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The ALU Archives – China Glaze Groovy Green & Moody Blue
 The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.
The Archives are going retro with a couple of fun, mod shades this week. As I was researching an article for StyleBakery Teen about mint colored nails, I dug out an oldie but goodie, China Glaze Groovy Green. I don’t know how I had forgotten about this gorg shade but that’s what happens when you accumulate way more polish than any one person should. While I was in unearthing mode I also pulled out GG’s Patent Leather collection sister, Moody Blue to show you.
Check ‘em out after the jump! |
I remember when I first got Groovy Green I tried it on my toes. I thought it would be a cool, fresh look. The boyfriend on the other hand said it reminded him of Nosferatu. Of course I shared that gem with my girls on the MUA Nail Board which prompted one of my online pals to dub me “Nosfera-TOE!” Ah, memories!
Getting back to the color, Groovy Green really emulates pastel, mint green more than any other polish I own. If you’re looking for that Chanel runway look, this is the closest you’ll get unless Chanel actually releases the shade. A word of warning, GG isn’t the most opaque polish on the planet but the formula is smooth, like buttah. It takes four thin coats to get there but it’s so, so worth it.
Moody Blue is a pale sky blue creme that dries to a high gloss finish. What I love is that unlike a lot of pastels, it’s not chalky. Though like Groovy Green, it requires four coats for full coverage but I honestly love this whole collection so much that I ignore that.
In addition to these two shades the Patent Leather collection from China Glaze includes White Out, Go Go Pink, Lavender Lingo and Aqua Baby. Even though it’s an old collection all the polishes, with the exception of Go Go Pink and Moody Blue, are available on Head2ToeBeauty.com for $2.99/ea. You can still find bottles of Moody Blue floating around if you do a little online digging. If you find a well stocked supplier, please let us know.
So what do you think fanatics? We we feeling these mod cremes?
And don’t forget… My B-Day Chanel Giveaway ends this Sunday so ENTER NOW!!!!
The ALU Archives – Essie Mesmerize
 The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.
Another Thursday in April, another Rainy Day Blue. Now I realize that Essie Mesmerize isn’t exactly an old color, that I didn’t have go digging through “the archives” for this one, but it really fits the theme perfectly. Plus, I didn’t review the spring Essie collection because I just wasn’t feeling it but I LOVED Mesmerize so much that I had to share. |
You all know that I’m not one to scream and shout the joys of Essie polishes and it’s not because they’re not a quality brand. It’s just that their usual color collections don’t scream “me” But between Mesmerize and the North Fork collection, I’m really looking forward to seeing what direction this brand is going. If it’s more polishes like this, consider me on board!
When I look at Mesmerize I think of blueberry pie or Strawberry Shortcake’s friend, Blueberry Muffin (I was an avid collector of the line). To me blueberry should be bold and vivid, not some dark “almost black” even though that’s the route a lot of brands take. And I love that the formula is so pigmented and smooth. It flowed on the nail like a dream.
Essie Mesmerize is available for a limited time with the rest of the spring collection. You can find Essie in chain salons like ULTA, Trade Secret and Regis or online at Essie.com.
The ALU Archives – Orly Green Apple
 The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.
To celebrate the coming of Daylight Savings Time (finally!) and the ability to leave work in daylight, I decided to continue my green for March theme with a lighter, brighter shade. This week I pulled out Orly Green Apple from my stash. |
Green Apple is a vivid lime creme. The bottle color is very deceptive in that the polish dries darker on the nail. It has an almost pastel quality that goes away once applied. And holy pigmentation batman!! I barely needed two coats, it just flows on the nail so perfectly. If you’re looking for a fun spring green, this one is definitely a winner.
I picked up my bottle of Orly Green Apple from Head2ToeBeauty.com ($3.50) but you can also find it on 8ty8beauty.com ($3.18) or TransDesign.com ($3.19)
Lippmann Collection Summer 2009
 Kids, I’m in head over heels swoony love and it’s all Deborah Lippmann‘s fault! Just when I thought I had my fill of lovely purples she just HAD to put out a perfect summery graple. Seriously, you purple lovers are going to flip for this.
