365 of Untrieds is my personal challenge to weed through the polishes in the ALU stash that I’ve been wanting to try but just haven’t gotten around to. Last week we talked about the J.Crew ad featuring Jenna Lyons painting her son’s toe nails bright pink.  It caused quite a stir with some conservatives out there and to show support of Jenna, someone of Facebook created an event asking members to paint their nails pink on April 22nd. Like I said in my original post about this, most people I know were more curious about the nail polish color than what Jenna was doing to her son’s toes.  The color used in the ad is called “Peep Show,” a shade made exclusively for J.Crew which has now sold out (not surprising). Essie Pink Parka from the Fall 2009 collection is said to be a dupe for Peep Show so I polished my nails with it today as a sign of support. ***Edited to add – Apparently I was misinformed when told that Pink Parka was a dupe for Peep Show.  Cute As A Button is a better match.***

Formula & Application:Essie nail polishes are 3-Free. The square bottles are embossed with the essie logo and the smooth plastic caps include an embossed e on top. The brushes are thin, round and shorter than most. The bristles are very flexible, allowing you to easily fan out the brush to cover your nail width.

Neons are notoriously a pain to deal with and Pink Parka is no exception. Neons actually trump yellows in the level of frustration they give me.  They tend to be thick and streaky, needing several coats.  Because the neon pigment causes the polish to dry matte, I use the same rules I apply to mattes; wait for the base coat dry completely before applying.  I ended up using three coats of Pink Parka though in spite of waiting for the base coat to dry I still ended up with some dragging on my ring finger so that got a fourth coat.

Essie Pink Parka was released as part of the Fall 2009 collection which is very un-Essie. Neons for Fall? How unexpected. When I saw Essie during Fall 2009 Fashion Week she mentioned being inspired by the Michael Kors runway that included neon pink, orange and yellow (see below). That inspiration come to life in the form or Pink Parka and Bright Tights. Of course those two shades were kind of overshadowed by the major hits of the collection; Mink Muffs and Chinchilly.

Essie Pink Parka is about as neon pink as you can imagine.  Of course, neons photograph terribly and never appear true-to-life on screen, unless some serious Photoshop magic is involved, so you have to trust that Pink Parka is eye searing.  It verges on glow-in-the-dark territory.

Bottom Line: As fun as neons can be in the summer, I personally opt for brights.  Simply because they are easier to apply and not as in-your-face.  I do keep a few neons on hand but I gravitate more towards oranges than pinks so Pink Parka just isn’t my cup of tea.  Considering that most neons tend to apply the same as Pink Parka and this shade is discontinued, I would look for a more accessible option if you want a polish like this.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: SHARE

Essie Pink Parka is discontinued but can still be found online from various vendors.  Being that none of them are e-tailers I’ve purchased from before, I’m hesitant to link to them but a quick Google search will connect you with them.  Remember, order at your own risk.  If anyone has a reputable e-tailer to recommend that has Pink Parka in stock, please leave a link in the comments.

So who else joined me in wearing pink polish today?  Thoughts on Pink Parka?  Are you a fan of neon nail polish?  Do you have any special application tricks to share?

Disclosure: A sample was provided by Essie.  For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

I’ve long said that in regards to polish MAC does dark and glittery colors best. Vin Goth, one of my all time fave shades, is a perfect example. The recently launched Style Black collection is the ideal vehicle to showcase their lacquer strong suit. With black makeup, including the hard-to-pull-off black lipstick, making a huge statement this season the dark polishes in this collection are an ideal compliment. Check them out after the jump!

The Style Black collection three Nail Lacquer shades include new hues Baby Goth Girl and Seriously Hip and repromote Nocturnelle. Nocturnelle was originally released in 2006 in the collection of the same name and then reproduced for Smoke Signals (click to view) in 2007 which is when I reviewed it.

Both of the new polishes applied very well. I was impressed with the pigmentation and flow of the formula. What’s really cool about these is that rather than use traditional glitter it’s more irregular shaped like flakes. I know flakies have been a big hit with the nail board community and it seems they’re transitioning into mainstream brands this season.

