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CND New Wave Collection S/S 2017 Review

CND New Wave Collection S/S 2017 Review 0

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"High octane color give iconic style a fresh, bold energy with the SPRING 2017 New Wave collection from CND. Modern design channels the early digital age for a retro futurist spirit.

Featuring high- tech architectural shapes and a rebellious use of color, nail designs are both nostalgic and contemporary.  It's all about reimagining the classics using cutting-edge techniques and innovative technology." according to the press release.  

"This is the season to go for bright, vibrant extremes! Think 1980s style combined with the intricacy of 3D printing and laser light technology.  Long gone is the simple "accent nail"- the new trend for Spring is the 'split-style mani' featuring a unique and contrasting look on each hand as seen on the Libertine runway at NYFW" says Jan Arnold, CND Co-founder and style director. 

The New Wave Collection consists of the following colors-

Video Violet: a bold purple cream.

Pink Leggings: a semi-sheer magenta pink.

Banana Clips: a bright taxi-cab yellow cream.

Jelly Bracelet: a semi-sheer tangerine shimmer.

Blue Eyeshadow: a bold cobalt blue cream. My personal favorite in the collection.

Ecstasy: an iridescent hot magenta pink. 

(all swatches are taken outdoors in natural lighting, and feature two coats of color).

The shades are the same in both the Vinylux and Shellac formulas.

I really love that this season CND played with bright bold daring color.  They weren't afraid to go there.  Also I feel this is one of the first times CND has 2 sheer semi shades in their lineup. 

I didn't experience any issues with the formula.

Also worth mentioning is their brand new top coat Duraforce.

"CND, the visionaries behind SHELLAC® Brand 14+ Day Nail Color, reveal the latest extension of this revolutionary 8-patent system with the NEW SHELLAC® BrandDURAFORCE™ Top Coat. Offering 25% more protection, DURAFORCE™ Top Coat delivers a stronger barrier to strengthen weak nails and deliver 14+ days of high performance color.

“SHELLAC® Brand DURAFORCE™ Top Coat is our strongest top coat yet!” says CND Co-founder and Style Director Jan Arnold. “As the leaders in technology innovation, we at CND are always looking for solutions for the everyday challenges of Nail Professionals and consumers alike. This product was designed specifically for the client with weak nails to add extra strength and protect against breakage so your customers get the most out of their manicures every time!”

KEY BENEFITS:

·         25% more protection to strengthen weak nails

·         14+ days of high performance wear

·         Mirror shine

·         No nail damage

·         Removes in just 15 minutes with OFFLY FAST® Moisturizing Remover

·         CND’s most advanced top coat to strengthen and protect weak nails against breakage

AVAILABILITY:

·         Available nationwide January 2017

PRICE:

·         Suggested salon price is $15.95 per .25 fl oz (7.3 mL) bottle,  $24.95 per .5 fl oz (15 mL) bottle"

I haven't played around with this new top coat enough, but I do like it so far from what I have experienced.  It is substantially thicker, which is nice because it not only provides strength, but it's also not runny like some other top coats can be.

For more info on CND, check them out online: https://cnd.com/











ISSE Long Beach 2017

ISSE Long Beach 2017 0

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I had the best time this year at ISSE 2017.  The annual hair, beauty, makeup, nail, and spa show that takes place at the Long Beach Convention Center was held this year on January 28-30.  

This year was very different from years passed.  Primarily, almost all of the nail brands were situated near each other, making my life and job a whole lot easier.  In years passed, nail companies were mixed throughout the show so you kind of had to search high and low to find them.

Some of the nail brands in attendance included: Akzentz, Belava, Bio Sculpture Gel, China Glaze, Christrio, Color Club, Skyline Beauty Supply, ibd, Jessica Cosmetics, LeChat, Nail Labo, Orly, E Nail Couture, Sha-Nail Pro, Vetro, Young Nails, Gelish, Morgan Taylor, Entity Beauty, Artistic Nail Design, Famous Names, Bio Seaweed Gel, etc.  

Some nail brands that showed there for the first time included: Aora Nails, Kokoist, Joya Mia, Brillbird USA, and NCLA. 

Some of the nail brands not there this year: essie, CND, Light Elegance, INM, Crystal Nails, ENP, OPI, & Apres Nails. 

