Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Noodles Nail Polish Anniversary Trio and Crelly Collab with Jodi's Polish: Swatches and Reviews

*press samples*


Hi guys! I know, long time, no post. I've been enjoying working on my fitness, as well as my polymer clay hobby. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere; I have a few posts coming up soon. I know a lot of bloggers have quit the past few years, but don't worry, you can't get away from me that easily. Tonight I have the 2 collections releasing this Friday, June 21st from Noodles Nail Polish. The first is a 6-piece collection in collaboration with the awesome Jodi's Polish from YouTube. Make sure to check out her channel and while you're there, hit that subscribe button so you don't miss anything. The second set is an anniversary trio celebrating a whopping 6 years for Noodles Nail Polish! Congratulations, Natalie! Both sets will be available on Friday at 5 PM EST in the NNP website, and each polish will retail for $9.50. It's going to be a picture-heavy post, so shall we get to the good stuff? 

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Polish Pickup (PPU) June 2019: Weather Phenomenon Swatches and Reviews

*press samples*



Hi guys! Polish Pickup (PPU) starts this Friday, and I have 3 shades to share with you tonight. This month's inspiration is weather, and I was curious to see what the maker's would come up with. Just in case this is your first PPU, here's the low-down on what to expect. First, definitely join the Polish Pickup Facebook Group. You don't necessarily need to actively participate in the group, but it will give you a look into the polishes coming in the coming month. Polish Pickup themes are chosen by the people, often a few months in advance (brands need time to find their inspiration and test their polish). Any indie brand that has been around for at least a year can participate and each has their own specific inspiration picture and polish for that month. All you need to do is go to the Polish Pickup site during the pre-order window (the first Friday-Monday of the month) to make all of your purchases of these exclusive polishes. There's no need to pay for multiple shipping charges; since this is a pre-order, all polishes get sent to Polish Pickup and they send you the polishes you ordered. Yup, it's that simple. Oh, and shipping is a flat-rate of $3 to the US ($5 for Canada and more for international). Recently they also opened a UK site which you can find here. Since all orders are pre-orders, shipping will take place about 3 weeks after the end of the pre-order

PPU starts this Friday, June 7th at 11:00 AM ET and ends on Monday, June 10th at 11:59 PM (but if a polish has a cap and sells out before the end of the pre-order, it's gone) on the PPU website. Shall we go ahead and get a closer look at these beauties? 

Noodles Nail Polish






Underwater Icicles (2 coats)
Price: $12
Cap: None

Up first is Noodles Nail Polish Underwater Icicles which was inspired by brincles, which are underwater icicles that form from the surface and move downward into the ocean. Google it, you'll thank me. This is a vibrant blue jelly with green/blue shifting flakes, silver and blue glitters, and fine silver metallic flakies. The beautiful flakes are the first thing that caught my eye. I was expecting to need 3 coats, but I was impressed with the opacity and it fully covered in just 2. It applied flawlessly, and dried with a little bit of texture from the flakes and glitter. If you want a smooth, glossy finish, you may want to add a second coat of topcoat. 


Pepper Pot Polish






A Twister...With Teeth! (3 coats)
Price: $11
Cap: 75/US 5/UK

Mackenzie went out-of-the-box with a polish inspired by Sharknado! I've only seen one of them, but it was very memorable. You guys know how I feel about contrasting shimmers, and this one is a stunner. It's a greige crelly base with contrasting blue shimmer, and ultrachrome flakies. The base is perfectly shark-colored, and the blue just pops. I found the formula to be perfect, although it was a bit sheer. I needed to use 3 heavy coats for the photos above (if you use really thin ones, you may need a fourth). It dried with no texture and was easy to remove. 

Shop | Instagram | Facebook Group

Starlight Polish








St. Elmo's Fire (2 coats over a black creme)
Price: $15
Cap: 230 bottles

Issa is the queen of shimmer toppers, and this month's inspiration is St. Elmo's Fire which is often seen by sailors and pilots. It's a color-shifting topper with blue to purple UP sibling pigment, blue to purple iridescent glitters, blue to purple translucent flakes, and a touch of silver sparkle. I went with 2 thin coats over black to get the full effect, but you could definitely get away with just 1. It dried quickly and with no texture. This one just glows on the nail and I love it. 


