We Search. We Find. We ShopStyle! #WeShopStyle

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ShopStyle is celebrating their new look of their website with a fun campaign – We Search.  We Find.  We ShopStyle!  You will see this campaign in magazines, on buses, on TV, and now here, on polish insomniac as I share my ShopStyle layout with you, thanks to POPSUGAR Select!

This photo shoot was a lot of fun to put together – and a lot of work!  Who knew it was so hard to lie down to take a picture!  I pulled my favorite pieces from my closest to share with you.  Props to my hubby, who volunteered to not only take the pictures but help me style the shots!

Clockwise from top:

• LOFT Mini Polka Dot Sweatshirt – I have been living in their lightweight sweatshirts this year!
• My three favorite Marc Jacobs polishes and my trusty Revlon Lip Butter.
• You won’t find me out and about without a bottle of Pelligrino in my hand – I gave up my pop (soda) habit and replaced it with this!
• Red patent leather Linea Paolo flats – I feel like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz when I wear these! (style no longer available)
• Ann Taylor Floral Denim  – I love how classic these are!  (no longer available)
• Black and Cream LOFT Ballet Flats – I have several of LOFT’s flats, they are inexpensive enough to buy one in every color!  (style no longer available)
• London Jean Denim Skirt – remember when The Limited carried this line from the Victoria’s Secret catalog in stores?  I have held on to it all these years and I am happy to say I still fit in it!
• 3.1 Philip Lim for Target Crossbody Bag – My bag is from Target, now I want the real thing.
• LOFT Dot Print Lace Strap Shell – black, white AND polka dots?  Yes, please!

As you can see, I am drawn to neutrals, polka dots and bright pops of color!

Find out more about ShopStyle in this short video:

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.

Updated Beauty Wish List (aka Shopping List for the Hubby, Part 2)

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Happy Black Friday!  This is one of the first Black Fridays I haven’t worked in years.  Like 10 years, if I remember correctly.  And not because I am lucky.  Oh no, I went to work at 7:00PM last night!  My store was open 8:00PM – 2:00AM!  I hope you all had a wonderful Turkey Day.  I thought I would just share something frivolous with you today – un updated shopping list for my lovely husband!  Remember, he likes visual aids.

As soon as I hit “publish” on my last Wish List post, I knew there was something I forgot.  Two days later and I find myself with an entirely new list!  This one I will print out for hubby, he can walk right into Sephora with it.  Note the lack of Marc Jacobs.  Me and my 3.1 Phillip Lim Target bag (er, bags) are doing just fine!

1. Too Faced Chocolate Bar – you already know I love Too Faced palettes, so obviously I will need this.
2. Urban Decay Naked3 – Naked was too warm, Naked2 seemed a little dark, hopefully Naked3 will be just right.
3. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette – I really hope Sephora gets a restock soon.  If not, you can “pre-order” it from Barneys, honey! 
4. Lorac Pro Palette – I put off purchasing this, but its really inevitable that I own it!
5. Too Faced Perfect Flush Blush – I finally got the original version of this blush in the Plump, Gloss & Glow set during the VIB Sale, and I ♥ it so much that I definitely need the two new ones, Something About Berry and Peach Beach
6. Benefit Rockateur – I am really on a blush kick lately, and this one looks better and better to me everyday.

What new things have you added to YOUR beauty 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.

Wantable Intimates Box Review

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You all know how much I absolutely fell in love with my Wantable Makeup Box.  It is the most customizable subscription box I have ever come across, and I absolutely raved about it in my review.  Because a few of you signed up for Wantable using my referral link, I built up enough credits to order another box, essentially for free.  I was very curious about the Intimates Box, so I filled out my survey questions and ordered it.  Well let me tell you, I am glad I did not pay for this one!  Although I could have returned it under their generous return policy.

The Intimates Box, like all other Wantable boxes is $36 if you have a subscription and $40 if you buy the stand alone box.  For my $40 dollars I received the Under Couture Coobie Hipster in Black ($14), Braza Flash Tape ($8), Argoz Emerald Bay Socks ($15) and, my favorite piece, the Pheel Essence Red Tank ($48).  I also got a coupon for Jockey, which wasn't even in my box.

As much as I liked the tank, I never would have paid $40 for it, let alone $48.  The underwear were cute, but there was no way they were a medium/large.  They run very small.  The tape may be useful to me at some point, and the socks were cute but NOT MY COLOR.  

