Mecca Cosmetica - Katharina

When I received Katharina, as part of the Melbourne Beauty Blogger Event, I was fully 'meh'. A pink? Been there. Done that. Got the bored stares of onlookers to show for it.  I fully got my ungrateful wretch on.

Sometimes, though, a lacquer will surprise you. And this one certainly has.

This is a perfect mix, on the nail, of coral and pink.   I tried to Brangelina the mix.  Corink?  Piral?  Let me work on that some more.

In short, superb formula and universally flattering shade.  I heart, and am somewhat embarrassed at my initial reaction, because, really, this is fab.

This lacquer was provided to me for review.  For more information on YGN's Disclosure Policy, please click here.

Eyeko - Petite, Coral, Tea Rose, Posh and Vampira Polish

I was lucky enough to trial even more of Eyeko's new nail lacquers, courtesy of Eyeko's superfly Larissa.

Larissa sent a fantastic range of colours, including the much talked about Posh and Vampira lacquers which are reputed to be, respectively, Chanel Particuliere and RBL Black Russian / China Glaze Lubu Heels / Milani Garnet Gems dupes.

Click on the jump to see the swatches (all photos taken in diffused light), including a comparison of Vampira, Black Russian, Lubu Heels and Garnet Gems.  This review is super picture heavy so please be patient as the pictures load!

Ulta3 - Watermelon

Diffused Light

Of all the colours offered by Australian superbrand, Ulta3, Watermelon is probably the most talked about.

It's not really hard to see why this is such a popular colour.  A fabulous coral that would flatter pretty much any skin tone.

And the formula?  Stupendously good.  It glides smoothly over the nail, dries quickly and dries to a high shine.  Opaque in two coats which is fantastic for a pastel.

Ulta3 are simply amazing.  The quality of the formulas is as good as any high end brand, but they cost just $2 ($2.50 in some places).  For the price of a coffee, you can have a lacquer that will look fantastic, last forever and is easy to apply.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this lacquer.   It's just not me is it?  This really is a great colour, right?

With Flash

Closeup

You will have noticed more than one photo in this post.  I'm trying to mix it up more with my photos in order to give you guys a more colour accurate view.  Whilst my camera picks up some colours beautifully in diffused light, sometimes I need a flash view in order to get the colour photo accurate.  So, from now on, there will always be a few photos per post (with a guaranteed closeup shot - although I can't always guarantee neat cuticles and/or application). 

China Glaze - Up and Away - Part I - Yellows

I know you've all seen the China Glaze Up and Away collection a million times on a million other blogs, so I'm offering nothing special here on YGN today.

Pretend like it's the first time.  Come on!  Surely the Oscars inspired you how to feign surprise, shock and awe!

Part I is the Yellows (including the orange and corals).  I found a couple of dupes for some of these (indeed, I think most of this collection is dupe-able), which I've also included.

Stay tuned later today for Parts II (pinks) and III (greens and purples).

BYS - Hawaii

For someone who used to hate coral colours, I'm surprising even myself with how much I am loving coral at the moment.  I just can't get enough of it.

BYS' Hawaii is an orange flavoured coral.  That's the best way I can describe it. 

Like all BYS cremes, this applied smoothly and was opaque in three coats.  However, it doesn't have the high shine finish of some of the other BYS lacquers, hence I'd recommend using a good top coat to really make this colour pop.

What do you guys think?  I know many of you are in the Northern Hemisphere but is this a colour that you think might work for your winter?  As for the Southern Hemisphere girls, doesn't this just scream summer?  Don't you just want an ice-cream right about now?

Mecca Cosmetica - Miranda

I am dedicating Miranda to..... Leanne!  This colour reminds me of being  young (a long time ago) and kinda happy go lucky.  Which is what I think of when I think of Leanne.

This is a beautiful dark coral that is, literally, perfection in a bottle.

I love this colour.  It's got a 'dusty' look to it.  Almost a shabby chic vibe.  And I suspect it would look fabulous on pretty much every skin tone.

Regarding the quality of these lacquers, I can safely say that Mecca have hit pay dirt in terms of their formula.  They are simply awesome.  Beautifully creamy.  Two coats and you're done.  High shine.  Gorgeous colours that are utterly feminine and girly.

