Crystal File 54: China Glaze Romantique, First Installment

So, here's the deal. I'm generally not big into chrome/metallic polishes. Brushstroke marks tend to annoy me greatly, plus they can have an odd consistency. A few of these colors were duds for me for those reasons. I may need to search and see if i can find some tricks to help smooth out the application on metallic colors.

I found the paler colors to be the most difficult to apply without brushstrokes. They also seemed to have a sort of thick, glue-like consistency. In addition to those aspects, all of the colors dry extremely fast, which can make it difficult to "work" the polish to a smoother appearance on the nail.

I'm presenting my pics in order of least favorite (from both an application and color standpoint) to most favorite (better application and color). Please keep in mind these are all "quick-and-dirty" swatches, i used no base or top coat for any of them with the exception of Cherish.


Devotion




Admire




Cherish




Adore




Harmony




Awaken





I've enjoyed sharing with all of you! I hope to be able to share the second batch with you soon :)

Crystal File 053: For MUA Nail Board Gals!

For those of you who know me from the MUA Nail Board, I've organized a holiday gift exchange for the board to participate in. To be included you must have at least ten positive tokens, with no negative or unexplained neutral tokens. You must also have been posting on the Nail Board regularly for at least three months. If you meet these criteria and would like to participate, please PM me on MUA with your email addy included so i can send you an Elfster E-vite!

Love and Polish!

Crystal File 052: Quick Hello and What's Coming UP!

Hello my dear polish addicts! I apologize for not having had many new pics to share with you, the weather has been horrid (rainy, foggy, cloudy, just generally grey!) and with no new collections coming out, its difficult to find exciting things to share! I will, however, soon be able to share with you my first SpaRitual polishes and the new Barielle Shades colors. Both of these brands are new to me, so i'm incredibly excited to try them and share the results.

I also wanted to update my readers on my trial run of "Rock Hard" base by European Secrets. I LOVE this base/treatment! In only a weak i notice my nails are stronger, and this product provides a really nice sticky base for all the polishes i've tried it with (brand including Precision, OPI, Essie, Sephora by OPI, and SpaRitual). I highly recommend this product if you're looking for a good strengthening base for the winter months. "Rock Hard" is available at Sally Beauty Supply.

Crystal File 051: New Product to Try: European Secrets "Rock Hard"

From the packaging:

"Rock Hard bonds together a cross-link of fiber proteins that produces stronger, harder, thicker nails. Rock Hard creates a moisture shield that protects dry nails from unmecessary breaking and splitting. The results are longer, stronger, more flexible nails. Can be used alone, as a hardener, or as a base coat."

I've only just begun using this product, and i already love it. Used as a base coat it provided a smooth gripping surface to which my nail color applied flawlessly, no dragging or streaking. While wearing it my nails already feel harder than with my normal manicure, and i'm hoping over time using it as a base will provide my nails with even more strength and flexibility. Rock Hard is also Toluene and Formaldehyde free.

I'd certainly recommend giving this product a try if you're looking for a treatment base. With the onset of cooler months i have already begun to see some peeling beginning on my nails, so i felt i needed to try a product that might help protect and strengthen them in the coming months.

Rock Hard is available in the US at Sally Beauty Supply. It can also be paired with its partner top coat for even better results!

Crystal File 050: Zoya Flourish Has Landed!

This is such an amazing collection! The shimmer in these colors is absolutely out of control GORGEOUS! Application on all of the colors was wonderfully smooth, but Zara is a bit sheer, so it may take more than two coats for complete opacity. I'm saving my absolute favorite (Kalista) for last, so i'll start with the one i like the least on me.


Shivon:






Cyma: My close-up of this one was out of focus, so just a full nail shot here.




Zara:






Mieko: Beautiful, but i see myself wearing this more in the spring and summer :)






Richelle: Super gorgeous, i only wish gold looked good on me!






Kalista: Yeah, the pics speak for themselves.







Comparison between Kalista and China Glaze Side Saddle



Side Saddle has a much more plum/purple base, whereas Kalista is a more red based brown.


That's it for now, i'm all photo'd out! I hope you all enjoyed :)

Crystal File 049: NOTD OPI A Ruby For Rudolph

Hope all of my lovely readers had a Happy Halloween! Much trick-or-treating fun was had in our neck of the woods, and my lil' punkin did a great job marching down the long hill or house sits on, then all the way back up. He was a trooper!

First i would love to share a photo of him in his costume, and one of him sitting on my lap after we were all done.







And now that i've gotten that out of my system, on to the nail pics, which are what you came for! These are of my current NOTD, OPI A Ruby for Rudolph. Its a super sparkly mid-toned red shimmer with added teeny-tiny red microglitter. It is very pretty, but i'm not really "feeling it", so to speak. I'm hoping i will have time this afternoon to swatch Zoya Flourish and some other holiday OPIs, so it will likely come off soon :)















Thanks so much for letting me share! Enjoy the Halloween goodies judiciously, please, no tummy aches!