This summer, go on safari with Chanel. Khaki gets an upscale makeover in this collection inspired by the hues of the Serengeti. As one of the few high end beauty brands to acknowledge the importance of incorporating nails into an overall look, the line includes nail polish shades for both the warm and cool toned.
I tested both lacquers with three very thin coats and found that they applied smoothly with adequate pigmentation.
Straight up, I flipped for Flamingo. I think my pal Nikki's undying love for all things pink is starting to rub off on me because I felt a bit giddy just applying the shade. I haven't been feeling pink polishes much for the past year or so but this one really got to me.
In person this bubblegum girly confection has a sparkly finish that leaves one word swirling through my head, "encrusted." It's like there is a layer of silver and pink micro-gems sprinkled atop my nails. In all honesty, I just couldn't capture Flamingo's magic in an image so I dare you to test this at a Chanel counter and leave empty handed. For pink girls, it won't be easy.
Oh how I wish I could gush over Antilope but it's just not a winner for me. I know it has its fans, including The Daily Obsession, I'm just not one of them. While it has some of the same sparkle as Flamingo, Antilope has a metallic finish that causes brush strokes I just can't overlook. To quote Cher from Clueless the finish is, "a full-on Monet. From far away, it's OK, but up close, it's a big old mess." To be fair, the golden beige shade is chic and wearable and I know my mother will LOVE taking it off my hands.
Chanel's Summer 2008 Collection is on counters now and available online at Macys.com and Nordstrom.com
Chanel Summer 2008
China Glaze Spring 2008 - Ecollection
It seems like "going green" and focusing on the environment is on everyone's minds and it is affecting every aspect of our daily lives. And if it's not everyone, it certainly should be. Now more and more beauty companies are starting to get on the "green" train and China Glaze is no exception. This Spring they introduce the ecollection a set of polishes with an earth conscious theme that comes in recycled paper packaging.
To preserve the beauty of our world's colors, tread lightly and leave only footprints. In Blahniks or Birkenstocks, going green is always fashionable.
Overall I'm a fan of this collection. I'll admit the grouping is odd in terms of shade until you read the names and reflect on the theme. So let's talk formula. As you may already know this new Big 3 Free formula that was introduced last summer is thicker than the old formula and therefore requires a bit of getting used to. I've found that it applies best in two medium coats. Too thin and it pulls/drags on the nail, too thick and you get bubbles. All the manicures pictured below were done with two medium coats of lacquer.
Tree Hugger reminds me of a green apple but with multi-tonal green shimmer. It's like the perfect spring shade for me. Just looking at it makes me happy. I could go on and on about how gorgeous this polish is but it really speaks for itself.
Solar Power can only be described as "taxi cab yellow." It is a loud and proud shade and with the yellow trend popping back up for spring/summer Solar Power, with it's golden shimmer, fits right in. I have to admit that I prefer the jelly finish of last year's Yell-O-Neil from the Surf collection. Simply because its glass like look is so completely unique.
Shower Together is a slightly lighter version of the oh so popular Aqua Baby from the Patent Leather collection. It's like Aqua Baby and For Audrey had a baby which makes this blue green stunner is a color I could just swim in. Doesn't it look like pool water?
Unplugged isn't a shade I normally think of when I look towards Spring but it adds a nice balance to the collection. A red based brown with ribbons of gold shimmer running throughout, the overall color is that of a deep bronze with flecks of gold.
Hybrid is a pinky beige with silver shimmer. In other lighting it's a dusty nude rose. So hard to describe which is what makes it stand out. Does anyone else think it's similar to Chiaroscuro but without the green shimmer? I'm just not sure I love this on me. What do you think?
Recycle is a shade a lot of us have been longing for. A mid-tone gray creme that reminds me of rubber wire coating. Even though some of the MUA nail girls have franken'd their own gorgeous grays, I love being able to get it without the muss and fuss. Gray is going to be the next big shade in polish, especially in fall so, I'd get this one now before gray becomes a scarce commodity.
