OPI - This Gown Needs A Crown

Hey guys!  I have another gorgeous polish for you today.  I have OPI's This Gown Needs A Crown from their Miss Universe 2013 collection. I received this polish from a very sweet lady named Katelyn.  She saw it on my wishlist and sent it over to me and I'm thrilled because I've been wanting this polish forever, but just haven't picked it up.

OPI - This Gown Needs A Crown

This is two coats of This Gown Needs A Crown.  No topcoat for these photos as it dries to a satiny finish.  Right on the cap it says "Satin Finish No Top Coat".  Normally I topcoat everything, but I wanted to wear it without topcoat as suggested.  Lovely formula on this polish, it's thick, but not overly so and it was easy to control.  Needs two coats for full opacity and to really bring out the texture in the finish.  It dries relatively quickly, but because I didn't use topcoat, I let it dry for a good 10 minutes.  In some lights there is a hint of visible nail line, but nothing too obvious

OPI - This Gown Needs A Crown

OPI describes it as a "textured matte platinum with a satin finish".  Normally when I think of matte 

polishes I think of a dull, flat finish and I prefer a shiny, glossy finish.  I'm also not a fan of textured polish, but I am in love with this one.  The texture is really subtle to the touch, but you can see the little particles.  There is a slight texture there, but nothing overpowering and while it doesn't feel like smooth glass on my nails, it feels soft.

I have to say that this polish exceeded my expectations.  I was in love with it from the first swatch I saw, but it's even more fantastic in person.  I love how shiny and glowy it is while still looking textured and it makes me want to rub my nails!

This Gown Needs A Crown is current in stock at Nail Polish Canada for $9.95 and free shipping as of this blog post.

ILNP - Bottle Service

Hey guys!  Today's polish is ILNP Bottle Service from their Fall 2013 Collection.  I've had this one since the pre-order but hadn't gotten around to wearing it until now.  

ILNP - Bottle Service

This is two coats of Bottle Service and one coat of HK Girl topcoat.  Topcoat did not dull the holo at all.  The formula on this one is really nice.  It's not too thin and not too thick and really easy to control.  I used a thin first coat and it went on a wee bit patchy, but this seems due to my ridges.  I didn't see any patchiness on nail that were smoother.  The second coat I applied a little bit thicker and is almost completely opaque.  I did find that the finish was a little prone to brushstrokes, but they were mostly smoothed away by topcoat.

ILNP - Bottle Service

ILNP describes Bottle Service as "an immaculate holographic polish that displays both champagne and soft silver hues depending on the angle of light hitting your fingertips."  The description is spot on, but I found it hard to capture the champagne hues.  I could definitely see the champagne shift, but it didn't want to show up in my pictures.  The linear holo in Bottle Service is on the softer more subdued side, but still beautiful and I really like the metallic finish.  

Let me know if you own any ILNP and which ones are your favourite.  Thanks for reading!

There was a recent pre-order for her Summer 2014 collection and they will be available for purchase again in June, you can subscribe to their newsletter for launch notifications.  Bottle Service and many of their other polishes are currently available on ILNP.com and polishes range from $10.00 to $12.50 USD depending on the finish.  Shipping to Canada starts at $9.80 USD for the first polish.

Girly Bits - Twitterpated

Hey guys!  Today's polish is from a new to me brand called Girly Bits.  Girly Bits is a Canadian Indie brand that sells polish, nail care products and also frankening items should you want to try your hand at making your own polish.  While I've never ordered from Girly Bits directly myself, all I've heard about them is great things.

Girly Bits - Twitterpated

 This is three coats of Girly Bits Twitterpated with one coat of HK Girl topcoat though it dried glossy all on it's own.  It's a little bit on the sheer side and I used thinner first and second coats and there was still visible nail line.  While I don't mind this personally, in photos it would have been much more pronounced.  The thin layers dried quickly, but I did add a thicker third coat to ensure it was completely opaque.  The quick-dry topcoat definitely helped speed up the dry time of the third coat. Formula while a bit thin was easy for me to control and went on smoothly.

Girly Bits - Twitterpated

Girly Bits describes the polish as "a light purple foil/holographic with pink shimmer", which fits perfectly.  I've mentioned it previously, but polishes that are multidimensional or have extras are my favourite.  The linear rainbow in Twitterpated is strong and beneath that is a pink shimmer that grabs the attention, especially in low lighting.  I've amusingly (to myself at least) dubbed the shimmer "twinkly bits".

