Big 3 Free
Lippmann Collection Fall 2007
The new fall shades from Deborah Lippmann’s Lippmann Collection, I Want Candy and Rehab, are a departure from what you would normally expect to see for the fall season. They’re sheer with a jelly finish and very unique. The most versatile fall polishes I’ve seen in a while. The formula makes these bold shades something that a sheer fan can wear comfortably but buildable enough to please opaque wearers. If you want to learn more about jelly finish polishes, check out this fab article my pal Melanie wrote for Blogdorf Goodman.
I have to admit that when I saw Rehab in promotional photos I got all excited about finding a great navy creme. There are a lot of beautiful navy polishes out there but very few cremes. And then I heard about Rehab’s sheer quality and my heart sank. I wasn’t looking forward to testing it because I didn’t want to give a bad review of a blue. I love blue polish. So you can imagine my joy and surprise when I gave it a test run and discovered the exceptional glossy finish and pigmentation.
Here is my Rehab mani with 2 coats of lacquer. It’s more subtle, I’d call it a cornflower blue.
And here is 4 coats. Beautious navy goodness.
I Want Candy, as a sheer, reminds me of the Revlon Glimmer Gloss Strawberry Sizzle but without the glitter and a much prettier finish. With four coats, it reaches bottle color which is a great candy apple red. Both I Want Candy and Rehab apply smoothly without streaking so it’s easy to achieve a sheer or opaque look that is clean and even.
Here is I Want Candy with 2 coats of polish.
And with 4 coats.
Ok so the question I’m sure a lot of you are asking is, are they worth it? You know that I’m frugal, that spending $15 on polish is not my M.O. However, I do feel that for blue lovers Rehab is worth every penny. I can honestly say I don’t have another color like it and I own a LOT of blue polish. If I could find a less expensive alternative, I’d tell you. Now I Want Candy is one I’d personally pass on at retail price. But for people that love red as much as I love blue, go for it! If you have the means and love the finish, it’s a great shade but not one I’d consider a “must have” for my collection.
Alright lovelies, now it’s your turn to chime in. Share your thoughts on these shades.
Nubar Halloween Nail Art Pen Kit
The Trick or Treat Creativity kit from Nubar is perfect for your Halloween nail art needs. Like say, if you wanted to enter a certain CONTEST.
The set includes nail art pens in pumpkin orange, jet black creme and sunny lemon yellow and a bottle of Diamond Seal & Shine Top Coat. The tiny brushes on these nail art pens are perfect for detailing.
Ok now don’t laugh too hard but, I decided to try out the kit on a nail art wheel to see how easy they are to use. I’ve never attempted this type of detail before and even though my first try (seen below) isn’t exactly award worthy, it was fun to do. I suggest buying some blank press on nails or tips at your local drugstore or beauty supply to practice on.
SpaRitual Fall 2007 – Intuitive
The intuitive woman doesn’t need a reason—she just knows
Introducing Intuitive, a collection of subdued metals with a sophisticated edge from SpaRitual; new for Fall 2007. Guided by a sensibility far more wise than mere whimsy, she may leave more literal minds looking for answers.
I have to give SpaRitual props for being one of the few nail polish brands to provide realistic and helpful product images for consumers. I’ll admit that when I first saw that one of the shades was named Sage I got a little giddy in hopes that they’d be another fun mossy green on the market. No such luck. In this instance, sage refers to wisdom, not the herb or color. I’m sure all my fellow vampy lovers will be adding Shrewd to their wish lists. All in all, this collection stays true to their earthy, eco-friendly concept.
Sage – Sure proof of intelligent life on earth, this mocha creme grounds the wearer in deep, rich reality
Sharp – In a flash of pure illumination, this silvery champagne with iridescent glitter cuts through illusion to the essence
Savant – No shadows of doubt or shades of gray obscure this gilded, pristinely winter-white lacquer
Street Smart – Jet, onyx, ebony, obsidian – this crystal black is anything but basic
Savoire Faire – Neutrality requires knowledge and grace, keep polished with a gentle rose crème
Shrewd – Deliciously clever yet always thoughtful, warm chocolate with silver shimmer sweetens all negotiation
Beauty is the spontaneous expression of a harmonious mind, body and spirit. SpaRitual – one letter away from “spiritual†– combines luxury with a spirit-conscious philosophy. Dedicated to the environment, the line uses eco-friendly packaging and printing processes. The bottles are made from reusable glass and natural elements and are fully recyclable. The printing processes include soy-based inks, recycled and FSC certified papers. Each exquisite SpaRitual product has been perfectly crafted to enhance your daily life. Enlighten yourself. Be a Sparitualist. Because we all deserve to live the good life.
From conception, SpaRitual has been committed to creating eco-friendly products crafted to raise environmental awareness and cater to the conscious consumer. The use of vegan ingredients and eco-conscious packaging has always been a central concept for SpaRitual.
