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. When I meet someone who is unfamiliar with Illamasqua I often find myself describing the brand as the UK version of MAC but that’s not really a fair portrayal. While both brands have playful, diverse color ranges and are very open to all walks of life, I dare say MAC has become a bit more tame under the Estee Lauder umbrella while Illamasqua keeps their underground edge a bit more prominent. This spring the Illamasqua Toxic Nature Collection delves into a a realm where nature is fighting back with conceptual and slightly off nail colors that include a funky ochre, Bacterium, and an acid lime, Radium. I opted to wear the grounded, more traditional, Purity for today’s 365 of Untrieds.

Formula & Application: Illamasqua is a 3-Free brand based out of the UK that sells their products exclusively at Sephora in the US. The bottle has a removable outer cap that reveals a small ribbed inner cap that can be used for application though I prefer to just leave the outer cap on while polishing. The brush is thin and round and reminds me of the old OPI non-Pro Wide brush.

Purity is really well pigmented given how light the color is. The formula feels somewhat thick when it lays down and it looks pretty streaky on the first coat but once the second coat went down, it was flawless.  Because the polish is thick with pigment I suggest applying one thin coat, which will be uneven, let that dry for a couple minutes, then apply one medium coat.  You should be good to go.  We’re talking two coats and done.

Illamasqua Purity is a Georgia peach creme. Sweet yet vivid. This is not a pastel. If anything I’d call it an energized pastel. The color balance in it is pretty spot on as it’s not too pink, like Essie Haute as Hello, nor is it too warm or reddish. To me this looks like a lightened version of China Glaze Peachy Keen from last year’s Up & Away Collection.

Bottom Line: The coverage is great and I’ve always been a fan of Illamasqua’s impeccable formula and color range. Though if I were recommending shades to a first time Illamasqua buyer, this one wouldn’t make the short list. It’s pretty and is a good collection staple but it’s not something I would be DYING to tell a friend to run out and get.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: I don’t wear a lot of peach and I already own quite a few so holding on to this one doesn’t feel necessary. I’m going to SHARE it.

Illamasqua Purity is available now as part of the Toxic Nature Collection at Sephora stores nationwide and online at Sephora.com and Illamasqua.com. Illamasqua Nail Varnishes retail for $14/ea for a .5oz bottle.

Are you a fan of Illamasqua polish? What is your favorite shade? Are you into Purity’s peachiness? Would you stash or share this one?

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

While I was backstage at the ADAM show, I had the chance to chat with Deborah Lippmann whose team was polishing the models’ nails with Fashion for the runway.  We talked about the look of the show of course (more on that later) but we also discussed what’s next for her line. First off, while there was no official announcement, the brand name has changed to Deborah Lippmann as opposed to Lippmann Collection.  The nail polish packaging is different as well.  The white and blue paper boxes have been replaced with clear acetate so the gorgeous bottle and color are no longer hidden on display shelves. For Spring 2010 Deb created a duo of soft pretty cremes named I’m Not Innocent (semi-sheer) and Waking Up In Vegas (opaque).  Check them out after the jump along with some exciting advance info on her upcoming Summer, Fall & Holiday colors.

Deb describes I’m Not Innocent as a peachy version of Before He Cheats.  Saying that is offers “some coverage, not complete coverage,” but that with enough coats it can be worn opaque.  I chose to go opaque which only took me three coats to achieve though, to be honest, with the bit of streaking I observed, I can’t imagine wearing it as a semi-sheer.  Then again, I can’t imagine purposely wearing sheers period but that’s just my taste.

Of the two spring shades, Waking Up In Vegas is the color that immediately drew me in.  I saw a bottle image a while back and knew it would be a winner but it’s even better in person.  As much as I love a cool-toned gray (RBL Concrete Jungle), I’ve been all over the warmer versions as of late and this one is just perfect for me.  It doesn’t get too taupe-y or yellow plus it’s uber-pigmented.  Like I barely needed two coats.  Though what’s odd is that the formula dries to a satin finish so I’m showing it with a top coat since that’s how the majority would wear it.

