tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91975625922436812552024-02-16T05:57:11.348-05:00STRONGnailsNail polish, nail care, and other nail-related musings.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-15415128387250898952012-03-10T18:23:00.000-05:002012-03-10T18:26:37.884-05:00Chanel Frisson — Swatches & ReviewI was in NYC when the Roses Ultimes de Chanel collection launched. It consists of four nail polishes and six Glossimers. I went to the SoHo Chanel to check them out, and of the polishes I was only really drawn to the delicate, girly light pink #543 Frisson. It's semi-sheer, milky and contains little golden and multicolored flecks of sparkle. Frisson might seem a little boring to us nail fanatics now accustomed to wild colors, but I've fallen totally in love with it. This is even the first time I've thought I might want to purchase a backup bottle of polish!<br />
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Contrary to what some reviewers experienced, I found this shade to be an absolute dream to apply. For me, this is extremely easy to just swipe on. This manicure is with two coats. I had no trouble with streaking or any other texture issues. Yes, this color is a little sheer and you will still see the whites of your nails underneath after only two coats. However, this doesn't bother me at all for some reason. I think it looks lovely.<br />
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Bottle shot in direct sunlight:<br />
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Here you can see the gold sparkles:<br />
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I also picked up "Jalousie", the vibrant fuchsia Glossimer from this collection. Soon I'll have a review up!Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-54774722418943137882012-03-01T20:49:00.001-05:002012-03-01T20:49:26.884-05:00Chanel May — Swatch & ReviewWow, all of February escaped without a single blog post! I wish I'd posted more, but my new circumstances have prevented me. I'll tell you all about it at the end of this post!<br />
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So I've noticed that I don't really have all that many pinks in my stash, which is part of why I decided to get Chanel Le Vernis in May #535. This is of course one of the trio of nail polishes from the Harmonie de Printemps Spring 2012 makeup collection. Another reason I decided to get May is because I love the whole collection and I wanted to have the complete set. Although this pink is not too out of the ordinary, I don't have anything to compare it to since I have relatively few pinks.<br />
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May is a very neutral shade. Sometimes it seems to lean warm, and other times it seems more on the cool end of the spectrum. I think it's a shade that would suit most skin tones. I used two coats for this swatch. The formula is smooth and easy to apply, with a slightly squishy quality although I wouldn't call it a jelly. Even if May is a fairly ordinary pink, I'm quite pleased to own it as it's a well made polish.<br />
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I took a picture with all three polish colors from the Spring collection. I just love how April, May and June all look together.<br />
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Ok I promised to explain my long absence, so I shall! About a month ago I started working full time in a nail salon. Yes, I'm in fact a licensed nail tech! I've had my license for a little over a year, but this is my first job in that capacity, so I didn't think it was worth mentioning until I really "earned" the title by working as a nail tech. Painting your own nails, friends' nails, or even the nails of the other ladies in my nail tech class is entirely different from giving full manicures and pedicures to paying customers in the busy salon. It's a tough job which makes me very tired at the end of the day, but I also love it and I'm very lucky that I have genuinely wonderful coworkers.<br />
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Since I always get home after the sun has already gone down, I haven't been able to make any swatches. So, it's time for me to get some of those super bright daylight lamps and a light box so I can take some photos in the evening. I'm slowly getting used to the busy work day, and building up stamina so I'm not quite so enormously exhausted when I get home. I hope I'll be able to get back to posting at least once or twice a week! =)Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-35650375825404533012012-01-24T14:26:00.000-05:002012-01-25T13:14:10.111-05:00Playing Fashion Editor with Dior's Spring 2012 Nail LacquersNo doubt many of you are familiar with <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/" target="_blank">Polyvore</a>, a website that lets you design your own outfits using just about every last piece of clothing available from the entire spectrum of low, mid, and high end shops. I like to indulge in the fantasy of creating outfits from the latest designer clothing, much like the spreads you see in fashion magazines. I love color, and I'm especially loving the spring color trends this year (although I tend to love them every year!) so I've been playing around with various combinations. Because I'm crazy about nails, I tend to build outfits around one particular polish. I'm also a bit nuts for perfume, so I like to find one that goes along with everything as well.<br />
