RESCUE BEAUTYʼS Spring/11 POLISHES SUIT FASHION SCHIZOPHRENTICS The variety of moods and personas shown on this Spring//Summerʼs runways was a tribute to the fashion schizophrentic in all of us. This Spring, Rescue Beauty Lounge founder Ji Baek has created a collection that is a hodgepodge of her favorite trends from the Spring fashion collections.  It reflects the multiple fashion personalities seen on the runways and, for the first time, we’re seeing a RBL collection without a cohesive theme. Much like a typical woman’s wardrobe, Iconic/Ironic is a mix & match cornucopia of color reflecting different trends and lifestyle needs.  From the office friendly neutral, Decorous, to the out-all-night, punk rock black, Iconoclast, this collection has something for everyone.

Unlike previous seasons where one clear trend carried through collection after collection, this Spring, designers are all over the map. There was Betty Page starring in South Pacific at Dior, new wave meets neoclassical at Chanel, sexy Suzie Wongs at Louis Vuitton pared-down minimalism at Celine and Chloe, and a box of crayons at Prada and Jil Sander. Models appeared as 1920ʼs garden party ladies at Galliano, gauchos at Hermes and street-wise punks at the venerable houses of Balmain and Bottega Venetta.

“I love that our wardrobes can reflect our multi-faceted personalities. This season truly celebrates women—every woman—so Iʼve named my Spring polish collection Iconic/Ironic, hues to juxtaposition against every version of yourself.”

“The ʻironyʼ comes from mixing polishes in an unexpected way. Offset all those brights with a neutral cocoa or a grounding black hue. Make your punk looks more tongue-in-chic with lavender nails. Itʼs about adding that surprising detail that keeps you on your (well-pedicured) toes.”

Formula and Application: RBL is a 4-Free brand, including Formaldehyde Resin. The brush is round, of average length and on the thicker side. It’s a bit more flexible than most which makes application a breeze for me.

As is Rescue’s style, the pigment is strong with this collection.  Every polish applied perfectly in two coats and leveled out to a perfectly even, glossy finish.  All swatches were done with a top coat and photographed completely dry.

Insouciant is the toned-down gray lilac of a pressed corsage. Punked out rather than pastel, it is a counterpoint to Springʼs ladylike florals and Bardot-worthy uber-feminine dresses. Or wear it with Lanvinʼs muddied neutrals.

As the name implies Insouciant is a very carefree, greyed lavender with subtle blue shimmer that peeks out at you in the daylight.  Unlike a lot of pale purples I’ve tried (I’m looking at you China Glaze Tantalize Me) this one doesn’t give me a weird alien hands effect.  I’ve long said that lavender, lilac, etc just don’t work on me but obviously that’s not the case.  I just needed to find the right one and Insouciant is that color for me.  It’s dark enough to not trek into the world of pastels but light enough to have a “spring” feel.  I’m utterly and completely smitten with it.

Iconoclast. “Letʼs face it, black polish has been done to death. I had to reinvent it into something entirely new,” says Baek. This one is a richly pigmented ebony with layers of fine glitter, giving it depth and a metallic, mica-like finish.

Iconoclast is the richest black shimmer I’ve seen yet.  Until now it seems that black shimmers tend to go one of two ways.  Either the shimmer is barely noticeable leaving you with nothing but a black creme or it’s so packed with glitz that the color looks more charcoal than ebony.  Ji has found a way to blend the two into a formula that is dense and luscious.  The pink and green shimmer really stand out in the daylight, I just wish it was a little more apparent indoors.  The depth is still there but the uniqueness dies down a bit.

Decorous is a perfectly ladylike light cocoa, an unexpected neutral to offset bright tropical hues or to add a chic finish to an all-black ensemble.

The creamy cocoa base of Decorous has left the lyric “Mocha Choca Lata yaya” from “Lady Marmalade” running through my brain for the past few days now though the color looks more like the Chai Tea I love to drink more than it does Hot Cocoa.  The light brown base color is filled with the same pink micro-shimmer as Iconoclast and Insouciant cooling off the warm overall hue.