To give you an idea of what I mean by a warm gray that leans towards taupe, I’m showing Waking Up In Vegas next to Essie Chinchilly.  Don’t get me wrong, I dig Chinchilly but it’s not as flattering on me.  It starts to look a little green and not in a good way.

Now for some advance Lippmann scoop.  I got a sneak peek at Deb’s Summer, Fall and Holiday collections including her special set for Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale.  After summer hits, it’s a full on glittery party for the rest of the year.  Brace yourselves for a Lippmann Bling-gasm.

The blue-green sparkler below was used in the Lela Rose show last week and will be released this Fall.  The shade, Across The Universe, was perfectly described by my gal Amber from Beauty Blogging Junkie as resembling a “mermaid.”  The turquoise and green glitter are suspended in a sheer navy base.

Summer
Between The Sheets (Hot Magenta/Fuchsia creme) & Supermodel (Fire Engine Red jelly) created with model Dree Hemingway.  This jelly is said to provide more coverage than I Want Candy.  Can’t wait for that!

Nordstrom Anniversary Set – sold separately post-Anniversary Sale
The set, named All That Jazz, includes multi-sized glitter polishes in clear, black and navy bases. Lady Sings The Blues (Graphite & Silver), Razzle Dazzle (Red) and Some Enchanted Evening (Pink).

Fall
Look for a dark fuchsia version of Ruby Red Slippers called Bad Romance and Across The Universe (pictured above) which Deb says applies like Happy Birthday getting more dense with each layer.

Holiday
The silver glitter, Today Is A Fairytale, really does look like New Year’s Eve in a bottle and the warm toned gals will love its gold glitter counterpart.  I didn’t catch the name but according to someone at Deb’s lab the “color is like an orgasm.”

A peek at some of the glitter-tastic shades heading our way.

The Spring 2010 colors from Deborah Lippmann are available for purchase now on DeborahLippmann.com and will be on sale soon at Beauty.com and Nordstrom.  The polishes retail for $16/ea.

What do you think of the new Lippmann colors?  Are you still loving gray?  Who’s on board for a big ball of glittery Lippmann goodness come fall?

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

Sorry for the delay Fanatics! Mother Nature has not been playing nice. The lighting here in the Cleveburg has been atrocious so I’ve been waiting with bated breath to swatch the rest of this collection. Though over the past few days, I’ve had plenty of time to stare at the polishes all lined up and they keep making me crave ice cream regardless of the freezing cold temperatures.  It’s like looking in the Baskin Robbins case trying to decide between a soft, sweet sherbet or multi-colored scoop of Superman.  Yum!! Today I have the blues, greens and cheese-stands-alone peach for you.  Check out their deliciousness after the jump!

As I noted in my initial review, the pastels were an issue for me.  There were some comments regarding conflicting reviews of the formula amongst the blogs and all I can do is relate my experience.  For me, the pastels haven’t been a joy, your mileage may vary.  The bolder hues, like the three shown here all have that jelly-like quality.  Instead of being creamy, it looks as if you could push down on the polish and have it spring back.  Though I wouldn’t recommend trying that unless you want to wreck your mani.  The pigmentation was decent though I opted for three thin coats of each color.

Flyin High is an odd bird, in a fabulous way.  It’s like a total contradiction in that the color is slightly muted yet it’s a bright.  To me it’s more of a true aqua than Aqua Baby, as you’ll see below.

I love Aqua Baby and its doppelganger Shower Together but they never really read as “aqua” to me.  Flyin’ High definitely fills that need.  And while I thought for sure I’d find a dupe in my stash, there were none to be found.  I think of this as the Jan Brady to For Audrey (Cindy) and Illamasqua Muse (Marcia), without all those middle child issues.

