Spring 2009
ALU’s 365 of Untrieds – OPI Done Out In Deco
365 of Untrieds is my personal challenge to weed through the polishes in the ALU stash that I’ve been wanting to try but just haven’t gotten around to.
A couple weeks ago I was invited to a blogger event at Legacy Village, an upscale shopping center in my neighborhood. They asked some local fashion and lifestyle bloggers to come check out some summer trends from White House Black Market and Charming Charlie and learn more about the stores in the complex. I was super stoked to go when I found out that some of my blogging friends, including fellow nail blogger Steff from Short ‘n Chic, were going to be there. Steff has a great sense of style and perusing the accessory racks with her was a lot of fun. I ended up coming home with a cute bracelet that I can’t stop wearing and today I decided to polish my nails to match using OPI Done Out In Deco. |
Best of Orly Spring & Summer 2009
 For Spring and Summer 2009, Orly hit us with three, count ‘em THREE, colorful new collections; Prepster, Carnivale and Tiki Time.
While all three have some fun colors, none of them wowed me as a whole so I chose my favorites to show to you. Check out my Top 5 of the season after the jump! |
One thing I noticed is that most of the bold creme shades are jelly-like in texture. They’re semi-sheer but buildable and have that glossy, rubberized look that makes jellies so cool. I know the sheers in the Prepster collection are great for layering but they just weren’t doing it for me.
Cashmere Cardigan is a stunning periwinkle blue creme. It’s well pigmented but looks best with three coats. To me this shade looks a lot like Essie Huckle Buckle, minus the shimmer.
I knew I would love Mint Mojito before I even saw it. I’m all over this bright spring green. It also needs three coats but who cares. It’s lovely. It’s actually more vibrant in person but it’s really hard to capture. Actually you should check out the manicure Brittany (aka Clumps of Mascara) did with Cashmere Cardigan and Mint Mojito. She did it herself and it’s way gorg!
Festival Lights is a beautious melon tinged orange. Like a perfectly ripe canteloupe, it’s vivid but not BRIGHT.
Country Club Khaki is the shade celebrity manicurist Jenna Hipp raved about when I interviewed her for WOYN? and it’s no wonder. This is a great neutral mushroom hue. It’s like the spring version of You Don’t Know Jacques.
Finally the shade that made my heart skip, Calypso Breeze. I can’t think of a blue in my stash that looks quite like this and I don’t even know how to describe it. It makes me think of lake water, the sky before a storm and denim all mixed together.
All these polishes are limited edition but still available online at Head2ToeBeauty.com and TransDesign.com. Orly is also carried at Sally Beauty Supply but seasonal collections tend to sell out fast so availability will vary by location.
So what did you think of the Orly Spring/Summer collections? Which colors did you pick up?
Misa Living On The Fast Lane
 I’m falling in love againAint nothing I can do Falling in love again Girl this time its with you - Eagle Eye Cherry Dear Misa, I’ve officially fallen head over heels back in love with you! I was all “in like” after the Poisoned Passion collection but now we’re talking full on love. You see, when Misa intro’d their new formula with the Love Connections collection back in Spring ’07, I was less than thrilled. A brand that I was such a fan of, broke my heart with thick, hard to apply polish. Gone were the amazing colors and lovely chemical filled formula. Seriously, the formula was such a PITA it hurt my feelings! But now it’s all changed for the better. The Living On The Fast Lane collection has gone and flipped the script on me. Misa has given me (yes, I’m pretending that they made it just for me even though I know that’s not true) two fabulous blues, an on-trend muted blue-green and one sassy orange. Oh and there’s a berry and red to boot. Check out the loveliness after the jump! |
At some point in the past year, Misa has changed their formula yet again. It’s still massively pigmented but the toluene has been removed. And even though the polish is still thick I’ve found a way to work with it and make each shade look perfect.
Application tip: To avoid a lumpy, bumpy surface I’ve found it’s best to apply the 2nd coat right on top of the first, before it has a chance to dry. I’m telling you, it’s genius. There’s no evening out issues, no pulling at the cuticles and the color is completely opaque. Works like a charm, every time.
Dirty Sexy Money is a stunning dusty blue-green. The name really couldn’t be any more fitting. It’s a gorg, gritty, grayed out green. Though the name makes me a wee bit sad as I’m reminded of the frothy ABC series by the same name that was canceled this year. I love me some Peter Krause and I was beyond PO’d when ABC brought down the axe.
On The Edge oh how I love thee. Let me count the ways… 1. you’re blue (already makes it a winner in my book). 2. you look blue in sunlight, shade, natural light (you get the picture). 3. your application is flawless (trick or no trick). 4. you’re glossy and creamy and PERFECT. I could go on and on. Seriously, will I ever get sick of blues? I hope not.
Stop Rewinding, Just Fast Forward is a slightly muted cherry red. Like a car that’s been sitting in the sun too long, in need of a good wash and wax.
