Nihrida

Stargazer - 128

2012-01-31T21:03:00.000+01:00

... aka Holy Shizzle, it's Magical!

If this was Zoya, OPI, Orly, China Glaze or some other well known brand, we'd be all over it from the start. But it's just plain old Stargazer. But is it really? I mean, come on - look at this shade!

Stargazer, 128, 3 coats

Stargazer polishes and their main mistake - numbers instead of names. Name or number, this polish made me say 'WOW'. It's a three coater, but it's well worth it. It dries fast and the coats are quite thin. The formula is great and so is the brush. I have nothing bad to say about this one. I would love it even better if it was more opaque, but I love it this way as well. Pretty duochrome shimmer. <3

The color is more realistic on my previous photos, but Nikon makes some badass pics... See the depth?

Here it almost looks like the long gone OPI Peel Me a Gobi Grape. It's lighter in real life, but who cares. It's freakin' amazing!

*in Aragorn voice* What say you?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Ebay Buy: Silver Tone Dangle Earrings

2012-01-30T11:06:00.000+01:00

Ready for another Ebay buy?

Wing Earrings - I LOVE angel wings in all forms. I purchased these wing earrings for $2.50 (on auction, free shipping). If you want earrings like these, go on Ebay and search for 'silver tone wing earrings'.

Long Tassel Earrings - If you're into long dangle earrings, these are perfect for you. I got them for $1.20 (on auction, free shipping). If you want earrings like these, go on Ebay and search for 'long tassel dangle earrings'.

Do you like any of these two earring styles?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Essence - Confetteria (Crazy Good Times Trend Edition)

2012-01-29T14:20:00.000+01:00

You know that feeling when you buy a really special shade of polish and you're scared of running out too fast, so you go and buy another bottle of the same polish (aka back-up bottle)? Essence Confetteria is that kind of special polish. No, I didn't buy a back-up for this, but I still don't wanna run out of this gorgeous blue glitter, so I layered it.

I looked for a similar blue based polish in my collection and decided to go with Andreia no.11 as my base. Confetteria still looks better on it's own and it's opaque in 2 coats anyway. Don't know if this layering thing was necessary.

Andreia, 11, 2 coats + Essence, Confetteria, 1 coat

See, there's no real depth... I should just get a back up bottle.

Do you like this kind of glitter polishes?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Weekly Sum-Up #20

2012-01-28T21:51:00.000+01:00

It's about time to post some Arya update. She's doing very well after her surgery. She's only been acting weird the first day and on the second day she started running around like she usually does. Arya is a gentle yet very playful creature. She likes to cuddle and loves to sleep in weird poses. And what really made me happy - Aishila and Arya became great friends. They clean each other and play together. So cute. =) Jimi is more reserved, but she tolerates her. Most of the time.

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Chihuahua Car had some kind of attack today. He fell down and started shaking. It was all over in a minute, but I still managed to call the vet in that time and scheduled a visit on Monday. I wanted to take him to the vet right away, but he's not working on the weekends. I think he was right the last time. I think our little chihuahua has epilepsy. We need to get the meds for him, but I'm still quite worried. Does anyone have experience with epileptic dogs?

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This one doesn't have a lot to do with anything ... I saw a part of the Hellboy movie and I can't help it - I think Hellboy is hot. He's also repulsive, but in a good way. Damn, I'm weird.

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I mentioned Orly's Royal Navy in my a England Order of the Garter post. I couldn't leave it alone and had to show this to you. They're nothing alike - they're just both blue with darker base and lighter shimmer. That's it. Don't want anyone to think they're dupes or something. *wink wink*

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Photo of the week:

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Posts of the week:

Check out the Sugar-Coated Heart make up tutorial by Jangsara.

I need Imperial Purple in my life. Thanks to Haus of Polish.

Nailxchange introduced us to duochrome at it's best. Amazing, I tell you!

This is how Killer Colours does her brows. Yep, her brows are pretty much perfect.

You can see some of the new Catrice nail polish shades on Lacquerdicted. I need Genius in a Bottle, Metallilac and King of Greens. *drool*

St. George by a England is opaque enough for Konading. Tested by Oooh, Shinies!

Wanna see more holographic polishes? See this recap of Hits No Olimpo collection by The Polished Perfectionist.

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Blog of the week: I don't usually do this, but I've been obsessed with Like a Candy Shop. You gotta check it out. Those nails made me wanna cut and file mine down as much as possible.

