Saturday, June 30, 2012

Review: It's So Easy Saturday - Watermelon Nails

Happy Saturday! Another It's So Easy Saturday is upon us and I shifted a little bit away from the fabulous Stripe Rite paints and moved onto one of my passions in life: RHINESTONES!


The rhinestones come in six different shapes, in multicolor and clear. I like this packaging better than the rhinestone wheels because each little section has its own tab that lifts, so I'm never disturbing more than one section.

And while I was skeptical about the rhinestone stick, with a little silicone piece at each end (large and small), it worked very well. Honestly, it was much better than the top coat method I had been using before this.


Here was the end result of my watermelon nails! I used a glitter green foil (Zoya Ivanka) for the tips and a bright pink for the flesh of the fruit (Rimmel Posh Pink) and of course, the Stripe Rite paints for the seeds. On the ring finger, I thought it'd be cool to do an accent nail with the rhinestones instead because this shape looked JUST like seeds!

So what do you think of my version of Watermelon Nails? They've been a hit at work so far! :-D

Visit the It's So Easy website at www.itssoeasynails.com for more information on the variety of products and retailers near you. Be sure to also check out their Facebook, Instagram at @ItsSoEasyNails, Twitter, and Pinterest pages!



Until tomorrow!
Princess Polish

Disclaimer: The product(s) in this post were provided to me by the manufacturer or their PR company for consideration. For more information please visit my Disclaimer page. 

Friday, June 29, 2012

Swatch and Review: Zoya Ivanka

Happy Friday, everyone! I thought we were a long time overdue for a little Zoya love!

This is actually my most recent Zoya purchase, the lovely green foil polish that is Ivanka.


This is Ivanka with two coats. Like the rest of the Flash and Sparkle collection, including Charla and Mimi, you really need three coats.


Ahh! Three coats of emerald, sparkly goodness! It is just GORGEOUS!

So what do you think of Ivanka?
Princess Polish

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Swatch and Review: Hump Day Holo - Nfu Oh 61


Happy Hump Day, everyone!

I'm bringing to you my VERY first Nfu Oh with those scandalous bottles!


It's Nfu Oh 61!


Here is Nfu Oh 61, a silver linear holo polish. When it goes on the nail, it looks pretty flat and just like chunky metal. But then, as it dried... something magical happened. And BOOM! It looked like it does above INDOORS!


And here is Nfu Oh 61 in natural light. It was gorgeous both indoors and outdoors. I had to put a top coat on over the polish, due to its tendency to crack and disintegrate with the slightest brush up against anything.

Truthfully, it's lack of durability was the major drawback for the polish. Though, I'd probably wear it again. Certainly, layering another polish over it didn't hurt.

So what do you think of Nfu Oh 61 for Hump Day?
Princess Polish

Press Release: Announcing Polish & Co


 Introducing Polish & Co.
…The Hottest New Name in Nail Polish has a charming Southern Accent



June 18th 2012, New York, NY: Introducing Polish & Co., the hot new beauty brand from North Carolina – the land of mint juleps, sundresses and fabulous hats. Always dreamed of living the Scarlett O’Hara lifestyle? Now, thanks to founder and nail industry expert of 23 years, Theresa Williamson, you can start… or at least have your nails emulate that syrupy, southern belle look! Nails are just as important as the latest fashion accessory and can have a large impact on an outfit and a look in general, so getting them right is crucial. Your nails can take you from messy to polished in a New York minute.

Celebrated for translating fashion trends into perfect nail color palettes, Polish & Co. has quickly acquired a devoted following. The brand takes a page from top fashion designers – just as clothing designers create a customizable wardrobe by making ideal pieces for easy, stress-free dressing, Williamson has created a wardrobe for your nails.

