The Polish Influenza

The only cure is a manicure


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Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat Review and Swatches!

Hi everyone!

Press Sample

bottles

 

If 2012 was defined by magnetic polish and flakies, then 2013 is the year of the texture and matte bar glitter. Luckily, you can get your mani-fix with Sally Hansen. This summer, Sally Hansen released two new nail effect lines in order to spice up your manicure: Sugar Coat, a texture polish collection, and Fuzzy Coat, a line of matte bar glitters in a clear base, meant to imitate the effect of fabric. The bar glitter especially has been polarizing in the nail world, showing up in collections by Essie (Peak so Chic from Encrusted Treasures), Zoya (Mosheen from Zenith) and of course, China Glaze (the On the Horizon collection). While I myself am getting tired of the trend, I can’t blame Sally Hansen- they came to this party first! And today, I have some of the Fuzzy Coat polishes to share with you.

Wool Knot is a baby blue and white mix of tiny matte bar glitter in a clear base. I love this color combo- it’s really fresh and pairs great with almost every color (though I especially like it over pink). It was the sparsest of the glitters I got, and had the most problems with bald spots. Pics below are one coat of Wool Knot over Essie’s The Lace is On!

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

Fuzz-Sea is a mix of baby blue and yellow matte bar glitters. Though it looks like there are also green glitters in the mix, it’s actually just an optical illusion from the blue and yellow- only two colors here! This applied better than its cousin Wool Knot, but still was a little sparse in my opinion, especially considering how dense it looks in the bottle! Pics below are 1 coat of Fuzz-Sea over Rue Beauté 040.

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

Tweedy is a matte black and white bar glitter. This is my favorite of the three hands down- it’s jam packed with glitter, and is slightly thicker in consistency than the other two, making it easier to apply. It’s almost opaque enough to wear on its own! This would look pretty good over almost any base color, but for pics, I used 1 coat of Tweedy over Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure New Wave Blue.

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Artificial, indoor light

On the Fuzzy Coat display, Sally Hansen shows pictures of the glitters being worn by themselves and looking completely opaque. Wanting to give the polishes a try, I ended up with mixed results:

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Artificial, indoor light

Wool Knot had a lot of bald-spot issues. It’s a really really thin polish with minimal glitter pay off, so it gets to be a gloopy mess after 2 coats (I used three here). Fuzz-Sea was slightly better in 3 coats, but suffered from the same goop problem as Wool Knot. Tweedy, on the other hand, looked pretty opaque after 3 coats, and dried quickly between layers, so Tweedy is the only one who lives up to the standard. The other two are best used as layering/glitter toppers due to how thin and runny the base is.

In general, I’m happy with the collection. In my opinion, Sally Hansen has done this glitter trend the best- they provided a large range of colors to satisfy every craving. I personally though the China Glaze On the Horizon collection was way too one-note and orange based, it just didn’t have the variety that Sally Hansen provides. What do you think of this collection? Let me know in the comments!

Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat polishes retail for between $5-$6 a bottle, and can be found at drugstores, beauty supply stores, and on Sally Hansen’s website, here.

OH YEAH. By the way, I wrote a guest post for the lovely Jenn over at the Polished PR. It features an exclusive, never before seen autumn-inspired nail art design done by moi, so go check it out on her website, HERE! And while you’re at it, make sure to check out her blog- it’s got some fantastic nail art you’re sure to love!

~Beth~

POLISH INFLUENZA IS MOVING TO A NEW DOMAIN- CLICK HERE.

Disclosure: some of the products featured in this post were sent to me by a brand representative. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.


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Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Fall 2013 Review And Swatches!

Hi everyone!

So yes, I know it’s Wednesday, and On Wednesdays We Wear Pink, but today, my OWWWP is going to be incorporated into my haul and review! While out running errands at Target yesterday, I FINALLY stumbled into Sally Hansen’s Xtreme Wear Fall 2013 Glitter collection! I have been looking for these EVERYWHERE and none of my local drugstores or beauty supply stores had them. I was actually looking for the Maybelline Brocade collection, but I could not pass these up- I was afraid they’d disappear on me again!