Recherché is a purplish dark brown prune, an exotic accent that grounds oversize prints better than an expected summer pink or coral. Stunning with the homage to classic YSL designs shown by Stephen Pilati or the Proenza Schouler boysʼ loose-fitting ladylike tweeds and sheer tank dresses.

Recherché is a chameleon in that you can’t tell if it’s brown, purple, dusty plum, etc.  It changes with the lighting ranging anywhere from a slighter paler sister of OPI LPAD to a bold raisin.  It’s a very unique creme in that unlike other colors in this family, it doesn’t show a red base in the first coat.  Ji has made this baby so pigmented that all you see is the pure, plummy brown goodness.

Bottom Line: As much as it surprised me (and Ji when I told her) Insouciant is my hands down favorite of this collection.  It’s my ideal version of lavender/lilac, just utterly amazing.  Recherché is my runner up with Iconoclast a close third.  I love Recherché for its uniqueness and density of color.  Iconoclast is a win because it perfectly balances true black color with shimmer, not an easy feat.  Unfortunately, Decorous gets a pass from me.  It just doesn’t work with my skin tone nor is it the type of color I see myself reaching for.  In the bottle it had such promise but on my nails it was a fail.

The Rescue Beauty Lounge Iconic/Ironic collection will go on pre-sale before the end of January.  Make sure you’re signed up for the RBL newsletter to be notified of the sale dates.  Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polishes retail for $18/ea for a .4oz bottle and can be purchased online at RescueBeauty.com.

Thoughts on the Spring RBL colors?  Which ones are calling out to you?  If you plan to pre-order, what are you getting?

I will be doing comparisons of these so if you have a specific comparison request, leave it in the comments.

Disclosure: Product samples were furnished by Rescue Beauty Lounge.  For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

China Glaze has definitely been Naughty AND Nice this year.  Nice for releasing so many cute holiday gift sets and a fun range of colors but Naughty for overwhelming us with so many options. Unlike the past few years where they’ve released just a few holiday shades, for Holiday 2010 the ‘Tis The Season to be naugty and nice collection consists of 16 nail polishes.  That’s right, SIXTEEN! To make it easier to take in, I’ve broken down the collection into its three main color families; Blue & Green, White, Silver & Gold and Red & Vampy.  We’ll start with my obvious favorite the lone blue (Little Drummer Boy), three greens (Jolly Holly, Mistletoe Kisses, Peace On Earth) and the multi-colored glitter bomb (Party Hearty).

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.

In this first portion of the collection the polishes are well pigmented for the most part but they apply a bit goopy.  Even though the brush went where I guided it, the polish didn’t want to listen.  Between that and the metallic shimmer in a few of the polishes, the finish was less than perfect.  The first three colors all applied in two thin coats but the last two require more to become opaque.

Peace On Earth is a golden green with metallic shimmer.  I wouldn’t categorize it as a metallic, more like a pearl.  The color has an ivy feel to it though with the golden shimmer it looks like a leaf in the midst of changing colors.  It reminds me a bit of the discontinued China Glaze Cat’s Eye though it’s nowhere near as yellow.

I know a lot of people were hoping Peace On Earth would be a Moonpool dupe but I knew, when I laid eyes on it at Cosmoprof, that wouldn’t be the case. I mean, why wouldn’t they just re-release Moonpool? I doubt they’d recycle it as another color given its cult status. Anyway, in doing comparisons I pulled few golden greens like Zoya Irene and Barielle Polished Princess but wound up finding no twins. Quirius Cresskill Eve was the closest I could come though it has way too much blue in it to be a match.

Jolly Holly is ideally named as I think it would be perfect for a little holly berry nail art.  It’s kind of amazing in that it’s vivid without being too light or bright yet it’s not so dark you can’t tell it’s green.  It’s like an electrified evergreen tree.

