Nail of the Day: Houndstooth Stamping and a Matching Skirt

*Products are from my personal collection 

and not sent for review

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Just a quick NOTD post for you...continuing on my hapless journey into stamping! I'm actually more happy with this attempt than any on the past and I think it's because of that awesome big squishy stamper I got from Ninja Polish!

Houndstooth Nail Art

Houndstooth Nail Art

Houndstooth Nail Art

I loved this one! What do you think? Am I improving? I used Kiko 327 and black Konad for the stamping. The plate was the DRK-A one from Ninja Polish.



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Last Chance to switch from Google Reader! Easy Import!

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As most of you have probably heard, Google Reader is shutting down tomorrow, July 1st, 2013. I've actually never used it as I prefer Bloglovin because I have it set to email me once a day with all of the posts from the blogs I follow, with a thumbnail and short excerpt of the post. It's how I start every morning!

BUT if you are a Google Reader user and you haven't switched yet, now is the time! Here's a quick and easy way to import all of the blogs you follow. Hope Pointless Cafe makes the cut on your list! ♥

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piCture pOlish Citrus - Swatches and Review

Personal Collection

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

Happy Sunday! Today I have a bright, cheerful "epitome of summer" polish to show you - piCture pOlish Citrus.

piCture pOlish Citrus

Citrus is a very bright neon tangerine orange creme. Formula and application were fabulous. No issues to report at all and it dries super shiny. These photos were taken with NO top coat although I did apply Poshe later to protect it. Two easy coats.

Continued after the jump...

365 Days of Color - Limited Edition Ermahgerd Murica

Press Sample 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

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I have several gorgeous new polishes to show you from 365 Days of Color but I wanted to show you this one first and by itself because it's a Limited Edition Fourth of July/Independence Day polish that's only available through the 4th.

365 Days of Color Ermahgerd Murica

Ermahgerd Murica is a clear-based glitter polish "packed with red holo squares, red small hex glitter, blue holo squares, blue DOTS, white small hex glitter, white stars and silver holo squares."

Perfect for Fourth of July/Independence Day celebrations. I used 1 to 2 coats of this one over a gradient base of Illamasqua Force (blue) Illamasqua Ruthless (red) and a plain white creme to create gradients. I did not have to fish for, dab or "place" anything! How you see it on my nails is how it came randomly out of the bottle! (NOTE: As with all glitter polishes, I use a toothpick to scrape down the sides of the bottle and across the bottom to "float" the glitters before use. Just a habit but it works fantastically.) One coat of Poshe top coat to finish it off.


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Lilypad Lacquer Blooming Violets - Swatches and Review

Personal Collection

*This product is Cruelty Free 

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Happy FRIDAY!!!!!! Today I have a new-to-me indie brand to show you from Australia - Lilypad Lacquer. I wanted ALL THE HOLOS but I just got one for right now - my favorite color, violet. This one is called Blooming Violets.

Lilypad Lacquer Blooming Violets

Blooming Violets is a loose linear holo in a gorgeous violet shade. ONE coat and no top coat for the photos. The last photo is after 3 days of wear and it's of my right hand - I'm right-handed and I experience wear more on that hand of course. Perfect one-coat formula with ZERO issues to report.


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Ruby White Tips Happy Hour Collection Part 3 - Mind Eraser, Time of Our Lives and One Too Many

Press Sample 

*These Products are Cruelty Free 

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I'm back with the final installment of the Happy Hour Collection from Ruby White Tips! Tonight I have the last 3 polishes in the collection: Mind Eraser, Time of Our Lives and One Too Many.  If you missed Part 1 with Bay Breeze, Pina Colada and Pink Sangria, check out my post here and to see Bubblegum Martini and Midnight Cosmos, click here.

Ruby White Tips Happy Hour Collection

Here's what the maker had to say about them:

Mind Eraser - What? It's a Mind Eraser....A what? A mind Eraser. A what? Oh never mind. 
Layered over ice. This is done as a quick shot. The first of the night back in my days...Vodka under Kahlua in the middle of club soda on the top. This is the darkest blue that you can get with out being black. It's so blue, it's black. 

My thoughts - I used one coat of this one and the formula is great. No issues other than it's really difficult to capture how this one looks in real life. The artificial lighting photos are accurate though. No top coat for the photos of it alone.

Time of Our Lives - The first of the Happy Hour Collection!! When you go out on the town, you want to what??? Have "The Time Of our Lives"....Why not! This is full and pure silver holo glitter throughout the whole polish. The scent is grapefruit, which doesn't last through a good hand washing! But it smells so much better when you open it, not stinking up the whole house with the smell of polish. I know a few people that can't tell when a polish has been opened in the house when I have this stuff added to it! I love it. If you do NOT want the smell, please say so in the comment area and I won't add it. 

