hotpinkaurora

Personal Update & Giveaway Reminder

2012-01-28T03:31:00.001-05:00

The new semester has started and I absolutely am going to be swamped for the next few months. The past few semester I've only taken 9 credits due to transfer issues - as in, I couldn't find classes I needed and being a transfer student meant adjusting to a new school, etc. Since I'm quite settled at this point, I'm taking 12 credits which means that many less hours to dedicate to my hobby.

I'm also only taking one English course this semester, which means the other 3 courses are classes I need to work much harder in as English has always come easy to me. While I did previously have 15 papers one semester, I'm pretty efficient at them. The courses I'm taking now (MUSIC? Geography, Special Ed) they're going to require more focus in a different way. I'm a bit, OK a lot, out of my element with those, specially music. Good vibes on passing that class.. I'm beyond musically challenged.

I do promise to make a valiant effort in posting as often as I can, as I do enjoy it immensely and find it relaxing. I may write posts in bulk when I have time and then schedule them throughout the week. Hopefully I can manage both, since I love doing this, it'd make me sad to have to put it on the back burner. I'm going to, for the first time in a long time, try to juggle full-time school, work, blogging and a boyfriend. Who needs a social life anyways?

I also have my Praxis test coming up next month as well as a trip to Wisconsin to visit my BFF and her new baby! Congrats on the little stud muffin!! <3

And of course, I appreciate each and every one of you who take the time out of your busy lives to read, provide feedback and comment. It puts a smile on my face every time I think about it (=

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Just wanted to remind my dear readers (you!) about my giveaway! The last day for entries is Feb. 11th.

***I had mistakenly listed the 11th as Sunday, it's actually a Saturday.***

The Prize:

- Sally Hansen HD DVD
- Sally Hansen HD Byte
- Sally Hansen HD Laser
- Two surprise Zoya Polishes

The Rules:
1. Must be a follower.
2. Must provide GFC name & contact email.
3. Giveaway closes at 11:59 PM on Saturday, February 11th EST.
4. YOU MUST HAVE A BLOG THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE A LINK TO.
5. This giveaway is International!
6. The winner has 48 hours to reply; in the event they do not, a new winner will be chosen.

A few things worth mentioning:
- It doesn't need to be a blogspot blog. Any host is fine.
- It doesn't need to be a nail polish related blog, any subject is acceptable.

OPI DS Passion

2012-01-28T03:07:00.001-05:00

This is one of those bizzaro polishes that looks amazing in the bottle, amazing in photographs but sucks in real life. Ok, that is a bit unfair, it doesn't suck by most standards: it's beautiful and has a strong linear holo effect, but it falls very flat against my personal skin tone. It's a personal grievance. It's a bit close to my skin tone and I don't think holo mannequin hands are.. good. But I do love it regardless.

"Natural" Light

This is 3 coats of OPI DS Passion over the Jessica holo basecoat, topped with NYC Grand Central Station. NYC GCS really doesn't kill holos! It may dull them a little, but I couldn't notice a difference. My manicures feel incomplete without a topcoat, so I'm glad I now have one for holos!

"Natural" Light

Flash

You really can't even tell what I'm talking about with the skin tone dilemma, but it's quite apparent in real life. She is quite the knockout though! Thanks for reading (=

Galaxy Nails!

2012-01-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

I wanted to give galaxy nails a try after seeing so many wonderful examples. Mine, unfortunately, look uh, much better at a distance. They're not awful but I hope to do better next time.

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I used a previous mani to build on, click HERE to go back and see it. That explains what I built on, since it was also a layered manicure. It can be seen below.

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Upon that manicure I used a couple different things to create the effect.
-Hits Zeus (sponged over)
-Hits Demeter (sponged over)
-WnW Black Creme (sponged over)
-Finger Paints Asylum (sponger over)
-Acrylic paints in various colors (used to make the "galaxy" design)

I used paint brushes with the acrylic paint and a make up sponge for the nail polish. I knew I wanted it to contain orange for contrast reasons. The dots were done using a dotting tool with paint, not polish, to make them irregular.