I loved meeting up with the various companies and catching up and seeing whats new.

I also enjoyed meeting with the newer brands showing for the first time at the convention.  Brillbird USA, for instance, is an awesome highly extensive product line from Hungary.  They offered so many cool things including one stroke art paint, 3-D sculpting gels, and flakey chrome pigments, which is soon to become all the rage.

Aora Nails, this was their first year at the show and they made quite a splash with their huge and highly impressive booth showcasing their chrome pigments and magnetic gel polishes. 

Kokoist, a fantastic brand from Japan, was there for the first time, showing their gorgeous highly pigmented potted gels and highly popular fine brushes.

NCLA was there to promote their new line of gel polishes, Gelous?, which I recently got to try and must say, I really Love the formula. They're all 7-free, highly pigmented, and last up to three weeks. 

As a whole, I would say this year was year of Chrome. Almost every brand was offering some sort of iteration of the trendy pigment powder, and performing many demos showing what can be achieved with it.  Some of the brands offering chrome included- Skyline Beauty Supply, Nail Labo, Aora Nails, Bio Seaweed Gel, Bio Structure Gel, LeChat Nails, and E Nail Couture. The most impressive and informational of all the brands I felt was LeChat.  They have a rather extensive offering of chromes, 12 colors, and one of their top educators, Anastasiia Morozova, showed me a few of her award winning design techniques. 

Some of the brands did things differently this year and combined booths creating an almost mega booth.  Hand and Nail Harmony, for instance,  partnered up with Skyline Beauty Supply and had one large booth representing many of their brands, including: Morgan Taylor, Gelish, Artistic Nail Design, and Entity Beauty. 

Skyline Beauty Supply probably had the biggest of all the companies booths, having 5 different segments all showcasing different things.  There was Whale Spa on one end,  Vetro in the middle,  Sha-Nail Pro on the other side of that wall, Chrome Pigments and matte top coats were in their own section, and then Hand and Nail Harmony section as mentioned previously.  So they definitely took up the most floor space at the show this year and had the largest booth.  

Nonetheless, I would have to say Nail Labo was yet again the busiest booth of the show.  Whether it's demos with famed celebrity nail artists, like Britney Tokyo or Miho Nails, looki-loos, or just shoppers stocking up on their favorite brand at a discount.  

I can't fail to mention I met one of my favorite YouTubers, Suzie Manko, from Suzie's Nail Career Education.  She was so sweet and lovely in person I adore her all the more. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTldDNXS4GeChcmwm55mXYQ

Like every year, I had each of my nails done by a different nail artist from around the world.  My absolute favorite this year goes to my left thumb which features a hand drawn portrait of my malti-poo BooBoz, by the highly talented Vu Nguyen.  It took him around ten minutes to do, and literally used just white and black gel polish in various mixed ratios.  The result is absolutely stunning and so life like.   

If you weren't able to make it to this years show, I highly suggest checking it out next year, there is already information up on the website.  Also, if you don't want to commit to a three day pass, you can always go for one day and still have an amazing experience.

For more info on ISSE, check out their website here: https://probeauty.org/isselb/ 

 

 

CND Holiday 2016 Starstruck Collection Review

CND Holiday 2016 Starstruck Collection Review 0

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"Celebrate the elegance of Hollywood with the new Holiday 2016 Starstruck collection from CND. Comprised of dazzling jewel tones that embody the glamour of the red carpet, the palette is precious and faceted.

“There was an element of danger in the Old Hollywood equation,” says CND Co-founder and Style Director Jan Arnold.  “This tension of grace, power and risk inspires the jeweled, short nail of the season, which pairs best with a little black dress or pristine winter-white cashmere. An ensemble this mesmerizing is sure to leave all of your fans starstruck.” according to the official press release.

The CND Starstruck Holiday 2016 Collection consists of the following glitter shades-

Blushing Topaz: a light pink glitter.

Garnet Glamour: a deep crimson red glitter.

Dark Diamonds: a black infused with silver glitter.

Emerald Lights: an emerald green glitter.

Alluring Amethyst: a lilac glitter.

Starry Sapphire: a mix of indigo blue and purple glitters.

(all swatches shown here are two coats, taken in outdoor natural sunlight).

