fashionCHICsta

Honeydew with an orange hue. I present Honeydew , a new Fall 2014 shade from  +100% Pure's  Melons collection. With a gel-like texture during application, Honeydew is enriched with gold, pink and purple iridescent shimmer. I applied 3 coats for full opacity. Coats 1 and 2 dried quickly and each leveled evenly, coat 3 took a bit longer to both level and cure. I find this to be true with most 100% Pure  shades  but it is expected: this line is designed as a 2 coat product. I personally  like the richness of 3 coats and prefer the way it looks on 'film' for swatches.

This is a hard hue to capture. Cherry Pop is a tart, plummy red creme nail polish from  + 100% Pure . This vegan lacquer covers opaquely with only 2 coats, levels evenly but this bottle has been taking a little longer than the other hues to fully dry. Once cured, I recommend sealing Cherry Pop with a high shine top coat to protect it from edging. This is a gorgeous shade for fall. It will look amazing with a gold leaf/fleck topper. xoxo •Nancy-Lee

Click image to enlarge for detail. Did you celebrate Brook's birthday and save 20% off your  +Pacifica Perfume  purchase? Clearly, I couldn't resist. I was in the market for blue mascara so I selected  Aquarian Gaze  in Deep and I wanted a golden shimmer powder, leading  Golden Lotus  to find it's way into my cart, too. Made with coconut water, it will brighten and illuminate my face this winter.  However, I wasn't in the market for more lacquer but I added  Unicorn Horn nail polish  -  plus perfume for a friend - to score free shipping.

Click image to enlarge for detail. I Heart You , Juice and Dreamy . I'm always on the lookout for awesome vegan beauty products and I think I hit the nail polish jackpot. From 100% Pure , the Creamy Nail Polish collection features a 10-Free formula . With 2 coat coverage, the quick drying, fast leveling lacquer is available in a variety of hues and finishes; from nudes, pinks and reds to blue, green and plum, 100% Pure offers sheer, moderate and opaque coverage with creme, shimmer and glitter options. Today I'm bringing you swatches of  I Heart You (shimmer), Juice (creme) and Dreamy (shimmer). 

I opened the box and was not impressed. Brown? Boring.  Lesson learned, I'll STFU. I don't know how  +SquareHue  does it. Each collection seems to be better than the last but it's not. It's that each collection is brought with the same quality and sophistication. With another awesome stamp in our Passport Collection, September sweeps us away to Sydney. Featuring 2 micro shimmer shades and 1 creme, Join me on a journey down , Oxford, Crown, and   Kings Street. I applied 3 coats, each, for full opacity. I love the fall harvest reflecting off of my nails. It's simply scrumptious. 5-Free, the vegan formula is available through monthly subscription only, with nothing else to buy and no pressure to recruit. For $19.99 (including shipping) 3 full size bottles of lacquer are delivered to your door. xoxo •Nancy-Lee

I met this 5-free, vegan, gluten-free and cruelty free brand at  +Cosmoprof North America , Las Vegas, 2014. Developed first as a collection of luxury nail and hand treatments,  +LondontownUSA  is now bringing luxury Lakur to those with food sensitivities.

Described as a "Van Gogh" navy blue with a matte, textured, sparkling finish. I treated myself to this gorgeous shade of  +Zoya Nail Polish   PixieDust, Sunshine , after my  +Whole Foods Market  pedi appointment. Not a name that would typically associate with 'sunshine', this cobalt blue   nail polish provided 2 different looks: one coat exposed the glitter, giving a very silver, very beautiful finish. Two coats enriched the presence of the base hue rather than the glitter. Next time I apply this 5-free, textured matte nail polish, it will be a one-coater for sure. xoxo •Nancy-Lee

I am posting the July 2014 collection so you can see what you are missing out on: A fabulous trio of nail lacquers every month, delivered to your door for $19.99, including shipping. Passeig de Gràcia : A plummy nail polish with golden shimmer, it requires three codes for full opacity. Like all SquareHue lacquers it levels quickly and dries to a high shine. I adore this plum. It is going to be a Fall favourite, for sure. I love the colour purple, but I have the hardest time connecting with purple lacquer. This month, I fell in love with 2!