Girly Bits - Twitterpated

The twinkly bits in the polish peek out from the rainbow and are awesomely distracting.  You know in that way where your eyes are suddenly drawn to your nails because they just seem to be saying "hey there". 

While this is my first Girly Bits, it definitely won't be my last.  There are numerous others on my wishlist that I hope will soon be finding their way into my helmer and onto my nails.  Do you own any Girly Bits polishes?  Which ones are your favorite, or if you don't have any yet let me know which ones you want most.  Thanks for reading!

Girly Bits can be purchased directly from their site, at Canadian e-tailer Harlow & Co or Llarowe, prices vary by finish.  You can stay in touch with Girly Bits at the links below or subscribe to their newsletter on their site.

Girly Bits: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest,

Sunday Stamping - Butterflies

Hey guys!  I'm back with another Sunday Stamping challenge from the Adventures In Stamping Group.  Sorry I haven't been consistent with these, but sometimes I don't have a chance to come up with something.  The theme this week was Butterflies, Ladybugs and Fireflies.  I had already done a butterfly wing type mani previously, so I wasn't sure what I was going to do. 

Sunday Stamping - Butterflies

I just started messing around with french tips and stamped over the french tips and added some China Glaze Fairy Dust.  Unfortunately I think this one is a fail as the butterfly stamps didn't turn out good.  No matter how I put them on either by pressing my nail into the stamper or gently rolling them on they seemed smudged and not crisp at all and my placement was off.

I figure if I only showed what I thought was a success, I'd probably have very little nail art or stamping to show you ever!  I think if maybe I'd chosen a different design or if it came out crisper I would have liked this a lot better.  I do think I'll try it again as I like the white tip natural nail beneath, but I'll go with a single image maybe if I can figure out how to centre it on my nail properly.

Polishes used:

White Tip: Cult Nails Tempest
Stamping Polish: Konad Black

Stamping Image: MoYou Princess 14
Glitter: China Glaze Fairy Dust

Topcoat: HK Girl

Thanks for reading!

Hard Candy - Little Hottie

Hey guys!  Today's polish is Hard Candy Little Hottie.  This is part of their Itsy Glitzy collection and one of the polishes that I won from one of their contests.

Hard Candy - Little Hottie

This is two easy coats with HK Girl topcoat.  The formula on this was actually really fantastic.  Nice consistency not too thin or thick and the shimmers are well mixed in so with two coats I had perfectly even coverage.

Hard Candy - Little Hottie

Little Hottie is a bright shimmery pink.  It's really hard for me to describe the colour.  It's pink, but has hints of red to it with a gold shimmer.  It has a foil-like finish and really glows.  Sometimes polishes that have that shimmer in the bottle, but it doesn't translate well onto the nail but Little Hottie didn't disappoint.

I'm really happy that I have this polish and it's one I'd definitely reach for when I'm in the mood for something bright, shimmery and pink.  I have to say that while I seem to gravitate more towards Indies, Hard Candy has some really gorgeous polishes that are easy to obtain and from what I've tried so far excellent formulas.  Do you own any Hard Candy polishes?  Let me know in the comments below if you've tried any or not and if you have any favourites.  Thanks for reading!

Hard Candy polishes can be purchased in the Walmart beauty section.  They retail for $3.99 in Canada and each polish is 7.8ML or 0.26 FL. OZ.

A England - Ballerina Collection

Hey guys!  Today I have the full A England Ballerina Collection for you.  I have been lusting after this collection ever since it came out and I finally broke down and purchased it recently from Nail Polish Canada. 

Adina, the genius behind A England was inspired to create this collection by Dame Margot Fonteyn and her illustrious career as a ballerina.  Adina gives a glimpse into the inspiration for the collection on her glossary page here.  I've never seen a ballet live,  but every time I see ballet in movies it is always magical and entrancing and Adina brought out that magic with her collection.

A England - Ballerina Collection

All swatches are two easy coats with one coat of HK Girl topcoat.  I did not have any issues with topcoat dulling the holo of any of these polishes.  The formula on all of these was  pretty consistent with one of the polishes almost being a one-coater. I used thin coats that went on evenly and dried quickly and glossy even without topcoat. Top notch formula as expected from A England. 

