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.
Go Green with No-Miss
Found in health food stores, like Whole Foods, No-Miss is a line of cruelty free cosmetics that includes over 150 shades of Big 3 Free nail polishes. With the formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl-pthalate and camphor eliminated these lacquers are a healthy, pregnancy safe choice.
I have been scoping No-Miss out for a while now at my local Whole Foods. I keep hoping that one of the amazing green or blue shades listed on their site will miraculously appear in the small display rack. So far, no luck.
But on my last trip I noticed a gorgeous shade that just had to come home with me. After sharing the orange trend with you, I've been on quite a kick. And oddly enough, craving orange juice like there's no tomorrow. Are orange polishes some kind of subliminal message cooked up by the Florida Orange people and polish manufacturers? I'll add it to my growing list of conspiracy theories.
On to the polish. The shade is called Tamarac Tangerine and as with all No-Miss polishes it is pigmented with natural, from-the-earth micas and oxides. I was pleasantly surprised by the formula and application. Unlike some thicker Big 3 Free polishes, this formula is thin and easy to spread. You do give up some pigmentation with that but I think it's worth it. What you see below is 3 coats of color with no top coat applied, just its own glossy sheen. Overall, I'm impressed with the quick drying time, the color range and application.
For you chemistry/ingredient geeks like me here's the run down on the No-Miss formula.
Nitrocellulose-a fiber used for viscosity. Ethylacetate, N. Butyl Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol-solvents used to dissolve Nitrocellulose. also may contain: Mica, made from sand, cosmetic titanium dioxide, (white),cosmetic iron oxide blue, (indian paint pot grey/blue), iron oxides, earth born colors made from rocks, zinc oxide, from the earth, used to promote drying and to deflect harmful UV rays from the sun.
While I was shopping I decided to pick up the Almost Natural Polish Remover as well. Using fruit acids as a solvent this remover claims to be non-drying and gentle. I just had to see if a "green" remover could really deliver as well as its acetone laden counterparts. The answer is yes and no. Did it remove my polish without drying my nails? Absolutely! Did it work as quickly? No. But isn't it worth the few extra seconds of rubbing to make a healthier choice? The only downside for me was the smell. The touted vanilla scent comes off very plastic and strong.
Ingredients: Fruit Acid Solvent, Amber Acids (derived from plant lichens), Deionized Water, Vitamin A, Natural Vanilla Fragrance.
No-Miss products are available online at NoMiss.com and Whole Foods. Polishes retail for $6.50 and the 4oz remover retails for $6.99.
Have any of you tried No-Miss? What are your thoughts?
Chanel Summer 2008
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
A Visit to Dashing Diva
A trip to New York isn't complete without a stop at Dashing Diva. It's the perfect destination for a little pampering and a girly good time. So when I was in the city for Fashion Week back in February, I had to pencil in a manicure with some of my beauty blogging pals.
This time we visited the Upper West Side location and I had a chance to replace my broke down four day old mani with a fab cobalt blue; Stellar Ella (see left). Pictured with me is Julia from All About the Pretty and Erika from Makeup Bag. We were joined by our fearless Beauty Blog Network leader Elke and the fabulous and charming Sam from Dark PR who made the excursion possible.
Of course in the sea of conservative french manicures and pale pinks my tips stood out but I'm sure they would have been right at home with the funkier clientele at the downtown locale. But you know me, I'll flash my bold nail personality anywhere. And the staff couldn't have been more welcoming and professional. As expected the service was top notch and extremely hygienic which just makes my desire for a Cleveland Dashing Diva even stronger. Are you listening TPTB?
I took my time perusing the massive polish display and fell in love with a few shades that I just had to make my own. They're not necessarily Spring season appropriate but they're must haves for my collection.
Black Diamonds - I first wore this shade back in November and I regretted not bringing a bottle home. And while the gunmetal gray trend may not be as strong this coming fall, I still think this color is relevant. It's got a bluish, slightly lavender base that softens the dark gray pigment. Super shiny and a relatively brush stroke-less metallic, Black Diamonds is mesmerizing.