You will not find an accurate swatch of Four Leaf Clover on the web!  Period.  It’s just too hard to capture.  It’s not quite neon in that it doesn’t dry matte but it’s so electrified that it just doesn’t translate.  I feel I’ve shown the base color to an OK extent but it’s still way more vivid in person.  I don’t want to call it a kelly green due to its slight blue undertone.  For this one, comparisons are the best descriptor.

If you own Misa The Grass is Greener on my Side then you’ll have a pretty good idea of what Four Leaf Clover’s base color is like.  Take away the shimmer, add some jelly-ness to the texture and you’re on!  In person, the new Emerald City shade launching this Spring from Sparitual is just a bit more muted even though the image doesn’t show that.

Peachy Keen jellybean!  I have to say, this is one of the first true peach shades I’ve found.  So many of them lean too pink or too orange.  This one is just dead on perfection.  Even though the color peach draws up thoughts of poofy, taffeta bridesmaids dresses, this stunner gives it a good name again.

Like I said, most peach polishes lean very pink.  As I kept pulling colors from my collection, I realized just HOW pink the majority are.  Which led me to Orly Festival Lights and China Glaze V as the only shades I could really compare Peachy Keen to.  The Orly is much too orange and V is darker with more pink in its base.  If you’ve been wanting a true peach cream, here it is!

Just when I thought I had all the mint greens I’ll ever need, along comes Re-Fresh Mint. I now own 11 mint greens and have no absolute twins.  Re-Fresh Mint is probably one of the truest mint hues in that it doesn’t lean blue and it’s not too dark.  It does dry a bit brighter than my picture shows but there’s only so much my camera can do.

In my mint green range, Re-Fresh Mint falls somewhere between OPI Hey! Get In Lime! and Essie Mint Candy Apple. And between you and me, I’d take Re-Fresh Mint over both of them even with its application issues.  I love the Essie but it’s too blue-based to be mint and the OPI takes FOUR COATS.

The Up & Away collection is set to launch in January 2010 but if it’s ready earlier I’m sure it will start shipping out in December. Keep a watch on your local Sally Beauty and your fave e-tailers to scoop up these colors.

I know you’ve been dying to see the greens so what do you think? Can you take any more mint greens?  Who’s fallen for Peachy Keen?  I want to hear what you have to say!

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

The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash. I find it funny that even though I’m not always jumping on Essie‘s bandwagon, as I sort though my polishes to pick each week’s Archives shade, I keep coming across these great Essies that have been long forgotten. Back before we had access to all these outrageous greens, blues, greys, etc., I was way more into Essie due to the formula. So when I decided that I wanted to post a pretty summery melon, I turned to my old time staple, Essie Cantaloupe. Check it out!

Back when my collection was more manageable and I had time to repeat shades on the regular, I wore the shit out of Cantaloupe. You don’t even know. It was my go-to shade in the summer because it always makes me look more tan. It’s the polish I often recommend to anyone seeking a soft melon. Its creamy finish, flawless consistency and smooth, even coverage make it a winner in my book!
Essie Cantaloupe retails for around $4 on our favorite e-tailer sites (see sidebar) and for $8 on Essie.com. You can also find it locally at national salon chains like ULTA, Regis and Trade Secret.

So what’s on your nails this week fanatics? Any Cantaloupe fans? Anyone planning to run out and buy it? Who’s discovered a long lost polish treasure recently?

Oh and look for a fun new giveaway tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Coming soon to a Sally Beauty Supply near you is the Finger Paints Sunburst Summer collection. One look and I immediately think of ice cream. Do you remember as a kid, going to the Baskin Robbins and staring at all the fun colored ice creams like Superman, Pink Bubblegum, Orange Sherbet, etc.? Well, they’re all right here in Sunburst summer. And for those of you that dig Icees, there’s a red that looks just like a cherry slushie. It’s total nostalgia. I’m ready for the ice cream man to come round so I can get a push-up. They were always my fave. Now I’ve mentioned Finger Paints in the past but I really haven’t given them the love they deserve. This brand is the hidden gem in the retail sector. They’re totally accessible, affordable and come in a great range of shades. Check out my swatches, after the jump!

