Let's Talk Nail Polish Removers!

Hey, guys!  Today I thought I would share with you my thoughts on the remover I am currently using, which is the Nailtiques Non-Acetone remover.  I picked this up at Ulta while looking for something gentle since we're coming out of winter here, and it's cold and dry and an all-around terrible time of year for my hands.  It includes aloe and conditioners!  I also picked up a Flowery pump, so I ditched the bottle, but it also said something about the remover having a pleasant scent!  I was sure that this remover would be the be-all-end-all of removers, but I was sadly mistaken.  To me, I feel it's quite drying (moreso than other acetone-based removers Ive tried), and it has a strong scent that is nowhere near as pleasant as OPI Expert Touch, Essie Naturally Clean, or Zoya Remove +.  I know that others seem to love this remover (the Ulta rating is currently the same as OPI Expert Touch), but it was a total dud for me.  I've recently had a hard time with some glitters I've tried, but to be fair, they may have just been stubborn glitters and it's possible that wasn't the fault of the remover.  So overall, I wouldn't recommend it.  There are other removers in around the same price range that leave my cuticles much happier and smell better, to boot!

Here's a breakdown of the price per volume of all the removers I've mentioned:
• Zoya Remove + // $9.99 for 8 ounce, or $1.25 per ounce
• Essie Naturally Clean // $6.00 for 4 ounces, or $1.50 per ounce

• OPI Expert Touch // 5.95 for 4 ounces, or $1.49 per ounce

• Nailtiques // $8.00 for 6 ounces, or $1.33 per ounce

So clearly Nailtiques is a little cheaper by volume than OPI Expert Touch or Essie Naturally Clean, but I would still put it at the bottom of the list were I to rank these four.  I found Essie Naturally Clean to be drying, too, but the scent is much nicer.  OPI Expert Touch has a citrusy scent, which I love, and leaves my cuticles looking and feeling nice.  Zoya Remove + is my favorite of the bunch, and I was surprised to see that it's actually the least expensive per volume!  It's definitely worth mentioning that Nailtiques is the only non-acetone remover on this list; however, OPI Expert Touch and Zoya Remove + both contain additives to counteract the drying properties of acetone and condition nails and cuticles.

Mint Fancy Swatches

*Press Sample*

Hello, everybody!  I finally had a decent day to take a few pictures.  Yay!  So today I've got some swatches from a new-to-me brand that's 5-free: Mint!  I reached out to Mint in the hopes of finding some great non-toxic brands to share with you guys, and Greta was kind enough to send me some samples!  The first color I tried, Fancy, was my least favorite in the bottle, but I actually ended up really liking it!  Click through to see the rest of the swatches.

Rainbow Honey Crystal Sword Swatches

Hello!  My apologies for not getting this up on time.  The weather here was pretty gloomy yesterday and it's even worse today, so I'll have to update this post later with outdoor lighting.  :(  Without further ado, the remaining color from the Rainbow Honey March Mystery Bag, Crystal Sword!

Blogiversary Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations, Cindy Aiton and Joyce Chatman!  Check your E-mail and respond within 48 hours to claim your prize.

Rainbow Honey Lemon Honey Swatches

Okay, guys.  Remember in my last post where I said time had been getting away from me?  Well, nothing's changed on that front.  Luckily, the reason for that will probably become more clear soon.  Anywhoodle, I've got another shade from the Rainbow Honey March Mystery Bag to share with you today!  Click through to see the rest of the swatches!

Rainbow Honey Kozmic Blues Swatches

Hello, all!  Today I've got just one color fro the Rainbow Honey March 2015 Mystery Bag to show you.  In the past, I've been able to do a full review of the mystery bag all on one fell swoop, but time has been getting away from the past couple of weeks.  The remaining Mystery Bag items will probably go up on Friday.  Click through to see the rest of the swatches!

Zoya Maria Luisa Swatches

Hey, guys!  I totally forgot I had taken these pictures and started freaking out a little bit about what other greens I had to show you...  And then I finally remembered that I had these and all was well with the world!  Click through to see the rest of the swatches...

Blogiversary Giveaway!