These shades are subtle yet stunning scattered holos.  While they are not as flamboyant as linear holos, they can sometimes outshine even polishes with the brightest rainbow flame.  While linear holos tend to be more flashy in sunlight, these are elegant and eye-catching in any light.

A England - Encore Margot

A England - Encore Margot

Encore Margot is a faded silvery blue, delicate and bright all at once.

A England - Her Rose Adagio

A England - Her Rose Adagio

Her Rose Adagio is a faint blush pink.  Just a hint of pink that is reminiscent of a ballet slipper.

A England - Dancing with Nureyev

A England - Dancing with Nureyev

Dancing with Nureyev is a bolder, evocative blue with a violet shift that enchants.

A England - Fonteyn

A England - Fonteyn

Fonteyn is a graceful silvered lavender with pastel rainbows reflecting.

A England - Fonteyn and Encore Margot Comparison

And here is a comparison of Encore Margot and Fonteyn.  Encore Margot is on my middle and pinky and Fonteyn is on my pointer and ring.  There are two key differences that I want to mention between the two.  Fonteyn has a slightly better formula as it was nearly a one coater for me and has a stronger holo. 

Do you need both?  Well, that would definitely be up to you.  They are currently available at $13.50 each, or $40.50 for the set and free shipping at Nail Polish Canada, so it was basically buy three, get one free.  I hope you enjoyed reading and enjoyed all the pictures!  Let me know in the comments below which of these you like best.

LilypadLacquer - Vixens Wear Violet

Hey guys!  I have another new to me brand today LilypadLacquer.  This is the second polish that my friend Christine let me borrow and review.  LilypadLacquer is an Australian indie brand and I had no idea how gorgeous their polishes were. 

LilypadLacquer - Vixens Wear Violet

This is two coats of Vixens Wear Violet with one coat of HK Girl.  The formula on this baby is a dream.  It applies full coverage in two easy coats and dries quickly and completely smooth.  The first coat hints at the promise of something extraordinary and the second coat brings life and complexity to what I thought would just be a normal holo polish when I first heard about it. 

LilypadLacquer - Vixens Wear Violet

Vixens Wear Violet is a described on Llarowe's site as a rich violet holographic nail lacquer with a pink sparkle.  The description is spot on and this baby shines in all manners of lighting.  A lot of holos look flat and dull in low lighting, but this polish is interesting even when there's no sun to be found.  The pink sparkle flashes from the base with every move and catches the eye. 
I almost feel like I'm waxing poetic about a nail polish, but I'm a sucker for a shimmer polish.  As much as I love holos, shimmers have to be my favorite and this one combines both into a truly magnificent polish.

LilypadLacquer - Vixens Wear Violet

Sadly, this baby has to head on home soon, but I'm glad I could share it with you and it definitely opened my eyes towards LilypadLacquer.  If all of her polishes have the same buttery two coat formula I forsee a lot of these finding their way into my helmer and onto my nails.  Do you have any experience with Lilypad Lacquer?  Let me know in the comments below and thanks for reading!

LilypadLacquer is available through their site as well as various stockists like Nail Polish Canada and Llarowe.  Currently it is out of stock, but if you'd like to purchase it NPC and Llarowe will be restocking them again so keep an eye out.

Influenster imPRESS Manicure VoxBox

Hey guys!  Today's review is on the imPRESS Manicure VoxBox provided from Influenster.  imPRESS nails are press-on nails.  In each package there are 24 press on nails in 12 different sizes and claim they'll last for a week.  I was sent a box of two different styles to test and to provide my opinion.  Although these were provided to me free of charge, my opinion is my own and in no way influenced by that fact.  This review will be pretty wordy and picture heavy.

Influenster imPRESS Manicure VoxBox

I was super excited to get these in the mail, as I'd received them previously in another VoxBox, but they were the "short length" and they did not even fit my nail bed at all.  Those were given to my niece who enjoyed them.  This time I noticed they did not say the short length, so I was hoping they'd fit.

The instructions are on the back of the packaging and really simple to follow.

1. Find the correct size for each nail. (If needed use smaller sizes for best results)
2. Lay out 10 nails in finger order
3. Cleans natural nails with enclosed prep pad. (This is attached to a piece of paper behind the bottle and is a wipe saturated with alcohol)
4. For best adhesion, firmly apply nails, thumb nails last.

