Swatch Spam!

I just feel like posting some swatch spam, so here it comes!

 China Glaze Bat My Eyes

 

 OPI Casino Royale

 OPI On Her Majesty's Secret Service

 Jessica Prima Donna

 Butter London Swinger

Pretty Serious VT100

 Jessica Blue Aria

 Maybelline Color Show Polka Dots Clearly Spotted (over purple)

 OPI Skyfall

 OPI You're So Flippy Floppy

 Sephora Color Hit Blackjack

Ozotic Beam 905 with Northern Lights Gold Topcoat

Essie Bikini So Teeny

China Glaze Magnetix You Move Me

 China Glaze Infra-Red

Introducting Rescue Beauty Lounge: Anatomy of a K-Drama Collection 2014

Picture this: A really hot, rich boy (his parents practically own the country—think  Samsung!) falls in love with a plain Jane, a pitifully poor girl whose family was financially  ruined by loan sharks. The boy’s equally wealthy best friend falls in love with her too,  and they even come to blows over the girl. She is without a clue since she is often too  exhausted from taking care of her family—and working two or three jobs. It takes about  8 episodes for this couple to hold hands; we don’t know which of the boys she will   choose, she may have held hands with both of them. They reach into their bottomless   wallets to give her makeovers—in fact, one of their fathers owns the department store!   (Oh Snap!)   

Enter the boy’s no-nonsense Korean tiger mom who always has a rich girl for him to  marry (think company merger), someone he loathes. There are loads of schemes to get   rid of the poor girl, even if his mother has to hire a hit man. Yes, there will be a kidnapping and perhaps some injuries, you name it—I’m scared for her too, no lie. It  takes about 16 episodes for these two to kiss and overcome her accidents, hospital  recoveries, etc. They promise never to part. But wait! Something else surfaces, after the boy’s friend digs up the girl’s family history, it turns out that the couple are exactly like   Romeo and Juliet, their ancestors were enemies and the reason why her family is destitute.  What will she do? Will she honor her family and reclaim their wealth? Or does she abandon ship?! Anatomy of a #KDrama is my latest collection, brought about by my newest compulsion.   –Ji Baek

Burn The Evidence

(Opaque and rich gold, copper,  and rust-red microglitter in a clear base. My favorite of the collection!)

Burn The Evidence has a finely milled panache glitter that is not only jammed-packed with a mélange of red, gold, orange and copper glitters, but it also provides that dash of ash-black brilliance. This color fully covers in two full coats and dimensional depth: Your hot nails will look like they’re on fire.

Cue The Montage

(Silver glitter in a spring green creme base. Very interesting effect between glitter and base, but needs a lot of topcoat since it looks dimpled when it dries.)

Yellow chartreuse is the most difficult color to wear; it was a daring task to try to create  one that would be suitable for all skin tones. Cue the Montage has a different texture  than any other RBL nail polish. It dries matte and textured, so you must apply a   basecoat and topcoat for the full effect. This color has glittery silver that peaks through   in glorified harmony.  Warning: The glitter in this bottle does not appear the same when applied to nails; it   has a sandwiched effect.

Instant Amnesia

(Suede-colored creme with really cool iridescent microshimmer!)

This is the perfectly neutral balance between fawn and taupe, a lofty palate cleanser   with a tinge of attitude. Its flawless beauty is infused with flutters of silver, green, and   pink shimmer. Once you wear it, Instant Amnesia will erase your memory of all the bad   nail polish colors from your past.

Monologue

(Deep midnight blue with fine blue-green duochrome shimmer)

Virtuously inky, Monologue’s navy blue base is embedded with a soliloquy of elegant light-blue shimmer. Even in low light, this solitary dark blue retains its color and does not   appear to be black. Monologue has a smooth, undemanding application; this color is darkly pigmented yet calmingly engaging.

Not Your Baby

(This is a metallic green-bronze with awesome pink microglitter and a bit of duochromey shift. You could consider it a cousin to Scrangie 2.0)

A deceitfully, mysterious brown-bronzy-sage-green duo chrome, Not Your Baby is a classic RBL chameleon nail polish—its identity changes depending on the light. Trickery   plays. This color may appear to be brown with a cast of sage-green shimmer in a certain light, and yet bronze the next moment.

