China Glaze Colors From The Capitol Swatches (Part 3)

Hey guys!


Today I have the final 2 colors from the Colors From The Capitol Collection for China Glaze.


First up is Smoke & Ashes:

Smoke & Ashes

Smoke & Ashes with Luxe and Lush

Smoke & Ashes is a dark blue/black base with multi-colored microshimmer.  I see a lot of blue and teal in the shimmer.  I love this color!  I love wearing really dark polish, but sometimes black seems a little too edgy.  This one is just perfect.  Application was great too and only one coat!


Next up is Stone Cold:

Stone Cold (matte)

 

Stone Cold (matte) with top coat

Stone Cold (matte) with Luxe and Lush

Stone Cold is a dark graphite gray matte polish with silver shimmer.  I love the look of the matte finish, but unfortunately matte polish doesn't hold up well.  After a couple of hours at work I had tons of chips and ended up picking it off.  But, put a top coat on it and it lasts much longer.  Application was decent....it was a little thick but I only needed one coat.


Do you have any tricks or tips for using matte polish?  I would love to hear from you!


Thanks for stopping by!


K

OPI Jade Is The New Black VS Don't Mess With OPI

Hey guys!

Today I have a comparison between OPI's Jade Is The New Black and Don't Mess With OPI.  To me these two colors are nearly identical, but equally pretty!

On the left, Don't Mess With OPI.  On the right, Jade Is The New Black

Jade Is The New Black is from the Spring 2010 Hong Kong Collection.  JITNB is a jade green creme with blue undertones.  Don't Mess With OPI is from the Spring/Summer 2011 Texas Collection.  DMWOPI is a forest green creme.  When I first saw the Texas Collection in person, I decided not to buy DMWOPI because it was so similiar to JITNB.  However, I recently spotted DMWOPI hiding at JCP's Salon, and it was on clearance for $4.25!  So I decided to pick it up and do a comparison.  Below is a picture with 2 coats of both colors.

As far as being dupes, there are some slight differences.  JITNB is a little bit darker, while DMWOPI is a little more sheer.  Formula was a little different also.  JITNB applied more smoothly and had better coverage.  DMWOPI was a little more sheer, so it showed the ridges in my nail more.  I also had some bald spots with DMWOPI that would probably require a third coat.  Here is a shot of each color on its own with 2 coats.


OPI Don't Mess With OPI



OPI Jade Is The New Black

If I had to choose between the 2, I think I perfer JISTNB.  Application was smoother, I prefer the darker color and the polish dries more glossy than DMWOPI.  You probably don't need both polishes in your colleciton unless you love greens.  Or unless you find a great deal on one of them!

Thanks for stopping by!

K

China Glaze CG In The City

Hey guys!


I have a really quick post today.  Below is China Glaze CG In The City from the Fall 2011 Metro Collection.

China Glaze CG In The City
w/flash

artificial light
no flash

CG In The City is a dusty purple base with blue, bronze and silver multi-tonal glitter.  This applied wonderfully.  It is really sheer though so I had to use 4 coats to get decent coverage.  Even with 4 coats it didn't get too thick or goopy.  Overall a wonderful polish!

Thanks for stopping by!

K

OPI Designer Series Temptation

Hey guys!

Happy Valentine's Day! I was really excited to do a fun Vday mani, but time got away from me so I just did a simple pink mani. I didn't get a chance to take any pictures, but I used Pink Voltage from China Glaze. It was really just an excuse to wear a neon pink in the middle of Winter!  After I removed my Valentine's mani, I decided to try OPI DS Temptation, the one and only OPI Designer Series polish that I own.  I was so excited for this polish and couldn't wait to put it on.  Unfortunately, I was disappointed in this one.  In the past the DS polishes were holographic, which explained the price difference.  A regular bottle of OPI is about $8.50, the DS polishes are $12.50.  As pretty as this DS Temptation is, I don't think it's worth the price increase.  Anyway....onto the mani!



OPI DS Temptation
no flash with artificial light



w/flash

Temptation is a beautiful purple glitter, with teal and royal blue glitter mixed in.  Application on this was pretty bad.  It was very sheer and watery, then when I applied the second and third coats, it turned thick and goopy.  After 3 coats, I added a coat of Gelous and Seche Vite to smooth out the gritty finish.  In the end I love the color.  It's very rich and vibrant, and they definitely didn't skimp on the glitter.  Is it worth the extra money?  Probably not as far as quality goes.  But if you're a polish collector and lover, and you don't have a similar color, I'd say go for it since they are a limited edition. 


Thanks for stopping by!


K

OPI Super Bass Shatter and Save Me

Hey guys!

Today I have the top coat/effect polishes from the Nicki Minaj collection for OPI.  Below I have both polishes layered over the other polishes from this collection.

Layered with OPI Save Me

Here is one coat of OPI Save Me over (from left to right) Pink Friday, Did It On Em', Fly and Metallic 4 Life.  Below is 3 coats of Save Me on it's own.  Save Me is a clear base with silver micro glitter and blue/holographic bar glitter.  I have a ton of glitter polish in my collection, but nothing like this one!  Application was pretty good for a chunky glitter.  I will probably only use Save Me as a layering polish, since it's pretty hard to get full coverage with this one.

Save Me on its own

Next up is Super Bass Shatter over (from left to right) Pink Friday, Did It On Em', Fly and Metallic 4 Life.  Below is Super Bass over 3 coats of Save Me.  Super Bass is a shimmery purple shatter.  I love how it can take on so many different colors depending on what it's layered over.   Super Bass applied beautifully.  Alot of the other shatters seem to apply pretty thick, and the bottles seem to really thicken up.  After owning this for a month, and using it quite a bit, it's still perfect.  Like most shatters this does dry matte, so the pictures below show Super Bass without a top coat, and with a coat of Seche Vite.

