Old Comparison That Needed Doing

 As I go through my collection, I really have had so many things that were a hot heyday purchase, but now seem a little less hot, though still wonderful.

Here is a comparison between OPI Merry Midnight and Orly Fowl Play.

Left to right: 

OPI Merry Midnight

Orly Fowl Play

OPI Merry Midnight

Orly Fowl Play

Old collex and long gone.

Virtually identical, but Merry Midnight is a touch lighter. Both are three coats. 

Thanks for reading!

Glistening Mauve Comparison

I find that I tend to buy dupes. I think the more I wear my untrieds, the less I will do this. I hope.

(Tell that to the drawer full of periwinkle polishes!)

Here's a follow up on the Pretty Serious Toxic Tiara post from a while ago.

I pulled out all the similar polishes (there are probably more if I think about it!) and wanted to compare.

Here we go!

Left to right:

OPI It's My Year

Orly Leading Lady

Zoya Faye

Pretty Serious Toxic Tiara

All are three coats.

Some thoughts.

OPI is a stellar formula, lots of balance between that mauve shade and gold shimmer glass fleck. It is the closest to Toxic Tiara, who has a slower-to-dry formula on me.

I personally adore Orly Leading Lady. This is part of some "two step" system I have no idea about. I saw it at TJ Maxx and though it might be a gel (this was before I had a lamp). It's not and it's great. I love this one a lot. Looks better in person. So much life to it. Zazzy!

Zoya Faye is a beauty and the strongest with the gold glass fleck. It moves almost into a brown category in some lights, though I don't hate it at all.

More pix!

There is a blue undertone to OPI It's My Year, so it holds itself well with the rich gold. I love it so much. I like it a wee bit better than the Pretty Serious Toxic Tiara because it seems to have more life to it, though that could be part of the translucency of the base letting light pour through.

You can see the shimmer here. I have to say the Orly had some crazy beautiful going on, but OPI held its own.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

I wanted to add a quick note on camera and Polygel.

Camera
I went back to using my Lumix by Panisonic more often as it does a better job with skintones and dealing with light, better range shall I say.
I love it a lot, it's been a workhorse and doesn't need the correction as much.

Polygel
I'm taking some time off with Polygel, still. I am keen to get back into it, but have been a bit busy. 

A Not Quite Right Nude for Me

I am so excited by the progressive change in lingerie, foundation makeup, and a whole inclusive arena that lends itself to more products for more people.

As someone with thick hair on my head that is also very dark, I have heard hundreds of hair dressers squawk at how thick it is, how much there is, and how long it takes them to cut it. I even had one gal shave the nape of my neck against my better judgement (I need to just stop being so nice, that took a solid 3 years to grow out). I won't discuss the percentage who can't seem to add layers without making me look like Bozo.

In the "nude" nail polish category I find the thinking still is along the beige lines and any other shade gets yet another name rather than "nude". Nude is a huge range, just like people on earth.

My personal "nude" is still probably out there, or at least untried, for sure. 

Here is OPI Baring It All topped with Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Crystal Watermelon:

I think it's a nice shade, but a bit light for me, though it is fairly neutral as far as light beige goes. 

My favorite thing though is to top the polish off with a glass fleck, the base of which is a little pink in its base and thus caused the whole thing to look, well, a bit too pink.

I have two coats of the OPI and one of the SH.

I think that the glass fleck is the redemption for me.

Formula thoughts: OPI was a bear. It is a black label, and the formula did that terrible thing where the top coat dries it and then it is molten underneath: slow to dry and inevitably I ding it.

I did peer into the OPI lacquer site (they don't call their extended wear or gel "lacquer", but I digress) and didn't see this one, though I did see a blog post where someone found it at TJ Maxx, so who knows where I found this one, I think the same place. 

Their splash page for nudes is filled with a pale graphic aesthetic, then the do populate with more shades. You can see it's a work in progress. That is, to quote Martha Stewart, a good thing.

