Pretty As A Peacock 2.0

Good afternoon all!  Today I have another Pretty & Polished review for you with a little added twist of my very own Mrs. P's Nail Potions.  If you recall, I released a polish a month or so ago called Pretty As A Peacock which is a mix of various gold, teal, blue and purple glitters (original blog post here).  I love anything and everything peacock so when I found out that Pretty & Polished had a polish called Pretty As A Peacock as well I had to have it!!  It is completely different from my own but I thought it would be fun and very pretty to combine the two peacock polishes for a manicure.  Hence Pretty As A Peacock 2.0!

Pretty & Polished's Pretty As A Peacock is described as "a dark emerald green base packed with blue, teal, purple, and green glitters."  I found upon application that the base was almost like a metallic finish even.  It's a very gorgeous combination and very peacock-y.  The application was very smooth and I got quite good coverage in just one coat, however I did use two coats (except on accent nails which was just one coat) to make sure I had a nice deep colour.  This polish could have applied very sheer in a thin coat and could probably be used as a layering polish over other colours if you did very thin applications.  On the accent nails (ring and middle fingers) I did one coat of Mrs. P's Nail Potions' Pretty As A Peacock over top the one coat of Pretty & Polished's Pretty As A Peacock.  The combination turned out fantastic and although they are both inspired by the colours of a peacock you can see how very different the polishes are.  So really the only thing similar is the name!

A few days later I decided to change up this mani a little bit and I applied Butter London's Matte Finish Shine Free Top Coat.

I am normally not a huge fan of the matte finish but in this particular case I actually quite like it and almost prefer it.  It muted the overall colour of the polishes quite a bit (especially the Pretty & Polished one) but I think it also brought out all the different colours in both polishes even more.  What do you think?

You can keep up to date with Chelsea and Pretty & Polished through the following media outlets:

Website: http://shopprettyandpolished.com/

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettyandPolished?ref=seller_info

Email: PrettyandpolishedLLC@gmail.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pretty-Polished/290891350944291

For me and Mrs. P's Nail Potions you can find all my different media outlets listed on my Contact Me page.

Mrs. P's Nail Potions is now also on Pinterest!  Username is MrsPNailPotions or you can also find it under Bree Penfold.

Pretty & Polished Happy Holodays

Good morning all.  Today I have a lovely holiday mani to share with you.  The polishes I used were from the fabulous Chelsea at Pretty & Polished, specifically her Happy Holodays Duo from the 2012 holiday collection.

The Happy Holodays Duo consists of two festive polishes.  Ruby is a base colour and is a deep cranberry jelly packed with fine holographic glitter.  This polish is completely opaque in one to two coats.  The glitter topper is chalk-full green and red hex glitters, some are holographic.  The glitter topper can be used over another base polish (like Ruby) or used on its own in several coats for a blingy glitter mani.

So first we have the manicure I did with just Ruby.  This is two coats with one coat of Essie To Dry For as the topcoat.

I did not use the glitter topper right away as I thought this polish was so gorgeous on its own I wanted to enjoy it by itself for a while.  It's the perfect fall/winter/holiday colour and the holo glitter gives it a nice touch and depth.  The formula was perfection, went on super smooth and easy and for a jelly polish I thought the consistency was amazing.  It was not too thin nor was it too thick but yet you could easily create an opaque look in two coats.  You could actually get a completely opaque look in just one thicker coat but I always like to do 2 just to make sure.  And with a jelly polish the extra coat adds that extra depth that makes jellies that much more spectacular.  

A few days later I decided it was finally time to add the glitter topper.  I didn't want to put it over the whole nails as I loved Ruby so much and still wanted it to shine through in all its glory.  So I decided to use the glitter topper just as a glitter gradient tip over Ruby.  And I'm so pleased with the results.  This glitter topper is so fun and blingy and it's shimmers like Christmas lights on my nails!  Again the formula was perfection.  There were tons of glitters and no need to fish or place glitters.  They went on smooth and easy and even in just normal brushstrokes.  Again, I topped it all off with a coat of Essie To Dry For to smooth things out and add some extra shine.

I'm so happy I got this holiday duo and I'll definitely be rocking this look several times over the holidays.  This is my first true holiday polish I've ever bought and I'm glad I chose this duo as my first!

You can keep up to date with Chelsea and Pretty & Polished through the following media outlets:

Website: http://www.prettynpolish.com/

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettyandPolished?ref=seller_info

Email: PrettyandpolishedLLC@gmail.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pretty-Polished/290891350944291

I Heart NY Collection (inspired by Sex and the City) now available!