In looking for twinsies I came across an old favorite, Barielle Date Night, and my Christmas mani choice from last year, Fingerpaints Evergreen Dream.  I would say that Date Night doesn’t look as lush as Jolly Holly and ED is more blue but if you own Date Night I wouldn’t rush out to get Jolly Holly.

Little Drummer Boy is a rich, shimmery midnight blue.  It has the same finish as Peace On Earth and Jolly Holly only the shimmer seems to be a bit lighter than the base color so it really pops in the light.  The color itself is hard to describe as it’s not quite a true navy, it’s more of a dark wash denim.

While I own nothing that dupes Little Drummer Boy, I thought NYC Glossies in Midnight might be a good comparison partner.  Turns out I should have showed it next to CND Blue Blood.  The discontinued cult fave is actually a pretty decent color match minus the glitter.  The base colors are very close so if you missed out on Blue Blood, LDB is a good, if not perfect, substitute.

Party Hearty is clear, sparkly top coat packed with silver, green and red glitter.  There is silver micro-glitter and chunkier rounds, green medium size rounds and big, red hexagonal sequins like the ones we’ve been seeing in Deborah Lippmann’s glitters of late.  I’m showing Party Hearty layered over Snow (also in the collection) with one coat on my pinkie, two coats on my ring finger and three coats on my middle finger.  It would take a LOT of coats to go opaque so if you buy it, intend to wear it over another color or be prepared to have bare nail showing through.

Mistletoe Kisses is definitely my favorite color in this part of the collection.  It’s fresh like a piece of wintergreen gum.  The finish is China Glaze’s famous glass-fleck formula though that means it’s not overly pigmented. What surprised me was how dark it becomes with three coats on a bare nail.  The swatch I showed you on the white nail art wheel made it appear so much lighter so I put two coats over Snow on my middle finger to replicate that look.  I love it both ways but prefer it over white.

Bottom Line: Mistletoe Kisses is my hands down winner of the blue & greens and a “must-have” for any green lover.  If you love to layer or just want to add some holiday-themed bling to your nails, Party Hearty gets the thumbs up from me.  Also, with its clear base, it would be great for frankening.  The shimmers are nice but not overly special so I would only recommend them if they fill holes in your collection.

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 and TransDesign.com and on shelves at Sally Beauty and ULTA.

You can also find Little Drummer Boy and Peace On Earth in the Celebrate With Style gift set and Mistletoe Kisses appears in the Rejoice! set and Dreaming of a Green Christmas set alongside Jolly Holly.

Thoughts on this part of the Holiday collection?  If you’ve already snagged some of these up, which ones are your favorites?  What would you layer Party Hearty over?

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

So today I have the second half of the OPI Swiss collection for you.  Like the backdrop for the white cross on the Swiss flag we’re in all red territory. I’m sure it’s no surprise to you to hear that the idea of doing an all red post doesn’t exactly jazz me.  It’s just never been my color.  I have a few staple reds that I turn to again and again but overall it’s just not my bag. However, because I know there are people as fanatical about reds as I am about greens I wanted to share them with you.  And because the formula of all six of these polishes is so stellar, I actually liked a couple of them enough to add them to my stash.  Curious about which ones I gave high marks? Read on to find out!

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.

Like the first half of the collection the application was perfect. They flowed easily on the nail making it simple to get a flawless three stroke application. Though unlike the first half, the pigmentation is spot on! All of the polishes were completely opaque with two coats though the darker cremes are so packed with pigment they barely needed the second coat. This may not be my fave color family but I can still appreciate an outstanding red creme.

Color So Hot It Berns is a bright red creme like the color in the Swiss flag.  It’s slightly warm but not orange-y.  We’re not talking tomato territory here.  To my eye, it looks pretty neutral in the bottle so it may just look warm against my skin.  You can see slight VNL (visible nail line) with this one but my tips tend to stand out.  With a ridge filler, that wouldn’t have happened.

