Instead we’re taking a trip to the Finger Lakes (one of our fave destinations) for a week of wine tasting so it’s not all bad but then I open my email to find THIS info from Essie. It’s like she’s teasing me with these colors.  I just want to dive into Turquoise & Caicos and not come up for air.

Beach bound jetsetters can now reach the pinnacle of resort-inspired style with this newest limited-edition collection by essie. The Resort Collection was created to mimic the sights and sounds of the world’s most exotic destinations. The four colors are must-have accessories for any tropical vacation and the only escape for your hands and feet that doesn’t require a passport.

Lapis Of Luxury – a dreamy ocean blue

Splash Of Grenadine – a playful magenta pink

Playa Del Platinum – an elegant and sheer sandy gray

Turquoise & Caicos – a flirty and pretty tropical aqua

“I wanted to create colors that would reflect a passion for all-things paradise,” says Essie Weingarten, founder and president of Essie Cosmetics, Ltd. “Chic vacationers are known for their island-inspired style and these nail colors add the final fashionable touch to that look.”

Vibrant and trendy, these bold colors are a must-have accessory for every beach goer and for those with no vacation plans in sight, they’ll bring a ray of sunny paradise into the day.

The Essie 2010 Resort Collection launches in May on essie.com and in salons nationwide.

Lapis of Luxury is calling my name. What about you?

What an unexpected twist to add such bright pops of color to the palette.  I suppose they are the rebels in the group.  Though what I like about this collection as a whole is that even though the majority of the shades are neutrals, they are what I’d call “new neutrals.”  They have an updated feel to them.  See what I mean after the jump!

Who Are You Wearing? is a grayed cream.  Its cooler base makes it more relevant than a buttercream icing type white.  Though because it’s a semi-sheer polish, I needed three coats to get it opaque.  It’s also a bit on the streaky side but by layer three those issues are resolved.  Oh and yes, there was a polish from OPI with this name but they look nothing alike.

High Society falls into that mushroom-y taupe trend that’s so popular right now but it’s a bit lighter than colors like Chanel Particuliere.  For those that find Particuliere too dark for spring/summer, this would be a great option. Like Who Are You Wearing? this shade has a greyed out coolness to it that makes it very wearable.  The formula feels kind of watery so I used three coats.

Best Dressed List is actually much warmer in person it just doesn’t translate on camera.  Think of a cozy camel cashmere sweater.  It has a cuddliness to it.  This is definitely a warm toned shade so it would be best for olive and darker skinned ladies.

Charity Ball has that burnt sienna crayon look to it.  It’s a brown based brick red hue that reminds me of dried red clay, only without the dustiness.  It’s definitely vibrant and feels very fall to me.  Again this is a bit watery and required three coats.

Uptown Girl is the color I recommended to get Deborah Ann Woll’s Oscar nail look.  It’s a smokey deep violet that looks a bit darker in person.  It’s definitely in the same vein as one of my other greyed purples, OPI Parlez Vous OPI?. I’m really in love with this color.  Even though this color has been done, every time I come across it I fall in love all over again.

She’s So Great is a vivid candy-ish pink.  It’s got a blue undertone that makes it more cool but not so much that warm skinned girls should stay away.  This one was a bit difficult to work with.  A little thick and streaky but manageable.

Ms. Socialite looks like a cross between a red grape and a plum (a grum?).  It’s got a lot of warm red tones in its base and in the bottle looks like a deep magenta.  It dries much darker of course.  I normally shy away from warmer purples but this one got to me.  Partly because the application was fantastic.  A dream really.  Two coats got it done and it flowed extremely smooth and even.  Ms. Socialite is the total package.

Gossip Column is the color that initially drew me in.  I love deep sea blues and teals and this one is a gem.  I have a lot of blue-greens that are heavy on the green but not as many that lean more towards blue so this one is a must have in my collection.  In the bottle it looks a lot like A Bouquet For Ava from Barielle’s Wildflower collection but Gossip Column dries darker with a hint more teal to it.

Rebel Debutante is definitely the loner in this crowd.  This bright neon green doesn’t quite fit in with the other kids at the ball.  Because it is a neon it dries to a satin finish but a layer of top coat will take care of that.  Of course, as with all brights/neons it doesn’t photograph well.  They must be shy or something, don’t want to upstage the others with its vivid hue.  In person it’s MUCH bolder and in your face but not day-glow offensive.

