Milani - Hot, Hot, Hot w/ Accent Nail & OOTD (07/30/2011)

Experimentation was the name of the game today with my Milani Hot, Hot, Hot mani.  If you scroll through my previous manis you won't find one hint of nail art other than crackle or glitter, but I was totally inspired by the traveler's tank I found yesterday with a friend!  Aren't the colors wild?  I also found Hot, Hot, Hot yesterday and thought I'd wear them together.


Color Description: Milani Hot, Hot, Hot is a bright orange-red creme that is perfect for the summer.


This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificials then base color Milani Hot, Hot, Hot, then the accent nail consists of Milani Whitest White, Mood (turquoise) in Confident/Peaceful, FingerPaints (navy) in Cobalt Cardigan and Color Club's (dark yellow) I Always Get My Man-darin.  The manicure was then topped with Sally Hansen Mega Shine.  Fun, fun, fun!


Outfit:  I will wear this artsy tank with my navy blue Chico's necklace and a turqouise linen jacket and wide leg slacks.  Patent navy gladiator sandals will finish the look.


Similar To: Very close in hue to OPI's Tasmanian Devil Made Me Do It and others in my collection (click for previous review).


Have a great rest of the weekend.  I'm pretty tuckered out and need to get some rest but hope to hear from you soon. :)

OPI - Congeniality is My Middle Name (07/28/2011)

The many faces of Congeniality is My Middle Name (CiMMN)!  From picture to picture this beautiful lacquer from the upcoming Miss Universe Collection changes hue and finish.  I guess Miss Universe needs to be versatile and  OPI has done it again creating a lacquer that's fitting for the most lovely lady in the "universe".  WARNING: pic overload ahead (from dark to light).

Color Description: Described by OPI as a berry-wine shimmer, CiMMN is a darker in certain settings - very mysterious with micro glass-flecks for an effervescent look.  Reminds me of the purple raspberry that is best picked in early July.  Well it's late July and CiMMN is ripe for the picking ladies! 

Similar To:  There's no dupe in my collection though this put me in the mind of at least two lacquers I own: China Glaze Stella (is a frost and a bit darker but same hue) and Sephora by OPI Screen Test (a bit brighter with no flecks).  Congeniality is My Middle Name falls somewhere in between.

This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificials, three coats of CiMMN (two coats are sufficient but wanted a deeper berry color) and one coat of Sally Hansen Mega Shine.

Price Point/Availability: Some retailers have put this collection out a bit early (score!), but this "limited-edition [collection] will be available beginning August 2011 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for  $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer."

Hope you like this lacquer as much as I do!  Which colors will you select from the Miss Universe collection? I, generally, don't watch the show but will you?

NAIL REWIND: Revlon - Gray Suede

Not sure how this NOTD missed out on being showcased but it definitely needs to get a look-see for all of you drug store divas out there!  On to the review...


Color Description: A beautiful grayed-out beige with a hint of rose and secret shimmer. A great professional looking lacquer that is accessible to most.


This Look: It's been a while but I'm almost certain I used my dynamic duo for this look of Starting Over After Artificials as a base and Sally Hansen Mega Shine as a topcoat with two coats of Gray Suede sandwiched in between.  The ring finger is accented with Best Sense #101 glitter.


Similar To: Puts me in the mind of one of my previous NOTD's, OPI Mod Hatter.


Price Point/Availability: Revlon's Gray Suede can be found at most drugstores and Target sells it for $3.74. The glitter is from a brand that is little known and the store I purchased this from has now disappeared.  Go figure?  Well, at least the Revlon is readily available. :)


So yeah, this was my mani about 4 months ago on 3/27/2011 and this is definitely one to have in your stash!   

Pink Wednesday: OPI - Crim-Sun

OTT Light w/ Light Box

Old-school holographic nail polish at it's best, OPI Crim-Sun is one of a kind.  This is from the 2003 Summer for Shore collection, of which I have two, Crim-Sun and Blue Moon Lagoon.


Color Description: I would say this is a hot-pink coral with a subtle holographic sheen with a bit of frost thrown in there for good measure.  Very unique to my other OPI DS lacquers.

Incandescent Lighting

Similar To: From various reviews, Crim-Sun is said to be dupish to the old Sally Hansen Nail Prisms in Coral Amber, which came out around the same time in '03.


This Look:  Decided to go 100% OPI on this mani and try out a new basecoat - OPI Acrylic Nail Base Coat.  Despite the name I'm using on my natural nails because it boast of having a "stain-resistant formula".  We'll see.  Then I have two coats of Crim-Sun and on coat of th OPI Designer Series topcoat.