Looking at the old Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Crystal Watermelon, well, I have such low expectations about dry time, that it must have been a bit of a formula clash with the OPI, because I am sure this was a contributor. On the other hand, it's a gorgeous topper and as I thin it, it's hard to fault.

OPI will move along to maybe some stamping as it does cover deceently, and of course SH will go back into it's topper drawer.

Little Jemma update: since she has been really down and introverted due to sudden blindness we have sort of been her "seeing eye people" while she learns the ropes. The book by Caroline Levin (apparently the best thing ever) spends a lot of time on training, etc, but Jemma is sort of a little pug person who is very introverted for a pug, so there isn't any choke chain or bossing her around. Trying to make the world she lives in friendly, safe, and easier to navigate.

It's long days and long evenings to help her do the basics like getting enough hydration, potty breaks, eye drops, etc.

I have found a stash of old photos that I will be tossing out because it's always fun to do that.

This manicure is fairly recent, from the 11th.

I keep my mildly blog on the down low, but I am not pumping out all the latest stuff, so I appreciate all 20-30 of you who actually read this! A LOT!! ;)

Green to Gaze Upon

Here is the final green for March.

It's a layering combo, so sit down, enjoy.

How did we get there? 

Base is BB Courture Redwood Forest, which was a blogger collaboration with Vampy Varnish many years ago, but a gorgeous color. Scroll down for a separate shot of this one.

One coat of BB Couture Redwood Forest.

Below that is OPI Jade is the New Black (you really can't see it, but it brightens Redwood Forrest up a touch). I popped on two coats, just to use it up. I have a lot of greens and could have used something else.  

Topper is Polished for Days Cosmic Dust, a red to gold to green shifter, amazing. One coat.

The shift is great, the pigment is dense. It's a mind twister if you love the shift of red to green.

Still available on Polished for Days. Super professional site and shipping is great. They run a For the Love of Polish box, and they know what they are up to.

Here is another shot, the first one was under lamp, these are outside:

The sparkle in the sunshine and the green shift never do less than delight.

Here is Redwood Forest alone:

I love this guy. It is so nice with a glass fleck throughout that sparkles.

Top photo is under daylight corrected lights with flash, second one is outside.

Still available at BB Couture. You have to search BB couture nail polish, it will help.

If you can grab the Polished for Days, you won't be unhappy. It's so wonderful.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Dreams Do Come True

Recently I found Yokohama Twilight on a blog sale. It was a veritable miracle, but voila, it is mine.

Here is a down and dirty swatch and the photo is rough, but here you go:

It's amazing.

Three coats, no top coat.

This is from October and it's just so nice.


I don't get too worked up over OPI any more, because they have played it safe and boring for a very long time. This really holds up against any concoction any indie could confabulate.

There is depth I can't get with my camera. The layering is amazing and there is just a subtle feeling of green and pink shimmer in the seashell pink base.

I really don't see the peri/purple sample OPI puts out, but in fact, it's really nothing like that.

No suggestions for finding it except blog sales and eBay. You never know where it will or when it will turn up.


Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal! Happy New Year! Have a happy 2019!!

Do Old Thrills Last?

I was at TJ Maxx and I found a few bottles of the old OPI France Collection from a decade ago. It was for Autumn 2008 if memory serves.

Seems like I wanted it all, but never seemed to delve into it. It was the time when, thinking back on it, so many of the other salon brands and especially drugstore brands were making knock offs.

Here is Bastille Your Heart:

It's a glossy deep red shimmer with enough pink shimmer tossed in to make it a succulent raspberry shade.

I guess the formula was okay, but not stellar. I think it is a little loose and coupled with my super casual application, it wasn't heart stopping. (Wait a minute....be still your heart...never mind.)


I could not find it on the OPI website, so it's hard to say how TJ Maxx got a hold of it.

Not as thrilling as in the day. That doesn't mean it isn't a classic shade, perfect for autumn.

Probably still floating around eBay or blog sales.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Bumble Bee Redux

I wanted to post a manicure I loved. I did this back in February before I removed the Polygel.

It makes me miss the Polygel for the simple reason that Polygel didn't stain and I could put sheer stuff on them without that usual yellow/orange tint that I never could remove.