I absolutely Love this collection.  CND does not make a lot of glitter shades in general, and around this time of year, with all of the holiday festivities, glitter is always a good thing to offer clients.  The colors are all totally wearable and gorgeous.  

I didn't experience any issues with the application or the formulas.  I felt each shade was densely packed with glitter and provided a very even coverage.

My personal favorites are: Starry Sapphire, Blushing Topaz, and Dark Diamonds. 

Suggested salon price is $15.95 per .25 fl oz (7.3 mL) bottle

For more information on CND, check them out online: https://cnd.com/

 

 








CND Fall 2016 Craft Culture Collection Review

CND Fall 2016 Craft Culture Collection Review 0

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"Embrace the beauty in raw imperfections, earthly colors and weathered textures with the new Fall 2016 Craft Culture collection from CND. Hand- crafted artistry inspires a rich, one-of-a-kind palette that reflect authenticity, warmth and ruggedness.

"This season, smoky red oranges, deep reds and weathered blues capture the unique character of custom made goods. These rustic tones give the Craft Culture collection a rich depth for timeless Fall style," said CND Co-founder and Style Director Jan Arnold. "The Fall 2016 nail silhouette is short and tight with industrial finishes, evoking the heritage of artisanal craftsmanship and honoring the enduring quality of an artisan's work." according to the official press release. 

The Fall 2016 Craft Culture Shellac colors include-

Brick Knit: a terracotta brick cream.

Patina Buckle: a light raspberry with a sage green iridescent shimmer running through it.

Denim Patch: a dusty medium blue creme.

Oxblood: a deep dark blood red creme.

Hand Fired: a sparkling orangey red.

Leather Satchel: a shimmering medium tanned brown.

(all swatches shown here are two coats, cured each in an LED light for 1 minute, and are taken outdoors in natural sunlight).

Vinylux- (the Vinylux colors are the same as the Shellac accept for the following two additional colors)

Fern Flannel: a shimmering deep oceanic medium blue.

Brass Button: a glimmering yellow gold.

Additives- (comes in a set, and includes all 5 items)

Boho Beads: small round clear beads.

Russet Rage: a slightly chunky brick/rose gold glitter.

Tainted Gold: a reflective pink/purple shimmer (when burnished over black base, as shown here).

Dungarees: a shimmering deep navy blue (when burnished over black base, as shown here). 

Polished Peridot: a gilded deep green (also burnished over black, as shown here).

Overall I am really impressed with this collection.  I think it speaks very well to the Fall season and weather, and will serve as a nice transition as the weather starts to cool down.  The colors are all highly wearable. I found the formulas to be all around excellent, not experiencing any issues whatsoever. 

Some of my personal favorites include: Oxblood, Denim Patch, and Patina Buckle. 

I also really enjoy playing around and getting creative with the Additives.  I know the chrome trend is still going strong, so I wanted to play around with three of the pigments included in this Additves kit- Tainted Gold, Polished Peridot, and Dungarees.  I applied a black base, and with a non-wipe gel top coat, I burnished the Additives into the cured polish.  I thought the results were pretty great!  

Shellac retails for $15.95 per 7.3 mL (.25 fl oz), Vinylux retails for $10.50 per 15 mL (.5 fl oz), and the Additives Collection is sold in a set retailing for $29.75.

For more info on CND, check them out online: https://cnd.com/










Vinylux Fern Flannel
Vinylux Fern Flannel
Vinylux Fern Flannel

Vinylux Brass Button
Vinylux Brass Button
Vinylux Brass Button




CND Summer 2016 Flirtation Collection Review

CND Summer 2016 Flirtation Collection Review 0

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"There's an electricity of unspoken attraction in the air for Summer 2016. Evoke a subtle, sensual femininity with the new Flirtation Collection from CND. A palette of soft yet bright shades teases at the imagination and makes this collection equal parts coy, confident, and playful. 

"This season, sweet, creamy pastels are inspired by modern lace and embroidery for a delicate and refined glamour," says Jan Arnold. "The summer nail is a slim oval glazed with tender shades of coral and lilac, blushed with the spark of deepening allure. Flirtation's summer code allows you to be irresistible," according to the press release. 

