Nihrida

Essence - Electric Blue (Show Your Feet)

2013-05-13T23:05:00.002+02:00

This one was quite unexpected. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it on a small 'foot dedicated' shelf in a drugstore. Where have you been, pretty one? I'm a huge electric blue fan and this Essence polish has the perfect name to fit it's color. Electric Blue.

Essence, Electric Blue, 3 coats

Electric Blue is one of the new Show Your Feet shades. It is what the name says: a true electric blue. It's darker and deeper in real life and is quite similiar to P2 Gigantic and Essence Grumpy from the Snow White trend edition. I used 3 coats for my photos, because the polish looks somewhat jelly-ish and I didn't want the nail line to be visible. You could get away with 2 slightly thicker coats though. The formula isn't the best, but with a color like this, who cares. I love the flat brush and drying time is OK too. Don't expect too much from it, just enjoy the color. Blueeeeeeee....

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Weekly Sum-Up #53

2013-05-12T22:54:00.000+02:00

Summing up the last tree weeks (or something like that). Let's start with news from the nail polish world. OK, they're not exactly news, cause it took me forever to post this, but still: Here's a FNUG collection for Summer 2013. Look a Like and Go-To are awesome. I'd totally wear those two.

I almost fell off my chair when I saw this Aussie add on german Drogerie Markt site. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the products will be available in my country as well, because I'm dying to try their 3 Minute Miracle thingy. I almost bought it online a couple of years ago, but changed my mind due to insane price tags.

I didn't wear a lot of different shades on my nails in the last few weeks (if we count out the NYX swatching fest). I wore Frankenpolish by Andrea (on photo below), Essence Black to the Roots, Sinful Allure, Dance Legend Spacecraft, Catrice I Wear My Sunglasses At Night and Essence Kiss of the Mermaid.

Aishila at last. Bombi and Lisa are stealing the spotlight lately, but I have to tell you Aishila is doing quite well. She still has some troubles breathing and her left eye is watering, but she's alive and well - playful and just a little angel she can be. Nose-kisses!

This used to be Jimi: a black long-haired cat, but now I call her my ombre cat. She's getting brown for cake's sake! WTF?! She's still a tomboy/lady alpha female, but her hair is getting ridiculous. Like mine.

Speaking of cats. I couldn't resist this cute New Yorker T-shirt... Simple and straight forward. Meow. That's all you need to say. =D

Ombre cat with her ombre owner. At least her fur isn't as messy as mine. Hee hee. Say what you want - it's clear we belong together.

My (wannabe) suspender tights - one of my this years Ebay buys. I love the way they look and I think I need more. =) And yes, I know this angle isn't very flattering, but who cares.

Last but certainly not least - Rammstein concert was A-f*cking-MAZING! I got to see blonde Till Lindeman in pink furry jacket and a whole lot of fire action on the stage. I was a bit disappointed with the sound, but I had so much fun it doesn't even matter anymore. It wasn't just a concert, it was a show. And I'm glad I can say I was there.

***

Posts of the week(s):

Fashion Polish posted swatches of two Takko Lacquers in Kiss the Sky and Opium. Who dares to say they aren't some of the prettiest shades you've ever seen? I'm mesmerized by Kiss the Sky, I admit. While you're there, check out her China Glaze Hologlam Collection Review and China Glaze Texture Review.

Wanna see a sh*tload of neon nail polish? Mirma Natalia swatched the Dance Legend Neonic Collection 2013. Perfect for summer!

This Duochrome Black & Green eye make up look is the most awesome thing I've seen in a while. Blanka from Anatomy of Beauty surely knows her way around colors.

All the electric blue nail polish lovers, here's one for you: Electric-blue Love by Elsa from Like a Candy Shop. Thank goodness I own two of them otherwise I'd be going mad right now. Elsa also posted her French Manicure with a Twist and I must say I dig it. A lot. And her Pink Degradé post. I swear I did the exact same thing for a tutorial couple of months ago. With pink and all. Weird! =)

Remember Hunger Games? Remember China Glaze's collection inspired by the same book? Let me remind you with a little help from China Glaze Stone Cold and Das Experiment.

If you got it, you got it. And Sarah from Chalkboard Nails certainly does. Have it. This is her Citrus Water Marble Nail Art. Look and weep.

***

Video of the week(s): No music this time. Let's face it, it would be another Rammstein video anyway. =) Watch this excited dog instead. It's awesome.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Essence - The Stiletto (Show Your Feet ''High Heel Mania'' Trend Edition)

2013-05-11T20:23:00.002+02:00

New Essence trend edition under the Show Your Feet line is called High Heel Mania and offers five new SYF toe nail polish shades. They all have names connected to shoes: The Stiletto, The Pump, The Peeptoe, The Wedge and The Gladiator. The only one I got is The Stiletto.

