NOTD July 31st: OPI - Swimsuit...Nailed It!

Hi there!
Today I'm gonna show you the next polish from my haul, Swimsuit...Nailed It! by OPI. It's part of their Miss Universe Collection for the summer of 2011.

The color is a really pretty medium blue with shimmer particles, but it doesn't look like a traditional shimmer. It's hard to describe, you'd better have a look at the pictures :)

It was fully opaque with 2 easy coats, perfect! But removal was not too great, because it stained my nails like hell...If you get it, be prepared for that!

It's definitely one of the prettiest blues I've ever seen, and I love it :)
Are you planning on getting it? Or do you maybe already own it?
I'll see ya soon!
xoxo, Misch

Spotted: Manhattan Loves Sexy Plexi

Hey guys!
When I went to the drugstore yesterday, I saw the new LE by Manhattan, called Sexy Plexi. I've already seen it before, but othing had caught my eye. Yesterday that was different, and I bought 2 things. But now onto the review of the full LE :)

This LE contains 2 different eyeshadow duos, 3 different nail polishes, 2 lipsticks and a shimmer brick.
All of the colors in this LE aren't too special or extraordinary. There are light pinks and a taupe and stuff like that.
The eyeshadow duos looked nice, but they were standart colors and the pigementation wasn't utterly great. The nail polishes had all creme finishes as far as I remember, and they were all pretty normal colors. I got the reddish pink color, because at the store it looked like a strawberry color. It isn't really like that in real life, but it's still pretty ;) It's called 47K.

The lipsticks are available in a light and a bright vibrant pink. I got the vibrant pink, called 57N, because the swatch wasn't too opaque but shiny. It can be layered and worn bright as well as natural.

And last but not least, the shimmer brick. It has pretty colors, but it's extremely shimmery and just too much for me. I personally don't want that much shimmer ;)

Reviews will follow soon, of course :)
Did you get anything from this LE?
xoxo, Misch

Tutorial: Sponging Technique (featuring Palm Tree nails)

Hey there!
The next nail art tutorial I was asked to do was the palm tree nails, and I actually wrote a tutorial for them a pretty long time ago! *Click* here to see my old tutorial on it, and also *click* here to see Cutepolish's Video on YouTube for it.

Since the tutorial for the palm tree nails isn't really needed anymore, I decided to make this tutorial more about the sponging technique that is used for the design.
As you might remember, we first painted our nails with a  pale turquoise color, and then used a medium blue for the darker part. Here I took China Glaze's For Audrey as the base color and China Glaze's First Mate as the darker shade.

All you wanna do in the beginning is pour a little bit of the dark polish onto a piece of paper and pick it up with the side of a sponge. The you want to get the polish onto the tip of the nail with just some dabbing motions. The you want to pick up some color again and sponge a little further, making the polish a little lighter there for the transition. When you sponged too far down, just pick up some of the base color with the sponge and go over it. You do the same with the yellow on the bottom, btw.

just the tip sponged

see how there are pieces of the sponge stuck on it?! Arrggh :/

Now, concerning the sponge you use, there are a few things to keep in mind. You can use whatever sponge you like, I personally prefer these cheap cosmetic sponges you can get at any drugstore for little money. But when you use the sponge, make sure it's still spongy and soft, that there are no hard places. And also there should still be the sharp, crisp lines of the sponge, so you can be more precise. When your sponge doesn't fulfill these things, it might end up like it did with me when I tried to take pictures for this tutorial. All the time there were tiny pieces of the sponge stuck on the polish, not getting off anymore.

Sponging can leave a really uneven surface,so it's always recommended to go over it with a top coat afterwards.
With the sponging technique you'll also be able to do gradient nails, which is pretty, too.
You really only need a little bit of practice for sponging, and then it should work out soon ;) Don't worry if you fail in the beginning, it'll get better gradually!
I hope this helped you out!
I'll see you later,
xoxo, Misch

New Layout!

Hey there!
I just changed the layout of this blog, and wanted to know how you liked it! Do you think it's pretty? Or do you want the old layout back? I like it ;)
What do you say?
xoxo, Misch

Review: Nivea Happy Time Shower Gel

Hello dear readers,
Today I have another review for you guys, and it's about a body care product from Nivea. Hope you'll find it helpful!

Information:

• called Happy Time Shower Cream
• the scent is orange blossom
• costs about 1.65 € at most drugstores
• has a very creamy but still a bit liquid consistency
• contains 200ml

enlarge to read the exact description

Positives:

• nice scent
• price
• consistency
• cares well
• is so moisturizing that with normal skin you don't even need a lotion afterwards
• the scent stays for quite a few hours
• lathers nicely

enlarge to read the list of ingredients

Negatives:

• the thicker consistency could be too much for a refreshing morning shower

doesn't it have a pretty design?! :D

So after all, I really really like this shower cream! It's really great, and definitely worth a try!
Has anyone tried it yet?
See ya!
xoxo, Misch

Book-Blogging #6: My own Harry Potter Tag!

