Like a frothy beach party flick (think Gidget, Beach Blanket Bingo), the OPI Retro Fun In The Sun collection will be surfing onto shelves this summer. Filled with kitschy, fun shades the lacquers are perfect for those long sunny days of lazing in the sand. To add to the fun, each bottle comes with a retro ponytail holder. Takes me right back to elementary school when I had a ballerina jewelry box filled with hair ties in every color imaginable.
“In summer, glamour really moves from the city out to the sand, and these shades combine a retro pin-up-girl look with a beach party attitude – think ponytails, Frankie and Annette, and romance under the stars,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “The colors are rich, playful, and sexy – a great way to accessorize one of fashion’s most colorful summers ever!”
Peach-a-Boo! - Take a peek at this apricot sparkle!
Sit Under the Apple Tree - A tempting, light apple green.
Lemonade Stand by Your Man - You’ll stay loyal to this refreshing yellow.
Give Me a Coral Sometime - I’ll answer in this inviting pink-orange.
Sea Ya Later, Sailor! - A fun, flirtatious turquoise shimmer.
Calendar Girl - A pin-up, perfect pink-red.
Like previous beach themed OPI collections (It's Summer for Shore, Surf Party) I'm expecting the Retro nail polishes to have a unique shimmer that will make the nail girlies go gaga. I can't wait to see them in person and find out! Will this line become just as collectible? We'll just have to wait and see.
The Retro Fun in The Sun collection drops (I'm so street) in June and will be available at salons including Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, Ulta, Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Dillard’s, and JCPenney. MSRP $8.50 ($9.95 CAN)
OPI Summer 2008 Preview - Retro Fun in the Sun
Zoya Summer 2008 - Chit Chat
The Chit Chat collection from Zoya is just one of their summer offerings launching May 1st. Filled with golden metallic goodness, each shade has ribbons of shimmer and micro-glitter flowing throughout yet dries smooth to the touch.
Each lacquer was tested using two coats, except where noted, without a top coat. For the most part they all applied smooth and even with good pigmentation. I just wish the spectacular glitz factor would have translated on camera. I think the sunlight shot of Lianne captures it well but it's really something best admired in person.
Regarding the name change: A lot of you have asked about why there isn't a Mismas in this collection. I wanted to address you all at once. While I am extremely honored and flattered that Zoya would want to immortalize me in polish, I suggested that they name the shade after someone who would truly love and appreciate it. So naming the shade Bekka, after the color's designer, seems fitting.
Gaia - Oh how I wanted to love Gaia (the label says Gala but it's Gaia) because the color is outstanding. It has an icy white base but the ribbons of gold shimmer make it a perfect warm weather shade. Not at all dingy or white out-esque. Unfortunately, the formula is its downfall. After three coats it still wasn't opaque or even on the nail.
Erika's cool baby pink base has a slight lilac undertone but the gold shimmer gives it warmth. I think it's the combination of the two that make this pink very neutral and wearable. As you can see, with three medium coats my whites are still slightly visible so, this may work better as a sheer.
Bekka is described as a "cool chartreuse metallic". Three coats on me looks like a semi-sheer neon yellow leaning towards green. This shade just doesn't work for me and if I'm being honest, it doesn't really fit in the collection. I think coral would have been a nice transition between Erika and Lianne.
Lianne is my absolute favorite shade in the bunch. This gorgeous tangerine is right on trend and so so sparkly. The base color has a creamy melon feel but the glorious shimmer really makes it a knockout! I know I'll be sporting Lianne on my tips and toes a few times this summer.
Annie is a red orange and looks like a duo-chrome in the bottle. On the nail the red is more prominent in indirect lighting while it looks more orange in the sunlight. The golden red base makes me think this will look best on warm and dark skin tones.
Elke has a berry red base but the shimmer warms it up. I think if you're going to do a red in the summer, this is the way to go. With a glossy top coat the finish looks jelly-esque which gives it a lighter feel than your typical heavy winter red.
