[ Review ] Zahara Medusa Nail Polish

 

Zahara Medusa is a stunning murky grey-ish green colour nail polish. With such an effortless application, it is perfect for those who are beginners. Medusa applies well and the consistency is pigmented yet not too dry. 

The glossy green looks beautiful and with its breathable formula that allows water and oxygen particles to pass through for hydrated and stronger nails, it may be just the one for you. 

That said, as you can tell, the fonts on the bottle had came off, even though I have not use it but kept in a box for a couple of months. It depicted poor quality. I do hope they will improve on the packaging. 

Zahara Medusa Nail Polish is made in France and is vegan and cruelty-free, non-toxic and 10-free from these common chemicals found in most nail polishes. No formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, acetone, TPHP, TBHP, gluten.

Adding on 2 coats of Coffret Dor Jewelight Nail Color RD-58 gives it a more dimensional look. Check out its appearance on Zahara Queen. 

Where To Purchase : Shopee

BUTYL ACETATE, ETHYL ACETATE, NITROCELLULOSE, ACETYL TRIBUTYL CITRATE, ADIPIC ACID/NEOPENTYL GLYCOL/TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, N-BUTYL ALCOHOL, PHOSPHORIC ACID, SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE, DIACETONE ALCOHOL, DIMETHICONE, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, TRIMETHYLPENTANEDIYL DIBENZOATE, SILICA, STEARALKONIUM BENTONITE, BENZOPHENONE-1, FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE (CI 77510), BLACK 2 (CI 77266 [nano]), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140)

[ Review ] Zahara Elite Nail Polish

 

Product Description

Zahara Elite was made to complement the #LadyBoss in you. Feel like a million bucks with this dark and demure shade of berry. Elite is a rich and flattering on all skin tones and with a unique vibe for any occasion. 

I had previously reviewed Zahara Queen Nail Polish and now its time to check out Elite, a dark purple nail polish shade. 

Made in France, Zahara’s breathable nail polishes are specially formulated to allow water and oxygen particles to pass through the polish and reach your nails so that our nails stay hydrated and strong!

Vegan and cruelty-free, it is non-toxic and 10-free from these common chemicals found in most nail polishes - No formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, acetone, TPHP, TBHP, gluten.

Zahara nail polishes are easy to use and great for amateurs like me. I love how the application is pigmented, smooth and even. Just 1 layer, and you are done but of course, you can apply a few more layers as desired. 

Unfortunately, the finishing isn't as glossy as I like. It is semi-glossy and looked matte at times, which isn't my preference. 

Where To Purchase : Shopee

BUTYL ACETATE, ETHYL ACETATE, NITROCELLULOSE, ACETYL TRIBUTYL CITRATE, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, ADIPIC ACID/NEOPENTYL GLYCOL/TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, N-BUTYL ALCOHOL, PHOSPHORIC ACID, SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE, DIACETONE ALCOHOL, DIMETHICONE, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, TRIMETHYLPENTANEDIYL DIBENZOATE, SILICA, STEARALKONIUM BENTONITE, BENZOPHENONE-1, FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE (CI 77510), RED 34 LAKE (CI 15880), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)

[ Review ] Three Beauties Nadine Nail Polish B05 + Blossom Nail Polish Remover

 

Product Description

Three Beauties Nail Polish is a revolutionary new formulation that not only allows your nail plate to breathe but it is also a halal and water permeable nail polish. This is a pro-ecology nail polish designed to comply with green philosophies, religious beliefs and way of life.

First registered in London in 1958, the brand does not use toxic ingredients, animal-derived ingredients and does not test products on animals.

If you have been looking out for halal new polishes, then Three Beauties may be what you are looking for. It is breathable nail polish where water can go through the nail polish and reach the nail bed as it enables oxygen and hydration to pass through and is infused with essential oils, hence promote healthier nails.

