MAC Style Clan AKA Magic Poo

Today's manicure is the new MAC Style Clan from their Holiday 2010 A Tartan Tale collection launching this Thursday, October 28. I picked this up from the local PRO Store, which gets collections early. Style Clan is a muddy taupe brown color with subtle copper glitter. This mani is one coat Nubar Nu Nails, two coats polish, and one coat Nubar Diamont topped with Seche Vite. As you can see, these t/c did not play well with the MAC and I ended up with gross bubbling. The formula is typical MAC, thick and still somehow patchy. The copper accent is just too subtle in this polish. It looks nice in bright light, but in anything else it barely shows and the base ends up looking like a creme identical to OPI You Don't Know Jacques.



Comparison:


All photos were taken indoors using an artificial light source.

Shades by Barielle Falling Star

Today's manicure is Shades by Barielle Falling Star. This is a new shade from the "All Lacquered Up Collection" which was co-designed by Michelle from ALU and released mid-August.
The first collection from Barielle released fall of last year made it into CVS, but I believe that this collection can only be purchased on the Barielle site. There are 12 shades in this collection and the site always has a buy two, get one free promo. I like their black creme Monique Jet and they have a few nice greens.
I think this is the standout of the ALU collection in terms of color. It's a vivid blue creme with chunky, but sparse copper glitter.
Unfortunately, the formula is not great - I have several other barielles that have great formulas, but this one is a pita. I did my nails last night while watching a double feature of Wanted and Fight Club, and I was too lazy to get up and grab some thinner from the other room. This polish is runny and thick. One coat is super chunky and patchy. I did three coats to smooth it out and it's still not opaque or smooth. This polish DEMANDS thinner. All the coats made bubbles, so these aren't the prettiest pictures, but you'll get a feel for the fantastic shade. The copper glitter is so unexpected. It's subtle, but makes the polish pop.
This mani is one coat Nubar Nu Nails, three coats polish, and one coat Nubar Diamont.


Avoid potholes.

These two are indoors with flash from right after I finished my mani last night. The glitter stands out better, but the blue appears brighter than irl.