The Chit Chat collection is available for pre-order on the Zoya website and will be available in salons across the country after May 1st.
China Glaze Summer 2008 - INK
Tattoos are a controversial topic. You either love or hate them. They're regarded as both beautiful and tacky, depending on who you ask. But no matter what your opinion is, tattoos are extremely personal; a memorial, an artistic expression, a memento of a wild escapade, a drunken regret, a terrible reminder of past events or loves. Inspired by this colorful body art, China Glaze has put together a collection of neons that you can use to create your own tattoo-like nail designs.
Tattoo art has moved out of back alley parlors onto the couture collections of fashion's top designers. INK™ by China Glaze is a collection of neons for brilliant self expression. Customize and personalize
...Ink My Nail™.
INK includes six bold new shades, a set of nail decals and rhinestones, a black nail art lacquer with fine tipped brush, a limited edition bottle of their yummy smelling Orange Cuticle Oil AND the six existing neons from the WOW collection. Now that's a lot of neon.
A quick word about the finish. As with other neons I've used, these all dry to a semi-matte finish. It must have something to do with the type of pigment used to create neon shades. So if you're looking for high gloss you'll have to add a shiny top coat. Therefore I've shown all the lacquers with two coats of color on the nail and no top coat; exceptions are noted.
Blue Sparrow is a royal blue peppered with light blue glitter. The glitter leaves a gritty feel to the dried polish so between that and the matte finish you really need to use a coat of a thick glossy top coat to bring out the lacquer's true brilliance. I'm showing you the color without top coat but I included an up close swatch with a coat of Seche Vite.
Celtic Sun is a neon yellow with a hint of green undertones. The polish is shown with three coats on the nail yet the smile line still shows through. I personally prefer a more lemony yellow. This color has a very 80s retro feel to me. It's a shade right out of the Wham! Wake Me Up Before You Go Go video.
Japanese Koi is the shade of a perfectly ripe tangerine. It's got a slightly pink base that keeps it from being day-glo orange.
With it's hot pink base Rose Among Thorns is no average rose. I found this image of the beautiful Cerise Rose and thought this could have been the inspiration for the shade. 
Sacred Heart is a dusty red that is unlike any red I own. There's something about the satin finish on this one that reminds me of the skin on cherries. Odd reference I know, but it keeps popping in my mind. 
Flying Dragon is my personal favorite from the collection. It is a deep purple that has a reddish tone to it in person. The red and blue glitter really makes this polish unique. Like I mentioned above, the finish is my only real issue with both glitters. For some reason this seems to be a bigger problem with Flying Dragon. According to a rep for China Glaze it is the unfortunate downside of blending neon with glitter. Their suggestion, two coats of Seche Vite to avoid a rough finish. 
The INK collection is available now in salons and online at 8ty8Beauty and coming soon to Head2ToeBeauty.
So who's going to be sporting bold, bright neons this summer? Which colors are standouts?
Rescue Beauty Lounge for Spring
You read my swooning over Rescue Beauty Lounge Under The Stars, well now I'm practically drooling over their Spring collection. Why? Hello? Green! Do I need to say anything more?
RBL's Spring collection pulls its inpiration straight from the bold jewel tones and brights seen on Lanvin's runway. Alber Elbaz chose cobalt, green, yellow, red and violet to showcase his designs and Ji Baek has translated that to nail fashion.
RECYCLE is a deep blackish emerald green. This color makes your nails looks like precious jewelry.
PURPLE HAZE, a vivid violet, provides the perfect sour counterpoint to all those sweet garden prints.
YELLOW FEVER, a mouth-puckering lemon, will brighten up summer whites, and neutral shades of navy, khaki and olive.
And finally, a Lanvin dress inspired the re-launch of CHINOISE, my all-time favorite warm China red lacquer.
