Happy Halloween!!

Today's Halloween NOTD is Chanel Black Satin, OPI Orange You Glad It's Summer with a little Essie Carnival over the orange nail polish. The OPI polish was a hot streaky mess to apply but it is the only orange I have. 

Please visit me again on Monday, I am going to have some new Laura Mercier nail polishes to share with you!

Have a Happy Halloween!!

NOTD: China Glaze Rodeo Fanatic Nail Polish

Good afternoon!

Quickie post today because there are lots of errands to be ran. 

Today's NOTD is China Glaze Rodeo Fanatic, from the Fall 2008 Rodeo Diva Collection. Rodeo Fanatic is a beautiful, slightly blackened, shimmery teal. In certain lights this nail color looks a bit metallic too! Application was only OK because it was a little on the thin and runny side so that gave me a bit of cuticle drag. But the color of the polish makes up for that. Me likes it :) Swatches are two coats of polish with Seche Vite top coat.

China Glaze Rodeo Fanatic Swatch Indoors (artificial light):

China Glaze Rodeo Fanatic Swatch Outdoors (full on California sun today!):

Have a great day!!

November is National Pomegranate Month: Free Essie Nail Polish!!

**EDIT** as of 10/30 11:51 a.m. Pacific time the Essie Pama supply has run out :( Everyone that signed up prior should get theirs no problem.

Good morning readers!

So you might be wondering, why is Katee telling us about National Pomegranate Month on e-polishblog? Well let me tell you!

Pama Liqueur, a fabulous and yummy pomegranate flavored liqueur, and Essie have teamed up to celebrate November being National Pomegranate Month! Essie has made an exclusive, limited edition, nail polish color inspired by Pama Liqueur, called Essie Pama. Right now you might be wondering how you can get your own bottle of Essie Pama. All you have to do is follow this link: www.pamaliqueur.com/join/nail-polish (copy and paste into your browser) to the Pama website, join the Pama Temptation Tree, and Pama will send you a FREE, yes FREE, bottle of Essie Pama Nail Polish!!

 

My bottle of Essie Pama is on its way and I'll have a swatch of the color up for you as soon as it arrives. 

What could me more fabulous than Pama Liqueur and Essie nail polish? Maybe painting my nails while enjoying a Pama pomegranate martini. If you have not tried Pama yet, I highly recommend it. One of my favorite cocktails of all time is a pomegranate martini made with Pama Liqueur and Pearl Persephone pomegranate flavored vodka. Yum! 

Now go and get your Essie Pama! And the next time you are at the party store or at a bar, try Pama Liqueur. You won't be disappointed. 

NOTD: China Glaze Wagon Trail Nail Polish

Good afternoon readers!

Today's NOTD is China Glaze Wagon Trail, from the Fall 2008 Rodeo Diva collection. I cannot believe how long it took me to try this one! From the instant I put it on, I was in love. First of all, the formula and application was top notch; not too thick and not too thin, with perfect coverage in two coats. And the color - totally unique and totally cool! Wagon Trail has a blackened or charcoal colored base and is packed with olive greenish gold shimmer. There are also scattered bits of multi color shimmer in there which really give this nail color a lot of

depth. I also like Wagon Trail because it looks noticeably olive green indoors, not just out in the sun.

Here are the swatches:

China Glaze Wagon Trail (indoors, artificial light):

China Glaze Wagon Trail (outdoors, sun):

If you don't have this nail color yet in your collection, I highly recommend it. Head 2 Toe Beauty and 8ty8 Beauty (links listed on the side of my page under the "where to haul" heading) have great prices on China Glaze nail polishes if you want to pick this one up.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day :)

NOTD: Zoya Nina Nail Polish

Hello!  I am back to blogging today after having two friends visit for a long weekend.  My boyfriend and I moved to San Diego about four months ago and we do not know very many people here yet so it is nice having visitors. It is also a great excuse to do some of the wonderful "touristy" things that our area has to offer, like kayaking through the La Jolla Coves. We even did manicures Thursday night which was really fun. My friend liked Zoya Yasmeen so much that I sent it home with her. 

