COMP-POST: Essie Navigate Her vs. CQ Mint Green - Part Two

Navigate Her (2 coats) ~ Mint Green (3 coats)

Well, the verdict is in and as you can see, there's no dupe here.  I would even say that if you like one, you may not like the other - that's how different they look on the hand.


The picture to the left is showing, on alternating fingers,  Essie Navigate Her (index and middle) and CQ Mint Green (middle and pinky).


Color Description: Navigate Her is a warm-tone creme that has yellow undertones and I would definitely describe it as a pistachio or celery green, whereas, Mint Green is cool-toned with more of a pastel green and is a bit lighter and airier, which I prefer.  Personally, I think Mint Green is prettier.


Application: Navigate Her was almost opaque in one coat with the application being easy and pretty much flawless with little effort.  Even though I prefer the look of Mint Green, it was thin and watery and a challenge to apply.  The question is which one did I choose to wear out the door?


This Look: As you can see in the picture to the right, I chose to wear Essie's Navigate Her for the ease of application with two coats, and one coat of Nutra Nail Ultra Shine topcoat.


Price Point/Availability: I found both Navigate Her and Mint Green at Rite Aid for $2.99 and $8.00, respectively. If only CQ's application was as good as the price we would have a winner!  But as it is, it's just gonna take a little more time and forethought before applying.


Hope you enjoyed this comparison post and that it will help you in your selection process. :)

COMP-POST: Essie Navigate Her vs. CQ Mint Green - Part One

Okay, so I've searched high and low for something remotely close to Essie's Navigate Her ($8.29) and I think I found it - CQ Mint Green ($2.99).


I know they're not identical twins but they are definitely more than fraternal twins.  So here's the bottle pic but I will have actual swatches up shortly.

The Essie has a bit more of a yellow undertone but I would describe them both as a celery green creme.

Can't wait to see what this looks like on my nails.  Exciting stuff, but I must admit that I'm easily pleased.  See you soon!

Pink Wednesday: Sally Hansen - Iced Out

Glitter be gone!  I can only take glitter on my hands for so long and now for something a bit more soft and subdued.  Feast your eyes on Sally Hansen Iced Out.  Such a cold name for a rather demure look, wouldn't you say?  The name reminds me of an infamous "housewife" with much bling and this on their nails - lol. Ice, ice baby!


Color Description:  Iced Out is an extremely sheer lacquer that you will definitely need to wear "under-ware" with or use as a layering lacquer.  It is densely packed with gold, green and orange micro-glitter in a fairest pink base.


Similar To: Maybe Revlon Sheer Snowflake Pink or  possibly Nicole by OPI's Kim-pletely In Love (click here for Sneakerette's post) - these definitely have similarities but are by no means dupes.


This Look: One coat of Growing Nails Odorless Garlic base coat, one coat of Barielle Camouflage, three coats of Iced Out and one coat of Nutra Nail Ultra Shine Top Coat.


Price Point/Availability:  This was found in the same collection Frozen Creamsicle and has not yet made it to the core collection. It retails for $2.49.


Well, off to go do some much needed home organization - have a good one... :)

NDB - Under The Sea (02/21/2012)

NDB is one of those little known Los Angeles based brands that not too many are aware of but boy oh boy do their glitters pack a punch.  Under The Sea hails from their Tropical collection of glitters which boasts such names as Golden Bikini, Sea Swept and Message in A Bottle.


Color Description: Under The Sea is a medium blue (leaning turquoise) base which contains fine silver and deep turquoise glitter.


Similar To: Under The Sea is much lighter that OPI Absolutely Alice or even China Glaze Dorothy Who? but does not fail to deliver when it comes to the glitter factor.


This Look: One coat of Miss Marion's Garlic Superbase with two coats of Under The Sea and one coat of Shine & Hold.


Price Point/Availability: This lacquer retails for $2.00/bottle and can be purchased online.


Have a great evening ladies (and gents)!

Kleancolor 230 - Chunky Holo Fuchsia over Revlon Royal (2/18/2012)

So, I don't have Clarins 230 but I have Kleancolor 230 (Chunky Holo Fuchsia) and here it is over Revon Royal.  It's interesting, isn't it?  I wasn't well this weekend so I didn't leave the house with this look and was kinda sad that I didn't get to see it in the sun but it was a nice look to lounge around in - lol.


Color Description: So pretty I have to say it twice "230 is gorgeous iridescent glitter that sparkles gold, orange and green all suspended in a fuchsia jelly transforming any base color from wow to ooh wee!"


Similar To: This is really a unique lacquer that said to be mimicking the rare find known to be Clarins 230.  The glitter is much larger in the Kleancolor, however.


