Archive for the 'Shimmer' Category
 We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you…. GREENS!!! I know I promised to show you the other half of Retro Diva but I’m sorry, a collection of GREENS trumps all. As soon as I got my hands on Nubar’s Going Green eco-themed collection I knew I couldn’t (more like shouldn’t) wait to show them to you.
A whole collection of green polish. It’s like a dream come true. Did Nubar employ stealth psychics to stalk me and read my mind? Is this the result of years of MUA nail board begging for more fabulous greens than we can handle? Who cares, they’re gorgeous and they’re real! Check them out after the jump! |
I’m not going to bog you down with a lot of chatter about these. In regards to the formula the bottom line is this; smooth, thin, well pigmented, two coat coverage, fast drying. In other words, pretty damn perfect. Each color glided on with ease. Now can we talk color?? I know you wanna!
I don’t know that I’ve seen a more gorgeous polish in my life than Greener and I’m not exaggerating. It’s heart stopping stunning and as incredible as it looks in pictures, it’s even more jaw-dropping in person. A true emerald shimmer, this exemplifies jewel tone and I own NOTHING like it.
Forest is a slightly mossy green creme. Can you even stand how flawless it is? Can you?? Just when I thought I’d never love another green creme the way I swoon over RBL Recycle, along comes Forest trying to steal my affections.
Speaking of Recycle, I knew the first question from you guys would be about how they compare. Recycle is decidedly darker and a bit bluer in its base tone. And if you ask me to choose a favorite between them, I’ll cut you! Seriously, it’s not a fair question!
Earth is a sparkling jade green. The light green micro-shimmer dances over the blue-green hue giving it depth and character. It’s very rich yet serene. Staring at it puts me at peace.
Conserve is a deep teal shimmer with slightly chunky glitter. It dries with a satin finish and bit of texture from the sparkle.
Can I get a HOLLA for the HOLO Reclaim? Don’t judge my cheesiness people, I’ve been waiting for a great green holo polish. The ones I have are all pretty light and not noticeably green. This one is a fabulous springy, grassy hue packed with fine holographic glitter. I wish it had been sunny so I could show its full holographic power but it’s a gloomy, rainy day in the Cleveburg.
Wildlife is a duochrome that flashes both bronze and fern shades depending on the angle. I don’t know fanatics, this one just isn’t grabbing me. I think it’s the alien-esque glow at the sides that are turning me off. It’s definitely got that “in the wild” type feel, I just don’t think it’s for me.
Nubar recently announced that they’ve partnered with PETA and have been certified as Vegan & Cruelty-Free. So you’ll soon see this cute little guy appearing on Nubar’s web site and packaging. Congrats Nubar!
Nubar polishes retail for $7.49 each and can be purchased online at ByNubar.com. The Going Green collection is listed as Coming Soon so keep your eyes peeled for an announcement of its on sale date.
Are you all totally flipping for these or WHAT? Share!
 Yesterday I launched Finger Paints Week to share with you the 16 permanent polishes being added to the FP lineup. Today we’re looking at shades geared for the warm toned fanatics. Overall FP did a great job of including a little something for everyone in this release.
These three feel very fall and would make an excellent Browns themed manicure when football season launches. I was pleasantly surprised to find that while both the bronze and brown lacquers are metallic in nature, they aren’t bogged down with brush stroke madness. Take a peek after the jump! |
While Tangerine Tint‘s red-orange hue is probably best suited for autumn, it’s bright enough to make it an excellent summer pedicure shade as well. Its richly pigmented creamy formula glides on in two even coats leaving a mirror like finish.
I look at Figure of Art at think it’s a total “mom” shade. Not moms in general but my mom. Last fall she kept asking me to bring her bronze-y polishes and since she loves a metallic (what she calls “frosty”) finish, I’m sure she’ll be asking to borrow this beauty come October. As you can see, there is a bit of a brush stroke showing on my ring finger but it’s because I had a bit too much polish on my brush and not enough time for a do-over.
Artist’s Inspiration is a totally drinkable chocolate brown. No, I’m not suggesting you drink polish. The last thing I need is a lawsuit. It’s just so luscious that I’m totally jonesing for a cup of cocoa on a warm spring day. I was pleased with how even the finish is in spite of the metallic shimmer and that even with a reddish base it’s a relatively true brown hue. Since so many great chocolates of the past have been LE, I’m happy to find one that’s perm.
You’ll find these and the rest of the Finger Paints line exclusively at Sally Beauty Supply stores and online at SallyBeauty.com. Don’t forget to visit the website to snag your B2G1 Free coupon.
Stay tuned for more Finger Paints goodness as FP Week continues. And check out Day One if you haven’t already.
 The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.
It’s driving me batty but each week as I work on a new Rainy Day Blue for the Archives, I have that song from Eiffel 65, Blue (Da Ba Dee), running through my head…
I’m blue da ba dee da ba die…
I have a blue house with a blue window.
Blue is the colour of all that I wear.
Blue are the streets and all the trees are too.
I have a girlfriend and she is so blue.
So now it’ll be running through YOUR head as you check out my Archives pick of the week, Carolyn New York Dark Side of the City. Check it out after the jump! |
Dark Side of the City is an intense electric blue shimmer. It’s slightly metallic but not to the point of giving visible brush strokes. And in spite of its thin, flowing texture, it’s well pigmented. Normally I’d expect a formula so smooth and thin to be semi-sheer but not this beauty. It gives great coverage with two coats.
And if the Blue song isn’t stuck in your head yet, PRESS PLAY. Mwah-ha-ha-ha!
Carolyn New York polishes retail for $5.99 and can be purchased directly from the CarolynNewYork.com website. Right now they’re running a Spring Cleaning Special charging ONLY $1/BOTTLE for their 20 Original shades. So head on over and pick up a few colors before the deal goes away.
 The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.
Whenever I’m asked for a purple recommendation, Zoya Yasmeen is always at the top of my list. In a lot of ways, it’s the perfect purple shimmer. Usually when you add gold or reddish sparkle to a cool toned shade, the result is overly warm. Yasmeen avoids that pitfall.
The base shade is a deep blackened plum that falls so far on the cool side of purple that the overall shade doesn’t end up too red-grape. If you love purple, this is not one to miss. It’s extremely unique, beyond gorgeous and definitely a “must have.” |
What do you think of Yasmeen? Do you own it? Will you be adding it to your stash soon?
Jessica Cosmetics is the nail care brand founded by Jessica Vartoughian, the woman the New York Times dubbed “The First Lady of Nails.” Since 1969 when the Jessica Nail Clinic opened in LA, the brand has practiced natural nail treatments including use of their signature nail polish, a 3-free line of colors.
For Holiday 2008, the brand put together two mini nail polish sets from both the Jessica & Jessana lines; Nutcracker Sweet and Sweet Treats. Each set includes three mini .25 oz bottles of nail color, base coat and top coat. I had the opportunity to test out the Nutcracker Sweet set.
Previously I’ve only seen Jessica products at TJ Maxx and like all the beauty products they sell, the quality can be sketchy. I once bought a Barielle treatment only to get home and find the bottle half empty, dried up and open. Lesson learned, always open the boxes before buying. Anywho the Jessica sets I’ve seen at the Maxx are usually sheers or french mani kits, not my thing, so I never bothered but the colors in Nutcracker Sweet, totally me.
Even though the bottles are small, the caps are still nice and long, easy to handle. The brushes are full size as well so application was a breeze. I really like the medium viscosity formula and high pigmentation. They’re able to pack in a ton of color without making the formula goopy. It dries relatively fast as well. I could touch each shade after a few minutes.
Lilac Snowflake is not what I’d think of as lilac. It’s more fuchsia to my eye with pink and silver shimmer giving it a metallic look without the brush stroke downside of metallics.
Crimson Dew Drop reminds me a lot of OPI Midnight is Moscow only with way more glitz. It’s a black based, uber-dark red with a ton of duo-chrome micro-glitter that reflects both red and gold depending on the light. And because the glitter is so small, the polish dries smooth and glossy. No matte finish here!
Sugar Plum Fairy on its own is reason enough to buy this set. It’s the color that immediately drew me in. A blue based purple, it has the same amazing micro-glitter that’s in Crimson Dew Drop. Believe me, it’s WAY better in person.
The Jessica Holiday Petites are available on the Jessica Cosmetics website. Nutcracker Sweet retails for $16.50 and Sweet Treats is on sale for $12.50.
Who’s a Jessica fan? What colors do you recommend for a Jessica newbie?
We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you…. GREENS!!! I know I promised to show you the other half of Retro Diva but I’m sorry, a collection of GREENS trumps all. As soon as I got my hands on Nubar’s Going Green eco-themed collection I knew I couldn’t (more like shouldn’t) wait to show them to you.
Forest is a slightly mossy green creme. Can you even stand how flawless it is? Can you?? Just when I thought I’d never love another green creme the way I swoon over RBL Recycle, along comes Forest trying to steal my affections.
Speaking of Recycle, I knew the first question from you guys would be about how they compare. Recycle is decidedly darker and a bit bluer in its base tone. And if you ask me to choose a favorite between them, I’ll cut you! Seriously, it’s not a fair question!
Nubar recently announced that they’ve partnered with PETA and have been certified as Vegan & Cruelty-Free. So you’ll soon see this cute little guy appearing on Nubar’s web site and packaging. Congrats Nubar!