The most delicious Truffle I've ever.... worn! Earthy and neutral, it features brown and gray undertones . Bottom line: But this shade. It is not only right n trend, it will be a seasonless addition to your collection and I promise you will wear it more often then you think. This is that yummy shade you wear when you want a polished look but you don't want the polish to be the star of the show. It took only 2 coats for mochalicious perfection. This was a slightly thicker lacquer than other LVX varnishes that I have used. No worries, I was able to finish my manicure with no trouble. It applied evenly, leveled quickly and after 4 days, only 3 nails are chipped. I'll say that's pretty bad ass for a nail polish! Vegan, 5-Free and amazing, I rate Truffle a coveted 5 out of 5 stars. xoxo •Nancy-Lee

Scarlet is an intricate color; polish one coat for a gray finish with complex maroon undertones and two coats to achieve a full captivating maroon-gray. This mind-blowing color is a must try. How could I resist a description like that? Especially when it was 35% off during Black Friday?! With that savings I grabbed 3 bottles, regularly $16 each. Today I present Scarlet . One coat provides a unique sheer grey finish which dances with shades of maroon. I applied 3 coats for full opacity and rich shimmer. I waited 3 minutes and accented the moons of my nails with Alchemy , my favourite LVX shade of all time!! Once both shades had fully cured I added a top coat to lock in the shine. I waited a solid 10 minutes before completing this last step. I did not want the gold to lift and drag down my nail.

How delicious. Mynt by LVX . Stimulating and revitalizing, this cool mint is the perfect summer pastel. Mynt pays homage to the significant prevalence of green this season. Invigorating and powerful, this serene green will prevail as a top choice for the warm summer days that are ahead of us. Created for a Summer fling, I found Mynt to be far more valuable a shade of green this Winter. I paired 2 coats of this divine cream with 3 coats of Trixie by Zoya . This combo lasted 2.5 days before small chips appeared. You know my addiction to LVX , a 5-Free vegan lacquer company whose small batch shades are inspired by runway trends. If you haven't made a purchase, you should: you will not be disappointed! Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars, Mynt is available on www.ShopLVX.com for $16.00. Comment below and tell me which LVX shades you've experienced. +1 this post to share the swatch with your circle. xoxo •Nancy-Lee

While this was not my first experience with Lakur by Londontown , (swatches of Purple Reign are on my Instagram) it also wasn't the same outcome. I make mention of this because had it been my first, at $22 a bottle, it would have been my last. Guarded Jewel : Protected in the Tower of London, the crown jewels are an essence of British culture that merits guarding.

Worth The Wait is a secret keeper. It's not black, it's not brown and its not wine. It's the best of all those shades. I applied 2 coats of Worth The Wait and topped my ring finger with Essie Matte About You and my other digits with ChromeGirl's high shine top coat.

It should come as no surprise that purple is a colour worn by royalty. Fabrics of this shade adorned emperors of the ancient Grecian city, Byzantium as well as Rome. Since I feel like royalty when I wear ChromeGirl Nail Lacquer, it was only fitting that I swatch a purple shade. I decided to switch it up. Usually I wear the brighter shades on 8 nails with a 'bland' shade on my ring finger nails but with this look 2gether Forevs is going to be the one that pops. *BAM* Click image to enlarge.