The Stiletto is a warm purple shade with blue micro shimmer which is quite visible in the bottle, but not as much on the nails. My indoor 'crappy' photos aren't really color accurate... The Stiletto is a lot warmer in real life and it reminds me of P2 Chic in low light. They're obviously not dupes, but they do look alike from a distance.

Essence, The Stiletto, 3 coats

The Stiletto is a nice polish which looks better on these photos then it does in real life. I wish it was more like this - cooler, with visible shimmer, but I ended up with another purple that looks creme in most lighting circumstances. I don't want to complain too much about the color - it's a very nice one. The thing that bothers me the most is the opacity. It could be a two coater, but it doesn't have enough depth for me when I only use two layers of it. The brush and formula were nice and so was the application. I'm not totally feeling it and it's the opacity that bothers me.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Essence - I'm The Moss (Guerilla Gardening Trend Edition)

2013-05-10T20:21:00.000+02:00

One of the latest Essence trend editions - Guerilla Gardening has hit our stores. I had the fortune to pick from all the products this TE offers but I only bought two of them. Eyeshadow in My Piece of Land and nail polish in I'm the Moss.

Essence, I'm the Moss, 2 coats

The first thing I noticed with the TE nail polishes is the brush. They kept the old flat brush with bristles that are all the same length. I'm so very thankful they didn't include one of their so called 'improved' brushes. I think I'll only be buying polishes from their trend editions and Show Your Feet line from now on.

The brush was great, but the formula could be better. Well, it's not exactly the formula's fault, it's the opacity that bothers me a little. The first layer went on pretty sheer, but I applied a thicker second layer and got away with it. I'd still prefer a slightly more opaque version. This polish is very interesting color wise. I don't think I have anything like it in my collection and it's certainly a rare shade of green in the nail polish world. That's why I bought it in the first place. Although the color is pretty much awesome, it's impossible to photograph it accurately. It's not as green in real life and not as bright either. I'd say asparagus green would be the best description.

A slightly better photo (shot outdoors), but still not color accurate. The polish is more muted in real life. Like a warm army green. If that makes any sense.

Did you/will you get anything from Guerilla Gardenind trend edition?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Dance Legend - Caravan (Sahara Crystal)

2013-05-09T22:31:00.001+02:00

Guess what. It's Dance Legend time! This one is called Caravan.

Caravan is one of the shades from the Sahara Crystal collection. It's a pretty shimmery duochrome in the bottle which dries into a gritty matte finish. Sanding type of polish finish. You can see how pretty it is by the color drop, but it looks nothing like it when it's dry. You can apply top coat over it to revive its 'bottle' beauty, but I guess it gonna take time and a lot of top coat. This one is one top coat thirty beauty.

Dance Legend, Caravan, 2 coats

If you're into gritty polishes, you'll love the shades from Dance Legend's Sahara Crystal collection. They're little chameleons, but they do take a lot of time and patience if you decide to wear them with a glossy finish. The application was great (like with all Dance Legend polishes), formula was surprisingly good and the brush is awesome. What more to say? I can't really comment on the color of this one, since it's so ... different. In the bottle it looks like a black base with duochrome shimmer particles that shift from burgundy to orange, yellow and green. It's a different story when you look at it on the nails - something that reminds me of a stale, dried up blood. In the best way possible. Hee hee... I like it.

You can buy this polish on Dance Legend online store for 9.00 USD. Check out their Facebook page for more information.

*Product was sent to me by the company.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Coral Love with Kisses

2013-05-08T21:15:00.000+02:00

This is the polish I'm wearing right now. I put it on on Sunday and I'm still very pleased with the look, so I'm gonna wear it a couple more days. How often does that happen to a nail polish lover? Especially to a one who prefers dark colors. Well, if you're looking for a bright coral nail shade and you have access to Essence - go get it. It's the one from Show Your Feet line called Kiss of the Mermaid. It was a part of the trend edition that came out a couple of months ago, but I believe you can find it in the core line as well.

Here's my review of the Kiss of the Mermaid, if you're interested. =)

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Swatches: NYX Girls Nail Polish (Part IV)

2013-05-07T18:40:00.000+02:00

This is what I was doing all day yesterday: swatching 19 NYX Girls polish shades for Slovenian online store Moja Drogerija. Would it be weird to say my nails hurt after all the polishing and removing the polish so many times? Well, it wasn't hard to do it - it never is if you like what you do.

When I first looked at the polishes I received for swatching, I thought there was a mistake - a few shades looked so similar, I thought they were the same shade. After taking a closer look, I realized they're not. =) This one is for pink, red and bright coral lovers.

