Lacquer or Leave Her!

Monday, June 5, 2017

Sassy Pants Polish Let's Be Mermaids collection!

(Press samples ahead!)

Hello!

Today we're going to take a look at Sassy Pants Polish's newest collection, the Let's Be Mermaids collection! Each polish in this collection is designed to sparkle and twinkle and dazzle like a gorgeous mermaid sunning herself on a an idyllic beach. So if you like shimmery holographic goodness, pull up a chair.

Sassy Pants Polish Let's Be Mermaid's collection

So let's jump right in (see what I did there??) with Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid Magic, a royal purple scattered holographic jelly packed with pink and purple glitters and shifting flakes:

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid Magic

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid Magic + UCB Mermaid Life, Hit The Bottle Polish Amethyst Sizzle & Messy Mansion Lilac

Coverage: 2 coats in the first picture, 3 coats in the others
Formula and application: Good; glitters spread evenly and well.
I couldn't resist adding an accent nail tail to each of these using the UberChic Beauty Mermaid Life plate, and for this one, I stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish Amethyst Sizzle and Messy Mansion Lilac; Apparently this mermaid was a little drunk on her magic because her scales are a little askew! Let's hope the rest of our ladies are better behaved...

This is one of my favorites in the collection because of the interplay of blue and purple--I love the flashes of blue and pink and purple glitter and the blueish shimmer--this mermaid is the royal princess of the group. I wanted to show you the difference on this one between two and three coats--you'll probably get great coverage just fine with two, but there's a color and glitter difference with the extra coat that I wanted to highlight.

Next up is Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid Tails is a scattered holographic teal jelly with red-blue-purple UCC flakies:

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid Tails

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid Tails + UCB Mermaid Life & Hit The Bottle Polish Pool Party & Absinthe Minded

Coverage: 2 coats in the first picture
Formula and application: Good; glitters spread evenly and well.
For this tail accent nail, I stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish Pool Party and Absinthe Minded

This mermaid is a deep-sea diva, and this is another of my top picks from this collection--this looks like a shot of teeny phosphorescent jellyfish hanging out in the depths of the ocean, with all sorts of sea plants swaying around. I'd wear three coats of this just to get an extra layer of depth to it, but even with two coats all of the elements swirl together into nautical goodness. Love.

Then there's Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid Tears, a gold-shimmer seafoam jelly with aqua-green iridescent glitters, aqua hexes, turquoise micro glitters and blue-green chameleon shifting shimmer amid a scatter of holographic gorgeous:

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid Tears

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid Tears + UCB Mermaid Life, Hit The Bottle Polish Pool Party & Messy Mansion Soft Gold

Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: Good; glitters spread evenly and well.
For this tail accent nail, I stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish Pool Party and Messy Mansion Soft Gold.

This mermaid is ethereal and extravagant, like a gilded statue springing to life no the shore of the beach, waves of foam rolling off of her. The next time I'm going for a romantic walk on the beach with my sweetheart, this is what I'm wearing.

Next is Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid's Curse, a black jelly with multichrome flakes and blue-green shimmer:

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid's Curse

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid's Curse + UCB Mermaid Life & Hit The Bottle Polish Amethyst Sizzle & Purple Reign

Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: Good; glitters spread evenly and well.
For this tail accent nail, I stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish Amethyst Sizzle and Purple Reign.

This mermaid has a mysterious past and a goth soul. The flakes in this are like elegant jewels peeking out of a deep night sky, and the shimmer adds a touch of magic. Another favorite of mine.

Next up is Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid's Dream, a coral jelly with gold shimmer and orange-green shifting glitters:

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid's Dream

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid's Dream + UCB Mermaid Life & Messy Mansion Soft Gold & Misty Jade

Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: Good; glitters spread evenly and well.
For this tail accent nail, I stamped with Messy Mansion Soft Gold and Misty Jade.

This mermaid is sweet with a little bit of sassy sauce. This polish is versatile and soft, but the green shimmer gives it hint of pow. Gorgeous.

Next is Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid Love, a petal-pink jelly with a brush of scattered holo, a dash of golden shimmer, and a sprinkle of orange-fuchsia-gold UCC flakies:

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid Love

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid Love + UCB Mermaid Love + Hit The Bottle Polish A Glint Of Gold & Messy Mansion Ivy

Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: Excellent; glitters spread evenly and well.
For this tail accent nail, I stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish A Glint of Gold and Messy Mansion Ivy.

