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. Back when the Makeup Alley Nail Board first started, one of its members started a list of “known dupes.” Revlon Vixen was one of the first on the list as a twin for the original Chanel Vamp, not the shimmery version that it became. Now I had been wanting a bottle of Vamp ever since it first appeared on Uma Thurman’s nails in Pulp Fiction but, at the time, Chanel was not in my budget. So I ran out and bought a bottle of Vixen and it has literally sat in my collection ever since. At the time it wasn’t necessarily a color I was into, it was more that I just needed to own it. Since then, I guess I’ve just forgotten about it. So much for that “need” I thought I had. Outside of its dupe status, Vixen is a staple shade in its own right. One of those classics that most nail fanatics have. Here’s the deal though. My bottle is probably seven years old but since it’s unopened you would think it would be fine to use. Um, not so much. What a disaster of bubbles. I actually went out to buy a new bottle of Vixen just to see if it is worthy of stashing. So if I say “share” that will be two bottles worth of money I’ll have wasted.

Formula & Application: Revlon nail polish is 4-Free (including Formaldehyde Resin) and free of camphor which can be an irritant. The classic Revlon bottle with its signature gold chrome label on the cap come with a long, thin, flexible brush. While the bristles are flexible they don’t fan out well which made the application more tricky than a standard 3 stroke process.

Now I’ve heard people rave for years about the Revlon formula and honestly, I don’t get it. It’s nice and thin and well pigmented but the brush doesn’t do it justice. In fact, I blame the brush, in part, for my unimpressed attitude. In spite of the brush issues, after three coats, I got the color opaque and glossy. I was satisfied and then about an hour later, after I had photographed it, the bubbles and lumps came.

All in all I applied Vixen four times in the past day; two from the old bottle, two from the new bottle and they all ended up in bubbles. I even tried different base and top coats on each nail to see if it was a chemistry issue and I can’t get this polish to look good. I feel like a crazy person because so many people love Revlon, more specifically Vixen. Clearly this is not a polish for me.

Revlon Vixen is vampy browned berry creme. It’s the high gloss version of dried blood. Sorry if that sounds creepy but I’ve got True Blood on the brain as I’m all amped up for the premiere next week.

Bottom Line: I’m now really ticked at myself for never buying Chanel Vamp as this formula does not work with my nails for some reason. I know Rouge Noir is the old Vamp but when is that coming back to the US? The only upside is I saved the receipt so I can take the new bottle back to the store.

365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: Neither! I’m taking the new bottle back and sending the old bottle to the box I have set aside for a haz mat pickup. Remember, you can’t throw out nail polish in the regular trash. It’s a hazardous material and must be disposed of properly.

Revlon Vixen is available at drugstores nationwide. Revlon nail polishes retail for approximately $5/ea for a .5oz bottle depending on the retailer.

Are there any Vixen defenders out there? What base and top coats do you wear with it to make it work? Did anyone else have major bubbling issues like I did? Or am I the only crazy person on the planet who can’t get Vixen to work?

Disclosure: I purchased this product. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

This holiday, OPI hits a high note with the release of Sony Pictures’ upcoming film Burlesque. With an all-star cast including Cher and Christina Aguilera, this musical written and directed by Steven Antin opens nationwide in theaters on November 24, 2010. OPI’s Holiday 2010 collection marks the third film collaboration for the brand this year.  Following up the sell out successes of Alice In Wonderland and Shrek, the Burlesque lineup is sure to follow suit.  This year OPI has flipped the script by forgoing their usual six reds in varying finishes to give us six shimmers in warm metallics, a vampy plum and some more traditional reds. “OPI is thrilled to partner with Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems on this exciting movie release,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “The colors were modeled off the majestic glamour, over-the-top costumes and mesmerizing Cabaret that are typically seen in Burlesque performances. The resulting bright, dazzling shades are perfect for the holiday season.”

Formula and Application: 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 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.

