SquareHue Nail Polish

SquareHue is a monthly nail polish subscription box. You get three new polishes each month!

    SquareHue delivers the latest nail polish colors to its style aware members.

OPI "A Butterfly Moment"

A Butterfly Moment: This sophisticated and frosty tan nude has us all a-flutter!

   I adore everything about A Butterfly Moment! It's very classy, and delicate looking like a butterfly! This shade also reminds me of one of my old favorite OPI shade called Nomad's Dream.

It has a beautiful satin like sheen to the color. It's not overly frosty which I really like.

Essie: Where's My Chauffeur, MistoBox

 Essie Where's My Chauffeur

Essie Winter Collection 2012 (Available at Target)

Love it when I get lucky enough to snag the last one on display. ^_^

My friend Lisa told me it's the closest Essie polish to Tiffany blue yet.

What do you think? It's a pretty good match, huh?

Where's My Chauffeur, Turqouise & Caicos, Mint Candy Apple

I finally got my hands on MCA at Ulta. 

I think Essie makes some of the prettiest teals polishes.

I also found this adorbs Kleenex snowman at Target.

I felt like adding some holiday cheer to a little corner of the casa. 

This one is for the coffee lovers.

 MistoBox is an artisan coffee subscription. Each month you get 4 unique hand-selected coffees.

Each delivery includes coffee tasting notes and roaster bios. When you find one you love, you can purchase it on their online marketplace with free shipping. 

 www.mistobox.com

MistoBox promo code: "dskmistobox" for $10 off your MistoBox Subscription. You can get your first MistBox for $5, or $10 off a longer subscription!

His & Hers : )

My favorite Bodum Bistro Mug (available at Crate & Barrel).

My "2 carat" cup was a funny little gift from M, of course!

It's always fun to grind some up some coffee beans to brew a cup of coffee in the morning. : )
I knew Minh would love MistoBox because he's a big coffee drinker. We do live in Seattle, after all!

I absolutely love the smell of coffee in the house.

My November MistoBox included:

 Ethiopia Sidamo Ardi 

Ehiopian Nigusie (my fav)

Guatemala Rio Azul

Ethiopia Teklu Dembel

There's a coupon code on each coffee baggie as well for free shipping if you choose to buy one of the full size bags of your favorite coffee.

Lacquerous, the Netflix of Luxury Nail Polish?!

Lacquerous is the first membership based luxury nail polish sharing club that entered the beauty market yesterday November 13, 2012. It's been deemed the "Netflix for Nails." 

I have a handful of Chanel polish, and May is one of my favorites. If I had the chance to swatch and wear more Chanel nail polish, I would!

From my understanding,
You sign up for Lacquerous for $18/month, get 3 luxury nail polishes to use/swatch, and then mailed it back in a pre-paid envelope for the next subscriber/customer. At first, you think to yourself, What? Sharing? But after a few minutes, I thought about how it's really no different than picking out a nail polish to use at a nail salon. All nail polish contains Ethyl Acetate. No bacteria, fungus or otherwise can live in nail polish. I pretty much grew up in a nail salon, and each bottle of polish lasts a pretty long time before it's used up. One bottle of polish can probably service well over 50 clients in it's lifetime!
The brands they offer include:

(I also included the retail prices of the polishes for you.)

Chanel $26
Dior $23
Tom Ford Beauty $30
MAC $17.50
Deborah Lippmann $18-$20
NARS $18
Butter London $14
OPI Designer Series $12.50

How often do we finish a bottle of nail polish, right? For $18, you could almost own 1 luxury bottle of polish, OR you now have the option of spending $18 on Lacquerous to try 3 high end nail lacquers bottles each month. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely a fun new way to think about nail polish for the nail polish enthusiasts. ^_^

Remember, Tom Ford Beauty polish retails for $30. Thirty bucks! I only have 1 bottle and that's because I got lucky enough to buy it from a blog sale for twenty something dollars.

