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. Untried Day #121 – What has been my recurring nail polish wish ever since ALU began??? Long time readers may remember my pleading here, here and here for an EMERALD GREEN HOLO. While my wish hasn’t exactly been realized, Glitter Gal has come as close as I’ve found. Glitter Gal Lizard Belly isn’t emerald green but it’s a true holographic nail polish, not just holo glitter. It may not be from an easily accessible brand but at least we can get our hands on it in the US. So while it may not be a total dream come true it still makes my heart flutter.

Formula & Application: Glitter Gal nail polish does not list its ingredients on the bottle or the website but Overall Beauty states that it is 3-Free. If you have any ingredient or allergy concerns, I would suggest contacting the company.  The tiny bottles look like they are sample sized at .3oz but they come with a nice, long full size brush. The bristles are dense but flexible so they easily fan out to provide a perfect three stroke application.

The polish is really well pigmented. To the point that you barely need two coats to get it opaque. I love how smooth and easy to apply the formula is. Some holos apply streaky, which is why Nfu Oh has their special Aqua Base, but the Glitter Gal holo is perfect. It flowed on very thin and even over all three of the base coats I tested it on; CND Stickey, Gelous & Nfu Oh Aqua Base. It dried glossy and flawless every time.

Glitter Gal Lizard Belly is a blackened teal green with holographic shimmer that creates a prismatic rainbow effect on the nail. It’s not quite as holo as the lighter Glitter Gal Blue I previously reviewed but it’s on par with darker holos like OPI My Private Jet. The first natural light shot really doesn’t do the holo justice as you can still see the rainbow pattern even outside of direct sunlight.

Bottom Line: I put on Lizard Belly last Friday and I can’t stop staring at it. I keep taking it off my one hand so I can swatch and then I put it back on. It’s magical. The deep teal is perfect for fall and very on trend and the holo isn’t over-the-top. As much as I love holographic polishes, the super holos, like the Sally Hansen Magicals, can feel a bit too young. If you love holos and have been looking for a dark, true (or lineaer) holographic nail polish, Lizard Belly will not let you down.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: Just try and take it from me. STASH!

Glitter Gal Lizard Belly is available in the US at Llrowe and Overall Beauty. Glitter Gal nail polishes retail for $14-14.95/ea, depending on the retailer, for a .3oz/9ml bottle.

Are you dying over Lizard Belly? Do you agree that we still need an emerald green holo or am I too greedy? Do you plan to pick up this shade or any other Glitter Gal nail polishes? Who has the black holo? Is it as fabulous as it looks?

Disclosure: A product sample was provided by Llarowe. 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. Given my love for all things sparkly I couldn’t resist popping open Nails Inc Crystal Colour in Porchester Square. I’m sure there are some who feel an embellished cap is a waste of money but I love having bottles I’m proud to display. It’s one of the reasons I adore the shape of Lippmann’s bottle. The design is so high end and vanity table worthy that you just want to show it off. Since I’m leaving for Cosmoprof Saturday morning I’m already in Vegas mode so I blinged out Porchester Square with Nails Inc Electric Lane Holographic Top Coat. Check it out!

Formula & Application: The Nails Inc formula varies in terms of ingredients. Porchester Square is 3-Free and Electric Lane is 4-Free (including formaldehyde resin) and free of camphor, which can be an irritant. The round glass bottles are topped with a thick, round, smooth cap of the same width.  The brush is round and pretty thick with bristles that give some resistance when you try to fan it out.

Porchester Square is thick with pigment but it spreads out easily on the nail and is self leveling, giving great coverage in two coats. Electric Lane contains holographic glitter so it dries with a bit of texture. I used one coat of the Kensington Caviar Top Coat and it wasn’t perfectly glassy so I added second coat. I’m sure a thicker top coat would only require one layer.

Nails Inc Porchester Square is a pale mushroom taupe creme. It’s a cool toned neutral, like a lighter version of the “greige” hue that has been so big the past couple years.

