chikisnails

Sally Hansen Nail Prisms Purple Diamond over Essie Topless & Barefoot

2012-01-26T10:11:00.000-08:00

Last spring, I did a review on Sally Hansen Nail Prisms in Purple Diamond. However, it required many coats to be opaque & the holographic-ness (is that a word?) didn't really show up that well. I decided to try it over a black polish, but it ended up looking very patchy! Finally, I got the idea to use Essie's Topless & Barefoot, a pretty nude, as an "underwear" polish. This is 2 coats of Purple Diamond over the Essie polish.

Of course the holo is best shown in artificial light

By using an underwear polish, Purple Diamond looks a lot closer to the color it is in the bottle & the holo bits really show up better ! I think this is a great trick to use to make your light holo polishes show through, not to mention you waste less of the holo polish :) Let me know how you like to layer your holographic polishes !

I used Essie Protein Base Coat.

Essie As Gold as it Gets over OPI Teas-y Does It

2012-01-24T07:47:00.000-08:00

Quick post for today J I tried adding a layer of Essie As Gold as it Gets over my OPI Teas-y Does It mani that I did two weeks ago (original review can be found here). The red & gold flecks really showed through!

What have you been layering As Gold as it Gets over? Let me know !

NARS Luster Blush

2012-01-18T11:15:00.000-08:00

I can’t think of the last time I did a post on make-up, but I love this product so much that I need to showcase it here. I never would have tried if it wasn't for the lovely ladies on MakeUpAlley who recommended it after I asked how I could replicate one of Candice Swanepoel’s make up looks (you know that gorgeous Victoria's Secret model!). NARS Luster is deceiving because it looks like nothing in the pan, but, trust me, it is so beautiful on!

This blush almost works as a bronzer. My skin is very fair in the winter and Luster brings a warm glow to my face. It has somewhat of a sheen so it isn't completely matte.Unfortunately, I haven’t figured out how to master swatch pics of blush…

I apply to my cheekbones with a MAC 187 brush and lightly brush my temples, chin and nose with whatever is left on the brush. For reference, I have light cool toned skin, but I think this is a product that can work on many people, so I recommend that everyone checks it out !

Essie Cocktail Bling + Accent Nail !

2012-01-16T06:40:00.000-08:00

If you know me, you know I love light blues so I had to get Essie Cocktail Bling. This polish is part of the Essie 2011 Winter Collection by the same named after this polish. I can’t gush about the application on this one, the two first coats go on streaky, but it if fully opaque by the third coat. It think it is worth it for this unsual color; it’s more like a cross between a grey & a light blue. Making it appropriate for the winter months (as opposed to pastel blues) !

I decided to add an accent nail using Essie’s As Gold as it Gets (previously reviewed here) to add a little Glam J I think I like this combo !

OPI Teas-y Does It

2012-01-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

Teasy-does It was part of the 2010 Burlesque collection. I was dying to get my hands on this polish but was disappointed once I received it. It was thick and looked more like a deep, brown burgundy rather than a black with sharp red flecks. I tossed it aside, but I decided to give it a second shot this year. I think it is a pretty polish, but I am not head over heels with it. It is still thick and looks brown. I wish the red would shine through more !

I am sad to say, I wouldn't recommend this.

I used Essie Protein Base Coat & Essie Good to Go Top Coat.

Chanel Rouge Noir vs Revlon Vixen (Comparison!)

2012-01-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

Chanel Rouge Noir was first released in the mid-90s and officially brought into cult status when Uma Thurman wore it in Pulp Fiction. If you don't believe how iconic this polish is, check out it's own Wikipedia page. I think the best way to describe this sexy blood red polish is in one word: classic. So of course, there has to be a dupe... right? Enter Revlon Vixen; a deep, vampy red. Let's take a look at how they compare.

I don't think my skin has ever looked this pale !

The main difference in between the two is that Vixen has a sort of jelly quality, whereas Rouge Noir has, dare I say, a blood-like consistency. Rouge Noir's application is fantastic, I can not gush enough about it, it is just amazingly buttery and pigmented. On the other hand, Vixen takes a lot of patience and practice. It leaves bald spots, no matter how long I wait between coats, and takes a lot longer to dry. It is frustrating to work with... I think the bald spots are still apparent in the picture above! Just to show the pigmentation, here they are with one coat each:

Final thoughts: Color wise, unless you inspect the polishes closely, they are identical. Rouge Noir is shinier than Vixen but it is nothing a top coat can not solve. I love Chanel Rouge Noir and I do recommend it over Vixen. As a nail polish fanatic, I feel like I own a piece of history with a bottle of this. However, if you don't want to spend upwards of $25 on dark red polish, and don't mind the application issues, give Vixen a go ;)
Note: Rouge Noir is part of the permanent line up at Chanel counters here in Canada, but I believe it is only released as part of certain collections in the US.

Edit- Eugenia from OmmorphiaBeautyBar has an excellent post on the history of Chanel Vamp. Click here to see it!

China Glaze Sea Spray

2012-01-03T08:25:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed your New Year's whether you went out or stayed home with friends and family (like me!). Lately I have been straying from dark winter colours so I decided I wanted to try China Glaze Sea Spray. Baby blue is by far my favourite colour for nail polishes, and this one takes the cake. It have the faintest amount of shimmer and a grey undertone, it somewhat reminds me of Chanel Riva. Also, Sea Spray applies like a dream; it is so rich & creamy and I only needed 2 coats. This never happens with baby blues !

This polish was released as part of the the Spring 2011 Anchor's Away collection but I am sure many online vendors still have it in stock.

I used Essie Protein Base Coat and Essie Good to Good Top Coat.

Essie Sand Tropez & Kisses and Bisses

2011-12-27T08:45:00.000-08:00

I skipped boxing day shopping this year and decided to relax at home instead. I just wasn't up for all the craziness this year! In the meantime, I played with my bottle of Kisse & Bisses and decided to layer it over Sand Tropez. I LOVE this combo ! It is so chic and pretty, I can not gush about enough. The best part is that it doesn't make my hands look dead like some other neutrals can. Both of these polishes are from the Spring 2011 Collection A French Affair but I think these two colors can work year round.I hope you enjoyed this post !
I used Essie Protein Base Coat and Essie Good to Go top coat.

OPI Bring on the Bling

2011-12-25T11:53:00.000-08:00

It is snowing right now, making it a perfect Christmas day !

I decided to put on Bring on the Bling for a cheery, holiday mani. It is definitely a perfect light gold and so sprakly! It even has pink, green and blue glitter flecks in it. Application is thick, but I think it is something you have to expect with glitter polishes like this one. This is 3 coats.Happy Holidays to you and Chiki & I wish you all a wonderful day :)She is tired from eating so much food !
I used Essie Protein Base Coat & Gelous as a top coat.

Borghese Purple Confetti

2011-12-22T08:29:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

I am finally done exams so I hope I will be able to post a little more often. I have so many nail polishes that I want to show you! Today I swatched Borghese Purple Confetti. I am getting into the Christmas Spirit and thought this would be a festive choice. This polish is very unique: it has glitter suspended in a sort of jelly/matte base. It dries to matte finish but this is off-set by the glitter.I added a coat of Gelous for a shiny finish (I think I prefer it this way).Overall I can't say that I love this polish; I love the unique idea but it is extremely thick and hard to apply. I think it would be easier to add a glitter polish over a regular polish!

I used Essie Protein Base Coat.

L'Oreal Owl's Night

2011-12-11T10:25:00.000-08:00

L'Oreal nail polishes have never been at the top of my wishlist, but that changed when I first saw of swatches of Owl's Night. Oh how I enjoyed look at pictures of that beautiful, complex dark plummy base that was off-set with spectacular gold shimmer... I knew that it had to be mine ! However, it seemed to be so difficult to find in Canada but luckily I had a wonderful friend from the US gift it to me. But then the day after I received it, I spotted the L'Oreal display with Owl's Night at my local drug store *facepalm*. Oh well, I will enjoy it nonetheless :)
I think this polish is stunning: the base less plummy than I though it would be. It actually had a faint olive tone seeping through. It is very festive and chic for the holidays and a nice break from the reds and greens that are flooding the market right now. Lastly, it applied well in 3 coats !
I used Essie Protein Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat

Essie Kisses and Bisses over Chanel Paradoxal

2011-12-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

Essie's as Gold as it Gets inspired me to get into layering polishes a little bit more. It is a quick way to jazz up any mani and can help disguise scuffs and, dare I say, bubbles that may have happened during the application of your first color. Don't get me wrong, Paradoxal is a phenomenal color on it's own, but sometimes I wish the secret pink/purple shimmer would peak through just a tad more. So I decided to layer Kisses and Bisses from Essie's Spring 2011 French Affair Collection over it.This is only one layer of the Essie polish and the pink shimmer really stands out on top of Paradoxal's murky purple! It almost makes the polish look like a duochrome, and we all know we need more of those in the nail polish world ;)
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat.

Essie as Gold as it gets over Chanel Rouge Noir

2011-11-28T12:49:00.001-08:00

To be honest, most of the Holiday releases in the nail polish world this year have failed to excite me... except for Essie Luxeffects of course! I was so happy to find that the display was out at my local Trade Secrets this weekend. Out of all the polishes in my stash, I decided to layer As Gold as it Gets over Rouge Noir first. I thought the contrast of the dark, blood red and the gold flakes would make a sophisticated, regal pairing. I think I was right ! This mani is very appropriate for the holiday season and is wearable. I plan on keeping this mani on for a while ;)

If you read my last post, you know that I am not the biggest flakie fan but As Gold as it Gets is in a different category. It is composed of small, tiny flecks that the light captures. It is subtler than chunky flakies, but beautiful since it glows when the light hits it. Also, I have never seen a similar polish ! I think Essie should release a silver version of this soon :)

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

Inglot 204 over OPI Russian Navy

2011-11-21T13:39:00.000-08:00

It snowed in Montreal this week so we know Christmas is just around the corner and I am already buying gifts! I picked up Inglot 204 for as a gift for a friend who loves flakies. I am not the biggest flakie lover (I hardly ever used my bottle of Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure) but I loved the concept of a blue flakie so I bought myself a bottle as well. This is 2 coats over OPI Russian Navy.
The only downfall with this polish is the small size. As most polishes are 0.05 oz, this one is tiny at only 0.35. Inglot charges the same price for both. I guess they can get away with it since flakie polishes are hard to find. That is it for today, I hope you are all taking advantage of the great sales this weekend :)
I use Mavala Protective base coat and Seche Vite top coat.

