Ulta-mate Good Time!!

Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette, OPI Matte Top Coat, NYX Lipliner in Espresso, Essie Nail polishes in "On a Silver Platter" and "Belugaria"

Last night, I had some free time, Ulta points, and a coupon, so haulin' it what was on the agenda.  Check out the up coming posts to see how I used these products.

OPI Matte Top Coat and Essie Nail polishes in "On a Silver Platter" and "Belugaria"

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OPI and Minnie Mouse

OPI Couture de Minnie Collection

Last year, OPI teamed up with Disney to release a collection of pink and red polishes, each with a play on the Minnie Mouse moniker.  This year, OPI and Disney are back with more pinks and reds and this time, Minnie Mouse has "swagger to spare".  OPI's new Minnie Mouse packaging has less to do with her cutesy side and everything to do with the glamour.

OPI Couture de Minnie ("Runway Minnies") on the Right; OPI Vintage Minnie (mini-set) on the Left

This year, OPI released 5 polishes with the "Couture de Minnie" Collection (featured from L-R):

• Minnie Style
• A Definite Moust-Have
• Magazine Cover Mouse
• Chic From Ears to Tail
• Innie Minnie Mightie Bow

OPI Couture de Minnie (in-doors with Flash)

OPI Couture de Minnie

Minnie Style: a mix of fuchsia, red, and white hexagonal glitters suspended in clear polish

A Definite Moust-Have: is a fuchsia/hot pink color with a pearl finish

Magazine Cover Mouse: is a vibrant red color, with gold glitters, in a liquid sand finish

Chic From Ears to Tail: a light, salmon pink, with iridescent shimmers that are so unnoticeable, it's almost not worth mentioning.

Innie Minnie Mightie Bow: a deep red with micro-glitter flecks

4 of which they also released in their mini set (all of the previous mentioned shades, except for Minnie Style).

This was a collection to rival last year's release of the Vintage Minnie collection, which was a nod to the "throw-back" Minnie Mouse.  Four colors were released in the collection (feature from L-R):

• The Color of Minnie
• If You Moust You Moust
• I'm All Ears
• Nothin' Mousie 'Bout It

OPI Vintage Minnie (in-doors with Flash)

OPI Vintage Minnie

The Color of Minnie: a pearlized red with pink undertones

If You Moust You Moust: candy pink with a cream finish

I'm All Ears: a sheer dark pink with micro-glitters

Nothin' Mousie 'Bout It: a sheer, candy pink polish with micro-glitter and bubble gum pink hearts

...and only 3 of the 4 colors (The Color of Minnie, If You Moust You Moust, and I'm all Ears) were featured in the mini set.  As a bonus, you received a rapid-dry top coat for the fourth miniature bottle of polish.

Click to enlarge

One of the things that makes these polishes drastically different from one another are the finishes.  Magazine Cover Mouse is a liquid sand and those of you who are familiar with the formulation know you can wear this as a demi-matte or add a top coat for a smooth liquid"y" appearance.

I'm All Ears, from the Vintage Minnie Collection, is a very sheer polish with micro-glitters.  It would take lots of coats to build this up to full opacity.  This polish might work better as a top coat, or to layer over a polish you wanted to add shimmer to.

Innie Minnie Mightie Bow, is a shimmery, full-coverage polish; very different from a pearlized polish.  

Click to enlarge

Although, in the side-by-side comparisons, none of the colors from last year's collection are identical to this year's, there were a couple of polishes that were reminiscent of each other.

Click to enlarge

At first glance, I thought "Innie Minnie Mightie Bow" (Couture de Minnie Collection) might have been the same color and finish as "The Color of Minnie" (Vintage Minnie Collection).  Once I swatched the two colors, it was apparent that the "The Color of Minnie" had a pearlized formulation that was very uniform.  There aren't any noticeable glitter flecks in the polish, unlike "Innie Minnie Mightie Bow".  "Innie Minnie Mightie Bow" is a bit darker than the "The Color of Minnie".

"Chic From Ears to Tail" could probably be mistaken for "Pink Friday", from OPI's Nicki Minaj collection.  The difference is much more apparent in person than in the posted images.  Just when I thought, "I aready have the 'perfect' bubble gum pink", OPI comes out with something else.  "Chic From Ears to Tail" is darker and leans more Salmon than Bubble Gum.  Both pinks are extremely pretty, in my opinion, and would really compliment "If You Moust You Moust", in a two-toned manicure.  I've used a considerable amount of "If You Moust You Moust"...it's probably the one pink I reach for the most.

I purchased this collection of polishes from Ulta, where the OPI, full-sized, polishes currently retail for $9 (USD) per bottle.  I was able to purchase them 2 for $15, this past weekend.  The miniature set retails for $12.95.  The minis may be a great gift idea for the little diva in your life, but proceed with caution... ;o)

I took a trip over to Sally's to pick up some non-acetone nail polish remover.  Their Beauty Secrets 8oz ($1.79 instead of $2.79) and 128oz ($8.49 instead of $23.99) were on sale.  The 32oz bottle normally retails for $6.69.  It was a steal to get 96oz more for only $1.80.  I just called my local Sally's and although the 8oz bottles are no longer on sale, the 32oz bottles are for this month.  Also, Friday, they will be having a 50% off sale, so the 128oz bottles (if they are still available) will be an additional 50% off!!

OPI's website:  Click Image to be redirected to Minnie's Closet , on their Website.   Minnie's Closet features Minnie Mouse Illustrations through the years, as well as fun nail designs featuring Couture de Minnie Nailpolishes.

