When you’re in that mood, I suggest you reach for OPI Innie Minnie Mighty Bow, which is from the OPI Couture de Minnie Collection!

Not only is the name a bit of a tongue twister (I loved practicing those when I was a kid!), but the colour is so hot, you’d better turn the fan on to cool off. It’s like a hot pepper for your nails! Caliente!

Every so often, I get in the mood to sport a classy red. This is exactly the type I would go for, and I know I’ll be wearing this again!

OPI Innie Minnie Mightie Bow Pictures

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OPI Innie Minnie Mightie Bow Swatches

All swatches have:

• Essie First Base (Base Coat)
• 2 coats of OPI Innie Minnie Mightie Bow
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Natural Light Photos

Flash Photos

Claim: TRUSTED

• Crimson (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: OPI Innie Minnie Mightie Bow
• Collection: OPI Couture de Minnie Collection
• Press Release: Click here to see the OPI Couture de Minnie Collection press release & promo pictures
• Giveaway: Canadians, until May 24, 2013 at 11:59 pm Eastern, enter my giveaway to win the entire OPI Couture de Minnie Collection!
• Colours Available in the Collection: Magazine Cover Mouse (Liquid Sand), Chic from Ears to Tail, A Definite Moust-Have, Innie Minnie Mighty Bow & Minnie Style
• Amount: 15 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
• What I Paid: Nothing! (This was provided by PR.)
• Where to Buy: Trade Secrets & select beauty stores, spas & salons (Available in June)

OPI Innie Minnie Mightie Bow Review

Colour

Innie Minnie Mighty Bow, catch this colour by the toe!

This glowy red is one hot tamale! You’ll love how decadent it looks on your nails, and it creates that classic, feminine manicure with all the seduction of Old Hollywood glam!

While I don’t paint my toenails all that much, this is definitely a shade that I can see worn on toenails because it really pops and makes such a statement.

Finish

Innie Minnie Mightie Bow by OPI is shimmery and looks like it glows! Polish like this can be difficult to photograph because it’s so intense.

But, I hope that you’ll be able to see the ‘glow’ I’m referring to, especially when it’s enhanced by my camera’s flash.

Application & Formula

Innie Minnie Mightie Bow applied smoothly, evenly, and very pigmented. Haha, and I’m not sure why, but whenever I apply a red nail polish, maybe I get nervous because I always seem to paint my cuticles by accident.

This polish has a perfect formula, so all the painted cuticles are due to my own error. That being said, I didn’t do any clean-up, and I still get a great deal of happiness out of manicures that have imperfections. They don’t bother me because I enjoy the colour. Happiness is more important than perfection!

Final Verdict: 9/10

I really loved wearing this sexy red nail polish, and I know I’ll be wearing it again when I crave a traditional red next time!

What’s your favourite red nail polish? Are you into film noir? Who’s your favourite femme fatale?

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When I first saw the bottle, I can’t say that it made my heart race like Usain Bolt. But, when I cracked it open and applied it, it won me over like a balcony serenade. In no time flat, my eyes transformed into cartoon hearts.

For one, it’s a pink that really pops and provides a great contrast against my skin tone. But what thoroughly impressed me was the absolutely perfect formula!

If you don’t have a medium pink in your collection yet, I highly suggest that you pick this up because it gives you great colour with zero fuss.

OPI A Definite Moust-Have Pictures

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OPI A Definite Moust-Have Swatches

All swatches have:

• Essie First Base (Base Coat)
• 2 coats of A Definite Moust-Have
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Natural Light Photos

Flash Photos

Claim: TRUSTED

• Fuchsia (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: OPI A Definite Moust-Have
• Collection: OPI Couture de Minnie Collection
• Press Release: Click here to see the OPI Couture de Minnie Collection press release & promo pictures
• Giveaway: Canadians, until May 24, 2013 at 11:59 pm Eastern, enter my giveaway to win the entire OPI Couture de Minnie Collection!
• Colours Available in the Collection: Magazine Cover Mouse (Liquid Sand), Chic from Ears to Tail, A Definite Moust-Have, Innie Minnie Mighty Bow & Minnie Style
• Amount: 15 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
• What I Paid: Nothing! (This was provided by PR.)
• Where to Buy: Trade Secrets & select beauty stores, spas & salons (Available in June)

OPI A Definite Moust-Have The Review

Colour

A Definite Moust-Have by OPI is a saturated medium reddish pink with some light shimmer. This is a colour that I don’t have a lot of in my collection, so it’s interesting to me. It’s the perfect Monkey-in-the-Middle colour between red and pink.

Finish

The shimmer in this polish seems to provide more of sheen than a contrasting in-your-face effect. I like how it’s simple and girly, yet not overly girly.

It’s a bit of a raspberry in colour, and it reminds me of fruit punch!

When I was a kid, my favourite drink was fruit punch, even though I hardly got to drink it because my mom didn’t want me to load up on sugar.

But, whenever I used to get a pack of gum (yes, my parents were fine with me chewing sugary gum. Go figure!), I usually chose the flavour fruit punch or grape. Yes, I went for the smelliest flavours, apparently. (My mom used to complain about how stinky the grape flavour smelled. She had a sensitive nose. Hehe, and part of the reason why I chose grape at times was exactly because of her reaction. Naughty Mary!)