Seriously Hip is a blackened gold-green that reminds me of kelp. It’s a little dirty and rough feeling with the gold flakes adding a subtle glitz. I’m a sucker for anything that even remotely leans green so I’m all about it.
Baby Goth Girl is a deep red plum peppered with copper flakes, a very fun combo. My only disappointment is that the pops of copper aren’t as prevalent on the nail as they are in the bottle.
I’m amazed that the Style Black polishes haven’t sold out yet. Normally these types of colors fly off the website in days. So if these are must haves for your collection, snag them now at MAC counters nationwide and online at MACCosmetics.com. MAC Nail Lacquers retail for $10/ea.

How many of you have already picked up the Style Black lacquers? If you haven’t, did these pics cause you to reconsider? What are your favorite MAC polish shades?

When I first posted the StrangeBeautiful Volume 3 library quite a few of you commented about how you wish the polishes were sold separately. That dropping $79 for a whole set was a rather hefty investment for a new-to-you brand. I totally get that rationale, especially if your polish buying budget is limited. Enter the StrangeBeautiful Color Cubes. StrangeBeautiful creator Jane Schub has ingeniously encased two shades from past Volumes in lucite cubes. See the full selection of Color Cubes after the jump!

The just launched STRANGEBEAUTIFUL Color Cube encasing two SB “Richly Perverse” colors in a deliciously sleek and chunky handmade Lucite Cube is akin to a miniature piece of modern furniture for the boudoir or bookshelf. What I find unique about the cubes is that you can’t remove the bottles. You just unscrew the cap to apply. I wonder if this makes them unbreakable. If the cube protects the bottles should you accidentally knock it over. It’s like polish bottle armor. Available Library of Color inspiration Duos include:

So who’s jumping in on these? The Blue/Violette combo is calling my name and I don’t know why but looking at the Pink/Orange duo made that Legally Blonde quote pop in my head. “Whoever said orange is the new pink is seriously disturbed!” Any thoughts from the peanut gallery? Sound off Fanatics!

I’m not one for the whole Halloween thing. The holiday has always spooked me out, no pun intended. So when I when I caught a glimpse of China Glaze’s special release for the season, Fortune Teller, I was all, “That’s a concept I can get behind!” Astrologists, psychics, palm readers, etc. I’ve been to at least one of each in the past. Do I believe everything they say, no, but I find it entertaining. The wizards at China Glaze who created this color were definitely in a mysterious mood for Fortune Teller has a magical, fall feel. Check it out!

Fortune Teller is a Sally Beauty exclusive release part of the Spellbound collection. Along the lines of Lubu Heels, it consists of a semi-sheer glossy black base packed with multi-sized copper colored glitter and irregularly shaped particles. I’d say it’s the copper version of Lippmann’s Ruby Red Slippers. Of course such heavily packed, chunky glitter means the polish dries with texture. That’s just a downside of these types of polishes. Though a layer of Seche Vite cures all. Because the base is semi-sheer I ended up using three coats to make it completely opaque.

How many of you have already bought Fortune Teller? What do you think of it? Have any of you had trouble tracking down a bottle?

I’ve been champing at the bit to get my hands on butter LONDON‘s British Racing Green ever since I eyed it backstage at Vena Cava during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week last February. A couple months ago we got a peek a the rest of the Fall/Winter collection and now I finally have it in my hot little hands.

A set of five diverse and unique shades, Creative Director Nonie Creme designed this collection to give women colors with personality that punch up the muted tones seen on the runways. Check them out after the jump!

First off, let’s talk about what’s new for Fall 2009; a revamped butter LONDON bottle. Hearing your criticism regarding the hard to remove outer cap, bL has replaced it with an easy glide version. No longer shall we debate whether you’re supposed to polish with the outer cap on or off. The decorative raven printed on the inner cap solves that mystery.

Now on to the polish. The formula with these is on par with a couple noted exceptions. Rosie Lee, being a clear based glitter, required three coats as did Pearly Queen (the frosty white). Unfortunately my travel schedule to NYC limited my time so rather than wait until next week when I return, I did some quick one finger swatches for you.

