ALU’s 365 of Untrieds – Step by Step with Orly Sapphire Silk & Color Club Factory Girl
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.Step by step, ooh baby, Gonna get to you girlStep by step, ooh baby, Really want you in my worldThat’s right Fanatics, I went to the NKOTBSB concert and I’m not one bit ashamed because it was AH-Mazing! Those boys, well men, sing and dance their asses off for over two hours to throngs of screaming fans and I was so happy to be one of them. It totally makes up for the fact that I never got to see them perform when I was a kid. For me, the best parts of the concert were seeing my darling Joey McIntyre, who rocked some multi-colored nails the last time they were on tour, sing “Please Don’t Go Girl”, Donnie Wahlberg revealing his rock hard abs and Nick Carter sporting a LeBron James “Choke” t-shirt. Though I couldn’t help but notice that AJ McLean was wearing black crackle on his nails (see here). I went with two of my CLE blogger pals, Suzanne & Allison, and we had a blast dancing and singing the whole night. My ears are still ringing! While I enjoyed Backstreet Boys, I was really there for New Kids On The Block so I had to do a NKOTB themed manicure which I dedicate to Joey and his stunning baby blues. I chose a pale blue, Color Club Factory Girl, to match his eyes and a darker, grittier hue, Orly Sapphire Silk, to represent his “Hangin Tough” Boston background. I also failed at my attempt at nail art using Milani Nail Art polish in Blue Print. |
Formula & Application: Orly nail polish is 4-Free (including formaldehyde resin) and does not contain camphor, which can be an irritant. Orly polishes come with the fan fave rubberized cap. That signature easy-to-grip topper makes it easy to control the polish. The brush is long and thin with flexible bristles. I personally would like it if there were more bristles to get more coverage in each stroke.
The consistency of Sapphire Silk is nice and thin even though it’s packed with pigment. I used two coats and each one leveled out, drying with a smooth, glossy finish.
Formula & Application: Color Club nail polishes are 4-Free (including formaldehyde resin). The weighty square bottles are topped with a smooth round cap that feels solid, like it’s made out of metal, in the hand. The thin, round brush has long bristles that have a bit of tension to them but it doesn’t interfere with application.
Unfortunately, I wish I would have tested Factory Girl before choosing it for my manicure. The formula is really thin and sheer. I had to use FOUR COATS and even then I ended up with streaking and pulling at the cuticle. Not exactly a fitting tribute to Edie Sedgwick.
Orly Sapphire Silk is a murky, denim blue creme. It has touches of teal in its undertone but not enough for me to put it in that category. It’s more blue than say Color Club Gossip Column or American Apparel Peacock. Color Club Factory Girl is a sky blue creme, not too far off from Color Club Blue Light though I would say Blue Light is a bit brighter.
I almost didn’t post this pic because my handiwork is so pathetic. Drawing straight lines is one thing but circles and curves are clearly not my strong suit. Regardless, it was fun to try. The brush on the Milani Nail Art Lacquer is just so long, it makes writing a challenge. I thought about using the tip of my dotting tool since you can hold it like a pen so I may try that in the future.
Bottom Line: I dig that Sapphire Silk is kind of muddled and mysterious and it doesn’t fall completely into the teal category. Plus the formula is spot on. Factory Girl was not a winner in my book. The color is beautiful but the streaking and sheerness turned me off.
365 of Untrieds Stash/Share Verdict: I’m definitely STASHing Orly Sapphire Silk but Color Club Factory Girl is off to the SHARE bin.
Orly Sapphire Silk is available at Sally Beauty and ULTA stores and online at OrlyBeauty.com. Both Sapphire Silk and Color Club Factory Girl are available at Head2ToeBeauty.com and TransDesign.com. Orly nail polishes retail for $6-7.50/ea depending on the retailer and Color Club nail polish retails for $3/ea.
Thoughts on Sapphire Silk and Factory Girl? Do you have foolproof method for writing letters on nails? Or is it just practice, practice, practice? Where are my fellow NKOTBSB fans? Did anyone else go see them on tour?
Disclosure: Product samples were provided by Color Club, Milani and Orly. For more info view my Disclosure Policy.
Lisa N.
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I have a bottle of that Orly colour, i LOVE it. But I have a serious problem with Orly polishes peeling off. It’s a disappointment. I still use it though because I am a sucker for great blues, and it’s so unique.
