Top 10 Nail Polishes of 2014

I was emailed by Monica of Polish Please to do a blog post about my top ten polishes =) It took me some time to sort my polishes out... It is really hard to pick favorites, especially if you have almost 300 bottles to choose from... hehehe =P
I decided to take a simpler approach. I wanted to capture the 'raw" form of the nail polishes so to speak, so I didn't do any nailart. I didn't want to distract your eye from the polishes itself. =D If you do however want to see these polishes with a more creative twist then check out my instagram =) That is where I normally post my nailart designs! ----@trisbarretto



First up is Urban Jungle by Essie :

This has been a staple in my collection... I have found myself wearing this a lot ever since I got it! It isn't as bright and eye catching as a white polish can be but it is eye catching enough for a neutral. It still gives that kick I am looking for. =)

Essie - Urban Jungle (Summer 2014 Collection haute in the heat?)

Next we have Under Where? by Essie:

I do not know how to describe this shade.... It is lilac with a little more pink mixed in. This is my go to nail polish when I just want my nails to look dainty. It is bright but not over powering. I remember always seeing this polish on the Polish Please website and I finally took the plunge and purchased it. I have never been happier. This is for sure a staple in my collection this year!

Essie - Under Where? ( Resorts Collection 2013)

Now we have Low and Be Bold by KB Shimmer:

I do not know what it is about cobalt blue... Because I AM OBSESSED! This isn't like Essie in Butler Please which is a creme. This polish is more like a "crelly". It also dries glossy. I love the formula of this polish! Amazing! 

KB Shimmer-Low & Be Bold

Here we have Every Month Is Oktoberfest by OPI:

No photo can do this justice. I love this so much especially for this time of year. It is dark red in some lights and in others it looks like this dark brown shade. It is just gorgeous! This polish has a lot of depth and it adds it's own style of sophistication.

OPI- Every Month Is Oktoberfest

The next one on my list is Over & Over A Gwen by OPI:

This nail polish is one of the only red shades that I wear and absolutely love! It is a tad darker than Big Apple Red which is also by OPI. So if you have that one you can pass this shade up. =P

OPI- Over & Over A Gwen (Gwen Stefani Collection)

The next nail polish is Here Today... Aragon Tomorrow by OPI:

This polish is  deep forest green. This is definitely one of those polishes that is almost black looking when you are in low light. The formulation is good! This is opaque in 2 coats.

OPI- Here Today... Aragon Tomorrow

Here is Toucan Do It If You Try by OPI:

Everytime I have this polish on it automatically makes me happy. I have no complaints on the formula. It is bright without it being super loud like other orange nail polishes can be. It is also a good cross-over polish because halloween is coming up and you could use this for nailart. =)

OPI- Toucan Do It If You Try

Now for Aurora by Zoya:

Where do I start? The formula is amazing! When you have this on you will not be able to stop staring at your nails! This is by far my favorite Zoya nail polish. I do not have anything like this in my collection. I may have other holographic nail polish but this one catches my eye the most!

Zoya- Aurora

Now for Tail Feather by Picture Polish:

First of, Picture Polish is one of my most favorite "Boutique" nail polish brands. ( I am so happy that Polish Please offers this brand!) I love the packaging and the formulation is great as well! This polish is mint green with a mixture of iridescent micro glitter. Absolutely stunning on the nails.

Picture Polish- Tail Feather (Collaboration shade with Kayla Shevonne)

Last but not least is Jasmine by Picture Polish:

This polish is so whimsical and pretty I just can't take it! It is a light purple with small circular glitter in green, purple, blue and silver. It glides on the nail with no problem and two coats is all you need.

Picture Polish - Jasmine (Collaboration Shade with Trace Face Philes)

Cult Nails: Love it or Hate it?

I have been hearing a lot of amazing things about Cult Nails Nail Lacquer not just on blogs but on YouTube as well, so I naturally wanted to get my hands on some of the polishes. (Including the base and top coat)

So finally after months of debating, I finally purchased two polishes plus the base and top coat.

My thoughts:

I HATE HATE HATE the packaging! The brush is flimsy and detaches from the cap. In one bottle the brush steam was at an angle. Imagine the difficulty of using the brush to apply polish with that bottle... Headache.... I really want to like this brand... The top coat was okay... Dried relatively fast and the shine it gave the polishes was beautiful... The base coat was something I wasn't impressed with... When I use this base coat my nail polish chips the very next day...

Now to the polishes.... beautiful opaque colours.. 1 to 2 coater... But the teal that I purchased stains the nails so bad!!! Its beautiful but it doesn't matter if you wear a base coat your nails will look like your nails belonged to a zombie after you remove the polish... Be Warned....

Sorry Cult Nails your polishes aren't worth the $12.00 price tag.... I don't mean to be harsh.... i really wanted to like these polishes but I was so disappointed with the quality.... There is no way I would purchase from this brand again.....

Cult Nails in Vicious.... This is "viciously" hard to apply

Cult Nails in Riot

Swatches of Vicious and Riot using the cult nails base and top coat 

have you tried Cult Nails? What are your thoughts? Did you experience what I experienced?

Hot or Not : Clean Brush Shampoo Goat's Milk Version

Are you tired of cleaning your makeup brushes using baby shampoo? Do you feel like your spending too much time and find it tedious to clean your makeup brushes?

I know I am...  I have been using this 2 0z. tub for a couple of months now and I love it! This is the best cleaner I have tried. I am never going back to using baby shampoo.. NEVER! Did I mention that this is organic? That is a plus in my stand point.