For Summer 2009, Lippmann Collection is releasing two new shades, It’s Raining Men (red creme) and Call Me Irresponsible (grape jelly). Check out my swatches after the jump! |
It’s Raining Men is your classic red creme but punched up in brightness for summer. It’s super pigmented, beyond pigmented. It’s practically a one coat red, which I love. There is a slight hint of berry in the base. No tinges of orange. It’s pure, cherry perfection. In looking for dupes, Essie Live From The Red Carpet is a close twin though it’s not as dense and requires more coats. Since Deborah is all about the music, I thought I’d leave you with a little Weather Girls and Frank to brighten your day. The Lippmann Collection Summer polishes retail for $15/ea and will be available at LippmannCollection.com and in stores at Nordstrom.
Naming polish shades must be so fun for Deborah. With her musical background, she always chooses such catchy song titles for her lacquers. I mean, can anyone sit still when they hear “It’s Raining Men?” I know I can’t. After all I do own Pure Disco 1 & 2 and I’m not embarrassed to admit it. For the record, I own Pure Funk as well. I’m all about a compilation. And you really can’t go wrong with a classic like Frank Sinatra’s “Call Me Irresponsible.” I had the pleasure of meeting Deborah backstage at NYFW (more on that come) where she described this collection as “strong and beautiful.”
Call Me Irresponsible reminds me of Rehab in that it has a jelly-ish feel only more pigmented, not as sheer. It’s not uber-pigmented so I needed three coats but come on, look at that color. Three coats is totally worth it! With its red tinged base, Call Me Irresponsible comes out more graple (grape purple) on the nail than the burple (bluish purple) hue in the bottle. And in spite of my mass purple collection, the only shade that comes close is CND Studio 54 though it’s not as vibrant.
Givenchy Maharani Pink for Spring-Summer 2009
 After falling in love with my first ever Givenchy polish during the holidays, I was excited to see what Spring/Summer would bring. Inspired by vibrant Indian saris and Bollywood screen sirens, Givenchy’s artistic director Nicolas Degennes created a stunning palette of pinks and oranges that are truly covet worthy. |
 I mean seriously kids, can’t you just die over those blushes? The bindi adorned packaging. The luscious embossed powder. I can hear my wallet crying in the other room already. To add a little “polish” (pun totally intended), this collection includes two new shades of Vernis Please! lacquer. Unfortunately the incredible Maharani Tangerine, shown on the model above, is only available overseas. Lucky European readers, you get something we don’t! Considering how amazing Maharani Pink’s formula is, I may be begging for a custom purchase when the collection hits shelves. |
For such a tiny bottle, Maharani Pink packs quite a wallop. I’m so, so in love with the formula. It’s got that kind of thick jelly consistency but it flows, oh how it flows. And the pigmentation is spot on. Two coats and you can put a fork in it. Will you just look at that shine? It feels wrong to add a top coat to a polish that looks like this.
Maharani Pink is a warm coral pink leaning towards carnation. I love that it’s vivid without being “bright.” You all know I’m not that much of a pink girl yet here I am, all giddy-like over this totally not me shade. It’s all in the finish, I’m telling you.
Of course I understand that shelling out $15 for bottle of lacquer isn’t in everyone’s budget so I looked to the ALU stash for alternatives. Now even though the Sally Hansen is a LE DC’d shade, it’s the only similarly hued jelly I could find. I only swatched it to show off the pigmentation in Maharani Pink. I’d say MP’s closest dupe is CND Flare though its finish is more creamy. A very different overall look.
The Givenchy Spring/Summer collection is scheduled to release in February. Vernis Please! lacquers retail for $15/ea and can be purchased online at Sephora.com or at Sephora locations throughout the US.
What do we think? Yay or Nay?
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
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