China Glaze POP TOP Collection Review (Part 2 of 2)

The second set you can buy includes:

'Heart of Africa' is a ruby red. Be sure to have a nice smooth base because ridges may show. The color has a slight shimmer which can appear streaky if you use too thick of a coat. You can see on my middle nail I had a little more polish.

'Techno' is clear polish with small and medium sized silver glitters. I topped it on 'Heart of Africa' so you can really see the silver glitter. This is one coat with a little glitter placement. It reminds me of snow for some reason. This is with no top coat.

'Fairy Dust' is a clear polish with lots of microshimmer. This is a color that every nail girl should have in there collection! This is one coat with NO glitter placement. I layered it over chinaglaze 'dune our thing.'

'Luxe and Lush' is a clear polish with glitter cut outs. I layered it over chinaglaze 'Wait N' Sea'. This polish gives such a fun design to any base color. I love how it reflects in the light.

Overall I really liked all the glitter toppers. I think they are perfect for a full mani or as an accent nail. My favorite is 'Fairy Dust' which I think I'll be adding to all my future manicures!

These four colors are part of a four piece set. Be sure to check back for part 1 of 2!

"China Glaze® Pop Top will be available in August 2014 as open stock colors and 12-piece counter display, plus two four-piece box collections, “Glisten Up” and “Feeling Sparkly”.  Individual polishes will retail for $7.50 MSRP and the four-piece box collections retail for $19.95 each.  China Glaze® Pop Top will be available at fine salons and beauty supply stores nationwide; the four-piece kits will be available exclusively at Ulta. China Glaze® is free of DBP, toluene, and added formaldehyde."

*These items were provided for honest review*

Econails Nail Polish Remover Review

Today I have a review on nail polish remover sheets that were sent to me.

I decided to use one sheet on a swatching day. I was able to use it on five color swatches. This means five fingers time five. It was very hydrating and allowed me to easily move on to my next color. I did not have to use cuticle oil after my nail polish remover. This nail polish remover allowed me to combine those two steps.

Here is how my nails look after using the wipe. Look at how awesome my cuticles look! Be sure to wash hands after done before going on to paint your nails with another color.

Overall I had a great experience with these wipes. Below is some information about the wipes.

The brand has been reported to be a pure remover made with a plant-based, organic ingredients. It is "toxic, non-irritating, non-carcinogenic,  non-flammable, free of alcohol, acetone, artificial colors/scents." The product is made in the USA and is not tested in animals. The product comes in two scents: orange and lavender- it's available in 4oz bottles. The product claims that "it will remove polish from natural nails, acrylic nails, and it even softens gel polish for safe and easy removal."

Please read the following if you are interested in purchasing the items. "The online store is taking longer to complete than expected, and they are only taking orders by the case (12 per case). So to help you place a small order you can call and purchase it from a local retailer here in Buffalo NY; Tony Walker Body & Beauty. Their phone number is: 716-445-3280. If you live outside of NY, your order should include free shipping! Just ask for the EXO Supply nail polish remover, and identify if you'd like the orange or lavender scent."

*These items were sent for review*

China Glaze POP TOP Collection Review (Part 1 of 2)

Today I have a review on China Glaze POP TOP Collection. These glitters are a re-release and are a limited edition set. The collection includes 2 solid colors and 6 fun toppers. I also added these colors to my Pinterest so you can pin them!

The colors included are:

Heart of Africa: Shimmering deep red 

White on White: Crisp white crème 

Pizzazz: Twinkling multi-dimensional glitter blend

Fairy Dust: Delicate silver sparkle overcoat 

Luxe & Lush: A high octane flaky overcoat

Your Present Required: Multi-sized and multi-colored glitter

I Pink I Can: Multi-sized pink glitter

Techno: Glitter confetti polish

'Your Present Required' is a clear polish with glitter pieces mixed in. The glitter pieces include white, blue, gold/orange, and purple. I added only 1 coat with some glitter placement. Like with any glitter polish, it tends to gather in places depending on the way your paint your nails. I enjoyed that the glitter was mixed in with clear polish, which allowed me to be more generous in areas once I swiped once.

This color was released in China Glaze Happy HoliGlaze Collection 2013. My base coat is China Glaze 'Pink-IE Promise' which I thought complemented the glitter very well. The top coat was from CultCosmetics.

'Pizzazz' is a clear polish with multi-dimensional glitters. The glitter pieces include pink, orange, silver, purple, and blue. I added only 1 coat with some glitter placement. This one is heavy on the glitter with each swipe so be conscious of how much is on the brush before you apply.

My base coat is China Glaze 'Keep Calm and Paint on' which I thought complemented the glitter very well. I did not put a top coat on this swatch.