For you ingredient readers, Finger Paints are Big 3 Free though they do contain Formaldehyde Resin. In this collection the formula was very jelly-ish, like Sinful Colors, and thinner than most 3 Free polishes which means more layers. All the shades required three coats over a ridgefilling base (Seche Base).

Yellow Bikini looks soft and creamy, like lemon sorbet, in the bottle but on the nail it’s more vibrant and buttery with a hint of shimmer. My only issue was a bit of streakiness but I find that happens with most yellow polishes. I don’t know if its the nature of that type of pigment or what but it’s frustrating. Though with three coats, I was good to go!
The only polish I have that comes close is Chanel L.A. Sunrise from last summer’s Robertson Boulevard collection. So if you avoided shelling out the $$$ for L.A. Sunrise, here’s a great alternative. I showed it next to Sephora by OPI IM Beauty but they are nothing alike.

Lilac Lagoon looked promising in the bottle because of the flecks of gold micro-glitter floating throughout but I obviously just need to give up hope of any pale purple looking good on me. It’s a gorgeous color, just not with my skintone. This one is the sheerest of the bunch and you may need four coats to achieve opacity.

Turquoise Tile is unlike any polish I own in this color range. Compared to my more blue turquoise shades, it looks green. Next to my green leaning shades, it’s more blue. Based solely on bottle color, it falls between China Glaze Beauty & The Beach and Martini Pedicure in my collection.

Ripe Peach definitely has that sherbet feel and even though it looks slightly shimmer in the bottle, it dries creamy on the nail.

Strawberry Shake really lives up to its name. This shimmery pink looks very drinkable, though I wouldn’t recommend that.

Cherry Ices has subtle gold shimmer that warms up the vibrant maraschino hue. If you’re looking for a summer pedicure red, this could be your winner.
The Sunburst Summer collection will debut in May but as any Finger Paints fanatic knows, it’s best to call your local Sally’s in advance to see when they’ll arrive. You can also purchase Finger Paints online at SallyBeauty.com. Polishes retail for $4.99 ($4.49 with a Sally Card) but be on the lookout for specials like B2GO Free in the monthly flyer.

MAC‘s newest collection, Sugarsweet, launched online on Tuesday and the polishes are already SOLD OUT on MACCosmetics.com! The crazy power of MAC fanatics, huh? However, the on counter date was yesterday so I suggest if you’re dying to own one of these precious shades, you bolt on out and snag them. Being a total sucker for packaging or any kind of gimmicky looking product, I’m all about the collection’s Tricolour Lipglasses but I’m trying to restrain myself. It’s not easy folks. I drive past the mall on my way home every night and I know they’re there, waiting for me. Like a basket full of free kittens, they’re hard to resist. Back to the task at hand, the polishes. Sugarsweet introduced one new shade, Peppermint Patti, and one repromote, Seasonal Peach (from Creamsheen). See how they look after the jump!

Seasonal Peach is a soft, pinky peach cream and as much as I want to love this one, the formula is no bueno. Application issues and streakiness plagues this one from being a big time winner. I tried every trick I could think of but it wasn’t playing my reindeer games. If you tinker around long enough and apply three coats it can look decent but for me, Seasonal Peach is a pass.

Now Peppermint Patti I love!! That perfect after dinner mint green you’ve looking for, it’s right here! It’s just pigmented enough to not be washed out or too pastel. Though I’m not gonna lie, it’s not the easiest to apply either but better than its collection sister above. Application Tip: Apply two THIN coats with at least two minutes dry time between then one THICK, even coat. It’s not ideal but to get this gorgeous shade to work, I’m willing. Are you?
Just for funsies I added a thin line of Seasonal Peach to create a funky french. What do you think?
I knew the comparison questions would come a calling so here it is next to Essie Greenport and Barielle Sweet Addiction.
Like I said above, both shades are sold out online. That’s a big fat boo for online shoppers but don’t lose hope. Run, drive, fly etc. to your nearest MAC counter to scoop them up for yourself.

