Bettina Ethereal Collection

Wow, where to begin? I'd been wanting to check these out, but the memory of the process of acquiring them was a bit daunting, and it wasn't until the fabulous Fingers of Fingers Polish Mania (go check her out here) started showing swatches of them that I decided I needed them. She contacted Janet at the email address and put in a good word for me. See, the only way I know to buy Bettina polish, apart from driving 3 hours to Orlando or 7 to Miami, is to send an email off to a distributor telling what you want then you wait for an invoice. I've done this multiple times over the years and it usually takes three emails to get a reply. I guess they're really busy. (I suspect it is a salon that sells Bettinas, or the distributor taking orders from US retail locations so I'm really small potatoes) But lo and behold, I got a quick reply and after a short delay as they were out of a couple of the colors, I now have the whole 9 piece Ethereal collection!

against white they seem dark

More true-to-color, no topcoat here

My first thought swatching these was "these remind me of one of my all time favorite collections China Glaze On Safari!" not because of the colors, but the smokiness, unusual colors and amazing application. See, these aren't pastels, not in the normal way. There's no chalky white base, no streakiness, no opaque, "dead" or "solid" color, these are  solid in two coats, yet still glowing with an inner light. I could not be more pleased, especially as they are less than $4 each with shipping. Winner winner, Bettina, bravo!

To purchase, if you don't live near a retail location, check out what you want here then email your request to jrosado@bettinacosmetics.com.  I will be following their new releases closely, this is becoming one of my very favorite brands!

Well Loved Bottle of Saint George aEngland

I snagged a few clearance-priced Lynnderellas recently, sold most of them but could not bring myself to get rid of this oddly colored glittermix called Earth Sign. I don't know if it was the large round holo glitters, the peculiar burgundy mattes glitters or even the blue shimmer, whatever it was, I kept it. Having rocked quite a few neons and brights recently, and ALSO having scored a back up of one of my Top Ten polishes, aEngland Saint George, I thought these two would go nicely together. George needs sunlight for the holo to come out and play, but it's rich and dark and hints of shimmer even inside. Yes, he's a stainer, but I'll gladly do clean up for the color payoff. Poshe topcoat overall.

Mentality Crystalchromes- only the beginning

There's a new flakie in town, and only Mentality Polish has them! Crystalchromes are a new glass/ceramic hybrid flake that changes color, is opaque on its own, yet translucent enough that it glows nearly 3-D. They apply easily, and clean up is a breeze. I grabbed a few pieces with my tweezers and they "crunch" almost like when you break into a sand dollar. So, not polyester, nor metallic, nor polish based like the new multichrome flakies everyone has these days, these are pigment/mineral in appearance. There are four colors, and a fifth with the four combined. Here is that mashup, called Panorama, over a pale gray cream. One heavy coat of  Poshe over makes it pretty smooth. You can find these lovelies here.

Panorama with flash

Panorama without flash- under room lighting in office

One and two coats of each

Recycle your Mani- Holo Gradient

The always brilliant Lilypad holos were calling me, with Frogs alive, a spirited yellowed deep grassy green being the base. It chipped a bit after the first day (what? don't clean cast iron pans without gloves? hunh??) so I dabbed on a bit of Lilypad Rainbows in space. Poshe topcoat.

Mentality Neon Holos Hit a Home Run!!

I stupidly preordered only seven of these beauties, I WILL be going back for the rest! I have no idea how neon holos can be so rich and dense, and how she makes them for under $7 each (shipped free right now) but I'm telling you, these are PHENOMENAL polishes for summer! Two coat perfection, vivid and shimmering with a very subtle holo, kind of like ice crystals under the surface. Cannot get enough of these. Go. Buy. Here. I'm wearing Shake and Alarm in the two color mani and an assortment in the next. Although these do not dry completely matte like most holos, nor are they chalky, I top coat anyway as I like to wear them for a few days. The rainbow mani was removed after three full days with only a little tip wear, no chipping.