'I Pink I Can' is a clear polish with multi-sized pink glitter. I decided to not use a base coat on this one so you can see how the polish stands out. I did one coat towards and then added a second at the tips so you can see how much is with each coat. This color reminds me of Essie 'A cut above' from the Holiday 2013 collection.

Overall I really liked all the glitter toppers. I think they are perfect for birthday days and fun events as either a full mani or as an accent nail. My favorite is 'Your Present Required' which I wore on my Disneyland date this past weekend! The manicure just makes me smile.

These three colors with ChinaGlaze 'White on White' are part of a four piece set. Stay tuned for the other set of colors!

"China Glaze® Pop Top will be available in August 2014 as open stock colors and 12-piece counter display, plus two four-piece box collections, “Glisten Up” and “Feeling Sparkly”.  Individual polishes will retail for $7.50 MSRP and the four-piece box collections retail for $19.95 each.  China Glaze® Pop Top will be available at fine salons and beauty supply stores nationwide; the four-piece kits will be available exclusively at Ulta. China Glaze® is free of DBP, toluene, and added formaldehyde. 

China Glaze® nail lacquers are available through salons and professional beauty supply stores nationwide. For more information, please visit www.chinaglaze.com or follow China Glaze on Facebook (@ChinaGlaze), Instagram (@ChinaGlazeOfficial), Twitter (@ChinaGlaze) and Pinterest (pinterest.com/chinaglaze), #ChinaGlazePopTop."

*These items were provided for honest review*

Salon Perfect Neon POP Collection Swatch + Review

Today I have parts of the Salon Perfect® Neon POP collection to review for you. I am sure you have seen posts of these around already. This collection was released this July. All swatches are with white base color (Sugar Cube). Be sure to work quickly because most of the polishes dry pretty fast with a semi-matte finish. 

"Neon nails are the it manicure look for summer with eye-dazzling digits ruling from the catwalk to the boardwalk. Let your fingertips feel the energy of a high-voltage shade with Neon POP, a new collection of vibrant, neon lacquers from Salon Perfect®. Whether you’re just dabbling in a highlighter bright hue or living the full-on Technicolor dream, these 12 bright and bold neon shades will POP out from the rest." 

"Flamingo Flair" a bright light neon orange. The formula is good and it has a semi-matte finish. This is 1 coat over Sugar Cube with no top coat. 

"Tickled Pink" a bright neon pink. The formula is good and it has a semi-matte finish. This is 1 coat over Sugar Cube with no top coat. This one is my favorite out of the entire collection!!

"Traffic Cone" a bright neon orange that really did remind me of a traffic cone. The formula is not as good as the first two. It has a semi-matte finish. The color was patchy when I applied 1 coat. This is 2 coat over Sugar Cube with no top coat. 

"Yowza Yellow" a bright neon yellow. The formula is good and it has a semi-matte finish. This is 2 coat over Sugar Cube with no top coat. Be sure your base white has no patches or else it will show with one coat.  

"Haute Pink" a bright neon orange with red tint. The color is similar to traffic cone but more pink. The formula is good and it has a semi-matte finish. This is 1 coat over Sugar Cube with no top coat. 

"Loopy Lime" a bright light green with slight shimmer. The formula is good and it has a satin finish. This is 1 coat over Sugar Cube with no top coat. This color took the longest to dry out of all the colors for some reason. 

"Fired up Fushia" neon pink/purple. The formula is good and it has a semi-matte finish. This is 1 coat over Sugar Cube with no top coat. This is my favorite out the of the collection!!! 

There are a few other colors in the collection:

• Electric Grape – "Glitter-charged electric purple"
• Perky Pink – "Bubbly bright pink"
• Summer Escape – "Blazing sunny orange"
• Oceanic – "Bright blue with a jolt of glitter"
• Gone Sailing – "Energizing sea green shimmer"

They also sent me two other colors that aren't included in this collection.

“Plum Sorbet” is a magenta pink polish. The formula is too thin for my liking, but it is such a pretty color. Be sure to work quickly because it dries pretty fast with a semi-matte finish. This is two coats with no top.

"Bermuda Baby" is an aqua blue polish. This is 2 coats with no top coat. The formula was good and it has a nice satin finish. Be sure to use thin coats or else it will bubble a little. 

"The Salon Perfect® Neon POP collection will launch in July as part of a limited edition promotional display at select Walmart stores nationwide. Individual shades will retail for $3.98. "


I hoped you enjoyed all my swatches. Please let me know which colors you liked and I will be happy to include some in my current giveaway!

