all i have are these photographs.

The Red Bow’s (@redbowshoppe on IG and Twitter) brand spankin’ new website launched today so I thought it fitting to post this review! The lovely Karen sent me some Hello Kitty decals to test out so here’s what I’ve cooked up with the first set. In my excitement, I forgot to take a picture of the sheet before I used them. Oops! But one sheet comes with a variety of about 40 stickers. This Sailor set has anchors, bows and Kitty herself in a sailor’s cap.Here’s my take on Sailor Kitty nails. Super simple but definitely keeping with the theme colours of the decal sheet of blue, red, white and yellow. 

Application of these stickers was simple. Peel off, stick on. I used my smallest dotting tool to help peel the stickers off the sheet and to help in placing them on my nails. Even without a topcoat these stickers definitely stick… But I’m not one to advocate not using a topcoat so ALWAYS use a topcoat! These stickers were such high quality that when I removed the polish, the stickers stayed…stuck! Visit http://theredbow.ca for these decals and other fashionable goodies!

Stay tuned for two more sets of Hello Kitty decal nail art!

I know this review is a long time coming so I apologize for the wait, but I had time last week to put a proper review together for the INGLOT polishes I received a couple of weeks ago from D&D Arbitrage Distributing. I didn’t know anything about them until I was contacted by one of the guys who sells them locally here in Toronto to do a review. I did a some research before being sent the polishes and found that INGLOT has a TON of colours! You know it’s a lot when the polishes are assigned numbers instead of witty polish names! I would have a hard time believing that one couldn’t find the right shade or colour for any given occasion with INGLOT’s vast line. INGLOT is a Poland-based cosmetic company - these are literally Polish polishes! 

First up on the block is #991, a creamy, glossy, deep sky blue. Application was easy peasy.

This is three thin coats over two base coats, and there was no more staining than what was already stained on my nails once I removed the polish, so that’s a plus when it comes to blues! I don’t really like commenting on durability because I think it speaks for my base coats and top coat more than it does the actual polish but I did keep this blue on for a week to test it out. Here’s what it looked like after four days:

You can see there’s hardly even tip wear, even though I am on a keyboard all day, but there’s noticeable growth of new nail. 

Next up is #954: a crisp green with a slight blue/green shimmer.

The shimmer is much more apparent in the bottle but still shines nicely through once applied on the nail. You can see that this is also very glossy. This picture was taken in direct sunlight which is why there’s such a glare but it does help you see the beautiful shimmer in the polish. This formula was thinner than #991 so coverage took three regular coats vs three thin coats for #991 above. 

This super fun purple is #670.

This is definitely one of my favourite purples! It’s creamy and perfect for spring, summer or fall since it’s midway between a pastel and a grapey purple. This is the first of two O2M Breathable polishes which I specifically requested so I could see what breathable polishes were all about. More on this later! 

The second breathable O2M polish I tried was #662 - a bright coral perfect for spring and summer. This formula was more sheer than the others but applied nicely after 3-4 coats. 

INGLOT formulates this line to “breathe” so it lets air and water through the polish to reach the nail. First created as a less harmful alternative to regular polishes, as it lets the nail breathe, this line has now struck a delightful chord with Muslim women all over the world. While the quality of the polish does not change at all from their regular enamels vs these breathables, the difference is in the fact that it lets water permeate through the polish to the nail which is important to Muslim women who follow the Quran. Muslims perform a washing ritual before prayer which requires water to touch their nails - impossible with regular polish formulas since the polish acts as a barrier on the nail. The only time Muslim women can wear polish is during TOM since they are excused from prayers at this time, but doing so sends a big red signal of what your body is going through! The line carries a breathable base and top coat as well (not reviewed) so you are not limited to possible nail-staining polishes! 

Where can you get them? In Canada there are five stores all located in Quebec, but now there’s a resource for all you Torontonians who want to give this product a go. Check out D&D Arbitrage Distributing directly or via their Facebook page where you can check out and order their inventory via PayPal, Interac E-Transfer, or Cash. INGLOT ‘s O2M line retails at $19 a bottle - steeper than your average drugstore polish, but in line with brands like Butter London and Deborah Lippmann, and cheaper than high end brands like Chanel, and currently the only one that offers a breathable formula. 

Bottom Line: These polishes are pricier than your average polish, but they are a quality polish. Whether you’re looking for nail polishes that fit in with your religious practices or not, know that you’re getting a quality product as well, and not just paying for a brand name or “gimmick.” 

What do you think of INGLOT? Have you tried their many shades and colours? 

DISCLAIMER: These polishes were provided to me for review. However, these views and opinions are my own.