Zoya PixieDust Vega

"We put it smack in the middle.....Vega"

That's from my favorite movie, Contact. The alien signal they get is from Vega in that film, so I immediately was drawn to the name. Vega is from the new spring PixieDusts Zoya released. I must say, I was willing to buy these individually and full price, but they ended up having an offer where if you bought a certain amount you'd get a mini set of this PixieDusts for free. I'm SO glad I did it this way for sure, because I hate this.

Vega

Vega is a light blue shimmer texture with holographic hexes.

Color: The color is a nice metallic shimmering blue. I don't have a problem with the color here.

Formula: This is chunky, dunky, oatmeal consistency mess. This is nothing like the previous Zoya PixieDusts,and I think the types of glitter they used in here ruined this entire thing. I don't find the finish on this to be at all pretty or appealing, it's a mess. Yuck.

Price: This is $10 on the Zoya website.

Overall: This is really disappointing. I think it's so disappointing because the previous Zoya PixieDusts have been so great. I'm not a huge texture fan, but I really loved the Zoya ones. This spring line is like taking 10 steps back. I really can't think of any redeeming qualities. Awful, I'm sorry.

My Rating: 1 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Tuesday!

Colors by Llarowe Ocean Water

Have you ever actively tried to pretend an indie brand doesn't exist, because everything you've seen from them you adore, and a have a real fear you'd have no self control over if you started buying from them?

That's how I've felt about Colors by Llarowe. I really have put my blinders on the past few months. I have pretended they're some unattainable brand for fairy princesses and unicorns, and I don't have access to that realm. Well, the spring collection, I decided to read a blog post, and I was screwed. I entered the realm.

I was fairly good, I only picked up 5 polishes, but if I was bad I could of picked up more. I have since, put my blinders back on for now, but I'm not sure how long that will last. Here is one of the polishes I picked up from my recent visit to the fairy and unicorn realm.

Ocean Water

 Ocean Water is a bright aquamarine jelly.

Color: This is exactly what the namesake says. This is that pristine aquamarine crystal clear tropical ocean water blue. Perfection.

Formula: Excellent notable formula for a jelly. I only needed 2 coats of this to achieve this look!

Price: This was $6.00 on llarowe. This is a steal!

Overall: Amazing nail polish. It ticks all the boxes more than once. I think this is another one that speaks for itself. This is a must have, and definitely put on the list for a favorite of 2014.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Friday!

Picture Polish Imperial

One of my favorite color combinations is cool-toned colors with warm toned metals. Blues with gold or copper, green with gold or copper, and purple with gold or copper. If there is a nail polish with this color combination, I'm instantly sold. Sadly, I rarely see color combinations like this, it's always cool-toned colors with silvery tones. Bah-humbug, so when I saw Picture Polish Imperial, it was an instant sale for me.

Imperial

Imperial is saturated bright purple base with blue/pink shimmer, and gold hex glitter.

Color: This is even more vibrant than my camera could pick up! I love the intensity of the base and the combination of the shimmer and glitter makes this a standout.

Formula: Great formula. I used 2 coats above.

Price: I paid $14.50 for this on llarowe. This is definitely high for my budget, but I felt for me this was worth the splurge.

Overall: This is one of those polishes I don't know what I can really say to express my love for it. I think this one that speaks for itself!

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Thursday!

Way-Cool Wednesday Springy Sparkle

*Have you entered my 4 year blog birthday giveaway yet? Today is the last day to enter!

I am such an all or nothing person. When I'm going through a certain nail polish phase I go full throttle, and tire myself of it quickly. Lately, I've been into spring cremes. No shimmer. No glitter. I'm over that now, and I need my glitter back. So why not combine the two?

 Polishes Used:

Zoya Trixie, OPI Save Me, Color Club Blue-Ming, and Color Club Pucci-licious

Manicure Description: 
I painted my thumb, index, and pinky with CC Pucci-licious, my middle finger I painted a base of CC Blue-Ming while "saran-wrapping" Pucci-licious on top. The ring finger I did a base of Zoya Trixie topped with OPI Save Me.

Happy Wednesday!

L'Oreal Hidden Gems

*Have you entered my 4 year blog birthday giveaway yet?

