cloud de menthe

I had to take a quick break for a long-hours summer course but the end result is a lot of new polish and two new acrylic racks! 

I don't know where I first spotted this baby, but the first thing I thought was an OPI Creme de Menthe dupe! I don't know if I'm right and probably never will, but I compared it to the other minty gold shimmer I have and it's quite different. It's perhaps a bit lighter looking and less dusty than Creme de Menthe. My first Jessica and the polish had a perfect application and long wear time. I also got so many compliments!

Cloud Mine. Sunlight.

Cloud Mine. Sunlight.

Cloud Mine. Indoor light.

Cloud Mine. Sunlight.

Jessica Cloud Mine vs. Chelsea Baja Green

Cloud Mine bottle. Sunlight.

a dupe?

Or not a dupe? I found this gorgeous Chelsea polish, named Baja Green, on eBay--said to be a dupe of OPI's famed Creme de Menthe. This is two or three coats. I think it needs a bit more of the bright yellow gold flash to be closer to CdM. Since I probably won't ever have Creme de Menthe, what do you think? 

Baja Green. Natural Light.

Baja Green. Natural Light.

Baja Green. Bottle. Natural Light.

nail mail

I just wanted to put something up as I got a ton of nail mail last month. Too much, probably :)

I got this, NYX Girls Luscious Green, because it's supposed to be a dupe of China Glaze Moonpool. 

I really liked it on and it actually got some compliments from others. The wear wasn't great but everything else was pretty good about the polish. 

Luscious Green, natural light.

Luscious Green, natural light.

Luscious Green, bottle.

New Year's Eve Eve already!?

I'm lucky enough to have two new and beautiful polishes to show today--New Year's Eve Eve from Lynnderella's Season's Glitterings collection over Nicole Up and Kim-ing Pink (dupe for OPI Pink Friday).

I love the color of Pink Friday but had a ton of issues with the formula. I'm not sure if the Nicole formula was much better or if I'm just more skilled now. The polish isn't terrible to apply, though it's streaky and takes at least three coats to even and still has a somewhat chalky look. Also, it chipped like a beotch (sorry for the tip wear!) after half a day. But this color can't be beat!

New Year's Eve Eve, December 30th, I think ;) From Lynnderella's website: "363 days of glitter. We expected it to have some relationship to The Glittering Crowd, and it does. But the addition of new matte and satin glitters add an extra whallop. Just like 2012."

The satin glitters are really different--I think these were used in Sweets to the Sweet as well. A sort of pearlescent effect. A beautiful rainbow of glitters in a clear base which is great for anytime of year, really. The main differences I notice between NYEE and tGC is the satin glitter, diamond glitter, and yellow flowers. Of course the overall color scheme is also different. I haven't actually worn tGC yet either, but will compare soon <3

Up and Kim-ing Pink. Artificial Light.

New Year's Eve Eve and Up and Kim-ing Pink. Artificial Light.

Up and Kim-ing Pink. Artificial Light.

Lynnderella New Year's Eve Eve. Artificial Light.

Doh...

I realize I only did four posts last month! Boo. Hoping for more this month despite holiday madness. 

Here's Nicole Just Busta Mauve, a Target exclusive. I would love to have the other glitter colors from this collection. See Scrangie's swatch of this, it's much better than mine. I probably should have used four coats and she may have...I only used three and there's some vnl. I think a dreaded four coats would have given a bit more depth and color here, as the polish was surprisingly sheer.

I found this to be a pretty awesome and different glitter. If I remember correctly it's a super concentrated fine tiny plum (I don't see mauve but I guess it could be dark mauve) and cobalt blue microglitter in a sheer base. I'm going to double check this though.

Double awesome is that even though it's a glitter, it has a duochrome effect. Yes! It shines warm plum, deep copper, and a strange sort of grey in different lighting. Amazing. Have you been tempted by any of the awesome Nicole colors lately? I love some of the holiday colors.

Just Busta Mauve. Natural Light.

Just Busta Mauve. Natural Light.

Just Busta Mauve, blurry sparkle. Natural Light.

Just Busta Mauve, close up. Natural Light.

Just Busta Mauve. Bottle shot. Natural Light.

Miso Excited!

It's been a really long time since I posted...and for a good reason! I am currently employed and though it is very part time right now, I've still been busy and adjusting to a new schedule has been tough on my nails, believe it or not. 

It took me a long time to find this polish for a reasonable price (ie not on eBay) and I really *needed* to--I mean, you've gotta understand because I've read it's the only dupe/semi-dupe out there for RBL's Plie (see crappy comparison pic). As you can see in the picture, the pink in Plie appears to be a bit more saturated. 

Plie, a color I adore and think of frequently, is a color I have almost never been able to apply well. It nearly always requires three coats to cover streaks, gets thick and gummy, and takes 12 hours to dry even with a quick dry topcoat. I'd given up at one point and taken it to a salon and wished I hadn't.

I really hoped Miso Happy with this Color would *not* dupe Plie's application and it didn't. Application was so smooth and easy. While a bit sheer, with three thin and easy coats, this applied like a toxic, black-label dream. Why am I not wearing this right now, actually?

And oh my gosh. With the sunset starting at 2:30pm and me waking up at 8am at best--I am so sorry for this one terrible picture :( More to come!

Miso Happy with this Color. Artificial Light.

Miso Happy with this Color. Bottle Shot. Sunlight.

Miso Happy with this Color and Plie bottle comparisons. Sunlight.

Back to the 80s...

Another 80s themed mani for ya. Did this one awhile ago when I lost my actual camera and used my camera on my phone. The pictures look pretty freaky because of the neon and it's NOT a really messy job it's just the glare from the polish.

It's Essie's Flirty Fuchsia from the Summer Neons 2009--I also added my CtD dupe from Aqua Daisy, Me Too for an 80s touch :) The formula on Flirty Fuchsia is good and dries fast, but to a matte finish, which I've heard is normal for a true neon polish. It's not a matte finish as if a matte top coat were applied, but more matte than a "satin" finish, imo.  This is somewhat noticeable in the second picture. I also managed to score the elusive Funky Limelight for a great deal! Coming Soon...

Flirty Fuchsia and Me Too. Overcast Outdoor Light.

Flirty Fuchsia. Artificial Light.

Flirty Fuchsia. Indoor with Flash.

Halloween Green

Just a quick swatch for your because I’m trying to keep my cat from eating all the paper in the house.

I saw this display at CVS and loved most of the colors, grabbed this Rainforest-y color, Poison Ivy. This is what I hoped China Glaze’s Jolly Holly would be, I just ordered it and it’s not quite blue enough for me. This is a blue/black green and similar to what I imagine my coveted OPI Rainforest would look like in person.

The formula was good and easy to apply. Except for one thing, unless I was imagining it or got a bad bottle, I got these bizarre salt-like crystals in my polish. Am I nuts? I’ve never had this happen before, but I’ve also almost never used Wet N Wild (since high school at least).

For $2 I couldn’t beat this as a Rainforest dupe, or at least cousin.

Wet N Wild Poison Ivy Sunlight

Wet N Wild Poison Ivy Artificial Light

Wet N Wild Poison Ivy Bottle Sunlight