OPI Merry Midnight

It's not a very well-hidden fact that the hubby and I hate grocery shopping.  Like, hate it.  I just really couldn't think of much of a bigger waste of our time.  It takes like two hours and then we have to haul everything up three flights of stairs and then still cook it?!  And we also have this awful habit of either going when we're hungry, and therefore wanting to buy everything in sight (We totally need this oversized bag of Reese's peanut butter cups, right honey?) or going right after we stuff ourselves and then buy pretty much nothing (Food?  We need that stuff?).  It's just always a total nuisance, so we try to only go about once a month.  About two weeks ago the pantry was starting to look a little bare.  Off to Walmart...grumble...grumble...

So, our Walmart is one of those super Walmarts with a nail salon in it.  I've always kind of peeked in to see what they're selling - usually the current OPI collection.  For some reason, in the checkout line after our monthly shopping excursion, something happened to catch my eye from inside the nail salon.  I made hubby take care of all that payment business while I went to check it out.  Turns out it was just the jellies from the OPI Texas collection in a strange unmarked white cardboard display, but once I was in the door, I realized they had a huge shelf of polishes tucked away in the corner that looked awfully promising.  Just a few minutes of poking around and what did I find??

HOLY GUACAMOLE!  It's OPI Merry Midnight and a holographic My Private Jet!  Don't get too excited, it's not THE holographic My Private Jet that everyone will claw your eyes out for and/or sell it to you for $75 on eBay.  But it's definitely more holo than the current version.  Check it:

Awesome, right?  It's only about half full, but they sold it to me for $3!  Merry Midnight is almost completely full and was only $5 - SCORE!

This weekend I decided to test drive Merry Midnight, as it's a fan favorite on MUA.  It's definitely unique - opalescent flakes with blue and red shimmer, suspended in a berry colored jelly base.  It applies really nicely too.  Smooth formula and two coats!  I never thought I'd be drawn to a polish like this, but I...love...this!  I apologize for attaching so many pictures, but I couldn't pick just two!  Click to enlarge to see all the fun going on in this polish!

How awesome is this???  It's just so visually intriguing!  I haven't stopped staring at my nails since I put it on four days ago!  The only part about this that makes me sad is that it was released with OPI's 2009 Holiday Wishes collection, which means it's pretty hard to find now.  I hate that about those limited edition collections.  It's still available on eBay but you'll pay a higher price for it, so you may be better off trying your local nail salons that might still have a bottle laying around from last year.  It's so worth it, and the hunt is definitely part of the fun!

Hmmm...on second thought, there's another part about this polish that makes me sad - taking it off!  ;-)

OPI Suzi Says Da!

Now this is me!  I needed a good cozy polish after my encounter with Illamasqua Rampage.  We just weren't a good match.  (It's not you, Rampage, it's me.  We're just better as friends.)  OPI Suzi Says Da! was just what the doctor ordered!  :-)

Suzi Says Da! (I hate these exclamation points that are part of the polish name) is a red-toned brown creme.  I know it pulls pretty red here, but this is definitely a brown.  Think dark chocolate, with red undertones.  Mmmm...chocolate.  It applies beautifully, too.  Perfect consistency, easy to control, and opaque and even in two coats.  What more could I ask for?

(click to enlarge)

Isn't it lovely?  It's so great for work too - a good neutral that's dark but never black. 

Suzi Says Da! was released with the Russian Collection from fall 2007.  Gosh, that was an epic collection.  I wish OPI would release another one with that kind of awesomeness.  I mean seriously, almost every single polish from that collection was gorgeous.  Sigh.  Luckily most of that collection, including this one, made it to the core line, so you can get it at Ulta for the standard $8.50.  Yay!

Illamasqua Rampage

So, remember how Illamasqua Baptiste and I were completely in love?  Well, after our honeymoon, I ran out to Sephora to pick up another one of my Illamasqua lemmings - Rampage.  It's known as "The Jesus" on MUA, so I of course only had the highest of expectations for it.  Let's just go straight to the pictures (I took a few in different lightings, because Rampage is apparently quite the chameleon).