The Summer 2016 Flirtation Collection consists of the following Shellac/Vinylux shades-

Be Demure: a light cotton candy pink cream.

Pink Pursuit: a dusty rose pink cream.

Honey Darlin': a soft creamy buttery yellow. 

Lavender Lace: a pale lavender with a fine silver shimmer running through it. 

Aqua-intance: an aqua blue cream.

Sparks Fly: a semi-sheer watermelon glitter. In Vinylux the comparable shade is Desert Poppy.

and the following two shades are just part of the Vinylux Collection-

Date Night: a cobalt blue cream.  Incredibly pigmented. A one coat wonder!

Skin Tease: a creamy beige nude. In the bottle there appears to be a semi faint shimmer, but it doesn't really come through once painted on the nail.

(all swatches shown here are two coats, and are taken outdoors in natural sunlight).

This is an awesome and highly wearable collection.  I feel CND stepped out of their comfort zone this season and delivered some out-there shades that are subdued and super gorgeous. There are shimmers, a glitter, and brights. 

I'm in love with both Date Night and Skin Tease, and WISH they also came in Shellac. The pigmentation of Date Night was out of this world insane amazing. And I am very grateful CND is making more nudes, like Skin Tease, because clients always request nudes, and in my opinion, you can never offer too many. 

My personal favorites from the Flirtation Collection include- Date Night, Lavender Lace, and Aqua-intance. 

Shellac retails for $15.95 per 7.3 mL (.25 fl oz) bottle, and Vinylux retails for $10.50 per 15 mL (.5 fl oz) bottle.

For more info on CND, check them out here: https://cnd.com/






Date Night
Date Night

Date Night
Skin Tease
Skin Tease
Skin Tease




CND Spring 2016 Art Vandal Collection Review

CND Spring 2016 Art Vandal Collection Review 0

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"Spring 2016 will reinterpret the classics for a new masterpiece of self-expression. Leave your mark with originality, irreverence, and expressiveness with the new Art Vandal collection from CND.

“This season, bright strokes of color disrupt the familiar as art is redesigned and repurposed,” says CND Co-founder and Style Director Jan Arnold. “Nails will be shaped into short, soft, squared canvases that evoke extraordinary color while articulating exquisitely abstract pattern and design. The ultimate Art Vandal is simply complex with organized clutter.” according to the official press release. 

I've got all three parts of the Art Vandal Collection to share with you all.  

First up, the Shellac shades-

Mauve Maverick: a soft pink peony cream.

Art Basil: a bright green that has slight teal undertones.  Has a subtle gold shimmer running through it.

Untitled Bronze: a glistening rosey coppery bronze.

Magenta Mischief: a deep shimmering magenta, that has slight purple undertones.

Digi-teal: a bold bright blue cream. Almost an aqua blue.

Future Fuchsia: a neon Barbie pink with shimmer running through it.

(all swatches shown here are two coats, cured each for 30 seconds in an LED light, and are taken outdoors in natural light).

Shellac retails for $15.95 per 7.3 mL (.25 fl oz) bottle.

With regards to Vinylux, most of the shades are the same color as the Shellac counterparts, except for the following which are exclusively Vinylux-

Irreverent Rose: a rich dusty rose pink cream.

Tutti Frutti: a neon Barbie pink with shimmer running through it.  This I believe is the lacquer version of Shellac: Future Fuchsia. They are very similar colors, if not identical.

Sienna Scribble: a creamy pearlized golden beige.  A rather difficult color to describe, but gorgeous nonetheless. 

(the swatches shown here are two coats, and are taken outdoors in natural light).

Vinylux retails for $10.50 per 15 mL (.5 fl oz) bottle.

And last but not least, the Additives collection-

Exhibition (glitter): a glistening fine almost white glitter.  Over white it looks like magical snow.  Over black it has a chunky gunmetal glitter appearance.   

Twinkle Pink (glitter): a glistening bright pink glitter.  Over white it retains its bright bold pinkness, but when applied over black, it becomes a shimmering blue/purple glitter.

Confetti Kiss (glitter): a chunky matte white hexagonal glitter.  Pretty straight forward on this one.

Cobalt Crush (pigment effect): a fine blue/purple shimmer powder.  Over white its a beautiful purple/blue.  When applied over black, it becomes a glistening deep purple.

