CoverGirl Candy Corn

I am trying to crowbar spring into my life!

To wit, I went with this cheery but soft orange creme.



(3 coats)

The formula on this one is not so good. (Sticky, bubbly, *had* to do 3 coats). But I do love the color. At first the orange was kind of shocking and novelty-ish. But as I settled into it, I kind of loved it and thought it looked pretty cute.

read more "CoverGirl Candy Corn"

Simply grown up? - Essie Secret Affair

Thinking about graduating in December (fingers crossed?!) has me thinking about polishes that would work in a more conservative work environment in case that's where I end up - I am soooo not staying in academia! I think this fits the bill nicely.

Essie Secret Affair is a pinkish light nude that is lightly opalescent/pearly thanks to the subtle shimmer.

Pretty. Neutral. Interview-worthy.

Simple. Unlike my life right now.

kittytokaren

read more "Simply grown up? - Essie Secret Affair"

Nicole by OPI One Less Lonely Glitter (...yes, from the Justin Bieber collection)

Yes, yes I did buy this:

What a name, eh?

It is, however, a joy of a nail polish!

Nicole by OPI One Less Lonely Glitter

Small and larger hexagonal glitter in amethyst purple suspended in a clear jelly. This was four coats and it's still not perfect coverage, but it's still super sparkly, super pretty and so girly, I could cry.

Close up of One Less Lonely Glitter

I think I have a dress somewhere that is made of a fabric that looks like this...

read more "Nicole by OPI One Less Lonely Glitter (...yes, from the Justin Bieber collection)"

China Glaze Sunset Sail and Starboard (Anchors Away, Spring 2011)

China Glaze Starboard

Marvelous emerald green creme. This one just kept going and going. This was taken on the fourth day of wear (with Gelous and Diamont). A bit of tipwear but that's about it!

China Glaze Sunset Sail

I felt that this one was unexpectedly pretty and flattering. I don't wear peaches well (very lobster hands) but this peachy beige with silver shimmer was a nice surprise. Three coats, though it probably could have gone with two.

read more "China Glaze Sunset Sail and Starboard (Anchors Away, Spring 2011)"

Some apparently retail-exclusive Essies: Jamaica Me Crazy and Dive Bar

As most people already know, L'Oreal recently acquired Essie and now Essie polishes are being sold at drugstores. I had heard they were only Walmart and Walgreens so far but I found the following at CVS. They retail like any other Essie (about $8).

(Hey, do you all remember the good ol' days when the etailers sold Essies to non-professionals for half the price? Those were good days.)

Essie Jamaica Me Crazy

Doesn't another company have a polish named this that's also a similar hot pink color? Pure Ice, maybe (another Walmart brand). I'm not one for fuchsias -- and I always misspell it -- but this one just LEAPT out of the display... and into my shopping basket. (Funny how that happens, eh?) It's such an exuberant and cheerful color! Very, very shimmery. Simply put: hot. I think I'd wear this on my toes. Two coats. Applied beautifully.

Essie Dive Bar

Photos do not capture this polish at all. Here, it just looks like your regular sexy blackened blue/teal shimmer. But it's actually a bit more duochromey than that. It gets kind of black and kind of green, depending on the angle, and while it is a weak duochrome effect, it's still pretty awesome. The application was less awesome: kind of brushstroke-y. And surprisingly: three coats. I would've assumed this was a two-coater.

read more "Some apparently retail-exclusive Essies: Jamaica Me Crazy and Dive Bar"