Here is Sephora X Chaotic topped with OPI Color Paints Primarily Yellow:

OPI Color Paints, unlike their tint collection, are impactful sheer jellies that are essentially designed for layering.

Here's another shot.

This is two coats and thought I managed to slop it around, it really was pretty nice as far as a formula.


I love it, unabashedly so. In fact this yellow surprised me with it's ability to really set down some color!


Black and white glitter are favorites of mine, this combo is pretty simple, I have a couple, but I haven't compared. I don't know if glitter is much of a thing these days, so it's hard to say what's coming out.

Here's a shot alone before I added the OPI Primarily Yellow:

There isn't a definite size, I like the range and the bar glitter works for me, too. More heavy on the black glitter, but enough white to pop some contrast.


If you can find the Color Paints around, and you like to layer, grab them. They are good, very good!

Black and white glitter, you may have to poke around because there is so much flux with Sephora nail polish. I don't even see it on their site. I think the private label upscale boutique brand freights a lot of brand loyalty. It's one thing to buy a Chanel or a Dior and it's another to buy a Nails Inc, or Smith and Whatever it's called. Most probably use WnW or Color Club or Essence or Orly or Nubar. Companies with nail polish making infrastructure are not super common, nor is it a high profit/volume endeavor. It's not like they are making straws or plastic bags or glass bottles.

I get it and I don't mind paying premium for something I like, but I think it is hard to sustain something not tied to a bigger juggernaut.

I found my Sephora X at Ross and the OPI Color Paints at TJ Maxx. As a quick note: both won't be there, so it's off to eBay, etc.

I have noticed TJM to carry less polish and Ross seems to just have JBL and lesser known brands, with rare smatterings of the odd OPI or Sephora X.


Excuse the ramble. Hope it helped you find these if you are interested.


Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!!

OPI Happy Anniversary

Here's an older photo of OPI Happy Anniversary

Three coats. No top coat. A soft champagne shade of glass fleck monsterhood.

I feel like one coat could work as a topper, too. If you are even more inclined to make this one a topper, then thin it out.

I also believe it would be a nice frankening polish, adding glass fleck to a mix.


Very nice, I am thinking you can still find it. OPI is a weird brand, of late they've churned out fewer and less exciting collections, but even the blandest old bottle can pull a high price. Rare ones can get very expensive!

Meanwhile, I tried to put some OPI I Can Teal You Like Me from their Sheer Tints collection over the top:

This is two coats. I think failure doesn't begin to describe this polish. It just has no color. It's dark, as you can see from the bottle, but it just does not translate. This is only two coats, but in my experience, these can get patchy if you aren't careful with application, so I didn't want to do more.



The Polygel really looks thick here. I remember I always had issues with shaping. And in this wider angle lens, all it took was a tilt of the nails to make them look tapered bottom to top.


It was a love hate relationship, I'll just say that.


Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!!!

Three Mainstream Duochromes

If you have delved into the realm of indies, you well know that the indie brands are very generous with their pigment and they know what it takes to make an impact.

Here are some duochromes that are just in need of a blog, but don't strum my heart so much.

Let's start with the really good.

China Glaze No Plain Jane 

This shifts from a purple to an amber shade. It is very pretty and at three coats I won't say I don't live for the purple. The color that it shifts to looks a little like a muddy bronze, but it's a tad bit more warm and that's ok. 

The metallic purple is a delight, though you can see brushstrokes, it's ok and seems to be offset by good coverage.

Easy to find online and at a price point that means affordable access to some color shifting.

Now the less than enthralling.

OPI Kermit Me to Speak

Also shifting into a kind of warm olive bronze shade, this one is sheer enough to layer.

I've got it over nothing and black, alternating nails.

It's not a favorite of mine, far to chintzy on the pigment, so without the flash, it tends to be a bit muddy.

Easy to find, but I purged mine.

Misa Shields Up

This is from one of the last collections I purchased of Misa, which was their Surreal Escape Collection. 

Won't lie, my utter disappointment at the sheerness of this polish is hard to hide.