Today's NOTD Is Zoya Nina which is from the Fall 2008 Vibe Collection. Nina is a rich, dark brown cream that is a red based brown. You can really see the red tone come out in the sun but there is still no question that this is a brown nail polish. Even though I am a habitual three coater when it comes to nail polish I only needed two coats with Nina. It went on a bit thick but was still easy to control and applied nicely. I don't know if I have mentioned this before but I am also a big fan of Zoya's brushes. 

Zoya Nina (indoors, artificial light):

Zoya Nina (outdoors, sun):

I am really digging Zoya Nina. This is another great color for fall. It also looks like it might be a dupe to Revlon Hot for Chocolate, another one of my favorite browns. I will definitely be testing that to see and posting my comparison swatches soon.

Just a quick reminder - it isn't too late to take "The Polish Poll" and receive a coupon code for THREE FREE Zoya polishes!! Just visit my October 15th post for more info. This promo ends 10/31.

Well that is all for today. What will I wear tomorrow? You'll have to come back and see! Thanks for stopping by and see you again soon :)

Zoya Yasmeen: The Most Beautiful, Non-Vampy, Non-Blackened, Purple Nail Polish Ever!

Good morning dear readers!

Today I would like to share with you Zoya Yasmeen. I am going to use an expression that my mother loves - it's an oldie but a goodie! For all of you purple lovers out there, this is a MUST have. Zoya Yasmeen is a deep purple that I don't consider to be vampy and it isn't blackened either. It has the most fabulous sheen and shimmer to it. The shimmer that runs through Yasmeen is very interesting - sometimes it looks like a pink shimmer and sometimes it looks like a metallic gold shimmer. The application is great, as we've come to expect from Zoya; not too thick, not too thin, and opaque at one coat. All swatches below are two coats of polish and SV top coat. 

Artificial light photo - in this photo you can really see the gold and pink shimmer!

Another artificial light photo - I did some finger contortions so that you could see the deep and fabulous purple that I am seeing at home. 

The colors that you see in Yasmeen really change depending on the light. In any light though, Yasmeen is a big winner in my book! 

Thanks for looking and hope to see you again soon. I apologize if I don't post again for a few days. My boyfriend and I moved from Michigan to sunny California about 4 months ago and ever since we got here we've had a pretty steady stream of visitors (yay!) from back home. I am excited that two of our very close friends will be here visiting us for the next few days. I promise that I'll be back to posting after they leave. I certainly hope that you'll be back here reading!

Chips? Not for me!

Just a quickie post - article from the Orlando Sentinel today claiming that "chips are hip" just because Ji Baek of Rescue Beauty Lounge said so. Well I don't care what she said! When I see someone with chipped nail polish, I just want to grab some acetone, cotton, pin them down and take off their nail polish for them. Chips are NOT hip! Even if you are rocking a $5000 hand bag with your chipped polish.

Here is the full article:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/lifestyle/orl-livchippednails102308oct23,0,4836162.story

TruBlue: Some of my favorite blues!

Hello dear readers!

I absolutely love blue nail polish. Everything from light blues to dark and blackened blues. Today I am sharing with you three of my favorite blue nail polishes.

First, OPI DS Fantasy, a true navy blue with small holographic glitter. The formula of this polish is amazing, it goes on so smoothly. It is opaque with one coat but I suggest using two coats for good measure. For all of you ladies out there that don't like the blackened blues, this one would be a great choice for you.

OPI DS Fantasy Artificial Light:





OPI DS Fantasy in the Sun:



Next, Essie Starry Starry Night. This WAS a VHTF (very hard to find) polish that Essie discontinued and then re-released. It is available again at essie.com and even though they are charging a $2 premium for it over their other polishes I can still say that I highly recommend it. Starry Starry Night has a jelly like formula and the dark navy blue is complimented with silver glitter. It really does look like a starry starry night! This is another true navy, not blackened blue. I suggest using three coats of this polish.