Oh Slap!  

(Pink creamy jelly that makes your nails look cute and perfect... I'm kinda smitten with it)

The quintessential flushed cheeks for your nails, Oh Slap! goes on as a sheer pink in one coat with opaque coverage in two coats. This is THE PERFECT PINK; the formula is flawless and streak-free and is not pastel or white-based. You can practically apply it with your eyes closed.

Will They Won’t They

(Muted lavender jelly with blue-green duochrome glass fleck)

Will They Won’t They catches the sun’s rays as it glides on your nails. A gentle cascade of the tiniest silvery, blue-green micro glitter softly flows on a pool of doleful  lavender. Sheer coverage in one coat, and opaque in two.

The formula on nearly all of these was great.  The only one that gave me trouble was Cue the Montage.  That one went on thick and kinda chunky, which made it difficult to create thin, even coats. All the others applied without a single issue. I used three coats of each and I prefer the look of all of them at three. Dry time is on the long side.

My top picks from this collection are Burn The Evidence because it's so cool and sparkly (and they will never find the evidence in the furnace), and Oh Slap! because it hides all the ridges and imperfections on my nails and applies like a dream.

Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polishes are exclusively available at  www.rescuebeauty.com for $20 per bottle.  Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polishes are created with resin and high molecular polymers to improve flexibility, durability, and high shine. They contain no harmful Toluene, Formaldehyde, DBP, and Formaldehyde Resin. We do not test on animals. 

48 hr. Pre-order starts 6/20/14 AM-ends at 6/22 at noon EST. Please sign up for the newsletter at www.rescuebeauty.com to receive the email invite.

(collection provided for review)

Depression Open Thread

China Glaze Boogie Down

This is a little check-in post just to say hi, I'm here, I'm not planning on abandoning my blog, but I'm having some life challenges at the moment and I haven't been able to devote much time to swatching. I want to do something a little different during this downtime, and here's what I'm thinking:

Need to talk about anything?  Depression?  Health issues?  If you'd like to vent or ask questions, use the comments thread on this post to engage with each other (and me).  I know it's nice to find out that you're not alone in your struggles, and you know I won't judge, so if you wanna talk about something, please do!

Thanks for sticking with me :)

Hottest New Nail Art Trends of 2014!

I recently got a super-exclusive sneak preview of what, according to an inside source*, are going to be this year's hottest new trends.  And since I'm so hip and trendy, I just had to try out all these new techniques right away.  You guys, this is seriously cutting edge stuff here.  World premiere.  You get to say you saw it before it was cool.

Les Ongles de Terre

All natural, organic, locally produced artisan terrain provides a sustainable and beautiful eco-friendly manicure. 

Nail File Manicure

Textures were the big trend in 2013, but this new type textured manicure has both form and function. Now, thanks to the geniuses at 3M™, you can file your nails with your nails. Whoa.

Whole Handicure

Take it to the next level and just do your whole hand. Why the hell not? Do it. Who cares. Life is meaningless.

Cherenkov Manicure

The materials for this nail look might be a little hard to get your hands on, but the end result is worth the effort.  Your nails will be so glowy, it's like they're actually lit from within.  The downside is that there may be some side effects, which could include sudden onset of superpowers or severe burns. Probably both.

Quantum Manicure

This one is a more complicated two-step process, but it'll definitely turn heads. First, apply your Cherenkov manicure as usual.  Then, using your new-found powers, turn your nails invisible or teleport them to another location or time period, depending on which powers you got. 

You heard it here first! 

*source is inside my head

Gwen Stefani by OPI Collection 2014 Swatches and Review

This is a small collection of mostly standard, mundane colors (red creme, pink creme, vampy burgundy), but with one really special standout shade.  Quick overview of the collection from the press release:

"OPI joins celebrity partner Gwen Stefani in announcing seven new limited edition nail lacquers for 2014, featuring standout color in breakthrough finishes. Highlights from the collection include a bold red lacquer that pays homage to Gwen’s signature lipstick, a new semi-matte satin finish in shades of gold and black, and a mirrored chrome paired with a special base coat. 