OPI Designer Series Original

2011-11-21T13:38:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to acquire OPI DS Original for a very good price and, even though I am not the biggest fan of holographic polishes, this is gorgeous! This was part of the original Designer Series and has since been discontinued. I only needed 2 coats and the light purple, holographic goodness shone through. This sparkles like crazy... Remember that with holos you should never use a regular top or base coat if you want the holo effect to prevail :) Let me know what some of your favorite holographic polishes are in the comments.
(Again, I apologize for the minor cut on my ring finger)

l'Oréal Cockatoo's Mystery

2011-11-20T11:37:00.000-08:00

Hi there :)
I may have gone on a mini hiatus from blogging last week to catch up on school work, but I am back. Today I have L'Oréal Cockatoo's Mystery. This is probably the first L'Oreal polish that has caught my attention. Although, I would pick up Owl's Night in a heartbeat if only I could find it in Canada... Anyway, this is the kind of color that is hard to capture on camera: it has a lot more depth and lilac undertones than the pictures show. It is very,very pretty neutral. I wore this polish for almost a week and it gathered many compliments from strangers and friends alike. I think the only other polish I ever had so many compliments on was Chanel Nouvelle Vague.I picked this up on sale for $1.99 so I feel like it was a total steal. I found it on a limited edition display alongside other L'Oreal products (I can not recall the name) but if you see it pick it up. Apologies for the little cut on my ring finger, I am not even sure how that happened !
I used Gelous as a top & base coat.

Chanel Tulipe Noire

2011-11-13T15:51:00.000-08:00

Tulipe Noire is an oldie but a goodie. It was released in Fall 2007 alongside Magnolia Rose and, even though my bottle is a couple of years old, the polish still managed apply flawlessly (no thinner needed!). In fact, the formula is perfection: only two coats were needed and they applied like butter. The color isn't the most original but gold shimmer keeps an otherwise safe burgundy color from looking too flat. I also found plum undertones peaking through in certain lighting.

Even though burgundy isn't the trendiest color for 2011, it is always "in" and never fails at complementing my fall wardrobe. This is why I love rediscovering my older polishes: I love realizing how many colors are new & chic to me even after a few years... not to mention I feel less bad spending so much money on polishes when I know they will last forever ! Let me know what some of your most loved polishes from collections past are :)
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat and Mavala Colorfix Top Coat.

Looking forward to... Lise Watier & OPI

2011-11-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

I wanted to do a quick post on collections that I am currently looking forward to getting. First up is the Lise Watier 2011 Holiday Collection which features two nail polishes: Festive Chic and Fairy Taupe. I already saw these in the store and they look gorgeous! They are very multidimensional and shimmery (unlike the promo pictures actually!). Moreover, these polishes have a light in the cap so your nails are illuminated while you paint them. Somewhat gimmicky, but I am sold! Lise Watier nail polishes usually retail for $12 Canadian but these are $14 because of the light cap. I can not wait to pick mine up :)

Secondly, you may have already heard of OPI Holland Collection for Spring 2012. I think the last time I bought a new release from OPI was during the 2010 Burlesque Collection because I can not stand the pro-wide brushes. However, my mother is originally from Holland, and even though my Dutch is quite rusty, I NEED these polishes...if only for the names ! I am especially looking forward to Pedal Faster Suzi! (a shimmery lilac) & Thanks a Windmillion (a dusty mint green).Let me know what nail polish releases you are looking forward to as well !
*Lise Watier image credit sears.ca
*OPI image credit via their press release

Chanel Graphite vs Revlon Carbonite

2011-11-06T10:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I posted my review of Revlon Carbonite and I decided I should add a quick comparison post. Here is Carbonite next to Graphite. As you can tell, Graphite is so much more shimmery!
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your Sunday :)
Click here for my review on Revlon Carbonite.
Clicke here for my review on Chanel Graphite.

Revlon Carbonite

2011-11-05T14:03:00.000-07:00

I love Revlon polishes, I really do. I gushed over Black with Envy and Facets of Fuschia, and who could forget Emerald City & Blue Lagoon. But alas they can not all be winners. Revlon Carbonite is the exception to the rule: I really do not like this nail polish. It is supposed to be a Chanel Graphite dupe, another polish I am in love with, but it fails me so bad. There is nothing wrong with Carbonite's formula: it has a good consistency and applied well. I only needed to use two coats. What I do not like about it is that it lacks the shimmer and sparkles that Graphite has. It looks flat, scratchy and reminds me of asphalt on my nails.My pictures were taken in the sun, so this is as shimmery as it will get. These pictures make the polish appear to be a lot prettier than it actually is: I couldn't capture the "scratchiness" if it. I wish that it looks like it does in my pictures because in real life it looks flatter, almost dirty, on my nails. I know many people love this polish, but even after wearing it for 3 days to see if it would grow on me did not work. I would not recommend it!
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat.

Orly Space Cadet

2011-11-01T17:59:00.001-07:00

I am still filtering through my untrieds and came accross Orly Space Cadet. It was released as part of the Cosmic FX Fall 2010 Collection (has it really been a year already?) and I can't believe that I set aside it for so long! This is a gorgeous mufti-faceted nail polish that is unlike anything I have. It is so shimmery & sparkly and the color shifts depending on the lighting. I am not sure how to describe this- it is pink, purple, green, gold, copper...craziness! I tried to capture all of the colors in my pictures. As always, you can click on the pictures to make them bigger.

The sad part is that I found the formula to be quite thin & it required 4 layers of polish. It is also hard to see the bald spots since it is so shimmery. Moreover, as unique as this color is, I don't find it all that wearable! Just my honest opinion here: I think I could only get away with this polish for Halloween or on a night out and not for day-to-day wear. But maybe you are more adventurous than I am & this is your kind of thing :)

I used Mavala Fixator Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat.

Revlon Facets of Fuchsia

2011-10-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

TGIF everyone!
Unfortunately for me, it looks like I will be stuck studying all weekend. But I don't mind, as long as I am equipped with a Pumpkin Latte and highlighters in about 6 different colors I feel like nothing can stop me :). Also, have some pretty nails to look at helps too. I decided I needed to perk up my stash with more glitter polishes and I swooned when I finally found the Revlon display with Facets of Fuchsia. As you may know, this is pretty much a drugstore dupe of Deborah Lippmann's Bad Romance. I only have two Lippmann polishes (Waking Up in Vegas & Glitter in the Air) and, although they both exceeded my expectations, I wasn't quite ready to commit to a dark glittery polish just yet. Enter Facets of Fuchsia; a pretty black jelly with purple hex & glitter at a drugstore price.
Application isn't the easiest with this polish. The glitter is suspended in a jelly base and you need to wait in between coats to make sure not to move the glitter around too much. You may also have to push back the large glitter chunks onto your nail if they hang on the sides. But overall, I think this is a must is you spot this polish! What I really like about Facets of Fuchsia is that it convinced me that I LOVE glitters and that I may have to splurge on Lippmann's accross the Universe soon. Let me know what some of your favorite glitter polishes are :)
I used Mavala Protective base coat & Seche Vite top coat.

OPI Russian Navy

2011-10-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone :)
Earlier this week I was reading ALU's latest post on "beautiful bold blues" making a comeback in the nail polish world and I felt inspired to dig out OPI's classic color Russian Navy from my stash. Granted, I love blues so I will take any excuse I can get to use them! Russian Navy was part of the 2007 Russian Collection and has since become part of the permanent line. It is probably one of the most gorgeous navy/indigo blues ever created. It is such a deep and rich color. It also has blue, pink & purple shimmer through it which keeps it from looking too flat or black. You can get away with 2 coats and it applies effortlessly. I love it!
On a side note, I know I haven't posted in almost a week and I hate having to feel obliged to post (even if I don't have the biggest readership in the blogosphere)! I have a lot of schoolwork to get done and I am trying to pace myself at the moment. But I love blogging about nail polish, and I am working on some posts, so hopefully I can get them up soon!
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat.

Revlon Black with Envy

2011-10-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Hey it looks like I recovered some pictures I lost! Yay!
I wanted to post this polish earlier since it was part of My Top Nail Polish Picks for Fall post, but I guess it is better late than never :). Black with Envy is a limited edition release from Revlon that is supposed to be a dupe for Chanel's Black Pearl. I prefer to call this "inspired by" than a dupe since the colors are quite different, Black Pearl being a lot lighter. However, this hardly means that Black with Envy can not hold it's own. Application was fab and I really like this gunmetal gray with a teal flash.

This is a one of a kind color and not so dark that it's black. It is extremely wearable and complements any outfit & I respect that Revlon does not try to make exact dupes (or knock offs) of Chanel polishes. Instead, they have their own take on things which still turns out to be quite lovely. Lastly, I thought it was time for another appearance by Chiki. She has been having so much fun playing in the leaves lately, I can't resist taking pictures of her :) !!See you next post !
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat & Seche Vite Top Coat.

Chanel Coco Blue

2011-10-17T17:28:00.000-07:00

Hi readers :)
I had lots of swatches done to be able to have posts ready for this week, and now I can't find any of the pictures ! They all seemed to have disappeared. I put a lot of work into them so I am annoyed, but now that I aired out my frustration let's move on to the polish I am wearing today.
This is Chanel Coco Blue, a beautiful baby blue that was part of the very limited edition collection Les Jeans de Chanel. Coco Blue is totally up my alley: I love light blue polishes & the name is adorable! Even one of my best friends who lives in another city came to visit me over the weekend and the first thing she told me was: "Wow! This polish is so you!".

