Specializing in nail varnishes - rare, unusual, and obscure

Monday, December 14, 2009

BB Couture Studio 54



Today's manicure is BB Couture Studio 54. It's from BB Couture's new Disco collection. Studio 54 is a green jelly loaded with gold microglitter.
It's in the same neighborhood as Sally Hansen Project Runway - though it's a bit less complex.
This mani is one coat SpaRitual resurface basecoat, three coats of polish, and one coat BB Couture Top Rock top coat.


Saturday, December 12, 2009

BB Couture La Bamba



Today's manicure is BB Couture La Bamba. La Bamba is a burnt orange creme with incredibly subtle shimmer. It doesn't really show up indoors. This polish is incredibly sheer. I still have VNL with three coats. As such, I think this might qualify as an orange jelly.
I am feeling meh about this one. I love the color burnt orange, but it isn't jelly enough I guess - seems like it might as well be a poorly pigmented creme.
This mani is one coat SpaRitual resurface basecoat, three coats of polish, and one coat BB Couture Top Rock top coat.

This picture makes the polish appear more orange than in real life:

Friday, December 11, 2009

Hard Candy Manic



Today's manicure is Hard Candy Manic. Manic is from the OG Hard Candy line that has been discontinued for a few years.
Manic is a glowy/iridescent blurple shimmer. It has a lit from within quality. I think it's beautiful. I'm sure it would look great in sunlight if we get any.
This mani is one coat SpaRitual resurface base coat, two coats of polish, and one coat of SpaRitual tout de suite top coat.


Photo w flash:

Thursday, December 10, 2009

RBL's very brief SALE

Just got this email from Rescue Beauty Lounge.
They have the best creme finish polishes.

For five hours only, save an astonishing
50% OFF all Rescue Beauty nail polishes
TAKE THE PHONE OFF THE HOOK.
WALK THE DOG AHEAD OF TIME.
CANCEL YOUR MEETINGS.

Use Code "VIP 5 HOUR" at checkout.

Because from Noon to 5pm (EST) on Tuesday, December 15th, you can save 50% on each and every Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish.

Shhh, don't tell a soul. Well, okay, maybe your BFF and boss and your "always in the know" sister. But that's it. This sale is for VIPs only.

Stock up on classics, take some risks, complete your holiday shopping with a few strategic clicks of your mouse. So plan accordingly. Because like that last pair of OTK black patent boots in your size, this offer will be gone before you know it.

Tuesday, December 15th Noon to 5pm (EST)only. 50% off!

Use Code "VIP 5 HOUR" at checkout.

Ladies, get your mouse warmed up.

Ji

Hard Candy Mermaid



It's been awhile. I think I have SAD. It's so dark, cold, and gloomy in Southern California lately that I just haven't been motivated on the nail blog front.
I do have an indoor photo setup, but I love sun photos much better.
I'm working on my dedication issues...
Today's manicure is Hard Candy Mermaid. Mermaid is from the OG Hard Candy line that has been discontinued for a few years.
Mermaid is a frosty green teal metallic shimmer. It does have obvious brush strokes up close. I actually HATE frost finish. It's pretty much always an instant deal breaker for me, especially with brush strokes. That said, I give every HC polish in my collection a chance since they are my Pokemon.
This polish IS pretty. Frost finish (despite its immense defects) can be the most vivid and light reflective of all the finishes.
I don't have much in my collection to compare to (since I do hate frosts) but this color is much deeper than China Glaze Metallic Muse from the Khrome collection.
This mani is one coat SpaRitual resurface base coat, two coats of polish, and one coat of SpaRitual tout de suite top coat.


Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Sally Hansen Salon Burnt Sienna


This marks the end of the Runway collection that I have to swatch. There are two more colors in the collection that I don't have -
Valentino (a bronzey brown) and
Fashion Forward (a cool blue-leaning purple)


Today's manicure is Sally Hansen Salon Burnt Sienna.
Burnt Sienna is from the Sally Hansen Salon (believed to be) Canadian-exclusive release known as the Runway or Mode collection.
Burnt Sienna is a burnished gold with orange and green microshimmer.
It looks glowy and beautiful indoors as well. It's a bit frosty and brush-strokey, but nothing terrible.
This mani is one coat SpaRitual resurface base coat, three coats of polish, and one coat of SpaRitual tout de suite top coat.



Monday, November 23, 2009

Sally Hansen Salon American Beauty



Today's manicure is Sally Hansen Salon American Beauty.
American Beauty is from the Sally Hansen Salon (believed to be) Canadian-exclusive release known as the Runway or Mode collection.
American Beauty is a mulberry (sort of a purple/burgundy/deep pink) shade with purple and red microshimmer. It looks like a creme indoors.
This mani is one coat SpaRitual resurface base coat, three coats of polish, and one coat of SpaRitual tout de suite top coat.



Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Sally Hansen Salon Purple Heart



Today's manicure is Sally Hansen Salon Purple Heart.
Purple Heart is from the Sally Hansen Salon (believed to be) Canadian-exclusive release known as the Runway or Mode collection.
Purple Heart is a deep royal purple with pink and green microshimmer. It looks a bit like a plain purple creme indoors. I much prefer the Holiday Fingerpaints Icy Iris - but this is a bit more subdued version.
This mani is one coat SpaRitual resurface base coat, three coats of polish, and one coat of SpaRitual tout de suite top coat.


Monday, November 16, 2009

Sally Hansen Salon Project Runway




Today's manicure is Sally Hansen Salon Project Runway.
Project Runway is from the Sally Hansen Salon (believed to be) Canadian-exclusive release known as the Runway or Mode collection.
That sounds really vague, huh? At least one Sally Hansen rep has claimed that this collection is NOT a Canadian exclusive, but I've yet to hear of anyone finding it in the US. I've never seen a full picture of the display, and have heard Canadians call it the Mode Collection, Project Runway collection, and Runway Collection.
A kind MUA member named night_owl has allowed me the use of her photo of the bottom collection display (seen above) and I was quite fortunate to find a Canadian to purchase most of the shades for me.
Project Runway is an AMAZING polish. It's hard to describe. It's somewhere between green and teal. I can't call it a straight green, but it is a very green-leaning teal in any case. It's almost a jelly, which means it has a really cool effect, but is also a bit streaky - requiring three coats for good coverage. There's chunky gold and green shimmer/glitter sunk into the jelly. It looks good indoors and amazing in sunlight.
This mani is one coat SpaRitual resurface base coat, three coats of polish, and one coat of SpaRitual tout de suite top coat.


Thursday, November 12, 2009

Hard Candy Dork



Today's manicure is Hard Candy Dork. This mani was a reader request, which are always welcome.
Dork is an iridescent peach with golden pink undertones. Dork was part of OG Hard Candy's Radioactive Line, consisting of 8 iridescent polishes.
The nail on my ring finger is two coats of polish over 1 coat of black creme.
Unfortunately, the sun has been scarce this week and I took these pictures indoors - the polish practically looks like a creme. It's much more glowy in person. The last picture taken with flash is the most accurate representation. It's also a bit sheer, showing some vnl with three coats.
This mani is one coat SpaRitual resurface base coat, three coats of polish, and one coat of SpaRitual tout de suite top coat.



with flash:

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Finger Paints Sparkling Snow



Today's manicure is Finger Paints Sparkling Snow.
Sparkling Snow is a whitish silver metallic foil.
No good sun today, so these pictures are indoors.
This mani is one coat SpaRitual resurface base coat, three coats of polish, and one coat of SpaRitual tout de suite top coat.
with flash: