OPI | Three Bold Blue NEW Shatters | Review + Swatches

Shatter Line Extended with Bold Blues!

OPI Launches Bestselling Shatter Coat in

Three Blue-Hued Shades

OPI expands its Shatter line with the addition of three new trendsetting shades: Blue, Navy and Turquoise. With nautical hues of cobalt, indigo and sapphire, these blues provide the perfect look for summer nails in one simple step. Inspired by graffiti art, Shatter leaves behind a crackled, two-texture finish when painted over any dry OPI hue. Adding top coat takes Shatter from matte to glossy in seconds.

Turquoise Shatter

Paired with OPI "Skull & Glossbones"

Navy Shatter

Paired with Pure Ice "Pure Ice Splash"

Blue Shatter

Paired with China Glaze "Electric Pineapple"

Glow: First of all blue is my favorite color so I was really excited to learn that OPI was introducing three shades of blue to their shatter collection. The selection of blues are really cute and versatile.

Glare: This may just be my logic but to me it still seems as if the darker hued shatters have easier and better results than some of the other colors. Out of the three, the Navy Shatter worked the best to me, yet they each are still pretty and very unique.

Would I Recommend It: Yes I would, especially for the girl who's into trends and likes to be unique!

 Overall Glam: I love the idea of the Blue Shatters, there are just so many endless possibilities and design combinations to come up with! I can't wait to see what else OPI has up their sleeves in the shatter department :o)

* The OPI Blue Shatters currently retail for about $8.50 each. To purchase or to find your local retailer, please visit www.opi.com .

Product(s) in this post were provided for post consideration. Read our disclosure policy here. 

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Nicole by OPI | Introduces Texture Coat

Nicole by OPI announces the launch of Texture Coat, a line of graffiti-style nail art products inspired by OPI’s bestselling Shatter. Available in six chic shades – Gold, Silver, Red, White, Turquoise and Black – Texture Coat offers a simple way to create unique, unpredictable patterns on nails with a quick, at-home application.

“Fans of Nicole by OPI are fun, fashion-forward women who love experimenting with trends and using nail lacquer as a form of self-expression,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “Texture Coat offers an easy way to create your own completely customized nail art. Whether you choose pastels, darks, glitters, shimmers, or sheers to pair with Texture Coat, the endless options will accessorize every look.”

Black Texture

Gold Texture

Red Texture

Silver Texture

Turquoise Texture

White Texture

To use this product, start with Base Coat Plus, followed by two coats of any Nicole by OPI nail lacquer. Let the lacquer dry completely before applying Texture Coat. Complete the manicure with Top Coat Plus for a high-shine finish.

Nicole by OPI Nail Lacquers and Nail Treatments contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde. Nicole by OPI formulas are long-lasting, fast-drying, and salon-quality, with products featuring the Perfect Stroke brush for streak-free, even coverage. Texture Coat will be available July 2011 for $7.99 each at ULTA, Target, Meijer, Harmon, Wegmans, Sears, and H-E-B. Texture Coat will be available in Canada at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart and Loblaw.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

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Time For A Fresh Face! | Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare | Review

I may be one of the few people who hadn't heard of Liz Earle Skincare prior to being formally introduced and I've gotta say that I'm so glad to now be acquainted :o) While I do love playing around with cute eyeshadows, trying on lipgloss and searching for flawless coverage foundations; I must say that having healthy skin comes second to none of those. There's nothing like having a fresh face and feeling confident about your skins appearance with and without makeup. With that said, I think I've finally found a regimen that's helping me get one step closer to a flawless complexion. 

Peep the video below where I give you an in depth introduction to each of the four Liz Earle products that I'm currently using..  

An overview of each product and it's benefits.

Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser 

A rich, concentrated cream that gently removes everyday grime and make-up, even stubborn mascara, to leave skin clear, smooth and exceptionally clean. Used with the pure muslin cloth provided it lifts away dead skin cells, revealing fresh, radiant skinOur original, multi award-winning hot cloth cleanser quickly removes daily grime and make-up to leave skin clean, soft and radiant.

