There is still time to enter Nicole by OPI’s Discover Your Dark Side in the New Year Sweepstakes!

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Have you enter Dove and Nicole by OPI’s “Discover Your Dark Side in the New Year Sweepstakes” yet?  Time is running out – Wednesday February 5th is the last day to enter!  By entering to win, you could receive these two limited edition Nicole by OPI polishes – Better After Dark and Promises in the Dark!

 

 

For this mani I wore Better After Dark with Promises In the Dark as an accent!  I will be the first to admit I am a milk chocolate girl, but after tasting the Sea Salt + Carmel dark chocolate, I am a convert!

 

Official Details:

Enter the “Discover Your Dark Side in the New Year Sweepstakes”

From now through February 5, 2014, DOVE^® Chocolate Facebook fans can enter once per day for a chance to win one (1) of the 25,000 NICOLE by OPI^® kits, which include:

* A coupon for a free DOVE^® Dark Chocolate Bar (1.34 oz. - 1.44 oz.)

* Better After Dark NICOLE by OPI^® Nail Lacquer Bottle

* Promises in the Dark NICOLE by OPI^® Nail Lacquer Bottle

To enter, simply “like” the DOVE^® Chocolate Facebook page and click on the Sweepstakes tab (https://www.facebook.com/dovechocolate/app_548734081871225) to enter your name, email address, shipping address and date of birth.  The Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States who are age 13 or older on or before December 27, 2013. All winners will be selected at random by an independent agency in the week following the sweepstakes.

For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/dovechocolate or www.facebook.com/nicolebyopi.

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: Seche Perfectly Poised

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When I daydream of Spring, these new shades from Seche fit into my dream perfectly!  These 3 crèmes and 3 shimmers promise to be the same one coat formula as previous Seche polishes!  I can’t wait to see if that is true!  For more details on this collection, including shade names and where to buy, keep reading!

Coming Soon: Salon Perfect Love, Lashes and Lacquer

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I have really come to like the Salon Perfect brand, and even more I love that I can get them for just a few dollars at Walmart!  These new shades look perfect for Valentine’s Day!  As you may gather from the name, Salon Perfect is releasing a line of false eyelashes as well!  For more details, keep reading!

Coming Soon: OPI Brazil

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Are you ready for OPI Brazil for Spring/Summer 2014?  I think that is may be the most anticipated OPI collection in the past 12 months!  For more details, keep reading!

Coming Soon: China Glaze Sea Goddess

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Are you as excited about the China Glaze Sea Goddess collection as I am?  6 gorgeous sparkly textured spring shades!  What’s not to love?  Check out up close bottle shots after the jump!

Top 10 Manicure Items

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This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is all about our favorite nail tools.  Trying to narrow my favorite nail tools down to ten is like trying to ask a mother which of her children she loves more!  So instead of ten individual items, I am going to bring you “categories.”  Let’s see if I can truly get it down to just 10!

 

1.  Nail Files

I started using glass nail files several years ago and I will never go back to use regular old nail files!  My favorite glass files are from Mont-Bleu and Cult Nails.  I always file my nails before I remove my old polish – having a color on my nails when I file allows me to better see the shape of my nails and create a more uniform shape across all my fingers.

2.  Cuticle oils and creams

I sometimes get rude random comments on Facebook about my hands and how great they look, basically implying that I must not have a real job, do dishes, or basically act like a normal human being.  In real life, I have a full time job at a office superstore that has me opening cardboard boxes, unloading pallets from trucks, changing shelf labels, and lugging around giant boxes of chairs and printers.  I generally am only able to swatch two days a week, Thursdays and Sundays.  And believe me, unless I put a lot of effort into moisturizing my hands before my swatching sessions, you would not want to look at my pictures very closely!  My secret is oils.  I apply oils multiple times the day before I swatch, and often in between swatches!  In the past I have really enjoyed using argan oil, but currently I am rotating between an awesome apricot cuticle oil by Cowshed, and from ybf intended for your face!  I love to apply the oils first, then slather on a generous layer of Rococo Cuticle Cream to seal in the moisture.