From A To Z-urich is a burgundy red creme.  When I say burgundy I don’t mean the deep, dark wine we associate with the word but more like the actual color of burgundy when it’s poured in a glass.  This is really lush with its berry undertone.  Though can I complain about the name for a hot second?  I know that OPI is all about the play on words but the overuse of dashes in their polish names make searches challenging. Don’t you agree?

I’m Suzi and I’m A Chocoholic is a warm, brick red creme.  I know it’s described as being chocolate but it’s just not brown enough for that.  This is more like a paver stone than a candy bar.

Just A Little Rösti At This is a deeper version of From A to Z-urich.  They have similar undertones with their berry bases and look a lot like sisters.  Rösti being the older, more seasoned, darker sibling.  I have to give OPI props for this name though.  I don’t know why but it makes me a chuckle, in a good way.

Diva Of Geneva is the lone shimmer in this group and with its ribbons of rosy metallic glimmer, it definitely stands out.  The shimmer looks more like a pearl than a shimmer as it lights up the deep magenta base.  I’m really digging this one though it strikes a resemblance to one of the 90210 shades, no?

William Tell Me About OPI is a vampy, raisin creme.  In the bottle I thought it was more of a blackened plum, a lighter version of Lincoln Park After Dark, but on me I see hints of brown.  Based on the bottle shade I certainly wasn’t expecting that.  I do like that it’s light enough to escape “almost black” territory which has always been my main issue with fan fave LPAD.

Bottom Line: The first half of the Swiss collection has my heart, no doubt, but if you’re in the market for some high quality reds these won’t let you down.  I’m personally hanging on to From A to Z-urich and William Tell Me About OPI.  They both fill needs in my collection and their flawless application and finish impressed me.  I think overall the Swiss collection contains some great basics to round out a collection but long time polish haulers may want to take a pass.

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.

So which Swiss colors made your cut?  Have any of the reds impressed you?  Fanatics with an undying love for red, do you see any shades here that are truly unique or must-haves?  I’d love to hear from people who take their reds as seriously as I do my greens.

Remember, let’s hear those comparison requests. Don’t forget to get your Vintage Vixen & RBL requests in by tomorrow, Friday, before I finish them this weekend.

Disclosure: Product samples were furnished by OPI. 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.

THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF THE TUDOR DYNASTY INSPIRE A BROCADE-HUED NAIL POLISH COLLECTION FROM RESCUE BEAUTY. The opulent fabrics, quiet luxury and return of ladylike fashions brought to mind the British Royal family to Rescue Beauty Lounge’s Ji Baek. No, not the current resident of Buckingham Palace but the colorful (and often short-lived) wives of Henry the VIII. Known for her flawless, full-coverage cremes, for Fall 2010 Ji Baek infused opulent multi-dimensional shimmer with rich, heavily pigmented hues. The result, a collection worthy of even the most royal of fingertips. I’m personally not well schooled on the history of The House of Tudor, outside of my love for the Showtime series.  Though given the popularity of The Tudors and recent series finale, this collection, with its strong fashion driven edge, is very timely.

“I fell in love with the Tudor dynasty in the novel Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel,” says Baek. “The more I learned of the queens’ wardrobes—the layers of embroidery, embellishments of pearls and fur and rich jewel toned fabrics—the more I saw a parallel with what’s going on in fashion this fall.”

Formula and Application: RBL is a 4-Free brand.  3-Free used to be the thing but now with so many people asking about Formaldehyde Resin as well, 4-Free really is the new 3-Free. The brush is round, of average length and on the thicker side.  It’s a bit more flexible than most which makes application a breeze for me.

As one would expect from a Rescue polish, this collection is heavily pigmented.  With the exception of Jane, the polishes all applied perfectly in two coats.  I used three coats of Jane though I apply my polish thin so you may be able to get away with two.  Even though it took three coats, I was pleased to find that it applied smooth with no streaks in spite of being such a light color.

FYI: I typically don’t wear top coat in my swatch pics but at Ji’s suggestion I did with these.  All swatches are shown with a coat of CND Super Shiney.

