Throwback Thursday with Sally Hansen

Ahhh, the Sally Hansen Nail Prisms.  Some of the most awesome nail colors ever.

This is my second bottle of Amber Ruby, which is why it is in better shape than Golden Cinnabar.
I don't want to use it so I can save it for special occasions, which will probably never happen.

Why oh why did they ever get rid of these?

Sally Hansen Punch Drunk: Radiant Orchid for the Nails?

After hosting a "secret meeting of representatives from various nations' color standards groups" , Pantone, the New Jersey based corporation that started as a printing company and is now an expert in creating color matching samples for fabrics, paints, and inks, declared "radiant orchid" to be the color of the year for 2014.  Since then, there have been loads of lists of products, items, and things that fit into the color category of "radiant orchid".  Emily at beautybroadcast.net had a post on her youtube channel (youtube.com/emilynoel83) of a list of beauty products that were "radiant orchid" type colors (video here), and Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure nail color in Punch Drunk was on it.  So, of course, I went out and bought it.

This color is a one-coat wonder.  (All of the pics are with one coat.)

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It has a flat, wide brush that makes applying the polish really easy.  I only needed to use three strokes -- one on each side of the nail, and then one down the middle -- to get full coverage and color saturation.

It dries a a little bit darker than what you see in the bottle.

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This is definitely in the "radiant orchid" family, but to my eyes it seems a little darker and duskier that what I think of as the perfect "radiant orchid" when it's actually on the nails.

captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple nd pink undertones

Radiant orchid is described by Pantone as "an enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm."

Have you come across any radiant orchid-y things (beauty-related or otherwise)?

Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Color in Blow Bubbles Review and Swatches

Sally Hansen recently (autumn 2013) added a new line of polishes to their line-up with a new formula that is "designed to help polish withstand the wear and tear of everyday living for non-stop shine." (from the Sally Hansen website)

Other statements from the Sally Hansen website about the Triple Shine formula:

• -Gloss is protected with the Ultimate Shield Complex
• -Daily defense from water and wear
• -Natural crushed pearl delivers high impact, glossy color
• -Creates non-stop shine
• -Available in 29 shades

I have Blow Bubbles to show you today.

The black cap pulls off to reveal a standard screw-off top.

The brush is flat with firm bristles, and it's slightly rounded at the tip.

Blow Bubbles is an iridescent bubblegum pink with a tiny bit of blue shift.

I actually had a difficult time capturing the color accurately, so use these swatches aren't as helpful as they should be, I suppose.  The photos make it look much more cool-toned than it is in person.  I think the camera just can't read the iridescence the way human eyes can.  (I don't tone my photos either.  I actually tried to with these, and I still couldn't get the color to match what I was seeing with my own eyeballs.)

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This color is on the sheer side, so one coat just gives a hint of color, and three gives full color.

one coat

three coats

The formula is easy to work with and spreads nicely.  It dries quite quickly, as long as you apply thin coats.  The finish is very shiny, so top coat is optional in my opinion.  It lasts for at least 4 days on me without chipping (I usually change my nail color every 4-5 days anyway), and remains quite shiny.

Sally Hansen polishes are 5 Free (don't contain Formaldehyde, Toluene, DPB, Formaldehyde resin, Camphor).  Triple Shine Nail Color retails for around $5 USD.

10 of My Favorite Makeup Items From 2013

I thought I'd share a few of my favorites makeup items of the year.  I didn't include skincare or haircare because I've done favorites and empties posts for them, and they don't really change for me.

Some of these were introduced this year, and some were new to me.  All of these became favorites of mine.

In no particular order:

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser -- This has a nice lightweight formula that doesn't settle into the lines around my eyes.  It covers decently, and I think it is quite fun to use because of the little puff applicator.

Maybelline Color Elixir lipgloss (review) -- I think these have a lovely formula.  They were introduced late in the year, but they quickly became a favorite of the year.  They are some of the nicest lipglosses on the market, in my opinion.  They feel plush and hydrating on the lips.

Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Sticks (review) -- These smell wonderful (if you like fruity scents), are very hydrating, and make the lips feel softer, even after they wear off.

Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow-- I like that this has 3 colors of blush that you can either swirl together, or use just the coral color or the pink color (although you need a smaller brush to pick up just one color or the other).  I do consider this a highlighting blush due to the shimmer, but it doesn't look glittery on the skin.

Josie Maran Coconut Water Cheek Gelee in Poppy Paradise (swatch) -- This blush is great for giving a natural flush to the cheeks.  It's very easy to apply (I always use my fingers for this one) and feels sort of cooling, which is especially nice in the summer.

Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette -- I didn't get this palette until November, but it is one of the best palettes I own.  The shadows are very pigmented and soft, and there is an excellent mix of neutrals, brights, metallics, and darks.

Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy -- This was one of the great discoveries of the year for me.  It is amazing how different shimmery and glittery shadows and pigments look over this.

Benefit They're Real Mascara -- I really only wear this when I want dramatic lashes.  It separates, volumizes, and lengthens all at once.  It is more difficult to remove than most non-waterproof mascaras which is why I don't wear it everyday.

JinSoon Nail Laquer in Nostalgia (review) -- This is my favorite nude nail color.  The formula is long-wearing and shiny, even without a top coat.

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Nail Color in Firefly  (swatches)-- I wore this almost non-stop in the fall.  It's a complex color that changes from pinky copper to gold with some green depending on how the light hits it.

Obviously, this is not a complete list of favorites (that could get very long), but just a few that stood out to me.

What are some of your favorites from 2013?

Opera Nails

Here's what I wore on my nails during my recent trip to Chicago where we went to see the opera Parsifal.

The cream nude base is JinSoon Nostalgia (review here), and the flaky (flakie?) on top is Sally Hansen Triple Shine in Pearly Whites.  The Sally Hansen Triple Shine is a new formula, but it is permanent to the line line, I believe.

I wanted to wear Nostalgia since it is elegant and neutral (so it matches everything I wore), but I thought it could use a little extra something.  I didn't want sparkle or glitter, so the iridescent flakies in the Sally Hansen polish seemed just right.  I used two coats of Sally Hansen Pearly Whites to get the number of flakies I wanted on each nail.

The flakes in the polish lie quite flat to the nail, but a top coat to seal them still seems like a good idea.

Have a gorgeous day!

What's on my nails today?

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Nail Color in Firefly!

This is a great autumn nail polish.  It goes on smoothly and is just about opaque in two coats.  It lasts on me for about five days without chipping, even without a top coat.

It is a duochrome color that looks pinky copper with a green shift.

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This is definitely one of my favorites!

What's on your nails?  Any fall favorite colors?

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color in Pink Fast Swatches

This polish is all kinds of awesome.

It gives opaque coverage in one coat, glides on smoothly, and dries super fast (like the name implies).  The color is a magenta metallic pink -- I think it would be considered a foil nail polish color.  I believe this is limited edition for Fall 2013, so look for it now!

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In the bottle, the color looks like it has a lot of silver in it.

I, of course, had to put this one on my toes too.

There are 6 colors in this collection (I think), and I got mine at Target for around $7.

Fall Favorites: Nail Polishes

Here are five nail colors I have pulled out of my stash to wear this autumn.

Sally Hansen Lustre Shine Nail Color in Firefly---duochrome pink copper with slight green shift (that I couldn't capture in the photos!)

Sephora by OPI Nail Color in Once a Cheetah, Always a Cheetah---slightly sheer orange with fine gold glitter (this one reminds me of pumpkins... if they were sparkly, that is)

Sephora by OPI Nail Color in S-age is Just a Number---duochrome bronzy-green with gold shimmer

butter LONDON Nail Lacquer in The Old Bill---rich bronze with silver shimmer

JINsoon Nail Lacquer in Nostalgia---creamy nude pink beige (perfect for giving me mannequin hands, which always seem on trend, regardless of the season)

Here are a couple more photos of the more complex colors.  (They are hard to capture!)

From left:  (index finger)  Sally Hansen Lustre Shine in Firefly
                 (middle finger)  Sephora by OPI Once a Cheetah, Always a Cheetah
                 (ring finger)  Sephora S-age is Just a Number
                 (pinkie)  butter LONDON The Old Bill
               

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Since I haven't really ventured into the world of nail art, I tend to just wear one color on my nails at a time, so I try to choose colors that look interesting on their own.  I would like to try some of the geometric nail designs I've seen in magazines and on the runways, as well as an ombre manicure.

What do you like to wear on your nails this time of year?