KBShimmer Winter 2016 Collection (8 of 16)

* I received the following products in exchange for my honest review.

I have some of the polishes from the KBShimmer Winter Collection to share with you. Today is release day for this collection so these pretties are all available for you to purchase now! This is a great collection in true KBShimmer fashion. There is a great mix of cremes, glitters, holos, crellies, and more. There are also some new holiday scents for their body care line as well as some holiday promos. I'll get to those later in the post. First, is nail polish. I have 8 of the 16 polishes in this collection.

 Bling In The New Year

Bling In The New Year is a silver holo glitter and metallic flakes featuring pink, green, gold, and blue flakes. (2 coats)

Chai-huahua

Chai-huahua is a warm brick-toned red creme. (2 coats).

Just Duvet It

Just Duvet It is a rich grape shade with a hint of sparkle and some pink shimmery flakes. (2 coats)

Soot And Ladders

Soot And Ladders is a soot black jelly filled with micro flakes in a rainbow of colors. (2 coats)

A Walk In the Park-A

A Walk In The Park-A is a lush orchid creme. (2 coats)

Yeti or Not

Yeti Or Not is a textured pale gray polish loaded with iridescent glitter and holographic glitters. (3 coats plus topcoat)

Spruce Things Up

Spruce Things Up is a Christmas green jelly with micro holo and silver glitters. (2 coats)

Haute Mess

Haute Mess is clear base filled with silver, copper, rose gold, and holographic glitters. (1 coat of A Walk In The Park-A)

Holiday Scents

There will be three new scents (Gingerbread Men, Very Merry Cranberry, and Cocoa & Cookies) added for the holiday season. These scents will be available for a limited time in Mani Shots, Mega Shots, Sugar Scrubs, Picture Perfect Cuticle Creams, and Lotions.

Collection: KBShimmer Winter 2016

Colors: I think KBShimmer nailed it with this collection. I really like a traditional holiday collection and this collection really has awesome traditional holiday colors that are still fresh and relevant for this upcoming season. The colors in this collection are rich and saturated and the variety of finishes offered is always appreciated.

Formulas: I thought 7 of the 8 polishes I tried had a superb formula. The cremes were excellent and smooth. A Walk In The Park-A could easily be one coat, I just did two for the sake of photography. The glitters and shimmers also had great formulas. The only troublesome one of the bunch was Yeti Or Not which had a textured and chunky formula. It was not smooth to apply and I really wish it was created just as a normal nail polish because the color is beautiful and would have been my favorite otherwise.

Price: The polishes in this collection are $9.25 each and are available now on the KBShimmer website. KBShimmer will also be offering holidays promos with orders placed between 11/01-12/31 or while supplies lasts.

Promos

Spend $25 or more – receive a chrome nail polish charm with the KBShimmer logo ($2.95 retail value)
Spend $50 or more – receive a KBShimmer branded Mont Bleu purse sized crystal nail file ($4.95 retail value) and charm.  Plus free shipping on your order!
Spend $75 or more – receive a faux leather KBShimmer holographic cosmetic case ($12.95 retail value), nail file, and charm.  Plus free shipping!
**Purchase amount after any discounts or coupon codes

Overall: This is a wonderful holiday collection. I love the selection of colors and it's the perfect collection for those of you who love traditional holiday colors but have KBShimmer's magical touch. The formulas are great and I'm really excited bout the promos and new holiday scents. My favorite colors from this lot are Bling In The New Year, Chai-huahua, A Walk In The Park-A, and Spruce Things Up.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Tuesday!

Throwbacks Week: KBShimmer Kiss And Spell

Are you all ready for Halloween? I'm all decorated but have nothing planned for Halloween itself. Most likely, I'll just be passing out candy to the kiddos. I did that last year, but we hardly had any trick or treaters which was depressing. We had several in previous years, and I just wonder if because Halloween fell on a Saturday last year some people went out rather than stick to the neighborhood? I hope we get our usual crowd this year as Halloween will be on a Monday. Speaking of Halloween, I have a Halloween throwback to share with you today from KBShimmer!

Kiss and Spell (over KBShimmer Hugs & Wishes)

Kiss And Spell is a Halloween-themed glitter with a mix of yellow, black, orange, purple, and green glitters in varying shapes in a clear base.

Collection: KBShimmer Fall 2014

Color: This is a great Halloween mix of colors and shapes. I love how Halloween colors have expanded from just black and orange and now include purple, green, and in this case yellow.

Formula: This formula was easy to apply over a base. I used 2 coats.

Price: N/A. Discontinued.

Overall: This is a fun glitter topper. I enjoy the color, shape, and size variation of the glitters in this polish. Glitter toppers are not really a thing anymore, but revisiting polishes like this make me miss them. I may have to break this one out for my Halloween nails this year!

My Rating: 5 out of 5 *Golden* Paint Splatters

Happy Thursday!

DazzleGlaze Throne of Hades

I don't know how it's already October. I feel like we just celebrated New Year's only like 3 or 4 months ago. Not! It will be 2017 before we know it. October is definitely one of my favorite months. I think I enjoy Halloween more now than I did as a kid. I have so much fun decorating and I don't remember decorating for Halloween being a thing when I was younger. I decorating is certainly something that has come about more so in recent years. I have a Halloween-ish polish to share with you today from DazzleGlaze.