Adding a coat of Electric Lane Holographic Top Coat is like sprinkling the surface with tiny multi-colored twinkle lights and the best part is, the glitter shows up in most lighting. This combo is what I hoped the glitter in Butter London All Hail McQueen The Queen would look like. The particles are “scattered” so they don’t create a prismatic or “linear” pattern on the nail. The particles are much larger than China Glaze Wireless but smaller than OPI Paris Couture For Sure, two popular holographic top coats.

Bottom Line: I have quite a stash of these “new neutrals” but very few of them offer the coverage and ease of application of Porchester Square. Even if it wasn’t in special packaging I would want this shade. I can’t even begin to describe how full of win Electric Lane is. It’s not a super holo so it’s a great way to amp up an everyday color without going over the top. The fact that you can see the sparkles indoors in poor lighting makes it even better.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: You can’t hear it but I’m chanting “STASH STASH STASH” at home.

Nails Inc Crystal Colour Porchester Square and Electric Lane are available exclusively in the US at select Sephora stores (see full list) and online at Sephora.com. Nails Inc nail polishes retail for $9.50/ea for a .33oz bottle. The Crystal Colour polishes retail for $19.50/ea & the Electric Lane Holographic Top Coat retails for $10/ea.

Thoughts on Porchester Square? Do you like it better with or without Electric Lane? Will you pay more for an embellished bottle? What is your favorite holographic top coat?

Also, if you have any questions you want me to ask your favorite nail brands at Cosmoprof, hop on over to the ALU Facebook Page and leave a comment.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided by reps for Nails Inc. 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. This weekend has left me drained but in a good way. Yesterday I had the privilege of attending an amazing event, the Veggie U Food & Wine Celebration, and today I spent a good part of the day outside helping the boyfriend clean and seal our deck in preparation for our Un-Xmas in July party next weekend. Can you say Christmas Ale on tap in the keg fridge? I never knew wielding a deck brush could leave me feeling so spent. Anyway, since I knew I would be outside on a farm yesterday, I decided to wear a polish that would play with the sun. You know what that means… it’s holo time! I recently received a package from piCture pOlish with some Ozotic Pro nail polishes, an Australian brand I’ve been wanting to try for years now. One of the three shades was Ozotic 513, a purple holo, and I couldn’t wait for the right moment to don it. Yesterday was it!

Formula & Application: Ozotic Pro nail polish is 3-Free. The round glass bottles are large, like Seche Vite, and topped with a somewhat flocked cap that prevents it from slipping when opening the bottle and polishing. The brush is long, thin and round with flexible bristles that can be easily fanned flat.

To allow the large holographic shimmer particles to evenly disperse in the polish, the formula is thin and jelly-ish which means it is semi-sheer. As with most jelly polishes, the application is pretty goof proof and the brush definitely plays into that. I needed three coats to achieve opacity but it you apply it more heavy handed, two coats would be sufficient. I found that the color deepened significantly on the third coat, looking more like the deep bottle color.

Ozotic 513 is a red grape holographic shimmer. The shimmer particles are large but they still form the prismatic pattern or what has been dubbed a “linear” look. It’s almost like a cross between a holo shimmer and holo glitter in that indoors you definitely see the little glitter particles but in direct light the rainbow comes to life. In spite of the size of the shimmer/glitter the polish dries glossy and smooth.

While I don’t have any holos that even come close to matching 513 I wanted to show you how it compares to its closest living relatives in the ALU stash; China Glaze LOL and OPI Designer Series Exclusive.

As you can see, 513 falls between the deep berry hue of Exclusive and the cool indigo of LOL. FYI, the color you see to the right of LOL is Sally Hansen Magical Nail Makeup Purple Potion which looks totally blue next to the other three.

The event I attended helps fund the Veggie U program which educates fourth-graders across the nation about the Earth to Table™ concept, injecting nutrition and agriculture into their curriculum. It’s an amazing program geared to combat childhood obesity and one I am happy to support.

