kit - Speed Demon + Happy Birthday Boo!

kit's Speed Demon is dedicated to my younger son, Boo, who is 3 years old today!

Some of you already know this, but Boo (not his real name, just a nickname) has autism and a Global Developmental Delay.  Up until six months ago, he was non verbal, delayed in pretty much everything and possessed limited social skills.  Thanks to early intervention therapies, and the fact that he is like a trencherman in his stoic efforts to catch up, he is now speaking in full sentences and is only six months behind his peers in terms of his development and social skills.  If he keeps this up, he will be able to start school with his peers.  He's freaking awesome. 

And he has teeth like a dinosaur.

Speed Demon is a colour that, when I bring it out to wear, he goes crazy. 

I tried teaching him to say 'turqoise' but all I get is 'toy-keys'.  He talks like he's from Jersey. 

Speed Demon is a really lovely, shimmery turquoise.  Definitely click to see the larger picture.

The formula is a little runny and sheer with this.  It took four coats to get to opaque which, as you all know, is one more than I have the patience or inclination for.

But I can't argue with the colour and, ultimately, that's what it comes down to for me.  This is just a superb colour.  In some lights, it looks like a creme.  In others, a bright shimmer.  A true chameleon.

What do you guys think?  Is this a 'toy-keys' you could fall in love with?

Bloom - Mena

Behold, Bloom's Mena!  I feel like trumpets should be heralding the arrival of this truly spectacular lacquer.

I absoutely have not done justice to Mena in this photo.  This comes through in the photo as a black with silver glitter.  In reality, there are a billion different colours of glitter in this lacquer, from red to green to blue.

Definitely click to see the larger version (on the larger version, the glitter is clearer).

Formua wise, I think this is the best Bloom I've come across.  This is a true, one coat and it's opaque lacquer.  No kidding, the swatch on the right is one, glorious coat.

It's smooth, silky and bringing sexy back, one piece of micro-glitter at a time.  This is a clear star for Bloom.  If they ever choose to discontinue it, I will wage a one woman protest (I might be able to trick Nixxy into coming with me if I promise her hot men) outside Bloom HQ.

What do you guys think?  Do you like Bloom's Mena?

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!

Bloom - Bonnie

I actually bought Bloom's Bonnie because I thought it might be a Nars Purple Rain dupe.  As it turns out, Bonnie has a twin sister in Illamasqua's Phallic and looks nothing like Purple Rain.

Like Phallic, Bonnie is a midnight blue with shimmery light blue glitter throughout.

The formula on this is utter perfection.  It glides on smoothly, dries quickly and you can get away with one coat (although this swatch is two coats).

I had put Bonnie side by side with my previous swatch of Phallic, but the lighting between the two swatches was crazy different and I didn't have time to redo Phallic in the same lighting (if you want a really good swatch comparison, click here).

In short, it's safe to say that Bonnie and Phallic are the same lacquer.  There are minor differences (Phallic is a little more vibrant and 'richer'), but, really, only someone looking really closely would notice the difference.

This is a fabulous lacquer.  It's sexy, sophisticated and I feel like a total vixen wearing it (which, at my advanced age, is an achievement). 

How do you guys like Bonnie?

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!