REVIEW of Zoya Natty With SWATCHES

Hi chickadees!

Today I'm going to say something I never thought I'd say. I think I've found a Zoya polish that's comparable to Essie in terms of formula. I was really pleased with Zoya Natty in terms of formula and application though I did have some small issues with the color and wear. Let's break it down.

Color: Zoya Natty is a muted dark blue creme polish. It's very close to navy blue, but it is more muted and dusty and slightly darker. I should know since my old school uniforms were in navy blue. The color reminds me a lot of Essie's Bobbing for Baubles. Remind me to do a comparison in the future. The polish can look like this dusty dark blue outdoors or it can go very dark indoors, but I can still tell that it's blue. It doesn't really ever go to black. While I did like the color, I did notice that in certain lighting it brought out the red in my hands. Otherwise, I think it's a great color for fall. Dark colors like this are the perfect cool girl version of a neutral.
Formula: Amazing. Super smooth. I only needed 2 coats to get it opaque and I'm a three coats of polish kind of girl. A polish really needs to be opaque at 2 coats for me to leave it at two coats. I hold my nails up to the light just to be sure that light doesn't pass through and it stood up to the light test.
Application: Application was super smooth. Like one of the great Essie formulas, the polish just flowed over the nail. Simple, easy, no hassle.
Wear: It does kind of pick up smudges easily. You need to wipe off your nails from time to time to keep that nice, shiny surface.

CONCLUSION: I would definitely recommend this polish based on the formula. If you like this color, I would give this polish a try.

  SWATCHES

Marc Jacobs DOT Nail Art Design/Tutorial

Hi darlings!

This nail art design is inspired by the bottle of Marc Jacobs Dot perfume. I have been a little obsessed with the design of the bottle and I've been testing out the scent for a while now and I've fallen for it as well. Hopefully Sephora will have a sale for Beauty Insiders soon so I can pick up a bottle.

 I'm never sure what to do when it comes to nail art because it seems like everything's been done before. That, and I don't really have the patience for anything too labor intensive. This look took a little while because of the glitter placement but I am so happy with how it turned out. I only did it as an accent nail but I think it could look nice as a full manicure as well.

Polishes You Will Need...

• Red Nail Polish (I used O.P.I.'s Monsooner or Later)
• Black Nail Polish (I used Milani's Black Magic but I don't recommend it)
• Red Hexagonal Glitter (I don't have nail art supplies so I just used the glitter from Spoiled polish in "Ants in My Pants")
• White Nail Polish (I used Absolute! Nail Art Paint which is a striper)
• Top Coat (I used Seche Vite)

Tools You Will Need...

• Dotting Tool (I actually used a pen that has run out of ink but you could use a dotting tool, toothpick, or the head of a pin. Whatever works best for making polka-dots.)
• Tweezers (I used them to place the glitter)

Instructions...

X Factor UK Live Show #4

Hi chickadees!

I think about 10 people find their way to this page every week. I'm not sure if you're reading or just getting linked here when you're looking for gossip but regardless, welcome!

This week's theme was Halloween. Which never makes sense. It should really just be a cue for the art direction and nothing else because if you're smart (as the contestants were) you don't try and pick a song that has a "Halloween" theme. Unless it's "I Put a Spell on You". Love that song. Overall, I was a little bored with this week's performances.

Final Breakdown (in my opinion)
[Not including Christopher Maloney because the video wasn't available in the US or Lucy Spraggan because she was unwell and did not perform.]
1. James Arthur
2. Jahmene Douglas
3. Ella Henderson
4. Union J
5. Jade Ellis
6. Kye Sones
7. District3
8. Rylan Clark

Let's go through the contestants in order.

Kye Sones: I liked his vocals last week but it definitely didn't fit with the theme and that may have hurt him with the voting. The only "Let Me Entertain You" I know is from Gypsy so I didn't come into it with any expectations of how the song "should" sound. I think he is very professional and did a good job with it didn't really the energy or impact it needed to. It wasn't fun. Repetitive songs are risky because they can drag. Also, I'm not sure if the phrases were too long and he just didn't have a place to breathe but there were lulls in the vocals. It was a good performance. But it wasn't spectacular. And I don't know if running around and getting right up in the camera is going to win over the people who didn't pick up the phone last week.

