Archive for January, 2009
MAC Hello Kitty Nail Lacquers
Who’s ready for an early peek at the MAC Hello Kitty nail polishes? You know, I was pleasantly surprised to see that some of you were unaware of the MAC/Hello Kitty collaboration when I previewed it a couple weeks ago. The last thing I want is to inundate you with info you’ve seen a million times before. So I’m really excited to be able to give you an advanced look at the nail lacquers before they hit shelves on February 12th.
For this collection, MAC is debuting two new creme polishes and bringing back Vestral White (creme) from last holiday’s Antiquitease collection. Unfortunately, I gifted Vestral White away so I don’t have it to show you but it’s a true, opaque white. And how utterly cute are those bottles? I’m beyond happy that MAC FINALLY adorned the nail lacquer bottles to match a collection.
What impressed me most about the two new shades is their opacity. They’re both highly pigmented which is fantastic though that raised the viscosity. I ended up needing three coats only to even out the surface because the formula doesn’t do so on its own.
Note: I received sample bottles without the Hello Kitty logo.
On The Prowl has got to be the truest gray I’ve found. Not too cool, not too warm. There’s no blue or brown in its base. If you’re looking for the perfect gray creme, this is it. And before you ask, NO, I don’t think the gray trend is over. I’m still loving it and will be wearing On The Prowl in the coming months.
As you can see, On The Prowl falls somewhere between Rescue Beauty Lounge Concrete Jungle and China Glaze Recycle on the gray scale. Though the RBL’s base is more blue while Recycle’s is brown.
Something About Pink is the perfect complement to the Hello Kitty collection’s girlish side. It’s exactly what I would expect to counter the grittier feel of On The Prowl. Something About Pink is a cool toned hot pink that looks even more vibrant in person. The finish is uber-glossy and would make an excellent pedicure shade for summer.
Going through my stash, I discovered that I own way more hot pinks that I thought. That was unexpected. Though I don’t have anything that matches Something About Pink dead on but I did find some close calls. OPI I’m Indi-a Mood For Love and NARS Schiap are both a tinge darker but tonally very similar.
The MAC Hello Kitty collection will be available online at MACCosmetics.com on February 10th and hits MAC Counters on February 12th. I know I’ll be online to get a HK adorned On The Prowl and some other goodies. What will you be buying? In case you haven’t seen the rest of the collection, my buddy Jamie was at the preview last November and has additional product images on The Beauty Life.
images: iswii.net and All Lacquered Up
Lippmann Collection Purple Rain for Spring 2009
 Spring 2009 for Lippmann Collection is a total 80s flashback. Deborah created shades named for songs from two of the biggest artists of the decade, Michael Jackson and Prince. P.Y.T., a sheer peachy-pink creme, and Purple Rain, a metallic lilac, are the latest additions to the Lippmann lineup.
I had the pleasure to test out Purple Rain before it launches to the public and when I first looked at the bottle, I could see the metallic finish staring at me. Taunting me. Saying, you’ll never apply me smooth and even. |
 You know the drill with metallics. They look amazing in the bottle, come in fantastic colors but become brushstroke city on the nail. What’s a girl to do? Well, as I told Andrea in Glamour’s September issue, I have a little trick to make application better. Not perfect but better.
Application Tip: Apply a tacky base coat (CND Stickey or Orly Bonder). Put a glossy top coat on next (I used CND Air Dry). Then apply your metallic polish and finish with another layer of top coat. The glossy finish of the top coat will give a smoother surface than a traditional base coat, allowing the polish to glide on the nail. See the finished results, after the jump! |
Purple Rain made its first appearance at New York Fashion Week last September on the Zac Posen runway. Deborah custom blended the lavender shade, which was at the time unnamed, to accent the bold purple lips on the models. That shade and a layering combo of Whatever Lola Wants over holiday’s Icing On The Cake added a frosty touch to the overall look.
Purple Rain
So what do you think girlies? You know light purples don’t play well with my skintone but I’ve been getting compliments on my mani with this shade. My mom, who loves anything frosty, will be expecting this bottle to be hers. I know it already.
The Spring Lippmann Collection polishes will launch next month and retail for $15/ea. You can purchase online at LippmannCollection.com and Beauty.com and in person at Nordstrom department stores.
ALU Archives – China Glaze White Kwik Silvr
The ALU Archives is a new series focusing on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.
A few weeks back, we hosted a party for some of my girlfriends from high school and their hubbies. It was great getting so see the girls and have a night to catch up. One of them is a doctor on the west coast and she doesn’t make it home often so getting to see her is a treat.
Of course, I took the gathering as an opportunity to unload some of my excess polish and beauty stash which overjoyed the boyfriend to no end. The less beauty booty overtaking the house, the better. It was then that one of the girls asked me for a recommendation. She’s looking for the perfect white polish. Something that isn’t overly pearly and “grandma-ish” or chalky and white-out white-ish. I’m sure you can guess where my mind immediately went. China Glaze White-Kwik-Silvr. Possibly the best white polish EVER created.
White-Kwik-Silvr comes in the amazingly unique glass flecked formula that China Glaze is famous for. It’s sparkly without being a glitter bomb and opaque with three coats. I wish I could say two but you can’t have it all. So here you go Steph. I know I linked you to my old review but here’s a full manicure look at this stunning beauty. Is it any wonder I chose it as my favorite white in the Fanatic Favorites?
Even though White-Kwik-Silvr was released with the Surf collection almost two years ago, you can still find it online at my favorite e-tailers, 8ty8Beauty.com and Head2ToeBeauty.com
Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen Spring 2009
 Are you kids ready to dive into Spring? I know I am. I’ve been sitting on the Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen Spring collection for way too long and I’ve been dying to gush. With a heavy floral inspiration these shades came straight from the runway to the bottle. I couldn’t be more excited about these polishes if I tried. Every one is a winner. Even the yellow!