Throne of Hades

Throne of Hades is a black jelly base with metallic red and gold glitter throughout.

Collection: DazzleGlaze Greek Underworld Collection Fall 2014

Color: This is a great jelly glitter. It's hard to find black jelly glitters that work. Usually, I see glitters get drowned out by the dark base, but this is not the case with Throne of Hades. I love the mix of red and gold glitter in this, it gives this shade some vibrancy and bejeweled look.

Formula: The formula was a little bit on the thick side but manageable. I used 3 coats here.

Price: The 15ml size is $9.50 and a 7.5ml size is $6.00 on DazzleGlaze's site.

Overall: I really like this shade. It's perfect for the season and great take on a black jelly polish I really haven't seen done this well. I love the blend of colors and the richness of the glitters.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Monday!

Throwbacks Week: Claire's Galaxy

It's time for another week of throwbacks. I love this week because I really get to shop my stash and rediscover some oldies but goodies. I came across this Claire's polish this past week and I was quickly reminded why it was one of my favorite black glitter polishes.

Galaxy

Galaxy is a black jelly with silver micro glitter.

Collection: N/A. I believe I purchased this in 2011 or 2012.

Color: This is definitely best silver glitter/black polish I own because it's the only one that does it right because of the balance. This is a great base to glitter ratio going on. The glitter is prominent and isn't drowned out by the base which I see in many polishes that try to do this.

Formula: This formula is good. I used 3 coats here. I think the jelly base and the use of the micro glitter is definitely what makes this polish a success.

Price: N/A. Claire's polishes always seem to just come and go on a whim. I got this around 4-5 years ago so it's long gone.

Overall: This is great polish. I think this would make the perfect base for galaxy manicures if I ever were to attempt nail art of any sort. I love the balance of glitter and base and it's an overall great look.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

 Happy Monday!

Different Dimension Magic Mirror

I've mentioned before I'm terrible at keeping up with FB groups especially fan ones. I really don't fangirl over brands, so I'm not heavily invested in groups. I love a few brands and I'm their groups, but I don't keep up with them daily. It's something I should really try to work on because I could easily miss out on group customs like this Different Dimension one I have for you today. Thankfully, I was on top of this one and was able to snag it!

Magic Mirror

Magic Mirror is black linear holo with iridescent color shifting flakes. 

Collection: Different Dimension May Group Custom

Color: Holos are very common place these days, so I like when brands add some magic to their holos. This is exactly what was done with Magic Mirror. It starts out with a superb black holo, but it has these beautiful iridescent color flakes added in that give this polish some added dimension. It's stunning! 

Formula: Excellent formula. I used 2 coats above. 

Price: N/A. This was group custom that is no longer available. If you love Different Dimension, so I highly recommend joining the FB group so you don't miss out on future ones. 

Overall: Magic Mirror is a stunner. I love the complexity of this shade. I adore Different Dimension altogether. If you're a fan of holos with added pizzazz and bling Different Dimension is definitely the brand for you. 

My Rating: 5 out of 5 *Golden* Paint Splatters

Happy Wednesdsay! 

Sephora Formula X Euphoria

*The following product was purchased with a gift card provided by Sephora in exchange for my honest review. 

I have been a fan of Sephora's Formula X line since it's fruition. I love how they have different finish collections within in the Formula X line. One of their newer collections is the Black Quartz collection that features color glitter in a black jelly base. I have one of those colors to show you today.

Euphoria

Euphoria is a black jelly base with pale pink glitters.

Collection: Sephora Formula X Black Quartz Collection 2015

Color: This is actually my favorite color this collection. I love this pairing of the black with the pale  pink. It's not a color combination I see often and I love the elegant look of these colors together. This isn't an in your face bling monster, which I sometimes prefer. It's on the softer side of the bling scale but it still has some glitz.

Formula: This formula was good. I used 3 coats above. This formula does dry matte and gritty, so top coat is a must. These colors are not attractive the way it dries. Top coat brings them to life.

Price: This is $12.50 at Sephora.

Overall: I like Euphoria. I really like this color combination as it's unique to me. I also like how Sephora has successfully accomplished the black jelly glitter. I've seen a lot of black jellies with glitter where the glitter gets drowned out by the black jelly base. The formula is alright and the fact it dries to matte finish isn't ideal. That can be fixed with top coat, but a glossier finish would have been better!

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Monday!

Throwbacks Week: Maybelline Street Art Blue Beats

Remember when black and white glitters were all the rage? I remember when you could only find these types of glitters from indies. In early 2014, Maybelline decided to do their take on the black and white glitter, but adding colored matte glitter with black instead. This was one of my favorites from that collection and I loved seeing a drugstore brand take on the trend.

Blue Beats over Sinful Colors Endless Blue

Blue Beats is a mix of varying types of a black and light blue glitter in a clear base.