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The fall 2013 Limited Edition glitter collection includes 10 almost indy-like glitter bombs, each with a different base color. My Target only had 6 of the 10 bottles, and since one of them was just another matte black and white glitter, I decided to pass on it. The other 5 I picked up were all the different colors of the rainbow! Formula wise, all of these polishes had a very thin clear base (with the exception of Seal-y String), and required a LARGE amount of glitter placement. The glitter density was less than I expected from looking at the bottle, but still decent. So let’s get started on the review!

Rosey Shooter is a mix of large, medium, and small magenta/red hex glitters, medium and small white hex glitters, small silver glitters, and white bar glitters. It’s got one of the better densities of the glitters I picked up, and looks fantastic over black! This is my “On Wednesdays We Wear Pink” post for the week! Pictures below are 1 coat of Rosey Shooter over 2 coats of Love and Beauty Black.

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

Glitter Gun is a mix of medium and small gold glitters, small silver hex glitters, large and medium white matte hex glitters, and white bar glitters. This looks like a starry sky on my nails! This is also really dense and applies well to the nail. Pictures below are 1 coat of Glitter Gun over 2 coats of Love and Beauty Black.

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

Green Rocket is a mix of white, medium, and small matte white hex glitters, medium and small green hex glitters, small silver hex glitters, and white bar glitters. There’s actually more white in this glitter than green, and the glitter was kinda sparse, so this one disappointed me. It’s still pretty though! Pictures below are 1 coat of Green Rocket over Ulta Fuchsiamania.

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

 

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

Seal-y String is the only polish that I bought that doesn’t have a clear base. It’s a sheer gray-blue base, large silver glitters, small baby blue hex glitters, tiny black glitters, and matte black bar glitter. I’ve heard other bloggers say they’ve found this polish to have large black hex glitters in it too, but I don’t think my bottle has any. How strange. This one isn’t my favorite (personal preference) but it’s still a nice polish! Pictures below are 1 coat of Seal-y String over Rue Beauté 040 (green) and e.l.f. Skinny Jeans (blue).

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

 

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

Frazzle Dazzle is a mix of large, medium, and small bronze hex glitters, some medium, small, and tiny silver hex glitters, and large black bar glitter. I think this one is my favorite of the polishes I picked up! I love the mix of copper and black- it looks superb over the spring green. Pictures below are 1 coat of Frazzle Dazzle over Rue Beauté 063 (brown) and Cover Girl Appletini (green).

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

 

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

I’m so happy I picked these up! I’m a huge glitter fan (as you all know) and these certainly do not disappoint! There are a few purple glitters in this collection that Sally Hansen released, but they weren’t at Target, but if I ever find them, I will most certainly pick them up! What do you think of this collection? Let me know in the comments!

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Polishes retail for about $2.50 a bottle, and can be found at drugstores, general stores, beauty supply stores, and on their website, here.

~Beth~


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Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Polish Review and Swatches!

Press Release 

WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS EXCESSIVE SWATCH PICTURES. VIEW AT YOUR OWN RISK (OF BECOMING ADDICTED TO POLISH)

Hi everyone!

bottle

I got an early Halloween treat this year! On Thursday, I got a package in the mail from Sally Hansen containing some of the BRAND SPANKING NEW Triple Shine nail polishes!! Man, was I excited. I saw the press release for this a while back and was enthralled. I love love LOVE shiny nail polishes and unique glitter mixes, and with the release of the Sephora Formula X line, they’ve become all the rage this season. Unfortunately for me, the Sephora polishes are a little out of my price range for the moment 😦 Luckily, however, the Sally Hansen Triple Shine line provides an affordable alternative, and packs just as much, if not more, glitter in every bottle.

