Never Underestimate the Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree

I was shopping for outdoor Christmas decorations over the weekend, and I stumbled across a couple little gems at my local Dollar Tree.  I enjoy the Dollar Tree, and am often surprised by what I can find there.  I always go down the beauty aisle.  I don’t always find items that I am interested in, but there have been a few times that I have been lucky.  I’ve gotten a Milani eye liner and nail polish, NYC blush sticks, and Revlon nail wraps from the Dollar Tree.  This time around, I found a good number of Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects

I have mentioned the Sally Hansen Salon Effects more times than I can count here on the blog.  I am a big fan.  They are so easy to use, and unlike other popular nail wraps, don’t require any heating elements or accessories.  Everything you need is included in the box.  Sally Hansen Salon Effects are usually $7-$10, so I was shocked to see them at the Dollar Tree.  I assume that these designs are either being discontinued or are from previous limited edition collections.  I know Laced Up has been a part of the permanent collection since the Sally Hansen Salon Effects first launched, so maybe it is being retired.  Still, they are stylish and I have no complaints.

Pitter Pattern

Girl Flower

Laced Up

If you usually pass right by the beauty section of your local Dollar Tree thinking that there isn’t anything there for you, I encourage you to take a closer look.  You may be pleasantly surprised.

Longest Lasting Nail Wraps Ever

BPS Mini Grid Nail Wraps

I am so excited about the nail wraps that I have to show you today.  If you have been around for a while, you know that I love nail, wraps.  They could not be easier to use, and they last a pretty good time on the nails.  I usually use Sally Hansen Salon Effects, and have been a big fan for years.  Today, though, I want to show you some nail wraps from the Born Pretty Store that put Salon Effects to shame.  They are so good and I am so impressed with them.  Born Pretty sent this set to me to review, but I am absolutely going to be purchasing some more for myself very soon.  Let’s take a look.

BPS Mini Grid Nail Wraps

These are the Multi-Color Mini Grid Nail Wraps from Born Pretty.  There are five different color patterns in this sparkly grid design, and I chose pattern #5 which have lighter shades, great for this time of year.  The wraps apply like any other nail wrap.  Simply peel them off the backing (in this case they come on a sheet) and place them on the nail, pressing firmly to adhere them.  Then you fold the end of the wrap over the tip of your nail and file off the excess.  The wraps have a very sticky adhesive backing that keep them in place for ages.  I applied them on Monday 7/20, and did not remove them until today, 7/30.  That is 10 full days, and they were still going strong.  I could have left them on longer, but I have more nail products that I need to review.  They weren’t lifting or peeling.  The only issue that I had was with a wrap that I had to apply several times because I couldn’t get it placed correctly.  Putting it down and pulling it back up compromised the sticky backing and it popped off on the second day.  I ended up having to put a different wrap on that nail, and then it was perfect for the rest of the time.  That was my fault though, not the fault of the product.  I am not gentle with my nails.  I wash my hands several times a day, use a ton of lotion, type, rough house with my cats…etc.  The wraps stayed looking gorgeous for the entire 10 days.  And I am not kidding when I say that they are gorgeous.  They sparkle like diamonds when the light hits them.  They are really eye catching.  I can not say enough good things about them.

BPS Mini Grid Nail Wraps

Obviously, as you can probably tell by the rave review, I definitely recommend that you check out these Mini Grid Nail Wraps from Born Pretty.  Thy are currently $3.35 on the BPS website.  As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, the Born Pretty Store is located in China, so shipping will take a while.  It is normal for orders to take 2-4 weeks to ship to the US, and in my experience, I have gotten most of my orders within 2-3weeks.  You should definitely plan ahead if you are ordering something time sensitive (like for a vacation or holiday items) and order them early.  Orders ship within 24 hours.  Check out the BPS website bornprettstore.com, or their facebook page for more details.  I have several reviews for products that I have received from the Born Pretty Store, and you can see the other BPS reviews I have done by clicking on the Born Pretty Store link in the “Categories” section on the right hand side of the blog.  For 10% off any regular priced items from the website, use coupon code BBBK31.  This is not an affiliate code, and I do not get any compensation from your purchases.  I just think that Born Pretty has some really cool products.