*These items were provided for honest review*

Winstonia Stamping Plates Review

Today I have a review on stamping plates from Winstonia. After having a great experience with my other set of stamping plates from another company, I just had to try these two plates below...

"On the road" plate has lots of fun designs. I enjoyed the combination of patterns that covered my entire nail as well as the smaller decals that I can use for accent nails. The patterns transferred perfectly. Just be sure to use a steady hand since there is so much detail in each design. I used different essie polishes for the base and designs. 

Direct Link to On The Road Plate

"Call me golfer" plate is another combination plate. I liked how the square designs are versatile. They are considered 'golf' patterns, yet can be worn as a classy manicure. I used different essie polishes for the base and design. The only problem I had was with the bottom middle design on the plate. I was not able to get it to transfer nicely. The rest of the patterns transferred perfectly.

Direct link to Call Me Golfer

Well I hope you liked all the pictures!

Tips for stamping:

• Prime your stamper. Just use a nail file to make it less shiny. The one I ordered was actually not shiny but sticky. I just did it anyways, but probably didn't have to.
• Use polish that has a good consistency (not too thin or runny) so it fills all the detail in the plate. In the image above I used Essie Urban Jungle. Just make sure it is opaque enough on the color you plan on stamping onto.
• Use any card at 45 angle to swipe. Reswipe with excess on card if the entire image is not full. 
• Immediately stamp. Either roll it on or stamp directly down. Find out what works for you and is more steady.
• Lift up and use a Q tip with nail polish remover to get rid of excess design on stamper that you don't want transferred
• Then transfer to nail. It might take a couple times to get use to lining up the design. Just go slow and roll from one side to the other while pressing firmly.
• Add top coat before removing excess so you don't risk damaging the stuff you want to keep
• Be sure to wipe the plate clean with nail polish after each stamp attempt. Must let it dry or else the next one might smear. 

Overall I had a good experience with these plates. I had to use a metal scraper that came with my stamper to get a good transfer instead of the business card I usually use. 

*These items were sent for honest review*

China Glaze Pop Top Collection (Press Release)

Today I have another press release for you. The information below was provided to me to share with my readers. The collection is expected to be release in August. Enjoy!

"Shine on with the new China Glaze® Pop Top collection. This eight-piece, limited edition set includes two classic base shades mixed with six glitter toppers to add sparkle, sprinkle and shine to your nails. Layer the eye-catching glitters together for a bold look, or pick just one for a dazzling finish – either way you are sure to add POP to your manicure.

The China Glaze® Pop Top collection includes:

·       Heart of Africa: Shimmering deep red

·       White on White: Crisp white crème

·       Pizzazz: Twinkling multi-dimensional glitter blend

·       Fairy Dust: Delicate silver sparkle overcoat

·       Luxe & Lush: A high octane flaky overcoat

·       Your Present Required: Multi-sized and multi-colored glitter

·       I Pink I Can: Multi-sized pink glitter

·       Techno: Glitter confetti polish

China Glaze® Pop Top will be available in August 2014 as open stock colors and 12-piece counter display, plus two four-piece box collections, “Glisten Up” and “Feeling Sparkly”.  Individual polishes will retail for $7.50 MSRP and the four-piece box collections retail for $19.95 each.  China Glaze® Pop Top will be available at fine salons and beauty supply stores nationwide; the four-piece kits will be available exclusively at Ulta.

China Glaze® is free of DBP, toluene, and added formaldehyde.

China Glaze® nail lacquers are available through salons and professional beauty supply stores nationwide. For more information, please visit www.chinaglaze.com or follow China Glaze on Facebook (@ChinaGlaze), Instagram (@ChinaGlazeOfficial), Twitter (@ChinaGlaze) and Pinterest (pinterest.com/chinaglaze), #ChinaGlazePopTop."

Thumbsupnails Giveaway (updated!)

I moved my giveaway from Instagram to here. Be sure to enter below!

Close up of the wraps from @thumbsupnails

Giveaway time! #nailmail Thank you to the amazing Grace @thumbsupnails for sending me these 2 nail wraps to give away! Prize has been updated (please note the colors included have been swatched). The rules are below...

1. Follow @nailsbygift and @thumbsupnails
2. Repost giveaway picture with @nailsbygift and #nailsbygift5k
3. Enter in rafflecopter below
4. 18 + or with parental consent (see detail) 
5. USA address only 
6. Giveaway ends July 31st midnight PST (Be sure to check out her website for so many more designs up to 50% off) ~ I will be showing you one design a week!!

