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. 

Blue Deco

I wanted to get started again and I thought I should just dig in and do it.

Here is a stamping project from at least April perhaps even March. It's all been a blur.

The break down...

Base: China Glaze Secret Periwinkle

Stamping: China Glaze Agent Lavender

Topper: Orly Precious Metal

Plate: UberChic Art Deco Flair

I like this combination and it feels right.

I figured out to post on Instagram from my computer desktop, so it's much easier to use than playing the "edit, email, post" game I was playing before.

I will post a link to my Instagram on the side bar, but it's paillettepolishjournal, but how the address works with your device, who knows. Later on I will do a java/html link, but until I backup, I'll just do a link. I love the blog, as it lets me write much more and feels more like home. But some people want images more than words, plus Instaworld is more in the mix with people rather than the lone cowboy on the range feeling of running a blog. (though at heart, perhaps I am a bit of a cowboy)

This photo shows me in polygel, which I was not unhappy with at all, but right now I have set it aside again.

I think this time of year there is too much water and more lifting. I did have another nail that I didn't know was lifting (thumb) and saw that it smelled a bit, so I removed them. All I need is some micro creature making his home there.

In a couple months I'll go back. We'll see. 

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal.

I appreciate it!

Winter Blue

Well, I realize I've had Orly Total Eclipse around for a while. It's a pale blue base chock full of tiny glitters and small glitters that are blue and iridescent.

I put it over Sephora by OPI I Don't Bite (blogged here).

Two coats and you can see the blue around my untidy edges.

It's a lovely royal blue with iridescent glitters, too. I like how the blurple contrasts with it a bit.

Here's another shot in the sunshine:

You can see the blue glitters popping out a little more here. I have to admit I love this combination.

I think with some searching you can still find these polishes.

I know that the Sephora by OPI is pretty hard to find and so is the Orly.

Total Eclipse won't come up on a search of Orly's site. Found at TJ Maxx, I am unsure when it came out. Orly has fallen off my radar, why I don't know. I like the size of their collections, but maybe I have so many dupes and their collections aren't inspiring me right now. Having said that, and poking around their site, I do like their small, edited collections!

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Red Topper Duo

Orly 15 Minutes of Fame

Well.

I picked this up at TJ Maxx. Fairly excited by both flakies and holo in this jelly polish, I was keen to try it.

I put some over black and some over white, but neither impressed.

The components to the eye when I have the bottle in my hand are exciting: jelly base, flakies, holo,  and glass fleck.

Yet I really felt like it was not finding the right venue for this polish. I think a vamp red or maroon might be a better choice.

I might reblog it.




SinfulColors Devil's Stare

Two coats over both black and white.

This is another rare foray by Sinfulpolish to go into flakies.

I have to admit their offerings are very popular.

This is not a mylar flake like Red Ocean (or Green Ocean, for that matter), but not really a true flakie. It's like they processed the flakies into smaller bits this time around, which helps because there are no bits that want to pop up perpendicular to your nail, or hang off the edge. Nice!

I think you can see it around the web sponge manicured because if you want density, that's what you have to do.

I like SC, they are a cheap brand that does a good job with colors. I tend to steer clear of their shimmers, but like their cremes and glass fleck.

I like it best over a lighter color, but the jelly base is super strong on this one.

I think over a similar red, or a maroon, or violet red it would be very nice.


To conclude, both of these polishes weren't making me roar.

Both can be found online with some poking around, though Devil's Stare is easily found on ebay.

NOTE: blog sale page is up and running, so please take a turn and check it out. Let me know if you want to make an offer: I am open!

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!!)

Orly Precisely Poppy, Redux

Good news.

I got a better swatch! 

Blogged this here, but in need of a better photo!

Finally!

This is much more accurate. I'd call this one less of a true red and more of a, well, poppy red!

Very much a jelly and quite lovely.

Thanks for your patience!!

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Orly Precisely Poppy

NOTE: I've just reswatched this, and have a better photo. This one is not good. Sorry!!!

I found this at TJ Maxx awhile ago and thought it looked pretty neat. When I got home I compared it to online photos and I wonder if I have one with funky labeling.

Orly Precisely Poppy

Three coats, very much a jelly, but the kind I really like: even coverage.

This is definitely has many possibilities as a layering polish over many cool things: flakies, glitter, glass fleck, well, the list is long.

This is a subdued tangerine that pulls gently into the realm of coral here and there, but I can't say that it's really coral as much as just orange.

You can see just by my pinkie finger a little bit of a pale settled cloudy layer. I imagine with some better shaking, I can get some more density, but who knows, who cares It's a lovely shade.

Readily available online, but not at Orly's site. This must be fairly newish, as it has the new font and new bottle cap color.

Formula was very nice. Not too loose or too stiff, not difficult at all. I like Orly as a rule, I think it's definitely underwhelming me with their collections, but this whole "earth/nude" thing is a thing and Orly rides the trend wave pretty hard. They don't have the super hype, but they catch a lot of cool ideas and put them out there. I like that a lot.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Mauve Pinks

Here are a pair that I haven't worn in a long time and when I took this photo my nails were nice and long.