NYX Girls, Bermuda Triangle (NGP 195), 2 coats

NYX Girls, Bloody Mary (NGP 189), 2 coats

NYX Girls, Cranberry Red (NGP 180), 2 coats

NYX Girls, Fruity Punch (NGP 243), 2 coats

NYX Girls, Maui Sunrise (NGP 218), 3 coats

NYX Girls, Rum Punch (NGP 201), 2 coats

NYX Girls, True Navy (NGP 127), 2 coats

NYX Girls, Zurich (NGP 233), 3 coats

NYX Girls, Chick Lit (NGP 157), 2 coats

NYX Girls, Dusty Pink (NGP 212), 2-3 coats

NYX Girls, Genesis (NGP 230), 2 coats

NYX Girls, Grapefruit (NGP 146), 2 coats

NYX Girls, Kinky Pink (NGP 205), 3 coats

NYX Girls, Love at First Sight (NGP 206), 2 coats

NYX Girls, Poppy (NGP 186), 2 coats

NYX Girls, Red Noir (NGP 219), 2-3 coats

NYX Girls, Vintage Red (NGP 204), 2 coats

NYX Girls, Unbreak My Heart (NGP 194), 2 coats

NYX Girls, Cheeky Chic (NGP 117), 3 coats

NYX Girls, Vintage Red + Cheeky Chic

As I said, many of the polishes look a lot alike so I made a little comparison for you. These are the red shades. Bloody Mary is a warm tomato red. A wonderful of great quality. I love it! Vintage Red is a muted red jelly which applies thin and is opaque in only 2 coats. Red Noir is the darkest of the bunch. It looks darker in the bottle though, since it's a classic cool toned medium red on the nails. It has a jelly-like formula and needs 2 to 3 coats for opacity.

Moving on to the red-ish corals. Cranberry Red and Grapefruit are VERY similar. The main difference is the Grapefruit is a quarter of a shade lighter and more on the warm side. Cranberry is a bit darker and cooler. They're both amazing polishes - the quality of the polish is superb. The application was super easy and they're both pretty much opaque in 1 coat. Unbreak My Heart is pretty much the same thing (color and formula wise), only brighter and stronger. I recommend any of these if you're looking for a fun bright coral nail polish for summer. I love them all!

And last - orange & orange corals. The coral shades above are more on the red side and the ones below go more towards the orange side. Fruity Punch is your typical bright orange shade. It's bright, but not neon. Poppy is kind of like Grapefruit, only with more orange tone to it. It's a 2-coater. Love at First Sight is a bright orange toned coral. Although the corals from above and these two below look very similar, there are a few differences between. Leaning toward orange or red, cool or warm toned. I think every lady should have a coral nail polish in their collection. Yeah, I didn't even like coral a couple of years ago and now I love it.

Slovenian ladies can buy NYX Girls polishes in Moja Drogerija online store and I have a good news for international ladies as well - NYX polishes are available on Cherry Culture and they're having a 40% off all NYX items with a code NYX4013. The code is valid until May 8th, so hurry up.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

New Essence Trend Edition: Ticket to Paradise

2013-05-07T14:58:00.000+02:00

''Last call for all passengers with a ticket to paradise! With its trend edition “Ticket to Paradise” Essence is sending all sun goddesses to beautiful beaches, tropical climates and idyllic islands where fun and relaxation are in perfect harmony this June and July 2013. Bright colors like gold, orange, fuchsia, purple, turquoise and azure blue spread a feeling of pure summer while light, gel-like textures give your face a fresh glow without feeling heavy on your skin – just right for the high temperatures at the beach or when you’re out and about!'' (Essence)

In my opinion not as interesting trend edition as Girls on Tour (although that one isn't Essence's biggest gem either). Eyeshadows don't go cause they need an applicator (I prefer them in a pencil - like NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils) and applying them with fingers is too messy for me. Lipliners... well, it would be better if you could buy lipsticks in the same colors too. I don't even wanna know what lipglosses would look like on me and I'm too old for hair mascara. Shimmer Powder looks rather nice and I hope it will be as light in real life too. Most of them are usually too dark for my skintone. And about the polishes: I only like the turquoise one, but I believe I own one or two similar shades already. Where are trend editions that will make me feel excited? Do we have too much of everything and can't feel the excitement anymore? Do you think Essence doesn't try as hard anymore?

What do you think?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

New Essence Trend Edition: Girls On Tour

2013-05-06T09:43:00.000+02:00

''Essence is sending all girls on an exciting journey of discovery in June and July 2013 with the new trend edition “Girls On Tour”. Whether you’re going sightseeing, partying in a club or heading out for a shopping marathon – these practical products are sure to get all beauties looking their best in no time at all! Part of the crew: an eyeshadow palette with six perfectly aligned colors ranging from subtle to intense, a duo cream for your lips and cheeks, four different nail polish shades, a summery fragrance and a folding brush with a mirror. The absolute highlight of this trend edition is the fashionable cell phone accessory that looks like a camera! Thanks to their practical format, these products are sure to fit into any handbag – even the tiniest clutch… Absolutely ideal for all girls “on tour”!'' (Essence)

I think the polishes look quite nice and interesting... We've seen those shades before, but I like them. What do you think about this trend edition?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Preview: Catrice "Glamazona" Limited Edition

2013-05-04T22:40:00.002+02:00

''The new wildcard: multiple animal flower prints and tropical colours. Fashion designers are loving the exotic blossoms and untamed wildlife of the Amazon this spring. Mysterious. Extravagant. Glamorous.

