Oh the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful,
And since we’ve no place to go, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

We’ve already had our first snowfall of the season here in the CLE and the last thing I want to do is encourage it to come trickling down. However, that didn’t stop China Glaze, who is based in sunny California, from putting that earworm in my head.

For Holiday 2011, China Glaze introduces Let It Snow, a collection of twelve festive shades based on the season of giving.

When I previewed Let It Snow during my trip to Cosmoprof, I noticed that the collection’s display broke down the colors into three harmonious groups of four; Greens & Golds, Blue & Silvers and Reds. I decided to follow their lead and am starting with the Greens and Golds; Holly-Day, Glittering Garland, Twinkle Lights and Champagne Bubbles.

Formula & Application: China Glaze is a 3-Free brand with a round brush that is both medium in length and firmness with enough give to allow for ease of control. The cap is slightly tapered and made of smooth plastic that is comfortable to hold.

I am really impressed with the pigmentation in all four polishes. Even the glitter, with its clear base, is so dense that it wasn’t hard to get coverage. Of course I still needed three coats but the other three all flowed on easily with two coats. The China Glaze formula has a pretty signature squishy feel that I find aids in application. It makes the polish easier to control. Sometimes that can mean pigment is lacking but not in this case. All the polishes were a pleasure to deal with for the most part (see Champagne Bubbles).

China Glaze Glittering Garland is a wonderful mix of glitter, jelly and glass fleck. The blackened forest base has that squishy texture you would expect from a jelly yet it’s really pigmented. The combination of gold and green micro-glitter and glass fleck brighten up what could be a really dark polish. They play with the light showing a hint of sparkle no matter how low it is.

Of course the question is, how does it compare to my all-time favorite dazzling green, China Glaze Emerald Sparkle? For starters, GG has more yellow in its base, think evergreen vs forest, and the light green fleck in ES is replaced with gold giving an overall warmer appearance.

China Glaze Holly-Day looks like your average hunter green creme and, if you aren’t a green connoisseur like me, for all intents and purposes it is. Though if you are in the market for a chic, glossy green that falls somewhere between Astroturf and almost-black, Holly-Day will hit the spot. The pigmentation and application are so spot on, it is a pleasure to apply.

Amazingly enough I didn’t find a dupe for it in my stash though I came across two close calls. Holly-Day falls in line between Nubar Forest and RBL Recycle. A little darker than Forest, more yellow than Recycle. Considering the formula, price tag and accessibility of H-D, I would definitely opt for it over the other two.

China Glaze Champagne Bubbles is not quite the pale hue that comes to mind when I think of champagne. It’s a slightly burnished yellow gold frost/chrome peppered with silver flecks. The finish of the base can make avoiding brush strokes a bit more labor intensive but the silver particles help diffuse the situation. Application tip – apply the polish to the sides of the nail first (strokes 1 & 2) and finish with one clean stroke down the middle to blend.

My first thought upon seeing Champagne Bubbles was China Glaze Cowardly Lyin’. Not the updated 2009 version but the old school (pre-AII buyout) version. CB has the same frosty base as the original CL, maybe a touch more golden, though the glitz component makes the big difference. CB’s silver flecks are a far cry different than the everything-is-illuminated gold glitter in CL.

China Glaze Twinkle Lights really needs to be seen in incandescent light to be appreciated. It’s like the glitter comes alive as it takes on a foil-esque appearance. The clear base is packed with metallic red, green and gold glitter particles. As I stated above, I used three thin coats to get good coverage without sacrificing wear time. I find that thick layers of glitter are prone to chipping.

Off the top of my head I can’t think of a polish with this exact shape and color palate of glitter though I’m sure someone will come up with a dupe in the comments.

Bottom Line:While the colors aren’t exactly ground breaking, the formula, pigmentation and application of all four polishes make them stash-worthy. I’m considering Holly-Day a backup for Recycle and Glittering Garland is the hands down winner of this group. Being that I have both version of Cowardly Lyin’ I don’t see a point, personally, in hanging on to Champagne Bubbles. I also have 5 Golden Rings which I prefer over any of them in spite of its sheerness. Twinkle Lights is a perfect holiday themed glitter and makes an excellent top coat.

The China Glaze Let It Snow Holiday 2011 collection is available now at salons and beauty supply stores nationwide including Sally Beauty and ULTA. Online shoppers can head to Head2ToeBeauty.com, TransDesign.com and ULTA.com. China Glaze nail polishes retail for $3-6.50/ea, depending on the retailer, for a .5oz bottle. Twelve gift sets are also available that include adorable gift items with different combinations of colors from the collection.

