Tag Archives: nail polish

Sparkle for the Holidays with essie’s Winter 2012 Collection

Last month, I found a delightful surprise on my doorstep, essie’s Winter 2012 Collection. There was lots of ooh-ing and ahh-ing on my part when I opened the package and saw the bold and sparkly colors. Essie Weingarten, Founder and Global Creative Director of essie says of the new collection: “I just love the elegant simplicity of a saturated, vibrant look. It’s so luxe and yet, so easy to put together. It’s one part Queen Elizabeth, two parts Duchess of Cambridge. They don’t mince words and never mince color. There’s no arguing with regal color, it’s just divinely right.”

essie Winter 2012 collection - red shades of nail polish

She’s Pampered, Leading Lady, Snap Happy

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Judicial Review: Revlon ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel

Revlon ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel - product ad photoPerhaps its the spring-like weather we’ve been having in Austin, but I’ve had a strong desire to wear bright pink nail polish. So when I was last at H-E-B, I combed the cosmetics aisle for some vibrant pink shades. One contender I came across was Revlon’s new ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel. I had seen an ad for this polish in InStyle magazine claiming “Gel-Like shine and up to 11 days of shatterproof color”, when worn with ColorStay base and top coats, per the fine print.  It was $8/bottle, but there was a $1.50 off coupon, so it was worth a try. I’m happy to report that this may be my new go-to line of nail polish.

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Judicial Review: Dior Vernis Purple Revolution

Dior Vernis Purple RevolutionSweet, sweet vindication!  Sort of.

You might recall my Judicial Review of Chanel Peridot, where I ranted (maybe just a little) about how ugly the polish made my feet look.  When I saw Dior Vernis Purple Revolution it was lust at first sight, and my heart swelled with the promise of a match made in heaven: my toes and this darkly exotic purple polish.

SEE???  Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it, Chanel Peridot!  It’s not me, it’s you.  [This is almost as satisfying as seeing your ex with a new girlfriend markedly less attractive than you.  Or she’s more attractive than you but she has something hanging out of her nose.  Anyway.  Moving on.] Continue reading

Judicial Review REBUTTAL: Chanel Peridot

It’s a good thing that Wendy and I have a long-standing friendship. Because it was nearly torn apart by a nail polish.

As you read from Wendy’s earlier post, she had high hopes for Chanel’s Peridot nail polish but was heartbroken by the resulting color. She passed the bottle on to me to see if I would have better luck. I believe she secretly hoped it would be a failure for me, as well. Turns out, I LOVE IT.

Jenn wearing Chanel Peridot nail polish

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Judicial Review: Chanel Peridot

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in PeridotLet’s just get this out of the way: I don’t want to write this post.  I’d been avoiding it until Jenn politely nudged me.  Why am I openly hostile to something so seemingly harmless?

The Hell with harmless: it’s gorgeous, right??

I’d been coveting this polish for over a month.  Finally two weeks ago I went to the Chanel counter at Saks and saw the bottle in person.  It was even more beautiful than it had looked in the magazines.  I happily forked over $25 and proudly took it to my pedicurist.  She immediately expressed skepticism: she’s been doing my pedicures for around 7 years and I have always preferred dark, rich colors. Essie Wicked is a favorite of mine.  We tried something light and shiny once before and she wouldn’t even let me walk out the door: she took it all off and started over because she knew I’d hate it.  (And I would have but I was trying to be polite.) Continue reading

Judicial Review: Sephora by O.P.I. Leotard Optional Nail Colour

Jenn wearing OPI Leotard Optional nail polish

I love wearing nail polish and rarely will you see my fingernails or toenails naked. Typically, I’m a dark nail polish kind of gal. While I have a few dozen nail polish colors, my nails spend most of their time painted a color within a few shades of black or red. However, I’ve always dabbled in wearing nude polish for that chic, fresh look, but it’s been a challenge to find the right nude color for my dark skin. Until now!

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