Finger Paints - Asylum over Revlon Fearless (12/27/2011)

Asylum [əˈsaɪləm] n.  An institution for the shelter, treatment, or confinement of individuals, esp. a mental hospital (formerly termed lunatic asylum). - The Free Dictionary (online)


Finger Paints Asylum will have you questioning your sanity it's so beautiful and I'm also glad that Finger Paints has brought a few more unique flakie formulations to the general population.  "Hidden Treasure" (Sally Hansen) is so "2010" (Nubar) - LOL!!!


All jokes aside, what I mean is that these type of multi-colored flakies (see FingerPaints ad below) are usually a bit more pricey and available online only - this is not the case with Finger Paints.  Plus, I'm not a fan of buying polish online when I'm literally swimming in nail polish in my local area.  Now that my mini-rant is done, on to the review...

Color Description: Asylum is a mix of purple, orange and yellow flakies suspended in a clear milky base and will amplify the look of medium to dark lacquers.  It may get lost on pastels or paler colors.  My red combo is showing peeks of color for a more subtle look but to really show this line off you'll need to go much darker, if not black.


Similar To: A combination of Nfu Oh #56 & #43, but I doubt there's anything on the market right now that has these colors all mixed up like Asylum.


This Look: Two coats of Asylum over my previous mani with a coat of Shine & Hold for a nice shiny quick-dry.


Price Point/Availability: These will be available at your local Sally's Beauty Supply come January 1st, 2011.  I just asked if they had them, they did and I purchased two on sale for $4.99 (regular $5.49, I believe).  I'm hoping for these to be placed in Finger Paints core line but know today's marketing strategies, they will more than likely be "Limited Edition".


I can truly say that Asylum and Twisted are my favorite lacquers of 2011 (even though they're not to be officially released until 2012).

Revlon - Fearless (12/24/2011)

I spotted this new Revlon at CVS this weekend and fell in absolute love all over again.  I keep falling for these colors and just convince myself when I'm in the check-out line that it's slightly different from the the four or five other brands that I have at home.  


You do have to be very careful with Revlon color choices, though, because they have been known to rename and recently repackage the same color and sell it as new.  How Tricky!


Color Description: Fearless is a gorgeous orange-red creme that can almost be jelly-like, but not quite.  It is bright, thus the name but I find it to be very wearable and this shade always garners lots of compliments.


Similar To:  Let me count the ways (cough, cough)! Let's just say that a few in my collection are similar... Click here for my orange-red collection.


This Look: One coat of Nutra Nail Touch of Color Nail Strenghtener, one coat of Instant Artificials, two coats of Revlon Fearless and one coat of Shine & Hold. Great application that gives a flawless finish.


Price Point/Availability: This lacquer is $4.99 and was found at CVS in a new freestanding display toward the front of the store.  Be careful, there's a dupe of Perplex in this collection called Naughty (do not be fooled, like me - lol).


Thanks for checking me out today!  I can't wait to try the new flakies at Sally's later on.  Picked up Asylum and Twisted - crazy names but beautiful effects. :)

Color Club - Nouveau Vintage (12/23/2011)

Do you see what I see?  A gorgeous and fairly new (Fall 2011) lacquer from Color Club that is just perfect for the fall.  Nouveau Vintage is from the Back to Boho collection and so far this is the only one I've picked up.  Do you have any from this collection?


Color Description: In the picture below there's lots of green and brown which makes for a very interesting bottle but once Nouveau Vintage is on the nail it translates into a beautiful antiqued bronze with super fine micro-shimmers of gold, rust and green with a brown base.  Very, very suitable for an everyday look.


Similar To: Nouveau Vintage (i.e. New Old) totally reminded me of OPI's Warm & Fozzie once I placed it on my nail.  I quickly did research to find out was I dreaming? Am I the only one that sees the similarities?  The answer was, "no".  As a matter of fact as seen in my last post there was a comparison post done.  So, again, if you can't find one check out the other for a similar look and feel.


This Look: One coat of Nutra Nail Touch of Color Nail Strengthener, three coats of Nouveau Vintage and one coat of Shine & Hold.


Price Point/Availability: Color Club can be found online and are also sold at Bed, Bath and Beyond. (retails for $6/ea.)


Well, as I type and look down at my nails I wonder when I will want to change my nail color.  I like this as much as I like Warm & Fozzie and just hope it won't be another two weeks before I have the heart to move on.


Take Care! ♥

OPI - Warm & Fozzie (12/22/2011)

I love this lacquer!  When I wear Warm & Fozzie I can't seem to take it off and as a matter of fact when it is time to remove it I reapply it; I ended up wearing this for two weeks straight one time. As with Designer De Better, this came out this Fall in the Muppets Collection and is limited edition (LE).


Color Description: Straight from OPI, "This feel-good shade of metallic copper will brighten even the dullest days and leave you feeling as if Fozzie Bear just told you his worst joke!" Maybe that's why I couldn't take it off (hehehe). This beautiful coppery-bronze has gold, rust, green shimmer and flecks that will really keep you coming back for more.


Similar To: If you can't find Warm & Fozzie take a look at Color Club's Nouveau Vintage.  Though it's not an exact match it definitely gives you the same feel and is so close I had to check my bottles.  Nouveau Vintage is a tad darker and not as glass-flecked but is a cozy Fall/Winter lacquer just the same.  As a matter of fact, Chromatic Misadventures did a comparison post which I'm attaching for you viewing pleasure (click here).


This Look: One coat of Instant Artificials, two coats of Warm & Fozzie and one coat of Hold & Shine.


Price Point/Availability: Warm & Fozzie was one of the first to sell out at my local salon, however, they did restock.  So check out your local OPI distributor (Ulta, JCPenney, Salon) soon before it can't be found, after all it was LE.

OPI - Designer De Better (12/18/2011)

OPI's Muppets Collection was released November 2011 a few weeks prior to the Muppets movie release and of the twelve lacquers released I picked up two: Designer De Better and Warm & Fozzie.  Of the two, Warm & Fozzie is my favorite but I really do like Designer De Better now on to its review.


Color Description: Described as a light metallic bronze by OPI, Designer De Better is packed with pale golden/platinum micro-glitter with a spattering of burnt orange glitter.  Very fancy but can be worn everyday without the feeling of being over-the-top.


Similar To: Very original and similar to nothing that I own.


This Look: Two coats of Designer De Better and one coat of Maybelline forever+strong topcoat.


Price Point/Availability: You may still be able to find this lacquer at your local JCPenney or Ulta (or any Salon that carries OPI).  This is a limited edition collection so it won't be around permanently and retails for $8.50.


Thanks so much for checking out my page and I'd love to hear from you.  Have you seen the Muppets Movie?  I heard it was really good but haven't seen it yet.  Will more than likely rent it, how 'bout you?

Sally Hansen - Gray Area (12/16/2011)

Has it almost been a month since my last post?  Where did the time go?  Well, it's been a busy month betweem the job hunt, a wedding, a funeral and life in general - let's just say, "things have really been going on!" I have been, however, polishing my nails.  


So what have you missed?  OPI's Warm & Fozzie - I just couldn't take it off and wore it for two weeks straight! Also, really liked OPI's Designer De Better.  I will have posts of these soon.  Now on to what I'm wearing today.  Sally Hansen's Gray Area which is inspired from a handbag that I purchased recently from the Junior Drake Warehouse sale.

Junior Drake - Gia

Color Description: Is it gray? Is it purple? Is it taupe? It's a "Gray Area" is what it is.  It's very unique as far as creme lacquers go and it's very wearable.  Stays in the dark family but does not go black indoors - nice!

Similar To: This is the creme version of Chanel Paradoxal and Dare To Wear's Fortune.  A very rich looking color, indeed.

OTT Lite with Light Box

This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificials, two coats of Gray Area and one coat of Shine & Hold.


Price Point/Availability: I'm almost certain that this is in Sally Hansen's core line and can be found at most drugstore's for no more than $2.99.


Now if you can imagine this dark gray handbag that in certain light looks like the picture below which is some sort of grayish purple - this is what the Gia bag in Shadow looks like.  


More about Junior Drake coming soon!  One of my favorite handbag designers of 2010-2011...

Junior Drake Warehouse Sale - Leather Handbags (December 16-18)

When: The Junior Drake Warehouse Clearance Sale is happening two weekends in a row and ending this weekend.  I went last weekend and picked up the full leather Gia Handbag for about 85% below retail (see pic below).  There will be hundreds, if not, thousands of leather handbags in every color of the rainbow.

Where: There's always refreshments to keep up your shopping stamina, as well (i.e. hot dogs, cookies, and drinks).  So if you're in the Los Angeles area, by all means, make it down to the Junior Drake Warehouse Sale and have a blast!!!

What: Here's a pic of the handbag I picked up last weekend for 85% off!  

Crazy steal of a deal:

Gia Studded Satchel (color: Shadow)


Matching Lacquer: Sally Hansen Gray Area, Dare 2 Wear Fortune and 
Chanel Paradoxal

Video: Here's a glimpse of what you'll be "in store" for:

Details: Sneak-peek at bags and dates are below: