We’re only seven weeks and two days away from the hotly anticipated opening of The Hunger Games (yes I’m counting) and the only thing more buzzed about than the actual movie is the nail polish collaboration between Lionsgate and China Glaze, The Capitol Colours Collection. Even people who haven’t read the books are exploding with excitement over these polishes.

Between the drama over whether the collection would even come out, the name changes from a character driven theme to a “Capitol” driven theme, that still represents the Districts more than the Capitol, to the debate over whether a book about a dystopian society where children fight to the death for their District’s survival should even be associated with nail polish, every nail lover has been talking about this collection.

All of that aside, it’s the colors alone that drew the majority of us in. Wanting to own a piece of a favorite book series is definitely a part of it but we wouldn’t be rabid to get our hands on the lacquers unless the colors made our pulses race. And that’s exactly what mine did when the collection landed on my doorstep. Let’s dive into the world of Panem, shall we?

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.

The diversity of the finishes in this collection makes it hard to generalize the application as being just one thing. Overall the cremes are thin and workable. The metallics and matte are a bit on the goopy side and take some finesse to apply smoothly. The shimmer, foil and jelly polishes were all a dream to work with. I will comment on any application issues below but all polishes are shown with two coats with the exception of the glitter, Electrify.

China Glaze Agro (District 11 – Agriculture) Is a metallic olive green with flecks of gold. The base isn’t overly warm which makes it very wearable though peeps with uber cool tones may have a hard time pulling it off. Due to the metallic finish, brush strokes are an issue and the formula is kind of clumpy so apply very thin layers. Application tip: Apply to the sides first (strokes 1 & 2) then finish in the middle to blend and smooth the surface.

China Glaze Dress Me Up (District 8 – Textiles) is the color that was originally named for Primrose and given its dusty rose color, that would have been a great fit. It’s creamy with a soft, delicate nature, just like Prim.

China Glaze Electrify (District 5 – Power) is a clear-based packed with yellow gold and red glitter. The gold is the more prevalent color though the photo doesn’t show that. Unfortunately shooting in macro pulls apart the colors that your eye will naturally blend together. The overall effect looks like gold foil peppered with red sparkles.  Thanks to the density of the glitter, you can get decent coverage without a ton of coats. I am showing you one, two and three coats of color.

China Glaze Fast Track (District 6 – Transportation) is a cool beige packed with gold micro-flecks. It has a similar finish as Knotty from Anchors Away except the base is cooler and more opaque and the flecks are gold instead of silver. It’s a great twist on your average neutral. I was honestly expecting this one to be pretty sheer so I was pleasantly surprised to find that it gives great coverage.

China Glaze Foie Gras (District 10 – Livestock) is a dark, moody mauve creme. I’m calling it Below Deck After Dark. It’s a member of that whole taupe-y purple family that Chanel Particuliere and SOPI Metro Chic belong to.

China Glaze Harvest Moon (District 9 – Grain) is a burnt copper foil metallic. It had the autumnal, fall feeling that represents the idea of a bountiful harvest really well. Unlike the other metallics in this collection, because it’s a foil, it applies smooth as butter and it packed with pigment.

China Glaze Hook and Line (District 4 – Fishing) is a muddied, pewter metallic. There’s a bit of taupe to its underbelly that makes me think of a fish hook that has a thin layer layer of dried dirt from years of use. It’s definitely unusual. It had the same application issues so see above for my tip to getting a smooth finish.

China Glaze Luxe & Lush (District 1 – Luxury) is the FLAKIE top coat. I know all you flakie fans have been freaking over this and since we’re in the midst of a giant flakie movement I’m sure this color will sell fast. In the bottle you can see flecks of fiery orange, blue and a lilac leaning pink in a milky base. I thought it would pair well with Dress Me Up but I wanted to show you other options so I included a black (ChG Liquid Leather) and pale blue (ChG Sea Spray). I think I expected it to explode over black but it kind of fizzled out like an expired firecracker. I love it over the other two though.