The Spring collection is available for purchase now through this special VIP link so if you want these colors, I suggest you order now before they show up in the magazines and cause a frenzy. RBL polishes retail for $18, which I know is steep. Personally I'd love to get them all but I just can't justify that type of splurging so picking up Recycle will probably be my limit. My green loving knows no bounds.
images and info: Rescue Beauty
OPI Spring 2008 Collection - India
OPI, you don't know this but we've been broken up for some time now. The fighting began when you revamped your formula last spring. The inconsistencies in every collection since Australia has been frustrating. I understand the pressure to go Big 3 Free but sacrificing quality in order to satisfy the protesters was a bad call if you ask me. Of course our fight occurred entirely in my head but I'm sure you'll be happy to know that we've called a truce.
Why the change of heart? Well, two reasons really.
1. You finally delivered a navy blue shimmer that actually looks navy. No purple undertones. Not just another blue-black. Yoga-ta Get This Blue, it's like you knew I needed you.
2. You realized that I was not the only unhappy camper in regards to formula and you found a way to deliver pigmented, streak-free, non-goopy cremes.
The OPI India Collection for Spring 2008 made me remember what it was that caused me to fall for OPI in the first place. How compared to all the drugstore brands of polish I had used, there was a line that applied smooth and even with a beautiful range of colors. My first OPI obsession was the classic; I'm Not Really A Waitress. My latest; Yoga-ta Get This Blue.
With a color range pulled from the fashion and culture of India, this collection is filled with vibrant pinks and reds, rich berries and luxurious metallics. Do I think every shade is utterly unique and rave-worthy? No but let's get real girls. Us hardcore nail fanatics are a finicky group to please. I say formula improvements are a good step. Giving us the next Rainforest would be a fabulous and giant leap.
So this formula I am raving about, is it really that different? I wouldn't testify in a court of law but, to me, there really is a noticeable improvement. I can't find the change in the ingredient list but I'm telling you, something happened. With a couple exceptions, every shade applied like a dream. And disregarding the two sheers, these lacquers are highly pigmented requiring no more than two coats. Each image below was taken without a top coat and only two layers of lacquer.
Black Cherry Chutney - a blackened red with subtle shimmer for depth. In most lighting all you see are a few specs of shimmer and otherwise it's just another almost black berry. The brush on mine has a few bent strands so that affected application. I hope it was just the brush but I can't promise anything.
Charmed by a Snake - a lighter bronze, more appropriate for Spring. The champagne shimmer keeps this shade from being too warm and too Fall. Definitely one of my favorites.
Curry Up Don't Be Late! - I'm not gonna lie, this will be a hard shade to pull off. Brushed yellow gold is too much for my pale skin but, I would think with a faux tan or darker skin tone this shade could really pop. 
ElePhantastic Pink has been creating a buzz before it even hit shelves. It's the shade I've received the most inquiries about. A bold carnation pink creme, this isn't for the demure pink wearer.
Get Me to the Taj on Time - is a safe opalescent semi-sheer. Yes, it applies well but we've seen this before.
I'm Indi-a Mood for Love - a hot pink creme that leans towards blue, giving it a slight purple undertone.
Keys to My Karma is your basic maraschino cherry red creme. This one has a lot of pink in its base and needs two coats to achieve the bottle shade. It's a good staple color but not something you need. Still I'm feeling the urge to pull out my reds again.
Lunch at the Delhi has been dubbed a "coral" but I'm not seeing it. If anything, I think of it as a dusty, muted red. Yes, it's warm and orange based but not the pinky peach I typically think of when I hear coral. Sometimes an OPI description is so far off from what I'm seeing, I wonder if I'm colorblind. What shade do you see?
MonSooner or Later is a tomato red creme. Orange and red combine to create this glossy confection. I can totally see this on toes at the beach.
Moon Over Mumbai - get on the gray train now before it runs you over, leaving you face first in the dust. Of course the uber-chic nail boarders over at Makeup Alley have been frankening their own grays for months now but if you don't want to make your own, here's a nice soft version to ease you into the trend.
