Femme Fatale Cosmetics Shiro Cosmetics Exclusives - Swatches & Review

Wednesday 30 November 2016


I can officially say that I have been blogging daily for a whole month!  I'm a little impressed with myself that I managed it, especially seems I pretty much blogged daily back in October too.  Now I kinda had planned to do daily blogging throughout December too, however I'm not sure if that will happen or not.  Guess time will tell.  Would you like to see me continue to do daily blogging throughout December?  Anyway, today I have swatches and a review of two more of Femme Fatale Cosmetics store exclusives for Shiro Cosmetics.  I have previously swatched two others which you can see here if you are interested.


Hexweave has a olive base with lots of holographic glitter, pink shimmer, and pink metallic flakes.  Now I was really excited for this one.  It looks stunning in the bottle, but it's a little sheer for my liking on my nails.  The formula is easy to use, however after four coats you can still see through the tips.  I would definitely wear this over a base colour next time.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box with flash
Stormrune is a berry purple jelly with blue shimmers, silver holographic glitter, and crystal green luminescent flakes.  This one is really pretty.  Again, it's a little on the sheer side (I feel like I say this a lot with Femme Fatale polishes) but the formula is easy to use.  My swatch shows three coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box with flash
Overall, I do really like both of these polishes.  I think they are both really pretty colours.

Hexweave and Stormrune are sold exclusively from Shiro Cosmetics.

Grace-full Nail Polish Going On An Adventure Trio - Swatches & Review

Tuesday 29 November 2016


There are some things that I think should not be counted ever (eg the amount of things I need to swatch or the amount of untrieds I have in my drawers), but every now and again there is a number that pops up that surprises me.  Like today for example, I am writing my 400th blog post.  What?  Seriously how crazy is that?  Who would have thought I had written some many posts in a relatively short time.  Without even planning it, my 400th post just happens to be on the same brand that I did my first blog post on - Grace-full Nail Polish.  Anyway today I have finally got around to swatching the Going On An Adventure Trio.  Warning: this post is quite picture heavy.


I Am Fire is a multichrome that shifts between red, pink, and bronze/gold.  I am a huge fan of this one.  It's so stunning!  The colour shift is definitely more obvious in person than what it looks in my pictures.  The formula is great and is opaque in two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken outdoors in shade
Lake Town is multichrome cyan, blue, purple and copper.  Now this is definitely a favorite of mine.  Seriously it's so pretty.  The formula is a little on the sheer side but it does build up nicely.  I am sure most people would stop at two coats, however I did three coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken outdoors (overcast)
She Walks In Starlight is a multichrome that shifts between blue, green and purple.  Another gorgeous one.  Again, this is easy to use.  It is a little on the sheer side so I used three coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken outdoors (overcast)

Picture taken outdoors (overcast)
I am a huge fan of this collection.  I mean seriously who doesn't love multichrome polishes?  I know I definitely do.  In fact, I think I need more multichromes in my collection.  Let me know what some of your favorite multichromes are.

The Going On An Adventure Trio are available from Grace-full Nail Polish's Australian site and their International site.

Xroma Polish & Vinyls Mixed Nail Vinyls - Swatches & Review

Monday 28 November 2016


I was recently contacted by Xroma Polish & Vinyls to see if I would like to try out some of their new designs.  I have previously swatched for Xroma before (although I don't think I have ever done a blog post on them - not sure why.  I am guessing that I swatched them before I started blogging?)  Anyway, I loved the vinyls that I have tried previously so I said yes.  Much to my surprise there is a HUGE amount of new designs!  I will be swatching them all but naturally this will take me some time.  Today, I have five of the new designs to share with you.


One of the things that I look for (and really hope for) is a vinyl that will actually stick to my curved nails.  A lot of brands will stick for a little bit and then peel up.  Definitely not ideal and usually involves lots of polish going under the vinyl and creating a huge mess.  I don't have this issue with these vinyls at all.  They stick really well to my nails and don't lift up.  They also aren't super sticky that I then have trouble removing them once I have painted the polish on.  I also find that these vinyls are cut really well and I have no trouble removing them from the sheets.  Honestly, Xroma do some of the best vinyls that I have tried.  Right now onto the manis that I have done so far.