Application was nice but not perfect in that it was somewhat thin and needed 3 coats to achieve complete opacity. The secret shimmer is barely visible, but it definitely adds a breeziness & lightness to the color of the polish. My only complaint, if any, is the color does not feel very fall to me. I know seasons shouldn't dictate what we wear, but this hardly complements any of my fall wardrobe. I think it would look a lot better in the spring or summer! But I am not worried, I can always save it for then :)
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat & Seche Vite Top Coat.
Click here for my review on Chanel Blue Boy from the same collection.

OPI Louvre Me Not

2011-10-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

I though I would do a quick post before I go back to studying ;) OPI's Louvre Me Not was part of the 2008 Collection de France and one of my favorite magenta/purple polishes. What really makes this polish special is the hot pink micro-shimmer in the polish. It really stands out when it hits the light! I used about 3 coats to get this polish to be completely opaque.
I am getting ready for mid-terms so I am extremely busy but I will try and get a few more posts up during the course of next week. Wish me luck on my exams until then!
I used Mavala Protective base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat.

My Top Nail Polish Picks for Fall

2011-10-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

Fall is by far my favorite seasons for make up collection releases. The colors are usually warm and have that cozy fell. As the leaves are turning yellow, orange and red I can not help but to feel inspired by this season. Naturally, my nail polish choices reflect this. I did not necessarily choose polishes that were released as part as fall collections, but rather I put together some of my top nail polish picks for fall based on what I like and feels right. I hope you enjoy these and feel free to let me know what polishes you like for fall!

My first pick is a taupe/brown nail polish. In my opinion these are the new reds given that they look so fresh yet classic. One of a absolute favorites is Deborah Lippmann Waking up in Vegas and OPI Over the Taupe. Both look great against cool toned skin, but I would recommend a darker brown, like OPI You Don't Know Jacques, if you are warmed toned.

Secondly, I would recommend a metallic teal shimmer polish. Teal nail polish complements rich browns, blacks and even magentas clothing that is out for fall. I love that Revlon Black with Envy (review coming soon!) and Essie Dive Bar have hints of teal. Check these out for a fun but wearable option!

Lastly I don't think fall could be complete for me without one of Chanel's knock out colors from their Illusions D'Ombres collection. If you get one nail polish this fall it is worth dishing out the extra cash for either Peridot or Graphite. Trust me, you will not regret it!

Remember that there are no set rules for fashion and you don't have to limit to certain colors because it is fall. Have fun with you nail polish choices ! I would like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian readers. I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend :)

China Glaze Strawberry Fields

2011-10-07T08:23:00.000-07:00

I took pictures of this polish during the summer and I totally forgot to do a post about it! Without further ado, this is China Glaze Strawberry Fields. The polish is a magenta pink with lots of gold shimmer woven through it. This polish is super pretty but unfortunately it is way too warmed toned for me. It clashes with my skin tone and makes my hands look blah.
Once my husband's younger cousin picked this color out for a manicure and it looked stunning against her warm toned skin. I would totally recommend it if you have a warm skin tone like her. This polish practically applies itself and is so much fun; I still wish it would have worked out for me !
I used Seche Vite Top Coat.

Chanel Blue Boy

2011-10-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

Leave it up to Chanel to come up with amazing nail polishes for the fall. The Fall collection included Peridot, Graphite & Quartz and then they released Les Jeans de Chanel in honor of Fashion's Night Out. Les Jeans are incredibly hard to find in Canada (I still don't know why chanel.com doesn't offer shipping here) but I managed to jump through some hoops and get my paws on Blue Boy & Coco Blue. You know me: I love blue nail polish, and I love Chanel so I needed these !!!

I expected Blue Boy to be a cream, but it was more like a jelly. It is very reminiscent of Essie's Lapis of Luxury texture. The first coat was streaky and squishy but it builds up by the 3rd coat. Because of the jelly texture, this polish dries to a shiny finish. The color itself is a stormy blue and I think only Chanel can make a blue polish look this chic and wearable.
I am sure this color is duepable, and I do like it, however, I am not blown away like I was with Peridot or Graphite. But then again, they would be hard to outdo! Overall, I would not suggest picking this one up (or going crazy trying to get it like me!) unless you collect Chanel polish or absolutely think you need this color.
I have high expectations for Coco Blue so stay tuned for my review on that :)
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat.
Edit- I did my review on Chanel Coco Blue, click here to see it!

OPI A Grape Fit

2011-10-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

Today is a rainy Sunday and I am taking advantage of it by catching up on some readings because we all know how difficult it is to study when it is gorgeous outside. Other than that I have swatches of a very pretty OPI polish: A Grape Fit from the 2009 Bright Pair with Paige Denim. I think the colors of this collection were inspired by actual Paige Denim jeans of that season. A Grape Fit is a mid-toned purple cream that has a certain dustiness to it. I like this, because it makes it look rich and keeps it from being a pastel. This is 3 coats, all of which applied flawlessly.
I also just found out that Over the Taupe was part of this collection too! I had no idea since I bought them separately =D. Thanks for reading and stop by again soon because I have some really exciting posts coming up (including comparisons and certain blue Chanels!).
I used Seche Vite Top Coat.

Essie Pink Parka

2011-09-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

Continuing with polishes sitting in the back of my stash, I thought I should re-swatch Essie Pink Parka. This polish has become increasingly hard to find, and I was surprised that it was going for more than a few bucks on eBay recently. I bought this polish when it was first released as part of the Essie 2009 Fall Collection. A neon pink for fall? Kinda weird... especially for Essie! Nonetheless, it is stunning. Neons are notoriously hard to photograph, but let me assure you that this polish is a LOUD neon pink. My pictures show a white cast, but it is not like that in real life.The polish also dries to a matte finish, so here is what it looks like with a top coat:
I hope you enjoyed this review! I think I need to dig in my stash some more to find other hidden treasures... hmmm I think I have a Sally Hansen polish named Hidden Treasure somewhere lol!
In the meantime, let me know what your favorite neon polishes are :)

OPI The Show Must Go On!

2011-09-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone :)
I have a really amazing polish to show you today. OPI The Show Must Go On! has been pushed to the back of my stash, and I completely forgot that I had it. While reorganizing my room, I found it again and I had put it on right away! It is no wonder that it was released as part of the 2010 Burlesque Holiday Collection because it shiny, shimmery & quite festive. Onto pics :)
I tried to get true to color pictures, but it just didn't photograph as fuchsia as it is in real life. The color is hard to describe, it is like a hot pink/fuchsia that flashes a copper orange. I think this is a foil finish, but it is a lot more shimmery than most foils I have tried. It also applies flawlessly, this is two coats. Very pretty! (P.S.: This is a good option if you missed out on MAC Bad Fairy!)
I used Seche Vite Top Coat.

Wet n Wild Black Creme

2011-09-23T13:28:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to do a quick post on Wet n Wild Black Creme. I blogged about this polish before when I layered OPI La Boheme over it, but I think it needs a post all to itself. Black creme is a very affordable black polish (we are talking $1.99 CAD here) that great for layering or even nail art. I mean, who doesn't want a great black polish? It is kind of a staple. This is two coats and you can see how pigmented and shiny it is (no top coat used).
The only drawbacks are the the long thin brush is kind of flimsy, and the polish sells like chemicals. It can also stain your nails, so make sure to use a base coat with it. Personally, given the price, I can live with that. Hope that was helpful :)
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat.

OPI Japanese Rose Garden

2011-09-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

If you read my blog regularly, you will know that I love my pinks and that I was on a little (big?) pink polish quick in the beginning of the summer. Even though summer is officially over today, I thought I could still sneak in one more pink polish :) . This is one of my favorite pinks of all time: OPI Japanese Rose Garden. I am not sure what collection this is from, but it predates 2008 since it is a black label polish. The formula is excellent and I am in love with the thinner brush OPI used to make.

What makes this pink special is the very subtle white pearl that goes through this polish. You could even call it a secret shimmer, à la Chanel. I think it is adorable!
I used Seche Vite Top Coat.

Chanel Graphite 529

2011-09-18T11:17:00.000-07:00

I have already reviewed the two other polishes from the Chanel Fall 2011 Illusions d'Ombres 2011, but it looks like I accidentally saved the best for last. In my opinion, this is the stunner of the collection: the combination of the gold, silver and pewter flecks create a one of a kind multi-dimensional polish. I love that it is not "blingy" like I thought it would be. Graphite is a universally flattering color. By that I mean I think it would look amazing on any age group and flattering on all skin tones. Also, it is chic yet edgy and looks fab with pretty much any outfit. I don't know why I waited so long to try this one on! This is two coats:

The exact color of this polish is hard to capture on camera and I would say the second picture captures the color a little bit better. I also suspect that it leans more silver/pewter on me because of my cool skin tone. Some bloggers have commented that Graphite has a green tint in some lights, but I have not noticed that on me.
I have had this polish on for 4 days now, and there are no signs of tip wear. I don't feel like ever taking this off. I love, love, love it! I might even have to pick up a back up bottle before it sells out. In the meantime, if there is one polish you buy this fall I encourage you to get this one if it is still available where you are. You can thank me later ;)
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat and Mavala Fixator Top Coat.
You can read my review of Peridot here, and my review of Quartz here.

China Glaze Midnight Mission

2011-09-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

I must be on a dark blue quick, because this is the second one I am wearing this week! This is Midnight Mission from China Glaze. I bought this polish last year as part of the Fall 2010 Vintage Vixen collection and, imagine, I haven't used it until now! This polish is a beautiful, complex dark blue with very fine micro glitter suspended in the base. It is stunning and the application is a breeze. If I recall correctly, I only used two coats here.
Dark blues are flattering on pretty much everyone & this one has a little something extra with the micro glitter. I suggest you check it out!!
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat.

OPI Ink Suede + Top Coat

2011-09-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to do quick update of OPI Ink Suede. In my previous post I decided to wear this polish on it's own. Unfortunately, I found that it chipped like crazy. I mean, I could almost scratch the polish off of my nails! I wanted to try it out with a top coat, not only to see if it chipped less, but also to see how it changed the finish. I added 2 coats of Seche Vite. A shiny top coat helps to bring out the color and shimmer of the polish. It makes it look like a cross between a foil & a shimmer with a lot of texture on top of all of that. I wore it for about 2 days, and it still chipped though. If you have any suggestions about how to get longer wear out of OPI Suedes let me know :)

OPI Ink Suede

2011-09-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody :)
Today I have swatches of OPI Ink Suede. This polish was first released as part of the Fall 2009 Suede collection which featured suede versions of popular OPI colors (such as Russian Navy & You Don't Know Jacques). Ink is the only one I bought from this collection; the shimmery "burple" color really drew me in for some reason :)

The suede polishes are quite thick & dry almost instantly so it is essential to apply them quickly with a light hand. Two coats is plenty with this one. Actually, the second coat is mostly to fill up bald spots. I am not sure that I am crazy about this finish- and it does not help that this polish tends to chip on me within hours. I like it better than matte polishes though. I might have to try it with a top coat!

First Attempt at a Half Moon Mani using Revlon Vixen

2011-09-06T05:37:00.000-07:00

I love the vintage look of half moon manicures (Dita Von Teese sports them all the time!) so I try doing one. After all, I had a little extra time during the long weekend so I thought it would be fun.
Here is how I did it:
1-I want my nails to be extra smooth and shiny so I started off with Gelous as a base coat, waited for it to dry and then stuck on Sally Hansen French Manicure Guides to help create the lines.
2- I went in with Revlon Vixen, which is supposed to be a Chanel Rouge Noir/original Vamp dupe, and painted 3 coats on top of the strips.
3- I removed the strips when the polish was somewhat dry. Make sure to do this, because if you remove the strips when the polish is completely dry, you risk taking some of the polish off with it.
4- After Vixen was dry, I added Mavala in Natural on top of everything. This polish is glossy pink, but it did not show up on the nail as much I wanted. I was expecting a pink tint to show up on the bare part of the nail.

I think next time I will try creating rounder & cleaner edges. I just wanted to show you my first attempt, I think with practice & patience I can make it look even better... or even perfect! Oh, and before you ask, yes, eventually I will do a Chanel Rouge Noir and Revlon Vixen comparison ;)

OPI La Boheme over Wet n Wild Black Creme

2011-09-04T15:53:00.000-07:00

Hello all :)
I have heard from many others that duochromes pop when you layer them over black. La Boheme is no exception to this. I layered 2 coats of it over Wet n Wild Black Creme, and honestly, I did not expect it to look this amazing. I have no words, it is a stunning polish when layered. Just wow, wow, wow! Finally I understand why fanatics go ga-ga for La Boheme. I had a hard time choosing which pics to use since they all turned out to be spectacular!!

Here is a side by side pic of La Boheme layered and on it's own ( if you like, click on it to make it bigger)

The polish is super shimmery and changes color depending on the lighting. Sometimes it leans towards a plum color, then burgundy and then changes to a dark red. And then we have the amazing amber shimmer added to this mix!! Stunning. I am grading it an A+
You can see my review of La Boheme on it's own here. I used Mavala Protective Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat.

OPI Over the Taupe

2011-08-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone :)
I started school this week, so if my posts drop down to - oh let's say- once a week, it is because I am stuck in the library studying. My profs already flooded with readings, so bare with me! Fun, fun. Back to school disclaimer aside, today I have OPIs Over the Taupe to show you. As you may recall, I tried the ever so popular You Don't Know Jacques and found to be a little too dark for my skin tone. I decided I needed to find a more flattering shade of brown for my skin tone, and I did with Over The Taupe.
What I like is that this polish has a pretty lavender undertone to it whereas You don't know Jacques had really charcoal undertones to it. The other day I was wearing a lilac color shirt and it really pulled out the purple of the polish! However, I found the consistency thin; I needed about 4 coats to get it this opaque... which is a bummer. Even though Over the Taupe is a very nice polish but I am not head over heals with it- especially because of the application issues. I think I may continue searching for other polishes in the brown color family. What are some of your favorite brown/taupe colors? Le me know!
I used Mavala Colorfix Top Coat and Mavala Protective Base Coat

OPI La Boheme

2011-08-27T18:01:00.000-07:00

You read that right. I got my paws on La Boheme. La Boheme from the 2003 Holiday Collection. La Boheme, the very hard to find polish that sells for ridiculous prices on eBay. Eat your eyes out, she is mine.The duochromeness (is that a word? lol) is not as present on the nail as it is in the bottle, but it is still a gorgeous, multi-faceted red/amber shade. I think it would look just amazing on someone with a warm skin tone.

I heard this polish comes alive layered over black, so I will try that next! I am just ecstatic to have found a bottle of this; it is amazing addition to my nail polish collection :)
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat & Mavala Colorfix Top Coat.

Essie Pretty Edgy

2011-08-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

I just realized I have not worn any great green polishes in the longest time. Yes, I have OPIs Jade is the New black, and I love it, but it is not bright enough. After all it is summer (still!) and I wanted something with a little more bang. Pretty Edgy undeniably does this. The color is a true green that reminds me of vivid tropical plant leaves. The formula is a cross between a cream and a jelly. It levels out very nicely, and its completely opaque in 2 coats. Moreover, the color is very wearable and does not look childish at all.
It dries to an extremely shiny finish, so shiny that I seriously debated whether or not I needed a coat of Seche Vite... I decided to do without ! Look no further if you are in the market for a true green =)

OPI Parlez-Vous OPI?

2011-08-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Wedneday dear reader!
I have decided to swatch Parlez-Vous OPI? today since I just heard that this polish is going to be discontinued (if it hasn't already). Parlez-Vous OPI? has been a favorite since it's original release in Fall 2008, as part of the Collection de France. (Side note: you may recall that this collection also included the very popular You don't know Jacques, another winner!). This is not your typical lilac color; it is very smokey and grayed out. The smokiness keeps the color from being too girly or pastel and gives it a nice chic edge that is still work appropriate.

The applies somewhat streaky at first, but after the second coat everything evens out. I used 3 coats for good measure. Well, now that you have been warned, pick this polish up before it is gone forever!
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat & Seche Vite Top Coat.

Deborah Lippmann Glitter in the Air

2011-08-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday!
I am really excited to show you my NOTD: Deborah Lippmann Glitter in the Air. I knew that I would love this polish when I first purchased it, but I did not think I would love it this much. This soft pale blue with sparse blue & pink glitter has a very dainty fairy-esque quality to it. It reminds me a lot of the breeziness of Chanel Riva, another one of my faves. You need a lot of coats to make it as opaque as I did, or you could always layer it over another baby blue or nude polish.
Lippmann's inspiration for this polish was Pink's amazing performance of Glitter in the Air at the 2010 Grammys. In one word: Wow! For the performance AND the polish ;)
I used Seche Vite Top Coat.

Chanel Quartz 525 (And Chiki News!)

2011-08-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

TGIF :)
I have Chanel Quartz swatches to show you. This polish was released with the 2011 Fall Collection, Illusions d'Ombres, but it will become part of the permanent line. Quartz, named after the smokey quartz stone, is a soft champagne taupe color. It is really flattering on cool skin tones (like mine!) and is a nice option if you are looking for a chic neutral. The application reminded me a lot of Black Pearl 's: three coats is needed to maximize opacity due to the thin consistency but the color applies flawlessly.What I really like about this polish is the hidden multi-colored shimmer that comes out when the light hits it. Can you spot the pink & blue bits :) ?
In my opinion, Quartz is not a must-have, but it still very pretty. I can't think of a dupe right now but I am sure similar polishes can be found. In other news, Chiki got a modeling gig! She is in the September 2011 of Magazine Animal, a french publication here in Quebec, so if you get the chance check out the mag so you can see her strutting her stuff =)
See you next post :)
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat & Mavala Colorfix Top Coat.

China Glaze Heli-Yum

2011-08-17T12:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday!
I decided I should pull out some of my favorite polishes from summers past before summer is over. This is China Glaze Heli-Yum from the Spring 2010 Up & Away collection. I absolutely love the application of this polish. It is super pigmented and some might even be able to get away with one coat. I decided to put two for good measure. As you can tell, this is a yummy raspberry-red color that is flattering on pretty much all skin tones.
This reminds me that I also love Flyin' High from the collection, I might need to fish that one out of my stash to re-swatch as well!
I used Seche Vite Top Coat.

Deborah Lippmann Waking Up in Vegas

2011-08-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone!
I am really excited to show you my first Deborah Lippmann nail polish. You might remember that Lady Gaga sported this polish on a Vanity Fair cover last year. The polish looked absolutely divine on her! I have been resisting splurging on this polish, but it came to a point where I had to end this long time lemming. Waking up in Vegas is an edgy/chic color that is half way between a beige and a gray. Some like to call this a "greige". What I love about these kind of colors is that they look fab on all skin tones & can be pulled off during any time of the year.

The color is stunning, but I think you can find many similar polishes (Essie Chinchilly and OPI Skull & Glossbones come to mind). What really has me sold is the flawless, almost one coat, application. At the moment, I can't even think of another polish that applies as quickly & easily as this one! It also dries quickly to a matte/satin finish so a top coat is needed to provide that glossy finish. If you don't mind the price tag, I would totally recommend this. I have a feeling I will be reaching for this one a lot :)
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat & Mavala Colorfix Top Coat.

Chanel Péridot

2011-08-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

Hello dear reader :)
Yesterday my Chanel counter called me to let me know that they had just received the new Fall 2011 Illusions d'Ombres collection and I got first dibs! They hadn't even put out the testers yet, but I think they owed this to me because they completely forgot to call me when the summer collection was released. I made sure to wake up bright and early this morning so I could take nice pictures of Peridot before heading off to work.

In direct sunlight (a true chameleon!)

To be honest, I was scared that this color would clash with my cool skin tone but I am pleasantly surprised. I can pull this one off! The polish applied perfectly in 2 coats and the color is fantastic. But I do not have to tell you that, the pictures speak for themselves! I will be reviewing the rest of the collection, so stop by again soon!

In the meantime: Run, do not walk, to your closest Chanel counter before this baby is gone =)
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat & Mavala Fixator Top Coat.

Joe Fresh Cement

2011-08-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday :)
Summer is coming to an end, and the weather has been icky lately. In a weird way it inspired me to use Joe Fresh Cement instead of a bright color. This is a watery light gray polish with blue undertones which is so appropriate for the rain that we have been getting! The formula is very thin, so it takes about 5 coats to be opaque. However, the polish levels itself out and it dries quite quickly making it easy to build up opacity. Onto swatches:
Joe Fresh is a great Canadian brand and you really get bang for your buck with their polishes. I never tried their make up, but let me know if you like it or not :)

Sally Hansen White On + Fuschia Shock (Crackle!)

2011-08-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

Hello!
As you can see I have caved and bought a crackle polish. I must admit that at first I resisted this trend. I even had a bottle of Barry M Crackle polish and swapped it away because I disliked it. This all changed when I saw the new Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat display and knew that I needed the hot pink one. After all, that little bottle was starring at me ! At first, I tried this over a black polish and the pink did not show up well at all. I decided to try again over white (Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in White Out) and this makes the shocking pink really stand out.
Fuschia Shock crackled very well, however I have a bone to pick with Miss Sally Hansen. Why did she decide to include tiny, flimsy brushes with the crackle polish?? This makes it impossible to cover the nail in one stroke, which can mess up the entire crackle effect. Regardless, I am planing on having more fun with crackle polish (just not with Sally Hansen), so let me know what some of your favorite combos are :)
I used Seche Vite Top Coat.

Essie Dive Bar (and Chiki!)

2011-08-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

Hello dear reader :) I had been lemming Essie Dive Bar, an exclusive US release, since I first saw swatches online. I managed to get a bottle, but I put it away with the rest of my stash totally forgetting about it... that is until I Eugenia's swatches on ommorphiabeautybar.com which reminded me to get this baby on my nails ASAP! Let me tell you that it did not disappoint.

Although the iridescent purple shimmer that appears in the bottle does not show up on the nail, the color of Dive Bar is still a complex dark peacock shade. It is *almost* black but has such an intense blue and green shimmer that the slightest hint of light makes the shimmer come alive. This is probably one of the shiniest polish I have worn in a while :)
I decided to add this picture of Chiki I took it last week when the hubby am I were on a mini vacation in Ontario's Algonquin Park. Chiki was so happy to get out of the city and run free in the wilderness, she even went swimming in the lakes there! She is still recovering from all that running around!
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat and Sèche Vite Top Coat.

Chanel Nouvelle Vague: Can it be duped?

2011-08-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday readers!
I have been promising to put up a Chanel Nouvelle Vague comparison but I have been picky about the pictures I took, so it me a while to get this post up. This is this best I could do, but I am not 100% satisfied. Nevertheless, let's move on to the comparison. I decided to compare Nouvelle Vague to Diamond Cosmestics Oh Tiff!, China Glaze For Audrey, Essie Turquoise & Caicos and Nicole by OPI My Lifesaver (that was a mouthful!). Each of these have been reviewed separately so feel free to click on them to see the individual reviews.Nouvelle Vague is on the thumb. As you can tell, T&C and My Lifesaver have more of a green base. Also T&C is more of a jelly finish whereas ML is a pure cream. Oh Tiff! has the shimmer that Nouvelle Vague has, but it is still a few shades lighter. It gets trickier when we compare Nouvelle Vague to For Audrey.
I decided to compare Nouvelle Vague to For Audrey head on. The differences are subtle, but they are there. For Audrey is somewhat dustier and flatter than Nouvelle Vague, and I think this is due to the lack of shimmer. Nouvelle Vague also appears to be a tiny bit lighter than For Audrey.

The sun captures Nouvelle Vague's shimmer.

I know I sound like I am splitting hairs, but the subtle shimmer of Nouvelle Vague makes all the difference in the world by bringing a beautiful nail polish to a level of perfection. It is very "me" and, oddly enough, every time I wear Nouvelle Vague people compliment me on the color. This does not happen with For Audrey. And it is not like I run around showing everybody my nail polish... Well, not to strangers anyways! I have many Tiffany blue & turquoises in my stash since I can not resist them, but none have taken the place of Chanel Nouvelle Vague. However, if you missed out on Nouvelle Vague last summer, For Audrey is a definite contender and, by all means, pick it up as I am sure you will admire the beautiful blue on your nails.
I hope this was helpful and I hope that you enjoyed the comparison :)
I used Sèche Vite Top Coat.

Chanel Nouvelle Vague

2011-07-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday!
Thursday was my birthday so I decided to wear my favorite nail polish: Chanel Nouvelle Vague. I have been obsessed with turquoise and light blue from a very young age and this polish captures my favorite color perfectly. I love the light breezy feel of it and the slight shimmer that keeps it from being flat. My hubby purchased this nail polish along with other Chanel items for my birthday last year when we were in the Mexico City airport which makes it even more special! I use this polish sparingly because I love it so much and know that my chances of getting another bottle are slim. Nouvelle Vague applies somewhat streaky, but levels itself out after 3 coats.

This picture shows of the shimmer:

Now I know many dupes have been called out, including China Glaze's For Audrey (which I reviewed below), but I have not been able to find a 100% dupe. My next post will be dedicated to all potential Nouvelle Vague dupes so stay tuned ;)

I used Mavala Protective Base Coat and Mavala Colorfix Top Coat.

China Glaze For Audrey

2011-07-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

Why hello again :)
Yes, this is my second post for today. Even thought I reviewed Jojoba Oil below, I still feel the need to post some polish swatches. After all, nail polish is so addicting :D . Today I have China Glaze's infamous For Audrey. This is a Tiffany blue inspired color that has become a staple among all nail fanatics. In fact, I don't think you can call yourself a nail fanatic unless you own this. This is two coats and applied perfectly, even though I have old beat up bottle.

I can not say that For Audrey is my favorite nail polish, I don't even think it would make my top 10. However, it does live up to the hype and stands in a class of it's own.
I used Sèche Vite Top Coat.

My Favorite Cuticle Oil

2011-07-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday readers!
I just wanted to do a quick post about my favorite cuticle oil. As I mentioned before, my cuticles have become extremely hard and dry since the summer started. Swimming in heavily chlorinated pools, biking and the heat wave have all contributed to this. I have tried everything from conventional cuticle removers, to hand creams and even Lush's Lemony Flutter... all to no avail. The only thing that did work is this little miracle in a bottle called Jojoba Oil!As soon as I apply it I can feel a difference in my cuticles; they become well moisturized and easy to push back. This oil does not have the most pleasant smell, but I can live with it. From what I read it is replicates the natural sebum that is found in our skin. I am weary of what I read online, so I don't know if this is true or not. I will say that I have tried this on my hair (just on the dry ends) and cuticles and it worked wonders. There are many other uses for it, including an acne treatment, makeup remover and body moisturizer. I would strongly suggest looking into it to see if it may work for you :)

I purchased this product for around $16CND at a health food store.

OPI Sonic Bloom (Black Label!)

2011-07-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday!

Today I have Sonic Bloom from OPI to show you. I am not sure what collection this polish is from, but it has a black label under the bottle meaning that it predates 2008. It is a light turquoise aqua (duochrome?) color that is extremely sheer. I lost count at the fourth coat, so let’s just say that it takes a hellalotta coats to get it to be opaque. Despite this, the formula is amazing; it flows on the nails with ease and dries quickly. Sigh, I wish I could say the same about green label OPIs…

This is the type of color that makes me happy when I look at my nails and it's so fun for the summer. If you ever spot in stores, I really recommend snatching it because it might be your only chance!

Sally Hansen No Hard Feelings & On the Rocks

2011-07-19T16:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday everyone :)
I am really excited because the hubby bought a new camera and I couldn't wait to use it! He keeps telling me to be careful with it because I am the most clumsy person ever (I have been known to break 3-4 coffee pots a year) but I think I can manage! Today I am wearing No hard Feelings and On the Rocks from the Sally Hansen Hard as Nails line (pics taken with the new camara yay!). As you can tell, they revamped the bottles which is nice. Sadly, the brushes are uneven and kind of stiff, they have a strong chemical smell & the polish is watery.

This is No Hard Feelings on it's ownI layered On the Rocks on top to add some fun shimmer.

These polishes are not without their flaws, but the price is right and the color payoff is good. I am still looking forward to trying On the Rocks on top of a darker purple or a navy blue. Have you tried any polishes from this line? Thoughts?
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat & Seche Vite Top Coat.

Milani Totally Cool (Revisited)

2011-07-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday :)
The weather is so hot around here, but I make the best of it by swimming in my friend's pool. Isn't that what friends are for? Lol! I featured this polish last year, but I decided I wanted to swatch it again. Totally Cool is a purple jelly with small flakies in it. I does take a good 4 coats to built opacity, but the result is worth it. Is it just me, or is this polish channeling Clarins 230? Hey, I am not complaining!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)
I used Seche Vite top coat.