I kinda want Sapphire Silk, but I’m not 100% convinced!
I got Sapphire Silk a couple of months ago and I wasn’t sure until I used it. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Used it on my toes-lasted for 2 weeks and I practically giggled everything I saw my feet. Think it will be nice on my nails in fall and winter. Do not hesitate.
I went to the NKOTBSB concert July 9th in Vancouver. It was seriously amazing! I loved every minute and wanted to go back the next night to their second concert! Did Matthew Morrison open at yours? Him and Neverest opened for us and they were both good. I’m not a glee fan but I seriously am considering watching after seeing Matthew Morrison, he was awesome! I love hearing about other NKOTBSB fans cause I got a bit of flak for going to the concert, lol!
We got there too late to see Matthew Morrison
but I”m glad you’re considering becoming a GLEEK like me! I love him.
Love the NKOTB manicure! I was at the concert too. What fun!
Aside from your mani which rocks, I’m pumped you wrote about the concert. I’m going to see them in London ON on Aug 7th and want to do a fun manicure too
Love the blues but love you even more that you’re an out and proud NKOTB fan!!!! Totally would have been dancing right next to you!
I love blue polish but hate streaky pastel polishes. How frustrating. I don’t have patience for four coats of anything!
My best friend and I went to see them on 7/22. Hands down amazing show! It was my 4th time seeing each group and it was the best by far (it could have been the beer too lol). We had amazing seats near the stage and I also did my nails a blue. I felt like a twelve year old at a Bieber concert when Boys II Men showed up and did Motownphily and all three groups did “End of the Road”. I loved it
OMG I’m so jealous. I heard Boys II Men showed up in Philly. I’m sure that was incredible
If Boys II Men showed up in Philly, they didn’t sing. (I went to that show.)
Oh really? I heard they showed up and sang at a show. Maybe the person I heard it from assumed it was Philly. My bad.
It was Orlando
They sang “Motown Philly,” “I’ll Make Love to You” and “End of the Road.”
Joey Fatone and Kirstie Alley were at the show as well.
The show I saw on 22nd was in Orlando, FL. It seemed kind of random to me, I’m assuming it’s because they were in the area. It was amazing!
OMG! Great combination! Loved the colors! I went to NKOTB and BSB show in San Antonio too! Awesome!!! Our boys became men, oh yeahhhhh!
Such a pretty blue combo! When I was a kid I thought NKOTB were the coolest thing around (besides Paula Abdul).
I hope you know how much this blog post made my day!! I went to the NKOTBSB concert in Orlando last Friday and it was amazing!! While my nails didn’t look as amazing as yours, I had a great time as well. I went for BSB, but walked out loving both bands. I even developed quite a love for Donnie…those abs are great!
WOO HOOOOOO i love NKOTBSB!!!! oh i’m purplerinne on Twitter and we were just talking about them lol
aha love this mani!! so cute
I think practice is the key to perfect letters! And I was such a fan of BSB back in the day, but I didn’t go see them this time around. I should have though!
JEALOUS! You got to see my loves!!! Gawd I heart those NKOTB men
I went to the NKOTBSB concert in Vancouver a few weeks ago and loved it. It was an amazing show and totally worth going. I never went to see NKOTB as a kid and I totally lived out a childhood dream.
I lack a steady enough hand to even attempt freehand nail art, not even letters. My creativity is limited to nail decals or sometimes a funky topcoat. LOL
Light pastels tend to have that streaky quality, in my experience. It reminds me of using whiteout on my nails as a pre-teen. I only seem to like blue w/ a bit of depth (along with some shimmer or sparkle). My two favorite ones are Revlon Midnight Affair and Sephora By OPI’s Teal We Meet Again. A close runner up is from the same OPI Havana Nights Collection – Midnight Mambo – but the glitter, OY!
I’m a fan of both groups. As a matter of fact, I think your blog about JoeMac and his nails is part of what made me start following you. I saw them in Philly in June and I’m seeing them in AC tomorrow night.
Saw the NKOTBSB concert in DC–one of THE best concerts I’ve ever been to. Went to see BSB, thoroughly enjoyed both groups! Donny was about 5 feet from me when he went into the crowd! Thought some girl was going to pull his pants off–caught it on video! lol And GOD has Nick Carter grown up all gorgeous and sexy!