Thoughts on this first part of the collection? Which colors do you plan to pick up? Do you opt for traditional holiday colors like green, red, gold, etc? What is your favorite China Glaze Holiday collection/polish?

Disclosure: Product samples were provided by reps for China Glaze. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

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. Even though Chanel Graphite is the Fall Chanel color that caused me to swoon, it’s Chanel Peridot that is getting all the buzz. I even saw Bobbie Thomas mention it on her Today Show “Minute Buzz” segment along with LCN Magnetic Polish (yay!). Now you know I’m all about the greens but I haven’t exactly been champing at the bit to wear Peridot. Yellow greens are just not my thing. They remind me of cat’s eyes which, as much as I love my furballs, are a creepy color. I did a nail wheel swatch of Peridot when it arrived and felt pretty “meh” but I’m finally taking the plunge since so many of you have asked about it.

Formula & Application: Chanel nail polish is 4-Free (includes formaldehyde resin) plus there’s no camphor, which can be an irritant. The signature square glass bottles are topped with a black square outer cap that is removed to reveal a stubby, round, ribbed inner cap. The brush is round, medium in length and width and reminds me of the old OPI/new SOPI brushes. It easily fans out and covers the nail without much resistance.

Peridot is a metallic so expect to see some brush strokes, which is why I’m not typically a fan of that finish. The bonus is that it applies nice and thin so if you have a good technique, you can get it on with minimal brush marks in two coats. Application tip: Wait until the first coat is dry. Applying a second layer of metallic over wet polish will amplify the problem.

Chanel Peridot is a duo-chrome, meaning it flashes two colors, that looks more gold than green. You can see traces of a mossy hue at the edges and at certain angles but from straight on this is a tarnished gold.

I’ve heard that a European Sephora nail polish called Diving in Malaysia is a pretty close dupe to Peridot but no twins exist in my stash. I’m sure part of it is that I’m not a fan of these types of colors. Like I never jumped on China Glaze Cat’s Eye. In my collection, the only colors I own that even come close are Nubar Wildlife (a bronze green duo-chrome), China Glaze Peace on Earth, Quirius Cresskill Eye and OPI Simply Smashing but none of them are a match.

Peace on Earth is way too green with no duo-chrome effect and Cresskill Eye is muted, as though there is a teal film on the surface. Peridot is definitely a stand out shade.

Bottom Line: I’m torn. Peridot is definitely a unique shade and a Chanel duo-chrome is something worth getting excited about plus its relatively low brush stroke tendency is a bonus.  If this color is in your wheelhouse, I have no doubt you’ll adore it however, on my nails I’m not like ready to do a Jersey Shore fist-pump over it.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: Hmm, I honestly don’t know. I feel like I should STASH it because it’s unique and I don’t have anything like it but that seems like such a Hoarders-esque rationale. What do you all think? STASH or SHARE? And WHY?

Chanel Peridot is a limited edition shade and it’s available now at Chanel counters nationwide and online at Chanel.com and department store websites like Nordstrom.com. Chanel nail polish retails for $25/ea for a .4oz bottle.

Thoughts on Peridot? If you haven’t yet purchased it, do you plan to? Are you a fan of the gold-greens? Can you think of any US nail colors that might be similar?

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

Last winter we got a peek at one of the Chanel Fall 2011 nail polishes when Chanel Graphite hit the runway but it’s Chanel Peridot that seems to be getting all the buzz. Is it green? Is it yellow? Are we talking Chanel duo-chrome?

Inspired by the heritage and savoir faire of the artisanal craftsmanship of the House of Chanel, Peter Philips, Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, introduces new textures and makeup effects in a radiant Fall 2011 Collection, ILLUSIONS D’OMBRES DE CHANEL.

At the heart of this captivating colour story: Shimmering bronze, gold and platinum are the perfect complements to plum, khaki and copper shades on eyes and lips. Unique reflections of metallic green, silver and beige on nails provide the ideal counterpoint.

“Illusion d’Ombre is a new and exciting product, that’s easy to apply,” says Peter Philips. “I would suggest finger application. The texture is unique and has a very pleasant touch.”

Chanel Peridot – Green-Gold, Chanel Graphite – Metallic Silver, Chanel Quartz – Silver Beige

As you can see, Chanel Peridot reads very gold. It shows it’s green base on the edges and at certain angles so it’s definitely a duo-chrome but don’t go expecting an overly green look.

Chanel Graphite has little gold flecks and to my eye it falls somewhere between OPI Your Royal Shine-ness and OPI Brand New Skates though I’ll have to see all three on the nail to know for sure.

Chanel Quartz is unique in that typically when brands use the term it’s in conjunction with pink. Based on the nail art swatch I”m not loving it and questioning whether it will clash with my skin tone but I’m going to keep an open mind until I wear it.

