KBShimmer Fall 2015 Collection

*Press Samples*

Hi everyone! Today I have KBShimmer's Fall 2015 Collection to share with you! This collection contains a total of 12 new shades including 4 cremes, 1 holo, 1 shimmer, and 6 glitters in pretty fall hues. These polishes are perfect for the season and many of them will get good use throughout the year as well. The Fall 2015 Collection realeases on September 15 on the KBShimmer website.

KBShimmer Bath and Body Products: Mani Shots, Sugar Scrub, and Body Lotion

*Press Samples*
Hi everyone! Today I wanted to do a review of some of KBShimmer's Bath and Body Products. I know that they are known in the nail community for their polish, but they have some pretty awesome bath and body products that you should check out as well! KBShimmer actually started as a bath and body company and eventually added nail polish to their line-up, so they really know their stuff. I have previously reviewed their cuticle oil pens, which are super nifty and moisturizing, but they also offer soaps, lotions, scrubs and their most recent addition, Mani Shots. I will be reviewing their Mani Shots, body lotion, and sugar scrub today.

Falling Into Fall: Flakies!

*Some Items in this post were previously received as press samples*

Hi everyone! I've got another "Falling Into Fall" post to share with you today, and instead of it being a specific brand or collection, this time it's a specific finish that I wanted to share! I love flakies, and I especially love to layer them over dark colors in the fall. The colors show up so vibrantly against dark base colors and make me think of fall leaves. Here are the two manis I have for you today where actually lived up to my ole blog name and did some layering!

Indigo Bananas Earth, Wind, and Fire is a holographic topper that is filled with multicolored iridescent flakies. Formula was very easy to work with and had a great effect at 1 coat over a base color (I used Pretty Serious The Crimson Pearl as my base). This polish is just GLORIOUS! There is so much going on and layering it over the dark base color just makes all of the colors pop out. This is definitely a unique flakie polish in that the flakies are unique...not quite like others that I have seen. Andrea always finds the coolest bits to make polishes with! Earth, Wind, and Fire is part of Indigo Bananas recent Neon, the 10th Element release, and is still available in the Indigo Bananas shop.

Takko Lacquer Dark Paradise has a deep blue jelly base with multicolored iridescent flakies (mostly red, green, and blue). The jelly base seemed pretty sheer to me, so I decided to layer it to really make the flakies pop more (I used 1 coat over Darling Diva Polish Queen of the Night). I've seen other manis where people have worn it on its own and it builds up to opacity, but I really think I prefer it this way. Since these are more classic iridescent flakies, I couldn't resist the urge to matte this mani, and I loved it even more matte. Dark Paradise was Takko Llarowe Exclusive, so I'm not sure if it will be available anymore since Llarowe is no longer a stockist, but Takko's regular line can be purchased in their shop.

(matte)

What finishes scream fall to you? Do you love flakies for fall too? Thanks for looking everyone!

#itrustindiepolish

 *Press Samples Included*

Hi everyone! Today I have a special post to share with you. In light of the recent Mentality situation, there has been a good bit of media attention for the indie polish community, and unfortunately it is mostly very unkind. It's really terrible that the issues and actions of one indie brand has led to painting the entirety of our hard working indie makers in a bad light. Today, we bloggers are coming together to share the love for our favorite tried and true indie brands so that we can have something positive come from this situation. Now I've only been blogging for 3 years, but I've been in the nail polish community since 2010. I was there to see the very first indies open up shop and have been a loyal indie customer ever since. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to formulas, customer service, drama, etc in the indie community, so I wanted to share with you the brands that come out on top for me after all this time.

Full disclosure: I am a blogger and some of the polishes featured in this post were press samples, but I will say that the majority of the brands that I blog for, I was a customer of long before I ever blogged for them. I am an indie polish fan first, blogger second. That has always been me. Also, this list is definitely not all-inclusive of the wonderful brands out there, but I decided to limit it to 20 (in alphabetical order) so my post wouldn't be forever long. In fact, I've just recently purchased some gorgeous polishes from Polish My Life, Firecracker Lacquer, and Lemming Lacquer and they are just amazing so I will look forward to adding them to my long list of beloved indie brands.

If you want to join in an help to support the amazing indie polish brands out there, please post your favorite indies and use the hashtag #itrustindiepolish or #itrustindies across social media to help us boost up these hard working companies! Just remember there is a huge world of people out there who aren't in the indie polish "bubble" so we want to make sure that they are exposed to some good press for our favorite indie brands, not just the negative things they are hearing in the media.

