18 November, 2015

FABY NAIL LACQUER MUSIC COLLECTION - SWATCHES & REVIEW


In Songs and Ballads, in the rarefied notes of a melody, and in the rhythm of summer nights, FABY imagines the emotions that vibrate in different styles and notes of music, and chose colours that reflect these evoked feelings to include in their collection. 
Colour lives in harmony with music, and like music, we express ourselves through colour. FABY’s new 'Music Collection' offers bold dynamic colours that strongly express the harmony between sound and colour. The Music Collection offers 12 new lacquer shades, split into 4 different music genres (Rock, Country, Pop and Soul), that express the emotions and feelings inspired by music. From soft and refined shades to dark and strong and even bright and vivid shades, FABY's Music Collection has it all.

Express yourself through music and colour!



Today I have 4 polishes from the Music Collection to share and review for you...




 ARE YOU AC OR DC?   - ROCK MUSIC
Are you AC or DC? is a deep green (so dark it looks black) nail lacquer shade with gold, blue, teal and green micro glitter flakies. It's so unique and absolutely stunning! 

This lacquer is named after the infamous Australian hard rock band AC/DC.


The formula of this lacquer is creamy and really easy to work with. It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well.


This lacquer is completely opaque in two thin and easy coats. Love it!!


 WEMBLEY '86   - ROCK MUSIC
Wembley 86' is a deep blue nail lacquer shade with an iridescent pink-violet glittery undertone; giving it a duo-chrome look. It's so unique and looks amazing on the nail

This lacquer is named after the famous Queen album, live from London's Wembley Stadium.


The formula of this lacquer is smooth and really easy to work with. It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well.


The general formula of this lacquer is a little thin, so the more coats of lacquer applied, the more vibrant it looks on the nail. This lacquer is completely opaque in two - three thin coats.
It builds up to full opacity quite easily - each coat of lacquer dries super quickly in between coats. When it's fully opaque, words cannot describe how gorgeous it is. 
My swatch really does not do it justice! It's truly perfection in a bottle!


 VINCERĂ’!    - SOUL MUSIC
VincerĂ²! is a rich and creamy violet-purple nail lacquer shade.

This lacquer is inspired by "...the resolution and hope waiting for a triumph, like the tenor sings 'VincerĂ²' looking forward to the dawn in the Turandot."


The formula of this lacquer is super creamy and smooth and really easy to work with. It's effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well. 


This lacquer is completely opaque in one - two thin and easy coats. 
Beautiful!


 SWEET TUNES - COUNTRY MUSIC
Sweet Tunes is a bright orange-toned red nail lacquer shade with an iridescent pink-gold glittery undertone. It's finish is quite similar to Wembley '86, but a little more toned down and subtle - less apparent on the nail.

The formula of this polish is creamy and really easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well.


This polish is completely opaque in one - two thin coats.
It's pretty much opaque in one coat, but I could still see my nail line (which I personally don't like to be able to see). With a second coat of lacquer, it intensifies the colour and hides any visible nail line. The lacquer builds up quite easily - each coat of lacquer dries super quickly in between coats. 
 *Note: the whiter your nail line, the more coats of lacquer you'll need to apply to reach full colour opacity with no visible nail line.

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Overall I really quite like these lacquers. The colour range in this collection is simply stunning and the formulas are seriously perfection in a bottle! 
My personal favourites and picks, from what I have tried from this collection, are "Wembley '86and "Are you AC or DC?".

Express yourself through music and colour and try these out for yourself!


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RRP: $19.90 each (AUD)

Available at www.faby.com.au

For more information contact: 1800 720 807

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These are the first lacquers I've tried from FABY and I'm so impressed! 
The colour selection is unique, the formulas are amazing and apply just like butter; they build up to full opacity nice and easily on the nail and dry super quickly - AWESOME! 

I definitely recommend trying out some FABY lacquers for yourself. 
I pride myself in honest reviews, so if I say you NEED some FABY in your life, I genuinely mean it! 
I cannot recommend the brand enough.


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

Thanks for taking the time to read this
Have a great day 
Doni xxx


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

12 November, 2015

SALLY HANSEN MIRACLE GEL "GEO-MINT-RIC" NAIL COLOUR + NEW 2X VOLUME TOP COAT SWATCH & REVIEW

These days, bigger is better when it comes to beauty.