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Here's an outfit I concocted to go with Dior Waterlily from their Spring 2012 Garden Party makeup collection. I don't know if I would ever wear something like this in real life, but I can imagine this in a fashion editorial at least! The soft and neon pink, jade green, and apricot are all colors that are very trendy this spring.<br />
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<small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/wear_this_with_dior_waterlily/set?.embedder=1479415&.svc=copypaste&id=42694178">Wear this with Dior Waterlily nail lacquer.</a> by <a href="http://alisa138.polyvore.com/?.embedder=1479415&.svc=copypaste">alisa138</a> featuring a <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/layered_skirt/shop?query=layered+skirt">layered skirt</a></small></div>
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This outfit for Dior Forget-Me-Not is almost as focused on that gorgeous Etro coat as it is on the soft purple polish. I love the little splashes of bright aqua — another trendy color this spring. Hermès Un Jardin En Méditerranée is a really interesting scent. I don't own it (yet?) but every time I go to Sephora I end up sampling it. It smells like tomato leaves and stems and rich garden soil. I'm a total amateur with an untrained "nose", but to me it's such a unique and interesting scent that I've developed a fondness for it.<br />
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I don't own either of these Dior polishes, so I want to give you some links for other excellent blogs where you can see swatches and reviews of them.<br />
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Waterlily:<br />
<a href="http://thekarend.blogspot.com/2012/01/christian-dior-waterlily.html" target="_blank">KristenD at Frazzle and Aniploish</a> A very thorough review which includes extensive comparisons.<br />
<a href="http://lacquerwear.com/polish-reviews/dior-waterlily-vs-opi-mermaids-tears/" target="_blank">Laura at LacquerWear</a> Beautiful swatch photo and a comparison.<br />
<a href="http://alipstickaday.blogspot.com/2012/01/dior-vernis-in-waterlily-504-spring.html" target="_blank">Sylvie at A Lipstick A Day</a> Lovely bottle shots, a swatch, and an apt reference to Monet's <i>The Water-Lily Pond</i>.<br />
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Forget-Me-Not (and Waterlily):<br />
<a href="http://pointlesscafe.blogspot.com/2011/12/dior-forget-me-not-and-waterlily-spring.html" target="_blank">Pointless Cafe</a> This review has tons of pics of both polishes and comparisons.<br />
<a href="http://ommorphiabeautybar.com/2012/01/11/dior-garden-party-spring-2012-collection-le-vernis-504-waterlily-and-694-forget-me-not-swatches-review/" target="_blank">Eugenia at ommorphia beauty bar</a> Lots of pics of both polishes, plus thoughts on Monet.<br />
<a href="http://thenailphile.blogspot.com/2012/01/dior-garden-party-waterlily-forget-me.html" target="_blank">Siobhan at The Nailphile</a> An articulate review and nice clear pics of both polishes. <br />
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So what do you think of my attempt at playing high fashion editor? Chic, hideous, or absurd? Do you ever match your perfume to your outfit? Is that too abstract a concept?Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-15709103748189713632012-01-23T21:00:00.000-05:002012-01-23T21:07:47.275-05:00Revlon Bewitching VS Chanel AprilHello everyone! My January class is all finished, and I hope to get back to more blogging finally.<br />
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I have swatches of a new Revlon polish called Bewitching, which is not to be confused with the classic Revlon shade Bewitching Bordeaux. Bewitching is a lovely rose red creme that was released for this spring. The formula is just right, and applies smoothly. I used two coats for total opacity.<br />
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The moment I spotted Bewitching in the display it reminded me of Chanel April (<a href="http://strongnails.blogspot.com/2011/12/chanel-april-swatches-review-comparison.html" target="_blank">full review here</a>) and I wondered if I'd found the latest drugstore dupe. However, once I had the bottles side by side it was obvious they were different shades. You can see April is a much more muted rose, with more brown in it.<br />
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I think Bewitching is a perfect springtime version of red. It really reminds me of flowers.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-22297478896276861752012-01-06T22:26:00.000-05:002012-01-06T22:27:38.726-05:00L'Oréal Club Prive — Swatch, Review & ComparisonA couple days ago I came across two untouched displays of L'Oréal's new line of Colour Riche nail polishes. I picked out only two for my introduction to the line, and it was hard to decide among all the great colors. They had the usual range of classic reds and pinks, but plenty of more trendy and chic colors as well. I'm happy to report that these polishes have the same fantastic flat but
