Isn't Sheeee, Pretty In Pink (Creme)

I'm not a girly pink loving kind of girl. I give that title to my girl Nikki who is pink personified. However, this summer in addition to my major orange fetish, I'm all about a glossy pink nail. But I'm not talking about baby pinks or sheers here. No it's all about bright, bold, hot pink cremes. Creme finishes give these vibrant hues a chic spin that keeps them from being too garish.

And I'm not the only one feeling this trend. Celebs like Lindsay Lohan, Vanessa Mannillo and Miley Cyrus have all been caught rocking the pink. And even though the hamsters on Big Brother 10 have only been streaming live for a couple days now, one of the contestants, Keesha, has already delved into the nail polish stash to pinkify her nails.

Images: Splash News, Big Brother Caps and Faded Youth Blog

If you want to join the Pretty In Pink-ness here are the shades I recommend. For a slightly softer pink that still makes a splash try: Wet N Wild Dreamy Poppy, Essie Movers & Shakers, OPI Elephantastic Pink, Essie Guilty Pleasures, Orly Butterflies, Nubar Camelot Blossom


And if you want to go for full-on bright, in-your-face fuchsia look for CND Hot Pop Pink, Zoya Jewell, OPI That's Hot Pink, NARS Schiap, Lippmann Angel Eyes and Nubar Geisha Blaze. (Note: Geisha Blaze & Angel Eyes have extremely subtle shimmer but it doesn't show on the nail)



Now the trick in pulling this look off is perfect application. Any bubbles, dents or ridges will only be magnified with a creme so prep is the most important step. If you aren't going to a salon (I don't) make sure you buff out any flaws and use a great ridge filling base coat, like Seche, to give the lacquer a smooth application surface.

NARS Zulu Madness

Perhaps by now you have seen the Sephora Holiday Catalog. Because of the move, I didn't get mine. It wasn't until I logged on to the Sephora site that I saw the image below. That green fairy is sporting NARS Zulu nail lacquer on her nails. And yet again a frenzy ensues over acquiring a polish. It's gorgeous, right? Gorgeous but frustrating. Why? Let me share a little tale with you.

For many many months I have been playing a game with my shopping cart on the NARS site. I don't know if you've been to their site before but there is a Vintage section with discontinued items at majorly reduced prices. One item being phased out is NARS nail lacquer in their old non-Big 3 Free formula. Among the shades in the DC'd bin, Zulu, a deep forest green creme. So since early last summer I have put that polish in and out of my shopping cart more times than I can count. I was trying to be good and resist online shopping.

So what happened when I finally decided to cave in to Zulu? You guessed it, it's gone. After emailing NARS customer service I learn that it's not just "temporarily out of stock", it's gone for good. And I quote, "Unfortunately, we are no longer producing the NARS Nail Polish in the color “Zulu”. There is not an anticipated re-launch date at this time."

When I saw the Sephora holiday image I became overjoyed, thinking the wizards at Sephora had read my mind and found me a Zulu dupe. I frantically emailed Sephora to find out the name of that glorious green polish since I couldn't seem to find it on the Sephora.com site. I waited in excited anticipation for a response. So imagine my disappointment upon learning that it's NARS Zulu, available only to Beauty Insiders and in limited quantities.

My theory is, that Sephora bought out NARS old stock of Zulu and that once it's gone, it's gone. As of right now it's listed at "temporarily out of stock," but I wouldn't hold my breath for it's return.

Instead, let's move on. Your favorite fanatic is here to save the day. Chelsea Psycho Green. One of my favorite nail boarders and dusty hunting pals sent me this gem and with a shiny top coat, it's a Zulu twin. Here's an old swatch pic of it, dug up from the archives. And check out DQ2's comparison pic on Blogdorf Goodman.Without a top coat, the finish is very dull when compared to Zulu's jelly like finish but if you're looking for a deep forest green, this is your best bet. Chelsea is a small salon brand and can be found at nail shops and professional beauty supply stores. I'd suggest calling around to find a salon near you.

See, I told you green would be popular this fall!