Indoor Lighting w/ Low Flash

Price Point/Availability: This collection has been discontinued for over 9 years, however, it can still be found online.


Well, another Pink Friday mani down, what to wear next?  Maybe a something from the new Miss Universe Collection? ...or, one of the Serena Williams looks? We shall see... As always, thanks for stopping by and what's your next mani gonna be?

Omega Labs - Silvery Green (07/24/2011)

Umph, umph, umph!  This glitter is insane in the membrane and shines its brightest over black or maybe even a deep green.  This is the green glitter that the Burlesque Collection was missing.  Hmm, what would OPI call this one with titles like Bring On The Bling and Simmer & Shimmer? Maybe,  Green Light A Go-Go? LOL!


Color Description: This is an outrageous holographic and medium green glitter suspended in a clear base and definitely competes, toe to toe with every OPI glitter that's been on the market.


Similar To: Nothing that I own or that I've seen...


This Look: One coat of Silvery Green over OPI Black Onyx (previous post) then topped with one coat of Sally Hansen NailShine Miracle and Mega Shine.


Price Point/Availability:  I found this at a Mom & Pop beauty supply store for $1.  Can't wait to go back out of town to that secret dusty spot to pick up a few more of these. 


Thanks so much for your comments!  Can't believe I have over 300 readers and without a single "giveaway"...  So, next time I go to that secret dusty spot, I'll try to remember to pick up a few extras of these.  They have many other holo glitters, too.  Maybe, once I get to 500 I'll do an Omega Labs give-away of some sort - that might be fun!

OPI - Black Onyx (The Perfect Glitter Base)

Trying to figure out the best way to showcase my glitters, I painted one hand white and the other black. Needless to say, black won out hands down with Black Onyx stealing the show. I almost don't want to put the glitter on now.


Color Description:  The shiniest, wettest looking black I've seen yet. Definitely dries with a jelly finish, go figure?


Similar To: Sinful Colors Black on Black is an awesome black, too, but OPI's formula is a lot thinner and easier to deal with than Black on Black.  Black Onyx is also very fast drying, as well.


This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificials and two coats of Black Onyx - that's it and that's all folks! Can you believe how shiny this is without a topcoat?


Price Point/Availability: Black Onyx is in OPI's core line so should be easily found in stores and online wherever OPI is sold and retails for $8.50.


I won't be wearing Black Onyx alone but I thought it warranted it's own review because for those of you who do rock black nails, this needs to be in your collection... 

Fun-Friday Mani: China Glaze - Skyscraper (07/22/2011)

It's been almost two months since my last Fun-Friday so I thought I stray away from the safe "interview-ready" manis and paint on some BANG, BOOM, POW!  I picked up Skyscraper yesterday and couldn't put it down - you just don't have a Skyscraper in your hand everyday.  I also picked up Westside Warrior, so far these are the only two of interest from China Glazes upcoming Fall 2011 Metro Collection (both of these are included in the Downtown set).


Color Description: Very aptly described as a sparkling, glitter blue reminiscent of sky over the city, Skyscraper is definitely a lacquer that I can have some fun with.  A true navy blue, this dark denim jelly, with suspended silver glitter is bar none. Smooth to the touch (not bumpy like most glitters this size), Skyscraper is a must-have for every polish enthusiast.

Similar To:  Skyscraper is almost the exact same color/hue of OPI Russian Navy Suede (less the chunky glitter).  I would also say it's similar to Essie Starry Starry Night on steroids.  I've read somewhere that it would be a great for frankening SSN because it's so "chock full 'o glitter".  Imagine standing on top of the Empire State Building in a black-out, that's Skyscraper.


This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificials, two coats of Skyscraper, one coat of Sally Hansen NailShine Miracle (great for chunky glitters, though there was no smoothing necessary) and one coat of Sally Hansen MegaShine (fast drying).  On the last pic I decided to run a little OPI Russian Navy Suede over the tips due to a bit of shrinkage.  Can you tell the difference?  Nice!

w/ OPI Russian Navy Suede
on tips

Price Point/Availability:  Slated to be released this Fall, The Metro Collection, will hit stores in August retailing for about $7.00 at Sally's.  I found mine at a Mom & Pop store that decided to put the collection out a bit early and I'm not mad at 'em - lol.


Have a great weekend and for those of you who don't have this one already, hope you get a chance to see this beauty in person! The pics just don't do it justice.