not mop-like brush as L'Oréal's previous line of polishes. This is a huge selling point for me as it's one of my favorite brushes from any brand. I'll be going back for more soon I'm sure!<br />
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This shade is #105 Club Prive. I'm assuming "prive" is a typo of privé, so the name translates from French to "private club". It's a lovely aqua or turquoise creme. I needed three coats for even coverage and opacity, but the formula was very easy to work with. It had none of the goopy-ness you sometimes get with pastel colors. It also dried fairly quickly as well.<br />
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This shade is very similar to China Glaze For Audrey, but if you're a well-trained nail fanatic you can certainly tell the difference. For Audrey is a degree more blue. In this comparison shot Club Prive is painted on my index and ring finger.<br />
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I found these at CVS for about $6. Has anyone else spotted these new polishes? Did you get any?Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-58345463566639148842012-01-04T22:16:00.002-05:002012-01-04T22:33:39.919-05:00Happy 2012! — Milani My Network & SilverHappy New Year everyone!<br />
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Right after Xmas I went away to NYC again for another week, which is why my blog has been so terribly neglected. I'm back now, though, and for a while. I'm taking one of those Winter Term courses that crams a whole semester into three weeks of January. So when I'm not studying or attending Intro to Oceanography, I hope to be blogging!<br />
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This is the manicure that I had on starting Xmas Eve, and made it all the way to New Year's morning. These pictures completely suck and really do not do it justice. I used two coats of Milani My Network as the base. It's a very shiny and metallic neutral gold foil. It was part of a seasonal collection a couple years ago, so I'm not sure if it's still available anywhere. Milani Silver is large silver hex glitter in a clear base, and is available on their <a href="http://www.milanicosmetics.com/p-95-specialty-nail-lacquer-jewel-fx.aspx" target="_blank">website</a>. I tried to do a gradient effect with the most of the glitter concentrated at the base of the nail. I was only partially successful, but the final result is so blingy and fun it doesn't really matter.<br />
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Many people noticed and complimented me on these nails. They were very appropriate for the festive season. I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday and that it hasn't been too difficult readjusting to all the usual activities and responsibilities!Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-67775189154905692462011-12-21T22:21:00.002-05:002011-12-22T21:19:40.591-05:00Nails Inc. Franklin's Row — Swatches & ReviewNails Inc. Franklin's Row is another polish I got while I was in NYC earlier this month. This is my first Nails Inc. polish, and I took forever picking out which color polish I would try first. I picked this shimmery pink/purple/blue duochrome because it really stands out from the other colors in the display. It looks so gorgeous in the bottle that even though I know full well that I hardly ever actually wear anything besides cremes, I found myself bringing it up the register.<br />
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I like the Nail's Inc brush. I found it had just the right fullness and flexibility for easy polish application. I did three coats, but I probably only needed two.<br />
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I bought this polish at the Sephora on 5th Ave between East 48th and 49th, which is just a block from Rockefeller Center. (Yes, I was indulging in typical tourist activities! Luckily it wasn't horribly crowded that afternoon.) If you're ever in the neighborhood, I recommend going shopping in this location. This was the Charles Scribner's Sons building and it's just gorgeous. Because it was designated as a landmark, the building is preserved outside and inside. The interior has a vaulted ceiling with fancy moldings and all sorts of other pretty details. If you're like me and you have a thing for interesting architecture, you'll enjoy seeing this place. Besides, it's full of so many makeup goodies. There's even a display completely dedicated to nail polish from various brands.<br />
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You can click either of these pictures for an enlarged version. Here's the plaque on the outside of the building which explains some of its history and architectural style.<br />
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<a href="http://www.sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml?brandId=nails%20inc." target="_blank">Sephora</a> has Nails Inc. in a lot of their stores, and also on their website for $9.50. Next time I'm going to pick out a creme. Anyone have a favorite?Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-23972398532324866662011-12-19T19:21:00.002-05:002011-12-22T21:23:50.164-05:00Chanel April — Swatches, Review & ComparisonAfter a few days of wearing Chanel June, I had to go back to SoHo to pick up April. Something about the color wouldn't let me stop thinking about it. (Sounds insane, but I know my fellow polish fanatics understand!) So back to the boutique I went. As soon as I painted my nails with this lovely polish, I was very glad I went back for it.<br />
