Swatch: Half Charming, Half Alarming from Nicole by OPI

 

 Freshly put out onto the shelves at my local Walgreens, was the holy grail that is the Tink Collection from Nicole by OPI.  Can I just tell you all that when I discovered that Nicole by OPI was coming out with a Tink line, I literally squealed while I was at work. Whoops! Yes, I was THAT excited.

So upon coming across the display that hadn't been touched (at least it didn't look it), I went back and forth (this seems to be a reoccurring thing with me), trying to decide which to purchase first. Sadly, the other colors reminded me of other polishes that I have, I'll most likely go back and purchase them anyway though!

The one that I picked first was.... Drum Roll! Half Charming, Half Alarming!

Best way to describe this color is that it's alarming! Haha, not really. Definitely in the warm family, but I'm on the fence as to whether to say this is a terracotta colors or a tomato red color. It isn't quite red, but not orange either, it's definitely a mix of the two. Terracotta Tomato perhaps? It's a color that I don't recall having, not to mention it gives you a very polished look.

Formula: This is where I fall into the iffy area. I love Nicole by OPI polishes, but I'm not sure what happened with mine. Perhaps it was because of the heat? This is a sheer formula, I want to say it's jelly, but not jelly. It was also being a bit of a fuss-pot with applications, occassionally doubling over an area would cause balding to occur, or drag marks (maybe the brush is a mini car). It dries down to a semi-matte finish. Well actually, the first layer was matte, the second layer had minor gloss to it. Easy-peasy clean up though.

In the swatches below, I only used 3 coats. I definitely could have done a 4th coat to get it fully opaque, as I still see some of the white tip of my nails.

Psst, ignore the dryness below, I forgot the cuticle oil ;x

Camera setting set to Vivid

Camera setting set to Natural

Review: Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer

I hope everyone had a fantastic July 4th if you're in the states! I spent mine at work ;x Which is fine, I did see fireworks on the way home though.

So! While I had been at Walgreens a while ago (maybe 2 weeks or so ago?), I saw that they had got in new products from Rimmel London. Other Walgreens had full displays of various new products, mine however, did not, or they're hiding it in the backroom. They did have the display out for the Show Off Lip Lacquers.
Many have been waiting for these Lip Lacquers to come over state side from the U.K.

What I would love to know is, why did Rimmel change the name from Apocalips to Show Off though. I honestly prefer the name Apocalips. That's just me though.

Anyway, on to the review!

Pictorial: Ba-na-na! ... Papple? Despicable Me Minions Inspired

The original plan (when Despicable Me came out) had been that my co-workers and myself were all going to go, but I wasn't able to make it, so I went with my Mom to see it so I wouldn't be left out of the discussion. They didn't get to see it! ;x But I absolutely loved the movie, especially the minions! Not to mention Agnes (I will have a pictorial for her and her unicorn!). So, when the countdown began for Despicable Me 2 started, I wanted to do a pictorial the day before the release.

The eye inspired look is pretty much simple, seeing as the minions are yellow, with blue overalls, and goggles. I tried to incorporate the silver/grey in for the goggles, but I wanted it to be subtle, seeing as the yellow dominates, not to mention the vibrant blue that I used.

I wanted to use products that were easily accessible to anyone, not to mention there are an array of alternatives out there.

Step 1. Prime the eye. I used Milani's Eyeshadow Primer.

Step 2. I used two different eye pencils that are from J.Cat Beauty called The Big Eye Pencil. The white is called Marshmallow and the sky blue is called Mint Cookie. I used Mint Cookie, and lined my upper lash line, trying to keep it thin towards the inner corner, and thickened it towards the outer corner. Using my Real Techniques Deailer brush, I loaded it with Mint Cookie and carefully went along my lower lash line avoiding the inner corner area.

Then taking Marshmallow, I (again) used my Real Techniques Detailer Brush, loaded it up with the color, and applied it that way instead of using the pencil directly. This gives more control being I didn't want to wash out Mint Cookie. If a bit of the white pencil got onto Mint Cookie, I carefully went back over the color with the pencil, using the tip as much as I could.

Step 3. Taking a very vibrant blue from City Color Special Effect Bright Eye Colors Palette (Color Flash), I loaded my Real Techniques Accent Brush up, and gently patted the color onto Mint Cookie. I did a few swipes of this to make sure it was vibrant enough.

Step 4. Using the same City Color palette from above, I used the yellow in that palette. I loaded it onto my (I think) Tech Studio Smudge brush (I purchased it at Target ages ago) and gently patted it onto the rest of the eye lid, avoiding the blue and the inner corner. This color was not brought down to the lower lash line. I also used the yellow from Wet n Wild Bright Idea palette (LE I believe), not pictured. I only did this to make sure the yellow was intense against the blue.

Step 5/6. For the white I used the same palette as above, plus the same smudge brush and placed the white into the inner corner, blending it into the yellow, then into the blue on the lower lash line. Next to the white is the silver/grey that I used to represent the goggles. I used my e.l.f. Contour Brush (studio line), and using windshield wiper motions, just went back and for in the crease. This comes across as a very sheer grey, so it took a few times to get the color to build up.

Step 7/8. I lined my eyes using Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Rockstar. Honestly, an electric blue would work better on the lower lash line, I didn't have one on hand though. For mascara I used Wet n Wild Mega Impact Mascara, two coats to the top and a very light coat to the bottom.

And you're done!

Products Used

• Milani Eyeshadow Primer
• J.Cat Beauty The Big Eye Pencil in Marshmallow
• J.Cat Beauty The Big Eye Pencil in Mint Cookie
• Color Flash eyeshadow palette from City Color
• Wet n Wild Bright Idea Trio Palette
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Rockstar
• Wet n Wild Mega Impact Mascara

 If anyone else has a Despicable Me Inspired look (nails included!) 

feel free to post a link in the comments.

When I do my Agnes pictorial I will include the links!