Shimmer
Chanel Fall 2008 – Gold Fiction & Company
Goldfinger.
He’s the man, the man with the midas touch.
A spider’s touch.
Such a cold finger.
Beckons you to enter his web of sin
But don’t go in.
Golden words he will pour in your ear,
But his lies can’t disguise what you fear,
For a golden girl knows when he’s kissed her,
It’s the kiss of death from
Mister Goldfinger.
Pretty girl beware of this heart of gold
This heart is cold.
Goldfinger Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
For Fall 2008 CHANEL Makeup’s Global Creative Director, Peter Philips, took his inspiration from Coco Chanel’s apartment on Rue Cambon. A collection that includes rich berries and luxurious golds, the most buzzed about product is the Facettes D’or Nail Colour in Gold Fiction. Though it’s not the color itself that is causing jaws to flap, it’s the $30 price tag.
Chanel attributes the higher cost to the ingredients and from what I can tell Silica and Tin Oxide are the only ingredients that aren’t found in other Chanel nail polishes I own. While I am unsure about the cost of silica, I do know that tin oxide is rather expensive and is likely the cause of the price increase.
Gold Fiction is pure molten 24 karat bars for your nails. It’s one of the truest gold shades I’ve seen, not dirty or too yellow. The application is flawless and in spite of its metallic appearance, brush strokes are minimal if at all visible. The opaque bottle will protect light from damaging the pigments but prevent you from knowing how much is left. 
Gold Fiction may be the color everyone is dying to see but Kaleidoscope gets my vote for best of the collection. I LOVE this shade more than my luggage. The name is so apropos for this chameleon-eque sparkler. Described as a green-gold this shade ranges from pewter to antique gold depending on the light but the shimmer is what really makes this one unique. It’s as if a layer of superfine pixie dust covers each nail, similar to the glitz of Flamingo but even more dazzling. Two coats to perfection and no brush marks. Honestly, I can’t rave enough about this one and I’m so not into golds.
I wish I could give Fantastic the same praise but there just isn’t anything standout about this deep wine shade. It’s a pretty polish with subtle tonal shimmer that flows smoothly on the nail. And with the gold and berry trend seeming apparent for Fall, I’m sure this will fit right in.
OK so I know the comments are coming. The raves for the colors but complaints about price and while I would love to debate this, I’m standing back and letting all of you battle it out. Let’s face it, with the press Gold Fiction is getting, the Chanel label, limited edition status and stunning color, this baby will sell out. So you can either jump on the bandwagon or wave as it goes by (your wallet intact).
The Fall 2008 Makeup Collection including Gold Fiction ($30), Kaleidoscope ($20) & Fantastic ($20) will be on counter and available at Chanel.com in July.
So I’ll leave you with a little Shirley Bassey. Even though there are a few of her Goldfinger performances floating around, I love her appearance on The Muppet Show best. Everything is better with Muppets.
Chanel Robertson Boulevard Nail Colour Collection
When I was in LA last month, I desperately wanted to stop by the new Chanel boutique on Robertson Boulevard but time wasn’t on my side. The reason for my desperation… the Robertson Boulevard limited edition Nail Colour Collection. Sold exclusively at the Robertson boutique from now until the online launch in July, this collection was created by Peter Philips, the new Global Creative Director of CHANEL Makeup.
Based on the bold pop art imagery, I wasn’t expecting the slight softness I saw in the shades I tested. It’s this quality that makes them very wearable, even for Chanel’s more conservative clientele. As expected, the lacquers applied flawlessly and with excellent pigmentation, I barely needed two coats to reach bottle color. At $25 a bottle, they better.
Rodeo Drive is a warm grapey purple with subtle silver shimmer. In the sun it reminds me of the cartoon character Grape Ape. Of all the polishes in this collection, Rodeo Drive was the one I most looked forward to seeing so I’m glad it lived up to my expectations.
L.A. Sunset is a creamy melon orange with a high gloss factor. I wouldn’t classify it as a bright per se but it’s definitely bold and summery. A perfect pedicure shade.
With the popularity of yellow polish this season it’s no surprise to see one included in this collection. However, I was surprised at how sweet and sexy L.A. Sunrise looked on Selma Blair’s tips in InStyle‘s June edition. No mustard or neon here, just a gorgeous lemon sorbet. I plan to order it the day of the online release.
Melrose, L.A. Sunrise, L.A. Sunset and Rodeo Drive will be available for purchase exclusively on Chanel.com in July. You can sign up on the CHANEL site to be notified of their release.
MAC Neo Sci-Fi Nail Polishes
Summer 08 hasn’t officially arrived yet MAC has hit us up with a ton of new collections. Neo Sci-Fi, Cool Heat, Tendertones (love!), Future Earth, Solar Field, Naughty Nauticals, Skinsheen and Dazzleglass (stop my beating heart), OH MY! And they certainly haven’t forgotten to give some love to us nail polish fanatics.
The Neo Sci-Fi collection hit the shelves with a bang and its limited edition bright orange packaging makes the collector in me go wild. More in line with the bold look of Lure (turquoise), I’m glad MAC brought back the fun this year after the boring white compacts from last summer’s MoonBathe. Of course that never affects the lacquer as they are always sold with signature black rubberized caps.
For the most part I was over the moon about these shades but the pigmentation and application of a couple is holding me back from giving two thumbs up. I had to apply three coats of each lacquer to achieve bottle color and the slightly stiff fat brush takes a bit of getting used to but for colors like Plasma Blu and Phosphor, I say it’s totally worth it.
