Chi Chi - Moondust

I first saw Chi Chi's Moondust on Pretty Random.  It has always been the standout of the Chi Chi lacquer stable so, when I finally saw some on sale in Target, I picked up a few couple.

For the first time ever on YGN, I'm tempted to swear. No really.  This is fan-f*cking-fabulous.  Awesome.  Brilliant.  Stunning.  I'm running out of superlatives.

Two coats and I was done.  It dries to a rough finish (as you can see in the second swatch) but glistens in the light like a lighthouse.

I have a small assignment for you guys.  Kaz thinks the formula may have changed from the original one she swatched earlier this year.  I'm inclined to agree.  Mine looks a touch more purple than the deep blue of Kaz's version.  Have a look at both swatches and let me know what you think in the comments.

Chi Chi - Before You Go Go

Woohoooo!

After the disappointment that was Boom Boom Boom, I'm so glad that Before You Go Go is a neon coral delight!

This is an absolutely stunning lacquer.  Ok, so it's still sheer after three coats but I can live with a little visible nail line if the rest of the colour is amazing.

Like Jitterbug, the wonderful jelly quality shines through.  It looks like my nails are soaking wet, when they're not.

Stay tuned tomorrow when I announce the details of my December Giveaway!  For all those lovely readers of mine who are super creative, this will be a giveaway you won't want to miss.

I am also changing the layout of YGN on the weekend.  I don't anticipate any downtime during the transition but I may have to redo some of the links in the sidebear.  The new layout is super cute - I'm sure you guys will love it.

Chi Chi - Boom Boom Boom

Boom Boom Boom is not so much a neon purple as much as it is a dusty pink. 

As much as I tried to get this to bottle colour (the swatch here is four coats), it never quite happened.  I suspect I would need at least 7-8 coats to get to bottle colour and, really, who has the time or the inclination to do 8 coats of lacquer. 

Longevity on this lacquer was particularly poor, unfortunately.  Within an hour of finishing the manicure, I had a massive chip on my index finger. 

The rest had completed chipped within four hours, leaving me with ghetto-like nails at work.  So not happy with that!

In short, this colour is not like its bottle, too sheer, and chips easily.  I think this one will definitely go into the rubbish / recycle bin, which is a real shame because I really thought this one had huge potential.  You don't often see neon purples and I was hoping this would be fabulous.  :-(( 

Chi Chi - Jitterbug + Matte

Oh, how much do I love my Essie Matte About You.

I could not have predicted how lovely Jitterbug would look once it was matte-ified. 

It loses the shine that I loved about the lacquer, but it gets replaced with something that is just so modern, and cute, and perfect for our Australian summer.

And, for whatever reason, the issues I've had around longevity disappears when this is turned into a matte.  I can't figure it out.  I was fully expecting this to chip, but it didn't. 

It stayed matte for two days before I started to get minor tip wear. 

If anyone can explain why this would happen, I'd love to hear a scientific - or any really - reason.

Chi Chi - Jitterbug

One of the things I like most about the Chi Chi neons is the jelly quality.

Even once they are dry, the lacquer still looks almost wet on the nail.  And, I don't know about you guys, but I love the feel of uber shiny nails. 

Jitterbug is one of those lacquers that I can't stop fiddling with.  Although I can't get it to go opaque (the swatch on the left is four coats and there is still a very visible nail line), I love the way it feels on my nails.  

As for the colour, this is like an apple.  I love colours that have a bold, primary feel to them.  This is one of those colours.  It's superb.

I haven't yet talked about longevity with these.  I'd love to tell you that these last forever but, really, they barely last a day on the nail before they start to chip.  Even my best attempts with base coat and top coat doesn't stop them chipping.

So, if you're a one-night stand type of manicurist, this will suit you perfectly.  But if you want a lacquer that will cook you breakfast the next day and buy you the Sunday paper, this this is not the colour for you.

Chi Chi - Choose Chi Chi + Relax Don't Do It

Mmmm, just when I think I'm getting better at this - BANG! - a nail wreck emerges.

This is Choose Chi Chi, paired with Relax Don't Do It as a Konad stamp.

I think I had the right idea.  Blue on orange is a great combination.  However, and you experts in colour theory will see immediately where I am going with this, when you try to stamp a sheer blue on an orange, you get purple.  Light purple.  Which just doesn't work with such a bright orange.

I think this has potential, but I just need to use a different purple.  Or use a stamp that has sharp lines so that the pattern is more defined and obvious.

Ok, now I can't be the only person with nail art wrecks.  At least, that's what I'm hoping.  Post in the comments your best nail art wreck (extra points if you post a link to the offending nail art).

Chi Chi - Choose Chi Chi

Mmmmm, all of a sudden, I'm craving oranges.  I wonder why that is?!

Choose Chi Chi (a blatant play on Wham's Choose Life) is a stompingly fabulous neon orange that, put simply, makes me happy.

Of the Chi Chi neons I've tried so far, this has the best application.  It is fully opaque in three coats and glides on beautifully.  Forget bald spots or dragging with this.  It's a jelly neon wrapped in perfection.

I'm also a big fan of how this looks on.  I had doubts as to whether, with my olive skin tone, whether I could pull off an orange neon.  Without sounding like I'm bragging, I think this proves I can.  It makes my skin look tan without looking jaundiced.

