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.

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.

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.

Goldie Hawn in Swing Shift, Joan Crawford’s signature brows, Dita Von Teese’s moon manicures, Cannery Row, Lauren Bacall’s wavy locks.  All these things dance through my head when I think about the 1940′s screen sirens and the look of that decade.

China Glaze has channeled that vibe into their Fall 2010 collection, Vintage Vixen.  Muted neutrals, vivid jewel tones and shiny metallics are all given the China Glaze twist infusing different textures to create some unique versions of old standards.

Application & Formula: 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.

In this collection the polishes are all well pigmented and flow smoothly on the nail.  I was able to get away with two medium coats of each color with the exception of the two metallics that are on the semi-sheer side and require three.

I’m not gonna lie, when I saw the word “frost” pop up over and over again in the initial preview info, all I kept thinking was “grandma!” It’s like that word is forever bonded with pearly white old lady polish.  You know what I mean?  Though I’m very happy to discover that frost doesn’t have to have a negative connotation.

Jitterbug is foil looking metallic that looks like a graphite version of Orly Shine.  It’s a shame my camera doesn’t do foil metallics justice.  I’m not happy with how the finish of this polish or Swing Baby appears on screen.  It’s MUCH better in person.  Trust!

Bogie is a silver tinged plum frost.  What keeps it and the rest of the frosts from being brush stroke nightmares is the metallic shimmer.  There are still minute brush lines but they look more like ribbons of shimmer than actual brush marks.  I know this is one of the polishes people were hoping would dupe Chanel Paradoxal and unfortunately for your wallet, it doesn’t.

Hey Doll is a rosy shimmer similar in finish to Bogie and Foxy (below).  The silver shimmer makes it look like the darker less metallic version of Orly Rage.  I don’t know why but I just can’t get into this.  Of all the shades in this set it’s the only one that doesn’t feel as current.  Like it’s stuck in the past.

Foxy is probably a little too fall for right now but come leaf changing season I’ll be all over this.  The burnt red with flecks of tonal shimmer is really gorgeous.  It’s not necessarily what I would think of as being my speed but the depth this color has is mesmerizing.

Ingrid is probably the most unique flower in this bunch.  I was a bit skeptical as to how creme and micro-glitter would come together but it’s a smash hit.  The golden flecks make the “greige” creme come alive.  After a year of greige being the thing I’m happy to see someone putting a fresh spin on it.  Makes it feel new again, no?

Swing Baby is definitely better viewed live and in person.  Like I said above, it just doesn’t translate on camera.  The color is a mix of champagne and taupe.  It’s this warm beige concoction that I’m really into.  I’m telling you, if you like foils, this one is worth a look in spite of how it appears here.

Bottom Line: INGRID, INGRID INGRID. I’m telling you, run out and get Ingrid. Bogie is a nice alternative for those of you who missed out on Dior Silver Purple. Foil lovers should check out one if not both of the foils is this set.  Warm toned girls will appreciate Foxy and Hey Doll gets a pass.

Comparisons: I can hear you already.  Where are the comparisons?? Well, I’m switching things up a bit.  So many times after I post a collection with comparisons you all come up with suggested dupes that I completely forgot about.  So from now on, I will ask for comparison suggestions and then combine your list with mine into a separate comparison post with the colors that are most like the shades in question.  Sound good?

The China Glaze Vintage Vixen collection launches in July and can be found online at etailers like Head2ToeBeauty.com and in stores at Sally Beauty and ULTA.

Make sure you check out my review of the Cat’s Meow collection as well. So Fanatics, what do we think of these colors?  And let’s hear those comparison requests!

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

There is no rest for the weary at Fashion Week and while most people were enjoying their Sunday morning in bed, I was up with the roosters (like there’s farm life in NYC) to head backstage at Lela Rose. There are a few shows that I can’t miss each season and Lela Rose is one of them. Why? Because the dream team of Ted Gibson and Deborah Lippmann is more than enough reason to get out of bed in the morning. Add in Tina Turnbow for Tarte and Supermodel Carol Alt with her Raw Essentials skincare line and well, can life get any better? Seriously, there was so much magic in that room, I could barely handle it.  I spoke with Carol for over 15 minutes and couldn’t stop myself from going gaga inside over how fabulous she looks.  Total fan girl moment!