Under my Ott-Lite:

Outside, on a cloudy day:

Rampage is a blackened, forest green jelly.  Somehow the jelly finish brightens it, so even though it's a deep green, it's still vibrant.  It walks the "almost black" line, but never crosses it.  It's definitely the green that OPI's Here Today...Aragon Tomorrow wanted to be.

I don't know, you guys - I think someone needs to take my temperature.  This just isn't doing it for me.  I mean don't get me wrong, the application was flawless in two coats (and I completely expected to need three) and it's a lovely color, but I just feel kind of meh about it.  I don't hate it, but it just doesn't blow me away.  And for $14 a pop, it better!

I did a quick comparison of Rampage (3 coats) with OPI Here Today...Aragon Tomorrow (3 coats) and Orly Enchanted Forest (2 coats).

(L) to (R):  OPI HTAT, Illamasqua Rampage, Orly Enchanted Forest

You'll have to take my word for it that my lighting is washing out these colors.  HTAT is not this green.  For all intensive purposes, unless you're in FULL, DIRECT sunlight, it's black.  That's what was so disappointing about it.   And I'm shocked at how pale Enchanted Forest looks compared to these two colors!  It almost looks grey!  Trust me, it's much more saturated than it shows in this picture.  I'm gonna have to do a post on it just to do it proper justice.  LoL

Bottom line:  I'm not all that impressed with Rampage, but if you love greens, I think it'll be a keeper for you.  Maybe a good St. Patty's day manicure??  :-)

Sally Hansen Grey Area

Hook, line, sinker...I'm caught!  It's an addiction.  I can't stop buying these "edgy neutrals"!  They're just so versatile!  Interesting, yet work appropriate, but not boring at all.  The triple threat!  Sigh.  

The flavor of the week is Sally Hansen Grey Area.  It's the definition of "purple grey."  I really can't think of how else to describe it.  It's in a different vein than that of its more brown-toned relatives OPI You Don't Know Jacques (a taupey brown) and Sephora by OPI Metro Chic (a purpley taupe).  Grey Area is one smokey hotness of a polish!  This is two coats shown here, and I had zero issues with application.  Just smooth perfection.

(click to enlarge)

Grey Area is reportedly a dead-on dupe for Essie's hit Smokin' Hot from this past fall's collection.  The difference is that the Essie will cost your $8 (and good luck finding it), while Grey Area is just $2.99.  WIN!  It started hitting the shelves in Sally Hansen seasonal displays a few months ago, but I know a few girls on MUA have seen brand new displays out as recently as a few days ago.  I myself stumbled upon this tucked away randomly in the permanent display at my local grocery store (which never has any seasonal displays).  So, I'm not sure what Sally's ultimate plan is for this polish, but grab it if you find it!  

Illamasqua Baptiste

Remember when deep purple vampies were all the rage a few years back?  In magazines all the models were rocking some deep mysterious color on their short nails.  It was actually the trend that set in motion my undying need for polish.  I needed a deep, shimmery purple polish.  For some reason, it was almost impossible to find.  I found a few deep creme finishes that I liked, but they just weren't quite what I was looking for.  I stumbled upon OPI Russian Navy, which I love, but it isn't purple.  It filled the void well enough.  Or so I thought...

You guys...the heavens have opened, cherubs are singing, and fairies are dancing around unicorns in enchanted forests, because I finally found my true love!  I'd been interested in Illamasqua Baptiste for a while, and I finally brought it home in a swap.  I know I love a lot of polishes, but I'm not joking - Baptiste is magical.  

I've heard nothing but rave reviews for Illamasqua polishes, and I know why!  Baptiste applied like a dream in two easy coats.  It's totally a one-coater, but well...don't we know me by now?  It's the most beautiful blackened red-leaning purple with red and blue shimmer - the same kind that makes Russian Navy so gorgeous.  It wears like iron, too.  I've had it on for four days now with only minimal tip wear.  I am so in LOVE with this polish, I've been staring at my nails all weekend!  

Unfortunately, cameras don't like to photograph purples, so please forgive me, as I had to color-correct the photos to show a more accurate color.  I still don't think I got it exactly right, but it's pretty darn close.  Please enlarge them to see up close!

Look at that shimmer!  *swoon*

Baptiste is all that and a bag of chips.  Seriously.  This is easily a Top 10 polish for me!  It's everything I ever wanted in a purple.  This was my first Illamasqua polish, but I promise you it's not my last (stay tuned for Rampage - brought it home this weekend)!  It's worth every penny of its $14 price tag.  You can pick it up at www.illamasqua.com, www.sephora.com, or at Sephora stores that carry Illamasqua, and I highly recommend you do, if you don't already own this beauty!

Baptiste, where have you been all my life?!

China Glaze Swing, Baby

Hello, dearies!  I hope everyone's week has been going nicely!  Mine's been unbelievably long, as I covered a few shifts for a girl at work.  Thank goodness tomorrow's Friday!  Today I have for you the lovely China Glaze Swing, Baby from their fall Vintage Vixen collection.  I wanted this from the second I saw swatches, but for some reason just never pulled the trigger on buying it.  Of course right about the time the collection was picked over at all the stores was when my remorse set in.  It was totally a message from the nail polish gods when I randomly found one sitting all by its lonesome at my Ulta one day.  Score!

What I absolutely love about Swing, Baby is that it's so neutral.  I have such a hard time finding golds that work with my skin tone.  I seriously went through about four different golds before I just gave up.  But this one isn't quite gold, and it's definitely not silver.  It's a perfect sandy champagne.  And the formula is interesting too!  It's like what you'd get if a metallic, a frost, and a foil had a baby ('cause that kind of thing can happen).  The result is a gorgeous, blingy, brushstroke free finish in three easy coats.  Okay, I could have probably just used two, but apparently I'm a chronic three-coater now.  :-)

(click to enlarge)

Isn't it lovely?  I've gotten quite a few compliments on this one!  I think this could totally fall into the "edgy" neutral" category.  The color is understated, but the finish is what packs the punch.  It's so flattering on so many different skin tones, too.  I've seen girls on MUA totally rocking this color, whether they have warm or cool, pale or dark skin.  Yay China Glaze for another great hit!  If only they'd incorporate it into the core line.  *sigh*  If you like Swing, Baby, you'll have to track it down on one of the e-tailers like http://www.transdesign.com/ or Amazon.

Happy almost Friday!  :-)

My Valentine's Day Manicure: Deborah Lippmann Ruby Red Slippers

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!  I hope your day has been warm and full of love, whether you're attached or not for the holiday.

I personally don't really celebrate Valentine's Day, mostly because both mine and hubby's birthdays fall in January, as does our old "dating anniversary" (our wedding anniversary is in June).  So after Christmas, two birthdays, and an "anniversary," we're just plain broke by Valentine's Day.  We know we love each other.  Hehe.  But I did want to do a somewhat festive manicure for the occasion, so I thought it was the perfect time to break out another Deborah Lippmann!

This is two coats of Lippmann Ruby Red Slippers over two coats of China Glaze Lubu Heels.  Ruby Red Slippers is a combination of large hexagonal red glitter and smaller round red glitter suspended in a jelly black base.  It's a bit cooler toned than these pictures show - more of a true red.  It applies pretty easily, but you need short brush strokes to avoid moving around the glitter too much.  I love how this turned out - so dimensional, sexy, and full of va-va-voom!  Perfect for Valentine's Day!  Click to enlarge to see this saucy little minx up close!

I had been lemming Ruby Red Slippers something fierce, and I'm really glad I finally had the perfect occasion to wear it!  Hubby LOVES it, so I consider that a huge WIN for this polish!  The only down side, which I should have considered, is that the black base pretty much covered up Lubu Heels entirely. I thought they'd be a perfect match, but I could've just used one coat of a plain black and gotten the same effect.  But don't think you need to layer this.  Like Across the Universe, the base is colored enough to be opaque with three coats.  Ruby Red Slippers retails for $18, and you can grab it at Nordstrom or www.lippmanncollection.com.

Just for funsies, here's Lubu Heels all by its lonesome:

This is two coats, and I just adore it!  It's a black jelly base with red glitter.  It's subtle, but sexy - a good alternative if you don't want to go all out with Ruby Red Slippers (or pay the hefty price for it).  It's in the core line, so you can pick it up at Sally's or Ulta for about $6.

One more Lippmann left to try, so stay tuned!  I'm sure as soon as it goes on, an instant lemming will be born for more Lippmanns.  That's always how it goes, right?  :-)