle!

NOX Twilight Disco Darling

Holographic glitter in a clear base

This polish is quite possibly the most sparkly polish I've ever worn! There are a million different colors all at once on the nail, and the polish comes to life in the sunlight!

Opacity scale (1-5): 1.5

Use for Konad: not a good Konad polish.

Finish: Glitter, five coats to be opaque.

NOX Twilight Citrus

Melon base with gold shimmer.

Again, not a pink person, but this polish is gorgeous. With the injection of gold shimmer, this pink polish takes on a really warm tone, and steps up a notch from being 'boring' or 'safe'.

Opacity scale (1-5): 3

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped. works on lighter colors, only the gold shimmer of the polish shows up over dark colors.

Finish: Shimmer, two coats to be opaque.

NOX Twilight Talon

Navy shimmer with a hint of teal.

This color is a pretty color if you're into darker vampy colors. It's a great navy with shimmer, but not super unique.

Opacity scale (1-5): 2.5

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped. works on lighter colors, but not dark.

Finish: Shimmer, two coats to be opaque.

NOX Twilight Sangria

Bordeaux

This color is a great vampy wine shade, reminiscent of fresh blood. :)

Opacity scale (1-5): 2.5

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped. works on lighter colors, but not dark.

Finish: Jelly, two coats to be opaque.

NOX Twilight Red Velvet

Vibrant, fiery red!

Generally not a red person, but there is something about this red, even though there is an OBVIOUS nail line, which sucks, but this really is a great color!

Opacity scale (1-5): 1.5

Use for Konad: not bad, but not opaque when stamped. works on lighter colors, but not dark.

Finish: Jelly, four coats, still have VNL.


All in all, these polishes really surprised me. I wasn't expecting super-awesomeness for some reason, maybe because of the Twilight association? Who knows, all I can say is that I was very pleasantly surprised with most of them. The application was really nice, no streakiness or thickness, though most of them were on the sheer side. Honestly, I think there are couple more in the collection that I want to buy, namely Poseidon (bright turquoise!) and Wine & Dine (shimmery champagne), which satisfy my bright and sparkly cravings, respectively.

NOX Twilight polishes can be purchased at Twilight Beauty.


Disclosure: Polishes were sent to me by the manufacturer for consideration.

CND Shellac

So here we have it, and yes, I know that I'm terribly far behind, but better late than never, right?

The internet is still abuzz with the release of the newest miracle product from CND, Shellac! For people that love the fresh from the salon manicure look, but don't have the time or patience for maintenance- this product is a godsend. Boasting a 14-day wear time with no scratches, dents, dings, or chips, Shellac is a miracle product! Here is my Shellac experience...

OOOH- Shiny!! My pretty new Shellac'd nail in Fedora! Brand Spankin' New, freshly applied. Also in picture on the pinky is the Shellac Remover pad. (removal on this stuff was crazy awesome and easy)

Shellac being applied to another International Beauty Show visitor

The UV light used to 'dry' the Shellac

Close-up of Shellac Day 1 (don't mind the cuticles, they were crying at that point)

Day 11, some tip wear and a chip from the cuticle edge, but it was still super shiny.

Day 14  lots of tip wear and obvious chunk from free edge of nail, as well as some scratching and scuffing of the surface.

Yes, this product didn't stand up to the 14-day promise for me, but in my book, it's still a win. At the time of wearing this, I was in my culinary classes, which meant that I used steel scrubbing pads, washed dishes for 30 minutes or so at a time, and I honestly beat my nails to death, I'm one of those girls that use their nails as tools. For me, it's a miracle when I don't have tip wear by the end of a few hours. I think that for the normal, average nailista, this stuff is going to be perfect, and last WELL over the 14 days! I really want to get a Shellac pedicure!

Milani Liquid Metal Intense Color Collection - Swatches & Review

A few days ago, I posted a preview of Milani's latest nail color collection- the 'Liquid Metal Intense Color' collection. I was excited to get my hands on these, as the promo pictures looked gorgeous, and sure enough, these didn't disappoint, though the one that stood out to me the most in the promo images turned out to be my least favorite on the nail.

Here we go:

Milani Hot Metal

Fuchsia base with bluish purple & pink shimmer

This color was the one from the collection that I was most excited about, but turned out liking the least. In the bottle and in theory, it's beautiful, but it's not a color I would ever wear. It applied well in 3 coats (with 2 coats, there is a visible nail line, as seen on the index finger) and is a shimmer finish.

Opacity scale (1-5): 2

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped. works on lighter colors, but not dark.

Finish: Shimmer, three coats to be opaque.

Milani Molten Rock

Teal base with teal & silver shimmer.

This color was the other polish of the bunch that I was eager to get my hands on, and this one didn't let me down. :-P I adore this color, it looks like a foil finish, and applies easily in 2 coats.

Opacity scale (1-5): 3

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped. works on lighter colors, but not dark.

Finish: Shimmer, but has foil finish appearance, two coats to be opaque.

Milani Metal Gear

Burnt Orange shimmer with foil-like finish

Ok, I'm pretty sure this is my favorite of the bunch, I sear I actually had a cell phone case years ago in this exact color. It was less opaque than some of the others, but still applied easily in 3 coats.

Opacity scale (1-5): 2

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped. works on lighter colors, but not dark.

Finish: Shimmer, but has foil finish appearance, three coats to be opaque.

