Thursday, April 27, 2017

Sinful Colors So Daupe + Chit Chat

I find myself more and more drawn to the drugstore and mainstream polishes these days. That's the opposite of what everyone else I know into nail polish is drawn to. I'm in the process of putting all of my energy into a new career path which has a blogging aspect (are you following The Fulfilled Feline?). I don't really have the time or energy anymore to be on top of the indie world, it was hard enough in the first place! I have the desire to simplify my nail polish hobby.

I find myself lately going back to my original nail polish roots and enjoying shopping the drugstore for nail polish. That's how I fell in love with polish was through leisurely shopping trips to the drugstore or Ulta. It was stress-free and easy going. I need more of that now especially as I put a majority of my energy into something else. Nail polish needs to be a 100% leisurely outlet for me at this time in my life. That doesn't mean I'll never post an indie again. If I see some that strike my fancy, of course, I'm game and I know I'll never go off KBShimmer. Right now, I really just want to enjoy nail polish at my pace and work it around my life which means I'll probably be posting more mainstreams and drugstore polishes.

Thankfully, I'm really into what mainstreams and drugstores are producing these days. It's very limited in the drugstore, but Sinful Colors has been great at putting out new colors on a seasonal basis. I came across this early 2017 release the other day and I needed it. It's a neutral, of course, I needed it. I love neutrals!

So Daupe

So Daupe is a soft grayish-brownish-purplish creme.

Collection: Sinful Colors Core 2017

Color: You know I love colors like this and I think it's the first time in my nail polish history that I really stuck to a color family for so long. I'm probably wearing a color like this a few times a month and have been for several months. A color like this is so clean and chic and I love how it goes with everything.

Formula: This had a nice and easy to use formula. I used 2 coats above.

Price: This was $1.99 at Walgreens.

Overall: This is a great everyday elegant taupe-y shade. It's so wearable and I think it would be flattering on a variety of skin tones. The formula is great and you can't beat that $1.99 price!

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters
Happy Thursday!

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

ILNP Empire

I have an ILNP Ulta Metallic polish to share with you today. I love ILNP's take on metallic colors and how many of them have a holo twist that is executed beautifully. This one I have today does just that!

Empire
Empire is a true gold with made up of thin metallic flakes and holo micro flakes.

Collection: ILNP Ultra Metallics

Color: Gold isn't always my best color, but I still love it. The blingier the better. This is a great blingy gold. I love the use of metallic flakes and that little added holo flare!

Formula: This applied smoothly and nicely. I used 3 coats here. This has a similar formula to Juliette which I wasn't entirely impressed with, but I prefer this one. The flakes in Juliette were chunkier where I felt like there needed to be some sort of tinted base in the background. Empire the flakes seem a teeny bit finer so it gives a more opaque look on the nail.

Price: This is $10 on the ILNP website.

Overall: This is a gorgeous and beautifully made blingy gold polish. I love the use of flakes and the opacity of the formula for a flakie polish. The holo sparkle is a nice and perfect touch. No complaints!

My Rating 5 out of 5 Paint Splatters
Happy Tuesday!

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Sally Hansen Therapewter

One of the first things that caught my eye in the new year was Sally Hansen's new Color Therapy line of polishes. I can't say Sally Hansen has done much to impress me in recent years, but this Color Therapy line has impressed me. I reviewed Steely Serene back in January. The colors in this line are not the most unique compared to indie standards, but they are some high-quality polish with excellent wear time from my experience. I have one of the more glitzy colors to share with you today.

Therapewter
Therapetwer is a slightly green-tinged silver foil with sparse gold and bronze flakes.

Collection: Sally Hansen Color Therapy Core 2017

Color: This is actually a really unique color to me. I love the foil-like metallic finish and in this great silvery with just a hint of green neutral shade. It's not a flat color either there are sparse little gold and bronze flakes throughout that give this color some dimension. It's gorgeous and definitely a great go-to color when you're not sure of something to wear.

Formula: This had a smooth and easy to use formula. It is sheer on the first coat but builds up opaquely and easily in 3 coats. I've worn both Steely Serene and Therapewter more than once for full manis and did get a solid 6 days of wear out of both without any chips. This line wears so well on me!

Price: You can find this in the $6.70-$8.00 range at Target, Walmart, Ulta, and drugstores. Look for drugstore deals on these though!

Overall: This is a beautiful and complex color. I absolutely adore it and the other colors in this line. These are really well made and have excellent long-wearing formulas. I'm really impressed and plan to add more of these to my collection.

My Rating 5 out of 5 *Golden* Paint Splatters
Happy Thursday!

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

KBShimmer Polish Con NYC Exclusives

* I received the following products in exchange for my honest review.

Today, I have the two KBShimmer Polish Exclusives to share with you. Polish Con NYC is next Saturday, April 29th. The only way you can get your hands on these polishes is if you attend Polish Con! If you're not going and want these see if you can find someone who is going who will purchase these for you!

Grand Prospect Holo
Grand Prospect Holo is a truly unique multichrome that we blended with several different pigments to shift from a teal green, to aqua blue, to purple and sometimes even navy.  This spectrum of color is accented by a scattering of holo glitters, similar to our mega flame finish. (3 coats)

We Make Your Dreams Come Blue
We Make Your Dreams Come Blue is an icy blue jelly polish.  We loaded the jelly base with holographic micro flakes and shimmer.  These flakes glow in the light, while turquoise shimmer pops through the flakes for a glowy aqua polish, in other lights, you can almost catch a periwinkle or sky blue color.

Collection: KBShimmer Polish Con NYC 2017 Exclusives

Colors: As you can see from the color descriptions these are very complex colors. There isn't anything plain jane about these two. I love the mulitchrome shift in Grand Prospect Holo and all of those holo sparkly bits really give it a great multi-faceted look. We Make Your Dreams Come blue is a gorgeous lit from within in blue and it glows on the nail.

Formula: These all had a nice formula. I think the glitter bits in both of these keep it from being a perfect formula as they're not the most smooth polishes to apply. That being said, I didn't find them unmanageable. I used 2 coats for We Make Your Dreams Come Blue and 3 coats for Grand Prospect Holo.

Overall: I think these are some unique and multi-layered polishes. I love the colors for each one and the shimmer and multi-chrome effects. They're definitely some of the most embellished polishes I own. The formulas are good, but they're not the best formulas. I think considering what type of colors you're getting it's not really a drawback. I hope if you're going to Polish Con NYC you can get your hands on these!

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Paint Splatters
Happy Tuesday!

Friday, April 14, 2017

Introducing The Fulfilled Feline!

Remember that surprise I mentioned in Monday's blog I couldn't reveal to you yet? I can reveal it to you now!

Introducing...The Fulfilled Feline!
While I'm in the process of completing my certification to be a Feline Behavior Specialist I decided to start building my brand now with a blog. My first post over there explains what The Fulfilled Feline is all about and what goals I have for it in the future. Basically, I'll be writing cat-related content in regards to feline care, behavior, enrichment, adoption, rescues/shelters, and etc.

 I'll also be updating my social media with other kitty cat related information and fun. I'd love if you were to join me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter too! I know many of you are cat lovers too 😽!

I will be continuing on here with Imperfectly Painted too, but I'd expect The Fulfilled Feline to be getting a majority of my attention from here on out!

Happy Friday!

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer Chlorine Light

* I received the following product in exchange for my honest review.

I have another blue Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer polish to share with you today. Julie and I collaborated together in the latest Color Box and created Niagara Sunrise. She makes gorgeous polishes and certainly has a knack for blues. She kindly sent me some of her blue polish to review. This next one is great bright blue holo.

Chlorine Light
Chlorine Light is a bright blue linear holographic with rainbow micro-flakies with a slight metallic finish..

Collection: Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer Far From The Sun 2014

Color: I love the name of this polish because it truly is a swimming pool-like blue.  It's a crisp, clean, and bright blue and those flakies and holo make it come alive. This is a winning a blue!

Formula: This had an excellent and easy to use formula. I used 2 coats above.

Price: You can purchase a 10ml mini for $6.00 or a 14ml full size for $12.00 on Blue-Eyed Girl Lacquer's website.

Overall: This is a gorgeous blue holo. I love this bright blue shade that is very reminiscent of spring and summer and days at the pool. The holo and flakes are great added touch that gives this polish more depth and complexity. The formula was awesome too. No complaints.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 *Golden* Paint Splatters
Happy Wednesday!

Monday, April 10, 2017

Imperfectly Painted Turns 7 (It's time we talk)

Today is Imperfectly Painted's 7th birthday. Every year that goes by I can't believe I've been doing this as long as I have. I still can't. When I started this blog 7 years ago I couldn't believe I blogged for a year, 2 years, or even 3 years. When I hit my 4+ milestones I figured that this was just a part of my life and I didn't really see that foreseeably changing until this year.