This Look: One coat of Miss Marion Garlic Superbase, two coats of Revlon Royal and two coats of 230 (Chunky Holo Fuchsia).


Price Point/Availability: Kleancolors are available online $3.49 (+ tax) with a whopping $8.00 for shipping.  So if you can find these in a local beauty supply, that's your best bet; I've seen them for as low as $1.00.


Thanks for checking me out... :)

Revlon - Royal (02/18/2012)

Royal needed its own post even though it was used as a layering lacquer!  
Not much detail will be given on this one, other than, this can be picked up at your local drugstore.  Happy Hunting...

Pink Wednesday: Sally Hansen - Frozen Creamsicle

Okay, ya'll, if this isn't one of the prettiest Sally Hansen Hard As Nails lacquers I've ever seen I don't know what is.  Can you believe all of this shiny jelly goodness is from Hard As Nails?


Color Description: Frozen Creamsicle is not orange enough to be peach and not rosy enough to be pink it's best described as a pink-peach jelly that is delicate and simple yet classy and on-trend for the Spring. 


Similar To:  Nothing else that I own is even close to this but from online pics it could be the jelly version of Barielle Blossom or possibly 2009's PYT by Deborah Lippman (see pic below), but I don't own either of these so I can't be sure. Also, here's a recent post from Mocha Mish Mash that has similar colors for your view pleasure.


This Look: Two coats of Nutra Nail Super Base Coat, two coats of Frozen Creamsicle and one coat of Shine & Hold.


Price Point/Availability: I happened upon Frozen Creamsicle at Walgreens in the "new items" section for $1.99.  I've searched the web and can't seem to find another mention of this lacquer and haven't seen it anywhere else, so Walgreens is your best bet.  I'm assuming this is new for Spring 2012.


I really hope this look helps brighten your day as much as it has mine. Color really changes my mood and I have a feeling that the next few days will be full of good things for both me and you - have a great Wednesday, my lovelies!


Oh and next I think I will try to recreate Let Them Have Polish's MaxFactor Fantasy Fire over Revlon Royal...  I don't have Fantasy Fire so I will have to get creative but I have a few thoughts in mind. I'm really excited about look.  I liked it so much I Pinterested It!

Kleancolor - Holo Chrome over Wet n Wild On A Trip (02/12/2012)

Halogen Lighting w/ Cloudy Camera Setting
(for truer color)

I decided to spice up my WnW with a little Holo Chrome from Kleancolor.  These are a great accompaniments to one other as they are both blue based medium-toned purples.


Color Description: Holo Chrome is a fine particle scattered holo in a blue-based purple clear jelly. It is a very striking lacquer and will definitely glam up any mani.


Similar To: Holo Chrome is definitely a stand-alone lacquer but if you're looking to layer it, try this combo.  WnW On A Trip is, again, is the same color/hue of purple.


This Look: One coat of Holo Chrome over my last mani and topped with Shine & Hold.

Day (OTT) Lighting w/ Cloudy Camera Setting

Price Point/Availability: I, generally, find these in a local beauty supply and have seen them for as low as $1.00. They are also available at Kleancolors website for $3.49 (+ tax and $8 an shipping charge). 


This should be a good week, instead of starting the weekend with party nails I'm ending the weekend with them. 

Day (OTT) Lighting w/ Normal Camera Setting
(shows blue but still nice, eh?)

Have a great week and see you in a day or so...  I have a hunch that I'm going to get tired of these nails really quick and I already know what's next.  See you soon!

Wet n Wild - On A Trip (02/10/2012)

w/ Cloudy Setting (most accurate)

Run, don't walk to your nearest Walgreens and pick up Wet N Wild's new MegaLast Salon Nail Color in On A Trip!  I found this today and just had to put it on my hands, especially after I looked in my melmers and finding that I have no similar color in my collection.  However, I will still do the "Similar To" section and let you know what I thought it would be close to - NOT!!!


Color Description: Periwinkle creme! That's it and that's all... It definitely photographs blue so in order to get the truest color I had to set my camera to cloudy and wahlah a nice rendition of what On A Trip really looks like on my hands.  I ♥ IT...


Similar To: This is what I imagined China Glaze's Secret Periwinkle to look like on the nail.  I've only seen in real life once and watched while one of my nail polish buddies snagged it telling me how sought after it was.  Well for all you CG SP lovers, give this one a spin.  I also thought it would be close to Zoya Mira or American Apparel African Violet but these are darker with less blue-tones.

w/ Auto Balance

This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificals, two coats of On A Trip, and one coat of Shine & Hold.


Application: I thought I'd add this since the brush is huge!  About the same size if not larger than the Sally Hansen Salon Manicure brushes which can be a bit unwieldy.  But it wasn't a real issue and the formula is very creamy and thick; bald with one coat and opaque in two.


