Barielle Sale and Some Late Christmas Cheer

Quick!  Barielle is having another daily special and this one is amazing!

Get all five of these lovelies for $9.95.  This includes shipping!  Less than $2 each!  This only lasts today though, so hurry over to Barielle HERE to get it!

Now I have something to tell you.  I am doing what I never thought I would ever do....I am going back to school!  And for something I never thought I would do.....Nail Technician.  I feel like such a cliche.  I took some time, though, to decide if it was really what I wanted.  Just because I like doing my own nails does not necessarily mean I would want to do others.  I started with doing my sister's nails.  Once a week for several months.  My sister is a good critic.  And if I can do her nails in the front seat of her car, I should be able to do anyone's anywhere, right?

My biggest concern has been time.  I can easily spend hours doing my own nails.  Doing Bonnie's every week gave me the opportunity to increase my skills and speed.  But the real test came at Christmas time.  Bonnie was having a Christmas party with friends and asked if I would do manicures for those that wanted them as her Christmas present to them.  It started out as only three girls.  By the end of the night it was seven.  There were all kinds of personalities and I had so much fun.  A lot of work, but still fun.  Seven manicures in a little over three hours.  I did not do any cuticle care, but I still think I did good time!  Here is a group pic I got with five of the ladies.  (Two had left by the time I got around to pictures).

I prepared about 10 looks and brought everything needed with me.  I had samples on a nail wheel so people could choose.  Three people chose designs, but wanted different colors and we worked it all out.  The red green and gold plaid was changed into a teal and copper plaid.  I think that one was my favorite.  Everyone had something different.  So much fun!

So, here I am, days away from starting this new chapter in my life, nervous and excited all at the same time.  I don't know if it is the best financial choice for me, but I have big plans.  Eventually I would like to have my own salon suite for natural nail care and provide low-to-no cost manicures for women reentering the workforce.  This is what really gets me excited.  It means further education in non-profit, but not right now.  One step at a time, right.  Some days I feel I am too old to try and change my life so dramatically, but if not now.....Boy, I am one big cliche these days!

Thanks for looking and commenting!.

Barielle Jetsetter Comparisions

Today I have some comparisons of the Barielle Jetsetter Collection.  There is a bit to get through, so I am going to jump right in.  Let's start with a comparison of the two greens in the collection.

Barielle Irish Eyes is a moss green.  It is more opaque than Gondola ride and is shown at two coats with top coat.  Gondola ride is a sage green with a thinner formula.  It is shown with three coats and top coat.  I have a lot of (what may be) similar colors so a comparison of those may be coming soon.

Here I have a comparison of Barielle Rain in Spain and Barielle Designer's Shoe from the Vibrants Collection.  They are both are two coats with top coat.  Rain in Spain's formula is slightly better than Designer's Shoe in that it is a bit thinner.  Hmmm, periwinkle comparison in the works?

I mentioned before that it seems Barielle includes a nude pink in every collection, at least the ones I have reviewed.  Here I have a comparison of three of them and an older discontinued pink.  Index is three coats of Very Bare from the Nude & Naughty Collection.  For some reason in my original swatches (which you can see HERE) I used four coats.  Either I have improved my application skills or it has thickened with time.  Middle two coats of Pillow Talk, also from the Nude & Naughty Collection.  This definitely could have used another coat as I can still see patchiness.  Ring finger is two coats of Kiss Me Kate from the Jetsetter Collection, my second favorite, only behind Belly Dance, which is on my pinkie.  Belly Dance, unfortunately, is discontinued.  I was lucky enough to find it on a blog sale and it continues to be one of my favorite pinks.  Kiss Me Kate is my favorite nude though.  All of these are definitely different, so there are no dupes here!

That's what I have for today.  Let me know if you like comparison posts and I will try to include more.  Thanks for looking and commenting!

Barielle Jetsetter Collection Swatches

Time just keeps slipping away from me!  But with the snow storm today, we are staying home and snuggling inside, trying to keep warm.  What a perfect day to post my Barielle Jetsetter Collection swatches!  Let's just jump right into it!  All swatches are two coats with top coat, unless otherwise noted.

