3 Empties: Dream Polish Gem Glam Top Coat, Fortune Cookie Soap Whipped Cream and Sunny's Body Products Hand Lotion

Greetings and Nailutations,

It's another installment of 3 empties, where I review 3 products I have used up and express my opinion on how well they worked, how they smelled, their packaging and if I'd make a repeat purchase.

The first product is my go to top coat from Dream Polish, Gem Glam Top Coat in the scent of Clovers and Dirt.  This was a limited edition spring scent and it has become one of my top scents.  Right now I would rank them as Melon Baller/Summer Melon (tied for 1st), then Clovers and Dirt and then Pink Sugar.  Gem Glam Top Coat is also 5-free, so it doesn't contain 5 of the harsh chemicals that can be found in polish.

Smell Test:  smells like earth, or grass on a spring morning.  So refreshing and clean (even though the word dirt is in the name!)
Feel Test fast drying
Packaging Test:  easy application, due to the wide brush
Buy Again:  Of course!  I have a drawer dedicated to Gem Glam Top Coat scents!

The next product I used up was from Fortune Cookie Soap.  I purchased a Whipped Cream, which is their whipped body lotion in the scent of Krispy Cream.  I have become obsessed with Fortune Cookie Soap's Whipped Creams and they are one of my favorite products in their shop.

Smell Test: super sweet, like a glazed donut.  My husband LOVED the scent, but it was a bit too sweet for me.
Feel or Look Test:  Smooth, light and buttery feeling.  Makes my skin feel so moisturized.
Packaging: Nice pot, with screw on lid and see-through jar.
Buy Again:  YES!  I love the Whipped Creams, but will try for less sweet scents.

The last product was a product that was in Sunny's Body Products Exclusive Spring Box.  It is Sunny's On The Go Hand Lotion in the scent of Breezes and Sunshine.  I was looking forward to the Spring Box because all the scents were described as clean - and I love clean scents.  

Smell Test:  soft, clean floral scent.  I'm sniffing my hands after rubbing the last of it on my hands and I smell lilies and fabric softener sheets in the fresh outdoor scent.

Feel or Look Test: I loved this lotion!  It absorbed very quickly, which is important since I kept this at my desk at work and I don't like greasy finger prints on my keyboard.  

Packaging: it came in a 1 oz plastic bottle, which had a flip lid.  I liked the shape and look of this container.   

Buy Again: Yes she carries over 400 scents!  I would order this scent again, but it was exclusive to the Spring Box.

Have you tried any of these products?  What are your thoughts?

Happy Polishing,
Kristi aka @BeginNails

It Girl IG103 Stamping Plate Review Part 1

Greetings and Nailutations,

*Press Sample*
Today I have a new stamping plate to share from a new indie stamping line called It Girl.  It Girl is based out of Tacoma, Washingtong (my home state!) and has the 3 initial plates open for pre-order. One thing I noticed first off is that the surface of the plates isn't as reflective as others, which I prefer as it makes taking photos a LOT easier!  I was able to capture each image and get a macro of each.

Now let's get to some manis!

Envy Lacquer Neutral Trio Swatch and Review

Greetings and Nailutations,

*Press Sample*
Today I'll be sharing the second half of the Rock Candy Collection...or more specifically the Neutral Trio from Envy Lacquer.  This trio consist of muted jellies with micro flakies.  The other half of the collection is a Brights Trio, which I covered in an earlier blog post.

Now let's get to some swatches!

First up is Unwrap A Kiss, a soft light grey (or gray if you prefer) jelly with silver holographic micro flakies with great formula.  This is the a fun work appropriate polish that is muted with subtle sparkle.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

Next is Nekkid Mocha, a soft neutral beige jelly with silver holographic flakies and turquoise iridescent micro flakies as well as some silver shimmer.  Formula applied easy and self leveled.  This is a great neutral if you need to be a bit more professional at work...and then in the light it sparkles and winks at you!  Photos show 2 coats for total opacity with shiny top coat.

Last polish of the trio is Licorice Whip.  Licorice Whip is a black jelly with silver holographic micro flakies as well as teal, blue and purple iridescent micro flakies.  Formula was easy to work with.  This polish was so sparkly, it was very difficult to get a clear photo.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

Shiny Top Coat: Gem Glam Top Coat from www.dreampolish.com

Loves: My favorite of the Neutral Trio is Nekkid Mocha.  I love how it's a soft neutral and then you put it in the light and sparkle-palooza happens!  Formula on all three were perfect and applied easily.  The best thing is that in a blog post about the Seven Sins of Summer Collections from Envy Lacquer, I wished for black, grey and white with little shimmer and flakies!!  Most of my wish came true!

Wishes: Thanks for making my wish come true!!

Which are your favorites?

Stay Connected:
Store: www.envylacquer.com
Instagram: @envylacquer

Happy Polishing,
Kristi aka @BeginNails

CDB Lacquer August Limited Edition Swatch and Review

Greetings and Nailutations!

