Haul: China Glaze Holiday, Zoya Flame, other stuff

I recently ordered a good part of the China Glaze Holiday collection and some other miscellaneous stuff.
This is my TransDesign haul. I added NYS Amaranth (this is a lot bluer than I expected based on everyone's photos - I love it!), Color Club Untamed Luxury, and Color Club Snakeskin. Out of the green China Glaze set I only really wanted Mistletoe Kisses, but it was out of stock. In hindsight I should have just ordered it from VNS anyway.

This was my VNS haul. I got the China Glazes TD didn't have (plus an unbroken Peppermint Cuticle Oil! I'm still buying a backup when I see it anyway). I also got the OPI Halloween mini set from... last year? And two Forsythes - Heart Strings (dusty pink with gold shimmer and round holo glitter) and Stepping Out (candy pink).

I also ordered the Zoya Flame set. I only really want about two of them, but finally there is a Lisa polish (even though I don't really like it) so I got the whole set anyway. I also threw in Kelly.

I'm not really into the Zoya spoon things, but if they are the same as the color plates I got free, I'm impressed. They are really heavy acrylic - much more solid than I expected.

Haul - OPI and CND

As soon as I saw on the nail board that Trans Design had Burlesque up, I pounced. By the time I looked at my cart I already had ten of the twelve, so I went ahead and added the other two. I also picked up the new CND fall combo.
Front row, L to R: Extra-va-vaganza, Bring on the Bling, Simmer & Shimmer
Center row: Tease-y Does It, Glow Up Already, Show it and Glow it, Sparkle-icious
Back row: Ali's Big Break, Let Me Entertain You, Take the Stage, Rising Star, The Show Must Go On

I meant to try to hide it, but I forgot - you can see that some of my caps are scratched. It looks like TD is scraping off serial numbers? codes? something off the tops. They've been doing it to the bottles themselves, but I'm pretty annoyed about the caps.


I also picked up the new CND teal combo for fall. I swatched this on my nail wheel and I love it. I can't wait to wear it, but I'm probably going to hit up some of my other untrieds first. The weather is finally cooling off, so I'm getting to try the fall colors I've been looking forward to.  I've also ordered MAC Bad Fairy from about five different sources, but they're all "on backorder" and I don't actually expect to get any of them.

As far as posting, I have some nail art planned for the end of the week, but other than that - anything goes.

Savina - Blue For You and haulage (oh, is there haulage)

Today I have Savina Blue For You. This is a light turquoise with slight shimmer. I though this was similar to Sinful's Mint Apple, but Mint Apple is a lot dustier and has more sparkle.
Here a couple different photos of this on the nail.

Basecoat: Gelous (1 coat)
Color: Savina Blue For You (3 coats)
Topcoat: Poshe (1 coat)

Application was a BEE-YOTCH. This polish is thick and goopy, and if that wasn't bad enough, the brush is terrrrible. I may try to rescue this with Seche Restore because this really is a pretty color. The shimmer is not very obvious on the nail. I actually thought this was going to be a brush-stroke-y nightmare but it wasn't that bad. Blue For You dries to a satin finish so you will want a topcoat unless that's the look you are going for. However, this polish does not self-level so if you want the satin look you'll need to be very careful in application. Cleanup was not too bad for as thick as this polish was, either.

On to the haulage. I'm cringing at the realization of how much I've acquired lately, y'all. I haven't even swatched any of it on my nail wheels.

Last weekend I went to Ulta. I was hoping to check a few polishes off my wish list since I'm technically on a no-buy except for what's on my list (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!). This is what I picked up.
On top is Ulta Black Diamond. This is a black base with fine multicolored glitter in it. I picked up the Essie Fall mini set (because AS USUAL, my Ulta has a FULL Essie display, except for the ONE color I wanted!), and I found a Butter London display. I didn't even know Ulta carries Butter London now, and I've never tried this brand, so I'm looking forward to it.

Here is a shot of just the Butter London polishes.
Left to right: Macbeth (reddish pink creme), Jaffa (pinkish coral), Victoriana (light blue-gray with silver shimmer), Henley Regatta (teal glitter).

Total Ulta haulage: 5 full size polishes, 4 minis
Items actually on wish list: 1 (Essie Sew Psyched - and I'll still pick up the full size if I see it)

Ulta also had an Orly Cosmix display up, but I already put in a Trans Design order when it popped up. This is my Trans Design haul.
This is the OPI Go Goth mini set. I used flash here because otherwise it all looks black. I was hoping to snag Unripened in the full size, but I didn't pounce on it when I saw it (as I'd already placed an order) and now it's gone. I know better than to think my Ulta will have this in the full size so I will have to hope the mini is enough for me!