So, who else picked these babies up? Thoughts?

Dior’s iconic watches helped inspire this playful collection of radiant berries, corals and pinks. Running the gamut from edgy to sweet, the striking colors of the Cristal collection capture the fresh, flushed look of summer. While visiting the Dior offices back in October, I was treated to a preview of the Cristal collection and I’ve been chomping at the bit to get my hands on the polishes ever since. Seriously, I sat down and immediately focused on the three pops of color peering back at me from inside their sample bottles. Among a table full of beauty goodies, the summer shades sucked me right in. The Dior Vernis shades in the collection include Sweet Orange, Bubble Gum and Purple Candy. I had the opportunity to try out Sweet Orange and have bottle images of the others to show you.

Sweet Orange is a pink tinged sorbet hue flecked with golden shimmer. The formula reminds me of CND Toxic Perfection one of my all time fave corals and the base color is very close to Essie Cantaloupe. It’s on the semi-sheer side so even though I’m showing it with only two coats, a third wouldn’t hurt. Using the Dior Vernis flat brush, the polish flowed on smooth and even with no streaking or pooling.

Dior Vernis lacquers retail for $20/ea and launch in May 2009. Sweet Orange is a Sephora exclusive shade. Bubble Gum will be carried in specialty stores with Purple Candy at department store Dior counters.

When I heard that Chanel was finally coming out with a purple polish, I was beyond thrilled. It’s like Peter Philips had read my mind. A vampy aubergine would be the perfect complement to Chanel’s wildly popular Satin colors (Blue, Black, Pink, White) and now it’s finally here. Of the two polishes in Chanel’s Bohemian Fantasy collection, Vendetta is the color everyone is buzzing about. Releasing such a deep shade for spring used to seem so odd but for the past few years some very popular darks have come from spring collections. Blue Satin is a good example as is OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue & Black Cherry Chutney. It’s blurring the lines and making it acceptable to wear vampies year round. Most of us fanatics do that anyway but it’s becoming more mainstream.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that Django is the red-headed step child (no offense to you lovely red-heads). It’s actually quite a refreshing color. As I look outside to see nothing but gray and snow, Django’s shimmery peach color totally brightened my day. It’s not something I would have expected to like but it has an airy feel that is so cheerful. And what I LOVE is that for such a light shade, it is opaque and streak free with just two coats.

Vendetta is exactly what I expected. An eggplant version of Blue Satin. The tonal shimmer is the same as the Satins in that it adds depth and only appears in bright light. The base color is definitely purple, not black, so one evenly applied coat will get you a much brighter look. Like Blue Satin, Vendetta is an “almost black” shade and I was hoping it would be lighter. It’s rich and velvety but more purple in the bottle than on the nail.
I looked for some comparison shades to help you replicate the look at home. What I found is that Vendetta falls between Essie Sexy Divide and China Glaze Midnight Ride in my stash’s color spectrum. If Midnight Ride’s base was purple instead of black, I bet they’d be twins.
The Chanel Spring collection, Bohemian Fantasy, is on sale now at Chanel counters and online at Chanel.com. Vendetta and Django retail for $23.

So what do you think kids? Who’s in? Who’s out? Who already caved?

Giddy up little cowgirls for the Rodeo Diva collection from China Glaze is here. Twelve nail polishes divided into two sets, warm and cool, these shimmering beauties will be causing a frenzy. And even though I tend to go the cool route (blues, greens) the gold shimmer in the Hay Ride polishes is incredible.

