NOTD: OPI Ginger Bells

Hello Everyone!

Today's NOTD is a polish I passed a billion times. I thought it was hideous in the bottle, but when I saw it at my local beauty supply store for $1.33 I thought, "why not?" So I picked it up, and it sat with my other OPIs for almost a year. I was feeling very much in a fall mood the other day and decided to try it. After all it's only nail polish, and if it's really that bad you can just take it off, right?

Ginger Bells has awoken my love for ugly colors. Ginger Bells is a burnt orange creme polish. It applied wonderfully. My pictures are two thin coats. I was honestly surprised how fond I grew of this color, I'm not usually a fan of orange. I think it looks a bit silly on my skin tone. I think what makes Ginger Bells work for me is how soft and muted it is. It kinda reminds me of pumpkin pie.

What do you think? Is Ginger Bells ugly pretty, or pretty ugly?

Silent Auction

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to put up a quick post letting you know I'm having a silent auction for some  discontinued and HTF polishes. You may click here to see the polishes I have up for auction. To all of my fellow bloggers, I would appreciate it if you'd share the link to this auction.



-Starlet

NOTD: Orly Mysterious Curse Swatches & Comps

Hello Everyone!

The NOTD I have for you today is from Orly's Dark Shadows collection. Mysterious curse is actually a repromote of Orly's Royal Velvet. Mysterious Curse is a purple based polish with tons of blue shimmer. I noticed the formula was a little watery and thin but not unmanageable. I needed three coats to reach opacity.

Indoors

Flash- look at that shimmer

I decided to check my stash for dupes. The closest I could come up with was OPI Glacier Bay Blues. Glacier Bay Blues is a blue based polish that's packed with purple shimmer that sometimes flashes green. 

You can see from the picture above the difference in the base colors. 

NOTD: Teal Glitter Gradient

Hello Everyone!

The NOTD I have for you today is a glitter gradient using all OPI polishes. After applying my CND Stickey Base Coat, I applied 2 coats of OPI Ski Teal We Drop. I then applied OPI Austin-tatious Turquoise to about 2/3rds of my nail. If you look closely you can see the turquoise doesn't go all the way to my cuticle area. Using OPI Simmer & Shimmer I created a gradient effect with the densest glitter at the tips of my nails. I topped everything off with a generous coat of China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat.

Have you tried a glitter gradient?

NOTD: OPI Buenos Aries Iris

Hello Everyone!

The polish I have for you today is, I believe, the oldest polish in my stash. The color is Buenos Aries Iris and it is from the Spring / Summer Collection in 1992. That's right! This polish is 20 years old. I didn't collect polish in 1992, in fact I was still in grade school in 1992. I picked up this beauty about 7 or 8 years ago at a garage sale. I am so glad I did. I remember at the time thinking how obnoxiously bright pink it was. I mean who wears retina searing hot pink nail polish? I think it's funny now because the color is actually very tame compared to other neon pinks that I own.

Buenos Aries Iris is a hot pink polish with gorgeous blue shimmer. I'm sure she has many dupes or close dupes but I'm not drawn to pink polish very often so she's original in my collection.This lovely did require a bit of thinning but c'mon she's 20 years old, I think that's to be expected and she thinned out so beautifully for me. The picture shown is two thin coats. Personally I would have liked a third but I want to conserve this polish. I highly doubt I'll ever find another bottle of it. Please excuse my cuticles. It's been horrendously hot here and I've been swimming almost everyday. My cuticles are paying the price for that. 

Have you ever found polish at a garage sale? What's the oldest polish in your collection?

NOTD: LA Girl Matte Lilac

Hello Everyone!

A few years ago we were hit with a matte polish trend. Personally I still love this look and I wear it quite often.  The polish I have for you today is LA Girl Matte Lilac. To my eyes this isn't exactly what I'd call lilac. I would say it's more of a blue based pink. When I think lilac I think of a color somewhere between pink and purple leaning more towards purple.

At any rate, Matte Lilac had very easy application. One thing I will note is that I let the first coat dry before I added a second. Mattes dry on the surface very quickly but if you use a thicker coat it will still be wet deeper in the layer so I like to let the first coat dry completely to prevent any dragging or bald spots. I used two coats of Matte Lilac over one coat of CND Stickey. I did not use topcoat for the picture below.  I had no removal issues.

I love the rubber like texture

There are many companies now that make matte topcoats that allow you to make any polish matte. With this in mind I decided to compare a few creme polishes I own to see if I had a dupe of Matte Lilac. 

From index to pinky- Matte Lilac (with topcoat), OPI Sparrow Me The Drama, Matte Lilac (with topcoat), Essie Splash of Grenadine.

Now that I'm looking at this I wish I'd swatched China Glaze Dance Baby along with these polishes. As you can see there are no dupes here but Splash of Grenadine is quite close.


How do you feel about matte polishes? Do you own any?