Three Beauties Nail Polish uses 85% bio-sourced ingredients such as corn, potato and wheat. Using a non-styrene bio-sourced plastizer system, it contains specific adipic polyester resin that preserves high shine and intense gloss.

It is Halal Compliant/Wuduh-friendly, Vegan friendly and Cruelty free. A toxic free formula that does not contain Formaldehyde,Toluene, DI Butyl Phalates, Camphor, Xylene, Trypheyl (TPHP), Ethyl Tosylamide, Formaldehyde Resin and Paraben. 

Zahara Queen Nail Polish + Kanebo Coffret D'or Jewelight Nail Color RD-58

 

Queen is a rose gold metallic nail polish shade which is the first rose gold pearlescent satin shade by Zahara. With light-reflecting properties, she brings dimension and a subtle soft glam to your nails. A wonderful and versatile shade that can be worn as a topper over any coloured nail polish or even on its own, providing a layer of glamour and opulence - fit for a Queen.

Made in France, Zahara’s products are vegan, cruelty-free and the formula is also halal-certified. For the uninitiated, Halal nail polishes avoid alcohol in their ingredients or use only Shariah-compliant forms of alcohol, or vegan-friendly ingredients with no traces of animal by-products. Halal certification can also be done by an independent halal certification board.

This was my first foray into Zahara and I am so impressed with the quality and how easy for an amateur like me, to use Queen. Effortless is the one word that can be used to describe the application. 1 to 2 coats are enough for the opacity that I required. It glides on the nails so easily. So smooth and no smudges. Simply love it so much! 

The shade is not that striking and would be great for daily wear, on days when you just want your nails to look alittle more polished. Drying time is fast too!

Zahara’s breathable nail polishes are specially formulated to allow water and oxygen particles to pass through the polish and reach your nails as this helps nails stay hydrated and strong! No more weak, brittle and stained nails!

Adding on, it is non-toxic and 10-free from these common chemicals found in most nail polishes - No formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, acetone, TPHP, TBHP and gluten.

Where To Purchase : Shopee

BUTYL ACETATE, ETHYL ACETATE, NITROCELLULOSE, ADIPIC ACID/NEOPENTYL GLYCOL/TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER, ACETYL TRIBUTYL CITRATE, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, MICA, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, N-BUTYL ALCOHOL, PHOSPHORIC ACID, SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE, DIACETONE ALCOHOL, DIMETHICONE, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, TIN OXIDE, TRIMETHYLPENTANEDIYL DIBENZOATE, SILICA, STEARALKONIUM BENTONITE, BENZOPHENONE-1, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140), IRON OXIDES (CI 77499)

Kanebo Coffret Dor Jewelight Nail Color RD-58 is a lovely pink-red glittery shade which looks lighter than what is shown on the nail polish bottle. The glitters add another dimension to boring solid colours so its pretty versatile as you can also wear it on its own.  

It applies sheer and is easy to use. 

On days when I want my nail colour to look more obvious, I just apply another 2 coats of Coffret Dor Jewelight Nail Color RD-58 on top of Zahara Queen and ta-da! - a sweet vibe!

Where To Purchase : Adambeauty

And of course, with glitters, more time and effort are required to remove them as compared to conventional nail polishes but its still not that bad. 

Its been awhile since I last shared any nail polish posts, as I haven't been wearing them often. Nevertheless, hope you enjoy it. 

Thanks so much for reading! Sign up on my mailing list so that you will not miss a post again!

 

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[ Review ] : Withshyan D02 Kiera + D04 Belina Nail Polish

 

Product Description

Minimize nail damages with Withshyan nail polish gives a vibrant glossy finish in 60 seconds! Available in different colors, there is no need for UV Lamp to dry your nails, hence reduce damage on your nail and has lesser enamel smell than normal nail polish. Intense color with formula from France, which can last up to 2 weeks.

Benefits :

QUICK DRY: The unique formula makes it dry quickly. Takes 60 seconds without the need to use UV lamp. 

