365 of Untrieds – Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors with OPI Navy Shatter
365 of Untrieds is my personal challenge to weed through the polishes in the ALU stash that I’ve been wanting to try but just haven’t gotten around to.
While at brunch on Sunday I had my first spotting of crackle polish in the wild. Sure we’ve been talking about it for months but, since OPI Black Shatter launched last January, I have yet to see it on anyone in real life outside of the beauty/fashion blogosphere. The waitress who seated us was wearing a black crackle polish over a metallic silver and I loved the look so much, I decided to replicate it. I went searching for an untried silver foil and came up with Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors and with the OPI Blue Shatters set to launch next month, I thought OPI Navy Shatter would be the perfect complement. |
Formula & Application: Sonia Kashuk nail polishes are 4-Free (including formaldehyde resin) and free of camphor, which can be an irritant. The square glass bottle and smooth metallic cap are identical to the Inglot Nail Enamel packaging. The round, fat brushes even look the same but they apply the polish differently. Where the Inglot brush tends to impede application, causing dragging, I experienced no issues with the Sonia Kashuk brush. The bristles weren’t as densely packed, making the brush more flexible overall.
Foil finish polishes like this tend to be a dream to apply. They don’t show brush marks or uneven application. They are novice polisher’s BFF. The lacquer itself is highly pigmented and barely needed two coats.
Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors is the foiliest foil a foil can be. It’s foil on crack. Like the Orly Foil FX, these are as close to a mirror-like shine you will ever get from polish without some special trickery. It’s pure molten silver goodness.
I’ve always been a fan of navy paired with silver or grey so if Smoke and Mirrors is to be crackified, OPI Navy Shatter is the ideal candidate for the job. Navy Shatter is a creme but when a thin layer is applied over a metallic it takes on that finish giving it a more unique look. The only issue I had is that, unlike Black Shatter which looks pure black no matter how thin it is applied, Navy Shatter can look almost royal which made my crackle coat look unevenly colored. Though since the crackle/shatter look is all about the perfectly imperfect manicure, it kind of works.
Crackle Application Tips: Apply over completely dry polish. Believe me, you won’t like how clumpy and odd it looks over partially dried paint. Thin coats yield more cracking. Try applying across the nail or on the diagonal for a fun twist. Always apply top coat to prevent flaking.
Bottom Line: With its affordable price tag and accessibility, you really can’t go wrong picking up a bottle of Smoke and Mirrors. The formula, application and finish are all complete wins in my book.
365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: Since I already have a couple silver foils like this, I’ll only keep one but I have yet to determine which one. UNDETERMINED
Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors is available at Target stores nationwide and online at Target.com. Sonia Kashuk nail polishes retail for $4.99/ea for a .5oz bottle. OPI Navy Shatter officially launches in May 2011 at salons nationwide including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA. OPI Shatters retail for $8.50/ea for a .5oz bottle.
What do you think of Sonia Kashuk polishes? How is the wear? Do you own Smoke and Mirrors? If not, do you plan to pick up a bottle? What do you think of the latest OPI Shatter shade? Have you spotted a lot of people sporting crackle manicures or do you feel like the only one who knows what it is?
Disclosure: Product samples were provided by Sonia Kashuk and OPI. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
Ooooooohhhhhhhhhh PRETTY!!!!!
Not a fan. Silver nailpolish looks terrible on me. The blue shater however is AWESOME!
OMG!!!! I love that combination! I didn’t want the navy blue shatter at first but I’ve officially changed my mind lol.
I love it, and am totally jealous that you have the new OPI crackle. I’ve been stalking transdesign, waiting for them to update their site, because Im itching for a nail polish haul, and must have all the new OPI crackles, and a few of the Pirates of the Carribean polishes as well! And possibly a few of the new China Glaze summer colors…but I could go on and on…;)
I really like the blue shatter much better than the black shatter. I have yet to get by hands on OPI’s Black Shatter because everywhere is sold out!
If you are near an Ulta they got huge amounts of it back in stock not too long ago, might still be there
I spotted my first one on the weekend too – the owner of the nail polish wholesaler I go to was wearing it. She had a purple base with a white crackle over the top – she mentioned it wasn’t OPI but another brand but I was too occupied with her making a mess of ringing up my polishes to check what brand she used (she undercharged me in the end she made such a mess of it!).
It was China Glaze.
It could have been LaRosa or another off brand I can’t think of right now but I believe it starts with an M.