Essie Starry Starry Night Artificial Light:




Essie Starry Starry Night Outside in the sun:




Finally, one of my all time favorite polishes, Chanel Blue Satin (current NOTD). I am a big fan of the blackened blue shades and this one does not disappoint. It is opaque at one coat but I always use two. The shininess and glossiness of this polish is amazing. When you take Blue Satin out in the sun it has a very fine micro shimmer to it. I had to use a flash in my photos to get the shimmer to show because we were having a cloudy day in southern California. Now on to my one beef that I have with Chanel polishes. They chip like CRAZY!! Why is it that a $20 nail polish chips so badly? I just do not get it. I put this on yesterday and within 3 hours I had two little chips. That is nuts. But Chanel keeps on coming out with the "color of the moment" and I just keep on buying them. I like the color of Blue Satin so much that I even bought a back up. I just wish Chanel would do something to address the wearability issue because I know I am not the only one that has had these problems. I am not a consumer that requires a long wearing polish because I change mine almost daily; so imagine how frustrating this must be for someone that likes to go a few, say 4 - 5 days with the same mani. I have heard that using Chanel's base and top coats can help extend the wear of their polish but I don't subscribe to the mantra that I should have to use the same brand top coat and base coat as my polish. I have my Orly Bonder, CND Sticky, and Seche Vite. That is what I use. Chanel needs to work with it. OK this turned into a little bit of a rant. Hopefully someone at Chanel is listening. OK now on to the pic spam, I mean swatches!!

Chanel Blue Satin Natural Light:




Chanel Blue Satin w/Flash:





Chanel Blue Satin in the Sun (it was barely out on this day):



So readers, I want to know, what are YOUR favorite blue nail polishes? Let me know! Thanks for stopping by, reading, and hope to see you back soon!

p.s. random tidbit from the nail salon today - I was getting my bi-weekly pedicure today at a new place that I had not tried yet. The woman doing my pedicure asked me where I got my acrylics (finger nails, not toes, LOL) done! WOW. When I told her that they were my natural nails, no acrylic, she immediately inspected them , and complimented me on how nice they looked. I must say, that is the biggest nail compliment that I have ever received. 

p.s. if you have a moment check out my poll below :) And don't forget to tell me about your favorite blues!

Poll: Just for fun!

Good morning ladies!

I have a poll for you today that was inspired by a comment my boyfriend made the other day. This poll is just for fun and I think it's pretty funny too. The other day I was rocking Chanel Blue Satin on my tips and I love looking at that color in the sun. It is so gorgeous in the sun! We were driving (I was driving, he was riding shotgun) and I caught myself paying more attention to my nails glimmering in the sun than my driving...dangerous!! Maybe I swerved in my lane just a tiny bit. Maybe he yelled (not really a yell though) at me for staring at my nails while driving. There is just something about the way my nail polish looks in the car, I don't know what it is. So this poll question is inspired by this experience, and be honest ladies. Thank you in advance for voting!! Won't it be fun to see the results ;)

Do It Yourself: Katee’s Home Manicure Tips

My friend Jen contacted me the other day wanting to know my top tips for a fabulous at home manicure. Her main concerns were polish dry time and how to avoid getting nail polish on her cuticles and skin. So Jen, this post is for you!

First, get a top quality quick dry top coat. I like Seche Vite. I have also heard great things about Poshe Super Fast Drying Top Coat. I will say that Seche Vite is a little thick and might be difficult to apply for a “beginner,” so for that reason Poshe might be a good option. For me, the discovery of the quick dry top coat was like one of those moments where the clouds parted and I heard angels singing. Before this discovery, I could do my nails an hour before bedtime, and still wake up with sheet marks on my nails. Forget doing my nails during the middle of the day, because I would not be able to do anything for hours after that for the fear of denting or smudging my nails. With a coat of Seche Vite over my wet nail polish, my manicure is pretty much dry in 5 minutes; it’s rock hard, and both smudge and dent proof within 15 minutes. This stuff is amazing and has changed home manicures for me forever.

