Showing posts with label OPI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OPI. Show all posts

Friday, May 27, 2011

Nail of the Day - OPI Spark de Triomphe

This is OPI Spark de Triomphe from the OPI Glam Slam France White Shatter and Spark De Triomphe Nail Polish set with Serena Williams. I like OPI White Shatter, but I really, really, really love the OPI Spark de Triomphe nail polish! It's absolutely stunning on the nails and really makes a statement. The lacquer is a intense golden sparkle that is less yellow-gold and antique gold than Butter London West End Wonderland. This polish is almost a white-gold with slight golden undertones. It's really gorgeous and will definitely get a girl noticed! So far, I have only been wearing this polish a few hours and I have already been asked what is on my nails! (To me, that question is a total plus and puts a polish up a grade in my nail book!)

To apply OPI Spark de Tromphe, I applied OPI Nail Envy Matte, two coats of OPI Spark de Triomphe and Seche Vite as a top coat. I was really surprised how opaque the sparkles were and how nicely they applied on my nails. I just hope removal isn't too much of a pain! Booooo. :) Enjoy!

OPI Spark de Triomphe with Flash
OPI Spark de Triomphe with Flash
OPI Spark de Triomphe with Flash

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Nail of the Day - OPI Rally Pink and OPI Red Shatter: Serena Williams Set

OPI Rally Pink is a vibrant purple-pink base with gold glitter shot through it. It reminds me a ton of Zoya Faye. However, OPI's Rally Pink is a bit more pink of a base with gold glitter than Zoya's Faye, which is more of a purple base with gold glitter. However, the two nail lacquers are very similar. I've attached a photo of Zoya Faye for you all to view at the bottom of this post (when my nails were less ravaged and longer!)

As for OPI's Red Shatter. I applied a rather sheer coat on the left hand and a thicker coat on my right. As you can see, the sheerer the coat, the less "shatter" you get. I like the OPI Red Shatter more opaque than sheer, like it it is on my right hand, versus on my left. However, I don't really understand OPI Rally Pink and OPI Red Shatter together. They two colors, in  my opinion, don't really go together, so I am a little baffled why they are sold together. In the future, I will do a post with all the OPI Shatter Polishes alone for you to view how they look on the nails in comparison to the China Glaze Crackle polishes. (OPI's Black Shatter, Silver Shatter, Red Shatter, White Shatters (Coming Soon) VERSUS China Glaze Black Mesh, Fault Line, Lightening Bolt, Broken Hearted, Concrete, Crushed Candy.)

To apply these two lacquers, I applied two coats of OPI Nail Envy Matte as a base coat, two coats of OPI Rally Pink, and one coat of OPI Red Shatter. Finally, I added Seche Vite as a top coat on all the nails, including the Shatter Nail. I hope you all enjoy!

OPI Rally Pink (Two Coats) and OPI Red Shatter (One Coat) with Flash
OPI Rally Pink (Two Coats) and OPI Red Shatter (One Coat) with Flash
OPI Rally Pink (Two Coats) and OPI Red Shatter (One Coat) with Flash
OPI Rally Pink (Two Coats) and OPI Red Shatter (One Coat) with Flash
OPI Rally Pink (Two Coats) and OPI Red Shatter (One Coat) with Flash (Right Hand where OPI Red Shatter Worked Better)
OPI Rally Pink (Two Coats) and OPI Red Shatter (One Coat) NO Flash
Zoya Faye - Two Coats with Flash

Monday, May 16, 2011

Nail of the Day - OPI Mermaid's Tears and OPI Silver Shatter

This is OPI's Mermaid's Tears and OPI Silver Shatter from the OPI's Pirate's of the Caribbean Collection. For details on the collection, please go here. As you can see, OPI Mermaid's Tears is a muted sea foam green. It's actually an extremely pretty color on the nails and the only lacquer from the entire collection, other than the Silver Shatter, that I purchased in a full size bottle. I also purchased the OPI Pirates of the Caribbean mini set which includes, Skull and Cross Bones, Planks a Lot, Sparrow Me the Drama and Stranger Tides. The only lacquer from the collection I didn't purchase was Steady as She Rose (which I think is going to be the most popular, but my least favorite of all the lacquers.) To be honest, I feel like Steady as She Rose (a light muted pink) is so much like a ton of the other colors being released right now. I found the other colors in the collect a lot more interesting, especially OPI Mermaid's Tears.