Plasma Blu is a glimmering bright blue, leaning towards turquoise. It’s the ocean electrified and gets my vote for best of the collection. With its ribbons of blue and silver shimmer running throughout it gave the best application and color payoff.
Metalist is the problem child; a coppery metallic shimmer, I could just not make this one work. I applied it twice and still couldn’t get the streakiness and brush strokes to subside. It’s a pretty summer color and, perhaps in the hands of a professional, it would make a great pedicure shade.
Neon 8 is described as a bright orange but to me it’s softer and slightly more coral due to its hot pink shimmer. It’s as if OPI Crim-Sun & Coral Reef had a baby, minus the holographic glitter. Like Plasma Blu, this lacquer applied well without issue.
Phosphor is the epitome of the yellow brick road. Can’t you just see this paving the streets of Oz? The golden shimmer is magnificent and even though this isn’t a shade for everyone, it’s so very fun. I don’t know that I’d wear it on my toes though. I think that no matter how dark a faux tan I got, it would make my feet look diseased. But for tips, totally! The only issue I had is with the lacquer dragging near my cuticles. I had to wait a good five minutes between coats to make it work.
Unfortunately Phosphor and Plasma Blu are sold out online but check with your local MAC counters for availability. And just because the colors are sold out doesn’t mean you’re completely SOL. Are you a Feedblitz subscriber? Well, you should be! You just might get lucky.
Also, the MAC Friends & Family Online sale is TODAY and today only so head on over to MACCosmetics.com to pick up some treats for 15% OFF. Use code MACFF8.
Looking for some suggestions from the new collections?
I’ve been in love with the Slimshines since they first appeared last summer. I have either Lovey-Dove, Grenadine or Urgent! on me at all times. They are the perfect combination of lipstick and gloss. Smooth and shiny yet with excellent color payoff and staying power. Swelter from Cool Heat has now entered the rotation. It’s a less intense red than Urgent!, perfect for hot summer nights.
Because I’m a lip balm junkie, the lightly tinted Tendertones are a fav of mine but you have to be a pot balm lover. Since I’m a Smith’s Rosebud Salve devotee, it doesn’t bother me. The funky looking lime green, Tread Gently, gives the perfect amount of shimmer for day with no real color so don’t be scared of it’s odd appearance.
And other than the polishes from Neo Sci-Fi, I’ve been wearing Femme Fi and Expensive Pink eye shadows in combination with Bagatelle and Mulch for a warm summery eye that works well with a faux tan.
Nail Polish Obsession – Carolyn New York Handball Courts
For a while now, I’ve been telling anyone who’ll listen about how pale grays are the next “it” color, especially come Fall. And while I rarely find shades that I consider worthy of multiple wears (last Fall it was CND Hyde In The Dark, another gray), I’ve found a winner to put on the list.
This dove gray shimmer is perfectly crisp, clean and chic. It feels fresh and I can’t stop staring at my nails while wearing it. And like all CNY polishes it has their fab wide brush that makes application a breeze. Two coats = perfection!
So is anyone else embracing light grays this Summer or planning to be an adopter this Fall? I know that CND has an amazing gray headed our way as well. I saw it at New York Fashion Week and am waiting with bated breath to get my hands on it and the rest of their Fall shades.
Handball Courts can be purchased at CarolynNewYorkColors.com for $5.50. A note regarding the name: On the CNY site Handball Courts is currently listed as Hanging On The Stoop. If you go to order it, just make sure that you’re selecting the shade described as a “pale gray” NOT “grey”
Estee Lauder Pearls of Light Summer 2008
For Summer 2008 Estee Lauder released two color collections, Pearls of Light and Bronze Goddess. Pearls of Light is soft and glowy, filled with lustrous pinks and champagnes including two sparkling but subdued Pure Color nail lacquers.
I’ve never used Estee Lauder nail polishes before so I jumped at the chance to test them out. The bottles have always intrigued me, they’re so luxe with a great weighty feel. Don’t you just adore how the sphere of polish is encapsulated in the square glass? Or is it just me?
EL polishes have a flat brush that makes application a breeze. I really love that so many brands are using that style of brush. And the formula, well I’m super impressed with the formula’s staying power. I gave my Mom a set to try out, they’re very much her kind of shades, and when I realized she hadn’t done a polish change in two weeks I gave her a scolding. Much to my surprise, she showed me her nails and can you believe that with the exception of one massive thumb nail chip the rest had just some tip wear. TWO WEEKS LATER. Unreal! Holy staying power Batman!
Champagne Pearl‘s metallic quality gives it a duo-chrome appearance. It fluctuates between a champagne metallic and a reddish shimmer and feels very water-washed beachy. The multi-colored shimmer is what keeps both these shades from being another boring color. Is it me? Not so much. It’s not “pretty ugly” enough for me.
Pink Pearl is a bit more sheer as you can see in the pic. I used two coats with both shades yet I can still see the line of my whites through Pink Pearl. This is a very soft girly pink. Very work appropriate, even with all the fun shimmer.
So either Mom read my layering post or she just didn’t feel like redoing her nails and added more polish on top because she layered champagne pearl over pink pearl to create her own unique shade. I tried layering both ways and the results are pretty similar to the camera’s eye but in person they really are different. I think the Pink Pearl over Champagne Pearl is my favorite. The pinkness really stands out with the opaque nudish base underneath.
Estee Lauder’s Pearls of Light collection is available for purchase on the EL website however Pink Pearl is unfortunately sold out. Fear not fellow fanatics, you can still snag a bottle of your own. How? Stay tuned!
Lisa N.
Ms Meatballhead
Birdie
Spa pediccure chairs