Application & Formula

Okay, here’s where I have to rave about A Definite Moust-Have by OPI. The formula was pure perfection! It goes on smoothly, evenly, and it’s very pigmented. Even if you don’t paint your nails often, you’ll find that this formula is so darn amazing, it’s like the polish is applying itself!

When OPI gets the formula right, they do such a bang-up job – so impressed! This is how nail polish should apply always!

Final Verdict: 9/10

The formula and the fact that A Definite Moust-Have pleasantly surprised me are the reasons why I’m rating it so high.

If you paint with this, you’ll see exactly why this is such a great polish. It’s very forgiving, and you could literally get a flawless manicure with little effort!

Is OPI A Definite Moust-Have a definite must-have for you? Which polish from the OPI Couture de Minnie Collection are you most excited about? 

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In the past, I avoided pinks because some made my hands look dirty. But, as I’m opening up to trying new shades, I’ve discovered a bunch that are flattering.

And, much like red nail polish, pinks such as OPI Chic from Ears to Tail are novelties to me because I don’t wear them as much as other colours.

This soft and sweet shade is from the OPI Couture de Minnie Collection that some have spotted on the market already, even though the official release is in June.

The name of this polish made me think of tails. What tail would I have if I had one? As much as I love cats, I’d have to say that I’d want to have a bunny tail. It’s cute, compact, and soft! Plus if I had a cat tail, I’d probably trip over it or try to catch it and make myself dizzy – haha! What kind of tail would you have?

OPI Chic from Ears to Tail Pictures

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OPI Chic from Ears to Tail Swatches

All swatches have:

• Essie First Base (Base Coat)
• 3 coats of Chic from Ears to Tail
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Sunlight Photos

This is what it looks like in yellowish sunlight.

Same yellowish sunlight as above.

Natural Light Photos

Flash Photos

Claim: TRUSTED

• Bubblegum pink (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: OPI Chic from Ears to Tail
• Collection: OPI Couture de Minnie Collection
• Press Release: Click here to see the OPI Couture de Minnie Collection press release & promo pictures
• Giveaway: Canadians, until May 24, 2013 at 11:59 pm Eastern, enter my giveaway to win the entire OPI Couture de Minnie Collection!
• Colours Available in the Collection: Magazine Cover Mouse (Liquid Sand), Chic from Ears to Tail, A Definite Moust-Have, Innie Minnie Mighty Bow & Minnie Style
• Amount: 15 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
• What I Paid: Nothing! (This was provided by PR.)
• Where to Buy: Trade Secrets & select beauty stores, spas & salons (Available in June)

OPI Chic from Ears to Tail Review

Colour

If you like Barbie-esque and bubblegum pink polishes, this will be right up your alley. It’s a really cute light pink that isn’t so faint that it looks like a watered-down strawberry milkshake.

I can picture doing a lot of cute Valentine’s Day nail art with this as the base. And because it’s such a simple colour, it allows any design you do to really stand out.

When I wore this manicure, I felt so girly. Okay, so I don’t usually feel like a tom boy, but with such an adorable shade on my nails, I felt like I needed to run around in a pink tutu.

(Random: I actually took ballet lessons when I was in elementary school, and I still have the pink tutu my mom made for me to wear and the cute pink leotard! I also took tap-dance lessons, which I liked more than ballet. Unfortunately, I used to practice on the tiled kitchen floor since all other areas of the home were carpeted, much to the aggravation of my poor parents. Hehe!)

Finish

I want to say that Chic from Ears to Tail by OPI has a creme finish because that’s definitely what you’ll first see.

But, if you catch it in the sun and look very closely (like at Zoltar’s crystal ball), you may see something else.

No, not a man playing a kazoo with his left nostril, Silly! You’ll see some very tiny and sparse silver or pink shimmer.

(I know, bummer, right? I’d rather see the man playing the kazoo in the nail-polish bottle! I’ll try looking harder for him next time. I know he’s there! Hehe, padded walls, here I come!)

Overall, though, Chic from Ears to Tail by OPI looks like a creme polish. At a normal viewing distance, even you won’t see the shimmer, except in certain lighting. And onlookers will only see it if they get abnormally close to your nails. In that case, maybe you can ask them to share a padded cell with me. We’ll split the rent!

Application & Formula

Although I thought this pink was flattering and very adorable, I didn’t like the formula. It was streaky. With light polishes, it sometimes goes with the territory.

The first coat was extremely streaky, which I don’t mind because I never wear just a single coat of polish (unless I’m planning to do nail art on top). With the second, it was still pretty streaky. The third coat seemed to do the trick, but keep in mind that I tend to use medium coats. That’s a lot of polish!

It’s possible that you could get opacity with three thin coats, but I rarely use thin coats just because I’m already in the habit of using medium coats. That polishing method seems to make it easier for me to apply polish more evenly. With thin coats, I mess up a lot, or I get weird dents in my manicure from where the brush dragged and there wasn’t an adequate amount of polish.

Final Verdict: 6.5/10

Chic from ears to Tail is certainly a pretty polish, and I think those who like softer shades will appreciate it.

Is it worth the time invested in applying 3 coats? Since I’m not the biggest pink-polish fan (unless it’s neon), I can’t say that it is for me. But, for those times when I’m craving this type of pink (yes, sometimes it happens!), I do plan to wear this again.

Do you collect bubblegum pinks, or is one enough for your collection? What do you think about the OPI Couture de Minnie Collection from what I’ve showed so far? Have any tickled your fancy?

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Today I’m reviewing the shade I was most excited to try in the collection - OPI Magazine Cover Mouse!

It has the Liquid-Sand finish that you know I’ve been digging more than a shovel in a deep sandbox!

(When I wore this, I imagined that I was Minnie Mouse on the cover of Makin’ Cheddar Magazine. Yeah, everyday I’m hustlin’, Rick Ross! Haha!)

Even though I’m excited about this, there’s something I’m even more excited about.

Guess what? In this post, my mom’s hands and nails make a first-time appearance on Swatch And Learn. You’ll see the photos near the bottom of this post.

For Mother’s Day, when I went to visit my mom, I painted her nails and my own with OPI Magazine Cover Mouse so we’d match. I thought it would be fun, especially since my mother hardly ever pampers herself, let alone wears nail polish. It was a little treat, and something fun we could share together.

Although she doesn’t like nail polish, from time to time, she softens and likes me to paint her nails. (We’re talking once a year, to give you an idea!) And I often have to invest a lot of time trying to convince her to let me give her a manicure!

My mom is retired now, but when she worked full-time, she had a very stressful corporate job, and she worked long hours. Often, she’d come home late, yet she always mustered up the energy to whip up a delicious dinner from scratch when my brother and I still lived at home.

She is the hardest working person I know, and she is a true inspiration to me. There’s not a single lazy bone in her body! Haha, oftentimes I have to remind her to take a break and relax, so she doesn’t overdo it.

It was the first time she had ever worn a textured polish like this, and she was quite intrigued. Haha, but she still prefers the traditional smooth and glossy finish over texture. And, I had to redo her manicure because she literally dented nearly half of her nails within an hour of me painting them. She isn’t used to sitting still and not being busy doing things.

OPI Magazine Cover Mouse Pictures

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OPI Magazine Cover Mouse Swatches

All swatches have:

• Essie First Base (Base Coat)
• 2 coats of OPI Magazine Cover Mouse
• No top coat!

Natural Light Photos

Flash Photos

Claims: TRUSTED

• Strawberry (Yes)
• Sparkling texture (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: OPI Magazine Cover Mouse
• Collection: OPI Couture de Minnie Collection
• Press Release: Click here to see the OPI Couture de Minnie Collection press release & promo pictures
• Giveaway: Canadians, until May 24, 2013 at 11:59 pm Eastern, enter my giveaway to win the entire OPI Couture de Minnie Collection!
• Colours Available in the Collection: Magazine Cover Mouse (Liquid Sand), Chic from Ears to Tail, A Definite Moust-Have, Innie Minnie Mighty Bow & Minnie Style
• Amount: 15 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
• What I Paid: Nothing! (This was provided by PR.)
• Where to Buy: Trade Secrets & select beauty stores, spas & salons (Available in June)

OPI Magazine Cover Mouse Review

Colour

Magazine Cover Mouse by OPI is a classic strawberry red with a twist. At first, I thought it was just red with some red and pink sparkles. But when I looked at my nails and the bottle in the sunlight a couple of days after I had photographed my manicure, I noticed that there’s also some gold mixed in!

I loved how the gold was subtle, yet it definitely blends in to add that extra Bling Factor to your manicure.

This is great for those who like wearing traditional, feminine nail colour, but who want to embrace the new textured-nail trend.

And for nailphiles like me who love saturated colour, Magazine Cover Mouse certainly doesn’t disappoint! It’s a great, bright red that I think would look great on many different skin tones.

Finish

Magazine Cover Mouse is an OPI Liquid Sand. It’s meant to have noticeable grittiness, but it’s not sharp, and although it may look like it’d be a pain in the acetone to remove, it’s actually not bad at all. Regular glitter nail polish is harder to remove than a Liquid Sand!

You could wear a top coat over it for a glossy shine, but you’d need to wear multiple coats to achieve (and to maintain) the glass-like appearance. It eats top coat!

I prefer wearing Liquid Sands as they were intended – solo. The sparkles still shine through like a fierce tiger ready to pounce, so I’m very pleased with the finish.

Application & Formula

Applying this was simple – it was like all the other Liquid Sands I’ve worn. It’s easy to control, and it’s very pigmented.

Plus the formula is great for people who are really busy and on-the-go because Liquid Sands dry faster than regular nail polish.

Here’s My Mom’s First Appearance on Swatch And Learn!

Here she is posing with a card and a couple of gingerbread cookies I got her for Mother’s Day.

Since the sun was out, I snapped a photo of her wearing OPI Magazine Cover Mouse in direct sunlight. The red, pink, and gold sparkles aren’t as distinct in photographs, but when you wear it, in person, you’ll see them in the sun!

Final Verdict: 8/10

I really loved wearing OPI Magazine Cover Mouse, and the fact that I wore it on the same day as my mom makes it special. Hehe, I guess you could say for that day, we were magazine-cover MICE! *Squeak* “Who moved my cheese?” (I actually read the book by the same name a long time ago.)

Will you also be a ‘Magazine Cover Mouse’ and sport this Liquid Sand? Which is your favourite Liquid Sand so far? Do you ever paint your mom’s nails? Ever wear a matching shade?

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Canadians, enter to win the entire OPI Couture de Minnie Collection!

I teamed up with the amazing OPI PR team to make this giveaway possible. (I’ve done international giveaways before, but this time, I want to reach out to my fellow Canadians.)

As a blogger, I’ve collaborated with several PR firms and companies. I’ve been privileged to review new nail polishes that sometimes haven’t even hit the stores yet. It’s really exciting! So, I wanted to share that excitement with Swatch And Learn readers by offering you a chance to get brand-new polishes before they’re officially released. (The OPI Couture de Minnie Collection will officially be released in June, although sometimes there are stores that seem to carry them a little sooner.)

My loyal readers know just how to turn even my worst days into the best days. You’ve left me thoughtful comments and even welcomed me back after I took a short hiatus. Thanks for reinforcing why I blog – to connect with people, to share a similar passion, and to learn from and be inspired by others!

Swatch And Learn readers are the best!

Thanks for touching my heart, opening up to me, caring about what I have to say, and laughing at my jokes. It is greatly appreciated!

To find out how to enter, please carefully read the rest of this post.

Giveaway Details:

• Starts: Now
• Ends: Friday May 24 at 11:59 pm Eastern
• Who Can Enter: Canadian residents
• Prize: The entire OPI Couture de Minnie Collection (5 full-size bottles! To see the exact shades, click on the link. It leads to the official press release sent to me by PR.)
• How Many Times You Can Enter: One entry per person. Even if you comment more than once, I will only count it as a single entry.
• How to Enter: In a comment, tell me what you enjoy seeing the most on Swatch And Learn. (I’d like to know so I can give you more of what interests you!)
• Please Help Me Spread the Word: I’d appreciate it if you could help me get the word out about this giveaway. Feel free to tweet, blog, etc. about it.
• Picking the Winner: I’ll be using Random.org to randomly select the winner. I’ll announce the winner sometime on May 25. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my e-mail to claim the prize. Failure to do so will force me to randomly draw another winner. After the winner sends me the mailing address, I’ll forward it to OPI’s PR, and they’ll send you the prize directly! (Please add swatchandlearn@gmail.com to your Safe list so my e-mail doesn’t accidentally go to the Junk folder.)

Please Support Me Along These Social-Media Platforms

No, it’s not mandatory to be entered in this giveaway, but I would appreciate your support.

• “Like” me on Facebook (Swatch And Learn)
• Twitter (@SwatchAndLearn)
• Instagram (@swatchandlearn)
• Google+ (Mary)
• beautylish (Mary)
• Pinterest (Mary)
• BlogLovin’ (Swatch And Learn)
• Feedburner – RSS Feed & E-mail Subscription (Swatch And Learn)

Good luck!

P.S. I will be reviewing the shades in the OPI Couture de Minnie Collection. Check back soon! Which one(s) are you looking forward to the most?

Edit: These are the polishes from the OPI Couture de Minnie Collection that I’ve reviewed and swatched so far (will keep adding as I review more):

• OPI Magazine Cover Mouse (Liquid Sand)
• Chic from Ears to Tail
• A Definite Moust-Have
• Innie Minnie Mightie Bow

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It makes me think of a smug nail polish with its nose turned up thinking that it’s all that and a bag of chips. And I picture it wearing a J Crew sweater tied around its neck.

Hehe, snobbery aside, Too Yacht to Handle is a wonderfully bright lacquer that really spells summer to me. I can see how this would flatter a lot of different skin tones.

China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle Pictures

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China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle Swatches

All swatches have:

• Essie First Base (Base Coat)
• 2 coats of China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Sunlight Photos

Natural Light Photos

Flash Photos

Claim: TRUSTED

• Blue-green creme (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle
• Collection: China Glaze Sunsational Collection 2013
  • Cremes: Neon & On & On, Too Yacht to Handle, Sun of a Peach, Bottoms Up, That’s Shore Bright & Highlight of My Summer
  • Jellies: Shell-O, Keepin’ It Teal, Isle See You Later, Are You Jelly?, You Drive Me Coconuts & Heat Index
• Amount: 14 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
• What I Paid: $2.93 CAD
• Where to Buy: Trans Design, NailPolishCanada, 8ty8Beauty, Nailsupplies, Head2Toe, select Sally Beauty Supplies stores & select beauty-supply stores

China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle Review

Colour

Too Yacht to Handle by China Glaze is an aqua with nuances of blue and green that complements many skin tones from fair to rich.

Whenever I wear a polish like this, I always dig the contrast it provides. Plus it’s nice and bright, so on a sunny day, your nails really come to life.

I’m not sure if I would categorize this as a neon, though. Sure, it’s bright, but I don’t feel like I need to pull out a pair of Ray Bans and a too-cool-for-school attitude.

Finish

Too Yacht to Handle by China Glaze has a creme finish, which is simple, but very effective. A colour as lively as this one doesn’t need a lot of bells and whistles to really stand out. The colour does all the talking!

Application & Formula

After trying China Glaze Neon & On & On from the same collection, I was concerned that China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle would also have a hard-to-work-with formula that was streaky.

However, I was pretty pleased to discover that Too Yacht to Handle went on smoothly and was so creamy. I don’t have anything but praise for this great formula. And you should only need 2 medium coats to completely cover the nail line.

Final Verdict: 9/10

Too Yacht to Handle by China Glaze is a fun polish to wear. Even if it’s not the most original colour, it’s one of those shades that always seems flattering. And it puts me in a good mood because it’s bright and cheerful.

Have you tried any of the Sunsational Collection shades? What’s your favourite aqua polish? Do you think this polish is ‘too yacht to handle’? Hehe!

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I’ve had this since last year, and I hauled it when I was placing a huge online order of candles. (Haha, I haven’t bought anything from Bath & Body Works since because I’m trying to use up the huge collection I’ve amassed!)

Since it was on sale, I added this blackberry peel-off mask to my cart.

I’ve used it a few times since purchasing it, and, hehe, I’ve also used it on the guy I’m dating. We both really loved it!

True Blue Spa Blackberry Purifying Peel Off Face Mask Pictures

True Blue Spa Blackberry Purifying Peel Off Face Mask Ingredients

What It Looks Like On

You don’t usually see me post photos of my face on Swatch And Learn, hehe, but I just had to show you this face shot. So dramatic! Most of the masks I’ve tried are white or beige. This one’s BAMMMMM like tar! Yeah, so don’t answer the door when you have this mask on. You might frighten someone!

Claims: TRUSTED

• Purifying (Yes)
• Blackberry scent (Yes)
• Peels away pore-clogging dirt, oil & debris (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: True Blue Spa Blackberry Purfiying Peel Off Face Mask
• Amount: 118 mL (4 fl. oz.)
• What I Paid: It’s been a while, but I think I got it on sale – Buy 2, get 1 free. So it was probably around $8 USD
• Where to Buy: Bath & Body Works stores & Bath & Body Works website (Edit: A reader e-mailed me and informed me that when she went to her Bath & Body Works store, an employee told her that they’re actually going to be discontinuing this product and that it’s only available online. So, take note, and stock up on this while you still can!)

True Blue Spa Blackberry Purifying Peel Off Face Mask The Review

Fragrance

I never knew just how much I liked the smell of blackberries until I tried this True Blue Spa Blackberry mask! It smells so yummy, I wanted to eat it!

It’s fresh and juicy, and it’s more on the sweet side than the tart side, so I was drooling! Totally didn’t expect to be blown away by the scent of a peel-off mask!

Application

It was easy to apply. It’s pretty thick – much thicker than a lotion. It’s almost like a thickened gel, so you have to work a bit to apply it evenly and to spread it over your skin.

Formula

Squeezing it out of the tube, it comes out slowly and oozes. It’s so thick that when you go to wash your hands, it actually clings to your skin. You need to rub your hands well to remove it, and it has an interesting slime-y feeling when you wash with water.

Colour

The colour surprised me. I didn’t realize it was going to be black! And I had a good time laughing when I looked at myself in the mirror with this on. I can just imagine someone knocking on my door when I have this on. The poor person would have a heart attack if I answered like this!

For me, a black peel-off mask is a novelty, and I have fun wearing something so dramatic. It almost makes me feel like I’m slathering on war paint and going out to battle.

And when I used this on the guy I’ve been dating, at first, I applied it like the black marks under football-players’ eyes. Hehe! This is such a fun mask to play with! And when I showed him his reflection in the mirror, his first reaction was, “Oh wow!”

Packaging

I really like the squeeze-tube packaging because it helps to easily dispense just the right amount of product that’s needed without wasting any. Also, since it’s a tall, thin tube, it takes up less space in my already-cluttered bathroom.

Removal

Removing this blackberry peel-off mask was the fun part!

After applying the mask, you need to wait until it’s completely dry. (That took roughly 10-15 minutes for me.) Then, you start peeling it off from the outer edge to the inside.

When you do this, it doesn’t rip your skin, which I was worried about. (My skin is sensitive, so it gets irritated easily.) This mask didn’t irritate my skin.

You can feel a little tension on your skin as it pulls out blackheads, whiteheads, and impurities, but it’s not as abrasive as those Biore nose strips.

When you pull off the mask, it’s so freaky – it looks almost like seaweed!

I was able to peel off the majority of the mask in two pieces, and then if you have anything remaining, you can just get a washcloth and gently wipe it away.

After removal, my skin felt soft, clean, and not dry or irritated.

Animal-Friendliness

The tube says that this product wasn’t tested on animals. However, it was tested on other ‘animals’ – me and my guy. Hehe!

Final Verdict: 10/10

If you’ve never tried a peel-off mask before or one that was black, you must try this! It’s so much fun, and I think if you have sleepovers, bring this along and share it with your friends. It’s hilarious to see each other with ‘war paint’.

What facial mask have you tried? Do you get facials at the spa or do your own at home? Have you tried any other True Blue Spa products from Bath & Body Works?

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Recently, I bought 6 shades from the China Glaze Sunsational Collection – all the cremes. And I’ve been wearing a bunch lately.

The first manicure I wore was China Glaze Neon & On & On! It’s a very bright Barbie pink. Although I’m not crazy about pinks, when it comes to neon nail polish, it’s one of my favourite kinds to sport.

China Glaze Neon & On & On Pictures

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China Glaze Neon & On & On Swatches

All swatches have:

• Essie First Base (Base Coat)
• 3 coats of China Glaze Neon & On & On
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Natural Light Photos

Flash Photos

Claim: TRUSTED

• Bright pink (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: China Glaze Neon & On & On
• Collection: China Glaze Sunsational Collection 2013
  • Cremes: Neon & On & On, Too Yacht to Handle, Sun of a Peach, Bottoms Up, That’s Shore Bright & Highlight of My Summer
  • Jellies: Shell-O, Keepin’ It Teal, Isle See You Later, Are You Jelly?, You Drive Me Coconuts & Heat Index
• Amount: 14 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
• What I Paid: $2.93 CAD
• Where to Buy: Trans Design, NailPolishCanada, 8ty8Beauty, Nailsupplies, Head2Toe, select Sally Beauty Supplies stores & select beauty-supply stores

China Glaze Neon & On & On Review

Colour

Neon & On & On by China Glaze is definitely neon, and if you’re a fan of having flashy nails that you could almost flag down an airplane with, this is the shade for you.

I love wearing neons in the warmer months, but they’re just as fun to wear in the dead of winter as a shocking manicure that competes with the brightness of the snow for attention.

When you have this on your nails, strangers will be staring at your nails nearly as much as you’ll be looking at them yourself. Definitely a fun shade to have in your collection.

Even though I have pink neons that are quite similar, I still had to pick this up.

Finish

Since Neon & On & On by China Glaze has neon properties, the finish is matte. In order for you to really get the neon-ness to pop, you must wear a shiny top coat. Otherwise, it will look very unsightly. More on that in the section below.

Application & Formula

Part of the reason why I was so excited to try this polish was because a lot of neons tend to be sheer, and you have to build them up to get better opacity. Since China Glaze advertised this as having a creme finish, I thought that maybe it would be more pigmented.

The first coat was extremely streaky, even though the formula was on the thicker side. With a second coat, I was able to cover the nail pretty well, but it still looked very uneven, so I went with a 3rd just to ensure I got complete opacity.

While painting my nails, I thought the formula was more difficult to work with than a usual neon polish. It’s not the most forgiving, and the finish almost had a clay-like look, which I wasn’t fond of.

If you wear this, you will absolutely need to wear a shiny top coat. Once you add it, your manicure will smooth out, the neon quality will burst through, and overall, your nails will look better. Without the top coat, your nails look uneven and very funky (but not in a good way).

Final Verdict: 8/10

I was tempted to give this polish a 7 because the formula made me want to knock off a lot of points from the Final Verdict. But, I really loved the colour with a top coat, and I wore it for several days before removing it, so that needs to count for something.

I do really like this polish because of the colour, but in terms of formula, you have to work a little harder to get the results you want. So, if you want a polish that’s fuss-free, I don’t recommend this. However, if you’re willing to put in a little more effort, this is a fun neon for the summer!

Have you tried any of the neons in the China Glaze Sunsational Collection? What colour is your favourite neon to wear? Do you wear neons all year long?

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It’s from the OPI San Francisco Collection that’s coming out on August 7.

It’s an interesting duochrome (although at times I thought I saw a third colour, which would make this a multichrome).

I wish that the sun came out when I was wearing this manicure, but Mr. Sun was shy, so I only have natural-light and flash photos to share with you.

I tried really hard to capture the duochrome by posing at weird angles. Hopefully you’ll be able to see the colour shift okay.

OPI Peace & Love & OPI Pictures

Natural Light

Flash

Natural Light

Flash

OPI Peace & Love & OPI Swatches

All swatches have:

• Essie First Base (Base Coat)
• 2 coats of OPI Peace & Love & OPI
• Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Natural Light Photos

Flash Photos

Claims: 66% TRUE, but Product: TRUSTED

• Sage (Yes)
• Eggplant (Yes)
• Holographic (No)

Key Notes

• Name: OPI Peace & Love & OPI
• Collection: OPI San Francisco Collection Fall/Winter 2013
• Press Release: Click here to see the OPI San Francisco Collection press release & quick swatches of all the shades
• Colours Available in the Collection: A-Piers to Be Tan, Dining al Frisco, Haven’t the Foggiest, Peace & Love & OPI, Keeping Suzi at Bay, Incognito in Sausalito, Lost on Lombard, I Knead Sour-Dough, Muir Muir on the Wall, In the Cable Car-Pool Lane, Embarca-Dare Ya!, First Date at the Golden Gate, It’s All San Andreas’s Fault (Liquid Sand), Wharf! Wharf! Wharf! (Liquid Sand) & Alcatraz…Rocks (Liquid Sand)
• Amount: 15 mL (0.5 fl. oz.)
• What I Paid: Nothing! (This was provided by PR.)
• Where to Buy: Trade Secrets & select beauty-supply stores, spas & salons (Available August 7)

OPI Peace & Love & OPI Review

Colour

Peace & Love & OPI mostly looks like a duochrome, but at times, I was so sure that there was a third colour shift, so maybe it’s actually a multichrome.

The predominant colours are a deep teal and fuchsia. The shift between the two is easy to see – you won’t have to squint to see them.

However, photographing the shift was a bit tricky. With flash photography, I found it nearly impossible to show the two colours. And with natural lighting, I had to hold my hand at awkward angles.

Just when I thought it was a duochrome, as I was photographing it, I noticed that there’s a bit of silver that peeks through. The silver blends in a lot with the teal, so maybe that’s why I didn’t see it at first.