Of course I had to do a full mani with British Racing Green. How could I resist?? The shade reminds me of a vintage MG convertible only better because of the shimmer. We’re not talking standout sparkle but the shade is so vivid that even in incandescent light I can pick up on it. Hand this polish a prize because it’s a winner!
The name Rosie Lee kind of speaks for itself. A sweet, dazzling rosy pink it becomes foil-like in the sun.
Scoundrel is a medium reddish lilac creme that’s just dark enough for me to avoid “alien hand” syndrome. It’s not bright but it definitely has a kick!
Can you say pumpkin? Minger‘s warm undertones give this nontraditional fall bright a sesonally appropriate feel.
Pearly Queen is my only disappointment in the bunch. It’s plagued with brush stroke issues and the hue just doesn’t work on me. To put up with brush marks I better LOVE the color.
The butter LONDON Fall/Winter 09 collection retails for $14/ea or get the Fashionista’s Favourites Fall 2009 pack and receive all 5 polishes for $45. The collection is on sale now at butterLondon.com and coming soon to Beauty.com.

What do we think Fanatics? Are you dying over British Racing Green like I am? Which fall bL’s do you plan to purchase?

Fanatics, I’m excited to introduce you to a new nail polish brand, RGB from RGB Cosmetics. I spotted their gray, Steel, in September’s Allure and just had to find out more. The brand is based on the RGB color model and launched earlier this summer with a line of ten core colors called RGBten. These ten shades are designed as a nail wardrobe with classic, staple hues. You know, the basics.

Seasonally, RGB will introduce an edited collection of fashionable, on-trend hues. Their first release is the Pre-Fall 09 shades pictured above. Check them out after the jump!

Let’s dig right in with the colors. I’ll discuss the formula and my 5-day wear test results below.

Haze is described as a smokey violet but to me it’s very chameleon like. The hue changes drastically in the light. It reminds me of SOPI Metro Chic with its dirty, grayed undertones.
Steel is a blue based, mid-tone grey creme. If RBL Stormy and Concrete Jungle reproduced, Steel would be cooing in the nursery.
Toast is a rich, latte-esque shade. It’s very creamy and warmer in person. Think of it as a fall version of Orly Country Club Khaki.
Slate is part of the RGBten core collection and I couldn’t resist sharing it. The deep charcoal shimmer reminds me of a black sand beach. In spite of the metallic glitz it applies smooth and even without a brush stroke in sight.
Now that I’ve tempted you with color, let’s break down the bottle design, brush and formula.

Bottle – The rectangular bottle holds .4oz/12ml of polish and looks like a squat version of the Rescue Beauty bottle. The cap is short and smooth. It’s fine for application though I would appreciate more length.

Brush – The brush is short, fat and dense similar to MAC’s only with slightly shorter bristles. Despite the thickness of the brush I had excellent control.

Formula – RGB polishes are 3 Free (including resin) and camphor free. They are heavily pigmented with a typical 3Free thick viscosity yet the cremes are self-leveling and not at all streaky. Every polish I tried only required 2 coats.

I gave Haze my 5 Day Wear Test using butter London Nail Foundation and Seche Vite top coat. While the actual tip wear was relatively minimal I wasn’t pleased with the bit of chipping on my index and thumb (not shown) nails. Depending on your base/top combination, your mileage may vary.
The RGBten shades include a range of cremes, sheers and shimmers ranging from the brightest white to the inkiest black with some reds, pinks and vampies thrown in for good measure.

You can purchase RGB polishes including the Pre-Fall ’09 collection directly from their website, RGBCosmetics.com, for $14/ea. At the moment only two salons in California carry the brand for in store purchase but hopefully that will change and the brand grows.

Have any of you tried RGB before? What do you think of the colors? Are you thinking of trying them out? Let’s hear it Fanatics!

The highly anticipated, much hyped Chanel Jade Nail Collection just arrived at my doorstep and I’m literally dying inside over it (in a good way of course). I’ve been not-so-patiently waiting for Jade to come into my life ever since I spotted it on the Chanel runway last winter. While we’ve been inundated with some gorgeous pale/mint greens this year, they still didn’t satisfy my desire for Jade. I don’t know about all of you but inside my head I kept thinking, “We need a shimmer!” Well, now we have it! Check out Jade and Jade Rose after the jump.

