JESSICA COSMETICS PHENOM U GOT THE LOOK COLLECTION - SWATCHES & REVIEW

A PHENOMenal evolution in polish technology, exclusively formulated for salon professionals, PHENOM is JESSICA Cosmetics answer to "gel" nails without needing a UV / LED light; promising up to 10 days of lasting colour and gel-like shine.

It's fast, it lasts and it can be achieved in 3 easy steps.  
Here's how it works - 

STEP 1: BASE COAT

Apply two thin coats of any JESSICA base coat to prepared nails (nails completely free of polish, oils, etc) - this will ensure maximum adhesion and wear.

STEP 2: PHENOM COLOUR

Apply two thin coats of your desired JESSICA Phenom colour - apply just like regular nail polish. 

STEP 3: FINALE SHINE

Apply one thin coat of the JESSICA Finale Shine top coat over the colour - this sets and cures the colour giving it a gel-like shine (no lamp needed! It hardens with natural light exposure!)


*APPLICATION TIPS: Apply thin coats of polish and ensure each coat is fully dry before applying the next coat.

I have the the new JESSICA Phenom U Got The Look collection to review for you today :) 

VIOLET CREAM  

Violet Cream is a blurple nail polish shade. 

I really REALLY like this one! I suspect this one would be a crowd favourite. It's so pretty!

The formula of this one made my jaw drop - it's perfect and opaque in 1 easy coat! AMAZING!!!

PAISLEY PINK  

Paisley Pink is a magenta pink nail polish shade. 

Love! Love! LOVE! Honestly, there is nothing unique about this one but i'm a sucker for pink nails, and this is a good one! 

The formula is literal perfection! It applies like butter and is completely opaque in 1 easy coat! Big YES from me!

PURPLE REIGN  

Purple Reign is a deep violet purple nail polish shade.

Dark, but not so dark that it looks black (it definitely looks purple in all lights). It's so vampy I LOVE it! 

The formula is lovely! It's completely opaque in 1 - 2 thin coats. I personally think it looks better in two coats but you could definitely get away with one coat. 

*  *  * 

A collection of purple and pink nail polish? I'm here for it! Oh and you really can't go wrong with a JESSICA polish, their formulas are incredible! 

*  *  *

Get "The Look"!...See what I did there? *wink*

RRP: $23.95 each (AUD)

JESSICA Cosmetics are available for purchase at www.jessicacosmetics.com.au (Australia). 

*  *  * 

*Disclaimer: JESSICA Cosmetics Australia kindly sent me these products for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this Blog post are mine based on my personal experiences through trialling these products.

Thank you for taking the time to read this review!

Have a fab day, 

Doni xx

Follow me on Instagram for more nail swatches & nail art - @donsnailobsession

OPALLAC GEL POLISH ALLURE PALETTE - SWATCHES & REVIEW

It's time to take your mani to the next level with the NEW elegant and stylish Opallac Allure palette!

I talk about Opallac a lot on here, but incase you didn't know, Opallac is an Australian gel polish system promising glamorous salon quality gel nails, that you can DIY in the comfort of your home. The unique Opallac Gel polish formula glides on like normal nail polish and sets instantly like gel when cured by the revolutionary Opallac LED nail lamp.

NO dry time! NO chipping! NO smudges! It's easy, AND it can be done at home! Opallac is also proudly Vegan, Cruelty free and 10-free!!

I have the NEW Opallac Allure Palette, made up of 4 chic gel polish shades designed to suit all skin tones, to review for you today :)

  PLUSH  

Plush is a soft baby pink gel polish shade. 

It's nothing fancy, but it's pink so you know I love it! Can you ever really go wrong with pink nails? This is a good one.

Nice formula and opaque in 2 thin easy coats.

   LAVISH    

Lavish is a warm mauve pink gel polish shade. 

I LIVE for these kinds of shades. It's sophisticated AND easy to rock at work. This is joining the ranks of Soy Capp and Faux Fur - my ultimate fave work appropriate shades. 

Fantastic formula, nice and opaque in 1 easy coat! Amazing!!!

  OPULENT  

Opulent is a chic cool grey gel polish shade. 

Ok, so I like this one a lot more than I thought I would. I find grey's can be a bit hit or miss with me but I liked this tone. I think this would look GREAT on deeper skin tones *insert heart eyes*.