Lavender Whispers (pigment effect): an iridescent light lavender pigment powder.  When applied over white it maintains it's proper color, but when applied over black it becomes like a gorgeous green/gray shimmering shade.

(for the Additives, I showed how they would look on both white and black shades as a base).

The Additives collection retails for $29.75 for the set. 

This is a super fun collection.  I absolutely Love the names.  To me these are some of the most creative/ tongue-and-cheek names CND has come out with yet! 

These are gorgeous shades to help us all transition into the new warmer weather.  Bold, bright, flirty colors reign supreme for sure.  There are a few different finishes too which I enjoy, ranging from solid creams to iridescent shimmers.

As far as the formulas are concerned I didn't experience any issues whatsoever.  I found both the Shellac and Vinylux to be very well pigmented, providing complete coverage in two coats. 

If I had to pick favorites, they'd include: Future Fuchsia, Art Basil, Untitled Bronze, and Sienna Scrible.

For more information on CND, check them out online: http://cnd.com/




Additives from lft to rt: Exhibition, Twinkle Pink, Confetti Kiss, Cobalt Clash, and Lavender Whispers
Additives from lft to rt: Exhibition, Twinkle Pink, Confetti Kiss, Cobalt Clash, and Lavender Whispers

Additives from lft to rt: Exhibition, Twinkle Pink, Confetti Kiss, Cobalt Clash, and Lavender Whispers
Additives from lft to rt: Exhibition, Twinkle Pink, Confetti Kiss, Cobalt Clash, and Lavender Whispers
Vinylux: Irreverent Rose
Vinylux: Irreverent Rose

Vinylux: Sienna Scribble
Vinylux: Sienna Scribble
Vinylux: Sienna Scribble
Vinylux: Tutti Frutti

Vinylux: Tutti Frutti

back side of Additives box


ad campaign
ad campaign

ad campaign

cnd holiday 2015 Aurora collection review

cnd holiday 2015 Aurora collection review 0

by • Blog • Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Discover the beauty of the Arctic tundra with the New Holiday 2015 Aurora collection from CND. Colors crystallize into shimmering frozen pastels and surreal glacial hues.  

This holiday season, nail trends capture a crystalline essence with icy, glistening finishes," says CND co-founder and style director Jan Arnold.  "Shapes range from elegantly slender almond to naturally subtle square, with shimmer that evokes the glint of sun setting across the snow." according to the official press release.

The four colors that comprise the CND Holiday 2015 Aurora Collection include:

Winter Glow: a pastel soft pink creme. 

Tundra: a metallic strawberry milkshake pink.  Paints on smoothly without any brush strokes.    

Nordic Lights: a semi sheer purple with iridescent glitter particles in it.  I personally was a little disappointed in this shade mainly because it doesn't provide enough coverage.  It's three coats here in the images and it's still transparent.  It is however really pretty, I just don't particularly like sheer shades.  But, could be an excellent color to layer with, or for ombre designs.  

Glacial Mist: an icy light blue packed with sparkle and silver glitter to give it tons of dimension. 

(all swatches shown here are two coats, unless stated otherwise, and are taken outdoors in natural light). 

For the most part I am super pleased with this latest collection from CND.  Although its difficult for me in 80+ degree Los Angeles to wrap my head around the cool holiday season, this collection certainly helped paint a pretty picture.

I think CND has definitely stepped out of their comfort zone this season and introduced some really gorgeous glitters and dimensions to the line. 

I didn't have any issues with the formulas.  

My personal favorite shades are: Glacial Mist & Tundra. 

Shellac retails for $15.95 per 7.3 mL (.25 fl oz) bottle.  And Vinylux weekly polish retails for $10.50 per 15 mL (.5 fl oz) bottle.

For more info on CND, check them out online: http://www.cnd.com/

 





CND Vinylux Fall 2015 Contradictions Collection Review

CND Vinylux Fall 2015 Contradictions Collection Review 0

by • Blog • Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

"CND’s new Fall 2015 Contradictions collection, featuring CND® SHELLAC® brand 14+ day nail color and VINYLUX® Weekly Polish.

Turn up the contrast with the new Fall 2015 Contradictions collection from CND. Textures and tones collide for an unexpected elegance: leather and lace, street and chic, metal and pearl.