Bottom line: The understated creams are a great addition to your color wardrobe but not must haves.  Uptown Girl is a great substitute for OPI Parlez Vous OPI? and Ms. Socialite and Gossip Column are my hands down faves.

The Color Club Rebel Debutante collection is available now and can be purchased online at TransDesign.com and VictoriaNailSupply.com where prices range from $2.25-$2.50/ea.

What do you think of this collection?  Which colors caught your eye?  Are you feeling these subtle tones for spring or are you more into the bold colors like Gossip Column and Rebel Debutante?

Disclosure: A product sample was furnished to me by Color Club.  For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

The reason for Ally’s email is that in the magazine, you can clearly see that Nina’s nails were covered with chunky, random glitter yet the magazine recommended OPI Bling Dynasty to get the look.  Any of you who own Bling Dynasty know that it’s a shimmering, opaque micro-glitter.  So how was Nina’s look achieved?

Fortunately my pal Celebrity Manicurist Elle was the woman responsible for Nina’s nail look so I gave her a ring to get the scoop.  Find out what she used after the jump!

Elle sounded surprised when I asked if she did some type of nail art on Nina’s nails.  You see at the time I had only spied a small version of the above image.  Thinking that Bling Dynasty was involved I assumed some sort of nail art technique was used.  Luckily Elle was able to set me straight letting me know that she used China Glaze Medallion, a gold glitter peppered with randomly shaped holographic particles.  She layered that over China Glaze Four Leaf Clover to create Nina’s fun nail style.  I’ve shown the combo to you below with one coat of Medallion on my ring and pinkie nails and two coats on my middle finger.

I took the pic above under artificial light to show how much it alters the color of Four Leaf Clover, similar to what you see on Nina in the magazine.  Below is my original swatch of Four Leaf Clover under natural light which still doesn’t show off its vibrancy.

You can find China Glaze Four Leaf Clover and Medallion online at Head2ToeBeauty.com and TransDesign.com. China Glaze is also carried at Sally Beauty Supply but seasonal collection availability will vary by store.

If you missed my initial review of this collection, CLICK HERE! Also, RBL has reduced their shipping rate (WOO HOO!) and is now offering FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100 US, $200 International. So head on over to RescueBeauty.com (direct link to collection) and place your order.

Finally, if you’re on Facebook you should become a fan of Rescue Beauty Lounge to keep up on the latest RBL news and interact with founder Ji Baek.

Get the look with Color Club Uptown Girl from the Rebel Debutante collection or OPI Parlez-Vous OPI?.

What do you think of Deborah’s look?  What nail color would you have chosen for her?  Does anyone know why she was at the Oscars? Did she present?  Is she married/dating/related to a nominee?

The packaging which is based on William Morris’s Strawberry Theif print from 1883 is a makeup collector’s dream come true.  I’m one of those people who hoards all of MAC’s specialty packaging.  I have a drawer filled with boxes from the Barbie, Heatherette, Hello Kitty, Fafi, Viva Glam etc.  I’ll even buy colors that won’t work for me because I’m a sucker for great packaging.  If you fit that mold, you’ll die over Give Me Liberty of London.

Check out Blue India and Vestral White after the jump!

Blue India is a deep slate blue gray.  It’s moody and utterly fantastic.  It’s the first MAC polish in a while that truly had me giddy with excitement to try it.  I always enjoy trying new colors but I seriously raced to my polish room for a swatching.  The formula on this is a bit thin and watery so I needed three coats but I could care less.  The final result is SO worth it.

I dug through my drawers of blue polish trying to find something even relatively close to Blue India and came up short.  Slate blues just aren’t the common in the nail world and the best I could do for you is Sally Hansen Gray by Gray and Barielle Slate of Affairs.  The Barielle is MUCH more blue and Gray by Gray is lighter and more gray.

Vestral White is a creamy white and a repromoted color.  It originally launched with the Holiday 2007 collection Antiquitease and has come back a couple times since, most recently with Hello Kitty. As we all know, finding a great white polish is not easy. Like yellows they’re either too sheer or too streaky. Vestral White falls into the latter category. I applied three coats and even though I let each layer dry in between, I still ended up with streaks and bald spots.

Bottom line: Blue India is an ALU “Must Have” but Vestral White gets a pass. Unless you are a collector, you can find better whites on the market.

The Give Me Liberty of London collection is on sale now at MACCosmetics.com and launching at MAC counters nationwide on Thursday. MAC Nail Lacquers retail for $12/ea.