Royal Rajah Ruby is the other vampy berry shade included in India. A rich wine shimmer, this shade would have made me take notice had it been a bit lighter. It just doesn't stand out in the crowd. The shimmer adds character but no real charm.
Yoga-ta Get this Blue! - I saved the best for last. I had to keep you scrolling. From the very second I got my hands on this shade I've been talking it up to anyone who would listen. Deeper and richer than Blue My Mind from the 2005 Brights yet lighter than all the 2007 OPI blues, Yoga-ta is everything I've been wanting a navy to be. It's visibly blue in most lighting situations which is something many of the blues that came before it have failed to achieve. In the simplest of terms, it's perfect.
The OPI India collection is available in stores and online now and retails for $8.50 ($9.95 CAN). No that's not a misprint, there was a price increase.
Now let's hear from you? What are you loving/hating, buying/passing on?
Comparisons are in the works but before I finish, are there any requests? I already have down Ms. DQ2's desire for a China Glaze X comp but what else do you want to see? I can't fulfill all your demands but I'll do my best to please the majority.
Live From The Red Carpet - It's Essie
Ok so I'm sad about the fate of the Golden Globes this weekend. A news conference style awards show? That's more pathetic than the Seacrest-In-The-Round Emmys. I'm all for the actors supporting their Writers Guild brothers & sisters by not crossing the picket line but, I still want my red carpet coverage and ten thousand re-runs of E!'s Fashion Wrap.
So what do we have to comfort ourselves? A little bit of the red carpet, in a bottle. Essie and E! Entertainment Television have teamed up to create a limited edition polish inspired by "E! Live From The Red Carpet," appropriately named Live From The Red Carpet.
A glossy cherry red creme, Live From The Red Carpet is so well pigmented, you hardly need a second coat. And I know all you Big 3 Free lovers are going to hate me saying this but there is something to be said for keeping the chemicals. This formula is so easy to control and apply that I don't care what's in it.
Live From The Red Carpet is available now through the end of February at salons and beauty outlets such as ULTA ($8).
Sponsored Link
Shop For Essie Nail Polish
Dashing Diva Fall Collection 2007
For Fall 2007 Dashing Diva has put together a palette of warm comforting shades that reflect the colors of the season. Instead of bombarding us with an overload of new polishes they chose to remain focused and deliver three distinct lacquers.
As with all the Dashing Diva shades I've worn in the past, the formula is smooth and free flowing; it doesn't pool or streak. And I really must commend the pigmentation of their darker colors. The ones I've tested are one coat colors and, for a red, that's a major feat without sacrificing formula consistency.
Champagne Nude is a hard shade to describe. Is it a dusty pink with peach and gold shimmer? Is it a metallic champagne that leans toward pink? Is it a shimmery nude? I really can't decide. One thing's for sure, it's a unique shade with chameleon-like properties and a must have for my light tip lovers.
Bronze Bombshell flashes both cool and warm depending on the lighting due to it's champagne and silver shimmer. It's a warm mocha hued metallic that doesn't leave brush marks. Any metallic that can accomplish that is a winner in my books but the shade itself doesn't do much for me personally.
Black Raspberry lives up to it's name. A deep berry based red creme, it dries to a high gloss shine without a top coat.
Dashing Diva polishes are available on the Dashing Diva website and at Dashing Diva salons.
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.
Lippmann Collection Fall 2007
The new fall shades from Deborah Lippmann's Lippmann Collection, I Want Candy and Rehab, are a departure from what you would normally expect to see for the fall season. They're sheer with a jelly finish and very unique. The most versatile fall polishes I've seen in a while. The formula makes these bold shades something that a sheer fan can wear comfortably but buildable enough to please opaque wearers. If you want to learn more about jelly finish polishes, check out this fab article my pal Melanie wrote for Blogdorf Goodman.
