Friday Nail Art with Striping Tape

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Welcome back to Nail Art Friday!  I’ve got another beautifully simple yet tedious Tape Mani by my friend Kimmy!  I don’t know how she has the patience to do such detailed work with nail art tape.  I’ve tried a few times and I don’t have the coordination to pull it off on one finger, let alone all ten – someone help me convince this girl to get an Instagram account!

Have you had success with nail art tape?

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.

Throwback Thursday ♥ Maybelline Colorama Sonic Sunset

Purchased by Me

When I first got back into nail polish in 2009, I was obsessed with Maybelline Colorama nail polishes.

Now I remember why!

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.

FingerPaints Bright Lights, Big City ♥ Swatches and Review

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FingerPaints Bright Lights, Big City is new and limited edition for January/February 2015.  It contains 6 fun polishes that can be worn alone or paired together!

Paint the Town Purple is purple magic in a bottle! This polish has a lilac base with beautiful blue and pink shimmer.  Paint the Town Purple needs three coats to obtain the opacity seen here, but it’s worth it!  I posted another picture on my Instagram that really shows off the flash – check it out here!

Dance Floor Diva (over Paint the Town Purple) has a light purple based filled with large black hex glitter, smaller blue, pink and silver hex glitter and purple micro glitter.  It’s definitely a fun combo!

What A Night is a rich duochrome polish comprised of a smokey base filled with shimmer that shift from orange to pink to red.  It comes off looking very bronzy-pink.  Above is one coat of What A Night layered over Urban Lights, but you can achieve the same look with just two coats of the polish on its own as seen here!

In The City Lookin' Pretty (over What A Night) is comprised of small pink hex glitter and larger holographic hex glitter in a clear base.  This is best applied using the “dabbing” method, but dabbing a blob of polish onto the nail, then spreading it out.

Hey Mr DJ has a smokey charcoal base and is filed with silver, pink, red and blue microglitter.  I used three coats here and the results were mesmerizing!

Urban Lights is a smokey base filled with tiny shimmers that shift from blue to purple, but the overall appearance is that of a teal shimmer…  I wasn’t expecting much when I applied it, but I instantly fell in love after two easy coats!

The star of this collection is, without a doubt, Urban Lights.  It doesn’t look like much in the bottle, but really comes alive on your nails!  

My must have’s from FingerPaints Bright Lights, Big City are Urban Lights, Pain the Town Purple and Hey Mr DJ!  FingerPaints nail polishes can be found at your local Sally Beauty, where they retail for $5.99 each ($4.99 with a Sally’s Card). 

Have you picked up any polishes from this collection?

Which ones 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.

My Top 10 Eyebrow Products

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Before I turned 30, I never paid attention to my eyebrows.  Don’t get me wrong – I pluck.  In fact, since that time in eight grade when I overplucked my brows by sitting on my couch with a CoverGirl compact and a pair of tweezers.  For an hour.  Bad idea.  They never really grew back. 

So, I’ve had very thin brows for years now.  Until recently, they never really bothered me.  Now, I can’t leave the house without filling them in!  Here are my Top 10 Go To Brow Products:

Bobbi Brown Cement Shadow (also available in this new limited edition palette) – I’ve been using the same Bobbi Brown single in Cement for years… it’s so old its in a round pot!

IT Cosmetics Brow Power® Universal Eyebrow Pencil (ULTA) and as a set (QVC)

IT Cosmetics  YBBB® Your Brows But Better® Brow Power® Skinny Pencil  (ULTA) and as a set (QVC)

IT Cosmetics Brow Power® Brow Perfector 5-In-1 Power Gel Pencil (ULTA) and as a set (QVC)

IT Cosmetics Build-A-Brow Waterproof 5-In-1 Micro-Fiber Crème Stain in Grey (ULTA) and as a set with the brush (QVC) - see more about this new product at the end of this post!

NYX Automatic Eyebrow Pencil in Charcoal

Salon Perfect Perfect Brow Defining Kit

Smashbox Angled Brow Brush #12 – I’ve had mine for over 10 years!

Tweezerman Perfection Slant Tweezer or Stainless Steel Point Tweezer

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette – I use both Naked 2 and Faint to fill in my brows

I have to admit that out of all these products, my number one go-to is the new IT Cosmetics Build-A-Brow.  I requested the shade grey, which is perfect for me.  It’s more of a grey-leaning taupe than a true grey and would be perfect for you if you have naturally dark brows like I do!



The brush makes applying Build-A-Brow quick and easy, with a special “rake’' shape brush that makes sure you don’t pick up too much product!  I never thought something would replace my YBBB, but Build-A-Brow is actually quicker and easier!  I just love it!

What’s your favorite brow product?  Let me know in the comments, 

and be sure to check out the rest of the Top Ten Lists 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 Fifty Shades of Grey ♥ Swatches and Review

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I’ve got to say, at first I was seriously disappointed by the fact that there were not fifty colors in the OPI Fifty Shades of Grey collection.  And then my cuticles reminded me how horrible it would be to swatch fifty polishes in one weekend and I decided to keep my mouth shut!

Now, I am not a fan of the book Fifty Shades of Grey.  I haven’t read it, nor do I ever plan to.  I can, however, say I am fan of grey polish and I have gone full-on fan girl for the greys in the OPI Fifty Shades of Grey Collection!

Cement the Deal is a smooth dove grey.  LOVE IT.

Embrace The Gray is smooth elephant grey.  Again… LOVE IT.

Dark Side of the Mood is the sleeper hit of the collection for me.  I knew I would like the light and medium greys, but this.  This is dreamy and amazing.  I don’t think I have anything like this inky charcoal shade!

Romantically Involved is the singular red of the collection.  I didn’t expect there to be a red, but it does make the collection more cohesive.  No one does red better than OPI and this blue-leaning red is no exception!