In terms of application, I was very impressed with the pigmentation.  With one exception all the polishes applied flawlessly in two smooth coats.  Ali’s Big Break required three due to the sheerness of its jelly base.  It was also the only color that gave me staining issues so I would double up on base coat with it.  The foil finish metallics were somewhat bothersome to remove only because tiny bits of foil glitter were on my skin but applying a swipe of cuticle oil before removing drastically reduces that.

Ali’s Big Break is a jelly based candy apple with flecks of gold micro-glitter.  In the bottle I expected it to be some sort of duo-chrome but on the nail it’s more like a piece of lucite with flecks of gold leaf trapped inside.  As soon as I saw this polish I thought of one of my fave old CND colors, Winterfire, though my bottle is MIA for comparison purposes.

Let Me Entertain You is a bright glimmering fuchsia.  The base looks like a jelly but it’s actually pretty opaque.  The finish is like a toned down version of China Glaze’s glass flecks. The hot pink micro-glitter looks trapped, similar to Ali’s Big Break, only with a LOT more sparkle.

I didn’t have a great comparison for LMEY so I am showing it next to an older Holiday shade, OPI Don’t Toy With Me from the 2008 collection Holiday in Toyland.  HiT has more red in its base and it’s quite a bit darker but they have a very similar finish.

Rising Star is a burnished copper foil metallic.  I love that so many brands are coming out with more foils as opposed to traditional metallics which aren’t as user friendly.  The color is not what I traditionally think of as copper but it’s not quite gold or bronze.  It actually reminds me of these highlights I got back when I was still coloring my hair dark red.  I had bright copper streaks added and this was back when the whole Kelly Clarkson thick highlights were in so they were pretty dramatic. I loved the color but the style makes me cringe now when I think about it.

I thought I might find a twin in Nubar Caramello but it’s deeper and more nutty, if that’s a descriptor, than Rising Star.

Take The Stage is a reddish bronze foil.  Again it’s a great non-streaky metallic, like Rising Star, though I’m surprised that OPI didn’t include a cool toned metallic in the collection.

Take The Stage has a pretty close twin in Nubar Bronzo from the Venetian Glass Collection.  The only minor difference is that TtS has a more metallic finish but to the casual observer, it’s not that noticeable.  I’m also showing it next to OPI Lighten Up, You’re Two Pence! as a reference.

Tease-y Does It! is a vampy, deep plum hue with golden and red micro-glitter.  The glitter looks like tiny burning embers floating on a pool of oil.  In the bottle you would expect it to have a duo-chrome finish thanks to the gold glitter that picks up the light but on the nail it doesn’t translate.  Of all the polishes in this collection, this one grabbed me the most. I hated taking it off, it’s that gorgeous.  It just feels so elegant and the fiery glitter is mesmerizing.

As I was wearing Tease-y Does It, god I hate the name, I kept thinking it looks familiar but couldn’t come up with a polish name.  It was driving me nuts.  I was going through my “vampy” bin and still coming up empty until I opened my Chanel Feu De Russie box.  Ding, ding, ding!  While they aren’t identical, the polishes are very similar.  The main difference is the base color.  Feu De Russie has a black base while TDI’s is more burgundy.  There’s an underlying smokiness to TDI that makes it look lighter and more plummy when dry.  However, if you missed out on the Chanel, this is an excellent substitute.

The Show Must Go On is the solo duo-chrome in the collection.  This hot pink shimmer flashes golden orange though it’s a pretty subtle effect.

I’ve heard a lot of people suggest that MAC Bad Fairy from the Venomous Villains Collection is a dupe for The Show Must Go On but you can see that’s clearly not the case.

Bottom Line: Tease-y Does It is my hands down favorite from this half of the collection.  In spite of the cheesy name, I’m smitten with the color and am already planning to take it with my on my next pedicure appointment which says a lot.  For almost a year I’ve been wearing purple on my toes almost exclusively so to switch up my game means the color is pretty special.  The metallics are winners in my book only because I’m still on a foil kick.  The rest are kind of meh for me only because that’s not my fave color family.  The shades are pretty but not must-haves for my personal collection.  Though if I didn’t own CND Winterfire, I would pick up a bottle of Ali’s Big Break.