Following the major success of the first Miracle Gel launch, Sally Hansen has done it again, now developing a new and improved voluminous Miracle Gel Top Coat; as well as 6 new limited edition shades to add to the award winning Sally Hansen Miracle Gel collection line.



Get salon quality nails in two easy steps with Sally Hansen's Miracle Gel  nail polish.


Miracle Gel is a revolution in gel technology, with it's part-lacquer-part-gel formula. 


Get the lasting results of a gel manicure without the hassle and expense. 
Miracle Gel polish promise up to 14 days of Colour and Shine - delivering a high shine, glossy look just like a salon quality manicure.  


Miracle Gel is a two-step gel manicure that does not need to be cured by UV / LED light - so its less damaging to the nail. It also applies just like regular nail polish.

How to use ~
STEP 1: Apply two coats of the Miracle Gel nail colour of your choice. No base coat needed.
STEP 2: Activate curing of the polish with one coat of the Miracle Gel Top Coat.

 
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polishes have the same amazing wide brush just like Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure range; making it easy to work with and application of the three-stroke method a breeze.

 
Sally Hansen have just released some new shades, as well as a new top coat which supposedly has "double the gel volume". The new shades can be purchased in duo packs along with the new top coat. 

Today I'll be reviewing the new Miracle Gel shade 'Geo-Mint-ric' and the new 2X Volume Top Coat.

 GEO-MINT-RIC  
 
Geo-Mint-ric is a vibrant spearmint nail polish shade. 

It looks absolutely stunning and flattering on the nail! 

The formula of this polish is super creamy and smooth. The polish is really easy to work with and applies just like a regular nail polish - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky and self-levels really well. 
The formula is a little bit thin, but the colour builds up nice and easily with multiple coats of polish. This polish is completely opaque in two - three thin coats. The polish can look a little bit patchy on some nails but its pretty easy to cover up by adding an extra coat of polish. 
Sally Hansen claim a Base Coat does not need to be applied before applying the polish; as there is Base Coat built into the formula. However, I definitely recommend wearing one prior to wearing this polish as it stained my nails green. The staining was minor though and did eventually disappear. I did try the polish again another time, after applying two coats of a Base Coat and didn't experience any staining. So I definitely suggest applying a Base Coat to avoid any staining this polish could cause


2X VOLUME TOP COAT 
To get the "Gel" look, pair the Miracle Gel Polish with the Miracle Gel Top Coat. 

When partnered with Miracle Gel polish, the Miracle Gel Top Coat volumizes as it hardens the nails. The Top Coat formula delivers 2X the volume to your manicure - creating dramatically fuller-looking nails with a high-gloss, mirror shine finish.
The Miracle Gel Top Coat is truley amazing! It is so nice and smooth and glides efforlessly onto the nail. It is so much smoother than I expected a "gel" top coat to be. It leaves the nails super ssuper super shiny - i love it!

The Top Coat doesn't smudge or pick up the polish colour onto the brush, which is great. 
Apparently the gel Top Coat cures and hardens using natural light (instead of a UV/LED light), hence the more sunlight there is, the quicker your nails will dry. That's not to say it won't dry when its dark, it will just take a little longer. - dry time varies. I tend to paint my nails at night before bed, when there is no sunlight, and I found the polish takes the same amount of time as a standard polish to dry either way.


So getting a Salon Gel Manicure is as easy as paiting your nails with a Miracle Gel Polish and apply a coat of the Miracle Gel Top Coat  -  let the natural sunlight do the rest.

Geo-Mint-ric  is quite glossy and gel-like on it's own so you could probably get away without using the Miracle Gel Top Coat. If you want to ensure the long wear time and durability of your manicure you definitely do need a coat of Top Coat, but I personally don't think you need this specific Top Coat. You could really use any Top Coat over the polish - it just won't give your nails as much of a "gel"  look.

*  *  * 

Sally Hansen claim the Gel polish should last for up to 14 days on the nail. I didn't wear the polish for 14 days to test Sally Hansen's claim but I did have it on for a full week. The polish wears pretty well.The polish only suffered some tip wear (which is to be expected). Other then that I had no major chips and the shininess of the polish didn't dull at all. Really impressive.

I'm really amazed with how easy the polish was to remove with nail polish remover, whether it be acetone or non-acetone remover. It removes just like regular nail polish, so no soaking, wrapping or scraping is required. 
Overall I'm really impressed with the new Miracle Gel system.
I definitely recommend checking out the new Miracle Gel colours and trying some out for yourself - you will not be disappointed!

