Showing posts with label Chrome/Foil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chrome/Foil. Show all posts

Theons Nail Polish: Not Bad For $1.99

Above & Below: Theons #72 is definitely worth $1.99! It has that 'lit from within' glow, multi-colored fine shimmer, and an almost iridescent finish. Scroll down for a comparison to Essie's Viva La Vespa.
Below: Shown with a coat of Essie's Matte About You.
Below: Bottle comparison with Essie's Viva La Vespa. It's a bit lighter and with more red tones than the Essie...at least in the bottle.
Below: Theon's is shown on the left, while Essie's is on the left. They're very close in color, but you can see that Essie's has a better quality and looks richer.
Below: Theons #11 wasn't as impressive on my nails as it was in the bottle. I should have studied it a bit more, because it does look more foily in the bottle, but I was attracted to the fact that it looked like it may have a black base to it. It really doesn't, although in darker lighting, it does tend to show a darker base.
Theons is a little-known brand that's often found at independent beauty supply stores for around $1.99. They don't have a huge color range, although I did spot a green one while doing some Google research about the brand. They're manufactured by a company called Granvill Cosmetics in Miami, Florida, but there isn't a whole lot of information about them online. The quality of these is actually quite good, much better than what I expected based on the price. They both applied perfectly in 2 coats and dried quickly, although I wasn't crazy about the almost foil or metallic finish of the red one, simply named #11. The purple one however, #72, was very impressive. It has tiny multi-colored micro-glitter, a somewhat iridescent reflection, and reminds me very much of Essie's Viva La Vespa. I spotted these over the summer at a local oriental beauty supply, that also carries Ruby Kisses, Wild and Crazy and old Sinful brand polishes.


Posted in , , , , ,

Grey Day, Grey Polishes! BB Couture Caliber, Widow Maker, Blue Steel

Above: BB Couture's Caliber is a bright silver with a chrome/foil finish. I apologize for the glare, but we're trapped in the the house today because of a blizzard, so a flash was the only option.
Below: Widow Maker, a light grey shimmer, is a very nice shade. It's my favorite out of these 3 because of the finish type.
Below: Blue Steel, despite it's name, does not show a trace of blue to me! It's a dark Charcoal grey with a chrome/foil finish. All 3 covered nicely in 2 coats.
These 3 shades are all from BB Couture's men's polish line and were released a few months back. Their latest men's releases can be found in my posts earlier this week, if you'd like to scroll down. We're having our first snow day today and it's extremely cold, windy, and of course, snowing. So I'm busy trying to keep my daughter entertained and our newest dog distracted from the cats! I have been very frustrated with the lack of sun and bitter cold temperatures, because that means I'm forced to shoot only indoor photos, which always have lighting issues. I wanted to mention that Joann Fabrics has their Ott Lighting 50% off this week, which is a fabulous deal. I need to get mine out, because it definitely helps with indoor shots.

Back to the polishes...there were 3 greys in this first collection, which seems a bit much to me. I'll have the other 3 shades for you later in the day. They all covered exceptionally well in 2 coats, and dried quickly to a high shine. Caliber and Blue Steel have a chrome, and somewhat frosty finish, which I'm not fond of, but the brush strokes were minimal compared to many other brands with this finish. Widow Maker is a lighter shade, with shimmer. I would call this a Dove grey. All in all, they're nice shades, and I'd have to say that of these 3, Widow Maker would be my first choice, simply because I'm not a fan of chrome finishes. Just a reminder that Overall Beauty is offering free shipping through 12/11 on all of their orders.