Merlot Luscious Molly caught my attention with its subtle gold shimmer that weaves throughout this deep wine inspired shade. It's even richer in person and in warm, incandescent lighting takes on a pretty rust colored cast.
Northern Lights is a no brainer "me" hue. A blue based green with gold shimmer that is peppered with bronze, blue and green glitter, this polish is truly unique. Depending on the lighting it can lean towards either blue or green. And while it may not appeal to the mainstream, I'm in love. Though if it were up to me, this color would be called Under The Sea. It's the color you'd see while scuba diving, looking up at the sun sparkling on the surface.
Dashing Diva polishes retail for $7.99 and can be purchased online or in the salon. For more information go to their website, http://www.dashingdiva.com/.
Happy St. Patrick's Day
For 'tis green, green, green, where the ruined towers are gray,
And it's green, green, green, all the happy night and day;
Green of leaf and green of sod, green of ivy on the wall,
And the blessed Irish shamrock with the fairest green of all.
~Mary Elizabeth Blake
I am not the least bit Irish but that doesn't stop me from loving St. Patrick's Day, the greenest day of the year. With my undying love of all things emerald, is it any wonder. It's the one day when draping yourself in it is perfectly acceptable.
Of course that means green is shade of the day for nails and I've put together my picks to best express your Irish Pride or just join in the fun. All the polishes featured are current and available for purchase.
My St. Patty's Day manicure is of the gorgeous Sinful Colors San Francisco. Sinful Colors is a drugstore brand that you can find at Walgreens. They have a wide variety of shades and are very reasonably priced. The formula on this one is similar to a jelly finish. It spreads like jam on the nail. But the color is so outstanding that I'm willing to play to get it right.
For a darker more forest green look, check out NYX Las Vegas, butter London Thames, Zoya Suvi, China Glaze Outta Bounds and Rescue Beauty Lounge Recycle.
And if you want a bolder emerald or springier green, look for Rimmel Underground Camouflage, Carolyn New York Greenwich Ave, Sinful Colors San Francisco or China Glaze Treehugger.
So what are you wearing for St. Patrick's Day? Have a favorite green I left out?
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?
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 - Matching Tips and Roots?
So I was reading this post from the Jet Set Girls about matching your nail polish to your hair color. She wore Naturally Rich from MAC's N Colour Collection and had people comment on how well it worked with her auburn locks. To be honest, I've never thought about that pairing. Only about how the color works with my skin tone or outfit. Just off the top of my head, I think that Misa Chocolate Icing would be my hair match due to it's reddish undertone.
What about you? Have you ever purposely matched your tips to your roots? What lacquer best matches your tresses?
MAC Fafi Polishes
OK I'll admit it, I didn't have a clue who or what a Fafi was when I first heard rumors of this collection from MAC. I guess I'm old and out of touch that way. That doesn't mean I didn't drool over the collection anyway. I know people are waiting on pins and needles for the Heatherette collection. Some even skipping over Fafi to save money for it but I'm telling you, you're missing out.
For those of you joining me in the Fafi-clueless realm, Fafi is a French graffiti artist who creates strong, sexy, playful female characters. She even gave singer Lily Allen the Fafinette treatment in the Mark Ronson video, Oh My God.
I was at my freestanding MAC store the day Fafi released and I went gaga over the Fafi Eyes 2 palette and Strawbaby lipstick. You know I'm a sucker for anything green so You're Fresh (the light green shadow) had me at "Hello!" btw if you own Strawbaby, go pick up the new Viva Glam VI SE gloss. It looks phenom over it and you get to help an amazing cause in the process.
So now on to the polishes. MAC released two shades with the Fafi collection, Boom and Girls Will Be Girls. Unfortunately the MAC website is sold out of both lacquers so I suggest calling your local MAC counters to find them. Both polishes applied fairly well, I just had to really wipe my brush off to avoid pooling because the formula is a bit more fluid than I'm used to.
