Shades by Barielle – Fall Affair for Fall/Winter 2008
Did you know that Barielle makes nail polish? I certainly didn’t. Not until I met celebrity manicurist and Barielle spokesperson, Elle (kids, she’s worked on everyone, EVERYONE!). Known for their top notch nail treatments, Barielle has joined the color game with Shades by Barielle, a line of 3-Free, fashion forward lacquers. For Fall/Winter 2008, Elle created Fall Affair, a collection of six shades she pulled straight from the runways.
Can I just say that I’m beyond impressed with these polishes? They are superbly pigmented, 3 Free, yet not thick and goopy, and they last! Like even after five days of wear with my go-to top/base combo of Seche Base & Vite, the signs of wear were minimal. Not to mention, the formula just flows on the nail. It spreads out to create a perfect even finish. Oh and they dry so quick, that even without top coat, I could touch my nail beds after a few minutes.
Now I’m not gonna lie, the first time I applied Date Night (green), it went on kind of streaky and uneven but after talking with Elle, she helped me tweak my application technique. For the longest time, I’ve put quite a bit of polish on my brush, started in the middle of my nail and pushed the blob down towards my cuticle. WRONG-O! By putting a little less polish on my brush, starting at the cuticle, holding the brush almost parallel with my nail and pressing just enough to fan out the bristles, I was able to achieve the perfect 3-stroke application. Thanks Elle! MWAH!
Sneak-A-Peek is a silvery-gray shimmer that is so pigmented, I hardly needed two coats. For a color that light, that’s major. It’s a great icy shade for winter and an excellent call for those of you unable to take the plunge and try full-on gray.
Misbehaving Mistress is so unique, I don’t really know how to describe it but I know that I LOVE it. It’s kind of graphite but with taupe mixed in. To me, it’s the love child of OPI You Don’t Know Jacques and CND Black Platinum. And even though it’s dubbed a metallic by Barielle, it certainly doesn’t apply like one. There’s no brush stroke issues to be found.
Date Night – Seriously, just when I thought there wasn’t another swoon worthy green to be made… along comes Date Night. A beyond fabulous jeweled emerald green. If China Glaze Emerald Sparkle is my ultimate green glitter and Rescue Beauty Lounge Recycle is my ultimate green creme, this is my ULTIMATE GREEN SHIMMER. This kicks OPI Rainforest ass and I don’t say that lightly. It’s so pigmented and vibrant yet not overly bright like Emerald City from Sally Hansen. It’s deeper but not blackened, like Zoya Suvi, so you know it’s green yet it’s still elegant and trendy. I went through two storage boxes of green polish and can’t find one that holds a candle to the pigmentation and depth of this shade. There is no dupe! Buy it, buy it now!!
Hidden Hideaway is a sultry, blackened plum. It doesn’t have a red base but the warm golden shimmer warms it up a bit. This is an “almost black” eggplant shade but as you can see in the pictures, you can still tell it’s a purple. 
Secret Encounter plays on that berry trend that is happening in makeup this fall. This deep magenta has the same warm shimmer as Hidden Hideaway which makes you think it’s a duo-chrome in the bottle but it’s not. 
Two Timing has this comforting, warm, autumnal feel, like metallic fall leaves. It’s burnt yet not blackened, very Turkey Day if you ask me. I’d call it a bronzey orange or worn copper. And again, it’s considered a metallic but because of its smooth application it’s more like a metallic-shimmer crossover. A shimallic? A metmer? What do you think?
The Fall Affair collection from Shades by Barielle retails for $8/ea and is available now on Barielle.com or at one of the 1,500+ CVS stores that now carry the brand. Call for availability.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
OMG — Must have Misbehavin Mistress. Do you know where these are going to be sold? I have a hard enough time trying to find Barielle Camo lol. And thanks for sharing the application tip!
Vbie3714 – I posted a link to the Barielle site where you can buy them but they’re also carried at select CVS stores.
wow, they are all so pretty.