The Chanel Illusions d’Ombres de Chanel Fall 2011 collection is available now at Chanel counters nationwide and online at Chanel.com. Chanel nail polishes retail for $25/ea for a .4oz bottle. Both Peridot and Graphite are listed as Limited Edition colors.

What are your initial thoughts on the Fall collection colors? Will you be running out to scoop up any of these colors? Which of the three do you think will be the big hit? Are you into a green-gold duo-chrome?

Disclosure: I purchased these nail polishes. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

This past weekend the boyfriend and I went to Pittsburgh to visit with friends.  I also went to see Chelsea Handler’s Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang Tour Saturday night. I am a religious Chelsea Lately watcher and I adore her on the show but her stand up was a REAL disappointment.  As Chelsea would say, “It’s not great!” Her behavior was so manic you would think she was having an episode on stage. Like to the point that I was worried about her.  And her act was so old that I remembered some parts from her 2007 Comedy Central Presents show. Time for some new material Chelsea. Anywho, I wanted a blingy manicure for the weekend and two of the Sephora by OPI polishes I purchased during the Friends & Family sale called out to me.  A reader suggested that I try Looks Like Rain, Dear but Midnight Mambo looked really pretty as well so I decided to combine them into a multi-colored mani.

Application & Formula: Sephora by OPI polishes are 4-Free (including Formaldehyde Resin).  The bottle design is unique to the SOPI with it’s smooth rounded black cap and bulbous base.  The brush is round and flexible allowing for an easy application.  The brush reminds me of the old OPI round brush and I wouldn’t doubt that they are the same.

Both of these polishes are opaque glitters so they apply pretty thick and gloopy but they’re easy to control.  The polish doesn’t spread out right away so it basically goes exactly where you place the brush.  I didn’t experience any patchiness, unevenness, etc.  The only downside is that there is a LOT of texture due to the various amount of glitter particles in each polish.  So if you’re looking for a completely smooth finish, be prepared to layer on the top coat.

In combining the colors, I made Midnight Mambo my accent color with Looks Like Rain, Dear on all my nails except the ring fingers.  Because I always have the same two rings on my ring fingers I tend to choose those nails for my accent color to draw attention to them.  Otherwise I make my thumbs the accent since I text a lot.

The concept of highlighting your thumb nails with an accent color or rhinestones was dubbed Blackberry Bling a couple years ago during fashion week and while I originally laughed at the idea, I must admit I like it from time to time.

Looks Like Rain, Dear is a burnished gold glitter. It’s packed with gold and silver micro-glitter and chunkier hexagonal glitter that reflects a rainbow of colors. Because there is pigment in the base, the color is pretty opaque with two coats though you might find a third necessary. My only complaint with this polish is the name. I find it utterly lame.

Midnight Mambo has an electric blue base and it’s filled with blue & silver micro-glitter and blue and silver hexagonal pieces. The silver particles reflect the light making them look prismatic, similar to LLRD only a bit more noticeable. This one applied in an easy two coats.

As you can tell from the close up swatches above, the finish is really chunky and that was with one layer of Prolana Quick & Slick top coat (the company changed its name).  I ended up pulling out the big guns, Seche Vite, and still felt some texture but it was definitely an improvement.

Wear Test: I wore this mani for a full five days before taking it off and to be honest, I really didn’t want to.  It made it through bowling without a chip or sign of wear.  It wasn’t until Sunday, while I was shopping at IKEA, that I got my first chip on my ring finger (figures!).  I went to grab a Helmer off the self-service shelf and totally biffed my nail. If that hadn’t happened, I would have kept it going a few days longer.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for two coat, full coverage bling, stop your search.  Midnight Mambo and Looks Like Rain, Dear are winners.  They make a great color combination for the holidays and give you sparkle without looking too young or like a total glitter party.  They are as big of a pain to remove as traditional glitters but it’s the price you pay.

Sephora by OPI Looks Like Rain, Dear is available online at Sephora.com and in stores as part of the SOPI Holiday 2010 collection.  Midnight Mambo is an online exclusive.  SOPI polishes retail for $9/ea for a .5oz bottle.

What do you think of my multi-color manicure choices?  Are any of you rocking either of these colors?  If you haven’t jumped on the glitter bandwagon, do more subtle, opaque shades like this pique your interest?