The China Glaze ecollection is available now in salons and online at 8ty8Beauty and Head2ToeBeauty
Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Weigh in lovelies!
Fanatic Feedback - Nudes
I've received a few emails looking for recommendations for a pretty opaque nude. I suppose with Spring on it's way, people are looking for something a little cleaner but still not sheer.
My favorite nude is OPI's Skinny Dippin' in Lake Michigan. It's opaque with two coats and has lots of sparkle but not so much that the polish feels rough or looks like a disco ball on your hands. Every time I describe it I give the same visual. Think of the body suit Britney Spears wore while performing on the MTV VMAs back in 2000. You know, before the crazy got loose and she stopped grooming.
So now it's your turn. Tell us what your favorite opaque nude is. If you can, let us know if it's a cream, shimmer or glitter. Help your fellow readers out!
image: MTV Canada
Essie Spring 2008 - In The Mood
In the mood for all his kissin'
In the mood his crazy lovin'
In the mood what I was missin'
It didn't take me long to say
I'm in the mood now
When I hear Glenn Miller's "In The Mood" I can't help but picture the scene from Cannery Row in which Debra Winger and Nick Nolte swing dance with competitive ferocity. The same image came to mind when I first saw Essie's Spring 2008 collection, In The Mood, with it's cheeky names and sweet girly shades.
For the most part all the polishes applied smoothly with no streaking. Looking For Love being the exception. It was just too difficult to get a fluid sheer look. Even after the three coats I applied it was still semi-sheer and splotchy (see below).
Body Language - Is a pinkish gray nude. A very neutral and wearable creme. I honestly didn't expect to like this one at all, this is so not a part of my normal color range. But once I had it on, I loved the clean chic look.
Great Expectations - An opalescent gray, the shimmer is extremely subtle to add depth. I see light to medium grays becoming more and more popular. In fact this color would have fit right in with the silvery/pearly whites that were seen on the red carpet at the SAG Awards.
Hard To Get - A bubblegum pink creme with a hint of lavender in it's base. It didn't really mesh with my skin tone but I think it would be a fun pedi shade. With it's high gloss shine, Hard To Get is the slight deeper sister of one of my favorite patent finish polishes, China Glaze Go Go Pink.
Hi Maintenance - You know sheers and I aren't friends so even though this milky pink makes a great french manicure base, it's not for me.
Looking for Love - This one was the big disappointment for me. Lilac and lavender shades make my hands look alien-esque so even though I love wearing purples, the lighter ones are a no go. Though regardless of the color the formula bit it, big time. Major application issues makes me give Looking for Love a double "thumbs down".
Secret Affair - Is my other favorite from the collection. The shade is hard to describe which is why I find it so intriguing. Is it nude, pink, taupe or a combination of all three? With this one, it really depends on the light which makes a Secret Affair a winner in my book. 
The In The Mood collection is available for sale now online and is slated to be in stores and salons on February 1st.
Who's buying what? How many of you are going to clutch your dark polishes, run and hide in a cave vampire-style until all this pale sheer madness goes away? And who is starting to venture towards the light? As much as it pains me to say, I'm kind of loving the freshness of these light colors. Shh, don't tell! My green and blue polishes may revolt and run away.
MAC N Collection
A portrait in the nude, daring in its stripped-down sensuality with natural shades in Mineralized Skinfinishes that play up the nakedness of cheeks, lips, eyes...for a glamazon who knows the power of artifice, but has the confidence and allure to strip it all away. N Collection is naked, with coverage – it’ll be our little secret. Custom-created high-performance brushes mean no one need ever know. Seductive, and ripe for scandal.
