Nail Me: Winter 2014 Polish Picks

Top Row:

Marc Jacobs Gatsby: This is the polish that I have on right now. I love the name and was impressed with the formula- smooth and speedy drying time. I initially thought it might be too similar to Butter London Fairy Lights but this is much more subdued; where Fairy Lights is pink, Gatsby is far more silver and cool toned.

Essie Chinchilly: This is one of the polishes I get the most compliments on. It's a perfect neutral for winter and will match just about anything you're wearing. On-trend and flattering.

Tom Ford Bordeaux Lust: I don't own this polish (nor anything from Tom Ford's beauty line) but I have been anxious to try it out. I don't recommend splurging on an expensive brand without doing a bit of research but if you were to get one color from the line, I would suggest a shade like this or a vibrant red. Wine colored polishes are some of my favorites for fall and winter. They're a must-have for February and Valentine's Day.

Essie Going Incognito: One of my favorite greens. This is a rich, jewel tone that is flattering against my coloring. It's nice to have on hand around March when St. Patrick's Day is approaching and Spring is on its way.

Chanel Magic: I opted against putting this in my collection (that still might change but I'm trying to be strong). I love the name but I just couldn't justify another blue when I already have similar alternatives in shades like OPI Dating A Royal. But if you're looking for a beautiful blue with a spectacular name, search no further. This is gorgeous for the winter but can easily be worn all year long.

Bottom Row:

Butter London Hardwear P.D. Quick Top Coat: I scored this in a holiday value set that was marked down. I really like the formula. It gives my bottle of Seche Vite a break. Sometimes it's nice to just let your nails go bare and a good top coat is all that you need.

OPI My Private Jet: There are two formulas and the original is far superior. I had to hunt mine down online. The subtle glitter is mesmerizing but the color of the base still remains calm.

Julep Nicolette: I couldn't find a picture of this particular color but anything in the grey family is what I'm selecting. Essie Power Clutch is a darker option.

Michael Kors Sexy: This is a red that I don't personally own but the few Michael Kors polishes that I do have, I'm very impressed with. The packaging is so sleek and elegant. Every woman needs a classic red in a fabulous bottle and this fits the bill. Dior Diorific from last year's holiday collection was another great one.

OPI Nail Envy Base Coat: I've been loving this base coat. It creates the smoothest foundation for my polish. I love the way it helps the varnish glide while strengthening my nails. It's also quite glossy on its own.

Now Playing: "Baby" by Donnie and Joe Emerson
*I think this might be one of my favorite songs of all time. I need to get it on vinyl!

Nail Me

For many reasons, Fall has always been my favorite season of the year. One of the many things I love most about this time of year is the color palette for fashion and yes, nail polish! Here are some of the shades I'm enjoying the most right now!

Top Row:

Deborah Lippmann Laughin' To the Bank: This is a gorgeous, deep, emerald from DL's Jewel Heist Collection (fantastic!). Green is actually my choice color for the season. My top selection is a true kelly green in Revlon's Posh (not pictured) but all shades from hunter to olive to army to jade are beautiful. Greens look especially lovely against a black ensemble or accessories.

OPI Peace & Love & OPI: This was the only bottle I picked up from the recent San Francisco collection. Not only does it have an adorable name but it's a unique duochrome that shifts from gunmetal to teal to purple. 

Sally Hansen Fuzzy Coat Tweedy: This is the polish that I'm actually wearing right now. Its name perfectly captures the look and feel of the texture. It's like wearing a fuzzy coat or sweater on your nails. I paired mine over a glossy black (Essie Licorice) but I'll pull this one out again over orange near Halloween and perhaps over a grey or nude to give another type of look. 

OPI Ski Teal We Drop: Here we have an oldie but a goody. This is one of my go-to polishes for Fall and Winter. I love the way the teal looks against my fair skin. It pairs well with a lot of the things I wear during this time of year. If you can't find this particular polish, I recommend Zoya Cynthia.

Deborah Lippmann Glitter and be Gay: I mentioned my excitement at acquiring this glitter polish on my last Nail Me post. It's another beauty from the Jewel Heist collection and I look forward to wearing it again soon.

Bottom Row:

Chanel Alchimie: I was really happy to get this from the new fall collection. The color is perfect for this time of year and complements my hair and eye color nicely. It's unique enough to justify the price (as is my rule when purchasing anything from my favorite luxury brand). I'm excited to wear this one soon!

Essie Power Clutch: I received this in one of my beauty boxes and I've been very happy with my score. It's a deep grey that works tremendously against the fall backdrop in Pittsburgh. 

Revlon Elusive: I stumbled upon this limited edition fall polish when I was at Target last month shopping for the Phillip Lim collection. I haven't had the chance to wear it yet but from what I've read, it definitely requires a good top coat. I thought it was a magical little beauty. 

Essie Luxedo: Any of the vampy, berry, wine colors are the quintessential fall polish. This particular shade from Essie adds something a bit extra to the standard oxblood/merlot look. I don't own this one but I'd certainly jump at the chance to add it to my collection. It reminds me a bit of OPI Lincoln Park After Dark.