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There will be no music of the week because my Firefox freezes everytime I start a YouTube video. I'm still trying to solve the problem. No luck. *shows fist at the computer*

Thanks for looking and commenting!

a England - Order of the Garter

2012-01-28T13:43:00.000+01:00

We've come to the bittersweet end. This is the 4th shade from a England's The Legend collection. The collection consists of 7 shades though: Saint George, Bridal Veil, Dragon, Order of the Garter, Princess Sabra, Princess Tears and Ascalon.

There are three additional shades that I didn't show you and you can see them here:
* Princess Sabra
* Princess Tears
* Ascalon

Or you can see all the shades in one place at Ommorphia Beauty Bar.

The Order of the Garter was founded in 1348 and is the highest order of chivalry or knighthood existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of Saint George as England's patron saint. The order's emblem is a garter with the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense (old French:"shame upon him who thinks evil upon it") in gold lettering. (Wikipedia)

(source)

Order of the Garter is the 'black sheep' of the collection since it's the only shade from The Legend that doesn't contain holographic shimmer. That doesn't make it boring though. Gorgeous medium blue base loaded with tons of lighter blue shimmer that almost looks like small flakies is quite an original shade. It kind of reminds me of lighter sibling of the Orly Royal Navy shade. Kind of.

a England, Order of the Garter, 3 coats

This bottle of polish also came with a 'wild' brush, like St. George. It was not bushy or wonky, it just had some longer bristles which I had to cut off with the scissors. As you can see, that didn't affect the application. I find all a England polishes to be a delight to apply and I don't need to do any clean-up if I'm careful enough.

When I first tried this polish, I was a little disappointed because the first layer looked so sheer. I thought I was gonna have to apply 4 coats for full opacity. It turned out to be one of those shades which are very sheer after the first layer but almost completely opaque after the second. So yes, you could get away with only 2 coats of Order of the Garter. All the other features are similar to the rest of The Legend shades: great formula, short drying time and glossy finish.

The Legend collection should be up on a England website soon. Until then, you can order the polishes from the new collection by contacting Adina directly (hello@a-england.co.uk).

What are your thoughts on a England's Order of the Garter?

*The product was sent to me by the company.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

a England - Dragon

2012-01-27T21:30:00.000+01:00

The Dragon is here. As promised.

The Green Dragon Song

"Oh you can search far and wide,
You can drink the whole town dry,
But you'll never find a beer so brown,
As the one we drink in our hometown.
You can drink your fancy ales,
You can drink them by the flagon,
But the only brew for the brave and true,
Comes from the Green Dragon!"

The name of this polish reminds me of two hobbits, singing and dancing on the table. Sorry, the LOTR fanatic in me took over.

Adina probably didn't have Lord of the Rings in her mind when she created this shade. Dragon is yet another part of the story about St. George, princess Sabra and the evil dragon. We all know who won the battle...

Rubens, Saint George and The Dragon (source)

Can I be honest? The shades from The Legend collection are driving me crazy. I don't know how to photograph these colors without washing out the beauty of their holographic shimmer and changing their main color. I give up! You have to see them for yourself, that's for sure.

a England, Dragon, 2 coats

I don't wanna sound like a broken record, but I guess I have to: this is another one of those perfect shades a England introduced us to. Dragon is a fern green with copper-ish flash and holographic shimmer. And all you can see on my photos taken in lightbox is fern green... but I swear, it's there. The brush and formula are great. This polish could possibly be a one coater if you apply it carefully. Can't say nothing bad about the opacity and I can't say nothing bad about the drying time and glossy shine either. Another perfection in a bottle!

This is the photo I took outside. The sun decided to not cooperate and hid itself, but you can still see that copper-y flash I was talking about. The color comes pretty close to what Dragon looks like IRL.

And now about the last shot. This one is special because it's made with my Nikon... And my Nikon cares more about the finish of the polish than it does about the color. Dragon is not as strong green as you can see on this photo, but you can see that holo shine I'm blabbing about for the last three a England posts. And the copper caught in all the green... *sigh* Masterpiece.

The Legend collection should be up on a England website soon. Until then, you can order the polishes from the new collection by contacting Adina directly (hello@a-england.co.uk).

What are your thoughts on a England's Dragon?

*The product was sent to me by the company.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Ebay Buy: Vancl Three Stars Bracelet

2012-01-27T14:16:00.000+01:00

Taking a little break from the a England pretties. But don't worry, I'll show you Dragon in my next post, I promise. Here's another ebay buy from last month. I found this Vancl Three Stars Bracelet by coincidence and boy, I'm glad I did!

