Nicole by OPI Gumdrops Collection Swatches: A-Nise Treat and Candy Is Dandy

Nicole by OPI A-Nise Treat (2 coats)

Nicole by OPI Candy Is Dandy (2 coats)

I think the Nicole by OPI Gumdrops collection came out this summer, I think and are full of matte textured polishes. I hope you aren't sick of these, because I have a couple of the new L'Oreal polishes to show tomorrow. I found these two sitting in the clearance section of Ulta for $1.99 a month ago. You know I had to snatch them up! Up first is A-Nise Treat (LOVE the name) which is a black color with silver shimmer. I know several brands have black textured polishes, but I don't have any so I'm loving this one. The formula and application was fine in 2 coats and took about a half hour to dry since there is no topcoat.

Candy is Dandy is a Barbie pink color with larger holographic glitter. This one is so cute! I could totally see a kid rocking this one (I definitely would have in high school). The matteness (I just made that word up) is less than that of A-Nise Treat, but you can still tell it is a textured matte polish. The formula and application was the same as above. The one I really wanted to try (Cinna-Man of My Dreams) wasn't there unfortunately. If you can find a good deal on these, pick them up at your local Ulta. 

Nicole by OPI Fall 2012 Target Exclusive Swatch: Iris My Case

Nicole by OPI Iris My Case (2 coats)

Remember when these Nicole by OPI Target Exclusives came out last fall? Well, I never bought any, but I found this gem in the clearance section for around $2 a couple weeks ago. A duochrome for $2? Count me in! Definitely look at the clearance section when in Target because that's where I get a lot of my cheap finds. Iris My Case (love the name) is a beautiful purple and gold duochrome. I hope my third picture shows the gold in it. You can use 2 thick coats or 3 thin coats for this one, and the formula was a little thin, but nothing terrible. Overall, I don't own many NOPI's, but I really missed out on these Target Exclusives. 

Nicole By OPI Works with Special K for Free Polishes

What an interesting collaboration! I don't often purchase Special K products, but I just might for some free Nicole polishes. What do you think about this promotion? 

NICOLE BY OPI ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION WITH KELLOGG’S^® SPECIAL K^®

Three custom shades available with the purchase of eligible Special K products

• @NicoleByOPI and @SpecialKUS offers free bottle of lacquer with purchase of @SpecialKUS product in April

Nicole by OPI announces that the brand will be producing three custom nail lacquer shades for Kellogg’s^® Special K^® beginning in April to pair with a campaign encouraging women to “show off your confidence with color.” Shoppers will have the opportunity to receive free full-size bottles of Nicole by OPI nail lacquer by signing up for the Kellogg’s Family Rewards program and entering codes from specially marked boxes of Special K products, while supplies last.

The three custom shades include: Challenge Red-y (crème red), Pros & Confidence (crème turquoise) and Be Ama-Zing! (crème pink).

With the purchase of three eligible Special K products, consumers will receive the shade Challenge Red-y. After submitting the purchase codes from eight eligible Special K products, consumers will receive all three lacquers – Challenge Red-y, Pros & Confidence and Be Ama-Zing!

“Nicole by OPI is delighted to partner with Kellogg’s to offer such an exciting reward to Special K consumers,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “At our company, we always say that nail lacquer can change your look – and your outlook. In working with Kellogg’s Special K, we hope to inspire and motivate women who are striving for beauty both inside and out.”This promotion will be available in the US where Special K products are sold.

What's New at Target (and other Drugstores)

I stopped by Target the other day to pick up a prescription and I found a lot of new polishes. I thought this would be a nice change to a simple swatch every day. First I found the Essie Winter 2011 polishes. Despite not being the Holiday Collection (hello, FLAKIES!), there are a few polishes that look really awesome.

The collection includes:

Size Matters-a ruby red
Bobbing for Baubles-a luxurious, deep blue
Brooch the Subject-an elegant nude
Cocktail Bling-a dazzling soft, gray-blue
School of Hard Rocks-an edgy gray-green
Bangle Jangle-an opulent gray-lavender

If you are looking for some holiday glitters, look no further than the Nicole by OPI Holiday Collection. If you're not interested in the sheer glitters of the Muppets collection, definitely check out the Nicole polishes (I saw some swatches on another blog and they looked great).

And lastly, remember those cute Sally Hansen Effects Nail Polish Strips that had a Halloween theme? Well, they now have some cute holiday ones to suit your fancy! Check 'em out:

My favorites:

Unfortunately I didn't pick anything up because I still don't know if I need to buy a new car from the accident. Until I find out what happens, I'm going on a no-buy (no worries, I still have other polishes to show!)

So, have you purchased any of these polishes yet?

Nicole: Peas & Q's

Nicole Peas & Q's (2 coats)

I found this baby at Target a few weeks ago on Clearance and who could turn down a mint green? Not this girl. I still absolutely hate the Nicole bottles, and I know I'm not the only one. I always feel like the bottle is going to fall over. Peas & Q's is a mint green creme that is definitely a bit darker than many of the mint cremes that have been released in the past year or so. This one was really pigmented and only needed 2 coats for full coverage. 

I believe Nicole has a new Gossip Girl Collection that was just released. I've seen a few swatches, but none of them are really calling to me. Have you seen them? Do you like them?

Blues in the Night

 

Nicole Blues in the Night (2 coats)

This was actually my first polish from Nicole. It is a really dark color that looks black in some light, but you can definitely see the dark blue flecks throughout. In the top photo it almost has a purple appearance on the edges, but I cannot really see it upon application. Application was great and really pigmented with only 2 coats.

A lot of people complain about the bottle shape. Since this was my first time trying them, I did notice that the bottle was a little annoying. Since it is angled, it sort of feels like I am going to knock the bottle open when I want to reinsert the brush. Also, it takes up a lot of space in my Helmer from IKEA.