It is so easy to use and has cut my cleaning time in half! Not to mention it comes in amazing scents! I have the Rose scent and I love how my brushes smell after. It isn't too scented that is offensive. ( It also comes in grapefruit, lavander, lemon and unscented)

I love the fact that a little goes a long way. You don't need much to clean your brushes. You just swirl it around the tub and it does an amazing job cleaning all the gunk out. I have hardly dented this tub since I started using it. I have been cleaning my brushes and beauty blenders once to twice a week. The goat's milk version is also said to help in removing the stains on your makeup brushes and I totally agree! My white makeup brushes are white again! =) It also conditions my makeup brushes so they stay soft and not dry and brittle. I bought it for Php 770.00 on www.dtcmakeup.com

 I will definitely re-purchase this! I know it seems kind of expensive but as I said a little goes a long way. I used to use baby shampoo and the cost can add up... Because of the Clean brush shampoo I end up saving money instead of having to keep buying baby shampoo.

It also comes in a 4oz. tub if you are interested!

Have you tried this? What are your thoughts? =)

Lorac Pro to Go : Love It Or Hate It?

I am seriously starting to really love this brand! I have the Lorac Pro palette and I can not get enough of it, so when I saw that one of my favorite local online stores was selling this I knew I had to get my hands on it.

I love how compact this Palette is. You have everything you need in one perfectly sized palette for traveling. You no longer need to bring a ton of makeup because this palette has everything you need. =)

It has six eye shadows. Four normal sized and Two larger ones that could also double as a high light.

The eyeshadows have awesome pigmentation and feels really smooth and creamy. I love the formulation of Lorac's eyeshadows. I might even love this formulation better than Urban Decay.

You can do a lot of different looks with these colors. The only limit is your imagination. 

I really love the consistency and pigmentation of the blushes and bronzer as well. I love that you have a pink and a coral to choose from.

I would definitely recommend this palette to those of you who want a more compact palette. One thing I didn't like however was the brushes. Thats why I opted not to show them anymore. The eyeshadow brush was just shedding like crazy. I don't care much for the brushes this palette comes with.

What is your favorite palette this Christmas season? =)

P.S. 

For those of you who live in the Philippines, I bought this palette from Stuff In Style. So if you want it go check out her instagram or ebay site! (Instagram: stuffinstyle )

Indi Nail Polish Haul: ILNP

I have been eying this brand for a long time and I finally went and ordered three polishes from Etsy.

I Love Nail Polish is a three free boutique nail lacquer brand that is based in the USA. You can order polishes from either their etsy shop or from their website. (www.ilnp.com)

First I want to say that I love love LOVE the packaging. From the box the nail polishes come in to the wrapping paper with the ILNP logo.

Forever And A Day

Forever and A Day looks so romantic and elegant. It has Gold and this really light blue almost pearlescent glitter with micro glitter mixed in.  I do not have anything like this in my collection.

Glass Slipper

Glass Slipper is a glitter topper with pink and that light blue pearlescent glitter with irregularly shaped silver glitter mixed in.

Where's My Tiara?

Let me start of by saying I love the name of this polish! Where's My Tiara is a pink creme nail lacquer that is a beautiful bubble gum pink. The formula is amazing and dries pretty fast. Application needed two coats. (it may need 3 coats if you are applying thinner coats)

All swatches have on two coats

I think both of the glitters I bought would go well with Where's My Tiara =)

NOTD: Where's My Tiara and Glass Slipper with special participation of My Favorite Ornament by OPI

Are you as crazy for glitters like I am? What is your favourite glitter topper at the moment? Post it down at the comment box below!

Urban Decay Revolution Liptick

I finally did it.....


I finally took the plunge.....


and went for it.......



    I have been dying to try the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick since it was released. I have seen a lot of people rave about it and the colors look so vibrant and amazing. I went on instagram and saw that the lipsticks were available through one of my favorite local online makeup shops Stuff In Style (@stuffinstyle) I have been buying from Windy since she still had her Multiply store. Amazing selection of makeup at a reasonable price. I highly recommend you check her out!

Back to the lipsticks, I purchased not just one but two! =) My wallet and I have stopped talking after this purchase... lol

 I give it to Urban Decay for the beautiful packaging. Even just with the box that the lipsticks come with are beautifully designed.

The packaging of the lipstick itself feels luxurious. It doesn't feel cheap one bit. I love the fact that it isn't smooth like most lipstick packaging. There is texture and it goes with the over all look. Once you open the lipstick you have a pop of purple that ties in wonderfully with the box it came with.

Here are the two shades I bought Rapture and Shame. Rapture is this pinkish nude that is perfect for everyday wear. Then you have Shame which is this deep red/ burgendy shade. It doesn't look as dark swatched as it does in the tube. So ladies do not be afraid of this color because it looks beautiful swatched.

Initial thought:
The lipsticks were creamy and easy to swatch. I love it so far. Will update this post to tell you about my review and thoughts after using it. =)

Do you have the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick? What are your thoughts? Do you think its worth the price? Leave your comments down below =)

OPI: Every Month Is Oktoberfest

Since it is the fall season (or if you live in Manila like me the "rainy" season) Darker coloured nails are the trend and I have noticed a lot of different Youtubers pick this shade out as one of their favorites for fall. I got curious and wanted to see what the hype was all about. I purchased my bottle at www.polishplease.ph (when do I not buy from here? lol)

My Thoughts:
  This Colour is AMAZING!!! So much depth and the colour pay off is wonderful. You can even get away with just one coat if you do it thick enough. (just be careful not to make it too thick because not only will the drying time become longer but the nail polish will not last as long.)

Outdoors

Indoors

when you are indoors it tends to pick up purply tones outdoors it tends to pick up the red tones instead. It looks dark on the nails but I wouldn't say that it looks black because you can still tell that it isn't black nail polish.

Would I recommend this shade: YES!!!! =)

What are your favourite fall nail polishes? leave a comment below!