The event brought together talented chefs from across the nation who created dishes featuring the amazing crops from The Chef’s Garden. At the end of the night we all had the chance to raid the display and I walked away with some gorgeous golden beets and swiss chard. Recipe ideas anyone?

The boyfriend and Suzanne from Life on Mars

It was an overwhelming amount of culinary delights. Everything from fried green tomatoes to buffalo with chimichuri to lobster nachos with every kind of wine and cheese in between. Incredible!

Allison from Green Dog Wine and Suzanne

Being the Top Chef fan that I am, I had to stalk Chef Lee Anne Wong for a picture. Though blame the boyfriend for the blurry shot. He doesn’t get along well with cameras, let alone cell phone cameras. Also pictured, Chef Ruth from Gatherings Kitchen and Charity from I Heart Cleveland who rocked her farm chic cowboy boots with tangerine sunglasses and eye searing orange nail polish. Loved it!

Bottom Line: Because Ozotic comes from Australia, the price and shipping charges are steep so I would suggest finding an Australian swap partner or teaming up with some friends to share the shipping costs. In spite of the price, the polish is fantastic. The sparkle shows up in incandescent light, even if the prismatic effect doesn’t. In direct light you get rainbows for days and the depth of color is glorious. And even though I’ve only been wearing it for a day, the fact that I’m free of tip wear and chips after an afternoon of hard labor and water exposure bodes well for the formula.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: There’s no question here. Of course I’m STASHing it.

Ozotic Pro nail polishes are available online from piCturepOlish.com. Ozotic nail polishes retail for $14.95 AUD which is approximately $15.85 US for a 16ml/.54oz bottle

Have you tried Ozotic nail polishes before? What are you favorite colors from the brand? If you’re new to Ozotic do you plan to pick some up or is the cost keeping you at  bay?

Disclosure: A product sample was provided by piCture pOlish. I received complimentary tickets to the Veggie U Food & Wine Festival at a local media event with no expectation or promise of a blog mention. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

ps I totally hijacked two of Suzanne’s photos from Saturday’s event because I was too busy eating, drinking and gabbing to get any of the food.

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. A few days ago, Melissa from The Daily Nail was asking about “linear holographic nail polish” on Twitter. I had to scratch my head as I’ve never heard of holos being referred to as “linear.” Who comes up with this stuff? Apparently “linear” refers to holographic polishes that create intense rainbows or a prismatic effect on the nail as compared to holographic glitter that flashes multiple colors but doesn’t create a rainbow pattern. This style of holo nail polish is becoming more and more rare as whispers of holo pigment price increases are heard throughout the nail industry. More recently a Twitter discussion of foreign nail polish brands led me to my bin of non-US untrieds, specifically the Australian Glitter Gal Blue holo nail polish.

Formula & Application: Glitter Gal nail polish does not list its ingredients on the bottle or the website so if you have any ingredient or allergy concerns, I would suggest contacting the company.  The tiny bottles look like they are sample sized at .3oz but they come with a nice, long full size brush. The bristles are dense but flexible so they easily fan out to provide a perfect three stroke application.

The polish is somewhat sheer but buildable. It took me three thin coats to get it opaque. But what I loved is the smoothness of the formula. Some holos apply streaky, which is why Nfu Oh has their special Aqua Base, but the Glitter Gal holo is perfect. I flowed on very thin and even over all three of the base coats I tested it on; CND Stickey, Gelous & Nfu Oh Aqua Base. It dried flawless every time.

Glitter Gal Blue is a punched up sky blue packed with holographic shimmer that creates a rainbow effect on the nail. I’d say it is darker than OPI DS Sapphire but lighter and less denim than China Glaze 2NITE. The closest I could come to finding a base color match is China Glaze Kaleidoscope Him Out though GG Blue is more vivid and holo. It wouldn’t do this polish justice to only show it in natural light so I snapped a shot in the sun as well (see below).