You know how I mentioned being disappointed with mainstream brands lately? I have, but who I've been impressed with is drugstore brands. I've noticed probably in the last 6 months or so, I've been buying a lot of drugstore polishes. Granted, some of them are all time faves, but all around I've been impressed with the offerings. L'Oreal Gold Dust line is definitely one of those highlights, and I have another one of those to show you today.

Hidden Gems

Hidden Gems w/ top coat

Hidden Gems is a black sheer textured base with black and teal microglitters and silver hexes.

Color: This is a really interesting and multi-dimensional color. I love colors like this that make you take a second glance. The richness of the black and teal is gorgeous, and I love addition of the silver hexes.

Formula: This wasn't my favorite formula of the Gold Dust line. The sheer base, does require a 3-4 coats to achieve opacity. I can't stand seeing my nail underneath, and this is one where that can happen if you only do 2 coats. The formula isn't bad, but requires more attention.

Price: I bought this in the $5-$7 range at Walgreens.

Overall: Gorgeous and complex polish. I love the depth of this color, and it's unique among my other nail polishes. I will say, like the other Gold Dusts, I'm a sucker for top coat on these. I know they're are textures, but I don't love them that way personally. I find top coat really brings out the sparkle in these, but that's just me! Wear them how you please!

My Rating 4.5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Tuesday!

Zoya Hudson

I have been sorely disappointed with mainstream spring collections. To be honest, in general, the beginning of 2014 nail polish wise hasn't thrilled me. I typically have a handful of potential Top 25 of 2014 list by now, and I only have 2 which are both indies. Anyone else feeling a little let down by nail polish lately? I hope it's not just me!

Zoya's Awaken collection did excite me a little bit. I wasn't over the moon, but I did see some shades that I thought I'd like. Hudson is one of the shades that caught my eye.

Hudson

Hudson is a soft lavender metallic shimmer.

Color: I like this one, it's pretty. The shimmer is nice, but I'm not wowed. I feel pretty ho-hum about it. I feel like Zoya does a lot variations of shades like this. Dannii and Zara come to mind. They're not dupes, but I think they'd all be at the same family reunion. I'd personally rather hang out with Dannii and Zara than Hudson. I think the others pack just a little bit more of purple punch for me over Hudson

Formula: No complaints with the formula. I used 3 coats above.

Price: This is $9 on the Zoya website, but going on now through the 28th is their Earth Day promo, so you can get this one for $4.50!

Overall: I don't hate this, it's nice, but I prefer some of the other Zoya colors that are that similar shade range. Nice polish, solid formula, but not a standout.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Monday!

Wet n' Wild Candid Affair

Is it me or are WnW LE displays hard to find? I never find them unless I go to KMart. The sad thing is they're closing the KMarts stores around me soon! Oh no! I recently spotted the Spring 2014 LE Wet n' Wild collection, and this purple polish caught my eye.

Candid Affair

Candid Affair is a soft lavender opalescent shimmer.

Color: This is a gorgeous soft lavender with a pearl-frosty shimmer. I love this color, but I'm not 100% sure if it loves me. I actually do like this shimmer in this, but I'd love it a little more if didn't show brushstrokes as much.

Formula: Nice formula. I don't have any real complaints. I used 3 coats above.

Price: I paid $1.99 for this at KMart.

Overall: I'm wavering on how I feel about this. I like this color, and I like the shimmer, but it's just not quite all there for me.

My Rating 4 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Friday!

Rimmel Salon Pro Hip Hop

I have another Rimmel Salon Pro nail polish to share with you today. This is a new core line of polish released by Rimmel. In my last review, I mentioned how much I loved this line. These have a great formula, a nice selection of colors, and a great price!

Hip Hop

Hip Hop is a bright orange-red creme.

Color: No, this color isn't unique, but it is great. I love this punchy orange-red, and it's a definite staple in every nail polish collection.

Formula: Excellent formula. These really have gel-like finish. They're very shiny, smooth, and apply like butter.

Price: This was $2.99 at Walmart.

Overall: I love Hip Hop. I'm pleased that these shades so far are consistently great in this line. I think this a great color, and if you need a orange-red in your collection, you'll be pleased with Hip Hop.

My Rating 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Thursday!