The styles I received were a zebra print called "Dancing Queen" and a funky pink/purple cheetah print called "Over The Moon".  I love both of these styles and think they are super cute and fun patterns that I would wear.  I chose Over The Moon to show you.  When going through the sizes and matching them to my nails, immediately I could tell that they were not going to fit as my own nails are longer than the press-ons.  This posed a dilemma for certain.  Should I cut down my natural nails to show these off, or should I show them to you how they look on my current nail length to give you an idea how they they appear.

imPRESS Press-On Manicure Over The Moon

I have been working hard to grow my nails stronger and longer and it felt like such a shame to file them down, so I chose to show them on my current nail length.  I had a bit of a difficult time with the width too.  The instructions told me to choose the smaller sizes when in doubt.  I did this, however the smaller size were not only smaller width wise, but length-wise as well and they looked really awkward, especially when I looked at the size.  I could tell they were obviously fake.  I changed out to the larger ones, as though they make my nails look much wider, they looked more natural to me and less obviously fake.  

My Natural Nail Length for Comparison

Even on the larger ones, there is an obvious gap where my nail bed curves towards the tip of the nail.  This is especially evident on my index and middle finger.  The press-ons also don't lay completely flush against the nail, so when looking at them from the tips there is a space where dirt and other materials can get trapped.  I'm always playing with my hair too, so the hair can get caught up on the corners and underneath.  They also have a little tab on the end which sticks out a bit, on some more than others.

imPRESS Press-On Manicure Over The Moon

Overall, I'd have to say that for me, these do not work.  They are beautiful, really easy to put on and surprisingly comfortable, but when it comes to the width and length they aren't for me.  As I'm wearing them, I know that I have fake nails on, but they are firmly in place and aren't wiggling or annoying me.  If the size and width issues were not a factor, I would most certainly purchase them for a date night or special occasion so that I could make it through the evening without the worry of chipping my nails.  I don't know that I'd wear these on a long-term basis as I like to change my polish every few days and I do prefer regular nail polish.

imPRESS Press-On Manicure Over The Moon

I won't be able to provide you with a wear test for these, as they are impractical for me to wear consistently for a week.  To remove the nails, gently peel up from the sides (I recommend lifting the sides gently with an cuticle stick).  Or apply polish remover to the edges and let sit for one minute before peeling off.  When removing them they were stuck on pretty good so I could feel a lot of tension on the nail bed.  If you're going to peel them up without using remover, work slowly and carefully lifting the sides to loosen them.  I didn't notice that they damaged my nail bed and I didn't have issues with a lot of glue residue being stuck to my nails.

If you're wondering if these would work for you, I'd recommend checking out a few reviews.  Let me know if you've tried any of these out and your experiences with them.  If you haven't tried them, let me know which is your favourite style.  They have a bunch on the imPRESS site here.

imPRESS press-on manicure sets can be purchased at Walmart and they retail for $9.47.  Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed my review!

~I am a member of the Influenster site and these products were sent to me for review.  All opinions will always be my own and not influenced by products received~

Dance Legend - TermoShine 182

Hey guys!  Today's polish is Dance Legend TermoShine 182.  My polish friend Christine ordered this from Llarowe as part of a mini group order and graciously let me review it before I send it on to her.  TermoShine 182 is a thermal jelly polish that shifts with the changes in temperature and this one also has various sizes of rose-gold glitter.  

Have you ever put on a polish and thought, "meh, I'm not sure if I like it"...and then later on, once you've had some time to look it over you realize how magical and complex the polish really is?  That's how I felt about this polish.  It was my first time trying a Dance Legend polish and my first experience with thermals.  Immediately I was pretty wowed by the colour-shift, but I wasn't really in love with the glitter.  After a while, I couldn't stop looking at my nails and the complexity of the polish and I've fallen hopelessly in love.

Dance Legend - TermoShine 182 Warm

This is two coats of TermoShine 182 and one coat of HK Girl.  Here I'm showing the polish as it is when it's warm.  When it's warm it turns a pinkish-purple.  The formula is a bit on the thicker side, but application was great.  The first coat went on smooth and easy and dried quickly.  It did need two coats for full coverage, but I didn't have to fuss much with the glitter.  It pretty much stayed where it was put and I really only had to shift any glitter that was hanging over the free edge.