Step 1: I use the Hot cloth Cleanser as the first step in my regimen. I start by applying the cleanser lotion to my dry skin, spreading it across my face and neck in circular motions. Once my skin is covered in product I wet the cloth under warm/hot water, squeeze any excess water out and then buff/wash away all of the cleanser. After all of the cleanser is removed I could see all of the dead skin cell particles and dirt on the cloth and my face felt instantly smoother and clean. 

Gentle Face Exfoliator 

With fine jojoba beads, this gentle yet effective exfoliator buffs away dead skin cells and impurities to reveal smoother, clearer skin.

Step 2: Next I splash my face with cool water and apply the gentle exfoliator. I massage it thoroughly on my face and neck to help it buff away any left over grime. Then I rinse with cool water. 

Deep Cleansing Mask

This highly concentrated clay and manuka honey mask helps draw out impurities and excess oil to leave skin balanced, calm and clear.

Step 3: I smooth the deep cleansing mask completely over my face and neck and allow it to dry for about 3 minutes.  Once it's dry I soak the sponge into cool water and use it to wash off the residue from the mask. The mask is not something that I use everyday but just on an as needed basis, preferably once or twice a week.

Skin Repair Light Moisturizer 

Light and gentle, this easily absorbed moisturising lotion is ideal for combination, oily or problem skin.

Step 4: The last step in the regimen I apply the Skin Repair Light Moisturizer. It gives me the perfect amount of balance, moisture and oil control.

Glow: Out of the four products my favorite is definitely the Hot cloth Cleanser.  I have really oily skin so the cloths definitely had a lot of buildup and icky residue left behind on them. But the best part is that they're washable and reusable so you'll be able to alternate between the two ( included ) and get use out of them both until you're all out of product! My face feels incredibly CLEAN after using it!

Glare: There were no real cons for me. Just one thing about the sponges that come with the Deep Cleansing Mask, they tend to get a little hard and shrink after so many uses. They still work well but I'd suggest that you clean them really good after use just to ensure there's no room for bacteria to build up. Also if you feel like the sponges have "worn out " before the mask product is completely gone, the mask can also be rinsed off with a cloth or your hands. It's easy to remove.

Would I Recommend It? Sure would! It's been very beneficial to my skin and I'm positive that their products deliver consistent results.

Overall Glam: After only a little over a months use of the regimen, I can honestly say that I have noticed a significant change in my skin. My face feels softer, it's looks brighter and my oily skin definitely seems more balanced.

* To purchase or to learn more about Liz Earle products, please visit www.lizearle.com .

Product(s) in this post were provided for post consideration. Read our disclosure policy here. 

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OPI Unveils Three New Shades from Serena Williams’ Glam Slam! Series

OPI joins tennis superstar Serena Williams in announcing the latest three lacquers in the Glam Slam! collection. To celebrate the world’s oldest, most prestigious tennis tournament, Glam Slam! England features two duo-packs filled with sparkle.

The first Lacquer set includes Your Royal Shine-ness, a metallic silver shade, paired with Servin’ Up Sparkle, a shimmer-packed silver glitter. The second Lacquer set also features Servin’ Up Sparkle, along with Grape…Set…Match, a metallic purple.

Grape...Set...Match

Servin’ Up Sparkle

Your Royal Shine-ness

“England’s premier tennis tournament warrants colors with extra glitz and glamour,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “The next big trend in nails is making lacquer look 3-dimensional by adding different micas and glitters, turning fingertips into jewelry. With two bold metallics and a sparkling glitter, these colors are fit for royalty.”

“For stand-out nails, I love experimenting with different glitter shades,” explains Serena Williams. “The new Glam Slam! England lacquers can be worn alone for a bright pop of color, or layered with Servin’ Up Sparkle to create a textured effect.”

Serena Williams has received the World Number One in singles ranking by the Women’s Tennis Association on five separate occasions, along with being listed as sixth on the all-time greatest champions list. Additionally, she has won two Olympic gold medals in women’s doubles and has earned 27 Grand Slam titles to date. Serena is the most recent player to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously and only the fifth woman in history to do so.

