Creme
Zoya Dare Collection Review and Swatches
 Zoya Dare has landed and after much anticipation, I’ve got your first look at them on the nail. As you may remember, the Dare collection of Zoya’s Truth or Dare Fall lineup is a group of chic, dramatic shades with five cremes and one shimmer. Let’s get right to it and check out the colors, shall we? |
With the exception of Ibiza all the Dare collection polishes are cremes. They all glide on smooth and even in spite of the formula’s thickness. The shades are well pigmented requiring only two coats and dry with a high gloss shine.
Demi is a midtone reddish purple, you might call it a mauve. In the bottle it looked a bit Barney-ish but it’s a very pretty on the nail.
Ciara has a sundrenched raspberry look about it. Don’t get me wrong it’s vivid and rich, not at all dusty, those are just the first two words that came to mind when looking at it. 
Vanessa is a berry based cool red. It applies very close to bottle color on the first coat which is always a plus with reds.
Pinta is the definition of burple (bluish purple). It definitely leans way blue but you can see its purple roots in bright light. My issue is that it’s so dark that unless you’re in sunlight, you’re the only person who will know how truly stunning this shade is.
For that reason I decided to take a sunlight shot of it. You see I shy away from direct sunlight swatching because I find it to be SOOOO inaccurate and I don’t want you kids buying a color and being disappointed when it looks NOTHING like what I showed you. So for the purposes of displaying the base color only, I did this sunlight shot for you.
Envy is a mossy deep forest green that has an earthy, camouflage feel to it. What’s funny is that as I applied it, the first coat had a graininess that looks like watercolor which I originally mistook for shimmer. With the second coat it’s pure glossy creme. Though if you want the bottle color and not an “almost black” make sure you apply two thin coats. Three is way too much.
Ibiza is a shimmery deep sapphire blue. The color is so dark and the shimmer is so subtle that you barely notice it outside of direct sunlight. Honestly, I love Indigo, with its multi-colored micro-glitter, so much that Ibiza is just OK for me.
The Zoya Dare Collection polishes retail for $6/each and are available for PRE-ORDER now on Zoya.com with a ship date of July 15th.
So all my DARE girls out there, what do you think?
Zoya Matte Velvet & Truth or Dare Collection Teaser
 Happy Friday Fanatics!! I have a little treat for you to start your weekend. A peek at the Zoya Matte Velvet and Truth or Dare polishes. To wet my overly curious appetite and yours, Zoya sent out sample palettes of the colors as a teaser of what’s to come. Check ‘em out! |
Sample nails aren’t the easiest to photograph accurately because of all the different colors but I did the best my little point and shoot could manage.
First up, the Truth or Dare collection for Fall.
Truth‘s Penny, Kalmia, Salma, Isla, Anaka and Drew are all metallic shimmers and based on the samples, Anaka just jumps off the palette. The sparkle is electrifying. I can’t wait to see it on the nail.
Dare‘s Ibiza is the lone shimmer accompanying cremes Envy, Pinta, Demi, Clara and Vanessa. The burple-y Pinta, mossy green Envy and sapphire Ibiza are the standouts in this crowd.
Next up, Matte Velvet, Zoya’s entry in the incresingly popular matte trend.
I can already tell I’m going to love these more than the OPI Mattes because they have that same great shimmer quality that I loved about La Paz-itively Hot Matte. Loredana, Dovima and Posh all have a finely dispersed shimmer that makes them a bit satiny rather than flat matte.
I’m hoping to have my hands on the real deal very soon so stay tuned for real live swatches!! In the meantime, does this change your opinion on mattes? Are you loving Truth or Dare so far? Sound off!
Nubar Going Green Collection Review & Swatches
 We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you…. GREENS!!! I know I promised to show you the other half of Retro Diva but I’m sorry, a collection of GREENS trumps all. As soon as I got my hands on Nubar’s Going Green eco-themed collection I knew I couldn’t (more like shouldn’t) wait to show them to you.
A whole collection of green polish. It’s like a dream come true. Did Nubar employ stealth psychics to stalk me and read my mind? Is this the result of years of MUA nail board begging for more fabulous greens than we can handle? Who cares, they’re gorgeous and they’re real! Check them out after the jump! |
I’m not going to bog you down with a lot of chatter about these. In regards to the formula the bottom line is this; smooth, thin, well pigmented, two coat coverage, fast drying. In other words, pretty damn perfect. Each color glided on with ease. Now can we talk color?? I know you wanna!
I don’t know that I’ve seen a more gorgeous polish in my life than Greener and I’m not exaggerating. It’s heart stopping stunning and as incredible as it looks in pictures, it’s even more jaw-dropping in person. A true emerald shimmer, this exemplifies jewel tone and I own NOTHING like it.