My thoughts - I didn't know it was scented when I received it (or I would have asked for unscented as scented polishes trigger horrible migraines) so after I took the photos, I removed it. I did, however, put this one on my toes and weeks later, it's STILL on my toes over a plain black creme. It's so gorgeous and sparkly that I just HAD to wear it somewhere! And yes, I'm flexible enough to check out if the scent lasted and it did not. Don't judge me. It's truly so much more gorgeous and sparkly than my camera could capture. I used one coat in the layering photos and on the thumb I used two coats alone. One coat of Poshe top coat.

One More Time - Sometimes when drinking you don't use your brains enough. And by that I mean, you don't stop drinking when you know you should. You have "One too Many"! No one wants that. Some of the best parties you've ever been to you've had one too many. It's never as pretty as this polish though. Or smells as good as it either. This one smells like Monkey Farts!!!! Yep, Monkey Farts. That smells a little like bananas, and tons like pineapples......Can be taken out of the polish if you would like it to be unscented. Just write that in the comments. The scent doesn't last long, but in the bottle it will smell forever, just on your fingers it gets off the very first hand washing. Like "Time of our Lives", this is a full glitter with black holo base.

My thoughts - again, I didn't realize it was scented until I opened it but how wonderful that you can request it without scent! I used one coat as a reverse gradient over Mind Eraser and one full coat in the "skittles" photos. One coat of Poshe top coat.

Continued after the jump...

Dance Legend No. 15 - Llarowe Exclusive

Press Sample 

*I Believe This product is Cruelty Free 

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I'm sure you've all seen the photos by now on Llarowe's site, but I thought I'd show you again and give my review - Dance Legend No. 15.

Dance Legend Termo Shine No. 15

Here's the description: On cool nails this is a medium purple textured polish with pink and silver glitters.  On warm nails this changes to a medium pink with pink and silver glitters.  Dries to a matte finish.  Add top coat for a glossy smooth finish.

Continued after the jump...

Ruby White Tips Happy Hour Collection Part 2 - Bubblegum Martini and Midnight Cosmos

Press Sample 

*These Products are Cruelty Free 

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I'm back tonight with two more polishes from the Happy Hour Collection by Ruby White Tips - Bubblegum Martini and Midnight Cosmos. If you missed Part 1 with Bay Breeze, Pina Colada and Pink Sangria, check out my post here.

Ruby White Tips Happy Hour Collection
(*I had the bottle turned wrong on the top right - that's Bubblegum Martini)

Tonight we're going to have a Bubblegum Martini and a Midnight Cosmos! Here's what the maker had to say about them:

Bubblegum Martini - Remember those days when you were young and you had Bazooka bubble gum? Well they can make that exact taste in a vodka cocktail now! YEP! You drink these and it's just like bubble gum. Talk about having a few too many!! This is a hot orange pink color. Neon. It has these blue sheer flakes in it and square iridescent colors in it too. It's sheer and matte, great with a glitter helper topcoat! 

My thoughts - This is a very cool color and I loved the iridescent flakes of course. I used 3 coats and one coat of Poshe top coat for the photos. No issues to report.

Midnight Cosmos - If you're anything like me you've had a few of these things called Cosmopolitans. I wasn't supposed to be out long, just for Happy Hour. How did it get to be Midnight already???? This is a matte type of polish. Best with only 2 coats and a nice shiny topcoat! 

My thoughts - This one says 2 coats and I suspect that may work for shorties, but I needed 4 coats, mostly to hide my staining. It dries to a wax or rubber finish. Photos are with 4 coats and both without and with top coat. No issues other than the number of coats.


Continued after the jump...

Rainbow Honey Summer of 199X Collection - The Kraken, Tiny Ruby and Pink Cloud

Press Sample 

*These Products are Cruelty Free 

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How about 3 polishes from the new Summer of 199X Collection from Rainbow Honey? Today I have The Kraken, Tiny Ruby and Pink Cloud to show you.

Rainbow Honey Summer of 199X Collection
The Kraken, Tiny Ruby and Pink Cloud

Here's what the creator had to say about them:

Rainbow Honey presents its newest collection, Summer of 199X featuring 10 new colors inspired by the 1995 SNES hit, Earthbound. 