Shine For Me (over Cement the Deal) is a shimmery silver base filled with blue microglitter.  This is one layer over Cement the Deal – I really like how it turned out!  I’ve seen others swatch it on its own, but I prefer it layered.

My Silk Tie is a soft silver frost.  It’s very sheer (especially compared to some of the silver chromes we have been seeing) and takes three coats to full opacity.  With that being said, for a frost it’s got a fabulous formula that was easy to apply and didn’t require any extra time in between coats.

The formula of the crèmes in the collection was unified across the board – slightly thin but even in two coats.  The only negative thing I can say it that you have to be careful not to load up your brush too much or the thin formula will flood your cuticles.  Other than that, this collection is a win – no matter how much I don’t want to say it because I think the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon needs to be over!

Have you picked up any shades from the OPI Fifty Shades of Grey Collection?

Which 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.

FingerPaints Endless Wear and the Sally Beauty Nail Studio

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FingerPaints has added a new formula to their line up with their Endless Wear Long Wear Color.  Endless Wear is a two step process with a Base & Color IN ONE and a state-of-the-art Top Coat. 

The lasting color is formulated with revolutionary micro-polymers that bond with the Top Coat's photo-initiating polymers. The 2 formulas instantly intermingle and connect to create a strong, tough color film, that actually strengthens over time.

I cannot speak to the wear time of the polish, as I was sent a shade that I would not want to wear for more than a few hours.  However, I can speak to the formula!  The polish was easy to apply, and although I didn’t like the color I did like the finish – jelly glass fleck is my absolute favorite!  So I will definitely be making a trip into Sally Beauty to visit their new Nail Studio and pick out a few more shades!

Have you been to Sally Beauty lately?  Have you picked up anything from the Nail Studio?

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 Team - Tom Ford, KBShimmer and MOAR!

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Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Love Bruise 05 is the perfect on-trend plum with gold shimmer that is infinitely wearable and absolutely gorgeous! With one swatch you will see why Helen from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog is completely transfixed by this twinkling gem!

What do you think of Marsala, the Pantone color of the year? Beauty Info Zone has some new ideas with KBShimmer polish and Purely Cosmetics blush. Let's learn about the indies.

Who says spring is all about soft washes of colors? Givenchy would politely disagree. Sunny from Mostly Sunny checks out some bright colorful pieces from the Color Creation collection. Would you like to have some color fun, too?

Ever wonder what is the secret to celebrities looking so young and line-less on the red carpet? I swear it is this stuff! Find out more about how much Pammy Blogs Beauty loves Kate Somerville's Dermal Quench Liquid Lift!

Looking for an eyeshadow palette that truly takes you from day to night? Prime Beauty shows you the Charlotte Tilbury Fallen Angel Palette which can be worn wet or dry!

Want to look like your face was airbrushed by angels? Well you will want to check out Perilously Pale's review of the new Guerlain Light Revealing Powder!

Thinking about picking up the Urban Decay Vice LTD palette on Jan. 25? Check out Phyrra's review and swatches!

What do you buy at The Body Shop? polish insomniac wants you to think nail polish with the Color Crush collection.

Is 15 Minute Beauty going Coco Loco? Better read to find out.

The Painted Rogue has stumbled into the fifth chamber of the dungeon by wearing Too Faced Fuchsia Melted Lipstick. Will she find her way out??

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: OPI Infinite Shine Gel Effects Lacquer System

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I first came across the OPI Infinite Shine line at my local beauty supply a few months ago.  At the time I wasn’t sure what it was… was it a soak off gel?  Was it a polish?  All I knew is that it required a special base coat and top coat.  Since I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a pro-only product, I decided to skip it.  It’s no fun to review a product you can’t buy!

I’m happy to say that come March OPI Infinite Shine will be available at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, beautybrands.com, Chatters, Dillard’s, Regis, ULTA and ulta.com for $12.50 each!

What It Is:

OPI Infinite Shine Gel Effects Lacquer System, offers the rich color, intense shine and lasting wear of gels – without the need for LED-light curing or soak-off removal. Available in 30 new shades (plus Primer base coat and Gloss top coat), Infinite Shine utilizes a three-step system to deliver a high-shine classic crème finish for nails that lasts up to 10 days.

Infinite Shine includes a full range of fashion-forward shades ranging from neutrals to bright reds, oranges and pinks to dark gray, blue and black hues: Pretty Pink Perseveres, From Here to Eternity, She Went On and On and On, Girl Without Limits, Running with the In-finite Crowd, Endurance Race to the Finish, No Stopping Me Now, Unrepentantly Red, Unequivocally Crimson, Relentless Ruby, In Pursuit of Purple, Grapely Admired, Can’t Be Beet!, Raisin’ the Bar, We’re in the Black, Get Ryd-of-thym Blues, Indignantly Indigo, To Infinity & Blue-yond, Withstands the Test of Thyme, To the Finish Lime!, Maintaining My Sand-ity, Tanacious Spirit, Brains & Bronze, Set in Stone, Never Give Up!, Strong Coal-ition, Steel Waters Run Deep, Staying Neutral, It Never Ends and You Can Count on It.


Infinite Shine is applied via a three-step system; first, apply Infinite Shine Primer (Step 1) to prevent staining and increase lacquer durability. Next, select one of 30 shades (Step 2) and paint two thin, even coats for richly-pigmented, vivid color. Finally, finish with Infinite Shine Gloss (Step 3), which features a state-of-the-art gel polymer formula that cures in natural light. Product can be removed easily with Expert Touch Nail Lacquer Remover; no soaking is required.

 

A few of the shades I am excited to try:

So, what do you think?  Are you excited to try out the OPI Infinite Shine line?

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.