Layered with Super Bass Shatter
no top coat

Layered with Super Bass Shatter
w/top coat

Save Me with a coat of Super Bass Shatter
w/top coat

I can definitely see how this was inspired by Nicki Minaj.  It's fun and funky, but not too crazy.  Overall I really enjoyed these polishes, and I think the colors are perfect for a Spring/Summer collection. 

Thanks for stopping by!

K

China Glaze Kinetic Candy

Hey guys!

China Glaze just released their Spring 2012 collection called Electropop.  Unfortunately, I wasn't too excited about this collection.  The colors are pretty and fun, but they are by no means unique.  When I saw the collection, I told myself I'd only buy the colors I like, and don't have dupes for.  There are 12 polishes in this collection; 6 brights and 6 lights.  I decided to get Kinetic Candy, Aquadelic and Fuchsia Fanatic.  I will probably end up getting the rest of the brights....but I'll pass on the pastel colors.

Here is Kinetic Candy, a dusty light blue creme.

China Glaze Kinetic Candy
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China Glaze Kinetic Candy



no flash with artificial light

Application on this one wasn't ideal.  It was pretty streaky but thick at the same time, so I used 2 coats for full/even opacity.  I have to say, I was not impressed with this one.  The light blue reminded me of Easter candy and it did not work with my skin tone.  I love China Glaze and normally I at least like their colors, so I was pretty bummed with how much I did not like this one :(

Thanks for stopping by!

K

China Glaze Dorothy Who? (2009)

Hey guys!

I thought I'd sneak in a quick post before I go to bed.  Today I have China Glaze Dorothy Who?  from the Wizard of Ooh Ahz collection.  Dorothy Who? is a blue jelly polish with micro glitter.  This was one of those polishes that I said I didn't NEED, but when I'd leave the store I'd kick myself for not getting it.  So I finally broke down and added it to my Victoria Nail Supply order.  Boy am I happy I did......because I love it!   

China Glaze Dorothy Who?
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no flash with artificial light

Application was wonderful, not too thin, not too thick....just perfect!  I was able to get full coverage with one coat, but it was little lighter than I wanted.  I applied a second coat and got a darker, richer look.  I can't believe it took me so long to get this.  I had so many compliments on it, and I kept catching myself staring at my nails.

Oh!  And I learned something new today too!  While Googling Dorothy Who? for some swatches, I found out that this collection is somewhat of a re release.  Apparently China Glaze had a Wizard of Oz collection in 2001, which was a limited edition.  It sounds like it was a huge hit.....so nail polish lovers petitioned to have the collection re released.  Polish lovers talked, and China Glaze listened, and in 2009 they released The Wizard of Ooh Ahz Returns collection.  Apparently the colors are pretty similar to the original.  And best of all, Dorothy Who? is now a permanent color.

Thanks for stopping by!

K

Helloooo Flakies!

Hey guys!

So I was at my local Sally's the other day, and I saw the new Finger Paints Special Effects Flakies.  I've never owned a flakie, and to be honest I never really cared for the look.  But lately it seems like flakies are taking over the nail polish world.  So I decided to pick up one bottle and give it a shot.  I chose Finger Paints Asylum which has blue and orangey/red flakes. I started off with 2 layers of OPI Here Today....Aragon Tomorrow, which is a really dark green that looks almost black.  I figured a dark base would really make the flakies pop.  Then I added 2 coats of Asylum and topped it off with Seche Vite.  On my middle finger I added a layer of Essie Matte About You, it really makes the flakies pop.



OPI Here Today....Aragon Tomorrow with Finger Paints Asylum
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Finger Paints Asylum

With Essie Matte About You on middle finger

I have to say I love the final look.  I'm think I'm officially a flakie fan!  It's probably not an everyday look, but it's nice to dress up a boring mani or even freshen up an older mani.  I can't wait to layer Asylum over different colors.  Flakies seem to take on different colors depending on the base color.

Finger Paints are sold exclusively at Sally's Beauty Supply.  The Finger Paints Special Effects collection consists of 5 flakies; Asylum, Flecked, Flashy, Motley, and Twisted.  They each retail at $5.49.

Thanks for stopping by!

K

China Glaze Lorelei's Tiara and Some Like it Haute

Hey guys! 

It's time for the final two polishes from the China Glaze Eye Candy collection. 

First is Lorelei's Tiara, a clear base with sterling silver micro glitter and medium blue hex glitter. 

China Glaze Lorelei’s Tiara
no flash with artificial light

w/flash

This one was a little sheer, but 3 thin coats was enough for full coverage.  I really liked this formula because even with 3 coats it isn't too "heavy" on the nail.

The last polish is my favorite from this collection.  Some Like it Haute is like a glitter bomb!  The base is a charcoal gray glitter with silver and holographic glitter.  I'm pretty sure I could wear this color every day and not get sick of it. 

China Glaze Some Like it Haute
no flash with artificial light

w/flash

Blurred to show holographic glitter

Application was kind of tricky but so worth it.  I used two thin coats for full coverage.  After I applied the first coat I waited until it was dry, which isn't long since glitter dries faster.   Then I applied a second coat, and then touched up some bald spots.  I find with thicker glitter, it's best to let the polish dry completely between coats.  If it's too wet and you try to layer it, you end up moving the polish around and getting big clumps of glitter.  You'll definitely want a good top coat for this one since it dries with a gritty finish. 

I believe this collection was released in the beginning of December 2011, so it may be hard to find.  My local Sally's had a few left, otherwise online retailers would be your best bet.

Thanks for stopping by!

K