I just wish they were a little cheaper because, right now, they are killing my wallet.

What do you guys think? 

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 - 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?

BYS - Sexy Samba

Firstly, I'd like to share some good (non nail related) news with you all.  I've been promoted at work!  This is really exciting news for me as I've worked really hard for the last 18 months since I joined the company.  I'm glad all that hard work has paid off.

Secondly, I'd like to wish all my American readers a lovely Thanksgiving.  I think this is a lovely holiday, if for no other reason than it's an excuse to eat a Turducken.  As we say in Australia, 'have a good one!'

Sexy Samba - I always thought a Samba was sexy by default, but clearly, it can be even more sexy - is a fantastic colour.

I can't quite describe Sexy Samba as an unapologetic coral, because there are definitely red and orange undertones running through it, but it's definitely from the coral family.

Out of all the colours I've trialled, this one has the best application.  It is creamy, easy to apply and is opaque in two coats.  And it requires no top coat.  The swatch here is sans top coat.  I just love it when I can see my reflection in my nails!

This is my favourite of the collection so far.  It's infinitely wearable and just looks fabulous on the nail.  What do you guys think?

Mecca Cosmetica - Spring 2009 Collection

**A very warm welcome to everyone who is visiting from Getcha Nails Did. I hope you enjoy YGN! Stay tuned as, next week, I will be launching my very first giveaway to coincide with my birthday.**

Spring has arrived in Australia and, with it, comes Mecca Cosmetica's Spring Collection 2009.

At first I wasn't sure about this collection. I walked past it in Myer about ten times before I finally decided to take the plunge. The poor shop assistant, who had been cajoling me to buy them for days, must have breathed a sigh of relief when I finally said 'Ok, I'll take them'.

Part of the reason for my reticence is the price. These are a very steep $22 each, which definitely places them up there amongst my more expensive polishes.

Secondly, I wasn't that thrilled with the colour section. A pink, a grey and a coral? These are colours my mother wears (sometimes all at once, and sometimes paired with faux leather fringed boots, which is the equivalent of her declaring war on my retinas). In short, I am biased against these colours.

In the end, these surprised me. In a good way. And perhaps cured me of my general dislike of coral. Perhaps.

Celia

Celia is a two-coat pink.

The key with this is the application. The first coat goes on reasonably streaky, which made me panic at first. Flashbacks of pinks that take five coats to become opaque started to flash through my mind.

But all was forgiven on the second coat. The streaks disappeared and I was left with what you see. A glossy, liquid-like pink.

This also has a hidden depth to it. Through each of these colours is a very faint, almost invisible gold shimmer. The shimmer takes this from being a creme, to a creme with a difference.

Of the three, this is the one that is the most wearable. I can see myself wearing this for work, on the weekends, weddings. Anywhere.

Celia is a colour that will offend no-one, but will delight many!

Francisca

Francisca is the colour that initially drew me into the collection.

I've never been a big fan of greys, but I was hopeful that this one, with the same gold shimmer running through it that Celia has, might change my mind.

And it did.

Like Celia, this is a two coat and you're opaque lacquer (I'm wearing one in the swatch and you can see a visible nail line).

Unlike Celia, however, it applies like a dream (no streaks!) and dries almost instantly.

If Celia is the most wearable colour, then this is the most versatile. It goes with almost everything in my closet, and is the perfect accompaniment when I'm wearing a suit to work and want to scare people (hey, I'm an auditor, scaring people is what I do).

And I feel sexy when I'm wearing it. Which means it's doing its job.

Luciana

Mmmm, Luciana.

This was my problem child when I bought it. I think, besides orange, coral is my most hated colour. It just never looks good on my hands. The colour always seems insipid, like a watered down hot pink.

Luciana, though, has turned my mind around on the whole coral issue. Out of all the colours, this is the one I love the most.

Like the others, this has a gold shimmer running through it, which seems to give it a warmth and oomph that other creme corals don't have.

So, ladies, all that remains to be answered (beside the perennial question of why the heck my mother makes such poor colour choices, and the answer is she's menopausal and doesn't give a hoot), is which of these is your favourite?

Celia, Francisca, Luciana?