Darling Diva Polish Hug My Face Collection

*Press Samples*

Hi everyone! Today I have an absolutely stunning collection from Darling Diva Polish to share with you. The Hug My Face Collection is inspired by the Alien movies, and it is truly spacey and fantastic. I have swatches of 8 of the 10 beauties from the collection for you today. The Hug My Face Collection goes on sale tonight at 7 PM CST in the Darling Diva Polish shop.

Gradient All the Nails!

*Nothing to Disclose*

Hi everyone! Today I have another link-up with the ladies from Paint All the Nails! This month's theme is gradients, so I chose to do a gradient stamping design. I originally did a holo gradient which I intended to look sunny and bright, but somehow along the way it ended up looking like candy corn. It's still beautiful, but I think I will save that one for closer to Halloween. ;)

For this mani, I started off with a base of Darling Diva Polish Peekablue, which is AMAZING and you need it (nuff said)! It was so mermaidy, that I was inspired to pull out my trusty MoYou-London Sailor plate 05 and I picked out a pretty scalloped/shell design. For my gradient stamping, I used two polishes from a new to me brand, Hit the Bottle. They make super opaque stamping polishes in an array of stunning colors, and for this design I used Green Around the Gills (green) and Blue-tiful (blue) for my mani. Hit the Bottle is an Australian indie brand, but they are available from US e-tailer, Beautometry. I just love how this one turned out! Sometimes my favorite looks happen by chance.

Be sure to check out what all of the other crazy talented ladies are doing for their gradient manis! Thanks for looking everyone!

An InLinkz Link-up

My First Indie!

*Nothing to Disclose*

Hi everyone! Today I'm participating in a fun link-up with some other members of the nail community where we are sharing our first indie polish! After a little perusal of my Etsy history, I figured out that my very first indie purchase was from none other than Hare Polish, waaaay back in the summer of 2011. I remember my first purchase from Hare was Archipelago, Bisbee, and Pegasus. At the time I didn't know much about glitters or how to apply them. I also had super short nails and pastels looked horrid on me. For those two reasons, I ended up swapping Pegasus away. Then, as luck would have it, Nikole re-released Pegasus a few years later and a snatched it up again after having swappers regret. So for today's post, I decided to re-visit Pegasus!

Hare Polish Pegasus is a lavender jelly filled with various sizes of silver and white hex glitters. Formula was pretty easy to work with, but I found it worked best to use thin coats so that too much glitter didn't end up on the nail. It looked perfect at 3 thin coats, with 2 coats of topcoat to smooth it out. I must say, I really love the soft ethereal look of Pegasus. It's funny how after a few years a polish I hated on me I now think is really quite flattering!

Be sure to check out what everyone else's first indie polish was! What was you first indie polish purchase? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for looking everyone!

An InLinkz Link-up

Zoya Flair Collection for Fall 2015

*Press Samples*

Hi everyone! Today I have the second half of Zoya's Fall 2015 offerings, the Flair Collection. This collection contains 6 metallic polishes in rich fall colors. These are available now on Zoya's website and should be hitting stores soon!

HPB Presents: Neons

*Nothing to Disclose*

Hi everyone! Today I'm participating in the August Hobby Polish Bloggers Link-Up and the theme this month is neons. I picked up a few of Indigo Bananas Neon, the 10th Element polishes a little while ago, and I've been itching to try them in a water marble, so that's what I've got for you today.

For my mani, I used Indigo Bananas The Uranium Evil (neon yellow), Rubidium Rhod (neon red), and Diva Plumbum (neon teal) for the marble on my middle two fingers (over a white base) and then came back and added some dots with the red and teal. Then I used The Uranium Evil on my other nails. The neons spread well and marbled nicely. This was such a fun look and the colors make me think of sno-cones, so I think that's a good way to end the summer! I guess my topcoat ended up bubbling (It's in need of some thinner) and I didn't even notice it in real life, but you can definitely tell in the pictures. Ah well, such is life.

Great Lakes Lacquer September Limited Editions

*Press Samples*

Hi everyone! Today I have two gorgeous limited edition polishes that are coming in September from Great Lakes Lacquer! These will be available on August 31 at 7 PM EST and will be available during the month of September only in the Great Lakes Lacquer shop, so be sure to grab them while you can! Both of these are stunners, so you won't want to miss out!