Way-Cool Mani Wednesday: Beachy Teal

I am so into bright colors right now. I want to wear bright colors all the time. I'm so over winter (even though I never experienced winter). When a season is over, I am done with it. No thanks! Time to move on. Here is a bright fun mani I did recently.

Polishes Used: Butter London Slapper with KBShimmer Sand in my Stocking aceent.

Happy Wednesday!

Salon Perfect Electric Grape

I am in a total purple phase. The past 2 years I was in a blue phase. This year it's all about the purple. I've been buying every purple shade of lipstick out there. I want purple everything. I love purple. I was drawn to this Salon Perfect Electric Grape shade a recent trip to Walmart, and decided to give it a go.

Electric Grape

Electric Grape is a medium neon-ish purple with red and blue micro glitter.

Color: I adore this color, but it's not as a great as I expected. The glitter in this looks pretty puny, and doesn't add the pop I really wanted.

Formula: Terrible. This had the weirdest formula. It was thick, streaky, goopy, and just all around awful. I thoroughly hated this formula.

Price: I think I got this for $4.00 at Walmart.

Overall: I like the color of this, but it fell through on all other counts. Very disappointing.

My Rating 2 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Tuesday!

ILNP Music Box

Whenever I think of music boxes the monkey music box from The Phantom of the Opera playing Masquerade pops into my head. Is it just me? Probably. "A collector's piece indeed...." This then spirals out of control until the entire musical score of  The Phantom of the Opera is in my head for days. I am strange. I realize this.

-fights extreme urge to post the Overture of The Phantom of the Opera video on this post-. So, ILNP ( I Love Nail Polish) released a handful of gorgeous pastel holos for spring, and I had to get most all of them. I picked up Music Box -fights urge again-, and that's what I have to share with you today.

Music Box

Music Box is a light aqua holo.

Color: This a beautiful color spring, and I adore the holographic touch. This is a softer holo, but I prefer that.

Formula: Excellent easy to apply formula. I used 3 coats above.

Price: This is $10.00 on ILNP's website.

Overall: Gorgeous soft aqua blue holo! I think this is one that speaks for itself. I really like it, and I think if you're holo fan you'll enjoy this one too.

My Rating 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Monday!

Imperfectly Painted Turns 4 Giveaway!

* The following giveaway has been sponsored by Cult Nails, KBShimmer, Loaded Lacquer, Maya Cosmetics, and Silly Bee's Chickadees.

Today is Imperfectly Painted's 4th birthday. I started this blog April 10, 2010. Every year that goes by I'm amazed I'm still doing this blogging gig! I've never been someone to keep up with any journal or anything of the sort. I really love blogging, and it's unfortunate that I'm celebrating this awesome occasion during a stinky time for me personally/health wise. I so wish this was under better circumstances, because blogging and my love for it has been difficult to manage with what is going on.

This show must go on though, and I don't want to let my worry get in the way of something I enjoy so much. Blogging really helped me pull myself out of depression and social anxiety. It's been the vehicle that has allowed me to be comfortable in my own skin, appreciate myself, and discover friendships. I've enjoyed being able to share my love for polishes with all of you, and I appreciate all of you taking the time to read this blog and accepting me for who I am! So thank you!

In honor of this great occasion, some of my favorite indie brands have generously donated prizes for a giveaway. These are brands I have come to love and respect, and I thank them for being so kind!

Prizes:
There will be 5 prizes! One winner per prize will be drawn randomly through Rafflecopter.

Prize #1- Cult Nails
Cult Nails It's a New Day collection (includes colors Falling Hard, Evolution, New Day,  stamping plate, and stamper).

Prize #2- KBShimmer
KBShimmer Spring 2014 colors Laugh Myself Lily, Belle of the Mall, Full Bloom Ahead, and Daisy About You

Prize #3- Maya Cosmetics
Maya Cosmetics Sprummer collection shades in Ethereal, Zazzy, Beyond the Pale, and Beach Baby

Prize #4- Silly Bee's Chickadees
Silly Bee's Chickadees shades in Everything Nice and Orange You A Honeydew-c

Prize #5- Loaded Lacquer
Loaded Lacquer shades in Steampunked and Vintage Metals

Guidelines:
 - Open to USA residents only. *Note if you are international and have someone in the US willing to ship you, you may enter. I will only ship to US addresses.
- You must be 18 or older to enter.
- Giveaway is open until Thursday, April 24th @ 11:59PM EDT.
- 5 winners will be chosen and will be notified by email. Winners will have 48 hours to claim prize or another winner will be chosen.
 - Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Happy Thursday!