LESS CHEMICAL AND NATURAL INGREDIENTS: 10 free formula (Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formsaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Ethyl Tosylamide, Xylene, parabens, animal by-products, and fragrance). Contains keratin and biotin for nail nourishment.

MADE IN KOREA: Withshyan nail polish help you get the perfect nail art without visiting nail salon. Save your time & money.

Its been 5 years since I last reviewed any nail polishes as I have been using the old ones but when most of them dried up, it was time for me to look out for new ones to add to my humble collection. 

Withshyan caught my eye because it was made in Korea and selling at a reasonable price without the nasties. You can check out their products on Withshyan. In Singapore, I purchased them from Hebeloft. 

I love shimmers and glitters in my nail polishes so I chose the above 2 colours from their Diamonds series - D02 Kiera and D04 Belina.

The diamond series have glitters because they contain diamond pearls of various sizes and shapes.

Both Withshyan D02 Kiera and D04 Belina Nail Polish dry in 60 seconds so that you have more time for other things in life. Withshyan uses a self-developed formula to dry quickly and minimizes the inconvenience of using nail polish in a rush. 

Unfortunately, the application for both nail polishes differ drastically like chalk and cheese. Kiera has 

a thick and almost "lumpy" texture so it does not apply easily while Belina has a runnier and more fluid texture which makes it slightly easier to apply than Kiera. 

How To Apply :

1) Apply base coat

2) Apply color, in one smooth motion, move the brush across the center of the nail, from cuticle to tip. Then, swipe it along the left and right side. 

3) Apply one or two more coats to even it out and increase the richness of the color.

4) Apply top coat for more glossy finish.   

How To Remove :

1) Soak some polish remover with cotton pad

2) Wrap around your nails for about 1 to 2 mins

Deborah Lippmann Good Girl Gone Bad

Product Description
For when you want to take a risk but stay within your comfort zone, reach for this striking cabernet. The bold color yields to the softness of the shimmer.

And so, I chose to wear Deborah Lippmann Good Girl Gone Bad for the Chinese New Year. Being the most expensive nail polish I owned ( retails for more than $30 ) and as an amateur "nail polisher", I expect better quality.

Made in USA, Deborah Lippmann is free of Formaldehyde, Toluene and Dibutyl Phthalate and there is no animal testing involved. Despite not having the 3 bad nasties, it still has the typical but subtle nail polish scent and made my hands dry.

As a gorgeous deep red-purple shade, it seems to sparkle under light with its micro shimmers on top of its textured finishing. When I first apply on my nails, it looks "flat" and dull because I was expecting some glossiness, however I realized the full effect of the sparkles looks much better under light.

The application is not easy because the formula is thick and although 2 coats is enough to reach the opacity level I preferred, it didn't dry as quickly as I thought it would. It also seems to chip easily and over the course of the long weekend, I tend to re-apply it to conceal the chip-off.

The nail polish is easy to remove by dipping my fingers into Sally Hansen Kwik Off Moisturizing Nail Color Remover tub although it feels drying after that.

Source : Deborah Lippmann

O.P.I Lincoln Park After Dark Suede

Picked up this purple shade from Hong Kong a while back. This is from the OPI’s Fall 2009 Suede collection. Looking at the shade on the bottle itself, this is a medium purple shade with glitters in it. The final finishing is a matte shade which is something I am not comfortable with.

There is a disclaimer tag that comes together with all Suede collection stating
- it does not wear as long as original OPI Nail Lacquer
- do not use top coat, drying products or hand lotion when wearing Suede

I like the colour when it was first applied on, glossy beautiful purple until it dries to a matte finishing and that's when my love for it dies.

I layered it with Coffret D'or PK153 and that made it more alive. I have the best of both worlds. The shade, the finishing and the glitters.