L to R: The Naked Dress (Carrie Bradshaw), Searching for Mr. Right (Charlotte York), Can't Colour Enough (Samantha Jones), All Lawyered Up (Miranda Hobbs), The Big Apple (Mr. Big)

As promised, the I <3 NY Collection, inspired by Sex and the City, is now available as of November 1, 2012.  You can read more about each polish in my blog post here.  I just wanted to show you a few bottle shots of each Potion so you can get a better idea of each shade.

The Naked Dress

Searching For Mr. Right

Can't Colour Enough

All Lawyered Up

The Big Apple

Also, don't forget that each and every bottle of Mrs. P's Nail Potions (full-size or mini and doesn't have to be the I <3 NY Collection) that you purchase during the month of November earns you an entry into my giveaway.  I'm giving away an entire full-size collection of the I <3 NY Collection (you only pay applicable postage).  So head to my shop and start earning those entries! :)

I currently only have full-sized bottles of the I <3 NY Collection available but mini sets are coming.  Each full-sized bottle is $8.00 (plus shipping).  However, if you are wanting to purchase the entire collection please use code NYSET32 to receive the collection for $32.00 (plus shipping).  That is 5 bottles for the price of 4!!!  This code only applies if you have all five of the I <3 NY Potions in your cart and cannot be accepted if you have anything else in your cart.  If you wish to purchase other Potions as well please make a separate order and contact me for combined shipping.  All of my contact information can be found on my "Contact Me" page.

I really hope you all enjoy my brand new collection!

Blog Sale

Hi all!  Just wanted to bring you a quick blog sale.  It's just little as I don't have a massive stash but I also don't have huge storage options so I need to keep my collection under control and I'm trying to make room for my indie obsession now as well as the special holographics and such from OPI and Color Club etc.

So here is what I do have for sale.  Most have only ever been used once on a nail wheel.  If you are interested please email me (mrspnailpotions@hotmail.com) or kik me (mrs___p - 3 underscores).  First come first serve.  Once I know what you would like I can calculate your shipping and email you an invoice through Pay Pal.  Pay Pal is the only method of payment I can accept.  Regular postage rates (from Canada Post) apply.  All prices are in CAD.

Sally Girl Glitters - $1.00 each (all brand new and never used)

So 70's - very pale pink and iridescent glitter

Glitzy - silver glitter very similar to Essie's Set in Stones

In Love - pink glitter very similar to Essie's A Cut Above

Later - gold glitter

So Disco - white iridescent glitter (I have two of these)

Way 2 Disco - blue/green iridescent glitter

Color Club - $4.00 each (all only used once on a nail wheel)

Blue-topia from Back to Boho Collection - inky blue

Artsy Crafty from Back to Boho Collection - forest green creme

Boho Mojo from the Back to Boho Collection - goldy silver grey metallic

The Great Divide - holographic blue/green/yellow crackle finish

Voodoo You Do - shimmery very dark green

I also have two unknown and unlabelled pink Color Club polishes.  One is a pale purpley pink and the other is a bubble gum pink.  Photos can be provided if necessary.

Miscellaneous

Julep Renee - pale lilac (used once on a nail wheel) SOLD

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Ice Queen - fine silver and holo glitter with purple and blue hexes (brand new never used) $4.00

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Strobe Light - light pink iridescent glitter (brand new never used) $4.00

unlabelled Zoya which I believe is Breezi - sky blue creme (used once on a nail wheel) SOLD

Mrs. P's Nail Potions - I Heart NY Collection

L to R: The Naked Dress, Searching for Mr. Right, Can't Colour Enough, All Lawyered Up, The Big Apple

Good morning Nail Potion fans! Today I'm going to share a sneak peek with you of my new Nail Potions collection being released on November 1, 2012 in my etsy shop. It's a five piece collection and all jellies!!!!!!!!!  The collection is called "I <3 NY" (for those of you unfamiliar with what <3 is, its is the typed emoticon representation of a heart) and it's inspired by none other than Sex and the City.  Each Nail Potion is meant to represent each of the main characters of the TV series and movies (Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha, Mr. Big).  Along with the release of this collection I will also be doing a giveaway/contest where the lucky winner will receive (free of charge, all they have to pay is the postage) a full-sized set of the entire collection!!!  For every bottle of my Nail Potions that is purchased during the month of November you will get one entry into the giveaway/contest!

