A Recent NOTD: Essie Rock the Boat

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I am feeling a bit under the weather today, so all I have for you is a recent NOTD.  I picked up Essie Rock the Boat (from the Summer 2013 Trend Collection) at Target a few weeks ago.  Very pretty, but I was hoping it was more of a glass fleck.

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Pixi Deepest Dahlia, Charcoal Celebration and Precious Pewter

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Today I have three new polishes for fall from Pixi, which you can pick up now at your local Target!

Deepest Dahlia is a dark vampy purple.  I love that it is so dark, yet never looks black.  The formula was thin, so I had to apply three coats.  I definitely think it was worth it though!  Very sexy!  I can see this as part of a witches Halloween costume!

Charcoal Celebration was a deep charcoal filled with twinkles of pink, purple and teal.  Magical, really!  I only wish I could have captured those colors on camera.  The formula was thin, but not runny, and had great coverage in two coats.

Precious Pewter is a smokey grey base filled with foil-y goodness!  You will definitely want to click the image to enlarge this one, it is just that stunning!  Hands down my favorite from Pixi Fall 2013.

Pixi Nail Color is available at your local Target, on Target.com and pixibeauty.com, where they retail for $8.00 each. 

Which color is YOUR favorite?

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Brand Wars - IT Cosmetics!

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It’s Monday, and that means it’s time for Makeup Wars!  My favorite bloggers and I are going to try to convince you why our favorite brands should be your favorite brands too!  When we were discussing which brands we would focus on today, I immediately knew I wanted to talk about IT Cosmetics.  Although I haven’t been an “IT Girl” for very long, I immediately fell in love with this company.  All of their products are designed with the “real woman” in mind.  They almost all do some type of double duty – like a hydrating lip stain that actually helps heal my perpetually chapped lips.  Here are my current favorite products, in no particular order:

1. 5-in-1 Volumizing Mascara – I was so excited when my ULTA got this in stock, it was the first thing I bought!  It’s 5 products in one:  a volumizing mascara; conditioning, hydrating lash primer; lash-enhancing serum; lash tint; and a lash comb/curler.  It’s the blackest black and really makes my eyes pop! 
2. YBBB Universal Brow Powder Skinny Pencil  - the easiest brow pencil I have ever tried.  I used to be afraid of doing my eyebrows because I thought I looked like a clown.  I don’t have these fears when I use this super skinny pencil!  Check out my review and bonus swatch.
3. Bye Bye Under Eye Waterproof Concealer – I received Light for review and later purchased Medium myself.  I use the Light as my concealer, and I buff Medium all over as my foundation.  I am wearing both in the pictures below!  These are truly full coverage products that are able to hide the discoloration on my upper lip that prevents me from doing many lip swatches.
4. Brow Power Perfector in Dark Brown – When I received this for review, I never thought I would like anything BETTER than my YBBB, but this dark brown is perfect for wearing a full face of makeup.  I tend to wear the YBBB during the day for work, and the Brow Power Perfector when I am going out shopping or to dinner with my hubby.  I definitely adds drama to my look!
5. Hello Light Anti-Aging Crème Luminizer – this cream based illuminating product has become an essential part of my makeup routine now that the dry air has sucked the life out of my skin!  It’s more of a radiance product that a highlighter, which means I don’t have to worry about over doing it.
6. Vitality Lip Blush Hydrating Lip Gloss Stain in Sweet Rose – After falling in love with (and completely using up) the Je Ne Sais Quoi shade I practically begged for another shade to try and was ecstatic to receive Sweet Rose (pictured below).
7. Vitality Lip Flush Butter in Pillow – This shade is the perfect “my lips but better” nude that I can throw into my pocket and go to work, knowing that I can quickly apply it between talking to customers without a mirror.  I almost didn’t pick it up when I found it at ULTA, but I am so glad I did!  It has replaced my beloved Revlon Pink Truffle as my go-to lip product. 
8. Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Trio in Pretty In Smoke – I swatched this one at ULTA and needless to say it came home with me.  One of the shades is the most beautiful taupe – need I say more?  I am wearing this in the photo below, but I will need to swatch it for you separately soon! 
9. Heavenly Luxe Dual Airbrush Foundation/Concealer Brush – I received this dual ended brush to use with my Bye Bye Under Eye.  I have used it every day since!  It’s so easy to clean and cruelty free.  See close up pictures here.
10. LImited Edition Heavenly Luxe Vanity Brush Set – I have fallen in love with these brushes.  The price tag makes it very affordable, but I would pay $50 just for the large powder brush and the no-tug eye brushes.  See my full review (with better pictures!) here.

I have just a few more IT Cosmetics products I am dying to try… Are you listening, my dear husband?

I hope I have done my job convincing you that IT Cosmetics is THE brand that should be on your wish list!