Anne, named for Anne Boleyn, is a grayed olive green packed with old gold and bright pink shimmer.  The pink adds an unusual twist and in person it’s even more prominent.  As you can see in the bottle pic above, the gold shimmer really captures the light but indoors it just adds a glow allowing the green come through.

Sunlight

Catherine, named for Catherine of Aragon, is a smokey royal purple infused with pewter, bright blue and fuchsia shimmer.  On me, the shimmer isn’t as prominent in Catherine as it is in Anne.  It could be that my skin picks up the gold shimmer more than the pewter.

Sunlight

Catherine H, named for Catherine Howard, is described by Ji as a Wedgewood blue.  To me, it’s that sky before a storm type of blue that I love.  The shimmer in this one is a combination of the old gold from Anne with the bright blue and fuchsia from Catherine.  Though what’s odd is that I don’t really see the colors unless I’m in bright sunlight.  Indoors it’s almost like the polish has water spots which is very interesting and unique.

Sunlight

Jane, named for Jane Seymour, is an oyster hued creme with an injection of yellow gold, pale pink and light green shimmer.  The color is described as having lavender shimmer but I don’t see it.  Though part of the reason for that could be that the shimmer is less apparent in Jane than the other three polishes.  It’s really subtle, almost unnoticeable to the casual observer.

Sunlight

Bottom Line: My hands down favorite is Anne but not just because it’s a green.  The shimmer is really unique and stands out the best in this polish.  The Catherines are a close second though.  Green, purple and blue are my favorite nail colors (in that order) so it’s no surprise that I’m totally enamored with all three of them.  If I had to choose between those two… who am I kidding, I wouldn’t!

Now I’m not a huge neutrals fan though they are pretty prominent for Fall so I see Jane selling well.  Finding a light colored creme with a bit of uniqueness that applies well is hard combo to come across so if that’s what you’re looking for, try Jane.

The Real Housewives of The Tudor Dynasty Fall collection from Rescue Beauty Lounge will go on pre-sale soon.  I don’t have exact dates yet as Ji is still figuring that out herself.  I will be sure to update you once they go on sale.  Rescue polishes retail for $18/ea for a .4oz bottle.  Shipping is free on order over $100 ($200 for international).

Thoughts on these Tudor inspired colors?  Which is your favorite?  Will you be splurging on the whole line?  Don’t forget to give me your comparison requests!

See my comps: RBL Fall 2010 Comparisons

Disclosure: Product samples were furnished to me by Rescue Beauty Lounge. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

Happy Anniversary Illamasqua!  What a year it’s been for them.  The brand went from “How do you pronounce that?” to “MAC better watch out!”  To celebrate, Illamasqua is releasing the Boo! & Hiss Pantomime Nail Duos.  Two Limited Edition nail polish sets pairing an existing lacquer with a new LE glitter to layer on top. I received the Boo! Duo consisting of Baptiste and the new Boo! glitter polish to test out and it is the hotness! Check it out, after the jump!

Boo! looks like a party in the bottle but being that it’s a clear based glitter, it’s not so fantastic on its own.  The glitter is very fine and well dispersed consisting mainly of purple particles with some blue and hot pink thrown into the mix.  It does dry with that typical bumpy texture but I threw a layer of Olan Quick & Slick on top and it dried nice and glossy.  Quick & Slick is thinner than fan fave Seche Vite so it will get the job done as well.

Sunlight

Baptiste is a red based purple shimmer that has a very velvety look to it.  The shimmer is very fine and not overly noticeable in natural light.  It’s there more for depth than effect.  The polish is very pigmented and applies extremely smooth, requiring only two coats.  I tend to favor cooler toned purples and burples but this one is quite striking.

Sunlight

Now add a layer of Boo! over Baptiste and WATCH OUT!!  This is my kind of celebration.  I’m showing the color with top coat to give you the full effect of its gorgeousness.  Move your hand and the pink and blue glitter really pops as the light bounces off the surface.  I tried layering OPI Merry Midnight over Baptiste to see if I could create a dupe but Merry Midnight is too warm toned and the glitter is too chunky.