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RRP (AUD): $19.95 duo packs
             $16.95 each 

Available at Priceline, Priceline Pharmacies, Target, Terry White Chemists, Chemist Warehouse and selected Independent Pharmacies nationally (Australia). 
For details on retail stockists please call 1800 812 663


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

Thanks for taking the time to read this
Have a fabulous day 
Doni xxx


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

17 September, 2015

OPI VENICE COLLECTION - SWATCHES & REVIEW

Escape to Italy with the new Venice collection by OPI. 

The OPI Venice collection captures the essence of one of Europe's most romantic ancient capitals with shades to invoke the sumptuous elegance and grandiose splendour of the floating city.

The bold and elegant collection of on-trend colours consists of romantic reds, decadent blues, striking corals, dreamy pastels, elegant nudes, dramatic darks and luxurious metallics that celebrate the vision of over-the-top indulgence and to ignite and renew your passion for colour, with a touch of Italian seduction.

The OPI Venice collection brings the alluring spirit of Venice to life anywhere!

I have six shades from the collection to share with you today :)
(General consensus:  shades are all beautiful and formula's are all a dream to work with!)



 Amore at the Grand Canal  ~ 'Let this romance flow in this ravishing red' - OPI
Amore at the Grand Canal is a rich dark red nail polish shade. 

The formula of this polish is creamy and really easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well - it's perfection in a bottle!

This polish is completely opaque in one coat - wow!
It also doesn't look brown on your nails like a lot of really dark red polishes tend to.



 A Great Opera-tunity  ~ '"Aria" ready to wear this gorgeous melon?' - OPI
A Great Opera-tunity is a unique dusty-pastel cantaloupe melon / light terracotta nail polish shade. 

The formula of this polish is super creamy and really easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well.

This polish is completely opaque in one - two thin coats.



 Purple Palazzo Pants  ~ 'I've searched far and wide for this lovely Lilac' - OPI
Purple Palazzo Pants is a beautiful dusty-pastel pink-based purple nail polish shade. 

The formula of this polish is creamy and really easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well.

This polish is completely opaque in two thin coats.
The general formula of this polish is a little thinner compared to the rest in this collection, so the second coat really helps deepen the colour and make it look more vibrant. 



 Tiramisu for Two  ~ 'I totally "dessert" this sweet coffee cream' - OPI     
Tiramisu for Two is a creamy light pink-based nude nail polish shade. 

The formula of this polish is super creamy and really easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well - it's perfection in a bottle!

This polish is completely opaque in one - two thin coats which is awesome especially for the nature of the colour - I have never used a nude that's this opaque!  Simply: WOW!



 Worth a Pretty Penne  ~ 'Flaunt your fashion "cents" in this shimmery copper" - OPI
Worth a Pretty Penne is a stunning copper penny nail polish shade with some delicate sliver shimmer running throughout it.

The formula of this polish is amazing for a metallic and easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well - it's perfection in a bottle!

This polish is completely opaque in one coat! Amazing!!



 Gimme a Lido Kiss  ~ 'Pucker up for this saucy red shimmer' - OPI
Gimme a Lido Kiss is a bright red metallic nail polish shade with some iridescent shimmer running throughout it. 

The formula of this polish is really easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well.

This polish is completely opaque in one - two thin coats. It is technically completely opaque in only one coat, but the second coat really helps brighten and intensify the colour.

* * * 

Overall I really quite like these polishes. The colour range in this collection is simply stunning and the formulas are seriously perfection in a bottle! 

I have always wanted to travel to Venice and now with this true Venice colour palette and pun-ny nail polish names it literally puts Venice at (or on) my fingertips...so it's kind of the same thing ;)

There isn't any particular polish in this collection I wouldn't recommend, but my personal favourites and picks from this collection are "Purple Palazzo Pants", "Worth a Pretty Penne" and "Tiramisu for Two".

I definitely recommend checking this collection out for yourself - you will not be disappointed!

I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of the collection!!


