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The ALU Archives – Orly Gogo

The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.I was chatting on Facebook with a reader from Croatia who asked me about the OPI polish worn on the model in the Beyond Chic collection ad (below). Even though she’s more of a dark, vampy gal, she called the color “classy” and a great change of pace. The model’s soft opaque white tips appealed to me and totally inspired this week’s ALU Archives shade choice.
Being that my go-to white is the uber-fab China Glaze White Kwik Silvr I decided to try something different. I still wanted some sparkle and it HAD to be opaque but not white-out white. As I dug through my white/black/gray drawer I came across a lacquer that’s been sitting in my stash unused and unloved, Orly Gogo.


Gogo was originally released with the Manicure Miniatures and due to the popularity of the collection, Orly eventually brought them out in full size with the Hot Stuff collection of brights.

I’m somewhat on the fence with this one. I love the hue because it’s not mod stark white yet it still feels fresh and edgy. My issue is with the glitter and application. Like a lot of light colors, this one goes on a bit streaky so I needed three coats to get it even. And the smooth silver micro-glitter is fantastic in the light but in shade it looks like small grey specks. I’m calling it a keeper but putting it in my pedi-only pile since whites look so amazing next to a faux summer glow. I think the glitter issue would drive me nuts on my fingers but wouldn’t be as noticeable on toes.


Orly Gogo is available on Head2ToeBeauty.com and TransDesign.com in both the mini ($1.79-1.99) and full size ($3.19-3.50) bottles.

ALU Archives – China Glaze White Kwik Silvr

By on January 23, 2009
in China Glaze, The ALU Archives, White with 12 Comments

The ALU Archives is a new series focusing on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.

A few weeks back, we hosted a party for some of my girlfriends from high school and their hubbies. It was great getting so see the girls and have a night to catch up. One of them is a doctor on the west coast and she doesn’t make it home often so getting to see her is a treat.

Of course, I took the gathering as an opportunity to unload some of my excess polish and beauty stash which overjoyed the boyfriend to no end. The less beauty booty overtaking the house, the better. It was then that one of the girls asked me for a recommendation. She’s looking for the perfect white polish. Something that isn’t overly pearly and “grandma-ish” or chalky and white-out white-ish. I’m sure you can guess where my mind immediately went. China Glaze White-Kwik-Silvr. Possibly the best white polish EVER created.

White-Kwik-Silvr comes in the amazingly unique glass flecked formula that China Glaze is famous for. It’s sparkly without being a glitter bomb and opaque with three coats. I wish I could say two but you can’t have it all. So here you go Steph. I know I linked you to my old review but here’s a full manicure look at this stunning beauty. Is it any wonder I chose it as my favorite white in the Fanatic Favorites?


Even though White-Kwik-Silvr was released with the Surf collection almost two years ago, you can still find it online at my favorite e-tailers, 8ty8Beauty.com and Head2ToeBeauty.com

Zoya Summer 2008 – Chit Chat

The Chit Chat collection from Zoya is just one of their summer offerings launching May 1st. Filled with golden metallic goodness, each shade has ribbons of shimmer and micro-glitter flowing throughout yet dries smooth to the touch.

Each lacquer was tested using two coats, except where noted, without a top coat. For the most part they all applied smooth and even with good pigmentation. I just wish the spectacular glitz factor would have translated on camera. I think the sunlight shot of Lianne captures it well but it’s really something best admired in person.

Regarding the name change: A lot of you have asked about why there isn’t a Mismas in this collection. I wanted to address you all at once. While I am extremely honored and flattered that Zoya would want to immortalize me in polish, I suggested that they name the shade after someone who would truly love and appreciate it. So naming the shade Bekka, after the color’s designer, seems fitting.

Gaia – Oh how I wanted to love Gaia (the label says Gala but it’s Gaia) because the color is outstanding. It has an icy white base but the ribbons of gold shimmer make it a perfect warm weather shade. Not at all dingy or white out-esque. Unfortunately, the formula is its downfall. After three coats it still wasn’t opaque or even on the nail.

Erika’s cool baby pink base has a slight lilac undertone but the gold shimmer gives it warmth. I think it’s the combination of the two that make this pink very neutral and wearable. As you can see, with three medium coats my whites are still slightly visible so, this may work better as a sheer.