“Another video game that holds a special place in my heart! I wanted this collection to bring me back into the game, and I think each new lacquer takes me to a special moment or reminds me of a certain boss that resulted in one too many Game Over’s...Part I is made up of 5 new glitterbombs bursting with shimmer and color - they all layer to opacity but can be used over other colors as well. Part II is 3 new shimmer-dusted cremes and 2 new glitter toppers that give each creme a bold or sweet look. I am so excited to add these all to our lineup!” – Dee

The Kraken is a marine jelly with a blue and green glow filled with glitters, shimmer, and the sea monster’s own holographic Crashing Boom Bang!

Tiny Ruby, a shimmering ruby jelly, is filled with holographic glitters, glistening flecks, and the rarest jewels of Dalaam.

Pink Cloud is a hot pink jelly with holographic glitters and iridescent shimmer - perfect to meditate on and Carrot Key not needed!


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Enchanted Polish Electric Feel - Swatches and Review

Press Sample 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

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Good morning! This morning I have another lovely Enchanted Polish from the Time To Pretend Collection to show you - Electric Feel.

Enchanted Polish Electric Feel

Electric Feel is a color-shifting linear holographic polish. And boy does it shift! Yellow, gold, light green, dark green, silver, copper...

Enchanted Polish Electric Feel

Continued after the jump...

Ruby White Tips - Happy Hour Collection Part 1

Press Sample 

*These Products are Cruelty Free 

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Tonight I have 3 polishes from the latest collection from Ruby White Tips - The Happy Hour Collection! I have the whole collection to show you over the next day or two also!

Ruby White Tips Happy Hour Collection

The three I"ll be showing you tonight are Pina Colada, Pink Sangria and Bay Breeze.

Here's what the maker had to say about these:

Pina Colada - The first tropical drink I ever had was a Pina Colada. I think it was the brain freeze that mad me get such a headache from them! Never again. I still can't even drink Slurpee's because of it. The smell though....OMG It's heavenly! Pick a fruit, there's a bunch of the neon's in the white creamy base. It's a great color. No lumps totally smooth too! There's some purple, green, pink and blue squares in there. With some micro blue making the base look light blue, but it's not, it's white. 

Sangria - First time I ever had sangria.....What the hell is this fruit for? Then I took a sip and fell in love! If you've never had Sangria it's a red wine, with all sorts of fruit in it. It's got a ton of pure cane sugar in it too! It turns from a deep purple red wine color to a pinkish purple color. Kind of similar to this polish. Polish is red based, but turned hot magenta with purple foiled flakes! It's an amazing color! 

Bay Breeze - Vodka, Cranberry and Pineapple! (Malibu Baybreeze is a close, just swap the vodka for it). My past life (before kids) I bartended. For a LONGgggggg time. Maybe that's why I like mixing polishes so much? I think I owe those reading this money for therapy...This color is really smooth. It's a teal base color with a hue of yellow, but not yellow. It's a really hard thing to explain.


Continued after the jump...

What's In My Bag

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I've been asked so many times for What's In Your Bag posts and I've done a half-hearted one in with a bag review and maybe one more a long time ago with just one quick photo but never a real honest-to-goodness one showing everything in my bag. And I probably wouldn't have if a few blogger friends of mine hadn't suggested several of us doing one. So...for what it's worth for anyone who cares what's in there, here ya go!


First, this is the bag I'm carrying today. It's my all-time favorite bag - Hermès Evelyne PM (or MM now I can't even remember) Chartreuse Clemence with PWH.  But what's in my bag rarely changes because I just transfer all my SLGs (Small Leather Goods) from one bag to another as the mood or occasion dictates. Some days they're all in Hermès and some days they're in a canvas bag I hand-painted myself.

And you've gotten me on a good day - there are no broken Milkbones floating around in there - or doggie clean up bags. <grin>

And the contents...

Karo GM Quetsche Chevre - by Hermès

Moleskine notepad, Hermès Post-It-Note holder,
hand lotion, nail file and mirror

Karo PM in Vert Anis Chevre - by Hermès

Yes, that's a lil sonic screwdriver! Keys, keys and more keys

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Rose Shocking Chevre Piccolo by Hermès

Pens, spare lip stick and liner (which I need to toss
because I don't use a liner anymore)

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Envelope pouch by Tusk...

Receipts, passport, spare check and mad money

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Silicone pouch - cheapie from Walmart...

Colgate Wisp, my old-age reading glasses, lipstick, mints
Excedrin/Advil and Glasses Wipes

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Wallet in Ultra Violet by Coach...

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Business cards case by Baekgaard...

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Sunglasses in a hand-painted pouch I did...

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Of course my phone!

