Tag Archives: OPI

Speak in Colour with OPI’s New Universal Language

OPI Color is the Universal Language NYCHere’s a second post for Monday. šŸ™‚

It introduces how you canĀ Speak in Colour with OPI’s New Universal Language!

For each letter, A through Z, OPI has designated a pool of nail polish. This allows you to create fun and colourful messages that not only look artistic, but they can be deciphered easily.

Since we’re on the topic of ‘codes’, I want to share a little bit about myself that ties in and explains why this OPI campaign made me feel nostalgic! šŸ™‚

When I was in elementary school,Ā teachers would ask students what we wanted to be when we grew up.

My classmates threw around a wide variety of professions such as firefighter, doctor, and even princess!

After sitting patiently and listening to others share their dreams, it finally was my turn to speak up.

What did Little Mary want to be when she grew up?

The first dream job I ever wanted to pursue (since perhaps the age of 5 or 6) was an international spy. Everyone, even the teacher looked at me funny.

I definitely wasn’t a tomboy because I loved ‘playing house’, dressing up in pink dresses, and playing with dolls. However, what gave me the biggest thrill were stories where a person went on an adventure. There had to be an element of danger, and the only way to escape would be to think fast on your feet and outsmart the opponent.

When I was a kid, I read Choose Your Own Adventure books, and I had a crush on mullet-loving MacGyver (even though he was so much older). I also fantasized about being one of The Goonies. I wished that I had the special computerized ‘book’ from Inspector Gadget (the original cartoon). And I can’t forget watching the Indiana Jones movies for the first time. (I don’t believe in true perfection, but gosh, Indiana Jones comes pretty darn close!) *My eyes become hearts now*

At recess, the times when I didn’t feel like playing with my female friends and pretending that we were princesses, I used to run off with the guys in the grade above me. Our favourite game was to imagine that we were hunting down criminals and demonic spirits to uncover the twisted truth behind a well-kept mystery! As ‘spies’, we documented our observations in crumpled-up notebooks, collected ‘evidence’, and pieced together the puzzle in order to solve a case. (Oftentimes, our imagination was so wild, we ended up scaring ourselves and were glad when the bell rang and it was time to go back to class!) šŸ˜‰

I wanted to read everything about spies, codes, and deciphering them. It got to the point where I was creating coding devices and teaching my friends how to use them, so we could pass notes in class with secret messages. And I also owned a spy book that had a strategically placed hole through all the pages, so you could ‘pretend’ to be reading when really you were spying on someone! (I still have it on my bookshelf!)

For years I was convinced that I wanted to be an international spy who traveled the world and called any new place home. (My parents would always laugh when I told them and wondered what ever put such an idea into my head.)

So, although this introduction was windy, I do have a point. šŸ™‚ It’s a sharp one, so please don’t sit on it!

When I first heard about the OPI ColorChat App and how it allowed you to create messages in, essentially, nail-polish ‘code’, it brought back some of my childhood memories of always wanting to write and crack coded messages. So, even though I’m in my 30s, it looks like Little Mary still lives on inside me. šŸ˜‰

Check out the rest of this post to see more photos of the new OPI initiative, the OPI ColorChat App, and how it can be used to create personal products that allow you to express yourself in colour and in ‘code’.

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OPI Nail Envy Review & Pictures

OPI Nail Envy ReviewWhile I’m normally a law-abiding citizen, sometimes I realize that certain rules are meant to be broken. Such is the case when it comes to base coats!

I’ve tried nearly every mainstream base coat under the sun, beyond the dark side of the mood, and around the corner.

You name it, since 2008, if it’s a popular base coat, I gave it a run for its money.

I can’t remember the exact date whenĀ OPI Nail EnvyĀ waltzed into my life with its cummerbund, but I know that it should’ve been sooner!

If you’ve followed Swatch And Learn for a while, you know that for pretty much every single nail-polish review, my base coat of choice is, well,Ā notĀ a base coat! It’s OPI Nail Envy, which is classified as a nail strengthener.

My natural nails are very strong like Hercules. (Thank my mom and dad for that because I don’t do anything special, and I’m always using my nails to pick at labels and other things that will make a nailphile cringe. I’m extremely rough on my nails, and I’m constantly typing on the keyboard at my full-time job. Then, I come home and work on my blog – haha,Ā moreĀ keyboard typing!)

So…it’s understandable that I used to steer clear of nail strengtheners. But, so many readers kept raving about OPI Nail Envy, and, like any nailphile, my curiosity got the better of me. I had to see if it was worth the hype or not.

Well, I’m so glad that I was curious like a cat because my search for a Holy Grail base coat came to an end the day I tried OPI Nail Envy (the original formula)!

I use it as a base coat, so this review is only judging it that way. (I can’t judge how well it strengthens nails, as my nails aren’t weak, thin, or peeling. Plus when I used this, I didn’t notice any difference in terms of nail strength.)

For those with nails that need to get buff, you’ll be happy to know that this is a maximum-strength formula with hydrolyzed protein and calcium. This combination helps nails grow harder, longer, and stronger, while resisting peeling, cracking, and splitting, according to the official OPI website.

Read this review to learn why I’m no longer looking for a great base coat. I’ve found it!

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OPI Helps the Next Generation of Nail Techs with $25,000 in Beauty Industry Scholarships

I’m sneaking in a short blog post this evening because I received information about an OPI initiative that may be of interest to some of you.

Even though I’m not a nail technician or a nail professional by any means, I am a nail junkie, which means that I love promoting the nail industry and unique opportunities.

See below for the official press release to learn more about how you could earn an OPI scholarship!

OPI HELPS THE NEXT GENERATION OF NAIL TECHS
WITH $25,000 IN BEAUTY INDUSTRY SCHOLARSHIPS

OPI ScholarshipsTo support the future of beauty technicians, theĀ OPI PRO Development SectorĀ has madeĀ two $500 scholarships available each monthĀ to worthy students attendingĀ preferred* OPI Nail Technology or Cosmetology schools. Since 2004, two lucky winners have been chosen each month based on essays and personal recommendations. For students attendingĀ AACS Member Schools, nine $500 scholarshipsĀ are available throughĀ www.beautyschools.org.Ā 17Ā additionalĀ $500 scholarshipsĀ are available through OPI various channels.

Last year,Ā Charise Hunt, a student at theĀ Grabber School of DesignĀ in St. Louis, MO, was one of the deservingĀ OPI Scholarship winnersĀ for the month ofĀ February 2014. ChariseĀ graduated in April of 2014 and was licensed the very next month.Ā  After 10 years of working in education helping children with special needs, she decided to turn her hobby of polishing nails into a full time career, and enrolled in cosmetology school. Charise explains, ā€œWhile I love working on nails, Iā€™ve also discovered that I truly enjoy the customer service aspect of the beauty business. It makes my day when customers leave feeling happy and good about themselves.ā€

Winning theĀ OPI ScholarshipĀ helpedĀ support her journey from educator to nail professional. Charise says, ā€œI never expected to win the scholarship. It was a complete confidence booster.Ā  I wasnā€™t able to work while in school, so the scholarship provided financial assistance while also solidifying my decision to change careers.ā€ Now Charise works at two salonsā€”her sisterā€™s full service salon, Essence of Beauty, as well as at Beauty Brands.Ā Follow her budding careerĀ on Instagram atĀ #ladylacquer_llc. To help turn your dreams into reality, like Charise,Ā apply today through your OPI preferred* school orĀ www.beautyschools.org.

*To qualify as a Preferred Nail Technology Program, every student must receive an OPI On the Go Nail Technology Kit as part of a Nail Technology/Manicuring Program.

*To qualify as a Preferred Cosmetology Program, every student must receive an OPI On the Go Nail Technology or Cosmetology Kit as part of a Cosmetology Program.

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OPI Lost My Bikini in Molokini Swatches & Review

OPI Lost My Bikini in Molokini Swatches & Review*Trumpets blare* Guess what? With this review ofĀ OPI Lost My Bikini in Molokini, I’ve now finished reviewing every single one of the 12 shades in the OPI Hawaii Collection! šŸ™‚

Although last, it’s certainly not least. OPI Lost My Bikini in Molokini is one of my favourites from the collection because it reminds me of when I first started seriously collecting nail polish back in 2008.

My first love was purple before it took a backseat to green. šŸ˜‰

With the weather warming up and spring just a few days away, it’s great to look at a fun colour – reminds me of spring!

P.S.Ā Don’t forget! You still have time to enter my OPI Hawaii Collection Giveaway for your chance to win all 12 colours! (Ends Friday March 13, 2015 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to Canada and US residents.)

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OPI Hawaii Collection Giveaway (Canada & US)

Edit (Sunday March 15, 2015): CONGRATULATIONS, ANGELA! You’ve won my OPI Hawaii Collection Giveaway! To claim your prize, please reply to my e-mail with your mailing address within 72 hours.

Thanks to everyone for participating in my giveaway. Stay tuned – I already have another nail-polish giveaway planned to reward my readers for being so supportive!

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This month, we’re going to have another Friday the 13th. Naturally, I want to make it someone’s LUCKY day, so I partnered up with OPI to bring you this exciting giveaway.

Canada and US residents can enter for a chance to win myĀ OPI Hawaii Collection GiveawayĀ from today until Friday March 13th, 2015 at 11:59 pm EST.

Yes, that’s right – you could win all 12 shades (in full-sized bottles) from the OPI Hawaii Collection!

OPI Hawaii Collection Giveaway

I’m a fan of the OPI Hawaii Collection, and I’ve reviewed all but one of the colours in-depth on here. After I review that final shade, I may do a collection round-up post.

(Check out my OPI Hawaii Collection press release post for the links to each review or scroll to the bottom of this post. Also, if you’re interested, check out my OPI Hawaii Collection Media Launch Recap post for a fun look at an exclusive event I attended in October 2014.)

Please carefully read the giveaway details to ensure that your entry is valid!

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OPI Do You Take Lei Away? Swatches & Review

OPI Do You Take Lei Away Swatches & Review OPI Do You Take Lei Away?Ā is from the Hawaii Collection that came out earlier this month.

This nail polish took me by surprise. Colours like this are hit or miss for me because I still haven’t figured out how to choose the most flattering ones. (Many times, these kind of shades look like Band-Aids on me.)

OPI Do You Take Lei Away? is very different – I found it complementary on my skin tone! It doesn’t make my fingers look washed out like a corpse bride. And the lovely shine keeps it from looking flat and blah.

If you usually shy away from neutrals like this and your skin tone is around the same as mine, I urge you to give this one a shot. It might just pleasantly surprise you, too!

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OPI This Color’s Making Waves Swatches & Review

OPI This Color's Making Waves Swatches & ReviewOPI This Color’s Making Waves hails from the Hawaii Collection.

If there was such a thing as a mermaid robot, I feel like OPI This Color’s Making Waves would be Ariel VT4000!

It has a cool, futuristic feel with the tealĀ that reminds me of a mermaid’s tail.

As if you couldn’t tell, this nail polish has a high shine with tons of shimmer. I feel like it could catch the light, even without a baseball glove and with its eyes blindfolded!

Like an enchanted pool, OPI This Color’s Making Waves beckoned me closer. Somehow, it ended up on my nails and it stayed there for a few days! šŸ˜‰

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