Cyclone
Polishes used are China Glaze None Of Your Risky Business and One Tracked Mind.


Moroccan Mixer
Polishes used are Femme Fatale Cosmetics Hexweave and Pretty Serious Cosmetics Absence.


Rings
Polishes used are Orly Be Daring and Pretty Serious Cosmetics Absence.


X
Polishes used are Essie Sunshine State Of Mind and Pretty Serious Cosmetics Absence.


Splat
Polishes used are OPI Alpine Snow, China Glaze Refresh-mint, Lime After Lime, DJ Blue My Mind and Don't Be Shallow.


I don't think I can speak highly enough of these vinyls.  As I mentioned earlier there have been a huge amount of new designs added to Xroma's range as well as the traditional styles (like zig zags etc).  You can see their full range here

Femme Fatale Cosmetics Beauty So Fly Exclusives - Swatches & Review

Sunday 27 November 2016


Earlier this year you may remember me making a comment about how many store exclusives Femme Fatale Cosmetics had released and that had lots of them to share with you.  For one reason or another I had them in my blog planner and keep bumping them down until somewhere along the lines they completely disappeared from my planner.  Oops.  But as part of me trying to swatch all the polishes I have purchased this year, they are back on my schedule...for now.  I actually need to sit down and re work my planner again and most likely give up on trying to swatch everything I have purchased in favor for some Christmas manis.  I may have purchased quite a few during the Black Friday sales. Anyway, today I have swatches and a review of three of the store exclusives for Beauty So Fly.


Dreamscape is a pink violet with strong turquoise shine.  This polish is stunning and I have zero clue why I have left it so long to actually try it.  The formula is easy to use, however is a little on the sheer side.  I used three coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box
Glacier Nether is a rich velvet blue with fuchsia and silver holographic glitters, shards and green shimmers.  I really like this one in the bottle but I am not sure I like it so much on my nails.  The polish applies unevenly on the first coat, however evens out on the second and third coats.  My swatch shows three coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box with flash
Solar Storm is a grey crelly with strong red shimmer/shine, silver holographic glitters and red microglitters.  This one really reminds me of another polish the Femme Fatale have done but I can't think of which one (I am also being really lazy and not digging through my drawers to see).  The formula is great and applies evenly.  I used two coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box with flash
I just had a quick look at the Beauty So Fly website and it appears that only Dreamscape and Glacier Nether are available now (Solar Storm is currently sold out).  There also appears to be some new exclusives.

OPI Infinite Shine Breakfast At Tiffany's Collection - Swatches & Review

Saturday 26 November 2016

PRESS SAMPLE


This week has been the week of some of the most amazing nail mail that I have ever received (and I don't mean that in a bragging way at all).  You may have seen that OPI have released their Holiday Collection - Breakfast At Tiffany's, and I was lucky enough to be sent the full 12 piece collection!  I wasn't however expecting to also receive a number of the gift packs as well as the full Infinite Shine Breakfast At Tiffany's Collection.  To say that I was overwhelmed and jumping for joy may be a slight understatement.  I use to dream that one day I would work with OPI but I never ever imagined that I would be so spoilt by them.  Thank you so much to both OPI Australia and Coty PR Australia!! Anyway, I am babbling a bit here.  I will have swatches of the OPI Breakfast At Tiffany's Collection and a look at the gift packs that are available on my blog next week.  Today I have my swatches and review of the OPI Infinite Shine Breakfast At Tiffany's Collection.


Can't Tame A Wild Thing is a bright red crelly.  This one applies like a dream.  It's so easy to use and has such even coverage.  Sadly for me, it's a little bit too sheer.  As you can see in my swatch there is a visible nail line, which I don't like.  My swatch shows three coats.


