Beautyholics Anonymous » Nails

OPI’s Jade Is The New Black

Tine — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:30:48 +0000

As if I don’t already have way too many nail polishes to play with, LeGeeque and I have now started a swapping system where we borrow each other’s nail polishes to play with. We also have a *geek alert* database on Google Docs where we enter the details of all the nail polishes we have so that we can choose from each other’s lists. Okay, she has her database. I’ve yet to complete mine. Or start on it

Today’s nail polish, OPI’s Jade is the New Black, actually belongs to LeGeeque. If you’ve watched one of Lisa Eldridge’s videos, you’ll notice that this is one of her favourite nail polishes. It’s no wonder too, because it’s an unique green that I’ve never worn before.

Lisa called it a very modern green to wear, and I couldn’t agree with her more. I’m so used to wearing blue-green, lime green, very dark shimmery green, but never just green. It goes well with summery dresses, with dark denim, with…well, anything!

Oooh it’s going to be very difficult for me to finally return this to LeGeeque!

Inglot Nail Enamel No 321 aka Blue Lagoon

Tine — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:30:00 +0000

My first nail polish from Inglot!

Gah, why do brands like to number their nail polishes instead of give them a cool name? No 321. Pfft. I shall rename this to Blue Lagoon because it reminds me of the crystal-clear water in a secluded lagoon. And no, a young Brooke Shields* did not come to mind

It’s a gorgeous shade of blue and green (although I think there’s a little more green than blue in this), with subtle gold shimmer.

It’s like the blue-green version of the Chanel Peridot. The colour shimmers differently in different lights, sometimes it’s dark, something it’s really bright. I don’t normally wear the same colour more than 4 days, so I can’t only review the longevity of the nail polish in within that period. I’m happy to say that there was no tip wear nor chips with this. The only snags are that the polish does drag a little and it’s a bit streaky, like a lot of metallic nail lacquers are. But for the beautiful colour, the faults are easily forgiven

*If you did not get that Brooke Shields reference (The Blue Lagoon), then you’re either too young, or I’m too old. For my sake, I shall stick to the former

Celebrating the Chinese New Year with Red and Gold Nails

Tine — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:30:00 +0000

Happy Chinese New Year from Beautyholics Anonymous! Today marks the first day of the lunar new year, and this year is a particularly auspicious one as it is the year of the Dragon.

As Chinese New Year celebrations aren’t that big a deal in Australia (no public holidays. Boo!), this year’s festivities (in my house, at least) will be kept to a minimum. Maybe a new outfit or two is all. Still, it’s nice to wear something more festive to celebrate the lunar new year, and for this, I’ve done up my nails in red and gold.

I can’t do nail art, so this is the best I can come up with. I was thinking of drawing a dragon on my nails, and remembered that I can’t even paint my nails properly, so … nah

I used OPI Bogota Blackberry and Face of Australia Molten Metallics in Gold

If you’re single, I wish you lots of angpows (red packets) this year. If you’re married without children, here’s wishing that you don’t have to give away many angpows. Last but not least, if you’re married with children, here’s wishing you get more angpows than you have to give.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Colour-Blocked 80s Nails

Tine — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:30:50 +0000

I remembered seeing this colour combination on Angie‘s blog, and I loved it. She used Bloom nail polishes, but I don’t have those, so I rummaged my stash of nail polishes and found similar colours to try out.

The colours reminded me so much of the colour combination of snapbands I used to wear back in the 80s and early 90s

Here’s what I used – Jessica in 3D Tangerine, Sally Hansen Insta-Dry in Flashy Fuchsia and Face of Australia Luxe in Private Jet

I haven’t used the Face of Australia and Sally Hansen nail lacquers in quite some time now, and it’s great revisiting these gorgeous colours and formula. I forgot how easy they were to apply and remove.

Hmm maybe I’ll wear this to the New Kids On The Block concert in May

Maybelline New York Mini Colorama Nail Colour in 135 Tart

Tine — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:30:02 +0000

Today’s nail lacquer is dedicated to my cousin Beetrice, who’s a big fan of all things purple

The first time I saw Maybelline’s Colorama Mini nail polishes, I thought they were really cute. The small 7.5ml bottles are just nice for me. I don’t wear nail polish very often, and since I like trying out new ones, regular-sized bottles are wasted on me

I liked the Mini Colorama in Tart instantly when I saw it and tried it on. It’s a rich purple with subtle gold shimmer. It reflects beautifully against the light, and applies with ease.

Purple is a colour that is very difficult to capture on camera, so after taking snapping heaps of images, these are the best I could do to capture its true colours. I think it’s pretty accurate to the real thing

Tart is a part of the Colorama Mini Nail Colour Bitter Sweets Collection, and will be available at Maybelline counters in February 2012. Each Colorama Mini retails at AU$5.95 for 7.5ml.

Note: This product was provided for consideration.

Fluoro-Summery Nails with Ulta3

Tine — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:00:51 +0000

Ulta3 nail polishes are what I call tiny treats in a bottle. They have a huge variety of colours (to date, they have 87 colours!), and you can pick them up along with mints and paracetamol at the pharmacy for a little pick-me-up. Not that I’ll be slapping on nail polish when I’m not feeling well, but like makeup, it’s a little something pretty to cheer me up and look forward to when I’m out of the flu funk.