New shades in the Glam Slam! collection will be introduced to coincide with each of the four major tournaments, beginning with the Australian Open in January 2011, followed by launches in May 2011 for the French Open, June 2011 for Wimbledon and August 2011 for the US Open. As with all OPI Nail Lacquers, the Glam Slam! collection contains no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and each includes OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application.

Glam Slam! England will be available beginning June 2011 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $14.95 ($20.95 CAN) suggested retail for each duo-pack. For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

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Emani Minerals | Vegan Friendly Makeup At Your Fingertips | Review

So in case you're out of the loop or have just been hiding under a rock then maybe you don't know that more and more companies & brands are creating more natural based products with less harsh chemicals & ingredients. Emaini Minerals is one of those companies. Read a few facts about the brand below.

Emani Minerals was established in 1998 with one objective -to provide a clean, green and high performing cosmetic range that exceeds the high standards of the professional makeup industry, while remaining suitable for everyday use. Emani combines the natural pigments and certified organic extracts with the latest science & technology to push the boundaries of artistic and performance abilities. 

Benefits 

* A noticable healthier complexion in 4-6 weeks
* Emani bases work with skin care and not against it
* Free of harmful dyes and harsh chemicals
* High performing & longlasting by utilizing natural silicon technology
* Parabean free and talc free
* Vegan & Gluten Friendly
* Cruelty Free, PETA approved
* 100% recycled paper used on 98% of Emani packaging
* Makeup artist approved

These are the products & shades used in the photos below. 

- Liquid Mineral Foundation in " Warm Espresso "
Infised with a luxurios blend of hyaluronic acid, vitamin A and jojoba oil that helps to balance and maintain moisture of your skin. Entirely non-comedongenic and ideal for dry or mature skin.

- Color Dust Mineral Pigment in " Moon Raker "
100% pure mineral pigments for eyes, lips or face made complete free of talc or fillers. Emani Minerals Color Dust goes on sheer or for an intense finish, just wet brush and apply. Blend with an Emani Base Transformer to create beautiful lip colors!

- Organic Lipstick in " Drama Queen "
Emani's vegan-friendly lipstick is made of 100% natural ingredients and 80% organice extracts, this creamy formula infuses vitamins right onto your lips. It's enricjed with natural oils to nourish your lips, keeping them soft and kissable.

[Swatches]

The Look:

I blended the Emani Minerals eyeshadow pigment with an alternate color to emphasize the look. 

Glow: I'm truly impressed with each of the products. For starters the Liquid Mineral Foundation in " Warm Espresso " is a spot on match for my complexion, it's actually the darkest shade in the collection and comparable to my holy grail of foundations i.e. MAC's Studio Fix in NW47. The foundation is lightweight but  also gives me full coverage. The Color Dust Mineral Eye Pigment in " Moon Raker " is really pretty & highly pigmented, it's sparkly, vibrant and easy to blend. The Organic Lipstick in " Drama Queen " is a really bright & fun hot pink, its also creamy & smooth and it doesn't dry my lips out.

Glare: Nothing bad but just a couple of things I noticed. The liquid foundation does state that it's ideal for dryer skin types, well I'm an oily girl so lets just say it's best to prime your face with some type of oil controlling product prior to application and if you're excessively oily like me then you'll definitely need to carry  a translucent or regular makeup powder just to control some of the oil throughout the day. Or as an alternate you might want to try Emani's pressed mineral powder foundation. Another thing is that the lipstick swatches that are on the website, they're a little off in terms of the actual shades. So I'd definitely suggest looking up other Emani Mineral reviews that contain swatches on the internet.  Everything else was pretty true to the actual color.

Would I Recommend It? Absolutely! It's especially ideal for women who are into natural & organic makeup. And in a world where everyone's starting to to go " Green " it's quite refreshing to see a company who cares about their consumer :o)

Overall Glam: Emani Minerals is really good quality makeup and I'm pleased with the product results. They also have a broad range of products and a large selection of shades to chose from. The Liquid Foundation currently retails for $28, The Color Dust Mineral Pigments are $10.50 and the Organic Lipstick is $16.

* To purchase or to learn more about Emani Minerals, please visit www.emani.com .