FTC Disclosure: The product reviewed in this post was provided to me for free by Born Pretty Store for consideration.  This does not guarantee a positive review, and my thoughts on these products are 100% honest.  No other type of compensation was accepted.  I do not get any kick backs or compensation from any orders placed.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Review

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

Today I’d like to share my experience with Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Polish.  SH Miracle Gel is supposed to be a unique system that gives you a gel manicure in two easy steps, no UV or LED light needed.  Before I get into the review, I should say that I have never had a real gel manicure done.  I don’t go to the salon to get my nails done, and I am not sure that I like the idea of putting my hands under a lamp for any length of time.  Gel manicures also have a rather difficult removal process- regular polish removes don’t work.  So I am a complete stranger to the gel manicure world.  I know that they are extremely popular for their long-lasting chip-free wear time, so when Sally Hansen claimed to get the same results with their at-home lamp-free products, I decided it was time to give gel a try.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Dig Fig

Before I talk about how the polish performed, let me tell you a little more about the product.  Sally Hansen has 45 shades in their Miracle Gel polish line.  Here is what Sally Hansen says about it: “Miracle Gel is the first ever part part lacquer, part gel manicure system that delivers up to 14 days of color and shine in just 2 easy steps. Miracle Gel delivers the high shine, glossy look of a salon quality gel manicure with no UV/LED lamp or base coat needed!”  Sally Hansen also claims that their polish is easy to remove with regular nail polish remover, another bonus over the traditional gel mani.  The process of applying is very straightforward.  Begin by cleaning any oils off of your nails with polish remover.  Sally Hansen says to skip the base coat.  Next, apply two thin layers of Miracle Gel polish, allowing it to dry completely between layers.  Follow with Miracle Gel top coat.  That’s it.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat

The Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat is necessary for the process.  Sally Hansen says in the FAQ section that the two products are designed to work together and not with other products.  For desired results you need both the Miracle Gel polish and the Miracle Gel top coat.  It appears to be a pretty basic top coat.  It is not too thick and it is not the type of top coat that makes imperfections disappear (like Seche Vite for example).  The one main issue that I had with the top coat is that it picked up the color of the polish.  I made sure that my nails were completely dry before adding top coat and the color still bled.  Since you use the same top coat with multiple shades of polish, this could cause some discoloration, especially with lighter shades.  I was not pleased.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat Brush

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish retails for around $8-$9, give or take.  For that price, I expect a high quality product.  Unfortunately, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel  doesn’t fit the bill.  My first indication that something was off was that the brush on my polish was kind of deformed.  SH Miracle Gel has a wide flat brush, similar to the Wet N Wild Megalast polishes.  My brush wasn’t flat, but more pyramid shaped like it had gotten squashed somehow inside the bottle.  Here are some pictures to show you what I mean.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Brush

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Dig Fig Brush

The result was a finicky and uneven application.  It’s too bad, because the shade that I have, Dig Fig, is a gorgeous color.  SH Miracle Gel is not a self-leveling polish, and it has a slightly drier formula than most polishes.  I thought that it applied streaky and I found it difficult to work with.  I will admit that am not the best nail polisher in the world, but this was supposed to be easy, right?  The top coat did not give me the glossy shine I am used to getting with a regular top coat.  I was simply not a fan of the look.  But my disappointment with the overall look achieved with the SH Miracle Gel was nothing to how disappointed and/or angry I was with how poorly it performed.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Dig Fig Day 1

You may have noticed in the first manicure picture of me holding the bottle that my nails are chipped.  The reason for this is because the manicure didn’t last long enough for me to snap a picture before it failed.  I painted my nails with Dig Fig on a Monday night after dinner.  I usually use natural light for my photos, so I planned to snap pics the next morning.  Several hours later, when everything was completely dry and had been for a while, I took a shower before bed.  This polish that Sally Hansen claims lasts up to 14 days chip-free, chipped on day 1 because I dared to bathe.  Seriously?  What ‘s up with that?  I have used some pretty cheap polish that was pretty bad, but remember this polish is $8-$9 each.  I am almost speechless with how bad this polish is.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Dig Fig Day 5

Here is a shot of my other hand, this time on day 5 (Saturday night, hence the weird lighting).  The chipping is obvious and ugly.  By this point in the experiment I was so ready to remove SH Miracle Gel that I decided to call it quits early.  I had planned on leaving my mani on with progress shots throughout the 14 day period.  That was, of course, before I realized SH Miracle Gel’s Kryptonite- water.  The one claim that Sally Hansen made about Miracle Gel that was actually true is that it is pretty easy to remove the polish with regular polish remover.  Except one small problem.  Remember how I said that I skipped base coat, per Sally Hansen’s instructions?  Sure enough, that dark red polish stained my nails pink for a couple days. *Sigh*

All in all, my experience with Sally Hansen Miracle Gel was a complete fail.  Now to be fair, it is possible that I got a dud polish.  It’s also possible that my personal body chemistry doesn’t agree with the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel formula.  That can happen, where a polish will work great for many people, but it is chip city on my nails.  But, I am not willing to invest the money to find out if the problem is with me.  I am perfectly happy sticking with regular nail polishes and leaving the gel nails to others.  I do not recommend Sally Hansen Miracle Gel, but certainly read some other reviews on the net to see if others had a better experience than I did.  I certainly hope so, because if my experience is typical, then Sally Hansen Miracle Gel is a truly terrible product.