Dance Legend - TermoShine 182 Cold

When it's cold, the polish is a dark blurple and this is how it comes out of the bottle.  My photo shows it a wee bit darker than I see on my nails and the glitter is not as evident when it's cold.

Dance Legend - TermoShine 182 Room Temperature

 

And this is how the polish normally looks on me unless I'm super freezing.  The purple is a bit deeper and the tips of my nails are dark blue.  I get an instant french manicure without any extra steps!  All in all, colour me impressed!  Great formula, the colour-change is stunning and the color-combo with the glitter is awesome.  I am sorely tempted to keep the polish hostage, but I'll just have to order one of my own I think!

Do you own any Dance Legend polishes?  Which ones are your favourite?  I think I see a Dance Legend purchase in my future!

Dance Legend polishes can be obtained by Canadian customers through Llarowe for between $7.00 and $13.00 USD.  Shipping is via USPS and varies.  However shipping is free with a $100.00 order.

Nail Mail 5-12-2014

Hey guys!  Yesterday I had a super awesome mail day.  Unfortunately I was already working on the post from yesterday and I was a bit strained for time to get everything nicely photographed for you.  I received mail from Llarowe, a swap and the imPRESS Manicure VoxBox from Influenster!  So many pretties, so little time!  Part of my mail from Llarowe was for some of my nail polish friends, but I have two that I will be showing you soon.

Nail Mail 5-12-2014

Top Row Left to Right: Colors by Llarowe Rezipped, P38, P47, P51, Ebony & Emeralds and Ted's Laugh
Bottom Row Left to Right: imPRESS nails in Over The Moon, Dance Legend TermoShine 182, Lilypad Lacquer Vixens Wear Violet, Colors by Llarowe Little Red Corvette, Girly Bits Twitterpated and imPRESS nails in Dancing Queen.

My wonderful nail polish friend Christine ordered Dance Legend TermoShine 182 and LilypadLacquer Vixens Wear Violet and has kindly agreed to let me swatch and review these before they make their way home to her.  I've never tried either brand, and this is my first experience with a thermal polish, so I'm excited to get these up for the blog in the next couple days. 

I also received Colors by Llarowe Little Red Corvette in the original bottle and Girly Bits Twitterpated from a swap.  I missed out on Little Red Corvette when I had the chance and though I probably don't need another red holo, I couldn't resist it.  This is also my first ever Girly Bits and I can't wait to try it.  I've been holding off on purchasing any because I'm afraid I'll fall in love and then need them all.

Colors by Llarowe (CbL) Rezipped, P38, P47, P51, Ebony & Emeralds and Ted's Laugh

 Here is a better photo of the new Colors by Llarowe polishes I ordered.  Unfortunately P38, P47, P51 and Ebony & Emeralds were a limited re-release of some polishes that were previously discontinued.  Rezipped is a newly released polish that will be available in future restocks.  Ted's Laugh is a limited edition polish that was meant to honor one of Leah Ann's friends that passed away recently.

Influenster imPRESS Manicure VoxBox

And here is a closer look at the package that I received from Influenster.  Looking forward to trying these out, but I think that I will have issues with the length unless I want to cut my nails down.

So, that's all for today!  I should have my review of the Dance Legend up within the next day or two and hope you enjoyed reading!

Color Club - Ultra Violet

Hey guys!  Today's polish is Color Club Ultra Violet.  I picked this up as part of a set from Winners that had various neon polishes.  Sadly I sold a few, but I'm definitely glad I kept this one.  Ultra Violet is a sheer purple with blue shimmer.

Color Club - Ultra Violet

This is two coats of Ultra Violet over one coat of Sally Hansen White On and topped off with HK Girl topcoat.  I actually wore this one for three days before taking photos and had to touch up the tips a bit, but otherwise it lasted great.  This one can be worn on it's own and built up to opacity, but the white base really helps it pop.  The first coat was a bit sheer, but even and the second coat covered nicely. 

Color Club - Ultra Violet

The formula on this is thin, but super easy to work with.  I normally prefer a thicker polish, but this one went on great.  On it's own, you could probably get away with two coats if you don't mind a hint of visible nail line, otherwise you'd need three coats for full coverage.  In my photos the polish is a bit more subdued than on the nail, but it's pretty close.

Are you a fan of neons or bright polish?  Let me know if you have any favourite neons that I should check out.  Thanks for reading!