I learned about Lacquerous earlier today and thought it would be a fun topic to share with you and hear what your thoughts are on this new idea. There was a TIME article about Lacquerous that I read and retweeted on my Twitter. You can read it here.

I heard it's starting off as an invitation only service, and from reading the TIME article, Lacuqerous already has 2,500 people on waiting lists on their first day.

www.lacquerous.com

I contacted Lacquerous to get more information earlier today after reading their website (which is very well done in my opinion) and I got a reply with their official press release, below:

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 “Netflix for Nails” Brings Luxury Lacquer Brands to Your Front Door: Chanel, Tom Ford, Dior, and More

(November 13, 2012 | New York, NY): Move over Netflix lovers – there’s a more glamorous evening waiting in your mailbox…. and it will literally paint the town red! Beauty junkies will go nuts over Lacquerous, a “Netflix for nails” type service - where personally chosen designer nail polish hues are delivered right to your doorstep. When you’re done, swap out old shades for new shades!

Lacquerous (www.lacquerous.com), a new beauty start-up launching today, November 12, 2012 is expected to bring some buzz to the billion-dollar plus nail market. The online subscription service offers members a choice of three premium nail polish shades from brands like Chanel, Butter London, Tom Ford, Dior, Dolce and Gabbana, MAC for just $18 a month.

Lacquerous bills its members monthly – three shades for $18 - and membership is free. Once your membership is activated, log in at www.lacquerous.com, pick your shades and within 2-3 days they’ll arrive. You have 30 days to try and wear the luxury lacquer before shipping them back and requesting your next batch. Lacquerous offers beauty lovers an opportunity to stay in season and on top of the latest fashion trends. Lacquerous is starting out with a collection of nine brands and 70 unique shades but plans to expand over the next few months.

According to The NPD Group, a market research firm based in NYC, prestige make-up sales at US department stores grew 8% in the first half of 2012 to $1.8 billion while unit sales were up 4% to $74 million. The biggest winner, producing the largest growth, was nail color increasing a whopping 70%, as reported recently by WWD and Fashionista. In fact, the nail industry has seen a steady growth over the recession with nail polish beating out lipsticks as the top-selling item.

“Women want to try these high-end nail lacquers and there’s no way to do that without spending $23-$30 bottle. Lacquerous allows members to keep up with seasonal runway trends, try luxury beauty brands and not break the bank”, says co-founder and marketing executive Ashlene Nand. Liza Kindred, founder of Third Wave Fashion and fashion tech start-up consultant, continued, “It’s a successful business model that we’ve seen before with handbags, clothing and of course movies. We hope that the beauty industry and its consumers will embrace it and have fun!”

Now, my questions for you!!

Do you think $18/month is a good deal for a luxury nail polish sharing service?

As a beauty nail blogger, I feel it would be worth it for me just to be able to swatch the high end nail polish for my nail blog "portfolio."I also like the idea of Lacquerous because it prevents hoarding...
I have well over 300 bottles of nail polish right now in my house. You can only wear so many colors in a day. lol I guess you can say this subscription service is a minimalist's dream..that is if they're into nail polish. :)

You can also get a manicure for under $18 and get a fresh coat of shared average nail polish that will only last 1 week. I guess it really depends on what your nail budget looks like, right?

How often do you change your nail polish?

I change my weekly, and sometimes every other day if I'm swatching polishes for my blog.

I really want to hear what you think! Please leave me a comment letting me know what you think! I've been dying all day to get home to talk/blog about this with you!

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT LACQUEROUS? :)
Tell me!

It's currently an awesome topic of debates, check out this tumblr post from Lacquerous.

Nicole by OPI’s New Kardashian Kolor Collection for Holiday 2012!

Deck the Halls…Kardashian Style

Nicole by OPI Deck the Dolls

OPI’s New Skyfall Collection for Holiday 2012!