Bottom Line: If you’re a holo addict, you’re going to love this. The formula is spot on and the holographic glitter is plentiful. This color looks amazing on its own and layered so it gets two thumbs up from me.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: Just try to take it from me… STASH!!

Glitter Gal nail polishes are available via the Glitter Gal website and various international stockists. See their website for details. US shoppers can find Glitter Gal polishes on ebay from seller Llarowe, who I found listed on the GG website. Glitter Gal nail polishes retail for $14.99/ea for a .3oz bottle.

Have you tried Glitter Gal nail polishes before? Are you a holo fiend? What is your favorite holographic polish? Anyone know the origin of the term “linear” to describe this type of prismatic finish?

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

You guys, I’ve reached holographic nail nirvana thanks to Nfu Oh! As you may remember I received my first Nfu Oh haul a few weeks back and I’ve been dying to wear the holo, #61, but had to wait until the Aqua Base came back in stock.  Well my second order arrived on Thursday so naturally my weekend manicure choice was Nuf Oh 61! I wasn’t sure what to expect based on the polish’s bland appearance in the bottle but on the nail, this baby can give Hologram Minx a run for its money.   Ever since Beyonce rocked golden holographic Minx at the Grammy Awards fanatics have been trying to replicate the look.  Well, consider #61 the silver version of those nails at a fraction of the cost.

I’ve seen quite a few YouTubers attempt to replicate Beyonce’s look and of them all, Miss80Million did it best with her “Counterfeit Nails.” However, if you don’t want to try mixing, layering and blending colors, just snap up a bottle of this Nfu Oh instead.

Pictures can’t really do Nfu Oh 61 justice but I took a stab at trying capture its prismatic goodness for you.  What truly wowed me about this polish, outside of it being the most holographic shade I’ve worn, is the base color.  The silvery base is so reflective you would almost think I’m wearing Minx.  And in the sunlight, well all I can say is, “Shut it down!”  This takes bling to a whole new level.

Sunlight

The only drawback to the Nfu Oh holographic series is that you MUST use the Aqua Base with them. I tried applying #61 over a few different base coats and it was a streaky patchy nightmare with all of them. The Aqua Base makes all the difference people. INVEST!

Application tips: The Aqua Base and holographic polishes are a bit thick and tricky to apply. Use thin, even coats to avoid a lumpy finish. Believe me, the extra effort is well worth it.  Also, don’t panic if the finish looks cloudy when you apply top coat.  It will return to its holo state once the top coat dries.

Nuf Oh polishes and Aqua Base can be purchased online at FabulouStreet.com. Nfu Oh polishes and treatments retail for $12.50/ea for a .6oz bottle. Shipping is FREE to US residents on FabulouStreet.

Who’s itching to place a Nfu Oh order? Where are my fellow #61 fans?  Have you found a base coat other than the Aqua Base that works as well?  While there is no gold, that I know of, would the peachy #62 make a good stand in?

Disclosure: I purchased both products myself from FabulouStreet. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

What’s On Your Nails? is a series focusing on my fellow beauty bloggers and industry insiders, their favorite nail polish and other hot nail topics. Fanatics, let’s welcome back WOYN? After a little summer break, the series is back and what better way to kick it off than with “The Arm” herself, Karla from The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself. If you’re not familiar with Karla’s blog (and you should be) it’s seriously one of the best makeup swatch sites on the web. Karla spends her time testing every new makeup collection to hit the counters and photographs the products on her now-famous arm. She even shows nail polishes on “the arm” using the ingenious technique of polishing on tape (click to see). For WOYN? Karla broke form by showing us her actual nails, which are totally swatch-worthy. Check out her blingtastic manicure and learn more about her after the jump!

Introduce yourself to the ALU readers. Tell us a little about you and your blog.
My hope is that TNBTTGSY really is the next best thing to going to the makeup counter yourself. I swatch all of something — the latest seasonal collection from Chanel, or permanent MAC lipsticks — on my arm, then take a picture in full sunlight. I also take notes on everything about it, and ask the (very tolerant and supportive) sales
staff a million questions: does it have any special ingredients? Is it limited edition? How much is it? Is it scented? Sparkly? Sticky? Sheer?