The photo above is a sneak peek of what the collection looks like.  Along with the debut of this collection I'm also debuting my new labels which are the labels in the photo above :)  As you can see from the photo each bottle also has a colour coded rhinestone embellishment on top of the cap.  The gals in Sex and the City were always about the bling and sparkle and NYC has that special something as well so I wanted to do something a little special to the bottles for this collection.  And what girl doesn't love rhinestones?!?! :)  The Nail Potions photographed above are as follows:

• The Naked Dress - This is inspired by Carrie Bradshaw and her famous "naked dress" from Season 1 on her first date with Mr. Big.  It's a nude jelly with gold holo glitter in small and medium hex.  The gold glitter represents the "Carrie" necklace that she always wore and treasured throughout the entire series.
• Searching for Mr. Right - This is inspired by Charlotte York and her forever search for the perfect husband.  Charlotte was always a hopeless romantic and believer in true love.  It's a white jelly with pink heart glitters and fine white iridescent and holo pink glitter.  It's very pretty and romantic and girly, just like Charlotte.
• Can't Colour Enough - This is inspired by Samantha Jones and her colourful and out there personality and fashion.  It's a neon pink jelly with a little bit of extra fine holographic glitter for that shimmer and sparkle to represent the life in the fast lane aspect of Samantha and then is loaded with many different glitters of different shapes and sizes kind of like a party confetti to represent all the high profile PR events and parties that Samantha attended and organized/hosted.  And for those unfamiliar with Samantha's famous quote from the first movie, the girls were all sitting having coffee/breakfast and Charlotte had her daughter Lily with her and didn't want the girls using the word "sex" so they used "colour" instead so they could still talk about sex without Lily really knowing or understanding and Samantha said "I can't colour enough, I would colour all day every day If I had my way, I would use every crayon in my box".
• All Lawyered Up - This is inspired by Miranda Hobbs.  She has the simplest of style of all the girls and is the iconic redhead of the show.  Most times you see her in her straight-laced suits as she is a lawyer so I thought I would keep this Nail Potion very simple and straightforward and bring in the red/orange to represent her hair.  It's a red jelly base with medium hex glitters in red and orange.
• The Big Apple - This is inspired by Carrie's two true loves, Mr. Big and New York City.  It's a black jelly which represents the nice tailored black suits Mr. Big usually wears with fine silver sparkles to represent the spark between Carrie and Mr. Big and all the lights of NYC.  There is also white diamond glitter which I thought picked up on the crisp white shirts Mr. Big always wore under his suits and red hex glitters to represent the love that Carrie feels for both Mr. Big and NYC.  Red is also the colour of apples and NYC is the big apple after all!

So there you have it!  I <3 NY revealed.  Don't forget to pick up your favourites or the entire collection on November 1st.  All my usual stock will also be available as usual so you can pick up any other favourites you have and get as many entries into that contest/giveaway as possible!  Each Nail Potion from the I <3 NY collection will be $8.00 plus shipping.  However, if you would like the entire collection I will have a coupon code so you can buy all 5 for the price of 4 which is $32.00, plus shipping.

Please, if you have any questions or comments you can contact me through any one of the forms of contact listed on my contact page.  I would love to hear any thoughts about the upcoming collection and if you are excited at all please do share it with me! :)

Mrs. P's Nail Potions Green/Gold vs. Butter London Wallis

L to R: Essie - Disappearing Trick, China Glaze - Calcium Gel Fortifier (strengthener & base coat), Mrs. P's Nail Potions - Green/Gold Shifty, Butter London - Wallis, Essie - To Dry For (top coat)

Good evening again Nail Potion Fans!  I decided to compare my Mrs. P's Nail Potion Green/Gold Shifty with the ever-popular Butter London Wallis from the 2011 fall/winter collection.  This is my first comparison blog post and I'm very excited about it as these were two fabulous polishes to compare to one another and when I posted a pic of my manicure on Instagram a few days ago, I actually had several people state that they preferred the look of my Nail Potion over the look of the Butter London polish.  Both polishes are in the same colour family and are both duochrome/colour shifting polishes.  You can currently purchase Green/Gold Shifty as part of a trio from my Shifty Collection here for $13.50 CAD plus shipping.

This time I started out my manicure with Essie Disappearing Trick which is a conditioning cuticle remover.  It's a clear gel that you dab onto your cuticle area and leave on for a few minutes and then you can push back your cuticles and it removes/dissolves all the excess cuticles that may have built up between over the course of your last few manicures.  I would not recommend doing this too often or at each manicure (depending how often you do a manicure) but I would say definitely about once a week.  The end result is a nice clean and moisturized cuticle area without the hassle of picking at your cuticles with trimmers and the like.

After cleaning my nails with a little acetone to make sure there was no residue left from the cuticle remover I did a coat of my usual nail strengthener and base coat being China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifier.  You can see my very first review of this nail treatment here.

I then went ahead and placed one generous coat each of Green/Gold Shifty and Wallis on alternating fingernails.  I did find that both covered fairly well in just one coat and I only actually used one coat with both polishes but the Green/Gold Shifty covered slightly better than Wallis did in one coat.  Wallis is slightly more sheer and I also noticed that with too many brush stroke there were balding issues.