This year has brought about a lot of exciting developments and changes in my life and for the first time ever what's in store for Imperfectly Painted is not very clear. I don't plan on stopping this blog. I plan on maintaining it at the pace I've comfortably set over the past year and a half until that no longer becomes feasible which it might. Then, I'll play it by ear. I enjoy this blog and until I can't do it anymore or more infrequently I plan on running it the same.

What are these developments and changes? I can share some of them with you, but one is a surprise that I hope to reveal to you very soon that I think many of you will enjoy along with me!  As many of you may know from following me on Instagram I have been a cat volunteer at my local animal shelter (Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando) for 4 years now. I spend time socializing cats, providing enrichment, and helping adopters find the purrfect kitties for their family. I am also a lead volunteer and I train new volunteers every month.

My years at this shelter have provided me with so much passion in purpose in life. When thinking about a career path it dawned on me that I have been looking in all of the wrong places and the path was underneath my nose the past 4 years all along. I'm meant to serve animals. Every cat I come into contact with I want to make their life better, feel comfortable, and be happy. When I encounter a scared cat at a shelter and I sit with them, talk to them, see them relax, and have them head butt me or start purr I feel I've made a difference to them in their life. In that moment I made them feel respected and loved and that means the world to me. There are countless cats out there who need help and who need comfort, guidance, and someone who respects them to help them live happy and fulfilled lives. I want to be one of those people for them.
Starting in June I will be starting my certification to become a Feline Behavior Specialist (think Jackson Galaxy but not 😜famous). I will be taking courses through the Animal Behavior Institute in Feline Training and Behavior and doing field work at the shelter where I currently volunteer. The certification should take 6 months so I should be certified in December. I have goals of hopefully assisting in shelters/rescues as well as offering behavior consultations to individuals locally and nationally via Skype and email. Remember, I also have something else in store that I hope many of you will want to be a part of too! I should be able to reveal it in the next week or two. Stay tuned!

All of this is my priority right now and with certification courses as well as doing more shelter work that is going to take up a majority of my time. There maybe a few hiatuses here and there, but I do really hope I can maintain this blog. I love nail polish, while it's not my passion, it is something I enjoy and see it as a relaxing outlet for me.  This blog has served me so well and prepared me for this new venture I have in life I'm very excited about.

I want to thank you all for supporting me and staying with me all of these years. I do hope that I do have some more left in this blog long term, but time will tell. As for now, I'm thinking things will stay the same, but I wanted to forewarn you that they may change!

Many thanks!


Sunday, April 9, 2017

Weekly Wax Wrap Up: 4/2/17-4/9/17

Here is what I melted this past week!
Ten Digit Creations Cancer (Zodiac Collection)
Scent Description: lavender + lemongrass + sea salt & ocean breezes
My Thoughts: The strongest note I get off of this scent is lemongrass followed by lavender and then the sea salt & ocean breezes. It's a very fresh and crisp lemongrass based scent with a soft beachy background. I really like this scent and it's really nice when you want something really clean smelling. I melted this after doing some spring cleaning and it was perfect. It's bright and refreshing.
Scent Throw: 3.5/5
Where To Buy: Ten Digit Creations

Ten Digit Creations While You Were Sleeping (Sandra Bullock Collection)
Scent Description: lavender + lavender chamomile + stress relief (eucalyptus spearmint)
My Thoughts: This has all the makings of my favorite kind of scent. I love all of these scent notes individually. The lavender chamomile comes off very strong in this blend when melted and I wish the stress relief had a bit more of an oomph. I love the spearmint and eucalyptus notes I smell on cold, but I wish they came out more strongly when melted. It's still a great scent and perfect for bedtime!
Scent Throw: 4/5
Where To Buy: Ten Digit Creations

Happy Sunday!

Thursday, April 6, 2017

China Glaze I Sea The Point

Over the past few months, I've been revisiting old nail polish collections. I notice a common theme with me is that when some colors are released I don't have any interest in them but a few years later they're right up my alley. I had to make a purchase over at Head2ToeBeauty and decided to look through their old China Glaze collections to see if anything peaked my interest now. I ended up picking up a handful of colors including this one from 2014!

I Sea The Point
I Sea The Point is a bright blue creme.

Collection: China Glaze Off Shore 2014

Color: I know why I didn't get this back in 2014. Bright blues like this were all the rage then and I'm sure I felt comfortable I had enough bright blues. What's funny is that hasn't changed. I still have enough bright blues, but since bright blues haven't been as on trend they haven't been in the forefront of my mind as much, so I needed this one too now. This is vibrant and bright. I love blues like this and I'm sure this is number 25+ bright blue in my collection 😂.