Check out which brands the other ladies of Makeup Wars are featuring below!

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

OPI Mariah Carey Holiday Part Three ♥ The Liquid Sands

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We have already looked at two parts of the OPI Mariah Carey Holiday collection (The Reds and The Shimmers and Glitters).  Today is my favorite, the Liquid Sands!  But Jessika, you say, I thought you were over textured polishes?  Well, to be honest, I am but these Liquid Sands seem more like glitters to me!  

See more after the jump!

OPI Mariah Carey Holiday Part Two ♥ The Shimmers and Glitters

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Earlier today I showed you the The Reds from the Mariah Carey Holiday collection, and now I have the Shimmers and Glitters for you!   Detailed swatches and my thoughts after the jump!

 

OPI Mariah Carey Holiday Part One ♥ The Reds

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OPI has once again teamed up with Mariah Carey for this years holiday collection!  Just like I said when I reviewed the last Mariah Carey collection, I am not a huge fan of hers but I love her Christmas album!  So it seems very appropriate that this year’s holiday collection features Mariah and Christmas songs!

The Mariah Carey Holiday collection is a doozy – there are 18 polishes all together!  I will be breaking this up into 3 separate blog posts for you.  Detailed swatches and my thoughts after the jump!

Coming Soon: China Glaze HoliGlaze!

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Are you ready for some good old fashion glitter?  Because that is what China Glaze is bringing us this holiday season in their Happy HoliGlaze collection!  Whether you love traditional glitters, tiny micro glitters, or “indie” inspired glitters, there’s a glitter for you!  Of course there are some special reds in there too!

Top Ten Tuesdays - My Most Used Makeup Palettes

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I love today’s Top Ten Tuesday topic – favorite palettes!  I am a tried and true palette addict.  I just can’t stop buying them (even if they have duplicate shades! *cough, Too Faced*

These are my most reached for palettes that are still available for purchase:

Stila Travel Palettes Sensational in Sydney and Stylish in Seoul – Some Stila palettes have weak pigmentation, but these two are great and I love the cream blush as well.  Real winners in my book, especially considering I purchased them when Sephora had them for $10!  These two are no longer on the Sephora or Stila websites, but I did find them on skinstore.com (linked above).

Too Faced “Eye” Palettes – I own four of these babies, that’s how much I like them.  The packaging has grown slimmer over the years from the bulky cardboard to the more streamlined tin, but I love them all equally.  The Naked Eye is my favorite neutral cool toned palette (though I accidently put the warmer Natural Eye in my collage).  The Romantic Eye is fabulous in the Spring when I feel like wearing softer colors.  The Smokey Eye is great for date night.  My most recent purchase, Boudoir Eyes has many of my favorite shades from the Naked Eye, like In the Buff, Birthday Suit, Lap Dance and Satin Sheets, along with a few warmer shades.  If you haven’t tried any of these palettes from Too Faced yet, your best bet would be Boudoir Eyes!

Urban Decay “Naked” Palettes – I have the original Naked Palette and the Naked Basics palette.  I know there are dupes of the Naked Basics palette out there (I even own the Physician’s Formula one), but I love the simplicity of it!  Plus they are the perfect shades for my fair coloring.  I also love my Naked palette, although I do wish I had waited and gotten the Naked 2, which leans more neutral-cool.  I only use about half the Naked palette, but I love that half so much!  My favorite shades are Virgin, Sin, Toasted and Hustle.

TheBalm NUDE’tude – I picked this palette up for a steal on Hautelook.  I can honestly say I love the packaging more than anything else (I have the Naughty Palette – you can also get the Nice Palette if you don’t fancy pinup girls)!  I purchased it because I was told that it was most neutral than Urban Decay’s Naked Palette… which did not turn out to be true IMO, but I have made the NUDE’tude work for me!  I love the entire top row of shades, I am really impressed by their quality!  Hmm, that makes me wonder why I only own one palette from TheBalm?

Lorac Femme Fetale – This is another palette I purchased from Hautelook.  In fact, it was created exclusively for the site!  When I first received it, I hated it.  It was so small and it was impossible to get my brushes in the tiny strips.  I finally figured out what kind of brush to use with it (the small, flat brush found in most Ecotools sets) and now I love it!  I can create a very pretty, romantic day look with this palette that never looks over the top.

That’s it!  My Top Ten Favorite Palettes!  Are any of your Top Ten Palettes on my list?  Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to check out the rest of the Top Ten lists below! 

And don't forget to check out which of this year's holiday palettes are on my Wish List!

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Sephora Holiday Shopping List Part One ♥ Gift Sets

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I don’t know about you, but I go a little bit crazy when this part of the year comes around.  Mega gift sets +  multiple Sephora discounts = crazy window shopping!  I haven’t bought anything yet, but here is Part One of my shopping list.  As you can see, it’s mostly Too Faced and Tarte!