Perhaps a good topper, but at the time of the swatching, I was just like "UNCLE!"

Misa has their site down for maintenance, so I couldn't see if it was available. 

Only recommendation would be if you found you needed a topper, otherwise, the heartbreak is real!

Let's just conclude by saying, the shields are collapsing, Captain!

This is all with my old Polygel enhancements on. I realize just how thick these were growing! The hard part was that I had to manually file, so thinning them down was a bit of a challenge.

I might have kept the Misa as a topper, but Kermit Me to Speak is a goner. No More Plain Jane I will try for a stamping polish, but the first coat wasn't that impressive, so we shall see!

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

OPI Sheer Tint: Don't Violet Me Down

Here's one from the archive. I had a bunch of photos in February that I took shortly before removing the Polygel enhancements. My nails look weird in comparison to now, but I did like the length, if not the process.

Meanwhile, here is Essie Ignite the Night

From a 2013 collection of "encrusted" polishes in the height of the wave of the texture polish trend, Ignite the Night is a delightful warm gray glitter.

I have 3 coats, but two would do. 

I love the shade and it is a small glitter with lots of texture. 

I have no top coat here.

Later I added OPI Don't Violet Me Down:

This is a tint from a 2013 collection that OPI came out with that included about 4 shades. I picked mine up at TJ Maxx, and they are really sheer. This one is the only one with a bit of oomph.

The three coats here did a nice job. I like how it adds to the candy shell. I did play with how it covers:

Left to right:

4 coats

3 coats

2 coats

1 coat

As you can see it's ideal in 3-4 coats. I felt that the tips dragged a bit and didn't get enough color, but that could easily be my application.

I want to play around with these some more, they are very cool.

Both can be found online with ease. OPI still carries the tint collection.

You can see the polygel growout, it was due for a fill. Jury is still out on whether I will take this up again. :)

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Red on Red

I love red a lot. I don't wear it often, but there is a red for everyone. 

Let's get going!

China Glaze Ring in the Red over OPI Thanks So Muchness!

I have to admit the combo just floored me. I wanted to add that the medium and small glitter in RitR just play in the light like mad.

Ring in the Red is a silver glitter (two coats here) of a medium density in a rich scarlet red jelly base. 

Deeply unshy, I think over a foil it would make me insane, just so gorgeous.

Thanks So Muchness (blogged ages ago, here) is a lovely red shimmer that is a luminous cool red shimmer, so while it's not the star of the show, it's definitely a strong support player. 

Alice in Wonderland has been a repeated theme, the original small quartet came out in 2010 and people went spare over the glitters (remember when people went nuts over glitters? I do too, now you can barely find an indie making a glitter any longer), but the two reds were quite beautiful, if not somewhat derivative.

Ring in the Red is an oldie, too from a more vintage China Glaze Christmas collection, 2011 holiday. 

Both can be found with a few clicks of the mouse. 

I have a lot - I mean a lot - of red glitter and this is a standout. 

I wore this for a few days and it held up well, despite a little tip wear revealing some of the silver in the glitter. I was wearing the Milani old gold label top coat, so it might not be a majestic beast of a tough one.

Meanwhile bright red is a great neutral for bright winter days of snow and sunshine.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

OPI Designer Series Imperial

You know an era is over when you can't find the line on the OPI website any more.

OPI Designer Series once whetted peoples appetites with holos (Original, Glamour, Sapphire),  glass fleck gorgeosity (Royal, Magic),  and glitters (Temptation, Lapis). Now it's a forgotten line, as OPI moves into gels and dips.

Here is one I never heard of until I saw it at TJ Maxx.

OPI Designer Series Imperial

A plum that sinks into purple in the dark edges.

I was loving the red violet shimmer very much, too.

The dimensionality simply made this shimmer stand out.


I have three coats and wore it for several days. Zero complaints.

To me OPI has not been a groundbreaking company with color, they appear to be chasing products that have to do with wear time and are feeling more like a run-with-the-pack brand than a head turner.