Sally Hansen describes this line of polishes in their press review:

“[the] Biggest, boldest, shiniest colors. When it comes to a brilliant shine, the key word is more, more, more. That’s why Sally Hansen is bringing maximum radiance to the season’s most covetable colors with the new Triple Shine Nail Color. Sally Hansen knows that high shine is what you crave. Yet, daily hand washing can eat away at color due to water’s high pH, detergent can dull shine, and everything from chlorine to heat can damage polish’s precious luster. Luckily, this innovative formula features a one-of-a-kind Ultimate Shield Complex, designed to help polish withstand the wear and tear of everyday living. As the latest breakthrough from Sally Hansen, the definitive color authority, Triple Shine Nail Color marries sheer brilliance with the shades of the moment for non-stop shine in the colors you covet”

These colors really do pack a punch! There are 3 mini 10 piece “collections” within the main line:

Iridescence: A range of nine ethereal, pearlescent pastels and shimmering metallics

Pop: A rainbow of ten vibrant, saturated polishes in bold brights

Fanta-Sea: A glittering selection of ten aquatic tones that evoke the sun-dappled sea

In edition, there is also a new topcoat being released. I got 2 polishes from the Fanta-Sea Line and one from the Iridescence Line, so let’s get started on the review!

Great White is a shimmery white polish with subtle blue and silver shimmer running through it. It’s from the “Iridescence” line, and it definitely lives up to that! It’s SUPER sheer though, which is sorta disappointing. But I loved the color so much I went to great extents and used 4 coats for pictures below, no topcoat.

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As you can see, the VNL is still visible. So, I decided to try it layered over 2 coats of Ulta’s Snow White, and the result was fantastic! Definitely a layering polish, and definitely a winner! A pic of it layered is below.

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Shade

Sparks Fly is a dark blue gelled base with large, medium, and small silver hex glitters packed in. This polish packs a glitter punch! I love how the base gives some of the glitter a subtle blue hue, it really looks like starlight dappling the surface of a lake. I think this is my favorite of the polishes I was sent! I used 2 coats with no base for pictures below.

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Shade

Sunlight

Sunlight

Twinkled Pink is a baby pink gelled base with large silver and pinky/coral hex glitters, and tiny silver hex glitters. This one is pretty sheer on its own, and it’s also kinda thick to apply due to the glitter density. Still, the contrast between the silver glitters and the base color make for an interesting contrast, similar to Sparks Fly. I used 2 coats for pictures below, no base.

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Shade

Sunlight

Sunlight

I wanted to see what both of these glitters looked like layered, so I decided to try them over 4 coats of Great White. I SO love the combination, they work great together. The VNL disappears, and the overall effect lives up to the polish’s name- TRIPLE SHINE! These are definitely meant to be worn together, they look fantastic paired. Pics below are 4 coats of Great White with one coat of glitter over each.

Sunlight

Sunlight

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The pink reminds me of the color of a fairy this way, or bubblegum. It’s so pretty! I love it!

Overall, what I’ve tested of this collection is fabulous. I especially love the brushes, they’re very similar to the Complete Salon Manicure brushes- wide and able to cover the nail in one stroke. I’d love to get my hands on more of the Fanta-Sea glitters, and I’d really like to try some of the Pop rainbow colors as well. Oh, who am I kidding. I just want the whole collection! What did you think of these sparkle-tastic colors? Let me know in the comments!

Sally Hansen Triple Shine polishes retail for $4.99 a bottle, and can be found at most chain drugstores, beauty supply stores, and on their website, here.

~Beth~

Product in this post was sent to me for review by a brand representative. For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy.


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Friday Fun Nail Art- Cotton Candy Water Marble!

Hi all!

It’s Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday… sorry for that, I’m just so glad this week is over! SUCH a relief! I hope you all have fun plans for this weekend, I have a 6 hour rehearsal for my school’s fall play tomorrow! Long, but I love the cast, so it’ll be a great time!