Of course I’ll spill the deets on the backstage action with you later but let’s get back on track with the nails. I had this whole plan set in motion about how I would plot out my polish based on who I’d be seeing that day.  Sally Hansen for the Tracey Reese show, China Glaze for Charlotte Ronson, etc.  Though I made the mistake of telling Deb’s publicist that I would be wearing Marquee Moon on Sunday. So even though I woke up with a massive hangover from being out WAY too late Saturday night, I somehow managed to drag my happy ass out of bed extra early for a polish change.  It’s a good thing I did because she totally checked up on me!

I’ve showed you Marquee Moon before so you know about its origins but in case you need a refresher, this is the shade Deb created with sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy the brains behind Rodarte.  It’s a silver metallic base with hexagonal silver sequins that look like tiny mirrors on the nail.

The whole point of Marquee Moon is to have a perfectly imperfect manicure.  It’s not about getting the same number of sequins on each nail.  If some end up with no sequins, so be it.  Which actually makes this an ideal last minute manicure choice.  You can just slap it on and not worry about the end result. If you biff it, the world isn’t going to end.

BTW am I the only person one the planet still saying “biff” because everyone who’s heard me use that word this week is all, “aww, ‘biff’ I haven’t heard that in forever.”  Well, I’m bringing it back people!

Marquee Moon retails for $16/ea and can be purchased online from DeborahLippmann.com or Beauty.com. You can also pick up Deb’s polish at a Nordstrom near you.

ps I hear that Badgley Mischka selected this shade for their runway show this morning.  That there was a whole Avatar theme happening.  Can’t wait to see pics from the show!

Disclosure: A product sample was furnished to me Deborah Lippmann. For more information view my Disclosure Policy.

Thanks to the popularity of  the Minx chrome finish appliques, nail polish brands are jumping to give us a “Minx-like” effect.  Let’s face it, Minx are super cool but expensive.  They’re best for special occasions not everyday wear.  Enter Orly’s latest collection Foil FX, a line of three high shine metallic polishes. While we know that no polish can truly achieve a mirror-like finish, the Foil FX make a valiant effort.  With a silver, gold and bronze-y rose tone, there’s a color to compliment all skin tones.  Check them out after the jump!

The Foil FX polish formula is 3-Free and applies extremely smooth if a little thin. With the exception of the gold (Luxe) they required three coats to become opaque. What made a believer out of me is the lack of brush strokes.  I’m just guessing here but I think what makes the difference is the particles. While the average metallic polish uses a metallic pigment, these seem to be packed with metallic micro-glitter.  The result maximum sparkle with a foil-like finish and no brush marks.

Luxe is definitely the most pigmented polish of the bunch.  It’s pretty much a true gold but the ribbons of silver micro-glitter running throughout the lacquer keep it from getting too yellow or warm.  While I can’t exactly apply mascara while looking into my nails, the finish is quite reflective.  You’ll definitely be noticed wearing these colors.

Rage is described as being a rose foil though to my eye it looks a bit more bronze than rose.  I suppose you could call it a rose gold even though it has the same silver foil glitter inside.  Of the three colors, this is the one I adore most though I can already hear my mom calling to claim it for herself.  She’s a sucker for these types of colors so I’ll probably end up sending it her way at some point.  Not before I get a mani/pedi with it though.  This baby is most likely going with me to NYFW!

Shine is even more electric in person.  Cameras just can’t capture the radiance of these polishes the way the eye sees them.  I’m telling you, if you like metallics these are worth a look.  I love that for a silver doesn’t lean green at all, so it never looks dirty or tarnished.  It’s just pure flashy goodness.  Even though I’m not normally a silver person, I typically wear gold, I love this polish!

The Orly Foil FX collection is slated to go on sale in March though I have a feeling we’ll see it pop up online before that. Keep your eyes on your fave e-tailers Fanatics. Orly is carried at Sally Beauty Supply and in salons like ULTA.

Metallics for spring, what do we think about that? Are you loving this foil look? Which would you choose… Minx or Foil FX?

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

One of the most anticipated collections of the season, OPI Hong Kong takes us to the far east and I don’t want to come back.  Following what I consider a pretty boring year for OPI (I just didn’t LOVE Spain & South Beach) they’re already off to a great start with Alice in Wonderland and Hong Kong.  I hope the momentum keeps going throughout the year. Of course I’ve been geeked over the idea of a new OPI green so Jade Is The New Black has been on my mind for months and it did NOT disappoint.  I dare say it may take down Rainforest as my all-time fave OPI.  That’s a huge statement people! I’ve got the first half of the collection for you today so check out Jade Is The New Black, Suzi Says Feng Shui, Meet Me On The Star Ferry, Bling Dynasty and Pearl of Wisdom after the jump!