Disclosure: I purchased these polishes myself.  For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

Celebrate the Holiday Season with Sugar, Spice and Everything In Between If you missed the first part of my China Glaze ‘Tis The Season To Be Naughty Or Nice review make sure you check it out to see the blue and greens from this collection. Today we’re talking about the Golds, Silver and Whites from the sixteen piece collection.  You may remember that my all time favorite white nail polish on the planet is China Glaze White-Kwik-Silvr.  It’s white polish perfection.  So when I spotted a sparkly white coming out for holiday I hoped I would find a WKS twin. Read on to see if Frosty lived up to my dream and to check out Cheers To You, Jingle Bells, Midnight Kiss and Snow.

Formula & Application: China Glaze is a 3-Free brand with a round brush that is both medium in length and firmness with enough give to allow for ease of control. The cap is slightly tapered and made of smooth plastic that is comfortable to hold. For the Holiday collection China Glaze brought back the brushed silver caps that were used on the Platinum/Urban Chic & Kaleidoscope collection bottles. It adds a little something special to look.

This section of the collection includes two foil finish polishes, one creme, one metallic and one smooth glitter.  With the exception of the two whites they all give full coverage with two coats.  The foils and smooth glitter applied phenomenally well, drying to an even finish while the metallic had some brush stroke issues and the creme had problems leveling out.

Cheers To You is a silver foil metallic that dries with a highly reflective, brushed finish.  This one along with its gold sister, Midnight Kiss, both have the same look as the Orly Foil FX polishes.  It’s chrome without the mirror-like quality.

Of course I had to pull Orly Shine to compare it to and they are pretty much identical even if that doesn’t show in the photo.  The shade and finish are pretty dead on.  The only major difference I see is that Cheers To You is more pigmented.

Frosty is the girl I was telling you about.  The potential WKS twin.  It’s a creamy white with smooth glitter that becomes opaque with three coats.  The glitter is like a mini version of that flaky glitter we talk about in Nfu Ohs.  It lays flat but reflects light extremely well resulting in a high sparkle polish.

Now for the big question… is it a White-Kwik-Silvr dupe?  Almost but not quite.  The color is not identical plus there’s just something about that glass fleck finish that sets it apart from the herd.  While it’s not as noticeable in photos, in person I can see the slight difference.  Am I disappointed though?  Not really.  Frosty is a great substitute for WKS and is getting a permanent home in my collection.

Snow is a basic white creme.  Great for layering but hard to pull off on its own.  Whites can tend to look like you took correction fluid to your nails (am I dating myself with that reference?).   The bonus of Snow is that it’s not chalky but the formula could use some work.  It’s pretty streaky and lumpy.  I prefer China Glaze White Out over Snow however if you end up getting Snow, I suggest using a thin first layer, thick second layer and thin third layer for the best finish possible. Make sure you wait between coats to avoid bubbles and brush drag.

Jingle Bells is a reddish tinged gold metallic.  It’s plagued with brush strokes but I’ve seen worse.  It’s not like the Romantiques or anything.  The mini flecks of glitter break up what could be a brush mark nightmare giving it a more pounded metal look.  I know China Glaze describes this as a champagne color but to me it feels like a cross between champagne and bronze.

In the bottle, I thought Chanel Gold Lamé would surely be a twin but on the nail, it’s much lighter, less bronzey and missing the micro-glitter in Jingle Bells’ finish.

Midnight Kiss is a gold foil metallic like Cheers To You.  It’s a pretty pure yellow gold but it’s light enough that it will still work with cool skin tones.  It’s a pale, blond version of gold.

Again I went to the Orly Foil FX collection in my dupe search and this time I came up short.  Orly Luxe is also a gold foil but Midnight Kiss is a bit more beige.

Bottom Line: If you’re a foil finish fan and you don’t have the Orly Foil FX polishes snap up the China Glaze versions.  Frosty is a must if you love whites, especially if you covet my beloved WKS.  Jingle Bells gets a pass from me.  It’s not my bag and the finish throws me off.  If you need a white creme get China Glaze White Out instead.

The China Glaze Holiday 2010 Collection is available now and a limited release so scoop it up while you can. Retail prices vary by store but online pricing is around $3/ea and store pricing is around $6/ea for a .5oz bottle. You can find China Glaze polish online at Head2ToeBeauty.com, 8ty8Beauty.com and TransDesign.com and on shelves at Sally Beauty and ULTA.

You can also find these colors in some of the Holiday 2010 gift sets.  Snow & Frosty appear in the Peppermint Kisses with Holiday Wishes set, Midnight Kiss comes in the Cheers To You set (with Cheers To You) and the Dreamin’ of a Green Christmas set and Jingle Bells is included in the Celebrate In Style set.

Are we feeling these?  Those of you who own White-Kwik-Silvr do you agree that Frosty is a good substitute if not a dupe?  Have you found a WKS twin?  Does anyone else agree that all metallics should be foils, like CTY & MK so the brush stroke madness will end?