The OPI Holiday 2010 Burlesque Collection will be available beginning November 2, 2010 at salons including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and Ulta. OPI nail polishes retail for $8.50/ea for a .5oz bottle.

Are you into these shades?  What do you think of the whole movie collaboration thing?  Should OPI keep partnering with films or do their own thing?  Which shades will take up permanent residence in your collection?  Which duo-chrome do you love more MAC Bad Fairy or The Show Must Go On?

Stay tuned for my review of the second half of the collection containing six GLITTERS!

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

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. This week’s CND Monday look is a reader request from Fanatic Strawberimilk. She wanted to see how Dark Ruby would look with Jade Sparkle layered on top. In my head I was thinking it sounded holiday-ish; red and green but I was way off base. Check out the combo 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.

Dark Ruby is a black cherry shade along the lines of Essie Wicked, only darker and more pigmented with an extra shot of berry in its base. It doesn’t really read as a ruby to me. It definitely fits into the vampy, almost-black category.

Add a coat of Jade Sparkle and you get this foil-like effect where each particle catches the light as you move your hand. Depending on the angle it can read green, gold or somewhere in between. It’s similar to a past CND Monday combo, Raisin in the Sun and Gold Shimmer, except it had a more uniform, brushed metal look.

You can find CND Colour & Effects at salons nationwide and online at our fave e-tailers (see sidebar). Colours retail for $9/ea and Effects retail for $11/ea.

Strawberimilk, I hope this was helpful. Fanatics, what do you think of this combo? Have any of you purchased Dark Ruby yet? What is your favorite Effect to layer over top?

Doesn’t “primera parte” sound much more interesting than “part one”? Ah the beauty of the Spanish language. OPI is transporting us to Spain for their fall color story and after reading your numerous pleas and comments, I have swatches of the collection for you.

I’ll be honest, I haven’t been chomping at the bit to review OPI Spain. It’s not that the colors aren’t pretty or well made, it’s just that, with a few notable exceptions, they don’t give me a thrill. Normally I pass on a collection if I’m not “in like” with a majority of the shades but I couldn’t ignore the overwhelming number of you wanting to see these colors. Check them out!

With six polishes in the berry family I chose to start with the more diverse and unique shades from the collection. Now while I’ve applauded OPI’s formula over the past year I noticed that the pigmentation with most of these are off. Even a polish as dark as Here Today… Aragon Tomorrow required three coats.

Here Today… Aragon Tomorrow is a blackened forest green. This is the season of dark green and I’m sure this color will be an instant hit. Consider this the green LPAD. I’m sure it will have that same kind of fan base. What I found odd was the grainy texture of the formula. It’s visible in the first and second coats but disappeared by coat three. If I had to compare it, Zoya Envy would be its closest relative though Envy has a brighter, less blackened base.

Suzi Skis In The Pyrenees really surprised me. I was expecting it to look black when dried but it’s actually a stunning bluish charcoal creme. I tried to find something similar in my collection but came up short. If you’re looking for “the new black” try this!

Give Me Moor! is a rich aubergine creme. It looks like there is shimmer in the bottle but it dries creamy on the nail. It’s pretty and vampy but feels recycled. Like Black Cherry Chutney redux.

Can You Tapas This? is best described by OPI as “raisin” and I won’t try to top that. This is another one that surprised me. It looks very understated in the bottle but pretty scrumptious on the nail. This color is so outside of my wheelhouse but I’m diggin it.

Bullish On OPI has a slightly browned appearance in person but it just didn’t translate in pictures. It’s definitely better than your typical cherry red creme. It feels a bit vintage a la Dita Von Teese. If you’re into reds I suggest checking this one out in person.