Girls Will Be Girls is a peachy pink due to the ribbons of gold shimmer running throughout. For those of you from the MUA nail board, it's a very Nikki shade. With two coats it was almost entirely opaque but I could still see a bit of my tip color underneath. It dries to a semi-matte finish with no top coat applied.
Boom is described on the MAC website as an eggplant shade but to me it's more of a deep fuchsia. I've heard comparisons to OPI's Jewel of India mentioned but I don't own that one to show you. The shimmer is apparent but not gaudy and the shade is so well pigmented. Even though it's not the graple I anticipated, it's still very pretty and wearable. I can already picture it as a pedi shade this summer.
Did anyone else run out and join the Fafi fever? What did you buy? What did you love?
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.
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.
Rescue Beauty Lounge Under The Stars
Rescue Beauty Lounge, the salon and product line, is the creation of the uber-stylish Ji Baek. For Ji her previous life working in the hospitality industry, spending countless hours on her feet in high heels, led to her love of pedicures. But all the salons and spas she encountered were either unsanitary or too high end/high priced.
So being a self proclaimed "germ-o-phobe" and wanting to save her excess cash for shoes, Ji set out on a mission to open a salon dedicated to nail care that was fun, reasonably priced and above all, clean. So in 1998 the first Rescue Beauty opened it's doors. Inside you'll find hospital standards of cleanliness and the Rescue Beauty Lounge line of bath & body products and nail lacquer.
The RBL lacquers have a cult following and until now, I've never had the opportunity to try one. I've only seen beauties like Revamp, Black Russian, Concrete Jungle and Dead Calm in online swatches. So when a nail buddy surprised me with a bottle of my biggest RBL want, Under The Stars, I shrieked.
Under The Stars is a blue-black shimmer. I know, I know, you're groaning already. Not another blue-black. You've seen of ton of them already. If you're not a blue lover and collector this one might not wow you. BUT, and I do mean that to be a big but, what makes Under The Stars unique to me is the gorgeous light blue glitter. It leaves the nail surface with a bit of texture but it's totally worth it.
The formula is of a medium-thick consistency, flows smoothly on the nail and is Big 3 Free. Not only that but it's highly pigmented, requiring only one coat to achieve bottle color.
I normally only test a formula's wear for five days but Under The Stars performed so well that I left it on for seven. I was also just enamoured with the color (and a bit lazy). There was noticeable tip wear, more than I'd normally allow myself to be seen in but, no chips. And considering how long I'd been wearing the shade it held up well.Rescue Beauty Lounge polish retails for $18 and can be purchased at a RBL salon or on the company website.
Sponsored Link
Buy Rescue Beauty Lounge Polish
Zoya Spring 2008 Preview - Blissful
It looks like sheers and soft girlie shades are on their way this spring. And as much as I love my bold and vampy shades I will try my best to embrace the coming trend. You'll rarely find me sporting a sheer but ever since I discovered my holy grail sheer last spring, Zoya Bailey, I'm definitely more open-minded towards them.
Enjoy the nail color of the moment... Blissful.
The beauty of Spring radiates from Zoya’s latest collection, Blissful. 6 wearable shades selected to enhance natural beauties of every age and skin tone.
Laurie (sheer pink cream), Lulu (sheer peach cream) and Miley (sheer lilac cream)
Felicity (sparkling golden rose), Penelope (apricot rose cream) and Zanna (mauve rose cream)
As always, Blissful features Zoya’s best-selling, professional natural nail lacquer formula. Zoya healthy nail colors are free of harmful industrial chemicals like toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are known to cause cancer and birth defects.