Yes, I could go back and change my preferences to see if I got a better box, but I would rather spend my money on another Makeup Box, especially since my friend Christine from 15 Minute Beauty curated the December Box!  

You can sign up for Wantable here, using my referral link.  If you would rather not use my referral link, you can go towww.wantable.com.  

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.

Darshana Natural Indian Hair Oil - My Curly Hair Winter Savior

Product Provided for Review

Hair oils are not new.  When Morracanoil came out, I was all over it.  I bought the light version, designed for fine hair (which I have).  It smelled awesome and made my hair feel like silk.  But over time my hair didn't feel so great.  That's when I investigated the ingredients:

Moroccanoil Light Oil Treatment Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Butyphenyl Methylpropional, Argania Spinoza Kernel Oil Argan Oil), Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Extract Parfum (Fragrance), D&C Yellow-11, D&C Red-17, Benzyl Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone.

Can you believe how many silicones are in that product?  The first three ingredients!  No wonder my hair had stopped looking fantastic - product build up.  The only way to get rid of that build up?  Harsh shampoos filled with sulphates that actually made my fine hair more greasy, as it was constantly trying to compensate for the harsh shampoos.   That's when I decided to go silicone and sulphate free.  I have never regretted that decision!  In fact, the skin around my hair line actually cleared up!  But I did miss the luxurious feeling of a hair oil.  I thought I would have to live without it forever!

Then my friend Christine started raving about this new hair oil... Darshana Natural Indian Hair Oil.  Created by a husband and wife team who chose to use only natural ingredients inspired by the hair oil his father used in India.  And they didn't include a single silicone!

You use this oil a little differently, here are the directions taken directly from Darshana's FAQ Page:

1.  Before showering, massage Darshana Natural Indian Hair Oil onto dry hair
2.  Massage into scalp
3.  Work oil from roots to the ends of your hair to help lightly coat the entire length
4.  Leave on for at least 30 minutes, up to overnight
5.  Shampoo and Condition hair as usual

With it being winter and having less humidity in the air, it is getting harder and harder for me to wear my fine hair curly.  I end up with slightly frizzy wavy hair!  When I use the Darshana Oil, I am left with heavenly, shiny curls.  I slept with it in last night and I am actually looking forward to drying my hair this morning!  Plus - it smells like oranges!

No matter what type of hair you have, you should give Darshana Natural Indian Hair Oil a try!

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.

butter LONDON Bramble and Stardust (Holiday 2013)

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Today I have two new fabulous polishes from the butter LONDON Illusionists Lacquer Collection, Bramble and Stardust.  Bramble is a gorgeous purple cream (photographed here without top coat) and Stardust is a silver holographic “overcoat.”  Check out my swatches after the jump!

Makeup Wars ♥ My Holiday Wishlist

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Who doesn’t love making wish lists?  I used to circle things I wanted in Sephora’s Holiday catalog - just like when you were a kid and circled the JC Penny’s catalog!  Then, in last year’s Makeup Wars, I did a stocking stuffer wish list.  Little did I know that my husband would actually print it out and take it to Sephora! 

At the beginning of November he asked me when I was going to make this year’s collage – well honey, be careful what you ask for!  I’ve got my eye on a Michael Kors Selma and to be sure he had options I picked out “just a few.” 

Many of my blogging friends have reviewed some lovely products from Laura Mercier that I have been salivating over (specifically Laura’s White Magic review, Kristyn’s Smokey Violets review and Taylor’s Bronze Bonbons review). 

And let’s not forget my lemming, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette that I waited to long to buy and it sold out…  It’s not even on Sephora.com right now, but Barney’s is taking backorders!

1. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette 
2. Laura Mercier Petite Baked Bonbons in Bronze
3. Laura Mercier White Magic Illuminating Eye Color in Opal Fantasy
4. Laura Mercier Color-To-Go Palette in Smokey Violet
5. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Twilight
6. Michael Kors Medium Selma Studded Messenger Bag in Dark Dune
7. Michael Kors Large Selma in Pearl Gray
8. Michael Kors Large Selma in Dark Dune
9. Michael Kors Large Selma Jewel Trim (on second thought, I would much prefer this one)
10. Michael Kors Large Selma Stud-Trim in Dark Dune

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.