Yeah, it looked kind of big, chunky, blingy and overall too much. Even for me. But since I got this for only 0.60 USD (auction, free shipping) I can't complain at all. I like it a lot better in real life anyway. =)

I'm not sure if this bracelet is still available on Ebay, but it should be available on Vancl website. You can find the silver version HERE and golden version HERE for 4.99 USD (they currently offer free shipping).

I'm loving my three stars bracelet even more since yesterday. My niece Vita said the big star is daddy, the smaller one is mommy and the little one is Vita. XD She's at that age - the things she says and comes up with ... you can just laugh.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Swatches & Review: a England - Bridal Veil

2012-01-26T16:30:00.000+01:00

Continuing a England's The Legend story... You've already met Saint George and now it's time to meet his wife to be, princess Sabra or better yet - her bridal veil. All photos show a England Bridal Veil without base or top coat.

The tale of Saint George and Dragon:
''Terrorized by a dragon, a town is forced by the monster to sacrifice a young girl each day to him. When St. George learns of this and that the Princess Sabra is his latest intended victim, he attacks the monster, finally defeats him, and completes his triumph with his marriage to the princess.'' (Source)

Burne-Jones, Princess Sabra Led to the Dragon (source)

At first glance, Bridal Veil might look like the least interesting color from The Legend collection, but I bet it will gain a lot of love between the dark, edgy nail polish shade lovers. The black base in Bridal Veil contains scattered holographic shimmer (like most of the other shades from this collection) which doesn't create the linear holographic effect, but it does create a sparkly finish. The color shifts to brown-ish green under certain angles, but it was impossible for me to capture that effect on photos.

a England, Bridal Veil, 2 coats

Bridal Veil is another example of what all high quality polishes should be like. I don't have a simple negative remark about it. The brush is great and when you combine it with perfect formula you get a great application. This polish is opaque in 1 thicker coat and it dries quite fast. The finish is really glossy even without top coat.

Well, there is one bad thing about Bridal Veil - it doesn't want to photograph and these photos don't do it any justice. Still, I think this last photo, shot in the sunlight, represents the magic in it better than the ones shot in my lightbox aka Crappy II. Beautiful!

The Legend collection should be up on a England website soon. Until then, you can order the polishes from the new collection by contacting Adina directly (hello@a-england.co.uk).

What are your thoughts on a England's Bridal Veil?

*The product was sent to me by the company.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Swatches & Review: a England - Saint George

2012-01-25T20:06:00.001+01:00

In my previous post I asked you which a England polish from the new The Legend collection you want to see first. Most of you picked Saint George and here it is. The photos show Saint George without base or top coat.

One of the reasons why I love a England is the story behind every single shade Adina makes. This is a story about Saint George (in Slovenia known as Sveti Jurij). He was a Roman soldier and a priest in the guard of Diocletian. He was immortalized in the tale of Saint George and the Dragon (Dragon is yet another shade from this collection.). His memorial is celebrated on 23th of April. (Wikipedia)

Raphael, Saint George Fighting the Dragon (source)

Saint George looks so gorgeous in real life (even in the bottle) and it's impossible to capture it's beauty on photos. Believe me, I tried. I took photos under artificial light, in the sun and shade... but it's just can't be done. It's one of those shades you just have to see in person. It has a dark teal/petrol shade that's leaning more to green. Well, I'd definitely call this a green. Maybe a pine green? This shade contains holographic shimmer, but the finish isn't really holographic - as in linear holographic, like Gosh Holographic. The shimmer is scattered which makes the polish sparkly and shiny, especially in the sunlight.

a England, Saint George, 2 coats

There's one thing I have to mention about the brushes. When I first opened the Saint George bottle, I noticed the brush looks kind of weird. One of the bristles was longer than others (the same happened with the Order of the Garter shade). Don't know what's that all about, but a simple cut with the scissors solved the problem. The brushes are really good if we count out a couple of longer bristles. I didn't have to do any clean-up after the application which was really easy. The formula of this polish is amazing. It's not too thin and runny and not goopy either. Perfect, I tell you. So is the opacity. This polish is basically completely opaque in 1 coat. I always use 2, especially when taking photos of the polish.

What else to say about this polish? I adore it. The color is gorgeous and the quality is great. Opaque shade, good formulation, brush and application ... I wish all polishes were like this one. I also like the fact it dries fast and looks glossy without top coat. It's definitely a lot shinier than the other polishes I used lately. There might be one bad thing though - I didn't have this on my nails for a long time, but I got a feeling that this shade might cause some staining. Don't forget to use a base coat with it.

