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Archive for the ‘Indies’ Category

30 Day Challenge Day 6 – Violet: A-England Elaine With Stamping

As soon as I looked over the requirements for the 30 Day Challenge I knew right away what polish I would be featuring on Day 6 when we got to violet: A-England Elaine. I’m simultaneously doing 30 Days of Untrieds, this covers both challenges.

I got A-England Elaine (untried) along with three other polishes from the company’s The Mythicals line in July when the company offered its mega-sale, and I’ve been dying to try it ever since. It is described by the company as a “smoky violet amethyst.” Yum.

A-England Elaine With Sonia Kashuk Smoke And Mirrors

I’ve read a lot of blogs that sing the praises of A-England and its incredible formula. I’m happy to say that these reports are NOT greatly exaggerated. Elaine is a beautiful polish that goes on very easily with a high-gloss finish.

This is two coats of A-England Elaine. No topcoat, and look at that shine!

A-England Elaine With Sonia Kashuk Smoke And Mirrors

Perhaps I should have left Elaine to her own devices, but I wanted to add some stamping to this mani. I recently bought the Salon Express kit off of Amazon for about $5, which I would recommend as a great starter kit for anyone that is curious about nail stamping but doesn’t want to devote a big budget to it out of the gate.

A-England Elaine With Sonia Kashuk Smoke And Mirrors

I’m still working on getting the stamping technique down, and I don’t yet own any stamping polishes. This is Sonia Kashuk Smoke And Mirrors, a shiny metallic silver polish. I used a larger tri-heart design on my ring finger and then a small heart on my index finger. Then I tried to freehand hearts on my middle finger and pinkie.

Not the greatest results, but I wanted to give it a go. After all, I’m no shrinking violet. 🙂

30-Day Challenge, 30 Days of Untrieds

Please visit some of the other bloggers that are participating in the 30 Day Challenge this month. I know we will need a lot of encouragement to get through! Click here to see them:



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30-Day Challenge, Indies, NOTD, Swatches

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30 Day Challenge Day 5: Blue – Sinful Colors Rain Storm With Rainbow Honey The Worst Possible Thing

I’ve got something a little simpler for Day 5 of the 30 Day Challenge after yesterday’s uber-challenging (for me) fishtail braid manicure, but that doesn’t mean I love this one any less. Day 5 means blue, and since I’m simultaneously doing 30 Days of Untrieds, so this post covers both challenges.

Sinful Colors Rain Storm with Rainbow Honey The Worst Possible Thing

This is one coat of Sinful Colors Rain Storm (untried) with one coat of Rainbow Honey The Worst Possible Thing (untried) on top, followed by one coat of Poshe fast dry top coat.

Sinful Colors Rain Storm with Rainbow Honey The Worst Possible Thing

Sinful Colors Rain Storm is a very pretty medium dusty blue. It’s a bit of a runner, meaning it goes on thick but really wants to move down the nail. But it was a one-coater for me, so I’m very happy with it.

Rainbow Honey’s The Worst Possible Thing is a glitter top coat with pink, purple, blue and iridescent glitter. It does dry pretty quickly so you need to move fast, but it has great coverage. Mine is a mini bottle, which I still found a little challenging to use, but it was definitely easier to apply than Rainbow Honey Mare Of The Moon. You can buy both at RainbowHoney.com.

Rainbow Honey The Worst Possible Thing

Here’s what it looks like mattified with one coat of Essie Matte About You:

Sinful Colors Rain Storm with Rainbow Honey The Worst Possible Thing

And here’s Sinful Colors Rain Storm on its own:

Sinful Colors Rain Storm

Guess I’m on a bit of a Sinful Colors kick. How about you? They are on sale for $0.99 at Walgreens through Sept. 8 if you want to stock up.

30-Day Challenge, 30 Days of Untrieds

Please visit some of the other bloggers that are participating in the 30 Day Challenge this month. I know we will need a lot of encouragement to get through! Click here to see them:



Category:

30-Day Challenge, Indies, NOTD, Swatches

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Restock Radar: Week Of Sept. 3

Here’s a look at some of the indie nail polish restocks scheduled for this week. Check back every Monday to see what’s coming up.

Monday, September 3
available now
Cirque (On CirqueColors.com)
Notables: Launch of limited edition All Hallow’s Eve collection, including Neko (black matte glitter shards in a clear base)  and Kabocha (bright orange glow-in-the-dark)

eveningET
ELEMENTAL STYLES (On Etsy)
Notables: Colors not specified

Tuesday, September 4
3pmET & 9pmET
SMITTEN POLISH (On Llarowe, and Wednesday on Etsy at 2pmET and 8pmET)
Notables: You’re Turning Violet, Violet (purple and dark blue glitter in a purple base) and Strawberry Tart (pink, blue and red glitter in a pink base)

Wednesday, September 5
5pmET
NAIL SAUCE (On nailsauce.com)
Notables: Limited edition polishes launching – limited info available but they look like holo glitter in a black base