I am finding fewer in their new releases that make me want to buy, and in the masses that show up in huge lots at TJ Maxx, I don't see a lot of colors in which I feel I am missing out.

This one, though. Wow. Imperial is right. Like a velvet cape trimmed in ermine.


Meanwhile...found the flash drive.....yay!!!



Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!!!!

Solstice

Short terse winter so far. Though the winter has been abrupt, it's not been unfriendly.

Now the days will turn longer and the winter will resonate later in the day, rather than tucking itself away.

I did this mani about a month ago and wanted to post it, it's my rugged nail art attempt at capturing the mountains in late fall.

I used the Emily de Molly 07 round plate, but I did have some proportion issues. Minor by comparison to other things...

I love this one, but I wish the owl was smaller.

The gradient is an old batch (top to bottom):

Princessa Picking on Waikiki (what does that mean?)

Petite Banish

OPI Golden Eye

I used a Color Club royal purple and like the wolf and the deer and the trees.

Here's another:

The deer in this one kind of worked after I sponged a little more gold on the bottom.

I did get some residue due to my lack of skills at pulling off extra bits for isolated things. A work in progess.

Finally:

I like this one, too. More of a red purple like I used on the owl, but I can't recall the polish!

For me the gradient alone was a real win, I loved it.

Stamping, I need to work on these clustered images that need tape to pull off the extra items to isolate them.

Hope you have a wonderful Solstice!

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

It's Frosty Outside! Seriously!

Our weather has been a real tricky player this year. It has changed with the abruptness of a book snapping shut. Not denouement, nothing, just snip snap, next season!

OPI It's Frosty Outside

I've got it humbly under the lamp.

I've become a savage sponge applicator when it comes to glitters. Take no prisoners, leave no living behind. I use my trusty latex body paint protector and whip that glitter into the density it deserves.

This is from the 2013 Mariah Carey collection. I love the texture, it's got the matte/dry feel.

I recommend this puppy. 

Here it is with flash:

It shows its stage presence for sure!

I am sure it's sauntering about on the longest river in the world or eBay.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Early Winters

This season puts me in mind to fireplaces, cocoa, and cozy blankets. Especially when it's rainy, I've got to say this trove of old photos perfectly coincides with this feeling!


I am still getting my head around sponge application, and I know that next time I will definitely use some latex body paint. No kidding around!


OPI Wondrous Star

Pros: interesting contrasting dark shimmer that I think is black. That aged silver look is very nice. I will say that if sponging was done right, I might have a wall of silvery light across my nail. It just didn't work out for me.

Cons: not super dense, even with sponging. I think it needed more on the sides, but without latex body paint, it was a pain.

This is from Mariah Carey's 2013 Holiday collection. I found a lot of these at TJMaxx, a price point that is nice for testing things out!

I know that it seems to be  metallic glass fleck and not a glitter, so its left a ton of residue, even after extensive clean up!

I think, though, it's more of a topper.


Here it is over LDL 207

To me the star is the red, it's an oldie. An early purchase back when Ross was the super score for oddball greatness. I blogged it briefly here.

I won't lie, Wondrous Star doesn't feel like a full on win. More like Salt n Pepa.

Meanwhile, let me roast my toesies in front of a fire and imagine me inside and the rain and snow outside!


Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Zoya Rica Above and Beyond

Zoya Rica over OPI My Private Ornament.

I don't think I can convey my adoration for this combo! It reminds me of Nicole by OPI Coral Denominator (a backup-worthy, desert island polish).

I like Zoya Rica a lot. I inadvertently bought a second bottle in one of those Zoya sale frenzies. Ah well. No worries. Rica is sheer. It behaves like a topper and I love the heck out of that!!

I first put down  in this order: Rica, MPO, Rica, MPO, Rica; I may not have needed the second coat of MPO, as it's a fairly dense glitter.

I wore this fore several days and it was heavenly. Just perfect.

The play of that warm silver of MPO and the gold fleck and gorgeous juicy reddened coral in Rica just worked beautifully. I love when a layering combination creates a third creature of great beauty. I should start a page that lists these combos.