You can see the difference between the two polishes:

Indoors, natural light, no flash

Indoors, natural light, no flash

Indoors, natural light, no flash

Closer up look at the comparison.  Indoors, natural light, no flash

As you can see from the photos above, they colour is very similar between the two.

Indoors, natural light, no flash

Green/Gold Shifty is more on the green side as compared to Wallis.  It is lighter and has more of a gold hue as well.

Indoors, natural light, no flash

Whereas Wallis is darker compared to Green/Gold Shifty and more of a bronzy, brown and mossy hue.

Again, I was very pleased with how this manicure and comparison turned out.  It was fun to see how one of my very own creations stood up again a luxury polish like Butter London and how the colour was so similar to such a sought after and popular colour that is Wallis.  I liked the slight variance of the alternating colour on my nails and i love both colours and think they are just different enough from one another that using them on their own in a manicure would actually create fairly different looks.

I'd love to hear any comments or feedback anyone may have on this mani.  And please if you have purchased and used Green/Gold Shifty, I would love to hear what you thought of it and see pictures of how you used it.  You can contact me by leaving a comment below or by messaging me on Facebook here or emailing me at mrspnailpotions@hotmail.com.

Furthermore, for those of you Nail Potion fans living in the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada area, I am pleased to announce that I am getting back into doing manicures out of my home for a mere $10.00.  I am starting to get the baby into a routine that I can figure out and he's not strapped to me and dependent on me every waking minute of the day anymore.  Appointments on weekdays will need to be during the day though as evenings are simply too busy and hectic as it is by the time the hubby comes home from work and I make and clean up supper and deal with the kids' bedtime routines etc.  As for weekends though pretty much any time of day is fine as my husband is here to help with the kidlets.  So if you are interested in a good but cheap manicure and possibly a unique manicure with one of my Nail Potions please use the same methods of contact as mentioned above.

Shattered Manicure

L to R: Witchcraft Rockhard (strengthener & base coat), Sally Hansen - Love Rocks, Mrs. P's Nail Potions - Shattered, Essie - To Dry For (top coat)

Good evening Nail Potion fans!  Well both of my kids are in bed so I thought I'd finally take the time to share with you my most recent manicure done with one of my newest Potions, Shattered.  Shattered is a glitter polish made up of shredded black and white glitters in a clear base.  You can find mini bottles of Shattered in my etsy shop here and full-sized bottles of Shattered here.  Mini bottles are $4.00 CAD each plus shipping and full-sized bottles are $8.00 CAD each plus shipping.

This time I switched out my usual base coat/strengthener for Witchcraft's Rockhard.  This is also a fabulous strengthener and my next favourite after my usual China Glaze Calcium Gel Fortifier.

Next was one coat of Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Love Rocks which is an awesome hot pink and had fabulous coverage in just one coat.

I then put one coat of my Mrs. P's Nail Potions Shattered over the pink and nothing but Shattered on my ring finger.  In order to get the best coverage for this polish on my bare ring finger nail I found that dabbing the polish on the nail and then kind of spreading the glitter around with the brush worked best and I got the best coverage.

And of course I topped that all off with one generous coat of Essie To Dry For.  I say generous because in all honesty I can tell you that there were some bits of the shredded glitters that stuck up but all was smoothed out with the generous top coat.

The results were as follows:

Indoors, natural light, no flash 

Indoors, natural light, no flash 

Indoors, natural light, no flash

Indoors, natural light, no flash 

Closer up shot.  Indoors, natural light, no flash

I am in love with this manicure and would go so far as to say this is one of my very favourites actually!  It's got a real awesome edginess to it but is still girly.  I think it's kinda rock 'n roll actually.  And well one of my all-time favourite colour combinations for anything, be it nail polish, fashion, room decor etc., is black, white and pink!!!

I'd love to hear any comments or feedback anyone may have on this mani.  And please if you have purchased and used Shattered, I would love to hear what you thought of it and see pictures of how you used it.  You can contact me by leaving a comment below or by messaging me on Facebook here or emailing me at mrspnailpotions@hotmail.com.

Furthermore, for those of you Nail Potion fans living in the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada area, I am pleased to announce that I am getting back into doing manicures out of my home for a mere $10.00.  I am starting to get the baby into a routine that I can figure out and he's not strapped to me and dependent on me every waking minute of the day anymore.  Appointments on weekdays will need to be during the day though as evenings are simply too busy and hectic as it is by the time the hubby comes home from work and I make and clean up supper and deal with the kids' bedtime routines etc.  As for weekends though pretty much any time of day is fine as my husband is here to help with the kidlets.  So if you are interested in a good but cheap manicure and possibly a unique manicure with one of my Nail Potions please use the same methods of contact as mentioned above.