So, what do you guys think? Is this a neon orange you would wear? 

And what do you think of the Chi Chi neons so far?  I'm loving the colour payoff, even if I find the application to be somewhat painful.

Chi Chi - Relax Don't Do It + Matte

I didn't think Relax Don't Do It could look any better, but here is the proof that I was wrong.

I love this as a matte.  The visible nail line seems to just disappear when I wear this as a matte, leaving me with a manicure that looks like a lovely summer sky.

At first, I was worried that this wouldn't work.  When I first applied the matte top coat, the lacquer turned into an odd shade.  Almost like I'd taken a blue highlight pen and had just coloured my nails in (which is what my kids do when they want to copy mummy's lacquer love - how cute).

Thankfully, after a couple of minutes, the matte top coat seemed to calm down, leaving me with this beautiful, primary blue colour.

What do you guys think?  Yay or nay?

Chi Chi - Relax Don't Do It

I defy any of you not to have the classic Frankie Goes to Hollywood song that inspired this lacquer in your head!

Relax Don't Do It is an exquisite- almost cobalt - blue.  It remains me of swimming pools and long summer days.

Like Doris Day, this takes many coats before it gets even close to being opaque.  The swatch on the right is three coats and, as you can see, there is still a visible nail line.

Unlike Doris Day, though, this did not stain my nails.  Which makes me happy as I was concerned that these were lacquers that would turn my nails into a technicolour nightmare of staining.

I considered doing some nail art with this but, in the end, decided on a matte top coat.  Stay tuned later today to see how amazing this looks as a matte.

Chi Chi - Doris Day + Before You Go Go

This is just way too cute!

This konadicure uses Doris Day as the base, with Before You Go Go as the konad stamp.

Unfortunately, due to the unfortunate staining incident I suffered with the yellow, I can't see this konadicure being used on my nails anytime soon, however, this could be the perfect konadicure for my toes for the summer.

As to how Chi Chi lacquers perform as a konad lacquer, I've found they work fine, so long as you have two strongly contrasting colours.  Because they are sheer, if you have a base that is close in colour or tone to the stamping colour, the stamping colour will get lost in the mix.  This konadicure seems to work because the coral-orange Before You Go Go contrasts wonderfully with the yellow.

What do you think, guys?  A success?

Chi Chi - Doris Day - Part I

I have had a few nail breaks in the last week.  Nothing major but enough for me to tell my lovely manicurist, Lisa, to file them back so that they're all an even length.  So I apologise for the shortness of my nails this week.

Doris Day is the first lacquer I'm trialling from Chi Chi's Neon Collection.  What a phenomenal neon yellow.  It's stunning on the nail and, unlike many yellows, I don't look like I'm about to drop dead from jaundice wearing this.

However, although I love the colour, there are MASSIVE applications problems with this lacquer.  Which is a combination, I suspect, of this colour being a yellow (which is always tricky) and a neon (which is like adding a triple salchow degree of difficulty).

The first problem I had was the number of coats.  The swatch here is four coats and I can still see bald spots.  I hate having to work hard with lacquers.  This makes me work like a Dickensian child labourer.

The second problem, and this is the first time I've experienced this, is the staining on my nails.  I'm not talking about it staining my nails after a few days wear.  I applied this and then smudged it accidentally about 10 minutes after I finished a konadicure (stay tuned this afternoon for the cutest summer konadicure).  So I decided to start again.  Imagine my horror, when I was removing the lacquer, when I saw my nails had turned yellow.  After 10 minutes. Bright yellow.  I'd hate to see what this would do after a few days.  Thankfully, the staining was able to be buffed out, but I didn't have the courage to re-apply after the first experience.

So, I'm conflicted.  I love the colour, but hate the staining.  I can see myself wearing this on my toes, where I care less about stainining, but I can't see myself taking the risk on my nails again.  Which is a shame, because this is too cute.

Hey There, Wait A Minute Mr Postman - Chi-Chi and Glimmer Shimmer

So the second part of my haul involved more lacquers, and a sweet little surprise.

Chi Chi is another Australian cosmetics company. They have recently released some mini gift sets, one of which Nixxy has already bought. Since Nixxy bought the glitters, I thought I would be different - or is that contrary - and get the neon kit.

These are just so cute and diddy. I especially like the look of the purple and blue in this kit.

I also bought four Glimmer Shimmer lacquers. I have no idea where these are from or who makes them. But I love a collection of pinks and these are about as pink as they get. These also come with a glitter bottle (which you can see perched on top of the bottles). Now I don't know how I'm supposed to use these glitters, but if I have to shake them over my nails like I do with salt on my dinner, that's gonna get messy.

My final haulage from yesterday was completely non-nail related, but I just had to share them with you. No, these aren't delicious little lollies. They're lip glosses from Miki. Aren't they just the cutest?

So that's the haulage for this week. My mother in law arrives tomorrow night from England which means the butter LONDON Christmas Collection and three Ciate Paint Pots will be in my hot little hands in less than 24 hours.

I also bought the China Glaze Holiday Collection and three lacquers from the new chrome collection, so look forward to swatches of those too in the next few weeks. I'm swimming in lacquers, my spare bedroom (which is where I keep my stash) smells like a chop shop.... and I'm wholly unrepentant about it.