ABC Challenge - "N" is for BG Cosmetics Nocturnal Goddess (and an update)

 Press Sample

 *Product(s) Featured provided for review. Please see Disclaimer/Legal Page for more information**


 Good Morning Lovelies! You may have seen this on FB already, but as of today I am taking a few days off from the blog. I've been struggling to polish, photograph, edit pics and post all in the same day for awhile now, and it's just not working. So I have decided to take a few days off from posting so that I can get swatches done and photographed. This way I'll be able to post on time (and when I end up having router issues or toddler problems posts won't be so late) and my stress level won't be so high. I used to be able to do everything in a matter of a couple hours, but since Dex is getting older and wants mommy to play all the time, I have less time during the day to get everything done. I know alot of you do things this way and it works for you. I really want to be able to post daily, and this way it guarantees I'll have something to share with you all every day. (Case in point....It's taken over an hour to get this post ready. Dex has me making balloon animals for him.)

Don't forget that the giveaway has been extended! 2 of you lucky readers will win the entire 80's Hits Collection from Daring Digits!!! There are 2 daily entries, so don't forget to grab those!

Today I'm posting my very late ABC Challenge post. See? I told ya! I can't get things posted same day anymore. I totally fail at same day posting. I received an awesome review package from the ultra-amazing and incredibly hot (honestly! Have you seen this woman??) Ketlyn from BG Cosmetics on Wednesday so I abandoned my original N manicure in favor of BG Cosmetics awesomeness. In fact, this polish didn't even have a name yet, and Ketlyn, Sammi, and I spent some time trying to name it. It didn't have an actual name until last night. Ketlyn choose Nocturnal Goddess since this polish has a few properties that make the name ultra fitting. Make sure you stick around and check out ALL the pics - it's worth it!

Nocturnal Goddess is from BG Cosmetics first foray into Holographics. I'm sure you've seen the swatches that Ketlyn has posted. They're gorgeous! Nocturnal Goddess is the one polish in this collection that is a touch different from its counterparts. NG is a blue based holographic, but it's has the least holo flash. There's a reason for this though - it's all in the base. Which will remain a secret until after some photos!

NG is definitely holo, although my camera did not want to capture the holo too well. I had a tiny sliver of sunlight to work with, which happened to be at a bad angle, and the secret base makes it hard to capture the holo on camera. IRL the holo comes out to play a bit more than shown here. These swatches are without topcoat, but I did add some later on and the holo colors really came to life then. Makes me wish I had topcoated before I took these pics! 

This is 3 coats of Nocturnal Goddess, no topcoat, in indirect sunlight:

    




































 Uh..Please to be ignoring the slight swelling in my hands. I am graceful and managed to slam my hand in the garage door. It was not pleasant. I think my neighbors could hear me swearing after that one.


Can you see the rainbow sparkle? I've found that it looks more pronounced the longer you stare at it. The last shot is blurred to show the holo sparkle, and that's what it looks like IRL. This polish is truly gorgeous, yet so hard to capture on camera. I actually struggled for 2 days to get these shots!

One of the most impressive things about this new Holo collection is the formula. Man, was I just in holo heaven applying this one! Noctunal Goddess has the thicker Indie style formula, yet it's not too thick. It flowed onto the nail smoothly and evenly with no dragging or balding (we all know how holos are notorious for those!), and was opaque in 2 thin coats. I'm wearing 3 coats since I sandwhich my holos (2 coats of polish, then top coat, then another coat of polish) to increase wear time. Speaking of wear, I'm still wearing this and 2 days of full wear has led to...well nothing! I have no chips or tip wear. It's amazing!  

Although Nocturnal Goddess has the least linear holo effect of the collection, it is one of my faves. And I'm about to show you why. This is why the base doesn't allow the holo to show through as much as the others, and  why it's so hard to photograph. I think this is the coolest combo ever, and worth sacrificing a bit of holo for. 

Here's the secret of Nocturnal Goddess, and the reason that Nocturnal is in the name:

    
 That's right! Nocturnal Goddess is a GLOW IN THE DARK HOLOGRAPHIC! Isn't that cool as hell??? Ketlyn didn't tell me that this was a GITD polish at first, so imagine my surprise when I went to head to bed Wednesday night and saw my nails glowing blue! I was so stoked that I jumped out of bed to text Ketlyn.  I took these shots during the day, in my bathroom. With the door open. So you can imagine how strong this is at night. It's so awesome that I find myself sitting in the dark just waving my hands around to see them make glowing trails.This is one of the coolest polishes that I own, and if my house ever catches on fire, it's going with me. Well, all my BG Cosmetics polishes will go with me, but this one will be on top. 

