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Emerald & Ash – Life in Color! (Plus a giveaway!)

Jul6

Provided for Honest Review

Readers I have some very cool polishes to show you today!  And a review on Cuticle Oil as well!  Emerald & Ash make some really unique and beautiful polishes and I was lucky enough to be chosen as a blogger for this collection!  I have three of the polishes from their upcoming Life in Color collection which is an enormous collection of 13 polishes!  There’s something for EVERYONE in that collection I’m telling you!

Let’s get right down to it then!  First up I have Elevendy Seven.

Emerald & Ash - Elevendy Seven

Emerald & Ash – Elevendy Seven

Elevendy Seven is a beautiful grass green satin finish polish with a strong golden shimmer throughout as well as a smattering of iridescent micro-flakies.  E&A’s description says there’s also a touch of holo as well but unfortunately I live on the Eastern Seaboard so… well…the weather has been pretty dreary the past couple of days therefore I wasn’t able to see the holo but I’m pretty excited to get this one out in the sun and check it out!

Emerald & Ash - Elevendy Seven

Emerald & Ash – Elevendy Seven

The formula on this was lovely.  Two easy coats.  The first coat is slightly sheer but it layer’s up very nicely and is fully opaque at two coats.  I decided that Elevendy Seven and Bees? played really nicely together plus they make me nostalgic as together they are *almost* my high school colors!  I decided to do an accent with the two  of intersecting dots (love this technique it looks so cool but is insanely easy). Products used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Emerald & Ash – Elevendy Seven, Bees?; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That Topcoat; Dotting Tools; Striping Tape

So let’s segue right on into Bees?

Emerald & Ash - Bees?

Emerald & Ash – Bees?

Were you knocked off your seat?  I know I was because Bees? is a OMG KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF Neon Highlighter Yellow crelly with a fun fuchsia shimmer!  I’ll be honest and say it’s not normally a color that I would have chosen for myself but I think it will be a nice addition to my collection because doesn’t everyone need a neon highlighter yellow polish?  I didn’t think I did but now that I have it I think I do!

Emerald & Ash - Bees?

Emerald & Ash – Bees?

The formula is good for a neon polish in my opinion.  Generally neons are hard to work with and hard to photograph just by nature.  While this one is naturally sheer it does build up and the pictures show three coats plus topcoat.  You could layer it over white and it will pop even more but I found it wasn’t necessary in the same way that it is with other neons.

I will say that before I even swatched it Emerald & Ash had identified an issue with the batch that they send out to bloggers and immediately notified us that there was an issue with some tiny bits of pigment and they are sending out a new bottle.  While mine was very minorly affected I didn’t find it off-putting or an issue at all because topcoat fixed all.  However my respect for the brand doubled because they not only identified a problem but proactively corrected it before everyone even had a chance to test out the polishes.  Anyone who works or deals with indies recognizes that sometimes there are little snafus that happen because these are handmade polishes!  What’s important to me as a consumer is how the brands handle these kinds of little problems that come up.  They are clearly dedicated to quality in their line!  The issue has been identified and future batches will not have this issue.

Products used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Emerald & Ash – Elevendy Seven, Bees?; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That Topcoat; Dotting Tools; Striping Tape

Next up is my favorite of the lot – maybe a little just because of the name…Titty Sprinkles!!

Emerald & Ash - Titty Sprinkles

Emerald & Ash – Titty Sprinkles

This polish is so changeable.  Every time I look at it it seems a little different.  At first I thought it was a lavender base filled with silver and multi-colored micro-flakies but now I’m not so sure about the base!  Anyway it’s so packed with micro-flakies that it gives a sort of foiled effect and it’s so sparkly!  E&A says that it’s got bright blue, pink, yellow, and white micro-flakies!  You all know how I feel about flakies in general…so yeah loving this one!

Emerald & Ash - Titty Sprinkles

Emerald & Ash – Titty Sprinkles

The formula is amazing.  I could have almost gotten away with one coat but I did two coats plus topcoat for the pictures.  It’s so sparkly and filled with flakies that I thought it might have a slight gritty texture but not at all.