Now I don’t want to get your hopes up for a blingasm when I say shimmer. In this collection it’s very subtle, a wink if you will. Very much in line with Chanel’s typical understated shimmer style. In Jade Rose it’s practically indiscernible in natural light. My only disappointment with these polishes is the pigmentation. I did need three coats with both shades even though they applied flawlessly.

Jade lives up to all my expectations in terms of color. Peter Philips I could just kiss you!! It’s soft yet vivid, like a melt-away mint on a caffeine rush. It’s not totally green, there are definitely some blue undertones to it.

It’s funny, I had seen some random pics online and wasn’t sure I’d like it. The runway shots looked uber-pale and washed out and the others all made the color look really bright, almost neon. I can only assume they were taken with flash or in poor lighting. Not that I’m a photography wizard but on my screen this shot looks pretty close to dead-on and it’s not pale or neon.

For you dupe hounds your wallet may hate to hear this but Jade has no twins. Even if you ignore the shimmer factor, it still falls somewhere between OPI Damone Roberts 1968 and MAC Peppermint Patti and doesn’t even live in the same town as Barry M Mint Green or OPI Hey Get In Lime!.
I was so geeked over Jade that I almost forgot about Jade Rose, a dusty, rose pink. The shimmer only shows up in sunlight and it doesn’t have the wow factor of Jade but paired together as a collection and as a mani/pedi combo it makes total sense. I love the idea of combining mint and rose and I’m already imagining a Jade Rose mani with Jade tips. That may be too funky for Chanel but I live in a “why not?” world.

The Jade Nail Collection retails for $25/ea and goes on sale next Friday, September 11th. Jade Nail will only be available online at Chanel.com and at Chanel Boutiques and Makeup Studios. Sign up on the website to be notified when the collection goes live.

BUT NYC Fanatics you’re in luck. During Fashion’s Night Out this coming Thursday the Chanel SoHo Boutique will be offering manis with Jade Nail at the Champagne Nail Bar. I’ll be in the city for Fashion Week and hope to stop by the store for what sounds like a spectacular event. I hope those of you in the area can make it.

So does Jade wow you? Are you loving it as much as I am? Who’s buying? Are you planning to stalk the site until it’s on sale? Share!

Because Matte is the New Black! Orly’s tagline for the new Matte Couture collection totally nails the trend, no pun intended. Everywhere I look in the polish world, there is a new matte collection or top coat to check out. If there’s a brand that hasn’t embraced matte yet, I’ll bet they will soon. I can hear many of you, channeling Elle Woods, saying, “whoever said matte is the new black is SERIOUSLY disturbed, ” but I’m starting to believe in matte’s staying power. As much as we hear that it’s a fad, a blip, a small moment in nail culture I can’t help but wonder if that’s just a wish rather than a prediction. Check out what Orly is bringing to the matte table after the jump!

Unlike other matte polish collections, Orly is the first brand to suggest using a base coat under the lacquers. I tried these on bare and base coated nails and the application over both was relatively smooth. Granted mattes are still unforgiving if your technique is uneven but I found this formula to be thinner and easier to work with than the OPI or Zoya mattes. Also, these shades are extremely pigmented so you barely need two coats.

FYI – A reader asked on Twitter if applying a matte top coat over matte polishes would extend their wear. I tested Nubar’s matte top coat over their Modern Matte polish and had major chipping after one day. A great suggestion but unfortunately not a solution.

Blue Suede isn’t a true matte and I LOVE that. I was expecting flat, lifeless wall paint a la OPI Russian Navy Matte but instead I was treated to a lovely dusty hue with a suede-like finish as the name suggests.

As I applied Purple Velvet I started to pick up on the theme. This shade has a slight hint of shimmer giving it a (say it with me kids) VELVET finish. This one lies on the red-grape side of the purple spectrum but I’m digging it anyway.