Milani Melt With U

Candy Apple Red Shimmer

This red looked like the finish on a new car... metallic and spicy red. Applied easily in 3 coats, borderline 2 coats on some nails.

Opacity scale (1-5): 2.5

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped. works on lighter colors, but not dark.

Finish: Shimmer, three coats to be opaque.

Milani Melt in the Sun

Brassy gold shimmer.

This color is a brassy based polish with flecks of gold microglitter flitting about within it. It applied easily with 3 coats. I know the image of this one is in the shade, but I couldn't get an accurate portrayal of the color in direct sunlight with this one.

Opacity scale (1-5): 2

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped. works on lighter colors, but not dark.

Finish: Shimmer, but has foil finish appearance, three coats to be opaque.

Milani Melt Down

Burgundy-red shimmer with foil-like finish

This color seems to glow from within, it's gorgeous! It applied easily in 2 coats. I found a similar polish in my stash (albeit a different finish, but only a slight difference in base- Zoya Isla has a bit darker of a base than Melt Down)

Melt Down on the left, Zoya Isla on the right

Opacity scale (1-5): 2.75

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped. works on lighter colors, but not dark.

Finish: Shimmer, but has foil finish appearance, two coats to be opaque.

When I saw the promo images, I expected these to be foil finishes, but they really don't apply like any of the other foil polishes I have, and removal is different than other foil polishes, too. Perhaps I'm totally wrong in my description of the finishes, but the colors in the above photos speak for themselves. :P

Products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration by the manufacturer.

A Beautiful Life - Nail Lacquer & Remover

A Beautiful Life Poison

Ok, I'll be honest, I'm not really much for red polishes on me, I suppose they feel too 'traditional' or something, but this is actually a red I could see myself wearing. I actually really like it on me. It's a red that isn't pink-based, it's a little deeper than a true red, and it has a warm tone to it. It applied with ease in two coats.

Opacity scale (1-5): 3

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped. works on lighter colors, but not darker.

Finish: Creme, two coats to be opaque.

A Beautiful Life Vexed

This color is super pretty, again, it applied with ease in 2 coats. However, this one was an amazing brownish burgundy shimmer polish with copperish & green-gold microglitter instead of a creme like Poison. WOO!!

Opacity scale (1-5): 3

Use for Konad: not bad, but not totally opaque when stamped. Doesn't stamp well over darker colors.

Finish: Shimmer, two coats to be opaque.



Soy Polish Remover

I was SO excited to try this, with the amount of polish remover I use, I was extremely eager to experiment with something a bit more natural, something without the harsh chemicals in the removers I normally use. This polish remover is a soy-based remover with essential oils to both remove & moisturize.

I'll be honest, it works, but not as well as a simple non-acetone polish remover. I did a few experiments to compare the removers that I generally use as well as the Soy Based Remover from A Beautiful Life with both their lacquers and with a manicure that needed coming off so I could apply the next days design. Their remover left a bit to be desired, with normal non-acetone polish remover on a cotton ball, I can remove every trace of polish from my nail in about 7 seconds, I checked the soy-based remover at 10 seconds with pressure and rubbing, and still, lots of polish. It took over 20 seconds to remove all the polish from the nail with the soy-based remover. It may not seem like much, but when you change your manicure as often as I do, that time certainly adds up. I even tried different methods, like letting the remover soak on the nail for a few seconds before 'swiping', but got the same result. It fared better with their own polishes, but still wasn't awesome.

One thing I really liked about the A Beautiful Life Soy Polish Remover was the essential oil addition, I felt that my cuticles were nourished and moisturized after removing my polish, which was obviously a bonus. All in all, this isn't a bad remover per se, just make sure you have more time & patience than I apparently have. :-P To be perfectly honest, I had to force myself to start using non-acetone polish remover because acetone polish works SO much faster than non-acetone, and I'm incredibly impatient, so impatient that I was willing to overlook the damage it was doing to my hands. That said, this polish remover makes non-acetone remover look like it works at acetone speed.

Non-acetone removal after 7 seconds:

Soy-based Polish remover after 10 seconds:

Soy-based Polish Remover after 20 seconds:

I really liked the A Beautiful Life Nail Lacquers (as did my roommate- she was eyeing them up), and plan to order some in the future (possibly Juiced and Shroom- they're calling out to me), the pigmentation is great, they apply flawlessly, and they have a nice range of colors in their collection. At $12, they're a tad on the pricey side, but if you're looking for a soy-based polish that is safe for kids as well as adults, these aren't a bad way to go! :)

The Soy-Based Polish Remover was a bit of a letdown to me honestly, and at $20, I doubt that I'd shell out the dough. But, everything works differently on different people, and what I like, you guys might hate, and vice versa, so if you're curious, give it a try.

Products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration by the manufacturer.

Milani Liquid Metal Intense Color Collection - PREVIEW

Ok, from what I can tell from the pictures, these are gorgeous, I can't wait to try 'Hot Metal'!! I'm a little curious how it compares to Milani Totally Cool, but the shimmer looks more intense and blue-based purple in Hot Metal than in Totally Cool. I'm excited to check out 'Molten Rock' as well, from the promo pictures, it looks interesting, and I always love teals.

Milani Hot Metal



Milani Molten Rock



Milani Melt Down



Milani Metal Gear



Milani Melt With U



Milani Melt in the Sun



The polishes are available at CVS starting June 1 - July. As soon as I get my hands on them, I will get some swatches up for you! :)