Another perfect formula, opaque in 1 easy coat!

  MAJESTIC  

Majestic is a shimmery white pearl gel polish shade. 

G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S (did you totally just hear Fergie's voice in your head?). This is lovely! I'd personally prefer to use this as an accent to add a touch of sparkle to my nails rather than wearing this as a full manicure, but that's just me.   

It applies smooth and evenly with no brush strokes. Opaque in 2 thin easy coats.

*  *  * 

What a luxurious colour palette! Such elegant and chic nail colours with the amazing Opallac gel polish formula we know and love. I am obsessed!!! 

As per usual, I highly recommend trying out Opallac and I am not being paid to do so! I just genuinely rate their products.

A great option if you're looking for a quick and easy salon-quality DIY gel manicure you can do at home with literally no skills required for application or removal! 

For more information on Opallac, I have an honest and detailed Blog Post reviewing the Gel System, along with some of my tips and tricks to achieving the perfect gel manicure at home, linked here - I wrote that review in 2016 and maintain every single word!

*  *  *

RRP: $58 for the set (AUD)

Opallac products are exclusively available for purchase online at www.opallac.com and www.priceline.com.au, as well Selected Priceline stores nationally (Australia).

*  *  * 

*Disclaimer: Opallac kindly sent me the products mentioned in this Blog Post for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine based on what I have experienced through trialling these products.


It's been months since I posted on here!!!

To my regular readers who stuck around - thank you! 

To anyone new, welcome and thank you for taking time out of your day to read this review!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask :)
Have a fabulous day,

Doni x

Follow me on Instagram for more swatches & nail art - @donsnailobsession

SISTACO DELUXE KIT NAIL POWDER SYSTEM - HONEST REVIEW, TIPS & TRICKS

 

Sistaco is a unique mineral-based nail powder (not nail polish!) system, proudly designed and developed in Australia. An innovative at-home alternative to expensive dipping powder / shellac / gel manicures. Sistaco products are purely vegan, cruelty free and free from the 9 harmful chemicals often found in nail products - this makes their products better for you and the environment! 

Today, I will be reviewing the Sistaco Deluxe Kit :)

THE DELUXE KIT - 

Everything you need to create a salon quality manicure at home 

The products in the kit come in a gorgeous marble gift box with stunning rose gold detailing.

The kit includes:

• A portable LED nail lamp with a USB cord - does not come with an adapter, so it needs to be plugged into your computer.
• Sistaco base coat 
• Sistaco top coat 
• 3 x nail powders of your choice - so many beautiful options, see them all linked here!!!
• 2 x mixing pots - be creative and create your own unique powder!
• A double ended brush/pad applicator - it's just like an old-school eyeshadow applicator

RRP: $125 with a value of $150!!!

The kit literally includes everything you need to create the prettiest manicure at home. You can purchase all of these items separately if preferred, but it works out cheaper to buy the complete set, especially if you're new to the brand and need the essentials (lamp, base and top coats). 

I also have a special discount code at the end of this review for you to get $20 off the kit ;)

"CLASSIC" INSTRUCTIONS - 

How to + my tips & tricks 

1. Thoroughly wash your hands - ensure your nail surface is completely clean and free from any oils, creams or chemicals. 

2. Once washed, I personally like to buff my nails and go over them with nail polish remover / primer to make sure they are completely smooth and clean. This will ensure your manicure will last a bit longer. 

3. Have everything set up and ready to go (bottles open, lamp plugged in etc), so it's smooth sailing once you officially start the application process.

4. Apply a thin coat of the Sistaco base coat. Avoid getting it on your skin.

5. Cure your nails with the Sistaco LED lamp for 60 seconds. There are no tricks or complicated instructions when it comes to using the LED nail lamp. Simply plug it in, switch the lamp on (there's only one button) and you're set! The LED lamp is auto-timed* at 30 seconds (I've timed it), so make sure you cure it for two rounds. 

6. Dip the pad end of the applicator in your desired powder. Very lightly rub the powder onto the nail. Apply / build up the powder until you achieve your desired look. I personally like dipping it in twice (equivalent to two coats). The end of the applicator you choose to use is supposed to depend on the type of powder (glitter, shimmer etc), but in general I've had the best results using the "pad" end, rather than the "brush" end.