Here's a photo of Saint George taken outside in the sun:

The Legend collection should be up on a England website soon. Until then, you can order the polishes from the new collection by contacting Adina directly (hello@a-england.co.uk).

So, what do you think of St. George now?

*The product was sent to me by the company.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Preview: a England - The Legend

2012-01-25T15:39:00.000+01:00

This is what I'll be showing you in the next few days ... four nail polish shades from the new a England The Legend collection. Aren't they pretty?

Can't leave out the color drops.

Oh, this is good. This is super über cool, I tell you. Stay tuned and see for yourself. =)

BTW: Which one do you want to see first?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Illamasqua Sophie-I Collection & Technique

2012-01-24T23:06:00.000+01:00

''The Illamasqua Sophie-I smoky eye technique allows you to not only express your individuality, but discover new depth and definition in your eyes.''

In support of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation ...

''Created using the black Sophie Medium Pencil, the technique is inspired by The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, the charity Illamasqua supports, and £3 from every Sophie Pencil purchased is donated to the foundation.'' (Illamasqua)

* S.O.P.H.I.E. Pencil - £13.00

* Powder Eyeshadow in Stealth - £15.50

* Powder Eyeshadow in Machine - £15.50

* Sealing Gel - £10.50

* False Eyelashes - £14.50

* New Masquara - £15.00

I used the Sophie-I Techique myself and I have to say I like it a lot. It's kind of my style since I used to wear a lot of heavy and dark eye make up in my days.

If you wanna try the Sophie-I Technique, here is a step-by-step tutorial (click on the image to enlarge it). You can also watch the video HERE.

Hint: If you want to make the look even bolder, you can try and use some colors as well.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Swatches: Essence - Crazy Good Times & Legends of the Sky

2012-01-23T19:02:00.000+01:00

Finally! I got all the polishes from the Essence Legends of the Sky & Crazy Good Times trend editions I wanted. It's weird to see a trend edition in stores in January when the official site says the products will be available in February. Better sooner than later, right?

I found a pretty much untouched display of the Crazy Good Times collection, but I only took these three polishes with me:

I wanted to try them on as soon as possible because I heard something about the troublesome application of these polishes. And I did - one nail for each polish. I have to say they all apply quite nicely. Candyction is thes best when it comes to quality: it's the easiest to apply, it's opaque in one coat and looks wonderful. I only wish the flakies would be more visible. Paradelade isn't a really original shade, but I can't say no to a black with a twist. It's something I'd wear often, so why not. The application was fine and it needs 2 coats for full opacity. Confetteria, oh, Confetteria. I saw you and I fell in love with you in the same second. I knew you'd be mine someday although I heard some nasty rumours about ... Yeah, the application isn't the easiest (after all, it's a polish with big glitter), but it's not bad at all. I used 2 coats of each polish for the photos.

There's only one bad thing I have to mention. These polishes do seem a bit ... how should I put it ... rubbery? And I got a feeling they take forever to dry. I painted my nails, took the photographs and I could still remove the polish from all the nails almost without remover. Weird.

And here are the beauties from the Legends of the Sky trend edition. With extraordinary long names.

These two polishes are real 'shadeshifters'. They look warm/cool, taupe, green, gray... it just depends on the ligting you're watching them under. They're practically the same when it comes to formula and I really like it. They need 2 coats for full opacity (just the way I like it) and have a flat brush. The application is easy on both of them. Like Leo's Pilot Jacket is a dusty olive green while I Wear My Flying Goggles At Night is a light, greyed out taupe. I love the polishes and hate the names. Too long, Essence. Too long.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Weekly Sum-Up #19

2012-01-21T22:59:00.001+01:00

Arya. She's been spayed yesterday. See how poor she was?

She's a very lively cat and it was painful to see her like that. She was feeling much better after some tender love and care and today - she's her old self again. I'm glad the surgery is behind us and that everything went OK. *sigh of relief*

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A little note about my Kontactr contact form. I've been getting some weird messages with only a couple of words. As it turns out, my Kontactr hasn't been working properly. If you left me a message and I didn't reply, that's why. I think it's solved now, so if you have to, please, contact me again.

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Coincidences: In my previous Weekly Sum-Up I mentioned a Swedish movie called The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Some of you suggested a movie Let The Right One In (also a Swedish production) and to be completely honest, I've never heard of it before. I remember my girl Feline telling me about the movie as well. Later that night, I couldn't sleep. I was changing the TV channels and stopped at the movie on the national television called Vampiric Love. It was about a bullied little boy and a strange little girl. I watched it and I loved it. In the morning I searched for this movie on IMDB and what did I find? It's the movie you were telling me about. Yes, Let the Right One In rocks!