More TD haul:
New York glitters: Chartreuse glitter (this is hideous, y'all - I can't wait to wear it), Angel Dream (silver glitter with round holo larger pieces), and Alpha Jewel glitter (holo glitter, clear base - ho hum).
OPI Swiss collection: Ski Teal We Drop, Cuckoo For This Color, The Color to Watch, Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous. Maybe I should have used flash for this photo, hmm.

Orly: Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, Lunar Eclipse, Galaxy Girl, Out of This World, It's Not Rocket Science

Total TD haul: 12 full size, 4 mini
Items Actually on my wish list: Everything was on it except for the three New York glitters, and all the minis except Unripened.

When I was shopping TD, they did not have the Misa Fall collection up, but Head 2 Toe did:
L to R: Spinning Out of Control, Like It Like That, It's You!, Color Club Covered in Diamonds, Quirky Smile, When U Say My Name, Embroidered Emerald

Everything in this haul was in my wish list.

Overall, I am thrilled with everything I got - usually when I haul I end up hating some of what I end up with. I don't care for some of the minis, but that's OK, because I know I'll also end up trying all of them. I admit I'm a little disappointed with Covered in Diamonds, because I couldn't wait for swatches to go up - I knew I wanted it when I saw the promos. If I'd seen swatches I probably would have passed on this one.

I also pre-ordered the RBL Fall collection, and I ordered two bottles of Milani Dress Maker, so I can check those off my list too. I actually think I am pretty well covered for everything on my wish list, at least until new collections release (I'm looking at you, OPI Burlesque and CG Awakening!)

New post tomorrow night - have a great Thursday!

Comparison: China Glaze Pool Party and Color Club Warhol; Zoya Exchange

So today I had time to compare China Glaze Pool Party and Color Club Warhol.  I am wearing Warhol on my toes, and was planning to wear Pool Party on my fingers, when I noticed that they seemed identical in the bottle.  I don't really do matching mani/pedi, so back into the stash it went. 

I used two coats of Wet N Wild French White as a base on my index and middle fingers.  I used three coats on all fingers.  Here they are under daylight lamps (more on this later):

I have Pool Party on my index and ring fingers, and Warhol on my middle finger and pinky.   Here they are next to a window on a sunny day.

The neon-ness really shows up in this photo.  I went outside to take a picture:

 These are pretty dupe-y.  You only need both if you are a completionist, or you really love neon pinks (as I do).  Pool party leans a little warmer than Warhol and Warhol is a tiny bit more opaque.  I wasn't very careful with my white base coat, and I had VNL on all four nails.  You'll definitely want a non-streaky white basecoat if VNL bugs you.

Next, I got my Zoya Exchange package in Friday.  I wasn't able to take pictures until tonight.  A note about these photos - they look COMPLETELY different from any of my previous photos.  I have Emily of Squared Nails to thank.  She posted an outstanding tutorial series that I was thrilled to see - I have next to no knowledge of photography.  I had been planning to get a light box anyway, but after reading this I purchased one today and set it up.  Here is the first part of my Zoya Exchange haul:

Wait, what the heck is that?  It must be Pixel, my art director.

She's decided to offer her advice on my photo shoot.

Yeah, now she's just being obnoxious.  After this interruption, I continued:

From left to right:  Dita, Lola, Katy, Blyss, Ginger, Sweet, Kiki, Tobey

Left to right:  Renee, Anaka, Jessika, Bijou, Paz, Lindsay, Evangeline, Barbie

Left is Elodie, right is Anastasia.  I also picked up the Color Lock system, because I've always had trouble with the durability of my Zoya manicures, plus I usually have tip pulling no matter what I try.

Now, when I bought this on Zoya's website, they had two versions up.  One for $48, and one for $40.  What was the difference?  The $40 kit included this:

A giant bottle of Remove.  I'm about to say something unpopular:  I don't like Remove.  The thing everyone else raves about, the smell?  I can't stand it.  But for an eight dollar discount, I'll take the huge bottle.  And, I'll even give it a legitimate chance instead of dismissing it immediately because of the smell.

I think I'm going to put on Kiki tomorrow, and test out the Color Lock system.  Look for another post then.

Have a great weekend!