Posted in , , ,

Coming Soon: Orly Metal Chic Metallic Matte 2010 Collection

I recently received a press release for Orly's new Metallic Matte 2010 Collection called Metal Chic. First, let me apologize for the quality of the photo. It was sent to me in a Word .doc, and I honestly have no clue how to convert it into something that Blogger will recognize, although I did try! So I ended up copying it and photographing the copy. I'm excited about this collection because I've tried matte top coats over metallic or chrome polishes, but it didn't give me the result I was looking for. I ended up with uneven coloration on my nails and a finish that just wasn't the look I was going for. I'm hopeful that these will be more along the lines of the finsih I would like to see when I think of a matte metallic shade. I think they may have a finish somewhat like OPI's Matte collection, but have a bit more of a solid foil look, similar to the reverse side of aluminum foil...but what do I know? I love the metal shades, especially the copper one, Glam Rock. These should arrive to me next week, so I'll share them with you as soon as I can. Here's the description of the collection:


Have a wild side that’s raring to come out? Introducing Metal Chic, ORLY’s NEW Metallic Matte Collection, for the rocker chick in all of us. Expanding upon the popular matte trend, ORLY takes matte nails to the next level with a metallic finish. Wear over ORLY’s Bonder basecoat and brush on two coats of your favorite Metal Chic lacquer for wild child nails in a snap. No topcoat needed.

The three new lacquers in the Metal Chic Collection include:
Let your Iron Butterfly roam free in Metallic Matte Charcoal
Rock 24 karat Solid Gold nails in Metallic Matte Gold
Glam Rock is back with Metallic Matte Copper
The Metal Chic Collection lacquers will be available starting February 2010 for $7.50 each. ORLY Nail Lacquers and Treatment products are available at orlybeauty.com, Sally Beauty, Ulta and other purveyors of beauty throughout the U.S. and in over 66 countries worldwide.


Posted in , , , , ,

Del Sol Color-Changing Polishes: Girls Night Out, Pretty in Pink & First Kiss

Above & Below: My personal favorite, Girls Night Out. Here it is shown indoors and you can see just a hint of gold shimmer in the picture below, although it appears more as a creme finish.
Below: Now you can see why it's my favorite, as I have a weakness for gold shimmer, especially in purples. This is how it looks after about 30 seconds in the sunlight.



Below: Pretty in Pink has a milky white iridescent finish in the shade. It's very delicate looking and reminds me of the inside of a sea shell with it's pearl-like sheen.
Below: Heading into the sunshine, it begins to transform.
Below: Full sun brings it to a Rose pink shade with a hint of flash still evident from the iridescent finish.

Below: First Kiss begins as a frosty pale pink shade indoors.
Below: It begins to deepen and take on a foil-like finish once outside.
Below: Once fully exposed to the sun's rays, it takes on a medium pink shade with a chrome or foil-like finish.
I did a couple of posts yesterday about the Del Sol color-changing polishes I was recently sent to review, and today I have the last 3 shades. If you're interested in these, there's a coupon code available over in the right hand column under "Tip Jar" for $5.00 off any online order (code: GIVEME5). I've really enjoyed sampling these polishes for a couple of reasons...they're nice polishes as far as the quality and application go, they come in a fairly wide range of colors and finishes, and they are very entertaining with their color-changing ability. My personal favorite of the 6 I received is definitely Girls Night Out. It's a lovely shade of Carnation pink that although a shimmer, appears more as a creme before being exposed to sunlight. Once in the sun, it turns into a rich plum-purple shade laced with gold shimmer. Those of you who know me, know that I love polishes with gold shimmer, so it's no surprise that this is my favorite. Pretty in Pink is an iridescent white shimmer indoors with the slightest hint of pink. The iridescent finish caught my eye right away, even though white shimmers are not my favorite look. It flashes pink, blue and lilac and once the color changes to a bright shade of Rose pink, almost a fuchsia tone, you can still catch a hint of iridescence (mainly light blue) on the nail. First Kiss is a very lady-like light pink shade that's not quite a frost, not quite a shimmer. Outdoors, it takes on a more foil-like finish, much like Electrick that I showed you yesterday. All of these covered nicely in 2 to 3 coats and dried quickly. After using these, it made me wonder what other things Del Sol could make besides the multitude of products they already carry with color-changing abilities...how about eye shadow, mascara, highlights for hair, body lotion (not that would be interesting!)...the possibilities are endless. Check out this 5 O'Clock Somewhere Tee-Shirt and hold your mouse over the picture to change the colors. How cool is that?

