Nail Polish of the Moment: Lollipop by Essie

Image Courtesy Google Images

Since it's Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to do a red polish. Rather than sticking to a traditional red, I went for one of my favorite nail polishes, Lollipop by Essie. This is actually the color that Olivia Palermo is notorious for wearing. It's a red/orange and really pops against my fair skin. It's creamy and perfect. I love it for all year 'round. It also works as a great pedicure color.


Color: 5/5
Packaging: 5/5
Application: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Would I Repurchase: Yes! Again & Again!

Final Verdict: A+
(25/25 or 100%)



Now Playing: "Rhythm Is a Dancer" by Snap! (1992ish)

Nail Polish of the Moment: Stranger Tides by OPI

Photo courtesy Google Images

OPI's Pirates of the Caribbean collection recently hit stores. There were a couple colors that I was interested in but one that I had to have. That polish was Stranger Tides- a beautiful, creme, sage green. The color of this polish instantly drew me in. I love sage green. I always want to call it mint green (maybe that's not totally off). I use this particular color to decorate with very often. To have it in a nail polish made me very excited. I have a couple colors that remind me of Stranger Tides but none that are exactly similar or even close. If you're looking for a light, pastel green hue for spring or summer, Stranger Tides is one to consider. I've wanted OPI to release this exact color for ages. I'm very happy with it and will definitely be repurchasing when I run out (hopefully it will make the permanent collection)! The application was pretty easy and only required 2 coats to achieve full opacity but I did 3 for safe measures. I highly recommend this one!


Color: 5/5
Packaging Quality: 5/5
Application: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Value: 4.5/5

Final Verdict: A+
(24.5/25 or 98%)


Now Playing: "What Is Love" by Haddaway

Nail Polish of the Moment: Borrowed & Blue by Essie

Photo Courtesy Google Images

Essie's Spring 2011 Wedding Collection includes the perfect pale blue. I didn't have any powder, baby blues in my nail polish collection and have been looking for the ideal bottle. Borrowed & Blue fits the bill. It's easy to work with and is fully opaque in just 2 coats. Borrowed & Blue reminds me of what a baby boy's royal nursery may have looked like during the French Revolution. "Let them eat cake!" (FYI Marie Antionette never said this).

Color: 5/5
Packaging Quality: 5/5
Application: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Value: 4.5/5

Final Verdict: A+
(24.5/25 or 98%)


Now Playing: "Hearing Damage" Thom Yorke

Nail Polish of the Moment: SAN TAN-TONIO by OPI

3 coats (OPI base coat and top coat also applied) of SAN TAN-TONIO. In true life, it's actually lighter.

I picked this up from OPI's Texas Collection. It's the perfect nude/tan shade to go with all of the spring 2011 trends. It can easily be taken into fall as well. I love that this polish makes my nails look polished but it still feels natural! I hope it becomes part of the permanent collection because I think it's one of my favorites. Despite nudes being popular, I don't think I've seen a quality dupe. OPI would be wise to keep this one.


Color: 5/5
Packaging Quality: 5/5
Application: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Value: 4/5

Final Verdict: A+
(24/25 or 96%)



Now Playing: "Tell Yer Mama" by Norah Jones

Nail Polish of the Moment: Michievous Mint by MAC (Quite Cute collection)

I have really been feeling pastel nail polishes this season (groundbreaking, I know). Since Spring is in the air, I have been leaning towards mints, lavenders, and pale pinks. I'm looking into getting Essie's Borrowed and Blue which appears to be the perfect shade of dusty blue. But to close off April and to ring in the month of May, Michievous Mint does the trick. My brush had a couple splits which increased streakiness upon my initial application but with a bit of patience, all was well and good. With OPI's base coat and top coat, it took just 2 coats to achieve a nice opacity. The difference between the first and second coats was astonishing!



Color: 4.5/5
Packaging Quality: 4/5
Application: 4/5
Style: 5/5
Value: 3.5/5

Final Verdict: A-
(21/25 or 84% but I grade on a curve!)



Now Playing: "40 Day Dream" by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

Nail Polish of the Moment: Guy Meets Gal-veston by OPI

Photo Courtesy Google Images

Happy Easter!

After sporting a grey/taupe polish for the past week, I was ready to switch things up and go with a bright shade for Spring. Ulta was having a buy 2 get 1 free sale on OPI polishes, plus I had a coupon. So, I picked up Guy Meets Gal-veston from the Texas collection. Unbeknownst to me at the time of purchase, Guy Meets Gal-veston is actually a "sorbet" or jelly-like formula. It's meant to be semi-sheer. I typically avoid sheer polishes but because this is such a bright, fun color, I think it works. The application was easy enough and the drying time was fine. I would describe the color as a pink-coral. It's somewhat like a "lightweight" polish- perfect for spring/summer!

Final Verdict: B+




Now Playing: "Forever" by Chris Brown

Nail Polish of the Moment: Desert Haze by e.l.f.

It has been quite awhile since I've done a nail polish of the moment post. Because I scored elf's Desert Haze for such a low cost ($1), I had to share this one with you, girls! Desert Haze is a sophisticated, nude/khaki/grey. Against my very fair skin, it looks great. But there are some cons: the smell is very unpleasing and the packaging isn't great (FYI: I really dislike the brand name e.l.f.). The application was tricky and definitely took some patience! It is slow to dry! But if you can deal with a brush applicator that isn't aligned properly and some of the other grievances that I've stated, this is an excellent find! Desert Haze easily looks like it could have been included in a CHANEL, Essie or OPI collection. I definitely recommend picking a bottle up (I found mine at Big Lots). I used OPI's base coat and top coat and haven't experienced any premature chipping. It's a beautiful shade!

Photos Courtesy Google Images



Now Playing: "St. Elsewhere" by Gnarls Barkley (I LOVE this song!!!!)

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