3.  Cuticle Removers

I am a big fan of cuticle removers.  There are two different ways to using them – using a weekly (or as needed) product like Deborah Lippmann’s Cuticle Remover, or a daily product like Sally Hansen’s Cuticle Eraser + Balm.  I actually prefer using a daily product because it is easier on your nails, but I am rather forgetful and often fall back on my Deborah Lippmann instead. 

I also love using the Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Remover when I have a polish that stains my nails!  I just apply it over the nail, let it sit for a few minutes, then massage felt over the nail to remove.  Works like a charm!  A cheaper alternative is the Blue Cross brand at Sally’s, though I personally find it a little harsh
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4.  Felt

I learned about using felt a few years ago on Makeup Alley’s Nail Board.  There are several reasons I prefer felt over cotton pads to remove polish, the first being it’s cheaper!  I buy it two or three yards at a time from Michael’s (they ALWAYS have coupons).  $10 worth of felt will actually last me almost two years.  It does take a long time to cut several yards of felt into little one inch squares, so I usually try to rope my husband into helping me while we are watching TV.

The second reason I prefer felt over cotton pads is that it gently exfoliates your cuticles while you are removing polish!  Which means you won’t need to use as much cuticle remover!

5.  Hand Scrub

I actually only have one product for this category!  After using several different hand scrubs (both those intended just for the hands and those intended for hands and body) I have fallen for Barielle’s 60 Second Mani-Pedi.  It smells wonderful (like a Push-Up Pop!), feels great and leaves my hands moisturized, thanks to ingredients like Grape Seed, Avacado & Soy Bean Oil.

I always use this right before a big swatching session, and it helps remove any dead skin that thas built up around my nails, as well as removing any stubborn pieces of cuticle.  What I really love using it for though is removing stubborn glitter than won’t come off in between swatching!  There is nothing worse than swatching the perfect crème and taking the perfect picture than looking back at said picture and seeing tiny pieces of glitter that got left behind.

6.  Implements (aka Nail Tools)

One of the areas I absolutely refuse to skimp on is nail tools.  Using a quality nail tool can make a world of difference, and Tweezerman makes the best, hands down.  (Get it?  Hands down?) 

Use the Tweezerman Pushy just one time and I promise that you will never go back to orange sticks for pushing back your cuticles!  And because I do get a lot of hangnails (thanks again to my job) I absolutely cannot live without the Tweezerman Cuticle Nipper.  Just don’t cut your cuticles (unless you absolutely positively know what you are doing).  Just use it for removing those pesky, painful hangnails.

7.  Treatments, Base coats and Top Coats

I could write a whole separate post on this (and maybe I will?) but let me just run down my favorites.

• Favorite Base Coat/Treatment – Salon Sciences Instant Artificials 
• Favorite Top Coat – CND Air Dry
• Alternate Favorite Top Coats – Seche Vite for when I am in a hurry or using a non B3F polish; HK Girl for glitters that require more than one coat of top coat (because layering SV is not pretty).
• Any time I use butter LONDON polishes (and since they are one of my favorite brands I use them a lot!) I use their Nail Foundation and Hardwear Quick Dry Top Coat.  There is much to be said about using a brand’s matching base and top coat – the chemicals were designed to work together and I can definitely get longer wear out of my butter LONDON polishes when I pair them with these!

8.  Solar Oil and Cuticle Drops

If you are a klutz like me, the first thing you want to do after finishing a fabulous mani is protect it with some quick dry drops.  For the longest time I relied only on Qtica’s Half Time Polish Drying Accelerator (what a name!) but I highly suspect Zoya’s version is the exact same thing (after all, they are the same company).  However, I stopped using them both completely when I discovered CND’s Special Edition Solar Oil.  It smells SO GOOD!  Nothing like the original. 

9.  Remover & Thinner – Same Category, Not the Same Thing

If your significant other complains about the smell every time you pull out the nail polish remover stop what you are doing and order Zoya Remove + right now.  My husband used to complain every single time until I bought this.  It smells good, plus it contains moisturizers so it doesn’t over dry your skin (or leave that horrible white cast that pure acetone leaves behind.

Have you ever heard someone say that you need to throw polish away because it “went bad?”  THEY ARE WRONG.  Have you ever heard someone say that you can add some nail polish remover to a polish that has thickened or dried up?  THEY ARE WRONG TOO.  Scrangie said it best in this post.  Let’s just say I have owned this bottle of Orly Nail Thinner for 5 years and I still have plenty left.  WORTH THE $4!  It is perfect for making a polish that is “too thick” just right.