Finish

Although OPI’s press release on this collection said that Peace & Love & OPI is holographic, I didn’t see that at all. It had more of a multichrome-metallic, shimmery finish. Haha, I literally stared at this polish a lot, as though I could ‘will’ the holographic quality into existence.

Perhaps it would come out in the sun, but in natural lighting and everyday conditions, I didn’t see even a faint holographic presence.

With this metallic finish, you can see visible brushstrokes. I know that’s a deal breaker for some. I was fine with them, but I think the manicure would look smoother with fewer showing.

Since these brushstrokes show, I suggest painting your nails a little slower so at least you can get all of them to line up instead of some going off on different angles.

This is the type of polish that doesn’t seem to look better when you apply a shiny top coat. It ends up looking exactly the same as if you wore it without. However, since I prefer to use a fast-drying top coat for my manicures, I used it over this polish.

Application & Formula

Applying this polish was really easy because the polish flowed wonderfully onto the nail and allowed me to work with it more before drying too quickly.

It covered the nail very well with just 2 medium coats, and I found the formula to be fuss-free, aside from the brushstrokes.

How Similar Is It to OPI Not Like the Movies?

I think a lot of people may be wondering how close it is to that Katy Perry Collection nail polish. Click here to see my OPI Not Like the Movies Swatches & Review.

In a nutshell, they’re not dupes. The predominant colour in Not Like the Movies is silver, and overall, the polish looks much lighter than Peace & Love & OPI. Also, Not Like the Movies has little tiny silver pieces, but Peace & Love & OPI has no glitter or pieces.

Final Verdict: 7/10

Although I realize lots of people will be disappointed that it’s not actually holographic, I still think it stands alone as a nice nail polish. The colour shift in Peace & Love & OPI is noticeable, and you’ll have fun looking at your nails at different angles.

Do visible brushstrokes bother you? Do you prefer duochrome or multichrome polishes? Which is your favourite shade from the San Francisco Collection so far?

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Before this, I only had celebrity perfumes in my collection. There’s nothing wrong with them. (My signature everyday fragrance is actually Britney Spears Fantasy.) But I feel really privileged to have a Jo Malone perfume in my rotation.

Although Jo Malone fragrances come in such elegant packaging, when I wore this incredibly intoxicating scent, I was overjoyed that it made me feel like I had rubbed a ginger cookie all over my body. It’s the kid in me – I love smelling edible! (I think I was a frosted cupcake in my previous life.)

I only heard about Jo Malone fragrances recently when I hung out with two amazing fellow Canadian bloggers of My Numerous Diversions and Sparkled Beauty. (However, apparently there’s a lot of chatter about Jo Malone in beauty circles, and you can even layer the scents to customize the perfume experience. This brand totally flew under my radar until now!)

We went to eat Thai food and, in true beauty-blogger form, we hit up the stores. (My wallet was shivering a bit. But I did pull it aside a few days prior to the event and prepare it for the atrocities that might follow.)

Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit Pictures

I really appreciate the little details like this when it comes to fancy packaging. The dark, contrasting stripes against the cream-coloured box make it look luxe and modern to me.

Here is Ginger Biscuit taking a short nap in bed. (Hey, being a fragrance that has lasting power is really tough!)

Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit Ingredients

Claims: TRUSTED, but Product: HOLY GRAIL STATUS

• Just-baked biscuit (Yes)
• Ginger (Yes)
• Nutmeg (Yes)
• Cinnamon (Yes)
• Caramel (Yes)
• Hazelnut (Yes)
• Tonka Bean (Yes)
• Vanilla (Yes)

Key Notes

• Name: Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit Cologne
• Collection: Jo Malone Sugar & Spice Collection 2013
• Fragrances in the Jo Malone Sugar & Spice Collection: Ginger Biscuit, Lemon Tart, Redcurrant & Cream, Elderflower & Gooseberry & Bitter Orange & Chocolate
• Amount: 30 mL 
• What I Paid: Nothing! (This was a surprise gift from the guy I’ve been dating! I feel so spoiled!)
• Where to Buy: Jo Malone counter at Holt Renfrew (It seems to already be sold out on the Jo Malone website.)
• Limited Edition? Yes!

Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit Review

First, a Little Background

I’m so picky when it comes to scents because a lot of times, fragrances give me a bad headache. Also, I have an ‘immature’ scent preference because I gravitate toward perfumes that smell like cupcakes, cake batter, and sugar.

Basically, all the perfumes I wear make me smell edible. (I hope that I never run into the troll under the bridge like in the Three Billy Goats Gruff fairytale because I don’t think using the excuse to wait for my smelly brother to come along will quite work in this case.)

So there I was sniffing a bunch of new-to-me Jo Malone fragrances with fellow bloggers, thinking that nothing would ‘hit the spot’. I was wrong! I made the ‘mistake’ of smelling Ginger Biscuit. I couldn’t stop sniffing the paper tester I sprayed the perfume on. Literally, I was breathing in so hard that the paper began to curl towards my nose and touch it!

The hefty $70 CAD price tag for the 30 mL limited-edition bottle was literally the only thing that made me hesitant to run to the cashier, salivating like a dog catching a whiff of bacon. (Woof!)

I had been gushing about the scent to the guy I’ve been dating, and not long after, what did Prince Charming do? *Gasp* He surprised me with it! I couldn’t believe it!