From finish to dry time to chip-free wear time, and even compatibility with all skin tones, Polish & Co. polishes take the guesswork out of getting beauty-pageant-perfect nails. Williamson has taken classic colors like red, pink, nude, and coral and perfected them – down to the very last detail.  She also gives them fun and out-of-the-box names like “Sweet Caroline,” “Too Much Info,” and “Ski- Crazy.” Of course, she has the fun, fashion-forward colors that were inspired by her sun-drenched North Carolina lifestyle (check out Neon Sky Blue or the latest, Lemon Meringue Yellow). Look no further than Polish & Co. for distinctive, personal hues, like a screaming bright coral, or a tangerine shade so succulent you can almost smell the orange grove.

Gone are the days of spending precious time wondering what color to put on your nails!  Get the perfectly polished luster of a Dixie beauty queen with the perfect high-gloss nail polish shade from Polish & Co. In two swipes, you get opaque, creamy, smooth (streak-free!) coverage any Georgia Peach would be proud to sport at her next garden party.

Specifically tailored for long wear on natural nails, Polish & Co. is quickly becoming a cult phenomenon in the nail industry and salons for being 3 Free (non-toxic). Already sold in over 10 salons and boutiques including the Bahamas, Polish & Co. polishes are formulated without the use of harmful ingredients like Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP or parabens. Looking pretty and polished is fabulous, but add on being chemical free? Well, we declare! That’s good news for any beautiful belle, Southern or not!

Available now for $12 in a selection of finer boutiques, internationally in Nassau, Bahamas and online at www.polishandco.com

Their website is so ADORABLE! The headers over the bottles are hysterical... stalk me? I almost fell over laughing! The names are too cute, as well.


Stay tuned for more about this company... I'll be reviewing their products in the near future!

Princess Polish

Monday, June 25, 2012

Swatch and Review: Maisie Shine Aquarium

Hope everyone had a great weekend and didn't get as sunburned as I did. BLECH.

My dad and I went fishing on the family boat for the first time this year and had a great time. So I thought it would be appropriate to post swatches of a polish that matched our fun: Maisie Shine Aquarium.


Maisie Shine Aquarium is a glitter bomb of tea, silver, green, red, and iridescent hexes, dots, and shards suspended in a cool marine blue base.


Because it reminded me so much of the ocean, I wanted to make sure it had as much depth as the sparkling sea. So I layered if over Nfu Oh 61 and here is the end result!

I wore this polish all weekend long and LOVED it. The only drawback to the shade is that while it is 3-free, it has a very strong smell. Even after it dried on my nails, I couldn't keep my hands near my face for 24 hours until the odor went away. It is perfectly fine now though.

You can check out Maisie Shine on Etsy, where it retails for $9 a bottle!

What do you think of this glitter bomb?
Danielle

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Swatch and Review: It's So Easy Saturday - Hypnotic Swirls

Hope everyone is having a lovely Saturday!

Here's another installment of It's So Easy Saturday. Last week's theme was Miami Stripes and this week is Hypnotic Swirls!

I used the neon Stripe Rite colors to make curves that remind me of op art.


I definitely LOVED the fact that I could make curves with the brushes relatively easier than I thought. These would be really easy to use for french tips, in my opinion.

I thought this was bright and summery and loved wearing it to work! I got tons of compliments.

Visit the It's So Easy website at www.itssoeasynails.com for more information on the variety of products and retailers near you. Be sure to also check out their Facebook, Instagram at @ItsSoEasyNails, Twitter, and Pinterest pages!

Disclaimer: The product(s) in this post were provided to me by the manufacturer or their PR company for consideration. For more information please visit my Disclaimer page.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

July Julep Maven Boxes Reveal and a CRAZY Deal


This month, Julep is featuring a combination of cremes, pearls, shimmers, and sparkles in their boxes, with four out of the five also featuring a duo of nail polishes with a matching lip vernis.

But the biggest surprise of all was shared earlier in the week on my Facebook page with the news that Julep would be including one of the following glitters (depending on your shipping address) in ALL Maven Boxes!

HOLY STAR GLITTER, BATMAN!