Kiss Me Kate in Artificial Light

Kiss Me Kate with Flash

Kiss Me Kate in Artificial Light

Barielle has a lot of these nude colors, but this one is my favorite that I have tried so far!  It has a vintage pink feel to it that works so well with my skin tone.  Formula was great, self leveling and easy to apply.  Watch for a comparison post of this with Barielles other nudes coming soon so you can find one that would be perfect for you!

Rain in Spain in Artificial Light

Rain in Spain with Flash

Rain in Spain in Artificial Light

Next we have the delicate Rain in Spain.  This periwinkle blue is paler than others in my stash and, once again, has become a favorite.  The formula on this was perfect, thin but not a flooder.  

Autumn in Seoul in Artificial Light

Autumn in Seoul with Flash

Autumn in Seoul in Artificial Light

This is three coats of Autumn in Seoul, one of those coppery browns I love so much.  It was fully opaque in two coats, but felt the need add a third coat.  However, I messed it up.  I scratched....something....before it was fully set, so there are wrinkles.  This was in no way caused by the formula, which was smooth and easy, but by my itchy....something.  I just can't remember what I itched (tee hee).  In the DMPs there are some brush strokes showing, but IRL they don't show at all, just a nice metallic brown.  I admit that I am partial to these colors, so I have some similar shades.  I will do a comparison post soon!

Gondola Ride in Artificial Light

Gondola Ride with Flash

Gondola Ride in Artificial Light

Gondola Ride is the first of two greens in this collection.  I know some are not wild about green, but I happen to love it, so two in one collection is a dream come true.  Gondola ride is a lovely sage green creme that freaked my camera a bit.  The first picture is most color accurate, a light green with a slight blue tinge.  The formula was much thinner than all the others and required three coats for full coverage.  Other the thinness, the formula was good, no flooding and a good self leveler.

Irish Eyes in Artificial Light

Irish Eyes with Flash

Irish Eyes in Artificial Light

Irish Eyes is a moss green.  Once again, my camera was a freak.  The first pic is color accurate.  It is slightly darker with a yellow lean.  Another good formula, smooth and self leveling.  Tomorrow I will have a comparison of the two greens.

Midnight in Paris in Artificial Light

Midnight in Pariswith Flash

Midnight in Paris in Artificial Light

Finally, my favorite of the collection, Midnight in Paris.  The formula on this was Fabulous with a capital F!  Smooth, easy and gorgeous.  Although it has a metallic shimmer, there are little to no brush strokes, whoo hoo!  The Seche Vite top coat did cause some shrinkage at the cuticle, but that may be because I did not give the polish enough time to dry before applying it.  I feel like I have similar colors in my stash, so I will be doing another comparison with this one.

Overall, I enjoyed this collection and there are definitely a few new favorites here, Kiss Me Kate, Rain in Spain and Midnight in Paris.  Another great collection from Barielle!  All of these, plus other fabulous colors, can be found at their website HERE.  But that couldn't be all, could it?  No!  Bonus nail art!

I love this....except for the horrible shrinkage from the Seche Vite!

I started with a base of Barielle Moda Blue, a favorite from the Me Couture collection, which you can see HERE.  Then I stamped with Midnight in Paris and Messy Mansion MM12.  The difference in tone was so close that you could only see the shimmer in direct light.  At least I know it is a good stamper!

Finally I double stamped with Irish Eyes, Rain in Spain and Chez Delany Diver 002.  If I was smart, I would have put a stud in the middle, but nope.  Sometimes you can't see the obvious until you see the pictures :(

Despite the missing studs and obvious shrinkage (I think this is the worst case of shrinkage I have ever experienced) I still ended up liking this look.

So, what do you think?  Like this collection?  Which is your favorite?  Thanks so much for looking and commenting!  See you tomorrow with some comparisons!

Barielle Water Marble Nail Art

After reviewing the Barielle Me Couture collection (you can find the review HERE), I wanted to do some nail art.  The formula was so perfect, I suspected they would work well for the #31DC2014 water marbling prompt.  I was right!

I have tried water marbling several times and I have to say that these were the best polishes I have used.  They spread wonderfully and don't dry to fast.  Seriously perfect!

I started with a white base and water marbled with Barielle Moda Bleu, Vintage Gown and Soho at Night.

I am still perfecting this technique and, as always, can see all my flaws, but I ended up really happy with it.

