Category Archives: Product Reviews

Zoya Seashells Collection Swatches

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Zoya Seashells Collection Swatches

If you’re still riding the textured trend like I am, you’ll be excited about the new PixieDust nail polishes in the Zoya Seashells Collection!

(To see the details of the colour story, check out the official Zoya Seashells Collection press release that I posted on the blog earlier. This collection is currently available for sale on Zoya’s website.)

The formulas on all of these are exactly what I expected from Zoya. They cover well, are easy to paint with, and you won’t need more than two coats to reach full opacity.

Additionally, they dry exceptionally fast, which makes them the ideal choice when you’re in a pinch and need a fresh manicure.

Which ones are calling out your name?

One of my favourites is Cece (the green), which should come as no surprise. Another favourite is Zooey (coral pink), which surprised me because I liked it way more on the nail than in the bottle.

The swatches in this post were taken in artificial light, but when I wear them as full manicures, I’ll be sure to review at least one in a separate, detailed review because you really need to see them in natural light! They look even better!

I love how there’s a light sprinkling of holographic glitter in the Zoya Seashells Collection! There’s just enough to make it twinkle a little extra without being a disco ball.

Edit (May 21, 2016): If you’re interested in the creme polishes, check out my Zoya Sunsets Collection swatches!

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OPI Alice Through the Looking Glass Collection Swatches

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OPI Alice through the Looking Glass Collection Swatches

Yesterday, in my Twitter poll, I asked which of three nail-polish collections you wanted me to swatch first.

The majority (39%) chose the OPI Alice Through the Looking Glass Collection, although the Zoya Seashells Collection came in at a very close second (38%).

Taking your request into account, here are all nine colours in the OPI Alice Through the Looking Glass Collection (aka the Brights 2016 Collection) swatched!

(If you’re interested in seeing the official press release with the colour story, click the link to see it in a blog post I published previously.)

Which one’s your favourite?

The red and plum had a jelly-like finish, which was very shiny and on the sheer, watery side. However, they could be built up with multiple coats.

The gold has a little silver thrown in, and it’s a textured glitter nail polish. (On me, I think it looks wonky and the texture looked clumpy because the base colour is metallic. It wasn’t my favourite, even though I am a fan of textures.)

My heart raced faster when I tried on the special-edition colour, What Time Isn’t It?, which is a pigmented grey with bar glitter. I don’t have anything exactly like it.

The light and dark blues were my favourite cremes because they pop on your nails!

Overall, the formulas on these were great and easy to apply with most needing just two coats.

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The Body Shop Piñita Colada Body Butter Review

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The Body Shop Pinita Colada Body Butter Review

Treat your skin to a tropical paradise, flaunt your grass skirt, and satisfy your summer craving with The Body Shop Piñita Colada Body Butter, which combines creamy coconut with juicy pineapple for a scent that’s reminiscent of the well-loved piña colada!

This special edition officially launches in Canada in July 2016, but if you’re in the United Kingdom, this Piñita Colada Body Butter by The Body Shop is already available as a new arrival.

The Body Shop Piñita Colada Body Butter contains hand-harvested coconuts from the Antilles region of the Caribbean and fresh, handpicked pineapples in Santo Domingo.

Oh, and yes, the entire time I was working on this post, Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes was stuck in my head: “If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, if you’re not into yoga, if you have half a brain, if you like making love at midnight in the dunes of the cape, then I’m the love that you’ve looked for! Write to me, and escape!”

Hey, did you know that, as a symbol of love, the Caribbean Indians traditionally put pineapple crowns outside their homes? I just read that recently and thought it was cute!

On my nails: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Ripple in Time.

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Essie Loot the Booty Swatches & Review

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Essie Loot the Booty Swatches Review

Essie Loot the Booty from the Summer 2016 Collection will bring out your inner swashbuckling pirate…even if you’re a landlubber! Arr!

Akin to the sun kissing the sea, Essie Loot the Booty graces your nails with a gentle shimmer. X marks the spot, and it’s as blue as the sapphires in the impressive treasure chest.

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Panorea Skin + Spa Review

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Panorea Skin and Spa TorontoMother’s Day is coming up!

Are you ready to make Mom feel like a queen for a day?

A while ago, my mom and I enjoyed our first spa experience at a Toronto skincare spa called Panorea Skin + Spa.

Panorea Skin + Spa has been family owned and operated since 1981, and it was named after a real woman called Panorea. (I think it’s a beautiful name and one that I have never come across in my circles.)

We went to this Toronto spa when it was located at 416 Bloor Street West, but they’ve recently relocated to 853 Bathurst Street. (Their new location is north of Bathurst Station on the east side. Look for their green planters!)

They offer all the spa treatments you could want from hair removal, eyelash tinting, and custom facials to manicures, pedicures, and skin consultation.

If you’re curious, their prices and services are conveniently listed here on the Panorea Skin + Spa website where you can also book your appointment online.

By the way, I saw on their website that they’re running a Manicure/Pedicure Special for $55 CAD when you book from Monday to Wednesday. (Also, this spa offers CND Shellac nail polish, but I also noticed a wide variety of Nubar nail polishes in the back. Hehe, you know this nailphile would spot the lacquer quickly, right?)

Other ways to contact them:

  • E-mail: info@panorea.ca
  • Phone: (416) 530-0781
  • The handy web form at the bottom of their website

During our spa visit, we met Louis and Shantel, who are shown in the above photo.

Louis is Panorea’s son, and we chit chatted a little bit. He’s very friendly, and I could feel his passion for skincare right from the beginning! Plus he obviously walks the walk, since the dude has the smoothest and most even complexion that I’ve ever seen on a man in a long time. I could tell that he takes extremely good care of his skin!

When I commented on how healthy his skin looked, he flashed a charming smile and attributed it to his mother teaching him how to care for his skin at an early age.

I agree – prevention is the key! Wear good sunscreen all the time, and don’t neglect your skin!

Shantel, the esthetician who would perform the facials, had a calm demeanour, which made it easy to relax. After going over the forms we filled out based on our skin concerns and the products we used, she suggested specific Dr. Renaud skincare products and spa facials that we would benefit the most from.

She was very knowledgeable and patient, offering advice and answering our constant string of curious questions. (Remember, it was our first ever spa trip, so everything was new to us!)

In the rest of this post, I will go into more detail about our Panorea Skin + Spa experience. Come along because I’ll also share some photos of my mom during her collagen-infused facial.

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Smith & Cult Nail Polish Swatches & Review

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Smith & Cult Nail Polish Swatches

If you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ over the past few weeks, you’ve seen me share my swatches of 17 beautiful Smith & Cult nail polishes!

Since not all nail polishes I feature on social media wind up on the blog, you may not have seen these, except for Smith & Cult She Said Yeah, which I did an in-depth review on that included multiple swatches on here. (Details of where to find these luxury nail polishes and more information are in the ‘Key Notes’ section of that review.)

My Thoughts on Smith & Cult Nail Polish

After trying out a wide range of colours from this new-to-me brand, I can totally vouch for them in terms of quality. The ones I’ve tried had smooth formulas, which made for an easy application. Plus the extensive variety of colours means that, chances are, at least one will appeal to you!

The bottles feel luxurious and are on a whole other level than others I have in my collection…and you know that I have thousands, so that speaks volumes. They’re weighty, and the design reminds me of a high-end perfume bottle.

Although the caps are extremely large, they are just covers, so you can easily twist them off, which reveals a smaller handle that allows you to apply the nail polish as you normally would.

Compared to many mainstream nail polishes, Smith & Cult features a much shorter brush wand. I found it easy to use, but obviously, the experience and preference varies from person to person.

In this post, I’ll share with you larger photos of each of the swatches shown in the above collage, as well as the captions I wrote (inspired by the nail polishes) to accompany each of the swatches that I posted on my social media.

Which colours do you like?

If I haven’t yet swatched a Smith & Cult nail polish that you want to see, let me know! (I have some more colours to share, and if I have the one you’d like to see, I’ll bump it up on my to-share-on-social-media list.)

Edit (June 6, 2016): To see Smith & Cult Nail Polish Swatches Part 2, click on the link for nine additional swatches!

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Essie Tribal Text-styles Swatches & Review

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Essie Tribal Text-Styles Swatches Review

Send a ‘text message’ with your nails when wearing Essie Tribal Text-styles!

Hailing from the Summer 2016 Collection, Essie Tribal Text-styles brings out your dark (and sparkly) side. You’ll want to dip your claws into this moody superstar!

This shade got me excited because it’s not every day that a mainstream nail-polish company strays from the longtime convention of summer collections favouring bright hues!

For as long as I can remember, I haven’t limited myself to ‘seasonally appropriate’ shades because I believe that self-expression runs the gamut of colours. Wear what makes you happy!

In scorching summers, I have worn a jet-black manicure, and in the dead of winter, I busted out my most flamboyant neons without batting an eyelash.

That’s why it was so incredible to see Essie encourage fellow nail junkies to embrace any colour any time! There are no nail rules etched in stone, and I urge you all to create your own ‘rules’ that are guided by your love of colour and passion for experimentation.

In my swatches later in this post, you’ll be able to see how brilliantly this polish sparkles, especially in the sunlight! In person, it’s even more mesmerizing, as they dance on your nails like tap shoes burning a hole in the ground!

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