Buy: Sephora by OPI Nail Polish

I just discovered that Sephora by OPI nail polish is now available for a super deep discount! Seriously, 50% off doesn't happen everyday and OPI's long lasting fomulas and wide range of colors are now available in store and online for just $4.50 a bottle. Just $3 if you want one of the "Blasted" crackling formulations. Trend Tips and Toes are $6 a pack while nail sets are $12 a set. So if you're a bit of a nail polish fiend like me, it's your perfect chance to stock up on colors.

To note a lot of the stock has already sold out at stores! When I asked a sales associate why, it turns out that the cosmetic giant has decided to discontinue the line of nail polish with OPI and will be replacing it with their own "S" brand soon.

Zoya Nail Polish Exchange 2013

Who: Zoya Earth Day Nail Polish Exchange
What: To encourage Spring cleaning and refresh your nail polish collection, Zoya is inviting you to get rid of old nail polish that is not 5-free (Free of Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toluene, DBP and Camphor) and trade it in for a their award winning and long lasting greener formulations. Just apply the code ZOYAEARTH2013 at checkout and receive 50% off! Ship back the equivalent number of bottles you received (ie. If you got 6 bottles of Zoya – you would would mail 6 NON-ZOYA polishes). For all details click here.
When: Now through April 26, 2013.
Where: Zoya.com

Mani Party with Sally Hansen x Elle Magazine

A couple of weeks ago, I got to watch the Golden Globes in style with the lovely ladies of the Style Coalition. Sally Hansen and Elle Magazine hosted a mani party celebrating Sally Hansen's new Salon Insta-Gel Strips.

We got the chance to walk our own red carpet complete with mani cam after being treated to some gel nail treatments. I had a hard time choosing with 24 different colors and patterns to choose from I really wasn't sure what to pick. In the end I had to try Perfect Poison - a metallic silver snake skin that looks really luxe.

Although a nail technician helped me get my gel tips on, it seemed simple enough. After removing my nail polish and filing down my nails to the desired shape, the nail technician gave my nails a light buff, removed all excess oils with some a cleanser pad (all included in the kit) and then peeled off the nail strips and pressed them onto my nails carefully using an orange stick. She removed the excess strip using a nail file. When all the nails were complete, she did a quick coat of gel top coat before sticking each nail one at a time in the UV light machine where my nails took about 30 seconds each to be cured. The machine turns off the light when finished each nail so it is really easy to make sure you get it right. Once my nails were cured, we removed the excess sticky residue using a cleanser pad, just like at the salon. After that, my nails were fully dry! The whole process took probably 10 minutes or so.



After getting my nails done I had a blast sipping cocktails, tweeting like a maniac about red carpet fashion and hanging with some lovely style and beauty bloggers over some delicious hors' devours including some oh so appropriate golden globe cake pops (which I dutifully avoided). I admired and compared nails with some of the other ladies and found myself really attracted to the Spot On polka dot look color.

At the end of the night, I was gifted a Sally Hansen Salon Insta-Gel Strips starter kit and 2 colors of nail polish so that I can try this on my own - I can't wait to try more patterns.
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I decided to show you the results of the mani that is supposed to last for up to 2 weeks.

The results after 8 days were pretty darn good. If I didn't lift a printer at the office earlier in the day, I don't think I would have caught the edges that lifted from my right index finger and my left middle finger. Otherwise the mani is still shiny and in good shape aside from my nails growing out. Unlike regular nail polish strips or even Shellac, these feel firmly adhered to my nails and don't feel like they will all start peeling if you catch an edge.

By day 14 these are definitely ready to come off.  The nail polish stayed shiny and put for most part, but my nails grew out so much at this point, I wasn't crazy about how they looked. Next time I will try to get the strips closer to my cuticles than the technician did. While the edges I caught on my index and middle finger didn't seem to grow, some spots close to the base of the nails started to flake off a little. However, this nail polish can't be easily removed without an acetone remover, cotton and foil. Armed with these readily available products, you can get your nails clean in about 5 minutes.

Overall I was very happy with my nails. They looked fabulous and I received multiple compliments and people were asking me how I had achieved the unique python effect. It is a much more cost effective and time saving solution vrs going to a salon with results that are definitely comparable.

Free Zoya Nail Polish!

Sorry about the late add but I just stumbled upon this deal today. The nail polish normally costs $8 a pop but now you can snag it for the cost of shipping and handling - $10. I actually snagged this deal last year and I will warn you that shipping is INCREDIBLY SLOW. So order, forget about it and be pleasantly surprised in about a month's time. Head to Zoya.comhttp://www.zoya.com/ before midnight tomorrow and enter code ZOYA2013 at checkout.

DIY Polka Dot Nails

Polka Dot Nails are an easy fun way to bring some whimsy and attitude to your nails. You don't need an expensive dotting tool, all you need is a pin and a piece of paper.

First choose 2 contrasting shades of nail polish, one for the base and one for the dot.  After applying base coat, apply 2 coats of the color for the base.

Place a little dot of the contrast color nail polish on a piece of paper (I tend to use an old piece of mail or a business card I don't need anymore). Carefully dipping the end of your pin into the contrast shade place dots on your nail as desired.  If the contrast nail polish starts getting too thick, you can just place a new dot and continue for both hands.

Once nail polish has set, finish off with a clear top coat.  Voila - polka dot nails to take you on your way.

Snag Free Nail Polish from Zoya

What girl doesn't love a good bottle of nail polish.  Especially when you can choose from a variety of awesome shades that are 3-Free: toluene, formaldehyde, DBP and Camphor Free.  I decided to snag a pretty pastel taupe gray called Megan and metallic forest green shade called Suvi.

