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!

Crystal File 048: NOTD OPI DS Glamour

Having recently tried my first OPI DS (Designer Series) polish, i decided i needed to invest in a few more colors. My favorite of the DS polishes i have so far is still Extravagance. However, my current NOTD, DS Glamour, is certainly also a winner. I hope you'll enjoy these pics!













I also have a few recent swatches to share with you. These are somewhat random, as i was simply grabbing untried colors that were near at hand, but hopefully you'll still enjoy them :)


China Glaze Spin Me Round




China Glaze Rated Holographic




FingerPaints Red Marzipan




FingerPaints Black Gumdrop






The two FingerPaints colors are part of the newest limited edition Fingerpaints collection for the holidays, available at Sally Beauty Supply. China Glaze "Rated Holographic" and "Spin Me Round" are both from the Kaleidescopes collection, which has unfortunately been discontinued. Do not dispair, however, as they are still available via many etailers (such as 8ty8beauty.com, head2toebeauty.com, and transdesign.com).

Thanks for checking in with me, my dears! Hope to post for you again soon :)

Crystal File 047: Let's Catch Up!

I have been remiss in my posting responsibilities! I do apologize, my sweet readers, for my negligence.

First I'd like to share with you the lovely Borghese Bella Blackberry. This is such a beautiful color, and the formula itself is quite nice, but the brush, ARG! The Borghese brush is slightly wider than the OPI Pro-wide, and curved across the tip to mimic the natural curve at the base of the nail. My problem with it is that it doesn't seem to distribute the polish evenly. Additionally, almost every bottle of Borghese I've purchased and swatched has had a slightly off-kilter brush, which makes it difficult to get the brush to work as it supposed to. All that said, however, this color is most certainly worth it!







The next polish I'd like to share with you instantly rose to the ranks of my top twenty polishes ever. OPI DS Extravagance is absolutely heavenly! Application was smooth as silk, the formula flowed beautifully from the brush, the pigmentation of the base is incredible, and the holo effect is magnificent. I adore this polish. I will be needing a back-up bottle immediately. Enough said, onto the photos!















Well, those are the lovelies for this post! I'm hoping Zoya Flourish will arrive soon so i can share those with you. And there are dozens of other polishes i should swatch for you, simply so i can stay caught up! A true Nail Polish addict's work is never done! Until next time, my sweeties :)

Crystal File 046: Layering Fun, China Glaze Ruby Pumps over Branding Iron

I'm not usually a big one for layering, i guess I'm just kinda lazy, but i do love how this combo turned out! China Glaze Ruby Pumps over China Glaze Branding Iron (from the Rodeo Diva collection for fall 2008). Both polishes should be readily available via etailers, and many retail establishments probably have them as well. I used two coats Branding Iron (although i think one would work just as well, it is very pigmented) and one coat Ruby Pumps, then Seche Vite top coat.








I think the darker under-layer really gives the entire mani a jewel like glow. Sparkly and vampy at the same time!