Luminous and powerful, this tranquil shade pays tribute to Callais, the infamous intrepid blue from our debut Summer Collection. With complex white undertones, Celeste is expressive and dynamic. Pair this cool blue with vibrant coral, like our very own Deco. This shade deserves to be decorated. Even as a standout on it's own, Celeste wants a wing man. As always, I started with a base coat, this time I chose Nailtiques Formula2 , followed by 2 smooth coats of Celeste and topped it off with Butter London Hardware top coat. This shade lasted 2 days before small chips started to make their appearance on the edge of my nails. Celeste is a beautiful shade and I cant wait to pump it up with something else.... I own Deco , too! Retailing for $16, I rate this 5-free vegan nail polish 4.5 stars. The LVX collections are always bottle true, easy to apply & remove and the fashion forward shades add a new level of modern-classic accessory to my nail ...

This alluring poppy red will stimulate and enliven your attitude for the summer season. This season's classic red, Modena is an essential shade that everyone should incorporate into their wardrobe. Pair this seductive red with white and neutrals. This is a dreamy red. Kissed with blue, it is not the pink poppy you might have been thinking of, it is more like the flower that represents Veterans day. Bright, delicious and daring. This is an amazing shade of red that offered an opaque, creamy finish with only 2 coats. I left this shade on for 6 days and was pretty impressed to discover there was zero staining on my nails which is unheard of when it comes to red. It lasted 3 days before it chipped and stayed bright and beautiful. Retailing for $16, I rate Modena a coveted 5 out of 5 stars. xoxo •Nancy-Lee

This is one of the hardest reviews for me to write. As you know, I ha ve a deep love for LVX . I am completely addicted to this Brand and own sever al shades over several seasons. I really wanted to add Citrine to my collection and when I saw the partnership with ASPCA , a 20% donation, I pounced. Unfortunately , Ci trine turned out to be a 'miss' for me .

This audacious blue is an amazing statement color for the season. Cerulean is intricate, inviting and is the perfect cool bright addition into our Spring palette. This groundbreaking blue pairs well with pristine white and shades of golden yellow. If you follow me on Instagram, you know this is my favourite shade at the moment. I have worn it 5 times in as many weeks - I just can't get e nough. I am almost addicted to Cerulean . It's bright but not ne on. It's perfect for spring/summer but can punch up a Winter White wardrobe. Another easy applicatio n, Cerulean goes on cleanly and streak-free with only 2 coats. I find this has the best finish if you apply it thinly and use three strokes . The creamy finish is completely opaque and lasts 2.5 - 3 days before chipping. Another LVX winner!! 4.5 out of 5 stars. Here's the real deal: you must start with a base co at - Cerulean stains your nails. If you forget and staining occurs, u...

This timeless and elegant classic grounds our everyday life. White nails have taken the elements of the traditional French manicure and morphed it into a youthful, modern and chic look. Pair this ever so classic yet edgy look with bright and romantic colors such as emerald and indigo . This is a show stopper of a shade. Every time I have it on people comment, 'Ohhh, white nails!' What I love most about Fantom by LVX is the creamy, shiny shade. This isn't your grade-school I-just-painted-my-nails-with-White-Out white, this is streak free, 5-free chip resistant shade we have been looking for! Check out my Instagram... I used Fantom for my first nail art! Start with a base coat and apply only 2 shades of Fantom ; this is one of those less is more products. Finish with a top coat and done ! Sexy, unexpected POW! Want to see more LVX? Available for $16.00 on www.shopLVX.com from the Spring 2013 collection, I rate Fantom 4.5 stars ...

Alchemy, the transformation of metals into gold. Let this amazing shade transform your dark winter wardrobe. Alchemy is a flamboyant hue that pays homage to the Summer gold trend in accessories. Only today did I realize that I leave this bottle on my des k . Enchanted, I find myself tilting and sl owly turning the ves sel to watch the pigments fall from the slick glass surface, as if I am spinning a kaleidoscope of gold . It takes 2 easy coats of Alchemy to cover my nails . The finish is amazing - it is not glitter. If you have ever over-sprayed a can of metallic paint , causing it to run ... that is what this shade looks like! It is the most stunning shade of gold I have used. Not too yellow and it covers opaquely , not sheer, so the impact is BAM!