The N Colour & Face Collection hits MAC counters tomorrow, January 10th and included are three skin flattering nude lacquers. Suggested Retail Price $10.00 U.S./$12.00 CDN
Also included in the collection are:
LIPSTICK
1N Light frosted gold with pink pearl
2N Creamy light pink
3N Milky pastel pink
4N Mid-tone creamy brown
5N Plummy sheer brown
Suggested Retail Price $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN
LIPGLASS
1N Creamy white tan
2N Creamy neutral yellow pink
3N Neutral brown with gold and pink pearl
4N Light chocolate brown with red pearl
Suggested Retail Price $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN
SMALL EYESHADOW
Nanogold Sheer Yellow beige with pink pearl
Modest Tone Neutral dirty tan
Neutral Pink Dirty mid-tone blue pink
Rich Flesh Neutral warm brown
Remotely Grey Dirty grey brown
Dark Edge Dirty chocolate brown
Suggested Retail Price $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN
PAINT POT
Soft Ochre Yellow beige
Quite Natural Dirty chocolate brown
Groundwork Mid-tone Neutral taupe
Suggested Retail Price $16.50 U.S./$20.00 CDN
CREMESTICK LINER
Creamola Low-down tan
Sublime Culture Pink caramel fusion
Suggested Retail Price $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN
TECHNAKOHL
Graphblack Richest graphic-black
Brownborder Deep chocolate brown
Suggested Retail Price $14.50 U.S./$17.50 CDN
PLUSHLASH
Plushblack Black
Suggested Retail Price $11.00 U.S./$13.00 CDN
Essie Winter 2007 Preview
OK so I know I teased you with a lot of new goodies coming down the track but things have been absolutely insane. Does anyone want to join me in my fight to take down Time Warner Cable. They are evil, evil people and have made my life hell for the past few weeks. Things are still not resolved but I will battle on.
I did have time to snag some bottle pics of the new Essie collection for Winter 2007/2008. Styled to go with the glam styles and metallic accents seen on the runways for fall, this collection is filled with glitzy reds, gunmetal and pewter and, of course, a signature nude cream.
from l-to-r:
nude attitude - antique nude cream
steel-ing the scene - medium brushed pewter
over the top - dark metallic gray
who's she red - four-alarm creamy crimson
wrapped in rubies - rich gold-dusted burgundy
showstopper - shimmery deep berry
I've only had a chance to swatch a few and so far Over The Top is a big winner as is Showstopper. I promise to have swatch pics up soon.
NOTD - Essie Breezy Beach
Essie Breezy Beach is the shade I chose as my "dare" polish and I am SO not a fan. It looks craptastic on me and anyone that tells me differently, I won't believe 'em. Ha ha
I'd like to say that it's because I'm not used to seeing my nails this way but it's not. I feel like my nails look dirty or stained. The slight iridescence in Breezy Beach doesn't make it any prettier in person.
Well, I tried and I can't wait to get this stuff off. Sheers are obviously NOT my friend.
I'd love to hear your comments. Maybe it was just this particular shade. If you have a suggestion for something better, I'm all ears. I may even wear it.
The Worst Nails of the Golden Globes
I can't just kiss celeb butt, I need to address what I thought were polish mistakes as well. This is the stuff you'll never hear Joan Rivers talk about. She can hardly remember the star's names, let alone what's on their nails.
Access Hollywood's Maria Menounos. I don't know what she was thinking when she agreed to wear this hideous white polish. I know that white and pale colors are "in" for spring but it's just not working for me.
Ellen Pompeo of Grey's Anatomy. I thought she looked stunning. Her dress was unique and it kept her from looking like a bean pole but the nail color choice was completely wrong. That dirty nude shade made her hands look like they belonged on a corpse. Naked tips would have been better than that monstrosity.
The ladies of Grey's Anatomy need some serious polish intervention. I think Katherine Heigel is one of the most beautiful women on television and at the 2006 Emmy's she was a goddess on the red carpet. But, the combo of dark eyes, dark dress and dark nails was just too much for me.
She should have been the fashion forward gal sporting white polish.
As much of a fashion plate as Chloe Sevigny of Big Love is, I expected more from her than naked toes in clodhoppers.
Chloe find Reese and become friends. Share pedi secrets and report back with some color on your toes.