What’s your favorite polish?
My “favorite” changes with the season, but at the moment, I’d have to say China Glaze’s Sexagon. I adore holographic polishes (they’re even blingier than glitters, but so much easier to remove), and nobody does them better than China Glaze. The formula is so smooth and perfect — it’s like magic disco balls on my fingers. When I wear it, I’m constantly admiring my nails. I do feel bad recommending a polish that’s no longer easy to find.

What is on your tips and toes right now?
At the moment, it’s Sally Hansen’s Real Royal (it’s one of her Maximum Growth Plus shades). It’s a dark, darkly sparkly brown — so sexy! On my toes are China Glaze Ruby Pumps (which makes me feel like Dorothy).

Do you consider nail polish a beauty necessity or accessory? Why?
On toes, definitely a necessity. My feet just aren’t cute without a splash of color on my toes. I prefer to have painted fingernails; a good manicure protects my nails from incidental damage and/or impulsive trimming — but I’m not ashamed to go out without it.

How many bottles of nail polish do you own?
Um. 50. But I’d like to mention that before I started reading polish blogs, that answer was 4. Part of the dramatic increase is attributable to my not knowing there were brands other than OPI (and OPI has gotten steep!). But now that I’ve found you, Zoya, Barielle, China Glaze, and Sally Hansen, I want to shout your names from the rooftops. A great formula is everything.

How often do you change your nail polish?
Since discovering Zoya’s Anchor and Armor base coats and top coats, I can go 5 days on fingers (miracle! This has made such a difference in my desire to paint my nails). I’m lazy, so I’ll keep my toenail polish for 3 weeks at a time.

Do you have a favorite nail treatment you think my readers should know about? Why is it so fab?
If they don’t already own a buffing block (and what ALU reader doesn’t own a buffing block?), it’s a lifesaver. I hadn’t realized there was such a quick-and-easy solution for toenail ridges, or modest post-polish staining — or stopping a peeling nail in its tracks.

What do you think will be the big nail trend for fall?
I’m personally loving dark fingernails. Not only does it make me feel like a badass, but it makes my sometimes-too-short nails look intentional and chic. And there are so many choices! Black, brown, purple, blue, green — I think there are great options for every skintone.

What nail trend do you wish would go away?
I know everybody’s mad about matte — and I’ve seen some very cool textural nail art done with it. But matteness looks sad on my nails (I crave the shiny). I only want it to go away so polish companies can devote their full attention to my favorite shades.

What is the biggest nail faux pas that women make?
Nothing much bothers me, except when women in professional environments have incredibly (more than 50%) chipped polish. You can’t think that people don’t notice your nails: it’s part of your whole presentation.

Thanks a million for sharing your polish love with us Karla! Fanatics make sure you stop by The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself to check out the newest product launches.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you…. GREENS!!! I know I promised to show you the other half of Retro Diva but I’m sorry, a collection of GREENS trumps all. As soon as I got my hands on Nubar’s Going Green eco-themed collection I knew I couldn’t (more like shouldn’t) wait to show them to you. A whole collection of green polish. It’s like a dream come true. Did Nubar employ stealth psychics to stalk me and read my mind? Is this the result of years of MUA nail board begging for more fabulous greens than we can handle? Who cares, they’re gorgeous and they’re real! Check them out after the jump!

I’m not going to bog you down with a lot of chatter about these. In regards to the formula the bottom line is this; smooth, thin, well pigmented, two coat coverage, fast drying. In other words, pretty damn perfect. Each color glided on with ease. Now can we talk color?? I know you wanna!

