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 the boyfriend & I bought our house a few years ago, we started a tradition of hosting Un-Xmas parties. You see, I’m not big on Christmas but wanted to throw a party around the holidays with no presents, white elephant gift exchanges, decorations or goofy sweaters. And so Un-Xmas was born. Well now that we have our keg fridge and a fresh keg of Christmas Ale, we decided to inaugurate the Un-Xmas in July party. The party is today and since dressing for the occasion means no holiday themed items, that includes my nails. I recently got my hands on a new shade from RGB Cosmetics called 1996, created to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Need Supply Co. and it seems like the perfect un-holiday shade.

Formula & Application: RGB Cosmetics nail polish is 4-Free (including Formaldehyde Resin). The square bottles contain the same amount of polish as Chanel or RBL bottles but they are much more compact in size. The short, round, shiny black cap is about the width of my thumb and I find it relatively easy to control polish placement but would prefer it to be slightly longer.

The brush is short, round and average in width.  Now it could be my imagination but the bristles feel a bit more flexible than what I’m used to. I wonder if RGB changed their brush. There was no dragging at all with this brush.

The formula itself is a little thick but it flows on the nail relatively easy. I achieved full coverage with two thin coats. What more can you ask from a polish?

RGB “1996″ for Need Supply Co is a dark, dark navy creme. It’s actually a lot deeper than I anticipated. In the bottle it looks like a vivid jewel, drawing me in like a moth to a flame. I was SO excited to put it on, thinking it would have the same richness and depth on the nail. Unfortunately, it’s just a little to deep for that.

In looking for similar shades I came up with two China Glaze gems; Up All Night (left) and Calypso Blue (right).

China Glaze Calypso Blue is a pretty close match for 1996. They have the same dark denim base though Calypso Blue dries a touch lighter. China Glaze Up All Night is one of my all time favorite blue hues and, ignoring the shimmer, it’s a brighter sapphire shade than 1996.

Bottom Line: 1996 is gorgeous and glossy with an excellent formula but it’s just not that special. I wish it had the same flare on the nail that the bottle shade promises. I personally prefer the slightly lighter version, Calypso Blue, not only for the color but the price point.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: I just don’t see myself reaching for it over another navy in my collection. SHARE!

RGB Cosmetics “1996″ is available exclusively at the Need Supply Co store and online at NeedSupply.com. RGB 1996 retails for $16/ea for a .4oz bottle.

Thoughts on 1996? What is your favorite navy creme? Are you celebrating Christmas in July or is that just something us crazy Ohioans like to do?

Disclosure: A product sample was provided by reps for RGB Cosmetics. 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. It’s been a while since I’ve worn a rich, dark green. Green is my favorite color to wear but I seem to transition from dark to light & bright throughout the seasons. An emerald green just feels too Holiday in the middle of summer. However, I’ve had RGB Cosmetics Sea sitting on my desk, longing to be worn, for way too long now and I just had to give in. ***Edited to add – this was supposed to go live last night but apparently I don’t know how to read a calendar. Apologies for the delay.

Formula & Application: RGB Cosmetics nail polish is 4-Free (including Formaldehyde Resin). The square bottles contain the same amount of polish as Chanel or RBL bottles but they are much more compact in size. The short, round, shiny black cap is about the width of my thumb and I find it relatively easy to control polish placement but would prefer it to be slightly longer. The brush is short, round and average in width.  The bristles are somewhat stiff, but way more flexible than the MAC brush. You won’t have any dragging issues with this one.

RGB seems to have perfected the balance between a thin, workable consistency and a high pigmentation level. The consistency makes for an easy application with full coverage in two coats.

RGB Sea is an amped up forest green shimmer. The name implies that it’s a seawater type blue-green but it has an electrified green shimmer that overpowers any blue in its base. It’s like a blackened Emerald Sparkled, minus the glitter. Indoors the color is pretty dark and knocks on the door of “almost black” territory without completely crossing the threshold.

In the sun the color comes alive as the shimmer plays hop-scotch with the light.

In searching for a suitable dupe, the closest I could come is Deborah Lippmann Don’t Tell Mama. With the strong teal blue base of DTM they certainly aren’t identical but I doubt, unless you are a green polish collector, that you would need both. Wet N Wild Morbid is a faded version of DTM so it’s not a twin to Sea either.

Bottom Line: RGB has a fantastic formula and the vibrancy of Sea definitely sets it apart from other colors in this genre. I, of course, can’t resist it but I don’t know if it’s wow worthy enough to call it a must-have.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: I’m STASHing it for now.

RGB Sea Nail Polish is available online and at select retailers. For shopping information visit RGBCosmetics.com. RGB nail polishes retail for $14/ea for a .4ozbottle.