"Natural" Light

Flash

Have you done galaxy nails? I'd love to see your examples!

Color Club Ultra-Astral with Valentine's Stamping

2012-01-23T04:55:00.001-05:00

I'm slowly but surely accumulating the Starry Temptress collection piece by piece, year by year. I really thought that was a fun collection and it brought something different to the table. I have another to show you today, Ultra-Astral. It's a hot pink base with holo glitter, eye-catching really.

"Natural" Light

This is two coats of Ultra-Astral over CND Stickey and topped with Out the Door. Look how bright it is! It's kind of glowy. It stands out, jumps off your fingers almost. I'm in love with it, by the way.

"Natural" Light

I added some stamping to create a Valentine's Day feel. I used Konad Special White polish. The plates I used were Konad m57 and Bundle Monster BM202.

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This was a fun manicure, I may create it again for the actual holiday!

My giveaway is still running! Please click HERE to read the rules and enter (= Thanks for reading!

Revlon Royal & Sally Hansen HD Mani

2012-01-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

I found some Sally Hansen HD polishes that I've wanted forever and couldn't wait to wear them! I layered two different ones over Revlon Royal for this manicure which I wore for THREE days. Unheard of!

"Natural" Light

The layering goes as follows:
-CND Stickey
-2 coats of Revlon Royal
-1 coat of SH HD DVD
-1 coat of SH HD LCD
-1 coat of Out the Door

"Natural" Light

Sally Hansen HD DVD is a bluish purple-y duochrome like glass fleck. Sally Hansen HD LCD is a pink based glass fleck with hits of a bright green duochrome. They played nicely together but were incredibly hard to capture.

"Natural" Light

You can see some of the duochromeyness (not a word!) in these pictures, but it really was MUCH more beautiful in person. It leaned from blue to pink, which was really pretty.

I did something SUPER FUN YAY with this mani, keep an eye out for an upcoming post!

Ulta Aim to Squeeze & KleanColor Chunky Holo Candy Jelly Sandwich

2012-01-20T12:00:00.000-05:00

The Ulta Aim to Squeeze polish came in a set of minis comparable to the OPI Texas Sorbets. I used the orange one from the Ulta mini set and put 3 coats, one coat of KC Chunky Holo Candy and then one more of Aim to Squeeze, a fun orange jelly.

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This is over CND Stickey and sealed with OTD, of course. The three coats of AtS on their own were.. quite ugly. It's a fun polish to sandwich with but in my humble opinion, fugly on its own.

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Its just not my style and there was some bare spots (my fault) on the tips, but they were covered by the rest of the layers.

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Definitely click to enlarge to see the detail. Candy is INCREDIBLY subtle buried in the jelly.

"Natural" Light

Thanks for reading! (=

Brucci Lou Lou's Peachy Creme

2012-01-19T11:30:00.000-05:00

I love my Bruccis, this one.. not so much. The color is great but the formula on this one bit the big one. My guess is that this is a white polish with some orange added to it because it has the same problems any white cremes have: they suck, they're streaky and they take more coats than desired. Once I did smooth it out, it was pretty though.

"Natural" Light

This is FOUR freakin' coats of LLPC over Orly Nail Armor topped with OTD. Such a pretty color, not unique by any means but I just have a crush on all pastel cremes.

"Natural" Light

Thanks for reading! (=

Blogger Appreciation Giveaway!

2012-01-19T04:25:00.000-05:00

I wanted to offer a little something for all of the bloggers out there. While blogging is a lot of fun, it does take a lots of time and effort. I read a bunch of blogs and it provides me with even more entertainment and an escape from reality, I want to say "Thanks!" to all of the bloggers out there! Don't worry if you're not a blogger, while this giveaway is for bloggers only, I will be hosting an additional giveaway soon for hitting 200 followers!

The Prize:

- Sally Hansen HD DVD
- Sally Hansen HD Byte
- Sally Hansen HD Laser
- Two surprise Zoya Polishes

The Rules:
1. Must be a follower.
2. Must provide GFC name & contact email.
3. Giveaway closes at 11:59 PM on Sunday, February 11th EST.
4. YOU MUST HAVE A BLOG THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE A LINK TO.
5. This giveaway is International!
6. The winner has 48 hours to reply; in the event they do not, a new winner will be chosen.

A few things worth mentioning:
- It doesn't need to be a blogspot blog. Any host is fine.
- It doesn't need to be a nail polish related blog, any subject is acceptable.

Revlon Royal & KleanColor Chunky Holo Bluebell

2012-01-18T15:00:00.000-05:00

I've had these KleanColors forever and finally tested them out - about time! I also have an upcoming post with a different Chunky Holo so keep an eye out for that, too.

I went food shopping and spotted Revlon Royal. I don't know how many times I've passed it up but I ended up picking it up at Wegman's of all places, it was time for me to own this stunning blue jelly after dodging it for ages and I'm very glad I finally got it!

"Natural" Light

This is two coats of Royal (it's surprisingly very opaque for a jelly!) with one coat of Chunky Holo Bluebell over CND Stickey and sealed with OTD. The whole combination was so shiny and eye catching. The KC is a bit subtle over this color but when the light hit it right, it was stunning.

"Natural" Light

I did have a little bit of trouble trying to catch the essence of this combo due to the shiny glare from my lamp, but you can get a pretty good idea of what it looks like if you click to enlarge.

Thanks for reading! (=

Jessica Disco Diva & Valentine's Stamping

2012-01-18T03:46:00.000-05:00

With the lover's holiday approaching, I thought it'd be cute to add some themed stamping to my dazzling previous manicure. I seriously can't get enough of Disco Diva, the linear holo is so incredibly strong!

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I used Funky Fingers Monster Ballad for stamping and Klean Color Metallic Blue for the dots as well as Monster Ballad. The finishes of the colors (foils) played so nicely with the base (holo).

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For anyone wondering, the rose is from plate BM09 and the kissy lips are from plate BM02. I used a dotting tool for the dots, of course!

Jessica Disco Diva

2012-01-16T00:30:00.000-05:00

OH MY GOD. This polish is incredible. INCREDIBLE! I'll let the pictures do the talking for this post. This is 3 coats of Jessica Disco Diva over holo base coat that came in the set.

Orly Fowl Play & Gold Stamping

2012-01-15T22:15:00.003-05:00

I decided to break out the Fowl Play again and spice it up with some gold stamping. It played very nicely with the design and color I chose. The combination was also forgiving and hid stamping errors as well.

"Natural" Light

This is 2 coats of Fowl Play with Funky Fingers Platinum Record stamped from BM225. I'm not sure if it was the grittiness of the polish that prevented the full image from being picked up or my fault from lack of practice, but as I said before the busyness of Fowl Play sort of hid the errors, especially to the naked eye.

"Natural" Light

It was weird for me to be wearing a dark polish after months of bright ones, but this color is pretty spectacular, you can't go wrong with flakies, either!

My Favorite Things Part III: Base Coats & Top Coats

2012-01-12T22:37:00.000-05:00

I'll begin with base coats. They're incredibly important but if you've never used one, you won't know what you're missing. For a while I didn't use one but a good base coat sets the stage for a good manicure. They create an even foundation for your nail polish to build on. There are more brands of base coats than I could ever even name but these are the ones I've used and like. Not every base coat I use is pictures; just the ones I found effective.

-Orly Nail Armor
-CND Stickey
-NailTek Foundation II

I like the Nail Armor and NailTek for its ridge fillers. I don't always need that because I do buff from time to time which helps even out the nail but too much buffing will make them weak, so be mindful of that. Both of these leave a matte finish on your nails, but Nail Armor has little fibers in it.

CND leaves a shiny finish on your nails and I've personally noticed once it gets down to about where the photo is showing, the color concentrates and *is* noticeable on your bare nail. It took me a lot of trial and error to find base coats I like, and right now my preference is CND Stickey, but that could change. Prepping the nail by swiping it over with acetone or alcohol helps adhere the base coats better as it removes your natural oils.