• Too Faced Joy to the Girls (so many great sets from Too Faced this year!)

• Smashbox Wondervision Eye Set (swatched this in the store and I am in love!)

• Tarte Off The Cuff Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush Palette & Bracelet

• Too Faced A Few of My Favorite Things (I am a suck for these kinds of sets)

• Buxom Time To Shine™ 6-Piece Mini Full-On™ Lip Collection (they fit in your pocket!)

• Tarte of Giving Collector's Set & Travel Bag (use the bag from last year all the time!)

• Too Faced Plump, Gloss and Glow (can’t believe I still don’t own that blush!)

• Tarte Pure Delights 8-Piece LipSurgence™ Lip Set (again, pocket-sized!)

• Kat Von D Spellbinding Eye Shadow Book (I don’t own ANY of her shadows!!!)

 

Which mega sets are on your shopping list?

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Coming Soon: Nicole by OPI Modern Family Holiday

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My favorite collection from Nicole by OPI from this past year was the Modern Family collection, hands down.  Which is why I am so excited to tell you about the latest Nicole by OPI collection:  Modern Family Holiday!

The new Modern Family Holiday nail lacquers from Nicole by OPI include:

Late Blu-merVintage blue jeans that have stood the test of time.

Spark the ConversationThis holographic glitter coat is the talk of the town.

Who Red My Journal???This scandalous scarlet is private property!

You're My TreasureThis three-dimensional gold has riches beyond my wildest dreams.

Aren't Families Grape?A dramatic royal purple worthy of any sibling rivalry.

The limited edition Modern Family Holiday nail lacquer will be available November 2013 for $7.99 each at select CVS locations nationwide. I can’t wait to see this in person!

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

First Look: Sally Hansen Triple Shine Sparkling Water

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This is just a sneak peak at the Sally Hansen Triple Shine polishes I have to show you!  I haven't had a chance to swatch them all yet, but I am doing a wear test on one of the shades.  I used the new top coat too and I am anxious to see how it holds up!

I like the shape of the bottle - the lid comes off!  The Triple Shine polishes have the same brush that you would find in the Insta Dri polishes.

I chose Sparkling Water for my wear test.  It reminds me a lot of OPI Catch Me In Your Net/Zoya Charla, but more teal.

So far I have heard that these polishes are already available at HEB and Walmarts in Canada.  If you have found them already, please let me know in the comments!

UPDATE:  See my swatches and full review!

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

Beauty Spotlight: Cindy's Big Hair Secrets!

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Prime Beauty's is wrapping up our "My Top" series with 8 hair styling products to pump up the volume in your hair. See what she chose to get BIG hair! 

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.

China Glaze Monsters Ball ♥ Swatches and Review

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This year China Glaze has released a fabulous Halloween theme collection called Monsters Ball.  I picked up three polishes from the collection several weeks ago at ULTA, and recently China Glaze sent the rest of them to me!  Which means I have a few extra polishes to share with one of you!

Howl You Doin’ is a dark purple base (but not a a jelly) filled with glitter that dries slightly uneven and definitely needs a top coat... But oh so worth it!  I have already compared it to OPI Merry Midnight and included it in my Favorite Fall Manicure.  Definitely the highlight of the Monsters Ball Collection!

Bat My Eyes is a black base filled with gold glitter and random pieces of orange bar glitter.  I love how the orange jumps out at you when you are not expecting it!  Love this one.  If you haven’t picked it up already, do it now!

Bump in the Night is a textured black cream.  If you like textures, you will like this.  I prefer the glittery textures myself.

Fang-tastic is one of two glitter toppers.  It is comprised of blue, teal, pink and purple different sized glitters.  It does not make me think of Halloween at all – more like Mardi Gras!  I have layered it over Cult Nails Tempest.

Boo-gie Down is the second glitter topper, here I have it layered over Seche Silly but Sensible.  I can happily say that this glitter was very easy to use!  The orange hex glitter puts the perfect spin on the typical “sticks and stones” glitter.

There was one more polish in this collection, Ghoulish Glow, which is a repromote from previous Halloween collections.  I apologize for not swatching it but I lack the coordination to take pictures of a glow-in-the-dark polish!

Now for those extra bottles I mentioned!  I have three extra polishes to give to one of you – Boo-gie Down, Bat My Eyes and Howl You Doin’.  Please note that these are press samples and may have different labels than you would find in a retail store.  I am doing this as a “flash giveaway” for my loyal readers, so there will not be a lot of entry requirements.  Simply leave a comment letting me know how you follow the blog and enter you email and  in the Rafflecopter widget below.  This giveaway will end this Sunday and is US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosures: polish insomniac at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.