Thursday, November 15, 2012

Drama Llama Ding Dong


 

I have tried to stay pretty quiet on this whole issue that  some wonderful people have been dealing with in Facebook polish groups.  I chose not to participate in the "No H8" day also because of this same reason.   To talk about it in my space just seemed like fueling the fire, or bringing said person/s more attention than I felt they deserved.  

I will NOT be bullied, not now, not ever.  It makes me sad that someone wants to try and go trashing people and spreading lies to save their own face.  It bothers me that I'm even having to make this post.

I was sent polishes from a shop, which has since closed,  the owner of that shop was also the owner of a Facebook group that I participated in. She wanted someone to take photos of her polishes for her shop after she had seen my review of her polishes, which was one of my first posts on this blog.

That group has since imploded and re-spawned under another namesake because of high-school aged theatrics, bad time management, and questions about peoples' funds in a group buy. I will not watch grown women behaving like teenage girls.  I left the group without a word, since sometimes I'm kind of hot-headed and speak before I think.  There have since been numerous other "incidents", but I will not get into that here.

What bothers me about the whole thing, is this person has gone throughout Facebook groups calling me a "bad blogger" and a "thief" for not reviewing her polishes after I chose to leave.  I and I alone, choose the content placed on this blog, and if I feel something is something I choose to rave about and review, I do. I will not endorse things that I don't believe in, and it's stated as such in my disclosure statement, located at the top of my blog. It has been in place since my blog first started.


I will also not help to defraud people by helping to advertise shoddy product. When you message a maker and let them know problems with their product/s, it's nice to receive some kind of reassurance that the problem has been noted and possibly fixed. None was received other than a one word response when my question about the overwhelming sheerness of "full coverage" polishes.  I did swatch them for her store like she'd asked, and I have screen shots of those messages being sent.




This is a "full coverage blue holo polish" called Deep Blue Something that I received. This is 4, yes FOUR coats. I still have VNL obviously, and would have expected as much from a polish labeled as a "jelly", which this was not. 

 When I messaged the maker, I was told "layer" in response to my question if this was meant to be a jelly instead of a full coverage. So I did, 2 coats over SH Pacific Blue. It was pretty when layered, but I have an issue with saying something is one thing and it's obviously something altogether different. Definitely wasn't as holo as people were led to believe.

This is the usage of said polish after my first swatch, before layering. At this rate of usage if you're not layering, you'd maybe get 6 full manis out of the bottle. 

 This was a glitter mix called Kittylicious I was sent. You can see the big pink hearts, look almost thick...I had put 2 coats of top coat on and the heart glitters still stick up considerably off the nail.

This was another "full coverage polish" called Indian Summer at 5 coats, that even with fast drying top coat took AGES to dry. Again "layer" was the only advice given to my questioning.

For the next issue, the maker stated she used TKB Stainless steel balls in her polishes. Below is a photo of some of the mixing balls I removed from polishes that I had purchased. The third and four mixing balls were removed from an Essie polish I had sitting next to my little frankening pot. They have obvious pits, and some are discoloring and blackening in spots. They are very light, and after being rinsed in acetone, then water, you could roll them around in your hand and it would leave almost a "sweaty handful of pennies" smell on your skin. Could be BB's, could not be, who knows I didn't do a scientific test on them.  But it sure is curious eh?




This post is not meant as a bashing, merely as a testament, that I'm not a scared individual, and I will stand behind what I think. These polishes had not been featured on my blog, as they were not something I felt giving face time to in light of the whole situation and I felt they were misleading and dishonest to her customers.

I do not appreciate being labeled a thief, because I chose not to honestly review these after I'd done the swatching I'd promised to do, in order to not be looked at as a "hater", since I left her group and blocked her because of her views on how inappropriate behavior was appropriate, and my opinions on these polishes obviously weren't favorable.  I know how nasty people can be, as evidenced by attacks of other  people in groups and Facebook messaging, and postings made on other friend's blogs.

What I chose to do was save myself, my blog, as well as my Facebook page for this blog from being bombarded with the things some of the people I am closely associated with have had to deal with. I won't be silent anymore. Everything I have said here is the truth, and in no way defaming.

I consider this a pretty civilized post. So ANY and ALL hateful, rude, or insulting comments made to this post will be removed. I don't like to be censored either, but this is MY space, and I don't go around leaving hateful nasty comments so I'd expect the same courtesy.






 

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Different Dimension Santa Baby Collection and Bonus shade

With Christmas right around the corner, you know there's sure to be holiday collections rolling out from our wonderful Indie girls. I have for you today a beautiful collection from Missi at Different Dimension! A collection of 8 shades based on the cute holiday song "Santa Baby" and a bonus holiday shade!



"Think of all the fellas I haven't kissed." 
A really pretty 2 coat glitter with blue/teal, and purple holographic glitters. This is two coats over Beauty Secrets base coat and one coat Seche Vite. Applied very well, not clumpy or thick at all like I'd expected with how tiny some of the glitters are.


"Santa Baby"
One coat was used over Borghese Pistacchio. A pretty mix of Red, White, and pastel pink hexes, red and white microglitters and tiny holo glitters 

Out of focus shot to show the sparklies!!! So pretty!


"I've been an angel all year".  
A pale ice blue base with white, silver and light blue holographic microglitters,  This is two thin coats over FingerPaints Paper Mâchè and Seche Vite topcoat.


"I've been an awful good girl"
Easily one of my favorites out of this collection. Pale pinky white base, with a pink shimmer and small holo pink hex glitters, light purple holo glitter, and holo microglitters in the same light purple and pink color scheme.