I think a mauve pink creme is so pretty and ladylike.

I think I blogged these before, but needed a little bit of a redo.

Here's Essie Neo Whimsical

It's one of my favorites from the Essie Art of Spring collection from about 2010.

It's a three coater for sure and was pretty a soft lavender rose creme.

I feel like I need a teacup and a crumpet when I wear it.

Not hard to find online, which is good. It's a soft mauve staple.



Orly Lollipop

A bit more coverage and a bit more of lavender leaning. Three coats again.

Pretty easy to find online, too!

Of the two, I definitely recommend the Orly. Better formula and for the price you get more polish!

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Pair of Fun Blues

I have to say, tapping into the blue drawer has been really fun.

Here are a pair that need an outing.

Orly Blue Collar

Three coats, no top coat.
Still available through Orly's site, this pretty light blue creme may appear to show ridges, but it's just my lighting reflecting the vertical lines.
A thick formula that isn't too thick at all, just enough to level out and perform the number one job a creme should do: cover beautifully.
I love this polish and it's a success story.


China Glaze Sunday Sunday

A rich blue that pulls a little bit more into the turquoise family, though I don't really call it a turquoise.
Three coats, no top coat.
I think this is a pretty nice formula, too. I don't think it's as thick as the Orly, but it does the job.
I can't complain!
This polish is on China Glaze's site, so it's still easy to find.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Greens for March: Hunter Green

So, American Apparel has been in the news as it revamps it's brand devolution.

I just went to their site and see that the polishes have been, for the most part, removed. Will they return, who knows. I'm not sure what direction it will go. 

American Apparel Hunter:

Three coats, lovey polish with no top coat.

I find the formula smooth and rather easy to manipulate. It isn't pure heaven, but you feel like you are on the road to heaven with this formula. 

Color-wise, it's beautiful and quite un-vampy so you do get the green payoff.

I wanted to compare it to a couple other greens:

Left to right:
Orly Enchanted Forest (blogged here)
American Apparel Hunter (actually blogging right now...hehehe)
OPI Christmas Gone Plaid (blogged here)

That blue you see on the center nail is flash, not some blue shimmer.
All three are quite similar, I'd say that in a pinch, one will do versus all of them.

I also think of the three, Orly is most green and brightest, with OPI Christmas Gone Plaid being the darkest.

Poking around eBay I see a few AA's, not sure if they will job-lot these, or they will show up elsewhere now that AA has stopped selling polish. I can't predict if they are just going to go back into the retail stores, or what.

All three are kind of hard-ish to find online. Worse, perhaps, OPI and Orly yield zero results when I search (found OPI's search engine!).

Interesting.  Nearly every collection that comes out in the fall has a red/burgundy/maroon/purple vamp. Why are green ones falling to the wayside? They are all so great!

Keeping one's eyes peeled on eBay might be the best avenue, you never know what will show up!

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Feeling Swatchy: Five Valentine Shades

Let's just jump in....shall we? The water's fine.

Hard Candy Pretty in Punk

Three coats, no top coat.

I love this kind of pink, though I will add that the formula is more like a jelly or a crelly and yet I get good coverage in three coats. There was a time when three coats was the norm, but I get a vibe that people only want one or two. This one will sandwich over other things such as glitter and glass fleck very well.

This came from a large eBay purchase of some job lotted Hard Candy polishes. Still available online.

Milani Raspberry Fusion

Found this at the Dollar Tree. Since it was packed with glass fleck, I thought I'd see how it all played out. Both photos are taken with flash, it brought out the color very well.

Top photo: three coats, no top coat. It's sheer and it doesn't seem to build with a lot of enthusiasm.

Bottom photo: one coat over navy blue. Wow!! Super Topper!! Don your cape, and leap from high buildings, you topper hero, you!!

Still online, for those of you who are seeking a pink topper with a lot of KAPOW!




L'Oreal Seductive

More flash photography! This is three coats of L'Oreal's Steel Colour line, which, judging by the spelling of "color" to the British "colour", I am guessing for a foreign market. I have a number of these and they are absolutely beautiful shades.

I found this, along with the rest, at the Dollar Tree, and wish I had more. They are so odd, yet so nice: smallish bottles (9mL) and great formulae.

Though you can see some nail line in the photo, in real life, there is complete coverage. Like Hard Candy Pretty in Punk, this has crelly quality. Yummy!



Milani Tropical Fiesta

Oooh, Aaaah. Pink corals are high on my list of favorite colors to wear. Three coats, no top coat and a delightful glossy finish.
This is a traditional creme with that intense color payoff that verges on neon. Though some folks might call this neon - I've seen lesser colors called neon - this really isn't, just packed with gorgeous coral wallop!
Found at Dollar Tree and I was quite pleasantly surprised by this one. Easy to still find online, too!



Orly no name matte red

Here's the final entry. A matte red I found at TJ Maxx. No name label and none of my research yielded much in the way of information.
This is a matte has a bit of texture, but nothing like a true texture. I can't seem to figure out the story behind it. I wondered if it was magnetic, too, but nothing.