China Glaze Bat My Eyes: This little gem is from the new Monster's Ball collection for Halloween.  I plan to pick this one up along with Bump In the Night. 

Other Seasonal Selections:

China Glaze Harvest Moon

OPI Zom-body to Love
OPI Warm & Fozzie
OPI My Private Jet
OPI What Wizardry Is This?
OPI Number One Nemesis
Sephora by OPI Come to Papa-Razzi!
Wet 'n Wild Fergie Tonight's Gonna Be A Good Night
Chanel Peridot
L'oreal Gorgeous Gold
L'oreal The Muse's Inspiration
Barielle Elle's Spell
Hard Candy Sweet P











Now Playing: "Royals" by Lorde
*I just heard this song for the first time on Jimmy Fallon. This is what happens when you don't regularly listen to Top 40 radio. It's nice to hear a good song getting some buzz.

Nail Me

Even though Summer is winding down, I thought I'd share my Summer nail polish picks that I neglected to post earlier. As you can see from my collage, I've really been enjoying blues, teals and metal based polishes this season.

Top Row:

Essie Bikini So Teeny: This beautiful periwinkle shade with slight silver shimmer is a stunner. A must-have for any collection.

Chanel Bel Argus: A gorgeous metallic blue that could work year-round. I love this!

Pop Jade Metal: I'm actually wearing this one right now. I picked it up on HauteLook and I'm glad I did. It's a very unique mint green metal.

Essie Turquoise and Caicos: This is a classic that always provides many compliments. This is a favorite among many nail polish addicts and it's easy to see why. The jelly-like formula is also a dream. One of my best.

OPI My Vampire Is Buff: This is actually a repeat from my Spring picks. I didn't mean to choose the same color but this is just a generalization. I'm loving all whites and creams. They also play really well with glitters.

Bottom Row:

Orly Orange Punch: I don't actually own this shade but I picked it because it represents something every girl should have- a neon orange! I have quite a lot of oranges (Julep makes great ones, OPI A Roll in the Hague, Essie Capri, Color Club Lava Lamp to name just a few).

Chanel Azure: I was really excited to get this one. It's another gorgeous metallic. It's an original blue/green shade that reminds me of a tropical island. Love!

Urban Decay Addiction: This might be my favorite packaging/bottle out of all of my polishes. The chrome skull at the top is very Alexander McQueen. The color and even the name is right up my alley. This is a limited edition item so be sure to snag it while you can.

Orly Preamp: This is a happy polish for me. I just smile when I look at it. The pinkish lavender hue with gold shimmer is uncommon yet attractive. I don't think I own anything else that's similar in my collection.

OPI When Monkeys Fly: I've been loving gold glitters with holographic particles. Deborah Lippmann Glitter and Be Gay is one that I'm anxious to get this week. This goes nicely over whites and other golds. It will carry over beautifully into the fall and holiday season.

Now Playing: "The First Cut Is The Deepest" by P.P. Arnold
*The original!

Nail Polish of the Moment: Gold Digger by Models Own

I was excited to try the brand Models Own. I picked up Gold Digger from Urban Outtfitters online during its big sale a month or so ago. I also got Top Turquoise but it was back ordered. I thought the packaging was cute and something different and the color ranges were pretty nice. I didn't have any expectations on the formula but I was pleasantly surprised! Gold Digger glided on to my nails and was so easy to work with! I can't wait to try out some more polishes from the line. Gold Digger is a yellow-based gold and reminds me of the New Orleans Saints and my trip last fall. This is a great polish to have in your collection and I definitely recommend it- if for nothing else but the formula! :)

OPI Base Coat, 2 coats of Gold Digger by Models Own and OPI Top Coat


Now Playing: "Gold Digger" by Kanye West

Nail Polish of the Moment: Easy Going by Sinful Colors

Easy Going by Sinful Colors. Photo Courtesy Google Images

I had a job interview yesterday, so I needed to do a neutral polish. I chose Easy Going by Sinful Colors because it is a milky, pale pink. For $1.99 (sometimes on sale for .99 at Walgreen's) it's worth having in your collection. But I don't love this one- it's too white for my liking. I wish it were more of a french pink. The formula is also a bit tricky to work with and starts to look a little rough after a day or so. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect light pink, opaque, nail polish. If you know of one with a creme finish that will compliment very fair skin, please comment! I am going to look into Essie because they seem to have an endless amount of pale pinks in its line. Thanks :)

OPI Base Coat, 2 Coats of Easy Going by Sinful Colors w/ OPI Top Coat


Now Playing: "Home" by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Nail Polish of the Moment: Parlez-Vous OPI?