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April is a soft burgundy or garnet. It has a hint of brown and is slightly muted, but still a very rich color. I think it's quite sophisticated!<br />
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This shot under artificial light shows off the slightly muted tones of the color.<br />
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I don't have a lot of colors in this family in my stash. I had nothing that looked like it would be close at all, but I made a comparison anyway in case anyone finds it helpful. On my index finger is OPI Manicurist of Seville, and on my ring finger is Zoya Sofia.<br />
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Application for this polish is so smooth and dreamy. It's seriously flawless and easy. Two coats are all I needed for saturated color and a glossy finish. I've been wearing it for four days and it's holding up beautifully with only very minimal tipwear (normal for any polish). I have a feeling this polish is going to be one of my all-time favorites.<br />
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Like May and June, April is available on <a href="http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/Makeup-Nails-LE-VERNIS-89314" target="_blank">Chanel</a>'s website for $25.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-85694412102923927522011-12-18T19:57:00.000-05:002011-12-22T21:24:09.876-05:00Chanel June — Swatches, Review & ComparisonI'm finally back from New York City! I am not yet skilled enough at blogging to have things scheduled to post when I go away. I hope someday soon I'll get it together for that so there won't be such long pauses.<br />
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Whenever I go to New York I can't resist making a trip to the Chanel boutique in SoHo. This time I even went twice, and the first time I came back with June (#539). June is one of the three nail colors from Chanel's Spring 2012 Harmonie de Printemps collection. In French this means Harmony of Spring, or Springtime Harmony. The three nail colors in this collection really do look harmonious together. (On my second visit to the SoHo boutique I came back with April (#533) which I will post about tomorrow.)<br />
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June is a pastel tangerine/peach/apricot color. The formula is what really makes this color so nice. It's a cross between a jelly and a creme. I used three coats for total opacity. The first time I applied this color I did a full manicure on rather long nails. It wasn't overly difficult to control the polish, but I found it easier on shorter nails. This polish has a very nice consistency and isn't streaky at all. I think Chanel did a great job on the formula for this one. It has a very nice, glossy finish.<br />
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I took a picture after just one coat to show how nicely this polish applies. You can also see the jelly-ness of it. You can also see that the color becomes more intense after two more coats.<br />
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I compared June to two polishes in my collection: China Glaze Peachy Keen and Essie Tart Deco. Obviously Peachy Keen is a much closer match than Tart Deco. Peachy Keen is definitely quite similar, but it lacks the lovely jelly texture of June. It's also streakier and chalkier, and leans a tiny bit more pink. Tart Deco of course is much pinker.<br />
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I think this shot under artificial light shows the difference between Peachy Keen and June more obviously.<br />
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I wore June as a full manicure for about four days and experienced no chipping at all. It still looked glossy and perfect. <br />
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June, along with April and May, is currently up on the <a href="http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/Makeup-Nails-LE-VERNIS-89314" target="_blank">Chanel</a> website for $25. I love the convenience of shopping online, but for me half the fun is making a purchase in the boutique where you get to experience the perfect, smooth customer service.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-32318828280640270522011-12-09T19:30:00.000-05:002011-12-22T21:24:29.311-05:00Glitter Gradient in Festive GreenHello everyone! Sorry about the sporadic updates; as is typical for many of us, life gets pretty busy this time of year!<br />
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Here's a manicure that I did using the quick and easy no sponge glitter gradient method. (The how-to is in <a href="http://strongnails.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-do-simple-glitter-gradient-no.html" target="_blank">this post here</a>.) I was partly inspired by <a href="http://polishinfatuated.blogspot.com/2011/11/incredible-ivanka.html%20" target="_blank">this manicure</a> by Sharon at <a href="http://polishinfatuated.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Polish Infatuated</a>. I wanted to create a festive manicure that isn't too over the top, but still has a holiday feel.<br />