NOTE: If you win and are under 18, then you will need to provide proof of parent permission (direct message picture of you w/your parents holding up a sign saying 'my child has my permission to enter your giveaway'). DO NOT SEND ME THIS INFORMATION UNLESS YOU HAVE WON 

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Essie Spring 2014 Collection + Review

I realized I never posted the Essie Spring 2014 Collection. Enjoy!

'Spin the bottle' is a tan nude with a pink undertone. This color was opaque in two coats. The formula was good and was self-leveling. The color is flattering on any skin tone.

Image has base and top coat.

"Romper Room" is a pale pink color. The formula is patchy on the first coat, but looks fine with a second medium coat. The formula was self-leveling and shiny. I just love my pinks!

"Fashion Playground" is a pistachio green with a subtle shimmer in light. This is two medium coats with top coat. The polish did not level out on my middle finger, so I added a top coat.

"Truth or flare is a jean blue jelly polish. First coat was slightly shear so I used two coats here. This swatch is with no top coat. The formula was good and self-leveling.

"Style Hunter" is a juicy red color. This is 1 coat with no top coat. The formula was great!

"Hide and Go Chic" a cobalt blue. This is 1 coat with no top coat. The formula was amazing and self leveling.

Overall I loved this collection. My top two would have to be Romper Room and Fashion Playground. I just loved those colors.

Essie products can be purchase at local stores as well as online stores. If you would like to purchase the items online, then check out this store. You can purchase the set for $30. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Items were purchased by me*
*Affiliated link to stores*

Born Pretty Store Stamping Plate Review

Today I have a review on three stamping plates that were sent to me from the Born Pretty Store.

"Nail Art Stamp Template Cute Snow Heart Pattern" (product number #15088) has a lovely selection of heart patterns. While selecting the items in the store I was afraid that the square cluster of hearts would be too small for my finger. It turned out to be bigger! This was perfect so I was able to use it the short way actually to get the part of the heart design I wanted. The image transferred perfectly onto my nails as you can see below.

In this image I used Inmnails Beatrice as a base and stamped with Essie Urban Jungle.

Then I tried the snow flakes. The design was very detailed. I will be using this plate again in the winter months during christmas for sure!

Direct Link to Cute Snow Heart Pattern

The manicure below makes me think of Frozen! I used China Glaze Fade into Hue and Orly polish Etoile for the sparkles. I stamped with Essie Blanc. This was super easy to use and it looks so polished.

Here is another manicure I did with two of the plates. "Nail Art Stamp Template Pretty Bowknot Strawberry Pattern F09" was used for the super cute birds. I stamped with Essie Urban Jungle when I should have used Essie Blanc. The design isn't as sharp but it still think it looks so cute!

Here is another one with the same stamper. The detail in the flower transferred nicely. Be sure to wait enough time for the stamped product to dry or else you will get some slight smearing like I did.

Direct Link to the Pretty Bowknot and Strawberry Pattern

The last plate I have for you is "Nail Art Stamp Template Quirky Arabesque Pattern QA88" (Plate number #15087). This a fun spring mani I did with Essie colors. I love how the design has so many options. If you want a set area, then just block it out with washi/painter tape. The trick to using this plate is to scrape towards the middle and to you use a scraper that is slightly bending. For example, I used a business card rather than a credit card. It turned out great! A design that took less than two minutes would have taken me forever by hand. I am not that skilled and probably won't ever be.

Link to Quirky Arabesque Pattern

Well I hope you liked all the pictures!

Tips for stamping:

• Prime your stamper. Just use a nail file to make it less shiny. The one I ordered was actually not shiny but sticky. I just did it anyways, but probably didn't have to.
• Use polish that has a good consistency (not too thin or runny) so it fills all the detail in the plate. In the image above I used Essie Urban Jungle. Just make sure it is opaque enough on the color you plan on stamping onto.
• Use any card at 45 angle to swipe. Reswipe with excess on card if the entire image is not full. 
• Immediately stamp. Either roll it on or stamp directly down. Find out what works for you and is more steady.
• Lift up and use a Q tip with nail polish remover to get rid of excess design on stamper that you don't want transferred
• Then transfer to nail. It might take a couple times to get use to lining up the design. Just go slow and roll from one side to the other while pressing firmly.
• Add top coat before removing excess so you don't risk damaging the stuff you want to keep
• Be sure to wipe the plate clean with nail polish after each stamp attempt. Must let it dry or else the next one might smear. 

So far I love my first experience with stamping! The stamper and plates from Born Pretty Store are perfect for first timers who want to try but don't want to spend lots of money. Just be sure to put washi tape or painter tape around the edge because it is a little sharp. These items are from Born Pretty Store. Use by code: GIFTx31 to get 10% OFF and FREE SHIPPING. The plates run from .99 to 2.99 

*Items were provided for honest review*