China Glaze Mahogany Magic (District 7 – Lumber) is a rich, yellow-based, brown creme. While it’s meant to have a woody feel, I look at it and see a horse mane. Can’t get that out of my mind. Undoubtedly this will rock on warmer/olive skin tones but on me, it feels wrong. Clearly I can’t wear colors this yellow.

China Glaze Riveting (District 3 – Technology) is a jelly-fied gem. A sister to two classic China Glaze jellies, Orange Marmalade and Orange-Pacific this color has one thing going for it the others lack, pigment. It’s magical. Two coats and it’s on! LOVE!

China Glaze Stone Cold (District 2 – Masonry) surprised me as I wasn’t expecting to see a matte in this collection but it makes total sense to have this graphite glitter dry with a matte finish. It’s so asphalt-esque I can’t stand it. Though very similar to Nubar Matte Midnight. Like most mattes, the formula is a bit thick and goopy so use thin coats and workly quickly since mattes dry fast.

With a top coat the silver sparkles come alive and it resembles graphite. I prefer this look over the flat matte.

China Glaze Smoke & Ashes (District 12 – Mining) is the color I’ve been looking forward to most and it does not disappoint. The love child of Blk-Bila-Bong and Glittering Garland, it has the inky base and blue micro-flecks that made BBB a star. Mix in the emerald fleck from GG and we have a rising star on our hands. It’s so much better in person, trust!

Bottom Line: Even though the association with the Districts is not something that is advertised in association with this collection (I read it on this blog) overall I feel the colors do a great job of representing The Hunger Games. Are there some dupeable shades, no doubt. But are there some legen (wait for it)… DARY must-haves? Abso-frickin-lutely. Smoke & Ashes, Riveting, Luxe & Lush, Agro and Fast Track and Harvest Moon are all keepers. If your budget allows, consider Electrify and Dress Me Up. I know I’m known for my aversion to pinks but there’s something about DMU that attracts me. Plus is looks fab under Luxe & Lush.

The China Glaze Capitol Colours collection releases mid-March 2012 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.

Alright so spill… which colors will make your short list to buy? Which one will you wear to see The Hunger Games? Which colors exceeded your expectations based on previews? Which ones fell short?

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. Matte nail polish reemerged on the nail polish scene in 2009 and regardless of how you feel about the gloss-less look, I’ve always said there is one major benefit to matte; dry time. If you’re a girl on the go, the super speedy drying power of mattes can save you from leaving the house with naked nails. Before you even hit the door, your nails are smudge-proof. I’m genetically predisposed to being fifteen minutes late wherever I go thanks to my perpetually late mother. Okay so lateness isn’t an inherited trait, it’s a case of nurture not nature, but I consistently find myself grabbing for a matte minutes before I dash out of the house. Even if it’s only to cover up my swatching nails, creating what I call “nail blogger skittles.” Such was the case when I applied Zoya Phoebe from the recently released ModMatte collection.

Formula & Application: Zoya matte nail polish is 4-Free (including formaldehyde resin) and does not contain camphor which can be an irritant. The ModMattes come in a brushed glass bottle with a tapered, frosted black cap that rests comfortably between the thumb and index finger while polishing.  The brush is short, round and medium in girth with flexible bristles that allow for ease of control.

I was sent the set of mini ModMattes and while they are half the size of regular Zoya bottles, the cap is almost as big as its full size sibling. The major difference is the brush. It’s about a quarter inch longer and thinner than the regular Zoya brush. What I found interesting is that as you wipe the brush against the bottle neck, it becomes flat which makes for an easy application. Considering that a lot of minis don’t apply as well as their full size counterparts, this was a happy discovery.

The formula of matte polishes can make them unforgiving in regards to application. Any uneven brush strokes or nail imperfections (ie ridges) will be reflected in the final product. The ModMatte polishes apply pretty thin but for me that meant an extra coat. While I can normally get away with two coats with matte polish, I ended up needing three coats of Phoebe. A thicker application would fix that but it could result in a lumpy finish.