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I used two coats of OPI Jade Is The New Black for the base color. It's a lovely true green with smooth, easy application. Next I added Zoya Ivanka to the bottom part of the nail, trying to fade it out at the middle of the nail. Finally I topped it off with a layer of Wet n Wild The Gold & The Beautiful for a little extra golden sparkle.<br />
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Hopefully I'll have a chance to invent some more festive holiday manicures to show you this season!Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-29778761216459343002011-12-06T15:09:00.000-05:002011-12-07T02:11:58.189-05:00China Glaze Prize Winning MareHere's a polish from China Glaze's Fall 2008 Rodeo Diva collection. Prize Winning Mare is a rich gold with a strong hint of brown. It's got complex, multicolored shimmer.<br />
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I used two coats and application was fairly easy. This collection came out around when companies had just switched over to the new B3Free formulas, and it has a little of that odd runny/thick texture, but it's easy to overcome those issues with a little extra attention and care.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-56860762187243424562011-12-01T16:41:00.001-05:002011-12-22T21:20:33.439-05:00Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter Review & SwatchesHey, who got lipstick on my nail blog?!<br />
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I knew eventually the day would come when another type of beauty product would edge its way in here. You know how it is! I'm into nail polish, but sometimes lipstick scrambles my brain and I wind up buying it. Given how infrequently I actually wear lipstick, this happens all too often! But in this case, I'm glad because I really like the two Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters I picked up at CVS during a BOGO 50% off sale.<br />
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This line has 20 shades all together, but there were maybe 5 left in the display. These have been getting great reviews and hype, so no wonder most of them were gone already. Luckily for me, there were still tubes of Lollipop and Candy Apple. The packaging is cheap looking but also cute and not too flimsy.<br />
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The lipstick swivels up smoothly and locks firmly in place when you swivel it back down.<br />
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Candy Apple is a bright red with orange undertones, and Lollipop is a vibrant fuchsia with a small amount of fine glitter. It's subtle and you can't see it most of the time. I swatched each color twice on the back of my hand. The upper swatch is just one swipe of the product, and the lower swatch is three. I wanted to show how pigmented both shades are even at just one swipe.<br />
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These are meant to be a cross between lipstick and lip balm, and in my opinion they succeed beautifully. I have read some mixed reviews of some of the lighter shades in this line. I think going for the more vibrant colors gave me exactly what I wanted out of these. I found the texture very smooth and easy to work with. It really does feel buttery and moisturizing, too. These are easier for me to apply these than a full blown lipstick because these glide better and the first swipe is less intense than a traditional lipstick. Because I'm a little shy about bright lip colors (but not nail colors!) I like being able to build and control how much color is on my lips. For me, this is just the right style of lipstick to help me branch out into more exciting lip colors.<br />
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These retail for about $7-$8 at drugstores and you get .09g of product. They are not limited edition, so if you missed the temporary display, no need to worry. I've been hearing they'll be integrated into the permanent display around New Year's.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-81113988296138695612011-11-30T12:49:00.001-05:002011-12-22T21:25:11.372-05:00Vintage Maybelline for Pink Wednesday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy <a href="http://onwednesdayswewearpink.com/" target="_blank">Pink Wednesday</a>, everyone! This week's pink is an old Maybelline Express Finish polish from sometime around 2002 or 2003. It's called Tutu Tango, and from what I vaguely remember it was part of a seasonal display. This is a baby pink with lots of gold shimmer, so it becomes a very peachy pink. This is certainly the type of color a tutu might come in.</div>
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I applied two thin coats and a third thicker coat. This is an old formula polish, so it was smooth and dried quickly. The brush is really nice; it's flat but not mop-like, very similar to the L'Oréal brush.<br />
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</div>Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-53431403069892599632011-11-28T18:49:00.000-05:002011-12-22T21:23:31.478-05:00Zoya Feel — Full Collection Review & ComparisonAfter spending a whole week with the Zoya Feel collection, I think I finally sorted out how I feel about it. I love it! I think this collection is excellent and I love each color in it.<br /><br />