OPI’s formula continues to please me.  The cremes just apply so perfectly smooth and my wide nail beds love the brush.  Though it’s like I forget how good the polish is because when I put these on I was like, “DAMN, why can’t all brand be this good?”  You all know how much I love me some China Glaze but their formula just hasn’t been as great as of late whereas OPI just seems to be getting better.  All the polishes shown below applied flawlessly in two coats.

Jade Is The New Black is an understatement.  Jade is the new JADE and I’m talking about Chanel Jade.  I still love the mint polishes but this is the hotness!  Like a lot of gemstones, Jade comes in a range of hues and Jade Is The New Black is on the opposite side of the spectrum from Chanel Jade.  Slightly muted yet vibrant with a blue undertone, it’s one stellar color and a total MUST HAVE!

I know the color comparison requests will come piling in but I truly do NOT have a polish that dupes JITB so I thought I’d show it next to a bunch of other mid-tone greens so you can see how it stands out.

Suzi Says Feng Shui is bright cobalt creme.  Barry M’s Cobalt looks similar in the bottle but on the nail they couldn’t be more different.  This color is lighter and brighter.  FYI, Cleveland’s weather has caused me to rely on my indoor lighting equipment so the rest of these shots (with one exception) are in artificial light.

Again, I thought a bottle lineup would be useful as I have no exact dupe in my stash.  I pitted SSFS up against, OPI No Room For The Blues, Orly Calypso Breeze, Color Club Gossip Color, Barielle A Bouquet for Ava and Illamasqua Muse.  As you can see, it doesn’t have the teal undertones of the shades on the right and it falls somewhere between the two on the left.

When I saw Meet Me On The Star Ferry, I thought, “what is this color doing here?”  It seemed out of place and not that exciting.  On the nail it wowed!   Packed with golden micro-glitter this rosey mauve is extremely eye-catching.  I really have nothing to compare it to.  I thought perhaps Zoya Flowie (too gold) or Rhea ( too purple/cool) and I pulled my bottle of  OPI My Big Break that doesn’t have this type of sparkle.  It’s a winner!  Oh and I had a few seconds of light so I could show it to you in natural and artificial light.

Bling Dynasty is a burnished old gold with metallic shimmer and micro-glitter.  It’s definitely got an aged feel to it like if you dug up some ancient queen that wore real gold nails, this is how they’d look now.  Morbid but that’s where my mind went.

Bling Dynasty is deeper than the other golds in my collection.  As you can see compared to Duri Golden Nugget, Sally Hansen Salon Tassel, OPI Curry Up Don’t Be Late and Orly Gold Rush, BD is darker and richer.

Pearl of Wisdom is a sheer iridescent white with pink-ish pearlized micro-glitter.  This is not a buildable sheer so I’ve shown it with two coats.  I’m not a sheer girl, for obvious reasons (hello short nail beds!) so this one is a pass for me.

The OPI Hong Kong Collection officially launches in February though I’ve seen it for sale online already. OPI is available in salons nationwide including chains like JCPenney, ULTA, Trade Secret, Beauty Express and Regis.

Disclosure: A product sample was furnished to me by OPI. For further information view my Disclosure Policy.

Well this certainly is a surprise.  I always check out the Chanel runway shows with the hopes of catching a glimpse of their next big nail color.  Don’t get me wrong, I love to gawk at the clothes as well but I beeline for the up close shots of the nails. Today’s Spring/Summer Couture runway was no different.  And what do I see?  Silver chrome, mirror-finish manicures to compliment the heavy metallic accessories, shoes and garment details.  I love the look but it seems so NOT Chanel to use products other than their own. So what does this mean? A. Chanel has given into the Minx trend and gone foil on us. B. They had extra bottles of Kaleidoscope on hand for the show (Remember, lighting changes how polish looks so it could be Kaleidoscope). C. We’ll be seeing a new super metallic silver from Chanel Le Vernis come Fall.