Unless you are ambidextrous, getting nail polish on your cuticles is pretty much unavoidable, at least when you are painting with your “other hand,” for me that would be my left hand. Practice makes perfect, and I have definitely gotten better over time since I’ve started painting my own nails on a regular basis. Since the little goofs are a fact of life, you need to get a nail polish corrector pen. I use the OPI Correct & Cleanup refillable pen. Sally Hansen also makes one that should be readily available at your local drug store. A Corrector Pen is essentially a marker that is filled with nail polish remover. Use this to “write” over the nail polish that got on your cuticles. I like using a product like this better than an orange wood stick and cotton because I like to keep cotton and wet nail polish as far away from each other as possible or else I end up with cotton in my wet polish!

Other tips:
Use a quality base coat like CND Sticky or Orly Bonder. Using a quality base coat and top coat will extend the wear of your nail polish and protect your nails from yellowing.

Get a crystal nail file. Not glass, crystal, and there is a difference. I like Essie's Crystal File which you can pick up at a beauty supply store. A crystal file will prevent nails from peeling and splitting. They also seal the edge of the nail preventing water damage. Don’t saw your nails when filing and avoid filing the sides of your nails. File slowly. I don’t necessarily subscribe to the mantra that you must file in one direction though. But, like I said don’t saw away at your nails, be gentle.
Use cuticle oil or balm, DAILY! I like CND Solar Oil and Solar Balm. Keeping your nails and cuticles hydrated is the single most important step to beautiful and healthy nails.
Well, there you go Jen! I hope these tips are helpful for you and that you’ll give it another go at painting your nails at home.

Two Stunning Colors for Fall from Essie

Hello!

Today I am sharing with you two stunners from Essie that I think are FABULOUS FOR FALL! I live in southern California and we are just starting to see the leafs change colors and that is really putting me in the mood for these colors.

First, Essie Decadent Diva - this was a Fall 2007 release but I think it is still fabulous and I am not tired of seeing it at all. Let me just say that I love the name Decadent Diva and I could not imagine not loving a color with that name. It is a gorgeous dark brown with red shimmer. I had a hard time capturing the true color of this polish. I think my pictures make the polish a little more redder than it is in person. You must see this on to truly appreciate how gorgeous it is. 

Essie Decadent Diva Indoors:

Essie Decadent Diva Outdoors:

Next, the insanely gorgeous Essie Groovy Grape, my current NOTD. When I say insanely gorgeous, I mean insanely gorgeous. When I saw this in the sun I almost *dropped dead*. Stunning. Groovy Grape is a gorgeous deep vampy grape with tons of red shimmer. It is simply amazing in the sun. This polish is a Fall 2008 release available exclusively at Ulta.

Essie Groovy Grape Indoors:

Essie Groovy Grape Outdoors:

Both of these Essie polishes are available at Ulta but like I said that is actually the only place Groovy Grape is even available.

OK now time to stop blogging and get outside! We are having amazing weather here in Cardiff by the Sea and I am going to get out there and enjoy it. While staring at my Groovy Grape nails in the sun. 

New Partnership: CVS Pharmacy & Barielle

Good morning!

Just some quick news this morning - I heard over at Women's Wear Daily that Barielle and CVS have formed a partnership and now Barielle will be available exclusively at CVS Pharmacy locations. I love the idea of being able to purchase a premium brand like Barielle at my corner CVS store. Don't get me wrong, I love Saks and Neiman's, but sometimes I just don't want to deal with the parking lot and crowds at the mall.  I'd like to hear from all of you out there - what do you think? Do you like to be able to grab premium brands at your local drug store OR do you think it cheapens the brand? I want to hear from you! Have a great weekend :)

You can read the story at Women's Wear Daily and here is a link to the story:

http://www.wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/cvs-fortifies-nail-care-with-barielle-1837341

PSA: Saks Fifth Avenue 20% off Friends & Family Promo

Saks is having a friends and family promo October 16 - 19th both online and in-store. Receive 20% off EVERYTHING except jewelry, cosmetics and fragrance - you get 15% off of those. Not so bad! Especially if you have a major lemming for Chanel Haute Chocolat nail polish or something else like that. I'll take the 15% when I can get it! The promo code online is SAKSFF2. If you would like to take advantage of this promo in store you need to print out the e-mail which I have and will forward to you - just leave me a note in the comment section! Good time to take advantage of a discount at a retailer that rarely discounts - especially cosmetics and fragrances ladies! Let me know if you end up getting anything fabulous!!