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JC Penney is Giving Away Nail polish...or at least it seems that way!!

Surfing the net can give you a lot of information...sometimes it's what you're looking for and other time's you're not.  While surfing the net, I learned that JC Penney salons are selling OPI polishes, buy two or more at $6 each.  OPI polishes can set you back anywhere between $8 and $9, depending on the retailer.  I even came across a couple of sites where people were able to pick up polishes from OPI's Oz collection and take advantage of the 2 or more for $6 each.

 

 

Although I was actually on the hunt for polishes from the Oz collection (and didn't find any at JC Penney), there were some other colors that caught my eye.

First up...Eurso Euro.

OPI Eurso Euro, 2 coats, with Flash.

Is it blue? Is it purple?  Seems like a little bit of both.  It looks like a deep navy blue in the picture, but the bottle seems to give off a hint of purple.  This creamy polish went on opaque with one coat.  The second coat wasn't necessary for me.

 

OPI Suzi's Hungary Again!, 3 coats, with Flash.

"Suzi's Hungary Again!" is not as thick as "Eurso Euro", but it shares the cream formula.  My nails definitely required more than one coat.  I also noticed that this color went on a bit streaky.  "Suzi's Hungary Again!" gives off a nice coral color that I'm afraid my flash interfered with.

OPI My Vampire is Buff, 2 coats, with Flash.

I was especially drawn to "My Vampire is Buff".  It has almost the same consistency as "Suzi's Hungary Again!".  "My Vampire is Buff" sort of reminded me of "Skull and Glossbones" from OPI's Pirates of the Carribean collection.  I probably struggled the most with the decision to purchase this color. I was pleased to find out that the colors are different. 

Left to Right: Skull and Glossbones vs. My Vampire is Buff

 

If you haven't had a chance to check out the inventory at your local JC Penney, you may want to head on over while supplies last.

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OPI: Oz The Great and Powerful

Not only did the month of March bring us the highly anticipated film, Oz The Great and Powerful, but OPI made sure to release its supporting cast in nail polish form.  I'm convinced these ethereal looking shades will work well for any season.

With this collection, OPI released 3 soft shades with jelly-like formula, and 4 glittery shades (one of which is the "liquid sand" formula), for a total of 7 shades.  It took me a while to come around to this collection because, after purchasing my share of "jelly" polishes, I know that I prefer opaque polishes; however, the almost neutral tones to the jellies in this collection has inspired me.  The jelly shades seem like they will be great for layering polishes and making very natural looking French manicures.  I am anxious to play around with the bunch.

First up...the "jellies".

Don't Burst My Bubble, 3 coats, with flash

"Don't Burst My Bubble" is a pinkish white shade.



I Theodora You, 3 coats, with flash

"I Theodora You" is a pastel pink shade.



Glints of Glinda, 3 coats, with flash

"Glints of Glinda" is a neutral/light tan shade.  With the name, I thought there would be flecks of glitter, but all three of the "jelly" shades have a cream finish.  This particular shade just might rival "Samoan Sand" as my go to neutral.

I describe these shades as jellies because they have a very thin/watery consistency.  These are very sheer polishes and will take a few coats to build up.  They apply like a dream and in my opinion, they leveled well.  I didn't find that the polishes went on streaky.

The "glitters"...



Lights of Emerald City, 3 coats, with flash

"Lights of Emerald City" is a unique polish with a mix of square shaped white glitters and clear iridescent glitters.  It was a bit challenging to spread out the white glitter chunks over the nail.  How difficult of a task it is probably depends on the way you would wear it.  I wanted to see if I could build up the opacity of the polish.  It may be more helpful to allow time for the polish to fully dry between coats, if you choose to build up the opacity.



Which is Witch?, 3 coats, with flash

"Which is Witch?"  This polish contained another mixture of glitter textures and tones.  I noticed some holographic pieces, medium size hexagonal glitters, and micro bar glitters...almost a nod to last year's "Save Me", from OPI's Nicki Minaj collection.  "Save Me" was a color that I passed on, but the bar glitters in "Which is Witch" seem to be much more subtle.



When Monkeys Fly, 3 coats, with flash

What makes "When Monkeys Fly" unique is the large round gold foil pieces suspended in the clear polish.  I had a similar experience, with the application, as I did with "Lights of Emerald City".  It took some work to spread the glitter pieces over the nail, but would probably look exquisite over a dark polish.



What Wizardy is This?, 3 coats, with flash

"What Wizardry is This?" was the liquid sand shade that was released with this collection.  This polish dries down to a semi matte finish with glitter flecks that glisten noticeably.  This combination of brown and gold makes this shade live up to its texture...liquid sand...very reminiscent of a moonlit stroll on the beach.  This polish would look great with or without a topcoat.

These polishes are listed as being formaldehyde free and toluene free.  These polishes are priced at $9 each.  I was able to purchase these shades with the use of my Ulta Rewards program.  I just happened to check an e-mail account that I rarely ever use and noticed that I received two coupons from Ulta; both of which expire this coming Saturday.  I applied a 20% coupon and a 5X bonus points coupon.  I absolutely LOVE Ulta's points program, because they translate into dollars that I can use to discount items that I've been eyeing.  These points/dollars can be used on most of the products in the store. 

I went through quite a bit of a struggle to get my hands on the entire collection of polishes, but it looks like they are all still available at Ulta.com.  We all know that status can change at any moment...who knows if they'll still be available by the time I post this.

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