OPI - My Boyfriend Scales Walls

Has it really been over three months? The answer is yes! What have I been doing? 

Well, I've been job-hunting, double-dutching, roller skating, watching my weight and just living life.  My nails as you can see are now nubbins but I still like them.

I must tell you, though, I have missed blogging and thought I'd try one of my many untrieds from OPI's Summer 2012 selection. Now on with my Q&D review...

Color Description - The pale gray-blue (almost white) My Boyfriend Scales Walls (MBSW) from The Amazing Spiderman Collection is crisp and fresh. I think this will look great on most complexions!

Similar To - MBSW has been compared to OPI's Alpine White. Not close, in my opinion, and is pretty stand-alone.

Price Point/Availability - This collection became available May 2012 and was limited edition.  You should still be able to find it at your local salon/store.  Retails for $8.50 + tax.

Thank You! - Thanks so much for hanging out and hanging around! I am so humbled to have you all still here and will see you in the very near future...

OPI - I Vant To Be A-Lone Star

I'm attending a wedding tomorrow and will be wearing a yellow/gray floral dress and this color was calling my name. I Vant To Be A-Lone Star is from OPI Texas Collection (Spring/Summer 2011). 


After doing a little sleuthing, it appears that the name of this lacquer comes from a famous Greta Garbo quote from the movie The Grand Hotel. 


Wikipedia states that Garbo saying, "I want to be alone..." became so popular that "in 2005 it was voted the 30th most memorable movie quote of all time." I guess there is something to these collection names, after all.


Description: Isn't she lovely? On my skin tone this shows up as a creamy gray frost (EDIT: definitely a pearl finish not frost) with blue undertones but OPI describes it as a starry-silvery blue.  Whatever the case may be it will look good on anyone!

Similar To: China Glaze Sea Spray is almost a dupe for this out of my collection. It is also said to be very similar in hue to Essie Sag Harbor.


This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificials, two coats of I Vant To Be A-Lone Star, and one coat of Shine & Hold topcoat.


Price Point/Availability: You can still find this lacquer at some salons and online retailer for up to $8.50.


Have a great weekend everyone!

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...

Essie - Case Study (10/9/2011)

Case Study is from Essie's Brand New Bag Fall 2011 collection which consists of a total of "six creamy rich shades reminiscent of complex colors that are a throwback to the fashions of the 1940's and 1950's". 


Well, I only purchased one from this collection and what's interesting is that Case Study changes color on different skin tones. But it's still an very nice albeit unusual color, wouldn't ya say?


Color Description:  Described by Essie as a rich caramel beige, Case Study leans more towards a grey-beige (or greige) on my brown/tan skin, however, so may reviewers have it as pulling green on them, sorry no green here.


Similar To: Nothing in my collection.


This Look: One coat of OPI Acrylic Nail Base Coat, two coats of Case Study and one coat of Shine & Hold Quick Dry top coat.


Price Point/Availability: I believe this collection has been touted as "limited edition" which means while supplies last and retails for about $8.00.


Do you have this color yet or any others from the?  What do you think?  

Maybelline - Scene On The Runway Collection Swatches (Fall 2011)

The new Scene On The Runway Collection from Maybelline caught my eye on Thursday (yesterday) in Rite Aid and so I decided to "participate" in the BOGO50 promotion that was ending.  

These were the three that I thought I must have...

Cool Couture is a dark gray with fine turquoise blue shimmer
(Ott light w/ light box)

Here's another look at the shimmer
(incandescent lighting)

Natural Beauty is a nice deep tan creme and
is almost a dupe for OPI San Tan-Tonio.
From top to bottom: STT, NB, STT, NB - close, eh?
(NB is a shade or two deeper than STT)

And lastly, Be Scene In Green a medium green frost
(not special enough, IMO)

I am definitely going back for the purple shimmer that I overlooked called Purple Trend!  See it here on Nouveau Cheap as well as glimpse at the rest of Maybelline's new Fall 2011 line.  


So far, what do you think?  Have you seen this in stores yet.  My sales associate just put these out today and I'm glad I stopped by! :)

NAIL REWIND: Revlon - Gray Suede

Not sure how this NOTD missed out on being showcased but it definitely needs to get a look-see for all of you drug store divas out there!  On to the review...