New items in Sephora's Sale Section

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I felt restless tonight and was pursing Sephora website's sale section when I noticed a few interesting things had been recently added... two Two Faced palettes (one that I own and one that I want to own!), some nails inc polishes (the sale price is cheaper than the Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coats!) and a pretty Sephora + Pantone polish that I somehow never managed to pick up...

Too Faced Glamour to Go Palette
Was:  $22.00
Now:  $18.00

nails inc Green Park
Was:  $9.50
Now:  $5.00

nails inc Brighton (also available in Cornwall and Edinburgh)
Was:  $9.50
Now:  $5.00

Sephora + Pantone Universe Purple Wine (also available in Antique Gold)
Was:  $10.00
Now:  $5.00

Too Faced Natural Kiss Palette
Was:  $24.00
Now:  $19.00

I've had my eye on that Too Faced Lip palette forever, and I love the green nails inc!  I must admit I am very excited to know that I am almost VIB Rouge... only $2 to go and I will be able to order the smallest thing and get free shipping!

Have you found any new sale items lately?

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.

PSA: Sign up and get FULL SIZE BOTTLE of Equitance Brightening Serum + Spot Corrector

Nothing to Disclose  

I don't know about you, but I will try anything to get rid of the dark spots on my face.  They are mostly sun damage with a few acne scars mixed in for good measure!  A new brand is coming to the U.S. that was previously only available in Japan - Equitance.  The first 5,000 people to sign up by "Liking" them on Facebook will receive a free sample FULL SIZE of their Brightening Serum + Spot Corrector!

Here's some more info about the product!  I definitely plan on trying this myself!

Equitance Brightening Serum + Dark Spot Corrector ($125). The unique delivery system and patented blend of brightening ingredients improve the appearance of skin tone, blotchiness and dark spots.  With regular use of the Equitance brightening regimen, skin looks clearer, brighter, and more radiant.

Equitance works inside and out to restore and nourish your skin. Grounded in Japanese tradition, Equitance brightening collection contains Japanese herbs as well as clinically proven ingredients developed through 18 years of brightening research. The perfect balance of Eastern and Western skincare practices, Equitance helps you on your journey towards restored, luminous skin.

Benefits

o    Evens dull skin tones making dark spots less noticeable, with a unique blend of brightening ingredients and vitamins

o    Helps strengthen the skin’s protective moisture barrier with essential fatty acids to maximize the efficacy of the ingredients

o    Defends the skin against environmental aggressors with stabilized moisturizing vitamins

o    Soothes the skin with calming ingredients and concentrated moisturization

o    Reveals more even, radiant, brighter, younger looking skin

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.

An Essie Ombre - Smokin' Hot, Merino Cool, Chinchilly, and Body Language

I Bought It Affiliate Link

I am still way behind on blogging – I’ve only managed to paint my nails once this week!  So I am sharing with you a manicure from before my mini vacation.  This is an ombre manicure with some of my favorite Essie polishes.  Although I did not buy them all at the same time,  I picked Smokin’ Hot, Merino Cool and Chinchilly.  I found Body Language at TJ Maxx a long time ago – I believe it was from Spring 2008, but you can still find it from eBay from time to time.  I really love wearing Body Language as a “palette cleanser.”   You can see it on its own here.

What polish is your favorite palette cleanser?

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 Live In Colour Holiday Contest!

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Who wants to win $1,000 just for painting your nails?!  

It's time to celebrate the season in sparkle, shine and glam – China Glaze and Ardell Lashes announce two exciting holiday contests where you could win $1,000 for designing the sassiest seasonal nail art or creating the hottest holiday makeup.  Press releases with complete details are attached. 

Join China Glaze in toasting to the holidays with the How Will You Live in Colour This Holiday Season? Contest. Participants can enter a photo of their best holiday-themed nail art on http://www.chinaglaze.com/chinaglazecontest.

If you're about more than just nails, Ardell Lashes invites participants to enter a photo of their favorite lash look, inspired by the holiday of new beginnings and celebrations: New Year's Eve. The Glamour Eyes Holiday Lash Contest begins on http://www.ardelllashes.com/ardellcontest.

Both contests are open to residents of Canada (excluding Quebec), Mexico and the United Kingdom. The China Glaze Contest is also open to residents of France. 

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.

Update - Nail polish storage, makeup storage

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Clockwise from top left:  IKEA Expedit, Stila Kaleidescope Palette, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and Eyes to Kill Mascara, IKEA Ullgump rug, and a new Tall Alex.