Essie Perky Purple

2011-07-13T16:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday!
I am still trying to stay away from pinks, and the best I could do was to pick out this festive neon purple to show all of you. This is Essie Perky Purple from the Summer 2009 Collection. I think this is the type of color that would be flattering on any skin tone and really cute for pedis. I strongly suggest applying a thick layer of a top coat on top because it dries to a lumpy, matte finish. Per usual with neons, the pictures do not capture the brightness of this color!
Love it for the summer, but this chipped within a couple hours of wear! I might do a post on my favorite make-up products. Would any of you be interested?
I used Seche Vite top coat.

Essie Watermelon

2011-07-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!
I love love love pinks but this one doesn't do anything for me! Watermelon was my first Essie and I sold on the application but not the color. I always go back to it hoping it would pop more but for some reason it just doesn't cut it. It is a very simple raspberry creme pink (or should I say watermelon?) that sits quite well with my complexion, but it's a little boring for my taste.
I must apologize for my cuticles. I am very active during the summer (I do lots of biking, hiking & swimming) and I think I can blame the chlorine of the pool for drying out my cuticles! I think I will soak my nails in warm water and olive oil tonight (a good tip for all you ladies!).
I used Seche Vite Top Coat.

China Glaze Trophy Wife

2011-07-08T15:29:00.000-07:00

TGIF dear reader :)
I am so happy that the weather is so nice around here. For once it is not too hot; perfect for trotting around the city in my bike & taking Chiki for nice long walks. Right now, I am eating this peanut butter & chocolate ice cream and all I can say is YUM! Yay for summer!
Today I decided to swatch a light salmon color with lots of shimmer. This is China Glaze Trophy Wife. I am having trouble finding which collection this is from, but it applied well and dried quickly. The color washes me out a little, so I would recommend this one for all the warmed toned girls out there.
Looks like I have graduated from pink to salmon colors this week. Haha, oh well... ;)
I used Seche Vite Top Coat.

OPI Mod about You & Mavala Pure Diamond

2011-07-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

So much for pink Wednesdays, it has unofficially become pink week for me! This is OPI's Mod About You. It is part of the permanent Brights line. This is a very pretty color, however I have to say that it is a witch (with a "b") to apply. It was a pure streaky, uneven mess which is unusual for OPI. After lots of patience, I still managed a decent application, however I would not recommend this polish unless you are head over heels with the color.I added Mavala Pure Diamond as an accent nail. I rarely go for glitter polishes, but this little holographic beauty caught my eye. I couldn't resist!
Let's see if I can break my little pink polish obsession by my next post ;)
I used Seche Vite Top Coat.

Mavala Miami

2011-07-04T03:05:00.000-07:00

Another day... another pink polish! I just love how girly and flattering the color. Today I choose Mavala Miami. Mavala is Swiss brand that needs more recognition among us nail fanatics. I think availability and lack of original colors may be to blame. They make quality nail treatments and their Fixator Top Coat beats any I have tried yet; it comes highly recommended. I have noticed that most of Mavala's polishes are named after cities, such as Beirut, La Paz & Paris, which is always fun. Miami is a cool toned pink with a secret purple shimmer that is more apparent in the bottle. It glided on like butter- really really nice formula and dried fairly quickly.The color reminds me of Nars' Angelika Blush, which I have become obsessed with.
If you can get your hands on some Mavala polishes I say go for it! Have you tried any Mavala products?
I used Mavala Protective Base Coat and Fixator Top Coat.

Revlon Tulip

2011-07-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday readers!
I love pink cremes so I choose to use Revlon Tulip as my mani for today. This polish was part of the 3 piece mini Revlon set that I featured about 2 posts below (scroll down to see swatches of Moss). It applied effortlessly and needed 2 coats for complete opacity. The brushes on the mini Revlons could be a little bit better as they are extremely soft and somewhat hard to control. Other than that; no complaints!
I love fun pinks; especially in the summer. I really think that they are cute, fun & classically girly. I would like to wish a Happy Canada Day to all of my Canadian friends ;) !! Are any of you following Kate & William's Royal Tour? I am in totally in love with Kate's style & I love the fact that she choose to wear Canadian designers during the tour !

Chanel Mimosa

2011-06-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Sorry about the hiatus. Last Tuesday I had my final exam and I was looking forward to posting & finally getting some quality "me-time"... but then I got the flu. Just my luck! Let me tell you that having a fever of 102F is not the way I planned to kick off my summer vacation. I needed a few days (and medication) to get over my sickness. Well I survived and I am back in full force :)

Since seeing so many gorgeous swatches of the Chanel Fall 2011 polishes, I decided that it was time to test out Mimosa before summer passes me by. It has been sitting on my computer desk all this time & it's so pretty! I just want to keep looking at it. Here are a couple of swatches I did today:

As you can tell, Mimosa is a nice buttery yellow, true to color of the Mimosa shrub. I know many have complained about the application, however I found that it goes on quite creamy and levels out quickly. I think it is essential to apply it with a light hand, and let the layers dries before applying subsequent coats. It also dries to a nice hard, shiny finish. For reference, I am not wearing a top coat in the pictures.
All in all, I think this a fun color for the summer :)

Revlon Moss (Mini!)

2011-06-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday readers :)
Today I have Revlon Moss to show you. It's a mini ! I don't know why everything teeny tiny has to be so cute. It gets me every time! Seriously, make a mini of anything and I am sold. This polish is part of a 3 piece set which also included Butterfly, a hot orange, and Tulip, a magenta. I will most likely review the last two in other posts.
Onto Moss. I was expecting this to be a grayed-out taupe, more similar to Essie Playa del Platinum, however upon application a strong green tone became apparent. I am not complaining- I actually love this murky green!

You can tell from pics how much greener the polish is on the nails then in the bottle. The formula was good, as it is with most Relvon polishes, however the brush in the minis is quite long and too soft which made application a little difficult.

The Trio:
Moss, Tulip & Butterfly

And Chiki (hey she's a mini too!) guarding the polishes:

That's right, Chiki makes an awesome guard-dog to scare off all nail polish fanatics from my stash (consider yourself warned =D !!). What are your favorite mini sets?

Essie Lapis of Luxury

2011-06-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

What better way to make use of one's large stash then to go shopping in it? This is what I did when I dug out one of my little treasures: Essie's Lapis of Luxury from the 2010 Resort Collection. This polish is a beautiful muted jelly blue that is soft, sea-like & oh-so wearable. You need a good 3 to 4 coats to even out the streaky jelly color, but it levels out nicely and dries quickly.
I think this polish is must-have for all nail fanatics, as is the entire Essie 2010 Resort Collection (which is one of my faves!). Check it out if you haven't already!

I used Mavala Protective Base Coat and Gelous as a Top Coat.

OPI Purple-Opolis (Black Label!)

2011-06-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody!

Have no fear- I am still alive & well... although I may feel better once this summer class is over! Today I have an older OPI polish to show you; this is Purple-Opolis from the 2004 Greek Isles collection. Purple-Opolis glides on like butter and dries very quickly. This polish took about 3 coats to be opaque, however it applied with such ease that I don't mind at all.
In case you don't know, OPI polishes with black labels are not big 3 free. The newer bottles have green lettering under the bottle. However, I must say that it is hard to beat the black label formula! Also, there are still few bottles floating around eBay for decent prices ;)
Do you own any Black Label OPIs? If so, which ones? Let me know; I would love to hear about them!

Be right back...

2011-05-24T13:28:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts everyone! I am taking this really intense summer class and I haven't gotten around to much swatching lately. I promise to post more stuff soon ;)

Meanwhile, here is Chiki enjoying some lilac petals on the grass ;)

Essie Lollipop

2011-05-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday readers!

I felt like I needed to put my pastels and light colors aside for a little while, so I pulled out Essie Lollipop. This has been in my stash for quite a while now, and I have not used it yet. It has been raining around here, so what better way to lighten up a rainy day then with a bright red jelly polish? This is 2 coats and it went on flawlessly.

I filed my nails down because I think a hot color looks better on nubbins. Cute, right?

I used Rimmel Strenghtening Base Coat and Posche Top Coat.

Chanel Morning Rose

2011-05-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

Hi! I hope everybody is enjoying their Saturday ;)
I have Chanel Morning Rose to show all of you. I thought that I would love this polish, but unfortunately it does not suit my skin tone at all. It is a very warm toned pink that is in the same vein as China Glaze Strawberry Fields and these kinds of pink tend to age my hands. I know others have been saying that the application is a dream, however mine went on thick and uneven, so much so that I had to thin it the first time I used it! For reference this is the first Chanel polish that I have been disappointed in... I guess they can't all be winners! If you have a warm skin tone, I suggest you check it out, but if you Nw20 like me, it gets a pass.

Natural Light

Artificial Light

Oh and for some reason all the comments got deleted on my last post... does anyone know how this could of happened ? O.0

Essie Lilacsim

2011-05-11T16:04:00.000-07:00

I just realized it has been a week since I posted.... oupsy!!! My friends and I decided to celebrate the end of the semester by going clubbing. I had to recover from one of *those* weekends... you know the type where you can't remember exactly what happened but you know it was super fun? And the next day you go out for a big greasy breakfast and see some people from the club ? And don't know whether or not to feel embarassed? OK, well maybe that's just me hihi =D !! Onto nail polish!

I have Essie Lilacism from the 2010 Art of Spring collection to show you today. This is probably my favorite lilac color after Nars Pokerface. It goes on streaky but it levels out beautifully after 2-3 coats. I love that it has a slight gray tint that keeps it from looking too girly. I have to say, I tried wearing this one during the winter but it totally washed me out. I need a little bit of a tan to pull this one off !! What are some of you favorite pastels for spring?

I used Rimmel Strengthening base coat and Posche Top Coat.

Diamond Cosmetics Oh Tiff!

