Powder Perfect Egypt 1 Stamping Plate - Swatches & Review

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Today I have the last of the three stamping plates that Powder Perfect have recently released.  I am such a huge fan of these plates.  Not only are they unique, they are a good quality and they stamp beautifully.  I have had no issues what so ever (well unless you count me not lining up images properly on my nails but that is 100% my fault and not the plates) with these plates.

Image from Powder Perfect

This plate is the same size as the Halloween and Art Deco plates (14.5cm by 9.5cm) and features a mix of sizes in the designs.  This plate was made in collaboration with Hannah Tometzki (or Polly Polish as you may know her as).

For my swatches I went for the full sized images on this plate, mainly because they are my favorite (or go to) types of images.  They are easy to work with and don't require as much precision as other images.  That being said I do quite like some of the images at the very top of this plate.  I can seem some neon manis with black stamping happening with those in the future.  For my first mani I wanted to "revisit" a failed mani that I attempted and I am so happy I did.  I think the polishes work so well together.  For this mani I used Powder Perfect's I Can't Sleep, Whataboutery, Bermuda and their Black Stamping Polish.

I couldn't not include a pastel gradient.  No reason why other than because I wanted to.  I seriously love this mani!

Now I was going to say that this plate has sold out on the Australian site at the moment, however it appears that the Australian site is temporarily closed until November.  That being said I am sure it will be back in no time at all so I have included links to both site's below.

This plate is available now from Powder Perfect's Australian site and from their International site.  If you use the code NAILSTAMP you will receive 10% off all stamping polishes, stamping plates and accessories.  The code is valid until January 31 2017. 

I'm curious to know which of the new Powder Perfect Stamping Plates do you like the most?

 

Femme Fatale Cosmetics Cabin Fever (October COTM) - Swatches & Review

Recently I made a purchase from Femme Fatale Cosmetics!  I think May was the last time I actually purchased anything from there.  For most people that may not seem so strange but for me it is crazy.  I use to spending hours (literally in some cases) trying to get all the new release polishes because I had to have ALL the Femme Fatales.  Well I called it quits on that and now only buy the ones that I really like.  October just happened to be the time.  I thought that Cabin Fever looked so interesting that I had to grab it.

Cabin Fever is a clear based glitter with red shimmer, red iridescent glitters and black glitter.  It is such an interesting polish.  I have actually worn this polish a couple of times now because I was curious how it looked over different coloured bases.  The formula of this one is great and easy to use.  For my first swatch I used one coat over China Glaze Mix & Mingle and for my second swatch I used it over OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around.

Swatched over CG Mix & Mingle

Swatched over CG Mix & Mingle

Swatched over CG Mix & Mingle

Swatched over CG Mix & Mingle and mattified

Swatched over OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around

Swatched over OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around

I am seriously in love with this polish, especially over the purple base.  I really want to keep trying it over different base colours.  I hope Femme Fatale start releasing some more unique polishes like this one.  I could be convinced to jump back onto the bandwagon if they do.

China Glaze Monster's Ball (Part) Collection - Swatches & Review

Believe it or not, there was once upon a time where I didn't buy the full collection of whatever China Glaze released.  It's actually kinda crazy to think about seems I can't even tell you when the last time was where I didn't buy the full collection.  I clearly didn't want the full Monster's Ball Collection that was released back in 2013.  I only picked up four of the five polishes (well technically six polishes if you include the re-promote of Ghoulish Glow) which I will be sharing with you today.

Bat My Eyes is a black jelly filled with various gold glitters and bar glitters.  This is the only polish from this collection that I have actually worn (well at least I think it is).  I know I have worn this once and did some bat nail art with it.  Anyway, the formula of this one is quite thick but it wasn't difficult to use at all.  It is close to being a one coater but I used two coats for my swatch.

Boo-gie Down is described as a multi-size orange (I personally think it's more copper than orange), black and white glitter topper.  Now I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one on my but I actually really like it.  It may even be my favorite of the four that I have.  The formula is easy to use and no fishing was required.  My swatch is one coat over China Glaze Five Rules.  I love these two polishes together.