The Limited Edition “Glamazona” by Catrice brings the dazzling rainforest to the city in June and July 2013. Bright and sometimes even metallic, this beauty spectacle inspires the hunting instinct of all Amazon queens. Welcome to the metropolitan jungle by Catrice.'' (Catrice)

Here's a nail design video tutorial that comes with the new Glamazona collection. Nothing new, but I still have to give them points for trying.

And my take on it: I couldn't find the right plastic mesh for the nail design, so I used lace. The look is not as neat and perfect, but I think my Glamazona nails are even better because they resemble a Glamaconda. LoL

I used P2 Chic for base and China Glaze 2030 for stamping.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

April @ Nihrida

2013-05-04T20:02:00.000+02:00

My First ASOS Purchase: Religion Magnitude Purse & Rimmel Diamond Dust Nail Polish

2013-04-27T14:31:00.000+02:00

I placed my (first ever) order in Asos online store on Monday and the package came to my address on Thursday. Three days later from UK to Slovenia. Not bad. I'm only sorry I didn't order a can of the Batiste dry shampoo while shopping... But no worries, shipping is free no matter how much you spend, I'll just place another order.

I got this gorgeous (in my opinion, of course) Religion Magnitude Purse. I was fed up with my old purse and I really needed a new one. This one is close to perfect, but I'm still getting used to it. It's not the most practical thing, but I love it nonetheless. It was on sale for 18,38 € (retail price is 39,39 €).

Another little thing that found it's way in my shopping cart while shopping at Asos: Rimmel Precious Stones nail polish in Diamond Dust has been on my wishlist for a very long time. Well, it was either this one or China Glaze in Some Like it Haute. They're both unavailable here in Slovenia and since Asos has Rimmel on sale at the moment (3,94 € instead of 5,24 €) I knew it was the right time to get it.

Diamond Dust in one of the shades from the Precious Stones collection which consists of two glittery nail polish colors (red and grey). Yeah, it's a rather small collection. The bottle says this is a 'high coverage glitter nail polish' which is not really the case. The polish is packed with small gunmetal glitter and bigger hexagonal holographic glitter, but it still looks better when applied over a base color. At least in my experience.

Rimmel, Diamond Dust, 2 coats (over Essence, Must Have, 2 coats)

I tried Diamond Dust by itself on one of my nails and I wasn't too impressed. So I removed it, painted my nails with a shimmery grey base (Essence Multi Dimension in Must Have) and applied two coats of Diamond Dust over it. Much better! I like the flat brush in this Rimmel's gem which made the application easy. The polish dried into a gritty finish. A layer of top coat makes it better, but not even close to smooth. It's not too bad though - it didn't bother me at all and I'm not a big fan of gritty nails. Well, I like the look, but not the feeling of it on my nails. To be completely honest, this polish didn't live up to my expectations. I don't know what I wanted it to be... it's probably the lack of opacity that bothers me. Diamond Dust is a decent glitter polish, just not something I couldn't be without.

I pulled out the big guns (aka my Nikon camera) for these two photos. =) Yeah, I don't know why I'm complaining. The polish looks nice, right?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Dance Legend - Spacecraft (New Prism)

2013-04-24T20:13:00.000+02:00

I have another Dance Legend holographic nail polish for you today and some really good news: the Dance Legend online shop has finally opened! Yay! Now you can try it out for yourselves and see why I love these polishes as much as I do. =) For those of you who are still with me (I really shouldn't post the link to the shop at the beginning of the post...) here's another Dance Legend shade called Spacecraft. The old Star Trek lover in me loves the name, FYI.

Spacecraft is one of the 12 holographic shades from the New Prism collection and it's a dark grey shade. It looks a bit dark on my swatches because I layered it over black nail polish to give it more depth. I like to layer my holographics like this, not only because they look deeper and darker, I use less of the holographic goodness and the polish will last longer that way. =) Spacecraft looks great by itself too. It requires 2 coats and appears a bit lighter.

Dance Legend, Spacecraft, 1 coat (over a England, Camelot, 1 coat)

What I really like with Dance Legend holographic (as well as with the shades from other collections) is the application. No bald spots, no patches although I applied it over another polish. Most holographics require a special base coat (like FNUG Aqua Fix), but this one applies nicely without it too. I still advise you to invest in a holo base if you like to wear rainbows on your nails.

I can't say anything bad about this polish. The formula and brush are consistent and pretty much great. Hence the easy application. The polish dries fast and the rainbow effect is amazing. What more could I ask for?

Here are a couple of outdoor photos for you (yay for the sun!). You can see how amazing the effect is, but remember it always looks better in real life. My camera was spooked by this awesomeness...

You can buy this polish on Dance Legend online store for 13.00 USD.

*Product was sent to me by the company.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Preview: Catrice "Hip Trip" Limited Edition

2013-04-22T16:32:00.000+02:00

Since I'm posting previews of Essence trend editions, I figured it would be nice to post previews of Catrice limited editions too. I'm not sure which LE is in stores right now - I have a really hard time following Catrice editions - but here's a LE for May and June 2013.

''Next fashion stop: festival summer. The best platform for acoustic and visual inspiration under the sky. Legendary music festivals like Coachella in California are a fabulous meeting point for the international who-is-who. Colourful hippy dresses, bold rock elements and cool biker boots conquer the main stage, and sometimes even the catwalks of the world. In May and June 2013, the Limited Edition “Hip Trip” by CATRICE will be offering the matching beauty line-up to go with your festival style. Celebrate the summer of love in beautiful blue shades with a denim look or bright flamingo, faded green and subtle nudes. Rock on!'' (Catrice)

I don't find Catrice limited editions as interesting as Essence ones, but they're worth mentioning, right? Here's a little video on how to create The Hip Trip nail design. It's basically a 'saran wrap' technique with nude and shimmery blue nail polish, but I recommed you to watch it nonetheless. You'll see why I dislike the bushy Catrice (and now also Essence) nail polish brush. The person applying the polish could still do a better job in my humble opinion... At least for a tutorial.

And this is my take on the Hip Trip design. I don't own Don't Tell Mademoiselle and George Blueney, so I improvised. I used S-he Stylezone in 204 (nude polish) and Essence Hard to Resist (shimmery blue). Close enough for me. I used a coat of Essence Better Than Gel Nails Top Sealer for glossy look. How do you like the result?

In a different note: Cats can be a total pain in the a** when you're trying to do something (like taking photos of your nails in natural surrounding). They wanna be a part of it, they look like they wanna help... but they just knock over your polish, stomp on the flowers and bump in your arm right when you're trying to take a photo of your mani. Thank goodness they're cute. That's why they can get away with it. =)

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Dance Legend - Blueberry Mousse (Fruity Milk Collection)

2013-04-21T19:55:00.002+02:00

Milky/pastel semi-sheer polish with glitter dispensed in it has been around for quite a while. It's quite popular amongst the glitter (and other nail polish) lovers - not that I would know anything about it. Dance Legend created a great collection of 6 pastel nail polish shades with glitter called Fruity Milk. I got one of the shades - the one called Blueberry Mousse.

Blueberry Mousse is a pastel lilac shade with hexagonal glitter in two different sizes and colors: blue and silver. Well, the smaller glitter particles are actually so small they almost look round. Ish.

Dance Legend, Blueberry Mouse, 3 coats

Blueberry Mousse is the first Dance Legend polish I've tried that needs more than 2 coats to achieve opaque look. That's understandable, otherwise the glitter wouldn't show through the polish. This was also my first polish of this kind. I'm not too fond of glitter in the first place and I don't wear pastel polish often either. I couldn't resist this one though. The application was easy and I didn't have to fish for the glitter too much. Standard Dance Legend quality (based on the polishes I've tried so far) which means a very good polish with a very nice effect. I recommend!

Dance Legend polishes will soon be available online with worldwide shipping. One bottle of polish will cost you 9 USD, shipping will be 10 USD or free if you buy more than 10 bottles. Check their Facebook page for more information.

P.S.: If you can't wait, you can send them an email with your order. I've heard it works that way too.

*Product was sent to me by the company.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Empty #1

2013-04-19T15:49:00.001+02:00

I really enjoy empty type of posts and from what I see, you like them too. Don't deny it now. =) I've been good, collecting my empty cosmetic bottles/tubes in a bag and here comes my first little empty post.

1) Balea Seidenglanz Spülung Feige + Perle (~ 1,25 € for 300 mL)

Balea hair conditioners are my favorite. They're cheap (a little over 1 €), they smell nice, they're silicone free and they make my hair super soft and easy to comb. I use other conditioners as well, but there's always Balea in my bathroom too. This conditioner with figs and hydrolized pearls isn't one of their best, but it was still very good. I doubt I'll be buying it again because I prefer their Mango + Aloe Vera conditioner (orange packaging). Plus, I still have one full bottle to use. =)

Ingredients: Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Palmitate, Parfum, Panthenol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Lauryl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Niacinamide, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycerin, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Pearl, Maris Sal, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol.

2) Ebelin Nagellackentferner (~ 0,60 € for 125 mL)

I got this nail polish remover for my darker/hard to remove polishes. It does the job, but it dries out my nails and cuticles a lot. I have another bottle to use, so I doubt I'll be buying it again soon (or ever). After comparing Ebelin (DrogerieMarkt brand) with Aveo (Müller brand), I found that Aveo does a great job of removing my polish without over drying my nails. I think I'll stick with Aveo from now on.

Ingredients: Acetone, Aqua, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Cl 42051.

3) Dusch Das Creme Dusche mit Feige & Rosenblüten Öl (~ 1,50 € for 250 mL)

Dusch Das shower gels are one of my favorites. They come in a bunch of nice scents (also limited edition ones), they're cheap and don't make my skin too dry or itchy. I like to change my shower gel often so I don't get fed up with the smell... I have a couple of Dusch Das bottles in my bathroom. All in different scents.

4) Florena Handcreme mit BIO-Kamille

Florena is another Müller brand. I loved this hand cream because it made my hands feel nourished, but not oily or sticky. As I mentioned above, I get fed up with the smell quite fast, so I won't be buying this one soon, but I'll certainly try some of the other Florena hand creams. I can't remember the price, but I do know it's very affordable.

5) Fair & Lovely Fairness Cream (~ 4,50 € for 50 mg)

My favorite day-time face cream! I already have another tube in use and two more for back up. My mother uses it and my sister as well. Hee hee, thanks to me. I don't need to say I'll be buying more of these, right? Here's the list of ingredients and my post on Fair & Lovely Fairness cream.

6) Balea Urea Bodylotion

This used to be my favorite body lotion ever. It made my skin so soft and nourished without the sticky feeling. It's also one of the most moisturizing lotions I've tried and the scent is very nice as well. I've already purchased another bottle of this lotion, but they changed the formula (unfortunately) and I don't really like the new version that much. It's just weird - it takes forever to sink into the skin and leaves a white residue. Too bad, I truly liked this one. The price was really low, I think it was about 2-3 € for 400 mL.

7) Head & Shoulders Sensitive Scalp Care with Aloe Vera

Head & Shoulders helps me with my dandruff problem. I have a lot of different shampoos in use, but H&S is the one I turn to when all else fails. I use it every once in a while and combine it with other shampoos in between. It works! My favorite is the sensitive version and I'll certainly be buying it again.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Essence Soak Up the Sun + Dance Legend Optical Illusion

2013-04-17T18:59:00.002+02:00

Sometimes layering looks really good and while I had Essence Soak Up the Sun on my nails, I thought of layering it with one of the Dance Legend holographic polishes from New Prism line. Just to see if it will work. I went with Optical Illusion and I must say I'm digging the look.

Essence, Soak Up the Sun, 2 coats + Dance Legend, Optical Illusion, 1 coat

Optical Illusion is seriously amazing and I'm becoming a huge Dance Legend fan - more and more with every DL nail polish I try. Great formula, good brush and gorgeous holographic effect. Combine all that with fast drying and we have another winner.

Lisa (in the background) might not be impressed, but I am. It's really not the same seeing this holographic polish on photos and in real life... Uh-mazing! I'll make sure to show Optical Illusion by itself also. Soon.

*Product was sent to me by the company.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Essence - Soak Up the Sun (Sun Kissed Trend Edition)

2013-04-16T20:01:00.000+02:00

I didn't think I needed this Essence polish until I saw photos of it on Candy Glaze blog. Soak Up the Sun is one of the shades from Sun Kissed trend edition and is perfect for anyone who likes dark, vampy colors on their nails.

Essence, Soak Up the Sun (Sun Kissed TE), 2 coats

Soak Up the Sun is a brownish red color (could also be described as maroon color) which dries a bit darker than it looks in the bottle. It doesn't look black in low light, but it is pretty dark. In my humble opinion, it looks much more classy than a regular black nail polish (although classy usually isn't the thing I'm going for). I sort of kissed and made up with the brush (sort of) but I still don't like it. I like the formula though. Two thin coats and there you have it.

And here's the reason I don't have any outdoor photos of the polish although I did went out with the intention to capture Soak Up the Sun in natural lighting. Bombi is a kamikaze master. Walk the stairs with him and try to stay alive. I'm just saying...

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Dance Legend - Malta no. 83

2013-04-15T16:32:00.003+02:00

Continuing with the Dance Legend saga. The polish I'm about to show you today belongs to the Malta line which consists of 12 beautiful shimmery shades. They don't have names (only numbers) which bother me a bit, but the shades are so pretty I was able to see through the numerical identification. This one is Dance Legend Malta no. 83.

Dance Legend Malta #83 is a beautiful brown shade with coppery shimmer. Oh, how I love this one. I'm not a huge lover of brown nail polish, but when it's done right, it feels right. And this one certainly does.

Dance Legend, Malta no. 83, 2 coats

The application was super easy since the brushes in Dance Legend polishes are of consistent quality. Flat brushes are my favorite, but when the bristles aren't cut nicely, it can ruin the whole manicure experience. DL brushes aren't like that. They're a joy to work with. I also loved the formula on this one. It's not too thin or thick and it's opaque in 2 thin coats. Another plus is the fact the polish dries fast. It doesn't dry into the most glossy finish, but you can take care of that with a layer of top coat. The only thing that bother me a little (just a little) is this gorgeous small shimmer which isn't as visible in real life as it is on these photos. But that's always the case, right?

*Product was sent to me by the company.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Essence - Black to the Roots (Floral Grunge Trend Edition)

2013-04-14T19:16:00.000+02:00

I've recently found myself in front of the Essence Floral Grunge Trend Edition display. The only item that caught my attention was nail polish in Black to the Roots with the rough label on the cap. Interesting and my kind of color. I think the blusher looked rather nice too, but I already have a ton of blushers, so I passed on it.

Black to the Roots is a black-ish nail polish with small square silver glitter. The polish dries into a satin-y finish and the glitter gives it a bit of a texture. It's not too bad though. I don't feel uncomfortable wearing it by itself (like with some sanding/gritty shades).

Essence, Black to the Roots (Floral Grunge TE), 2 coats

Two coats of Black to the Roots are enough to achieve an opaque look. The polish dries fast and is not too gritty. I'm so happy I finally found a normal flat brush in Essence nail polish. Flat and not too bushy brush makes the application very easy. I wouldn't mind some more glitter in this one, but it's also pretty cool as it is.

It looks edgier without top coat, but for those who don't like satin or matte finish it's pretty in glossy edition as well. How do you like it better?

Thanks for looking and commenting!

How To: Silver Lining Manicure

2013-04-08T11:07:00.000+02:00

Here's another one of my easy peasy manicure tutorials. To achieve this look, you'll need:

* white, grey and black nail polish

* silver striping tape

* regular tape

1 - Paint your nails with white nail polish and wait for them to dry.

2 - Apply two pieces of tape over your nail, leaving a gap between them.

3 - Paint the gap with grey nail polish and remove the tape before the polish dries.

4 - Wait until the stripe of grey nail polish is completely dry.

5 - Apply another piece of tape over the grey line.

6 - Paint the gap with black nail polish. Again, remove the tape before the polish dries.

7 - This is what your nails will look like. Don't worry if your lines aren't perfect, we'll add some striping tape...

8 - ... and here you have it! Add a layer of top coat for shine and longer-lasting manicure.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Weekly Sum-Up #52

2013-04-07T16:52:00.002+02:00

Cats are weird. When you live with them long enough, you get used to it. You get used to it and sometimes don't even see the weird stuff they do. I guess you become the same. But I did see Arya covering herself with rice paper I had previously removed from a gift I got. She enjoyed it a lot. I bet that little rice paper roof made her feel very safe. Weirdo!

Meanwhile ... the romance continues. Bombi looks after Lisa and vice versa. They're so cute together. Lisa is a tomboy and Bombi is the gentle one. They're perfect for each other. =)

I took our chihuahua to the vet yesterday and saw the best dog ever. His name is Lun and he's a french buldog. A very toned one. We became friends for a short while. It was fun while it lasted. Hee hee. I've always been very fond of french buldogs and pugs. Now I've got another reason.

Yeah, I know I said I wasn't gonna try any of the homemade hair crap anymore, but I just had to. With all the 'no poo' people around, I tried to wash my hair with baking soda instead of shampoo and using a diluted apple cider vinegar instead of conditioner. This time I used just a tiny amount of ACV in a lot of water, so it didn't burn my scalp like the last time. The people who wash their hair this way say it's the best thing they've ever done. Well, I can name a few better things I've done. One of them is using my conditioner. My scalp felt OK, but my ends were totally wrecked. I hated it so much I went and shampooed and conditioned the hell out of my hair. They say the hair needs time to adjust, but I'm not willing to wait. Most of the people who use this techique of hair washing say it's because they want to live healthier and avoid all the bad chemicals in shampoos and other hair care products. This way of washing your hair is supposed to give you a gorgeous mane... Interesting enough, I found this informative post on 3 Reasons Why Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar Destroy Your Hair.

Game of Thrones season 3 is finally here! Yay!

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Posts of the week(s):

Spektor from Spektor's Nails jumped on the Dance Legend wagon. She has already reviewed four of their shades and they're all quite interesting: Termo Trio in #1 and three shades from the Sahara Crystal line - Moondust, White Noise and Rubin.

Oh, no! She didn't! Oh, yes she did. Eva from Coewless Nail Polish Blog painted her nails with a holographic Darling Diva goodness - blue for autism.

Sometimes I say I don't like nail polish shades from Essence trend editions and then I see a swatch and change my mind in a second. This time it was because of Candy Glaze and Soak Up the Sun by Essence.

Fashion Polish swatched the Zoya Pixie Dust collection. Six gritty shades for spring and summer. Don't wear those and tights at the same time!

First she Spotted the Lizard and then did some Cha Cha Cha. By Viktoria from Vique's Varnish.

Chalkboard Nails reviewed and swatched China Glaze Hologlam collection. Awesome swatches, if I may add. Plus her China Glaze Grape Expectations Ombre Set post deserves some special attention as well.

You think that grayscale eyeliner would look boring? Check out Psychosandra's Grayscale and think again. She does some amazing make up, check out her entire blog ... you won't be sorry.

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Music of the week(s): Rammstein concert is less than a month away... I can't wait. =) I couldn't pick my favorite, I just love both versions.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Ozotic Nail Polish in #505

2013-04-06T19:01:00.000+02:00

Here's the last polish from my Australian package. I think it's safe to say I saved the best for last. Ozotic nail polish in 505 is a ~~duochrome~~ multichrome goodness that will leave any nail polish enthusiast (and others who look at it) in awe.

This is a color drop of the polish in the bottle. See this major color shift? I don't think I've ever seen a polish like this one before. Multichromatic effect is very strong indeed.

Ozotic, 505, 1 coat (over a England, Camelot, 1 coat)

I applied one coat of Ozotic 505 over one coat of a England Camelot (a basic black creme). It's really easy to use - you just apply it over your base (it works best over black base) and voila! You have a rainbow of colors on your nails. I can't find any dowsides of this one. The formula is great and so is the brush which results in an easy peasy application. The color speaks for itself, but it does have a stronger shift in real life. Everything from emerald green to blue, purple and pink. Gorgeous! Truly a shade for every nail polish lover.

These are some photos of Ozotic 505 I made with my Nikon. I know I already posted enough photos, hence a little gif for you.

You can buy Ozotic nail polish in piCture pOlish online store for AU$13.00. Check out their Network Page to find the sellers near you.

You can also find piCture pOlish on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

*Polish was sent to me for review.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Dance Legend - Aztec no. 4

2013-04-05T21:44:00.003+02:00

Dance Legend is a russian brand of nail polish. They offer a great variety of polishes in different finishes: shimmers, cremes, magnetics, holographics, sanding effect and color changing polishes, glitter top coats and much more. I got the opportunity to review and swatch some of their shades and I took it with both hands. I bet these polishes will wow European and US nail polish addicts! The first one I'm gonna show you is a polish from the Aztec collection in no. 4.

Dance Legend Aztec collection consists of 8 different top coats with irregular glitter particles in white, black, silver, gold and holographic. No. 4 is a clear base with loads of white, irregular glitter particles.

Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Isopropyl Alcohol, Acrylatescopolymer, Stearalconium Hectorite, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Alumina, Iron Oxide.

Dance Legend, Aztec no. 4, 1 coat (over 2 coats of ManGlaze Matte is Murder)

Since Dance Legend Aztec no. 4 is a top coat, I applied it over my existing ManGlaze Matte is Murder manicure. I used two coats of ManGlaze and 1 coat of Dance Legend.

What can I say, it's been a good start. I love pretty much everything about this polish. It doesn't look as awesome in the bottle, but once you apply it - kaboom! My nails look like black and white marble if you don't look to closely.

The formula of this polish was great. The base isn't too runny or too thick and the amount of glitter in it is just right. Oh, I love the brush! It's flat and wide (but not too much) and it picks up a fairly large amount of polish. I won't know until I try a regular nail polish instead of the top coat one, but so far it's all like it's made in heaven. Drying time was short and I was a happy camper. I could feel the texture of the glitter particles on my nails, so I added a coat of top coat, but my nails were photographed prior to that. Oh, here's another thing I love about Dance Legend polishes - their bottles hold 15 mL (or 0.5 oz) of polish. Great, huh?

*Product was sent to me by the company.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Nails of the Day: ManGlaze - Matte is Murder

2013-04-04T13:10:00.000+02:00

If a nail polish shade is special enough I'll wear it more than once, but it must meet some criteria too: it has to be 'my type of color', the application must be easy and the polish must be opaque in 2 coats. Nothing more. If it dries in a short amount of time, more power to it. This one meets all the requirements - I'm wearing my favorite ManGlaze nail polish in Matte is Murder.

ManGlaze, Matte is Murder, 2 coats

Matte is Murder isn't great just due to it's easy application, opacity and fast drying time, it also looks awesome with top coat over it - hello the hidden shimmer! It's vegan, cruelty free (not tested on animals) and big 3 free. What more do you want? You can get it on crappy (their words, not mine) ManGlaze website for 6.66 USD. Check out their Facebook account as well.

What are your requirements for a good nail polish?

Thanks for looking and commenting!