Barefoot in Barcelona is deeper than your typical nude. It’s darker and more pink than last fall’s Tickle My France-y? Think of it as the cool toned version of CND Cocoa which is very yellow based. Deep nudes and mushroom hues have been popping up on celebrity toes and this shade would fit right in with the trend.
The OPI Coleccion de España is on shelves now and retails for $8.50/ea. Look for OPI at fine salons nationwide including chains like ULTA, Beauty First, Beauty Brands, Trade Secret and JCPenney.

What are we feeling about OPI Spain so far? Have you picked any of them up yet? Which ones are going on your shopping list? Sound off Fanatics!

The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash. I’m not a regular Craigslist reader but for the heck of it I did a search last winter for nail polish. Much to my surprise there was a listing for a box of random polish for only $5. When I found out the seller lived two streets from me, I figured it couldn’t hurt to check it out. Let me say, it was TOTALLY worth it. I found a couple treasures in that box including a bottle of Chanel Metallic Vamp. Score! Check out this fun discontinued find along with the current version of Vamp after the jump!

Chanel Vamp first hit the scene in the early 90s and was an instant sell-out hit. Uma Thurman wearing it in Pulp Fiction only added it its cult status. Though back then Vamp was a creme. Then in 1995 they released Metallic Vamp and Very Very Vamp as sister shades similar to how there are multiple “Satins” in the Le Vernis lineup.

A few years back Chanel relaunched Vamp in the US but with shimmer. They also released a creme European version with the same product number (#18) only named Rouge Noir. Rouge Noir has been released here in sets but hasn’t been added to the perm lineup. So if you want the original 90s Vamp you want Rouge Noir. If you want a hint of shimmer get Vamp. Confused, you won’t be after this episode of Soap. Sorry, it just popped in my head. Did anyone else watch that show? Enough history, let’s check out the polish.

This is the current version of Vamp. It’s a deep berry with just a hint of shimmer. Though the shimmer is more apparent in the bottle than when it’s dry on the nail. For all intents and purposes, I’d consider it a creme. The formula applies perfectly. It flows so smoothly and is so well pigmented I wish I had more nails to paint.

And here’s my Craigslist gem, Metallic Vamp, a deep plum metallic. I would have paid more than $5 just for this one alone. Granted the formula isn’t at its best. It’s a bit goopy and brush stroke-y but as a collector I can overlook that. I may add a drop or two of thinner and see what happens. Regardless it’s a keeper.

Chanel Vamp retails for $23 and is available on Chanel.com and at most department stores both online and on counter.

How many of you own Vamp? Which version? Do you prefer it as a creme or shimmer? Anyone have a bottle of Very Very Vamp?

Who’s ready to see the second half of the Shades by Barielle All Lacquered Up Collection? If you’re looking for more color than the neutral palette I showed in Part 1 (Falling Star being the exception) then these colors are for you! With these polishes we’re getting into richer, more opulent tones filled with glitters, shimmers and pearls (oh my!). Check out what Elle and I came up with, after the jump!

I commented briefly on the formula in the shade descriptions yesterday as each polish applies a bit differently. With these darker hues, all the polishes are perfectly pigmented two-coaters. There is no unevenness in the consistency, they are all smooth like buttah!

Pin Up was inspired by the gorgeous tomato red lip MAC’s Gregory Arlt created for the Twinkle presentation using Lady Danger lipstick. He gave the models an updated retro look, reminiscent of the classic Pin Up girl (hence the name) or modern day Dita Von Teese. It’s a lip shade that’s just CRYING for a matching nail. We added a hint of gold fleck to add warmth and character.

Lava Rock is a semi-sheer black with red pearl that looks like a blackened plum in natural light and burns deep dark ember-y red in the sun.


You know I’m a girl that loves a good brown. One that isn’t too red or too “special dark” and Make It A Latte is just that. It’s a mid-tone cocoa with a glint of golden reflect.

What do you get when you combine the best parts of Chanel Nuit de Russie and China Glaze Blk-Bila-Bong? Blackened Bleu! It’s got all the bling of BBB with the uber-pigmentation of NdR. Packed within its semi-sheer black base is a massive amount sapphire glitter to create a polish that’s smooth, glossy and high on glam.