Bekka is described as a “cool chartreuse metallic”. Three coats on me looks like a semi-sheer neon yellow leaning towards green. This shade just doesn’t work for me and if I’m being honest, it doesn’t really fit in the collection. I think coral would have been a nice transition between Erika and Lianne.

Lianne is my absolute favorite shade in the bunch. This gorgeous tangerine is right on trend and so so sparkly. The base color has a creamy melon feel but the glorious shimmer really makes it a knockout! I know I’ll be sporting Lianne on my tips and toes a few times this summer.

Annie is a red orange and looks like a duo-chrome in the bottle. On the nail the red is more prominent in indirect lighting while it looks more orange in the sunlight. The golden red base makes me think this will look best on warm and dark skin tones.

Elke has a berry red base but the shimmer warms it up. I think if you’re going to do a red in the summer, this is the way to go. With a glossy top coat the finish looks jelly-esque which gives it a lighter feel than your typical heavy winter red.
The Chit Chat collection is available for pre-order on the Zoya website and will be available in salons across the country after May 1st.

CND Spring 2008 – Plexi Pop

By on January 14, 2008
in Blue, CND, Cream, Peach, Pink, Sheer, White with 19 Comments

The sheers are coming! The sheers are coming! Take cover vampy girls for the sheers are a-coming! This spring will be a sheer lover’s paradise according to the spring collection previews. You all know I’m not a fan of sheers but I’m going to try my hardest to remain objective.

CND‘s collection for Spring, Plexi Pop, is sheer-gasm of pinks, peach and aqua with an opaque white cream. If you followed my coverage of the Spring 2008 New York Fashion Week shows, you know that a lot of these colors popped up on the runways of fashion’s biggest designers. At the time they were still unnamed but here they are in all their glory.

Clearly Pink – a milky pink sheer, it reminds me of my beloved OPI Passion (not the Designer Series version). It applies streak free and adds a slight hint of creamy pinkness to my nails. The only downside for me is that with my whites being slightly yellowed from dark polish use, Clearly Pink’s milkiness didn’t help brighten my whites.
Nail Gloss – Is a straight up pink sheer. No milkiness, just a pink tinged clear. It really is like lip gloss for your nails. It reminds me of one of my favorite lip glosses from my early 20s, Bonne Bell Lip d’Votion in Fresh Melon, super glossy with the slightest hint of color.
Plexi Pink – is a pretty hot pink sheer with subtle bluish-purple shimmer that gives the shade some pop. It’s more pigmented than the other pinks but still not buildable to opaque.
Retro White – This slightly creamy white was a nightmare for me. I’m not gonna lie, I tried three times to get an even application to show you all and it wasn’t happening. The picture below is with three spaced out coats, to allow proper drying, and it was still streaky as all get out. Just look at the massive dragging near my cuticles. I assume that this shade was intended for use in an american manicure but I can’t recommend it.
Translucent Tangerine – A glittery peach sheer, this color didn’t work for my skin tone but it’s really pretty in the bottle. I’m sure warm toned gals would love this. And despite the high glitter content, that polish felt smooth on my nail.
Turquoise Tint – To me, I see this color and immediately think layering. A turquoise sheer just isn’t something I’d think of wearing. It looks so unnatural and alien-esque on me. Though the cellophane finish is pretty cool.

Plexi Pop will be available in salons, spas and professional beauty stores as of March 2008. Each enamel retails for $6.00 US/$9.40 Canada.

MAC Holiday 2007 – Antiquitease

By on October 17, 2007
in Big 3 Free, Gold, Holiday 2007, MAC, White with 5 Comments

The first of the highly anticipated MAC Holiday collections is now available on the MACCosmetics.com website. The Antiquitease Colour collection not only includes some gorgeous mineral eyeshadow duos that I’ll have to snag but, also two new nail lacquers.

The line will be in stores tomorrow (October 18th). I’ll be reviewing the lacquers soon but for now, here are some teaser pics courtesy of MAC.

Vestral White – Creamy White (cream)

Gold Veneer – Tarnished Yellow Gold (frost)

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