 

Spotted: New Fall 2014 Collections from the Drugstore

It’s been over a month since I did my last “spotted” post, and there are plenty of cool new collections out at the drugstore.  I have a few of them to show you today, including Milani, Maybelline, CoverGirl+Olay, Sally Hansen, and Wet n Wild.  Some are limited edition, some are permanent, but all of the products are pretty interesting.  So, let’s get started.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

First up, we have the new Sally Hansen Miracle Gel nail polish.  SH claims that this 2 step method (polish and top coat) creates a real gel manicure, but without the lamp.  No curing process needed, and it is supposed to remove with normal nail polish remover.  Too good to be true, or true miracle indeed?  I’m not sure yet, but I will let you know.  There are 45 shades in the collection, and though this display didn’t have all of them, it did have a 2-pack with a polish and the top coat.  I am not loving the nearly $10 price tag per polish, but for gel lovers, this may be a great option.

Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow

I finally spotted the new Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow.  I am not sure what gel powder means, so here is what Milani has to say: “Rich, vibrant color that glides on in a single stroke, delivering a stunning multi-dimensional effect. What makes it a gel powder? Well, the formula starts as a gel and then is transformed by a special process into a stunning powder eyeshadow with pure color and power wear. The unique process allows you to blend this incredibly innovative, weightless formula easily with your fingertips to light up your eyes. Even more to entice: It can used wet or dry, resists creasing, and comes in satin matte, shimmer and iridescent metallic finishes. You just have to try this gel powder. It’s that different.”  There are 30 shades in this new permanent collection.

Maybelline Fashion Rocks

Next up is the Limited Edition Maybelline Fashion Rocks Live Fall 2014 collection. This collection celebrates Fashion Rocks which is an annual international charity fundraiser event that debuts on CBS on September 9th.  The Maybelline Fashion Rocks Collection is broken into four looks which include Indie Princess, Rock Goddess, Urban Attitude, and Sultry Siren.  The collection features repromoted shades for eyes and lips, but the Color Show nail polishes are new LE shades.

CoverGirl+Olay The De-Puffer

CoverGirl+Olay The De-Puffer Eye Concealer has a cooling metal tip in the squeeze tube to massage away the look of puffiness and dark circles.  With Olay Rejuvenating serum and cucumber extract, this could be a big hit for those with aging eyes.  I have more issues with fine lines than with puffiness or dark circles, so I may pass.  It does look promising, though.  If any of you have tried it, let me know what you think.

Wet n Wild Fall 2014 Limited Edition Megalast Matte Nail Colors

Lastly, we have Wet n Wild Fall 2014 Limited Edition Megalast Matte Nail Colors.  Wet n Wild has released three limited edition collections for Fall 2014.  There is a collection of limited edition matte lipsticks, as well as a collection of limited edition Coloricon 5-Pan Eyeshadow Palettes that my drugstore did not have.  But, they did have this display of Megalast Matte Nail Colors.  There are no repromotes in this display, and all six shades look fantastic for Fall.  That gorgeous navy blue is calling to me, especially at only $1.99, but I am trying to stick to my no-buy.  Still, these are pretty nice.

That’s it for this round.  I can’t wait to see what else pops up as we get more into Fall.  I feel like the drugstores around me get collections very late compared to other places.  But hopefully I can find the new limited edition collections early enough to show you so that you can get your hands on them if you want them.  More Fall displays should be on their way, as well as 2014 Halloween displays.  After that, my favorite time of year brings all of the Holiday collections.  Be sure to keep your eyes peeled when you are out and about because there will be a lot to see.  🙂

New for Spring 2014 (Part 2)

As promised, here is the second post featuring the new displays I’ve seen for Spring 2014.  Last time I showed you some of what Revlon, Almay, and CoverGirl has to offer.  Today I have pics from L’oreal, Maybelline, Rimmel, and Sally Hansen.  There are some exciting products in this bunch, so let’s get right into it shall we?

L’Oreal Visible Lift CC Eye Concealer

First up is the L’Oreal Visible Lift CC Eye Concealer.  L’oreal launched this to go along with their new Visible Lift CC Cream, but this is “a CC cream or your eyes”.  It comes in three shades and has a roller ball applicator to “roll away signs of fatigue and dark circles”.  The thinner consistency should work best for those who need some added moisture and don’t like thicker concealers because of lines under the eye.