7. Lightly apply a coat of the Sistaco top coat directly on top of the powder, be careful not to drag the powder off your nails.

8. Cure your nails for a final time with the Sistaco LED lamp for 60 seconds.

9. Wash your hands to get the residual powder off your skin. Application can get messy, but is easily cleaned up with water. 

10. Enjoy your mani and show it off to your friends!

According to the instruction card included in the kit, there is a "long wear option" where you apply a coat of top coat directly over the base coat (at step 4). I tried this method and it just didn't work for me, could have been my body chemistry, but the powder just wouldn't stick. I'm not exactly sure how much longer wear it's supposed to give you, but my mani lasted me over 7 days just by following the steps I have listed above, which is pretty impressive for me as I wash my hands religiously being a nurse.

* I have had a couple of issues with the lamp where the LED light won't turn on once I have pressed the button. I fidget with the USB cable / port and make sure it's plugged into my computer properly and it will usually work once I have pressed the button a couple more times. Not too sure if I got a faulty one, or this is just how it is. Bear that in mind. I am curious to see if other nail lamps work with the system though. 

SWATCHES - 

Enjoy some swatches of the powders I chose in my kit

BALLERINA 

This is the first one I tried in the set. I'm reading my notes from 8 weeks ago and it literally says "OMFG PRETTIEST THING EVER!!!" in caps. I still agree! It's stunning! This powder is jam-packed with pink shimmery goodness that flashes to blue in certain lights. It literally GLOWS on the nails. LOVE LOVE LOVE! 

DUSTY ROSE (METALLIC)

Who doesn't love a bit of rose-gold-chrome-metallic goodness? So easy to apply, rubs on like butter with no streaks. A crowd pleaser for sure! I got a lot of compliments when I wore this one! SO PRETTY!!!

FLAMINGO (HOLOGRAPHIC)

My personal favourite of the lot. It's pink, it's glitter and it's holographic - is there anything better? I AM LOST FOR WORDS! STUNNING STUNNING STUNNING!!! I wore this during a week of night shifts and just couldn't stop staring at my nails. Bright lighting or not, the holographic pigment really does glisten. OBSESSED!!! This was also the easiest of the three to apply.

REMOVAL - 

How to remove your Sistaco manicure with the "Express Remover"

Sistaco recommend using their Express Remover to remove your Sistaco manicure - so no acetone soaking YAY! 

Here's how it works - 

1.  Lightly buff the top layer of your manicure - this step is optional and not actually listed as a step by Sistaco, I just find it makes removal a lot easier.

2.  Apply a generous layer of the Sistaco Express Remover on top of your manicure.

3. Wait for the colour to bubble and look like it's lifting off the nail. I tend to wait 5 - 10 minutes and even sometimes reapply if the colour is being stubborn.  

4. Gently push off the colour with a cuticle pusher or cotton pad.

5. Wash your hands and scrub the colour / remover off your nails.

So easy!

MY VERDICT - 

Is it worth the investment?  

YES!!!

I love that this kit will equip you with everything you need to create an awesome Sistaco mani! Sistaco is a fantastic option if you're looking for a quick and easy salon-quality DIY manicure you can do at home. Your nails shouldn't have to suffer during this pandemic just because you can't get to a nail salon!

The manicure experience itself is unlike anything I have ever had before. A lot easier to apply than I was expecting, and just a whole lot of fun in general. It was a bit of trial and error in the beginning, but the step-by-step and tips I listed above literally make application fool-proof. 

I am also SO OBSESSED with the colours I got to try! They're so pretty! There are over 50 shades of powder to choose from in the Sistaco range, so there's something for everyone. I can't wait to try out some more!

I've tried a lot of nail products in my time (hits and misses) and pride myself in giving honest opinions and reviews on my Blog; so if I recommend something, I genuinely rate it!

The Sistaco Deluxe Kit gets my thumbs up! I'd say it's definitely worth the investment!

*  *  *

RRP: $125 for the Deluxe Kit (AUD)

USE DISCOUNT CODE 

"DONI20"

FOR $20 OFF ANY AT-HOME KIT / COLLECTIONS

Sistaco products are exclusively available for purchase online at  www.sistaco.com

*  *  * 

Life is not always perfect, but your nails can be! 