I don’t know that I’ve seen a more gorgeous polish in my life than Greener and I’m not exaggerating. It’s heart stopping stunning and as incredible as it looks in pictures, it’s even more jaw-dropping in person. A true emerald shimmer, this exemplifies jewel tone and I own NOTHING like it.
Forest is a slightly mossy green creme. Can you even stand how flawless it is? Can you?? Just when I thought I’d never love another green creme the way I swoon over RBL Recycle, along comes Forest trying to steal my affections.
Speaking of Recycle, I knew the first question from you guys would be about how they compare. Recycle is decidedly darker and a bit bluer in its base tone. And if you ask me to choose a favorite between them, I’ll cut you! Seriously, it’s not a fair question!

Earth is a sparkling jade green. The light green micro-shimmer dances over the blue-green hue giving it depth and character. It’s very rich yet serene. Staring at it puts me at peace.

Conserve is a deep teal shimmer with slightly chunky glitter. It dries with a satin finish and bit of texture from the sparkle.

Can I get a HOLLA for the HOLO Reclaim? Don’t judge my cheesiness people, I’ve been waiting for a great green holo polish. The ones I have are all pretty light and not noticeably green. This one is a fabulous springy, grassy hue packed with fine holographic glitter. I wish it had been sunny so I could show its full holographic power but it’s a gloomy, rainy day in the Cleveburg.

Wildlife is a duochrome that flashes both bronze and fern shades depending on the angle. I don’t know fanatics, this one just isn’t grabbing me. I think it’s the alien-esque glow at the sides that are turning me off. It’s definitely got that “in the wild” type feel, I just don’t think it’s for me.

Nubar recently announced that they’ve partnered with PETA and have been certified as Vegan & Cruelty-Free. So you’ll soon see this cute little guy appearing on Nubar’s web site and packaging. Congrats Nubar!

Nubar polishes retail for $7.49 each and can be purchased online at ByNubar.com. The Going Green collection is listed as Coming Soon so keep your eyes peeled for an announcement of its on sale date.

Are you all totally flipping for these or WHAT? Share!

What’s On Your Nails? is a series focusing on my fellow beauty bloggers and industry insiders, their favorite nail polish and other hot nail topics. For this week’s WOYN, I’d like to introduce you to a YouTuber/Blogger that gives me a serious case of eyebrow envy, Jude Rivera. I’m obsessed with brows. It’s one of the first things I notice on a person so when a fellow blogger directed me to Jude’s site, I was immediately smitten. She’s not only gorgeous with wicked makeup skills but she has an AMAZING set of arches. If you haven’t watched Jude’s tutorials before run, I’m sorry RUN, to her channel and take a peek. I guarantee you’ll learn something new. Like did you know that Sally Hansen makes an invisible lip liner? I certainly didn’t and here I was tossing away $$$ on DuWop’s version that NEVER correctly sharpens. Thanks Jude! So read on fanatics to learn more about Jude, see which orange lacquer captured her heart and what nail board trick she swears by for making her polish last.

Introduce yourself to the ALU readers. Tell us a little about you and your blog.
My name is Jude and I am an unabashed makeup enthusiast. I have a Face of the Day blog called The Girly Show at www.girly-show.com and a Youtube channel where I focus mainly on makeup tutorials with some product reviews to keep things interesting.

I became interested in Nail Polish after a good friend of mine; Ness from Casual Lavish became an active member of the nail board on Makeup Alley. Her enthusiasm was contagious and I have been a polish fiend ever since.

Why is Pia by Zoya your favorite?
It is so hard to pin down one favorite but Pia by Zoya is definitely in my top three. I have a weakness for orange and shimmer so it is everything I want in a fun, popping color. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention IDK by China Glaze, Rio Nights by Orly, Tru Passion by Color Club, and Wild Child by Color Club. My list of favorites run the gamut from the more conservative like Cashmere Cardigan by Orly to the colors that scream to be noticed like Ali by Zoya.

What is on your tips and toes right now?
I have Miami Beet by OPI on my toes and Sol Cabana by Orly on my tips.