I would have lost it if he was that far from me. When they went out into the crowed I lamented not spending more on better seats.
I saw NKOTBSB last Saturday with my mom and my sister in Greensboro! We were huge BSB fans and even though I was born around NKOTB’s time, I am still a huge, huge fan. Both bands together was amazing and it was such an unforgettable experience! I really enjoyed how both bands brought 2 generations of pop music lovers together.
WoooHoo! I am in love every Friday night watching Donnie now on Blue Bloods. He really had grown up FAST. I have not aged at all of course! I love that they got together again this summer – that took major guts! And they still have all that talent plus more. I would love to see more acting from Donnie…and his little bro Marky Mark is doing GREAT these days – far better than he ever did in music! Not sure I need either of these polishes. I really want a nice med wash dusky denim.
He’s the only reason I started watching Blue Bloods. I think he even had to fly to NYC after the concert to do some scenes before their next show. Love love love him!
I love the orly colour, but not as much as Donny and Nick lol!
I was devastated when I found out both bands were touring together and neither were coming to Australia:(
Thanks for the pics (and the earworm)!
OMG, I’m SOOOO jealous that you US girls can see the Kids live. I still remember the night of agony I went through when I was 12 and there were giving a show in Paris to which I wasn’t allowed to go :(( My walls were plastered with pics of them, though I had a soft spot for the Knight brothers more than for baby Joey!!
And nice manucure btw :p
I love your NKOTB manicure, even the letters!
Is CC Factory Girl kind of a dupe of Chanel Nouvelle Vague, as I suppose?
Too bad the formula is so kreepy, I love that colour!
Nouvelle Vague is more aqua to my eye.
I knew you were going to talk about the concert when I read the title of your post! Totally jealous…..
I love the Orly Sapphire Silk color!
Forget the brushes that come in the nail art bottles – only good for long striping lines, and not even great for that as there are too many bristles. The dotting tool is a good idea for writing, but a brush is best. Head to your nearest craft store that has a good art section (like Michael’s) and buy a $3 brush that has the shortest, fewest bristles you can find. Mine is a ‘spotter’ with an 18/0 designation. You’ll be able to write as much as you want on one nail. Better brushes make nail art fun!
That’s a great idea, thank you for the suggestion!
I have seen NKOTB 4 times since they reunited. I did a meet and greet once and KISSED Donnie Wahlberg…on the mouth…and then when he kissed me on the forehead when I walked away. How many people can say they have kissed their childhood celeb crush? I also ran into Danny Wood when they were in Memphis. He was on his way to work out. Such a nice guy with fantastic biceps. Sigh!
Ok, back to the blog at hand. I love your mani! Do you think the Orly Sapphire Silk is a dupe for an OPI color? I remember having a color like that in my stash, but I can’t remember what it was? I so want to do a variety of colors on my nails. I have done the crackle and nail art, but for some reason I do not feel bold enough to do every other nail a different color. Working up the courage!
pretty!
HA! You can see my arm in the pic of the stage w all the guys, fun!
Glad you enjoyed it love the polish!
Been obsessed with the Backstreet Boys for 13 years…. sadly I missed both So-Cal NKOTBSB shows
I was too broke 
First BSB concert I’ve ever missed. Sadface. I follow AJ on twitter and I laughed when he posted the pic of him wearing crackle!
Lol thats adorable “NKOTB” !
Wow! I like the Step By Step blues manicure they look really nice. I’m surprised AJ Mclean is wearing Black Crackle polish (I know what I’m putting on my nails this weekend XD). I’m jealous but happy you went to NKOTBSB! Because I’m in the uk, I won’t get to see them and I’ve been a fan of the Backstreet Boys for 15 years and I really want to go see them!xx
Keep an eye out. I hear they’re trying to set up a UK tour for Spring 2012…
Love your mani! Mine were just red when I went to the concert back in July in KC. I LOVE Jordan and Nick! We sat right next to the catwalk thing and reached over and I got to touch Nick. Sooo HOT! I felt like I was 12 again. I made signs and every one of the guys smiled at my signs. One said “We got the right stuff” and that got the most attention. I saw Matthew too and just loved all his songs. I didn’t know he was on tour until the concert. It was an amazing experience and I am still having dreams about it. Great pics too! I’d love to share mine with you. I didn’t even need zoom on most of them.