OPI Designer Series Coronation

I decided not to do red or green for Christmas, so I did the other predictable color - silver.  But OPI DS Coronation is a sparkly holo silver, so I give myself a few bonus points for the holo.  Plus, I got loads of compliments on it.  Coronation is a flashy, but not overly so.  Call it grown-up holo.

More pictures after the jump.

Do you measure Christmas Spirit in lights?

Last night Mr. swatchcat and I drove around town looking at Christmas lights before heading off to midnight Mass.  As we drove around, I began to wonder what people are thinking when they decorate the house.  The vast majority keep it simple and understated, which is what I prefer.


This whole block gets in on the act.  Yes, it's a bit over the top, but hey, they sure have the spirit of cooperation down.

We went to one particular subdivision where the houses are ginormous, and therefore, the occupants have plenty of cash to spend on lighting up.

But, there are the few that just don't know when to stop.  Click the jump to see.

Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum: Review and Swatches

If I could, I'd steal my sister-in-law's lashes.  Hers are perfect.  Ultra-long and thick - the perfect frame for eyes.  Unfortunately, I wasn't born with lush, long natural lashes, so I'm always on the lookout for a product that promises such...without breaking the bank.  I've been asked what I think about Latisse, the prescription lash enhancer, and I refuse to go there.  Not only is it expensive, but with the chance that it might darken my irises, it's just not worth the results.  I love my hazely-green eyes!  But, if I had dark eyes and wasn't price sensitive, I'd probably try it out.


I purchased Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum a couple months ago, and put it through the ringer, so to speak.  According to Dior, the Maximizer contains hydrolyzed soy proteins and lots of other scientificky-sounding stuff.  After eight weeks of use, testers found the Maximizer increased lash volume by 52%, lash length by 38%, and lash curl by 73%.


So, does it deliver?  Well, I did notice some difference in my lashes, though I don't know how to quantify that difference.  My lashes do appear a bit longer (though it is hard to tell in the pictures because my lash tips are blonde), and more voluminous.  I wouldn't say the Maximizer caused my lashes to grow, rather it conditioned my lashes, allowing them to grow longer (without breaking) and have a longer life before falling out.  I also noticed those fine little baby lashes grew thicker and longer.


Application is like that of a mascara.  It has a spiky, silicone (I think) brush with a little nub at the end.  The Maximizer is formulated for use under mascara, which gives you instant results, as well as on it's own as a nighttime treatment.  You can use the little nub to apply the serum to your eyelid right at the lash line to get the serum right down into the base of the lashes so it will work while you sleep.  I'm puzzled by the use of the word "serum" because the stuff is a white cream.  When I think serum, I think of a light, almost gel-like formula, not a thick cream.

One Coat Primer:

One Coat Primer + One Coat Mascara (at the start of the 8-week test):

Personally, while the Maximizer did produce instant results when I wore it under mascara, it was a bit too much for me for daily wear.  Furthermore, I found my mascara flaked off when I wore the serum underneath.  After that, I limited my wear to nighttime and special occasions only.


Being that I am a visual person, I like to see results, not just read about them, so I have a lot of pictures.


More pictures after the jump - and I mean a lot more pictures!

The winners are...

For the Zoya Ultra Glitter Set:

For OPI My Private Jet:

Congratulations to the winners!!  Please contact me at swatchcat@gmail.com so that I can get your mailing info.

I had a lot of fun doing this giveaway, and I will do more in the future.  Stay tuned because I have lots of great swatches coming up, including more Deborah Lippmann plus a whole bunch of Butter Londons, Burberry and Urban Decay, just to name a few!

One Last Reminder For My 100 Followers Giveaway!

Who doesn't love free stuff?!  Make sure you enter my giveaway.  Tomorrow is the deadline!


Tell your friends, family, neighbors and blog readers by 5:00 p.m. to get entries.  See the details for entry here.

Reminder Cats

swatchcat D might be too busy napping...

but swatchcat C has your back.  He wants to remind you to enter my giveaway.

What a pal!


(Hurry, the deadline for entries is 5:00 p.m. December 15th...I'll be picking the winners that night!)

Deborah Lippmann Across The Universe

See?!  It's a conspiracy!  Another pretty blue!  At least this one also has green glitter.  Plus it's a navy jelly base, so it makes my inner-goth very happy.