It’s been awhile since I’ve done nail art, so I decided to get back in the swing of things today and try my hand at a water marble design! I knew I wanted some brighter colors to counteract how gray it has been outside this week, and Essie’s The Lace is On from the fall 2013 “For the Twill of it” collection seemed like a great polish to start with! One of my favorite color combinations of all time is pinks/purples and blues/turquoises, so I decided to pair the beautiful purple sparkle of The Lace is On with Zoya’s Giovanna, which is from their fall 2013 “Satins” collection, and is a deep, rich green-based teal. I decided to mellow out the sparkles of both of those polishes with a minty creme, and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear’s Mint Creme was the perfect color to complete the trio. I swirled them around in lukewarm tap water and got the design you see below! Pictures below are with NYC’s In a NYC Minute topcoat.

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What do you think of this color combination? Are you a fan of water marbling? Let me know in the comments below!

I love creating nail art like this, it’s easy and fun, and it impresses everyone who sees your nails! If you need an easy show stopper, this is the technique for you! Just make sure you tape your cuticles before dipping your fingers in the water, or you’ll get polish EVERYWHERE! Tape will help reduce the mess.

I’m currently taking suggestions- what would you like to see me do for nail art in the future? Please give me feedback so I can give all of you amazing readers what you want. I strive to make this blog enjoyable to a large audience, so don’t hesitate to let me know what I’m doing right and wrong (in a nice way, of course!). Once again (I say this ALL THE TIME), I love you all, and thank you for your continued support!

~Beth~


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Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Fall 2013 Collection

Press Sample

Hi ladies!

I hope everyone’s having a good weekend. Mine is only halfway done because I have off from school tomorrow! We’re having our Columbus Day weekend late! It’s nice to know there’s one more day to sleep in left!

Today I have for you a selection of colors from the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Fall 2013 collection. This collection featured 3 trios, each inspired by a different fashion designer/fashion label in order to compliment his or her’s fall 2013 clothing collection! Press release pictures are below!

Inspired by Rodarte

Inspired by Rodarte

Inspired by Tracy Reese

Inspired by Tracy Reese

Inspired by Prabal Gurung

Inspired by Prabal Gurung

The trios provide something for everyone- bright, eye-popping cremes, soft neutrals, and stunning metallics. I have some selections from each of the three trios, so let’s get to the review!

Loden Green is  from the Prabal Gurung trio, and is described by Sally Hansen as being a “cult favorite”, and I can totally see why! This is a gorgeous yellow-based olive color that applies like a dream- not too thick or thin. The color is extremely unique, and definitely not for everyone, since olive green isn’t exactly a typical nail polish color. I personally am in love with this color, and I will definitely be rocking it for the rest of the fall season! Pictures below are 2 coats, no topcoat.

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Sunlight

Nightwatcher is also from the Prabal Gurung trio, and is a basic navy creme, leaning a little towards the blackened side. I feel like we’ve seen a color like this from almost every fall collection this year- OPI’s Incognito in Sausalito and Essie’s After Schoolboy Blazer, to name just a few. While the color is really nothing special in my opinion, I really like the formula and application of this polish, almost opaque in 1 coat! I ended up using 2 for pictures below, no topcoat.

Sunlight

Sunlight

New Wave Blue is part of the Tracy Reese trio. Tracy Reese has been with Sally Hansen for 15 SEASONS! Can you believe that? That is a woman who knows what she is doing, and it shows in her trio- it’s my favorite color pairing of the fall collection! New Wave Blue is the turquoise creme that I’ve been dreaming of, seriously. The color is so reminiscent of the ocean on a Caribbean island, it takes me back to vacation, which is great for fall when we’re all slaving through school and work. It’s a refreshing color, applies easily, though slightly patchy, but evens out in 3 coats, which is what I used in pictures below!