Union J: I am a massive Beyonce fan. I didn't really know what was going to happen with "Sweet Dreams". I liked that Louis was sort of playing into the theme with the song choice but I was nervous. The vocals didn't start off as strong as the last two weeks. I thought the light show and the background images were a bit too chaotic but the vocals were good. I didn't love it as much as the last two weeks but I can't come up with anything to complain about. I think again you have the problem with a repetitive song and the fact that it didn't really go anywhere. I still think they're a really strong boy band. I agreed with Tulisa's critique.

Rylan Clark: This was a pretty weak performance from Rylan. I know I'm in the minority thinking he's charming in the nonperformance clips but I was let down by this. The mashup of songs didn't make much sense. There didn't seem to be much of a point to the staging/costumes. And the vocals got worse as the song went along. I thought they started out decent and then it just fell apart from there. He didn't bring it with the dancing. If he does make it through, I'm interested in the outcome of his promise to Gary (to just stand there and sing a song).

Ella Henderson: I love Evanescence and I think Amy Lee is a really strong vocalist so I started off unsure if Ella was up to the task of one of her songs given the way her voice cracks and the little issues she hasn't been addressing so far during her run in the competition. I thought it was smart for her to change up the song and lower the key because of that but the song lost something. I loved the staging and costume (though the hair was not flattering). I think Ella did a good job but she did not live up to Amy. I like the emotion she brought to it though. I just think she doesn't have the power she thinks so when she needs to ramp up, it doesn't always hit the heights it needs to. I'd like her to sing a straight ballad. I agreed with Nicole's critique.

Drugstore.com HAUL: Nail Polish and Assorted Items

Hi chickadees!

Now that we're though with lipstick, here's the second half of my haul.

First Revlon Vixen. Once I get through testing all these supposedly oxblood polishes I'm going to be so sick of the color. I've had a lot of problems with Revlon's formula in the past but this is a favorite for a lot of people so fingers crossed it works out.

Next is O.P.I.'s You Don't Know Jacques. Another cult favorite. It's not a color I'd normally try out but I'm hoping for good things.

O.P.I. Color So Hot It Berns. I can't tell if this is red or orange. It's definitely more red that Monsooner or Later. I might save it for spring or use it for a bright pop of color in the winter.

Drugstore Product Stalking: Rite Aid 501 6th Avenue

Hi chickadees!

I haven't been to Rite Aid in what feels like forever. It could actually be a full year. Ever since they closed down the Rite Aid on Broadway I just haven't felt like going way out of my way to find a Rite Aid. This one is still out of my way but it's a little closer since I have a class near here sometimes.

I was so excited when I saw this. I'm not sure why. I'm not even all that into magnetic polish. I think it was the snakeskin. I remember snakeskin nails being a trend they predicted in Vogue or Allure that didn't really take off. The pattern in the pictures doesn't look all that amazing but I still picked up a bottle so I could try it out for you.

Lip Smackers! This is the reason I went to Rite Aid in the first place. I'd heard about this amazing Rite Aid/Bonne Bell deal on Nouveau Cheap. Sadly, I could not find the product I wanted, the Disney princess Lip Smackers lip balms. But they did have Minnie Mouse and other Disney character lip balms and big sets with candy flavors and soda flavors. I was tempted to get one of the large sets but I'm not sure if I want my lip balm to taste/smell like soda or candy. 

I was excited when I saw this display until I realized they didn't carry Color Club, they just had this display.

Lip Products to Review

Hi there,

I just thought I'd do a post letting you know what's in my collection of lip products that I have yet to review. This way if there's something you really want me to review more than the others, you can request a review in the comments and I can work on testing that product. Lip products are always more difficult for me to review because I have pretty dry lips which makes it difficult to tell how well a lip product works.

Vaseline Lip Therapy Original
YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in 8 Orange de Chine
C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve
Maybelline Baby Lips in Coral Crush, Twinkle
Clinique Chubby Stick in Mega Melon
Maybelline Colorsensational lipstick in Deepest Cherry, Fifth Avenue Fuchsia, 645 Red Revival, 30 Tigerlily Treat, Rum Riche
Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous
Revlon Lipstick in Black Cherry, Primrose
Covergirl Natureluxe Gloss Balm in 215 Hibiscus, 270 Spice, 255 Marble, 220 Peony
Dior Addict Extreme lipstick in 366 Pink Icon
L'Oreal Colour Riche lipstick in 350 British Red
Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate lipstick in 01 (red) and 14 (nude)
Revlon Lip Butter in 065 Creamsicle, 040 Red Velvet, Lollipop
elf lipstick in 6705 barely bitten and 6719 beautiful berry
Sephora Glossy Gloss in 19 Night Out
Wet n Wild Juicy Lip Balm SPF 15 in 280C Cherry
NYC lipstick in 405 Blue Rose, 430 The Rock A Fellas
L'Oreal Infallible gloss in 315 Rebel Red
Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Pearl in 436
Lancome fever gloss in Mercury Rising
Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine
Nivea A Kiss of Milk and Honey, A Kiss of Recovery

Drugstore.com HAUL: Lipstick with SWATCHES

Hi darlings!