Zoya Casey - Vampy Love!

I saw Zoya Casey over on the Polish Addict's site the other day and instantly fell in love. It is vampy, jelly like, glossy and gorgeous! I instantly *ran* (ok, drove) to pick it up the moment I saw it, seriously. I just put it on and I cannot stop staring at my nails! Admiring this color on my nails is like a Rachel Zoe *die* moment. I am even more in love with it now than when I first saw it on PA's site. The only thing I'll warn you about though is that this was a 4 coater for me. Most jelly like polishes are because they tend to be thin and need to be built up to achieve bottle color. I enjoy the act of polishing my nails so I don't mind 4 coaters but they probably aren't for everyone. I also had cuticle drag issues, which can happen with the jellies, which is why I really needed the 4th coat to even everything out. On to the swatches!!

This first swatch is indoors, natural lighting, and please excuse my cuticle ouchie. I had a hang nail and got a little overzealous with the nippers :( Indoors, Casey is almost black, which I love.

The second swatch is in the amazing California sun. When you take Casey outside you can see the gorgeous plum color:

I hope you enjoyed today's swatches and hope to see you back soon!

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

Free Zoya Polish!!

Go to http://www.thepolishpoll.com, "vote", and receive a promo CODE for THREE FREE Zoya polishes of YOUR CHOICE! All you have to do is spend $20 at www.zoya.com or www.qtica.com and then enter the promo code, a $18 credit will be issued, then continue shopping for your choice of three free Zoya's. Expires 10/31. 

I ordered Yasmeen, Kotori, Sloane, Freja and Nina! Of course I'll swatch them for you as soon as they arrive. 

ENJOY!!

Sephora by OPI

Good Morning!

Today I am going to share with you two of my favorite Sephora by OPI polishes. I just love Sephora by OPI Metro Chic but even more than Metro Chic I am MADLY IN LOVE with Sephora by OPI Run With It!

Sephora by OPI Metro Chic - This is a cream polish that looks a little more purple/raisin grey in the sun and more muted mushroom grey indoors. There is also a bit of a mauve tone that comes out in the sun. Whatever color you think it looks like, I just love it! 

Here is the swatch in the blazing California sun:

And here is the swatch indoors in the natural light:

Sephora by OPI Run With It is a light grey with a fabulous shimmer that I just cannot get enough of. As much as I love the dark vampy colors this one is a winner in my book. This is a color that at least for me does not show different colors indoors vs. outdoors. It pretty much always looks the same to me! Pure fabulous!

I imagine that both of these shades would be flattering to all skin tones. You can pick up either color at your local sephora or online at www.sephora.com. Sephora offers free shipping on orders over $50 and free samples too! Love that! 

Welcome

Hi my name is Katee and welcome to my blog! This blog is dedicated to my newly found love of nail polish. I will share tips and products that I love as well as my "Nail of the Day" (NOTD). 

I am a bit of a newbie to this nail polish love so I don't have a huge collection (yet) but I am working on it. So most of my NOTD posts probably won't be anything color wise that you have not seen yet. But rather I'll be sharing with you my FAVORITE colors. 

Thanks for looking! 

And now on to my NOTD, Revlon - Hot For Chocolate. This is the first Revlon Polish that I have tried and I must say that I really like their formula and brush. The polish went on smoothly with no clumps or anything bad. It flowed onto the nail perfectly. I am really LOVING this color! I am a big fan of dark and vampy polishes. I love polishes that look dark and almost black indoors but then show their true colors in the sun.

This first swatch was taken indoors. I used 3 coats of polish and one coat of Seche Vite top coat (best top coat ever). 

The next swatch is a sunlight shot so you could see this color and all of its chocolaty goodness.

Thanks for checking me out and hope you visit soon and often!