What do you think? Nail polish or foil? In your Chanel metallic dream world would you rather see Kaleidoscope come back or a brand new foil-like Chanel silver polish?

image credit: Vogue UK

I have yet to see Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire but from what I hear, Golden Globe Nominee Gabourey Sidibe, gives an amazing performance.  Considering how much the Hollywood Foreign Press tends to favor the new kid on the block, I was actually amazed that she didn’t take home a golden statuette last night. In the sea of purple, black and gold dresses on the red carpet last night, Gabourey really stood out in her emerald green gown.  Though what caught my attention was the bit of bling on her tips that matched her sparkly clutch.  It’s a party after all, why not add some glitzed out glamour? Celebrity Manicurist Kimmie Kyees was on hand to tend to Gabby’s manicure and she used a layering combo for maximum bling.  At first glance I thought she was wearing silver chrome Minx but instead Kimmie layered the glittery Essie Silver Bullions over metallic silver Essie Loophole.

Both Essie Loophole and Silver Bullions are available online at Essie.com and in salons including national chains Regis, ULTA and Trade Secret.

What do you think of Gabourey’s nail look? What would you have paired with that gorgeous shade of green?

image credit: WireImage & Celebutopia

If there’s one thing I’m certain of this Spring, there is no true theme for nail color.  We’re seeing brights, nudes, holos, greens and with the launch of Zoya Reverie, metallics. I have to admit, when I first saw the promo images I was intrigued by the duo-chrome look of Adina, but feeling unsure of the rest.  After having some time to play with the collection, I’m pleased to say there is more than one gem in this bunch.  Check them out after the jump!

So you know what comes to mind when the dreaded word “metallic” gets bandied about… stroke marks!  Oh the horror!  Seriously, I love the look of metallics but the uneven finish drives a perfectionist like me bonkers.  I’m happy to report that while these aren’t completely stroke-free they are about as smooth as metallics can get.  I think it’s because they aren’t what I think of as a traditional metallic.  It looks as though each shade has a shimmery (not metallic) base infused with metallic micro-glitter.

In regards to application, each and every color in this collection flows like buttah and wow are they pigmented.  I used two coats for each swatch though with some shades I could have gotten away with one.  I am showing each polish at two angles so you can see the color with all its shimmer power and the base color as well.

Adina is the color that has been receiving the most buzz.  Like the blogger it’s named after, Adina from Krasey Beauty, it is a unique flower.  With its cool purple base and green shimmer Adina is a true duo-chrome, meaning it flashes different colors depending on the lighting and angle in which you view it.  As much as I like the color, it doesn’t seem to flatter me but I’ll wear it anyway.

Based on early images, I wrote Adina off as a Ki dupe (like Zoya would ever be that lame, ha!) and was I ever wrong.  Ki is an oilspill on the nails with its inky base and flashes of purple and green while Adina is much lighter and, I’ve got to say it, Scrangie-esque.

Reece is my surprise in this collection.  I love it when a color sneaks up on me and this one certainly did that.  I love the deep rose shade and the way the gold micro-glitter pops against it.  It actually reminds me a lot of China Glaze Strawberry Fields only this is the non-glass flecked version.

Laney is a metallic silver that reflects different colors in the bottle, like a mirror, only on my hands it just looks tinged with green and not in a good way.  In bright light, it’s a great smooth silver, which isn’t easy to find but, in low lighting it makes my hands look dead.  Then again, that’s why I wear gold jewelry, silver makes me look washed out.

Happi is a deserving name for this popping pink.  It’s very Hubba Bubba only with a gold flecked twist.  Though of all the colors in this set, Happi’s gold micro-glitter shows up the least.

Gwin just might replace Lianne as my fave orange Zoya.  It’s got that same gold-smattered Sunkist hue only this is much more pigmented.  I love Lianne and always include it in my list of orange polish recs but the sheerness has always been its only downfall.  Gwin definitely doesn’t have that issue.

Lana is a burnt orange-red with the gold glitter giving it a suntanned, baked feel.  If I was ranking the polishes in terms of how much the glitter stands out, Lana would fall right behind Happi.  It’s not all BAM sparkle with Lana, she’s a subtler lady.

The Zoya Reverie collection launches this month on Zoya.com and is available for pre-order NOW.  Zoya polishes retail for $7/ea and can be found in salons nationwide.  Find a salon near you with the Zoya Salon Locator.

How are you feeling about Reverie?  Did the collection live up to your expectations?  Surpass them? Disappoint?  Which polishes will make their way to your collection?

Disclosure: A product sample was furnished to me by Zoya. For further information view my Disclosure Policy.