Vampy
China Glaze Rodeo Diva – Flannel Fixation
Looking at the Flannel Fixation shades from China Glaze‘s Rodeo Diva collection takes me back to my college days in the mid 90s when grunge was all the rage and I owned a seemingly endless supply of flannel. Which makes this palette of six cool toned shades so perfectly named.
Ahh how I miss the days of uber-comfy baggy clothing. Not that wrapping a flannel around your waist hid a big butt or looked flattering in the least but we all did it. Except maybe my pal Amber from Beauty Blogging Junkie who abhors the 90s fashion trends with every fiber of her being. BTW, if you share Ambular’s hate of the 90s but love yourself some 80s you MUST check out her 80s Ladies Week. In Amber speak, it’s TO DIE!
But I digress, let’s get back to the polish. The colors may be western flannel inspired but the look is way more chic. Gorg jewel tones with tonal shimmer, they are so hot for Fall. I’m telling you, China Glaze so got it right. And they sent us yet another green! Can life get any better?
All swatches are shown with two coats of lacquer and no top coat but they’re so pigmented I hardly needed the second. With the exception of Red Stallion they all flowed smoothly on the nail. For some reason my bottle was thick and goopy and took some play to get it right. I hope it’s just mine but buyer beware. It’s still workable just a PITA, ya know?
Cowgirl Up is berry based red-violet. It looks more burgundy or wine in the bottle but on the nail its purple side comes out.
Red Stallion was my problem child during application but this warm orangey red has a great Fall feel. In the sunlight the undercurrent of gold shimmer peeks out.
Branding Iron is rich and vampy yet not so dark you can’t tell it’s a burgundy. The shimmer gives this luscious shade its depth and character. Without it, it would be a very boring creme.
The buzz on the MUA nail board has been over Rodeo Fanatic and the possibility of it being a twin to the highly coveted MAC Whirlwind (see comparison below). Well kids, Rodeo Fanatic is not an exact dupe but its certainly the closest living relative. Whirlwind is more of a sea-green (heavier on the green) while I’d call Rodeo Fanatic a deep peacock blue. Either way, it’s a total winner and necessity if you love blues.
How much gushing over Gussied Up Green can you all take? Leaving my love of all things emerald aside, the intensity of this shade is unparalleled. Its luster does not dull. It is the epitome of forest green. I thought Zoya Suvi and OPI Jasper Jade were IT but in comparison (see below), Gussied Up Green has a richness the others don’t. LOVE, pure love.
Midnight Ride’s pure eggplant goodness really only stands out in bright light. Indoors the “almost black” thing takes over and it becomes difficult for anyone but the wearer to know its true identity. Though I’m a sucker for a purple vamp so stick a fork in me, I’m done. They got me!
The China Glaze Rodeo Diva collections, Flannel Fixation and Hay Ride are both available online at 8ty8Beauty.com and Head2ToeBeauty.com. China Glaze nail polishes can also be found at ULTA and Sally Beauty Supply but seasonal collection availability may vary.
Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen Fall 2008
Last February I gave you a peek at the Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen Salon Collection for Fall 2008 and a backstage look at the Tracy Reese show. Well now I can finally show the rest of the collection which will roll into stores in September.
Drawing inspiration from nature and weather, this collection is filled with soft dusty neutrals, dark earthy vamps, rich floral cremes with one FANTASTIC smokey blue thrown in for good measure. Overall, I’m pretty smitten with all the colors and more than pleased with how they apply and wear.
Moonstone is the perfect name for this pearly silver metallic. I found it to be slightly streaky but not so much that it’s unwearable.
Divinity is what the MUA nail board might call a BABB (Band-Aid but better) shade. A warm nude shimmer, I think cool toned girls would have problems pulling it off.
However, that’s where Quartz Chameleon steps in. This pinkish neutral shimmer will flatter most skin tones. And while I’m not the biggest fan of nudes/neutrals, if I were looking for one to wear, this is what I’d reach for. Very work friendly.
Torrid Bloom was the shade used for the Veiled Nail look on all the Tracy Reese models. It’s a glorious deep magenta creme. I can’t even begin to tell you how impressed I was with the application and pigmentation. I totally fell in love while putting it on.
Night Lily is a purple tinged deep berry red creme and it flows on the nail as fantabulously as Torrid Bloom. Like seriously, I normally dread applying cremes unless my nail beds are flawless because they pick up every flaw. But the two in this collection are like magic. Just perfect!
Cruel Heart is a blood red shimmer. Pretty but not a standout.
Alchemy is unique in that it’s a plum with subtle bronzey shimmer. The shimmer isn’t super apparent but it brings warmth to the overall shade.
Imagine melting a Hershey’s Special Dark and adding ribbons of shimmer and you have The Good Earth. This almost-black chocolate shade has more sparkle than Alchemy but isn’t glitzy. In brighter indoor lighting and sunlight, it’s a stunner.
I’ve shown you Stormy Blue before but I just can’t get enough of this steely smoked out blue. I even told you about my male friend loving it on his toes, making it a unisex shade.