And of course, Princess Polish is bringing you the deal! If you click HERE and enter the code COLOR2012 to sign up, you will receive one of the two glitters above (retails for $14) PLUS one of the Maven boxes (that retails for around $42) for A PENNY! Seriously, $56 worth of products for $.01 and that's not including the bonus freebies Julep always includes.

You can also cancel at any time, meaning you don't have to continue after your July box arrives and pay any more than the penny.

So take a look at the following boxes:


This is my box! I'm not a fan of the nude colors, so I'm probably going to switch. It will be my first time switching a box.



I'm on the fence about which box I'm going to pick instead, but I'm really leaning towards Bombshell because of my love of purple. Although...


I don't think I own any shades similar to Daphne, though I'm not sure I really am in love with Mila or Kate. Kate is the common denominator between It Girl and Bombshell. Downside... no lip vernis. And yet...

I also like Classic with a Twist. I think my main attraction is to Freida. But I'm not sold on Audrey (which will likely be sheer) and can't see myself ever wear Camellia on my lips.

I'm REALLY thinking about Bombshell. Which box would/will you pick?

Princess Polish

Hump Day Holo: a-England Lady of the Lake and Sally Hansen Lapis Amethyst

Good morning, everyone! I'm bringing back Hump Day Holo with a special combination that I have come to adore!

I combined a-England Lady of the Lake with Sally Hansen Lapis Amethyst to create a stunning, funky purple French manicure that I'm in love with.

Check it out:


I LOVED this combination of the pearl duochrome that is SH Lapis Amethyst and the bright holo pop of a-England Lady of the Lake. This was actually pretty easy to accomplish too! 

I apologize for the bubbles on my index finger... didn't realize my top coat had gotten to that point until it was too late!


Blurred sparkle shot!

So what do you think about this combo? Do you adore it as much as I do?

Princess Polish

Monday, June 18, 2012

Swatch and Review: Saint Germain - Part 2

Hello again! I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

You may remember Saint Germain from Part 1's swatches. Well, today, I have the second half of my Saint German polishes!


From left to right: Blue Moire, Purple Silver, and Purple Moire.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Swatch and Review: It's So Easy Saturday - Miami Stripes

Hello, everyone! For next few Saturdays, I'm going to be showing you some cool nail art with the help of It's So Easy!

Today, I'm going to show you a design I created with the help of Stripe Rite, nail art paint with a precise striper brush.

I wanted to do something that was bright and funky for summer, but that wouldn't be too over the top. So I decided to do an accent nail and looked to the old TV show, Miami Vice, for inspiration. Who does love those crazy 80's outfits, right?


This was not nearly as time consuming as you might think. I did the stripes in different colors, all using shades of Stripe Rite. Then, I separated them with a thin black stripe. I let the stripes dry for about ten minutes before drawing on the palm tree, also with the black paint.

Here, you can see how smooth the stripes dried. It wasn't bumpy to the touch or anything.

The cool thing about the It’s So Easy website is that it features a Nail Art Community. Fans can upload their nail designs, regardless of experience level, and interact with others through Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

Finger art fanatics can have their wishes granted through the It’s So Easy Product Section by creating a personalized Wish List... perfect for birthdays and holidays! Users can select from Stripe Rites, loose glitters, cracked ice, rhinestones and more, then print or email to have their list on hand when visiting their nearest It’s So Easy store location.

Need inspiration? The growing How-To page offers quick and easy nail art tutorials that can be accomplished in a few easy steps. A What You Need list is available to help visitors create their desired look.

Visit the website at www.itssoeasynails.com for more information on the variety of products and retailers near you. Be sure to also check out their Facebook, Instagram at @ItsSoEasyNails, Twitter, and Pinterest pages!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!
Princess Polish

Disclaimer: The product(s) in this post were provided to me by the manufacturer or their PR company for consideration. For more information please visit my Disclaimer page. 