10.  Hand Creams

I don’t reach for super heavy duty hand creams all the time, but with this being the most frigid winter that I can ever remember, these are the only two hand creams I am using at the moment

• Barielle Intensive Hand Treatment Cream – this cream was actually created for (and tested by) jockeys softens and moisturize hands while forming an invisible shield to help protect against water, wind or extreme cold. 
• Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula Hand Cream – I forgot just how wonderful this product really is, although my husband and I both enjoy the original “with fragrance” version!  The best part of this product is that it really “sinks in” to your skin.  Within about 60 seconds you can’t even see that you applied it, which is great for when you want to take pictures of that fabulous mani!

What are YOUR favorite nail tools?  What else do you think I should have included in my 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.

FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic Silk Serum 16+2 Review

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FutureDerm is an independent skin care company founded by Nicki Zevola in 2012, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  You may remember me mentioned the brand in my Favorite Indies post!  I have already fallen in love with the brand because Nicki was able to create the first retinol product my finicky problem skin has been able to handle!  I recently had the chance to try out FutureDerm’s second product, FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic Silk Serum 16+2. 

What They Say:

Many brands claim to have the best vitamin C serum, but FutureDerm has revolutionized the market with FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic Silk Serum 16+2. Its microencapsulated Vitamin C allows for a gentle, sustained release of Vitamin C into the skin for hours after application. The microencapsulated Vitamin C works together with caffeic acid, which has been shown in independent studies to be a more potent antioxident than ferulic acid. The exclusive molecular lattice network of FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic Silk Serum 16+2 allows these powerful antioxidents to reach the skin while leaving it exceptionally smooth. Experience beautiful changes from FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic Silk Serum 16+2 in as little as 8 days. This top-of-the-line vitamin C serum from FutureDerm is simply revolutionary.

Brightening and Tightening: FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic Silk Serum 16+2 Benefits

• Contains 16% vitamin C, including 8% microencapsulated L-ascorbic acid and 8% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate for maximized performance
• Features L-ascorbic acid, which has been shown in studies to brighten complexion and alleviate the appearance of age spots with repeated use over time
• Also includes tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a stable form of vitamin C that may penetrate the skin more efficiently than L-ascorbic acid at skin's neutral pH
• May increase skin firmness
• Includes concentrations of vitamins C and E shown in independent studies to enhance UVA/UVB protection
• Contains 2% vitamin E and the antioxidant caffeic acid
• Includes a 30-day money back guarantee
• The concentration of vitamin C at 15% is clinically proven in independent research to brighten skin, alleviate the appearance of age spots, and even skin tone with repeated use over time. With 16% vitamin C, our serum gives you even more glow!

What I Say:

I have never been able to tolerate any sort of Vitamin C product in the past.  Even if it was from a fancy schmancy well-known brand I would break out with little red bumps all over my face!  When Nicki sent me this product to try out, I was hesitant to even use it due to the large amount of silicones in the product.  In the past, many products that contain Dimethicone have broken me out.  After discussing my concerns with Nicki, I went ahead and started using the product every other day, gradually building up to everyday.  Low and behold, I had no breakouts!

When applying this product, a little goes a long way.  Due to the high level of silicone slip agents, it feels very much like applying a primer.  The only thing I didn’t like about the product is that it was very thick, and I had a hard time not applying too much at once.  If you are one of those people who are adverse to the feeling of silicone on your skin, this product is not for you.  However, if you are someone who has always wanted to use a Vitamin C product but your skin wouldn’t tolerate it,  then this is the product for you! 

My skin was brighter and smoother the entire time I used FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic Silk Serum 16+2.  When I stopped using it in order to test out a different skin care product, I immediately noticed a difference.  And I didn’t like it!  FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic Silk Serum 16+2 is available on www.futurederm.com, where it retails for $89.00 for 1.0 fl oz, and that bottle will last you a very, very long time!

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 Pink Sith!