Since the collection spans the Fall and Winter months, it wouldn’t be complete without a fab holiday red. Enter Glammed Out Garnet, a deep wine sparkler that packs the same glitzy punch as Blackened Bleu.


I told you there would be a green and this one is a gem. Polished Princess is vivid mossy green shimmer. We wanted to go to the golden side of green with a vibrant, bold hue and I’m just so in love, love, love with it. Now I can see you reaching for your keyboard, ready to ask and no, this is NOT a Zoya Irene dupe. This is much brighter and more yellow based.
The Shades by Barielle All Lacquered Up collection goes on sale in August on Barielle.com. For those of you that have asked, I don’t have international release info yet but I will post anything I hear.

The polishes retail for $8/ea but take advantage of their Buy Two Get One Free deal to stock up on your favorite Shades. Oh and if you sign up for email updates, you’ll get a discount code for your order.

So now that you’ll seen the entire ALU collection, what do you think? Which ones are must haves? If you missed the first half view it HERE!

When I got my hands on the new OPI Matte nail polishes, I immediately started swatching them on my fingers. This was my first time using a true matte polish and all I could say was, “Wow, that’s MATTE alright!” I’ve never seen anything like these before. Think about dipping your fingers in flat wall paint and that’s the look we’re talking about here fanatics. Not at all like the satin-esque finish I got from using Orly Nails For Males top coat for my matte & glossy nail art experiment. It’s like the black hole of nail polish, no light lives here. I’ve got swatches, a full review and comparison shots for you after the jump!

Every bottle of OPI Matte comes with a little tag that explains the nature of the formula, rules regarding application and suggestions on how to wear it (i.e. matte nail w/glossy tip). It states that you should NOT use a base coat, top coat, drying drops or hand lotion. According to OPI, “because of the different formulation of the OPI Matte Nail Lacquers, it is best to wear it without a base coat and to stay away from lotions to get the best, most fabulous matte look possible.” My theory… hand lotion will affect the finish, making it more satin looking and a base coat affects the application (streaking, unevenness, etc). Application – This formula dries FAST. Like lightening fast so you must work quickly and meticulously. Any hesitation in your brush stroke will show as will any imperfections in your nail bed, like ridges. The polish is thick and highly pigmented but because of the difficulty in getting it smooth, I needed to do three coats of each shade.

Wear – I experimented with the no base coat rule when I did my five day wear test. I buffed then prepped my nails using Seche Prep to make sure they were free of any oils. I applied CND Stickey base coat to three nails (thumb, middle, pinkie) and left the other two bare. I noticed that the formula didn’t flow as nicely over the nails coated with Stickey. By the following day I already had two chips on my index and ring fingers, by day five, well you can see the disaster they were. Going out to dinner with nails like this was, um “fun.” The boyfriend just shakes his head at this point. Meanwhile, the nails with base coat showed normal tip wear, nothing drastic. While OPI doesn’t suggest using base coat, I highly recommend it for two reasons: 1. So you don’t feel like you wasted your money on a polish that only lasts two days. 2. To avoid staining. The dark colors do stain! It may mean trickier application but it’s worth it for longer wear. Now let’s move on to the colors