Matte Vinyl is definitely the most matte shade in the bunch. Looking at it, I can’t help but think of that chalkboard spray paint I’ve seen used on old episodes of Trading Spaces. It’s a bit too much for me but I think with a glossy tip I’d be all over it. Want to see what I mean? Check out a modified matte manicure on my friend Sara from Bit By the Beauty Bug.
The Orly Matte Couture collection launches in September. The polishes retail for $7.50/ea and can be purchased online at OrlyBeauty.com and our fave etailers (see sidebar) and in stores like Sally Beauty and ULTA.

What do we think? Are you liking the different finishes on these? Which colors struck your fancy? Am I slowly breaking down the matte haters? Let’s here it!

Doesn’t “primera parte” sound much more interesting than “part one”? Ah the beauty of the Spanish language. OPI is transporting us to Spain for their fall color story and after reading your numerous pleas and comments, I have swatches of the collection for you.

I’ll be honest, I haven’t been chomping at the bit to review OPI Spain. It’s not that the colors aren’t pretty or well made, it’s just that, with a few notable exceptions, they don’t give me a thrill. Normally I pass on a collection if I’m not “in like” with a majority of the shades but I couldn’t ignore the overwhelming number of you wanting to see these colors. Check them out!

With six polishes in the berry family I chose to start with the more diverse and unique shades from the collection. Now while I’ve applauded OPI’s formula over the past year I noticed that the pigmentation with most of these are off. Even a polish as dark as Here Today… Aragon Tomorrow required three coats.

Here Today… Aragon Tomorrow is a blackened forest green. This is the season of dark green and I’m sure this color will be an instant hit. Consider this the green LPAD. I’m sure it will have that same kind of fan base. What I found odd was the grainy texture of the formula. It’s visible in the first and second coats but disappeared by coat three. If I had to compare it, Zoya Envy would be its closest relative though Envy has a brighter, less blackened base.

Suzi Skis In The Pyrenees really surprised me. I was expecting it to look black when dried but it’s actually a stunning bluish charcoal creme. I tried to find something similar in my collection but came up short. If you’re looking for “the new black” try this!

Give Me Moor! is a rich aubergine creme. It looks like there is shimmer in the bottle but it dries creamy on the nail. It’s pretty and vampy but feels recycled. Like Black Cherry Chutney redux.

Can You Tapas This? is best described by OPI as “raisin” and I won’t try to top that. This is another one that surprised me. It looks very understated in the bottle but pretty scrumptious on the nail. This color is so outside of my wheelhouse but I’m diggin it.

Bullish On OPI has a slightly browned appearance in person but it just didn’t translate in pictures. It’s definitely better than your typical cherry red creme. It feels a bit vintage a la Dita Von Teese. If you’re into reds I suggest checking this one out in person.

Barefoot in Barcelona is deeper than your typical nude. It’s darker and more pink than last fall’s Tickle My France-y? Think of it as the cool toned version of CND Cocoa which is very yellow based. Deep nudes and mushroom hues have been popping up on celebrity toes and this shade would fit right in with the trend.
The OPI Coleccion de España is on shelves now and retails for $8.50/ea. Look for OPI at fine salons nationwide including chains like ULTA, Beauty First, Beauty Brands, Trade Secret and JCPenney.

What are we feeling about OPI Spain so far? Have you picked any of them up yet? Which ones are going on your shopping list? Sound off Fanatics!

If you’ve been wondering how Nubar would follow up the utlra stunning Going Green collection, I’ve got the answer. Next month Nubar will launch the Royal Gems collection; a set of seven rich jewel tones and one glitter bomb that can be worn alone or layered.

The Royal Gems collection includes:
24k – pure glimmering gold shimmer with gold glitter accents
Ruby – shimmering red with red glitter
Tiger’s Eye – warm medium brown shimmer
Emerald – sparkling green shimmer with green glitter
Sapphire – blue glitter in a base of royal blue shimmer
Platinum – lustrous silver with silver glitter accents
Amethyst – rich royal purple shimmer with subtle blue micro glitter accents
Tiara – rich multi-faceted glitter which can either be used alone or as a top coat that takes on the color of any shade with which it is paired.

The Royal Gems Collection will release on September 15th. Nubar polishes retail for $7.49/ea and can be purchased on ByNubar.com.

I will have swatches of these and the Modern Matte collection for you soon so stay tuned.