I keep forgetting to do this haul post. My drugstore.com order came in the mail a few days after I placed my order but when I've remembered, the weather or lighting has been bad and when the weather or lighting is good, then I forgot. Anyway, I decided to split up this haul so it's not so overwhelming. Let's start with the lipstick.

Let's start with Revlon's Black Cherry. As I said, I only tried these on for a day or two before I had an allergic reaction to something and then got sick and couldn't keep testing so I can't say much about them yet. Black Cherry was a bit more red than I was expecting though.

Swatch of Revlon lipstick in Black Cherry

Essie's Leading Lady Collection and O.P.I.'s Skyfall Collection at Eve Beauty Source

Hi chickadees!

Are those of you living in NYC looking for Essie's Leading Lady Collection and O.P.I.'s Skyfall Collection. Are you unable to wait until they show up in drugstores. Well, I've discovered both collections at Eve Beauty Source (450 Broadway) though some of the polishes are not in stock at the moment.

Essie polishes sell for $6.99

REVIEW of Zoya Wednesday With SWATCHES

Hi chickadees!

I think Scrangie said it first, but you'd think a polish called Wednesday (especially considering that all the Zoya polishes are given names) would be inspired by the iconic Wednesday Addams. A cartoon, two television series, and two feature-length films? What other Wednesday were they thinking of? This color wouldn't even fit pseudo-brainwashed Wednesday at summer camp. I had a bit of a gothy, wiccan phase when I was younger and that part of me would have loved to see the depth Zoya could bring to a sexy  dark polish. But, oh well.

Color: This Wednesday polish is a greenish turquoise creme. I wanted to do a comparison with Essie's Turquoise and Caicos since it seems the closest match in my collection. I would guess that it is darker and more muted than Turquoise and Caicos and that it has more of a greenish tint. Do not be fooled by the bright swatches you might see online (like I was). It's not a Tiffany blue/aqua color. There's a lot of green to it and it is not very bright.
Formula: The formula was great. It was almost opaque in 2 coats though I still needed 3 to get it fully opaque.
Application: Application was very smooth when I was painting with my right hand (dominant hand). The polish flowed over the nail very nicely. When I was painting with my left hand things were a little trickier. The brush became a major source of annoyance, the short, stiff bristles making ridges in the polish unless the brush was laid completely flat against the nail. Also, for whatever reason, I feel like the polish was thicker when I painted my with my left hand. I painted each hand on different days because I didn't have the time to complete my whole manicure in one day and when I painted the nails on my right hand (with my left hand) the day after I had done the first hand the polish itself seemed thicker.

CONCLUSION: I do like the color of this polish and while I had issues with my other hand, overall I like the formula. I would recommend this polish if you like the color but I will warn you that the formula can be a little tricky and the brush is annoying.

SWATCHES

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas at Lush Soho

Hi chickadees!

I stopped by my local Lush (Lush Soho at 529 Broadway b/n Prince St. and Spring St.) because I just couldn't wait until November to see if the Christmas items had started to come in. I chatted a bit with the girls who work there and they told me they've gotten about half of the items they expect to get and the rest should be coming soon. If you'd like to see what they've got in stock right now, keep reading.

Ahh!!! So happy this is finally in. I smelled it and immediately fell in love with it. It's like a breath of fresh air...that is apple-scented. It's so pure and light and feminine. I can't wait to try it and write up a review. If I like it, I might need to run out and stock up on more before they're gone again.

This was the other bath bomb I wanted to try last year but missed out on. I definitely get that cinnamon richness that people have described. Scents like this can go a bit wrong though so I'll be interested to see what happens to the scent when I plop in it my bathtub.

Christmas Eve is back and it has a mustachioed friend. I like the scent of Christmas Eve but when I tried it, I didn't get much impact from it in the bath. The design seems a little different now. I remember the crescent being a different piece on top of the blue before. The mustache bubble bar smelled pretty but faint. I may still end up getting it but $9.95 seems like a bit much. If I ever go to England, I am stocking up on Lush products. 