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Photo of the week:

Sunsets in the winter are way better than the ones in summer... at least where I live.

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Posts of the week:

I realized I need some new Sinful polishes after I saw Anutka's Sinful Rise and Shine post on Wacky Laki. And Rise and Shine should be one of the new shades in my collection.

Like a Candy Shop posted about Kleancolor's Bite Me. I don't know why, but it looks so much better on her that it does on me. OK, maybe it has something to do with her perfect nubbins.

I already posted a little something on the new China Glaze ElectroPop collection. If you haven't already, you should really take a look at the swatches by Scrangie and those by All You Desire where you can also find some comparison posts.

Goose from Goose's Glitter made it final: I need something like Wet n Wild Diamond in the Rough in my life.

Dori's Pink Flakie Gradient manicure is the cutest I've seen in a while. You should really visit her blog Kiss My Acetone every once in a while.

Essence Crazy Good Times TE should be out in February, but it's already in stores. Essence can't do it right ... According to Candy Glaze, my favorite shade Confetteria turns out to be a real pain in the ass to paint. Too bad, 'cause it's gorgeous.

Cilucia from Spaz & Squee posted a Lynnderella Lovely is as Lovely Does Swatch Spam and it's amazing!
I love Forget You Not over Essie Smooth Sailing and Lovey Dovey over Zoya Neeka.

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Blogs of the week:

You've probably seen this before, but just in case you haven't: Stupid Nail Polish Names blog.

Moonchild has been really good at commenting on my posts lately. Check out her blog as well!

The Perky Polisher is a brand new blog and it needs a little attention.

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Music of the week:

Thanks for looking and commenting!

ElectroPop In My Stash

2012-01-19T22:52:00.000+01:00

Warning: This post is of entertaining nature only! I don't own any of the shades from the ElectroPop collection and I can't say if there are any dupes for them.

Before I say anything else, you must see Scrangie's post with swatches of the new China Glaze ElectroPop collection. China Glaze did it again. They came up with another collection that made me go crazy. The colors! Bright, glossy and so ... lively. I admit: I love it. The bad thing is I don't get China Glaze polishes for review/swatches anymore and it became really hard for me to get these polishes for a normal price. What's a girl to do than go look into her own stash for possible dupes. And that's exactly what I did.

Here's a first set of shades: light blue, periwinkle, turquoise and grass green (is it?) creme.

I don't care for the green shade (Gaga for Green) - it's too yellow-ish for me. That's probably the reason why I haven't found anything like it in my stash. But I did find the blue ones ... and they come quite close. Close enough for me. At least for now.

The second set of shades is warmer: yellow shimmer, coral, pink and fuchsia creme.

There it is. A yellow shade. I only own one yellow polish. Can you believe that? Let's skip that one, shall we ... I did find some shades that resemble the pinkish-coral bunch.

And the last set of shades: purple shimmer, bright pink, pale purple and already seen glitter.

Here are my parallels, without the Techno one.

Yeah, I think I'm good for now. I'm not saying these are really dupes or even close to the real thing, but you know - once you have as many polishes as me, the little differences don't matter that much anymore. China Glaze is still my favorite nail polish brand (besides Essence), but since it's become so hard for me to get it, I have to choose wisely which shades to buy. I'm still very tempted by Electric Beat though. By the look of it, it's my favorite from the collection.

Note: The photos of the original China Glaze ElectroPop shades belong to Scrangie.com. Thank you for letting me use your work, Scrangie! :*

What do you think about the China Glaze ElectroPop collection?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Comparison: Essence Hex Hex VS China Glaze Awaken

2012-01-19T14:06:00.000+01:00

In my previous nail post I mentioned how Essence Nail Art Magnetics in Hex Hex reminds me of China Glaze Awaken. I own both colors, so here's the comparison for you.

pointer & ring finger: Essence Hex Hex (2 coats)

middle finger & pinky: China Glaze Awaken (2 coats)

Not quite the same, are they? I even searched for my color drops of the two mentioned polishes and the difference is obvious. They have something in common though (besides being gunmetal gray): they both have hidden color in them that's not visible on the nails. Hex Hex is very sparkly and it flashes pinkish purple. Awaken, on the other side, contains some kind of blue dye that doesn't go away no matter how hard I shake the bottle. It's funny that Awaken looks more purple-ish on the nails than Hex Hex...

It doesn't really matter how they look in the bottle. What it matters is how they look on the nails. Hex Hex is a true gunmetal shimmer while Awaken borders to being chrome. With almost frosty shimmer. Another polish which is very hard to describe. And one more thing I have to mention - Awaken is a 1 coater (if you're careful with the application).