Yesterday I told you some information about Del Sol and their products, and today I wanted to point out how involved they are in helping those in need. I'm always impressed by people and businesses who "share the wealth", so to speak. They have contributed greatly to such efforts as the Tsunami Relief in South Asia, Hurricane Katrina, mission trips to Costa Rica, well drilling projects in Kenya, and many other worthwhile causes to help those who need it the most. To quote an article in Salt Lake Magazine (Del Sol is based in Salt Lake City, Utah), "Each year, throughout the world, whether it’s in our stores directly or through our humanitarian efforts, Del Sol brightens millions of people’s lives through its products and Del Sol experience. Del Sol’s mission, to create fun, joy, smiles and memories for everyone under the sun, isn’t trite. It’s noble and necessary. We stand for all that is good. For sunshine. For fun in the sun. For memory-filled vacations. For laughter. For joy. We do it for young and old alike. For the smiles that it brings. We know who we are, and we’re proud to bring a little sunshine to so many people every day."

*Sponsored review, products furnished by Del Sol.


Posted in , , , , , , , ,

Del Sol Color-Changing Polishes: Electrick, Ruby Slipper & Peek-A-Boo

Above & Below: Electrick, a blue to green foil finish shade shown in it's "normal state" above, and below outside in partial sun. The brush strokes were minimal, which is unusual for a foil finish, but definitely a good thing. I think this would be an interesting one to use as a Konad stamping color, and the color-change effect would be an added bonus.
Below: Electrick in full sun after about 30-45 seconds in the sun.
Below: Ruby Slipper in it's "normal state" is a fairly sheer silver glitter shade. I also used a coat as a top coat over Misa's Can't Nobody Take Me Down to see how that would work.
Below: Ruby Slipper shown outdoors in full sunlight. This one is a silver glitter to a deep rose glitter shade. The ring finger where I used a coat as a top coat didn't change the base color, but the glitter does change color.
Below: Ruby Slipper shown in the shade about 1 minute after being in the full sun.
Below: Peek-A-Boo is not to my liking, simpy because I enjoy more color on my nail. In it's "normal" state it is little more than a clear polish.
Below: Here is Peek-A-Boo outdoors in the shade and you can see the pink coming through.
Below: Fully processed in the sun, Peek-A-Boo is a sheer red veil of color.
I am having too much fun with these polishes! I have to move quickly because they change color very fast once outside in the sun, so I tried to take several pictures of each one ranging from indoors to outdoors. I used 2 or 3 coats on all of these, depending on how well they covered after each coat, but the drying time is quick. I also put a clear top coat on a couple of nails to see if that would weaken the color-changing ability, and it did not seem to alter it at all. The mission statement for Del Sol is "Create Fun, Joy, Smiles and Memories for Everyone under the Sun!", and I am definitely having some fun under the sun with these polishes. The quality of the formula is nicer than I expected, in that it applies smoothly, dries quickly, and the brush is cut well. I don't have any complaints about these, other than the fact that Peek-A-Boo is not really a shade I am crazy about, but that's just a personal preference.

Here are a few more interesting facts about Del Sol that I thought you might enjoy...they sold 508,136 bottles of nail polish this post year and with the growth they're experiencing, I'm sure that will continue to increase. They printed 1.5 million shirts in 2008, using 1,213 gallons of their organically-made Spectrachrome® ink. Spectrachrome® is their "secret" ingredient found in all of their products, including their nail polish, which causes them to change color. Del Sol’s exclusive Spectrachrome® crystals open and unfold upon exposure to sunlight, revealing their hidden colors. Del Sol’s special formula for color-change technology was developed from a concept originally explored by NASA. After years of research, Del Sol has made revolutionary enhancements to the color-changing technology by engineering its proprietary Spectrachrome® Crystal Dye, which is identified as the most vibrant color-change technology on the planet. Their products all have a 100% money-back WOW Guarantee, which promises that their products will make you say, “Wow”, and the color-change vibrancy will last for the life of the product.
I've got 3 more shades to share with you coming up later today, and I'll also tell you about some of their community involvement, which is a big part of their mission. It's always nice to know that a company can make a great product and give a little something back to those in need. If you missed my first post earlier today, you can scroll down and see bottle pictures as well as additional information on this product, including a coupon code.

*Sponsored review, products furnished by Del Sol.