Raven’s Wing is even more jet black in person but the micro-glitter makes it appear lighter to my camera. It’s actually an inky shade with floating silver and tarnished gold glitter that dries smooth to the touch.
Sally Hansen Salon Nail Lacquer is available at most drug stores and retails for $6 US.
My personal picks for “must haves” from the collection are Quartz Chameleon, Torrid Bloom, Alchemy, Stormy Blue and The Good Earth. Which ones will make your shopping list?
SEPHORA by OPI Autumn and Eve Collection
A few weeks back I introduced you to the SEPHORA by OPI collection with some bottle pics and product photos. Well, I’ve had a chance to give the polishes a trial run and am very pleased to share the deets with you all.
I was sent the first seasonal collection from the product line, Autumn and Eve, to test out. A great mix of funky and vampy shades, the lineup is very on trend for Fall. Which makes me wonder if OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director Suzi Weiss-Fischmann held out and saved the best colors for SEPHORA.
The formula is Big 3 Free and on the medium-thick side yet it goes on smoothly. The brushes are firm and dense, allowing the polish to flow nicely on the nail without streaking or dragging. And since the OPI Pro Wide Brush is almost too big for my pinky and index nails, I’m liking the SEPHORA polish better.
Run With It! – So are you sick of hearing how much I’m in love with light gray? Well, I’m not gonna stop and Run With It! is another swoon-worthy winner. Only this one includes silver and gold shimmer that instead of adding sparkle, it gives the overall shade a slightly rubberized look. It’s one of the coolest colors I’ve come across.
Don’t Go There is a pretty midtone reddish-grape creme. Like if Barney had been rolled and kicked down a dusty road (how fun would that be?). Knowing that you’d want to see it next to Parlez Vous OPI? I included a comparison below. Obviously PVO is more muted, smokey and violet based.
Metro Chic is the shade I was most intrigued by. As much as I love me a unique polish, when I first spotted Metro Chic on the Sephora Blog I thought it was hideous and had no chance of being flattering. Color me wrong. I can see why the other editors/bloggers are giving it raves. This oddball, brown, gray, khaki, purple, Heinz 57 of a shade is pretty damn chic. And nothing like Parlez Vous OPI? or You Don’t Know Jacques! (see below).
Meet For Drinks is a deep burgundy/cranberry shimmer that will pair nicely with the berry lip look that will be popular this Fall. It’s not blowing my skirt up but I don’t hate it.
I’m With Brad is a black based lacquer with red shimmer. Very much in the same vein as Midnight in Moscow and China Glaze X. Super vampy, highly pigmented and very glossy.
Never Enough Shoes is not your average black polish. It has these specs of gold & silver micro-glitter running throughout. What I love is that the glitter is way more visible than the shimmer in say, Chanel Black Satin or Zoya Raven, yet it dries perfectly smooth. Everyone can say what they want about black polish being passe or “so two years ago” but it’s not dying out any time soon.
Finally, a little sunlight action for you. The gold shimmer in Run With It! really pops in direct sun.
The SEPHORA by OPI nail polish retails for $9 is available now on Sephora.com and starting to roll out into retail locations. Call your local store for availability.
Anyone seen the new line at your local Sephora? What do you think? I’ve been testing some of the treatment products as well and will be sharing my thoughts on those soon. Stay tuned for a peek at the core collection colors.
OPI La Collection De France for Fall 2008
The much anticipated Fall collection from OPI, La Collection De France, hit shelves last week and sent my fellow fanatics into frenzy. Ever since the unofficial images hit the net, people have been curious about what the colors will look like in person. I have to say that while there are a few AMAZING shades in the collection, overall I can’t help but say “meh!” But you girls know me; I like new, different, unexpected. And while this extremely wearable palette represents the chic, sophisticated air of France, overall it doesn’t intrigue me.
Where formula is concerned, the shimmers are barely noticeable (exceptions noted) while the cremes have continued to impress me the way India and the Mod Brights did. Excellent coverage, smooth application and a glossy finish. What more can a girl ask for?
My OPI France Hits:
Parlez Vous OPI? is the clear winner and stand out for me. I’m so feeling the smoked out shades for Fall, I can’t even stand it! And this smokey violet creme is a total knockout. If there is one color (besides dove gray) that I’ll be wearing multiple times this Fall, it’s this one.
You Don’t Know Jacques! ended up surprising me. This muddy browned gray didn’t look at all flattering in the bottle but on my nails, LOVES IT! In the same way that China Glaze Wagon Trail felt gritty and grungy, You Don’t Know Jacques! gives off the same edge. The creme finish just makes it a bit more chic.
Louvre Me Louvre Me Not is a fun pop of juicy grape color in a collection with such subdued tones. And the shimmer in this one is more prominent, making this a great shade for us funky nail lovin’ gals.