You want pretty pictures?  Sure you do.

More after the jump.

OPI Designer Series Magic

I think there's a conspiracy to make me out to be a liar.  I keep saying I don't "do blues", but here I go again with another one.  OPI released two new Designer Series colors for Fall 2010, Radiance (which I didn't get because it's a sparkly silver, and I already have Coronation plus a couple others) and Magic.  Magic is just too pretty for words.  It is not a holo like a lot of the other DS polishes.  Rather, it is a very sparkly, foil-like sapphire blue with a turquoise and fuchsia duochrome vaguely reminiscent of Rescue Beauty Lounge's Scrangie.  Magic is a much brighter blue than OPI Designer Series Fantasy, which leans more toward navy and has the holo glitter (swatch here).

Click the jump for a whole bunch more pictures.

100 Followers!!

When I started this blog, my goal wasn't to collect as many followers as possible.  I really just wanted to get swatches and inspiration out to the masses.  I am so thrilled, though, that I have so many people who care what I have to say about beauty, fashion, etc...


So, to celebrate, I'm going to do TWO giveaways!  First up, I have a set of Zoya Ultraglitters Astra, Luna and Nova.  Second, is a bottle of OPI My Private Jet (the deep brown with holo glitter).

Ways to enter:  1.  You must be a follower, so become a follower and leave me a comment!  If you're already a follower, just leave me a comment!  2.  Get an additional entry for featuring my giveaway on your blog (leave me a link to the post in a comment).  3.  Get an additional entry for referring a friend who becomes a follower - you'll each receive another entry (be sure to note, by username, who you've referred/who referred you in a comment so I can credit you both)!


I will pick the winners on December 15th.  This giveaway is open to everyone (U.S. and international).  I will use random.org to generate the winners.  All polishes are brand new from my personal collection.  Good luck and thank you for your support!

Deborah Lippmann Bitches' Brew Nail Lacquer

I thought about doing some bright, crazy color for Thanksgiving, but I decided to go with a more traditional fall color with a sassy name, Deborah Lippmann Bitches' Brew, a vampy burgundy shimmer.

More pictures after the jump!

Happy Thanksgiving

I have so much to be thankful for this year.  Wonderful family (who helped with all this food!), friends and a new job among many, many other things.  I'm also thankful for my readers who inspire me.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Leaf Killer

I'm sure that leaf was being insolent or gave him the stink-eye.  Otherwise, I can't imagine what would prompt the fat and über-lazy swatchcat D to lash out.

That leaf didn't stand a chance.

Chanel Riva Le Vernis

Chanel just keeps pumping them out.  This time it is Riva, part of the Chanel Côte d' Azur Cruise Collection.  It's a pretty pale blue cream with hidden shimmer.  I do really like the color, which, from me, is saying a lot, since I don't really do blues.  Butttt, as pretty as Riva is, I think it's passable, and if you're really itching for a pale blue, dupeable.


Still, I took pretty pictures...

More pictures after the jump!

OPI Black Cherry Chutney

OPI Black Cherry Chutney...sounds Thanksgiving-y doesn't it?  It's nothing I'd try because I find cherries yucky, but I'm sure Black Cherry Chutney would be delicious.  Being that I don't have to come in contact with actual cherries to wear the polish, I have no trouble sporting OPI Black Cherry Chutney.  It is a gorgeous burgundy with subtle red shimmer.  Very vampy and perfect to wear for Thanksgiving Dinner.

More pictures after the jump.

Dior Czarina Gold Vernis and China Glaze Wagon Trail Comparison

When I first reviewed Dior Czarina Gold, I said it was a blackened gold, and made a mental note to do a comparison to China Glaze Wagon Trail, since that is the only other blackened gold I have.  The two polishes are similar, but not dupes.  Czarina Gold is in more of a smokey base and has much more pronounced golden sparkles that give the polish an overall burnished bronze color.  Wagon Trail, on the other hand, has a black base with golden shimmers, and those shimmers give the polish an overall deep olive-y tone.


Pointer and Ring:  Wagon Trail;  Middle and Pinkie:  Czarina Gold

More pictures after the jump!

OPI Burlesque Collection

OPI's latest collection (I think...it's so hard to keep up sometimes) was inspired by the release of Burlesque starring Cher and Christina Aguilera.  I have no opinion in regards to the movie, as it's not my thang, so I won't be seeing it.  The polishes, on the other hand, I have not only opinions on, but pictures, too!


First up, Ali's Big Break, which is a beautiful blood red with fuschia and gold flakies.  The flakies really give ABB a lit-from-within glow.  Unique, not so much, although, I didn't have a color quite like it.  This is three coats, and pardon the tip-wear.  I'd been wearing it a couple of days before the sun finally came out so I could photograph it.

More after the jump!

Dior Black Ink Vernis

I'm going to be honest, because, well, that's the point of this blog.  This polish is let me down.  I was hoping for a deep navy with glowing blue shimmers.  Something along the lines of OPI Ink, but more navy and a bit less shimmery.  The bottle is deceiving, because in the bottle, that is exactly what Black Ink looks like.  On the nails, it's another story.  Instead, Black Ink is a nearly black base with subtle blue shimmers.  The base basically looks black and it pretty much obscures the shimmers unless you're in the sunlight.

Close ups after the jump.

Dior Aztec Chocolate Vernis

Again, I am not so much with the words today.  Work had drained most of them out of me, and what was left was banged out of my head with a fender-bender on my way home.  Nothing serious, and I wasn't hurt (and even better it wasn't my fault), but my car's rear bumper looks just that much more worse for the wear.


So, on to the pictures...

More pictures and color commentary after the jump.

Dior Czarina Gold Vernis

What to say, what to say?  I hate starting every. freaking. post. with, "OMGGGGG, this color is sooooo amazingggggg!!!!!!"  But, well, see previous statement.  I appear to be not so much with the words today, so instead, I'll just post lots of pretty pictures.  That seems to work well.

More pictures and a description after the jump!

Dior Timeless Gold Vernis

No, I did not fall off the face of the Earth.  I'm still adjusting to being back at work.  And we're still painting the damn house!!  That is what is really taking up all my time.  Right now I have a fabulous work schedule that will actually work quite well for swatching and blogging, so if we could just finish that painting!


I did have an opportunity to paint my nails this weekend and, since so many of you were chomping at the bit like I was, I opted for one of my new pretty Diors, Timeless Gold.

More swatches and my idle musings after the jump.

Congratulatory Haul

Why might I be getting a congratulatory haul, you may ask?  Because I got a job!!  After many months of looking, I am employed!  Great reason to celebrate, right?!  Right!  (Although, if I'm being honest, I'd have made the purchase anyway, and had I not gotten the job, it would've been a consolatory haul...but since I got the job, that's neither here nor there, so yay me!!)  This is not the only haul I have coming my way, but these goodies were on my doorstep when I arrived home.

Burberry Taupe Brown (L) & Rosewood (R) Sheer Eye Shadows
Burberry Rosewood Lip Cover (Lipstick)
Burberry Nude Beige Lip Glow (Lipgloss)
Chanel Rouge Fatal Le Vernis
Dior Timeless Gold (L) & Czarina Gold (R) Vernis
Chanel Enigma Quadra Eye Shadow


More hauls to come and swatches to follow (as soon as I get myself into a schedule).

As promised, the time-consuming project...

...we are painting the exterior of our house!  At long last, after 7 1/2 years of needing to paint, Mr. swatchcat and I are finally doing it!


Before, we had the ugly white house on the block.  We were pretty certain the neighbors were getting ready to vote us off the island.

Click the jump to see the after!

Promises, promises...

I promise I am not a lazy blogger.  I promise that tomorrow I will post what has been keeping me so busy these past 10 days.  I appreciate all my readers for sticking with me.

Chanel Rouge Allure - Naive

I recently picked up Naive, which is in the Rouge Allure formula.  If you haven't tried the Rouge Allure formula, it is very moisturizing and the colors go on opaque with just a couple of swipes.  Naive is a natural, baby mauve-pink with a bit of golden shimmer.  On me, Naive is just a bit lighter than my natural lip color, making it perfect to wear with most makeup, and especially for an easy-going, natural look.

I couldn't find Naive anywhere but on Chanel.com, so it may not be a permanent color.  If you're looking for a light, natural pink, then you'd better get Naive while you can.  Rouge Allures retail for $30, and through November 1st, you can get free shipping from Chanel online with code 0910GLOSS.