Inspired by the 2013 Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala that featured the theme “Punk: Chaos to Couture,” OPI Executive VP and Artistic Director Suzi Weiss-Fischmann decided to create a collection of lacquer celebrating the role of music as a major influence in fashion. “With her expertise as a singer, songwriter and designer, who better to collaborate with than Gwen Stefani?” asks Weiss-Fischmann. “Known for her trademark red lips, bold eye makeup and nail art, Gwen uses beauty to accessorize her style.” 

Gwen’s signature red OPI hue – Over & Over A-Gwen – is available in a boxed set, which includes Swarovski black crystals and silver, gold and pewter studs in bar, square, diamond and circle shapes for creating unique nail designs, as well as nail glue for easy application. Love.Angel.Music.Baby. and 4 in the Morning feature a new, semi-matte satin finish designed to be worn without top coat. Push and Shove, a bold chrome hue, is also worn without top coat but requires a special complimentary base coat – Lay Down that Base. One thin coat of Lay Down that Base topped with two thin coats of Push and Shove yields an intense, mirrored finish. The collection is rounded out with two glossy crème lacquers and one sparkly glitter shade: Hey Baby, I Sing in Color, and In True Stefani Fashion.

“OPI wanted to create a collection as dramatic, diverse and glamorous as its namesake,” adds Weiss-Fischmann. “With crème and glitter hues, new satin matte texture, a mirrored chrome and SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, Gwen Stefani by OPI presents the latest in pigments and finishes, while combining elements of haute couture and street fashion.”

Gwen Stefani by OPI Collection

 OPI 4 In The Morning

Very slightly shimmery dark charcoal/faded black satin matte.  Intended to be worn without topcoat.

 OPI Hey Baby

Blue-based hot pink creme.

 OPI In True Stefani Fashion

Sparse holographic silver glitter topcoat.  Shown here with three coats and still not full coverage. Nice feature of this polish: square glitter.

 OPI I Sing In Color

Vampy brown-burgundy creme.  Leans more jelly than pure opaque creme.

 OPI Love.Angel.Music.Baby.

Light gold shimmer with a satin matte finish.  Intended to be worn without topcoat, but it looks pretty great with topcoat as well.

 OPI Over and Over A-Gwen

This is only sold as a set (pictured below) that includes some Swarovski Elements nail art pieces.  The color itself is a bright cherry red creamy jelly. 

OPI Over And Over A-Gwen Boxed Set

OPI Push and Shove

This is the special standout in the collection.  It's a mirrored chrome silver, and without resorting to Minx or other similar nail coverings, it's the most reflective, mirror-like silver out there.  It needs to be worn over a special basecoat, but that's included with the polish.

The formula on every shade was perfect.  Literally nothing to criticize in the texture or application of any of these.  Push And Shove can get streaky if you apply the coats too close together or on top of still-wet basecoat, but it's minimal.  All shades except In True Stefani Fashion only needed two coats for full coverage (and that's how they're worn here).  Push and Shove is very fragile on the nail and doesn't wear for very long.  It doesn't chip on me, it actually wears away as if it's being wiped away.  Wearing topcoat makes it more durable. 



Most of the colors in this collection seem too bland to have Gwen Stefani's name on them, don't they?  Nothing unique in here except for Push and Shove.  It's not a true mirror reflection, but it's the closest I've ever seen.  I am completely in love with it.  It's even more reflective in person.  Only downsides are that it gets damaged easily and that it shows every single flaw on your natural nail (call me Ruffles.) Gently buffing your nails before applying the basecoat should make any ridges or flaws less noticeable.

Gwen Stefani by OPI nail lacquers contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application. This promotion will be available beginning January 2014 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for  $9.00 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer. The boxed set including Over & Over A-Gwen and SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS will retail for $14.95 ($18.95 CAN).

(collection provided for review.)

Rescue Beauty Lounge A Poem Collection 2014 Swatches and Review

From the official press release:

"I'm wobbling on the icy sidewalks of Manhattan against the sharp, brutal wind, which is mockingly slicing my face into pieces. I feel like I’m five years old again trapped in my one-piece zip-up snowsuit unable to raise my arms, intently concentrating with knitted brows trying not to walk sideways and fall on my derrière. There are so many layers underneath my puffy coat that I feel immobile and stuck. I grip the railing as I descend down to the subway, my boots crunching the grayed crystal snow-salt beneath me as I slide down the stairs. At the subway platform we’re all children again waiting for the school bus on a wintry morning, puffing out our breaths through our cocooned scarves with only our eyes peering through a tiny space like ninjas.