Matte nail polish application tips: Apply on a dry, bare nail. Base coat can prolong wear but you must wait until it is completely dry to avoid streaking. To maintain the matte finish, avoid hand lotion and oils. Add a glossy top coat to change up the look and extend wear.

Zoya Phoebe is an electrified blue shimmer that comes about as close to neon you can get without entering DayGlo territory. The subtle shimmer gives the polish a more satin finish and prevents it from looking like flat wall paint.

Adding a layer of glossy top coat really brings the shimmer to life. Though a thin top coat, like Out The Door, doesn’t dry as high gloss as usual. It has a slight satin edge, as if you buffed the finish a bit. A second layer or a thick top coat like Seche Vite would remedy this but I kind of like it without the wet look of a traditional top coat.

Bottom Line: Considering that the majority of matte polishes have been dark and moody, the fun, summery ModMatte brights are refreshing. Phoebe is unique and vivid with a lot of depth which makes it a great buy whether or not you love a matte nail. Wear it matte when you’re in a rush and add a glossy top coat later to change up your look without having to drag out the remover.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: I don’t have a matte anything like this color so I’m STASHing it.

Zoya Phoebe and the rest of the ModMatte collection is available at salons and spas nationwide. Locate a salon near you or purchase online at Zoya.com. Zoya ModMatte nail polishes retail for $8/ea for a .5oz bottle or pick up the ModMatte Mini Trio for $15 for three .25oz bottles. Don’t forget, you can try before you buy with the Zoya Color Spoon program.

Thoughts on Phoebe and the ModMattes? Are you still wearing matte nail polishes? If so, are you wearing them matte or with a glossy top coat? Has anyone tried a matte pedicure? I would love to know how long it lasted.

Disclosure: A product sample was provided by Zoya. 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. I rarely make it to an Icing accessory store since we moved a few years ago which is a shame because I really love their polish.  The closest one to me is a hual and in a pretty unremarkable mall.  With the Cleveland shopping mecca, Beachwood Place, so close, I never see the purpose in traveling to other malls. However, last summer I found myself visiting friends near Detroit and had an afternoon free so I FINALLY got to meet up with K. from Pumps and Gloss for some retail therapy. I introduced her to the wonderful world of Icing nail polish and discovered that they had joined the wonderful world of mattes. Now I know that mattes are “so 2009″ and all but they’re still a great last minute manicure option due to their quick dry time. Besides, the metallic mattes look fantastic with a glossy top coat so polishes like Icing Bet Me And Lose aren’t just one trick ponies.

Formula & Application: Icing nail polishes are 4-Free (includes formaldehyde resin).  They come in bottles that look identical to China Glaze polishes only the brush is different.  The Icing brush flat and long but not necessarily wide.  You would almost think it was a typical brush if you didn’t twist it around.  The bristles aren’t overly flexible but they easily fan out across the nail.

While a lot of metallic mattes can be goopy or streaky, Bet Me And Lose flowed on the nail with ease.  It is bursting with pigment and gives great coverage even on the first coat.  What impressed me is that, unlike some mattes, it levels out nicely so you don’t have to be overly precise with your strokes.  Even when I left what could be a considered a decent size ridge of polish on my nail from an over loaded brush, the polish dried nice and flat.

Icing Bet Me And Lose is an indigo metallic matte.  The silver micro glitter dispersed throughout the polish keep the color from looking like flat wall paint when dried.  It adds depth and texture with a hint of sheen in spite of the matte finish.

Adding a layer of top coat jolts the polish to life allowing the metallic glitter to dance and playfully reflect the light.

With Oh So Wet! top coat

Bottom Line: Given the quality of the pigmentation and application, there’s no way this one doesn’t get my approval.  The color is cool and beautiful, even when matte.  The addition of top coat makes it sparkle like a jewel.  Even if you don’t like mattes, this one is worth checking out.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: I’m most definitely STASHing it.

Icing nail polishes are available at Icing accessory stores nationwide.  Icing nail polishes retail for $4.50/ea for a .65oz bottle but are usually part a multi-purchase discount, like 3 for $10.