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation

Rimmel has a new foundation out.  Rimmel says of the Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation: “A feather light, oil free formula with an airy mousse texture that won’t feel heavy or greasy. Delivers all day shine control and blends flawlessly for a natural looking matte finish. Minimizes the appearance of pores. The weight is over – finally, shine has met its matte.”  I am interested in trying the foundation and Rimmel is always really affordable, but I am a little hesitant after my skin reacted so poorly to the BB cream.  I’m still not sure what ingredient I was allergic to, but my face has never reacted so poorly to any product.  If you’ve tried this foundation let me know.  I definitely want to know more about it.

Maybelline Color Elixir

Next up is the Maybelline Color Elixir Liquid Color Balms.  They are lip colors that are sort of a hybrid formula.  They go on like a gloss, but have the color of a lipstick.  Though I haven’t tried the Elixirs yet, they remind me of the L’Oreal Colour Caresse Shine Stains from last year.  They are basically a liquid lipstick.  I’m definitely interested, but the tubes are pretty tiny, and they are pricey.  I’ve seen them at Ulta and Walgreens and they are $8.99 for 0.17 oz.  I definitely want to try them, but I’ll wait for a sale.

Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder

I have to say that I am pretty interested in the new Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder.  I have been loving the Revlon Nearly Naked Powder, but I’m always interested in trying new things.  Maybelline claims that this product doesn’t feel like a powder, but like second skin.  Maybelline says that the Dream Wonder Powder is made with less talc for a creamy glide and smooth, flawless finish.

Sally Hansen Triple Shine

Sally Hansen has some new Triple Shine polishes out.  There are a ton of shades in this collection, around 30 I think, in a variety of finishes.  There are even some flakies!  This is not a limited edition collection, so all of these polishes will be permanent from here on out.  The Triple Shine polishes are supposed to be ultra glossy and durable.

Sally Hansen I Love Nail Art

And finally, I found the Sally Hansen I Love Nail Art Collection.  This collection includes: Neon polishes, Stipers, Nail Art Pens, four Nail Art Kits, and two new top coats.  There is the Big Mate Topcoat and the Big Shiny Topcoat.  The four kits come with three tubes each of: Beads, Studs, Fringe, and Glitter.  There is also a kit with some tools including two brushes and a dotting tool.  This is a great display for those of you who are into nail art.

That’s it for now.  Let me know if you have tried any of these products, especially the Rimmel foundation and the Maybelline powder.  I’d love to know your thoughts.  Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for new displays while you are out and about because there should be plenty of them.

October 2013 Favorites

Monthly Favorites October 2013

I’m back today with my Monthly Favorites from October.  I’m still sick from a nasty sinus infection.  I’ve spent most of this week lying on the sofa drifting in and out of consciousness while watching Glee on Netflix (yep, I’m that sick).  But, I’m feeling a little better and I wanted to get my favorites up before it gets any later.  Most of my October makeup choices were experiments, trying to test products that would stand up to Florida heat while I was on vacation.  I ended up with a really good mix of products that held up really well on my trip.

Urban Decay Blush in Overexposed

I could name the entire Urban Decay Shattered Face Case as a favorite this month, but since I just did a review on it, I’ll stick to one product in the Face Case that I can’t get enough of.  I love the blush in Overexposed that comes in the case.  It is such a good color for my skin.  It’s dark enough to show up, but light enough to look really natural.  The matte, warm mauve-toned nude is the perfect shade for me and I wore it most days as my blush of choice.  The formula blends really well and has pretty decent staying power.  For swatches and to see my review of the Shattered Face Case by Urban Decay, click here.

CG Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

I am so glad that I had Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 foundation while in Florida.  I brought a couple options with me, but this is the foundation that I used everyday of my trip.  I’ve never sweat so much in my life!  No offense to anyone who lives there, but I can’t handle a place where it’s 90 degrees on Halloween.  CG Outlast gave me great coverage that held up through the sweltering heat and humidity for 14-hour days in the parks.  The SPF 20 was also a plus.  The only thing is that I have to wear a primer with this foundation because it does sink into pores without one.  But, I wear a primer with all of my foundations anyway, so it’s no big deal for me.  With a primer, it looks fantastic on the skin and blends in really well.  This would be a great choice for oily skin too, so check it out.