*Disclaimer: Sistaco kindly sent me the products mentioned in this Blog Post for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine based on what I have experienced through trialling these products.


Thank you for taking time out of your day to read this review!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! 

The world is crazy at the moment. Please stay safe! :)
Wishing you a fabulous day,

Doni x

Follow me on Instagram for more swatches & nail art - @donsnailobsession

OPALLAC GEL POLISH DARK PALETTE - SWATCHES & REVIEW

Add luxury to your next manicure withe the new deliciously rich and enticing Opallac dark gels!

Opallac is the Australian gel nail innovation promising glamorous salon quality gel nail colour; designed to last up to 14 days. The unique Opallac Gel formula glides on like normal nail polish and sets instantly like gel when cured by the revolutionary Opallac LED nail lamp. 

NO dry time! NO chipping! NO smudges! It's easy, AND it can be done at home! Opallac is also proudly Vegan, Cruelty free and 10-free!!

I have the NEW Opallac Dark Palette four-pack to review for you today :)

SAPPHIRE

Sapphire is an inky sapphire blue gel polish shade.

There's something unique about this particular tone of blue. It's kind of jelly-like / see-through and looks squishy, in a good way. Very cool! Who doesn't love a good blue? 

Opaque in one - two thin easy* coats.

(It looks fine with one, looks even better with two).

*I'd like to note that the formula of this one is slightly thicker than the rest, but it's still super easy to apply.

CAVIAR

Caviar is a deep plum purple gel polish shade.

So dark it will most probably look black from afar, but up close you can definitely see the plum purple colour. 

I'm always such a huge fan of almost-black nails. So sexy!

My swatch shows ONE easy coat! 

You could possibly need a second coat if your nails are longer than mine.

GRANITE

Granite is a dark grey gel polish shade.

Darker then the tone of grey I tend to wear, but still such a pretty shade. I'm surprised with how much I liked this one. So luxe!

My swatch shows ONE easy coat!

EMERALD

Emerald is a deep emerald-teal green gel polish shade.

Now this is a hard one to describe - it literally looks different depending on the lighting. I want to say its more of a teal green then emerald. Either way it's beautiful. Possibly my favourite from the lot! So pretty!

Opaque in one - two thin easy coats.

(It looks fine with one, looks even better with two).

*  *  * 

Let's be honest, wearing dark polish comes with it's hassles. As much as I LOVE rocking a good blue and basically any almost-black shade, I always question whether the application struggle is worth it. 

"I'm going to make a mess", "It's going to bleed into my cuticles", "My skin is going to stain", "I'm going to be stuck with Smurf hands", "This is not good for my OCD", "Oh the horror!!!", "Messy manicures are so much more obvious with dark polish!", "If you look at it from afar it's not that bad right?...Right??" - I literally think these things over and over again during application of dark polish, but because I love dark nails, I put up with the torture.

Although I can never fault Opallac, I was genuinely worried that I'd really struggle with these and potentially hate them. I mean I'm scared of applying regular dark polish, Gel polish is a whole different ball game because, well, it sticks! My biggest concern was "What happens if I cure a messy dark gel manicure?".

Well, well, well... let me tell you, without a word of a lie, I have never had such a pleasant manicure experience. I don't think I have applied dark polish quite as effortlessly as I did with these dark gels! 

These dark shades have the same perfect Opallac gel formula we have become accustomed to. They are super pigmented and apply so smooth and evenly. The amazing Opallac wide brush also perfectly contours to the nail for easy, mess-free application in three easy strokes! Cure under the Opallac LED nail lamp and you're good to go!

As always, I highly recommend trying out Opallac!

A fantastic option if you're looking for a quick and easy salon-quality DIY gel manicure you can do at home - literally no skills required for application or removal!

For more information on Opallac, I have an honest and detailed Blog Post reviewing the Gel System, along with some of my tips and tricks to achieving the perfect gel manicure at home, linked here.

Don't let Winter suppress your inner goddess, treat yourself to a luxurious Opallac Gel mani today! You deserve it!

