CND Colour, Effects and Henna?
 Happy Monday Fanatics! After another fun but tiring weekend away, this time with my Michigan/Cedar Point friends, I have some fun nail pics to show you.We drove up for German Park, a festival that takes place at the German Park Recreation Club the last weekend of June, July & August. It’s a lot of German food, beer and music in a very off the beaten path type location. We went and staked out a couple picnic tables for a day drunken stupidity, good food and card games. Thank goodness we had our preggers DD to cart our tipsy butts back.
While I was there I snuck out to meet up with one of my fave fellow bloggers, Christine from 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic, which meant an early morning mani was in order. I’ve been carrying around a couple of the new CND Colour & Effects polishes since becoming obsessed with a certain color combo so that’s what I went with. Check it out after the jump! |
As I mentioned in my Cosmoprof Recap, CND totally revamped their line with the introduction of Colour & Effects. They’re releasing 50 Colours in a range from the whitest white to the blackest black with primary, secondary and metallics thrown in to provide a well rounded palette of shades. In addition, the 15 Effects allow you to transform the Colours with sheer pearls, shimmers and glitters to layer over top. It’s similar in concept to the brand Nailtini only the polish quality is like 100 times better.
Let’s talk about the polish. The new CND formula is 3-free AND free of the dry time issue that plagued CND polishes in the past. I’ve tested it now using a few different top coats and those old denting problems are gone. They also have a new ergonomic bottle with a rubberized cap and a NEW BRUSH!!
The brush is flat but not too wide. It’s about a 1/3 the width of my pinkie nail which means I can fan it out without hitting skin but the actual bristles are what make it unique. They are very thin but triangular in shape. I’m not sure why that makes a difference but application is AH-MAZING!! Seriously you guys, I’m so in like with this polish I want to send it a note to ask if we can be BFFs.
So when we got the chance to play with the new Colours & Effects at the Cosmoprof launch, the combination I loved most was layering Sapphire Sparkle, a smooth, bright blue glittah, over Inkwell, a blue-black creme. There’s something about the glitter in this one that makes it look purple-ish depending on the light. I took way too many pictures but I’m sure you won’t complain over that.
 Now you may have noticed the mention of Henna in the title. Well one of the people we met at German Park is a henna artist. Julie of |
I’ve never worn henna before so I was fascinated to hear her talk about how there are different types of henna paste and how you should avoid toxic “black henna.” How she mixes her own and scents it with lavender (it smelled so fab!).
As she started drawing the design on my hands, she did warn that copious amounts of German beer may effect the results. Considering that I have a hard time drawing a stick figure when playing Hangman, I think she did a pretty wicked job, no?
 My friend Jewels also got in on the henna action with an even more detailed design. We passed out shortly after so the henna got plenty of drying time on our skin. Julie told us that the design would continue to darken and then fade as our skin exfoliates but I didn’t realize how intense it would look. |
Here we are today, approximately 36 hours after she applied the design and I’m totally loving it. I’m told it can last anywhere up to nine days with proper care and moisturizing so unless you work in a relaxed environment, like I do, you may want to consider a less conspicuous placement should you delve into henna art. Since I’m way too much of a baby to ever get a tattoo, this is a perfect alternative.
What do you all think? Are you liking my CND combo? Are you a fan of henna?
The CND Colour & Effects line will launch in the Fall at salons and spas in the US. Colours will retail for $9, Effects for $11.
Fanatics in the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area can contact Julie regarding henna body art at ArborHenna.com.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
Love the CND combo and love even more the henna, it is so beautiful and looks lovely on you.
What a bummer that the price of this polish went up since the revamping of the line. Based on the prices you listed, the combo on your nails would cost $20–$9 for the polish and $11 for the glitter topcoat, no? Is it possible to use the "effects" with other brands of base color (OPI, ChG, Essie)? I can't justify paying $20 for one "look", though if the topcoats are compatible with other polishes that I already own I may give it a whirl… Your nails look fab as usual
Your color combo looks awesome, I want a polish that looks just like that without having to fiddle around with different bottles.
To be completely honest I don't think I'm going to buy anything from the new CND line. It just seems too expensive and too much work to have up to three bottles for color and effects, plus a base- and topcoat.
I really love this concept! I want to see all the effects swatched! I love it!
I love the henna on you! It is great to read that CND has improved the formula on their polish…goodbye sheet marks!
Love the henna. Ive had it once on my foot and leg and I loved it. I need to do it again at least once this summer!!! I dont have any CND so maybe ill give them a whirl when these new fab colors are released
These sound really cool even though I'm a fan of plain creme colors.
Ava posted my reaction–CND effectively raised the price of one color to $20. For that I can buy 2 or 3 OPI or CG.
Did you actually pay retail for the CND?
I'm really impressed with the photos and the layering possibilities of the new line. CND makes my favorite treatment products. I'm so glad I will now be able to enjoy their color with the same devotion I have to Stickey and Air Dry. I save my older CND polishes for morning manicures only! I am glad the new line will require less scheduling.
The henna artist did beautiful work.
The CND line sounds really cool! I love anything glittery or sparkly, so the "effects" polishes sound right up my alley.
And the henna looks great, I really should try that while I'm here in Qatar. I see the Qatari ladies wearing it all the time.
I really like the concept of these polishes but unless they are available at the e-tailers I won't be getting any. I've been topping my own polish with glitter since I was 5. Those are crazy expensive!
I've gotten 2 henna tattoos- a seashorse on my ankle, and a dragon on my hand. Here's a trick for when you bathe/shower- put some olive oil on your tattoo, so then it'll keep it from exfoliating as fast. I also really like how yours fades from light orange-brown to dark brown-red on the top, that's so cool. I guess tattoos on the fingers naturally are darker.
You should try the henna with red or maroon nailpolish. Most brides in India wear red or maroon polish (it is considered festive).
Your blog is great as always!
Love the henna! It looks great! I had henna on my hands for a wedding in August. The henna artist sprayed the henna with a mixture of lemon juice and sugar to help deepen the color.
That’s a gorgeous colour and the henna is beautiful!