Products used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Emerald & Ash – Titty Sprinkles; Digital Nails – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That Topcoat

So in the blogger package that I received was a small bottle of their fabulous cuticle oil.  It’s in the Scent of the Month for July – Fresh Cut Grass!  Seriously a wonderful scent that I honestly wasn’t too sure about but it quickly won me over with its fresh clean scent!  I already loved their oils and I took a couple of pictures to show you how nicely it absorbs.  Emerald & Ash have 85 scents but they can be custom blended so the possibilities are truly endless!  Also each one is mixed to order so the scent oils are not sitting in the cuticle oil over time and it always guarantees that you’re going to get a nice fresh bottle.  They’ve specially formulated the oil so that it absorbs quickly without a heavy greasy feeling and I keep a bottle of it at my desk where I apply it obsessively!

Just after application of Emerald & Ash Cuticle Oil.

Just after application of Emerald & Ash Cuticle Oil.

Five minutes after application of Emerald & Ash Cuticle Oil

Five minutes after application of Emerald & Ash Cuticle Oil

As you can see while it’s not yet fully absorbed it’s definitely absorbing quickly and moisturizing my cuticles!  I’m in total love with these and I will probably be expanding my collection of E&A oils extensively.

Now the Life in Color collection will be up for pre-order on July 10th.  You can get your own Emerald & Ash polishes and cuticle oils at their Website.  You can keep up to date on all the happenings and news by following them on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram!

But you have a chance to win your OWN bottle of Bees? from me!  Since Emerald & Ash sent out a replacement and I was not fussed with my bottle I decided to go ahead and give one of my lovely readers a chance to win their own bottle of sunshine!  Please enter through the Rafflecopter below.

This contest will end on July 13th.  Prize can only be shipped to a US address, but anyone can win as long as you provide a US address for me to ship to.  Once prize has been shipped I cannot be responsible for any lost or damaged packages.  You must be 18 or Older or have proof that a parent has given you permission to enter.  I will verify entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

New to me Brand! Emerald & Ash

Mar26

Giveaway Prize

Darling readers, have you noticed?  It’s SPRING.  That’s right it’s starting to get warmer, the flowers are blooming, pollen is wreaking havoc with allergy sufferers everywhere.  Ah, yes one of my favorite times of year!  I’m delighted that my post today is going to fit RIGHT in with this Spring feeling!  I have a beautiful glitter topper duo to share with you!  I recently won a giveaway celebrating the 1 year anniversary of Emerald & Ash.  An indie polish company that clearly thinks about every little detail, I’ll share more about that later.  These are my first Emerald & Ash polishes but I have a sneaky suspicion that they aren’t going to be my last!

First up allow me to introduce you to Deconstructed Daisy.  I was so excited to win because Daisies are HANDS DOWN my favorite flower of all time, as evidenced by my cute little daisy tattoo.

Deconstructed Daisy (over Spellbound Nails - Leave the Brakes On)

Deconstructed Daisy (over Spellbound Nails – Leave the Brakes On)

Look look look!!  It’s like a daisy explosion.  Really, I would have instantly thought of daisies even if I didn’t know what this polish was named.  This clear-based glitter topper is filled to the brim with matte white and emerald hexes and microglitter in various sizes along with yellow microglitter that so perfectly represents pollen!

Deconstructed Daisy (over Spellbound Nails - Leave the Brakes On)

Deconstructed Daisy (over Spellbound Nails – Leave the Brakes On)

Formula…let me tell you, I’ve said before that a glitter topper was easy to work with, and I meant it.  Trouble is that I find glitter toppers in general easy to work with because I am experienced with them, I know that novice polishers might have a little trouble here and there.  They would not have trouble with this one.  Picture shows one coat over undies.  ONE COAT.  I did push around some of the larger white hexes (they wanted to hang out together on the nail) but it was not difficult and I just did it with the polish brush.  Honestly, very little manipulation at all was necessary.

Polishes Used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Spellbound Nails – Leave the Brakes On; Emerald & Ash – Deconstructed Daisy; Nail Pattern Boldness – Glitter Food; Glisten & Glow – HK Girl Topcoat

Next up is the fraternal twin of this polish!  It is ALMOST the same polish, exept that it’s been given a little dressing up in order to celebrate Emerald & Ash’s first anniversary!

Deconstructed Daisy - LE Holo Edition

Deconstructed Daisy – LE Holo Edition

Ok rather than blah blah say the same thing about this polish because they are extremely close I’m going to share some thoughts about this.  This version is the same as Deconstructed Daisy but with the added bonus of some holographic shimmer!  It just adds that touch of something special to make it more festive!  Both of them do dry with a glitter texture and need a glitter smoothing top coat to even things out but that’s pretty standard.  Second, if you can get both, get both.  This is probably the only polish I have ever received that once I put it on I realized I was heartily glad that I had a “backup” bottle.  Now for run of the mill manis I can use my Deconstructed Daisy and save my Deconstructed Daisy LE Holo Edition for special stuffs!  I have never felt the urge or need to have a “backup” bottle.  This is one that I do think I need both!

Deconstructed Daisy - LE Holo Edition

Deconstructed Daisy – LE Holo Edition

 

Deconstructed Daisy - LE Holo Edition

Deconstructed Daisy – LE Holo Edition

Look there’s a sneaky peak of my thumb so you can see I used a different undie for every nail.  Look how wonderful it looks over all of them!  I actually tested it over 9 different polishes on a nail wheel before deciding which to use for my skittle mani.  The versatility on this polish is amazing.  I would not have expected a VERY white and green and yellow glitter topper to look good over so many different colors!  I also dressed up my accent nail with some little dot daisies and added some little leaves.

Polishes Used:  Glisten & Glow – Stuck on Blu; Julep – Joelle; Barielle – Positive Zen-ergy; Zoya – Odette; Ruby White Tips – Constance; Emerald & Ash – Deconstructed Daisy – LE Holo Edition; Julep – Julianne; Sally Hansen – White On; Barielle – Unknown Green; Bondi NY – Brick Road; Nail Pattern Boldness – Glitter Food; Glisten & Glow – HK Girl Topcoat

I didn’t write down all the names of the polishes I used for my tester wheel but I did want to show you how it looks over a variety of different colors:

Deconstructed Daisy - LE Holo Edition (Over a variety of undies)

Deconstructed Daisy – LE Holo Edition (Over a variety of undies)

Deconstructed Daisy - LE Holo Edition (Over a variety of undies)

Deconstructed Daisy – LE Holo Edition (Over a variety of undies)

Another couple of things before I wrap up and provide you with all the store and stalker links you will ever need to get your own Emerald & Ash goodies.  My prize came with a bottle of Daisy cuticle oil.  This stuff is AMAZING.  I don’t generally rave about or review cuticle oils because, well, to me they are mostly the same.  This one though is different than most I’ve used.  The oil soaks in quickly but is moisturizing and it smells divine!  A lot of oils just sit on my skin and make a mess but this one is just great!  Emerald & Ash have a HUGE library of scents that you can choose from, and I think they will even do unscented if you prefer.

Second, the packaging.  Again, something I don’t really talk a lot about.  I checked with a friend of mine who is familiar with Emerald & Ash and she confirmed that this level of care with packaging is the standard and not the exception.  I really felt like I was opening a high end present!  Everything was packaged with so much care and attention to detail.  They even include a little stack of felt squares for polish removal (So cool!  How have I missed the boat on felt for removal?  I may be a convert!).   Not to mention the bottles are heavy and I really like the cap and brushes as well and they really lend to that high-end feel, even the logo on the bottles is perfectly suited.  I think it really shows the level of care that these makers put into their product and their business!  I really appreciated the feeling of opening a gift and there are only a few indies out there that I know of who make me feel that way and E&A is one of them!

Super Cute Packaging!

Super Cute Packaging!

 

Super Cute Packaging!

Super Cute Packaging!

So by now you’re biting at the bit and ready to go and stock up on a bunch of wonderful smelling cuticle oil and pretty polishes right?  I know I’m right!  So you can find Emerald & Ash for sale at their online shop.  You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date on all the news and happenings.  It looks like they are also on Twitter and Google + If you prefer those social media formats!  I already have my eye on the next Emerald & Ash polishes that are going to be making their way to my doorstep!