OPI Marks 50 Years of Bond 007 with Holiday Lacquers Inspired by Skyfall


                This holiday season, OPI celebrates the 50th Anniversary of a fellow world icon – James Bond – appearing in Skyfall. Starring Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem, this highly-anticipated twenty-third installment opens in theaters nationwide on November 9, 2012.
Inspired by the film’s blend of glamour and danger, OPI launches Skyfall Collection, featuring twelve limited-edition nail lacquers for Holiday 2012. “OPI is thrilled to work with EON Productions to celebrate 50 years of the style, swagger and mystique associated with Bond 007,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “From metallic and glitter finishes to jewel tones and even a jet black, these lacquers capture the film’s sophisticated and glamorous look.
“Watch for Bérénice Marlohe wearing two Skyfall Collection shades in the film,” adds Weiss-Fischmann. “With Skyfall, a rich maroon, painted on top of the nail and GoldenEye, a shimmering gold, painted on the undersides, Marlohe’s luxurious manicure will be the one to try this holiday season.”
The Skyfall Collection features six shades that play off the movie’s seductive theme, and another six that offer a more dangerous look, including:

GoldenEye
All eyes will be upon you when you wear this glorious gold.


The Spy Who Loved Me
A red as romantic as the secret agent inside you.


Die Another Day
Live in the moment in this hot and lively red.


Casino Royale
This high-rolling plum is fit for royalty.

 
You Only Live Twice
This rich high-shimmer magenta is a once-in-a-lifetime find.


Skyfall
Get Bonded with this magnificent maroon.


Moonraker
Drive your fastest car to get this exhilarating metallic grey.


Tomorrow Never Dies
This eternally intense purple will live forever.


The Living Daylights
This courageous multi-hued glitter sparkles 24/007.


On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
This misty-green pewter commands attention.


Live & Let Die
Burn the candles on both ends in this private jet black.

 
The World is Not Enough
This rosy silver is as addictive as it is beautiful.

As with all OPI nail lacquers, these shades inspired by Skyfall contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application.
This limited edition promotion will be available beginning October 2012 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for  $8.50 ($9.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer.
For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

"Casino Royale"
This high-rolling plum is fit for royalty.

 "GoldenEye"
All eyes will be upon you when you wear this glorious gold.

Let me know which shade is your favorite from the Skyfall Collection in the comments!

OPI "You Glitter Be Good To Me"

 One coat of "You Glitter Be Good To Me" on top of "I Think in Pink."

OPI "I Think in Pink" on it's own is gorgeous too.

 I like this glittery polish with one coat on top of the light pink jelly-like polish.

The tiny glitters remind me of Deborah Lippmann "An Enchanted Evening." The larger fuchsia glitters make this combination of pinks perfect. :)

Two coats of "You Glitter Be Good To Me" on top of "I Think in Pink."

The Pink of Hearts 2012 duo is a must have for October in my book!

OPI "I Think in Pink"

 

I love this shade of pink!

OPI Pink of Hearts 2012

 I think this duo set would make a great gift for your mom, sister, or best friend. : )

Pink of Hearts 2012 duo set is OPI's Breast Cancer Awareness promotion.

 "You Glitter Be Good to Me"

"I Think in Pink"

"You Glitter Be Good to Me"

 One coat of "I Think in Pink" looks pretty good!

 One coat of "I Think in Pink" on top of Deborah Lippmann Ridge Filler Base Coat.

 Two coats brightens up this pretty polish!

 The formula for this polish is very good.  Two coats apply evenly and smoothly.  The texture of the polish is a high shine jelly like gloss. The polish alone doesn't need a top coat for shine. 

October is breast cancer awareness month!  The color pink helps spread the word. :)

 I really like this pink! It reminds me of my favorite shades by OPI, "Heart Throb" and my "I've Got a Date To-Knight."

OPI "I Think in Pink"

Timmy in the backyard. Please excuse my garden hose, and gardening gloves!