Top photo is matte and the bottom is with a top coat. I like that it has a red base, but a pink shimmer very much present, but not overpowering.

I can't really find it online, but if anyone knows the name of this, I'd love to know!


Hope you enjoyed the Valentine shades!

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Houndstooth Variations

Prints and retro influences are quite on point these days, and houndstooth has been quite a favorite of mine.

Fortunately BundleMonster plate BM19 has a good size for my small fingers!

OPI Bare It In Trafalgar Square stamped with Orly Opposites Attract:

I blogged Orly Opposites Attract a bit of a while ago, here, and thought it might work for a stamping polish, and OH BOY! Love at first site!
It pulls much more blue here, too.

Borghese Stellare Notte stamped with OPI Bare It In Trafalgar Square

This was was a pretty ad hoc attempt to see if the OPI would stamp, and low and behold, it did! You can see where I repaired the stamp, meaning it didn't quite reach in my application.

This reminds me of a dress I saw online:

Source: http://www.fashionisers.com/trends/fall-winter-2015-2016-print-trends/

Cover Girl white stamped with LDL/ElleElle 209

I did this one earlier and it inspired me to do the other two. I have to admit I was thoroughly surprised how beautifully this deep vamp stamped. I thought it would be dark, but it came out bright berry. Hard to not love this one.

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!

Rescue Beauty Pardonne Moi and OPI Into The Night

One niche polish, Rescue Beauty, shuttered its doors last fall.

She had a lot of sales at the end and I will admit it finally hit a price point that was affordable for me, I did try to hit the sales pretty hard, since I've always liked her polish, but it was normally a bit out of reach. 

I purchased Pardonne Moi, part of a small collection that pays homage to her time living in Paris. There are some beauties and I was pretty excited to get Pardonne Moi. 

This is three coats, no top coat. It's a pretty medium blue frosty shimmer. Very radiant, quite pretty.

When it arrived I immediately pulled OPI Into the Night out of the drawer to compare:

Left to right:

Rescue Beauty Pardonne Moi

OPI Into The Night

Rescue Beauty Pardonne Moi

OPI Into The Night

Bottom photo is a first coat. You can see these are extremely similar. In person the difference is more pronounced: RBL is blue, OPI is indigo.

Personal taste? I love OPI Into the Night a little bit better, but for all intents and purposes, you really have it boiling down to taste. I won't say that either has a better formula, they were truly on par: worked well, dried nicely, good finish and smoothed out well, too. Wore well, too.

Here's a bottle shot:

Really very close. If you missed out on Pardonne Moi you didn't missed out on that much of a unique polish. Unless you are a total fan of this brand, then that's another story.

I next decided to do all my hands in this alternating set up, to test out wear. I thought since stamping is getting a little more fun for me, I'd stamp:

Wear was excellent. I think I stamped after a day of wear, then I put on a topper after another two days.

You really can't see that much of a difference, can you? I know I can't. Well, I guess I can because I know which is which, but in real world they are basically dupes. 

Stamped with a Dollar Store Milani, Instant Pearl, then topped with a topper I found at TJ Maxx called Precious Metal, by Orly.

Seriously pleased over finding this Orly topper. I adore it. It's packed with glass fleck that in some lights takes on some holographic qualities because of the different shades of glass fleck. For the most part, though, it looks silvery. I managed to rustle up a backup bottle and life is good. ;D

I think you can easily rustle up the OPI online, the RBL should show up on eBay if it's not on there now, but the Orly, well, good luck. I think (THINK, but don't know) it's a repackaged Orly Colorblast, but I just don't know. I only recently saw a few Colorblasts and no local retailers carry this line. It might show up again relabeled, it's unique and really turned my head. 

Thank you for reading my little nail polish journal!

Blue Mystery

When a label falls off and the interwebz doesn't reveal many leads, I feel Sherlocked.

At some point, Orly put out a "Colorz" line that is a pre-3-free line that seems to have been discontinued before I got into nail polish back in 2009.
That's all I can seem to recall.

I've got a bottle of this, a beautiful deep midnight shade of periwinkle loaded with that same amber/red shifting pigment that I posted about here.

Unique, rare, hard to find, and I can't even recall where I purchased it!!! It must have been on eBay or  a blog sale. It must have been on sale. But. The mind is blanking so hard on this one!!!


Orly Colorz: lost label

Three coats, and it did need three coats, that built up very nicely.

No top coat, but notice the glossy finish.

These might have had other color shifting polishes in the line, but I can NOT find anything on google, eBay, nailgal.com, Amazon, etc.

It was hard to NOT get a good photo of this polish.

Formula was beautiful, but this is a toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde polish, so that whiff of sweet toxicity was amply present.

I mean, really. Isn't that shimmer just a super star?


If you can recall this polish in your own collection or in your travels around the webz, let me know.

I am completely unable to find the label and I can't, strangely, even find a footprint about this, which to me is extremely weird.


Remember folks, brainy's the new sexy, so give it up if you have clues!

Thanks for reading my little nail polish journal!