Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Take a Trip to California This Summer with KBShimmer's Wanderlust Collection

Press Sample

With this school year coming to an end and the first official day of summer only a week and a half away, many of us have summer on our minds. Summer vacation falls off the tongue readily when we talk about our plans over the next few months, and there are so many destinations to choose from! Naturally, you need your nails to be on point regardless of whether or not you are going far or opting to stay close to home! After a trip to the Ventura, California, Christy, the owner of KBShimmer, was inspired by the laid-back vibe of the West coast shore. The result is a stunning 8 piece collection aptly named the Wanderlust Collection.


This collection boasts beautiful blues, greens, pinks and purples that will take your nails on an adventure to California. Let's get a closer look at each shade!

Meet Me At The Barre
Three coats plus Clearly on Top top coat

When gathering with friends, the local bar is often the first place that is suggested, but with so many trying for a more active lifestyle, meeting at the barre for a workout might happen too! This pale pink shade has hints of coral, for a flattering pastel that will amp up the look of your summer tan.

The can never go wrong with a simple creme, or at least that seems to be my current mantra! Meet Me At The Barre is a fresh, work appropriate shade for when you want a break from intense hues on your nails. I cannot give an accurate assessment on the formula on this as the cap was a little loose when I pulled it out of its box, making the formula a little thicker than I normally see from the brand.

Don't Fear The Reefer
Two coats plus Clearly on Top top coat

It is a sweet smell that many recognize from their college days. Now baked into brownies, made into candy, and available in several states, this once outlawed plant is now sold across California and inspired this minty aqua green shade. Loaded with linear holographic pigment, this is one far out polish that will not leave your manicure half-baked.

While the name may make you think green, this polish definitely has a bit of blue to it! Staring at the bottle, I kept trying to decide if it was a mint or an aqua, and somehow KBShimmer managed to make it both. Against my olive skintone, it pulls more towards the blue, and it is so pretty! The formula was superb and ultra creamy and easy to apply.

Succ It Up
Two coats plus Clearly on Top top coat

As a lover of succulents, it was amazing to see them growing outside! The many types of succulents with their luscious shades of green, pink, purple and blue inspired this shimmery purple polish. Holo micro flakes give this hue some sparkle, while a blue green shimmer completes this hip polish.

Both my husband and I are a lover of succulents, and we have amassed quite a collection! While it may be easy to think of "green" when it comes to these plants, they come in a rather substantial range of colours depending on the particular species. This is such a fabulous representation of succulents, and the formula is flawless!

Rise and Grind
Two coats plus Clearly on Top top coat

Did you know that California has 4 of the top 15 coffee consuming cities in the US? No wonder it was easy to find people with a cup of Joe in their hands or in lines, waiting for baristas to finish grinding beans fresh for the perfect cup.  Rise and Grind is a nod to those coffee lovers who enjoy a splash of milk, tall lattes or iced coffees. A lightened brown, this linear holographic polish is the perfect deep neutral. So grab a cup and enjoy this coffee inspired shade!

Confirmed coffee drinking Californian here, although in my defense, it really only started after having my kids. I normally don't think of browns when it comes to summer, beyond the dried grass anyway, but Rise and Grind just works. It isn't too dark and is sure to dazzle against your reusable plastic tumbler filled with ice coffee this summer. We are in California after all!

Now and Zen
Two coats plus Clearly on Top top coat

Walking down the coast, with the waves crashing, the gulls flying, and dogs running is the ideal way to center yourself for the day. This ocean inspired polish starts with a calming blue base. A color shifting shimmer takes this polish from blue, to aqua to lavender depending on the angle and lighting, while loads of micro holo flakes add a unique touch to the peaceful hue.

I can definitely see the beach when I see this shade, and you know I'll be wearing it when I head that direction this summer! I especially love the flash of lavender when I shift my nails around! This applied nicely for me as well and I have no issues to report.

Wander-ful World
Two coats plus Clearly on Top top coat

Wandering the world, be it by car, plane, or cruise ship, can be so exciting. Wander-ful World was inspired by the vibrant fashions and showy pink flowers of California. This electric shade of magenta pink is full of linear holographic pigment for a flashy manicure perfect for your next trip, be it to the grocery store or across the country.

One of the colours I gravitate towards during the summer tends to be brighter magenta hues like this, so I am happy to see Wander-ful World join the KBShimmer lineup! The colour is vibrant and the formula is top notch. What else could you possibly want from a nail polish? Other than your favorite celebrity crush applying said polish to your perfectly filed toes, of course..... We all can dream, right?

Hakuna Moscato
Three coats on its own plus Clearly on Top top coat
One coat over Meet Me At The Barre plus Clearly on Top top coat

California is known for amazing wine, and Moscato with its sweet, slightly bubbly flair was the perfect inspiration for this shimmery polish. Blushing rose gold micro flakes surround a scattering of micro holographic glitter, for an effervescent shade that will leave you thirsty for more. This polish builds up in 2-3 coats, or layer over your favorite shade to add a golden hue to your nails.

Now we're talking! Of course I may be slightly biased as I reside in Sonoma County, one of California's most well-known regions for wineries, although my region actually only produces about 6% of the wines from California. I tend to drink cocktails, but I do enjoy a little wine every now and then, including a Moscato. This is a lovely interpretation! I have it swatch on its own to opacity on my pinky and ring fingers and over Meet Me At The Barre on my middle and index fingers. I'm not really sure which look I prefer more, so feel free to chime in below in the comments about how you prefer it! I think it looks lovely on its own and as a topper; I'm looking forward to playing with this beauty over other shades! The formula was easy to work with, and I had no issues with it being too thick or thin or clumping of glitters.

Cactus If You Can
Two coats plus Clearly on Top top coat

The plant life in California is breathtaking, especially to someone that lives in the Midwest. This soft green shade is inspired by one of the best water conserving plants, the cactus. A soft pink shimmer and micro holo sparks, soften up this prickly polish, for a manicure that is perfect in 2-3 coats.

With so many beautiful shades in this collection, I'm ending off with what may be my personal favorite from the collection. I absolutely loved the saguaro cacti when I lived in Tucson about four and a half years ago, and I get so excited when I see the occasional prickly pear cactus around me now. This colour combination is one I really like, I am beyond thrilled to see KBShimmer introduce Cactus If You Can to the Wanderlust Collection! The formula is really smooth and creamy to boot!


The Wanderlust Collection will be launching on the KBShimmer website at 12 noon this Friday, June 15th, and bottles will retail for $10 each.

I hope you enjoy this collection as much as I do! Christy certainly knows how to create a collection that takes my breath away!

What are your top picks from the Wanderlust Collection? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!


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16 comments

  1. Obviously I need the entire collection, but Rise and Grind is my favorite! WOW!

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  2. I'm dying over here. These are so fabulous. KBShimmer wears so well on me too. I need to get another job to pay for my obsession.

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  3. I love this collection so much. I need all of them.

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  4. I love Now and Zen and Succ It Up. This collection looks fabulous

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  5. Gah I want them all! Don't Fear the Reefer, Suc It Up and Wonder-ful World are calling to me. Hakuna Moscato I like on it's own.

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  6. Two of my favorite things, indie polish and cool succulents - love your collection pic! Also, the new blog design is so clean and fresh - gorgeous!

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  7. I can't get over Cactus If You Can. It's been my favourite in every post I've seen about these.

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  8. What fun succulent colors! Cactus If You Can is totally my kind of color!

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  9. I love your photo with them in the succulents! It’s so dreamy.

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  10. I know I sound like everyone else but I have to say I love those ultra holos!

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  11. Gorgeous pictures! I am loving this collection!

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  12. Remember our Vegas night with wine? <3

    I love this collection - at first it seemed super random to me but now that I'm reading everything, it all makes sense!

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  13. ooo I love the collection vibe! Very nice and summery and fresh! Also love the look of the site!

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  14. These are all gorgeous! Meet Me At the Barre and Cactus If You Can are my favorites of the bunch.

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  15. Beautiful shades they look so great on you I’m totally in love with Don’t Fear The Refeer and Now and Zen.

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