Color Description: A beautiful grayed-out beige with a hint of rose and secret shimmer. A great professional looking lacquer that is accessible to most.


This Look: It's been a while but I'm almost certain I used my dynamic duo for this look of Starting Over After Artificials as a base and Sally Hansen Mega Shine as a topcoat with two coats of Gray Suede sandwiched in between.  The ring finger is accented with Best Sense #101 glitter.


Similar To: Puts me in the mind of one of my previous NOTD's, OPI Mod Hatter.


Price Point/Availability: Revlon's Gray Suede can be found at most drugstores and Target sells it for $3.74. The glitter is from a brand that is little known and the store I purchased this from has now disappeared.  Go figure?  Well, at least the Revlon is readily available. :)


So yeah, this was my mani about 4 months ago on 3/27/2011 and this is definitely one to have in your stash!   

Ulta - Set The Nude (Comparisons)

This color choice was inspired by my friend of 25 years.  This weekend we were at an assembly in Mira Loma, California and had the best time of our life.  We ate, we laughed and I saw friends that I hadn't been in contact with in over 20 years.  Good Times!


Anyway, she was wearing Essie Playa Del Platinum and was astounded when I was able to look at her nails and name the brand and color (even though I don't own the color).  I was a little surprised myself - lol!  When I got home I searched for all colors that were remotely close to what it looked like on her.  


Well, from the title of this post, I'm sure, you can figure out which was my favorite.  I ended up picking Ulta's Set The Nude.  I liked the way it went with my complexion the most.  Sad but true, my least favorite of the bunch was the OPI - not warm enough for me.  When I scoured my collection this is what I came up with:


Similar To/Comps:  Hand pic from top to bottom you have Milani Bare to Wear (index), Ulta Set the Nude (middle), Color Club Who Are You Wearing (ring) and OPI Skull & Glossbones (ring).

Skull and Glossbones  | Who Are You Wearing | Set The Nude | Bare to Wear

Color Description:  Set the Nude, in my mind's eye, was the most similar to Essie Playa Del Platinum (or at least this is what I remember it looking like on my friend).  I haven't seen any comps between the two yet.  I really like the greyish, tanish, nudishness of this polish.

Point/Availability:  All lacquers should be availabe online with the exception of Milani's Bare To Wear which was limited edition at CVS a while back.  Prices range from $8.50 to $3.00.


Well, I'm getting another late start on today's Pink Wednesday theme but will be wearing DS Passion, if you're interested (lol).  Will upload post later on this evening EDIT: next Wednesday.  Have an great day, you all!

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...

Maybelline - Gray T Glamour (12/10/2010)

Glamour and sophistication rolled into one!  This nail lacquer even gets compliments from men...  This particular gentleman said, "♥ your nails, the color is so nice!"  I told him that it was my hobby and he says, "Looks like they're professionally done!"  It's the color, I tell you!  it covers all flaws and this compliment came after two days of wear.  On to the review...

Color Description: Gray T Glamour (GTG) is a dark gray with hidden shimmer (depending on the light) which makes it oh so shiny on the nail. It's one of those colors that you don't want to change. This gray is definitely on the blue side so it goes well with jeans, or anything else, for that matter.

Price Point:  This was a Limited Edition Fall 2010 color for Maybelline and retailed for about $4.50.  You may be able to scour your clearance bins at some drugstores for this color.  Sometimes LE's are placed back on the regular display - this is definitely worth a look-see if you don't own it already.

Similar To:  GTG reminds me of a deeper version of Orly's Pixie Dust (which is still one of my untrieds). 

After surveying my collection of over 20 grays, nothing else comes close.  GTG is unique!

This Look:  No base coat (I know, I know, I am so bad!), 2 coats of GTG, 1 coat of SH Mega Shine.

Well off to change my mani to Barielle Elle's Spell!  Can't wait to see what this looks like...  I wanted this one as bad as HT, but didn't do much driving around just a lot of calling around.  Talk to you well-polished readers later. :)