The website is open for wishlists now, so fill up that cart. I've been scoping out the website since Sunday, and my list keeps getting longer. Don't forget, the shop opens at 11:00 AM, and some items go quickly. You can find out more about PPU on their Facebook page and website.

*These polishes were provided by the company or PR representative. All reviews are based solely on my opinion. For more information, please see my full disclosure at the bottom of the site*

Monday, June 3, 2019

Chirality Polish: Soften Your Tips | Nourishing Cuticle Oil

*press sample*


Hi guys! This past weekend was the Raleigh Pen Show, so I didn't have to travel and I got to sleep in my own bed! It's the little things, you know? Other than that, I've just been swatching on some upcoming polish collections, working, and making things with polymer clay. Tonight I have a brand new (sort of) cuticle care product from Chirality Polish to share with you. Soften Your Tips is Chirality Polish's cuticle oil, which is now available in a mini 3 mL size. The full-size version of Soften Your Tips has been available for a while now (including in PPU), but this is a new, travel-friendly size. Both the full-sized ($9) and mini ($5) versions are available now in the Chirality website





Here is some more information about the cuticle oil, including the ingredients, which is always important in your beauty products. 

Soften Your Tips is a Nourishing Cuticle Oil that was formulated with only the most skin-loving oils. It has been handcrafted to be super nourishing and will sink into your skin quickly without being greasy. Packaged in an elegant tube with a doe foot wand for easy application.

NEW more convenient size: 3 mL

Instructions: Apply to clean cuticles as often as needed to reduce dryness and improve skin's appearance. Rub oil into skin and nails after applying. Use at least 3 times a day, and especially after washing your hands, to get maximum benefits. Can apply to bare or polished nails. Use within one year of purchase.
Skin-Loving Ingredients
Jojoba Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Avocado Oil, Vitamin E. May contain fragrance.
Soften Your Tips leads with Jojoba oil which is a liquid wax that has small molecules that closely resembles our own natural oils. This allows it to actually penetrate your skin and nails deeply to nourish and repair from within. The remaining light and medium weight oils come together and are high in fatty acids and vitamins to help soften and condition your skin. Vitamin E is then added as a boost of skin conditioner and antioxidant. No preservatives added in this luxury cuticle oil.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba Oil- A liquid wax that most closely resembles our own natural oils which allows it to penetrate the skin deeper and faster. Very nourishing while providing a soft silky feel to skin. Mimics collagen. Naturally contains Vitamin E and is an antioxidant.
Apricot Kernel Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil- A lightweight oil that is excellent for all skin types, but particularly skin-loving for dry sensitive skin. It is high in Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, and Vitamin A. Very moisturizing and has antioxidant properties.
Rice Bran Oil
Rice Bran Oil- A skin conditioning oil that is great for dry or mature skin. High in fatty acids. Conditions and softens the skin very well.
Avocado Oil
Avocado Oil- A medium weight oil that penetrates the skin very well. Good for dry skin. High concentrations of Vitamin E. Very moisturizing. Also has antioxidant properties.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E- A moisturizing skin conditioner. It is an antioxidant and a skin protectant. Contains skin healing properties that help to improve dry skin.

First things first, my favorite cuticle oil applicator is the doe foot wand. I find that rollerballs are unpredictable, sometimes adding a ton of oil, while at other times not applying anything at all. The brush applicators are nice, but they often don't hold as much product (usually 2 mL). Dropper bottles are fine, but I find they dispense too much product so I end up with greasy hands. That leaves us with the doe foot which is perfect on all fronts, IMHO. 

It felt very nice going on the nails and cuticle area. Don't forget to put some of that oil underneath your nails! It does take a few minutes to sink in, but I find that to be the case with most cuticle oils. I've been using this exclusively for the past couple weeks, and I can say that I haven't had any breaks or peels in my nails at all! The only thing I think could make this oil even better is an added fragrance. I know fragrance doesn't add anything to the efficacy of the oil, but I like to smell nice. I love this oil, and I plan on purchasing the full size ASAP and will keep this mini size in my purse or at my desk at work. Heck, I might get another mini for work and a full one for my house so I have one everywhere. Doesn't everyone do that? You can find out more about Chirality Polish on their websiteFacebook pageFacebook Fan Group, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

*These items were provided by the company or PR representative. All reviews are based solely on my opinion. For more information, please see my full disclosure at the bottom of the site*