-Out the Door 2 fl oz
-Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip
-Out the Door .5 fl oz
-NYC Grand Central Station

At this point, as you can see, Out the Door is my favorite quick try top coat; I have lots of it. It used to be the Sally Hansen until I had two bottles that cause bubbling, which was strange because I used it for a long time and then randomly it stopped agreeing with me. I still use it from time to time without much trouble.

I'm sure you've all heard about Seche Vite and might be wondering why isn't on my list. I tried it, and it's just OK for me. I don't like that you have to apply it on WET nail polish (otherwise it causes the polish to "shrink" and pull away from the tips of your nails). I do my nails at a snails pace and like being able to put topcoat on when I'm ready for it. I find lots of other quick dry top coats to be just as shiny without the inconvenience or price. For example, the 2 fl. oz. bottle of OTD was only $6 online. The bottom line for me on OTD is it's cheap, effective, super quick drying and plenty shiny.

The NYC top coat isn't really even a top coat but works well as one. It's just a clear polish that is of a quick dry line but it's the cheapest you can get ($2) and works well, dries quick and supposedly (I haven't tested this out yet) doesn't kill holos! A lot of holos you can't wear top coats on because it dramatically dulls their effect.

A good top coat is important as it is the outermost layer of your manicure, so it needs to hold up against whatever you're going to put it through. There are tons available, I get OTD from Harmons or online but many other quality ones are available literally everywhere. It's going to take you a while to find your perfect combination, I'm still not sure if I have. I think OTD will be my topcoat of choice and I do love the CND but I'm convinced there has got to be better out there!

Essie Chinchilly

2012-01-12T02:50:00.001-05:00

Not much to say about Essie Chinchilly. It's so pretty, applied like a dream and wears incredibly well. Made it through dishes and hairwashing, etc. I dented my thumb while it was still wet, oopsie.

"Natural" Light

This is 3 coats over CND Stickey, sealed with OTD. I love it!

Funky French with Gems and Pearls

2012-01-10T03:16:00.002-05:00

I knew all day I wanted to do a funky french but didn't know how, I had my white tips painted on for a few hours before I finally settled on an idea. For tips on how I do my french manicures, click HERE. I did the same process for the white tips: Konad Special White on bare nails.

"Natural" Light

I used my dotting tool and WnW Black Creme for the dots and then the pink gems and pearls are a nail sticker I got from my sister for Christmas. I applied the black and clear gems with a dot of top coat; top coat holds it on just fine.

I put on one coat of Instant Artifcials and then one coat of OTD and that's it! It was easy and fast, no drying time for anything, even the white.

Thanks for reading! (=

Brucci Gianna's "Rockin" Blue

2012-01-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

I'm obsessed with Brucci. They love me and I love them. I wore Gianna's "Rockin" Blue for three days- dishwashing, hairwashing, showering and counter scrubbing without a chip! The formula is AH-MAZE-ING. It stays on until I take it off on my own terms! It's the only brand that behaves so nicely. They're cheap, too. About $3.50 in stores and $2.35 on Image Beauty.

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This is 2 coats of GRB over CND Stickey, sealed with OTD. Such a stunning color. I'm sure I have many like it, but I really like this one.. oh so much. I'm just in love with the brand. The bottles are fug but their formula makes up for that.

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Flash

As far as I can tell, they're only available at Rite Aid. But Image Beauty has flat rate US shipping for about $8 and sells them even cheaper. I can't tell if anyone else shares my love for these, I'd love to hear from you!

OPI Wing It & Color Club Fame and Fortune

2012-01-09T02:13:00.002-05:00

I was at the mall this weekend and went into Essentials and saw a few of the Color Clubs left that I had been wanting, I hadn't seen them anywhere else so I grabbed Fame and Fortune as soon as I saw it. I wanted to incorporate it into a mani so I layered it with OPI Wing It that was given to me by a friend from my nail polish forum; the result was fun!