Jordana Liner in Charcoal Definition

I reviewed the Jordana 12HR Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencils a couple weeks ago and mentioned how great the staying power was.  I want to say again that they are fantastic.  I wore Charcoal Definition almost every day of my trip.  No matter what I put it through, this liner did not budge.  It looked freshly applied at the end of the day, despite sweating in 90 degree heat and getting a face full of water on Splash Mountain.  I can’t believe that these liners are only three or four dollars.  They are so good.  To see my review click here.

e.l.f. Zit Zapper

I’ve mentioned e.l.f. Zit Zapper before, but it deserves another mention.  With traveling to a different climate, using heavy-duty sunscreen, and everything my skin was exposed to, I had a few spots to deal with.  E.l.f. Zit Zapper really works.  I would not use this on a large area of acne because the blend of Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil, Witch Hazel and Camphor can be harsh on the skin.  However for a spot treatment, it’s really effective.  For $1, I totally recommend it to everyone.

SH Salon Effects in Frockstar

I have gotten back into Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips.  They are so easy and they stay really well on my nails.  Not wanting to mess with nail polish while on vacation, I applied Frockstar (a total glitter bomb) Saturday night.  It stayed with no chipping or issues until the following Friday.  Once you get the hang of applying them, the polish strips couldn’t be easier and there is no curing or processing needed for an artistic mani that stays put for a week.

B&BW Seattle Hazelnut Latte Hand Soap

Last but not least is this amazing scent from Bath & Body Works.  Seattle Hazelnut Latte was released with the other Fall scents.  Oh my god, you guys, this scent is amazing.  According to B&BW, the scent is described as “Seattle coffee beans roasted with hazelnuts and warm vanilla sugar”.  It smells so good that I could drown in a vat of this stuff and die happy.  Unfortunately B&BW only made this scent available in the hand soap and not the body wash or lotion.  I wish that I could get the scent in more varieties because it smells so good.  I know that the Winter scents are already being pushed, but you can still get the Fall scents for a bit longer.  I totally recommend going to your local B&BW to smell Seattle Hazelnut Latte.

That’s it for my October favorites.  I hope that you enjoyed them.  The first week of November is over, and I am looking forward to the Holiday season and can’t wait to start decorating for Christmas.  I know that I’m a few weeks early since most people would say that the holiday season doesn’t kick off until Thanksgiving.  But I am ready.  This is my favorite time of year.  Halloween, Thanksgiving and especially Christmas are my favorite holidays.  I’m feeling really positive.  The first half of 2013 was pretty rough for me, but I plan on closing it out with a bang.  Only good times from here on out.  Who’s with me?  🙂

Ulta Haul and New LE Color Whisper Shades

Ulta Haul

It’s my Birthday this month, and Ulta sent me a couple coupons to celebrate with that I couldn’t pass up.  I figured that I’d share my haul with you.  (The LE products are at the end.)  This will probably be one of my last hauls for awhile.  Once birthday month is over, I plan to go back to limiting my spending (not quite a no-buy, but extremely limited).  I have so many products to review and am so behind that I can stand to ease off a bit.  We are going to Disney World for our anniversary in October, so I want to save up so that I can really enjoy myself when I am there.  Anyway, back to my haul.

Conair Xtreme Big Curls Hot Rollers

The main thing that I wanted to get was actually a set of hot rollers.  I would love to have my hair curled every now and again, but my super straight hair does not like to cooperate.  Curling irons are no match for my stubborn tresses, so I’ve been wanting to get myself a set of hot rollers for ages now.  Hopefully, with practice, I can achieve the desired effect without the frustration and hassle of fighting with my curling iron.

Garnier Olia Oil Powered Permanent Color in 6.60 Light Intense Auburn

Speaking of hair, it’s time to get rid of the gray and I figured that I’d go back to red, or in this case auburn.  I’ve had my dark brown hair since December, so It’s time to change it up.  I usually use L’Oreal Feria, but I really wanted to try this new(ish) Garnier Olia.  It uses a 60% oil blend in the colorant.  I have very healthy hair, despite it being color-treated, so I’m hoping the Olia dye will be gentler on my hair so that it stays happy and healthy.

Spongeables

I needed a new spongeables.  If you haven’t tried these, you are missing out because they are the bomb.

Sally Hansen Wax Strip Kit

This is another new product.  I have very thin eyebrows, so I usually just tweeze them.  I don’t have an issue keeping up with new growth.  The problem is that I do have a lot of blond baby hairs in my eyebrow area that are hard to tweeze.  I saw a video by one of my favorite youtubers using these Sally Hansen wax strips for just that very purpose.  You just warm the strips in your hand, so there is no mess from trying to heat up a jar of wax or anything.  She made it look really easy in the video, so I’m going to give it a try.  Wish me luck.