Disclosure: Product samples were provided by China Glaze. For more info, view my Disclosure Policy.

Have you missed me Fanatics? I’ve missed you. This ALU post outage was brought to you by the letters “T” “W” and “C” (Time Warner Cable). Apparently my modem was so ancient the tech was amazed it still worked. Obviously TWC can’t say “I’m right on top of that Rose.” a la Christina Applegate in Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead. Venting aside I have a fun holiday item to share with you from CND.  If you haven’t picked up the vibe already, Holiday 2010 is one big old glitter party. And in the case of the CND Silver & Gold Sparkling Effects Duo, all that glitters IS gold (and silver).  These two limited edition Effects, one cool & one warm, are sure to add the right kick of glam to your holiday manicures. This set is just one of the many prizes included in the Think Pink – Donate & Win Giveaway so keep reading for a glimpse at what you could win.

Application & Formula: CND is a 3-Free brand and they relaunched their polish line in Fall 2009 with a new bottle and formula.  I did an extensive review of the formula and new flat brush HERE.  For the best wear I use CND Stickey base coat and CND Super Shiney or Air Dry top coat though I’ve found that Olan Quick & Slick gets it done as well.

Both of the Effects in this set have clear bases filled with micro-glitter so they won’t change the color you layer them over.  The particles are pretty well dispersed so you can layer multiple coats of the Effect to get more coverage.  One coat gives touch of glitz while 2-3 coats will pack a more blingtastic punch.  The glitter pieces very fine and dry to a smooth finish so there’s no bumpiness here.

Silver Sparkling is just as the name implies, a sheer wash of silver micro-glitter. I chose to layer it over one of my fave pale polishes in the CND Colour collection, Blueberry Whip. It’s one of the colors I instantly connected with when I initially saw the Colour & Effects lineup and I can’t believe I’ve never shown it on the blog.  There’s something about the way Silver Sparkling looks over Blueberry Whip that feels winter-y.  I could totally see wearing the color alone to work and then adding a layer of Silver Sparkling for a party later that night.

Gold Sparkling was not quite what I expected. While the predominate color is gold, there are random multi-colored pieces interspersed as well.  In the bottle you might see a bit of a prismatic effect, think Out The Door Northern Lights, but on the nail it’s a subdued disco ball.  I layered it over CND Veronica the one color from the Jason Wu Collection that I didn’t show you during Fashion Week.  Veronica, named for 40s screen siren Veronica Lake, is a holiday red if I’ve ever seen one. It’s a shame it won’t be on shelves until next May but while you’re waiting you could try CND Bloodline instead.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking for an easy way to make your favorite polishes more bling-y for the holidays, glitter top coats like these are the perfect addition to your nail wardrobe.  I would think a polish like China Glaze Golden Enchantment would be similar to Gold Sparkling but seeing as I don’t own it, I can’t say for sure.

The CND Sparkling Effects Holiday Duo is on sale now at salons and authorized CND retailers nationwide.  To find a retailer near you check CND.com.  The duo retails for $22 for two .33oz bottles.

What do you think of this duo?  Would it make a good stocking stuffer for yourself or a fellow fanatic?  What other clear based gold & silver top coats do you love?

Disclosure: Product samples were provided by CND.  For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

The Estee Lauder Holiday 2010 collection is filled with rich golds and reds that sound like your typical holiday fare but thanks to Creative Makeup Director Tom Pecheux, these traditional shades were given a glamorous twist. “Fantasy, luxury and of course femininity were my inspirations for this Holiday collection. There are many lip and eye colors to play with and they all have a wonderful texture for an easy application.” Tom Pecheux, Creative Makeup Director, Estée Lauder It’s been a while since an Estee Lauder nail polish has really grabbed me but Extravagant Night brings a sultry party to the nails.  And its pale gold counterpart, Extravagant Pearl, is the shade we saw gracing the Derek Lam runway just last month at New York Fashion Week.

There are very few things that can get me out of bed before 6am but watching Tom Pecheux work his makeup magic is one of them.  He’s not only a talented artist but his sexy French voice is enchanting.  It’s such a clichéd phrase but I really could listen to him read the phone book.  It ended up being a double bonus morning at Derek Lam with Jin Soon Choi working the nail scene.

I spoke with Tom about the graphic orange eyes he created using primarily lip products in lieu of shadows.  This was the third show where he incorporated white into the eye look so expect that to play into the Spring trends. Tom shared that Derek Lam’s collection was based on a book about how the West coast interpreted the minimalist style of the East coast during the 60s.  To compliment the blues and earth tones in the clothes Tom paired a sun kissed face with nude lips and a strong, statement eye.

