Gold

butter LONDON Holiday and Friends & Family Discount

By Michelle Mismas on December 5, 2008
in butter LONDON, Deals and Discounts, Gold, Holiday 2008, Red with 15 Comments

I first discovered butter LONDON almost two years ago during a trip to Seattle with the boyfriend. At a time when emerald green polish wasn’t easy to come by I was initially drawn in by the beyond stunning Thames but it was the 3 Free formula that made me a bL fan.

Since that time the bottle shape has changed and I’m not gonna lie, I’m not its biggest fan. While the new look is sleek and stylish, the cap drives me batty. It takes three full turns to remove and its size makes it difficult to line up the threads when closing. It’s actually not that awkward to hold, at least not for me but, I prefer the older bottle style; square with slightly rounded edges and more product (.36 oz vs. .3 oz).

For Holiday 2008, butter LONDON is offering three gift sets for the bL fanatic in your lifestyle. Holiday Lacquer Duo #1 comes with Come To Bed Red and Diamond Geezer and Holiday Lacquer Duo #2 includes The Full Monty and Chancer. Both sets are packaged with a bL nail file and retail for $20 (a $24 value). There is also the Christmas Cuticle Miracle Kit with Melt Away cuticle remover and Handbag Holiday cuticle oil. This set retails for $25 (a $35 value).

I had the opportunity to test out the Holiday Lacquer Duo #2, a sparkly twin set of ruby and gold. The Full Monty, a warm metallic, and Chancer, a glitter packed red jelly, are heavily pigmented yet apply smooth and even. It’s funny, our office Christmas tree is decorated solely in red and gold. This duo made me immediately think of it.

The Full Monty
“British slang for being naked”

Chancer (with top coat)
“Brit slang for someone who is sleazy and fake, or tries to pick up women who are out of his league”

In looking for color twins, the only obvious comparison was China Glaze Ruby Pumps vs. Chancer. I couldn’t find any sisters for The Full Monty though I don’t own a ton of gold polish. I will say that if you have Ruby Pumps and love it, you probably don’t need Chancer even though it is a bit darker and more pigmented (requiring only two coats to RP’s typical three). Both shades have the same fire and sparkle once top coat is applied though without, they dry matte and slightly bumpy.

butter LONDON 3 Free nail lacquers retail for $12 and are available for purchase on butterLONDON.com or at butter LONDON nail kiosks in the SeaTac, Sacramento and Dulles airports.

butter LONDON is offering a Friends & Family 20% Off discount on all online purchases from now through December 9th. Enter promo code FF2009BL at checkout.

So who’s going to partake in the sale? Have you tried bL polish before? Any favorite shades you’d recommend?

Zoya Flourish for Holiday 2008

By Michelle Mismas on October 10, 2008
in Berry, Brown, Gold, Holiday 2008, Mauve, Purple, Red, Zoya with 12 Comments

The holidays seem to be extra sparkly this year with so many festive, glimmering polishes headed our way. Zoya’s Flourish collection certainly fits in with that trend. This set of six glitzy shades is sure to put a twinkle in your eye. In the same vein as the Magique collection from two years ago, each lacquer has fine micro-glitter that peeks at you through ribbons of luscious gold shimmer.

I called out the colors I wanted to see most in the preview and they certainly lived up to my expectations. Richelle, Zara and Kalista are my faves in the bunch.

The only downside is the application. This collection’s formula has a “china glaze glass flecked” feel to it yet it doesn’t flow as nicely. I’m not sure if the formula has changed of if it’s just the nature of this type of finish but for some reason the second coat applied so streaky I had to put on a third. Though I would have needed a third coat with these regardless, they’re just not pigmented enough for two, Kalista being the lone exception.

Richelle is a warm rich gold that is a bit more brassy than last year’s Austine.

Zara is the polish some of you thought might be a Sally Hansen Arabian Night dupe. Sorry gals, it’s not. AN is deeper and more graple with very prominent gold flecks. The sparkle in Zara is much more subtle yet still apparent. While Zoya describes this shade as periwinkle, I see it as violet. No matter how you call it, this icy purple shade is totally unique!

Shivon is a pretty golden mauve with duochrome tendencies. It’s different and normally I’m all about different but this one just isn’t me.

Mieko is rosy deep pink that I’m oddly drawn to. It’s not a color I would typically choose but I’m feeling it.

Cyma is the least sparkly and least original of the six. A berry-ish red with low-key tonal shimmer and just a bit of gold running throughout, this lady is a “pass”.

Kalista is a beyond gorgeous reddish brown stunner. While a lot of red-based browns get to the “too red” point and black-based browns just look like poop (sorry it’s true), Kalista is a perfect blend of the two. Light enough to still look brown without reaching the funky milk chocolate zone. Zoya describing it as “mahogany” is so PERFECT I can’t even try to top it.

The Zoya Flourish collection can be pre-ordered now on Zoya.com and should ship within the next couple weeks. Individual nail polishes retail for $6 and the collection sampler with 6 full size bottles retails for $36. Check the Salon Locator for a retail location near you.

OPI Holiday In Toyland Darks & Neutrals

By Michelle Mismas on September 30, 2008
in Black, Gold, Gray, Holiday 2008, Metallic, Micro-glitter, Nude, OPI, Shimmer with 43 Comments

Toy land, toy land
Li-ittle girl and boy land
While you dwell within it
You are ever happy there
-Toyland lyrics by Victor Herbert

Blocks, Nutcrackers, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs. Visions of old school playthings dance through my head at the mention of the word Toyland.