8pmET
ALL THAT GLITTERS (On Big Cartel)
Notables: The Princess Collection, including Kissing On A Frog (green and blue glitter in a green/yellow duo base) and Be Home By Midnight (silver holo and blue glitter in a light blue base)

8pmET
PRETTY & POLISHED (On Etsy)
Notables: Halloween collection, including Candy Corn (an orange-to-yellow color shifter), Witchy Woman (shimmery purple), Blood Clot (lives up to the name!) and Them Bones (mix of hex and bar black & white glitter)

Friday, September 7
3pmET & 9pmET
CANDEO COLORS (On Llarowe)
Notables: Melonball (red, pink and green glitter in a clear base), **a Llarowe exclusive**

10pmET
ELEVATION POLISH (On elevationpolish.com)
Notables: Launch of the new Japan collection, including Dasien (light and dark pink, copper and mutli-colored glitter in a sheer pink base), Kita (silver shimmer in a dark gray base) and Matsuda (Elevation’s version of the “perfect red,” two years in the making)

time not specified
PAHLISH (On Etsy)
Notables: Launch of Portals collection, including Marbles On Glass (hex, square and bar black matte glitter in a clear base) and Little Caroline (orange-to-green color-shifting hex and square glitter in a fuchsia jelly base)

Saturday, September 7
5pmET
HAPPY HANDS POLISH (on Etsy)
Notables: Illusions, Michael (red and gold glitter, gold star glitter, orange and holo shimmer)

time not specified
NOSTALGIC NAIL LACQUER
Notables: Halloween collection, including Bitchcraft (black, pink and blue glitter in a green jelly base) and Like Lovin’ The Dead (mix of green and black glitter in a green milky base)

If you know of any planned restocks coming in the future, please let me know at polishgroupie@gmail.com Thanks for stopping by!

Category:

Indies

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Restock Radar: Week Of August 27

Here’s a look at some of the indie nail polish restocks scheduled for this week. Check back every Monday to see what’s coming up:

Monday, August 27
Tuesday, August 28
time not specified yet, but usually its 3pmET & 9pmET
Candeo Colors (On Llarowe)
Notables: small restock, colors not specified

Wednesday, August 29
8pmET
PRETTY & POLISHED (On Etsy)
Notables: Halloween set, including Candy Corn (an orange-to-yellow color shifter), Witchy Woman (shimmery purple), Blood Clot (lives up to the name!) and Them Bones (mix of hex and bar black & white glitter), plus Midnight Rider and other new color-shifters

Thursday, August 30
~7pmET
ONCE UPON A POLISH (On Etsy)
Notables: Launch of reformulated version of Ursula (purple square and and black hex and shredded glitter in a clear base)

time not specified yet, but usually its 3pmET & 9pmET
PAHLISH (On Llarowe)
Notables: Includes four colors: Slow Fade of Love (purple jelly with hex and square holographic glitter), Glittoris (sheer pink base with pink and red glitter), Prayers for Rain (blue jelly base jampacked with iridescent glitters, small blue and green hex, blue and some flakies)  and Chemical Swirl (purple base with mix of metallic and matte glitter)

time not specified
FANCHROMATIC NAILS (On Etsy)
Notables: Several new-for-fall shades, including Broken Holo Theory (holographic shards and micro glitter in a clear base) and The Man In The Moon (described as a white jelly-ish base with silver and pale blue matte glitter and white glass fleck shimmer)

*Also see below for details on a pre-restock sale.*

Friday, August 31
time not specified
MAISIE SHINE (On Etsy)
Notables: Maisie Daisy (yellow daisy glitter with pink, white and green matte glitter in a clear base, with a portion of the proceeds going to the ASPCA) and new fall colors, including Octopus’s Garden (turquoise shimmer-y base with teal and purple hex glitter)

Saturday, September 1
time not specified
KBSHIMMER (At KBShimmer.com)
Notables: New fall collection, including Oh Splat! (white base with multi-colored glitter), Quantum Leaf (yellow-gold base with red, orange and copper hex glitter), Toucan Touch This (green base with yellow, blue and red hex glitter plus bar glitter), Don’t Teal Anyone (teal base with gold and blue hex glitter plus pink hex and bar glitter), I Made A Bleu Bleu (royal blue shimmer), No Whine Left (burgundy base with blue and purple hex glitter), Witch Way? (blackish-purple base with holographic glitter) and Jack (orange hex and bar glitter in a black jelly base)

And Keep An Eye Out For …
FANCHROMATIC NAILS is running a birthday sale, 27 percent off if you use the code 27BIRTHDAY during checkout, good until 10pmET on Monday, August 27

365 DAYS OF COLOR is offering free shipping until Sept. 1; use the code FREE at checkout.

Llarowe has tentative plans for CROWSTOES and ENCHANTED POLISH restocks on Thursday, August 31, plus the launch of a new line, SABRINA SATO PASSE NATI (a Brazilian line, not an indie, but I’m throwing it in here anyway).