I have to admit that when I saw Rehab in promotional photos I got all excited about finding a great navy creme. There are a lot of beautiful navy polishes out there but very few cremes. And then I heard about Rehab's sheer quality and my heart sank. I wasn't looking forward to testing it because I didn't want to give a bad review of a blue. I love blue polish. So you can imagine my joy and surprise when I gave it a test run and discovered the exceptional glossy finish and pigmentation.
Here is my Rehab mani with 2 coats of lacquer. It's more subtle, I'd call it a cornflower blue.
And here is 4 coats. Beautious navy goodness.
I Want Candy, as a sheer, reminds me of the Revlon Glimmer Gloss Strawberry Sizzle but without the glitter and a much prettier finish. With four coats, it reaches bottle color which is a great candy apple red. Both I Want Candy and Rehab apply smoothly without streaking so it's easy to achieve a sheer or opaque look that is clean and even.
Here is I Want Candy with 2 coats of polish.
And with 4 coats.
Ok so the question I'm sure a lot of you are asking is, are they worth it? You know that I'm frugal, that spending $15 on polish is not my M.O. However, I do feel that for blue lovers Rehab is worth every penny. I can honestly say I don't have another color like it and I own a LOT of blue polish. If I could find a less expensive alternative, I'd tell you. Now I Want Candy is one I'd personally pass on at retail price. But for people that love red as much as I love blue, go for it! If you have the means and love the finish, it's a great shade but not one I'd consider a "must have" for my collection.
Alright lovelies, now it's your turn to chime in. Share your thoughts on these shades.
Zoya Holiday 2007 - Utopia
Releasing in November for the holiday season, the Utopia collection from Zoya is a group of fun, bold shimmering metallic shades that will add a splash of color and glitz to those dreary gray winter days. And All Lacquered Up is fortunate to be the very first to see it, outside of the Art of Beauty family.
This is going to sound silly but whenever I hear the word Utopia I think of that Drew Barrymore movie Ever After. It's a feminist take on the tale of Cinderella and in it the heroine (played by Drew) loves the book Utopia by Thomas More. I still have my copy of Ever After on VHS and even though I haven't had a VHS player hooked up in years, I refuse to get rid of it. I love that movie.
Ok, so either someone at Zoya loves me or green nails is a trend that I didn't see coming. Of all the jewels tones green is the color I least expected to become mainstream. Outside of our small online nail community I've never seen anyone else wearing it. But you certainly won't hear me complaining. Bring on the greens!
My one and only complaint with this collection is the pigmentation. The majority of the lacquers needed three coats to become completely opaque and achieve the bottle shade. Similar to Suvi and Kotori from the Downtown Collection. I wonder if it's because the extra pigment would thicken the formula and Zoya's polish is already thicker than the typical non-Big 3 Free brands.
Austine is a muted brushed gold. On the nail it has the appearance hammered metal and the silver shimmer keeps the color from becoming too peach. Austina is more metallic than shimmery which sets it apart from the other shades in Utopia but thankfully it doesn't affect application.
Tama is the least "me" shade of the bunch. I'm not anti-pink or brights but I feel there's something in this shade that doesn't work with my skin tone. It's a pretty color and definitely more rosy in the sun but it's just not something I would intentionally buy for myself.
Kamilah is luscious crimson shade with a hint of gold shimmer that comes out in sunlight. As you can see in the individual swatch pics of this and some of the other shades, these polishes seem to have a slight duochrome effect. The color doesn't completely change but it's definitely more intense in direct light.
In the bottle Juno looks very much like a duochrome. The polish looks blue all along the edges of the bottle, similar to how Ki looks in the bottle. However on the nail, the blue isn't that apparent which is a shame. A purple/blue duochrome would be amazing. Of all the purples I have, I feel that Juno will make my top 10 for sure, possibly even top 5. It has incredible depth, pigmentation and gloss. If you love purple, get Juno.
Akyra reminds me of a peacock feather. It's not as bright but in the same vein. In the sun the green takes dominance and it's the green that makes Akyra different than Kotori.
I saved the best for last. Irene is a stunning mossy sage green sprinkled with gold shimmer. This green is probably better suited to warm skin tones but a shade this gorgeous should not be limited by skin coloring. In case you haven't guessed, this is my #1 pick from Utopia and a must have for anyone that loves or appreciates the beauty of green polish.
Which polishes will you be adding to your wish list?
Ding, Ding, Ding... We Have A Winner!!!
I want to thank everyone who entered All Lacquered Up's Guess Me game. I received a lot of great guesses but none of them were correct. Though a lot of you thought it was OPI Bogota Blackberry or Changing of the Garnet and I don't own either of those shades. 
Drumroll please... It's Misa Wine Burgandy.
Helen Mirren
My pal, DramaQueenie2, brought this fantastic picture of Helen Mirren to my attention. Commenting that, "the black nail polish trend isn't just for young starlets." It's actually freaky that I was thinking something similar as I watched the great Dame on the red carpet at the SAG Awards last night.
From what I've seen, women of a certain age tend to keep their nails very neutral. Sheers, pales or clean and buffed. It's a tasteful look but I don't think you should have to give up color as you age. I certainly don't plan to. I understand giving up glittery makeup, bright in-your-face eyeshadow, mini skirts and belly baring tops at some point but, ladies, you can still have some fun with your look. You don't have to go from 20 to grandma in one fell swoop. I'm not talking crazy blues and greens like your's truly, just a nice red creme, a shimmery pink, a gorgeous espresso.
It's refreshing to see someone like Helen Mirren, with her red lips and vampy nails. I can only hope to look that stunning at her age. She is elegant, regal and beautiful. Here are a few of my favorite nail moments from Ms. Mirren. Isn't she radiant? I'd love to know her beauty secrets. If anyone has read an article about her skincare regime, please share with the group.
Misa Spring '07 - Love Connections
Love Connections is the name of Misa's newest collection for spring and as you can see from the picture (click for full size image), it's definitely got that Valentine's Day vibe. I believe it will be released by the end of January, just in time for your V-day manis.
Looking at the bottle pics up close, it looks like they're all cremes but we'll just have to wait and see. As much as I love my glitter and sparkle, the gloss of a great creme looks classy. Does anyone remember the old Fancy Feast commercials where you just saw a hand petting a fluffy white Persian? The image of the red nails on that hand is so vivid in my mind that every time I wear a red creme I want to run my hands through my cat's fur. And not in some creepy cat lady way.
The colors: (l-r) Row 1 - Ur Too Sweet, Baby I Love You, Row 2 - Kiss Me Now, You're Beautiful, Row 3 - Be My Lover, Muah..Ur Too Delicious.
Photo courtesy of Misa Cosmetics.
While I'm immediately drawn the berry goodness of You're Beautiful, I think I'll have to get Muah..Ur Too Sweet for the name alone. I tend to shy away from orange based reds but the name, OMG the name. Misa, Muah..Ur Too Cute!!
Also, with the introduction of these new colors comes a new formula. Misa will be using nanotechnology in this new line and eventually converting all their polishes to it. To quote Misa on how this technology will affect the polish...
Nanotechnology allows us to create products that are easier to use (apply and remove) that provide long-lasting, superior results. Nanotechnology eliminates many of the problems associated with conventional products—including higher abrasion resistance, finally improves the wear.I certainly am looking forward to testing out this new formula and seeing how it stands up against the traditional Misa formula.
It provides a smoother, more even surface, allowing light to reflect evenly, Conventional Nail Polish create a less even surface, which causes swirl marks on the surface of nails Nanotechnology improves the performances of the Nail Polish:
- Ease of Application
- High Gloss
- Higher Abrasion Resistance
- Improvement Stability