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The Beauty Spotlight Group has decided to ask each of its members to reveal a little something about themselves through a series of 20 questions. It's Pink Sith's turn, and while she is not a fan of assignments or required writing, she is a fan of talking about HERSELF!!  

So here she is in all her glory, REVEALING ALL!!

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! Gwen Stefani for OPI

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OPI recently sent me the two special sets from the Gwen Stefani for OPI collection.  Since I had already purchased these two sets myself, I am giving them to one of you!  Since I am running this giveaway myself, it will be US only!  Good luck!

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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.

Nicole by OPI Carrie Underwood ♥ Swatches and Review

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Are you a Carrie Underwood fan?  I can’t say that I am, but I did enjoy watching her on American Idol all those years ago!  Today I have her collaboration with Nicole by OPI to share with you.  This collection includes 14 shades – lots of pinks here!  I will share my thoughts on the collection at the end of the post.

Today’s NOTD: Nicole by OPI Empowered Emerald

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I am currently overwhelmed by the amount of Nicole by OPI polishes I have to show you.  So overwhelmed, in fact, that I don’t have a proper post to share with you!  Instead I am have for you my favorite new Nicole by OPI (out of 31 polishes) Empowered Emerald!

Empowered Emerald is one of the 15 new polishes Nicole by OPI is releasing for 2014.  It is an amazing mermaid-like duochrome that shifts from blue to green, covering many colors of the spectrum.  What else can I say?  I ♥ it!

UPDATE:  I was asked to compare this to Candid Cameron from the Modern Family collection.  Good news, they are not dupes!  Check out the comparison on my Instagram - one coat and two coats.

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.

Makeup Wars: My Winter Lip Saviors

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This week the women of Makeup Wars are sharing our Winter Lip Saviors with you.  My lips are very sensitive, and if I don't take care of them by using the right products they are perpetually chapped!  Here are my absolute favorites.

First up - most used lip balms

• ybf Quench ($15.00 for 0.15 oz) - This product was sent to me for review, but I never really got a chance to review it because my husband stole it.  He keeps a lip balm in his pocket at all times and he prefers this over all others!  For me, it's nice because if we are out and about and I don't have my purse, I can just ask to use his!
• Coola LipLux in Peppermint + Vanilla with SPF 15 ($12.00 for 0.15 oz.) - I love the ingredients in this balm - Beeswax, Shea Butter, Safflower Seed Oil, Coconut Oil and Rose Extract.  I keep this in my living room on my end table for everyday easy access!
• Jack Black Lip Balm in Blact Tea & Blackberry and Natural Mint & Shea Butter ($7.50 for 0.25 oz) - The balms are well known in the beauty world for being both affordable and incredibly hyrdating.  My favorites are the Original (mint) and Black Tea & Blackberry.  They smell so good!  
• Supergoop! SPF 30 AcaiFusion Lip Balm with Shea Butter ($8.50 for .05 oz) - I love that this has SPF 30, but has no SPF tinge or smell.  In fact, it smells wonderful!  The tube is huge, I have had this by my desk for over 6 months and I have a ton left!

Next - hyrdating color, scrub and a very expensive treatment!

• Revlon Lip Butter ($6.49) - I own over 20 different Revlon Lip Butters and I can tell you first hand that they are not all created equal!  These three are as hydrating as a balm - Pink Truffle, Berry Smoothie and Sugar Plum.  In fact, I find Pink Truffle more moisturizing than most drugstore lip balms!
• IT Cosmetics Vitality Flush Stain Stick Lip & Cheek Reviver in Je Ne Sais Quoi ($24.00 for 0.24 fl. oz) - Most of the time I find that lip/cheek products are drying but this is just the opposite!  It's amazing hydrating and leaves behind the most gorgeous stain.  I use this every morning when applying my makeup.
• Sara Happ Lip Scrub in Brown Sugar ($24 for 1.0 oz.) - I purchased this scrub several years ago from Rue La La and I have a ton left!  I don't wear lipstick often (I am a gloss girl) but when I do this product is a must!
• By Terry Baume de Rose ($60 for 10g) - First of all, let me say that I don't own the full size of this product!  I received a deluxe sample size from Beauty.com with an order.  In fact, I only ordered something because I wanted this free gift!  I wasn't sure if I would like the rose scent, but I do!  It is amazingly hydrating, but I am not sure that I would ever purchase a full size.