If you know of any planned restocks coming in the future, please let me know at polishgroupie@gmail.com. Thanks for stopping by!

Category:

Indies

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Aphrodite Lacquers RumRunner

In honor of today’s launch of the Aphrodite Lacquers Friday Night Glitter Bombs collection, here’s a look at one of Rebecca’s older polishes, RumRunner.

Aphrodite Lacquers RumRunner

Aphrodite Lacquers RumRunner

Aphrodite Lacquers RumRunner was actually the second-ever addition to my ever-growing collection of indie nail polishes, but for some reason I hadn’t swatched it yet.

RumRunner is part of Aphrodite’s The SandBar Collection, which celebrates summer-y cocktails. Genius!

Aphrodite Lacquers RumRunner

The polish is a berry-colored jelly with dark pink and silver glitter.

Aphrodite Lacquers RumRunner

RumRunner was a dream polish for me. It went on smooth with great application; the formula was perfect for me and it was easily removed, no staining. Plus not too many stray glitters left stranded on my skin, which is often a problem with glitter polish after removal.

This is a base coat of Gelous, two coats of RumRunner, another coat of Gelous and a coat of Poshe.

Aphrodite Lacquers RumRunner

RumRunner is currently available via the Aphrodite Lacquers shop on Etsy, along with the new Friday Night Glitter Bombs. And check out my weekly Restock Radar blog post for more indie polish launches coming this week.

Category:

Indies, Swatches

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Restock Radar: Week Of August 20

Here’s a look at some of the indie nail polish restocks scheduled for this week. Check back every Monday to see what’s coming up:

Monday, August 20
7pmET
NAILD’IT (On Etsy)
Notables: Use code facebook20 for a 20% discount

8pmET
THE POLISH BAR (On Etsy)
Notables: Strawberries ‘N Cream (various red, pink and white glitters in a clear base) and Lilac Blooms (green and purple glitter in a clear base)

time not specified
NAIL SAUCE (Nailsauce.com)
This one’s not a restock per se, but Nail Sauce is celebrating the grand opening of its new online home, Nailsauce.com. It has moved off of Etsy.
Notables: New fall collection, including Wine & Dine (small and medium burgundy glitter plus matte white hex glitter in a clear base) and Whoa, Nice Brass (fine copper and brass glitter with a gritty finish)

Tuesday, August 21
time not specified
TRELLY POLISH (On Etsy)
Notables: Launch of the new Movies Collection, including Hunger Games-inspired Catching Fire (orange, red, pink, black and white glitter)

Wednesday, August 22
time not specified
APHRODITE LACQUERS (On Etsy)
Notables: Launch of the new Friday Night Glitter Bombs Collection

time not specified
D&R APOTHECARY (On Etsy)
Notables: Launching several new shades in its Hit Polish line, including three limited editions and five new neons.

Thursday, August 23
8:30pmET
CHAOS & CROCODILES (On Etsy)
Notables: Several new colors, including In The Light Of the Moon (bluish-purple shimmer)

Friday, August 24
1pmET
TAKKO LACQUER (On Etsy)
Notables: shades not specified

time not specified
NAIL POTIONS (On Etsy)
Notables: Full restock

Saturday, August 25
time not specified
SONNETARIUM (On Etsy)
Notables: Shades not specified

If you know of any planned restocks coming in the future, please let me know at polishgroupie@gmail.com

Category:

Indies

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KBShimmer Band Geek

I recently went away on vacation, and when I came back, I had two awesome pieces of nail mail waiting for me (best way to end a vacation!). One was a quartet of A England polishes I nabbed during their recent sale, and the other was this dark beauty, KBShimmer Band Geek.

KBShimmer Band Geek indie nail polish

Full disclosure: yes, I was in band, so of course had to get this one based on name alone. But also my old high school colors were black and gold (Go Hornets!) so it also hit fairly close to home in that regard as well. Will pause here to say that I also was a varsity cheerleader, so a bit of a weird mash-up, I know.

But back to KBShimmer Band Geek: I love, love, love it!

KBShimmer Band Geek indie nail polish

It’s a very complex, layered, deep polish with a black jelly base and gold, silver and bronze glitter. You can actually stare into it and see all of the different glitters at different levels on your nails. It’s crazy.

KBShimmer Band Geek indie nail polish

I found this very easy to apply, and it had great coverage. I’ve been trying a lot of different indies recently and have had some trouble with the formulas and glitter placement, but not with Band Geek: little to no glitter dabbing/placement needed.

KBShimmer Band Geek indie nail polish

This is two coats of KBShimmer Band Geek, one coat of Gelous and one coat of Poshe.

KBShimmer is sold on Etsy and Harlow, plus KBShimmer has a new fall collection coming out on September 1 so set some of that polish budget aside.

Category:

Indies, Swatches

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