Are you still wearing mattes?  If so, are you wearing them straight up or with top coat?  Thoughts on Bet Me And Lose?  What has your experience been with the Icing Mattes or Icing polishes in general?

Disclosure: For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

After a long and lovely Thanksgiving break, I’m back to blogging.  I took a bit of a break to give my nails a rest from swatching and to focus on enjoying the holiday with my family and friends. The boyfriend and I hosted dinner again this year and all I can say is I am very thankful to have found a man who can cook, and cook well. I’m a disaster in the kitchen and he is a Turkey Day champ! We packed our schedule pretty full including Cleveland’s Winterfest Wine & Ale Fest downtown Saturday night. Naturally I was running late so I relied on my usual last minute manicure trick, matte nail polish.  It’s a quick drying lifesaver.  Given the holiday theme of the event I opted for a green, OPI Here Today… Aragon Tomorrow, and it’s the perfect shade for the season.

I know matte nail polishes are “so last season” but I’ll tell you what… I love having them in my arsenal of lacquer.  When you’re running late, as I often am, it’s a great way to slap color on your digits without worrying about smudges or dents. The last thing I do before leaving the house, with my shoes & coat on, purse packed, keys out and easy to grab, is slap on a couple of coats of matte polish. It’s dry before I get out the door.

Now I don’t wear the truly matte colors, devoid of sparkle. The flat wall paint is look is not for me.  I opt for the shimmery colors, like the OPI Suede and Zoya Matte Velvet hues.  On Saturday I pulled Here Today… Aragon Tomorrow.  It’s a rich emerald green that screams “HOLIDAY!”  It’s a pretty true green, with more yellow than blue in its base.  The only problem is it’s so stunning wet, that it looks boring and disappointing on its own.

I remembered ALU Fanatic Cathy posted a pic of HTAT with top coat on the ALU Facebook page so I slapped on one layer of Olan Quick & Slick to bring the luscious shimmer to life.  Though as you can see below, one coat left the polish with more of a satin finish.  Since I was on the run, I didn’t realize it until I arrived downtown but it got the job done.

These last two images were shot two days later and the polish is holding up nicely. I’m wearing it tonight to a preview dinner for a new restaurant in town & have no tip wear or chips to repair. However I did add a second coat of Quick & Slick to maximize the glossiness.

And here’s a look inside the event. The Winter Wine & Ale Fest was held at 200 Public Square, the former BP Building. The Downtown Cleveland Alliance brought together 20 local breweries and wineries to sample their seasonal and most popular beverages. The proceeds from the event go to “Generocity Cleveland” which funds programs, services and a social worker to assist the homeless with documentation, job placement and permanent housing.

I discovered a new favorite holiday beer, Hoppin’ Frog Frosted Frog, a spicy Christmas Ale with a lot of yummy clove, and sampled old faves from Thirsty Dog Brewing and South River Winery. I love an event that supports local businesses and works to build a better downtown CLE.

OPI Here Today… Aragon Tomorrow Suede was released in late summer for the fall and it can still be found online, including eBay, if you choose to go that route.

Other options include Zoya Veruschka and Revlon Emerald City. Veruschka is from the Winter 2009 MatteVelvet collection and looks very similar to OPI HTAT. Veruschka is a bit darker but the difference is negligible. I haven’t seen the Revlon yet but since it came out for fall you may be able to hunt it down.

Does anyone else rely on matte polish for a last minute manicure?  What’s your go to solution for looking polished when time is of the essence?  How many of you wear a glossy top coat over your matte/suede polishes? Is anyone still wearing mattes as mattes, just for fun and not because of necessity?

Disclosure: A product sample was provided by OPI. I purchased tickets to the Winter Wine & Ale Fest. For more info, view my Disclosure Policy.