I would describe the shimmer as micro glitter yet it doesn’t affect the finish or cause that skin crawling glitter scratching as you remove it. All in all, the polishes applied well. Though I did notice the formula getting thicker as I went from lighter to darker shades. The lacquers dry glossy and the pigmentation is excellent, I only needed two coats to achieve bottle color.

Now you’ll notice that my skin tone looks a bit funky in the swatch pics below. That’s only because I altered the images to best show the polish color, which resulted in my skin looking a bit jaundiced in some and flushed in others. You’ll just have to excuse that.

Yee Haw! is a golden peachy orange that just radiates in the sunlight. I don’t think it necessarily works on me but the shimmer really gives it a punch to take it from being just another peach.

Golden Spurs is actually one of my favorite shades in this group and I’m not a big fan of tans. There’s something about how the shimmer really adds dimension to what could be a totally boring color that draws me in. It’s a sexy evening neutral.

Prize Winning Mare is a hard shade to capture. It’s golden brown but not chocolaty and very chameleon-like. In every light, it looked different. Very unique

Lasso My Heart’s golden shimmer makes it look more rosy in person. In fact, in the bottle, I thought it was a duo-chrome because of the way the shimmer affects the color.

Wagon Trail was the one color I most look forward to testing and it didn’t disappoint. You know me, any mention of green perks my ears up. This golden green is dirty, funky and totally fun. Like nothing else I own. I know there are fans of the discontinued China Glaze shade, Cat’s Eye (I don’t own it). Well I’d say that Wagon Trail is its blackened, trampy cousin.

Side-Saddle is for all you vamps. A browned plum peppered with gold, this shade represents the “diva” in Rodeo Diva the best. The minute I saw it, I thought of my pal Sara from Bit By The Beauty Bug. Even though I’ve helped encourage her to explore the lighter, brighter side of polish this summer, she’s a vampy girl at heart. I just know she’ll love this!
And since I knew there would questions of how Side-Saddle compares to NYC Cognac Sparkle, I beat you to the punch. Cognac Sparkle is more berry/wine based and a tinge lighter. Sorry gals, no twin here.

The Rodeo Diva collection can be found online at Head2ToeBeauty and is coming soon to 8ty8Beauty. China Glaze can also be purchased at ULTA and Sally Beauty Supply, call for seasonal collection availability.

Like a frothy beach party flick (think Gidget, Beach Blanket Bingo), the OPI Retro Fun In The Sun collection will be surfing onto shelves this summer. Filled with kitschy, fun shades the lacquers are perfect for those long sunny days of lazing in the sand. To add to the fun, each bottle comes with a retro ponytail holder. Takes me right back to elementary school when I had a ballerina jewelry box filled with hair ties in every color imaginable.

“In summer, glamour really moves from the city out to the sand, and these shades combine a retro pin-up-girl look with a beach party attitude – think ponytails, Frankie and Annette, and romance under the stars,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “The colors are rich, playful, and sexy – a great way to accessorize one of fashion’s most colorful summers ever!”

Peach-a-Boo! – Take a peek at this apricot sparkle!

Sit Under the Apple Tree – A tempting, light apple green.

Lemonade Stand by Your Man – You’ll stay loyal to this refreshing yellow.

Give Me a Coral Sometime – I’ll answer in this inviting pink-orange.

Sea Ya Later, Sailor! – A fun, flirtatious turquoise shimmer.

Calendar Girl – A pin-up, perfect pink-red.

Like previous beach themed OPI collections (It’s Summer for Shore, Surf Party) I’m expecting the Retro nail polishes to have a unique shimmer that will make the nail girlies go gaga. I can’t wait to see them in person and find out! Will this line become just as collectible? We’ll just have to wait and see.

The Retro Fun in The Sun collection drops (I’m so street) in June and will be available at salons including Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, Ulta, Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Dillard’s, and JCPenney. MSRP $8.50 ($9.95 CAN)