A text notification vibrates, my girlfriend (an ex-New Yorker) now living on West Coast: "Augh! Another stupid sunny day here! I miss New York, the cold, my sweaters and coats *cat face with tears* emoji."

I immediately reply with: "Three *angry red devil faces* emoji" while I mentally utter explosive curses at her—I picture her wearing flip-flops and shorts. Immaturely, at that moment, I hate her and pout like a child.

At the studio, I’m stirring the last shimmery touches on my mixing table, the almost completed color mixes for The Fan Collection 2.0 consume me. They are stunningly beautiful and simply lovely, yet, for my next round of mixing, I cannot fathom working with anything this pretty so soon. Instead, I start craving sensible soft cotton undies and my oldest sweats from college. That's the outfit I'd wear as I picture myself munching on Doritos and washing it down with beer while watching horrific “Lifetime” movies—I crave dichotomy. That's when I remember this quote from "The Age of Miracles" by Karen Thompson Walker: "Even beauty, in abundance, turns creepy." I then call my girlfriend, I understand our finicky hearts.

My thirst to seek some kind of alluring forlornness leads me to words. Wordsmithing entrances me, I can marinate myself for days with its craft. Words are a magical and ancient medium. Great writers use words to depict the cinematic or to hint at nuances of imagination. Would I? Can I humbly dare to translate that into colors?

As soon as I read “Ghost House,” by Robert Frost (published on public domain), the colors revealed themselves. It was as if I was physically walking along the patch of earth from the poem. There are many layers in those verses that illuminate one’s soul; I’ve attempted to translate this into layers of colors. This entire collection was curated by a harmony of hues that go seamlessly hand in hand, including the glitters that can be layered with the opaque colors to give depth and texture depending on one's mood.

It's rare for me to make four opaque colors in one collection, but these earthy palettes ravished me, when I read the poem, these colors seduced me. The opaques themselves are all demurely quiet, neutral and wearable, yet sophisticatedly pensive for all occasions and seasons (my own version of the perfect little black dress). I know, I know, scandalously, there is only one color with that shimmery sensation and I've crushed on glitter again. That last time you've witnessed this was circa 2009.

Unfolding the ocean full of desires has completed this puzzle and it makes my hunger complete. I hope you’ll enjoy this journey as much as I did."

A Lonely House: The sleepy night sky swallows up the last of the dim sunlight. Like a black and white photograph from long ago, naked tree branches are covered in the snow that is falling on the ground and the ubiquitous snow wins with a smirk. A brown, weathered, broken wooden house remains, without any apparent light or life. Just there, content, scattered, and waiting. Out of this friendless and disparaged landscape dwells the perfect opaque brown. Like handsomely worn English saddle leather, a rich and lush one-coater. 

Forgotten Road: The snow has melted. A howling wind stamps, turns, and tangos with the broken brown house too many times. In the morning after they part, a charcoal road, faded over time, leads to the house yearning for companionship. In the slick asphalt road after the rain, I found a charcoal opaque gray. It is the color of a deep gray river rock that fits perfectly in your hand, the darkest shade of gray in the spectrum. A darker, moodier sister to Stormy. 

Footpath: After the incessant rain and flood, the yellowed-clay earth slowly recovers and hardens. Unhurriedly, the path heals, baked by the sun. The earth, for a short while, forgets and forgives its muddied past. The willow branches persistently swings, whispers, and sheds its confetti of mustard-colored pollen, which blend to celebrate a marriage between two earthy-yellow opaque hues. This earthened-yellow is truly mellow, wearable, and surpassingly neutral. If you're on the fence about wearing a bright yellow, this is a perfect shade to ease into.