This mermaid was raised by unicorns! If you could grow a magical unicorn strawberry, this is what it'd look like. The shimmer to the polish is understated, and I love how the flakes give the polish edge (this is why I chose a strong, dark, polish for my accent stamping). For beautiful mermaids who shouldn't be underestimated. ;-)

Finally, we have Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid of the Ocean Blue, a bright sky blue with blue, silver and purple shimmers, glitters, and holo:

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid of the Ocean Blue

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid of the Oceans Blue

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid of the Ocean Blue

Sassy Pants Polish Mermaid of the Ocean Blue + UCB Mermaid Life & Hit The Bottle Polish Amethyst Sizzle & Peacock Shimmer

Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: Good; glitters spread evenly and well.
For this tail accent nail, I stamped with Hit The Bottle Polish Amythest Sizzle and Peacock Shimmer.

This mermaid is the queen of the lagoon--I see her sipping cocktails on the rocks that surround a crystal-clear waterfall pond. This captures the essence of summer vacations and clear summer skies. Love, love love.

So what do I think of the collection as a whole? I think it captures the sparkle and shimmer and magic of mermaids--the essence of the beauty of the sirens of the sea. It's romantic and flirty, happy and mystical and mysterious all at the same time. The colors play with ocean themes with enough variety for a range of moods, but enough cohesion for easy nail art combinations.

The collection launches June 9th, 2pm central standard time in the Sassy Pants Polish store. They'll be available in both full-sized and mini bottles ($12 and $8 respectively), with the entire collection for $75 full-sized or $51 mini. And don't forget to keep up with Sassy Pants Polish around the interwebs:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sassypantspolish/?fref=ts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassypantspolish/

Fangroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sassypantsfans/?ref=br_rs

And until we meet again, remember:

M.
xoxox

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Girly Bits Cosmetics Sequins & Satin Pants Collection

(Press samples ahead!)

Hello!

You guys you guys you guys you guys!! Today I'm going to show you Girly Bits Cosmetics' Sequins & Satin Pants collection, and it is ah-mazing. The collection is inspired by the awesome outfits from back in the day when disco was king. Don't know what I'm talking about? YouTube some old Abba videos, then come back prepared to be dazzled, because this collection is a rainbow of sparkly goodness.

Girly Bits Cosmetics Sequins & Satin Pants Collection

Let's jump right on in with Girly Bits Cosmetics Brick House, a watermelon pink-coral jelly packed with holo, microglitter, and microflakes (as are all of the polishes except Sequins & Satin Pants):

Girly Bits Cosmetics Brick House

Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: Super-duper easy-peasy

While this is a 'watermelon' jelly, it also has a titch of coral in it to my eyes--either way, it's a bright, refreshing summer alternative if a red feels a little too dark for your mood. And the holo sparkle that comes off of all of these--amazing. I'll show you a little video clip at the end. :)

Next is Girly Bits Funky Town, a light orange version of the sparkling holo perfection:

Girly Bits Funky Town

Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: Excellent

This makes me think of orange creamsicles or California poppies! I love how wearable this shade of orange is, and it screams out to be used in gradients with Brick House. I may or may not have already done some nail art like that...ahem...

Girly Bits Hot Stuff, a bubble-gum pink holo sparkle spectacular:

Girly Bits Hot Stuff

Coverage: I'm showing 2 coats, but this will most likely be a one-coater for you
Formula and application: This practically applies itself, no joke.

Wow. What else can I say? I don't even like pink and I adore this. The glints of orange and blue give this a sprinkle of special and warms it up. It makes me feel like I have wildflowers on my fingers.

Next we have Girly Bits Cosmetics Jive Talkin', a peridot green jelly holo packed with the same glitters and flakies:

Girly Bits Cosmetics Jive Talkin'

Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: Super-duper easy-peasy

I'm an August baby, so this looks like my birthstone paving my nails. I love the green and gold light the glitters throw, and the shade has an almost lymon feel to it that screams summer. Love.

Then there's Girly Bits Cosmetics Le Freak, an azure blue holo jelly lovely:

Girly Bits Cosmetics Le Freak

Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: Super-duper easy-peasy

If you took the most beautiful summer afternoon sky and filled it with stars, this is what it would look like. It's relaxing and happy, and I just bought a top this exact color for summer so I'm STOKED to wear this with it!