If you have these two, definitely layer them!

Here's Rica alone, stamped:

Over a nude I used 4 coats to acquire some density. It wasn't hard and I think Zoya's formula was easy to work with: it didn't slop or pool -  without some help from me, that is! :)

Stamped with a plate I forgot to write down! Borghese Mezzanotte Blue was the one I grabbed for a fast stamping job. I actually tried a new thing I read about on Makeup Alley from a poster called Urang: I mixed some shimmer from a 

I know that I added a Chaos and Crocadiles sheer holo topper for a bit of holo fun in the sun.

I won't lie, Rica never gave up on me! I wore it a lot and though it's a sheer one, I love how Zoya pulls the glass fleck out of their hat to come up with these kinds of collections!

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Sparkling Boho

China Glaze Boho Blue

Shot with a flash, this is a bit more demure than this photo shows.

Three necessary coats.

Lovely self-leveling, glossy finish - this is sans top coat.

This is from 2015 Road Trip collection. I love how clear and bright it is in this photo, but it's a little more periwinkle in real life.

I tossed on a polish I was certain I blogged, OPI Spark de Triomphe:

Together they are perfect, the warm leaning silver in SdT matches perfectly with the purple leaning baby blue.

I love Boho Blues, but if you aren't into three coaters, this one may not be for you. The first two coats gave me some concern, but by three, things evened out and there was no complaints. Gorgeous.

Wore well and dried so fast, I had to take a double take. So nice!

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!!

Soft Green Layerings

still on a quest for a computer, so here's a quick post.

Taken with my phone and the swan song fot Claire's Dreamcatcher.

I topped with a strage, but amazing Princessa called Tangi My Night, a pale turquoise sheer shimmer, then OPI Pirouette My Whistle.

Dreamcatcher has a sad formula that never really does the job: patchy, streaky, uneven.

It won't end well. I'll give it away and it will get someone else frustrated and they will toss it.

I will decant and recycle he bottle and cap.

Unless someone out there want's it, let me know! (And you won't get just one polish you know!)

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!!

The Blogging Year Recap

2016 is over. Wow. When I flip back through pages of blog posts, it feels like so little time has gone by. In fact, 2009 feels a lot like yesterday. (Well things were full of change and hope back then).

I'm still enjoying blogging, and that's key. I hope you are enjoying the polishes with me.

There are many changes in blogging and I don't think social media blogging has eradicated bloggers like me, yet. Yet. The challenges for me is time and accessibility. Instagram is very phone-centric, so I hope the new Sony A6000 will be up for that challenge.

I'm off the SinfulColors mailing list, much to my relief, and I don't have anyone offering me polish. Yay! So while I am not super timely with new things, my reviews will be my own. It's hard to be objective when you have free stuff arriving in the mail, despite disclosures and disclaimers.

This year I plan on trotting out a heck of a lot more indies and more stamping. I have to say I love both and with a better camera it's only my skillset that won't do right by it.

Finally, here are a few of my faves from 2016, enjoy!



FUN Lacquer Anna

OPI Into the Night and RBL Pardonne Moi stamped with white pearl (if I recall!) and topped with Orly Precious Metal

Maybelline Sand Storm stamped with Sally Hansen Frost Freeze

Guppy 77 over Sally Hansen Gray by Gray

Borghese Capriccio Blue stamped with Revlon Captivate

Sally Hansen Model Behavior

Illamasqua Muse

OPI Ro-Man-ce On The Moon accented with Milani Silver Dazzle

China Glaze All Wrapped Up

Petites Banish

Essence Back to Paradise

Diamond Cosmetics Tranquility franken

Nicole by OPI Sing You Like a Bee topped with Hidden Treasure all over Color Club Coastal Creme

American Apparel Tshirt

Dior Equis

Layering: Revlon Snow Bunny franken, SinfulColors Pinky Glitter, and Cover Girl City Lights

Morgan Taylor Making Waves

Dear Readers, thank you for reading my little nail polish journal!

Happy 2017!! (fingers crossed!!)