"Natural" Light

Flash

This is 3 thin coats over CND Stickey, no top coat. Even with three coats there still is some VNL, but the coats were super thin so that may have a hand it it. This polish is crazy. It's really glowy and was a pain to photograph. The flash picture is further away from its true color, it doesn't quite lean that red in real life. It's hot pink with a neon-y orange undertone and shimmery and maybe even some micro glass flecks. It's unique is what it is, and I love it, really.

I wanted to play off of a "jelly sandwich" and since Wing It is somewhat jellylike, I sandwiched Color Club Fame and Fortune in it. This is two coats of Fame and Fortune with another coat of Wing It and then one coat of Instant Artificials and then sealed with OTD.

"Natural" Light

The two colors play nicely as Fame and Fortune's base color is very similar to Wing It's base color (a hot magenta of sorts). My only gripe is that the flakes in Fame and Fortune don't necessarily lay flat. On two nails, even with IA and OTD, they stuck out and didn't lay flat. I ran my finest grit buffer over it a few times and it seemed to fix it; good to know! Just make sure it's dry otherwise you'll botch the whole thing.

Thanks for reading! (=

Sally Hansen Loyal Lavender & Pretty Petunia

2012-01-07T14:39:00.000-05:00

I have more lavender for you :D My BFF Britty sent this one to me because she knows I LOVE pastels. Sally Hansen Loyal Lavender has a pink contrasting shimmer to it so it was more than just a pastel, it's a shimmery one!

"Natural" Light

This is three coats over CND Stickey sealed with Out the Door. It's pretty isn't it? More suitable for springtime than winter, so I'll have to bring it out again then.

"Natural" Light

Flash

You can really see the pink shimmer in the flash picture. After wearing this for a day I wanted to jazz it up so I put one coat of Sally Hansen Pretty Petunia over it. It's a gorgeous glass flecked baby pink and it played so nicely with Loyal Lavender.

It's really subtle but it added lots of extra sparkle that was eye-catching when I moved my hands. Cute that both names have floral connotations.

China Glaze Techno

2012-01-06T00:54:00.002-05:00

So I'm totally guilty of photographing my manicures regularly and letting them back up and not posting them. I'm also guilty of not taking notes of how many coats and in this case, remembering which colors I've used. Some of the colors from the Electropop collection are really similar as I've pointed out before and I'm not 100% sure on which the reds/pinks are here but I've swatched them with Techno over top of them.

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Flash

What a fun topcoat, right? I don't have any/many like it so it's a fun addition. I don't have pictures but I did my friends nails with China Glaze OMG with Techno on top and it looked like a friggin' disco on her nails! So sparkly and most certainly eye-catching.

Avon Luxe Lavender & Nabi Purple Jumbo Glitter

2012-01-05T11:30:00.000-05:00

I've been layering lots lately and I'm loving the results! Althought its wintertime, I can't help but wear spring colors. Pastels are my favorite, I can't help it. I've had Avon Luxe Lavender for a while and I can't remember if I've worn it or not but I definitely don't believe I've blogged about it.

"Natural" Light

I used 2 coats of Luxe Lavender over CND Stickey and sealed with OTD. The formula on this was pretty good, especially for being so opaque for a light creme. I had no problems with streaking which often happens with similar colors. It's so pretty, I really like it. It's not unique by any means but I really can't get enough of polishes like this.

"Natural Light"

Flash

To rejuvenate my mani and give it some extra wear, I added one coat of Nabi Purple Jumbo Glitter on top. What a fun glitter, it's incredible. This polish is really different from anything I've seen before.

The mix of glitters add new life to a simple creme.

And of course, a delicious macro bottle shot (=

My Favorite Things Part II: Moisturizer

2012-01-05T00:27:00.001-05:00

If you paint your nails often, you remove your polish often, too. Acetone and other removers dry your skin out so it is important to put back what it takes out. I've got an arsenal of moisturizers so I am going to share with you my favorites.