Baguette Me Not is another one that caught me off guard. I didn’t think much of it in the bottle but it really works with my skin tone. And I’m diggin the slightly dusty quality. So, is it a deep melon, a reddish orange, a browned red? It’s like describing the wondrous taste and texture of sushi in that I can’t quite articulate it, I just know I like it.
The Misses:
What’s there to say about Tickle My France-y? It’s a nice, neutral, nude. How’s that for alliteration? But seriously, it’s a great basic. Very work friendly and I like that it’s not sheer. Finding flattering opaque neutrals can be a challenge.
Crepes Suzi-ette reminds me of the reddish brown shade MAC put in the N Colour collection, Naturally Rich. That one didn’t work for me and neither does Crepes Suzi-ette. It applied beautifully but is just way to blah for me. I could see a darker skinned person pulling this off or perhaps even a red-head. Just not me.
I wanted to like I’m Fondue Of You. I really did. The shimmery slightly bronze bottle shade drew me in. I honestly expected this to be a winner. But on my nails, it just kind of dies. I love me some chocolate brown but this was too light and too red and not shimmery enough for my taste.
And the I’ve Seen It Befores:
A Oui Bit Of Red has visible shimmer in the bottle though when applied, it disappears. I do like that it makes my nails look like little Red Hot candies, which is fun but, it’s not a red I haven’t seen before. I know, what red really is? Like the LBD (little black dress) it’s a staple.
Bastille My Heart is a deep candy apple red with that same subtle shimmer. Pretty but, yawn inducing. Next!
Yes… I Can-Can! and We’ll Always Have Paris (below in that order) both have a reddish grape base that has been deepended to a vampy plum. The shimmer in Yes… I Can-Can! is really the only difference. The silver sparkles do stand out some on the nail but I can’t really say either polish is more unique than the vampies from past Fall collections (Russia, Chicago, 25th Anniversary).
Eiffel For This Color looks to be a Lincoln Park After Midnight twin. I’ll have to do a swatch test and report back. Again, it’s another almost-black plum with shimmer. Do I like it? Yes! Will I wear it? For sure. Does it make me want to run out and buy a backup? Not so much.
The OPI La Collection De France is available now at professional salons and chains like Trade Secret, ULTA, Regis, JC Penney in addition to the online e-tailers I have listed on the right.
So what are your thoughts on the collection? I’m sure by now some of you have already scooped up your favs. What were your Hits, Misses and Seen It Befores?
China Glaze Fall 2008 – Rodeo Diva Hay Ride
Giddy up little cowgirls for the Rodeo Diva collection from China Glaze is here. Twelve nail polishes divided into two sets, warm and cool, these shimmering beauties will be causing a frenzy. And even though I tend to go the cool route (blues, greens) the gold shimmer in the Hay Ride polishes is incredible.
I would describe the shimmer as micro glitter yet it doesn’t affect the finish or cause that skin crawling glitter scratching as you remove it. All in all, the polishes applied well. Though I did notice the formula getting thicker as I went from lighter to darker shades. The lacquers dry glossy and the pigmentation is excellent, I only needed two coats to achieve bottle color.
Now you’ll notice that my skin tone looks a bit funky in the swatch pics below. That’s only because I altered the images to best show the polish color, which resulted in my skin looking a bit jaundiced in some and flushed in others. You’ll just have to excuse that.
Yee Haw! is a golden peachy orange that just radiates in the sunlight. I don’t think it necessarily works on me but the shimmer really gives it a punch to take it from being just another peach.
Golden Spurs is actually one of my favorite shades in this group and I’m not a big fan of tans. There’s something about how the shimmer really adds dimension to what could be a totally boring color that draws me in. It’s a sexy evening neutral.
Prize Winning Mare is a hard shade to capture. It’s golden brown but not chocolaty and very chameleon-like. In every light, it looked different. Very unique
Lasso My Heart’s golden shimmer makes it look more rosy in person. In fact, in the bottle, I thought it was a duo-chrome because of the way the shimmer affects the color.
Wagon Trail was the one color I most look forward to testing and it didn’t disappoint. You know me, any mention of green perks my ears up. This golden green is dirty, funky and totally fun. Like nothing else I own. I know there are fans of the discontinued China Glaze shade, Cat’s Eye (I don’t own it). Well I’d say that Wagon Trail is its blackened, trampy cousin.
Side-Saddle is for all you vamps. A browned plum peppered with gold, this shade represents the “diva” in Rodeo Diva the best. The minute I saw it, I thought of my pal Sara from Bit By The Beauty Bug. Even though I’ve helped encourage her to explore the lighter, brighter side of polish this summer, she’s a vampy girl at heart. I just know she’ll love this!
And since I knew there would questions of how Side-Saddle compares to NYC Cognac Sparkle, I beat you to the punch. Cognac Sparkle is more berry/wine based and a tinge lighter. Sorry gals, no twin here.
The Rodeo Diva collection can be found online at Head2ToeBeauty and is coming soon to 8ty8Beauty. China Glaze can also be purchased at ULTA and Sally Beauty Supply, call for seasonal collection availability.
Lisa N.
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