This is just a little update to tell you why I haven't been posting!  DH and I had a fabulous time in Minneapolis - a little too fabulous to be honest!  We shopped up until the very last second.  I made it home Sunday night with only 10 minutes to spare before a meeting at work.  My poor husband unpacked the Jeep by himself.  Every single cubic inch of the jeep was filled - mostly with IKEA furniture!  And a lot of stuff from HomeGoods, which we don't have here in Iowa for some dumb sad reason.

We actually went to IKEA twice - once Friday afternoon and once Sunday morning to pick up something we forgot.  We stood by the exit door waiting for IKEA to open so that we could hit up the As-Is Room before breakfast.  MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER TO GO TO THE AS-IS ROOM on the weekends first thing in the morning - all of the previous days returns were there and marked down!  We got the Expedit (pre-assembled!) for $65 and the super cute rug for $13.00.  I wasn't even looking for a rug, but I think I am going to love it in my makeup room!  

Please excuse me if blog posts are light this week.  I've spent every moment I'm not at work on assembling furniture.  We still have several pieces to go, but last night we worked on the Tall Alex and I am so excited to fill it up!  But I forgot to buy my favorite drawer liners, so it will take longer than I planned.  I can't wait to get all my polishes together, right now they are spread around my room and sometimes I have a hard time finding what I am looking for.  Let me know if you want to see an update of my room once I've finished!

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: 20 Questions with Pammy from Pammy Blogs Beauty!

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Every other week the The Beauty Spotlight Team brings you amazing links to 13 amazing blogs. But on alternate weeks we have a special focus on each individual blog. We have featured blogger’s wish lists, makeup bags, desert island belongings, etc. Now it’s time to get to know each blogger a little better so we’ve created a list of questions that we’ll take turns answering.

This week it's Pammy's turn!

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.

The best $10 you will ever spend - Reviva Labs Skin Energizing Gel with Trace Mineral Concentrate

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Let me tell you a story.  I am 5’2” but at work I think I am superwoman.  I am a manager at “an office superstore” where we sell chairs.  Large chairs that come in large boxes on large palettes (which I have to unload off the truck myself).  All of this manual labor that I do at work causes me to have an inflated opinion of my own strength. 

One day an associate of mine sold a chair, but could not get it out of the warehouse because his arm was in a cast.  Being the superhero that I was, I offered to get the chair down for him.  It was on the top of a very large palette of chairs.  I could not even reach it with the ladder.  So I pushed it down in what I call a “controlled fall.”  It was supposed to land beside me on the floor.  Instead it landed on my face.  No joke – the very corner of the box smacked me on the right side of my face.  Luckily I did not give myself a concussion but I did have a welt above my lip by my nose and a giant knot on my forehead.  I iced it for the rest of the night and hoped for the best.

When I woke up the next day, the knot on my forehead looked much better, but I had an abrasion where it hit me in the face.  It was very red and very angry looking!  The very next day the skin all around it started flaking off.  Honestly it looked like I had a huge cyst on my face and that I had picked at it.  It was horrible!  I was so afraid that I would get permanent discoloration from it, as I am prone to with acne scars.  Luckily this superhero had a secret weapon in her arsenal:  Reviva Labs Skin Energizing Gel with Trace Mineral Concentrate!  Find out why I love it so much after the jump!

Revlon Chic - Swatches and Dupe Alert!

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I recently fell in love with Revlon’s crème polishes all over again (Urban and Iconic are TDF!).  Here is another shade that I picked up in the permanent display at Target – Revlon Chic.  It applied beautifully in two coats.  As I was wearing it, it reminded me off another polish I owned – the now discontinued Sally Hansen Gray by Gray. 

See comparison swatches after the jump!

Sally Hansen Triple Shine–Wavy Blue, Pool Party & Pearly Whites

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Today I am going to talk to you about one of the latest offerings from Sally Hansen:  Sally Hansen Triple Shine!  This line is huge – it contains 29 polishes!  I received four colors plus the top coat for review.  I already showed you one shade, Sparkling Water, here.  I wanted to really test these out, so I waited a few weeks between my first impression post and now!  See my thoughts and swatches after the jump!