From Left to Right:

1. Lush Lemony Flutter - This stuff really is all it's cracked up to be. It is super hydrating and has staying power; it doesn't absorb instantly. It has a pleasant (to me) lemon scent. The little 1.5oz tub was around $15 but I've had it since September and haven't even made a dent in it yet. It does have an expiration date on it however, which I'm not too crazy about but overall I think it is worth it. If you have a nail buddy you could go halfsies on it and decant half.

When I first bought it, the name led me to believe it would have the consistency of whipped butter or something, but it doesn't. It is dense and waxy almost, not waxy like Burt's Bees Cuticle Creme (which I no longer use because I prefer Lemony Flutter by a landslide) Some may find it a little bit greasy, but if you don't want that you could use any type of lotion which will absorb much quicker.

2. China Glaze Cuticle Oil - I suppose this could be a fill-in-the-blank for any type of cuticle oil, I just think it's important to own at least one. I use it for taking pictures as opposed to regular application. I wash it off before photographing (of course) and it gives my cuticles a little bit more life and moisture instantly. I always make sure to let it sit a little before washing it off, too. I know some people use it regularly but I find the extra step of washing it off a bit of a pain. As far as the China Glaze Oil goes, they're scented (one peppermint, the other 'holiday berry') I don't mind the scents, they're subtle.

3. Lotion - For me, the brand isn't that important. Using any type of moisturizing lotion is helpful. The Walgreens one is cheap at 99 cents while I think the Aveeno may have been a couple of bucks more. Both affordable and effective. Lotion is important especially in the winter. I wash my hands constantly and soap dries them out. Having cracked skin can lead to infections just as any other open wounds can.

4. Hand Sanitizer - If you're using this, the lotion is again important. I use it to cut the grease that Lemony Flutter sometimes leaves behind. I carry these as well as lotion in my purse to make sure my hands don't dry out but stay clean at the same time.

I realize that I don't have the best routine or skin but what I do works for me. My normal regime for swatching goes as follows (this is after my nails are painted and I'm ready to photograph):

1. Lemony Flutter
2. Cuticle Oil, I rub it in and let it sit for a few minutes.
3. I wash my hands with Dawn to cut the oil.
4. Some more Lemony Flutter.
5. Hand Sanitizer
6. Lotion

When I'm not taking pictures, I use Lemony Flutter + Hand Sanitizer + Lotion, sometimes just the Lemony Flutter. If you maintain a moisturizing regime, then it's easier to manage and feels like less of a "chore".

Stay hydrated! (=

Essie Lapiz of Luxury & Finger Paints Motley

2012-01-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

I revamped my previous mani with Essie Lapiz of Luxury by removing the popbeauty accent nail and added Finger Paints Motley. Such a pretty combination!

"Natural" Light

This is 3 coats of Lapiz of Luxury over one coat of CND Stickey sealed with Out the Door.

"Natural" Light

Lapiz of Luxury wore really well! No chipping, nice dry time, wonderful formula. This is one coat of Motley. A less dense flakie, but still very pretty. It adds a subtle sparkle. It also looks amazing over black.

The whole effect is really subtle and understated, but I like that. If you're looking for something eyecatching I'd suggest Motley over black or red, even. I can't wait to play with all my new flakies!

"Natural" Light

Thanks for reading! (=

My Favorite Things Part I: Remover

2012-01-03T21:15:00.000-05:00

I decided to document my favorite nail related products and tools to share my views on what works and doesn't work for me. I plan on covering implements, moisturizing products, topcoats and more. The first installment is going to be about nail polish removers.

I'm somewhat of a purist when it comes to removers. There are lots of different kinds and I do make use of many of them but my absolute favorite remover is regular 100% pure acetone. It's super effective and it works really quick.

The bottle on the left is from Sally Beauty Supply, the bottle in the middle is from Harmon Discount Beauty and the tub is from Wal-Mart. Both the green bottle and the tub list their ingredients as "Acetone, Denatonium Benzoate" while the Sally bottle is simply "Acetone". From what I've read, denatonium benzoate is an inactive ingredient used to discourage ingesting the product. I'm not going to pretend I know anymore than that on the topic!

