Skeptical Saturday Mani.. butter LONDON The Black Knight

It's time for a Skeptical Saturday Mani Post.  Today I decided on butter LONDON The Black Knight.  I've heard mixed opinions on this one.  It seems like people either love it or hate it.  I usually like dark colors with multicolored glitter, so I had the opportunity to get my hands on this one in a swap, so I decided to try it.  Let's see how it turned out..

butter LONDON The Black Knight:

The formula with The Black Knight was thick and splotchy.  I applied three coats.  I do like the blue, red and pink glitter, especially with the black base.  I like the concept of this polish, but the formula, the grittiness and the dullness (I added 2 coats of China Glaze Fast Forward) just isn't worth it in my opinion.  The Black Knight is pretty while it lasts, which isn't long. (I applied it before bed and it was already chipping late the next morning).

This one was just more trouble than it was worth in my opinion.  What do you think?  Do you own The Black Knight?

Skeptical Saturday Mani.. Essie Dive Bar

I chose Essie's Dive Bar for this week's Skeptical Saturday Mani..  I thought I would love the color on my nails because it's such a pretty shimmery blue/black with a hint of purple in the bottle, but after I applied Dive Bar, I wasn't so sure.. What do you think??

Essie Dive Bar:

Eh, this one looks prettier in the bottle.  I think I like Essie for their wonderful lighter creme polishes, but I just haven't been too crazy for their dark shimmers or metallics.  Dive Bar is ok.. I may wear it sometime, but for now it's resting comfortably in my helmer..

Have a wonderful weekend Everyone!!

Skeptical Saturday Mani.. Pretty Woman Magnetix from Rite Aid

*** My 300 Follower Giveaway ends tonight at midnight.. Hurry and enter! ***

It's Saturday and it's time for another Skeptical Saturday Mani.  This week I chose this magnetic  polish without a name from Rite Aid.  It's made by a brand called "Pretty Woman" (I've never heard of them)... so, I'm just going to call this one Blue Magnetix. ;)  They are available in a variety of colors for $8 each and they come with two magnets each..

Pretty Woman Blue Magnetix:

I bought this magnetic polish because I've read good things about this brand.  I have a Layla Magneffect Polish and I couldn't get the magnet effect to work well.  I thought this brand would work better, but it didn't for me.  I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong??  I'm holding the magnet directly over each nail immediately after applying a thick coat.  It seems like the magnetic effect shows up strongly right after I hold the magnet over the polish, then fades as time goes by... Does that make sense??  Probably not.  

Moral of the story.. I really don't care for magnetic polishes and it's probably because I'm doing something wrong ... not the polish and magnetic.  If I really liked this type of polish, I'd try harder, but it's just kinda "meh", so maybe I'll try harder with the two I have, but I won't go out and purchase another. LOL

What about you?  Do you like Magnetic Polishes?  What's your favorite brand?

Happy Weekend, Kids!!

Skeptical Saturday Mani.. Material Girl..Psychedelic and Labyrinth

Wow, it's Saturday already.. that means another Skeptical Saturday Mani Post.  Today I chose two Material Girl Polishes I purchased a while back while shopping online at Macy's.  I'm pretty sure these polishes are exclusive to Macy's.  They are from Madonna and her daughter, Lola's new line of clothing, make-up etc...  The look of these bottles mimic those of butter LONDON so closely.  I've read varies stories about a possible lawsuit from butter LONDON vs Material Girl Polishes...  who knows??

I've been leery about trying these two because the colors aren't what I expected.  (That's what you get for trying to pick a color online).  Today is a perfect day to give them a try..

First up is Psychedelic: 

The last of these three pictures best represents what Psychedelic looks like in real life.  On Macy's site, it's described as: " A provocative, vivacious violet shimmer."  I usually like blue-based purples (like the first two pictures).  This one is more red based.  It's pretty, it's just not my favorite type of purple.  Psychedelic is very sheer.  Pictured is three coats.

Next is Labyrinth: 

Labyrinth over Psychedelic

Labyrinth over Psychedelic

Labyrinth is described as: "An unexpected rainbow of pink glitter."  I'm not sure why they'd call it pink glitter. It's medium sized round rainbow glitter in a clear base.  It's really gritty like sea salt and OMG did it stink!!  I applied two coats over Psychedelic, took pictures, and removed it asap!!  I had to crack a window for this one.. but it is pretty.  I think I'd like it better over black.  (I'll wear a gas mask if I ever use it again)

I'm not sure if these polishes are 3 FREE.  I can't seem to find that info anywhere.  They're both pretty colors, but I don't think I'll be buying any more.  Do you have any Material Girl Polishes?  What do you think of them?

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Skeptical Saturday Mani.. butter LONDON Trout Pout

Hey Everyone.. It's time for another Skeptical Saturday Mani.  I know this one is late.  It's after 10pm on Saturday, but I didn't have time earlier to post.  butter LONDON just released their Spring Collection and Trout Pout is part of it. I ordered a few of these online at rickysnyc.com and was pleasantly surprised with their extremely fast shipping!!

Trout Pout is described as: "An opaque shade of cantaloupe- pale and retro."  It kinda reminds me of  My Skeptical Saturday Post of Zoya Maya...only lighter.  I don't usually like peachy corals (or corals, period), but I decided to give Trout Pout a shot..

butter LONDON Trout Pout:

Trout Pout is another one of those colors I really don't care for in person, but I like it in pictures.  I wore this color for a few hours, then removed it.  I just don't like it on me.  The formula wasn't that great either.  I had to apply three coats and Trout Pout was still a bit streaky.  This one goes up for swaps.. Anyone interested?

The color is pretty... it's just not for me.

****Don't forget to enter my 300 follower giveaway!!****

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!! :)

Skeptical Saturday Mani.. Julep Jodie

Happy Weekend!!  It's time for another Skeptical Saturday Mani... Each week I pick a color I'm not too sure about, swatch it, and give my review... then I'd love to hear what you think. :)

If you know me, you know why I had to have Julep Jodie.  My name is Jodi (of course no one ever spells it the way I do.)  Anyway, my friend, Destany was kind enough to swap me for Julep Jodie.  I'm kinda "skeptical" about this color, so I thought Jodie would make a perfect Skeptical Saturday Mani Post..

Julep Jodie:

indirect light

sunlight

indirect sunlight

Julep must have already discontinued Jodie.  I just went to their website to see how they describe her and she wasn't there anymore :(  Anyway, Jodie is a coppery, dusty pink.  I usually don't go for coppers, but the pink part of Jodie makes me like her just a little bit. ;)  Application with Jodie was easy.  Above  pictures are two coats with no topcoat.

Should I be skeptical of Jodie??  Nah... She's just not a color I wouldn't choose for myself, but I'm glad I have her just for the name..  If I could choose a color to represent "Jodi", I think it would be a deep pink (almost hot pink) cool toned holo! :)  Do you have any polishes that share your namesake?  What do you think about it?  I'm just waiting for Zoya to come out with an amazing JODI!!  ;)

Skeptical Saturday Mani.. OPI Did It On 'Em and Save Me

Happy Saturday!!  It's a beautiful day here again!!  Yay!!  It's time for another Skeptical Saturday Mani Post.  I knew right away when I saw previews of OPI's Nicki Minaj Collection, I'd be leery of Did It On 'Em.  This one is soooo not my color....

Did It On 'Em:

It kinda reminds me of the stuff Linda Blair spat out of her mouth in the movie "The Exorcist."  (Man, I had some serious nightmares after seeing that movie.)  I just don't like this chartreuse cream.  The formula is awesome though and application was easy... two coats for full opacity.  I won't be wearing this one again... well maybe if I'm doing Frankenstein Nails for Halloween.. LOL

I thought maybe a fun glitter top coat could "save" Did It On 'Em....

Here is Save Me over Did It On 'Em:

Save Me on Did It On 'Em

Save Me on Did It On 'Em

Save Me on Did It On 'Em

Save Me is also from the Nicki Minaj Collection.  It's such a fun glitter, I think it could cheer up any many.  I also think this is the first bar glitter I've ever seen in any OPI.  Save Me is a clear base filled with small silver glitter and multi-colored bar glitter.  Above pictures are one coat of Save Me over Did It On 'Em.  This one was easy to apply, but there is so much bar glitter, I had to push some of it back because it was hanging over my tips and they looked kinda hairy. LOL

So, yes, I'm skeptical about Did It On 'Em.  I just don't like the color, but the formula is great.  I do like Save Me and it really did "save" Did It On 'Em... I will be wearing Save Me much more in the future...

Skeptical Saturday Mani.. OPI Rising Star

I've been experimenting with New Year's Eve Manis and I came across OPI's Rising Star and thought I'd give it a try.  It's shiny and festive and it kinda matches a shirt I was thinking about wearing, but it's totally not "my color."  So, I thought it would be perfect for my "Skeptical Saturday Mani" this week..

Let's see how it looks:

Ummm... No, thanks.  Not for me.  It drains the color from my skin.  My hands look dead. I know a lot of you will like this color, but I don't like it with my skintone.  It's too warm, too orange, too copper.. yuck.  So, I'm off to find another color for New Year's Eve...  I think I know just the color I'll wear..

So, Yes, I should be skeptical about Rising Star.  This one remains on my swap list.

Happy New Year!!

Skeptical Saturday Mani.. Sally Hansen Yellow Kitty

Hey All... This is my second "Skeptical Saturday Mani."  To sum things up, I basically pick a color I'm skeptical about, swatch it and see how it actually looks on my nails and with my skin tone.  Here is last Saturday's Mani with Zoya Maya.  I ended up like Maya.  Let's see if that happens with this color..

Here is Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure.. Yellow Kitty:

Blech.. I do NOT like Yellow Kitty on my nails!  I tend to stay away from yellows most of the time.  I feel like they "drain my skin color."  My skin looks so pale and I just really don't care for yellow on me.  I do like the Complete Salon Manicure Line by Sally Hansen, though.  I like the unique brush and the formula was nice.  Maybe I will just save Yellow Kitty for water marbling or nail art..

I SHOULD be skeptical about this one...  What do you think?

Skeptical Saturday Mani.. Zoya Maya

Happy Weekend Everyone!!  Today I'm starting my "Skeptical Saturday Mani."  Each Saturday (maybe Sunday) I will do a post of a color I would NOT normally wear... a color that is out of my comfort zone.  Skeptical is defined as: "Not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations."  So, I will post a color I'm "skeptical" about, give my review, then you all can tell me what you think about the color I picked..

My first Skeptical Saturday Mani is Zoya Maya:

with flash

Man, I do not like oranges or corals on my nails, but..... these pictures don't look too bad.  Zoya Maya is described as: "semi-opaque bright pink coral with tangerine undertones."  OK, you really can't go wrong with any Zoyas.  I've said before I haven't met a Zoya yet that I haven't liked.  Maya is listed as a "cool" color which usually fits my skintone, so maybe I should have chose a "warm" color if I wanted it to look crappy with my skintone.  I should NOT be skeptical about Maya.  I still don't care for oranges and corals, but I kinda like Maya. :)

What do you think?