Cocktail Dress?

This year Maybelline put out some brilliant limited edition polishes. Their latest Color Show collection was called "Sequins." Being a massive glitter fiend, as I am, I spotted the perfect shade for myself immediately. Cocktail Dress, a sparkly smokey gel base with black, and silver micro glitters, and larger red chips. Perfect for a pseudo=goth-pinup right? Especially in the coming months, for all those super fun parties!

Before I show swatches, or give my two cents, I'd like to say that the Color Show line is sadly hit or miss. Shocking Seas, is my go-to teal polish, and as a plus it's from their super affordable main line. Same with Onyx Rush. Auburn Ablaze, from their Fall 2012 line, is stunning in the bottle, but definitely needs a bunch of coats, or a strong base coat of a solid color. Also from their Fall 2012 line, Pink Cosmo, redefines the term "Sheer." It's amazing in the bottle, but far too sheer to do much with, aside from topcoat a strong base with. Having said all of that, I do find Maybelline Color Show polishes to wear pretty well.

...until Cocktail Dress.

I cant even show you this polish on my nails, because of the two times I've worn it, it's lasted less than 24 hours. I did some swatches on some junk mail. For a glitter, it dries super quick, and rather matte, so a topcoat is a necessity.

One coat, two coats, three coats, and black base with one coat. All swatches have a topcoa

 My first wear with this polish lasted through the night, and about half way into my work day. I work with my hands, so I figured it was just me, and that I'd need another coat or two of a topcoat.

Tonight, when I tried it again, it literally PEELED OFF MY NAILS within 20 mins of drying. I was removing excess polish, and almost like a nail sticker, the polish peeled right off.

I hope that anyone out there has a more positive experience with this Polish, but I will be telling my friends to avoid it from here on out!

Now... what shall I wear for my Black Friday manicure?!

November 2012 Ipsy/Glam Bag!

I got the November Ipsy/Glam Bag yesterday, and as it's the first I've received since beginning this blog, I thought I'd share my take on the contents!

For those who don't know, Ipsy/My Glam Bags is a monthly subscription service of 5-6 deluxe sized samples in a cute bag for $10 a month! You can find out more information here. I personally really like Ipsy, as I tend to get into a rut with products, and since the $10 is automatically deducted from my bank account each month, I hardly miss it. Win-Win, right?

The theme this month was "Party Perfect!" Personally, brown, berry, and gold don't scream "party" to me, but it IS fall, and the colors are very wearable at this point in the season.

  

Not much to say about the actual bag this month, it's brown with a gold zipper. The color evokes thoughts of chocolate, but sadly the material the bag is made of looks and feels cheap. It's about the same size as the last one, but definitely not as unique or cute. (A heavy feeling black and white chevron print with a red zipper.)

Color Club Halo Hues Harp on It!

When I caught wind of the Halo Hues polishes from Color Club, I was in hot persuit of these! I said "Meh" to the rumored $10 price tag... they gave me a fond shimmer of nostalgia for the Sally Hansen Nail Prisms. I remember having the "Diamond" one... so of course when I spotted "Harp on It" in the display @ Beauty Plus Salon for a whopping $4.95... I died a little happy death, and skipped to the counter to pay for it.

I've seen it swatched next to the Sally Hansen "Diamond" one and it appears to be a brighter more intense holograph.

  I started with a coat of Orly Bonder, then two coats (though one would be sufficient) of Harp on It, and topped it with one coat of Orly Wont Chip. 

 

 The formulation is good, pretty average. Very easy to apply color, hypothetically it goes with everything, and anything since it's a rainbow holograph. (I'm kidding, but that was my rationale for buying it!) 

In some lights it looks sort of like a boring silver glitter polish, but in lower lights, I find it looks absolutely amazing.

This is a great addition to any polish lovers collection, young or old. 

If you can score one at the Beauty Plus Salon price, I'd say get one, or get one of the many other slightly tinted ones in the Halo Hues collection!