NYX Nude Matte shadow in Underneath it All

I usually fill in my brows with eyeshadow.  I use a medium-dark taupe shade from my Coastal Scents 88-Warm palette, but I am almost out of it.  I wanted to find a replacement, so I grabbed this NYX Nude Matte shadow in Underneath it All.  This picture makes it look really warm, but in real life it is definitely more taupe.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

I’ve been wanting to get the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey for a while now, so I took this opportunity to pick it up.  I don’t know why I waited so long.  It’s such a “me” color, a MLBB muted rose shade.  Love it!

Maybelline LE Summer 2013 display

Finally, I came across this thoroughly picked over Maybelline LE Summer 2013 display that contained some new Color Whisper shades.  I grabbed I Crave Coral and think it’s lovely.  There are four new, limited edition Summer 2013 shades of Color Whispers, though this display only had three (Sienna Sands was there twice).

Maybelline LE Summer 2013 display

The new shades are: Nude Shimmer, Ravishing Pink, I Crave Coral and Sienna Sands.

Maybelline LE Color Whisper in I Crave Coral

I Crave Coral is a sheer peachy coral that is much easier to wear for those that can’t pull off orange lip products.  It’s not too pink, but it is forgiving.  I love the Color Whisper formula.  They are so comfortable to wear.

L-R: Maybelline I Crave Coral, Revlon Honey, NYX Underneath it All

Here is a swatch of the color cosmetics.  The lighting is not the best, but you can get the general idea.

I hope that you enjoyed my Ulta haul.  I am going to be making an Inglot purchase for my birthday, which I am extremely excited about.  I can hardly call myself a true eyeshadow junkie without any Inglot products, now can I?  Those will definitely be up for a review when I get them.  If there is anything else that you want reviewed, let me know in the comments below.

Sally Hansen Special Effect Textured Nail Color

Sally Hansen Special Effect Textured Nail Color

Today I am reviewing Sally Hansen Special Effect Textured Nail Color.  The Special Effect Textured Nail Colors are in two new lines, Sugar Coat and Fuzzy Coat, and there are eight shades in each line.  Textured polishes are all the rage right now.  Whether it’s Zoya Pixie Dust, or O.P.I. Liquid Sand, texture is in and Sally Hansen is capitalizing on it.  Let’s start with the Sugar Coat.

Sally Hansen Special Effect Textured Sugar Coat

Here’s what Sally Hansen has to say about their new Sugar Coat polish:  “Candy for your nails! This special effect nail polish includes rich, sweet colors that dry to a surprising matte finish with a sugary 3D effect.”  My sister bought Sugar Coat in Razzleberry for herself, and graciously offered to loan it to me to review here on the blog.  Now before we get into the review, I should point out that I am not the biggest fan of textured polishes.  I love top coat that gives you a glassy finish, so I am a bit biased.

I had a hard time wearing the Sugar Coat polish.  I felt like I had stucco on my nails.  It bothered me and I had to resist the urge to pick at it.  The instructions on the bottle recommend that you apply two thin coats of polish, so that’s what I did here.  The first coat applied mostly opaque, but though the “sugar granules” were plentiful, they weren’t 100% even across the nail.  The second coat completely fixed that problem, but I thought it gave the polish a goopy look.  It looked horrible when applied, but as the polish dried it shrunk up a bit to give it the proper “sugary” texture that you see in the photos.  From the pictures that I have seen online, these polishes look exactly like the China Glaze Texture polishes.  They dry down to a matte finish.  I recommend leaving the matte look, because when I applied top coat to my thumb it made the polish look a little sloppy or goopy.  I didn’t like it.

Sugar Coat in Razzleberry with topcoat

Sugar Coat dried really fast, and was pretty easy to apply.  Unfortunately, the wear time left much to be desired.  It started to chip within 24 hours.  That might be due to the fact that the textured surface kept snagging on fabric and things like that.  It was like having sandpaper on my nails.  Personally, Sugar Coat is not for me.  If you are adventurous in your polish and like to try the latest trends, you may really like Sugar Coat.  I really didn’t.  Oh, and if you do decide to try it, be sure to use a base coat.  I forgot, and the vibrant blue Razzleberry completely stained my nails.  *sigh*  No bueno.  I did have a little better luck with Fuzzy Coat.