Close up so you can see the pretty shimmer.

Melting Snowman is supposed to smell like a hot toddy, cloves, and cinnamon. I'm sure other people will love it but it's a bit too much for me. I like a very particular kind of spicy smell. No Leaves candles or any of that. I prefer cinnamon and baked goods. 

Update

Hi chickadees!

So the good news is I have a ton of lip products to test and tell you about including some fun vampy dark colors for fall/winter. The bad news is that I tried a bunch of things over the last week and a day or two ago I had an allergic reaction. I've used Maybelline lipsticks before and had no negative reaction. And I used the L'Oreal Caresse sticks before when I first started testing them and didn't have a negative reaction. My guess is that it might be the Revlon lipsticks or one of the glosses and balms I tried. So right now I'm sticking to products I know I can trust when I'm out for the day (just to cover up the flakiness of my lips and also because they are a bit pale and lacking in pigment to the point that I look odd with no lip product) and sticking to Vaseline and the Vaseline lip therapy I'm trying out when I'm at home. Hopefully the reaction should fade in a week.

Just wanted to let you know what's going on with me. I'm still able to post about sales and randomness and do nail polish reviews and swatches (though I'm trying to keep polish on for at least a few days and to remember to use all my hand creams to try and help with the dryness around my nails from all the polish changing).

Stay lovely,
Cat

UPDATE to this update: Not only do I have an allergic reaction but unrelated, I now officially have a cold so I will probably be taking a break for at least a few days. 

Drugstore Product Stalking: Walgreens 20 Astor Place PART TWO

Hi chickadees!

No preamble. Let's just get on with it.

A large, inexplicable Taylor Swift display. They had Fearless and Speak Now but not the newest album, Red. It seemed odd to have a display and not have the new album since one would assume the new album would be the reason for the display.

All the Halloween stuff was out, hair dye, eyelashes, makeup, etc. 

I don't know why this is a collection since it doesn't seem like there's anything new here. 

Drugstore Product Stalking: Walgreens 20 Astor Place PART ONE

Hi chickadees!

I do not know what it is up with this Walgreen's location. Not only are they the store in my area most likely to have the big displays but they seem to be constantly getting new ones to the point that they have the push the old ones out. I stopped by because I really wanted those two L'Oreal polishes from the Diamond Collection but they said they were out and were not getting any more. I think it's pretty ridiculous to have a display with so many empty spots but whatever. Maybe they're lying and if I check back next week they might have another one.

I could not find the Disney Villainesses makeup palettes from ELF (though Musings of a Muse didn't give them the best review so I'm not heartbroken) but I did manage to find this Impress fake nails display.

$8.99

The X Factor UK Live Show #3

Hi chickadees!

Let's launch right in, shall we? I have no idea if anyone's reading this but if you are, hello!

I had no expectations for Club Classics week other than hoping that Rylan would do well. Still, there could be a surprise hit. I vaguely remember Rebecca Ferguson unexpectedly doing well on an uptempo dance number. The one thing that really began to irritate me was not seeing the opening package for each of the acts where they give background on their experiences during the week. It made all the comments from the judges and Dermot seem nonsensical.


Final Breakdown (in my opinion)
1. Lucy Spraggan
2. Union J
3. James Arthur
4. Ella Henderson
5. Kye Sones
6. Jade Ellis
7. Jahmene Douglas
8. District3
9. Rylan Clark
10. Christopher Maloney
11. MK1


I will be going through the acts in the order of their performances...

Christopher Maloney: Very cheesy. The dancers did not help. But for all that, the vocals were good. If you like Christopher's style, you will like this performance. I did feel like that on some notes he didn't push as much as he's capable of. I think he kind of won me over just because it was so happy and cheesy. He wasn't denying his style or trying to be something he's not. I think Tulisa's points were very valid though.

MK1: I feel like Charlie started out singing in a strange way that didn't take advantage of her breath at all. She really could have used some breath support. But her tone was interesting. It was very mature. The staging with the lights and dancers was chaotic in a bad way. The "la da dee la da da" was just annoying. The way they kept looking over at each other made it feel like they were unsure of themselves. I just don't feel like they seemed like capable performers. I wasn't comfortable because I felt like they weren't as confident as they could have been.