I think of the workshop from Santa Claus The Movie starring John Lithgow and the late Dudley Moore. Tell me, I’m not the only one who remembers it. How I wanted to play in that toy shop with all the wooden handmade presents. And who didn’t want to be one of the elves? Living off sugary treats, spending their days singing, dancing and playing. What a life, no?

However, even though OPI’s Holiday in Toyland collection has an old time-y theme, the colors are anything but. Suzi has totally hit the mark with the Darks & Neutrals. So on trend with the grays and metallics. Totally “me” right now!

You’re A Doll! – Is a pinkish nude shimmer with very subtle reddish sparkles sprinkled throughout. Not really my deal.

“Sheer” Your Toys! – Is the color I was most excited for. I’m on board with any light gray and this one, with it’s slightly pink tint, is pretty neutral. The only issue, the application. Hello problem child! It was kind of thick and didn’t flow very well. For a polish with the word “sheer” in the title I’m sure this baby wasn’t meant to be worn opaque but I wasn’t feeling it. So three coats later and you get a great opaque, slightly silvery gray.

Glamour Game – is champagne metallic duochrome. In the bottle the shade looks more pewter and on the nail, more gold. Unique but, like most metallics, not the easiest to apply.

Brand New Skates – is an oddball gray sparkler. Its jelly-like formula spreads like the China Glaze glass flecked polishes though it isn’t overly opaque so you need three coats. The micro-glitter give off a warm cast to what would normally be a smokey gray.

Play ‘Til Midnight – well what would an OPI collection be without a dark blue? It seems like Suzi just can’t resist the blues. This one is a jeweled burple with fine pink, purple and blue shimmer. Very similar to Russian Navy. The only difference is in the base color. While RN’s base is blue-green like Glacier Bay Blues, Play ‘Til Midnight is a deep cornflower.

Baby It’s “Coal” Outside! – is my 2nd runner up for best of the collection (behind “Sheer” Your Toys!). I was expecting it to be just another black/gunmetal shimmer. But there’s something about how opaque and pigmented the color is despite the high level of shimmer and multi-colored micro-glitter that attracts me.

The OPI Holiday In Toyland Collection hits shelves tomorrow, October 1st. You can find OPI in salons and stores like JC Penney, ULTA, Trade Secret and online at 8ty8Beauty.com and Head2ToeBeauty.com

Fall Nail Trend Alert – Metallics

By Michelle Mismas on September 26, 2008
in Bronze, Fall 2008, Gold, Metallic, Silver, Trends with 16 Comments

Ladies, get ready for gilded tips and toes! Glitzy, glammed out nails are all the rage for Fall 2008, are you on board? From the runway to the red carpet, metallics are “in” this season.

Of course our favorite nail fashionista, Rihanna, adopted the trend early when she rocked a tarnished gold at the Much Music Awards in June. Even Gwyneth Paltrow, who usually dons a more subdued nail look, hopped on the metallic bandwagon with a chrome shade for the launch of the PBS series Spain…On the Road Again. And well, you all saw Rachel Bilson rock Chanel Kaleidoscope on the cover of Page Six Magazine.

With so many nail polishes on the market, how do you choose? The trend is broken down into three shade families; Champagne & Bronze, Pewter and Silver (recommendations below). I know what the next question is… what happened to gold? While gold and fall seem to go together like pork chops and apple sauce (yes I’m a Brady Bunch fan), it’s played out. We’ve seen it. It’s time to switch up the game.

What is the best metallic for your skin type? Warm and darker skin tones are better suited to Champagne & Bronze shades while Cool girls should check out the Silvers. The beauty of Pewter being a mix of copper and tin means that anyone can wear them. Oh and you neutral gals, you get your pick. Lucky!

Champagne & Bronze shades to try: Wet N Wild Amazing In Amber, OPI Glamour Game (Holiday In Toyland collection), NYC Molten Metal, Sparitual Muse, Wet N Wild Beautiful In Bronze, Cover Girl Bronze Beauty, Nina Ulta Pro Champagne

Pewter shades to try: Essie Steeling The Scene, Sephora by OPI Queen of Everything, Chanel Kaleidoscope
Silver shades to try: CHI Sexy Stilettos, Finger Paints Easel Come, Easel Go!, CND Silver Anniversary, Sally Hansen Shooting Star, Sephora by OPI Social Climber
So who’s digging this whole metallic feel for fall? Any lacquers you have your eye on?

NY Fashion Week Nail Watch – Rosa Cha

By Michelle Mismas on September 7, 2008
in CND, Gold, NY Fashion Week S/S 09 with 2 Comments

rosa cha, nyfw, ss09, new york fashion week, spring 2009, mercedes-benz fashion week

The look at Rosa Cha, the Brazilian swimwear line, was that of an uber-bronzed beach goddess. To compliment the models’ golden skin CND artists applied Crowned, a muted coppery metallic. It looks like the Fall metallic trend will carry over to Spring.

Though what really caught my eye is the gorgeous blue shimmer on the CND artist’s nails. Could this be a preview of their Spring line? It’s too light to be Blue Blood and too blue to be Jiggy. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.