China Glaze - Awakenings - Halloween 2010

The beautiful Carina, from Gilded Nails, send me some nail polish last week.  I was expecting just the one, but Carina decided to be sneaky and threw in China Glaze's Awakening Collection.  How sweet, right?

She didn't want anything in return, but she made the mistake of putting her address on the package.  So, uh, Carina, expect some goodness in the next week.  No arguments.  I'm older than you.  By multiples.

Click on the jump to see this fantastic collection!

OPI - Summer Flutter 2010

I was so excited when I saw OPI's Summer Flutter 2010 Collection.  I immediately snapped up all four without a moment's hesitation.

Did they live up to expectations?  You'll have to click on the jump to find out but, in one word, 'OMGHELLSYEAH'.

Jessica - Eyes Wide Open + CG200 Layering Experiment

**For those of you waiting to hear about the winner of the May Giveaway, be patient just a day more!  It's taken me forever to go through all followers, validate all tweets and blog links etc.  I'm nearly there!!**

Jessica's Eyes Wide Open is from the Daydream Collection, released earlier this year.

I was so prepared to be meh about this lacquer, but this is like a shot of coffee direct to the heart.

As you can see, this is more a tangerine than a straight orange, which makes it infinitely wearable.  Normally, I find oranges are just a smidge too warm for my skin tone, but this baby is just right.

The formula on this is divine.  So smooth and creamy.  It needed two coats to get to opaque and dried to the high shine you see.

But wait!  There's more!  Remember the City Girl 2000 lacquer I trialled earlier in the week?  After the jump, I've layered it over Eyes Wide Open.  It's like a different lacquer.

Barbara Daly - Salsa

I have a couple of new Barbara Daly lacquers for you this week (albeit the ones this week are mini-sized), as sent to me by my lovely mother in law.

Diffused Light 

(please excuse the flaky skin on my middle finger, it's a dry winter and my hands are feeling the effects)

This one is Salsa, a very unapologetic bright orange. 

Unlike the other Barbara Daly lacquers that I reviewed last week, this was most certainly not a one-coater.  Indeed, this took four coats.  Which is not an unusual occurrence, but I guess I was looking forward to his being as quick as the others.

It was also a runny formula which meant it quickly and uncontrollably seeped into the cuticles at the very first opportunity (which you can see in the closeup - yucko).

Having said that, the colour is truly gorgeous and the finish is.... well, look at that shine.  You can see my fat head in my nails - awesomesauce.

All things considered, this is a nice enough lacquer but there are better formulas out there which give the same result without the drama / trauma.  





The nails in this review have been provided courtesy of Nailene. For more information on YGN's Disclosure Policy, please click here.

Mecca Cosmetica - Roman Holiday Collection

When I first saw the Roman Holiday Collection on the Mecca website, I think I let out an audible sigh. What a disappointing collection. Only two lacquers: one a red and the other a pale, sheer looking pink.

I steadfastly refused to buy this.  For a whole two seconds because I have an addiction to Mecca that cannot be tamed.

This collection is going to set no-one on fire.  But these are classic shades that should be considered staples, not unlike a good leather jacket.  You may not always wear it but you know that it will look good when you do.

Anyway, enough of me faffing about.  Click on the jump to see this lovely collection. All photos are taken in diffused light.

Eyeko - Vintage, Nude & Lilac Polish

Eyeko is such a super little brand.

I swear by their Big Eye Mascara and it doesn't matter how much I've drunk the night before, their 3-in-1 Cream gives me the skin of a newborn.  And it comes in the most humongous container.  I've had it over a year now and it's still only a third of the way used.

So I was thrilled when Larissa from Eyeko contacted me and asked if I wanted to trial some of their new polish range.  Uh, is the Pope Catholic?

Check out the little lovelies after the jump....

Zoya - Reverie Spring 2010 - Part I

Yah, I'm a bit Ms Tardy McLatey on the Zoya Reverie Spring 2010 Collection.  I've actually had it for some time but just haven't gotten around to swatching it.

It's been three years since I last trialled Zoya. Part of the reason why I haven't been a huge fan of Zoya in the past is because the polish just never seemed to be that into me.  It always bubbled.  Or went streaky.  Or peeled off within a day.  For an impatient and lazy manicurist like myself, I just ended up not buying them anymore.

I had hoped this collection would be different.  That the formula might have changed, making it wearable.  The first two swatch sessions, all those old memories came back again.  It bubbled.  It frothed.  It slid into my cuticles.

On my third attempt at swatching, I forgot to do a base coat.  And that, dear readers, was the moment where Zoya and I fell in lust.  No bubbling.  No streaking.  Beautiful finish.  I tried the same method on all six colours with the same result. It seems that the only way Zoya works for me is on bare nails.  Strange but true.

Click on the jump off to see the photos.  All have been taken with flash because diffused light just left the colours kinda bland and insipid.  All the photos are absolutely colour accurate.  However, I recommend you wear sunglasses just in case your retinas are permanently damaged.
 
I'd love to hear your thoughts on the collection and on Zoya generally.  I've heard a few people say Zoya just doesn't mesh with their body chemistry but I'm wondering if there are workarounds - like the one I found.  Let me know in the comments.

GOSH - Peachy

**Please forgive the shortness of this post.  I'm sick with a really bad cold.  Instead of creativity flowing, my nose is - ewwww**

My last foray into the world of GOSH was a little less than successful.

So when my mother in law - yes, my funky, 70 year old mother in law - sent me this, I was kinda wary. Would it suffer the same fate as it's cousin?

Not a chance.  This is a brilliant, vibrant orange that was a dream to apply.  I probably could have gotten away with one thick coat but this is two thin ones.

I've already placed an order with my mother in law for more colours. I think I'm ready to take the GOSH plunge.

This is my second GOSH - so I've had one good experience and one not so good.  What do you think of GOSH lacquers?  Do you have any other favourites I should be adding to my list?

American Apparel - Poppy

Now, when I think of a flattering orange, American Apparel's Poppy is it.

Man, this is a fabulous colour.  It has just the amount of red to stop it looking like tomato soup, but is still a loud and proud orange.

As with all the other American Apparel lacquers I've trialled this week, the formula is sublime.  Smooth and easy.  Brush is a nonsense but I'm sure you're all sick of me whinging about that.

If you haven't tried these, you need to.  The formula is - ok, yes I'm going to go there - as good as Illamasqua and RBL.  No fooling contender.

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).

Mecca Cosmetica - Autumn 2010

Now, I should mention that Mecca Cosmetica aren't calling this their Autumn 2010 Collection.  That's just what I'm calling these new lacquers.  Because it's sexy that way.

I've put all the swatches under the jump because the photos are large and take a while to load.

The colours in this collection are gorgeous.  These are three of the most fabulous lacquers I own.  They are beautiful and elegant cremes, not to mention the fact that the orange and pink remind me of Darrell Lea Licorice Allsorts, which are my favourite sweeties.

But the formula - and it pains me to say this because I LOVE Mecca lacquers - is dire.  On the plus side, these are opaque in one coat.  On the downside, the formula is very thick, gluggy and has a weird magnet-like attraction to cuticles.  The grey was ok, but the orange and pink were particularly difficult.  Not insurmountable, but annoying and very unusual for Mecca.

Application pain aside, this is a lovely collection.  Check them out after the jump!

Great Aussie Swatch Watch - BYS - Voting Now Open

The featured lacquer for this month's Great Aussie Swatch Watch is BYS.  BYS is, for me, the little brand that could and did. Great quality formula, on trend and all for under $5 a bottle which, for us Australians, is super cheap.

It seems like the trend for this summer is neon (think China Glaze Poolside) so I went through the stash of colours provided by Director Dave and came up with four bright neons for you.

I've changed the rules with the Swatch Watch slightly, but this change totally works in your benefit.

1. Pick your favourite BYS lacquer.

2. Scroll down to the entry form.

2. Select your favourite BYS Lacquer from the drop down box.

3. Fill in your name and email address.

4. Click 'Submit Entry'.

5. Do a happy dance because you've just got your entry in.

6. This competition is open to everyone (so long as your postal service can accept nail polish) and will close on 8am, 13th March 2010, Eastern Standard Time.

Now for the rules change.  Previously, only those that voted for the winning lacquer were entered into the final draw.  This time, that requirement will no longer apply.  Everyone who votes goes into the final draw.  The poll part of this competition is now just for fun and because we all love voting and democracy.

If you're the lucky winner, you will win the lacquer you voted for PLUS you can choose one other lacquer from the ones swatched.  Neat, huh?

So, what are you waiting for? Get voting!

Hey There, Wait A Minute Mr Postman - Mecca Cosmetica Autumn 2010 Collection

Oh, how I resisted the Mecca Cosmetica Autumn 2010 Collection.

I ordered these online a million times but never quite went through with the purchase.

Until today.

I was walking past the Mecca Cosmetica store (on Little Collins Street, for all my Melbourne lovelies who want to know) and saw them winking at me through the window.  No jokes.  They were winking at me.  I looked away.  Then back again.  Then I walked into a lamp post and smacked my head, which entertained the young twenty-something boys at the cafe next door.

And then I went in and bought them.  From left to right: Emilia, Violenta and Perdita

This may just be the concussion talking but I regret nothing. I'll swatch these next week.