What do you think of Sea? Have you tried RGB nail polish yet? If no, why not? If yes, what is your favorite color from the line?

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

Welcome to the launch of 365 of Untrieds my year long nail polish challenge. I’ve been inspired by one of my favorite bloggers, Melissa from The Daily Nail to take on the task of a daily blog project.  365 of Untrieds is just as the name implies, a series about all the polishes in the ALU stash that I’ve been wanting to try but just haven’t gotten around to. Whether it’s something I’ve been meaning to wear but haven’t made time for, a polish I bought on a whim and forgot about or a color from a collection that I didn’t have the time to review, this will be my way of getting through my overwhelming stack of untested polishes to help me find new loves and weed out unnecessary bulk. I’m kicking off the challenge with a nail polish from RGB Cosmetics that has been sitting on my desk for way too long.  It’s a shade I was so excited to try when it arrived in the mail but I kept pushing off in favor of other colors.  So to stop it from mocking me on a daily basis, I give you RGB Dove.

Formula & Application: RGB Cosmetics is a 4-Free brand (including Formaldehyde Resin).  The square bottles contain the same amount of polish as Chanel or RBL bottles but they are much more compact in size.  The short, round, shiny black cap is about the width of my thumb and I find it relatively easy to control polish placement but would prefer it to be slightly longer.  The brush is short, round and average in width.  The bristles are very flexible which allows for the brush to fan out and cover a good amount of the nail plate.

Considering how light the color is I expected the polish to either be thick, well pigmented and streaky OR thin and semi-sheer.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that it walks that magical line between thin and thick all while being highly pigmented and self leveling.  It was a dream to apply and flowed on the nail in two easy coats.  Color me impressed.

RGB Dove is the pale grey creme I’ve been dreaming of ever since my first time at New York Fashion Week.  It was February 2008 and I saw a prototype of a color that was to be included in the CND Fall collection.  It was the perfect dove hue.  Unfortunately the color never launched and I’ve been yearning for it ever since.  RGB Dove satiates that craving and then some.

The grey trend has been coming and going over the past few years and considering that both Zoya and China Glaze included the shade in their spring collections, it’s most certainly “on” at the moment.  Dove is the palest of the current greys on the market and I’m all about it.  It’s light enough to be work safe but edgier than your average neutral.

What I love is that unlike a lot of greys it doesn’t lean into overly blue or green territory.  Even after sitting on my desk for months it hasn’t separated at all to reveal a blue/green base.

Bottom Line: I have been impressed with all the RGB polishes I’ve tried and Dove is no exception.  Consider me a fan.  Their formula is top notch and their color range has continued grow past their original ten basics to include some very fashion forward hues.  Check out some of my past RGB Nail Polish reviews to see for yourself.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: I’m definitely keeping this one in the STASH.

RGB Dove Nail Polish is available online and at select retailers. For shopping information visit RGBCosmetics.com. RGB nail polishes retail for $14/ea for a .4oz bottle.

Thoughts on RGB Dove?  Are you into a grey this light?  If you own Dove was it a keeper or a giveaway?  Does the “365 of Untrieds” project get a collective thumbs up or thumbs down from my fellow Fanatics?

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

The mint green polish train isn’t slowing, are you still on board? I know I am! Give me more, give me more!! RGB Cosmetics announced their holiday offering, Minty, today on their Twitter account which makes it a great time for me to introduce it to you. If you recall, when I reviewed RGB’s Fall collection I was a bit let down by the lack of uniqueness as compared to the Pre-Fall colors.  Well Minty certainly piqued my interest.  As if a green exciting me is news, what really gets me is that I have yet to find any true dupes among the ones I own.  You won’t find me complaining about that.  Check out Minty along with its closest living polish relatives, after the jump!

If you missed my full RGB review and 5-day wear test, check that HERE. In regards to Minty’s formula it was a bit on the thick side and a little problem child-ish in application.  I till got two coat coverage due to the high level of pigmentation but the brush hairs were pretty splayed so I had to be careful to avoid hitting skin.  That could just be my specific brush.

Minty is a blue tinged mint green that dries a bit darker than I can capture in a photograph. It’s not at all pastel and chalky. In fact it reminds me of a piece of Chiclet gum on the nail.

I weeded through my stash to come up with some comparisons and the most blue-based of the bunch are Barry M Mint Green and Essie Greenport. Essie Mint Candy Apple is SO pastel that they don’t even look like relatives.  As you can see, Minty falls somewhere between the two and even though the Barry M looks pretty blue based on its own, next to Minty it looks very green.

