Perfectly Polished Tips 246 - Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips

Last week I used Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail strips for the first time. The package comes with 16 strips in various sizes, a nail file, and an orange wood stick. They claim that the stickers can last up to 10 days. There are a ton of neat patterns, colors, and designs. It's an easy way for someone not so great at nail art (aka Me) to get decorated tips.

I googled some tutorials and watched a bunch of youtube videos. Application looked easy enough. You start out with clean, dry nails. They recommend swiping your nails with polish remover before beginning. The sticker is double ended to accommodate different cuticle shapes, I didn't really find this to be helpful. I have small and narrow nail beds. Once you stick on the strip you use the orange wood stick to seal the edges, then you file off the excess from the tip. I had a very hard time making the cuticle area look nice, it probably equated to my manicure clean up. I guess it didn't bother me that much though. The strips were all smooth and looked as if I had used nail polish.

These only lasted about three days before they began to chip and lift. Most of the time I follow the nails are not tools rule and I think I was overly cautious because I didn't want to ruin my nails. Three days is also typically what I get out of a regular manicure. I don't think I would use these often or even pay full price for them. You can only get one manicure out of a box, unless you have small nails and clip the stickers in half. Even then there is a warning on the box that unused stickers should be discarded. It appears that they dry out very quickly. Maybe putting them in a ziploc immediately would help? I didn't want to take any chances though.

I used a hot pink color called Crybaby.

Neons make my camera freak out, it was a bit more pink IRL and not as washed out. These photos are immediately after I had applied the strips. You can see it's a bit rough around the edges.

You can find Sally Hansen nail strips pretty much everywhere these days. I think they are about $8-9 at drugstores but they can be found for less at Fivebelow and Big Lots.

Perfectly Polished Tips 84 - Superstar Nail Lacquer

Recently I was asked to try out a fairly new line of nail polish. Superstar Nail Lacquer. The polish is fast drying, free of toxins and comes in 21 different colors. Superstar has bold colors as well as subdued lady like hues. I got to test out 3 of the 21 shades, Fierce Fuchsia, Silver Screens, and Gucci Green. I was really impressed with these polishes. The company definitely has the brush and toxin free formula down. The brush wasn't too wide which is good for me because I have such small nail beds. They applied beautifully, no clumps and most importantly no streaking.

Fierce Fuchsia is a hot pink neon. It is slightly brighter than the photo above. This polish needed 3 coats for full coverage which was not a huge deal because it was dry in seconds. I do not have a top coat on in any of my swatches, because this is a neon it dries matte. A good top coat like INM Out the Door or Seche Vite will give you great shine.

Silver Screens (I mislabeled it in the picture, I apologize) is a foil-y metallic silver. For whatever reason I have been loving the foil-y, icy colors as of late. This color jumped out at me as soon as I opened the package. It is opaque in one coat but I prefer two, so that is what is shown above. Even without top coat it is still smooth and shiny. This one is going to get a lot of use from me.

Gucci Green is a deep forest green with a hint of gold sparkle. It is a very pretty color but for some reason I just cannot get into greens. This polish probably could have used three coats to make the color pop even more.

Why is Gucci Green living in a Lippmann Collection bottle you ask? Well my lovely 2 year old decided that he did not like Gucci Green and threw him against the wall. Snapping his neck and causing him to lose a lot of his contents. I was able to salvage a little more than half the bottle. My rug on the other hand was not so lucky. The purpose of this picture is to show you the slight gold shimmer.

Superstar Nail Lacquer retails for $8.50 and can be found at Stacia Pierce's Style Shoppe. Over all I am impressed with the quality of these polishes but I feel like the colors have all been done before. However I am still lusting over Ambitious Blue, Park Avenue Purple, and Walk the Red Carpet. If you have the opportunity to try these polishes do it. I tested Silver Screens over my manicure the other day and as of today had no chips or anything so I'm thinking the wear on these is pretty awesome too.

I'm not sure if there are any retail locations that sell this brand but it looks as if the website has a flat rate of $5 for shipping.

Perfectly Polished Tips 82 - Pink Creme Pic Spam

I love my pinks, and being that it is still BCA month I figured I would pull them out and share. As I was doing that I discovered; A) I have waaaayyyyy too many pinks and B) most of them are the same exact color. So this is a pic spam and dupe alert post. I have another too but they are pinks with glitter and shimmer, that post will follow shortly.

Essie Steppin' Out and OPI Pink of Hearts (07 version). These polishes are very close in color, the Essie is more opaque though.

Lippmann Collection Constant Craving and Color Club Yachty Yadda. The Lippmann is slightly more purple in real life, but they are very close.

OPI You're A Pisa Work and OPI Koala Bear-y, very similar KB is slightly darker.

OPI Strawberry Margarita, Orly Butterflies, OPI Elephatasic Pink, Color Club Lady Like. Strawberry Margarita is a hair darker than the rest and Butterflies is a jelly.

China Glaze Rose Among Thorns and Color Club Electric Coral. The Color Club is a bit lighter and brighter.

OPI My Throne for a Cranberry Scone and CND Regal Revenge. RR is pinker however being that My Throne can be hard to find I would say it's a good alternative.