I think I prefer Hex Hex when it comes to the color. It's darker and not so shiney as Awaken. China Glaze is way easier to apply though. And more opaque.

Which one is your favorite?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Ebay Buy: Faux Leather Jacket

2012-01-18T20:07:00.000+01:00

Anonymous reader wanted to know more about the jacket I was wearing on my I'm Not Dead post photos. It's another item I got off Ebay, go figure.This time, the experience of shopping online was a bit different ...

This item wasn't like the other items I usually buy on Ebay - jewellery and other cheap shit. You know how I like leather (or even better: fake leather) and I truly fell in love with this jacket when I saw it on 'the bay of evil'. It was perfect and something I could see myself wearing. The only problem was the size. This jacket comes in size XS-S only. Still, the measurements were OK and I thought I could pull it off. Besides, the price was really good and I always buy products cheaper than €22 from international sellers to avoid taxes. So I bought it. For $24.98 (Buy It Now, Free Shipping).

Once the item arrived, I was REALLY disappointed. The jacket was nothing like the one on photos. The description didn't say those are the photos of the actual item, but there was no other description ... so I assumed it should look like the jacket on the photos. So, what were the differences? First of all, the 'fabric' looked different and so did the style of the jacket, the zippers and studs were in bronze and not silver (like I thought they would be) and it was overall worse than I expected.

It's not all bad though. The jacket fits. Kind of. I'll just wear it unzipped most of the times (but I really shouldn't put on any weight). It's really soft and comfortable and I like it. I worked things out with the seller with no problem and it ended well. And what's the point of this long story? Always read the description carefully. If you're in doubt or have any questions - ask the seller. Most of them are really nice and always glad to help. You can see 'this' jacket if you search for 'faux leather zipper decorated jacket'. The price has gone up and now it costs $36.98. I don't know what's that all about.

I'm gonna wear it proudly, 'cause it's extra cool. Why? Baby, you're so tight... XD Oh, and I'm wearing the boots that I told you about in THIS post. They don't stink anymore. Yay!

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Essence Nail Art Magnetics - Hex Hex

2012-01-18T14:35:00.000+01:00

There's no reason why you shouldn't use magnetic nail polish just like a regular polish. Without all the magnet mumbo-jumbo. That's how I used it this time.

Essence, Nail Art Magnetics, Hex Hex, 2 coats

Hex Hex is a perfect gunmetal color. Perfect! The application is a bit weird, since it contains small metallic particles (at least I think it does), but the result is nice enough for me to like it. Like it a lot. It reminds me of China Glaze Awaken, but I haven't tried them nail by nail yet. Should I?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Ebay Buy: 'Spike Through Finger' Ring

2012-01-17T20:54:00.000+01:00

Someone like me can never have too many rings. The weirder they look, the better. And I love my 'spike through finger' ring. Or should I say - spikes through finger.

I saw this ring on Asos a while ago and I really wanted it, but the price didn't fall into my category (I think it was over €10). And I waited patiently and finally got it on Ebay.

I got this ring for $6.99 (Buy It Now, Free Shipping) which is half the price I'd have to pay on Asos. If you'd like to have a ring like this, go on Ebay.com and search for 'double spike through finger ring'.

What do you think: too much?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Swatches: Sleek I-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in Chaos

2012-01-16T17:12:00.000+01:00

Anyone who's ever tried any Sleek palette knows why they're so popular: affordable price, interesting colors and finishes, great color payoff and quality... But not all the palettes are equaly sought after. And I'm not really in love with this Chaos palette. I like the colors, but I don't think I could use them a lot since they're quite bright. I tried them anyway and I think I managed to create a MU look that could be worn in everyday life without attracting too much attention (or looking like a clown).

Swatches of the shades on the back of my hand ... first row:

... and second row:

These shades are bright and somehow gentle at the same time. They look much better (brighter) over white eyeshadow base than they do on their own, and that's exactly what I used for this look:

Products used:
* NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
* Sleek I-Divine Palette in Chaos
* Essence Black Mania Eye Pencil
* Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara

Although I'm not crazy about this palette or the shades in it, I must say I love all the black eyeshadows in every single Sleek palettes I've tried. They're soft, pigmented and work great as an eyeliner. One less product I have to carry around if I go anywhere. *thumbs up*

Do you see yourself wearing shades from this palette?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

New From Essence - Crazy Good Times Trend Edition

2012-01-16T11:47:00.001+01:00

Time for new Essence Trend Edition. Time to have a crazy good ... well, times.

''Let’s get the party started! In february 2012, essence is turning the winter into a party season with the new trend edition "crazy good times"! Outrageous false lashes, innovative nail fashion stickers, cool stamped tattoos and nail polishes in bright colors with fascinating glitter effects are true must-haves that turn every outfit into a breathtaking eye-catcher!'' (Essence)

It looks like a masquerade collection to me. A lot of products don't look useable for every day - exaggerated false eyelashes, nail stickers, tattoo stamp, glitter stick... I'm curious to see the nail polishes though. What a shocker, huh?

Do you see anything you like?

EDIT: Check out the swatches HERE.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

17 Magnetized Nail Polish in Blue

2012-01-15T14:13:00.000+01:00

This certainly took a long time. I got this magnetic nail polish back in October. Still, better late than never, right? These 17 Magnetized nail polishes that came out last year are supposed to be very similar to the Nails Inc. Magnetic polishes. The price is better (read: lower) if you buy 17 brand though.

17 Magnetized, Blue, 2 coats

This is one of the best magnetic polishes I've tried so far. It's even better than my old L'Oreal Star Magnet. It's so easy to achieve the wavy look, since the magnet is strong enough - not like with those Essence magnets. And another pro: it comes with the magnet, so you won't have to buy it separately. I recommend!

What are your thoughts on magnetic polishes?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Weekly Sum-Up #18

2012-01-14T19:55:00.001+01:00

This must be some kind of record and I must be one of the sickliest bloggers ever. I got tonsillitis again. My health is damned. Let's not dwell on the bad stuff though. I finally got to see the first Sherlock Holmes movie and later I went to see the 2nd part to the movies. I've come to really like Robert Downey. He always acts like a ''nutty professor'', doesn't he? =) Jude Law isn't bad either. Not bad at all. The thing that is bad is the manners of some people. I already said I'll never go to the movies again ... or I might end up slapping some b*tches across the flapper. Yes, ~~movies~~ ignorant people bring out the agression in me.

I also got the see the Men Who Hate Women (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo). I decided to watch only the original movie (swedish one), since I can't understand why every single movie must be in english. What the heck? I don't wanna insult anyone, but can't you read? I take Noomi Rapace (who also starred in the new Sherlock Holmes movie) and Michael Nyqvist over Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig anytime! Excuse me, but I just think this is stupid. Stieg Larsson was Swedish, deal with it.

For me, there's only one ''real'' Lisbeth Salander. And it's the one on the right. I might be biased though. My dear, Feline, lives in Sweden...

Music of the week:

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Vollare Cosmetics Otto Eyeshadow Quad in #8

2012-01-13T23:02:00.000+01:00

One thing is for sure. You won't be seeing any high-end make up products on my blog anytime soon. Well, unless I get it for free (sometimes honesty hurts). Let's face it: most of the time it's not worth it anyway. This palette of 4 eyeshadows costs about €2.50 and it rocks!

I got this palette for one simple reason: I wanted a cheap palette of grey-ish shades that I'll be able to carry around and not worry about it breaking. I certainly wouldn't be as light-hearted with a palette that costs €25.00, right? Here are swatches of the shades applied with dry brush over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy eyeshadow base.

The quality of these eyeshadows isn't the best (but not bad at all) and I didn't even expect it to be, but the results are very good. That's the most important thing after all. Quick and simple:

Products used:
* NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
* Vollare Otto Eyeshadow Quad in #8
* Essence Eyeliner Pen
* Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara

I used Sigma Eye Shading brush E55 (from the Make Me Up Collection) for upper eyelid and Kim eyeliner brush E131 for lower eyelid. I have to say these are my go-to brushes and I love them both.

What are your thoughts on cheap decorative cosmetics? Do you prefer high-end make up? If so, why?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Nail Polish Finishes

2012-01-13T16:36:00.000+01:00

Should I post this or not? I admit I was hesitating a bit. There are many good posts on nail polish finishes, but I've been planning on doing this for a long time and since I already took the photos... why not post it as well. This is my view on polish finishes and I know it can get confusing for some. Hope this will help.

CHROME - The finish that makes your nails look like metal. Well, as close as it gets without wearing falsies or getting a Minx manicure. This finish is smooth and almost mirror like, but no, you won't be able to see yourself in it. Examples: Maybelline Mirror Image, Stargazer Chrome, China Glaze Khrome Collection.
On photo: China Glaze Millenium.