Jahmene Douglas: Jahmene needs to work on not looking angry when he does some of his riffs. I feel like his voice fades a bit sometimes because of the riffs. It was good but it was just a bit safe. For club classics it lacked energy. And it's getting to the point that he needs to start bringing it as a performer as well as a singer.
(Read up on him to see what they were referencing since we don't get UK gossip too much here in the US. So heartbreaking.)

Jade Ellis: She doesn't push enough. When she comes out looking gorgeous and strutting you expect to be wowed by the vocals but they don't have the same impact and the outfit and styling and staging and sets. Maybe a bit more dancing? People who are not the strongest singers can bring it in the performance aspect but she just sort of walked around, hit a mark, and kept posing. I thought it was good and she continues to get better but it's still not amazing. I don't know what Gary was talking about since I can't see the intro package, but I agreed with Nicole and Louis. She's not selling it yet. Nicole gives great advice sometimes. I feel like she gives the most genuine singing advice.

James Arthur: Like last week with Ella singing "Loving You" when I saw this in my subscription feed I thought it was a joke. It was laid back and sexy for Club Classics week but it worked. It was classic blues and rock, effortless, and just the kind of impact James needed to make to keep things from getting stale. He sounded amazing. We got to hear the smooth, rich tone of his voice not marred by pain. Loved it. :)

L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Stick in 176 Sunset Angora

Hi chickadees!

I've been hearing some rave reviews about the new L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Sticks so I was excited to try them out as I'm kind of becoming a lip product junkie. I seem to be on an endless search to find the right lip products for my dry lips. As of now, my favorites are still the Covergirl natureluxe glossbalms and the Clinique Chubby Sticks. The L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Sticks are not going to be toppling those two from their positions anytime soon but I did like the one I tried, 176 Sunset Angora. However, it wasn't love at first application and I still have a lot of problems with it.

Pros

• Color: I would call it a warm, guava kind of pink. It's still too pink to really be a coral but it has a lot of warmth to it. The color is very pretty. It suits my complexion really well. There's definitely some pigmentation and a subtle brightening effect but its not too much. I wouldn't call it my lips but better only because you can definitely tell it's not my natural lip color. 
• Application/Glide: It glides on the lips incredibly smoothly. It's almost like a lip balm. I would say it's not quite at the lip balm level of smoothness, but it's smoother than a Revlon lip butter or your standard drugstore lipstick.
• Finish: It is hard to describe the finish, but whatever it is, I like it. It's not matte or shiny or glossy or frosty. Really, it just looks as if my lips are naturally plump and moisturized. It looks very youthful. I'm not sure if this is due to the slight hint of shimmer (which you don't notice except extremely close up) or because of the similarity to a lip balm but my lips have a bit of a sheen to them. They don't look wet  but there's a slight greasy shininess to them that makes them look very smooth and soft. 
• Balance Between Lipstick and Lip Balm: You get some of the feel of a lip balm with some of the pigment of a lipstick.

Cons

This lipstick reminds me a lot of the high-end lipsticks I tried early in my makeup buying career. I think particularly the YSL lipsticks but maybe also the Givenchy. It's been a while so my memory is a little hazy.

• Application/Evenness: This lipstick just doesn't apply evenly for me. I've tried again and again, but like the YSL lipsticks I've tried, it settles into the lines of my lips. Now, I'm not old. I'm in my early 20s. The lines in my lips are just natural lines and all the pigment of a lip product is not supposed to gather in them. But with this lipstick, the pigment noticeably gathers in those lines in a very unattractive way. It's not that bad at a distance but I'd say if you were about 3 feet or closer to someone it might be noticeable. It's definitely noticeable at a distance of a foot or less. 
• Feel: Another way it reminds me of those high-end lipsticks is that it feels kind of greasy on the lips which keeps it from being completely lightweight. I think it has something to do with the ingredients but I'm not sure what it is. 
• Scent: I've never been good at describing scents. To me, this smells like makeup. It's a blend of that artificial makeup smell and something slightly floral...maybe rose-scented. I'm not in love with it but I could see how people might like it. It doesn't bother me too much as you don't smell it once it's on your lips.
• Taste: Again there's a blend of artificial and intentional flavor here. It tastes slightly sweet but also like makeup, kind of artificial and maybe a little like wax or plastic. It's not all that offputting but this is definitely not one of those lip products where you need to worry about licking the product off your lips because it tastes so good.
• Price: Obviously, it's a bit expensive for a drugstore product.
• Wear: The longer I wear it, the more I get the feeling that it's fading or drying out. The greasy feeling fades but so does any sense of moisture and there is the tiniest sense of tightening. When I wore it for the day one day without reapplying, it didn't dry out my lips or result in any flaking or cracking but when I got home they didn't look great. I can't describe it any other way. They looked a bit sad. On the drying/moisturizing spectrum it's probably closer to the drying side. 
• Neither a Lipstick Nor a Lip Balm: You may be disappointed because you're not going to get all the sheerness and the moisturizing of a lip balm and you're not going to get the full coverage and pigmentation of a lipstick. This is just about what you want from a lip product.
• Packaging: The product in the tube I purchased is not aligned properly. You can see it in the pictures below. (Skip to the end) I considered going back to exchange it but I don't think it's that big of a deal. It's just a little annoying considering this is more than what I usually pay at the drugstore for lipstick and yet it's poorly constructed.