2011-05-04T16:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday everyone =)

I know this might shock some, but, unlike other nail polish fanatics, I have an all time favorite nail polish. It is Chanel Nouvelle Vague and I use it sparingly because I know I can't purchase a back up for a reasonable price. So when I heard that Oh Tiff! from Diamond Cosmetics was a dupe I had to order it. It looked very promising, but I can clearly say that is not an exact dupe.
Oh Tiff! is light blue and has a pearly sheen to it, whereas Nouvelle Vague has more green and shimmer (I might do a comparison post later on). However, Oh Tiff! is still very pretty and a nice alternative if you want that oulala Tiffany Blue look. It does go on a little streaky, but it levels out well after the second coat.I might have taken a little bit away from Diamond Cosmetics by comparing one of their polished to Chanel's, but I have to say I am very impressed with this company. They have a formula that rivals high end brands but at a low price point. My only regret is that I did not order more from them !

Sally Hansen Nail Prisms Purple Diamond

2011-05-01T16:31:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody!

I have some good news: the day after I was shoot down from the job I wanted, a law firm called to let me know that they wanted to interview me!! I went in this morning and I think it went pretty well. And, yes, the lawyers were working on a Sunday....which, unfortunately for me, is probably something to look forward to... but that's life. The internship doesn't start until the end of August, so I won't be hearing back for while. Mostly, I am happy because I realized that there are many opportunities for me out there and not just one ;)

Onto polish.

Today I have Sally Hansen's Purple Diamond from their Prisms line. I believe that collection was launched in the early 2000s but don't quote me on that one. They are becoming increasingly hard to find; I was lucky enough to receive this as an extra in a swap from one very generous girl =) It is a holographic polish, but it's very soft and wearable. All in all, I love it! I ask once again: Why can't they make more polishes like this?

Also, I am still waiting on the Chanel "Les Fleurs d'Été" collection to be released here in Canada... this excruciating wait is making me leem Mimosa and Morning Rose even more!!

I used Poshe Top Coat.

Sally Hansen Commander in Chic

2011-04-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Unfortunately I am having a bad day. I had a really good summer job opportunity in the legal field that was I sooo stocked about, and I just go the news that I did not get the job (*sobs*). I know that there will be many other opportunities that will come my way, but I really felt like I was a such good fit for this and that I could learn/grow/flourish from it. You know when you really see yourself somewhere, but it's like somehow something is stopping you from getting there? Well, maybe that's just me, but that is how I feel right now.

Anyways, life's little pleasure include nail polish, so I put on Sally Hansen's Commander in Chic to lighten up my day a little bit. This is the second polish that I have from the Complete Salon Manicure line and I love it. If you missed my review on Gray by Gray, you can read it here to see how much I rave about it. Commander in Chic has the same consistency and finish, which is good, because we all like consistently good nail polish right ?!? :P
I would also like to note that it dries darker than it looks in the bottle. Or wait... maybe it's the large glass bottle that is making the polish look lighter? Hmmm... thoughts?

Easter Mani

2011-04-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!!

To celebrate I decided to tap into my artistic side and try some nail art. I used Lapiz of Luxury, Mint Candy Apple, Lilacism, Pink Parka (all from Essie) and made the dots with Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear White on.

Funny, for once my hubby loved my nails! Maybe I should do nail art more often? Hmmmm

I am holding a plastic egg btw :)
Also, Chiki wants to wish you all Happy Easter!

Diamond Cosmetics Don't Teal my Heart Away

2011-04-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

Hello! I am back and I survived finals... I think. I am still recuperating from all this madness. It is funny how many think I dropped off the face of the earth, but I was in the library. I actually made friends with the other people who spend all their time there. We think we are so cool, like "Hey what are you studying? Administration? Sweet!" and "Woahh nice book dude! You only have 200 pages left to read? That's not bad at all". How nerdy is that? Lol!

(Note: I plan on getting my life back during the summer... so don't worry about me!)

Anywho, today I have a polish from Diamond Cosmetics. I recently received my first order from them and I am impressed. They are very well priced and the quality is very good. This is Don't teal my Heart Away. It has a very creamy and smooth formula, and it's completely opaque in two coats.

Hmmm, I just realize my last couple of posts have been about Blue/Turquoise polishes... I hope no one minds!

Thanks for reading ;)

I used Gelous Base Coat and Mavala Fixator Top Coat.

Sally Hansen Gray by Gray

2011-04-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready for finals, and I am extremely busy, so forgive me if my posts become increasingly sporadic... but then I have summer to look forward to =)
Today I am sporting Sally Hansen Gray by Gray. I have to admit, I was afraid to try anything from the Complete Salon Manicure line because wide brushes and I do not get along very well (Yeah, I'm looking at you Opi wide Brush...).
However, I LOVE this brush! It is rounded and not too thick, so it picks up just the right amount of polish and follows the cuticle line nicely.

As you can see, Gray by Gray is a grayed out dusty blue-ish color. It dries darker than the color in the bottle. Ok that was a bad description, but it is hard to explain... it is unlike anything I have. I think MAC's India Blue might be in the same tones, but I cannot say for sure since I do not own it. Also, the formula is fab. Nice and creamy. I would say it even rivals high end brands! Good job on this one Sally Hansen; two *polished* thumbs up =)

Have you tried anything from the Complete Salon Manicure line?

I used Gelous Base Coat and Mavala Fixator Top Coat.

Chanel Riva Comparison

2011-04-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

First comes the hype, then the hunt to acquire the product, and finally, the search for the perfect dupe.
Just like many other Chanel nail polishes, Riva is no exception to this. I decided swatch Hard Candy Sky, OPI What's with the Cattitude? and Chanel Nouvelle Vague next to Riva.

Here are the results:

Sky is chalkier and has a lot of white mixed into it; it is very much a pastel color. The weird thing with Sky and Riva is that, up close, they almost look identical. But when I hold my hand further away Sky looks a lot brighter whereas Riva is dustier and more faded. It is something you have to see in person to understand.

What's with the Cattitude? is a pure, light blue cream, which is pretty, but far from a dupe. Obviously, Nouvelle Vague is not a dupe but it gives an idea of the color range.

One last look:

So are any of these a perfect dupe to Riva? The answer (sadly for many) is no. In my opinion, Riva is murkier and subdued compared to the rest, giving it an overall a more sophisticated and wearable look. However, I love Sky and it is a nice alternative if you missed out on Riva.

I would also like to note that I did not re-swatch my middle finger for the pictures. This gives you an idea of how well Riva holds up: this is 6 days of wear and I did not experience any chips or tip wear until this morning!

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this comparison =)

OPI Miami Beet

2011-03-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Today I have OPI Miami Beet. This is a polish from the 2009 South Beach Collection and it is one of my favorite berry colors. Seriously. I am actually through about 2/3 of the bottle and that is a lot for me!

The color switches from a darker berry color to more of a pink in the light. I could only capture it in the light; so it can look darker than this.

Miami Beet has a wonderful creamy formula and is opaque in 2 coats. Actually, I can't remember the last time I used an OPI polish and liked the formula so much!

I used Gelous Base Coat and Mavala Fixator Top Coat.

Chanel Riva

2011-03-24T18:50:00.001-07:00

Well, well, well look what we have here: Chanel Riva! I knew that I needed to have this color, even after reading numerous bad reviews, because I adore baby blue and I love Chanel. I cannot think of another polish quite like this one; many dupes have been called out (like Sephora by OPI Havana Dreams and Hard Candy Sky) but I don't agree.

Riva is extremely hard to capture on camera, it is light and breezy and creamy/milky (for lack of a better word...). Unlike it's counterparts, it is not chalky looking and does not have white undertones. Just a very pure, dusty, baby blue.

As far as application goes, I did not experience any bubbling but the first few coats were somewhat streaky. The formula is creamy and you need to build up the color.

I love this color, and it is a nice addition to my collection, but I understand how many can not justify the sudden price inflation. But it's Chanel, so no matter what crazy chikas like me will always buy !

I don't know is everyone is sick of seeing comparisons, but let me know if you are interested and I can work on that ;)

Thanks for reading!

I used Essie First Base Coat (No Top Coat).

OPI Merry Midnight

2011-03-21T16:41:00.001-07:00

Happy Monday everyone =D

Today I have swatches of one of my favorite OPI nail polishes: Merry Midnight. This beauty is from the 2009 Holiday Collection and has become increasingly hard to find. Good thing I found a bottle in time because it's stunning!

As you can tell from the pics, this polish is a jelly purple with different pink, blue (love!) and purple glitter and flakies in it. I like that the glitter is in the same color family as the base because the subtle contrast makes it a lot easier to wear.

My only question is: why doesn't OPI make more falky polishes... and maybe less reds 0.o ?

Revlon Blue Lagoon

2011-03-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

Baby blue is my favorite color so you can understand my excitement when I spotted Revlon's Blue Lagoon. It was displayed alongside Sunshine Sparkles (a light yellow) and Tangerine (which is orange). I will assume that they are part of Revlon's Spring Collection...

Onto swatches:

Natural Light

Artificial Light

As you can tell, Blue Lagoon has a edge over other light blue polishes since it has little silver flecks. I love it! I thinking of picking up Sunshine Sparkles as well, so stay tuned ;)

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

I used Gelous Base Coat and Poshe Top Coat.

OPI You Don't Know Jacques

2011-03-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

This is the super popular You don’t know Jacques from OPI’s 2008 Collection de France. I like this color, but I think warmer shades of brown are more flattering on me (note to self: buy Over the Taupe). Nice application though.

The name of this polish makes me laugh because Jacques was the name of my first sort-of boyfriend. I was 14 at the time, and he was 16. I told him I was 15 so he wouldn’t think I was too young. And we never actually went out on dates; we just talked on the phone all. Those were the days!

He actually added me on Facebook a few months ago... I guess to show me what I am *not* missing out on =D.

I used CND Stickey Base Coat and Mavala Fixator Top Coat.

OPI Black Cherry Chutney

2011-03-14T12:31:00.001-07:00

Happy Monday everyone!