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Here's what's on my bag...a lovely birthday gift from one of the sweetest ladies ever: Hermes Barenia Horse Hair Tassel

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And she's stuffed!

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What's in YOUR bag? Post pics on my Facebook page because turnabout is fair play!




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Dance Legend 10 Cosmic Rainbow

Personal Collection

*This product is Cruelty Free 

♥

Buenos Dias! This morning I have a holo-gasmic polish for you - Dance Legend New Prism #10 Cosmic Rainbow.

Dance Legend #10 Cosmic Rainbow

Cosmic Rainbow is a strong linear holographic purple polish and the formula and application were amazing. No issues at all to report. I did not use a base coat at all, special aqua base or regular base. I didn't use a top coat for the photos, but I did top coat with Poshe for the full mani later and it didn't diminish the holographic properties. It's one of those that you think you've ruined when you first apply the top coat, but when it dries, BAM - holo is back!


Continued after the jump...

Dance Legend - Thermal #162

Personal Collection

*This product is Cruelty Free 

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Have you, like me, been ever so impatiently awaiting getting your hands on some Russian polish? Dance Legend is now available in the States and tonight I have one of their thermal polishes to show you - #162. This one is the pink to purple one.

Dance Legend #162

If there's a name on this one, other than just the number, I couldn't tell you what it is because most of the labels are in Russian. But 162 is a gorgeous rich pink with a purple shimmer. When the temperature drops, it turns purple - mostly on the tips as that doesn't have the warm skin underneath but when my entire hand got cold, the whole nail turned purple. I'm in South Texas and it's already hot enough here to fry an egg on the pavement but I still experienced the color change at the cafe and in the vehicle's AC with no problem. No issues with formula or application. This is two light coats and no top coat.


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Darling Diva Polish Denim Mitten

Personal Collection

*This product is Cruelty Free 

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Happy Monday!!! This morning I have a special polish to show you - Darling Diva Polish Denim Mitten, which I WON from the lovely Jen over at Jen's Nail Files...one of 12 lucky winners of this Darling Diva Exclusive, made just for the contest.

Darling Diva Polish Denim Mitten

So unfortunately, I don't think you'll be able to purchase this one, but it should give you an idea of the creativity and beauty of her polishes, so be sure and head over to the Darling Diva Etsy Shop and check out her other lovely polishes.

Formula and application were perfect. It's a complex blue shimmer glitter polish and I love the little magenta circle glitters - you'll just have to see the photos...

Continued after the jump...

Dandy Nails Choke on a Kiss

Press Sample 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

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Tonight I have Dandy Nails Choke on a Kiss to show you and it's just so lovely!

Dandy Nails Choke on a Kiss

Choke on a Kiss is a pink shimmery base packed with multi-sized pink, gray, and black glitters and I see purple shimmer too!  I layered 2 light coats over a pale pink base of Zoya Gie Gie for the photos. One coat of Poshe top coat to finish it off. The formula and application were perfect!


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Darling Diva Polish - True Blue

Press Sample 

*This product is Cruelty Free 

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I have a real treat for you this morning - Darling Diva Polish True Blue - blue holo with a sprinkling of micro-glitters for good measure.

Darling Diva Polish True Blue

True Blue was inspired by the Madonna song of the same name and the colors were taken from the gorgeous blues on the album cover. It's a lovely blue linear holographic polish with sparsely scattered micro-glitter. The way the light plays with this polish is magical. I had no issues at all with formula or application. Three light coats of this one and no top coat for the photos.

Continued after the jump...

piCture pOlish Sea Jewel

Personal Collection

*This product is Cruelty Free 

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This is one busy Saturday! Right now I have another gorgeous polish to show you - one of the newest piCture pOlish Blogger Collaboration Shades - Sea Jewel, created with the lovely Anutka over at Wacki Laki and it's stunning. Go check out her post for her inspiration and swatches here!

piCture pOlish Sea Jewel

Sea Jewel is a "mesh" shade and it's a green-leaning teal jelly base full of silver glitter. The formula and application on this one is fantastic and I had no issues at all. I used 2 light coats and no top coat for the photos. I also wanted to see what it looked like layered over black, so I did that on the thumb with one coat over a black creme. I'll be wearing this baby alone.


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piCture pOlish Frosting

Personal Collection

*This product is Cruelty Free 

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Today I have one of the new piCture pOlish Collaboration Shades to show you - Frosting! Frosting was created by 'Chelle over at Cosmetic Cupcake, along with piCture pOlish and inspired by, what else? Cupcakes! Click here to see 'Chelle's post and swatches.

piCture pOlish Frosting

Here's what piCture pOlish had to say about Frosting: "Frosting is a pastel milky pink crème shade full of silver, magenta and violet glitters plus with a little shake you will find a wonderful surprise – beautiful silver hearts - just magic! And yes these sprinkles really take the cake!"