ILNP Money Bin

*Purchased by Me*

Hi everyone! Today I have a gorgeous polish from ILNP to share with you! Gah, I really wanted to buy pretty much everything that ILNP put out this summer (very much because of Emily from Very Emily being SUCH an enabler), but I somehow narrowed it down to just four of them for the time being. Money Bin IMMEDIATELY spoke to me and I knew it had to be on my "to get" list, and it did not disappoint!

ILNP Money Bin is a warm gold linear holo filled with gold flakies. Even though it is packed with flakies, it it applied very easily and I used 3 thin coats for full coverage. This polish is just blingy to the MAX! If you are a gold lover, I highly recommend picking this baby up. You won't be disappointed!

Zoya Focus Collection for Fall 2015

*Press Samples*

Hi everyone! Today I have the creme half of Zoya's Fall 2015 offerings, the Focus Collection. This collection consists of 6 fall cremes that will definitely get you feeling warm and cozy. I feel like several of these would be great fall colors as well as good to wear year-round, so it's always good to see some versatility in seasonal collections. These are available now on Zoya's website and should be hitting stores soon!

Hare Polish Sea Bunny and Pilgrimage to Pebble Beach

*Press Samples*

Hi everyone! Today I have two new Hare Polishes to share with you! Sea Bunny is a new addition to the Jackalope line (which are her one-offs that don't belong to a particular collection) and Pilgrimage to Pebble Beach is a late addition to Nikole's Welcome to Twin Peaks line. Both of these were restocked yesterday and are currently available in the Hare Polish Etsy shop!

Sea Bunny is an ivory white jelly filled with black squares and hexes, charcoal flakies, gold flakies, and a sprinkling of holographic shimmer. The formula is very easy to work with and spreads well with a great glitter/flakie load. It started off sheer, but built up really nicely to opacity in 3 thin coats. This is just classic Hare awesomeness! This is definitely one of my new favorite Hares! And by the way, this polish is inspired by the cutest little sea creature ever, the Sea Bunny!

Pilgrimage to Pebble Beach is a soft neon green jelly filled with blue/purple ultra chrome flakies and red copper flakes. Formula starts off sheer, but builds nicely to opacity in 3 thin coats. This one is such a bright and happy green! The flakies pop perfectly against the base!

Hare Polish is available from Nikole's Etsy Shop as well as from several other e-tailers around the world (complete list found here). Be sure to check out Hare's website, Instagram, and Facebook for updates on new collections and restock info. Thanks for looking everyone!

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Claw Polish Swatch and Review

*Press Samples*

Hi everyone! Today I have some polishes to share with you from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab's Claw Polish line. These polishes are meant to embody the spirit of their well known scents. They are NOT scented polishes, I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea but the colors are inspired by the scents. These polishes are available now on the Black Phoenix Trading Post website along with many others in the line! I included the descriptions off of the website for each polish...I think they are so dark and mysterious! ;)

Hare Polish Inverse Universe for September's A Box, Indied

*Press Sample*

Hi everyone! Today I have Hare Polish's contribution to September's A Box, Indied. The theme for the September box is "Opposites Attract" and it features finishes and/or effects that the makers don't typically make in their own lines. Other participants in the September box include CrowsToes, Girly Bits, Serum No. 5, and Black Cat Lacquer.

Hare Polish Inverse Universe is a deep burgundy jelly holo filled with ultra chrome flakies. Formula is very nice with complete coverage in 2 coats. Hare Polish has never done a full on holo before (only scattered ones) but the addition of the flakies really give it that Hare personality. It's still not an "in your face" holo because of the multitude of flakies, but it's definitely the most holo Hare that Nikole has ever made. This polish is pure vampy gorgeousness and among my favorite ultra chrome flakie polishes to date.

A Box, Indied is available from Llarowe for $50 each. Each box contains 5 polishes and/or products that are exclusive to that box and will not be available individually. You can sign up to receive a box each month or you can purchase the boxes individually when they are released. Follow Llarowe's Facebook page for announcements of exact dates and times of releases (the box for the next month is usually released around the end of the previous month.) She will also give previews of the products and makers that will be in the box (there is a rotation of makers that are included, it isn't always the same). Thanks for looking everyone!