Girls Love Pearls is a white pearl.  Like with all pearl shades this one has visible brush strokes.  I also found this one bubbled a lot on me but I am not sure if that is because of the polish or because it was hot when I swatched it.  I also swatch others from this collection on the same day and had no issues so I'm not sure.  My swatch shows three coats.


I Believe In Manicures is a light blue creme.  I think this is a gorgeous colour.  The formula is great and is opaque in two coats.


I'll Have A Manhattan is a dark purple creme.  This is one of those shades that looks close to black.  It's definitely a great polish for winter.  The formula is great and is opaque in two coats.


Party At Holly's is a burnished mahogany creme.  This is definitely a great Christmas colour.  The formula is great and it applies really evenly.  My swatch shows three coats.


Ring The Buzzer Again is described as a scarlett creme.  This again is a super dark polish which is great for the colder weather.  The formula is great and is opaque in two coats.


I think this is such a good collection, particularly for those who are heading into winter.  My personal favorite from this collection is I Believe In Manicures.

The OPI Infinite Shine Breakfast At Tiffany's Collection is available now from Myer, David Jones and selected salons.

Crumpet's Nail Tarts: 26 Great Nail Art Ideas Challenge: Winter Warmth

Friday 25 November 2016


Happy Friday everyone!  I'm a little unsure where this week actually has gone.  It still feels like Tuesday to me.  My brain will catch up eventually I'm sure.  Anyway, I have another theme from the 26 Great Nail Art Ideas Challenge.  Today's theme is Winter Warmth.  I actually struggled for a little bit on what to do for this one, and eventually I thought I would do some sweater nails.  It seemed like a great idea at the time.  I picked out Zoya Arabella for my base and grabbed Uberchic Christmas 01 with the intention of using one of the sweater designs (or what I would consider a sweater designer) and started to do my nails.  As soon as I had my base on I completely changed my mind on the image I was using.  There are beanies and socks (well technically stockings but shhh) so it counts as winter warmth.  Plus ice skating would keep you warm?  Maybe?




I honestly love this mani!  It's actually my first time using Zoya Arabella (or if I have used it before I don't remember it) and I am in love!  If I was smart I would have taken a picture before stamping over it.  Oh well.  I'll just have to wear it again won't I?


Don't forget to check out what the other bloggers have done for this week's theme below and also search the hashtags over on Instagram.



Essie Spring 2016 Collection - Swatches & Review

Thursday 24 November 2016


Sometimes you just happen to stumble across collections that grabs your attention (apparently it happens quite a lot for me lol) and the new Essie Spring Collection did just that.  I saw it on their Instagram page back in September and I knew I had to have it.  Mind you it took me a little while to actually grab it but I have it now and now I can share all of my thoughts about it with you.


High Class Affair is a blush nude creme.  I think this is a nice colour in the bottle but I am not so sure I like it on me.  Formula wise it's easy to work with, however does apply a little unevenly on the first coat.  My swatch shows two coats.


Lounge Lover is a pink peach creme.  I think this is a great Spring colour.  It's bright without being over the top (and definitely not a neon) and is just a really nice colour.  The formula is easy to use and is opaque in two coats.


Off Tropic is a grove green creme.  This is definitely a green I would grab out for Christmas.  The formula is fantastic.  It applies evenly, and is really easy to work with.  You could even get away with one coat.  I used two coats for my swatch.


Pool Side Service is described as a cerulean blue creme.  Now this polish really surprised me.  I absolutely love it!  I think it is such a awesome colour.  It's not really what I would call a Spring colour but I still love it.  It's definitely unique in my collection.  The formula is awesome and you could easily get away with one coat.  I used two coats for my swatch.


Shades On is a violet creme.  It really goes without saying that I really like this one.  The formula is great and has a nice even coverage, and it's opaque in two coats.


Sunshine State Of Mind is a coral tangelo creme.  This one is another one with a good formula.  It applies evenly and is opaque in two coats.


Overall I quite like this collection.  The formulas are great and are quite consistent, and there are some fantastic colours.  My personal favorites are Pool Side Service, Shades On and Lounge Lover.

What do you think of this collection?