If you'd like to pick up Ultra Violet it is currently on sale at Nail Polish Canada for $5.99 and free shipping as of this blog post.

Zoya - Kate

Hey guys!  Today's polish is Zoya Kate.  Kate is described by Zoya as a soft medium dusty mauve with rose-pink and brown.  Depending on various lights, Kate really takes on different looks.  In some lights it leans more mauve, in others it leans more pinky-brown.  On me it definitely looks more pinky-brown.

Zoya - Kate

This is two coats of Kate with one coat of HK Girl topcoat.  The first coat was even and smooth, but didn't cover completely so two coats were needed for full opacity.  In some lights there is a wee bit of visible nail line, but it's nothing that I really noticed unless I was looking really close up.  I like how it's opaque it is, while still looking kind of squishy like a jelly.  Kate also dries to a shiny finish on it's own, but I always use topcoat for a super glossy look.

Zoya - Kate

The formula on this polish is a little thinner than I'm used to and at first I had a wee bit of trouble with the polish pooling onto the nail from the brush, but once I wiped off the whole length of one side of the brush it applied much better.  I was pretty surprised by how pigmented it was, even though the formula was thin.  I didn't have any issues with patching or streaking and it self-leveled perfectly.

I really like the colour and formula of this polish.  It's not something I would normally reach for, but I'm glad I did.  Do you own any Zoyas?  Which one is your favourite colour?  Let me know in the comments below and thanks for reading!

Zoya Kate is available for $9.95 through Nail Polish Canada.  Shipping is currently free as of this blog post.

A England - Perceval

Hey guys!  Today's polish is one I got in a recent nail mail.  I've been lusting after this polish for some time and finally bit the bullet and purchased it.  A England describes this polish as a "splendid and resplendent red".  I have to say, that is a perfectly poetic way to describe it.

A England - Perceval

This is two coats of Perceval with one coat of HK Girl topcoat.  It was almost a one-coater, but there was a bit of visible nail line and a second coat usually makes the colour stand out better, especially if there is shimmer in it.

A England - Perceval

The formula on this one is exactly what I expected when I put it on.  It was smooth, creamy and easy to work with.  I didn't have any problems with streaking or patchiness.  Even though I always use topcoat over polishes, it is super shiny all on it's on and the glow is crazy.  Even in low lighting the light reflects off my nails and makes the polish really stand out!  It does stain the cuticles a wee bit, but nothing that can't be removed with a scrub brush.  Upon removal it can turn your skin a bit pink, but soap and water will remove it easily.

I'm super glad I picked this one up and it is definitely a welcome addition to my collection.  I can see myself reaching for it whenever I am in the mood for a sexy, vibrant red.  What's your go-to red?  Let me know in the comments and thanks for reading!

Perceval is in available at Nail Polish Canada for $13.50 with free shipping as of this blog post.

Nail Mail 5-6-2014

Hey guys!  Just a quick post today.  I got in some more nail mail.  I've been lusting after the A England Ballerina collection and I got a new nail treatment I've been wanting to try.

Nail Polish Canada has a points redemption program and every time you make a purchase you earn points that you can use to redeem for polishes, nail art tools, stamping plates and all kinds of things.  I used my points to purchase the Healthy Hoof Intensive Protein Treatment. 

Nail Mail 5-6-2014

From left to right: A England Encore Margot, Dancing With Nureyev, Her Rose Adagio and Fonteyn. 

They are all so gorgeous and I can't wait to wear them.  They all have that stunning scattered holo that I fell in love with from the Burne-Jones Dream collection.  Do you have any of these polishes?  Which one is your favourite, or which one do you want most?  Thanks for reading!

You can purchase both Healthy Hoof and the A England Ballerina Collection from Nail Polish Canada.  Healthy Hoof is $14.00 for 113gr and $13.50 each polish for the A England Ballerina polishes or $40.50 for the set.  Shipping is free at the time of this blog post.

CeraVe AM and PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

I received CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30 and CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion to review as part of the ChickAdvisor Review Club.  I wore the AM every morning after washing my face for the last two weeks and the PM lotion after washing my face before bed every night.

CeraVe Facial Moisurizing Lotion AM and PM

It was my first time trying anything from the CeraVe line.  The pump dispenser is easy to use and two quick pumps I get the perfect amount of product.  The AM lotion is a bit thick, but it doesn't feel oily or greasy.  I have an oily t-zone and the lotion didn't leave me feeling more oily.  This is super important to me because I have acne-prone skin.  In fact my skin feels softer and smoother and it's nice to know my skin is protected when I'm outside.