Sunlight

Sunlight

Malbec is also a part of the Tracy Reese trio, and is a deep, almost-but-not-quite plum purple creme. It definitely leans towards red, which you can see around my cuticles in the picture. While I like the color and formula, this one had the most issues for me. It tended to be patchy, and still wasn’t perfect in 3 coats (though the picture doesn’t really show that). While I love the color, the formula just didn’t work, and I’m sad about it. Pictures below are 3 coats, no topcoat.

Sunlight

Sunlight

I saved my personal favorite for last. Gold Roses is from the Rodarte trio, and it’s literally a dream in a bottle. It’s a gorgeous light bronzy gold, and looks like foil on the nail. The color reminds me so much of a freshly minted penny, it’s unbelievable. The whole time I was applying this polish, I was praying for there to be no brushstrokes. While there are some visible brushstrokes on the nail, it’s seriously not that much of an issue. I’M SO HAPPY THIS POLISH IS AMAZING. Pictures below are with 3 coats (it was slightly sheer but nothing unworkable) and no topcoat.

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Sunlight

Sunlight

I’m so smitten with this collection, Sally Hansen and the collaborators have done a fantastic job creating intriguing colors that pair well together. I can’t wait to try stamping with Gold Roses, it’s going to be fabulous over everything, I can just already tell. I definitely plan on picking up the rest of the Rodarte collection, since I’m missing nudes in my polish stash, and that red creme from the Tracy Reese collection because the purple and turquoise just don’t feel complete without it. What do you think of this collection? Let me know in the comments!

The Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure fall 2013 line launched in September 2013, and the suggested retail value is $7.99 a bottle. You can find this collection at drugstores (CVS, Walgreens, Target, RiteAid, etc.), beauty supply stores, and on Sally Hansen’s website, here.

~Beth~

NOTE: The products featured in this post were sent to me for review by a Sally Hansen brand representative. For more information, please refer to my disclosure policy.


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Review- Sally Hansen Sugar Coat Polishes

Hi guys and gals!

While out shopping at Target today (I really shouldn’t go there, I have 0 willpower to not buy cosmetic items) I ended up picking up a ton of new nail polish. One of my most intriguing purchases were two polishes from Sally Hansen’s Sugar Coat line- their version of OPI Liquid Sand, if you will. Texture is huge right now, what with Liquid Sand, Pixie Dust by Zoya, Texture by China Glaze, and so many more brands jumping on the bandwagon. Sally Hansen has actually had these polishes out for awhile now, but I’ve just gotten around to reviewing them.

These polishes genuinely feel like you have grains of sugar on your fingers. While Pixie Dust and Liquid Sand polishes tend to have a smoother finish, the Sugar Coat polishes are definitely of a rougher texture. You can even see the granules on the brush before you apply the polish. It’s either going to be your cup of tea or it isn’t. These polishes also don’t have any glitter or shimmer to them, so they dry very mattified. Again, not everyone’s cup of tea. They’re pretty liquid, so they’re easy to apply in my opinion. Swatches and individual reviews are below!

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Candy Corn is a bright coral. It’s very reminiscent of Essie Tart Deco only with texture. It was very easy to apply and was perfect opaque in 2 coats.

Indoor, natural light

Indoor, natural light

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Spare-A-Mint? is a deep, turquoise-y blue color. It’s a little darker than robin’s egg blue, but definitely in that color family. I had a bit of an issue with the texture flaking off, literally like blue sugar falling off my nails. It isn’t too bad, but definitely something to consider. It was almost opaque in 1 coat, but I used 2 for pictures below.

Indoor, natural light

Indoor, natural light

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Overall, I really like these polishes. I’ve heard them be described before as looking like a popcorn ceiling, but I think that’s just up to personal interpretation. I myself like them a lot, and definitely would like to get more in the near future! I would like to see some shimmer to these polishes, too. Not all of them, but add some variety to the finishes. Oh well, I know Zoya and OPI will always satisfy my glitter texture cravings!