Find Zoya’s Blissful collection along with over 200 other ultra high-fashion Zoya shades and the exclusive Zoya Color-Lock system (for guaranteed long-lasting color) at fine salons and spas across the country, or online at www.zoya.com.
info and images courtesy of Art Of Beauty
CND Spring 2008 Preview - Plexi Pop
Introducing Plexi Pop - CND Color Collection Spring/Summer 2008
Lip Gloss for the Nails
Give fingers and toes a dose of radiant energy! CND’s new Plexi Pop Collection for Spring/Summer 2008 is inspired by colorful Lucite designs from modernist 60’s interiors. Bold in the bottle translates to subtle, optically-interesting color on the nail. The collection is an energetic palette – couture in spirit and NOW in look.
Rising temperatures call for translucent nail tints in a range of moods from understated soft nudes that are like lip gloss for the nails to vibrant flashes of carefree color. The length and look this season is past the tip of the finger in a soft and tapered shape. The collection includes two healthy pink clears, three opalescent bright sheers in hot pink, coral and turquoise, and a mod crisp white cream.
Retro White Рbright white opaque cr̬me
Clearly Pink – translucent light pink sheer
Nail Gloss– translucent medium pink sheer
Plexi Pink – vibrant pink opalescent sheer
Translucent Tangerine – coral shimmer sheer
Turquoise Tint – aqua opalescent sheer
These shades debuted on runways during Spring 2008 Fashion Week in New York and London .
Clearly Pink glowed at Badgley Mischka, Bruce, Chaiken, Luca Luca, Peter Som, Philosophy, Nili Lotan, G-Star, Tory Burch
Nail Gloss was worn by models at BCBG, Behnaz Sarafpour, Jasper Conran, COS, Carmen Marc Valvo, Nary Manivong, PHI, DKNY, Rachel Roy, Reyes, Rosa Cha, TSE and Yigal Azro
Translucent Tangerine premiered at Douglas Hannant
Turquoise Tint glimmered at Ashish N Soni and Chris Han
Retro White was part of the revolutionized black and white French manicure at L.A.M.B. and Jayson Brunsdon
The Plexi Pop Collection will be in salons, spas and professional beauty stores as of March 2008. Each enamel retails for $6.00 US/$9.40 Canada .
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.
MAC Fall 2007
I wish I had been able to share these shades with you before they sold out on MAC's website. All this moving stuff is slowing me down. I didn't expect nail lacquers to be the only products from the Smoke Signals and Blue Storm collections to sell out (with the exception of one lipglass). Though considering how gorgeous they are, it's not overly surprising.
Being the bargain hunter that I am I generally don't look to MAC for my polish at $10/bottle but, I can't resist a pretty color. Which is why I covet my bottles of Vin Goth, Blue Sprinkles, Rose Topping and Tiger Tiger. And why I have a drawer filled with blue, green and purple MAC shadows even though I rarely wear makeup other than my everyday neutral look.
I have to thank the lovely and generous Julia from All About The Pretty for offering to send her samples of these four new lacquers to me.
First up, the Blue Storm shades.
Whirlwind is glorious. Even more so in person. There is no way to capture this incredible shade and do it justice. If you can still find this at your local MAC counter, buy it!! Even if you don't wear blues or greens, BUY IT!! It applies like a dream, has amazing shimmer and fire and is completely swoon-worthy.
Rainy Day is what I'd call a "great concept, poor execution". A beautiful stormy blue-gray is right up my alley. But making it a metallic chrome instead of a shimmer like Whirlwind was a mistake in my opinion. The application and it's finish filled with brush strokes disappointed me. This is a case where layering could save this beautious shade. I'll have to play with some combos.
Now on to Smoke Signals.
When I first read that MAC was coming out with a black with red shimmer I thought here we go, they're jumping on the Lubu Heels, RBL Revamp bandwagon. I've never been so happy to be wrong. Why Wildfire is described as having red shimmer, I'll never know. It's actually a plum shimmer that turns this black based polish into a sexy deep purple on the nail.
Nocturnelle is a repromote that originally debuted with the Nocturnelle collection in October 2006, right in the middle of the black polish craze. For a black creme, Nocturnelle represents well. It's highly pigmented, glossy and smooth. But, I couldn't in good conscienc