Parlez-Vous OPI? by OPI

In keeping with my lavender/purple moment, I opted for OPI's Parlez-Vous OPI? This particular polish was a part of the France collection from a few years back. The color looks nice against my fair complexion but it's a little bit dull. I would describe it as a muted purple with grey undertones. It's a nice color but I wouldn't say it's a must have. I do like the formula. Despite not being blown away by Parlez-Vous OPI?, I'd still recommend it to someone looking for a purple that is subtle enough for work but unique enough for evenings. I used OPI's base coat, 2 coats of Parlez-Vous OPI?, and OPI's Top Coat to achieve a nice, cream finish.

My camera did not pick this color up properly at all! It's actually quite muted and not so Barney. Ignore the paint around my cuticles, haha. Laziness!



Now Playing: "Quelqu´un m´a dit" by Carla Bruni

Nail Polish of the Moment: Give Me the Moon by OPI

Give Me the Moon by OPI
I ordered this nail polish from Amazon.com but I was a bit hesitant. I find that pearlescent shades of polish can look cheap and dated. But lately, I have been on a lavender kick. I decided to go for a different finish. I'm glad I left my comfort zone because I love this nail polish! In the bottle, it looks like a flat grey or dusty lavender but on the nails, it is magical, haha. Give Me the Moon is a beautiful periwinkle with grey/blue undertones (a slight bit of microshimmer) and looks lovely against my very fair skin. For those who can actually achieve a tan, I imagine this color would look gorgeous on the toes during the summer months. It would also go great with whites or pastel outfits. I can't wait to use it again when the weather gets warmer.

OPI Base Coat with 2 Coats of Give Me the Moon by OPI
I'm a sucker for the names that OPI comes up with. I love the moon, so I had high hopes for this polish. My middle name even translates to the word moon in Greek- haha. Give Me the Moon did not disappoint and I will certainly repurchase it if I can find it when the time comes! I definitely recommend Give Me the Moon for the nails for fair skin, the toes for darker complexions or just to anyone who loves this type of formula!




Now Playing: "Babylon" (Live Version) by David Gray, "Ten Thousand Words" by The Avett Brothers

Nail Polish of the Moment: Perplex by Revlon

Side by side comparison between Revlon's Perplex and Chanel's Paradoxal

I scored Revlon's Perplex (a beautiful purple, grey hue with a slight amethyst microshimmer) at Big Lots for a dollar! It retails for around $4.99 at drugstores. It was created to mimic Chanel's much more expensive Paradoxal- $25 at department stores. While I don't love Revlon's brush and the formula can be a little bit tricky to work with, I think this was a fabulous find! I am going to try and snatch a few back-ups because Perplex is in high demand. How it ended up at Big Lots for a dollar is beyond me.

Photo curtesy Google Images via another blog. Astounding!

Because it's still February, I thought the timing for me finding this polish was perfect. It's still winter and this shade is similiar to my birthstone (Amethyst for February). I wore it to my friend's bridal shower and I couldn't stop admiring my manicure. I highly recommend this one!

Two coats of Revlon's Perplex with OPI Top Coat


Now Playing: "Penny for your Thoughts" by Bruce Clark & the Q's (One of my Mom's favorite songs of all time)

Nail Polish of the Moment: InStyle Red by OPI

In honor of Valentine's Day, I'm wearing InStyle Red (exclusive to magazine subsribers) by OPI. I really love this polish. It's a true red and best of all, you can get away with one coat- perfect if you're in a hurry. It has a beautiful cream finish and I adore the way it looks against my fair skin. LOVE!

2 coats of InStyle Red (& Top Coat) by OPI


Now Playing: "Forever" by Drake

Nail Polish of the Moment: Chocolate Truffle by Revlon

Chocolate Truffle by Revlon

I couldn't wait to remove my pink polish and try a new one! Since it's the month of love and Valentine's Day is synonymous with chocolates, I thought I'd utilize my new, brown nail polish. I scored this polish for a dollar from Big Lots. Its formula is much richer than the pink I had on last week. I really do like Revlon nail polishes but some of them are better than others. I just wish the brushes were thicker. Chocolate Truffle is very nice. It's somewhat difficult to find a true, brown nail polish. Many are copper, have gold flecks or show up black. But this is the true shade of milk chocolate. I really love it and will definitely be wearing it again in the Fall.

Chocolate Truffle by Revlon (3 coats)


Now Playing: "When I'm Small" by Phantogram

Nail Polish of the Moment: Twinkled Pink by Revlon

Twinkled Pink by Revlon

I found this polish while shopping at Big Lots. Revlon's nail polishes usually run around $5-6 dollars a piece at the drug store but they are often on sale. I picked this one up for a dollar! And I'm glad I didn't pay more than that. I painted my nails pink this week because I wanted a cheerful color after the Super Bowl loss and because February is the month of love (I'll be painting my nails red for Valentine's Day). Well, this polish needed four coats and it dented despite fully drying. The color doesn't really suit my fair skin and the formula looks cheap. For a dollar, I'd say grab it if you're tan but it's definitely not a must have! I can't wait to switch polishes in a day or two!

Four coats of Twinkled Pink by Revlon


Now Playing: Savage Night at the Opera by Destroyer