Blue
Swatch Request Saturday – Summer Blues & Greens
 Like I said last week, every weekend that I have free I’ll be addressing as many of your comparison requests as I can get to. This week all of you seem to be focused on bright blues and soft aqua/teal greens which I’m SO all about right now. I LOVE when we’re on the same wavelength dolls.
So here I come with this week’s Swatch Request Saturday pics to help you avoid buying dupes and save money. Check ‘em out after the jump! |
After seeing my comparison between Sally Hansen Honeydew and Finger Paints Turquoise Tile, reader Mandy suggested that Honeydew looks like Barielle Decadence. Well Mandy, as you can see, Decadence is deeper and more ocean water-y.
My weekly Archives post featuring Essie Mesmerize prompted two requests. First up, OPI Dating A Royal from last summer’s Mod About Brights collection. DAR is a bit thinner, requiring an extra (3rd) coat. Also, DAR is a bit bolder but only slightly so.
Reader vbie3714 asked to see Mesmerize next to Zoya Tallulah from the Ooh-La-La collection. The hue and shimmer in Tallulah are really nothing like Mesmerize.
Lucky Candita was gifted a bottle of sold out gem, MAC Peppermint Patti and wanted to see it next to Essie Greenport. Greenport is deeper and more blue.
Reader Jenn’s bottle of Essie Greenport looks like China Glaze For Audrey on her nails. And I agree that they are close but Greenport is just a tad deeper and more muted on me. Anyone else see them as dupes?
That’s it for this week kids. If you have a request, leave a comment or email me at [editor] at [alllacqueredup] dot [com]. The more specific the request, the better. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
The ALU Archives – Essie Mesmerize
 The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.
Another Thursday in April, another Rainy Day Blue. Now I realize that Essie Mesmerize isn’t exactly an old color, that I didn’t have go digging through “the archives” for this one, but it really fits the theme perfectly. Plus, I didn’t review the spring Essie collection because I just wasn’t feeling it but I LOVED Mesmerize so much that I had to share. |
You all know that I’m not one to scream and shout the joys of Essie polishes and it’s not because they’re not a quality brand. It’s just that their usual color collections don’t scream “me” But between Mesmerize and the North Fork collection, I’m really looking forward to seeing what direction this brand is going. If it’s more polishes like this, consider me on board!
When I look at Mesmerize I think of blueberry pie or Strawberry Shortcake’s friend, Blueberry Muffin (I was an avid collector of the line). To me blueberry should be bold and vivid, not some dark “almost black” even though that’s the route a lot of brands take. And I love that the formula is so pigmented and smooth. It flowed on the nail like a dream.
Essie Mesmerize is available for a limited time with the rest of the spring collection. You can find Essie in chain salons like ULTA, Trade Secret and Regis or online at Essie.com.
Zoya Ooh-La-La for Summer 2009
 As I’m sure you know by now, metallic polishes and I aren’t friends. Why? Because for the most part, metallic = brush stroke madness. So you can imagine my disappointment when I heard that one of Zoya‘s two collections for summer, Ohh-La-La, consisted entirely of metallics.
I decided to reserve judgment until I got my mitts on them and I’m so glad I did. With the exception on one or two problem children, brush strokes are nowhere to be found. Overall, the colors are fun and bright, I just wish they were more pigmented. The majority required three coats though I’ll take that over a thick gloppy polish. Check them out after the jump! |
Midori is the shade I was most excited to see. This green lover can never get enough. A lovely grassy hue packed with golden metallic shimmer, Midori reminds me of a perfect green apple. Though it’s not entirely unique. It’s actually a dead on dupe for last summer’s Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine Glow. In person, you can’t tell the difference.
Katy is a stunning hot pink shade with just a subtle hint of shimmer. Unlike the rest of the shades in this collection, Katy looks like a creme away from the bright sun. What I love is that is has a touch of rosy-ness that keeps it from being neon. I think this will be a knockout pedi shade.
Goldie was one of my problem children due to brush strokes but it wasn’t horrifyingly bad. It has to be the most gold bar-like shade I’ve ever seen. It’s very vibrant. I predict that this one will be a shade you either LOVE or HATE. There’s no middle of the road here.
When I saw the promo pic of Ginessa I was hoping for a sparkly white instead of a foil-like light silver. I’m all over whites for summer. Though the lightness of Ginessa keeps it from being disco ball silver. I just wish it applied better. It went on streaky, pulling at my cuticles, requiring three coats. And when I removed it, it left little sparkles all over my cuticles that were such a bitch to get rid of.
Emme was my other problem child. Think of her as Bender from The Breakfast Club. Rebellious and a royal pain in the arse. Emme’s warm pink hue is very bubblegum, which I love however, the brush strokes were unbearable, which I DON’T love. I know some people can deal but my perfectionist side can’t. My mom, on the other hand, loves this type of finish and will give Emme a great home.
