Review: Born Pretty Store's Cracking Nail Polish (10% discount)

Got this Pink Cracking Nail Polish in shade "L023" from BornPrettyStore.com to review.  I love that they offer FREE Worldwide Shipping with No Minimum order.  It's a great alternative to OPI Shatter or China Glaze Crackle nail polishes since it's only $4.91.

Enter code MATL88 at checkout to get 10% of entire order.  This discount code is valid until December 31st.  They can sponsor a giveaway if code is used 20 times so please check it out!!!

Here is my video review/demo:



Haul: Urban Decay Super Stash and Apocalyptic Nail Kit + Swatches

Two items off my wishlist ;) Click photos to enlarge 1) Urban Decay 24/7 Super Stash - $36

• Rockstar - Dark purple
• Oil Slick - Black sparkle (new)
• Stash -Dark golden green
• Binge - Navy (new)
• Ransom - Bright iridescent purple
• Zero - Black
• Eldorado - New gold (new)
• Graffiti - Bright green with silver sparkle
• Corrupt -Brown sparkle (new)

2) Urban Decay Apocalyptic Nail Kit - $26

• White widow - white sparkle
• Gunmetal - gunmetal sparke
• Apocalypse - black purple

• Grunge - metallic peacock
• Meltdown - royal purple
• Big bang - sparkling hot pink
• Fbomb - true red

***

NOTD: Louboutin Nails Feat. Knock Out Nail Polishes

ITEMS USED: Knock Out 'Flatte Top' as base/top coat Knock Out 'Karen' on the underside of nails Knock Out 'Flatte Black' on top of nail I've been wanting to do the Louboutin mani eversince I saw this ad...

Too bad I can't keep my brittle nails this long. This is as close as I can get to Christian Louboutin shoes ;) I can drop major $ on designer bags...but not on shoes. *** MATTE NAILS I was bloghopping when I saw a post about these Knock Out polishes. I then remembered I ordered some back in March of this year but never received them. The price was $22 each back then (now it's $19). I must have been pretty occupied to forget about those. I immediately e-mailed their customer service asking for re-shipment or refund eventhough there's no guarantee they'll respond since it's been almost 5 months. They replied the same day apologizing and promising they will include free polishes to make up for it (i only got 2 extras, but still!). I was very pleased with their great customer service. Without further ado... Knock Out Nail Polishes $19 each (16.5 ml/0.56 fl oz) koknockout.com Click photos to enlarge

Up close

Starts flatte (matte) and wears into satin after a few hours. Keep using with 'Flatte Top' to re-flatten your nail polish and extend the matte look.

In case you're wondering, it looks nice with regular glossy top coat too. PROS:

• perfect for fall
• matte look stays for hours unlike other brands of matte polishes
• bigger compared to regular sized polish - u pay more but u get more product
• great customer service

CONS:

• expensive if u have limited budget
• takes time to dry because of thicker consistency
• few color selection
• not all people dig matte look

VERDICT: Note that I got KO back in March...meaning the other brands' matte collections are non-existent then so I have nothing to compare it with except for Man Glaze which is not really matte because it has tiny glitters. I suggest you check out cheaper alternatives first. KO's price really turned me off. I noticed Sephora by OPI got great color selection for their matte collection. I wonder though if the matte's staying power is as good as KO's. You can also just get KO's FLATTE TOP and use it with regular polishes. I like it better than Orly's Matte Top. If you have any suggestions for good matte polishes, lemme know! Thanks lovelies! imma leave you with this most recent pic of me and my bF. It's our 4.4 anniversary tomorrow! ***

NOTD: Multi-Colored Nails (Lauren Conrad Inspired)

I got the inspiration from Lauren Conrad as featured in the current People Style Watch mag... I initially liked the idea, tried to replicate it but the outcome didn't really appeal to my taste. I ended up doing two alternating colors instead. It looked better this way (in my opinion)... Nail polishes used... Would you wear multi-colored nails? ***

NOTD + Nail Polish and Accessories Collective Haul

NOTD using: China Glaze First & Last Milani 'Timeless' Topped with NYX 'Graffiti' 3D Rubber Nail Art Stickers from Ebay Sally Hansen Insta-Nail Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

*** Nail Stickers Haul Top Row: Urban Vibe from Wet Seal ($1.50ea) Middle Row: Perfect Nail Jewelry Seal 3D Rubber Nail Art from Ebay ($3.99ea+) Bottom Row: Forever 21 Nail Art Stickers ($1.80ea)

*** Online Nail Polish Haul

NYX Nail Lacquers from their last sale - $2 ea Top Row: CN231,CN223,CN244,CN227,CN249,CN245,CN232,CN230 Bottom Row: Pink Avenue,Peach Ave.,Purple Ave, Blue Ave., Graffiti

Check out Nonpareil Boutique website for discounted NYX items. They also got better nail polish swatches compared to NYX and Cherryculture.com websites.