“This season’s trends celebrate an unexpected clash between gritty street elements and elegant details for a dynamic combination of glamour and grunge,” says CND Co-founder and Style Director Jan Arnold. “Nails evoke an edgy narrative with blackened pigments and heraldic ornaments. Enhanced almonds in purple and red are deepened and oxidized with smoked pearl and steel finishes” according to the official Press release.

I've previously reviewed the Contradictions Collection in Shellac, which features the same shades except for 2 which are exclusive to Vinylux.  To see my review and swatches of the other Contradictions Collection hues, check out my previous blog post: http://www.merricures.com/blog/cnd-fall-2015-shellac-contradictions-collection-review/

The 2 exclusive Vinylux shades for Fall 2015 from the Contradictions Collection are:

Grommet: a metallic pearly dark gunmetal with blue undertones.  I am obsessed with this shade.  I am wearing it on my toes as we speak.  I have already received countless complements on it.  I wish CND made this shade in Shellac!!  Hopefully in the future they will 😉

Couture Covet: a deep navy blue creme.  

(all swatches shown here are two coats, and most images are taken outdoors in natural lighting).

I really like these new shades.  I wish CND made them in Shellac as well, particularly Grommet.  Both shades painted on smoothly, evenly, and easily, with zero brush strokes.  I also found them to be heavily pigmented, providing complete coverage in two coats. I highly recommend them.  If you are only going to buy one of them I would recommend Grommet.  

FEATURED BENEFITS: VINYLUX® Weekly Polish system includes a self-adhering Color Coat that eliminates the need for Base Coat; Top Coat becomes more durable with exposure to natural light; dries in just 8.5 minutes and provides week-long chip-free wear

PRICE: In-salon VINYLUX® Weekly Polish services range from $20-$35, depending on location; VINYLUX® Weekly Polish and VINYLUX® Weekly Top Coat retail for $10.50 per bottle

AVAILABILITY: Available worldwide Fall 2015; visit the Salon Locator atcnd.com/find-salon; visit cnd.com/VINYLUX, loxabeauty.com, ULTA or ulta.com to purchase

For more info on CND, check them out online- http://www.cnd.com/

 

 

New Vinylux exclusive shades
Vinylux Fall 2015
Vinylux Fall 2015
Vinylux Fall 2015

Fall 2015
New Vinylux exclusive shades
New Vinylux exclusive shades
Couture Covet

Couture Covet
Couture Covet
Grommet
Grommet

Grommet
New Vinylux exclusive shades

CND Additives Fall 2015 Contradictions Collection

CND Additives Fall 2015 Contradictions Collection 0

by • Blog • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

"Turn up the contrast with the new Fall 2015 Contradictions collection from CND. Textures and tones collide for an unexpected elegance: leather and lace, street and chic, metal and pearl.

“This season’s trends celebrate an unexpected clash between gritty street elements and elegant details for a dynamic combination of glamour and grunge,” says CND Co-founder and Style Director Jan Arnold. “Nails evoke an edgy narrative with blackened pigments and heraldic ornaments. Enhanced almonds in purple and red are deepened and oxidized with smoked pearl and steel finishes” according to the press release. 

The CND Fall 2015 Additives Contradictions Collection includes:

Jaded Rebel: (pigment effect) a deep shimmering jade green pigment powder.

Midnight Revelry: (glitter) a gunmetal gray glitter.

Crystal Crush: (glitter) irregularly shaped iridescent blue glitter sliver chunks.  My personal favorite Additives in the collection.  Looks insanely gorgeous over black or similar dark hues. 

Amethyst Blast: (glitter) a dark purple bar glitter. 

Whiteout: (glitter) a white circular matte glitter.  

(all swatches shown here are taken in outdoor light and for the most part are done on both white and black backgrounds to show different levels of effects that can be achieved).  

I have always been a big fan and advocate for CND's Additives, and sure enough this latest collection manages to exceed my expectations.  What I love most about the Additives is the creative freedom.  CND enables and empowers you, the technician, to create endless and such imaginative works of art, you are only limited by your own imagination.  I think this latest collection of theirs offers a nice variety of completely different textures, that can certainly enhance and add some rich ornamental fun to any manicure; from bar glitters, to fine pigments, to glitter flecks that resemble shards of glass. 

My personal favorites in this collection are: Midnight Revelry & Crystal Crush.

The CND Fall 2015 Additives Contradictions Collection sells for $29.75 for the set of 5, and is available now.  

For more info on CND,  check them out online here: http://www.cnd.com/



Jaded Rebel
Jaded Rebel
Midnight Revelry

Midnight Revelry
Crystal Crush
Crystal Crush
Amethyst Blast

Amethyst Blast
Whiteout
Whiteout

CND Shellac Fall 2015 Contradictions Collection Review

CND Shellac Fall 2015 Contradictions Collection Review 0

by • Blog • Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

"Turn up the contrast with the new Fall 2015 Contradictions collection from CND. Textures and tones collide for an unexpected elegance: leather and lace, street and chic, metal and pearl.

“This season’s trends celebrate an unexpected clash between gritty street elements and elegant details for a dynamic combination of glamour and grunge,” says CND Co-founder and Style Director Jan Arnold. “Nails evoke an edgy narrative with blackened pigments and heraldic ornaments. Enhanced almonds in purple and red are deepened and oxidized with smoked pearl and steel finishes.” according to the press release. 

CND Shellac Fall 2015 Contradictions Collection includes:

Safety Pin: a semi sheer glistening platinum shimmer.  I have 2 coats in the swatch shown here, but for full opacity I would recommend going with 3 thin coats. 

Rouge Rite: a darkened magenta creme with wine undertones.

Peacock Plume: a bold shimmering medium blue.

Naked Naivete: a nude creme with slight rose pink undertones.

Poison Plum: a semi sheer deepened plum purple with purple glitter specs in it.  This is a very different shade for CND.  

Tartan Punk: a glowing ruby shimmering red. 

 (all swatches shown here are 2 coats, cured each for 60 seconds in the CND LED lamp, and are taken outdoors in natural light). 

I personally Love how dramatic and elaborate the descriptions of the collection are from Jan Arnold.  I mean anyone who says "heraldic ornaments" is inherently amazing in my book, and Jan most definitely is amazing!

Collection descriptions aside, I think this is a wonderful transitional collection for customers to comfortably go from bold bright summer colors, to a more autumnal color palette.  I think there is something offered up here for everyone.  Each shade painted on smoothly and evenly in two coats.

My personal favorite shades include: Tartan Punk, Peacock Plume, & Naked Naivete. 

Also featured here in this post is the brand new Shellac Xpress5 Top Coat.  This revolutionary gel top coat soaks off in just five minutes.  I am so beyond obsessed with this product I can't even tell you.  This makes my life so much easier, and literally cuts my soak off/removal time in half, from 10 minutes down to just 5.  My clients are also very happy and appreciative. ^_^

CND Contradictions Collection is available worldwide July, 2015, and retails for $15.95 per .25 fl oz (7.3 mL) bottle. 

For more on CND, check them out online: http://www.cnd.com/








Calling all professional Nail Techs !

Calling all professional Nail Techs ! 0

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This past Monday, July 13th, CND launched #IHeartCNDSweeps, a digital contest for Nail Professionals where Nail Pros (US only) are asked to submit a 15 second video testimonial about why they love the CND® SHELLAC® brand 14+ day nail color. Entering is easy! Nail Pros can upload their videos to Instagram and/or Twitter with the hashtag #IHeartCNDSweeps.

One weekly winner, for four weeks, who will receive a CND® SHELLAC® brand Complete Wardrobe Kit (Salon Value $399.00). The contest will culminate with a GRAND PRIZE winner announced on August 13th. In addition to winning the CND® SHELLAC® brand Complete Wardrobe Kit, the grand prize winner will also receive a new CND® LED Lamp, and a trip to ISSE Long Beach in January for a CND VIP Experience!

You can view the live link to CND’s #IHeartCNDSweeps social media contest here: http://offerpop.com/commerce/gallery/12315

You’ll see that the link includes all relevant information, including deadline, prizes, etc. Fans can enter the contest via Instagram or Twitter following the guidelines outlined in #6 (How to Enter) of the official rules:

http://bit.ly/1HCTyRX

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