CONCLUSION: I think I'll be keeping this because I do like the color and the color and formula are unique enough to keep in my collection. I think I would recommend it based on how smoothly it applies and the color but people may have issues with the lack of full coverage, taste, and smell. Also, I don't believe it's as moisturizing as other people have claimed.

Cat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. If you would like to help support this site, please consider making your next purchase at amazon.com through the links on my page.

  SWATCHES 

REVIEW of O.P.I.'s You Callin' Me a Lyre? With SWATCHES

Hi chickadees!

Hrm. I'm conflicted about reviewing this polish. I was so in love with it for so long. I tried it out at the salon when it was first released only at salons and we instantly clicked. From then on I had a ritual of going to the salon and getting a OPI You Callin' Me a Lyre? manicure before big exams. But now that I've finally tried it for myself...? I have to say the first blush of romance has worn off. I don't know if I'm just tired of it or if it was never as good as I thought it was but I'm no longer so in love with the color and I definitely have issues with the formula. Let's discuss...

Color: I think my problem with this polish is that even though it sometimes photographs cool, this is a warm-toned sheer pink polish. It brings out the yellowness in my skin and just does bad things in any lighting. My skin either looks dull, sallow or oddly dark...as if my hands are dirty and not as if I've gotten a tan. In the first few coats it looks like your basic sheer polish but as you build it up, you can see that it really has a milky appearance. To me it's the sheer version of a jelly polish. I think for the right skintone, this could be a pretty, effortless, girly polish.
Formula: The formula itself was not too much of a problem. It's a sheer polish but it wasn't especially thick or watery. It was a bit difficult to even out but I'm not sure if that was a polish issue or an application issue.
Application: This polish definitely went on a little streaky at first. At 3 coats, it looked fine. It wasn't opaque but I could have left it if it hadn't looked patchy and if I hadn't seen some clear balding. So I ended up using 4 coats which I think gets it as opaque as you want a sheer/milky polish to get. This is one of those OPI polishes with the wide brush. I couldn't tell if it helped or was a hindrance in this case. I will say it was easier to use than the wide brushes I've used in the past but I still had issues. I managed to even things out more or less and with Seche Vite on top, I couldn't notice streaks or unevenness to the point that they bothered me. Really the thing I had the most trouble with was the color.

CONCLUSION: I can't really recommend this polish if you have a similar skintone to mine and I can't really recommend it based on the formula either. As much as I used to love it, I don't think I'll be repurchasing this.

SWATCHES

Look For Less: Kate Spade vs. C Wonder

Hi chickadees!

I think I did a better job today. I was browsing C Wonder and thought, that looks familiar... :)

First Kate Spade.

Now, C Wonder. I actually think this looks prettier.

And you can still afford the matching necklace and still have change left over.

Look For Less: Kate Spade Wire Drop Earrings

Hi chickadees!

This isn't the most successful Look For Less so I'll keep it short and let you decide whether you think the price gap makes up for the gap in quality and appearance.

First, Kate Spade.

Now, Forever 21.

Target + Neiman Marcus Collab Preview

Hi chickadees!

If you're like me and you've subscribed to Target's mailing list you'll have already gotten word on this but in case you haven't, they've finally released some details about the Target + Neiman Marcus collaboration. There are a lot more housewares, luggage, accessories than I had expected. Anyway, let's get into what I think are the standouts.

Here's the link to check out everything for yourself. http://www.target.com/c/target-neiman-marcus-collection/-/N-5ouwb

I predict this is one that people will be fighting over. A) It's Oscar de la Renta. B) It's gorgeous. C) It's pretty reasonably priced.

When it comes to clothing, this might be my favorite item. I'm not sure how it looks in person, but from the picture, it reads like a designer piece. It looks expensive.