Fang-tastic has a clear base and has a mix of blue, green and magenta glitters.  I really like the mix of glitters in this one.  I think they are quite pretty and would look great over different base colours.  This one is quite base heavy so I would definitely be sponging it on next time.  For my swatch I used one dabbed on coat over Pretty Serious Cosmetics Absence.

Howl You Doin' is a deep purple jelly with blue and copper glitters.  I think the glitter is really pretty in this one, however the are quite hidden with the dark base.  I wish that the base was just a little bit light so the glitters popped more.  The formula was good and easy to use.  My swatch shows two coats.

Overall I quite like this collection, well the polishes I picked up anyway.  I'm kinda surprised that I haven't used the bulk of these polishes sooner.  I mean having untrieds sitting in a drawer for three years is a little nuts isn't it?  Mind you I am sure I have had other things in my drawers for a lot longer.  Hopefully I can dust some more off soon.

What do you think of this collection?  Did you pick up any of these polishes when they were released?

Powder Perfect Art Deco 1 Stamping Plate - Swatches & Review

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I'm back with another one of the new stamping plates from Powder Perfect.  If you didn't know (and if you follow me on Instagram you should know) that Powder Perfect have recently introduced some stamping products to their range.  I am obsessed with the stamping polishes (I have nearly used an entire bottle of the black - never fear I have purchased about another four back up bottles lol) and am falling in love with their plates as well.  Earlier this week I shared with you the Halloween Stamping Plate (you can see that post here) and today I have the Art Deco 1 plate to show you.

Image from Powder Perfect

This plate measures 14.5cm by 9.5cm and features are range of geometric shapes inspired by the art deco of the 1920s and 1930s.  This plate was made in collaboration with Hannah Tometzki (or you may know her better as Polly Polish).  This plate is my favorite of the three plates that I have.  Why?  Mainly because it is full of whole nail images (they are hands down my favorite to use) and I am always drawn to geometric patterns.  No idea why.  I just really like them. 

When I first received this plate I actually had a lot of trouble deciding which image to use first.  True story.  I think it took me close to an hour to decide.  I kept going back and forth.  There are just too many great choices.  Polishes used are Essie Saltwater Happy and Pret-a-surfer and Powder Perfect's Silver Stamping Polish.

Now there is little bit of a story behind this next mani.  I had so much trouble with my final mani (not because there was issues with the plate at all).  For my first attempt of using this image I did a smoosh mani.  I really didn't like how it looked at all.  Then I hate another plan - fill the image in using tints.  Great idea and looked good.  Didn't actually notice until I was editing photos that I forgot to clean up one of my nails properly.  Luckily for me I also took a picture of the mani when it was just black and white.  Seriously love geometric prints in black and white.  Polishes used are OPI Alpine Snow and Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish.

Now this last mani is my favorite of the manis I have done using this plate so far.  For my base I used Powder Perfect's Recollection and Whataboutery and stamped using Powder Perfect's Black Stamping Polish.

Have I mentioned that I love this plate?  It stamps beautifully (despite a couple of user issues lol) and the images are awesome.  You can bet you will be seeing me using this plate time and time again.

This plate is available now from Powder Perfect's Australian site and from their International site.  If you use the code NAILSTAMP you will receive 10% off all stamping polishes, stamping plates and accessories.  The code is valid until January 31 2017.

 

 

China Glaze Wicked (Part) Collection - Swatches & Review

Now this is definitely a big step back in time.  I believe that the China Glaze Wicked Collection were among some of the first Halloween polishes that I purchased.  I was also still quite new to buying China Glaze polishes so my collection was very small, which is kinda funny to think about considering China Glaze makes up a big part of my entire polish collection.  The Wicked Collection was released back in 2012 and actually contains six polishes (well seven if you also include Ghoulish Glow but I believe that was another re-promoted shade and not a new release).  I only ever picked up three of the shades, which I will share with you today.