The GITD is the sole reason that photographing this girl is so hard. The base is busy absorbing the light, which makes it hard to catch enough light to grab the holo sparkle. I guarantee that it's there IRL, but photographs are tough with this one. At least with just a 12 inch sliver of indirect sunlight to work with. I may end up taking some full sunlight swatches of this one later, since in full sunlight it's so sparkly. 

Now you all know how much I love BG Cosmetics. I've loved Kett's polish since she first opened shop. So I'm incredibly honored to be able to sow you the rest of this amazing collection. I'll have swatches up ASAP (if I can swing it, I may be back Sunday!)- you DO NOT want to miss these. The holo in the next 3 are incredible! I'll also be sharing some BG's from my personal stash, since they're so incredible I just have to work them in. The Holographics Collection is not yet available, but will be listed later this month (Kett is going to South Africa, so we have to let her enjoy her vacay before we trample her over new holos!).

You can find BG Cosmetics at BG Cosmetics on Etsy, and they will also be available at Mei Mei's Signatures within the next 1-2 months! Congratulations Ketlyn!!!! All BG Cosmetics polishes are 3-free, cruelty free, and handmade. Polishes retail from $8.50-$11.00 depending on style - obviously holographics are a bit more (but oh so worth it!!!), and large bottles are 15ml (opposed to the standard 9 or 10). BG Cosmetics also makes a wonderful cuticle balm and some of the best eyeshadows I've tried. Make sure to use code "KimbersKorner" to save 15% on your order!!  You can also follow BG Cosmetics on Facebook for previews and sales info. 

What do you think of Nocturnal Goddess? Would you rock a Glow In The Dark holo?

Be sure to check out all my polish sistahs and their awesome N manicures!





Thanks for stopping by and Happy Polishing!
-Kimber   


 *Product(s) Featured provided for review. Please see Disclaimer/Legal Page for more information**  

Press Sample

30 Days of Blue: Layla Hologram Effect in Ocean Rush

I cannot tell you how excited I am to be sharing this polish today. I have been wanting a linear holo for a long time, and to find an amazing line of linear holos here in NM?? I almost had a massive coronary right there!

Layla Hologram Effects are the new holographic line from Layla, and are the strongest Linear holos I have ever seen. Pictures simply do not do them justice. Ocean Rush is a gorgeous deep Ocean blue Linear holo that throws double and triple rainbow V's all over the nail. I picked up 3 colors from this line and despite being seriously and amazingly holo, Ocean Rush is the LEAST holo of all 3. The Silver and Black holos are just breathtaking. Not that Ocean Rush isn't incredible. I compared them to China Glaze Sexagon when I got home, and there is just no comparison. The Layla Hologram Effect Collection just blows Sexagon out of the water. 

These pics show maybe about 1/3 of how strong this is IRL. I had some late evening sunlight, but that wasn't strong enough to really show how awesome this polish is.

First, here are some shots indoors with the Daylight Lamp:

And now in some waning sunlight:

I tried to capture this in a macro shot, but it blurred out the holo. You guys get the point, right?

I am so in love with these holos! I can't wait to show you the other 2! I may have to squeeze in some swatches this week just to share them!

Formula on these ladies was right about what you would expect from a holo, a little goopy and some drag, so you definitely want to make sure you let it dry between coats. I didn't use a basecoat with this, since you're supposed to use this special buffing file that Layla makes in order to get the best effect. It's really just a very fine grit 2-way buffer, and I found that since it makes your nails smooth and shiny as silk, that after a day or so the polish will just slide off in sheets. I would recommend either Orly Bonder of Nfu-Oh Aqua Base for these. Wear wasn't as bad as I had expected, lasting an entire 2 days with zero chips or wear, but like I mentioned, using the buffer caused it to just come off in full sheets when it did finally wear. All of those little annoyances are so very worth it for such an awesome linear holo effect though!

I picked these up at Ulta for $15.50 each. The buffer retails seperately for $2.95.

Hope you're all having a fantastic day! I'm off to do some nail art!

Happy Polishing!
-Kimber