CrowsToes Shiny Happy People for September's A Box, Indied

*Press Sample*

Hi everyone! Today I have CrowsToes' contribution to September's A Box, Indied. The theme for the September box is "Opposites Attract" and it features finishes and/or effects that the makers don't typically make in their own lines. Other participants in the September box include Hare Polish, Girly Bits, Serum No. 5, and Black Cat Lacquer

CrowsToes Shiny, Happy People is a shimmery thermal polish that changes from a bright grassy green (warm) to a slightly deeper tealy green (cool). It is packed with translucent white flakies with scattered silver holo glitters. Formula was very easy to work with and I got full coverage in 3 thin coats (though I think 2 regular coats would have been perfect.) The thermal shift is subtle, but more apparent in real life than I could capture on camera because it is varied shades of green not two completely different colors (you can see the "cool" state really well as the bottle color in my pics though). It stays mostly in the warm state on me because it is very hot where I live and I'm hot natured. I'm a green lover, so this polish is right up my alley. The flakes and the subtle addition of scattered holo bits is just perfection.

(warm)

(transitioning)

(cool)

A Box, Indied is available from Llarowe for $50 each. Each box contains 5 polishes and/or products that are exclusive to that box and will not be available individually. You can sign up to receive a box each month or you can purchase the boxes individually when they are released. Follow Llarowe's Facebook page for announcements of exact dates and times of releases (the box for the next month is usually released around the end of the previous month.) She will also give previews of the products and makers that will be in the box (there is a rotation of makers that are included, it isn't always the same). Thanks for looking everyone!

Glam Polish Hey Ya!

*Purchased by Me*

Hi everyone! Today I have a polish that I actually wore ages ago but forgot to post (there are probably going to be several of those coming up since I'm going through my Photobucket right now). Glam Polish Hey Ya is from the Bling It On! Trio which launched earlier in the summer. It is a rose gold linear holo with gold and pink holo microglitters throughout. Formula was very nice to work with and I used 2 coats for full coverage. This polish is just SO blingtastic and amazing and I actually think that that it has made it onto my favorites of 2015 list because I was so wowed by it. It's currently available in the Glam Polish shop, so be sure to pick it up if you are a gold lover (I actually will probably pick up the other two in this trio before it's all said and done).

Literary Lacquers Vurt-U-Want

*Purchased by Me*

Hi everyone! Today I have another gorgeous polish from Literary Lacquers' Vurt-U-Want Collection to share with you. I previously shared Bottletown with you and I still have two more to share at some point when I get around to wearing them (I have too much polish guys...it's a fact). The one I have today is actually the namesake of the collection!

Vurt-U-Want is a hot pink jelly with a linear holographic finish that is filled with silver holographic microglitters. This one actually has two sizes of microglitters, so it's even a blingier finish than Literary Lacquers' usual glittery holos. Formula was a breeze to work with and I used 3 thin coats for full coverage. I used 2 coats of my regular topcoat (NYC Grand Central Station) to smooth it out and give it a glassy finish. This is such a gorgeous bright pink and the glitters just send it over the top. If you are a pink lover, I highly recommend picking it up.

FingerPaints Once in a Wild Collection

*Press Samples*

Hi everyone! Today I have the limited edition FingerPaints Once in a Wild Collection to share with you. This collection is made up of 3 brand new limited edition shades as well as 3 core shades. This collection looks like a perfect transitional collection into the fall months. The displays should be out in stores now and this collection will be available until the end of August. This is a really fantastic collection to transition into fall!

Darling Diva Polish Salem Collection (Partial)

*Nothing to Disclose*

Hi everyone! It's about to be fall again and I'm already twitching for fall colors even though it's only August. If you guys remember from last year, I did a little "Falling Into Fall" series where I showed some new fall collections as well as revisited some older fall collections from previous years. I have several new transitional and fall collections coming up, but today I'm going to share some selections from a collection that was released last fall, the Darling Diva Polish Salem Collection. I posted Malum from this collection last fall and I loved it so much that I had to pick up a few more before they disappeared for good. These are some seriously vampy polishes, so be sure to grab them if that's your thing...I promise you won't be disappointed! All of these except Queen of the Night are still currently available in the Darling Diva Polish shop.

Elevation Pahlish Venetian Duo

*Press Samples*

Hi everyone! Today I have the Venetian Duo to share with you which is a collaboration between Elevation Polish and Pahlish. This duo rounds out their collaborative Marco Polo Collection which I posted about here and here. This duo lauched last week in Pahlish's shop and yesterday in Elevation Polish's shop and will be available during the month of August in both shops for $22 and comes with special "Elevation Pahlish" LE labels.