Collection: Maybelline Street Art Collection January 2014

Color: I love the use of the blue matte glitter paired with the black. I love this color combination and how it does offer something unique rather than just black and white glitter. I like how these colors really stand out against my base color.

Formula: Excellent and very easy to use glitter formula. There was no fishing or dabbing glitters here. I used 2 coats over a base.

Price: This was a limited edition collection, but you can still find it online if you search in the $3-$5 range.

Overall: I love this fun glitter and it reminds me I need to use glitter toppers more. I usually at bar glitter, but it works in this polish because it is mixed with other glitter shapes. It looks like confetti. I love the color and how it makes a statement on my nails.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 *Golden* Paint Splatters

Happy Friday!

KBShimmer Mega Flame Spring 2016 (4 of 7)

* I received the following products in exchange for my honest review.

I have the second half of KBShimmer's spring collection to share with you today. These polishes are part of the Mega Flame collection. This collection have the same holographic micro glitter finish as colors like Alloy Matey and Sun & Games, but these come in colored bases! The polishes will be available for purchase Tuesday March 15th.

Night Bright

 Night Bright is a black tinted based filled with holographic silver micro glitter.

Ripe for the Pink-ing

Ripe for the Pink-ing is a raspberry pink tinted base with silver holographic micro glitter.

Set in Ocean

Set in Ocean is a aqua blue tinted base with silver holographic micro glitter.

Things That Make You Go Bloom

Things That Make You Go Bloom is a lilac tinted base with silver holographic micro glitter.

Collection: KBShimmer Mega Flame Spring 2016

Colors: I'm all about the glitter, so I'm all about these polishes. These are fantastic. I would like one in every color under the sun. These a beautiful colored holographic glitters. They're bling-tastic and do not disappoint in the sparkle department in the least. My favorites of this lot are Night Bright and Set in Ocean. Be sure to check out the other colors from Cosmetic Sanctuary.

Formula: These all had a great formula. They all applied easily and smoothly. I used two coats for all of the colors here expect Things That Make You Go Bloom where I used 3 since it was a lighter shade.

Price: These are $9.25 individually and can be purchased starting Tuesday March 15th on KBShimmer or Harlow & Co.

Overall: The Mega Flame collection is definitely my favorite between the two collections. I love glitter and this collection definitely indulges my glitter obsession. I love the color variety and the intense holo glitter. This is a winning collection and a must have!

My Rating: 5 out of 5 *Golden* Paint Splatters

Happy Friday!

Sephora Formula X Aura

I have another polish from the Sephora Formula X Black Quartz collection to share with you today. I only have 2 from this collection and based on the 2 I have I'm going to need the other 3! These are beautiful blends of jewel-toned glitters in a black jelly base. I've never seen polishes with finishes like this done well. The glitters are usually drowned out by the jelly base. These are not and have that perfect balance.

Aura

Aura is a black jelly base packed with ruby red glitters.

Collection: Sephora Formula X Black Quartz Collection 2015

Color: You can't go wrong with red and black. This is gorgeous ruby red glitter and I love how it pops against that black base. This color looks rich and classy. No complaints here.

Formula: I used 3 coats on this swatch. I didn't have trouble with application. This does dry down matte and dull so 1-2 coats of top coat will give it the shine it needs to really pop.

Price: This is $12.50 from Sephora.

Overall: I love Aura. This collection is gorgeous and I love how they achieved the perfect balance of base and glitter when using a black jelly base. This isn't something I've seen accomplished well at all. My only complaint is that these dry down matte, it can be resolved with top coat, but I was surprised this didn't have a shiny finish on its own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Friday!

Sephora Formula X Bliss

A few months ago I strolled into Sephora with a friend with no intention of finding anything interesting. It always starts out that way, doesn't it? I've been very impressed with Sephora's Formula X line, so I decided to take a glance at it assuming they didn't have anything new to entice me. Wrong.

They had a new collection called Black Quartz. This collection consisted of 5 colors that were black jelly bases with jewel-toned glitters. As soon as I saw these I knew I was screwed. Oh, so very screwed. I resisted though, because these puppies are not cheap. They're $12.50 a pop. Instead, I put these on my Elfster wishlist in hopes that future gift exchange buddy may get them for me. I was in luck, as my Secret Santa did gift me 2 of these polishes over the holidays! I have the color Bliss to show you today.

Bliss

Bliss is a black jelly base loaded with aqua-blue glitter

Collection: The Black Quartz Collection

Color: This is gorgeous! I love the bright jewel-toned glitter popping out against the black base. This color is rich and vibrant. I don't really have much else to add.

Formula: The formula on this was good. It wasn't as good as some indie glitters or jelly glitters out there, but it was good. I didn't have any problems with application. I used 3 coats above. Top coat is a must on these as these dry very dull and matte.

Price: This is $12.50 at Sephora or Sephora's website.

Overall: I'm pleased with this nail polish. I don't know of anything like it out there now. It's unique to me and it's awesome it's widely available. I love the glitter against the black base. The formula is good, not amazing, but I'm not going to complain about that. The price is a bit to swallow, but it is Sephora. Bliss is a-OK with me!

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Friday!