I received four of these Ulta3 nail polishes in the ABBW goodie bag a couple of months ago. My first thought was “woah these are bright. Fluorescent nails? I haven’t had them since I was 15!” These were definitely a trip down pimple-face memory lane

Here, we have Mojito, Tangelo, Frangipani and Tahitian Lime.

My least favourite of the lot is the Frangipani. It didn’t look good with my skintone, it was the streakiest of the lot AND it stains the nails. Some of it got on my cuticles and it stained them yellow too.

The rest of the colours are just my cup of tea for summer, especially Mojito.

What’s that now? Oh right. The 90s called. They want my fluoro nails back

Ulta3 nail polishes retail at AU$2.25 for 13.5ml (cheap as!) and are available at selected pharmacies nationwide.

SAX Cosmetics Nail Polish in No 54 and No 60

Tine — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:00:53 +0000

Like Face of Australia, SAX Cosmetics is another drugstore brand I’m very impressed with, especially with their lip makeup. It goes to show that good quality makeup need not come with a high pricetag.

I recently had the opportunity to try out a couple of nail polishes from SAX Cosmetics. When I first opened the package, I gasped, especially at how beautiful No.54 is.

Initially I thought it was a shade of shimmery purple. In some light, it looked like burgundy. In another, it looked red. I’m afraid I couldn’t capture the shade well enough to describe what I mean, but if you do get the chance to look at the nail polish, you’ll know what I mean. It’s a beauty.

No.60 is a bright shade of coral. It’s a lovely summery shade that is right up my alley.

Just a little snag. I did find the scent of the nail polish a little more overwhelming than most nail lacquers I’ve used. It’s nothing I can’t handle, but I thought I’d let you know. Other than that, these are very pretty shades from SAX Cosmetics. I’m really keen on trying out other colours. There are 18 shades in their range of nail lacquers.

SAX Cosmetics nail polishes retail at AU$8.95 for 12ml each, made in Australia and are free from Toluene, Formaldehyde and DBP.

Sally Hansen Mobile Manicures Bar at Federation Square

Tine — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:00:59 +0000

Guess what? Sally Hansen is currently having a mobile manicures bar at Federation Square, Melbourne this Spring Racing Carnival, and you can drop by for a free deluxe manicure any time between 9.30am to 4pm till Thursday, 3 November. That’s right ladies, you heard right. FREE MANICURES. Get on it.

I had an opportunity to get my nails done yesterday morning with a few beauty bloggers invited to an intimate breakfast hosted by CotyPR, brand managers of Sally Hansen. After a short presentation on Sally Hansen (interesting fact: do you know that one Sally Hansen nail polish sells every 6 seconds in the US? Far out!), it was time for a manicure!

Now the fun part is, you don’t only get to choose a regular manicure. I had the option of trying out the Salon Effects nail stickers too. The Salon Effects nail stickers are great for those who do not have the time to spare and wait for the nails to dry.

As it was Halloween yesterday, what better way to “celebrate the occasion” than to try out the Halloween range? I chose Numbskulls.

The one on the lower left are Emily‘s Salon Effects manicure in Wishnets. Beautiful.

Unfortunately, one of my nail stickers chipped a few hours after application. I reckon it was the combination of it being the first time the nail tech was using the nail stickers AND me pulling my jeans down and up in the loo that mucked it up. I was a bit upset at first, until I thought, hang on. I could remove that peeled nail sticker and paint that bare nail black. Can someone say statement nails?

Okay, here are the details again:
Where: Federation Square. White marquee with the orange Sally Hansen splashed in front.
When: Till Thursday, 3 November, 9.30am to 4pm
Price: Free. No peanuts needed.
Reservations? Nope. Just rock in. As they’re quite popular, you might have to wait for a while.

Two Dollars Worth of Retail Therapy

Tine — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 23:00:00 +0000

My favourite aisle at Coles and Woolies will have to be the beauty aisle. Every time we head to our local Coles, I’ll give Tim the shopping list and I’ll scoot over to the beauty aisle. Plus, any beauty products purchased at the local supermarket is considered “groceries”, no?

This was something I picked up at my local Coles a week ago, and it’s NYC Color nail polish in Musk Stick. Best of all, it was only two dollars.

Two bucks worth of retail therapy? I could live with that.

An Endota Spa Nail Polish Named After My Favourite Shopping Haunt

Tine — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

I was contemplating on posting this, because 1) my nail polish application skills are still rubbish and 2) my cuticles aren’t looking so good at the moment. Still, I figured what the hell eh? When it’s something that is named after my favourite shopping mall, it very well deserves a mention.

Voila, the Chadstone.

It’s an orange-red shade, which is very easily to apply and wear. I love blindingly-bright shades like this, especially when I’m wearing black. Which is most of the time. What can I say, I’m a Melburnian and we love our black!

Excuse the grotty cuticles. It’s time for a manicure!

On a slightly not-so-different note, yes, Chadstone is my favourite place to shop. It also doesn’t hurt that I only live about 7 minutes’ drive from the shopping centre

Endota Spa Nail Polishes retail at AU$20 each and is available at Endota Spa salons.

Note: I received this nail polish as part of a gift bag at the Glycolic Launch at Endota Spa Malvern. For pictures of the event, please check out the photo album on my Facebook page.