Product(s) in this post were provided for post consideration. Read our disclosure policy here. 

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Glamour Doll Eyes Launches Brand NEW " Super Shadows " Collection

Glamour Doll Eyes introduces " Super Shadows" a new collection heavily inspired by comics/super heros. If you're not familiar with Glamour Doll Eyes they are a unique eye shadow company that offers an extensive range of fashionable colors that compliment all skin tones and cater to all ages. All of their ingredients are made from earth minerals.

There are 10 shadows in the NEW " Super Shadows " collection.

 Ancestry 

A satin white with rich silk gold undertones and sparkle.

Bird? Plane? 

A bright blue with yellow and golden sparkles throughout.

Cajun 

A medium to bright pink with orange and gold sparkle and sheen.

Feline Fatale

 A bright purple with subtle black undertones.

Light Speed 

A medium orange with gold and red sparkle.

Mighty Maiden 

A light sky blue with subtle gold and silver sparkle.

 Recruit 

A rich teal with silver sparkles throughout.

Schizophrenic 

A chartreuse green with subtle purple shimmer.

Spider-Sense 

A medium to dark red with blue sparkle.

Vigilante 

A darkened blue with black undertones and a silver sparkle throughout.

All full size shadows retail for $6 each. To purchase or to learn more please visit Glamour Doll Eyes.

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Bare Escentuals| bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipstick | Review + Swatches

If you're into natural makeup, Bare Escentuals has a beautifully designed line of bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipstick. The line features 28 shades of creamy, long-lasting lipcolors, which are made from only the best all-natural ingredients. That means no artificial dyes, preservatives or irritants whatsoever. Instead, its nourishing blend combines pure bareMinerals, exotic oils, natural waxes and conditioning plant extracts. Think of it as healthy nutrition for your lips.

Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Barium Sulfate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax, Tocopheryl Acetate, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Silica, Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil, Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Mica, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Carmine (CI 75470)

(Swatches)

Benefits 

• Superb color hydration that wears beautifully for hours

• Soft touch case with feminine curves for a comfortable grip
• Monoi D-Tahiti Oil provides up to six hours of moisturization
• Cupuacu Butter promotes smoothness and elasticity
• Barley Lipids improve the overall condition of your lips
• Vitamin E protects and heals your lips from environmental factors
• Echium Oil fights inflammation and reduce wrinkles
• Infused with 100% pure bareMinerals for an extra dose of healthy nutrients

Berry Glace

A raspberry rose shade

Rock Candy
A primrose pink shade 

Sweet Apricot 

A warm apricot shade

Cherries On Top

A pure magenta shade 

Creampuff

A true nude shade

French Pastry

A shimmering peach rose shade 

Ripe Fig

A lilac mauve shade 

Glow: The color and the formula is very consistent. It's not a full coverage lipstick and I actually like that because it has a semi sheer and more natural looking hue. The shades aren't overwhelming but yet still very vibrant. They go on smooth and last pretty well. My lips didn't feel dry at all and they retained their natural moisture.

Glare: I know this may sound weird but...the only flaw I noticed was that when I opened some of the lipsticks, it seemed as if they were sweating. I've never experienced anything like that before so I'm completely unsure of the cause. My only assumption would be that maybe it's the temperature I have them stored in? Or could it possibly be the tube itself that's causing the moisture? Either way it's very minimal and doesn't seem to be effecting the quality of the lipsticks. Has anyone ever experienced this? If you have any insight please share :o)

Would I Recommend It? Yes! They have such a nice variety of shades that seem to be very complimentary to most skin-tones. They're definitely a keeper in my book!

Overall Glam: In a world full of products with harsh & grimy contents, it's refreshing to see companies that not only offer products with natural ingredients but who also care about what goes into their brand as well as the effects they have on the consumer. How many companies have you seen that offer 100% natural products? No dyes, no nasty chemicals. Bottom line they're great quality lipsticks with healthy benefits.

*bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipstick retails for $15 each. To purchase or to learn more, please visit www.bareescentuals.com .

Product(s) in this post were provided for post consideration. Read our disclosure policy here. 

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