Makeup Wars - Five Minute Face

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This week’s Makeup Wars is quite easy for me – the Five Minute Face.  Why so easy, you ask?  Probably because I have to get ready for work everyday before the sun comes up!  I can barely see what I am doing anyways, so you better believe I don’t spend a lot of time on it!  This is what I reach for when I am running late – a super easy quite, put together but simple look. 

I start by reaching for my favorite BB cream.  I can’t tell you how many times I have purchased this – five, maybe?  While I am waiting for that to dry down (I never wear powder) I start my eyes.  This is where I really save time.  Normally I love doing an elaborate eye look, but when I am running late I reach for the perfect base shade to even out my lid and an eyeliner that’s easily smudged with a finger and I’m good to go!  I also reach for a mascara that packs a lot of punch – since I’m not wearing eyeshadow, it really helps put together the simple eye look!  And I now that I am used to filling my eyebrows, I can’t skip my favorite brow pencil.  For my cheeks I use the perfect blush – so rosy tan that it could almost be a bronzer.  A pop of color on my lips and I’m set!

Here’s the products I use:

1. SKIN79 Super+ Beblesh Balm BB Cream VIP Gold Collection
2. MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly
3. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed
4. butter LONDON Wink Eye Pencil in Brown Sugar*
5. Maybelline Volum’ Express Big Eyes Mascara
6. IT Cosmetics YBBB Universal Brow Powder Pencil*
7. IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Blush Hydrating Gloss Stain in Je Ne Sais Quoi*

*Provided for review

That’s it for me!  What products do you reach for to save time in the morning?  Let me know in the comments, and be sure to check out the rest of the posts from the Makeup Wars bloggers 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.

Win It! GAP Bright Pool

Nothing to Disclose

When I posted about GAP Bright Pool, I was amazed to hear that people are actually listing this polish on ebay for upwards of $18!  That is ridiculous, knowing that the retail price of this polish is only $6, and it's almost always on sale!  So I went back to the mall to pick up a few more bottles.  Unfortunately, I only found one!

This giveaway is for my readers who are having trouble finding this on their own.  Whether you don't live by a GAP, or if your GAP is already sold out, I want you to enter!  Please don't enter if it is easy to get your hands on, or if you plan on selling it on eBay (for shame)!

The U.S. postal service is really cracking down on sending out "flammables" in international shipments, so this giveaway is U.S. only.  If you are not a U.S. resident, but have a U.S. mailing address, please feel free to enter!

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.

Sephora Holiday Shopping List Part Two ♥ Nail Sets

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I don’t know anyone who doesn’t take advantage of all the great gift sets out there this time of year to buy something for themselves!  Especially with the 20% off Sephora VIB Sale going on!  Here are four nail polish gift sets I have my eye on.

1. Formula X for Sephora – The Twenty Two.  I only have tried two polishes from the Formula X line, but they were so awesome that I know without a doubt that I want to buy more!  What better way to do that than this set, where you can try out 22 polishes for $55.00.
2. Deborah Lippmann Big Bang – I know this might sound weird, but I love the mini Deborah Lippmann bottles!  They are just too cute!  Add that to the fact that I don’t own any of these colors already and it’s like a moth to the flame!  12 mini polishes for $78.00.
3. nails inc Christmas Crackers – I haven’t purchased any nails inc polishes in some time, but my most used polish has to be nails inc Baker Street.  This set has a backup plus a bunch of different finishes (some that I have never tried!) – Fiber Optic, Galaxy, Foil, and Special Effect!  6 full size polishes for $38.00.
4. nails inc My Polish Diary – Such a cute concept, 12 mini nail polishes, one for every month of the year!  This set also includes Baker Street, as well as their Kensington Caviar Top Coat which I have used in the past and really like!  12 mini polishes for $42.00.

Which nail polish sets do you have your eye on?

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.

GAP Bright Pool

Nothing to Disclose  

By now I am sure that you have all heard of GAP Bright Pool.  This dupe of RBL's Aqua Lilly has taken the nail polish community by storm.  As soon as I saw this polish on my friend Kelly of Vampy Varnish, I knew I had to have it!  (See her comparison post here).  I literally ran out the door to the mall and brought it home with me!  And proceeded to wear it for 4 days.  The formula was weird to apply and needed three coats to smooth it out.  But it did last all four days with chipping!

Have you picked up GAP Bright Pool yet, or any other RBL dupes from The GAP?

Having trouble finding this awesome polish?  Enter to win it here!

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.