Archive for July, 2007
Top Coat Challenge – Seche Vite
I apologize for getting so behind with my Top Coat Challenge reviews. It’s more work than I expected so I’ll be extending the challenge into August. I’m going to try and cover all the favorites from the drugstore and salon brands.
Next up Seche Vite. Seche, pronounced “Se-Shay”, Vite is a unique top coat in that is thicker than most yet it dries in 5 minutes. It leaves a glossy finish but can be tricky to apply. There is a technique to applying Seche Vite and if you don’t do it correctly, you’ll end up with mixed results.
From the Seche website:
“Seche Viteâ„¢ is unique in its application over wet nail polish. Make sure there is a nice bead at the end of the brush before application over wet nail polish as it must be applied thick, but not too thick.
Apply thickly, get a nice bead on the end of the brush, then set softly down on the first nail painted and watch how Seche Vite flows over the wet nail polish self levels and will not drag or streak the underlying manicure. It takes time to master the application and when perfected it is possible to apply in only three strokes…keep trying. Seche Vite will naturally thicken so make sure to keep the neck of the bottle clean and tight at all times and if it gets stringy add a few drops of Seche Restore and roll the bottle slowly adding additional drops until consistency is fully restored.”
I tested Seche Vite in four different trials. I used different combinations of Zoya Anchor (Big 3 Free) and Creative Stickey base coats with Nocti (Big 3 Free) and China Glaze polishes. I wanted to see if having toluene in the base coat or nail color made a difference in Seche Vite’s performance.
The before and after pictures were taken in different lighting so please ignore the color differences. These photos should not be considered color accurate.
The results: Overall Seche Vite performed best when used with Stickey as a base coat. There was no chipping and less tip wear. I just wish that Seche Vite was easier to apply. You have to brush it on so quick and accurate that it’s easy to have missed spots on the sides of your nail. And if you apply too much, you end up with it on your cuticles and crusted up in the crevice next to your nail. For me, I only use Seche Vite when I’m in a hurry. I feel there are better top coats if you have the time to wait.
Here’s this week’s best reads from the Beauty Blog Network
A Touch of Blusher – Million Selling Lip Gloss…by Sony!
Beautiful Makeup Search – Your First Look: MAC’s Rush Metal
Beauty Blabber – Create Katherine McPhee’s Look
Beauty Snob – L’Oreal is Racist
Beauty and Fashion Tech – Beauty and Fashion Tech looks at Olay Definity Cream
Beautynomics – Get That Body Glow!
Canadian Beauty – Canadian Beauty has a mascara give away!
Elke Von Freudenberg – Elke reviews the Cibu-Ph Finish Hair Spray
Face Candy – Flashtronic a la Kyle
Lipstick, Powder ‘n Paint – Lipstick, Powder ‘n Paint shares how to keep your pedicure looking it’s best this summer
Makeup Moxie’s Beauty Blog – Find out why Makeup Moxie gives Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanser rave reviews
Pretty by Nature – Sustainable Palm Oil – A First in the Industry
Fall 2007 Couture Nail Watch – Christian Lacroix
Vampy plum nails rocked the runway at Christian Lacroix. I have a feeling that Rock Royalty, the new purple in Creative’s Imperial Anarchy collection, will be a close match.
Can anyone tell what brand of polish this is? I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of a brand that uses a light colored cap like that. If you know, please post in the comments.
photos: Style.com
The Lubu Manicure
Originally created by Zoe Pocock of the Charles Worthington salon in London, the Louboutin Manicure received a lot of press and attention from the fashionistas and nail lovers alike.
Inspired by this sensation, China Glaze has come up with their own take on this fashion forward look. Using the uber sparkly Ruby Pumps as the “sole” and their newest creation, Lubu Heels, for the “upper”, the Lubu Manicure is a glitzy, more Hollywood version of Ms. Pocock’s design.
Lubu Heels is a shade I know a lot of you have been waiting for. For anyone with Rescue Beauty Lounge Revamp or Revlon Black Strobe on your wish list, you can cross it off. Lubu Heels is the black polish with red glitter that you’ve been dreaming of. As is typical of most glitter polishes, Lubu Heels has that familiar bumpy texture and I’m sure it will be a pain to remove but that’s the price we pay for glittery glam.
Essie Fall 2007 – Glamour Girl
Glamour Girl is the fall collection from Essie. Hitting stores on September 1st, it’s a rich collection of shades that stays true to the Essie reputation of playing it safe and delivering pretty, traditional colors.
Looking at the shades, I’m feeling a 40s retro vibe. It makes me think of tailored suits, pencil skirts, peep-toe heels and patent leather handbags. I could see using Material Girl for a half moon mani or having Alligator Purse peeking out of a pair of chocolate brown open-toe pumps. The colors are:
Alligator Purse – a creamy burnt orange
Bags to Riches – light caramel taupe
Decadent Diva – rich shimmering cocoa
Handle With Flair – dark merlot
Material Girl – blackest purple
Turning Heads Red – striking red
Turning Heads Red is a true red creme. It took 2 coats to get the bottle shade but it applied evenly and has a nice glossy finish.
Alligator Purse is one of my favorite shades of this collection. I’d describe it as more of a brick red creme than a burnt orange. It’s highly pigmented and was true to the bottle color with one coat. Warmer tones should run and grab this as soon as it hits shelves.
Bags to Riches is so not my color it’s not even funny. It looks like a really light cup of coffee. In fact it reminds me of those Aroma Cafe shades that China Glaze put out a long time ago. I honestly can’t think of anyone this color would look good on. Not only that but it was extremely streaky. The swatch above is after 3 coats and it still wasn’t even. If you can make it work, more power to you.
Decadent Diva is my hands down winner for best polish of the collection. It has depth, incredible sparkle and shimmer and applies extremely smooth. A rich cocoa shade, Decadent Diva could fill all those Essie Martini Cocoa lemmings out there. It’s deeper and slightly redder and nothing short of stunning. Pictures truly can’t do this one justice. You have to see it on the nail to appreciate it.
Material Girl is a blackened plum creme, along the lines of OPI Lincoln Park After Dark. It’s hard for me to properly evaluate this one because the bottle arrived to me with some damage. The lacquer had leaked and caused some thickening of the formula so it applied streaky and too thick. I don’t believe my issue is indicative of the polish in general.
Handle with Flair is a wine red creme. It went on a bit uneven and took 3 coats to get the color you see above. It’s a pretty color but nothing I’d call unique.
Even though sunlight has been somewhat rare the past few days, I did manage to grab a quick shot to show off the shimmer in Decadent Diva.
I also did a quick comparison with Martini Cocoa.
I know the fall collections are going to drain a lot of bank accounts. Which shades of Glamour Girl are going to make you open your wallet?
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