“As a brand, we are passionate about safeguarding the environment, reducing waste and limiting the use of non-renewable resources,†says Shel Pink, creator of the SpaRitual brand. “I am concerned about the health of our planet and the health of the people that inhabit it”, says Shel Pink, creator of SpaRitual. “The beauty industry is poised to transform the weakened state of both by making responsible choices at the product development level and by offering holistic treatments that heal the mind, body and spirit at the service level.”
SpaRitual polishes can be found at Fred Segal Beauty both in stores and online.
info and images: courtesy of SpaRitual
Zoya Holiday 2007 – Utopia
Releasing in November for the holiday season, the Utopia collection from Zoya is a group of fun, bold shimmering metallic shades that will add a splash of color and glitz to those dreary gray winter days. And All Lacquered Up is fortunate to be the very first to see it, outside of the Art of Beauty family.
This is going to sound silly but whenever I hear the word Utopia I think of that Drew Barrymore movie Ever After. It’s a feminist take on the tale of Cinderella and in it the heroine (played by Drew) loves the book Utopia by Thomas More. I still have my copy of Ever After on VHS and even though I haven’t had a VHS player hooked up in years, I refuse to get rid of it. I love that movie.
Ok, so either someone at Zoya loves me or green nails is a trend that I didn’t see coming. Of all the jewels tones green is the color I least expected to become mainstream. Outside of our small online nail community I’ve never seen anyone else wearing it. But you certainly won’t hear me complaining. Bring on the greens!
My one and only complaint with this collection is the pigmentation. The majority of the lacquers needed three coats to become completely opaque and achieve the bottle shade. Similar to Suvi and Kotori from the Downtown Collection. I wonder if it’s because the extra pigment would thicken the formula and Zoya’s polish is already thicker than the typical non-Big 3 Free brands.
Austine is a muted brushed gold. On the nail it has the appearance hammered metal and the silver shimmer keeps the color from becoming too peach. Austina is more metallic than shimmery which sets it apart from the other shades in Utopia but thankfully it doesn’t affect application.
Tama is the least “me” shade of the bunch. I’m not anti-pink or brights but I feel there’s something in this shade that doesn’t work with my skin tone. It’s a pretty color and definitely more rosy in the sun but it’s just not something I would intentionally buy for myself.
Kamilah is luscious crimson shade with a hint of gold shimmer that comes out in sunlight. As you can see in the individual swatch pics of this and some of the other shades, these polishes seem to have a slight duochrome effect. The color doesn’t completely change but it’s definitely more intense in direct light.
In the bottle Juno looks very much like a duochrome. The polish looks blue all along the edges of the bottle, similar to how Ki looks in the bottle. However on the nail, the blue isn’t that apparent which is a shame. A purple/blue duochrome would be amazing. Of all the purples I have, I feel that Juno will make my top 10 for sure, possibly even top 5. It has incredible depth, pigmentation and gloss. If you love purple, get Juno.
Akyra reminds me of a peacock feather. It’s not as bright but in the same vein. In the sun the green takes dominance and it’s the green that makes Akyra different than Kotori.
I saved the best for last. Irene is a stunning mossy sage green sprinkled with gold shimmer. This green is probably better suited to warm skin tones but a shade this gorgeous should not be limited by skin coloring. In case you haven’t guessed, this is my #1 pick from Utopia and a must have for anyone that loves or appreciates the beauty of green polish.
Which polishes will you be adding to your wish list?
Nubar Support The Cure
via nubar PR:
nubar, “The Healthy Alternative for Beautiful Nails†announces the Support for the Cure Collection for 2007. A collection of four nubar nail products which are great for everyday wear. Two beautiful pink shades, Pink Cami and J’Taime, a foundation base coat and Diamond Seal & Shine. 10% of the retail price of the Support for the Cure Collection will go towards St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Cancer Treatment Research Foundation and the City of Hope. nubar offers products that are free of harmful ingredients such as; Toluene, Formaldehyde or DBP (Phthalate). Your purchase is a commitment to help support education, outreach, research and all of our critical programs throughout the country.
With Breast Cancer Awareness Month only a few weeks away, I thought this was a good time to review nubar’s contribution to the many pink products you can buy to help find a cure. While I normally frown on sets that include base and top coats because I’d rather have more colors, nubar’s Foundation Base Coat and Diamond Seal & Shine Topcoat are so fantastic that I love having back up bottles of both. If you haven’t tried them, you really should.
J’taime is a frosty pale bubblegum pink. The metallic shimmer did make application a bit tricky. If you have too much polish on your brush you can end up with brush strokes and pooling. Just make sure to wipe off the brush well and you’ll have no problem. What you see below is two coats (a very thin 1st coat and thicker 2nd) with no topcoat.
Shade
Sunlight
Pink Cami is a sheer baby pink with silver and green shimmer. The green shimmer really doesn’t show up in these pictures but in person it’s very unique. Like Zoya, nubar has a really amazing Big 3 Free formula that applies smooth and even.
Shade
Sunlight
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