The PM lotion is a bit more thin than the AM lotion and it soaked into my skin a lot quicker.  I usually wash my face right before bed, so when I put lotion on I want it to soak up quickly so I don't go to bed with my skin feeling greasy.  When I wake up every morning my skin feels soft and smooth.

The packaging is simple, but I like that.  I also like that the lotion is unscented as I'm sensitive to some scents, especially when they're overly flowery.   The price is more than I usually pay, especially since the bottles are pretty small, but it is effective.  I haven't decided if I'd repurchase because the price seems a bit steep for the size, but I really like the results.

You can get CeraVe from Well.ca for $14.99 each.  I also saw them at my Superstore.  What's your favourite moisturizer?  Let me know in the comments and thanks for reading!

Pretty & Polished - Watch it in C-D!

Hey guys!  Today's polish is from a new to me brand.  I won this polish from a blog contest and it's my first Pretty & Polished.  I like glitters, but I'm not crazy abot them, but I think this one is super cute and goes great with China Glaze Peonies & Park Ave.

Pretty & Polished Watch it in C-D! is a glitter, that could probably be worn on it's own with enough coats, but I like to wear these over a coloured base.  The base of this one is actually tinted with purple, and it's filled with pink and purple hex glitters and tiny iridescent shimmers.

Pretty & Polished - Watch it in C-D! Over China Glaze Peonies & Park Ave

With glitter like this that it can be hard to get an even coat if I use the brush, so I use a sponge.  I oil up my cuticles and let it sink in a bit and I dab the glitter onto a sponge.  The sponge soaks up the extra base and then I can dab the glitter directly on the nail.  This method allows me a lot more control of where I want the glitter to be and I can put on a ton of glitter without getting a ton of buildup from the base.  I think I went a little glitter crazy with this on, but this mani looked fun and girly.  Since I had so much glitter packed on, I did use two very thick coats of Seche Vite to smooth it out.  I think the glitter would look excellent over a variety of base colours.

Pretty & Polished - Watch it in C-D! Over China Glaze Peonies & Park Ave

 I did check Pretty & Polished store, and this one no longer seems available.  However they have a lot of different finishes available in stock and the price ranges from $7.00 - $9.00 a bottle.  They even have a "Saved by the Nail" Collection inspired by Saved by the Bell.  I totally had a geeky fangirl moment because it was one of my absolute favourite shows growing up.  Another bonus is they do ship directly to Canada.

Do you own any Pretty & Polished?  Which ones are your favourite?  Thanks for reading!

China Glaze - Peonies & Park Ave

Hi guys!  I have the last polish from the China Glaze China Glaze City Flourish Peonies & Park Ave set for you today.  Peonies & Park Ave is a neon bright pink creme, per the China Glaze press release.  Nailed it!  Wow, this baby sure is bright.  It is Petal To The Metal's hotter, older and more daring sister.  This colour shouts "look at me!" for sure.

China Glaze - Peonies & Park Ave

This is three coats of Peonies & Park Ave with HK Girl topcoat.  Originally I was hoping this one would have a better formula like Lotus Begin, but unfortunately it was streaky.  I did one thin coat and it seemed not too bad, but the second coat didn't cover evenly enough.  A third generous coat was needed and a shiny topcoat made it pop.

China Glaze - Peonies & Park Ave

I didn't use white undies because I wanted to see what it looked like on it's own, and it did not disappoint.  I was unable to capture just how bright it is, sorry guys.  Even with three coats, it's definitely worth it.  Maybe with undies only two would be needed, but I think it looks awesome and kind of squishy on it's own. 

So that ends the swatches from this collection.  I don't have the "Pollen In Love" set to show you, but I've heard the formulas are pretty much the same as I've come across with this collection.  These polishes require patience and most of them were streaky and needed three coats, but overall the colours are gorgeous and for the most part they looked pretty good.  My overall favourite is still Lotus Begin and At Vase Value is my second favourite.

I hope you enjoyed the swatches and you can view swatches of all of the other polishes in the collection and some nail art linked below.  Thanks for reading!

At Vase Value
Spring In My Step
In A Lily Bit
Petal To The Metal
Lotus Begin
Nail Art with this collection