Who remembers the old CoverGirl Crackle Lacquers?  I know they were popping up in dollar stores a few years ago but I was never lucky enough to score one.  I did find one old bottle of purple Crackle in my Caboodle at my parents house a while back but it was dried and crusty.  And yes I realize I just totally dated myself with the Caboodle reference. With nail art hitting a fever pitch it’s no surprise that this look would come back. Between nail stampers, water marbling, nail art pens, ombre nails and crackle nail polish DIY nail fanatics have endless options when they want to amp up their nail style. I’m still unsure of how I feel about the crackle look but I figured I’d give it a whirl. As I mentioned in my Link Love post on Sunday, my friend Sara from Bit By The Beauty Bug had a crackle pedicure at her salon in Boston.  Sara told me about it just before I went to Vegas and mentioned that her tech got her bottle from overseas.  So of course while I was at Cosmoprof I scoured the International section looking for crackle nail polish.  I hit the jackpot when I visited the Mia Secret booth.

Like I said above, crackle nail polish isn’t exactly new but it seems to be making a comeback. TransDesign has been selling Krackpolish for a while now but I never took the plunge. I guess it took seeing the polishes in person to give me the kick in the butt I needed.

It turns out that Mia Secret only sells in large quantities to retailers but I was able to scope out the colors while in Vegas. When I got home I searched eBay and found a seller carrying the brand so I ordered bottles of blue, black and green.

I originally tested out the green using a white creme base, Barielle Enduring.  However, because the polish underneath wasn’t completely dry and I put on a thick layer of the crackle polish my first swatch was a giant fail!

That’s when I learned the three important rules of crackle polish application. 1. Choose a contrasting base color and make sure it is completely dry. The longer you wait the better. 2. The thinner you apply the crackle polish the more cracks you will have. 3. Crackle polish dries matte and flakes off without a top coat. To get a better idea of how crackle nail polish works I asked the authorities on all things cosmetic chemistry related, The Beauty Brains.  My theory is that an ingredient is added to polish that makes it constrict, similar to how Shrinky Dinks constricted in the oven. Thankfully the Left Brain set me straight… You are sort of correct. Cosmetic chemists use solvents that are normally considered incompatible. When applied to the surface of the polish, the applied solvent causes uneven drying which cracks the surface. Normally, this is something you want to avoid. The final effect causes an inferior coating on the nail so it doesn’t last as long. To speed up the swatching/crackling process I chose to use matte nail polishes for the base colors since they dry so fast. If you’re over the whole matte look this is a great way to use them up. I paired Knockout Cosmetics Liberty with the green, OPI La Paz-itively Hot Matte with the black and Knockout Cosmetics Concrete with the blue.

I’m showing these in the order I swatched them and as you’ll see, the crackle effect gets better the more I worked with the product. Though the brush on the green was a bit janky so it ended up going on a bit thicker than I would have liked.

Mia Secret Crackle Nail Polish in Blue over KO Concrete

Mia Secret Crackle Nail Polish in black over OPI La Paz-itively Hot Matte

I applied the black way too thick on my ring finger and it didn’t crack like it should have. You can see the cracks starting to form but they didn’t come to fruition.

Mia Secret Crackle Nail Polish in green over KO Liberty

The eBay seller I purchased the Mia Secret polish from no longer has them listed but I did find other sellers carrying crackle nail polish; SimplyTheBest88 and Trendin_Sales.  Even though Trendin_Sales has limited feedback I did find their website where they sell the polish direct with free shipping, TrendinCosmetics.com.  To find an online seller or store carrying Mia Secret try contacting them via the info on their website.  TransDesign sells Krackpolish for $2.99/ea.

What do you think of the crackle nail look?  Do you want to see this trend come back full force or should it lay low?  Have you found other brands of crackle nail polish besides the ones I have listed?  I know Swedish brand IsaDora recently launched Graffiti Nails overseas but does anyone know if it will be released in the US?  Also, does anyone else find it odd that the Mia Secret bottles look just like OPI’s trademarked design?