It's hard to believe, but today is my four year blogiversary!  My, how time flies...  I made my first blog post on this date in 2011, and a lot has changed since then.  I went from working in retail to working in hospitality, a switch I'm glad I made.  I went from posting sporadically to a regular update schedule.  I went from mostly swatching eyeshadow to almost exclusively featuring nail polish.  I went from not owning any nail polish to having a ginormous stash and feeling naked if I don't have something on my nails.  Thank you for reading my silly little blog and coming along for the ride.  I really appreciate it.  And I'm holding a blogiversary giveaway to show you, my readers, some much-deserved appreciation!  There are two prizes, and eight ways to enter.  The giveaway is open to all readers ages 18+, and ends at 12:00 a.m. 3/23/15.  Winners will be posted next Monday, 3/23, and required to provide contact info within 48 hours or forfeit their prize.  Good luck!

Prizes:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

First Impressions - FingerPaints Gel-Like Base and Top Coats + Hard As Steel Strengthener

*Press Sample*

Today is going to be a rare day in that I will not have any nail photos in my post!  I want to talk to you guys about some products that FingerPaints graciously sent for my review.  Last week I told you about their new Grab It! Base Coat and Smooth Over Ridge Filler, which I really liked.  This week, I have a product that I was pretty neutral about and two that just didn't work for me.  Click through to read more.

Zoya Stassi Swatches

Hey, guys!  Today I have another fantastic Zoya polish share with you.  Stassi came out as part of the 2014 Bubbly collection alongside Harper, Binx, Muse, Alma, and Jesy.  Click through to see the rest of the swatches!

Zoya Severine Swatches

Hey, guys!  Today I've got a color from Zoya's NYNH mystery trio to share with you.  There was some controversy surrounding these colors when people saw them earlier this year.  Click through to read more and see the rest of the swatches!

First Impressions - FingerPaints Smooth Over Ridge Filler + Grab It! Base Coat

*Press Sample*

Hey, guys!  Today I've got a couple of new products to show you from FingerPaints.  These items were kindly sent for me to review.  When I was initially contacted about these products, I was particularly interested in one item: Smooth Over Ridge Filler.  I haven't invested in a ridge-filling base coat because not all of my nails have ridges, but I do have one very prominent ridge that was caused by a nailbed trauma I suffered at the proverbial hands of a swingset chain while babysitting in my late teens.  Warning: the remainder of this introductory blurb is somewhat graphic and may cause unpleasant mental imagery, so please skip the italicized portion if you are sensitive to that sort of thing.  One of the kids ran out in front of me while I was swinging with the other kid, and in I dug my toes into the sand in order to avoid hitting him.  I had simultaneously tightened my grip on the chain - which resulted in my finger getting caught in one of the links - and it got a pretty good yank as I slid off of the swing and to the ground.  A bit of my cuticle ripped, and a small portion of my nail grew out black.  Ever since that incident, my nail has had the gnarly ridge you see below.

Click through to read about my first impression about this product!

Zoya Zuza + Muse Swatches

Hey, guys!  Today I've got a look for you that I absolutely loved!  I hated to take it off, and I almost didn't have to thanks to a couple of products I'm going to talk about on Friday, but it was time for a change.  Check out that sparkle, and click through to see the rest of the swatches!

Zoya Myrta Swatches

Hey, guys!  Today I've got a couple of Zoyas to share with you that I ordered during the New year New Hue promotion.  Say what you will about the mystery shades, the interpretation of the promotional verbiage, and the shipping times, but there's no denying it was a fantastic deal (and well worth the wait, in my opinion).

100 Day No-Buy Update

Today is the halfway mark in my 100 day no-buy, and it hasn't been easy!  I almost broke down when I won a $30 credit to the Deborah Lippmann website through a Twitter contest.  The credit had to be used within the week, and If I only got one color, $10 would go to waste!  Luckily, through the magic of the internet, I was able to find a fellow blogger who was willing to help me out by using my code to order two bottles and then mailing mine to me!  How awesome is that?!  I was really close to getting a second shade and bending the rules since I didn't pay full price for it, but ultimately I stayed strong!  Combine that temptation with all of the awesome LEs and Spring collections that have been coming out (Delush's Spring to Conclusions collection is particularly noteworthy, as I want every single one of them) and it's been extremely difficult to say the least.  I had been hoping I could even last longer than 100 days, but I just don't see that happening at this point.  There is just too much amazing stuff coming out right now, and there will be even more in the next month and a half!