NOTD: OPI Guy Meets Gal-veston & OPI Pirouette My Whistle

Hello Everyone!
For reasons unknown to me I have recently decided I need all the "sorbets" from OPI Texas (Spring 2011). I know I'm a year too late. What the heck is wrong with me? :P So far I've picked up (I believe) all but one of them. I haven't tried all that I have but so far I am loving them much more than I thought I would.

The mani I have for you today was my birthday mani. This was:
1 coat Qtica Natural Nail Growth Stimulator
1 coat CND Stickey ( I love this base!)
2 coats OPI Guy Meets Gal-veston
1 coat China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat ( love this top coat!)
1 coat OPI Pirouette My Whistle)
1 coat China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat

Guy Meets Gal-veston is a warm red jelly, and so squishy! When these jellies first came out I immediately passed on them. I really don't like visible nail line so I generally opt for darker jellies. I honestly thought Guy Meets Gal-veston would be way too sheer for me to wear, but I was pleasantly surprised that it's relatively opaque in three coats. I wore Guy Meets Gal-veston on its own for a few hours and I loved it but I felt it needed a little kick so I added a coat of Pirouette My Whistle. Pirouette My Whistle is a very sparse glitter polish. I live the silver micro glitter in Pirouette My Whistle, but the real star of the polish is the small semi translucent white hex glitter. It's a very dainty and girly polish. I can't wait to try more layering combinations with both of these polishes.

Jelly Sandwich!

 Have you ever tried a jelly sandwich? Which polishes did you layer? I'd love to hear & see your combinations.

NOTD: OPI Grape Set Match Fauxnad

Hello Everyone!

The NOTD I have for you today is a fauxnad mani. For this mani I used a base of OPI Grape Set Match. Grape Set Match was in one of the Serena Williams Duos. Grape Set Match is a purple shimmery polish with pink, purple and blue micro glitter. I used my Bundle Monster plate number BM-225 and Sally Hansen color quick polish pen in Gold Chrome. Pictures shown are two coats of Grape Set Match stamped.

NOTD: OPI DS Fantasy

Hello Everyone!

The NOTD I have for you is a polish you've already seen. While on vacation in Hawaii back in November / December I did a little dusty hunting. I found five original release DS polishes. You can read the haul post here.  DS Fantasy is a dark blue holo polish. When I purchased the polish it was a little thick so I added some thinner. I think I may still be able to thin it out a little more. DS Fantasy has the OPI ProWide brush that I love so much. I';m going to shut up now and show you the pictures because, after all, pictures are worth a thousand words (or more). Pictures shown are two coats DS Fantasy over CND Stickey and topped with Barielle Ultra Speed Dry Manicure Extender. As always, the pictures are huge so please click for more detail.

BLOG SALE UPDATE

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick note to let you know I've updated my BLOG SALE. Click the tab above or click here to view in a new window. As I continue to go through my collection I will be adding more and more items. Happy Shopping!!

~Starlet

NOTD: OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts & Comps

Hello Everyone!

The NOTD I have for you today is from OPI's Touring America Collection (Fall 2011). French Quarter For Your Thoughts is said to be inspired by the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. French Quarter For Your Thoughts is brown/grey creme polish. The best way for me to describe this polish is saying it looks like putty or clay. In some lights it looks more grey and in others it looks more brown toned. I had no application or removal issues. Pictures shown are two coats of French Quarter For Your Thoughts over CND Stickey and topped with China Glaze Fast Forward.

While I was wearing French Quarter For Your Thoughts I kept thinking it looked a little familiar so I decided to comp it with Essie Chinchilly.

Index & Ring Essie Chinchilly

Middle & Pinky OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts

Index & Ring Essie Chinchilly

Middle & Pinky OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts

As you can see Chinchilly & French Quarter For Your Thoughts are not completely dupes but they are very close. Chinchilly has a touch more brown but I think for most people they will be close enough. Feel free to judge for yourself. I also left all these pictures huge so you may click them for more detail.

NOTD: Illamasqua Load & OPI What's Dune?

Hello Everyone!

The NOTD I have for you today is a layering combination using Illamasqua Load and OPI What's Dune?. Load is one of my favorite Illamasqua polishes. I knew I wanted it as soon as I saw swatches. Personally, I find yellows a little difficult to wear, and I feel Load is the perfect soft yellow creme for my skintone. What's Dune? is from the 2003 OPI Summer For Shore collection. I'd describe What's Dune? as an opalescent holo. It is definitely a holo but it is extremely sheer. I would say What's Dune? is best used as a layering polish. I can't wait to try What's Dune? over more polishes. I had no application or removal issues with Load or What's Dune? I love this combination, and I feel it's perfect for spring.  Pictures shown are two coats of Load topped with two coats of What's Dune?

Blurry to show the holo

NOTD: OPI Sugar Plum Yum

Hello everyone!