Are you still as geeked for Blue India after seeing it swatched?  Who’s planning to snag a bottle?  Do you have any similar colors hanging out in your stash?

Disclosure: A product sample was furnished to me by MAC. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.

I thought the color paired really well with her outfit even though I don’t love the dress.  And her nail length is too long for my taste but I can’t hate on a girl that loves green polish.

What color would you use to recreate Sandy’s look? I’m thinking either Nubar Earth or Conserve from the Going Green collection might work. What say you?

image credit: WireImage

Regardless of how you feel about her dress you’ve got to give her props for wearing a mushroom-y taupe like Chanel  Particuliere, one of spring’s hottest nail shades.  Makeup Artist Monika Blunder used Chanel products to create Amanda’s makeup look so I can only assume that she wore Particuliere on her nails.

Get the look for less with Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Commander In Chic and butter London Fash Pack.

What do you think of Amanda’s look for the Oscars?  What nail color would you have chosen for her?

image credit: Celebutopia

Unfortunately, since celebs play it safe on the red carpet nowadays the Oscars doesn’t really lend itself to major nail watching but there were a few fun nail moments.

E!’s pre pre-show included a nail segment with Deborah Lippmann where she created the world’s most expensive manicure.  Using her own Diamonds & Pearls polish as a base, she applied $100,000 worth of actual diamonds to her model’s nails.  Using stones borrowed from jeweler Suzy B, she placed each individual diamond using her Addicted to Speed topcoat.  Am I the only who would be afraid to wear such a manicure?  I just know I’d lose a diamond or two thanks to my natural klutziness.

I’ll share my other fave nail moments in separate posts but before I do, let’s talk about the show itself.  I’ve always been a fan of Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin but their pairing didn’t do anything for me.  In fact, I think NPH totally stole the show and should host next year.  That guy is hosting gold!

Also, did anyone else find the awards completely predictable?  With the exception of The Hurt Locker winning for Best Picture, I accurately called the rest of the big award winners.  After Kathryn Bigelow won the DGA Award for Best Director my gut told me she’d beat James Cameron and I’m SO glad she did.  The Hurt Locker was really good and so deserving.  I’ve been a fan of Jeremy Renner since he played Jeffrey Dahmer and I’m so happy to see him getting the recognition he deserves.  An Oscar is in that boy’s future, I can feel it.

Finally, I know I’m not the only one who welled up with tears during the John Hughes tribute.  His films touched so many of us and will forever be tied with our formative years.  His work defines what it was to be a teen in the 80s and his comic genius will live on forever.  Seeing some of the Brat Pack-ers on stage was really sweet though Judd Nelson looked  ROUGH.  Wow!  If only Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez had been there.

What were your fave parts of last night’s Oscar moments? Did you see any nails that stood out?

CND is launching a brand new product that will make you DIY manicurists seriously consider going back to the nail salon.  It’s so amazingly different that if I didn’t write this blog I would be a regular customer and that’s saying a LOT.  I’m proud to introduce you to Shellac™!

CND (Creative Nail Design), the leader in professional nail, hand and foot beauty, is proud to introduce the first hybrid nail color after nearly five years of development in its state-of-the-art laboratory. Now you can say good-bye to chips, smudges, and dry time and say hello to Shellac™ Hybrid Nail Color! This revolutionary product applies like polish, wears flawlessly for 14 days of high gloss shine, and is removed in minutes.

If long lasting wear and polish-like application don’t draw you in, the removal certainly will. Check out my experience with Shellac™ and learn more about this revolutionary product after the jump!

So here’s my story. A few weeks ago I spotted a post on the Nails Magazine Blog about this “Top Secret Nail Color” from CND and because I’m the curious type I asked CND’s Co-Founder Jan Arnold about it the first chance I got.  Much to my surprise and utter delight, Jan offered to arrange a preview of what she was calling the “magic secret.”

Throughout the week I heard little hints about this top secret product.  Things like “no smell” “long-lasting wear” “will get women back in the salon” etc.  Being a long time DIY girl you can imagine how the skeptic in me reacted to that last statement.  I RARELY receive a salon manicure that wows me enough to go back, what could possible be so magical I’d even consider doing it on the regular?

Thoughts ran through my mind such as, “Is this just another soak-off gel polish?”  I mean, big whoop!  Been there, bitched about the removal.  Besides, would Jan really be all secretive and excited over a product that’s already on the market?  If not gel then what kind of traditional polish could guarantee long lasting wear?  We’ve all heard those claims before.  Could she be planning a rival to Minx that actually lasts?  That doesn’t have a chemical smell.  Well, when I finally got to the CND Suite to meet Roxanne Valinoti for my super secret magic service all my questions were put to bed.