RGB Minty is on sale NOW at RGBCosmetics.com and retails for $14 with complimentary (ie FREE) shipping.

So who’s still loving all these mint greens?  Anyone else planning to wear one for the holidays like I am?  Who’s tried RGB and what do you think?

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

I discovered RGB Cosmetics when I saw their Pre-Fall Collection polish, Steel, featured in Allure. Of course, “Pre-Fall” meant there would be more polishes coming our way for the season. The Fall collection recently launched and includes Cognac, Crimson and Doll. Quite a few Fanatics have inquired about the Fall shades and they have a more traditional feel than what we saw in Pre-Fall. With the popularity of dark green and metallics this season, I was hoping to see a bit more edge though I did find myself drawn to Cognac (far left). Check it out along with the rest of the collection after the jump!

You can view my complete review of the RGB formula and packaging including my 5-Day Wear Test HERE. With the exception of Crimson, these polishes all apply well in two coats. Crimson was a bit thin so it required three coats. I was actually surprised at how smooth and pigmented Doll is. Usually with light colors the two are mutually exclusive.

Cognac is rich and creamy. It dries significantly darker than the bottle color and reminds me of roasted chestnuts. It would actually make a fab autumnal mani/pedi with OPI Ginger Bells since that polish channels Crayola Burnt Sienna and Cognac has a Burnt Umber feel.
Crimson is a deep blue blood red but without that super berry base we’re used to seeing in the first coat. It stays pretty true to the bottle shade, darkening with each layer. For that reason I wouldn’t necessarily describe this shade as cool/warm. I think it could work on a lot of skin tones.
Doll is described as “calamine pink” but I see it as a neutral light beige. It appears a bit more pink in my image than it actually is. On me it gives that “mannequin hands” effect. Very work friendly.
RGB’s Fall collection is on sale now at RGBCosmetics.com. The polishes are 3-Free (including Formaldehyde Resin) and retail for $14/ea.

What do we think Fanatics? Has anyone tried RGB since I wrote about them? I’d love to hear your experience.

Fanatics, I’m excited to introduce you to a new nail polish brand, RGB from RGB Cosmetics. I spotted their gray, Steel, in September’s Allure and just had to find out more. The brand is based on the RGB color model and launched earlier this summer with a line of ten core colors called RGBten. These ten shades are designed as a nail wardrobe with classic, staple hues. You know, the basics.

Seasonally, RGB will introduce an edited collection of fashionable, on-trend hues. Their first release is the Pre-Fall 09 shades pictured above. Check them out after the jump!

Let’s dig right in with the colors. I’ll discuss the formula and my 5-day wear test results below.

Haze is described as a smokey violet but to me it’s very chameleon like. The hue changes drastically in the light. It reminds me of SOPI Metro Chic with its dirty, grayed undertones.
Steel is a blue based, mid-tone grey creme. If RBL Stormy and Concrete Jungle reproduced, Steel would be cooing in the nursery.
Toast is a rich, latte-esque shade. It’s very creamy and warmer in person. Think of it as a fall version of Orly Country Club Khaki.
Slate is part of the RGBten core collection and I couldn’t resist sharing it. The deep charcoal shimmer reminds me of a black sand beach. In spite of the metallic glitz it applies smooth and even without a brush stroke in sight.
Now that I’ve tempted you with color, let’s break down the bottle design, brush and formula.

Bottle – The rectangular bottle holds .4oz/12ml of polish and looks like a squat version of the Rescue Beauty bottle. The cap is short and smooth. It’s fine for application though I would appreciate more length.

Brush – The brush is short, fat and dense similar to MAC’s only with slightly shorter bristles. Despite the thickness of the brush I had excellent control.

Formula – RGB polishes are 3 Free (including resin) and camphor free. They are heavily pigmented with a typical 3Free thick viscosity yet the cremes are self-leveling and not at all streaky. Every polish I tried only required 2 coats.

I gave Haze my 5 Day Wear Test using butter London Nail Foundation and Seche Vite top coat. While the actual tip wear was relatively minimal I wasn’t pleased with the bit of chipping on my index and thumb (not shown) nails. Depending on your base/top combination, your mileage may vary.
The RGBten shades include a range of cremes, sheers and shimmers ranging from the brightest white to the inkiest black with some reds, pinks and vampies thrown in for good measure.

You can purchase RGB polishes including the Pre-Fall ’09 collection directly from their website, RGBCosmetics.com, for $14/ea. At the moment only two salons in California carry the brand for in store purchase but hopefully that will change and the brand grows.

Have any of you tried RGB before? What do you think of the colors? Are you thinking of trying them out? Let’s hear it Fanatics!