Disclosure: A sample of OPI La Paz-itively Hot Matte was provided courtesy of OPI. I purchased the other polishes. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

Pulled straight from the runway, Chanel’s Noir Et Or Paris-Shanghai Collection is a black and gold extravaganza that would make Cleopatra proud.  Peter Philips, Global Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, was inspired by the “glamorous fantasy of Shanghai in the 30’s and 40’s” when he created this limited collection consisting of three new nail colors and an eye shadow/liner palette. Like most of you, my brow wrinkled when I heard that Chanel was jumping on the matte bandwagon so late in the game but I was intrigued by the idea of a gold glitter.  After missing out on the gorgeous Tokyo Happening glitters, I hoped this would fill that lemming and it more than surpassed my expectations.  Check out my swatches and full review after the jump!

Gold Lamé is a brushed warm gold metallic.  Being a pretty typical metallic lacquer, it applies with visible brush strokes.  Even though I let each coat dry for a few minutes in between, I couldn’t keep those darn stokes at bay.  In terms of pigmentation, it’s OK but not perfect.  I ended up applying three thin coats over a ridge filler to get it completely opaque.  Though I will give Gold Lamé props for its buttery smooth texture.  It was very easy to control.

I hate having to tell you all that I have no exact dupes for Gold Lamé. I know how it disappoints budget conscious Fanatics.  So I’m showing you Gold Lamé next to its gold Chanel cousins, Gold Fiction and Golden Sand.  Gold Lamé falls somewhere between the coppery hue of GS and the true yellow gold of GF.

Illusion D’or is such a star and that just doesn’t come across on camera.  The second I pulled it out of the box, I was compelled to Tweet about its glorious iridescent flaky glitter that reflects a bluish-purple hue.  All you “flakies” fans are going to die over this one.  Amongst the evenly distributed golden micro-glitter are these gold and purple flakes that are something I’ve never seen in a Chanel polish before.  It’s heavenly.  I applied two thin coats that dried to a smooth glossy finish.

Illusion D’or over Gold Lamé

Black Velvet is a satiny black creme.  It dries with a cool, rubberized texture that has a risqué bondage feel to it.  The application was so flawless I kept thinking, “this isn’t a matte.”  Seriously, the polish is uber-pigmented and it flows so extremely smooth you can’t believe it will dry anything but glossy.  I even applied it over a base coat, to prevent staining, and it oozed onto the nail perfectly.  No matter what you think of the matte/satin finish look, this is a high quality polish.  What you see below is two thin coats that I let dry for 10 minutes before photographing so you can see the true finish.

Illusion D’or over Black Velvet

Obviously my ability to paint tips is sub-par but I thought I’d give the Shanghai Runway Nail a go.  I did my own version including Illusion D’or over Gold Lamé with Black Velvet tips and while I don’t hate it, I’m sure it would look much better applied by a pro on a slightly longer nail.

Bottom Line: Illusion D’or is the standout with its flaky iridescent glitter and would be the one color I’d call a “must-have.”  Black Velvet’s satin finish helps it stand apart from other matte polishes but a coat of Barielle Matte-inée over a black creme gives a similar effect.  Gold Lamé’s streaky finish garners it a “pass” from me.

The Chanel Noir Et Or Paris-Shanghai Collection is on sale now at Chanel.com and can be found at Chanel Boutiques and Makeup Studios. These LE polishes retail for $25/ea. Oh and in case you didn’t know, the Summer Collection nail polishes are up on Chanel.com as well and they retail for $25/ea.

What do you think of the Noir Et Or colors? Do you like the rubberized look of Black Velvet? Will you be running out to get any of these? Oh and are you interested in seeing a wear test with Black Velvet?

Disclosure: Product samples were furnished to me by Chanel. For more information view my Disclosure Policy.

For the “Metiers D’Art” fashion show in Shanghai, Peter Philips, Global Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, created an exclusive collection, Noir Et Or. The collection is a glamorous fantasy of Shanghai in the 30’s and 40’s as Coco Chanel herself may have imagined it. The black and gold eyes and nails complimented the gilded and jet black accents shown on the runway. Like the Paris-Moscou Collection, the Noir Et Or Paris-Shanghai Collection is a limited edition set of colors taken straight from the runway.  I have to admit I’m a bit surprised to see Chanel coming out with a matte polish at this point in the game.  They’ve always been trendsetters not followers so I’m curious to see how Black Velvet is received.