I think this would make the most precious flower girl dress for a more casual wedding. I wish the adult dress were nicer but I'm glad they came up with a wide range of items for all kinds of consumers with this collab.

Is a black lace dress going to change the world? Probably not but it does look cute.

I'm kind of in love with this. It's probably a little too fancy for my dog but if any of you have fashion-conscious pets in your life, this could be a great functional gift. 

Drugstore.com MAKEUP40 Promotion and Customer Service

Hi darlings!

I've told you this before, but I don't believe in stealing stories from other sites. I heard about this promotion on Nouveau Cheap and to me, just repeating that information about the promotion would be stealing her story. But I still wanted to let you know about the promotion so you could take advantage of it if you're not following her blog (though really you should because she's brilliant) and tell you a little bit about my drugstore.com experience.

Now, to get this out of the way, the promotion is very simple. It's running through 10/20 but I would take advantage of it ASAP before everything is out of stock.

http://nouveaucheap.blogspot.com/2012/10/40-off-all-makeup-at-drugstorecom.html

I would use the links through Nouveau Cheap because that's the easiest way of making sure you're shopping in the right section for the items that are actually on sale. Once you've accumulated the items you would like, simply add the MAKEUP40 code into the promo code box and it will take 40% off each of the applicable items. This promotion does not work for everything and I don't think it works for items on beauty.com their sister site, so again, just use the links through Nouveau Cheap to be safe.

OK, on to the fun part. This is everything I ordered (which of course, is a preview into all the reviews that will be coming up).

• L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black: This is my go-to mascara. I got two so I would have a new one and a backup.
• Maybelline Colorsensational Lipcolor: I know how much you all liked the last reviews I did so I decided to pick up more of these. Also, I think it's a great chance for me to try vampy/brighter lip colors that I'd normally be a bit scared to spend too much for. I got Deepest Cherry, Rum Riche, and Fifth Avenue Fuchsia.
• Maybelline Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black: You know I love it. I know I love it. Let's not play games.
• Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick: I ordered from the opposite ends of the spectrum. A nude pink (Prim-Rose) and a vampy red (Black Cherry).
• Revlon Nail Enamel in Vixen: I'm still on the lookout for that perfect oxblood. This is another polish I heard about on egnailsit.com.
• Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips in Laced Up: I've yet to try the plaid design I bought a while back. I don't keep my nail color on for very long so I think it would just be a waste to put it on for a few days and take it off. I'm waiting for the right occasion to use it. But the plaid design and Laced Up have always been the two designs I eye in the display case but never get because they are so expensive.
• Sally Hansen Pumice Foot Polish With Lavender: This is one of those "why the heck not" purchases. If it saves me a trip to the salon, why the heck not, right? 
• Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat: I've heard raves about this and though I still don't think anything is going to beat my beloved Seche Vite, I'm willing it give it a try for $3.29. I also wanted to try the Diamond Shine Base and Top Coat but it was out of stock when I wanted to place my order. (more on that later)
• Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Red Zin: Another possible oxblood polish.
• OPI Nail Lacquer: Some advice. Drugstore.com separates the OPI polishes into a classic collection and then individual collections so the easiest thing to do is just select OPI as a brand and then search through each option or to look up the specific polish you want. You can't beat OPI polishes for $4.80.
• Suzi Loves Cowboys (rich dark brown. I don't have anything like it in my collection.)
• French Quarter For Your Thoughts (light gray. Still looking for one with a great formula.)
• Yoga-ta Get This Blue (Shiny dark blue. I have Milani's Bolting Blue but I could always use another)
• Monsooner or Later (Orange? Red? I don't have many reds so I'm happy to try it out.)
• Color So Hot It Berns (True red? Hope so.)
• You Don't Know Jacques (Another polish people rave about. I think it's a great excuse to try it out at $4.80).

Now I'm going to kvetch a little. 

These are the items that were in my shopping cart but which I couldn't get because they were out of stock when I could finally place my order.

• OPI Nail Lacquer
• Samoan Sand: So sad about this one. I always want to get it but it's hard to spring for $8 for a nude polish when I'm not sure about the formula.
• Here Today Aragon Tomorrow: So sad because I've wanted this for ages but I've always heard that it's an almost black dark green. For $4.80, I would have tried it for myself.
• Thanks a Windmillion: A want a good sea-foam. This seems a little more green. I'm not heartbroken about this one.
• Barre My Soul: I really wanted to try this but I couldn't justify a sheer beige polish when I already have so many. I could have justified it for $4.80 but sadly it wasn't meant to be. 
• You Callin Me a Lyre?: I really wanted to get a back-up. Oh, well.
• Sally Hansen Diamond Shine Base and Top Coat: I really wanted to try this top coat that everyone who doesn't love Seche Vite is always raving about.