Who: Zoya
What: Get 2 bottles of nail polish free! While you'll have to for over $6.95 for shipping and handling it's still an amazing offer!
When: Now through January 9, 2012.11:59pm Eastern Time
Where: Online at Zoya.com. Just enter promo code ZOYA2012 at checkout

Buy: NCLA Nail Polish

Last month I had a chance to try out and review NCLA nail wraps.  With the fashion forward designs that are easy to use and don’t dry out, NCLA nail wraps are an easy affordable way to make a big statement.

As of today, NCLA is expanding into a brand new nail polish that not only features amazing colors but are guaranteed to be 5 Free - No harmful carcinogens such as DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde or Camphor. Plus nothing is tested on animals!  Way to go  NCLA for raising the bar in health while still pumping out beautiful colors in super cute and clean looking rectangular bottles.

The colors are all inspired by all things LA and I have to admit that I was completely enamored by pretty much the entire collection.  From the bright purple to Pick me Up at Melrose Place to the bronze tone Bel Air Trophy Wife to the serene blue of Santa Monica Shore Thing I was hooked.  Also for an unexpected modern color - light grey concrete Downtown Dollface is pretty perfect.  I also loved Hollywood Hills Hot Number’s chunky glitter look that will add plenty of fun-fetti over any color or a bold statement after several coats on it’s own.

Each bottle will be retailing for $16 a pop at select fine retailers.  Check out ShopNCLA.com for more info.

Product Review: Nails Inc. Magnetic Nail Polish

I first read about magnetic nail polish a few months ago and have been wanting to try it ever since but never bothered importing it from the UK.  Fortunately Sephora recently started carrying Nails Inc Magnetic Polish in 2 different colors.  My roommate recently picked up the purple toned Houses of Parliament and soon our entire apartment had excitedly applied the polish.

Application of the nail polish is quite easy. It brushes on like regular nail polish.  On the 2nd coat – that’s when you have to switch up the process.  Instead of moving on to the next nail, you hold the magnetic lid over each wet nail immediately after painting to reveal the design.  The lid features a ridge that sits on your cuticle but it is a little difficult to tell when you are going to hit your nail so I would recommend holding it at a slight angle, not parallel to your nail.  I tried to get really close to the nail but unfortunately since the lid is a bit clunky, I misjudged the distance and ruined one of my nails.  Also try to hold the lid for at least 10/15 seconds for optimal stripped effect. You can see that my index finger is not as distinct (learning curve)

I have been painting furniture so I was a bit rough on my nails but the 2nd day I could already see signs of wear at some of the edges and sides.

By the 3rd day a few of the nails definitely started to chip, not only on the edges but deeper into the nail bed too.  My nails though looked in much better shape than my roommates who had not remembered to apply top coat.  I guess it’s a bit similar to the delicate nature of OPI Suede.  It dries rather quickly and is a little thicker than regular polish but it wears down faster.  Make sure you use Top Coat to get it to last longer than a couple  days.

By day 5 while my left hand did not look so horrible, my right hand looked pretty awful and I knew it was time to change the polish.

I do have to say the nail polish was really fun to apply, it almost feels like a bit of nail magic.  Also, the effects were subtle enough to be appropriate even in a conservative office environment. It still is noticeable enough though to get compliments from strangers on your morning subway ride. Although at $16 for a small bottle it may seem a bit pricey, if you want something different but not in-your-face magnetic nail polish is easy to do and even more fun to look at. The stripes kind of remind me of tigers eye in a very hypnotic kind of way.

ps. If you pick this up remember to get the Sephora Friends and Family code for 20% off your online order.

Product Review: NCLA Nail Wraps

As you may have already figured out I am something of a nail polish fanatic - I have been known to at time freak people out because I recognize the OPI color name.  Truthfully though my nails go from deplorable where I try to hide them for weeks to well manicured.

So when I was offered the chance* to try out one of NCLA, Nail Couture LA, nail wraps I couldn't turn it down.  I have previously tried Sally Hansen peel and stick nail polish and wondered how it would differ.

For one thing there are a greater variety of designs especially those featuring more intricate design and a more sophisticated sense of color. I tried a digital looking design called Mission to Mars from the Boogie Nights collection.

With the Sally Hansen, you have to use up all the designs once you open a packet or else they dry out. NCLA nails will keep for future use if kept in an airtight container.  NCLA nails require a coat of clear polish beforehand to allow the polish to adhere.  NCLA nails are slightly easier to apply because you simply peel and stick instead of snapping and peeling off an additional layer of protective film.  They both require the application of clear nail polish after to seal in the polish.

My nails were completed super fast and they looked good with the exception of my index finger that I had to redo.  Perhaps it was my inexperience but I managed to get a couple air bubbles that I couldn't smooth out nicely.  I think if I had liberally applied more base coat from the get go it might have adhered better.

Over the next few days I got plenty of compliments.  My one complaint is that the edges after doing some of my typical everyday things started to get jagged and rough feeling.  Upon reading additional instructions I learned that for perfect edges, NCLA recommends trimming your nails with a clipper.  I tried this on a few nails and it definitely helped.  Perhaps my next time I try this out I’ll trim and file my nails after applying the wraps.

By the time day 7 rolled around they still looked pretty good and could have stayed on for another couple days but I was in the mood to try something new with my nails and although I probably shouldn’t I peeled the wraps off fairly easily in a few big swoops.

While each design of nail wrap costs about $16 you get enough wraps to do your hands about 4 times.  So at $4 a pop that will last you more than a week it’s really quite affordable. If you were ambitious I’m sure you could trim them down to fit toes and do nails & toes together 2 times.

*full disclosure: I received 1 complimentary wrap design to test