Tallulah is my “must have” of the collection. It has this gorgeous cornflower base that is electrified with bright blue shimmer. It’s yet another unqiue blue to add to my stash. What really pleased me was that it applies a bit darker than how it looks in the bottle because side by side, it looked like an identical twin to yet another Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine shade, Flash. But as you can see below, Flash doesn’t even come close.
The Zoya Ooh-La-La collection retails for $6/ea and is on sale now at Zoya.com and in salons across the country.
What do we think? Who’s already hauled from Ooh-La-La? What did you get?
More Illamasqua Fun with Fern, Milf and Rampage
 I’m back with some more amazing polishes from Illamasqua. You UK girls are sooooo lucky to have access to this brand. Not one has disappointed me yet.
Please please please Illamasqua… come to the US of A! We need an online petition begging them to start shipping to this side of the pond ASAP. Hearing of my love of greens the people at Illamasqua sent me a few goodies to test out including a fabulous blue, the perfect minty creme and a deep forest green jelly that puts NARS Zulu to shame! To SHAME I say. Get your drool on after the jump. |
What green lover hasn’t been looking for a Zulu dupe ever since NARS took it away? Well Rampage may not be an exact twin but it kicks the crap out of that streaky mess. Rampage is a bit lighter but that’s why I love it. Zulu was too “almost black” and such a bitch to apply. Don’t get me wrong, I love my darling Nikki for gifting it to me but one look at Rampage puts Zulu on the bench. Note: Due to Rampage’s jelly-like formula it did require three coats but seriously, who gives a shiz. It’s total hotness.
Yes Milf is an interesting name for this dusty mint shade but you gotta admit it’s memorable. Though I can’t hear that term without thinking of American Pie and all the lame sequel/spinoffs that poor Eugene Levy has appeared in just for the paycheck. Eugene, you’re better than that. Go watch Best In Show & A Mighty Wind again!
Sorry kids, I digress, back to the polish. Unlike DWS, Milf was much easier to apply. It’s still thick but it flowed well. And with such high pigmentation, I only needed two coats. There have been so many great mint cremes coming out recently and of all of them, this one comes closest to that fab shade shown on the Chanel runway.
My camera really can’t do Fern proper justice. You just have to see it in person to appreciate the silver micro-glitter floating in this vibrant blue hue. It’s a very unique blue. Not quite as dark as China Glaze Blue Sparrow but defintely in that family.
UK readers can purchase Illamasqua products at Selfridges and & EU residents can order online from Illamasqua.com.
Who’s ready to start that petition now? Aren’t these shades to DIE?
Barry M Nail Paints
 I’m always on the hunt for new polish brands to try and I love getting rec’s from readers and friends. So when my girl K from Pumps and Gloss recommended I check out Nail Paint by Barry M, I got to it.
Barry M is a UK based cosmetic brand with a diverse lineup of lacquers that were voted Best Inexpensive Nail Polish Range by InStyle UK. Check out my thoughts and swatches, after the jump! |
I was impressed so see that the cremes lacquers spread out evenly on the nail. You know how sometimes you put on a thick creme and you see like ridges from your brush strokes. Not necessarily streaks but just general unevenness? Well you’ll have none of that here.
Also, the three lacquers I tested were all nicely pigmented requiring only two coats. And they dry to a high gloss shine making a top coat practically unnecessary. I put Cobalt Blue through the five day wear test and it held up very well. No chipping. Just average tip wear when worn with CND Stickey and Seche Vite.
Note: I remember someone asking if I had abandoned Poshe for Seche Vite. I haven’t, I just have so many bottles of Seche Vite in the house, I can’t justify running out to replace my used up Poshe. It’s still a winner in my book.
Spring Green reminds me a lot of Pop Beauty Grass that I showed you a few weeks back. Only Spring Green isn’t neon. It’s vibrant but not loud.
Grey is the color of dark wet cement. Unlike some other grays I own that have a lot of brown or blue in their base, this one looks to be pretty pure. Me likey!
Cobalt Blue is just wow. Like seriously WOW!! It puts all my other royal/cobalt cremes to shame. It’s so vivid yet it’s dark enough to not be all in your face about it. I wasn’t as excited when I saw it in the bottle but on the nail… HOT DAMN! Can you tell I like? Just a bit.
Nail Paints by Barry M retail for £2.95 and can be purchased online directly from BarryM.com. I’m not gonna lie, shipping to the US isn’t cheap, £8, but if you plan to purchase a number of polishes it’s worth it.
So what are we thinking? Have you tried Barry M? What colors are your must haves?
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
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