Hi guys,
this post is just for fun, and if you're not in the mood for some fun, click away, okay?! :D
I know I'm crazy, but I just had to do this: I invented my own Harry Potter tag! If you don't want to read about my love to Harry Potter anymore, go ahead and tell me, or otherwise I'll go on telling you about my addiction :D
Here you go for the questions:
1. When did you start reading Harry Potter?
I think I was about 8 years when I started reading it :) And I haven't stopped ever since, I love reading it all the time!
2. Why do you like Harry Potter books?
I think they're amazingly written, the story's great and really complex, and it's one of the best book series I've ever read!
3. What is so special about Harry Potter books in your opinion?
Everything! The whole story is invented so creatively, and everything's just fitting into one big picture. Friendship, love, bravery, it all plays a role in it, and all of the characters are described so well!
4. Do you like Harry Potter movies?
Yes I do :) They will never be better than the books, but they're still great! A lot of times, when a book is turned into a movie, the movie's really disappointing (I'm looking at you, Twilight!). But Harry Potter movies never disappoint, they're great :)
5. Compare Harry Potter books and movies!
The books are of course way more detailed, and all of the stories are easier to describe. The movies, however, are visual, which makes some things easier to understand or to show. With the books, you can play with your own creativity, whereas in the movies, everything's set and you can't image in anymore.
6. Who's your favorite character?
I don't really have one, but when I was little that used to be Hermione. I dressed up like her for carnival and Halloween and also played it with my friends :)
7. Which one is your favorite book of the series?
I love all of them, but I think I love The Deathly Hallows most :) It was the best book in my opinion :D
8. Which one is your least favorite book of the series?
Even though I love them all, I have one that I don't like as much as all the others, and that's number 6, The Half-Blood Prince. I don't know why, but I think it's my least favorite because is wasn't as exciting as the other books.
9. Tell us about one of your favorite quotations!
That changes a lot of times, depending on which book I read last and stuff. But currently that's "After all this time? - Always." out of the last book, when Snape's full story is told.
10. Do you think Joanne K. Rowling should write another Harry Potter book?
Yes, definitely! But not one that is just an additional book to satisfy the fans! If she writes one, I want a real story, and one that is as good as the others. So maybe it's better to keep it at this point where it is, and not ruin it by some weird continuation.

I hope you liked this tag, and if you're just a teeny tiny Harry Potter fan, you have to do this tag :D
And here are some links concerning Harry Potter that I like:
http://weheartit.com/entry/12104691
http://weheartit.com/entry/12124301
http://weheartit.com/entry/12393571
http://weheartit.com/entry/12392234
http://weheartit.com/entry/12389448
YAY! :D
I'll see ya soon!
xoxo, Misch

NOTD July 27th: Zoya - Apple

Hey everyone!
Today I'm showing you the first polish out of my latest haul *click*, Apple by Zoya.

It's a light to medium green with golden flecks. It looks like a foil when applied, and it dries perfectly smooth. It's on the rather sheer side, but 3 coats were still enough with it.

The wear is good, I only had a little bit of tipwear after 3 days.

Removal takes some patience, because the flecks aren't too easy to get off.

Do you like this polish? I do a lot! It's glowy and shiny, the pics were taken without a topcoat!
I'll see you later!
xoxo, Misch

120 Palette Swatching Series: Upper Half, 4th Row

Hi there!
Today I have a new swatching post for you, and I'll be showing you the 4th row of my 120palette. It contains green shades, like the row in the last post did. Here you go:

1 Here we have a shimmery, almost glittery bright vibrant green.

2 This shade has smaller shimmer particles, and it's also a tad more muted than number 1.

3 Here we have a lighter green shade with a pearl.

4 This green has a slight gray touch to it, that makes it look more muted. It also has a slight sheen.

5 This darker green has this chunky silver glitter in it.

6 This shade is similar to number 4, but it's matte.

7 This is a teal/emerald green with shimmer.

8 Here we have about the same color as in number 7, but the shimmer's chunkier.

9 This emerald green is a little chalky and has a nice shimmer.

10 And last but not least, a mix color of a light and a dark green, which makes a medium green together, surprise, surprise ;)

Swatches:

I'm sorry there are no full swatches of all 10 colors, and also none in the sun, but these pictures just didn't turn out good :/

I hope you liked this post! Do you want to see an EOTD with any of these colors?
Until next time, xoxo, Misch

Review: Alterra Care Lipstick in 06 Coral

Hi there!
Today's review is about a lipstick I already mentioned in an old haul post *click*. It's by Alterra, and called the Care Lipstick. Let's get into the review!