I use the green Harmon bottle and refill it with the Sally's acetone because the Harmon bottle doesn't have a childproof cap, so it is just easier to remove. Sally's acetone is available in larger quantities and therefore cheaper in "bulk" which is why I purchase it over smaller bottles of the Harmon brand acetone. They're the same from what I can tell.

What isn't the same, however, is the Onyx remover. Regardless if the ingredients are listed as the same, the Onyx remover has some sort of moisturizing agent in it or something. If I soak a cotton round in regular pure acetone, and swipe it on my skin, my skin turns white from drying out. If I do the same with the Onyx acetone, my skin is actually MORE moisturized than before using it. The tub has little plastic scrubbies on the inside, so you have to stick your whole finger in to use it as directed. The Onyx doesn't dry out my skin yet it works pretty well.

Additionally, and I'd love some feedback from anyone who has experienced the same thing, upon refilling the tub with the Sally acetone, the sides started to break apart (the inside, not the actual container). I don't know if i was too aggressive with it, or what but the pink liner on the inside has broken and cracked in multiple places. That leads me to believe that the actual pure acetone I've refilled it with has weakened the plastic inside; just a theory though.

I also keep some regular nail polish remover (also with acetone) around. I'll be honest, I use this more for removing glue from price tag stickers more than its intended purpose. It's good to have in case pure acetone is too strong for someone you're doing a manicure for, non-acetone remover is good for spills on surfaces with finicky finishes.

I've heard this from multiple sources and I think it's worth mentioning. Despite the harshness of pure acetone, it's actually better to use than regular diluted remover. Because it's so powerful, it spends less time in contact with your skin and nails. With acetone you do a few quick swipes, with a weak remover you're holding it onto your fingers waiting for it to work.

If you skin is angry at you for using too much acetone, I suggest creating some homemade Zoya Remove +. It's basically pure acetone mixed with some glycerin, a recipe can be found HERE. It's much more gentle but I don't use it much because it feels filmy on my hands. I mainly use this when swatching multiple times in a day so I don't kill my hands.

Note: My dad, the chemical engineer, absolutely hates that I have so much acetone in the house. IT IS HIGHLY FLAMMABLE. The fumes are also highly flammable. He swears I'm going to blow up the house. Be cautious when using pure acetone; do not use around open flames, candles or smoke around it.

Part II to follow!

China Glaze Wicked Style & Fuchsia Fanatic Comparison

2012-01-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

Upon swatching the new China Glaze Electropop collection, I noticed two shades are very similar. Wicked Style and Fuchsia Fanatic are just a tad bit different. Here are some comparison swatches.

All swatches are 3 coats each over CND Stickey and sealed with OTD.

"Natural" Light

The color difference is more noticeable under the artificial "natural" light than normal light settings. Nobody could tell I was wearing different colors upon asking.

Flash

The photo with camera flash is a more color accurate example of how close the shades actually are to each other. Even outdoors you can barely, just barely, tell the difference. You really have to be looking for it and know there IS a difference to even look for it.

"Natural" Light

It comes down to personal preference on these. If I had to choose one, I'd pick Wicked Style simply because I like that tone of pink a bit more. What's your preference?

Top 20 Polishes of 2011 Part Two

2012-01-01T23:02:00.003-05:00

Here are the last group of 10 of my favorite Top 20 polishes. Just a few things to note: they are in no particular order and these aren't necessarily from 2011 collections but my favorite polishes I've used THIS YEAR. Basically, colors I wore over and over and went back to often. Enjoy!

China Glaze For Audrey

Funky Fingers Cottage Stripes

Brucci Heavenly Julia

Funky Fingers Sold Out Arena

Essie Smooth Sailing

Revlon Starry Pink

Confetti Moonstruck

Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure

China Glaze In Vogue

Sally Hansen Lightening

Thanks for reading! (= I hope you had a wonderful 2011 and may you have an even better 2012!