 *  *  *

RRP: $19.95 each (AUD)

Available from August 2015 at selected Myer and David Jones stores and selected Salons nationally (Australia). 
For details on retail stockists please call 1800 812 663
For details on salon enquiries please call 1800 358 999

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

Thanks for taking the time to read this
Have a great day 
Doni xxx


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

08 July, 2015

OPI BRIGHTS COLLECTION 2015 - SWATCHES & REVIEW

Light up your nail look with OPI's new 2015 summer Brights Collection.

The collection consists of "shockingly saturated hot pinks, to bold electric blues, to intensely vibrant red - the collection delivers rich, true-to-bottle colour in just a few coats."

These bold hues are the perfect way to make an impact - with the new Brights Collection, OPI makes it easy to create an intense colour statement without saying a word!


Although it's currently winter here in Australia, who says you can't wear colour? 

Today I have a review on seven polishes from this collection to share with you!



I STOP for Red  "This Red is so hot, it's got to be illegal!" - OPI
I STOP for Red is a 'scorching hot', bright orange-toned red nail polish colour - it's virtually the same bright red colour as a fire engine / STOP sign ;)
Nothing too unique about the colour per se but this polish does not have a straight up cream formula; it's more of a jelly-like (kind of see-through), polish and looks squishy (but not in a bad way), making it quite unique - I have nothing like it in my growing nail polish collection and I personally think the fact that it's jelly-like makes it pretty cool and more than just "another red polish".

~ I think this polish would be great to use for a 'jelly sandwich' mani or 'pond' mani - Google it!

This polish has a great formula and is really easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well. 
The formula is a little runny though and I recommend being careful with your application to avoid pooling on the side of the nail.

This polish is really easy to build up, with multiple coats, to brighten and intensify the colour. The polish is completely opaque (meaning you see no visible nail line) in two - three thin coats.
*note: the whiter your nail line, the more coats of polish you'll need to apply to reach full colour opacity with no visible nail line.


The Berry Thought of You  "I think, therefore I wear this delicious Berry." - OPI
The Berry Thought of You is a delectable berry pink-toned purple nail polish colour. I absolutely love this shade and would seriously be content to wear this all the time! The colour is amazing!

The formula of this polish is very similar to I STOP for Red, with a jelly-like formula. 
It's really easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well - it's perfection in a bottle!

This polish is really easy to build up, with multiple coats, to brighten and intensify the colour. The polish is completely opaque (meaning you see no visible nail line) in two - three thin coats.
*note: the whiter your nail line, the more coats of polish you'll need to apply to reach full colour opacity with no visible nail line.


My Car has Navy-gation  "I would re-route my whole day for this gorgeous navy blue!" - OPI
My Car has Navy-gation is a 'bright' deep navy blue nail polish colour.
This blue is super rich and intense.
It's deep colour intensity made it so hard to capture in a photo - It's amazing how such a dark colour can be bright at the same time. 

The formula of this polish is a little tricky to work with - it is a tad thicker then the other polishes in this collection but is also jelly-like. It is a little gloopy, sticky and patchy with the first coat of polish. - however this doesn't affect the polish's drying time.
*Once the second coat of polish is applied it is no longer patchy and self-levels really well - the polish application corrects itself with the second coat of polish, showing off the polish's true beauty and perfection.
I found that this polish is also amazingly shiny (without topcoat) compared to the other polishes in this collection. 

The polish is completely opaque (meaning you see no visible nail line) in two thin coats.


#An alternative to this polish is OPI's Eurso Euro which is virtually the same colour and the closest dupe for My Car has Navy-gation that I am aware of. 
I have both polishes and they don't look too different in the bottle, but I believe My Car has Navy-gation is a little bit of a "brighter" navy blue, but Eurso Euro has a better formula (it's a perfect one coater!).
Either way, they are both gorgeous rich and intense blue's and I love them both.


I Sea You Wear OPI  "Look who's loving waves of shimmering metallic blue." - OPI
I sea You Wear OPI is a shimmery iridescent metallic blue nail polish colour, with glass-fleck glitter and a purple flash and shift in colour depending on how you look at it.
This polish legitimately looks like the actual sea, with it's different flashes of blue.
My swatch really doesn't do this polish justice - I blame winter lighting (I use natural lighting for my swatch pics)

At first glance I didn't really think much of the polish, but when I put it on I was in awe! 
The polish is STUNNING and so unique. I am genuinely OBSESSED with it!
I definitely recommend this polish!


This polish has a good formula and is really easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well.