Posted in , , , , , , ,

Del Sol Color-Changing Nail Polish

Above & Below: Del Sol's Color-Changing nail polishes that I'll be posting about later in the day. L-R: Pretty in Pink, Electrick, Peek-A-Boo, Girls Night Out, Ruby Slipper, First Kiss. The label on top shows the color it changes to.
Del Sol contacted me last month and asked if I'd be interested in trying out some of their color-changing polishes, and we finally have a full day of bright sunshine so I can review them properly. There is more to this company than meets the eye, and rather than do one post, I'd like to split it into 3, in order to share not only their polish with you, but also some interesting facts and highlights about their technology and some of the other good deeds that they are involved with. Here's a brief summary from the company about their polish line:

"Capture the power of the sun on your fingers and toes! Take your pick from 23 different shades of nail polish that all change color in the sun. It’s like two bottles of nail polish in one! Each Italian glass bottle contains two stainless steel mixing balls. Polish is Toluene, DBP and Formaldehyde free. No animal testing."

Established in 1994, Del Sol combined science and sunshine to create the world’s first T-shirt that changes color in sunlight. Since then, Del Sol has grown to become the world’s largest retailer of merchandise that changes color in the sun, and the Caribbean’s largest clothing retailer. The company began selling its color-changing products out of a small cart in a Utah mall. After expanding its product line to over 20,000 SKUs; including hats, toys, nail polish, jewelry, and sunglasses, Del Sol opened its first, full store in St. Thomas, USVI in 1997. Del Sol quickly became one of the most highly promoted merchants on board Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Disney, Celebrity and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Today, thanks to Del Sol’s worldwide fans, the company is soaking up the sun and sharing the fun in over 100 Del Sol stores in 12 countries.

You can visit their web site if you're interested in their polishes and other products, including a clothing line, sun glasses, and much more. There's also a $5.00 off coupon code over in the right hand column of my blog under "Tip Jar" for online orders (use code GIVEME5). They do not ship Internationally yet, although they are working on that. Their retail stores can be found throughout the US as well as Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. They also have airport terminal shops worldwide, as well as port stores on cruise ships and in various ports of call. Scott, my contact at Del Sol, tells me that some of the retail stores will ship to customers within the same country. I didn't realize that we had one of their stores about 20 miles away in New Buffalo, MI, so I'll have to check that out sometime. I'll be posting polish pictures and additional information later in the day, so be sure to check back in.
*Sponsored review, products furnished by Del Sol.


Posted in , , , , , , , ,

China Glaze Khrome (not Chrome!) & A VNS Update

Above: China Glaze Khrome color wheel L-R: Hi-Tek, 2030, Robotika, Sci-Fi, Metallic Muse, and Millennium.


China Glaze Khrome, not to be confused with China Glaze Glitters & Chromes, is being released on October 5. Yen from Victoria Nail Supply was kind enough to send me a picture of a nail wheel showing the 6 shades included in the Khrome collection. It is my understanding that 2 of these shades are included in Sally's Glitters & Chromes display (Millennium and Metallic Muse) because I saw them in the display last week and picked up Metallic Muse. You can see more about the Khrome collection on the China Glaze website here. These are all metallic/foil finishes and I was very impressed when I tried Metallic Muse. I love this type of finish, but I think many of you will agree that it's often difficult to get a clean look without any streaking or an uneven application of color. I didn't have that problem with mine and 2 coats gave it a very even finish with no evident brush strokes.


I wanted to share a couple of the things Yen mentioned to me about upcoming offerings on their website...first off, because I know many of you are anxious to get some of the remaining China Glaze Glitters, they will be receiving Mahoganie, Glam, Doll House, and Pom Pom on Tuesday. Mahoganie has been on my "want" list since I first saw the bottle picture, and Doll House has caught my eye more than once as well. Essie has a 3 piece Holiday set coming out later this month called Sweet Time of the Year, which includes a mint green shade, a light pink, and an orange/red shade. I should have nail wheel color swatches next week to show you and I know without even seeing it yet, that the mint green one is going on my "want" list as well! The last bit of news is also exciting...Color Club is going to be sending some new Japanese Exclusive Glitters to VNS shortly to add to the 5 they already have available. My "want" list is growing!