NAILS:
Le Vernis Nail Colour in Black Velvet – Matte black nail color in a frosted bottle ($25.00)

Le Vernis Nail Colour in Gold Lamé – Satiny gold nail color ($25.00)

Le Vernis Nail Colour in Illusion d‘or – Transparent sparkling gold nail color ($25.00)

EYES:
Ligne et Ombre de Chanel in Jet-Gold - Matte black eyeliner and sparkling gold eyeshadow ($45.00)

The Noir Et Or Paris-Shanghai Collection launches in April 2010.  It will be carried exclusively at Chanel.com, Chanel Boutiques and Chanel Makeup Studios.

What do you think Fanatics? Do any of these LE shades have you excited? How do you feel about Chanel releasing a matte polish?

MAC is hitting us with a lot of nail color this spring. Almost all the collections include nail polish and Riveting, MAC’s ode to 80s rocker chic, is no exception. They’re hitching their wagon on the matte polish train with three true, flat mattes. Unlike the Jin Soon polishes that were rumored to be matte (they were cremes) these are matte polishes as we’ve come to know them. One thing that is a bit different about the Riveting nail polishes is that, unlike other brands that included one finish per matte collection, Riveting has two cremes (think OPI Matte) and one shimmer (a la OPI Suede).  If you still don’t have your fill of the matte look, take a peek at these after the jump!

MAC’s matte polishes are 3-Free and behave as we’ve come to expect from the genre.  They dry fast, are unforgiving when it comes to nail imperfections and become more satin over time due to water and oil exposure.  In applying them I found that three coats work best.  It’s not necessarily a pigmentation issue rather a case of evening out any rough spots.  If you excel at application you can probably get away with two coats that just wasn’t my experience.

Studded is the hands down fave of this collection.  The consensus seems to be that if we’re talking matte polish vs top coat, a shimmery matte is preferred over a flat creme.  And since I have yet to come across a silver matte this light (most look charcoal) it’s a winner in my book.  In fact, of all my matte polishes this is the one I chose to take to NYFW for a day when a full mani wasn’t possible.  I just never got around to wearing it.

Wham, Bam, Glam is a dark taupe along the lines of OPI You Don’t Know Jacques Matte.  In fact, unless you’re really looking for the difference between the two, you’d swear they were the same.  So if you’re looking for a matte this shade and don’t own the YDKJ Matte, this is another option.

Black Enough? really needs no explanation.  It’s flat. It’s black. It’s creme.  It definitely fits in with the rocker aesthetic happening in Riveting but it’s not exactly a showstopper.  It actually reminds me of a black chalkboard.

Bottom line: If you’re going to pick up just one of these polishes, I would suggest Studded.

You can find the MAC Riveting collection Nail Lacquers now at your local MAC counter and online MACCosmetics.com.  MAC nail polishes retail for $12/ea.

How do you feel about more mattes coming out?  Are you still wearing them?  Do you think the trend will truck along until Fall or is it dead?

Disclosure: A product sample was furnished to me by MAC. For more info please read my Disclosure Policy.

A perfect addition to your special occassion Orly’s newest set of matte colors, Metal Chic, includes three metallic shades that will add a fun twist to your party look.  Iron Butterfly, Glam Rock and Solid Gold are in the same vein as the OPI Suede and Zoya MatteVelvet polishes in that they contain metallic shimmer to add a bit of bling to what could be a very flat, wall paint-ish polish. Even though I’ve been a proponent of using a matte top coat versus a matte nail polish, there is one HUGE advantage in the matte polish corner… dry time!!  Even though I love painting my nails, I don’t always have time to execute the perfect manicure.  Case in point, last night.  I was heading downtown for a charity event but was running late, per usual.  It was bad enough that my tips were naked during my charity beauty sale but two nights in a row was unacceptable.  So I threw on a quick coat of Iron Butterfly and not only did it give great coverage, it was dry before I got out the door.  Talk about convenient.  Check out these last minute manicure wonders along with some comparisons, after the jump!