This whole collection will be going into my "use to water marble" list.  I am sure that they will be ones that help the non spreading polish work.  Yeah, I LOVE this collection!

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Barielle Me Couture Swatches

Today I have swatches of Part one of Barielle's fall collection, Me Couture.  First let me talk about the formula of these.  I have been swatching for Barielle for awhile and I have been happy with each collection I have had the opportunity to show you.  This collection, however, has pleased me beyond words.  It isn't just the wonderful fall colors, it is the formula.  This is the first collection I have tried that has the same stunning formula across all of the polishes.  I would call it a crelly finish, well pigmented yet with that jelly depth and "squishiness".  On top of that, they dry quickly with a high shine finish.  Although I used my Seche Vite on all of these, it was only to dry them quickly so I could take pictures.  They were just as shiny before top coat.  All the swatches are two coats, unless indicated.

Please forgive my red cuticles.  I removed a red stainer before I started swatching.  Don't even remember what color it was, but I remember that I was frustrated that my cuticles looked so red!

Barielle Taupe Notch with flash

Barielle Taupe Notch in artificial light

Barielle Taupe Notch in artificial light

First up is Barielle Taupe Notch.  So I feel that taupe is bandied about a lot for several different shades, so I did a little research.  Did you know that taupe comes from the french word for mole, the animal that burrows underground?  Taupe, therefore, relates to a greyish brown or warm grey color.  This would fit that in my book, however it does lean a little purple in my eyes.  Whatever you call it, it is a lovely grey that I am happy to have in my stash!

Barielle Vintage Gown with flash

Barielle Vintage Gown in artificial light

Barielle Vintage Gown in artificial light

This is Vintage Gown.  I love this color!  I feel it is very flattering to my skin tone.  Barielle describes it as a "creamy rust".  I would call it a muted mauve.  You can see in the flash picture a copper or pink shimmer.  It does not show up under most lighting, but I love that it is there anyway.  It is like having my own little surprise when it gets in the right lighting.  Can't say enough good things about this one!

Barielle Soho At Night with flash

Barielle Soho At Night in artificial light

Barielle Soho At Night in artificial light

Now we move on to the more vibrant colors.  Soho At Night is a beautiful creamy grape purple.  Although it is vibrant, it is also muted.  How can that be?  It is the perfect fall purple!

Barielle Moda Bleu with flash

Barielle Moda Bleu in artificial light

Barielle Moda Bleu in artificial light

I love cobalt blue and I consider this the perfect cobalt blue, the perfect balance of blue tinged with purple.  Plus the formula, like all of them in this collection, is jellylike, but highly pigmented.  The first coat with this one looked patchy and balding, but the second coat covered all sins.  I think this is my favorite., but only if I had to pick one!

Barielle Boho Chic with flash

Barielle Boho Chic in artificial light

Barielle Boho Chic in artificial light

  
Boho Chic is the perfect fall teal, deep and vivid.  Barielle calls it a "creamy deep sea green".  Good description!  I have a lot of teals in my collection and have nothing close to this.  This is the only one that I felt needed more than two coats, only because I don't like VNL and I could still slightly see my tips.  That is just me though and most people would be perfectly happy with only two.  In fact I would have been too, if not for the knowledge that I would be taking DMPs (dreaded macro pics).  Another winner, shiny and gorgeous!

Barielle Berry Posh in artificial light

Barielle Boho Chic in artificial light

None of my flash pics of Berry Posh turned out.  I think my camera was dying and they were all out of focus.  Barielle describes this as a "deep fuchsia".  Spot on description!  Although I think this fits very well in this fall collection, it is one of those colors that would be appropriate throughout the year..  This color would look stunning on almost all skin tones, it is the perfect berry color in my opinion.

There are more fall colors from Barielle that will be featured here soon.  If they are anything like this collection, I can't wait!  I love every single color in this collection, which can't always be said.  Can't say enough good things about these!  Both the Me Couture and Jetsetter collections are available right now at Barielle.com.

Now you may be saying, "Tina, where is the nail art?".  It is coming!  The formula on these is so perfect, I suspected they would be good for water marbling.  I was right!  This post is already picture heavy, however, so check back later to see what colors I chose to put into the "pool" together!

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Tina