Shellac™ truly is a hybrid of traditional nail polish and UV gel polish.  Unlike soak-off gels it comes in a polish bottle and unlike traditional polish it cures/dries under a UV lamp.  Though what I really liked is there is NO BUFFING.  There is absolutely no damage to the natural nail in the process.  So how does it work?

Shellac paints on like polish – base coat, color, top coat – and is cured in a UV light so there is zero dry time. The colors are hypo-allergenic, and “3-Free” – no formaldehyde, toluene or DBP. Shellac will launch in a range of 12 varieties of shades, from pretty French pinks and whites, to siren red and rich darks. The formula is thin and flexible like polish, so it not only looks natural, it provides strong natural nail protection with a resilient mirror finish that resists dullness and chipping, even during the most rigorous activities.

Just like your average manicure, Roxanne applied a base coat, two coats of polish and a top coat. The only difference is I placed my hands under a UV lamp in between coats.  The polish dries completely in only two minutes.  Say hello to winter pedicures that won’t leave your feet freezing or your polish wrecked.  And because it’s so pigmented and applies like a traditional polish you’re not left with thick nails from coat after coat of gel.

I left the suite with a perfectly glossy, smudge and dent-free manicure in a fan fave from the old CND collection, Fedora.  The initial set of shades will include top sellers from the old core line.  To be honest, they’re a little bland for my wild color taste but I’ve been assured that more “me” shades are on the horizon.

I flew home the day of my Shellac-ing so I didn’t get a chance to take a pic on Day One but I couldn’t stop staring at my nails.  I even ran into an editor backstage who complimented my color and it was hard to keep my trap shut.  I wanted to gush about how great my nails looked.  It is the BEST professional manicure I’ve ever received and I’ll swear on my polish stash about that!

Since I came home with the Fashion Week Flu (thanks NYC!) the first time I was mobile enough to photograph my nails was on Day 5.  Will you look at that shine and flawless finish?

And because I wanted to swatch some polish, I ended up removing Shellac from three nails and just as Rox promised, the removal was a breeze. When they say it’s a 10 minute removal, that’s no joke! After just 10 minutes using the Shellac Remover Wraps the majority broke right off in pieces and what remained was easily pushed off with an orange wood stick.

As amazing as Shellac is on, removal is just as satisfying! No soaking, drilling or filing is necessary. Nails are wrapped in individual Shellac Remover Wraps -integrated cotton pads that limit finger and skin exposure to acetone by keeping it pinpointed on just the nail. Ten minutes of time in exchange for two weeks of perfect color is all it takes. Say good-bye to manicure frustration and hello to pure manicure satisfaction.

Here we are on Day 7 which is when I made this discovery.  I had to leave the house so I dug out my bottle of Fedora and was pleasantly surprised to find that Shellac Fedora actually matches Fedora.  What a concept!  Are you listening OPI Axxium?

Today is Day 14 of my Shellac manicure and with the exception of my natural nail growth and extremely minimal tip wear, the finish is as glossy and perfect as Day 1.  Like you wouldn’t know I didn’t just get my nails done unless you held my free edge up to your face.  There are no scratches, no nicks, no wrinkling from my nails bending.  The flexibility and shine really do hold up.  Color me impressed!

So I know you die hards are saying the only way you’ll go to a salon is kicking and screaming.  That you love the concept but would rather do it at home.  That you’ll never give up your hundreds (or thousands) of color choices.  Hey, I hear ya!  But for all those women who left the salon because their manicures chipped in a few days, Shellac will wow you.  Current salon clients will rejoice to reduce their appointments to once every two weeks.

Is Shellac for everyone? No, but it’s truly unique and the best option for anyone who wants a long lasting manicure. Period!  I fully intend to get Shellac pedicures once they’re available in my area and I would love to gift my mom a Shellac-ing since she sports chipped polish way too often.

Shellac™ by CND is a professional salon service launching globally in May 2010.  Pricing will be determined by salons but I anticipate it falling somewhere between a traditional manicure and enhancements.

So what do we think?  Anyone ready and willing to give Shellac a try?  What colors would you like to see included in the Shellac lineup?  Would you opt for a Shellac pedicure over a manicure?

Disclosure: I was furnished with a service by CND for potential review.  For more info view my Disclosure Policy.