<u><b>Application</b></u> The very first time I tried applying these colors I got a little bit frustrated. The main source of trouble was really with the brush. If I could, I would switch out the Zoya brush for something more like the L'Oréal brush. Zoya's brush is just a little too small in my opinion. It's the one thing I dislike about an otherwise fantastic brand. So there is a slight learning curve with the brush and the formula, but it didn't take too long for me to figure it out. I had basically the same application experience with all six colors.<br /><br /><u><b>Coats</b></u> The first coat for any of the colors should be applied thinly. It will look streaky and uneven, but this will not matter after the second coat. Wait two or three minutes after the first coat so it has a chance to dry a bit. The second coat can be applied a little more thickly, and will provide opaque coverage. Use as few brush strokes as possible to get the color on, or the surface may become uneven or gooey. A little unevenness is fine because your topcoat will smooth everything out.<br /><br />
<b><u>Drying Time</u></b> I found these colors dry pretty quickly, which partly accounts for why they can get gooey if you take too long on one particular nail. I've worn Avery, Kendal and Carey as full manicures. I used Seche Vite topcoat (with CND Solar Oil a few minutes later) and all three manicures had no trouble drying.<br /><br /><u><b>Overall</b></u> What I find so impressive about this collection is that these colors really only need two coats for even coverage. Nearly all the other pastels in my collection need at least three coats. So while these are not super easy to apply like a classic red lacquer, they are much easier than your average pastel. Give them a slightly better brush and I would call them perfect.<br /><br />My two favorite colors are Kendal and Kennedy, but I think all of them are beautiful and flattering. In my opinion these shades are quite chic, too. They are really perfect for when you want something appropriately neutral but still modern and interesting.<br />
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For convenience, I've collected all the swatch pictures together after the break:<br />
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<br />Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-3427401449081499652011-11-26T17:25:00.001-05:002011-12-22T21:21:17.768-05:00Zoya Avery — Feel Collection Winter 2011(UPDATE: Here's my <a href="http://strongnails.blogspot.com/2011/11/zoya-feel-full-collection-review.html" target="_blank">review of the entire collection</a>, with all the swatches together.) <br />
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At last, the final installment in the Zoya Feel Collection! Here is Avery, a pale camel creme. Unexpectedly, I found this color was the easiest to apply out of the whole collection. It was thin but not watery, and flowed well. I used two coats and no topcoat for this swatch. It also dries fairly quickly and is shiny. Tomorrow I'll have a full collection comparison and review post!<br />
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<br />Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-37770421477696345352011-11-24T11:56:00.001-05:002011-12-22T21:25:43.744-05:00Zoya Kennedy — Feel Collection Winter 2011(UPDATE: Here's my <a href="http://strongnails.blogspot.com/2011/11/zoya-feel-full-collection-review.html" target="_blank">review of the entire collection</a>, with all the swatches together.) <br />
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Happy Thanksgiving!<br />
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I have just a couple minutes before I have to run off to visit family for the day's fun! Here's Zoya Kennedy from the Feel collection. It's a dusty pastel rose, and is vying with Kendal for the spot as my favorite shade from this collection.<br />
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Application was like the rest, slightly tricky but smooth considering it's a pastel. Two coats and no topcoat in this picture.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-47096154238266557842011-11-23T11:30:00.001-05:002011-12-22T21:22:08.908-05:00Zoya Kendal — Feel Collection Winter 2011(UPDATE: Here's my <a href="http://strongnails.blogspot.com/2011/11/zoya-feel-full-collection-review.html" target="_blank">review of the entire collection</a>, with all the swatches together.) <br />
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Do you think Zoya Kendal might be pink enough to qualify for Pink Wednesday? I can't decide if this pastel creme leans more lavender than pink. Next to Megan, it's definitely a shade pinker.<br />
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This is probably my favorite color from the collection. I thought the application was a tiny bit easier than the first four. Once again, it only needs two coats and the final result is smooth and shiny with no streaks or unevenness.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-57917833744662647502011-11-22T19:55:00.001-05:002011-12-22T21:26:05.363-05:00Zoya Megan — Feel Collection Winter 2011(UPDATE: Here's my <a href="http://strongnails.blogspot.com/2011/11/zoya-feel-full-collection-review.html" target="_blank">review of the entire collection</a>, with all the swatches together.) <br />