*  *  * 

RRP: $58 for the set (AUD)

Opallac products are exclusively available for purchase online at www.opallac.com and www.priceline.com.au, as well Selected Priceline stores nationally (Australia).

ORDER THE PALETTE ON THE OPALLAC WEBSITE AND RECEIVE A CUTE PRINTED DRAWSTRING BAG

Have you been thinking about trying Opallac?

GET 15% OFF THE SMALL STARTER KIT ON THE OPALLAC WEBSITE - USE CODE INSTAGRAM15 AT CHECKOUT! *OFFER EXPIRES 31/08/20* 

*  *  * 

*Disclaimer: Opallac kindly sent me the products mentioned in this Blog Post for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine based on what I have experienced through trialling these products.


Thank you for taking the time to read this review!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask :)
Have a fabulous day,

Doni x

Follow me on Instagram for more swatches & nail art - @donsnailobsession

OPALLAC GEL POLISH NUDE PALETTE - SWATCHES & REVIEW

Opallac is the Australian gel nail innovation promising glamorous salon quality gel nail colour; designed to last up to 14 days. The unique Opallac Gel formula glides on like normal nail polish and sets instantly like gel when cured by the revolutionary Opallac LED nail lamp. 

NO dry time! NO chipping! NO smudges! It's easy, AND it can be done at home! Opallac is also proudly Vegan, Cruelty free and 10-free!!

Indulge in the perfect neutral palette of gel polish shades, designed to suit and compliment all skin tones with the new dreamy Opallac nudes!

I have the four-pack Nude Palette to review for you today :)

 SMOKE & MIRRORS 

Smoke & Mirrors is a chocolate brown gel polish shade.

I don't usually like brown nails, but I genuinely like this one.

Such a pretty and wearable shade of brown. 

 MAUVE ASIDE 

Mauve Aside is a deep nude gel polish shade.

I wouldn't necessarily call it a mauve, but each to their own.

This is giving me serious Soy Capp vibes (which I'm not mad about, it's one of my favourite Opallac shades!), it's just a tad deeper in colour. I love it! 

 OVER THE TAUPE 

Over The Taupe is a rosy nude gel polish shade. 

This reminds me of one of my favourite polishes of life OPI "My Very First Knockwurst" - I have wanted a gel equivalent forever and I think I have finally found it! It's the best! I just love it so much! 

 TRUTH OR BARE 

Truth or Bare is a light taupe gel polish shade.

Elegant and fresh. A crowd pleaser for sure! So so beautiful!

I think this would make a lovely pedicure colour too! 

*  *  * 

As per usual, Opallac have absolutely nailed it - I've come to expect nothing less!

These new nudes are stunning and right up my alley!
The formulas are simply perfection! I love how smooth and evenly Opallac polishes apply as well as how easily opaque they are - you would think that these kinds of lighter shades would be difficult to apply / require multiple coats, but they all apply beautifully in one - two easy coats, and cure perfectly under the Opallac LED nail lamp.

Let's be honest, not all nude shades tend to suit every skin tone. But I can guarantee you that at least one of these new neutral shades will suite you - and if for some bizarre reason these particular shades don't tickle your fancy / suite you, Opallac have a massive range of other neutral shade options available. It's time to release the nudes!

As always, I highly recommend trying out Opallac!
A fantastic option if you're looking for a quick and easy salon-quality DIY gel manicure you can do at home - literally no skills required for application or removal!

Pick your new nude, grab a drink, and give yourself that Opallac mani you deserve!

For more information on Opallac, I have an honest and detailed Blog Post reviewing the Gel System, along with some of my tips and tricks to achieving the perfect gel manicure at home, linked here.

*  *  * 

RRP: $58 for the set (AUD)

Opallac products are exclusively available for purchase online at www.opallac.com and www.priceline.com.au, as well Selected Priceline stores nationally (Australia).

ORDER THE PALETTE ON THE OPALLAC WEBSITE AND RECEIVE A CUTE PRINTED DRAWSTRING BAG 

*  *  * 

*Disclaimer: Opallac kindly sent me the products mentioned in this Blog Post for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine based on what I have experienced through trialling these products.


Thank you for taking the time to read this review!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask :)
Have a fabulous day,

Doni x

Follow me on Instagram for more swatches & nail art - @donsnailobsession