To apply OPI Mermaid's Tears, I applied OPI Nail Envy in Matte as a basecoat (I went back to OPI Nail Envy because my nails are in such disarray after battling law school finals), two coats of OPI Mermaid's Tears, and Seche Vite as a top coat. For the OPI Silver Shatter Polish, I applied the polish on top of the Mermaid's Tears with Seche Vite as a top coat for this result. I had no problem getting the polish to shatter even though I had painted a top coat on OPI Mermaid's Tears (the sales lady told me she had trouble making the polish shatter when she painted a top coat, I didn't experience this.) I didn't paint a top coat over the OPI Silver Shatter so you all could see the finish. It's not matte, because the Silver Shatter polish is obviously sparkley, but I would highly recommend painting a top coat. The Silver Shatter feels a bit rough and gritty, a top coat makes the polish smooth.
OPI Mermaid's Tears and OPI Silver Shatter - Two Coats with Flash
OPI Mermaid's Tears and OPI Silver Shatter - Two Coats with Flash
OPI Mermaid's Tears and OPI Silver Shatter - Two Coats with Flash
OPI Mermaid's Tears and OPI Silver Shatter - Two Coats NO Flash
OPI Mermaid's Tears and OPI Silver Shatter - Two Coats NO Flash

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Nail of the Day - Reverse Statement Nail with China Glaze Crackle Polish

I applied China Glaze For Audrey and decided to keep it on my nails however I also decided to make my nails a little bit more exciting by adding China Glaze Cracked Concrete. When I applied my nail polish I applied one too many coats of polish to my pointer finger and decided to take the opportunity to make my nails really stand out. I decided to re-paint my pointer finger with OPI's Suzi Skis the Pyrenees (Suede Finish) and then paint over that China Glaze Crushed Candy. I had to apply a top coat to OPI's Suzi Skis the Pyrenees because China Glaze Crackle Glaze doesn't crack without a smooth surface. The result was pretty cool and I wanted to show you all!

I applied Seche Base as a base coat, two coats of China Glaze For Audrey, Seche Vite as a top coat and one coat of China Glaze Cracked Concrete. For my pointer finger I applied Seche Base as a base coat, two coats of OPI Suzi Skiis the Pyrenees, Seche Vite as a top coat, and then I applied China Glaze Crushed Candy. Enjoy!

Right Hand - China Glaze For Audrey with China Glaze Cracked Concrete
Left Hand - China Glaze for Audrey with China Glaze Cracked Concrete, OPI Suzi Skiis the Pyrenees with China Glaze Crushed Candy
Left Hand - China Glaze for Audrey with China Glaze Cracked Concrete, OPI Suzi Skiis the Pyrenees with China Glaze Crushed Candy

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Another Nail of the Day - China Glaze Black Mesh with Essie Forever Young

I really wanted to pair China Glaze Black Mesh Crackle Glaze with a color that would really make it stand out. I decided on Essie Forever Young because it's such a beautiful deep red on the fingers. I applied Seche Base as a base coat, and then two coats of Essie Forever Young which is a deep rich red cream. I then applied one coat of China Glaze Black Mesh. I decided to apply a top coat (Seche Vite) to give the nails a real shine. I left my pinky without a top coat so you all could see what China Glaze's Black Mesh looks like without a top coat. It dries matte like all the other polishes in the China Glaze Crackle Collection and like OPI's Black Shatter.