What are your favorite lip balms?  Let me know in the comments, and be sure to check out the rest of the Makeup Wars posts 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.

IT Cosmetics, ybf, Coola and Supergoop! provided for review.

PSA: butter LONDON Discontinued Polishes on sale for $7.50!

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butter LONDON is discontinuing a large amount of their line to make room for new polishes.  All of the polishes listed below are discontinued and are on sale for $7.50 each on the butter LONDON website!  I have linked to swatches when possible.  Happy shopping!

To see the full list of polishes, keep reading.

Nail Fail: China Glaze Crinkled Chrome

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China Glaze.  Crinkled Chrome.  What were you thinking?  When I first saw them swatched on All Lacquered Up, I though "man those are weird!"  When China Glaze asked me if I wanted to review them, I wasn't sure how to answer.  Did I want them?  Not really.  But did I want them for the blog?  Was it possible some of you would like them?  So I said yes.

Then they arrived.  They sat on my desk, looking at me for over a week.  I desperated tried to think of a way to make swatching them fun.  Finally, I decided to try a sponge gradient.  Believe it or not, I had never done one before.  So I taped off my fingers, and did a first coat with Aluminate (the sliver).  Then I painted I'm A Chromantic (the pink) and Don't Be Foiled (the blue) onto a cosmetic sponge and "stamped" them on my nails.

Somehow, I manage to make the polish look even worse than if I had just swatched it!  The sponge soaked up a lot of the base color, so the weird fiber pieces were left.  Nail Fail!

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! Derma e Prize Pack and $250 Visa Gift Card Giveaway!

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Derma e has teamed up with polish insomniac and a number of my favorite beauty bloggers to offer one lucky winner a fabulous prize package of products AND a $250 Visa Gift Card for a total value of $370.00! ($369.70)

One of the largest natural facial care brands in the US, derma e believes that skin health can be visibly improved through the right combination of potent vitamins, wholesome nutrients and good, clean hydration. Win this package of derma e goodies and see for yourself why natural is the way to go!

The winner of this giveaway will receive:

·       derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub - This award-winning, salon treatment alternative buffs skin, helping to diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and acne scars.

·       derma e Hydrating Serum and Hyaluronic Acid - A concentrated treatment that plumps skin full of moisture and nutrients so it appears softer and smoother with fewer visible lines and wrinkles.

·       derma e Soothing Moisturizing Crème with Pycnogenol - This fragrance-free sensitive skin crème moisturizes and helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles for a more youthful complexion

·       derma e Vitamin E Intensive Therapy Body Balm - A highly-concentrated topical recovery treatment with naturally sourced full-spectrum Vitamin E.

·       derma e Makeup Remover - A fragrance-free, oil-free formula that utilizes natural actives to safely remove makeup, including waterproof varieties.

·       $250 Visa gift card
To enter, wait for the Rafflecopter widget to load (below). You must be 18 or older and a US resident to win. By entering, you agree to the official rules. Ends 1/31/14 at 11:59 pm EST.
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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 Over & Over A-Gwen with Gold Studs

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I hope you  don’t mind, this is my third Gwen Stefani for OPI post!  (See the first two here and here.)  But I just had to share, because I was so excited that I, the most uncoordinated person ever, actually managed to pull off “stud” nail art.  I know a lot of you are pros at applying nail art, but my hands shake so  much that I usually have a hard time, get frustrated, and quit.  I think the reason that I found this easier is that I applied the studs with the included nail glue, as opposed to top coat.  Both the studs and the glue came with the polish.

I first tried to use the gunmetal diamonds, but found that the studs did not work on my overly-rounded nail beds.  After browsing through the included look book, I tried a simplified version with three round gold studs on each nail.  I applied three dots of nail glue, then applied the studs over the glue with tweezers, and finished with a layer of top coat.

The studs lasted all weekend, in fact they stayed on a little too well!  I had a very hard time removing them!  They did not come off with my preferred nail polish remover (Zoya Remove+) so did have to resort to pure acetone.  Even then they were stubborn, I really had to work at removing them!

You can pick up the OPI Gwen Stefani Signature Look set where ever OPI is sold for $14.95.  I got mine at ULTA!

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.