OPI All That Razz-berry, OPI My Throne for a Cranberry Scone, and CND Regal Revenge. ATR is more well raspberry colored, however I just wanted to picture it here.

OPI I'm India Mood for Love, OPI Don't Know Beets Me, China Glaze Make an Entrance. The China Glaze is darker in real life but the other two are basically the same.

CND Hot Pop Pink and Orly Basket Case. The CND may be a little brighter but these two are very close.

Color Club Fast Paced and OPI Elephantasic Pink - basically dupes.

OPI Charged Up Cherry and Nocti Kiss & Tell. The Nocti is a smidge brighter and little more orange.

If you would like anything swatched please feel free to ask. I would have loved to swatch all of these but it would have taken forever. I do plan on swatching my entire stash eventually just not tonight. ;)

Perfectly Polished Tips 20 - Misa Neons Swatches & Bottle Shots

The amazing Love8Brain from MUA has ever so kindly allowed me to post her pictures of the Misa Neon Collection. Up first bottle shots, Eve's post with these pictures can be found here.

Hot People Like You, Let's Go Green, Pour Me Something Tall & Strong

Six Pack Summer, A Sunny Smile Makes Me Go Wild

Bikini With A Martini, Lather Rinse Repeat, Happy Happy

Sandals Flip Flops and Hip Hop, Girls Night Out, Ready Set Sunshine

Now swatches- These are 2-3 coats over Milani Soft White, you can check out Eve's posts for more information & more pictures. She said that most of these have a jelly finish which is exciting.

Pour Me Something Tall & Strong
this post can be found here.


Hot People Like You
this post can be found here.


Girls Night Out
this post can be found here.


Bikini With A Martini
this post can be found here.

I will add more swatches when Eve does. Again thanks so much to Eve for allowing me to share her photos! Swatches of the greens and yellows can be found over at The NailPhile.

Perfectly Polished Tips 18 - Misa Neons Part Two

Six Pack Summer

Girls Night Out

Happy Happy (or A Sunny Smile Makes Me Go Wild)

I am completely guessing on the pinks. Please feel free to comment if you know which are which.

Bikini With A Martini

Sandals, Flip Flops & Hip Hop

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Hot People Like You

Perfectly Polished Tips 17 - Misa Neons Part One

Misa has sent me some images that I would like to share. This is their spring/summer collection. I was only sent images not names, so please forgive me if they are labeled incorrectly. I'm going by what transdesign.com has them labeled as. UPDATE*** These polishes are going to be apart of the core collection and available year round.

A Sunny Smile Makes Me Go Wild (or it could be Happy Happy)

Ready, Set, Sunshine

The Grass Is Greener On My Side

Let's Go Green

Pour Me Something Tall & Strong

It's a little late for neons but the names are clever.

Perfectly Polished Tips 14 - Misa Summer Neon Collection

While everyone was going crazy over Misa Poisoned Passion they quietly released a neon summer collection. I don't know much about the collection and haven't heard back from Misa yet but you can check out the collection here - http://transdesign.com/. Just scroll down to Misa. When I know more, I'll let you know.

Perfectly Polished Tips 13 - Neons!

Summer isn't over yet!! I know everyone is excited for the fall collections but I'm still holding on to my brights and neons. Of course the sun went in as soon as I started to swatch so, I was only able to get 1 shot of the polishes on my nails. The rest are bottle pictures. If anyone wants I can do other on the nail comparisons. Feel free to ask!

Color Club Power Play (pointer & middle) vs Butter London Bezzie Mate (ring & pinkie). Both apply wonderfully, the CC leaves a visible polish line though but lasts longer wear wise than the Butter London. There is the slightest difference in color here, most likely only a polish head would notice.

Butter London Bezzie Mate vs Color Club Power Play

Butter London Portobello Pink vs Color Club Screamin Fuchsia. The CC is a little bit brighter but again the BL wins for coverage.

Butter London Dolly Bird vs Butter London Portobello Pink. Dolly Bird reminds me of OPI Strawberry Margarita. There is such a slight difference in color, Dolly Bird is a bit darker. I couldn't really see "needing" both.

Color Club Screamin Fuchsia vs Color Club Electric Coral. EC is more orangey IRL. My camera isn't the greatest.

(L-R) Butter London Dolly Bird, Color Club Screamin Fuchsia, Color Club Electric Coral, Butter London Portobello Pink. This picture makes it look like 3 of them are the same which is why I did side by side comparisons as well.

I love neons and I love pinks. I have to say that even though the Color Clubs leave a visible polish line (VPL) that they last much longer. I've found that by the end of the 2nd day I always have chips with Butter London. For the price Color Clubs are a steal and have a much better selection of colors.

Perfectly Polished Tips 12 - Recent NOTD Photos

I'm a little rusty with my photo taking skills. Here are my 3 most recent nail of the days. All are two coats as well as a base coat and top coat.

Lippmann Collection Hit Me With Your Best Shot - indoor lighting.

CND Blue Blood - Sunlight

Butter London Bezzie Mate - Sunlight

Trying out yet another water mark. I know photo stealing goes on but it's such a pain to have to edit all the pictures. I have more neons to post and I got some polishes from the new fall collections. Swatches will be up soon, I have to be a good girl and register for college courses tomorrow so as soon as that is done I will swatch!