Price Point/Availability:  I've only seen this collection at Rite Aid and Walgreens.  Walgreens is having a sale right now for B2GOF and at only $1.99/ea. you'll be getting 3/$3.98.  Nice deal!


Hope you enjoy this one as much as I do!  Please let me know if you've picked it up and your thoughts. :)

Pink Wednesday: Golden Rose #105 (Pink Holographic)

It's close to midnight in Los Angeles on this Pink Wednesday which comes and goes before you know it, but I figured out a way to give myself a few more hours. I'm using the last available time zone in the U.S. because it's still Wednesday in Hawaii - lol!  On to Golden Rose #105 is long overdue for review, so it goes it.


Color Description: A lovely conservative neutral pink indoors and wildly holographic outdoors, Pink #105, is understated but at the same time not to be missed.  Very hard to capture in pics, this lacquer is best viewed outside.


This Look: Two coats of Miss Marion Garlic Base coat, two coats of #105, and one coat of OPI DS topcoat.


Price Point/Availability: I received this little bottle in a swap.  It was a curiosity that's now been satisfied, however, I now want to try other colors.  These are available online for under $3.00.  What a deal!


These indoor pics aren't showing the holo effect but it's an accurate rendition of what you'll see, for the most part. Alrighty then my fine folks!  I will speak with you soon, 'kay? 

NYX - Salmon (02/07/2012)

Something new!  To me at least... This is NYX Salmon which is part of new Salon Formula collection and what's really interesting is that they're in Deborah Lippman shaped bottles and are double the price of the regular NYX lacquers, but we'll get to the price a bit later.  So to say the least I was intrigued...


Color Description: Salmon is a muted burnt-orange that's a jelly(yay!) with suspended gold micro-glitter.  It really struck me as unique in the bottle and did not disappoint when it was applied.


Similar To: Another strike-out! I have not seen or know of nothing else like Salmon. However, in hue/color it totally reminds me of OPI DS Tapestry (less the gold glitter).  So for all of you OPI DS girls, you pretty much know what I'm talkin' 'bout... (for more on the DS Tapestry pic check out: Did Someone Say Nail Polish's post).


This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificials with three coats of Salmon and one coat of Shine & Hold.


Price Point/Availability: I purchased this at a local beauty supply store for $3.99 which is a deal when compared to the larger brands.  You can also find this lacquer online.


Salmon is long wearing, however, it does take a while to dry due to the jelly consistency; very dentable of over an hour but the results are well worth it. 


Have you seen these new NYX bottles?  Last weekend was my first time noticing them and though all colors aren't unique, there are a few standouts and the bottle is a nice one. :)

L.A. Girl Rockstar - Double Platinum (02/05/2012)

L.A. Girl Rock Star Double Platinum is a difficult one to "capture on film" and this is the best few shots out of gazillion.  It's so much prettier in person than this.  Here's Scrangie's phot of Double Platinum (w/ three coats) so you can get another vantage point of what it looks like.


Color Description: This is a smokey taupe that leans gray and is chock full of holographic glitter.  It's a really special color and would look great layered over something like OPI's Designer De Better for  a bit more bling or maybe Essie Case Study to bring out more of the taupe.


Similar To:  This is another stand alone lacquer that has no rival in my collection.


This Look: Two coats of OPI Acrylic Base Coat (white), two coats of Double Platinum (three or four is preferable) and one coat of Shine & Hold topcoat.


Price Point/Availability: Most brick and mortar retailers have moved on from the Rock Star collection so it may be a bit hard to find in person, however, the good news is that it's not discontinued and can be found on L.A. Girls website for $4.  I've also seen it in other places for under $3. So it's a bargain for a unique lacquer.


Well, thanks so much for peeking at my latest look and have a great Sunday!

Pink Wednesday: Sally Hansen Color Quick Pen - Red Chrome

What one minute!  This is Pink Wednesday not Red Wednesday, right?  Yes, it is Pink Wednesday and this post is for Red Chrome but did you take a look at the pic? As pink as pink can get...


Color Description: Sally Hansen should have called this Hot Pink Chrome because it's sure not red but it is lovely.  A metallic deep pink, Red Chrome, is definitely a nice color for any occasion.


Similar To: Nothing in my collection, how about yours?


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


Price Point/Availability: I'm still seeing this at my local CVS, however, I picked up mine at my dollar store for, you guessed it, $1.00.  So this make me think this will be discontinued sooner than later.


Hope you like this look.  By the way, do you have any of Sally Hansen's pen applicators?  I have a few and this is the second time I've tried it out.  Not bad but the brush definitely is rough and tough and will leave streaks so you have to be very careful when applying.  Take care!