Lincoln Park After Dark Suede has a thin and runny texture that requires several layers for the level of opacity I preferred. It has a cooling feel which probably explain why it dries pretty fast. I don't have the ingredient list but I suspect it could be alcohol. I like that it dries up fast but I certainly hope its not alcohol though I have less concern on it since its used on my hands once in a blue moon.

On another occasion, I layered Seche Vite, a top coat on top of O.P.I Lincoln Park After Dark Suede to give that glossy finishing as the O.P.I Lincoln Park After Dark Suede alone is too matte and boring.

Unfortunately, removing both polishes with a cheap Watsons Nail Polish remover proved to be quite a pain, making my fingers dry and flaky. I may have to try a better nail polish remover next time.

O.P.I Lincoln Park After Dark Suede scored 3.2 from 21 users on Makeupalley.

OPI Reflecting Pool + Zoya Green

An old nail polish which I don't wear pretty often just because red tends to be matchy-matchy with my outfits most of the time. 

Presenting the OPI Reflecting Pool which is a gorgeous teal with gold shimmers in it. I didn't expect the colour to turn out to be so lovely on my nails. On its own, the texture is slightly runny and alittle sheer so 3 coats are what I preferred to reach the level of opacity I like. 

On another occasion, I applied Zoya Green ( I did not get the correct name, because I lost the label somehow ) first, before applying another coat of OPI Reflecting Pool and I was really impressed with how easy to get both colours up on my nails. 

Eliminating toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and DBP from its polishes, Zoya has quickly become one of the most popular 5-free nail polish brands out there. 

The one in green is my one and only Zoya nail polish and it was very very runny and sheer. It looks like I may need many coats before reaching the opacity I preferred, so in the end, I layered it with OPI Reflecting Pool which turned out to be a brilliant choice. 

In fact, despite being such a klutz in applying nail polish, it was so effortlessly easy to just apply 1 coat of each without much "overruns" around my nails.

Just can't stop admiring the colour on my nails....

Shiseido Maquillage Nail Color RS722 with Kanebo Coffret Dor Jewelight Nail Color PK153

I purchased both nail polishes at different times from Adambeauty several months ago. I wasn't too keen on Maquillage RS722 when I tried it because the colour was too dull for my liking.
However, recently on a whim, I decided to layer it with Coffret D'or PK153 and that made a big difference. In fact, I really like how the glitters from PK153 are set against RS722. A very sweet feminine match in heaven.

One layer of RS722 that is easy to apply without much smudges. The light rose pink colour has a runny texture that applies easily with its dense brush.

Addition of the next layer with PK153.
PK153 has lots of glitter that adheres well on the nails without being messy. Even after 2 days of wear, there is no chip at all.

Kanebo Coffret D'or Jewelight Nail Color PK153 US$8.50
Shiseido Maquillage Nail Color RS722 HK$59

Removing it with a nail polish remover is slightly tougher than removing the normal nail polishes without the glitter. I literally used up 4 cotton pads for both hands. Then again, I am an klutz when it comes in nail polish.

OPI Let Me Entertain You

This shade may looks somewhat similar to OPI Katy Perry The #1 That Got Away but its slightly different. OPI Let Me Entertain You is a rich magenta shimmer from the OPI Burlesque Collection 2010.

This collection for winter 2010 is inspired by the upcoming Burlesque film featuring Christina Aguilera and Cher, and is full of glitter, shimmer and bold colour, perfect for the Winter season.

My first OPI in the original 15ml size. The brush is fat and dense which made application easy but 3 coats are needed for the opacity level I preferred. And it takes some time for it to dry.

