China Glaze - Stone Cold



I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the China Glaze Hunger Games Collection! My favorite of the bunch was Stone Cold - so gorgeous. The movie is now on DVD but if you haven't seen it there were 12 Districts which coincided with twelve lacquers for China Glaze's Spring 2012 Collection. 

Stone Cold is from District 2 - Masonry.  And though it was released for Spring, it's the perfect color to transition you right into Fall.

Color Description: Stone Cold is a matte charcoal/black with silver shimmer and I recommend keeping it matte for the full effect of this "rock" star look.  This could be described as "street chic" with its asphalt texture and, to me, is best suited for shorter nails.  Stone cold is a winner, check it out if you can.

Similar To: Nothing I own comes close to this, it's definitely a "collector's" lacquer. However, from pics, it looks just like Orly's Iron Butterfly (check out The Polished Perfectionist for a closer look at this lacquer).

This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificials, two coats of Stone Cold and no top coat.  (If you need to put on a top coat use a matte finish to preserve the look.)

Price Point/Availability: I believe you'll still be able to find these on line but it was Limited Edition (Hunger Games Collection) and last I saw was being clearanced out at Sally's a few months ago.  Better yet, just check the Sally's store online and it's only $1.50.  Wow!  That's a deal - retails for $6.50+!

Whether you saw the movie or not, this is a collection that you should check out.  See you soon ladies and (gents, I think there's a few of you that are male readers, at least)!  Have a great week... :)

Kleancolor - Chunky Holo Black (Bottle Pic)

Kleancolor - Chunky Holo Black

The Trifid Nebula is about 40 light-years across.

'Nuff Said!!!

OPI - Black Onyx (The Perfect Glitter Base)

Trying to figure out the best way to showcase my glitters, I painted one hand white and the other black. Needless to say, black won out hands down with Black Onyx stealing the show. I almost don't want to put the glitter on now.


Color Description:  The shiniest, wettest looking black I've seen yet. Definitely dries with a jelly finish, go figure?


Similar To: Sinful Colors Black on Black is an awesome black, too, but OPI's formula is a lot thinner and easier to deal with than Black on Black.  Black Onyx is also very fast drying, as well.


This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificials and two coats of Black Onyx - that's it and that's all folks! Can you believe how shiny this is without a topcoat?


Price Point/Availability: Black Onyx is in OPI's core line so should be easily found in stores and online wherever OPI is sold and retails for $8.50.


I won't be wearing Black Onyx alone but I thought it warranted it's own review because for those of you who do rock black nails, this needs to be in your collection... 

Fun-Friday Mani: OPI/China Glaze - Teenage Dream Layered with Black Mesh

I know, I know!  You may have seen this combo a hundred times, but I finally broke down and purchased a crackle nail lacquer.  Crackles are not necessarily my cup of tea but I wanted to try out China Glaze Black Mesh, so here's my review.  Oh, and my friend highly recommended OPI's Teenage Dream from the Katy Perry Collection, so I'm giving that a whirl, as well.


Color Description:  
Black Mesh goes on nice and thin, dries to a deep matte black and crackles thin and fast.  OPI's Teenage Dream is very sparkly and girly with various types of glitter including larger round holographic sparkles.  I actually used Black Mesh to calm down Teenage Dream.


Similar To: 
OPI's Black Shatter is very close to Black Mesh from China Glaze's CRACKLEglaze Collection , however, the OPI version has a thicker consistency and may dry a bit slower.  Teenage Dream has been compared as a pinker/prettier version to Sally Hansen's Strobe Light by Addicted To All Things Pretty.  I've now tried both and totally agree!

This Look:  
I based two coats Teenage Dream with Chameleon's Calypso and then added one thin coat of Black Mesh.  Topped that off with my Shine & Hold Top Coat.


Price Point/Availability:  
Chameleons Calypso is readily available at drugstores nationwide (i.e. Rite Aid); Black Mesh and Teenage Dream, not so much.  These two are both Limited Edition I picked mine up with in the last week at JC Penney (Teenage Dream) and Sally Beauty Supply (Black Mesh).  Right now JC Penney is having a BOGO50% for their OPI in the Salon section of the store and Sally's has their China Glaze priced at $4.99.


Have you gotten into the crackled effect?  It took me a long time but like I said I fell for it and though it's not LOVE, it's not HATE either - IT'S JUST PLAIN FUN...  Would love to hear you well-polished thought down below!

Misa Chenille Chartreuse (3/2/2011)

Color Description:  Chenille Chartreuse is molten metal goodness!!!   This color is a grayed-out golden frost with olive green undertones.  I don't usually go for frosts but most golds are frosty and I just couldn't pass this one by.   It is extremely sheer, so I layered it over Sinful Color Black on Black in order to get the full effect of this lacquer and it worked - yay!

Similar To:  This color is extremely unique and not similar to anything in my collection or that I can even think of.

This Look:  As mentioned earlier I used a base of Sinful Colors Black on Black and then added two coats of Chenille Chartreuse with one coat of Sharif's Tufcoat to top it off.

Price Point/Availability:  Misa retails their nail lacquer for $7.50, however, this color is discontinued.  I believe it can still be found online.  Just recently saw it go on Ebay for $7.99 (not too bad).

Thanks for stopping by and as usual stay well-polished!!!

Milani - Silver Dazzle (01/29/2011)

Color Description:  Milani's Silver Dazzle (SD) One Coat Glitter lacquer is a blackened charcoal glitter that really comes alive with the right topcoat!  However, without a topcoat it's the closest thing to asphalt that I've ever worn on my nails - from the look to the texture, it's very dark and intriguing.  I wore SD to a gala last night with a long black dress and this jacket, it was a perfect match.


Similar To:  You tell me?  No serious, I'd love to hear what else this is close to because I pulled out my OPI Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous and Brand New Skates - similar in color but look and texture, definitely not dupes.  SD contains brilliant chunky glitter, while the others are more fine and subdued.


This Look:  Okay so you can wear this color multiple ways. 1) one coat lacquer, no topcoat - for that asphalt look and feel, or 2) one coat lacquer, one coat topcoat - for a semi-flat, still textured look, or lastly, like I'm wearing in the pic, 3) two coats lacquer, two coats topcoat - for an out of this world blackened charcoal glitter-fest on the nail.  I was in a rush last night so I wore option #2.

Topcoat Recommendation:  Tonight I had a bit more time so I put on one more coat of SD and a new top coat I'm trying out called Sally Hansen NailShine Miracle (click to read box description) and though it is not a quick dry, it is great for this type of finish, a gritty glitter that absorbs the shine from a top coat - your nails will still look nice but not spectacular.  Well, I topped it off with a quick dry and wahlah the shiniest, most spectacular glitter mani I've laid my eyes on!


Price Point/Availability:  Milani SD is said to be installed in the core line eventually, however, when I picked it up it retailed for $5.00 and was on a promotional display.  I still see some CVS's with this display so you should be able to find it.  The NailShine Miracle is currently clearance priced at CVS for 75% off and that's the only reason why I tried it.  I'm so glad I did, this stuff is AMAZING.


Have you tried any of the products in this review?  If so, please let me know your well-polished thoughts!  Until next time, have an awesome week...