Sally Hansen Special Effect Textured Nail Color

Sally Hansen Special Effect Textured Fuzzy Coat

Here’s what Sally Hansen Says about Fuzzy Coat:  “The ultimate outfit for your nails! Sally Hansen continues to lead the nail category with new 3D, unique textures inspired by fashion. Fuzzy Coat transforms nails with a 3D textured, woven fiber effect.”  Basically, Fuzzy Coat is a clear top coat with very fine, matte plastic bar-glitter.  The shade that I am wearing is called “Fuzz-Sea” and the glitter is yellowy-green and sky blue.  It took three coats to get this nearly opaque look.  The Fuzzy Coat polishes will look great with one or two coats over a solid color base.  They behave just like a normal glitter polish, so the nail will have texture unless topped with a clear top coat.  The application was pretty even, and I did not have to “place” the particles to achieve this coverage.

Fuzzy Coat in Fuzz-Sea

Fuzzy Coat wore better than Sugar Coat.  With no top coat, it chipped after two days.  With top coat, it lasts three or four days before chipping.  I really like the color combo that Fuzz-Sea contains.  I’ll probably get good use out of it this summer.  I’m not inclined to go out and purchase the other shades, though.  It’s cute, but bar-glitter is hardly revolutionary.  Removal of both polishes took some soaking, but no more than any glitter polish.

Again, if you paint your nails several time a week with the latest nail trends, then you will probably love these Sally Hansen Special Effect Textured Nail Colors.  They are around $5-$6, based on location.  I’m just not a fan of texture polish.  I have no desire to try O.P.I. Liquid Sand, and I thought those caviar nails last year were kind of ugly.  It’s all personal preference, but for me, I’m going to say no thank you to most of the Sally Hansen Special Effect Textured Nail Colors.

Spotted at CVS- Limited Edition Displays

I had some luck at CVS last week when it came to new displays.  I found several holiday sets, some new nail collections, and the new LE Wet n Wild 8-Pan Palettes.  Check it out.

Wet n Wild Spoiled Nail Pail

There were two holiday sets of nail polish by Wet n Wild at CVS when I was there.  The first was this Wet n Wild Spoiled Nail Pail.  These Bucket o’ Polishes, look to contain seven Spoiled polishes and two Fast dry top coats.  In addition to solid colors, there looks to be a glitter shade and possibly two crackle/shatter shades (?).  I’m not sure if there are any crackles in the Spoiled line, but there are definitely two caps that have a shatter effect, which usually is indicative of a crackle polish.  If anyone one knows for sure, let me know in the comments below.

Wet n Wild Spoiled Nail Pail

Wet n Wild Mega Last Polish Collection

The other Wet n Wild polish set that I found was this Mega Last Perfect Petites  Polish Collection for only $4.99.  There are eight mini bottles (5 ml each) of the Mega last polishes in a variety of universally wearable shades.  You won’t find any green, blues or vivid yellows here.  Though you will find red and purple tucked in with the pinks and creams, this collection would be much better suited for those with work-place restrictions, or who like their nails more tame.

Wet n Wild LE Party Rocks Fast dry Polish Collection

Despite the facts that it’s still not quite Halloween, I spotted this New Year’s display.  Wet n Wild Party Rocks Collection says to “Rock your nails out as the clock runs out for the New Year” (not the most catchy of slogans). “Glitter-encrusted shades dry in under 60 seconds”.  This collection contains six glitter shades, including one with star-shaped glitter.  Wet n Wild seems to be saying “Go big or go home,” and I love it.

Sally Hansen Salon Insta Gel Strips

I thought the Sally Hansen Salon Insta Gel Strips (in fun patterns) and Sally Hansen Salon Insta Gel Starter Kit were interesting.  According to Sally Hansen’s website, the kit contains “All you need for a complete gel manicure. A first! Easy 2 step gel manicure in a strip with no dry time that removes easily with acetone polish remover. Starter Kit includes: 1 Mini LED Lamp, 16 Gel Polish Strips, 1 Gel Top Coat, 2 Nail Cleanser Pads, Cuticle Stick, File & Buffer, and an Instruction sheet.”  Here’s the thing, the box boldly states only “2 easy steps”, but the online instructions are thus: “1) Cleanse nails & apply gel polish strips 2) Apply gel top coat 3) Cure under Mini LED Lamp & finish with nail cleansing pad. Done! No dry time & removes easily with acetone polish remover.”  Despite their clever numbering system, I count 5 steps.  1) Cleanse nails, 2) Apply strips, 3) Apply gel topcoat, 4) Cure, 5) Cleansing pad.  Either way, it’s still more than 2 steps.  Sally Hansen, you probably shouldn’t contradict your own products.  I’m just saying.  The strip boxes seem to be the same set up as the Salon Effects strips, only they also include the gel topcoat and 2 cleansing pads.  At $30 for the starter kit and $15 for the strips, Sally Hansen Salon Insta Gel system seems a little pricey to me, but I’m not a big gel mani fan.  If you get gel manicures, I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Have you tried other at-home gel mani kits?  I wonder how the strips compare.