Today I have OPI's Black Cherry Chutney from the 2008 India Collection. This is one gorgeous color! Very deep, rich and vampy and totally up my alley! I borrowed this one from my sister (that's why I don't have the bottle in my pics) and I might need one for myself.

It has red shimmer but it was very difficult to capture it on camera. This is the best I could do!

Natural Light

Artificial Light

Do you have any favorites from the India Collection?

I used CND Stickey Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat.

Joe Fresh Twilight

2011-03-09T19:31:00.000-08:00

Two bottles of Benedryl later, I think I can say I am *almost* finished with this cold. On a lighter note, I have an exciting new polish to show you: Joe Fresh Twilight. Look! Flakies! Yay! This is the type of stuff that Nail Polish Addicts want and Joe delivered =D

Twilight has similar flakies to those of Sally Hansen's Hidden Treasure, however this one seems to be pulling in more green. It also has more depth since the flakies are suspended in the jelly black polish; so it's a different look altogether.

Borghese Mezzanotte Blue

2011-03-07T14:26:00.001-08:00

Wahh I'm sick :(
I caught that flu that has been going arounds. I am the type of person that is always busy and I hate nothing more than sitting at home all day because I feel so useless. I know that I have to suck to it up, drink lots of fluids, down a couple bottles of Benedryl and let my body get rid of this bug... but still this sucks! Wahhhh!

Ok, I am finished. Thanks for letting me rant :) Now onto on NOTD:
This is Borghese Mezzanotte Blue a really dark, squishy navy. I don't know why, but my hubby thinks that navy nails are super sexy (note to self: get more navy polish). I really like the Borghese brush and formula, and I know many say that the bottle looks outdated, but I think it's pretty cool.

Pretty Rose my hubby got for me :)

What are your favorite Borghese polishes?

Milani Silver Dazzle

2011-03-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

Well Spring Break isn't giving me much of break so far. I have been working non stop on this essay and I think I will be exhausted by the end of this semester. Sorry if I blab about school so much; my life revolves around school, schoolwork...and nail polish (hihi). At least I can admit it!

Anywho, last weekend I actually went out and wanted to jazz up my nails a bit so I pulled out Milani Silver Dazzle. I really love this polish: the application is super easy and it dries quickly. Like, really quickly! You can apply this and be out the door in less than 10mins. This polish is not totally composed of glitter, it actually has a gray base which makes it less goopy than OPI's Mad as a Hatter (reviewed here). I will go out on a whim here and say that I prefer this Milani to MAAH. But let's keep that a secret before people get mad :) .

Natural Light
Artificial Light

Pretty cool, right? Tune in next time for more swatches and a review ;)

I used 2 Coats of Seche Vite Top Coat.

Lise Watier Violet Doré

2011-03-01T14:14:00.001-08:00

Happy Tuesday everyone :)

I have NOTD from a few weeks ago: this is Lise Watier's Violet Doré from the Holiday 2010 collection. It has a purple jelly base and plenty of gold flecks that float on top of it. Its quite pretty and a great polish to put on for a night out. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this brand; Lise Watier is a Canadian cosmetics company. I *think* that it is sold in some parts of Europe as well but don't quote me on this one!

Also, here is Chiki. Right now she has a case of the winter blues. She can't stand the cold so unfortunately we can't go outside. On milder days I dress her up in a sweater, a coat and boots so she can get her walk on!

Enjoy the rest of your week ;)

Hard Candy Sky

2011-02-25T15:21:00.000-08:00

Yes! It is finally Friday evening! This means 2 things: I got through my scary exam and it’s March Break (aka Spring Break)! Well it won’t be much of a total break since I have a 10 page essay to do with this girl that is impossible to find… grrr… seriously how many emails do I need to send before she replies? Why didn’t I get her phone number!!

Ok back on topic: I know its winter but I am so into pastels right now. Actually, I think this is what gets me through the winter… hehe =D
This is Hard Candy Sky: a super pretty light blue with lots of blue shimmer. It’s so light that I think 1 shade whiter would be just white.

Unfortunately it’s a streak, goopy mess to apply, but with a little patience and a good top coat you will get beautiful results. And for $5 you can’t really complain…

I used CND Stickey Base Coat and Seche Vite Top Coat.

CHANEL Black Pearl 513

2011-02-20T12:52:00.001-08:00

I have a scary exam on Friday so I have been studying like crazy every day. The other day I needed a break, so I left the library (shocker!!) to head to my other favorite place: overpriced department store make up counters (yay!).

I ended up picking up Chanel's Black Pearl...

I was curious about this polish after reader numerous good reviews of it from fellow bloggers and wanted to see what all the hype was about. Black Pearl is hard to describe as the color changes depending on the lighting. It is a sort of gunmetal color with teal and green shimmer that really stands out in the light. It reminds me a lot of Borghese Stellare Notte. I like the fact that it looks great with any outfit, and the application was pretty good, but I am not sure that it had that "wow" factor that Nouvelle Vague and Rouge Noir have. For me, Black Pearl is like but not love. However, I will wear it for a couple more days to see if it grows on me.

I used CND Stickey Base Coat and Mavala Fixator Top Coat.

Milani Dress Maker: Take Two

2011-02-17T06:40:00.000-08:00

Good Morning everyone :)

Today I have Milani Dress Maker... for a second time. I needed to re-post this because the first time I gave it a sort of bad review. I can not lie: the formula is not great on this polish. It takes at least 3 or 4 impeccably applied coats and, on me, it was still streaky. I said in my last review that it "dented" even 2 days after application; but that was the Revlon Extra Life Top Coat I was trying out that week. Here I used Seche Vite and it looks so much better! It covers up the streaks and does not dent at all.

Anywho, enjoy the pics ;) This color is gorgeous!

Essie Demure VIxen

2011-02-14T09:35:00.000-08:00

Hello readers!

Today I have a sort of Valentine's Day mani: Essie Demure Vixen from the Summer 2010 collection. It is very soft and pretty but interesting and not boring at all. It works as a good neutral and I keep thinking that this will be a good "interview" nail polish once I finish school (in what seems like a million years from now but that's OK!)

Natural Light
Artificial Light

Do you have any special plans for today? I unfortunately have to study but hubby and I might try to catch a movie later on tonight :) Anything good playing?

NARS Pokerface

2011-02-10T12:30:00.001-08:00

I love Sephora but none are to be found downtown Montreal; only in the suburbs! Weird, right? So I rarely get a chance to go... but it might be a good thing for my wallet. I went on a much needed shopping trip with my sister earlier this week but she refused to walk into Sephora saying: "NO! Its dangerous! It's impossible not to buy anything!".
Of course, I figured that I had enough will power just to browse.....yeah.... ummm .... not really! Soooo I ended up getting my first NARS nail polish:

Pokerface

Outdoor Light:

Indoor Light:

This is a very pretty lilac color from the 2010 Holiday Collection and it applies like a dream. It has a secret Chanel-type shimmer (you can see a bit of it in the first pic) that gives it a nice dimension. The color itself is not the most original, I am sure you can find similar colors for less money, but this is a nice treat. I think it will look amazing for Spring!

Oh, and I didn't get anything else from Sephora.... just a lot more lemmings to deal with now!

I used CND Stickey Base Coat and Mavala Fixator Top Coat.

Water Marble Accent Nails

2011-02-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

Wohooo I finally received my USB cord! Now, if winter would be over I would be 100% happy ;)

Lately, I have been experimenting with water marbling on one nail....I think its easier to wear than a full on WM mani (not to mention a lot less time and cleanup!).

This is GOSH Gypsy Blue and Hot Coral

Borghese Stellare Notte and L'Oreal Resist & Shine 502P

I haven't perfected the "art" yet but I am getting a lot better!

I used CND Stickey Base Coat and Poshe Top Coat.

Some Random GOSH Swatches

2011-02-03T08:29:00.000-08:00

I forgot the USB cable I use to upload at my grandma's place... and she lives 5 hours away ! She is sending it to me by mail but I have not been able to upload any new swatch pics *sigh*

However, here are a few GOSH swatches I have:

Golden Dragon:

Gasoline:

Flash:

Peachy:

New stuff as soon as I get my paws on that USB cable!!

Favorite Blog Posts (and Chiki!)

2011-01-25T17:03:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

I compiled a list of my favorite nail polish related posts from other websites. I have had this idea for a long time but I never took the time to do it... until now ! (obviously hehe)

1- This post from Polish Hoarder Disorder (also known as PhD) ends her quest to find the perfect match to Tiffany Blue nail polish. The results are kinda surprising!

2- Scrangie demonstrates how one can revive any dried out nail polish with thinner. Amazing!

3- Sabrina from the www.thebeautylookbook.com showcases her extensive Chanel nail polish collection (plus links to swatches!)

4- L8B's legendary Clarins 230 dupe "recipe" (note that you might need an account on MUA to see this post).

5- The hilarious Kaz from www.pretty-random.com shows off her HTF OPI green collection.

I hope you enjoy these posts as much as I did ;)

And here is Chiki... just because :)

OPI Mad as Hatter

2011-01-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

I have had Mad as a Hatter for a long time and I wear it a lot... on my toes! It is actually my favorite pedi color. I find it hard to pull off as a mani... I wore this for New Years and got soo many stares everywhere I went! If blinged out nails are your thing; this is for you :P

This is from the Alice and Wonderland Collection and I really don't get the name of the polish O.o! I haven't seen the movie (shocker: I rarely watch movies!) but does someone know what the name means???

I used Essie First base Coat, Mavala Fixator Top Coat and a coat Seche Vite.

GOSH Golden Dragon

2011-01-16T08:46:00.000-08:00

Today I have GOSH Golden Dragon. This is an amazing color unlike any other one I have. It is a dusty green with lots and lots of gold threaded throughout the polish. It gives it an quasi-duochrome finish! In the bottle I didn't think it would be this gorgeous, but it really really sparkles on the nails.

After a huge snowfall yesterday I can't wait until summer and how good this polish will look with a tan! :P