Next is Girly Bits Cosmetics Sequins & Satin Pants, a special polish that you get if you buy the entire collection; the base of this one is silver holo with a spray of neon pink glitters:

Girly Bits Cosmetics Sequins & Satin Pants

Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: As good as it gets

Again--I do not like pink, but I am OBSESSED with this polish. The way those neon pink glitters point out from the silver--this is absolutely something some disco diva would wear to light the world on fire. It's girly and HOT and glitzy all at one, without being sweet--the neon gives this a rocker edge. I see this covered in pink skulls--you know, the ones with the bows on top. Gorgeous.

Next we have Girly Bits Cosmetics Stayin' Alive, a grape jelly holo extravaganza:

Girly Bits Cosmetics Stayin' Alive

Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: Super-duper easy-peasy

Little flashes of pink and blue from the depths of this purple make this regal and eye-catching. This is bright enough to be ideal for summer but I personally think it's awesome all year 'round.

And the final member of the group is Girly Bits Cosmetics The Hustle, a Green-Apple-Jolly-Rancher green with bursts of gold and turquoise light coming off the glittery goodness:

Girly Bits Cosmetics The Hustle

Coverage: 2 coats
Formula and application: Also super-duper easy-peasy

I adore the gold shimmer of this--it makes me think of freshly cut grass and clover. It's frozen margaritas on a hot summer afternoon, and limesicles by the side of the pool. Cool, bright, warm and icy at the same time.

So what do I think of the collection as a whole? As a nail art addict, I can't imagine how you'd not get the entire collection--it's a complete summer rainbow of holo sparkle goodness and you can gradient or skittle or a million other things. They blend together and mix and match so perfectly, and Sequins & Satin Pants is so gorgeous!! Each and every one of these is a stunner, and I admit the collection has been sitting in a row on my table just making me happy every time I look over at the pretty colors. And here's a look at that video I promised you:

The collection is on sale in the Girly Bits store now, and don't forget to stalk Girly Bits around the internet for inspiration and updates:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GirlyBits/?fref=ts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlybitscosmetics/

Facebook Fan Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GirlyBitsLovers/

Happy holoing!
M.

Friday, June 2, 2017

Sally Hansen Color of the Moment: Get Mod & Creme de la Creme

(Press samples ahead!)

Hello!

I'm back today with another color of the moment duo from Sally Hansen, and this one is a nail artist's dream: Get Mod and Creme De La Creme, two polishes that make a perfect base for nail art designs.

Sally Hansen Color of the Moment: Get Mod and Creme de la Creme

Here's Sally Hansen Creme de la Creme, a pearly white with a hint of pink:

Sally Hansen Creme de la Creme

Coverage: 2-3 coats; I show three coats here because I have some ridge issues right now, you'll probably only need two unless you have the same thing going on.

Formula and application: Applies well; somewhat patchy on the first coat, but evens out beautifully

If plain white creme polish is a bit to stark for you but you still want to wear/work with white, or if you just want something with a whisper of color, this is the polish for you. The polish doesn't read as light pink when you have it on--the tint and the shimmer just soften the effect of the white.

For my manicure, I stamped with UberChic Beauty plate 18-01, and Hit The Bottle Polish A Glint Of Gold (also available at Beautometry):

Sally Hansen Creme de la Creme stamped with UberChic Beauty 18-01 and Hit The Bottle A Glint Of Gold

Or if you prefer your whites strong, creme-y and true, there's Sally Hansen Get Mod, a bright white creme that looks great by itself and is perfect to get great contrast with other colors:

Sally Hansen Get Mod

The color on this is true and I like that I don't have to struggled with application. Also, because it's the Miracle Gel line, I wore the manicure below for six days with no chips--pretty impressive.

For my manicure, I stamped using UberChic Beauty 18-01 again, with Messy Mansion Delft Blue, Sterling, and Carbon:

Sally Hansen Get Mod + UberChic Beauty 18-01 and Messy Mansion stamping polishes

I love how those colors pop against that white background! I think it's safe to say that a reliable white polish is an absolute necessity in every nail artist's polish wardrobe, and these are both great alternatives that will give you long life because of the Miracle Gel formula, when used with the topcoat. This is the second time I've tested it out, and this is now one of my go-to solutions for vacations and such when I need my polish to last a while. What do you think? Have you tried the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel line?

You can find these polishes everywhere that Sally Hansen is sold; for me, that's usually drugstores like CVS or Walgreen's, and their websites. You can also find the Miracle Gel line on Amazon if that's easier for you. And of course you can stalk them around the interwebs here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SallyHansen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sally_hansen/

Happy stamping!
M.