Ed Hardy Deluxe Collection

I was very surprised to see the Ed Hardy Deluxe Fragrance Collection that was out last year at Ulta available at CVS.  There were many designer fragrance sets for the holidays, so it makes sense.  I received this set for Christmas last year, ans I love it.  From left to right: Ed Hardy for Women, Hearts and Daggers, Born Wild, and Villain.  Each Eau de Parfum spray is .25 fl oz, so they are just the right size for a sampling of what Ed Hardy has to offer.  I especially love Villain, and wear it all the time.

Wet n Wild LE Wheres the Party? Collection

Finally, here is a display that I know will be of great interest, the Wet n Wild Limited Edition “Wheres the Party?” Collection.  That’s right, three limited edition 8-pan eyeshadow palettes (two new and one repromote) from Wet n Wild.  If for some reason you have not already tried Wet n Wild eyeshadow, I have no idea what you are waiting for.  They are the best shadows that the drugstore has to offer.  They are soft, blendable, insanely pigmented, and incredibly cheap.  Here is a closer (all be it, a bit blurry) look at the three palettes.

Drinking a Glass of Shine

No, your eyes are not deceiving you, Drinking a Glass of Shine is actually the I (Heart) Matte palette repromoted under a different name.  If you, like me, missed out on I (Heart) Matte, now is your second chance.  This is actually a really versatile palette, good for both wild looks and natural looks.  Matte shades are so on-trend right now, so this may be a really good buy if you don’t already have it.

Sparkle ‘Til Morning

Sparkle ‘Til Morning is a gorgeous desert sunrise kind of palette.  With shimmer and satin finish shades only, this palette contains a lot of neutral shades and a couple stand-out color shades (like that bright blue).  This cell phone shot lightened and cooled the shades.  In real life, the palette is much closer to how it looks in the display photo.

Shimmer the Night Away

Shimmer the Night Away is a collection of silver, black, and purple.  For those who have WnW Petal Pusher or Posh Plum 8-pan from Black Radiance (Black Radiance and Wet n Wild are both owned by Markwins) you may be wondering how the palettes compare.  There are a couple similar shades across the three palettes, but with the possible exceptions of that pinkish mauve shade (to Petal Pusher) and the black glitter shade (to Posh Plum), there aren’t any true dupes that I can see.  These shades are a bit more blue that the other palettes sport.  If you are a big fan of purple shades and smoky eyes, you may feel that this is a must-have.  I do not use purple or dark charcoal shades like these very often at all, so I decided that I could make due with just owning Petal Pusher.

I personally chose to purchase Drinking a Glass of Shine and Sparkle ‘Til Morning.  I may not really need Sparkle ‘Til Morning because the neutral shades are easily dupable, but I could not resist how gorgeous the palette looks.  For $4.99 I figured what the heck?  I felt Drinking a Glass of Shine was a must for me because I don’t usually buy matte shadows, so I don’t have very many at all.  With both vivid colors and neutral shades, I can see myself really putting this palette to good use.  I will do a more detailed review with swatches for both palettes.  (As well as Black Radiance Urban Jungle that I promised to do last month.  Whoops!  Sorry Kelly.)

If you have hauled any of these items, let me know in the comments how they worked for you.  Especially the gel mani strips.  Those are a little odd.  There was ton of Wet n Wild in this post.  I have not used any of the Spoiled polishes yet, but I really like the new(ish) Mega Last polish formula.  It may be fun to get one of the polish sets and break them up for stocking stuffers.  I hope that you saw some items that interested you.

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine in Firefly

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine in Firefly

The Sally Hansen Lustre Shine polishes are all very pretty, but what really caught my eye was this shade in Firefly.  It is really gorgeous in real life.  Firefly shifts from a shimmery mauve, to bronze, to gold, to green.  It is warmer and pinker than Peridot and its many dups.  Firefly applied a little streaky on the first coat, but evened out and achieved full opacity on the second coat.  It has a longer dry time, but lasted pretty well on the nails.  The photos below are two coats, topped with a coat of Seche Vite.

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine in Firefly

I tried to capture the color shifts, which we all know by now that I’m not really good at.  But I think you can get the general idea with these pics.  If I remember correctly, Sally Hansen Lustre Shines are regularly priced around $8 each, so be sure to catch them on sale if you want to pick one up.