Sally Hansen Sugar Coat polishes retail for $5-$7 (though I got mine on clearance for $1.64 at Target!!) and can be found at drugstores, beauty supply stores, and on their website, here.

~Beth~


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Nail Art- Summer Polka Dots w/ My Sister!

Hi there!

So to break up the monotony of all the MOTD posts, today I have nail art for you guys! My sister recently started her first day of high school (she’s a freshman this year!) and she asked me to do something on her nails to make them stand out on the first day. Being the nail polish addict I am, I was happy to oblige. She told me she wanted something dotted, and I had been wanting to do a dot nail art design for awhile. So we picked the colors and got to work. Here’s the design we created!

I wanted to go with a fun, upbeat color scheme, since technically, it is still summer. My sister liked the idea of yellow and pink together, and I liked it as well. For my pink, I used a Love and Beauty satin-finish pink (I ripped the name off by mistake, unfortunately). It even smells a bit fruity when it dries, though I’m not sure why. The yellow I chose, for the base color on the nails, was Love and Beauty Yellow. It’s a shimmery, sheer yellow with silver shimmer running through it. In terms of yellows, this one is a cooler, lemon tone, as opposed to some of the warmer yellows. Unfortunately, this yellow was in no way opaque enough to make the yellow polka dots, so I used Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Mellow Yellow for the polka dots. I alternated between yellow nails/pink dots and pink nails/yellow dots. To make the dots, I just used a toothpick (I don’t currently own any nail art dotting tools). Pictures below are with no topcoat.

Natural indoor lighting

Natural indoor lighting

Artificial Indoor Lighting

Artificial Indoor Lighting

So what do you think of the polka dot design? Are you a fan of this kind of nail art? Let me know in the comments! Also, special thanks to my sister, Sarah, for her guest modeling!

~Beth~

 


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On Wednesdays We Wear Pink- Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in “Very Cherry”

Hello all!

So, hopefully all of you have seen the movie “Mean Girls” (you know, before Lindsey Lohan went crazy). If you have, then you’ll know where the saying “on Wednesdays. we wear pink” comes from. So, I decided to borrow the well known teenage girl adage to create a new segment for my blog. Every Wednesday from now on, I’ll be featuring a pink nail polish. I have a ton of pinks in my polish stash, so what better way to show you them all than through a day specifically dedicated to pink! Hopefully you’ll like these pinks as much as I do!

For the first “Pink Wednesday”, I’ll be showing you Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Very Cherry. To me, the name is kinda misleading, because this color isn’t even close to a red, and cherry generally conjures up the image of red. Instead, this color is a bright, slightly-darker-than-bubblegum pink jam-packed with shimmer. There’s pink and silver shimmers, and the silver really adds a 3D shiny effect. Despite its somewhat frosty effect, brushstrokes are not an issue. The glitter is not holographic, but does reflect the sunlight beautifully. Too bad the sun wouldn’t cooperate for me today! The formula for the polish is a little thick, but nothing major, and applies beautifully and self levels. It takes 2 coats to reach full opacity, but I thought 3 coats looked the best (and I also messed up a nail and had to cover it up, oops). Pictures below are 3 coats of Very Cherry, no topcoat.

Artificial, indoor light

Artificial, indoor light

Indoor, natural light

Indoor, natural light

If you’ve read any of my other Sally Hansen blog posts, you know that I love Sally Hansen polishes, and this one is no different! What do you think of Sally Hansen polishes? Do you like them as much as I do?

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color retails for between $2-$3, and can be purchased at most beauty supply stores and drug stores, as well as on their website, here.

~Beth~

 


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MOTD- Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in “Blue Me Away!”

Hi all!

Guess what day it is? Guess what day. it. is.? That’s right, it’s hump day! Happy Wednesday everyone! Today was highschool freshmen orientation day! As a senior, I got to show the freshmen around campus and teach them all about our school. It was a fun day, but I’m exhausted! Not too exhausted for a manicure, though.

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Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Blue Me Away! is a classic sky blue. It’s a rich creme polish that leans somewhat neon, but not enough that the formula dries matte. Rather, this polish is extremely shiny when dry. I love this color as a staple in my collection. It’s great on its own (like you see here) but it’s also fantastic for nail art designs. I’ve found that this line of Sally Hansen polishes spreads particularly well in the water for water marbling looks, and this is typically my go-to blue. When I run out of this bottle, I’ll most certainly be repurchasing it! Pictures below are two coats of Blue Me Away! (though you could honestly get away with one if you’re in a hurry; it’s that opaque!) with no topcoat.

Indoor, artificial lighting

Indoor, artificial lighting

Outdoor light, shade. Sorry for the yellow look on my pointer finger, it's my neon yellow shirt reflecting!

Outdoor light, shade. Sorry for the yellow look on my pointer finger, it’s my neon yellow shirt reflecting!

Sorry for the sloppy cuticles today, guys. Normally I try to clean them up, but today I was in a rush.

As I already said, I love this color. I also love Sally Hansen nail polishes. They’re inexpensive, 3-free, and in my opinion, salon quality. I especially love this line for its affordability, and I have a lot more of these in my stash (I just haven’t posted them yet!). I’ll definitely be buying more from this line in the future, and I highly recommend them.

 

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color usually retails for about $2.50-$3.50, and can be bought at most drugstores (Walgreens, RiteAid, etc.), beauty supply stores (Ulta, Sally’s, etc.) and on the Sally Hansen website, here.

 

~Beth~


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MOTD- Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat (???) in “Sage Smash”

Hi folks!

Hope you’ve all been having a great weekend! I went to a friend’s going away to college party, and the tears were flowing at the end. I’m going to miss all of my amazing friends who are beginning their college journeys in the next few weeks. To anyone out there starting college soon, good luck to you all! And to anyone in my shoes who’s beginning the college application process, good luck, it’s going to be a long road (but hopefully a rewarding one!)

Today I have for you an… interestingly marketed nail polish. It’s in the Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat line, and it’s called Sage Smash. The color is very similar to OPI’s Simply Smash-ingjust a lot more on the bright, spring green side than the OPI’s gold. The microglitters are also not as densely packed in this polish as in the OPI, so the coat is not opaque- it’s more of a glitter topper. And, um, that’s where the problem begins. Here’s the picture of what the polish is supposed to look like once it has shattered:

Screen shot 2013-08-18 at 11.12.57 PM

 

But here’s what really happens…

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Maybe it’s just me, but um, the results I got and the results Sally Hansen is advertising are markedly different… While there is still some crackling (most notably on my pinky and pointer finger), it’s really not doing much… The glitter is still very beautiful on its own though, and dries matte (like most crackle polishes) which gives an interesting effect to the nail polish. While the desired effect is kinda a big fat zero in my book (crackles should probably stick to solid colors, and not glitter toppers), the glitter itself is nice on its own, and works well over the base color of pink I have here (and probably would also look good over dark blues, navys, or black). Pictures below are two coats of Sage Smash over Love and Beauty Red, no topcoat.

Sunlight

Sunlight

Natural, indoor lighting

Natural, indoor lighting

Overall, I’m disappointed with the fact this polish did not meet my crackling expectations. But the silver lining is I gained a fun, new matte green glitter topper for my collection! Sally Hansen polishes retail at most drugstores (like Walgreens and Riteaid) as well as most beauty stores (like Sally’s and Ulta) as well as on their website, here. Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat polishes generally retail between $5-$7, but I got this one on clearance at Target for $1.87!

So what do you think of this green glitter? And what do you think of my pairing of it with a hot pink base? I think it reminds me of a watermelon, no? Let me know what you think in the comments!

~Beth~