I have been asked by many people whether I prefer OPI's Black Shatter or China Glaze Black Mesh. I honestly think China Glaze Crackle Collection has a much better formula than OPI's Black Shatter formula. I think OPI's Black Shatter dries too quickly to get an even coat of the polish on making the polish apply chunky. I find it much easier to work with the China Glaze Crackle Collection as a whole. However, I think OPI's Black Shatter lacquer creates a bit more unique of designs on the actual nail. What do you think? I've included a photo of OPI's Black Shatter on American Apparel's Mac Arthur Park for you to compare the two black polishes in each collection.
Essie Forever Young - Two Coats with Flash
Essie Forever Young - Two Coats, China Glaze Black Mesh with Top Coat and Flash
American Apparel's Mac Arthur Park - Two Coats, OPI's Black Shatter One Coat with Flash - No Top Coat
Essie Forever Young - Two Coats, China Glaze Black Mesh - One Coat with Top Coat and Flash
Essie Forever Young - Two Coats, China Glaze Black Mesh - One Coat with Top Coat and Flash
Essie Forever Young - Two Coats, China Glaze Black Mesh - One Coat with Top Coat and Flash

Nail of the Day - China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle Glaze and OPI's Dating a Royal

I know,  I know, I know, I have been using a lot of blue nail polish lately. Ok, so here is my dirty little secret - I LOVE BLUE NAIL POLISH! Yeah...I do. I love it so much a large chunk of my collection is made up of blue nail polish. So when it came to pairing China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle Glaze, a creamy light turquoise-blue polish, with another polish - I chose blue! I chose one of my favorite blues of all time - OPI Dating a Royal! I love this blue because it is vibrant and eye catching! I applied Seche Base as a base coat, two coats of OPI Dating a Royal, and one coat of China Glaze Crushed Candy. I love it! Of course I love it, it's blue! :)

OPI Dating a Royal - Two Coats with Flash
OPI Dating a Royal - Two Coats with Flash, China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle Glaze - One Coat with Flash
OPI Dating a Royal - Two Coats with Flash, China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle Glaze - One Coat with Flash
OPI Dating a Royal - Two Coats without Flash, China Glaze Crushed Candy Crackle Glaze - One Coat without Flash

Monday, February 21, 2011

Another Nail of the Day - China Glaze Fault Line and OPI's Green-wich Village

I have read a few blogs that claim China Glaze Fault Line doesn't crack as well as the rest of the polishes in the China Glaze Crackle Glaze collection. However, respectfully disagree. The formula of China Glaze Fault Line is different than the other polishes in the collection because China Glaze Fault Line has a slight shimmer throughout the polish, whereas the other lacquers are cream finishes. I've noticed the thicker I apply a coat of lacquer, the less likely the lacquer will dry with tiny cracks and more likely the polish will dry with one large crack down the nail. Because China Glaze Fault Line has a slight shimmer, it is a thicker polish overall and thus dries with less minor "cracking". The crack effect still works with a thicker application of the polish, however the cracks are less sporadic and usually larger - much like a "fault line" versus a "crack". Thus, China Glaze Fault line does exactly what its advertised to do - it dries with a large fault line in the nail, unlike the tiny cracks throughout the nail the other polishes in the collection create once they are dry.

I paired China Glaze's Fault Line with OPI's Green-wich Village for a almost Batman's Joker-like effect. I wanted my nails to be reminiscent of Batman's Joker. In the movies, the Joker always wears purple and green. Thus, I decided to apply China Glaze's Fault Line with a lime green (OPI's Green-wich Village). I applied Seche Base as a base coat, two coats of OPI's Green-wich Village, and one coat of China Glaze Fault Line for this result. Enjoy!

OPI Green-wich Village 2 Coats with Flash
OPI Green-wich Village 2 Coats, One Coat China Glaze Fault Line with Flash
OPI Green-wich Village 2 Coats, One Coat China Glaze Fault Line with Flash
OPI Green-wich Village 2 Coats, One Coat China Glaze Fault Line with Flash

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Another Nail of the Day - OPI's Black Shatter and American Apparel's Mac Arthur Park

I love this combo so much on my nails I couldn't wait another day to post it. I combined American Apparel's Mac Arthur Park (Friday's Nail of the Day) with OPI's Black Shatter for this amazing result! I am so in love! I love the idea of black and yellow together, but I didn't want my nails to look like a traffic sign or worse - a bumble bee! So I decided to go with American Apparel's Mac Arthur Park (olive-green-yellow) with OPI's Black Shatter! I am loving this result! It's still show stopping without being bumblebee-ish!