Etude House - OR202

**Once again, please excuse the weird hand positions.  I am getting better with the new camera, but I'm still learning!  Unfortunately, in this photo, it looks like my hand is trying to attack the screen.  I can assure my hand is a pacifist and means you no harm!**

Here we go with the Asian lacquer naming conventions. Instead of calling this Etude House lacquer, OR202, I'm going to call this Big Red, because it reminds me of Heinz Tomato Soup.

The formula on Big Red is, as my French mother would say, comme ci, comme ca.

It glides on easily enough, is opaque in two coats and dries super duper fast.  That's the good part.

The bad part is the finish.  This doesn't dry matte.  It doesn't dry shiny.  It dries dull.   That's the only way to describe it.  It looked like my hands had been dunked into a bowl of tomatoe soup and left to dry in the sun.  Blurgh.

The swatch on the left is with two coats of Seche, which was the only way I could vibrant this colour up.  With Seche, it looks great, but I don't think I shoud have to work that hard to make a lacquer look good.

Since it's Chinese New Year, I decided to bling this up with Inglot flakie, 203.

This is a beautiful flakie.  It has green, gold and purple through it and makes my nails look like they are literally on fire.  Definitely click to see the close up because there are so many colours running through this.

I love how this takes a fairly basic lacquer and transforms it into something gorgeous.

A few comments regarding the formula. The brush is a little diddy, but the flakes go on beautifully and evenly.  The finish is quite smooth but, as with flakes, you will get flakes hanging off the edge of the nail or - most annoyingly, nestled right against the cuticle.

What do you guys think?  A fitting way to welcome in the Year of the Tiger.

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.

butter LONDON - Minger - Part II

Woohooo!

I'm glad I followed my hunch and used the British Racing Green on Minger.

I think this manicure looks totally AMAZING.

The dusty orange, mixed with the slightly transparent green, gives the appearance of shabby chic.

It reminds me of my parents' country house in France (yes, my gorgeous parents own a country house in France that was, in a previous life, the village prison), which is full of 200 year old bureaus with this style of stencilling on it. When I look at it, I think of them. Suffice to say, this manicure makes me happy. :-)

So, what do you ladies think? Better than yesterday?

butter LONDON - Minger - Part I

Ahhhh, that's better. After yesterday's bad hand day, I'm so relieved that today's manicure is looking fabulous.

The second colour I'm trying from the butter LONDON Fall 09 Collection is Minger.

As you guys know, I'm not often a fan of orange. But, like Scoundrel, this is a more dusty muted colour which totally rocks with my olive skin.

Also like Scoundrel, whilst the formula is runny, it goes opaque in two coats and retains a high gloss shine without the need for a top cat.

The only thing I don't like with this polish? The name.

For the uninitiated, 'minger' is English slang and is used as an insult. If you hear someone say 'She's a minger', it means the woman is unattractive, smelly, loose etc.

Why butter LONDON would call this gorgeous orange Minger escapes me but I'm sure there's a great explanation.

So, ladies, are your retinas soothed by this lovely manicure? I'm going to try another Konad-icure later today, so hang around to see that. I still haven't decided which colour combination to use, but I'm leaning towards using the British Racing Green.

butter LONDON - Scoundrel - Part II

I told you I would have a Konad-icure disaster this week. I think this might be is it.

This is butter LONDON's Scoundrel with Minger, the orange colour from their Fall 09 collection.

I thought orange on purple would work really well and provide a great contrast. However, because these colours aren't 'in your face' colours - they are quite subtle and subdued - the contrast just didn't come through like I had hoped it would.

Perhaps it might have worked better if I had put the purple on the orange?

The raggedy a** photos don't help either. I have no idea whether my lighting is off, or if my hands are having a bad hair day. Pffft. I think I should, as we say in Australia, 'take my bat and ball and go home'. That is, I should just give up on trying to justify this atrocity and look forward to tomorrow's colour.

Skin Food - BR601

One of my favourite parts of Fall is the crunchy leaves on the ground. It entertained me as a child to stomp through the leaves - delighting in the crunch they made - and it entertains me now.

Skin Food's BR601 reminds of those leaves. I tossed up whether to classify this as a bronze or an orange and, eventually, decided on orange. But this is, realistically, so much more than an orange.

When I wear this, I feel like Beyonce in the Work it Out video. Totally and absolutely Foxy Cleopatra.

Like RE107, application of this is fantastic. If anything, application is a little easier than RE107. Brush strokes are super forgiving (no streaks, bald spots or sticking) and it dries very quickly.

Where this falls down is on tip wear. The tips started to wear on Day 1, which made me nearly cry because I loved how this colour looked on my nails. However, that wasn't all the lacquer's fault. I had failed to apply a top coat. Once I did that, my tips were good to go until Day 3 before they started to wear again.

All up, I won't say this is my favourite fall colour, but it's definitely up there. It's cheap, applies well and looks gorgeous.