*Press Sample*
CDB Lacquer released her August LE August 1st and it is nearly sold out!  The polish is a luscious blurple (blue + purple) crelly with teal micro glitter, white and purple matte hexes in a few sizes and royal blue hexes.  The formula was easy to apply and there was no glitter fishing.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

Top Coat: Gem Glam Top Coat from www.dreampolish.com

Loves: I love Cheyenne's glitter crellies.  The inventive combination of colors in how she has several glitters that go with the hues of blurple and then a color of glitter to pop on Summer Showers is stunning.  I also love that there was zero glitter fishing.  All of CDB Lacquer products are 5-free as well, so they don't contain 5 of the harsh chemicals that can be found in polish.

Wishes: This polish is perfection!  I love purples and this shade is amazing!  I wouldn't add or take anything away from it!

Stay connected:

http://www.cdblacquer.com/

https://instagram.com/cdblacquer

https://www.facebook.com/groups/cdblacquer/

Happy Polishing,

Kristi aka @BeginNails

Rock Candy Collection Brights Trio Swatch and Review

Greetings and Nailutations,

*Press Sample*
Today I'll be sharing the first half of the Rock Candy Collection...or more specifically the Brights Trio portion from Envy Lacquer.  This trio consist of bright jellies with micro flakies.  The other half of the collection is a Neutral Trio, which I will cover in a separate blog post.

Now let's get to some swatches!

First up is Blueberry Blizzard, a teal jelly with silver holographic micro flakies.  The formula went on smoothly and it was almost opaque in 2 coats.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat (1st, 2nd and 3rd photos) and matte top coat (4th, 5th and 6th photos).

Next up is my favorite of all 6 in the entire collection, Razzmatazz.  Razzmatazz is a bright neon purple jelly with silver holographic micro flakies.  The formula was amazing and went on perfect.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat (1st, 2nd and 3rd photos) and matte top coat (4th, 5th and 6th photos).

The last polish in the Bright Trio of the Rock Candy Collection is Zapped Apple.  This bright neon green jelly contain silver holographic micro flakies.  Again, I saw perfect formula on this polish as with the others.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat (1st, 2nd and 3rd photos) and matte top coat (4th, 5th and 6th photos).

Shiny Top Coat: Gem Glam Top Coat from www.dreampolish.com
Matte Top Coat: Polish Matte'rs from www.girlybits.cosmetics.com

Loves: Great collection!  The finish and color selection were on point here.  I love her formulas on jellies!  They apply evenly and smooth.  My favorite of the trio is Razzmatazz, since I have a thing for purples.

Wishes: So fun!  I couldn't wish for anything extra with this trio!

Which are your favorites?

Stay Connected:
Store: www.envylacquer.com
Instagram: @envylacquer

Happy Polishing,
Kristi aka @BeginNails

Frannie's Nail Elixir Swatch and Review

Greetings and Nailutations,

*Gift*
These polishes were obtained in a swap with the owner of Frannie's Nail Elixir.  I'm always excited to try new indie brands.  This post is a little bittersweet...less than a week ago Fran has announced she is no longer going to make polish to sell (she has a lot going on in her life with her fiancé's health needing some special attention).  Family should be first priority so I completely understand.  I wish them the best...especially since she has an eye for colors!  I have gotten to chat with her on a few occasions and what I found was a creative, passionate, caring and lovely individual.  Although these polishes may not be available for purchase, should she open up shop again, I wanted to have a blog post about her initial collection.

Now let's get to some swatches!

First up is Golden Chalice, a golden shimmer polish.  Golden Chalice is one of my favorites due to the originality of the color and finish.  Formula went on smoothly and applied easily.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

Next is Strawberry Meadows, a light magenta pink shimmer polish.  Like Golden Chalice, it had perfect formula and applied nice.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

Faerie Dust is the next polish and is a dusty olive green shimmer polish.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

Raven's Song is a black shimmer polish with hints of holographic rainbow powder that can be seen in the daylight bulb.  Raven's Song is a dynamic shimmer polish that really surprised me and became one of my favorites.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

Next is North Star, a beautiful yellow shimmer polish.  This polish is stunning in the day light bulb and I could see why it was called North Star.  Formula was phenomenal and photos show 2 coats for total opacity with shiny top coat.

The last polish is Coral Reef which was a quick favorite, just looking at the bottle.  Coral Reef his a coral shimmer polish with hints of pink in the day light bulb.  Photos show 2 coats with shiny top coat.

Top Coat: Gem Glam Top Coat from www.dreampolish.com

Loves: The shimmer finishes really created a great collection.  Golden Chalice, Coral Reef and Raven's Song were my favorite and North Star was a close favorite too.  The color selections were original and creative.  Formula is perfection and I love that each color only needed 2 coats for total opacity.

Wishes: Obviously I wish that Frannie's Nail Elixir will come back into indie business...I mean look at the finishes and colors she selected!

Stay connected with Frannie's Nail Elixir by follower her on instagram (@franniesnailelixir).

Happy Polishing,
Kristi aka @BeginNails