The Mosses Mar: The small creek sings and chatters, conversing with the busy birds pecking away at nature’s supper. In between the brown house the wood has shed, there are sage-colored mosses bursting up for their new eager, erratic life. This is the color of the mosses in between stones or scattered deadwoods, parched and lightened by the sun, almost identical to the underside of Aspen leaves when they tremble in the wind. (This is a less yellow version of Diddy Mow 2.0)

 

Wild Raspberries Grow: One spring morning, a sparkling hint of brilliance appeared in the periphery where wild raspberry patches thrived. The ruby fruit twinkled. Like Dorothy, from The Wizard of Oz, the raspberries find their ruby slippers—turning the grayed world of black and white into a beautiful spring day. In the light of the sun of a new day, the micro leafy green glitters and sparkling fuchsia berries float. Combine this with any of the opaque colors in this collection or use three coats to see a kaboom of glitter!

Small, Dim, Summer Stars: Lost in the woods on a moonless, un-illuminated night, they stumble through the darkness. Looking up at the sky amid the fragrant forest, the weeping willow tree branches recite a monologue in the distance. A whippoorwill sopranos—its cadenza joins to compete. Then they appeared, countless tiny stars embedded in the dark sky, it was always there to be found in every gentle, trusting heart. This sweltering silvery black base hammered with multifaceted and spectacular green, blue, pink, shimmery, glittery twinkling stars will bring you back to that summer night long ago, full of wonder and beauty.

As Sweet Companions (one coat over Forgotten Road): In the end, it was the hardship and the beauty that all flourished together. The sonatas will always have the contrasting movement that settles what the perfect ending was meant to be. The silver-lavender and matte black glitter were meant to be playmates. This is not your typical screaming glitter, it's more discreet, reserved, with muted tones. You can create a perfect polka-dot nail art overlay with any of the opaque colors from this collection as base. Or better yet, for those who want it real--layer it on for jeweled digits!

 Wild Raspberries Grow (one coat) over A Lonely House

The formula on these was very good.  As usual, the creme shades are extraordinarily pigmented and completely opaque in one coat.  The texture is thick and slow-flowing, so if you're going to do more than one coat it's best to let them dry for a few minutes to avoid any clumping or smearing.  The two glitter shades are much more thin in texture.  Wild Raspberries Grow is easy to layer (I'm wearing three coats) for solo wear, while As Sweet Companions is more sparse and can be worn alone, it requires a little dabbing and arranging of the glitter with the brush to apply evenly.  Dry time is long.

This collection will be available for 48-hour pre-order starting at 12:00pm EST on Friday, February 7th on rescuebeauty.com. 

(collection provided for review)

Get Awards Season’s Best Red Carpet Looks with L'Oréal Paris (Sponsored)

Awards season is upon us and that means new looks on the red carpet. L'Oréal Paris has got you covered because their new interactive series of how­to videos will show you how  to get the most popular beauty looks from the red carpet.  Beauty blogger Sona  Gasparian of MakeupbySona shows you how to get the perfect orange­hue lip, statement  eyes and lips, or that camera­ready hair with the perfect manicure. The best part ­ the  videos are interactive, allowing you to purchase any L'Oréal Paris product on Target.com  straight from the video with just a click!

Visit L’Oréal Paris' Guide to the Latest Red Carpet Looks to see more #GetTheLook videos!

Dance Legend Chameleons 092 Roz

 Dance Legend 092 Roz

Dance Legend's Chameleons collection is amazing.  There are five shades, and each one is an extremely intense multichrome.  This one's called Roz, and as you can see, it truly is a chameleon.  It has a burgundy-plum base and it shifts to a glowing red-orange-gold-green rainbow.  It has decent coverage on its own (I used three coats for opacity) so it doesn't need to be layered, but layering it over black (or another dark, opaque creme base) accentuates the green flash.

The formula is a little on the thick side, so I needed to be careful to apply very thin coats to avoid bubbling or lengthened dry time.  Since the finish is slightly frosty, it's also a good idea to be conscious of your brushstrokes. Most of them disappear when the polish is fully dry, but not all of them.  Other than those two issues, I was very happy with these polishes.  Dry time is quick as long as your coats are thin, and they have been very durable and chip-resistant each time I've worn them.

Dance Legend is available either directly from their website (RU), or from Ninja Polish and Llarowe (US).

(sent for review)