The shimmers are kind of messy as it rubbed off on my palms during application. Still, a gorgeous shade. Perfect to wear to  a wedding dinner. Pardon my immature skills as I am still learning the art of nail polish. :)

It scored 4.8 from 15 users on Makeupalley

Review : Hopscotch Kids "Say Say Oh Playmate" and Soy Polish Remover

Product Description
Hopscotch Kids™ WaterColors is the premier non-toxic, kid-friendly alternative to solvent-based nail polish. Our water-based formula is free of the harsh, smelly chemicals that most nail polishes contain, helping condition your little one's nails with long-lasting, vibrant color. Hopscotch Kids contains none of the chemicals found in typical nail polish. We are "3 Free" as well as free of ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, nitrocellulose, acetone, and heavy metals. We are truly non-toxic.           
Hopscotch Kids™ WaterColors is ranked the safest kids polish by Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Safety Database.

MaterialWater, Acrylic Polymer Emulsion, Butoxy Diglycol and Non Toxic Colorants                    

I was on the lookout for non-toxic nail polish last year and chanced upon a promotion by one of the members posting on an online forum. I snagged "Say Say Oh Playmate" for $15 and the nail polish remover for $13. She was selling them in a variety of colours but only this colour from the kids range appealed to me, with its vibrant colour. Well, it turned out to be slightly different from the actual colour, as what you see on the second shot.

Hopscotch products are touted to be Vegan, Cruelty-free, Gluten Free, Fragrance Free, Toxin Free,     Paraben Free, Hypoallergenic and Biodegradable.

This is my very first non-toxic nail polish and I was wary of its application and lasting power. I don't apply nail polish that regularly and I am not that adept with it. I just want something that is simple to use and remove. Expecting it to be purple colour, it turned out to be more red than purple.

The application was tough for me. The texture was very runny so each coat was so sheer and requires 3 coats to reach the opacity I like. And because its so runny, it tends to leave globs easily on my nailbeds. I would think that it may be easily rectified by those who apply nail polish on a regular basis. I have yet to learn how to control the flow of the runny texture. The end result is a glossy look.

I really like that its kind to the body, without any harmful nasties. Great for children and pregnant ladies. Unfortunately, the nail polish barely last more than a day, before it starts to chip. For the record, I did not apply any base coat or top coat.

Ingredients :
water, acrylic polymer emulsion, +/- CI15850, CI77492, CI77499, CI77289, CI77891, and/or mica    

Product Description

Hopscotch Kids revolutionary soy polish remover has been formulated to remove both water-based and solvent-based nail polishes safely and naturally without stripping the nails of natural oils.       

For easiest removal, soak nails in warm water for a few minutes. Pre-moisten all nails with remover allowing time for polish to soften. Then moisten cotton pad and rub across nail to remove. You can also remove any remaining polish using an orange stick. After removal, thoroughly rinse nails.

This was even tougher to use. I literally rub and rub on my nails and the nail polish hardly move a budge, yet foams started to appear like detergent suds. Things started to get slightly easier after pre-moistening the nails with remover first, though the conventional remover type is still easier to use. I should try soaking my nails in warm water next time. You can also use your fingernails to scratch on them and peel it off. Its quite fun too. :)

The polish remover made my hands drying, although less drying than using the conventional nail polish remover.

Ingredients :
methyl soyate, dimethyl adipate, dimethyl glutarate   


Update ( 30th November 2018 ) :
The nail polish has dried up. I hardly used it though. Guess it really drives home the point that Hopscotch Kids is truly non-toxic because other nail polishes of the mainstream brands still holds well.


Source : Hopscotch

Unforgettable Moments Garnet

This is the last colour, Garnet from the trio set I bought from Payless in Minneapolis. I have previously tried out Amethyst and Sapphire .
I thought it was rather suitable for the Christmas season. Dark red with tiny specks of shimmers. It was a breeze to apply due to its fluidity.
1.5 to 2 coats were what I needed for the opacity. With a base coat, it requires some time for it to dry up totally, but still decent than waiting for Sally Hansens to dry. However, it starts to wear off after 3 days. More coats probably may do a better job.
 
Here's how it looked like, near the window.
 

OPI Katy Perry #1 The 1 That Got Away

If you know me well enough, you may understand that I have the hots for mini stuff, because I get to finish the product in a shorter time, giving me more choices in new products.
This is considered expensive, at $8 a pop, since its so tiny when I could get $10 for the original size in Hong Kong.
Then again, its mini and is in dark shimmery red, which is something I have been looking around lately. Matt colours are starting to get boring.

This is my very first OPI, since I do not really dabble in nail polishes that much. The mini brush that comes with it, is good for amateurs like me. This dark fushia red with tiny shimmery bits looks apt for a Christmas party. The first coat wasn't that impressive, with a light translucent red colour but 3 coats later, I am loving it. It has a watery consistency which requires more than 3 coats to reach the opacity I preferred.

Unforgettable Moments Sapphire

This is another colour from the trio set under the brand Forgettable Moments. I have previously reviewed on the colour Amethyst.
This Sapphire is a deep blue shade with a slight gloss effect, of smooth consistency.
It applies much better than Sally Hansen. One coat is enough for the opacity that I like, and there was no re-application needed even for an amateur like me. Even after using a base coat, let it dry before applying Sapphire, there was not much smearing, unlike my last application with Sally Hansen which wasted so much of my time.

However, its very difficult to remove, using my current Sally Hansen Nail Polish remover. Even after removal, there is a tinge of blue on my nails. Yucky and dirty looking.

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear - Ice Coffee

Ice Coffee sounds abit odd. When has coffee ever been red? This is a muted red, with a slight glossy effect.
I like Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear nail polishes for its fluidity and easy application. I am quite clumsy when it comes to nail polish application and always have to remove and re-apply. However with this nail polish, it was a breeze as I can complete the application in lesser time than other brands. 
I need about 2 coats to reach the opacity that I preferred.
It takes abit more effort when a base coat is used as the application of Ice Coffee seems to take forever to dry. Its my first time using a base coat so please pardon my ignorance. lol
Sally Hansen does contain all the harmful nasties in their ingredients though.

Unforgettable Moments Amethyst

The trio (7ml each)  in a pack was originally selling for US$7.99 but it was on sale for a mere US$2.99 ( US$3.22 after tax ). Made in Taiwan, its available in the shop "Payless" at Mall of America in Minneapolis.

The colour Amethyst is just one of the 3 colours in the pack, which happened to be one of my favourite colours of the lot. For some reason, deep purple attracts me.
The texture is fluid and applies easily, with a smooth consistency. It also has a glossy attractive effect. However it took about 3 to 4 coats to reach the opacity I wanted and requires some time for it to dry. This is the set I bought. You can check out other colours here, from the same brand.

Review : Orly Purple

I am not a nail blogger and this is actually my first review on nail colours. I don't even know what color code is this, but since I have been buying nail polish lately, I thought I would just post some pictures to remind myself that I got this colour!

I hardly considered myself as a nail polish fanatic because I don't apply nail polish that regularly, except for special occasions like weddings or functions and occasionally on weekends.
I used to like pale, sweet colours but have since moved on to darker colours because I found them pretty sexy and attention-seeking. Thats not me of course but on my nails.

I got this from the airport during my work trip. I can't remember which airport now, but it was during my transit and I got nothing to do, so decided to shop around and chanced upon this.
It doesn't apply well as its thick and kinda sticky. The finishing is not smooth probably because of the shimmers? It chipped off easily as well. I need about 3 coats or more, in order to reach the opacity level that I want. Nothing much I like, except for the colour.

Orly is also one of the few brands that does not contain
Toluene - human reproductive and developmental toxin
Formaldehyde - a carcinogen and a common indoor air pollutant
Dibutyl Phthalate - affect hormone function

Update (5th April 2012)
The nail polish literally dries up. I bought this in Feb 2011 and has been keeping it in a box, with all the other nail polishes I owned, in a cool dry place.

Source : Carefair