"Hurry down the chimney tonight"
Clear base with metallic red and pearly white shreds with matching red and white bar glitters. This is one coat and a little dabbing for shred placement over FingerPaints Black Expressionism. I'm not generally a fan of shred glitter, but I do like this polish for it's versatility. You could use this one for Christmas manis, Valentine's Day or Independence day also.  I experienced no curling of the glitters , and other than me being OCD about some of the shred's locations, it applied beautifully!


"Out of space convertible"
Black jelly base with tiny blue, pink and purple holo glitters. To the untrained eye, could pass as a Butter London Black Knight Dupe. Again, no clumps with application even though it's chock full of     these little beauties. Two different shots one shaded, and one full on out of focus sun to showcase the holo effect.  This is a buildable jelly opaque at 3 coats, but for this photo is only one over FP Black Expressionism. 


**Sparkle Shot!!!!**

"Sign your 'x' on the line"
Clear base with large silver and smaller gold shreds. This is another pretty versatile polish. Could be used over just about anything to liven it up with some classy bling. One coat and some dabbing of the bigger silver shreds over Wet N Wild Saved By the Blue.



" I'll wait up for you dear"
Clear base with metallic green and red glitters. Very Christmas-y, applied like a dream. One coat over Ulta Salon Formula High Rollr and then matted. I love the simplicity of this one. I will be wearing this combo to Holiday functions for sure!


And now for the bonus shade!!
"Christmahanakwanzika"
Named for  three major winter holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza. Christmahanakwanzika is a glitter bomb, with green, yellow-gold, red, black, and blue hex glitters with red and green microglitters. A LOT going on in this polish! I chose to just wear it on it's own over Beauty Secrets basecoat. This is two coats and one coat of Seche Vite. 


This collection gets an A++ from me. I love how all the polishes really look like considerable thought was put into the glitters used in each one. The quality of each polish is outstanding, and I had no application issues other than just placing a few of the shredded glitters. Each shade retails for $8.50 or you can pick up the entire Santa Baby Collection for $60.00 at Different Dimension's Etsy shop here, . The shop also offers cuticle balms and lotion bars to help keep your lovelies lookin' lovely. Make sure to check out the DD Facebook Page to get the latest updates on sales and new collections!

This collection was sent to me in return for an honest review.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Joby Nail Art Stickers Review!

I LOVE NAIL ART! Who doesn't right?

What I don't love is how sometimes it's sooo hard to do! I'm all about trying new things, but sometimes an idea or something I've seen elsewhere in the Nail-iverse that looks really easy, it ends up being a b#$%^ to replicate in real life.
I'm sure most of us have some sort of nail decals and/or stickers in our arsenals, and I have some that looked really pretty in the packaging, only to get them out, and they just don't work that great.  Pretty sure 99% of it was user error or impatience in combination with quality issues (since most of the stickers I bought came from Dollar Tree and some weird little store close to the BF's house). But I've had a lot more free time being as though I'm still looking for a job after graduating from my Business and Computer Tech class this past May to practice. 
So when an awesome girl named Erika from Joby Nail Art reached out to me a while back and asked me to give a review on some of their products, I was stoked! 

Joby Nail Art is not a newcomer to the nail art trend.  They have been around since 2003, JOBY Nail Art is a place where you will find a variety of nail art products for your nail design needs. At JOBY nail art, they strive to offer quality service and quality products for both the nail professional and the general consumer. Whether your preference is fun and funky with glitter nail art, gold nail art or flower nail art or a bit more modest, we are sure to have something for your style. Try out the latest trends with lace nails or do something new with 3D nail art supplies. Whatever your nail style may be, JOBY nail art gives you the freedom to make your statement. They offer how-to videos make applying the decals simple and hassle free so you will have beautiful nails in no time. Visit their nail art gallery for ideas on creating your own designs.

They offer free shipping on all domestic orders.  They ship international by USPS Priority Mail and qualifying orders receive free shipping. 

Check their Facebook page or follow them on twitter to keep up to date on new products, promotions and nail designs.


I received 2 packs of JOBY Nail Art Stickers. One with cute glittery flowers, and the other with a musical theme. The musical stickers will be included in my surprise prize pack for our Santa's Secret Stash Holiday Giveaway



I really loved these stickers. They were really easy to use.

Instructions

1. Clean the surface where the design is to be placed.
2. Select a design and peel off by you nails.
3.  Place the design on nail, then gently rub down. 
4. Apply top coat for best results.

Easy right? 


This is after application and before top coat. They do look ok just like this, but I did want to see the difference a top coat made.

The only problem I encountered with use was that since my nail beds are not that wide I needed to trim off a small piece of a design in order for it to not stick on the side of my itty bitty pinkie finger. If you have wider nail beds you should be fine, and if not, it was a quick and easy fix!

This is after one coat of Seche Vite. The lines that were in the first picture are almost completely GONE. You'd have to be VERY close to tell where the actual sticker edge was. It's like the edges of the stickers kind of "melt away",with top coat. 


I would definitely buy these stickers and also recommend them to people. They were very easy to use, had great detail on all the designs. I loved how thin and "non-stickerish" they were, and how flatly they laid on the nail. Overall, I'd give these stickers an A+. Be sure to check them out!

Thanks again Erika for letting me review these for you and JOBY Nail Art


 

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Santa's Secret Stash Holiday Giveaway!!!!

So I haven't posted in a looooong time! I've been busy job searching, kid raising, and starting an awesome group on Facebook with some lovely girls I met in polish-related groups. I will get back on track with the posts I promise, I've got some awesome stuff to show you!!!

That being said, I've joined in with some of these lovely ladies to bring you an EPIC holiday giveaway!!!!! 





Since this is a holiday giveaway, we wanted to keep most of the prizes a secret, but I can tell you there will be lots of indies, HTF's, customs, candy, and other glittery goodies that are sure to knock your stockings off!






a Rafflecopter giveaway