Forest is a slightly mossy green creme. Can you even stand how flawless it is? Can you?? Just when I thought I’d never love another green creme the way I swoon over RBL Recycle, along comes Forest trying to steal my affections.
Speaking of Recycle, I knew the first question from you guys would be about how they compare. Recycle is decidedly darker and a bit bluer in its base tone. And if you ask me to choose a favorite between them, I’ll cut you! Seriously, it’s not a fair question!
Earth is a sparkling jade green. The light green micro-shimmer dances over the blue-green hue giving it depth and character. It’s very rich yet serene. Staring at it puts me at peace.
Conserve is a deep teal shimmer with slightly chunky glitter. It dries with a satin finish and bit of texture from the sparkle.
Can I get a HOLLA for the HOLO Reclaim? Don’t judge my cheesiness people, I’ve been waiting for a great green holo polish. The ones I have are all pretty light and not noticeably green. This one is a fabulous springy, grassy hue packed with fine holographic glitter. I wish it had been sunny so I could show its full holographic power but it’s a gloomy, rainy day in the Cleveburg.
Wildlife is a duochrome that flashes both bronze and fern shades depending on the angle. I don’t know fanatics, this one just isn’t grabbing me. I think it’s the alien-esque glow at the sides that are turning me off. It’s definitely got that “in the wild” type feel, I just don’t think it’s for me.
Nubar recently announced that they’ve partnered with PETA and have been certified as Vegan & Cruelty-Free. So you’ll soon see this cute little guy appearing on Nubar’s web site and packaging. Congrats Nubar!
Nubar polishes retail for $7.49 each and can be purchased online at ByNubar.com. The Going Green collection is listed as Coming Soon so keep your eyes peeled for an announcement of its on sale date.
Are you all totally flipping for these or WHAT? Share!
The ALU Archives – CND Wildfire
 The ALU Archives focuses on older, beloved shades from the All Lacquered Up stash.
Mr. ALU is as much a fan of red as I am of green. Together we make the perfect holiday-themed team. In the 10 years we’ve been dating, he has owned two red Grand Ams, flocks towards red clothing every time I can actually get him to shop and continually compliments me anytime I don a red manicure. So this week’s Archives selection is all for him. It’s a shade that when I put it on, he not only noticed but said “Wow, I like that color.” As I’m sure you ladies know, that’s major in man-speak.
So read on to check out my flaming red mani in CND Wildfire. |
What really impresses me is how CND has perfectly combined pigmentation and smoothness of formula. Wildfire is practically a one coat red yet its viscosity is so thin you’d think it a sheer. Every time I put on one of their polishes I hope for new colors to release because the formula is just that damn fabulous! The color itself is a cherry red with a hint a berry in its base. You can’t really see that as you apply it but as the lacquer floats down the bottle neck and thins out, it’s there. As I’ve mentioned in the past, the only complaint that comes with the CND formula is dry time. I’ve seen so many MUA nail board girls bitch about getting sheet marks and dents even after waiting up to an hour for the polish to dry. Drying tip: Use CND products with the polish. Product lines are formulated to work best with the accompanying products. Look at the Zoya Color Lock System for example. When I use Ridge Out base, Super Shiney top and SolarSpeedy Spray I can touch, even press my fingers on the polish, after only 20 minutes without leaving a mark. What do you think fanatics? Feeling the fiery red?
Wildfire has been all over the runways the past two seasons at shows like Tibi, for spring, and on Retro Barbie for fall. A classic red like this transcends trends in its timelessness.
CND Wildfire is available at salons and spas across the country and of course, our favorite e-tailers have it too.
NOTD – Barielle Berry Blue
 During a convo with Elle (Barielle Spokesperson) a few weeks back we were talking color and about some of the various Shades by Barielle polishes she loves and she couldn’t BELIEVE that I didn’t have Berry Blue. She went on to rave about its amazingness so of course I had to get my hands on it.
Because I do so much swatching for ALU I only have time to do a full manicure about once a week and it’s usually on the weekends. So this past weekend I decided to give Berry Blue and go and Elle was right, it’s incredibly gorg. Check it out along with its China Glaze cousin, after the jump! |
Berry Blue is a smooth as butter navy creme. On the first coat you can see a bit of OPI Glacier Bay Blues tealishness but after the second coat it’s a deep and pure blue. It does lean towards that blue-black territory when you’re not in day/sunlight but for the most part you can always tells it’s blue.
China Glaze Calypso Blue from the Bahama Blues collection is Berry Blues closest living relative. The main difference is that CB dries a bit darker. It would take a fanatic to tell the difference so if you already own CB you probably don’t need Berry Blue but I’m not giving away my bottle any time soon!
Berry Blue retails for $8 on Barielle.com and their ongoing Buy Two Get One Free promotion means you can get three polishes for a little over $5/ea. If you need some enabling, check out my past Barielle reviews.
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