That looks great – I love blue and silver together. I’ve bought some of the shatters but always think that it looks better on others than myself; I put it on and take it straight off!
I was going to get this color but it reminded me of the China Glaze Cheers To You.
I can;t wait to get my hands on the Navy shatter though
-XoXo
Alexis
LOVE the silver. I also really love the OPI Simply Smashing, maybe even with the shatter. Not fond of this shatter, not sure why.
After seeing your swatch I may pick up this color to wear.I love your combo and I really like the OPI Navy shatter. How do the shatter polishes wear? I’ve always wondered because I read good things and bad things and I’m leaning towards buying a bottle of shatter nail polish.
I’ve only worn Black Shatter for an extended period of time but I had no issues. You have to wear a top coat and even then you’ll feel some texture from the shatter but I didn’t experience any extreme wear problems.
I wore OPI black shatter on my toes for easily, two weeks, no chips or anything.
Personally, I wear silvers all the time and love them, but that one’s a little to foily for me!
I am not on this crackle trend at all because i think it generally looks a bit messy and i’ve spent forever tryint to perfect my nail polish application to look neat – but this one looks fab! Maybe it’s the metallic element? I’m like a magpie over shiny things! Anwyay i really like, much much more than with a standrd polish.
Jo xx
I’m with you Jo. I’m still not on board with crackle. The perfectionist in me wants every nail to look the same and that’s impossible. I do like the idea of metallic shatter/crackle like the shimmer purple from China Glaze or the silver OPI has coming out with Pirates of the Caribbean.
That looks awesome!!!! I am going to need to copy that look.
I think you’re just in the wrong part of Ohio. In Toledo, girls show up at the hospital all the time wearing shatter. By this I mean the nurses, our unit clerks, patients and their families. Rarely does a day go by without a few shatter sightings, and the sightings include China Glaze as well. There are even shatter discussions.
I’ve been meaning to tell you that on my first day back from Maternity Leave, I was outside of a patient’s room “rounding” (aka- standing there looking at labs, vital signs, talking with nurses and residents about our plan for that patient) when of course one of my good friends/nurses wanted to show me her shatter mani. The patient’s DAD walked out of the room then, and he commented “Oh, you have the OPI Katy Perry manicure?” For reals. I about fell over. It turned out that his wife was a nail tech and owned a shop, so he knows a lot from just hanging out there. Later that day she came in and did a mani on the patient (a teenage girl). It was California Raspberry with Black Shatter.
I think Shatter is taking over Toledo.
I love it! I never thought to pair it with a shatter polish, let alone the navy one.
I love Smoke & Mirrors with Nicole by OPI Tip of the Iceburg on top for some extra bling and sparkle to the foil.
The color looks amazing.
Last week I saw someone with crackle polish for the first time as well. She wore a black one over beige which looked pretty good.
that sounds like a more subtle way to do crackle. i like the idea of beige underneath.
I’ve done OPI Black Shatter over RBL Grunge. Subtle yet slightly punk. Today I have Black Shatter over China Glaze Pelican Grey on my toes (tons of top coat – SV) and it has a nice “Storm Brewing” look to it.
love this color scheme!! I’ve worn Black Shatter and the China Glaze crackles a few times out in the real world, and everytime I get loads of questions about what’s on my nails. I’ve worn the polishes to work, (I teach college English, so there’s no true “office appropriate” dress code), and I’ve since seen the polish on a few of my female students. I can’t wait for more crackle polish! Didn’t I hear that OPI is making a red shatter too?
They are making a red shatter. And a white & silver metallic plus the blue shatters I mentioned in the post. They are getting shatter crazy at OPI.
I own SK Smoke & Mirrors and I love it! It’s also a great pedicure color!
I absolutely LOVE that combination. Lovelovelove.
Now here’s a question… my black shatter (which I wear all the time and love) is starting to dry up a bit and get thick and goopy. Would I be able to add Seche Restore to it without wrecking it?
I haven’t personally tried it and I’m honestly a little afraid of messing up my shatter to do so. I have noticed that they get thick and goopy over time and I’m assuming that the formula is to blame and all shatters will end up that way.
If anyone has successfully thinned out their OPI Shatter, please let us know.
I did! I had read on OPI’s Facebook you could, plus it had gotten un-useable without it so I tried it & it was totally fine!
I haven’t had to thin mine yet but quite a few girls over on the MUA Nail Board have done it. Most used the Beauty Secrets thinner from Sally’s without an issue.
Tams- what did you use to thin it? Seche Restore? It’s so awesome that you posted this, thanks!