I used two coats and one generous coat of top coat for the photos. The base on this one is good and the smaller glitters spread nicely on the nail. There are so many hearts that you have to be careful not to get too many or it will look lumpy. But if you scrape most of the hearts off of the brush as you're applying, you shouldn't have any issues. I did layer this over a base of Zoya Gie Gie.

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BB Couture Pretty Woman and Happy Hooker - Swatches and Review

Press Sample 

*These products are Cruelty Free 

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Today I have a couple of pretty BB Couture polishes to show you - Pretty Woman and Happy Hooker. Love the names!

BB Couture Happy Hooker and Pretty Woman

They both had a great formula and easy application.

Swatches and review after the jump...

Nail of the Day: Nails Inc. Abstract Nail Art

Personal Collection

*These products are Cruelty Free 

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Happy Saturday! Today I have a quick post for you - a "matchy-matchy" manicure to go with a favorite blouse of mine. Favorite partly because I like the colors but mostly because it blouses around my love handles. Mid-40s is definitely the time where you learn the art of camouflage - LOL!

I've used Nails Inc. Colville Mews as my base with accents of Black Taxi and Westminster. I just used a regular nail art brush and randomness. Quick and easy.

Abstract Nail Art with Nails Inc. Westminster, Colville Mews and Black Taxi

It was a little busy to wear for long so I toned it down...

Nails Inc. Westminster with Black Taxi accent

Nails Inc. Westminster with Black Taxi accent

Nails Inc. is one of my favorite brands, so when I just can't decide what to wear, I always have something in my Nails Inc. section that works. And I can always count on the formula being fantastic. I really adore their cremes. (For those of you always on the lookout for a great one to two coat black creme, Black Taxi might be for you!)

Nails Inc. polishes are widely available in the UK for around £11.00 and select colors are available in the States at Sephora stores and Sephora.com and retail for around $10.00.

And THIS is Murphy's typical Saturday...

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piCture pOlish Mad Magenta with Nail Art

Personal Collection

*This product is Cruelty Free 

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Good evening! Tonight I have another piCture pOlish to show you - this time it's Mad Magenta! And I've done a little "nail art" with it as well...

piCture pOlish Mad Magenta with Gradient and Dotticure

Mad Magenta is a bright magenta polish that leans to the violet side of pink. It dries to a wax or rubber finish. I have photos of both with top coat and without. I used 3 light coats of this one with no issues.

Continued after the jump...

Comparison Request with Elevation Polish Pic de Sotllo - Electric/Royal Blues

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If you haven't seen my post on Elevation Polish Pic de Sotllo - GO! I'll wait...

Okay, understandably, a few people have already asked how it compares to some of the others out there. So I thought I would do a quickie comparison post for you using Revlon Royal, Nails Inc. Baker Street, Nails Inc. Southwark and Essie Butler Please. (UPDATE: I've added a nine polish comparison of blues at the end!)

Bright Blue Comparison

More swatches and my thoughts after the jump...

Thrifty Thursday! With Hard Candy Crush on Raisin

Personal Collection

*This product is Cruelty Free 

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Happy Thursday! Tonight I have another Hard Candy polish for Thrifty Thursday - Crush on Raisin.

Crush on Raisin is part of their Crushed Chrome Collection and it's a bit hard to describe. It's sort of a, well...raisin is as good as anything I suppose. The copper flecks inside really make it interesting and most of the time it reads as sort of an antique rose copper.

The brush is medium wide and flat, making it apply perfectly. The bottle is taller and skinnier and I was afraid it 1) would be easy to tip over and 2) would have a wand that was so long it would have too much on it to "wipe off," but I had no issues with either one. The formula is great and I had zero issues. Two easy coats for full opacity and no top coat for the photos. It was perfectly smooth to the touch. Wear on it was good - I had minimal tip wear and no chips. (I didn't use a base coat or a top coat.)

Removal was easy, but sort of like a foil polish only not quite as difficult.

Hard Candy Crush on Raisin

Hard Candy Crush on Raisin

Hard Candy Crush on Raisin

Hard Candy Crush on Raisin

Hard Candy Crush on Raisin

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What do you think? Have you tried any of this line of Hard Candy polishes yet?

Hard Candy polishes are available at Walmart Stores nation-wide and retail for $4.00 each.

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