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Hey there! Continuing with the Feel Collection, here's Zoya Megan. I'm finding this color tough to describe. It's very delicate, light gray with a hint of lavender. (I guess I just described it!)<br />
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Like the other polishes in this collection, Megan needs two coats for opacity. I recommend same technique of one thin coat and a second thicker coat for applying this color. Even though these pastels can be a little annoying and thick, I'm becoming more and more impressed with this collection because despite any application issues, you really can get this polish right in two coats. If you have any leftover lumpiness, the topcoat will smooth everything out.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-91839857427007230472011-11-21T11:52:00.001-05:002011-12-22T21:26:20.840-05:00Zoya Carey — Feel Collection Winter 2011(UPDATE: Here's my <a href="http://strongnails.blogspot.com/2011/11/zoya-feel-full-collection-review.html" target="_blank">review of the entire collection</a>, with all the swatches together.) <br />
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Here's the next color from the Zoya Feel Collection, a pale gray creme called Carey. This is a fairly neutral gray, although I would say it leans a tiny bit to the cool side.<br />
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Like Kristen, this polish only needs two coats for complete opacity. Since it's a pale color, the formula is a little tricky to work with. I found it was best to make the first coat thin, and to not worry about how streaky the coverage was. Wait at least two minutes, then make the second coat a little thicker. It also helps to apply the color in as few brush strokes as possible.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-84468988313145446272011-11-20T17:03:00.001-05:002011-12-22T21:26:45.130-05:00Zoya Kristen — Feel Collection Winter 2011(UPDATE: Here's my <a href="http://strongnails.blogspot.com/2011/11/zoya-feel-full-collection-review.html" target="_blank">review of the entire collection</a>, with all the swatches together.)<br />
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I got the Feel collection in the mail yesterday. I rarely buy full collections, but I was totally drawn into this one by the promo picture. I do not regret my purchase, each color is lovely! First I'll show you Zoya Kristen, which is a slightly blue-tinged pale gray creme.<br />
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The formula for this color, and this whole collection, is simultaneously impressive and frustrating. I'm super impressed that it only took two coats to get full coverage and opacity. This is pretty rare for such pale colors. The texture is chalky and tricky to work with, but still a major improvement over pastel colors that came out a couple years ago. Only two coats! I don't think I've ever encountered a pastel that worked in less than three coats before. So that's a big plus.<br />
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The first time I applied this color, I found it irritating and difficult to keep the surface smooth. I decided to try again a few hours later, and for whatever reason it seemed pretty easy that time. The first time I applied this color the brush seemed so small and skinny, and I couldn't for the life of me find the wider side of it. The second time the brush still seemed too small but I was able to make it fan out better. I think most of the application issues would be easily solved by Zoya adopting a nicer brush. If it just had a few more bristles, and was a tiny bit flatter, I think I would love the brand even more.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-16016999477839994082011-11-19T19:56:00.001-05:002011-12-22T21:27:00.674-05:00OPI Ski Teal We DropHello everyone! I'm sorry about the long absence. I went out of town and also came down with a cold, so I have been terribly neglectful of my blog. I got some good nail polish mail today, though! The Zoya Feel collection arrived, so I hope to be posting swatches and reviews of those color soon.<br /><br />OPI Ski Teal We Drop came out with the Fall 2010 Swiss Collection. It's a lovely saturated teal creme. The second picture looks most color accurate on my monitor.<br />
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I only needed two coats for perfect, smooth opacity. The formula is pretty easy to work with, although it can sometimes feel a tiny bit thick. I have a dense wool sweater that's almost this exact color, so to me this shade fits right in with the whole snowy, Swiss, skiing concept.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-67942455113609178332011-11-11T12:46:00.001-05:002011-11-11T13:35:16.554-05:00How To Do A Simple Glitter Gradient Manicure — No Sponges Necessary!Lately I've really gotten into browsing <a href="http://pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. It's a cool way to discover beautiful, interesting things. There are plenty of fellow nail fanatics on there, and I'm having fun finding them and following their pin boards. This manicure was inspired by all the glittery manicures people have been pinning up on Pinterest.<br />