L'Oreal Sexy in Sequins

*Announcement: I've been under a lot of stress lately, to the point where I'm experiencing consistent high blood pressure. I'm monitoring it and have had blood tests done yesterday to determine what medication would be best appropriate. I'm really terrified something is wrong with me. I have a lot of medical based anxiety, so this all is making it worse. If I happen to go MIA or be quiet on the blog or social media this is why. I don't want to be, but my anxiety is so bad right now :(. 

When I first heard about the L'Oreal Gold Dust nail polish it was the first drugstore collection I was very excited to find. It took me awhile to find it, and I pretty much picked up all colors except the orange one. This is one of my favorites of the bunch.

Sexy in Sequins 

Sexy in Sequins w/ top coat

 Sexy in Sequins is a dark purple texture glitter with, gold micro glitter, and silver hex glitters.

Color: This color is gorgeous. I love the rich deep purple, and the addition of the silver and gold glitters makes this complex and unique.

Formula: Formula is excellent used 2 coats above.

Price: I believe this is the $4-$6 range at drugstores. I also believe this is part of the core display now.

Overall: I love this Sexy in Sequins. Excellent rich color with dimension. My only thought, is to be quite honest, I prefer this top coated. I feel the same about the rest in this collection. This is just a personal preference, but I love shiny glitter polish!

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Tuesday!

Throwback Thursday: Butter London Disco Biscuit

Late night post! I'm sorry. The past week has been rather awful for me, and it's really thrown me off track. I'm hoping things are looking up from here on out! So this will probably be a quick post!

Butter London Disco Biscuit is a polish I tried to stay away from buying. It looked like a polish I might just have a dupe of or something, so I talked myself out of it. I then came across it on a blog sale at half the regular price, so I decided to go for it. Good purchase.

Disco Biscuit

Disco Biscuit is a hot pink jelly with a blue/violet micro glitter.

Color: This polish is stunning. I love the jelly with this vibrant blue/violet sparkles. There are polishes with this similar theme, but not done this well. I really sometimes think a higher end polish has better materials that just make the overall polish look nicer. I hope that makes sense. This is one of them and it's definitely a winner.

Collection: Spring/Summer 2012

Formula: Excellent easy to use formula. I used 3 coats above.

Price: This is $15.00 on the Butter London website.

Overall: Gorgeous, vibrant, and soft sparkly polish. I love this one, and I'm glad I talked myself into it. Actually, I'm glad I found it on a blog sale where it wasn't as expensive!

My Rating 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters

Happy Thursday!

Way-Cool Mani Wednesday: Coral & Gray

My new favorite color combination is definitely coral and gray.  A few months ago while shopping at an outlet store I came across this top that was bright coral with gray stripes. It's been my favorite top every since. Then KBShimmer comes out with an awesome gray crelly with coral and teal glitter. Perfect! It's not a color combination I'd ever think of on my own, but I absolutely love it. I needed to do a mani of it of course!

Polishes Used:

Revlon Just Tinted Victorian (circa 2011) & KBShimmer Make My Gray

Happy Wednesday! 

a-england Dancing With Nureyev

Have you ever had a polish that was too pretty to describe? This is my problem with this a-england polish I'm going to share with you today. I'm going to struggle through my description because it's just too beautiful. I'm speechless. Ok, it's not that dramatic, but it's still pretty awesome. 

Dancing With Nureyev 

Dancing With Nureyev is a light-medium blue with a touch of violet holographic.

Color: This color is just sublime. The blue in this in intense. The color is clear and crisp. I want to say this color is crystal-like, but I don't think that makes sense at all. Everything about this color is just so pristine. Gorgeous. 

Formula: Excellent formula. This holo along with other a-england holos apply so nicely. I used 2 coats above. 

Price: This is $10.00 on Color 4 Nails site. 

Overall:  Like Mary Poppins, this color is "practically perfect in every way". My only regret is that I didn't get to try this in 2013, it would of definitely been in my Top 25. 

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters