Starry Night Sky Nails Using Impress Press-On Manicure and China Glaze Tinsel Town.

December 23, 2011 | 14 Responses

I don’t do many nail posts on Glitter Geek, and I have my reasons:

The eczema on my hands are awful. On really bad days they are all up in my finger tips.
Nail polish removers are one of the bad things I use that cause eczema flare-ups. Beauty is pain, right?

Wrong. No longer will I have to remove nail polish with toxic juice; not if I can use Impress Press-On Manicure in Color Me! * ($6.99). They come in 18 solid colours ($6.99) and 18 patterns ($8.99).

Color Me! is special because you can design it however way you want. I couldn’t think of a better way to try this out than a glittery manicure. Having this hard-to-remove formula on my fingers and knowing that I can peel them off when I am done with them is just… alskdfj;laksjd… I have no words. It’s like a dream come true.

Since I just bought China Glaze Nail Polish in Tinsel Town ($6.50), I wanted to take her out for a spin. It wasn’t totally opaque in one coat, so I know I could layer it over another colour. I used two coats of Le Metier de Beauté Nail Polish in Midnight Rendezvous as a base, and topped it off with Seche Vite Top Coat.

As for the press-on nails, I really like the product. They don’t look chunky and unnatural, but for someone who keeps her natural nails short and has small nail beds, I’m still getting used to having them. There are 24 nail covers in 12 sizes, which means you can touch up if a nail cover falls off. My impressions are that they are very firmly stuck to my nails (I’m on Day 2) and don’t think they are going to fall off anytime soon.

Starry Night Sky Manicure

I’m so happy to be able to wear glitter nail polish again without thinking about the headache of removing them later. Aren’t my nails mesmerizing? I can’t stop staring at them. Have you tried press-on nails before? What was your experience with them?

Impress Press-On Manicure By Broadway Nails are available now at Walmart, and in January 2012 at Rexall Pharma Plus, London Drugs, Zellers and Jean Coutu. More information on their website.

Disclosure: Products denoted with * were provided by PR for editorial consideration only. For more information, see my Editorial and Advertising Policy.

Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Best in Makeup and Nail Sets

November 28, 2011 | 22 Responses

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For the budding artist or makeup junkie

Smashbox Click You’re It Holiday Palette ($56). With 15 eyeshadows, 5 cream eye liners, a lid primer and how-to guides, this is the ultimate colour palette for the creative ones. See swatches on Makeup and Beauty Blog. Available at Sephora stores and online.

For the natural beauty or mama-on-the-go

Laura Mercier The Book of Nudes ($60). Laura makes some of the best eyeshadow palettes on the market; they are soft, luxurious and always well-coordinated. Available at Sephora stores and online.

For the life of the party

Lise Watier Soleil Festive Palette Eyeshadow Trio and Mascara * ($39) and Liquid Gold Eye and Cheek Illuminator * ($25). Lise Watier eye palette — beautifully dressed in gold and black — is sure to be a hit! The classic shades mixed with multi-dimensional glitter is perfect for all the parties she will be crashing this season. See swatches on Beauty Reflections. Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Lise Watier counters and online.

For the pickiest girl on your list

Laura Mercier Limited-Edition Mini Lip Glace Set (US$48). Even a lipstick kinda girl (me) will love this gift set. This is for the girl who cannot just have one lip colour in her purse. See swatches on Makeup and Beauty Blog. Available at Laura Mercier counters and online.

P.S. Send you my address?

For the teen girl or the young-at-heart

Nails Inc The Glitterati ($30). I love these chunky glitter polishes from new-to-North-America Nails Inc! Watch your teen girl swoon over her manicure instead of complaining about how gross boys are. See swatches on Oh, Dollymix. Available at Sephora stores and online.

For anyone (Glitter Geek’s TOP PICK)

China Glaze Winter Ice Nail Polish Set ($30). This one is a crowd-pleaser. Wear the nail polishes alone or layered for a true disco ball effect. My absolute favourite is Tinsel Town. Make sure you buy this for your favourite beauty blogger, too. See swatches on Vampy Varnish. Available on NailPolishCanada.com and Trade Secrets.

What are your top picks this year for makeup and nails?

As always, Glitter Geek is a safe place to enable your fellow peers. Go ahead and comment then.

Disclosure: Products marked with * were provided by the manufacturer for editorial consideration only. For more information, see my Editorial and Advertising Policy.

Dupe Alert: Le Métier de Beauté Chrome Passion vs. Soulstice Spa Troy Nail Polish.

October 3, 2011 | 17 Responses

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Back in July, a black holographic nail polish made this beauty blogger go gaga, and it was called Le Métier de Beauté Chrome Passion Nail Polish from the Nordstrom-exclusive Rock ‘n’ Romance nail polish set (US$25 for 4 minis). I was so crazy about this little nail polish that I even asked sweet Danielle of Bloomin’ Beauty to custom purchase a set for me (thanks again girl!). In real life it doesn’t disappoint, and it was the definite star of the set.

Recently, Soulstice Spa Troy Nail Polish ($8.50 at NailPolishCanada.com) came into my life. Hmm, Troy sure looked familar. As luck would have it, it’s a dead on dupe of my beloved Chrome Passion.

Le Métier de Beauté Chrome Passion / Soulstice Spa Troy

Wearing Soulstice Spa Troy (and LMdB Chrome Passion on ring finger) – natural light

This is the first time I tried the Soulstice Spa brand, and honestly I am blown away. The products are free of the toxic trio — toluene, formaldehyde and DBP (click here to read more information), and are also vegan. I have pathetic, sensitive eczema hands and constantly wearing and taking off nail polish makes them itch and burn, so I appreciate that these do not contain nasty chemicals.

Can I also talk about the smell? As in, there is none. I always get a little light headed when I paint my nails, but Soulstice Spa’s nail polish is scent-free. Great for someone whose boyfriend/husband/brother/father usually complains about the room smelling like a cheap nail salon. Here’s another photo, just so you can appreciate the holo glitter that just blows my mind.

Wearing Soulstice Spa Troy (and LMdB Chrome Passion on ring finger) – with flash

I have to say that Soulstice Spa Troy is even better Le Métier de Beauté Chrome Passion. In the photos, I’m wearing two coats of Troy and three coats of Chrome Passion. Incredible, right? Now you can have your own bottle of Troy for 50% off courtesy of NailPolishCanada.com. Just enter the code TROYGEEK on checkout (one per customer; valid until October 10). You’re totally welcome.

Disclosure: Product was sent by Nail Polish Canada for consideration only.