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This is a manicure that looks fancy but is super easy to do:<br />
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— Paint the base color. (After your base coat, of course!)<br />
Use any color you like. I painted my nails with four coats of OPI I'll Take The Cake. It's a
sheer pink with very fine multicolor shimmer. Four coats seems like a
lot, but this polish goes on so smoothly it was no trouble.<br />
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— Let it dry.<br />
It doesn't need to be completely dry, just let it dry for a few minutes. You want the base color to stay in place without wrinkling when you add the glitter.<br />
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— Add the glitter.<br />
Use any color glitter polish you like. I used Wet n Wild The Gold & The Beautiful. It's glitter in a clear base, which made it perfect for this technique.<br />
- dab a small to medium drop of glitter at the base of the nail.<br />
- wipe the rest of the polish off the brush and back into the bottle.<br />
- lightly drag the drop of glitter outward in small, short strokes.<br />
- fade the glitter by making short strokes starting <b>partway</b> up your nail. This will drag some glitter particles to the middle of your nail, but will not catch too many by taking glitter from the densest part at the base of the nail.<br />
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— Finish the manicure.<br />
All you need now is a quick drying topcoat and some cuticle oil!<br />
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Here's what I'll Take The Cake looks like on its own, for good measure:</div>
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I hope my instructions made sense. Tell me if anything needs clarifying! What color combinations would you try? I want to try taupe with silver glitter, but I have to buy some silver glitter polish first!Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-35208881691720559662011-11-09T17:52:00.000-05:002011-11-09T17:52:05.082-05:00OPI Midnight In MoscowOne of my favorite super dramatic vampy nail polishes is OPI Midnight In Moscow. This is another one from the Russian Collection that came out in Fall 2007. It's a deep charcoal with red shimmer. In low lighting it's velvety and almost black, but in the sun it has this glowing, smoldering look.<br />
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The formula is great, it's neither thick nor runny. I needed just two coats for opacity. These pictures are without topcoat, and you can see even on its own the polish is quite glossy.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-47602971310983424012011-11-05T21:35:00.001-04:002011-11-05T21:35:56.249-04:00Zoya NidhiMy manicure today is Zoya Nidhi from the Sparkle Collection. It's a bright, apple-y red with gold and pink/blue iridescent sparkling flecks. A number of people noticed and complimented me on this color, so it's bright and sparkly enough to catch some attention.<br />
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Application is quick and easy. It needs just two coats for opacity, and each coat went on perfectly and dried rapidly. I know sometimes people have trouble with Zoya polishes drying super slowly, but I don't think this is one that will give anyone problems. Even though this came out as part of a summer collection, I think it's a very festive and Holiday appropriate red. In fact, I may try combining it with Zoya Ivanka (the sparkling green from the same collection) a little later in the season.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9197562592243681255.post-47395133765128422992011-11-03T16:34:00.000-04:002011-11-03T16:34:14.778-04:00Chanel Strong — SoHo Story 2010I admit, I bought this polish for the name. I couldn't help it! And it seems only appropriate to feature it on this blog. Chanel Strong came out last fall when the SoHo boutique had just been remodeled. This was part of a special makeup collection that tied into that store. I've been to that particular boutique a couple of times (most recently <a href="http://strongnails.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-ducked-into-chanel-soho-to-get-out-of.html" target="_blank">to buy Blue Rebel</a>) and each time I have received excellent customer service. Sometimes high end designer boutiques can be intimidating, but the SoHo Chanel is completely delightful. The clerks are very friendly and nobody looked at me funny for clomping in there wearing my tennis shoes and band t-shirt. So if you're in lower Manhattan and you're in the mood for some Chanel, don't hesitate to stop by the corner of Spring and Wooster.<br />
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The polish looks more exciting in the bottle than on the nail. In most lighting conditions it appears almost black. But if you look closely, you can detect the plummy shimmer. To me it has a very velvety appearance, even if it is very dark. The application is a dream. It's nearly perfect in one coat, but I prefer to do two thin coats. The formula is thick but not hard to work with. The viscosity makes it incredibly easy to control where the polish goes, and avoid the cuticles.Ms. Strong (STRONGnails)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06967843633426832168noreply@blogger.com2