Using Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Pencil in Coral as a base he layered two new Pure Color Lipsticks over top.  He then placed an architectural white triangle on the inner corner under the eyebrow to change the shape of the eye using a new white shadow. The pretty, nude lip color is also part of Spring collection that will be launching in March 2011.

While speaking with Tom about the look I snapped a few shots of the Spring 2010 Pure Color eye shadows and two new Pure Color Lipsticks that were blended to create the bold orange eye.

Manicurist Jin Soon Choi tended to the models’ fingers and toes using one coat of the Holiday 2010 Collection nail lacquer, Extravagant Pearl. She told me they decided on one coat of polish because they didn’t want too heavy of a hand for Spring. The pearl color with its gilded tone complimented the orange in the makeup and clothes. It’s minimalistic but the pearly sheen pops against the runway lights to create a finished look.

When I saw Extravagant Pearl backstage my initial thought was, “Boring!”  A pearly sheer; been there, done that.  However, it’s much more pigmented than I expected as evidenced by the two coat swatch below.  With three thin coats the polish is completely opaque.  While this isn’t really my kind of color it has a lot of depth thanks to the golden sheen and flecks of silver micro-glitter.  This isn’t your grandma’s pearl polish.

Now Extravagant Night got me so excited that I raced to put it on. In fact I wore it last weekend and have had a number of people ask me about it. Under the incandescent lights in my brow waxer’s room she thought it was OPI Tease-y Does It. They’re so not the same but I’m just as smitten with Extravagant Night as I am with Tease-y.

Extravagant Night made me think of NYC Cognac Sparkle a beloved shade in the nail community. While the polishes aren’t the same, they have a similar feel. EN has a blackened base and needs three coats to become opaque but the final result is a mystical, plummy sparkler. There is a bit of gold pearl that can be picked up at certain angles and silver micro-glitter that looks like little twinkling stars.

While we’re talking Holiday, I just have to gush about the Extravagant Gold Eyeshadow Palette in this collection. As much as I love to buy bright colored shadows, and I have a drawer full of them, I wear neutrals more than anything. Browns, golds, taupes, etc.

For the past year if you looked in my makeup bag you’d see the Dior Holiday 2009 palette. It’s been my go-to for just about everything.   I’ve used it so much I’m hitting pan.  I know it’s lame sauce to wear the same look all the time but I’m a sucker for a well coordinated palette because it’s no-brainer makeup.  Well now I can happily retire my well worn Dior for this beauty which is even more stunning in person.  The soft shimmer and silky, blendable texture just don’t translate here but in person, it’s a winner!

The Estee Lauder Pure Color Extravagant collection is on sale now on EsteeLauder.com. The Pure Color Nail Lacquers retail for $18/ea for a .3oz bottle and the Pure Color Eyeshadow Palette in Extravagant Gold retails for $42.

Have any of you spotted or purchased from the EL Holiday collection yet?  Are you loving Extravagant Night as much as I am?  Thoughts on the look at Derek Lam?

Disclosure: Product samples were furnished by Estee Lauder. For more info, view my Disclosure Policy.

Outside of the movie Heidi, which has been remade way too many times, watches, banks and the Swiss Alps, I admittedly know very little about Switzerland. Which is why when I heard that OPI was releasing a collection based on the country I was skeptical as to what it would consist of. Of course the OPI Swiss preview pics didn’t do these colors justice.  Why the large bottle images continue to look like artist renderings is beyond me.  Clearly they have a decent photographer to take the display shots, they should being shooting the closeups as well. Anywho, about the colors.  I will admit that I was a wee bit disappointed to find that half of the collection is in the red family but reds are still a big seller in spite of a growing number of Fanatics making the more unique shades mainstream.  At least OPI has been recognizing this and in the Swiss collection we have been appeased with six shades from the blue, green, purple and metallic color families and that’s what I chose to focus on first.

Application and Formula: OPI is a 3-Free brand.  They made the switch to 3-Free in 2008.  You can identify an OPI with the 3-Free formula by the green lettering on the label.  Bottles with black lettering have the old formula.  Always check the labels to be sure.  The OPI Pro Wide brush is flat, wide and medium in length.  It’s of an average stiffness and easily spreads out on the nail when pressed.  The only downside to the Pro Wide brush is that it can be too wide for slim fingers or little toes.

The application in this half of the collection was flawless.  They flowed like the old chemical-filled OPIs of years past.  I know you OPI vets will love that!  With the exception of the brush hitting the skin surrounding my little finger, I achieved a perfect three coat polish with each one.  Though there is a caveat; pigmentation.  With the exception of the one creme, all the polishes required three coats but it was close.  With two they looked okay but I could see VNL (visible nail line) so I threw on a third.  With a ridge filling base you may be able to get away with two coats.