Alpine Snow Matte is the polish version of painting Wite-Out to your nails. It’s chalky and blindingly bright.
Even though original Alpine Snow is used as a french tip shade, next to the matte version it looks almost off white. Now because Orly Matte has a tinge of color to it, it altered the color of Alpine Snow making it more creamy.
Gargantuan Green Grape Matte is also very chalky and as much as I love a green, I’m not in love with this. It reminds me of a faded dried out pressed leaf. Unfortunately I don’t own the original version (I know, I know sacrilege) so I can’t compare them for you.
As much as I’m not a pink girl La Paz-itively Hot Matte is my favorite polish in the collection. It’s the shimmer in it that gets me, making the finish a bit more satin than the rest.
As you can see La Paz Matte is NOTHING like the original. La Paz is a hot pink but the matte version is more rosey and deeper in hue. Both colors are actually more vibrant in person but my camera just can’t capture that.
I showed you You Don’t Know Jacques Matte in my second matte/glossy nail art experiment but here it is on its own. Is it just me or does it look like I rubbed dirt on my nails? I don’t hate the color but the finish just isn’t doing it for me. It doesn’t have the same uniqueness as the original (below).
Lincoln Park After Dark Matte is the same almost black plum that the world has come to know and love. In most light it looks pretty black, in natural/sunlight you can see the purple undertones. It’s warmer than a flat black just like it’s shiny finish sister.
Now after seeing La Paz Matte I had high hopes for Russian Navy Matte, expecting that same slightly satin, shimmer-filled finish. But that’s not what we got. Instead it’s a lifeless blue-black hue.
In this case, I much prefer the satin version using Orly Matte.

The OPI Matte collection officially goes on sale in July and can be found online at our fave e-tailers and in professional salons like Regis, ULTA, Trade Secret, JCPenney.

I know you’ve weighed in on the matte look but what do you think about OPI’s version? Will you be running out to buy them?

I’m finally going to see Star Trek tonight. I know, I know it’s about time! I hate opening weekend crowds so I typically wait a couple weeks to see the big blockbusters. In the meantime reader AnnaAnastasia contacted me about Zoe Saldana‘s (aka Lt. Uhura) nails in the film. Zoe sports a glossy, dark nail in character and AnnaAnastasia hopes to recreate the look. I spoke with Star Trek‘s Head Makeup Artist, Mindy Hall, to get the deets on Uhura’s vampy manicure. Find out more after the jump!

Mindy works with a manicurist for all her film projects. In LA, Cindy Neal, and in NYC, Gina Eppolito. To quote Mindy, “It takes a special individual to work in the film world; professional, flexible (both physical and mental), flawless, discreet, attention to detail, works well with others, can deal with a hectic environment, and of course excellent people skills. Very mobile and always on time! Often the makeup artist or hairstylist is also working on the actor as the manicure and pedicure is being done. We all work around each other to accomplish this. Cindy and Gina really understand this and are fantastic at anticipating what is needed as we simultaneously work around each other getting the actor ready. “

For Lt. Uhura, Essie Wicked was the color of choice. A deep, black cherry, Wicked has a berry wine base that is visible in the first coat. It applied a bit uneven so I used three thin coats over CND Ridge Out to get it perfect.
My thanks to Mindy Hall for taking the time to respond to me during what I’m sure is a very busy time for her. I can’t WAIT to see the film tonight.

Essie Wicked is available online at your favorite e-tailers and Essie.com and in stores at professional salons including ULTA, Trade Secret, Regis, etc.

image credit: AllMoviePhoto.com

As much as I would love to jump ahead straight to Spring, the gross, gray weather and piles of snow outside my door keep reminding me that it’s still Winter. Spring seems a far cry away which too depressing for words. Is one day without a visit from the plow guys too much to ask? Before I start inundating you with Spring collections, let’s take a look at Essie Winter since most of us are still wearing dark shades and haven’t started the seasonal transition. I must admit, Essie’s winter collection surprised me. I’ve come to think of Essie as playing it safe, targeting the conservative consumer with more reds, pink and sheers than you can shake a stick at. So to see a collection with purples and gold made me happy. Very on trend Essie!

My only disappointment was with the pigmentation. All the shades, with one lone exception, required three coats. Es no bueno! Though I was pleased to discover that, for the most part, application was phenomenal. I wasn’t sure how the first batch of shimmers in the new toluene and DBP free formula would hold up but they fared well.

Sexy Divide – let’s start out with a bang, shall we? Sexy Divide is by far my fave of the group. She is everything I want in a purple; deep and rich without crossing over to that dreaded “almost black” territory. If you buy one Essie this year, this is the ONE!