Cast A Spell is a dark green with golden shimmer.  I quite like this one.  It's not a polish that I would grab for often (in fact I think I may have only ever worn this polish once in four years - certainly tells you something doesn't it?) but I do really like it.  The formula is fantastic and is super lose to being a a one coater.  I did use for two coats for my swatch.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box with flash

Immortal is a slate grey with shimmers in various colours.  This is probably one of the prettiest greys that I own.  I just love the shimmers in it.  This one does apply a little patchy on the first coat, however does even out on the second coat.  My swatch shows two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box with flash

Make A Spectacle has a clear base and is filled with iridescent glitters in different sizes.  I love this one!  It's definitely my favorite of the three polishes I own from this collection.  The formula is great and easy to use, plus it looks so different over different base colours and in different lighting.  So in love.  For my swatch I did one coat over Immortal.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken in light box

Looking back on these older China Glaze Halloween Collections makes me disappointed that they didn't do something new and exciting for the collection this year.  I have my fingers crossed for something awesome for their Holiday collection. *spoiler alert* I have ordered the Holiday collection and it should be on it's way to me soon!

Powder Perfect Halloween 2015 Duo - Swatches & Review

We're taking another step back in time with today's post.  Not quite as big a step back as it was on Monday but still it's going back to last year.  I picked up the Halloween Duo that Powder Perfect released last year in collaboration with Mei Mei Signatures but for some unknown reason I never actually got around to using them until now.  Both of these polishes are no longer available (I guess that's the one down side of blogging older polishes), however they are too pretty not to share.  

Vampire's Chalice is a deep, sensual red holographic.  Such a great red holographic.  I like that it's not too dark or too bright.  The formula is great and easy to use.  My swatch shows two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken outdoors in shade

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Venomous Serum has an electric blue holographic base with red microglitters and bright blue flakies.  This is definitely my favorite of the two.  I love that red glitters which gives it something a little different from a traditional blue holographic.  The formula is fantastic and is opaque in two coats.

Picture taken in light box

Picture taken outdoors in shade

Picture taken outdoors in shade

Picture taken in direct sunlight

Picture taken in direct sunlight

While this Halloween duo is no longer available (sorry!) you definitely should check out Powder Perfect's Halloween 2016 duo.  You can see my swatches and review of those polishes here.  If I had to pick between the two duos I would definitely say that this year's polishes are my favorite.  They are just so interesting and they are flakies!

The Halloween 2016 Duo is available from Powder Perfect's Australian site and their International site.

Pueen Cosmetics Double Fun 01 Stamping Plate - Swatches & Review

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Layering plates are a HUGE thing at the moment and all the plate brands are bringing out their version.  I was surprised when Pueen's Double Fun 01 stamping plate arrived in my letter box.  Now I am still getting use to the whole layering images thing so I haven't been too adventurous with this plate just yet.  

Image from Pueen

Before I talk about the actual images on the plate I want to quickly mention how much I love the backing of this plate.  On previous plates, Pueen have included some inspiration pictures on the sleeve of the plate.  Such a great idea, however I don't actually leave my plates in their sleeve as I store my plates in a folder (let me know if you want a blog post on how I store my plates etc).  The Double Fun 01 has a bunch of inspiration pictures right there on the back of the plate.  How awesome is that?

The image that first caught my eye was the floral images in the top right corner of the plate.  I originally had a different mani in mind however I realized that the solid floral image doesn't actually line up with the outlines.  I was a little bummed about that.  For this mani I used Emily de Molly A Peony For Your Thoughts, B Loves Plates B A Lavender stamping polish, and Dance Legend Violet stamping polish.

For my second mani I actually used the back of the plate for some inspiration.  I loved the mix of solid and outlined stars and hearts together so went with it.  I think it's such a fun look and definitely a good break from all the Halloween and dark manis I have been doing lately.  Polishes used for this mani are OPI Alpine Snow for my base and B Loves Plates B A Blue Ocean, B A Fresh Mojito, B A Sunshine, B A Juicy Tangerine and B A Sunset.

I like that there is a good mix of designs on this plates which means that you can do so many different manis with it.  Some of the images on this plate, however are quite huge!  I don't consider my nails small but they certainly aren't huge.  They can be long but they are probably quite average in their width.  A lot of the images on this plate are way too big for my nails (including my thumb nail).  That the feather for example.  It doesn't fit on the length of my nails without missing some of the design.  The circle image could be put over two nails and still have some of the image missing.  All of the images are etched well and pick and transfer nicely onto the nails.

The Double Fun 01 plate is available from Pueen Cosmetics, however it does appear to be sold out at the moment.  I image that it will be back in stock soon as it is a newly released plate.