Posted in ,

ORLY Halley's Comet-Cosmic FX

I have another shade from ORLY's Cosmic FX Collection today, Halley's Comet. This vivid turquoise shade with foil flecked glitter is similar to other manufacturer's polishes, so I didn't find it to be terribly unique.

Above & Below: This has a somewhat metallic finish that becomes almost foil-like in the shade (below), but without the dreaded brush strokes, which is often a problem with this type of finish.

Below: The glitter is delicate but abundant, and reflects shades of gold, green and blue.

This is a nice shade--bright, turquoise, sparkly--but if you already have Zoya Charla it's an exact match. I've also heard the same about OPI Catch Me In Your Net, which I don't have to compare it to. I tried to find any difference at all between Halley's Comet and Zoya Charla, and from what my eyes see, there is none. I would say the the ORLY polish is a little more pigmented because it gave me more even coverage on the first coat, but not enough to sway me that it's better. I still ended up going with three coats and now that ORLY is generally more expensive these days, I guess it's just a matter of personal preference.


Posted in , , , , ,

Color Club Dark Romance The Matte Collection Mini's

Above & Below: 2 of the shades from Color Club's Dark Romance The Matte Collection. I used the m57 Konad plate for the stamping. All photos are with flash, as it's raining once again.


Above & Below: The finish on Smoke is matte and textured. Below is the mini set in the lower left corner, displayed against the print ad for this set. I love the artwork for this one.
Color Club recently released this collection of mini's and their take on the matte craze. This set includes 3 shades, a white (Alabaster), black (Dark Romance), and a textured silver (Smoke). Also included is a Matte Top Coat. The box/packaging is a whimsical, artistic design, and although I've never been a fan of mini's, this little set has changed my mind. The polishes themselves give you more than enough product, and are easy to handle during application. I just love the cute packaging on these and think they'll make a nice addition to my collection. I think most of you will agree, we don't just love nail polish, but many of us also collect it.

The white and black covered nicely in two coats when I used them, although I don't have a picture of the white one on my nails. The silver is my favorite one, because it has such a unique finish. It reminds me of anodized aluminum or the back side of a piece of foil. I tried out the matte top coat yesterday, and with the exception of Smoke (silver), I would say that the top coat and the black and white shades are more of an eggshell or satin finish. Not entirely flat or matte, but rather a slight bit of sheen. The Smoke is much more of a matte finish when used on it's own. It is raining sheets outside, so I really couldn't get an accurate picture of finishes because the flash kept going off. Victoria Nail Supply does carry many of Color Club's mini sets, and I believe she'll be carrying this one as well. They may be available at other e-tailers, but never having wanted any mini's...until now, I've never looked for them elsewhere.


Posted in , , , , , , ,

ORLY Space Cadet-Cosmic FX

Today I've swatched my second shade from ORLY's much anticipated fall collection, Cosmix FX, and they seem to get more interesting each time! Space Cadet is a glitter/foil/duo chrome with shades of purple and olive.

Above & Below: The top photo was taken with an Ott lamp, while the photo below taken outdoors in the shade, reveals a more foil finish.
Below: In full sunlight, the purple glitter takes center stage, while the photo below this one again shows the foil tendencies in partial sun.

Below: The purple in Space Cadet seems to sit more on top of the green, almost as if I'd applied a purple glitter over an olive tone.
Below: My first thought when applying Space Cadet was that it was similar to the concept found in Sally Hansen's Emerald Amethyst (below). Certainly not dupes by any stretch, but the same color combination and duo chrome flash.
As with Galaxy Girl yesterday, I went with three coats on Space Cadet for even coverage. Like most of you, 2 coats is generally my standard, but these are definitely worth taking the short time needed for a second coat. The drying time on today's shade seemed closer to normal, and again, I am having a hard time photographing these shades for some reason. The color in real life is more vivid, and the glitter detail and duo chrome are more pronounced and defined.


Posted in , , , , , ,
Save Free beauty tips on social network:
RSS FeedSubscribe to our RSS feed!