Sunlight

The Boo! and Hiss Pantomime Duos retail for £25 and are, unfortunately, only available online from Illamaqua.com and in UK stores Selfridges and Brown Thomas. You can purchase Baptiste on its own for $14 from Sephora.com and select Sephora locations nationwide.

What do we think Fanatics?  Are you feeling this combo?  Can you think of a comparable dupe?  Who votes we beg Illamasqua to release these in the US?  Maybe if there’s enough demand they’ll consider launching them on Sephora.com.  Sound off!

Welcome to CND Monday, a new feature here on ALU. Each week I’ll be sharing a new layering combination from CND Colour & Effects to show you the versatility and creativity of the line. Last week I got a Head2Toe order in with some additional Effects from the CND line and I couldn’t wait to play with them. Until now I’ve only shown you Sparkles and a Pearl but now I have some Shimmers to experiment with. Being that blues and greens are two of my fave color families, I thought it would be fun to combine them and see what happens. Check out how dramatically Emerald Shimmer changes Anchor Blue after the jump!

If you missed my detailed review of the new CND Formula, Bottle and Brush check out CND Colour, Effects and Henna? for a recap.

Anchor Blue is one of the primary hues in the Colours range. It’s a very true, mid-tone shade with a ton of pigment and a very smooth formula. The one thing I’ve noticed about the CND Colours in general is that they don’t dry super glossy on their own. Of course if you want your polish to last you’ll add a top coat so that shouldn’t matter much.
Compared to the Sparkles, Emerald Shimmer‘s particles are more dense giving a cloudy appearance when applied. That denseness is what causes the Shimmers to alter the base color. Combined with the emerald mica, the shade becomes a mystical teal. Think of it as the blue version of CND Hotski to Tchotchke

You can find CND Colour & Effects at salons nationwide and online at our fave e-tailers (see sidebar). If you’re looking to stock up on some of your old CND faves GoIndulge.com is clearancing out a lot of their stock for only $2/ea.

Don’t forget, I’m raising funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation via the Think Pink – Donate & Win Giveaway so help support my cause by donating and you could win some fab beauty booty!
How are we liking this combo Fanatics? Have you tried any of the CND Shimmers yet?

I’ve been champing at the bit to get my hands on butter LONDON‘s British Racing Green ever since I eyed it backstage at Vena Cava during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week last February. A couple months ago we got a peek a the rest of the Fall/Winter collection and now I finally have it in my hot little hands.

A set of five diverse and unique shades, Creative Director Nonie Creme designed this collection to give women colors with personality that punch up the muted tones seen on the runways. Check them out after the jump!

First off, let’s talk about what’s new for Fall 2009; a revamped butter LONDON bottle. Hearing your criticism regarding the hard to remove outer cap, bL has replaced it with an easy glide version. No longer shall we debate whether you’re supposed to polish with the outer cap on or off. The decorative raven printed on the inner cap solves that mystery.

Now on to the polish. The formula with these is on par with a couple noted exceptions. Rosie Lee, being a clear based glitter, required three coats as did Pearly Queen (the frosty white). Unfortunately my travel schedule to NYC limited my time so rather than wait until next week when I return, I did some quick one finger swatches for you.

Of course I had to do a full mani with British Racing Green. How could I resist?? The shade reminds me of a vintage MG convertible only better because of the shimmer. We’re not talking standout sparkle but the shade is so vivid that even in incandescent light I can pick up on it. Hand this polish a prize because it’s a winner!
The name Rosie Lee kind of speaks for itself. A sweet, dazzling rosy pink it becomes foil-like in the sun.
Scoundrel is a medium reddish lilac creme that’s just dark enough for me to avoid “alien hand” syndrome. It’s not bright but it definitely has a kick!
Can you say pumpkin? Minger‘s warm undertones give this nontraditional fall bright a sesonally appropriate feel.
Pearly Queen is my only disappointment in the bunch. It’s plagued with brush stroke issues and the hue just doesn’t work on me. To put up with brush marks I better LOVE the color.
The butter LONDON Fall/Winter 09 collection retails for $14/ea or get the Fashionista’s Favourites Fall 2009 pack and receive all 5 polishes for $45. The collection is on sale now at butterLondon.com and coming soon to Beauty.com.

What do we think Fanatics? Are you dying over British Racing Green like I am? Which fall bL’s do you plan to purchase?

Zoya Dare has landed and after much anticipation, I’ve got your first look at them on the nail. As you may remember, the Dare collection of Zoya’s Truth or Dare Fall lineup is a group of chic, dramatic shades with five cremes and one shimmer. Let’s get right to it and check out the colors, shall we?

With the exception of Ibiza all the Dare collection polishes are cremes. They all glide on smooth and even in spite of the formula’s thickness. The shades are well pigmented requiring only two coats and dry with a high gloss shine.

Demi is a midtone reddish purple, you might call it a mauve. In the bottle it looked a bit Barney-ish but it’s a very pretty on the nail.

Ciara has a sundrenched raspberry look about it. Don’t get me wrong it’s vivid and rich, not at all dusty, those are just the first two words that came to mind when looking at it.
Vanessa is a berry based cool red. It applies very close to bottle color on the first coat which is always a plus with reds.

Pinta is the definition of burple (bluish purple). It definitely leans way blue but you can see its purple roots in bright light. My issue is that it’s so dark that unless you’re in sunlight, you’re the only person who will know how truly stunning this shade is.
For that reason I decided to take a sunlight shot of it. You see I shy away from direct sunlight swatching because I find it to be SOOOO inaccurate and I don’t want you kids buying a color and being disappointed when it looks NOTHING like what I showed you. So for the purposes of displaying the base color only, I did this sunlight shot for you.
Envy is a mossy deep forest green that has an earthy, camouflage feel to it. What’s funny is that as I applied it, the first coat had a graininess that looks like watercolor which I originally mistook for shimmer. With the second coat it’s pure glossy creme. Though if you want the bottle color and not an “almost black” make sure you apply two thin coats. Three is way too much.

Ibiza is a shimmery deep sapphire blue. The color is so dark and the shimmer is so subtle that you barely notice it outside of direct sunlight. Honestly, I love Indigo, with its multi-colored micro-glitter, so much that Ibiza is just OK for me.
The Zoya Dare Collection polishes retail for $6/each and are available for PRE-ORDER now on Zoya.com with a ship date of July 15th.

So all my DARE girls out there, what do you think?

Happy Friday Fanatics!! I have a little treat for you to start your weekend. A peek at the Zoya Matte Velvet and Truth or Dare polishes. To wet my overly curious appetite and yours, Zoya sent out sample palettes of the colors as a teaser of what’s to come. Check ‘em out!

Sample nails aren’t the easiest to photograph accurately because of all the different colors but I did the best my little point and shoot could manage.

First up, the Truth or Dare collection for Fall.
Truth‘s Penny, Kalmia, Salma, Isla, Anaka and Drew are all metallic shimmers and based on the samples, Anaka just jumps off the palette. The sparkle is electrifying. I can’t wait to see it on the nail.
Dare‘s Ibiza is the lone shimmer accompanying cremes Envy, Pinta, Demi, Clara and Vanessa. The burple-y Pinta, mossy green Envy and sapphire Ibiza are the standouts in this crowd.

Next up, Matte Velvet, Zoya’s entry in the incresingly popular matte trend.
I can already tell I’m going to love these more than the OPI Mattes because they have that same great shimmer quality that I loved about La Paz-itively Hot Matte. Loredana, Dovima and Posh all have a finely dispersed shimmer that makes them a bit satiny rather than flat matte.

I’m hoping to have my hands on the real deal very soon so stay tuned for real live swatches!! In the meantime, does this change your opinion on mattes? Are you loving Truth or Dare so far? Sound off!