CRACKLE - Crackling polishes are basically layering polishes, since they won't work on their own. Once they're layered over another glossy polish, they crack and create different patterns. Examples: Depend Cracked Effect, China Glaze Crackle Glaze, OPI Shatter.
On photo: Depend 5011 over black.

CREME - I'd say this is one of the two most popular finishes. It gives you a solid, glossy color without shimmer, glitter or any other additions.
On photo: China Glaze Grape Pop.

DUOCHROME - Polishes with duochrome finish shift between two or more colors, depending on the angle of looking at it. Examples: Chanel Peridot, Gosh Purple Heart, Essence Where is the Party, Hits Mari Moon Collection.
On photo: Stargazer 307.

FLAKIE - Flakies, flaky polishes... as the name says, these polishes contain flakes. Flakies are usually bigger than shimmer and are of irregular size and shape. They're often combined with other finishes - duochrome flakies, flakies in creme/jelly base. Examples: Nfu Oh Opal Series, Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure, Nubar 2010, Zoya Flecked Effect.
On photo: Nfu Oh 51.

FOIL -Foil polishes contain small, dense metallic particles. It gives you a metallic look, similar to chrome finish, but not as smooth. Examples: Orly FX Foil, Color Club Foiled Collection.
On photo: Gosh Silver.

FROST - Frost finish could also be described as pearl finish. It contains really small shimmer that appears as frost. Frosty polishes are usually the ones that have visible brush strokes. Examples: China Glaze Frostbite, Essence Where is the Party, Essence Barefoot Through the Moss.
On photo: Constance Carroll Apricot Sun.

GLITTER - The family of glitter finish has a lot of members. Glitter comes in different sizes and shapes (round, square, hexagonal, bar...) and it can be combined with different bases (creme, jelly, clear). Examples: China Glaze Ruby Pumps, Kleancolor Chunky Holo Black, Wet n Wild Black Magic.
On photo: China Glaze Emerald Sparkle.

HOLOGRAPHIC - Some people often confuse holographic with duochrome (ahem, Essence people). The best way to recognize a holographic polish is to look at it when the sun hits it - you'll see a rainbow of colors. Examples: China Glaze OMG Collection, Hits No Olimpo Collection, OPI DS Glamour.
On photo: China Glaze DV8.

JELLY - Jelly polishes are basically cremes with clear base, which makes them look watery. These aren't as opaque as cremes and look somewhat transparent. Some describe the look of jelly polishes as 'squishy'. Examples: Essence Cool and the Gang, Rimmel Sunshine, BPAL Mme. Moriarty, Nars Zulu.
On photo: Priti NYC Dark Warrior Orchid.

MATTE - Polishes with matte finish don't give any shine whatsoever to the nail once they dry. Examples: ManGlaze Matte Nail Polish, OPI Matte Collection, Zoya Matte Velvet Line.
On photo: ManGlaze Matte is Murder.

NEON - Neon finish is a color finish that usually dries to a semi-matte/satin finish. Examples: China Glaze Poolside Collection, Color Club Electro Candy Collection.
On photo: China Glaze Pool Party.

SATIN - Semi-matte or satin finish has some shine, but isn't glossy. It's also called plastic finish. Examples: Orly Plastix, LA Girl Matte Line, Claire's Green Matte.
On photo: Illamasqua Scorn.

SHIMMER - The most popular nail polish finish along with creme. Shimmer is smaller than glitter and bigger than frost.
On photo: Catrice It Blue My Mind.

Sometimes it's impossible to define a polish just by one category. Like with these:

#1 - China Glaze Nova: holographic glitter
#2 - Essence Make it Golden: glitter + shimmer
#3 - Kleancolor Chunky Holo Black: duochrome glitter in jelly base
#4 - Kleancolor Moondance: bar and hexagonal holographic glitter in shimmer-y base
#5 - 17 Nail Xtras Crackle: square glitter in black base, matte, crackle

I know there are probably more finishes, these are just the ones I could find in my collection. There are also categories I didn't add (sheer, nude/mannequin/MNBB), because I think it's more a matter of opacity/color than finish itself.

Did I leave anything out?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Revisited: Nfu Oh 51

2012-01-12T18:49:00.000+01:00

Remember this exotic nail polish in a boobs-and-corset-and-a-skirt bottle? This is currently my one and only bottle of Nfu Oh polish. And I love it!

China Glaze, Grape Pop, 2 coats + Nfu Oh, 51, 1 coat

Grape Pop is the purple creme. There's no better base for my beloved Nfu Oh polish ... and I was right. It does look magical. Even more in real life than on these photos.

Thanks for looking and commenting!