Information:

• is available in 6 different shades, currently they're updating the colors as far as I know
• only available at selected Rossmanns
• costs 3,45 Euros (as far as I know)
• this shade, 06 coral, is a bright reddish coral shade without any shimmer or glitter
• has mainly natural ingredients

Positives:

• price is okay
• pretty color that isn't fully matte, it has a slight sheen
• it stays pretty long, for at least 2 and a half hours
• it cares my lips and doesn't dry them out
• has a almost not noticeable taste
• looks good with the Manhattan Gloss 45K *click* over top
• you can layer it and wear it more or less dramatic
• has a hygiene seal thingie --> you always buy one that was never touched before! :D
• looks like a slim-shine lipstick

Negatives:

• availability
• it wears off when you drink something

I really like this lipstick! It's a pretty color, and you can wear it every day, even though it's not totally nude! Does anyone like it, too?

I'll see you later!

xoxo, Misch

Nail Polish Haul!! :)

Hey there!
A few days ago, while I was away, my nail polish orders finally arrived! And yesterday I had time to swatch them and take some pictures, so here they are :D
I ordered from 2 different places, nailsupplies.us (the new name of transdesign) and nailetc.com. I'm really content with both stores, for the fact that they shipped to Germany the shipping costs were reasonable, and it also didn't take too long, just between one and a half and two weeks. All of the polishes were shipped safely and none was damages. Thumbs up for that!
Now let's get to the colors I got:

OPI Miss Universe Collection - Swimsuit...Nailed It!

This is one of the most gorgeous blues ever. It's a rather dark blue with medium blue shimmer that makes it look like a foil. It's vibrant, and I love it! It was really easy to apply, I only needed 2 medium coats on my nail wheel.

OPI Nice Stems Collection - Come To Poppy

Here we have a pink with a nice but also subtle shimmer, that leans towards coral. It also only needed 2 coats, and it showed some brush strokes at first, but that levels out easily.

OPI Texas Collection - Houston We Have A Purple

This pretty purple is one of the "new" finishes from OPI, the sorbets. It's basically the same as jelly polishes. Since it's jelly, or sorbet, it needs some more coats. I used 4 on the nail wheel because of the clear background which makes it even sheerer, but on the nails 3 should be enough. The color is super duper easy to apply, glides on, and it looks to me like jellyfish jelly on SpongeBob SquarePants! Don't you agree? 

Zoya Sunshine Collection - Faye

In this order, I got my first ever Zoya polishes. This one's a purple with a strong golden foil shimmer. Since the nail wheel is clear, it looks sheerer on there, so I did 4 coats. Again, in real life 3 should be enough.

Zoya Sunshine Collection - Apple

This gorgeous medium green with a strong golden foil shimmer is a 3 coater, again. On the nail wheel it looks a little sheerer, but that's okay. It's all easy to apply.

Zoya Sunshine Collection - Reva

Here we have the most opaque shade from the Sunshine Collection, it only required 2 coats. It's a berry pink color with, again, a strong golden foil shimmer.

Zoya Sunshine Collection - Rica

This polish is a reddish orange-ish coral color with another strong golden foil shimmer. Another 3 coater, only the same problem with the sheerness of the nail wheel.

China Glaze Anchors Away Collection - Starboard

Back in January I got a bunch of the polishes from the Anchors Away Collection, and now I also got another one of them. It's a medium grass green, dries a little darker than in the bottle, and is perfect with 2 smooth coats.

China Glaze Summer Days Collection - Raspberry Festival

I already own Strawberry Fields from this old collection, and I had to get another glass fleck polish, and I chose this one. It's a red leaning towards cherry, and it has darker pink flecks. 3 coats were needed for full opacity, and it's just sparkly and fun for summer.

China Glaze Rodeo Diva Collection - Rodeo Fanatic

This is another really old polish, but I had to get it anyway. It's a denim blue with hints of green, a nice shimmer and it looks a little purple in the bottle. Super pretty, needed 2 coats.

China Glaze Up & Away Collection - Grape Pop

This is also not the newest polish, but I had to get it since it's so pretty. It's a creme, needed 2 coats and is a blue-toned purple. It's too blue to be called plum or eggplant or something like that. 

China Glaze - Ruby Pumps

As you can tell, I didn't directly go for new shades, but for classics. This is def one of China Glaze's classics, it's one of the most prettiest darker reds with red glitter/shimmer. So stunning, needed 3 coats on the nail wheel.

Well, I know that these are a lot of polishes, but I just loved all of the colors, and they were pretty inexpensive because the Dollar was in a good position for Europeans. 

Do you like these colors? NOTD posts will follow soon, but please be patient because when I paint my nails with one color, I also wear it for a few days, and that way I can't do too many swatches at one moment.

Do you own any of these colors, too?

I'll see you later!

xoxo, Misch