Sorry I just saw this, I have an OPI thinner but I plan to try Seche next!
That looks disarmingly similar to the “Royal Wedding Manicure” that just showed up on OPI’s Facebook page:
http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2011/04/royal-wedding-manicure.html
I like it on you though, I just never want to hear another word about that wedding!
Okay that’s just spooky weird. Thanks for the link
I saw my first Crackle in the wild last week at a Phillies game! The girl (who was working at the BEST FRENCH FRY STAND IN THE WORLD) had Black Shatter over neon pink. It was awesome and I told her so
It was the first time I actually wanted a crackle polish, and this post seals the deal.
And why is it that, although I own eleventy-thousand silver polishes, every time I see a new swatch I NEED it?!
The silver-blue combination is wonderful!!
Love it!! This screams Dallas Cowboys too me!!! I can’t wait to get my hands on this for football season!
love the silver & blue combo!
It (the silver) looks very much like Celeb City from Sally Hansen too, no?
I still haven’t tried shatter… mostly because I haven’t determined yet if it’s my “thing.” But I love the silver and blue look for sure.
I love the blue shatter silver combination. I can’t wait to get my hands on the red, teal, and silver shatter. I have only spotted one person with the China glaze purple crackle.it is funny when I am asked how did I make my polish crack like that when I am wearing it.
I have actually seen a few people with the shatter and thought it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It’s still not for me though. I almost fainted when I saw my salon got them. They are typically so conservative and everyone stares at me with my blues and greens.
I love Orly Shine, so I don’t need this silver foil… but it looks equally awesome. I’d be curious about the wear since the Orly foils are so amazing.
oh woah woah! love the finish on that blue shatter…and i havent been feeling the shatter polishes til now. i might have to pick that one up in may. (:
I have Smoke and Mirrors and I absolutely love it. The fact that it’s almost a one coater and its quick dry time are definitely perks. I actually had the same idea as you when I first bought the polish last month, except I did my mani with Black Mesh by China Glaze.
pic of my manicure with Smoke and Mirrors:
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lir8w6ZhqU1qfgw9e.jpg
I totally also spotted a waitress wearing black shatter just the other day! First time I have seen it in the “real world” as well
Love the navy and silver look!
I love this color! Metallic are my FAVORITE. Have you tried China Glaze Here’s to You, and if so, how would you say it compares?
I’m definitely into shatters, and I have a couple of friends who’ve tried them. Then again, it’s all people who frequent nail blogs, not “regular” people.
What other silver foils have you tried? Do you have a favorite? I can’t seem to find the Orly foil near me so looking for an alternative that isn’t too pricey…. Would this make the cut?!
Wow that foil is amazing! You should definitely keep it.
Love it. Can’t wait to try them both!
I am truly in love love with this look when i saw it i instantly started googling where to get those polishes
I’m not a crackle fan (yet; I haven’t actually tried any of them, but I prefer a clean look to my polish)– but this combo is rocking! The navy shatter is definitely not navy at all, but it’s still a really pretty royal blue color and looks fab with the silver. Shiny!!
I’ve been sporting OPI’s black shatter for quite some time, its on my toes as we speak over Essie Knockout Pout. I love it over neon pink and REALLY love it over Essie’s Turquoise & Caicos. But I found I need to glob it on in one thick coat than applying it thin. It just doesn’t give me good results when thin, it looks streaky not crackly.
I easily found it at Ulta but been having a heck of a time locating the colored ones from China Glaze. I’m patiently awaiting the OPI release of the Spark de Triomphe (white shatter with silver base) I think it sounds like the perfect summer manicure.
I LOVE the Smoke and Mirrors and do like it with blue shatter esp for football season
but I don’t think it is nearly as navy as I would like. I think a deep dark navy shatter would be amazing.
They had the China Glaze colored crackles at Sally Beauty, but they sold out super quickly (around here, anyway)- so I got mine online from either Trans Design or Victoria Nail Supply- I don’t remember which…
This is a very cool look! I LOVE the navy shatter, and I thought I was going to be able to get by without it…NOPE!
I have seen TONS of ‘crackles in the wild’- but maybe that’s because I’m in the Midwest, and we jump at any interesting color infusion since spring is absolutely nowhere to be found…
I liked the Black Shatter, but I love the Silver Shatter from Pirates. I have it on over the Sally Hansen Xtreme Deep Purple, and I’m absolutely hypnotised. It’s like a broken mirror over a rich jeel purple.