Glitzerland is a foil finish gold metallic.  It’s a cross between a traditional yellow gold and champagne.  The finish is very similar to the Orly Foil FX collection but I think the Orly’s pack a bit more bling.  Though as a bonus, Glizterland leaves less sparkle behind on your skin to clean up.  This one reminds me a lot of one of my fave OPI holiday polishes, I Get A Kick Out Of Gold, so I may need to steal it back from ALU Mom in order to do comparisons.

The Color To Watch is a murky lavender shimmer with a blue sheen.  It’s the most sheer in the collection and even with three coats I can see VNL.  It’s also a bit brush stroke-y and honestly not really my kind of color.  In fact, even with six more reds coming I have to say this is my least favorite of the collection.  It does nothing for me.

Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous has the same finish and application as Glizterland.  They both go on semi-sheer but build up well.  This actually reminds me of the snow piles that collect in parking lots during the winter.  As the snow gets mixed with the bits of asphalt the plows churn up, it takes on this graphite appearance.  It’s just not as sparkly in snow.

Yodel Me On My Cell is a royal blue shimmer with a tinge of green making it look more aqua.  But it’s darker, like the Caribbean at night and the random specks of blue micro-glitter look like little stars reflecting on the water.  A nail tech commented on the ALU Facebook Page that to her this looks like a non-foil version of Catch Me In Your Net and while they are definitely similar, this is much more blue.  There’s no green or gold flash to it.  But I see why she made the comparison.  If you missed out on CMIYN this may satisfy that lemming.

Ski Teal We Drop is a deep creamy teal.  It leans more blue than green and looks like a lighter version of Rescue Beauty Lounge Teal.  If RBL Teal was too dark for you, you’re going to love this.  I’m thinking American Apparel Peacock may be a good match.

Cuckoo For This Color is aptly named as I still get giddy when I hear a new green is coming out.  Yes, even though I have drawers full of green polishes I never feel like I have enough.  But don’t call Hoarders on me just yet, I can still function in my polish room.  Anyway, CFTC has a lot of blue in its base.  It’s a pine green with shimmer and the same flecks of micro-glitter as Yodel.  What’s bugging me, is that I feel like I’ve seen this before.  I keep picturing Zoya Suvi in my mind even though the finishes are a bit different.

Bottom Line: The first half of the Swiss collection has a great range of color and Fanatics with smaller collections would be wise to add Cuckoo, Glitzerland and Yodel to their stashes.  For me, the only must-haves are Yodel, Lucerne-tainly and Cuckoo because, who are we kidding, even if it’s a dupe I still won’t part with a green.

The OPI Swiss Collection officially launches August 1, 2010 but I hear it’s already popping up on shelves across the country.  OPI polishes retail for $8.50/ea for a .5oz bottle and can be purchased at salons nationwide including chains like Beauty First, JC Penney Salons, Regis, Trade Secret and ULTA.

What do we think of these Swiss collection colors?  Did they live up to your expectations or fall flat?  Which ones are on your shopping list?  If you already found them in your area, what colors did you buy?

Remember, let’s hear those comparison requests. I’m working on your Vintage Vixen & RBL requests this week.

Disclosure: Product samples were furnished by OPI.  For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

Ever since Beyonce made Golden Lightening Minx an international hit, nail fanatics worldwide have been looking for a way to replicate the look at home. Brands have been putting out “Minx-like” polishes but no lacquer can truly achieve that blinding chrome finish. Now thanks to Dashing Diva’s Design Nails on the Go… you can bling your nails like Beyonce for a fraction of the Minx service price.  These full coverage stick-on nails come in range of chrome finishes and animal prints. I had the good fortune of running into Pattie Yankee, Product Development Advisor and Lead Educator for Dashing Diva Professional, backstage during Fashion Week where she showed me these fun tips.  She sent me home with a set in Gold Digger to try out and they are just what I was looking for.

As you know, I tried Minx over a year ago when the service first came to Cleveland.  While I loved the look and zero dry time, I had wear issues and wasn’t jazzed over the cost.  So to find a product that can give me the same look for a quarter of the cost is music to my ears.

Package Contents: Each Dashing Diva Design Nails on the Go… kit comes with 28 tips in a range of sizes, a Nail Prep Cleanser Pad to help with adhesion and an orange wood stick.

Application: Just like with any press-on nail, you want to remove any polish with remover, push back cuticles using the orange wood stick, prep the nails with the cleanser pad and press on the nail.

I had no problem finding nails that fit me and they easily pressed onto my nail beds.  The drawbacks for me are the thickness of the nails (they don’t look natural) and the long square shape.  Though since these are somewhat of a novelty product I don’t mind the thickness.  How real can chrome nails look anyway?  The shape was really bugging me though so I was happy to discover that the nails can be shaped without damaging the finish.

Customization: I used a coarse grit file held at a 45 degree angle under my nail to shape the tips.  I wanted them to be shorter and more round.  I finished with a smooth buffer to make sure there were no jagged edges.  There was quite a bit of dust so work over a surface that you can easily clean.  Of course, I ended up scratching the surface of two of the nails in the process but that’s my damage, not any fault of the nails.

Wear and Removal: I wore these for a day to see how they hold up to everyday tasks. Um, they don’t. Taking a shower or washing dishes without gloves (not that you do that) will cause the tips to come off. Since they are removed by soaking in warm water you want to avoid extended exposure to water at all costs. My suggestion, apply them just before you go out so they won’t come off while getting ready.  Oh and don’t worry about nail damage. The nails came right off and didn’t take any of my natural nail with it.

Bottom Line: I have always considered Minx to be a special occasion product due to it’s iffy wear time and over-the-top designs. So to get the same look for a fraction of the price is definitely worth it. The fact that they come off so easily is a downside but they’ll make it through one night which is all I’m looking for.

Dashing Diva Design Nails on the Go… retail for $8/set and can be purchased on DashingDiva.com. Now Sephora was carrying some special designs on their site but I only see the Black French left.  Those are available at Sephora.com for $10/set.  I bought the Skull & Crossbones set a while back and they are too adorable.  I hope they bring them back.

Are you loving these chrome press-ons?  I totally want the blue and red metallics to alternate for the 4th of July.  It’s a shame Sally Hansen stopped selling their chrome tips.  They would have been a sell out hit right now.  How many of you wear full coverage nails on the regular?  Will having options like chrome and animal print encourage  you to start?

Disclosure: A product sample was furnished to me by a representative from Dashing Diva. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

Foil metallic lovers, I’ve got another bottle of hotness for you.  Ginger + Liz have been hinting via Twitter about “sisters’ for their hit shade Swagger and got my first peek at them on my recent trip to NYC. One of the things I find interesting about the G+L line is that all their polish names have a back story and both of Swagger’s sisters are named after special people in G+L’s lives.  Got My Groove Back is triplet number two in what I’m calling G+L’s metallic foil series and it’s a beautiful champagne gold. Triplet number three, Tuck Me In, is a sparkling silver but apparently she’s the cranky sibling since she isn’t ready for her debut.  I saw the actual color in NYC and it’s stunning but the formula is currently being tweaked. Check out my full review and swatches of Got My Groove Back after the jump!

Got My Groove Back is a soft beige gold.  We’re not talking hard-to-wear yellow gold here.  It definitely has that champagne vibe though it’s richer than say OPI I Only Drink Champagne.  It’s actually one of the most flattering golds I’ve ever worn.  I can’t stop staring at my nails!  My gold obsessed mom is going to have to throw down with me if she wants my bottle.

The formula on this one is top notch as it applies flawlessly in two thin coats.  I seriously could not have asked for a better application.  The flat brush glides the polish on the nail leaving behind slight brush strokes but not the kind that are associated with traditional metallics.  That’s what I like about the foils.  They make polishing a breeze.  And maybe it’s just me but foils seem to dry faster.  I don’t worry about my natural clumsiness as much.

Sunlight

In my hunt for dupes I found a pretty close match in butter LONDON The Full Monty.  The bL shade is a hint warmer in tone but the finish is identical.  Orly Luxe on the other hand has a shinier, more mirror-like look but the colors are pretty similar.  It may be a tad darker.  The camera really can’t capture the glory of foils so the differences are hard to pick up on screen.

Bottom Line: If you love foils, you’ll love this color. If you’ve had problems finding a gold that isn’t too pale or too yellow, this shade is for you. If you own Orly Luxe or butter LONDON The Full Monty you can take a pass unless you’re gaga for foils and starting a collection.

Ginger + Liz Got My Groove back is available for Pre-Order now with a ship date of June 7th. Ginger+Liz polishes retail for $12/ea on GingerandLiz.com.

Also, Ginger + Liz would like to offer an exclusive discount just for ALU Fanatics.  Pre-order Got My Groove Back for only $10/ea using the code ALUGROOVE at checkout (limit two per customer). That’s a $2/bottle savings. Code vailid through June 16th.

So my little foil lovers… what do you think of Got My Groove Back?  Anyone plotting an order?

Disclosure: A sample of Got My Groove Back was furnished by Ginger + Liz. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.