The second I opened it, I sprayed it on my wrist and then dabbed my wrist onto my neck. It’s incredible (hehe, it got his approval, too). This seriously is now competing with my all-time favourite perfume, which is Britney Spears Fantasy.

Fragrance

The Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit cologne is definitely a warm, cozy type of scent that I like to call a “Cuddler”. I call it this because its projection doesn’t hit you over the head with a brick like some loud-and-proud types. Ginger Biscuit lies close to the skin, so when people hug you, they smell it.

Sure, other people can detect it on you, but it’s more a personal fragrance, I find. Really, I wear fragrances for myself, not to attract other people. Wearing perfume is a source of comfort for me, and I feel like even if I’m having a bad day, when I catch a whiff of a good perfume, it’s enough to make me a little happier.

Ginger Biscuit smells like real ginger cookies to me. Seriously, when I smell it, I want to eat the perfume! (But, at $70 CAD a pop, that would be the most expensive cookie to devour. Haha!)

It’s undeniably a sweet fragrance, but more in the way of a fancy gourmand scent instead of a teeny-bopper candy kind. (As you know, bakery scents are my favourite, especially when they’re laced with sugar, vanilla, and caramel! My sweet tooth liaises with my ‘sweet nose’, apparently!)

What I especially appreciate is that the ginger in this is mild. You notice it quite easily, but it’s not too sharp or dominating. In fact, it’s a team player, and it meshes well with the creaminess of the other scents.

Vanilla is what gives Ginger Biscuit its soft creaminess, and the very faint touch of hazelnut adds to the warmth.

The caramel note adds the sweetness that makes this a feminine scent. Then, with a sprinkling of other spices, you get a fragrance that is so much more than a simple sugary experience.

With all the notes, you get the girly scent you love, but I feel like the spiciness makes it less girly and more womanly without feeling too mature. It’s the perfect step up from what I’m used to wearing, but it’s not a ‘serious’ type of perfume along the lines of Burberry or Chanel.

In a nutshell, Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit is perfect for people like me who love warm, sugary scents, but who want to try a more grown-up version.

This is soft enough to be appropriate to wear in the warmer months, but because of the warmth and creaminess, I feel like it’s still fine to wear in the colder months.

Scent Evolution

Upon first spray, I could smell the sweet notes and the spiciness. After about an hour, they blend together more, and on me, the sweeter notes remain the most prominent. I love how the dry down and the base that lasts for me is caramel and vanilla! But even at the end of the day, I can mildly detect the ginger.

Lasting Power

I use two sprays – one on each wrist. Then I dab my wrists together before dabbing my wrists on the sides of my neck.

From the morning all the way until I came home late at night after hanging out with friends, I could still smell the fragrance, so, yes, it has good lasting power!

Of course, when I first sprayed it, it’s the strongest. By noon, it softened a little, and then at night, it mellows out a bit more.

If you’re looking for a scent that holds its maximum strength all day and night, this isn’t it. This is the type that gradually softens throughout the time you wear it. It’s what I’m going to call a ‘Lullaby Scent’ because it gradually drifts off to sleep.

Packaging

Jo Malone perfumes have elegant and minimalist packaging, which makes them look like they’re indeed for a classy woman.

The glass bottle has a thin, tall, rectangular silhouette, and the labels are made out of textured paper.

The box it came in is textured, too, and the cream colour looks fancy with the black contrast trim details.

And when my guy got this scent from the Jo Malone counter at Holt Renfrew, they wrapped a thin, satiny brown bow around the box. (Haha, we both tried to wrap it back up so that I could snap a photo of it, but we couldn’t get it to look the same. It takes wrapping skill!)

Also, the gift bag it was in even had a special brown ribbon that was cut in-store and ‘bow-tied’ at the cash register. Very nice service and attention to detail! These kind of things make the shopping experience feel more special.

Price

Money doesn’t grow on trees. But, one time, I planted a $20 bill in hopes of growing a tree that blossomed with Canadian currency. When it sprouted, I didn’t see any money, but I did notice a squirrel who had been eyeing my tree carrying a stack of large Skippy Peanut Butter bottles home! Perhaps he harvested my money.

Hehe, okay, so maybe none of that happened.

Back to the review! I can’t talk about Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit without mentioning the exorbitant price. For many, that could be a major deal breaker.

I work full-time, but spending $70 for 30 mL of perfume takes a lot of internal convincing. It was my luck that during the days I was trying to do some serious internal convincing, my guy beat me to the punch!

This is a splurge fragrance. Even though I would really want to buy a back-up of this limited-edition fragrance in case they don’t bring it back, I can’t afford it.

Sadly, because of the price tag and the fact that it has already sold out online, it won’t be accessible to many people.

If your finances allow you to splurge, and you love sweet, warm, bakery-type scents, this is one I think you will fall in lust with!

Final Verdict: 10/10

Ginger Biscuit by Jo Malone is my soulmate in perfume form. Sure, I still love my Britney Spears Fantasy, but Ginger Biscuit eclipses it because Ginger Biscuit is more complex and interesting because of the ginger.

I’ll still wear Fantasy happily, but it’s nice to have Ginger Biscuit in the mix! I’m wearing it sparingly since this 30 mL bottle is so precious! (“My Preciousssssss!”)

What perfume have you splurged on? Have you tried any Jo Malone fragrances? What scents would you recommend I try?

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