AllThingsNails Spring/Summer 2016

Hi Everyone! Just thought I'd check in to give you a glimpse of what I've been up to on Instagram...

If you have any questions, please ask or just stop on by my IG page: https://www.instagram.com/allthingsnails_/ for more information on 

each pic above. If you'd like a full review on any of these photos, I'd 

be glad to oblige.  And I will give you detailed review here on Blogspot.

I update Instagram, at least, once a week so you can catch me there most 

of the time.

OPI Nail Polish Rack Storage Idea - Watches

Greetings! I thought I'd share this with all of my nail polish fanatics. This is an OPI professional nail polish storage
system that I converted into a watch organization unit. 

I found this rack to be ineffective for nail polish storage because the bottom back section of my polish was not easily accessible, but for watches, oh boy, just perfect if you like to display your beautiful timepieces!

Hope some of you found this useful and can repurpose your old nail polish rack, as well...

Pantone September 2013 Nail Challenge

Hello All! I've been in Instagramland (allthingsnails_) for the last year and promised one of my friends I'd post again because I've come to realize that everyone doesn't have Instagram or even want it, so...

I've challenged myself in two ways with today's post, 1. To come back to Blogger after my hiatus, and 2. To polish my nails more this month and for that reason I created the September 2013 Pantone Nail Challenge!

"For more than 20 years, Pantone, the global authority on color, has surveyed the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring you the season’s most important color trends. This [color selection] previews the most prominent hues for fall 2013." -- www.pantone.com

So with that said, I will break this up into a three-post series from the Fall 2013 Top Ten color spectrum (above).

Today we will be showcasing the brights of the bunch:

• Samba (Red) is OPI's Vodka and Caviar

• Koi (Orange) is Misa's Flame Angel

• Vivacious (Magenta) is Zoya's Areej 

Thank you so much to the 500 of you for sticking around, I really hope you like this series and sincerely hope to hear from you. With Blogger, comments mean everything!!! 

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... :)

Sally Hansen - Lightening (Insta-Dri)

We have a few more weeks until summertime is officially over (09/22/12), so I'm posting a polish I wore back in May when my nails were a bit longer and Summer was in full bloom.  Now, from the archives we have Sally Hansen's Lightening and it truly is lightening in a bottle!

Color Description: Lightening is a bright lemon yellow, not to be worn by the faint of heart.  And not really for those who care what people think about their nails.  It's a daring, bright, artsy color for the willing and able - lol.

Similar To: Nothing else I own is the same but Lightening has been compared to Chanel Mimosa (color not finish) and Revlon Electric by the wonderful blogger Fab Fatale (check her out!).

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

Price Point/Availability: Of late, I've seen this online for as little as $3, however, I purchased mine a while ago at Big Lots and generally when cosmetics go to Big Lots or discount stores they've been discontinued.  But, by all means, check your local drugstore for the Insta Dri's, you may just find it there.

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed wearing it.  Have a great day!

OPI - Don't Talk Bach to Me

Don't you just love the title of this lacquer? Some lacquer names I could care less about, others will prevent me from purchasing a lacquer altogether, and some I must own due to the great name.  Well, with this lovely shade, I fell in love with the color long before I knew the name.

Don't Talk Bach to Me (DTBtM) hails from OPI's Germany Collection for Fall/Winter 2012. This collection is described as "edgy elegance" and is said to include "rich colors and striking textures for fall". I would describe it as redundant, with the exception of two shades, the namesake of this post, and Schnapps Out of It!  The other colors I've seen before and could not justify purchasing.

Color Description:  OPI describes DTBtM as a sassy lime-yellow.  It's sassy because there's a secret silver shimmer going on that makes this lacquer extra shiny.  I love this color because on me it turns into a lovely neutral that can be worn with anything.

Similar To: Okay, so I pulled out American Apparel's MacArthur Park and at first glance, in the bottles they look very similar but the AA is darker albeit in the same family.  It has also been compared to Fiercely Fiona in OPI's Shrek Collection (not even close) or China Glaze's Trendsetter which is closer but not nearly enough to call it a dupe.

This Look: One coat of Growing Nails Orderless Garlic base coat, two coats of DTBtM and one coat of my all-time favorite Shine & Hold topcoat.

Velusa: yellow green/gold -
Wallpaper from the 70s

Price Point/Availability: Germany by OPI became available August 8, 2012 and can be purchased at Professional Salons near you including JCPenney and ULTA; retails for $8.50.

70's Vinyl Sofa

Don't Talk Bach to Me is the kind of color that you just forget you have on all together until someone pays you a compliment - which will happen, a lot. This yellow leaning, green reminds me of a throwback to the 70's upholstery fabric or wall coverings.  Just gorgeous!

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...

Essie - Bazooka

Right in line with Pantone's Color of the Year for 2012, Essie Bazooka is bright and bold and, interestingly enough, very wearable when compared with other neons.  Bazooka hails from Essie's 2012 Poppy Razzi collection, as did, Action (my previous post).


Color Description: Bazooka is a bright orange translucent creme lacquer bordering on a jelly finish.  Again, it is not outlandish and can be very wearable in a fun setting.


Similar To: Bazooka reminds, in some ways of, Sinful Colors Big Daddy.  However, Big Daddy has a bit more red in it.


This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificials, two coats of Bazooka, and one coat of Sally Hansen's Mega Shine.


Price Point/Availability: Available now in your local drugstores and salons for a suggested retail price of $8.00.

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonliebigstuff/)

When trying to figure out where its name came from, I came across Bazooka bubble gum in the flavor Juicy Orange and the nail polish is the same color as the package.  Coincidence? Probably, but coincidences intrigue me.  This bubble gum was popular in the 80's and 90's. I remember Bazooka but not the Juicy Orange flavored kind.


So what do you think?  Would you wear this color?  Or, better yet, have you ever eaten Orange Juice flavored Bazooka bubble gum?

Essie - Action

Today we have Essie Action from their neon collection - Poppy Razzi, which makes me want to go to the grocery store and pick up a nice big box of Creamsicles!  Very reminiscent of  a hot summer day waiting for the ice cream truck to come my way...

Color Description: Described by Essie as a vivid and wild tangerine, Action is definitely in the citrus family.  As you can see from the picture, it's light and creamy in the bottle but a bit darker and translucent on the nail.

Similar To:  Essie says, Action isn't "your 80's neon" because it has a "new generation of fluorescent pigments" so it's unique to others that may seem similar including L.A. Colors Color Craze in Shock (see Nightly Nails swatch of Shock here) which I thought was an exact dupe - no-go!  Shock is definitely more yellow than orange.

This Look:  One coat of OPI Acrylic Nail base coat, three coats of Action (and I still have VNL - yikes!) and one coat of Nutra Nail Ultra Shine topcoat. (Side Note: I've switched up my base and topcoat. I do this occasionally when swatching and don't plan to wear a lacquer very long).

Price Point/Availability:  The Poppy Razzi collection is popping up at my local CVS and Salon locations.  You may also be able to find this at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  Retail price is $8.00.

Well, what do you thing of Essie's fluorescent offering? While it is a fun color that conjures up memories of my childhood, I think the formula could have been better (i.e. somewhat difficult application). 


It looks like they're trying out a new formula that needs a few wrinkles ironed out.  Good thing I was given this lacquer to try by a friend.  We'll see if the next one is any better - I will be reviewing Essie Bazooka next...

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!