Chanel Rouge Noir (numéro 18)

So that time of the year is just around the corner; I am going to be running around stressed and feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. Yes; final exams are just around the corner! Ohh and you all thought I was talking about the Holiday season ;)

Well since I needed a little motivation to help me push through the last couple of weeks of this semester, I decided to treat myself to a nice little pre-final-exam gift (I am allowed to invent reasons to buy myself gifts ok!). So I got Chanel Rouge Noir; the super vampy cult classic. For those of you who don't know this color was made famous in the 1990s when Uma Thurma's character wore it in Pulp Fiction, causing the polish to become a bestseller to this day.

I know some Chanel's are difficult to apply, but this one is a dream... like.. wow! I can't even think of another polish to compare to in terms of application. The first coat is very red, but the second coat makes it very dark, almost black, with strong red undertones.
All in all, I love this shade. However, and this is to be expected with anything Chanel, the price tag is high. It came up to a big $29 with tax but at least this time around the girls working the counter were very sweet and friendly. Too bad that is not always the case.

I used Essie First Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat.

Barry M Dusky Mauve VS Chanel Paradoxal

Flash:

Can you tell which one is which?

Index and Ring Finger are Chanel Paradoxal; the rest are Barry M Dusky Mauve.

P.s.: How do you like the new look of my blog?

OPI Louvre Me Not

He louvres me, he louvres me not....

Either way I "louvre" this color! Haha!
Louvre me Not is from the 2008 Collection de France Collection.. you know... the one that brought us such classics as You Don't Know Jacques and Parlez-Vous OPI? (My first bfs name was Jacques but let's save that story for another post...). This beauty is often forgotten.

It is a nice magenta/purple berry color that would flatter pretty much all skin tones IMO. Good application and I have gotten compliments on it. It makes me think that I need more magenta polishes in my stash!

I used Essie First Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat. Pics taken after 3 days of wear... sorry about the chips...

Essie Limited Addiction

How cute is the name of this polish? This is "Limited Addiction" from the Essie 2010 Fall collection. As you may know, I had high hopes for Merino Cool but it totally let me down. Suprisingly, I love this red color. And I am not a "red girl" at all. This goes for clothing, cars, socks, anything! I just... don't... like red.

However, this polish compliments my skin tone really well. It is very rich and has a nice jelly quality to it. It also looks like a deeper color in the shade, but a true red in the light. Two coats and you are good to go. I would highly recommend it!

I used Essie First Base Coat and Mavala Fixator Top Coat.

OPI Jade is the New Black

OMG I just noticed that I have 99 followers! Thank you so much everybody ! It really really means a lot to me!

One more follower and maybe we can discuss a giveaway? :D

No promises yet but I will so my best!

Also, I am sorry if I can not keep up with everybody all the time...I really wish I had more time to post, and I am sure all my untried polishes are waiting their turn, but my schoolwork is getting the best of me. I just wanted to say that.

Now onto swatches :D

This is OPI Jade is the New Black from the Spring 2010 Hong Kong Collection. I purchased it when it first came out, but it didn't feel very "spring" so I saved it for the fall. In fact, this summer, I actually opted for Essie's Pretty Edgy when I wanted to wear a green polish since it's a vivid green. Jade is The New Black is blue based and has a dusty quality. It is also more squishy and jelly-ish in texture (Hmmm I sound like I should have posted comparison pics...oups!). Anywho, I still love both colors!

I took these pictures after 2 days of wear so sorry for the minor chipping...

And now I have to run because my hubby accidentally used dishwasher soap in the washing machine.... *sigh*

I used Essie First Base Coat and Mavala Fixator Top Coat.

Essie Merino Cool

I should be working on an essay right now... but I think that I deserve a little break :)

This is Essie's Merino Cool from the Fall 2010 Collection. I had really high hopes for this one but its a let down. I can only describe this color as very blah and boring... It might look better on different skin tones but its not doing it for me. The application was streaky and even gave a little cuticle drag. Moreover, and this is weird for Essie, the color didn't level out at all!

Essie you can do better! We need more collections like the Resort Collection from last winter!

Beware of the eBay! (aka EvilBay)

I just had to post this because I am in total shock!
I love YSLs Touche Éclat (I use number 1) but this product sets me back $56 each time I purchase it at a department store. I have successfully ordered this product off a eBay a couple of times for around $37.
This time around I purchased it for $24. Good deal right? Well when I opened the package something seemed off. I took out my used Touche Éclat and compared it to the one I got. First, the coloring was not the same. The real product is more of a yellow gold whereas the fake one is lighter. Secondly, the lettering is thicker on the fake product. And, lastly, the cap of the fake product does not fit on the real product.

The product inside reminds me of L'Oreal Touche Magique; a Touche Éclat dupe (or, as I call it, a wannabe Touche Éclat) and is not close to the real deal at all.

The story has a good ending; the seller refunded the money.

I am just amazed that they go through the trouble of making them!

Have you had issues with make-up products purchased on eBay?