Push Upon It joins the other berry lacquers that are hitting the scene this season. Much like its long lost twin, OPI Miami Beet, Push Upon It is a deep, rich creme.
If it were up to me, Speed of Life would be renamed “Speed of ALU” because this is SO the type of orange I’m feeling for this summer. In contrast to last year’s more popular neon look, this version has a creamsicle softness with a hint of melon peachiness. Such a wearable hue.
Right Here Now, No More Later is like sky blue on crack. It’s so so vivid. If I could look up and see this shade every day, I’d cut a skylight in my office. This one’s definitely a keeper.
The Misa Living In The Fast Lane collection is avaialable NOW online at MisaCosmetics.com, Head2ToeBeauty.com and TransDesign.com.
What do we think kids? How do you feel about Misa’s formula? Share with the group!
Having A Bling-asm Over Rescue Beauty Lounge Spring
 There’s a party on my nails and you’re all invited. I’m talking about the Spring collection of polishes from Rescue Beauty Lounge. RBL founder Ji Baek went for all that is glam with a set of three sparkletastic shades. In the rough economic situation we’re all facing, it’s Ji’s thought that these glitzy creations will add a little luxe to your life at a time when high end spending is being drastically cut.
Check out my swatches and review after the jump! |
I’m not normally a glitter-bomb loving kind of girl. Mainly due to the rough finish and irritating removal process. Though I have to say that compared to some I’ve tested, Ji used a relatively fine glitter and trapped it in a thicker jelly-like clear base to aid the texture issue but removal still isn’t a joy. And I’m pleased to say that I only needed one coat of Seche Vite to get a glass like finish (other brands have required two).
Removal Tip: Add a coat of polish/base/top before removing. Adding a new layer of wet lacquer softens the polish underneath, making it easier to swipe off.
What you see below is two medium-thick coats of polish with no top coat. I love that it stays sparkly instead of getting all bumpy and matte.
Locavore looks very green in the bottle but it’s deceiving. On the nail it reminds me of Mardi Gras. A mixture of metallic glitter hues, much like a shiny masquerade mask.
Frugalista is an aluminum foil, silver metallic peppered with purple flecks. Purple is an underlying theme between the three shades but it stands out most in Frugalista. I have to say, this is the hands down winner for me. I love a purple and mixing it with silver is like perfection. 
Look Rich Be Cheap‘s gold glitter is much softer, not as yellow, in person yet it has a lot of fire and brilliance. Gold accents, more than silver, have been popping up on the runways and that makes Look Rich Be Cheap very fashion forward.
So you’re not sure about glitter, can these still be for you? If you love the look of polish but are shy about full on sparkle nails try icing your tips for a funky french manicure or add a thin layer over another color for subtle sparkle or wear them on your toes. At that distance, the bling appears less powerful and, for a lack of better words, in your face.
The Spring bling polishes from Rescue Beauty Lounge retail for $18/ea are available now at RescueBeauty.com.
MAC Sugarsweet – Peppermint Patti & Seasonal Peach
 MAC‘s newest collection, Sugarsweet, launched online on Tuesday and the polishes are already SOLD OUT on MACCosmetics.com! The crazy power of MAC fanatics, huh? However, the on counter date was yesterday so I suggest if you’re dying to own one of these precious shades, you bolt on out and snag them.
Being a total sucker for packaging or any kind of gimmicky looking product, I’m all about the collection’s Tricolour Lipglasses but I’m trying to restrain myself. It’s not easy folks. I drive past the mall on my way home every night and I know they’re there, waiting for me. Like a basket full of free kittens, they’re hard to resist. Back to the task at hand, the polishes. Sugarsweet introduced one new shade, Peppermint Patti, and one repromote, Seasonal Peach (from Creamsheen). See how they look after the jump! |
Seasonal Peach is a soft, pinky peach cream and as much as I want to love this one, the formula is no bueno. Application issues and streakiness plagues this one from being a big time winner. I tried every trick I could think of but it wasn’t playing my reindeer games. If you tinker around long enough and apply three coats it can look decent but for me, Seasonal Peach is a pass.
Now Peppermint Patti I love!! That perfect after dinner mint green you’ve looking for, it’s right here! It’s just pigmented enough to not be washed out or too pastel. Though I’m not gonna lie, it’s not the easiest to apply either but better than its collection sister above. Application Tip: Apply two THIN coats with at least two minutes dry time between then one THICK, even coat. It’s not ideal but to get this gorgeous shade to work, I’m willing. Are you?
Just for funsies I added a thin line of Seasonal Peach to create a funky french. What do you think?
I knew the comparison questions would come a calling so here it is next to Essie Greenport and Barielle Sweet Addiction.
Like I said above, both shades are sold out online. That’s a big fat boo for online shoppers but don’t lose hope. Run, drive, fly etc. to your nearest MAC counter to scoop them up for yourself.
So, who else picked these babies up? Thoughts?
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
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