The polish is very sheer but it's good formula allows for it to be easily built up, with multiple coats of polish, to brighten and intensify the colour. 
The polish is completely opaque (meaning you see no visible nail line) in three - four thin coats.
*note: the whiter your nail line, the more coats of polish you'll need to apply to reach full colour opacity with no visible nail line.



Can't Hear Myself Pink!  "No, I can't turn down this shimmery, metallic pink." - OPI
Can't Hear Myself Pink! is a shimmery iridescent metallic pink coral nail polish colour, with glass-fleck glitter and a gold flash and shift in colour depending on how you look at it.
It's a super unique polish.
In direct sunlight the polish looks like it's glowing and kind of reminds me of Lava - I looks stunning on the nail!

The formula of this polish is very similar to I Sea You wear OPI and is really easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and it self-levels really well. 

The polish is very sheer (more sheer than I Sea You wear OPI) but it's good formula allows for it to be easily built up, with multiple coats of polish, to brighten and intensify the colour. 
The polish is completely opaque (meaning you see no visible nail line) in three - four thin coats.
*note: the whiter your nail line, the more coats of polish you'll need to apply to reach full colour opacity with no visible nail line.


Down to the Core-al  "The beauty of this brilliant coral goes beyond skin deep." - OPI 
Down to the Core-al is a neon coral nail polish colour with iridescent pink and gold shimmer, which looks different on the nail depending on how you look at it, giving it a duo-chrome look. The colour is quite unique. 

The formula of this polish is good and really easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy. I noticed it didn't appear to self-level and smooth out while it was wet, but once completely dry, it looks even and smooth. 
The formula is a little runny and I recommend being careful with your application to avoid pooling on the side of the nail.

This polish is really easy to build up, with multiple coats, to brighten and intensify the colour. 
This polish may benefit from a white base coat (I recommend OPI's "Put a Coat On") to intensify the colour and make it look more neon; but without it, it's completely opaque (meaning you see no visible nail line) in two - three thin coats.
*note: the whiter your nail line, the more coats of polish you'll need to apply to reach full colour opacity with no visible nail line.


Hotter than You Pink  "Just when you think pink can't get any hotter, there's this!" - OPI
Hotter than You Pink is a neon hot pink nail polish colour with iridescent blue and purple shimmer, which looks different depending on how you look at it, giving it a duo-chrome look. The colour is quite unique.

The formula of this polish is great and is really easy to work with - It's easy to apply and effortlessly glides onto the nail, it isn't streaky or patchy and self-levels really well.
The formula is a little runny and I recommend being careful with your application to avoid pooling on the side of the nail.


This polish is really easy to build up, with multiple coats, to brighten and intensify the colour. 
This polish may benefit from a white base coat (I recommend OPI's "Put a Coat On") to intensify the colour and make it look more neon; but without it, it's completely opaque (meaning you see no visible nail line) in two - three thin coats.
*note: the whiter your nail line, the more coats of polish you'll need to apply to reach full colour opacity with no visible nail line.


* Put A Coat On!  
Put a Coat on is pretty much just a white basecoat to apply to the nail to brighten the nail polish you put under it - you can literally amp up any bright shade with this colour boosting basecoat ~ I also think it would also be a great basecoat for ombre / gradient nail art. 

I really like the idea of this basecoat and can see myself getting a lot of use out of it!


(I will hopefully have a separate review of this basecoat up on my blog soon, showing the colour intensity this basecoat creates when applied under neons - I will attach a link here when I do - watch this space!)


* * * 


Overall I quite like these polishes. The colour range is a little disappointing compared to previous "Brights" collections but the polishes are still really pretty and colour intense, and will definitely make a statement.

There isn't any particular polish in this collection I wouldn't recommend, but my personal favourites and picks from this collection are "The Berry Thought of You", "I Sea You Wear OPi" and "Can't Hear Myself pink". 



Don't be deceived when applying the first coat of polish - all of the polishes in this collection are on the sheer side and need at least two coats of polish before they looks opaque and resemble the colour in the bottle. 
*Remember: The whiter your nail line, the more coats you'll need to apply to reach full colour opacity.

 *  *  *

RRP: $19.95 each (AUD)

Available in June 2015 at selected Myer and David Jones stores and selected Salons nationally (Australia)
For details on retail stockists please call 1800 812 663
For details on salon enquiries please call 1800 358 999

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

Thanks for taking the time to read this
Have a great day 
Doni xxx


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