The NOTD I have for you today is OPI Sugar Plum Yum and all I can say is the "yum" part is right on! This duochrome polish is absolutely stunning. Sugar Plum Yum is a dusty blue based polish that shifts to pink and to gold. I've actually had this polish on for three days now because I just can't get enough of its gorgeousness and I've beeb staring at it constantly, moving my hand in the light, and continuing to be simply amazed by the obvious color change.  Sugar Plum Yum is very sheer. The pictures shown are four coats over CND Stickey and topped with China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat.

On to WAY too many pictures of Sugar Plum Yum...

Gorgeous Gold Shift

Starting to see the Pink Shift

Showing more pink

All her gorgeousness

YUM!

NOTD: Uh Oh Roll Down The Window

Hello Everyone!

Today's NOTD is OPI Uh Oh Roll Down The Window (UORDTW for short) UORDTW is a dusty, olive, army green creme polish. I have a major weak spot for olive/army green polishes. I know that I own way too many of them but I'm oddly drawn to them. This polish was perfection for me. It went on so easily. In fact I think the only way application could have been any easier is if it applied itself! The swatch shown is two buttery smooth coats.

Uh Oh Roll Down The Window was released with the Touring America collection in fall 2011.

NOTD: OPI Pepe's Purple Passion & OPI Divine Swine

Hello Everyone!

Today I have a NOTD using the new OPI Muppets collection. I started off with a base coat of China Glaze Seduce Me then topped my ring finger with OPI Divine Swine. This is ONE coat of Divine Swine. I cannot believe how glittery it is! You're blowing my mind here OPI! I added a coat of Pepe's Purple Passion to my other nails. Again this is one coat of Pepe's Purple Passion. Pepe's Purple Passion has really awesome gold irregular shaped glitter in it.

These polishes are limited edition so if you like what you see be sure to scoop them up fast.

NOTD:OPI Mermaid's Tears + OPI Go On Green

Hello Everyone!

Today's NOTD is a layering combination. I started with two coats of OPI Mermaid's Tears which is a slightly dusty mint creme. Mermaid's Tears came out with the OPI Pirates of the Caribbean collection in Spring 2011. The formula was incredible. I love OPI's cremes. They go on so easily and evenly and they're amazingly self leveling. I then added one coat of OPI Go On Green. Go On Green is a very sheer light blue polish flooded with tons and tons of mint green shimmer .I'm not a fan of sheers on their own but I really enjoy layering with them. Go On Green is a bit watery but I find that to be normal with most sheer polishes.

In lower lights I can see more of the blue from Go on Green in this mani but in natural light all that gorgeous green shimmer comes out to play. I don't care if this mani gives me "lobster hands" I love it!

May I also just rave for a second about the OPI ProWide brush? I think its my favorite brush. My nail beds fall somewhere between 'normal' and 'wide' and with the ProWide brush I can cover my entire nail in one swipe. It makes painting my nails so much faster.

NOTD: OPI I Brake For Manicures

Hello Everyone!

This time I have OPI I Brake For Manicures. I Brake For Manicures is from OPI's Touring America Collection which was released fall 2011. I Brake For Manicures is one of those odd colors. Sometimes it looks purple, sometimes it looks more raisin.  It is a creme and certainly unique in my collection.  I Brake For Manicures is a great fall vampy color.  Swatch shown is two coats.

NOTD: OPI Jade Is The New Black

Hello Everyone!

The NOTD I have for you this time is OPI Jade Is the New Black. Jade Is the New Black was released in OPI's Hong Kong collection back in Spring 2010. I kept seeing this and fell in love with the color and it seemed any time I was polish shopping I'd pick it up and put it back. I finally purchased it and it sat among my other OPI bottle for months. I cannot believe I waited so long to try this. Jade Is the New Black is a green creme polish. It definitely has a lot of blue in it but I wouldn't call it a teal or a turquoise. It's still a green to me. I've got to say the OPI ProWide brush just might be my favorite brush. I had zero application issues. Swatch shown is two coats.

NOTD: OPI On The Same Paige

On The Same Paige was released back in 2009 with the Bright Pair Collection. On The Same Paige is a creme orange polish that leans more on the red side of orange. For me it's the perfect Autumn orange. Swatch shown is two coats topped with China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat. On The Same Paige went on like butter,

NOTD: Frankenstein Mani

Hello everyone!

This is my take on the Frankenstein mani. I used China Glaze Tree Hugger as my base color topped with OPI's Zom-body To Love- it glows in the dark! I then used Wet n' Wild French White Creme and a dotting tool to make the whites on the eyes. The pupils of the eyes were made with and Art Deco nail art polish (the ones will the skinny brushes) and a dotting tool. I used the nail art polish brush to make the hair, stitches, and mouth. I let everything dry for a moment and topped it all off with a coat of Seche Vite.