Do you consider nail polish a beauty necessity or accessory? Why?
Personally, I consider it a necessity. It is a cheap and easy way to add an unexpected pop of color to your day and a fun way to express yourself. You may not want to wear colorful eyeshadow but a brightly colored nail is a great way to show the playful side of your personality.

How many bottles of nail polish do you own?
I would say roughly between 100-125 bottles.

How often do you change your nail polish?
I never go more than three days with one polish but ideally, I change the polish up on a daily basis. I love the process. I live a pretty hectic life and setting aside one hour of my day to sit down, relax and take some time out for myself is extremely therapeutic. There is no multitasking with it; I am able to concentrate on this one thing from start to finish.

Do you have a favorite nail treatment you think my readers should know about? Why is it so fab?
The Stickey Sandwich! I learned about it from Alexa and it has been my favorite tip ever. I use Stickey by CND as a base coat and after applying my nail polish, I top it with another layer of Stickey. Let it sit for a few minutes and finish with the quick drying top coat of your choice. This technique has allowed me to go back to using Seche Vite that I had stopped using because of shrinkage issues.

What do you think will be the big nail trend for summer?
Bold, bright colors resurface each year and are especially interesting when they are bright jelly colors. They look like candy at your fingertips.

What nail trend do you wish would go away?
Acrylics so thick that they rise unnaturally from the nail bed. I am also not a fan of thick, awkward looking French tips.

What is the biggest nail faux pas that women make?
Ragged cuticles. I think it is a frequent faux pas because it is easy to forget to add cuticle oil several times a day. I had the same problem and alleviated it by placing an oily sugar scrub next to my sink at work. Whenever I wash my hands, I use the oil based scrub and it is a frequent and quick nail treatment that keeps them exfoliated and hydrated.

The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash. It’s the last day of April and therefore it’s time for the last Rainy Day Blue. Since it’s been a mix of sunlight and rain the past few days, I thought it was apropos to get the best of both worlds by wearing a holographic polish. I chose OPI Designer Series Glamour so my “April showers” colored tips can sparkle in the sun.

For the life of me, I can’t figure out why OPI discontinued this shade. If someone can solve that riddle, could you let me know? Glamour was part of the 3rd Designer Series release in January ’07. It was the blue holo I’d been waiting for. A gorgeous cornflower hue with a hint of amethyst, Glamour still reigns supreme over all the Designer Series shades I own.

And the formula… WOW to the formula. OPI’s exclusive diamond dust formula is highly pigmented and glides on like buttah. It’s a damn shame the new perm DS polishes aren’t filled with holo goodness like this baby.
With a little hunting you can still find Glamour online. The Designer Series polishes retail for $12.50 but you can find them for less on the web.

Glitter me timbers! Color Club is going glam rock blingtastic for Fall. One of the two new collections from Color Club, Glitter Vixen’s glitz factor is no joke. Consisting of seven clear nail polishes packed to the hilt with glitter, these lacquers are not for the faint of heart.

Now you kids know I loves me some outrageous and sparkly nail colors but these are a bit much. Don’t get me wrong, they’re totally fun and for a special occasion I’ll be rocking the green (that’s a no brainer), blue and holo but the formula is what’s putting me off.

We all know that glitter polishes are a pain. They dry bumpy and are a b*tch to remove but these ones take the cake for me. Usually in a glitter polish, the base is pigmented so it doesn’t have to be as glitter packed but these are allllllll glittah! It took two coats of Seche Vite to get the surface smooth and removing the green was such a PITA (even using felt instead of cotton rounds) that I used a nail wheel for the rest of the swatches. The scratching was just too hard on my nails, sorry girls. So I’m showing the collection in both sunlight and artificial light on fake tips. All swatches use three coats of polish (two on my nails) and no top coat. Enjoy!

The Color Club Glitter Vixen collection retails for $1.99 each and is on sale now at 8ty8Beauty.com and coming soon to Head2ToeBeauty.com.

So what do you think gals? Too blingy or is there no such thing? What has you drooling?