Complete lack of restraint, or: Sally haul

Yeah, I was totally going to go to Sally just to pick up the cute fimo fruit slices.  Wasn't going to buy any polish.  Nope.

Lots of new displays out since the last time I was there.  I picked up these three Orly polishes:

Left to right  Oh Cabana Boy, Lola, Bailamos

These Nina Ultra Pro, from a "summer neons" display:

Top photo is In the Spotlight and Bubble Gums, bottom is Grin and Berry It and Say Cheese.  These are extremely similar to the Color Club Electro Candy collection.  I tried to capture it but couldn't - Grin and Berry it has the same greenish/blue shimmer that Ultra Violet is.  My first impression of these is that the base colors are a little more saturated than the Electro Candy colors, but I would have to do a comparison to know for sure.  I'll dig out the Electro Candy colors I have and swatch them next weekend.

I also got these Finger Paints:

Lucky in Love Lime, and Love at First Bright.  One Savvy :

Green with Envy.  REALLY?  You couldn't think of a better name than THAT?  I probably have three different "Green with Envy"s in my stash, if not more.  Also, that is a LOT of glass in that bottle.

My first Sally Girls.  I put these on my nail wheels two to a nail.  I didn't really feel like I could get a full nail done and still have some left for a mani:

I picked up a HaKen cuticle oil in Vanilla Almond.  All of these "flavors" were reduced to $3.49.  Last but not least, I picked up the nail art I went there for:

Two packs of the Fruit Salad, and one "Flirtini".  I would LOVE to try these out now, but I'm not going to have time to change my polish this week.  I'll wait on that until next week probably.

While I was out searching for a Pina Colada Slurpee, I stopped in at a CVS in search of the ever elusive Hidden Treasure.  Didn't find it (of course), but I did see the entire new HD polishes in a full display.  None of them really captured my attention, so I passed on them.  I'm sure I'll see a swatch on some blog later that will totally change my mind, and then I won't be able to find any of them.   I also saw the display for the Milani Liquid Metals, but only the blue one was left, so I passed on that.  This CVS had a clearance basket, so I rummaged though it and found - freaking Opulent Cloud.  I searched high and low for that polish for months, and finally found it at a Kroger.  I bought the two they had, and this bottle was the third I've seen in person.  Unreal.  I'm convinced Hidden Treasure will never be mine.  I think Nfu Oh 38 and Nubar 2010 are both dupes, and I have them both, but it still stings, you know?  Maybe it's the thrill of the hunt or something :)

Working on this week's mani now - will post that later tonight.

Nubar haul

Finally got my hands on my Nubar order.  Turns out they sent it to my old apartment, even though 1) I haven't lived there in 4 months and 2) my ship confirmation only has my new address on it.  No response from customer service yet.

Anyway, I picked up the Get Hot collection, Reclaim, and 2010.  I missed Reclaim when I got part of the green collection, and I have not even seen the display with Hidden Treasure in any of my local stores, so since 2010 seems like a dupe, I went with that.

Top row, L to R:  Lime Green, Hot Yellow, Hot Green, Hot Red, Hot Pink
Bottom row, L to R:  Hot Orange, Nubar 2010, Reclaim, Hot Blue, Hot Fucshia

As if I didn't already have enough trouble deciding what to wear next!

Claire's and Icing haul

Spent some time at the mall today before going to the Frisco RoughRiders game.  Picked up some Claire's and Icing polishes.  I've never tried either brand before.  This is the entire haul:

These two sets are almost the same colors, just one seems to be a pastel version.  These are all minis.

This set is all glitters, and all minis.

 Brights.

This set was really difficult to photograph while leaving it in the package.  These are all glitters.  From left to right, they are yellow gold, plum, gunmetal, beige-y rose-y (blah), and bronze-y gold.

Also picked up two of the Claire's mood polishes (the green one was out), plus a really gorgeous duochrome from Icing.  It's called Peacock and is a dusty blue with a strong purple flash.  Unfortunately I have a feeling it's going to be brushstroke city, but I'm going to try it anyway!

Last but not least, a Hot Topic polish.  I couldn't pass this up (I love green), even though I know it's going to be really sheer and the application will drive me insane.  It's a translucent lime green base with gold and lime green glitter.

These all go in the untried pile, sigh.  Tomorrow I hope to have pics of my Nubar haul up, and then I really need to consider a no-buy.  Oh, aside from the two OPI summer colors I want.  And Hidden Treasure, if I ever find it.