I applied Seche Base as a base coat, two coats of American Apparel's Mac Arthur Park, Seche Vite as a top coat, and then a layer of OPI's Black Shatter for this awesome result! I love it! I hope you all enjoy!

Monday, February 14, 2011

OPI's Pirate of the Caribbean Spring Brights Collection 2011

Disne'ys New Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides movie (there are like 4 of them now or something!) is going to be released this May 2011 and OPI has teamed up with Disney's Pirates of the Caribeean team for it's next Spring 2011 collection. The entire collection is filled with was pretty and somewhat predictable pastels. Ok, we've all seen in some variation before. (I know, I sound bummed, because I am!)

Small Rant: I have to admit, I love pastels, but c'mon. I am ready for some bright colors with something new. I can name like five collections off the top of my head that have marketed pastels this past year - OPI's Shrek Ever After, China Glaze's Up and Away, Essie's French Affair, Sephora's Hello Kitty Nail Polish Collection, and Orly's Sweet Collection. (AND I guarantee you, there are more!)

Ok, moving on. I will admit, I like the Planks A Lot (the purple), Mermaid's Tears (the green) and the Silver Shatter polish concept (OPI's new Silver Shatter is part of this collection) - but that's probably because they are the only colors that speak to me, however I will admit I probably have something extremely similar already in my collection. So, if you didn't partake in any of the collections I listed above, this collection might be exciting for you. But...not going to lie, I was hoping for more!

Source: OPI's Facebook Fan Page
The Colors in this collection include:
  • Skull & Glossbones - Best light gray ever, no bones about it. 
  • Mermaid’s Tears - Few have seen this magical green. 
  • Steady as She Rose - This gorgeous pink is your final destination. 
  • Planks a Lot - Dive into style with this lustworthy purple! 
  • Sparrow Me the Drama - This cool, collected pink means business! 
  • Stranger Tides - Explore this uncharted sea of sage. 
  • Silver Shatter - A shimmering sea of silver with a two-texture finish.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

New OPI Shatter Polishes and China Glaze's Crackle Polish - Don't miss out!

The world of Shatter has just begun. If you loved OPI's Black Shatter then just wait! In April OPI will be releasing two new polishes - OPI's White Shatter and OPI's Silver Shatter. Say what? Yes, after the success of OPI's Black Shatter, OPI has decided to release two new shatter polishes.

Here are some examples of the polishes that I found on MBeautyLounge. If you are intersted in these polishes, be sure to add your name to MBeautyLounge's email notification system. It will be well worth the hassle, as I am sure these two polishes will be ultra popular! PLEASE NOTE: I have received reliable information that MBeautyLounge is not a company I would like to be affiliated with nor promote further. Apparently a lot of people have had issues with their customer service. I apologize to any of you who had an unfavorable experience with them. I would never have recommended them had I known there would be so many issues. I have not personally had any issues with MBeautyLounge, but the overwhelming number of complaints on the web indicate to me that MBeautyLounge is not a reliable source for nail polish nor takes their customer service seriously. I do not recommend using their services.

OPI's White Shatter is offered in a set with Serena Williams Grand Slam set. The Grand Slam set includes a lovely gold shimmer polish (Spark de Triomphe) that I think is absolutely fabulous. I'll be adding my name to the MBeautyLounge email notification...you might want to too if these polishes entice you!
 
Also being released by China Glaze is the Crackle Glaze set. This set includes six colors and will be available sometime this month. I also recommend putting your information down with MBeautyLounge to get an update when these polishes are available for purchase. I am not affiliated with MBeautyLounge, I just have had a lot of success with their pre-ordering system and I support businesses that work.   I am also frank when businesses treat my readers poorly. I have received a lot of confirmed accounts that MBeautyLounge is not a reliable company nor has the level of customer service that anyone would expect from a worthwhile company.

The color offers in China Glaze's Crackle Glaze set include Lighning Bolt (crackle white), Cracked Concrete (crackle gray), Black Mesh (crackle black), Crushed Candy (cracked turquoise-blue-green), Broken Hearted (cracked pink -- my personal favorite!), and Fault Lines (cracked purple). What do you think? Is it cool to be a copy-cat? I think the hot pink (Broken hearted) is awesome. I really want that polish...not going to lie even a little bit!