*** Drugstore Nail Polishes

Top Row: CG Boundless Color in Ruby Dust, Disco Dazzle, Pink Twinkle, Crystal Mist, Amethyst Mist Bottom Row: Milani Nail Lacquer in Vintage, Antique, Ruby Jewels, Timeless

***

Mini Haul: MAC 'A Rose Romance' Collection

Yesterday, I was able to snag some items from the new MAC "A Rose Romance" Collection before its release date which is I guess today? I only got a few items since i'm not really plannin on buying anything but the MUA talked me into it =/ Click photos to enlarge The rose detail design is too cute! i had to get it!!! $22 each Swatches Up Close Swatches from afar I wasn't really a fan of MAC nail polishes but I dont have this color yet. $11 I applied only one coat. Looks opaque yeah?It's cream finish. So pretty!

NOTD: Periwinkle Rose

Pastel Color is the way to go for spring! i love it and it's so easy!

With Flash

No Flash

Items used:

China Glaze in 'Secret Periwinkle' China Glaze First and Last (Base/Top Coat) Cina Nail Jewelry Decals from Sally Beauty Supply

***

NOTD: Strawberry Fudge Hibiscus Nails

I rarely get my nails done at the salon (coz im cheap like that hehe!) and super lazy when it comes to doing nail art. When I want fab lookin nails in no time, i go through my nail stickers/decals stash.

STRAWBERRY FUDGE HIBISCUS NAILS Weird combo huh? but I really like how the colors came out!

With Flash Without Flash (Flash washes out color) Items used: China Glaze First and Last - first coat Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color in 'Rose-a-go-go' - tips OPI Nail Lacquer in 'Los Angeles Latte' - base coat Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top coat - top coat Blue/Green Hibiscus Nail Stickers from CVS i got OPI 'Los Angeles Latte' because of the name. How cute right? It's sooo LA! Plus im reppin LA too yeah! Has anyone else tried Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color? So perfect for doing tips because of its wide brush. ***

Nail Polish Swatches: Deep Purples/Blues/Greens

Click photos to enlarge...

Acronyms:

• ChG - China Glaze
• SH - Sally Hansen
• CG - Covergirl

Swatches by number:

1. ChG Bermuda Breakaway
2. ChG Calypso Blue
3. ChG Up All Night
4. GcocL Blue (ebay)
5. ChG Shower Together
6. ChG Adore
7. Savina Black Pearl
8. ChG For Audrey
9. ChG Blue Island Iced Tea
10. Revlon Bright Sky
11. NYC #241
12. GcocL Green (ebay)
13. ChG Cherish
14. SH Glow
15. SH Lime Lights
16. NYX Luxury Lime Creme
17. ChG VIII
18. OPI Ink

more swatches soon...

Review: Sally Hansen Nail Art Pens

I first saw these pens on a magazine ad and was instantly curious to get them. Anything that will make my nail design easy is a go for me. These are new so you won't see them in most drugstores yet. I read they sell these in some Walgreen's but not in our local store. I got it from ebay seller johnneysgirl73 all 8 colors for $60 + $6.75 shipping. She also included some freebies i.e. clear coat pen, emery board, and cuticle pusher.

Click images to enlarge

Clear (09), (Silver (07), Red (06), Blue (05), Gold (08), Hot Pink (04), White (01), Black (02), and Light Pink (03) DIRECTIONS FOR USE: Do not apply to bare nail. Apply base coat or polish before use. Allow polish to dry completely. Shake well with cap on. Remove cap. Push pen tip on hard surface to dispense color. Apply nail art design to nail. Allow to dry. Recap firmly after use. Seal nail with top coat when your design is complete. Protect work surface while using this product.

Since I already got my nails done few days ago, i just tried the gold pen for tips.

PROS:

• Super easy to use (imagine using a sharpie marker)
• Fine tip pen makes it easy to control and draw precise lines
• Ideal for french tip manicure
• Mistake-proof formula makes it easy to remove or correct without damaging nail polish base
• Water-based formula makes it environmentally friendly

CONS:

• Expensive at $7.99 each
• Hard to find (at the moment since it's new)

VERDICT: Not sure if I will be buying this again because of the steep price. I can pretty much do these designs using my nail art brushes but ofcourse with more patience lol. I just like that it's so easy to use especially when i'm feeling lazy, in a hurry, or even bring this when travelling. I rarely do nail art so this will last me a long time.

NOTD: Feat. NARS Nail Polish in 'Arabesque' and China Glaze 'Up all Night'

(pink glitter in a sheer base) - $16 I'm not really into glittery nail polishes but NARS 'Arabesque' stood out. The glitter chunks are not overly chunky and it dried surprisingly fast too in less than a minute. You can wear it alone or as a top coat.

China Glaze Nail Polish in 'Up all Night' (shimmery midnight blue)

Nail of the Day (NOTD): China Glaze Avalanche and Sephora by OPI Metro Chic

I did my nails today using Sephora by Opi 'Metro Chic' for base and China Glaze 'Avalanche' for silver tip...