I’ve given some tips regarding matte polish application but it definitely bears repeating.  Here is my method for applying this tricky formula:

• Remove any oils from the nail bed using a prep product, household vinegar or anti-bacterial soap.
• Work quickly. The polish dries fast so time is of the essence
• Apply thin even coats.  The finish is unforgiving so brush strokes will show
• If you choose to apply base coat (I recommend it), wait at least 5 minutes for it to completely dry.  Applying matte polish on top of wet base coat will cause it to gum up and apply unevenly.
• Wear a matte top coat for longer lasting results but be aware that it can lighten the color (especially Essie, China Glaze & RBL).
• Avoid hand lotions or cuticle oils to maintain the matte finish.

Solid Gold is an old gold hued matte with silver shimmer.  I think without the shimmer it would feel dull and too rustic.

Adding top coat brings out some reddish undertones making the shade warmer.

Glam Rock is bronze that leans more red than orange in person.

And with a glossy top coat it gets a copper penny glow, only a bit darker.

Iron Butterfly is for all the cool toned Fanatics out there.  Even though it looks black going on, the silver shimmer causes it to dry to a lighter charcoal hue.

I thought for sure it would be a dupe for one of the other black/gray mattes I have but nope, it’s in a league all its own.  With more shimmer than Zoya Dovima and more pigmentation than OPI Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees Suede, it has no twins.

With top coat, Iron Butterfly looks like OPI Baby It’s Coal Outside, right?

The Orly Metal Chic metallic matte collection is slated to launch in February but I’m hoping it will hit the online e-tailers earlier than that. Orly can also be found at Sally Beauty Supply but be on the hunt because the seasonal collections go fast.

Anyone else loving the quick dry time of the matte polishes? Are you over matte? What would you think of spring hued mattes or should they die out with winter?

Disclosure: A product sample was furnished to me by Orly’s PR rep. For further information view my Disclosure Policy.

Keep On With The [Mattes] Don’t Stop
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
lyrics by Michael Jackson (altered by moi)

As long as you keep loving the Mattes, its seems Zoya will keep pumping them out. And if they’re as hot as the Winter MatteVelvets, sign me up.

You all know that I’m a fan of the matte top coat vs. matte polish but some colors are worth the short wear time. For me, that color is GREEN! Big surprise, I know. Throw in my other love, purple, and we’ve got ourselves one helluva matte party. Check out the Winter MatteVelvets after the jump!

You know from my NYFW NOTD Challenge that I’ve had the Winter MatteVelvets for a while. I waited until now to post them because I was informed that the finish of my Veruschka sample (the green) was too shiny and being reformulated before the official launch. You want to see the actual polish you’re buying, right?

Now I don’t know if the finish is the only change with these mattes but for the most part, they applied FLAWLESSLY. Savita was my only problem child (see below). I was seriously impressed. They flowed so much better than the fall collection, especially Verushcka, providing a larger margin for application errors and a more even result. Well done Zoya!

Veruschka is obviously my fave in this collection. Like an evergreen tree she is a shimmering goddess of the forest. There’s something about the shimmer in the Zoya mattes that give them a “lit from within” look that doesn’t translate on camera. Very magical.
Savita is without question a stunner. A true grape hue, it’s right up my alley. What disappointed me was the consistency. This was the only polish in the set that I had difficulty with. It had a somewhat chalky quality that made for an uneven, chunky application. It’s not totally unworkable, it just wasn’t the dream Veruschka was.
Harlow‘s berry/magenta hue has glow that looks like I’m wearing fabric on my nails. With a glossy top coat it reminds me of one of my fave OPI Designer Series polish, Extravagance, minus the holographic glitter.
The Zoya MatteVelvet Collection is on sale now. Polishes retail for $7/ea and can be purchased online at Zoya.com. To find a salon carrying Zoya near you, try their salon locator.

Who’s planning to get the Winter MatteVelvets? Who already bought them? What do you think of them? Have you discovered any tricks to making them last longer?