Formula: This had a nice and easy to use formula. I used 2 coats above.

Price: I paid $3.25 for this on Head2ToeBeauty.

Overall: This is a great bright blue polish. Blues like this are always winning colors in my opinion and I still can't get enough of them. You won't be disappointed in this one!

My Rating: 5 out of 5 *Golden* Paint Splatters
Happy Thursday!

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Nails Inc. The Mindful Manicure Collection

* I received the following products in exchange for my honest review.

Nails Inc. contacted me recently and asked if I would be interested in reviewing their new The Mindful Manicure collection. I was intrigued by this collection so I took them up on their offer. This Mindful Manicure collection is a set of 5 nail polishes that are infused with real gemstones. According to Nails Inc....

"This polish is inspired by gemstones, which are said to intensify a person’s aura, helping to clarify thoughts, channel energy, and heal. It’s a beautiful, on-trend nail polish with a feel good message. This polish is inspired by gemstones, which are said to intensify a person’s aura, helping to clarify thoughts, channel energy, and heal. It’s a beautiful, on-trend nail polish with a feel good message."

Now, I think these polish enhancing your aura and improving your mood is a bit of a stretch here. I'm not buying into that. I'm not a big believer in things like especially when you put it into nail polish form. I am really intrigued that these are infused with real gemstones and I love the soft and airy feel of these colors so I see where they go the idea for this theme.

Good Vibes (infused with clear quartz)
Wear for aura enhancing
*worn over a nude creme
Good Vibes is a clear top coat filled with rainbow iridescent flakes and glitters.

Better Together (infused with rose quartz)
Wear for friendship and love
Better Together is a pale pink with a silvery shimmer with a blue flash.

Future's Bright (infused with citrine)
Wear for happiness and heart shielding
Future's Bright is a pale peach with a glowing gold/pink shimmer.


And Breathe (infused with tourmaline)
Wear for stress relief and positive energy
And Breathe is a coppery pink frost with sparse iridescent glitter.

Balancing Act (infused with moonstone)
Wear for balance and wisdom
*worn over nude creme
Balancing Act is a pearlescent top coat filled with glowing pink/purple shifting shimmer.

Collection: Nails Inc. The Mindful Manicure 2017

Colors: These colors are soft and airy. I think these colors work for the collection theme. My favorite colors here are Future's Bright and both of the top coats. I think the top coats in this collection are real winners here. They're so versatile and high quality. The only color I'm not really enthused about is And Breathe it's really too frosty and the added glitter doesn't help it much.

Formula: These all had excellent and smooth formulas. I was afraid that Better Together, Future's Bright, and And Breathe would be sheer but they were not. They only needed two coats and the top coats I only needed one coat over a base.

Price: Each of these colors is $15.00 each. You can purchase them either from the Nails Inc. website or Sephora.

Overall: I think this is a nice collection. I love the softness of the shades and the infused gemstones. I don't think this is a collection that will appeal to some nail addicts because they're not as exciting as some indie colors. I would really recommend the top coats. I really think they're beautiful and the highlight of this collection. The price is a bit steep for my tastes on these, but this is a higher end brand of polish.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Paint Splatters
Happy Tuesday!

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Weekly Wax Wrap Up: 3/26/17-4/2/17

Here's what I melted this past week!


American Home Moonlit Night
Scent Description: There's a peaceful stillness to this fragrance that comes from a mix of cedar, oakmoss, clove and more. It's calm and quiet, crisp but relaxing.
My Thoughts: This is one of those clean and masculine scents. I feel pretty confident saying as American Home is made my Yankee Candle this is the same scent as Midsummer's Night. It's cologne like, but it's not overly heavy. It's crisp and clean. I love this scent and scents like this one.
Scent Throw: 3.5/5
Where To Buy: Walmart

Ten Digit Creations Deep In The Congo
Scent Description: welcome to the jungle + hundred acre woods + orchid rain
My Thoughts: This a very unique earthy, hippie, and green blend. I'm not a big fan of earthy/hippie scents, but the green notes in it help to balance it out. This scent does have some grit and dirtiness to it not in a gross way, but in that woodsy/earthy scent way. It's difficult to describe, but it's definitely unique to me. I like this scent. It's not a favorite, but it's one I will melt again.
Scent Throw: 4/5
Where To Buy: Ten Digit Creations

Happy Sunday!