You know, I’m not sure why but every time I use a creme from the SH Salon line, I am so impressed with the formula and how it applies. As if I didn’t already know how fantastic it is. It’s so weird. I’m sitting there, painting my nails thinking, “My word, this is outstanding! Why am I not wearing these more often?” Riddle me that and you win a prize (not really but you know what I mean). Seriously, these polishes are all hyper pigmented, smooth and glossy. The hues are vibrant. The tones are true to bottle color. Shall I go on? I could just keep yammering away but seeing will make you a believer. |
Tassel was the shade selected for the Tracy Reese runway show. This rich, warm gold was the perfect neutral complement to Tracy’s designs. You have no idea how happy I am to find a metallic that applies smoothly. No brushstroke city. No streaking or unevenness. I did need three coats to get it opaque and perfect but it was worth it.
I showed you Night Hydrangea in a NOTD post a few weeks back. For me, this is pretty much the perfect purple shimmer. It’s that elusive “purple in every light” we’re all looking for and it does so without hitting neon territory. I KNOW tons of you will be hunting this one down.
Nasturtium brings out my love of coral that has been hiding the past few years. You don’t even know I was such a coral fiend. One of my first bottles was Essie Carousel Coral and it set me off on a streak for pretty much an entire summer. Nasturtium is just so effortlessly spring and casual that I can’t help but love it.
Honeydew – THANK YOU Tracy Reese for throwing in something for us green lovers. It has this light, watery feel that isn’t full on green yet not blue either. Does that make it teal? Aqua? Blue-green? Green-blue? Does it matter? It’s stunning! Naturally, Honeydew is the shade I popped open first and all I could say was, “come to momma you gorgeous thing!” This is the only one whose shimmer does more than add depth. It’s clearly visible.
When I saw Forsythia, all I could think was, “Oh no! Pantone’s color of the year, Mimosa, has leaked into the polish world!” My polish fears had come true. But you know what? Forsythia is a lot less golden than Mimosa and much more flattering than I expected. Its muted tone differs from the day-glo yellows we’ve seen in years past. Is it the easiest shade to pull off? No but I’m oddly drawn to it.
Beet Stain is a kissing cousin to Fall’s Night Lily, only a tinge more red so, if you missed out on it last season, now is your chance. It seems the berry trend that was so prominent in makeup last season is carrying over to spring for nails. Zoya put one in their spring collection as did OPI.
Azalea is a bold red-pink creme. It’s a bit softer than what you’d think of as a “hot pink.” A perfect pedicure shade for when we finally get to break out our sandals.
The Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen Spring color collection is set to hit shelves in March but you know the drill. These babies aren’t easy to find and when they finally go on sale, they’re gone in a flash. So keep your peepers on your local drugstore displays and let us know when you find them. We all want to know!
images: Vogue UK, Janice from Specktra.net and All Lacquered Up
Essie Winter 2008 Collection
 As much as I would love to jump ahead straight to Spring, the gross, gray weather and piles of snow outside my door keep reminding me that it’s still Winter. Spring seems a far cry away which too depressing for words. Is one day without a visit from the plow guys too much to ask?
Before I start inundating you with Spring collections, let’s take a look at Essie Winter since most of us are still wearing dark shades and haven’t started the seasonal transition. I must admit, Essie’s winter collection surprised me. I’ve come to think of Essie as playing it safe, targeting the conservative consumer with more reds, pink and sheers than you can shake a stick at. So to see a collection with purples and gold made me happy. Very on trend Essie! |
My only disappointment was with the pigmentation. All the shades, with one lone exception, required three coats. Es no bueno! Though I was pleased to discover that, for the most part, application was phenomenal. I wasn’t sure how the first batch of shimmers in the new toluene and DBP free formula would hold up but they fared well.
Sexy Divide – let’s start out with a bang, shall we? Sexy Divide is by far my fave of the group. She is everything I want in a purple; deep and rich without crossing over to that dreaded “almost black” territory. If you buy one Essie this year, this is the ONE!
Shift Power was my problem child. No matter how hard I tried or how many times I tried, I just couldn’t get this one to work out. The application was a major pain. I so wanted to love this golden beauty but as you can clearly see, it was not a winner.
It’s Genius has these amazing ribbons of gold running throughout its deep mauve-y base. The shimmer gives it a metallic look yet it applies smooth like a shimmer. Truly a fantastic polish. It reminds me of one of my all time favorite shades, China Glaze Steppin Out.
Rock Star Skinny was as much a surprise for me as it was for reader MooeySullivan. She’s totally right. Looks like nothing special in the bottle but on the nail… Ka-pow! Luscious, deep and captivating. This browned burgundy shimmer is a “rock star” though it really doesn’t translate in photos. You have to see it on the nail to understand.
Bold and Beautiful gets the snore award for failing to wow. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with it. It’s a classic Essie creme. Nothing we haven’t seen before. Probably thrown in to appease the more classic nail gal.
There’s something about Damsel In A Dress. I can’t put my finger on it but somehow this blackened plum has won me over. It could be the subtle silver shimmer, the way it reminds me of a grape popsicle or just the fact that my purple phase is still going strong but I’m totally diggin’ it.
The Essie Winter collection is on sale now and can be found at chain salons/stores like ULTA, Trade Secret and Regis or online at Essie.com and Head2ToeBeauty.com.
Thoughts? I’m sure some of you have indulged by now. Which ones are your favorites?
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