You read my mind! I just ordered a bunch of these earlier this week! They look awesome I cannot wait to try them out.
I must, must, must have Two Timing. I love it. Will also be purchasing Date Night – as I love any shade of green I can get my hands on!
Hey I was just wondering how does Date Night compare to the Sally Hansen Emerald Ring? Is the Barielle version a darker green?? Should I get both?
Thanks for the tip!
M – Are you planning to get any of them?
VampyVarnish – Oh which ones did you get? I’m really happy with all of them.
Cary’s Girl – Yay! Another green lover
Anon – Emerald Ring is more much blue based, leaning towards a teal green. This is very true. I swatched it next to every green I own and nothing comes close.
I am DEFINITELY feeling the love for Misbehaving Mistress! I’ll have to check my local CVS, stat.
I got Secret Encounter, Hidden Hideaway, Date Night and Misbehaving Mistress. Yay!
Those are all gorgeous! I want them all!
These look great! I will definitely give them a look the next time I’m at CVS
I have loved Barielle’s polishes very since I saw “coco bar” featured in Essence Magazine (2007). I was actually on the waiting list for the polish. When I tried it, it applied like a dream and it last a very long time. I defineltly raved about it, their formula is perfect.
I MUST have Misbehavin Mistress! Checked the Barielle site and they’re only $8! Uh oh, I smell a haul coming on and it smells like nailpolish! Thanks for posting this!
I really like Two Timing. Quite a pretty color
OMFG Date Night is drop dead gorgeous!
The Rotund – I hope you and anyone else who finds the collection at CVS will report back. I haven’t seen them at mine yet so I’m curious what parts of the country are carrying the colors.
VampyVarnish – Great choices. Can’t wait to see them on you.
Anon #2 – Yay! Your wallet will love you.
Katee – What is that green in your profile pic?
Regalness – Thanks for the feedback. Is Coco Bar a creme or shimmer?
Redhedd – Yay for hauling! Though I noticed that Barielle is running a Buy 2 Get 1 Free offer on their site. If you didn’t take advantage before ordering, call customer service and see if you can still do it.
Phyrra – It’s so fall. I love it too!
Sanna – Can you even? It’s beyond perfect.
Wow, those are all completely TDF and unique, all of them! Must have!!! I’m really, really impressed.
OMG! I have been waiting for a Down to my Last Penny dupe for years now. I really really hope Two Timing is
Misbehaving Mistress is incredible. It looks a little like My Private Jet without the shimmer.
Delurking – love, love your blog and the wonderful photos! You don’t know how many nail lacquer lemmings you’ve stoked! ;):P
I saw these in person at my CVS today. They looked great, but I’m wary of duping shades I already have. I’d love to see how Hidden Hideaway compares to Zoya Yasmeen and how Secret Encounter compares to Zoya Rhiana.
Oh — and the CVS I found them at was in Columbus (Gahanna), Ohio.
Now I have a reason to go to CVS! Do you know what happened to the Mira line after Eckerd was bought out by Rite Aid? The last color line wasn’t my favorite but that polish really wore well! I still have bottles that are several years old and when I, occasionally, put them on they still apply well and wear really well. Thanks for giving me a new, less expensive passion: nail color! Love, love love the swatches!
Hi Michelle:
I went to the Barielle web page and found exactly what you have ben saying about the colors. Sneak-A Peak (a shiny gray-silver)looks more white than gray; Date Night (is more of a gorgeous metallic green)so is Hidden Hideaway (metallic purple that I love to show off) but what about Amuse? (that metallic Baby Blue?) or even Edgy (the deep purple?) There seems to be so many colors on their web site it's hard to make a choice of which to have, lol. But I will try and figure it all out.
I am prone to Misbehaving Mistress (Metallic Taupe shade) Swizzle Stix (pastel Creme 'Blue) and Grape Escape (Violet Creme) which purple and blue are my two favs for my toes. Thank you for bringing these up on your web blog. Two for one sounds like a great deal from http://www.barielle.com/