Shift Power was my problem child. No matter how hard I tried or how many times I tried, I just couldn’t get this one to work out. The application was a major pain. I so wanted to love this golden beauty but as you can clearly see, it was not a winner.

It’s Genius has these amazing ribbons of gold running throughout its deep mauve-y base. The shimmer gives it a metallic look yet it applies smooth like a shimmer. Truly a fantastic polish. It reminds me of one of my all time favorite shades, China Glaze Steppin Out.

Rock Star Skinny was as much a surprise for me as it was for reader MooeySullivan. She’s totally right. Looks like nothing special in the bottle but on the nail… Ka-pow! Luscious, deep and captivating. This browned burgundy shimmer is a “rock star” though it really doesn’t translate in photos. You have to see it on the nail to understand.

Bold and Beautiful gets the snore award for failing to wow. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with it. It’s a classic Essie creme. Nothing we haven’t seen before. Probably thrown in to appease the more classic nail gal.

There’s something about Damsel In A Dress. I can’t put my finger on it but somehow this blackened plum has won me over. It could be the subtle silver shimmer, the way it reminds me of a grape popsicle or just the fact that my purple phase is still going strong but I’m totally diggin’ it.
The Essie Winter collection is on sale now and can be found at chain salons/stores like ULTA, Trade Secret and Regis or online at Essie.com and Head2ToeBeauty.com.

Thoughts? I’m sure some of you have indulged by now. Which ones are your favorites?

Jewel tones and vampy nail shades are carrying over from last Fall and Misa Cosmetics is putting their twist on the trend. The recently launched Poisoned Passion collection is a lineup of six rich shades. With five shimmers and one creme, these colors pack a lot of punch. They are all very lush.

The last time I reviewed a Misa collection, Love Connections, it was right after their switch to become Big 3 Free. You may remember that I was non-plused with the formula then but, I’m seeing an improvement in this new lineup. While I still had issues with application of a couple shades (Dying Love & Fatal Affair) the rest flowed quite nicely. One thing that has remained consistent is the high level of pigmentation. Each polish only required two coats.

Toxic Seduction – Let’s start out with my favorite color of the bunch. Of course it’s the green, duh! You might call the base color a blackened teal or blue-green but the hints of gold shimmer warm it up a bit. Though I wouldn’t say its a forest green. More like a franken of Gussied Up Green & Rodeo Fanatic. Regardless of how you describe it, I have just one word – WINNER! I looked for it’s closest living relative in my stash and found Poison Ivy from Nailed by Sleek UK (shown below).

A Sin Worth Committing’s base color is royal blue, like OPI Dating A Royal. No purple undertones in the slightest. It’s most definitely a superb navy shimmer however, I found that OPI Yoga-ta Get This Blue is close enough that you wouldn’t need both. A Sin Worth Committing is just a touch bolder.

Dying Love is a tricky one. Both in application and color description. I guess it’s appropriate for the punkiest color to be the problem child. Not quite jet black yet too dark to be gunmetal gray, Dying Love falls somewhere between Lippmann Hit Me With Your Best Shot and Sally Hansen Salon Black Orchid (a LE color).

Fatal Affair is similar to Misa Blueberry Glaze in that BG is a purple tinged blue and Fatal Affair is a blue tinged purple. Though the blue shimmer affected my ability to show the true color. It’s more purple in real life. Compared to one of my favorite purples, Misa Dreamy Purple, it is deeper with a red-violet base.

Forbidden Lust is a deep red based purple shimmer. Like a dark amethyst. In looking for a dupe, I found that it’s a deeper version of NYX Wild (#2 on the linked image).

The only creme in the group, Love Bite, is a vampy browned red. It’s bright berry base makes 2-3 coats necessary to achieve bottle color. I have to say that this is the one color I wasn’t all that jazzed over. As you can see below, it’s very similar to Misa Stiletto so not really a must have for me.

The Poisoned Passion collection is available for sale online at MisaCosmetics.com and Head2ToeBeauty.com.

So fanatics, what do you think? What did you/are you buying from the collection?