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Swatch and Review: Nailtini

Today I'm going to show you a wide variety of products from Nailtini, the nail products from Tini Beauty. Tini Beauty's product line revolves around the theme of a cocktail party and I'm kind of obsessed with how adorable they are!


As you can see, there are Cocktail Napkins (nail polish remover squares), a nail art striping brush, a nail art dotting brush, the Mini Bar Collection (Garden Party - a collaboration with Mad Men's costume designer, Janie Bryant), and a Sparkle Topper (Sparkler).

I was also sent Club Soda Fizz, a nail-whitening soak. But I'm going to be reviewing that later after my sister and I overhaul our garden. That will be an excellent test!

Warning: This post will be MAJORLY picture-heavy!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Swatch and Review: OPI Just Spotted the Lizard

I normally don't post this late in the day, but I was holding out hope that the sun would make an appearance so that I could take pictures of this polish in the sunlight. But alas, Mother Nature didn't cooperate. Though, I think I captured this color pretty well in spite of that.

OPI Just Spotted the Lizard is from the summer Spiderman Collection and really stands out for two reasons.

One: It was the only color that screamed "different" to me. I'm not a huge fan of crackles/shatters/etc, so it wasn't exactly my cup of tea from the start. And I could really live without the other shades.

Two: It's a dupe for Chanel Peridot, which always appealed to me, but came with a heck of a price tag.


Just Spotted the Lizard is a metallic duochrome polish that shifts between pale gold, to mossy olive, to straw.


Here's the straw color...


And the moss color!

Overall, I really liked the application of the polish. Normally, I'm not a fan of these kind of metallics because they leave too many brushstrokes, but they really weren't too bad. It's barely noticeable. It actually sort of has a brushed gold look to it.

The entire Spiderman Collection is available at your local Ulta and JC Penney and the suggested retail price is $8.50 a bottle.

So what do you think of Just Spotted the Lizard? Is it a keeper?

Princess Polish

Monday, June 11, 2012

Swatch and Review: OPI Strawberry Fields

Hello, everyone! I'm back from vacation... did you miss me?

Today, I'm bringing you an oldie-but-goody, which shares a name with one of my favorite Beatles songs: OPI Strawberry Fields!


A cerise pink with some iridescent shimmer, it's not too bright or Barbie-ish that I feel ridiculous wearing it. It flattered my skin-tone and gave me an AWESOME idea for some nail art that you'll see at the end of the week! It's also what I wore for my entire vacation time!


I am so glad to be back on track here on the blog, though my workspace is full of pigment, base, glitter, and the rest of the materials in the Princess Polish factory! The pre-ordered packages should start to go out at the end of the week, though I'm not sure exactly when the official shop opening day is going to be. Look for that to be sometime next week. I'll make an announcement on my Facebook page!

I'm in the middle of mad swatching tonight and tomorrow, as a ton of my pictures were somehow erased off of my chip. :-( But I should be caught up by Wednesday morning!

Until tomorrow!
Princess Polish

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Swatch and Review: Cult Nails Seduction (and a Photography Experiment

This post was a bit delayed from yesterday, but I'm really excited to share it with you. Since my the beginning of March, I've begun to dabble in photography with a DSLR camera and received one for my birthday. I've been toying around with it, experimenting to see how to get different results.

The lovely Maria of Cult Nails is in the process of moving the brand to their first ever office and is looking for photos of her polishes to decorate the walls. I absolutely love Iconic, but wanted to give it a little extra oomph in order to help pick up the flakes on camera.

So I pulled out an untried of mine to give me a little boost... Cult Nails Seduction!



I went through my entire garden, trying to find an appropriate medium with which to convey the beauty of two coats of Seduction over two coats of Iconic.


My surfinia petunias!


Take 2!


My Sarah Bernhardt peonies!


And lastly, my swimming pool! I think that the water and waves help magnify the flakies and really pick up the color shift in them under sunlight!

So what do you think of my photos? And of course, of this layering combo?

Until tomorrow!
Princess Polish