So, why was I unable to place my order and get these other items? Because I went to another website that placed another promotion on my order and which I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to get rid of. 

So I wrote an email to customer service. And they told me to delete all the cookies on the page. Which I did. I still kept getting the same error message that I could only have one promotion placed on the order. So I wrote back. And they said they had fixed it. But then hadn't. So I fumed a bit. And I wrote to their twitter page. And then I called 1-800-Drugstore. 

And finally, finally, I got my issue resolved. Of course, I had to manually go back and add each of my items again but at least I managed to get the bulk of my order. I'm a little miffed that it took so long to get everything resolved but I will say that for the most part I had a good experience with their customer service. Service was very kind and courteous and they did their best to review the issue promptly.

I would definitely shop at Drugstore.com and Beauty.com again (this is my second time placing an order) but I am staying away from websites with their own promo codes so I don't have to go through this hassle again. I would recommend anyone having issues to just call their customer service line. 

The X Factor (UK) Live Show #2

Hello darlings!

I know this is primarily a nail polish/beauty/fashion blog with some occasional ramblings thrown in for good measure. But as I was sitting down to add The X Factor onto my Things I Am Currently Obsessed With post, I decided I should really give it its own post. Because I knew I was about to start rambling.

I love the UK version of the X Factor. I kept up with series 7 and 8 though I'm apparently bad at picking winners. I rooted for Rebecca Ferguson and Marcus Collins. I basically keep up with the show as much as I can. Since Freemantle is blocking the videos on the channels I used to watch, I can no longer watch the intros to the performances or the joy and silliness that is the Xtra Factor. But I still watch all of the performances and the judges comments through the X Factor's official youtube page.

I always tweet my thoughts on Saturday and Sunday. My twitter handle is aradia18. If you ever want to talk about The X Factor, we totally can. I haven't decided if I want to do weekly posts or not but you could start a discussion on a nail polish review. I wouldn't mind. :)

I think the best way to go about this is to just do a rundown of the performances...

Things I Am Currently Obsessed With

Hi darlings!

It's hard for me to do a Things I Am Currently Obsessed with post because I pretty much indulge the majority of my obsessions. I want a nail polish. I get a nail polish. I am no longer obsessed. :)

But I did manage to round up some things to share with you. Let's get started.

Pinterest
Oh my God, I love Pinterest. You can follow me here. http://pinterest.com/lapin20/ It is a perfect fit for how my brain works. All I do I collect things and then find ways to organize and reorganize them. Facts, makeup, books, nail polish. Pinterest provides me with a way to do this with all the things I find online. I pin things pretty regularly so if you would like an idea of what I'm obsessed with at any given moment, you can pretty much just check out my Pinterest account.

Jewelry
I like feminine jewelry and I like weird jewelry. Flowers, keys, hearts, and filigree? Yes. Beetles, snakes, and daggers? Also yes. The name bracelets I discovered at Erica Weiner fall on the feminine side. The anatomical heart necklaces and bird skull necklaces I found on etsy fall on the weird side. I am a bit obsessed with all of them.

$42   http://www.etsy.com/listing/86121559/anatomical-heart-necklace-small-plated

(Note: It comes in another color.)


$180 http://www.etsy.com/listing/56815149/solid-rose-gold-life-size-hummingbird

(Note: There is a cheaper version in a different finish/metal.)

Broadwaycom and PLAYBILLVIDEO on youtube
They do great interviews with Broadway celebrities and the stars of current and upcoming shows. I really want to see Drood after watching Stephanie J. Block's Obsessed episode with Seth Rudetsky. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKyv1RAjejw&feature=plcp I've always heard good things about her but I've never been particularly interested in the things she's been in (The Pirate Queen, 9 to 5, Anything Goes). Drood seems like it could be a lot of fun though. My parents saw it during the original run and I've always had the Playbill in my collection without knowing anything about the show. I might also want to see Marry Me a Little because I do like Lauren Molina on the Cerveris/Lupone recording of Sweeney Todd (which I did see during its run) but it seems a bit expensive. Not sure if it'll go to the Ticketron.